I’ve mentioned that I’m awaiting a heart valve repair. The timescale is likely to be many months, since only a few surgeons have the skills to perform such keyhole surgery. In the meantime I can still exercise but have been advised not to push myself too hard. I’ve been for a couple more bike ridesContinue reading “Riding for maintenance.”
Flower of the Week, 8th September, 2023.
Autumn seems to be coming early, after an unusual summer. June was very hot whilst July was both the coldest and wettest since records began. August wasn’t much better but in early September we have a mini heatwave. If this is climate change then it needs to decide in which direction it’s changing. Hotter orContinue reading “Flower of the Week, 8th September, 2023.”
Good for the soul.
Yesterday I rode another fairly easy bike ride. I’m waiting for a heart valve repair so mustn’t put any significant strain on my heart until then. I rode down to the Leeds/Liverpool canal because the level bank is always going to be easy. Riding south I reached the White Bear Marina where hundreds of boatsContinue reading “Good for the soul.”
A Gentle Bike Ride.
I’ve mentioned in a recent post, around a month ago, that I have had a heart valve fail. I’m waiting an uncertain amount of time for an operation to repair it. I was given little guidance as to the level of exercise which I should undertake in the meantime but after a blood pressure checkContinue reading “A Gentle Bike Ride.”
Flower of the Week, 22nd August 2023.
A garden, consisting mainly of perennial plants, is a metaphor for life. When one thing fades away, something else comes along. Above, our white and yellow Shasta Daisies have been replaced with the intense yellow of Black Eyed Susans. They are not a daisy but a rudbeckia, which brighten things up considerably. Below the GauraContinue reading “Flower of the Week, 22nd August 2023.”
Flower of the Week, 13th August 2023.
Because we grow mainly perennial plants in our garden, we find theat the colours change as the season progresses. Annual flowers may persist for months but perennials have a shorter season, knowing that they’ll have another chance to reproduce the following year. We had a good show from the rose, the Lady of Shallott, inContinue reading “Flower of the Week, 13th August 2023.”
My Life May Never be the Same Again.
A dramatic title to attract attention? I only wish it was so simple. I’ve become ill for the first time, of any significance, since my youth and have no idea where this is going. On Wednesday, 21st June I noticed some blood in my urine in the early evening and onward towards bedtime. In theContinue reading “My Life May Never be the Same Again.”
Fitting a ride in whilst busy.
My wife and I have retired early from full time work. We think it’s better to be less well off but have time to live the lives we want. I’ve often heard retired people saying that they have no time to do things and frankly it’s annoying. Surely with no work to do each dayContinue reading “Fitting a ride in whilst busy.”
A Complete Change of Plan.
I’ve been forced to completely change my plans and targets for this year’s mountain biking. I had a cold in May which persisted for a while. Then in late June I had another cold, which only seemed to last for a few days. What I didn’t know was that this cold would settle on myContinue reading “A Complete Change of Plan.”
A return to trail riding.
I’ve had a cold which settled on my chest and has prevented me from maintaining my usual activity level. Yesterday was the first time in more than 2 weeks when I felt I got a good ride in, with some real training value. I rode towards Rivington Pike but didn’t climb the last steep partContinue reading “A return to trail riding.”
Mountainbiker 