Drunken Elk

This morning three large apples had fallen from the tree. Only one thing for it. Pick the rest and make some cider.

First chop the apples...



Then introduce them to the pulper...



A bit of whizzing later and you have a bucket of pulped apples...



Ready to be pressed...



To get the juice...



Then add some brewer's yeast and wait.

7:45 PM - 16 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

All Things Being Equal
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy

There is a chill in the air heralding the autumn equinox. I have spent the summer in the world of men. The Lord of the Underworld is whispering to those who would listen and I am called back to the path.

Cernunnos is watching from the forest for my return, his dark eyes now softened with age, his great antlers crowning him king of all beasts. I will walk with him again, my lord and brother.

The wolf's skin awaits.



Your Wayward Witch

5:27 PM - 11 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

1:3,000
Current mood: content
Category: Travel and Places

Three thousand people applied for the Shackleton Centenary Expedition, there was one place on offer. They've narrowed it down to twenty who will be interviewed, poked and prodded by medical types and generally assessed. Then there will be endurance testing in Wales for the lucky few.

I will not be among them, I am one of the 2,980 that didn't make the first cut. Does that make me a failure because I am not one of the twenty? Or does that make me a winner because I was one of the 3,000?

Of course I already know the answer.

Currently listening : Avenged Sevenfold By Avenged Sevenfold Release date: 2007-10-30

10:07 AM - 13 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Mister Smalls President of the World - You Know it Makes Sense.

Banks are going under, unemployment is rising and so is inflation. What a surprise.They're trying to make some shonky city dealers the scapegoat, but c'mon. Realy?

Shall I tell you what's fucked up this country? The fact that house prices aren't linked to inflation in the UK.

For as long as I can remember I have not been able to afford to buy a place of my own. According to statistics I've never even come close to earning the 'average wage' in this country. When I've done the maths to see if I could buy a place I've fallen short by £10-20k. Of course I could have taken out 'self-certificate' mortgage and lied about my earnings like a lot of people did (it's about lending money to people who can't actually pay it back). But all that does is push up the prices of houses because Estate Agents want to bump prices up, they're on a percentage (Estate Agents aren't selling much at the moment... Boo Hoo, my heart bleeds).

If house prices were linked to inflation prices would be capped, borrowing wouldn't have got out of control, banks wouldn't be going bust and everybody would live happily ever after.

10:17 PM - 11 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

How Comes It Never Rains?
Category: Life

I've spent the last two days in the bathroom. Having ripped out the skirtingboards, stripped the wallpaper and slapped some paint on the walls, things ground to a halt. Underneath the carpet the floor was a bit uneven to say the least, nothing a layer of hardboard wouldn't cover, or at least improve.

Hardboard panels and skirting were ordered and arrived... not much point in starting until the new flooring has been chosen, ordered and delivered.

There was a rumour that the new flooring's arrival was imminent, so last week I cut the skirting to size and gave it a couple of coats of paint. Et voila! Yesterday I started early. Out came the old bath panel, washbasin pedestal, toilet and carpet. By the time I'd finished the floor was boarded over and the skirting was glued in place.

Today it was time to fit the vinyl flooring, which went quite well. I ran some silicon sealer along the top of the skirting to tidy it all up a bit, the walls are wobbly. Then it was time to put the toilet back... Everything went together, important bits were tightened, water was turned on, flush... Bugger! Where's that water coming from?

Eventually I worked out where it was coming from, pulled the whole thing apart and repositioned the squishy foam seal. Rebuilt, water on, flush... Bugger! I pulled it apart again and left it to dry while I considered my options.

The squishy foam seal wasn't doing it's job, so I skirted some silicon around the hole and put the seal in position on top, before dropping the cistern into place. I left it for an hour or so before trying it again. It worked, no more leak. The bathroom isn't finished, it needs another coat of paint and there's some tiling to do, but it's getting there.

5:36 PM - 17 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

I’m Weird. pt2
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

Today I was looking at riding boots. Not just any riding boots, but some particularly nice Italian made ones. There is a certain style of riding boot which I covet, and they have to be brown.

I found some that were just about perfect and they were a great price, but I haven't ridden for years. I don't need them but I want them, really want them.



Is that so wrong?

8:32 PM - 19 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Physician Heal Thyself.
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Sports

A few years ago I managed to mess my ankle up good and proper. What I should have done was get it bandaged up and sit around doing nothing for a couple of weeks. But I didn't, I could still squeeze my boots on and get to work so that's what I did.

It was months before the swelling went down enough to even think about running. My return to the woodland trails was short lived and I turned my attention to cycling. But I missed running through the woods in the morning and every time I thought my ankle was up to the job I would soon find otherwise. Earlier in the year my ankle just gave up after about 50 yards, and I limped home. Since then limping has become a part of my life, I can walk for ages without a problem, then in one step I'll be limping like I've been shot.

