Monthly Archives: March 2010

so, as already alleged by 'the wife', the motorcycle itch was getting to be pretty difficult to ignore. whether it was the fact that a five minute ride over the hill to pick Egg up from school would be enough to ensure torrential sweat levels, or because i am already a puncture too far where the bicycle is concerned (and the bottom bracket is now showing serious signs of mortality), or perhaps it's because the endless Enfield flybys from other locals tourists were starting to get to me (it's a pretty distinctive sound), and certainly, the fact that we owned one back in 1994, and proceeded to ride it around the country for seven of the best months, racking up 9k miles in the process, that also played a part in the decision to finally cave in and get one..... (especially as they threw in a free midget). also, you might have noticed...it only has one seat.. something which didn't impress the missus overly..... ...kicking off an odyssey that required a trip here and then here, for a spot of welding on.... an old double seat that wanted another go at glory, under the fleshly press of our twin arses.... a spot of angle grinding (because you really can't have too much angle grinding).... and now i'm just waiting on a few other 'essential' parts (sissy bar, foot pegs, air and fuel filters, and some chromy bits) for it to be complete. will post another installlment of the finished article. if you can't be arsed, look away now....

one of Egg's little friends at school elected to turn six this week, and her parents thought it would be a nice idea to rent a boat and take all of the kids for a ride. in that boating and swimming are slightly more hazardous activities than your average schoolroom fare, a few more 'responsible' types were needed to make sure nothing untoward happened. i think all options were exhausted before i got the phone call, however, i' m pleased to report that, despite backflips from the boat, prolonged stretches underwater, and a lunch made up of some local chicken, i emerged unscathed from the experience. i'm pretty sure the kids did as well.... can you spot the birthday girl? Egg has a go at Captaining the craft India and her dad Tim on birthday #6 Honeymoon Beach, all to ourselves Charlie 'Schmallie' \

so, a few distractions and technical hitches have meant it's been 12 days (yes 12 whole, criminally negligent days - and a big thanks to uncle chancy for making that point crystal clear in what can only be termed as the email equivalent of a bitch slap) since the last post. for the above, you can substitute a single word that will surprise few of you, seeing as it stands as more than just an excuse, but also as a way of life. that word? FAFF. been sucked in one end and blown out the other. a graphical account of that (spiritual) state is what follows: 3up for orange lollies a living, breathing, walking shrine to everyone's favourite decade it's official: Dumps can work my vans better than i can ....to say nothing of cardboard boxes! ...and cycling shoes! local birthday assemblage two new friends.... yes Dumps, we can see you without the binoculars.. Charlie and Satya: the self-proclaimed 'Schmallies' coconut throwing from our roof seemed like a good diversionary tactic....at the time. would you trust this man with your fish?

it has recently been pointed out by various friends and family members, that i have been getting my butt whipped pretty consistently by 'The Wife's Blog' in some kind of he said/she said war of the cyberweds. i'd like to go on record saying that i am more than happy for the whipping to continue, since, next to Tash's long and unstinting service to Blogiverse (or whatever the hell hipsters are calling it these days), mine is a drip in the proverbial bucket. What's more, my good lady seems to be courting acclaim and controversy in equal measure, and now that some of the patnem mothers have got wind of it, there may be a need for some hasty revising if we're going to keep things friendly for pick up time at the Kindergarten so, best stick with the pictures while others do the colouring in..... Egg goes for a spin with Raj the Rickshaw Wallah Come to India....learn basketball Victoria: purveyor of finest books, paints and stickers Egg experiments with local haulage techniques Trouble descends on Palolem Beach Trouble descended Tourism trumps fishing these days One of these people has just had a nap A Dream Realised: Dumps finally gets to hold the baby (and is the only one happy about it) Coconut milk: not all it's cracked up to be

Just had my first proper bike run to Agonda and back after dropping Egg off at school. Here are the vital statistics (if I’ve calibrated my watch properly): ·      Distance: 9.75 mi ·      Time: 31:22 ·      Av speed: 18.6 mph (suggests I haven’t got the calibration right, despite double checking in the tyre measurements just now….although it is true that I didn’t really need to touch the brakes at all between palolem and agonda) ·      Top speed: 31 mph ·      Av heart rate: 154 ·      Top heart rate: 174 ·      Kcal: 517 ·      Outside temperature: ~32 C ·      Body temperature: off the bloody Richter Whether it was the heat, or the dust, or a degraded level of fitness since arriving here, I had my first near-puking experience while riding.   It was an interesting sensation, having dry heaves while being passed by busloads of waving locals and trying to stay astride my Thai clunker, (with its one functioning derailleur and a headset which is probably a touch loose, given a persistent knocking noise over the bigger bumps). However, it looks like the fastest bicycle in goa…which, admittedly, isn’t saying a whole hell of a lot… Here's the route.            

Two weeks can feel like a decent stretch and can also go by very quickly -- usually depending on whether you're working or on holiday.  For us, it's been a bit of both (although I suspect most of you would conclude that holiday is the predominant flavour in this particular recipe). The last week saw, in no particular order:  both boys starting school, Tash getting a mole carved out of her leg, the Hindu festival of light/noise/colour called Holi, a bicycle purchase (with two punctures and counting), a brief stint mixing on a borrowed soundsystem, and a haircut.  The busy pace  looks set to continue: Eggs is off today on a school trip inland, where they have gone to observe how things were in Goa's 'olden days', then there is the possibility of a quick sprint up north to our old stomping ground with friends Lee and Julia, and, well, actually that's pretty much it for scheduled activities until my parents arrive in a month.  Perhaps my definition of busy is undergoing a slow transformation... As I write this, a roving band of painted celebrants are cavorting around the courtyard of the house opposite, banging drums and sticks, in the hope, i think, of wheedling some money out of the inhabitants. Best look busy and get some pictures in.... Egg on his first day of school Egg after his third day of school The aforementioned haircut (photo courtesy Dumps) three boys in a tree Chaudi market Egg encounters Hanuman in the streets of Chaudi Contemplative cat points fore, listens aft Lee and Sascha at the Riverside Rave Egg nears 170 handwriting 'ticks' Egg the Explorer departs for the Interior Town ends, debris begins. Cue birds. Man living with sugar cane £80 worth of Indian bicycle (except it's made in thailand) heavy as a tank, gears don't work, extremely puncture prone. note child pad at front.