Rolled out the front door Sunday morning to hear my mobile screaming that someone was calling me. Downed tools and answered it to find that Alex and Sandra had had their bikes taken. Someone had broken into the locked cupboard they use to store them (and pretty much the only people who knew where to find them are the neighbours) and made off through and over a variety of obstacles such as doors, gates and steps. Hmm lucky chance?
Anyway the real heartening moment was when Alex discovered one of the bikes for sale on a local website! A day later 4 police officers were cocking their guns (honestly! They wear polyester uniforms and carry revolvers, fucked up) and preparing for the sting. Weapons not needed as the thief/seller knew the game was up and his mates melted into the background. Later the guy folded when pressed and told them who he sold the other bike to. So one bike back the other hopefully not too far away. Incredible, never heard the likes before but couldn't have happened (the return not the theft) to nicer folk.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Saturday, 13 December 2008
time charges ever onward
Still really busy here, doubled the amount of private classes I'm doing in the run-up to Christmas which means a nice cash boost but a time drain compounded by a 5th weekend of business. Still not bought any presents, need to pack, need to take photos of bike kit to sell and the washing machine just died. On a positive note I was in a hospital here shadowing some ward rounds yesterday which was awesome if a little intense- listening to medical jargon in Spanish was pretty hard work. I've also just been set an interview date for St. Georges in January which is excellent but means doing my homework over the holidays. Not much else to say, went to Eric and Jamie's for a superb meal last night, got to do some shopping today, out to watch Barcelona play Real Madrid tonight, hopefully pedal in the morning, meet mates in the afternoon and write lesson plans in the evening. Still, it beats being bored all the time.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
keep those pedals turning
Training tip #146
Aim for the 2nd steepest climb on your training route, make sure it's really cold and you get up at 5am to see your brother off to the airport, then just as your legs are about to give out and thoughts of walking are crossing your mind spot a random walker/flasher/drug dealer at the side of the trail. See how quickly you pedal now? That's your breakfast burning in your throat by the way.
Training tip #147
As you succumb to fatigue on the steepest climb of your route and push the last few metres look out for the incoming labrador, legs splayed as they each fight to be the first on the ground, tongue lolling around wildly, is that froth in the corner of it's mouth? No time to think about it as it bounds up on you in a playful but bitey sort of way. The owner finally emerges and emabarrased, calls the dog back. Does he put her on a lead? Of course not, watch how it does an impression of a boomerang and comes charging back towards you for another bite of that skinny cyclists arm. See how quickly you pedal off to find the next random walker/flasher/drug dealer?
Aim for the 2nd steepest climb on your training route, make sure it's really cold and you get up at 5am to see your brother off to the airport, then just as your legs are about to give out and thoughts of walking are crossing your mind spot a random walker/flasher/drug dealer at the side of the trail. See how quickly you pedal now? That's your breakfast burning in your throat by the way.
Training tip #147
As you succumb to fatigue on the steepest climb of your route and push the last few metres look out for the incoming labrador, legs splayed as they each fight to be the first on the ground, tongue lolling around wildly, is that froth in the corner of it's mouth? No time to think about it as it bounds up on you in a playful but bitey sort of way. The owner finally emerges and emabarrased, calls the dog back. Does he put her on a lead? Of course not, watch how it does an impression of a boomerang and comes charging back towards you for another bite of that skinny cyclists arm. See how quickly you pedal off to find the next random walker/flasher/drug dealer?
Sunday, 30 November 2008
almost finished
Got my new xt brakes over courtesy of Andy Deliveries Inc. and first impressions are good, great lever and more modulation than the lxs. Bolt thru is also pretty awesome, tracks much better through rough stuff though really needs to go to Innerleithen to get a proper workout. It's had a few incarnations but the ferrous is pretty close to being pretty much 'finished' or as finished as bikes ever get. All that's left is to try out the layback post and either go with that or stick with the inline, not a bad position to be in..
Andy and Julie's visit
At the Bernabeu
In the Real Madrid dugout
Andy and Julie pose outside the palace
busy busy busy
It's been a hectic few weeks. 2 weekends ago Carla's friend Claire was over from Germany, then last weekend we went up to a family wedding in San Sebastian which was awesome. And this weekend one of my brothers was over with his girlfriend, next weekend we're back in Carla's mum's village for the weekend so it's by no means over yet.
The wedding
Thursday night we catch a train north then cadge a lift to Carla's Mum (Marian)'s village, Funes. It's tiny, everyone knows everyone and almost everyone is related to one another. It's very similar to where I grew up in fact, except the accent is probably clearer in Funes.
