Thursday, March 31, 2022

Published Thursday, March 31, 2022 by with 0 comment

Glasgow - March 2022

Travelled up to Glasgow on Thursday and had dinner with Madeline. Took her out for a couple of walks on Friday and baby sat in the evening so J n A could go out.
The weaning is going well. On Saturday we went for lunch at Ka Pao. It was my birthday present from J n A. It was great Thai food, we went for the sharing menu, all really good. We bumped into Alex Latchford from Mansfield Rd in the botanical gardens on the way. Stopped off in the park for bit on the way back.  Spotted a couple doing some slack lining that I've never seen before. 
My birthday on Sunday. Got a Sure ME58 mic from M and Sony WF C500 ear phones from T n S. Also Mother's Day and the clocks went forward.
James baked a cake.
Madeline was very excited.

Another glorious day. Took Madeline for a walk late morning. Had a great birthday meal but only 3 candles on the cake.
Had a pint in The Belle on the way back. Brilliant birthday. Look Madeline out for a walk late Monday morning. Spotted a male and female Goosander on the Kelvin.
Went for another walk with her in the afternoon. The main event though was the University Challenge semi final between Reading and Edinburgh which Reading won and M did brilliantly again.
Lots of stuff on twitter.
Popped in to say goodbye on Tuesday morning and got the train back. Meanwhile Madeline got her swimming badge.
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Published Thursday, March 31, 2022 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Wednesday 23rd March 2022

 I've been doing the coronavirus posts for 2 years now and was thinking of stopping. Restrictions have been removed in England and although there are still lots of cases on the whole they are quite mild. It's also no longer the top recurring news item as that's been replaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is still an issue though as Amy got pinged by the test and trace app. Both her and James have tested negative with lateral flow tests and she has no symptoms but she's also done a PCR and is waiting for the results. Monday was another glorious day. We went swimming for the first time in a while. I also cleaned up the outside wooden table with the water blaster and gave it a coat of oil.

Started wearing shorts. Amy's PCR test was negative on Tuesday. Went for a ride late morning. Spotted this graffiti on the side of the IDR near the Hook and Tackle.
Seems a be BLM type of thing. Madeline has been swimming.
Wednesday's band practise has been cancelled as Mike, the other guitarist, has covid. M mowed the lawn for the first time this year.
We did LFTs in the evening prior to our trip to Glasgow. Both negative. 
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Monday, March 21, 2022

Published Monday, March 21, 2022 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 20th March 2022

Had a lie in and a lazy day on Saturday. Got a call from Madeline. Listened to Reading lose 4 0 away at Forest. Did some painting at the Rising Sun on Sunday. Mainly admin and guitar practice on Monday until the main event in the evening. Reading got through to the semi finals on UC. They beat St John's Cambridge by 145 to 70. M got 4 starters and quite a few bonuses.
She was interviewed on Radio Berkshire on Tuesday morning. Had a band practise in the afternoon. All good. Lazy day on Wednesday, it rained all day. Andy let us know Jessica and Nancy have covid. Fran also tested positive on a lateral flow but the PCR was negative. Did a ride out to The Mole at Toot Baldon on Thursday with Kelvin and Andy. Just because of the name really. First ride of the year in shorts and had lunch in the sun. 35 miles or so.
And spring has sprung down Mansfield Rd.
Madeline is getting the hang of eating.
Had a Goolie zoom in the evening. Went tothe hygenists on Friday morning. Another nice day  sat in the garden for a while in the sun. Did a bit of music and cooked tuna nicoise. A good start to the day on Saturday, had a call with James and Madeline. Watched URZ beat Blackburn 1 0. Cracking goal by Laurent. Clean the patio areas on Sunday.
Went up to the Rising Sun for a sound team induction.
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Saturday, March 12, 2022

