Elmas Xantia V6 and Musical Stuff

[CitroJim]

Where do you get vegan bananas?

From a vegan gorilla

Just waiting for it to cool and then I'm going to give it a taste test...

You know how to make toast when you are in the jungle? Just shove a couple of slices under a gorilla!
What should you do when you are in the jungle and find a gorilla sleeping in your camp bed? Sleep somewhere else.
What shou... "THWACK!" It is ok, people, I have shut him up for you. Your friendly neighbourhood gorilla.

I like those James

Here's the cake... It's delicious too...

Own Work

[Stickyfinger]

Where do you get vegan bananas?

From a vegan gorilla

They all are

[Zelandeth]

Vegan banana cake... that's a blast from the past. A good friend of mine and former flatmate of mine is vegan, and such cakes were the sort of things that tended to appear when visiting their folks place.

[elma]

Vegan food can be amazing.
I dated a Vegan for about 5 years and I really enjoyed the food although I did often add some meat to it.
I think I might have to request some recipes.
As from Monday I'm back on the road to fitness.
I've eaten awfully, smoked loads and barely done any exercise since I came out of hospital which must have been 18 months ago now.
Monday I start Yoga as I'm inflexible.
2 weeks Monday I'm allowed to start Jogging, physic has ordered me not to until then on account of knee injury.
Thankfully they agree that strength is the way to overcome it so have endorsed exercise.
This was me before hospital, note the Peugeot plate.

Bought from event photographer, can't remember who

Too ashamed to show the state of me now but within 12 months I'll be the endurance event guy once again.
Anyone who was into Mtb in the 90s will recognise every component on the Bike, it was very special and unfortunately no longer mine.
For those who Care it was a Klein Attitude Race, Rockshox Sid Race, Hugi 240s hubs on Mavic xc317/517? rims with Sapim race spokes, Thomson post, Icon Stem (same one that was on the Olympic winning bike 3 times in a row), X-lite titanium Bars, Hayes Mag front Disc, sealed Gore tex ride on cables, Odi Lock on ruffians, Avid Sd20 with 2.0 rear v brake, Sdg Bel air saddle, Chris King Xc Headset and full Xtr M-952 group set. It took me almost 2 years to build and was my dream bike. The Sid was later replaced with a Pace Rc36 Pro as the Sid was over rated Crap and really hard to steer over the rough stuff. I originally had a Hayes mag rear disc too but it was unnecessary and ditched for the V brake to save weight. Whole bike weighed about 9.5Kg and raised to 9.7kg when the fork changed.
For a mountain bike, especially an aluminium framed one that will take an absolute hammering this is an incredibly low weight.
I rode retro when everyone else was on full sus, I was several Kilos lighter than all but the £5k plus bikes of the time and kicked butt up the climbs.The frame was beautifully made in America as you should be able to see in this picture of it wearing an earlier build with a Kcnc Stem and Easton Carbon monkeylite riser bars. Little features on it like the internal cables are common now but were totally unique in its time.

Own Work

[CitroJim]

I'm not strict vegan James as I still eat eggs and fish every now and again... I am now on a strict minimal saturated fat diet. I no longer eat any dairy so I find vegan recipes a good starting point for all kinds if things. They are not always low saturated fat but I can adapt them easily.

I can let you have loads of vegan recipes...

I know now, the basic reason for my high cholesterol... I have impaired liver function - hence the fat, alcohol and stimulant intolerance.

Thanks to my doctor, we also know I have a poorly functioning hypothalamus...

Diet, for me, is a vital component in my fight for a decent life...

As from Monday I'm back on the road to fitness.
I've eaten awfully, smoked loads and barely done any exercise since I came out of hospital which must have been 18 months ago now.
Monday I start Yoga as I'm inflexible.
2 weeks Monday I'm allowed to start Jogging, physic has ordered me not to until then on account of knee injury.
Thankfully they agree that strength is the way to overcome it so have endorsed exercise.

Good Excellent! You will not regret it James...

Cycling and running will soon get you in shape and if you can swim that is excellent too...

Do you have a parkrun nearby?

[elma]

No idea on parkruns Jim, I'll look into it after I've instilled a basic level of fitness. Dont think I'll do cycling again until Kelvs is gone. I fancy disappearing for a few days on a tourer, that was always my favourite. Wouldn't be fair on him doing that every weekend. Swimming I like but only in lakes and rivers. Yet to find one here thats deep enough. I'm too sensitive to chemicsls in pools, they dissolve my skin. Half marathons is what I've got in mind, next year I intend to do a few. I am not stretching to marathons, done one of them and I dont like the effect on the knees and hips.

