May 26

 

May 2026

The warmest days ever at this time of the year.  It was not quite so warm at the beginning of the month. There was Wey Valley’s Observed Sunday and the first attended on the Buell and my regular walk around the parking to commemorate the event. There was a really good turn out for a Bank Holiday weekend. A few days later we had the AGM at Normandy Village Hall which was also well attended. I went in the C3 this time being more rural it felt safer at night in the car. Many of the officers stayed post and a few new ones elected. It is good see enthusiasm for the club. Many clubs do not get the support from their members.

The next day Gita and I were off to Chipping Sodbury for the folk night. A bit of heavy traffic because the Badminton Horse trials were on and the entrance was on the way from the M4. I have ridden a horse on a Dude Farm in the USA and I have come to the conclusion I would rather ride something that does not have a mind of its own. The Folk Night was exceptional with very good local artists and a new face also from London visiting Badminton. I particularly liked “Tim the Wind” who played what looked like a homemade instrument some Aztec music. The weekend was low key and enjoyed staying with Adrian meeting up with Jane another of the cycling club members. I had my first ride on an electric bicycle. Up hill it was so easy and probably fast enough to mix it with London traffic now that it is becoming a 20mph zone.

Back home I started to have pain in my right knee. By the middle of the week I was totally incapacitated requiring a GP  appointment for some pain killers. Perhaps it was a little gout which was better in a few days but I did miss the French Car Day at Blackbushe Airport which I had been looking forward to.

Given a few more days I checked over the Burton and gave its first wash of the year in preparation for the MOT. It was a Friday MOT and had to set up Autopay for that. A clean car helps and the Burton passed again without drama.

I had promised Richard from the 2CV club at Drive It Day to make 4 brackets in stainless for his Traction Avant. I took the Buell over to Bagshott to pick up the light fitting to ensure it all assembled correctly. It is now finished and ready to fit to the car.

Later in the next week it was time for the Buell to have an MOT. It was dropped off at Snobs for a service and a few adjustments from all the work done it last year. A success with an MOT with no advisories. Yippee!

April 2026 The rest of the month.

 

April 2026

The rest of the month

The month started with Hospital appointments. Nothing serious, just check-ups. I went to mine on a fine day on the Kawasaki. It was great to have that expedition.

Next up was Observed Sunday with the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcyclists on the Buell and six trips out to the countryside towards  Amersham to put some miles on the bike. I have not been able to do much more due to the weather and I did more miles in the C3 which did give me some problems with the tyre pressure warning light going Birmingham showing incorrect pressure. Nothing was wrong until I worked out that it was a warning for over-inflation too. Just lowering the pressure a few psi was the solution. I am not used to measuring bar and still need to correct it to psi. One bar is equivalent to 14 psi. 2.5 bar is 35psi.

Doing a little gardening setting up the irrigation system for going away and ensuring that every pot that needs watering gets it. I did another little job to remake the roof for the wood store. I made a frame and used the salvage fence slats when the fence was replaced last year. Another just job that took all day.

I have had dodgy knees since  having the Covid vaccine and they are not getting any better to remedy that I have started walking nearly every day usually for about 50mins which works for me and is about two miles to build my muscles and make my knee joints feel more comfortable. So far that seems to be working.

To finish off the month there was Drive It Day which was different, two of the 2CV club are members of the Traction Avant club and this Drive It Day was with the Traction Avant Club and I was in the El Cid. We met up at Smith’s Garden Centre in Denham. Four Tractions and my Mehari look alike followed a route to Chesham and the De Havilland Aircraft Museum.More Tractions arrived all parked in front of the outside display of aircraft. It was an excellent museum with lots of interactive bits and Mosquitoes everywhere. The museum was not just about the aircraft, pilots and their heroic missions in World War 2. The developments after the war encapsulated how air travel moved from being only for the rich and privileged to mass travel. All in all it was a lovely day with like-minded people.

April 2026 Music and Dance

 

April 2026

Music and Dance

April is the month for Bihu time of traditional songs and dance, folk dances and classical all supported by food to make a real festive occasion. We went to two. The London Bihu in Feltham and a week later the Birmingham Bihu in West Bromwich. Although same festival each has its own character. The London Bihu had its main attraction imported directly from Assam and one of the popular singers of love songs,Shankuraj Konwar, who had the whole hall joining in to make a most memorable evening and prompted enthusiastic dancing from the audience.

By contrast Birmingham was a stop over having a night in the Mercure hotel with a check-in at 3pm that was an hour after the event started. The venue was a conference hall where reception was a snack and soft drink to keep you busy before the entertainment started. I checked-in to the hotel having my own adventure as I could see the hotel but not the entrance drive. Eventually finding it using Tom and Google maps. Checking-in was quick and easy and I was soon back at the event. There was lots of dancing from different local people also some favourite songs from local artists. Food was later served at the table and catered for everyone’s’ tastes. After the meal it was disco time and the dance floor was soon filled with people gyrating to the music. Another great evening enjoying the company of old friends and engaging with the next generation of Assamese in the UK.

Th Bhavan London was the venue for World Dance Day. The Bhavan has a small theatre and at this event Dance schools from all over the country performed. So many that I could recount who came from where but at the end of the performances there were more artists on stage than people in the audience. I think there were fourteen acts, some with so many people on stage at times there was only just enough room. There were some incredible performances that I could not capture on my phone but here are some photos and shorts to give a flavour of the evening. I enjoyed it immensely.