I kept a written record (as I always do) of my holiday. I also found myself noting down all the things I'd like to do in the future. Many will never happen but I thought I would record them for future regret and self flagellation.
Home version of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue; L’Eroica cyclosportif in grand retro style in moustache (Chianti in Oct); Nelmes institute of Art (giant Pollocks); Nelmes institute of Science II; Play cricket (at least once); Go to regular MKAC sessions; Sub 1:35 half marathon (Spring); Sub 3:30 marathon (Autumn); Duathlon or triathlon (Autumn); Time trial (Summer); Humphrey Institute II; Play more music; Touch Rugby (point at football, bite my thumb at conkers and fondle rounders); Three Men in a Boat: this time it is opulent; Set up wire stave and play starlings; Twenty five go mad in Dorset; Make ginger beer; Establish exactly how to boil perfect eggs; Book - A World Without...;PhD (Thames or Transport); Move house; Read Ackroyd on Thames; Buy British umbrella; Get Dad on Internet; Weigh own head; Go on Meredith/Wodehouse motor weekend; Escape from the 21st century; Snorkeling in the Ouzel; Become an expert; Read about ants; Buy a new dictionary ; Buy the first dictionary; Take part in nature survey; Plant willow wands; Write a book on packing; Puncture fairy; Bruce chatwin; BTCV; Read Great Railway bazaar; Read Richard Burton’s Arabian Nights; Explore Pushkin; Learn cycling Italian; Listen to Steve Earle, the Goldberg variations; Write a group novel; Organise an Italian trip (Venice Piedmont, L’Eroica); Establish friendly/cooperative society; Learn blues guitar; Hold a Nelmes Olympiad; Sow Christ in grass seed; Establish the nature of my purpose.
Gary Nelmes
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Sri Lanka: part three
Ella was a nice little town with, what I imagine to be, breathtaking views. It was fairly cloudy while we were there so we had to imagine them. I lieu of the views I went frog hunting and manged to track down a a whole little orchestra down by the hotel pond. It was only sometime later that I realised that there was a down side to frog hunting.
Lying in bed I put my hand on something slug-like. It turned out to be a leech engorged with blood from my foot. I was able to resist a girlish scream but there was blood everywhere.
From Ella we took a brilliant bus ride down to Tangalla. The bus seemed to plunge headlong down the hill with no regard for life of limb. Oddly you get used to that attitude fairly quickly and I spent the trip looking out and the rapidly changing landscape and reading. From the misty uplands we first dipped out of the cloud and then descended further onto the coastal plain.
As the landscape flattened the nature of the agriculture changes; first from tea to vegetables and fruit trees and then to paddy and salt pans. We started to see a different fauna too. The little egrets of the north were joined by intermediate egrets, terns, ibis, pelican, kite and gulls.
Lying in bed I put my hand on something slug-like. It turned out to be a leech engorged with blood from my foot. I was able to resist a girlish scream but there was blood everywhere.
From Ella we took a brilliant bus ride down to Tangalla. The bus seemed to plunge headlong down the hill with no regard for life of limb. Oddly you get used to that attitude fairly quickly and I spent the trip looking out and the rapidly changing landscape and reading. From the misty uplands we first dipped out of the cloud and then descended further onto the coastal plain.
As the landscape flattened the nature of the agriculture changes; first from tea to vegetables and fruit trees and then to paddy and salt pans. We started to see a different fauna too. The little egrets of the north were joined by intermediate egrets, terns, ibis, pelican, kite and gulls.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Sri Lanka: part two
Since last I wrote we're had some adventures. Mr Ranjit turned out to be a right royal pain in the arse - if not a crook. Emily had read that we should take cars and a 'driver' and I allowed myself to be over ruled as regards the train journey up to Kandy. As a result we got lumbered with a 34,000 rupee bill for a van, a driver, 4 nights near Habarana and tours of the ancient sites.
The drive up to Kandy (in the hills) was OK although I hate vehicles with dark windows. When we got there it was raining and we took quite a while to find a hotel. When we did we ended up with a place full of screaming women, snoring men and hard surfaces. We went to The Pub (not out of choice) a Chinese restaurant. We managed to get food poisoning and even I was sick.
The day after I was feeling rather unwell and had to grit my teeth through the Kandy tourist stuff. The weather was awful and the 'traditional dancing' somewhat trying. The temple of the Tooth was actually quite interesting but our driver spoke so little English that explanations of what was going on were next to useless.
After another night at the hard surfaces hotel (Man I tell you there wasn't a soft surface to be seen) we went what the Britishers call 'up country'. This was to the vast quantity of Stupas, temples, Buddhas and other religious sites in the north. When I say 'North' were were never less that 50km away from the fighting.
One of the sites in particular was fantastic. A kind of forgotten city in the jungle. A 1,000 years old and rediscovered by the Brits (I suspect that as with most of these things the locals knew it was there all the time). Our guide (not our driver) was quite superb and really gave us a flavour of the place.
We also went to the most fantastic botanical garden.
During this 'oop North' phase we stayed at Dream Cottage (another Ranjit idea). This was nice and the food was excellent but Ranjit sold us 3 nights for the price of 4 with no hot water. Still it was almost worth it for the bats and MASSIVE frog chorus which struck up at 6pm.
