Tim: Sardinia looks good.

I notice that for the South Downs they do it in 4 days. "...a good level of biking fitness is required on this tour." OK, I'll start training...next weekend.
 

 Steve: Interesting cycling of course :)

BTW Jonathan recommends http://www.bookdepository.co.uk for non-fiction and they do seem to be cheaper than Amazon and with free postage.

Just started Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami - early days but it has potential, so far a weird happening with a load of schoolchildren and a man who can talk to cats. Good for you then Tim.

New KS out and a 5* review on Amazon - sounds a bit different with guitar etc and a 65 monute track(!). The guy likes the previous one so this may bode well. Drums 'n' Balls is appalling, one of the worst things I've ever bought.

3 tons of soil arriving Friday and a bunch of seeds ready to go for the Bachini Dig for Britain.
 

 Tim: Kafka on the Shore, read that, pretty darn good as I recall.

I see the Virtual Outback reviewer says "at 65 minutes, the first track may well be the longest he has ever made.", where's he been then?
 

 Tim: Anyway... it shouldn't be long before all the digging is out of the way and Nick will have finished his haiku about David Nobbs.

So when are we looking at for our next meetup?
 

 Steve: Very funny Tim (haiku). BTW book going really well, almost done.

There are 2 weekends coming up where D is away so when I get those dates I will let you know (26th april is one I think). Is it too early to plan London bike rides? Maybe if you come to me as part of the deal?

Been playing X disk 1 a lot recently - forgot how good it was as I used to play side 4 primarily.

Toyah has a new album out this year, entitled, wait for it... In the Court of the Crimson Queen!
 

 nick: Nobbs wrote about Pratt
and there are altogether
four books in the set


I think 26 april looks OK, although I'm not available on 27th -church duty in the morning, and in the evening I've applied for tickets to see a radio recording of Milton Jones, don't know if that'll come off yet

London bike rides - bring it on! Thames path (same bit as before, or a different bit - maybe we can try to go from Reading into London?) or a Sunday cycling around the city please
 

 nick: also, I notice Micheldever has been ruled out of the running for being a new eco-town (didn't know it was in).

The shortlist includes "Marston Vale and New Marston, Bedfordshire" - where's that then?

see 'Eco-towns' shortlist is revealed on the BBC new-look news website
 

 nick: did you know about "whiskers" when you're soldering, Steve?
 

 nick: I guess you may have seen this before, but this is the article I was thinking of when Paul was composing his letters of application to university

College Essay

nick
 

 nick: Steve, one for you may be? Blue Öyster Cult are playing at the Brook on 8-June

see Brook Quick List Dates.
 

 Tim: I was a bit surprised to see another gig on the list - 3rd May: Bad Science. Ben Goldacre's band?

Meanwhile, 26th April looks good. Steve, when you say "too early to plan London bike rides" do you mean because of the weather? Or my famous lack of fitness? Or what? Anyway, sounds OK to me.
 

 Tim: A new release on Manikin records you might be interested in:
Rainbow Serpent - Live@Liphook 2007

(Also: Spyra - Gasoline 91 Octane)
 

 Tim: Schulze news, he's cancelled the concerts in Italy and Paris under doctors orders (but the festival thing is still on the cards).

And Dark Side of the Moog XI is out.
 

 nick: This one made me laugh:
Frozen Grand Central Station
 

 Steve: Well well I just ordered 2 Rainbow Serpent CDs direct (live and another one - the only 2 titles on proper CDs) as they are £16 at SMD (and I hadn't seen your email but had seen the weekly SMD update).

I was thinking it may still be very cold for the bike rides but if people are keen... Will have to be the Saturday then.

The smoking has got to get to Klaus at some point hasn't it?!?

Video excellent thanks Nick! Must've freaked people out.
 

 nick: ok, another one you might like, if you've seen the film "The Shining" and like Peter Gabriel (I promise this isn't a rickroll):

Shining
 

 Steve: FYI Tim I'm going to see U2 3D at the iMax tonight with Nick and my parents - really looking forward to it. Actually it wouldn't matter much waht they showed on that setup I'd watch it.

Apple tree (stick) and plum tree planted so fruit maybe next year.

Let's plan a London ride for the 26th then - I'll see what's do-able if we are all converging from 3 corners. It's early enough in the year for the Thames Path to be clear. I've done Hammersmith to Sunbury and back easily in a day.
 

 nick: Right, I've booked it in my calendar. Dissertation deadline is 21st April, so I will not by that stage be feeling guilty about doing something else.
 

