Happy Birthday! Been meaning to give you a shout and see if you fancy a pint sometime, consider yourself shouted too 😉

Have a great day!

I do bucket loads of miles and get 32mpg according to both the computer and the measuring and calculating method. Not good 🙁 I also seem to be eating tyres at the moment too… had the car 18 months and am about to get my second set of rears (the fronts got changed at the same time when the car was 9 months old, mainly as I didn't like them, but I think I will get another 9 months before they need changed).

Even my old 220bhp Saab didn't eat tyres like this 120bhp Suzuki Vitara!

I will be running out of warranty soon, so hopefully will be allowed to change it in another 18 months! So long as the company accounts are looking healthy! Not sure what to go for though – I use the 4×4 bits and bobs and like the additional ground clearance for farm tracks and fields. Just can't reconcile myself with the environmental disaster zone that the vehicle is! Perhaps I should get a second hand, private, estate car or something. Alternative is the Hybrid Pug 3007 that is being talked about for launch in around the right time frame (and with 68mpg that would be very, very tempting indeed!)

Does sound like diesel to me – in a car it can be absolutely arse clenching if there is recent rain mixed in with it. Just no grip at all (nearly had a big accident last year when there was a huge diesel spill on the M80 in the rain, and that was in a 4×4… running in 4×4 mode!). Glad everyone walked away unscathed, it could have been so much worse.

Have you tried sit ups? Could be you need to tone the stomach muscles??? Other than that, could be a build up of visceral fat – if that is how it is spelled… one is a tad squiffy 😉

Those Trimtals ones are as good as it gets. Yes they cost a fortune, and are an absolute pig to put together, but they are very good indeed.

Had to leave mine at the last house 🙁 Thinking of getting a new one (or 2) here, but it depends on whether I manage to get a garage sorted out instead (as then my stone shed can be kept as a bike store/workshop and the Triumph can live in the garage with all the tools!)

I used to have a Forester of mental engine flavour (had been breathed upon by Prodrive). Ace fun, very quick and more fun than should be legal down forestry roads. Only problem was when bits fell off it cost a fortune to repair. Everything had to be flown in from Japan 🙁

Changed that for a Saab, but that was pants off road and the suspension kept falling off 😉

Changed that for a Nissan Navara which was loads of fun on beaches, surprisingly quick on the road and more frugal than I would have thought possible (32 – 34mpg IIRC, had it up at 40mpg when pootling around the Western Isles). Alas the engine blew up regular as clockwork so it was in the garage more than I was driving it. Got shot of it as soon as the warranty expired (so in a year then, it was second hand and I do 30k a year)

So now I have a Suzuki Vitara, bought brand new (company car) and it is ace. Other than being as thirsty/thirstier than the Navara. I throw loads of tools in it and drive around Cumbria, then over a few fields… just keeps going.

And get this. I let people out of junctions, give cyclists space when I pass (not necessarily on the other carriage way, but the 2 – 3 feet clearance that I would give a car or moped). I tend to get chased down by posh 4x4s when I overtake them, for some reason this is a slur on their cars performance see – I think that the Vitara is about the slowest option available… I drive fast as I am trying to maintain momentum, slowing down and speeding up is deeply inefficient both on fuel and time!

I tend to find that Audis are driven by complete cocks, along with a few of the beemers, though less than in the past. Mini Coopers are also pricks cars by and large… and anything driven by an old person or a boy racer.

Speaking of boy racers – why the hell do they always try and stop me passing on the bike? Soon as I pull out the accelerate hard! Do they think they can go faster (bike probably has the same bhp as their wankchariot???)

Drivers – waaaaay too many poor ones on the road. You really notice it when you get out the box and onto 2 wheels, more so when you are able to travel at the same speed or faster than cars.

I would add though – the MkII is absolutely savage on lens quality, there is just such high resolution that if there are any weaknesses they are laid bare (the Sigma 24mm prime has some fairly noticeable fringing going on, though that is easy enough to deal with in Lightroom). Just can't afford to get all the primes I want in L glass or Zeiss!!! Youch!

It's just about okay – I used it on an EOS 3 first where it was great, but with the increasing resolution (on both the 5D and then 5D II) you just start noticing softness creeping in, especially at the edges, and chromatic abberations all over the shop. I think it has only been on the MkII once!

A better bet perhaps???

Really? Didn't know it worked up Dodd Wood! Superb.

Not that I have yet paid to park there, but thats cos I am usually working!

Registered on Ridethelakes months ago when I moved down this way, but life just kept on throwing me 🙁 But I shall get back on once I am feeling a bit fitter again!

No Zokes – it won't. Meant to mention that a moment ago, it's a crop sensor only lens. Alas. Would be bloody ideal for me otherwise 😉

I would probably be looking at the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 in that case.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1005263

It's about half the price of the Canon 24-105, but without sacrificing too much (assuming you get a good one). The construction of the Sigma 24 prime I bought t'other day is not up to posh Canon standards, but does seem a step up from the consumer grade stuff, and I can't complain with the results thus far (not used in anger yet, just pissing about in town on Saturday).

