Honestly…. social/political views.

As an Essex boy straight into work in the City my exposure to a wider social/economic, even geographical circle was/is extremely limited.

You guys have widen it …. yes I know to a still very limited spectrum, but its wider none the less.

I guess 20odd years later my views may have changed anyway as I matured or they might have got more entrenched. But many many STW posts on wide ranging subjects have opened my eyes to far more diverse view points.

I thank you

Oh and mountian bikes …. I don’t do use them anymore….. far too much hassle…. Run and turbo boys. Run and turbo.

I’ve been wearing a helmet since 1999 after “coming around” in the back of what turnout to be a Heuy being flown down the hill with the “air paramedic” looking over me in a mirrored visor !! One of my first clear thoughts was this is sooo cool if I turn out alright….. Sorry I digress ….  Snotrag’s logic is the best I’ve ever heard.

Because there is blooming loads of it ….. or should be!? ! fingers crossed…. the “base” builds up over the the winter.

Bit like north n south poles but because of altitude rather than latitude

Don’t be tempted by “one last run”. 

Excellent advice …. and also never EVER call … “Last run !”

There’s no need for a helmet at all. 

Terrible advice…. If you wear one riding a bike in the woods, wear one on the hill.

23rd of march you say…. It’ll be sunny and warm

A great time to go on a first trip, you don’t actually want it to snow when learning, its cold, damp and flat light makes it much harder.

So that being the case, bet you only use all your gear on the first day realise you’re double hot and then ditch it for the rest of your trip ….. hopefully :)

You’re skier so sunglasses will be fine don’t forget good sun screen, keep a little lip balm type one on your person.

Whether you do your boots up top to bottom or bottom to top, put them on before your coat or you’ll be a hot mess before you’ve even stepped out the door.

Have fun.

So who’s the new Jet ?

Sabre or Diamond ?

Sabre for me….. not least because back in the days of the one and only Jet, I was playing American football for the Southend Sabres (Double national youth champions, no less !!)

Is pedantry a sport?

Nah, I bet you are wearing crocs at this very moment…. :)

Defo NOT a sport …. you can participate in everyday shoes.

So just like snooker and archery, darts is a past time.

A sport needs specialized shoe wear !! :)

Genuine question …. why do you need to prove it ?

I’d imagine you guys have more than enough on your plate without spending time worrying about the likes of this?

He’s only cheating himself, right ??

NO SPINNING !!

B

The money you’ve feed into public ones is petty change in comparison to how much each game will cost from buying one for home.

Also applicable to pool tables and table tennis.

Hopefully we might use our pool table over the xmas period ??

Yeah my kids do PSHE once a week….. year 8 and 11 (2nd year and 5th year)

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education.

It’s not a GCSE option but they will continue it in 6th form (or they’ll bunk off, like we all did) 

Theotherjony… that blooming beautiful man…. love it

I couldn’t see my lad get his head flushed down the bog in senior school for still believing in FC !!  So on summer hols just before going into his new school I told him.

I set it up so that we were messing about on the paddle board (a pretend James Bond fight with us flying into the water after pretend punches) then I called a timeout and told him I needed to tell him something. His little face dropped for a second and then he styled it out… “Yeah yeah I knew that”…. But then he went on to say…. “So ALL those presents I got last year you bought!?!” …. “Yep I had a good year lad. But not sure that will happen again”.

I went on to tell him he has to keep the secret for the young ones and why I HAD to tell him. He appreciated that and we carried on our play fight.

Please note any of you thinking about doing this….. For the love of god make sure you’ve discussed it with your partner…. we had and I still copped it afterwards.

I asked on here 6 months ago for camera advice, to take pics of my lad’s various sporting endeavors*
I ended up with a Panasonic FZ80/82 bridge camera, (220 quid from CEX)
I blooming love it, both taking pics and the camera (although I feel as if I’m ready to move on from the camera)
Like yourself I wasn’t sure whether it was something I’d properly get into, so didn’t want to spend too much. I liked the thought of a bridge camera as it meant not having to mess about with lenses, carrying them, attachment them and keeping them safe etc. In that regard a bridge camera has served it purpose for me and with a FZ80 it has a very wide range of focal length, 28-1500 or something, that will allow you to have a go at any style of photography you want with same bit of kit. Sports for me and wildlife for you are pretty similar, so that’s maybe why this camera might work for you.
The downside is the image quality isn’t as good as expensive glass. But this camera is defo better than using a phone, imho. It’s been like a “gateway drug” and has helped me learn loads while being faff friendly.
I’m looking into upgrading now, as I can see it’s maybe holding me back a little, but I’ll sell it back to CEX for 120…. (best 80 Ive spent in a long time)
Good luck, have fun.
* My post at the time was semi hi-jacked about not taking pics of kids. I’m happy to report that I have of course been super safe/respectable and have been met with nothing but acceptance, joy and thankfulness for the images I’ve captured of my son’s team mates.

