(aka Bike) Part 1051 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad
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From the conversation I had with Trish a little later, it seems any hurt Simon had caused was forgiven–she sold her worries for an ice cream. Sounds good to me, pity we can’t all do it.
Julie was very pleased to ride home in the Jaguar, and doubly so because the other apprentice saw her getting into it. At least she hadn’t got any further piercings. Simon did notice and apparently made some comment about them, which irritated her, according to Trish.
I pushed no further with my questioning. At last Simon seemed to be supporting me in my efforts to keep the kids on the straight and narrow. As I was preparing the dinner, I saw a strange car come into the drive, or it was strange until I saw the occupant get out and walk up the drive.
The doorbell sounded and I let someone else answer. Judging by the voices at the door it was Julie and they chatted for a little while before I heard footsteps come to the kitchen. “Look who’s here, Mummy.”
I turned around and feigned surprise, “Maureen, how lovely to see you again.”
“And you too, ma’am.”
I walked over to her and initiated a hug. She is so much bigger than I am, it was like being engulfed by a bear. “Are you really recovered now?”
“More or less, ma’am.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.”
“I could start back to work on Monday.”
“Okay, but I only want you to work part time, although we’ll still pay you your full hours.”
“You can’t do that, ma’am.”
“Try me.”
“Don’t argue with her, Mo, you won’t win.” Julie winked at me as she offered her advice.
“Are you staying to dinner?”
“I shouldn’t like to put you to any trouble, ma’am.”
“No trouble–be ready in about forty minutes. Julie, send Trish and Billie in, would you?”
“Sure, Mummy,” she started to the door.
“Oh, and Livvie, as well.”
“ ’Kay, c’mon, Mo, tell me about the fight.”
“Julie, behave yourself,” I called after her.
“Only joking,” she called back.
The three girls arrived and I detailed them their chores, with Livvie helping me directly in the kitchen–to avoid any claims of favouritism. Trish is more use, she seems to have grasped the bits of cookery that I tried to teach her, whereas Livvie isn’t really interested. That makes it harder work to get things done, but I have to be seen to be fair to all of them.
Danny popped in to ask about something and I told him he was clearing the table and washing up–loading the dishwasher–so nothing too arduous for the young man. At least he knows how to use it, which is more than Simon does–or claims to know. Sometimes I think ignorance is bliss with my hubby, so he pretends not to know.
Over dinner, Maureen told us how she recalled having vivid dreams about me calling her back from the void. She was convinced she’d have died without my help to heal her. The girls all told her bits about different things they’d witnessed, and of course Trish and Julie claimed to have magical powers, which I refused to admit about myself, because I believed there was something scientific which would explain it all one day.
Maureen was convinced I had the healing skills of an angel, which of course Trish whipped up to a frenzy level. I continued to deny all of it.
Maureen insisted she wouldn’t have got her recovery as quickly without me. “When you were workin’ on my back, ma’am, an’ I ‘ad no feelin’ in me legs like, then suddenly things started to work again, but only after you done something to me back.”
“I’m sure that was pure coincidence, Maureen.”
“Me specialist didn’t think so, he said you was like an angel.”
“He obviously doesn’t know me, does he?”
“Aye, that’s true, alricht,” Tom chuckled.
“In the kitchen you’re an angel,” offered Simon, and I began to feel a cringe coming on, I wasn’t to be disappointed, “In the bedroom, you’re a veritable demon.”
I blushed and promised myself, I’d rip out his liver and eat it when we got to bed, which would surprise him more than a little–on the other hand, that would make an awful mess in the bed–I wondered if I could lure him into the bathroom–easier to clean up.
After we finished, Danny cleared the table and put the dishes into the washer as I’d asked him, and the rest of us went into the lounge while Simon, Daddy and Maureen talked about the contract with the bank. I wondered if I’d ever get my sheds finished.
The kids played snakes and ladders while Stella and I drank some tea and chatted. I think we were both happy just to have some adult female company to chat with. She was saying she needed to get some new clothes for Puddin’ and could do with something herself. We discussed what various experts were recommending as fashionable–not that I always agreed with them.
Stella decided she wanted a new outfit plus some new jeans. Seeing as she has at least a dozen pairs that I know about, plus probably some I don’t, I wasn’t sure what she was buying them for.
Then she let drop that she had a date next week. Julie heard that bit and began questioning her. Stella blushed and said it was just an evening out with a man friend.
“What’s his name then?”
“Rob.”
“Rob what?”
“Rob a bank?” was my contribution
“Very funny, he works in banking.”
“Not for High Street, I hope.”
“Don’t be silly, he works for Barclays.”
