July – London, UK/Cologne, Germany/Amsterdam, Netherlands
As I said at the end of Part 1, the grrls from Dykes on Bikes® Rhine-Weser and Pride Riders Amsterdam are coming over for London Pride and I, as in previous years, arrange to meet the Dutch girls from the ferry at Harwich and the following day the German girls at Dover.
I’m not riding at Pride, but we do manage to spend lots of time together especially as the German girls are staying with us this year. On the Friday evening we go to the famous Vauxhall Tavern for the monthly lesbian event, Butch Please.. its packed and way too hot so we spend most of the time outside talking and meeting new womxn, the younger grrrls that is, this old bag just enjoyed the atmosphere… our back patches certainly were a big attraction.
The next morning I lead them to the meet up point for the start of the London Pride parade, to say I was upset not to be joining them would be an understatement. I will be meeting them after the parade and spending the rest of the day with them so I’m really looking forward to that.
We meet up again, (the Dutch grrrls have gone to the Bike Shed, an expensive hipster ‘biker’ place that I personally really dislike but it is worth a look I guess if you have never been there), and go to world famous Warrs Harley Davidson, the oldest independent Harley dealership in Europe… time for a wee bit of shopping.
Later we meet with the Dutch grrrls and decide we want to go on a tour bus around London, we get tickets online but by the time we all meet up again and are ready to get on a bus we find out it finishes at 6pm… seriously… I find that incredible, I have been on tour buses in many cities around the world, it’s a great way to see everything so for them to finish at 6 is really annoying.. how disappointing.
Gloria and I hosted a BBQ at my home on the Sunday before everyone goes back home,
it was a lovely day and a great success, we so loved seeing everyone together and to top it all Dori G, the President of Dykes on Bikes® Rhine-Weser presents me with a Rhine-Weser back patch and says the whole club voted unanimously to make me their Emeritus Secretary, what an amazing honour and I am so thrilled to be still a member of DoB; I waste no time getting them sewn on.
Janne, from Amsterdam, offers to repair my ride vest that was cut from me as I lay on the ground in February so she takes that home with her.
As I say I am riding over to Cologne to join my club at the front of their Pride parade. Piggy is still in the workshop so I have to take Himmie this time. Normally I would ride there in one or two hops, but due to my injuries I have to take it very slowly and must take lots of breaks so I stop overnight twice on the way there and back. Spotted this amazing Chateau on the way, really lovely
The parade itself is fantastic and we have a really great day together. I’m so honoured to be part of this chapter and even though I don’t speak very much German, (I have been trying to learn some as a mark of respect, it isn’t fair in my book to expect everyone to speak English all the time, but it is a very slow process), even so I feel fully included by everyone.
On the way home I decide to go via the Nurburgring, I visited here back in 2010 on my way to the Harley Rally in Lugano so I think another visit is in order
The next day I stop for some breakfast and see the exhaust hanger has broken… OMG time for a Bridget Bodge-it repair methinks. I find a shop and am able to pick up a few bits and pieces to tie the exhaust back on… I also decide to top up the oil.. I notice its looking a bit low so why not
Then it’s back on the road…
A few weeks later I will be going over to Amsterdam to support the dutch girls at the Pride Walk ride, Piggy is still waiting for the paint so I need a bike.. I mean what is Pride really without a Harley? It certainly doesn’t take much to convince me for sure…
So a little project to keep me going… meet my new Sportster Roadster, this is the 1200cc version the XL1200CX with the usual dual disks up front, but this model has the addition of upside down forks. I, of course, want to make the bike ‘mine’ so a number of changes are on the cards and hopefully it will be ready for Amsterdam.
