when my gran died, I had her stuffed and mounted by the local taxidermist.. She spent many happy years on our mantlepiece, but after an unfortunate incident with our pet Labrador Steven, we had to find a new home for her..
It was at this point that I removed most of the straw and sawdust that she was stuffed with and wrapped the perfectly preserved pelt around my chainstay.. held in place with a fine spun rope that I had made from her gossamar leg hair..
I now have a well protected stay and also I get the benefit of granny’s smiling face beaming up at me every time I look back to see who I’ve just overtaken..