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old weekly news items from 1999 when I was 40

news 2010.01.03 sunday 10 hits this week (1w-) 10625 total.

2010.

Tuesday the forecast snow failed to arrive, but instead it just kept on raining.

Wednesday still damp and grey.
A bit of shopping.

New year's eve 1x round the village circuit in the cold wind 8 mins 18.
We went to market harborough in the cold sunshine. Lunch at veneto. Coffee and cake at giorno. A little snow before we headed back.
We stayed up and watched jools into the new year, about 2 secs late due to the digital tv, to cover the inevitable fireworks. Or arguably very early/late as it is prerecorded anyway.

New year's day.
And so begins the year when I will lose my job.
Apparently it's a new decade too.
Frosty sunny morning, but still no snow.
We went for a walk up the other hill. Snow starting to fall as we set out, getting quite heavy for 10 mins, then stopped.
More refreeze patterns in the puddles.
Back after sunset.

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Saturday more frost and sunshine.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at giardino.

Sunday more of the same.
A bit of shopping.

For 2010 I've removed some of the older pages, as the total size is getting close to the 100M limit again, with all the extra news photos.
Read lots more matter, but still less than half way.

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news 2010.01.10 sunday 15 hits this week 10640 total.

Sunday put the xmas tree away.

Monday morning back to work through a 3 bottle frost.
Probably freezing all day, as several minutes required to warm the screen before heading home.
Back home the boiler had failed, so on with the gas fire and immersion heater.
And no, it doesn't qualify for the £400.

Tuesday only a 1 bottle frost.
Steadily increasing snow through the afternoon, settling after dark.

Wednesday a 4 bottle frost, and maybe 1" of snow, not really a problem.
A proper winter wonderland on the way to work, with thick snow and ice on the trees.
More heavy snow showers late morning, but sunshine by afternoon.
Apparently the boiler tripped out when the pump temporarily seized up - working ok again now.

Thursday a 3 bottle frost.
Sunset moving back gradually. Garage down to -0.7 degrees when I got home. Put some heat on in there.
Put the external temperature sensor out of the window in the evening and saw a -5.0 degrees.

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Friday don't know how many bottles of frost it was as I used a watering can.
A nasa photo shows the universal white cover over the uk.

At lunchtime we went for a walk in the snow, frozen puddles cracking beneath us.
Mysterious tracks in the snow.

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The boiler tripped out again, but restarted ok.
We went out through steadily falling snow to eat at withybrook.

Saturday morning a bit more snow cover.
Lots of birds in the garden, including a fieldfare.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.

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Sunday more steady snow. About +1 in the afternoon.

Kept the snow background as the cold is still here.

news 2010.01.17 sunday 15 hits this week 10655 total.

Monday much warmer and slushy.
Narrowly missed the 2nd of 2 deer crossing the road at the edge of coventry.

Wednesday more snow overnight and in the morning, slowing the roads down.

Thursday morning misty, but warmer - only a 1 bottle frost.

Friday mostly slushy.
We went down the pub to eat.
Overnight the rain came and washed the snow away.

Saturday up early and over to kettering through the rain to buy a session pro dd505 electronic drum kit from music city 247. Carol got most of it assembled in the evening.

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Sunday sunshine, but still damp and frosty morning.
1x round the village circuit 8 min 08.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.
Relatively warm and sunny afternoon.
Fired up the monster and r6.
More drum kit assembly.

Removed the snow background now the rain has replaced it.
Added some monthly bookmarks to the 2009 old news.

news 2010.01.24 sunday 12 hits this week 10667 total.

Monday more mist and sunshine.
Fired up the gpz.

Wednesday the forecast snow failed to arrive.

Thursday took the van to shift some of jonathan's artwork.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the damp grey 8 mins 07.
Squirrel in the garden.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.

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Sunday 1x circuit in the damp grey 8 mins 02. Sunshine later. Laptop failed to boot 1x.
I have reached section 3 of matter.
Afternoon adrian and family came over to see the drum kit.

news 2010.01.31 sunday 8 hits this week 10675 total.

Thursday carol took the gpz to drum practice. The exhaust started blowing.

Friday glorious sunshine, then steady snow on the way home.
The cold weather has returned, as it often does.
We went to withybrook to eat.

Saturday frosty with a light dusting of snow in the sunshine.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Bought a new radiator for the kitchen at wickes.
1x round the village circuit in the icy cold wind in the afternoon sunshine 8 mins 38.

Sunday saw -2.7 overnight. The birds are back in the garden, and a squirrel.
A bit of shopping.
Moved the bikes around and fired up the monster and r6.
2x circuit before sunset 16 mins 07.

news 2010.02.07 sunday 12 hits this week 10687 total.

February.

Saturday we went 2x down the a46 and m40 to oxford, summertown.
Lunch and coffee at la dolce vita.
A triumph thruxton parked opposite.
Had a walk past the 2 houses where I used to live.
A bit of shopping in m+s.
Misty on the way back in the dark.

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Sunday 2x round the village circuit in the damp grey 15 mins 45.
Bought some paint samples for the kitchen.
2x circuit in the afternoon 15 mins 16.
Added a countdown for my expected leave date in coming soon.

news 2010.02.14 sunday 12 hits this week 10699 total.

Monday carol painted the kitchen.
Thin sprinkling of snow in the bitterly cold wind.

Tuesday carol finished painting the kitchen and got the new radiator working.

Wednesday stripped the gpz down to get at the exhaust.
Cold starry night.

Thursday managed eventually to get the old exhaust off the bike.
1 stud remained in the head intact, another remained and snapped off, leaving most of it sticking out.

Friday bought a chuck type stud extractor, but it wouldn't close far enough to get a grip on the m6 stud.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert. The harps were there again.

Sunday 2x round the village circuit in the damp grey 16 mins 03.
Adrian came over and extracted the 2 remaining studs.
2x circuit before dark in the light rain 15 mins 31.

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Added lots of wiki links to places in history.

news 2010.02.21 sunday 11 hits this week 10710 total.

Wednesday the new motad nexxus exhaust arrived from wemoto.

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Thursday off. I turned 51. Took some cakes into work.
Into town to move some money around.
Lunch at browns.
Coffee and cake at the herbert while the rain turned to sleet, to snow.
Over to pc world to look at printers.
Over to warwick for carol's drum lesson at laird drums.
Returning home, the snow contunued to get impressively heavy.

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Friday morning deep snow with lots on the trees, but melting fast in the sunshine.
We went down the pub for something to eat.

