Back again, believe it or not, I actually qualified for the next edition of Racer. I guess the old girl's not too bad at whacking a few words together! Ha! I'm sure to get the sack after this one!

When we arrived in Misano Wednesday night about 9, the suspension company W.P. had rented out this old castel. The castel is now a restaurant and they invited the whole team out for a meal, or should I say seven meals. Nobody had realized that the first course wasn't the last course! Ripping into it as if it was their last, going back for seconds and thirds, me included. I'm not completely sure if it was because it tasted so good, or if it was just because it was nearly ten o'clock at night. Mmmmm

That night I was dreaming that I was about to be sick, funny enough I was but lucky I just woke up before detonation. I cleaned myself up and went back to bed. The next day I thought I was going to die, I spent the whole day glued to the lounge just managing to keep down a few drops of water. Needless to say the team were a little concerned about how I was going to ride the next day.

Over the next two days I managed to get myself and the front row in fourth position, which I was really happy about. It's great to be on pole, particularly because of the bonus money, it's not like I need another watch. Ha Ha!

Sunday, and it looked like it might even dry up for our race in the arvo. But half an hour before the heaven's opened up and unloaded big time, basically flooding the place! This gave us about a 45 minute delay so the Marshals could dig some channels beside the track to let the water run off. When the flag dropped I had a reasonable start slotting in about 4^th. I wanted to take it easy for a couple of laps but the rain had washed loads of dirt on the track and I couldn't see jack shit! So I desperately tried to make my way to the front as soon as possible. Spending more time out of the saddle than in it. Lucky I managed to make it home and score my first win for the season bringing my championship back to life.

On Monday after escaping the uncharacteristic cold and wet Misano, Kevy Curtain, his Family, me and Isabelle made our way up to the southern part of Switzerland to a camp-site on Lake Maggiore. The next day was to be my actual Birthday, one final fling, after milking it for almost two month now! Record!

When I woke I found Isabelle busily working away in the kitchen making breakfast, which ended up being the full deal. (Pancakes, scrambled eggs, fresh bread and not to mention bubbly) Soon after breaky Kevy made his way over to our bus with a can of coke in his hand. "Geez on the champer's already". As I replied: "Geez on the JD already" Soon after, we all made our way into town by train then on a gondola up mount Gardada.

On top we pulled up a table at the restaurant out in the sun, perfect weather and snow laying around everywhere and the beer flowing like a river. "Gotta say, it was perfect!" After lunch we made a huge snow man, went back to the camp site, had a BBQ and finally the day was over. It's been years since I had a day of drinking like that, my head was pounding for days.

I spent the next couple of weeks at Isabelle's house up by Zurich. She went of to work each day so this gave me plenty of time to catch up on sleep and of course some exercise! On the weekend we went plat shopping for the big ass balcony she's got. So first it was the pots! Not so easy to decide which kind, there's iron, two colours of terracotta and of course every different size and shape known to man. This only took most of the morning and we haven't even decided on the trees yet. I could see this was going to be a long day! I couldn't believe how spendy a little tree was going to be. Anyway, we grabbed some trees and our pots, dirt and spent the rest of the day planting and placing them on the balcony. Ah! Finally finished, isn't that beautiful! Oh! But who is going to water them when we are away! Shit! Didn't really think of that one! So I knew my next project was going to be an automatic watering system. It wasn't as bad as I thought, this shit is like Lego. Everything went like a dream until the last connections when I dropped the Stanley knife right through the end of my finger. Mmmmm. You know, it's one of those cuts that send a shiver right down your spine! No stiches, just a Kleenex required

Over the next ten days I was mister D.I.Y. First I painted a feature wall in the main bedroom; it was kinda blue grey colour. Sounds a bit dodgy but it fits pretty good. The next room to cop it was the second bedroom. This time round it was a mud brown wall at the head of the bed, and instead of bed side lamps I hang these clay and wrought iron candle holders on the wall each side of the bed. Went for candles cause we are a bit tight you know!!!

Then it was back to the main bedroom, to hang a pretty trick looking ceiling fan and light combo. This proofed to be a complete pain in the ass. Firstly drilling the holes into concrete ceiling and getting completely covered in shit than holding it with one hand trying to connect the wires which had been shortened by yours truly! Wanker! After sweating beads and half an hour she was up and it even worked, can be lucky sometimes.

I think I've worked out one of the reason's Isabelle invites me over! Because she's always finding me something to do around the house.

Anyways gotta fly, got house work to do! C ya!  Karl