Welland Steam Rally

Yesterday I spent the day at Welland Steam Rally with Loz and her boys. Absolutely sweltering but enjoyable, particularly liked the vintage motorcycles and traction engines. During the parade of traction engines I noticed an engine repaired and owned by Len Crane from Wolverhampton. Dad new Len and when we were young we would visit him and sit on the engine or go around his garden on his model railway - probably 45 years ago.

Visit from Dale

My old school buddy came over today - which was great. So we decided, on an absolutely boiling hot day to walk up and over Shurdington Hill.  On reaching the top both of us were sweating and showing signs of getting a little older.

A great day - always good to see Dale and chew the fat and get a good walk in.

My wrist is in a new light weight cast and I'll have this one on for six more weeks. Lets hope it works or it's back to hospital to try something else  - the scaphoid is a notoriously difficult bone to heal.  Fingers crossed.

A strange weekend

Eight weeks ago I sprained my wrist - or I thought it was a sprain. Three weeks ago I had it checked out at hospital, Doctors said I'd broken my scaphoid, a small bone in my wrist.  It was repairing slowly but off set - sadly it required surgery.

On Friday I had surgery to break the bone, straighten it up and put in a plate.  Once the sickness after the anaesthetic had worn off I was sent home on Saturday night. It was so strange and sad being in hospital without a visit from Christine and then going home - William has been great.

Tonight I looked at last years blog - what a horrible year.  I don't do it very often but sometimes I just need to look at it - I don't know why.  It always makes me cry, well sob really and wail like a wounded animal.  I'm OK with that - Christine was so important to me and looking at the blog and remembering things is part of my journey.

Just as I made the decision to take control of my life and look for a new type of work (I handed my notice in a week ago) I'm laid up with my wrist in plaster for the next eight weeks.  Not to worry I believe things will work out as I feel positive and more in control of my life - I just don't know where it will lead.

I really miss Christine.

Le Tour Yorkshire

I spent a very enjoyable weekend in Harrogate watching the Tour of France as Stage 1 and Stage 2 sped through Yorkshire.  On Friday night I managed to get the last train to Leeds and then it was a short hop to Harrogate, arriving just after midnight. I must admit I had a few tears in the train - it seemed so sad to be doing this on my own, but these passed. Another first over.

On Saturday we walked into Harrogate and spent the morning in Le Tour Fun Park. As the crowds grew we walked to a suitable vantage point 400 metres from the finish. After a three hour wait the tour arrived. We could see the pack in the distance heading down hill towards us at break neck speed, without time to catch our breath, they flew past us in a blur. The atmosphere was fantastic as the noise built to a crescendo with cheering and people banging on the road side boards in a rhythmic fashion.

Harrogate was wall to wall with people and cycles - on Saturday it wasn't so much about seeing the race but about soaking up the electric air of anticipation - everyone was so joyous and friendly.

On Sunday we walked two or three miles to a road side vantage point where we could look down the road and get close to the riders as they passed.  On a lovely summers day in the heart of beautiful Yorkshire we were lucky enough to get really close to the race. The breakaway group sped by followed a minute later by the Pelaton which was still in team groups - lines of the same coloured jerseys looked like snakes as they raced by.  While taking a photo a Russian team rider tossed his water bottle towards Lois who was able to pick it up.

A really lovely and enjoyable weekend - thank you Jonathan and Melissa for inviting me and Lois for letting me stay in your home.