I'm all heart.

Maybe its the hours I'm working, or the power of suggestion, but I feel a lot worse since they started the tests. Oh well. I am on the next phase now with a heart monitor stuck on me to record a 24hr ECG. I'm not expecting anything to come of the results unless I have an episode while wearing it. We shall see.

Ariwa!!! Mad at The Big Chill - it's all a bit too much.

Ariwa!!! Just got back from The Big Chill and enjoying a hot shower and comfy bed again. Its all getting a bit much for me old bones all this Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll. Tree and I took Kat, our niece, with us for her first festie experience. It was very "safe" as festies go and good as a first one. I found its all got a bit clinical now, what with showers, places to straighten your hair, a full on hairdressers and not to mention the supermarket, complete with freezer units, shelves and everything you expect at a normal shop. What happened to the thrill of roughing it and running out of loo roll? Everyone felt a bit "normal" as well and the usual festie, random, abstraction had to be looked hard for. I was happy to round off the whole thing by going to a two hour set of Mad Professor (Ariwa!!!) but had an episode for my trouble and conked out for the whole of Paloma Faith's set. Overall, I would recommend this as a first festie but doubt I will go again.

Take a pew and relax.

Finding a little time between work and The Big Chill I decided to make a chair that I could carry but that would be robust enough to withstand the rigours of a festival. A Voila! the Wyrdewood portable chair (not a pew) was born. Using 100% recycled parts it can be carried over the shoulder yet provides ultimate comfort, if I say so myself, with its flexible upper back support. Every festie goer should have one. But oh, whats that, they can't. Shame.

Lets raid the attic!

After looking at a couple of lithographs hanging on our walls for six years, and wondering how much they were worth, Tree and I decided to go to the Antiques Roadshow and find out once and for all. We originally bought the pieces at an auction, on a rainy day, which wasn't well attended. I hadn't even looked at them before the auction and it was only when the auction started that I noticed them across the room. Even from far away I could see the detail in them was very fine and knew that they must be good quality. When they came up I took a punt and managed to get them at one bid over the maiden for £26 the pair. As we left, a car pulled up and a man offered us £100 on the spot for them. We declined, obviously, and I started to get a little more interested in them. Back home, and a lot of research later, I found that one was by Axel Haig, one of the most highly regarded lithographers in England, and the other by William Renison, a Scottish born Artist and etcher. As they were known artists we raised our hopes a little. Previous works by Haig had sold at Christies for £900 plus! When we got there the queue was seemingly endless but we enjoyed seeing and meeting different people and celebrities along the way.

We met Mark Poltimore for the valuation and found him very charming and entertaining. As it was, we knew as much as he could tell us, apart from their value. Unfortunately, price is dictated by the subject matter so he advised us not to plan our retirement yet. However, £200 quid is not to be sniffed at and represents 769% increase on our original £26 investment. If you put £26 in the bank for 6 years it would be worth £29.38 at best. They will now be put in safe storage to accumulate further. Result!!!!!!

R.I.P Spook.

It is with great sadness I must relate the passing of Spook this afternoon following a short period of illness. In the last month he had developed neurological complications which left him unable to control his back muscles, in addition to Type 1 Diabetes which he was being injected twice a day for. He was responding well to the insulin injections but his quality of life took a serious downturn this weekend and the difficult decision was made to lay him to rest. He will be sorely missed as he was an exceptional cat. As a rescue cat, he had, until recently, a good, healthy life and was nearly 14 this year. His memory will always be alive and he will be remembered with deep fondness and love.

A Merry Summer Solstice

Hoping you have a Merry Solstice celebration and Midsummer blessings to you all.

Me and Vincent Vega

In respect to what Tree said about seeing the doctor, I booked an appointment and we both went along today. I was half expecting to feel stupid as I prefered to stay in denial about my health and thought the doc would say there is nothing wrong. As it is, he has diagnosed, subject to confirmation, that I suffer with neurocardiogenic syncope or vasovagal response. I won't bore you here but, in brief, a nerve, controlling involuntary actions of the heart, etc goes a bit A.W.O.L from time to time caused by certain triggers. This causes blood flow to the brain to plummet and a blackout follows. In my case it is triggered by fatigue or changes in temperature, which explains episodes in the sea, on a hot day on holiday, coming out of the steam room at the gym,etc. I now have to have a bank of tests done including ECG's, an X-ray of the heart and blood tests. In the long term it means I will have to adapt my lifestyle and practice certain routines to implement at the first signs of an attack, to avert it. I am just relieved to know I am not going mad and imagining it all. It could have been far more serious and I am lucky in that case.
On a lighter note, Tree says it sounds like Vincent Vega out of Pulp Fiction and it could end up as my nickname - Great!!

