I bought an eBay trailer for around £70 including postage. A friend did the same but mine had a solid aluminium floor and a QR attachment point and his simply clamped onto the frame and had a canvas/material type floor, so beware what you go for.
I found it heavier and not as compact when folded than the Go Bug/Burley options, but I couldn’t justify the £300+ price tag. I used it for both odour girls until they were both able to use tag-a-longs and then sold it for £40,

All experts in their fields, but only 2 of them wear a helmet when cycling…

Griffin Survivor

Sent from my iPad2!

I’m in!
5′ 10 and 14st 13lbs
Or 178cm and 94.8kg
I’ve just got the Myfitnesspal App and I’m shocked at how many calories I was previously ingesting… The only reason I’m not heavier is that I exercise lots…
Smaller portions for me and less booze will be the way forward and 12st 7lbs (79.4kg) is the goal.
It’s always been my aim to be te fittest I’ve ever been at 40. 56 weeks to go…

I’ve got a Highlander Thermalight (Comfort)
It’s comfy and warm, but not that light. I don’t mind the compromise.

I’ve got an iPhone4, and whilst I can’t compare it to any other recent phone, it is awesome and does all I want and more, Tom Tom sat nav, iTunes, Memory Map OS maps, camera, Text messages are amongst my most used functions.
As far as the camera is concerned, we’ve had a couple of canvases (18″x28″) done from iPhone 4 piccies and they’re great. If the Galaxy or Desire are better then they must be amazing!

I feel inspired! I need to drop 25-30lbs, so I’ve just downloaded Myfitnesspal. I do a fair bit of exercise, but eat and drink whatever I like. large portion sizes and too much wine are my downfall, so with a bit of will power this shouldn’t be too hard? At the moment I’ve no idea how many calories I consume so I think I might be in for a bit of a shock having just tapped in my breakfast calories!
I’ll let you know how I get on.

Afan lodge is great and the breakfast is awesome!

Our hot air ballooning business employs lots of police and firefighters too as ground crew… Most of them like the outdoor work and because we work at dawn or dusk, it generally fits in with their shift patterns.
I think they like working where people (our customers) are pleased to see them and are only intending to enjoy themselves – not hurl abuse or spit at them!

We got a C240 Merc for free as the in-laws were offered almost nothing for it in part exchange – it’s a ’97.
We do less 3000 – 4000 miles a year so runnning costs are minimal (apart from 12 “twinspark” sparkplugs at £7 each!) and like was said above the big engines and auto gear boxes should go on forever. I love flooring the V6 and it still is quite smart.
If you can get something with a FSH, I say go for it.

Name and shame them…

I don’t get the Ali thing either…
*puts kettle on and hands out can openers for the worms I bought in the Sales*
He was World champion on more than one occasion and regained his title years after he first got it. The thriller in Manilla and the Rumble in the Jungle we’re awesome bouts, but surely Redgrave for having been at the top of his sport for so long is an amazing feat even if it is a ‘minority sport’.
Had Redgrave been black and from Harlem and he’d changed his religion to Jedi halfway through his career, would it of made his achievements any greater?
I’m all for minority sports too, (having played water polo in a former life), but to rise to the top is obviously easier because you are competing against less adversaries…
A vote for Stephen Hendry?
Federer, Fangio, Messi, Ingrid Christianson, Tiger, Tendulkar, all great and gifted. My vote for the TT riders was purely because I have no idea how they have the balls to do what they do. Pure bravery.

I’ve got an Evolution compound slide mitre saw and its done loads of work for me including oak sleepers. Just make sure it’s square and set up before you start using the various angle features or your 45 degree frame joints will need filler!

Having dry socks/boots/feet is more important than the muddy trousers!
I hate wet feet…

IOM TT riders, but Joey Dunlop and John McGuiness stand out…

+1 for Osprey…

Scott, there’s also a decent lot of road riders if that’s your persuasion… The dark side ride throughout the week, either call the shop or go on Facebook.
We have riders from elite to pub/social so no matter how fast or slow you are there’s something to suit!
Look up Fowlmead County Park too, or Bedgebury Pinetum if you get bored of the local stuff.
Happy trails

Scott, ACTiV run rides throughout the year on a Thursday at 19:00 from Saltwood Village Green. It’s never the same route twice and a good bunch of boys and girls. We also run a “Happy Ride” in the summer months to get more people out or to show novices the ropes/local trails. The Happy Ride is a bit slower and more relaxed, but we all end up at the pub at 21:00.
Most Sundays there’s a ride going on – see the ACTiV Facebook page for details.

The riding is good round our way with the Downs on our doorstep there’s plenty of topography to keep you amused and some decent singletrack to be found. At the moment (like everywhere I guess) its pretty sticky out there so the rides are a bit more orientated towards urban rather than than the bike wrecking mud and clay!

