The town bike

So, I got around to getting a bike. I mentioned before I'd been thinking about it, but was spurred into action after the realisation that I'm supposed to pay extortionate amounts to park my car at the hospital when I do evening and weekend clinic shifts. I didn't get a ticket last night on principle, but they charge punters 24-hours a day 365 days per year, and I think it's unfair especially for those of us working there and I probably won't manage to evade the clampers for long. So, the benefits as I see them are that I will reduce my car usage and thus help the environment, I will save money on the car parking, I will become fitter as a result, and assuming my accountant is as good as he was last year, I will be able to claim a large chunk of the cost of the bike back against tax - result!

I went back to the shop with the fit bloke in it, and sat on a few to try them out - bikes have changed a lot since I last had one aged about 13. The ladies version didn't feel right and apparently my position was all wrong so he suggested I try a man's one, which was loads better. I got to ride it up and down the road outside to test it and it felt really good, so I figured I should just buy it rather than arse around trying any more. I got a helmet too (safety first, kids) which looks really gay but is a necessity these days, then rode it home and around the block. Need to get some lights and a padlock, and to clear out the cupboard outside my front door so I've got somewhere to keep it (it's currently in my lounge) but all being well I will ride it to work on friday night. And, very importantly, it is red and silver and my helmet is silver too so it all matches!

Did a bit of shopping in the supermarket too, and was really good. I got some plums, passion fruit (I got a taste for maracuyas on holiday but they don't seem to sell them over here which is a shame), salad and a newspaper, and walked straight past the reduced cakes (6 toffee muffins for 49p) - ok I paused briefly, but managed to resist. Got £10 cashback too which is my budget for the week for non-essentials. Plans for the weekend look likely to change, I'll probably be going to Essex rather than having a guest as he's found out there is a big BBQ in the village with a lot of the people I went out with on my birthday, so we'll go to that instead. I've been asked to bring some food for the rest of the time as he can't be arsed to cook - but I don't mind that, will do a curry using some of my chillis and take that, along with the nice bacon that I've got (Prince Charles Duchy Organics range - I'm a big supporter of this as profits go to his charity, and the food is superb, I particularly recommend the lemon curd and dry cured bacon). Only be a flying visit though as I'll go up on saturday and come back sunday afternoon as I'm working in the evening, but will be a nice trip if the weather behaves.

The photo today is of some pelicans on the coast of Peru, there is a photo of them from the side too but blogger won't let me upload it today despite having tried twice. So that will have to wait for the next entry!