I thought this would come. The National Citizenship Scheme was set up by PM Cameron in 2011. It has been scaled down over the last five years with the course shortening and centres closing. It has just been announced that the scheme is terminated from the start of the next financial year (April 2025).
That leaves me without a summer job for next August.
9°C, still with some sunshine, later – must turning into fog
Mustang: We’ve had a dry & warm November so far. It’s changing now and fog marks the change. As I’m on the mustang with Schwalbe CX30 tyres. I took a route off road in parts. Near Burscough, I turned down a tow paths through the worst of the fog. Mist turned to fog very quickly but there was no mention on the weather sites (BBC & Metoffice). The last 5 miles was rather stressful with the visibility. It’s not my view but that of any following vehicles that’s a concern.
The Arrow bike is in a bit of a state. I stopped riding it when the bottom bracket stripped the threads in the frame. Today, I pulled it out to clean it up. The chain is worn and the frame looks tatty, there are spots of rust in the paint. Should I scrap it?
12°C, no wind or rain or sun.
Tendonitis: it’s flared up again but is currently waning. So the idea was to do a 2 hour ride on the flat while there’s no wind. On turning north from Rufford, a group of cyclists tagged on. Then one took the lead to up the pace. I held on without too much difficulty.
They were quite complimentary about.my keeping pace. They were on nice modern Ridley carbon bikes and me a 14 year old steel single-speed. I don’t suppose they realise that a single speed is more efficient when the cadence, gearing and incline are ideal.
The above data is wrong because the app paused after the cafe stop. The total distance should be 52km.
We’re having a very mild autumn. 12-16°C has been typical this last few weeks. Last week was half term and for a few days, I was in shorts. Now in November and still riding the summer bike.
#weirdweather.
Tendonitis has left the left Achilles tendon and relocated to the right one. Hence, all these recent rides being short (20 to 35 miles).
21°C, light SE, sunny & dry
Same route as last week and the bridge is still shut. There’s nothing visibly wrong but cracks can be tiny (if that’s the cause).
It looks like the bridge will be closed until the end of the year.
16°C, light onshore & light clouds.
There’s no squeezing past those fences. There’s no visible reason why it’s closed though. I took a detour north & under the bridge and from underneath, no visible reason.
17°C with a brisk Westerly. A few short but heavy showers raced through.
That was good, not the most impressive average speed but it felt good . There was only the faintest stiffness from the Achilles Tendonitis which is a gratifying improvement.
In Barnswood, the rain falls on a Thursday.
Week One: arrived very early, the compensation for Manchester traffic was unnecessary. Coaches fulls of YPs didn’t arrive for several hours so we readied the tens. That was reasonably easy. Here was the daunting prospect of disruption caused bad behaviour by some kids (from Oldham). As it turned out, only 3 boys were sent home this week compared with dozens previously after online bullying of another lad.
It’s happened again; one of my ex-pupils from QM is one of the Facilitators. I last taught her ICT in 2017; I will look up what she got at home.
Axe Throwing. After shadowing another freelancer, I was assessed and cleared to run my own sessions. We used two sizes; Ravens and Angel axes (there is some doubt about these names, but that what I was told). Anyway, the shaft-handlem axes were harder to hit the target with (I and the wipies found). One of the girls however, missed most of the throws with the angel axes, and heyd had 3×3 throws. Then onto the heavy axes, he hit the first one. She was as amazed as I was! I said, “Somehow, I knew that would happen“. She was so thrilled and relieved after the initial disappointment. That was a fine moment.
There were other lovely kids, especially the girls (who made up 2/3 of the ‘Waves’.
Week two: was easier, perhaps it got used to it. If m step counter is a guide, walking is double my usual. It went from a typical 8,000 to 16 – 19,000. Anyway, I was happy to do the extra evening and overnight shifts. Tuesday totalled 16 hours. Other days were closer to 11h. I’d put this down to girls being more mature than boys at 16 and willing to engage in interesting conversations. They listen better than the boys so they learn quicker in the Activities. I mainly did axe throwing, fire building and orienteering with groups of 14 at a time. I didn’t like Shelter Building as much. Eah session was 1h 30m but that’s too long for Shelter.
Staff were better on week two. Las weeks, there were three who were shirkers. Others felt that they were doing extra to fill the shortfall. Also, I go to know he regulars.
Friday is packup day. The weather was better, it was warmer again. The morning started misty after yesterday’s relentless rain. Rain marred last Thursday too.
18°C, moderate Westerly and sunny later.
That felt good, I could have ridden more but home needs were pressing. Fine tuning the position has helped greatly, the bars are turned up a bit and the stem is shorter and higher. He aim was to ride up Bannister Lane, he nearest decent climb round here. My old fashioned, narrow gears means it’s all out of the saddle. After the summit, I usually feel refreshed.
17°C, grey and light S breeze.
The Chase was quiet and dry. I took a stop on the way home for a refresher. Last time I came.uo here, I wrecked the rear mech by the burnt out car: it’s not there any more! It must have stood there for over a decade in the firing range. Now there is only a sooty mark.
Micycle 