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

[CitroJim]

Last week it because necessary to take a mental break and this, to a greater or lesser extent, will continue for a while yet - on strict orders.

Regrettably, this order, and the conditions under which it is imposed, impacts my day to day activities considerably and restricts my driving to the absolutely necessary only and to not venture very far. Stress of all varieties is to be avoided until advised otherwise.

Physically I'm good but mentally not so good This blog entry took several hours as I started it early this morning and than had to stop whilst a monumental optical migraine overcame me. A reasonably long run seems to have seen it off and allowed me to complete this

The restrictions on mental activity did not stop me last week doing a lot of mindless physical work...

First up, a new track rod end was fitted to Bluebell

The old one and split boot:

Then it was to the garden, which had become a veritable jungle and in need of serious attention. That it got and this is the end result

That lot represented many, many hours of hard work. Every border has been dug and cleared of weeds, a maple tree has been felled and three old rose bushes have been grubbed up. Most importantly, a new strawberry bed has been established, using the best of the new season runners from the old plants.

The ground is now ready for further autumn planting...

And speaking of Autumn, I spent much of Wednesday with her and together we enjoyed much soft play

Whilst the garden work was in progress, some archaeological remains were unearthed...

Believed to be the remains of a late 90s Xantia

And finally, with apologies to Matt... 'Suspension Sinks on Thursdays...' A Polly payload of garden waste and old oil to the tip. It is amazing what that car will transport She really is a proper TARDIS

Physical, but not mental, work continues this week.

[Hell Razor5543]

My Mum and my Cousin Ailsa sometimes have mental 'exhaustion'. They both call it 'brain fog'. Sometimes it is as though they just cannot get their brains into 'gear' and do anything mentally meaningful. They just let their minds rest and mentally 'freewheel', and eventually something will 'jumpstart' their brains and they can start thinking properly again.

[NewcastleFalcon]

A relaxing pic...pleased to see your post Jim

The Yarn Bombers have been out at Etal Village North Northumberland



Neil

[Skull]

Whilst the garden work was in progress, some archaeological remains were unearthed...

Grow your own Xantia ...coming along nicely Jim

[bobins]

Yep, it looks like there's a couple of fruits hanging on it, they should be lovely once they've ripened

[CitroJim]

My Mum and my Cousin Ailsa sometimes have mental 'exhaustion'. They both call it 'brain fog'. Sometimes it is as though they just cannot get their brains into 'gear' and do anything mentally meaningful. They just let their minds rest and mentally 'freewheel', and eventually something will 'jumpstart' their brains and they can start thinking properly again.

That sums it up beautifully James In addition, my IQ - never very high - ends up in single digits or even negative

Grow your own Xantia ...coming along nicely Jim

It's been there a long time and grown only rust I'm giving up on growing subframes now and trying my luck with apple trees

This appeared in my garden today...

Yep, it looks like there's a couple of fruits hanging on it, they should be lovely once they've ripened

Goodness knows how long it takes; they've been green for ever!

Maybe I need to water it with dilute LHM

All joking aside, I'm finding myself getting more and more interested in gardening It's a worrying development I fear. Robyn and Autumn are dragging me to a big garden centre on Wednesday on the pretence it has a café and a soft-play area. Goodness only knows where it might all lead...

My interest is definitely heading towards fruit cultivation... A new skill to learn methinks

A relaxing pic...pleased to see your post Jim

The Yarn Bombers have been out at Etal Village North Northumberland

Thanks Neil Loving the Yarn Bombers

[MattBLancs]

And finally, with apologies to Matt... 'Suspension Sinks on Thursdays...'

Ha ha, love it!

A Polly payload of garden waste and old oil to the tip. It is amazing what that car will transport She really is a proper TARDIS

Oh, you were luckier than I with that big drum of old oil, I used to save up old oil in a drum very similar (and have done for YEARS, never a problem), till last time I went to empty it:
Jobs worth came running
"You can't empty that, it's trade waste!"

