India

I had a bicycle ruck back in london (while racing to get our indian visas, no less) that just kept on swelling. so the other day i had the rather strange experience of an arm-lancing in our local hospital... thankfully, after some 8 oz's of the good stuff were taken out, the prognosis looks good. Total bill? £14. Thanks to the good Dr Farouk, for the remote diagnosis. and by the way, if you're feeling a little queasy, best look away now... Dhavalikar Hospital - where you can ride yourself off into the sunset only ten minutes after a local anaesthetic! Alien Elbow the scene of the crime - looks clean enough? Ok, i faked this one while waiting. pretty convincing, huh? (have been debating whether or not to draw attention to the blood splattered table cover...?) unsightly, ungainly and, thankfully now, unbandaged. I consider myself a little wiser as to the hazards of corners, pavement, fixed gear bicycles and the Indian Visa office...

...including the obligatory squeeze on the Talpona bridge. coordinates

both boys got the chop this week, mostly on account of the recurring pangs parental guilt we felt at seeing their sweaty little necks. was it an improvement? you decide. Before: After: ....from a confidence perspective, both seem to have come over all movie star as a result...

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' \