Negotiating to buy.

I got an email from Jean Pierre in France a few weeks ago informing us our neighbor Denis was considering selling his property, a little history. Our house used to be 3 connecting rooms on ground floor and over the years thru inheritance and other events it had been split into 3 separate properties, that at least is the short story, longer one is how they started as one property and were extended and altered but that would be a long story and involves me waffling on about reclaimed oak beams from barns and bricked up bread ovens.

So anyway back to the here and now, we own two thirds of the property, the remaining third was occupied by a couple up until maybe 10 years ago, until old age forced them to a more comfortable surrounding, more comfortable in that the end part of the building consists of one room with a hay loft above, no bathroom or facilities other than a sink in the corner, slightly primitive, I’ll post some pictures at a later date.

Anyway when we arrived at the cottage on this trip having again driven thru the night I got straight on with cutting the grass and getting the BBQ out of the barn, while the coals heated we walked down the lane and said hello to our neighbors Regis and Collette. Regis immediately informed us that Denis was indeed selling his property and asked if we would be interested, we of course said we would, he then phoned and arranged a meeting for us in a few days to discuss it with the seller. On our return to the now suitably heated BBQ and while I cooked the steaks we had brought with us Julie and I discussed what we might be willing to pay for this attached property, we concluded that it was too small to be of use to anybody else and should anybody else buy it, it would possibly become an inconvenience to us, after a couple of beers we settled on a figure and went in to dust a few cobwebs away before making up a bed for the night.

When Julie went upstairs she discovered the loft floor covered in dead (thankfully) wasps, as they were dead I said I’d investigate in the morning.

Next day it didn’t take long to discover we had a very active wasps nest in the roof space at the top of the stairs fortunately the wasps were only managing to get into the house in small numbers but the nest needed dealing with, another walk around to Regis. Regis quickly came round to inspect and asked if I had a BOMB, I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about but it all became clear when he returned with a fairly large aerosol with a funnel shaped nozzle, apparently these thing are good at up to 6 meters maybe 29 feet, just what you need when dealing with wasps. Fortunately they had built the entrance to the nest just next to the velux window, so balancing on the top of a step ladder I could just pock my head out and direct the gas towards the entrance to the nest and retreat back in and shut the window. These sprays are pretty instance and for the rest of the day and that evening while cooking yet more steak on the BBQ we could see wasps rolling down the roof, unfortunately the nest was far more active that one spray could deal with and before I finally left to return to the UK I’d given the nest 2 more blasts, but it was still a little active even then.

Saturday and our neighbors arrived to discuss selling their house to us, fortunately they had a young lady with them who spoke exceptionally good English so eliminating what we thought would be the biggest hurdle. Unfortunately it seems there was a problem with a hedge growing on our land that was over hanging onto another neighbors land and he was doing most of the negotiating, he insisted that if we didn’t cut the hedge he would not sell the end cottage to us, on hearing this I said ok then don’t and turned to walk away, by this time we had a fair size audience with the other residents of the hamlet watching on and finding it all very amusing, this hedge has been in dispute since we purchased the property, I had been informed thru a third party that this guy insisted he owned the hedge and thought it quite humorous that the “silly Englishman” cuts it for him every time I’m there, so I decided if it was his hedge he could cut it, he never did coz it wasn’t his and he knew he legally couldn’t interfere with it, all a little petty but it is a good indication of how things can escalate in neighbor disputes. Anyway he has now finally admitted that the hedge is ours, from our point of view it marks our boundary and removes that from any future dispute. So with that resolved in my mind, I asked them what they wanted for the cottage, they um’d and ar’d and came up with a figure just over half of what Julie and I had discussed we might pay, I could see in Julie’s eyes that had she been negotiating she would have snatched their hands off and took the keys, me I just shrugged and pointed out the crack in the wall and the fact it had no drainage for the grey water, 10 minutes later and I’d offered a figure two thirds of what they wanted, they said they would return next week and let us know the answer, later meJulie said she thought I was cheeky, I said they knew better than us what it was worth and being French would have automatically loaded the asking price knowing we would negotiate a lower price. They returned Thursday, this time just the grandson and translator thinking it wise to leave the old man out of it, we agreed a price halfway between the two and all is well, we have now shook hands on the deal and the next time Julie and I go back (October) we will visit the notaire and sign for the place, nice little project for me for next summer, keep me out of trouble for a few months, we’ll keep it separate from the main house and have it as a nice little gite, maybe rent it out, get some cash back.

