news 2013.01.06 sunday |
6 hits this week 12058 total.
Sunday we went to oxford in the sunshine, but the
rain returned before we got there.
Used the seacourt park and ride for a change.
Lots of almost overflowing rivers and flooded allotments.
New year's eve more rain.
Added a map of the route for the 1987 holiday in history.
We stayed up until the fireworks were gone.
2013
New year's day frosty.
1x round the village circuit in the cold sunshine 8 mins 20.
Afternoon we went for a walk around theddingworth in
the cold, windy sunshine.
Evening saw up.
Wednesday the mx5 rolled through 30000 miles.
Friday we went out to eat at withybrook.
Saturday put the xmas trees away.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.
Saw the film moon.
Sunday 1x circuit in the damp mist 7 mins 49.
Afternoon 1x circuit 7 mins 58.
We went over to see adrian and family.
Xmas university challenge was fun.
|
news 2013.01.13 sunday |
8 hits this week 12066 total.
Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and mince pie at the
round caffe nero.
A bit of shopping.
Evening we went to see the les
mis film.
I dreamed a dream in time gone by.
Sunday 1x round the village circuit in frosty sunshine 8 mins 24.
Afternoon cleaned the car.
|
news 2013.01.20 sunday |
5 hits
this week 12071 total.
Monday snow.
Tuesday frozen snow.
Wednesday -5 frozen snow and mist.
Below zero all day.
Friday the proper snow arrived - about 100mm by lunch time when they
sent us home.
Carol saw a great
spotted woodpecker. Also a fieldfare later.
Icicles hanging from the roof.
We walked through the snow to the pub to eat.
Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the
herbert.
Squirrel in the garden.
Sunday steadily falling snow.
Swapped back to winter colours as it has now gone cold again.
|
news 2013.01.27 sunday |
6 hits this week 12077 total.
Wednesday the joy
formidable cd wolf's law arrived from amazon.
Saturday pheasant in the garden.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Most of the snow has gone.
In the night the warm rain came and washed all the snow away.
Sunday 1x round the village circuit in strong wind and sunshine,
past flooded fields and roads 8 mins 21.
Pheasant in the garden.
Afternoon 1x circuit before the rain started again 8 mins 06
|
news 2013.02.03 sunday |
9 hits this week 12086 total.
February.
Friday we went out to eat at withybrook.
Saturday we went to london.
Lunch at canteen, coffee and
cake at paul.
Over to bikefix to put a
deposit on a fujin.
Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the strong, cold wind 8 mins
42.
A bit of shopping.
Afternoon cleaned the car.
1x circuit 8 mins 00.
|
news 2013.02.10 sunday |
11 hits this week 12097
total.
Friday popped over to see dad.
Saturday morning light snow.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.
Popped in to see adrian.
Sunday rain.
A bit of shopping.
Evening light snow again.
Been listening to the new my
bloody valentine cd mbv on youtube -
it's been a long time.
|
news 2013.02.17 sunday |
6 hits this week 12103 total.
Monday more slushy snow.
Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the
herbert.
Down the m45, m1, m25 through epping forest to meet up with jes, steve
and bob after the bike show.
We out to eat.
Sunday home about 14:05.
Lovely sunny day.
|
news 2013.02.24 sunday |
14 hits this week 12117
total.
Monday off.
1x round the village circuit in the cold sunshine 8 mins 18.
We went to morrisons for lunch.
A bit more shopping.
Coffee and cake at the farm shop.
Cleaned the car.
1x circuit in the late afternoon low sunshine 8 mins 08.
Tuesday 1x circuit in the late afternoon low sunshine 8 mins 06.
Friday just a few snowflakes in the cold wind.
Saturday more snowflakes and just about 2 degrees.
Coffee and cake at leekes.
A bit of shopping.
Slightly more snowflakes.
Sunday finished the motogp dvd
fastest,
mostly about valentino
rossi.
Over to abbey fields for the start of the 1st end of an era walk of the
year, but not the walk itself in light snow and +1 degrees C.
Afternoon fitted a new roller blind.
1x circuit in the cold grey wind. No time as the new computer wasn't
working for some reason.
|
news 2013.03.03 sunday |
5 hits this week 12122 total.
March
Friday 1x round the village circuit in the grey wind 7 mins 59.
We went out to eat up the hill.
Saturday 1x circuit in the early morning cold, with a stop for a dog
7 mins 48.
Lovely sunny day, but cold.
Into town for lunch at browns, meeting up stuart and chris, then coffee
and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.
Popped in to see adrian and family.
1x circuit 7 mins 47.
We saw the film vanishing
point.
Sunday pumped up the tyres for 1x circuit in the frost 7 mins 45.
Cleaned the car.
Afternoon 1x circuit 7 mins 35.
|
news 2013.03.10 sunday |
6 hits this week 12128 total.
Monday went to the cadmac meeting, with a talk from tom ridley about
the continued production of oliver engines.
Tuesday even more warm and sunny than monday.
Friday we went out to eat at withybrook.
Saturday we went to london.
Lunch at canteen, coffee and cake at paul.
Bought a hercules guitar
wall hanger
for the fender 12 string.
Had a quick look at the british museum,
including japan and the sutton hoo
collection.
Sunday light snow.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping in dunchurch.
|
news 2013.03.17 sunday |
6 hits this week 12134 total.
Monday cold, windy snow and sunshine.
Thursday 2y in at work.
Saturday rain.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the amber cafe.
A quick look at ikea.
Over to j+s.
A bit of shopping at morrisons and the new m+s.
