is here!

Yep, it doesn't matter if you are religious or not, there is something for everyone over the next ten days! Of course, we started with the Winter Solstice yesterday and we'll end with New Year next week, in between, well its the season of over indulgence, food, drink, gifts, emotions. This year will be the first Christmas without my Dad around and indeed the first that i've not been away since 2017, so things are a bit different for me this year.

So what have i been up to since Wednesday? Well on Thursday we loaded up the bikes and headed down into Wiltshire, parking up a few miles short of Salisbury. Aunty Bev set off for a day in Salisbury, i meanwhile headed into the rolling downs of Cranborne Chase.

I had put together a fifty mile loop that would take me west almost to Shaftesbury before turning back for the eastward run to Salisbury. It was headwind on the outward leg, the day cool & grey but at least dry, i was quite grateful to feel the push on my back once i made the turn - especially as the first couple of miles were gaining altitude! It was quite a fast ride across to Salisbury with the wind on my back but the road back to the car was northwards with a bit of a crosswind.

And then, just a couple of miles short, the front tyre deflated just as a squall passed through. Aunty Bev was back at the car so rather than do a roadside repair, she came back to pick me up. Frustrating but i'd done over 80km and almost 1000m of climbing so quite a good day. On the way back we stopped at the oldest coaching inn in the UK, The George, still supplying bed and booze over 600 years after it was built. And then when we got back i discovered that both tyres were flat, i'd failed to notice the rear when the front deflated.

Friday i took myself to the Swedish shop primarily for something to eat but as usual i didn't leave empty handed then added more in Marks an' Sparks as i made my way back.

Saturday? well the forecast was for a wet morning so i sorted out the flat tyres, ordered some new tyres then waited for the afternoon 'sunshine'. It was only ever the plan to ride down to Bath, it was quite breezy, when i got there i decided a bacon sarnie and cup of tea were needed. That set me up for the headwind return, a squall put a bit of a dampener on the ride but i ended it in weak sunshine but with a mere 38km clocked.

After a wet start today is currently sunny if somewhat windy, i'll take myself out for a walk after lunch. Of course i've posted the next Gaby chapter, Maharaja which covers the race finale.

Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my Christmas contest entry Passport to Life. Whilst i've no pretentions to the prize, its good to know that my muse is still there, hopefully i'll return to some sort of regular productivity in the coming weeks.

I guess that about wraps things for today, i'll take this opportunity to send you all Seasonal Greetings, i hope you all have a pleasant time this week, however you celebrate or not. I will possibly do a post on Wednesday, fitted in somewhere around cooking and drinking to oblivion (just joking but i may have a glass or two with my lunch). But for now,
Frohes Weinachten,
Madeline Anafrid

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