I developed a horrible cold and a chest infection while I was there and the carried it back to Kandy with me. At Kandy we divested ourselves of the driver (at great expense) and spent a couple of days getting better, coughing up blood, and seeing the sights.
Since then we have been winding our way cheaply and beautifully by train down south. Tonight we are in Ella in the tea planting highlands. It is truly lovely and not having the responsibility of 'staff' and the feel of the earth under my feet.
We may well be at the coast tomorrow where I will go over this to add some more detail and correct the errors.
Gary Nelmes
The drive up to Kandy (in the hills) was OK although I hate vehicles with dark windows. When we got there it was raining and we took quite a while to find a hotel. When we did we ended up with a place full of screaming women, snoring men and hard surfaces. We went to The Pub (not out of choice) a Chinese restaurant. We managed to get food poisoning and even I was sick.
The day after I was feeling rather unwell and had to grit my teeth through the Kandy tourist stuff. The weather was awful and the 'traditional dancing' somewhat trying. The temple of the Tooth was actually quite interesting but our driver spoke so little English that explanations of what was going on were next to useless.
After another night at the hard surfaces hotel (Man I tell you there wasn't a soft surface to be seen) we went what the Britishers call 'up country'. This was to the vast quantity of Stupas, temples, Buddhas and other religious sites in the north. When I say 'North' were were never less that 50km away from the fighting.
One of the sites in particular was fantastic. A kind of forgotten city in the jungle. A 1,000 years old and rediscovered by the Brits (I suspect that as with most of these things the locals knew it was there all the time). Our guide (not our driver) was quite superb and really gave us a flavour of the place.
We also went to the most fantastic botanical garden.
During this 'oop North' phase we stayed at Dream Cottage (another Ranjit idea). This was nice and the food was excellent but Ranjit sold us 3 nights for the price of 4 with no hot water. Still it was almost worth it for the bats and MASSIVE frog chorus which struck up at 6pm.
I developed a horrible cold and a chest infection while I was there and the carried it back to Kandy with me. At Kandy we divested ourselves of the driver (at great expense) and spent a couple of days getting better, coughing up blood, and seeing the sights.
Since then we have been winding our way cheaply and beautifully by train down south. Tonight we are in Ella in the tea planting highlands. It is truly lovely and not having the responsibility of 'staff' and the feel of the earth under my feet.
We may well be at the coast tomorrow where I will go over this to add some more detail and correct the errors.
Gary Nelmes
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Sri Lanka: part one
Christmas was a wash out but at least I had a further three weeks of holiday to look forward to. I drove back to MK to collect my thoughts, do laundry etc. I had dinner with Beccy at the Barge and set off to Oxford in the morning. The day was predictably full of delays but eventually I found myself at the same bus stop where my ill fated trip to Chamonix had begun. No omen I hope.
We took the bus to Heathrow (I slept all the way) then hung about in the airport waiting for our slightly delayed flight. About 30mins after take off I had my first taste of Sri Lanka. A lovely veggie curry. Sometimes I could chuck the whole meat thing in. It doesn't add much more than a cheap thrill to food.
Oddly and uncharacteristically I played video games on the plane. Admittedly one of these was chess (the computer was stupid) but there were also a few space invaders type games.
The Maldives looked pretty amazing from the air. Beautiful rings of azure in a deep blue sea. I understand that they have a pretty nasty government (hence all the Trouble in Paradise headlines).
Arriving in Colombo we too a too long taxi ride to Ranjit's place. It oddly reminds me of Leafield road in Oxford. Nice airy 70's architecture. Gareth didn't appear to have been sick down this wall however.
I don't have a strong idea of Colombo yet. We spent evening one eating at our B&B, Evening two at a New Year party at the Galle Face Hotel (V swanky) and evening three in an outdoor restaurant on Duplication road. In between we have seen the harbour, endless markets, the (quite lovely) National Museum and some nice churches and temples.
The people (as in India) have been lovely. This is balanced out by a slightly reckless attitude to the road and the heavy military presence designed to counter the very real threat of Tamil nationalism.
Today (Jan 2nd 2008) we will head up to Kandy via the Elephant Orphanage. Hey! Flumpage! I'll see if I can bag a couple of little ones to bring home.
So far I have seen egrets, frogs, things that look like chip monks, hooded crows and a bird beginning with k with a white spike and red eyes.
Lots if sight/site seeing to do today.
Gary Nelmes xx
We took the bus to Heathrow (I slept all the way) then hung about in the airport waiting for our slightly delayed flight. About 30mins after take off I had my first taste of Sri Lanka. A lovely veggie curry. Sometimes I could chuck the whole meat thing in. It doesn't add much more than a cheap thrill to food.
Oddly and uncharacteristically I played video games on the plane. Admittedly one of these was chess (the computer was stupid) but there were also a few space invaders type games.
The Maldives looked pretty amazing from the air. Beautiful rings of azure in a deep blue sea. I understand that they have a pretty nasty government (hence all the Trouble in Paradise headlines).
Arriving in Colombo we too a too long taxi ride to Ranjit's place. It oddly reminds me of Leafield road in Oxford. Nice airy 70's architecture. Gareth didn't appear to have been sick down this wall however.
