Perhaps tomorrow I will write and record two episodes and try to cover my slack tracks. Not likely, Jimmy.

Is anyone silly enough to join me?

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Either way, the tube from my back wheel now has a patch on it. Hopefully, these patches will fix these tubes. Two in a day is getting a bit much really.

This morning, I got Nicky to check the weather site and there was a serious wind from WSW. With this in mind, I decided to ride to Newport to take advantage of the tail wind. About three-quarters of an hours in, it started to rain. I figured one of three things could happen; it could stop, it could get worse, or it could continue raining like that. There were no catastrophic options here, so I kept going.

As I left Altona, I got to the bit where there is a low bridge across the creek. I’ve been across this before when it is flooded but it was only a few inches deep. Water like that is excellent for giving the tyres and wheels a quick clean. This morning, however, it was more like a foot or two deep. I stopped and considered my optioned. I could turn around and go home. I could attempt the waters and be fine. I could attempt the waters, fall over, and get quite wet. Again, there were no catastrophic options here, so I rode through. I did have to change down to first gear and steady myself against a bollard but I got across just fine. My shoes and socks got wet but that wasn’t the end of the world.

The train ride went without a hitch, and pretty soon I was close to home. I was only about two hundred metres from home when I noticed a steady bump from the front wheel. It looked a little chubby at the bottom but it always looks like that when I am sitting on the bike. All the same, I stopped and checked. Sure enough, the tyre was flat so I walked the last four minutes of my trip. Although annoying, it couldn’t have happened at a better time.

Half the fun of a little adventure is the little things that you work around. If everything went without a hitch that would be nice, but it wouldn’t be as much fun.

I was going to simply replace the tube since I have never had much luck patching up bicycle tubes. At best, I turn fast leaks into slow leaks. I try to follow the direction, but I don’t think I’ve every properly repaired a tube.

Even in this context, I’ve been hoping through the new tubes this last week so I decided to have another go. I followed the instructions on my little Dunlop repair kit, left it to dry, and have just pumped it up again. It would be nice to think that it will still be up in a couple of hours but I am not especially hopeful.

So, I was wondering if anyone (and I was especially thinking of Helen) had any wisdom on the question of replacing and repairing. What is the most sensible thing to do? What are the tricks of getting a repair right?

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Hello, and welcome to the One Minute Mark.

I had what might be a good idea. I think that the definition of idea is pretty settled. The definition of good might just be flexible enough for this sentence to be broadly true. I was thinking of using PowerPoint, some Creative-Commons licensed photos from flickr, and some of my earlier efforts together to make some basic picture books.

I know PowerPoint is not a print-publishing tool; these would be more proof of concept slideshows than actual books. Eventually, I’d like to write something new. For the time being, I thought I might cut my teeth on Only You Can Stay the Same and some of the old Dear Bert stories.

I am not sure if I have the writing ability or the time to do this idea justice. I guess the only left is to give it a quick go and see how far I get.

Anyhow, that’s the minute and I’ll speak to you soon.

As it turns out, I have a polar-fleece vest and it seems I was wearing it this morning. They key were, of course, in the pocket.

However, he was really just a bit nervous about going off to do something new on his own. Once he got there, he found a friend from his class among the kids sprawled on the couched in front of Ice Age 2. From that moment, he was happy as a clam.

Still, I will miss the kids today and will be glad to see them this afternoon.

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Hello, and welcome to the One Minute Mark.

In the words of Fat Charlie the Archangel “I have no opinion about this, and I have no opinion about that.” Now I don’t wish to speak unkindly about poor Fat Charlie, but I think the next line is telling. “Sad as a lonely little winkled balloon”.

I think that perhaps Charlie need to be a bit more decisive. It’s a lovely thought to be free of opinions and ambitions but it tends to leave you drifting a bit in the breeze. I suspect this is doubly true when one is an archangel.

I believe, pretty firmly as the years go by, that it’s important to be purposeful. Planning and consideration are both good things, but it is all too easy to slip into procrastination and avoidance. Although I roundly mocked those infamous consultant there is some truth to the maxim “if you want some lollies, just go to the shop”. Likewise, I had to be swiping wisdom from mass produced running shoes but it really if often better to “just do it.” And since I am just repeating other people’s words, let me finish with some accidental wisdom from Chalky. Back in the days when I made films, horrible films I should add, I worked with Chalky. One day, tongue mostly in cheek, he said “if you want to direct, direct”. It’s facile and obvious but it’s also true.

Finally, I’ll swing back to Fat Charlie who, later in the song says, “she says the joke is on me. I say the joke is on her.” I suspect that if we find ourselves without opinions and purpose and direction then the joke is on us.

Well that’s just my two cents and that’s the minute. I’ll speak to you soon.

@puppydeluxe I sound a little like a kidnapper in reply to puppydeluxe #

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Hello, and welcome to the One Minute Mark.

It’s school holidays and so far things have gone pretty well. One of the things that Finn has been really looking forward to is having his cousin Danny over to stay the night. For years now, having the two of them together has meant a great deal of silliness and a great deal of noise.

If I were being a smidge more selfish, I’d avoid the whole ordeal and just not invite Danny over for these events. Not that Danny is a problem, it’s just the combination of the two boys. I don’t because it means so much to Finn. Every since the plans were made he’s been buzzing around like a little lunatic.

I know the next twenty-one hours are going to be exhausting; there is no other possible outcome. Surely, however, part of the value of holidays is doing things that exhaust you. I’d certainly never even consider this explosion of boyness during term. All of which is to say that I do know better but decided to organise this madness.

Anyhow, that’s the minute and I’ll speak to you soon.

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Hello, and welcome to the One Minute Mark.

A few weeks back, I was listening to a podcast, and I think it might have been RN Shuffle. Whatever the show, there was some science-minded soul explaining that loud music sets of happy chemicals in the human brain in the similar fashion to chocolate and sex.

Generally speaking, I like music played at more modest tones, but when I am feeling anxious I get all open minded towards things that might help. Just recently, I was feeling this way so I popped on the quality headphones and set my iPod to shuffle. The tracks that came up were The Ballad of John and Yoko, Fall at Your Feet and God’s Hotel. I can’t claim that these three songs made a crazy, fat, bald man into a sane, fat, bald man but I think it helped.

Anyhow, that’s the minute and I’ll speak to you soon.