Friday, 21 May 2010

Thursday 20th May 2010, El Molino and it's still warmer in England!

Yep, not too brilliant over here, I'd thought the high winds had been left behind in Roquetas but alas, no. Apparently things are due to vastly improve starting next week so I'll dust down my cossy just in case.



Last few days haven't done a great deal but we did finally find a bar that was actually open in Mendigorria, second floor, dark and smoky but the coffee was OK and cheap. Also took some more pictures in and around the town using the “whirly thing” camera.



The turnover here is dramatic, one minute we are Johnny no mates and the next the site is half full, mainly Dutch who curiously, and I have noticed before on other sites, never dry their pots, pans and dishes etc. when they wash up? Wonder if it's a national trait or just Dutch campers?



The “extensive cycle routes” ARE cycle routes if you have tractor tires as wheels because in a lot of stretchers you have to get off and push because of all the small boulders on the path. Managed to get a printed copy of the area surrounding Mendigorria from Google Earth so we can map out navigable routes.



Today it's off to Pamplona, a city we came to know well and love when we spent a week there last July during “San Femme”, the bull run week last July. SWMBO wants to get this year's poster and perhaps a T shirt to go with the one's she bought here last time. Also get maps and other information about the town from the Tourist centre for the Leadbetters arrival on 26th May. As I have tracked down both Aldi and Lidl (may God bless and keep it) we will probably pop in on the way back as Thursday, as in the UK, is the day they both issue new special offers, so don't want to miss that.



As I got up early'ish, 6:30 am, or so and nobody was about I decided to check out the showers to find the best one. All are push button and come on for anywhere between 5 and 15 seconds, some are weak, some powerful and some vary in temperature. Took me a while and ended up with a very wet sleeve but I found the best of the bunch. Of course there was a problem, because it was the most powerful the water splashed about all over the cubicle and the glass partition was too slim to prevent my cloths becoming wringing wet. Note; take large plastic bag next time.



Now this site, when full, will probably house over a thousand campers. It has sixteen male showers but only four, yes 4, sit down traps for the men. Also only six urinals! So I'm glad we won't be here at the height of San Femme, when after a long night of eating and drinking, at least 500 backsides will be looking for some where to park. I mean women queing up for the bogs is one thing and expected, but men! Just not right, says so in the scriptures, doesn't it?



After a long series of overwhelming defeats and considering throwing her cribbage board and dominoes in the river, SWNBO managed to win at Ludo, which, let's be honest, is just about pure luck, unless of course I win, then it's tactics. So, in an effort to knock the smile off her face we played a game of draughts, a slightly more mentally demanding pursuit. Didn't take long before it was quite obvious that I was going to win and unthinking made a stupid move and the game ended in a draw. Mainly because she did not the know the end game of two doubles against a single double (does that make sense?) and I was not going to tell her. Cheered her up a bit though, better than a defeat, bless.



Thursday evening.

Just retuned from a gruelling day walking around Pamplona to reacquaint ourselves with the city, also to look for the tourist office for new city maps and the Vodafone shop to recharge my mobile. For some reason I can't get it recharged over the internet or using an ATM, by the time we had found it, it was closed and we were not going to hang around until it opened a 5 o'clock.

Had a great lunch, under a blazing sun, at the same restaurant in the Plaza del Castillio that we used nearly a year ago, great salad, steak and a lemon desert for €12 each. Got back and we are both knackered, thank God the weather's good now and we lay in the sun for a couple of hours, hard life but someone has to do it.



Now I don't know what has been going on with the picture formatting, when I post the blog everything is where I put it, when I read it as a post they are not. The last lot were supposed to be at the end and ended up at the start! So from now on I will put them all at the end and hope for the best.

Pics cover, views from the village of Mendigorria, looking down the valley and on to the campsite, you can just see the Navara in the centre of the pic. Others show our site and various pics of Mendigorria itself.



Haven't been including many jokes, mainly because I have thousands in a joke database and I never marked those I had included in the blog, so if any have been hear before, I'm sorry.



What follows appeared on the web a while ago, the guy who wrote it is a genius and a master of words and hope it is not a problem that I copy it here. It is long but you will never, ever laugh so much again in your life.



Title "AGENT" Picolax, Author, blu-tone



Author: makecoldplayhistory

Date: 18/07/07 00:42



On Thurs some Docs are looking at my insides from the wrong end if you know what I mean...



I've got to take two laxative potions; one at 0800 and one at 2000 tomorrow, but I've got an offer to go riding on Dartmoor. Will I s***t my brains out in the morning and then be fine for the day, or do I need to stay within sprinting distance of a loo?



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Agency_Scum

Date: 18/07/07 00:48



DO



NOT



GO!!!!!!!!!!!





Picolax is the pimp daddy of laxatives and you better be sitting ON the toilet when you take them. Have plenty of moiturised bog roll standing by.

Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: makecoldplayhistory

Date: 18/07/07 00:56



:-(



Although I live 20 or so miles from D. Moor, I only get to go 3 or 4 times a year!



On your advice I've just sent a 'won't be able to make it' email to my potential lift...Hope there are some entertaining threads tomorrow!





Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: FredDibnah

Date: 18/07/07 00:57



"I only get to go 3 or 4 times a year! "



Fecking hell, I bet that hurts when you do get the urge...



Ringsplitter....





You wanna try eating more fruit, surely?







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Agency_Scum

Date: 18/07/07 00:59



I've seen nurses administer that to patients with a stopwatch whilst the patient's on a commode. If you're not loosing serious body weight 20 minute after taking it YOU'RE ILL OR ANOREXIC.



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: makecoldplayhistory

Date: 18/07/07 01:02



That's why I've got the Picolax ;-)



Although I can see Dartmoor from my bedroom window, not many of my frineds drive, and the ones who ride certainly can't afford a car... In fact, my best buddy just sold his car to buy some Crossmax SLRs. Well worth it, IMO, but his GF didn't agree!

Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Agency_Scum

Date: 18/07/07 01:06



Also, please don't try drinking 2 pints of real ale an hour before the 8pm dose ( oh go on ). You'll fart so hard and loud you'll terrify yourself, mind you you will be projectile sh1tting at the time so that might take the edge off the fun.



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: makecoldplayhistory

Date: 18/07/07 01:11



PMSL A_C. I'm so tempted...



Is it really that 'pimp daddy'? It sounds like you know what you're talking about.

Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Agency_Scum

Date: 18/07/07 01:26



Speak to any general nurse about it.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: _stratobiker_

Date: 18/07/07 06:11



After the first whoosh you'll be clear :)



Just go on the ride. Explain the situation to your friend, he'll understand, and take his camera.



Might be a good Idea to take plenty of water so that you don't dehydrate.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 07:47



Picolax turned my bum from it's usual semi-dormant state:

a bit like Vesuvius; an impresssive and majestic sight with occasional noxious wiffs, regular minor expulsions of dangerous matter and a very rare display of awesome ferocity worthy of international news



into:

a portal from another collapsing largely aqeous universe via which all compressed matter emerged at trans light speeds, expanding exponentially as it emerges from the "wormhole".



If you think the widespread deluges of precipitation experienced this "summer" in any way approach "Biblical Proportions", then rest assured by 09:00 tomorrow you will have ample personal evidence to entirely revise your delusion.



I will add three pieces of advice, two very useful, the other certainly very serious.





1] Wear tracksuit bottoms or other baggy style garment with elasticated waist, this might give you an outside chance.



PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE TAKING "AGENT" PICOLAX



2] CHECK THE TIME & DATE OF APPOINTMENT ON THE HOSPITAL LETTER,



REPEAT



2] CHECK THE TIME & DATE OF APPOINTMENT ON THE HOSPITAL LETTER



3] Have a TRUSTED friend verify your reading of the details in ITEM 2





WCA, If you are looking for an INTERESTING thread tomorrow then I'll try to explain from personal experience why ITEM 2 above is so vital.



To those about to take Picolax, we salute you . . . (TBC) . . . . .



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: tyke

Date: 18/07/07 09:51



You should follow Blu-tone's advice.



Make sure that you're in 10 seconds reach of the loo. The good thing is it shouldn't be painful just fast and furious and possibly noisy!







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 09:57



At popular request, please be seated.



I'd had some disturbing "signs" during daily "evacuation procedures". In the past I'd also had Farmer Giles & Family surgically evicted from my arse, so wasn't about to wait years to have any future "squatters" invade me via the back door.

Doctor took a look and with only "Breathe out" for warning, proceeded to instantly put an expression on my face more commonly associated with riders of "The Big One" at Alton towers. And believe me I FELT like I was riding a VERY BIG one. the only word I could manage was "HOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFF !!!"



Weeks later I got letter from hospital plus two sachets of "Agent" Picolax.



In true blokey fashion I then "Man Read" the letter (ie opened it scanned it and took out the "Free Gifts") re: appointment and pre-op procedure

(WARNING: mistake alert).

WARNING: F*CKING BIG MISTAKE ALERT).



Right so on "Monday the 10th I was to have an "Investigative Procedure".



And so from 36 hours prior I would be RESTRICTED TO CLEAR FLUIDS ONLY.

So no real food from 8pm Saturday night. Slap up meal Saturday teatime, then orange juice or tea without milk, or "Clear soup" (sod that), a couple of lagers can't do any harm (Erm, wrong d*ckhead but sadly that's not yer main problem, sadly no)



Sunday evening I've been on clear fluids only for a whole day. Family sit down to roast beef, yorkshire pud, gravy roasties, peas carrots followed by trifle. Never mind I'll tuck into a glass of orange juice. (TW*TTT !!)



Whilst they sit back in post scoff bliss I prepare for my first meeting with "Agent" Picolax. (cue Music from Jaws)



Read instruction on "Free Gift Number 1".

I tear the strip off the sachet [PAUSE]



remember in those stories how insignificant it seems when the cork is removed from the bottle found on the shore, and an affable Genie trapped for a thousand years pops out ?

Well hold that thought



[RSTART]



And a few minutes later . . . .



"Agent" Picolax has entered the building (orally).



Not too unpleasant, tasted a bit "lemony", to be fair if most energy drinks tasted like this they'd be more popluar.



As these foolish thoughts are noodling around in my head a butterfly in the Amazon flaps it's wings.



A storm of geological cataclysmic ferocity fuelled by an apopleptic "Agent" Picolax is gathering pace, mass and will reveal itself too late upon the unwary. Oh Yes.



Seeing as I like the odd beer I'm pretty used to the occasional "rumbly in my tumbly", so surely nothing to worry about there then ?





tick follows tick follows tock . . . . .







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Cheesyfeet

Date: 18/07/07 09:58



PMSL!!!!



People are looking at me funnily in the office and wondering why I am bobbing up and down with tears running down my face.



I salute you sir, but please, just for once I implore you - NO PICS!!!!!







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: makecoldplayhistory

Date: 18/07/07 10:07



I haven't laughed so much in a long time Blu-tone ;-) Thank you so much!!!







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: _Yossarian_

Date: 18/07/07 10:13



excellent work blu-tone



how much weight did you lose?







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 10:15



The air was still.



The usual background drone of distant traffic had recently gone,

I did'nt notice it get quieter

it didn't happen suddenly, and

I had not gone deaf



Even the barking dogs and twittering birds had fallen confusing silent.



I was alone in my own home but suddenly felt the eyes of entire nations focussed upon one single point.



The epicentre . . .



I turned to see what it was . . .







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 10:22



I realised too late what it was that they already knew only too well, the epicentre was behind me.

But this was no pantomime villain



it was









KRAKATOA'S BIG DRUNK ANGRY BROTHER





And he'd come to kick the living shitt out of me . . . .

RIGHT NOW !!!





TBC







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Stoner

Date: 18/07/07 10:23



Im going to get fired in a minute.



Can't focus through the tears...







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: wackoak

Date: 18/07/07 10:24



one of the funniest things I've read on here, I'm getting strange looks from everyone in the office.



Please continue!







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: JONV

Date: 18/07/07 10:29



i'm pummelling the refresh button through tears of laughter. This is even better than description of his vasectomy.



Do continue.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: noteeth

Date: 18/07/07 10:34



lol - it's like a book at bedtime in here.



(nursing observation: makecoldplayhistory, I've seen people faint due to the combination of not eating and, er, repeated evacuations. Not great for trail riding.)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 10:38



I read that Lake Baikal in Siberia is the largest body of fresh water on the planet.

So large that, if empty, then it would take every river upon planet earth flowing into the space a full year to refill.





OR





The contents of my arrse would do the same job in 15 minutes flat . . .





Eventually that Sunday night, as it says in the bible, the waters receded and peace returned.



Once the aftershocks (not the highly coloured alcoholic stuff) had finally diminished and ceased.



I showered my skin (there was nothing inside, not even skeltal remains) and went to bed. Setting the alarm for 06:00 in order to rise and steel myself for 08:00 Monday morning.





08:00 was my next appointment with "Agent" Picolax.



It would be an appointment that I would NEVER forget.



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: noteeth

Date: 18/07/07 10:40



(there was nothing inside, not even skeltal remains)



Glorious. One new keyboard please.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: anokdale

Date: 18/07/07 10:51



Outstanding effort blu-tone







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 18/07/07 10:54



OMG!!!



I need a pic of makecoldplayhistory's face while he is reading the Blu-tone experience!



Where can you get this stuff from - I want to add some to my mates camelbak!



:-)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 10:59



I awoke at almost the exact moment the alarm went off, all in all a good nights sleep. I felt warm, safe, and happy.



Lying in my comfy bed in that delicious half sleep world where Debbie Harry is still 23 and I'm at the height of my prowess as a rock GOD and Debbie really wants me sooooooooo baddd. She's wearing that red shirt with red over knee stilletto books and . . .





The Rabbit from Donnie Darko taps me on the shoulder and says "Your appointment with "Agent" Picolax, Mr Blu-tone" . . . .



[Music from Lee Van Cleef's musical stopwatch]

[Music from shower scene in Psycho]





Feeling like I'm in the lift of The Empire State Building and it's dropping unchecked



Sound of a very fat moggy desperately clawing for traction on an old school blackboard . . . . .



Oh sweet Lord in Heaven, no pleeeeeeeeeeease not that, anything but not that . . . .



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Cheesyfeet

Date: 18/07/07 11:15



Noooo. Don't stop.



Actually a pause is good, allows me to calm down and start breathing again....





This has to be one of the all time best threads.





A legend has been born







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:16



My feet are moving with all the alacrity of continental drift in the direction of AWAY.

BUT

Like in all nightmares, the harder you struggle, the faster you run away the closer the MONSTER gets. So you break, become a quivering mess and submit to



THE HORRORR



Hating yourself for being weak, "One more effort and I'd have been free !!".