I don't have a strong idea of Colombo yet. We spent evening one eating at our B&B, Evening two at a New Year party at the Galle Face Hotel (V swanky) and evening three in an outdoor restaurant on Duplication road. In between we have seen the harbour, endless markets, the (quite lovely) National Museum and some nice churches and temples.
The people (as in India) have been lovely. This is balanced out by a slightly reckless attitude to the road and the heavy military presence designed to counter the very real threat of Tamil nationalism.
Today (Jan 2nd 2008) we will head up to Kandy via the Elephant Orphanage. Hey! Flumpage! I'll see if I can bag a couple of little ones to bring home.
So far I have seen egrets, frogs, things that look like chip monks, hooded crows and a bird beginning with k with a white spike and red eyes.
Lots if sight/site seeing to do today.
Gary Nelmes xx
Friday, December 28, 2007
Post Christmas post
Christmas has been a pretty dreadful affair this year. Mum and Dad were both ill, the house was declared an isolation zone, and all festivities were consequently cancelled. Dad was crabby, Mum was upset and I could have banged their silly heads together. It made going home a little redundant but I'm glad that I did it. I got some reading done (Part of Beowulf and the end of The Devil in Amber) and had some time to think about future projects. It also provided something of a contrast with the week before.
That was a bit of a bit of a roller coaster with rekindled affections, quite a bit of drinking and a really good evening with Dunc, Verity and Laura crammed in. The latter ended with a very late and very tuneless sing song around the computer (it is a variation on the Victorian theme).
I walked back to Cowley via Abingdon Road and Donnington Bridge. There was a thick white frost and a swirling fog. I stopped and looked down into the black water. I felt a deep sense of ambiguity as I stared into the rushing current. A fascination with the idea of the drop and a wonder at the silent beauty of the night around me. A desire to be and a desire not to be. I guess we all get that.
I'll be in Sri Lanka for three weeks as of tomorrow so I may try to update this while I'm away.
Gary Nelmes
That was a bit of a bit of a roller coaster with rekindled affections, quite a bit of drinking and a really good evening with Dunc, Verity and Laura crammed in. The latter ended with a very late and very tuneless sing song around the computer (it is a variation on the Victorian theme).
I walked back to Cowley via Abingdon Road and Donnington Bridge. There was a thick white frost and a swirling fog. I stopped and looked down into the black water. I felt a deep sense of ambiguity as I stared into the rushing current. A fascination with the idea of the drop and a wonder at the silent beauty of the night around me. A desire to be and a desire not to be. I guess we all get that.
I'll be in Sri Lanka for three weeks as of tomorrow so I may try to update this while I'm away.
Gary Nelmes
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Humphrey Institute of Music
The aim of the Institute was to bring as many of my friends (without children) together in one grand location as possible; to play music, to drink good wine, to eat good food, to smoke good cigars, to read and to get some fresh air.All in all I managed a large manor house with:
Sixteen people, two acoustic guitars, two electric guitars, two bass guitars, a drum kit, two clarinets, two flutes, four whistles, a grand piano, two tambourines, a lute and a hurdy-gurdy.
The Humphrey Institute of Music (Dec 8th-14th 2007) has proved to be my most triumphant organisational success so far. The personnel, the venue, the finances and the events worked to almost embarrassing perfection. I kept organisation to a minimum and farmed out responsibility for key tasks to people more capable (or more interested) than me of executing them. The catering was a massive task in itself and a potential drag for anyone who didn’t enjoy it. Leaving the two major events with Beccy and Gareth gave them a core role, freed me to keep an eye on the over all shape of things and ensured a really very good standard of catering.
The musical organisation was also a potentially difficult area. I’m not really a musician so leading from the front was not an option. Duncan was the designated leading ‘muso’ and did a brilliant job; but on the days he was sick we managed to create something interesting mainly because I was not the main focus of attention. I think people felt free to be creative and that was really good to see.
I had hoped that it wouldn’t break down into a band/audience situation and I don’t think it did. Julia did fantastic work with the woodwind people. I really was awe struck that they came into the main lounge and got through Heart of Gold with barely a squeak out of place. I was also frankly incredulous that Jackie managed to get a tune out of the hurdy-gurdy. Hats off!
The music was the binding theme of the event from the start but I was amazed by just how pervasive it was. Aside from the big (and slightly raucous) renditions of Fairytale of New York where everyone joined in there were little knots of music all week. The Julias played beautiful piano and flute in the mornings. Dunc and Andrew did amazing brotherly guitar things before dinner. The black tie Bottle Orchestra squeaked through a brace of tunes between courses and Beccy and the multi talented MDJ did acoustic versions of New Wave Punk classics in the early hours. I should probably apologise for my early morning experimentation on Matt’s drum kit but it was great fun.
Somehow, the atmosphere and the aesthetic of the thing were just perfect. The house felt like home to me after a couple of days and we fell into a routine. The formality of the Black Tie Dinner is always something I love and the girls all looked stunning. Sparkling eyes, lovely outfits and beautiful faces all set off against the background of the chaps looking suave and manly. I love all that stuff.
