A journey of weekends, Driving

A weekend with George Ezra

Beginning a day later than scheduled (due to migraine), this weekend kicked off with a Saturday drive to Cornwall. I set off at an ungodly 0630 and arrived 4 hours later, having seen Stonehenge on my detour. (I’ve yet to travel to Cornwall without a detour. This is the 2nd time I’ve driven this way, […]

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A journey of weekends, Unc

A weekend procrastinating

Why do today what can be done tomorrow? That was the mantra of this past weekend. It’s somewhat the mantra of my life but that’s another story. It all began without a road trip to London. Now I think of it, that may have been pencilled in for the weekend before. Whichever, it hasn’t happened. […]

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A journey of weekends

A weekend of refreshing rain

I’ll not lie, I enjoyed the rain. It was much needed. I did think Saturday’s ‘thunderstorm’ could’ve done better, though. 3 pathetic whimpers and a spot of dampness. The minimum I expect from a thunderstorm is to be awed. Anything less and it’s barely enough to look out the window. Sunday’s blustery drizzly day with […]

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Poems & short stories

I want to say something

I want to say something I’ve got so much on my mind But these thoughts don’t have the words to speak that do not sound like lies They sound like my delusions Like confusion with life itself Aloud they sound like I have fallen off my lucid shelf But I do not think that decent […]

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Driving

Bertie’s first ouchy

I’m 2 months into driving my very first car. (I know! I’ve kept that quiet.) And I think today was as good a day as any to misjudge my width, smack a parked car’s wing mirror, and get my own mirror dangling out like an eye popped out of its socket.

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A journey of weekends

A weekend neither driving nor cooking

There was a vague threat of a road trip to Nuneaton (to collect Jackie and her new lodger) but it was only vague, and I’d found myself the best parking spot, so I wasn’t moving the car for nothing. Because living so near to Palmerston Road has its perks, this weekend was the Southsea Food […]

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Poems & short stories

I know you actually saw me

I know you actually saw me, we caught each other’s gaze I even heard you as you passed me muttering out my name You looked a little sullen beneath that veneer so good You looked like life is rough and strife and for you, m’dear, it should But then maybe I’m mistaken, I didn’t see […]

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Anger

Today with that machine and a new attitude

I strolled into work this morning and right up to that machine. I looked it square in the window and said, “We’re going to have a good day today.” I stepped to the left head and said, “You’ve only got to worry about this trolley and this side.” I stepped to the right head and said, […]

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A journey of weekends

A weekend sweltering

I don’t want to sound typically British and complain about the weather, but I would like a nice downpour to reset the air, and then we may continue with this impressive heatwave. It’s just relentless. On Saturday, having given myself a migraine on Friday, I didn’t get up ’til 11. Migraines proper wipe me out. […]

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Vertigo migraines

Nausea and heat don’t mix

Fuck me, I feel sick. I think it’s dehydration. I know not drinking enough water can set about a vertigo migraine but too much water can set up a vertigo migraine. I find myself in a very difficult position because the just right amount of water doesn’t exist. And I drink water. Lots of water. […]

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A journey of weekends

A weekend alone

After last weekend’s fun and games, this weekend was the polar opposite. Because other people drain after a while, I got all my being social in person done and dusted by Saturday lunchtime. Although, via text and call I remained available throughout. Because the world outside is too hive and no chill, I kept excursions […]

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A journey of weekends, Driving, Holiday

A weekend Amsterdamned

Alongside tulips and cheese, there’s weed and prostitutes to be had in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the prostitutes were of the wrong gender for me, it’s out of season for tulips, and I’m not a big fan of cheese, so I was left with weed. So much gange, marijuana, you give it a […]

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Driving

The car service low down

To be honest, it was a lot of me nodding my head. I kind’a got the gist of things, I’m not stupid, and most of it I’d worked out anyway, in roundabout ways, but it’s all new. All strange. All very car mechanics, and besides getting slightly turned on by a greased up hunk in […]

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A journey of weekends

A weekend after a road trip​ to Wales

Heading off to Wales for 3 days was full of purpose. It was my first proper long distance drive since buying Bertie. 190-odd miles to my father, 15 to my mother, 180-odd back. I loved every minute. Bertie’s oil warning light issue was the only, well, issue. It was my first chance to freely travel […]

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Driving

Driving day 27 — homeward bound, the return home

Well, I’m home-home! My home — the place where I live. Not where my parents live. I call that home, too. It can get all very confusing. 180-something miles. 3 and a bit hours. It flew by. Bertie’s oil warning kept warning me and then not warning me, fickle shit — I got an experienced driver to […]

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Driving

Driving day 24 — homeward bound

From the sunny southern coast of England to the drizzly southern valleys of Wales — it took a little longer than advertised but I made it! I’m at my father’s. Going to my mother’s tomorrow. The drive was going great until a mile before the Membury Services, M4. I was feeling out the name of […]

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A journey of weekends, Driving

A weekend with a car

Milestone after milestone! Physical miles. To Brighton, Portchester, Tesco (thrice), Shaun’s — I’ve even had my back seat down and carried a TV stand home. My Brighton journey was a fun journey, I quite liked it — people I’ve told have thought it strange I didn’t stop in Brighton but it was pissing it down, I didn’t […]

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Driving

Driving day 6 — road trip to Brighton

Armed with my sat-nav and tunes, I took my Polo to Brighton for no real reason other than to drive back home again. 110 miles — the A27 to Worthing, the sea road to Brighton, and up and back via the A27. Now, I’ve been chauffeured along most of this route in the past so it wasn’t […]

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Driving

Driving days 2 & 3 — heading to work

Instantly, having a car seems so natural, so helpful, so always been. All those years of not having a car seem so alien. It’s been barely 55 hours since buying my car and it’s like decades have gone by already. All those years of foot travel now obscured by the haze of the past. Before […]

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A journey of weekends, Holiday

A weekend in Newcastle

Having friends and family dotted around the place gives excuses to visit. Like Kayte down in Cornwall = HOLIDAY!!! Like Jo up in London = HOLIDAY!!! Like Laura up in Newcastle = HOLIDAY!!! And so visit I have, and visiting I still am. I don’t get up here as often as maybe I should, although […]

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A journey of weekends, Driving

A weekend as a new driver

Felt a lot like walking, if I’m honest.  No car!!! With Shaun on the case, I’m sure this state of affairs won’t last long. I’m lucky he knows what I want because I don’t.  Having looked through insurance, which seems reasonably priced, I find some of the questions they ask are unnecessarily shruggable. I don’t […]

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Driving

The anatomy of a car

Knowing what’s what and where in and around your vehicle is as helpful as knowing where your toes are compared to your nipples. Not necessarily vital knowledge but a knowledge that can serve well.

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