I ran out of excuses

 Weather wise, today was likely to be a rose between two thorns.

Yesterday was dreadful, and Friday is forecast to be even worse. There are amber warnings* for rain in the Midlands.  Let's just settle on, "Friday is going to be soggy and I'd stay indoors if I were you."

Today, however, was pleasant. It was mild and sunny, with a lovely blue sky ... dog walking weather!

It has been a good couple of since my injured knee last twinged, so it is safe to assume that it has finally healed. The weather, as already mentioned, is fine, and I have nothing pressing to take up my time.

As it says in the title to today's Journal entry, I have run out of excuses not to take the dogs for a decent walk.

In the early afternoon I called Hobson and Traitorous Bastard** and headed out on to the Three Miler. It has been a good while since I walked a decent distance. 30% has been suffering from some mobility issues, so our recent walks have been short. Today I walked out past the local sewage treatment plant and then turned and headed home.***

In all we probably walked a little over three miles. I enjoyed it, as did the dogs.  It would have been better if they could have spent more time off-lead, but the lanes are too busy to allow them free rein all of the time.

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* Who knows what an amber warning actually means?  We have been subject to many, and varied, warnings from the Met Office, and most of them seem to be a fuss over nothing. 

** I left Whiffler and The Rat at home. Walking four dogs on my own is hard work. I could do it, if pushed, but two is far easier.

*** I could have completed the three mile loop, but the lane out of the village is filthy already. The dogs stay far cleaner if I just do an out 'n back.

A lazy day

The weather forecasters have advised that the weather is unseasonably warm for November.

It didn't seem that way when I looked out of the door at half past six this morning. It was absolutely pouring down and I didn't really fancy going outside.

Unfortunately I needed to be in Worcester for a check-up at the CHEC Opthalmology clinic, so I was out of the door before eight o'clock.  The drive in to Worcester was quite an experience. It is months since I have seen such a downpour. The heavy cloud meant that I was driving in half light and the sheeting rain reduced the visibility even further.   I was glad to be parked, and even more glad when I remembered that I had an umbrella in the boot of the car!

The check-up was fine. My IOPs are at acceptable levels and I will be called in, at some point in the near future, for an appointment with a Consultant. 

I returned home and pottered for the remainder of the morning.  

I have already mentioned that the weather is, allegedly, warm for this time of year.  I can report that it didn't feel that way at lunchtime.  I was really chilly and had a fire lit shortly after we had eaten.

I spent the afternoon alternating between reading, watching low quality television and taking a snooze on the sofa. I really did have a lazy day.

I did make it to this evening's Tai Chi class and had a very enjoyable session. We are, however, learning a new sequence* that has a very odd final move.  The various phases are strenuous, flowing, and rewarding to complete. However, the penultimate move is to bounce an imaginary ball with one hand whilst taking a jumping step with the opposite foot. One alternated from left to right, with each bounce and step.  It is the most bizarre movement and, for me, distracts from the meditative aspect of the whole.

Maybe I just need more practice.

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* Shibashi, set 1

Any news on the Honda?

Since the Honda was collected a few weeks ago, I have been asked this question quite a few times. 

It is not so surprising that Bubbles and TP have enquired, but 30% also seems quite interested in the recommissioning of my CBR600. So, this morning, I headed over to the workshop to see how things were going. 

I was advised that everything was going well. The carbs had been removed and ultrasonically cleaned. New internal components had been installed, and the only reason for the delay was that new inlet rubbers were needed to reconnect the carburettors to the airbox.  Apparently the rubber had hardened over the past thirty years making them virtually impossible to reinstall.

So, it should be ready in a couple of weeks.

In the afternoon we headed out for a short walk with the dogs. It would have been longer but there were a surprising amount of people out in the lanes, se we emptied them, and headed back home.

I then headed to the workshop and milled down another length of oak for my carpenters bench refurbishment. I am fairly sure that I now have "just enough."

