Something exotic this way comes, Gheluvelt Park, Worcester: Tuesday, 28th August, 2018.

1:45-ish.

Coming back from town thru' The Park we spotted an 'exotic' visitor 

amongst all the usual ducks, gulls, and swans being fed bread and swan food, 

so we took a couple of photos.

Having looked at our RSPB book upon our return 

we have concluded that it is a Wood Duck (female probably).

A North American species.

Seemed quite happy to be in Worcester.

Feeding frenzy, Gheluvelt Park, Worcester: Monday, 27th August, 2018.

4:00-ish.

Could I possibly interest any of you in some of our newly purchased swan food?

Here we are then.

3 minutes later, it's all gone.

British Moto GP, Silverstone: Saturday, 25th August, 2018.

8:15-ish:

David is busy minding his own business and getting dressed.

Vicky is still fascinated by his bruises and takes a photo.

Promise me you'll take it easy today, she says.

OK Vic, I reply.

11:00-ish.

We have arrived and are parked up down at Club.

The morning Moto GP practice session has just finished and, waiting for the grandstands to clear, we then take up a position to watch the Moto 2's pack hunting 

thru' the 'chicane' in their final practice session.

Alex Marquez leads Joan Mir, Jules Danilo & Joe Roberts.

Hmmm, can't think which rider this lot are following.

11:35-ish.

With the Moto 2 session drawing to a close we leave the grandstand and start the walk to Brooklands.

Handily, we can get close to the fencing at the exit of Club.

This is Sam Lowes.

12:15-ish.

It's been a nice walk up to Brooklands and, as some 'interesting weather' approaches, the conversation between us was scintillating and has gone something like this:

Watch out for that change of surfacing Dave.

OK Vic.

Dave, theres a change of surface coming up here.

Yes, OK Vic, thanks.

Don't fall over that change of surface Dave.

No, right-o, Vic, I've seen it.

Vicky, the expert surface change-spotter, at Brooklands.

It's a nice day now. Well, it is in this direction.

Olde-fella at Brooklands who's taking things easy and has gone 

slightly bonk-eyed watching out for any tricky changes in surfaces.

12:40-ish.

The Moto 3 Qualifying session has just begun and it's full of the usual fun and goings on.

Nicola Bulega isn't looking where he's going but at least 

he's keeping out of Philipp Oettl's (amongst others) way.

Pretty considerate really.

Moto 3 continues unabated.

Howard prefers not to watch.

13:10-ish.

We've moved up to the inside of The Wellington Straight now to get some shots of 'bikes going from left to right as preparation for when the Moto GP 'bikes come out.

Not now Kaito, we cry, as Toba-san shoots past.

Time for Vicky to get a couple more teas in.

We're drinking a lot of tea today.

It's all about hydration.

13:40-ish.

The most visceral motorsport experience of the year has commenced as Jorge Lorenzo leads the charge of unleashed Moto GP 'bikes out of Aintree and on to The Wellington Straight.

If you've only ever watched Moto GP on TV you will have no idea of what it is like to feel one passing you just a handful of metres away.

Gerrof yer cowin' asses and get to an event!

14:10-ish.

Uh-oh. More interesting Silverstone weather is approaching.

Time to find a grandstand Dave, says Vic.

You brought the umbrella didn't you Dave.

Yes Vic, it's in the boot.

14:30-ish.

We manage to find two seats in the Loop Grandstand overlooking Aintree.

Tito Rabat surges past as marshals warn him that the track is damp in places.

It's not too bad here but it gets very wet down at Stowe later and catches Tito out (amongst others).

Tito finishes up with several fractures and, we find out the following day, 

he is likely to be out for the rest of the season.

Not good. 

15:00-ish.

The sun's out and we're back on The Wellington Straight and waiting for some more Moto GP 'bikes to appear but there's a slight delay 'cos of the water on the surface down at Stowe.
Unlike here in the middle section. We can't see what all the fuss is about.

Vicky is getting fed up with all this hanging about malarky
and decides to get two more teas whilst there's no action on the track.

Good decision Vic!

Of course, as soon as Vicky decides to do that the 'bikes are back almost immediately.

This is Bradley Smith.

Qualifying One draws to a close and Dani Pedrosa prepares for a Practice Start.

Will we see Vicky's favourite current rider ever again?

We think he should retire at the end of the season rather than go to a 'lesser' 

Moto GP team or, heaven forfend, a WSBK team.

We have spoken.

Franco Morbidelli makes a proper Practice Start 'cos it's right 

from the side of the official Practice Start sign.

16:00-ish.

There's a long delay prior to Moto GP Qualifying Two, due to the wet track at Stowe, and we spot the helicopter leaving the Silverstone Medical Centre and transferring Tito Rabat to hospital.

We're pretty-well knackered now and so decide to take a slow amble back to the our car via Abbey where we watch the final moments of Moto GP Qualifying.

