I used to work for a car supermarket. I think the most I ever paid for a car for ten years was about £500 (even for a 5-series BMW) by buying up the part-exchange cars that came in. Of course, they were always old, and there was often something not quite right (after all, they were being “traded up”). But I’d often get a year or two use out of them before they became “uneconomical” to repair (when I’d take them to be broken up for spares). I liked to think I was squeezing the last drops of use out of them but the truth is, I’m rubbish at car maintenance so would run them into the ground and need a new one quickly!

Despite loving driving and visiting places, I think cars are rubbish. Not once I’m behind the wheel of one, of course, but the idea of cars in general – here in the UK, we simply have too many; just look along any street and see the way they’re almost abandoned along the roads, encroaching on pavements, making the streets look small and cramped and ugly.

When we moved to Brighton, I vowed to get rid of our car (there’s a very good local car club scheme). But we also have family up in Wales and Birmingham, and over in Germany and Italy we still like to visit. So now we have a campervan, but only for long journeys. Most of our travelling (pre-covid) is done on public transport and – in recent years – on our bikes.

I’d happily see all cars taken off (local) roads. But then again, I guess that means we need more things to become local again, so we can get to them without having to get the car out. So, for me, it’s a necessary evil (and, admittedly, something of a luxury since I’m sure we *could* get by without one, it just feels it would be very inconvenient to do so)

I’ve not painted a mini for about three weeks. Sometimes I feel bad about it. But I recently got a new guitar and have learned a couple of “lead licks” so I can finally take a solo at the local jam night (if we ever have another one). So not all *that bad* about it. I might lick my brushes again this weekend. I might not. If it’s sunny, I’ll more likely be at the beach. So I guess I’m on quite the hiatus at the minute. I just hadn’t noticed it!

I’ve lived with chronic back pain for over a decade. It’s just something I’ve had to learn to manage. I raised the seat on my bike as high as it will go and put massive “bullhorn” handlebars on (they look ridiculous on a mountain bike) so I can sit bolt upright and stretch my legs while out cycling. But young me gave up on looking cool long ago, so function beats form every time. An ergonomic adjustable stool is a must for working at the computer (sometimes I put it on the mantlepiece above the fire and work standing up) and sometimes sleeping on the floor will sort my back out if it’s been a particularly bad day.

Oh yes, never ever sneeze when putting your socks on.

Here’s your music

Unashamedly ridiculous-looking, 80s pop-rock. I know it’s the 2020s. But this stuff can never go out of fashion for me!

Nearly forgot the pledge: I’ve had the resin printer going a couple of nights this week. Maybe if I aim for something acheivable, like getting them all primed and zenith highlighted, it can be a nice gentle way of easing myself out of this hiatus I hadn’t realised I’d slipped into.

Your go…..