Tim: That's good! People in it and everything. I'm impressed.
 

 nick: yes, good job! Looks better than my photo..

The paper texture looks nice. How did you take the photograph of the painting? it has come out very well.

What about the other pics? It would be impressive if you could do watercolour versions of all of them ;-)
 

 Steve: Hmm I can see quite a few things wrong with it. Doing the station roof etc was just too problematic. Anyway...

I put the pic by the window on the floor to photograph it using the handy 2-sec self-timer to minimise shake.

Spent about a day on bike maintenance. Replaced the chain on my Felt (was 'stretched') and cleaned them on my Specialized and old road bikes. Am trying a new scheme where I bung the chain in a tub of white spirit and agitate, then wash/dry then soak in oil and hang up to drip-dry. Specialized chain was truly terrible after the dusty ride last week.
 

 nick: I put new brake blocks on my mtb this weekend - that does seem to have made a difference. The old ones looked like they had some life left in them, although I think they were very hard rubber.

What vessel do you use to contain the oil with which you soak the chain Steve, and where do the drips go when you drip dry it? Probably I should do mine as well.
 

 Steve: I use an old pasta sauce tub for the white spirit which is really too small as I have to carefully coil a chain into it. Then some cheap supermarket food container for the oil. I rinse the chain with water after the white spirit to get rid of any grit etc. Hang up to dry (clothes line in my garage) then soak in oil and hang up to drip over the oil container. Takes a few hours to stop dripping. Of course the cassette etc also need cleaning, I'd go easy with white spirit on the derailleur as it will strip oil from the bearings.

I have also tried Muck Off which is kinder to the environment but it doesn't do anywhere near such a good job. Maybe strain the WS through a coffee filter to keep using it? You will be amazed at the dirt etc left at the bottom. I have heard that if you use a magnet you can pick up bits of chain!
 

 nick: I bought the reissued bonanza 3 disc version of Hergest Ridge from Amazon and then got an email this morning saying I'd earned a £2 credit for MP3 downloads, as per this offer.

I hadn't realised the offer was on, but maybe if you're buying something Steve you could earn yourself some free downloads for your forthcoming HD
 

 Steve: I'm tempted to get that album but I recently got the remaster so have got it out of my system for a bit.

Tim are you going to buy/bring back one of those trumpet things? And take earplugs?

Waiting for delivery of Martinu symphonies mostly bought with Play points.
 

 Tim: Well done Nick, I thought one of us ought to get it. Let us know what it's like.

And, vuvuzela no earplugs yes.
 

 Steve: BTW I played a track from the Schulze Gerard live disk the other day and it was very good - didn't have any of her singing on it. I can't see what she adds actually that he can't do on his own.
 

 nick: check this one out
 

 Steve: Someone was blowing a vuvuzela in High Town the other night when I was on my way home and they are flipping loud. Sounds like some variations are creeping in such as small 'tunes' and a kind of fading in and out type thing. Not sure why people don't drill holes in them for different notes!
 

 Tim: Hi chaps, got back from SA on Friday morning, it was a pretty good trip all in all, but the overnight flight on the way back was totally knackering so I'm still a bit crosseyed. I expect you've been watching all the games?

What have I missed?
 

 nick: I'm not sure you missed much.... What matches did you see when you were out there? Damy at work just got back - he said the best one he saw was Spain/Portugal
 

 nick: This comment has been removed by the author.
 

 Tim: Group games:
Mexico 0 - 1 Uruguay
Ghana 0 -1 Germany
Slovakia 3 - 2 Italy *
Chile 1 - 2 Spain

Knockout games:
Argentina 3 - 1 Mexico *
Brazil 3 - 0 Chile
Paraguay 0 - 0 Japan a.e.t. 5 - 3 on penalties

* These were the best games. Paraguay v Japan was terrible, the rest were quite good.

We watched Spain v Portugal in a Portuguese restaurant around the corner from our guest house, so there was a bit of atmosphere for that. For England v Germany we were stood in Mary Fitzgerald Square in central Johannesburg, surrounded by happy German fans.

Thanks for the cards, both.

Have we got anything in the way of plan that I've forgotten?
 

 Steve: There wasn't anything planned, I'm in Wales next week, not sure about Big Wheel.
 

 Steve: Actually the Big Wheel is next week the day after we come back and Paul has a 100 to do so I def won't be there.
 

 Steve: Actually the Big Wheel is next week the day after we come back and Paul has a 100 to do so I def won't be there.
 

 nick: Steve - surely Paul could to the 100 miles AND the big wheel? even cycle between events I should think.

Tim, do you fancy BW? I am going to do it although I am well unfit.

