2488 Cycling miles this year.

So, just for the record, since April, i've been cycling to work.
Via my Cardio Trainer we recorded:
Sunday 27 Feb. through to Monday 4 July = 851.71miles
I then changed to the Endomondo tracker and clocked:
Tuesday 5 July through  Thurs 22 Dec = 1636.93 miles
So that's 2488 miles recorded this year.
A wheely HAPPY NEW YEAR all!

Eat me!! Mini Meat Pies!

Christmas Eve, (Annie's) Mini Meat Pies!

It seems every Christmas I remember from Cornwall included these mini marvels! But take my word for it they don't hang around, soooooo morish - ansome me lover! From what I recall, this is me mum's recipe with a few twists.

- Pastry, whatever you fancy either shortcrust,  flakey or puff (above's with Short and Puff mixed! 'cos we ran out). Sorry, didn't make me own, it's too easy to take of off the shelf.

Easy...
- 1 large finely chopped onion.
- 6-7 mushrooms, finely chopped.
- pack of mince 500g.
Lea and Perrins.
Balsamic Vinegar.
1 Oxo Cube.
1 egg.

(i) with a yummy knob of butter fry onions, mushrooms till browning.
(ii) remove the above to a bowl.
(iii) in same pan fry mince (with a touch of salt and a good grind of pepper) till browning, then add the fried onions and mushrooms.
(iv) add to the pan, a shake and a bit of Lea & Perrins, a shake and bit of Balsamic Vinegar and sprinkle on one Oxo Cube. If too dry add a splash of water.
(v) fry till mixed and cooked.

(vi) Roll out your pastry and cut out appropriately sized circles with top of a glass/cup and place into greased pie/muffin/tart trays.
(vii) Cut out circle lids from same cutter.

(viii) put filling mix onto pies.
(ix) brush the inside edge of the lids with egg and place the tops on the pies.
(x) I use a smaller egg-cup to push down the lids on the pies to ensure the egg 'glues' the edges.
(xi) brush the tops of pies with egg.

Cook for 20mins in a 200deg oven.

Eat! over the coming days, warm or cold. But to be honest they'll be gone in a few hours.

Sing... Sing... Sing... look, feel, think, share...

It's time again for light and darkness, warmth and cold, myth and meaning… a time when to be honest we get a bit giddy. When we sing jolly songs, tell fantastic tales, and polish the tarnished days so that charm glows through once more. It’s been a long year. January seems an age ago.

However, This was shared with me and I just have to pass it on...

From all here, we wish you a hearty Christmas time.

May all cockles be warmed and your lamps burn bright so that your new-year starts with warmth, light and story or two to cherish.

Gingerbread Biscuit time!!

Here's the recipe for Great Nana Daisy’s
Gingerbread Biscuits
from Porthleven Cornwall.

1 pound plain Flour
half a pound Marg
half a pound Sugar
1 desert spoon Baking Powder
1 desert spoon Bi-carb
Half ounce Cinnamon
2 teaspoons Ginger
A pinch salt
7oz warmed syrup

- Mix dry ingredients.
- Rub in marg.
- Add warmed syrup

Form into walnut sized balls and dab top into sugar.

Bake in a hot oven 10-14mins.

Enjoy!

You can't beat a good old SING!

Global Harmony is a mixed a cappella world music choir based in Melton Mowbray. I've been part of GH since 2008. Last week we had a great Christmas Concert at St Mary's Church in Melton!

Above is a recording of  'the blokes and Vera' singing the traditional Croatian song 'U poju se mala'.
(Photo from last year)

Rough Translation:
In the field, a little, Orange tree is swaying. It's not because of the wind, a little, Nor for the bright sun.
But a maiden, a little, In a great sorrow, For her mother, a little, Is giving her to a widower.

Below is a video of the choir singing 'Kakilambe', an African ritual dance tune. This name is also used to refer to different percussion patterns in African music.

It really is a great experience to be part of Global Harmony over the last few years. It truly is a privilege and a joy to experience and be able to sing with such a vibrant bunch!  It is perhaps only as a collective that the human spirit really excels.