TOO LATE NOW



Stand before the bathroom mirror, the EVENT the night before must have sucked the very eyes from my socket, because I can't see properly. In the mirror isn't the reflection of 5'10" 15st me, it's a huge used femidom.



I find "Free Gift number 2" (oh the irony) and like the beaten drone that I am tear open the sachet (release the Genie pent up these last 10,000 years) mix the "Magic Potion".



Then the condemned man (deprived of even a blindfold, last cigarette, Debbie in thigh boots and light years away from a hearty breakfast) raises the glass to his lips and swallows.



I'm ready for you this time though "C'mon, C'mon, Come and have a go !!!"



I spin, and park my arrrse (now deeply grooved, and splintered from the previous nights multiple megaton detonations).





I wait and very time itself pauses



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 18/07/07 11:19



I have absoultely no doubt whatsoever that this is going to be worth it but the suspense is killing me!



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:21



I wait



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:22



Nothing







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:23



Nope, not even the faintest pixies fart of a tremor







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:26



But I'm not gonna fall for that, if "Agent" Picolax can wait then so can I





I'm ready for ya like a spring coiled by bhuddist ninja fellers







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 18/07/07 11:27



So where does the 'check and double check the appointment time' come into this?



Yeah, I know patience is a virtue I did away with years ago!







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:30



Distracted for the fraction of one second he's on me wringing me dry.

I wondered just where he'd been and he's about to let me know

He's dancing on my head as from my "Ring of Bright Water" emerges the Pacific Ocean and it's family, and they're in a rush.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: _Yossarian_

Date: 18/07/07 11:33



oh god we're off again.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:36



After a period of time that could have been less than a nanosecond or longer than a Genies internment, I KNOW he's gone.



I am dust,



and not much of it at that.



Time sort meself out for the day hospital, complete change of spare clothes plus 5 spare pairs of boxies (if necessary I'll wear 'em ALL, simultaneously, plus two pair of jeans, that'll minimise the death toll).







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Buckminster_Fuller

Date: 18/07/07 11:37



can you hurry up I've got work to do.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:42



Right just before I leave on last quick check.





No food 36 hours, Check



Clear fluids only, Check (ish) (few lagers can't have hurt)



Free Gift No1 at T minus 27 hours, Check (yep 20:00 hrs Sunday Night)



Free Gift No2 at T minus 3 hours, Check (Yep 08:00 Monday morn)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: FredDibnah

Date: 18/07/07 11:45



Pure Genius!



That's me rendered utterly useless for the rest of the day!



(Bows down to one Greater than He)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 11:46







Report to day hospital

WEDNESDAY 10th





WEDNESDAY 10th





WEDNESDAY 10th



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 18/07/07 11:48



LOL!



2 days early!



Did you have to go through it all again?







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: mike-b

Date: 18/07/07 11:53



Absolute quality in a glad-it-wasn't-me kind of way. Please tell us what happend on Wednesday.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: _Yossarian_

Date: 18/07/07 12:00



ha ha ha



you idiot



: )







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: makecoldplayhistory

Date: 18/07/07 12:07



PMSL ;-)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: mrhallorann

Date: 18/07/07 12:09



Fantastic :'D



gotta get me some of this stuff!!



dick hallorann







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 18/07/07 12:09



Why're you laughing - you have all this to come!



Sorry, didn't mean to laugh.



;-)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: JonR

Date: 18/07/07 12:15



Very good.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 12:24



"Hello, Day Hospital, erm I've got an appointment for Wednesday,

Yes that's right (gulp) the 10th. I was wondering, is there ANY chance you could see me today?"



"I'm afraid not, is there a problem, only if you cancel you may go to the bottom of the list . ."



"Oh NO NO NO, I don't want to cancel, I wan't to be seen today"



"HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR PICOLAX YET ?" (stifled sounds, the unnerving feeling that nearby extensions are being lifted)



(small voice) " . . . . . . yes . . . . ."



"I'M SORRY I CAN'T HEAR YOU, DID YOU SAY YOU'D TAKEN BOTH SACHETS OF AGENT erm SORRY BOTH SACHETS OF PICOLAX ??" (multiple stifled sounds, presence of numerous 3rd parties confirmed)



(small voice)" . . . . .Yes, both sachets . . . . . . Can I get some more . . . "



No tossing about this time, they didn't even try to stifle their laughter, all women, about 10 of them.



"YOU SAY YOU'D LIKE SOME MORE PICOLAX ? Ha Ha Ha"



"No, I asked if I could get some more, I definately did not say I'd like some more"



"If you can drop by after 13:00 today we'll issue you with a repeat prescription which you can take to the pharmacy, OK ?"



" . . .Yes, thank you"











Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: makecoldplayhistory

Date: 18/07/07 13:04







poor you!







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 13:06



Later on Monday the 8th





"Hi I've come to collect a prescription ?"





"What Name is it please ?" (says a goodlooking red head nurse with twinkle in her eye)



Simultaneously, she's making some secret *SIGN* for EVERY good looking female nurse to emerge from various hidey holes.

TBH I did'nt think the NHS employed so many NATIONALLY never mind at the local BUM CLINIC !!



"Blu-tone"



"Ah yes, TWO SACHETS OF PICOLAX !!"







Sirens, alarms, party poppers and flashing lights



BINGO!! LAYDEEZ AND GENNEMEN WE HAVE A WINNER OF THE LORD ELIZABETH FUKKWITT TROPHY



Then the killer question,





"Do you know how to take it ?"



"Yep"





Blu-tone exits the Bum Factory for the day and the workers roll about the floor.

Still it's not every bloke that can induce damp knickers in so many foxy nurses simultaneously.



Now any of you that are familiar with even Primary School arithmetic will be aware that a 36 hour countback from 08:00 Wednesday is 20:00 Monday.



By the time I got home it was almost 18:00. 2 hours to eat, then back, once again, into the hands of "Agent" Picolax.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 13:10



But even I with my double dose of "Agent" Picolax was not prepared for the delights of . . .





"THE PROCEDURE"













Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Van-Halen

Date: 18/07/07 13:12



awesome







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: anokdale

Date: 18/07/07 13:18



Mate, i have achieved the Square root of nothing today, we are just in bits here, and the procedure, more to come and two more doses of the agent.



Kettles on.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: makecoldplayhistory

Date: 18/07/07 13:37



"THE PROCEDURE" Now I'm worried!



Just tell me it doesn't hurt....







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: timothy

Date: 18/07/07 13:42



It's now been half an hour and no update from Blu-tone. Is he on the loo?







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 18/07/07 14:28



maybe the mods have decided the procedure is not suitable for print?



Makecoldplayhistory - be afraid, be very afraid!







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: _Yossarian_

Date: 18/07/07 14:58



blu-tone is currently inside out



mch - you should considering your alternatives mate : )







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: PeterPoddy

Date: 18/07/07 15:05



Utter, utter genis.

Thread of the YEAR without any shadow of a doubt.



THIS is why I love STW so much.



Arise, SIR Blu-tone, we salute you.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: mrsmw

Date: 18/07/07 15:18



Apparently they're developing an alternative



Sounds worse!







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: mrmichaelwright

Date: 18/07/07 15:21



Fletchers' long tube phosphate enema





snigger







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: PeterPoddy

Date: 18/07/07 15:23



Oh s**t!