Also (Tim), we could try an evening ride if you fancy that - maybe one that goes near the railway so I can cop out and get a train halfway? Would you be up for that?
 

 Tim: Evening ride, great idea, I'd forgotten all about that. Next week some time? Not Weds.

I'll er have a think about BW.
 

 nick: yes, any day but Wed for me too. How about
Tuesday?
 

 Tim: OK then. How are you for timing? I imagine I can do 5:30 at HE or 6:00 at MD (ish).
 

 nick: How about 6.00 at MD? That has the advantage of meaning that we'll be cycling the "downhill" route as well
 

 Tim: I posted a comment earlier that said "OK", but I can't see it. My guess is that if I comment again it will appear.
 

 Tim: Nick, the forecast is rain this evening, shall we postpone until next week?

Or I could do Sat a.m., but that probably doesn't fit in with your BW plans (which I don't really fancy).
 

 nick: Hi tim

ok forecast is a bit gloomy..

I think I am going to try Big Wheel - just had an email from Geoff saying he's doing it.

I probably can't do Saturday but could manage Mon/Wed/Thu the following week.

nick
 

 Tim: Wednesday and probably Thursday are out. Which leaves Monday... do you think you're likely to fancy riding much the day after BW?
 

 nick: Well what about I come down and bring the bike with me? Then we have the option of going for a little local ride, or just staying in for the evening?
 

 Tim: That sounds more realistic. I assume you're stopping for dinner in that case? What sort of time shall I expect you?
 

 nick: Hi Tim
I'll aim for seven - will be coming straight from work in London.

Managed to complete the ride today - the route wasn't over-hilly, but I did have to get off and push towards the end, going up Farleigh Wallop etc.. Twice I stopped to help people who'd had broken chains: I always carry my chain link tool with me now, and it paid off! I got two excuses for having a rest!

I'll stick the bike in the car for tomorrow, not sure if I want to do much, legs and bottom are feeling a bit sore at the moment.

nick
 

 nick: map of the route with optional elevation. Came through North Waltham towards the end - past the bottom of my road.
 

 Tim: OK. Don't worry about the bike, if you're arriving at 7 it'll soon be time to get the pasta on.
 

 Tim: Anybody interested in Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor? They're playing at some place called the Troxy in E London on December 13/14, I'm planning to get tickets for Neil and me, do either of you fancy it?

I'm intending to get standing tickets downstairs rather than seats upstairs, so if you want to decide later (after downloading) that might still work out.
 

 Steve: Had to get off and push?!? Did I read that right? Actually I still had trouble in Wales. It was my old heavier bike (triple) admittedly but the hill out of our location was about 1:10 for 1.5KM - so Stockingstone but much much longer. I did it without stopping the second time I tried then conked out on a later hill so had to pause for breath and continue.

Anyone free 1st weekend of August 31/1 - D is at camp, maybe take a day or two off?
 

 Steve: Yes I'll go for the gig please, Nick, Tortoise are classified as post-rock if that helps.

Reading Wolfgang Flur's autobiography at the moment which is pretty good.
 

 nick: "Canadian post-rock"? - count me in
 

 Tim: Well that was nice and easy. Tickets booked. Tue 14/12 7pm.

Next up, who fancies two friendlies at the Emirates Stadium a week Saturday? Celtic v Lyons and Arsenal v AC Milan. Possibly less of a goer than Canadian post-rock, but seeing as that turned out to be unexpectedly popular then maybe this will too.
 

 Steve: Er football is a def no from me thanks!
 

 Tim: Well that's lucky because there's actually only one ticket going spare.

Also I've just realised that's the same weekend you were on about, I read it as August 31/1(Sep) by mistake. Which days might you have off, 2nd and 3rd?
 

 Steve: Yes I'd go for the 2nd/3rd I think.
 

 Steve: OK well I have booked the whole week off as D is off and the boys are around. So you could come to me for a bit or I can come down there, whatever...
 

 nick: so that's the week 2nd-6th august? I should be able to have time off then, will confirm

nick
 

 Steve: BTW we should be planning for a weekend London ride before the summer's out! The weather has been pretty amazing so far this year, can it last?
 

 nick: Yes a London ride would be great. Weather has been stunning

Post about the Dunwich Dynamo on today's paper - sounds like a good event, although no way I'm going to do it this weekend.
 

 Steve: I reckon I could do it but the dark sounds a bit bad (and good). I've done a small amount of riding at night in the country with a normal light and in trees you can't see a thing.

Still haven't looked into the cheap bike scheme I'm afraid. We have so many bikes at home that another one would be about the limit. Maybe I'll find a way to justify it.
 