If you live near Melton and fancy a challenge on Monday evenings, come along!  www.globalharmony.org.uk

What if Immanuel? Ordinary people, ordinary place, extraordinary story

I've produced some artwork recently for a project portraying people from a local village in Leicestershire and relating them to characters in 'The Christmas Story'.
The local church identified 9 nativity characters and 9 corresponding pictures of people from contemporary village life. An interesting piece of creativity! It's to be on display in a shop window in Sibson Road in Birstall, for shoppers and passers by. Ordinary people, ordinary place, extraordinary story.

http://gallery.me.com/julesrichards#100291

It caused me to ponder various things... the obvious: 'what if a God was one of us?'
The seasonal: Immanuel, 'God is with us'?
"The Christmas Story" a curious story that I'm told differs in each gospel account and has had heaps tagged onto it over the years... to the point that I wonder if elves and reindeer were present in the stable? Oh and coke cola and red stuff.
God became man... ? We can wonder at the significance of the prophesied birth. Light and angelic hope...
I dunno...
The project above asks, if it happened today, "where would you (and I) be in it"?
Hummm... I can't imagine...

I'd like to think that I could sense the majesty and grace of such a prospective happening, but can't see myself as the chosen host, the visitors, the authorities or the worshippers... but I guess I am still one of the 'us'.
Immanuel, 'God is with us'?

Check it out anyway, it's produced by the Methodist Church in Birstall all credit to Rachel Parkinson and her team. It's on Sibson Road Birstall - from next week. Ordinary people, ordinary place, extraordinary story.

http://gallery.me.com/julesrichards#100291

Not much room...

I‘ve taken my foot off the gas recently - Imagination at dis-ease; as others are familiar, occasionally ‘stuff’ causes one’s picture of reality to confuse, fail and break-up.

I am reminded that paradigms power one’s perception, and perceptions power emotions. When the mind needs to create, see and feel ‘more’, the picture can blur and a cauldron of emotion and logic can tend to boil over ‘a tad’... So back to the reuptake  inhibitors.

Hence the lack of something to blog...

- Went to see singer/songwriter Martyn Joseph recently; an annual pilgrimage over the last 25 years; but in recent years he’s left me identifying with his song but disappointed or uncertain with my resolutions. As ever, great live music but the honest emotion didn’t help lighten the load.

- Turned 43 recently, that didn’t help lighten the load either.

- The prospect of the overinflated season of ‘want’ that’s approaching, doesn’t help.

Many years ago, relating to a certain lack of support from an academic institution, I casually complained that I felt as though we’d been drop-kicked and left to flounder in an undirected... yadda yadda...
My perspective was turned when it was pointed out that perhaps ‘a dropkick’ can potentially lead to points being scored, a goal, an achievement...  Easily said...

Here’s to being drop-kicked and riding with the curve...
Recent ponderings... the nature of 'motivation' and also ongoing wonderings about the mystery, rhythm and austerity of the 'natural' world...
...oh and fungi!
Images: Bradgate, Beacon HIll, East Goscote

Which way would you go? And why?

On my commute yesterday, reluctantly, I had reason to take another trip through suburban leicester rather than my usual rural route, as the crow (or barn owl) flies.
You'll be aware of my previous reaction to the experience of this specific suburban cycling route.  However, having ridden this route again, I still have the same opinions...
But I was led to think....

In life generally, I guess it's my nature to generally take the easier more pleasurable option. Surely would it not be madness not to?

My usual choice, is relatively comfortable; I enjoy flowing familiarity with negligible hurdles and man-made encounters. It is raw, spatial and rich in the spirit of something 'natural' (?)... It's relatively smooth and takes me where I intend to go... skirting intriguing worlds and lives with little incident... yes, it does have has it's unforeseen encounters but it's a an enjoyable option.

An alternative choice is a way populated with life in abundance. Much of what you'll find is in either in need of care and attention, badly designed, or both. It's past is evident, daily life and common culture are stamped on walls and faces. You'll encounter raw humanity... 'warts and all', but also what you find is rich in living lives, both sweet and sour.

Do Robert Frost's thoughts apply? Challenge? Avoidance? Survival? Common Sense?


Which way would you go? And why?

Look local first!

After unsuccessfully visiting two larger city cycle shops this morning, I popped into the 'small on the outside, big on the inside' local town shop. I was after a quality chargeable front light for my bike - for commuting daily using unlit country lanes.
It's fine immersing yourself in the supposedly 'this is what you need, 'cos this is want everyone else has' on the interweb, but perhaps 'real' life is more... real, amenable, alive...?

