Regardless of TV persona or anything else, I would! ONLY if though he wore his scout uniform…
I am told that officially makes me a sick puppy.

PS: If anyone’s after a recommendation for a sturdy camera I can highly recommend the panasonic TZ1 after I dropped it on a rock then rode over it today… Ooops. 😉
Still works fine and it now has war wounds.

I know how to do pics inline now, so here’s a couple from the inaugural trip out on his new bouncy Felt. The old steering damper won’t fit this bike but after todays ride he reckons he won’t actually need one. That surprised me a bit. I think he quite likes the new toy, anyway.

Gulab jaman gets my vote too. Mmmmm, delicious. Best served warm with sweet yoghurt or ice cream or that cardomom-y vermicelli dessert that I don’t know the name of.

Ras malai is lovely too. (takisawa – our local Morrisons sells ras malai – it lives near yoghurts etc. I think it’s Mumtaz brand.)

WCA – no, I just meant the OP was grim. My sister has a more finely tuned ‘ickometer’ than I do, so I was just checking I wasn’t being overly sensitive.
Although licking peoples ears IS pretty nasty too. Especially if there’s shit like that lurking in some of them!

I just checked with my sister to make sure, but it’s official – that is completely grim!
Ick.

How exciting! Good luck and keep us updated.

Peterpoddy – I missed this: “I got hitched recently and it’s the best day ever, isn’t it?”
Congratulations yourself! And yes, it really, really is. 🙂

Thanks coffeeking – will get him to look that one up/try one on.
He has been looking at the MET parachute, which has like a very lightweight ‘skeleton’ chin guard but I reckon if he’s going to go full face he might as well go full face. I am not sure how much additional protection that would give.

And I told him pretty much the same as you said, so I am glad I was on track and not just ‘being a girl’ (that’s not meant in an offensive way to fellow girlies, but, well you know what I mean…)

Hi all.

Well, my little bro did his marathon yesterday – his feet are a mess but he says he feels good from the shins upward. 🙂 So thanks to all who have donated so far – he’s earned that money!

Also, the automatic clutch J ordered for his little motor bike has arrived – I’m riding the bike down to get it fitted on Wednesday. I have to say, I am really nervous about him getting back on a motorbike, but it’s up to him and I know he won’t head out on the road until he’s good and ready, but still…

The new Felt isn’t ready yet though, so no riding pics yet. He is getting dead giddy about this one and was gutted it wasn’t ready for the weekend. (so if you can all think speedy thoughts for the bike shop so it’s ready this week, that would be much appreciated)

Also, any recommendations for a full face helmet for him? Will he be too warm in a 661 evolution?
And he’s worried people are going to think it a bit overkill, him wearing a full face helmet – I have told him that’s not going to happen, and even if it does, so what…

Spacehopper, your pics win my vote today – wow. Especially the top one. 🙂
Everyone elses are cool, but I am a sucker for all things cherry blossom…

My vote goes to the Panasonic TZ5. I have the old TZ1 which is fantastic, but hardly compact. Muz has the TZ4 and brother in law AND his dottir have got the TZ5 and they are all quite small (not Ixus small, but the performance more than compensates)
They also have metal bodies which are great if you’re a clumsy fekker like me and Muz.
Great for action shots and also macro shots, if that’s your thing.
The only criticism I have with mine – and bear in mind the 4 and 5 probably don’t have a problem – is shooting in low light. With flash it is fine, but using ambient light it’s not so great. Like I said the 4 and 5 are probably tons better.
That is my only criticism and it’s not a big one.

The OP’s friend could see if anyone on the Macmillan ‘after cancer’ forum has more experience – they are a really helpful bunch on there and very ‘approachable’.

Best of luck to her. 🙂

aviemoron – that’s brilliant! Although he does look like he’s about to pop!

Ti29er – thanks. 🙂 I like taking macro shots and think I do quite well with my old panasonic (not so) compact.

eckinspain – it was. How the HECK did you get that from two leaves and a beeglie? (Either you know my favourite place is Font, or you just took a flyer that these are more common in France then the UK?)

This is one of my favourites because I was on holiday in my favourite place when I took it. And I think it is a fairly decent photo too.:

Bugger. Hope you’re not too damaged/sore today and the bike isn’t too bad either. Lucky one with the witness! I hope they give the driver a good kicking.

J got knocked off his motorbike a few years ago and the same thing happened – off duty PC a couple of cars back. And this guy went for it like a dog with a bone – he was trying to press for all sorts of convictions but in the end the driver was not convicted. Pity. 🙁

No. But you can guarantee the settee you want won’t be in the sale. Ours wasn’t, anyway!!

Drac, I wonder if it might have been a lentil/pea mix-up?

xherbivorex – you didn’t mention lentils in the ingredients – do I just sub in the split peas? Might give this a go next time.

I’ve recently been cooking sag paneer, mutter paneer, curried chick peas – I kind of make it up as I go along though, no recipe as such.

I have finally mastered making naan and peshwari naan – if you fancy trying it, google Madhur Jaffreys recipe for naan bread, it’s spot on, although I cook the naan on pizza stoned preheated to about 250 deg C and it takes 3 to 4 minutes.

Next on my hit list is a good onion bhajee recipe, if anyone has one?

It’s a hell of a lot cheaper and healthier than a take away and can be cooked from scratch in just over an hour. Plus, you don’t have to go pick it up! (no nice curry shops deliver to our house.)

Cropredy Festival in August is good but appears to be getting in on the ‘stealth expense’ these days. A really friendly, nice, smaller festival – if you like folk music.

Also, my sis goes to loads of those fake festivals – tribute bands instead of the real thing, at a fraction of the price. She says the Foo Fighters and Green Day ones are really good.