Published Saturday, March 12, 2022 by with 1 comment

Sedbergh - March 2022

Drove up to Sedbergh on Friday. Nice house.
17 of us staying there. June cooked a really nice lamb stew in the evening followed by sticky toffee pudding.
Steve organised a great walk on Saturday to ease us into things. 
Lots of very cute lambs.
Went out for an italian in the evening at Al Forno. They've started to wean Madeline.
I  arranged a walk on Sunday followed by Sunday lunch at the Dalesman. We did quite a hard walk on Monday up a waterfall called Cautley Spout. 
There was a bit of snow up there and splendid views of the Lake District
It was a bit much for Bobby.
Jane and Dave cooked a chilli in the evening. Walked to Dent and back on Tuesday. A walk of 2 halves up over the boggy top into a very strong wind then a sedate walk back mostly along the river. Heard an owl in the hot tub. Becky and Nick cooked an excellent vegan cashew nut and mushroom dish. Everyone sort of did their own thing on Wednesday so we did a walk round Sedbergh and had a pint in the Black Bull. We spotted a lamb on the way back that was bit distressed as it had got through a fence and couldn't get back. It started jumping up at us so I caught it, pulled it over the wall an reunited it with its mum. It was a number 19.
Had ace fish and chips for tea. Lost the snooker championship semifinal to Steve and Andy beat Stuart. Steve organised a fine walk on Thursday that took in the Lune Viaduct and pints of Loweswater Gold in the Dalesman.
They also make their own gin.
Had dinner at the Red Lion. Steve beat Andy in the snooker final in what was a very cagey game. Steve also recorded the top break of 18, blue, pink  black.
We drove back on Friday, an exellent week away.

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Saturday, March 05, 2022

Published Saturday, March 05, 2022 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Thursday 3rd Match 2022

A bit of a lazy day on Monday. Went to BnQ for some screws. Good to see a fair few still wearing masks even though Boris has lifted all restrictions. About 25% say. At least you don't feel out of place wearing one. We helped out at the Holy Brook Nook community project for a few hours on Tuesday, clearing brambles.
Bumped into Lindsey on the way back chatting to the Wolseley St baker. He gave us a couple of muffin like things that were still warm and very tasty. Spotted this at the top of the first hill.
Had the cherry tree in the garden cut down on Wednesday. We have kept some wood including a piece Ian has offered to make a bowl out of for Tom as it was his tree.
The road was resurfaced on Thursday. Looks weird without any cars. 
Did a nice ride with Andy to Brightwell Baldwin. Great pub lunch at The Lord Nelson. Had a really good first Thursday drinks session in the Fox n Hounds in the evening. Took some photos of the bridge on the way back.
I've cycled 40 miles and been out for a few beers. You'd think I'd be tired but I can't keep my legs still. What's that all about?

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Monday, February 28, 2022

Published Monday, February 28, 2022 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 27th February 2022

Did a bit of wallpapering in the guest room on Monday to temporaily hide the damp patches as we are having guests. Boris announced the end of covid restrictions from Thursday. Still loads of cases but very few deaths as the omnicron variant is mild and lots of us are vaccinated. My first coronavirus post was for the week up to 22nd March 2020. Madeline has started laughing. 








On Tuesday took the car in for an MOT and service and noticed this mural on the corner of Portman Rd and Cow Lane. 
Not sure if its graffiti or official. Did some googling and couldn't find anything but did find reference to a cow mural in Great Knolly Street. 
Its close to where the cattle market and abattoir used to be. Reading beat Birmingham 2 1 in the evening. The first win I've seen since 25th September against Middlesboro. Ralph came along for his first game in ages, ge was at the Middlesbrough game too. Went out for a ride on Wednesday, not done that for a while. Impessive deer in the Englefield estate.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday. Very scary. They are not in NATO so we're all just imposing sanctions. Did another short ride. It was a bit nippy. Had a goolie zoom in the evening. Ian and Fran came over on Friday. Had a good meal, chat and games. Did a walk on Saturday and ended up at the Phantom Brewery.
On the way spotted some different graffiti under Reading bridge.
Ian and Fran went back late Sunday morning. Had a lazy day.
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Monday, February 21, 2022

Published Monday, February 21, 2022 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 20th February 2022

 A lazy day on Wednesday. Practised some songs and went into town to deposit last nights quiz winnings. Watched Reading on Sky in the evening, they drew 0 0 with Peterborough who are 2 points behind us with a game in hand. More practise on Thursday, also went for a swim and had a Goolie zoom in the evening. Storm Eunice hit on Friday causing some damage to the fence.

The greenhouse door also blew off and several glass panels blew out but no glass was broken. Good band practise in the afternoon. Reading actually won a football game on Saturday beating PNE 3 2 away. They then sacked the manager and employed Paul Ince as interim manager. He hasn't managed for 8 years and his son Tom was recently signed on loan. You couldn't make it up. Got a video of Madeline demonstrating her bath time skills.


A good start to the day Sunday, finished the everyman crossword and M did wordle before getting up. Wordle is s new word game that has gone viral where you have work out a five letter word.

Lazy day after that


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