Oof, unlucky.

Statutory redundancy pay is pretty much nothing. You may have something different in your contract. As for the phone, I’d say that they were obliged to pay for work calls.

On the plus side, think of the time you can devote to The Big Bike Bash

To misquote Bill Bryson, Wales is full of places with names that sound like a cat coughing up a hairball :-)

If you fancy a ride in the FoD on Saturday you can try it on.

Right, 21st March it is, cheers Sharki. Can you drop me a mail with some contact details?

I’ll organise the troops.

It’s a slim cut, but not excessively. I’ve got a large (I think, can check), fits me perfectly.

Hah, excellent. I have that one at home.

Me no see nothin’.

I love Calvin and Hobbes.

Nope, no pockets. I’ve never missed them though, I’ve got pockets on my shorts and a bag on my back.

Ali – if you want to do the 21st, that might work well. I know it well enough to lead a ride.

risotto made with the stock from the carcass.

What she said.

Red wine sauce casserole?

Not what he said.

Depending on the date, I’ll come too. I **** love the ‘Tocks. We might even be able to sort out a Cotswold Massiv away-day.

I’ve got a Gill ProSpeed, which is eVent. I’m really impressed with it, it’s the first cycling jacket I’ve had that I can actually cycle. i.e. doesn;t turn into a mobile sauna within minutes. Well put together too.

Looks like Wiggle have rebranded it[/url]

I have heard aleigh is young, fit and single

You heard wrong.

I’m kidding, I’m kidding. She is single ;-)

What’s harder to comprehend is that this thing expects us to bow down before it and mumble how wonderful we think it is. Does that not strike any of the religious people here as odd? That god is so insecure that he/she/it needs reminding that it is a god and that we’re still here?

Exactly. I can’t believe that an all-loving, all-knowing, omnipotent, omnipresent God would need his ego polishing by some minor life forms on a minor planet in a minor galaxy

Anyway, much as I’ve enjoyed this debate (and I have), it’s four o’clock which is hometime

Thank God for that ;-)

Why does the Universe exist?

I don’t know. But 1000 years ago we didn’t understand the rain cycle, 300 years ago we didn’t know that bodies of mass were drawn to each other by gravity, 100 years ago we didn’t know how flight was possible, 60 years ago we didn’t know that DNA was at the root of all living things. Just because we don’t know now doesn’t mean we won’t know at some time in the future.

Nope, that’s a different thing, that’s just not taking a stance one way or the other. If you actively understand why you are an atheist and have reached that opinion through rational argument then it is a fully backed up belief.

Exactly

Atheists dont have to justify non belief in irrationality.

Okay, let’s turn it on it’s head. Why is religion irrational?

I don’t kowtow to anyone. Indeed I said that one shouldn’t have to explain their atheism. If you choose not to, if you can honestly say “I have my reasons, but I don’t feel I need to discuss them”, fair enough. However if you cannot explain your belief (and that’s what it is), even to yourself, then it’s as blind as any blind belief in a theistic religion.

I bet the vast majority of christians cannot define why they are christian.

I agree, and I wouldn’t class those as Christians. Few things get my goat more than people who ‘remember’ that they’re Christians so that they can get married in a pretty church.

Why do you have to explain why you don’t believe in something that doesn’t exist. If as an Atheist you believe there are no gods then why do you feel you need to explain your position?

I’m not saying one has to but I am saying that one should be able to if asked.

FWIW, I don’t believe there is a God as I believe the supernatural is a human construct originally formed to explain phenomena that were not understood at the time. Most of these phenomena can now be explained by science and do not have supernatural origins. Those that remain will doubtless be similarly explained away as our scientific understanding grows.

I disagree, I think it would form an integral part of the discussion. After all, if one professes to be atheist but cannot explain why, isn’t that as blind as one not being able to explain why one is, say, a Christian?

I do class myself as atheist by the way.

Atheism is a belief in the same way that not collecting stamps is a hobby. It needs no teaching.

I disagree. Someone either believes in a God(s), believes there is no God(s) or is not sure. There are reasons why for each, so why not explore those reasons?

Only Frank Sinatra can sing My Way.

Only Elvis can sing Suspicious Minds.

Those Campag brakes are the best looking bike component. Oh God, I agree with RudeFred. I’ll be bumming Hora’s dog next…

Liverpool will finish above man utd.

Yep,and the team coach will be pulled be a team of flying pigs. Liverpool will do wel to finish above Villa.

A club in the early stages of meltdown…

What should he do then?

Badlands in Cheltenham are good, and the do mail order.

Mine’s been done, and the only dogs he goes for are uncastrated ones, especially if they’re a ‘butch’ breed – boxer, staffie etc. He’s a rescue/ex-street dog, he’s quite little so must have got picked on a bit by bigger dogs so I think it’s a learned pre-emptive strike.

And the alternative to bailing out the banks was…?

Are you some kind of fixie riding fakenger, always looking for the most ‘real’ experience?

I’m really, really not.

Maybe fake is the wrong word. Maybe ‘contrived’ is a better word. I like riding on roads, towpaths, rocky stuff, grassy stuff, woodsy stuff, lots of stuff. I just like riding it on stuff that was there already, rather than stuff that has been purpose built for me to ride on (and yes I know that roads and towpaths are purpose built…)

Open your mind and look again at life, I would.

I shan’t dignify that with a response.

sofatester – the one fourth from the left beautifully sums up my indifference.

Can you still pick up GF Rigs cheap? I love mine.

I can’t really explain why I don’t like them, I just don’t. Your list neatly summed it up in a way I hadn’t before.

Similarly, I don’t like reggae. Again I don’t really know why, but I’m not just going to listen to it and enjoy it am I?

And smilies are the crutch of those who cannnot express themselves properly in written English.

;-)

I don’t enjoy it, because it feels fake.

Well, I’ll add to the “what’s wrong with Dysons” debate. Mine’s seven years old and works brilliantly.

I think there’s a smidge of the good old British habit/pathetic trait of ‘look at him, he’s successful, we can’t be having that’ about Dyson.

So, all weather design and surfacing, built features like berms, drop-offs, wooden bits and jumps, just a bit of novelty or inventiveness really. All crammed in at a much higher density than your average English “natural” trail.

That exactly sums up what I don’t like about trail centres. They feel ‘fake’.

since when has need been a requirement for buying tools?

That is a very valid point. Buy a few, in a range of, er, ranges :-)

I know I’ll get slated for this, but I don’t think you really need a torque wrench for a bike. Stuff is either finger tight (headset/bb preload), snug (levers and shifters), tight (nearly everything else) or right-tight (cassette lockring).

They can’t be any worse than shop-bought cards which are, pretty much without exception, gash.

I did my garage floor, just gave it a good brushing, then hoovered it, then applied floor paint with a roller. It’s come up a treat.