 Tim: Nick, are we riding Saturday morning, or are you going to rescue us with an excuse?
 

 nick: I'd forgotten about that.

No I can't manage tomorrow, sorry - excuse is Ella's cousin is staying so I'd like to be around for possible excursions

I'll update with other possible dates though...
 

 Tim: That's good enough for me.
 

 Steve: Currently weekends 28th Aug & 4th Sept free.
 

 Tim: I've booked next Friday off (6th), good plan?
 

 nick: I'm sorry to have been late in replying.

I am expecting to be off next week Wednesday onwards although I just noticed I have a dentist appt on Friday at 2pm which I don't expect will take long but makes it easier if I'm near home (it's just a checkup)

Are you at home alone Steve or is Deborah/boys around? I'd fancy doing a London ride although that would be best at weekend. If Tim fancies a ride we could do the HE/MD one which is always good (Tim is good at planning routes).

I would quite like to see the GBS house that Steve mentioned previously. Also wouldn't mind visiting the Winston Churchill place, although I realise both these might be a repeat for Steve.

nick
 

 nick: Actually this sunday I could be in London, so if it's a possibility could manage a ride then
 

 Tim: I'm not available this Sunday but don't let me hold you back.
 

 Steve: Ok I have spoken to Nick and I/we will go down to Basing late next week returning Sat AM or Fri night. Maybe arrive Wed night or Thursday.

Book recommendation: The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe. Rivetting account of the Mercury programme from the astronauts and their families' points of view. At times laugh-out-loud funny, my respect goes out to those guys.

BTW I've called Nick's bluff on a ride tomorrow and I'm waiting for the email :)
 

 nick: OK the thing the girls are going to tomorrow is "Underage Festival" in Victoria Park. Looks like I'll be driving them there and then probably I will collect them later (or maybe Lesley will), so I think theoretically it would be possible to do something in between but I think the logistics and contingencies are going to be a bit complicated so I think I'll bottle out of a cycle ride tomorrow.
 

 Tim: Right, well I'm free Friday, also Thursday evening and/or Sat a.m. as appropriate. Available with car or bike as appropriate and can travel or you can come here or anything.
 

 Tim: At the moment the forecast for Friday is PM light rain, so we might be OK in the morning?...
 

 nick: I am in the office tomorrow but will be home by
7pm if you're coming then Steve

This weekend it is Balloons Over Basingstoke with mass launch at 6pm Friday evening, could be worth a go if we're in the area - bring cameras for some good cliched hot air ballon shots
e
 

 nick: Also I cancelled my dentist appt on Friday so I am free all day, if we want to cycle and weather is dodgy this gives a bit more freedom
 

 Steve: Will be just Paul and me - current plan. Arrive late evening Wednesday with road bikes!
 

 nick: ok great - do you want to eat when you get here?
 

 Tim: Ha ha, good one.
 

 Steve: Actually we will eat at Luton thanks (can't get the quantities anywhere else).
 

 Tim: What do I need to do then, turn up Thurs night or Fri am, or are you coming down here..?
 

 nick: Tim - I don't know yet, we'll give you a call
this evening? when steve and paul have arrived
and discussed
 

 Tim: OK, or just post instructions here (dunno if you'll see this though).
 

 nick: Hi Tim

OK it's just Steve - Paul didn't come down this evening but might cycle to Basingstoke on Friday

Checking the weather it looks like Thursday is the best day, so would you be able to get to MD station early tomorrow (Thu) evening so we could cycle with you back to HE? Then either you come back to B'stoke with us Thu night or we leave you there and re-rendezvous on Friday morning.

nick
 

 Tim: Isn't it going to work better if you train it down here for about 17:30 and we cycle HE->NW? Maybe I'm missing something...
 

 nick: OK good idea. (Reasons for the initial suggestion are too involved to go into but not very compelling)

We'll come on the train that gets to HE at 5.34pm.

We've got food+lodgings sorted out for you at this end when you get here.

Look forward to seeing you later
 

 Tim: OK great.
 

 Steve: Excellent couple of days thanks boys.

Paul has your speakers and amp setup and is really pleased to have proper hi-fi. Just need to solder the plugs and work out if he can use the digital output from his PC rather than the headphones one. Band of Brothers was certainly good!

Had fun with the PC you gave us Nick. To clean it out I decided to take the heatsink cover off. i undid the screws and it was stick not budging so I pulled and it wrenched the CPU out of the socket! The heatsink gunk had set like glue. I had to straighten a couple of pins so I hope it's okay as I have ordered more memory for it.

