BigButSlimmerBloke – no idea, sorry, I didn’t even know what the place was before I looked it up earlier and found that pic; would have been impressive to see though. It just always looks like the Eye of Mordor from the Silverknowes Esplanade on our side.

The folly at House of the Binns, though the young un calls it Windy Tower like in Peppa Pig.

Mr. Woppit – I’ve also convinced her that when we look across to Fife, it’s actually called Mordor and the flare we see over there is called The Eye of Mordor – she’ll be surprised when she gets to see the films and sees that in it!

EDIT: A quick search leads me to believe it’s the tower at Fife ethylene plant. Looks like Mordor to me!

Living with kids and dogs without losing your mind book from Amazon is quite good.

Bobbin Bicycles have that sort of thing, some nice looking bikes there.

Always used to use Look pedals, though have been using Shimano A520 touring pedals for the last few years and think they’re fab. Cuts down on the amount of shoes and spares I need to buy as all my bikes run SPDs. They also don’t look out of place on a road bike.

“Jan picked up the pace on learning that Greggs had a special 2 for 1 offer on pies”

Always wanted one though think the latest offerings are much the sameness of any other similar road bike available (happy to be corrected, not rode one, just going on looks/spec alone). And they’re owned by Cycle Europe, a Swedish company, since 1997 (who admittedly turned the brand around),

Tick Twister in action. On the other hand, came across this billed as the latest method for tick removal. Don’t think that would go down well with a child though.

We use tick twisters now, nice and cheap and do the job on us and the mutt. You still have to crush the little sods once they’re out though.

Let’s Get Married by The Proclaimers followed by the dance version of Quando Quando. We also mulled over having Tony Christie’s Reno as a follow up but didn’t think folks would see the funny side.

pdf online does the job for me and the online conversion is free

We love our storm kettle too (or kelly/volcano/ghillie kettle, they’re all the same). Excellent piece of kit, satisfying to use, and you can wrap bits of banana and rolos in tinfoil and stick them in the embers. Yummy. Or once the water has boiled for a cuppa, stick some bacon on a rack across the base for bacon roll to go with the cuppa. Yummy too.

Maybe not essential, we always take it camping though, or for day trips out.

Small washing-up basin to keep all the washing-up stuff together – wash-up liquid, scourer/sponges (don’t fancy using any old ones lying about) – and chuck all the dirty pots, plates, etc. in it to take it to the washing-up area, rather than trying to balance it all, especially if you’ve had some aperitifs.

A poster there that similarly has defended Contador against the same arguments. Sorry, my mistake.

Don Simon, you’re not FrenchFighter on the bikeradar forum are you?

… and the Giro organisers will be in the farcical situation of stripping the overall winner of his Maglia Rosa a couple of weeks after winning it. They didn’t want him there precisely because of this.

It was on links from Bikeradar Pro Race forum. The Spanish Federation’s inability to follow procedures with regards Valverde and Contador and other cases/investigations were causing rumblings.

The RFEC came to that decision by not following the rules they are required to abide by, which is why it’s gone to CAS. This is why UCI/WADA referred it to CAS. It was not RFEC’s role to decide whether his explanation was reasonable, they should have banned him. Contador then could have appealed and made his case. Them’s the rules. They broke them, and could be facing expulsion from the IOC before long because of it.

It’s not a court of law, it’s rules of sport of a governing body. He tested positive so is guilty. Under normal procedures he would be banned, and it would then be up to him to prove his innocence to overturn the ban. It’s the fact the Spanish Federation aren’t following the procedures they’re required to under UCI/WADA/IOC rules that it’s been referred to CAS who will likely again force the Spanish Federation to follow rules.

Alain Baxter tested positive, got served a ban, lost his medal. The length of ban was changed on appeal, but the appeal to get his medal back was unsuccessful though as he still had tested positive and strict liability applied. Process followed.

If the Spanish had followed procedures, Contador would’ve been banned, appealed and if he could have produced enough evidence to support his beef story could have had the ban shortened or overturned. The amount of Clenbuterol was tiny, but the fact that it was there returns a positive result and should see a ban.

The Spanish Federation also dragged their heels on dealing with Valverde, and again it took the CAS to force them to ban him. Like Contador, Valverde was able to ride until the inevitable CAS decision.

It wasn’t the Spanish Federation’s place to clear him in the first instance. It should have been an automatic 2 year ban for a positive test, then they would hear Contador’s appeal and decide if he had a case for having the ban overturned, reduced or left at 2 years.

He’s only racing because the Spanish Federation didn’t follow the rules, which is why UCI/WADA have taken it to CAS. He tested positive for Clenbuterol – the Spanish Federation should have then handed Contador a 2 year ban based on strict liability, then he would have been able to appeal based on his ‘ate dodgy beef’ story.

If the proper process had been followed Contador wouldn’t be riding the Giro, and in all likelihood he’ll win it, then have the title stripped from him when his hearing at CAS comes up in June. Any ban would start from when he tested positive, which was last July.

And that’s not even bringing the plasticizers into it.

Apparently these super injunctions don’t apply in Scotland!