The weather somehow also managed to be perfect. The rainstorms of the weekend gave the manor the character of a warm glowing refuge at the heart of dark (or at least perpetually crepuscular) nature. Paul seemed to be able to summon a fire from nothing (even a two level one at one point) and I hold my Neolithic manhood cheap by comparison. Somehow (and this is also slightly less than butch) I was slightly reminded of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. ”You’re wet; I think you better come inside…”
Ah… it sets the mind racing doesn’t it? Rocky Horror, Clue, Murder Mystery, Art (enormous Pollocks), Dance, Wine. So little time…
The musical organisation was also a potentially difficult area. I’m not really a musician so leading from the front was not an option. Duncan was the designated leading ‘muso’ and did a brilliant job; but on the days he was sick we managed to create something interesting mainly because I was not the main focus of attention. I think people felt free to be creative and that was really good to see.
I had hoped that it wouldn’t break down into a band/audience situation and I don’t think it did. Julia did fantastic work with the woodwind people. I really was awe struck that they came into the main lounge and got through Heart of Gold with barely a squeak out of place. I was also frankly incredulous that Jackie managed to get a tune out of the hurdy-gurdy. Hats off!The music was the binding theme of the event from the start but I was amazed by just how pervasive it was. Aside from the big (and slightly raucous) renditions of Fairytale of New York where everyone joined in there were little knots of music all week. The Julias played beautiful piano and flute in the mornings. Dunc and Andrew did amazing brotherly guitar things before dinner. The black tie Bottle Orchestra squeaked through a brace of tunes between courses and Beccy and the multi talented MDJ did acoustic versions of New Wave Punk classics in the early hours. I should probably apologise for my early morning experimentation on Matt’s drum kit but it was great fun.
Somehow, the atmosphere and the aesthetic of the thing were just perfect. The house felt like home to me after a couple of days and we fell into a routine. The formality of the Black Tie Dinner is always something I love and the girls all looked stunning. Sparkling eyes, lovely outfits and beautiful faces all set off against the background of the chaps looking suave and manly. I love all that stuff.
The weather somehow also managed to be perfect. The rainstorms of the weekend gave the manor the character of a warm glowing refuge at the heart of dark (or at least perpetually crepuscular) nature. Paul seemed to be able to summon a fire from nothing (even a two level one at one point) and I hold my Neolithic manhood cheap by comparison. Somehow (and this is also slightly less than butch) I was slightly reminded of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. ”You’re wet; I think you better come inside…”Ah… it sets the mind racing doesn’t it? Rocky Horror, Clue, Murder Mystery, Art (enormous Pollocks), Dance, Wine. So little time…
Monday, December 17, 2007
Fairytale of Maesycrugiau
It was Friday evening
In Maesycrugiau
When Nelmes he said to me
“Pack up, it’s time to go.”
Then he sang Redemption Song
One final screech right through;
I turned my face away
And burned a book or two.
But what a week to see!
From sixteen down to three:
The house was reeling
From wine, guitar and flute.
It’s nearly Christmas
But no festivity
Gives half as good a time
As the Humphrey Institute.
They've got drinks big as sinks
They've got booze in the hall,
They’ve got guests glassy-eyed
As the stag on the wall.
When they first take your hand
Through that manor house door
They promise that soon you’ll be begging for more.
We made noise in no hurry
And covered in slurry;
When the band finished playing
We cried out for more.
The chilli was stinging,
All the drunks they were singing,
We started at lunchtime then drank through the night.
The ghosts in the panelled Jesus room
Were singing through the cold,
And the hurdy-gurdy pined
For Heart of Gold.
How they’d jump up and spank
On an amplified plank,
Sipping port on the sly in resplendent black tie.
Don’t crank up the tension
With stray jazz suspension –
On your feet! Raise a glass! Don’t pretend it's the last...
The ghosts in the panelled Jesus room
Were singing through the cold,
And the hurdy-gurdy pined
For Heart of Gold.
And now they’re gone too soon:
From room to empty room
There drifts a haunting tune,
A chord that can’t sustain.
Our revels disappear,
Melted and dissolute,
But what a founding year
For the Humphrey Institute!
The ghosts in the panelled Jesus room
Were singing through the cold,
And the hurdy-gurdy pined
For Heart of Gold.
© Gareth Prior 2007
In Maesycrugiau
When Nelmes he said to me
“Pack up, it’s time to go.”
Then he sang Redemption Song
One final screech right through;
I turned my face away
And burned a book or two.
But what a week to see!
From sixteen down to three:
The house was reeling
From wine, guitar and flute.
It’s nearly Christmas
But no festivity
Gives half as good a time
As the Humphrey Institute.
They've got drinks big as sinks
They've got booze in the hall,
They’ve got guests glassy-eyed
As the stag on the wall.
When they first take your hand
Through that manor house door
They promise that soon you’ll be begging for more.
We made noise in no hurry
And covered in slurry;
When the band finished playing
We cried out for more.
The chilli was stinging,
All the drunks they were singing,
We started at lunchtime then drank through the night.
The ghosts in the panelled Jesus room
Were singing through the cold,
And the hurdy-gurdy pined
For Heart of Gold.
How they’d jump up and spank
On an amplified plank,
Sipping port on the sly in resplendent black tie.
Don’t crank up the tension
With stray jazz suspension –
On your feet! Raise a glass! Don’t pretend it's the last...
The ghosts in the panelled Jesus room
Were singing through the cold,
And the hurdy-gurdy pined
For Heart of Gold.
And now they’re gone too soon:
From room to empty room
There drifts a haunting tune,
A chord that can’t sustain.
