Old post: Why does it rain so much?

Why does it rain so much?

Monday the eleventh-O-two-two-O-O-two

Ten am

Why does it rain so much, the grey sky and the gust of cold wet wind that hauling outside doesn’t help me to get though this Monday morning at all. Sitting in this empty library, with a book of mine staring at me. I sat there for a while waited for my brain to warm up and get used to the environment but still..I didn’t know which page to start on.. so I kept flipping the book back and fore.

A man with a green jumper and denim walked in, put up his thin smile and said hi, I nodded and replied with the same.

He sat down, open his laptop and put on his ear phone, silence grew so I took that as a beginning signal -to read.

After I gave a few nodding to the book, I decided to give myself a break – I looked out of the windows behind me. It was still raining. The sky was still as gray as ashes, I couldn’t help but wonder why does it rain so much!  The cloud must be really sad today. .. but why is it sad? Because of the wind was saying goodbye? Or was it feeling sorry for itself ? Shouldn’t be..  anyway, I felt some light enviousness growing.. The cloud can cry but why can’t men? A friend of mine, Lipeng said to me over the phone last night that it is ok for girl to cry, it is good too. “A way of releasing stress” she said, how about for guy? “We stress too!” I asked. But her suggestion to go down to a local pub and pick a fight instead didn’t appeal to me that much..

-Big sigh-

A girl walked in to the room, I know her.. so off we went- the same greeting, the same one that you and me have been practised and conditioned to say it all our life, how original!

She sat down, get her book out, and once again the silence grew. Just like a transparent barrier that separate us.

Shit.. I have been thinking too much again and yeah, as Li peng said that the “thinking should be left for girls not guys” (hmm..)

I placed myself facing the book ready to tackle it once again, as I about to open the book, I turned my head, looking behind me.. it was still raining.. Why does it rain so much?

Still Crazy After All These Years

Do you believe in everlasting love?

I think  it does existing.

I left Bristol for good nearly 6 months ago to pursue my further study.  I returned to it on 20th December to spend my x’mas there, to catch up with friends and to collect things I left with Kazuko.   I took a flight from Bastislava, Slovakia – a 2 hour flight and landed in Bristol Airport around 6PM.  It was already dark and snow started to fall.  Look like I brought the snow from Vienna with me.

While I was walking over to the bus stop I bumped into Liz and her fiancée – Petros.  It was a surprise meeting as she told me a few weeks ago that she will not be in Bristol when I arrived.  But bad weather caused her flights’ cancellations (yes.. two) I was glad to see her, but am sure she didn’t (and rather be in Berlin for her holiday) Nevertheless, we arranged to meet the next day.

During my 7 days in Bristol, I stayed with Kazuko and Eard.  I met up with old friends and also made some new ones :  Eard, Michelle, Charlie, Aun, all the Thai lads, Paola, Ton, Abi, and Tessa, Philip, Warder, Kazuko, Keiko, Ellen, Andrea, Matthew, Grim, Jed, Simon, Brijech,Neil, the Buddhists friends, Keith and Tom from Buchanan, my ex-work place.  Meeting them felt like I just left yesterday.  I wondered though what Bristol would be like to me if these people were not here.

I also spent time a lot of time walking around the city, noticing changes.  Lots of changes.  New shops, Border bookshop closed down, the Neptune statue got board up, the flat I stayed at got sold.  6 months since I left and Bristol has already changed.  6 months can be a long time.

It was nearly 10 years ago when I arrived in Bristol as a student and yet this city still holds a special place in my heart.  ‘Love?’  I couldn’t be sure, since I don’t know what it means.  But for sure I like it a lot.  Being in Bristol felt like I was in a company of old friends, like slipping on an old pair of jean or shoes. There is no need to put on any pretentious air, and it fits nicely on.  I would go as far as saying that it might feel like being in a company of an old lover.  Sitting, sharing good old time, and admiring each other. And although there are painful occasions as well as pleasant ones of the past, all are good and memorable.  Time has that special effect, it numbs all pains.  Of course without a real experience, I could only imagine what it would be like to sit with an old lover.

I noticed how much I still admire Bristol when I took Keiko (a daughter of Kazuko’s friend) around the city  sight-seeing.  I saw many of the sights countless of time and know the city inside-out still, I couldn’t help admiring them.  I felt very proud too, showing Keiko around the city that is my 2nd home.

My flight back was delayed .  I was told we had one-too many bag on board.  After a few recounts, the airport staffs decided that it would be a good idea to get all passengers to march down from the plane to identify their bags – genius.  After the marching, we left Bristol 2 hours later than scheduled.  As we took off, I look through the window panel.  Sparking city light, waving good bye..Only for now.  See you again soon, Bristol.

Right to the End – Day 1

View Google map

Day 1: Bristol - Wells - Glastonbury - Street - Bridgewater - Bishops Lydeard - Exford

(These post are the post-journey account of my Bristol to Land’s End trip in June 2009)

Day1: Cool and cloudy

I got up very early as I intended to leave by 0700.  I knew it was going to be a long day and leaving early would give me ample of time to learn my navigating skill on the way (yes, getting lost!).   Davide arrived to send me off just after my morning Buddhist prayer.  I kitted myself up and took all the luggage downstrair.  I felt like John Cabot, ready to take on the great journey to the west but only to find that my bike’s back tyre was completely - flatted.