• The first large Half-auto store I passed; which adversities "For everything to do with bikes..."; didn't have ANY rechargeable lights and what it had was relatively basic and arguably not suitable.
• The second shop (an old standard of Nottingham origins) was helpful and informative and although they could order some (can't we call) didn't stock ANY rechargeable lights, and again what it had was relatively basic and arguably not suitable.
• Embarrassingly, my last choice, because I was passing on the way home, (and to be honest I thought it was a big ask for a small shop to stock a large range of accessories) to my surprise had just the thing!

They were welcoming, knowledgable and helpful.
The Serfas 'True 250' is just what I was looking for. 

The spec and the price was just right - and having compared it's credentials further I'm very pleased with it. It was a great to be able to see and try a range of options before I bought.

Thanks Cyclops, I had little faith but next time 'Cyclops Cycles' Cyclopscycles.co.uk in Syston will be my first choice.

Distant seasoning... drawing nearer...

That time of year again... when things hint at becoming sparkly, spiced and warming... (that's if you can find your way through the froth, the jingle-jingle and the plastic saturnalia).

But if you fancy something different in December and you're near Melton on 10th, come and listen to the unaccompanied sounds of Global Harmony in the seasoned setting of St Mary's Church Melton.

If you've not heard Global Harmony before check out; a bit of audio.  You get a taste from the above, but there's nowt quite like the real thing - if something a little different is your cuppa tea that is (with a hint of rooibos perhaps)!  I'm digressing and waffling again... or am I waffgressing... ?

Anyway... Global Harmony .

Life's too short to finish it early!

If you are fully aware of the info below, please share this with a friend...

- When passing cyclists, give them plenty of room, time and space to manoeuvre.
- Before overtaking make sure there’s a room ahead
- Allow plenty of room... do not cut in.
- Give cyclists at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car.
- You MUST NOT overtake by crossing a solid white line... unless cycle’s travelling at 10 mph or less.

I WAS NOT FULLY AWARE...

[Laws RTA 1988 sect 36, TSRGD regs 10, 22, 23 & 24, ZPPPCRGD reg 24]

Motorcyclists and cyclists

211  It is often difficult to see cyclists... Always look out for them before you manoeuvre...   Be sure to check

mirrors and blind spots carefully.

212-3  When passing cyclists, give them plenty of room. Give them time and space to manoeuvre.

Overtaking

162 Before overtaking you should make sure the road is sufficiently clear ahead and that there is a suitable

gap in front of the road user you plan to overtake.

163 Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so.

You should allow plenty of room... do not cut in.

Give cyclists at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car.

165 You MUST NOT overtake by crossing a solid white line...

You may cross the line to overtake a cycle if they are travelling at 10 mph or less.

You MUST NOT overtake the nearest vehicle to a pedestrian crossing...

You MUST NOT overtake by entering a lane reserved for other vehicles...

If you are able to download a FREE sheet of 5 bookmarks to print, trim & share, here's a link: FREE Bookmarks

SPONSORSHIP: If you know of bodies that might simply sponsor the production and distribution of such an important road safety message, then contact the Bookmark People; ranging from a few thousand homes to an entire region, they can place targeted library bookmarks which can deliver your message uniquely to the heart of the community.

 
Alternatively just share this post!    Life's too short to finish early!

Feeding Eli...

You may be aware that we have a menagerie in the household with the beloved Cheese, Pickles and Bryher, (as well as umpteen inanimate bears and things) but our wet friends always give us cause to chill and wonder.
Over the years we've had a healthy tank and been lucky to only seen a handful of residents depart for the tank in the sky (bin). One of the oldest present residents is Dyson the 4" Bristlenosed Pleco Ancistrus, alas not seen in the above vid as he hides under a log now and lets the younger fish strut. We have a Cameroon Armoured Shrimp who again resides mainly in his hole, but does venture forth to shed his skin occasionally. Another oldie is Cory the Corydoras who we've had from early days, about 4 years. The others are an assortment, with this spring's addition of a few Guppies now continually populating (and feeding the big boys) with live young! Talking of big boys, of course there's the prowling Sharky the Red Tailed Shark, who the little-ones let believe 'is in charge'.
The video above shows the bidiem ritual of feeding Eli the Fire Eel. We got Eli while almost an elver about 2 years ago, then ~ 3", now you see he's about 6" but he could grow to 20"...  w-e'll see.

