The more things change

The one constant: If I'm cycling, I need my waterproof trousers.

Dumpling's gotta brand-new ... bike

Yeah, I'm back on two wheels -- and it feels ... faintly terrifying, actually. Sharing the road with cars, having gears and TWO brakes, and riding on something light and nippy and that doesn't require significant heft to get it to move. I found myself speeding down the North Walls, around Eastgate, legs pedalling away furiously at my normal rate, desperately trying to figure out what gear I should be in so that I could get the (heavy) resistance that I was used to on my Dutch bike, and then realized that that's simply not going to happen. I have to adapt, which could be difficult, given that I'm almost 36 and thus set in my ways.

I am also having to be more assertive, taking my place on the road as if it's my due, rather than cycling along apologetically. And to be fair, the cars I encountered this evening seemed to respect that -- slowing down to pull out round me, giving me plenty of room. Still, it was a relief to get off-road and cycle alongside the river and back along to College Walk. Now, if I could just get some decent street lamps installed ...

I fought the law

Well, not really. These little mice are actually mini LED lights from HEMA, extremely handy for fixing onto handlebars with their little elastic "tails." They are beautifully designed, extremely powerful, and comply with the new need to have lights fixed to your bike, not to a jacket or bag.



And, they were very cheap. Hurrah for HEMA!

Frosty the Snow-Dumpling

The much-heralded snow arrived at lunchtime. In fact, it had been so heralded that the rail service starting delaying trains before it arrived -- now that's customer service! Just don't tell any of the incompentent private companies that make up British Rail; they'd love to do that.



Considerably heavier than the light shower we had earlier in the week, the snow started coming down thick and fast at about midday, about the time we'd planned to cycle over to WTC for lunch at Wagamama's, followed by an appointment in one of the buildings there. We held off on lunch, trying to convince ourselves with eternal British optimism that it was brightening up, but at 1.30 we had no choice but to head out into the snow. Ignoring the BBC's advice to take a spade (although a flask of hot tea would have been fantastic), we pedalled slowly over to WTC -- a journey that normally takes 10 minutes, but today took 25. This was, it must be said, also to do with the fact that the road we needed to turn onto was closed off by building works, so we had to do a huge loop around the complex -- no fun in driving snow and on slippery bike paths. However, we arrived safely, to be greeted somewhat incredulously. "You cycled in this weather!?!" Yep, foolhardy and proud of it.

After the meeting, PJ slyly slipped off to Schiphol in a taxi to wait out the inevitable delays on his flight to Copenhagen. I had to cycle the 10km back home, the snow now replaced with heavy, horizontal sleet, which stung my face and made it tricky to see where I was going. Please keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't freeze tonight; slush is bad, but ice is worse.

Illegal activity No. 1

I have now broken the law in the Netherlands -- the first time in five years (that I'm aware of). What heinous crime did I commit? No, not letting off fireworks outside the permitted time of 10 p.m. New Year's Eve to 2 a.m. New Year's Day -- one of the most common crimes in the Netherlands -- but riding a bike without lights fixed to the bike. I had a rear light attached to my bike, but my front light was clipped to my jacket, and I discovered last night while waiting for pizza that this is no longer allowed. The ministry of piddling little bylaws -- sorry, traffic -- has just announced this change.

Fortunately for me, the Amsterdam fuzz don't seem willing to start fining people ... yet. This could have something to do with the fact that many of their own officers clip lights to their bags or jackets. Or it could just be a question of time.

Wet wet wet

I got drenched three times before 9 a.m. today -- quite an achievement, albeit not six impossible things before breakfast. And only one of those soakings could be called voluntary. The cycle ride to the gym at 7.35 was grim, dark, and wet -- at one point, I actually cursed out loud, scaring the local taxi drivers huddled smugly inside their cars. The swimming pool was very wet, but blissfully quiet. Worst by far was the short ride from the gym to the office -- in a torrential downpour. I kept comforting myself by promising that this time next year I'd use a car to get to the gym. Much to my surprise, it didn't rain on the way home. I would be thankful for small mercies, but the enormous spot growing painfully just under my chin is making me far too grumpy for that.

Roll on 2007.