Could I actually be going to the Olympics??

Sadly not competing for my country.. but volunteering. I could be handing out meal tickets at the archery competition. Maybe. Bumble did scare me, by nearly not starting, but then took me to Warwick Uni for my interview. I think it went OK. However, before the actual interview there was a video featuring Eddie Izzard, giving you advice for your interview. So, naturally, I just quoted Eddie in my interview. Not sure it helped, but the interviewer laughed. At least I have a pink band and the last of the free Heroes (thanks to Cadbury, the official treat provider) to show for it!

Stayed for a bit to do some caching. Failed at the first hurdle on the intended multi cache, as I couldn't see the tag on the silver birch. Gave up and did 2 other normal ones and a webcam one. Not sure it was worth the 27 minutes required on the phone to Pops to explain how to save the image from the webcam stream.

Oops

Preparation for the Race for Life had not gone well. Forget not having run outside at all. My attempts at carbo-loading were all negated when I threw up around 11pm. Then failed to sleep. Woke feeling awful. Oh well. Breakfast and blogging and found all my kit, checked time, number pinned to shirt etc. About 10:10 I headed off to campus to join the start.

It was there I found out, due to the lack of people and the barely disguised mirth of the guy I asked at security, that the race was actually at Prestwold. At that point I had 3 minutes before the official start time. Started to bike back to the flat. Got stopped by two girls by the college asking where the race was. Arranged to come back and collect them once I'd got the van. Was nearly 11 by the time we got there, but it turns out we were not the only late/mistaken ones. So with 18 minutes on the clock already we went through the start. No 3rd place for me this time then. The route was rubbish. Just around the mown edges of fields and meadows. Except when you are overtaking hoardes of walking people, and then the route was through waist high grass. Very hot day. Knackered. Managed 22:53. Not too bad. Especially for running on lumpy grass.

Rewarded myself with a 99 flake :-) scoffed while phoning Ma. Decided against trying to rush to the car boot. Wandered around for a bit, then to avoid joining the queues to get out, and roast in the van, I got the kite out. Had a lovely hour in the sun kite flying, even though it was somewhat dwarfed by those from the kitesurfing school. What with all this and Friday's geo bike ride and golf on Saturday its been a lovely weekend.

Double oops. Home to discover that I have changed colour. Have managed to do even worse than Easter's 'wetsuit tan'. Now I have not just a watch line, but a sweat band worn under watch line. Ah crap.

God is bloody amazing!

And answers prayer beyond what we expect or imagine. Lots of prayer about the parking situation (not allowed to leave the motorbike anywhere on the grounds, and not allowed to park Bumble in my space as he is allegedly a commercial vehicle/over 1.5 tonnes)... and just got an email from the management company. They have totally backed down, and I am allowed to leave the bike where it is at the back of the bins, and Bumble can stay in his space!!! Never dreamed I'd get a result like that! Thanks God. And I'm sure the phone call from my 'representative' (ok, Mum) helped too. ;-)

GeoFrenzy!!

Just been out geocaching, and got my most ever in a day.. 12! I went on the old mountain bike and did the Somloci tribute trail out at Prestwold around the natural burial grounds. There were some clever hides..

Some cute hides..

Some dodgy drawing (letterbox cache for which you had to draw a cartoon of yourself)

And a lovely view of Prestwold Hall..

So glad they weren't all like the first one, where I was being stupid and got stung and scratched, and really needn't have done! Was really fun bumping around on my bike. I got hungry at around 9 out of 12 (TGF Lion Bar in bag) as did the iPhone. Both made it to the end. Started raining as I found the last one. Now tired and awaiting pizza :-) 

Drive your VW to Work Day

Proud to have taken part :-)

Also bought myself a new helmet, as the visor had broken beyond repair on the other one. Love my new bargain AGV (25%off). Its smaller and lighter and the same brand as Rossi's :-)

Bus Stopover

Yay! Today I go to my first VW rally. Am not packed or ready at all. Damnit. Turning into my father again. Bumble is washed on the outside. And still parked illegally hehe. I am making flapjack. Should be packing camping gear but no, cake more important. Also need to clean flat as Mum is coming. Work now, blog later...

Mum got stuck on M1 so arrived too late to go last minute shopping at Go Outdoors. Had started raining by the time we left, but our spirits were not dampened. We were probably one of the closest attendees, but still one of the last to get there. Here's Bumble (full of crap) at his first rally...

Ma stayed in the van...

While I (ever so kindly) put up her tent in the rain. Payback for not letting her sleep in my van I suppose.

This was kind of a learning experience trip, with the back up of just going home if it all went wrong.

Lesson number 1: the double airbed does not fit in this tent. Result: Mum stole my bed and I had to sleep on a fleece blanky!

Lesson number 2: never lend Pops your camping kit.. he doesn't wash up after doing a cooked breakfast but just hides it in the garage for a year. Result: I laughed and felt all righteous, Ma felt guilty, Pops blamed Ma.

Didn't put us off enjoying our 'first brew in the van'. Asked Ma if we still had Grandad's Primus, and it is indeed in a shed somewhere, so I suggested digging it out for a brew up down Hemsby over the summer. However, Grandad never let anyone else use his Primus, so no-one has a scooby how it works!