"Er, no it's not, and to be honest it's probably took a couple of years to fill it"

"Nope, trade waste, Not allowed"

Apparently "5 litres per household, per year" it's what is permitted. That's less than a full sump on my current blue 308

[MattBLancs]

P.s. hope you are back up to speed soon Jim, and that the "no thinking required" physical jobs help on that journey

[CitroJim]

P.s. hope you are back up to speed soon Jim, and that the "no thinking required" physical jobs help on that journey

Thanks Matt Another afternoon of hard graft in the garden today is continuing to work wonders

Oh, you were luckier than I with that big drum of old oil, I used to save up old oil in a drum very similar (and have done for YEARS, never a problem), till last time I went to empty it:
Jobs worth came running
"You can't empty that, it's trade waste!"

"Er, no it's not, and to be honest it's probably took a couple of years to fill it"

"Nope, trade waste, Not allowed"

Apparently "5 litres per household, per year" it's what is permitted. That's less than a full sump on my current blue 308

Gosh! That's shocking Never had a problem at ours but then, luckily maybe, the waste oil tank is a little out of sight of the tip staff - they're too busy checking what's being dumped into the household waste silo in black plastic bags and generally making sure all is deposited in the correct silo.

Makes me think I'll be a bit more circumspect in future though and perhaps not wear my mechanics overalls when depositing waste oil and try to look more like a standard weekend DIY'er... Thanks for the heads-up Matt

[myglaren]

They don't seem to care at ours either. The electrical and oil are somewhat separate from the skips and not attended. I have put several 25L bottles in with no comment passed.
If they had been watching it was always along with lots of other clearly domestic rubbish.

[CitroJim]

If they had been watching it was always along with lots of other clearly domestic rubbish.

Surprised they've never questioned me, thinking about it Steve, the number of times I've been there with Polly loaded up to the gills with what could well be thought as trade waste...

Last visit, with Polly stuffed full of green waste, I could almost have been accused of being a pro gardener! I suppose I could have claimed the oil came from my fleet of gang mowers...

[myglaren]

They are very accommodating here. My youngest was there three or four times a day, several days each week for ages when she bought her current house, full of crap and she took out the kitchen to bare walls, pulled all the tiles of the floors and more, took it all to the tip and they would help her unload and were on first name terms with her.

[MattBLancs]

Last visit, with Polly stuffed full of green waste, I could almost have been accused of being a pro gardener! ...

Yes, I'd same thoughts with a mountain of prunings in my big trailer recently! viewtopic.php?p=817075#p817075

[CitroJim]

They are very accommodating here. My youngest was there three or four times a day, several days each week for ages when she bought her current house, full of crap and she took out the kitchen to bare walls, pulled all the tiles of the floors and more, took it all to the tip and they would help her unload and were on first name terms with her.

Ahh, that's what makes your part of the world so wonderful Steve I always find such friendliness every time I've been to the North East. It's one big reason why I love it so much up there

The scrapyard we visited in Ashington exemplified that to the n'th degree so how your youngest was treated at the tip surprises me not one little bit!

Last visit, with Polly stuffed full of green waste, I could almost have been accused of being a pro gardener! ...

Yes, I'd same thoughts with a mountain of prunings in my big trailer recently! viewtopic.php?p=817075#p817075

Your local tip must know you rather well nowadays Matt; given how often you visit them!

Our tip seems fine if you are in a car. They get a bit snotty about trailers and vans, even when it's obvious you're not 'trade'.

[CitroJim]

A good day today, a lovely run at sunrise to kick things off, baked a batch of scones and then brewed up a superb curry

Whilst the scones cooled I popped Bluebell down to our local garage and left her with them for the day.

Then I spent a couple of hours engaging brain for the first time in a week to write the December edition of the Citroen Car Club 'From A to Z' column. It was an easy one as A certain white AX on here provided some material and a fellow columnist did me a piece on his Saxo. In return I did him a piece on my C3 Picasso for his column dealing with Citroen MPVs

I then spent more time in the garden, this time planting a few bulbs to bring a bit of brightness to the early spring I just hope I've planted the tulip bulbs the right way up.. The daffodils were no problem as they were already sprouting...

Next job in the garden is to dig up the rhubarb, split it and replant it. I need to do the same job with the paeonies. I need to learn how to do it properly. I think I know but want to be sure as the paeonies are precious, having been bred by my paternal grandfather.

The rhubarb is too as I love eating it.

Also, Robyn and Greg want both a paeony and some rhubarb for their garden...

Whilst doing all this I awaited a call from the garage. In the fullness of time it came and I was asked to collect Bluebell and on her front seat I found this

A clean sheet I was surprised just how few miles I did in her since the last MoT :surprise: