Life in the Slow Lane

Cardi story reminds me of when I was knitting a surprise tank top for my then husband, I knitted it under a blanket as it was a Christmas present. I knitted and knitted and knitted but couldn't ask to measure it against him as it was a - surprise!!!! - I wrapped it up and proudly presented it on Christmas morning, he promised to wear it to the pre Christmas drink down the local.

It was the most awful golden yellow colour and it came down to his knees. He never complained and wore it to the pub. I stayed at home a cooked the turkey! He did get a few strange looks and comments down the pub but didn't seem to mind.

I love this thread. This is what GN is all about. If by just chatting we can be there for someone who is clearly very sad and needs some extra love and support, that is fantastic. Virtual it may be but it is clear to me that the messages and feelings are very real.
How you must have loved your beloved wife cortina. I am sure she knew what a lucky lady she was, and you too were lucky to share such love. Yes, they are right, you will have to go through all the different stages of grieving and no one knows how long that will take. You will never get over her loss, but in time you will learn to adapt and live with such sadness. Please come on here and chat to us when ever you feel you want to. We can be quite a supportive lot, but be warned, being on here is addictive ;)

sorry, I got that wrong, we did have a Matchless motor cycle and side-car, but we finished up with an Ariel Square four and side-car. I also got carried away, and only meant to mention that I was the owner of a Cortina Estate at one time, not that I ever enjoyed driving, it was just a convenience.

I have enjoyed reading through this thread, and the motor bike is partcularly interesting. I volunteer at Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, and they have vintage motor and motor cycle shows, and the occasional Harley Davidson weekend. I love to sit and chat with the owners/drives of all the vehicles - I am old enough to be able to do this and they are all very interesting and interested. We started our married life with a motor cycle - a Triumph 125 which was very unreliable, and ended up with a Matchless Square 4 and sidecar - family grew! There was a group of four of us as solo motorcyclists, and we would just pop off for a day. Remember one weekend, when we all decided a weekend away would be good, pulled into a caravan park, where the owner refused to let us have 4 caravans, (one for each couple), as he did not believe we were married, and he was not having "any of that" on his park. Did himself out of money, as the girls then had one caravan, and the boys the other. As I remember it was a fantastic weekend weather-wise, and there was "none of that".

Seem to have missed out on this thread. gknot - yes, it is a refreshing thread.

Hi Cortina - We had a classic Norton back in the day. Now we have a sat.nav called Prudence. How times change.

Sonia

Hunt, that's funny. Cortina keep posting your amusing posts. Breath of fresh air.

We love our Satnav lady. we call her 'Sonia' because she gets 'Sonia' nerves. So glad your weekend was a success.

LizG

Thanks LizG

You have it exactly right.

At some point I will tell you the story of working in a steel works at age 15.

Cortina I was thinking of you today as I visited a country show. There were lots of people there sharing their passions for vintage cars, motor bikes and steam engines. I hoped you were doing something similar and managing to find some pleasure in it.

I loved your description of the sat nav lady - she's very tolerant I find when I contradict her.

It was a big step you took, well done and I'm pleased you've decided you'll do it again.

cortina glad you had a good weekend,

Mardy! I used to live near Horncastle, I haven't heard that word since 2004 when we moved away. Do you go to Cadwell, Cortina?

I agree you should write your stories. Writing things out of your system can be helpful and you have an amazing way with words. Not that you want to forget, just lessen the pain a little.

We had a bright red cortina which was sadly a 'Friday Afternoon' car. It was always going wrong and letting us down. Finally the big end went and it was towed ignominiously off the motorway.

Sounds as though the weekend was a success cortina.

I love your cardigan story

May Day Weekend

Back home now after a Good weekend, good weather, good company and a good show, probably one of the best that I have been to.

Felt a bit shaky on the first day but put the bike out for display and was made welcome. Second day a little easier, third day a little more so.

The only thing that I forgot was the way.

So plug in the SatNav which saves reading a map.

I quite like the SatNav lady. She chats to me all the way to the destination but she can be quite strict.

If I ignore 2 direct orders such as ' At the next roundabout take the 3rd exit' and follow that by not responding to ' at the First Opportunity make a U turn ' she gets mardy and she stops talking to me.

Sometimes I feel as if I am listening to a machine.

If she went on Mastermind she would walk it.

One thing that I have learned from the weekend is that our secondhome/motorhome is just as cold and empty as our house.

But I will go again.

Sel

My Dear,Darling,Daring wife once knitted me a cardigan.

After 2 days she said "I need more wool" I got more wool.

2 days later she said " I need more wool" I got more wool.

2 more days and the cardigan was finished.

You've heard of Double Breasted. This was Triple Breasted. It was so heavy it made my back ache. The hem curled up but it did catch the rain.

She later pulled it apart and made a bedspread.

Can you see why I miss her?

Must go, got to ride a motorbike tomorrow

Hi cortina as a widow of 10 years now, may I say I know how you feel?
It does get better, I promise!
I think posters on here would tell you that I still have a sense of humour and life goes on!
I wish you the very best and can tell you that most people here are very supportive to each other.
My very best wishes to you!

merlotgran and Notso

The suit would have vents built into it.

Must go to Byebyes now, I have a show to go to tomorrrow.

Is this what the 'virtual' section is as apposed to 'real'

Adios

Ah Cortina a Queen fan too I hope this weekend is good for you and that it helps. Your Baba would be so proud of you. I'm thinking though, it might not be such a good idea, the knitted suit with bells included.

Anyway the wind blows cortina

You'll be a bit warm in a knitted Morris Dancing suit and I think I'll just have another anyway.

A knitted Morris Dancing suit with bells on??? I need another to get my head around that

Notso

Up until the traumas of last year I had 3 bikes but common sense told me that I could only ride one at a time so I sold 2 of them with one of them being a Tiger Cub.

In the 60's I worked at the Triumph factory, in the 60's when you knew what the music was about, when it was ok to have a joke with the women who built the wheels.

With reference to the ukelele and the playing of, I am attempting to learn how to play the 'Spoons' via Youtube. How do you feel about a double act to earn a few bob, sorry, Euros.

I am also drawn to Morris Dancing.

My sister has offered to knit me a suit, bells included.

Is this the real world, is this just fantasy

No escape from Reality

What can I say to make you feel better? try to think of all the happy memories, and you may smile through your tears.Your sadness has touched my heart. Stay withit, and try to get out of the house more,join anything that keeps you in touch with people. Do NOT sit in an empty house. I know what Ime talking about, believe me.Good luck, Cortina.

Enjoy yourself,Cortina

Classic motorbike? Are you a secret Rocker cortina?

Have a great weekend