off the beaten track

I like the idea of getting on a bike and just taking off for a while. Lately my friends have been getting into road biking quite vehemently, and although I like the idea of the physical challenge associated with tour cycling, I just don't think it has the right qualities I look for in a sport.

Although I like running for fitness, I prefer shorter more intense competition. I like the idea of a race. I'd like to get into car racing, but I think that is really for the rich. But off road mountain biking is an accessible way of acheiving short exilerating bursts of adrenaline, with concentration, time trailed racing and also a connection with the environment.

Dirt track biking and mountain biking are related in so much as the basic terrain and choice of weapon, but differ in both pace, duration and overall goals. A typical mountain bike is the long slog across offroad terrain often involving road terrain to connect seperate legs of the bike. Typically a mountain biking trek will involve great views and plenty of opportunity to take in the journey, aswell as the benefits and challenge which come from a marathon style effort

Dirt biking is essentially the little more venomous sibling of mountain biking. Employing the use of a high suspension mountain bike or even BMX, the dirt bike track is typically short. Resembling a rally car track, it has dips, hills, sharp bends and unreadable terrain and direction. The result is a shorter, action packed (and more muddy) ride.

The best of both types of offroad ride can be acheived with similar bikes, often costing less than touring bikes. The advantage of mountain and dirt tracks are they are usually circular in nature. Home is never normally too far away with the added advantage of more specialised cycle routes with no cars.

I think mountain biking is going to be my thing for summer '09. Now, to the bike in the back garden that is in desperate need of fixing up....... especially after that rain today......

then along came spider.......

It's a nice thought, the idea of this little guy having an agenda completely removed from anything we could ever imagine. Where the hell was he going? Where the hell was he coming from? Well I can guess that he was most likely thinking *get that shit outta my face* as far as the camera goes. Look at his eyes, there's nothing there but honesty.

Now this little prick on the other hand wouldn't stop pranking the local chinese and asking for indian, using my phone! The cheek, he could have at least gone for a pizza. (studying + stress + free time + a camera = bollocks)

How long have you been 17?

I went to the doctor this morning to get my blood pressure checked and he finally dispelled my fears that my heart is going to explode at any minute.

I don't know why i've been so conscious of my own mortality lately. When I was younger I would push my body to the limit safe in the knowledge I'd still be playing well on the football pitch and able to do exactly the same stuff in a few days. I guess it didn't really matter to anybody if I keeled over after 15 pints or got hit by a bus.

But for the last year i've felt like i've got a lot to live for and I guess that's why i've been more conscious of things that might kill me. I don't want to die young and i'm not 17 anymore.

So I have decided, as the Doctor said this morning, that a healthy body is a healthy mind. And I think a blood pressure problem is a pretty good excuse to get into shape and stop taking my life for granted. I've had my luck in many ways, now i'll have to work to keep what I have.

Now i'm going to listen to this new album I bought, 'only by the night' by King's of Leon, and do some much needed work.

Hopefuly Nicole will call me this afternoon cos we didn't get to speak much yesterday and I have this everlasting need to hear her voice every day. She's worked really hard shifting meat for two weeks now, that's my girl, and she is very tired. Think of the money darlin. xXx

More about money

Alright, who like's counting their money? I must admit that I do like seeing how much I've got It is probably because it's a rare occurance for me to have money going in to my bank. It might also be because I was left alone to play with marbles too much when I was a kid..... i divulge....

I just found out that I will have alot of work lined up for me when I get back to England. I'll be working two days a week from the 22/4 to the 22/5, and then 3-4 days a week from thereon at a GP surgery in East London. It's a brilliant job, even if the hours are very long sometimes. I get to work with my best mate, the money's good and I actually get breaks unlike my last job, where lazy people got breaks and hard working people got told to work harder...... ahh work ethic of Romford.

Cheap flights to Sweden from England

This is to try and get my blog into a google search, but this is true!!!

CHEAPEST FLIGHTS TO SWEDEN FROM ENGLAND ARE WITH RYANAIR FROM STANSTED TO STOCKHOLM VÄSTERÅS OR SKAVSTA!!!!

Go to www.ryanair.com, trust me it's the cheapest way, there's buses to Stockholm from Västerås, not sure about Skavsta. But Västerås is nicer anyway. I've been coming here for nearly a year, book in advance and it's so cheap. And you'll need your money when you arrive here, it's jätte dyrt (really expensive)!!!!!!

Swedish word of the day

This is my Swedish word of the day for the 15/4/09.

'Pengar' which means 'Money' in English....... as you will need a hell of alot of it out here in Sweden!!

Even more if you are addicted to things such as Pepsi Max (14SEK/£1.30), like having a beer in a pub (65SEK/£5-6), using the bathroom (5SEK/50pence) or buying hair gel (130SEK/£12.50 on sale!!!).
If you work it is not so bad. But I am an English student therefore I am, for the time being, a little skint (poor). When I have mycket pengar (much money) I will return to Sweden and spend some of it, because I have to admit things here are more classy than London will ever be.

hej då.

