Monday, July 27, 2020

Published Monday, July 27, 2020 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 26th July

We heard from Tom and Sally that their offer on the house had been accepted which is great news. M wanted to go round to Maraed Panetta's to tell her about the new Coley book as she was involved in producing the first 2. We found their house on the second attempt and they both seemed fine although Pietra is shielding. We combined this with a walk around the Coley meadows. 
I assembled Tom's electruc drum kit and it all works fine.
Went for a ride first thing on Tuesday to a footbridge over the A33.
Saw a deer on the big round about at the M4 junction. It crossed the road when the lights changed and headed off into town.
Went over Kings Bridge on the river Loddon which is a very nice spot.

The footbridge isn't too far away from there. 
A walk out that way would be good its very pretty and quiet, apart from the A33.
In the evening I worked on Shooting Star and some rhythm parts for a blues song Ian is doing.
On Wednesday I added a lead break to Ian's blues thing. Went out for ride in the evening with Kelvin and Andy. We headed for the Black Horse at Checkendon. Stopped off first to eat our sarnies here. 
Sat outside at the pub and had a couple of Good Old Boys. It all seemed very safe a one way system, hand sanitisers and paper towels. You also needed to supply contact details for track n trace. That was also the case for the two breweries I went to last week but they only needed one contact. They've even got a hand sanitiser in the gents which is a bit of a joke if you've ever been in. It was a great ride back in the twilight, very fast as mostly down hill. Great fun like old times. Popped in for a last one at the Fox and Hounds in Caversham. Sat outside. You needed to register your details on a website accessed via a QR code. They only needed one persons. It was table service then pay up at the end at the bar.
Bit of a lazy day on Thursday. Released the basics of Shooting Star incorporating drum fills. Popped over to Davy and Howies about 5 30 to pick up some Canterbury Bells that Helen had dug up after I mentioned how much I liked them on our trip over there a couple of months ago. Davy and Howie have an amazing garden. I'd forgotten how big it was. Jamie is still with them. Just had a mole removed from his head, not malignant. Andy and Jeannie were there too. Jessica is expecting.
When we were over at Tom and Sally's last weekend the car got covered in bird pooh so on Friday I thought I'd clean it off but then embarked on a rare full clean. Went down to the Castle Tap with Kelvin for a couple of hours in their garden. Booked online for a 5 15 start. You can then request service via a website accessed with a QR code. It didn't actually work as there was no h in https. Very pleasant 3 pints. Steve had been in since 3 30 with his ex workmate Patrick and left when we did. A bit of a lazy day on Saturday. Did some more recording of Shooting star. Cooked pizzas in the evening but in the regular oven as the weather wasn't great. Put the old drum kit on Freecycle and got loads of responses. Went for a walk on Sunday just down the Kennet. Noticed the Jolly Anglers has  beer garden that I never new about. Quite a few places are now open but the Fisherman's Cottage doesnt seem to be.
Added the solo to Shooting Star. The tab goes up to the 22nd fret but my Fender 51 only has 21 frets. Fortunately the strat has 22. M cooked steaks for tea. Had our first home grown tomato of the season plus potatoes, courgettes, thyme and mint from the garden. Watched MOTD for a change as it was the last games of the season. Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich relegated. Man U and Chelsea join Liverpool and Man C in the champions league. Leeds and West Brom got the automatic promotion spots but that was already decided.
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Monday, July 20, 2020

Published Monday, July 20, 2020 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 19th July