Your title is “changing your thoughts” and guessing that an “academic leaning” is something you’ve always done, so maybe it time to change that thinking too??

But I don’t think there is a definitive way (like there isn’t a definitive way of living) Just as long as you are on the road and enjoying the journey. Please don’t rule out any method, be open minded (or maybe more importantly open hearted !!) and go with what actually FEELS good.

Having said that, I have got lots out of Stoic philosophy, which is very “level headed”

Good luck, have fun.

Edit (after OP posted more) …… Please watch Stutz on Netflix.

Mini Convertible here, (was the wife’s but since upgrading the “main” car she now driver that more) so I get to throw the mini about.

Kid’s friends love it, the kids less so. God forbid I ever rock up to school with the roof down.

Dog loves it and so do I when off to the lads cricket, just throw the bag into the back seats… Actually the lad does like it when he gets to jump in over the door a la Duke’s of Hazard  (not that he knows what that is)

And its fun to pick a pal up with the roof down, we get to pretend we are Thelma and Louise…. “Lets not get caught… Lets keep going!!”

Hey

How do you find the STW rides/races on Zwift pls

Ta

Don’t forget Wahoo/SystmX

Use the free trail ( I presume there is one) and try the “On location” rides. Lots of nice south of france, spain etc scenery with some training prompts and a little bit of commentary about the location/route (they are a bit cheesy but add a bit of “company”…. I found Fulgaz a bit lonely ??)

There are also lots of cycling documentaries on SystmX to watch as you do slower paced stuff.

Good luck

Have fun

£2.30

(think about it :) )

I’ve got the bug, a little bit, maybe there is somethin in this gamification.

Rather than just riding around, I thought it’s best to be riding for “something” and looking into into level upgrades, XP and Drops etc, I came across “best” beginners wheels.

So Saturday afternoon I rode to a climb portal and rode up Col de al Madone (riding climbs will accelerate the rate of drops accumulated and these climb portals have sectors that throw out extra XP)… 90 mins later I had enough drops to get some new wheels ?? A new frame is my next aim, reckon I’ll have to do 4 more decent climbs.

Here’s the weird bit.

In the real world I don’t buy upgrades. I’ve got a retro late 80s steel Colnago, that is the nuts, and in the last ten years the only thing I bought are tyres.

Now what the new wheels or a new frame will do in the game who knows, probably not much, but its got my attention for the time being.

Thanks to nObOdy (on a different thread he gave loads of getting started advice) I did my first race yday.

I was out the back from the start (maybe I will try that pre start sprinting technique above, next time) but wasn’t dead last and come the final few Kms there were half a dozen around me to try and beat to the line. Good fun.

I guess the point being is …. Does it really matter where you finish ? As long as it is fun it should bring you back for more and then you will get that all important consistency.

Got a couple of question if I may … the thumbs up I keep seeing and people asking for a ride ons, what that pls

And virtual bike upgrades !! Please can someone explain that …. ta

Hey nObOdy

Thanks for your efforts, I couldn’t find my power profile but entered into a C cat last night.

Pretty sure a came in way back but still had fun racing the people around me in the last kms.

I have now found out I’m a D, so will give it another go tonight.

Good fun

(I’ll look into main Zwift thread now, ta)

Free year of Zwift !!

As a Wahoo/SystmX subscriber was given it because of some US litigation between the pair …. I think.

Still getting into it, watching the back side of a little graphic man is not really doing much for me…. Should I be trying a race? How do I do that??

“just not all up side”

No its not, that’s the point.

If Scotland lose to Georgia in the plate …. George take their place in the 6 nations.

Just an idea, probably stupid… but good fun :)

I like that BVP7, but raise you ….