“Not looking to change ships, is he?” I asked.
“What d’you mean?”
“Maybe he thinks you could give his career a leg up?”
“I don’t have anything to do with the bank, do I?”
“No, but your father and brother do.”
“Meaning what?” she became indignant.
“Nothing in particular, but you do have some very powerful contacts.”
“When has my father ever listened to me?”
“Quite regularly, in my recollection.”
“Not about business–that’s Si’s bag.”
“What is?” Simon asked coming into the room–“Maureen is going.”
“Oh okay, I’ll come and say goodnight.” I stepped out of the lounge to be followed by a flock, or perhaps more truthfully, a swarm of children, who beat me to the dining room and then swarmed all over Maureen. It was fully ten minutes before she got rid of them all, and she seemed to enjoy every moment of it.
She left promising to come over on Monday to discuss what I wanted to do to the sheds–I thought we’d already done that months ago, but she’d obviously forgotten–not surprising given the beating she took from those thugs.
Once I got the kids all in bed, I called up a website and ordered a few things. “What are you doin’, Babes?”
“Ordering some new wheels, or bits of.”
“Bits of?”
“Yeah, I’m going to build some new wheels for the Scott.”
“What’s wrong with the ones on it?”
“Nothing, except I can do some better ones.”
“You can do?”
“Yeah, I’ve ordered rims, hubs and spokes.”
“You’re going to build them, yourself?”
“Yeah, who d’you think built the last ones.”
“You did?”
“Sometimes your perception verges on paranormal, Simon.”
“You’re taking the piss.”
“ Me? I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Comments
Cathy will make a great wheelwright
... as she is well-'spoke-n' ;-)
What is it with teens and piercings. I was annoyed enough at the necessity of one pair of pierced ears ( darn that vanity! ) as my mother never had hers done - different culture.
Glad Maureen is back again and not paralyzed which I suspect she could have become without a certain assist.
Kim
Better to let people think you're stupid
than open your mouth and prove it. Simon bought the Park tools setup, and STILL can't quite believe that Cathy can build a wheel?
QED methinks.
Susie
Lacing Wheels
I built a pair of wheels once, so long ago I can barely remember if it was called "lacing" or not. A friend had a little specialist booklet showing which length spokes went with which cross pattern, hub size and rims. Wish I had a copy of that booklet. I could use some new wheels.
Mine were four-cross (the pattern that uses the longest spokes), with a low hub, and double-butted spokes (skinnier, and stretchier, in the middle), for maximum comfort and shock absorption, ideal for bicycle road-touring. And by "touring," I mean old-fashion riding for transportation, with panniers full of luggage, going cross-country on vacation for days. Street clothes and shoes, so you can blend with the crowds in the pubs and high streets when you get off your bike, fenders for riding in the rain.
"Lacing" the wheels was the first step, putting the spokes where they belong. Truing the wheel, or adjusting it until it was round and didn't wobble side to side or bounce up and down, was the slower endeavor. But, patience will out, and if you have a bicycle, a spoke wrench, and some patience, it can be done with a minimum amount of specialist equipment.
___________________
If a picture is worth 1000 words, this is at least part of my story.
Enjoy bicycle riding
Ok with trueing wheels. Do not enjoy building wheels.
Daily Dormouse-1051
It's great seeing Mo again. And I like the way that you've introduced a few new possible story elements.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
So Pleased…
…to see Maureen back again as large as life, so to speak.
I must sympathise with Cathy over the piercings problem; I've told T that while she's still a minor and living at home she can't have any more holes drilled in her—she has one hole in each ear at present. She says that a couple of th girls at school have had their belly-buttons done, but says she wouldn't have hers done for £1000, or even more. Thank goodness I thought, and heaven knows what her father would have to say. And as for tattoos, I put my foot down very firmly and said it was something nice girls didn't do. However, I dug out an old Song Book of my grandad's of songs by Paddy Roberts; one is about a Tattooed Lady. I can remember Grandad sitting at the piano and accompanying himself while he sang it.
Well I was a bit of a lad I admit,
My past was a trifle shady.
Until in the end I went right round the bend
And married a tattooed lady.
I immediately saw there were pictures galore,
On ev'ry available corner
As I studied her frame, very soon I became
An expert in flora and fauna
On one of her feet, you were liable to meet
A Master of Hounds in his habit.
While right round her waist, in impeccable taste,
Was a python devouring a rabbit.
On the back of each knee was a small chimpanzee,
On her thigh was a Knight of The Garter
And just for a laugh they had put on her calf
Eight bars of the Moonlight Sonata
One evening I found as I ambled around
I was feeling an absolute Charlie
'Cos I couldn't be sure if the sketch on her jaw
Was Picasso or Salvador Dali
I loved all the ships on one side of her hips
The view in Peru on the other.