Our revels disappear,
Melted and dissolute,
But what a founding year
For the Humphrey Institute!
The ghosts in the panelled Jesus room
Were singing through the cold,
And the hurdy-gurdy pined
For Heart of Gold.
© Gareth Prior 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Vodcast seminar: Online Educa Berlin (quick notes)
Basics
This seminar is presented as part of the Inge de Waard of the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp. Vodcasting is essentially video blogging. It is thought of as part of web 2.0. It is essentially a social media tool and (pedagogically) is designed to be part of a feedback loop. Participation is thought to be very important. The scenario for the seminar is at: http://www.ignatiawebs.blogspot.com/
The software used here is mostly freeware. Indeed we are using blogger as the basis of ths seminar so I don't have to create a new blog (blasted alien keyboard).
I'm not on my PC but I am told that we need the latest java applets and the latest windows player and the latest flash media player.
Video compressing software.
Inge believes that the software must include accessibility for mobile devices because many more mobile devices are sold than computers.
File naming should include no spaces and be in title case.
We are looking to add a widget by going to http://creativecommons.org/ to 'hunt down' a licence. We found a list of licences at http://creativecommons.org/international/uk/ . You can use these licences for your http://www.flickr.com/ pictures too. These licences can be embedded (html) in your blog via the template page.
Inge is having trouble finding the javascript widget on the creative commons site so we "will get some video compression going". Ah, sadly this didn't work either as the Windows Movie Maker doesn't work properly.
We access Windows Movie Maker via Programs: Functions on left: audio/video lines at the bottom.
Import video (avi, Mpeg etc)
Drag movie into bottom line
Add video effects and audio effects (click and drag effects). Adding these is fun but the main reason is to compress the file. To do so just 'publish the movie in a different format'. The best setting is 512kbps. The higher the rate the higher the quality but (for instance) developing countries will need a greater compression rate. 2.28gb file is more than halved at 512kbps. In this case the output is Mpeg (2 we think). We could have output as a flash file or a quicktime file. The Mpeg is standard for WMP but quicktime is slightly more cross-platform compliant.
Compressing files also speeds up the opening of your blog (i.e. is slows it down with a full size file)
WMM is complete with the windows operating system. iMovie is also usable.
http://www.blip.tv/ is Inge's broadcast software of choice.
I didn't use blip.tv because I couldn't generate a thumbnail because I couldn't read the German menus on the Paint software.
h264 coding is important for some reason but I have absolutely no idea why.
A feed reader is a bit of software which looks for .xml files. It uses RSS feeds to drag in posts/data from elsewhere.
To make the RSS icon 'a reality on your blog' we have used feedburner to produce a little application which we can paste in using 'add a page element'. That should allow people to 'stay updated on the latest information'. This is of course vitally important in the fast moving world of Holdsworth renovation - I don't think.
Further things to look up are twitter (microblogging); Delicious bookmarks (http://del.icio.us/).
Some colleagues were of the opinion that this web 2.0 social tools pose a threat to copyright and the integrity of examination. Ingrid recommends going to Stephen Downes' presentation.
She recommends a site called http://www.nosignificant.difference.org/ which shows nsd by simply using new media to present old material. The inference is that new media need new pedagogy.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Holdsworth restoration: stage six
I have the stickers I ordered from Lloyds. I now have to make a decision about how to finish the bike. I have tried matching the colour by mixing enamel paints. It is possible to get close to the colour but the patina of the old bike is hard to match. I wasn't satisfied with the job so I ended up cutting the paint back off again. I think I might leave a decision until after I have the bike functioning.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
OU Tour and Touch Rugby
It is shaping up to being a slightly mental sporting week. My weekday lunchtimes include a five miler, a Five km, a seven miler and a touch rugby game - Thursday lunchtime I have to myself.
The five mile run on Monday was horrible. I was not in the mood at all and I ran a "like so immature" race. I ran the first mile too fast, the next three I went backwards slowly and the final mile I got into some kind of rhythm. Oddly Julia tells me that it was a PB (at least in OU competition) and I now lead the 'most improved' table for the OU Tour.
The touch rugby was a more dignified disaster with our team The Knock Ons being defeated by a 'golden try' in extra time. Here is Mark's write up...
Today saw a hard fought war of attrition between two evenly matched teams for the honour of claiming the 'bronze medal' in the OU touch rugby tournament. The Hookers and the Knock-Ons game was scoreless after 16 minutes of high quality rugby-football in challenging conditions.
The deadlock at the final whistle lead to an unprecedented golden try play-off. Eventually the Hookers penetrated the as yet impregnable Knock-Ons defensive lines to surge over for the decisive score.
The five mile run on Monday was horrible. I was not in the mood at all and I ran a "like so immature" race. I ran the first mile too fast, the next three I went backwards slowly and the final mile I got into some kind of rhythm. Oddly Julia tells me that it was a PB (at least in OU competition) and I now lead the 'most improved' table for the OU Tour.
The touch rugby was a more dignified disaster with our team The Knock Ons being defeated by a 'golden try' in extra time. Here is Mark's write up...
Today saw a hard fought war of attrition between two evenly matched teams for the honour of claiming the 'bronze medal' in the OU touch rugby tournament. The Hookers and the Knock-Ons game was scoreless after 16 minutes of high quality rugby-football in challenging conditions.
