People often ask me why I call my brother Jon, Bon. Well, there's no answer to the question, other than 'I don't know'. Seriously, I don't know, I just call him Bon. Next time I see him I will ask if he knows the answer. He'll probably say it's something to do with both words rhyming, Jon and Bon. It doesn't matter to be honest, I just call him Bon, a term of endearment, perhaps.
So it's Saturday and temperatures are going to soar to 24 degrees. In fact, to give you some idea how wonderful it's been today, I'm writing this in the garden, sitting under an umbrella and its 1841hrs, not far off 1900hrs. The sun is still out, the wind chime occasionally chimes and the trees sway slightly in a summer-like breeze. The main reason I'm sitting outside, however, is because I have a new lap top. It's an HP Chromebook and the battery life is ridiculously good. Normally I have to thread my charger through the kitchen window and use the extension lead in the garage, but I no longer have the old MacBook, it died. Or rather I still have it, but it simply doesn't work.
Chromebooks only really work when there's a WiFi connection, but my WiFi is strong enough to work outside of the house, which means it's easy for me to sit outside in the garden blogging, as I am right now.
Andy aborted today's ride last weekend and I'm not going tomorrow (Sunday) but today I thought I'd ride over to see Bon on Woodmansterne Green, it's roughly 12 miles all in. I left the house later than usual (around 0800hrs) and rode the usual route, via Foxley Lane, where they are knocking down a lot of the big houses that line the road and replacing them with ugly (yes, ugly) flats.
It's a straight ride from Foxley Lane all the way to the lavender fields where I turn left, pass the gypsy encampment that's a permanent fixture (in the USA it would probably be known as a trailer park) and within a few minutes I'm on Woodmansterne Green. Bon rode down the road to meet me and then we both rode back to the green and our usual resting place by the big tree trunk that has been carved artistically into rough seating. Out came the tea and we sat there for a considerable time, enjoying the warm sun and discussing this and that, mainly family stuff, but also what we would do if we won the lottery and, of course, Felpham, our childhood holiday destination. It was almost 1000hrs when I checked the time and soon we were bidding each other farewell and heading off in different directions: me to Sanderstead and Bon to Epsom.
I followed my outward route home, but in reverse, riding along an off-road path and then joining the road just before the roundabout that takes me on to Foxley Lane. It's a pleasant ride, apart from having to climb the South Face of West Hill, but once I'd cranked the Rockhopper into a low gear, I sailed to the top and was soon heading downhill towards good old 'Barny'.
When I reached home (around 1030hrs) I sat in the garden and drank tea and then enjoyed a fish finger and mayonnaise sandwich on brown bread. Later, I drove over to mum's for fruit cake and tea in the garden, two bits, which I regret, and let's not forget the Fox's chocolate biscuits. It's got to stop. Seriously.
Anyway, right now it's still not 1900hrs - seven minutes to go - and I suppose I'd better go inside and think about dinner.
It's Easter Sunday tomorrow and I won't be riding, but I'll be back in the saddle on Bank Holiday Monday.
So it's Saturday and temperatures are going to soar to 24 degrees. In fact, to give you some idea how wonderful it's been today, I'm writing this in the garden, sitting under an umbrella and its 1841hrs, not far off 1900hrs. The sun is still out, the wind chime occasionally chimes and the trees sway slightly in a summer-like breeze. The main reason I'm sitting outside, however, is because I have a new lap top. It's an HP Chromebook and the battery life is ridiculously good. Normally I have to thread my charger through the kitchen window and use the extension lead in the garage, but I no longer have the old MacBook, it died. Or rather I still have it, but it simply doesn't work.
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| Library shot of Woodmansterne Green |
Andy aborted today's ride last weekend and I'm not going tomorrow (Sunday) but today I thought I'd ride over to see Bon on Woodmansterne Green, it's roughly 12 miles all in. I left the house later than usual (around 0800hrs) and rode the usual route, via Foxley Lane, where they are knocking down a lot of the big houses that line the road and replacing them with ugly (yes, ugly) flats.
It's a straight ride from Foxley Lane all the way to the lavender fields where I turn left, pass the gypsy encampment that's a permanent fixture (in the USA it would probably be known as a trailer park) and within a few minutes I'm on Woodmansterne Green. Bon rode down the road to meet me and then we both rode back to the green and our usual resting place by the big tree trunk that has been carved artistically into rough seating. Out came the tea and we sat there for a considerable time, enjoying the warm sun and discussing this and that, mainly family stuff, but also what we would do if we won the lottery and, of course, Felpham, our childhood holiday destination. It was almost 1000hrs when I checked the time and soon we were bidding each other farewell and heading off in different directions: me to Sanderstead and Bon to Epsom.
I followed my outward route home, but in reverse, riding along an off-road path and then joining the road just before the roundabout that takes me on to Foxley Lane. It's a pleasant ride, apart from having to climb the South Face of West Hill, but once I'd cranked the Rockhopper into a low gear, I sailed to the top and was soon heading downhill towards good old 'Barny'.
When I reached home (around 1030hrs) I sat in the garden and drank tea and then enjoyed a fish finger and mayonnaise sandwich on brown bread. Later, I drove over to mum's for fruit cake and tea in the garden, two bits, which I regret, and let's not forget the Fox's chocolate biscuits. It's got to stop. Seriously.
Anyway, right now it's still not 1900hrs - seven minutes to go - and I suppose I'd better go inside and think about dinner.
It's Easter Sunday tomorrow and I won't be riding, but I'll be back in the saddle on Bank Holiday Monday.
