this thread reminds me of a Ross Noble joke – he claimed his uncle had a dog named after jazz musician Charlie Mingus but often upset passing girls when he had to call for it in the park (imagine geordie voice shouting “come here Mingus”)

My weird interview question (asked to me not by me) was whether I’d be comfortable working in an office with mostly female staff. They seemed totally serious that a 20-something in the 21st century going for a graduate level job might have a problem working with women, and might be happy to admit it. I suspect I just looked baffled but on the way home I wondered if it was a coded warning that the whole office would be hormonal at the same time every month. I didn’t get the job but some years later realized out that a bloke I was working with was the one who did. He said they were nice but a bit strange and I was better off not getting the offer…

a climbing buddy called his dog Slack. I’m not sure if he was more amused at the site of confused belayers when he called the dog or confused dog surrounded by people shouting his name.

My next doors the gamekeeper for langsett moor and the other guy runs north america from what i can gather they can and will throw the teddy out the pram if you start affecting their land and can and will shut it down regardless

I met the gamekeeper for north america some years ago (obviously could be a different one now). He blocked the trail, told me that the BW i was riding was a FP, claimed to be the landowner himself, then started throwing punches when I argued. A prize twunt all told. Luckily the ranger I had seen him talking to gave me his name to report to peak authorities and the local rozzers.

Not sure he’d be going back to report that one to his boss: “I blocked a right of way, claimed to be you, then punched someone”.

specialized nimbus armadillos work for me. I’ve worn out two pairs (over a good few years) and the only puncture I’ve had was a broken bottle that went in one side and out the other.

scottish wind

do you think they’d have done the same if an mtber who came off? I had a hefty haematoma on my side after an OTB incident on long causeway and would never have thought that me getting punished for my incompetence could lead to someone flattening a trail

sputnik – it does sound like soft shell pants will do what you want. Beware that some are very very warm though you can usually tell by the price. I love my base jumps and they’re very adaptable – if I damaged them they’d get replaced with the same.

it’s not clear what you’re expecting to be doing all day in them – this might change the answer quite a lot.

Mammut base jump are excellent for summer alpine climbs and winter walking so long as the weather doesn’t get too bad. They come in a huge range of sizes too which is good if you’re not a standard shape.

Just burn the restaurant. If he doesn’t pay then, kidnap his wife.

At last the sort of answer I’d expect from STW. Still disappointed at the lack of chimney related suggestions though.

the other explanation is a mouse dragging the trap around behind it like a ball and chain… I had this in my kitchen and had to administer a coup de grace while MrsNice hid in the bedroom and pretended nothing was happening :(

it’s like The Darkness never happened

Bonio.

I have ranted previously about how irritating it is to be preached at about world poverty by a tax-evading multimillionaire in a ridiculous cowboy hat (which he once flew across the Atlantic in First Class, in its own seat)

This reminded me of my favourite t shirt when I was a student

was most entertaining when U2 lovers saw it :twisted:

why is that when I saw the thread topic I just knew who the OP would be? Bagsy next with the mind bleach.

Depends, do vampires have chimneys?

IANAL but I can’t imagine it’ll get any where when your first response was to offer a refund. When I went to small claims court it was all very “common sense” and not legal BS.

surely he wouldnt make the wrong decision on national TV.

or he didn’t want to look like a bastard on national TV

I’m usually a lurker…

totalshell – the copper left him off for reasons to do with him and not to do with the incident – I’ve had a bad personal situation too. Like we all look at photos instead of the road etc. I feel bad for the bloke, but not as much as I’d feel bad for someone he ran down while looking at his phone. He was even doing it while they were deciding to nick him FFS.

nosedive – if you’re that bothered I know someone who knows a lot about making complaints against the police

They win this round.

Except they don’t.

US format is MM/DD/YYYY. The one that makes sense (YYYY/MM/DD) is ISO.

I made Rick Stein’s tomato curry recipe last night. Nom nom nom

He didn’t seem that switched on

He didn’t seem the sharpest knife in the drawer. The best he could muster as an analysis of the aesthetics of building in concrete was “I really like concrete”

I don’t know pubs in Dronfield but there’s a lot of riding. Vertebrate graphics white peak book has a few routes near to Dronfield which will give you plenty to go at. I ride out from south sheffield to join them at Holmesfield. You can also link up to the eastern edge of the dark peak, especially now the moors partnership are opening up some more bridleways (details on the ride sheffield site). There’s even someone’s cheeky looking DH track in the woods.

