Web Log and News

So we set off on Monday and I suddenly realised how different a bike from a car was. Different controls (all except the back brake with uses a right foot too), and now you have to worry about staying upright too, nightmare. I was put into a group with a set of 3 other guys, all of which had either done their bike test before (got banned) or had messed around on bikes before. After a few hours, it was obvious to everyone that I just wasn?t coping. I couldn?t get the hang on the clutch or throttle control at slow speeds, but at high speeds I was fine. Unfortunately for everyone out there, the weather was a nightmare on Monday, loads of rain and tonnes of wind everywhere.

So around 1-2pm, it was decided I should have a go at Emergency stops with the other guys. BIG mistake. The plan was to go up to around 20-25 miles per hour (MPH) and then brake suddenly at a set of cones. Now I wasn?t confident on the bike at all, but on my first go I was fine. ?No problem? the instructor said, ?but you came at me with your hand near the brake, this time I want you to keep away from the brake until you pass the cones, then apply it?. Was I going too fast? He seems to think so, although I reckon I was only around 23MPH. Was it wet? Yes, completely soaking on the ground and still pouring down. Did I press the brake too hard? Definitely, apparently I grabbed the brake too hard. Did I panic? Of course, the instructor reckons I must have grabbed the clutch as soon as I felt the bike start sliding. Did I fall off? You can bet your arse I did ? the front end kicked out, I grabbed the clutch, the back end kicked out, and I was left staring at the floor before I hit it, bike on top of me getting dragged for a bit. Unfortunately that was my bike training done for Monday, after that everyone came in to watch a demonstration on safety and mum and I didn?t get to go out again. The weather was so bad no-one was allowed to do their CBT that day. The rest on them came back Tuesday but the instructors didn?t think Mum and I could do it in a few hours, ?You?ll have to pay for another half again and come do it Friday?. Ok, we don?t want to pay, but I?m sure as hell going to try again. So we left Monday to come back on Friday. Both of us were unconfident, unhappy at paying more, and not thinking we could do it. The pics you can see at the broken clutch lever I broke on the bike when I dropped it by the way (although that?s all that was wrong with it) and my bruise (Taken on Friday).

So Friday comes and we?re both dreading it. Not falling off again, that I could take, but not being able to do something any old 16 year old can do. I WILL do it this time. Anyways, long story short, both Mum and I were fine, we got back into it very quickly and I was out on the roads with the instructor for around two hours. For most of it I enjoyed it, although I didn?t like him sitting right behind me giving instructions (through a mic and headphone set), but he was right behind me, literally. He did say when we got back that I?m not a natural, and I do need more practice before going for my main test (no kidding!), but he hoped to see me on the roads soon. We?ll see.

So anyways, I passed, and so did Mum, yay!

Tonight I?m going to Christine?s house party thing, although its 99% family there so I don?t think anything wild will be happening. Tomorrow night I might be going out with Steve to a Halloween party but I?m not sure about that, and Sunday? Who knows!

Tech-wise, AlphaCool is waiting for more parts to be able to ship me the rest for this project, and Carlos is completely without power or internet to sort out Shipping for Seagate?s drive or the UPS account, which means I?m without anything to review, GRRR. Oh well, not his fault.
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22/10/2005 @ 23:45 (GMT)
My review of the Icemat 2nd Edition mousepad is now complete. It is in the new review format and you can read all about it here
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22/10/2005 @ 22:48 (GMT)
What a couple of days. My first thing to report while I remember is, my car has crashed itself. No I?m not kidding, it decided life wasn?t enough and it ran itself into a wall. What looks like happened is that the handbrake wasn?t on enough or slipped and the wind got behind it and literally pushed it into a wall. The damage is quite heavy, I?ll need a new bumper (although its 99% cosmetic) and I?m not impressed, with the wind, fate and myself. Apart from that, I?ve applied for a temp job doing useless work about 45mins drive from me, I?ll be on a low wage (that?s if they want me) but at least it?ll be some money. The ads I mentioned in the last blog won?t be happening, I?m not a big enough for the effort apparently. Oh, and I?m changing my review site look, going for a more modular approach so you won?t have to read all of the review in one go. All reviews can be converted into the new format so I may do that, but I?m just playing around with how I want it to look now. Look out for my Icemat mousepad review in the new format soon.
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19/10/2005 @ 18:25 (GMT)
Another day, more PC problems. The Icemat 2nd edition mousepad arrived yesterday, and I don?t like it. It?s made from glass and looks very much like my mother?s chopping board, although it?s a lot more expensive. I contacted Alphacool about my water-cooling nightmare, but the guy I deal with isn?t in the office, I have to email him with my problems and he?ll get it in a few days. Fantastic, as he never responds to emails.

I?m meeting up with a guy I did my HND with tonight and I?m not sure if I?m looking forward to it or not. I?m not big on getting to know people again, although I love company it?s the motivation to meet people I don?t have, and Steve and I are so different. Oh well, he?s a good guy, I?m sure we?ll get along great again!

Here?s a question for you. After you?ve been close to someone for six years, what counts as ?personal? stuff anymore? I ask because I was over a friend?s house the other night and went looking for some dice in her games cupboard. Apart from games there is basically nothing else in there, but she went nuts when she caught me ? yelling ?stay out of my personal stuff?. If after six years (and some close moments) board games are still considered personal stuff, does that mean you aren?t close to that person at all? Does it mean they don?t trust you? Or does it mean six years of closeness doesn?t mean anything anymore and you?re just a stranger? I wonder?

Oh, and you might see some more advertisements appearing on the site soon, I?ve applied for more ads (stupid Google last time) and hopefully these will help me upgrade my internet line. So don?t go crazy clicking on them, just click if you?re interested, I don?t want to get banned!
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