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old weekly news items from 1999 when I was 40

news 2012.01.01 new year's day

11 hits this week 11712 total.

Boxing day 1x round the village circuit in the warm, damp wind 8 mins 16.
Out for a family meal at the walsgrave.

Tuesday 1x circuit in the colder weather 8 mins 06.
We went to london.
Thornhill and the espress buses not very busy.
Had a look at the chess shop.
We ate at trattoria da aldo.

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Wednesday a bit of shopping in the windy sunshine.
Cleaned the car.

Thursday 1x circuit in the strong wind 8 mins 25.
Gave the end of an era walk a miss due to bad weather.
Afternoon pumped up the tyres and 1x circuit in the wind and light rain 8 mins 05.
We went to wolston for some shopping, then to ryton gardens for coffee and mince pie, including a visit to the vegetable kingdom.

Friday 1x circuit in the damp, but no wind 7 mins 53.
We went to warwick for lunch and then shopping.
Adrian and family came over for the evening, much chess, guitar and drums.

New year's eve nice to hear stewart lee guest editing the today programme on radio 4.
1x circuit in the damp wind 7 mins 48.
We went over to birmingham.

2011.

New year's day 1x circuit in the damp wind 8 mins 04.
We stayed up to midnight with jools, which improved after we went to bed, especially with cyndi lauper's time after time.
Took the monster for a ride over to adrian's and dad's. Cleaned it.

xmas tv has been a bit of a poor effort, but there were a few exceptions, including felix and murdo, the bleak old shop of stuff. and winter wipeout was fun.

news 2012.01.08 sunday

6 hits this week 11718 total.

Monday off. Cold and sunny.
Put the xmas tree away.
Into town for lunch at browns.
A bit of shopping.
We went for a walk up the other hill.
Coming down the other side at dusk we disturbed partridges settling down for the night, and saw an owl fly over us, across the road.

Friday over to see dad's new sony 40" tv.
We went to eat at withybrook.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the wind 8 mins 17.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe at etna.
Had a look at the tvs in the sony centre.
A bit of shopping.
Popped in to see adrian on the way back.

Sunday went on the end of an era walk at shustoke.
Finished watching the xmas great expectations.
1x circuit at sunset 7 mins 55.

news 2012.01.15 sunday

5 hits this week 11723 total.

Friday morning frosty.
Evening we went over to hinckley and ate at the gravity.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee at the herbert with the harps.
After much research we decided to go for the sony kdl-32ex724 internet tv.
Only to find the sony centre closed down.
With no 3g signal, we went into the library to find other sony centres.
Over to leicester to collect it.
Impressive hd picture, easy set up, we watched winter wipeout from the iplayer.

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Sunday still frozen.
A bit of shopping.
1x round the village circuit avoiding the black ice - no time, as the computer managed to run itself off, possibly due to the cold.
We went for a walk around the circuit at sunset.

news 2012.01.23 monday

7 hits this week (1w+) 11730 total.

1d late due to london.

Monday morning extremely frosty, -4 in the car, -5 away from the village.

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Tuesday -4 again.

Friday went to see underworld 4.
Nice to see selene on screen again, but the plot was all over the place.
We went over to withybrook to eat.

Saturday we went to london.
Cassoulet, potage, cafe et pain au chocolat at paul.
Boought a chess board and classic pieces at the chess shop.
Went for a wander down s molton lane, avery row, old bomd street, picadilly.
A quick look in fortnum and mason.
Sat in st james church listening to 6 cellos practicing for an evening performance of the angel in the forest.
A quick look at the picadilly waterstones.
Bought ragnarok from blackwells.
We had something to eat at the stockpot before heading home.

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Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the cold wind 8 mins 14.
A bit of shopping.
Cleaned the car.
We went over to see adrian and family.
We had a game of chess.

news 2012.01.29 sunday

7 hits this week (1w-) 11737 total.

Thursday dropped the car off at leamington for 1st service.

Friday off cold and sunny.
A bit of garden tidying.
We went over to leamington for lunch, caffe at bar angeli, then collected the car.
Evening we went out to eat up the hill.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee at the herbert.
1x round the village circuit before sunset 7 mins 59.

Sunday slightly frosty.
Popped over to see dad.

Looks like winter is going to give it another go next week, as it often does in february.

news 2012.02.06 monday

7 hits this week (1w+) 11744 total.

1d late due to london and snow.

February.

Wednesday went out for an end of an era evening meal with abdul, andy, lee, scott.

Friday morning extremely cold, with -6.2 outside the window, -7 later in the countryside.
Afternoon cleaned the car, without the hose that was blocked with ice.
A bit of shopping.
Popped over to see adrian and extended family.

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Saturday up early and off down the m1 to steve's where we met up with jes and bob.
Car showing -8 when we set out, -9 shortly after.
Over to the excel centre for the london bike show.
Ducati showing only the s model of the panigale.
The revolution show was moderately entertaining but not really worth queueing for.
Evening we went out to eat at the adriatico, just as the snow started to fall, getting steadily heavier.
Anout 4" overnight.

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Sunday morning we had to dig to get the mx-5 out
With lots of accidents blocking the m25, m1 we came back up the a5.

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With snow here at last, swapped to winter colours.

news 2012.02.12 sunday

5 hits this week (1w-) 11749 total.

Monday evening foggy, didn't go out in it to the cadmac meeting.

Friday we went for a walk around the village circuit in the cold grey.
We went out to eat at withybrook.

Saturday hard frost and sunshine -8.2.
Lots of birds in the garden.
Read a bit more ragnarok.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee at the new chi bar.
A bit of shopping.

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Sunday morning not so cold, but still below zero.
Afternoon 1x round the village circuit past melting snow in light rain, no time as the computer seemed to be not working.

news 2012.02.19 sunday

5 hits this week 11754 total.

Friday afternoon warm and grey.
Took the r6 for a ride over to see adrian.
We went out to eat at the sarah mansfield.

Saturday into town through heavy rain for lunch at browns, coffee at waterstones.
We popped in to see jonathan at work.
Afternoon 1x round the village circuit in the sunshine, no time again as the computer still not working - probably the battery in the wheel sensor/tx.
Evening we went over to the o2 academy see the nme awards tour.
A massive queue outside meant we missed the start, unnecessarily as it turns out, as we were in the balcony area with no queue.
Azealia banks was just starting to get slightly interesting when it stopped, tribes were actually quite good, but it just got annoying after that, and much too loud and bright.
Light snow falling as we got home after midnight.