Alas it is not to be, I start off by changing the seat and fitting a replacement led headlight, I also add a set of on plug coils, this is a kit by Accel whereby the coil is replaced with two separate coils which sit on top of the spark plugs, a really cool and very tidy addition..
however, the bike now won’t start.. omg what have I done? Ok so I remove the battery and replace with a hybrid one from motobatt.. not something I have used before but it gets good reviews. Still the bike won’t start, now I’m getting the right hump! Having tried everything I know I must give in and have it taken in to Harley for them to find out what the problem is. Actually, I did have a problem when I went to pick the bike up. I met the seller, (Tim, an independent bike dealer), at an agreed point in south London, (I had been to view the bike on a previous occasion at his home/garage before agreeing the purchase), and he arrived with it in a van and then rode it over to a nearby cafe where we did the deed. I stayed on for a coffee before heading home.. lo and behold the bike wouldn’t start! On the phone to Tim and he agreed to come back and take a look. He brought a replacement battery with him and got the bike going so that was a relief. Anyway, I don’t know if the problem now is linked to the non start when I picked it up, but Shaun at Warrs HD, ever helpful and a great dealership manager offers to talk with Tim for me as the bike came with 3 months warranty, which should cover any repairs. The upshot is that the BCM, (Body Control Module), has blown and a new one is needed.. £300 plus labour so probably £500 worth, (exactly the same problem as the other Roadster now in Spain… do you think I’m jinxed at all?). Shaun says I might have to pay half, which I reluctantly agree, but in the end he does a deal with Tim, they know each other very well apparently, and I end up paying nothing.. yippee!! However, Shaun warns me that the newer Harleys fitted with BCMs are notoriously sensitive to any electrical changes, the module checks all the circuits every time you switch the bike on and any anomaly can cause the BCM to fail. He thinks the ‘chinese’ led headlamp is the fault and he says it’s better to use HD or HD approved parts rather than risk another BCM fail as I won’t get it on warranty next time. He also does not like the hybrid battery idea, but they have fully tested the Accel on plug coils and the bike is starting now with the original headlight, battery and the Accel plugs in situ. Mmmm food for thought.
During all this I go over to join the grrrls in Amsterdam for the Pride Ride, on the Himmie. Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities and there certainly aren’t many on that list I can tell you. Again so good to spend time with my DoB sistas and of course the Dutch grrrls too. A lovely weekend topped off by a small soiree hosted by Janne and Marian
at which Janne presents me with the repaired ride vest.. what a fantastic job she has done, I am so grateful. After numerous attempts to lose this vest, (remember it got run over in Texas and I lost it again on my way to the Portsmouth ferry), it seemingly has 9 lives.. it holds so many memories for me I was very upset at the prospect of having to remove everything and put them onto a new vest I can tell you. Thank you again my friend, that was so very kind of you and what an amazing job, you can hardly see the joins
August – London, UK/Rodershausen, Germany/Luxembourg
Back home and I’m pleased to say Piggy is finished… yay. Shaun brings her home and the paintwork looks fabulous.. the only flies in the ointment are, the engine crash bars are on back order so I will have to take her back to have them fitted when they come in and a couple of mismatches that are entirely my fault; the rear indicator turn signals were completely lost in the accident and the info I gave to Warrs was for a different set of lights so they don’t match the front, but not to worry I will get new ones for the front and fit them myself anyway. The other mismatch is the master cylinder covers for the hydraulic front brake and clutch, again I specced the wrong one for the left clutch so I will get another to match for the brake side later. I had previously spoken to Shaun about selling Piggy as I’m not sure how I feel about riding her again, I did say that if any of his customers queried whether it was for sale then to say yes, possibly, depending on the offer etc. Now Piggy is home and I am still ambivalent about keeping her, obviously no one showed any interest, but the only way to resolve this is for me to ride her.
A couple of weeks after Piggy comes home I decide its time to take her for a ride.. not into London that’s for sure so I head north out past the M25 and around a few lanes I know well. I do enjoy riding her, albeit the same old Piggy problems which are entirely due to the high bars I put on her back in 2018, they still make turning a challenge and even though I have ridden over 20,000 miles with these ape hangers they still take a few minutes to get used to each time I take her for a ride if I haven’t for a while… I guess I’m going to keep her.
