Saturday 1 December 2012

Sod this for a game of soldiers...

My early morning Brompton ride didn't last too long today. I decided to stay local today, as I will be venturing into central London tomorrow.

The scene was picture postcard. Frost on rooftops, trees looking almost snow covered and there was a crispness to the air.

Heading out with good intentions first the back wheel started to wheel spin. Going round a corner proved to be equally troublesome as my S2L weaved to an fro.

Touching the brakes lightly I glided to an uncertain stop.
Turning the bike around muttering to myself a popular British term, 'sod this for a game of soldiers' I returned to my warm home.

There I had a second cup of tea and retired the Brompton until the frost and ice retreated. Mark my words, winter is here ladies and gents. Winter is here!


1 comment:

  1. Mr O
    I thought maybe after your last post of storage problem that was it. I am pleased to read this is not so.
    I read from your more recent publication that the cold and frost has reached the deep south as it were well at least jumped the Watford gap.
    Here in the Northern Territories, winter abate raised it some what blue head a little while ago.
    Your comment of "Sod this for a game of soldiers" raises a chuckle and a gentle wobble of the belly.During the process of amusement the little grey cell of my brain retreated in the realms deeply hidden remnants of what is called my memory.Returning back to when I was serving my Apprenticeship many many moons ago possible more than I care to recall,I had just gained employment for a chemical producer across the other side of the metropolis, transportation was some what limited especially at 6 in the morning. Vehicle ownership was rare,so my bike was the only means to which I had to arrive each day at my work place, before 7am every morning with out fail, rain snow or blow.I didn't have any special laying of clothes except for as many as you could get on to ride you bike and keep warm,the morning's rags pushed up your jumper to keep the chill out,(last nights paper where used to start the morning fire.)
    One great solution were ladies tights under your trousers, and plastic bags in your shoes to keep your feet dry alas your shoes remained wet but would only absorb so much water.Arriving at work, changed into your boiler suit, no drying room or radiator to dry your wet gear,merely a peg to hang then on the same as everyone else.
    After a days graft replace your warm boiler suit with damp clothes to retrace the journey home, with luck it may have stopped raining/snowing, all to be under take the next day, with a little luck my mother had managed to get me clothes dry but the shoes usually remain damp with newspaper put in the to try to remove some of the moisture.
    Possibly at the time i did not enjoy such circumstances and today we look back with a certain romantic attitude, but we still just got on with it, it did have its fun battle against the snow drifts on your only bike this not being a special one for such a job just a common a gardener racer with 5 gears, mudguards, standard shoes and bike clips to keep your trouser out of the chain.

    So you see why I chuckle of a small bit of winter and you return home.
    Elf and Safety is big business.

    We had really blood in our veins not chips shop vinegar.

    from The Brompton Blog Roll.

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