I'm going to upgrade the site to SMF 2.1.1 at 11:10 AM GMT. I'm going to take a backup shortly so if I do need to back it out and restore the backup, anything typed from now-ish until I do the restore will be lost.

Wordle 252 4/6

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Third day in a row I've drawn a blank on the first row. But it does eliminate 5 letters. Unlucky not to think of the right word on the third go.

The forecast promised a sunny, dry day. I took the afternoon off with the idea of doing 80 or so, to bump up the February mileage tally and get the Fondo done, having left it somewhat late in the month.

The wind was blowing from the west as usual but I decided to break my rule of not returning home into a headwind, and go east. I wanted to do part of the Norfolk route. The roads east of Eastwell through Waltham and Buckminster are my Cycling Happy Place. And the wind was supposed to dissipate a bit later on.

I didn't really want to turn back after 40 miles, it was so nice over there - sunny, scenic and quiet - so I kept going. I hit a Lincolnshire sign not long after Buckminster, then a couple of miles later, a Rutland sign! So I've ticked off the two remaining Neighbouring Counties of Leicestershire for 2022 without having intended to.

I'd intended to pursue the Norfolk route but missed a turn for South Witham. I ended up there anyway though, somehow. Then I turned back for home after 45 miles and came back the same way.



Usually my DAB personal radio would be pretty good company on a Friday bike ride with Elis & John on 5 Live, then the film review show. I believe Kermode has been sent on an impartiality course. However today it was just wall-to-wall Ukraine news all day. I got Ukraine fatigue eventually; I know that's an easy thing to say from this safe distance but it was pretty much the same news cycling round for hours.

I listened to the new Sea Power album on my MP3 player, then - unusually - I did silence for a bit.

I'd had to take a layer off earlier in the day and stuff it in my backpack but the temperature dropped just before sunset. I was still 30 miles from home when the sun dipped below the horizon, but I'd brought good lights.

Two teenage girls waved at me from the back of a car I was stuck behind at some roadworks in Waltham. I waved back of course. This only seemed to encourage them and I was quite relieved when the lights changed and they pulled away.

Terrific run out, 90.56 miles, 261 this month which gives me a decent chance of 300 before March. Really looking forward to going further on that route, on a longer and warmer day.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6737414282

I was out on my bike today and listened to the news for about four hours straight; nothing but Ukraine of course. Really jaw-dropping stuff. Apparently they've been cracking open crates of rifles and handing them out to Ukrainan citizens in the street. Asking people to fight the Russian armour with petrol bombs. People begging for a NATO air exclusion zone.

A woman from the Ukrainian parliament was interviewed, she's never fired a gun before in her life but she's been given a Kalashnikov and a quick training session today, and she's determined to use it.

I recall both the UK and US sent special forces as "advisors" to help the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the '80s; I wonder if we'll do the same again in Ukraine if there's a prolonged occupation.

The forum software is SMF 2.0.19 which when I installed it a couple of weeks ago, was the latest official release. T-N-M-S was a later, beta version (2.1). I'm not sure it's possible to have the like function in 2.0.19 but I'll find out.

2.1 has some other nice features so I may well do an upgrade soon.

Two teenage girls in the back of a car waving at me when I stuck behind them at some roadworks on my bike. I think they liked my Union Jack woolly hat.

Wordle 251 4/6

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Unusual game for me, that one. Second consecutive day with 5 blanks on the first go, as well.

Lovely to see some more familiar faces, thanks all for coming.

Yes it's a historic moment, for all the wrong reasons. I was pleased to hear the level of unanimity in the Commons earlier. You know it's an unusual day when you hear Boris Johnson compliment Ian Blackford on his statesmanship and wisdom, without a hint of sarcasm.

And Sir Keir's remarks about the coming cost, to the people of this country, of defending the principles he and the PM referred to were also well made. I'm afraid a cold wind will blow through the world economy and we'll feel it here.

Have to wonder if Putin has really thought this through? He may gain control of Ukraine but he could well face an insurgency, covertly backed by the West, for years. And of course military forces in the NATO countries closest to his borders will be strengthened.

 

I must see if I can sort out a 'like' button.

My own wife doesn't have a medal, but some would argue that she deserves one.

You may have noticed that a surprisingly high number of people have registered, and in most cases they are random spammers. Will remove their accounts when I've positively identified them, but I've added a simple registration question that should deter most of it in future. In the meantime if you see strange topics appear with links to cheap digital camera sites in Eastern Europe or similar, that'll be why.

I noticed clouds of hail and snow going past the window at a 45 degree angle a couple of hours ago! Glad I wasn't out in that. Weather should be nicer tomorrow, I've booked the afternoon off.

I often start with EARTH, but not every time. All common letters. Didn't do that today.

Glad we're still in touch, Dom. I did wonder when it would go offline. I used to work for a hosting company and it could sometimes take a few days for someone to get round to switching a doomed site off. Glad I had a look half an hour ago and saw last-minute messages from Terry and a few others.

Saw Sea Power last night at Rough Trade in Nottingham. They're doing a small "stripped back and signing" tour to promote their new record. Played as a four piece, without Abi (viola operator) or Phil (keyboards, cornet, occasional third guitar). The set was only about 65 minutes, tiny little venue that's a sort of annex off a bar and it was mostly the new material (with a bunch of oldies at the end).

I queued up to get my CD sleeve signed and Yan (singer / guitar player) recognised me and asked how I was doing, which made my night! Presumably I'm a familiar face from my forays down the front at gigs in recent years.

There's always a wonderful atmosphere at Sea Power gigs, a real sense of community. All four of the band present were having a drink in the bar before the set and no-one bothered them apart from one punter who politely asked Yan to sign a poster.