8°C, mostly dry and calm.
November has been a forgiving month, despite the Daily Express headline that promised Arctic Blasts and a blanket of snow. We had a couple of frosty nights.
It looks as though I am heading towards completing a 5,000 miles year cycling. Was it really only 15 years ago when I rode 8,000 miles each year?
I am visiting. When I come here, I can use bathroom scales. Yesterday, it said 15st 2lbs, this morning- 14st 9lbs. 5lbs in one night?
Comet ISON seen by the University of London Observatory (Photo credit: UCL )
2°C,still, clear.
Barely visible– even in 8×40 binoculars. Scan just up and right of Spica in Virgo, immediately before sunrise; in my case- 05.50.
It was only a fleeting glimpse, with eyes slightly averted. Just a smudge.
|~~~~~~~o_o~~~~~~~|
Posted from a mobile.
12ºC, heavy rain.
Day out at Jodrell Bank as a birthday outing for the 10 year old.
The dish was parked upright, probably because of the heavy rain that beat down all day.
The youngsters loved it, though view were the kind of kids who would be receptive to this kind of thing. In my view, the shop could be better stocked with books suitable for adults. They put on talks all day, mainly for kids but we adults got to ask questions too.
I bet the Cheshire cyclists use their cafe all the time. What a fine cafe it is too. I had the best goat’s cheese wrap I can remember.
Posted from a mobile.
BBC.– prisoners won’t get the vote after all. The story brought up all sorts of arguments about justice, European interference, sovereignty and stuff. My problem was that I couldn’t easily make the bridges between arguments presented. On one hand, the debate is not really that important- the number of prisoners is relatively small and many of them aren’t going to vote anyway. The other side revolves around arguments of principle.
Today, I have made some headway after reading the above linked feature. There are several strands to balance:
Prisoners with long terms, more than one parliamentary term won’t be free to benefit from their vote. The changes in society voted for, they wouldn’t see.
Prisoners will not have their right to vote taken away by the state, they have made choices that led them to jail.*
Prisoners may be incarcerated for behaviour that was in protest at government policy. They could still retain the vote, in my scheme, so can still affect law-making.
So my current position is- give them the vote unless they are sentenced for a long time, longer than a parliamentary term.
Anyway, shut up, I am tired and want to go.
Posted on my phone.
18C,rain but warm.
No more rides for a few days. The new term has settled with a looming cold. Sore throat and grogg means the cold season is here. The kids at work are coughing and spluttering and perhaps given it to me.
Posted on my phone.
29C later.
Night away in Bristol.
21°C, thunderstorms,
Woke early to the sound of thunder, later came the downpour to beat all.
Arrow ride tracked with MapMyRide! Distance: 42.79mi, time: 02:42:39, pace: 3:48min/mi, speed: 15.78mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/335549677
I went out on the Arrow after the rain fearing that more was to come. None did, but the bike handles well enough for a summer ride.
17°C; SW wind, brisk, dry. Club ride, tracked with MapMyRide! Distance: 53.14mi, time: 03:08:30, speed: 16.9mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/workout/315175737 
They are a likeable club, none of the cliquishness that mar other clubs. Some guys were bemused by me spinning madly on the Southport sea-front stretch where we rode at 22mph and I had a 42×16 gear. A little app tells me that a pace like that is 138rpm. I kept the pace well enough. They stated that the average should be 17mph before we set off and my GPS app put the average within 0.1mph of that; not bad! Also, not bad- riding in a tight group on fixed was quite a success. Sitting close on a wheel was easier with control via the transmission rather than touching brakes and blipping on pedals alternately. Easier, more accurate and ultimately, more efficient.
14°C, windy pollenated air.
My other half is a poodle and she gets extended walks on some days. Sometimes I wander around a labyrinthine settlement nearby where pagan animal rituals are performed when decent folk are locked away.
Nobody really knows the meaning of these carvings, though some claim that they move when nobody is looking.
I have doubts.
22°C, foggy yet morning, now blazing.
Last year I was delighted to find a swarm of honey bees in the eaves. This year, we have bumble-bees living in the house. They are orange-tails, nesting in nearly the same place. It prompts a question- how do I go about repairing that part of the roof. The insects have not caused any damage, its just wear and tear to the facia and soffits. The standard way to repair them is to fit uPVC boards. What I want is a repair that does not prevent interesting wildlife getting on with their lives.
Micycle 