Surfs Up Dude.

Seeing the weather was looking a bit better and being in need of another holiday, even for a long weekend, Tree, Matzo, Germaine, Mike, Kate and I went down to Croyde to catch some sun and sea. Germaine hadn't been in the sea in this country, having only experienced the warmer waters of the Caribbean Sea, and was game for giving it a go. The surf wasn't too high but we managed to get a couple of hours out of it. I got too cold and had one of my turns which Tree wasn't too happy about, as I know they worry her. Mike didn't have any sun cream on and ended up looking like the proverbial lobster. We spent most of the evenings just relaxing and taking it easy ( I wasn't fit for much else). Germaine creased us up with his inimitable way of putting things and looked like he was riding a huge inflatable Vagina a lot of the time.(See photo). I recovered quite well, enough to pack everything away on Sunday at least, and was glad of having Monday off as well. We were so lucky with the weather seeing as it rained on Thursday and then stayed fine until the moment we got home!!

I have promised Tree I will go back to the doctors again to sort out my blackouts once and for all.

The Christening.

Everyone I know who rides has always said that, at some point or other, a new bike will christen you. Well I got mine just yesterday as I reached down to check the oil valve and brushed against an 800 degree exhaust. At first I thought it was just a minor burn but very quickly I realised it was a bit more. The skin almost instantly fell away and it started bleeding. One of the dermotologists at work spotted it and said it would most likely leave a permanent scar. So I got my christening! It is now a few days on and it has ulcerated to the point it will leave a scar. The photo shows the burn just after I did it and it looks quite tame but, trust me, it aint. I won't be doing that again in a hurry !!

He shoots , he scores.....

Well today I took one big step towards my goal of getting my bike back by passing my first test. The test took a total of 8 hours with half of it being on the road, connected by radio mike, with the tutor. The first half was on a disused airfield and involved an array of tests including emergency stops, slow controlled turns and an assault course. The on-road was mind numbing as it was so hot and I was fully kitted up. I was quite dizzy and vague by the time I got home! The good news is that Tree and I went out today and bought my new bike. Tammy is now sold and goes to her new home later on today.

Tree is adamant that I will not miss Tammy but I think I will always have a soft spot for scootering about.

Then again, I have just fired up the Yammy and already become seduced by the sound of the V-twin rumbling like gentle thunder!

What a jolly holiday.

You know how it goes... work, sleep, work, sleep and then before you realise it you need a holiday and, surprise, its holiday time!

Tree and I decided to go back to the first place we ever went on holiday together in Ibiza. We mailed ahead and managed to get the same apartment at the front of the hotel with a beautiful view of the bay at Portinaxt. How good is that? It was just like we had never left.
We filled up the days with trips out to the Hippy Market and to different places around the island. We went to St Antonio and watched the sun go down looking out to Cafe Del Mar, next to Mambo and Club Paradis. The first time we went to Cafe Del Mar there was just an old jetty by some ropey hotels. Now there are big staggered verandahs with canvas canopies that loads of people sit out at. Every night people gather to see the sunset. As the sun sinks below the horizon a big cheer goes up and people clap and whistle. All very pagan if you think about it.

Tree wasn't too well on the second week, so we took it easy and stayed around the apartment and beach. I was glad just to do nothing and chill out. I reckon I put on a few pounds as well due to the fact that the Spanish have no real understanding of veggie food. Nearly every dish was loaded with cheese and indigestion was rife!

Beltane Blessings!!

And so the sap rises. The Crone turns to stone and the maiden is reborn. Fire cleanses and warms the soil to be fertile and ready for the sowing of seed.

Tree and I took time to Spring clean throughout and set our goals for the coming Summer. Sadly, ill health and pouring rain meant we were unable to do the Tiddesley Wood Spring Open Day this year but I more than made up for it by selling all of the old junk, we had sorted out, on Ebay. I am well on target with the bike fund and went as far as booking my test the other day. It is amazing what people will buy. I even sold a book for double what I paid for it!! We now have an almost empty shed again as most of the stock has been sold as well. It is good to tie up all the loose ends and look ahead to new horizons.