Sunday morning frosty.
Afternoon 1x circuit in the cold wind.

news 2012.02.19 monday

7 hits this week (1w+) 11761 total.

1d late due to oxford and flying.

Thursday afternoon remarkably warm and sunny at +16.

Friday took the r6 to work.
Afternoon fitted a new clutch cable and lever to the gpz.
Put a new battery in the cycle computer sensor/tx.
A bit of garden tidying.
We went out to eat at withybrook.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the sunshine 7 mins 53.
We went to oxford. 1 of thos perfect crisp cool sunshine days.
Lunch at browns, coffee at blackwells.
Bought 3 books.

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surelyyou'rejoking.jpg cyclesoftime.jpg bookofuniverses.jpg

Sunday still sunny.
Flew the simply 3x and swift 1x at wolston.
Managed to land at my feet every time in the very light wind.
Cleaned the car.
Took the monster for a ride and refuel over to see adrian.

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Back to normal colours now it is warmer again.

news 2012.03.04 sunday

5 hits this week (1w-) 11766 total.

Tuesday finished reading ragnarok.

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Wednesday the remarkable raspberry pi was released.

March.

Thursday afternoon off.
Went for a walk along the river sowe nature reserve in the glorious warm sunshine.

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Friday afternoon off.
We went into town.

Saturday morning rain.
Into town to get a tyre on the van.
Lunch at browns, coffee at waterstones.
A bit of garden tidying while the sunshine lasts.

Sunday more rain.
A bit of shopping.

news 2012.03.11 sunday

5 hits this week 11771 total.

Tuesday morning frost and fog.
New braun series 1 shaver arrived from amazon. After multiple replacement cutters and foils the old 1 sounds like it is disintegrating inside.
Caught up with the end of the bleak old shop of stuff.

Friday into town for lunch at browns, coffee at coventry university.
Took the r6 for a ride over to see adrian.
Much sorting of the 900ss electrics meant coming home in the dark, but still remarkably warm.

Saturday up early and off down the m54 to the mynd for the last f3f competition of the winter season.
Strong wind and thick fog at pole cott.
The mx5 rolled through 15000.
Read some more of the feynman book.
The fog lifted after lunch and I saw some timed runs.
I'd be interested to know how the course limit detectors work.
Saw several cut turns, occasionally fixed with a bit of down elevator, but more often having to go round again.
The speed is initially impressive, but gets boring after a while, when these aircraft are capable of so much more.
For a change left the hill by the route less used, looping back round to church stretton, then turning off to much wenlock.
Had a quick look at wenlock edge. Nice and sunny by now.
Returned through ironbridge gorge.

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mynd1c400.jpg mynd2_400.jpg

Sunday 1x round the village circuit under blue sky sunshine and wind past pheasants and daffodils 7 mins 56.
Cleaned the car.
Took the r6 for a ride and a bit of shopping.
Cleaned the r6 and gpz.
We went for a walk round the village circuit.
Fitted the new brake lever to the gpz.
A bit of garden tidying.

news 2012.03.19 sunday

5 hits this week 11776 total.

Wednesday saw scott at morrisons.

Friday afternoon off.
Read some more feynman book.
We went out to eat at withybrook.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the wet 8 mins 33.
Another circuit later in the damp sunshine 8 mins 01.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee at the circular cafe.
A bit of shopping.
We popped in to see adrian.
Took the 848 for a ride.

Sunday 2x circuit in the rain 15 mins 32.
Fitted an optimate lead to the r6.

news 2012.03.25 sunday

9 hits this week 11785 total.

Monday morning frosty.

Tuesday 2x round the village circuit before sunset 15 mins 21.

Friday took the r6 for a refuel, into town and over to adrian's.

Saturday 2x circuit in the mist 15 mins 25.
We dodged the litter pick, put the top down on the mx5 and headed for london.
Oxford espress have invested in some new coaches.
Off at baker street, lunch, coffee and cake at paul.
We went down new bond street to picadilly, having a look at fortnum and mason on the way.
Had a look at the women in music photo exhibition at the strand gallery.
Up to bikefix to talk fujin.
A bit of shopping.
Fairly late back.

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Sunday more perfect weather.
A bit of garage tidying.
Took the gpz for a ride, refuel and over to see adrian and family.

news 2012.04.01 sunday

5 hits this week 11790 total.

A week of perfect weather, mostly missed at work.

marchsunshine_400.jpg

Thursday 2x round the village circuit in the late afternoon sunshine 14 mins 54.

Friday took the 848 for a ride over to dad's, queueing for about 10 mins for fuel at tiny tesco.
Rolled through 2000 miles on the way.

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The oxford conker that fell on me in lamb and flag passage september last year is starting to grow.
We went out to eat at withybrook.

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Saturday 2x circuit 15 mins 45.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe at etna.
A bit of shopping.
Popped in to see adrian on the way home.
2x circuit 15 mins 39.

Sunday over to coombe on the gpz for the end of an era walk.
A bit cool at 1st, but glorious sunshine soon warmed us.
We passed fairly close to ansty park, where the originally lovely wooden panels have now gone grey.
Over to brinklow, where we had lunch at the bull's head.

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Took the r6 for a ride.
Read some more feynman book.

Swapped to the monster logo now the sunshine seems to be here.

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news 2012.04.09 monday

7 hits this week (1w+) 11797 total.

1d late due to motogp.

Wednesday heavy sleety snow.

Thursday off.
Down the m45, m1, m25, across the dartford crossing to bcr bikes to talk fujin, and actually have a look at 1.
Early lunch coffee and cake at south mimms.
An sl1 in green with no suspension.
A beautiful piece of engineering, extremely low, very light.
The medium seeat seems too short for me.
We did confirm that it would fit into the suzuki van.

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We headed W across S london.
Carol bought a tanglewood tw130asm from bem in brixton.
Coffee and cake at cafe sitifis.
Walked around the market.
A slow rush hour trek back up through W london, through clapham common, holland road, back up to the westway.
Stopped for something to eat and refuel at oxford services.
Home after dark.

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Friday into town for lunch at browns, coffee at waterstones.

Saturday we went to stratford. Lunch and coffee at the deli cafe.
Evening we went to see jon play at the golden cross.

Sunday 2x round the village circuit in the grey damp 15 mins 14.
Afternoon 2x circuit 14 mins 43.
We went for a walk around the circuit at dusk.
Saw the moto3, moto2 from qatar.
We caught up with the winter wipeout final.

Monday off.
Caught up with the motogp.

news 2012.04.15 sunday

7 hits this week (1w-) 11804 total.

