mlteenie

Are they as welcoming as Addiscombe?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5d/LetItBleed.jpg/200px-LetItBleed.jpg I always loved looking at this as a kid. Nanette Newman made the cake, I believe.

I like the idea of an easily identifiable ED rider's badge/sticker/ribbon(!?). Has to be good from the rear (fnarr fnarr).

Mattham, I don't bother with a lid any more. The debate is endless and is down to personal taste IMO. Off-road, definitely, tho.

Poor Cookie! I am really saddened to hear of your injuries. Good luck for the future and don't give in!

How hard do you pump 'em up? Do you ride heavily?

My most challenging recent commute was when I was working in a house at the top of Highgate Hill from Sept to Feb last winter. 10 miles door to door and Highgate Hill never got any easier. (Dog Kennel-Camberwell-Wally Rd-Elephant-Blackfriars-Angel-LiverpoolRd-Holloway Rd) At this time I was wearing a thin long-sleeved artificial base layer, a long-sleeved merino Icebreaker (warm but doesn't dry quickly) and a Freestyle XCR jacket (excellent - lightweight and no frills). Down below was Endura 3/4 or full-length bib longs (excellent) and Seal Skinz waterproof socks (definitely a secret weapon as long as the water doesn't get in over the top), with Specialized Carbon MTB shoes. I was very comfortable on my Kona Explosif, but have now learned the lesson of mudguards. After that winter my drivetrain (and even my glasses!) were worn out from the crud. Had to replace the lot and a new rear wheel from Condor, Gray's Inn Rd. Then I sold my Explosif frame (people are mad for old steel MTBs on eBay these days) and got a Kona Hei Hei (ti from back in the day), which I am too freaked to leave anywhere, so now I mostly ride my '77 Claude Butler Majestic which I had resprayed and 'adjusted' at Mario Vaz' place in Brockley. Very good value BTW. I commute most places and mainly stick to big roads to get there quick. I always tut at the red light runners, and am always amazed there aren't more accidents. God that all sounds really neeky. Hmm....

You got mail;-)

Kerri, perhaps you should try cycling to your varied locations. It may look daunting from the kerb, but is very different when actually on the road and gets better with practice - unlike driving. I am not totally anti-car - I have one that I use very occasionally but driving in London is a right royal pain in th'arse. Cyclng is far cheaper than owning a car: healthy, quick, journey times predictable, environmentally sound, safe and YOU are in control of your space, unlike public transport or being stuck in a car getting frustrated.

Any cyclist who feels afraid of riding on the road would benefit from cycle training which should endow confidence via assertive road positioning. Accidents can happen any time (that is part of the process - constant risk assessment and anticipation) but in my long cycling experience, they rarely have happened. My worst incident was colliding with a pedestrian who stepped out while I hurtled down Charing X Rd. I was shaken but fine, but she was hurt. I hope she didn't suffer too badly. It was entirely her fault. I am among the tiny number of riders who stop for red lights and obey the Highway Code. I always overtake the red light runners before the whole process is repeated at the next red light. I become increasingly frustrated by cyclists who ignore the rules and who in turn give cyclists a bad image. I was nearly hospitalised by an idiot undertaking me while I waited at the lights at the southbound side of Dog Kennel Hill. When I remonstrated later he seemed surprised that his action had been dangerous. If I had moved to the left six inches, it would have been very different. If you want to do something about conditions for cyclists, join LCC/CTC/Critical Mass/lobby your local councillors/MP and probably most of all, set a good bleedin' example!

Perhaps someone would like to recycle them via their walls? What types and colours are they?

There are some at the EDT, outside the HSBC, just up from SMBS, and ralings outside Nicolas. There ought to be more on LL.

We came home one day to find the council had cut down five lime trees (approx. 30 years old) outside our rear garden's boundary fence, about 30 feet away. That was quite a shock I can tell you. Now they have planted three Golden Rain Trees which have a mixed reputation. And on the subject of trees, I have phoned the council two or three times about a sapling planted outside JAGS (near the bus stop) which has been beautifully tarmacced around. F'crissakes it's gonna die of dehydration. Some workman who thought he was doing a good job has gone right up to it with his chocolate-crispie blatter and condemned the damn thing. Has the council done anything about it over the last two or three months!? Has it hell. Drives me mental! Rant over.