So get planting those seeds, light a fire and make plans.

Bye Bye Tammy. Hello Yammy.

Bye Bye Tammy


Hello Yammy

Gonna buy someday!

A while ago I blogged about my dream to reclaim the bike I used to have and get back on two wheels. To refresh your memory I used to own a Yamaha 750 SE Special (later becoming the Virago) and I had it heavily customised. Click here for a reminder. Sadly, they don't make those anymore and the Dragstar XVS took its place. So my dream has been to ride an XVS 1100. Unfortunately, I have to wait two years to get the full qualification, post bike test, to ride her. In the meantime I will settle for its little sister, smaller, but just as good a ride.

Today that dream took one step further forward as someone I work with bought Tammy from me. This means I can now afford to get the XVS I need to get on the 1100 ladder. All I need to do now is raise a couple more grand and that dream becomes reality. Seeing as we have shed loads of stock from the shop to shift, Tree and I are merrily Ebaying it, to great effect. The running total so far has already gone over one grand and the future looks promising. Turns out that Tree is eager to get on the back of an XVS as well. Can't be bad.

In addition, Keith (the guy buying Tammy) says he will wait until I have the XVS before he takes Tammy off me...excellent!!

Oh.. and I just need to have a licence this time!!!!

Cough it up ..you know you're wrong!!!

Back in December I had a bit of a slide on my scoot , Tammy, and slid my ar*e 65 feet down the Newtown Road. Now, as it happens, Severn Trent were 100% in the wrong but as you might expect would not admit liability. The law stands that if someone does not admit liability in 3 months then you sue them and take them to court to fleece them. Well what do you know? Severn Trent, 3 months to the dot, paid up without a quibble. None of the "reducing your estimate for damages" was heard, they just paid up. Of course they also didn't admit liability but why pay up if they're innocent ? I should have claimed way more, now I think about it but I am happy to see an end to it and get Tammy repaired so I can sell her.
XVS here I come!

Dangerous driving moves up a gear.

On our way down to Cornwall recently, Tree and I couldn't believe our eyes when we saw this coach undertaking the traffic. Not only is undertaking illegal but the coach was leaning over at an alarming angle. How it stayed upright is anyones guess but I had to take a photo just to prove it. As it is the photograph doesn't show half as much how bad the lean really was. Luckily he pulled off shortly after and we hope it was to get towed for repair!

A short break away.

In need of a break away, Tree and I snatched a few days down in Cornwall at the Bay Hotel by Fistral beach. We had a lovely room with a view overlooking Fistral Bay and woke up to the sound of the waves breaking on the shoreline. The Bay Hotel is primarily a spa hotel and we indulged in some therapies along with using their steamrooms, pool, jacuzzi, etc. I had what must be the best full swedish massage I have ever had and recommend anyone to try and better it. Sadly, we only had four days away and I could have stayed a lot longer.

We met up with Joy and Nige to catch up and Nige was telling us he has got into promoting events for some big names now. He is putting on a gig with Alpha and Omega in May and, s*ds law, Tree and I are away in Ibiza. I would have given my eye teeth to have gone. Anyway, Nige is hooking up with the Marleys soon, so something good should come along right enough!!

84 an I've got all me own teeth!

For a bit of a birthday bash, Tree's mum sorted me a small party and made a rather lovely, creamy cake. Being unable to fit the numbers on one cake she made two (she trying to say something?). Of course this led to the inevitable switcheroo gag when bringing out my cake to blow out the candles.

Oh well, I pretended to be amused... you gotta really.

As a bit of a trip out we went to Warwick for the day as well. Whilst there we popped into the castle. A bit of one old ruin visiting another.

Oh well, I pretended to be amused..you gotta really.

Merry Imbolc

A merry Imbolc to one and all.

Tree and I have taken to the customary Spring clean and taken time to sort out all the excess that we have accumulated over the last year.

I cut the reeds we had growing in the garden and made a cross for the Goddess Brigid and gave it to Tree. Now adopted by the Christian church, the origins of this cross come from far more Pagan roots. The cross is made using green reeds, with each arm having seven reeds, symbolising the four weeks of February and the 28 days. The centre is a labyrinth and represents the womb, giving the connection between Imbolc and fertility. Placed by a doorway or window for protection, the reeds slowly dry and turn a straw colour. It was believed that this occurs when Spring has arrived and therefore makes the cross a calendar as well.