I never knew...

PZ. 114 "The Energetic' (The Richards Family - Porthleven pre-1948)

Em and I have been having a bit of a 'Downton Abbey Fest' recently, watching the first series on BT Vision. We missed it the first time round; I guess sumt else was on at the same time and to be honest the prospect did not appeal.

But for me the notions of atavism, ghosts, ubuntu, or summint are never far from the surface. And DA certainly pricks a few bubbles - as did the new 'Upstairs Downstairs' last year. Where are we from and who are we? I never knew...

Yes, I 'm aware that it WAS tough... and I have no doubt that "we don't know we're born", but... watching these early 1900s  period dramas brings on a feeling of loss, a certain sadness, as well as a glassy warmth of romance and starched better values(?)

I know I was a babe in the 1970s, but the very little that I recall from paternal nana Daisy's life from "Wilfred Villa" Breageside in Porthleven, is a world away from now and rings of days gone by that I never knew but possibly did get a hint of... 

I recall a pantry and 'the cabin'. I recall the smell of the cliff-side kitchen, brassware and wooden furniture. Picture rails, chair arm covers, dinner gongs. I was of course on a lower level and recall the mystery of big heavy doors with wooden(?) keyhole covers. Big warm rooms and cold hallways. Big wooden furniture, leather, silver, copper... introduced plastic that struggled to fit with the rest of the room...  Leather satchels, big warm coats - we don't wear big warm coats anymore! Cars without seatbelts, the back seat on the long trip home... the feel of plastic car-seat on my cheek... sleep.

It's only a start, I really can't recall what I might remember, who knows what we soak up when we're young... perhaps 'twas a previous life... but I DO KNOW, I never knew something...

Sunrise Sunday, ultimately faulty?

Woken this morning by a poorly daughter - (barking like a seal on silk-cut). Bless her, she's suffering this weekend. Calpol and 'stuff' are hopefully doing their thing.
So a bedtime cuppa for the wife and 'Milkshake (5)' for t'other little lady, and off out on the pedals for an hour. The outing was briefly awesome!

After a twittering with Martyn Joseph last night (sorry Wales - gutted for u!) I've booked some tickets for Nov. It's been 5+ years since I saw MJ after probably 20+ years of seeing him at least once a year!
So I stuck an album on the pod which for the last few years sat collecting dust. The old MJ stuff has just not been resonating in the last few years, even a bit of a turn off... I've been on a different track recently.
This morning some of his offerings did again almost ring with recent recovering thoughts and feelings.
Can't sum up the experience save to say the ride was bracing. 3°C, 8.30am, rabbits, pheasants, birds of all kinds but notably buzzards. We have what must be a family (4 or 5) that live nearby and this morning one joined me on my ride for a minute. It soared over the hedge and followed me along the road for 20-30 seconds before circling a field and perching in a roadside tree - oh I wish I had the Lumix, alas the HTC wasn't up to the job.
At the moment I'm tentatively reading 'The Shack', a library angel put it in my hand! (Another story). I'll report back if i survive it.
I'd like to list the other cultural material that's popping and fizzing at the mo. but can't think. Let's just say stuff's simmering and I occasionally get a whiff of something stimulating... we'll see... hope it doesn't boil dry.
Highs on the ride this morning were utterly ecstatic; I find myself laughing out loud as I reach a summit or simply a hint of epiphanic 'life'; we then roll back down to norms and onward...
My only concern at the mo is that 'glory' goes to my perception of seemingly 'natural' phenomena while I avoid the death and natural 'fall' also abundant around us. I rejoice over 'life', and it seems it's the 'human' interference and conceptions that fail and mar the outlook.  Nature is a harsh if beautiful thing, I wonder if humanity can be beautiful as well as harsh and ultimately faulty.

Natural - Human?

A good old crusty loaf!!

With the challenge set after tweeting GBBO's Holly a fellow Leicestershirianite(?), I set to bashing some dough round!

A good old crusty loaf!
As I pummelled the dough I was reminded of the muppet in the white van that terrorised me on the way home the other day.
I was in 'my space' on the road, with a car in front of me, and they (the white van) seemed to have had a bad day and were not happy (i guess) that I was in front of them? Sor-rry! Revving their engine and blasting their horn behind me, they followed me for a good 900 yards unable to get by. They did eventually overtake me when there was room, and broke infront of me as if to make a point. It left me a tad shaken and seriously wondering if all this cycling malarky was worth it!?
Yes, on the way home a few dozen drivers race-off accelerating away like missled lemmings after being inconvenienced for 10 seconds! Oh I do hope they get there in time!!
But cycling IS worth the occasional encounter with a ready-sliced roadster! Life is worth living. Breath is worth breathing! Time is worth spending! Bread is worth cutting!
I do wonder why so many people are in such a rush to get somewhere? Life's too short to get their early!
Driving home from work used to take me 25 minutes. Riding takes me 35.
OK some may think I'm a bit of a crusty old loaf for cycling to work but take if from me - it tastes good!!!
Ta Holly!

Joy!

Joy! Warm and satisfying? Cool and fuzzy?

We made time today just to chill - we took ourselves and the kids to Bradgate for a stroll. Just walking in the fresh air was a great tonic against the noise of 'daily stuff'.
With the kids it can be* easy to make any simple thing into an adventure (*given opportunity - but that's another story). An unplanned portion of cake and a coffee helped halfway round!
Just sitting watching how the kids are growing into little people with ideas and characters of their own is grounding. Emma asked "can you see the deer?!" and P said "yes, I need a beer!" (not sure where that came from).
The clarity of the autumnal sky is striking. The seasonal adaption of nature; shrinking, slowing, fading - the moderation from the ornamentation of summer can be cleansing.
Back home we had a quick look back at some home-movie of A&P from a few years back and were reminded of the miracle of growth, and the blessings of shared experience.
Perhaps it's difficult to summarise feelings of joy? It's seems to be not an objective incident but a fleeting human feeling or thought that can either be embraced or ignored? Let's just say; if you hear a breath, absorb it; if you see a wisp, grab hold of it; if you receive anything, share it, somehow!
Joy and life will not last - if it's real, then after blooming, it may well eventually relax and rest back for a new awakening with someone else, at another time, in another place.
The tides of Mount's bay and a private Camelot will always come and go, at least in my mind they will. It's miraculous how they can be 'felt' over high fields in Charnwood. Count your blessings, name them one by one...

My only concern is that this joy seems a selfish experience, and is often not shared with others. That's what's missing... I feel that light, when kept to oneself is not true light but darkness. If it cannot be seen then it will not rejuvenate, it may as well die.
Ooops slipped, this post was intended to be a positive post.
Had a good walk amongst blue sky today! Hope you have too.
Happy days! 

An alternative route...

Oh deary me… I’ve calmed down a tad now! 

I cycled an alternative route into Leicester today.

For the last 6 months I have cycled the 7 miles route into St. George’s Retail Park from Goscote:

http://routes.bikehub.co.uk/journey/1184891/

  

But I recently wondered if a less-traffic-ed less risky route via “cycle ways” http://lbbd.cyclemaps.org.uk/signs/ and “the like, might be an alternative option in the dark or inclement weather.

And so ventured forth:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=201003114899875175931.0004ae91e1e4733681442&msa=0

Oh Dear Me! I bit my lip and restrained myself with my initial post-ride tweet!

“I’ll write more when I’ve calmed down! Alternative route into Leicester using less trafficed cycle infrastructure(?) AB-SOOOOO-LUTE JOKE!”

OK I am ignorant of the facts, and am not in a position to criticise, I should fall in line a let the affluenca drive by, but sorry, it was an absolute joke.

Perhaps because the road route I’ve been used to over the last 6 months has been a relatively enjoyable casual ride all the way in see comments here:

http://julesprichards.blogspot.com/2011/09/velocipeding.html

But I don’t know what to say about today’s experience. (forgive me, I am not familiar with the technical terms of the attempted cycle infrastructure)

(a) the quality shared cycle way from Goscote to Syston is unusable between 8-9 as its FULL of school children. Try and use it at your peril!