;)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: richc

Date: 18/07/07 15:34



be afraid



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PICOLAX-SEVERE-CONSTIPATION-RELIEF-2-SACHET-PACK_W0QQitemZ220129372140QQihZ012QQcategoryZ75039QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 18/07/07 15:40



Now that has to be a worth a fivers entertainment ......



;-)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: johni

Date: 18/07/07 16:48



Just make sure you are ahead of the victim if out biking!



True quality thread definitely my favourite of all time. 10/10







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: JONV

Date: 18/07/07 22:19



mcph;



so - did it meet expectations. If you're in tomorrow you must be double dosed by now?



Hope it goes OK, will be clenching in sympathy all day.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 22:50



Right



Home I go with 2 replacements. And for those who enjoy cheap, ritual, humiliation it felt as though every worker that I passed in Fazakerley Hospital began polishing the floors with their backs as they writhed and contorted about.



Every other chancer wants "Temazzies" but Blu-tone, the only man with the addiction to "Bum-Explosives".



This next statement may be the least surprising ever reading from the book of "Revelations" but I DID NOT RIDE MY BIKE THAT NIGHT.



Truth is I just can't remember 'zackly what I did eat during my 2 hours I was granted beyond the unfailing grasp of "Agent" Picolax.



Rest assured small balls of cotton wool, economy portions of candyfloss and undersize clouds were VERY VERY high on the very short menu.





Items NOT REQUIRED on the voyage included:



Pineapples (the spiny oversize handgrenade of the fruit world)

Beans

Chips

Infact ANYTHING which MAYproduce a "Propellant" (yeah like "Agent" Picolax needs an enthusiastic assistant FFS).





By 20:00 Monday, the "Safe Food Fest" was over and the waiting game had recommenced !!

BUT

So had the internal dialogue [Music From "Rocky" as the plucky contender runs up the steps]



"Fluids Tone. Ya jass think fluids"

"Erm, right d*ckhead like I can think of ANYTHING else !!!"



May as well try to go to sleep, (lets face it a night down the pub and a Tandoori can never measure up to a "session" with "Agent" Picolax).







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 23:24



LOOK



There's no easy way 'round this, so why not make a game of it ?



DID FREE GIFT No3 ?



a) surprise me with it's gentle playng of the flute ?



b) treat me like an old friend not seen these many years and soothed my pain with the stories of childhood ?



c) Treat my arrrse/ears/NEIGHBOURS to a display of 4 dimensional pyrotechnics unseen since Stephen Hawkings wheelchair accidentally knocked the switch marked . . .







K A BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 23:33



Sorry the correct answer is,





Infact "Agent" Picolax worked Blu-tone over completely TWICE before he presented his sorry arrrse for DEEPER inspection.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: FredDibnah

Date: 18/07/07 23:47



Deary me, it goes from worse to worserer....





You're rambling now, btw. Not surprising, really....





I can honestly say; I never read someone talk about sh1t in quite such an eloquent, lucid and entertaining way...



STOP!!



Carrry on...



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 18/07/07 23:53



And so having survived "Agent" Picolax ( not once, nor twice, not even thrice, No 'King Dickkhead had to ride "The BIGGEST One" FOUR FUGGIN TIMES), I presented the wolds cleanest EVER alimentary canal for DEEPER inspection.





But first they made me take of ALL my grown up mens clothes and put on a childs dress . . .

Next came a phrase that no matter how softly said, how far away would have grabbed my attention, as surely as the fist of the school bully grabbed a tie in search of "Spare dinner money".



Nurse "Right we're just going to apply some lubricant . . . ."



WE ?? WE ??



Dear God, if it takes more than one of them (and there are three in the room that I can't actually see from this position) just to apply the lubricant how big is the bloody "DEVICE" they are planning on sticking up my arrrse ??



The size of a human fist ??



A Football ??

(now I've never been a Rugby fan but all of a sudden it seemed to have ONE ENORMOUS advantage).



A suitcase ??

Dear God not a suitcase . . . .



Then I hear the sound of big machinery, and I mean BIG MACHINERY . . . .



Sweet Babby Jehoosus they're going to drive a bloody Chieftain tank up my arrrse while I'm asleep.



Then whilst I am still reeling at the prospect of armour plated catterpillar tracks and gun turret taking me by storm . . .



MY BUM GOT SLIMED BY GHOSTBUSTERS !!

ALL OF 'EM





Current Dignity Rating for Subject Blu-tone = MINUS Eight Million and falling



"OK Mr Blutone, we're just preparing the ENDOSCOPE . . . ." (Did she say, she did ?? I'm sure she said HMS ENDOSCOPE)



CHRISSSSSS it's a bloody SUBMARINE !!!!



At least I'll be out of it whilst my uncharted waters are being searched for intruders by this HUGE vessel.



"OK Mr Blu-tone, on the screen in front of you is the picture from the camera on HMS ENDOSCOPE, you'll be able to follow the entire procedure . . . ."





WHOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Lady jusss a blooody minute, where's Jeremy FIKKIN Beadle ??



I've got a bare arse with about 10 gallons of KY-Jelly in, on, and UP it.

I'm wearing a kids dress. (Backwards)

HMS Endoscope, is about "To boldly go . . ."

AND

YOU want to show it live on TV !!!

BUT

HA! HA! HA! That's NOT the best bit, is it ? NO !!!



YOU WANT ME TO STAY AWAKE AND WATCH !!!



Look I may be daft enough to live on just yummy orange juice for a week, whilst suffering 4 YES F O U R !!! bouts of bowel movements big enough for Steven Hawking to test out his theories on.

But AWAKE ???



How blooody daft DO you think I am ?



Well that's what I thought, but obviously being a BRITISH BLOKE what I actually said was.



"ok"



The picture on the tv screen then started to go all blurry, just diffuse blobs of coloured light.



Then it went dark and a distant object began to emerge from the gloom . . . .











Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 19/07/07 10:07



The camera was showing some pretty poor qualtiy black & white footage of



2001 a Space Odyssey



And up ahead is the orbitting space station, hey yess! I love this movie, at least I'll have something to do whilst they (Nah best not think about that).



In the distance there's the familiar form of Planet Earths lonely sattelite, The Moon.



Except in this version the part of the Moon is being taken by MY ARRRSE !! AAAAAAAAHHHHH !!!



Nursey then kindly gives me the most impossible instruction, "OK Mr Blu-tone, just relax for me ".



When what she means is "My mates about to launch HMS ENDOSCOPE, and YOU are the target acquired".



Suddenly "The Moon" fills the screen and it's topography becomes crystal sharp. There are craters and hills. And up ahead is a deep gorge with sparsely wooded steep sides.

Then like something off Tracey Island or GoldFinger (please don't say finger like that) or Moonraper (could't we just stick with Tracey Island, after all I could be wearing Tracey's dress) the steep sides of "The Gorge" slide apart to reveal . . . .



BULLSEYE, Sherriff Rusty's Badge, The Chocolate Starfish



"The Lunar Podule" is gonna crash if it tries to land at this rate of descent. Blooody Helll if it doesn't slow down it's going to embed itself.



Precisely, embed itself







At the same time as the crew of "Podule Number Two" perished, I was suddenly treated to a simultaneous experience at BOTH ends.



What I saw was:

"Podule Number Two" suddenly suffered temporary blackout whilst entering a narrow cave (very narrow).



