Oh my Cod!

According to the flyer they were from Fife, so had travelled far to drive past and offer to fix my guttering, and we are not really on a main road so it seems he was cruising for business (ahem). Plenty of guttering off around here. Couldn’t find them on that there internet either. I would defo rather use a local well established firm with good testimonials. I’ll get a few quotes – anyone used Buckstone Roofing?

Thanks TBC. Just had a guy come knocking on the door and gave a quote on the spot. THe price may or many not be OK, the wife however has a mistrust of anyone coming knocking for business. I say times are tough. Anyhoo, thanks again and I’ll give those chaps a go.

massive +1 for Home, it really does make you want to get out and ride like no other film.

Collective is a winner too.

Got one! Thanks TBC, a great community service!

Thanks for the heads up. A colleague talked about this when it was last on and I missed it. Have set it to record!

Colston Bassett stilton is a must! Preferably get all you cheese from a good cheesemonger who will make sure you get your cheese in tip-top condition. Makes a heck of a difference.

I like Old Jamaican it’s a good brew and more available than Bundy which is great too.

If you like it hot try Marks & Spencers Traditional Extra Fiery Ginger Beer. It’s got a kick like a mule (Moscow if you prefer.

Drac – that made me laugh! All down to personal taste and experience, not snobbery. I think there are better blends out there than Bells but if its what you’ve got it would be a shame to waste it. Drink it how you like but it would be a shame to mix a single malt with coke, but if that’s what floats your boat, go to it.

No need to spend £50 on a bottle of single malt. Although it is more than possible!

Depends what you mean by expensive… I’ve only got the one bike and it has to do me for everything – off-road frolics and on-road commuting. If I had my dream bike (one day..!) no way would I commute on it!

currently listening into to an audio to support me and my colleagues through upcoming redundancy. So motivation somewhat down the swanny!

It’s not really abolut what everyone else is doing. However, your observation is right, it does seem to be more prevailant these days. I wore a snowboarding helmet for the first time last year (always had wrist guards and impact shorts befor that) and felt so much safer. I wouldn’t board without one now.

Bigjim – I can confirm that it was super icy in the Pentlands today. More of a bike slide than a bike ride 😉

Cream – Disraeli Gears (bit of a cheat as it’s late 60’s but a stormer of an album)
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure (glam art rock – don’t be put of. A classic)
Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets, Music for Airports, My Life in a Bus of Ghosts (moving from Roxy music to the creation of ambient music)
Black Sabbath – Paranoid (CLASSIC!)
Nick Drake – Pink Moon (one man and a guitar)
Stevie Wonder – Talking Book, Innervisions (when he was good)

+1 for Dalmore. Simply delicious.

mac ‘n’ cheese

Not been up into the hills since Saturday but live in their shadow and I have 14″ of snow on my drive. (And a Freelander abandoned across it the *!*!*!) Riding might be optimistic! It would be one heck of a push. And it is snowing some more right now.

Fair enough, I don’t know the circumstances and in no way condone the bike bashing behaviour (although I sometimes think bad thoughts about cars and wing mirrors or SPD scrapes down the side… due to poor driving) but on the whole if there is a choice between road or pavement I think it is an adults responsibilty to be on the road, set a good example and all that. I may be a prude as I don’t cycle across pedestrian crossings while the lights are on red like some of my other biker commrades but that’s just me.

Fine for kids to ride on pavements. You should ride on the road with the rest of the grown-ups.

The Stuart Turner I had my eyes on was one of their cheaper models – the ones without the brass fittings. I guess maybe it’s a case of you gets what you pays for..?

Thanks dropoff. What do you mean by cavitation and undersized installation It’ll be a plumber fitting it (as part of complete bathroom overhaul) so would be good to know what to look out for.

It wasn’t too bad at the weekend. Tried to make it all the way up the Minch Mor climb without dabbing but got a bit of snow assisted drfit and had to dab once. Really had to concentrate on the descent – mentally exhausting. Winter biking is ace!

I was up there on Sunday. Snow line was probably around the 300m – hit a smattering not to far up from the car park. I reckon there was probably 4 – 5 inches at Minch Moor. But that was on Sunday. Made it around the whole route though. Although if it has frozzen the compacted snow could be a bit slippy. Head out and have a look I say!

