Thursday 6 May 2010

...amazed just how long it's been!

Yes it has been awhile hasn't it kids.
So what has been happening in the world of me?
Well, a lot really, so much that I've be daunted by the idea of writing it all down.
Don't by any means, get the idea that my life has changed or that I'm doing better than before.
No, no, nothing big has happened, just lots of little things.
But little things take as much time to type up as bigger events, so as a unnatural-blog-o-naught, it's has become a large obstacle in my mind.
Oh silly me!
Anyway, here's to breaking the block

Friday 26 March 2010

...just saying I'm not dead...

...I've just been off, busy, broken, ill.

I'll tell you more tomorrow, but I'd thought I'd better give you a preview.
Just in case you stop following me, mom.

Saturday 27 February 2010

...wondering if it's weird...

...that I've put our blood groups/types on our bicycle helmets?

Yes, there are precedents for this, racing car drivers up until the late 80's used to, not only marked on their crash-hats but also wear a waist bracelet with their blood information engraved. Watch the end of Grand Prix with James Garner or about 15minutes in from the start of Steve McQueen's Le Mans and you'll see what I'm getting at.

But is it necessary these days?
Well, maybe not for racing drivers as safety has been raised so high, but for bicyclists on Britain's roads?
Well, yes and no.
Yes because the risk of accident with a car as a bicyclist can be really high on some roads.
No because of two reasons; paramedics, A&E doctors and nurses are trained to ignore non verbal information that can not be substantiated, it might not be the helmet wearer's helmet for example, secondly, they can ignore this notice because the group and cross match tests to determine blood type quickly.

So why do it? Well if there was an accident involving one of us and the other was OK, it acts as a prompt for the medics, saving a bit of time. Also it's cool, especially as my green helmet is meant to look like a military one.

Yes, i'm not to sure either, but at least the information's correct; B+ for SL Bartlett, O+ for me, O W Dawson. Milly Moo, as a cat, doesn't wear a skid-lid but if she did, I'm sure it would say M+. Actually, cat's don't havethe same blood groups as humans or Resis monkeys. Hmm, so maybe.

Monday 22 February 2010

...a retronaut, and now need...

...a few million (sterling) to get a Ford.
Yes it's no ordinary Ford, it's a Tin-Goose, Ford Trimotor. Remember the trailer for Public Enemies, with a top view of an aeroplane coming into shot to the soundtrack of Calexico's Black heart.

...a retronaut, and these are...

...the headphones to use to marry modern technology (an ipod, iphone, tape walkman?) with old(er) world charm.

The Panasonic RP-HTX 7 (£35-£60)
Here with an old ipod shuffle, a girl, on an old pre-macbook macbook, and the range of colours.

...a retronaut, continued...

...here's how to ride it, which ever one you choose:

...a retronaut, of a sort...

...trying to live in the past, with a select amount of the better paraphernalia from it. Of course, being in the present means you have the advantages of modern medicine and technology, so in a way, it's the best time: the retropresent.

First, Retronaut-transportation:

Here are some of my choices to make my retropresent transportation complete (most of I don't have because of money rationing, as in, I don't have any)















Pashley Guv'nor 3-Speed (a whopping £845)
....but it has Sturmey-Archer hub brakes and hub gears, how old man is that!
It's a rock solid steel frame with North-Road handle bars and the whole 'look' is based on the Pashley Path Racer from way before I was born.



(Specialized) Globe Carmel 5 (£399)
....it's not the Guv'nor but being aluminium and with dérailleur gears, you might be able to ride quick enough (and put cream tyres on), only real retronauts will know. It's also more relaxed to ride being a new hybrid rather than the Guv'nor's past racer stance.

















Brompton P6R (in raw, £940+)
...put the Brooks B17 from the Guv'nor (£60+) and you've got the best folding bike in history. Handmade and with multiple configurations and colours, it's the best retropresent riding machine, not just for the city (where you can take on public transport) but ever. Ride it with a suit to take you to the higher echelons of retronautism.