May your dreams and wishes germinate to fulfill your wants and desires. Plant the seeds of your future and watch them grow !!!

Lister, the listing snowman, lists no more.

Well, as predicted, the snow came and come it did with a vengeance. As per usual, for a country unable to cope with even the slightest flurry, everything came to a halt. I found walking to work quite relaxing and watching the sun come up over snow covered fields very beautiful. Considering we are entering the embrace of impending Imbolc, I thought it fitting that Mother should clothe the countryside in white and make everyone stop and become aware of her power and presence.

Kate, Tree and I went for a walk in the dark one night down onto Pitchcroft Racecourse and were amused at how many snowmen had been created. They all seemed to face the same way and appeared to be following you with their eyes. I took time to make a smal lone in the back garden and we named him Lister, due to the slant he adopted right from the start. As days went on he listed further and further, his nose nearing the ground inch by inch. Eventually gravity got the better of him and he took a graceful nosedive into the ground and was seen no more.

And so it was and so it remains.

Undecided as to how to celebrate the New Year, Tree, Katie and I set off for a visit to The Rollrights to ground ourselves. The weather was lovely and bright with a cool crisp westerly breeze and as we drove over Snowshill, so aptly named, we couldn't feel more a part of the elements if we tried. The small hut that was destroyed last year has not been rebuilt and whilst this leaves the stones unprotected it also means that one gains more privacy. I always find a walk around the stones a great leveller as it reminds me how brief a time we have on Mother Earth when compared to the age of the circle, for instance. This makes me even more determined to act on the instant rather than drift in indecision.

I hear that snow is forecast for later in the next week and that promises a wonderful walk in natures blanket while all about dims into a soft silence.

New Years Day moonlight.

Just a quick one, to wish those celebrating it, a Happy New Year ! I was awake at 4 O'clock this morning and was stunned at how bright it was. As this photo shows, it was actually moonlight that was lighting up the garden. I have never seen it so bright in my life. Surely a record or something !!

Three is NOT a crowd!

Katie, our niece, has recently moved in and brought a breath of fresh air and exuberance to the Fresh/Buffo household. We are enjoying every minute and trying our hardest to make her feel at home. We have taken this to also include domestication and today was marked by the first, independent, cleaning of her room. By the time she leaves we will have converted her to an obsessive compulsive , at the very least !!! : ) (We will have to work on getting the bag of rubbish put IN the bin. Currently it is believed to walk there by itself !! :)

But, seriously, we are loving having her here and looking forward to spending Yuletide together.

Solstice greetings and a Merry Yule

Up and out, before a Robin's twitter, Tree and I headed to the Malvern Hills to celebrate the return of the sun. Taking a small lamp and a seat (an essential item) we walked up from The Wyche cutting to midway between the Beacon and British Camp. Snow had fallen overnight and the top of the hills was cast in a subtle blue light as the first rays of sunlight came over the horizon. It seems that this year was a little too cold for others as we remained alone for the whole time we were up there. At one point we did begin to feel the cold creeping into our bones and decided to dance to get the blood moving again. This worked well but would have presented quite a sight to anyone walking by. This Solstice will be most remembered for the fact that we were able to share it together and uninterrupted.

A very Merry Solstice Blessing to one and all and a Happy Yule.

A well earned rest.

Following on from the prang on my bike, I couldn't wait for this week and a long awaited break away at Ragdale Hall. Tree and I treated ourselves to a few days at this 5 Star Hotel and Spa to recharge the old batteries after working so hard for the recent craft shows. Every day has consisted of doing nothing apart from chilling out and using the Saunas, Pools, Steam Rooms, Thought lounges and having all-over body massages and getting my feet massaged as well!! Heaven. My favourite had to be the Candle Pool. Built like catacombs underground with podlike areas under the water, a rich, deep blue in colour, that you lie on while watching the lights in the ceiling twinkle in complete silence. Not a child in sight as well!!!!

Tree and I needed this break and with the Winter Solstice coming up soon there was nothing finer than watching the sun come up from the comfort of our bedroom each day. An experience I would recommend to anyone.

Overbury Craft Fayre

I finally made it, literally, to this craft event at Overbury, with the last mirror finished only the night before. This village is completely owned by one estate and therefore has managed to survive all the usual ravages of time. To visit there is to take a step back in time. The whole place is like a chocolate box picture. The hall we were in was a beautiful example of joinery skills from days gone by! Well worth a visit, I say!