The deadlock at the final whistle lead to an unprecedented golden try play-off. Eventually the Hookers penetrated the as yet impregnable Knock-Ons defensive lines to surge over for the decisive score.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Holdsworth restoration: stage five
I've turned into exactly the sort of nerd that I had hoped to avoid being. When I finished dinner last night instead of picking up the guitar, reading a book or listening to some music I started messing about with the Holdsworth again. I know that objectively it is just an old bike but somehow working on it seems more appealing than the giants of 19th century fiction.
Last night I took a scalpel to the brake hoods to remove all the rubbery goop. No doubt I’ll find out why it was there and why I shouldn’t have taken it off but I hope you will agree that it looks a whole lot better ‘sans goop’. I also removed and polished the pedal end caps.Friday, November 02, 2007
Holdsworth restoration: stage four
Things haven't moved on that far in terms of finishing the bike but I have eleven months to do that. Basically I have polished and refitted the bell, changed the tubes and tyres (I'll keep the old ones) and removed the pedal end caps ready for cleaning. Next I intend to clean up all the lugs with cotton buds and have a go at the rest of the paintwork with lighter fluid. Then I'll be in a position to make a decision about the paintwork.On the research side I've been learning all sorts of things about the bike (and not a little about human nature). Unconsciously I think I expected to find an unambiguous date of manufacture for the bike. I had already mentally stuck a card on it for L'Eroica saying 1939 or 1947. What I have discovered instead is a history of change and an acceptance of the unknowns that come with it.
The frame and forks have their own story. They were probably manufactured before, during, or slightly after World War II. This can be established by the style of the 'lugs' at the joints between tubes and the basic brass badge on the steering tube. The history of the bike is obscured by the clouds of war and the austerity which followed it. It is not clear whether it was a viable vehicle during those years or just an unused component made up later. It certainly differs in over all specification to anything in the 1939 catalogue although the frame is probably a Cyclone pattern of that era.
If it was a fully made up machine during the war it must have been valued enough some ten years later to have had a major overhaul. As I think I have already mentioned the MAFAC centre pull brakes and the Campagnolo Gran Sport mechs date from the period 1951-1954 and were fairly high spec for their time. For a while I thought the 'story' was a cherished war-time bike updated in 1951 as austerity declined but it seems there is another layer.
I had expected to find that the Williams chain set was of early 40s or 50s vintage too but the marks seem to indicate a second rebuild in 1957 (or certainly using 1957 rings and cranks).
Most of these issues will never be resolved but it certainly makes for a more interesting bike. Maybe I should get a life. Do you think?
Gary Nelmes
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween Urchins!
Happy Halloween urchins!We had a lovely evening anthropomorphising squashes drinking beer and eating seasonally inappropriate food at Sue's place last night. Actually the nosh was lovely. Things with beans, things with nuts and things with fruit. It wasn't very goulish (not a single bloody steak to be had) but it was most enjoyable.
Matthew at least was in the mood and brought some gothic sounds of yesteryear. It was a trip down memory lane with Killing Joke, The Cult, The Mission and some Fall thrown in for good measure. He spoiled it somewhat with Godley and Cream (bleugh) but you can't have everything.
Amazing the character you can get out of a pumpkin.
Gary Nelmes
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tough rugby
I played my first competitive game of touch rugby at lunchtime. Touch rugby is what Julia would refer to as a 'strategic ball game' and seems to be a combination between tag and rugby league. There is no kicking, no actual tackling and a turn-over every six ‘tackles’. Both women and men play in the same games and seem to function pretty much equally.
When you are defending, the knack seems to be getting back on-side quickly and closing the opposition down as soon as they play the ball. In offence the game seems to be more territorial than full-contact rugby (because you don’t have the opportunity to break the line).
As a team we moved the ball well; our discipline was good and we are all quite fast. Our problems were isolated to not putting quite enough pressure on the ball carriers and not moving the ball right quite often enough.
We won 6:1 with four different try scorers. I scored two (one in each half) and played reasonably well. I really enjoyed it. Here is Mark's write-up...
"The Knock-Ons swept to a fine 6-1 victory against the Tocsix from Chemistry yesterday. Gary and Alvaro recorded braces for the LTS side, while Guy and James scored a try each. James scored the sixth touchdown securing the Knock-Ons a deserved bonus-point. Well done everyone."
Gary Nelmes
When you are defending, the knack seems to be getting back on-side quickly and closing the opposition down as soon as they play the ball. In offence the game seems to be more territorial than full-contact rugby (because you don’t have the opportunity to break the line).
As a team we moved the ball well; our discipline was good and we are all quite fast. Our problems were isolated to not putting quite enough pressure on the ball carriers and not moving the ball right quite often enough.
We won 6:1 with four different try scorers. I scored two (one in each half) and played reasonably well. I really enjoyed it. Here is Mark's write-up...
"The Knock-Ons swept to a fine 6-1 victory against the Tocsix from Chemistry yesterday. Gary and Alvaro recorded braces for the LTS side, while Guy and James scored a try each. James scored the sixth touchdown securing the Knock-Ons a deserved bonus-point. Well done everyone."
