flymango

https://namibianhardwood.co.za/ I normally buy about 1 ton (55 X 18kg bags) once a year. Roughly R60 per bag. Gets delivered to my house and gets stacked for me. I know supply is environmentally controversial, because of ecological impacts at source. Although my supplier (who is a permit holder) assures me they only collect lose wood, and don't harvest from growing or dead trees. I'll conveniently believe him. And then of course the carbon footprint of trucking it all the way down to the Cape from Namibia. Not to mention the fact that I burn almost a ton of wood per year!! NOU gaan ons braai!!

Kameeldoring wood - mostly. Weber gas - sometimes. Big Green Egg charcoal - on my wishlist.

There were some massive hits being made, especially by the Lions.

Single track isn't going to blow your mind but there's more than enough of it to enjoy. Not technical at all, and the whole route is on access controlled land - so very safe I'd say. But lots of thorns, so make sure you're tubeless with lots of slime. Well worth it. And make sure you have enough water for a 2.5 hour ride (red route).

To the Khwa ttu / Ormonde MTB trails, 50 km up the R27 from Melkosstrand. A hidden gem. Did the 30 km red route. Make sure you've got lots of slime (and water).

Another bump. Donation done as well. Barry paid it forward by generously contributing to my late friend "Tinkerbell" when we were raising funds to help her fight MND.

Don't know if this has been posted anywhere - from Facebook page of Geoff Hookins? Well written, I thought. https://www.facebook.com/geoff.hookins If it hadn't have been the wind that shut the cape town cycle tour down today, it would have been this. 5km down the road from where I live is a huge informal settlement named Masiphumelele. Without having to explain the difficulties of living in a tin house with no municipal services, one of the real plights of the people living there is perception. Both their perception of their situation, and other people's perception of their situation. This is every informal settlement in south africa. So many opinions on my fb feed about situations like this. In the end, everyone is fighting to be heard in a massive argument of who needs help the most. You get the people who use Facebook to show pictures of grizzly farm murders, you get the people who share a cause and get a month old kidnapped baby found in 3 days, you get black lives matter, and legalise dagga and the illuminati is coming to a kill us all, and it's easy to carry on with your day after you have contributed your submission to the massive argument of who needs help the most. But then you get people who have been asking. Their questions become pleas and their pleas become anger and their anger becomes violence. And still no one thinks they need help the most. So one year they decide that they will destroy a gem of the rich and hopefully then they will be heard. They plan to come out onto the road at 1am the night before the biggest sporting event on the cape town calendar and burn it and fill it with bricks and rocks. When all the tv cameras come to see what stopped the race maybe then they will be heard. So they go for it. They throw everything in. The race may actually stop and the country will have to look for answers. And the residents of Masiphumelele truly believe that they will finally be heard. But then. The wind stops the race before it starts. And the country is only looking at videos of rich people being blown off their bicycles. And once again, the residents of Masiphumelele are forced back into their horrible little tin houses. Dismissed and Unheard. At least until this time next year. Masiphumelele is, afterall, a Xhosa word meaning 'We Will Succeed'

There must be a huge opportunity for an insurance product - except not for the organisers but for the participants. When we enter I'm guessing but T&C's probably say there will be no refunds in the event of cancellation or modification of the race. And rightfully so. There are costs to cover and charities to support. Individuals can then elect to insure themselves against cancellation or modification.

Did you see this? http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/cheetahs-kings-to-lose-super-rugby-status-20170313

So very sad. Never knew him personally, but will never forget his support whilst my friend and Hubber Tinkerbell was fighting her battle with MND. RIP and condolences to your loved ones.

Messy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZjVPIefZs4

That's the genius of Brendan Venter - able to translate a law change into on-field advantage. Not that I like the new law at all.

Haven't been Hubbing much lately, so I've also just become aware of Tumble's situation. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his loved ones. Keep fighting mate!

Entered

Lazy ride around the Atlantic Seaboard.

Anybody know if the wind's going to blow ... ?

Haven't been there for a while - is that a drinking water tank your bike's against?

Before we see the new fenix 5 in retail outlets or before we see the fenix 3 in the Hub classifieds?

This is not going to end well for Goosen. Such a tragedy - could've become a Springbok-legend had he been better managed on and off the field. http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/racing-92-take-legal-steps-against-goosen-20170103 Cape Town - Racing 92 will "initiate several legal proceedings aimed at enforcing its rights and redressing the harm done to the club" by Johan Goosen. The Springbok player did not appear at the French club on Monday and Tuesday of this week following news that he had retired from the game. It was speculated that Goosen made the unexpected move in a desperate attempt to get out of his contract with Racing 92. His behaviour has been puzzling considering he signed a contract extension with the club earlier this year, increasing his salary to €500,000 per season. In a statement issued by Racing on Tuesday, it appears the legal wheels are already in motion against 24-year-old South African Goosen. "Racing 92 regrets to announce that Johan Goosen has not appeared at the club for the last two days and seems to have vacated his residence at Le Plessis-Robinson," it read. "As far as Racing 92 is concerned, Johan Goosen still remains bound to the club by an employment contract lasting four years, while his residence, company car, locker, and place in the locker-room all remain at his disposal. To this effect, Johan Goosen remains on the list of players qualified by the EPCR to play in the Champions Cup, starting with the match between Racing 92 and Munster this Saturday. "In response to Johan Goosen’s behaviour, Racing 92 is forced to initiate several legal proceedings aimed at enforcing its rights and redressing the harm done to the club. Racing 92 believes that the club is a victim of blatant fraud which Johan Goosen, his associates and various advisers must answer for in court. "Various civil proceedings will be taken out, partly to obtain reimbursement of the advance payments made to Johan Goosen with regard to his image rights, and also to obtain compensation for the non-provision of services to which he had committed in this domain. "A complaint will also be laid with the French Industrial Tribunal in order to prosecute the player’s fraudulent and wrongful failure to fulfil his contractual obligations and to compensate the resulting significant damage for the club. "A criminal complaint will also be filed, as the open-ended employment contract produced by Johan Goosen and signed by one of his friends and business associates appears to constitute a phony document, given that it is not conceivable that a player put an end to his sporting career while at the peak of such career, and accept a position in a South African company for a salary ten times less than what he was earning as a rugby player at Racing 92." The statement continued: "Full light must be shed on the responsibility of the various people who advised Johan Goosen in taking this aberrant and fraudulent strategy, and to this extent, there are grounds for wondering how Johan Goosen is being supported financially given the numerous commitments and investments he has to meet."

Any reason why this thread has gone quite? Back in 2013/14 I was banting as a Type 1 diabetic for 6 months. Lost 7 kg, was using less insulin (my cycle works in reverse, i.e. would inject less for almost-zero carbs), and LDL, HDL and Trigs were all at improved values. Kidney function was normal. Fast forward to 2017, and I still avoid refined carbs (as any person, but especially diabetics, should) but enjoy bread, rice, potatoes and fruit. And I'm now 10 kg heavier. Maybe time to cut out the carbs completely again.

I remember the place and moment I heard the tragic news. Gone too soon.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/2016/12/17/Springbok-utility-back-Johan-Goosen-quits-rugby-in-shock-decision1 The mercurially talented Springbok utility back Johan Goosen has dramatically quit professional rugby in his desperation to leave French club Racing 92. The Parisian club confirmed that the 24-year-old Goosen had informed them he was retiring from rugby to take up a ‘commercial director’ post in South Africa. Details of Goosen’s new career are vague. It was an open secret on the recent Bok tour to Britain and Italy‚ in which Goosen featured at fullback against Wales and on the bench against England and Italy‚ that he wanted out of his French deal. Club president Jacky Lorenzetti revealed the news on the club’s website. “Goosen‚ whose contract was overwhelmingly re-structured a year ago‚ now claims to be free in an incredible way‚” an incredulous Lorenzetti said. “He has announced today that he has taken the incredible decision to end his playing career‚ to return to South Africa for a strong role as a commercial director. “We regret that such a talented player has gone astray and decided to abandon professional rugby as it seems obvious that the role of commercial director is incompatible with high level sport.” But Lorenzetti warned that Goosen and his agent might face legal action from the club. “We wish to add that Racing 92 has always strongly supported Johan Goosen both morally and financially‚” Lorenzetti said. “And while it has unfortunately proved in recent times that there is a certain lack of vis-à-vis between the player and his coaches and more generally of all members of the club and its fans‚ we hope it quickly becomes aware that compliance with a contract like that of a given word is the basis of all human and professional relationships. “Naturally‚ Racing 92 reserve the right to give such conduct all appropriate legal actions both towards Johan Goosen as those who advise him.” Goosen‚ who played the bulk of his rugby at centre for Racing last season when they won the French Top 14 and the European Champions Cup‚ recently signed an extension on his contract keeping him in Paris until 2020. It’s unclear what the fallout between Goosen and the club is about at this stage‚ but in a frank interview with this writer in November 2014‚ Goosen seemed happy in France. “I’m really enjoying life in France and when I made that decision [to leave SA] I thought my Bok career was over and I would have to live with it. "I wrestled with the decision a lot and so I was very surprised when I was called up for this tour. “Injuries played a big part in making the decision to leave South Africa. “I didn’t do it because I thought I couldn’t be injured playing rugby in France but because I needed to think about my financial future and it’s a more lucrative over there.” Goosen has played 14 Tests for the Springboks.

21 working days. And then, depending on the size of the claim, they'll ask another trivial question for you to upload and they take another 21 days. Repeat. Assuming everything's in order, a refund can take 3 - 6 months. But they're looking for gaps in your submissions, and in the mean time they have your cash to pay state salaries. With 0.5% economic growth, not too many companies are making any profits. Tax revenues must be under severe pressure, so provisional payments are a main source of state cash flow.

Actually, it just got worse! We lost to Italy, and AC believes we are getting our game together. http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/defiant-coetzee-im-the-right-man-for-the-bok-job-20161120

Things are going to get worse before they get better. Like a possible credit rating agency downgrade to junk. Or a loss to Italy.