What I felt was:

Air. Rushing from my lungs like a desert storm.

Eyes out on stalks like Arnie at the end of "Total Recall".

A muscle (which I will NEVER EVER take for granted again) expand at astronomical rates



She stuck a camera (complete with its own lights) on a "Rope", in me. Right up my bum



And then, she played the Ace.



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: wwaswas

Date: 19/07/07 10:22



do you do after dinner speaking to doctors?



if not, you should.



pmsl (almost).







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: mike-b

Date: 19/07/07 10:56



And then..?







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 19/07/07 11:09



The Ace



She served it like a Grand Slam Champ. I did'nt see it coming (well no shame there after all I had things on my mind, and an anaconda up my arrrse).







"OK Mr Blu-tone, so that we can see the walls of your bowel as clearly as posible we're just going to inflate you"





Yep, inflate me.





Now, for everything that I had experienced up to this point I'd had some point of reference, some previous experience from which to draw upon, some vaguely transferrable skill via which to cope or rationalise my situation.





She was going to inflate me.





Judging by the size of HMS Endoscope's engines it would be delivering just a bit more puff (yes, I know it has connotations) than required to make one of those things you get out of a christmas cracker unroll and bleat.





She was going to inflate me.





The mind is most often a wonderful thing, but, it can be a fearsome enemy.





She was going to inflate me.



And



Just like the computer in 2001 my mind chose this precise moment to reveal that it had turned bandit.



At some point during "The Great Deluge" my guard had dropped (probably out of my arrrse).

Seizing the moment "Agent" Picolax had waved his fingers in my minds face and in the calming tones of Ben Obi Wan Kenobi whispered "These are not the drones you're looking for".



"Agent" Picolax had effortlessly "turned" his opponent, taken him over to the opposition.





Now she was going to infalte me,

But

My mind was suddenly supplying images, no soundtrack, no dialogue. IMAGES.

millions of 'em.

LARGE, small, B&W, colour, still, video, real, CGI, cartoon, sketch, millions of 'em.



SOME FREE SAMPLE IMAGES:

An Elephant

The Montgolfier Brothers (pioneers of the Hot Air Balloon)

Great gouts of fire spouting forth from a distant and angry sun

Mushroom cloud from H Bomb tests on Bikini Atoll

An erupting volcano

A beach babes playing volleyball

An american footballer kicking a field goal

A zeppellin

Two zeppellins

A pan of popcorn, popping

Bomb disposal Engineers detonating a "Suspect Device"

A Track pump test in STW

Compressors on display at B&Q



then

A childs face the instant after a birthday balloon disappears



Then antique footage with sound of Hattie Jacques as the Matron in the Carry On Films

"Hello? Mrs Bl-tone ? Yes he did have "The Procedure" today. Well I'm sorry to say we exploded him. No he won't be home for tea I'm afraid."





She was going to INFLATE me !!!











Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: wwaswas

Date: 19/07/07 11:15



"Well I'm sorry to say we exploded him. No he won't be home for tea I'm afraid"



Stop, please, it hurts (and that's just reading about it).







actually, don't.



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 19/07/07 12:08



And BOY she INFLATED me. She INFLATED my brains out. BIG time.



I don't know if any of you have been inflated.

I mean fully inflated.

To about 120psi inflated.



My belly was the size of a family dome tent.



So, I lay there, an anaconda slithering off up trap 2, gradually expanding, watching my bowels live on TV gently rocking on the bed, as you do on a Wednesday off work.



The remainder of the procedure was (by the exciting standards of recent days) just a mundane question of HMS Endoscope lazering away a few "squatters" from my exhaust pipe and generally giving a spit & polish valetting to me giblets.



Job done.





Erm no.





You see the sphincter muscle of the human anus is generally a pretty effective non-return valve. Mainly in the direction of out.

Being fully inflated in the presence of 4 female nurses avails the non-return valve an opportunity to display it's true vocation.





EXPULSION.



Rapid, Voluminous and Gaseous (a small blessing I suppose).



FARTS MEASURED ON THE HIGH END OF THE RICHTER SCALE





The human bum (to give it it's correct term) is capable of an astounding array of sounds, a whole orchestra of noises, both musical and percussive. But mainly a badly played trombone.



Not Over, because having successfully engaged and defeated the enemy HMS Endoscope was withdrawing from active service.



And at the very instant it was decomissioned (accompanied by facial expression suggesting you have suddenly achieved X-Ray vision) the commencement of it's passing out parade was signalled with a 20 bum salute from the "tail guns" of the badly holed HMS Blu-tone.





Later followed by a selection of marching tunes keeping strict tempo with the defeated ships company as I retreated to the recovery room. Each step triggered off a postern blast heard across the free world.

Imagine a creaky bottom bracket, which issues forth each revolution, now substitute the creak for the sound of your best ever fart, multiply by 10. Now we're getting close.



Upon reaching the recovery room I noted with great interest that someone had already had the presence of mind to open the windows, all of 'em. Like the thinking young feller me monkey, like the cut o' yer jib.



After a suitable recovery period, I was judged best giant marrow in show. And free to leave. I was still the size of some prehistoric land mammal in the later stages of multiple pregnancy. But free nevertheless.



I made my way to the lifts. Each step now a masterpiece in self control as I hold back a mighty tempest desperate to play his new baritone sax.



Lifts. What is it about lifts and flatulation ?

Just like fish and chips, just go together no question.



Exerting enough pressure to snap an iron bar with my "unseeing brown eye" I struggle the 20 metres from ward to lift. Displaying a walking style that would allow me to pass over landmines without detonation and with just one minor (reasonably) quiet escape party.



e-v-e-r s-o g-e-n-t-l-y

I press the call lift button.



After an age it arrives.

For the first time in days Lady Luck manages a tiny wink in my direction.

Not only is the corridor empty, but, so is the lift. BONUS !!



I leap in, like a jet propelled panther. (OK Jet propelled walrus).



I'm in, and my figer has hit Ground floor before I have settled back to earth. Please close, please close. Finally the doors are closed. Success, a lift all to my self.



BOOM, a sonic boom, think Cape Canaveral. I'm farting for the Solar System.



The blooody relief is ecstatic I can see my body actually shrinking. Eyes closed and I'm loving it. My arrrse (still heavily lubricated) is singing out high praise to "The Mayor of TRUMPton". This is borderline as good as a cold beer in a frosted glass on a scorching day (abroad obviously, unless it's April UK).



The noise is glorious and I've got a silly great grin spread Wiiiiiiiiide across my face.



Then



Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: IHateNettles

Date: 19/07/07 12:23



Stop it, I'm crying...







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: Cheesyfeet

Date: 19/07/07 12:24



I'm getting those funny looks in the office again.



Don't tell me, some buxom crumpet enters the lift....







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 19/07/07 13:15



People are asking if I am OK, as I wipe the tears from my face.



But then I look around the office and see others in a similar predicament - even if they have no interst in cycling, they are addicted to this thread!



:-)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: maxray

Date: 19/07/07 13:37



so what happenend!! :D







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: mmmcurry

Date: 19/07/07 14:04



C'mon, there are people round the world hitting refresh waiting to know what happened in the lift.



Steve.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: plant

Date: 19/07/07 14:11



If it's anything like yesterday, Blu-tone has to take a nap in the afternoon.



:-(







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: lebaldy

Date: 19/07/07 14:13



Once again I'm crying at work, much to the amusement of everyone else!