 Steve: Looking at the Thames Path web site (I didn't have lunch) it is not cyclable generally due to it being footpaths mostly so the Reading to London route would have to be planned around. National cycle route 4 looks promising though - I'll get a map. I could train to Reading (don't mind early start) and you boys drive.
 

 Steve: Route map on order from WHSmiths - I have looked in quite a few shops in the area! Gets you to Putney and I think the Thames Path is okay from there into the city. So I guess I train out to Reading and you two train back to it?

BTW U2 was great, they should do more of this so more people can experience bands live without the poor view etc etc; last evening show was yesterday so we just made it in time. A guy here took his girlfriend and likes it (phew!).
 

 Steve: Rainbow Serpent Liphook CD arrived with (incorrectly) the new Spyra one so we will see what they do about it. I can copy it if anyone wants to try before they buy. Liphook sounds promising.
 

 Tim: Good work on the routes.

Rumour on the forum has it that Klaus has gone two weeks without a fag, that must take some doing.

Anyone like REM these days? I noticed that they're playing at our local cricket ground.
 

 nick: yes well done for sorting a map steve. I have to say I don't find the sustrans website very helpful in this respect - they ought to have PDF versions of the maps available but the coverage seems pretty patchy.

I quite like some REM stuff. I haven't really kept up with recent albums but the current one has had good reviews. But I don't fancy huge venues much tbh. I'm assuming the cricket ground is quite big?

How's the cycling been going Tim? I've managed to go out every day, and so I'm going to have to do a bit of bike cleaning/maintenance before the Reading->London jaunt. But it should be fun..
 

 Steve: I agree the Sustrans site is terrible, maybe it's a funding thing or they need some volunteers :) Only a few scenic routes are available to buy or you have to get 5 OS maps.

The Spyra album is very good so I will keep that and they are sending the right one hopefully although in his email he still got it wrong. I said I'd send a PayPal donation when it arrives. I've ordered 2 Glass Hammer albums from the US on the recommendation of the guy who created that Wave Repair program I use for LP transfers. He was bang on with his Time is the Key review so we shall see.

Klaus must be ill if he's given up smoking!

Re: REM - I heard a track on the radio and it sounded really good - pretty heavy with onlt a vague feeling of it being by REM!

Reading the Speer book - very good so far.

Went for the usual 20 mile ride yesterday and it was great. I have buggered my right knee (usually the left) somehow which has been 2 weeks of limping then straining muscles I didn't know I had compensating. Cycling seems okay but who knows the damage I'm doing :)
 

 Steve: Sorry I'm going to have to postpone the ride. When I arranged it I should've checked with Deborah - she is away but is not happy for me to leave the boys. I will not make further comment about this.
 

 nick: Steve

Since Tim and I have cleared calendars, would it be worth us coming to Luton for the day instead? Just a thought. We could bring bikes I suppose, and review the Thames route for another day

nick
 

 Tim: Yep, no probs, I'm available, can fit in with whatever.

Besides, er, I still haven't had the bike out of the garage yet...
 

 Steve: Coming here is absolutely fine but it's a trek for you guys.
 

 Steve: I got details of the IoW Randonee Monday which is a bit short notice - 4th of May. It's clockwise but I can't tell if it's the same route - it looks more coastal maybe? See HERE
 

 nick: I'd like to do the randonnee. Lesley is in spain on 4th may so I need to arrange something for Ella to do but I think I should be able to do that OK.

Dissertation was handed in on Monday, but it was a real disaster - I did a lot of reading and making notes but left it much too late before writing the thing. Was up all Sunday night: most of it was written then, and it shows (also, hard disk went on one PC on Saturday, losing me some work, and the other PC's network card went on Sunday, so I couldn't print it). Plus, on Monday morning, when checking the submission instructions, I realised that I had been reading the section for a different course, and so the submission deadline I was working to (21-Apr) was wrong. It should have been in on 14-Mar. Penalties for late sumission are: one week late: 10 points deducted. More than one week late: zero marks. I'm not sure what'll happen now.

So relief at having "finished" is tempered with depression - at having hashed it up.

But at any rate I can now read novels etc. without feeling guilty that I ought to be studying.

This weekend: I'm still up for it, you Tim?
 

 Steve: Oh flip on the dissertation Nick, you have my sympathies.

