Easy Ride

I know it doesn't look like much but seeing this post made my day. Previously the ride along the tow path has been interrupted by three gates where you had to stop and manouveur your bike around the side.

But now you can fly straight through without any loss of speed. The council were probably concerned that kids on trials bikes would use the tow path as a race track, but they'd probably do that with the gate there anyway.

It's just made me more desperate to get the recumbent trike I've wanted for my laganside commute, maybe next year.

Well, Northern Ireland finally has the assembly up and running. You could argue that the reason that it has taken so long is that neither the DUP or Sinn Fein would be happy with anything less than their own 2 parties running the show.
So with the middle ground parties playing a supporting role we are finally on the road to lasting peace and prosperity, apparently.

Despite the huge differences between the 2 parties, I think the last few weeks have shown that they can get along. However much I am opposed to Paisley’s views, I still think he comes across as a man with a sense of humour. And by surviving to see this day pass he may be judged a little more sympathetically by the history books.

It will be interesting to see what kind of marching season we have this year. Will people still burn effigies of the pope on the 11th night? Talking of the 11th night – how big must the orange orders carbon foot print be! The nearest bonfire to our house is about 200metres away and reaches 3 or 4 storeys high, I wonder has anybody calculated the carbon emissions on the average bonfire? I feel a google search coming on. (no couldn’t find anything)
Further up the road there is an even bigger bonfire made mainly out of tyres – correct me if I’m wrong but burning rubber can’t be good for the environment.
I don’t mind a bit of tradition but couldn’t they clean up their act a wee bit, the amount of litter left around Belfast on the 12th is a disgrace as well.

Here’s an idea for the first thing for the new assembly to discuss – a carbon trading scheme for orange men! Offset your emissions from the 11th night by planting trees on cave hill!