Day one

Being a gypsy is not easy. Above all because you can’t afford to get attached to anything. In fact “things” are all temporary, disposable and must be left behind, because what really matters is feelings and freedom.
And the same applies to the people that you meet along the way, they all have to be left behind one day, unless they are also a gypsy and go with you. Was I born like this or did life make me into one? Well, after 200 years of Military “Fathers”, each one born in a different place, many miles from each other; after 10 schools, 100 houses and 1000 moves; brought up looking outside, questioning what is behind the next hill and the next one and the next one, how can I be anything other then a gypsy!!
Going back is painful. Coming back to the UK, to my house, to my work, is unheard of for me, exactly because it’s painful and I don’t like pain at all! It is a strange place to be, no man’s land, nor here, nor there, waiting to do the passage, all stamped up and ready to start again. I suppose it is especially painful because this is such a great Country, full of different realities that co-exist side by side in the smallest of spaces, permanently adjusting and respecting, because that is the British way. Some do it by politeness, not really feeling the appeal of the exotic, but the majority does it because of genuine niceness and because they are a civilized people. And because of their DNA chain has 90% more humour genes then everyone else!! How many times a day do you laugh? I for sure took that for granted. It is more important to laugh, in general, then to get a hug. A hug is important, very necessary in times of sadness, but laughing does something to our souls that only making love to that special one can surpass. . Someone told me last week in response to the lack of humour in my new life that, living without it, is like living without music! Very true.

But, like everything else, they too have to stay behind, because the way is forward. I look at it and feel (gypsy life is all about feeling!) incredibly privileged for the time spent in the mist of this society. The lessons they taught me will be invaluable to the rest of my life. Above all try to deal with everything with humour; love, death, joy and adversity, the best way is always to joke.
I seem to pass through people’s lives like a hurricane, fast in, fast out, leaving nothing in it’s place. And I don’t even stay for the reconstruction! This upsets those that have deep roots the most, but it also causes great distress to the ones that actually want to go, but can’t make them selves run and follow what they really feel is right.
So that is the struggle, to feel to the maximum without getting too hurt. Experience the strongest wind on a naked bike and enduring the pain in the neck! Loving friends more then they have ever imagined possible and closing the door when it’s time to go, not for them, but for me. And the struggle goes now to another level. The gypsy soul is in love! Dangerous you might say, especially for the brave/foolish man that decided it was a good idea to love, protect and cherish this troubled being that is me! Dangerous it is, in fact, but that has one huge advantage to conventional certainty: exactly because it’s dangerous, you pay more attention to every detail, every day is a beginning and, again, you feel the all thing much more and intensely. I mean, it’s like getting on your Motorbike every day, isn’t it?! Well, it should be and maybe less divorces existed if people saw it like that instead of being bored out of their minds.

It would have been impossible to be this “wise” and sorted without all the mad races, on or off the bike, without all the crazy escapes, without all the fidgeting!! And I know a soul like mine is not made for settlement, which is very important, because only when we know ourselves can we be happy with someone else. And that is the objective, from now to whenever ( maybe only tomorrow), TO BE HAPPY!
It starts today, I’m choosing the wedding dress…My God it feels an alien concept! Another lesson I suppose and with the help of my friend, much more experienced then me, it should come out alright. Although, the devil in me is trying to lure me to go to Jack Lilley's instead and get a Speed Triple, probably the same price but much better value for money! I say to the devil, I expect to enjoy that dress as much as I enjoyed the bike and intend the get many miles out of it, not just one Sunday ride out in March!!
S

Friends

Friends are the best thing in the world! My life would be void without you and my journeys would not have a purpose. Thank you friends!

4 weeks in the UK

"You are back, how nice! Can't keep away?!" Its true, I can't keep away from Britain. I never thought it would be this difficult to be away, but coming back as also shown me that I did the right thing and I just need to adjust my life there to not get into a deep depression. Still no German, needs to change, and then more riding needs to happen as well!
The Summer has truly arrived here, although we got really wet in Cornwall, where it was suppose to be dry!! But we still got a couple of hours on the beach. Probably should have stayed longer, because the traffic was SO bad!!!
Im staying at a BandB in a Convent, the Bridgittine Guest House, in a little room, of a Tudor house, with a little balcony just for me! Its, as expected, a very peaceful place, allowing for deep thoughts and meditation, which is good for me. Also met there a half Portuguese Priest that was very nice. i would recommend this place very much, www.bridgettineguesthouse.co.uk
Return to Germany is on Friday and the next 4 days are full of racing and track day work between NurburgRing F1 and Spa. After, and armed with my new PaintPod, is DIY time!! Oh joy!! And in between the Firestorm will be coming out for some riding at the The Green Hell.

No German

and another day has passed between boxes and stuff and more stuff!! Where did all of this come from??? I have obviously bought it, but I don't remember!! Its looking better, less boxes at least and tomorrow it the top floor's turn. It needs to be ready for Thursday arrival of the first guest for Easter. And another day has passed without any chance of me speaking German. It's not good! I have to learn soon. Any way, another day, another victory! We did a walk to the track and it was a test day so saw some special cars being tested, like the new Porsche GT2 and the new saloon. tomorrow the tornado starts again!!

Germany

That's it, I'm here! It was very emotional to leave the UK, a lot harder then I had forseen. And being here is hard because I don't speak German yet, so every little thing I want to do requires help and I hate that!! Today I gave up on buying bread because it was going to be too difficult to do it. Its an incentive to learn faster I supose and I intend to do it quickly. I was invited to a party with a new friend, Melanie, but I feel too tiered and a bit lost really, so I will wait for next time. The bike journey was good, nice weather and not a lot of traffic, although there were several hairy situations in Belgium, but their driving can only be compared to Mumbay on a good day!! I have to give this place a chance, there are really nice people around, but the life I had in England was really good!! well, life is not suposed to be easy and to achieve what we want, there are always sacrifices to be done, nothing comes free.

New begginings

My party at The Ace was really good, 30 people and everyone enjoyed it!! I was very lucky with the weather, after a week of English Summer weather, Friday night was perfect for biking, so the Ace was packed. Steve came with little Steve and Stan, they were 3 hours in traffic... It was a great night. Saturday I went mad and bought half of Windsor!! But its the last chance. For the last time I went for a ride out with Nick and Simon to Newlands Corner and then, totally what of the blue, Jochen proposed while we walked for the last time at Sunningdale Golf Course!!! I was totally surprised and I knew he would do it somewhere, somehow, that I was not expecting. He said he did there and then because he could see how special England in Spring is for me and he was right to wait for that moment. We even had a puppy Labrador run up to us and sat down looking at him while he went on his knee!! All in all a great moment.

Flat...

The VTR has a flat tyre... manage to get a mobile tyre crew, GS tyres, to come and sort it out. Pat's advice, that as a true pike, knows where to find the right people at the right price! And he is ok with being one, so no offence there;)) Today is the procession for Steve Lilleys funeral. I will be there with the shop staff and friends and family. Its raining a bit, but should improve so we don't do all of it in the rain.
Only 3 weeks now!! I am having difficulty sleeping, so many things dancing in my head; what I have to do there, what I have to do here, what I have to do in Portugal... No point thinking too much, every journey starts with the first step and every mountain can be climbed, 1 meter at a time!!
S