Lone Cycling

I was 'Billy No Mates' this morning and went out on my own for a cycle ride near Croome.  I was supposed to do the same route I did a couple of weeks ago but managed to do something wrong and got a little bit lost.  Still managed to do almost 13 miles so pleased with that.  I then had egg sandwich, scone and coffee at Croome sitting in the glorious sunshine.

Fabulous views on the ride ....

This is not the fabulous view, this is my trusty bike and a bench near Pirton from where the view opposite is this ....

or this ....

Hard to Bear

Have been to Birmingham today to meet a cousin for lunch and a catchup.  There were bears everywhere - large and small.

Time has Flown

This weekend DH took down the Sparrow Box off the house wall so that I could clean it out.  It had a nest of Great Tits in it earlier in the year.  They certainly made good use of moss from the lawn and fur combed from the visiting cat.  Looks like sheep wool in there too.

Someone obviously could not make up their mind which hole to use for the final nest. I forgot to take the wall screws out of the box before taking the photograph and it was too late once I had cleaned the box out.

Worcester Open Studios

Just noticed it was Worcester Open Studios this weekend so popped out to here ...

It is actually St Peter's Church where St Peter's Printmakers and Friends were.  Excellent exhibition.  I then went down Cowleigh Bank to Belmont Road to see Andrew Judd's letterpress.  What a wonderful place.  A huge shed-cum-workshop with lots of goodies to see.  Andrew very kindly showed us how he set up words and cast the block to print from.

Next I headed off to see my bookbinding pal Janet Hayes-Hall.  She was busy with her lino cuts alongside her daughter in their makeshift studio complete with etching press.  Husband, Richard, was busy making timber frame sections for the buildings which are workin progress and which will eventually form part of Janet's studio.  At least that's the plan.

It's Finished ...One More to Go

Reverse of Quilt - Long Arm Quilted by Fathers Heart

At long last I have finished this quilt!!  It has been under construction for 10 years now and I was so embarrassed that it had taken so long.  Lots of good excuses which included DH giving up his job and being out of work for a year and then the upheaval of moving miles away from Yorkshire and buying a house that needed a monumental amount of work doing to it, which I seem to have had to organise. Time for catching up on my things now, although the house is far from finished.

Some of these appear on the quilt, but not like this

It's All Uphill From Here

Sun shining on Worcester in the distance

Walked from our house (a long way down this hill) up to the top of Cowleigh Bank and then on to North Malvern Road looking for a bike shop to service my bike for me yesterday.  It is very, very steep and my knees now ache. DH suggested I take my bike with me?? I don't think so. Just so happened the main bike shop man was not in.

'Couch to 50 km' class this week has now taught me how to take front and back wheels off my bike and repair a puncture.  Something to look forward to I suppose on top of my chain falling off on a regular basis.  At least I am fitter than I was .... I think?

Cycled Out

Done two more cycle rides this week Saturday and Sunday. One and half hours on both days, first one doing my homework for 'Couch to 50 km' and today a circular route from Croome with Women on Wheels organised by our trusty tutor Rachel.  Had a fabulous time, I stayed dry and my bicycle chain managed to stay on for the whole ride. The down side is that I am heavily handicapped because my bike is a hybrid and very heavy which makes me very slow on any inclines.

Heading to the Hills for my homework on Saturday morning.

It was a killer!!