Just recently moved to new matrimonial home from a city centre flat. There are things that I miss about city centre living, but none of them about living in a flat. Hearing neighbours clunking up and down the stairs, guy downstairs with a large sub-woofer featuring almost nightly earthquakes through the floor, seemingly elephants trampling around upstairs and the guy throught the wall (into the next stair..!) who one day decided to learn the guitar. And then try to sing… To be fair he improved lots over the last 3 years although I didn’t appreciate his talents during flat viewing when trying to sell… Chap on the other side occasionally used to like to blare out the theme music to the Love Boat always around 10PM… The less said about the ground floor flat next door with a revoling door of tenants and loud Polish hip-hop the better.

wazzock doesn’t get much of an outing these days…

As others have said, ouch! Not really wanting to trot out the things that you expect to be told but they are true although they don’t seem like it at the moment. Been through it a couple of times, and it can seem like you will never be happy again, no woman will ever look at you again, love you like she did. But you know what, as soon as you are ready for it (up to you to decide when that it will be) it will happen.

My tuppence worth here, don’t let things drag on too long (although it can be hard to let go to all that is familiar) – if you need to sort out house, belongings etc… do it amicably and as swiftly as you can. You will know which pace is best. But I think for you to move on you will need to get things done and be out of each others lives.

Also, if you have things to say, again being amicable (especially if there are finances/legal stuff invovled) get them said. You don’t want to be left stewing.

Always remember the good times. And the bad. Memories are good things and to be cherished.

And remember, everything is going to be alright!

Absolutely no doubt in my mind that you should get the Dalmore 15. Deeeelicious. Recently discovered it as the wife is from up that neck of the woods. It has rapidly become my favourite and you don’t see it around as much as some of the others so you may score originality points there! Albanach’s recommendations would be a close second and third.

Militant_biker – pretty much all down hill on the way, which makes for pretty much all up hill on the way back – no cold problems on the way home!

chakaping – maybe knee pads and no helmet. Cover off a couple of reoccuring themes…

Anyhoo, bib tights seem to be getting the thumbs up. I don’t think I’d be able to look at myself in the mirror (I don’t think my wife would be able to stop laughing as well!) with just tights so a pair of baggies over the top methinks.

I’m thinking warm legs might well be the future!

what are tights and windproof gear like in the wet?

Where do you pick up your army surplus gear – you got a local shop or is there somewhere online?

Can’t praise Finisterre clobber enough. Not got as much as Surf Mat but have Eddy merino base layers, which I haven’t found an equal of yet, a couple of tees and to top it all a Storm Track jacket which is just about the best jacket ever – expensivo but I reckon I will get many years out of it. Used it snowboarding in the Alps, walking in the Highlands and general wear. It is ace. Currently waiting on an Etobicoke for a winter jacket to replace a well used and loved Mountain Equipment jacket.

One the Howies theme, I’ve found their range a bit disappointing the past few years for my tastes, but the bits I have got are great and I will certainly be following their advice to “wear stuff out”!

There is free parking on Roseburn Street (and surrounding streets) so depending what time you arrive you could park there (as it’s free, quite a few folk will park there, same goes for most places on the periphery of fee paying parking areas) – and it’s only 15 minutes stroll to the west end of Princes Street or hop on a bus.

it’s not that I don’t listen, it’s just that I don’t necassarily remember everything that has been said…

Ah, the fear! Oft induced on a Sunday before returning to work. If you can’t get to sleep on a Sunday (or any other day for that matter) because your mind is whirring with things to do etc… try writing them down before you turn in. Saves you mulling it over in your noggin. I’ve taken to putting things down in a “things-to-do” item in my Outlook calendar that I can then update and drag from day to day.

mmm, maybe the title should have been Tradesmen rather than DIY…

thanks cynic-al – I take it you were happy with the end result?

mucho gracias. Wife not too keen on b r’s suggestion but Prado etc… will be on the list.

Thanks stanfree, I’m a big fan of Barcelona as well so probably won’t be able to resist making comparisons. Always good to try out new places though!