Sunday 1x round the village circuit in the damp past flooded puddles
7 mins 54.
Cleaned the car in the rain, turning to wet snow.
Afternoon we went for a walk around the village circuit.
|
news 2013.03.24 sunday |
8 hits this week 12142 total.
Monday a call from bikefix
to say the fujin
has arrived.
Tuesday 1x round the village circuit in the late afternoon cool
sunshine 7 mins 40.
Wednesday equinox.
Friday d'addario ej38
strings arrived from amazon for the fender 12 string.
Saturday we set out down the m40 through heavy snow to collect the
fujin
from bikefix in london.
Stopped at oxford services for lunch, coffee and chocolate
croissant.
Sorted out the bike, then a quick coffee and pear tart in the union
cafe.
Wheeled it back to the van through heavy snow and headed for home.
Stopped at beaconsfield services for something to eat on the way
back.
Saw a red kite
swoop across in front of us.
Sunday morning a good covering of snow.
Several fieldfares
in the garden.
Into town for luch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping.
|
news 2013.03.31 sunday
span.> |
9 hits
this week 12151 total.
Monday not much actual snow falling, but still plenty about, and
very cold in the E wind.
Friday off.
Over to leamington for lunch, coffee and cake at the bread shop.
Saw peace in
the head music shop.
1x round the village circuit in the cold sunshine, past banks of snow
in the shady parts 8 mins 10.
Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round
caffe nero.
Bought some lights and a bell for the fujin from wilko.
Occasional light flurry of snow.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
1x circuit in the cold late afternoon sunshine 7 mins 56.
Evening we went out to the dog to see jon play, not as it turns out.
Home before midnight.
Sunday bst.
1x circuit on the fujin with carol following, no time as it has no
computer yet.
Afternoon 1x circuit in the cold 7 mins 59.
Cleaned the car.
|
news 2013.04.07 sunday |
8 hits this week 12159 total.
Sunday evening started fitting new strings to the fender 12
string.
April.
Monday off.
Finished off fitting the strings.
We went for a drive out to fosse park.
Lunch at asda, coffee and cake at m+s.
1x round the village circuit in the cold. windy, late afternoon
sunshine 7 mins 48.
Friday popped in to see adrian and family.
We went over to withybrook to eat.
Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at
druckers.
Lovely sunny day.
Had a quick look at moto
central.
Went for a drive over to see stuart and chris.
Still snow in the shady spots by the hedges.
1x circuit on the fujin in the warm late afternoon sunshine.
Sunday 1x circuit in the frosty sunshine. No time as the computer
stopped working after 1 min 17, probably due to the cold.
Pheasant in the garden.
A bit of garden tidying.
Took the r6 for a ride over to see dad.
|
news 2013.04.14 sunday |
9 hits this week 12168 total.
Sunday saw the motogp from
qatar.
Good to see rossi back on a
yamaha.
Thursday rain.
Friday more rain.
Evening went to the millpool for another end of an era meet.
Saturday 1x round the village circuit in the damp 7 mins 54.
1x circuit on the fujin.
Had a go at starting the 848, but the battery seems to have expired,
not helped by the headlight being on at start.
We saw a tiny bird in the garden - probably a goldcrest.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Sunday 2x circuit in the damp sunshine and strong wind 15 mins
28.
Frogs are gathering in the pond.
The goldcrest is
back.
Cleaned the monster, and took it for a ride down to the canal,
surprised to find the road now resurfaced.
Swapped to the monster logo, now spring appears to have sprung.
|
news 2013.04.21 sunday |
12 hits this week 12180
total.
Sunday forgot to mention that the oxford conker tree is growing
again, and the acer palmatum.
Tuesday lovely sunny and warm, but still a bit windy.
Got the top down on the mx5.
The new motobatt mbt12b4 for the 848
arrived from amazon/bitzforbikes.
Friday new french doors were fitted.
Evening fitted the battery and fired up the 848.
Saturday morning 2x round the village circuit in the frosty
sunshine, no time, probably due to the cold.
We went to that london again, setting out early, and
arriving by 12:00.
Expansion car park at thornhill progressing.
Lovely fresh sunny weather.
Lunch, coffee and cake at paul.
Had a look at the record store
event in berwick street.
Coffee and cake at aveda.
Marble arch and hyde park very busy coming home.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin.
Put the fairing side panel back on the 848.
Pumped up the tyres and 2x circuit 15 mins 55.
Into town for lunch at browns.
A bit of shopping.
Coffee and cake at m+s.
|
news 2013.04.28 sunday |
9 hits this week 12189 total.
Monday up early to catch up with the motogp from austin.
Tuesday 2x round the village circuit past daffodils, in the late
afternoon warm sunshine and wind 14 mins 49.
Conker tree has its leaves out now.
Friday took the r6 for a ride and refuel.
We went over to withybrook to eat.
Saturday 2x circuit in the cold wind 15 mins 14.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
Bought a cycle computer for the fujin from wilko.
Sunshine and showers.
A bit of shopping.
Sunday grey.
Fitted the computer to the fujin.
|
news 2013.05.06 monday |
6 hits this week (1w+) 12195
total.
1d late due to avebury.
May
Wednesday top down on the mx5.
2x round the village circuit in the warm, late afternoon sunshine 14
mins 09.
The van is 10 today - 111199 miles.
Thursday even warmer.
Top down on the mx5 again.
A pair of ducks in the garden.
Conker tree is doing well.
2x circuit in the warm, late afternoon sunshine 14 mins 19.
Evening out to vote.