Shopping list 1: Thermal insulated mug. Lost my outside one.

Had pasta for tea, nice and simple, as I was in a hurry to head off to the entertainment tent. Got there in time to hear the last couple of songs by Bamalama, the retro covers band. They were really good. Then the 80s vs 90s disco started... with Baggy Trousers!!! So I was knackered after one song. The whole disco was brilliant... the 80s were of course the best. Some of the 90s ones got a bit dull, but Sesame Street was ace.. I bought it on tape! Mum pulled while dancing to Katrina and the Waves and I rocked to Guns n Roses with a fun group of blokes. Was a fab evening, and we lasted all the way to the end.

Back to the van for cocoa before bed :-) Shopping list 2: a kettle. Should prevent spillage from incompetent pouring.

Woke up late the following morning to see a Dragon outside my window!!!

Our first recipe from the Campervan Cookbook that Ma got me for my birthday, the Exploding Egg Banjo...

So, yummy breakfast, eaten in t shirt and board shorts! except when a cloud blew over, then it was LS tee and shorts. V windy as usual. Eventually got ourselves organised and headed over to the main arena. And then it RAINED! so we ran back to the van. Had bagels and chocolate raisins for lunch and played Blink while we failed to dry off. Then went back to the arena, this time in trousers and waterproofs. A few vans to look at, mostly conversions/restorations done by professional companies. Lots of trade stands. Everything had a CV on it. Dangerous. I tried v hard not to buy everything! The felt hoodies were especially hard to resist. Also you had to watch where you step.. could get a nasty bite..

Shopping list 3: a flag, to enable finding of your VW in 3 fields full of them. Shopping List 3b: a mallet to get the stake in far enough.. had to go borrow one

Had spent all our cash, so came back to the van for a cuppa, and to set up Bumble's Bee. Having refreshed our selves and our wallets we headed back over for more shopping.

Shopping list 4: a petite driveaway awning.. for a bit more room when its raining, and somewhere to leave stuff, maybe an extra sleeping space. This one looked like a good size.. others were huuuuge.

Shopping list 5: one day... a purple Splittie??!

Bought a t shirt and a towel for Bumble, and a wedding card for Jon. And a new water bottle. The crappy one from Halfords had two holes in by then. Maybe Lesson 3: don't buy camping kit from Halfords, or maybe its just a design flaw). Then went over to the main tent and chilled out to a brilliant covers band for a bit. The atmosphere the whole weekend was brilliant. Everyone was friendly and chilled out. Back to camp for an impressive tea... sweet and sour chicken. No room for afters! Back over to the arena for the evening's entertainments. Not as good as the Friday night. Smileymic was good.. beatbox/guitar/singing all done by recording loops. Got a bit bored of the Ska bands after though.. so I fed cheesey doodles to a Westie pup. Had to stay late, as some bloke was 'resting' in one of our chairs! Cocoa then bed.

No Banjos on Sunday, had to head back to Loughborough. Was my first time playing drums at Beacon. Got there at 9.30 desperate for a pee and really nervous. Quick practice went well, only one stop and laugh mistake. Slim turned up especially. Growled at him then left him with Mum. It actually went really well.. that God takes over thing happened, so somehow I knew when to build/go quiet etc. Is cool when that happens, and it must be God cause I definitely don't have that sort of musical ability! Scrummy cupcakes and tea after, so not really the quick getaway I was hoping for, especially as we had a chat with Denise and Andy, and then Phil wanted to see my van.

Back to camp to find that the Bee's umbrella had blown away. Very sad. Dashed over to the arena to catch the Show n Shine. Some really lovely old bays. Some ideas for Bumble, different 'bonnet bras' etc.

Think having colour co-ordinated luggage, wellies and old skis artfully arranged is a bit much but maybe the Show n Shine trophy is more coveted that I thought! Here's Rufus, an impressive T4 that started off as a beaten up old white van.. so there is hope for Bumble yet!

Last minute shopping (Rally t-shirt for me and a cab carpet for Bumble.. oh, and a hat!) then another healthy meal (Funnel cake and crepe) before heading back to a rather lonely and abandoned looking Bumble. Lesson 4: people seem to pack up early on Sunday, so if you're going only for the day, get there early.

Weekend mood ruined by letter from school. So need a new job. Played SW monopoly to distract brain. Ended up being really mean and not letting Mum quit until I owned everything in the galaxy. The last of the bacon and egg Banjos for tea, and Tangled at Flix.

Monday: wedding shopping. Ended up finding my purple shirt in Primark for £3.80!! No purple all stars though (Mum found in Norwich on Tues :-) ).

Rain, rain go away.

If it's like this next weekend, stuff the vans, we're going shopping and playing SW monopoly in a warm dry flat! At least thats what I texted Mum today. Can't believe she wants to come to the 'Bus Stop' rally in Wymeswold. Thought she hated camping, and thought she would be sick to death of VWs by now.

Today though.. up too early. Car boot. Left when started to rain.

