scruffian

July 15th, 2008

Are trails addictive?

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I always want to stay at the trails for as long as possible. I think I am probably addicted to them. However much I ride it never seems to be enough. I always want one more run. Does anyone else get this? I also have the same problem with other stuff. I go to bed too late every night because I want to do too much stuff. Playing the guitar or reading or anything really. I can’t just put things down.

Also, you know how tennis players have rituals when they play – how they arrange their towels, or how they tie their laces. Does anyone have a ritual they do everytime they ride? Mine is probably wiping my hands on my trousers to dry them off.
July 13th, 2008

July in the garden

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Let me explain what is going on here. I am sitting in my garden working on my laptop. This is my new office. The laptop gets internet access from the wireless connection in my house, and the headphone are getting music from the transmitter on my hifi. The music comes from the internet through last.fm. Technology is pretty amazing.

Also in the picture you can see the courgette, strawberry, chili, carrot and tomato plants we are growing. Free food!

There are some more pictures of July in the garden.
July 11th, 2008

NOiD Shirts

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The NOiD shirts arrived today. Come to the trails to get one…
July 5th, 2008

Shark Spotters, Cape Town

This is my first shark post for ages. The good news is that I am pregnant, but the bad news is that this has made me sick for 4 months. It’s been really horrid, but for the first time yesterday and today I have felt much better. I am really glad. So now I have energy for looking at shark websites (look at those links – they are all really good) and I have found a new website that I think is great so this post is about that.

The website is: http://www.sharkspotters.org.za

It is really good for a lot of reasons. Shark spotters was set up by a surfer who didn’t want to get attacked by a shark but who also didn’t like the idea of anti-shark measures which kill sharks and other marine life just so that he could surf without being afraid.

So he set up Shark Spotters; he employs people who are finding it difficult to get work and teaches them about sharks and how to spot them. Then they go to places that are good for spotting sharks like up on the mountains around the coast or on a beach tower. If they see a shark swimming near a beach they sound an alarm and everyone knows to get out of the water. And they can tell people about sharks.

Since they started 3 years ago there haven’t been any shark attacks at all even though there’s a seal colony just nearby (where we went to see sharks) and one of the world’s largest populations of great white sharks in the world. I think this is a really good solution – provides protection for people who want to enjoy the sea without endangering the wildlife that lives there.
July 4th, 2008

Friday 4th July

The other day I woke up to this sight. Someone had cut down two trees right next to my car. I was pleased that the car was ok, but I needed to leave and there were 2 trees blocking my way.

The trails have been really quiet this week. Riding by yourself is not ideal but its better than not riding at all. When you have 10 lines to choose from you have to choose carefully, as there’s not time to water all 10. Today I rode 3 different lines. Tomorrow I can probably ride 3 others. There’s so much fun to be had at the trails. Just wish there were more people to share it with.

Saltash trails look like nothing I have ever seen:
June 30th, 2008

Quality or Quantity?

Todays topic for discussion is quality over quantity. This was raised when I thought about how some people manage to update their website everyday, and I don’t. There are a few reason for this. One is that some days I haven’t taken any pictures. Another is that sometimes I am very busy. But this got me thinking, should I be doing updates often and not worrying too much about how good they are, or should I just do good stuff and have it more spaced out. Not really sure.

Tonight I went to the trails and got heckled by some kids, so we embarrassed them by showing them how weak they were by their inability to push a wheelbarrow. I didn’t take any pictures (again) which is pretty terrible, but I had a good ride.

Then when I got home I played the piano for about an hour which was just so fun. I love playing the piano it might even be more fun than riding. I just wish I had more time to do everything I want to do.
Well one of the things I want to do is sleep, so I am going to do that next. Goodnight.
June 29th, 2008

Trails, June 2008

June started very wet, but it ended well.

Nigel took a lot of pictures including the one above. Just need to make somewhere for them to go…

These are the pictures I have taken in June:
June 26th, 2008

Radiohead Victoria Park 25th June 2008

Saw Radiohead last night for the 4th time. Bat for Lashes were supporting and were really good.

It was a bit weird at the beginning as it was still light when they came on, and the atmosphere was a bit flat for some reason, but it soon picked up. We seemed to be in the best part of the crowd. It was like 40,000 people standing still and then the hundred or so where we were going mental which was good.

Thom was pretty entertaining too. The crowd were so into it that people weren’t just singing along, they were actually singing the harmonys to some songs. Radiohead fans are pretty sophisticated.

People singing along is one thing. Singing once the band has stopped playing is pretty impressive too, but this crowd was singing once the band had left the stage. 40,000 people singing Karma Police, with no conductor and no instruments is pretty amazing.

Here’s the set list:

01 Reckoner
02 15 Step
03 There There
04 All I Need
05 Lucky
06 Nude
07 Arpeggi
08 Myxomatosis
09 The National Anthem
10 Faust Arp
11 No Surprises
12 Jigsaw Falling Into Place
13 Optimistic
14 Videotape
15 Everything In Its Right Place
16 Idioteque
17 Bodysnatchers

Encore 1:
18 House of Cards
19 The Bends
20 Bangers ‘n Mash
21 My Iron Lung
22 Karma Police

Encore 2
23 Go Slowly
24 2+2=5
25 Paranoid Android
June 20th, 2008

BMX Track

On a cold and windy day in January me and Pete braved a trip to the East side of Kent. I only just got round to putting up the pictures. The wind didn’t help at the track. In one direction you could go fast but in the other direction you felt like you were a snail.
June 7th, 2008

Greg's birthday

For Greg’s birthday Greg’s dad took me and Pete and Josh to Saffron Walden skatepark and then Corby. Here are some pictures…