Ann
Following a long period of suffering we have finally got a diagnosis of what Ann has been suffering from for the last 20 years: OACH.
Ann started a new job in August at the local factory shop which has gone up market and now hosts several outlets. She works for Pavers the shoe people – her bad habit of watching daytime TV paid dividends as she knew more about Fylfots then the Pavers people! Don’t tell Uncle Philip but she does get discount for friends and relations – he has enough shoes all ready so I am told.
The Home shakes for Ceri but she Sleeps on!
New year or Sylvester for our German readers was spent with our friends near Northampton who hosted a traditional family Hogmanay with other cycling friends. On New Year’s Eve, a few of us keener adults which did not include Ann or Ceri, went for a ride to Stanwick Lakes, the weather giving a hint to what we would see in 2007, strong winds and rain. New Years day Ceri decided to play the part of a teenager and lie in bed in the Bowen’s motor home, despite Chris rocking and banging on the motor home sides, whilst everybody else went for a ride to Pitsford Water. Ann on New Year's Day morning spotting the dust and washing up from last year, itching to start cleaning.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-01-01-16922
Flood Riding
With very wet start to 2007 and many times though out the year, the Soar Valley was hit was flooded. In January I took a DeeTour to work in order to photograph the floods in Slash lane in daylight. That was followed by numerous other rides home via Slash Lane to check the flooding situation in the Soar Valley. The deepest I found Slash Lane was when I rode in March and found the “Overflow” car park of the Waterside Inn at Mountsorrel under water. With the floods later in the summer I started to extend my flood rides to examine other flood hot spots such as the Soar at Birstall and Rothley Brook at Anstey.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-01-01-16922
A Sign that Ceri may be Courting?
We had a number of times this year when have had visits by frogs – the first instance was a large frog in our back garden, a photo of the handsome Prince is above. We have had other instances of frogs getting into our tents when camping. Ann was not amused when she found one in the tent at Quorn and instantly gave it an ASBO. I think Ann was concerned that Ceri was desperately looking for a Prince!
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-02-11-17374
Frog Visits
This year has been dominated by “the French”. In June we hosted two ladies from Domont which is Shepshed’s twin town, who cycled to Shepshed with a party of cyclist from Domont. Then in July we hosted a French girl, Sarah, from Roman-sur-Isčre for two weeks as part of the Coalville Town Twinning Youth Exchange Programme. At the end of July Ceri and I spent two weeks in Pont-en-Royans, near St-Marcellin. We headed to Pont-en-Royans, a classic view of the village is above, for three reasons: 1 – That part of Europe was not as hot as it is normally, 2 – Ceri’s photos from her visit to the area last year were very inspirational, 3:- Ceri wanted to visit the family she stayed with as part of her exchange visit. A photo report
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-08-05-23138
Going the Extra 116 Miles
Our French ladies were cycling with their local cycle club – UC Domont, as part of a Town Twinning event. On behalf of the local CTC I organised a ride around the Shepshed area for the Saturday. As I was not too sure what time our French Visitors would arrive in Shesphed I had arranged to take the Friday of work. When I found out the cyclist itinerary for their ride to Shepshed, with Thursday night staying at Northampton, I rode to Northampton Thursday straight from work, to stay with our friends the Bowens. Then I had a short ride Friday Morning to their hotel from which I led them back to Shepshed. In all a 116 mile round trip. As we arrived on the outskirts of Shepshed, there was the obligatory pose by the town sign. More photos from the weekend can be seen in a photo special.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-06-22-20027
Ann Plays International Rescue
This year I decided to set myself the target of riding 125 miles. This I attempted at the start of June. I set off early at 5:30am, and headed to Moulton, near Northampton. I called on our friends only to find they were not in, and headed back. It was a rare hot day we had this year and as the day got hotter I started to flag and got a bit dehydrated by the time I got to Desford, about 13 miles from and having done 116 miles. I whimped out and got Ann to pick me up. I had planned to try a long ride at end of August but my Frankenhand put paid to that, so I had to wait until September. I chose a Saturday mid September when the forecast was good, and rode to Bidford and Stratford on Avon. As I got back I had done just over 138 miles, so a DeeTour to the Coop to buy a celebratory beer was made to extend the ride to 140 miles. Photographic evidence was taken of the distance and time recorded. The time of 26 minutes 11 seconds, is actually 10 hours 26 minutes 11 seconds as I am not capable of riding at about 300 mph. Actual riding average was 13.4 mpg.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-09-23-24755(L) & 2007-09-23-24758(R)
Who’s Got the Biggest Dick?
In March our Canadian Cousin Jim came over with another relation. We took them out to Westerham to see Quebec House, as it is an important NT property to Canadians (unless they come from Quebec!). Ann and Ceri-Siân are seen waiting in the cold for opening time with Cousin Jim and David. We stopped in a tea room on the village green to have cup of tea and some food. Cousin Jim and I both chose Spotted Dick. Ann was not amused when I complained rather loudly that Jim’s Dick was bigger then mine!
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-03-24-17908
Click for photos of the Frankenhand
Not for the faint hearted - you have been warned!
Frankenhand
In August I had minor mishap on the way to work which resulted in 15 stitches in my left hand in two cuts, the worst of which required 11 stitches. The cause was a head on collision with another cyclist on the way to work. I phoned home and got Ann out of bed and she took me to the Loughborough walk in centre, I arrived about the right time, as I was out all stitched up within the hour. I went home via work and one wag called me Frankenhand due to my stitches. They were the modern blue plastic ones and they are horrible as they stand up getting in the way and start to itch at the slightest brush of them. Good old cat gut was better at least they lay flat. I had to have the stitches in for nearly 2 weeks due to the position of the cuts. Some people in the family and at work were not impressed by my pictures of the wound at various stages appearing on our web site.
Garden Burial Plots
Several pets have been laid to rest in the garden over the years, with Ceri’s Guinea Pig, Marmite, joining that great rabbit hutch in the sky in the spring and is now pushing up daisies by our apple tree. Due to part of garden filling up with dead pets Ann got me to make two veg boxes. Doing things scientifically I calculated that we needed just over a cubic yard of earth to fill the two boxes. So it was a delivery scrap builders top soil which had to be sieved plus umpteen bags of horse manure which had to be shovelled and shifted to fill them. The only problem is that to the un-initiated they look the ideal size to bury Ann and I in when we pop our clogs. Anyway whilst waiting for that event, we have had a good crop of courgettes and French beans this year, and will need to think what the best crops will be for next year.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-07-21-21777
Wet and Windy Weddings -1
Nephew James got married on Friday 13th July. The only thing unlucky about the day was weather. Despite being held in the so called dried side of the Pennines, it rained all day. I was a bit concerned when James took his bride out into rain carrying a pair of green wellies. I feared that it may have been some form of Suffolkian wedding ritual, a bit a akin to a certain nation and sheep! They did come back into the dry later with a smile. I was even more worried when I found the said pair of wellies alongside a "blow up doll bride" at the evening party. That must be something to do with a strange Yorkshire custom! In honour of the special occasion I even splashed out and got a new suit.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2007-07-13-21318
