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?

Gloucester Docks, Monday 5th May, 2014.

12:30pm on day three of our Anniversary Celebrations and we've driven down to Gloucester Docks and guess what? Yep, we're in an Italian Restaurant. We know what we like!

All tomatoes consumed it's time for a walk 'round The Docks which are, surprisingly, very quiet given that it is a sunny Bank Holiday Monday. Plenty of folk in the shops, just not 'round the Docks. People are strange, as Jim sang back in the day.

Howard enjoying Gloucester Docks.

Using the 'the big camera' today. Not so easy to take a selfie. Have to do it left handed for a start. 

Parking time's up now. Gorra go back to the car now and head home (boo!). Work tomorrow for some of us (double-boo!). Others will sit around doing some blogging. Doesn't seem fair, does it?

Worcester, Sunday, 4th May, 2014.

2:30pm on Day two of our 28th Anniversary celebrations and we're walking thru' Gheluvelt Park, on our way into town, where the flowers are totally different (and free) to the ones we saw in the Arboretum yesterday. 

Yay! We are now in Carluccio's at our favourite table for another feast of Italian food.

What's not to like about Italian food? That's right: nothing!

All washed down with a full half-pint of light gassy Italian beer. Lovely.

Walking home along the River. Always a great way to aid the digestive processes.

Look at that River level: was it ever in flood?

Back at HQ somebody couldn't give a cowin' proverbial about soppy anniversaries and is outraged that his '5 o'clock' is not in his bowl yet even tho' 'it's not time!'

28th Wedding Anniversary, Batsford Arboretum, Saturday, 3rd May, 2014.

It's our 28th Wedding Anniversary today and with it falling on a Bank Holiday weekend our plan (such as it is) is to spend the next three days at some of our favourite 'local' haunts.

So, first of all we make a bee-line for the cafe at Batsford Arboretum where we get our strength up prior to a walk around the grounds. David has the Monkfish Curry and a pineapple juice whilst Vicky chooses the Victoria Sponge option washed down with darjeeling tea. 

Some bluebells, with Vicky in the distance.

Look at the weather! If only it had been like this 28 years ago. No, it was rain and sleet back then. Come to think about it, every 3rd May before and after that one has seen better weather. It would be hard to be worse. Ah well.

Howard, The Bright Green Christmas Reindeer, takes it easy on a gate.

This green and pleasant land.

Poor Vicky. 28 years (plus two when it was illegal) she's had to put up with this sort of thing. 

It's amazing how she stays so cheerful.

Hansel and Gretel were incarcerated here (oh yes).

Time for one more selfie (it's what the Internet's for) before departure.

Evesham Cats Protection, Sunday, 20th April, 2014.

Yes Katie, we know you like to sit in the top litter tray in the pile of freshly made up trays and watch the world go by but you're not exactly helping The Team are you.

Yes Katie, we know you like to curl up in the bottom of the pile of freshly shredded litter due to be put into the about-to-be-made-up pile of litter trays but you're not exactly helping The Team are you.

Buddy is a big-faced friendly Tom Cat who refuses to keep still for a photo and would make an excellent pet for somebody. 

So, whatya waiting for?

Katie exits stage top-right.

WEC/ELMS/Euro F3, Silverstone, Saturday, 19th April, 2014.

It's about 10:45am and we've arrived, parked up, and walked to the main entrance where, appallingly, we are confronted with the sight of a fairly long queue. We blame the reasonable weather and the return of Porsche to Endurance Sports Car racing with that Mark Webber-fella at the wheel.

The other appalling things is that it is quite cool. David is moaning that he should have brought his winter coat. Vicky reassures him that it will warm up eventually. Hmmmm.

Distance walked so far: 0.25 miles.

11:15am - Brooklands corner for the ELMS GT qualifying session and a Porsche burbles past. 

Nice colours.

Distance walked so far: 0:5 miles.

 11:35am - and we've moved around a bit to Luffield for a chance to take photos over the fencing rather than through it.

Distance walked so far: 0.75 miles.

