I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike...

That title should of course be sung, as per Queen...









Firstly, a belated Happy New Year to everyone. New Year's Eve passed me by really as I was struggling with a bad throat and head cold and was in bed by 10pm. I did get woken by one of the dogs about 10 minutes to midnight so turned on the TV and watched the London fireworks while Big Ben rang in the New Year. Now, maybe I am getting old, or maybe you had to be there, but I really do feel that 11 minutes of fireworks is excessive. As I watched all I could think of was the amount of money they must have cost, who would be paying for it and what it could have been better spent on. In my opinion 3 or 4 minutes would have been more than enough. And then they said that the team who planned the firework would have a day off and would then be getting on with planning the next year's firework display - a whole team for a whole year? Really?

Anyway, we are now in 2013 and although I do not make New Year resolutions, there is no question that this year my health is a priority. I really want to build on 2012. Having recovered from my pacemaker implant and getting my cholesterol back to normal it has really given me the incentive to continue to improve my health.

With that in mind I have taken on board a number of comments concerning how close I live to where I work and that I should cycle to work. This actually is a sensible idea on dry days. The route to work is level and I can take a scenic route along the canal, away from major roads which would only take about 20 minutes. The idea has been germinating for a couple of months now and I've decided it would be a great way to improve my fitness and keep my heart healthy.

And so I have taken the plunge and bought a bike. I collect it tomorrow and am really looking forward to picking it up although I have some concerns as to whether I will be able to ride it, having last been on a bike about 30 years ago.

So, we have made room in the golf shed to store it and over the next few weeks I will spend time re-learning how to ride it. I won't start using it for work until the home journey in the evening can also be done in daylight, but for now the weekends will be ideal practice days.

This is my new bike.

It's a hybrid bike:  Hybrid bikes are designed to combine the best features of road bikes and mountain bikes to create an all-round cycle for everyday use. They can offer you the speed of a road bike alongside the toughness of a mountain bike, so are particularly good for commuting and recreation.

You should consider a hybrid bike for riding on different terrains - for instance if you cycle to work in the week, but like to ride in the park or on country trails at the weekend. They're also good for new cyclists who are yet to make up their mind on what type of cycling they prefer.  Generally, they feature:

• Flat handlebars and upright seating position for comfort
• Tough frames made out of steel or aluminium to cope with all terrains and weather
• Either multi-purpose tyres for speed and grip, or smooth tyres that are better for road cycling

Hybrids frames allow you to easily fit additional accessories like bike pannier racks for carrying bags, mudguards and chainguards to protect your clothes from spray, and comfy saddles for everyday riding - all of which make them ideal for commuters.

I've been very sensible and also bought a safety helmet and a basket to put my handbag in while I'm riding to work. 

And it's got a proper bell! 

We asked a neighbour for his advice, as he is a serious cyclist and he suggested this one or a classic.

This was the other bike he suggested, but all I could see in my minds eye was the image of the wicked witch of the west as she cackled across the sky in the Wizard of Oz. 

It wasn't for me!

Christmas has been and gone for another year.

It never ceases to surprise me how weeks of build up, planning and mayhem in the shops can be over so quickly. The wrapping paper is in the recycling, the chocolates are all eaten and the turkey bones have been picked clean.

The biggest decision I need to make now is when do I take the Christmas tree and cards down. My instinct is to put them all away on New Years day, before I go back to work. Somehow, I can't imagine coming home from work on Wednesday and being reminded it's still technically Christmas.

On reflection, this Christmas has been quite calm. I did a lot of my gift buying online, and all my items arrived in time for Christmas, even though I was quite late ordering some. Royal Mail did a good job for me and saved any last minute panic buying.

Every year I tell myself I will start preparing earlier, and every year I don't.

There is a tradition starting to take hold in our Christmas's - each year something happens with an item of food. One year we lost the Christmas pudding, only to find it lurking on the top shelf of the 'beer' fridge several days later.

This year, it was the turn of the Christmas cake that never was. We always buy our cake, and this year was no different. We were in the cake section at out local supermarket, we picked up the right size box in a Christmas style. The cake inside was iced with a sprig of holly indicating Christmas. It was in the trolley and through the checkout with the rest of the shopping to tide us over Christmas week. I have written before how I love a chunk of cheese with my Christmas cake and so I was treating myself to a block of Red Leicester cheese, something that was off my list of foods since my cholesterol issue. 

