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Well, I think I’m getting better at this staying up before nights m’larkey. I read some of my exciting Minor Injuries book (although I’m still reading about how Nurse Practitioners need to tread a fine line between nursing and not-being-doctors) – it’s kind of scary actually. Suddenly my ‘you should’ve gone to the GP’ lecture would be redundant – were I trained enough to be an NP. I’m not, though, so you can still expect that if you come to the ED with your 6 month old ache because ‘I was just passing and thought I should get it checked out’.

Yuh hu.

Anyhow, so I’ve just finished reading Trek (by Paul Stewart) – apparently it’s a slightly inaccurate rendition of an attempt to cross the Sahara in the trusty Morris Minor – I admit, while I’d’ve probably been intrigued by it, it’d’ve probably not made it on to my big-ol’-list-of-things-I-want had it not have featured a moggie. At any rate, in reality it is only the small car nature of the Moggie which really features, it could have been any 1950s small family saloon; the book itself is really about the people and the challenge.

It’s interesting, in a way, too, because it features the Empire, that which has disappeared from view and to me (and possibly most people my age) is something so distant and unrelated to the modern world that it’s hard to imagine. It’s funny to think that I have been on this Earth longer than the ‘British Empire’ ceased to exist before I was born.

The very idea of a British Empire seems faintly absurd, we’re tiny, after all – and while I joke about countries which ‘used to be ours’ and the concept that ‘we used to own that’ – as I kind of marker for many strange things in the world, I somehow forget that the joke is based in a really quite disturbing reality. That as a nation Britain did some really terrible subjugating of other countries. What is also interesting, however, is reading the flip-side of the history. The presentation of which makes Britain seem like less of a terrible empire builder, at least, in some ways.

Anyhow, the book doesn’t need an interest in Minors to make it interesting; it does require a suspension of disbelief. I am going for ‘fictionalised around real events’, either that or Peter’s diary was way more detailed than the direct exerpts suggest. Nikki did say to not look too deeply, and I’m not.

In other news, I’m continuing to watch ‘The Wire’, season 2 of which is proving interesting too; it’s silly of me to choose to watch it, I’ve got rather a lot of work to do, and tomorrow – prior to work – needs to be a paperwork day. I have also realised, somewhat unfortunately, that Trek, being newly purchased (but second hand, I promise!) doesn’t really fit into our overburdened bookshelves. Capacious they are not. Carefully organised they are, at least since we took ’em down and put ’em back.

And in other, other news, okcupid continues to send me ‘friend matches’ and one, possibly two, of them look like interesting and not vastly non-local people (London, unsurprisingly). I have mailed one, as part of a whole raft of ‘being nice to people and making friends’ ideas.

But now, since it’s past 3 in the morning I’m going to fall into bed. Wish me luck on the ‘morrow, for I return to the place of work where I can look forward to 12 hours of hard slog…

We made this (Rustic Greek Pie with Mushrooms in Balsamic Vinegar (Sauce?):

It tasted awesome. We made it using the cookbook bought from Costco, vegetables from our local farm shop (uh, and Sainsburys)… I can’t really say how much I love cooking with Kathryn, it’s sort of quality time, chatting, cooking, kissing, cuddling. Yeah, okay, we’re still revolting.

I just can’t say how much I enjoy being around Kathryn; and that our lives intertwine….anyhow.

We actually did some socialising – we suggested going out for a drink with a colleague / friend of Kathryn’s from work (‘m not sure how to describe their current status) – a while back; finally we actually did something about it and headed into London last night for a very nice dinner (Pizza / Lasagne) at an incredibly good price, doubly so for London; and then sat in the bar near by supping beer/cocktails (Mojitos)/water – chatting and generally being sociable. Kathryn noticed how much *more* sociable I become when I’ve got some alcohol in me. I am Raj, it’s quite upsetting.

Still, we had a very nice evening; although mildly marred by First Great Western’s usual high standard of service*, but still, we made it back uninjured… :)

Today’s been the usual – a bit of work on the car, Vixy now has a correctly adjusted variomatic… and the exhausts on both cars now have a greater proportion of gun-gum on them than before; this will hopefully make Vixy much quieter – since she had about 4 holes before the silencer (resonator) and Jejy much less fumey (since both silencers were mostly holes).

