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| Cycling through Belgium |
Our tour organizers had apparently decided
to terminate the services of Captain Mart and Miss Elly after this trip. They
had received so many complaints that they
felt they could no longer send clients to him.
However – his experience with us apparently
pushed him over the edge. I think the final straw was Gwenyth’s crutches
cluttering up his boat.
So as soon as we left the boat on the last
day he sent an email to our trip people telling them he would not accept any
more clients from them.
He is a very strange man and I shall say no
more about him.
Next year we are thinking of France or
Italy (again) and I am just about to start foraging for an appropriate trip. It
will not be on electric bikes with death wobbles.
However – I may have to wait a few months
until Gwenyth is feeling much better before I can persuade her that she needs
to get back on a bike.
She is still in very poor shape with torn
ligaments and has trouble walking and lifting her leg. I am not sure why she
wants to lift her leg but I am sure there are good reasons.
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| Jim Murrant |
I must send birthday greetings to my Sydney
neighbour and mate Jim Murrant who is celebrates his 80th year on 12
September. He and his partner Annie are both keen sailors and Jim has in fact
competed in 14 Sydney to Hobart yacht races – amongst many other sailing
adventures.
They wrote The Boating Bible
Manual of Seamanship
Jim and I are kindred souls in a number of
respects and – like me – he eschews religion.
We have shared a glass or two of red wine
over the last few years but Jim has not been too well lately and has discovered
that wine does not agree with him.
Fortunately he was able to move to whisky -
which apparently has a most beneficial all round effect. I think this is an
excellent move and I shall ensure next time I see him that I have with me a
bottle of Jameson so that we can celebrate.
Happy birthday cobber.
Septembrr is my favorite month. I had an uncle who had a birthday on the 12th, midway between two other relatives born in September. I haven't begun my search for Guinness just yet, but soon ...
ReplyDeletePeople like your friend Jim inspire me. Here I am thinking I'm up for being put out to pasture in a couple of weeks, and then I read things like this. But I will say this: when the day comes that I cannot drink wine, you might as well do me in and bury me!
ReplyDelete(Glad to hear Captain Bligh has been sacked!)
What a lovely birthday sentiment. Your friend Gwyneth is much nicer than I; I would have beaten the crap out of the Captain and his lady with my crutches upon my departure. Then I would have claimed mental distress from hunger and cleaning fumes.
ReplyDeleteMe thinks fmcgmccllc has pirate ancestry, argh, and I means that as a compliment, matey.
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of the Birthday boy:
ReplyDeleteBadger,
Aaaaaaaaah!
Steph,
You may very well find despite the tragic loss of wine that in the circumstances whisky is infinitely preferable to death. Chin up for the future!
esbboston and fmcgmccllc,
Thanks for being part of my birthday.
From Annie:
It's 5 am here so have started celebrations with a cuppa - leaf tea of course. More serious celebrations will commence later...
Thanks to you all!
esb: My favourite months are any that are not part of summer.
ReplyDeleteSK Waller: I am not worried about wine as long as there is Jameson.
fmcgmccllc: We could have used you on this trip.
Annie: Hope you had a wonderful day.