Bills Posts

And I do mean lazy. About the most effort was my going to get the newspapers, a five minute walk in each direction. Somehow though, just traipsing around, I’ve managed to clock up my 10,000 steps. Not sure how I did that.

Just after midday, Elayne and I decided that we would drive to Lee-on-The-Solent to just sit by the seaside, with our books and have an ice cream, and then possibly fall asleep. Which is exactly what we did. First though, when we arrived the seas was a little bit rough, and there was quite a breeze.

This is where we got the pictures of the Sea Gulls. As we pulled up, they were just hanging there in the air, making no attempt to move forward, the wind was keeping them up. It was quite an amazing sight. People think of them as being a pest and they can be a bit brazen, but they are incredibly graceful in the air. It was a real pleasure to watch.

There were no cruise ships in Southampton today. But there were a couple of container ships coming in and a much smaller one going out. There are non of the cruise ships that we have been on due in until mid April, when the cruise season really kicks off. I hope all of the holiday companies are OK this year. It is going to be a difficult one for them.

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I had arranged to take my bike in to Cycle world for it’s first service today. Just about two months after I bought it. The first two services are free, so it seems silly not to take advantage. I did say that I would have the bike at the shop for when it opened, so that I could pick it up as early as possible.

I took a ferry across to Portsmouth at about 0830. There were only a couple of miles the other side, but it was a bit fiddly. But I arrived at the shop about 5 minutes before it opened. They said come back at midday.

I took the opportunity to walk back to Commercial road along that part of London Road as far as I can. That part of London road is an area bustling with activity, lots of people & cars about. I suspect it is a good area for people watching and street photography – if only I had the guts to do it, working on it but still not quite there.

I had a good browse around Waterstones, but I didn’t buy anything. I had a long polish sausage in a bread role for lunch. It was very nice. Then it was time to walk back up to cycle world. I’m getting my steps in today.

The trip home was a bit hairy. It was very windy, head on. A couple of places it was so strong, I was nearly stationary.

On the ferry going out, I saw a couple of tugs heading out, that usually means something reasonably big is coming in. Now, I don’t think it was the same thing that came in for my return trip, but you never know. Any how, the Lovely sight referred to is the Monrovian registered Columbian Star, a Reefer which will be carrying fruit and veg in to Portsmouth. The unusual thing was it being escorted by four tugs, It really was a lovely sight.

I didn’t go for a walk this morning. I awoke at 0255 and then couldn’t get back to sleep, well not until 0500 anyway. Of course I then went out like a light and awoke at about 0610. As it happens, I wouldn’t have gone for a walk anyway, as it was chucking it down.

Frustratingly, it then turned into a lovely day with bright sun and plenty of blue sky. I could have gone for a walk at lunchtime, in fact I should have done, but didn’t. It’s been a busy daŷ, with too much going on.

Hopefully, tomorrow morning will mean I can get out for my usual walk. I’m looking forward to using my new anemometer. I’ll let you know how I get on. In the meantime, here are a couple of random pictures.

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It wasn’t freezing for my early walk, but not far from it. Temperatures of around 3.5C and a 3 or 4 knot breeze making it feel even chillier meant that I would have appreciated a set of ear muffs. But it wasn’t too bad. The morning skies are brightening rapid;y now, bring some colour to the morning pictures which is nice.

Walking out on the Haslar Marina Pier wall was a bit dodgy. There were two points where I lost my footing and nearly went flying. Luckily I didn’t. But if it is as cold in the morning I’m likely no to go to my. Favourite point to deliver my weather report to the #Breakfastclub, which is out at the end of the wall.

Not much movement in the harbour. The Normandie came in, and the ferries were merrily going too and fro. I can’t help wondering about the captains and crew of the gosport ferries. Fundamentally, it can’t be a massively interesting job, but they always seem to go at it with gusto and enthusiasm. I wonder what it is that they bring to each transit? Are they people watchers, or do they treat each journey, at a rough guess of about 8 minutes crossing time, approx 15 from doors opening one side, to doors closing the other side – roughly as an adventurous cruise in its own right? Just thinking.

I caused a stir in the household last night. I had to buy a new tyre for my bike, and bought a new tube also (luckily, as it happens) i had fitted everything and pumped the tube up, at about 60Psi, I realised that the tyre hadn’t seated correctly, and was off the wheel rim. I touched the valve to deflate the tube, and it went bang, quite loudly. My ears rang for about 5 minutes. Of course, everybody came out to ask “what was that’? No harm done, and the second tube came in to play. All seems ok, this mornings ride will be the test. As it happens, the bike is in for its first (free) servicing on Saturday, so they can check it out.

My first morning walk for 5 days, the difference in the sky is striking. The last two photos show the sky on Thursday morning, and the sky this morning. As time moves on so things change, of what that means is I am on the verge of loosing the morning chorus, which when it is in full throat is lovely. There is a big flock of starlings that roosts under the Portsmouth Harbour railway station. I think they start murmuring at about 4pm. I’ll have to see if I can’t get down there for that on the weekend.

Although the temp was 7-8C, the breeze gusting to 6 knots had a real chill to it, so I appreciated being wrapped up. Rain was threatening, but it looks like I’ll be ok for the ride to work.

Seriously, who likes getting up from a nice warm bed into a cold room at a ridiculous hour? On the other hand, I do enjoy the walk, and I particularly enjoy a walk on a frosty morning, which is exactly what is promised by the tv meteorologists. Should be interesting.

