Five Things...

So I opened up twitter this morning and there was the usual mix of morning/breakfast/exercise/travel/weather tweets. If you can navigate your way through this river of greige, you can always find a few gems hidden. Like, there was also the much tweeted link to the little ditty played by Zoe Dechanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I decided to watch it and it was sweet and nice. I've followed both people here, well over on Twitter, for a while. They're quite good value.

In addition there was a post over here by @Whatleydude. Have a read. I decided that I'd try the five things list on this blog, after all, yesterday in my Mission 2012 post I did say that I'd like to get this blog going again, make it huge, and we all know I like a list! So here it is... Except it's not quite five things, it's from the past year so it'll be a little longer than five. Next week will be the five things list. Ok enough. Let's go...

•  Multicolour trousers - mostly from Topshop. Awesome. 
• Ryan starting school and getting on fine, what a relief. 
• Meeting Miss Laura Woods. An amazing person and friend. Also on that same trip south in February I met lots of Twitter people who really we're lovely. It can happen. 
• Getting fitter and losing weight. 
• Hello size 8 little black dress. Okay dresses. Plural. I bought two! 
• Three beaches in one day with Surfpunkian. Awesome awesome day. Thanks dude. 
• Finally meeting MisAKis. Fun, bubbly and lots of great stories about social media 'darlings'. Haha laughed so much. 
• My first Illegal Jack's. I'll be back. I did. A few times. 
• Loving painting my nails. With glitter! Me! Glitter! WOWSERS how times have changed. 
• Cycling 55 miles from Glasgow to Edinburgh. Fantastic feeling. 
• Giving blood for the first time. 
• Becoming unofficial aunty to baby Kai. Gorgeous. 
• Weekend cinema trips. A sanctuary. The cineworld card has been a godsend for me. 
• Favourite movies: Drive. Sherlock Holmes. 50/50. The Hangover part II (obviously). 
• Elemis skin nourishing body cream. Smells gorgeous and keeps my skin soft and err nourished. 
• Twitter. My love affair with it will never end. Not for the foreseeable future anyways. 
• Baking cupcakes. Several good attempts. 
• Seeing brilliant Twitter friend @pyllon finish one of his races. I was going to say "for the first time" but what I'd mean is I saw him race for the first time. He's raced loads. And done very well, thank you very much. These are no ordinary races, oh no, they're across tracked up and down hills and are usually never any less than about 50 miles!! No mean feat. 
• Meeting Miss Karlie MacGregor. A wonderful person. Damn straight. 
• My love of spin bike class. I can't miss any now. Except I am right at this minute missing one, but you get what I mean. 
• Seeing Mr Neil Fox (@drgonzolives) perform at the Edinburgh Festival with his fab Great Brain Robbery comedy mates. What a laugh! 
• Finding fabulous blogs to read, like Whatleydude's. I've nearly finished reading all the away back James!
• New Red Converse. Only my second pair in two years. I think I deserve another and I think I found them today! 
• Buying my iPad 2. Finally. Although it may be going on sale soon. I love it but... The screen thing still irks me a little. 
• The joy I had doing my walk with Instagram back in October. Me, my iPhone and Instagram. Walking around Edinburgh. Good day. 
• Taking the boys and my sister to the National Museum in Edinburgh. They had a ball. 
• Seeing Kings of Leon at Murrayfield in June. Sounded just like the cd. Great gig. 
• The Killing (Danish version). I love that programme! 
• My trip to London in April. Three days exploring that fab city. The weather was brilliant too. I'll be back.
• My trip to Philadelphia in August. Ok ok it wasn't the real Philadelphia but Glasgow. The film set for a new Brad Pitt movie. Hope it's good when it comes out. 

So that's a few of my most memorable good things from the past year. Next week it'll be just five things from the week. It'll hopefully be a regular post. If not, shout at me!

Angela x
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Chasing the Sunset

The week started off ok but with me having a bit of a scratchy throat.  I never bothered as i'm not one for getting ill really.  I needed a tent for a weekend camping expedition (to someone's back garden - more in another post) and there was only one person i knew who may be able to help.  After much deliberation i finally plucked up the courage to ask PTC for a loan of a tent to which her replied "Come on get one, and bring your bike".

Wednesday was the night and a fine night it was too.  I set off from work early again along the usual route but no sooner had i left work when i met a diversion and (horror of horrors) lots of police and a white tent in the middle of the road just at McDonalds drive-thru in Stirling.  This didn't look good.  I later discovered a man had been knocked down and killed by a lorry not 15 minutes before i got there.  Shame.  Makes you realise how short life is...

Anyway i made my was to meet up point and i was surprisingly early but Phil wasn't far behind me.  We got the bikes ready and then I went to collect a tent.  They decided i should take the Vango F10 Nitro 200.  I'd heard about this one before - hhmmm!!  I was assured it was would be fine and that although small it was in no way coffin-like.  In front of my eyes in the gear emporium was all manner of things.  But I was more distracted by the machines and various equipment and tools that lined shelves on the walls.  In so many ways it reminded of my Pappy's hut in Law.  Was there a lathe in there PTC?  Anyway after a bit of chatter we were soon on our way.