Has anyone heard from makecoldplayhistory since blu-tone went into details?







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: mmmcurry

Date: 19/07/07 14:15



Plant, are you sure its a nap he's taking?



Steve.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: labrat

Date: 19/07/07 14:18



Stop, please, it hurts...



actually, don't.





Crikey, though that was a quote from Blu-tone for a moment then ;o)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: _Yossarian_

Date: 19/07/07 14:18



makecoldplayhistory is hiding in tree i would imagine







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: crispys_here

Date: 19/07/07 15:01



I suspect he's waiting for a grand re-entry (as it were) for the 100th post...







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: johni

Date: 19/07/07 15:09



My better half works in the Mersey health trust and says that Blu-tone is one of many. She did have a good laugh at his writings though!



Much worse things happen in hospitals, however most are not quite so well documented as to that of blu-tone.



Priceless piece of literature. Where do we sign people up for the Booker prize? :o)







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: noteeth

Date: 19/07/07 15:50



Outstanding work, Blu-tone.







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: wwaswas

Date: 19/07/07 16:26



Just in case you're waiting to be post 100 blu-tone...







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: MrNice

Date: 19/07/07 16:49



I'm still waiting to hear from makecoldplayhistory - he should be at the "hollow shell of a man" stage by now. Is he history?







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: MrOvershoot

Date: 19/07/07 16:58



I've got to drive home past Fazakerley Hospital and I fear I might crash from laughing so much :o

Either that or it might be a good thing as my ribs feel like they are bust from so much laughing







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: grahamt1980

Date: 19/07/07 17:49



Oh hell, i'm in tear reading that, come on we need the rest







Re: Picolax - anyone had it? What to expect? (Toilet content)

Author: blu-tone

Date: 20/07/07 04:20



Then, something . . . .











Just how do you instinctively know these things ?







I open my eyes. Because some "other" voice gently nudges me.





And







The lift has only dropped from floor 6 to 5.

The door is wiiiiiiiiiiide open.

The entire population of Merseyside has been waiting for a lift. For years.



Whatever they do on this floor, the population is entirely women, teenage girls and kids.



Every last one (ZERO EXCEPTIONS) is staring aghast at the fat hovvering man in the lift.





Doors wide open. Thousands waiting, No-one moving. Eyes wide, jaws dropped.



Just me.



Gently.



Floating.





My feet are 18 inches above the floor of the waiting lift.





I touch no surface. I am in geostationary orbit.



A gradually shrinking moon.





My captive audience needs a lift. But not this one.



Or



Maybe, if they could overcome the hurricane, they might. (Probably not)



I hang there.



In mid air, supplying my own live soundtrack, and then, begin to slowly rotate.

And for the first time in nearly a week,

ME.

I.



I AM IN CONTROL.





By now, I have SHAT entire continents through a part of my own body less familiar to me than the far reaches of the Amazon.



(There are villages, in countries plane flights away from my home requiring visas, that I knew better, before this week)

(to tell the truth, I still could'nt pick my own arrrrse in an identity parade (now that's a phrase my old english teacher/probation officer never taught me) and still can't)



So, here I am, my bum smeared in expensive, high quality fork grease, gently bobbing up and down before an audience of female strangers. And as the stainless steel doors gently close, there's only one phrase in my head.

KISS MY F*KKIN FAT ARRRSE





PS If you are concerned about the current performance of your OEM installed bum, PLEASE consult your GP.

NOT the voodoo witchdoctor just to save a few quid.



Even being inflated and floating on your own farts in a lift in front of a bunch of kids is far less of a concern to ALL the people who love you than the consequences of ignoring it.



So remember, wherever you are, no matter how silent, how still. . . . . .







"AGENT" Picolax . . . . . . . .



He's waiting . . . . . . .



The EYE that NEVER blinks.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Friday 14th May, El Molino and I'd rather be in Roquetas.



OK, OK, I've already been complaining about being up here, but for God's sake I'm wearing slippers again and the electric fire is on most of the time. It may be that we've grown soft but it's bloody freezing here. I guess 600 miles and 1,000 ft will tend to make a slight difference but paying an extra €120/month for the privilege is hard to bear. We've also found out why nothing is open at present, no restaurant, bar etc. Because nothing is open wrt camp sites in this part of Spain until July, so moving doesn't really help at all. Luckily we are using the ACSI card so it's €15/night inc. 10A electric but not having easy access to the internet is a pain.



Worst news of all I have yet to find either an ALDI or a LIDL! (may God bless and keep it) An Euroski just doesn't cut it I'm afraid, don't like the beer and the milk comes in bags.



Did a tour of Mendigorria (see pics) and found the grocery store, bought a packet of fags and they were €3.80 instead of €3.15, only to find it had 24 in the packet? Must admit there are some great views from here and when the weather picks up, 9° C today although sunny, it will be a lot better.



I have included a picture of a neighbour we had for a couple of nights, looked like a pair of teachers, don't know why. The van turned up with what we thought was a standard Thule roof rack, no, it was actually their bedroom, talk about budget camping.



Went on the “river walk” which lasted about half a mile and then back on to a road on the way to Andelos where there is some Roman ruins, basically a pile of rocks, that are reputedly the oldest Roman remains in the World/Europe or Spain, depending what you read.



Skyped Derek L. the other day and filled him in wrt the weather, lack of a local on site bar, things like that. “Oh well, should we be better off in southern Spain, then?” Growl, growl.



We are also back to the regime of washing up as we do not have easy access to either a waste drain or fresh water, fountain off until July (shocker) and there is hot water in the toilet block. Because there is hardly anyone on site, there is no PWC running and anyway we now tend to share. (only seasoned blog readers will understand the last bit)



I'm sitting here writing this stuff at 8:30 am, electric fire on level two with SWMBO gently snoring in the background and it's getting so dark out there I may have to put a light on! The grass cutting man has just passed, hope we haven't got to move today, and will soon begin his incessant cutting. The large site means he is like the man painting the Forth road bridge, when gets to the end he has to start again. I know I need a shower but I just don't want to freeze to death this morning and judging by the leaden sky we will not be walking or cycling, any time soon, today.



Just been to the loo and it's so cold out there that I didn't even bother to take my book. I almost feel sorry for the poor mossie we obviously transported up here because he bit me the first night. Next morning flying out of the MS to rest up on a hot beach with a belly full of my blood, out the door and his last thought “WTF!” and promptly froze to death, teach the bastid.



Well the light is now on as I can't see the keyboard and no shower for me today, I think we will just poodle around in the car and find a Lidl (may God bless and keep it).



SWMBO leaves tomorrow for her short trip to Dudley, West Midlands for her brother's 50th birthday, flying from Biarritz, just over the border in France 70 miles away, to Stansted airport where she picks up a hire car for the week end. Back on the 17th May, our anniversary. I will be able to check out a couple of other camp sites on the way to see if they are an improvement on this one, i.e. they have a bar that opens. So I'm on my Jack Jones for a few days, might just stay in bed.



Well there's a surprise! It's 9:47 am and SWMBO is still in bed knocking out the Zs, I go and put some corn flakes in a bowl and she's up like a shot, sleep and food are very close cousins as far as she is concerned, food usually wins out. Sleep, however is important and if it must be interrupted by the need for a pee it can really piss her off, no pun intended, in fact her idea of heaven is having a colostomy bag fitted and being feed intravenously.