How tragic that I now have to buy shirts for work! Getting ready for my new career as a maths teacher! The bottom one is for JJ, I'm not that small! Hope to read the Penguin book before Ems steals it.

Played djembe at Woodhouse this morning, as The Ark were leading the service. Great fun, and nice to see Martin Cooke again. Best bit was the last song with me on Djembe, Thomas on Bongos and 3 other Laytons on kit!

Forgot to go to Halfords to return the battery, so had to go after watching the MotoGP at Silverstone. Got a few useful things for next weekend..

Also went to Maplin to get further notes for my Solar Panel plan. Transformers are expensive, but can go up to 1000W. Just checked online and I think fridge freezers are about 300W. The plan may well work. Read bible, cleaned room. Now bit of Kinect before collecting ironing.

Oh yeah.. there was a 9m rocket at school this week!! It was awesome, as was the accompanying show, which was, in fact, rocket science! I tell you, the sight of a space rocket in your rear view mirror biking home is slightly freaky!

3rd time lucky?

Ok. If I ever have to do my CBT again... hit me. I MUST do my proper test this summer. No more wimping out. In the meantime must practice riding fast, and practice counter steering, and do my daily and weekly checks at least sometimes.. and clean the thing!

Just having a cuppa before going out to try to fix Bumble. If I connect the battery and it starts, thats kinda bad, as then we still won't know what is draining the battery. If I connect it and it doesn't start, then that's ok. Just have to hope I can change the batteries over by myself.

50 Miles too far!

The last time I had been back to Norwich Lesley had popped by. Carl had said 'let's do the Century Bike Ride together'. Because I am an idiot, I had assumed that this meant that I would do the ride, and he would also do the ride. I was wrong. It actually meant 'I will put this crazy idea in your head, which, because of your condition, you will have to then do, or you will feel like a failure. I however, will never think of it again, and will certainly not bother to go anywhere near a bike'.

So. Enter Bex. Who saved my life by lending me the best bike I will ever dream of riding. It weighs 2 grammes and is (our technical term..) whizzy. I don't even want to imagine what it cost. So, I had a fab bike, but only a month to train. Off to Decathlon to spend money I didn't have on a Turbo Trainer. Several sessions in front of the TV, and only one actual real training ride out on the roads (33 miles) later it was time for the real thing.

Hurrah for Bumble. So easy to chuck (well, carefully place and secure) the bike and kit in the back. Pops drove me down to the city and dumped me in a layby feeling sick! Got started off by some Mayor lady and some bloke in a yellow suit who told us that not getting sponsorship was a sin! 19 minutes later I was cycling back up Reepham Road... so popped into Ma's for a pee!! I then toddled off on the remaining 90-odd miles, leaving them with a camera, waving for the next hour.

The first 50 miles were quite enjoyable. Got a bit bleak in the wind out on the marshes, but was going way faster than I expected, so had to text Pops to say I was nearly there about 2 hours before I said I would be. Unlike those people I passed on a shopper!!! or on a squeaking mountain bike, or with pedals going ten times faster than the wheels. Unfortunately my hopes of an ice cream on the sea front at Sheringham were dashed, when we were directed into Sheringham High School for the lunch stop. Had a much better treat though when the family turned up...

Jay Jay a bit confused by sunglasses... and "oh. I still have little white sticks for legs" :-(

Posing..

Still smiling as I made my way off..

Shame I couldn't do this the whole way home..

It quite rapidly got a whole lot less fun. Was a head wind for the whole of the coast road. Cold and dull and blown backwards. In fact at the last coastal place before turning inland the sea was so choppy that I revised my thoughts about Norfolk surfing. When we saw the board in Cromer advertising surf lessons I thought they were being a tad hopeful given the size of the waves, but here in Waxham it was bigger than Newquay. Didn't stop for a photo there, just more Jelly Babies. Did stop a bit earlier to get piccies in Happisburgh.. and texted Pops to say I really fancied a toasted teacake!!! (Pops reply: Much energy in charcoal?!)

Horsey Mill a welcome sight as it was pretty much straight back to Norwich from here.

Hurt quite a lot now. Right knee starting to seize up. The wind was now more on our side though. I don't think I dared stop from this point on, as I didn't think I could then start again. At 7 miles from Norwich I really really wanted to stop, throw the rucksack in a hedge, sit down, cry, and wait for Mum to come get me! The pain in my neck was really bad. I have learned to never ever carry a heavy rucksack on a long ride ever again. Did I need any of the crap in there? No. But.. me being me, I carried on. Again, nearly cried seeing this loom ever closer...

Whilst it does look like it, the bike was not actually thrown down in disgust. If it had been my bike, then yes. Plus a good kicking..

Hurrah again for Bumble coming to rescue me, and taking me home for my sleep in the bath listening to KD. Ma cooked me a yummy tea, then beat me at Triv. We decided that I should have bought the bent leg jeans we had laughed at in New Look on Saturday, as that was the only way I could walk. Decision to drive back on Monday a very wise one.

 Big thanks to all who sponsored me, to Bumble and Ma/Pa for rescues, Chalkie for photos and J, H, JJ for turning out.