Velovision

Had a trip into town today to get Velovision magazine. It has a review of the Shimano Nexus hub that I was considering getting for my bike upgrade, I think I may go for a (silent) Sturmey instead.

Anyway, the shop I got the mag from was in Notting Hill and on the bus there I again thought what a shame it was that unlike France with the little maps on their buses that correspond to bus stop names, you can't tell in London where you are from the bus stops. Well I was wrong! Looking at my print out from TfL of the end map (door to door), instead of bus stop names it showed two-letter symbols. The one I had to get off at was called PP, and the one before it PQ. Well, these are the little red round badges at the top of every single bus stop in central London! So, I just read the badges, and was able to tell when to ring the bell and get off. No stress, well done TfL!

Now, I didn't know, but the bus let me off somewhere I'd not been before.

Portobello Market, which I think must have had a fair proportion of tourists. There was more too it than I was interested in seeing, I saw fruit and veg, French and English bakeries and an Aussie style smoothie/milkshake vendor. I didn't buy anything. I just walked though, following the road by road walking directions from TfL. It took me past 2 reggae shops (surrounded by David Cameron type houses), and then, presently, the bike shop.

I was surprised to find hanging in the window, two of my favourite bikes, a Like-a-bike and a Bridgestone Moulton! Well, that was enough excitement for one day. I took the bus back and it went past the fantastic Vauxhall bus station. I love the way it towers over everything else.

Bike upgrade

I had a puncture today. This being on a brand new tyre (Schwalbe City Jet). This being just after fixing my last puncture on the same new tyre. This being the straw the broke this camel's back.

Something has to change, my puncture rate has been so high since riding a Moulton that I must have been doing something wrong. So I've ordered some Big Apple tyres. Perhaps I should have considered Marathon Plus tyres, but I'm not sure about their rolling resistance, so those will be the last resort. Th big Apples are 50mm wide, so wide, I'm not sure mudguards will fit, I'll have to see.

Manchester and Leicester

Last week I had a trip up to Manchester for meetings up there. I love going by Pendolino, although the early start means a bit of shut-eye is usually taken. I managed to get a picture during a tilt though a station, can you tell?

That evening instead of going home, I went to Leicester to see old Uni friends, James and Wayne. Nick travelled up from London. A bit of a cock-up on my journey across the Pennines.

It wasn't exactly clear at Manchester's departure boards, since they don't show trains, they show destinations, so I took the first train to my destination. This turned out to be a slow, cramped Northern Trains train. I should have asked really, before I got on the train "Shouldn't this be a Trans-Pennine Express?", but it didn't occur to me that the two trains could leave within minutes of each other. Anyway I got to Sheffield about 15 minutes after my connection had left, so I took the next train (Virgin), which only went to Derby, and the train from Derby (MML) was cancelled. I was an hour late in the end.

Anyway had a great time, some curry, some drinking, some clubs and a nice walk around the old town. I finally visited the city museum on New Walk, which I had walked past countless times on my way into town, when I was studying in Leicester.



I was expecting, yes, the dinosaurs, but not much else. Instead, it's rather good with exhibitions on the Egyptians, and endangered species and other stuff, some of it tied in with recent BBC documentary series. Good stuff for kids, although I didn't stay too long as I had to go into town to meet up with the others.

Bust tyre

Ack, spoke too soon.

My rear wheel is bust, the tyre (Schwalbe City Jet) has a bulge and is rubbing against the brakes. So, I'll have to see if I can get a new one today.

Paint for PVC Double glazing?

OH! Well, that's good to know. When I finally get around to changing the front of my house I'll be able to paint the windows a dark colour and so match the stone colour I'll paint the walls and not look naff. Lots of ideas from Sarah Beenie tonight, fixing up a victorian terrace that looks rather like my road. Neat.

Garden first though, no, Bathroom first!

Cooking tonight

See here, mostly done on my own, but using Russell's ingredients. I'm sure frying the boiled eggs is a mistake, it makes the skin go hard. Ho hum', I'm no cook!

On e va!

Hey

Something's wrong with my CD-ROM drive so I've not been able to rip this yet, but I've been listening to Creole music all day. Like this, which is just great, I love it. I played this stuff at my mum's wedding too, I don't think anyone objected, it's just so smooth and relaxing. Cool.

Hopefully all my message this time will get saved, half of the last blog got lost...

Anyway, here's a pic of my fixed bike. It cost £275 to get repaired and the service was slow, still I'm back on the road at least.

I read on Thinksecret that the new MacBook will have 1280x720 resolution, this would mean it is wider but shorter than the iBook. I hope not, I went to a Sony store yesterday and their 13.3 inch laptops look pretty good at 1280x800, hopefully Steve agrees.

Third time lucky?

My Third Blog, third time lucky huh?

Got up at 11 today, which is good, finally some sleep! Did some shopping and cooked dinner for both of us tonight, a bit more tasty than last night's disaster:

Tonight's menu:

Chicken with Bajan seasoning,
Pilau rice (thank you Knorr)
Oxo granule gravy
and a side order of Tesco finest coleslaw.

Of course the gravy turned out a bit lumpy, but it all tasted nice.