I think that’s all you can do. I don’t know if it’s a English thing or a people thing to get embarrassed around grief. People can sometimes shy away from those who need the support exactly when they need it.
The funeral may help, but maybe not. It just takes time.

Also, a bit further afield is Covert Woods in Barham, a little ways off the A20. Easy to find though. The coastal path through Ramsgate, Sandwich, Deal, Kingsdown, St. Margarets, Dover, Folkestone is great if you’re up for a longer ride?

Without wanting to join in a “me too”, an old friend of mine hanged himself a couple of months ago. I hadn’t seen him for a few years as his self destructive urges had gotten to the point where I got fed up babysitting him.
I’d heard he’d gotten himself straight recently, so I thought I’ll probably give him a call and see how he is, but life gets in the way and before you know it, it’s too late.
The problem with suicide, as you’re well aware Sbob, is that it only leaves What-Ifs. I’m sure I ran through the whole range of negative emotions in the months after finding out, starting with anger, then guilt, and just plain sadness.
There are other charities who are trying to deal with this, but for the life of me, I can’t remember what they’re called, which probably says something in itself.
Like all grief, it WILL ease up. For now, you have to gather round the family as much as they’ll allow and keep talking.

FWIW I went to catholic primary and secondary and when it came to the secondary bit, I don’t think anyone really cared, it was “just school”.
The RE side was pushed, but in reality, it was a doss lesson and the teachers were fighting a losing battle. If you’re worried about brainwashing; I wouldn’t.
I’m sure there were non-catholic kids and church-going kids and just nominally catholic kids, I don’t remember it ever being a problem.
This was the 90’s though.

Same here for me. There’s not a great deal XC-wise in Kent, though it has been of more interest to me lately.
And just think; We’ll get to obsess about the new bike specific to it!

I think this does sound interesting. XC (or even road tours for that matter) may not make interesting TV for the average punter, so this could be a good way of getting more interest at a grass-roots level.
I think the right mix of tech for the jumpy types and some grindy bits could work.
Something like an off-road crit perhaps?
On the other end, I’d also like to see something akin to an off-road audax, similar to a motorcycle enduro or rally.

Fantastic, aren’t they John?

Funny, I’ve had a hankering for a Pomp again. I had one of the old ones with the 135mm back end…
Picture 5 has got to be worth some sort of prize, surely?

Referencing the OP, I have to say it’s all I do too.
I live in Dover, which for Kent is reasonably hilly, being made up of a number of valleys. The bridleway network is very dense too, so you can spend a lot of time linking them up, but it does involve a fair amount of road time too.
It feels like it would be a waste of bike riding anything with suspension tbh.

I think even most roads in Kent qualify as “Gravel”…..I’ll have to plan a route sometime.

I’ve eyed up that way past the Long Barrow before, is much of it rideable?

If they’re coming from the Ferry terminal, then the coast path up towards Folkestone is interesting. Or go in the other direction towards Ramsgate, Reculver, Herne Bay, then drop down the Crab&Winkle way to Canterbury.
Also, From Ashford, you can pick up the Pilgrims way towards Maidstone. After that though, I’m not sure.

I have an older KM, so can’t comment on the new KM. I’ve had mine for about five years now and love it. It just seems to work for me. As with all Surlys, I think they do benefit from good rubber. I tried mine with skinny tyres once and it felt horrible, so good supple tyres 2.4+ definitely brings out the best in them.
Weight, I just wouldn’t worry about, to be honest. The new one does look more or less like a Krampus-lite, so should be more “fun”.

Geax Booze are surprisingly good. Might have to be an Ebay purchase though.
2.3″, fairly light, fast rolling too!

As far as Mini Cheddars go, if you want the cheese and salt, get the Aldi ones!
Also, when did the Ritz cheese sandwich disappear?

What are the sizes of the other two rings? Also, what chainset is it? I know older TA Cyclotourist cranks can get dinner plate rings on them, so maybe an older derailleur like a Huret or Simplex might work.

The Billy Squiers one is just incredible- I heard it practically finished his career.
My ten pennorth is this:

I love it, though I still can’t quite get the dance.

My dad had a few interesting ones, I assume from the Wigan area;
“What have we got for tea?”
“Love and wind dumplings.”
“What’s in here?”
“Medals for meddlers.”
Old phrases I like are;
Hells Bells and buckets of blood!
Gaw Blimey, which apparently is God Blind me!

I actually prefer “bad” jokes!
My dad told me one once, that apparently is quite well know. Stuart Maconie brought it up on the radio once.
I can’t be bothered to write it all out, but the punchline is;
“I’m not really a welder”.
Never really quite got it……..

I’m a massive noob when it comes to classical, but sometimes certain pieces just strike a chord, as it were.
Satie and Debussey seem to have a fascinating imagery connected to their music (in my mind at least).
Gorecki’s 3rd Symphony was recommended to me too, which is fantastic.
Plus, I came across this on Radio 3 one night and it blew me away. Synfonia Sacra by a Polish composer called Andrzej Panufnik.

