Monday 23 March 2009

MAN OF LESIURE

I have now finished work. Tecnically I don't finish until the end of March but I am taking what annual leave I have left and so went to work for the last time on Friday. Clearing my desk and pigeon hole felt strange and to be honest I didn't actually do a great deal of actual work. There was the usual gathering to say goodbye after the One O'clock news and I was presented with possibly the most hideous card I have ever seen. My head photoshopped on to the body of a thinner more muscular body dressed in nothing more than a bright green lycra mankini. The only redeeming factor was that everyone had been touchingly generous - giving Bridget and I 100 Euros as my leaving present. I have promised we will spend it on a nice hotel when are at most in need of some comfort and time away from a tent. I then had a very nice lunch with everyone and about three too many beers - Eddie the Engineers fault really. Then I said my goodbyes and came home to get the house ready for the party. Although I am only going for a year and still have my job to go back to it still felt weird and strangely final. I am writing this on Monday afternoon and again it feels wrong not to be at work. I am sure I will get used to it.

The party itself was hugely enjoyable. Far more people came than expected and seemed to have a good time. Some of us lasted through to three thirty in the morning and I foolishly started drinking Vodka Tonics and then shots of cinnamon flavoured snaps. I paid for it the next day and was reminded why I drink so little and so infrequently. Hangovers just aren't worth it and nor are the embarassing stories. Feminax came to the rescue and in terms of top ten worst hangovers it fortunately remained low down the table.

So now the day of departure really is just around the corner. Until I left work it felt like I was only playing at cycling around the world. I could easily have been pretending. Now it feels very real. We are nearly there with the preparations and just have odds and sodds to deal with. Some people are suggesting they may cycle some of the way with us to Oxford - possibly as far as Southam. If the weather is like today I doubt we'll have much company. It's very cold and very windy. There is a big question lingering at the moment. We are desparate to cycle from home but what do we do if the weather on Wednesday morning is awful. At what point do we swallow our pride and pop down to the station and hop on a train for Oxford? We're meeting Mum and Dad at the campsite so would still have to cycle there to stay the night. Part of me thinks it would be stupid to insist on cycling especially if meant one of us caught a cold. But we can't afford to take trains evry time the weather is slightly inclement and shouldn't we set the right precedent from the start? My answer? My answer is to pray for good enough weather and to delay any decision until 0800 on Wed 8th April.


2 comments:

  1. Hi,Tim & Bridget,
    Well Tim you dont know me but Bridget will explain, Im a Golden Lab, my name is ELLA I have very nice toes now thanks to Bricks so when yours start playing up you will be in good hands,(AND I CAN TYPE) Love and best wishes to you both, take great care or CAR will keep in touch Love ELLA xxxxx

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  2. Hey Brick&Tim,
    Spent the Easter long weekend at Annie & Ray's together with the rest ofthe Oz family. Thought about the two of you lots, and discussed the hatching of your adventure (must say that the consensus opinion was "crazy but very exciting" & "how the hell will they get across the Pyrenees?"). Ive been doing some detailed checking of potential routes on Google Maps Terrain - have a pin-up of the map so that we can track progress. Please keep us informed REGULARLY, and I'll move the smiley face along along the route. Lots of love to you both, Dad & Mom M

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