Keep thinking of getting a convertor and some old Zukio lenses as I used to love them on the OM 35mm stuff, but I keep getting sidelined with lust for the new Zeiss kit in EOS mount 🙂

I would seriously look into an old 5D mk I though – they can be had for decent money and give absolutely sublime results in themselves (and have the advantages of not needing quite such large memory cards, and having spare batteries available in the shops!). If you are looking to save money then I would be swayed more towards that body and the 24-105L than the newer body and a cheaper lens (the 24-105 is probably the ultimate walk around lens, it really is very, very nice indeed)

Coniston Old Hall – absolutely for a nice easy first camping trip. Just watch what you flush down the lav, cos I really can't be arsed going to fix the pumps this weekend 😉

There is one in Hawkshead that looks good, though not used it myself. Right by the road that loops around the village, so seconds from the pubs.

Limefit is also worth considering as it is a short stagger to The Mortal Man and The Queens Head up Troutbeck way.

Otherwise Fisherground or Langdale NT.

In all honesty if you are going to stick pants glass on it, don't get the 5D II 😉 I run mine with:

17-40L
24-105L
70-200L

The 28-135 is just a bit too shonky, though it wasn't too bad on the 5D I (which I have stuck it back onto as a riding camera).

Just bought a Sigma 24mm f1.8 Macro though which I am having a fair bit of fun with at the moment. My wish list is to get an ultra wide prime, the Canon 85mm f1.8, and probably something like the Sigma 300mm f2.8 and the teles for when I want something with a bit more reach on it!

If you want full frame, but aren't going to splash on the glass, then look out the old 1D series beasts or a second hand 5D mk I. The mk II is better than the original 5D, but both are pretty exceptional.

Some of the Sigma zooms from the posh range can be very good too, and would suit either the old or new 5D.

Face it though, it aint going to be cheap either way 😉

You can get those plastic crate type things – grass grows through them. It gives you a surface that rain can penetrate through so less run off. Not sure where you get em from, but they are common enough so it may be something any builders merchant can get for you.

I was off work for about 10 days I think. Doc didn't want to test me (this was in the early days of the pandemic!) despite having all the symptoms. To be honest I wasn't bothered, didn't particularly want Tamiflu anyway since I didn't feel I was about to keep over and die (I had a bout of Malaria 2 weeks before which was much worse, and even that is a lot milder than back in the mid – late 90's when I caught it).

Worst bit was the cough – big chewy one! The fever was pretty mild by what I am used to, nothing to get overly worried about. Aching and lethargic, but again, not as bad as I am used to… and no delirium which was a bonus 😉 Headache, sore throat etc… but all pretty mild really.

Probably would have been back at work earlier, but since my job is pretty manual it is difficult to do when your lungs are falling out all the time.

Pfft – I had it when it was still cool and exclusive 😉 Since there was no swine flu in Cumbria at the time the Doctor didn't want to see me, or offer any tablets! Told me to stay home and pretend nothing was happening (more or less).

Well – I assume it was H1N1 cos it was flu and that is the only one doing the rounds at the moment. I suspect it has been a lot more widespread than the news reports for some time.

Cumbria has bits that are expensive, and bits that aren't. Anything in the National Park is silly money (well, usually – did find a couple of interesting ones when we were looking a few months back…). Kendal is a bit more reasonable, then you get the South Lakes but not in the National Park bit that is probably the best bet (Grange, Cartmel, Ulverston) which are good on price, and nice places to be. After that you are into Barrow and the Wild West which isn't so good (well, again… with exceptions here and there… St Bees is very nice for example, but a long way from anywhere!)

Other options in the county would be the Pennines (Penrith and into Alston, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby etc), or north to Cockermouth and the area around there.

Just moved to Ulverston from Stirling at the start of the year, and moved into our own house a couple of weeks back. Great place to live, need to sort out doing some riding again soon though 😉

I spent a week in Switzerland learning to ski. Loads of fun, prefered it to boarding (which I did a bit of in California a few months prior to the ski experience). Wouldn't say I was remotely competent after that week, but was having plenty of fun and was skiing parallel pretty early on (think day 2 or 3???).

Want to go and do some more sometime, but there is so much going on at the mo that it looks unlikely

Mine heards cats…. they really don't improve with age 😉 Apparently they calm down a bit after 8 years or so. Only a bit mind!

Shorinji Kempo if you can find a class – ideal for sorting out folk that jump you in the street. I practiced it extensivly in Glasgow 😉

Others I have done that are handy.

Wado Ryu, very good if you can find someone to teach it.
Kung Fu, various styles… depends what you are looking for and what the local classes are like
Ethiopian Head Boxing. Well, it's the ultimate arguement stopper 😉 I very much doubt you will find ANYONE teaching it though… ever!

My next stop is going to be Tai Chi though. Takes years to get properly good at, but is just ace when you get there.

That's not Jake the Border Collie, it's an imposter I tells you.

I know that as this is Jake the Border Collie

Though the imposter is very cute, so we may let you off 😉

It is a good descent that one – rode it through luck rather than skill a while back, got to the bottom… paused for breath… and my back tyre spontaniously exploded!

