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Wild garlic not up here yet, however, I’ve got something in the back of my very jumbled head about ants being responsible for distributing primrose seeds. Who’d have thought it? Is it true?
which bit of the peak are you in?
Never said in The Peak, always Chezvegas! Well slightly south and a long haul over and back but worth it. Still 3 x 9 get some pace up between bridleways!
Clear message to me from this thread is that positivity can be had for free - nature and family, for example.
I've been having problems with my hip. A visit to a sports physiotherapist (who was recommended by a STWer - this place is ace),has sorted out the problems. She identified that one leg is shorter, (now got a gel shoe insert). I was given acupuncture and some simple exercises to do. I now feel fantastic.
Also there was a siskin in the garden.
@Bunnyhop not seen a siskin for a while, used to get lots of them. However, still no energy after covid so pretended I was on holiday, went up to the summerhouse with STW 142 lay down with one of the dogs on my chest, listened to skylarks and read the magazine. Uplifted and relaxed.
It's nearly Easter ... Time to eat chocolate bunnies and simnel cake.
😎
#1 son finally got married last week after COVID delay to possibly the nicest and kindest young lady on the face of the planet. Grandson has just reached the stage of giving cute grins and laughing. Two rescue dogs firmly added to the pack. Snowdrops, bluebells and celandines all out in the local wood; First time ever I think. Four day work week now in place, sun and the long bank holiday now here.
There’s a big bad world out there but I’ll focus on my own little world for now. +ve ian-r
On a week of annual leave and had planned a stay at home break with family dog walks, regular rides and swims, something properly outdoors and physical every day. Felt ill with splitting head, cough and no energy since Sat and went for PCR this morning.. 🙄.
Reading this thread helps keep it all in perspective though 👍
My lovely wife Mrs NBT (aka @bunnyhop) made some pitta breads for lunch today - as in made the dough and cooked them in the oven, not bought a pack from the supermarket and stuck them in the toaster
They were delicious
Next challenge, home made houmous to go with them...
Yesterday a new lamb got out of a local field. We helped the farmer herd it back to its mother. I got to stroke the tiny, cutest thing. T'was so soft and made my day getting the annual 'lamb fix'.
Yesterday a new lamb got out of a local field. We helped the farmer herd it back to its mother. I got to stroke the tiny, cutest thing. T’was so soft and made my day getting the annual ‘lamb fix’.
Lambs seem later than usual down here in the lower end of the Peak, but they are a highlight of my year.
Many years ago, when eldest was maybe 4 and youngest was 18 months, we spent Easter on a farm in Northumberland, in a cottage opposite the lambing barn. Every morning and evening we would go in and the student vets on placement would let us see the new arrivals and bottle feed the strays. The kids don't really remember it now (18 and 15) but Best. Holiday. Ever!
@nbt hummus can be easy, tinned chick peas, tahini, garlic. Lemon juice and olive or rapeseed oil. Blended to your required texture. However, there are many more recipes available. Many, many!
Loads of wild garlic on my local ride, walked down the hill in a thin shirt, bottle open, happy as Larry.
You can make wild garlic pesto if there's loads going spare
😎
I know someone we called Larry, always happy but I think a bit mad. I don’t like to be negative on this thread, but, there’s been some stuff in the press about wholesale pillaging of “our” wild garlic by people paid cash by posh restaurants…
My positivity is that people pay money for something that they could get for free, if my dogs have tiddled on it, even better!
Gnusmas thread A positive enough post for a a good while!
I’m feeling practically blissed out and thought this thread should have a bump. My daughter has friends over for a sleepover and they’re happily giggling away upstairs. My son has been delivering them popcorn and hot chocolate and now we’re going to watch a film together. And I’ve had three different adults that I haven’t seen for ages come sit in my garden for a nice chat and drinks. Just lovely. Hope you all have a happy bank holiday.
I totally get how good that feels stwhannah.
My positive feeling tonight: got the kids into bed, then delivered two donated bikes to a new friend who’s about to host a Ukrainian family. The bikes were sourced by another new friend who appealed for donations on the Nextdoor app, then appealed for someone who actually knew their way around a bike to ensure it was in good order (enter me). Mother & daughter will now have a wonderful means of transport once they arrive, and a local mens shed has refurbished a bike for little bruv.
I've just gone to see the sunset over Loch Venechar. Lush. 😎
We had a positive chat re adopting a rescue dug.
northshoreniall - thumbs up to you!
In the UK good people still outnumber the bigots, chavs, racists and sexists.
The arses always get the (undeserved) publicity but the silent majority will always win - in the long term.
Tune out the chav noise and listen to nature.
I thought this thread was dead, again!
Helped a mate lift a ridiculously heavy part of our history made by William Morris and Edward Carpenter to save it from destruction by the English Church. They know nowt about history, humanity or the creativity of normal working people.
Part positive part true?
Have a good weekend whether you’re working (as a lot of people have to do) or relaxing.
Up to date with all my exam classes teaching and assessment. Predicted grafes are looking very good indeed, despite the covid damage.
Son #1 is getting married soon, we are all meeting up for a meal in Cardiff to have a big old chat.
And then off to Don Skenes for a mooch about- it's pay day after all innit!?!
Everything round here smells of wood smoke tonight, I think absolutely everyone's had a barbeque and every woodburner is lit. It is absolutely lovely, and always makes me feel really peaceful and de-stressed, though it does also make me want bacon.
