Writing:
Done almost zero since my last post here. Some ideas percolating through my consciousness. I did sit down to write some more of a story I could have sworn I had already written a chunk of, but I have been unable to find any of it… I can only assume I imagined writing what I did, that’s a fairly well fleshed out piece, but from the point I finished writing it – when I imagined or dreamed, I had done, not from the start. I will do so at some point.
Biggest issue I have – other than actually sitting down to do so is that I have a “game system” that I want to use, and even though the two main stories I am thinking about do not share characters, settings or pretty much anything else. They do share the game system, and I don’t know how I feel about that.
Work:
Was done during November and December, I got paid. But I worked rather less than I had hoped for and the batteries I wanted to purchase for my bike cost rather more than I could afford.
Cycling:
Done very little, mostly just trips into Settle and back, it’s just not a nice time of year to go out anywhere interesting, I’m hoping to recondition my old bike (or buy a decent 2nd hand human powered bike) that I can do up so I have a non-electric bike for those times and temperatures. The biggest issue with electric bicycles – and indeed any electric vehicle – is that when the temperature drops so too does their range. So while in the summer I could do just about 50 miles on a full battery, even by late September the cooling temps meant that I was getting less distance from the battery.
This is then made worse by the fact that charging or storing the battery in low temperature locations (places like those I typically store and charge my bike) can actually damage the battery.
I did learn that Yamaha electric systems (the motor+battery+wiring) are considered to be better than the Bosch system, which is great. I still want a Pinion (or similar) gearbox system with external belt drive, just too many issues with my drive train. I recently bought new cranks to replace the ones I managed to damage earlier last year. And the left-hand crank keeps coming loose, so another thing I need to sort out.
Life:
Has been difficult. I always dislike Christmas, and with the difficulty in doing the hours at work I was expecting to get (arriving to start a shift only to find the work already all done) and then earning less than expected. And then losing further money because some of my November wages were paid in December pushing me over the amount I can earn before losing some/all benefits.
Then I needed to replace my very old GPU (it was I think 12 years old), which took quite a chunk of change, then my phone – which I had already been planning on replacing gained the annoying habit of not using the Wi-Fi internet – worked fine on mobile data. But apps wouldn’t work correctly… etc. So, another purchase I’d have preferred to wait until the bike was fully paid for. And on top of all that totally unable to find a battery that I can afford, the range extender if I can find one will be in excess of £500, plus a fitting kit for another £100. And they’re coming from France (only place that seems to have stock) so additional 22-25% tax on top (though as a leave voter this is my own fault).
And spending money always makes me low. Having to spend money on things I need but don’t necessarily want, then not having the funds to get the things I do want – like waterproof shoes for cycling in just makes me more miserable.
Plans:
At the moment my only real plan is to gradually ramp up the cycling, in effort (by turning the assist down – I have already begun doing this), and distance. But this is largely weather/temperature and daylight hours dependant, so I’m not pushing it much.
I will continue to try and write some stuff.
And mostly play The Division 2 a lot.