Just went on a quick but brutal, up hill and down dale, bike ride to Andelos, a Roman ruin and of course it was shut, the museum that is, the piles of rubble were all too open, rivetting I don't think. About 7 miles all in and I was, can't feel my legs anymore.



Tonight it's liver and fried potato along with the usual vino and the odd beer or three, then The Sopranos and beddy byes. We are watching series 6 after watching series 5 of The Sopranos and everything has changed and it seems to have moved on years, can't figure it out?



Sunday 16th May.



Dropped SWMBO of at Biarritz airport yesterday, after an 80 mile drive via Pamplona and the A121A and then the twisty A121B into France. She arrived OK in Dudley where she was in a tea shirt at 8.00 in the evening! On my way back finally found the Pamplona branch of Lidl (may God bless and keep it) at last and of course went in for the ritual look round and beer buying. Then found Aldi!



Raining when I arrived back at El Molino and today is a bit better but not by much. Was invited to watch Mark Webber win the Grand Prix in Monaco in a guys caravan which passed away a few hours and now making another batch of my famed “Cook House Chilli”, which turned out to be a corker. I wouldn't say it's hot but the wooden spoon I stir it with has gone missing and some of the paint on the ceiling, above the cooker, has peeled off. I'm putting the toilet paper in the fridge as a precaution.



Although Adam didn't make it to Dudley Heather did and presented Uncle Gerald with their present, an HP, all in one, printer, he was very pleased with it.



Due to the volcanic dust cloud RyanAir have been cancelling flights and SWMBO may be stuck in Dudley until Tuesday. The plan is to drive the 140 miles back to Stansted and if the flight is a no no, drop the hire car and get Derek L., whose is 25 miles away, to pick her up. He then can generate the new boarding pass, as it can only be done on line, not at the airport, so she can get the next available flight. I will have to wait and see what transpires, another trip to the beer factory may be needed.



Not allowed to watch The Sopranos so watched “Fallen” with Denzel Washington, no silly, not with him, with him in it! Tonight it's going to be Christian Bale's rendition of “The Dark Knight”, the Batman film which was Heath Ledger's (the Joker) last before he died.



Tuesday 18th May and SWMBO is back, I think I actually missed her this time. After a barrage of phone calls and showing wonderful project management skills, Derek L. took great care that SWMBO and I were kept up to date on the RyanAir situation and she got her flight OK.



So up to Biarritz again, by a slightly different route via Saint Jean de Luz on the coast and when I got to the airport there's this French girl in a tiny car, 25'ish, parked in front of the barrier for the car park. Hazards flashing and she's having a chat on the phone to her boyfriend! Asked her to move so I could get in and all I get is a lot of French thrown back at me. However as I started to manoeuvre the much larger Navara around her and she thought I was simply going to drive over her, she got the message and moved. You have 30 minutes free parking at Biarritz airport, better than most, so you have to time everything right, Parked and in and her plane had landed and 15 minutes later there she was.



Now on 17th May, 35 years ago a curse was placed on me and when I asked a local witch, which is basically any widowed woman over 50 years old and bearing a grudge, to remove it she said she could only do it if I remembered the exact words. I told her, “You are now man and wife”.



So it's a special day for SWMBO and I had not got her either a card or flowers and no way was I going to take out a small mortgage to pay for an evening meal in Biarritz. So when we got in the car I told her that her present was in the glove box. “Can I eat it?” Well, actually she could. “It” was two meat pies that I had picked up from Euroski supermarket that morning. They lived a very short life and I was being asked to drop in the the Euroski on the way back.



Finally sorted the Soprano saga, there are TWO series 6's a FINAL one and an ordinary one, guess which one we were watching?



So it's 9:20 am and all is back to normal, I've been up for a couple of hours and she is pushing out the Zs and sleeping like a corpse, nothing really changes, I'll just reach for the corn flakes.



Pics at end, for some reason when I place them in the text they manage to overlap each other, go figure. Note the pic of the woman who saved the Gurkhas.
 

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Friday 7th May 2010, Roquetas and Sunday we leave.

Day started out not good. Chuck died during the night. We had seen it coming, he had been struggling a bit lately and the relatively cold nights were just too much for him. So he joins his other two brothers, Not Going to Make It and Haven't a Chance, in the rubbish bin. I blame SWMBO myself, when we planted the three Chili seeds I knew that somehow or other she'd kill them. Her fingers aren't green at all, probably purple for all the good it does any plants or flowers she gets involved with. So we won't be getting fresh chilies plucked from our own little chili tree, never mind.



As you can see from the pictures, it's pretty quiet round here, quiet is not the word actually, bloody deserted is more like it! Mind the weather is fine, mid 20's and hardly any wind. As the weather at El Molino is down in the teens I don't know why we are going. Well as SWMBO is already booked on a Ryan-air flight out of Barritz to join her brother for his 50th birthday in Dudley on Saturday 15th May, we have to be somewhere closer by then. Changing the flight and the car rental so we can stay here and she can fly from Almeria is almost the same as buying new tickets, so we go.

When we called into the site on the way back from Alan's 60th thing, it was great there, but as it is 600 miles north of here and 1,000 feet up in the air, weather can be a little unpredictable.



I'm glad I didn't accept SWMBO's order the clean the car the other day as it rained that “brown” rain last night and the car's a complete mesh, so wash it tomorrow night. Went for a long'ish walk to Roquetas and back via the coast, bloody knackered!



So we pack up again tomorrow, green up and bikes on the back of the MS take up the most time but hey ho. Plan is to hook up Saturday evening then first thing Sunday, slide out in and gone.



Saturday and I've just paid the bill, €1,003 for 95 days which works out to just over €11/day including wi-fi and electric at 10A. Not bad as I budget at €15/day. Still handing over that much, all at once in cash, is soul destroying.



Next blog will be from El Molino on the 11th May, hopefully.
Well that post did not happen did not quite happen. Today is, 10th May. They (Roquetas camping) managed to screw up the internet for the last two days we were there and when we arrived at El Molino Wi-Fi is only available (free though) at the coffee area around reception 400 yards from our new site.



The 620 mile, two day, journey:- left at 9am promptly after some pretty smart maneuvering by yours truly, involving reversing, in more or less a straight line all along our calle and out. Managed to get through the “muy perigrosa” roundabout near Roquetas which involves a blind entrance to a roundabout everyone takes a maximum speed. As this was Sunday and early, less traffic and OK.



Tricia started eating, no comment.



A7 and then A23 and tried a Spanish type Aire just off the motorway but it we did not feel secure there. Mind at the time the weather was looking ominous and the wind was really picking up so a stop now might be a good idea, pressed on though. Then a stopover at the very large forecourt of a Repsol Garage near Sarrion in Arragon. A few lorries there at first but they left and they we were, in a space for about a hundred lorries, just us. The service had a shop with a bakery and coffee machines and showers, so kitted out well for the drivers. Reason for the scarcity of drivers? No HGV's on the roads in Spain on Sundays, so that's the day to travel.


Although we were not exactly scared staying overnight there, we took precautions, next to SWMBO's bed was her BB gun, a baseball bat, mace and the bar that holds the slideout, out, as a cudgel. God help anyone whole actually got past all the alarms and extra locks on the doors and windows.



Because we were out in the boonies with no lights the Moon was a bright silver crescent and the stars were like diamonds scattered on a black felt cloth and filled the night sky, beautiful.



