SAS should have chosen "The Badger"

What a crap week at work I've had. TFI the weekend. A quiet drink last night was needed and the boys are always willing to help a fellow in times of need. Cheers chaps.

Limp did reinforce an article I read in the paper though. Whilst looking for a private address he proved the point that modern drivers are losing the art of reading road signs and maps to find their way relying on a little digital box of instructions that can be followed without thought instead. He made the comment several times that he wished he had bought along the sat nav despite, what in my opinion, was a very sucessful navigation to the address (good prep work Deedot!). Get the maps out people! It's so much more satisfying when you get where you wanted to go.

Michelle Dewberry has left Sir Alan Sugar's employment despite winning the opportunity to work for him on TV, beating 15000 people. She seemed to be a very career driven person yet despite this chose to take a break to have a baby with Syed (the annoying git from the TV show) and put her career on hold. She returned to work after losing the baby. I'm struggling to empathise with thought process she must have gone through. Weighing up and choosing between pushing forward with her career in a situation where she had been given an opportunity thousands of people could only dream of and starting a family. As I do not want kids the decision would be easy but surely for an ambitous career person the choice would be just as one sided? No?

2, 3.4, 1, 225, 87 That's Numberwang!

Is there anything funnier than a dwarf being kicked in the head in the name of comedy?

Never trust High St health machines

11.9%. I am official in the category of "Excellent" when measuring body fat percentage. Unusual really as most people who know me has a good grasp of my level of unfitness.

New Lemonheads album was released on Monday. A shock to hear that it's been 10 years since the last release. Ouch. I remember getting the last album within a few weeks of it being released whilst at Uni, briefly before I quit. (bought from Left Legged Pineapple in Loughborough along with an imported Oasis single. It's funny the things that stick in my head!) I don't own the album anymore, I lent it along with the rest of my Lemonheads collection to a girl briefly before splitting with her and never speaking to her again. I replaced the CDs. I learnt a valuable lesson that day.

My Gal Thea.

If you appreciate decent British songwriting check out Folky Thea Gilmore. I've mentioned her before but I have a new found love of this female singer/songwriter after seeing her play live tonight at the Zodiac in Oxford. I've been to her gigs before but tonights was a good one. It made me revisit her old tunes and listening to her on stage performing with just an acoustic to hide behind made me respect her ability to write and perform folk/pop as good as any artist I've heard. The fact that she's also 33 weeks pregnant also made me understand the love she must have for performing as with such a big event in your life going on it would be easy to remove everything unnecessary. The easy option would be to sit at home and relax, not pogo (yes really!) on stage to some bouncy Van Morrison cover you're singing in front of 150 aging fans.

The supporting act was a guy called Dan Arborise who played some amazing finger style guitar. If you like John Martyn then you'll love this modern version.

Oh I forgot to mention Thea's bassist is a gig hardened rock chick. Jo Wadeson. I think she used to play in the Waterboys. A bit more research before I confirm that fact though.

A good evening was finally completed by a Chicken BLT sanger from Tesco's, picked up whilst on the way home. What did we do before 24 hour living?

Chasing long Summer nights, longing for dry days, waiting for warm sunny weekends and dreaming of sticky tarmac. That's what we should be doing through Autumn and Winter. It's nearly September though and we are still being blessed with high 20's sunny days and warm evenings. Should I get worried about what mother nature's revenge for all this nice weather will be? I'll let you know in the Spring!!!

Fatty Treats with the Skates.

Fans of fatty treats should visit Portsdown hill to sample a Mega Mushroom burger from the burger van in the car park on top of the hill. A regular biker meet is made into a low-class alfresco eatery by the permanent burger van. I can recommend the burger sauce and extra onions!

Cornish Crayfish n Highsides.

The last week has been a blast. I had a few days off and decided to jump on the bike and head down to Newquay for a chillout and a few beers. Mr L joined me and we camped for a few nights and spent some time eating loads of BBQ meat and hanging out around the beach, very relaxing. A quick spin around the coast, Penzance, Lizard point, St Austall and back to Newquay. The trip back nearly resulted in the first Weasel high side. I was gassing it out of a junction when the rear lost grip and spun up. It snapped sideways and I just shut off in time and jabbed a foot down at about 20/25 mph, I caught it after if bucked me out of my seat. Mr L was in front in his car and apparently if looked scary as hell. High Five, I'm invincable ! A quick (130mph+) journey back was completed and I was suitably chilled after a stressful few weeks at work.

After getting back to Andover and having a few rainy days at work without getting up to much I got a call from and old friend who currently lives in Oz. He's been out there for a few years and it's been about a year since I saw him last and he was letting me know he was back in the UK for a few days on business. A swift pint was arranged and we caught up with what's been going on in our lives. It's strange how at times, lives seem to move quickly and yet sometimes years pass without much important happening. I'm not sure if I should be concerned that I didn't have much to discuss despite a year since seeing Dr M.

Yesterday at work was dragging and not very productive. I decided quite early in the day that a nice long ride in the evening would be a good idea. I pootled down to Calshot and watched the late evening ferries and sailing yachts for a while whilst listening to some tunes before heading back to Andover for a pint with George n Si. They've finally got a date for moving into their new house and celebrated this week with a wet, rainy camping trip. They're off to Alton Towers on Sunday for a final jolly before being tied to the new house by DIY and household tasks. ;-D

An expensive deflating week.

The last week has been an expensive one. After last week's late night blat I cleaned my bike the following day and found a huge nail in my nice new rear tyre. Arrrggh!!! It only had about 1000 miles on it. Damn it. A swift ton paid to the boys at Micheldever Tyres and a new boot was on the rack waiting to be fitted. As I was late in I had to wait until the shop was clear for them to fit the new hoop. It gave me a couple of hours speaking to fellow bikers about stuff and it re-confirmed my thoughts that generally, bikers are the friendliest road users. I met some thoroughly nice blokes and all made my 2 hours of hanging around a pleasant one.

A further 100 quid for a new seat unit afterwaiting a period of time that even allowing for the shipping of a product from Japan is not acceptable in 2006. My bikes finally back in one piece and looking as it should. (we're ignoring the gaffa tape holding on the indicator!)

I sorted out my bike tonight and I put it to bed after a good clean, chain clean & lube and a quick check over. I got all greasy so that my bike would be in top fettle for a little trip I'm planning on Weds down to the west country. I think I'll stop off in Newquay for a couple of nights. Have a pint or 2. My mate, Big L, who has been on a few Weasel road trips in the past will be joining me.

Big L has always taken his car on the road trips and watched the Weasel on his bike having a giggle ahead of him. He finally decided to bite the bullet and get his bike licence which I'm pleased to say he did on his first attempt. A period of bike shopping and test rides are being planned. It looks like next spring/summer will be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to more long bike rides and some top times in 2007.

I bumped into a friend today who's just returned from a 3 month trip around S.America. I have to say that the sun down there must have suited her as she looked really well and it sounds like it's been a trip of a lifetime. It's almost inspirational in sending the Weasel on a little trip around Europe next year. I'll have to ask me Mr Visa and Mrs Mastercard if I'm allowed to go.