Thursday night we descended on Marian's cousins for dinner, a great bloody feast in fact and I took great delight in attacking some traditional Spanish fodder. It was also my first real test of Spanish because although the staff talk machine-gun Spanish all at once during break and lunch at work, the rest of the time I only ever speak in English so I'm able to coast and bluff my way through most things. This time was different in as much as I would have to field direct questions that required a specific answer, obviously Carla her mum and her dad are all fluent and could interpret but to be able to give some sign the last 10 months haven't been entirely wasted would always help to endear me. I think i did ok, no-one stopped dead in their tracks at some obscenity I'd inadvertently uttered, although in Spain the c word is so popular that'd be a feat in itself.
So it began that night and pretty much continued all weekend, the next day we got a lift to pamplona then the bus to San Sebastian. We visted Marian's Auntie Laura (who lives on the seafront, I cannot express how awesome that is, it's a-mazing) and I offered to marry her so I could live there, which seemed to go down well. Later we saw one of Marian's cousins, the brother of the woman who got married, and played with his kids while trying to hold glasses of wine. The younger has been nicknamed The Terminator by his teachers with good reason. Some tapas and more alcohol followed at a variety of bars before getting some sleep.
Next morning saw us at the church at a very entertaining service (even though I hardly understoof a word, the priest was obviously the warm up act for Ricky Gervais) we headed for the reception and were nothing short of delighted at finding a free bar! I sat beside yet another of Carla's endless supply of cousins and I managed to banter through 7 courses of pretty fabtastic food in Spanish. He even offered to take me canoeing when we go back to Funes! A slide show followed, cigars for the men and then we all traipsed downstairs to get our dancing on, again another free bar meant we were pretty well lubricated. I managed to get cornered by another of Marian's cousins (honestly how many are there?) an older, suave guy who talked at length about a Spanish restaurant in London that was 'la puta madre' (son of a bitch, but in a good way) but how it was really expensive. He then popped out a ream of fifties and started peeling some off for me when Marian appeared, I made my excuses and broke free but not before the guys daughter (who in both English and Spanish was endless) harped on about something boring and irrelevant, this time I broke free much more quickly. After that we danced, drank, got ataxi to the hotel went out into town (service started at 12 and this was now about 1 in the morning) for more food and drink before staggering back and hitting the hay.
Sunday we said our goodbyes and caught our train. A 7 hour trip was never going to be great but after we discovered the *unusual* seating plan, ie 51 and 52 were not side by side but in front of one another, wtf! We decided to blag it, the conductor realised and said we'd have to move once the person whose seat we'd taken came on. Which would have been bearable if the giant Russian hadn't appeared and sat in front of us, he would be Carla's neighbour. Ahem. As he shotgunned 2 cartons of very cheap table wine, Carla wisely decided to ask to sit somewhere else. So we sat apart got pretty tired, grabbed some food once we got home but finally crawled into our own bed later that night. Job done.
The wedding
Thursday night we catch a train north then cadge a lift to Carla's Mum (Marian)'s village, Funes. It's tiny, everyone knows everyone and almost everyone is related to one another. It's very similar to where I grew up in fact, except the accent is probably clearer in Funes.
Thursday night we descended on Marian's cousins for dinner, a great bloody feast in fact and I took great delight in attacking some traditional Spanish fodder. It was also my first real test of Spanish because although the staff talk machine-gun Spanish all at once during break and lunch at work, the rest of the time I only ever speak in English so I'm able to coast and bluff my way through most things. This time was different in as much as I would have to field direct questions that required a specific answer, obviously Carla her mum and her dad are all fluent and could interpret but to be able to give some sign the last 10 months haven't been entirely wasted would always help to endear me. I think i did ok, no-one stopped dead in their tracks at some obscenity I'd inadvertently uttered, although in Spain the c word is so popular that'd be a feat in itself.
So it began that night and pretty much continued all weekend, the next day we got a lift to pamplona then the bus to San Sebastian. We visted Marian's Auntie Laura (who lives on the seafront, I cannot express how awesome that is, it's a-mazing) and I offered to marry her so I could live there, which seemed to go down well. Later we saw one of Marian's cousins, the brother of the woman who got married, and played with his kids while trying to hold glasses of wine. The younger has been nicknamed The Terminator by his teachers with good reason. Some tapas and more alcohol followed at a variety of bars before getting some sleep.
Next morning saw us at the church at a very entertaining service (even though I hardly understoof a word, the priest was obviously the warm up act for Ricky Gervais) we headed for the reception and were nothing short of delighted at finding a free bar! I sat beside yet another of Carla's endless supply of cousins and I managed to banter through 7 courses of pretty fabtastic food in Spanish. He even offered to take me canoeing when we go back to Funes! A slide show followed, cigars for the men and then we all traipsed downstairs to get our dancing on, again another free bar meant we were pretty well lubricated. I managed to get cornered by another of Marian's cousins (honestly how many are there?) an older, suave guy who talked at length about a Spanish restaurant in London that was 'la puta madre' (son of a bitch, but in a good way) but how it was really expensive. He then popped out a ream of fifties and started peeling some off for me when Marian appeared, I made my excuses and broke free but not before the guys daughter (who in both English and Spanish was endless) harped on about something boring and irrelevant, this time I broke free much more quickly. After that we danced, drank, got ataxi to the hotel went out into town (service started at 12 and this was now about 1 in the morning) for more food and drink before staggering back and hitting the hay.
