Getting ready for Spring rides

SPRING is almost upon us so I've been getting my bike ready. She's been out a few times over the winter but not much. So off came her pannier bags and basket and out came the cleaning cloths. She's now sparkling all over. The only thing I didn't do was the tyres, I'll have to wait for a sunny day for that. Even did the Brooks leather treatment on the saddle. And of course when I was polishing the spokes, Pitch the cat had to supervise.

* I love my bike *

Ho hum

Saw this dirty great big trike when I was out shopping today. So I parked my lovely bike up next to it and took a quick piccie. Well, it made me smile :-)

Something that isn't making me smile at the moment is my tatting. Try as I might I just can't seem to do anything right. I'm having artists block I think!

Monday again

Monday morning again, wow they come round quick! Bit down today as I've been poorly. Last week I was soooo tired I didn't get out on my lovely bicycle. :( Bought a sewing machine on Thursday but still haven't had a chance to set it up. And I felt lousy at work all day Saturday ( 8-4.45 ) which ended up as a horrendous migraine. My Saturday night was spent almost delirious with pain, rolling around clutching my head. Sunday was spent mostly in bed, trying to pull myself round. So, all in all, a pretty shit week. On the plus side, the heavens opened on Saturday and it's chucked it down all weekend, hopefully it's helped extinguish the forest fires in the UK. So, this is quite a rambling, not-upto-much blog entry. But it doesn't really matter as I have only 2 followers, neither of whom actually read my blog anymore! Anyway, enough feeling sorry for myself! After work I have to pick my boy up from school, take my dog to the vets ( he's got hayfever ffs ) then I'm going to set my new sewing machine up and get sewing! I am determined to start making stuff to sell, I have quite a few ideas. ;) Just enjoying my cup of coffee at the cafe before I start work. It looks lovely outside, hope I get out on the pashley soon. And I've decided she needs a new name, something ....different. I had decided to call her "Bonnie Lass" but it doesn't really suit her. She needs something a bit more sophisticated lol. I'm leaning toward 'Margot' lol

New job

Sitting in a cafe with a yummy cupcake and a cup of tea before I go to work.


Into my 3rd week of my new job. It's bloody hard work. But it pays the rent and it got me away from my evil ex-boss ! On Sunday morning I went the furthest on my bike than I've ever been. It wasnt miles but it felt good to go to a new place. Took lots of pics and have spent ages messing about with loads of photo editing apps. I'm quite addicted lol !

Oh well..

Bit disappointed as the pannier rack I ordered for my poppy does not fit. So I'm sending it (and the basil panniers) back tomorrow. My basket should be here by the weekend but it is quite small, won't be able to fit much in it. Contemplating the 30daysofbikeriding challenge ! It starts tomorrow. Haven't been on the bike for a few days. It was gale force winds here today so I can't wait to get back in the saddle. So, feeling a little down. It doesn't help that I stayed up til 3.15am to read the last 400 pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Couldn't put it down. Fantastic book. So now I must sleep.

Poppy

Wow I'm feeling pretty low lately. :( All to do with work issues. Hoping I get a different job soon. Still managing to get out on the poppy most days. Got a rear rack, some pretty basil pannier bags


and a lock coming tomorrow and Sean is buying me a wicker basket


for the front as my moms day pressie. So I will finally be able to start going shopping on my beautiful bicycle. I'm quite smitten with my bike lol. I had been saving hard and I knew a pashley princess sovereign was too expensive so I got what I considered to be the next best thing - a pastel blue Pashley poppy. After applying for yet another job last week, I was thinking about the fact that the company I was applying to was a member of the Cycle To Work scheme. My first thought was if I got that job I would sell my poppy and upgrade to a pps. Then I realised how attached I had become to my poppy. Yes the princess sovereign is a gorgeous bicycle. But so is my poppy ! I realised I no longer thought of her as second best. She looks soooo cool. And once the accessories are on she will be able to do all the jobs I ask of her. She's a bit like me, weird and wonderful. I couldn't have found a better match. Didn't think I had fallen in love with this bike of mine, but I have. And I finally found her name. Bonnie Lass. BlogPress !

Wahoooooo !

Here she is !


My very own beautiful Pashley Poppy. She arrived yesterday and I have just had my first run out this morning. 27 years since I last rode a bicycle. It was scary, exhilarating and amazing. I only did about a mile and a half. My legs are like jelly and my heart was bouncing out my chest but it was great ! Since I am seriously out of shape I will just take it easy for now. BlogPress !

Waiting...

I have never been a patient person. When I want something, I want it 10 minutes ago. So the fact it has been well over a month since I started looking for a bicycle is driving me nuts. Today, the dealer in Cambridge is off to holland to get more stock. He said he will try to get one in my size. I have checked my phone loads for texts / missed calls / emails. And of course there is no word off him yet. The bloke is driving to holland with a big van, then driving back. It would be a miracle if he had the time and energy to contact me today. But it doesn't stop me hoping ! Had a few words with my OH about a bike the other day. He doesnt want me to get one, says it will be stood in the corner with coats hanging off it. . I hope not, I'm really keen to get into leisure cycling. Let's hope I prove him wrong. That's if I ever get a bike !


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Saturday morning

Yawn ! I knew I shouldn't have stayed up so late. I watched Practical Magic, I love that film. Wish I lived in a house like that. Going to get up to get ready for work soon. The latest on the Dutch bike front is this - the dealer whose bicycles I saw first (and fell in love with) has been in touch. He's off to holland on Tuesday for stock. So if he can get one in my size ( and he thinks he can ) I might have it here by the end of next week. I'm sooo excited ! I almost went for the pashley poppy but I'm glad I didn't, even tho it's beautiful. The pashley princess sovereign is the best style and the bike I'm hopefully getting is almost identical to that, except it's less than half the price. But I'm so impatient, I want it right now !! I'm keeping everything that I have 2 of crossed for good luck. I can't wait to get into cycling. Here's a few shots taken off the website.








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Skint

Ahhh wish I had some money ! Still saving my pennies for a bicycle. Mybeautifulbike.com still hasn't been in touch re: when they will be getting a delivery and also what sizes the bikes are. So I'm still trawling the Internet for cheap Dutch bikes ( ha! There's no such thing ) and wishing I could afford a pashley RIGHT NOW ! I'm really taken with the pashley poppy. It's so unbelievably pink and adorable. Plus I know it will be the right size. But £450 ? Thebikefactory.com has them in stock for £365 but the special price ends tomorrow, when it goes back upto £435. And of course I don't have enough money right now to get it at the cheaper price :( So, yes, still saving hard and spending my spare time looking at online bike stores. Hey, anyone who knows me knows when I get an idea in my head I get obsessed ! Also been looking at Knog bike stuff, waaaayyyy cool ! Fingerless bike gloves with "love" and "hate" on the knuckles


Anyway, just finished reading Bernie Friend's "Cycling back to happiness" and I must say, what a brilliant book ! What a brave man, with a very quirky n funny writing style. Since I've been looking to get into cycling I've started taking note of my local cycling infrastructure. There isn't any. One bike lane on a short path through the estate does not constitute a cycling infrastructure. There's nowhere in town to lock a bike up. Bear in mind I want to be able to get my shopping on my bike, so this is going to be a problem. And with the whole country in economic turmoil I can't see the local council spending money to put it right. Right, this mornings job is to parcel up the stuff I've sold on eBay and amazon and post it all off. Every penny gets me closer to a beautiful bicycle ! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPh - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone