FIFA have now suspended all Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions. Pleased to see this because their earlier pronouncement that the Russians would be able to compete without their flag and as the "Football Union of Russia" was IMO a ridiculous half-baked measure.

But it was never going to fly when some of the national sides said they wouldn't play against them in any circumstances.

Yes I agree that's the worry - and the irony is that the harder it becomes for him to subjugate Ukraine, the more dangerous he potentially becomes. Ukraine seems to be an emotive subject for him.

There must be some acceptable way that he can be claim to have profited for his audience at home.

Wordle 254 4/6

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Just had a random follow request on Strava. Accepted it, and:



SPAM on Strava, that's a first. I did the "report fake profile" thing.

Ah yes just watched the third one, it is the same scene - although in the book it takes place in daylight and the details are a bit different. He tricks them by parking next to a small copse but hiding in the field on the other side. And he doesn't bother coming out of cover.

Definitely an improvement on the first two, would probably be enjoying it more if I hadn't read the book.

Today's mission was simple, to do 40 miles and get the February distance total over 300. The wind was blowing from the south-east, so even though I did the eastbound route on Friday I thought I'd do the first 20 miles or so again. It's not as if I do it that often.

However I thought I'd go up through Coleorton and Peggs Green rather than Coalville and Thringstone. The latter route is more efficient in terms of distance and elevation but it's nice to change things up a bit.

I was annoyed that I couldn't use my usual wee stop, a few metres off the road at the edge of Prestwold Park. Some sort of event was taking place there and people were walking to and fro near my cosy little secluded spot.

I'd done just less than 19 miles when I decided to turn back. I thought I'd make up the distance by detouring through Long Whatton and Diseworth on the way back. This was a bit unfortunate in one respect because it meant that I had a very unwelcome headwind coming down Top Brand. Wasn't sure I'd quite be back on 40 miles (I think I would have been, looking at the map) so I added a bit of distance by detouring along Breedon Lane.

Beautiful day today. I took my phone out to take a pic of Boardman II, resplendent in the afternoon sunshine near when I stopped near Cotes. Alas, I was distracted by a WhatsApp message and it looks like I didn't. Or at least I can't find a pic from today on my phone.

Back on 40.94 miles, that's 302 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6747060657

Very handy to have a few days of good weather at the end of the month. It's been a pretty successful cycling weekend; I got the Feb Fondo in, got the distance tally over 300 miles and ticked off the last two neighbouring counties.

Penelope Isles - Which Way To Happy

Well - as you'll have heard, Bielsa's gone now. Will be interesting to see if a New Manager Bounce can propel them up the table a couple of places. Looks like that will be Jesse Marsch's job.

Wordle 253 4/6

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Quite quick this morning. Still took four goes, though. Nice to get two letters in place on the second go.

Still watching M*A*S*H every day, 66 episodes in now. 290 to go! Nearing the end of the third series.

Looks like Leeds are on the slippery slope to the relegation places.. dire run of results recently. The two teams immediately below them in the league have two games in hand and if both of them get two points from their two games, Leeds will be in the bottom three.

Would be sad to see them drop back down again. I'm not a fan but there's a certain nostalgic appeal in seeing fixtures like Leeds vs United, Leeds vs Liverpool etc.

By the way at one point this afternoon Leeds had conceded 22 goals in 7 games, roughly an average of π goals per game.

The software won't accommodate the file size, you need to upload an image within the limits. If you email it to me at the address I posted in the Passwords / Profiles thread I'll resize it if necessary and sort it out. Thanks!

I was tempted to go to that one myself - but since I wanted to do a long bike ride the next day I decided against it.

Quote from: Hugh on February 26, 2022, 11:45:43 AMIs there an available link for guidance on uploading avatars?

At the very top of the home page (you may have to scroll up to see it) you'll see your username with a triangular down-arrow to bring up a menu.

Click this and select "Profile Details".

Then click the "Upload an avatar" option, invoke the "Choose File" button to select the image on your PC and finally click the "CHANGE PROFILE" button at the bottom right.

You can also choose an avatar from a gallery in the current version. Should be fairly intuitive.

I've read the first six Jack Reacher books over the last 18 months so I was pleased to see a TV series turn up on Amazon Prime.

I've also watched the two films, with Tom Cruise as the titular hero. I liked them a lot but Tom just isn't Reacher, in terms of personality or physicality. The guy who plays him in the TV series, Alan Ritchson, is pretty much perfect in the role. It must be said though that Tom is a much better actor and he has a charisma and presence that Ritchson doesn't. That's why he's Tom Cruise, I guess!

Only watched the first two episodes. If I hadn't read the book they're based on, Killing Floor I might have enjoyed them more. Not bad, but the direction feels a bit ITV-ish.

One thing that's disappointed me is that there's a moment in Killing Floor that, for me, defines Reacher. Two bad guys are out to kill him. He sets a trap for them and dispatches them in the most matter-of-fact casual, cold-blooded manner imaginable. It looks like the TV series has copped out from that.