Friday off in the sunshine.
Up early and over to wolston to fly the simply.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe senza gelato at etna.
Cleaned the car.
Took the 848 for a ride over to see adrian + family.
Saturday 2x circuit in light drizzle 15 mins 28.
We went to oxford through the showers.
Lunch at maxwells, coffee and cake at the art cafe.
Down the a420, onto the ridgeway to have a
look at avebury.
Crows in the trees.
Some people drumming, still celebrating beltane.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in warm sunshine 14 mins 58.
We went swimming at abbey fields 14 lengths.
Saw the motogp from jerez.
A bit of garden tidying.
Adrian popped over on the 900ss.
Monday off.
Down to the allotment to put new polythene on the polytunnel.
Afternoon in the garden sunshine.
Fitted new oxford heated grips and bar ends to the gpz.
Been reading lots more hydrogen sonata.
|
news 2013.05.12 sunday |
9 hits this week (1w-) 12204
total.
Tuesday still warm.
Top down on the mx5.
Saturday 2x circuit in the damp 15 mins 43.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and twist at the round cafe
nero.
Sunhine and heavy showers.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in the early morning, damp sunshine
15 mins 41.
2x circuit before lunch, past drying puddles 14 mins 46.
Conker tree doing well.
|
news 2013.05.19 sunday |
8 hits this week 12212 total.
Monday evening the ducks are back in the garden.
Short hail shower.
Tuesday finished the hydrogen sonata.
Wednesday evening saw the ducks again.
Thursday evening saw the nw200 race.
Saturday 2x round the village ciruit in the cool grey 14 mins 51.
Took the r6 for an mot.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping.
We went over to see adrian's new car.
Watched most of eurovision.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in the early morning sunshine 15 mins
00.
Caught up with the cookstown races.
Saw the motogp from a rather wet
le mans, with cal
crutchlow taking 2nd on a satellite yamaha.
Took the 848 for a ride over to see dad.
|
news 2013.05.26 sunday |
10 hits this week 12222
total.
Monday over to wolston in the mx5 for the cadmac scale evening.
A bit cold, grey, windy and dark.
Tuesday caught up with hamlet for
the 1st time.
Wednesday bought an adapter and pumped up the tyres on the fujin.
Thursday over to leamington to drop off the mx5 for a 37500
service.
Friday off.
Took the r6 through light rain over to alf england for a service.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Collected the r6.
Over to leamington to collect the mx5 and a bit of shopping.
Sunshine and heavy showers.
Saturday nice and sunny.
We went over to barkston heath to see stuart + chris competing in the
free
flight nationals.
Lunch, coffee and cake at belton
garden centre.
Took 2cm out of the boom length on the fujin.
Put new strings on the fender acoustic.
Sunday 2x round the village circuit in the warm sunshine on the
fujin 15 mins 08.
A bit of garage tidying.
1x circuit on my old school bike.
Acer starting to develop some lovely colours.
|
news 2013.06.02 sunday |
9 hits this week 12231 total.
Monday off.
2x round the village circuit in the cool wind 15 mins 04.
The mx5 is 2y today.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
Pumped up the tyres and 2x circuit in the strong warm wind 15 mins
12.
Tuesday bought against a dark background.
Friday hot. Top down on the mx5.
June.
Saturday 2x circuit in the cool windy sunshine 14 mins 54.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in warm sunshine 15 mins 45.
Caught up with the 1st sidecar race from iomtt.
Saw the motgp from mugello.
Took the r6 for a ride over to see adrian.
|
|
Week missing due to holiday in france |
|
Week missing due to holiday in france |
news 2013.06.23 sunday |
12 hits this week (3w) 12243
total.
Monday caught up with the iomtt
superbike and supersport races.
Tuesday saw the superstock race.
Wednesday still hot.
Caught up with the 2nd supersport and the zero races.
Thursday caught up with the 2nd sidecar race.
Friday lots of packing.
Caught up with the lightweight race.
Saturday we set out on the bikes showing miles r6 5796 monster
20614.
Down the m5 to meet up with jes, christine, steve.
Sunday a late start and down to plymouth to get on the
brittany ferries pont
aven to santander.
Caught up with iron
man 3 in 1 of the cinemas.
Used the boat wifi to get connected.
Caught up with the news that iain m banks had
died today.
Relatively calm sea for the crossing.
Watched on google maps as we rounded the corner of france, nipping
inside the ile
d'ouessant about 22:00 before retiring to the cabin.
Lundi arrived at santander at
12:15, but took a long time to get off the boat. Lots of bikes on
board.
We stopped briefly at a sea front cafe before leaving jes, christine,
steve to explore spain.
Carol and I took the motorway E to try to reach france before
nightfall.
Got off briefly to refuel at liendo.
Lots of noisy tunnels.
Struggled a bit with the names of french towns in spanish, but
eventually spotted a sign for frantzia.
Stayed at the motel mil
in bidart S of biarritz.
Up the hill for an evening meal at the restaurant elissaldia.
Mardi morning lots of building work going on, and by the time we got
going they had partly resurfaced the road we had arrived on.
Aiming to cross france to the mediterranean,
we headed E.
Lovely to be going along sunny tree lined roads in france again.
Stopped for a café et glace break at a pretty spot next to a river that
turned out to be peyrehorade by the
nive.
Lizards on the stones.
Accidentally went through the centre of tarbes, which was rather
slow and busy.
Stopped for a refuel and sandwich lunch.
Saw a chap on a recumbent as we set off again.
