I tend to think the internet has opened a portal to a golden age for many hobbies / pastimes and interests and the more niche or obscure, then the greater that effect seems to be. It is the greatest library ever amassed, not all of it good but if you sought the wheat from the chaff, it makes many th...

If you're struggling to imagine 220m, this should help give you an idea of scale. Yes, that's Blackpool Tower on the left. https://scontent.fbhx4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/424931687_10228989905625915_6560203775105014020_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=-mSTbgKggY4AX9p...

Yes, happy birthday fella

Any specific tape recommended?

You can buy Tyvek tape but gaffa tape will work just as well.

If you're using solid fuel then you really don't need a stove at all. Search on the reviews section for 'cooking without a cooker'.

All depends on the ground it's laid on really. Nothing wrong with taping the hole / tear rather than disposing of it.

On this years BB200, all riders will be required to send in a postcard from the furthest point on route. Nice scenic ones will be encouraged.

An extra 3 hours drive if I want to do some rallying now.

I'll let you drive your car up our track - it's a similar experience

After 10 months of tests, scans and biopsies looks like everything is more benign than was feared which is pretty damn cheery even if it isn't a Friday. Now I just need to get some fitness back.

Yay indeed

We all know that he was from Wales and no doubt a cheery story told by the Britons to cheer themselves up as the Romans advanced ever westward. Anyway, slate. I was told by a roofer recently that they expect Welsh slate to last around 100 years, Italian slates around 25 years and those imported from...

Size will largely be dictated by what you want to put in it. Something around 6l will give you more scope. As an example, if you wanted to clean a bank of 4 carbs as a single unit, you'd need something around 10l. These are worth a look. Perhaps not the cheapest but in my experience, cheap cleaners ...

Good work there Dave. A well deserved

I think all long distance travel has the potential be be both costly and stressful if the stars don't align. In truth, we perhaps need to be encouraging more of this ... https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxPsgIWd0VMqRD-MaVxYNd5JKmMmR1icsJ-3bW1_EeMTQzxwFhB7KXG4TJaX4j9vbm8Moj...

Thanks all. Those of you who have visited will know how quiet the place is which makes it something of a sanctuary and not just for us but the local population and obviously the wildlife - as testified by the Martens moving into the barn last spring. I'm certainly not anti-motorsport but there's a t...

Dumfries and Galloway is all I know Phil.

The rally school have now relocated to Scotland. Ceulan will remain Bear Bones Towers.

There was always a great buzz around the 24 hour races and that was down to Pat and crew. I felt the UK mtb scene really lost something when that light went out. RIP.

Recently, I read "you won't change the world by saving one dog but you'll change the world for that one dog".

Same attitude can be liberally applied elsewhere.

I think that might melt as I doubt it'll be flame proof. Ideally, silicone tubing.

I've given this some thought and now believe the way forward is ... to use someone else's hat

There's no reason why one can't try to reduce output and produce green energy at the same time. Absolutely ... but my point is that we don't often do that. Very little is talked about reducing consumption when it could actually make a large and real difference. Huge amounts of energy to build, huge...

why we did it. Money, greed. power, entitlement, stupidity ... am I close? Trouble is, even when under the guise of green, we continue to play the same games ... there's a new proposal to erect a windfarm (they now call them energy parks) on the hills opposite the Star Inn (a place many of you will...

if you're thinking about this stuff then that's good. Perhaps it is to some degree but thinking doesn't really achieve anything unless it's a precursor to action ... I think about Carol Vorderman a lot, but ... In truth, any leisure activity that requires the manufacture and purchase of 'goods' isn...

How do you get the tube onto the handles?

Depends on the mug / pot but often they can be compressed just enough so they can be sprung free from the retainers they locate in.

Silicone tubing added to handles works well. Making sure the handles aren't touching each other when on the stove keeps them cooler too ... honestly it does. Me, I have a little square of silicone mat that I pick hot things up with, I also have a silicone band around the top of my mug, which I will ...