Other than that it was a lazy holiday, Julie was there for just over a week I stayed on for a second week just for the hell of it but have to admit once I’d got the garden in order I was bored rigid and couldn’t wait to get home, apart from missing the obvious I was also missing the Dragon, having only just got it back on the road I was itching to get some riding in.

First thing I do when I get home is check the computer for messages and read the one or two forums I enjoy not least the VRCC both UK and US, some one on the UK board asked if there was any possibility of a northern meet as most of the club activity was down south or in Wales and how about doing something for us northerners, I said I was up for attending something up north, long story short I’ve been lumbered with trying to arrange a meet in October, pushed it to the end to give folk a chance to rearrange their diary and riding schedule so they can fit in what should be a pleasant weekend in Yorkshire. We will be planning a couple of ride outs, I’m trying at short notice and without knowing numbers to get a Best Western to agree discounted room rates and oh well, all good fun, funny how so many people want a gathering but want someone else to sort it, me I’m not the most sorted person, I mean even when it is only me I need to sort I struggle so organizing something that involved 10’s of bikers (really haven’t got a clue about the numbers) and with only 6 weeks or there abouts notice, well I’m clueless, meJulie in her optimistic way assures me it’ll be great, sure it will.

In the meantime the USA fall color trip is off due too spending all my vacation money on buying property, I have however found a big black marker pen and filled a new trip in for May 2012 that cannot be erased, penciling it in doesn’t work, too easy to rub out, no this date is set in stone, will get tickets sorted Feb. (apparently 12 weeks before travel is the optimal time to buy price wise) then for sure there’ll be no turning back, gotta check the lot over there, it’s been too long.

For now I’m away back to France for a ride, yes that’s right a RIDE this coming Monday, not doing the 1000 mls in 24 hrs iron butt due to the fact I’ve been having some trouble with my knees not lasting longer than a couple of hours sitting and am not over confident given that I’ve not ridden the bike much this year  could last 24 hrs, I’m aiming for the cottage in one hop 750 miles give or take all secondary roads in France, if I can’t I’ll stop at a motel and rest, the minds willing I’m just not confident the body is up for it. There will be a full ride report when I get back, only going to cut the grass and ride a few empty roads be back Friday so I can attend the last day at the VRCC UK Meeting of Friends 3 at Llangollen, sounds like a nice days riding around the hills of north Wales.

Yep going to do my utmost and make up for all the down time the dragon has had this summer.

Well that’s about it for now, made up another lot of diet food this past week, might post a new menu before I go Monday, Mediterranean veg, with a Mick twist, nice.

I’ll be back, till then take care and ride safe.

Missing Blog

This is the blog I was going to post before I decided to tell you about the saga with the alternator and the bike, so here goes.

Oh before I do, I’m away to France next week for a couple of weeks, got some grass to cut, also got an interesting email from Jean Pierre a few weeks ago re some property, but more of that later for now here’s the missing blog.

Now for first time readers thinking “oh here we go another health nut blog promoting diets and whatever” stay with me.

I weighed in Christmas 2010 at 208 lbs, those of you who were with me on my old site will remember I had to replace my wardrobe with clothes prior to going away I’d put on that much weight. So when we got back in the new year I decided to do something positive about this weight issue, I was, on the BMI scale, obese, I only stand 5’ 6½“.

So first 6 months of 2011 and where am I?

