Protobikes

Pigeon Sex

On Friday evening I lounged in the garden for a while after work. I had noticed my new bird feeder was getting emptied very fast.  A magpie came down and showed me how.

Next were a pair of woodpigeons. The male (as I later surmised) went to the bird feeder and hoovered up all remaining food. He went back to sit on the fence with the female. She started snuggling up to him and he to her. They did a bit of a dance, bowing to each other, and then she was gentle pecking at his gorge and nape. The nape seemed expanded and more checked than usual. After a bit he started regurgitating food into her beak, like a parent feeding a chick. He did this five or six times, then she squatted and he mounted.

Doesn’t take long for pigeons. When he climbed off he seemed to lose interest. She carried on gently pecking at him for quite a while. They settled down and he started taking notice of other birds around. After a while they flew off.

I make no comment.

I was worrying too much, as I often do. My row with the boss didn’t kick up much fuss and has been resolved with a small compromise. In general he is very happy with the work I am doing. I have some chances to use my creativity to improve processes etc. The hair issue was not raised. Just me being paranoid. In some ways he has already compromised quite a lot. Most people titled manager have to wear shirt and tie. I wear company black polo shirt and cargos. I don’t have to waste any time choosing.

I went to the pub late on Thursday. Very quiet at first, talking to Nello the waiter. Then Chris came in with Jamdi. Chris is a neighbour I’ve known for a long time. Jamdi is a graduate student a RHUL. We met a few times. I think it was 2011. She is from Angola. Very petite, very black and a complete joy. She’s starting her PhD which has to do with environmental impacts of mining. We talked about the gold mines around Battle Mountain. It didn’t cross my mind until later that my contacts might be useful. Then Nello and Chris played pool and I taught Jamdi to play darts. She was better than me straight away, despite having to throw upwards. It was a draw because we ran out of time.

I was so looking forward to the long weekend and now I have a cold. Nothing terrible, but I spent yesterday in bed and am still full of it today. Lemsip helps. I’m having a lot of dreams with computer stuff in, which is a bad sign. I am rested today (Sunday) and hope to get a few things done.

I have been working on My Bikes. Apart from some pictures and digressions it is up to date.

Feeling quite feverish

Well the joy didn’t last very long. Good to have had some. I hope it will be back soon.

I had a conflict with the boss. He has directed that the ‘fireproof’  cabinet I use for backup tapes be moved closer to where the server is Doh! He is tidiness obsessed and no doubt will be asking me to cut my long hair. I am not looking forward to our meeting on Friday.

The drive is about done. Pictures soon. I am a long way from where I was last year. I have significant periods of joy in all parts of my life. 

It is easy to slip back. Exercise has been part of it. I went back to my intense hill walk on Sunday. 1st time was a bit tough, but I did 3 climbs and descents. Legs are a bit rubbery today, which is good.

One of my big problems was the feeling of agency. I didn’t feel I could get anything done. Well, the new drive gives me some feeling of power in my world every time I go out there. Still having trouble clearing the house, but it should be easier. There are photos scattered everywhere from the My Bikes pages. I’ve finished with them for the most part, so I can file them away.

I bought a new negative scanner, which I tested tonight. It performs better and has a better editing suite. I will replace the dodgier scanned pics as soon as I get a moment.

I didn’t make it to Shrewsbury. It is a long way and I am not ready to race. I would have liked to take pictures, as those are going well.

Rather a quiet weekend. I spent a pleasant hour at the pub on Thurs night. Also out on Saturday. There was a band on. Not that good this time. I was sober and wanted to chat, but couldn’t until the band finished.

The drive is progressing very well. The half by the road has the paving blocks down and looks great. The other half should be near finished today, after which it is just planting/replanting.  

The only fly is that my car is dripping oil. Paul is going to replace the few contaminated blocks and put some plywood down, but ideally I need to fix the car. I knew it was losing a little water, but not oil. I still have not had it serviced after the major fixes at Christmas, so I will arrange that ASAP and ask them to look.

Still having a reasonably good time. Did I mention my drive? I’m having it block paved, fence replaced and the garden retaining wall on the other side rebuilt. Dave Cormie would say ‘Ferociously expensive’ but it’s looking good. The contractor is taking pics as he goes. I’ll post some soon. I’ve been searching out more pictures for the Handcycles page. May add a cat page as I have lots of pics of the old mog.

Here are my pics from the Hillingdon BHPC race. Took ages to upload.

http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/Protobikes/library/2013%20Hillingdon%201

Very nice day. Good weather at last. The slightly hazy sunshine was good for photography. I only edited out the pics of an empty road and some blurry ones. I like some of the very blurry ones and am pleased with the very close in pics. You can see Sarah’s face through the screen.

I was so happy to see many of my old and newer friends. I chose to take pictures rather than be part of the organising team. I seem to be on a roll with the pics. Delighted to find my old skills are not impaired. I hope they are a sufficient contribution. 

