Sunday, 31 December 2023

The tail end of 2023

Not entirely sure what drove it... several possibilities... life brightening so in Hong Kong, such edgy years before... maybe just the sight of a break, however short... the prospect of seeing Aiden... glorious weather even?  Such a wonderful time.

Just perfect perfect weather, Clearwater Bay beach one basking.

From Jordan; Aiden and his mates rocking her Bambalam, fueling anticipation.

A new role at work... new shoes... but wonderfully interesting, and often more efficient at home.

Back on little Mils  with the village gang (Tracy and Simon back, such deeply cool and life-loving people) ... the tireless beauty of the beach.


Aiden came back... oh intergalactic delight


Wendy and Ian came to visit, which was just wonderful, we walked across the new TKO bridge

Ruby and Evan hung out watching movies over the weekend

Holly soaked up the cool weather and attention 

I rode so fast in my zef glasses that gob streaks dried on my cheek...

putting some relentless kilometers down on the Foundry, such a weapon...

Ange went to Bali for a week with a gang of mates, Ruby and Ev put in a cooking shift...

Both of the Schats boys were in right arm shoulder slings ...

 
I turned fifty four and was feeling fab


We went out for dinner and had one of those accidental parties ... I kept the shirt on all day

The self-acquired prezzie that the card so perfectly alluded to arrived a bit late... a Christmas project with all the bits being old-school stuff plus OEM carbon bought over time on e-bay
Aiden and his mates, Jake and Luke, all back from Uni; Sean and Gill, Luke's folks.
Sean has been the single biggest non family contributor to Aiden and Ev's lives, 
deeply deeply quality people, greatly appreciated...


...and more stupefyingly fabulous weather.

Morning coffee in bed with the cat :-)

Dismantled the wonderful Big Blue, lots of wear and tear over the years, a couple of crashes, great great bike though, unforgettable journeys

And then rolled into two Christmases - an afternoon and eve with Jason and Lara, with the gorgeous new Jesse to keep Ezra company (Ollie not getting it at all)

Followed by a Chrismas day bash at the divine Schats' house.


Nights duf duf duffing with the school mates come home :-)

Days on the hiking trails, High Island reservoir, emerald colours

A reminder of home walking to Yau Lei

And a sampan back to Sai Kung after lunch

Lorna, Pieter and Meadsy

Robyn spending some quality time with Hugo

Kau Sai Chau island golf course as a backdrop to an old working junk on the way back.

Grinding progress on the bike, discovering that old shit is, well old, and does not necessarily work.  Composing f-you letters in my mind to the sellers whilst dismantling fidly bits and pieces to properly clean and oil them before reassembly.

... along with stuff that shouldn't go together like titanium bar stems onto carbon forks, "school fees" and frustration.

Ruby went to Oman...

...sent astonishing photos of otherworldly places.

Jacques went to Paris with Chad to see his mom.

...and then suddenly it was the end of the year, and thank god for the trend, phoenix-like Hong Kong, the Covid exodus masses looking to return.

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