(b) the route through Syston, as oppose to the county route around it, is ridden with potential obstacles and hazards – It requires full attention at all times.

(c) traffic is heavier and faster and arguable less tolerant of cyclists on this route!

(d) the cycle path area on the road (and the paths later on) is frequently dirty and dusty with potential puncture hazards, I usually cycle further out in the road to avoid such.

(e) the suburban junctions are busier and being used more aggressively than those on the rural route.

(f) having to negotiate cycle ways that go onto pavements and off pavements and then utilise pedestrian crossings etc is a confusing pain in the backside.

(g) the suburbs are not attractive.

(h) the shared cycle way from Thrum to Leicester is potholed, dirty and in a state of bad repair. Where this crosses junctions etc. protocol is anyone’s guess, confusing and hazardous.

(i) lack of a clear route across Troon Way at the old Thorn Lighting crossroads is laughable and dangerous!

(j) route continues in poor condition

(k) route through park for 2 minutes is nice (and relax) but not sure I should be cycling on the footpath.
(l) off the main Melton Road, cycling through terraced suburbs is OK but constant vigilance is needed and roads are not in good condition and regular junctions, parking and hump hazards need careful passage. Not to mention ill-informed parents teaching their kids ‘street survival’ by not using crossings and walkways but just jaywalking every-which-way! Don’t get me started on that!

(m) the rat-run through the terraces is not idea due to the parking etc which needs constant vigilance if you’re not to be taken out by a pedestrian or a car-door etc.

The consequence of the above saw me get to work in a state of agitated high-tension, to say the least. If my reaction is subjective then the objective facts above are enough to rule it out as a practical alternative. I usually take 30mins on average to cover the 7miles. This trip also of 7miles took 40mins. That’s a 30+% longer!?

If city planners (or how ever it is that implements such) expect more people to cycle and use such facilities they are seriously short-sighted or indeed having a laugh!

Back to the country-route tomorrow.

Talking a bath!??

I recently asked, what is "this"... we have an urge to do “this”, to look further, to ask and to share, to grow to be thankful...
“This” is ultimately fulfilling, enriching and purging...
It’s not interested in assumptions and restrictions...
It can be vibrant and effervescent as well as reflective and contemplative...
It can focus goodness and growth and transform decay and death...
It’s more than that...
It’s fecundity, nurture, and cleansing
It’s for the multitude and the you...
What am I...?

And a friend answered... "a bath?" This made me smile 'cos to a certain extent it was a right answer. Humm....

The above was actually my initial response to the question in a contemporary context what is "worship"?

Do what?.. to celebrate... simulate... reflect a bigger picture, of the right-eous, the essence of life and growth... of a god?
With a post-evangelical, post-'churchless-faith' mindset, I'm afraid I find myself having to start with a blank page.
I have found past experiences of Christian subcultural behaviour to ultimately be disappointing, distracting and unhelpful.
I've entertained various approaches and seen vibrant and effervescent celebrations as well as reflective and contemplative encounters and will agree that goodness can be focused, shared and grown in many Christian meetings, however sometimes meetings can become self-fulfilling.

Clubs are all well and good but to me the idea of celebrating the essence of a God-centered truth should be more than a club activity.

I hoped real living life might lead to a truer worship than some labeled coded activities - but alas individualism is ultimately 'in vain'...

'In vain' we individually search for sense, reason, peace and 'more' - but often on our terms. I do wish to look further than myself but as you might expect it seems impossible for one to see beyond what one can see - especially when ones experience of others is disappointing, distracting and unhelpful.

But the interaction between things is what makes them fecund, or as someone else once put it 'where two or more a gathered, there will I be there also' - I agree we need to meet and share to feed the multitude... but I'm not sure we need to sing "shine Jesus shine"... ?

I'm going for a bath.

Never in a month of Sundays... !

In January the idea of it was simply crazy and i though it was just "not an option"!

The proposition of Cycling to work once a week? Seriously never in a month of Sundays!
Seriously not an option:
(i) I'd get wet and cold and be a gibbering wreck when I got to work.
(ii) I really don't fancy the ride home after a day at work.
(iii) It's too far.
(iv) It would take too long.
(v) The traffic would be a nightmare.
(vi) I like my podcasts in the car.
(vii)...