Photos free for private use. Please credit if appropriate.

Despite the weekend disappointment, this has been a good week so far. Speak it softly but I am actually enjoying work at present. The stuck stuff is on one side and I am developing new analysis tools to help service delivery. Sounds a bit corporate, but the purpose is to make everything more transparent. All the work is closed up for last month and I am working on the figures. Should be complete tomorrow. We have 5 working days so this is well ahead.

I want to get another cat. Anyone who knew the splendid Rosie will know why. (Rosie was a he. Don’t ask.). I have been waiting on the work on the house next door. A landlord owns the 3 houses on that side. I’ve had some problems with him. The one next door has been vacant and in very slow restoration for near 8 years. Now, finally, it has a back door. My late cat was a consummate scrounger (The feline Ed Riordan) and caused a lot of neighbour disputes by acting hungry when he had plenty of food at home.

Here is the old chap. He was a neutered tom. A great character. He loved people and would turn up if there was anyone to meet. Loved to be picked up and would drool when happy, which was useful with double glazing salesmen. Apart from the odd intact tom, he was boss cat of the street. The cats would sit as far out as they dared, like gunfighters. Rosie would roll on his back in the street – but beware. It was a trap. He was quick, clever and loud.

He used to belong to my former neighbours. I knew him from a kitten. I took him on when they couldn’t take him when they moved. When I took him on his coat was greasy. His gut was distended with parasites and he had fleas. Soon dealt with and he matured into a fine fellow.  

When he died he was about 14 but in superb shape. You can see his silky coat in the picture. The vet reckoned he had the mouth of a kitten, maybe aided by his high rodent consumption. He once brought in a squirrel, through 2 cat flaps . He could hold it but not kill it. The noise was awful. He was very popular at the cattery where he went on his holls. Quite relaxed about doing so after the first time.

He died rather as he lived. He was scrounging food in another cats kitchen. He got chased out and was hit by a car. He was left on the pavement, presumably by the driver. He wasn’t marred except the right side of the head where he was hit. I was glad to have him back over night. My garden isn’t big enough to bury a cat safe from foxes. I had him cremated. Expensive but less than the vet’s bills he accrued from fighting. My friend Camilla is a teacher and sculptor. She made a sort of pottery caricature (caticature?) which incorporates his ashes. He looks down from a top shelf.

I have met a few black cats over the years. Usually loud and full of character. Beautiful silky coats too. I am interested to find black rescue cats are hard to place. Well, good for me. I wouldn’t have anything else.

Another rather different week. I asked a friend  to give a message to someone I spoke to last weekend. It was agreed we would meet up at the Bruno & Marrone gig yesterday. I think this was a matter of Brazilian whispers. The person concerned probably had no idea I wanted to see her the way I wanted to. I spent the week really looking forward to it, very happy.

At first I got the impression we were going to meet before the gig and inhale the odd Brazilian cocktail. That proved not to be the case. Still, I was feeling good queuing up with my friends from about 17:40. We got in at about 19:00. ‘She’ had to work, so was later. 

We had a nice time at first. The recorded  music was fun. I was very up, bouncing on the balls of my feet. We were at the front, far too close to a PA speaker. Then we waited.

There was an MC who kept on stirring the audience up… for near 2 hours. Still no sign of She or the band, and I waited.

Eventually, the band came on. Rather ropy sound wise at first but fun and energetic… and I waited.

Later in the set I was getting really fed up. They do sub US power balads. I don’t much care for the genre and it is worse when you can’t understand the words.

I bought another weak and extremely expensive beer and went out to the foyer.  Then I spotted another of our friends. She greeted me and took me to see She.  She was dancing with a young guy. No prob, she has to dance. She hugged me and gave a formal kiss.

Not quite what I had hoped. I hoped for a chance to get to know her. Even with the loud music, if we had spent the time together, there would have been some communication. I had all my peacock feathers ready but when we met it was far too late.

I went back to my friends but wasn’t enjoying it. After a bit I went back to the foyer. Quite late so I decided to get the train home.

It is always the hope that kills, but I seem to be OK, if not quite the blithe spirit I was last week. Cleaning up the house had a bit of priority in hope of visitors. I got through the bathroom and most of the kitchen. Maybe less priority now.

From this morning (now after 12:00) replacing the drive at the back of the house  commences . There are still a few final things to be decided but it is mostly worked out. Parking may be a bit difficult, as it os often around here.

I rather forgot the everyday. I fitted  the new front under bumper panel to the car. Looks  much better. I should have a new grill surround panel next weekend.

Another different weekend. Pub on Friday. To Andys on Sat for his daughter Hannah’s birthday. Very nice afternoon/evening. Otilia slaved away making prodigious quantities of food. Hannah had a Stones theme, so we listened to them most of the day, Andy doing his hilarious Jagger impression from time to time. Played Gemmas guitar a bit, some with me holding chords and the kids strumming. Lots of nice conversations including with Renata, who I have met before but not spoken with.