And so, Christmas dinner over, washing up done (and yes, it does still get done by hand even though I have a dishwasher in the kitchen, a personal preference) we settled down to a coffee and a piece of Christmas cake and a nice sized chunk of cheese.

The first cut into the cake was fine,

 the second led to such disappointment. There was no rich fruit cake hidden under the pure, flat, white icing. Not even a sponge cake with a few raisins in. Underneath that Christmas holly was a Madeira cake. What???  Yes, of course it said it on the box, but we hadn't read the words, simply looked at the box and the cake inside and made an assumption that we had a Christmas cake.

And no, cheese and Madeira cake does not work!


However, if that's the worse that went wrong this Christmas, we can consider to have done OK.

I've become difficult to buy for!

Yesterday, seven years ago, Neil and I were over in California, getting married. The years have flown by and yet, when I think of all the changes that have happened, all the houses we have lived in, and the living here, living abroad, living here we have done, it's impossible to see how we could have fitted it all in without the passage of those years.

We don't go overboard on gifts at anniversary times, although it is an unwritten law that there has to be a card on the breakfast counter if he wants to be able to return home for dinner. My husband is not good at remembering dates. He usually needs a clue, and sometimes the devil in me decides not to give him any clues, just to see if he can drag up from the depths of his mind, that there is something for him to remember.

With everything that has been happening lately, our anniversary even crept up on me without a lot of notice. In the US it was Labour Day, or should that be Labor Day. We especially chose the Labor Day weekend as it would mean we could spend more time with our friends in America before they needed to return to work, but in the UK it is not a holiday date so we didn't serve as a reminder.

So, whether deliberately or not, Neil did not get any subtle (or otherwise) hints from me about the upcoming anniversary.

Yet, I did get a card yesterday and a gift, although I have now become (apparently) officially difficult to buy for. A basic interpretation of that is, now I have cut saturated fat out of my diet he can no longer dash into the shops and buy the most expensive box of chocolates anymore.

But, ever the quick thinker, and knowing I have a sweet tooth, he knows I can have Jelly Babies and I am now the proud owner of a rather large box of Jelly Babies which will take me up to Christmas to eat. 

So, he has managed another year without disgracing himself by forgetting our Anniversary. 

Oh, how did he manage it? A very good friend of ours who came with us to California for the wedding never forgets to send us a card, a couple of days early to avoid being late - and Neil had picked up the post that day. There was the subtle hint he needed with time to dash out an buy the very necessary card for a further year of married bliss!

Happy Anniversary Darling.

Thanks Giving - American style

In true American spirit Neil decided he would like to make a desert to take with us to our first Thanks Giving dinner. We were now in a kitchen that was almost fully functional. The marble worktops (counter tops) had been installed yesterday, the plumber had been today and so the appliances were working, the sinks were working and we had work surfaces to prepare food on. We found a variety of bowls and utensils from the piles of items in the various rooms and we were in business - we decided a Chocolate Pan Forte would be good and visited the local Nob Hill Supermarket for all the ingredients. It's a simple dish that needs no baking, it sets in the fridge, or when short of time, the freezer. Neil somehow managed to tweak his back while taking it out of the freezer, which was to have serious repercussions for the rest of the holiday.

http://www.ginodacampo.com/recipes/panforte

Lynn prepared a dish of Sweet Potato Mallow and we were already for the next day.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1950,146170-244197,00.html

Dinner was scheduled for 3pm and we have a drive of about an hour. We hit the freeway with the rest of California. As we drove closer to San Francisco all 4 lanes of traffic started to crawl. It gave us a wonderful opportunity to look at the gorgeous autumnal trees

but it wasn't getting us to dinner. Suddenly Lynn's Satnav told us of an alternate route to avoid the heavy traffic. We took the next exit and were soon travelling again and reached our destination only 10 minutes later than planned.

The table looked beautiful

and as we moved through to the kitchen the smell of the turkey met us at the door. It was almost ready to come out of the oven so, once drinks had been served and initial greetings exchanged it was time for the great unveiling of the main event - the traditional Thanks Giving Turkey.

