Bikers

Bikers were out in force in Pangbourne yesterday.
I’m not a fan of bikes and their riders. I’ve seen too many riding too fast, too close to the wind. And too close to me. At iffy angles to the road. It’s fine if they want to kill themselves but not so fine for anyone else involved. Cars, of course, can be just as bad. Don’t want to be accused of antibikist attitude or similar.

Lots are good chaps / chappesses with safety a top priority, aware they have a lethal weapon between their legs.

As long as they don’t have noisy or popping exhausts…
However, the hundreds of them who rode through the middle of Pangbourne yesterday showed little thought or consideration to other road traffic, pedestrians, road priority, road holding, lungs and ears of pedestrians. Throaty roars and staccato rattles just annoy me.
I suppose dividing a multitude of hundreds (no exaggeration) into smaller groups might be more considerate, but it would reduce the effect and their ability to intimidate.
I confess, some of these machines were shiny and a little bit attractive, and bright and ridiculously expensive.There was a sort of attraction. All were noisy. Some, unnecessarily so. Show offs!
But it was the end of the very long line that I liked. The mopeds ! In pinks, beiges and turquoises with their riders seated bolt upright, rather than noses in handlebars, and not noisy. Here, in the U.K., we have not the same moped ethos as Italy, for example. Or for getting to a factory in France. They were cute.

My eye was also very very taken by an electric VW campervan. Obviously modelled on that 1960s iconic version. An ID Buzz I now know.

It was just like this!

Today – I awoke late and surfaced slowly, helped by the fact that DCI was offering to walk the dogs. This time H went on a long red training lead which worked better as she returned with Dave and Minnie.

He unloaded a pile of their garden cushions from our loft and is threatening to return with their snowboards in a few days time.
In the meantime, I gave the Miele some long overdue exercise and cleared up all the bits and pieces of debris and dog hair just in time to welcome Minnie.
The new garden hose got connected up and tested out, and the old one deposited in the bin.

Relieved of the dog walk, I found something else to exercise – the mower with its annoying cable. The garden clippers also got a flexing. Time to pot up some plants soon. A few weeds were treated to some spot weed killer and the patio to some green remover.
All that exercise left me gasping and dripping somewhat. But it is a lovely, warm, sunny day and rain is forecast after Sunday.

Fleur is going skiing with the family she is staying with in France. Ali was at university with Kath who has three boys, and a husband, the oldest boy being a bit older than F I think.
The Roberts are safely back in Devon after a lovely few days in the IOM.
Ali and Dave are off for a couple of nights at Beaulieu. Child free nights.

And as for us… after the garden exertions I lay around and read.
I have discovered ants in our bedroom this evening. Not had that before. Right by my side of the bed. And I won’t find any ant powder tomorrow as all shops are shut, it being Easter Sunday and all that. Pity they did not announce themselves earlier. Maybe a garden centre will be open.

Thought for the Day

After the mopeds…

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