The car battery was getting a bit low. The car has always shown a weakness with regard to batteries, so I suspect the ultimate fault lies elsewhere but that doesn’t alter the fact that the vehicle needs a long run on a regular basis.
With the current social restrictions, there is little need to go long distances. Conversely, there appear to be plenty of opportunities for short ones. I really wish I had got a bike by now but maybe this lockdown will enable me to save more effectively for one.
Notwithstanding, in the meantime, the car battery is dodgy. So, feeling the need to get away from my home cum classroom/meeting room, I took myself off into North Yorkshire.
In truth, this isn’t far from us, so I reckoned if I went round the houses a bit I would just about be able to do the requisite 45 minutes of motoring to charge the battery fully.
Indeed, I did go round the houses, having a look at Micklefield and then Sherburn-in-Elmet and then South Mildford, small towns on the North/West Yorkshire border. And then I looked at the time and I realised I needed to be getting home in time for the hour I’d given my daughter.
Seeing a sign for the A1, I thought this would be my best bet. But the sign didn’t tell me how far the nearest junction was. And this happened to be further south than anticipated.
Just when I thought I should be arriving home, I realised I was nearly halfway to my parents’ in Grantham. Fortunately, there was a convenient slip road just up ahead, so I was only about 30 minutes from home. It was also a gloriously sunny day, and thanks to the wonders of smartphones I was able to inform my daughter of the slight discrepancy between what I was doing and what I said I would be doing.
Disclaimer: This post may seem a far cry from the aims of the blog but rest assured there will be a post or two in the near future which return to the theme of gardening, wildlife and such.
Growing out of chaos 
I’m reading several blogs who are sharing “slice of life.” By all means, keep sharing. I follow you for you!
Thanks very much, Alys. In times such as these, having a snapshot of the world through blogs is good, I agree!
Today is the first I have felt seriously bored but I guess you’ve already been in this position for several weeks?
Boredom eventually leads to new and different projects, so that is helping immensely. I’ve deleted thousands of photos from my hard-drive, I’ve written postcards from my stash to several friends, I’ve cleaned and organized a cabinet and I’m making some cards. I managed my first walk yesterday. My foot is sore (and propped up) so I’ll need to ease into it.
Yes, a bit at a time – sounds like you have been making good use of your convalescence, anyway 😊.
Like Alys I follow the blog because I enjoy what you write – including this piece. I have found that aimless meandering / deliberately getting lost / exploring – define it how you will, is the best way to get to know an area. I hope the expedition helped you overcome the boredom. We are all going to have to be creative to stay sane methinks!
Yes, we are going to have to be creative to get through this period… Anyway, thank you for your compliment. I am glad you like reading my posts 😊. You don’t actually post on your blog, do you?
The first boredom hit me yesterday. It was just the fact that we are unable to do so many things, even though essentially I did exactly the same as I would on an average Saturday.
I hope you’re keeping well
Hi Helen, I do post but I think you are being sent to my defunct ‘Coppicelearner’ blog. I write as ‘Going Batty in Wales’ https://goingbattyinwales.wordpress.com/2020/03/28/blessing-3-c-is-for-challenges/ will take you to the latest and there is another will go online in a n hour. I hope you enjoy them.
As you will see, I have found your live blog. Great that mystery is cleared up!
Anyway, I will follow your blog…. for some reason I have to either go onto a computer or a different section of the phone app to do so. Another positive from the current international situation will therefore hopefully be that web developers realise the need for more joined up thinking / seamless systems. Life’s too short for some of the shenanigans we’re experiencing at the moment, working online for example.
Sorry wordpress is making life harder than it needs to be for you. I have no idea why it is troublesome sometimes. But thank you for following.
And thanks for the reminder … I got sidetracked last night so that is something I need to do now!