One pedal-a-lo

1. Yesterday was an exciting day in comparison to some others. The visit to the city was abandoned on account of a bad night with the young man. Instead we visited the large Carrefore supermarket nearby. The event was too much for some so we retraced our tracks to the local bike shop just outside the main gate of the bubble.

2. No gears bikes with baskets galore and some more sophisticated looking models. Kaaren wanted the bog standard Thai bike for cycling around the bubble. A helmet was chosen and I got one too as a birthday present. They are much cheaper here and I though it was time to dispense with the elastic band. A gold bike was chosen and the deal was that we would collect it later in the day and I would cycle it back to the house.

3. Kaaren had a meeting here in the afternoon so I entertained the young lad, wanted to ensure he did not cry and subsequently disturb Kaaren. Karstein went off to the golf range promising to be back by 5.30 in order to collect the bike. It gets dark here at 6.30. Well just after six he arrives and off we go.

4. I take note of the route back and we collect the bike. He passes me in the car and I call out this is great. A couple of seconds later the pedal fell off. Luckily he had looked in his rear view mirror and noticed that I had stopped. We tried to get the pedal back on but a few pedals later it fell off again. He suggested he put the bike in the boot of the car but it was too big and too dangerous. I agreed I would scoot back and do the best I could. We both reckoned it would make a good mother in law joke. 'How I abandoned my mother in law'

5. The journey back was not the easiest. I kept trying the pedal but everytime time it fell off after two pedals. The neighbours were having drinks when I returned. They said this always happens. Buy a new bike here needs sorting once or twice then is good for three years. We are working on embellishments on the story. Snakes in the curb and that sort of thing.

6. I was pleased to hear that Giles has written. It sounds like hard work to me. I take it that he was in good heart, doing what he wants to do as you tell me. How is Helen getting on without him?

7. Where or rather when does Hadrian appear? I have no idea of the chronology. He did build the wall did he not and why was he immortalised?

8. I have finished the Ukranian Tractor book. It brought to mind the family (whose names I have forgotten) who were in Tinsley. The idea that life is better in the West, the illegal employment to make ends meet, a desperation to obtain British Citizenship through marriage etc. It was funny though and made me smile.

9. I have been musing about why life is so difficult for me here. I am pleased I came to be with the little family and certainly would not have missed it. I am of the opinion that it is to do with the lack of independence, the lack of knowledge about the system here. One is relying on others all the time. Of course, that happens when one goes somewhere new, but it seems that it is possible to find out for oneself more easily. It is all in my head and not others. I am made welcome. Perhaps its like groups, norming, forming, storming etc. It takes time to bed down and find one's role in the set up. Well that is enough of my rambling.

10. I had better find another book to amuse myself with. Drat I forgot to look for some glue to start sorting out the China Book.

11. I hope this finds you in good fettle!

Unpedalo