Steve_M

Not casting aspersions on your good self. Apologies for any offence caused. I was merely attempting to highlight the contrast between the respect that your post shows, and the type of misplaced and disrespectful attitudes of a certain element.

Shame there are those who are prepared to be complete arses about him taking a completely legal holiday. I despair sometimes.

Fast forward to 4:40

Nigh on £600? That’s four days of touring...

There’s a comment in Derry Brabbs’ photos of the Lake District book (I think it’s the Wainwright’s Fells book) that brings to mind. It’s something along the line of knowing things are not going well when you start photographing interesting moss formations. PS. As a non-photographer, I like the idea of the macro photos.

At home the bike is in a locked garage. We live in a secluded spot in Cumbria and we have very nosey neighbours* at the end of our drive. Being farmers their dogs also act as alarms. When touring I go with a disc lock and try to get secure parking wherever possible. *Do not underestimate the value of nosey neighbours, especially farmers who are protective of their property.

I’m just glad we have modern facilities and don’t have to use the outside (long drop) toilet.

Nice wellies...

Oh dear.

I saw Louden Wainwright lll at Birmingham Town Hall in the early 1970’s if memory serves me correct. He was supporting Soft Machine. I rediscovered him a few years back.

We’re lucky if the house reaches 17 degrees, and the bedrooms 15 degrees. Wood frame, single glazed windows, doors that don’t fit the door frames, and little insulation do not a warm house make.

I must look into that option for next winter. Thanks.

There’s a lavender scented version?

We had a few trees felled last year, two because they were dangerous, two because they were too close to the house (advised by surveyor) and an Ash suffering from Ash dieback. I had the tree surgeons cut them into lengths suitable for the burners. The trunk sections I attacked with an axe, the branches with a hydraulic log splitter. This year we’re having two birch trees taken down as they look like they’re about to fall over, and the canopy raised on some beech trees. I’ll also be pruning a couple of apple trees. Shortage?

What are these “log storage issues” of which you speak? We have three wood burners in the house. They’re “characterful” but given my choice, I’d rather have gas fires for the ability to better control the heat output. The cost of replacing them, though, would be prohibitive. Since we have, in the short term, our own supply of wood from managing the trees in our garden, we’ll stick with the wood burners.

Heating? Not a chance of heating place. It’s an old, two story, stone barn with a vaulted roof space. It’s bloody cold in that place. Luckily I don’t have time to work on the bike (though I do quite a lot of stuff to do with renovating the house in there).

Mine cost about a grand five or six years ago. I was lucky that the trousers were standard size, though.

I can recommend Hideout for made to measure.

I bought some at the NEC many, many years ago. I thought it was bloody expensive at the time, but it’s proven to be good value. I’m just coming to the last few dregs so it’s time to buy another.

Best of luck with the move.

Last minute shopping I took the opportunity to give the bike a run out, get the oil hot and around the engine before tucking it away for however long it is before I get another chance.

Salutations. Today has started well. I’ve just cleared the balance of the loan used to buy my GS, saving myself £119 in interest. Happy days.

I left Brum 32 yrs ago, so no Sainsbury’s there at the time. I know roughly where you mean, though. fingers crossed it all goes well.

Norfolk Nutters... that describes many of my friends over there. Mostly the Wymondham and Norwich Premier Judo bunch...

Fingers crossed all goes well. We’ve just successfully flogged a house - currently drinking something fizzy to celebrate. Which part of Brum (I assume it’s Brum)? I used to live near Kingstanding*, though we called it Great Barr ‘cos that sounded better, before moving to near Shirley** (it was actually Solihull but I did want to give the impression of being posh ). * Templeton Rd ** Kingslea Rd