CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[Michel]

Oh Mike, that's not good I know the brain-fog problem so well.. I wish you a very speedy recovery and may the rest of your holiday be absolutely brilliant and very enjoyable...

It's more the pain than the brain-fog that screws me up Jim. Brain foggy still but the weird pains and sensations are terrible. Woke up freezing at about 3am even though we had the heaters on at 23c.. it'll pass. Back on Wednesday. I think I need a good blast on the motorbike to clear out the cobwebs.

[daviemck2006]

That's like me Mike, do tòo much at once and I suffer for days. I'm not laid up, but high pain levels and have to up the painkillers which then cause the brain drain viscous circle. But when I'm doing the too much I think I'll be ok this time!

[CitroJim]

I think I need a good blast on the motorbike to clear out the cobwebs.

That'll do the trick for sure Mike

I know a good run and bike ride (of the cycling variety) does it for me ...

[CitroJim]

Been riding my bike around the New Forest today in glorious sunshine...

Rode 66 miles taking part in the Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive... Average speed 16.6mph Over 66 miles and 4 hours of solid riding that's not bad...

It was awesome I love the New Forest and the ride took us around some of the most lovely bits of it... We even went through Beaulieu

The New Forest truly is my most favourite part of England... I say England as I've not adequately explored Scotland and Wales or even Ireland...

It wasn't glorious sunshine at first though - the ride started out in thick fog and it was cold too... By the end of it I was over-dressed...

In other news, the caravan suffered a serious freeze-up over the winter and is now in the process of having all the burst pipes repaired... At latest count eight bursts have been found and we're not finished yet...

Yesterday, surviving without running water was fun... Hopefully tonight I'll have some....

Off home early tomorrow as it's Sian's birthday and I can't miss that... If this weather carries on I'll be back down here for a few days next week if I can get the time off work... Got to be home on Thursday though as I have a dental appointment for Root Canal part II

[CitroJim]

And I have hot and cold running water again

This was just one of the 12 or so bursts... Caravan has been virtually re-plumbed...

We stopped counting after 12!

Bloody lucky the water heater (a good old Sadia) survived the ordeal!

Jack Frost's Work...

Plumber was saying it hit -20 degrees down here in early February...

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

16.6mph average is good going. I used to reckon on averaging about 13.5mph on a long run and 11mph ish Urban: the bike would've been heavier & slower, but back then I was young enough to be your Grandson.

I did nip into a bike shop a couple of weeks back with you in mind, see how things have changed since my cycling days..... substantially in all sorts of ways: Brakes, Freewheels, Frame Material, Prices !

I'm guessing you're going to be investing in some 'background heating' of some sort for the Caravan before next Winter.

[CitroJim]

Bikes have come a long, long way in the past few years... My sportive bike weighs just 6.6Kg and is made almost entirely of carbon-fibre, exotic alloys and titanium. I believe the cables are of steel and there's bit of steel in the chain but that's about it... Oh and the tubeless tyres are still made of rubber!

I'm guessing you're going to be investing in some 'background heating' of some sort for the Caravan before next Winter.

I'm definitely going to drain down the water system that's for sure Puxa!

Oddly, in the 9 or so years the 'van has been here it's never had a winter drain-down and never suffered... This winter was exceptional...

The 'van sits on top of a seaside cliff and generally the proximity of the sea keeps things relatively balmy but not this year! It's rare to have a frost even - being able to grow palm trees around here shows that...

One of the downsides of being so near the sea is the rust... I looked under with the plumber and was shocked... One wheel has totally collapsed and the rust on the chassis would be an MoT fail if static caravans were subject to one

The 'van is nearly at the end of its life now... One more year and it's game over for it on this site...

[CitroJim]

Since before Easter I have experienced a significant deterioration in my cognitive function, making it very difficult for me to do anything intellectual - including my ability to work, drive and enjoy social media

Just this past week things have deteriorated further and has forced me to be very much read-only on here. A trend that sadly I can see only increasing

I see no sign of improvement despite rest and time off. Things do not look good...

Driving is now getting very difficult and if I could, I would give it up completely. As it is, if I need to travel anywhere I can only do so at very quiet times. Between 1 and 3 AM seems about the best times...

Physically I remain very healthy If only my head was as good as my body...

Today I've been riding a 65 mile bike sportive that started and ended in Milton Keynes with a nice excursion up into the Chilterns It was almost the perfect ride, lovely weather, good company and great scenery The state of some of the roads let it down a bit... Potholes still very much rule on the quieter back-roads...