Monday off. Into town for lunch at browns, coffee at west orchards.
A bit of shopping at m+s.

Thursday mysterious bang apparently from the sky at about 18:10.
Eventually revealed as a supersonic boom from 2 typhoon aircraft responding to what turned out to be a false alarm beacon.
My 4800 mAh 4 cell nimh arrived from overlander.

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Friday into town on the r6, only to find early closing.
Finished reading the feynman book.
Installed the android "ai" app evi.
We went out to eat at the bull's head.

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Saturday into town again on the r6.
Started read cycles of time.
We went to have a look at stowe.
Lunch and coffee at the cafe.
The house was closed, but the gardens are enormous with lots of monuments.
Impressive gothic temple house at the top of 1 of the hills, not obviously triangular until you get close.
Coffee and cake in the cafe.
A quick look at the new inn display rooms.

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Sunday morning frosty.
2x round the village circuit in the cold N wind 15 mins 04.
Took the r6 for a refuel.

news 2012.04.22 sunday

8 hits this week 11812 total.

A week of proper april showers.

Friday afternoon over to 3dfinishers to see about getting my school bike powder coated as a sample for the fujin.
A bit of shopping.
We went over to see adrian and family on the way home.
Conker tree is growing.

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Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the belgrade.
Walked back between the cathedrals, feeding the squirrels.

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Sunday rain returned in the afternoon.

news 2012.04.30 monday

12 hits this week (1w+) 11824 total.

1d late due to camille.

The showers have turned into more persistent rain.

Friday we went out to eat at the old mill at baginton, driving past the lunt roman fort.

Saturday morning 1x round the village circuit in the cold strong wind 8 mins 56.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee at giardino.

Sunday heavy rain and strong wind.
Saw the motogp from jerez.
Evening we headed down the a5 under dark skys and heavy rain.
Brightened up after towcester, arriving at the stables in bright sunshine.
Nice to see camille o'sullivan live again, although a lot of great songs have gone to make way for new stuff.
Bought all the cds and dvds, including the new changeling - time's a revelator. Back home late.

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Monday the sunshine returned. 1w off.
We went to have a look at guitarguitar to see the yamaha fg720s-12 - not impressed.
Lunch at the white swan.
Over to kestrel powder coating to talk about ral 3024.
Over to telford to vcustoms.
Bought a halvarssons hoody fleece.
Took the r6 for a ride late afternoon.

Apparently the wettest april since records began.

news 2012.05.06 sunday

6 hits this week (1w-) 11830 total.

May.

Tuesday we saw a sunny window in the forecast and headed off through the rain, down the m50, past flooded fields around ross on wye, monmouth to carmarthen.
Something to eat and a refuel at tesco, then down to a b+b at llanstefan.
We went for a walk along the beach, then up into the centre of the village, past bored cats and under crows squawking in the trees under the moon. Had a drink at the castle inn.

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Wednesday a quick look at llanybri, then into carmarthen.
Had a look at the james music shop.
Lunch and coffee at con passionata in nott square.

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We spent the afternoon at the national botanic garden.
Impressive mediterranean climate biodome, with plants from all over the world. Coffee and cake at the cafe.
Popped into m and p on the way back.
The rain returned along the m50.
Stopped for something to eat at the vale cafe.

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Thursday steady rain.
Afternoon 1x round the village circuit in the drizzle 8 mins 06.
Very wet pheasant in the garden.

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Friday 2x circuit in the damp 15 mins 43.
Took the r6 for a ride.
Afternoon 2x circuit 15 mins 43.
We went over to withybrook to eat, then over to the royal oak nuneaton to have a go at table football.

Saturday morning a little sunshine.
2x circuit in the cool windy sunshine 16 mins 16.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe at etna.
A bit of shopping.
Popped in to see adrian and family on the way home.

Sunday morning pumped up the tyres and 2x circuit in the cool sunshine 15 mins 27.
Saw the motogp from estoril.
Took the monster for a ride and over to see adrian.
Saw history being made in france.

news 2012.05.14 monday

10 hits this week (1w+) 11840 total.

1d late due to a very busy weekend.

Monday holiday.
More rain.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee at west orchards.
Afternoon we saw some of the kart racing at the pub.

Friday afternoon took the r6 for a ride over to see dad, then adrian briefly.
Late afternoon we went into town to see jonathan play in the battle of the bands for the godiva festival.
Something to eat at browns. We went for a walk around the new broadgate square and the cathedrals.

Saturday we went to london.
Accidentally found the wallace collection, spending a long time looking around its treasures, including lots of nessus.
Had another look at the fender cd-100 12 string.

Sunday went on the end of an era walk.
Lunch at the pub.
Cleaned the car and r6.
Took the r6 for a ride.

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news 2012.05.20 sunday

5 hits this week (1w-) 11845 total.

Forgot to mention that I bought an akai lpk25 in london.

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Friday tok the r6 to the post office, then over to expressmusic to talk fender cd-100 12 string.
Surprised to find 1 in stock. Carol came over to collect it in the van, then over to see adrian and family.
We went down the pub to eat.

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Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the light rain 8 mins 22.
Back to the post office 2x.
Hoping to escape the drizzle we went to oxford.
A little late for lunch meant it was very busy.

Sunday saw a very wet motogp from le mans.
Afternoon we went over for a brieff look at kenilworth festival.

news 2012.05.28 monday

5 hits this week (1w+) 11850 total.

1d late due to family visit.

Sunday we spent another evening with camille o'sullivan at the arts centre.

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Monday warm sunshine at last.
A bit of shopping.
Top down on the mx5, and over to wolston for the cadmac scale evening in perfect weather.
The landing circle seems to have become a square.

Tuesday evening took the r6 for a refuel.

Wednesday took the r6 to work.
Too hot on the way home.

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Thursday evening we returned to the arts centre to see stewart lee, the mx5 rolling through 19000 on the way.

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Friday off in the nice weather.
Caught up with the nw200.
Took the r6 for an mot.
Sunny afternoon reading in the garden.
We went over to see adrian and extended family.
A bit late, we ended up eating up the hill.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the warm, windy sunshine 8 mins 18.
Cleaned the car.
A bit of garden tidying.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Evening we went over to rugby theatre to see the film salmon fishing in the yemen.

Sunday 1x circuit in the warm, slightly less windy sunshine 7 mins 48.
A bit more garden tidying.
Caught up with the eurovision song contest.
The mx5 is 1 today.
Evening adrian and extended family came over for tea in the garden sunshine.

Monday still hot.

news 2012.06.03 sunday

7 hits this week 11857 total.