Funnily enough I met an Argentinian guy yesterday 'up West' who is a dancer (tango, I believe) and a sprinter. He is performing at the EDCC on Sunday. I think it may be a dance class. Anyone aware of this?

I have stood in the lane behind Olley's during the day watching rats scuttling up and down. This was about two or three years ago. Guess where Olley's apparently stores its batter mix (according to the mechanic who worked there)? Why, in one of the arches. Enjoy.

Ooops: logged on under wrong user! cancel that.

Thanks Mockers, I knew someone would have asked about it.

I keep wondering what the deliberately anonymous building on the corner of Upland and Crystal Palace Roads is. It is a Victorian place with mirrored windows and a car park with CCTV at the back. Looks council or maybe a drug-related place. It is more or less opposite the garden centre.

Mamafeelgood not being cynical just getting in on the other side. why are we so divisionist? what's with the competition? I just don't get it.

An excellent idea which I would encourage wholeheartedly. Let's get back to the real priorities. I am very handy with bicycles/guitar/songwriting/decoration/bitsnbobs..... I need mac tuition.

Hi Jennyuk, I understand how difficult and confusing this subject can seem but the evidence is surely visible even in the last ten years' extreme weather occurences - these are set to continue. Millions of people are really going to suffer and I second Asset's comment about Al Gore's film. The polar/glacial meltdown scene is Very scary indeed. As far as adopting new behaviour goes, like most good habits this is difficult to build and easy to break. However I think it is case of increasing sensitivity. A list of easy things might be: Not running the tap/flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Not leaving appliances on/on standby when not needed. Changing bulbs for energy-savers (we got two free outside Sainbury's recently). Composting or using a wormery. Recycling paper/plastics/tins/bottles/cardboard - Southwark is one of the best for doorstep collection. Catching rainwater in a water butt if you have a garden. Turning heating down or off. Drying clothes without a tumble dryer. Using more eco products where poss. Cycling/walking/public transport are better than car. Lagging your loft/improving your house's insuation. Not buying mange tout/other produce from the other side of the world. I could go on, but these are some easy starters that most of us can do. These things become easy when you try and don't really change your life for the worse. You are right to worry about the landfill issue - what happens to a plastic bottle or coke can buried in the ground? They will be there for hundreds of years. Not good. Hope I haven't overwhelmed you. Good luck!

I have patronised the establishment and did find Nero dirty. I also heard it had something fishy with its licence...

On Friday I went to very 'inclusive' and impressive rock n roll cabaret venue in Stokie to see my brother's punk rock n roll band, the Jim Jones Revue (Jude Law was slumming it there all night). The highlights included Elephant Man Elvis and a couple who did things like abuse staple guns/scalpels/flaming cats o' nine tails/etc. Quiet night really. On Saturday rode over to The Chelsea Arts Club for dinner (1st time), which is like an expensive old folks' home. Met my friend who can be seen on p14 of this weekend's Observer News(4* edition). First time I had seen him since the **** hit the fan re: his design of the Olympics logo. Ah, well, no publicity is bad publicity, surely? Then rode back to ED (strangely don't recall any of the journey home) and dropped in to the Drum where I met some very interesting folks. Got home very drunk and very late. In the morning up to our friends in N London for lunch and more abuse. Oh dear, I am a tired wee laddie... Haven't had that much 'fun' for a while.

About 3 to 4 o'clock in the afternoon you can hear them in the west flying northish... yesterday was pretty close. Bit further off today. Why who and where?

Like Mrs mlteenie and myself, I am sure many of you partake of 'medication' of an evening to ease the day's troubles. All well and good but do you also have a drawer full of corks (particularly the plasty uns) and don't like to chuck 'em in the bin? Surely there is a use for them beyond the Aussie fly-repelling hat? It's beaten me thus far so let's hear it from the creative EDFers!