Is it summer yet? If not why not? I'm fed up of the dark and dismal weather, it's about time the sun came out so I can go out to play. Apparently, the worst bits over and the evenings should be getting lighter, which means not too long until my wanderings can get longer and more adventurous. Until then I suppose I'll have to just content myself with the odd day out and start catching up on some of the odd jobs that get neglected in the summer in preference to having fun. So, to that end, whilst I got out on the bike for an enjoyable plod around one of my favorite local routes on Saturday morning and managed 10 muddy off road running miles Sunday morning there's not much to report on that front. Odd job's it was going to have to be then, starting on Saturday afternoon with moving all the stuff, and believe me there's a lot of it, across to my new company car. It's amazing how much stuff you end up lugging around with you and it's not until you get it all out that you see how much there actually is. Whilst all the junk was out of the car I did finally get around to cutting my safety barrier in half and adding an extra set of hinges to allow 4 folds instead of 2. Surprisingly it now actually fits in the car and takes up half the space. Considering I've lost my temper more times with this one thing than anything else I've ever owned when trying to get it in and out of the car I don't know why I didn't do it years ago, but there you go, job done now. Next on the list, a bit of extra insulation for my thermal mug. These mugs are great, stick a cup of tea in there and it's still warm a couple of hours later, any longer though and it's touch and go. The best thing in the world when your out on your bike is a warm brew and a mymalade sandwich (it's just marmalade but made by me). But, when you've been looking forward to that brew for a while and it's cold when you get there it's pretty disappointing! A bit of left over insulation from the van build, some sticky tape and in true Blue peter fashion I've got myself and insulated flask sleeve. I'll give it a trial run next time I'm out on the bike and let you know how it works. Sunday afternoon was Allotment time among other things. I've been working on renewing the paths over the past few weeks. They were originally put in when I got the allotment in 2013 and since then most of the edging boards have moved and the wood chippings have rotted down allowing the weeds to take hold. So it's been a case of digging out all the old chippings and dumping them onto the compost heap, lifting and refitting the edging boards and then shoveling in new wood chippings. Not particularly hard work but time consuming none the less. It's done now though and will hopefully last just as well as last time. Whilst up the allotment I grabbed some veg for tea, considering the time of year there's still plenty for picking. Roast chicken for tea, so some freshly picked Leeks, Carrots, Sprouts and Kale and some spuds from the shed and that's tea sorted. Ground to plate in a couple of hours and zero transport miles, you can keep your imported out of season floppy stuff, seasonal and fresh for me thank you. Just time for one more job then before it gets too dark, a quick bit of rough and ready carpentry. Grab a coupe of lengths of wood that have been knocking around the allotment from a previous job. Cut a couple of rough and ready half lap joints in the middle, no point getting the power tools out for such a simple job, mark it out, pop in a few saw cuts to the line and knock the waste out. Pop in some screws, add a couple of stretchers and cut the ends of flush. And what have we got, apart from a mess to clean up? It's a set of legs for a potting table for the allotment, I'll grab some timber to make a top and a shelf and screw it together in situ next time I get a few minutes. Slop a quick coat of creosote on every now and then and it'll last a few years. Not bad for half an hours messing about and plenty strong enough for my needs. Far more satisfying than just buying a ready made, flimsy, lightweight job too!
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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
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