Getting a puncture on Thursday evening was annoying. It wasn’t as if I had ridden over some glass or a nail. The wind had blown my bike off the stand. The bike falling over had caused the tube to puncture, it was only a pin prick of a hole, but in the past I’ve never had much success in repairing them, so it’s easier to just buy a new tube. I did so, not thinking the tyre was damaged.

It was.

So, I ended up having to buy a tyre as well today. Then I must have mounted the tyre incorrectly, as it came out of the wheel. I touched the tube as it blew at 60psi. My ears rang for 5 minutes.

An interesting weekend, early rising for me on both days over the weekend.

Working with RAYNET on the Hampshire Dog Sled Racing event it was, I think, about as deep into the New Forest as you can get. It was fun watching the dogs.

There were all types of characters; the really gung-ho types that were lolloping along, pulling their humans on anything from a three-wheeled sled, two wheeled scooters,mountain bikes or just on foot, through to dogs that were just out for a daily saunter regardless of how much people shouted at them on to dogs that clearly though their people were mad for dragging them out.

The weather was fine, it rained a little bit, really not much – ok for the runners. Luckily, the way the course was set out, the RAYNET people were able to sit in their cars at the various check points, so we were quite comfortable.

It was though a little bit (not much) muddy. Which meant that as soon as I got back I had to go and get the car cleaned.

At least, I think I am. That doesn’t mean I start with ideas that are good. I think if something, want to do it, apply a limited amount of planning, start it and then, usually, it requires too much effort and so I have to let it drop, or it is never as quick, or as good as it should be.

So what have I started that I am in danger of not finishing, and what would I like to start?

Well, As a radio ham, I like to make contributions to the clubs journal. I thought it would be a good idea to get on to the submarine Alliance at the submarine museum, and write articles about aspects of it. I’ve been in touch with submariners, and will follow it through, but it is taking a lot longer that it really should – has it become a bit of a chore?

What then, would I like to start? I have a DJI Osmo gimbal stabiliser for mobile phones. IK’d quite like to do some Jack Hargreaves, Out Of Town type YouTube clips. How does that sound. Will I start it? Probably. Will I finish it? Who knows. Let’s see shall we?

The difficulty I have is writing twice a day. I start the day usually by going for a walk, which I then write briefly about on my Facebook page that only family and friends can see. When it comes to the evening blog my brain has pretty much dried up. That’s why, if you have access to my Facebook page and you are reading this blog, you will see some duplication. I have to admit I’m not overly worried about that. To me it’s more important that this blog is used rather than not.

I still don’t have a message. How many of you remember the 1960s tv show out of town, with Jack Hargreaves? I even have the music going through my brain now. I think I’d like to be a bit like him. Or Magnus. pike. Remember him? I like waving my arms around but that would frighten the animals away, so the two don’t really mix.

The skies were deceptive this morning. I thought they were the cirrocumulus type and that the sunrise would be interesting, so I was approaching my walk with enthusiasm. Just to side track; yes there are the occasional days when I think to myself I’d much rather stay in bed than go for my walk, but that doesn’t happen often. I usually see my weekends as my reward for walking through the week. When I got out this morning, I realised they weren’t cirrocumulus, they were stratus clouds. Oh My, why have I suddenly gone all technical on the clouds? I thought I might as well learn them, seeing as I have been a member of the cloud appreciation society for quite a few years now. I’ll try to mention them every day now (I can hear the groans). Anyhow, I did get caught briefly in the rain, not much only a few seconds so it wasn’t really that bad.

It is still quite gusty. I was getting speeds of 10 Knots whilst down at the waterfront, and it’s sheltered there. I got to the water just in time to catch the Mon St Michelle as she came past the spinnaker, that’s always a nice sight. The weather was ok really, 10C with pressure a bit low at 1019. When the wind is like that I do worry about my hat (flat cap) being blown off into the water so I keep it tight down.

Is it really this long since I last wrote? Not very consistent for a blog that I would like to become famous (I’m joking – am I?). Why did I stop writing. Unfortunately I kind of lost the plot really. As I have said previously, I have a desire to write, but I have no message. Nothing profound to say on politics or anything else . My writings are bland and routine. I give an example sample from my facebook page below;

Cool at around 6C, with a slight breeze of only a knot or two, but enough to add a bit of chill, so I appreciated my hat gloves and coat. There was a lot of high level cloud about, it hadn’t rained though. There was a break in the cloud to the east, so at least there is a little bit of drama in the sky.

Quite a busy #Breakfastclub in the sense of talking, the usual members at the table. Topics of discussion today included smart motorways (mostly not being very smart) and autonomous and electric vehicles. Very interesting. Nice to get home to a cup of tea though.

I wonder if it is worth maintaining the blog? I shall continue to post the extract from my blog here, either until I find a message or I decide to give up. I’m not quite there yet.

Not long after I learned to read, I realised that my sister had quite a good bookcase . I later ruined that bookcase by painting it, but that’s another story. This post is about a particular book that I found. It didn’t have a cover, it was just a green hardback.

I can’t remember the title, I can’t remember the author.

I can remember parts of the plot. The thing about it is it was the first science fiction I ever read.

I’ve been trying to find the book ever since.

It is a time when faster than light travel is in its infancy. FTL ships are being built and tested and lost. A young lad, I think he is being trained as a chemist realises that a relativistic effect of FTL is fantastically rapid ageing. In the book it gives the SOL as aa figure, 186,282.42 miles per second.

That is about it as far as the plot is concerned.

If anyone ever reading this blog knows which book it is that I’m talking about, I would be incredibly grateful, as I would love to have a copy, and once I find out what it is, hopefully, I will be able to get it.

In the meantime, here are some random pictures.

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