There was 7 of us for dinner but enough food to feed twice that number and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. After dinner, in a family tradition, we all took turns at saying what we were thankful for this year. It was lovely to hear some of the stories around the table and, although we were given a pass if we didn't feel comfortable joining in, both Neil and I were happy to say our piece having been pre-warned of this tradition so having had time to give it some thought.

After dinner we all went through to the Family Room and the guys settled themselves down to watch the big game - 49ers v Raven's - it was a good afternoon as long you weren't a 49er fan - oh, the whole room was rooting for the 49ers!

So, many thanks to our hosts Cath & Chris for inviting us to spend Thanks Giving in their San Francisco home - it will be a special memory for us for many years.

An early Valentine's celebration

We've just returned from a fabulous meal at our favourite Italian restaurant, where we have been going for special occassions for over 10 years. We've never had a bad meal there and tonight was no different.

This was a meal for Valentine's day but I had to book it a day early because I left it too late to be able to get a table at a sensible time on the 14th. My options for tomorrow were either 5.30pm, which was no good as I don't finish work until 5.30pm or 9.30pm, which is no good as I have to be up for work at 6.15am.

So, to all of you that didn't leave it too late and will be enjoying your Valentine's celebrations on the actual day - Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Christmas.

Brandy has had a Happy Christmas, hope you have too!

It's official, I am ready for Christmas.

I was all geared up at the end of November for an organised Christmas. My cards were bought and written, my annual letter to distant relatives was written and my present list was prepared ready to go shopping.

Then it snowed, and snowed and snowed and the entire area ground to a halt. The post didn't get collected or delivered, shopping was only possible on foot so we could only carry basic groceries and gift shopping had to wait.

After a week of snow life started to move again, I was back at work but we were challenged with a 4 inch slab of ice everywhere.

After a few more days the sun came out, the thermometer finally climbed above zero and the ice finally cleared.

The I came down with a flu bug. It settled on my chest and triggered my asthma because I had forgotten to get my flu jab. I had barely enough energy to get through the day let alone go shopping.

And every day Christmas got closer. My well intentioned 'I'll get everything ready early' had sadly slipped away.

In the background Neil was getting bits towards the Christmas dinner. We talked Turkey one day and the next, we had a Turkey Crown in the freezer big enough to feed 8-11 people. I foresee lots of Turkey curry after Christmas, there are only 3 of us for dinner.

We talked Christmas cake and one appeared, and so it continued. Wrapping paper and shiny ribbon magically appeared searching for presents to be wrapped around.

And still Christmas got closer.

Then Saturday arrived. I felt energised. I felt in the mood to shop. And off I went. We live 5 minutes walk from town, so I left the car at home so as to have to battle for a parking space, not to have to sit in traffic queues and not to have to pay the premium parking fees that have been in place for the last month to take advantage of the Christmas shoppers.

Neil stayed at home so I could wander and browse without feeling his impatience rising. I had such fun. I got everything and, as I'd been clever and bought light-weight presents, I walked home. I didn't even have to wait for Neil to battle the traffic to come and pick me up.

Saturday night saw the tree up and lit, the presents wrapped and labelled and me chilling infront of the tv with a glass of wine, finally feeling that officially, I was ready for Christmas.

It means I can enjoy this week. I have no urgent errands to run, I do not have to battle with shoppers. We collect our fresh veg from the local Farm shop on Thursday and I finish work Thursday evening not to return until Jan 4th.

I cannot remember feeling so relaxed about Christmas for many years.

I feel smug!

I'm so proud of my hubby!

Hubby got his 1st Hole in One yesterday. I'm so pleased for him.  

I just want to go home!

Last Saturday the Rugby club at the end of the road was having a bonfire and firework evening. We already had plans to go to our friends in Sheffield, so I hadn't taken much notice of the adverts about it, but when I walked the dogs up to the canal on Saturday afternoon I did notice a rather large bonfire was ready to burn in the corner of the field, and there were a lot of fairground stalls in front of the clubhouse. 

It was going to be a big event.

We left at 5pm and there were a few people starting to make their way down past our house. There is parking for about 50 cars at the Rugby club and our road is a 'no through' road, although there is a gate that can be opened to allow cars to drive out the far side of the Rugby club, in emergency situations.

In anticipation of the louder fireworks that big displays tend to set off, we had decided we needed to be back by 8pm to make sure the dogs were OK. They don't seem bothered by fireworks, and if anything, they just bark at them - but we hadn't seen them deal with the really loud bangs.

