Oooh! Wonder if I can Polish it Out

After watching a part of the second series of Fastest Car on Netlflix this morning I thought I would take Grandma out for a spin. I aimed to head to Waskerley Reservoir, no big deal I thought, I mean just bang the postcode, or thereabouts in my sat nav and follow the directions.

Sitting up on the Fell

Firstly I had to put some juice in my car, so I headed down to Lanchester filling station, as it was on the way and I had noticed the other week the petrol was a few pence cheaper... well it was the other day, but not today £126.9 a litre. I put £50 odd quid in Grandma filling her up. Whilst I was sat at the garage I attempted to get the postcode for Waskerley Reservoir. I mean I know where it is, when going on my bike, however getting there by road is totally different.


Damit my stupid phone wouldn't connect to the internet, so I tried Google Maps instead. I then set off in the general direction. Google Maps did take me in a roundabout way towards my destination, however, as I got up on the top of the fells, nearer to Smiddy Shaw that Waskerley I soon came to understand that Google Maps was a bit off in its calculations. As I drove onwards up past Smiddy Shaw all the way up the hill and turned left I could see Waskerley Reservoir down below me on my left. I ended up doing a complete loop coming through Stanhope and then through Wolsingham and up Wolsingham bank. Google Maps had directed me in a big loop, however,r, I did not find an access road to lead me to Waskerley Reservoir.

Grandma

Love my Bug

Miltek Cat-Back Pipes

  Anyhoo I decided to continue on the loop and head back up towards Smiddy Shaw, and go to the top of the hill on the fell and possibly get a few snaps. I stopped at the side of the road and it was a lot windier than I thought. This made the sun keep pop in and out of the clouds. I took a 30 second Timelapse with my Go Pro, however upon viewing it at home, saw that the wind had been moving my camera which I had resting on a large stone, so the footage was all shaky, so that has been binned.

I got a few snaps with the GoPro of my car. I then thought "Oh I'll take a couple of pics of me" I am not very photogenic, but hey I love memories and pictures serve as a great reminder. My eyes are shocking without my glasses on now, but I didn't fancy pics looking like speccy McSpec Face so took them off to grab a few snaps. I then went to stand up and inadvertently stood on my glasses with my gimpy foot. Oh dear I don't think these scratches will polish out and what is worse is I have buggered my frames too.

Just afore my gimpy foot trod on my gigs

Hate wearing glasses, as I keep losing them or standing on them LoL

So upon arriving home I have just booked an appointment a Speccy Savers. Think I need to go anyhoo. The lady said I am not due for an eye review until May of next year, but I have been getting a lot of migraines in my left eye. This getting old Malarky is not good.

I don't think that will polish out

Never mind quite enjoyed the tootle out, listening to Absolute '80s and setting my car away now and again on the country roads listening to the induction roar and chatter of her Turbo. It really is quite addictive and always brings a smile to my face.


Reet I now need to save up for some new gigs LoL

Buzzing up the Bank

Yesterday morning I went out for a buzz on my Buzzraw. I actually took some video footage using my Hero 5, nothing special and with no real purpose. No, it was more just a leisurely cruise out on my wee retro electric bike on what was a beautiful day.
 
As it turned out when I got back from what I thought was quite an epic ride, could have sworn I rode more than 11 miles, and then checked my footage I was pretty disappointed. It's been some time since I shot a few clips and threw them together and well I just couldn't figure out how to edit all the stuff together to make it look half decent.

I kind of know what the problem was, and this is a top tip for all those budding video' ers... is that even a word. Anyhoo when you shoot your video's make them short and interesting. Yesterday I was lazy and basically just left my camera running whilst I cycled around Stanley.
 
So rather than make a long borrrring! movie I actually just deleted all the footage. Well tonight I was feeling a little bored so thought "Ooh I wonder if the 12.6 Gig of data I deleted is still in my recycle bin". It was so I threw this short movie together. I guess if nothing else it shows what a breeze it is going up wor big bank on an electric bike.

The End Lol

Oh, PS Thanks to Pace Rehabilitation and Leftside.Life and Brian Bartlett, as without you I wouldn't get out on my bike.

