After a massive stint of work it’s now full-on holidays for a couple of weeks. The first time that I’ve taken more than two consecutive days’ leave since October 2010 and it’s a game of two halves. Some UK time first then a bit sun and sea in Menorca to follow. Continue reading “2011 Summer Hols part 1: Old Beckstones”
A new bike is such a treat. It seems to rekindle an existing love. A bike ride that’s too local and familiar to be fun suddenly takes on an utterly new dimension. It’s like that early period of a new love in your life when the mundane can provide a totally unexpected thrill. Continue reading “New love means increased virility”
Keep hearing the likes of David Millar and other authoritative names in the professional cycling world talking about how bike racing is getting faster and faster. It’s sometimes hard to grasp these things, and indeed to say whether such things are hear say or recieved wisdom. I have a bit of data of my own to share… Continue reading “Faster all the time”
My mum reached a very respectable 3 score and ten yesterday and we went up to Kirkby Lonsdale today to enjoy some lovely weather, cakes, food, and company. It seemed very strange but incredibly rewarding to meet a few people from mum’s life that I haven’t seen for many many years. At least three people I enjoyed chatting to today are people I haven’t seen since I was younger than ten years old.
Obviously a lot of water under the bridge but it’s amazing to feel an instant connection to some people because of a shared past. I’m pretty sure mum enjoyed herself but hardly had a moment to pass the time with her on a busy day. We get some better quality time together in a couple of weeks… To be savoured.
Some photos here… On Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/minnellium/archives/date-posted/2011/07/10/?view=md
n. Medical Term. An impairment of health or a condition inflicted by carrying a bicycle up steep hillsides repeatedly, in obsessive manner.
I love this when it happens for some reason.
Inspired to snap this whilst out on my bike on Scout Moor last night and it always makes me think of the Cinerama lyrics from the song ‘Airborne’
“I was watching you from the observation deck
Until your plane became a shiny speck
And if I wanted to sentimentalise
I’d say the planes drew kisses across the sky“
Very simple almost inconsequential lyric that always triggers something in me.
Just a quick bikey update…
It’s been a slightly unorthadox ‘summer’ so far for me on the bike (I mean summer in that context as being after the clocks change!). Started okay at the SiS Crits round the fast 1 mile circuit at Preston. Continue reading “Summer Made Me Cross”
Fantastic trip with Katie and the girls to Formby Sand Dunes / Red Squirrel woodland on Monday – it was chucking it down all morning and we took the risk… it paid off and cleared up minutes after we got there. Brilliant, very non-Northern feeling environment. It felt more like France or the low countries. Gorgeous coniferous sandy rolling woods and really big dunes. Just an utter playground for the youg and the young-at-heart and their dogs. Continue reading “Formby Dunes: Recommended”
They all grow up fast, don’t they. Elsie’s third birthday last week seemed to mark a bit more ‘moving on’ in the household and confirmed any suspicion that time goes by ridiculously fast in life. It fell on a ‘normal’ work day for Katie, a school day for Lily and hence a nursery day for Elsie, but the mini party we enjoyed after was a lovely little celebration and what it lacked in length it made up for in intensity. Elsie basically was cooked by 6pm and had to retire to bed (on her own request!)
Continue reading “Elsie – Three as a bird”
… from a 2 year old. Something familiar in my youngest, Elsie. A second-born, she’s grown up watching older sister doing everything she can’t do, so when she finally was allowed to ride a ‘pedal’ bike last Thursday, she went about it so vigorously and enthusiastically that it’s been a bit of a shock. Continue reading “A lesson in bike riding”
Great family time in terrific unseasonable weather. We went to see Rach & Jon @ Ravenstonedale, then stay with Phil & Anne and family in Arkholme, then onto Ingleton for a stay with Jean & Bill. Lovely memorable times, lots of great food, and a few bike rides dotted about the place. Can’t say fairer than that. Continue reading “Easter weekend 2011”
At the risk of this turning into a cake-themed blog as it seems to have been doing of late, I won’t go on, but I just had some very lovely photos to share with you. Katie was treated by Matthew and Holly to a day out as a birthday present to learn the finer details of how to make lovely looking fairy cakes. Continue reading “Cake Day”