Saturday we went to oxford, headington to have a look at the shark.
Lunch and coffee at cafe noir.
Into town down the headington road and parked at the plain.
Walked up the high street to the centre. Lots of buskers
Remarkably free of snow.
Back home freezing over, with more snow overnight.

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Sunday morning clearing the snow to feed the birds in the garden.
A bit of sunshine later cleared some of it.
Afternoon fitted (eventually) the new exhaust.

news 2010.02.28 sunday 15 hits this week 10725 total.

Tuesday more snow in the afternoon.

Wednesday walked over through the rain to collect the car.

Thursday home early enough to clean some of the bike bits in daylight.

Friday bought a new brother hl2035 to replace the old hl2030 that had started to badly mark the paper and also had run out of toner.

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Saturday morning got the printer working.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Went to have a look at the art in holy trinity as featured recently on tv, but it is very faded and dark from floor level.
2x round the village circuit 15 mins 17.
Installed and updated ubuntu linux on an old pc.

Sunday started to put the bike back together, at least as far as running it through the new exhaust.
Bought a 5l top up of muc off.
2x circuit in the strong wind 15 mins 18.

news 2010.03.07 sunday 14 hits this week 10739 total.

March.

Monday evening went to the cadmac concours meeting.

Tuesday home reasonably early in the sunshine.
Sounds of spring from the birds in the trees.
Pumped up the tyres and took the bike 2x round the village circuit 14 mins 44.
Took advantage of the fairing being off the gpz to clean some parts that I normally can't reach.

Friday 2x circuit in the cold, strong wind 15 mins 17.

Saturday morning got the lower fairing back on the bike.
Finished reading matter, and very good it was too.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and tiffin at the amber cafe.
2x circuit 15 mins 47.
Starry night.

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Sunday morning frosty.
Got the upper fairing back on the bike, and generally finished putting it back together.
Took it over adrian's and for a refuel.
2x circuit in the cold E wind 15 mins 18.

news 2010.03.14 sunday 10 hits this week 10749 total.

Forgot to mention last friday we went out to eat at the pig in muck.

Tuesday the new cambridge audio stereo amplifier arrived from richer sounds to replace the 1 that went to the drum kit.

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Wednesday some new fairing screws arrived from bitzforbikes for the gpz.
Connected the new printer to the nas so that it can be used from anywhere on the network, without the relevant pc being on.

Thursday 2x round the village circuit in the cool sunshine 15 mins 35.
Flowers are a bit later this year, but some snowdrops have arrived now.

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Friday the rain returned.

Saturday we went down the a46 and m5 to bristol. Stopped at the portway park and ride, wind turbines spinning out by portishead.
Passed under the clifton suspension bridge on the way in, getting off at the Cf set down only stop in the centre.
Lunch by the harbourside. We walked along the river bank around the amphitheatre, past the ss great britain dock.
Back in to park street for coffee and cake.
A quick look at the hobgoblin with some very expensive harps.
Up the hill to the university building.
Over to the park, and up to the cabot tower (closed).
Walked a bit more around the centre, having trouble finding the bus pickup stop Cu.

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Sunday 2x circuit in the strong, cold W wind and sunshine 15 mins 33.
Cleaned the gpz some more and took it for a ride over to see dad.
Took the monster for a ride down to the canal.
3x circuit before sunset 22 mins 18.

news 2010.03.21 sunday 12 hits this week 10761 total.

Monday 3x round the village circuit 22 mins 05.
The culture novel, use of weapons arrived from amazon.

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Tuesday home in the cold sunshine. Took the ducati monster for a ride and refuel. Took the long, pretty way home.

Wednesday took the gpz to work, a refuel and to morrisons.

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Friday we went down the pub to eat.

Saturday rain. started reading use of weapons.
Into town for luch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Over to birmingham to have a look at hein gericke and j+s.

Sunday 3x circuit in the damp morning mist 21 mins 43.
Proper warm spring sunshine later.
Took the r6 for a ride and refuel.
Cleaned the r6 and the car.
3x circuit in the afternoon wind 21 mins 50.

news 2010.03.28 sunday 12 hits this week 10773 total.

Been exploring ubuntu linux this week.

Friday after the rain home in the sunshine.
Took the monster for a ride down to the canal and cleaned it.

Saturday we went to warwick.
Lunch coffee and cake at robbie's.

Sunday clocks change.
Took the r6 for a long ride in the sunshine.
2x round the village circuit 14 mins 43.

news 2010.04.04 sunday 19 hits this week 10792 total.

April.

Tuesday after an early trip the lhc brought the beams into contact and started producing collisions at about 13:00 cest.
Apparently slighter brighter than predicted. New physics starts here.
I managed to hear most of the event at lunchtime on the webcast, although the video was breaking up.

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Wednesday we went with dad, adrian and family to see the school beatles tribute.

Thursday my r&g tail tidy arrived from intobikes.

Friday off, raining.
Into town for lunch at browns. Coffee and cake later at b and q.
2x round the village circuit 14 mins 47.
We went out to eat at the sarah mansfield.

Saturday 3x circuit 22 mins 08.
Cut the grass and tidied the garden a bit in the sunshine.
Afternoon we took the r6 and gpz bikes for a ride in the sunshine, getting a bit wet as the rain started.

Sunday 3x circuit in the damp wind 22 mins 35.
Looking at the sunshine forecast we went N to matlock bath.
2x circuit before the rain started 14 mins 14.

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news 2010.04.12 monday 12 hits this week (1w+) 10804 total.

1d late due to daffodil sunday.

Monday off.
Pumped up the tyres and 3x round the village circuit in the cold damp 22 mins 15.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Had a look at the new sony netbook.

Tuesday forecast as the best weather of the week, I cycled in. Lovely cool sunny morning 30 mins 38.
A lot warmer on the way back and windy 35 mins 42.

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Thursday lovely sunny day, so took the r6 in.

Friday a little more cloud, but took the monster in.

Saturday unseasonably warm and sunny.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert, before the golden cross with adrian and family to see jonathan playing as part of covfest 4.
Went back to the sony centre and bought the sony vaio m series netbook, as other places don't seem to have it in stock yet and with litlle price advantage.
Cut the grass again.

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Sunday a bit of tidying up before daffodil sunday in the afternoon.
Dad, adrian and family came over for tea.

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news 2010.04.18 sunday 19 hits this week (1w-) 10823 total.

Tuesday nice and sunny. Took the r6 in.

Thursday r6 again.
Got the wifi working on the netbook.

Friday took the gpz in.
We went out to eat at the man at arms.

A volcano in iceland achieved something that no amount of green campaigning has ever managed to do. It took all of the aircraft out of the sky.

Saturday perfect weather.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee at the tin angel.

Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the cool sunshine 8 mins 02.
Bought a sleeve for the netbook.
Afternoon clouded over.
Took the monster for a ride down to the canal.

news 2010.04.25 sunday 17 hits this week 10840 total.

Tuesday cold, windy sunny morning. Took the monster in. Cleaned it.

Wednesday cold N wind. Took the monster in again.

Thursday morning frosty with solid ice in the birdbath.
Carol took the r6 for a ride.

Friday took the r6 in.
We went over to withybrook to eat.

Saturday we went to london.
Remarkably clear run down to baker street.
Sandwich for lunch before shopping.
Coffee and apple crumble at foyles.
Down to the food shop in brewer street.
A quick look at eastpak in carnaby street.
A quick look at footesmusic shop in golden square.

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Rained overnight.

Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the damp, as it started to rain 8 mins 19.
A bit of shopping.
Sunshine and a few showery clouds in the afternoon.
Put some scott oil on the chain of the r6 and cleaned it.

news 2010.05.02 sunday 10 hits this week 10850 total.

May.

Monday took the monster in.

Tuesday took the r6 in.

Thursday saw the ironman2 film. As expected for the difficult 2nd film, mostly more of the same - disappointing.

Friday we went out to eat at the golden lion.

Saturday up stupidly early (03:00) to see in spring with otway at the bear in oxford.
Unsure of the park and ride, we parked at worcester street which was unfeasibly expensive.
Oxford amazingly busy as we arrived about 5 mins late at 06:05.
Didn't actually start until 06:45.
Excellent sound and musicians, possibly missing richard, as murray's xylophone solo didn't really do it.
Weather held up, with some sunshine, and only a little rain on the small tent.

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We wandered around the back of christ church and along merton street before heading up magpie lane for breakfast at quod.
Good croissant and (weak) coffee, and a nice place, but rather expensive.
We walked down high street and back up the cobbled merton street from the other end, then through merton grove to the meadow.
Wonderful to be in oxford early on a sunny spring morning - not done that for a very long time.
Back up st aldate's for coffee and tiffin at g+d, ceiling full of promotional helium balloons.
A bit of shopping before the pay and diplay ran out.
Bought the laura marling cd+dvd I speak because I can.
With plenty of time, we took the pretty way back, through deddington, adderbury and banbury.
A slightly early lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Fitted the tail tidy to the r6.

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Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the cold, damp wind 8 mins 13.
Cut the grass.

news 2010.05.10 monday 12 hits this week (1w+) 10862 total.

1d late due to the cotswolds, airshow etc.

Monday off. Cut the other grass.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Bought the hole cd nobody's daughter.

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Friday off.
Into town to buy a map for the walk.
Jes and christine came up at lunchtime.
Jes and I took the bikes down to the canal.
Evening we ate at the pub.

Saturday up reasonably early and down to chipping campden for the start of the walk.
Up dover's hill, then cross country to broadway in the drizzle.
Lunch at the swan.
Despite the rain becoming heavier, some of us pushed on up the hill to broadway tower.
Very welcome coffee and cake at the top.
Then across more or less level, heavy clay fields back to chipping campden. 11 miles total.

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Sunday sunshine.
Jes and I took the bikes to the 1st ever model airshow at long marston.
Some nice flying from jet models of an f15 eagle and a formation pair of red arrows hawks.

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Evening we went to see the 4 lions film.

news 2010.05.16 sunday 12 hits this week (1w-) 10874 total.

Actually, murray's solo was on a stylophone.

Tuesday, I forgot to mention the election last week.
Interesting to watch history being made live on the tv in the late afternoon.

Thursday fitted some new extra slinky strings (40 to 95) onto the bass. Small corrections to the intonation on d and g.

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Friday morning we awoke to a cockerel in the garden.
A little warmer. Took the r6 in and refuel.
1x round the village circuit 7 mins 46.
We went out to eat at the cross.

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Saturday sunshine.
Took the r6 for a ride.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.

Sunday mostly sunny.
A bit of shopping.
Fitted my replacement 3G sim to my phone.
Afternoon we went over to the kenilworth festival in abbey fields.
Much bigger than before, now with 2 stages.

news 2010.05.23 sunday 10 hits this week 10884 total.

Monday took the r6 in.
Evening over to wolston on the monster for the scale evening in perfect weather.

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Tuesday took the monster in.

Wednesday dopped off the car for mot.
MCN video reviewed the mavizen ttx02, which was really impressive, if far too expensive.

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Thursday hot and sunny. Took the r6 in.

Friday afternoon off.
We went out to eat at the rose and castle.
Fitted some new super slinky strings to the guitar. Small corrections to the intonation on a and d.

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Saturday hot and sunny. We took the bishopton park and ride to stratford.
Lunch and coffee at il bertorelli. Very busy in the park, we went for a walk down the river past the weirs.
Lots of bikes and trikes, including an old gpz900r.

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Sunday even hotter.
Mostly quiet day reading in the garden.
Fitted the scottoiler to the r6.
Frogs seem to be gathering at last, even a few striped leg types.

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news 2010.05.30 sunday 10 hits this week 10894 total.

Monday off, still hot and sunny.
1x round the village circuit 7 mins 59.
Despite the dana centreelectric bike lecture being cancelled, we went to london anyway.
Diverted through shepherds bush, arriving a little delayed.
Probably the hottest day of the year so far.
Very busy in the parks and squares, with people catching the sunshine.
At 16:00 we met up with steve for something to eat at ponti's.

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Tuesday off.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.

Wednesday took the r6 in. Raining on the way home.

Thursday took the monster in. Carol took the r6.
Sunny evening.

Friday sunny. Took the r6 in.
A bit of a strange day, with many people leaving, we went over to the sparrow at lunchtime.

Saturday rain, occasionally heavy.
We went to have a look at ducati aylesbury, stopping for lunch in heavy traffic outside bicester.
A bit of shopping, Carol bought a toshiba l450-188 laptop
Evening eurovison song contest, but skipped over most of it.

Sunday 1x circuit in the cold wind 8 mins 09.
Finished reading use of weapons.
Afternoon we went over to have a look at hein gericke.

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news 2010.06.06 sunday 16 hits this week 10910 total.

June.

Monday off.
We went over to birmingham to look at hein gericke and j and s.

Tuesday rainy. A bit of shopping.

Wednesday misty morning, sunny afternoon.
Took the monster for a ride down to the canal under the trees in the sunshine.
My new d'addario strings for the mandola (15 to 52) arrived from stringsdirect, and fitted.

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Thursday hot and sunny. Took the gpz in.
My efergy e2 power monitor and the remaining culture novels arrived from amazon.