[CitroJim]

James, I'll join you in a half marathon or two

Nice thing about parkruns is there's no minimum speed and no expectations - an ideal way to build up your running fitness gradually...

[elma]

Wait until you see my fields Jim.
Free entry to 33 acres of unspoilt territory.
Maybe I should start a park run here.

[CitroJim]

Wait until you see my fields Jim.
Free entry to 33 acres of unspoilt territory.
Maybe I should start a park run here.

You could! Sounds blissful! I shall have my running shoes with me

[elma]

Are there any budget off road biased running shoes you can reccommend Jim? I shall need a pair shortly.

[CitroJim]

Are there any budget off road biased running shoes you can reccommend Jim? I shall need a pair shortly.

Off-road is not my speciality James but I'd be tempted to look in your local branch of Decathlon for a decent pair at a good price; they'll do a gait analysis and give advice...

I find Decathlon stuff both well-priced and up to the job; both for running and cycling kit... Their BTwin and Kalenji branded stuff is above reproach for the cost of it...

Golden rule with shoes is try on many pairs and have only what feels good. Another golden rule is the ones you find best will always be the most expensive; don't skimp on shoes as your feet will never thank you for it...

I've since moved up to rather more specialist running shoes and my favoured brand is currently Brooks. They are not budget though and my last pair, now due for renewal after 300 running miles, cost well north of £100 but worth every penny for the avoidance of blisters and black nails.

My cycling shoes are BTwin from Decathlon and they are their top of the range carbon fibre soled jobs. They came out best in a comparative test of decent shoes and beat many costing twice as much. For £80 they are a bargain and even have 'Boa' fastenings... Their bikes are jolly good too...

Sorry, I'm sounding like an advert for Decathlon here!

[elma]

I hear you on Decathlon, I previously used and rated their kit. Not all of it but certainly a great deal of it. I'm sure Southampton will have a store, I'll have a wee look.

[elma]

Anyone who bothers to read my blog is probably aware that I decided to try Yoga. My first session was this evening and I can honestly say it's very pleasurable. I found a few things I hadn't realised about my muscles, like that my bad leg is very flexible and my good one isn't. More importantly though I really enjoyed it and I feel good for doing it. Good like calm and good like my muscles are a lot less tense. In the middle of the class I almost fell asleep I was so relaxed. I'll be doing it twice a week from now on as part of my revitalise my body campaign.

Good news on the Xantia slightly as well. Work owe me £115 which will cover the cambelt, water pump and coolant. Not bad as thats prity much what the vet had off of me on Friday. Kelvs ear is getting much better but he wasn't himself today, very quiet and dozing in the corner a lot. He's been really cuddly too so I'm keeping an eye on him. He doesn't seem enough out of character to worry, I think it's a doggy headache level of not right rather than serious illness. Biggest negative today is £20 is missing from my wallet, not sure how but I want it back.

[CitroJim]

Excellent all-round James

[elma]

Been to Yoga again tonight, different teacher on a Wednesday and a totally different style. Today was far more intense, just as enjoyable but in a different way. I fell asleep this time during the relaxation bit at the end. No one noticed, I don't think it will be long until a session finishes and I'm snoring on my mat. I'd like to get my own mat and a pair of special yoga trousers soon (i.e. cheap baggy loose things) this is definitely a new hobby.

I think I've decided to bite the bullet and ask for a loan from the boss to fix the Xantia or it will never get done. Just need to agree a deduction of £50-75 a week and then get the thing fixed. I know I don't want more debt but a quick short term one to reestablish my transport is probably wise in this case. We're only talking a couple of hundred to get it back on the road and then I just have to kerb all spending for a month. I have £115 set aside for it already by way of work expenses I forgot about so off to a good start.

Vans still eating headlamp bulbs. I'm so stretched in work hours right now that it's going to be taken care of by the garage when they do the sliding door. I've ordered a sheet of ply to replace one in the back thats rotten. I bought a dash camera for it as well, now I'm hoping to show you all the craziness that happens around me I expect that everyone will drive really nicely. If they do I'll be happy.

Tomorrow I visit the Hygenist to get my teeth jet washed. That's give up smoking day, had to come rapidly now I'm in pursuit of fitness. Please harass me over it, I don't bear shame well and if you're all watching me it will help. The coffee will probably still turn my teeth yuck colour again but who cares? Just Opticians and a scan to go then hopefully that's me Mot'd for the foreseeable. Jogging is scheduled for in a week but I will not start until I have correct footwear. Having done enough running earlier in life I know the value of it and would rather delay a month than start off in something inappropriate. It's feeling really good starting all this again, after so long not doing it for so many reasons. Now works steady and I have a home again it just seems like the natural progression. I think I've stopped being so miserable, I can still whinge and complain like a proper Brit though don't worry about that.