Archive for August, 2008

Wow! A government helpline that actually works!

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

I’m not normally one to get excited by things the government does to try and “help” us poor subjects – usually it becomes a completely worthless fudge – just look at NHS Direct and HIPs for proof.

But I have to give credit where credit is due and say that the phone service for renewing your car tax is just brilliant. It only takes a few minutes (unlike the half-hour queues in the Post Office) and best of all you don’t even need to find your MOT and insurance – they are checked automatically. Yay!

If you didn’t already know, phone 0870 850 4444 when you get your V11 reminder through the post.

More FM related fun!

Friday, August 15th, 2008

Quite an eventful game for Adebayor!

6 goals AND a red card - nuff respec'

6 goals AND a red card - nuff respec'

Won the Champions League!

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

I know it is pretty easy to do this in FM with Arsenal because it is a very good side with loadsamoney – but it still feels good.

This was one of the very few games in the season where I actually had fewer shots than the opposition – but after scoring two first-half goals Real were always chasing the game and I kept them at bay.

2-0 to the Arsenal!

2-0 to the Arsenal!

Unexpected visitor to the garden this morning…

Friday, August 8th, 2008

Certainly wasn’t expecting to see a bird of prey in the city! Wish I had got a picture of it, but the visit only lasted a couple of seconds. It swooped in, sat down, looked around, and swooped back out again.

It was a larger-than-usual brown bird with piercing eyes and a small sharp beak. From looking around on t’internet I think it was a female sparrowhawk – here is a pic I stole from the BBC website…

Much more interesting than a pigeon!

Much more interesting than a pigeon!

Perhaps it is nesting in the graveyard next door? I’ll keep an eye out!

The difference between the North East and South East

Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

It boils down to weather.

North East – Summer lasts 2 days.

South East – Summer lasts 2 weeks.

Then you get an almighty thunderstorm. I’m watching it right now, flashes of light, piercing cracks from the sky, torrents of water.

Finally got some Nitto "Moustache" handlebars

Friday, August 1st, 2008

That’s part number RM-016 to be precise.

A very comfy yet rapid handlebar?

A very comfy yet rapid handlebar?

First impressions are very good. The bar is more compact than the web images usually suggest, the straight ends are hardly any bigger than my hand (I am 6ft), the total depth of the whole bar is about 170mm (around 100mm centre-to-centre from the clamp to the front), the widest point is about 515mm centre-to-centre, and the greatest drop is about 55mm c2c.

It also has that lovely Japanese detailing which makes you know you have a quality item. I see the same kind of detailing in their RC stuff and it creates a real aura of engineering excellence. I thought I’d pick out this neat little “Heat Treated” sticker as an example. Tidy.

"Heat Treated" and hopefully city-proof too

"Heat Treated" and hopefully city-proof too

Next job is to fit them. Fingers crossed they feel as good on the bike as they do off it. At my current rate of progress I should have them sorted by September 2009!

Finally, some quick props to Hubjub who managed to send these very quickly and very well packaged, at what seems to be a very reasonable price too.