Articles and advice on cycling, technology, home efficiency and more

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These pages are written and managed by John & Julii Swindells, and we take every effort to ensure their accuracy, relevance and engagement. If you don't think this is the case at any point, please contact us and explain where you think that we're going wrong. Otherwise, happy browsing!

Solar Panels under $2/watt

Solar PV Electricity 26 Sep 2007

Okay, not just yet - but soon we may have much cheaper solar panels. This is down to research by the Colorado State University. The panels ...

Pedal Power: Innovate or Die!

Cycling 26 Sep 2007

Google and other partners have launched the Innovate or Die! Challenge. They want people to publish a YouTube Video to the special group, showing ...

Pretty Slug

Animals 22 Sep 2007

We don't usually photograph slugs, but this one was such a pretty specimen!

Our New Stove

Solid Fuel Stoves and Central Heating 22 Sep 2007

We now have a small stove in our front room. Originally there was a tiny open fireplace (with an opening barely more than 300mm across). Chopping ...

Warm Front Grants

House and Home 18 Sep 2007

From WarmFront.co.uk: The Warm Front Grant provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2,700 (or £4,000 ...

Bent Rear Mech

Cycling 17 Sep 2007

This is a bent rear mech. It is on an Isla Beinn (6-speed), and it is actually the 'sacrificial' alloy piece between the frame and derailleur ...

Cycle Bits Order From Chain Reaction

Cycling 17 Sep 2007

Cannondale Shoes MTB Carve 5FC01 42.5 Silver - Black, £40 Brooks Adrenaline High Visibility LED Lightbelt Each, £7 Oxford High ...

Prologue

TDF 2007 19 Jul 2007

Liquigas, Discovery and Credit Agricole riders here.

Prologue

TDF 2007 19 Jul 2007

Milram riders here.

Prologue

TDF 2007 19 Jul 2007

Euskaltel, AG2R, Barloworld and Gerolsteiner riders here.

The Tour Caravan

TDF 2007 19 Jul 2007

There are lots of amusing vehicles in the Tour Caravan. Also amusing was the fact that there were riders testing the course at the same time ...

Sightseeing: Buckingham Palace

TDF 2007 19 Jul 2007

Here we are outside Buckingham Palace, enjoying the friendly atmosphere and the sunshine.

SCF Econotherm Oil

Heating Oil: A Buyer's Guide 14 Jul 2007

A Customer Press Release from SCF: Attention Heating Oil User Southern Counties Fuels would like to give you the unique opportunity to ...

Top-selling BBC Titles

Films 19 Jun 2007

Here are the latest top 10 best sellers from BBC Shop: Radio 2 Janet & John Stories: Reloaded (Audiobookcd) In The Night Garden...Who's ...

Stream 1 Grants: Trying to Apply

Wind Turbines 29 May 2007

Our experience of trying to apply for the new round of Stream 1 grants has not been fruitful so far. In our application for a wind turbine, ...