Movin on out ...
Well, we've bought a house. Wahooooo!
What's even better is that it hasn't been the feared Aunty Climax [no - not a real person, or a Bond villain .. though it probably should be] so far. In fact, it all happened very straghtforwardly in the end.
Time to break free,
Nothing can stop me
Friday, April 28, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
I'm So Excited! ...
And I just can't hide it ...
Exchange is no robbery, they say. Well, it remains to be seen whether we've been robbed or not - but we've exchanged. Contracts, that is. On our house purchase. Oh, do keep up!
After what feels like a very long time, there is finally light at the end of the getting-settled-in-our-own-house tunnel. This allows a great feeling of relief - tempered by the knowledge that there's a lot of hard work to go before we're actually in. Plenty more putting stuff in boxes - followed by a day's supervising the removals men load and unloading, and finally some days and weeks of taking stuff out of boxes. But then - we've got the house all to ourselves and can do whatever we like with it. (Within reason, of course ;^).) Watch this space for happy blogging on the topic of DIY. I could even start a Squidoo "lens"; now there's a thought ... but would that actually leave enough time to do any DIY? ;^)
Exchange is no robbery, they say. Well, it remains to be seen whether we've been robbed or not - but we've exchanged. Contracts, that is. On our house purchase. Oh, do keep up!
After what feels like a very long time, there is finally light at the end of the getting-settled-in-our-own-house tunnel. This allows a great feeling of relief - tempered by the knowledge that there's a lot of hard work to go before we're actually in. Plenty more putting stuff in boxes - followed by a day's supervising the removals men load and unloading, and finally some days and weeks of taking stuff out of boxes. But then - we've got the house all to ourselves and can do whatever we like with it. (Within reason, of course ;^).) Watch this space for happy blogging on the topic of DIY. I could even start a Squidoo "lens"; now there's a thought ... but would that actually leave enough time to do any DIY? ;^)
Monday, April 24, 2006
Take good care of my ... baby ...
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: A Cautionary Tale
No, not quite Robert Pirsig's well-known story .. but a similar theme.
On t'way 'home t'other day, I came across this bloke. The first I saw were 'is bike in't middle of t'road - by t'crash barriers. [Snap out of it! you're not in Yorkshire, y'know.] Sorry. Anyway, the rider was stood - rather forlorn - on the soft shoulder. Yes, it does affect the story. So: being a good one-of-the-fraternity* biker, I duly slammed on the anchors and stopped.
The important fact here is that he had had a lucky escape. Turns out his chain had jumped off the sprocket and locked the back wheel. He'd left an impressive strip of rubber on the road - skidding from 50 MPH to zero. I have to say I was impressed that he'd stayed upright. I am also of the opinion - and here we get to the point of this post - that he should've taken more care looking after his bike. The reason, you see, for this mishap appeared to be the poor state the bike was in.
Now I have to put my hand up here and admit that there - but for the grace of God - I could have gone. For the want of some decent chain oil I failed to lube my chain for two months over the winter. The result was that the bike sounded like the big end was going, and I'm sure the chain has stretched more that you'd expect. But now I've got me a can of high-qualidy (sic) chain lube and religiously apply same to the chain one a week. I'm a reformed character. As such, I'm gonna do as all reformed characters do and preach at those who need reforming.
So back to our hapless biker. He, apparently, had noticed that the chain was loose and that a few (!) teeth were missing from the sproket - but as the gaps were evenly spread he figured it'd be OK. He had tensioned the chain and off he went. The first evening of his new job. For which, of course, he was now late. More haste, less speed - as my parents say. For added entertainment value, he now couldn't move the bike - back wheel being jammed an' all. As luck would have it, a Police car went passed on the other carriageway and came back our side, stopping both lanes of traffic. We staggered across the road with the ailing bike and not being able to prop it up safely on the soft shoulder, blocked the nearside carriageway.
The moral of this tale, if there is one, is take care of the important details. The trick, of course, is working out which details are important ...
... Be just as kind as you can be-e-e-e
* what should the collective noun be for bikers? Fraternity implies all blokes - which isn't quite the truth. Community is a bit wooly; in both senses. Answers on a postcard ...
No, not quite Robert Pirsig's well-known story .. but a similar theme.
On t'way 'home t'other day, I came across this bloke. The first I saw were 'is bike in't middle of t'road - by t'crash barriers. [Snap out of it! you're not in Yorkshire, y'know.] Sorry. Anyway, the rider was stood - rather forlorn - on the soft shoulder. Yes, it does affect the story. So: being a good one-of-the-fraternity* biker, I duly slammed on the anchors and stopped.
The important fact here is that he had had a lucky escape. Turns out his chain had jumped off the sprocket and locked the back wheel. He'd left an impressive strip of rubber on the road - skidding from 50 MPH to zero. I have to say I was impressed that he'd stayed upright. I am also of the opinion - and here we get to the point of this post - that he should've taken more care looking after his bike. The reason, you see, for this mishap appeared to be the poor state the bike was in.
