Housekeep

Posted on 7th Oct 2013 by essiep

18ºC,sunny.
Jobs done: it’s ironic that on a weekend at home, feeling ill, that I got more done than ever. Normally on a fine Autumn Sunday, I’d spend the day on the bike enjoying the landscape and sun.

Now, door-frame and gate post painted; patio cleared; curtains washed; garden cleared for winter and shopping done. An interesting job is coming up- part of a door frame is rotten, so I will cut out the bad bits and make new.
This headcold is past its worst, so I could be riding again later this week. A good result.

Posted on my phone.

Argo

Posted on 6th Oct 2013 by essiep

16ºC,clear.
Film: Argo, tense, but not that tense, likable characters, but not that likable. A film worth seeing but don’t go out of your way, there are other films available.
Despite rather an ill weekend, I have done stuff- the garden table is finished, with dry varnish this morning. On this weekend, with no travelling, my todo list is much shorter. The daytime routine is job then nap, then another job…

I spent money yesterday, some went on a cordless drill. The old one one is shagged out, though was never great to start with. Now I want to find something to fill with holes. If there are enough holes, might the thing cease to exist?

Posted on my phone.

Make table.

Posted on 21st Sep 2013 by essiep

22C, sunny.
Today, I made a table. It’s made from a fork-lift pallet and a bed-headboard. So far it has cost nothing. All the wood and fixings I had hoarded already. There is four hours’ work in it so it so far. I had to stop at 7pm because, once hungry, I started making mistakes.
Now, it stands outside unvarnished and unprotected, but the forecast is good for tomorrow.

The idea is to use it for gardening tasks. It needs to be substantial and weather resistant. To finalise it, I need to add bracing to make it more rigid.
I will have to search out something to brace corners, there should be something in the shed I can use.

Posted by mobile phone.

Light the fire.

Posted on 17th Sep 2013 by essiep

11C, strong westerly. Showers.

Autumn chill-
The picture is from the Chase, walk through a mixed forest and you can find a door somewhere remote. Like something from a children’s story, it cane out of the forest.
I had to light the fire last night, but the central heating stays off. I’d feel better about it if I didn’t wake so early today. 04.45 it was, wide, wide awake, so may as well get up. Now my head is heavy and thick with sleep. A lesser man would throw a sickie.

Written & Posted from a Smartphone.

SmartCafe

Posted on 12th Sep 2013 by essiep

9C, early, dark.
Coffee– this new coffee cup has a cafetier built in. This is my first try and it works. it’s made of plastic which is a good insulator. You won’t get burnt fingers with this cup. The designers have, however, missed a trick. It needs a lid.
The final decider will be: how easy is it to clean?

New wheels.

Posted on 10th Sep 2013 by essiep

17C, light MW, 4/5 cloud.
Got new wheels. Though the rest of the car is over ten years old. Much of the reason to change the wheels was cosmetic, plus a worry that the old rims were buckled. Now they are fitted, I am surprised by the improvements- lighter steering, no wobble, and it’s much quieter.

ride home: another extended route, 21 miles, double the usual commute. I have to wonder how long I can sustain these rather refreshing addons. No doubt the equinox will impose next month.

Hot September.

Posted on 4th Sep 2013 by essiep

25°C, sun and light S breeze.
After work ride tracked with MapMyRide! Distance: 24.2mi, time: 01:33′, speed: 15.50mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/374566469

Another after work ride. Didn’t feel as sprightly as yesterday, but it felt okay. I suppose I was somewhat hungry at the time.
Photo- taken this morning at about 6.40. walking Rosie. Strange was that small patch of fog in the lower end of the field. It had cleared before we left.

lost– have you ever lost something and become almost obsessed with finding it? Do you re-trace your steps over and over? Even view the lost things are mundane and not worth a great deal? I do. It’s only a bag of shopping, but it has stuck in my head. If you see it, it’s the one with:
2 bags of bread flower,
A packet of pasta,
Dog bags,
Fresh garlic.
Box of loose leaf tea

It’s here somewhere, I am sure.

That was the holiday that was.

Posted on 29th Aug 2013 by essiep

17°C max. white cloud.
straight to the point, That was the best holiday had for years.
Three excursions- Wales, Scotland and Corsica. All involved hiking, or other exercise. I am now in super physical shape, have a deep tan and feel deeply relaxed. For now anyway, work is coming over the horizon and therefore- stress.

Last card.

Posted on 27th Aug 2013 by essiep

Today’s ride: CR-Distance: 55.32mi, time: 03:31:23, pace: 3:49min/mi, speed: 15.70mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/366243771

last week of the holiday and a mountain of marking looms. England’s weather did a grand job of welcoming us back from the med. Temperatures reached 24C, even higher out of the shade.
As always, I ride better the further I go. The first ten miles were stiff and un-natural in feel. But after twenty miles, and numerous short bursts out of the saddle, the good feeling came back.
A problem next week will be sitting at work when I am used to long periods of exercise. I can sympathise with the restless kids though.

Day one.

Posted on 20th Jul 2013 by essiep

19°C, mostly cloudy, windy.
First job of the holiday is done. I used a palette out of the skip at work to make a new garden table.
Before:

After-

After about 3 hours of wood working

The wood preservative is drying now so I can’t use the table until tomorrow.
How satisfying, I keep going out to look it over. Almost inevitably, I mind turns to other similar projects- I have another garden table that is slowly collapsing with rot.

Something old, something new (michaelturiano.wordpress.com)

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

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