Brain ache

I knowingly failed twice yesterday, on the word quiz wordle. First to guess the word and second to pronounce and therefore understand the word properly — once it was revealed.

It was Liven

Pronounced Ly-ven or Lie-ven but I couldn’t get past pronouncing it as Li-ven.

This not necessarily about the vagaries of the English language but is maybe evidence of a deteriorating brain.

It’s sometimes feels as if it’s full of cobwebs or little stomping men.

…

So I’ve stopped cycling and I’m distracting myself, observing the Thames river.

Could it be …

Age deterioration or almost twenty years living in Indian English

Or stop overthinking you idiot.

Hit the road.

I’ve cycled for sixty years and encouraged my sons to be considerate cyclists to other road users and especially pedestrians.

At times I’ve joked that the first task to learn (for all forms of transport) is how to stop.

I worry that the many inexperienced cyclists who rent electric cycles haven’t discovered that basic skill.

I’m familiar with people (in India) no knowing or following the basic rules. Here in the UK, because it’s such a contrast to what came before —- its a shock.

Mayhem on the roads and it’s incredibly dangerous.

Were the politicians and police asleep or comatose when they failed to anticipate this chaos.

The majority … of the Inexperienced cyclists on rented electric cycles ignore the signals, travel on payments, weave in and your, come close to mowing down people who are on a crossing

I’ve no idea of the accident rates but I’m scared

It’s a real danger and all at relatively high speed.

They generally don’t wear helmets, aren’t focussed and sometimes on phones.

Then they block pavements when discarding the cycles.

It’s got out-of-hand.

Thinking back

On this trip I’ve visited places I used to live.

Now I’m also visiting family, here my sister Claire and brother Jason, who live between Sheffield and Rotherham in South Yorkshire

They live next door to each other! Really?

She’s got out the family photos.

Oh no!

It’s also been an opportunity to revisit my Sunday School Chapel, second home and school in Sheffield.

Reflections

I first tasted honey at Sunday School and was taken aback. It was amazing. Why had I never had this before? I was maybe age eight and it was probably too exotic and costly for my family.

Compare and contrast.

It’s useful to return to my home city and country. I’m initially shocked by the price differences with India.

I expect the U.K. to be a little better organised but it disappoints.

More later ..

West Yorkshire

Warning … when you travel north.

I’ve moved from tropical London to typical Yorkshire— wet, windy and coldish.

Initially I didn’t feel cold as London was scorchy but here it’s a serious to contrast to what I’m used to.

But this morning staying at Jill’s is nice and sunny

A lovely stone built cottage

The fact is everywhere is fab as I’m meeting great friends.

…

Next stop South Yorkshire.

Here I am with Belle

My sister Claire’s dog.