I forgot to mention that on our walk on Sunday we saw a parakeet for the first time by the Kennet. Heard one in the linear park then saw onefly over the river. Didn't know they'd got out this far. A lazy day on Monday. Phoned a couple of people about the front room window. Finished off Into The Great Wide Open. Looked at Rocky Mountain Way that Pete had started an I reckon its too fast. Came up Shooting Star asmy suggestion.
The window people came round on Tuesday morning. Asked for quotes for fitting draft exluders and double glazing. Too my road bike into Rotec in Shinfield on Andy's recommendation. They seem pretty good but it could take 3 weeks due to the current shortage of parts. Gave the weeds another spray. Then went off to deliver some sweets to Andy and June and a ride taking in 2 more motorway bridges. The first was over the A329M near Early station.
The second was down Cutbush Lane over the M4 near Shinfield.
I was thinking about Nutbush as opposed to Cutbush and then spotted this small business estate
Watched Reading Middlesboro in the evening. Another poor perfirmance and this time we lost 2 1. Assuming all tests go OK Ralph goes in for his op next Tuesday at 7 30. He'll be in for 3 days. No visitors. Did our normal house cleaning on Wednesday and started on last year's tax return.  Got a text from Steve just after 5. He was in The Castle Tap and wondered if I fancied a swifty. Said I wasn't really ready for pubs yet and anyway was cooking tea. Went round to Penno's in the evening and sat in her garden. It backs onto the railway line. Kevin had some Loddon Dragonfly. A bit like Ferryman's but slightly stronger. He brought me some bottles of Ferryman's. He came in an Uber. They had both been in The Hope and Bear him outside and her in. Said it was quiet and felt safe. Nice terraced house she's got with interesting light fittings.
Probably had too much beer.
Another lazy day on Thursday. Started on Shooting Star. Had a zoom with James and Amy. They're thi ling of comkng down for M's birthday which will be great.
On Friday Steve was doing a walk to the Loddon Brewery with guys he used to work with. If was a bit long for me with my gout thing so I cycled to Sonning to meet them so I could walk to the brewery and back. Saw a couple of amphibious cars when waiting at the lock.
The number plate was WET 770C. Saw a helicopter take off from near George's place. Had a pint at the brewery in the outdoor taproom area. All very safe with hand sanitisers etc. Bought 2 litres of Dragonfly (5.2). On the way back there were loads of lads getting ready to jump off Sonning bridge. They called me a peado for taking the photo.
Drove over to Tom and Sally's in the evening. Very slow on the M25 and then clogged up when we got near. Not a great re-introduction to driving. Great when we got there though. Their kitten Poppy is really sweet.
Ate out in the garden. Tom had made a focaccia. They had been to see a terraced house they really liked. Had a latish one but didn't overdo it. They put in an offer for the house on Saturday morning. Sally's sister Izzy came over and they went swimming to the Charlton lido. In the afternoon we walked to the Brockley Brewery at Hither Green went though Blackheath village then through a small park, Manor Hall Gardens. Spotted a chap on a strange bike. It looks like a monocycle in the picture but it actually had 2 wheels.
The brewery was great. Its just in an industrial estate but done really well abd the weather was great.
They were very friendly and the beer was very welcome. We'd booked a table from 3 til 5. Had a couple of pints each. They do an excellent citrus IPA. Walked back and had a great barbeque in the garden. Tom made burgers, baps and rolls. We'd taken some sausages and Sally knocked up the salads and some veggie kebabs. Really good. We went in feeling a bit knackered but had a couple of games  6 nimmt which is a really good German card game we had played before. That perked us up so we had a bit of a late one again and I may gave had one ouzo too many.
The weather wasn't great on Sunday so we decided to leave after a handsome brunch. Got back without any hassle. We more or less had to go round the M25 as the M4 was shut. I borrowed Tom's electric drum kit. It was a great weekend.

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Monday, July 13, 2020

Published Monday, July 13, 2020 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 12th July

A very lazy day on Monday. Did the Guardian crossword all by myself which is rare, we normally do it together. Suggested Into The Great Wide open as the latest RATR soundtrap venture.
Went out for a ride on Tuesday morning to the first new motorway footbridge we discovered last week. This time I took the track from Tidmarsh instead of going down the private road.
Quite easy going on a mountain bike and its a track rather than a footpath. Took a photo this time.
Started stripping the paint off the front room windows with the heat gun I had delivered a couple of months ago. Watched Reading v Huddersfield in the evening. Did a call with Andy and Ralph but didn't do the screen share. The Terriers had most of the possession and probably shaded it but it was 0 0.
It rained all day on Wednesday. Started Into The Great Wide Open.
Went for a quick ride along the Kennet on Thursday morning.  Spotted 5 swans a-sleeping.
It was dull but warm so decided to extend it to Theale but instead took the footpath to Calcot.
You actually need to walk over the railway lines.
Its quite nice round there, there is a linear park. A good place for a walk with M maybe. Howie and Davy came round in the evening. The original plan was to sit in the garden but the weather wasn't too good so they sat in our kitchen. The first people we've had in there since lockdown apart from Andy picking up some beer. They have Jamie staying with them. He's working out in Estonia. Harry and Greta are having a baby in a couple of weeks. She will be called Hilda. On Friday I went on a ride to Hermitage with Andy to find another motorway footbridge.
On the way we went though Cold Ash and I spotted this place called Downe House. It seemed to be quite extensive and have quite high security. Turns out its a private girls school 13K a term. We crossed the bridge but decided not to continue on the other side as it would either be footpaths or climbing over a locked gate so came back again.