Aluminium Tunes was quite a good compilation!
I find a lot of their earlier albums had a lot of filler tracks though.

Very distinctive voice that doesn’t seem to have aged at all.
I’ll be interested to hear some more of her own stuff. Tim Gane did Cavern of Antimatter a while ago that was interesting. Very Kraut/Space.
Any contenders for best Stereolab album? My vote would go for Dots and Loops, everything after that just didn’t grab me.

Also, there is a good Youtube vid of Bruce Dickinsons audition. Killers especially!

Live After Death was the first metal album I stole from my brother when I was 11. He never got it back! For me, it’s a great time capsule and a “best of”. Possibly as good a live album as PWEIs’ Weirds Bar and Grill!
I do like Iron Maiden and Killers, but think they’re very different beasts from the Dickinson stuff. 7th Son has some good songs on it, but I never really got into anything later than that. Only time I’ve seen them is when Blaze Bailey was singing.

I thought the BishBashBosh sounded interesting, though I would have to remove all traces of the name.

That Sync cycle was on BikeSnob this week. I just think it’s a bad idea, no triangulation and a floating BB.
Isitafox:
I’m actually really intrigued by that LoPro, I’d love to see more. What other forum is it on?

Just a little update on this;
I had my dads funeral on Thursday and managed to get a nice eulogy written. Once I sat down, it was actually quite easy. Delivering it, on the other hand, was incredibly hard. I practised it and all was fine, but on the day I could barely get through it.
Convert, I followed your advice and gave a copy to my brother and my wife, but they conspired and were determined that I finish it. I’m glad that I did though.
I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice and tips, they were greatly appreciated.

Thanks all who’ve posted. I think I just needed to get a general direction of where to go with it. LIke I said, I didn’t want to sound like I was reading a CV out loud.
I think, Convert, your idea of making two copies and just getting the jist of it, is probably the best way to go.

Oh, and sorry for putting this in the bike forum!

I have this urge to mention something about myself and my brother not having been in prison……So obviously not all bad.
I’m guessing the Priest/Vicar will do the dates of birth, job stuff?

Hawkinge aerodrome was a good one, used to be full sized when I was a kid, but now just a couple of tin huts.
Also, there is the Apothecary’s Loft and Old Operating Theatre up that London, just round the corner from London Bridge station.

Failing that, have you considered Moustache Bars?

It was a shop on Ebay called Fine-Bicycle, based in Edinburgh. I had a look today and there aren’t any advertised at the moment, but if you message them or VeloVitality, they might be able to get you some?

I can recommend Soma Portola bars. I tried the Midges, but could never quite get the feel of them, bit too wide, drops bit too small etc.
I have a set of the Somas on my CrossCheck and they have a nice shallow drop, but still enough grip on the drops and enough bend for the levers. Available in 44cm, if I remember correctly, but only with a 26mm bar clamp. I know they also do a 31.8 called the Junebug, which is slightly wider as well and an even wider one called The Gator (I think).

DezB- I’d quite forgotten I’d ever watched Dancer In The Dark, I just found it relentlessly depressing and manipulative (I know all storytelling is manipulation, but this is something else). The Idiots, by Lars von Trier is even worse. I’d even go so far as to say he’s probably the worst director. Sub-GCSE-art-class-giving-it-to-the-squares-god-I’m-so-depressed-guff.

I’m glad to see others think Dog Soldiers was cack, I thought I was the only one!
My vote goes for Closer. There’s a scene where Clive Owen (awful) asks Natalie Portman to bend over and show him something. I nearly kicked myself in the back of the head from cringing.

This was mine, earlier in the year, with 40c tyres and 1×9 gearing. Good for most things, but after trying a 100kM Audax on it, I realised it needed a bit of fettling;

So, 32c tyres now, and a 34/46 double on a 11-30 cassette.

I think they’re great frames, as long as you are mindful of their limitations, i.e. funny sizing, low front end, weight etc. You can basically build anything from an old-school style mtb, cross, tourer, pass-hunter, audax. Would not want to try racing it though!

Due in November, looks good. By the time I’ve enough cash for one, it’ll have been discontinued anyway.

I went the same way as most here, using an XT 9 speed cassette, which gives you 6 gears, added to a 36t ring, gives you IIRC your 2:1 SS gear, plus 2 up and 3 down. I’ve used this with an old Shimano 600 Derailleur, whih has just enough range and depth to use the 34t lowest cog. Short chain too, so no need for chain retention.

I’d have to say pretty much anything bought from a company out of the back of a magazine. “Amateur Gynaecologist”, Weird Fish, Old Guys Rule, “Britain-Love it or Leave it”, anything with Boris Johnson on it, Biker T’s. I used to get very upset seeing Motorhead and Ramones T’s sold in Topshop.