"Well I've thought hard about it, and for what it's worth, I think I'll give it a miss the next time round". (Jacki Whitren. From the album 'Raw but Tender.)
A sentiment with some resonance this year as age loads mind with memories, friends pass, old patterns re-emerge and outside worldly circumstances conspire to dismay, bewilder and sadden.
Or maybe I'm just knackered after walking/cycling for miles along a sun kissed Co Kerry beach with, at times, on the back of my bike two small dogs tightly harnessed in green plastic bucket. There was no rest at the end either for we were then re-united with the inexhaustible energy of four year old Grandson Kaden who promptly had me in the sea where the game allows Grampy Steve, and only Grampy Steve, to be the recipient of a suprisingly well aimed powerful water pistol.
Castle Gregory's Sandy Bay, on the Mharees was today a blue sky and warm sun beach loaded with tourists and in particular children. They were partaking of the many and varied water entertainments provided by two local competing watersports companies. By the time I had cycled back, thankfully with just one dog this time, I was, and still am, as already stated, knackered. Hence the quiet reflective evening of music transporting me through layered clouds of emotional melancholy.
My route to Ireland took in Wales and two visits. Firstly my niece and her partner in Llantrisant, home of the Royal Mint, where I was given the grand tour of their recently purchased home. I was impressed that within such sensible commuting distance of Cardiff a solid spacious and well appointed, home could be purchased for real value for money prices.
Second visit was to Talley and Stepdaughter and partners X pub renovation project. Progress here is slow due to various factors one being arrival of Matilda as sister to three year old Mabel. Dad was hard at work as I arrived but not on the house. Oh no! A sophisticated timber childrens play ground was under construction in the garden. Mabel, I think, enjoyed my short visit. I mean, a Motorhome, with a mouth organ inside plus a half finished playground all in the same garden. Three year old bliss I think.
While there my new camera Drone (2nd hand via Gumtree and 'budget' friendly!) was used constructively to inspect and photograph one of the recently re-furbished and very tall chimney pots. My Drone (Syma X5HW) is still in the category labelled 'toy' but even so it completed the task with aplomb impressing both myself and chief chimney renovator, Lloyd.
I freely admit to being a bit of a techie nerd and love partaking, at my 'one above Luddite' level, of todays incredibly rapid technological advancements. Mind you it helps that this particular piece of Drone technology allows access to spare parts. Let me tell you; a cup of tea on the table plus stripped out Drone equals an 'Aaaaah Balsa!' moment as childhood Balsa wood model aeroplane days come round again; bliss, pure bliss! One day I may even gain a 'good enough' proficiency to fly the damm thing without it crashing and breaking. That'll be the same day they announce pigs can fly. I'm also not sure, at nearly seventy years of age, whether my hand eye co-ordination is ever going to match the level that todays computer game raised youngsters take for granted as normal human ability.
Early Buddhist Psychology is another of 'my things'. Particuarly so now that some wonderful translations of the earliest scripts are becoming available. They are a far cry and a breath of fresh air as opposed to the burgeoning religiosity of later Buddhism. Today those very same texts are used worldwide under the guise of Mindfulness. One of the main tenets or understandings is; nothing is permanent. Nothing stays the same.
And so it is with Foxy10. I discovered such this morning as I delved behind Foxy's rear wheel to repair a damaged mudflap. There, to my suprise, I find other bits a-dangling and about to depart their snug, and so say permanent, underfloor home.
Sometimes I can do without impermanence. I had thick head and slow brain this morning. Anyone passing, and maybe then passing again this morning would have had their curiosity raised at the excessive time a pair of legs were protruding from underneath Foxy10. Let me assure that passer by it was me, contemplating, slowly, as one does when faced with dangly bits that are meant to be permanently fixed bits.
Compromise was achieved after a couple hours wielding cable ties, drilling holes and bending bits of metal. Semi permanence will have to suffice for now. The illusory permanent and proper fix is just gonna have to wait till I have better workshop facilities. Ie; Salisbury and Richards workshop.
Next stop Scotland.