Wednesday heavy rain during a bit of shopping.
We started a game of chess.

Thursday finished the game.
Over in the mx5 to see adrian.

June.

Friday saw the film prometheus.
It is well made, but very silly.
Derivative from alien of course, but also 2001, the thing, various mars stuff.
Clearly set in the alien universe it is annoyingly inconsistent with it.
Popped in to see dad.
We went over to withybrook to eat.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the wet wind 8 mins 23.
We headed off through the rain to london for the field day festival in victoria park.
Parked the van off road, really close to the park, thanks to parkatmyhouse.com.
Headed for the noise.
New entrance position from when we attended the 1st festival in 2007.
Better organised now.
Nice sunny afternoon.
We spent most of the time at the laneway tent, seeing spektor, sleigh bells, vaccines.
Raining as we walked away from the main stage.
Got a bit lost heading back to the van.
Heavy traffic getting out of london.
Home about 02:30.

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Sunday steady rain.
Saw the motogp from catalunya.
Caught up with the 1st race from iomtt.

news 2012.06.10 sunday

7 hits this week 11864 total.

Monday off.
Into town for lunch at browns, weak coffee and cake at ikea.
Evening took the r6 for a ride in the cool sunshine and over to the cadmac meeting.

Tuesday off.
1x round the village circuit 8 mins 07.
Caught up with the supersport race from iomtt.
A bit of shopping.
Been reading some more penrose book about ccc.

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Wednesday caught up with the superstock race from iomtt.

Friday caught up with the 2nd supersport and electric races.
Senior race rained off until tomorrow.
Pheasants in the garden.
We went out to eat at willey.

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Saturday away reasonably early and off to london for the sunshine.
Lovely sunny afternoon.
Soup, stew, coffee and cake at paul.
Bought a kriega us20 from infinity.

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Coffee and cake outside patisserie valerie in old compton street.
Surprised to find a naked bike ride going through picadilly circus.

Sunday morning sunshine.
A bit of shopping.
Took the 848 for a ride.

It seems the iomtt senior race was eventually cancelled.

news 2012.06.17 sunday

6 hits this week 11870 total.

Monday more rain.

Thursday caught up with the iomtt summary, including the new lightweight twins race.
The mx5 rolled through 20000 miles.

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Friday popped over to see adrian and family.
A bit late after a trip to the allotment we went out to eat up the hill.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the damp wind 8 mins 42.
The r6 is 3y old today.
Into town through the rain for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.

Sunday early rain.

Cleaned the car.
Saw the motogp from silverstone, with cal crutchlow, riding injured, taking 6th after starting from the back of the grid.
Afternoon 1x circuit in the drizzle 8 mins 09.

news 2012.06.24 sunday

7 hits this week 11877 total.

Monday sunny and warm.
A bit of shopping.
Took the r6 over to wolston for the cadmac vintage evening in perfect weather.

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Wednesday summer solstice.
Last of the sunny warm weather for a while.

Friday bought a bar208hg weather station.
Good to see the humidity as well as the temperature inside and out.
We went out to eat at withybrook.

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Saturday into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping.
Pumped up the tyres and 1x round the village circuit in the strong wind 7 mins 59.

Sunday 1x circuit in the drizzle and wind 8 mins 00.

news 2012.07.01 sunday

6 hits this week 11883 total.

Sunday afternoon we went to the midsummer fair/fete thing.
Bit of an update on the conker tree.

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Wednesday evening sat in the garden watching the bats at dusk.

Thursday really heavy rain, but not for long.
Frogs in the pond now.

Friday took the 848 for a ride over to the millpool for an end of an era meet.

Saturday morning took the r6 for a ride.
Godiva festival cancelled due to the excessive rain, although today it is only occasionally showery.
Into town for lunch at browns, only to find it closed, so we went to the herbert instead.
Coffee and cake at costa in waterstones.
Over to rugby for more shopping.
1x round the village circuit in the warm damp sunshine and strong wind - no time as the sender not working again.
Finished reading cycles of time.
The idea of conformal cyclic cosmology seems to be that the accelerating expanding universe eventually loses track of scale, after all massive particles have disappeared into black holes that have since evaporated, leaving only photons.
At this point the crossover happens into a new aeon, starting with a new big bang.
This does have the advantage of pushing the troublesome inflation/expansion phase back into the previous aeon.
Towards the end of the book some observational predictions are made.
These have not been seen.

cyclesoftime.jpg

2 years since I left ericsson.

July.

Sunday took the 848 for a ride.
Saw the motogp from assen.
Afternoon took the monster for a ride down to the canal.
It seems the problem in the cycle computer sender is a bad connection rather than the battery itself.
The tour de france has started.

news 2012.07.08 sunday

5 hits this week 11888 total.

Wednesday cern reported that they had found something consistent with the higgs boson at about 125 GeV.
At least, it quacks like a higgs boson.
My prediction that it would not be found looks a bit wrong.

Thursday the shard is complete.
Must go and have a look at it.

Friday heavy rain.
We went over to withybrook to eat.
The brook doing a good impression of a river, with the water almost up to the top of the road bridge.

withybrookjuly5rc450.jpg

Saturday morning sat in the garden to watch the birds feeding in the sunshine before the rain returned.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Went for a wander over to whitefriars monastery in the showers.
A bit of shopping.
Evening we went to see jonathan play at taylor john's at the canal basin.
Back home late we caught up with a bit of a very wet and muddy t in the park.

whitefriarsmonastery4_450.jpg

Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the damp - no time as the computer only work for 5 secs - time for a new 1.
Saw the motogp from sachsenring.
Took the r6 for a ride and refuel.

news 2012.07.15 sunday

10 hits this week 11898 total.

Wednesday fitted a new wired cycle computer.

Thursday desperately trying to keep up with the tour de france in what little spare time I have - 4d behind at the moment.

Friday started reading the player of games.
Evening we went into town to see carol dance.

theplayerofgames.jpg

Saturday caught up with thursday's stage from albertville to la toussuire over the col de la croix de fer.
Possibly the highlight of the tour in the beautiful alpine scenery.
1x round the village circuit past flooded puddles 7 mins 47 thanks to the new cycle computer.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping.

Sunday 1x circuit in the cool sunshine 7 mins 40.
Caught up with friday's stage to annonay in the ardeche.
Cleaned the monster and took it for a ride past flooded fields at bretford over to the rather soggy wolston flying field.
Saw the motogp from mugello.
Afternoon 1x circuit before the rain arrived 7 mins 29.

news 2012.07.22 sunday

9 hits this week 11907 total.