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Friday still hot and sunny. Took the r6 in.
We took the bikes to eat at the cross.

Saturday hot and humid.
The washing machine failed.
We took the bikes over to ducati coventry and put a deposit on an 848.

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Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Had a look at washing machines.
Evening spectacular thunderstorm and heavy rain after dark.
Started configuring carol's laptop.
We stayed up to watch the rock and roll band thing, and the winners led zeppelin.

Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the grey humidity 7 mins 47.
Afternoon a bit of shopping. More thunder and rain.

news 2010.06.13 sunday 8 hits this week 10918 total.

Monday finished configuring carol's laptop.

Tuesday the miele w1613 washing machine arrived. We watched it rinse and spin, remarkably quietly.
Also the metric cd fantasies.

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Friday we went down the pub to eat.

Been watching the extensive coverage of the iomtton itv4, including history being made by ian hutchinson.
The electric race was a bit smaller than last year, despite increased speeds.

Saturday into own for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert with the harps.
Late afternoon we took advantage of the reduced traffic and took the bikes for a ride, eating out at frankton.

Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the damp sunshine 7 mins 58.
Afternoon we took the bikes for a ride down to the canal and beyond, getting back before the rain started.

Lots of coverage of the isle of wight festival
Good to see shakespears sister again, and blondie still creating good new songs.

news 2010.06.20 sunday 10 hits this week 10928 total.

Monday 1x round the village circuit in the wind 7 mins 56.

Tuesday took the r6 in. Cleaned it.
1x circuit in the sunshine and wind 7 mins 38.

Tuesday took the r6 in. 1 year since we bought it.
2x circuit in the sunshine and wind 14 mins 47.
Fitted the new lower fairing screws that arrived from bitzforbikes to the gpz.

Thursday cycled in. A little later meant more traffic. 29 mins 33, but with lots of stops for photos.

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36 mins 12 back into a headwind.

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Friday took the r6 in. Raining on the way home.
Evening took the r6 in the light rain over to malcolm's for our end of an era barbecue, with tv on in a tent.

Saturday we took the bikes down the a46 and fosse way, stopping for lunch at bourton on the water, then on to george white.
Nice scenery coming back along the a420 to oxford, then up the m40 into a cold, strong N headwind.

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Sunday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and tiffin at costa, then over to the leamington peace festival in perfect weather.

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news 2010.06.28 monday 11 hits this week (1w+) 10939 total.

1d late due to bsb and glastonbury.

Sunday forgot to mention changing to the monster logo, as it's a bit too summertime for winter trees.

Monday took the monster for a refuel and over to wolston for the cadmac vintage evening in perfect weather.

Tuesday took the r6 in. Popped over to coventry ducati to have a look at the 848. The r6 rolled through 2000 miles. Refuel on the way back.

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Wednesday wanted to take the monster in, but it had a puncture in the rear tyre. Took the r6 instead.
Lunchtime we went over over to the rose and castle for our end of an era lunch.
Dropped the back wheel out.

Thursday evening we had our end of an era do at binley woods.

Friday we went to nando's for lunch.
Afternoon off, and met carol in town for caffe e gelato at etna.
We went out to eat at withybrook, sitting outside in the heat, by the brook.
Saw lots of glastonbury, only groove armada worth a mention.

Saturday failed to remove the front wheel, but went over to tyrelinkuk at tamworth anyway for a pair of pirelli diablo.

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Into the centre for lunch.
To ducati coventry to have another look at the 848 and find out how to get the monster front wheel out.
More glastonbury with standards editors and scissor sisters.

Sunday the hot sunny weather continues.
Took the r6 over to mallory park to see bsbwith adrian and dave - very hot and sunny. Impressive to see exhaust flames at the hairpin
More glastonbury with faithless.

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Monday took the r6 in.
More tidying up.
Put the rear wheel back on the monster.

news 2010.07.04 sunday 6 hits this week (1w-) 10945 total.

July.

Monday night quite a bit of rain, that normally falls on glastonbury.

Tuesday took the car in to tidy up at work. More rain.
Many italians over to say bye.

Wednesday took the r6 in.
We had our end of an era breakfast before leaving (after 28+ years for me) and going over to the rose and castle.
We went out to eat at the sarah mansfield.

Thursday home.

Been catching up with some more glastonbury, with muse excellent as usual. Also should mention rodrigo y gabriela.
A lot of fuss about the number 40. The 1st festival was held in 1970 and now it is 2010.
OK, that is 40 years later, but it is the 41st summer, and anyway there have been many quiet years.

Friday 1x round the village circuit in the grey damp 7 mins 40.
Afternoon over to tyrelink tamworth to get the fron tyre fitted on the monster.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert, ready to see the carnival procession set off from university square.
Then joined the queue for the godiva festival in the memorial park, missing jonathan's session on the micro acoustic stage.
Bought a hat and stayed to see the primitives.
The fenced off area is very big, with 1 good open air stage (no video screens), but the rest are still in hot tents, apart from the micro acoustic stages, which had very good sound systems..
The parking arrangements mean a very slow drive around the pretty perimeter of the site - need to go on the bike really.

Sunday 1x circuit in the cool sunshine 7 mins 44.
Finished watching glastonbury, with teeny little bits of dead weather and laura marling.
Afternoon we went for a walk up the hill.

news 2010.07.12 monday 9 hits this week (1w+) 10954 total.

1d late due to egrandprix.

Monday 1x round the village circuit 7 mins 48.
Into town on the monster to drop off the insurance docs for the 848.
Lunch at west orchards, refuel on the way home.
Into town on the r6 for the cadmac meeting.

Tuesday 1x circuit 7 mins 42.
Afternoon took the monster over to see adrian.

Wednesday 1x circuit 7 mins 50.
A bit of shopping. Coffee and cake at m+s.
Afternoon horribly humid. We went over to have a look at bikersworld. Bought an rstrift textile.

Thursday 1x circuit in the humid drizzle 7 mins 30.
Went to see the predators film, then over to see dad.

Friday 1x circuit in the humid grey 7 mins 28.
Morning over to wolston to fly the simply the best in perfect condtions.
Gave it a 30 secs climb about 5x, but no sign of any thermal activity, bringing it in to land nicely in the circle.
Put it on to recharge and had a go with the swift.
Put the simply up again, with 35 secs climb on a fresh recharge, gaining a bit more height.
After a couple of mins it was clearly in a big thermal, and climbing, with the wind having slowed a lot.
Pleasant steering it around high in the blue sky with a few wispy white bits of cloud.
Heard others arriving at the field, opening the gate, but didn't want to look away from the tiny shape in the sky.
After about 15 mins the Tx low battery alarm sounded, and I had to bring it down quickly.
Back home for lunch, I put the 1850 mAhr nimh Tx pack on the charger to cycle. Seems to take about 1500 mAhr ok.

