It's raining again...

It's raining again..that's a song title isn't it?
Anyway, hi, how is everyone? My last entry was a couple of months ago, it's been busy busy busy here in Wiltshire. The garden is really doing well and we are at last making our mark on it, new fruit trees (Pear and Plum) lots of herbs and a Twisted Hazel. Wildlife is always a joy to behold except for Squirrels, Magpies and Rats...Although the rats are pretty scarce now. I shoot these pests using a superb Theoben pneumatic .22 (Rapid 7) It's very accurate and I know I am losing the battle because for every squirrel that I dispatch, two more appear in the walnut trees the next day .

I am pleased to report that I am pretty fit currently. There has been some good fun mountain bike trips around the Box Valley with two or three 'Dads' all of a similar standard and riding some superb machines (me on an ATX 890 with Formula and Race Pace components) I have also been running, distances of between 5 & 10 miles, also around the numerous trails of the valley...some of the hills are a slog. You might find them on http://www.mapmyrun/.

Last Sunday Kate nominated me for a 10k trail run...Wiltshire's premier off road event! Called the Moonraker and held in the village of Urchfont somewhere south east of Devizes...I arrived to register with about forty five minutes to spare...It was torrential rain, turning to hail stones!! The start line was flooded but that just levels the playing field so far as I was concerned..
The start was called and I set off in the middle of a small pack which is how I like to go, but I found I was running beyond myself for the first few miles and really paid a heafty price when I got to the infamous 'Folly' a mile long climb that gets steeper towards the top, my legs were okay but my lungs were shafted. I made some good ground in the latter stages once I cleared the top and even had a good sprint in to the finish with an Amazonian woman who really wanted to beat me...and I think she did by about half an arm.

My trusty 1984 Defender 90 is going to be sold...This is a fantastic 4x4. Rioja Red 200tdi...It looks like a much newer vehicle and drives well. Sadly it is simply no longer suitable for work when it comes...I don't like to drive great distances in it and it isn't suitable for family trips because the discomfort factor is huge for everyone bar the driver..I spotted a 2001 VW T4 '800 special' transporter van two weeks ago, advertised in the local newspaper shop window. It was owned by an elderly fellow who had only covered 1500 miles since 2005. The total mileage was 49k and the asking price...£4,950..I went to see/drive it and was impressed with the condition throughout but I couldn't get the price lower than £4,700 but I had to have it..I have looked on Ebay and VW forums and generally vans like this come up for similar (a little less) money but carrying over 150k mileage. Hopefully I now have a relatively economical mode of transport that will also carry camping gear and the usual clutter up and down when the need is there.
The Defender should fetch about £4,000 but I do need to clean it...After spending hours tidying and polishing it last week I took Rory out to find some logs in the local woods...
We...well me! Drove into an area that is being dug out to make a fishing lake and drove to the far end of the site...It had been raing all day, and the clay surface was very slippery and very soft...But heh..The Defender goes anywhere. But it doesn't cope well with land slip and in the space of a few seconds the drivers rear side had slipped into a nasty embankment, we seamed to be teetering on going onto our roof. So Rory climbed out with me coming out behind him...
Six hours , three changes of clothing, two attempts with a Mercedes G Wagon hooked up with ropes to my rear end and we were in a worse state..The rain was seriously hampering the rescue and I was worrying that the potntial selling price was being halved...neh quatered as I looked on..Then along came a JCB with caterpiller tracks. He hooked a chain to my front end and the G Wagon hooked to my passenger side to prevent me going over...then it was a simple pull...with a little diff lock and full throttle. Within half an hour I was free, but I had to drive out via a swamp of clay based water that covered the bonnet...a bloody relief I can say and I really love the Defender even more..I spent this morning jet washing inside and out, it looks non the worse for the ordeal.

Well that's it for now...There is plenty more to waffle on about...Job applications, kids schooling and parties to attend...See you next time...www.foxevans.com for all your photography don't forget!