The replacement front indicators etc will have to wait, I have the Sportster to finish first.
As I said I have already added a solo sprung seat and a few other touches including changing the mid engine footpegs for forward controls; I did consider keeping the mid controls but I just feel so hunched up with them, even with my little legs, so they have to go. Now what about electrical changes? My plan was to change the headlight lens for led and the front indicators also but HD parts are just soooo bloody expensive, £350-400 for the headlamp alone. While looking on eBay, (aka flea-bay), I see that one of the Harley dealers is listing Eagle Lights indicator inserts and also lights by Custom Dynamics, which to my mind means they must be HD approved otherwise why would a dealership be stocking them? I do some investigating on both Eagle Lights and Custom Dynamics websites and indeed they do say they are BCM compliant. They also are not cheap, but at half the price of HD that’s practically a bargain. I buy a headlamp from Eagle Lights, (all their products have a lifetime warranty, that’s really good too), and a set of led inserts by Custom Dynamics from the listing on eBay at half price. While I wait for them to come I spot a set of Progressive Suspension shocks on flea-bay, used but excellent condition so grab those and a set of RSD adjustable levers. I need to wire in my GPS and phone charger which connects to a USB port, this is making me very anxious as I really don’t want to blow the BCM again… mmm what to do? Then I remember my other Sportster that is now in Spain also has a BCM to which I have made all the electrical changes that I plan on this one and the BCM is fine so with some trepidation I fit the GPS mount and the USB port. I also fit an accessory control module, the same as my other bikes, (it means I don’t have everything attached direct to the battery except the Optimate charge lead and the control module itself. Eventually the headlight and indicator lenses arrive.. the headlight is great but the lenses don’t fit this bike, omg grrrr. I look them up and they are for touring models, looks like Dori G is going to get a present! Back onto the Eagle Lights website and I order a set of front indicators, so another long wait for them to come from the States. I also order the Speedometer relocation kit from Joker Machine so I can move the speedo from the centre of the handlebars to the side, the same as my other Sportster, again I’ll have to wait for that to come from the States.
Time to start the bike….. OMG it won’t start, it struggles so that tells me there is not enough power… bummer…. ok so I still have the Hybrid battery, (lithium/gel), which Shaun did not like the idea of, but I’m feeling brave so I am going to give it a go.. heart in my mouth or what…. she starts.. Yippeeeeee!
Next I want to change the handlebars, fit the new led lights, move the speedo to the side, add a few finishing touches such as a more interesting petrol cap, new side panels, nicer derby and inspection covers and probably a rear lowering kit, but most of that is going to have to wait as I am quite busy.
All the while I have been in contact with my solicitor who has asked me for photos of the items I was wearing, but it has taken me a very long time to be able to even look at them, they have been sitting in my garage for months in a large yellow hospital bag. At last, with Gloria’s help, I am able to bring myself to take the photos, really very unnerving to say the least
Onwards and eastwards… since 2022 DoB Rhine-Weser and initially London have been planning a European Biker Dyke Rally to take place over 4 days at the end of August and of course I am going to be there. We have rented a huge house in the village of Rodershausen on the German/Luxembourg border and around 25 women will be there. I decide to take Piggy, (the Sportster still isn’t ready), so this will be a chance to really decide what I am going to do with her.
As I am still not 100% I am going to take much longer than usual to get there. I am leading a ride out on the Saturday into Luxembourg so I also want to ride the route I have planned at least once to check out the roads etc.
I take the ferry over to Calais
and then make my way, stopping overnight towards Luxembourg.
I plan to stay somewhere on the ride out route so I can ride and check out the whole route before arriving at the house in Rodershausen, just over the border in Germany. I stop once in Belgium and the next day arrive in Munzen, Luxembourg.
The following morning I start to ride the route, making my way eastwards towards Clervaux Castle, our first planned stopping point. Entering the town is a triple downhill switchback, which on Piggy is a challenge.. mmm hope all the girls are experienced with the more difficult turns. I find a car park at the base of the castle, it seems to be free parking so this looks like a good place to stop.
