Our 60 minute exercise

Well maybe this was more like 40 minutes as it was to the end of the lane and backwhich is two miles. We chose this as it's mainly in dappled shade and it was 23c today ( Saturday 11th April).

As an aside the lane we live on seems to have been renamed in the last few years. Talk to any of the locals around here and they'll say the've walked the Sprink and when we viewed the house the first time* it was advertised as being on Sprink lane. The Sprink comes from the word spring as there is a spring on the lane. In fact where the Falconry centre is now used to be a pop factory using the water from the spring !

It was a lovely walk .....

Our new tenants were making chicks as we left  

I think this is a hover fly ? (might need to click on the photo to see it full res )

Simple beauty

The valley starting the green up 

The dappled woodland lane walk - beautiful. 

Got to love the little Wren scuttling about in the lower branches on the slopes 

There is the Caldon canal down there ...

Can you spot it yet ?

There you are - super zoom on the camera 

The village of Ipstones across the valley from us where I was cycling the other day as part of my exercise....

Lovely to have the cows in the field behind the cottage - they were certainly enjoying the sun and the very green grass. It must taste so good compared to the silage they have been eating all winter.

*We viewed the cottage some years ago and liked it but were not in a position to offer at the time as our house was not sold. The lady we brought it off was the person who purchased it after we viewed and did all the jobs needing doing then decided it was too far from the station for her commute to London so we got the benefit of all of her hard work.... fully how things turn out !

Viewing Percy from a distance

No we have not broken the rules and no one should for the health of all of us specially those true hero's (and I don't use that descriptor often) in the National Health Service.

Our lovely boaty neighbour has been keeping an eye on Percy for us as we are starting to miss our time aboard something fierce. I fitted the new starter battery some while back now, a month ago I think and I never even tried to start the engine !

In hindsight I am pleased I visited the boat to complete the rewiring which was to connect up the solar panel as on the first trip I did not have the right cable to make the alterations to the location of the fuse to the controller. The last visit was to check the cover for the panel which pleasingly fitted first time based on a lot of remote pondering of how it all might need to go.

I brought the cover back to the workshop to paint but I think I have used up all my red oxide that I am hoping was the colour used for the base when I remade that. Link here and it was over a year ago !!   

So today I've ordered a tin from Midland Chandlers to be delivered. I'd ordinarily have nipped over on my bike to get it but again - STAY PUT .....

Back to the blog title Mandy has sent us some pictures of Percy patiently waiting for our visit. We'll be out cruising soon I'm sure. My estimate is mid June .....

 

.... I'm feeling ever more like Mr Benn !

Now there is a test of age for you all.... Mr Benn. Follow this link to go back yo your childhoods with the theme music 

It was one of my favourites as a child. Those who may never have heard of it he was a fella who lived at number 52 Festive road London who went visiting a fancy dress shop and the owner (a Fez wearing man with a moustache ) gave him a costume and then Mr Benn left the shop by a magic door at the rear to have an adventure based on the consume he was wearing. Of course each story carried its own moral  - so all good stuff and made me the man I am today. Interesting if slightly controversial observation  that somewhat explains my approach to such things... he never dressed up as a woman as I recall ?

Anyhow during our lockdown times I feel I have worn a few different costumes....

1. Film director 
2. IT consultant
3. Delivery driver
4. Gardener
5. Electrician
6. Joiner
7. Cleaner
8. Cyclist
9. Walker
10. Motorcycle repair man
11. Charity worker
12. Children's entertainer
13. Painter
14. Photographer
15. Mechanic
16. Cook
17. Landscape gardener
18. Builder (chimney repair)
19. Scaffolder (never took a tower scaffold down before)
20. .... plus no doubt quite a few more to come yet !

So its good times despite the restrictions. Life is what you make of it.

If you have not made somebody's day happier, if you've 

not appreciated something good that has happened to you and you have not felt thankful for being alive, then you have wasted that day of your life on earth.

Preeti Shenoy  

Our new tenants

No we don't own multiple properties, just the cottage we live in. Having rented (for working away purposes)  and kept our own property I'd not like to have the multiple property responsibilities despite always holding the view that property is the best type of investment.

Anyhow the story....knowing I had some hard timber landscaping of the rear courtyard to our cottage to do I purchased a large mitre saw and stand for the workshop (read saw mill now). Part of my apprentice test jobs on the new saw I decided to build a bird box. There are plenty of on line instructions on how to do so.

We have seemingly two large communities of Blue tits and Sparrows flying between our large Privet hedge and the gardens of our near neighbours so it was a toss up on the hole size for the two eventually I opted for the larger sparrow size hole. I put it up a week or so ago and it looks like we have our first tenant.

There has been much singing to attract a mate which has been a joy to watch and listen to.

Carpe noctem...and now for something completely different ....

Thank you for the comments on my last post. I'll respond there, I'm a little  saddened there was not more engagement especially on my FB page as I posted the link there. I suspect many, in fact the vast majority are expecting the world to carry on as before  - you reap what you sow..... I'll do my bit for my conscience, my sons and daughter in laws  and most importantly my grandson.

