Looking forward to being a bum again

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? And that’s because I have been working, and weekends have become precious. It’s also because, all work and no play etc, means it’s all been pretty dull, but necessarily so.

Let’s ignore work and I’ll let you know what we’ve been up to. 

Still loving it here

We’ve got reacquainted with the house and still love it, particularly the fact that it’s a bungalow. I’m not sure I ever want to live in a two storey affair again. Second, we’ve popped down to darkest Dorset to see C’s middle sister and husband. It’s all pretty medically messy down there and C’s big sister, Annie, has been brilliant sorting it out. We went down for moral support. But there is an interesting lesson that falls from it: if the family don’t live nearby, or they don’t want to get involved, then it’s up to the social services. We all live 3 hours away so, in the end, it was a social service problem. And they’ve stood up to the plate, bless them.

We walked and run around Westonbirt (best running in the trees). We’ve continued to keep ourselves active (I’m trying to run every day). And, it is fair to say, we have drunk a lot of coffee and eaten quite a few bacon sandwiches … which I suppose balances all the keeping fit malarky.

we managed a Greggs

I have primed the top left corner of Doris, where C scraped her in Spain. She’s completely watertight now, but needs a couple of top coats. Interestingly, then she wouldn’t start. That is, she turned over really really slowly. She did catch once, but then didn’t. I was all for a dead battery, but that was reading OK. I thought then that the starter motor had a loose connection (I replaced that a while back). But no. Eventually I checked her earthing strap (between the engine and the bodywork). I had replaced it about two years ago. And it seemed fine. But I did tighten one of the bolts, just a fraction. And, hey presto, Doris was back again, starting better than ever before. The thing is, if I’d taken her to a garage I reckon they’d have gone straight for a new battery and we’d be no further forward. Just shows you.

Oh, and we had a couple of doctory things going on. C needs some work and I have a heart issue, neither of which are going to stop us from looking forward … which looks like …

First Henry’s coming home for Christmas. Hurrah, blooming hurrah. Second, we then intend to ski sometime in Jan/Feb. Not sure what that looks like. It then seems likely that we will meet up at half-term with Bex, Stephen and Henry, possibly somewhere hot. And then, over Easter, it’s back in Doris going somewhere for six weeks. Could be Scotland, might be abroad. We’ll see.

oh, and a walk around Slimbridge

Whatever, it won’t be work. I think I’ve managed to sort out a sensible (for everyone) escape route for 1 Jan. I want to get back to writing and generally being a bum. Can’t wait.

Stay safe everyone.