Shakespeare('s Sister)

Happy Birthday to this chap.

He wasn't a bad writer was he? He was also a considerate chap, having the foresight to die on his birthday, so future generations of children only have to learn one date rather than two for his life.

Let's also remember that this day is a significant one in the calendar for all us English people.

Happy St George's Day to everyone. Now before people start accusing those celebrating our patron saints day as being racist....
a) You don't accuse the Irish of being racist for celebrating their patron saint's day, nor the Scots or the Welsh...
b) Far from being racist, we are celebrating the life of a Roman soldier. That doesn't sound like the actions on a racist Englishman
c) There is nothing wrong with being proud of your country and patriotic.

A few facts for you (lifted from Wikipedia)
Saint George (ca. 275/281 – 23 April 303) was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier and priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, and the Eastern Catholic Churches. He is immortalized in the tale of Saint George and the Dragon and is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. His memorial is celebrated on 23 April, and he is regarded as one of the most prominent military saints.



Saint George is the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia, as well as the cities of Amersfoort, Beirut, Fakiha, Bteghrine, Cáceres (Spain), Ferrara, Freiburg, Genoa, Ljubljana, Gozo, Milan, Pomorie, Preston, Qormi, Rio de Janeiro, Lod, Barcelona and Moscow, as well as a wide range of professions, organizations, and disease sufferers

Are all the people of these countries also racist?




I've a busy weekend ahead of me. After cycling home from work, I'm heading over to Crawley for the night, then driving back tomorrow morning for the AGM of the Lea Valley Youth Cycling Club of which I seem to have become the Chairman. (That's the penalty for being too loud and bossy at committee meetings!). After the AGM, I'm back to Crawley for a night out with friends. Sunday night will see me back home and time to start preparing for the USA trip. Time to get packing.

Congratulations to Newcastle United who will be presented with the Championship Trophy before a record crowd for a Championship game.

Have a good weekend one and all.

I Believe I Can Fly

Well, after the excitement of last night and seeing Newcastle win the Championship and meeting up with an old friend, today has been much more mundane. However, that feel good factor from both the football and meeting an old mate for the first time in about 6 years was still there.

Even better, I actually have some work to do now. Yes taxpayers, I am actually working for my salary now- at long last. Its great to have work to do.

I've still not seen the new Chief Inspector. Its day 7 since he arrived and still not so much as an email from him. He has been out of the office so far this week, but is apparently back in the office on Thursday. I am on leave from after Friday week (31st 30th April). I wonder if I will have either seen, spoken to or heard via email from the Chief Inspector by then. Not speaking to or communicating with your staff is an interesting management style, especially when the organisation is so small.

The main news of the day is that at last planes are allowed to fly into and out of the UK. The volcanic ash cloud is apparently moving away so planes are allowed to fly. Good, that means I should be ok to fly on Sunday week to Newark. I have booked the last item i need. I have now hired a car for 6 days in the USA. I have hotels booked in NJ, Pittsbugh and Washington. Car hire in USA, car parking in the UK and flights. Got my ESTA clearance

We Are The Champions

Does this post need any more explanation?

If it does, then you : -

a) have not paid enough attention to my previous posts

b) are probably a SMB

c) look at the Championship - Premiership we are back (perhaps for one season only, but we are still back)

Champions again!

Mike Ashley - you deserve no credit and no one thanks you for this. We won it DESPITE you, not because of you.

I can't wait to see more pictures

Here Comes The Sun

Well, its been a glorious day in Essex today. The sun is out, the sky is blue, its beautiful and so are you, dear Prudence. Whoops sorry, this is a cycling blog isn't it.

I am pleased to say that today has been a most productive day for me. I've used to good weather to enable me to:
a) do some washing
b) cut the grass
c) do some shopping and
d) prepare for a BBQ tonight.

Oh yes, and I went down to Woodham Mortimer in Essex with Drew and Sam to take part in the Whitham Wander Audax event. It was supposed to be around 100km, but with my detour (I blame the route sheet, it said turn left when the organiser meant go straight on). Anyway, I'm pleased to report that we completed 107km in 4 hours 24mins at an average speed of 24.2km/h with 2997 feet of climbing. To put this into understandable units (not of the foreign metric stuff), it was 66.2 MILES at an average speed of 15mph.

The only break in this ride was a quick toilet stop at the control point after 54km. I am pleased to report that my knee appears to have stood up to the event pretty well. I pushed myself to test the knee out to see if it is likely to survive the Police Unity Tour ride. I'm confident that me knee stood up better than I expected although it still is very painful to walk on it, but not to cycle on it.

There was one casualty of the ride today. Poor Sam doing his first audax found the going a bit fast for him. It was not helped by his having to ride in training shoes on cleated pedals. He left his cycling shoes at home.

I must give lots of praise to the organiser for his planning and smooth running on the day. The free food provided at the finish was magnificent. It was more in quantity and quality than most lunches provided at work conferences or training courses.

I rode the event on my touring bike which is the one I will be riding in the USA. The bike was fine, all seemed to work well. So, its going to be packed away now ready for the USA. I need to take off the mudguards, remove the pedals, turn the handlebars etc.

Its been a good evening. Drew & Sam, who did the ride with me came round for a BBQ, a couple of beers and a chance to chew the fat, review today's ride, plot to do a few more audax events as well. We've righted the world, sorted out British Cycling and generally had a good chat.

The night ended well with Drew giving me another £40 ($60) towards my sponsorship target.