Sunday we said our goodbyes and caught our train. A 7 hour trip was never going to be great but after we discovered the *unusual* seating plan, ie 51 and 52 were not side by side but in front of one another, wtf! We decided to blag it, the conductor realised and said we'd have to move once the person whose seat we'd taken came on. Which would have been bearable if the giant Russian hadn't appeared and sat in front of us, he would be Carla's neighbour. Ahem. As he shotgunned 2 cartons of very cheap table wine, Carla wisely decided to ask to sit somewhere else. So we sat apart got pretty tired, grabbed some food once we got home but finally crawled into our own bed later that night. Job done.
Saturday, 15 November 2008
that wasn't meant to happen
Got back from riding yesterday and threw my kit in the washing machine, contemplated cleaning the camelbak but as I'm planning on riding again tomorrow figured drying it on the line would suffice. Emptied most of the contents and got some big pegs to clip it on (our washing line is outside the bedroom window) as I clipped the first one then turned to get the next, you guessed it, the bugger jettisoned itself free of the line. We live on the 6th floor so I was a bit nervous as to what may happen and watched as it clattered the washing line below us (don't break it, don't break it!) then the one below that (don't break it, don't break it) before coming to rest on the whirlygig of the 3rd floor flat. Standing in a towel I tried to form the sentence in Spanish to explain what had just happened. The best I could muster amounted to: 'sorry but my bag is here.' Not that informative or helpful really so I called Carla. When she stopped laughing she said she would ask when she got home. However, the owner/tenant wasn't in and hasn't been back (we left a note and I can still see the bag on the whirlygig) so it's still there.
Bugger.
[EDIT] Carla would like me to point out she drew her moustache without the aid of a mirror.
Bugger.
[EDIT] Carla would like me to point out she drew her moustache without the aid of a mirror.
stache off
So that went ok. Numbers were down on our party 2 weeks ago but still a few bodies there last night and we ended up heading to a bar as things slowed down here but got home bout 4 (early for here) and feel fine this morning so all good. Chris and I have made a pact to keep the moustaches at least until Monday to show our colleagues what they missed. Although both of us are taking our razors in case the other gets cold feet and wusses out.
Gringos (Ryan, me, Chris and Andrew)
Andrew and Nicci share a moment
Conjuror or con man?
Carla only applied hers once we got back from the pub and we were half cut at 4 in the morning, shame cos it suits her
Gringos (Ryan, me, Chris and Andrew)
Andrew and Nicci share a moment
Conjuror or con man?
Carla only applied hers once we got back from the pub and we were half cut at 4 in the morning, shame cos it suits her
Thursday, 13 November 2008
mouser cross
Uni application is freaking me out more and more. Issued with a work experience sheet for Nottingham: dates, hours per week, duration (in months or years!) etc. Hmm how to explain 2 work experiences in 1996, one in 2008 and two to come. In Madrid. Ah well, we'll see.
The beard is pretty manly, and by manly I mean itchy as a bastard, although Marty informed me this is against the rules, mousers must be flying solo. Which makes life a damned sight harder and a lot more embarassing. The 'tache will be unveiled tomorrow, hangover will probably dictate how long it survives post fiesta. Although if Chris* is up for it we may go on until christmas? Again we'll see.
On an uttery different topic I've been slightly aroused by current cyclocross fever, seems like everyone is at it and it looks cool. Not cool in a girls will want me sort of way more cool in a fuck this is gonna hurt but be fun in a masochistic sort of way. A single speed road bike with knobbly tyres looks like a (scary) blast. Looking at pics on pdxcross (shamelessly nicked again from Hell on Wheels) it appears to be a brutal, spiritual battle where mortals become heroes:
(much more here)
However, dig on a few less artistic sites and it seems a little less, well, sexy:
Basically guys riding round a school park. Still it's riding bikes so it's all good :D
*co-teaching assistant at my school and devout beard grower for this party
The beard is pretty manly, and by manly I mean itchy as a bastard, although Marty informed me this is against the rules, mousers must be flying solo. Which makes life a damned sight harder and a lot more embarassing. The 'tache will be unveiled tomorrow, hangover will probably dictate how long it survives post fiesta. Although if Chris* is up for it we may go on until christmas? Again we'll see.