Should probably add that apart from the stuff in the woods it’s all quite XC. It’s great for a ride from home but you probably wouldn’t drive for it.

It’s not big and it’s not clever

and it makes my skin crawl it’s so **** twee

can someone turn that Gavin Henson clip into a gif? would go very well in the gifs you could watch all day thread :twisted:

that is why I have two pairs of emergency pants at work. Just hope no-one else opens the drawers and wonders why I’m hoarding undercrackers :?

Don’t let them put you off. If you survived Leicester you’ll be fine.

Mind you, you’d still be better off commuting in if you can

back online after tea…

thanks for your suggestions, everyone. I have lots to look into though I don’t think the budget will stretch quite as far as that rather lovely Shand. Perhaps cardiac is right and a pompetamine and a paint job is the answer

Next thread from me will be one about those funny curly handlebars and how they affect bike sizing

Singular website has been ogled a few times but the TT worries me. It looks good in a retro way but I like frames long and low. I have short legs and don’t like getting hit in the nuts when i put my feet down :oops:

Van Dessel looks very nice

first look finds a couple of possibles but it’s the hub gear compatibility that might be a limiting factor as I assume I need either slot dropouts or an EBB

davidtaylforth – thanks, I have some research to do this w/e

what was it that Arsene Wenger said about Alex Ferguson’s mind games? Ah yes, “Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home” :wink:

I dont like the dropped TT but hopefully thats just cuz its an XL

if you’ve got short legs for your height and want a bike that’s long enough for your back a dropped TT is fantastic. For years I rode bikes that were too short by choosing the size based on my total height. A dropped TT gives a longer riding position (and/or allows for a short stem) and less chance of damaging the family jewels.

The call up letter reminded me of this one…

I was at college during the first Gulf War and some of my classmates were worried that if it carried on too long the govt might resort to conscription. We identified someone suitably gullible and sent a letter requesting he report for interview at a recruiting centre. It was mostly quite believable except for the bit about testing his aptitude for active service in a bomb disposal unit. Apparently he arrived at college and told the first teacher he met of the situation – the teacher shook his hand and wished him luck before heading off to inform all the other teachers. I was never sure who told him the truth but it was all over by mid-morning. Fortunately the lad in question took it very well.

thanks for all the answers (even the painful puns). I had considered whether I should take cuttings off the hedge to support bee colonies countrywide but it seems we should just encourage beekeepers to grow cotoniaster close to their hives.

cheers all, this was a great example of the way STW excels at answering random questions

just returned from watching the tour highlights…

There’s a bees nest in your hedge ?

I wondered that but I don’t think so

with a name like yours you should be able to smoke ’em out..

do you think those smoke blowing things beekeepers have are really over-sized mechanical blow back devices?? :twisted:

Is it covered in red berries later in the year?

yes

we may have an answer…

alpine harnesses are for climbing in the alps where you have lots of clothes on (so don’t need padding) and falling is strongly discouraged. That wild country one from dazh looks ideal for indoors or cragging.

I had this situation years ago, albeit with a very small employer. I got advice from a friend of the family lawyer who talked me through what i needed to do for small claims court (not sure what the max claim is but you’re well under it) and I also spoke to CAB about the court bit. It may have changed but here’s my experience.

The first step was a letter sent recorded delivery explaining the situation, stating expected outcome, setting a deadline, and giving intention to go to court if not paid per the deadline. Make certain you have the confirmation of receipt.

If the deadline is missed then take it to court. I ended up with a hearing where the ex-employer made all sorts of crap excuses, a decision was made, then court adjourned. The adjournment gave the ex-employer fat git the opportunity to pay up without getting a judgement against him (there would be significant financial implications for future borrowing etc). The money arrived soon after.

Urge enduro way better

this guy isn’t impressed with it

warning: grim injury photo

sure there’s more protection than open face but don’t think it can replace a full on DH full face

sunny weather, particularly on a bank holiday (e.g. yesterday), and total loss of the ability to drive. Either driving everywhere at 35mph for no obvious reason or overtaking one of the aforementioned while heading towards a blind corner on the wrong side of the road.