Personal local downhill highlights include the Zoo Run (TR 110 350), the Roughs Run (TR139 344), and mucking about in Sandy Lanes (TR 19031 35198) or Sandling Woods (TR 15180 36433). All the climbs up Tolsford Hill (where the massive radio mast is) are accessible and reasonably challenging…
If you want some simple singletrack with not too much climbing, then head up to West Wood ( TR 13900 43371) and you can either spend a couple of hours in there or head north through Park Wood, Elham Park Wood and up to Covert Wood where there some great trails that have been built and used over many years.
Covert Wood gets used lots and there’s a group who are currently in talks with the Forestry Commission about working together to keep the trails there well managed for all. See Bike Tart Facebook page for some more details.

Alternatively look me up on here, or post on the ACTiV Facebook page as there’s nearly always someone who’s up for a ride!

If you’re a bit faster and want to ride for a bit longer Kent Trails run rides more out of the Canterbury area (Blean Woods etc), but if you can’t keep up, they tend to just drop you and they aren’t as social as the ACTiV lot!
Merry Christmas!

Surrey, just had lightning, does that count?

Stockings as soon as the OAPs get up but all the other gifts will be done as a family after the Queens speech…

Good to see Ellie Simmonds made the short list.

If you’re going away for a while and you don’t use trail centers and their associated facilities, then you might want to buy something a bit bigger with a shower and toilet…

I’m pretty sure there’s no Spearmint Rhino near there….

The bigger the output for the money the better and get decent discs…

TCP or TUC?

McDonalds and most popular fast food outlets like KFC, Burger King, etc.
I read Fast Food Nation 8 years ago. I’ve reluctantly wavered on 3 occasions since but I felt dirt straight afterwards!
I try to avoid Tesco’s for the reasons stated above.
I also boycott people who don’t smile much – the sort who would comlain that their arse was on fire rather than put it out… I can’t be doing with people who whinge.
Whinge over…

Having done the London Rat Race for the last few years, it’s got worse as time has gone on. For the masses it’s OK as in introduction to adventure racing but we decided it was too dumbed down and not as well organised last year, to the extent that we vowed not to give them any more of our money and we’re creating our own adventure race instead!!!
£300 is a lot of cash…

For pure mud, Panaracer Trailrakers are the best we’ve tried, in 1.9″.
Horrible on the road and more drag than the Bontrager Jones Mud X, but better in mud.

Seats up…
The other option is to put one side of the split seats down (leaving the rear wheel on the bikes), and then use seat 6/7 for the fourth person.
They really are awesome cars! We tow 2.2T with ours and play off road a bit. It’s amazing how it goes from being a work horse/toy/family car.

2 bikes (sideways with wheels off) + 2 tag-a-longs + loads of crap is easy peasy in my Discovery II.
In fact it’s easier to get stuff into than a Defender because the rear door is huge.

We’ve had our Magnet kitchen for 6+ years. STill going strong with no complaints.
(The soft close door mechanisms could perhaps do with replacing on the most used doors but I just can’t be bothered!)

If you are unsure still, give us a call – number is on our website…

We (kent ballooning dot com) used TravelZoo and Living Social and I would never use another ‘Deal Website’ again.

TOP TIPS!!!
1: You can haggle with them more than you might think regarding the % they take… Don’t get pushed around and if you don’t like the feel of it, walk away, there are loads of other companies to deal with.
2: Don’t assume the customers will take advantage of any upselling. We were told that we’d get top quality customers that will all buy extras and very few did. Basically plan for the worse case scenario and then if your business model can cope with it choose your deal (and deal company) wisely to take advantage of the database you’re tapping in to.
3: Refunds/haggling over T&C/expecting the Earth/just unpleasant people, are all to be expected when we get a phonecall from a certain deal company customer. They seem to be buying discounts not the products, if that makes sense.
4: Cap the amount you sell… If your offer is fantastic you may be inundated with too much business.
5: Take everything that the rep says with a pinch of salt. If he tells you that 50% will be repeat customers, expect no more than 5%.
6: Ask yourself if you could just do the deal yourself and take the Deal Websites cut and use that yourself for advertising/promotion.

Get in touch if you want a chat about it – my wife has dealt with the companies and customers and would be happy to chat…

Don’t discount the Discovery…
I’ve done 60,000 in my Disco II and I bought it with 75k on the clock. I love it and use it for work and family. At work it tows a 2.2 Ton trailer and it does it better than my previous Defenders.
The new Discoveries have better seats in the boot (seats 6/7) and are better equipped and handle/drive better than my Disco II.
If you’re buying new then they are all awesome cars but for what I need (towing) there’s nothing better with 7 seats…

I remember Saxon were playing the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone about the same time that Iron Maiden were playing Long Beach Arena in California…
You can’t really compare the two, can you?

(Both have similarities to Spinal Tap, but I guess that’s the point of Spinal Tap)

Being sponsored by Spitfire Ale I have to say I like it…

Surely for that money you could buy a shed, a ground anchor and some serious locks?

Dyson – Pants

Henry – Rocks!
Yes you have to change the filters, but te suction is much better than a Dyson (and no were near as loud or high pitched).
Henry picks up everything from kids food to brick pieces.

53 hours across the US (Ridgecrest CA to Ottawa), with my girlfriend…
Red Bull + a big handfull of Skittles. Keeps you wired for two hours…
When you start to shake, the sugar is wearing off, (normally after about 2hours), so wake up the other person and swap.
If you’re on your own only try this twice! Then sleep.