On an uttery different topic I've been slightly aroused by current cyclocross fever, seems like everyone is at it and it looks cool. Not cool in a girls will want me sort of way more cool in a fuck this is gonna hurt but be fun in a masochistic sort of way. A single speed road bike with knobbly tyres looks like a (scary) blast. Looking at pics on pdxcross (shamelessly nicked again from Hell on Wheels) it appears to be a brutal, spiritual battle where mortals become heroes:
(much more here)
However, dig on a few less artistic sites and it seems a little less, well, sexy:
Basically guys riding round a school park. Still it's riding bikes so it's all good :D
*co-teaching assistant at my school and devout beard grower for this party
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
bring it on
Got results from my GAMSAT this week (big fucking 6 hour, £200 med school entrance exam) and happy to say I did better than I thought. Needed an average of 58 (not percentile score apparently but they haven't told us what it is either, emdless) or minimum of 55 in 2 of three sections. Scored 66 average, 70, 70 and 68 so very fucking pleased thankyouverymuch.
However. This is not to get into uni, oh no this is just to get an interview :'(
Dates to be confirmed but deep breath, think happy thoughts and unleash the beast.
However. This is not to get into uni, oh no this is just to get an interview :'(
Dates to be confirmed but deep breath, think happy thoughts and unleash the beast.
'tache take two
The first attempt succumbed shortly after posting here (it had there were warrants issued and protests filed) but it shall live again! Many have fallen now even, Marty has shorn his torrance but the beard tactic seems to be the way forward. I'm sure if this is the mouser equivalent of doping but hiding a 'tache amongst the undergrowth seems to be the safest way to get through life without quizical/comical/scared looks from other people. It shall be shaped (hopefully in not such a Freddie Mercury fashion) for this Friday's 'tache bash, let's see if it lasts the weekend.*
*I have to teach children remember and Alec pointed out I'd fail any police disclosure with my alarming caterpillar lip.
*I have to teach children remember and Alec pointed out I'd fail any police disclosure with my alarming caterpillar lip.
yes we can
I never thought I'd be this young when I saw a black president. I thought it would happen before I shuffled off this mortal coil but before I hit 30? A-mazin! Plus I felt he (or she..) would have had to be further to the right in order to win out over some crusty white guy.
Yes we can? Well time will tell but he's the best chance we have.
Yes we can? Well time will tell but he's the best chance we have.
Friday, 31 October 2008
happy halloween
They don't really celebrate it here although All Saints day is a pretty big deal but happy halloween and happy guising
Thursday, 30 October 2008
evolution
So today was Halloween for us and I fashioned a pirate stylee beard, seemed to help on the metro at least where folks gave me a wide berth. Got home and started the demolition illustrated below but have maintained the final 'tache. Although whether it will make it through the next couple of hours is touch and go, bit too Freddie Mercury for my liking. So are you in? The challenge has been set: tachetastic
arrrrrrrrrrrrr! Oim ah pirate
Pirate or pornstar?
.......we are the champions!
arrrrrrrrrrrrr! Oim ah pirate
Pirate or pornstar?
.......we are the champions!
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
yeti sighted
Life is tootling along nicely thank you very much. Had our intercontinental party last weekend which was braw, managed to shoehorn 15 folk into the flat. A record we're going to try and break with our imminent moustache party. I managed to make myself proper ill so spent Sunday asleep (those damned white Russians)
Halloween is tomorrow for us as school is off on Friday and we've been busy preparing a story and decorations for the whole school. I've been growing my beard specifically for the purpose of dressing as a pirate and I have to saw it's coming along at a rapid clip.
Hidden photographer catches yeti in a quiet moment as it feeds
The weather has finally broken and we're well and truly into winter here. Obviously 'winter' is a relative description as a couple of days ago it looked like this:
Ahem, winter indeed. (Although it was raining cats and dogs yesterday it has returned to cold* and bright again today, hope it holds)
Not much else to tell really, caught my first cold of the school year so even more keen to get a flu vaccination as soon as I can although this being Spain no-one can really tell me for sure if I have to pay or not. Endless. Trying to cram as much fruit down my throat as I can and crossing fingers that I can ride at the weekend.
*cold is also a term that must be taken with a pinch of salt
Carla whips up a treat
Gratuitous beard shot
Halloween is tomorrow for us as school is off on Friday and we've been busy preparing a story and decorations for the whole school. I've been growing my beard specifically for the purpose of dressing as a pirate and I have to saw it's coming along at a rapid clip.
Hidden photographer catches yeti in a quiet moment as it feeds
The weather has finally broken and we're well and truly into winter here. Obviously 'winter' is a relative description as a couple of days ago it looked like this:
Ahem, winter indeed. (Although it was raining cats and dogs yesterday it has returned to cold* and bright again today, hope it holds)
Not much else to tell really, caught my first cold of the school year so even more keen to get a flu vaccination as soon as I can although this being Spain no-one can really tell me for sure if I have to pay or not. Endless. Trying to cram as much fruit down my throat as I can and crossing fingers that I can ride at the weekend.