We headed out to the Vet's in the early evening. This was not an emergency visit. It is just that Whiffler and Dog #4 aka The Rat are due for their annual checkup and inoculation.

Our favourite Eastern European Vet was in residence this evening and it was lovely to see her.  She has a great bedside manner, and loves the dogs. 

She was particularly thorough with Whiffler, now that he is well in to his twelfth year.  I pointed out a lump on his ribcage and, having felt it, she advised that it seemed to be a lipoma. She even took a sample with a syringe and smeared it across a slide. The contents were fatty and she is certain of her initial diagnosis ... nothing to worry about, unless it starts to grow and impede movement.

The Vet also took a look at a growth on his eyelid. Again, she is certain that it is benign, but removal may be needed if it grows and starts to abrade his cornea.

The Rat was found to be in fine health, and has even put on a couple of kilos. She has always been a skinny runt, so this weight gain was not unwelcome.

So, with a clean bill of health, the dogs were immunised and we headed home.

Here endeth Tuesday's Journal entry.

That's one job finished

Today's achievements look even less impressive than yesterday's!

I finished installing the last of the light fittings, cleaned up, and then put away my tools. I rewarded myself with a cup of coffee, before realising that my next job would be to install the new curtain poles in the lounge and dining room.

I have already recounted the installation of the two poles in the Snug.  And here I am about to commence further DIY tasks in an eighteenth century house* ... I sometimes question my sanity.

In the afternoon I attempted to restore an edge to an old chisel, before giving up, lighting the fire and settling in with my book.

30% arrived home from her spa break in the early evening and attempted to regale me with juicy gossip and drama.

I can report that three of the dogs are delighted by the return of their mistress.**

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* In fairness, back in the late nineties, I had a house in Bottesford that was built in the 1980's. It was a lovely place, but equally challenging to work on.  The internal walls had been built with thermalite blocks.  Trying to fix anything substantial to those is a massive challenge. They are so soft, one can drill in to them using a hand drill.

** Whiffler has sulked on her bed while she has been away. He has only appeared when called down for a wander in the garden to empty his bladder.  Traitorous Bastard has been true to his name and has taken to sleeping in the prime position on my bed.  This has disgruntled Hobson, who has had to find an alternative, and probably less comfortable spot, to curl up in.  30%'s return has restored order to their world. As for Dog #4 aka The Rat, she really doesn't give a damn who is, or isn't in the house, provide that she is fed, let out for a wee, and given the occasional fuss ... when it suits her!

When committed to paper ...

... It doesn't look like I did much today!

I am home alone, except for four dogs, eleven chickens and a goldfish that lurks in one of our water tanks.  30% is having a spa break in Ashby de la Zouch.  She has attempted to describe what goes on there, and I have to say, it really doesn't sound like my idea of fun.

So, having attended to all of the livestock, except the fish, how did I occupy my time today?

A couple of weeks ago we took delivery of three curtain poles for the dining and sitting rooms. The order also included a set of replacement wall lights for the snug. Earlier this week some rather nice LED Edison type bulbs arrived, followed by some round head, japanned screws, a day later.

I had now run out of excuses. It was time to replace the rather unpleasant light fittings* that currently illuminate the snug. 

Most of my day has been spent removing the old fittings and replacing them with the new. It wasn't overly complex, but I did need to excavate the plaster behind the fittings to make space for the chocolate block connectors ... The new fittings have a lower profile than the old, with less space behind them.

As the light faded, I had replaced three of the four fittings, and had vacuumed up the mess. I only experienced one inadvertent surge of 240v mains down my arm, and can report that the new lights look rather nice. They tie in nicely with the iron curtain poles, are far less fussy than the original lights and are in keeping, whilst adding a slightly modern twist.

I am now sat in the warm glow from the new lighting.  I'm well chuffed.

