November 2024

 

November 2024

 

I feel November is really the start of winter with endless grey days and chill winds that sear to the bone. Bonfire night has now been surpassed by Dewali where in Hayes it is an un-ending display of noise and light and upsetting the cat. I always thought fireworks were only allowed on November 5^th. It being illegal to set them off at any other time but now it seems you can do it when you like. Keeps the firework manufacturers going though. Observed Sunday on the 3^rd was dry and the absence of Louise left me in a bit of a dilemma. This was the Sunday to get things underway for the London Off Road Bike Show on Saturday 7^th December. I feel I missed an opportunity to get things moving. I would have to do more on line to chivvy things along as I thought Louise would be away for the event but fortunately has returned from a sad, needed, family visit home to South Africa.

I had a busy week. Washed the C3, cleaned a window box and wall pots of dead plants, Snobbs collected the Buell for repairs, moved the bikes around the garage and did some tidying up.  Went to see what I thought was going to be a Queen instrumental by candlelight but turned out to be a quintet that performed the best of Zimmer ( lots of film music). Enjoyable but a little disappointing. Sunday was a film of Mary Motorcycle billed as the first lady to circumnavigate the globe on a motorcycle. It was Mary Sievier on a BSA Bantam in the sixties. 

An intrepid lady with an invincible “can do” attitude. I had met her before at a presentation for the club but sadly she has now passed away. The Sunday afternoon was co-hosted by  Tiff Jeavons another round the world lady who put her personal insight into understanding what Mary had achieved. The film was an audience with Mary talking about her exploits. What a remarkable memory describing events of more than fifty years ago in vivid detail. I hope my brain lasts that long and is as sharp.  Enjoyed this much more than the music.

Tiffs around the world BMW

I drove Gita to Watford for her cataract op but sadly it did not happen as she was still on antibiotics. Tuesday I had my hospital appointment with the Speech and Language therapy. That day I had a painful ride on the Kawasaki. My left hip had cramp and I could not operate the front brake aggressively so I was riding like a granny. This was peak pain day. It had been building from Friday the previous week. I was not able to ride or drive for a week. I had been trying to get a GP appointment but could only get one with an Emergency doctor and because he could not examine me set me to the Emergency unit at Hillingdon. Gita drove me and picked me up five hours later only to be told there was nothing wrong; it was just a strain and needed rest. How can something that prevents me moving or Griping the steering wheel be just a strain? I have broken bones that have been less painful. So I have had to sit at home doing very little doing a few exercises to keep atrophy at bay and wait for recovery. I am taking the opportunity to catch up on relentless motorcycle races that  have taken place since my holiday in August. MotoGP, WSB, BSB, British Speedway and World Speedway. When I run out of these there is Motocross, USA Super Bikes and Australian Super Bikes and all the Rookies Cup races. I might just finish before the Dakar in the new year.

October on the Broads

 

October on the Broads

 

This is the article I promised from the October 2024 posting. This month has been busy doing bits and pieces and it was a welcome break to get away to somewhere quiet. Adrian, one of my brothers, organised it. I call it a hunting, shooting, fishing holiday a back to the wilds and engage with nature sort of thing. There is no hunting and no shooting but there is fishing and sailing and cruising with the outboard. Barry, my eldest brother at 82 declined getting aboard the dinghy. Recent problems with hip and knee joints was cited as the reason. Daily walks by the river and trips to the pub featured heavily in this holiday. The weather was kind for October with sunshine and light winds made sailing a challenge.

I had my annual visit to the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum at North Walsham. It is easy to find as it is right next to the Railway Station. I did a pit stop at Stalham Tesco on the way for fuel and a tin of chocolates for a present. At the Museum I talked for some time with one of the sons, the father, who I met some years ago, had started the Museum passed away in 2022 and the sons were continuing his legacy changing displays regularly. I did not have my phone or camera with me to take any pictures so this is from last year. He did ask me which car I was in this year I replied with ‘the El Cid with a new soft top’. Last year I visited in the Burton which he liked enormously.

We managed to do something in the boat each day taking it to Martham with the outboard or raising the sail and going across Hickling Broad. Favourite pub was the Nelson Head near Horsey with good food and a very good choice of real ales. It keeps drawing us back. Towards the end of the week there was the ‘Super Moon’ at its peak there was too much cloud  at night but it shone through eerily at day break through morning mist and was easier to see the next night. There were some memorable sunsets. Ducks and swans paddled by and there was even a kingfisher fishing. While sailing we chased a flock of coots along the river and even saw a big pike being caught. It was an idyllic week of enjoying the peace of the Broads staying in the aptly named “Quiet Hours” chalet on the river bank.