It's going to be a real quick one this week blog fans, because in an unusual turn up for the books, I haven't actually got anything to talk about, or tell you about. I've been busy pottering around all weekend, but none of it's of any interest and I don't even seem to have any photos to show for my endeavours. I've even had a few days off the bike, which is even more unusual. Although if I'm brutally honest, I think it's done me some good, because for the first time in many months, nothing actually hurt when I got out of bed this morning! With it starting to feel rather Autumnal, I've spent a fair chunk of the weekend tidying up, cutting back summer growth and generally starting to make the gardens and allotment ready for the winter. (Now there's a depressing thought!) On the allotment, I've taken down the Beans and Sweet Peas and their supporting canes which are now safely tucked away under the cold frame. The Sweetcorn are coming to an end, so they've been getting taken down as I've harvested them, and I've had a good tidy up in the greenhouse too, cutting back as much as possible to let the light in, and hopefully help to stop the damp and mildew getting to the remaining plants. There's still plenty to come from the allotment yet though, with more Beetroot and Chilli's than I know what to do with, Tomatoes still to ripen, and enough Cabbages, Sprouts, Leeks, Parsnips, Squash, Kale and Carrots to see us well into the winter and hopefully beyond. The fruit trees in the front garden at home have done spectacularly well this year too. We had more Plums than we knew what to do with (the plum jam is delicious by the way) and now the Apples are in full swing and I don't think that I've ever seen so much fruit on 3 small trees. I guess it's going to be Apples in my lunchbox for the foreseeable future, and if I manage to find the time then you really can't beat an Apple pie, although an Apple crumble comes a close second. Now there's a thought! Other than that it's been a weekend of odd jobs, none of which are of any interest. Although, having said that, I think I mentioned last week about the chain on my bike breaking. Well, I gave the bike a clean on Sunday and replaced said chain, and unbelievably there was another 3 links cracked right through, all of which are on the same side and in the same few Cm's of chain. My suspicions are that they've been weakened by corrosion. If I remember rightly I did a couple of rides in the depths of winter when the roads had been heavily salted and the bike got put away wet and salty, and I think it then sat for a while gently corroding before I found time to clean it properly. Either way, I'm absolutely amazed that the chain held together in the state that it's in and caused no further issues (I'm guessing that the snapped bits are on the trailing side of the chain as it works round the sprockets etc, and not the leading edge, or I suspect they would have been picked up by the sprockets and bent outwards leading to total failure). The broken link that caused the problems last week was on the same side and within a few links of these too! A lucky escape there I think and despite the failure, a positive review for the strength and damage resistance of KMC chains. And that's about it for this week folks, but don't worry, I've put my easy weekend to good use, and put some plans in place for a bit of adventuring for next weekend, so hopefully, I'll see you back here next week to find out what I've got planned!
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
March 2024
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