Penny

Tell her you will be home, then 2 days before tell her something came up and you won't be home .. Then turn up Xmas day... That way she can't make other plans and not be there when you arrive!

 

Why would you do that to someone?

I wouldn't!

I wouldn't mess with Christmas at all. Its the one time of year that families can look forward to being together.

Making up stories, giving false hope, then letting people down, then turning up unannounced is a recipe for disaster. As fozzie implies - we dont live in the movies!!

Agreed! Although if she'd known he wasn't due home back in September say and this was an unexpected turn up for the books, it would have been nice to surprise her! But she's always thought he would be at home, so to ruin her Christmas now when it's only weeks away is pretty bad IMHO.

And it's something I feel really strongly about as my Christmases are generally awful, so sorry if I'm getting a little too angry lol

Do it!!

I'm a massive Who fan and a 6 year old would remember the cool Dalek he built with his dad forever

Tell her you will be home, then 2 days before tell her something came up and you won't be home .. Then turn up Xmas day... That way she can't make other plans and not be there when you arrive!

Why would you do that to someone? My mum cancelled Christmas on me once two days before Christmas and it was horrible. Nothing like spending Christmas Eve in tears to say "I love you". Luckily someone took me in else it would have been Christmas Day and my own and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. My mum's dead now and I'm spending Christmas Day alone this year and yeah, I wouldn't wish it on the poor guy's wife who already hasn't seen him for months, it would break her heart.

You really think his wife's gonna be happy to see him on Christmas morning after he totally ruined Christmas for her two days previously?

She thinks he's coming, now he actually is, leave it as that lol and see it as a massive stroke of luck.

If she wasn't expecting you back for Christmas day anyway, since it's the norm for you to work it, I say go for it.

Amazing idea.

Sounds like she was though...

I don't get it...you weren't going to be home for Christmas but you were too chicken to tell her, now you are going to be home for Christmas but you're going to lie to her for the next 6 weeks?

It's worrying you're happier lying than telling the truth about the same piece of information!

I think if you'd told her weeks ago couldn't be home for Christmas it wouldn't be so bad but it's mid-November now and getting close to Christmas, you could make her really miserable for the next 6 weeks.

However, if she'd thought all along that you wouldn't be home for Christmas it would have been awesome to keep quiet and surprise her. But lying to her when she has always expected you'd be there is pretty low, and not telling her you wouldn't be home for Christmas is even lower! If your boss hadn't changed things for you, when were you actually going to tell her you wouldn't be home for Christmas??

Oh and great pics, you look very cool Glad your confidence is starting to increase! You're doing it right; small steps, little bit of progress, increase in confidence, repeat

What?

And it did that all by itself, I didn't add anything, just clicked on that share link thing on Photobucket, which seems to work when I do it in other forums.

Never mind, eh. There are some very clever people on here!

The link from Photobucket will already have the IMG tags included, then if you clicked the IMG button on here and posted the link in, it would have added another set of IMG tags. Probably.

I wasn't going to go but got invited today and couldn't refuse! I'm going on Wed 26th. I'm hoping some of the 2015 bikes will be there so I can have a sit but doubt they will be

It would be nice if other rules of the road were compulsory for cyclists such as stopping at red lights and giving way at roundabouts etc.

 

It is compulsory!!!!

It would be nice if other rules of the road were compulsory for cyclists such as stopping at red lights and giving way at roundabouts etc.

 

It is compulsory!!!!

 

Yep, rules of the road apply to all road users!

I was being sarcastic. I even pointed it out a couple of posts down:

(My post may have been laced in sarcasm )

As for these points, my thoughts for what they're worth!:

Don't give way at roundabouts as they don't want to lose speed.

- Not sure on this one. If they can get out onto the roundabout without interfering with those on the roundabout then fair enough

If they were getting round the roundabout without interfering, I wouldn't be complaining. It's when I have to brake in the middle of a roundabout when it's my right of way because a cyclist hasn't given way to me when he should have done. I can imagine the reaction a cyclist would give it if was a car doing the same!

Jump on and off the pavements at will depending on what is most convenient for them.

- As long as they dismount and walk along the pavement, what's the issue?

Because they never dismount and walk along the pavement?? Again, if they did I wouldn't have an issue! They ride on the road when it's most convenient for them (even if there's a cycle path) then jump on the pavement and CYCLE ON IT when it's most convenient for them, when the lights are on red etc.

Overtake or undertake and weave out of traffic depending on what is most convenient for them.

- Filtering? Pot and kettle springs to mind

On the odd occasion I filter, I wouldn't undertake then overtake then undertake and weave in and out of traffic?? And neither do the vast majority of bikers, they filter either in the middle of a dual carriageway or overtake on a single carriageway but have one line and stick to it. They can also out accelerate every other road user and therefore get out of the way of traffic, whereas cyclists put themselves in everybody else's way and don't give two hoots that they've inconvenienced everyone else.

Yeah, passed on Friday with 1 minor, rushed home and got the insurance sorted, ran to get my kit on, rushed out to the garage, pushed the cbr out and pressed the button in anticipation of my first ride with no l plates and the battery was flat

Didn't have time to charge before work so finally got the battery charged today and had my first ride in the rain and loved every minute

Congratulations

it ... really needs a lot of practice until you understand exactly what the test wants from you...I feel that anyone with enough free time and a computer can probably get to a point where they ace that test 100% almost every time... but It won't help them on the big bad road

 

That is rather the impression I've formed. I've had a go at a few and upset myself because I've clicked at things that apparently are not hazards, because I'm so anxious not to miss anything, and then tried to avoid that and not clicked enough - haven't failed as such but certainly haven't left myself a margin of error. When I come to do the real thing I will need to be much better, as I'm bound to drop a few points because of nerves.

