Author: Kris

Bassist. Cat servant. Everything is better shiny.

The newest bike.

~ Kris ~ Leave a comment

It’s been a bit of an unlucky one so far, but I do love it. It’s an Orange frame from the late 90’s I’m led to believe – but it has been chopped around a little.

In one weekend I’ve snapped a derailleur mount, and now today I’ve now got a puncture and had to get a repair kit and spare inner tube from Halfords.

It has to said it looks cool, but not as cool as the BMX, although the lighting was far better today.

My stats are getting much better. I’m getting faster, my distance is increasing, and I’m spending more time in the healthy exercise heart rate areas. This was for a five and a bit mile run.

Side effects.

~ Kris ~ Leave a comment

I’ve had quite a few side effects after my COVID vaccination; but I’d still have it again. It’s everyone’s duty to get vaccinated.

The first night I had a rough night, with shivers and sweating alternating.

The following day I felt like I had a mild flu – not good timing as I was selling a load of gear on Facebook Marketplace and it was getting collected.

Remember the chairs I bought when I had the classroom? Well there’s 3 left now. I met various people and saw the back of 18, plus a load of tools, and a few bits of “junk” that actually turned out to be wanted by someone!

It also means my old unit is finally starting to get emptier – again I’m determined not to transport loads of boxes of junk over there.

Sunday (day two) was much better – although my arm remained sore.

Well it’s now Wednesday and apart from a sore spot where the injection was I feel totally fine.

So what’s happened?

~ Kris ~ Leave a comment

Well you’ve probably noticed I’ve been absent for a couple of weeks. Well my unit was subject to an attempted break in on Wednesday/Thursday last week. They bent the locking pin on the shutter doors and caused some damage to one of the runners.

I’ve now repaired the damage, but it scared me and so I decided to call it a day down there. I hate most of my neighbours – honestly they’re thoughtless thick people. I’m not tolerant of people like this.

And thus, after applying for and being successful in my application I’m now in the process of moving into a rather nice and comfy unit; heated, well lit, and without the concern that my door will be constantly blocked by people who have an IQ similar to that of a kumquat.

As you’ll see it’s much bigger than my current one…

The shutter alone is a full 1ft wider! Outside my main door there’s a small breakout area, and up at the end of the corridor I have toilets, showers, a kitchen, and vending machines.

I think I’m going to be a lot happier here!

Bastards.

~ Kris ~ Leave a comment

I’ve had an attempted break in at my unit. They bent the lock plates but failed to get the shutter open. It appears that they have a scattergun approach to which units they break into. They successfully managed to get into one across the yard.

So basically, I’m moving. I’ve applied for a new unit and have been accepted. I’ll be giving notice on the old one this week. It’s easy in and easy out so only 30 days notice required.

To continue a theme.

~ Kris ~ Leave a comment

The fitness kick continues. I’m now over 5 miles on a ride and unlike previous rides I’m now no longer finishing exhausted. It’s amazing how quick your fitness starts to return when you make the demand of your body.

My waist hasn’t shrunk much, but I’ve noticed that the wobbly leftover of my old fat days is no longer as wobbly and my flab on my thighs, similar. I can feel muscles developing all the time and the tone of my calves and thighs improving beyond belief.

Even my weighing scales agree…

A physical week at work also helped though… I’m on three installs at the moment!

So this was week’s Saturday jaunt. A 5 mile run along the Trans Pennine Trail. Not too challenging, however, the thing that can be observed is that my times spent in each exercise area are changing. I’m no longer seeing much in Maximum but I’m getting a nice balance of aerobic and anaerobic which is apparently as it should be for someone of my fitness level and age. Too much in anaerobic and maximum without developing your fitness first can stress the heart and lead to cardiac problems.

As you’ll see though, I’m looking a lot more svelte! These are a 36″ waist trousers and the top is an XL. I’m definitely out of the XXL and 40″ waist now.

First rehearsal in over a year!

~ Kris ~ Leave a comment

We finally got Jamulus working and after showering (bike ride left me covered in mud!) I set up the PC and prepared for a rehearsal with the new project band (name to be decided).

I can’t believe how well it went! Apart from the lag, which to be honest you do adjust to, it was a really beneficial songwriting session. I finally got to contribute some ideas into the project including both rhythmic and chord progressions and we’ve pretty much structured the final piece at last.

I’ve already changed a couple of previously written pieces too (including adding a rather Sowetto feel to one of the songs – I do love the African and Caribbean rhythms). For Sowetto think Gracelands.

We recorded the session using the only inbuilt recording technology too!

We reconvene next week… Who knows what will happen then!

Arse!

~ Kris ~ Leave a comment

A call at 4am resulted in me talking someone through stopping a possible fire. A contactor had overheated and the arc chute was glowing bright red. I told them to turn all the breakers on that particular circuit off this removing the load.

When I got there I found this.

Obviously that’s been burning. I couldn’t get one quickly so for safety I removed the outgoing power from the left hand phase of the left hand contactor so it could not be loaded up even if someone accidentally turned on the breakers.

Sadly, the replacement is going to cost in excess of £500. It’s an AC1 300A one (basically AC1 is the highest load rating out there) and because it’s running heating it needs to be AC1 for sure.

I’ve ordered a replacement but it won’t be here till Tuesday.