Pump Out

Blimey, is this still here? There’s a few cobwebs about the place.

October: Mild and dry. Brilliant.
November: So far – wild and windy and showery. Argh! All this week, every 15 minutes or so I’ve heard rain battering against the window. Last week I crashed my way past the 5000 mile mark for the year’s cycling (3rd best year on record, huzzah!). This week I’ve struggled to a total of 10 miles so far. Fume.

Good and bad things about stuff that’s happened over the last six months.

Good
Finally getting a Sky+ box. Bloody hell, you can soon fill it up though can’t you, especially when you put “Futurama”, “Jeeves & Wooster” and “Doctor Who” to record on the series link.
Doing the pub quiz at my local with ex-Tomato Michael and occasionally, Aggie. We keep winning bottles of wine. Mind you, we’ve not been for the last 5 weeks for one reason or another.
Seeing my friends from Germany, the Woogs, again.
Having regular rehearsals at last and – shock – writing new songs.
Spending a weekend in Waterford in October and having a lot of Guinness.
The Highland cattle that my parents have bought for the farm.

Not so good
Breaking down on the motorway in October when my alternator died and my car gradually slowed to a halt once the battery had been drained of life.
The bloomin’ local garage taking 9 days to fix it, due to a non-standard alternator belt (they reckoned). I got my revenge by waiting 3 weeks before paying them.
Having to drive over the top of the M62 once a week in generally wild weather. At least one “Silver Sun Moment” every time.
The creaking noises that my bike is starting to make more regularly, and the occasional slipping of the gears which is happening more often.
The zip breaking on my waterproof kagool thing. I’ll have to buy another one.

Anyway, must dash. I’ve left the vicar in the kitchen.