Travelled at 130 MPH on a motorbike (date and location withheld)

That's probably not something to boast about really... but I did do it once.

I have a 1000 cc BMW R100RS motorbike.  Years and years ago I decided one time to see if I could hold the throttle fully open.  There was a long straight road between the town where I worked and the town where I lived.  Time for the experiment.  WOW - faster and faster until it seems like the whole world is moving backwards at a massive rate.  Heart pounding... the speedo goes higher and higher.  It eventually stopped going up with about 140 on the clock... which relates to 130 MPH or so in actuality.

Absolutely thrilling - and absolutely terrifying.  (Don't do this at home).

Still own the bike.

Never ever speed though.  Never lie either.

It's tricky to take a photo at speed on a motorbike.  Especially 70 MPH.  (Probably harder at 130 though.)

 

23rd April 1978 - Steve is Baptised

I am looking through a couple of boxes of 'memories' and I came across a small book.  It's a Hymn book called the "Believers Hymn Book" which was used at times of Communion at Hillview Evangelical Church in Gloucester.

This was the church that I attended as youngster, and where I was baptised on 23rd April 1978.

In the front of the book is a note that says:  "Steven Williams on the occasion of your baptism from the fellowship at Hillview Evangelical Church"  There is a bible verse noted:  1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 12.


Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Here is a picture of the event.  The man who baptised me was called Eric Turner - sadly he died a good few years ago.  He had just bought a lovely leather bound bible - one of those with really thin pages and which lies perfectly flat.  In the picture you can see a mini-tsunami of water heading towards it... it was spoiled I'm afraid.

28th November 1983 - Been up the Eiffel Tower on honeymoon

So, another of Steve's random blog entries!  No relation to the date of posting and completely irrelevent to what's going on in my life just now.  But.  It's my blog and I'll write what I want!!

I got married to Jane on 26th November 1983.  (I'm 47 at present - you do the maths).

We went to Paris on holiday and, of course, took a trip to the observation tower.  Aaah, young love.
I had an umberella and I dropped it on the metal floor at the top.  Instantly all the other visitors clamped their hands to the guard rail in terror.  Oops.

Anyway - I took a brolly, but not a camera.  So you will have to make do with a picture from Wikipedia Commons.  It's a lovely memory though... and that's what this blog is for, to remind me of - and to share- some of the amazing things I have done in life.

Short break in the Scottish Highlands - 10 to 11 February 2010

We had a nice couple of days in an hotel near Aviemore.  We got a better rate because it's a very quiet time in the tourist area.

We went up the funicular railway to the top of the ski area... sadly it was an almost total white out with cloud.  There were a LOT of people enjoying the skiing though.

We tried our hand at off-road (4 x 4) driving and then today, 11th February, I had some tuition in clay pigeon shooting. 

It was a cold drive home but we enjoyed our break.

Life

Life is too short.  Eat dessert first.

Winter trip to see the roaring river...

Lions in Zambia, 2002

Back in Africa in 2002.  We were on safari in an open top Land Cruiser car.  On two occasions we saw lions - once at night and then the following day in the morning.

I took these photos myself... the nightime meeting was so close I could have reached out and touched the lion.

3rd February, Saturday (2007) Cairo

Staying in Cairo to visit SAT-7 for the first time.  I took myself off into the city on my own and ended up going up the minaret of a mosque that I stumbled upon.  The gate keeper took me all the way up then asked for money!

The view over the city was amazing.

Retired

Dateline 1st February 2010.  Steve Williams has officially retired (due to ill health) and will never have paid employment again.