Stormy Weather

[Anna]

I went to see The Great Scottish Tapestry at the Scottish Parliament, where it has been on show. The exhibition closes tomorrow but it's to tour Scotland. If it appears near you - or even if it doesn't - it's well worth a visit. About 160 panels, each 1 square metre, it depicts Scotland's history, and there's something for everyone. It was sewn by about 1,000 volunteers.

There was a lengthy feature on the tapestry on BBC Wales when the exhibition first opened, I thought it looked fabulous and I'd like to see it.
It took ages to warm up today, when I left home at 8am it was so dull and dark, only 12°, I had intended to spend the day doing much needed outside jobs ... but the wind was still chill, black clouds built up and another layer was needed, so best laid plans, etc! I'll do it tomorrow, although it's finally warmed up now
As to new tvs, I would have no idea to tune in satellite, etc., (I'm not a technophobe, I can hook up and sort out computers!) best to pay someone to do it and then if it goes wrong you can just call them back. (Looking forward to hearing about S_A's new bike as well)

[eighthobstruction]

Well it has turned into a beautiful Indian Summer day....golden and too warm for a jumper outside....just as well as the village has it's Fall Fest (Fri- Sun)....and the people are out and having a good time....low-key funfair....Sound Stage which isn't too loud....and lots more going on....( I'm glad I was one of only a few who kept the Institute (our village hall + Theatre + Dance Studio + meeting rooms) going during the early 2000's when it was about to implode ££££)....Most of what comes to the theatre is Tribute Bands....B eagles, Abba, Beachboys, Hendrix, Marc Bolan etc....but it keeps it in the black and little else bar Childrens Pantomine etc really fills the place....

SeeIng as I helped someone buy a new car last week....I thought while in that mode I would trade in my big Van and get something more appropriate....so I spent this aft' getting another Peugot 406 Diesel Estate (my 4th, and 3x 405's before that)....unfortunately not red....(will say goodbye and take out the bed and kitchen out of my Merc tomorrow....)....

[BBMmk2]

Been packing our home up!

[Serial_Apologist]

The new bike from Halfords - an Apollo Fusion, 14 gear with drop handlebars costing me £179 - is going to have to go back. The young fella tried to sell me the next more expensive model (£245) but from the pov of simple everyday maintenance this one looked the most like my old Falcon of all the bikes in the shop, and I told the bloke that this was the one I was interested in. Me being short-waisted but long in the leg it's not easy finding a cycle that fits my shape. Cycles have certainly gone up in price over the past few years - models for £700+, in Halfords!!! Couldn't believe what I was seeing. I could have asked why the one I was interested in was on sale if it would mean trouble, but one tries to show good faith in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary when purchasing just about anything these days. I should really have checked the thing more closely before leaving the shop - pedals with clips, really dangerous imv: I came a real cropper just half a mile down the road - just as well a nice lady was on hand to make sure I was OK and nothing was behind; no rack on the back to tie my existing D lock to. But, why aren't bikes fitted with mudguards any more? I know, I can hear somebody telling me I need to be wearing the correct clobber; surely though one is still going to get sprayed up to the back of the neck in wet conditions! Most unforgiveable of all though was sending me off with a bent front wheel - one of the spokes is actually bent, as I discovered when I got the thing home.

So, all in all, not a good day.

[eighthobstruction]

Apollo....apoolo....bril'.... but technical problems

[Anna]

Oh, I do not understand about bikes. I had a mountain one, for a bit of rough offroad fun, but S_A's experience sounds dreadful.
Caliban - where are you to advise? (Actually, what do Halfords know about bikes? My brother swore by Claud Butlers from a specialist)

[Nick Armstrong]

Caliban - where are you to advise? (Actually, what do Halfords know about bikes? My brother swore by Claud Butlers from a specialist)

Oh I wouldn't presume to advise S_A! I agree - when I've bought a bike I've always had to fit proper pedals, hate those plastic things with straps / clips, and also a big back mudguard - seems it's an extra these days

I have to use Evans Cycles - a chain (ahem... sorry, you know what I mean!) but there's one 30 secs walk from my office.

There was a lovely local bike shop not far away, on the corner of Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove, it had been there since the 60s, you could get the lads to tweak this or that if you just went in, if you were a regular. Met Mitsuko Uchida in there, she was a regular too!

They closed for refurbishments a couple of years ago and never re-opened, another good local shop gone :(

[Anna]

[you could get the lads to tweak this or that if you just went in, if you were a regula

Gosh! They really did know a bit about sturmey-archers!!
I never understood about gears, the mountain bike I had, 14 gears I think, was cool, and in white, but, honestly, I was a danger to road users, that is why I sold my bike.
I quite miss it, freewheeling down the lanes but I was due for a crash sooner or later.

[Nick Armstrong]

Gosh! They really did know a bit about sturmey-archers!!

No word of a lie!

(Can't believe I let slip that double-entendre without realising! And where's ammy when there's an open goal like that?!)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

(Can't believe I let slip that double-entendre without realising! And where's ammy when there's an open goal like that?!)

And somehow, the regular Ms Uchida's Beethoven cycle will never be quite the same again.

[Nick Armstrong]

And somehow, the regular Ms Uchida's Beethoven cycle will never be quite the same again.

[antongould]

............Met Mitsuko Uchida in there, she was a regular too!
.............

Will we ever cease to be amazed by Rumpole's list of mates?.......one presumes he met Glenn Gould in the chemists......

[Nick Armstrong]

Will we ever cease to be amazed by Rumpole's list of mates?.......one presumes he met Glenn Gould in the chemists......

Met... not befriended... (It was once, 5 or 6 years ago)

Tom Hollander from "Rev" once came in while I was there, too.

[BBMmk2]

Gawd!Cali, most eminent!! :) A Spitfire for you sir!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Will we ever cease to be amazed by Rumpole's list of mates?.......one presumes he met Glenn Gould in the chemists......

No; that was Beecham.