Gary Nelmes
Friday, October 26, 2007
Reims Marathon Oct 21st 2007
It was with failure in mind that I ate my deluxe dosa in the Indian restaurant up the road from Euston station. My entry in Reims Marathon was the direct result of my failure to complete Paris Marathon back in April due to a foot/ankle injury. That entry in turn was a result of my failure to secure a place in London Marathon.By the time I had travelled as far as Waterloo I was beginning to regret playing touch rugby on Thursday lunchtime. It is amazing how sensitive to little twinges and sniffs I can get before an event. I felt another failure coming on and the public sector strike in France meant that it didn’t even have to be an athletic failure.
The Eurostar delivered us to a Gare du Nord enveloped in transport chaos so we took the opportunity to walk south towards the Hotel Odeon on the South Bank. France is so very French and it is odd how that always strikes me. There is always accordion music, there is usually a strike, things are unnecessarily closed, the drains do smell and the women are unbelievably beautiful.
What I couldn’t believe is that we all managed to find each other. Duncan ran into Richard by accident, I met Gareth on the Pont Neuf and everyone else sniffed us out in a restaurant in the Odeon area. Only Chris was left stranded on the north bank with a bag of 1664 and MacDonalds.
The transport strike more or less finished on Friday night and we were able to get a TGV to Reims without too much difficulty. I say “without too much difficulty” but we’d probably have got nowhere if it hadn’t been for Sarah and Suzanne’s language skills.
The city of Reims (say rinse in an OTT French accent) feel not unlike Cambridge. It is flat, stone built, old and rich. What is more the air is unbelievably clean and crisp. Sarah checked us into the Hotel Cecyl with chatty efficiency and we were generally well pleased with it.
We had the slowest possible lunch on the main street and then headed off to register and collect numbers. That all seemed to go fairly smoothly and we were back in time for takeaway pasta (why can’t we have that in the UK) and a night in front of the box watching England edged out in the Rugby World Cup by the Springboks.
I was up at the crack of dawn pacing about on Sunday. It seemed to be ages before we all toddled off to our various starts. The Marathon one was near the magnificent gothic cathedral.
The first thing I noticed was the lack of women. The vast majority of participants were men between 25 and 45. The second thing to strike me was the lack of gonks, wombles, fairies and deep sea divers. The French obviously take their marathon running very seriously.
I forget everything I run past but here is what I do remember of the race itself. The start was polite, fast and well organised. We were soon running 5min kms (8min miles) and settling into a good rhythm. Running with Julia was brilliant (sort of like being a celebrity minder) with everyone shouting “allez les filles”. The snacks were awesome with dried fruit, banana, and all sorts of attractive nibbles to go with the water. We also had jelly babies to supplement the local produce.
We passed a real flower mill (which is the only legitimate use of Moulin I’ve ever seen) lots of pretty canals, an industrial area and some quiet ‘burbs. The people were very friendly and those who noticed were pleased that foreigners had come to their town to run.
At various points the 10k, the semi-marathon and our race came together. We saw Duncan twice and got high-fived by Richard. There seemed to be many more ladeez running in the other races. The locals had laid on lots of entertainment and we were treated to a string quartet, drums, a flute ensemble and a mental woman yelling through a tube.
Julia had a bit of a wobble between 20km and 30km but we ‘smashed’ (pardon the hyperbole) our 20mile records and pressed on. At 38km I remember feeling very stiff in the feet department and on a down hill stretch thereafter Julia started to pull away a bit. She wanted to stay with me but I think that would have made things harder so with a cheery “pin your ears back curly” I sent her off into the distance. By the end I was reeling her in a bit I would never have caught her.
Julia finished in 3:37:40 and I came in 43seconds later at 3:38:32
Gary Nelmes
Semi Marathon times were
Suzanne Moores 02:10:10
Richard Jones 02:03:39
Duncan Humphrey 01:41:16
Nick (it goes on the shoe not in the pocket) Harris - 01:53:08
Christian Major 01:33:04
Sarah Bird - 02:03:39
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Reims marathon training diary: part three
Things are looking fairly positive for Reims now. The foot injury has calmed down and the horrible cold, which began last Thursday evening, is also passing. I think the timing for the cold was about right as I was already tapering. Although I won't be as well trained as I would like to have been I will at least be well rested.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will run four easy miles before lunch and then it will be nothing but rest and carbo-loading until Saturday (the day before the race) when I intend to get a light jog in.
I must remember to stock up on my normal energy drink before I leave for France.
Gary Nelmes
Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will run four easy miles before lunch and then it will be nothing but rest and carbo-loading until Saturday (the day before the race) when I intend to get a light jog in.
I must remember to stock up on my normal energy drink before I leave for France.
Gary Nelmes
Holdsworth restoration: stage three
The polishing has continued and I now have a presentable back wheel and back brake to add to the rest of the shiny bits.
The news on spares is a bit more mixed. I’ve have obtained a very useful list of reproduction decals (from Nick Tithecote at Lloyds) while the modern brake blocks I purchased to replace the MAFAC ones have proved unsuitable due to their depth. I have ordered some slightly ‘hybrid’ Panaracer Pasela TG tyres from Wiggle in the hope that they will cope with the Italian ‘white roads’ better than the Schwalbes.