If It Makes You Happy

For some time now I have been very interested in what some may consider "Mumbo Jumbo". Things like positive thinking, meditation, lucid dreaming, dream boards and of course the Law of Attraction. I have posted about it before. I know it's not for everyone, but it helps me to stay positive and I think everyone should have a dream. "Hey if it makes you Happy".

A good few years ago I had a bit of a mental to do. I blamed not only all the physical health problems and prescription medications, but also certain aspects of my life. Anyhoo I ended up going for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This therapy was the big thing the NHS was rolling out. I kind of understoo it's benefits and what it was supposed to do, however like anything else, discovered if I didn't practice it, it kind of became redundant. So for me, it was a short term fix, kind of like putting on a sticky plaster. What I did find interesting at the time was that the therapist I was seeing asked if I would be interested in going on a 6-week Mindfulness course. I thought "Awww what the heck, nothing to lose" and so I went once a week for, 6 weeks over at a place in Durham.

Long story short I have pretty much forgotten all the weeks of CBT apart from the things I was asked to do at the time, as homework, I can recall it annoyed the hell out of me, plus stressed me out even further. So, in essence, it became a somewhat negative experience. Yet as far as the Mindfulness was concerned, I really enjoyed that part. I will readily admit over the years I may not have been mindful at all times, however, I have always tried to practice it to some degree. Of late I have discovered I am beginning to use mindfulness a lot, it helps me to live in the here and now, but also to reflect on things I believe I can improve on.

After visiting Scotland and the beautiful Isle of Mull and some of the surrounding islands, some years ago, well I just fell in love with the place. I began reading a book by Rhonda Bryne called The Secret, after just happening to see a short movie online about it. The Secret details "The Law of Attraction". It also goes on to make you think about how you think. Quite simply if you go about your day thinking you are unlucky and that bad stuff always happens to you, then guess what, you will more than likely attract that stuff. I mean it's what you expect right? Whereas if you focus on what you really want, it makes you a more positive person and hey bonus if you get, what you really desire.

I have gone on from The Secret to start watching this guy named Eric Ho upon Youtube. He too started by reading The Secret, however, he goes one step further to say he couldn't understand why nothing was coming his way after reading it. His story and viewpoint in what he was doing wrong are interesting. Obviously, there is more to do than just wish for something and then expect it to appear the following day, week or month. I am quite enjoying experimenting with some of his teachings, plus I feel more relaxed on a night whilst listening to some of the meditation affirmations and music.

Last night I had a weird sort of thing come to mind whilst listening to my mp3. I couldn't quite figure out whether I had fallen asleep, or if it came to me as I woke, "Had I just dreamt it". Anyhoo I keep a little notebook by my bedside and wrote my thoughts down.

"Everything I want I already have, it is in my subconscious.
The ability to dream is one of the greatest gifts.

We live in the here and now, our whole lives based on thoughts and memories. Therefore if we experience something in our subconscious, does that not mean we have experienced that thing, that feeling, as if we were actually there and it had already happened?

And if we then experience something subconsciously what is to then stop us manifesting it into reality".

So I guess I will continue to practice mindfulness, try and stay positive and keep on dreaming and focusing on what my subconscious has to both discover and offer. You will, of course, all know if something happens as I will be off to Bonny Scotland and some of you may even get an invite and get to share in my dream.

Lost Touch

I was going to start with "Isn't it funny, how we lose touch with one another". 

I then thought about my wording (yes I over analyse) and that particular statement just does not come across as quite being right. I mean it's not funny at all. In fact, it's pretty sad. At times life just gets away from us and of course, we grow, move on or go on to do different things.

With me m8 Paul

Well, today was a good day in that I got to meet up with my longtime friend Paul who I haven't seen in years. It was just like old times. We chatted about what had occurred lately, some sad life events in that Paul had just lost his long term partner, plus we also got on about the good old days from when we were in our late teens and that brought a chuckle and smile to both of us.

Looking down towards Hill End

Little bridge crossing the stream

It just goes to show that sometimes even though you lose touch at the end of the day a solid friendship will stand the test of time.

Enjoyed the company, catching up and the ride over to Hill End in Grandma.

Nice venture out in Grandma

Love my Bug