Correct, there was someone talking on Radio Scotland about it the other day. They said a superinjunction taken out in a court in England wouldn’t apply in Scotland as it’s a different legal system. Anyone seeking a superinjunction would have to apply for an interdict up here. They also stated that the media in Scotland have followed any superinjunctions brought about in England though and no attempt, at the time of that broadcast, had been made to challenge that.

And to wreck them further; for breakfast on the way, you could opt for MacDonalds. Bacon roll meal with brown sauce and a white coffee, one sugar. Not that I go often. Kids may prefer the sausage and pancakes with maple syrup.

Aaaaarrrrgghhh! I’ve been waiting on The Big Bad Barry episode coming back on for ages to tape it for the wife who hasn’t seen it. No. 2 was watching it, and I was looking at bloomin STW and didn’t notice. That’s one of the best episodes ever of Ben and Holly.

Watching Peppa Pig with No. 2. We’ve to head out later to find her a medal and a sweet (packet of fruit pastilles probably – she gives me the green ones, yay) as she’s managed to sleep in her own bed for 3 nights in a row. Next step is for her to learn that just because it’s light outside, it doesn’t mean it’s time to get up, 5am is a bit early.

I’m sure the Scotrail posters say something along the lines of you can’t take advantage of any offers or discounts if you buy on the train, not that you can’t buy one at all. Was reading one at the weekend waiting to board the Aviemore steam train for a spot of afternoon tea. Probably differs between the different operators?

Can’t answer question specifically, sorry. However, when we moved house 6 years ago, we needed to replace the combi boiler which was knackered. Got 3 quotes – 2 local independents who quoted around £1200 for simply replacing the boiler, and British Gas who quoted over two times as much as the others and also stated additional ‘necessary’ work that was also required.

So, sorry can’t answer question, but don’t just get a quote from British Gas, get a few quotes (though apologies if you were planning on doing this anyway). Heard similar stories from others too. Just my tuppenceworth.

Incinerater scene in Toy Story 3
Lantern scene in Tangled
Home Alone in the church when the choir is singing O Holy Night

I’d say there’s a point in most disney/kids films that get me going. We should be asking why exactly they’re so bloody traumatic for adults to watch. The christmas episode of peppa pig even had me going.

Different oddities for different areas i’d say. Up bruntsfield way it’s all a bit posh-mad-bizarre, dmains a bit like that village in hot fuzz, craigroyston a bit mad (all from my point of view of course, being a bit scummy myself).

As an alternative, have you already looked at Davidsons Mains PS? Good school, good high school though there’s not automatic entry to the high school if you are out of catchment area I think. However as far as I know most get in. There’s already chilldren from Craigroyston and Drylaw that go to D Mains.

I postal voted and sent it off last week, but by teatime on Tuesday only 35,000 of the 61,000 postal ballots issued in Edinburgh had been received. I’m hoping mine was received – are people not bothered, or is it down to delays with the numerous bank/public holidays, or people leaving it too late.

Bog standard casio here. Used to want a fancy sector watch.

Would like a basic Timex expedition watch but would still feel guilty at the purchase after the bitter Dundee dispute in the early 90s which, despite growing up through the miner strikes, was I guess the first time I actually observed and understood that sort of thing.

That BBC link certainly had me laughing, my favourite bit:

“Mr Cameron called on the electorate to use their “peach-coloured” regional list ballot papers to vote Tory.

He said: “I urge people, whatever they do on the constituency vote, to vote Tory on the list because we will get more Conservatives and more common sense in the parliament.””

Sure Dave

Have voted for Lib Dems before, never again, and hope they get totally stuffed though Edinburgh West has previously been pretty safe for Lib Dems with 14400 votes or so last time, with 2nd place to the Cons at 8000 odd. SNP and Labour were 3000 or so behind the Cons. Only a choice of those four parties this time round for Edinburgh West. If Lib Dem vote has completely collapsed it could be more closely run round this side of the city?

Lothian region vote presents more choice, with some inclination to go for Margo MacDonald.

Voting by post so will be sending it back soon.

Quite a few years back I was walking up the Dumyat side of Menstrie Glen in the Ochils and saw a paraglider land on the other side of the glen. A whole load of sheep came from all over that part of the hillside and formed a perfect circle around the paraglider as he was packing up his ‘chute. He had about 10 feet of space between him and the gauntlet of sheep, all glaring at him. I was glad I was on the opposite side of the glen, it just seemed too creepy and menacing for my liking.

Was quoted £66 + VAT for the first hour on the phone yesterday. Add in price of thermocouple and I suppose that takes it to £90?

Found installation instructions on the interweb and it involved taking off the fire front, disconnecting the gas into the fire and taking it off, then another bit would have to come off. And that’s before even reaching the thermocouple in the back boiler bit which is way back. Plus the added risk I didn’t connect it all back together again and blew the block up – I don’t think insurance would have paid out on that one. Maybe next time. At least I know what can come off to give it all a good clean.

First guy I phoned said he was too busy (or maybe it was too small a job?).

Thermocouple as suspected. £90. Ah well, those wheels can wait a while longer.

Tried over and over, held grey button in ages, just goes out again. Thanks.