Someone on here told me one time, when I was bleating about living alone and how I don't enjoy it, that people tend to enjoy what they're good at so get good at living alone. Spurred me on. To change my feelings I need to change the way I view things. Look for the positives.

There is no one else in my household for me to consider, not even a cat or dog. So I can go when and where I want.

Immediately after receiving this little pearl of wisdom, I got the calendar and the maps out. I bokked three weeks of holiday time, a week in each of June, July and August. Then I turned to the maps. Plotted out the furthest North, east, South nad west points of mainland Scotland, England and Wales and planned to visit them in June, July and august respectively.

So what happened. I planned the three tours within an inch of their lives. I knew exactly where I should be on which day and where I would be camping.

Make God laugh tell him all your plans! the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley.

Scotland Tour. Bike prepped, loaded with tent and sleeping bag, self sufficient to the max.....first stop st. Andrews, my brother's house, get there via Berwick on Tweed by 5 p.m. and don't use motorways. Ran out of time, missed out BoT got to brother's house by 7 pm.

Next day, plan was to get to Dunnet's head in the day and camp out in the wild. Via Peterhead, I got as far as Tain, found a B&B, went to a meeting. Day 3, Dunnet's head, then the middle road down the country to Kyle of Lochalsh, miserable, wet and cold all teh way, almost ran out of fuel, almost had an off on a lonely single track mountain pass, got to Kyle and then decided let's go to Skye, there's a meeting there - not really on the original plan. Went to meeting, found a cheap hotel, stayed two nights, toured Skye. Plans are going out the window. day 5, faced with a long long drag down South, Ichanged plans again and used the calmacs (ferries) and island hopped my way south to an unscheduled stop in Oban. day 6 reached Ardnamurchan Point and Mull of Galloway, overnighted in a nice wee hotel in Dumfries. day 7, via Tan Hill Inn and home. The tent never came off the bike.

So for July I thought, yes, let's leave the tent behind, let's use friends, relatives and B&B all the way. Setting off to my Mum's on a Friday night, that morning's post brought mail from the solicitor and the court and I had to schedule a meeting with my solicitor on Monday, when I'm supposed to be in Norfolk! saturday I made it to and from BoT and back to my Mum's. Home on Sunday, solicitor's meeting Monday, set off for Norfolk 2 days late!, find B&B. Tuesday get to Lowestoft, get talking to an old trawlerman, eventually we declared we were both brothers - he knew from minute one, can spot us a mile away he reckons. Head for Portsmouth, planning to visit the Royal Marines Museum. Crossing London in rush hour (which lasts all day anyway) and the bike breaks down.

No drama, The people of Upper Tooting Road were very helpful. offering me help and assistance, cups of tea, use of toilets, company while the other AA arrived. Bike repaired and on to Portsmouth. Didn't get a meeting, didn't get a bed until gone 9pm. really thought it would be a bus shelter as I had no tent.

wednesday visited my nephew's missus and their wee son. was only planning on staying an hour and stayed for three. a long, long drag down to falmouth. Find a little hotel and booked in for 2 nights. Visited Land's End (too tacky for pictures) and the Lizard (too stunning for pictures). Still no meetings!

friday, set off for Birmingham convention, bike breaks down again, patiently awauit roadside assistance and although I hadn't used motorways up to now, I needed to get to Birmingham and fast, so it was M5 and M42 and head down, arse up and go for it.

I enjoyed the convention but a times felt out of my depth and felt a srnge sense of self imposed isolation. met with people that I'd met in other parts of the country and spent a lot of time with a brother, whoappropriately and thoughtfully, bought me a copy of Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.

Nect big trip starts in two weeks time. No more planning. take the tent and see what happens. a bit like life really.