Next planned stop is at the second castle on our route, Wiltz Castle, where we will break for lunch. Back on the bike and I find I have to go back up the triple switchback to leave the town and onto the road to Wiltz. I arrive at Wiltz Castle but there is no parking as such, well not for a potential 20 bikes, so I ride on… and get a little lost… then I find myself back on the road heading up to the castle, mmm I’ve gone round in a circle, but the silver lining is I spot the castle car park so take a left down into the car parking and see there is plenty of room and from what I can decipher on the payment machine it would seem it is either free or, if we share parking spaces, relatively cheap. I head back up to the Castle and yep lost again!! It begins to rain… perfect. I pull into a car park alongside the river, passing a motorcycle cop on the way. I park to get my rain gear out and the next thing, the cop has come over… OMFG what now??? He approaches me and I guess he must have clocked the UK number plate as he immediately starts talking to me in English. ‘Those exhaust pipes are very loud… please show me your documents’.. I get my wallet to find my drivers license and then look on my phone for my insurance documents.. meanwhile copper is looking over my bike.. he says ‘the front tyre is illegal’, oh shit, this is going to be bad…. still looking for my insurance… ‘there is no reflector on the rear of the bike’… I find my insurance. He comes over to me and I hand him my drivers license, he is making notes in his book.. he then asks for the proof of ownership, in the UK this is the V5C, I say ok I have it and start untying my luggage that is on top of the saddlebag. I find it and pull it out… he says ‘this is a copy, I must see the original’, ‘Oh I don’t have it, in the UK we are not required to carry the original, in fact my insurance company says we shouldn’t because if the bike is stolen with the document then I can’t make a claim’. You are not in the UK, this is Europe, here you must have your original ownership document with you. ‘Oh, I do have a photo of it on my phone’, ‘This is Europe, you must have the original with you… your exhaust pipes are very loud, this is illegal here in Europe, are you allowed to have the exhaust this loud in the UK?’, ‘Umm no…’, ‘Exactly.. and also you do not have a reflector on the rear of your bike, this is Europe you must have one on your bike… the front tyre is below the permissible limit and this is also dangerous, you must have a new tyre put on this bike immediately’. By this point I am totally defeated and ready to accept my fate, there is no way I’m talking myself out of this. He starts writing me a ticket.. I say ‘I don’t think I can get a tyre immediately, I am only here for the weekend and the tyre is an odd size’. he says ‘You must get a new tyre, if you are stopped here again in Luxembourg you may get a further fine and we will potentially confiscate your bike’… Ohhhh Shit!! ‘I do understand and I’m not being argumentative, but I really don’t think I can get a tyre so if I am stopped again what will happen?’ ‘If you are stopped again the officer will see the details of this stop on the system and then you will be fined again, but you won’t get further points on your licence’. He then says ‘the total is €200, which you must pay now, and 2 points on your license here in Luxembourg, the citation is, exhaust pipes exceed decibel limit, unable to produce original documents, illegal tyre depth on front tyre’… gutted or what.. he then produces his payment machine so there’s no getting away with it, I must pay on a card right now. He explains to me, again, this is Europe not the UK, you must follow our rules’ he adds ‘The points on your license are only here in Luxembourg, they last for a year, you will be sent a letter’. He seems to have forgotten the rear reflector so that is small consolation at least. He gives me the citation and a receipt and leaves. It is now raining quite heavily so I quickly put on my rain gear and head out of Wiltz on my way to the next stop, Bourscheid Castle.. yep another Schoss, this is the 3 Schloss route.
It starts to pour with rain…. before long it is lashing it down with thunder and lightening and windy too.. this day just gets better and better. The weather is so bad that I have to stop, I can’t see more than 5 metres in front of me and as you know I hate to ride in lightning storms, so I pull in to the next available stopping point.
