Friday, August 25, 2006
We eventually made it. The one hour journey would not have taken four hours if the coach driver had either been told where to go or had a map.
Still, we're here now and ready for the music!
Flickr
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
The Bullet, bless him, overheated on Saturday. Luckily I noticed it before the temperature guage went too far into the red, expensive zone. This served as a good reminder that the MOT test was due. The big question: will we get another year of motoring out of the little soldier?
Answer: A resounding YES! A new thermostat and he sailed through the MOT. He will never die, he is BULLET!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Thankfully I am now 99% over my cold. To celebrate I opened my chilli pickle last night and had some with the chicken dhansak I cooked for my tea.
There is only one word to describe the outcome of my pickling - fierce. Jane sat and laughed at the peculiar way that sweat was visible on my nose and bald patch (is that normal?). It is however, not so firey as to be inedible and actually has quite a nice taste. Just need to remember to only eat very small amounts at a time.
If anyone fancies making some, let me know and I can dig out the recipe from the large Indian cook book Jane got as a present from Karen. I can also send you some sterilising tablets for the jars - I have 163 sterilising tablets left (quite why they are only available in packs of 164 is beyond me).
Jane would not try any chilli pickle.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
I have a new razor. It has not three, not four but five blades. Yes, FIVE (and one on the back too, so technically SIX). It also has, get this, an LED. I shall let you know how I get on with it.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Jane did indeed not manage a second night under canvas. She got the 272 bus back from Castleton on the Saturday evening. This was after some 10 miles of near-vertical hill climb and descent. I forgot my walking boots and was equipped with some low-height Converse All Stars that are bin-ready anyway. My little toes took some battering. The weather was shocking, but expected. In a way this was good as it meant that our expedition-level equipment was correctly tested.
These are my learning points:
- Having a 'porch' in your tent in which to sit when it is raining/windy is good
- The collapsible table and chairs did exactly that - collapsed. They will be being returned for a refund
- Jane is not born to camp
- Scotch means less loo trips than lager
- Daddy-long-legs are daft
- Our tent is waterproof
- Camping is not as much fun as I recall
- It's a good idea to check that the pump you got with one airbed actually fits the airbed you're taking
- Have plenty of change for the shower
- Always take walking boots
- Taking own loo roll (whilst not needed this weekend) is a wise precaution
- Our stove thing needs one gas canister per meal
- Two mallets means two people can help put up the tent (good when it is blowing away)
- We need a lantern
- Our tent poles can bend to quite unbelievable limits in strong wind
- Take a hat
- Remember a radio (as opposed to charge batteries for radio, put batteries in radio and then leaving it at home)
- Cous-cous is an ideal camp food
- Take a camera (I didn't so need to rely on Chris, Karen and Tim to upload their shots soon)
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Jane hates, amongst other things-
- Me snoring
- Daddy-long-legs
- Numbing cold
- Fierce wind
- Having to wear two jumpers and a winter coat
- Paying 50p for 1 minute of hot shower
- Queuing for said shower
- Not having a dishwasher
- Bedrooms that creak and move in the night
Jane will be returning to Sheffield tonight.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Not being funny or anything, but it is bloody cold here in the Peaks.
It's finally here! We're off camping tonight. Very much looking forward to a chilled out weekend. We will be here.
If reception allows, there may be some uploaded pics through the weekend. It would appear that my cold is developing into a full-blown case of avian flu and, worse, Chris seems to be sniffly this morning. Let's hope I can still enjoy the wonderful countryside.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
This week I have mostly been having a February-style cold. In August. The hottest August for some time. I am displeased with this. As is Jane who has to put up with the various unpleasant noises I have been making.
To cheer myself up last night I made green chilli pickle from the recipe in the big Indian cookbook Karen gave to Jane. I now have to wait a week to see how it turns out. I followed the recipe fairly closely, apart from not using mustard oil which a) I have never seen for sale in any shop b) requires you to have a window open when using it as the vapours are quite irritant.