Mike the Expat

Thought I'd put up some pictures of me working very, very hard in Hong Kong. But I can't because I don't work very hard, so here are a couple of me on a Junk trip instead. Hong Kong is a lot of fun, hectic, beer is expensive but watches are cheap. And there are lots of friendly ladies from the Philipines who all keep trying to hold my hand, which I must say is most welcoming of them. I've finally unpacked my bike but don't have my mountain biking licence yet (seriously!) so I'm yet to try out the trails (Hong Kong is small enough to actually get caught!), but I joined the HK Ultimate Frisbee league, yet another extreme sport for IBFC!

It is good here, everyone should come and visit (but not in August or September, because you'll die of sweating).

Wow, photos on Film!

I had a bunch of really old film processed today and found some pictures of a ride we had in Surrey the day after the Bunsfield oil depot blew up. I knew something major was up at 7am when driving down the A41 and seeing a massive bomb-esqe cloud! Anyway, a good ride as I remember and a nice sunset from all those oil particles...

Demise of my trusty(pah!) steed

A sad week for me as i finally said a sad goodbye to my very underused Alfa 156 2.5 v6.



Since moving back to London, i use it approximately once a month so in all fairness its the right decision. So for the first time in 9 years, i am carless!

But...i bought a house this week in london (pending the usual paperwork/mortgage schlap), so i definately don't need a car.

fairfwell betsy. i will miss you and the way you corner. but not the way you invaribly cost me massive amounts of money, or decide to not start, the windows stop working, the airbag lights coming on and off..the list goes on...

Goodwood Revival

I've just noticed this is the 100th post on IBFC!!

Spent a thoroughly British weekend at teh Goodwood revival last weekend with Kate and her 'rents. Quite different to the Festival of Speed as it was more about the racing. Having watched come of the big engined American cars and particularly the bikes I have decided that racing drivers from the 50's and 60's have to do all the stuff todays drivers do plus have an enourmous set of b****cks to account for the fact the cornering and stopping were equal measures of pot luck and skill executed at high speed whilst sliding sidways on rubbish tyres with no roll bars. I could be a Formula One driver today piece of cake................mmmm cake


Durin' the war


Woollen trousers itch and make your nuts hot, fact.


broom broom


Did I mention I've chopped the Golf in?


Oi oi.


I say, spiffing day Winco', mmm fabulous General, more Pimms

see below

finally got the lakes post up...

Stanage Edge

Wasson Ho?!?! Amazing day out at Stanage Edge in the Peaks on Sat. After deciding to have a few ales in Stoney on Friday, Gav and I woke with the birds (or more likely the cat licking my face) and were in Shef at 9am just as Decathlon were opening their doors, allowing me to purchase some more nuts and a rope bag. Then a bit of faffing ensued (!) as we waited for the climbing shop to open and buy the Eastern Grit Rockfax book... Arrived at the High Neb car park just before 12 and headed west to a climb called New Years Eve (Vdiff, I think). Proper Bo. We hit a couple more before I decided to up the anti and had a go at 'February Crack', a VS and took three attempts to do the last move after about a 15 min shakey gear placement trauma. Gav didn't fancy it, so I abbed down and spent a further 10 mins trying to get said bit of gear out after sitting on it. Last up was back towards High Neb and having got up the first part, realised that we didn't have the right gear to protect the moves on the Vdif we were on (cam needed, I thought) so had a crack at another VS next door and again after much grunting, made the last move. Gav fairly flashed it on the top rope and we both left with big silly grins!


Climbing with a madman!!!


Gav on 'New Year's Eve' our first outdoor lead. Vdiff.


If it wasn't bombproof, I wasn't climbing...


Cheeky ab to get my brand new nut back out.


Last climb of the day and pump enduced panicky last move above that hex... Just like to point out that I did indeed climb the first bit, not just walk up the dirt to the right. Just resting contemplating defeat, here.

Better Lake than Never

Finally got the post up...computer problems at home and busy at work haven't helped.

Bloomin brilliant weekend though twas, Me (Daryl), Gem, Rich and Anna all got up to the Lakes on Friday pitched up rather prompt and started a fire, wahey. Up really early the next morning for me and Rich and straight down to Grizedale forest on the bikes. Did a loop of the North Face Trail which was very good indeed then straight to the pub to meet the girls for lunch and then out on the water in a cheeky little sport 16 dinghy where Rich did a sterling job of steering us round the lake, then I took over and almost nailed it into the side of some poor folks happily sailing along. Rich then tried to split my difference coming back into dock!!

got up early again on the Sunday and went up the langdale pikes, up to Pavey Ark and then a scramble up Jacks Rake, which the girls did brilliantly on considering it was there first scramble and Anna's first time up a mountain! Decided on the way down we should go to the pub, then on arrival thought the only thing for it was to get absolutely plastered. Hit up the swings on the way back from the pub to complete the radness and then early to bed...bloody marvellous, I want to go back. SOON