mlteenie

Feck 'em!!!! Of course, the road diversion off EDG will be adding to the fun. I hate driving-to-school parents. Book 'em, Johnson!!!! (er, not Boris, more Bonzos).

Re: scooting (and let's keep this on topic), how's about the main reason for cycling - it is more ecologically sound! Quiet, non-polluting and sustainable. Scooting is faster but the internal combustion engine's days are numbered. For anyone feeling nervous about riding/commuting, I think cyclinginstructor.com provide some free training if you work or live in Southwark (google them)

I promise I will never try and service abike when tripping out of my tiny! I am impressed with Jah not even knowing his name that time. Impressed but strangely not surprised. Yes Mockers, C. The Lapps get the reindeer to eat them then drink the reindeer piss.

I had a few bad trips on the old magic mushies, but the good bits stay with you forever. When I used to live in Herne Hill I spent weeks looking in Brockwell Park with no joy, until one day I stumbled upon a huge patch on the hill at the back of the cafe. Wahey! A few days later I went out to someone's birthday party then came home pissed, swigged down a bunch with a can of beer and went to bed. At three in the morning I awoke bolt upright, put on my running stuff and jogged round the south circular in the rain for about two hours as well as scuttling around Brockwell Park in the dark feeling like the guy in American Werewolf only with more clothes on...Strangely enough, haven't done anything like that for a while. Perhaps the time is soon. The other week I found a shaggy ink cap in someone's garden. I picked it rushed home and cooked it in butter with s & p. I was delightfully mushroomy with a lovely silky texture. Scrummilicious.

One memorable mental driver came so close to me in a back street in Kennington that his bumper was actually in contact with my right heel as we approached the lights. I turned round with the words 'What the f*** is your problem!?'. This was in retrospect a bit silly, though thankfully nothing happened and we parted ways. One must learn to keep one's mouth shut most of the time, although it's not easy. Anticipation is definitely the key to road survival.

So, did the OP take any of our advice?

I never shower after cycling to work. I think a change of clothes is the key. You only smell if you didn't shower before riding - fresh sweat doesn't smell. Also, I would recommend the crystal deodorants which are clean, affordable and non-polluting/more environmentally sound. I used one on a two-week cycle tour in Italy, and they really do work as long as your pits are clean first. As has been said before, it's the control freak aspect and predictabiity of route time (apart from the other benefits) that really win. The key moment for me (back in the early '90s when nightbuses were hell and sarf-bound cabs too expensive) was when, one beautiful summer evening in Green Park, my friend got on his bike and rode off as I contemplated how to get home to Herne Hill. Never looked back. I ride everywhere and as long as you look out for yourself and obey the Highway Code as much as possible (tut tut, geh!) you should be fine. I rarely have punctures or mechanical failures, nor too many scary moments with other road users. Like driving, cycling looks a lot more daunting from the pavement than it does when you are in the traffic. Anyone can do it and the more of us that do, the better off we will all be. BTW, Jim-the-chin, Edwardes do still do 2nd hand, but you need to look every day to catch something nice. They are usually outside by the front door. If you want a cheap new bike, I am quite impressed by Decathlon's offerings (I think the Rockrider is about ?100). Then there's always eBay.....

Try googling it, Brendan. Should find it somewhere.

Interesting how everyone seems to know their astro sign and even their Chinese sign.... I am the finest sign, Aquarius (and I quote: freedom-loving, perverse, original and independent as compared with the so-called 'normal' individual). Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio and Taurus are all 'fixed' signs, meaning firm, resolute nature, but could also mean damn stubborn. I'm a Fire Horse too. Of course I know it's all a load of bolleau...

It is known as The Dutch Estate and the houses are actually made from those orange/red bricks but for some reason took a lot of blackening pollution. They were built around 1966.

As bob says, I reckon you'll find almost all streets in Lndon were cobbled. I noticed a little patch on Herne Hill that was visible about 2 inches down. Would be lovely, although I am from Edinburgh and they are a bitch to ride a bike on and damn slippery in the wet. Sound nice, though.

I pay for things online and on the phone regularly.... don't use the cashlines that often nor Somerfields

I have just been called by RBS who told me the Police had advised them my card had been 'compromised' and were cancelling it for a replacement. Don't know where but it would sggest the fuzz had caught someone with fake cards/card info leading intent on fraud. Thankfully no money taken. Ho hum.

I also must add how great the food, atmos and bar staff were. Shame the other half and I don't get out more often! Big shouts to Richard (Balfe's Bikes), Pierre, Sean, Marmora Man (a rare sighting), Keef, Citizen, Georgia, Annasfield, Admin, Richard, Andrew and everyone else who I didn't quite manage to chat to. The batter on that cod was sublime - I am deffo going back to eat one time. Pickled onions were delicious as well. I even fancied the burgers the staff were about to tuck into as we were all kicked out (even tho' I is veggie!). Roll on another!

I want TO COME TOO. mY LAST WAS tHE vALE. hOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. dISTURBINGLY, i MAY HAVE TO FIX THINGS THE NEXT DAY, BUT WHAT THE HELL! (yES - IT'S HORRIBLE ISN'T IT?)

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There's no lyrics..

I love the Olympics and find it very moving watching athletes demonstrating their amazing sklls, but I have just listened to a depressing documentary on R4 (poss. File On Four, so poss. listen again) which, if I got the gist correct, basically stated that most of the athletes in the endurance events (as well as prob all riders in the Tour De France) are using new types of 'invisible' EPO to enhance their performance and they will not be caught. Definitely positive tests are merely flagged up as 'suspect' because the labs are underfunded; a blind eye is turned mainly due to underfunding and the corruption is huge. The real shame is that 99% of viewers will not realise it.

You're a DJ and you aren't convinced by Kraftwerk!? You wouldn't have most of that list if it weren't for the 'Werk.;-) Electronic night would be good.

Alien Blade Runner The Shining Return of the Pink Panther Belleville Rendezvous Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders from Mars The Pawnbroker On The Waterfront oh, and I am heavily influenced by anything I liked recently, eg. The Kite Runner and No Country For Old Men. I like a good western too.

I totally agree, Margot. WE lived in Aysgarth Rd down t'Village and when we moved up the road to Hillsboro Rd the increase in noise was shocking. I am unable to tune my guitar easily (indoors) by ear due to the constant noise of planes and it is driving me freaking mental too. Not only that but the frequency is appalling as well as the timing. It seems we have about two hours peace in the middle of the night and then it starts all over again. It really is getting to me. So are we all going to join HACAN? I used to be a member, but not for a while. We need fewer planes. No wonder the ice caps are melting.

Mightyroar? Respect.

I've just been in someone's house who has a small infestation of black ones. They look just like the normal light-coloured coloured moth, but are dark brown/black. Anyne had them?

By the time the council have stopped chopping those inconvenient trees down, this area will have more in common with our previous location, Elephant and Castle. P'raps you'd prefer that location, jrussell?

Still sounds great. I haven't forgotten about my Guitar Player magazine donation, John. Just been busy with work or kids. I too intend to use your space socially or personlly. I s'pose you can have demos on circulation in there, can't you?