Today's Ride

An unplanned excursion today.

I discovered this morning that I needed to take the Senior Cat Of The
Household to visit the Evil Man With The Needles, so having secured an
appointment, cat was secured in the trailer (cat carrier swathed in
blanket and old waterproof jacket to keep the weather off him) and the
pair of us set off into the headwind and rain. Ick.

Now, I'm slow at the best of times, but I averaged just over 6mph for
this trip (about 5 miles), which is flat apart from a motorway bridge.
Aargh.

Vet asked if Senior Cat is eating. I restrained myself with difficulty
from bursting into hysterical laughter and explained that Senior Cat
rarely does anything else, at least by choice.

Evil Needles having been put to use, and cat prevented from escaping
backwards from the vet's table, I re-swathed him in his carrier and set
off home. At half again the speed I'd attained coming out. Whee!

About 2 miles from home I detected a slackening of the pace, although I
was still pedalling as hard as ever. Yep, the P*nct*re Fairy had paid me
a long overdue visit. Bugger.

Fear not, thought I, I always carry a spare tube, shouldn't take too
long to swap them over. An extensive rummage through the pannier reveals
that I have in fact been deluding myself and there is no spare tube to
be had. Bugger 2.

Not wanting to leave cat in trailer for any longer than strictly
necessary, I pumped up the tyre as much as I could (i.e. enough to keep
from trashing the rim) and set off again. Fortunately it held enough
pressure to get me back to the level crossing at the edge of the village
where I live, although crossing the tracks seemed to be the last straw
and I had to stop and pump it up again on the far side. That was enough
to get through the last half mile or so. Phew.

In case people think I'm cruel to take the cat in the bike trailer,
experience has shown that he (and indeed the Junior Cat) is much more
relaxed after traveling thus than if they go somewhere by motorised
transport - the bike is quieter and less smelly after all, albeit
probably a bit bumpier.

Other observations from the ride :-

- Karrimor fleece trousers are not waterproof, but remain nice and
warm on the inside even when the outside is damp.

- My new Freestyle jacket is considerably more waterproof than my old
knackered one, not to mention considerably more yellow....

- I need some Slime for my tyres.

Senior Cat, for those interested, is to remain indoors under observation
for 48 hours, and if symptoms persist is to return to the vet on
Wednesday (don't tell him that though :-))

--
Carol Hague
"There's no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat."
- Wesley Bates

Senior Cat, for those interested, is to remain indoors under observation
for 48 hours, and if symptoms persist is to return to the vet on
Wednesday (don't tell him that though :-))

Give Senior Cat some ear scritches from me. If Senior Cat were Waffles, I'd be
having to watch out for revenge when I least expect it. Possibly in the form of
steaming, vomited, partially digested, small rodent innards just where I put my
foot of a morning when getting out of bed...

I hope it's nothing seriously wrong with Senior Cat.

Waffles is due to go to TED (all evil men with needles are called TED. Stands
for The Evil Doctor and applies if TED is male or female) for her annual
booster jabs this month.

Cheers, helen s


--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o* *l.c**$*$om$$

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:

Senior Cat, for those interested, is to remain indoors under observation
for 48 hours, and if symptoms persist is to return to the vet on
Wednesday (don't tell him that though :-))

Give Senior Cat some ear scritches from me.

Thanks - I will.

If Senior Cat were Waffles, I'd be having to watch out for revenge when I
least expect it. Possibly in the form of steaming, vomited, partially
digested, small rodent innards just where I put my foot of a morning when
getting out of bed...

One reason why the cats aren't allowed upstairs in our house :-)

I just need to watch him around the new sofa....

I hope it's nothing seriously wrong with Senior Cat.

So do I. TED (I like that!) says he's most likely eaten a
Warfarin-poisoned rodent and has given him Vitamin K to counter that
possibility and antibiotics in case it's an infection (he's been passing
blood, hence the unscheduled trip). He seems better this morning (Tiger,
not TED!), although he's still sulking :-)

Waffles is due to go to TED (all evil men with needles are called TED. Stands
for The Evil Doctor and applies if TED is male or female) for her annual
booster jabs this month.