Sports Babble 15/04/2009

Did anybody watch the Chelsea vs Liverpool game last night? I don't know about you but I thought that was one of the best games I've ever watched. I don't think anybody expected the two teams to go at eachother like that as most of their games over the past 2 or 3 years have been 0-0's or 1-0's. So to see them actually play football was awesome.

Liverpool had nothing to lose and it was a credit to them that they got the first 2 goals back. But Chelsea showed for probably the first time this season what quality football they can play by coming back from 2 goals down then back from 4-3 to 4-4. I still have no respect for them because of the way they play sometimes, like they are getting relegated and will settle for a 1-0 win from a long ball to Drogba. But if they keep trying to play with such freedom, then my respect for them may grow...... MAY..... if they can shake of the last cobwebs of Mourinho's rigid 'winning without risking' philosophy.

Chelski....

The key to there success?.......... little guy called Michael Essien.... he allows Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Kalou to do whatever the hell they want. But i'm sorry, Ballack is one of the most overrated players ever seen. I hate Lampard only because he doesn't perform for England if I'm honest, and that to me says that once taken out of his Chelsea zone, he's lost.
But for Chelsea he is, unfortunately, key to nearly every goal they get.
But Ballack is terrible, he's never looked convincing, even with 2 or 3 yard passes, and then he strides up for 40yard freekicks like he's could only ever score, and is surprised and angry when the ball meets the face of some poor father of 3 in the crowd. Terrible player, and should be shipped back to Bayern Munich ASAP.

Last night was a good showpiece for English football though, and demonstrates how far ahead the English teams are at the moment. But much like the economy, football will have highs and lows, and I don't think domination by English clubs will carry on forever. Remember when Real Madrid and Zidane were untouchable? Or when AC Milan and Maldini would never concede a goal? I don't think Chelsea and Lampard will be as consistent in 5 years, Abramovich will have found a new handbag by then..........

The sad thing is I think chelsea would have improved independently of the sugar daddy effect. Gaining entry to the Champions League was acheived by Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen, with a younger Lampard beginning to pull the strings in midfield. I don't think they will ever get a team as good as they had then, because I believe when the money has left Stamford Bridge, so will all but two of the players. Leaving Frank Lampard, John Terry, and unfortunately guys.... Ray Wilkins......... lucky Chelsea

Anyway, enough rambling. Want some quality football? Switch on Arsenal vs Villareal tonight, viasat sport in Sweden, Sky Sports 1/2/extra in England, live from Emirates Stadium, North London.

How a battery works.

Alright, so my brother asked me how a battery works the other day, thinking he'd get no answer. But I actually remember a thing or two from A-level so here is how a battery works.

Batteries generate electrical current by using chemical reactions to create a movement of electrons through a circuit.

Electrochemical half cells are the main principle behind how a battery works. Half cells begin oxidation-reduction reactions when 2 of them are connected to each other. Neither will react in isolation and must be connected to another cell to begin the redox reactions.

Here is a diagram of 2 half cells joined together, this is a Zinc-Copper cell, known as a Daniell cell.

In this case the +ive electrode is copper and the -ive is zinc.

When the 2 cells are connected, 2 electrons leave the Zinc metal atom.

The resulting zinc ion moves into the Zinc Sulphate solution.

As the cells are connected by a wire between the anode and cathode. The electrons from the zinc electrode, travel through the wire to the positive terminal.

The result, is the reduction of copper ions in the copper sulphate solution on the positive electrode by the electrons coming from the zinc electrode. Copper metal builds up on the positive electrode. With the zinc electrode being constantly degraded.

In a battery, the principle is the same. Except the wire between the positive and negative terminal runs through the electrical device requiring power. Exploiting the movement of electrons from negative to positive and harnessing their electromotive force to power the device.

In most cheap AA batteries, Zinc Carbon half cells are used. Employing the same logic.

There ya go. Interesting? Questions?

Hej då.

You are what you blog

I am going to write more posts this year. I've had a really busy start to 2009, but i'm determined to start updating this blog regularly. And i'll try and make the posts interesting.

Also i am taking Swedish lessons!!!! And they are bloody amazing. I actually like the homework i'm getting and although my accent is terrible, i'm not too bad at it. I can say for example...

Jag heter Mike, jag kommer från England. I'm called Mike, I come from England.

Jag studerar till läkare i London. I'm studying to be a Doctor in London.

De är kommer hit. They are coming here.

Vi är hem nu. We are home now.

Kan jag få en kopp te, tack? Can I have a cup of tea, please?

Tjena, de är lugnt. Hey, it's cool.

Den fasan har ingen dagordning. The pheasant has no agenda........



all important shit, no?

see ya later