Weekend part 1 - cycling and picnicing

Not quite as laid back a weekend as anticipated but still in-parts a fun one!

Saturday we decided to go to the goth/alternative picnic in Kenwood Park, Hampstead Heath.  As usual the tubes were up the creek and didn't think parking round there would be much fun, so I jokingly suggested to Rob that we cycle there - and he agreed!  aargh!! :-)

Checked TFL's journey planner, which gave a suggested route of around 7 miles in 45 minutes.  We made some amendments for a more scenic route (and hopefully avoiding too many steep hills!) and allowed 3 hours! :-)
Packed up picnic and set off in the morning, managed the first part, to Welsh Harp, without too much pain considering my lack of cycling this year.  Got to the A406 and discovered that the cycle path was closed due to building works, their suggested detour taking us back in the wrong direction. Replanned a new route, via Temple Fortune and Hampstead.  Very pretty route, quite roads with quaint and quirky architecture but a few more hills than planned.  By the time we'd reached Hampstead Heath I'd reached the point of no return and pretty much had to push my bike up the rest of the hill to the Spaniards Inn, for much needed refreshment before we met with everyone at the picnic.
In all, the journey took 2 hours 15, covering about 10 miles.  Not bad for a first proper cycle of the year?

Got to Kenwood for around 2pm and after brief recovery, we found the shadowy sight of a group of goths sitting in the field.  As the afternoon went on, there must have been around 100 people turn up in all and a fun afternoon was had, just the time went all too quickly!

We reluctantly dragged ourselves away around 6pm, so that we could cycle home before it got too dark.  Took the suggested TFL route back, which was not so pleasant.  Easy enough routes but went through some rather grim estates in Hendon and Colindale, when you're tired, stressed and desperate to get home, getting abuse from passing chavs doesn't make it any better.

Too knackered to do anything in the evening, so we just vegetated on the sofa whilst catching up on some of our V+ recordings.

weekend part 2 - sewing and stress

Sunday, not sure what happened.  Planned to spent the day at home sewing, whilst Rob had some DIY tasks to do (someone had broke the kitchen sink drainage!).  Not sure where the day went but I got hardly anything done - finished my skirt to go with the oriental jacket for WGT (also made from birthday present fabric), which for 3 meters of lightweight fabric, has managed to turn into a skirt with an impressively long train!  another outfit completed, decided to go for it and start on the 1950's dress but somehow didn't get very far, most time spent procrastinating over whether i had enough fabric to do it.

Monday, day booked off work for a Sewing Day! :-)  Got up early to catch up on my lack of progress the day before.  Most of the morning was spent cutting out, as it was a tricky pattern to get to fit properly and of course, i once again decided to make some changes to the style!
However it was all coming together quite nicely until my machine started to make noises. :-(
When Rob got home from work, we took it apart as much as we could to clear any lint and oil relevant parts - on the plus side, my bulb has never shone brighter; ashamed to say that I'd never opened that panel of the machine before to clean in there!!  Still couldn't find the source of the problem, so Rob suspected it was something internal on its way out, probably the drive belt. :-(  The poor thing, she's served me for so long, subject to so much abuse!
 Managed to carry on sewing during the evening, taking it carefully.  The noise not going away but not getting worse either.  Just hope that i can finish this dress and (ideally) be able to make my Sarabande dress too; if not, will need a contingency plan (ie re-wear an outfit!) for the Ball.


To add to my pre-WGT worries, was the news of another volcano and ash cloud; what's the liklihood of that bloody happening again nearly exactly a year later!
And to those who say i'm worrying about nothing or trying to find something to stress about - yes, i am bloody stressing!  I've spent the best part of this year sewing for this; not a problem in itself, as its something I enjoy doing, obviously! :-)  - so I will be seriously gutted if all that work has gone to waste because of travel disruption.  
Particularly as we're not planning to do WGT (or much else in the way of dressed up events) next year; I've been so looking forward to it this year, along with my trip to Dresden afterwards, so don't want it ruined. 

It was so disheartening last night, struggling to find out what was wrong with my sewing machine, whilst at the same time hearing the news of uncertainty of a repeat of last year, put a bit of a downer on what was before then a rather positive day.
So yes, I will be anxiously checking the weather/ash forecasts every day for the next two weeks in the hope that it blows away in the right direction.