Even John Cabot take 2nd attempt to get to North America, so I didn’t dwelle in disappointment for  too long.  I got on changing the inner tube.  (Thanks Davide who kindly photographed the heroic first step of my journey.)  The puncture must have caused by the last minute change over of the back tyre from the knobbly one to the slick one (better on road surface but easily puncture).  I must have nipped the inner tube somehow.

Having done the change - next disaster striked: the bike pump didn’t work!!!   But it was solved easily as I managed to borrow one from my neighbour.  Finally at 0800hr, I was ready to leave!  But I decided to get a new inner tube and a pump just in case another disaster strike.  I arrived at the shop, did the purchase and had a little rant about the eventful morning with the shop owner.   I ended the conversation with ”well, at least it can’t get worst from here”.  I really really wished I didn’t say that.

Get on route 3 near Templemeads train station and headed for Wells.  There were  just enough signs to help me navigate.  The route took me though rural roads and then the back streets.  I was building up some speed until I went downhill somewhere near Chew Magna and made a spectacular fall on a left turn.  My knee went down first then my left hand, I was flat on my face a few metres away from the bike.  There were some pebbles one the road which caused the slick tyres to lost their grip on the turn.  After I spent a few seconds observing the dirt, I got up and checked the damage – the bike was Okey but the pannier’s screw loosen.  My left knee was simmering with blood.  The cuts were not deep but long but there were deep scratch on my left hand.

Washed the wounds with some water and carried on cycling.  Passed Blagdon Lake, and finally arrived in Wells at 1257hr.  I rode around the city centre a few time to get the bearing of the city, and to find a cycle shop to get the damaged pannier fix.  Found a bike shop called Bike City.  Costed me £1 to fixed it.  Left my bike there and went over the road to get some lunch and went to Wells Cathedral to have it there.  Left Wells around 1330.

It was quite difficult to find the bike route from Wells to Glastonbury.   It started to rain very heavily.  I stopped under a big tree for sometime.   After 30min, the rain seems like it wasn’t going to stop for a long while.  So I decided to brave it out.  The wounds on my knee felt fresh with the cool rain wash.

After an hour in the rain, I started to felt stupid and wished that I wasn’t there.  I was on A39 toward Glastonbury and the road was getting narrow as I was getting closer to Glastonbury.  Large trucks were passing at regular interval with heavy gust of wind and water spray which caused my bike to swerve.  I felt unsafe and honestly – quite scare.  I decided to get off the bike and walk on the narrow footway slowly.  The rain kept pouring down and I was soaking through and through.  It can’t get worst than this can it? really..

Finally, I get through Glastonbury and headed to Street.  The rain cleared out and it was a plesent ride.   Stopped on the way to get change into fresh cloths and socks before hypothermia hit me.  The sun came out which help to warm me up as well.  Fantastic.

I built up some speed and get to Bridgewater in no time (relatively!) But after Bridgewater navigation become difficult again and I got lost quite a few times.  The sun was low on the horizon and I started to get panic – cycling in the dark in rural road should be avoid at all cost.   Finally, I arrive at Bishop Lydeard around 2100 and still wasn’t sure which way to go to get to Exford and there were no one on the street to ask for direction.

I knocked on one of the door I saw some light inside. A middle age man opened appeared with a bemused expression on his face.  I told him I needed help and where I want to get to – and he said “No way you will get there tonight – it’s another 3hr ride on the bike and it’s all up-hill from here.” Great. Just what I wanted to hear.   I decided to call the hostel owner, not sure what respond I want.  I can hear my ego saying to me – find another place to stay and carry on the journey tomorrow but my body and mind was already surrendered.   After a few phone calls (the reception was poor), Mike the hotel owner agreed to come and fetch me. Hurray!  I tried to find the best place to wait for him in the dark.  Somewhere obvious and somewhere away from the stupid farm dog that kept barking at me.  Its loud and sharp barking was pushing me to the limit.

I decided to settle down next to the direction sign just off the main road.  After 30minuts also, Mike arrived with his 4×4 and take me and my bike away to his hotel – Stockleigh Lodge.  I felt so strange in his 4×4.  Although the padded seat was SO soft and the roaring engine just kept on going  attacking the high hills  that would have finished me off one after the another effortlessly.  I felt my eco-warrior pride crushed, like a runaway boy who were on the way to see the big world but got lost and his parents found him and taken him back home.  I was disappointed that I won’t be able to say that I rode all the away from Bristol to Land’s End, but I was glad to be found and rescued.

After a glass of milk, two slices of bread and hot shower I was ready for bed.  Sod the planning – I’ll do it, and more thoroughly this time in the morning.  As I drifted off I kept reminding myself not to ever say that jinx phase ever again!