Oh, and for God’s sake make sure it isn’t shiny.

Have a look at Raja Fashions. Clicky.[/url] They tour around the UK as well as other countries and measure you up in a hotel room. You choose the fabric, the liner, cut and everything else. They take measurements and lots and lots of photos. This then gets sent to Hong Kong and a few weeks later the suit arrives. You then get a number of fittings when the company is next in the area.

When I got mine 4 years ago, they claimed to be able to make a good suit for £200 but that was a lightweight summer suit and not really suitable for the UK. Instead I managed to get a fully bespoke two piece in Super 180 with red silk liner for about £400. I’ve worn it regularly since I got it and it still looks great while my more expensive Austin Reed suits have been relegated.

Well worth it in my opinion and obviously does the job as I once managed to get a date with Miss Hungary. SCHHEERRR-WINGGGG!!!!

Giraffe’s can’t drink water from a watering hole because lowering their heads below their hearts will make their heads explode. It used to be very messy on the African savannah until the giraffes realised what the problem was and stopped.

Just back after 2 hours in the local woods to find a chicken roasting in the oven with tatties and parsnips. Yum. :D

Pelota!

If you go onto http://www.retrobike.co.uk you’ll find a load of people have done just that. Check out http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=183412 for a really good example.

Either a hacksaw/file approach or a Dremel seems to be the best approach.

Cannock again, Autumn, 2011

Nepal, April 2011

Wednesday at Cannock.

La Pedrera in Barcelona. It’s actually a chimney.

Have a look at Traser: Linky.[/url] I’ve had one for the past 12 years, serviced every 2 years by Graham Green (turned around in a few days every time) and it’s been brilliant. Very easy to read at night, very low profile on your wrist and looks decent. No bells or whistles but can take one hell of a beating.

I did mine about this time last year and it took about 6 months to get properly better, and that was only after I chinned off the physic exercises and set myself a challenge of 3000 press ups in 30 days. Mine was excruciating for about 1.5 months and never had surgery as I was in Nepal. If you’re getting back to normal activities after only 3 weeks, I’d say you’re recovering pretty quickly compared to me (and I’m considerably younger than you, no offence!) so surgery sounds unnecessary.

That said, I’m no doctor or surgeon and have no clue about stuff like that so you should probably ignore what I’ve said and discuss with your doctor!

They are an absolute pain in the asre. Don’t know about the Clarks pads but it can’t make it much harder than using the Avid ones. Obviously, take the wheel out and the retaining clip at the back of the brake. Then with the old pads still in, use a flat blade screw driver to push the pistons back in. I often give them a bit of a scrub with a toothbrush in a useless attempt to help. Once the pistons are back in, slot the new pads in with the spring between them. Check that the new pads are sitting flush against the sides of the calliper. Now comes the fun bit. For some reason, I always, always need to re-align the calliper to the disc. Good luck. When you spin the wheel, if the disc catches only on one bit, use an adjustable spanner centred over one of the disc spoke things and bend it back into shape.

Keep trying. That is, until you say sod it, put in some old pads with a little less material on them and go for a ride.

Don’t you only get commission if I buy?

I’d love to get a referral commission but he’s a mate and I wouldn’t even think of asking for one for sending some business his way!!

When I say he could knock you up something custom, I mean that he’s not got any fixed designs but you say what you want, and he’ll make it.

A mate of mine is a furniture maker down in Cornwall and he might be able to knock you up something custom if you’re interested. He uses local Cornish oak and although I have to say this as he’s my mate, his work is absolutely amazing. Plus he’s a biker if that makes any difference!

Have a look at his website: http://www.alternature.biz/products.html

And no, I’m not getting a commission!

If it’s just for the back of your van, get an Army bouncing bomb from a surplus store – pretty big, pretty heavy but I can assure you, you will never be cold!

As CHB said above, it’s actually nice to see some educated discussion on here instead of resulting to insults and ranting. Nice one. More please!

Ha ha, the minefield of military slang! Army = pongo; Navy= matelot; Marine = boot neck; RAF = crab; anyone not done P Coy = craphat; P coy but no jumps course = penguin (flightless bird!) etc etc

A “craphat” is anyone who’s not done P Coy ie. if the beret’s not maroon then it’s crap, including green. It’s all harmless banter anyway – they do different jobs so each to their own.

