I am all packed up and ready for the big trip. This really is the big trip, I’ve never been away on my own on holiday before, never been so far away, or for so long. Am I apprehensive? A little, I mean it completely unlike I’ve anything I’ve done before. I know I’m going to completely misjudge what it’s going to be like before I get there.

Knowing that though, I’m feeling really exciting. I haven’t had the “I’m going on holiday!” feeling for years, but it seems to be back now. Thursday night I was feeling quite scared, that I’d miss everything about home too much, but it’s passed now. All I want to do is get out there and take it all in. The sites, sounds and smells. It’s going to be incredible. I will miss home, I will miss Kate, I’m sure I’m going to have good days and bad days, and I will get the dreaded Delhi Belly. But who cares right? It’s a once in a life time adventure and I’m going to do it. Hurrah!

There should be Internet availability (in fact, the first place I’m staying tonight has e-mail facilities) so I will report back with how everything is going, either on here or via e-mail. If you want to receive some e-mails from me, leave me a comment with your address in it. Don’t put a website in though or I won’t see it. Feel free to put something like [NOSPAM] in the middle of it though to avoid the spambots. Failing all that, I’ll see you in on August 22nd. Waahooo!

Well, Kate introduced me to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Brilliant film, I had loads of fun. In fact it was a brilliant evening all round. Carry on!

Hmm, well that was odd. I was just upstairs having my morning coffee break, when who do I see servicing the big coffee machine thing? Vin Diesel.

Well, obviously it wasn’t, but he did look spookily similar. I wonder if he’s got a Shelby Mustang I could steal…

I’ve been doing a bit of packing for India this evening, a bit of a challenge as the main light in my room seems to be broken. It’s already noticeably darker in the evenings. Funny how these things pass without you noticing. It was still lightish at 11pm when I was up north flying a kite with John…

Hmm, anyway I think I’ve got nearly everything for the big off. Found that getting an overnight mosquito killer thing might be a good idea, and I still need to get money and more cotton/light clothes as it will be very hot. It’s all proving quite expensive, but it’s so going to be worth it.

I’ve got an archive now semi-working on this new layout, which I shall finish up on Thursday evening. I’m also going to change this front page to display the last weeks entries, or the last three, whichever is more.

What else? I had a very nice weekend in Bristol with Kate. Ahmed’s Curry Cafe on Chandos Road is highly recommended. Just watch the kerbs outside… Picnic on the Downs was good too, even if the weather didn’t want to co-operate. Plus I now keep confusing everyone around me by repeating “They calls it ‘The Curse’” in a pirate voice at various people. I don’t think I ever did hear the rest of that quote. Still, I’m happy at the moment, so you can all rejoice!

Hmm, 2 entries in one day, I really am spoiling you. Anyway, as it seems to be the done thing these days, my birthday is on August 2nd. Buy me things!

This isn’t an intentional quiet period – I did write quite a long entry on my Club100 sprints on Wednesday, but the damn thing disappeared into the ether, and I haven’t bothered to write it up again. Here’s a brief summary.

First heat, started 10th, near got taken out at the start, overtook some people, made do or die move on last lap, it stuck, finished 4th.

Second heat, started last (17th), lots of bumping and grinding mid pack, making progress, understeered off on fast corner into pile of woodchips, DNF.

Last heat, started on pole, quick guys far down grid, and hoped to make a break for it. Got overtaken by quick guy on lap 2, bugger. Overtaken by more people, but hung onto the back of leading pack, finished 5th, 3.7s off the lead.

10th on grid in B-final, loads of quick guys around me (we’re talking top 10 in championship last year). Get slaughtered off the start, made up quite a few positions as pack got caught up, but lost them again. Finished 11th.

So the result isn’t the best one, but I feel it’s my best performance so far. If I hadn’t gone off in my second heat I think near the front B-final could have been on the cards. My fastest lap was only 0.6s off the fastest lap of the day, 44.190 against a 43.510, and even he admitted his kart was dynamite! Bring on the next round after India!

I’m off to Bristol tomorrow for eating of curry and watching of Spaceballs, so hurrah for night. I am quite the social hedgehog at the moment, spent my evening watching the fabulous “Spaced” with Kate on Wednesday, went out in Hereford last night, and away again this weekend. Woohoo!

So, I was thinking about what to put in this entry as I returned home this evening. Everything I could think of was asking for advice that I really already know the answer to. I’m not sure how to act next though.

This is one of those situations when I wish I was someone else, or more accurately, I wish someone else was me, because they could probably do a better job. Someone who is a bit of a bastard…

I think it’s all up and running again here. I’ve finally got round to moving my admin pages so I can add entries easily again.

Content is a bit sparse at the moment. I’m rejigging the photos stuff, and I’ve got some bits of the design to change a little. Oh, and an archive to add to view old entries. The pages selection was getting a bit daft on the old site with 18 pages or something to choose from.

As for me? I’m ok I guess. Feeling my way in some things. Getting ready for the off in India. I have 2 days off next week to go buy things and sort everything out. Can’t wait. Welcome back anyway.

No more entries for now. I’ve just sorted out hosting for the next 12 months with SiteHQ and the domain will be transferring over there shortly. I’ll be backing up everything here shortly to move, so to save problems I’ll be quiet for now. I should be back by the end of the week.

I’m back safe and sound from travels abroad. I’ll try to write it up in detail over the weekend, but for now, here are some photo highlights, including my attempt at a study of the sun through various things…