July 2011 - Changing Gear - two-wheeled travels

Now for something completely different...
I've taken the plunge and finally decided to buy a bike - it took me a while to bite the bullet and invest seriously precious and scarce funds into two-wheeled transport but I think, in the end, I made a good decision and hopefully time will prove I am better with two wheels than without.

I already owned a bike - a very comfortable town bike. Great for bumbling along on the flat... no good at all if I had to cycle up even the slightest gradient. It only had three gears.. the lowest of which was the only gear I could use to pedal - I either needed more gears or I would have move to Holland if I wanted to continue to use my old faithful Raleigh.

The new model is a Trex (21 gear) T30. It has a bit of an 'old lady' image... but it's great and, so far, I love it. I'm taking it easy at the moment ... familiarizing my old and almost non-existent muscles slowly and gently to the unfamiliar activity of pushing pedals - just a little bit further than they have for many a year.

It's comforting to know the bike is close at hand... that if I need to get to the other side of town I can, without the need of buses, taxis or lifts from friends - so it does provide some small measure of independence. It'll probably be used mainly for gentle rides, just for the joy of it... for fresh air and exercise... to enjoy the sounds of smells of outdoors, riding along quiet cycle tracks and byways close to home. But, who knows, in time I might venture a little further afield - with picnic and camera to see what's 'out there'.

I've got the gear... a new cycle helmet, light-weight waterproof and sensible shoes although I've yet to consider lights, back and front and, more importantly, some hi-viz accessories to ensure I can be seen by other road users - safety first..!

When I'm out and about I'll take some photographs and report any exciting/interesting finds or sightings. Hopefully I'll have some great foraging trips seeking out fruit, nuts and fungus.... and who knows - I might come across an elusive woodpecker, kingfisher, fox, hare or deer...

Pictures to follow... wish me luck !

Is there Life after Wheels (notes from a pedestrian bus passenger)

A different way to journey through Life

My faithful old Fiat Punto has finally gone to that big garage in the sky after racking up a tremendous 123K miles and taking me safely from one end of the country to the other - and lots of places in between.

It has been packed with people going to parties, funerals, special events and occasions, school-runs, hospital visits - (emergency and otherwise) and six years of daily trips to work during rush hours there and back.

It has also hauled household furniture and goods (during four house moves), dozens of assorted loads of assorted rubbish (to dozen of trips to the municipal tip), taken me on autumn forays into farm yards to haul bags of manure, and into the local woods and bye ways searching for mushrooms, blackberries and other countryside treasures. It has motored along scenic coastal routes and traveled across moors and along motorways - got me safely and on time to airports, coach terminals, train stations and ferry ports.

It has been my constant companion for eleven years - my independence. It has given me the opportunity to go to places and enjoy the company of friends and relatives otherwise out of reach. I have enjoyed private solitude inside it's familiar cocoon when I needed to be alone - to travel into another world with just my thoughts and with my music or favorite radio program...

However, from today (11 May 2011) I embark on a new journey. A life without wheels of my own ... a life where I will learn how to travel on public transport. It's a daunting thought and I'm just a bit apprehensive ... it's going to be difficult to set out from home without all the stuff I usually just throw into the boot. It's going to take a bit of planning. But it's a new way to travel and I will have to master it .... It's going to be cheaper (that's a good thing) and I might even meet some new people on my journey (that can be good too..) So... here I go.... I'll keep a record of some of the places I get to and how I manage along the way... watch this space then... who knows, there might be some lovely surprises ahead, just around the corner

Finished.... my first attempt at quilting

For such a long time now I've wanted to try my hand at quilting. I was inspired by the quilts my sister-in-law (Vicky) has made. Vicky has made many, many quilts and has given them as presents to friends and family. Each one has been lovingly hand sewn and they are, without exception, beautiful and are destined to be treasured heirlooms used and handed down through the ages. So... after many false starts I finally cut out the pieces and began to piece together my first 'baby' quilt. This little quilt is just about big enough to cover a cot or to use in a pram or pushchair. It's a very simple design but even so it took me quite a while to plan the blocks and borders and to choose colours that would blend together nicely. I'm really pleased with the result... although it's obviously a beginners quilt with lots of little mistakes - I've a lot to learn and many hours of sewing to do before I can achieve anything as beautiful as Vicky lovingly makes. But I've made a start and I plan to begin another one, for my granddaughter which I hope she will treasure. I'll enjoy choosing the fabric and piecing them to make a special gift for her. It may be some time before I post another picture of a finished quilt... but I'm on my way...

Views and News from Glatton (May 2010)

8th May 2010 It's a first for me and a reminder that there's so many wonders of the world to experience - yet to be revealed.... I have just witnessed the majestic flight of a red kite for the first time ever! I hope I may be lucky enough to see more of these beautiful birds in the week I'm visiting the shire of Huntingdon - perhaps a little closer, perhaps for a little longer - ideally when I have my camera at the ready so I can save a record in more than my memory bank. If memory begins to fade I hope my photographs will serve as a reminder of happy times, exciting times, passing moments and snapshots of my life and times for future generations, that may wonder what life was like way back when....

I still have to see a live badger for the first time although I can confirm two more 'firsts' for me (during the last twelve months) - my first sighting of a woodpecker - in the tree outside my dining room window and first viewing of a red squirrel - in woodland, next to Killhope Lead Mine - beautiful.... but I digress

Meanwhile - back in Glatton I've been watching a family of robins, mum, dad and two youngsters in Joyce and Den's garden. I'm surprised that both male and female are around together with their youngsters.... is this usual or am I mistaken..?

