Wednesday, July 2, 2014

WHISPERS FROM WARWICKSHIRE

Another little snippet that Phil remembers from his life as a youngster in Warwickshire.

His mother's brother (Phil's Uncle Jeff) often popped over of an evening on his bicycle to visit his sister and her family.  He would stay and have a cup of tea and piece of cake (on special occasions possibly to even share a pork pie) and then he would set off home again on his trusty bike.

On this particular evening he apparently went to sleep while riding his bike home and woke to find he had ridden a good half mile past his front gate.

Phil doesn't know if his Uncle Jeff made a habit of falling to sleep when riding his bike but he certainly did on this occasion and I believe the family teased him about it for quite a while afterwards.


How fortunate it was he didn't fall off his bike or ride too far past his home.  I imagine he was rather surprised when he did wake up.

21 comments:

  1. Hari Om
    ...........mezmerized, perhaps, by the little white lines? Sleeping would more likely have ended in the ditch or hedge! Either way, good for a giggle!!! YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was out in the country Yam so no white lines; more like a country lane. Who knows? Did Jeff really go to sleep? xx

      Delete
  2. Amazing he kept his balance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amazing what folk do in the country isn't it?

      Delete
  3. How incredible. My father went to sleep driving the car. Twice. About five years apart. And both times he woke up in the same farmer's paddock - having driven through the same fence. Oops.
    And, like Delores, I am amazed at anyone being able to stay upright on a bike while asleep.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know it sounds far-fetched but that is how the story went then and to this day as well. He rode his bike everywhere he went so perhaps just got the balance right and dozed off.

      Delete
  4. Wow that is a talent it self. Hug B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Certainly sounds like it. It was in the countryside so is possible and I only tell it as I hear it. xx

      Delete
  5. I've often fallen asleep on the bus and woken up several stops past mine, then had to walk back home, but never on a bike.
    When my youngest brother was 20 he fell asleep on his motorbike, on his way home from Melbourne. He was supposed to stop and rest at Eagle On The Hill, but when he got there he could see the lights of Adelaide and knew that home was only ten minutes away. He was found the next morning by a trucker who saw the bike tangled in the brush halfway down the hillside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Falling asleep on buses is apparently something a lot of folk do and quite often they seem to know when they are near their stop and wake up. I've never been able to sleep on buses, planes or in cars.
      Hope you brother was OK after his sleeping episode. Trust a reasonably soft landing.

      Delete
    2. He died a few days later never waking up from his coma.

      Delete
    3. Oh River....I am so sorry about your brother. That is such a tragic story.

      Delete
    4. Oh River that is so sad. I'd not realised he was so ill. A real tragedy. I am sorry.

      Delete
  6. Dear Mimsie I do so enjoy these accounts - even though I may not always comment!
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rose....I too am often guilty of not leaving a comment. A lot depends on time and yet I know I should do so as I love it when people leave a comment here. x

      Delete
  7. That is too funny, glad he didn't hurt himself, that's a new take on autopilot xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As far as know he just stopped turned around and went home. A tall story but I'm told it is absolutely true. I believe it as it was on a quiet country lane with probably no traffic at all. xxx

      Delete
  8. Hi Mimsie, just found your blog through Elephant's Child. I have had a quick look and can't wait to go through and have a good read

    Cheers, Karen near Gympie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karen and thanks for popping in and hope you do again soon. I will check our your blog as soon as I can. Hope you aren't disappointing in my blog, it is a very simple one compared with so many other wonderful blogs. I was amazed when EC chose mine and hope I can live up to her choice.

      Delete
  9. Mimsie, I love that story! It sounds like he was a talented "sleep walker"...but took it to the next level.....a "sleep bicycle rider!" And I'm very glad he didn't get hurt!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think there are doubters Becky that this actually happened, but back in those days it is quite likely it did, as the roads were uncrowded with possibly no traffic on a country lane.

      Delete