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Afternoon we went over to have a look at the 848 in the workshop ready for final assembly.
Evening we went out to eat at ashton lodge.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Also popped into the herbert to see the harps and actually had a go on the dusty strings ravenna 26.
Popped in to see adrian and family.

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Sunday we went over to snetterton to see the 1st ever egrandprix ttxgp event in the uk, won by jim lovell (not apollo 13) on the tork machine, which is really tiny, which is probably right considering the limited energy available.
Rob moon 2nd and jenny tinmouth 3rd, both on team agni machines.
10 laps averaging about 80mph is still pretty impressive. Very high speeds seen around the coram curve, before slowing for the russell bend in front of us.
Also saw some ducati 848 racing.
Very hot and sunny, with little shade.
The 106 rolled through 160000 miles on the way over.

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Been catching up with some more of t in the park. Many of the same sets as glastonbury of course, but also interesting to see some others including skunk anansie.

Monday some light rain al last.

news 2010.07.19 monday 9 hits this week (1w) 10963 total.

1d late due to cosford.

Forgot to mention I've been watching tour de france on itv4, missing the 1st few.

Tuesday caught up with a rest day summary of tour de france.

Wednesday evening lightning, thunder and steady rain.

Thursday into town to pay for the 848, lunch at west orchards.

Friday 1x round the village circuit in the damp wind 8 mins 01.
Cleaned the van a bit.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Over to ducati coventryto collect the 848.

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Saturday we took the bikes up to see will and elizabeth.
Long ride back, getting dark before home.

Sunday went to cosford model airshow with dad.
Lots of engines and airframes in the museum.
Some aerobatics from a full size glider.
Some impressive big jets including the victor and vulcan.

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Monday sunny.

news 2010.07.25 sunday 10 hits this week (1w-) 10973 total.

Monday took the 848 over to see adrian and family.
Evening over to wolston for the electric event, but very overcast and eventually started raining.

Tuesday took the 848 for a ride.

Wednesday 1x round the village circuit past fields of gold in the sunshine 7 mins 47.
Cleaned the r6 and 848.

Thursday 1x circuit 7 mins 53.
Morning we went over to market harborough to buy a turkish 20" rock beat ride cymbal.
Coffee and chocolate twist at giorno.
Heavy rain on the way back.
Lunchtime thunder, but little rain.
We went out to eat at the old lion.

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Friday caught up with the last day in the pyrenees for the tour de france in the fog up to the col du tourmalet.
Afternoon adrian and I went on the work "bike ride into the sunset" to scropton.
No food when we got there.

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Saturday 1x circuit in the warm sunshine 7 mins 42.
Frog and butterflies in the sunny garden.
Took the 848 for a ride.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at druckers.

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Sunday up early for the 2nd end of an era walk from meriden.

news 2010.08.01 sunday 9 hits this week 10982 total.

August.

Sunday over to meriden for the start of the 2nd end of an era walk to berkswell and back.
Very hot and humid.

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Monday up early. We took the r6 and 848 down the a46,m5 to see jes, christine and steve.

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Tuesday back up the motorway.

Wednesday now 11 years since we bought the house.
Took the r6 in for its annual service at alf england2946 miles.

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Thursday 1x round the village circuit 7 mins 49.
Collected the r6 in the light rain.
After lunch we took the bikes to ryton gardens for coffee and cake.
I went for a refuel and over to see dad.

Friday 1x circuit 8 mins 05.
Lunchtime over to the sparrow to see the july leavers.
Coffee and cake at m+s.
Evening steady rain.

Saturday 1x circuit in the damp 7 mins 56.
We went over to leicester to have a look at the new music shop.
A bit of shopping.

Sunday tidied up the links a bit.

1 month off since leaving - probably time to start looking for a new job.

news 2010.08.08 sunday 17 hits this week 10999 total.

Sunday afternoon 1x round the village circuit 7 mins 52.
We went for a walk around the circuit past fields of poppies.

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Monday 1x circuit 8 mins 01.
We went to london to buy a kriega us10 tail pack for the 848 from infinity.
Saw the boris bikes in various rows and being moved about.

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Tuesday pumped up the tyres and 1x circuit 7 mins 48.

Wednesday more rain.

Thursday 1x circuit 7 mins 42.
We took the gpz (24 years old today, rolling through 62000 miles) and 848 into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at cafe oregano.
Took the monster for a ride down to the canal.

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Friday we went down the pub to eat.

Saturday 1x circuit 7 mins 48.
Lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Evening adrian came over.

Sunday cleaned the 848 and my cycle.
Took the monster over to see dad and down to the canal on the way back.

news 2010.08.15 sunday 9 hits this week 11008 total.

Monday we took the 848 over to ducati coventry for its 1st service at 710 miles.
The press model and the demonstrator of its replacement the 848 evo outside.
Lovely sunny day.
A bit of shopping and coffee and cake at m+s.

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Tuesday 1x round the village circuit in the damp 7 mins 37.
Nice and sunny later.
Finished reading excession.
Started reading inversions.
Took the r6 for a ride in the sunshine.

excession.jpg inversions.jpg

Wednesday 1x circuit in the cool sunshine 7 mins 36.

Thursday more rain, and thunder later.
Clear sky in the evening, but I didn't see any perseids.

Friday 1x circuit in the grey 7 mins 51.
Into coventry for a work meet up lunch.
We went to withybrook to eat. Went for a walk down the brook to the church.

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Saturday more rain.
Replaced the nylon control horn on the bass with a larger metal version to control the a string as well as the e, as it has been a bit rattly and occasionally jumped out of the nut.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert with the harps.
We went for a walk around the circuit in the light rain.

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Sunday 1x circuit in the damp 7 mins 45.
Sunny later. Took the 848 for a ride.

Added a few references to the quotes.

news 2010.08.22 sunday 15 hits this week 11023 total.

Monday sunny. Carol took the 848 to hideout.
Afternoon I took the r6 for a ride, rolling through 3000 miles on the way.
Evening over to wolston to watch the fun fly.

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Tuesday 1x round the village circuit in the damp 7 mins 48.
Took the r6 over to see dad and adrian, missing most of the heavy rain.

Wednesday 1x circuit in the damp 7 mins 45.
A bit of shopping.
Took the monster down to the canal and beyond. Light rain before home.

Thursday 1x circuit in the cool 7 mins 39. Saw a hare.

