When is a flat road not a flat road?  When you're on a bike.  Bloody hell, my legs hurt, my bum hurts, my arms hurt.  (Why do my arms hurt?  They're not doing anything when you ride except holding on.  Well, your hands are holding on, but you know what I mean).  Went out again tonight; actually I could have carried on, I was getting a good buzz from it, and I went further than I had planned, but even so, was pretty knackered when I got back.  I have to keep standing up when I'm free-wheeling down the slopes though, to give my backside a rest and deal with the wedgie (sorry, I bet you didn't really need to know that did you?).  Adrian got me a stand today and a pump, both very handy items that it was lacking.

Bike!

My new bike arrived today!  Am sooo excited!  It's my birthday present, but I've just been out on it, had to check it was ok and anyway, I'll be working all day on my birthday, and the day after, so won't have time then.  Went up the road to the bins and back, about 100m and could feel the burn.  Adrian adjusted seat and handlebar height, put new padded seat on (you'd think I'd have enough padding of my own) and went back off up the road.  Went further this time, all the way up to the crossroads, passed by a fire engine on the way up, blimey they're enormous close up, and just about made it to the junction.  The road is decptively flat when you walk it.  My legs were killing me.  Free-wheeled it back down - now that's my kind of cycling, I got a serious buzz out of that, so I decided to have another go, but just half-way this time, thought I'd turn around just before the hill starts.  Unfortunately, one of our neighbours passed me along the road so I had to keep going until she was out of sight, by which time the road had started it's ascent.  Then I realised that the bike has gears.  So I put it into a low gear.  Not so bad after all...  (although a bit complicated for me - my last one had five as I recall.  Which reminds me - I think the last time I went on a bike was about 22 years ago.

Harvest

Been busy in the kitchen lately, cooking up all the fruit and veg that's ready.  So far:

One batch of plum and cinnamon jam (tastes nice, but didn't set properly, even though I tested it.  I call it 'soft set, also ideal for using as a sauce on ice-cream').
One batch of greengage jam (going to make batch two today).
One batch of blackcurrant jelly (a new recipe which I will be doing again, much better than the blackcurrant jam).
One batch of blackberry jelly (from our local hedgerows, although Adrian fell in the ditch when we were collecting them and I had to pull him out.  Was going to make jelly, crumble and alcohol from our hoard but managed to collect exactly 1kg so only made jelly).
Two batches of blackcurrant vodka (well a fair bit seems to have disappeared of late....).
One batch of blackberry vodka (an excuse to go out collecting again).
Several portions of stewed apples (in freezer).
Several batches of tomato sauce/tomato and veg sauce/other variants (in portions in freezer).
Two courgette cakes (first one the expensive version with home-made lime curd filling and cream cheese topping; second one cheap version in loaf tin, no icings/fillings).
Lots of veggie dishes.

Can't think of anything else at the mo, but things are still maturing, so I'll be back.

Three days to go.  Stress!

Trauma

Had a terrible moment yesterday when I realised I only had one week left of being in my thirties and now it's less than that.  I am not a happy bunny.

And isn't it just a little disconcerting when you wake up in the morning only to find a dead spider floating in the glass of water on the beside table, especially when you've had a drink out of the glass during the night?

The weather here is appalling at the moment.  More like autumn than summer.  Cold and wet.  I'm just waiting for the first of the guests to ask for the heating on.  I do feel bad for them when it's like this though, not much fun when you're on your hols.

Currently on the playlist here at L4R - 'Seven Drunken Nights' by The Dubliners. 

Yup.  Did it again the other night.  Not a good idea.  Must be this whole '40 is fast approaching' thing and therefore a subconcious attempt to feel younger (see previous post).  Tried another chuppa chups, but only had cherry flavour left this time and it didn't work.

How to feel 20 years younger in one easy step:

Step one: Get completely bladdered on home-made alcoholic beverages.


Result: Wake up following morning with raging hangover and still have to get up and carry on with work and what-have-you anyway. Just like when I was twenty years younger. Hey presto!

Not entirely my fault I must explain. Have some guests staying who came last year and during their stay they picked some elderberries and when they got back they made it into elderberry wine. They then brought some of this wine back with them this time, so being polite, we had to try it. And then we kept on trying it until there was no more to try. And in return I had to share my blackcurrant liqueur, which also warranted much trying (and yes, you grecian folk out there, there's still some left for me to bring when we visit you).


I was supposed to be taking my father to the airport the following day. In the end I suggested we took my mother's car (which we can both drive, instead of ours which only I can drive (insurance)) and that he drive it there in the hope that I would be ok to drive it back (I was, although as I couldn't eat breakfast, I had nicked one of the girls 'chuppa chups' lollies and sat in the back sucking on it in order to get some sugar into me. Wouldn't normally touch them, but I can recommend as an aid to hangover curing. Cola flavoured.)

Anyway, went to a fab play park place today with the girls. Managed to get Georgia in free, evne though she was a bit over the height limit, so that was a bonus. Basically, it's a big play area - ball pools, bouncy castles, teampolines, slides, luges, pedalos, bikes, etc, etc. Not just for little kids - all ages, even me! Here are a few piccies (I think if you click on them they get bigger, except for the one of me.  No need to enlarge that one, large enough already):