After a, for me, relaxed weekend, Monday has brought not just a fine drizzle but a return to the real world. Yes its back to work, Cheer tonight and I need to do some English prep – hopefully we can score pizza tonight.

“I hate this weather.”
“I think everyone does,” Nen agreed as we stared out into the empty garden, the damp having frightened most of our customers away for the day.
"You fancy a slice of torte?”
“I could be convinced, coffee?” Nen allowed.
"Might as well.”

And so we were eating the profits when Mum rode into the garden.

"Well this is a fine welcome,” Mum opined.
"Quick Nen, get the band cranked up while I find my pinny.”
"Hi Frau Bond, you want coffee?”
"Please Nena.”
“I suppose you want to come inside,” I suggested.
"Thought you'd never ask daughter mine,” Mum grinned.

Talk about whippets, before I could get to the door she was waiting and in moments was dripping over our nice clean floor – I hope the hygiene people don't turn up.

"There's towels in the stock room.”
"Cheers,” Mum allowed as she divested herself of mitts and helmet.

"Hmm, that's better.”
"What are you out in this for?” I had to ask.
"Bit of acclimatisation for the weekend, forecast is wet in Kent.”
"Shoulda ridden in Bavaria with me, they reckon its gonna be in the thirties down there.”
"You get your stripes and I'll get mine,” she grinned.
"So what time did you get back last night?”
"Late young lady,” she told me with one of those 'don't be so nosey' looks.
"Was only asking, you want food while you're here?”
“its Herr Thesing's Gulasch pies today,” Nena advised.
"Gulasch?” Mum queried peering into the warmer.
"He's been experimenting, putting a Germanic twist on things.”
"Go on then.”
"Pommes?”
“I shouldn't but I guess I can get in full English mode,” she smirked.
"Park your bum then.”

Max was about due so I put plenty of Frites on just to be ready, pretty sure he'll have the pie too.

Von Strechau arrived just as the chips were finished but also at the precise moment that the drizzle was replaced by the sudden change to the much heavier precipitation of a thunderstorm.

"You timed that well,” Nena almost shouted at him above the noise of the wet.
"Get in here you lummox,” I suggested.

A moment later he was inside.

"Oh hi Frau Bond.”
"Hi Max.”

Yeah, there's not gonna be any lip locking with Mum here but what can you do?

"Here,” I presented him with a towel and a coffee.
"Thanks.”
"So you off to the stables then?” Mum queried.
"Yeah,” Max agreed as he wiped himself down, "Mum rides the thing, I do the maintenance.”
"Wish it worked like that with bikes.”
“Isn't that what Dad does?” I suggested.
Mum turned on me, "No its not young lady, he is not your lackey.”
“I never said...”
"Your father works very hard so you and the girls can race.”
“I know.”

Nena and Max wisely kept quiet during Mum's outburst, Nen busying herself plating up the food while Max sipped at his coffee.

"Well it was different,” Mum noted as she placed her cutlery on the cleared plate.
"Out of ten?”
"Eight?” she suggested, "Max?”
"Hmm? Oh the pie, yeah eight or eight and a half.”
"Maybe some Hendo's1 would lift it a bit,” Mum added.
"Like I can pop to Penny and get a bottle,” I pointed out.
"Just saying, anyhow now my daughter has fed me I'd best get on, I need to pack for the weekend.”

"What was that all about?” Nena queried after Mum departed.
"No idea,” I admitted.
“I'd best get off too,” Max told us.
"Not without this,” I pulled his head down and did my limpet impersonation.
"Get a room!” Nen complained.
“Urgh,” I managed pulling free, "Your sopping and you taste of goulash!”
"You fed it to me,” Max offered in his defence while Nena stifled a laugh.
"At least the rains eased off,” my friend advised.
“I suppose I should get off,” Max sighed.

The rest of the day was just as much of a washout, lets face it, no one in their right mind would be out in this weather unless they had to be. Whilst I had ridden up this morning, I joined Nena on the Express to get back to Dernau. As a result I was actually a few minutes later than usual getting home.

"Where've you been?” Mand asked when I reached the kitchen.
"Dur, work?”
“I know that but you're late.”
“it is raining and I caught the Rug down, so what's all the rush?”
"Your Dad wants to drop us off early.”
“Urgh! What for?”
She shrugged, "Dunno.”
I sighed deeply, “I'd best get changed then, what time?”
"Quarter past.”
"Bum.”

Today of all days, we've not done much but I'm well tired, I was looking forward to a relaxing shower. Instead I've got like twenty minutes to shower and change, time enough but not to relax. I headed to my eyrie all of a mumble.

"So what's so urgent?” I enquired once inside the A Klasse.
"You want to ride this weekend?”
"Er yeah,” where is this going?
"How are we getting there?” Dad asked.
"Flying?”
"And what do we need for your bike to fly?”
"A bag thing.
"Precisely, I'm borrowing one from your friend Hen which I need to collect this evening.”
"But we've already got a bag,” I pointed out.
"Yes kiddo but you need two bikes unless you don't want to do the time trial?”
"You have to do both Gab,” Mand advised.
"What about Tal and Gret?”
"What about them?”
"Well won't they need two bikes too?”
"They're only doing the road, they didn't qualify for the Test.”
"Qualify? I've not done that have I?”
“I think being the world champion qualifies you kiddo.”
"Joint,” I pointed out.
"Makes no odds, you got a by on qualifying everyone else has had to get in qualifying performances and we've not exactly been chasing them.”
"Guess not,” I agreed.
"One advantage of being on the BC squad, we all get automatic slots,” Mand advised.
"Tal and Gret are on the German squad though,” I pointed out.
Dad gave a tiny shrug, "The Federation run things differently, anyhow I'll pick you up later.”

I glanced beyond the rain streaked glass, we were already at the Tanzklub and that looks like Hannah's car.

"You're early.”
"Yeah,” I agreed, "Transport.”
"No Pia?” Hannah enquired.

Sugar!

"Like I said, transport,” I managed before searching for my Handy.

As it happens things turned out okay, Inge dropped P off on her way to Ahrbrück visiting her boyfriend – the Stube is closed on Mondays.

"What's up with you?” P asked.
"Well tired.”
"Busy day huh?”
"Hardly, it was so quiet we resorted to doing the Kreuzworträsel2 in Cons Bild.”
"Such a hard life,” P chuckled.
"Hope its busier tomorrow,” I sighed, “I can't stand the boredom or crosswords.”
"Never thought I'd hear you complaining about not working Bond.”
"Yeah well.”

With no competition or other engagement imminent we spent the session just doing some fine tuning and practising the more complicated moves. Everyone was, despite the weather outside, in an upbeat mood, the session was really quite relaxed and although I had to stifle the odd yawn even I enjoyed it. Yeah it was still lagging it down when we finished, everyone sheltering in the doorway for their lifts.

Mum's car pulled into the car park and the three of us, trailing farewells, made a dash for its shelter.

"Good session?” Mum queried spinning the gravel as we set off.
"Yeah, thought Dad was picking us up?”
"He was on the phone with England.”
"We are still getting pizza?” Mand enquired.
"Dunno about that,” Mum teased.
“I haven't had any tea,” I mentioned.
"Oh I suppose we can stop then.”

There would've been a mutiny if she'd said no, we'd of had to get it delivered! We pulled up outside the shop far quicker than usual.

"Here,” Mum handed me a couple of twenty notes, “I'll have the Pollo al Forno.”

Maddy Bell © 08.08.17