Author: RogerMerriman

Just back from watching Top Gun at Hampton Court, Luna Cinema.

Bit of a mix bag in that we loved watching the film, though it really hasn’t aged well!

But since my balance requires light and hates soft surfaces, and crowds bit of struggle moving about both after the film ended and during as the only toilet was the one in the wilderness so a fair distance in low light.

So I did enjoyed it but I did also endure it so not sure I’d do it again as took a lot of effort, and has made my vestibular system go haywire, which it will do for few hrs yet!

Been down to Wales and wanted to go up the Gap which is a pre Roman road over the Brecon Beacons.

And somewhere that I’d ridden in the past on fairly basic MTB no suspension etc, with friends.

Was a lovely ride up and over the hills and the views are spectacular!

Sadly the Gap road has got very rough from peak down. Probably 4×4 use.

And it’s tipped from a Rocky but flowing downhill to having to pick your way down. But the views are just as spectacular!

Last week I was able to visit family and friends most of which I’ve not seen for 8 months at least!

I did also do a fair bit of cycling, from exploring Big Pit with Paul to climbing the Cuckoo!

Over a year since COVID19 arrived and a lot has changed some not good, due to the my work some deaths, and it has been hard adjusting for various people.

But most folks I know now have had at least one vaccination if not both. And at least in the uk things are getting brighter, and restrictions are lifting bit by bit. Went out on a bike ride with other people!

I am concerned that it isn’t over, looking at Europe and further away hence the Churchill quote!

We do live in interesting times do we not!

Had the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine today, as someone who is KeyWorker and all that.

It’s fairly grim now, which I had suspected being a cynical old git! See below!

Winter has arrived! But though I suspect that it’s not the end yet, it’s the beginning of the end to quote Churchill!

So it finally arrived, at work COVID-19 that is so with that so the beard has gone! As the higher protection and yes uncomfortable masks don’t play well with beards!

After a bit of persuasion got a Antibodies test for COVID19.

Which has come back positive, Sara and I had wondered since we both had something vile end of February which lasted and lasted, Sara even rang the GP who assured her that it wasn’t COVID19!

It was certainly unpleasant and I had no lungs for a long time, but since I am Moderate risk.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/

It’s good to see that it wasn’t worse, I’ve had colds close to that, as I don’t respond well to such things nowadays.

Does it change anything? Not a lot to be honest! I can’t assume that I’m immune or that it will last!

And with family who are High risk plus work clearly I’m going to need to continue being careful.

But it’s both interesting and pleasing ie it could of been much much worse!

8 years ago, I was kindly taken to the Olympic XC race by David Marsden, it was a fun if very hot day out from what I remember! Being meaning to revisit and see what they have done to it since!

It’s also a year or so before I ( or Aliens?) did this

So has clearly being its being in my head for a few years to revisit Hadleigh Park no I have no real idea why but it felt important to do so!

Took the Gravel bike, which was in places out of its depth, they don’t like rocks! But equally a lot of the track is gravel which isn’t really a Trail MTB’s specialty either, clearly a race XC MTB would be best funnily enough!

Did manage this though which was a hoot! Nobody to cheer though!

In short a fun day, not really sure why I needed to go but apparently I did!

Hadleigh it’s self I think potentially could be quite dangerous as vast majority is tame gravel stuff, with a few featured added, could easily lure the unwary! A lot of steep climbing which I like! Yes I know strange! Is it fun in of itself?

No not really but it’s a race circuit rather than bike park at heart!

Sara has been making scrubs, which has been organised by a local group, these where a duvet cover!

So today as there is a push to test Social Care Workers, I went to get tested.

It is rather otherworldly as folks are in PPE and Hi Vis you drive in, show them your printout so they can scan though the car window, and you are shown a phone number so you can ring and be instructed, how to use the kit that they pass to you.

At this point I had to ask for assistance since my ability to remember instructions due to my brain injury is gone, so I was sent to a different bay and someone come and talk me though step by step.

I was impressed how accessible it was, they didn’t appear thrown by the fact I couldn’t remember, and did feel very organised.

As is normal for me, it has totally wiped me out, as anything medical does, I’d expect to take a few days to recover from this.