The population of our country is too high, and getting higher every day. Our environmental impact is too large, and getting greater by the day. The two are connected. The more people we have in this country, the greater the impact on our scarce resources. Continue reading “What shall we do about the UK Population?”
“Nervous as hell!”
In less than 12 hours, Pascal and Martin will be underway on the ride of their life! Pascal has just rung home after a last minute bit of serious ride prep (see the photo) to steady their nerves for a 9am start. Gulp! (And indeed, GULP! – You know who you are!) Continue reading ““Nervous as hell!””
Sunday bike ride update
On Sunday, Pascal did a sportive (otherwise known as a training ride). It was a fair distance away so the boys and I opted to stay at home and track him remotely, whilst at the same time, sending encouraging messages to keep him going. Continue reading “Sunday bike ride update”
Devon Coast to Coast
Back on my bike again, the Lifeboat Patrol rides from Ilfracombe to Plymouth, with a stop off at Okehampton in the middle. Nineteen riders started, and nineteen riders finished (although one did have a little rest along the way), and we were joined by two support drivers to sweep up any stragglers, and to provide assistance in the event of any problems. Continue reading “Devon Coast to Coast”
Thame 10k
I am not, as I may have mentioned previously, a runner. I don’t like it. I’m slow, it feels uncomfortable, and insufficient ground is covered for it to be interesting. Walking I like, because I can look around and take pictures. Cycling I like, because I can cover distances. But running falls uncomfortably between those two stools – too fast for photography, and too slow to actually get anywhere. Continue reading “Thame 10k”
Fathers Day Blast
The morning of Fathers Day was very enjoyably spent watching the incredible spectacle that is Giffords Circus. Tweedy was endearing, funny and loved by all the children (as usual) rather than worrying, creepy and weird (as is more normal for clowns). The kids loved Keith, his pet iron, and the adults loved the folded banana trick. The acrobats and the trapeze were heart-stoppingly impressive. Continue reading “Fathers Day Blast”
Night Rider
On the 20th August, in Lincolnshire, twilight ends and night starts in earnest at 21:45. The night ends, and twilight begins, at 4:26. It may still be dark in the twilight but the glimmerings of the sun (and hope) will be visible. It does, of course, mean that for six and a half long hours Martin and I will be riding in the inky black – the route lit only by our lights, the spread out twinkling of other cyclists, glow sticks (we’re told), and the glare of the occasional passing HGV. Continue reading “Night Rider”
A brief update on training…
The training for my 24 hour ride from Newcastle to London (20-21 August)… continues. I can’t say whether it’s going well, or going badly – but I’m going to err on the side of caution and suggest that perhaps I’m not quite as far advanced as I should be.
Happy Birthday, Mac
It’s thirty years since the Mac first went on sale, and twenty-two years since I replaced my MS-DOS PC with one.
It wasn’t that Macs were unknown to me, my uncle had had a succession of Macs (starting with a Mac 128k) by the time I woke up to the revolution. One of my dad’s friends had a demon fast IIfx (paid for by his work, the lucky devil). My dad was firmly in the Microsoft camp though, and that informed my own computing choices.
Continue reading “Happy Birthday, Mac”
The Tragic Verdict of Anthony Hilson and Victoria McClure
I have been following the case of Victoria McClure with interest, and I was dismayed by the CTC’s article in response to it (by Rhia Weston, here). It seems to me that the article shows a lack of joined-up thinking, and also a lack of empathy unbecoming of a campaigning organisation.
Continue reading “The Tragic Verdict of Anthony Hilson and Victoria McClure”