After a couple of hours with our friends, watching fireworks in their garden and enjoying some bonfire night food and drink, we said our goodbyes and set off home.

We had noticed, on the way to our friends, that there were a lot of cars on the road - I think because it was a Saturday evening, and it wasn't raining, lots of people had decided to go to friends or formal bonfires. As we drove home, the roads were empty, and quicker than normal we were turning onto our road ...............

....... to be met with gridlock!

There were too many cars for the car park. There were cars parked on both sides of the road, the full length of the road, which had turned it into a one-way street. With no room in the car park and nowhere for people to turn round and come back - everything was stopped.

As I was behind the wheel, I suggested that Neil jump out and walk the 400 yards down to the house to be with the dogs, and I would wait and see what I could do about getting out of the traffic. Behind me was a police car and, having put his flashing lights on, he managed to get past me and 3 more cars to a side road, which had people also queuing to get out and up to the Rugby club.

It was chaos.

The police parked their car across the road, blocking it off. They directed the cars coming out of the side road to go away from the Rugby club to clear that junction and then they started to move us all along the side road towards town....

......and me away from my house!!!

'I just want to go home' I told the officer as I reached the road block.

'No one's going up there at the moment, you'll have to follow the traffic into town', he replied.

As I drove into town, I knew I would pass 2 car parks and I hoped I would be able to get into one of them and walk home, going back for my car later. No joy though, they were both completely mobbed. Finally, I was in town and suddenly, it was like I'd entered a ghost town. It was deserted - no people, no cars, no nothing.

It seemed the entire population of Worksop was busy trying to get to the bonfire party at the end of our road. I drove into the car park behind the shopping complex to find 2 other cars in a car park that would hold a few hundred, and only a 10 minute walk to the Rugby club - why, oh why had police not been directing people here from the beginning of the evening instead of allowing the chaos that they were now trying to sort out?

As I walked towards home, I joined a still large wave of people moving towards the rugby club and soon I reached the chaos of our road. A couple of minutes later I reached home, to find a strange car on our drive, trying to get back into the traffic, going against the flow.

'You won't be going anywhere soon, they've closed the road off' I told them.

'Oh. We don't live here', the young couple inside informed me.

'No, I know you don't - I do!' I replied. 'If you get desperate for the loo, knock on the door' I told them as I walked past them.

'Do you mean that?' the young lad shouted after me as I turned the key in the lock.

'Of course I do' I replied, and vanished inside.

Once inside the warmth of our house, mug of coffee in hand, I was able to watch the chaos continue from the comfort of our front room. After about 15 mins, I noticed the car in the drive reverse up to the house and the young girl get out - thinking they were going to take me up on my offer I went out to open the door to them, and just as I did I noticed the police had cleared the road up to our house.

'If you go now, it looks like you'll get out' - I told them, and in a flash, the young girl had shouted thanks, jumped in the car and they were gone.

Knowing there would be a similar chaos in reverse when the fireworks were finished, we settled down in front of the tv. Occasionally, we would go out into the garden and watch the fireworks for a while before feeling too cold to be out anymore.

Finally, at 10.30pm, it seemed most people had left the area, there were a few stragglers but nothing much to worry about, so we put the dogs in the back of Neil's car and drove the 5 minutes to town to collect my car which, by now, was all alone in the car park.

And so, Bonfire night was over for another year. Next year we have already vowed - we are going nowhere - nowhere, unless we can walk there, and walk back again.

Remember, remember the 5th of November......

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
I see no reason why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.

An age old English tradition remembering Guy Fawkes.

As children, we had bonfires and fireworks in the back garden. Hot dogs and beefburgers with Jacket Potatoes cooked in the embers of the bonfire.

We had a coal fire in the lounge where Mum used to roast hot chestnuts on the coal shovel.

I'm not sure how my eldest brother used to feel about all this. After all, it's his birthday today. I'm not sure whether he liked having a bonfire party on his birthday every year or whether he would have liked a trip out for a change some years.

The morning after bonfire night always has a specific feel to it. There seems to be a smokiness hanging over to the morning and there's always the sticks from the rockets to find laying about in the garden.

These days people have fireworks, but rarely have bonfires in the back garden, they are left to the official functions, Health & Safety and all that.

Happy childhood memories,

Happy birthday Bruv!