We seemed to run out of routes national going the right way, so we got
on the a64.
Got off again near st
gaudens and followed the d117 to st
girons.
The town before looked pretty too st liziers.
Eventually managed to follow the signs to the hotel eychenne in
a 1 way side street.
Very cycling and moto friendly.
After dinner we went out for a walk around, but quickly returned as it
started to rain.
Mercredi another lovely blue sky day with snow on the mountains as
we continued along the d117 direction foix.
Stopped for refuel just after. Needing to cover too many km to stop for
a look.
Missed the turn off the n20 for the d117, and found ourselves heading
for andorra and ax les thermes where we had stopped on the way up in 1994.
Turned around and got back on the d117.
Stopping for a break a little later we saw a glider being towed up.
Spectacular gorge through the rocks just after belvianes et cavirac,
but again no time to stop.
Wanted a stop by the time we got to perpignan, but we saw
road signs for argelès,
so carried on, stopping at the plage central.
Late lunch at the restaurant méditeréen casablanca.
Stuck behind a tourist road train finding our way back to perpignan,
hitting it at the start of the rush hour.
Hoping to stay in the centre of narbonne, but the rush
hour traffic, 1 way systems and temperature were too much.
So we had a break to cool down a bit, then continued N direction béziers.
Saw a sign for a hotel and followed it to a little town with a logis hotel.
After a shower and a meal in the garden we went for a walk around the
town centre and found out it was nissan lez
enserune.
Cat in the garden and lizards on the wall, more basking in the street
lights.
Noisy room next to the 1 way street at the front.
Jeudi continuing N saw a sign for colombieres, which sounded
familiar. In fact we had a look at that area in 2004.
Caught up in roadworks around the edge of béziers, but
eventually got the free autroute direction montpellier.
Stopped for a refuel and lunch (and a cool down) at a carrefour.
Continued N and stopped at a hotel in tain
l'hermitage.
Curious cleaning robot nipping about at the bottom of the pool.
In the evening the weather suddenly changed with strong winds, overcast
skies and some rain.
We popped out anyway for a meal at le comptoir gourmand.
Vendredi after getting a little lost, we continued N direction annonay.
We accidentally went over the col de la
république ascending into the cold damp clouds around tight bends
with a less than perfect, damp road surface.
Glad to descend again, although it was still cool and overcast.
Through st
étienne.
Lunch at another carrefour at roanne.
Sun was back for the afternoon.
Stopped for a break at a lovely hilltop parking next to enormous fields
of poppies.
Stopping at an aire a bit later we saw some sort of bird of prey over
the parking.
N of nevers we got
off the a77 in search of fuel and somewhere to stay.
Found ourselves at pouilly sur
loire.
Noticing that sancerre was nearby,
we went to have a look at that, crossing over the canal
latéral on the way.
A pretty little hill town.
Hotels mostly expensive and full, we accidentally spotted a gites de
france sign and stayed at la belle époque, where almost everything was
peach.
Having had enough french food for a while, we had a pizza and tiramisu
at ristorante collina.
Samedi an extensive petit déjeuner upstairs in a remarkable room
overlooking the garden.
Continuing N with a cool crosswind and getting low on fuel we
eventually arrived at chartres.
A lovely hill town with its assymmetric cathedral, sadly now surrounded
by lots of industrial and shopping space.
Very different from the last time I was there.
Stopped for lunch and to ask for fuel direction dreux.
Decided to try for the night ferry from caen.
Passed through évreux.
Stopped at an enormous leclerc at lisieux.
It seemed to take a very long time, with infrequent reassuring signs
that we were going the right way to the ferry terminal at ouistreham, but
arrived in plenty of time, finding several uk bikes waiting to go
home.
Booked on quite easily, and had something to eat while we waited to
board the brittany
ferries mont
st michel.
Saw the other film oblivion
to use up a couple of hours.
Managed to get some sleep in the reserved lounge.
Sunday up about 06:00 for breakfast, then out at portsmouth about
07:00.
A quick stop at sutton scotney services, then stopped for a proper
break and refuel at on the little chef on the a34.
Home just before 11:00.
Sun still shining.
Miles r6 7482 (+1686) monster 22397 (+1783).
Here is a map of more or less where we went.
Saw the motogp from
catalunya.
Monday off.
Light rain.
Caught up with the iomtt senior
race.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping.
Friday summer
solstice.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the damp, windy sunshine 15
mins 44.
Cleaned the r6 in light rain.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping.
2x circuit in the wind and light rain 15 mins 35.
Evening we went to see jon go through to play at the godiva festival.
Sunday grey and windy.
Cleaned the monster in the rain.
Read some more against a dark background.
|
news 2013.06.30 sunday |
8 hits this week 12251 total.
Friday we went over to withybrook to eat.
Glastonbury
begins, looking a bit cold and windy.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the early morning damp
sunshine 15 mins 18.
We went to london.
They have now opened the expansion car park and added a coffee bar.
Closed roads in the centre meant diversion.
We got off at shepherds bush and walked in along holland park
avenue.
Lovely hot sunny day.
Lunch outside at the chehel sotoun.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in early morning warm sunshine 16
mins 08.
Caught up with some more glastonbury,
looking nice and sunny, but still windy.
Even bigger, with the camping areas removed from in front of the main
stage and more space up hill from the park stage.
Cleaned the car.
Caught up with the motogp from
assen.
A bit of shopping.
Late afternoon in the garden.
|
news 2013.07.07 sunday |
9 hits this week 12260 total.
July
Monday caught up with the haim set from the
park stage.