It was only a few weeks ago that I noticed just how bad things had got, I was having trouble climbing a ladder. Recent runs hadn't been entirely painless but it just didn't feel right. My other leg had been taking the strain and my injured ankle had become incredibly weak.

The new regime of ice packs, massages and stretching seems to be doing the trick, and after just a few days I'm starting to build up the strength in my ankle again... I'll be back chasing those squirrels in no time. :D

5:28 PM - 11 Comments - 7 Kudos - Add Comment

Listen To Your Body... Especially When It Screams
Category: Sports

There's a good reason why I didn't jump at the chance to sign up for the Ironman, I've been on the injury list most of this year. I've got Achillies Tendonitis. I tried not running at all for a couple of months and it has eased the pain a little, but it's still not good and I should avoid running up hills and doing speedwork.

As far as treatment goes, gentle stretching, regular ice packs and massaging with a heat rub should do the trick. Walking in barefeet and flat shoes should be avoided, better blow the dust of those thigh high spikes I'spose.

On the upside, cycling in low gears is good and so is swimming... the Ironman could be back on!

12:24 PM - 11 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

If at first you don’t succeed try, tri again.
Current mood: fascinated

When we set off Saturday morning the weather wasn't too bad and on more than one occasion the sun actually appeared through the clouds, at least until we arrived at the venue for the Ironman Triathlon, then the heaven's opened. I grabbed my poncho from my rucksack and pulled it over my head, before setting up my tent, then we went to have a look around.

By the time we got back to the tents the poncho had been tested, I was dry from my head to my knees. My boots had finally given up the fight and let the water in, not unusual in my experience, I should have packed my wellies. With nothing much to do we crawled into our tents and started eating. I opted for lamb and potato stew courtesy of the Ministry of Defence, it looked and tasted much the same as their corned beef hash and beans. Then I crawled into my sleeping bag for an early night, the rain had stopped so I left my tent door open, until I was woken by the rain during the night.

My alarm went off at 04:45, that's an ungodly time of the morning, but we had to be up early to get to the start. After sausage and beans for breakfast washed down with a cup of instant tea (What will they think of next?) it was time to head for the start.

I watched through my binoculars as they entered the waters of the lake, it was still dark and they swam to the start line. By about 06.30 they were on their way, a 2.4 mile swim first thing in the morning, what a way to start the day. A small group made a break for it at the start and gradually stretched out a lead. It's a strange sight watching hundreds of people swimming.

As the leaders headed towards the finish we walked down to watch them emerge from the water and head to transition to pick up their bikes, we found a spot to watch them as they began the 112 mile ride, the spectators clapping and shouting encouragement to every competitor. When we'd seen enough we went in search of coffee and checked out some of the equipment on sale. There was a commentator keeping everyone informed of what was going on and he announced that their were three competitors left in the the lake and it was getting close to the cut-off time, we headed down to cheer them on. One, then two made it in time to continue to the bike section, the last one was clapped and cheered all the way but came in about 5 minutes too late to continue, he was the oldest competitor in the race, 71 years old.

Back to the tents for lunch, pasta in mushroom sauce and another brew, then we put our feet up for a bit before heading back for the bike-run transition, only another 26.2 miles to go, more clapping and cheering. Before we took up our positions at the finish line and waited for the elite athletes to come in. For a small crowd it made a lot of noise, and those triathletes are crazy every last one of them.

Of course Frank has decided to do Ironman next year and today I got a text from Chad, he's signed up too. Me? It looks like fun, if that's the right word to use, we'll see.

1:17 PM - 11 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Every Journey Begins With One Step.
Current mood: adventurous

I didn't get the job training Huskies in Sweden but I figured something else would turn up sooner or later. Then while I was away I found and interesting article in The Guardian... Well, it's not everyday that you get the opportunity to be a Polar explorer, so I applied.

I'm not sure I'm really built for it. Dragging a sledge in -35˚C burns a lot of calories and it helps if you've got some spare to be burnt, which I haven't. But things have come a long way since 1908 and what's the worst that can happen?... the ship could get crushed by the sea ice. We might have to drag a lifeboat miles overland and try to navigate across cold antarctic waters to a small island, cross the island to the whaling station on the other side... There aren't any whalers anymore. We're doomed!

In the meantime I'm off to Dorset for a couple of days. There's an Iron Man Triathlon so we're going to have a look. The weather's not looking too great though so I'm going to test some new equipment... After the ill-fated trip to The Lake District earlier in the year I purchased a Dutch Army poncho, if that doesn't keep the rain off nothing will.

3:44 PM - 20 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment