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...