Beer

First day back at work after the week in Mull.

Tons of emails to wade through. Lots to get done. Very busy.

And then there was the wind.

Took the motorbike to work and on the way home it just cut out.

Wouldn't restart at all. There I was struggling to get it going and keep the bike upright in the wind and I lost balance. Rather than try to catch the full weight of the bike and do myself an injury I eased it over onto the tarmac.

And there it lay as I then struggled to lift it up. They're pretty heavy once they fall over and the road was slippery and wet.

Luckily a passer by and fellow biker nipped onto the road and gave me a hand to lift and then walk it over to the side.

And there we stood. Trying to get the bike started. No joy.

Then there was a roar and a rider on a large BMW bike bounced up onto the pavement beside us and asked if we needed a hand. He nipped off his bike and was checking my bike over here and there. Still no joy.

Then they both said "you do have petrol in it?"

Of course, only done 50 miles since the last fill up. I opened the tank and...

Whoooooosh! The sound of air breaking a vacuum.

Ah, I'd forgotten that can sometimes happen on a bike. Eleven years biking round Edinburgh and it had never happened to me.

Bike started fine after that.

Thanks very much to the top blokes who stopped to give me a hand.

Bikers are a friendly lot.

But I did need a beer after that. Oh, and after the very windy, very careful, rest of my ride home.

Not taking the bike tomorrow. Looks like the wind will be with us for another day.