A lovely day in itself to go and spend the day celebrating my nephew Angus’s 7th birthday on Saturday – and all the fun that this entails, but was was extra special was that we drove less than an hour to their new home in Arkholme rather than the four and a half hours it used to take us to get to their old place in Devon. Continue reading “Angus’s Seventh Birthday”
Ozzy – our Ladyboy Rabbit
A funny thing happened this morning. After Lily got a 12 week old female rabbit called Daisy for her birthday in September, our three year old Rabbit to a great interest in climbing on her back – immediately – as rabbits do (all rabbits, it seems). Time came for a slightly pricey but inevitable castration if our two big eared chums were going to be room mates.
On taking Ozzy to the vets this morning for the big op, I was given the wonderful – if a little surprising – news that Ozzy, is in fact a lady rabbit. It’s going to take some getting used to, but we’re £45 better off. (The vet reckoned the immediate ‘mounting’ habit was acommon sign of dominance amongst female rabbits). I wish my face could have been caught on film. Dying to see Lily’s reaction later.
Three Peaks Cyclocross 2009
Well that was lots of fun and very satisfying. I’ve ridden every three peaks cyclocross now since 1995 and apart from a broken seatpost in 1999 about 3 miles into the race, I’ve completed them all.
But today was the sweetest for me. The last three events have been exceptionally good to me with not many issues on the gruelling 37 mile race, but today in particular was my smoothest ever 3 peaks race. No crashes, no cramps, no mechanicals, and only one puncture that was only three minutes from my support crew at Ribblehead and a welcome bike change. Continue reading “Three Peaks Cyclocross 2009”
Lily’s seventh birthday
Lily turned 7 yesterday and we celebrated with a smallish but perfectly formed family and friends gathering.
Lily’s ‘main’ present was another bunny rabbit called Daisy, 12 weeks old, who was greeted by Lily’s male rabbit Ozzy in a VERY enthusiastic way. They’re being kept apart for a short while until he’s been to the vets! Continue reading “Lily’s seventh birthday”
Summer Holiday in Wales – Ogwen Bank
A third family holiday this year for us Haygarths in the UK – the ‘Staycation’ (or ‘Holistay’ – a more ‘English’ version of the new term I prefer) has really come of age. We booked a ‘log cabin’ (or really more a pine lodge – not as romantic sounding) in Ogwen Bank – just on the Snowdonia National Park boundary a few weeks ago, and had a great stay there last week.
Continue reading “Summer Holiday in Wales – Ogwen Bank”
Gisburn Forest Mountinbike Trails… now with added fun.
I managed to finally get to ride most of the best bits (I think) of the new MTB trails at Gisburn Forest last night. I must say I was impressed. I’d be primed / appetite whetted by a combination of Matthew, some photos by Andy Rushforth, and a blog post by Dave Powell.
I headed up last night because I decided to take a mental break from racing for a couple of weeks. Thursday night’s Preston crit night so I wanted to ‘do something’ other than racing. On a nice clear, calm evening, Gisburn made sense. Continue reading “Gisburn Forest Mountinbike Trails… now with added fun.”
Blackburn Grand Prix – Back in Black(burn)
I spent a strange but ace year of my education at Blackburn College in 1990/91 and it’ll always hold some great memories for me. This evening I rode in the town centre race there and had a good ride. I’m glad I did – I was starting to get concerned.
When you have bad days and little dips in form now and then, you generally deal with it and wait for it to pass.
When you have a bad day then another then another and you’re 39 (and a half), you start to think that maybe the bubble’s burst… your time’s come, and you’re not going to regain any semblance of form. Ever. Continue reading “Blackburn Grand Prix – Back in Black(burn)”
Manchester International Festival – ‘The Great Indoors’
Ace day on Saturday – we took Lily and Elsie into ‘The Great Indoors‘ a wonderful collection of children’s creative activities and performances all over the insides of Manchester’s Town Hall, as part of the Manchester International Festival.
We met up with Sally, Sim and Olly, had a romp, got home early and relaxed – job’s a good un. Some nice photo moments too here.
Don’t blog around much anymore
You’ll have heard it numerous times from numerous people, but things are so busy at the moment…
I haven’t fogotten about Minnellium.com and I know that the quality and frequency has really taken a big dive, but the way that social media is heading, I’m slowly coming round to a rethink about the way I ‘do’ my online Dave stuff. Continue reading “Don’t blog around much anymore”
A slow recovery
I had my checkup earlier today at the hospital 34 days after my crash at Lee Quarry that gave me a broken collarbone. I’m so intrigued about the healing process that my body has gone through so far. When I first had my X-Ray on the day of the fracture, I was a bit shocked to see how clearly ‘snapped’ the bone was – with the two ‘pieces’ about two centimetres apart from each other.
Continue reading “A slow recovery”
Friends Reunited: Ben Cole visits from Canada
It’s great catching up with old friends. Sometimes it goes far too long between seeing friends. It’s hard enough to co-ordinate good time together with people who live a few miles down the road in these busy days of raising children, let alone people who emigrate to Vancouver. Continue reading “Friends Reunited: Ben Cole visits from Canada”
Happy Anniversary Phil & Anne
Ten years today since my brother Phil got married to Anne – it was a lovely day in Devon – very sunny and warm – and I remember being a bit nervous as being best man for the only time in my life! (Update: My great friend and my best man Matthew has just reminded me I was his best man also!! What an utter dope I am!)
I was also recovering from being sick from cider the evening before.
They’re in Paris today !