Yep, the first new Gaby of 2021 is now available!

'Its not a long way from Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer along to the Eck and the smells wafting from the takeaways prompted another gastric growl. Okay, so i've been heading that way for that purpose all the time, Kat would have a hairy fit but one Bratwürst isn't gonna make any odds is it? There were a few people sat about enjoying the weak sunshine with their lunch but there were empty tables...

"Eine Bratwürst mit pommes bitte.”
"Sose?”
"Mayo danke”
"Getränke?”
"Er, heisse shokolade...mit crème.”
"Sechts dreizehn.”

Its lunch okay, I bet you'd have the same at least its not schnitzel or pizza – tempting though they were. I made myself comfortable, well as comfortable as a folding seat gets, with my chocolate, the food arriving a couple of minutes after. It may not be the African heat of Tenerife but sat watching the sparrows fighting over crumbs, picking at my frites I was at one with the world.

Yeah, back to life, back to reality, despite the chat with Lisbet earlier I'm still no closer to a solution to my career, no life map. Some of my friends have everything neatly planned from family planning to grave, others will have life dictated by family obligations as much as their own choices. But little ol' me, I have choices, I just don't have any clue as to which are the 'right' choices – or even if there are any right choices.'

In a volume filled with angst, Gab has some hard thinking to do and an unexpected racing opportunity isn't necessarily what the doctor ordered. This penultimate instalment of book 26 comes to you at a slightly lower cost than usual as will the final part next month. The link below goes direct to the Kindle USA page.

Okay - so other stuff. There was a break in the weather on Monday so it was out on two wheels, even if it was a bit chilly. With a chance of ice in places I thought I'd stick to main roads, at least on the way out, hopefully the sun would clear any remaining ice by the return leg. I made my way to the southbound A38, that trunk route that runs from Mansfield to Penzance, often on a very direct route going over rather than around all in its way. And so it is from Brizzle, some cardio working climbing out of the city then it barely lets up all the way to the Airport.

Of course you are compensated by a good downhill except with a damp, potentially icy surface and not the best finish, caution was certainly the watchword this morning. Hardly have you crossed the River Yeo than the up, more draggy this time, starts again taking the road onto the shoulder of the Mendip before another, shorter drop deposits you on the Somerset Levels for a five mile, nearly straight run to Brent Knoll. The turn north there was the first relief from the headwind all day, I was certainly glad to reach Weston for a chip stop (even if they can't cook chips to save themselves!)

Out of the wind was reasonably comfortable but I didn't dally, starting the return via the cornice around to Kewstoke. There isn't a lot of route choice to get back to the Avon but I was happy enough to take a reasonably direct route via Nailsea to end the ride, still under blue skies with 107km.

Tuesday had been forecast wet but in the end that just manifested as grey and damp, I got in an 8km walk then set about some writing which, as you see above, resulted in me completing this months writing target.

And so to today, fog, drizzle and grey was the forecast so I've put off riding until tomorrow - there is no fun riding when you can't see anything - not that the thicker fog has manifested yet.

Its another longer Gaby - The Visitors chapter today, Revenge!, a plan is made to get back at Sonia for her bullying but the highlight after the day in Leeds, is the Tuxford 10! Things on the bike go well but off the bike, well would being outed as Gaby to the Americans really be that bad?

February is looking like it'll be exceedingly thin financially - I might have to sell my body for supplies, let me explain. Most of my income is from Kindle/Amazon book sales, all my eggs currently in one basket, which is not usually an issue, payments are regular and sufficient to save me from starving! However, and I'm sure I'm not the only one so affected, this month they decided to 'check' everyone's payment plans, in my case the same arrangement has remained in place for over 6 years without issue.

This, when I finally broke into my account, meant I needed to delete everything and re input all the banking details, there was no option to just confirm they were correct, result, they had to 'check' my details again which delay has meant I've missed the January pay day this coming weekend. Bummer, you bet, I now get 4 weeks income free with just what's in my purse to keep me fed, there is no safety net of savings to fall on. It wouldn't irk so much if it was my fault but in this case, its not - such is my life!

And whilst I'm bitchin', that very pretty girl in the 'balloon' ad that's been running? those legs, they are scrawny beyond belief, not nice at all unless you like the Skeletor look - maybe its just me but I like a bit of lower limb shape.

Guess i'll get some lunch then crack on with more writing, otherwise i'll be starving in April!

Bye for now,
Madeline Anafrid