I'm also up for the IoW - D has approved it. Monday is a bank hol so you can recover then Tim. I would prob come down Sat eve, 'til Sun eve. I'm sure we applied for it before but it's free this time.
 

 Tim: Saturday, I'm still free. I'm a bit worried I've got a slight cold (and the thing going round here is: you have a slight cold for a few days then WHAM - several days of real badness), but hopefully that'll be gone. Any hint of a plan?

Can't do 4th May though.
 

 Steve: From what I remember Nick has to be back Sunday so it would be just for the day or Friday night/Saturday. I'll be here, D is away, I have to take the lads to work at 9AM and pick them up 5PM, otherwise...

Weather looks reasonable Saturday but we can just slob out if necessary.

Both lads on for the IoW at the moment. Unless Paul has a party that Saturday.
 

 Tim: I won't be able to cadge the car, so er I'm in lift-scrounging mood as usual I guess, and despite beggars not being choosers good options for me are (1) just Saturday - early to late, or (2) sometime Friday eve to late Saturday afternoon or something like that. Or something else, obviously.
 

 nick: Well all day Sat is best for me I think... Tim can you get a bike to Basingstoke or Micheldever and I'll pick you up?
 

 Tim: Yep, great, thanks. What time? I can get to BS at 8:15, 9:15, 10:15...
 

 Steve: Go on Nick, make it 8:15!
 

 nick: 8.15 at Basingstoke it is! Breakfast at Bernoulli's at 10
 

 Tim: Arse.

OK!
 

 nick: Evidence of the age of Tim's bike.

John says his knees went again this Jan, and he's not been riding since then. Waiting for another MRI scan, so I guess that means he won't be doing the IoW.
 

 Tim: Nice. Fortunately I don't like the paint job on this years' model.
 

 Steve: What a handy archive you have there Nick, how old is mine then? - only joking!

I will aim to book our ferry tickets beforehand to avoid the stress of the single queue on Sunday. I will wait a bit to see what the weather will be doing and to 100% confirm the boys' intentions. Shame about John's knee, almost as good as Tim's excuses.

BTW D had no objections to the end of May weekend that we have planned. Start bulk-buying now Tim...
 

 nick: hmm well weather forecast doesn't look great... e.g. this page has 10 day forecast which currently reckons there's a 60% chance of precipitation.
 

 Tim: 0% on Monday though.
 

 nick: hmm.. good point tim. Plus, there's no footy match on the Monday. Maybe we should switch plans and do the ride then?
 

 Tim: Trouble is although there's 0% chance of rain there's still 0% chance of me doing 100km.
 

 Steve: I don't think Monday is any good for me as we are doing stuff with the in-laws. Also driving back bank holiday Monday would be pretty bad.

My patio bit is now dug out so the next phase is the nice bit, i.e. construction, then if I'm keen I will lower the grass to this level which is another hefty piece of work.
 

 nick: well the forecast has now downgraded Sunday's precipitation potential to 40%. At this rate, it'll be a heatwave by then.
 

 Tim: Yes, but that's just Sandown. In Ventnor it's going to bucket.
 

 Steve: Well I'm tending towards going at the moment but the weather does look a bit iffy.
 

 nick: yes... looks like rain is likely, although bbc says "light showers" which sounds less bad than it could be.

I quite understand if you don't feel like it - I've been out a fair bit in the wet lately and it's not the best of fun.

Let me know what you think. would you be planning on staying at all, or driving from/to luton on the Sunday?
 

 Tim: Did you do it then?
 

 nick: Certainly did - and the weather was pretty good: dry except for a bit of rain at the end when Paul and I had to hang around at the ferry terminal waiting for the other two to catch up.

I'd forgotten how hilly it was - I found some of the uphill bits a struggle and I felt pretty tired yesterday. Glad we did it though.

How was the football match?
 

 Tim: The game was a thriller - Saints probably needed to win to stay up, a draw would have given them a slim chance. Sheffield United were top-half with a very faint hope of reaching the playoffs if they won.

After about 20 minutes Sheffield scored! Saints equalised. Half time. Saints went ahead, Sheffield equalised.
Saints went ahead again. The guy who'd scored two of Saints' goals got sent off. Saints hung on with 10 men to the end. Phew.

It turned out that a draw would not have been enough.

There was a light shower as I left the stadium.
 

