After taking the dogs for their morning constitutional, I returned home to discover that the bed had collapsed. On of the main rails had come loose and the plastic bits that hold the slats in place had, over the years, disintegrated so there was little holding them in place.
The rail was easily fixed with the aid of a few screws but what to do about the plastic bits ?
Hang on ! Hasn’t someone got a 3D printer ?
I measured the remains of one of the original pieces, and designed a replacement in TinkerCad.
After importing the object in Orca Slicer, I sent it off to the printer. It would take about six hours to print enough to fix the bed.
As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, once a week, usually on a Wednesday evening, Sue and I will meet some friends at The Griffin for a nights quaffing. The group is called the Griffin Cycling Club as two of the gang cycle to said pub and then after four or five pints, cycle home. I usually go in the car with Sue.
However, a couple of things changed this week – as tomorrow is Christmas Eve and we all have things to do so decided to swap to a Tuesday and make it an earlier start.
Also, as with Neil and Paul, I would get myself to the pub under my own power – walking.
I have recently, started walking again – no great distances but steadily getting there. I have been out with the dogs and after checking the maps (mainly on Plotaroute) I reckoned that I would have to walk about ten kilometres. At my current pace that would take roughly two hours.
I set off just after half one and made reasonable progress, heading firstly to Water Orton. It been a while since I last walked this way during which time the council had constructed a new footpath on the approach to the playing fields. Checking Strava, later, I realised that it was back in April when I last passed this way – I really do need to get out more !
I continued on towards Coleshill, passing the train station en route to Hams Hall. This used to be the three mile mark but with HS2 diversions it is now nearer three and a half.
I passed through Hams Hall, across what can sometimes be a very wet field (not too bad today) arriving in Whitacre Heath.
My chosen route would have taken me right to Shustoke then up the main road to The Griffin. However, I was well ahead of schedule so turned left, through the village before turning off towards the railway.
I have walked this section along the railway many, many time and it felt good to be back on familiar ground.
Leaving the railway, I followed the River Bourne before a final push along the edge of a couple of fields.
I was the first of the group to arrive and after a pint of orange juice and lemonade (rehydration) Sue arrived so I was back up the bar getting myself a pint of Green Duck’s Duck the Halls and Sue a coffee.
The lads arrived slightly later as did pints of Butty Bach Reserve and Holt’s Twelve Days.
Discovering that I had walked to the pub, one of the guys asked (half heartedly) if I’d be doing the Coventry Way. My secret was out.
I had booked one of the last spaces a couple of days before but I was going to keep it quiet until I was sure that my knees would stand up to the increased workload. Surprisingly, Sue didn’t seem to surprised and didn’t even question my choice.
The landlord has been promising Titanic Plum Porter Reserve and it was finally ready, so we rounded the night off with this straight from the barrel – very plummy !
We left the guys to have another jar while we headed home via the Chinese.
RIVER BOURNE
This little waterway is only about ten miles long, rising near Atherstone and feeding into the Tame at Hams Hall. This is the main feeder for Shustoke reservoir which supplies drinking water for Atherstone and Bedworth.
After supper, I retrieved the bed pieces from the printer and was relieved when they fitted perfectly. The bed was reassembled.
