@mrjamesob.bsky.social Ruislip Lido was built to help feed the Grand Union around Hayes (and the Paddington Arm), the link between the 2 enters the GU just north of Hayes. It doesn't now though. Similar with the Welsh Harp, enters canal around Harlesden.

@peterwalker99.bsky.social interesting London Council story on the poor state of some councils finances, and how they try to keep it quiet. Just in time for May elections...

Very interesting Audit report on Hillingdon Council finances. Contains "The Council’s financial position is now critical. We are unable to conclude that the Council is compliant with its statutory duty to set a balanced budget" then gets worse modgov.hillingdon.gov.uk/documents/s6...

Innovative cycle parking, perhaps not totally accessible.

How sad am I. Noticed the dropped kerb & crossing tactiles right outside Marriott hotel in Cardiff. No dropped kerb or crossing point. Perhaps they ran out of paving slabs & only had tactiles left.

Nice to see @cardiffpedalpower.bsky.social in Cardiff centre this afternoon. I guess the Cardiffs equivalent to @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk in London.

@londoncycling.bsky.social can you point me in the direction of the December election of Trustees results?

St Sixtus very quiet this morning, no beer collection just returning 2 empty crates.

Excellent lunch at Hotel Restaurant Stadhuis in Lo, lovely little town.

Impressive, temporary, statue by the Menin Gate Ypres.

Lunch at Lekkerbek restaurant up on Mont Noir, on the Flemish Alps.

Trip to pay respect to my wife's distant cousin, Elise Kemp, at Godewaersvelde Commonwealth War graves cemetery. Interesting is the 2 unnamed graves of Indian soldiers.

Staying at Skindles in the centre of Poperinge, between Hop Museum & Talbot House. Very nice too, slight faded grandeur, in a nice way. Room glassware leaves a lot to be desired, but needs must.

Quietest I've ever seen it at Eurotunnel, straight thru all the way and on earlier shuttle. St Sixtus first stop for lunch & beer collection. Boot full of empties to return.

Just ordered 2x24 Westvleteren 12's to collect Tuesday afternoon, easy to reserve and seems you can order up to 12 cases now. Just have to sort returning the wooden crates.

Fascinating Jura wine tasting at BBC Club last week. Must try a Vin Jaune next to an aged Fino/Manzanilla.

@willpcooper.bsky.social best of luck....

Supposed to be watching Rugby XIII in Keighley, cancelled so watching Belgium Cyclocross championship at home... Thought this beer would be appropriate.

In 2024, more than 1,600 people died on UK roads. Yet a major new road safety strategy has passed largely unnoticed. This reflects media acceptance of road danger and a societal complacency—an “it won’t happen to me” mindset. Sadly, it can, and by then it is too late. How do we change this?

Happy New Year everyone...

In the past month 3 transport routes have collapsed - but they aren't roads so don't make national news. All 3 have the same root causes, climate change, and Tory austerity passing responsibility for critical infrastructure on to charities and councils. This will happen more, and people will be hurt

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... Guardian story also covers our unique Risk Index which takes a look at all of the risks to our 5000 mile network. We found that almost everywhere was at risk of flooding, and that seems to be part of the problem with this latest canal breach.

I've been in a pretty bad financial hole this winter for reasons beyond my control. I'm prepping for road season and desperately wishing it to start. I'd never normally do this but if you've enjoyed my work this year, a tip would be a massive help ko-fi.com/jezcox

An afternoon watching CycleCross, with a St Bernardus Christmas, 75cl of bb 2017 & 33cl 2028. 2017 stood up very well, not sure I did ;-)

Seasons greetings to all out there.... Enjoy.

Impressive delivery time on an order of Jura wines from Vinatis www.vinatis.co.uk France to London in 6 days, from order to delivery. 9 bottles £7.50 shipping cost. Brought for a BBC Club wine tasting.

A group of cyclists with 2 Penny Farthings certainly turns heads on the streets of London. Tweed Run Marshalls on tour....

Saturday afternoon refreshments.. SN from 2022 & 2012. Both very drinkable, St B Sour better than I thought it would be. 2 bottles left.

Architectural review in @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/culture/arch...

Congratulations to @brendadacres.bsky.social who has been nominated for membership of the House of Lords. Well deserved. I'm sure Lord Kennedy will take her under his wing.

St Bernardus quiz… who knew? 12 December, online. https://sintbernardus.be/en/stbernardus-allround-quiz-en

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

When at Brussels Midi.... Cantillion.

One for Thomas, gentle pedal around the Citadelpark then off to the Botanical Gardens, www.gum.gent/en/ghent-bot...

15 minute bike ride back to another old favourite in NW Gent, Café Congé with it's interesting beer list.

They don't really do heating at Café Oude Drie Leien so next stop was Cafe Grand in Drongen centre, they love their Christmas lights. Some might say OTT but Sinterklaas has come.

Best made plans to watch cyclo-cross & Gent 6 on TV in local cafe, closed permanently. Headed out to one of my fav local cafes, Café Oude Drie Leien on the river. Owner very happy to see me again. WiFi just good enough to watch races on my mobile, great effort by Cameron Mason.

Sunday was a celebration of Sinterklaas in Belgium, came across parade in Gent suburb of Drongen. Interesting to read about traditional, including controversial blacking up. I note that there was some subtle blacking of helpers in photo. www.discoveringbelgium.com/sinterklaas/ Weather not good.

Swift pedal thru town to the always excellent Trappistenhuis. Very quiet. 2 bottles of Chouffe came with pretty unimpressive hat.

Café Folklore, pretty close to the Castle of the Counts, Gravensteen. Only open limited weekends as owners are not getting any younger. Busy, buzzy and friendly. Heard our 'Jupiler pop' for the first time. Loads of locals there for a big card game. Thanks to @pisci.bsky.social for recommendation

What to do on a cold Saturday morning in Gent.. go swimming in the impressive Art Deco pool. visit.gent.be/en/see-do/va...

This is what you missed @bonsvoeux1.bsky.social Gent 6 half time entertainment.

You pop into a small brown cafe in Bruges and who do you find.... Perhaps not a coincidence;-)

Lovely day for a bike ride, Gent to Bruges, 40+km mainly along canals. Stopped for refreshments in de Brug, Sint Joris.

Winter weather in Gent today, rain, sleet and snow. Today visited a wool shop (!!), Le Bal Infernal - used book café & the ultra touristic Dulle Griet with it's shoe deposit for their 1.2l beer glass. The latter does have a huge beer list.

Found a thrift store here in Gent, right by a university campus. Pretty good selection of Belgium beer glasses at €1 or less. Very disciplined and only brought 1. There were Ypres glasses but so brittle that unlikely to survive the trip home.

Back in Gent, local beer in a local cafe followed by a selection of delicacies in nearby friterie.

Interesting article about @greenjennyjones.bsky.social in the current @iwa-uk.bsky.social magazine. Amazed that one of her highlights wasn't when I joined her on the boat exploring Deptford Creek. A unique experience indeed.

Looks like 2 sessions of the annual #Gent6 cycling event will be available to watch on TV, other sessions only if you have a BE Pickx subscription. I’ll hopefully be watching Sundays coverage in a comfortable cafe in Drongen just outside Gent. https://cycling.pickx.be/fr/

Gent.... I'm off to Gent on Wednesday for our annual Gent 6 trip. Any recommendations as to not obvious places to visit welcome. Doesn't have to have a great beer list but different. Have been going for decades so know it well but always worth asking others.