Do or do not, there is no try

“”I’d really like to see something happen with the tier 2 and 3 sides so they can play some more rugby””

They should have shields and plates finals like they have at youth/touch rugby tournaments.

With real consequences for ranking/funding ??

Pirouette to Flick Flack to Triple salchow to BS Rodeo alley-oop no-look double pump with pike !!

6.0, 6.0, 6.0, 6.0, 6.0, 6.0

Gratitude !!

Practice Gratitude …..  it’s blooming ace and super easy.

Before you drift off tonight have a little think about ….

I’m grateful for three things I hear, see, touch, taste, smell…

I’m grateful for these three family members or friends….

I’m grateful for these three things in my home.

I’m grateful for these three things I’ve done.

Then tomorrow morning the real kicker….

Before you get up, be grateful for things you will do later today*. Be grateful for the people you will see later today. Be grateful for things you might have later today.

*This one is a game changer….  As well as being grateful for the good things, be grateful for that boring chore you know you have to do. When it comes to it, you’ll get it done sooooo easy.

Good luck, have fun.

Does it have dials ? So much better than buttons !!

But ultimately the only thing I need to know is, which one does the boss think is best ?

Walking/bus loop/tour thingy bob … (its circular so can be started anywhere around it….  tube stations on/close to the route include; Charing X, Embankment, Bank, Tower Hill, London Bridge and Westminster)

Number 11 bus from Traf Sq east, (goes down The Strand, past StPs) get off at BoE, walk through the City to Leadenhall Market then onto ToL (you’ll see “famous” high rises… Gerkin, Walkie Talkie, Cheese Grater, Lloyds Building etc), Im not sure ToL is worth going into so over Tower Bridge then head west along south bank past City Hall. Loop round/through Borough market then carry on past The Globe theatre to Tate Modern (at least stick your head in here to see the Turbine Hall).  Keep walking west onto the South Bank “proper” past the NT and finally reaching the London Eye (which is alright) over Westminster Bridge to HoP… Throw a right down White Hall past Downing St and then walk through Horse Guard Parade to get into Hyde Park, walk up through the park to Buck House and then down The Mall back to Traf Sq.

Have fun

I have used Specsart recently.

Simple to use, quick and reasonable price.

I’d use again

Return of the Bed-dye !!

You know you don’t have to spend the 2K scrappage on a car right?

It’s yours to spend how you like ….. New bike !!

Art innit …

You can have any subject matter you like.

It’s society that decides whether it’s popular and a hit or not.

Stansted Mountfitchet ?? Essex ??  thats’ Herts if not Cambs innit??

Nah propa Essex mate …. Sunny Bwood …. Where the girls a orange, the cars white and the Chickens look like they’re just back from Marbs

lol

There is a Disco Chicken that struts proudly about near my local train station, commuter belt Essex.

He’ll walk straight out into the road taking his time, he is just about the only thing to stop and slow all the 4x4s.

Good on him

Luckily he roosts far enough way we don’t hear him, but a pal does and curses him.

So….

Have you ever seen a baby Pigeon?

No you haven’t,  have you !!

What more do you people need to see the truth !?!

I see napping as part of healthy living, just like I try to participate in daily exercise, I try to nap daily too.

Guess I’ve been “actively” napping for a good 15 years or more, but have always enjoyed it since my 20’s

Cup of coffee before hand, out like a light for 20/30mins, wake up feeling like I’m winning at life (especially when I nap on a lunch break)

It’s when I then nap again on the train home I know its been a good day.

I wonder how much the Saudi league paid for Henderson to be included ?

The other end of Woolacombe …..

Nearer to Croyde, no more than 10mins in the car or a lovely walk around Baggy point … Putsborough

Top top tip ….. Go to Milks Up (on the road to Georgeham, on the left)….  for self service milk and milks shakes straight out of the end of the farm’s dairy shed…. fantastic.

Sorry to hear that Cougar.

My Mum died around this time of year, two years ago, and I was just thinking about her this morning.

I was listening to an Adam Buxton podcast of his interview with Richard E Grant, it’s very entertaining but with a section on death of loved ones/grief, as they discuss Grant’s wife’s death last year and Buxton’s parents deaths.

I got a bit upset but found it “enjoyable”

Maybe yourself, or others, might get something out of it… (about 50mins or so into the podcast)