*cold is also a term that must be taken with a pinch of salt
Carla whips up a treat
Gratuitous beard shot
Saturday, 25 October 2008
"Virtual killer faces real jail after murder by mouse"
Bizarre. How else to describe the arrest of a woman accused of 'killing' her virtual husband in an online game?
geeks gone mad
oh and sign up as followers my minions, I promise I won't murder you*
*online. All other bets are off ;)
geeks gone mad
oh and sign up as followers my minions, I promise I won't murder you*
*online. All other bets are off ;)
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
follow me
You may have noticed (or not) I have finally updated my blog roll------>
I was slightly shocked that this only accounts for half of the blogs I have bookmarked, I guess that's why I spend so much time on the computer.
I've also added a followers gadget which allows folk to say they actually read this (both of you can sign up) and a link to my flickr account which is in dire need of updating.
This is all folks, more news as it happens. Or doesn't as the case may be.
I was slightly shocked that this only accounts for half of the blogs I have bookmarked, I guess that's why I spend so much time on the computer.
I've also added a followers gadget which allows folk to say they actually read this (both of you can sign up) and a link to my flickr account which is in dire need of updating.
This is all folks, more news as it happens. Or doesn't as the case may be.
infection
Mum and Stuart paid us a flying visit over the last couple of days which was really nice, especially as the weather held. They even came in to my school to see the tiny tearaways I teach and read a couple of stories. They were impressed by their level of English if not their behaviour. Later we were shopping for food that Mum and Stuart could take on the train down to Alicante when I was hoking through halloween stuff that I could use for school. Mum said I'd been 'infected' by the teaching bug and couldn't wait to tell my sister, another teacher. Damn I hope she's wrong.
They were good enough to bring out a pile of stuff including coffee, comics for my private tuition and some bike bits. I got hold of a (ridiculously overpriced because the bcd is weird) chainring for the ferrous, partly because the one I have is wearing out (though not as much as I thought) and partly because I'm going to run a 5 speed cassette in the sierra (proper mountains) and a 34 tooth offers a better range of gears.
not too worn
work and play
fun bike stuff on the left and my pile of worksheets, lesson plans and comics for private tuition on the right. Currently got 7 students doing 8 hours of lessons a week, pays the bills...
They were good enough to bring out a pile of stuff including coffee, comics for my private tuition and some bike bits. I got hold of a (ridiculously overpriced because the bcd is weird) chainring for the ferrous, partly because the one I have is wearing out (though not as much as I thought) and partly because I'm going to run a 5 speed cassette in the sierra (proper mountains) and a 34 tooth offers a better range of gears.
not too worn
work and play
fun bike stuff on the left and my pile of worksheets, lesson plans and comics for private tuition on the right. Currently got 7 students doing 8 hours of lessons a week, pays the bills...
Sunday, 19 October 2008
what's it worth?
This painting could influence the entire art market when it goes on sale this week. The worry is that the economic crisis could now be extending to the unassailable uber rich. Scary thought.
not much to tell
Not too much to report since last week, got a 3 and half hour ride in on Sunday, safe to say we were pretty goosed afterwards. Started most of my lessons now and they're going ok, school has already descended into crowd control but it's still fun at the moment. Mum and Stuart are over for a couple days so looking forward to that. Got an intercontinental party (think WWF wrestling belts) coming up this week which should be fun, America, Scotland, England, Ireland, Greece and Spain all being represented which is cool. Hmmm that's bout it really, have a swatch at this vid though, brakeless FFS!
Friday, 10 October 2008
weasel and the meerkat
So today marks 4 years of me and the nobber* I think we can safely say we've given the relationship a proper workout, went to India for 8 weeks after going out for 6 months, moved in together 6 months after that and have been living in Spain for 8 months so far! I think she's done very well putting up with me and more than that encouraging me to take on challenges I would otherwise have neglected. She corrects me when I'm wrong (hardly ever happens mind you, ahem) straightens me out when I talk shit (happens more) and picks me up when I'm down. Best of all she never tries to change me (beyond getting me to clean the flat more) and, seems to at any rate, accept I'm a cynical, cycling forum addict with a reformist agenda and the time but not the inclination to act upon my instincts who will be unlikely to have a proper job before I'm thirty and even then probably work as something that demands more of her than me. It's a pretty sweet deal, besazos for the nov.
So I marked the anniversary with a special t shirt celebrating her meerkat fascination. I tested the process with an axis of weasel proto, I think it worked out rather well....