We can't get close to the fencing so don't take any photos.

Back at the Club Car Park entrance we bump into the Volunteer 

who helped us last week after my fall.
She's pleased to see that we're back at Silverstone and we thank her once again.

So, did we take it easy?

11,453 steps. Just over 5 miles, and 8 stairs.

So, yes we did.

And very good it all was an' all.

Put yer shoulder in to it, Worcester: Thursday, 23rd August, 2018.

The bruising is coming out nicely now so Vicky thought she'd take a photo of it.

I can understand why there's bruising on the shoulder 

but have no idea why there's some on my chest.

I remain a medical enigma.

I only have to wear the sling when I am going off outside on a walk etc,

helps keep everything stable, evidently.

If Vicky was at work it would take about 5 mins to put it on.

But Vicky's here today so it only takes about 30 secs.

WEC, ELMS, Euro F3, Silverstone: Saturday, 18th August, 2018.

10:30-ish.

We're already in the National Paddock and Howard is busy making friends.

Entering the ELMS paddock for a quick shifty prior to seeing the F3 drivers 

returning to parc ferme after their first race of the weekend.

11:00-ish.

4 of the unfeasibly young fellas making their way to the post-race weigh-in-thingy.

Mick Schumacher leaves the weigh-in-thingy.

We've taken photos of Robert Schwartzman in single-seaters for the past 3 years 

and he still looks too young to have even left school yet.

Perhaps he hasn't?

12:00-ish.

We've had a tea in the Paddock Cafe and have then made our way to the top of The Wellington Straight to see the WEC GT cars qualifying.

This is the Clearwater Racing AM Class Ferrari - the best looking Ferrari out there.

BMW are back in the WEC after a few years away.

12:25-ish.

This is the point where the Timetable gets a bit challenging for the likes of folk like us.

There's the WEC LMP1 & 2 Qualifying to watch, or the F3 drivers getting ready for their second race, or the ELMS Pit Lane Walk. 

So we firstly take some shots at Copse of the LMP's, this one is Alonso's Toyota…….

…….and this is one of The Rebellions going more than a little bit wide…….

……then Vicky heads for the F3 cars where she sees Sophia Florsch and……

……Dan Ticktum amongst many others, whilst I head off to the ELMS Pit Lane Walk.

It's a busy Pit Lane Walk made even more exciting by cars returning to the garages, 

accompanied by the furious whistling of Marshalls, through the legions of fans.

Watch out! 

Here comes another one.

The ELMS drivers are an accommodating lot.

They'll even pose with a sign promoting the WEC 6 Hours 

as the 360 Racing Team drivers prove.

13:45-ish.

Vicky and I join up once again as Dan Ticktum returns to parc ferme after the second F3 race.

14:35-ish.

We've had some jacket potatoes and another cuppa tea in The Paddock cafe 

and are now making our way down to The Wing.

The ELMS race has started and there's plenty of close racing at Aintree at this early stage……

…….and at The Loop.

15:00-ish.

We've made it to The Wing and Vicky seems very pleased about it as we walk up and down 

the rear of the garages before the start of The WEC Pit Lane Walk.

15:30-ish.

The WEC Pit Lane Walk has started and I immediately make 

for the garage of my favourite Ferrari team.

Now that's a paint-jobbie.

And we thought that the ELMS Pit Lane Walk was busy.

Vicky and I have split up again and she's right up the other end on a mission to spot Fernando

(she'll be lucky, one or two others might have the same idea).

But Vicky does find Toyota's Kazuki Nakajima (centre)……….

…….Oliver Turvey of the By KOLLES team…...

…….and then Sam Bird in The Wing Paddock after the Pit Lane Walk is over.

16:45-ish.

We've had another cuppa tea and Vicky is still 

determined to see Fernando so we head for the Toyota hostility centre.

He's in there and she does see him for a brief second.

'He's very short', is her verdict.

This is where she saw Fernando.

You can see how fleeting her view would have been.

It's now about 17:00hrs and with all the drama over it's time to make our way back to the car park.

Unfortunately, the drama isn't over 'cos as we are walking back past The Loop I lose my footing and take a stumble and fall onto my right shoulder.

Luckily, there are two Silverstone Volunteers who help me get back to my feet and radio for an ambulance and paramedics to take me to the Medical Centre.

We are there about an hour and they take 6 X-Rays. 2 of each 

shoulder and 2 of the little finger of my right hand.

They inform us that I have 2 torn ligaments in my right shoulder and torn a tendon in my finger.

They instruct us to go to A & E in the morning.

No wonder it hurt so much.

We finally leave the circuit at 18:45 having been given a lift by a nurse all the way back to the car park.

Everybody at the Medical Centre was fantastic and we are eternally grateful.

Our Fit Bit stats are still fairly impressive having totalled 16,747 steps, 7.9 miles, and 12 stairs.

It's been yet another enjoyable and memorable day at our favourite car event of the year.