I woke one day to discover I had gained a neighbour at the Islamabad Rose Garden Camp Ground. I found one semi erect tent and and bicycle leaning up against a tree. I looked at the clues laid out before me and decided that the sleeping beast must be a man, tall and extremely skinny and always hungry - ok, so i was just generalizing all bicycle overlanders but I had a small satisfaction when he finally emerged from his tent exactly as I had predicted.
At the time I didn't realise that this skinny cyclist was going to be my 'partner in crime' for the next month in Northern Pakistan. During that time, I came to realise how much this guy can eat! We (Everyone in Gilgit and I) called him the 'Hungry Man' as his name was too hard to pronounce and remember in the Swedish way - Joel (pronounced U-L).
Every day he would bring home a bag of 'delicious' cakes, but to any normal person (like me) would find them bland and extremely dry. Every day he would attempt to change my opinion by trying yet another cake or biscuit from the bakery. None of them were any good but he was happy as his tummy was been fed.
Another habit this skinny creature had, was to polish everything off, but he gave you warning to get your last mouth full in before - ' is anyone going to finish this?' slipped from his lips.
Thanks for a great time 'Hungry Man', best of luck for your exams I know you have been studying hard!
Oh - the day after you left I burnt the toast!
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