Friday we went down the pub to eat.

Saturday finished reading inversions.
Took the r6 for a refuel between rain showers.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Started reading look to windward.
Cleaned the r6.

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Sunday up early and over to coventry for our iam observed rides on the r6 and 848.
Nice and sunny and warm. Lots of unknown roads.Home by 13:00.
We went for a walk around the village circuit.

Been watching the onedin line.

  Week missing due to portugal
news 2010.09.05 sunday 9 hits this week (2w) 11031 total.

1w late due to portugal.

September.

Monday 1x round the village circuit in the wet 7 mins 41.
Saving the culture novel for portugal, I went back to the road to reality.

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Tuesday 1x circuit in the cold wind and sunshine 7 mins 25.

Wednesday 1x circuit 7 mins 39.

Thursday more rain.
A bit of packing.
We went out in the rain to eat at the sarah mansfield.

Friday late afternoon dad and I flew ryanair bhx to porto.
Shuttle bus to the mercedes a160 hire car, then a bit of fun finding the nearby hotel in the dark for an overnight stop.

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Saturday quickly onto the motorway and across portugal, stopping for a break at the services near viseu, arriving at mandy's house near castelo branco mid afternoon.
Much too hot, but we sat out on the balcony later.
A bit of shopping after dark.
Saw the milky way and a satellite arcing across the starry sky.
Music and fireworks in the centre of the village into the early hours.

Sunday mostly quiet, but we went into town late afternoon.

Monday evening we went into town for something to eat in the air conditioned forum shopping centre and cinema complex.
Then into the centre to see how it has changed massively since I was last there, now with underground roads and parking. The white castle itself lit up on top of the hill.

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Then up the hill to see the view from the castle. Still too hot. Almost full moon in the sky.

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Tuesday afternoon we went to get some more water from a hill top spring, then on past eucalyptus trees to see the nearby 2MW wind turbine.
Evening we saw a thunderstorm with lightning in the distance, but no rain. The weather got a little cooler (less hot anyway).

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Wednesday we crossed portugal to the atlantic coast.
Stopped to have a look at batalha and its monastery. Had lunch there.

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Then on to the sea at nazare. Took the funicular down to the beach. Several bikes parked on the front.

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Thursday we went to visit the old village and house.
Late afternoon watering the garden we saw frogs.
After dark we went for a walk around the village, with venus low in the starry sky.

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Friday we got away before lunch and hit the motorway, stopping for lunch again at the viseu services.
Followed the signs for porto, then aeroporto, finding the hire car return easily.
Took off a little late, home just after midnight.

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Saturday morning we went to see the merlin engine fired up at cotesbach.
into town for lunch at browns, cafe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping.
Evening we went to see the satin dolls at the white lion.

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Sunday 1x circuit 7 mins 47.

news 2010.09.12 sunday

9 hits this week 11040 total.

Monday been catching up with the reading and leeds festival.
Evening over to the cadmac meeting. Heavy rain on the way back.

Tuesday 1x round the village circuit in the damp 8 mins 02.
Took the r6 for a ride in the afternoon sunshine.

Wednesday a bit of shopping.
Took the 848 for a ride in the afternoon sunshine.

Thursday 1x circuit 8 mins 06.
Afternoon took the r6 over to see adrian and family.

Friday pumped up the tyres for 1x circuit in the damp 7 mins 48.
Carol took the 848 to hideout again.
We went down the pub to eat.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert with the harps.

Sunday 1x circuit in the cold damp wind 7 mins 47.
Over to henley in arden for the end of an era walk.
Lots of fungi in the woods and fields.
Up the canal past the locks and over the yarningale aqueduct.

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Been experimenting with updating the web site technology.
The books page is now using a css style sheet.
This should make it a bit more space efficient.
Also starting to use the amaya editor.

amaya
news 2010.09.19 sunday

8 hits this week 11048 total.

Monday, tuesday mostly job hunting.

Wednesday 1x round the village circuit in the cold damp sunshine 7 mins 59.

Thursday 1x circut in the damp 8 mins 01.
Lunchtime took the 848 over to nando's to meet with the few still at work.

Friday took the 848 over to the sparrow at lunchtime, again to meet up with the few still at work.
Then up the busy m6 to see richard, judith, jes, christine, steve.

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Saturday up reasonably early to get back on the m6 to home.
Not quite so busy, but still slowed by roadworks. Nice and sunny though.
Into town for lunch at browns.
Rather worried to see that the herbert cafe is changing caterers.
Coffee and cake at costa in waterstones instead.

The home page is now using a css style sheet too.

news 2010.09.26 sunday 12 hits this week 11060 total.

Sunday late afternoon we went for a walk around the village circuit.

Monday cleaned the 848.
Took the monster for a ride down to the canal.

Tuesday 1x round the village circuit in the cool misty sunshine 8 mins 16.
We went down the a14, m11 to collect carol's new leather jeans from hideout.
Lunch and coffee at prezzo in saffron walden.
Took the r6 for a ride.

Wednesday a bit of shopping.
Took the r6 for a refuel.

Friday lunch at the sparrow to see people who have left and are about to leave work.
Over to see adrian in the afternoon.
Evening over to the walsgrave to see the leavers again.

Saturday we went to london.
2 espress bus went past full, but we managed to get on the 3rd.
M40 north was stationary. Closer to london we were slowed again, apparently by roadworks, although we didn't see them.
Arriving at baker sreet at about 13:30 we went straight into strada for a late lunch.
Bought a 6m stagg ngc6sw guitar lead with mute switch from rose morris in denmark street.
Again slow getting out of london.
An almost full moon lighting up a dramatic sky from behind the clouds.

Sunday 1x circuit in the cold wind 8 mins 01.

The old news 2010 page is now using a css style sheet too.

news 2010.10.03 sunday October.

Monday evening we went to see the joy formidable at the o2 academy.
Much too loud in there.
Got a bit lost coming home after the aston expressway was closed for some reason.
Saw an owl (again) near ansty, home about 00:25.

Tuesday lunch at nando's with a few still (just) at work.

Wednesday lots of rain.

Thursday 1x circuit in the cold, misty damp 7 mins 57.
Took the 848 over to ansty and the rose and castle in the sunshine for lunch and to see the september leavers.
A bit of garage tidying.

Friday steady rain, heavier later.
We went down to the pub to eat.
Toads crossing the road in the rain on the way back.

Saturday up early and over to cannock chase for go ape.
Late lunch at the cafe.
Afternoon we took the r6 and 848 down to ryton gardens for coffee and cake.

Sunday into town in the rain for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Freshly fallen conkers on the ground.