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* Reproduction Victorian/Edwardian brass fittings with the most unattractive bulbs installed.  We had always planned to replace them, so have never bothered to fit shades in an attempt to make them more acceptable ... In hindsight, I wish that we had!

Very little to report

It was quite late before C and I retired, so it will come as no surprise that today was a lazy day.

Most of the morning was taken up with an extended brunch. Copious quantities of tea and coffee were consumed, and we all partook in the inaugural "sausage-off."

This new event features a selection of sausages from the home town of the participants. C&S brought a selection from the Kings Farm Shop in Wendover and 30% supplied samples from Hiller's Farm Shop on the Ragley Estate.

Each sausage was sampled and we attempted to reach a conclusion on which was the best. I think we all decided that the Wendover Royal was the winner, but we did point out that our selection had not included the Lashford's Traditional Breakfast Sausage.

It seems that a second round of the competition will be needed.

30% headed off to Champneys Health Spa in the afternoon. She is spending a couple of days relaxing with her friend, Michelle.

I caught up on some sleep and realised that there was a mountain of cold sausages lurking in the bottom of the fridge.

That's my supper sorted!

The closest I'll come to time travel

 C&S are up for an overnight stay and would be arriving later this afternoon. 

Consequently much of this morning was spent ensuring that the house was presentable and that everything was in order for their brief stay.  I'll get to the reasons for that later.

During the day I did find a few minutes to continue with the restoration of my woodworkers bench. This was not messy work. This was an attempt to find replacement hinges for the doors that I will be making. The original doors were hung on the carcass using lift-off hinges.  These are fairly easy to find on-line, but the hinges I need are cranked, lift-off, flag hinges. 

Multiple web searches failed to find a retailer. Annoyingly, I would find a lead, click on the link and be rewarded with a 404 page not found message. On another occasion I found a supplier in Germany, but they had no on-line store. I found a UK supplier of lift off hinges, but they only supplied left handed versions, not right and left. It was getting very frustrating.

Well, this afternoon I think I have found a supplier in Germany that can provide what I need and ship to the UK. I checked out my virtual basket and am filled with anticipation to see what, if anything, arrives in the post.

Now on to the subject of today's Journal entry.

C does tend to gently tease me about my affection for the ska band, Bad Manners. I first saw them back in the early eighties at the Malvern Winter Gardens and was amazed at their sound and performance. They really were very good.

A few weeks ago 30% noticed that Bad Manners would be playing at the Assembly, Leamington Spa. C&S were invited, they accepted, tickets were purchased and that pretty much brings us up to date.  We arrived in Leamington for an early supper at The Terrace,  before heading round the corner to wander in to The Assembly.

As we mounted the staircase to the concert room, I swear I went back forty years in time. We were surrounded by skinheads in denim jeans, boots, Fred Perry T shirts and Harrington Jackets.  Every surface of the venue was painted black and covered in scuffs. There was a pervading scent of stale, cheap beer and the room was filled with a sense of amiable anticipation.

The front of the hall was a raised stage with a row of microphones and the occasional waft from a smoke machine. At the rear was a middle aged chap, stood behind a trestle table, selling merch to the punters.  A muffled stream of ska and Two Tone tracks played in the background as we waited ... and waited ... and waited.

It really was like being eighteen again, and turning up for your first ever gig.  I should point out that the only thing that showed I hadn't gone back in time was that most of the audience were comfortably in to their sixties.*

At about half past nine, in response to chants of "You Fat Bastard, You Fat Bastard!" the band eventual appeared and kicked off their set.  They really were very good, with a very tight sound. Buster was exactly as expected and lead the merriment.

Unfortunately, after about half an hour, S decided that she couldn't cope with the volume and retired to the bar.** We listened to a couple more tracks before aborting and heading home.

It was a shame that we felt compelled to leave early, but 30% has found that they are gigging in Worcester fairly soon. 

We'll be back!

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* There were a few youngsters that had either succumbed to the lure of a very danceable music genre, or had just wandered in to see what the hell their parents were on about.