Monday the 848 is 2y old today.

Wednesday the adsl internet connection went down.

Friday afternoon went to see the dark knight rises. A bit long and confusing. Possibly the best bit was "This isn't a car".
1x round the village circuit in the windy sunshine 7 mins 54.
Evening got the internet connection going again using the new belkin n150 modem.

belkin_n150.jpg

Saturday 1x circuit in the warm sunshine 7 mins 44.
We went to london.
Lunch, coffee and cake at paul.
Had a look at the london film museum at covent garden.
Something to eat at the stockpot.

Sunday sunny and windy.
Fixed the old cycle computer - it seems it only needed the sender positioning closer to the magnet.
Into town for lunch at browns.
Took the r6 for a ride and some shopping.
Hot windy sunshine reading in the garden.
Caught up with the tour de france, with bradley wiggins 1st and chris froome 2nd by a comfortable margine.

news 2012.07.29 sunday

7 hits this week 11914 total.

Monday hot and sunny again.
Caught up with the final stage of the tour de france around the champs elysees, with mark cavendish doing his usual sprint win.
1x round the village circuit in the warm evening sunshine 7 mins 27, with both computers in agreement.

Tuesday still hot and sunny.
A bit of shopping.

Wednesday still hot and sunny.
More shopping.
Evening sat in the garden and watched the swallows (or were they swifts) wheeling about in the sky..

Thursday still hot and sunny.

Friday still hot and sunny, but windy too.
Took the r6 for a ride.
1x round the village circuit in the warm sunshine and wind 7 mins 53.
Evening saw a bit of the opening ceremony.

Saturday 1x circuit 7 mins 42.
Into town for lunch at browns, cafe e gelato at etna.
Popped in at adrian's on the way back.
A bit of garden tidying.
Caught up with the opening ceremony. I was impressed.

Sunday we went over to look at hein gericke and j+s.
Lunch at the old crown.
Afternoon thunder, lightning, then a heavy shower with a few hailstones.

news 2012.08.05 sunday

3 hits this week 11917 total.

Sunday after the rain, we loaded up the r6 and 848 and went for a trial run and refuel to morrisons.

Monday off to france.
Down the m40 and a34 on the r6 and 848.
Stopped at the tot hill services for lunch and refuel.
On down the m3, m27 to portsmouth for the brittany ferries 15:00 normandie express to cherbourg.
Quite a smooth crossing in late afternoon sunshine with 3h only a little longer break than ideal.
Arriving early evening at 19:00 we had something eat at le petit matelot near the harbour edge before heading off to the gites de france b+b at couville, near le bourg neuf.
We went for a little walk down the lane, over the railway.

franceferry1_1_400.jpg franceferry1_2_400.jpg
francegite1_1_400.jpg francegite1_2_400.jpg

Mardi setting off in the pouring rain, we refueled again and headed south.
The sunshine had returned by the time we stopped at the intermarché at bricquebec.
We had a bit of a rest in the grounds of the chateau, then lunch in a cafe. Lots of clearing up from the festival of the weekend.
Walked down 1 of the cycling routes along a disused railway line on the way back to the bikes.
Bought some volvic and biscuits.Interesting to see the green cap bottle with 20% d'origine vegetale.

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Back on the bikes we continued south down the d900 to saint sauveur le vicomte.
Lovely to be riding a bike along warm sunny roads in france again after 20 years away.
A bit of a wander around the centre.

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Time to look for somewhere to stay the night, we carried on south to la haye du puits.

francelahaye_1rc_400.jpg

Then turned east as we need to return on thursday.
Along the d903 where we saw a sign for a gite near baupte. Very nice, but "complet".
Very helpful, they phoned around and sorted us with le lieu de jeanne at auvers.
We popped out to nearby carentan to eat at l'escapade.

francecarentan_1_400.jpg

August

Mercredi we headed north to sainte mêre église.
Cafe et tarte au citron.
Fed up with the east coast, we worked our way west through the tiny roads of gourbesville, orglandes, back to saint sauveur le vicomte.
Refuel, then back down to la haye du puits where a morning market was just closing. Saucisse et frites for lunch. More volvic.

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We headed over to the west coast for some seaside, stopping at barneville-carteret.
Lots of kites flying on the beach.
Snails on the grass in the dunes.
Tide out but coming in, we went for a walk out to the atlantic.

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We headed back up to cherbourg to eat, with the rain getting steadily heavier.
Parked in the square by the theatre, and went in search of food.
We ended up at la pizza, next door to where we had eaten on monday evening.
Got quite wet heading back to the b+b, once again missing the turn off before the garage.
The r6 rolled through 5000 miles along the way.

francecherbourg_1_400.jpg

Jeudi partly dried out, we set out for the ferry.
A bit of confusion with the other ferry to poole as we were a bit early.
Again, quite a smooth crossing, about 15 mins late, although there were white tops to the waves.
Tomato soup, coffee and muffin for lunch.
Coming up past the isle of wight we eventually got a 3G signal and I watched our location entering the harbour on google maps app.

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We stopped at the sutton scotney services for a refuel. In a concession to the times I had most of an olympic breakfast.
Heavy rush hour traffic along the a34 past oxford.
We stopped again at the oxford m40 services for a refuel.
Home at 19:34.
458 miles in 4d and most of that in the uk.
Here is a map of more or less where we went.

franceroute3c.jpg

Friday 1x round the village circuit in the cold damp wind 7 mins 43.
Caught up with the motogp from laguna seca.
Afternoon 1x circuit 7 mins 39.
We went out to eat at withybrook.

Saturday over to coventry ducati to book the monster in for a service.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe at etna.
Warm sunshine and heavy thundery showers.
A bit of shopping.
Cut the grass.

Sunday still showers.
The gpz is 26 years old today.
Afternoon popped over on the r6 to see adrian and family. Dad turned up too.
Rain and thunder on the way back.

news 2012.08.12 sunday

8 hits this week 11925 total.

Monday morning the mars curiosity landed successfully and sent back yet more photos of the barren rock.

Wednesday washed most of the mostly french mud and sand off the r6.

Friday off.
Down the a46 and m5 to devon on the r6 in the hot sunshine.
Stopped at an extremely busy michael wood services for lunch and refuel.
Very slow after bristol.
Got off at taunton to visit jane, but they weren't in.
Met up with jes, christine and steve for the evening.

Saturday we popped over to see richard and extended family on holiday nearby.
I went through wellington on the way back to the still extremely busy m5.
Lunch at taunton deane.
Refuel at michael wood.
Home by 20:15.

