Contacted my Tory MP, who doesn’t appear to do anything, ever. Jam and jumble sales get her in the local paper but that’s it. Asked her to clarify the following:

I am a father of two young children, both my partner’s parents and mine live over an hour and a half away. As a family, we have been ill with a cough and COVID type symptoms, during which time we self-isolated.
As far as I understand it the advice now is to follow Mr Cummings example if we’re ill again. We should not stay at home and isolate, we should travel with our children to be with our parents in case we need childcare? Of course, this is following my instincts as a father and acting for the sake of our children, which appears to be the course of action endorsed by the Prime Minister.

I also asked if that’s not the case could she contact Boris and sort out Cummings.

Not expecting to hear anything at all judging by social media posts asking where her replies are.

Cheers @CountZero, the Opinel sounds perfect

Can anyone recommend an actually pocket size saw, rather than just a folding saw? So like the one on a Swiss army knife? Its for cutting fallen branches on walks with my kids, making walking sticks (or “swords”).

Don’t really need the other blades of a SAK so wondered if there’s something that fits in your pocket but isn’t too full on.

Fence panel had blown down (and into pieces) in one of the storms. A waiting game followed as neither us or the neighbour wanted to fix it. Wasn’t overly bothered as we weren’t spending much time at home or in the garden…

Anyway, assumed fencing suppliers aren’t open so used the side of the old shed (kept just in case), and a bit of trellis. Worked my way up the fence fixing it with bits of old desk and picnic bench. Not pretty, but won’t fall down. And free.

Also reattached Buzz Lightyear’s head after about 4 years of him being headless.

First proper bike 1989:

(not mine, mine’s gone, didn’t make a house move)

First MTB 1992:

(also not mine, but my frame’s hanging up in the shed, with RockShox Quadras, does that make it triple suspension? Rear, forks and flexstem, must add up to 20 or 30 mm travel?)

I hadn’t built a model kit for years, probably since I was a teenager, so was quite pleased when she expressed an interest in them in Hobbycraft. And a little bit surprised, coz all kids like nowadays is iPhones and Youtube (that’s not true, we’ve made loads of stuff out of recycling bin bits, including a Batman car that looks like a mouse/gimp).

Any recommendations for cheap kits. suitable for a 6 year old? That one was a Revell Tornado including glue and paint, but she left quite a few bits off as they were too fiddly.

View post on imgur.com

How about this masterpiece?

My 6 year old daughter built it herself and refused any help painting it. It left me feeling a bit twitchy but she’s immensely proud of it.

Congratulations, it’s our 4 year anniversary for us and our adopted daughters tomorrow. Simultaneously the most terrifying, awesome, difficult, happiest thing that’s happened to us.

It can be tough, so having some people who understand it is good – other adopters really as your mates/family probably won’t understand what you’re going through.

TBH I feel a bit embarrassed when people say “it’s amazing what you’re doing” because we’re just a normal couple that couldn’t have kids, so got some second hand. But you know what, we are – big high five to the adoptive dads!

The Metallica album Death Magnetic

The Metallica album St Anger, sounds like they replaced the drums with saucepans.

Innertube round the forks and jubilee clips? I used inner tube and some zefal
cable tie bottle boss things to put cages on my tapered aluminium forks for bottles. Worked well, but jubilee clips would be better, dunno about carbon though.

Ideas here

Rode mine into the back of a van. Broke my nose, glasses and helmet. Brompton wasn’t even scratched, they’re pretty tough. I also chuck it on it’s side in the boot, don’t really think about it.

We got ours off the council, 2nd hand. Youngest was 2 so we missed the sleepless nights and (most of) the nappies 👍

Serious answer: REF reporting/impact case studies? All unis looking for that at the minute?

Sounds good, but might not translate to other fields. Is your “friend” happy to move sectors, to about £20,000 p/a
less?. I’m a librarian in the Bod, I’m awesome but national average wage elsewhere. Academia huh.

I’ve stayed here Alpine Lodge a few times and really liked it. B&B, stayed when it’s the race (running) and had a good breakfast. Helped me to a last three finish so must be good. Stayed in the Victoria, ok but old fashioned. Stopped in the chapel B&B and the Bryn Tyrch at Capel and recommend them but might be too far out?

Are the Ospreys the worst region in Wales now?

(happy to pop that in the post to you from Newport 😉 )

Amazingly the Dragons managed to beat someone. Again. Did The Dragons Lose? on twitter actually has a few “no” tweets for a change.

As a supporter of possibly the most hopeless team ever, can I just point this out

Dragons maintained top spot in Challenge Cup Pool One by defeating Worcester 25-16 at Rodney Parade

Not sure who got kicked in the face mind.

Chuck some fake-tan cream in too. Go against the bleach trend

bikebouy 👍 fair enough, that’s understandable. Grey hearing aid here too.

Its also surprising how many people don’t spot the hearing aid anyway so it’s not a bad thing that you can see’em, reminds people to speak up/look at you etc. Mind you, my kids and mrs seem to forget I’m deaf regularly. Maybe suggest she wears a sign or something.

When asked ” what colour?” she replied, “Grey please I want people to understand that hearing loss is a social thing and not because I’m deficient or disabled.”

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve been more proud of her.

Sorry, don’t want to derail this (or seem like an arse) but why is this a big deal or something to be proud of? You can’t see properly, you get glasses; can’t hear properly, you get a hearing aid. Whats it got to do with not being disabled?

