Magical

Somewhat later than expected, the Langster rolled it’s way through 1000 miles on the way home this afternoon. If it hadn’t been for the shit weather it would have managed it several months ago.

The latest confirmed cheat is Iban Mayo who tested positive for EPO on the last rest day of the tour.

BBC SPORT | Other Sport… | Cycling | Mayo joins Tour’s list of shame
Cyclingnews: Mayo tests positive for EPO
Velonews: News Flash: Mayo tests positive

The sky seems to have turned a strange blue colour, and there isn’t any wet stuff falling from it. What’s going on?

Plenty of practice this morning, followed by the assessment this afternoon, and after four days I’m now a qualified first aider. A few of us went to the pub afterwards and as a consequence I’m now slightly pissed.

Somewhat inevitably, Rasmussen has been handed his P45 by the Rabobank team and is out of the tour. Whilst they’ve not yet caught him actually doping, that appears to be because he spends most of his time hiding so they can’t actually test him.

Today was mainly spent covering CPR and the recovery position, along with a few other major ailments.

I will be selling a range of “Do Not Resuscitate” badges to people who would prefer me not to go anywhere near them.

Yesterday it was Astana, today it’s Cofidis who’ve left following Cristian Moreni testing positive for Testosterone.

There’s no point watching it any more, the cocks keep ruining it by cheating, then getting caught.

BBC SPORT | Other Sport… | Cycling | Vinokourov fails Tour doping test
Cyclingnews: Vinokourov positive for transfusion, Astana quits Tour

I had a good ride tonight without the aid of any illegal substances. I didn’t even partake of whiskey and Tangfastics mid-ride.

More serious stuff today, including shock, major burns, severe bleeding etc. We finished off with a quick demonstration of the recovery position.

Nothing particularly complicated today. Mainly minor cuts, burns, scalds, sprains, and strains.

I get to spend the next 4 days on a First Aid at Work course along the road with St John Ambulance. It’ll be interesting to see how much they’ve changed CPA and the recovery position since my last course 3 years ago.

No doubt you’ll get to endure some rivetting daily updates of my progress.

Not too bad really. Finished it in about 6 hours, it would have been quicker except I kept getting distracted by the Tour de France coverage on the TV.

It waited until 16:02 today to start raining. Guess what time I leave the office?

I feel the urge for a singlespeed "monster cross" type bike.

I was absolutely soaked even before I’d ridden out of the car park. The ride home was interesting, mainly due to the standing water making the brakes almost completely useless, I only just managed to slow down enough to negotiate the roundabout without crashing.

The 456 is now equipped with a nice new Thomson Elite stem, slightly longer than the Easton EA70 it replaces to stretch things out a bit.

I had a letter today reminding me that I needed to take Hobbes for a routine blood test.

After an hour or so spent in the garden fettling, the 456 now has new LX brakes attached, the Kaboom is back up and running, and the Lemond now has a svelte black seatclamp to replace the bulky silver one. Shame I’m still bunged up with a cold and not really in a mood to ride.

Why can’t they leave my parcel with a neighbour like everyone else?

19:31 Thursday, July 12, 2007 On route to delivery branch
05:41 Friday, July 13, 2007 Arrived at Delivery Branch
07:00 Friday, July 13, 2007 Goods loaded onto a van
09:01 Friday, July 13, 2007 Delivery point closed (Carded)

Shimano LX M585 OE Hydraulic Disc Brake Set: £88.00

Shimano LX M585 OE Hydraulic Disc Brake Set with 203mm front and 160mm rear adaptors: £84.60

For those of you who were unaware, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the first ever scout camp, held on Brownsea Island in August 1907. As part of the celebrations the World Scout Jamboree is being held in the UK at Hylands Park near Chelmsford. We went up last Thursday to do 4 days work as part of the Jamboree Build Team who started work at the end of June, and some of them won’t finish until mid-August.

Apart from Thursday, the rain held off for most of the weekend, although Friday was very windy. I ended up running the registration office for several days, spent a day working in catering, and one other day working in the warehouse unboxing 200 or so festival tents. I never want to see another one of those ever again.

After going missing at the end of last month then turning up at a vets 12 miles away, Hobbes died on Sunday night aged 14 or so.