Licence

Licence
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley.

Hurrah, I passed my driving test ... again, but this time in America. OK, I failed the theory test first time as you have to get 100% on the signs section and I was too cocky and got the second question wrong and got kicked out of the test. I set things right the next day as I aced the tests and drove around the block without killing anybody to get my licence sorry, license.

I celebrated my newly won right to drive like an American by cycling into work and it was so warm that I was in shorts and short sleeves despite the wind.

The bad news is that the licence is only good for one year and I will have to renew it every year, I don't think I have to do the whole gamut of tests, but we'll see.

I'm not quite American yet, but with the License, gas guzzling car, huge house and Social Security Number, I'm getting there.

Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley.

OK, so the snow has gone again and we've got beautifully sunny skies, although it's still cool out of the sun. I managed to gather up another six bagas of leaves with about a quarter of the back yad and all the front to go. The grass has gereened up quickly where the leaves gave been cleared. I think I hay just mow where the grass is longer as it will be hellish to rake the leaves out.

It's the first day of spring today, hmm, I wonder when the pool can be made ready for Summer?

Chores
Originally uploaded by
d_j_critchley.

It's been a weekend of ups and downs. Firstly, the last of the furniture was delivered, so apart from a few small things (and hanging the pictures) the house is pretty much there.

I thought it would be a good idea to clear up all the leaves in the yard, before getting the new mower out to do the first cut of the year. What a bad move! So far I have gathered up nine 45 litre bags pressed full of leaves and that's about a quarter of the area (front and back). As you can see it was cold and overcast on Saturday, but Sunday was gloriously sunny albeit slightly nippy.

Having done my chores on Sunday I settled down to watch the six nations matches not shown on the Saturday. Wales deserved the win - great passing by the English backs, but that's no good in the modern game if you don't break down the defence by taking the tackle! Scotland played well, but were outplayed by the French and helped by the ref, not least by sending their best player off in place of somebody else. Oh well somebody has to win the wooden spoon and, in that one match, Wales deserved to move up a place to nestle behind the Italians.

I think Ireland were slightly flattered by the scoreline considering the forward passes It must be gutting to have tried to get the extra score instead of kicking it out, have a great try run in against you and then narrowly lose the competition on point difference.

Perp #1
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley.

I'm a bit worried. I've got a pair of mallards in the swimming pool and a gang of squirrels running amok in the garden. The squirrels wouldn't be too bad, but they keep coming up to the windows and peering in, I think they are casing the joint. I won't be surprised to come home and find the TV, computer and peanut butter gone and nibble marks on the outside doors.

The weather has been very odd as I had all the windows open and was wandering around in shirtsleeves earlier this week and then it got colder and we got freezing rain and snow last night.

The last bits of furniture are being delivered at the moment and then I'll pop out for some exercise and provisions before settling down for the rugby. Unfortunately, although the games are shown in full there is only one on today at 1800 and the other two tomorrow evening - so no emails or calls about the scores please!

It's gone from sunny warm weather back to snowy & cold. I only managed to cycle in three times before the cycle track became icy again. On the upside, after my shipping arrived I picked Matt Nurse up from work and headed up to Whitetail for a spot of night boarding in four inches of light fluffy powder.

I've got to hang around on Saturday for some furniture to be delivered and then pop out and buy some more! Unfortunately the six nations is not live this weekend unless I go to a pub, and I don't feel like paying $20 to watch England get stuffed, so I'll watch the matches at home in the evening. Bizarrely the Gloucester match on Sunday is live!