We did a bit of weeding, the garden is continuing to be a lovely space; although the Acer’s not looking quite as happy as it did. I’m not sure if it’s got too dry or too wet, but there’s not much I need to do about too dry because it’s been raining on and off for the last few days. If it’s too wet then we’re similarly stuffed. The last plant there died, hopefully whatever afflicted it isn’t going to afflict the acer…

We also made more yummies today, but I’ll tell you about them another day (if the photo comes out)….

I have always looked in skips since I was little. These intriguing spaces filled with the unwanted and disused. Once, in my youth, my dad and I came home with a complete office phone exchange, 6 phones and the receptionist’s control phone.

I still have a telephone exchange operator’s desk (the metal bit, I don’t have the wood framing) which I need to get rid of (good home wanted). And so, today, as I passed a pile of CRT TVs in a skip, I paused and looked at them slightly sadly. Had I the time and money I’d love to mount an LCD in something of that nature, but really I want a jellymould Bush to do that to :)

But there, lurking in a corner was something to test my restraint (again). A valve radiogram. A ‘Westminster’ apparently, featuring both long and short wave reception.

Fortunately, it’s quite a big radiogram. Were it a smaller valve beastie then I may have been overcome. Instead I just felt sad looking at the waste, and wandered off to see if the chap can get the DAF bits any cheaper than sending ’em from Holland.

Anyway, lunch-then-work call.

So, we spent the weekend down in Brizzy with Nikki and Kate (and Pepper and Eddie); well, we stopped off en-route at my mum’s for a cup of tea and providing some much needed cheer, before ‘speeding’ off down the motorway in Vixy to Nikki’s & Kate’s patch of Bristol.

It’s been a long time since we’ve made a journey under our own steam, in any vehicle, to see our friends. Possibly not since the Viva was consistently giving me trouble and causing trials and tribulations have we attempted to make a journey. Thankfully, while I’m fairly convinced the mixture is still wrong on the DAF (I think she’s running hot == lean??, or possibly the timing’s not right) – I’m making this judgement based on the fact that the top speed varied from 55ish to 72ish when the car was cooler, and the vario belts need adjusting (squeals on big hills, slightly uneven take up when very warm) – she made the journey with no big dramas; in fact, no dramas at all, really.

Anyhow, we had a very pleasant weekend, had a very nice chat over Pizza with one of Nikki and Kate’s friends (Adam). It was just really pleasant, and a bit of a reminder of what we miss out on here in Slough; so we have made plans to start actually trying to make some friends…because going 6 months between seeing people is a bit depressing.

Anyhow, the next day we abandoned our eco-credentials and went to Costco. We were pretty good – 85 quid later and we’d bulk bought many handy things that we would have bought anyway; and a couple of things we’d’ve probably not bought…and two cookbooks. It’s an interesting experience; while I’ve done Cash-And-Carrys before, I’ve not done one so big… And what was also interesting was how, on many of the items we wanted, the savings were pretty minimal. This was handy, because Vixy didn’t have to lug litres and litres of juice back with us, and since they don’t stock eco-cleaners we didn’t have gallon containers of laundry detergent and such to bring back. It was also interesting that because they carry largely brand or ‘Kirkland signature’ stuff, whereas we’ve cut corners much deeper than that (so our toilet paper is the stuff of cheapness; two ply plain toilet paper, none of this quilted m’larkey) in quite a few cases what we pick up non-bulk is actually cheaper than what you can get at Costco.

However, it did prompt us to consider that we maybe ought to start doing our dual shop again. Perhaps triple shop, if we occasionally branch out to supporting our local farm-store (which is very nice, but pricey).

Another interesting thing was that we have found that our vast fridge is, ironically, not actually appropriate for Costco shopping – the artichoke hearts container was so big we had to shuffle shelves, and now have a useless shelf less than a block of butter high for the next however-many-days. :)

Anyhow, we had some nice Mexican food prepared by the Kate creature, sat and chatted muchly, and had a very pleasant time before piling back in the DAF and racking up more miles heading back (she seemed happier, perhaps because I opened the heater vents and kept the engine cooler).

One of the things that came about from the weekend is a new desire. I’ve wanted to build an EV for a while. The EV Viva being the first of those failed desires, I quite fancy and EV-Daf just because I think that with the Vario you could probably build an incredibly efficient (for a classic conversion) and surprisingly quick EV.

But the one that is the biggest sin in the eyes of many a classic owner that I want to build…?

Well, now there’s two. There’s the one that started the idea in my mind, an EV-Austin Ruby:

They’re so cute, and small, and would just be such an awesome EV? I guess you could do it with a Ford Pop too, but the dinky simplicity of the Ruby, I rather like it.