After a little while it isn’t easing up and I’m really fed up so I just get back on the bike and carry on. Of course the knowledge that the front tyre is very low doesn’t help my mood, this severe weather leads me to worry about braking on the front, will the tyre hold??
Eventually I arrive a Bourschied castle, I have been here before when I rode the Luxembourg leg of WRWR, (Women Riders World Relay), some years ago. I stop for a break and have a think about what to do about this tyre. The wheels on this bike are not standard HD and the front one is an unusual size; my only hope is that a Harley dealer will have one in stock so I have a look online and find the number for Harley dealers in the vicinity. The ‘nearest’ are Luxembourg City, Cologne and Konz with the closest being Luxembourg, still some hours away, but I give them a ring to see if a) they have the tyre in stock and b) can they fit it this weekend? No they don’t have it in stock. I message Dori and Andi and ask their advice, better to go to Konz is the reply so I try them next.. well all I can say is they were most unhelpful and borderline rude. While they are checking stock the guy on the phone says they cannot fit it until next month anyway, I have already explained that I am a tourist just here for the weekend and my tyre is dangerous isn’t it possible to squeeze me in as an emergency, I ask, no we are very busy he says.. it turns out they don’t have the tyre anyway. Maybe it is just that I am used to dealers being more accommodating of Harley riders who are travelling and have an urgent repair need, especially those from abroad, but I guess that is just in the UK and the States or maybe its down to the individual dealerships. Andi has said she will call Cologne and see what they say… In the meantime I get back on Piggy to make the final hop to the house in Rodershausen.
When I arrive a couple of the grrrls are already there. The members are here this evening with guests arriving tomorrow so we have a chance to get everything set up ready. Ramona and Andi arrive and they have a think about where I might get a tyre; Ramona tries a couple of friends but to no avail. I need to decide what I am going to do about the ride on Saturday, do I take a chance on being stopped? Should I still lead or let Andi take over and I’ll stay here in Germany… what to do?
I’m not the only one to get drenched,
The next day most of the grrrrls ride in but a couple bring their bikes in a hire van, well they have come all the way from Berlin so not too surprising..
however what is surprising it trying to get their bikes out of the van
Of course most of us just stand around watching… giving advice from the sidelines and laughing…
The next morning it is the day of my ride and I have decided to lead the ride as planned and take a chance on returning to Luxembourg.
It looks like it is going to be a lovely day as we head off towards Clervaux Castle and the triple switchback down into the town. All goes well and we pull into the car park as planned. Most of the grrrls wander off for a look around while I have to return back up the triple switchback because we seem to have ‘lost’ the President!! I find her on her way down to Clervaux and she had stopped to pick up my club flag that I have unwittingly lost from the back of Piggy, whew thanks.
Back down the switchbacks again… this is my fifth time so I am an old hand by now.
At the castle we meet up with the rest of the grrrls and it’s time for some photos of the extremely impressive Schloss Clervaux etc.
We also take time for a group photo… well eventually
Back on the bikes and through the switchbacks on our way to Wiltz and lunch.
Then on to our final stop, Bourscheid Castle, another great photo op
and then a short hop back to the accommodation in Rodershausen. A great day, I really enjoyed it and the weather held all day, which is an enormous bonus.
Time for tea… and some fun
The following day Dori G, the club President, leads the ride out around the Rhineland area…
another excellent ride with some great roads… even including a ferry across the Rhine
and a blessing of the bikes by the local priest who has come over to Rodershausen especially for the occassion.
to cap it all, a beautiful sunset with Piggy of course.
The evening is marked by a wee competition where everyone voted for best bike… won by Mukke (aka Ina), for her Triumph bike.
The next day it’s time to clear away and make sure all is as we found it.
perfectly demonstrated by Ina and Bea…
We then say our goodbyes and ride off to our various destinations.
As a momento of this very first Biker Dyke Rally each participant was given a commemorative patch… a lovely design it is too.