 Steve: Yes the hills are pretty savage but I enjoyed them. Two of us missed a sign right near the end and caused us to miss a ferry and waste an hour. I think if the bloke I asked had been less rambling we would've been fine. Pace of life is a lot slower over there, the sooner they build a bridge the better. Actually looking at the map the road we were about to go down before I asked him went directly to the chain ferry!
 

 Steve: Tim you were talking about wireless music players. If you could get better sound quality for less money then with no moving parts it might be better to rip your CDs to FLAC and play them this way. Here's a promising CANDIDATE. Over at Amazon people are wetting themselves about it!
The same company do THIS which I had my eye on a while back.
 

 nick: re: wireless hifi. Great! another project we can get going on for the weekend of 25th May!
 

 Tim: Is this what I'm after? I'm not sure. Certainly worth thinking about though, so keep em coming cheers.
 

 Steve: What kind of things are you wanting to do - play MP3s I think was one of them? Maybe you're thinking of a media-centre.

Might try the old MTB tonight as it's nice and dry.
 

 Tim: Yes, MP3s are something I'd like to include. Maybe I'll carry on just sticking them on minidisc, but I'm interested to find out what the alternatives are these days.

I was unimpressed to read "Broadcast the same music or independent streams to 2, 10 or even 20 rooms by adding Squeezebox3 players to stereos in each location. " I thought it was like "play CDs in any room in the house simply by buying more CD players!", wow. But I take it the "player" is a different device...?

And another thing, why don't blurbs like that have a "What the damn thing actually does" section?
 

 Steve: Well I'd say you need more units the same to do more rooms - plus the associated amp/speakers etc. Trouble is with this sort of stuff is you end up with more and more things using electricity all of the while.
 

 Steve: Oh flip, Tim you have to get out on the bike. Yesterday I was nearly falling asleep at work and on the train home, slogged up High Town in the heat and could have flopped down with my dinner but instead I went out on my bike. Went off-road for the first time in a while and it was fantastic, I went up the two main hills sitting down which is a rarity. It feels very odd after so much road-riding (love the smooth tarmac) but the descents are something else.
 

 Steve: I have a MIDI question. We have just inherited a keyboard. You seem to be able to get USB to MIDI adapters pretty cheap. Have you had any experience of these? Sound too good to be true.
 

 Tim: I don't have any experience of them, but it sounds like quite a simple job to me. Don't you think?
 

 nick: I tried booking tickets for Andy Mckee for you two, but my attempt to purchase was rejected. It turns out my credit card has been blocked: over the last three days over £3500 has been spent in various department stores in New York (including £1500 at the Apple store, I wonder what that was). So I now have to wait for a new card.

As in the previous case, they didn't seem that upset - "these things happen". I think I have to sign a declaration that the purchases weren't mine and then I won't have to pay for them (I hope).

I'll try booking Andy Mckee on a different credit card, although that's one I use so infrequently that I guess it might get blocked for unusual spending patterns...
 

 nick: Any news about your company takeover thing Steve?
 

 Steve: No news yet. Are we getting to the point where credit/debit cards are unusable? The PIN thing seems to have made no dfference does it.

If you have a spare 25 minutes you can look here to see Robert Fripp faffing with the potential Vista sounds. I don't think anything was used personally.
 

 Steve: OK men we need to start thinking about next weekend. One idea is that I meet Nick out of work again Friday night for a lift to Basingstoke. I stay 3 nights and come home Monday from wherever I end up. Engineering works depending. Might be worth getting a railcard at this rate.

Nick if this is a hassle I can train it down but I'll need to try to book a cycle slot this time!
 

 Tim: Hi both, just back from a couple of days in Manchester.
For next weekend I had the idea we were looking at Sunday/Monday, looks like I've got that wrong then? I'll have to, er, enquire about 'my' plans for Saturday, or mught be able to do Saturday/Sunday instead so keep me posted.
Nick, shall I get them tickets for Andy Wossname?
 

 nick: Steve, meeting at my office on Friday is fine. No problem for you to stay at ours any of the days you mention (Fri-Mon). Maybe you/we will end up in Hedge End for some of that time but we can sort that out as and when.

Tim, yes if you could get tickets for Andy Mckee that would be helpful, we need two (one for you, one for Steve) extra. If you want Tim maybe we could do a ride one evening next week before Steve turns up?
 

 Tim: Nick, Wednesday and Thursday are both out. Tuesday maybe?

And do we have a cycling regime in mind for the weekend?
 

 Tim: That's enough scrolling down, I've started a new post.