Finding the chase and cutting to it

On Friday, Mark Wild, Chief Executive from Crossrail spoke these immortal words – while we understand the engineering, the software is completely new and is performing a complex task. We don’t know how it is going to perform. Today’s computer systems are hugely complex and consist of interlocking pieces which need to work together perfectly.  […]

On our recent ski trip we discovered we’d lost the driver’s side dipped beam lamp.   Which is not exactly a legal position to be in but we were heading home and didn’t have a spare bulb – plus, I think I saw it go when we checked the orientation of the bulbs on our return […]

Having finally straightened out all of my finances (no real debt just gaining some wiggle room) and looking at what we’ve done round the house the past 6 years, I’ve bought some blinds to replace the venetian blinds we had everywhere. We’re reasonably lucky: every window upstairs in identical in width and height, so the […]

and the chicks for free is the line from Dire Straits. Totally unPC these days but with Brexit and interest rates in the UK finally making a difference to our exchange rates, it makes sense to invest some free time into something productive. Eh, what are you on about? Many moons ago, we asked our […]

If you’re like us, you woke this morning to find some things had magically changed their time and some things haven’t. It’s been a very long time since you couldn’t rely on your computer and phone to align to the change in time but if like us you have some smart/programmable systems in your home, […]

In May 1990, my parents bought a Stag Dinning Set: an extenable “ebony stained” table, six chairs including two carvers, finished in dusky pink velour. Today I finished renovating the last carver in Antique Gold damak material. Now I am heading for a relaxing soak before enjoying the fruits of my labour by having take […]

0Having started my upholstery odyssey a few weeks ago, I have reached the magic half way stage and this is what I have learnt. A staple removal tool is worth its weight in gold.  I stripped four chairs in less than three hours. A staple gun is not enough, you need around 4,000 odd staples […]

Since I’ve kicked off my training plan, my blogs are very focused. What about the rest of life?  I have two main hobbies, riding my beloved motorbike and skiing. This is not about motorcycling (I really need to get out on the bike…) Taking a chill pill? You need two things to alpine ski: snow […]

I have six months to train for the August deadline of the 100 mile Prudential Cycle ride and that means I need six months to prepare. Today was taking that first bite from the elephant and I covered 25.7 in two sets: one of 20.5 miles and then a return home of 5.2 miles.  In […]

The past two years, for me, have had some interesting times.  I came off my push bike, a panic attack while skiing, I forgot my cannulas in Canada and had to completely overhaul my insulin treatment for 8 days and the resultant big hypo and the removal of my fixation plate (remember to do that […]