Tuesday caught up with the last tour de france
stage in corsica.
Friday evening we went over to the memorial park to see jon play at
the godiva
festival.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the already hot morning
sunshine 15 mins 12.
Struggling to keep up with the tour de france.
Cut the grass.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Late afternoon in the garden.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in hot morning sunshine 15 min 58.
We went to the hatton arms for the latest end of an era walk down the
canal past the locks.
Much too hot, with little shade, we returned for lunch at the pub.
Cleaned the car.
Late afternoon in the garden.
|
news 2013.07.14 sunday |
8 hits this week 12268 total.
Friday we went to carol's dance evening.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the already hot sunshine 15
mins 13.
Cut the grass.
Took the 848 for a ride over to see adrian. Too hot.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in already hot sunshine 17 mins
04.
Caught up with the tour de
france.
Cleaned the car.
Saw the motogp from
sachsenring.
Afternoon in the garden.
Read some against a dark background.
|
news 2013.07.21 sunday |
7 hits this week 12275 total.
Monday evening over to wolston for the cadmac electric event,
including some streamer combat.
Hot air balloon drifting up along the fosse way.
Tuesday caught up with chris froome's
ascent of mont
ventoux on bastille day.
The 848 is 3y today.
Thursday saw the double ascent of l'alpe d'huez.
The mx5 rolled through 40000.
Friday evening in the garden.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the warm wind 15 mins
36.
Pheasant with grapes in the garden.
Caught up with a rainy day in the alps for le tour de
france.
Pumped up the tyres and oiled the chain for 2x circuit 14 mins
42.
Helped set up carol's new samsung galaxy s3 mini.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
Popped in at adrian's on the way back.
Sunday oiled the chain on the fujin for 2x circuit in the early damp
16 mins 37.
Caught up with the last competitive stage of le tour at the
beautiful lake
annecy.
Took the r6 for a ride (1st time since france) and for a bit of
shopping at morrisons.
Strange to be without sunshine after so many weeks.
Late afternoon brightened up a bit and took the 848 for a ride.
|
news 2013.07.28 sunday |
7 hits this week 12282 total.
Monday once again hottest day of the year so far.
Had another look at connecting up the heated grips on the gpz.
Thunder in the distance.
Tuesday early morning thunder and lightning, and heavy rain.
Wednesday caught up with the twilight finish of le tour.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the morning sunshine 14
mins 41.
Cut the grass.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping.
Pheasant in the garden when we got home.
Evening more thunder, lightning and rain.
Caught up with the scott
pilgrim film.
Sunday 2x circuit over wet roads 15 mins 09.
14 years since we bought the house.
Cleaned the car.
2x circuit in the strong wind and hot sunshine 14 mins 56.
Afternoon in the garden sunshine.
Coffee and cake at ryton gardens.
Popped in to see adrian and family.
Shower of rain on the way home.
|
news 2013.08.04 sunday |
9 hits this week 12291 total.
Monday evening extremely heavy rain and hail on the way home.
August
Thursday hot again.
Friday we went over to withybrook to eat.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit it warm sunshine 14 mins
58.
Caught up with the film fight club.
Took the 848 for a ride over to see if mandy + family had arrived, but
they hadn't.
Refueled and went for a longer ride instead.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping.
Popped in at dad's to see mandy + family.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in early morning sunshine 17 mins
14.
Caught up with the film kick ass.
Cut the grass.
|
news 2013.08.11 sunday |
8 hits this week 12299 total.
Sunday a bit of shopping and refuel, before popping in to see mandy
and family again.
Monday heavy rain again.
The gpz is 27 today.
Thursday evening we went out to eat at withybrook with dad, adrian,
mandy + families.
Back home for a gathering.
Friday off.
Clearly rained in the night.
2x round the village circuit in the wet as the sunshine started to show
itself 15 mins 15.
Took the r6 for a ride over to dad's to see mandy + family.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Saturday 2x circuit in the early morning grey 15 mins 05.
We took joao and sarah to london in the van and mx5,
and the oxford espress.
Did a quick loop around most of the sights.
Lunch at le signore, coffee at st martin in the fields.
Sunday up relatively late for 2x circuit 15 mins 05.
Cleaned the car.
Took the gpz for a ride down to the allotment and canal.
Removed the coming 1 day electric sports bike section, as despite
years passing, battery technology has not progressed enough to provide
sufficient range and sensibly low weight.
|
news 2013.08.18 sunday |
8 hits this week 12307 total.
Thursday evening we went out to see kick ass
2.
Friday off.
Heavy rain in the morning.
Afternoon saw and heard a buzzard circling
in thermals above the house.
Dad, mandy + family visited the allotment on the way over to home for a
family gathering.
Adrian + family joined us a bit later.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit 15 mins 03.
More rain.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping.
Popped in at dad's to see mandy + family.
Sunday pumped up the tyres for 2x circuit on the fujin in the warm
sunshine 16 mins 31.
Cut the grass.
Butterflies in the garden.
Saw the motogp from
indianapolis.
|
|
Week missing due to reading festival. |
news 2013.09.01 sunday |
14 hits this week (2w) 12321
total.
1w late due to reading
Thursday off.
2x round the village circuit in the wet 14 mins 42.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
Lots of packing.
Friday up early and off down the a46, m40, a34, a4074 to reading festival.
Popped in to water the allotment.
Stopped at sainsbury's for coffee and cake.
Arrived to hot sunshine.
Carol using a wheelbarrow in preference to a trolley, we found plenty
of space at the far end of white camping, near to the river.