It does seem to be very much about working out how to pass the test, as much as actually being able to pass the test.

I agree, I've done the test and it's all about how to "play the game". If you could sit with an actual person and talk them through the hazards you perceive, you would get a different score than the one given by a computer program.

Best thing to do is get a CD-ROM of the test (sounds a bit old school now, not sure what format they now come in) and learn how and when the program is expecting you to click.

They go through red lights because it's too much hassle to take their clip-on shoes out of their peddles.

Don't give way at roundabouts as they don't want to lose speed.

Jump on and off the pavements at will depending on what is most convenient for them.

Overtake or undertake and weave out of traffic depending on what is most convenient for them.

Ride two/three abreast so they can talk to each other.

 

I do most of that on my motorbike. Does that make me a bad person?

No comment.

That Top Gear episode was amazing where they made the cycling adverts

I'm fairly sure he wants people to take the blame for speeding in Spain, provide him a copy of their licence, he pays fine but avoids the points.

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/263/213/c40.jpg

I didn't like my Pinlock either, didn't like the fact you could see it in your line of vision so I took it off.

I don't commute though and try to avoid riding in the rain so it's not too much of a bother.

 

thats the older pinlocks... the new ones are large enough to be out of the line of sight.

this is my current helmet - the Pinlock is way up out of the sight line:

My old Shoie had the top of the pinlock right in the line of sight when leaning forward on a sports bike

Ah right, that's good to know, thanks!

Yes, that's what I found, it was totally in the line of vision and was very off-putting when riding.

Do you ride a push bike by any chance

I do occasionally but I still hate cyclists When I ride my push rod I try to cycle on cycle paths or trails at all times, or quiet country lanes away from traffic...if I do have to cycle on a road I try and stay out of everyone's way and observe the rules of the road as I would in my car/on my bike.

There's loads of really wide and clean cycle paths near where I live but you still get the lycra-clad MAMILs thinking they are Bradley Wiggins who choose to cycle on the road because it's easier for them and they don't care that they are holding traffic up as lorries and buses can't get past them.

They go through red lights because it's too much hassle to take their clip-on shoes out of their peddles.

Don't give way at roundabouts as they don't want to lose speed.

Jump on and off the pavements at will depending on what is most convenient for them.

Overtake or undertake and weave out of traffic depending on what is most convenient for them.

Ride two/three abreast so they can talk to each other.

Some of what they do is illegal, a lot of what they do is just rude, selfish and discourteous. THAT'S why people don't like them. Plus it's the majority, not the minority of cyclists I see on the roads that behave badly.

(My post may have been laced in sarcasm )

I didn't like my Pinlock either, didn't like the fact you could see it in your line of vision so I took it off.

I don't commute though and try to avoid riding in the rain so it's not too much of a bother.

My advice would be to not move up to a 600, move up to a 400 instead...I wish I hadn't gone up to a 600, took me a long time to get to grips with how to ride it properly, my confidence was knocked when I first got it, which took months to get back, and I dropped it three times If there'd been all the 300-400s around that there is now, I'd have got one of those instead.

Accept you will drop the bike at some point so don't go for something too nice/new, it takes a while to get used to the weight and how to park and balancing at slow speed etc.

I'm female and short though, it's worse for us

Aww, too cute!

It would be nice if other rules of the road were compulsory for cyclists such as stopping at red lights and giving way at roundabouts etc.

Well guys, I failed.

However, it has to be said, I'm rather pleased with my fail because it wasn't on what i thought it would be:-). It was going absolutely fine till the swerve test, the last thing. Didn't hit the speed first time, hit the speed second time but knocked the cone. Arghhhhhhhh! Took my eye off the ball. What part of look at the outside cone didn't I understand???

Still I was dreading the slalom and the fig of eight, and the u turn and they went fine.

It's all good practice and to boot, I have had a fab ride over to Shrewsbury from Crewe, and then back to Newcastle under Lyme, and then a fab pillion ride back to Crewe. Sorta reminded me why I am doing this to myself!!!

My instructor thinks I'm mad, his happiest failer yet......

Oh no, sorry to hear that! But your attitude sounds amazing and I'm glad you're feeling positive You'll probably be a lot less stressed next time now you know you nailed the rest of it!

Aw, gorgeous baby! Usually newborns are a bit

Congratulations

Er, hairdryer? Maybe I'm missing something

Seems a fair price though:

"The fee will take into account the cylinder capacity and environmental compatibility of the car with a maximum toll of 130 euros a year. Foreign drivers can pay a 10-day levy for 10 euros or two month for 22 euros."

People say "car" when they mean "vehicle" a lot of the time. Can't see camper vans etc being excluded! As for bikes, can't see them losing out on all that dosh either!

Something else to add to the massive list of things you need when travelling abroad though, thanks!

Slow control is hard! Much harder than normal riding. You probably know this but dropping bikes when doing things like figure of 8s is usually down to not enough revs. As long as your clutch control is good, don't worry about revving more than you think you need.

I hadn't dropped a bike for 4 years and dropped my pride and joy recently, totally stupid thing to do - it happens! None of us can argue with gravity unfortunately.

You do need to be in the right mind set though, you have to think you can smash it! I'm terrible for thinking "I can't" and I know it holds me back as I'm already telling myself that it's not going to happen, so you make it not happen...self-fulfilling prophecy

I saw this the other day and thought it was quite clever!

Also, I agree with everyone else, go for the 600...there won't be much in it weight wise with the 500 and 600 but there'll be a world of difference with what bikes you can buy when you pass your test, which you will!

Good luck