Travelling paused for the storm

 This is our friend's kitchen in Hamilton...I am so envious!! A proper larder cupboard even in a small house, shallower wall cupboards so that things don't get hidden and enough of them...and decent drawers under the bench, meaning that you aren't scrabbling for things on the shelf at the back!!

We had coffee together before we left her, in a garden centre café...

And in other news...we saw another train!!!!

And then moved on to our potter friend outside Hamilton..where Pirate was welcomed...

We have been invited to stay longer than the two days planned, to stay safe while Cyclone Gabrielle goes by. 

We definitely won't be able to go north, and possibly not east either. The way back to Whanganui will probably be the Desert Road, SH 1, or even via New Plymouth....40 minutes longer than the former, so nearly six hours driving plus stops. 

It will be good to go by a different route, to refresh our memories of those places once more..always just in case it is the last time. Although we are hoping and planning for two year's time!!

Winter is hanging on..

The wind here is "Baltic" !!
We've had two days of shortish rides and had hoped to get a ride on different roads yesterday.
The bike shop in West Calder had organised a day of rides, including e-bike tryouts, stalls from half a dozen manufacturers,including childrens' bikes, plus the Paris-Roubaix professional race on screen in the shop...plus a coffee cart!
The wind was so strong and cold the bikes stayed in the car!

Apparently the bike shop is in what was originally the West Calder Cooperative Society's building....very impressive!
If anyone hasn't found out...Philippe Gilbert won the Paris-Roubaix race.

Also a Flahute is apparently a Flandrian's real Flandrian....

Bugger!

We visited a cafe on SH25....it serves good coffee...and celebrates many "bugger" moments in photos around the walls.

still here

We are still in Blenheim, now housesitting for our friends while they head for the South of the South Island with other friends.
The North Island is having water problems, especally the Waikato/Coromandel and Northland..too much rain and a shortage of drinking water.
Whanganui seems ok and we'll be back there on the 21st....a quarter of the year gone already!
The rain here is just steady and fine, just the thing for the parched earth and the grape harvest. Some have already started harvesting, but most have more growing to do yet.
Rain may have stopped today's club ride, but it wont stop coffee and muffins..we'll still all meet up at the designated cafe in Blenheim, by the Taylor River.

busy moving...

and having a much needed break at times.

I haven't even used the camera much..when it is fine we're busy taking carfuls of things to the new drum!!
When it isn't fine it is too grim and wet!!

posting and keeping on

More cards in the Etsy shop.

Took a few of the new Seasonal ones to a cafe in Prestwick, but the new owners are not interested really...so I just left some seasonal cards and all of the images of the cafe .  Some will be good enough to sell elsewhere. I doubt if I'll see any sold by January, so I can gracefully retreat from there and try a cafe in Ayr.

Which has far better coffee....and exceedingly good food...and art on the walls....

Keeping on keeping on at home...looking forward to starting box moving next week. Sorting papers and filling the shredder and recycling and rubbish bins.

Keeping the Pirate going,but he is finding all this stress hard work.

I'm finding it hard to raise enthusiasm for training be it gym or the turbo trainer..I'd love just to go out and potter on the bike, but the thought of getting cold and gritty and wet.....we're missing the worst of the storms, but it still gets pretty miserable.

moving again..positively...

We have found another place to live! Only 11miles from here, near enough and far enough!!
Ex-council 3up 3 down semi with front and back garden,rear access and room for our sheds.
Owned by a friend who wants someone living in it who'll look after it..so we'll be property guardians really..not bad for £50 a week ...so a £25 pw reduction instead of a £25 increase!!

 That's a view from the vegan/veggie cafe in Ayr..with a view over the river to the Black Bull,the oldest public house in Ayr, now being renovated after a fire

getting out...

We needed a leg stretch yesterday, so tookmy daughter's advice on the route...we are staying with her and family just North of Aberystwyth, ready for the International Ceramics Festival starting this evening.

North on the main road to Machynlleth, turn right at the big clock and up the road a couple of miles before the promised rain started sprinkling gently.
Not a bad thing, to cool a little..we weren't going hard, just steady. It was a relief to be off the main road as we headed back down the lane....as I remembered it....now widened to a road width...through Llanwrin. It was sad to see the pub closed,but at least the building looks a well cared for home.

Back to a main road that comes from Dolgellau to Machynlleth, just a mile away from the old bridge over the Dyfi. We were glad to see a newer bridge built for walkers and cyclists....and very glad for a coffee stop back in Machynlleth!

On the road South again we stopped to look at the waterwheel of the charcoal and ironworks at Furnace. For about 50 years in the 1700s iron ore was imported to here by water from Cumbria and pig iron made here.
The wheel must be 40 feet in diameter .
 I like the modern touch...the bench made from steel.

It was an enjoyable ride, only 30 miles,but we were glad to be back!

winter going on spring

 We walked back from Maybole to Kirkmichael last Tuesday, just four miles, and we were following the snowclouds!

 We are about nine miles from the sea...and the seagulls have decided this is safer than there!!

The village gardening club meeting was themed Ornaments....so twenty of us brought an ornament from the garden, and we had to guess who owned which one..ours was the only one with earth and moss on it!!

We're thankful for the velodrome at Glasgow....even though it is nearly a hundred mile round trip...two hours training and tips from a friend I've known and raced with for forty years. He is still a World Champion and also a good coach.
It was the first time he had ridden on the track here as it is a long way from Essex!
We're all making the most of it as the track will be closed for the Commonwealth Games from mid-June to mid-September (I think).

Also.......good coffee!!

Monday in North Tolsta (30.12.13)

 we had a guided tour, starting in a pottery! There will be a small cafe there soon where you'll be able to enjoy good coffee....and good pots.

 I bought a small vase....and left it in Tolsta....I'll have to return now....no complaints!

 Callanish

 The cafe was closed, but the circle is ever open.  

 A sheep.....not running away OR having a pee!!

 we walked over a bridge to an island near great Bernera

 And Andrea took photos...and we took photos of her working....lucky she didn't see us as she hates having her photo taken.   However....I do like the bag....even if it is pink!

 A and the Pirate...by the sea at Bosta....next stop Nova Scotia!! 

 Ann Lantair...Stornoway....coffeetime!!

 day's end