After a few months and a transition to cycling daily.
(i) Buzzing! and 'UP FOR IT!' when i get to work. (weather not an issue if right clothing worn).
(ii) Take it from me, surprisingly the ride home is a great tonic!
(iii) 7 miles is a breeze!
(iv) On an average day, car takes 30mins and bike takes 35mins.
(v) The traffic is surprisingly courteous to cyclists. It is not an issue in the city or on the Barkby lanes. Your'll always get occasional ignorant vans, BMercW drivers and daydreamers. Claim your space, be aware and courteous.

(vi) Podcasts on the bike are good (low volume), and when the right track's on and you reach the top of a country incline there's nuthin to beat it.
(vii) ...

‎05/07/11-29/09/11 804miles, recorded on CardioTrainer
27/02/11-04/07/11 851miles, recorded on Endomndo
Total recorded miles 1656.44miles March-Sept    Cycling Records

A few ales, and all becomes clear!

It's been a long while since I had more than a few ales. "Beer money" turns into "morthercare-toysrus-school-etc" money!  You parents know what I mean!

However, last weekend Em & I went out on what turned out to be 'a jolly'!  Didn't we have a laugh!  We started in the OT in Loughborough and ended up in the Fox in Syston, somehow...   The girls from the pool will tell you, but then again they probably can't recall much either! Some good ales and a great night out.

"Oh how silly & childish, tisk tisk", but oh what fun!  I have no hair to let down but believe me I gave it my best shot. I think...

After almost 6 months of alcohol free living earlier this year, by June I'd rejoined reality(?).  It's lead me to question our substance intake and I've come to NO conclusions whatsoever.  I have taken up caffeine as a regular stimulant and of course enjoy the GP's recommended inhibitors - happy daze I guess.(?)  Oh and of course "cheese"!

Trying too hard to make sense of a wild-erness we live in can lead one into a place where ideas are unfounded and unfocused, where things fall apart, where structure collapses...  Some joys might be false structures but at least they might be con-cre(a)te.

The resonance between: reality of a happy focused(?) conducted view and the dream of a lost expansive wild(?) view...   hummm.

Always looking for "more" in things. Perhaps my omnipresent chimera can be just as disillusionary(?) as my realities.

As mentioned in "bubbles", realities are built around us and some struggle to see through them - either way...

Familia... yearning real fellowship, familiarity, friendliness... Maintenance? Feeding? Nurture? Interaction? Pollination?

Perhaps occasionally we disciple-ine ourselves too much, perhaps we lose the fantastical structure that can develop "really" naturally... ?

Have a beer (or 9)!

Velocipeding

I have been cycling to & fro' work now week-daily since March, 7 miles each way.

My cycling log

At rough tally, I guess I’ve saved 14 miles of fuel a day that’s ~£1.35×2 for a 7mpl car. That’s ~£54 a month. Hummm...  I have bought a bike & various bits & pieces, which really needs a year of cycling to offset. But the above is still a nice monthly fuel saving, and extra exercise costs (time & money) not are required.

Health benefits: perhaps immeasurable – Last year I toyed with swimming twice a week at lunch times but although initially enjoyable after 6-7 months the novelty wore off (you don't get a nice view and you can't listen to podcasts while swimming). Generally I encountered as little exercise as possible. Now that I cycle, I see good aerobic activity twice a day. The daily endorphin hits are invaluable. The daily experience is arguably also more constructive than a similar trip in a car/bus and cerebrally, thoughts and feelings get a more intense workout. The experience is arguably exhilarating and elevating, depending on your psychological position/attitude in the road-space social-class struggle – this does need to be kept in check.

Today we had a beautiful fresh morning for the journey in - I've started to take a slightly easier pace (today helped by 'Hothouse Flowers' in the headset)… and when it's dry I'm wearing less clothing, this helps with the 'afterglow' when I reach my destination. Less sweat! Thanks Dave.

However, the commute home last night... drenchchchchched!  Great riding in the rain rain rain really is invigorating, but I ended up a drowned rat. Water/windproof top kept my torso dry but my head, shoes, socks and long cycle-trousers absolutely sodden. Fun fun!

Don't tell ma Cornish Cousins...