Next morning, a fantastic dawn and no trouble except a few people from the gas station who were curious about the rig.



So a quick breakfast and on the road at 8am. A couple or three hundred of non problematic miles and we arrive at El Molino in Mendigorria, Navarra. Drove straight on to a grass pitch in 24°C and sunny weather. We are paying €15/night with the ASCI card as there is no reduced rates for medium/long term stays, which is probably the most we have ever paid, ho hum.



It was supposed to be a “fully serviced” pitch, i.e. water, electric and waste, all we have is 10A electric. But that was the pitch we picked, there are some full service pitches but they appear smaller, crowded and full of the English, we prefer our view of the mountains and river rather than Caravans and Motorhomes. See pics at end.

Tuesday, 4 May 2010

Saturday 1st May 2010, Roquetas ans not long left here.


Yep, off to El Molino, as described in previous blog, leaving on Tuesday so need to do the things we haven't done yet and then cover our 44 point check list for leaving camp.
Route will be the usual “going north”, A7 to Valencia, N23 to Zaragoza, A68 then N 121 to campsite, 600 miles and don't know how many stops we will make but we will not be paying tolls or using campsites on the way up. Have a few lorry stops in mind though.

So what's been happening around here?
Well at last, after 3 months at Roquetas, the promised bus trip to Almeria eventually took place. The parking there is scarce and pricey, but the last time we were there the Castle or “Alcazaba”, a Fortress, was closed and SWMBO had it on her list so it must be visited and photographed to hell and back. Also ever since I was told that it was a €1 on the bus, I couldn't wait to use such a cheap service. That's €1 for 12 miles in a comfortable, air conditioned bus, not anything like the service you get in the UK. Getting the bus from Forest Row to East Grinstead, a distance of 3 miles is over £2! No comparison mate.
I don't like going around castles and the like, dreary, dark old rooms with bits of rusted armour lying about is not for me. This place, however, was really neat and great views. The Moors had originally built it and most of the fountains and water features have been restored to their designs, plenty of pics at the end. Anyway a good day out which actually ended with a pint of Guinness and tapas, how novel.
Back at the campsite, it is still pretty empty, we get the odd German lot who turn up and basically don't speak or communicate in any form until they leave 3 days later, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, I don't think.
SWMBO used a phrase I hadn't heard since my childhood, well I call it a childhood, I used to think knives and forks were jewelry, I had opened the window near her side of the bed and a cool'ish breeze wafted over her semi naked body lying face down in bed like a beached whale, oblivious to the world as it was not yet ten thirty, “Oh, I can't be doing with that.” I shut the window.

Weather is warm 30°C'ish by early afternoon and sometimes unbearable so moving 600 miles north will probably help. We are doing a bit of a “foreigner” in packing up over three days, some of them take a bloody week! But I guess it means we will not miss anything, like not connecting the electrics as I did last time. So green up, bikes, cleaned by Tricia, on the back and in the bike cover that I've still not figured out how it actually goes together.

Stop press! It's now Monday morning and I've just checked the weather in Mendigorria (El Molino) and the weather is shit! Temperature is 9°C-11°C midday dropping to 5°C at night! It's worse than the UK. So the, so far, two day packing is going to be unpacked and we will stay here, in 27°C thank you, for another week.

Downside is the bloody mossies are back and although I plug in, spread on, every anti mossie device known to man, I still get bitten. This particular one is a messy eater though, because there's always a couple of spots of blood on my pillow each morning, at first SWMBO accused me of “sleep nose picking”, like sleep walking, only ambulation is not involved. At least it's a noisy bugger, unlike the ones in Marjal who were quiet and hungry. I'll get the bastard before we leave.
So, as SWMBO likes it here, she has planned an extra week here, guess what, it's involves shopping. She needs another swimming costume (which always means two, one for the wash) as the one she has now is looking a little worse for wear, or that she has got more wrinkles than she lets on, or maybe the real reason is she is now a size 10 down from 12.

Funny and unusual thing happened the other morning after I made my first of the day, Columbian cappuccino coffee. As I was stirring it a hole appeared in the side of the cup. A perfect oblong at the bottom of the cup, about 1cm long, just fell out. Now this was very curious but also quite painful as the side the hole appeared was facing me. Fresh, very hot coffee flooded out all over my crotch and bare legs, thank God at least I was wearing shorts! When SWMBO arrived after the screaming had finished, she thought it quite amusing. Big Jim and the twins, however, did not. Asking for help “down there” from SWMBO was out of the question so it was off to the toilet block for a coldish shower and no coffee.

I've given up bread. I had to finally agree with SWMBO, who has been banging on about it for forever, that I may have a slight problem with wheat, I sometimes get a bit bloated.

So no bread for the last two weeks and damn it, I do feel better for it, or rather without it. Can't actually admit to it though, can I? I mean there are certain things between a man and woman, like “You were right, Pet”, never, ever, enters any conversation I can remember. Luckily SWMBO never reads the blog, as anything that does not involve maiming, killing and generally shooting people, after the first two lines, is a complete waste of time as far as she is concerned.

Of course she then jumps in with ridiculous things like, “Can't have anymore Pizza, either”. CAN'T HAVE ANYMORE PIZZA! The food of the Gods, in fact my favourite pastime is eating Pizza. Is there anything a Pizza can't do? To miss quote Homer. Anyway I know for a fact that there is no bread, wheat or whatever in a Pizza, I mean they come from Lidl (may the Load bless it and keep it), what can ever be bad for you if it comes from Lidl? And pies, surely pies are OK? Good God, pasties are not on the forbidden list? Can't be, says so in the scriptures, doesn't it? OK, OK so I've lost some weight as well, but that's all the extra walking I've being doing. I am starting to think that milk is next, I may have to start hoarding biscuits and my Mars bars asap.

Extra walking? Because the bikes, and it took hours getting two bikes into a Fiamma four bike cover, loaded and alarmed onto the back of the MS, were staying where they were mate. Tricia said it also took hours to clean them. So we have taken to long walks along the beach front to either Roquetas or Aquadulce, between 8-10 miles depending on what route you take or what shops SWMBO is magnetically drawn to. Could be worse, walking along with the Mediterranean on one side, the hot sun shinning and a cool breeze in your face. Problem is that the cool breeze is sometimes 40 mph headwind which whips the sand and grit, from the not yet completed holiday hotels, right into your face, not so nice a thought.
She's on to Cotton Traders on the net and bought two pairs of bikini, mix and match, type of things so I thought I would stay in and read. Nope! “We might as well walk to the “Grand Plaza” anyway because I won't get these until Jean and Derek join us end of May”. “er. .so you want to buy another one to “tide” you over for two weeks?” “What do you want me to do, lie around naked!” Perish the thought.

I've lost my walkman, searched all over but it's gone to that mysterious place I regularly lose things to. How can anything get lost in the confines of the MS?

So anyway the days of lying in the sun, listening to Owl Eyes, Peter Gabriel and the rest are a thing of the past and I have to put up with being able to hear SWMBO griping on about no bread, no Pizza, cut down on the beer (for Christ sake!) etc, etc, world without end, heaven help my poor demented soul.

We were hoping to vote in the upcoming election but by the time the Spanish get round to delivering our postal votes, sent ONE week in advance, it would all be over and done with. I did really want to vote for the “Monster, raving, loony party”, to quote from Monty Python but, for the life of me, I can't tell which one of the parties better suits the description anymore.

The Castle bus trip!