As Mrs Merton once asked, The Death Penalty – but is it enough?
Some people are born criminals, some achieve criminality, and others have criminality thrust upon them. I only have sympathy for the latter group.

It’s nice, yeah I’d say three days would be more than enough. I stayed for two nights in Vernazza, which is the largest of the villages, but ultimately is very small. Mainly just swam and did a couple of walks.

Landlord of my local pub is ex PO. He looks 20 years older than he is, has had major heart surgery, and won’t discuss the “horrors” he’s seen over the years.
Then again, was it ever historically a good job?

Just shave it with a razor once a week. I get my razors from the pound shop – just as good as gilette but only a quid for a razor with six replaceable blades. Bargain! (in welsh accent).

I’ve not been myself, but after reading the review in the Singletrack mag, I’d be very tempted to go RideIbiza.

It strikes me that what you are lacking is inspiration.
You need something new to look forward to.
I’ve got a similar character type (I think many on this forum do).
I’ve tried the medication, counselling, CBT they are ok, but the only thing that gets me out of a slump is a PROSPECT to look forward to.
For me, that usually entails starting a new company (I’m on my fourth) – never made me a rich man (so far) but the start-up stage makes me look at life very differently. Other people do this through hobbies – like restoring an old motorbike.

Tony Martin for PM.

Yep Hertfordshire is stormy.

The Celts generally have inferior impulse control compared to the Germans in England.

Check out essexhertsmtb.co.uk
Some rides organised on the forum.

Tuesday, but feeling it on the legs so resting up until Saturday.

It’s worse in the summer the days are so bleeding long.
Reading, especially bubblegum like crime fiction.
General internet browsing.
Catching up with friends, if anyone is about. Or Meetup groups.
Doing some research for future plans, like holidays, new home, or new bike.
I’d normally do some boozing but you don’t want to fall over I guess!

I need at least five pints to get through a daytrip to the capital.

Never liked London, I go in for work once a week, and am happy to leave at the end of the day. My dad grew up there, and doesn’t have any real affection for the place.
The people are for the most part charmless. The noise and traffic gets on my nerves. Public transport is crammed.
I also don’t like the way much of the South East is being dragged into greater London, as the labyrinth expands.
Saying that, over time you work out which parts really annoy you, and which parts are ok to spend some time in. I avoid central London, South London, West London, most of East London…actually I don’t like it at all!

Chap once said to me, women don’t want to be loved, they want to be dominated.
At the time I was outraged. But the more I look around me…

Husbands are mostly quite simple. Generally, what they want is unlimited, enthusiastic sex, constant reassurance, good food and plenty of freedom, of at least three of these four. Some can be trained to be very helpful domestically and some even enjoy it; but most are not bred for it.

Sex – local hooker. Reassurance – local hooker. Good food – local restaurant. Freedom – local bike trails. Bosh!

Depends what you mean by very good money, I guess.

I’d say 70k a year plus. And in terms of being surrounded by arseholes, that goes for a huge variety of jobs, including fairly low paid ones. I agree though the constant pressure makes the difference.

If you work for a living, why kill yourself working.

Good thread this. Most of my friends who went into law came from lower middle class background, their dads all told them to go into law and “make some proper money”.
As with all life it is a compromise – I don’t know too many people making very good money without very long hours, in any profession.

The most amazing thing is how normal your other half can appear to other people.
Oh the Horror! the Horror!

Technology conference in London. Great weather, good food, anti-social and awkward people, but hey, free booze 🙂

I’m acutely sensitive to nagging and temper tantrums. Single life is heaven in comparison. There are some great quotes about nagging women in the bible, book of Proverbs. “It is better to live on the roof” etc

Dalmatian coast is where you want to be.
As above Split is the youngest, coolest city in Croatia.
Explore the islands, you can stay one night on each, easy to find accommodation once you step off the boat, just go to the tourist office nearby.
Parts of the main coastline do get very busy, especially when the Germans are on holiday.
Oh and it can get very hot!

Not a lawyer, but three good friends qualified. One has stayed with it, specialising in tax law (he say’s it’s boring but he’s a family man and can put up with the boredom), one left practice and now lectures in law at a London uni, the other left one of the big firms and is now in-house lawyer at a tech start-up.

A female friend was on Match.com. She is ok looking, but said she was fed-up with the never-ending requests.
I’ve heard the male to female ratio on Match is 5-1, but the sites don’t like to publish this.
They also then tried to entice her back with a free account.
So if you have found your partner online, well done! You’ve beaten the House.

I lost my (bloody awful) job three years back. Set-up my own business, first two years were tough, but not looked back since.
As you are in Cambridge with mobile experience, I’m sure you could pick up another job in no time.

Stif have a big sale on Fox clothing at the moment.

I have a number of ex-teacher colleagues. None of them regret leaving the profession.

Great show, always funny. Street Countdown my fave episode, with Negative One.

Having worked in a number of offices, I came to the conclusion that most people are fundamentally boring.

As well as making them look (a lot) more attractive, make-up enhances their femininity. Some women without makeup look like boys.

That would suggest he saw you 36m before the roundabout. Just saying.

In this case the other driver didn’t look at all.

Not in my case, the people to blame were a) the other driver, for approaching a mini roundabout at about 40 mph and not looking and b) highway maintenance for not trimming the tree. I approached at the right speed, checked as best as I could, and put the breaks on as soon as he came flashing by.

Something similar happened to me once, but that was because there was a massive tree which hadn’t been trimmed. We would have collided unless we both put the breaks on, as in emergency stop. I’d go back and check for tire marks to verify this story!

It probably shook her up a bit so it’s cathartic to talk about it. The driver could have come from nowhere if he was really shifting and there was some kind of visual obstruction to the right, like an overgrown summer tree.

I thought “fall guy”.
And felt sympathy.
Now I feel envy.
As least he’s a spurs fan. Probably be on the board when he gets out.

RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

Do the BUPA style health insurance offer any possibility to cover lost earnings from time away from work (some form of sick pay I guess) or is that something different all together?

I think that is different (although I’m not expert so stand to be corrected).

Thanks all, I’m self employed and the figures I’ve had quoted come in at about £400 a year, for the record. I’m in my 30s and have no previous other than a knee issue which doesn’t require surgery. But I will ensure I check the small print as I’m always weary talking to insurance people.

That dialogue could have come from the pen of Samuel Beckett.

Mountain bikes have if anything kept below inflation price-wise. But there is a new top-end that didn’t exist in the past – although unless you are racing competitively, there’s no point venturing there.

My main gripe about the MTB industry is the gradual encroachment of commercialism. We live in a throwaway culture and no more is this apparent than in the world of cycling. I’ve been mountain biking for ten years and still have the same bike, with a service once a year, and new shorts, t-shirts, etc, I probably spend £300 a year max.