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Reports

During my travels, I received free accommodation for a night in exchange for writing a daily travel diary. This diary documented how I reached my next destination, the hosts who welcomed me, the food I was offered, and other experiences along the way. Below, you will find the archives of these extensive reports. Please note that English is not my native language, and most entries were written quickly, often around midnight. Enjoy!
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Monday, 18 June 2001
Sheffield (UK) relax day

Once in a week I try to take a day off in my travelling. Just to arrange certain things, get some extra rest, update the website, etcetera. Today was one of those days...

When I woke up today, Wendy and Colin were already working at their home office. The only thing I noticed is that it is very quiet and they work very concentrating.

Every once in a while when Wendy or Collin were away from their computers I just had to jump behind it to see the latest mails.

***

Emails have been slowing decreasing. Normally I receive over 150 mails, the last days only 125.

While not really a lot of interesting things happened today, so let me get to tell you about those emails. Most of the mails I receive are very compassionate; you can see the messageboard as an example of that (this Alex from Poland really exists, I spent some time mailing him back and forth).

Next to that I get a lot of interview requests by mail.

Do you know that some of the German media thinks that everybody can speak German? If I say I will only talk in English, they say that's not possible because most Germans don't understand English. My question to them follows: why should I promote my English (hello, contact?) website to them if they won't understand it anyway?

It is funny to receive the other kind of emails, going something like this: "Hi, my name is X and you are welcome to come to my house in Z. Please call me when you are in town. My number is…"

It's just impossible to start saving emails with telephone numbers or little pieces of paper. On the other hand, these emails tell me in plain words that those people don't really understand the project. The submit-page isn't that hard to find, is it?

I also receive a lot of -let's give it a name- fan mail from people who read my reports everyday.

Most of them like to response to my writing and I really like that. And a lot of them also recall their own memories from their past, when I wrote a certain anecdote in my reports.

They sometimes intend to write their complete life story, which is very enjoying, interesting and very inspiring (if I would collect them I could be writing another book).

But if you are one of them writers: please know I enjoy reading it, but I barely have any time to write an honest response back and I don’t want to send out automatic email replies.

I don't want to appear arrogant with this, but I just had to free my mind for a second about these mails, because I have to face it every day again and again.

***

Wendy had offered me to give me some money so I could take the bus into Sheffield, but as the relaxing time passed by, it wasn’t really becoming possible anymore.

In exchange of that I had positioned myself on their living room couch reading magazines, watching satellite television (fun show!) and Wendy even tried to learn me juggling. But I can still only do it with two balls only…

But the strangest thing happened. After a little hour of throwing up balls and picking them up again (conclusion: keep on practising), I felt this huge muscle pain in my butt! (Hey! Don’t laugh!) It even made me walk limp for a few hours! I guess my body is just not made for juggling…

But I did found this great link on the internet: Top 11 Ways To Rehab A Butt-Muscle Injury! Just take it as an advice from me…

Around dinner time a good friend of Wendy and Colin came over. His name is John and he is originally from the UK, but has lived in Texas, USA and spent his time on many other places on the world. He really is a great guy to be with.

During dinner I started this conversation about the EURO-currency again, with Wendy. And she gave her opinion about that and before I knew it we all joined this discussion about European Union politics.

It’s funny to just ask a host questions and keep on asking until the conversations becomes a very exhausting discussion. And I like it when that starts off very spontaneous.

John was smiling all the time and played the ringmaster. He said it had been a long time ago since he had experienced such a sincere discussion.

And we got very deep in all this, I’ll spare you the details. But after a few hours (and two bottles of wine and enough beer) we were all catching our breath again…

John also stayed over for the night and slept in the living room, while I stayed in the guestroom. After I filed some more reports on my website about the ‘crash’ at the Birmingham Airport, I got to bed. Fully prepared for tomorrow…

Good night again, Sheffield!

Ramon.

"Every man dies, but not every man truly lives." - William Wallace (Mel Gibson) in Braveheart



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