I hope she behaves better than Tigs, who once tried to bite TED rather
than submit to the injection. Most embarassing, even if TEDs are used to
it....

ObCycling - the number of bikes in the house is now significantly
reduced, Rob having banished my old uprights to the new shelving in the
garage, although my trike is temporarily in the lounge for puncture
repair purposes - which Rob did for me, thus earning major brownie
points. Yes, I *can* repair punctures, but why bark yourself, right? :-)

--
Carol Hague
"....a cat is a diagram and pattern of subtle air." - Doris Lessing

"Carol Hague" wrote in message
...
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:

Senior Cat, for those interested,

I'm not. This discussion is making me itch. Please take it elsewhere.
rec.pets.cats.health+behav seems most suitable.
___
Michael MacClancy

Yes, I *can* repair punctures, but why bark yourself, right? :-)

Indeed. This is the only point to having a man about the house, isn't it? To
have one's own personal bike mechanic. Do they have any other uses?

Cheers, helen s

p.s. Give Senior Cat some more scritches behind the ear from me.


--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o* *l.c**$*$om$$

"dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" wrote in
message ...
Yes, I *can* repair punctures, but why bark yourself, right? :-)

Indeed. This is the only point to having a man about the house, isn't it?
To
have one's own personal bike mechanic. Do they have any other uses?


And this belongs in soc.feminism doesn't it? ;-)
___
Michael MacClancy

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:

Indeed. This is the only point to having a man about the house, isn't it? To
have one's own personal bike mechanic. Do they have any other uses?


Now if I said the only point in having a woman about the house is to clean,
cook and do the dishes I would be rightly criticised for being sexist.

Tony

Michael MacClancy wrote:

"Carol Hague" wrote in message
...
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:

Senior Cat, for those interested,

No, she didn't. That was me. Please keep your attributions straight.

I'm not. This discussion is making me itch. Please take it elsewhere.
rec.pets.cats.health+behav seems most suitable.


I was attempting to actually inject a ride report into the endless
morass of h*lm*t rants and speed camera drivel. The cat was instrumental
in bringing the ride about so I thought it germane to mention him. As
for instance, someone describing a ride to the pub might mention what
the beer was like.

--
Carol Hague
"I've given that viewpoint a lot of thought sir, and reached the
following conclusion: arseholes to the lot of 'em sir"
- Sam Vimes, _Feet of Clay_ by Terry Pratchett

Tony Raven wrote:

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:

Indeed. This is the only point to having a man about the house, isn't it? To
have one's own personal bike mechanic. Do they have any other uses?


Now if I said the only point in having a woman about the house is to clean,
cook and do the dishes I would be rightly criticised for being sexist.

The difference being that until comparatively recently many people (of
both sexes) sincerely believed this to be true. I don't think anyone
honestly believes that men's only use is repairing cycles.

I certainly don't consider Rob's only function to be that of an unpaid
bike mechanic and I doubt that Helen really looks on Vernon that way.

The humour is in the reversal of the stereotype, but if you don't find
it funny, fair enough.

Rob is considerably more dextrous and has much more "mechanical
sympathy" than I do, so it makes sense for him to do any complicated
mechanical work, because he'll make a much better job of it than I
would, in much less time. This being the case, I'm happy to be his
assistant, finding parts and tools, making tea and generally making the
job easier if possible. (Although he's Not Very Good at giving
instructions :-))

Even with less complex stuff, like changing inner tubes, he'll be much
quicker than I am, so if he's not too busy, he doesn't mind doing them
for me, just as I don't mind dong things like checking spelling for him.

--
Carol Hague
"I've given that viewpoint a lot of thought sir, and reached the
following conclusion: arseholes to the lot of 'em sir"
- Sam Vimes, _Feet of Clay_ by Terry Pratchett

"Carol Hague" wrote in message
...

Now if I said the only point in having a woman about the house is to
clean,
cook and do the dishes I would be rightly criticised for being sexist.

The difference being that until comparatively recently many people (of
both sexes) sincerely believed this to be true. I don't think anyone
honestly believes that men's only use is repairing cycles.


Yawn, some people just don't have a SOH, do they?
___
Michael MacClancy