Here Endeth the First Lesson

After 34 years or so I have decided to become an advanced motorcyclist, or rather, it may be better put to say that I have decided to start the IAM Advanced Motorcycling course (again). The first lesson (known as an "observed run") took place between the Aldi car park in Crewe and the biker stop cafe at Broxton (somewhere off the A49) passing on the way signposts to Northwich, Leftwich and Nantwich not to mention Middlewich. There was only one deluge during the three hour session.
The intoductory IAM briefing on Friday night promised that practising the "system" at corners and roundabouts (some call them "islands") would not be "laboured".
On a more positive note, I learnt from chatting to a fellow student the handy tip on how a pillion passenger with short legs should properly mount a BMW motorcycle (hitherto the system employed by Mrs Nikos has been a running hop skip and jump coupled with a timely whole body hurling action with the hope that I could steady the machine against the not inconsiderable impulsive side force).

Large bomb strikes branch of McDonald’s

Recent report from a Greek newspaper:

A time bomb that exploded outside a branch of McDonald’s in the central Athens district of Ambelokipi early yesterday, causing extensive damage to the premises of the fast-food outlet and to a tax office located above but no injuries, was yesterday attributed by police to the terrorist group Revolutionary Struggle.

I did not see this partisan group on my recent ballot paper for the EU elections - what a pity for 2 obvious reasons.

Rails in Wales

I have just been for an evening stroll along the causeway at Porthmadog, North Wales: I was observed by Skimbleshanks the railway cat.

Kens Hens

Owning hens has many advantages says my colleague and friend Ken - here's Fatimah: A lay a day helps you work rest and play.
Unlike last year, the rain is holding off: A village in Yorkshire hosts a music festival.
The main stage is in the grave yard. Unfortunately the Krypt Kicker Five are otherwise engaged.
Whereas music, beer and tandoori style barbeque is tolerated, the national games are not.

Pan Epirotik (sic) Scrabble Challenge

After 3 rounds I am clearly not the winner and have been branded a racist.

A Maple Leaf in Greece

The best taverna in Syvota is run by a Greek/Canadian and Turkish couple with a waiter from Macclesfield...
Thank you Mert for the best sodjakakia I've eaten in ages. Sorry Angie for diverting Mert from his kitchen duties with my stories of Ottoman Greek relics in Asia Minor.

Meet Speedy

This is an unusual place - normally in Greece a hotel might host, say, three scraggy cats and a regular visitation of the local dog population: Here we have a veritable galapogosistic menagerie of tortoise.