Dry as a bone …
If you’ve been watching the weather you might have noticed a sort of localised storm on the mid-east coast of the country. Yes, that’s where we are. Since Thursday night we’ve had winds gusting to 60 mph and yesterday the rain fell horizontally to the extent we didn’t venture out, other than I popped out to keep covering the bikes up. Bearing in mind we’re close to heading home, the weather’s not been an issue. Other than a strong breeze for most of the time on the cliff edge, we have been blessed with the presence of Mrs Sun throughout the past 4 weeks. Even on Thursday, our second day here, we were able to dodge the showers and make it to the coast just north of Mablethorpe. Wow, what a coast. Sand dunes and the longest, flattest beach you could imagine. We cycled there, picniced in the dunes and cycled back again. Fab.
[image error]what on flat earth?
For the record, what I have been able to test is waterproofing of Doris’s boot. The worst side – the one where I had to take out big chunks of wood, seal, fill and cover – is as dry as a bone after yesterday’s real thrashing. In the end all I did to fix the water ingress was to sikaflex the door surrounds and anywhere else it looked like water might have a chance. Removing the damaged wood was a day’s work, but sealing took me half an hour. I’ve no idea why they didn’t do that in the first place.
We’re fine. Doris has been perfect. The electrics I sorted are holding up well. Nothing has tripped and, as a result, there’s been no unnecessary draw on the batteries. Internet has been more of a problem for me here, with Virgin not bothering to check to see if they could provide folk with 4G in this part of the country. C, on the other hand, has great coverage. I’m not sure how that works.
And book 7 is coming along. I’m into Chapter 7 (out of 20), close to 40,000 words. I’m still no clearer on what’s happening, other than there’s a lot of it. But, if history repeats itself, I should be able to find a plausible explanation as to why I come to glorious conclusion at around 120,000 words. The other good news is that Sorrel, my narrator who had a baby in April, is now back on task. We hope to get Unsuspecting Hero out there as an audiobook before Christmas.
[image error]wetter than it looks …
Talking of work, the second MOD team has just secured the budget for me to work with them from next month. Now we’re all being encouraged to work from home again, I’m guessing my ‘away-day’ with the other MOD team the week after next will be remote. That’s going to be a challenge. And I’m back mentoring a headteacher (remotely) in Wiltshire. It’s all interesting stuff, and most of it brings in very little money, but it keeps me on my toes.
We’re off to see ex-army pals, Phil and Denise tomorrow – socially distant. And then to mum’s and back home via Mary’s. I have to say that I am getting more and more nervous about meeting people. I think this might be it insofar as meeting up with folk go. Everyone we meet has had contact with other people – some multiple meets. And there is only so much risk we’re prepared to take. Neither of us wants the disease. And neither of us want to take it to Seoul. So … I think we’re all going to have to be a whole lot more careful.
Along those lines … stay safe, everyone.