** This was a little frustrating. Before we arrived at the venue she had made a couple of comments along the lines of, "I'll need a few glasses of red, if I'm going to watch Bad Manners." This indicated that she wasn't overly keen, BUT I had asked C, at the point of purchasing the tickets, how many tickets he wanted! She wasn't compelled to come along.

Honey and Woodwork

Today I was forced to bottle another couple of batches of honey. I shouldn't complain. I am now so familiar with the process that it doesn't take much effort to complete.  The only issue is that I can't stray far from the utility room, as every hour or so there is some task or other than needs attention.*

I've also realised that my sales are close to the £2,000 per annum mark. As I said, "I shouldn't complain."

The reason for this success is mostly down to location. We're sat in a picturesque location on a circular walk enjoyed by many walkers and riders. I also put a lot of thought in to my packaging, so we have an attractive product. People seem to love it and the packaging also makes it a nice gift for friends and visitors.

Anyway, the honey business is doing well, so a day spent bottling honey every couple of weeks should be complained about. My only concern is that I have now sold all but a few pounds of my 2025 harvest, and Pete the Bee Keeper is yet to drop off a 30 lb bucket to keep me going.

The only other thing to report is that I spent some of the afternoon milling down some oak that I found in the car port.  

A few weeks ago I gave a carpenter's workbench a light refurb and moved it in to my workshop.  The bench is a rather fine thing. It is made by a Swedish company called Sjöberg, and an internet search indicates that they are a premium product.

I'll now get to the point about the milling of the oak. The bench has a cupboard beneath the work surface and the doors have been removed long before it came in to my possession. In view of the quality of the bench it seems inappropriate to sling a couple of crude doors on the cupboard, so I have decided to construct a pair of panel doors with oak frames.  I have the tools and the time, so why not?

The late afternoon was therefore spent cutting and planing lengths of slightly wormy oak. I'm sure it will be worth the effort.

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* Jars to be put through the dishwasher, honey to be stirred, jars to be sterilised in the oven, and so on.

I've still go the Honda to do

The morning I got the Enfield tucked away for the winter. I even remembered to put a note on it, reminding me of the recommissioning tasks that need to be completed, before I attempt to start it next year.

With less than an hour before lunch, I headed to the bookcase and sought out a replacement for the tedious tome I abandoned yesterday. I selected Dark Fire by C J Sansom.  I read it many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Within a few pages I was absorbed in this tale of a Tudor Lawyer.

In the afternoon we headed out for a walk with the dogs. The weather was quite lovely today. It was mild and there was a blue sky with only a few clouds.

The rest of the afternoon was spent pottering around the house. I have realised that I am running short of supplies for my little stall, and I will need to bottle honey tomorrow. I seem to be bottling every couple of weeks at the moment and really need Pete to drop off another tub of honey. I am down to the last few pounds of my 2025 crop.

This evening the Tai Chi class resumed and I spent a pleasant hour participating in the Autumn sequence and the Dao Ying Yan Shen exercises. As I have become more familiar with these sequences I am really enjoying the sense of calm as one makes their way through the choreography.

So, that was Wednesday. 

The only other thing to report is that 30% has booked our 2026 Narrow Boat holiday with B&H.  We're off to explore the Llangollen Canal next June. 

Sometimes being told isn't enough

 30% had arranged to visit her old friend Pinky today.

Her condition has much improved. At one point it was a case of "prepare for the worst". Now they are talking about a "complete recovery, taking six to twelve months." She is still in intensive care, but the periods of ventilation and sedation are being reduced. Her eyes are open and she can respond to verbal prompts to squeeze one's hand.  Her slow recovery begins.

What I haven't mentioned is that Pinky moved to Rhayader a few years back, so is ensconced in the Intensive Care Unit of Aberystwyth Hospital.  That is a a fair trek from these parts, so today I was left home alone to keep the dogs company, whilst 30% headed out on the train to deepest Wales.

