NIC WILLIAMS
NIC WILLIAMS
2011
The end of my career break is getting closer, the nights darker, the weather colder. There’s still a whole bunch of fun to be had though but not to be blogged about in 1 week doses.
I got back from Europe safe and sound after a fab holiday visiting some brilliant places and some wonderful people. Time to concentrate on getting ready for the next big adventure, the last of my break. On 26th November I’ll jet off to Kerala in India to join a group of 12 or so people i’ve not met before and cycle 850km (>500 miles) south. We’ll pass through mountains, tea plantations, coastal roads, bustling towns and cities. It’s going to be amazing. However I needed to get fit and ready for it, the average daily ride is 50 miles. I’ve done a couple of weeks riding every day, some one off rides, and I’ve also been doing some night riding with Paul, Emma and Geoff. It’s great fun cycling cross country in the dark. I’ve invested in a new light (see below) after scaring myself silly going down a wooded path at 20 mph with overhanging branches.
During my second week back I headed off to North Norfolk sea fishing on two beautiful days. The beach at Salthouse is lovely, a shingle bank stretching a couple of miles each way. As per usual I caught nothing buy seaweed and crabs but neither did anyone else. That’s not strictly true, I caught a tiny Dab on the first day and a baby Pollack on the second day. I got the usual visit from a seal. They pop up, take a look at you with their big black eyes and then dive off, probably laughing having scared away all the fish.
I spent the night on the fab Deepdale Farm Camp site. For October it was so warm. I didn’t arrive until after dark but there were other people camping, sitting out enjoying a glass of wine. I even found out there is a chip van that visits the site on a Thursday evening so that was dinner sorted. On the Friday morning I awoke to a beautiful sunny day. It’s lovely having a camp site almost to yourself.
A few weeks ago I was given two vouchers to go indoor surfing. I had a great session on the Thursday and then managed to book Helena in to join me on the Sunday evening. When Helena and I turned up we found ourselves in a group of just 4 people, us and two Brazilian lads. The beauty of being in a session of 4 is that you get loads of time on the wave, most groups are 12 people. I managed to get really good on the boogie boards before perfecting standing up surfing to the point I can now move across the wave as well. I’ve even started some carve turns.
Helena did amazingly well for her first session. She found it really hard, you do need to be quite strong. She managed to do kneeling on the boogie board as well as stand up surfing. She made sure Fraser, our instructor, didn’t let go of her and was quite happy to look into his eyes when stand up surfing. She was a little disappointed though to find out he was only 19! The following day Helena could hardly move and had knees that were black an blue.
So here’s a little product marketing of stuff I’ve bought and think is ace.
All the stuff between my European road trip and heading off to India
21/11/2011
Indoor surfing, sea fishing, major curries, tiling, plumbing, lots of cycling, back in the pool, cocktail class, it’s quieting down ahead of my India trip.
Feel free to click on the links and buy the stuff :-)
While in Ireland I bought a few cook books for Vern as they were small but looked to have great recipes. We cooked the Chicken Balti from the Everyday Indian book (linked above). It was stunning. So we decided to do a few more of the recipes when Sarah and Loic came to dinner. They were a great success, especially the Onion Bhajis. So we repeated the experience when the Schlumberger boys and their partners came for dinner. The food was stunning, even if I do say so myself. Get yourself a copy as the food is just amazing. We even made our best ever home made naan using the recipe from the book.
After 6 months of my new bathroom tiles sitting in the garage I decided it was time to get the tiling done. I’ve been doing the plumbing, demolition, chippy, lecky and tea boy duties while Dave the tiler has been hard at work on the tiling. I’ve taught myself how to plumb in loos and sinks, drain central heating systems and remove radiators, block in pipework, plane doors and rehang them, mount mirrors using silicone, fit sinks and seal them with silicone, fit taps and plugs holes, put in shower doors... It’s been quite rewarding to see two new bathrooms come together and look stunning. Maybe I’ll just give up work and start my own chain of properties, doing them up as I go along.
So now there’s just 5 or so days until I bomb off to India. I’m really excited about it. I’m not sure how my legs are going to feel but if Matt Baker can do it on a rickshaw then I’m sure I can cycle less distance each day on a mountain bike. I’ve had 9 jabs so far with just one more to come. They’ve been expensive though, £296. I’m stocked up with Imodium and even antibiotics for Delhi Belly. I’ve got lots of cycling gear so I’m almost ready. Let’s just hope I don’t crap my shorts! I’m also hoping we don’t get eaten by tigers the day we cycle through the tiger reserve.
So other than Vern having his first service, going on a cocktail making course for Melanie’s birthday and catching up with the English Heritage team at Sarah Gillis’ 40th there isn’t much else to say.
The next blog will be after 10th December when I return from India, I’m not taking my laptop so you’ll just have to wait. Wish me luck!