9th may 2010..... It's a beautiful day today much better than the horrible cold, wet, day it was here yesterday. I've just got back from taking Pixie a short walk and guess what.... I watched swallows darting low across a sunny field with horses and grouse looking on.... it really must be the start of summer - long may the sun shine and I have the luxury to "stand and stare" ...just as the poem...even if, today, it was horses and grouse rather than sheep and cows...

Eventually home time after a week in Glatton seems to have arrived very quickly. I've had a great break, seen some lovely countryside and even enjoyed a visit from Andrea, Stan and baby Branna, driving down from Stamford. We all went next-door-but-one to the pub where I was treated to a great lunch. The pub was busy with locals enjoying a pint and good food - the service was friendly and attentive. But the time has come for me to say farewell to Pixie, Joyce and Den and to thank them for the opportunity to spend some time in their lovely home..... if Pixie needs company when you go away again... just call me and I'll be happy to journey south once again.

Trip to London on a shoe-string

My recent trip to London for the day cost a total of £18.60...!
£11 return bus fare via Northern Express from Feethams, Darlington to Victoria Coach Station, London.
I spent £4 on local bus fares (two journeys at £2 each)
£3.20 on two wonderful coffees "to go"
40p to get into the toilets at Victoria Coach Station...

My friend Rosemary and I set off at 0045 on Saturday morning and we arrived at London Victoria at 06.00. It was a great time to arrive as it was very quiet and we were able to get into lots of little arcades that would become packed with people later in the day. We saw some wonderful things... it would have been very easy to spend a fortune. But we settled for a coffee to go and a scrumptious piece of strawberry cheesecake from a fabulous patisserie. Rosemary treated herself to a lovely piece of amber with silver which she'll make into a necklace. Later we walked to Kensington Gardens and took our shoes off while we sat on the grass and watched the world go by. Then it was time to make our way back to the coach station for 4 o' clock and the journey home. I was so impressed with how much cleaner London appeared compared with my last visit albeit ten years ago - it was litter free and graffiti free and everyone we spoke to was very helpful and nice.... from the community policewoman who actually took us to the first bus stop we needed to find and even explained how the ticket machine worked - to the stall holders, the toilet attendant, the shop assistants.... it was altogether a lovely day and we'll try and make another trip as soon as we can. I'd certainly do the trip again.... it may seem madness to spend 12 hours out of 24 on a bus.... but it makes a trip to the capital possible if there's something special to see or experience. All for under £20.... it's got to be worth it...

Tales and Tips from the allotment

Above is my (very small..!) allotment all bedded down for the winter, November 2009, below is the same plot at the beginning of Spring 2010

After what seems like a long-long winter it's time to get back to planting and growing again. I've cobbled together a cold-frame and seeds are already sprouting. I need to improve the quality of the soil in general and so today (Sunday 25th April) I'm on a mole-hill hunt. The field next to the allotments usually has a fine crop and I'm hoping I'm not too late to fill a wheelbarrow with lots of spadefuls of beautiful soil - broken down to a fine tithe by those hard working little critters...! It'll take a few trips over the next few days to collect enough to improve what will be my beetroot bed. Meanwhile... it's on with the boots and down to the garden I plod...

On the left is a picture taken at the beginning of Spring 2010. My allotment was a virgin plot this time last year so I feel this is the real beginning of my attempt to grow some nice things for myself. The strawberry plants look good and have come through the winter well. The raspberry canes are beginning to send up new shoots and the blueberry bushes have survived the snow and sub-zero temperatures. There's lots of planting to do, especially dwarf beans, onions and shallots. I'm hoping to grow a small number of cauliflower and Brussels sprout plants. I've planted courgettes and potatoes in containers as there's not enough space to plant directly into this little plot - and I also plan to plant out one or two tomato plants when the weather is a little warmer.

Making the most of Tesco Rewards Tokens

My local supermarket is Tesco. I use a Tesco Clubcard card if I purchase goods from the store or petrol from the garage. Using the Clubcard generates 'rewards' which can be spent in the form of Clubcard Vouchers in-store or exchanged for Rewards Tokens.

Clubcard Vouchers can be spent at face-value in the store - so a £5 voucher can be used to buy wine, flowers, groceries, etc and sometimes twice the face value can be used to purchase specific items, clothes, dvds for example, so £5 becomes £10....!

However, Clubcard Vouchers can be exchanged for Rewards Tokens and I think these are excellent value for money. Rewards Tokens are issued for up to four times face value and can be used for family fun days out, activities and sports, annual memberships, books, magazine subscriptions and much more.

Recently I have received tokens (as a present) in the form of cinema tickets and have given tokens (as presents) in the form of annual magazine subscriptions, meals at a lovely Italian restaurant and entrance fees for a family of six at a theme park...! (£17.50s worth of vouchers generated £70 towards entry into Lightwater Valley theme park making a day out possible rather than price-prohibitive).

Now I'm saving my tokens, which arrive quarterly, for Christmas. I know I'll be able to exchange them for gifts I couldn't otherwise afford.

I don't get all my groceries from Tesco but I do try to purchase my petrol there and my utility bills also contribute to my Tesco spend. As a result I feel the reward tokens are a genuine bonus.... they do feel like something for nothing. I don't think I'm having to spend 'more' just to get the tokens. If you haven't got a Tesco Clubcard I really do believe it's worth getting one and using it each time you shop there. The pounds do mount up and over a year I probably 'earn' approximately £30 in rewards which is £30 off the cost of something bought in store or £120 if exchanged some of the hundreds of 'Rewards'.