But anyway, back to the OP: make sure your son is clued up on the history of 3 Cdo Bde and their current structure and operational commitments. Also, make sure he knows why he wants to join the Bde instead of say, the Paras or “normal” infantry.

As for phys, he’s still very young so doing free weights or tabbing with weight is more likely to cause problems than make him fit. As other people have said, rugby training is ideal as it also increases robustness and determination. If he wants to do extra, then press ups, sit ups, pull ups and running is ideal. Make sure he’s getting the technique bang on as per the RM fitness tests as incorrectly executed exercises won’t be counted if the PTI is doing his job properly. Email me if you want any more advice.

Oh, and good luck.

“but the marines are the best of the Craphats.”

With a name like “Smudger” I’m guessing you’re forces, but you can’t be Para as you’d never even insinuate that the booties were any good! Either way, neither are a patch on my Gurks… ;)

Work sent me out there Feb to May last year on a language course in Pokhara which also involved trips to Gulmi, Gorkha, Chitwan and a three week independent trek in the east from Dharan, Terathum, Taplejung and Phidim. The next opportunity I get to go there, I’ll be back in a flash as it is the most amazing country I’ve been too. I met an awful lot of tourists who got into trouble there but every single one was guilty of not using common sense – if there’s a curfew at night, stick to it; don’t do drugs; don’t try it on with girls in dance bars etc. Avoid casinos as they’re run by Indian mafia who turn very nasty very quickly. Learn a little Nepali – most tourists don’t even bother and get fleeced. See a little of Kathmandu but get out ASAP to Pokhara – down in Lakeside, Frontier paragliding will take you paragliding off Sarankot (my instructor turned out to be Melinda Messnger’s brother); further down Lakeside is a MTB shop where you can get a few spares.

Bottom line: if you get the chance, go. Email’s in profile if you any more advice.

I once did a 24 hour mini moto race for charity – by the end, only about 2 bikes were working as they just wore out and tyres got ripped to pieces. You won’t need a new back as long as you stretch and if you have any protective stuff for knees, elbows etc then definitely wear it as if you’re anything like me, you’ll crash. Lots.

IMHO if you like the rucksack you’ve got already then just get some dry bags to go inside – they take up no room at all are considerably cheaper than getting a new bag. I’ve done an awful lot of living outside in the wet and the best way is to get a large dry bag and then use smaller dry bags inside that to pack a jacket, socks, whatever…no water’s going to get past that little lot! Try these ones: Clicky.

I’m a little bit alarmed at how interested I am in all of this, given that I’m normally pretty reluctant to get near spiders. They are amazing creatures though. Hadge, Roper & Geetee, thanks for the information!

My dad’s got rid of the mice in our house by installing a device which emits a high pitched whistle. I think the mice got headaches and buggered off. However, when my sister and I came home for Christmas we could hear it whistling – either it’s broken or my dad doesn’t want us around anymore.

There are various ways of minimising your tax liability and any actions to that effect constitute tax avoidance which, in my mind, is perfectly justifiable – if you’re willing to put in the work to structure your finances in such a way that it saves you money, crack on. If the Government thinks that a way to avoid paying tax is unjust then they should close the loophole if possible. Tax evasion, however, is not paying the tax that is due which is wrong and tantamount to stealing in my opinion.

As for the schemes that the “very rich” take advantage of not being open to Joe Public, I imagine that’s because they’re avoiding paying tax that Joe Public doesn’t have to pay anyway.

Roper: did it make a noise? SPIDERS CAN MAKE NOISES?! Oh dear….

I don’t think it made a noise…but even if it did, it was probably drowned out by my yelping as it ran at me.

I’ve now seen a few pics of Huntsman spiders and it’s the most similar it seems and fits the description. Either way, it was (IMHO) massive and pretty aggressive!

Well, after a long period of always being the single one in her group of friends, my girlfriend signed up to a dating site and within 15 minutes of publishing her profile, got a message from a dashing young chap with great prospects. That was 2 years ago and it was the best tenner either of us have ever spent.

OP, you’re not being patronising, condescending etc but just be very very careful!