Last weigh in Friday (29 July 2011) I was at 173.4lb, not bad hey? Total loss of some 34 lbs I’m well pleased, only problem is, if there is a problem, I find it real hard to keep to any sort of diet in the summer as with visits to France regularly interrupting my routine, its not easy, main point is I can’t take the gym with me so have to make do with a bar and some weights, no treadmill, squat rack or bench press, so exercising slows while I’m away and BBQ’s increase. The usual pattern is loose a little weight in UK only for it to go back on in France, very disheartening, however on a positive note this year I’ve managed to actually loose a couple of pounds on my French trips as well.

The first ¼ up to me going to France I’d lost 26 lbs averaging about 2lbs per week, now that’s the sort of weight loss it’s good to see, not to fast, just about the right pace. Then I went to France and managed to loose another couple of lbs whilst there, given I was there for three weeks it wasn’t at the rate I was doing, but still a loss. Then back home and again back on the exercise and diet plan, first week I didn’t loose any weight, second week ½ a lb and third week another ½ lb, but hey I’m still losing so not too despondent and this diet is easy to follow in fact I’d say a dodle, takes a little will power but given you only have to follow it for five days out of seven it doesn’t drag on, it also doesn’t allow your metabolism to slow as it gets a boost weekend, as long as you eat sensibly weekends that is and don’t pig out, I’ll share my weekend with you, slow smoked pork shoulder and my take on cowboy beans was one we did last week for James (seventeen year old son and friends) went down a treat and I enjoyed my share.

The reason I think my weight loss has slowed is because muscle weighs more than fat and since returning from France I have altered my weight training from cardio to high resistance so am now building muscle, will explain more in another post.

So what’s the diet?

It consists of basically three meals at the moment mainly vegetable with a little white meat (chicken). I make these meals up once a month and freeze them; I’ll give you one recipe per post if you want to try it.

First one is the Mexican stew, and let me tell you even if your not dieting this stew makes a great meal and is very moorish.

Mexican stew

About 8 to 10 servings

2 onions, diced

4 garlic cloves, crushed (I use a lot more, maybe a couple of bulbs but love the stuff)

drizzle of olive oil

4 chicken breast cubed

2 pkts taco mix (I make my own up but packets fine)

2 tins cut tomatoes

2 tins kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 tins whole kernel corn, drained

6 large green chillies

500 grm mushrooms

I cup chicken broth

Cook onions and garlic in oil in large pan till tender

Add chicken, taco seasoning, tomatoes, beans, corn, chillies and mushrooms

Keep it moving and add broth.

Slowly bring to boil reduce heat and simmer for about 35 minutes, stirring occasionally,

And that’s it serve on a bed of rice (browns good) with a tortilla, forgo the forks and get stuck in.

I freeze this in portion bowls, defrost and reheat, makes weekday cooking a breeze.

Breakfast is brown bread toasted, lunch again brown toast with maybe sardines, fruits ok if you get peckish and I also take the odd handful of dried raisins to take of the edge, oh and keep the fluids up (water) save the beer for weekend.

Next week it’s Mediterranean veg with a twist, oh and I’ll share a Saturday night treat with you.

So it’s away to France for a couple of weeks, maybe got a property deal on the horizon, will tell all when I get back, sure to be more stories, never been on a trip where I didn’t have a story to tell after, going to try the night/early morning crossing again, get to see the sunrise as we drive down, nice.

So be back in two weeks, y’all take care now, ya hear.

Saddle bag rail guards

Hello

I was going to start this blog telling you all about my diet and how successful it’s been, but I won’t.

I’ve not been in the best form this past few weeks, seems like months, no like years. As old followers will know my main summertime passion is riding my bike and as mentioned previously the alternator went down on it a couple of months ago, no worries I thought as I soon got it sorted by a local shop all for the sum of £50, not a bad deal or so I thought.