Roger Armstrong, Tony Colegrave and Steve at Brooks have been very helpful in edging towards a definitive date for the frame. We seem to have narrowed it down to a period between 1939 and 1945 and hope to get a little closer as time goes by.
As regards the paintwork I have decided to go with Roger’s advice in the first instance (i.e. to try to conserve the existing paint) and, should it prove impossible, to commission Mercian to do the necessary refinishing.
Glyn Nelmes (my esteemed father) is looking into the possibility of having the badly corroded cranks and toe clips cleaned and rechromed for me. The leather straps for the latter having cleaned up nicely.
The news on spares is a bit more mixed. I’ve have obtained a very useful list of reproduction decals (from Nick Tithecote at Lloyds) while the modern brake blocks I purchased to replace the MAFAC ones have proved unsuitable due to their depth. I have ordered some slightly ‘hybrid’ Panaracer Pasela TG tyres from Wiggle in the hope that they will cope with the Italian ‘white roads’ better than the Schwalbes.
Roger Armstrong, Tony Colegrave and Steve at Brooks have been very helpful in edging towards a definitive date for the frame. We seem to have narrowed it down to a period between 1939 and 1945 and hope to get a little closer as time goes by.
As regards the paintwork I have decided to go with Roger’s advice in the first instance (i.e. to try to conserve the existing paint) and, should it prove impossible, to commission Mercian to do the necessary refinishing.
Glyn Nelmes (my esteemed father) is looking into the possibility of having the badly corroded cranks and toe clips cleaned and rechromed for me. The leather straps for the latter having cleaned up nicely.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Reims Marathon training diary: part two
Week 3 was finished off with a 10 miler and a 16 miler. The latter was down the canal path from Brighouse to Sowerby Bridge and back and was very enjoyable. the only slightly disturbing thing was the lack of birds. Maybe all the wildfowl has migrated.
Week 4 signals the start of 'tapering' (although I hardly feel I can justify it). Again I took both Monday and Tuesday off but this Wednesday was a pretty fast 10 miler. Julia actually found it quite hard to keep up after her tough half at the weekend but still managed to out sprint me to road sign. Thursday was an easy 'watchless' 5 miler and the weekend saw me doing two race-pace solo efforts of 4 miles and 11 miles.
Just two weeks to go and I have a slightly painful foot. Grrrrr.
Week 4 signals the start of 'tapering' (although I hardly feel I can justify it). Again I took both Monday and Tuesday off but this Wednesday was a pretty fast 10 miler. Julia actually found it quite hard to keep up after her tough half at the weekend but still managed to out sprint me to road sign. Thursday was an easy 'watchless' 5 miler and the weekend saw me doing two race-pace solo efforts of 4 miles and 11 miles.
Just two weeks to go and I have a slightly painful foot. Grrrrr.
Holdsworth restoration: stage two
At this stage I'm focusing my efforts on cleaning, polishing and researching. I bought a polishing kit from Moleroda Finishing Systems (via eBay) to bring some shine back to the aluminium parts. Polishing is strangely addictive and rather than just trying it out on a brake lever as I had intended I've polished the levers, bars, front brake, front wheel and seat post. The materials are easy to use and very effective and the bike is gradually being transformed from an old wreck into a presentable 'classic' (images to follow).
Obtaining spares will be a problem at some juncture but I haven't come across a show-stopping problem yet. Once I have cleaned and trued the wheels I'll need to replace the split and worn tires. These are obtainable although the choice seems to be limited to Schwalbe 27x1 1/4. The brake blocks are also worn and (assuming 1950 MAFAC blocks will be impossible to get) I'm looking for a modern alternative.
Creating a specification for the respray is proving difficult. There is no evidence of the frame ever having been anything but green and no decals remain (beyond the bronze badge). I think I'll stick with green but I need to make a decision on a possible second colour and the addition of Holdsworth and Reynolds 531 logo styles. Many bikes have a contrast panel on the seat tube with a second 'prancing horse' badge but I see no evidence of this.
I still have no firm date for the bike's manufacture. the frame number is the earliest I can find mentioned on the internet (it is certainly before 1948) while the Campagnolo equipment is a little later (between 1951 and 1954).
Priorities between now and Christmas are developing an authentic colour scheme, tracking down the decals, contracting a finisher for the frame and stripping the bike for preparation.
Obtaining spares will be a problem at some juncture but I haven't come across a show-stopping problem yet. Once I have cleaned and trued the wheels I'll need to replace the split and worn tires. These are obtainable although the choice seems to be limited to Schwalbe 27x1 1/4. The brake blocks are also worn and (assuming 1950 MAFAC blocks will be impossible to get) I'm looking for a modern alternative.
Creating a specification for the respray is proving difficult. There is no evidence of the frame ever having been anything but green and no decals remain (beyond the bronze badge). I think I'll stick with green but I need to make a decision on a possible second colour and the addition of Holdsworth and Reynolds 531 logo styles. Many bikes have a contrast panel on the seat tube with a second 'prancing horse' badge but I see no evidence of this.
I still have no firm date for the bike's manufacture. the frame number is the earliest I can find mentioned on the internet (it is certainly before 1948) while the Campagnolo equipment is a little later (between 1951 and 1954).
Priorities between now and Christmas are developing an authentic colour scheme, tracking down the decals, contracting a finisher for the frame and stripping the bike for preparation.
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