In the cold light of day, I have to admit to beginning to feel my age a little.
I was watching a couple on the beach earlier with their son who was probably around 10 or 12 years old. Watching them jump in the air while taking photos I did feel their pain. Not that they had a rough landing, no. I read their expressions that clearly from 100 yards away said – ‘ I used to be able to jump higher than that‘. Both him and her had it written all over their faces – and it was painfully obvious that they had put all of their effort into making a jump that probably didn’t elevate their head more than 6 inches from its normal height from the ground.
I feel that pain too – most days, while running or cycling or even reaching for something. It’s just not as good as it used to be, a little less spring in my step, taking the stairs all the way to the bottom instead of jumping half of them, running up a kerb and getting enough lift to clear the obstacle and land on the pavement rather than bounding like a Gazelle and landing a metre further forward than I really needed to. I fear the Reaper is gaining speed on me slowly but surely.
On a less grim note – my car is EPIC ! A bit juicy with a board on the roof, a bike on the back and a boot full of crap, but still all the same, rather damn splendid. it glides effortlessly and in utter comfort for 1000 kilometres and I never even felt tired. I like it a lot.
Have also managed to touch base with almost all of the people I need to and a couple of surprises along the way too. I have to decide if I want to do battle with the local electricity board again. A year and a half ago, I told them that no-one had lived in my house for over a year, gave them a new meter reading and expected to get a huge refund – but no – this is Portugal – As much bullshit as Spain but where the people are twice as stupid.
Lagos Marina has a Café so I just had to head there for a full english breakfast this morning, it was lush I have to say – and less than 10 euro too. The wind was blowing a hooligan there too – I forgot just how windy this place can be. I am considering wandering up to the Drom later but I think that is probably just misplaced nostalgia – I am expecting to bump into the old crowd, Gentleman Jim, Mental Mila, Zeni and others but something tells me that just won’t happen.
Popped into Uwe’s workshop today on the way to see Frannie and Max. He had a long board there with some colours that reminded me of melting Vanilla ice-cream with strawberries in it. Sadly it was already spoken for otherwise I would have had it but I did challenge him to make another one that has a full bottom paint in the vanilla and strawberry design. I have to say though – I think that one would end up on the wall in Belgium rather than coated with wax and grunting up the beach. It was lush – I want one – my first Kluba
Expect more of the same tomorrow, I may venture to Amado in search of a tidier wave – we will see.
The November Archives 