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Back to normal

Pic of the week 7/4/24

On Wednesday, Becky, Sophie and I journeyed down to Devon – just shy of the Cornish border – to meet with Becky’s mum and dad for lunch. It was a pleasant day out, a journey of about 1hr 45 mins one way, and then on our return to Street Sophie hopped into her car and headed back to Cardiff.

On Monday I had taken Sam to Bridgwater station (in the still then noisy silver dream machine) from where he got the train back to Cardiff.

It was lovely to have them both home for a few days, but now they’ve gone back and the two of us are let rattling around the house again, trying to get all their bedding washed in between the poor weather. It continues to be wet and windy, although we have not had to endure as much rain as I feared. However, it is still definitely not shorts weather – I reckon this must be one of the latest times for donning shorts on record.  Trawling back through my blog, it seems this (when I start wearing shorts again) isn’t something I have recorded, probably because its something I just drift into doing in March or April, but currently it seems a long way away. I can’t see me wearing them before we go to Italy (on Tuesday), hopefully the weather will have turned by the time we come back …

This week I had my eyes tested – must remember to buy some new specs on my return – have run a couple of times, but not really done a huge amount else.  I did enjoy de-mod-ing the Civic (see other post) and have been doing battle with the catepillars that have been devouring the box bush out front (keep meaning to write a separate blog post about that.)  Given the grey skies and lack-lustre temperatures, I am looking forward to our Italian adventure and jetting off on Tuseday.

Ciao!

 

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Birthday boy!

Pic of the week 31/3/24

Its been my birthday week! On Thursday I turned 55 – no getting away from it, I’m definitely mid-fifties now – Sophie and Sam both came home for the start of Easter on Wednesday so it was been nice to have them home for my birthday tea, and it was nice to finish for the Easter hols at lunchtime on my birthday; a couple of tough weeks at the end of term made it a bit of a slog, but now I’m on holiday, all is well with the world.

Its been a busy week. On Wednesday I went for my blood tests and on Thursday I got my results – another nice birthday gift as I have been given the all clear as my levels are all within limits and I’m signed off from the docs “Normal, stable or satisfactory – no further action required” for all test. Here are the numbers:

  • Serum cholesterol 4.6 mmol/L
  • Serum triglycerides: 1.0 mmol/L (normal is range 0.6 to 2.0)
  • Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio: 3.7
  • Se non HDL cholesterol level: 4.1 mmol/L

Wednesday also saw me get absolutely frozen on the football pitch at Kingweston. It has been a wet winter, and rain was forecast for the afternoon, but after a huge downpour that morning, I headed over in sunshine, hoping that we’d escaped. But no, on arrival it started to rain, but by the time I trotted down to pitch 5 it had stopped, and we started the game. 5 mins in, the heavens opened with a biblical hail storm that lasted a good ten minutes. It was painful and cold!  Eventually the storm passed, and the sun even came out, but ten mins from time, the hail returned, I blew for full time early, much to the delight of everyone. A truly miserable experience!

The previous half term ended with the red shed dying at Kingweston, this term ended with me buying its replacement – “the silver dream machine”, “The Beast” or “The Asbo maker” depending on your view – or, more appropriately, hearing.

The Silver Dream Machine, aka The Beast

It is a 2003 Honda Civic – I really like it, drives and stops well, circa 102K miles, some good service history, but it is loud, very LOUD! I think that until 2023 it was well looked after then, for a year, was in the hands of a boy racer who added a “sports” exhaust and external air filter and some big sub-woofers in the boot (the speakers have gone, but the wiring is still there). Even Sam – and the car is earmarked to go to him in August – thinks its too loud.  I have a normal exhaust on order (£61) due to arrive on Thursday – should be a simple replacement fit and I’ll stop terrifying the locals as I cruise the streets of Street.

Saturday was a lovely day and Becky and I grabbed the opportunity to enjoy a few hours sat outside in the sunshine, Sunday remained dry (until the biblical rains returned Sunday night) but grey and cold.  On both days I took the opportunity to do some gardening – Saturday hacking back the box bush out front – it has suffered due to caterpillar action – and on Sunday I cut a lot of the top off the bush on the top deck that continues to grow and grow and, unforgivably, was casting shade when we wanted to make the most of the rare appearance of some spring sunshine. It will grow back, I’m sure, I just hope the same can be said of the box bush.

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Mothers Day

Pic of the week 10/3/24

Today’s is Mother’s day – Becky’s first not working Mother’s Day for seven years!  At lunch time we had a family Insta chat which was nice , the bambinos had sent their cards, and had instructed me to get some flowers, which I did on Wednesday.