When on these sportive rides I take my pet rat along with me I'm sure he increases my performance!

Own Work

All I can say is thank goodness I can still run and ride my bike...

[Hell Razor5543]

Do logic puzzles help you, Jim? Sometimes they can.

Some years back (more than a few, actually) my Mum had problems with her logic skills. For other reasons I built her a PC (and she did not want any games installed). However, Microsoft installed a few games (including Minesweeper and Hearts). She was not exactly enthralled by this. A few days later I was playing Minesweeper, and she asked about it. I explained the basics of the game. She then had a go. After a while she got the hang of it. She then noticed (over time) that her logic skills were getting stronger. She puts this down to the game of Minesweeper!

[CitroJim]

Do logic puzzles help you, Jim? Sometimes they can.

Sadly not in my case James I tried hard with puzzles, thinking it would act as a kind of mental fitness regime, but it just made/makes the situation worse for me.

Running, swimming and cycling seem to do the most good... I always feel more mentally alert after those activities - hence why I'm active on here now...

I think it's because they need very little brain to perform them and therefore the brain gets a good rest...

[NewcastleFalcon]

There's a couple of topics Jim which may be theraputic.

The simple Picture(s) of the Day....I'll keep putting up random pictures and hope others do to. Some may even be marginally interesting and in focus

The other thread Room 101 Open for Deposits..............throw the stuff in there that troubles you.....driving, cars, my boring pictures....anything. In it goes without challenge

I have nothing but admiration for your cycling/swimming other physical achievements we read about on your blog.

One other thing I came across... if you want to ditch driving.....how about an electric "cargo" bike for the weekly shop! Yes ugly as sin!



Regards Neil

[Zelandeth]

Real shame to hear you're suffering so much lately Jim. I'll definitely drop by at some point this week to say hello and drop off another couple of records for you to have a listen to. I'll let you know beforehand, and don't be afraid to tell me to sod off and leave you to it until a better time.

As said before - and I reiterate - with no strings, expectations or anything else attached, if you want a natter, a coffee or a change of scenery, just give me a shout.

Sorry if I keep pushing that, it's part of who I am. I've a funny overactive sense of honour, and that means that looking after my friends is high on my priority list.

[CitroJim]

One other thing I came across... if you want to ditch driving.....how about an electric "cargo" bike for the weekly shop! Yes ugly as sin!

I love that Neil I am thinking of buying another bike more suited to 'utility' work but it won't be an electric one... My head may be gone but my legs are OK...

I'm far happier riding a bike than I am driving a car any day...

I still love playing with cars though; that will never change and I still have a Ka here to play with...

I'll definitely drop by at some point this week to say hello and drop off another couple of records for you to have a listen to.

Zel, that'll be brilliant and I'll be very much looking forward to seeing you and having a good old catch-up natter

There is never a bad time for a visit

[CitroJim]

Enjoyed a great weekend of cycling

On Saturday I took part in a 65 mile jaunt around the badlands south of Milton Keynes courtesy of the Evans MK Ride-It! Sportive...

It was a lovely ride and took in some very scenic bits indeed around the edges of the Chilterns...

I encountered a learner driver near a test centre on the route and later learned it was my ex-wife conducting a driving test She asked me if I knew what was going on with all those bikes interfering with her tests!!!

Here am I in action

Neil Taylor Photography

On Sunday I went out for a 27 mile ride with my local cycling club, a most enjoyable spin with great company and on a challenging, hilly route... One highlight was the cafe stop at a combined bike shop and bakery/cafe in Woburn Sands... The coffee and cake were both most excellent!

The combination of a bike shop and cafe/bakery seems a bit of an odd diversification but for a cyclist it works brilliantly

After that ride I took a scenic 22 mile route home as it was too lovely a day not to make the absolute most of it on the bike...

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

sorry to hear it Jim.... and pleased that you're working with what you've got. So many out there need only the barest of excuses for a 'woe is me, I can't' kind of an attitude; while others like you work with what they CAN do.

Enjoy the caravan while its still 'viable' and maybe even give some thought to welding it. I dunno what the practicalities would be with regard to acccess / nearby flammables, but my understanding is that welding the heavier stuff is s heck of a lot easier in theory than welding thin Bodyshell tin, specially Ford cr*p. Consider Sun deals too, one of the New Milton parks is part of that; we're just back from one such break, Wassenaar, NL; 1,100 trouble free miles in the old girl.