Hadge, it’s the right shape, but I seem to recall the one I encountered was a fair bit darker. THanks for your help. I can’t take any more pictures for tonight so I’m off to bed to have nightmares!

@Hadge: poking around on RFUK, I found your post and seem the two replies. A huntsman spider? Reading up on them, it seems to concur: indoors, fast moving, aggressive etc. Bloody scary thing.

@geetee1972: Ok, the wiki definition doesn’t seem quite so horrendous as the image that you posted…

@Hadge: thanks for that, I’ll be very interested to hear if the local was taking the p!$$ or if it really was a proper nasty spider.

They are amazing things and I find them fascinating. But they definitely freak me out.

Firstly, it definitely wasn’t one of them.

Secondly, I yelped and let out a little bit of wee when I saw that photo. IS THAT FOR REAL?!

Right. I hope you’re happy. In an attempt to track down what this spider was I’ve had to trawl through a stack of images of spiders. It was traumatic. Anyway, this is the closest I could find and the person says she found it in Phakdina, Nepal. The size of the spider approx 12cm which would match with the one I encountered.

http://www.spiderzrule.com/1811/CP1000147.JPG

What the hell is it?!

Man alive… *Compose yourself. Calm down. Breath*

Do you have any info on what spiders can be found in Nepal by any chance? I was in the east of the country earlier this year and a HUGE spider (I kid you not, it was saucer size, black and red with spindly legs from what I remember) fell from the ceiling above my bed, hit the floor with an almighty thump which got my attention and then proceeded to chase me around the room with its front legs in the air. I figured it was a pretty nasty spider but when one of the locals came in to see what the noise was and started to go mental, I gathered I was correct.

I’ve not been able to find any pictures of it or get any idea of what it was but I’m intrigued to find out. Any ideas?

I carry one of these and I’ve found that there’s not a lot it can’t handle. That said, it’s probably a bit of an overkill for what you’re after!

http://www.kukrimart.com/uploads/super-mini-6inch-khukuri-m.jpg

10 of us at a mate’s house in Somerset. Fancy dress theme is People from the History of Britain. Big meal and a keg of west country ale (that’s 70 odd pints between 5 blokes, the girls will be on the Lambrini). Then climb up Glastonbury Tor the following day to, ahem, blow away the cobwebs. Cannae’ wait!

Jeez guys, the OP’s just asking if you’ve got any cast-offs that he could put to some use, not for a critique of his approach to research. Whether it’s good use or not, who cares?!

Doing it properly, before a ride, I make sure that I’ve had some decent scoff with plenty of carbs and plenty of fluids (this should start the day before, not just the 30 minutes before the ride!). Breakfast would be an hour or two before the start and include something like porridge or muesli with a decent mug of sweet tea. During the ride, eat and drink little and often – if you feel thirsty, you’re already on the way to being dehydrated. Things to eat include nuts, bananas, jelly babies. When I’ve done seriously long stuff, I’ve actually found peanut butter and jam sandwiches take some beating. Drink wise, I only use the zero stuff when it’s hot to ward of cramps but mostly use the carb stuff or straight water. When you’re back, don’t see starving your body of the nutrients it needs after a hard ride as a way of losing weight – all you’re doing is making it harder for your body to recover and get fitter/stronger. I reckon if you have a protein drink immediately when you get in and then follow it up with a normal healthy meal then that’s ideal. As mentioned in other posts, proper nutrition before, during and after will go a long way to improving your fitness, losing some lbs and getting rid of the lethargy you feel mid week. Hope that helps.

My job involves getting beasted three mornings a week (poo errr missus…) and the best way I’ve found for me to recover quickly is a pint of water, a protein shake thing, hot shower, stretch and then some decent food when I next can. Then stretch some more that evening. A decent night’s kip helps.

Badger, badger, badger…what can I say? You’ve encountered the perennial problem faced by men the world over who find themselves in a relationship. Quite simply, there are no rules to govern what your reply should be. Whenever a girl asks a guy an open ended question it’s not a case of delivering the “correct” answer, but rather delivering the “least wrong” answer; it’s all about damage limitation. You could try asking, “what would you like to do?” but that opens you up to a whole raft of dangerous possibilities. Good luck!