Weekend

Yesterday afternoon, we paid a visit to the second hand furniture shop in Ouseburn. Where we bought a rather nice mid-Victorian side table. It’s small, but solid mahogany and quite heavy. A bargain at £40.

This was followed by late lunch in the Ship Inn.

Although this picture might give the impression that the place was quiet, the opposite was the case. It’s great to see a vegan pub doing so well. The food was, as usual, really nice.

And I had a pretty good Oakham IPA, the first ever pint of an Oakham beer I’ve tried. And the first I’ve come across that didn’t contain fish.

Then there was tine for a pint in the Cluny before heading home.

Where I spotted a Lovely Eggs poster, for next Friday’s gig (top right).

And a Shiverin Sheiks poster, for next Sunday afternoon. We’ll be there too.

Today was largely spent plastering, which wasn’t as much fun as yesterday.

The number of the beast

We went to a party this evening. It was pretty good, way better than I’d expected. I don’t know why I’d not expected it to be good, but I (irrationally) hadn’t.

Anyway, today was a good day.

And my second in command displayed her true characteristics.

The Cluny

We’ve a small run of gigs at the Cluny coming up soon. In November, there’s the Lovely Eggs, followed a couple of days later by the Shiverin’ Sheiks. Then, in December, there’s Ainsley Lister.

The Shiverin’ Sheiks’ gig is actually free, on the afternoon of the 11th.

Please don’t go though, because we’d like to get in.

Durham

The Colpitts Hotel, a rather excellent Sam Smith’s pub in Durham.

As is often found in their pubs, a nice fire.

The Swan and Three Cygnets is also a good Sam Smith’s pub.

And then there’s the Tin of Sardines, which is allegedly the smallest bar in Durham. A gin bar.

We like gin. And the Head of Steam.

Wsitting for a train. In the Waiting Room.

Fortunately there is beer.

Brake levers

I used to be mad keen on cycling. For around ten or fifteen years, I loved covering distances on road bikes. But in the mid-90s I discovered mountain bikes, which led to the end of my love affair with road cycling.

By the late 90s, however, I decided to build a road bike and started buying parts. The project never actually happened, due to some pretty major things going on in my life, and I parted company with the frame and some other bits.

While consigning our mountain bikes to the loft a few weeks ago, I came across a box containing some of the old, but unused, bike parts. On return from holiday, I listed them on eBay, since I’m never going to use them (particularly since my main bike is now a Brompton).

Somehow, they all sold.

I don’t remotely recall what I’d have paid for the parts, but they didn’t do badly overall. Although I’d expected the rear derailleur to sell for a decent price, it didn’t go for a lot. On the other hand, though, a pair of brake levers sold for £62.

I should really take another look up the loft.

Mint

Since it’s release, the GPD Pocket has had poor support for Linux. Although an Ubuntu version was promised from the outset, the machines shipped with Windows 10. It would be a few months before an Ubuntu version was available, so it was fortunate I’d ordered the Windows variety (with the intention to install Linux as a dual boot, although that proved to be impossible).

With the Linux version came an Ubuntu download. Unfortunately, there were some issues with this and I probably shouldn’t have installed it so quickly.

With the release of the Pocket 2, it appeared that GPD weren’t going to attempt a Linux version. And that was indeed the case.

Fortunately, Ubuntu Mint have now released a distribution for both the original Pocket and the 2.

It seems to work fine too.

Frankenpole

Due to a minor oversight, I had a double-booking last night. So attempted both.

Frankenstein, a Gothic Tale, a surprisingly good play, was in the fitting setting of the Great Hall, in the castle keep.

The play was pretty slow to begin with and I was really beginning to think I’d made a huge mistake, particularly since I’d persuaded my second in command and youngest daughter to come along.

But things had picked up before the intermission and, thankfully, the second half was great.

Straight after, we jumped in a cab to Gateshead Fell cricket club, to meet up with some mates at the beer festival.

Where we caught most of Ed Tudor-Pole’s set.

Then there were nightcaps in our local.

A pleasant evening.