*nobber is derived from novia, Spanish for girlfriend (and worryingly, bride) and because in Spanish a v sounds like b I bastardised it to nobia, nob and nobber. It does cause some confusion when I shout 'nobber' across a shop and my girlfriend comes bouncing across (actually she sidles rather than bounces) to people's horror.
So I marked the anniversary with a special t shirt celebrating her meerkat fascination. I tested the process with an axis of weasel proto, I think it worked out rather well....
*nobber is derived from novia, Spanish for girlfriend (and worryingly, bride) and because in Spanish a v sounds like b I bastardised it to nobia, nob and nobber. It does cause some confusion when I shout 'nobber' across a shop and my girlfriend comes bouncing across (actually she sidles rather than bounces) to people's horror.
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Spring in October
Watched Juno again tonight, such a wicked film. If you haven't seen it stop reading this and go watch it. Amongst the gems of one liners this has to stand out as a pretty great piece of advice:
In my opinion, the best thing you can do is to find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think that the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Sunday, 5 October 2008
biding my time
Started work, which is awesome.
Got private lessons sorted out which I need to write lesson plans for, not so awesome.
Waiting on a stem arriving so can actually ride my bike, definitely not awesome.
Anyways all is good, we were at a flat warming last night lots of fun, speaking, bad, Spanish and mixing my drinks. Queue for clubs were massive so headed home early. Ahem 'early' being half 4! While I tensely wait and see if my stem ever actually appears I've got a few runs in. After a slight miscalculation it turns out I ran 7.5 not 11 miles on Monday but did manage to hit 10 miles on Friday, though it seemed to take bloody forever. I'm hoping on a flatter route I'd be able to get round a bit quicker, I've got a bitch of a hill to end on.
Also went to a British council do during the week which was nice. I'm sure I've done more than that probably but thanks to the wonders of singletrack I've rediscovered Monkey Dust, brutal at times but always intelligent and funny as hell if you've got the stomach for it.
Can't imbed this one, Scottish guests
Painfully good
Got private lessons sorted out which I need to write lesson plans for, not so awesome.
Waiting on a stem arriving so can actually ride my bike, definitely not awesome.
Anyways all is good, we were at a flat warming last night lots of fun, speaking, bad, Spanish and mixing my drinks. Queue for clubs were massive so headed home early. Ahem 'early' being half 4! While I tensely wait and see if my stem ever actually appears I've got a few runs in. After a slight miscalculation it turns out I ran 7.5 not 11 miles on Monday but did manage to hit 10 miles on Friday, though it seemed to take bloody forever. I'm hoping on a flatter route I'd be able to get round a bit quicker, I've got a bitch of a hill to end on.
Also went to a British council do during the week which was nice. I'm sure I've done more than that probably but thanks to the wonders of singletrack I've rediscovered Monkey Dust, brutal at times but always intelligent and funny as hell if you've got the stomach for it.
Can't imbed this one, Scottish guests
Painfully good
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
and another thing!
Forgot to say Carla and I saw the end of La Vuelta in Madrid the other day, pretty much by chance we ended up at the finish at the right time and saw them rip round a few times before crossing the line. It was pretty awesome really glad we caught it.
And is this the nicest indy fab ever? double yum
And is this the nicest indy fab ever? double yum
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
the myth becomes reality
For so long now King have supposedly been engineering a bottom bracket but no-ones ever seen one. Well it's not long till they hit the market, 5 year warranty fully serviceable but most importantly shiny, shiny colours :D
yum
yum
Monday, 22 September 2008
supafly
Chris definitely needs to get his superfly single speeded, although I'm sure he will have great reservations about the bars :)
back in the day
I used to ride bikes. I rode my bike less than I should have but I rode it in winter, in the dark and even on occasion while inebriated. Until I get my new stem I can't ride any time soon.
I used to ride bikes.
I used to ride bikes.
good times
There are far more pressing things for me to do than write here but I'm nothing if not a procrastinator. Trip to London was awesome, seemed like I was there for a month but in reality it was all over in 10 days. Arrived to gatwick where Rohan collected me and took me to Brighton where we giggled our way round a few watering holes (bloody expensive ones mind, £7 for 2 pints!) before demolishing an all you can eat Chinese buffet, the after effects of which haunted us both for a few days. Friday I got a train to London then a bus to Nottingham where I stayed with Ro's folks. They were both extremely friendly and even more useful in terms of finding out about uni and the medical profession as both are GPs and Ro's dad is involved with Nottingham's undergrad applications. Saturday he was kind enough to drive me over the open day which was incredibly informative and interesting. (let's see how many comparitives and superlatives I can get through here) Have to say I really liked the school and made a couple friends that I saw again in London later in the week. After the open day I jumped on a train to Nottingham, got a bus back to London then another train to Brighton where I went back to Ro's. A couple of his mates had come across to see him and they were a bit worse for wear when I got in but admirably managed to keep going till bout half 3.
