well maybe.

After the last couple of weeks of bad news, mishaps and mechanical failures, i'm due a change in my luck quotiant and touch wood, so far this week the good has outweighed the bad, lets start at the beginning. My bank does not have a good record for timely deposition of funds, deposits can take hours if not days longer than they should getting into my account (of course they come out quicker than you can blink!) but amazingly this week funds sent over the weekend were in the account at opening of business! Which was good because that meant i could get on with the rest of the days jobs in a timely manner.

First job, order the replacement crankset for Foxy, i was delighted to find that the seller had sent an offer which would reduce the price to me by the shipping cost. To say i metaphorically ripped their arm off wouldn't come close, i'm from Yorkshire, we like a bargain!

Next up, collect the bike frame i took to have some remedial work carried out on a couple of weeks ago. Its about two miles walk and it was a lovely day so i took my time and enjoyed the day. At the shop i was delighted to find that they hadn't needed to damage anything to do the jobs, i had been half expecting to write off some of the stuck stuff but it all survived intact. I made some enquiries re issues with another bike being fixed, not silly price but a job for the New Year, then headed back, arriving late morning.

I'd barely got in when i had a call i'd been expecting from Yorkshire, details re my friends funeral service. Its in two weeks time so i'll be heading up a couple of days before so posting may be disrupted but i'll keep you informed. Whilst that will bring an element of closure, i was advised that i may be gifted some of his bike gear and maybe one of his bikes, the exact details will be hashed out when i go up. The offer came out of the blue and of course i'd prefer if he was still about to use the stuff himself but i feel honoured that his family think enough of me to make the offer.

So that was more 'good luck' in one morning than i've had in months! The rest of the day was spent sourcing stuff for the rebuild, hopefully all the stuff ordered will be here before the weekend.

Tuesday arrived grey and a bit breezy but the damp wasn't due until later so i set off for a few miles into North Somerset. First however was a stop at a different bike shop to pick up a very expensive adjuster, to replace one previously damaged on Foxy. I made some enquiries regarding some other bits whilst i was there, looks like 2024 is gonna be expensive!

The ride was of course on the bike i've borrowed from Bev whilst Foxy is sorted out, i spent most of the ride getting used to the bike which made things a bit awkward at times. I got my lunch at Clevedon, spotted a pair of Egrets on the way back and finished the day with 105km to end the months riding. October 31st, Hallowe'en of course but also my Mum's birthday so my mood was a bit like the weather, grey and, at the last, a bit teary.

Today i decided to go to IKEA for my lunch, not been for a while and a look around the store after fills a couple of hours. It started to rain on the walk down so up went the umbrella, i was nearly at my destination when a squall caught said item, turning it out and in the process breaking the handle. Bum, well it was only a couple of quids and its lasted best part of four years. That was a negative but it was outweighed in the store when i found an ex display wheeled cabinet with a third off the list price - well it was too good to miss, one phonecall to arrange transport and i was a very happy bunny! To put it in context, i've been looking to get said item for quite a while but at full price, the time has never been right.

The rest of the week's weather looks a bit mixed, ride days may well be moved which may workout better for getting Foxy back on the road and i'll also hopefully get some writing done too.

Well that's it for now, i'll be back with a new Gaby post and more drivel about my life on Sunday,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid