Pull out the paint

Here's a great little pic a mate I ride with, Dave, took last week in Covent Garden. Apparently they're used for bike tours taken around the London area.

I, for one, am all for this delicious splash of cycling colour. There are SOOO MANY black and white bikes on the road these days. How about we get real freaky and crack open the paint cans? Come on bike manufacturers/buyers, a little bit of pizazz, yeah I said pizazz!, won't kill you. (You'll notice in the 'Who am I' section of this blog that my bike is white. People in glass houses Charlie).

It should be stated that Bianchi bikes have long championed their Celeste as a point of difference in the black and white world of paint jobs.

Image source: bikejournal.com

But, since we're amongst friends here, let's be honest, it's not exactly the best choice from the colour palette. I feel there are two types in this world that are guaranteed to like the famous Celeste, Italians and Turtles. Italians because of nationalistic pride in the brand and rightly so. Turtles because...um..I dunno, just seems like they would, go with it.

ANYWAY,

It's another thing the Poms are doing right when it comes to bikes. I can just hear their joyful cries:

"If the sky's always grey, our bikes are always bright!"

Or something along those lines.
So let's take a spoke out of their wheel and have a bit of a paint fight. Most importantly -

 KEEP CALM AND CYCLE ON! 

I think the company that runs the tours is Brake Away bike tours. If anyone can clear that up for us it'd be much appreciated!

lost and FOUND!

Deviating slightly from the normal content, I delved into my wardrobe and got out my best Mother Teresa costume (yes, I have many).

Last night at Prahran Railway station I found a little black bag that had a whole bunch of cooking utensils in it. I think it belonged to a painter.

Anyway, I was waiting for a train to Richmond station and after a bit of toing and froing, decided to take this bag with me (which I assume would be worth a bit), in order to leave it at lost property.

On the way to Richmond I got nervous. What if the person who owned the bag suddenly appeared from the mist and saw me with it...?

"STOP THIEF! SOMEBODY SPEAR TACKLE THAT HORRIBLE MAN AND RETRIEVE MY DEAREST UTENSILS."

Could happen.

At which point I'd fumble my way through an explanation that I was trying to do the right thing.

Didn't happen.

So if you read this blog and on the evening of the 28/7 left your kitchen wonders at Prahran station, then they should be with Richmond station staff, who recommended you call Lost Property at Flinders St station to sort it out. Why call one station when they're at another? Not sure.

You will need to let them know the brand of the bag to prove it's yours.

Great. I leave it with you Mr or Mrs Ramsey. 

Public Transport Victoria Lost Property 

1800 800 007

Image source

A very short mac indeed

Having spent some time in Italy this year I've converted to the real stuff when it comes to coffee. Not to the point of chewing beans straight, but pretty close.

I drink short macs, however I don't think I've ever been taken quite so literally with my order as I was following this morning's ride.

The word 'short' was given scrupulous attention.  

For a moment I considered that I might have been served the spillage from someone else's order.
I inhaled for breath and accidentally finished my coffee at the same time.
An ant fell in and got wet up to it's knees.
I had to eat my coffee cause I put a sugar in that absorbed all the liquid.

I may sound bitter about this but I kinda have reason to be. It cost me $3.75.

Obviously it wasn't worth me kicking up a fuss and demanding some more spillage. I did what was right, paid my bill, thanked the staff kindly and then rode home to make a fat plunger coffee as compensation.

Can't get by without caffeine when you're cycling!