June 2006 Archives

Last weekend I started work on renovating one of the sash windows in my house. The woodwork is covered with numerous layers of paint (including the supposedly super toxic lead variety), the sash cords have snapped, one of the weights is missing, the sash pulleys are seized and some of the wood has got dry rot.

This is my first time attempting such a renovation, and the first task is removing the paint. I'm sure a "heat gun" is more suited to the task than a propane blowtorch, but it seems to be doing a fine job with the paint stripping.

One of the nice things about using the train instead of a car for the daily commute is you get to read the paper, have a snooze, or occasionally stare wistfully out of the carriage window wondering what you're getting out of being in the ratrace.

As I've been commuting for the best part of three years now, several people have now decided it's ok to strike up a conversation with me. Well no actually, you're distracting from my daily route of reading the news, doing the sudoku and attempting to fill the cryptic crossword with expletives. It's also incredibly un-english to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

Things have gotten far, far worse recently. One chap has gone so far as giving me his work and mobile numbers in an attempt to get me to go out for a drink (jeez, check your gaydar in for a service). Someone else has discovered my love of photography. So now instead of looking forward to my daily commute home from work, I either have the prospect of having another man trying to persuade me to have dinner with him, or am regaled with someone reading me the prices of camera memory cards from the current weeks copy of amateur photographer (yes, it's as boring as it sounds), depending on which train I take home.

Suddenly the thought of a 38 mile commute by bicycle doesn't seem so tough.

A couple of the nofear gang decided on a whim to enter into the St Edmunds Wheel charity cycle ride over in Bury St Edmunds. Having fearlessly ridden 200 miles over the 4 day Easter weekend, the 15, 25 and 50 mile options on this cycle ride didn't seem enough of a challenge, so we put our names down for the 75 mile route.

I must admit that I don't know whether my feeling a little the worse the wear the next day was as a result of the cycling, or the jug of Pimms, bottle of beer and assorted french cheeses I ate afterwards. Anyway, we raised a jolly good amount for charity (final figures yet to come in, but it's in the region of £800).

The real reason for this post was just to show off the nifty graphs and stats you can produce from the Garmin Edge 305:

If you're wondering why the GPS route only seems to think we did 70 miles, you can wind your neck in, as in addition to the ride we cycled a good 2 miles or so each way back to Nofear Base from the start and finish of the course.

My only regret is we never got a chance to chat with Miss "dirt monkey".

Don't be put off by the name 'Infusion' is actually a very nice place for a cup of tea or coffee, with a piece of cake if you should desire.

The nofear posse have now taken to frequenting this little known nook of Cambridge. Placed as part of the bar area of the Regent's Hotel - on Regent Street, but overlooking Parker's Piece for extra visual interest. At first we were cautious about entering, the name, coupled with the fact that it is situated within a hotel, does make you suspect that things will cost an arm and a leg there. At £1.50p for a tea or a coffee it is in fact one of the cheapest tea shops in the city. You can only get a lower price at University facilities. Highly recommended.