OK – fact fans…

BB ran to 62 episodes.

Element no. 62, Samarium, has a radio-isotope (Samarium-153) which is the beta-emitter in the drug Samarium (153Sm) lexidronam. Used to treat lung cancer when administered intraveneously.

Just finished it. Satisfying finale to a brilliant show.

As far as I’m concerned, that’s the end of television.

I’m the same. Rarely get injured on trail/hill runs but always damaging something if I run on roads. Probably the repetitive nature of the movement.

Running downhill requires fairly strong ankles but it’s more important to look where you are putting your feet. The first few times you try it, your thighs will turn to jelly so it’s worth practising to get past the DOMS phase.

What is the race? I could be interested…

Fairly chuffed with this effort from a Nexus 4:

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Ventoux[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

Is Dave MacLeod a Highlander?

There can be only one.

Highly recommend “Longhope” DVD. Beautifully filmed with a proper respect shown to the history of the route.

Currently on second Leon. Love ’em!

First was TDI Cupra. Great motor but had got to the “tipping point” in terms of financial sustainability.

Traded in for FR which is great to drive. Bit quicker, equal fuel economy, more comfortable BUT the rear seats don’t fold forward as they did in the Cupra (with the seat backs still in place, if that makes sense) which means folding the seat backs forward instead = not as practical for carrying bikes. Will fit a tow bar which will be good for a trailer as well and get a bike rack to go on that.

Have you considered Sony?

*runs and hides*

The route he climbs one-handed in that video ^ – “Downhill Racer”? Froggat?

E4?

I actually wore out my VHS copy of Stone Monkey – truly inspirational stuff.

Got one of these for recent trip to France:

Vango Sandon 500

Looks pretty similar to the Icarus – sleeps 5 rather than 4 but less porch room.

Experience with it was very positive. Super roomy (although there was just the two of us in it) and VERY easy to pitch/strike.

£125 with a Tiso card. No brainer.

Saul Goodman – totally OTT but tremendous character.

Yup. Sore and weak for about 6-8 weeks.

Make sure you get proper after-care to confirm it has healed properly otherwise you might end up with a non-union fracture like I have. Having said that, mine hasn’t stopped me doing anything in the last 15 years, though it does ache a bit at times.

Brilliant telly. Filled the Wire-shaped void in my life just perfectly.

Dark, tragic, hilarious, poignant, utterly implausible but somehow all totally logical. Genius stuff (if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief at times and just roll with it)

Waiting for the second half of Season 5…

About to start a new job in a couple of weeks time after 17 years in the same post.

Not a radical change as it’s in the same sector (teaching) but a step up to a head-of-department post in a (brand) new school (which, paradoxically, claims to be Scotland’s oldest…)

I’ve had acting department head posts in the past but this is permanent. It’s a very exciting prospect, but also a bit terrifying; however I’d become complacent and it was now or never. It’s good to move out of the comfort zone from time to time.

As a state-sector teacher who lives in Fife, I’m not feeling the love here… :wink:

Probably on about my 8th re-reading now. Still amazes me.

HALF an hour? Pah! No challenge to that.

I was just pleased that I took a little over twice as much time as Chris Froome to get up the bloody thing (I wasn’t really trying though…)

Way to put a downer on a guy’s day out, dude. :wink:

Just replaced an 04 Leon TDI Cupra with a 10 Leon TDI FR.

Previous car was brilliant and the new one is even nicer. Faster, quieter (though I miss the turbo whistle of the old PD engined Cupra). 50+ mpg pretty straightforward too.

Downsides – rear seats don’t fold fully flat so I don’t think it’ll be as roomy for luggage. The old one’s rear seat would fold forward with the seat backs in place and I could easily get two bikes in the space. Can’t do that with the new one… Solution will be a towbar mounted rack which is an extra expense.

Made it…

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Untitled[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

Logistically, pretty straghtforward. Find a campsite nearby (there are hunners) a couple of days beforehand. Ride up the mountain on the day of the race. Not too early or you’ll be sitting around for hours; not too late or it’s too busy and the gendarmes start to close the road. I got to within 800m of the finish at a great spot where Chris Froome had just accelerated away from Nairo Quintana. Absolutely thrilling spectacle and a highly recommended day out.