Okay, I found my flickr account – I hope these are worth it… (if it actually works!)

Looking reasonably smart.

Climbing.
I have no/few pics of me cycling. 🙁

Oh, f’kit.
Now to try remember my flikr login. Back, erm, eventually…

Oh, sod it… (edited due to technical ineptitude)

Ooh, yeah, another vote for proper sized cups and glasses.

Aw, c’mon – why does the in-line pic thing never work for me?
I KNOW it is user error but I can’t work out why…

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=812522&l=d5e563da14&id=527320465
This is me and J on our wedding day being all growed-up and mature, like…
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2501063&l=7f1badeade&id=527320465
And this is me looking slightly less posh and more like a no-neck from Donny…

Lowey, how’s she doing? Hope she’s feeling better and it hasn’t put her off doing the same again. 😉

We have used Green Flag for years and they have covered break downs, non-starters, accidents and they’ve always been great.

Personally, I rarely unpack my bags unless I’m travelling on business or staying for more than, say, 4 days.

My requirements would be:
Comfy bed with comfy pillows.
Somewhere to dry clothes/shoes.
Secure bike storage.
Secure bike storage. (yes, it is THAT important!)
Kettle and tea/coffee making goodies. Like someone else said, if you provide biscuits, make sure they’re nice ones!
Hot water any time of day and a good strong shower.
Towels that are actually big enough to go round you, rather than ones the size of a tea towel.

No need for a TV in rooms if there’s a lounge area.
(I am always quite depressed how few people actually use the communal areas at B&B’s – me and J always go and share a bottle of wine and read/play a game and very rarely does anyone join us. We’re really not THAT scary!!)
And while we’re on the communal area – interesting books! And maybe some games – cards, backgammon, twister (if you’re feeling brave/mischievous!) And also, printed up and laminated local rides – local knowledge is way better than just plucking a route out of a guidebook!

Mate, the brain is a cruel and clever thing. J says he can’t remember most of the time during his treatment – I think I can probably recall every moment of it. If you want to talk – sometimes it helps to unload to someone outside ‘the situation’ – please email me. I would be more than happy to try to help, to give back some time for those who ‘listened’ to me…

I guess it depends on the metal too – buying a nice titanium one seemed to end up really difficult but proved substantially cheaper than a comparable platinum or gold one which I really didn’t want.
So, I guess J is extra lucky ‘cos I am officially cheap! 😉

Wow, crispy, that sounds like it has been a fairly rough time for you. (I think I can possibly relate to it a bit, by the sound of it)
How are you doing now? I mean, apart from the big hole in your arm/shoulder, if you get my drift… Hope your head’s okay.
As for the meds, I know from second hand experience (no pun intended there) that some of them are pretty potent, so I reckon you could probably get away with pretty much anything! 😉

And thanks folks for the donations – it is all very much appreciated!

vdubber – just worked out how you found the link but for anyone else who might want to help, and in the spirit of being really cheeky, here’s a link to his sponsorship page. My brother is running his first marathon on May 17th for Bone Cancer Research Trust: http://www.justgiving.com/chrisnewmanswindermerebonebreaker

Thanks.

Hi all.

verbal-kint – at the moment a prosthetic isn’t really feasible due to the height of J’s amputation, but we are pushing and pushing the hospital to try to provide a stable ‘shoulder’ so we can hopefully get the university on the case. There are certainly some amazing riding arms about though, if you can get the bit that attaches to the body sorted…

lister – what’s up with your arm? Are you definitely banned from riding or is it too painful? 🙁

crispy bacon – same question? What’ve you done? Sounds pretty big and painful…

Northwind – nabd website is really interesting isn’t it? J has just ordered an automatic clutch for his motorbike, so hopefully he’ll be back on that quite soon too. Having seen some of the one armed bikers on YouTube there’s no reason why he shouldn’t! (Nice terminology about bikers mislaying limbs. LOL. It is quite true though.)

vdubber – thanks for donating, most kind. How did you find the link? Chris is doing really well with his training considering he’s not been much of a runner until about 6 months ago!! I’m so proud of him!

Hi folks.

Next update.
It’s not that exciting but he’s buying a full susser – a Felt Virtue 3 -(subject to it fitting him) on Friday. I think I *may* have just about convinced him he ought to buy a full face helmet too.
He is planning a trip round Strines Moor for the inaugural ride. 🙂

Oh yeah, and we got married on Friday!

T

ir_bandito – Thanks for that. We looked at the Rohloff early on, following my original thread. The main problem with that is the price. If he had a fancier bike it might be a consideration but the bike only cost us about £350.
Hope your hand is feeling a bit less sore this morning.

eckinspain – the steering damper really is just what it says. If you google hopey steering damper you will get a far better description there than I can give you (remember I said I was completely mechanically inept!!)
He has actually broken it and it’s held on with cable ties at the mo, so in fact he IS riding with no damping at all…

colande – I agree, it looks completely hectic to me too. I think the gripshift sounds like a fine idea but he’s happy so I leave him to it. The brake levers stacked like that work really well – a lucky fluke, I reckon. 🙂

He went out again yesterday morning (he still isn’t back to work full time yet) and did almost twice the mileage he had done so far, so he was slightly smug when he rang me from the top of a hill (downhill all the way home!), in the sunshine. Grrrr. 😉

He is now looking at a semi-auto clutch for one of his motorbikes. I think his recent riding success has given him the confidence that this might work too – I think until just recently he still thought the motorbikes would definitely have to go. I am a little apprehensive about this but again, it isn’t up to me.

Colande, here’s a pic of the right bar set up.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2268201&l=cff44a3e08&id=527320465

Looks a bit crowded but I have mentioned various of your suggestions and he reckons he’s quite happy with it like this, so there you go…