13.11.2024 Moustache 28 & 29 e-bike recall.

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   Wednesday 13th 43F/6C. Another grey day promised after yesterday's sunshine.

 Up at 5am after a dreadful night. I couldn't get to sleep and then woke several times. Lying awake again from 4.20 I finally decided to get up.

 BTW: My bloodshot right eye has almost returned to normal. 

 Certain Moustache e-bike models, including the Friday 28 and Dimanche 28 & 29, are being voluntarily recalled for dealer checks. The steerer tube, on the carbon fiber forks, may be at risk of cracking under impact. 

 Voluntary recall of carbon forks Friday 28, Dimanche 28, and Dimanche 29 - Moustache Bikes

 Stop riding your bike immediately and have it checked by your dealer. Note that any existing damage will not be visible. It will be hidden inside the frame's head tube where the fork bearings sit. The website image does not even show the area affected.

 If you have sold your Moustache then please inform the new owner of the recall if possible. Somewhat ironically, the Moustache website, frame number checking link, is was broken! Now fixed. In the meantime, assume that your bike is affected and contact your dealer. Just to be on the safe side. If you know of, or meet any Moustache owners, then pass the message along. 

A sudden steerer tube collapse could easily be catastrophic! The rider could be projected face down over the handlebars! Death or very serious injury are quite possible outcomes. Particularly in traffic. Where following vehicles would have no time to avoid you. Or, you were thrown into oncoming  traffic. Assume the absolute worst for your own safety! Get your Moustache 28 or 29 checked!

 8.40 I managed a couple of hours sleep to catch up. Going for a walk. It is grey and very misty.

 11.00 Returned from a drive into the village to collect some tablets. I met a couple I knew from the museum. They suggested I return but do lighter duties than before. There was brief sunshine on the return journey but the sky has darkened again.

 13.45 49F/9C. Returning from a cold and wet 40km ride. It started raining at halfway. As I visited two charity shops and an antique/retro shop. I took the warmer GripGrab gloves but wore the thinner pair. Changing to the thicker gloves at half way. These proved to be not warm enough either but I had left the mitts at home. Which was silly. I shan't do that again. They weigh nothing and take up no room in the panniers.

 14.15 It was only 61F/16C indoors on my return. So I lit the stove before making lunch. It has only risen 1ºF in half an hour but the heat on my back is fierce now.

 17.00 I have just exchanged a 1/3 of the water in the goldfish aquarium.

 19.00 Dinner was a salmon pasty with mashed potatoes. I washed up while the potatoes were simmering. It took so long [40+ minute] for the potatoes to soften that the pasty was overdone. And all the better for it.

 

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12.11.2024 Give me sunshine..

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  Tuesday 12th 47F/8C [13.30] A sunny day?!!? Does not compute!

  Up at 7.40 after a fairly quiet night and waking earlier.

  13.00 Returned from visiting my friend. It was hard work driving straight into the low, blinding sun. Made worse by the wet roads.

 I called in at the local pharmacy and doctor's surgery on the way home. Because I had run out of specific tablets. The receptionist said my progress needed to be followed up anyway. So I have new appointments for blood tests and to see the doctor.

 I found a nice, mostly glass display cabinet at a charity shop but the hinges were worn out. Or something similar. The all glass door was hanging askew, wouldn't shut properly and squeaked loudly. I checked the undersized hinges but could not see any means of adjustment. Which is rather annoying. I had to pass on this one. 

 There was more cloud in the afternoon.

 17.00 After taking pictures of a gorgeous sunset I have lit the stove. The room is at 62F/16.7C.

 Dinner was  fry-up of chicken, mushrooms and eggs. Helped down with a whole grain, bread roll and a small, organic beer.

 It reached only 67F/19C in the room by bedtime. Heat loss is increasing as the outside, wall temperatures fall. The upstairs [attic] is also open to the living room via the open stairwell. Though it has 30-40cm of rockwool above the ceiling. A trapdoor would be difficult to arrange because of the projecting banister. A heavy curtain around the bottom of the stairs might help reduce heat loss to the upstairs. All of this has been discussed endlessly over the years on my blog.

 

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11.11.2024 More kitchen ramblings.

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 Monday 11th 46F/8C [5.30] A wet day is promised.

 Up at 5am after a busy night topping up the fire bucket and having weird dreams. I dashed around watering the plants while I waited for the kettle to boil. I used to over-water the plants but now have leaned the opposite way. They thrive better for being drier rather than wet. And no, I did not use the contents of the fire bucket. I used ordinary tapwater.

 Physio rehabilitation and exercise class this morning. Followed by a visit to the dental technician to see if the fit of my new plate can be improved. There is a gap in between my commitments. So I can go shopping for about an hour. I am still searching for suitable storage tubs for the kitchen. 

 I need to standardize somehow. To bring some sort of order to the unsorted chaos. Or finally begin to question the purpose of keeping much of it on show. Or keeping any of it at all! The space, where the new draining board now lies, once held the rusting cooker. That newly available space became handy for rather visible storage. Made worse by a large wheeled trolley in the corner beyond.  

 I had plans for a new, front loading washing machine. To replace the aging top loader in the bathroom. Then resented the low position of the front loader's door for filling and emptying. Only cutting the draining board away would make any sense. Since I could then raise the washing machine on a dais. To make it practical for use by an old fart like me. Perhaps a storage cupboard instead of a dais?

 I look at the sales displays in charity shops for storage inspiration. The minimalist kitchen displays at IKEA hold no strings to any reality I recognize. The arrival of the recycled display cabinet demands I fix the hideous mess I have created for myself. The unfinished plasterboard on the end wall must be attended to. Preferably with some insulation behind a far more cosmetically acceptable wall surface. 

 It used to be vertically boarded but that had become riddled with woodworm. Nothing attractive has replaced it. Since I ripped it all down after my wife died. Her badly stained, naked pine dresser no longer has any real meaning. Other than to hoard a mixed collection of drinking glasses. Which never sees the light of day. 

 A tall storage cupboard on that wall could hide a lot of stuff. If I had anything worth storing. A large cabinet with glass in the doors above could safely display my wife's glass ornament collection. Illuminated by carefully placed LED lighting. It would keep the dust off too.

 The lower cupboards could house the stuff which should not be seen. That might be the way ahead. Instead of investing in yet more secondhand, display cabinets. Or horribly expensive new ones. The image [above right] was a snap from IKEA's display. Just as a suggestion for the styling possibilities. I am not a fan of solid shelves seen from above. They might work at eye level but not below. Glass shelves can disappear with the correct lighting. Leaving the ornaments appearing to float in mid air.

 8.15 Trimmed my beard, showered, put some laundry on. Off we go.

 11.30 Returning from town. The physio class went well again. Followed by a brief visit to the dental technician. I may have to talk to my dentist about removing a lower tusk. Which juts outside my row of lower teeth. It keeps stabbing me inside my lower lip! 

 I pottered around a discount furniture and bedding shop. They had some cheap display cabinets but the quality wasn't up to much. I was more interested in judging the overall appearance. Solid versus glass shelves.

 Dinner was poached eggs on toast. I almost forgot to photograph it. I hope you like a bit of drama!

 

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