The wanderings of Peter Ball (and sometimes Valerie)
This morning I lost my rag a little as an unknown car pulled up outside a house opposite to us. I woman got out and went to one of the houses and as she approached to the house I called….. “They’re not in. Do you live there? No!! Don’t you know the social distancing rule”
To which she replied “My son lives here”
OMG….. Will people ever learn? Next door lives two NHS ICU nurses. How would they feel knowing people aren’t respecting the Rule while they risk their lives.
What a glorious day it has been….. so far. Val and I missed our walk yesterday for various reasons and so we were determined to get out and stretch our legs.
Val had found a circular walk on a local website but it was a bit vague and so I used Viewranger (now outdooractive) to plot it on Ordnance survey which said it was just 5.5 miles. The problem with dropping pins on a map is that you tend to cut corners, straighten curves and before you know it this walk turned into 6.3 miles.
We were a bit concerned at the amount of bikes on the walk but we weren’t in a rush as we were looking at the flora and taking pictures.
Today I picked up something I’ve been coveting for absolutely ages. An electric Brompton in a metallic blue. It was a strange process. Not too go into too much detail I bought this the day before Boris closed all three shops and having paid the best part of £3000 I couldn’t collect it!!! How frustrating was that dear reader…
So here I am, owning a new wonderful bike ( I do already have 4 other bikes, including a Brompton) and I was unable to take delivery!!!!
So, where was I? Ah yes…. Out of pocket….
After a considerable amount of phone calls keeping my cool (anyone who has negotiated with me will know I can be ice cool) I managed to persuade the powers that be at their end to refund my money. So, I’m back to square one.
Yesterday I found out my local store (which had taken delivery of my bike 10 days ago) had it there. Fandabidozzi!!!
I rang the manager (Chris) who agreed I could come in and collect although I did have to go through all the paperwork again.
Val took me into the centre of Norwich as we also wanted to shop at our vegetarian shop for flour.
After completing all the paperwork with much hand washing and standing behind yellow lines I stood outside Cycle Republic in Norwich with a brand spanking new Electric Brompton. Excitement reigned.
6 miles later I arrived home….
And we get to the walk bit.
Val and I have a regime. It’s called trying not to give in to being in our 60’s
We set off on a walk I though I’d planned but as usual we ended up going somewhere else
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dZCBNJ9DwTJJs81Y9
It’s a holiday week for Val so she’s been making pasta and I changed the covers on our settee.
We managed to get out this afternoon for a walk and found a wood we hadn’t found before.
I expect we’ll be going back with cameras tomorrow.
Val and I got out into the garden early. I spent the morning laying honeysuckle down against our two fences and then preparing to BBQ our lunch…..
https://photos.app.goo.gl/y5UxBKMxurJ6brKRA
We’ve had lunch and you can follow the link to view how the garden is coming on.
The last couple of days I’ve been a bit down. The state of the world, the nation is just scary. Val picked up on this yesterday and despite having to do her job she gave me a cuddle and tried to cheer me up.
This morning we had breakfast together. I made Scottish pancakes with excess sourdough starter, a kipper, poached eggs, bacon and tomato along with fresh sourdough… A veritable feast.
This afternoon we set off for a walk and found somewhere we’d never been before. It was around 5 miles and we popped into Sainsbury on the way home.
‘The day was full of joy and love’: how people are getting married while in lockdown https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/31/the-day-was-full-of-joy-and-love-how-people-are-getting-married-while-in-lockdown?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_WordPress
As we are not allowed out for things that are deemed unnecessary it rather cuts out the opportunity to go and get my “barnet” trimmed and besides that I am not sure I want to sit in a barbers chair while he or she breaths all over me; so, the remaining two options are, let it grow and cut it all off….
I decided on the latter option and those of you who have known me for more than five minutes will know this is something I tend to do once in a while…………..So, this morning it’s out with the clippers, stand in the bath and buzz away about six months growth.
It feels refreshing but just a tad chilly. I’ll get used to it again.
For the record, here’s proof .
Its been several weeks now that we have become more careful about how we live our lives. Valerie who hasn’t yet been introduced here works in the Prison Service as a teacher. On Tuesday of last week the department of Justice sent her home and she’s been working even more conscientiously than usual since then. 
Peter Ball is ....... 