I reckoned I’d saved about £150 on that deal so as this was an amount I thought I had to spend on the Dragon I decided to spend it anyway and ordered some saddle bag guards from the States, I paid the same for these as I would have for an alternator so wasn’t disappointed at all with the deal, mind it meant I had to get out of bed at 4 in the morning to catch the auction end, time difference you see, did this for a week and eventually got a winning bid in, happy.

Got a phone call of my mate Fred asking if I fancied a ride over the Pennines to collect a couple of metal detectors he’d won on eBay, never the one to give up a chance for a ride I said I would, next day we’re away on a nice 200 mile round trip, motorway there but back over the snake "here" Not as exiting as US129 but never the less a nice road. So all should be well? No, you see a few miles into the ride, I notice the volt meter only registering 12 volt again and not the 14 it should when charging, I wasn’t overly concerned as I’ve learnt from past experiences to be prepared and never trust a repair straight out the box, so I’d strapped the 12 volt power pack to the rear carrier, long story short, on the return leg about 10 miles from home bike starts miss firing and batteries dead. Get off hook up battery pack and home.

So next day it was alternator off and back to shop, left it for checking and sure enough it was shot, in fairness they offered a refund on repair which I gladly took but now had the dilemma as to what to do. This dilemma stayed with me for the 10 minute drive home, when I got in I was straight on eBay and ordered the alternator from the states should have done that in the first place.

So I’m now without the bike and waiting, I’ve got a tracking number and every couple of hours I clicking ups and tracking my parcel, (both of them). First one to arrive at customs was the guards followed 4 days later by the alternator, there they sit, languishing in a warehouse somewhere for over a week, then they are on there way again this time the message is “attempted delivery, fees to pay, awaiting payment”. I wait, two days later I get a letter telling me I have to pay customs duty prior to deliver. This is not a problem; I was expecting and had allowed the cost of duty and VAT.

So off to the depot I trot with cash in hand, I hadn’t had a letter about the alternator but that too was showing released from customs, so I asked anyway if it was there, sure enough it was so now I’ve got all my goodies and am happily driving back home to get them on the bike.

It was getting a little late so decided I’d tackle the alternator tomorrow and maybe bag guards the day after, so it was to bed and once more contented sleep knowing my Dragon would soon again be whole. Next day, and it was a day, I put the alternator back on, unfortunately when they assembled the alternator they put the rear housing on one third out,later discovered this being for a Goldwing that’s how it is so once on the bike although I could hook all the wire up I couldn’t get the trim surrounding alternator on. I did consider leaving it off but decided I’d remove the alternator and turn it a third (clock it), before I did this I did fire up the Dragon and can confirm volt meter was showing 14 volts, jobs a good un. Not the easiest thing to take off and put back on these alternators, but after a little cuzin and f’in an’ jeffin it was all done.

The weather up to this point had been really nice, wall to wall sunshine, perfect for riding, unfortunately the day after it started raining, never mind it will clear, so I got on with putting the guard rails on. 4 days that took me, just finished now, see the problem was my bags aren’t standard and I’d put them on where I thought they looked the best but when I came to offer up the rails they wouldn’t go around the bags, so I had to take the bags off and re mount them where the rails would work.

I put the rails on then offered up the bags, figured where I thought they’d need to be, altered the mounting brackets to suit then patched the old mounting holes with fibreglass. The first bag went on a dream and looked the business I must say, unfortunately it wasn’t the case with the second bag, seeeeeeeeeeee………………these rails are after market and not 100% and unfortunately the other side was out, only by a fraction of an inch but enough to make a difference. So I had to modify the bag mounting brackets to take the bags nearer to the bike, having done this it moved the mounting holes, only a little but a little is enough that the bags wont fit, soooooooooooooo I filled the holes with fibreglass and when set re drilled new holes in correct location.

The bags are now on the bike, I’m going to have to give the Dragon some real attention this winter and I’ll take the opportunity to sort out the paint and the back of the bags but for now it’s not too bad, when the rain stops I’ll go for a ride and maybe get a picture for you to see, until then, if you can, ride safe.