even if it is a little chilly!
It's been essentially dry here in the south west since the weekend, temperatures remain under 5c and the Sun is stubbornly absent from view.
You will recall my debacle on my trip to Germany two months ago when i lost my passport? Not something i want to repeat and a big hit to my finances and of course i was left without a passport. For various reasons i have been delaying sorting out a replacement, it's not like i need one to travel immediately but this week, the time had come.
Monday morning i went online to find out the ins and outs, last time i did this stuff, 2017, you got a photo, filled in a form and sent it off with payment. You can still do that but you can save a few £'s and a bit of time by applying online, you can even use a phone selfie, however i thought that a proper picture would be better so i got myself ready to find a suitable photo booth (you need one that is linked to the UK passport system). My nearest was in the supermarket next to the Swedish shop so i hatched a plan, walk down, get photo, then go next door for lunch before doing a bit of shopping before heading back.
It all worked out fine, the photo was pre approved at the photo shop, i had the code for my application, lunch for once wasn't meatballs but instead sausages and i got my shopping. It was mid afternoon when i returned to the computer to make my application, from start to finish, including confirmation of id by Aunty Bev, took all of thirty minutes, now its just a waiting game. (in case you were wondering, the name on it won't be Maddy Bell, the picture looks nothing like me either!)
So that was Monday, Tuesday i really wasn't firing on all cylinders but i nevertheless got ready to go for a ride. I didn't take much self convincing to make it a short ride down to Bath, Aunty Bev joined me and we had a pleasant pootle, stopping for tea and bacon in bread at the mid point. It was only about 37km, my sore knee didn't complain so i guess tomorrow i can confidently set out for a longer ride.
Today i need to go fetch some groceries, i have food but nothing to really make a meal so that's the job for this afternoon.
That's all for today, Sunday i'll be back with new Gaby but for now,
Tschuss,
Madeline Anafrid
