Well done Murray, you are officially recognised as an expert on planes again. A bit different from the encyclopaedic insideout knowledge of the Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II book that you used to show when writing your Battle of Britain autobiographical diary novel at the age of 11. But not very far removed.


I took this picture from the departure lounge at Toulouse airport last Tuesday morning, waiting for our flight back to Gatwick. In it is an Airbus Beluga transport plane that moves parts of Airbus planes to the 'factory' at Toulouse. This plane does actually fly. I saw it. Further in the distance is a new A380 airliner. I don't think that the photo shows just how large they are. Murray could tell us a lot more, including just how large.

Perhaps more interesting is the appearance of the French Pyrenees just over the top of the buildings. It is hard to believe that these mountains are probably about an hour and half away by car... they look quite near really and I haven't often seen them so clearly from Toulouse.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi to Murray. This is you and you are great...

This is my Inbred. After a day out on some gnarly North Yorkshire singletrack from the look of all that dirt... but no, just after regular dirty winter weather commuting actually. It is so filthy out there, but as ever there is something just right about riding a bike anywhere. No matter where really.