Rode from Vaison la Romain via Bedoin (i.e. on the race route) because other route up the mountain from Malaucene was closed a few kms from the summit. VERY busy, long, hot, steep in places but a brilliant atmosphere all the way up. Getting back off the hill is a bit of a rammy though…

DO IT if you get the chance!

Great story Mc. That’s inspired me.

As a measure of how chronically disorganised I am, I’ve not even booked a ferry to Calais yet, or spoken to the neighbours about looking after puss while we’re away.

Vickypea – you staying nearby or driving in early?

Or to camp on the slopes? How many days beforehand might one need to get there?

Mc – I can do you a lovely Seat Leon for less than 5k…

Some recent ones:

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glencoe-40[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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glencoe-32[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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glencoe-34[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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glencoe-10[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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glencoe-20[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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glencoe-29[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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clashgour-6[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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89/365[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

We have a Leon FR 2.0 TDI at work which has just had to have a new cylinder head on it.

Oh? Tell me more…

From this:

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Clean slate[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

via this:

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DSC08071e[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

and this:

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DSC08079e[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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DSC08081e[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

to this:

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98/365[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

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DSC08135[/url] by stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr

Cheers guys.

oxnop – I’ve driven an Mk1 Leon TDI Cupra so I’m looking for something along the same lines. Basically, decent handling on windy roads and stress-free overtaking. Not too fussed about raw speed or “sporty” driving so the car fits the bill perfectly.

FeeFoo – feels nicer to drive than the old shape Leon. As for steering wheel feedback – would need more of a run to get a feel for it.

Basically just looking for any known issues, though I’m very close to pulling the trigger on it.

Just been lazy for the most part, but other things have been getting in the way.

I started a photo-a-day project but it was becoming a chore and I had stopped enjoying taking photos so it was time to bin it.

Also been working hard on getting a new job (successfully, as of last week) and sister has been in hospital for heart surgery (gets out today!).

So, the decks are clear and I’ll be picking up the camera again very soon. Watch this space…

Jad – I’ve seen many of these before, but the combined effect is just WOW!

45mph!

Lordy – that’s quick! :wink:

Cheers guys.

I’m aware of the A-pillar issue – same as the 04 model so I’m used to it.

Also heard of the oil thirst but I’m not sure if that applies to the CR TDI engine. Not a big deal if it does.

Nothing so far, deepreddave…

Lovely car to drive and its predecessor has been a joy to own which is why I want more of the same. However, it is an entirely different motor – CR engine rather than PD, different body, chassis, internals etc.

Sunday bump.

Absolutely tremendous gig. Boy sure knows how to work a crowd!

Got a new job today as well!

No task killer – previous android phone didn’t like these and seemed to become unstable (though this was in the Gingerbread incarnation).

Since switching Outlook to sync manually, I’ve already noticed the %battery usage change. Main battery drain is now the screen at 26%(which is what I’d expect) and Outlook is now second in the list at 23% (down from an alarming 38% with auto-sync and push switched on by default).

I’d expect it down to single figures and eventually to diasppear off the list like all the other apps so that it’s just display and OS processes that figure in the usage list.

It may not sound a la mode, but I LIKE Hotmail/Outlook.

Gmail is fine and I’m very pleased with my Gmail address (the title of a book by Laurent Fignon…), but I find the system a bit underwhelming and only use if for the Play store and the calendar (oh, and authentication for a Google AppInventor account).

Don’t be astounded at such low-level feckwittery, Stoner. :wink:

It’s a legacy thing – I have a number of active email accounts but it just so happens that Hotmail has always been my “main” one. I’m too lazy to shift everything to my Gmail account.

I’ll try the built-in mail app and uninstall Outlook. Amazed that a mail app would use so much resources.

PS – wifi, GPS, bluetooth all off unless I need them.

I wore a pair of Speedcross in the Highlander MM back in April. they were well worn-in and had the benefit of being very comfy but they didn’t inspire confidence going down. Grip was poor on wet, grassy slopes and they were hard work on traverses (heel is just too high).

I’ve always run in Walshes in the past which are the opposite extreme – low and stable with great grip BUT very uncomfortable on my feet.

I’ve just started running in a pair of Mudclaw 265s and so far they seem to be the perfect compromise – stable, great grip and supremely comfortable for my feet. I know this doesn’t help the OP since Inov-8 are off the table, but I wasn’t impressed with the Speedcross as a FELL shoe (fine for trail running though).

Best not to intervene in kitty turf wars…

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