I dropped her off at the station just before nine, and spent the morning mostly pottering. I read a little, but became increasingly frustrated with the book I had selected.* 

I took delivery of the Enfield's Vac Bag this afternoon, and headed out to the garage to finish cleaning the front wheel. I have found that a gently rub with wire wool and metal polish work wonders on the tarnished spokes.

I returned to the house to keep the dogs company, lighting a fire in the late afternoon. 30% called just before seven to advise that she would be in Redditch at "half past."

I collected her from the station and listened as she recounted her day. She was exhausted by the travelling and the experience of the hospital visit, but buoyed by the fact that her friend's condition is greatly improved. I think she needed the reassurance of seeing Pinky with her own eyes.

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* I say "selected," in reality it was more a case of it being forced upon me.  It is the fifth instalment of a fantasy series, and, being a completer/finisher, I felt compelled to read the entire series.  The first two volumes were a great read, but three and four were repetitive, and filled with page after page of nothing. There were occasional bouts of excitement that were just enough to keep the dedicated reader interested, but I admit to skipping large chunks frequently. The final volume was the final straw. I got about one hundred and fifty pages in and couldn't bear reading another sentence. It has been replaced in the bookcase and I will never take it out again.

The Lexicon of Love

 Today started with a trip in to Redditch's Kingfisher Centre.

30% was due for a hearing test and my trusted wristwatch needed a new battery. She popped in to Specsavers and I headed to Timpson to have a new battery installed.*

A trip to the supermarket followed and that consumed the morning.

In the afternoon we took the dogs out for a walk and then I headed in to the garage to resume the cleaning the Enfield. A Vac Bag has been ordered, and I would really like to get it tucked away for the winter in the next few days.  I made a start on cleaning the spokes of the front wheel and found that a light rub with steel wool works wonders. I also constructed a virtual list of maintenance tasks that will be needed before I attempt to start it in the spring.**

This evening we took the train from Redditch in to Birmingham for an evening at the Symphony Hall. ABC were in concert, with a Symphony Orchestra, performing their first album; The Lexicon of Love.

I have had a copy of this LP since it was first released in 1985, and have never tired of it. I have a playlist on my phone that provides the soundtrack to most of my car journeys. Several ABC tracks appear on the it, and they never fail to delight.

ABC opened with When Smokey Sings and the rest of the first half was comprised of later works. After the intermission the Lexicon of Love was performed in its entirety with a 30 piece orchestra performing alongside the band.

It was a splendid evening, and we both loved it. We did comment that we could have arrived, listened to the first track and then popped out for a light bite to eat, before returning for the main event. That is not to say that the first half of the concert wasn't good, it was. It was just that the second half was just fabulous.

ABC have definitely set the benchmark high, let's see how Bad Manners do on Friday.

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* A new battery for a Tag watch will cost in the region of ninety pounds. They last a four or five years, but they are still rather expensive.  Many years ago I called in to a branch of Timpson to get my watch battery replaced, and they advised that, for a small fee, I could get a lifetime guarantee on the battery.  I paid the fee and carefully stowed the guarantee card in my wallet. You can see the Timpson staff smile when you ask for a new battery to be fitted, and then groan when you pull out the golden ticket.

** The list: 

• Adjust Chain, 
• Check oil level (it looks high), 
• Replace chain case gasket (there is a small leak), 
• Pray (the bike hasn't been ridden since early 2021 and the carb could well be gummed up)

Day of rest

It was close to two o'clock this morning before we got to bed, so today really wasn't going to be very productive.

It was a late start, and, eventually, the chickens were let out and our Sunday began.  

A chap called round in the morning to give us a quote for cutting the hedges.  I have done it in previous years, and am still quite capable of doing it. 

The thing is, it is a bit of a mission, and, if I can get someone else to do it for a reasonable price, I'll outsource it.

