problem for me is whenever I see his name (or hear him speak) I think of this clip from Porky’s

if you want a larger tab, I’ve got the 12″ Asus

it’s superb. Very fast. Great screen etc.

just out of interest, why did Ulrika get involved? She lives in Cholsey doesn’t she?

get a small chromebook, like this one

Runs android apps, decent keyboard etc

south moreton is a very small village near Didcot. Nothing there.

The Ridgeway is only a short drive away (or cycle) for a decent off road cycle though

Oxford is easy to get to from Didcot of course, and some of the museums are amazing. Pitt-Rivers/Natural History arr superb, and the Ashmolean is world class.

Lovely pubs and cafes/restaurants near by. What do you like? Goring and Streatley have lovely cafes (Pierreponts), decent restaurants (Leatherne Bottel) etc

i wear something like these five finger vibram things (albeit mine were a grey import)

incredibly comfortable, warmer than normal slippers (at least for me). Can wear them outside. Coupled with a pair of equivalent socks, they’re amazing

i’m using Bolzano blades  -100 for £13. Reviews range between ‘marvellous’ and ‘hell on earth’, but for me they’re very good. It’s very subjective though

And just got a new stainless razor from Shave Lounge. Now out of stock, but my word it’s lovely. Much better than the older one I was using (a Ti Baby Smooth)

And I always shave after a shower (the fabled “Triple S”); never really have any issues.

just run a lawnmower over the top. High cut. It’ll cut it up, and put it in a bag for you.

Everyone’s a winner

edited to add – obviously make sure the lawnmower is running.

Steel Panther?

The Miller is local, and wins loads of awards.

It is excellent – food is superb. Nick (the chef) is a Heston man.

Location is good; on the Thames, decent walks, great cycling (possibly not on that weekend….)

or the Royal Oak – more remote, decent walks, but lovely Taproom just down the road

although there’s quite a few around here, my recommendation would be for the Miller.

I’ve always been of the opinion you can lower to whatever you want, but some people will think it doesn’t apply to them. I doubt it would have that much effect on safety, but may exacerbate the closure of a lot of rural pubs/restaurants.

The current limit allows people to [safely] have one drink when they go out. Any lower and it probably wouldn’t.

Having said all that, I’ve never had a friend or relative die due to a drunk driver.

get a chrome book  – the latest have the ability to run android apps. Also have a flip screen, so you can use them as tablets

https://www.johnlewis.com/asus-chromebook-flip-c101pa-4gb-ram-16gb-emmc-flash-10-1-inch-touch-screen-silver/p3311501

this amazfit has interested me recently

The reviews appear to be either massively positive, or completely negative

press is overwhelmingly right wing

this may be the natural position of the country… there are papers left of centre. Nobody buys them.

Again, it may not fit in with the narrative, but when people are given the choice, you can see what they choose. If they didn’t agree with the Sun, the Mirror is an alternative.

The indy has gone bust (to all intents and purposes), the guardian is in free fall. The morning star is under 10k a day.

On the other side, the Telegraph is struggling badly, the times is down, and the mail and sun are mocked.

 you have to invite someone who is arguing for a load of bollocks

But they still have to show Songs of Praise.

No, the problem is that the media is failing to ask questions of any narratives spouted

i rest my case. Maybe they’re not asking the questions that fit with your narrative, but questions get asked.

Question Time/Any Questions does quite a good job questioning people. And they’re not establishment questions, but public questions. But then when they have some people on it, the BBC get asked why they have them on the programme. Even when they’re opened to ridicule.

The BBC has to be impartial (it’s in their constitution); if they have someone on who is pro-Climate Change, they have to have someone who is Anti. Even if all but flat earthers know it’s rubbish.

Ditto Brexit – have one on saying we’re all going to die, they have to have one saying it’s a land of milk and honey.

Coupled with the fact the youth (and others) don’t watch live TV, and people get their news from SnapChat, twitter, Facebook etc. Generally by following people who they want to follow, so they don’t get an opposing view. The BBC still tries to give it, but because it now seems unusual, people think there is a bias (in both directions)

The issue at the moment is people believe what they want to believe

If the media don’t adhere to that belief, then it’s biased. People are not open to being persuaded nowadays. They are always right, and the possibility they’re not is not entertained.

It means the polarisation at either extreme will get worse, and the people in the middle will not have a voice. Those that read the Canary will castigate anyone who even contemplates glancing at the Daily Mail, and those that read the Telegraph will never understand those who support the SNP.

And the problem is there is no demand for that voice to be filled, as the people in the middle (as I mentioned above) really couldn’t give a toss, and are too busy ‘living’.

It’s basically all bollox.

The fact the Canary has a subpage devoted to BBC bias implies some agree with you

However at the other end of spectrum they’re complaining about bias the other way

That implies that 5% (10%?) at either end of the spectrum are annoyed. The remainder are probably fine with it

postage from wahoo

wanted a new heart rate strap. Strap was £17; bit steep, but acceptable.

item weighs 28g (well within the ‘letter’ weight from the post office, so 67p first class)

they wanted £9.60. Blimey.