Lots of geese about, as usual.
Over to the arena - slightly larger than before, with at least 1
extra stage, and extra entrance, and some fairground inside.
To the festival republic stage, only to catch the last track by
findlay.
Time for lunch.
Back in time to see a bit of charlie boyer.
Over to the nme stage in time to see deap vally, then fidlar, then peace - last song
slightly spoiled by some idiot lighting a flare in the crowd.
Time to eat and have a wander around.
Had a brief look at the strypes, before getting
back to the bbc introducing stage to see slaves.
Back to the main stage to see the start of the green day set, but at
over 2h, we couldn't be bothered to wait for most of the familiar
songs.
We could still hear fairly well from back at the tent.
Typically noisy night in the early hours.
Saturday morning rain as forecast, but it stopped eventually to
leave only occasional showers.
Home cooked breakfast at the tent.
A bit late getting over to the arena, but arrived just in time to see
the whole set from great cynics
at the lockup stage.
A brief look at crowns.
Lunch and a wander around.
A quick look at off
with their heads.
Saw a pac man in front of the main stage.
Heard a bit of reeps
one at the alternative stage.
Saw a bit of the bronx at
the lockup stage.
Sunshine in the evening.
Back to the tent fairly early at dusk.
Floodlights reflecting off the thames.
Another typically noisy night, but slept through more of it.
Sunday more moderate rain early morning, but still relatively dry
when compared to previous years.
Home cooked breakfast at the tent.
Packed it all away and dumped it in the van.
Sunshine.
A little late back to the arena, but in time to see a bit of the virginmarys at
the rock (lockup) stage.
Over to the festival republic stage to see the family rain
- excellent.
Lunch.
Over to the nme stage to see tribes, then haim later.
At some point we caught the end of the dr frankestein's
travelling freak show, returning later to see the whole thing,
playing in a tiny tent to about 10 people.
Saw skarlett riot on the
bbc introducing stage.
Caught the end of uncle
acid and the deadbeats on the rock stage.
Left at dusk, way before the headliners.
Home before midnight.
Watched some of haim recorded on
bbc.
Monday off.
Caught up with the motogp from
brno.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Had a quick look at the quentin blake
exhibition.
A bit of shopping.
Most of the week catching up with bits of reading we missed on the
bbc.
Friday we went out to see elysium.
Saturday up late and 2x circuit in the sunshine 14 mins 34.
Into town for lunch at browns, caffe e gelato at etna.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Cut the grass.
Cleaned the car.
September
Sunday up early and 2x circuit in the cool morning on the fujin 16
mins 10.
Took the r6 for a ride and shopping in the sunshine.
Saw the motogp from
silverstone.
Took the 848 for a ride.
|
news 2013.09.08 sunday |
12 hits this week 12333
total.
Friday heavy rain.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the cool sunshine 14 mins
52.
We went to london, setting out a little late, but we
got straight on a bus.
Lunch, coffee and cake at paul.
For a change wandered down new bond street and had a proper look at fortnum +
mason, including the xmas shop, then up picadilly.
Looks like foyles
will move into a new building next year.
Something to eat at the stockpot.
2 x90 buses overtaking each other on the way out of london in heavy
traffic.
Stationary for a while after some problem at the roadworks near the a40
exit.
Home about 21:45.
Sunday up late and 2x circuit in the cool sunshine 14 mins 33.
Took the gpz or a ride, shopping and over to see adrian.
Pumped up the tyres and 2x circuit 14 mins 22.
Took the 848 for a ride.
We went for a walk around the village circuit.
|
news 2013.09.16 monday |
9 hits this week (1w+) 12342
total.
1d late due to oxford.
Monday took the luggage rack and the mud guards off the fujin,
trying to make it a bit lighter.
Also looks better.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the wet 14 mins 26.
We went to oxford to have a look at the open doors weekend for
free.
Lots of cars queueing up along st giles for the only car park in the
centre slowed the park + ride bus to a standstill.
Lunch at browns.
Craft market in broad street.
Coffee and cake at the caffe nero in blackwells.
Had a look at hertford
college, including a walk up the spiral staircase to the hall, with
its views of the radcliffe
camera.
A quick look at the chapel, with its stained glass window of william tyndale.
Sadly, not allowed to go over the bridge of
sighs.
On to new
college.
Been wanting to have a look at that for a long time, as you can't see
much from the outside.
Turns out this is because it was built inside the old city defensive
walls.
The main quad is enormous, but not as pretty as some of the smaller
colleges.
Amazed to find what looks like a small mayan pyramid in
the centre of the garden (also enormous), much overgrown with trees
now.
Conkers coming along nicely.
Unfortunate that the sun didn't shine until later.
A walk around the dark cloisters.
Stunned by the far wall of the chapel.
Organist playing ain't
misbehavin' while we were in there.
Looked like there was some sort of concert being prepared for the
evening, including a harpsichord.
Ascended the tower
that is the oldest surviving building in oxford.
It's full of bells.
The metal staircase is rather bendy and open.
Sunday up early for 2x circuit on the fujin in the cold, low
sunshine 14 min 47.
Looks like the missing mud guards etc. have speeded things up a bit.
Saw the motogp from misano, sadly
evicted from hd.
Out into the drizzle for some shopping.
|
news 2013.09.22 sunday |
5 hits this week (1w-) 12347
total.
Tuesday rain.
Friday we went over to withybrook to eat, getting stuck behind a
medium sized group of horse and hounds.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the cold, grey stillness 14
mins 37.