Today has been quite chilled – we’ve not done a lot, I think Becky is enjoying her new job in the gallery, but is also then enjoying doing not a lot on Sunday, having worked on Saturday.

The weather has been dryer this week, but I wouldn’t say its (yet) been a warm March, it has been chilly in the mornings and nights, and the days plagued by a brisk wind. But the extra light makes a huge difference; this week we have seen some sun and the fact that it is still light as we approach six o’clock just makes everything feel better. Daffodils are in bloom, bushes are greening up and this last week we do seem to have – at last-  emerged from the grey grimness that descended in late October. Whilst its not been a cold winter, it has been a wet one, and that means the skies have often been leaden grey and oppressive. But I think, at last, Spring is here, or coming soon at the very least and one’s mood has lightened like the sky this last week.

The Magnolia is in full bloom – in fact, it is already starting to shed some flower petals (I often think the Magnolia is overrated – fantastic for five minutes, but lacking in the staying power to really earn its keep.) Its been a busy week, but a good week. Another busy one to come, I think …

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Bambinos

Pic of the week 5/11/23

It was Sophie’s birthday (24!) yesterday and she came home, bringing Sam with her.

Was lovely to see them both, have birthday tea together on Saturday (although I was on dining room duty on Sunday evening, so couldn’t also have tea with them then)

No he’s no longer insured on the Corsa, I’ve been a taxi service for Sam, shuttling him to friends in Wells and then Glastonbury.

Lovely to have the family back together for a weekend. in six weeks they’ll be back for Christmas!

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21, and street legal

las

Pic of the week 13/8/23

On Monday Sam turned 21!

We went up to Cardiff to see him (& Sophie!) for the day and tok him out to lunch at Maria’s, the Greek restaurant where he works. (The pic shows him with his boss, Mario, who kindly supplied the (cheese) cake. It was lovely to see them both (S & S) in their “home” environment – they do seem to be building their lives in Cardiff and it is lovely to see their growing independence. (Still struggle to believe I have 21 and 23 yr old!)

On Friday, the 205 passed its MOT! needed a new tyre, windscreen wiper and one or two other bits and bobs but it is now up and running! Need to ponder my future plans for it, but it has got back under my skin …

Over the last couple of days I’ve been tackling some of the “heavy” growth in the back garden, in particular the ivy along the wall at the bottom of the garden. It’s been tough, but I’ve taken a lot out – 3 tips to the tip, and its still not “job done”!

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Barbie and family

Pic of the week 6/8/23

On Friday we (Becky, Sophie & I) went to see Barbie, down at Strode cinema. A good film and I enjoyed the evening out,

The night before, we had been over to Wells for a gathering of the clan as Auntie Janet was down visiting

(I can’t be seen in the pic, but I was there!) Sophie was home (she had come back for her car’s MOT – it passed, but we did put on two new rear tyres – and she was going to 42nd Street with Becky on Saturday, Rog & Lisa also came over. A nice evening, and a chance to catch up.

Also on Thursday, it was our 27th wedding anniversary, hence the obligatory pic of some sunflowers. These are the ones in the back garden, which are fairing better than those in the front which continue to take a heavy beating from the strong winds that this dreadful summer is regularly producing.

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Soller, Majorca

Pic of the week 16/7/23

On Friday, we returned from 10 lovely days -en famile- in Soller, Majorca.  We had a fantastic Finca a few minutes walk from the town centre, with a pool set in a lovely garden.  It was, however, hot! As the week wore on, we became embroiled (emboiled?!) in the heatwave Cerberus with temperatures hitting 36, 37 degrees, and not getting much cooler at night (which then exacerbated the omission of air con from the property, although ceiling fans dis their best to keep us cool.)

We did a lot (well, Becky & I did – Sophie really didn’t like the heat, and Sam didn’t like getting up in the morning!) Probably the highlight for me was on the Sunday when Sam & I went coastering of Deia, climbing rocks and leaping of cliffs (10m high?) into the sea. The best bit for me was entering the sea cave – in fact, it was exiting the sea cave! The water was so perfectly blue as I rounded the corner the enter the final passage. This was no grand cavern, the exit was not very big at all!

Other highlights included our trip to the orange grove Ecovinyassa, and on our final day when Becky and I took the bus to Fornalutx, explored it and then walked down to Biniaraix and back to the house. But the whole holiday was great – food, family and fun!

Day 0 – Arrival

Day 1 trip to the Eroski!

Day 2 – Deia

Day 3 – Market Day in Soller

Day 4 – Becky went to Valldemossa, whilst Sam & I went coastering

Day 6 – Becky & I walked to Port de Soller. Hot, hot, hot!