Anyhow, that then led on to wondering about what else in my vague desires list would be excellent to convert. The Tatra T603 would be a cool conversion, just because it looks so futuristic…

The problem with a Tatra is that it weighs about the same as London Bridge. You might as well attempt to EV a routemaster using only lead-acid batteries and a lego motor*.

But what I really rather fancy doing is a Moskvich 400 conversion. I’m sure these are ridiculously inappropriate cars to EV. But 400’s are dinkily cool, they’re Russian, which is always a good start, and quirky and coming from Europe the just have a subtly different take on styling. So that’s my plan. If anyone fancies subbing me the cash, I’d be most greatful…

*Okay, so with good batteries and a whopping great motor you could probably build an interesting EV with a Tatra as your base car; it’d look damn cool anyway, even if it didn’t go anywhere quickly.

+ Spending an evening in London with my beloved wife.

+ That she knows me so well and got me such an awesome birthday present.

+ “It’s Science! I’m experimenting!”*

+ Finding my motorbike gloves (both summer and winter) exactly where I thought they were**.

+ Her resting on me in the train on the way back.

* While eating Stitchelton on an Almond Thin and drinking Skull Splitter (Scottish) Ale.
** I’m not sure if this is a quiet thrill or a quiet ‘argh!’ because I’d actually taken the entire contents of the wardrobe out, dug around in the back of the larder, panic-attacked my way around the spare bedroom and the loft before noticing a little orange bag I swear wasn’t there the first time I looked through the bottom of the wardrobe containing my gloves and the bungees for holding my bag on my bike…

I’m not on Quiet thrills, but Kathryn is, and I voyeuristically read occasionally. There’s a few things on her friends I read over her shoulder…

+ Dancing with my love around the bedroom, half dressed, to gramophones.

+ Coming home at half-midnight and finding she’d stayed up to see me.

So, a less dull post, I hope, for y’all.

But first a note from our (wish they were) sponsors. I can’t say that my knee is perfect after going running. It’s mildly achy, but nothing undealable with. Before, when I wore trainers when I went running I’d come back limping like wounded animal. With my FFs, I’m pleased to note that I’m running my 2.7km run (I was surprised it was that far too) every few days and my knees are not killing me. I am pleased, to say the least. I’ve only got to triple my run, make it so when I do it I’m not knackered, and then throw in cross country and running through mud and I’ll be ready for the Commando Challenge.

The static nature of progress on the house is nagging at my soul, because I’ve been thinking about Vancouver today. I know, I shouldn’t read VIA, I shouldn’t be on the Canadian Lesbian communities, I shouldn’t poke at things I’ve no hope of going to. But I do. I’m addicted to Canada.

I want to wake up Canadian ;)

Sadly I don’t think a strong desire to live in Canada, owning a Maple Leafs Hoodie and buying maple-syrup is enough to get you citizenship… But still. The weather’s clearing up, and I’m feeling a bit more energetic (in general), so hopefully I’ll be able to get together the enthusiasm to do more work on the house.

I’m also…debating…asking someone to come in and do some work for us. Yes, really. No, I’m not sick. Someone at work mentioned their partner is a painter/decorator – I’m wondering if he’d consider coming in and doing the bathroom ceiling (and possibly the bedroom ceiling). I’m just a bit fed up of the house being in bits :-/

I have, however, been productive today. I’ve e-mailed someone at work* about me and Kathryn going out with her and her other half, I’ve rung the car place about the DAF going in to have new rings, I’ve been for a run, I’ve photographed the work we want done in the bedroom and sent that off to a carpenter for a quote (well for a ‘would you be interested in doing this’ hopefully leading to a quote); and now I’m going to see if I can hunt down the piece of paper with the builder’s name on (not any of the ones we’ve used so far) for a quote on the driveway, and I’ve e-mailed the builders who did the kitchen who are meant to be coming to do some remedial work…but who’ve been strangely absent.

And now I’m going to do some ironing (yes, yes, but I need to iron my uniforms, as they look like I’ve deliberately creased them thanks to our wonderful Hotpoint Washer/Scruncher). And check that the ‘zed has oil and petrol for our run to my place of working.

Wish me luck, I’m on one of the horrid shifts again (horrid in this case because it means I don’t get to see Kathryn at all :( ).

*Because my shifts are so bizzare it helps if we can all coordinate together :)

A dull car post follows, but I’m kind of writing down my option so I have an idea what to do.
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