It was my son's funeral today. I didn't attend because I knew I'd not be welcome and might have said or done something. According to my ex, some dickhead of a Baptist minister did quite a religious service and didn't mention our family once. It's not just me who is non-religious, my son was as well. One of my daughter's friends told him so afterwards. Again good job I wasn't there or he might still be picking bits of the Old testament from a very tender place.
Thank you all for the messages of condolence you've sent me after the death of my son. I have no idea if I'll be allowed to attend the funeral, not that it worries me that much, except it would have been nice to be with my ex and daughter to give them support. The reason I don't care about going is that it will be staged managed to show my daughter in law as the wronged, long suffering wife who is now a single parent. The fact that we believe she drove my son to suicide is probably another reason I keep away from her, I might not be answerable for my actions.
I'm in a strange place at the moment, sort of on autopilot. At lunchtime I received a call that put me there. My ex phoned to say my son was dead - he was 33. Apparently, he walked out of his camper van in the middle of the night and then jumped to his death from a motorway bridge. I don't know why. His wife will probably blame me, although I haven't spoken to him for four years, his choice not mine. I can't say I feel particularly sad, because I can't actually feel anything. I worked this afternoon as normal because I couldn't do anything else.
Hi folks, after such touching commentaries concerning Seven years of Bike (perhaps we could get John Williams to do the soundtrack?)I hate to say I probably won't write one tonight. Been a bit of a busy day driving up to Wales to take my ex to Cardiff to buy a new suite, cooking lunch for her(my suggestion)and then going to see my daughter and doing a ride with her in the afternoon. She's still not back to her old self so I really appreciated her giving her time and energy to indulge me a ride. Then driving back and sorting out two rapacious moggies.
It's 28 years ago today that I officially started my transition and went into work in a grey two piece. In some ways it feels much less than that and in others, it seems centuries ago. During that time I've lost some good friends and also my mother and my aunt, who were both supportive of my decision.
I've just got home from the Arctic Circle, where Yorkshire is or thereabouts - actually, it's been mostly warm and sunny. We met up with Mads on Friday evening and went out for a carvery, where we remembered absent friends from last year and drank a toast to them.
The Gabysode I wrote for the meeting of the Gabyverse elite is a short story, a one off, complete in itself etc. If I find out who keeps switching it to a series. I shall park my bike up their &%$£!
We're coming up to another centenary with Bike, and I'd like to check that I keep pedalling or should that be peddling? Assuming Erin is happy to continue to host the longest shaggy dog story in history.
I have to warn you that from Friday 4th for a few days postings might be erratic due to my visit to Yorkshire to the TdF and then having a visitor when I get home.
I see some of you noticed a new Charlotte's Tale, I intend doing something with PFH - TBK when I have a bit of time, so that's the next project.
I've just been up to the training for the Tour de France volunteers in London and while I was waiting for it to start, we were sitting out in the sun drinking tea or coffee and on the next table to me was a transgender person. Honestly, you can't go anywhere these days...
I worked a 12 hour day went to check my emails and found one from the TdF organisers about my training in a couple of weeks time. I clicked on the link and it reverted to one that was sent in March or February. I tried to write to them about it and my email provider logged me out, which it's been doing for sometime--one evening it logged me out ten times in as many minutes. I suspect as soon as the UK stages of the TdF are completed I'll be changing my ISP I've had enough. Anyone contemplating using Talktalk - don't, they are complete and utter crap.
Sorry folks, been up in Lunnun all day as part of my training for the Tour de France (I'm not riding it, just helping to make it happen). Walked miles around the Olympic Park and didn't get home until late evening, so I'm afraid I'm too tired to do Bike tonight. Hopefully if I can wake myself up by tomorrow, I'll try and do the next exciting(yawn),thought provoking (duh!) episode of BCTS own long (winded?)running soap. I'm sure you can't wait.
This turned up on the Guardian website and I found it very sad. There are some links to reports and also some photos of the 'girls' working as prostitutes. Sometimes I think I need to count my blessings more often. The intolerance they have had or still receive is beyond my experience no wonder the health issues, substance abuse and other problems are so prevalent.
Back in January 2011, I couldn't believe I'd written episode 1234 of Bike. I wondered if I'd get to 2345. Now I know the answer. Why? is probably best not asked. Astonishingly, there are one or two people still reading it - still, there's no accounting for taste.
My best wishes to all my readers and thank you for encouraging and supporting me this far. I'm not making any predictions about 3456 even I might have run out of ideas by then - or will I?
Some bits from the Guardian about a transgender person seeking election in the Indian elections, and references to the change in the law in India recognising transgender and hijra(eunuchs) people.
Sorry folks, Bonz is out and Whizz is refusing to dictate the story to me, so I'm not going to do a bike tonight. If the truth be told, I'm too tired to be arsed to think enough to write anything coherent.
Thanks for all the comments and kudos for my short story, 'let him wear a skirt then.'
Hopefully, normal service will resume tomorrow. If you're desperate for Bike, might suggest reading some back numbers, I've been doing so for a few weeks and apart from the typos and other mistakes, I've quite enjoyed the experience.
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