I can buy a knock off copy on amazon for a fiver, delivered.

i normally can’t wear a decent wool beanie, as I get hot and my forehead itches, but I picked up one of these finisterre ones half price and it’s amazing. Can wear it all day with no issues

we have a small school (our youngest has just left). I think it’s about 14 kids a year, with mixed year classes. Even if there is a decent ratio of boys to girls, the boys that are there may be completely different in temperament to your son. There’s also the fact that girls are more likely to crack on and do some work, unlike a group of boys together.

As a result (as mentioned above!) the years interact an awful lot more. My son had (still has!) great friends two years above, and the year below.

And yes, find a rugby or football club to burn off energy

your Android apps are useless to you on your Windows PC.

ah! but if you get one of the latest chrome books, everything links in very nicely…

mine was expensive. The full church malarky, lot of people (inc those I’d never seen before, and haven’t seen since), pukka reception, toastmaster, line up, custom made dress worn once etc

We didn’t pay. The in-laws did

My brother got married in the Registrar office. Their kids were there, as were my parents. Nothing else.

I know which one I’m hoping my daughter (and son!) will do

just slightly disappointed there was no smaller phone.

the SE hasn’t been updated. Even the 4.6″ screens are no more. There’s a [massive?] market out there for the smaller phone and there’s only the slightly out of date SE and some Sonys (Sonies?) that are decent enough.

arbequina for tapas if you can get in. Excellent

ditto Oli’s Thai

think the owner’s knew each other? Or were the same?

or for a splash – the boathouse

and a decent bar that never seems too busy  – 1855. Nice tapas, wine and beer

A bike will easily fit inside

They’re fun cars. People will mock, but you can have a lot of fun

you don’t have to be the first to everest to qualify.

The first Everesting ride for each climb will be signified by ‘First’ on the hall of fame (or First* if you Everested at the same time as more than one other rider). Copied a ride that someone else has done? It absolutely still counts in the hall of fame

still nice to do though

 not ‘proper’ ophthalmic surgeon’s?

a lot of them – that I’ve looked at – are not as qualified as those I’m more likely to go to.

It’s human nature; you get more qualified, you charge more money, because you’re ‘better’ at what you do.

now given the unlimited budget (it’s not my money…I can dream), I would definitely go for one of these from Number 22 cycles; Drifter

Lovely lovely bikes, infinitely customisable, and made by the same people that used to make Serotta bikes

I realise they (the big players) can’t be that bad, but i would personally prefer to put my trust (and eyesight) into a proper ophthalmic surgeon rather than anything else

However, if there’s no alternative – and it’s looking less likely! – I’ll go and give the others a bell

now, obviously everyone is different

but it’s the kids. They stop you doing what you want. They stop you having one-to-one time with your other half. You’re tired. But I bet you wouldn’t change them for anything; it’s just being a parent. And learn to count to ten.

Your kids need a lot of attention still. It does get easier as they get older (well, not easier, but the problems become more manageable., Or you get used to them!)

my kids are older. Even now, i can guarantee as soon as I try to speak to my wife, one of them will interrupt and ask the most banal question. I now spend my time driving round to football/rugby/friends. Night time cycles have become de rigeur. There is a reason blokes potter in the garden by themselves.

It is a cliche, but make time for each other. Go out independently once a week. Go out together once a week. It costs more in babysitting, but it’s still cheaper than a divorce

one of the my neighbours cycled it from Reading to Bath with her 8 year old daughter over two days…

Easy – apparently. It’s flat, gravelled (mostly), nice pubs etc etc.

if memory serves the Decathlon had arms filled with something other than down.

and obviously you’re not paying for branding etc.

it’s a old one, but this letter from 1943 has the best Nom Det.

a nice riesling, something to cut through the cloying ability of the eggs

this aldi one is amazing value at the moment

Toad in Oxford, the Rye Vodka

that is one you can try at the Keep. My local favourite is Twisting Spirits Lemongrass gin

If you’re anywhere near South Oxfordshire, go to the Keep in Wallingford. Over 80 types of gin, and very reasonably priced.

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/36e8e2_3057b0823bc840d8a05bfc2521789339.pdf

You’ll learn enough in there…

i use a mini as a radio in the kitchen. When up to your elbows in chicken, or washing up it’s dead easy to say ‘hey google play radio 4’ or ‘play my spotify play list x’ etc.

Sound is good enough for that sort of thing.

Don’t really use it for calendar/weather/home automation etc. But it only cost me £25, so was cheaper buying another bluetooth speaker. And easier to use.

I would probably get a screen one like the Spot when google bring their version over the pond, to use an alarm clock

Does it need to be an escape route? If you have fire doors, and sprinklers (which I realise can add cost), the need for escape is negated.

re frosted glass being replaced – you can put caveats into the planning approval that will stop you doing this

Having said all that – having no window would make the room a little odd. But you can get long thin windows above head height (doesn’t help with the escape thing)

Could you not buy the product directly from probiketools website?

unfortunately not.

If you have any questions regarding orders and shipping please contact Amazon directly, as our products are provided through the “Fulfillment by Amazon” service.

but i like to buy from a small british company over a multinational like Lezyne, so i wanted to give them a go