11:40am - Murphy Prototypes Oreca-Nissan at Luffield.

Distance walked so far: 'bout the same.

12:05pm - we are sat in the front row of the National Pits Straight grandstand now and the WEC GT classes are out on track for their qualifying session. This is an AF Corse Ferrari.

Distance walked so far: 1.25 miles.

12:45pm - still in the Grandstand as the cause of all todays bigger-than-usual-crowd - that Mark Webber-fella at the wheel of a Porsche prototype - hurtles past.

Distance walked so far: as above.

12:50pm - just to the side of the grandstand now with a chance to press our noses up to the fencing once more as a Prototype Toyota flies past. 

Distance walked so far: a few yards further than the last time we measured it.

1:00pm - a brisk walk to the Copse Tunnel and then into the paddock to catch the F3 drivers preparing to go out for their second race of the day. This is Riccardo Agostini (ITA).

Distance walked so far: 1.5 miles.

1:05pm - all the F3 drivers are unfeasibly young (especially to grumpy olde folk like us). 

This is Gustavo Menezes (USA).

Distance walked so far: still 1.5 miles.

1:10pm - Howard needs a rest: all this walking and taking photos malarky can really take it out of yer little bright green Christmas Reindeer legs.

Distance walked so far:  1.75 miles.

1:20pm and the ELMS Autograph Session has grown into a full-blown Pit Lane Walk this year. This is  Karun Chandhok - another person to blame for there being more people here this year.

1:25pm - used to be a famous driver and is now famous again 'cos his son is in F1 - Jan Magnussen poses for the probing lens of Vicky.

1:28pm: Vicky gets in yet another jaunty angle shot.

1:30pm - as we are all herded out of the Pit lane the ELMS cars are already being prepared for their 4HR Race.

Distance walked so far: 2 miles.

1:50pm - we've had lunch in The Paddock Cafe and are now walking towards Copse through the F3 paddock to see the cars and drivers returning to their teams after their race. We guess that no. 22 didn't make it to the end.

Distance walked so far: bit further than last time.

2:15pm - we watched the start of the ELMS race from the inside of Copse and are now making steady progress towards The Wing. We are at Aintree now as this Audi accelerates onto The Wellington Straight.

Distance walked so far: 2.25 miles.

2:25pm - a close battle between three GT's and a LMP2 at The Loop.

Distance walked so far: 2.5 miles. 

2:45pm - we have arrived at The Wing. It will be interesting to see what we can find this year as, last year, it was raining and all the garages were closed up against the elements. It certainly looks more promising.

Distance walked so far: 2.5 miles.

2.55pm - sports car legend Tom Kristensen (talking to another sports car legend, Derek Bell) can't be blamed for the bigger crowd as he's always here racing for Audi every year.

3:02pm (or thereabouts) - there he is Vic, the cause of all the trouble. It's that Mark Webber-fella. Make him stand still whilst I try to get a photo.

3:03pm - Gorrim! Just about.

3:30pm - knackered now, after that race around The Wing chasing that Mark Webber-fella an' all that.

Need a cuppa tea and a hot cross bun. Well, it is Easter.

3:40pm - Silverstone always tries to do its bit for 'The Spirit of Le Mans'. At least the weather is playing its part today.

Distance walked so far: 2.75 miles.

4:20pm - we're wandering back towards the car park and home now via Farm, Village, The Loop (here), Aintree, and The Wellington Straight, and taking loads of photos as we go (as you do).

Distance walked so far (by the time we cross The Wellington Straight): 3.75 miles.

4:45pm - it is so warm now that we choose to walk under some trees to get out of the sun! You sure we are at Silverstone?

Distance walked so far: 4 miles.

4:46pm - the shade of an avenue of trees whilst GT's and LMP2's drone around in the near distance. You can't beat it.

Time to leave now and make our way back to the car. 

By the time we get there we will have walked 4.25 miles or so (by our reckoning).

Silverstone is a big place, especially when they use both paddocks, so you just have to embrace it.