20 - 24 June

Mon, Tue, Wed - Hung around Chorleywood.  On Monday went up to Kennington to clear up wood and shower door from J's flat.  Tuesday jazz/folk at the Peppermill with Hs, after which we activated our Twitter accounts.  Got stuff ready for Pyrenees next week, shame about the body.

Thu - nice cycling weather, breezy, cool air, warm sun, incipient rain shower clouds scudding across sky:

so cycled into M&S Ricky to get a treat for dinner tonight.  They do such tempting food items, its a good job I was on the bike with a backpack so I was limited in what I could bring back.  Then down into vill to pick up few items requested by cleaners.  I do like the Dahon Cadenza (my 26" folder  [though it doesn't look like a folder] with butterfly handlebars - its nippy, responsive and comfortable for short and longer rides)

 Then on internet to book up for the London to Paris logistics  http://www.justgiving.be/Lulu-Marshall-London2Paris for the support vehicle crossing and hotel booking.  That took ages to find some accommodation on route.

Fri - Cycled in am with Dr M to Mt Vernon and back.  Traffic to Ricky not nice, but up through Moor Park was delightful with views across golf course in the distance over Watford.

11 miles.  A good way to start the day.  Bought some cakes at the Watford Mencap stall in CW:

The local fundraiser staff erected a floppy poster. They know about Lulu's LtoP Bike ride in August, and our LE2JOG.

Watched Wimbledon, then cycled to/from Mt Vernon in afternoon with Dr M,  another 11 miles.

13 - 19 June

Mon - Recovery day putting bike and roof rack away, washing/drying cycle gear, playing with routes for pyrenees, Loire and Ireland on various mapping sites and downloading OSM base maps of France to the Garmin 605.  Cold in the morning, warmed up slightly when the sun peaked through, but generally threatening dark clouds.  Walked to vill for a bit of shopping.  Murray won Queens.

Tue - What a change, sun out!  Out gardening early, removing caterpillars from cabbage patch.

Wed - Rex cinema in the evening to see 'The Way' with Martin Sheen.  Very easy watching.

Thu -  Granny to MRI scan.  Luku & Mrs M went up to London shopping, I joined them for diner at The Dean Street Townhouse (Vg) then onto see The Jersey Boys (excellent).

Fri -  12m ride to Chipperfield Larder for tea and lunch snack with Lulu (in pitter patter rain), then we drove to near Broadway in the Cotswolds for a Guitar Weekend, trying to avoid the traffic and queues on the M40.  This is where a satnav needs a map to be able to go for the small indirect roads, which we did to good effect.

Sat -  Whilst the Guitar sessions were in play, I cycled to Cheltenham.  There was a large hill on the way as you can see:

The forecast was "sunny intervals with rain showers".  There were no sunny intervals.  I popped in to the Ukelele festival in the town hall, but didn't buy one as I was overwhelmed by the choice. On the way back I got wet and cold so sheltered in the 'Fox and Hounds' in Broadway along with coachloads of tourists.  After a couple of pints and a packet of crisps I sampled the few delights of Evesham.  The River Avon is pretty, but the town is down market.  48 miles all told.  In the evening there was a great group jam sessions and performances till the wee hours.

Mrs M says the guitar retreat was great.  Good organisation and teachers with varied and interesting attendees.  Amazingly it is run by my namesake:

http://www.guitar-retreats.co.uk/

Sun -  Walked into Broadway, about 3 miles round trip, then read till course finished.  Back home in a couple of hours to a cold house.  So much for summer and global warming.

6 - 12 June

Mon - Wet day, pottered round house fiddling.

Tue - Train/Bromptoned into Kennington, then cycled to KingsX to see the British Library Sci-Fi book exhibition - I must be a geek to find that I had read many of the stories on display.  14 miles on the bike.

Wed - Typical BBC 'sunny intervals' i.e. it can't make its mind up to rain.  To avoid the cleaners and their whirlwind attack on the house, accompanied by hoover noises, pop music, mobile phone calls and portuguese chatter, I cycled to Chipperfield via Sarrat/Church End where I sampled a bacon roll and mug of tea (only 2.95 all in) at The Ladder, a real find.  Sheltered from the rain there, and cycled back via Chenies trying to avoid the puddles.  Over the Aspley Heath in evening for a meal out at 'The Purple Duck' with C&L for Chris' birthday (on friday).

Thu -  Queen's Club Tennis.  Saw Roddick, Murray (looked grumpy), and Nadal (looked a little weary) win, till the cold weather forced us to find a pub nearby.

Fri - Duties around Chorleywood

Sat - More fiddling around

Sun - Tour of the Aylesbury Vale (supposedly 35 miles) for Stoke Mandeville Hospital.  It was raining.  Forecast was more rain, and for once the forecast was right.  Start was to be at 10 but we set of early as didn't want to hang around in the rain.  It would have been a great route in the sunshine.  As it was, no coffee stops and cold, rain, wind, and it ended up being nearer 40 miles.  I was frozen.  Well done Team Hudgell!

Turned up car heater to max on way back, but still cold.  my goretex jacket isn't very goretexed! After shower we trained into London for afternoon tea at One Aldwych with kiddies.