Bank Holiday Monday

Unusual for a Bank Holiday, it turned out nice after a few morning showers. I'd got the bike ready for a cycle ride which meant putting the mud guard back on, pumping up the tyres and adjusting the handlebars.

I sat out in the sunshine finishing off my book while waiting for a phone call as to where and when - it was pretty hot out of the wind, which I then discovered was actually blowing pretty strongly when I pedalled along the seafront to the cafe. A met up with my friend there and we sat there for hours gassing over a cup of tea and a slice of lemon drizzle cake (another great recommendation), putting the world to rights and hatching a plan that's been on the back-boiler for a while. Well, hatch may be a bit pre-emptive, we've sown the seed at least.

We were talking for so long that we didn't notice the time until hunger got the better of us and we headed into the other end of town for something to eat at Marocco's down in Hove. Basic plastic seats and laminated tables but great food and home-made icecream and it's always busy.

Books, books and not just books.

I've just joined my local library and oh, how it's changed.

• Although the Library card looks much the same - they've gone high-tech.
• You can renew and order books online
• Browse the online catalog
• Hire CDs and DVD.
• Return books to another library in the same county
• Use the internet.

It took all of two minutes to join. I took out a book right away that I started reading when I was away and only got half way through, so I can get that finished this weekend.

As I'm reading more these days - I now have a great resource of books a short cycle ride away without the need to spend money on Amazon or in my local bookshop.

It decided to rain while I was in the library and picking up some shopping, so I came out to a very nice clean, shiny (if not new) bike. At least it had stopped raining for the short ride home but a wet saddle, puddles and splattering tyres - I'll need to get some mud-guards fitted, if I'm going to continue cycling year-round.

Scrub-bashing and Duloe

It wasn't intended to be a working weekend but it turned out to be one. Unless that was Rhiannon's cunning plan ... luring us down there with talk of a relaxing weekend by the sea, walks along the coast path and barbeques in the garden.

Being Cornwall, the work she'd organised in the orchard, hadn't been done. They were probably aiming to do it sometime in the next month, Cornish time being somewhat like 'manyana' in Spain, so on Saturday morning we set to with loppers, strimmer (that's why it was in the car!), secateurs and electric saw, to clear the boundary ready for the surveyor on Monday morning.

Hacking our way through buddleia, brambles and nettles, we made a pretty good job of it by the end of the day, inspite of the odd shower. My arms looked as if I'd been dragged through rather a large hedge backwards, which in effect I had. At least the jeans prevented my legs from coming to too much damage. Hard work but good fun. There's nothing like a bit of good old physical exercise to make you feel like you deserve a glass of chilled wine at the end of the day.

The steps down into the orchard were well covered with clippings deposited by the neighbours and as it hadn't been cleared all summer, the brambles were pretty rampant. My clearing efforts were interrupted at frequent intervals by blackberry picking. They were far too large, juicy and numerous to be ignored.

I was also left in charge of the two dogs, who had already disappeared off to explore on a couple of occasions since we arrived but had at least returned. After keeping them shut in while Rhiannon and Karen went off to gather supplies, I managed to let them out and keep them in the garden without them disappearing off down the coast path towards Land's End!

On Sunday, we visited Looe, along with a few hundred other holiday makers and after a drink in the pub where we caught up on Big Brother, the TV being one of the things that just wasn't going to fit into the car, had a pasty on the seafront followed by a Cornish ice-cream.

Away from the crowds, a very different experience up at Duloe Stone circle. A small bronze age stone circle of quartz granite set at the edge of a field. The circle was rediscovered in 1801 and bisected by a hedge until it this was removed and the stones placed upright.

These ancient sites are associated with rituals or astronomical observations and although I'm not sensitive to it, there's an energy to be found within these circles or from the stones themselves. It certainly felt a warm, calm and comfortable place to be.

It's not far from a 13th Century church which has an interesting history in itself, dedicated to St Cuby - a 6th Century celtic bishop, with an ancient pre-christian font. Births, deaths, lives lived - condensed into names, dates and ages on blocks of slate and granite.

Three women, two dogs ... one car

I'm on the verge of a new business venture, so it was decided that we should all go away for the weekend with my two new business partners - Rhiannon and Karen.

It was an opportunity to get away for a few days and get to know each other better. A sort of mini-team build, with the added purpose that Rhiannon needed to be there anyway on the Monday, as she's in the process of selling the cottage and it's adjoining land.