On the way home I decide to take a chance again, passing through Luxembourg at the shortest point through the town of Germund, crossing the river Our and out into Belgium the other side
I feel ok so decide to ride all the way back to Calais and onto an earlier ferry…. so who thought that was a good idea??? By the time I got home I was thoroughly exhausted and in not inconsiderable pain.. not doing that again any time soon for sure.
September – London, UK
Now rolling into Autumn and trying to finish off the Sportster. I also find out that rumours re my local Harley dealers, Warrs of Mottingham, are closing down seem to be true with an auto jumble on the 16th, well I better not miss that thinks I.
I pop along for a look see and come home with some goodies, including a king size custom stretched tank for the Sportster and replacement gloves for the ones cut off me in the accident. They are brand new and the exact same gloves that cost over £200 originally, (I know loadsa money), which I get for £25!! Also, I pick up a new front brake calliper for Piggy, I was planning to strip and rebuild the original one, but this is a newer version and only £50 so all in all a bargain day. I am gutted though to see it close; especially the fact that I will be losing the fantastic manager Shaun who has really been an enormous help to me and completely focussed on customer service, he will be very, very sorely missed I can tell you.
October – London, UK/Antalya and Cappadocia, Turkey/Edewecht, Germany
I am happy with how things are progressing with the Sportster, the latest additions are the handlebars which are adjustable so that I can have my hands in a more comfortable position. They are ape hangers again but I have gone for a more realistic height this time at 12 inches, which makes me realise just how the accident has made significant changes to my body in that the struggle to ride Piggy is that much harder. In the end I decide to take the apes off of Piggy and put the original Burly Fat Beach bars back on… a bit weird at first but so much better for me.
You may also notice I have changed the seat on the Sportster too… I love the solo sprung seat but unfortunately it made getting on and off too painful so I have found this lovely unusual seat by Roland Sands, (second hand btw), and it is great. I still have the solo seat and have since lowered the bike so I might try putting it back on to see what it’s like… but for now though I am happy with the bike.
It’s soon time to return to Magic Smile in Antalya. The healing has gone well, but I am a bit trepidatious about the treatment, especially the fitting of the new implant, I hope it’s not going to be as painful this time. As usual I am met at the airport and taken to the hotel. The next morning I am on my way to the appointment and am very anxious. On a brighter note was researching hire bikes and they are really expensive so I thought to compare with car hire and believe it or not cars are cheaper! So I’ve hired a car until Monday, will pick up later today. I hope it’s a small one… I wanted a Hyundai i10 like we had before, but the cost was much higher than a ‘compact’ so have gone with the cheaper option. Hopefully it will be compact 🤷🏻♀️
I arrive at the clinic and again everyone is very happy to see me. I am taken into the scan room and the process begins again. To say I am anxious is an understatement, I am terrified, however yet again everyone is so supportive and caring. A new dental nurse comes to collect me and I am taken upstairs to another room. This time I am being treated by a male dentist, (like everyone else he doesn’t introduce himself). He explains he is going to fit another implant and I am already shaking. I make sure to tell him I need a lot of novocaine and he reassures me he won’t do anything until I am sure I’m ready. Well long story short, he drills and before long it is over. I am taken back downstairs to await the taxi, as happened last time I am being taken to a pharmacy to pick up painkillers and antibiotics. I am to return on Monday, (today is Friday), and they will redo the mould for the new prosthetic then. I am not in too much pain this time, which is a relief.
I am going to pick up the hire car and once the pain subsides I’ll be investigating where to I can go over the weekend. I have to return it on Monday so only have it for a couple of days.
Looking online and I see Cappadocia, oh yes would love to go there… and there’s quad biking… ok I’m in for sure. It is rather a long way away, about 4 hours there and 4 hours back… mmm hope it is going to be worth it.
I get a taxi over to pick up the car. I do get a small car, which is good and next day am on my way to Cappadocia and the famous fairy cap geologic monuments. The trip is 4 hours each way, but the outward journey ends up being longer due to a tremendous thunderstorm, including hailstones, which is so severe that I have to pull over and wait for a while for it to subside.
