A third family holiday this year for us Haygarths in the UK – the ‘Staycation’ (or ‘Holistay’ – a more ‘English’ version of the new term I prefer) has really come of age. We booked a ‘log cabin’ (or really more a pine lodge – not as romantic sounding) in Ogwen Bank – just on the Snowdonia National Park boundary a few weeks ago, and had a great stay there last week.
Continue reading “Summer Holiday in Wales – Ogwen Bank”
Gisburn Forest Mountinbike Trails… now with added fun.
I managed to finally get to ride most of the best bits (I think) of the new MTB trails at Gisburn Forest last night. I must say I was impressed. I’d be primed / appetite whetted by a combination of Matthew, some photos by Andy Rushforth, and a blog post by Dave Powell.
I headed up last night because I decided to take a mental break from racing for a couple of weeks. Thursday night’s Preston crit night so I wanted to ‘do something’ other than racing. On a nice clear, calm evening, Gisburn made sense. Continue reading “Gisburn Forest Mountinbike Trails… now with added fun.”
The Book of Elvis – by Lily
Lily goes off from time to time and sites down quietly with her pens – like lots of six year olds do – to create something. Usually it’s a card or a picture, but sometimes it’s something a bit more of a ‘project’.
Last week Lily asked me to print some photos of our dog Elvis and disappeared with some paper to a quiet corner on a wet afternoon. The book she made is just lovely – from the DIY spelling to the use of language – it warms our hearts so much to read. Continue reading “The Book of Elvis – by Lily”
Billie Jeanellium
In memory of Micheal Jackson, I started to mess about with music again the other night, and came up with this fairly stripped down version of Billie Jean… basically nicked the drums and vocals, the rest was re-done from other instruments… it’s a top tune, and there’s not much to be gained by remixing it or messing around too much, unless you’re as god-like as Bushwacka or indeed Ian Brown.
Anyways… have a listen…
[audio:https://www.minnellium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/04-Billie-Jean.mp3]PS – my parents in law are called Bill & Jean. Amazing. It could have been about them.
Blackburn Grand Prix – Back in Black(burn)
I spent a strange but ace year of my education at Blackburn College in 1990/91 and it’ll always hold some great memories for me. This evening I rode in the town centre race there and had a good ride. I’m glad I did – I was starting to get concerned.
When you have bad days and little dips in form now and then, you generally deal with it and wait for it to pass.
When you have a bad day then another then another and you’re 39 (and a half), you start to think that maybe the bubble’s burst… your time’s come, and you’re not going to regain any semblance of form. Ever. Continue reading “Blackburn Grand Prix – Back in Black(burn)”
Colne Grand Prix: Trouble at Mill
Bit of an odd crit last night. Great result for Lewis who won again… I was a measly 12th… no big deal – bad night after Sunday’s bruising. Continue reading “Colne Grand Prix: Trouble at Mill”
Coniston – Grizedale Mountainbike Triathlon – biting off more than I could chew
An interesting day today for me – what I entered into as a bit of a challenge turned out to be a true test for me – physically (to an extent) – but largely psychologically.
In early May, Katie and I were looking at the Westmorland Gazette and I was feeling down in the dumps about being laid up with a broken collarbone. When Katie spotted the Coniston-Grizedale Mountainbike Triathlon was open for entries, she suggested I give it a go. It was a good idea – I’ve done three sprint triathlons before and despite being a slow and cumbersome swimmer, I’ve always done well. The notion of a full on mountainbike, lake swim, fell run off-road triathlon in the Lake District just seemed a great challenge. And what a formidable challenge it was. Continue reading “Coniston – Grizedale Mountainbike Triathlon – biting off more than I could chew”
Manchester International Festival – ‘The Great Indoors’
Ace day on Saturday – we took Lily and Elsie into ‘The Great Indoors‘ a wonderful collection of children’s creative activities and performances all over the insides of Manchester’s Town Hall, as part of the Manchester International Festival.
We met up with Sally, Sim and Olly, had a romp, got home early and relaxed – job’s a good un. Some nice photo moments too here.
Danny MacAskill’s work on the Doves latest video
Danny MacAskill’s rise to fame has been rapid this year due to some great viral stuff involving his Edinburgh street exploits on youtube. Top tune, too… Continue reading “Danny MacAskill’s work on the Doves latest video”
Grizedale North Face loop – a mad evening dash
I grabbed at a small window of opportunity this evening when mum had invited Lily to go to the theatre in Lancaster – to see The Jungle Book. I thought I’d throw the MTB in the car and belt up to Grizedale for a quick dash round the North Face Loop there. With an off-road triathlon coming up at Coniston on Sunday that includes a lap of the loop, I was keep to suss out just how much technical stuff there was to decide how to set up the bike. Continue reading “Grizedale North Face loop – a mad evening dash”
A Lancashire Heat Wave? Well – it’s not been bad.
It’s amazing how a bit of warm weather makes life so pleasurable. Home life for the past week seems to have been a perpetual cycle of playing in the garden, going to the park, sitting outside, eating outside, riding bikes and generally not being indoors to do much other than work and sleep. I even heard talk of a heat wave earlier today ont he radio – the very prospect thrills me, I must say. Continue reading “A Lancashire Heat Wave? Well – it’s not been bad.”
An overnight visit to Kirkby Lonsdale
We had our first overnight stopover at mum’s house in ages this weekend. It’s been an odd year with the sleep patterns of a baby and going to someone’s house has generally represented hassle for me since Elsie came along, but she’s been sleeping so well for the last few weeks and Katie & I wanted to get oursleves out for a meal without children – so going to see mum was a really ace opportunity to kill a whole flock of birds with a very small stone.
On top of it all, the sun shone despite a dreadful forecast.
I had two ace bike rides – one on the way up; the ‘usual’ way over Gisburn Forest I ride – and the next morning I opted for a (mildly hungover) hilly and gobsmackingly scenic ride from Kirkby Lonsdale to Barbon, Dent, Deepdale and Kingsdale – on my way to Katie’s family’s house in Ingleton. Continue reading “An overnight visit to Kirkby Lonsdale”