The old news 2009 page is now using a css style sheet too.

news 2010.10.10 sunday Here are some of the conkers.

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Monday up early and over to birmingham to see what the travel is like for some training course soon - m6 being its usual rush hour slowness.
Lovely sunny day for a walk around the centre.
Afternoon an mot for the gpz at spon gate.
Evening over to coventry for the cadmac meet.

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Tuesday 1x round the village circuit on wet roads 7 mins 43.

Wednesday 1x circuit in drizzle 7 mins 50.
A bit of shopping.
Up to the university to see about continuing polish.

Thursday 1x circuit in mist 7 mins 41.
Cleaned the monster. Took it for a ride down to the canal.

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Friday took the monster for an mot.
Into town for lunch at west orchards, coffee and tiffin at waterstones.
Black and gold r1(25) in the parking area.

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Saturday 1x circuit through fallen leaves 8 mins 06.
We went to oxford. Lunch at pierre victoire, coffee and ice cream at g+d.
The sun didn't get through the grey haze all day.
We're getting some very big apples from the tree in the garden.

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Sunday the sunshine returned.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert, where there was some sort of talent thing going on.
Also the new display of street art.
A bit of shopping.
Took the r6 for a ride.

The old news 2008 now using css.

news 2010.10.17 sunday 9 hits this week 11090 total.

Monday sunny.
The white fungus is due in the garden tomorrow, and yes, it is coming.

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Tuesday it seems there is little interest - so no polish class.

Wednesday a bit of shopping.
The white fungus is getting feathery - probably a shaggy ink cap.
The wyken pippin tree has a couple of apples on it this year - quite small, but good.

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Thursday we went for a walk around the village circuit.

Friday 1x round the village circuit in the grey 8 mins 14.
The white fungus is taking on the more traditional shape.
Finished reading look to windward.
Now when is that next culture novel out in paperback?

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Saturday we went to moreton in marsh for lunch, coffee and cake at martha's cafe - very good.
Then on to batsford arboretum to see the autumn trees.
A bit of rain, but it brightened up later.
Reluctant to join the queue going up the fosse way, we headed across country through chipping norton, woodstock, N oxford.
A bit of shopping on the way back.

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Sunday morning not exactly frosty, but it did freeze.

Revised links and now using css.
Added a scratchpad page in the soft section.

news 2010.10.24 sunday 7 hits this week11097 total.

Monday up early and joined the queue along the m6 into birmingham for a 1w training course.
Spent a lot of time thinking the aston expressway is inappropriately named.
Lovely sunny, cold weather, with an almost full moon in the E on the way home.

Wednesday a 1 bottle frost.

Friday roads remarkably free flowing.
Evening we went to the arts centre to see the wonderful stewart lee.
Home late. Shocked to hear that ari up died this week.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.

Sunday over to kenilworth for the next end of era walk, starting from abbey fields, through crackley woods, cross country, and back to the castle.

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Seems I have lost a couple of hit statistics in moving to old news.

news 2010.10.31 sunday

12 hits this week 11109 total.

Monday carol's 3rd drum kit was delivered - mapex meridian maple.
Another lovely sunny day.
A bit of shopping.
Afternoon 1x round the village circuit in the low sun 7 mins 56.

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Tuesday wet.
Afternoon 1x circuit in light rain 7 mins 45.

Wednesday getting back to reality - currently going onabout cantor's infinite infinities and the continuumhypothesis.
Afternoon 1x circuit in the cool sunshine 7 mins 44.

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Thursday we went into town for lunch, coffee and cake at ikea.

Friday morning 1x circuit in the windy twilight 7 mins 56.
Took the r6 over to see dad. Back at dusk.
We went to withybrook to eat.

Saturday lunch at browns, coffee and cake at b and q.
We went to charlecotepark.

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Sunday halloween and the clocks change.
1x circuit through fallen leaves 8 min 02.
Took the r6 for a refuel, roads looking wet and greasy. Staring to rain and sun coming out as I got back.

Now using a bit of javascript in an external.js file to automatically mark the timedate of the home page.
This can be reused on all pages in line with the dry principle.

As it's fireworks week, swapped to the glitzer stars logo.

news 2010.11.07 sunday

9 hits this week 11118 total.

November.

Monday 1x round the village circuit in the damp, misty sunshine 8 mins02.
A bit of shopping.
Took the monster for a ride down to the canal.
Over to coventry for the cadmac meet in light rain. Saw a badger standing onthe verge just ouside the village.

Tuesday 1x circuit 8 mins 04.
Lots of leaves fell in the night.
11111 hits today.

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Wednesday 1x circuit 8 mins 09.
The reality book has just mentioned something that occurred tome some time ago - that photons experience no time at all in travelling,specifically because they travel at the speed of light.
So in a sense they may already know where they will arrive when they set out,and can sense the full path through spacetime, thereby solving a lot of the multi path quantum puzzles.
What does this mean for causality though?

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Thursday lunchtime 1x circuit in the moderate wind 7 min 54.
Even more leaves.

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Friday 1x circuit in the damp 7 mins 59.

Saturday up early and over to the mynd to see the 1st f3f competition of thewinter.
Nice sunshine, but very little wind and light rain through a rainbow. I put thesimply the best up for a while.
Wind got up a little later on and lots of f3f flying, but the conpetition was cancelled.
Took the pretty way back through the famous much wenlock and along ironbridge gorge.

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Sunday 1x circuit in cold wind and low sunshine 8 mins 16.
Repaired 1 of the torn panels in the simply wing.
Watched the last round of motogp with valentino rossi saying an emotional bye to the yamaha m1 before movingto ducati.
Late afternoon we went for a walk around coombe, stopping for a while in the bird watching hide.

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Been playing with jquery. Have a look atthe scratchpad.
Also getting a few more of the pages w3c compliant.

The fireworks should be finished now - back to monster logo.

news 2010.11.14 sunday

18 hits this week 11136 total.

Monday heavy rain.
A bit of shopping.

Tuesday had a look at increasing the air brake travel on the skorpion.

Wednesday a bit of a freeze overnight. 1x round the village circuit in the icy wind 8 mins 22.
A bit of shopping.
Pumped up the tyres and 1x circuit in the afternoon sunshine 7 mins 38.
Saw a pheasant in the garden.

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Thursday went over to bedworth to see the memorial at 11:00.

Friday windy.
The lexicon alpha 2 in 2 out usb sound interface arrived from amazon for use on carol's laptop.
We went out to eat at the sarah mansfield.

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Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake the herbert with the harps.
Evening we went to oxford to see otway at the wheatsheaf. Home after 00:30.