I headed back to London the next morning and met up with my mum, step dad and my mum's cousin who happened to be over from Australia! I'd stayed with her in Oz 7 years ago so it was great to see her again and over the next few days I managed to meet her a couple more times which was really nice. After saying goodbye to mum et al I headed to Tipa's to meet up again with Ro and have a meal with Tipa, her boyfriend John, her sister rachel and her, Rachel's not Tipa's, fiance Nick. It's safe to say we always laugh a lot together and this meeting was no exception, in fact it may have been the most we've ever laughed thanks in large part to the respective poo stories told. (I never said we were sophisticated)
John, Tipa and Ro enjoy last of the Summer sunshine
Between Monday and Thursday I got to see one of my aunties and my gran who were down to see my aunt, mum's cousin is both long-winded and underestimates the relationship, from Australia, go up the London Eye (which I loved) eat out loads but still not eat enough each day, sleep less than I have a for a while but still have a wicked time. Wednesday I moved to stay with a mate up the road, Fran, who I haven't seen for 7 years. Fran was part of my group in India when we did our gap year and was labelled as my mum from early on in proceedings so it's weird we haven't stayed in better contact. Luckily she was kind enough to put me up for a few nights and it felt like it was only a week between our last meeting. Her flat is unusual in a couple of respects. It is actually meant to be an office but they guy they sublet from wanted a cheap flat for his kids to stay in so leased it and 'made' bedrooms by partitioning sections off. This sounds much weirder than it is, as they end up with a massive communal space and a real homely atmosphere. Secondly, Fran's flatmates include a scriptwriter, a published author and a channel 4 researcher amongst others and they (apparently not always but often) eat together. So it was that I happily ate great food in the company of about 7 or 8 total strangers but felt utterly at home.
Sadly the most pressing reason I was in London, to sit a 6 hour entrance exam, had received little attention and I devoted Thursday to studying as best I could given my limited resources. Friday soon rolled round and despite the hardest exam I've ever sat (2 hr humanities paper, 2 short essays and a 3 hr science paper) I got to the end. Then I met up with Fran and another mate from India I haven't seen for at least 3 years, Sam. He was in fine form and is about to start a phd in Manchester on environmental policy in China. We also met Tom, a friend of Sam's I'd only met once before 8 years ago but at once reconnected with and had great chat with. Pub was followed by great, and cheap, pizza another pub and then a club (by which time I'd decided £3 a pint was bloody cheap for a club) before night bussing home to Fran's and sleeping like the dead. Fran left early doors to meet her boyfriend in Swansea and I trotted around London for a bit before catching a flight back to Madrid. Another long week, tiring but bloody satisfying.
Fran's place
I headed back to London the next morning and met up with my mum, step dad and my mum's cousin who happened to be over from Australia! I'd stayed with her in Oz 7 years ago so it was great to see her again and over the next few days I managed to meet her a couple more times which was really nice. After saying goodbye to mum et al I headed to Tipa's to meet up again with Ro and have a meal with Tipa, her boyfriend John, her sister rachel and her, Rachel's not Tipa's, fiance Nick. It's safe to say we always laugh a lot together and this meeting was no exception, in fact it may have been the most we've ever laughed thanks in large part to the respective poo stories told. (I never said we were sophisticated)
John, Tipa and Ro enjoy last of the Summer sunshine
Between Monday and Thursday I got to see one of my aunties and my gran who were down to see my aunt, mum's cousin is both long-winded and underestimates the relationship, from Australia, go up the London Eye (which I loved) eat out loads but still not eat enough each day, sleep less than I have a for a while but still have a wicked time. Wednesday I moved to stay with a mate up the road, Fran, who I haven't seen for 7 years. Fran was part of my group in India when we did our gap year and was labelled as my mum from early on in proceedings so it's weird we haven't stayed in better contact. Luckily she was kind enough to put me up for a few nights and it felt like it was only a week between our last meeting. Her flat is unusual in a couple of respects. It is actually meant to be an office but they guy they sublet from wanted a cheap flat for his kids to stay in so leased it and 'made' bedrooms by partitioning sections off. This sounds much weirder than it is, as they end up with a massive communal space and a real homely atmosphere. Secondly, Fran's flatmates include a scriptwriter, a published author and a channel 4 researcher amongst others and they (apparently not always but often) eat together. So it was that I happily ate great food in the company of about 7 or 8 total strangers but felt utterly at home.