Day 7 – In the evening we got the bus to Port de Soller

Day 8 – Ecovinyassa

Day 8 – exploring Fornalutx and Biniaraix

Day 9 – Heading home

(For the record, our return flight was delayed by two hours)

 

 

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Cars, bikes and pavements

Pic of the week

Well, what a full week this has been!

Monday saw the 205 complete (not pass, but not abandoned!) its MOT. It didn’t pass – I didn’t expect it too, but was surprised that it failed on a couple of brake lines being corroded and headlight alignment. After some initial disappointment, I have decided that these are not major jobs and I will do them myself, as a summer poject.

Tuesday saw me back in the saddle – spinning at Strode leisure centre for the first time since the pandemic. It was tough, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, I may be tempted to return …

On Wednesday we went to Cornwall in the rain (and returned in the rain – it pretty much rained all day) for a gathering of the Woodhouse clan.  A long way to go, but a nice afternoon.

Thursday – a big day: I ran again for the first time since my plantar fasciitis. It was not easy, partly because I was conscious of my foot, and partly because I haven’t run for 4 months. I ended up running 4Km, my foot was OK afterwards, but my left calf felt like a knotted ball. I ran again on Saturday, this time running nearly 6 Km (the 3km “Grange-High Street” loop twice) It felt good to be running again. I think I do need to manage my miles – my foot doesn’t hurt, but I’m “aware” of it – not sure its still 100% recovered. Have also swum a couple of times as well.

Friday was lovely day, weather wise, and spent much of it in the garden, doing some pruning, but also a lot of reading and soaking up the sun.  After much promise, though, sadly neither Saturday nor today lived up to the promise of more good weather, and now it seems the rain will be back tomorrow (good job we are off to Greece (Rhodes) on Wednesday).  Over Friday and today, I chopped back the “brown” tree and the buddleia, reducing both significantly in height, a job that needed doing.

In addition, on Tuesday, the cooker stopped working. It was the heating element – quick bit of fault diagnosis, part identified and ordered, arrived on Thursday and within 20 minutes I’d fixed it. On Monday, the Corsa threw a EML light – Sam thought it was like when the timing belt slipped 18 months ago, diagnostics showed a misfire on cylinder 4, and after initially finding no fault, I was able to replicate it – a low speed lack of power.  Whipped of the coil pack and found some moisture ingress around the no. 4 spark plug: cleaned it up, dried it off and the problem seems to have gone away. Pretty sure that this was the cause and correct solution.

So a busy week, a full week, but an enjoyable week.

 

 

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Return of the bambinoos

Pic of the week 26/3/28

Both bambinos came home yesterday – Sam as his term is over and Sophie just because; she’ll work from home for the next few weeks,

Other than that, though, not too much to report. My daffodils are looking good, both in the trough and the lawn, the clocks went forward today so its nice to welcome in the longer evenings, although we still haven’t had much spring like weather to enjoy.  Its been showery, grey and not warm, Still have one more week of term to get through, but light is definitely beginning to glimmer on the horizon.

My foot continues to improve  – still not sure I’d want to go running on it (although that day may need to come in the next weeks/months) most of the time I just don’t notice it; it doesn’t hurt but can still be “aware” of it at times.  Although when I think about it, its been a  term, or 3 months, that is quite a hefty length of time needed for recovery.

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Visit from Sam

Pic of the week 12/3/23

Sam came home on Saturday for a couple of nights and it was lovely to see him. (He had been to a party at Smithy’s in Bristol on Friday night) He pretty much slept for most of today, emerging at circa 12.30pm, is currently out at Idris’s and he heads home tomorrow, but it has been nice to have him home for a few days.

Its been a cold week and we had some snow on Wednesday.  Not a great deal, and it didn’t really settle down here, but the Tor turned briefly white:

but it was all gone by the end of the day as the snow just turned to rain.  Has stayed cold for most of the week – I got v cold at games yesterday: low temperature, wind, some stinging rain – although this morning was pleasant with some sunshine and it didn’t feel cold. Although by late afternoon, everything had gone grey and it started to rain. Tomorrow promises to be wet and very windy – I would still struggle to say we are anywhere close to spring, beautiful blue skies have been a rarity.

Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps it was because tickets came on sale, most probably a combination of both, but we bought tickets to Malaga for December.

The plan is to fly to Malaga in the morning, then get the train to Cordoba, spend a couple of nights there before returning to Malaga for a night or two, then home.  The initial cost of the flights was circa £50 each return, but carry on luggage etc added an extra £80. Still return flights for less than £150 aint bad (although it does say something when your bags are worth more than you!)

My foot: continues to improve, but is “still there” Did have a wonderful dream in the week where I dreamt I was running barefoot on grass – wonderful. Went swimming today, did 46 lengths, 1.5km. I am enjoying doing some exercise on a Sunday morning again.