PS Asking this as a tinnitus suffering hearing aid user.
PPS I’d get it checked, though mine is worse if I’m dehydrated, run down etc. Tinnitus that is, not the hearing – that’s always ****

Our Cubs had to invent games, make up the rules and then lead the others in playing them. Give them some paper and pens and half an hour to plan it, took about three weeks to play each game. Would the 14 year olds be interested in that though?

I’ve been dithering over getting one for ages (honestly about 2 years). Postage and customs adds a bit but still cheaper than Mission Workshop, and apparently similar quality.

Would like to see one in the flesh first though.

Watching with interest as I’ve never found the right one for me, don’t drive so use it for commuting and general shopping etc. I’ve had:

2001 Patagonia Critical Mass. Still got it but it was never great, just a big floppy messenger. Worked well for lugging boxes on my bike as it sort of just wrapped round them. My Mrs still uses it as a weekend bag.
2004-2008, Crumpler something. Fabric was rough, pretty indestructible but didn’t get on with it. Then some North Face thing, that was rubbish.
2008 Osprey Flap Jack. OK as a slightly nicer laptop bag but not great for cycling. Sat in my office now, as a slightly nicer laptop bag for walking to on-site meetings.
2010ish medium Timbuk2. probably the best messenger I’ve had for cycling, but the strap annoys me. think they’ve changed to seatbelt material. Still looks mint, should’ve got a bigger one.
Current bag is an Osprey Momentum 32 backpack. Somehow manages to be massive on my back but tiny inside. Pretty hard wearing and has a waterproof cover, but low level annoying.

I’ve looked at Life Behind Bars bags but feels a bit risky buying one without seeing them. Not sure I’d want to pay Mission Workshop money. Bagaboo look good, especially with the extra cross strap.

Thanks all for the opinions/offers. Collected it from the LBS on Monday, just for interest here’s the breakdown:

From that its not as knackered as I thought, that’s mostly consumable stuff that adds up. Not sure I can rebuild a rear wheel, or sort the rear pivot but everything else is do-able by me. Seatpost, tyres, front hook are all OK – will need replacing at some point but OK for now.

Thanks Bez, will look into it.

Ok Molgrips, let me know – this want a stealth ad as im undecided what to do!

I’m thinking fix it up with cheap bits as they appear, my Mrs would use it. Or more likely it’ll sit neglected in the shed.

Nope, they didn’t stop. Hit the back of the bike, so cracked rack stays but the other stuff is wear and tear, it gets ridden pretty much 6 days a week.

It’s knackered – not helped by getting hit by a car. There’s quite a few bits that add up – front and rear rims (so wheel builds needed), new drive chain (front ring, chain, two speed sprockets, jockey wheels on the gear pusher), gear cables (they’re split) new rack (all 4 stays have broken), Needs new tyres, brake blocks, couple of new frame hooks, new seatpost. Some work on the rear hinge.

Some of this is definitely convenience tax stuff, or to be honest not needed, like the seatpost – its fine.I can replace the stays on the rack rather than getting a new one (I’ve snapped a bit of it and re-drilled and fitted an easy wheel so the LBS doesn’t like it). I can buy tyres cheaper online and obviously swap them myself. Dunno.

Not a sleeping bag but a camping quilt?

There’s an Alpkit one too that’s a bit cheaper

Sorry bb, didn’t mean that in a “you got it wrong” way, just saying that my experience of the Apidura stuff was also really good.

The old ones were made by Apidura, I’ve got a non-Rapha branded one and its good. Dunno who make sthe current ones but a good review here where it states they’re Rapha’s own design

I use these from Decathlon. Work well, don’t swing around, cheap.

I’ve currently got three, hows that for a humble brag. Started today.

Admittedly it’s only for two weeks as I’m taking part in a trial, and have masked readers so don’t know what they’re reading. But gives me an idea of what they feel like. I’m still finger pricking as part of the trial but even after a few hours I can see how ace they’d be.

TJ: England’s Eddie Jones dismisses Lions coach post as ‘ambassador job’

An important part of the analysis of Wales doing so well has been under-reported IMHO. I went to two games this 6N, England and the Ireland matches.

Since 2004 I’ve never seen Wales lose a match when I’ve been at them, so whilst I was at the Principality I dropped my CV off for Pivac as I reckon the success is mostly due to me.

(I was too nervous to mention this before Sunday as it would have cursed Wales. Family and friends currently crowdfunding a trip to Japan and approaching WRU for a grant)

Also, I doubt things are any different now to the past, most people just want some music to be on in the background or know the songs at a wedding. Doesn’t matter how old they are.

I’m as likely to be found listening to King Crimson*, Rage Against The Machine, Soundgarden, Massive Attack, Elbow, Portishead, and God knows how many others Certainly none that I’d expect to hear on any current chart station

That’s all music that’s at least 20 years old so it won’t be on any chart stations. All played on radio 2 though innit. And it was pretty mainstream in the grunge/trip-hop days so was on Radio 1 etc.

Not that there’s anything wrong with any of those bands. Except Elbow.

I live in Banbury and know most of that bit of towpath – its a proper towpath if that makes sense? Its literally a muddy path next to the canal, rather than flat gravel/multi-use type route.

It’s rideable but it’d be slow, not much space for passing fishermen or joggers with headphones in. depends on what bikes you’re on and ground conditions. Loads of thorns for punctures if the hedge has been trimmed too.

I’d be tempted to use the roads into Banbury and out the other side through the Barfords on the NCN route to Blenheim.

Have you considered second hand?

We did that and adopted one aged 5 and one aged 2. Probably saved us a bit, I sit on a throne made of tenners that I didn’t have to spend on nappies.