Bits and Pieces

This week the iris in the garden have unfurled to reveal all their inky loveliness. We have also got lots of baby birds in the garden coming to get fed or be fed at the feeders.  I am finding it very difficult to concentrate and work on anything at the moment so decided to make a small hanging using up scraps of fabric from some instructions I saved from a magazine a long, long time ago.

Baton Relay

Over the past two days I have been cycling about the countryside with a magnetic box which has become part of a Baton Relay that Women on Wheels have been participating in.  It is hidden by a member of the group somewhere and clues are given as to its location.  It is then a free for all as to who gets there first and relocates it. I collected it from the other side of Worcester one day and then relocated it out towards Ledbury the second day.  It meant I managed to cycle in excess of 60 miles over the 2 days with lovely weather and scenery down some new roads and cycle paths I had not come across before.

I hid it under a postbox at the junction of a road. Not very original but at least it was quite well concealed.  We have had difficulty finding suitable metal items to attach it to.

A Bit of Distraction

I have actually been doing a bit of sewing this week, but having to take care because my shoulder is still not fully recovered. I have discovered that machine stitching and ironing really aggravate it, and hand stitching is almost as bad. I have got round to making 4 place mats out of scraps of fabric that I have had lying around for ages.  Disappointed my stash has not decreased much.  Shall have to think of some more little projects to do.

Also done lots of (hilly) cycling this week as the weather has been nice. I even got my Whyte Victoria hybrid out for an airing. So different to riding my LIV road bike.  Lovely countryside and did a bit of exploring whilst I was out.

View towards the Malverns

We have got a new cycling challenge this next week.  Silly/ Rude signs we see out on our rides and I found this one at Clive's. Someone (perhaps the person who suggested the topic) had been storing up lots of them ready for an opportunity to use them. Mearse Lane was one that came up but they missed the lane linked to it - Dogbut Lane. My friend Eileen split our sides laughing when we drove past them some time ago on a trip to a friends. In fact I was laughing that much I do not know how I drove the car.

More Cycling Madness

This week's challenge was to collect photos whilst out and about cycling using a Bingo Card with words on it.  This is what I ended up with ….

1. VIEW

2. VET

3. VALLEY

4. VEHICLE

5. VILLAGE

6. VICTORIA

7. EARL

8. ELECTRICITY

9. EQUIPMENT

10. EQUESTRIAN

11. EGGS

12. EDGE

Cycling Madness

To keep us motivated this week Women on Wheels have come up with an idea for a Baton Relay.  In addition to this we have had to take photographs of postboxes and letterboxes.  Extra points if we could find a postbox with a collection time of 4pm.

Fortunately I found this one near Castlemorton Common.

Today I have been looking for letterboxes and this had to be my favourite, particularly as the name on the box is The Wobbly Wheel ....

The location of the magnetic Baton box was revealed on Saturday morning and since then it has been found and moved to several new locations.  It has been great fun trying to get to it before any of the other cyclists in WOW beat you to it. Everyone is missing cycling with friends so it has been very motivational.

Back to Cycling

This is a very familiar sight on many of my rides. It is always very welcome as it means I am almost back to NT Croome Park where I have usually parked the car and there is a lovely café with coffee and cake awaiting when I can indulge myself without feeling too guilty. Unfortunately on Thursday this week I was only part of the way home and Croome was closed.  I did a total of 40 miles, 16.2 miles of which were a Virtual Treasure Hunt organised by Women on Wheels. Getting to the start at St Peter's Garden Centre involved a 11+ mile ride there and then home again.  It was great fun though and the weather was perfect for cycling - warm with a cool breeze.

We had to take selfies to prove we had been on the ride. This one was outside a pub. Others included a bus stop, with a flower, a café, and a post box. Clues also had to be collected too, one of which involved identifying which blue route you were on.

A Bit of a Ramble

Managed to get out for a lovely walk again today. A few bluebells out, lots of Forget-me-Knots and still some violets too. It was just what I needed as I am suffering with my shoulder again and cannot do much in the way of anything - including drawing or sewing. Lot of phone chats with friends to cheer us all up. Missing cycling as I dare not get on my bike whilst my shoulder is so bad. Let us hope the lovely weather lasts for a little longer to keep us all happy and smiling in these difficult times.