Barwick in Elmet

I drive thorough Barwick all the time,  we finally got a chance to explore it.   We missed lunch services on most of the eateries,  we settled for a Green King's lunch;  it was pretty bad...

In the after lunch walk,  we did both the castle bailey and an iron age earthwork.   Barwick ticked!

Harris and James Coffee Chocolate

My last Harris and James in the stash.   It is not coffee flavoured chocolate,  it is coffee hocolate!   It has 10% coffee and 65% cacao.   I must consume with care. 

Black Friday Everything

In England they really push everything on "Black Friday" sale before the actual "Black Friday".  This year they got the gym membership on sale, and I took advantage of it.  My best find this year!

Dangerous Vibram

I got a new pair of pretty walking shoes.   Sarah recognised the trade name Vibram.   As soon as I walked out the door,  I was skidding everywhere.   It might have been good 80 years ago comparing with leather sole,  it is absolutely shit compare with modern soles.   Avoid at all cost!

Useless Felt Roof

After day and days of rain, I noticed a few patches of water in the garage.  Consider it is only a three years old roof, felt roof is absolutely useless!

Worn Rear Brakes

So the garage told me my rear brake was worn, so they changed them for me.  When I picked up the bike, they kept the brake to show me, it was extremely worn, practically down to nothing, I was lucky that no damage to the disc.  Since the front end was not right, I had been using the rear brakes, that maybe the result of it.

They charge me full rate instead of the Winter discount rate, liars...  That is another story.

I remember my first set of rear brakes on Endee also worn all the way down, and damaged the discs!  I cannot believe that was 20 years ago!

Harris & James H&J Dark Chocolate Haiti Pisa 80%

I just remember to work on my H&J stash.  Being independent chocolate shop, it may have a short life regardless what the label said.  The chocolate was acceptable but not worth its price, maybe it is getting old.

Street Triple RS Launch

I was dropping off my bike,  so I stopped for the event.   No free food,  hardly any freebies, not even a cuppa.  The launch was later then scheduled,   it was totally con to get people spending in the cafe.

A stranger started talking to me,  I supposed we are in the motorcycle brotherhood,  so not stranger.   They have six bikes between him and his wife! 

The bike was ridden in,  a small drip formed under the bike,  possibly water,  but still disconcerting.   The demo bike already has a few hundred quid worth of extras compare with the bog standard.   I think the colour looks plasticky.  Maybe just the indoor lighting.

I am not impressed,  probably won't get me to go to one of these again.   Like Yammie noob said,  maybe Ducati will give you biscotti,  at least.

York Christmas Market 2019

York's Christmas Market is so different from the one in Leeds.   Practically all shopping,  hardly any food.   If you were walking past it in an evening,  hungry,  you would curse it!

Knox - Cold Killer

I bought the Knox gear when I was in Shetland, I only just finally tried them, snood and socks.  They do their job.

Leeds Christmas Market 2019

While I was in town mid-week, I had a quick stroll in the Leeds Christmas Market.  It is disappointing year on year.  The only thing notable this year is the fried cheese shop.  It is practically all eatery and some games, hardly any shopping left.

Winter Driving

I saw loads of road traffic accident since the clock change, Winter driving can be dangerous.   I did my bit by changing my head light as soon as I could.  Be careful~

Bicester

Since we were in Oxfordshire, I suggest to stop at Bicester.  "Bicester, never heard of it", Sarah said.  By the time we got there, all 2000 car park space was filled, coach loads of tourists, the whole place was heaving, full of everyone from everywhere.

Now that is ticked off, we are not bothered to go again.  The sample hand balms were the best bit of this excursion.

Finest View in England - Blenheim

Last time we went to Blenheim, they were cleaning the lake.  This is the view Blenheim claims to be finest in England.

Marinade Theory

We got some ready meal with glaze.  I suggested to use the glaze for marinade.  I actually don't believe any marinade works, because of osmosis.  Glaze on the other hand, it just seasoning and sugar applied on top after food is cooked.

Serial Port

We are in a process of upgrading to Windows 10.  I cannot believe there are a number of device still using serial port, and they have new Windows 10 driver.  Will it ever be phased out?

Large Home Bargains

I went to the new Home Bargains in Leicester.  It is big, it is new, it is shiny!  Loads of good stuff!

Binder

Binder, a simple word with so much meaning.

One of Sarah's favourite podcast mentioned about binder.  When Sarah said she would like me more if I get some binders, I was so confused.  Then we have a whole discussion about binders in stationery department, and binders in bodily compression department.  That is before I mentioned about Binder points in pipeworks.

Folders, they are called folders!

Use Proper Words

Stop using the synonym of porcelain, ceramics, stoneware, far east, Asia.  It is lazy and inaccurate.

When the SciShow's host described something 10,000 years ago in the Far East using lazy synonym, I lost it.  Lazy, inaccurate, I thought SciShow was better than that.

National Civil War Centre

I have been meaning to visit the museum, especially it is half price with English Heritage.  It is a nice museum with rotating exhibitions.  I am glad I ticked it off, and came away with a little more knowledge about the civil war saga.

I spent a good few minutes playing with a rotary phone.

Obviously the Civil War Centre talked about the war, when Prince Rupert's name rings a bell, I looked it up, it is the same Rupert that discovered the property of "Prince Rupert's drops".  Interesting.

Vegan Festival

We stopped at a vegan food fest for a laugh.  Eating outside in the cold, without meat, was never satisfying...  Sarah had an "Indian Pancake", and I had some seitan sausages.  Before I could get a pie and chips, we had to rescue Sarah from the cold to somewhere warmer.  I miss my bean curd sheets!

Black Screen of What

The computer is playing up and I am not sure why.  I have been checking all the updates, I am still not sure what it is.  Windows 10 is a bit weird...

Elaborate Advent Calendar

I was doing some shopping with Queenie.  How much?!

Buckwheat Pancakes

With no rising agent and no flour, I decided to reach into the cupboard for what I have and made pancakes.  I adopted the souffle pancake technique and used buckwheat.  I think I just like wheat more in general.

Fridge Scare

I came home to find my fridge warm.  I quickly googled the reset instruction and it reset, phew!  I hope it will last me a little longer, at least to the black Friday sale!

Lost Parcel

Queenie didn't get my parcel, and after 6 weeks, I was allowed to submit a request for refund, and took another week for a cheque.  What a pain!

Pukka Organic Latte Cacao Maca

Sarah has been going on about Filmore and Union maca coffee.  I thought I would get the Pukka Organic Latte Cacao Maca to surprise her.  I had no idea what maca was.  The internet review of the Pukka Organic Latte Cacao Maca was mixed with people disliking it being so spicy.  I am glad Sarah likes it.

Submerged Pie

We went out to lunch and ordered the pie and gravy, it seems adequately auspicious.  When the pie turned up, it was a fully cased pie bathing in a bowl of gravy.  We were both shock, and I worked my way thorough the pie.  Excessive pastry, excessive gravy...  I will be more careful what I order in that cafe next time...

Unwanted Green Tomatoes

The last lot of the tomatoes on the vine is not turning red, and we are losing hope.  We are not keen on making them into chutney, and we cannot think of anything that would eat green tomato, rats, foxes?  It seems a waste to put into compost heap.

Ethical

I was just looking up some investment options, and when I actually looked into some "Ethical" funds, I am not sure what "Ethical" means anymore.  Ethical - what a meaningless word...