Squackett - Life within a Day (5.1 mix)

Gentle Giant - The Missing Piece
Squackett - Life Within a Day

Gentle Giant - The Missing Piece (CD+Blu-Ray with Dolby Atmos)
Squackett - A Life Within a Day (CD/Blu-Ray)

Gentle Giant - The Missing Piece (Steven Wilson Remix, Green Vinyl)

Finally! Pre-ordered from Burning Shed, but Chrysalis didn't press enough copies so I've had to wait for a repress.

As an aperitif for my meal out at Roots had a Rhubarb and Fennel sour, Rhubarb Schnapps as the base with an infusion of fennel pollen, all rounded out with a poncy sprig of Elderflowers.

Having been to Tommy Banks' Black Swan a couple of times - and his Abbey Inn - and enjoying it muchly, I used a trip to York to visit his Roots restaurant there to see how it compares.

It compares very well, head chef Will Lockwood - who was on the pass - does a very good job of interpreting his master's ethos, using lots of pickled and preserved flavourings.

Really enjoyed the two part crab dish with a crab custard and crab brioche toast, the asparagus with wild garlic and hazelnuts was stunning and the Hogget course was very good too, especially a meaty stuffed morel.

Being as I'd signed up for a freebie drinks package of canned wine - just as good as a regular wine flight - I spent the extra for the optional scallop course, beatifully cooked scallop, a good buttery golden outside and just cooked sweet inside with a celeriac and spruce sauce.

Recommended.

For the first time in my life I actually got round to seeing Yes live.

Now, I thought they would be maybe at best, but I was pleasantly surprised. Steve Howe leads them very well and Machine Messiah was a very good start to the first set and Turn of the Century an excellent conclusion to the first set.

Second set highlight was the 20 minute condensed Tales from Topographic Oceans which Mrs S claims never to have heard before. Mrs S enjoyed the whole show more than me.

Quote from: dom on May 27, 2024, 04:12:26 PM"insane other level". That's beginning to sound like Armstrong levels of performance! Is anyone asking questions about this super human effort?

Perhaps my memory/paraphrasing needs working on. G actually said "It's insane how talented he is"

In amongst here:

Quotehttps://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/its-insane-how-talented-he-is-geraint-thomas-lauds-tadej-pogacar-as-the-best-hes-ever-raced-with

Personally I think Pogi's as on the level as a cyclist can be - except when going uphill.

Quote from: Thenop on May 27, 2024, 03:13:01 PM

Quote from: dom on May 27, 2024, 03:09:39 PMHis competitors will be hoping that he put all he had into that outstanding result and that it will come back to bite him during Le Tour

He didn't, clearly. He had so much left and now another 4 weeks of preparation ahead.
I really think he is on another level currently and no comes even close.

Yup. Her barely broke sweat. G thinks he's on an insane other level and at the Tour he's going to have his "A" team with him.

Bertie Contador says Pogi will win the Tour and then should consider giving the Vuelta a go.

Cressida - Cressida
Cressida - Asylum

I know he didn't win, but that was some comeback by Jonathan Milan to get second behind Tim Merlier after getting a front wheel puncture. Chapeau.

Four weeks to the tour now

And WvA picked up third on the final stage of the Tour of Norway. If I'd broken Collarbone, Sternum and ribs I wouldn't even be riding again after 60 days!

Hmmm, what I thought was a cold might well be COVID. Mrs S has been feeling off it the last couple of days and she took a COVID test today and it turned out positive.

Well, I don't feel that bad and I always think a bit of exercise will do you good, get out in the fresh air and get the old cardio-vascular system going, but not going too hard of course.

My intention was just to go out and ride up to Linacre reservoir and back a few times, but I found out a stretch of road has just been surface dresses so there's a lot of loose gravel around, so I decided just to push on right to the top. Probably the best idea as even though it was hard work I only came back through the gravelly section once and I came close to sliding out even at reduced speed.

Still, good to get another 30 miles in, takes me to 437 for May, can I manage 63 more in the 3 available May days I have left?

https://www.strava.com/activities/11495916453

Michał Łapaj - Are you There
Piledriver - Metal Inquisition (Pilepuke coloured vinyl)

I think Pog's won it

Was a bit worried about G's third place at one point, but he knows how to pace himself, so should break his record for oldest podium place winner in the Giro.

Best bit was when Pog had a little kid in an Astana jacket running alongside him, there was a UAE soigneur at the side of the road and Pog took a bidon and gave it the kid. Wonder if it was a set up?

Out today for the first time in nearly a week. Well, if I will go gallivanting round the country stalking a band what can I expect. Didn't want to come down with a cold though, but if I will go gallivanting round the country being in "crowds" stalking a band, what can I expect?

Yesterday I just didn't feel up to it. Can't even remember if the weather was OK. Today I told Mrs S I'd be out for between 5 minutes and 2 hours. When I first set off I thought it might be the 5 minute ride, felt a bit wobbly, but things picked up and it stretched out towards 2 hours. Ended up with 30 miles, but the last five felt a bit leaden.

It got me over 400 miles for May and I now have at most four riding days to get over 500. Should do it easily if the weather's fine, but last time I looked it looked too showery.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11485643795