PeverilPeril

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Posts posted by PeverilPeril

  1. Had a big sleep in this morning. didn't get up until 9.15!! Usually 6.15. Yesterday was the last day of the World Erg Challenge for Indoor Concept2 bikes and rowers. There are 6k entries and the idea is to row or ride as far as you can between Mar15th and April 15th = 32 days inclusive.  I was trying to get into the top 50 so I made a last effort by rowing just over 15km and cycling 49km yesterday. Just didn't quite make it, finishing 56th. I am fortunate enough to be a team member of the ANCIENTS - a crew I joined 19 years ago when I retired at 66 (you have to be over 65) many were and still are elite veterans. We inspire each other and we are still dyed in the wool competitors. Four of us over 80's got into the first 100 this time and we are very happy :)

    Life is good. 

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  2. Last year I was given 3 tomato plants that grew from seeds that a pal saved from a black tomato that he enjoyed eating in Germany. They grew very well and produced excellent crops of juicy/meaty black tomatoes. The one outdoors did better than the two in the greenhouse. Anyway, I saved a dozen seeds and sowed them just over a week ago in the greenhouse. Checked today and several have germinated so far. Hoping to plant several outdoors if they grow into decent plants. No idea what variety they are?

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  3. My culinary expertise has always been in doubt and it has often been said that I couldn't boil an egg. Well, this morning I proved it. 

    I'm on a mission at the moment with the rowing and cycling machines and decided that more protein was needed in my diet. So 2 eggs were hard boiled to eat after the usual porridge breakfast. Tried to peel them and 'squelch'. Runny egg all over the place! be glad when Mrs PP is racing around the kitchen again :rolleyes:

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  4. Mrs PP had a knee replacement 2 wks ago. Clips taken out today and she is ok. She has tried to talk me out of having mine done due to the extreme pain. I postponed my op thinking that two of us could not manage on crutches together. I'm back on the waiting list again with the same surgeon. It's strange how I'm in so much pain at night and when standing, while at the same time I'm reasonably ok on by indoor bike and rowing machine. I'm in the world Erg Challenge at the mo and doing quite well. Currently lying 86th out of 6 thousand competitors. 

    When I had the hip replaced 20 years ago I was back on the indoor bike just a few days after. Took one pedal off and rode one legged. I'll do the same following the knee job. Studies show that exercising one limb benefits the other.

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  5. I was taken as a guest last year to a stretch of the Trent owned by Nottm Piscatorials. Splendid fishing. Several barbel and chub. As a youngster I used to catch a bus to Farndon - a grey bus, was it Gash? The fishing was free on the Trent and in the gravel pits (there were 2 then, now a marina). My best days fishing there was on the Trent when it was in flood.

    Yesterday I fly fished for trout on one of my club lakes. Lovely day out in the boat catching rainbows to 8lb. How my fishing life has changed, since catching 'guginn' from Trent Bridge steps :)

     

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  6. Nice to see that plenty of frogs have turned up in the pond. They started arriving on Monday. I was worried that some may not make the return to their ancestral home due to new fencing and gravel boards being installed on two sides of the garden. Looks like they found the little access points that I made :) 

    Looks like Spring is truly here with the magnolia in bloom and the hens laying every day thumbsup

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  7. Rog - you could try one of the many gravel pits around the Trent Valley. No close season and some great bird life to watch.

    I'm hoping for my last session before the season closes on the Trent this week. I had a dabble last week - just 500 yds from home and caught a very large chub. 

    Carsington Water opens for trout fishing on Saturday and I was lucky enough to secure a boat booking. I really like Carsington, especially when there is a chance of an overwintered fish or two. They are like wild fish and splendid to eat.

  8. My memory was jogged yesterday when reading through my old school reports from when I was 9 till 15 (1947 - 53).

    It's surprising how much was forgotten and how much had become slightly skewed with time.

    But there it was, the evidence in front of me. Proper ink, on faded paper, bearing the signatures of form masters and headmaster. No excuses!

    These documents were, in some way, a record of my growing up. Something was glaringly obvious during these formative years but was not recognised at the time.

    They were also evidence of how times and teaching practices have changed.

    If members have still got their old school reports then take a look at them and reflect. As seniors looking back it can be quite telling - and amusing :)

     

     

     

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  9. I found some more school reports from Berridge today. Also my leaving report from Windley. The latter is helping me clear up the mystery of why I didn't take the 11+.

    The report was in 1948 and I was 9yrs 9months. Average age of class was 11yrs 1 month. There were 37 in the class and I was placed 19th but was 16 months younger than the rest of the class?

    My first school reports from Berridge are missing which is strange because my Mother was quite assiduous at saving all my docs and exam results - even swimming certificates:) The Windley report does clear up one mystery. I had mistakenly thought that a Mr Smith was the Head of Berridge when I first started there. In fact he was the Head of Windley and Mr RW Skilbeck was the head of Berridge. Mr Skilbeck was replaced in 1952/3 by Mr SWP Henton.

    My form teachers at Berridge were Mr JS Leigh, Mr AJ Pearce, Mr W Cheesman and Mr BC Smeeton. I remember our maths teacher was Mr Jewett - he was good.

    I suspect that my mother knew something was wrong when I was about to leave Windley. She didn't want me to go to Berridge and she took me to see Mr Smith. For some reason she wanted me to go to Cottesmore? I remember Mr Smith reassuring her that Berridge was a fine school and that I would be alright there. I can't remember my age being discussed.

    Anyway - Berridge senior boys set me up well enough and I look back at my old school with fond memories.

     

     

     

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  10. It's Sunday. Until I was about 20 I attended church or chapel every Sunday. These days I watch Kunesburg on the Beeb on Sunday morning. Some distance from going to church, however, this morning was different. Nothing religious you understand, but something quite moving took place when Kunesburg interviewed Esther Ghey. The sheer kindness that effused from this lovely lady was a more powerful message than I ever heard from a pulpit.

    Of course the program included what was happening with the US response to the terrorists organisations and the connections with the war in Gaza. A war consumed with hatred.

    So, for me, the Sunday lesson was - Be kind. Hatred never solved anything.

    This has never worked on the big scene...but on a personal level it can.

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  11. Definitely take waterproofs. The rain proofs that are carried by golfers are ideal when cycling. Pack away small and light.

    I had a lovely day fishing in a boat for trout yesterday. We set up the gas hobs and had bacon and mushrooms wrapped in Staffordshire oat cakes. 6 of us sitting in the sunshine by the lake at lunchtime. Good for the soul :) 

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  12. 9 hours ago, Brew said:

    The ancients? Barmy buggers comes to mind... ;) but I wish I could do half as much,,,

    Another crew I belong to are the 'COFFIN DODGERS'. We meet in the pub twice a week and concentrate on right arm exercises :rolleyes:

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  13. Good day today. Passed the 600km mark in the January rowing challenge. My target is 686.5 km which I did in 2016 when I was 77. Set this target because the average age of my crewmates is 77. We are aptly known as the ANCIENTS. :)

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