There is parking at the start of the trail for the Climachxs.

The other routes are all from the town itself, big carpark in the middle is handy.

Weetabix and butter… that takes me back!

'Nana sarnies are a fantastic breakfast option when there is nowt else in the house too. Still do that when I am up late for work (so quite often then!)

I have been through loads of Netgear ones, kind of given up on them. Currnelty using a Belkin 802.11 N job and that seems okay thus far – needs the odd reboot every now and then, but it hasn’t stopped working altogether yet!!!

Actually, currenlty on a 3 wireless dongle on the laptop since TalkTalk are going to take 6 weeks to reconnect us to the interweb post move 🙁

That be Northern Ireland??? Was grim when I was there!

Got one the start of last year – a rescue dog from farm stock. He is utterly ace, doesn’t get enough exercise at the moment due to life just going wrong. Hopefully that is turning around now though as he does deserve better.

Very intelligent, yet daft as a brush. No road sense, and I can’t get him to understand tha cars won’t just stop for him, which is a real downer as I would love to get him out on the bike. Got to keep working on it! Loads of energy, and he will take as many walks as he can get. I take him out to work quite often and he is great – just sits watching. Loves cats (in a good way, though any that don’t know him get freaked out).

Fortunatly we have an equally intelligent cat (Maine Coon – stupidly clever felines) so Jake spends all day hanging with his big cat 😉 Tries herding him a bit, and usually gets taken down by a cat that thinks it is a lion and he is a gazelle!

Oh aye – he is my first dog too. But such a fantastic temprement. My Mother who doesn’t like dogs loves him (he goes on holiday to see her every so often!). My wife’s mother hates dogs… except him, he is okay apparently). Ace pooch!

Prices probably have a bit to go down yet – I suspect the last 3 months just reprisent the traditional Spring bounce. I bought a new place (moved in at the weekend) and expect it to lose value over the next 12 months. Not at the rate that we have seen over the last year or so, but probably in the 5 – 10% region at a guess. Then it will bump along the bottom a bit before slowly starting to see a raising market again.

crikey – is that the stretch running south from Askam? I was passing that way t’other day and it looked like it had potential (didn’t have time to stop and look, but planning a return visit with the pooch!)

I used to just take both wheels off – that way the seats could stay up and the parcel shelf in place. Job done! That was in the Saab 9-3 and Subaru Forester. If you have a reasonable size boot it should be doable, and I always thought it was the safest way to leave the bike.

Trying to get my mint Triumph into the shed at the new house last night, got the front in fine (eventually… after removing the door), missed my improvised ramp with the back end, caught the rear pannel against the wall without noticing and gave it some revs to get the back end over the step.

Big gouge right out the rear panel.

Deeply, deeply upset and even more embarrassed 🙁

Just debating whether it is worth claiming it on insurance, or just leave it be and ride the thing… probably the latter!

Currently it is the Olympus PEN that is giving me some serious horn 😉 I actually almost ordered one this week, though finances can’t really take that kind of extravagance at the moment. And this is from someone with a Canon EOS 5D, Canon EOS 5D mkII, and bag full of lenses with red lines around the ends 😉

Seriously – I don’t think there are any bad cameras out there at the moment, it’s a case of deciding which one fits your requirements best. The new Olympus is teeny – almost pocketable with a pancake lens on it – offers a huge feature set and would, I think, be about the perfect mountain biking camera.

If funds allow in a month or two (post moving house which is the real killer) then I may just get me one 😉

Those hills don’t change! Used to ride up there a lot in the late 80’s – early 90’s!

I am moving house this weekend, just been up to the new gaff and thrown a couple of slabs of beer in the fridge in preperation 😉 I am sure that we can find some live music in one of the local pubs, it may even be pretty good. There will be beds, showers and quite probably a big pub tea on Saturday evening.

Like folk at Glastonbury though we won’t have interwebs 🙁 Seems that it is going to take 4 – 6 weeks to be reconnected. Jeez… I may actually have to go out and have a life rather than sitting infront of a PC for the next few weeks!

Suppose I could ride my bike. Although I hear rumours on another thread that the riding in these parts (Lake District) is a bit pants 😉

Highland Park – just pick whatever age suits your budget. Less peaty than Islay, but still with a fair bit of peat in there, and very very drinkable.

Try superfeet inside em?

I wear Keens with my kilt most the time – but I can’t be doing with the full dress look anyway! Actually, wore something like Ugg boots with my kilt at my wedding, but it was winter… and north of the Arctic Circle!

Ooooh – she could nurse me back to health 😉

It’s a bit of a shitter that, currently supporting my other half through depression (been ongoing for a fair while now), but we are slowly getting there. Those books look interesting footflaps, may order your top tip for her 😉

To put a silver lining on it though, getting out of the job and taking some time doing something else may be helpful – think you need to spend some time on yourself and finding your way through it without adding a stressful situation to the mix. Good luck – sure it will come up roses!

Pancetta mate – it’s upmarket 😉