Sunday 1x circuit in the damp 8 mins 00.

Been getting the advent calendar ready for december.

news 2010.11.21 sunday

Monday frosty sunshine.
Lunch and a bit of shopping at morrisons.
More job hunting.
1x round the village circuit in the cold afternoon dusk 7 mins 21
Evening over to coventry for the cadmac meet.

Tuesday morning fog and frost, sunshine later.

Wednesday rain.

Thursday afternoon took the monster over to leicester de montfort hall box office to get a ticket for the evening.
Evening back over in the van in the dark in time to see skew siskin.
Disappointing to see only 30 mins.
Bought the peace breaker cd.
Motorhead were motorhead as usual.

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Friday swept up most of the leaves from the garden.
Momentary power cut in the afternoon.
A bit of shopping.
Over to see adrian and family.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at druckers.

Sunday 1x circuit in the damp and bitterly cold wind 8 mins 09.
A bit of garden tidying - more leaves.
Afternoon 2x circuit 15 mins 36.

Continued making more pages w3c compliant.

news 2010.11.29 monday

14 hits this week (1w+) 11166 total.

1d late due to bosworth.

Monday a bit of shopping.

Tuesday a bit of garden tidying.
2x round the village circuit in the afternoon sunshine 14 mins 46.

Wednesday frosty.

Thursday a bit of garden tidying in the cold.
The reality book is going on about spin.
I'm still intrigued by the fact that spin 1/2 particles such as the electron have to be rotated 2x to get back to the same quantum state.
This is probably telling us something deep about the nature of reality, but what?

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Friday and the cold, sunny weather continues.
We went over to withybrook to eat.

Saturday morning proper snow.
We went to birmingham.
Italian lunch at the arcadian centre.
Up through the german market to paradise and back again.
Carol bought a dhol drum from fair deal music.

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Sunday up early and over to bosworth for the end of an era walk starting at the visitor centre.
Through ambion wood, along the mostly frozen ashby canal with ducks sitting on the ice.
Back up through shenton, over the stream train tracks at the station, around the "battlefield".
Coffee and cake back at the visitor centre.

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Swapped the monster logo to the advent calendar.

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news 2010.12.05 sunday

9 hits this week (1w-) 11175 total.

December.

Tuesday saw the pheasant in the garden again.

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Wednesday snowing.
Pheasant again.
Over to morrisons for lunch, coffee and cake, then over to see dad.
Put the xmas tree up.

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Thursday more snow.
Been experimenting with the html5 canvas using jQuery and javascript.
Not finished yet, but this image of a calculated mandelbrot set is quite pretty.

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Friday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Jes arrived for the bike show.
We went out to eat at the sarah mansfield.

Saturday we went for a walk up the hill.
Then over to the nec for the bike show after lunch at wetherspoons.
Not a lot of new stuff, but I bought valentino rossi's bike and casey stoner's bike. In maisto form of course.
Also a scottoiler for the 848.
Interesting to see jorge lorenzo's bike close up.

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Swapped to the winter theme now the snow has arrived. Mostly a simple swap of css style sheet.

news 2010.12.12 sunday

12 hits this week 11187 total.

Forgot to mention the 106 rolled through 165000 last week.

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Finished the onedin line.

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Monday hard frost overnight - still below -5 in the morning.
Pheasant back again.
Evening out into the freezing fog in the van to the cadmac agm.

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Tuesday morning an even harder frost coating the trees.
Fed the birds.

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Wednesday light snow.
Group of goldfinches in the lavender.
Wagtail in the garden.
Lunch, coffee and cake at b and q.
A bit of shopping.

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Thursday into town for lunch at west orchards, coffee and tiffin at waterstones.
The sun warmed up enough to melt most of the frost.
1x round the village circuit 8 mins 07.

Friday we went out to eat at withybrook.

Saturday much warmer, up to +7.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at m+s.

Sunday frost is back. Fed the birds.
Cleaned the van.
1x circuit at dusk 7 mins 50.

news 2010.12.19 sunday

14 hits this week 11201 total.

Monday morning misty and damp - no frost.
The reality book is currently going on about dirac's relativistic electron.

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Tuesday we went to london.
Extremely busy at thornhill, but we got a good run in.
Shocked to see the astoria just gone. Apparently something to do with crossrail.
A few other buildings gone, and a new bit of road N of denmark street.
Lunch at piccolo diavolo in old compton st.
Down neal st to covent garden, through theatre land, past an electric vehicle charging to the strand.
Saw a couple of santas on boris bikes.
Back along the river through the victoria embankment gardens.
Saw the ship in a bottle at trafalgar square.
Under the xmas lights of regent st, oxford str.
Heavy traffic on the way back.

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Wednesday into town for lunch at west orchards, coffee and cake at druckers.
Cleaned the car.

Thursday cold, dark and raining.

Friday morning frosty, dark and snowing.
Sunshine later.
The reality book is going on about the standard model. New to me are the cabibbo and weinberg angles.

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Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at druckers.

Sunday morning very cold again.
Finished reworking the flap servo linkages on the skorpion - now drop nicely for airbraking.
A bit of shopping.

Been working on the scratchpad. Now draws the mandelbrot set fairly quickly (15 secs) in google chrome.

news 2010.12.26 boxing day

14 hits this week 11215 total.

Monday cold again, and still snow about, but we seem to be mostly free of the travel problems elsewhere.
Went over to see dad.
Pretty full moon in the night sparkling the ice crystals in the garden.

Tuesday the big freeze continues.
Pheasant back in the garden.
Built an ubuntu linux virtual machine on the laptop using vmware player.

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Wednesday light snow. Pheasant again.
We went out to ryton gardens for xmas lunch.
A bit of shopping.

Thursday morning looking for a washing machine for dad with adrian.
Evening we went out into the icy dark, past the many xmas lights to a not very busy arts centre to see sylvain chomet's new film l'illusioniste.
Once again wonderful artwork showing the changing light and weather around edinburgh.

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Xmas eve.
Pheasant in the back garden and on the garage.

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Xmas day morning probably the coldest yet, still -9.3 at 08:30.
Pheasant back, clucking mid morning, and then the bells.
Nice to see a traditional xmas, sunny and sub zero, with snow all around, even if wasn't deep, crisp and even.
Xmas lunch at home.
Over to dad's to see adrian and family.

Boxing day similarly cold, with the birdbath water refreezing quickly.
Into town for lunch. Surprised to see browns closed on something other than xmas day.
Lunch at west orchards, coffee and tiffin at waterstones.

For those who missed the advent calendar, here is what it looked like.

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Changed to winter trees logo.