In the afternoon a snooze was mandated to catch up on some sleep, and then we walked the dogs down the lane.

I then settled down with a book and did little else for the rest of the day.

Out for dinner

I met up with Bubbles and Ben at the Cotswold Shooting Ground in Childswickham this morning, for a round of sporting clays.

The weather was wet and windy, neither of which are ideal conditions for clay pigeon shooting.  The wind caused the clay trajectories to be erratic, and the rain on my spectacles made it challenging to follow their flight.

If I am honest I didn't really try that hard, so I can't complain with a score of 39/80. I'm not making out that it is a good score, but it could have been a lot worse ... and I didn't use the big coat excuse.*

My gun got wet this morning, so the first job, when I got home, was to clean it.  It is now sat back in the gun cabinet and, being clean, if I don't fancy shooting during cold and damp months, it will be fine until the spring.**

In the afternoon we took the dogs out for a walk down the lane, and in the evening we headed over to Evesham for dinner with Rosie & Jim and Gizzie & Jules.  

We had a splendid time, some lovely food, and the conversation never faltered. It was a great evening. One observation I will make is that, now we are all in our sixties, the first part of the evening was spent discussing our latest aches and pains!

We didn't make it to bed until close to two o'clock, so I am expecting that Sunday will be a quiet one.

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* It was cold this morning and I wore my shooting coat. It is well made, but it does restrict one's movement when shouldering the gun and sighting on the clay.  After a summer of shooting in a tee or sweatshirt, it takes a while to adjust. It is a standing joke that there are hundreds of excuses for poor performance at the clay shooting ground. It is always best to come prepared with a list!

** Much like my motorcycles.

The Dog Whisperer?

Friday turned out to be a very lazy day.

After a very leisurely start to the day, the only thing I achieved in the morning was to pick up a prescription from a local chemist.  

On the way to pick up the drugs, I decided to pop in to see Pete the Beekeeper.  I wanted to order a 30lb bucket of honey as my supplies are running short.* I also wanted to pay him for the two queens that he supplied back in the late summer of 2024. 

I actually bumped in to Pete about half a mile down the lane, where the bridge crosses the little stream.  He has an apiary there and was performing a late season check. I managed to order a bucket of honey but totally failed to get him to accept any money for either the honey or the queens. His reluctance to work out how much I owe him for the queens is getting ridiculous. I must have attempted to pay him half a dozen times, and he keeps declining payment "until he works out how much I owe him."

Anyway, on to this afternoon ... we walked the dogs down the lane and then I returned to cleaning the Enfield in the garage. The peeling vinyl stickers were removed from the tank and it was given a good polish. I also settled to cleaning the front wheel spokes. I didn't get very far before I decided to head indoors, light a fire and warm my bones.

And now to the title of today's Journal entry. 

Since Traitorous Bastard has come to live with us he has shown a rather annoying personality trait. At the sight of any animal on the television,** he lunges towards the set barking. He gets so excited that he actually headbutts the screen and has come close to knocking it off its stand.

None of our other dogs do this. Dog #4 aka The Rat does enjoy a wildlife programme, but she simply settles in the chair and enjoys the show. Whiffler and Hobson show no interest in the television at all. It is just TB that thinks we are being invaded by strange beasts.

So, for the past few days, I have been attempting to dissuade him from this behaviour by putting him outside the room, and shutting the door, each time he does this.  He is only left in the hall for a couple of minutes, before he is let back in.

He seems to have caught on very quickly. If he starts to lunge at the TV, we call him and point to the lounge door. He stops, returns to 30%, and reluctantly sits.

Neither of us can believe how quickly he has caught on, and we are wondering whether it a fluke? The cynic in me thinks we need to continue with this training approach for a while longer.

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* I harvested about 140 lb at the end of May this year, and I am down to my last 30lb bucket. Sales have been, and continue to be, very good.

** You would be amazed how many advertisements have dogs and cats in them.