I looked at the following brands

– Aqua Marina
– Aqua Planet
– Bluefin
– Itiwit (seems to get great reviews)
– IRocker

ended up going for a Hatha in the end and spending more than I wanted…

Most boards I believe are around 10’6″ / 32″…since I play with my board in the sea and I’m tall, I got a 34″

Other things you might want to take into consideration

– Bungee cords are really useful for strapping stuff to the board…most times I end up strapping all my gear in a waterproof bag (inc. pump)
– Tail fin setup (usually 1 or 3 fins…can vary the stabililty I guess)
– Tail fin type (FCS US box is pretty standard, which means it’s easy to swap out or replace fins)
– Paddle (lighter ones are nicer…)
– Some boards come with a seat (such as the one from Bluefin)…might be useful/fun at times
– Touring boards are longer/thinner/more-straps-to-tie-stuff on ..but probably not ideal for beginners…good for cutting through the water, but probably not as stable

Accessory wise, I just got a variety of waterproof bags, and some cheap beach/water shoes from Amazon, which are a really good idea. There’s a few options around buoyancy aids which might be a good idea if you end up playing the sea (vest vs waist types).

There’s also some good phone apps such as Magicseaweed for checking out tides, wind etc.

Versys is nice – the older mk1/mk2 are great as well – probably depends on height though, it’s a bigger more spacious version of the ER6, so if he’s tall, the Veryss will be more comfy.

I recently got my first house – 1960’s build.

I did end up getting a RICS level 2 for peace of mind (visual inspection only)…probably would get it again since I found it useful, if only to remind me of various things that may need fixing in the future! 🙂

General tips are:

Make sure you get a decent solicitor (I just went by reviews on google). I would recommend getting one local to you so you can actually see them and post documents.

Keep an open mind and remain stress free…lots of things can go wrong that are out of your control.

Your new house probably won’t be perfect. I’m doing various work on my house now – a few cracks in the subfloor, and minor cracks in the walls after I removed the horrendous wallpaper…nothing too serious. You will learn a lot and DIY can be fun!

Doing your house up often needs to happen in a particular order…when I was viewing I thought I would just decorate one room at a time.

The reality so far has been a full electrics rewire, filling in the chases, stripping all the paper in all the rooms, deciding to plaster over the old-style artex ceilings, ditching the coving, replacing the skirting, and whilst I’m at it, replacing the rads…at the end of this I’ll get new carpets and laminate flooring and everything will come together at once…hopefuly.

So far the 100 year old boiler or whatever is in there is still going…although it’s rather clunky and bangs a lot, so will need replacing oneday.

Alternatively I could have moved in and done nothing and ridden my bike…

Good luck not ending up in a bidding war 🙂

I ended up selling a 1 bed flat in Feb, was going to rent for 12/24 months (to find my “ideal” location) but got scared, and got back on the ladder asap. In the meantime I moved back in with parents so managed to spend a bit of time saving

Being a cash buyer helped a bit, but not for the really really really nice properties – they were gone in days with multiple offers 10-25k over the asking price.

I basically moved into an area that wasn’t in my plans…cheaper and less desirable, but ended up next to the sea, which I think I now love 🙂

Sooo I’ve just splashed a bunch of cash on a Hatha Orb after spending ages going back and forth between options – lots of companies seem to be getting new stock around this time 🙂

Wanted to ask, is anyone strapping their boardbag/pump onto the board whilst out paddling?

This is my intention as I’m about a 15 min walk from the sea and don’t drive, so will just carry everything. Not really keen on leaving stuff on the beach as I’d like to be out on the water for a while.

Anyone looked at these?

– https://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Bare-Feet-Waterproof-Paddleboard/dp/B07DK7SSFN/ref=asc_df_B07DK7SSFN/
– https://supinflatables.co.uk/110-litre-dry-bag-for-paddleboarding-riding-not-hiding-grey.html

Nice timing! I spent Saturday doing a SUP taster course, so much fun…spent today scouring the internet to figure out which one to buy.

I might hold out for the https://bluefinsupboards.com/ – cruise-12…sadly not in stock, but the 10.8 is (which suits upto 150kg).

Bluefin boards get decent reviews, but a bit more expensive for an entry-level board perhaps…

A couple of the SUP trainers were recommending the Decathlon ones too…

Tracer 9 or the older Tracer 900 comes in around 10k and is a decent all-rounder.

For longer runs you might want to consider more fuel range, better wind protection and comfort (which I think it has covered). The seat is mega uncomfy on my 2015 tracer, but mostly resolved with an Airhawk cushion 🙂

Failing that, Versys 650 is worth a look too…

40, 1st AZ Jab Sunday midday. About 30 mins after started to get a mild tension headache that persisted until early afternoon today (Tues). Hopefully it doesn’t come back in the morning!

The day after I felt a bit tired, I had about 1hr in the afternoon of feeling pretty cold and aches, then feeling hot…but it didn’t last long and I didn’t sweat anything out.

Generally felt a bit spaced out. I actually stabbed my toe over night whilst going to the loo and barely noticed…in the morning there was quite a bit of blood…so maybe the jab makes us super strong and resilient to pain? 🙂

I think I’m at the stage now where I feel like going out for a run, so back to normal.

Hopefully job done!

I think there’s just a growing trust issue between large like-minded members of the public and Gov/Big-Pharma/MSM.

MSM tell so many fibs – the protests in London have been in their thousands for a while now, and so people get peeved when they see it reported as ‘hundreds’. Gov and MSM don’t do themselves any favours. For some reason I’ve got a bit addicted to watching livestream events now 😀

I don’t have much trust in Gov/MSM either, but I do trust the people on the frontline battling this. The scientists and the healthcare workers. I wouldn’t wish other families to have to go through the Covid experience. It wasn’t very nice, and the fear of watching a loved one nearly die outweighs any trust-issues I have.

My Jab is today…I’ll take some extra protection please!

Do we work at the same company? 🙂

I know what you mean, we went through this quite a while ago, and I’m still not a big fan of it.

Some key things that might help

– Use the processes in place. Be vocal in retro’s and daily standups about the issues. The scrum master is there to help you and the team, if they don’t, they aren’t really doing their job. Especially complain in retro’s…since that’s what it’s for.

– Find the influential people who will listen. Probably lot’s of people will hold the same views, and the more people that shout, the easier/quicker things seem to get resolved

– Suggest some ideas such as ‘focus time’. There’s a few tools we’re trialing that re-organize calendar meetings to maximise focus-time (it’s working quite well)

– Only accept meetings with agenda’s. If you don’t think you would be allowed todo this, bring it up in retro’s and get the team backing – make meetings more efficient.

The biggest one, is probably to aim for continuous improvement – nothing should be set in stone (including the scrum/agile processes themselves).

Looking to relocate to Sheffield in the next 6 months too, been thinking about it for about a year now and don’t want to wait any longer 🙂

Can recommend just visiting the place a few times – I’ve used Airbnb a few times for this, but also cheap B&B.

Things that stick out to me on the few times I’ve been up there…

– Train links seem really good – especially to Derby/Chesterfield/London.
– Train link into the peak is fantastic too!
– Some lovely places S/SW of the city
– Hilly!
– Easy and quick road access into the peaks

I’ve also been looking at both Dronfield and Belper areas…

On my smaller greenlane bike I’d do quite a lot. The risk of me screwing something up wouldn’t impact me getting to work, and it’s so simple to work on.

I’ve not yet split the cases, but I’m fine tackling things like new pistons, valve checks, cam-timing, fork seals, wheel bearings, rad changes, new tires (pain in the bum!)

On my main bike I only do the basics (air/oil/spark-plugs/brake-pads/sometimes-sprockets/chains).

I shy away from most things electrical…and these days I’m a bit de-motivated, so my main bike often ends up at the shop…if only I had a decent garage/workshop 😉

I’m a newbie too, just on week 6 of my couch to 5k. I’m hitting barriers and finding it hard, but it’s ok.

My tips so far would be to pay extra attention when you’re getting tired…I find this is the time when I’ve had the odd ankle twist or misjudged foot placement.

I find it easier to run when it’s cool, so typically early morning…I just can’t seem to run very well in hotter weather…so find which time of day works best for you.

Running in the rain is awesome, don’t let it put you off 🙂

Should have done this years ago, don’t think I’m ever going back to the hairdressers! 🙂

woohoo, 245 arrived today as I missed yesterdays delivery slot…such a nice gadget!

I don’t really run much (yet), but it works pretty well on the bike too 🙂

https://uk.remington-europe.com/products/hc4250-quickcut-hair-clipper

CountZero suggested these too above!

I had these on order early in the lockdown, but cracked and actually used by beared trimmer on my head…to be fair it worked really well 🙂

The QuickCut however is really nice and much easier/quicker to use.

Stock seems to be limited and prices inflated in these times, I actually had to go for a man-utd branded version, which was about £20 cheaper :/ oh well!:)

As mentioned, underblankets are lovely!

I can recommend the OneTigris for a light-weight version. I also have the Snugpak underblanket, but it’s so bulky.

I think that’s the problem with this – sleeping bag + underblanket = bulk…but so so warm 🙂

I didn’t have much luck with the mats, they just seem to slide around.

You may find double-lined hammocks can help with this (the mat can slip inside between the fabrics).

https://www.blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/apple-and-google-partner-covid-19-contact-tracing-technology/

Technical specs available for download in PDF too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM9AqyQrrPk – motorbikes and general shed / garage projects

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnp014zupl8&list=PLbzeinr1wFcJpI5zYmO_I722NBjw6m5aC – lockdown songs from this moto-vlogger (find them really chilled!)

Hugs man,

I was in a similar position a couple of weeks – my Dad at 75 ended up with Covid and in hospital on Oxygen…I felt the same, full of dread, not being able to contact him, thinking the unthinkable, and basically just a horrible numb feeling. A lot of past memories flooding back, listening to my Mum over the phone in tears several times a day. It was a horrible time.

He made it out and is getting back his strength – now pottering about in the garden, over doing it like usual, but getting back to his usual self.

Keep faith!

Personal experience of the testing over in Ireland is a joke. Wife works in healthcare and first showed symptoms a week past on fri and waited 8 days for a test and still no results yet ‘famous’ people get symptoms, get tested rapidly and the results quickly too. The numbers being stated on the news as confirmed cases mean nothing – it’s only the ICU numbers that matter.

I don’t think it’s a famous people thing, but location based perhaps.

My dad went in Friday, they originally said test could take a 5-7 days, but he got his result on Sunday which isn’t too bad.

I think the issue here is that whilst they don’t know, they will try to isolate the individual away from other patients.

Once they know, they can be moved to a dedicated ward and mix with other Covid patients – the longer the tests take, the less likely it is that individuals can be isolated, especially as demand creeps up.

@franksinatra hope you get well soon.

My dad (in his 70’s) was admitted last Friday with breathing issues – prior to that he had a cough for 3 weeks, and aches for 1.5 weeks – in the last few days before he was admitted he was sleeping lots (like proper flu). The breathing issues came on then, along with coughing up gunk.

He has just tested positive for it. I’ve also had similar symptoms but not breathing issues (I’ve been isolating for about 3.5 weeks now).

If it gets to the lungs, it’s the breathing issues that seem to make it differ from general cold / flu…

Currently on oxygen, but said he’s feeling a lot better each day which is positive.

What a nightmare this is, not being able to be near loved ones :/

I just bought a portable bidet, bog roll issue solved. Used it today, can recommend 🙂

Not sure, been at home for 3 weeks though.

About 3 weeks ago, had an onset of tiredness/aches which put me in bed for a few days. Similar time was hot/cold.

Then a sore throat which lasted a day and went, then a strange cough where thick yellow globs were coming up, at the same time breathing felt ‘odd’ (labored?) – that lasted about 3 days.

This week still left with a cough, and still getting the odd hot/cold feeling.

Pretty much got all my energy back though.

It was confirmed at my place of work that someone tested positive for it – but that was yesterday, and not in the same office as me (only 1 street away though) 🙂

What are the implications of another ‘off’ on the same shoulder and existing break in the future,

I think about this quite a lot myself – it certainly does slow me down, but maybe that’s just me getting old.

Mine did heal (it wasn’t a non-union), but it did leave a massive bump, which I kinda like now.

I did hear/read that collarbones and broken bones in general come back stronger – not sure if there’s any real evidence of this 😉

I tested this theory twice anyhow since my repairs, didn’t break anything again, so it’s all good.

Note, the 2nd post-collarbone break I fell on my elbow – this is an elbow with a metal plate and screws in, and that bloody hurt like crazy…

I would suspect any fall on a metal plate anywhere is going to hurt, since there’s not much meat between the screw-head and the concrete. Wouldn’t recommend doing this 🙂

Not much impact for our company (Market-research/IT) as we’ve been remote working on/off for a number of years.

Found this an interesting read today – https://onezero.medium.com/coronavirus-is-a-preview-of-our-self-isolating-future-f5e73b046104

Ignoring all the horrible stuff and assuming we survive, I think forcing a lot of companies into this home-working scenario will open up some cool opportunities for employees in the future.

Sony XM3 are my favourite purchase in the last year – used them on various plane trips and they make the journey so much nicer. Pretty comfortable, battery life is great, and noise cancelling is incredible.

I too thought the tiger 800 was a bit meh – engine was boring compared to my Versys.

I can recommend test riding the Tiger Sport 1050 – it’s on another level compared to the Tiger 800. I’d get one in a heartbeat if the insurance costs around London weren’t so crazy.

Here’s our Akto Hilleberg and TN Laser Competition 1 tents up on Dartmoor last weekend.

Both are considered light, but the Laser is on another level compared to the Akto, and packs down a lot smaller too. It’s certainly noticeable.

Both have enough space for kit and a bit of cooking.

The Akto is meant to be more durable, but I’ve not had any issues with the Laser.

Both suffer from some condensation depending on weather, but the newer Laser has some features which help this. You can see the the large option section on the Akto at the front – this can actually be shut right down (so it’s flat) which is pretty cool.

Setup / teardown time is about the same.

I’m 6’2 and can sleep in the Laser without any issues (flat). I can’t quite sit up straight without my head touching the top. The head and foot sections are quite small – not much room for movement, and in windy weather the inner might touch your sleeping bag.

The most annoying part of the Laser (at least last weekend) was the wind pushing the wet outer onto the inner – it wasn’t dripping through, but became a little wet to touch.

https://www.ibikeride.com/england/3245-lewisham-bmx kinda tiny, but if it’s near it’s worth a go 🙂

I used to love the battles between the Associated RC10 and the Losi XX crew back in the days…throw in the Schumacher cougar or cat? as well.

I wasn’t down with the cool kids so had a Traxxas (bandit I think).

Tempted to get into this again as I’ve got a road track near me…there’s also an off-road club too..hmm

My new CaadX 105 is gorgeous…totally addicted to it, mostly commuting and a bit of fun in the woods so far, but ultra comfy.

I was tempted by the Akrose but the CaadX is prettier in my books 😉

Do you have the horrid collarbone bump? Mine looks ugly as heck 🙂 Sadly I broke my elbow at the same time so my collarbone didn’t heal in the most ideal position. It was bloody painful at the same, especially the nice grinding sound it makes in the early on stages 😉

I hammock pretty often now, but just rock it with a hammock and tarp, never tried one with an integral rain cover.

This guy on youtube is well known in the hammock community and does some great reviews, and also gives a good intro to hammocking:

https://www.youtube.com/user/shugemery

General thoughts are that hammock + tarp should be better as the combo provides flexibility, and is still pretty cheap. Lot’s of people have different preferences with tarp layouts – an integrated one may not give you that option.

In addition, colder months you need to insulate the underside – typically done with an underblanket – again, I’m not sure whether an integrated design would hinder that.

One more thing – consider the length of the hammock, if you’re tall you probably want a longer length hammock for comfort (and then also a larger tarp to add the weather protection).

The most common hammocks in the UK are probably DD and TenthWonder (still fairly cheap, lots of size / material options, and all pretty robust).

http://www.ddhammocks.com/
http://www.twhammocks.co.uk/

It does look kinda dead. Odd really as the company uses the same platform (or used to) to support outdoorsmagic, fishingmagic and I think runnersworld (which all seem to be doing well).

Probably doesn’t cost them anything to keep it running (maybe it’s on the same servers as the others etc).

This doesn’t really come as a surprise to anyone. Glad it’s getting extensive media coverage as it should be a kick up the ass to people (whether that’s gov. or whatever) to invest in the security of data/systems – at least take security advisories seriously.

nice speech by joshua 🙂

a real good fight, and what a finish 😀 great shot 🙂