STW POSITIVITY THREAD!!

Update from last post – after an exciting transition period including wife having go to Ireland as mother had heart attack and me getting covid so delaying stuff couple of weeks – wee man came to live with us 2 1/2 weeks ago.
Stuck him on the kids ride shotgun seat this afternoon and he seems to enjoy it – the indoctrination has begun 😁
Just the wait to apply for adoption order now then can be relieved of social workers 🤞

I thought this thread was dead!

@northshoreniall Good news for you, hope it all goes well. You’re taking on more responsibility and I’ve managed to lose some, and a load of worries. Dad settled into a lovely new care home, very close. It’s expensive for him but we know he’s safe and appears to be enjoying it so far!

@wheelsonfire1 that’s good, will give you peace of mind he’s safe and mean your visits can be more enjoyable for all as less fraught worrying what walking in to.
Yeah, touch more responsibility 😁 who needs a peaceful life anyway.

I thought this thread was dead!

It popped into my head on the way round my ride today 🙂

My dad had planned a Hebridean holiday with my mum – who lost her cancer battle 21 years ago, the spring before they took the May holiday. My dad only told me of this just before Christmas. He turns 80 in the summer and isn’t in the best of health.

I’ve spent the last week introducing my dad to the delights of Islay, Jura, Mull, Iona and Ulva.
The wild weather at the start of the week was memorable for the wave size at isle of Orsay/Rhinns lighthouse – and my dad has a thing for lighthouses. Jura was as wild as anywhere he’s been. We had empty beaches on Islay and paddled in the sea.
We’ve moved to Mull – and while cold had just stunningly clear and sunny views.
Today we say 5 golden eagles, 3 white tailed eagles and 2 otters.

We’ve been on 12 ferries so far – from outboard motor to RoRo. He’s enjoyed all of them.

Dad was all but in tears at Ardalanish, overlooking Colonsay, paps of Jura and Islay across a turquoise sea. He spent a few hours in the abbey, church and community centre on Islay (he’s a man of deep faith).

Today we sat for over half an hour on a rock together looking at nothing but the view at Lochbuie while he marvelled at the sea colour again.

Ace. Just ace.

Nice one MoaB!
Never too old for some Dad time.
My little bit of positivity doesn’t compare but…sun’s been out so grass cut and some light hedge trimming; just topped up bird feeders and now standing outside with cold beer listening to birdsong.
Also received new photos of my american grandchildren.

Well, those last few posts have given me a lift, it’s good to hear of other peoples positive experiences. Sometimes difficult but if there’s even a tiny glimmer it’s worth reflecting on.

I tested positive for the Covid last Saturday, but just had a sore throat.
Tested negative yesterday.
Which was nice.

Managed some gardening in the sunshine today without getting too much out of breath, the same couldn’t be said for my less than 5 mile ride yesterday! Blimey, got some post Covid building up to do..

Met up with a mate for a short road ride from Castleton to Baslow and back today.

We don’t meet up as often as we’d like as family commitments for both of us make arranging it tricky, but was a beautiful sunny day in stunning spring weather. Nearly got hit by two deer who shot across the road as we went from Hathersage to Grindleford, the first time he’s had that happen to him on a ride.

The Super 7 breakfast at the Cafe on the Green in Baslow is rather splendid.

40 years ago this year since we met at secondary school.

@MoreCashThanDash that sounds like a great ride, thanks for the breakfast recommendation in Baslow, I’ll ride off-road from Wingerworth and give it a try!

Ah ha, had a dip this afternoon, no reflection on your visit, Stephen, then realised that I’d not looked at the special place in hell thread today.
I don’t believe in hell/heaven but also it is a very angry thread, so, I’m better off without it,
Building a wall didn’t go well though, but my dogs got me through it!

Such a good idea for a thread! Last week was a write-off for me, but today I’ve had energy to actually do life shit. Several rides out to the cardboard bins, one to the bottle bank, a whole pile of dead branches dealt with, and a couple of loads of washing done – and, crucially. put away – and I am knackered but feeling worthy again. And I managed to beat Leader Cliff in Pokémon Go! Best Monday in ages.

Does taking 30 years to solve several personal problems count as positive?

There is still one last remaining personal problem to solve …

There was a sparrowhawk perched on a neighbour’s roof for 15 mins on Saturday. I was sat having a post-walk tea and cake watching it weighing up whether or not to eat my teenage nephew in the garden.

We’ve lived here for 9 years and I’ve not seen one locally in all that time

😎

PS my nephew survived

There was a sparrowhawk perched on a neighbour’s roof

That’s brilliant, I blinking love a good sparrowhawk watch. A rare treat.

My positive story today starts with a downer but ends positive;
Absolutely floored by post-COVID fatigue. Tested negative two weeks ago. Have been working since. Thought I was well over it, went to work, discovered I was not right after I arrived in the office. But yesterday I put some cds on and enjoyed the music, rediscovered an old passion for music and a nerdy fascination for hifi and technology. Posted a thread. Got loads of people contributing here on “the bike forum” – that’s what I tell my partner it is. Got really interesting contributions from others on here. Ordered a not-expensive new nerdy hifi toy to play with. Love the bike forum.

Last few posts uplifting for me, not just about me though!, we get Sparrowhawks through the garden, if we see them it’s either a blur as they hedge hop after a high level surveillance or if they catch something they sit on it a bit, or, they sit about for a bit looking embarrassed if they swoop and miss! And I’m sure the Buzzards circle looking at our dogs!

@misteralz and @chewkw and @goldfish24 and @ElShalimo
Spread the positivity, we can do it! Or we can help each other.

A grey day, called in to see my grandson. He was just waking and I held him whilst he filled his nappy! Watched him moving around on the changing mat and whilst he fed. Held him again and almost got a smile. This thread is a lot more cheerful than some, concentrate on positive and life affirming events and try and ignore the negative that we can’t do much about?
For instance, although I live near the Peak District and have a nice view over a country park (it wasn’t always the case, it was the most polluted site in Europe) I did get really cross about cars and motorcycles with pop and bang exhausts that accelerate at phenomenal speed from the roundabout below us, I still get cross with speeding drivers probably due to my previous, previous, career, but try to not let it affect my own driving. I drive defensively and mutter criticism under my breath, sometimes people pull out in front of me inconveniently, sometimes I realise that I might do the same. I refer you to the first paragraph! Look for the positive!
Take care you all.

Go for a local walk, smell the wild garlic, look for bluebells, primroses, lambs etc

Spring is here !!

@golf chick – all the wayback on pg1 you posted about 3 rolls of wallpaper for new house; is it a doll’s house or are the rolls massive?
A bit more personal positivity – with UK grandson on Sunday; grandad can we play in sandpit outside – yes, of course; imaginative play burying and excavating, making sand drinks and sand food – keeping a straight face whilst he was in his imaginary world.

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?

@frankconway a feature wall, or walls? Plenty of paper!

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.