Weekends I said before are the 28th Aug and 4th Sep but i will check again.
 

 nick: Happy Birthday Steve

Was great to see you at the weekend. As I came home on Wednesday, I was feeling frustrated at having to stop work (lots on at the moment and it's quite interested) but I forgot that pretty quickly and by Monday was almost resenting the fact that I was having to come in to work.

Glad the PC/amp are ok. I hope there is nothing embarrassing left on the PCs disk. I think I mostly used it for work, so maybe just trade secrets.

I think both weekends you mention are OK, best for me would be 28th Sep

nick
 

 Steve: Yes a birthday at work is odd as I usually am on holiday. I bought expensive cakes from a french baker, supreme quality over quantity definitely!

The disk was wiped/repartitioned by Paul - he was straight onto the task!

Do you mean the 28th of Aug - this is the PROM so you will be a bit tired? (Berg violin concerto as well) Sun 29th may be better as Tim can have the Monday off :)
 

 nick: Ohh.. I had it in my mind that the prom was on a Sunday.


I don't mind cycling/prom on the same day, I will be fitter than when we went to the Barbican. And Tim said Saturdays were best for him. But I can manage 28 or 29 whichever is more convenient.

any pictures of the cakes?
 

 nick: listening to "Incantations" at the moment - pretty gorgeous. No sign of a re-issue that I can see though
 

 Tim: An expert stated in 2009 on the Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incantations_(album) that it will be reissued in 2010 on the new label, no more info than that though.
 

 Steve: Yes I've looked for ages for the equivalent remaster to the ones I have and you just can't get it. Reading 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' at the moment and really enjoying it.

Thanks for the cards BTW.
 

 Tim: I read that recently, what a great book.
 

 nick: I read it in 2005. I think I liked it.
 

 Tim: Any idea why you thought the book would be harder to understand without having seen the film?
 

 Steve: I'll admit I had trouble working out what was going on especially when he is talking about the Rachel robot who seems to be in 2 places at once. And the Mercer stuff?

Paul and Matt really hated the film so I need to give that another try sometime.
 

 nick: re: why the book would be harder without having seen the film: can't really remember why I said that - I'd have to read it again. Have you seen the film Tim? I think the film is interesting to watch - the sets are famously impressive. Try to watch the version that doesn't have the Harrison Ford voiceover though (I can't remember if that's the director's cut or not)
 

 nick: My brother (Tim) came to stay this weekend. I told him we'd been to Wagamama and that the waitress had said the word didn't mean anything in particular. But he said, "it's Japanese for 'selfish'". Which seems to be borne out by Wikipedia.
 

 Steve: She seemed very definite with her answer - in order to get away from Foggy, Compo and Clegg.

Book recommendation:

Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri

Can't say any more else Tim won't read it!
 

 Tim: I've read one of his, I'll try and dig it out.
 

 nick: What news of Matt's results then?
 

 nick: This Saturday we're planning on the Dartford cycle ride, with a follow-up concert at RAH for Steve and I. Tim, how are you sorted for Saturday? I had in mind the idea that you'd be able to do the ride with us, so do you want to co-ordinate on trains to Waterloo?
 

 Tim: That does sound vaguely familiar, so maybe I've cocked up here, but no I can't do Saturday. Carry on though!

Btw generally speaking, evenings are a bit rubbish for riding now but we should still be able to fit in some Saturday mornings. How does 4 Sept look?
 

 nick: Tim maybe you knew this already but tonight at 9pm on Film4 is the Director's cut of Amadeus maybe Tina would be interested
 

 Tim: Luckily she's got that on DVD.
 

 Tim: How did they go then, the ride and the concert?
 

 Tim: Apart from that then, what's happening next?

There's been a lot of uncertainty round these parts about a holiday, but now we're booked in for October 1 - 13.

I'm probably going to fit in a day off before then, if there's anything to fit in with, let me know.
 

 nick: Oops sorry about the lack of updates. I'll post some pictures taken on the ride day later on.

Was pretty good and we were lucky with the weather, only caught a bit of rain in the last sprint through the city to Steve's office. I did feel quite tired but managed to stay awake for the prom which was a good one (well, the 9th was good, less convinced about the Berg)

Seems like Steve has got a new bike, so we probably need to arrange an opportunity for him to let us see it (in the distance, way ahead)
 

 nick: just listening to "Drama" and it's quite good. I think I'd have been surprised to know, back in 1980, that I'd come to like it quite a lot.
 

 Tim: Lets have a picture and a new post then, Nick. Meanwhile I should be available for a Sat a.m. ride, if that's any good?
 

 Steve: New post.