Blancpain Endurance Series, Silverstone, Saturday, 24th May, 2014.

Carol's been at it again: forecasting plague and pestilence 

throughout The Midlands and The Sarf for today. She's been at it for days, she has.

It's a wonder anyone ventures outside.

It rained all the way to the circuit. We'll give her that one. The journey took slightly longer as a result. Two raincoats each (both with hoods) and the big umbrella are required for the walk in gentle rain to the paddock for a swift cuppa tea in the cafe, a visit to that Ray Skontrole-fella for a programme and then, at 12:40, the Pit Lane Walk.

By the time we do all that, needless to say, it is barely spitting.

We saw you at that Donington Test Day-thingy! The car didn't run that day but it's ok now.

Steve Tandy - Generation Bentley Racing Team driver - has a quick chat and gets his photo taken.

With The Pit Lane walk being just 15 minutes long we need to work as a team. So the olde-fella plods about at the start of the Lane whilst Vicky sprints up to the far end to work her way back to the exit in the middle and the chance to spot the Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 already being prepared for Qualifying.

Black Falcon Mercedes drivers (sorry haven't worked out exactly who they are just yet) return from the Pit Wall having checked out the going. Verdict? Hmm, tricky, it's still damp-ish.

Wanted: fully qualified race engineer with a 'can do' attitude prepared to dive in at a moments notice to solve problems. Folk with dodgy backs need not apply.

If you love the colour purple you must be in heaven right now.

12:45pm. On the way to the loos before taking a few action shots of the GT's. 

Completely stopped raining now. Not even spitting. And it's getting very warm an' all. We've got too many coats and umbrellas! Cowin' Carol.

12:55pm: Cowin' safety fencing Pt I.

The M-Sport Bentley Continental GT3 hammers out of Copse.

1:15pm: Cowin' safety fencing Pt II.

Walked under the tunnel now to take some shots of things moving right to left.

Thiriet by TDS Racing BMW Z4 thunders into Copse.

OK, that's enough of that. Need to get back to the Paddock Cafe for lunch (lamb hot pot for David and baked potato and beans for Vicky).

2:15pm-ish: 

Formula Renault 2.0 NEC teams assemble prior to going out for their first race of the weekend.

Ben Barnicoat (GB) - Fortec racing.

Seb Morris (GB) - also Fortec Racing.

Even steering wheels are gadgets nowadays.

Jorge Cevalles (MEX) - yet another Fortec Racing-fella (are we getting commission from Fortec?).

They must be the only ones that do (unless it's a Bank Holiday).

2:45pm: Formula Renaults nipping down to Becketts.

Team mates by the look of 'em. These two are the Finnish-fellas Leopold Ringbom (41) and Lassi Halminen.

2:55pm: Cyril……..er, sorry……we mean David, is giggly with excitement due to the now dry and warm environs of an almost sunny Silverstone, and light-headed and knackered thanks to all the coats he's having to carry (not to mention camera-stuff).

C'mon Vic. That's enough of all that racing-malarky. Time to go and see what the Lambo drivers are up to before they go out on track.

3:10pm-ish: every corner you turn is full of umbrella girls promoting the sponsors products.

Your watches are how much?!

If this Lambo-driver was Irish we'd suspect that he'd be called Tim O'Tay but he's not, he's an Italian-fella by the name of Eduardo Piscopo and so he's entitled to have very clean hair.

At an International event sign language is everything. Here's one that needs no translation.

3:55pm: Too fast shutter speed Pt I:

Strolling back towards the car park as two Lambos thunder down The Wellington Straight 

(from the air).

4:00pm: Cowin' safety fencing Pt III & Too fast shutter speed Pt II.

Another Lambo on The Wellington Straight (from ground level).

That's it. Off home now. Lovely and sunny now. Be pleased to chuck all our clobber (thanks Carol) into the boot.

Should be back home just in time for the Monaco Qualifying on The BEEB.

Another excellent Silverstone Saturday done and dusted.

Evesham Cats Protection, Sunday, 18th May, 2014.