Sunday into town for lunch at browns, coffee at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.
Some reading in the garden.

news 2012.08.20 monday

6 hits this week (1w+) 11931 total.

1d late due to summer sundae.

Sunday evening we went for a walk around the village circuit, past fields of wheat and poppies.

poppies2_450.jpg

Tuesday we caught up with the closing ceremony.

Friday afternoon jane + stuart visited.
We went for a walk around the village circuit.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit 8 mins 11.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at conroy's.
Bought a new printer brother hl-2250dn.
Afternoon 1x circuit 8 mins 22.
We went to the village green thing with music from versity.

brotherhl2250dn1c200.jpg

Sunday stuart + chris cam over at lunch time.
Lots of peacock butterflies in the garden.

peacockbutterfly1c400.jpg peacockbutterfly1z400.jpg peacockbutterfly2_400.jpg

Afternoon we went to the summer sundae.
The thunder didn't turn into anything more than light showers before the sunshine.
Not really any interesting bands, we left early.

summersundae1_400.jpg summersundae2_400.jpg summersundae3_400.jpg

Some time ago the van rolled through 100000 miles.

van100000_100.jpg

Monday off.
Caught up with the motogp from indianapolis.
Squirrel in the garden trees.
1x circuit 7 mins 33.

squirrel1c400.jpg

Week missing due to reading festival.
news 2012.09.02 sunday

10 hits this week (1w+) 11941 total.

1w late due to reading.

Monday off.
Took the r6 for a ride and some shopping.

Thursday the monster went off for its service.
Evening lots of packing and printing stage times from clashfinder.

Friday off.
Up early and off down the a46, m40, a34 to the reading festival.

reading2012_400.jpg

Stopped for a break at south oxford sainsbury's.
I had forgotten how nice a road the a4074 is.
Right at the packsaddle pub, over bumpy roads, past fields of corn to white parking and through wristband exchange to white camping.
Free cans not really worth carrying.

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Tent up and over the thames bridge to the centre in time for free festival food, but not really worth queueing for.
Arena open a bit earlier than last year.
Something to eat, a bit of a rest.
Saw fidlar at the festival republic stage, then spector at the nme stage.

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With plenty of time to spare we went to explore the E of the site, down cow lane, past a stream full of litter, past the fair, to find the rivermead centre.
Back to the tent for a rest.
Back to the arena in time to see a bit of paramore.
Then over to the festival republic stage for the rest of the evening, catching some of veronica falls.
Great to see the subways again. These teenage years, well they don't last, oh yeah, oh yeah. Still good though.
Then sleigh bells. Too much bass and light inside the tent, we watched the screen outside.

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Back to the tent.
Charged the phones.

Saturday up fairly late, but over to the arena reasonably early for breakfast and the much rumoured special guests.
Well, the rumour said 12:00, but at about 11:00 all the stage screens lit up and everyone started running,mostly at the dance stage for some reason.
We headed over to the nme stage in time to see most of the green day set - excellent.
It was a shame that many people were still running into and across the arena when they finished about 12:15.
A bit busy inside the tent, I watched from the screen outside.

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A bit of a wander around the various stages, but nothing very interesting, until...
We saw the vaccines on the main stage.
It was a shame the weather was overcast,
A quick look at azealia banks in a too small tent.
It started to rain heavily, so we abandoned the rest of the evening.

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Sunday we were still a bit wet, but a nice and sunny morning outside.
Again, over the bridge to the arena early.

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Saw a bit of monsters and men.
Then band of skulls on the main stage - very good.
Lovely hot sunny afternoon listening to the eagles of death metal.

reading12_400.jpg reading13_400.jpg

Then over to the nme tent for tribes and the joy formidable. Probably the heaviest thing heard all weekend as they finished with the extended whirring.

reading14_400.jpg reading15_400.jpg

Back to the tent for a bit of a rest.
Packed the tent away and dropped it into the van, then back to the main stage for the foo fighters.
We watched for the 1st hour, which fortunately included most of my favourites.

reading16c2_525.jpg

Headed back to the van with the sound still coming through well, all the way to the white car park.
Stopped at the oxford m40 services for a rest.
Home about 01:00.

My phone charging arrangement worked well.
A 4800 mAh 4 cell nimh from overlander, and adapter lead from tamiya to power monkey standard power jack, usb socket, usb to micro usb.
Wind up led torch provided illumination in the tent, although really the camp site was well lit anyway.

winduptorch1c400.jpg phonecharger1c500.jpg

Monday off.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at druckers.

Tuesday evening catching up with reading from the iplayer.

Friday afternoon we went over to ducati coventry to see how the monster service was going.
We went out to eat at withybrook.

September.

Saturday caught up with the motogp from brno.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Over to ducati coventry to collect the monster - bit of a demo ride day going on.
Cleaned the 848.
Fixed a rear tyre puncture on the pushbike.

Sunday 1x round the village circuit 8 mins 00.

news 2012.09.10 monday

6 hits this week (1w+) 11947 total.

1d late due to a busy weekend.

Sunday afternoon stuart and chris visited.
Red admiral butterflies in the garden.

redadmiralbutterfly6c400.jpg

I charged the 4800 mAh pack to see how much had been used at reading.
It took 5034 mAh. I guess that means it was pretty well discharged, although it was still showing a good voltage when I put it on charge.
Of course, it had also been self discharging for 2w.

Monday took the r6 over to the cadmac meeting.
Patches of cool damp air riding back in the dark.

Friday afternoon off in warm sunshine.
The band of skulls cds sweet sour and baby darling doll face honey arrived from amazon.
Took the r6 over to see adrian.
We went out to eat up the hill, only to find it closed. Went to the old lion instead.

sweetsour.jpg babydarlingdollfacehoney.jpg

Saturday up early and 1x round the village circuit in the cold mist, disturbing cats and a pheasant along the way 8 min 02.
Cleaned the car.
We went to oxford.
Lunch at an almost empty browns. Coffee and ice cream at g+d in little clarendon street.
A buzzard circling in thermals somewhere over the parks road.

oxfordsept2_400.jpg oxfordsept2z_200.jpg oxfordsept16_400.jpg

Had a look at the new location for the big bang in the "castle" courtyard.
Bought a canon ixus 230 hs to update the old ixus 800 is (2006).

ixus230hs128.jpg ixus800is.jpg

Sunday up early and over to wolston to fly the simply in front of the moon in the blue sky.
1x circuit 7 mins 42.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert, outside in the sunshine.