Now I have to put my hand up here and admit that there - but for the grace of God - I could have gone. For the want of some decent chain oil I failed to lube my chain for two months over the winter. The result was that the bike sounded like the big end was going, and I'm sure the chain has stretched more that you'd expect. But now I've got me a can of high-qualidy (sic) chain lube and religiously apply same to the chain one a week. I'm a reformed character. As such, I'm gonna do as all reformed characters do and preach at those who need reforming.
So back to our hapless biker. He, apparently, had noticed that the chain was loose and that a few (!) teeth were missing from the sproket - but as the gaps were evenly spread he figured it'd be OK. He had tensioned the chain and off he went. The first evening of his new job. For which, of course, he was now late. More haste, less speed - as my parents say. For added entertainment value, he now couldn't move the bike - back wheel being jammed an' all. As luck would have it, a Police car went passed on the other carriageway and came back our side, stopping both lanes of traffic. We staggered across the road with the ailing bike and not being able to prop it up safely on the soft shoulder, blocked the nearside carriageway.
The moral of this tale, if there is one, is take care of the important details. The trick, of course, is working out which details are important ...
... Be just as kind as you can be-e-e-e
* what should the collective noun be for bikers? Fraternity implies all blokes - which isn't quite the truth. Community is a bit wooly; in both senses. Answers on a postcard ...
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Power to the people ...
Have your say! Choose how you'd power the UK.
My personal choice would be as much reusable energy as possible - and preferrably at a local level. Everyone could take responsibility for their own power use: a small wind turbine on each roof; solar-power-assisted heating, solar electricity panels. Reduce consumption, too. Put a premium power-tax on wasteful, unnecessary gadgets. Electric can openers - surely very few people really need one of these? Ban toys with bettery-powered sound effects. Oh, and electric carving knives .. why? If only I could pursuade my family to turn the lights off once in a while ...
Power to the people, right on!
My personal choice would be as much reusable energy as possible - and preferrably at a local level. Everyone could take responsibility for their own power use: a small wind turbine on each roof; solar-power-assisted heating, solar electricity panels. Reduce consumption, too. Put a premium power-tax on wasteful, unnecessary gadgets. Electric can openers - surely very few people really need one of these? Ban toys with bettery-powered sound effects. Oh, and electric carving knives .. why? If only I could pursuade my family to turn the lights off once in a while ...
Power to the people, right on!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
We're lovin' it like that ...
Get this: Coke-smuggling granny jailed for eight years. Why is it that this just sounds funny? If it was some disaffected youf, then it'd be shameful and somehow make the world seem a slightly less safe place to be. As it's billed as a "granny", it sounds somehow cuter. Ir is that just me?
Of course, when you read the article, you find out she's only 52 - and therefore in solid "Ma Barker" territory. Return to scary. [Note: not "Ma Baker" - as sung by Boney M - though that refers to the same person .. just got the name wrong.]
Good grief! "Only 52" says me. According to my dear daughter, anyone over 30 is decrepit. I must be getting old .. or at least growing up. (Is that worse?)
Here's to senescent crime ...
Of course, when you read the article, you find out she's only 52 - and therefore in solid "Ma Barker" territory. Return to scary. [Note: not "Ma Baker" - as sung by Boney M - though that refers to the same person .. just got the name wrong.]
Good grief! "Only 52" says me. According to my dear daughter, anyone over 30 is decrepit. I must be getting old .. or at least growing up. (Is that worse?)
Here's to senescent crime ...
Friday, April 07, 2006
Dizzy ...
... I'm in a spin.
I've got that "Stop the world! I want to get off!" feeling. Suffering with a bit-of-a-cold (no, not that "Man Flu" - whatever that means), I am rapidly entering a flat spin as the impending house move looms ever nearer. I do love a good mixed metaphor ...
On a different subject: Synical Marketing Ploy Alert! If our greeting card industry is the envy of the world, it is because they successfully manufacture occasions to buy them. Easter is the tip of the iceberg, I reckon. Father's day: since when? Now there's granparent days and goodness knows what else. I'm wondering whether it's not a QUANGO which dreams up "National <whatever> Day"s after all. Maybe it's the Greeting Card Association. I do love a good conspiracy theory ...
Like a whirlpool, it never ends ...
I've got that "Stop the world! I want to get off!" feeling. Suffering with a bit-of-a-cold (no, not that "Man Flu" - whatever that means), I am rapidly entering a flat spin as the impending house move looms ever nearer. I do love a good mixed metaphor ...
On a different subject: Synical Marketing Ploy Alert! If our greeting card industry is the envy of the world, it is because they successfully manufacture occasions to buy them. Easter is the tip of the iceberg, I reckon. Father's day: since when? Now there's granparent days and goodness knows what else. I'm wondering whether it's not a QUANGO which dreams up "National <whatever> Day"s after all. Maybe it's the Greeting Card Association. I do love a good conspiracy theory ...
Like a whirlpool, it never ends ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)