Caught up with a bit of the tour of
britain.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Took the 848 for a ride, refuel, over to see adrian, taking the long
way home.
Cleaned the 848.
Cleaned the car.
Sunday 2x circuit on the fujin in the early morning damp, misty
sunshine 14 mins 55.
Cleaned the monster.
Took the monster for a ride down to the canal.
We took the 848 and the monster for a long ride in the warm
sunshine.
Caught up with some more tour of
britain.
Caught up with orphan black.
Spider in the garden sunshine.
|
news 2013.09.29 sunday |
7 hits this week 12354 total.
Wednesday caught up with the tour of
britain.
Friday put some new extra slinky strings on the bass.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the cold, leafy sunshine 14
mins 56.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Sunday 2x circuit in the cool, windy sunshine 14 mins 34.
The sweet
chestnut is starting to drop its 1st nuts.
Spider web over autumn colours in the garden.
Saw the motogp from aragon.
2x circuit in the afternoon warm, windy sunshine 14 mins 46.
|
news 2013.10.06 sunday |
5 hits this week 12359 total.
Monday 1w off in autumn.
2x round the village circuit in early morning hazy sunshine 14 mins
34.
Dropped the 848 off at coventry ducati for a
service.
Into town for the haim cd.
Caffe e gelato at etna.
Had a quick look at where the river
sherbourne disappears under the ring road.
Took the r6 for a ride.
Caught up with orphan black.
Some tomatoes from the allotment.
October
Tuesday late morning pumped up the tyres and 2x circuit 14 mins
54.
Noticed that the white fungus had returned to the garden, 2x in a
different place, much smaller, and a couple of weeks early.
Not seen since 2010.
Afternoon 2x circuit 14 mins 30.
Wednesday rain.
2x circuit in the wet 14 mins 16.
Lunch at tiny tesco, coffee and cake at new m+s.
Cleaned the car.
We went out to see stewart lee at the
arts centre.
Back home we watched dark star
again.
Thursday 2+ circuit - no time as the computer wasn't working for
some reason.
The shaggy ink
cap fungus has taken on its more fully formed shape.
Over to coventry ducati
to collect the 848, rolling through 3000 on the way home.
Friday 2x circuit in the wind and wet 14 mins 57.
A bit of shopping at lutterworth.
2x circuit in the damp, windy sunshine 13 mins 59.
Saturday 2x circuit in the damp 14 mins 20.
We went to london.
A quick sandwich.
Down edgeware road.
Through hyde park.
Squirrels and a jay.
Lots of sweet chestnut trees.
Lots of geese.
We saw the greenpeace protest
in bayswater road.
Down kensington palace gardens past the embassies.
Took a #10 bus back to oxford circus.
Very slow, and a long time stationary outside the mclaren
showroom in knightsbridge.
Something to eat at the stockpot.
Sunday up early for 2x circuit in the cold mist on the fujin 15 mins
25.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
Cut the grass.
Took the r6 for a ride, refuel and over to see adrian.
Took the long way home in the sunhine.
2x circuit before sunset 13 mins 24.
Been reading some more against a dark background.
|
news 2013.10.13 sunday |
10 hits this week 12369
total.
Friday we ventured out into the rain and darkness to eat at the greyhound in lutterworth.
Saturday out on the wild and windy morning for 2x round the village
circuit 14 mins 56.
Took the gpz into coventry in the rain for an mot.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Sunday saw the motogp from
sepang.
Popped over to see dad.
2x circuit in the late afternoon damp sunshine 14 mins 10.
|
news 2013.10.21 monday |
9 hits this week (1w+) 12378
total.
1d late due to rain.
Tuesday caught up with the film senna.
Thursday the mx5 rolled through 44444 miles.
Saturday into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round
caffe nero.
A look at vacuum cleaners.
Popped in to see adrian's wall.
A bit of shopping at m+s.
Impressive lightning and heavy rain shower, followed by a double
rainbow, making the autumn colours look vivid in the late afternoon
sunshine.
Sunday internet connection down again after the heavy rain.
Caught up with an interesting motogp from phillip island.
5 years since we finished paying for the house.
Late morning 2x round the village circuit in the windy dampness 14
mins 23.
Afternoon took the gpz for a ride, refuel and a bit of shopping at
dunchurch, getting rather wet in the heavy rain.
Evening internet connection still down.
Monday more rain.
Connection still down.
|
news 2013.10.27 sunday |
10 hits this week (1w-) 12388
total.
Tuesday a bit of new cable and the internet connection is back.
Thursday the new miele s8320
arrived.
Friday cut the grass.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the dark october wind 15
mins 00.
We went to have luch, coffee and cake, and a look at the trees at batsford.
Not much sunshine.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
2x circuit before sunset 14 mins 52.
Sunday clocks change.
Caught up with the motogp from
motegi.
A bit of shopping in the afternoon.
Coffee and cake at m+s.
The mx5 rolling through 45000.
|
news 2013.11.03 sunday |
9 hits this week 12397 total.
November
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the damp mist 14 mins 48.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Caught up with orphan black,
which sort of stopped rather than ended.
Caught up with the pink floyd concert
from 1989.
Sunday 2x circuit in the cold wind at sunrise 15 mins 15.
Cut the grass.
Took the r6 for a ride and shopping at tiny tesco.
|
news 2013.11.10 sunday |
6 hits this week 12403 total.
Tuesday caught up with the welcome return of fresh
meat.
Friday saw the gravity film.