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Afternoon small tortoiseshell butterfly in the garden.
Took the gpz for a ride. Seems to be not charging.
We went for a walk between the 2 fosse ways. No sign of last year's expedition.

smalltortoiseshellbutterfly6c400.jpg walksept1_400.jpg

news 2012.09.16 sunday

7 hits this week (1w-) 11954 total.

Tuesday carol saw the tawny owl that we have heard over the last few weeks.

Wednesday evening had a look at the gpz electrics.

Thursday evening had another look, finding a connector mostly corroded to verdigris.

verdigris2c200.jpg

Friday afternoon fitted a new connector. Seems charging ok now.
The 64G sdxc card for the camera arrived from amazon.

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Saturday 1x round the village circuit in cool morning sunshine 8 mins 13.
We went to london.
An accident on the m40 lost us about 20 mins, traffic along the marylebone road lost about another 10 mins.
A liitle late for lunch and coffee at paul.
We went around the edge of regent's park to camden.
Back down to the centre, coffee and cake along the way.
Home after just after 22:00.

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Sunday 1x circuit in the cool grey 8 mins 07.
Saw the motogp from misano.
Took the r6 for a ride and refuel.

news 2012.09.16 sunday

8 hits this week (1w-) 11962 total.

Thursday evening finished reading the player of games.
I see the hydrogen sonata is out soon, although the paperback is much later.

theplayerofgames.jpg

Friday equinox.
Afternoon off.
Started reading the book of universes.

bookofuniverses.jpg

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the cold (3.5) sunshine 8 mins 14.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Saw the stage and preparations for godiva in the square at broadgate.
A quick look at the new furniture etc. store.
A bit of shopping.
1x circuit in the late afternoon sunshine 7 mins 52.

Sunday grey before the heavy rain.

news 2012.09.30 sunday

10 hits this week 11972 total.

Sunday we didn't bother going out into the miserable weather, and so missed the subways.

Monday 1w off.
Still raining.

Tuesday 1x round the village circuit in the strong wind 8 mins 04.
A bit of shopping.

Wednesday 1x circuit in the wet 8 mins 01.
A bit more shopping.

Thursday 1x circuit in the late morning sunshine 7 mins 39.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Over to leamington to drop off the mx5.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.

Friday 1x circuit 7 mins 57.
Lunch, coffee and cake at caffe corleone before collecting the mx5.
Took the r6 for a ride over to see adrian and family.

Saturday 1x circuit in the cold low sunshine 8 mins 24.
Spiders in the garden.

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Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and tiffin at waterstones.
Took the gpz for a long ride in the cool late afternoon sunshine.

Sunday saw the motogp from aragon.
A bit of shopping.

Read lots of the book of universes this week.

news 2012.10.07 sunday

5 hits this week 11977 total.

October.

Monday the mx5 rolled through 25000.

mx5_25000rc_100.jpg

Evening took the r6 over to the cadmac meeting.
Very large asymmetric b+v 141 and a do 335.
Riding straight at an almost full moon for most of the way back.

Thursday bought the latest culture novel the hydrogen sonata as a kindle ebook for android.

thehydrogensonata.jpg

Friday took the gpz into town to see about an mot.

Saturday we went to london.
Thornhill overflowing so we parked some distance away and walked in. Then the next bus was full.
Seems everyone out in the late summer sunshine.
Late lunch, coffee and cake at paul.
Oxford street heaving.

Sunday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Many trees already showing their autumn colours.
Conkers ready to fall outside in the sunshine.

conkers3_400.jpg conkers3c_450.jpg conkers3c2_300.jpg

news 2012.10.15 monday

9 hits this week (1w+) 11986 total.

1d late due to batsford.

Wednesday evening went out for meal with lee, andy, john.
Back home an impressive spider on the wall.

spider2c400.jpg

Friday we went out to eat at withybrook.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the still grey 8 mins 15.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.
Popped in to see adrian and family on the way back.

Sunday 1x circuit in the cold, damp early morning mist, disturbing pheasants along the way 8 mins 10.
Saw the motogp from motegi.
Down to batsford arboretum in time for lunch before the queue got too big.
Lovely warm sunshine showing off the trees.
Coffee and cake after the walk.
Started to rain on the way back.

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news 2012.10.21 sunday

8 hits this week (1w-) 11994 total.

Monday the new hel brake lines for the gpz arrived.

helbrakelines_400.jpg

Friday afternoon collected the van from its mot and rework.
Took the gpz into town to drop it off for rework and an mot, only to find no space to leave it inside.
Popped in to see dad on the way home in light rain.
The deep dark robot cd 8 songs about a girl arrived from amazon, including the wonderful speck.

8songsaboutagirl.jpg speck.jpg

Saturday 1x round the village circuit through wet leaves 8 mins 16.
Into town again to drop off the gpz.
Lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.
Over to ullesthorpe garden centre, where we bought an acer palmatum something - no label, but it loooked like the best example - probably a dissectum something.

Sunday 1x circuit in the early morning mist 8 mins 02.
Saw the motogp from a typically very wet, red flagged sepang.
Cleaned the car.
Took the r6 shopping to morrisons.

news 2012.10.28 sunday

6 hits this week 12000 total.

Friday afternoon off and down the a46, m40 to oxford for the exeter college physics and engineering talk and dinner.
Coffee and cake upstairs in blackwells, overlooking the sheldonian theatre at dusk.
Sad to see some of the autumn colour stripped from the upper floor of the W facing wall of the main quad.
Descended into the underground complex of the back quad to the saskatchewan room for the talk by frank close on the origins of the theory behind the higgs boson.
Apparently, the higgs mechanism for generating the rest mass of particles is similar to the concept of a minimum energy/mass of photons within a plasma.
Drinks in the rector's lodgings, then dinner in hall, mostly talking to david of the npl.
Home before midnight under a starry and moonlit sky.

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Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the cold N wind 8 mins 19.
Into town to collect the gpz.
Lunch at browns, coffee and cake in waterstones.
Home again, cleaned the bike in the cold windy sunshine.

Sunday 1x circuit in the cold damp grey 8 mins 20.
Back from bst to gmt.
Saw the motogp from phillip island.

news 2012.11.04 sunday

4 hits this week 12004 total.

November.

Friday carol took the monster for an mot.

Saturday 1x round the village circuit through wet leaves and light rain 8 mins 12.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Had a look at freeview hd recorders.
A bit of shopping near dunchurch.

Sunday 1x circuit in light rain 8 mins 08.
Afternoon cleaned the car.
1x circuit at dusk in the damp 8 mins 04.

news 2012.11.11 sunday

6 hits this week 12010 total.