Anyhow... last night I took Leia out for her pre bedtime wee  and was struck by the stillness of the night with a bright moon and the valley owls singing their eerie tunes. In fact it was a super moon so I got my camera out put it on a tripod and shot the moon !

Got to love our moon !

Anyhow that's todays blog, I'll tell you about our new tenants next time  !!

We all need to make a pledge to change

Well we all know it's interesting times right now, but they do not need to be negative times. Yes of course we can focus on the things we can't do right now and yes there are some challenges (see my last post for such challenges) Please be assured in writing this I am aware for many working there are some uncertainties but again they can be turned to change opportunities? But what do we have to be positive about, well things will get better and return to something 'not quite normal' but that's how it should be. I'll come back to the return to 'not quite normal'... but focussing on the positives from this period of our lives...

• In the main apart from our wonderful health and service sectors plus others we are getting a forced rest
• Our planet is breathing fresh air again
• We are talking to our friends and neighbours much more
• Great acts of kindness and friendship are happening (see my free beer offer) 
• Many of those 'jobs I'll do when I have time' are getting done
• Our homes have never been cleaner !
• Working at home  (and therefore less commuting  = less pollution) is now viable
• We are appreciating the simple things such as reliable technology, food in the shops, sunshine, love, family, friendships, planning ahead, natture, remembering past holidays, playing games, spending time with the kids.... many many more positives...

So - 'something not quite normal' will be our future. But thats ok, life is constantly changing, events change lives, positively and sadly sometimes negatively, but life is about living and adapting. So what does this scribbler think will change, simply put YOU will change,  you will change based on how the world adapts post virus. 

The world will be poorer, but that's no bad thing. It will give new growth and investment opportunities and there will be a need and willingness to support such growth. There will be a levelling of wealth, sure not some communist dream but and here is an important point in MY pledge to change we need to be fairer and more supportive,  and here is the even more critical change point the support should be focussed on environmental humanitarian considerations... for ME that's...

• More charity
• More ethical purchases
• More ethical investments 
• More environmental considered purchases
• More staycations
• Less European and international travel
• Certainly less air travel 
• Constant review of how I can be a better human 
• Add yours in the comments below to inspire me ?

It's ok me pontificating about all the stuff I can and will do, yes I'm retired, yes I have a small and believe me it is small pension but I HAVE to make changes otherwise this life lesson is lost and wasted on me and that will be the same for the billions around the world. 

So specifics from the list above for me as I've pondered this opportunity (please see it as an opportunity) ...

Critical point here and I've wrestled with it over the last couple of weeks is spending money. There is a lot of stuff we don't need but is sold to us as essential, I've blogged about this before. So targeted spending to support our economy is essential. Buy local (support all those shops that supported us during the lockdown) Buy UK products where you can. Spend money in pubs (yes) and cafes. Book B&B's and hotels for local trips no need to go to Barcelona for the weekend when you can do the Peak district, East Anglia, Wales and Scotland are beautiful locations for short breaks (use the money saved and take the train and talk to people ?) Spend but spend wisely and spend in a supportive way?

Back to my pledge to change.... 

• Do I need two motorbikes when one does 45 mpg and the other does 80mpg..... 
• I have Percy so staycations are a given (along with my 80 mpg motorbike)
• The motorbike touring in this country will put money back into the UK economy
• Make do and mend, I've amazed myself what I can turn my hand to and repurpose and continue to do so, it's enjoyable saves money and saves resources.
• My Old Rover is financially worthless but is also a diesel 38 mpg very heavy large and in the main overkill for moving me and Leia around. It's high tax as its a relatively high emissions car so it needs to go.
• We need to invest in an electric car
• More efficient home power use. Need to get some low environmental impact  (wood) double glazing at home to both keep the fitters and makers in work and save ££'s and oil use.
• We will grow a few more veggies. We don't have a large garden but are making troughs for summer veg and planting in our cottage garden borders also (how it used to be I'm told by Rachel) 
• Other stuff I've not yet considered but will keep the 'change' option in the forefront of decision making.

That'll do for now. Putting these words down in my blog really is the start but an essential act to make myself the promise to change. Hopefully these changes if done in any small part by the rest of the world (and that's you dear reader) will make a change and send a ripple around the world and hopefully redirect all of our futures to a brighter place physically and emotionally ?

Stay safe and please please follow the government advice to protect all our essential worker by staying local  and minimising your personal contact.

A sad goodbye

Today we said our family goodbyes to Christine, Rachels mum. She died on the 16th March with Rachel and myself with her in her own home in no pain and surrounded with love. That love had kept her safe and well for quite a few years as her health declined.

The burial was limited to just her five children and her brother with me bring allowed to attend to live stream it to family and friends. It all worked and while small in numbers there was much love across the family as they watched in their individual locations.

I've always felt like one of the family, a sure sign of a loving welcoming  family unit. I've known Christine for over forty years, she was a formidable lady, certainly to a 16 year old who wanted to go out with her daughter. She did however have a weakness for compliments (easy to give) I can't recall how many times I told her she was my favourite mother in law, it always got the raised eyebrows by response !

She is resting in peace in a lovely rural location that will see a gathering later in the year when we plant a tree over her grave that in years to come will enable us to give it a hug and once again hug Christine.

"My favourite mother in law"