Saturday pumped up the tyres for 2x round the village circuit in the
cold damp 14 mins 46.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Sunday 2x circuit in the damp, cold sunshine - no time as the
computer was only working intermittently.
|
news 2013.11.17 sunday |
7 hits this week 12410 total.
Sunday saw the motogp from
valencia.
That's the end of that then, as it goes pay to view.
A bit of garage tidying.
Popped over to see adrian + family.
Tuesday new carpet.
Wednesday frosty.
Saturday early morning 2x round the village circuit in the cold wet
15 mins 00.
Saw the buzzard alight
on a branch above me, light grey stripes under the wings.
We went to london.
They have started charging for the day at thornhill.
New xmas lights a bit disappointing.
Had a go with a martin dx1ae
in westside.
Surprised to find it has a hidden pickup and controls.
Very busy and slow getting out of london.
Sunday 1 of those days when it never really gets light.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
|
news 2013.11.24 sunday |
7 hits this week 12417 total.
Friday fog and frost.
Evening over to the millpool for another end of an era meet.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the frosty cold at sunrise
15 mins 37.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and mince pie at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping.
Sunday pumped up the tyres with my new 12V electric pump for 2x
circuit in the cold damp 14 mins 26.
Cleaned the car.
We went for a walk around the village circuit before sunset.
2 microlight
aircraft overhead.
New javascript
advent calendar this year, replacing the monster logo now that xmas is
coming.
|
news 2013.12.01 sunday |
9 hits this week 12426 total.
Tuesday frosty morning down to -4 outside the car.
Friday off.
Put the xmas tree up.
Caught up with avengers
assemble.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the cold at sunrise 14 mins
50.
Over to the nec,
meeting up with jes, christine and steve for the bike show.
Lunch, coffee and cake at the piazza.
Had a go on the piano there.
Bought another kriega 20l bag and a tank harness.
Evening we went down to the pub to eat.
December
Sunday 2x circuit in the late morning damp 14 mins 13.
The advent calendar has started to open.
Into town in the low sunshine for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at
the herbert.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
|
news 2013.12.08 sunday |
8 hits this week 12434 total.
Monday off.
Saturday we went up the very slow m6 past long sections of
roadworks, and up the a51 to have a look at chester.
Passed the dalek along
the way.
Stopped at the boughton heath park+ride.
Excellent lunch at the tap.
Coffee and cake at caffe nero.
Walked a lot of the city walls, and had a look at the cathedral at
sunset.
Took the longer but faster motorway route home in the dark.
Sunday 2x round the village circuit in the late morning sunshine
over the permaslime - no time as computer not working for some reason.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the herbert.
A bit of shopping at the new m+s.
Popped in to see adrian and family.
Home during a pretty sunset.
Advent calendar continuing to open nicely.
|
news 2013.12.15 sunday |
13 hits this week 12447
total.
Monday off.
A bit of shopping.
Cleaned the car.
Read some more against a dark background.
Saturday 2x round the village circuit in the slightly thinner
permaslime and sunshine 14 mins 51.
Ordered the zoom g3x.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Windy.
Sunday 2x circuit 14 mins 57.
Rain.
Advent calendar continuing to open nicely.
|
news 2013.12.22 sunday |
10 hits this week 12457
total.
Monday off.
More rain.
Read some more against a dark background.
The zoom g3x arrived from
amazon.
Over to tiny tesco for lunch and a bit of shopping, and refuel.
Over to m+s for coffee and cake and a bit of shopping.
Stuart and chris popped in on the way home.
Wednesday windy.
Thursday afternoon off for xmas in the sunshine.
Lunch at corley services.
Friday.
2x round the village circuit over ice and permaslime 15 mins 40.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
Saturday, the solstice, and
we move onto the xmas radio times.
Squirrels in the garden.
Late morning 2x circuit in the sunshine 15 mins 24.
Lunch at morrisons, and a bit of shopping.
Coffee and cake at earlsdon.
Into town again for the stuff we didn't get yesterday.
Sunday late morning 2x circuit in the windy sunshine 15 mins 17 with
even a few dry bits of road.
A bit of shopping at lutterworth.
Advent calendar moves into the last week.
|
news 2013.12.22 sunday |
12 hits this week 12469
total.
Monday more rain.
Yet more shopping.
Had a bit of a play with the zoom g3x.
Xmas eve
2x round the village circuit in the windy sunshine, past puddles and
flooded fields 15 mins 25.
Stuart and chris popped in again.
Into town for lunch at browns.
Popped in to see adrian and family.
Put new strings on the guitar.
We caught up with the black swan
film.
Xmas day
2x circuit in the late morning sunshine 15 mins 11.
Xmas lunch at home.
Late afternoon over to adrian's to play games and skype the extended
family.
Boxing day
Up reasonable early and off down a foggy m40 in the sunshine to an
almost deserted thornhill.
Reduced service, but we got onto the 1st x90 to arrive. On to
london.
Lunch, coffee and cake at paul.
Impressive replica bethlehem
wall at st
james church picadilly.
We ate at l'ulivo leicester
square.
Friday hailstones.
A bit of shopping at morrisons.
Saturday 2x circuit in the cold damp 15 mins 40.
Pheasant in the garden.
Into town for lunch at browns, coffee and cake at the round caffe
nero.
A bit of shopping at dunchurch.
Popped in to see stuart and chris.
Sunday frosty.
2x circuit in late morning sunshine, dodging the ice 15 mins 31.
We went for a walk around the village circuit before susnset.
For those who missed advent calendar, here is what it looked like
when fully open.
Swapped back to the winter trees logo.
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