Wednesday, 3 July 2013

Wednesday 3rd Jul

Having breakfasted and cleared up, I wave off Mrs P and the youngest. The eldest still being on her University trip. Then it’s on with the lycra! Yes, I know it’s not a great look on a man of my age but I’m meeting a mate for coffee down by the sea so I thought I’d get the bike out, given how little I’ve used it this year. I wasn’t anticipating it being so windy, but having built up some painful lactic acid in my legs when I hit the path down by the riverside I’m going alright. However, when I turn at the end into the wind I come to a virtual standstill, and as I role up to the rendezvous my mate is struggling not to laugh at my pathetic speed. However, two large black Americano’s and an hour and a half’s rest later, I’m ready for the return journey. This is going ok until I try a new route which turns out to be longer, and I then have to face the long; well it’s probably a mile uphill drag to home. I manage it without stopping but am very shaky when I get off the bike. I really do need more practise.

After a reviving lunch, I do the weekly paper round. Hopefully no one had been looking forward too much to getting their paper this morning. Unsurprisingly my legs are aching after this morning’s exertions, but I manage to get finished just before the schools kick out and the roads fill up.

After doing the ironing and greeting the youngest on his return from school - You’ll be pleased to know they appear to have started lessons again - I take my mis-functioning car to the garage where my friendly mechanic works. We pop out and he puts some fluid into the steering pump then tells me to turn it on and try it. A quick pause for a prayer, and miracle of miracles, it’s working! I can actually turn the wheel without being Popeye. I’m feeling huge relief at this turn of events, and only hoping there is no leak causing the loss of fluid, but that it is due to the car being five years old. I thank the very nice mechanic in the traditional way, and drive off hardly believing how easy it is to turn the steering wheel. I wonder just how long I’ve had a problem but not noticed it. I’m not really very good with cars. I just need to keep a look out for leaks now, and hope that there’s none.

I get home and Mrs P has made tea, for which I’m very grateful. I clean up after this while she watches the tennis, and then the eldest arrives home having had a wonderful trip. To celebrate us all being back together, and the car possibly being ok, I get the clippers out and Mrs P gives me a haircut. This goes well, apart from her warning me not to look at the back of my head, as she might have taken a bit extra off there, not that I’ve got that much to start with.

Yours a very relieved motorist.

Jay

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