But the good news is that having practiced  self denial (most of the time) I am now at the most weight loss point since Christmas.  Now 109 kilos (17 stone 2lbs) which is a loss of 5kg. Course I have lost much more than that – I just keep putting it back on.

Tried on some old clothes and even the 5kg has made a noticeable difference.

When I was living in O’Sheas land just 3 years ago I was tipping over 127 kilos (20 stone).  Ah but the beer was good (sob)

Met up with two friends , Craig & Mirne, and we drove down there on the the Thursday. As Craig was towing a folding caravan the speed was around 85-90 kph which made it a nice gentle run. It was about 550 k so took up about seven hours with rest stops.

I had not been camping in Europe for over thirty years and the campsite at Bad Kissingen was a very pleasant introduction back. Pitches were good and not to close.  Toilets/showers were exceptionally clean 24/7 (something close to every campers heart). The washing up area also was as clean as anyone’s kitchen.

Craig & Mirne have a folding caravan which is up in less than a minute.  The big double bed makes camping a pleasure and when hooked up to the electricity means that even if the weather is cold they are not.  I was however banished to a tent. This was an oz-tent lent to me by Craig & Mirne. These tents go up in about 10 seconds although a further 10 minutes is spent pegging it out and generally straightening things if you are staying more than one night.

As we knew we would be spending a lot of time driving that day we I had prepared my version of an Irish stew the night before. Must have been ok as we all had seconds.  This was washed down with a bottle of wine to aid sleep.

The show itself was held in a forest and to cut down on the amount of traffic you had to get a shuttle bus. We walked down to the show camp siteto pick up the bus there.  The camp site itself was interesting to look at as the vehicles there ranged from the usual Landrovers  and Toyotas to the  Uni –Mog and Mann trucks. Here the emphasis was not so much on off road but more on overland travel.

The top end of the market would be Mann sized trucks that were so big you could no longer drive them on a standard license. Even saw one with a small 4*4 in the back. Nearer my price range would be the conversions  done on Toyotas and Landrovers. The addition of a pop up roof meant that a decent sized double bed could be placed in the roof space and a reasonable sitting cooking area laid out below.

Most of the time wandering around the show it rained but only lightly so it was not unpleasant to walk around. The rain stopped me taking lots of pictures but then most of them would be obscured by other show visitors so no great loss.

Second day at the show was just a repeat of day one. Still it rained but what the heck.  Had dinner at the camp restaurant (Wiener Schnitzel of course) to the accompaniment of one chap playing the accordion and another the spoons.

Sunday was time to pack up so of course it rained getting all the gear wet. This meant after an easy run home we had to erect the tent again to get it dried out. Awning sides adorned the garden trellis.

As it was too late for Craig & Mirne to return to Amsterdam we just sat outside and enjoyed another braai partly composed of German sausage.

Photos of the trip here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/series_truck/sets/72157626951228605/

The weekend, where I actually ate more in the old style (as in a whole week ago),  seemed to have made no difference as no weight gain found.  German beer & sausage fest on the horizon so maybe problems ahead.

Maybe this time – wish me success.

An incredibly pleasant evening starting with drinks at home  then the three of us ( now including Marks wife Maria) headed over for drinks at a local bar.  I so miss proper beer (bitter).  Despite the slight chilliness (after all it is only June) we sat outside which gave me plenty of opportunity to look over the local talent. A fair few looked like they had just come from the Slut Walk.

More beer and an Indian to follow.

Breakfast the following morning was devilled kidneys. Delicious. I am certainly going to add that to my breakfast repertoire. Said chum is heavily into DIY and has even built some of his own furniture. All of the work to a really nice standard.

Another old friend (Lee) joined us for lunch (along with his wife and getter so much bigger children). Maria had done  a Paella which I washed down with what I an told was a very good red and a glass of whisky.  A discussion on wines lead Lee to declare I had beer taste – I shall have to look that up to see if I was being insulted or not.

To soon time to head back. Chum taxi took me back to Stansted where heavy cloud prevented me from enjoying the scenery below for the plane back. Chum taxi two got me home.

Blood excellent weekend. Well fed and watered and had really top notch company.

Picture below Left to Right  – Me , Mark, and Lee.

I moved away from any school friends years ago. My work has never been local to where I lived so though I have friends from work I speak to them mostly through Skype as they are scattered across the globe. No kids , no wife come to that , so that avenue closed also.

Apart from a few work friends I would say that most of my friends have come from two of my interests. Shooting and Landrovers.  The shooting ones tend to be from clubs  I have belonged to. The landrover ones via Internet mailing lists which have turned into meeting for a beer at a show. Even when travelling to Africa I was able to meet up with people I had only talked with via mail for several years.

So anyway I have decided to get back in touch with the friends I do have and make an effort to meet up again. So make up the spare bed – I’m on my way.

In Brideshead Revisited Charles Ryder towards the end says ” I’m homeless, childless , middle aged and unloved”

Now I wonder why that struck such a cord with me.

This morning woke up to being in one of those nature documentaries showing the great thaw. Water is dripping off the thatch and I can see the garden again. I suppose this means that the snow in my truck will also have melted at last. The snow off my boots has just lain in the footwell with not enough heat in the cab to melt it.Forecast for tonight is back to below zero so it will be a slow crawl till I hit the main road again.

Fitted some lights above the dining table today. Electric ones! And I’m still here!

Over time, I will update these pages.