Headed the usual route with a few secret diversions thrown in before we headed up the hill.  The first bit of road is always good but tiring at the same time.  My legs were ok but by Wednesday my sore throat had gotten worse and a cough was developing.  We made a leisurely pace up the hill but the evening was nice.  The sun was still out, the rain that had threatened earlier in the day never appeared and i seem to get lucky when i go on this bike ride.  I took a few pics of the view as i never tire of it.  After pushing the bikes we got up to a gate on a steep section and there was more chat.  The custom is me getting grilled about various things!  A guy came pedalling up behind us.  It looked he hadn't stopped pedalling from the bottom all the way up which is some feat.  However he stopped and chatted for a wee while.

After about 10, well maybe 15 minutes (this was a relaxed mtb ride) we set off again up more gravelly section but we were on the bikes again.  I of course was lagging behind but going at my steady pace got me up to the guys at the next gate.  Then it was downhill.  Round the corner and across a grassy section, which was also boggy and i got covered.  Although it only seemed to cover my left shoe.  The muck was all over my bike.  I thought to myself that i'd keep this muck seeing as EVERYONE seems to slag me off about how clean it is, hehe.  We were into the forest section now and I was pretty good i have to say.  Hardly any stopping.  But by now you could see a lovely pinky orange colour through the trees and I knew we had to get out of the woods to see this magnificent sunset go down.  I remember thinking i always go on about chasing sunsets (much like people chase Twisters) but i was litterally pedalling and chasing a sunset that night.  If only you could have seen to face i was making, gritted teeth and a smile.  It was great.  We made it out just in time and although not it's best lightshow it was still awesome...

Next was the grassy track section (Would you guys say this was single-track?).  Anyway it was the last big downhill push.  "Are we stopping or going to the bottom?"  "To the bottom" i said (brave!).  And we did.  Only one stop in the middle after a wee tricksy drop bit.  It was quite hairy at times but I done well.  I think I'm getting my MTB mojo one bit at a time.  And i like it.  Once we were at the gate at Overtoun House we turned left and flew down the road and into the BP garage.

Tea, coffee, custard slices (not for me!) and chat.  Was a great nights biking.  I'd forgotten my lights... OK I haven't got lights yet so i was directed to the middle whilst i got blinded from behind by Phil's lights that looked as strong as car lights.  No matter, I always feel looked after when out with these people.  I drove home and decided to go over the Erskine Bridge for the first time since the back roads would be quite dark now.  I was home in an hour happy, muddy and thoroughly tired.  Good job.

Thank you again for another good night on the bikes.

Ange xx

More on the tent in a later post, i'll link to later on.

Dirt Bike Symphony

So there it was, my shiny new bike, all clean and nice and non-squeaky... But not for long!!  I was invited to go up a mountain on my bike - mountain biking!  There would be me, PTC, Bobinson and Craig.  I jumped at the chance.  I set off from work about 4.30, bike in the back minus the front wheel, two bags worth of stuff! (I'm a girl, there are things I must take to work every day) and a bag of crisps and a Milky Way for my dinner.  



As I drove along the Gargunnock road passing Kippen, Arnprior and Drymen the noise from the car** got worse and worse.  I've had 2 new exhausts in the past 3 weeks and it's even worse than the original one they took off.  But then the car started to sway - or was it my imagination, or was it because the roads gently meander and rise and fall in a strange pattern all the way along the A811.  It was getting stressful as I was uncertain if something was about to fall off the noise was so bad and to add to my anxiety I was bursting for the toilet.  I got into Balloch and remembered the McDonalds on the roundabout.  I pulled in, visited the restroom and got on my way again.  I stuck to a safe 45 miles per hour on the roads all the way to the destination on my very detailed instructions from PTC (except PTC, there was a right turn when you should have said left but i'll let that one go). 

I saw them sitting there on the wall waiting.  There were introductions and a joke, then i got the stead out the car.  I think they were secretly jealous of the cleanliness of it!  They blew up my tyres, I got geared up and we were on our way.  The biking trio cycled off and Craig ran down the road behind us.  We headed out of Bowling and into Old Kilpatrick across the Forth and Clyde canal alongside the River Clyde.  It was a lovely night and i was glad we went along this wee trail for me to get used to the bumpy night ahead.  I chickened out of quite a steep bit though instead going through a style in the fence.  This was sensible.  It was a bit chilly alongside the river but as we headed out of Old Kilpatrick and up onto the Kilpatrick hills via The Slacks, the evening sun was beating down and all the effort was making me sweat.  

As we were going up the road I thought this wasn't too bad after i eventually found the right gear.  We headed onto a gentle slope of gravelly stuff again in the right gear i was being challenged but the legs still felt fine.  All my spin classes must be paying off i thought.  We passed a field filled with wee lambs and sheep and they were baa-ing away all contented in the evening warmth.  Every now and again i'd glance to the side to check out the view of the Clyde, it was just lovely up here.  Further up I caught a glimpse of Craig at a gate, he must have bionic legs to run there!  I was glad i had a seat! 