Sadly the most pressing reason I was in London, to sit a 6 hour entrance exam, had received little attention and I devoted Thursday to studying as best I could given my limited resources. Friday soon rolled round and despite the hardest exam I've ever sat (2 hr humanities paper, 2 short essays and a 3 hr science paper) I got to the end. Then I met up with Fran and another mate from India I haven't seen for at least 3 years, Sam. He was in fine form and is about to start a phd in Manchester on environmental policy in China. We also met Tom, a friend of Sam's I'd only met once before 8 years ago but at once reconnected with and had great chat with. Pub was followed by great, and cheap, pizza another pub and then a club (by which time I'd decided £3 a pint was bloody cheap for a club) before night bussing home to Fran's and sleeping like the dead. Fran left early doors to meet her boyfriend in Swansea and I trotted around London for a bit before catching a flight back to Madrid. Another long week, tiring but bloody satisfying.
Fran's place
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
running to stand still
So much more needs to be said than I will here. Had more guests staying, Garry and Lorraine, and managed to cram a hell of a lot of stuff into a short space of time. Not only have they managed to visit almost every Mango store in Madrid (and there are a LOT) but they've also been to the Prado, Reina Sofia twice, Caixa Forum, Retiro twice, done the bus tour, seen the Egyptian temple, the Palace, the Opera and seen the infamous ladies of Casa de Campo on a run! The highlight, thus far at any rate, was visiting our mate Jose's village 2 hrs from here. Portillo is in the midst of a fiesta and in Spain that means lots of drinking, cheesy stage shows and bulls. Officially it started on Friday but they had a pre-fiesta fiesta on Thursday. (what can I say, they like to party) We arrived Monday night, the fiesta runs for 8 days, and saw the main bull run of the fiesta. Beforehand we had thought about doing it, I've only done one before and that was a few years but when we saw the route, very narrow streets and very few exit points, and Jose's mum's face when we told her (aghast) we reconsidered.
There are different types of bull runs, the one I'd done before had been the 'little' ones so I have to admit the word when I heard Jose's mum say 'gigantes' I thought better of taking part. In the event there were *only* 2 and they ran back and forth at a canter rather than a charge. Unlike the runs you see in Pamplona they set off at different times and mosey up and down the streets while people try to get them worked up. The locals were disappointed how boring it was this year but we were all pretty excited. Tuesday saw another bull event, this time the locals rode on horseback herding the bulls from the outlaying fields up a steep hill to the town square. Only one bull made it up as the other had other ideas and pissed off back into the fields, albeit after injuring someone (again *only* 2 injuries and a dead horse this year...) As we walked towards a bar with some disheartened locals we managed to end up on the street the bull who had made it up the hill was taking centre stage on. It only took a few moments to realise what everyone was looking at and scarper but as the tonne of beef made small dashes at people we started getting closer and closer. I daresay we would have got closer yet except whenever you tried to run back through the metal gate fences some fat old boy would get his ass through but then stop and block your path, it certainly added spice to an already exciting activity. Eventually the bull headed for the bull ring and we made it to the bar.
Pretty awesome week, great company and a lot of fun tomorrow I head to London to see old friends, go to an open day sit an exam and see my Auntie from Australia I haven't seen in 7 years! Another busy week then.
They were pretty big
Note man in window...
Start of Tuesday
The only one who made it
Friendly once you get to know him
Locals try to get to know him
Bull returns gesture
Contemplative
Proof I've actually done one (and yes I was bloody pegging it!)
There are different types of bull runs, the one I'd done before had been the 'little' ones so I have to admit the word when I heard Jose's mum say 'gigantes' I thought better of taking part. In the event there were *only* 2 and they ran back and forth at a canter rather than a charge. Unlike the runs you see in Pamplona they set off at different times and mosey up and down the streets while people try to get them worked up. The locals were disappointed how boring it was this year but we were all pretty excited. Tuesday saw another bull event, this time the locals rode on horseback herding the bulls from the outlaying fields up a steep hill to the town square. Only one bull made it up as the other had other ideas and pissed off back into the fields, albeit after injuring someone (again *only* 2 injuries and a dead horse this year...) As we walked towards a bar with some disheartened locals we managed to end up on the street the bull who had made it up the hill was taking centre stage on. It only took a few moments to realise what everyone was looking at and scarper but as the tonne of beef made small dashes at people we started getting closer and closer. I daresay we would have got closer yet except whenever you tried to run back through the metal gate fences some fat old boy would get his ass through but then stop and block your path, it certainly added spice to an already exciting activity. Eventually the bull headed for the bull ring and we made it to the bar.
Pretty awesome week, great company and a lot of fun tomorrow I head to London to see old friends, go to an open day sit an exam and see my Auntie from Australia I haven't seen in 7 years! Another busy week then.
They were pretty big
Note man in window...
Start of Tuesday
The only one who made it
Friendly once you get to know him
Locals try to get to know him
Bull returns gesture
Contemplative
Proof I've actually done one (and yes I was bloody pegging it!)
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