Lovely communte home last night on the cross bike on my longer bridleway route. Park run this morning looks like it will be stunning weather here.
Nice walk along the river Ara with Mrs Spekkie yesterday morning followed by a fast and furious couple of hrs on the MTB on my own in the evening.
Every little Spanish village I rode through seemed to be setting up for a Fiesta this weekend. People give you an "Hola" and a wave as you pass, it was a lovely warm evening, I was feeling strong on the bike and halfway through my ride I stopped in to pick up some money from a Dutch woman I did some work for earlier this week!
Life has it's ups and downs, but after a day like that you go to bed very content with the world.
🙂
We're riding (the tandoom) to a local village hall to buy plants, mostly tomato, salads and veg. These are grown from seed by an elderly lady who runs the local RHS group. I think most of the money goes to charity.
Everyone wins: reasonably prices plants for me and a charity benefits.
The challenge is to carry them in the panniers and get in a decent ride over the hills after visiting the village hall.
Rode at Wharncliffe earlier and slayed a few demons.
I rode there (for the first time in a long time) between Xmas and New Year and had a total shit fit. It was my first away trip since doing my collarbone at the start of October and the combination of steep, rocky twistiness just messed with my head so much I had a full-on bike-throwing tantrum. Luckily my riding buddies were there to witness my descent into ranting absurdity, so I'm reminded of it at least once a week.
Anyhow - I wouldn't say I ripped Wharncliffe a new one or anything vaguely close, buy I did grow to appreciate it, regain a fair bit of confidence on it and really enjoy many of the runs we did.
👍
Started work again on building some very small garden walls. I’d started after I’d had covid and a big black cloud descended on me so I’d abandoned.
A bit warm for it today but almost done!
Despite being away at work on the ship, and there not being much going on that adds to this thread:
1 - Currently have the much better of the head chefs onboard, so food is good.
2 - Found some bars of Rittersport choccie buried in the back of my locker that I'd forgotten about.
3 - Took some weights outside onto the deck and exercised in tropical warmth and pleasant breezes.
Free anal porn isn't it.
Next door neighbours have had what I think must be their neice round this afternoon, who sounds about 3-4 years old and has spent the afternoon in the garden playing with their incredibly well behaved and tolerant labrador.
Just an afternoon of happy child's laughter coming over fence, it's been lovely.
Listening to a Bach stream and I read the Wiki entry on Pablo Casals, what a geezer! Joie de vivre or what? The old dog. Mind you, I prefer Yo-Yo Ma.
Spent today helping my bruv rip out a shed he's had for 25 years in the corner of the garden ready for the new one next weekend.
Digging out the soil from around the old paving slabs and found a baby robin standing two foot from my feet waiting for any ants worms or whatever.
First of the year for me and such a perky little bugger. Still smiling about it.
He hung around for an hour or so with the occasional parent stood on the fence watching.
I think I saw you there, you had an issue with your grips so glad to hear it didn’t hold you up. I was the lost random with a t-shirt on back to front who followed you down. It was my first time there and hopefully going back tomorrow. Thanks to you your pal for showing me a way in.
May Day celebrations in Chesterfield tomorrow! My daughters have many memories of this walking with the FBU and Fire Service contingent, at the back so if we got a shout we could respond.
It was one of the largest in the country and hopefully it’ll build back up, if not it’ll be like minded people being friendly.
And.. it is a positive experience!
Ha, yes, glad you enjoyed yourself. My mate who knows the trails pretty well also managed to find a bolt on his garmin mount that fitted. It knackered the collar of my grip, but I had spares at home anyway.
Wharncliffe is a real change of mindset for me. Just so much steeper than what I am used to. So it was good to start to feel a bit more comfortable with it.
👍
Yes, May Day in Chesterfield was good, followed by a walk up The Brampton Mile.. opposite way to the traditional route but ok. I’m home safe now so nobody needs to worry!
Was doing some gardening with the missus earlier and looked at the state of the bird bath and decided to give it a clean up. I then remembered that it came from her late grandmother's house when she died, so I got the wire wool attachments and the drill out and buffed it up to a spanking finish with a bit of patina. Jay Blades eat your heart out. 😂
One year and about 5 hours ago I was sat crying in a wrecked garden shed, wrapped in a duvet with my wrists slashed.
Today I am in a good place. A lot of the bad stuff has been cleared out and new positive foundations have been laid.
Weirdly I have spent the weekend helping my brother literally rip down old stuff and start building new foundations.
Thanks for the support folks. You know who you all are.
We spent the weekend on a family holiday - 15 of us!
It was the first time in >5 years that all the kids and grandkids were with my parents. It was great and my parents were really happy.
eddiebaby - I remember that awful time, what a relief you have turned a corner and are feeling so much better.
bunnyhop x
@Bunnyhop thanks. It has been a year of deciding what is important. We kept the newspapers running and I got a second job with an Covid group plus sorted out things like claiming my pension that I'd never got round to...
A new job is just around the corner, i'm working with a local canal group on maintenance and tidying plus a lot of walking and riding around the heathlands of Surrey.
Oh and bikes and guitars too.
Just tried wingfoiling for the first time and loved it, so I'm probably going to vanish to Western Sahara for a month to practise.
Yep, life is good. And better than the alternative.