Straight in at the deep end with a thorough clean out of the pen belonging to a new mother 

and her two kittens.

'I'll 'ave it!'

Dinky's not in the mood to be messed about by balls rattling about at the bottom of summat.

Ziggy catches some rays.

New mother (not the one above) and three little squirmers.

The tale of the tail shall forever remain untold.

Remember the pen of the cat and kittens that Vicky was cleaning out so thoroughly in the first picture?

Well, the mother's not having it. She is outraged!

I'm too sweet to be messing about messing up our pen. 

'I'll leave all that malarky to me Mum'.

A few hours later back at HQ it's time for Emlyn (for it is he) to have one of his regular grooming sessions at the hands of Vicky.

After just five minutes (if that): it's better out than in!

BMCRC 'Silverstone Saturday', International Circuit, 10th May, 2014.

Something is different about The Wing today. Aha, that's it! No cowin' corporate units.

So, how was that race for you?

Good, thanks.

Riders line up for their post-race 'bike noise test whilst olde-fella in the background gets priorities right.

The Wing garages are cavernous - this is only about 25% of them - and, for this meeting, have the wonderful feel of a cross between a second hand 'bike emporium and an auto jumble.

Just about every one of the 300-odd competitors can work on their 'bikes, sit and stare at them, or talk about them, under cover. Given Carol's typically negative weather forecast, that's probably no bad thing (N.B. It didn't rain all day).

Discussing the intricacies of a '90's-era Honda NS 250 with a non-standard swinging arm and whether one should go to Castle Combe for the NGMCC meeting next month. 

This rider probably won't but we will. Let's hope he decides to go after all.

The view from The Wing balcony as two riders hurtle up The International Pits Straight.

Different race, different two riders. 

These ones are hurtling thru' Vale with their eyes focused on the braking point for Club Corner.

Vicky models her brand new sun glasses.

Two novice riders charge thru' Abbey Corner whilst Vicky sits in the car and has her lunch (David has already scoffed his 'on the hoof').

There is a good entry of classic 'bikes today. This is a Walmsley 500 Matchless. The rider of no. 121, Mike 'Spike' Edwards, in the background. 

David getting a headache whilst trying to calculate how many 'bikes and years we've been watching Mr Edwards race, thankfully, out of picture.

Howard and The BEMSEE bus. The closest thing to a corporate unit we see in the paddock all day.

 Rossi fan with a sense of humour. Good one.

Ben Burnall of Littlehampton with his Formula 400 Honda RVF400 in the garage and about to go out and race.........

.........and in the thick of the action a few minutes or so later.

Please note the rider on the outside (you can just see him if you look closely) gesticulating at his fellow competitors 'cos he's been pushed wide somewhat.

It's all good fun between friends, eh?

Driven to the outside of the circuit now for a selfie opposite The Wing.

About the 'selfie'. How many of you remember owning a camera in the pre-digital age and trying to take a selfie before there ever was such a thing? And how many of you remember somebody nearby rushing over and saying: 'ooh, would you like me to take your photo?' You'd let 'em take the photo and you'd reciprocate an' all, just to be polite. Sometimes, when they'd buggered off, you'd still take a selfie anyway just for the fun of it. 

Strange isn't it, how it has taken the digital age to create a phenomenon that was going on for years under the radar?

Not saying anything, just saying.

First lap action as riders file through Club.

Almost time to head home now but we can't go yet 'cos the Fresh Drop BMZRC 250MZ race is about to get going and we don't wanna miss that.

Mike Stockford has only had to come here from just up the road in Brackley. He's a novice, he's on an MZ 250, he's got a following wind, and he's going like the clappers up the Straight.

And on that brillant note we head off home and the weekly shop at Waitrose in Droitwich.

It's a happy life.

Emlyn, Worcester, Friday, 9th May, 2014.

He's been living with us for almost four years now and it has taken this long for Emlyn to trust Vicky enough to do this (he doesn't trust that Dave-fella. Too big and ugly by half and shouts a lot).

Could it be a breakthru' moment?