We stopped for a wee drink and then headed off again.  But this time to going was rougher and the hill was a but steeper and as much as i tried i just couldn't get a gear without the back wheel slipping in the rocky terrain and i just had to get off before i fell off.  But no shame in it as the others were off and pushing their bikes too.  This was a bit of a killer but a chance to give the legs another kind of exercise they haven't had for a while.  We reached a second gate and stopped for a wee bit.  By this point PTC still had his sunglasses, you can see it in this picture.





We set off again this time on the bikes and it was again an ascent but it seemed alot easier, and less rocky more dirt/gravel.  Perhaps I was getting used to it?  I was enjoying myself as i listened to their chitter chatter all the way up.  Tales from their epic trip last weekend, interspersed with commentary from PTC about where we were and what was over there.  On this occasion it was a wee quarry.  Onwards and upwards we went and then a lovely peaceful calm area came into view...  I think this is where we wee overlooking Duncolm and Fynloch  Hill (all place names were provided by PTC - it is his home ground after all).  Anyway it was braw and the views were great on this clear calm evening.

It was onwards down towards Loch Humphrey's south side but not before final instructions from Bobinson about descending.  I especially liked the part where he said if you don't want to don't do it.  We set off down a track, Craig running all the while and me at the back... way at the back!  They were like little people in the distance whilst I steadily negotiated my way down a rutted dirt track.  Then we cut off into boggy grass which wasn't too bad but bumpy and sticky at times.  Onto another dirty mucky puddle filled track and there were a few folks on the waterside with a wee dog.  Personally i was glad it never came near.  At this point I have to say my bike was doing really well, I was getting more confidence on this mtb ride and I was still relatively clean... but not for long.  I was forced to go through a mucky puddle and that was it!  Officially dirty bike now.  

We headed through an enchanted dark forrest of trees.  Now this was a challenge.  There were loads of dips, roots and deep cuts in the ground and the twigs kept getting stuck in my tyres and making a noise (not the worst noise of the evening though!).  It wasn't long after another noise appeared!!!  More on this later.  Soon we were out of the trees opposite Doughnut Hill and into pinky evening sunset light again, Ben Lomond peeking over the top of a hill.  The sun was bright and glowing it's pinky orange blanket over the place.  I had to take a photie.

The next section would be the descent.  PTC would go ahead and point out any tricksy bits and Phil would stay behind me all the while shouting instructions.  It was a little bit hairy at parts but I think I was finding my feet quite well.  But the noise form my front brake was getting louder and weirder.  We descended pretty quickly down grassy slopes along dirt tracks that again had a few steep sections and few tricky proper boggy muck sections but I wasn't the one who nearly fell off at one point!  :o)   Down and down was onto more gentle slopes but it was fast.  By this time PTC and Phil were offski fleeing down the hill next to Lang Crags.  I was at the back with Craig with him shouting 'go fast as fuck!!'  So i let the breaks go and flew down the hill to another gate.  It was awesome.  I know I left it a bit late to get brave but hey, it was my first time.  Craig came over the hill a few minutes later, still running, still going.  Awesome.
  

We were then onto tarmac and heading down towards Milton.  And the noise coming from my bike was the most annoying thing ever!  Weird, like a part on Dr Who's Tardis that is malfunctioning.  It was quite melodic though, a symphony.  Annoying all the same.  We were soon speeding down the hill and appeared out onto the main road at Milton around 8.30pm.  A little over 2 hours on the bike and it was fantastic.  Still a wee bit light left in the ever inky blue sky.  It was getting a bit chilly though.  Once Craig had reached us we headed to the famous BP garage for eatables and a hot drink.  There was photies, eating and chatter before we headed back to base.  

It was only now they plucked up the courage to ask for a shot of my bike around the car park. :o)  I think they were envious of my little clean lightweight stead who shall now be named Spooky! or Stato...  you decide?  I packed up the bike in the car, put another top on as it was well chilly now and headed off along the road back to Stirling.  The drive home wasn't too bad, just about an hour but the car noise** was getting worse.  But my bike was looking authentic now, dirt on lower parts and some on the seat...  I laid an old yoga mat out in the hallway where it currently resides and would wash it on Thursday after work.





All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my first proper mtb ride (even though my bike got dirty).  It was fantastic! And I think, once i gained a wee bit confidence on the terrain, I did great - if i say so myself!  Thanks for inviting me guys and it was great to finally meet Bobinson and Craig.  Another brilliant bunch of people I've met through the power of the 'net.  Thanks for the tips and instructions about ascending and descending, it's these simple things that make the difference.

Aye, bike rides in the Kilpatricks - Brilliant!

Ange xx


**update on the car noise.  Got a new exhaust about 4 weeks ago, had it changed once, still made a noise (or so I thought).  It was more of a constant whirring clunking noise all the way to Bowling and back home.  Dad took it out Thursday night and immediately said it was the wheel bearings!  The back right hand wheel was wonky and so this was causing the clunky whirring noise.  As soon as he said it I knew he was right.  My old wee VW Polo used to sound the same when it's bearings were away.  Anyway, Dad replaced the wheel bearings on Friday and I got another new exhaust today and my wee silver car is sounding much better.  Phew!