Eventually I do get going again and have a pretty uneventful drive to the Quadbike rental place, (I already booked my place via Trip Advisor). Well so much for being an experienced biker/driver… I almost crashed the bloody thing 3 or 4 times before getting the hang of it.. nothing like riding a bike I can tell you. Eventually I was able to control the beast, well most of the time.
There were just 3 of us; me, a male and female couple and the guide/instructor on a third. I have to say it was a somewhat ‘interesting’ experience that I’m not sure I would want to repeat, think I’ll stick to Harleys!!
Another thing Cappadocia is famous for is ballooning, along with Albuquerque where I went up in one.. I did spot just one up in the sky this time
The scenery was spectacular, exactly what I was expecting.. amazing formations.
I had a really great time and enjoyed the few hours in Cappadocia, then it was time to get back in the car and drive the 4 hours back to Antalya… crazy I know.
The next day I decided to spend my time just chilling and drawing, there is a tree outside the hotel
So I decide to draw that… quite successful I think, despite having limited colours with me.
I decided to show it to the guy on reception and say the hotel could keep it if they want, he said he would show it to his boss.
The next day’s Monday and it’s back to the clinic. The dentist then takes a new impression and tells me to come back tomorrow when he will fit the new prosthetic. I am a bit surprised by that because I recall the Manageress telling me I would have to come back for a further week in 5 months. When I query it I’m told that as it is only one new implant they can fit the new prothetic straight away so no need for me to return for another week.. great.
I return the next day for the initial fitting, all good. The same guy as before joins the dentist peering into my mouth and then the prothetic is removed and refined. This happens a couple of times and then it’s all done. I pretty happy with it, of course I still have some tenderness where they have inserted the new implant but otherwise all is good. I am taken for final photos and then it is time to say goodbye.
When I return to the hotel the same guy is on the reception and he tells me the owner is delighted with the sketch and will frame it for on the wall.. I am very pleased. He also tells me I am to order anything I like from the restaurant as a thank you, very nice.
Next day it is time to return home.. to pissing down rain of course!
A few weeks later I go over to Germany for the end of Pride season party in the club house. The club has managed to raise €2000 for the Oldenburg Madchenhaus, (Women and Girls House), where they support young women and girls with various actives and opportunities. One of the donors is also giving a full drum kit to the Haus and we went to present this and the cheque to them.
Then its time to paaaartay…
I was very surprised and quite choked to receive this certificate, how lovely of them to do this for me; I’m not too sure whether it is deserved or not but I certainly appreciate it for sure.
November – London, UK
With the multiple health issues both Gloria and I are dealing with and my need to retire we decide to put our house on the market and begin looking for a bungalow with a more manageable garden. We find a place in Buntingford, which is about 25 miles from our current house, but it fell through because we hadn’t a buyer for our place yet, so back to the drawing board.
One day I popped into a local food shop and spotted these… I couldn’t resist a photo..
This year I was again proud to be one of the LGBT Veterans marching with Fighting With Pride on Remembrance Sunday to the Cenotaph memorial.
An emotional experience, but was very honoured to wear my fathers WW2 medals for the first time.
December – London, UK/Hamburg, Germany
All quiet on the home front, we have had a few viewings but no realistic offers. We are still looking for somewhere to move to, but we need to wait until we have a buyer in place before putting in any offers, we don’t want the same thing to happen as Buntingford.
Finally, it’s back over to Germany for the weekend to attend the Hamburg Winter Pride… brrrr it was cold, but what a jam packed weekend we had. It included a boat trip round Hamburg harbour with the world famous German Drag Queen, Olivia Jones.
Well that’s it, a very difficult year with many ups and downs. Ultimately I am very happy to still be here. I know it’s been a bit of a marathon, but if you have managed to stay to the end then I thank you for your attention.
Comments