So i possibly won't get to post new stuff for about ten days.

As i told you in my Sunday post, i'm going up to Sheffield to help my Lil Bro move out of the family home so i don't know if there will be internet or even a computer i could use whilst i'm there.

Due to the trip, this week has been a bit turned about. On Monday, a day i rarely ride on, i went out for a longish ride, a variation of my regular Chippenham circuit. There was still a goodly amount of 30mph+ wind about but as it was from the south my route east was rarely hindered by it, and it was dry.

The return had a bit more into the wind but again, it was mostly a sidewind. With about fifteen km to go it started wetting, not hard but driven by the wind it was a bit unpleasant! I was nearly back, the gps showed 99km when my transmission started jumping a bit, two stops failed to find a cause and i finished the day with 101km covered. Back at the house i put together a lamb stew with dumplings, a nice winter warmer that we'll finish off today.

Tuesday i'm usually out riding but not this week, i took a walk to the shops then spent the afternoon building more of my model town before starting to sort stuff i'm taking north - late Xmas prezzies, plus Birthday and Easter parcels - have you seen the cost of postage these days?

I hadn't really planned on riding today but the forecast was fine so i joined Aunty Bev in a ride to Bath for an egg & bacon bap. The bike seemed to be, well 99%, just the occasional odd grumble through the pedals but i thought it best to check things out when i got back with 37km clocked. I'm glad i did, i looked at the obvious stuff, chainrings, rear gear, cassette, chain, nothing obvious but a closer look revealed half the connecting link missing! The design means that if one half is absent the chain will separate except this time it was just the side plate missing. I had a similar issue @ 10 years ago on a different bike, in that instance a piece of stone chip from a newly laid road jammed in the chain and burst it apart. This time i think it was some debris from the weekend storms that did a similar thing. I've ordered a new chain, i could just put in a new connector but the chain is a bit worn and looks a bit sorry from all the road salt and winter shite.

Tonight will be more prep for the trip, i depart Brizz at noon tomorrow for a five hour bus ride.

As a 'treat', i've posted my newest short story for you all to enjoy. Rites of Passage comes from an idea i had before Christmas. This and six other short stories can be found in my latest book release, Maddy's Musings.

So that's all for now, have a good week,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid

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