I think I’ve been here a week, but I began asking folk what day it was last Saturday, (it’s Thursday now – I think).

The TT has that effect on me, each year I come across with plans, arrangements, appointments and intentions to, “get things done”. And each year I leave having achieved not a lot beyond awe, amazement and wonder.
This process is enhanced by, “The Wall”, a phenomenon that occurs earlier and earlier each year, and is characterised by my losing track of my usual reality.

In Practice week days are one long procession of early laps, lazy afternoons, followed by Ballaspur Marshaling. Race weeks have a similar pattern but are subject to revisions occasioned by weather conditions, as Races are postponed and moved to tomorrow. Everyone involved becomes addicted to weather forecasts, and the poor ACU Clerk of the Course, (the excellent Gary Thompson), has to achieve the scheduling equivalent of plaiting smoke by ensuring races happen in safe conditions.

And speaking of weather forecasts, I’m up to eight weather apps on my phone, and every day trawl through all of them, choosing to believe the one that tells me what I want to hear.

“What day is it?”, is the least of the symptoms of my version of “TTitis”

At least I remembered to take the camera out with me during today’s early morning lap…

All the best, Jim.

Tags: Ducati, Ducati Multistrada, Isle of Man, Isle of Man TT, Isle of Man TT Marshalls Association, James Guthrie