Carrot and mushrooms?! I'll be struck off!! To be honest we usually put Mushrooms in but our oggies but this time we also were short of turnip (or swede to you english) and so carrot it had to be! (carrot with a tad cardamom cumin & honey). Yup, I might as well be Devonian, the relies will not speak t'me for years! It's bad enough that I live in England! Anyway...

Beef skirt, Teddies, Onions, Carrot!? (would ideally be Turnip), Mushrooms...  

Pastry... you choose, should be short crust but them in Redruth do it different to them in Camborne...

Stick it in with a liberal mix of salt and pepper. Egg the seam.

Crimp the 'ugger! 

Ready for the range! 

Happy days! ...tomorrow!

Don't listen to the words, listen to the...

Hummm... nowt sp’cific to say... however...

We’ve started back with Global Harmony this week, which will be my 4th year with them - time flies.
What I enjoy about GH is the 'expressive' experience - ‘meaning’ comes later. This idea sort of harmonises with my recent encounters with 'awareness' etc. Drop the baggage and dance dude!

I enjoy much of the eclectic offerings from BBC Radio 3’s ‘Late Junction’, I enjoy the ‘hopelandic’ non-language of Sigur Róss, and find some of Bugge Wesseltoft's musical language enchanting(?)...
I guess it's the sound/s, rhythms and unorthodox mixes and ideas/feelings that they evoke... yes, it's hard to drop cultural accretions but music or “new sounds” can be a start to ‘something new’.

The ‘world sounds’ that GH choir ‘play with’ are a breath of fresh-air in the polluted saturated world of signification that we encounter daily... the harmonies, resonances and layering that the MD introduces really do have something even though no meaning us readily clear to us. I find this is possibly more often encountered in rehearsals than in scheduled performance - pressure related i guess. Often the sounds are hypnotic and the parts really dance with each other.

I’ve always been interested in the idea of ‘free play’ as the creative tool and perhaps the choir, although structured, touches on this. We definitely experience ‘free’dom and also ‘play’(dom).

Bring it on?

Where's the fire!?

There was a man who invented the art of making fire. He took his tools and went to a tribe in the north, where it was very cold,  bitterly cold. He taught the people there to make fire. The people were  very interested. He showed them the uses to which they could put fire:  they could cook, could keep themselves warm, etc. They were so grateful  that they had learned the art of making fire. But before they could  express their gratitude to the man, he disappeared. He wasn’t concerned  with getting their recognition or gratitude; he was concerned about  their well-being. He went to another tribe, where he again began to  show them the value of his invention. People were interested there too,  a bit too interested for the peace of mind of their priests, who began  to notice that this man was drawing crowds and they were losing their popularity. So they decided to do away with him. They poisoned him,  crucified him, put it any way you like. But they were afraid now that  the people might turn against them, so they were very wise, even wily.  Do you know what they did? They had a portrait of the man made and  mounted it on the main altar of the temple. The instruments for making  fire were placed in front of the portrait, and the people were taught  to revere the portrait and to pay reverence to the instruments of fire,  which they dutifully did for centuries. The veneration and the worship  went on, but there was no fire.

Where’s the fire? Where’s the love? Where’s the freedom? This is what  spirituality is all about. Tragically, we tend to lose sight of this,  don’t we? This is what Jesus Christ is all about. But we overemphasized  the “Lord, Lord,” didn’t we? Where’s the fire? And if worship isn’t  leading to the fire, if adoration isn’t leading to love, if the liturgy  isn’t leading to a clearer perception of reality, if God isn’t leading  to life, of what use is religion except to create more division, more  fanaticism, more antagonism? It is not from lack of religion in the  ordinary sense of the word that the world is suffering, it is from lack  of love, lack of awareness. And love is generated through awareness  and through no other way, no other way. Understand the obstructions you  are putting in the way of love, freedom, and happiness and they will  drop. Turn on the light of awareness and the darkness will disappear.

Anthony de Mello

(Somehow I lost this post - it crashed the blog!)

Keith said: I love this! It speaks to the mimetic theory of Rene Girard too. Girard believes that social chaos leads to the scapegoating of an individual - usually an outsider and that because ridding the society of the outsider has such a profound peace-making effect the scapegoat is instantly turned from guilty party into a god to be worshipped.