Somehow we managed to fit three women and two small dogs into one car. Now this might not seem too difficult a feat but it should also be mentioned that we also had to fit in camping gear for the weekend, as Rhiannon's cottage is unfurnished, seeing as it's being sold. This meant sleeping bags, air beds, futon, folding chairs, food, cold box plus all our personal luggage, dog beds, two Westies - Monty and Harvey and not forgetting Rhiannon's guitar and the strimmer.

It's amazing how much you can fit into a Megane.

Your Countryside Needs You!

I was out yesterday volunteering with the local wildlife trust helping to clear a footpath, which had become overgrown. It's part of a local nature reserve that I started helping out on at the beginning of the year. It covers a pretty large area and there were only seven of us out working yesterday.

Much of the English countryside has been farmed for many years and so it isn't necessarily in it's natural state. Grazing of sheep, cattle and ponies has an impact on the variety of plants and animals that inhabit a particular area. Grazing here on the South Downs has resulted in the chalkland fauna and flora that exists today, much of which is rare and would disappear if it wasn't for the grazing and the work of volunteers keeping the scrub down.

Most local councils and wildlife trusts do not have the funding and resources to manage the land, so they rely on the work of volunteers. There is always far too much work to be done and not enough volunteers to do it.

If you'd like to get involved, it only takes up one day a month and most working parties don't work over the summer. You'll get out into the fresh air for a few hours. Work hard, there are always a variety of tasks for different physical strength and abilities. It's very rewarding even if you only feel your scratching the surface of what needs doing. Most days start at 10.00am and finish around 3.30pm although you don't have to stay all day.

If you work for a company - why not organise a day out for your team. Most companies these days get involved in the community as part of Corporate Social Responsibility so why not do something worthwhile and make a difference to your local countryside.

• Local Wildlife Trust Volunteering.
• British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.
• RSPB Volunteers

OK ... I'm sorry this is very UK centric but I hope that anyone in Europe or further afield can find something similar in their area. I found this for the US - National Wildlife Federation

If you know of any other useful links feel free to add a comment to this thread.

I’m talking to a cat!

OK, it’s slightly better than talking to myself but it’s still slightly worrying. I’m house-sitting at friends for a few days and looking after the cat. No dog to look after this time, just Muffin their very sweet but generally elusive cat.

She usually ignores me when I'm down here but as she hasn’t seen her owners for days, I’m obviously better than nothing and as I'm now feeding her I'm number one favourite human being.

She’s a chatty cat and if I call her when I hear her meowing, she comes running up, if I'm out in the garden or upstairs. She's even taken to following me around the house and sitting on my lap purring.

She also lets me know when I’ve been spending too much time working by getting up on the table and walking over the keyboard!

OK, I get the message.

Squidoo - Manage Your Money

Now I've got the hang of these Squidoo lenses - I've created another lens or two. My first lens has blipped into the Top 100 twice but didn't stay there long enough to make it for a full day. It's crept up to a rating of No.183 at the last count.

My two new lenses will help you to get control of your money and improve your money management. Well, that's the intention.

• Manage Your Money - Levels of debt are rising higher and higher. It's now even more important to stay in control of your money before it takes control of you. I've included some of my top money saving ideas to help you to hang on to your hard earned money.

• More Month Than Money - Discover seven simple steps to get your finances back in control. Understand how, why and where your money goes each month.

Each lens has tips and ideas on managing your money and I'll be updating them regularly. Take a look, rate them and let me know what you think.

On Yer Bike!

Phew!

Just back from Brighton having cycled to and from for a meeting. I've suddenly switched from running to cycling over the last few days and considering how little I was getting out on my bike, I've now been out four days in a row.

Making the most of the fine weather and avoiding the need to take the car into town. Brighton is a nightmare for parking and in the summer it's even worse with all the additional visitors.

However, as it was the weekend, I managed to avoid going into Brighton and just went along the seafront on the undercliff that runs from Saltdean right the way to Brighton Marina and after a short detour through the marina (should you wish to carry on) continues along the seafront all the way to the end of Hove Lagoon - if you manage to avoid the pedestrians who are totally oblivious to any cycle lane and far too many of them to make cycling easy or safe.

Although it's been sunny, it's also been pretty windy, so heading east into town has been hard work but coming back home is a lot easier. I went down to the Ovingdean Beach Cafe twice this weekend. They do a good cup of tea and a great gingerbread.

Going into Brighton this evening it was really hard work against a strong headwind. It was touch and go as it's also been threatening showers all day but I decided in the end to use pedal power rather than horse power.

Coming back however, was great! :) Probably did it in half the time and still managing to make it up both hills without stopping and just before it got too dark.