But I was struck dumb when I found on her tum
A caricature of her mother
Well this was much more than a man can endure,
Though I made the most earnest endeavour.
So I scuttled away, and I'm happy to say
It was Ta ta tattoo for ever,
Ta ta tattoo for ever,
Ta ta tattooooooo for ever.
Ah happy memories,
Hilary
Teen or Tween years..,
If you'd asked me last year, I'd have said that the tween years (not teen yet, but wants to be... Typically 11-12) were worse. However, the last year, with this teen (the previous teen in the household was a breeze by comparison) had been a tad more stressful. But then, I guess it's been stressful for her too... (Not to many teens have to deal with learning that their Dad is actually a woman and NOT moving out, or so I've been told.)
That's just there to say that I think that Cathy wondering about Trish, as a teen, is jumping the gun a bit. She's got to get her precocious daughter to the tween years first - and having two at the same time... I don't envy her THAT challenge. Then, when they become teens, Meems will be a tweener. Talk about your challenges. If Cathy doesn't learn to relax some, I think she'll end up getting locked up in one of those padded rooms!
Just remembered the head teacher commenting on not being able to help Meems with her speech issues. Makes me wonder what really is behind that. Perhaps they should look into it. (Hope it's not a medical condition. While it has no impact on her intelligence, or directly impacts her ability to learn, it can have a long term affect on her. She'll be "perceived" as less smart than she is, because of how she talks. *sighs* I worry about that little girl sometimes.)
Thanks,
Anne
Very therapeutic ...
... is building bicycle wheels. It'll calm Cathy down ... unless she gets the lacing wrong first time then it can be just the opposite :) Though I thought people with Scotts bought those fancy wheels you need special tools/spokes to repair. The lady in the shop where I used to buy the parts always gave me a handful of nipples extra ... just in case ;) Good job her 6'5" husband was a friend of mine.
Angharad didn't let us down whilst she was away; unfortunately I'll be completely incommunicado next week because we'll be away. I'll miss Bike, I know.
Robi
Sounds to me like Cathy
Sounds to me like Cathy missed her true calling and should have opened a bike repair and rebuild shop. She appears quite adept at bike issues and is trying to pass on some of her skill and knowledge to her children who wish to learn them from her, like Billie and maybe even Dan. Jan
Wheels and Derailleurs
First ride of the year and my friend tormented me into 14 miles. UNGH! Deralilleurs are sticking or sumpin'. Guess, I'll have to sort that out but with a 3x7 combination, it seems so complicated. I am debating if I should try or get someone to do them. Mine's a 7100 Trek that is 40lbs. Definitely not a competitive bike but it doesn't hurt me to ride it and I'll do 20 miles with out much trouble. I can't be riding with my head down because of spine broken in 5 places at one time or another.
Can't be putting too much presure on me bits because they are easily made sore.
Once had to straighten a badly bent rim, put it back together and ride it until I could afford new. It was sort of fun!
It has been fun listening to your bike jargon the last few days.
Gosh, I hope that Stella is not going to have an event now.
Much peace
Its about time
Stella got a little lucky in love....But i wonder....Will Rob be all Stella wants? Or does he he have ulterior motives for taking out the lovely Lady Cameron? All will be revealed soon ....I hope!!
Kirri
Sometimes...
...one line has me chuckling away. Today it was:
“Sometimes your perception verges on paranormal, Simon.â€
It will be interesting to see if Stella eventually manages to move on with her life.
Thanks A±B: I'm still really enjoying your work.
Pretty Sarcastic
Bike Archive
Bike Resources
Have I said it was compelling Before
It is unbelievable 1000+ chapters in about a week and I loved every minute of it. Well I will not be spending so much on tissue at least. say hello t one of the Goddesses Priestesses for me for I have dealt with blue light healing for quite awhile. i guess I should try bike riding though I do so enjoy surfing so much. Though we did used to ride up to Disneyland a couple of times a week. But that was well a while ago.
Goddess Bless you
Love Desiree
Goddess Bless you
Love Desiree
Maureen
Is now a member of the Cathy fan club. In some ways I suspect she might be able to earth Trish a little, old age and cunning being the counter to youth and intelligence.
I hope Stella finds someone, and I also hope Tom does too for that matter.
A friend of mine had so many
A friend of mine had so many holes in her ears, I swear she made whistling noises when the wind blew.
Aren't teenagers wonderful ?
I really like Maureen, hope she sticks around for a couple of hundred postings.
Cefin