Stopped for lunch by a ford on the river Pang near Bucklebury. It was 2 foot deep and we hoped someone would try to cross it to provide us with some entertainment. A few cars turned up and took a look but no one tried it.
Really good ride of just over 40 miles. M cooked a very nice Italian meal including this focaccia and a lemony spaghetti.
Watched Reading away to Charlton on Saturday with Ralph. We got a penalty very early on and were all over them for the first 20 mins or so but from then on it was backs to the wall stuff. We held on for the 3 points and now cant go down but it wasn't good to watch. Cooked an India including a rogan josh and parathas.
On Sunday we went for a walk starting in the linear park in Calcot and along the Kennet to The Cunning Man and back.
I dont often go on that strech of the river. 
The park itself is nice mixture of paths and wild areas and there are fairies in the woods.
M cooked a very tasty roast chicken.


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Monday, July 06, 2020

Published Monday, July 06, 2020 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 5th July

Got up quite late on Monday and had a bit of a lazy day. Started new book, Black Water by Louise Doughty, pretty good set in Indonesia. She wrote Platform 7, the last book I read. Suggested a new soundtrap collaboration with Ian and Rick. I suggested Heros having watched Bowie last night and they seemed up for that. Made a pie with the chicken left over from last night.
On Tuesday I had a ride planned with Kelvin and Andy. The aim was to go across two as yet untraversed M4 foot bridges.
As a special treat I also took them over the one near North Street. I knew I was being indulged. To get to the first new one we headed of down a private road but got away with it. There is another route but it looked a bit footpathy. I forgot to take a photo so here's an aerial view.
We needed to take a footpath after which involved a bit of walking. Then we headed for the second new bridge.
Afterwards we stopped for lunch on the edge of nice little valley under what we thought were white alder trees.

Made our way back via Pangbourne and Hardwick Stud. Just over 25 miles in all I reckon. Unfortunately Andy buckled his back wheel.
In evening Reading were at home to Brentford so I was planning to stream it so me, Andy, Kelvin and Ralph could watch it together. I got it all set up but then tried to improve the picture and it all went wrong for a while. M's laptop which was hosting the meeting and dropped out of it for some reason and I lost the use of the keyboard on mine. Here's the set up. The apple is hosting the meeting and using the camera to show the game being screened on the other laptop.

I got it all going again but by this time we were 1 0 down. I was watching on my phone which wasn't good and Kelvin kept talking so it cut the picture out for me. He left to talk to Liz but the other 3 of us kept watching and it was OK accept for the result. We lost 3 0 and were out played. Luton away on Saturday.
This song popped up in my weekly Spotify playlist 
On Wednesday did a couple of guitar parts for Heros. Ian had made a very good start. Had a call with Kevin, Adrienne and Penno in the evening.
Did a bit of gardening on Thursday. Finished off removing the ground elder from the front and gave it digging over. Had a zoom with James and Amy in the evening followed by the first Thursday guys. We had planned to meet in a park but the weather looked bit dodgy. Had bottle of 1845 and a couple if whiskies after which was a bit excessive for a school night.
On Friday I met up with the Mansfield Rd walkers for lunch in Green Park. They were doing an 8 miler and I didn't want to risk it. With these feet? After I went in search if more motorway footbridges and found this between the A33 junction and Shinfield.
M had cut a lot of sage and found a mushroom and sage linguine recipe so made some fresh pasta. Got an email from Roy about the playlists he does. They're on Spotify under silverbear.
Had a call with Tom and Sally in the evening.
Watched Reading beat Luton 5 0 away on Saturday. Good to get such a confidence boosting win just a pity it was against Luton.
Had a great evenings viewing. Watched the remaining episodes of Staged, Eurovision - The Story of Fire Saga and a documentary about Melody Maker.
On Sunday I picked 8 raspberries so enough to have on my muesli for the first time this year. We did the first society walk since lockdown began. Arranged by Clare in three groups according to preferred social distancing requirements. A really good one from Clayfield Copse in Caversham out towards Binfield Heath. A sort of double figure of 8. The first 2 groups went in opposite directions and the 3rd started 10 minutes later. We still kept bumping into each other though.
Something purple in a field
Had a picnic in the park when we got back.
Made a Yemini lamb and butterbean stew for tea. Very tasty. Dont think I've had Yemeni food before.
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