…..and beer and tents and motors and bikes and beer and men and motors and bikes and beer and…..

Yep – it’s that time again, for DM’s annual pilgrimage to Le Mans. He set off early this morning with friend and fellow devotee, Gary on their bikes. They were going via Eurotunnel and after tonight’s news about the precarious financial situation of the link between us and France I just hope his return ticket will be honoured!!!

It’s the fifth year in a row he’s done this journey, though only the second time he’s been on his bike. In case you can’t tell who is who in full-on leathers and helmets, DM is the one on the right and gary is on the Ducatti on the left. In other years, he’s been in a Porsche, a Lotus Elise and a BMW Z1. All of these he has lusted after but never owned. His crowd of friends are all a great deal more affluent than he is and so they have some very expensive toys. Gary, in the photo, owns another three motor bikes and five cars I believe……how the other half live.

So, what happens to me while he’s gone? Well, I take the view that there is no use crying over him being away (even though I hate it really). It’s a bit like when I have to be away for work – I hate it but I grit my teeth, get on with it and try to make sure I have a reasonable time anyway. So, in my own time-honoured tradition, I am going to spend the next few days pampering myself and catching up with my friends.

Tonight I have a friend and ex-colleague coming over for supper, then I have the pleasure of my best buddy, Colin coming to stay. I’m going to cook, gossip and quaff a few glasses of the red stuff in his absence!

I have this strange attitude to his trip – I wish he wouldn’t go and would instead spend his weekend with me but as he’s gone I’m not going to sit around crying into my beer, I’m going to do a few of the things I don’t do while he’s here. It’s not that I can’t do stuff while he’s around, it’s more that I don’t want to – I just want to spend our precious time together concentrating on one another if you get my drift.

He’ll be back here and back in my arms on Monday night and between now and then I’m determined not to sit around moping like some little naive thing too scared to experience life, I'm going to enjoy myself!

Last year I was struggling with work:life balance AGAIN! Two years ago, my Le Mans ordeal was rapidly drawing to a close!