• My God, the rain. And the temperatures! May, in Wales, has been dreadful. Even for this small, westward facing country, it’s been noteworthy. Anyway, we’re promised nice weather this weekend just in time for bank holiday. He says, looking out of the window at the rain.
  • When we moved into this house nearly ten years ago, it was the first time we’d had a woodturner. Back then, we needed it. The house had virtually no insulation, 30 year old 1st generation aluminium frame windows, and the smell of damp. Now, the house is about 2C on average above the temperature it used to be. We’ve spent a ton of time and money on making it warmer whilst still letting the old walls breathe. But we still need the fires. And, for the first time since we moved in, we’ve been having fires in the evening as the nighttime temperatures regularly dip to 5C and under. It’s a week away from June. Technically we’re in the meteorological springtime, but still.
  • Last week I watched Nadine give a brilliant talk on the Politics of Israel. It really was a fantastic way to spend a couple of hours. I learnt a ton.
  • I’ve been watching the Giro d’Italia. For those of you who have not watched a Grand Tour from start to finish – that’s three weeks, between 4 and 6 hours per stage, with just two days off for the riders – it’s a lot like test cricket; mostly dull with a strategy that plays out over the course of the event. There are moments that only sport delivers, but with cycling it is all too human sometimes. Watching a rider fall to pieces on a steep climb after two weeks of racing is hard to watch. These are humans at the peak of physical endurance and, as such, are delicate. The slightest thing – the wrong drinks bottle, a motorcycle too close – is amplified. And there we are watching from just a few metres away in the comfort of our armchairs.
  • Went the opticians this lunchtime. Since lockdown last year, I’ve had to wear my glasses when using the computer. Before that, I could go weeks without wearing them. The optician was nice, but we both needed our lunch. Both our bellies were competing on how loud we could grumble. Speaking of grumbling, she did that eye pressure thing. I hate that. I mentioned last year when a bee flew into my eyeball at 60kph whilst I was cycling downhill in Portugal. A bruised eyeball is the weirdest sensation. Anyway, she did notice anything on my lense so that’s good news.
  • Had a shock yesterday paying my corporation tax. I dread those days. It was made infinitely better with my first group ride with some friends since last summer. One of the guys I ride with is super-fit and that kept me on my toes on the climbs. I did eat a lot of flies though. Probably enough for a fly burger.
  • Looking forward to getting out and enjoying the weather this weekend. Two bank holidays in May are always a pleasant surprise.