Wednesday soundgarden were a revelation on later.
Replacement bar end weights and footrest rubber parts for the gpz arrived from cradley kawasaki.

Thursday the sony svrhdt1000 1TB freeview hd recorder arrived from amazon.

svrhdt1000.jpg

Friday we went over to withybrook to eat.

Saturday up early and off to london.
Thornhill still busy, but a few spaces left.
Even so the 1st espress bus went past full.
A red kite circling over the car park as we arrived.
Drizzly grey weather, but sunshine later.
Lunch, coffee and cake at paul.
Early november and some of the xmas lights are already on.
Starry night on the drive back.

Sunday morning 1x round the village circuit in the frosty damp sunshine, disturbing 3 pheasants along the way 8 mins 45.
Saw the motogp from valencia.
Took the mx5 for a refuel and popped in to see adrian.

news 2012.11.18 sunday

6 hits this week 12015 total.

Friday afternoon off.
1 of those grey days when it never really gets light.

Saturday pumped the tyres and 1x round the village circuit through wet leaves 7 mins 57.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.

Sunday 1x circuit in the frosty sunshine 8 mins 10.
Read some more book of universes.
Afternoon 1x circuit in the cold sunshine 7 mins 51.

news 2012.11.25 sunday

9 hits this week 12024 total.

Wednesday lots of rain.

Thursday windy.

Friday afternoon off in the sunshine.
Cleaned the scott oil off the back wheel of the r6.
Fitted 1 of each of the footrest rubber and bar end weight to the gpz.
The soundgarden cd king animal and saint saviour cd union arrived from amazon.
We went out into the rain to eat at withybrook.

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Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe nero.
Another grey day with lots of rain.
A bit of shopping.

Sunday windy sunshine.
1x round the village circuit in the late morning sunshine past flooded fields and big puddles 8 mins 01.
Finished the book of universes.
Afternoon we went for a short walk into the village.

bookofuniverses.jpg

news 2012.12.03 monday

9 hits this week (1w+) 12033 total.

1d late due to bike show.

Thursday saw a fox cross the road in front of me before dawn.
The sony bdps185. blu ray player arrived from amazon, together with bladerunner and underworld awakening.
Nice little box, but disappointed by having to watch widescreen letterbox style.

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Friday frosty.
Afternoon off in the slowly thickening fog.
Cleaned the car.

December.

Saturday we went to the nec bike show, meeting up with jes + christine.
Lunch at wetherspoons.
No really interesting new bikes, but nice to see the imminent zero electric bikes.
Bought some frey daytona boots, and muc-off on offer. Also some oxford heated grips for the gpz.
Evening we went down the pub to eat.

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Sunday frosty.
We went for a walk around the village circuit in the afternoon.

Monday off.
No frost.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cheesecake at the round caffe nero.
Fired up the r6.

Our trees had no apples this year.
Been buying the rather good evelina variety.

Set up the advent calendar and swapped from the monster logo.

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news 2012.12.10 monday

7 hits this week (1w) 12040 total.

1d late due to visiting

Thursday morning -4 frosty.

Friday more rain.
Afternoon off.
Stuart + chris visited.
We went out to eat at withybrook.

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

Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the cold wind 8 mins 06.
Late afternoon we visited stuart and chris.

The waldemar januszczak series dark ages has been very interesting.

news 2012.12.16 sunday

2 hits this week (1w-) 12042 total.

Monday off.
Put the xmas tree up.
Afternoon 1x round the village circuit in the cold sunshine 7 mins 51.
A bit of shopping, and popped over to see dad.

Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Met adrian in town, and again doing a bit of shopping at tiny tesco.

Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the damp 8 min 17.
A bit of shopping.

news 2012.12.23 sunday

5 hits this week 12047 total.

Sunday had a go at tightening the truss rod on the fender 12 string to straighten the neck a little and lower the action.

Monday off.
1x round the village circuit against heavy traffic 8 mins 10.
Xmas lunch at morrisons.
Coffee and cake at m+s.
Cleaned the car.

Friday afternoon off for xmas.
Another end of an era meet at the millpool.
My motorcycle dynamics book and time the revelator arrived from amazon.

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Saturday

Sunday into town through the rain for lunch at browns, coffee and mince pie at the round caffe nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.

Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the strong wind, past flooded fields and big, light brown puddles.
Afternoon we went over to see stuart and chris.

news 2012.12.30 sunday

5 hits this week 12052 total.

Xmas eve.
But instead it just kept on raining.
Evening we went out into the rain delivering, and over to see adrian and family.

Xmas day 1x round the village circuit before the rain returned 7 min 59.
Xmas dinner at home.
Afternoon over to see adrian and family.
Saw the 1st new revolutions in particle physics lecture by leonard susskind.
Entertaining to watch while he nibbles biscuits.
Learned what the momentum of a photon is.

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Boxing day we went to london.
Getting up a bit late, we still got away about 09:30.
Big queue to leave the m40 for oxford, mainly due to lots of people heading N on the a34 to bicester.
Surprised to find the car park at thornhill almost empty, but now with charges over 11h.
Still quite a queue for the buses.
Rework of a bridge at greenford produced a stationary queue on the a40.
We eventually managed to get off and divert through southall, ealing, coming back up hanger lane to rejoin the a40.
Arrived about 13:50, over 4h after setting out.
A bit late for lunch, coffee and cake at paul.
Occasional rain.
We ate at the stockpot.
Oxford street full of big queues at the bus stops due to the tube strike.
Left it a bit late (19:45) to get the x90 back, with a big queue at the park lane stop, waiting for the reduced bank holiday service, further reduced by the greenford nonsense.
Lucky to get the last 2 seats on the bus after waiting only about 30 mins.
Home about 23:05, less than 3h back.

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Thursday 1x circuit in the damp, windy sunshine 8 mins 06.
A bit of shopping.
Saw the leonard susskind lecture on the higgs boson.

Friday 1x circuit in the dark, wet wind 8 mins 06.
2 pheasants and a squirrel in the garden.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe nero.
Saw +15 degrees in the afternoon.
We went for a walk around the village circuit at dusk.

Saturday heavy rain.
Caught up with the royal institution xmas lectures on chemistry, providing an easy excuse for lots of pops and bangs, but nothing really new to science.

Sunday 1x circuit in the damp, windy sunshine 8 mins 11.

Here is what the advent calendar looked like.

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Swapped to the winter trees logo.
Also back to normal colours, as it just seems to be rain now.

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