BicycleBen

As we had a record-breaking May heatwave, #WarwickshireCountyCouncil abandons its #NetZero commitment. How blinkered can supporting Reform and Conservative councillors be? Tackling the #ClimateEmergency is the most important issue. They are choosing to active harm future residents for short-term gain. History will not be kind.

https://rugbyobserver.co.uk/news/warwickshire-county-council-abandons-net-zero-commitments-61754/

Well, that was fun. It wouldn't be #Eurovision without the UK scoring way down the table. Apologies to all who didn't mute the hashtag and aren't interested. I'll shut up for a bit now (probably)!

Is this the first time I've cast a vote for a winner? Possibly. #Eurovision

Massive win for #Bulgaria, knocking Israel down to seconds. Thank goodness for that - but like last year, too close. This situation should never have arisen; #Israel should not have been in the competition. #Eurovision

Tenterhooks... #Eurovision

Oh, #Poland too suffering a really low score. Again, deserving much better. #Eurovision

Really undeserved low score for #Malta - they deserved much better. #Eurovision

Lots of zero/low scores from the public vote - suggests a consolidation of points across fewer countries. If Israel top this, it's surely going to be *extremely* problematic. #Eurovision

Oh... Never mind! #Eurovision #NilPoints

Time for some public vote points? Please? #Eurovision

The Boy is getting rather frustrated with our score - can't get through to him not to take it so seriously! This is all part of the fun! #Eurovision

Results time! Here we go! #Eurovision

Me, I've got wine and crisps to push me through! #Eurovision

Graham starting to sound like he's losing the will to carry on! #Eurovision

Tad busy... #Eurovision

I miss hearing Graham Norton on the phone when calling in to vote. Online just isn't the same. #Eurovision

My votes:

1= Poland (x3)
1= Malta (x3)
2 Sweden (x2)
3= Finland (x1)
3= Bulgaria (x1)

#Eurovision

Bill Bailey's "Kraftwerk" Hokey-Cokey comes to mind #Austria #Eurovision

The dancer is 57? If I danced like that now at 44 I'd have a heart attack! #Eurovision #Italy

"They dress like that because they're in an arena and get hot" - still some innocence with The Boy #Eurovision

I like it #Sweden, but another big dance song? #Eurovision

#Lithuania - take me to your leader #Eurovision

Poland putting the effort in with a decent song - brilliant #Poland #Eurovision

What country are they singing about? I didn't quite catch it! #Moldova #Eurovision

I do rather like our entry. It won't win of course, but it's fun. The Boy loves it and is near convinced it's a winner... no. #Eurovision

This song is never leaving my head! Bangaranga Banger! #Bulgaria #Eurovision

Why rely on a remote camera? The same problem as last year for Switzerland. #Eurovision #Czechia

#Malta leaning in to Portugal's 2017 winner - and it still works! #Eurovision

Slowed down Lordi by #Serbia #Eurovision

So, what happens if Oz wins? Stupidly early in the morning event in Australia, or does it come back to the UK again? #Eurovision

Break presentation provided with assistance from BB8 #Eurovision

And now the takeaway arrives and I have the dillema of balancing a plate, laptop, and scoresheet on the same tiny table! #Eurovision

Greece going for the trippy-cheesy vibe, in the same pot as Windows95Man and Go-Jo #Eurovision

Albania's start sounds suspiciously like Madonna's "Like a Prayer" #Eurovision

Belgian artist struggled to find matching boots! #Eurovision #Belgium

Scores done for Israel's entry before it starts... a big fat zero!
#Eurovision

Twenty minutes in, and we're *finally* underway! #Eurovision

Seventy years is mad - feels about five years ago they were celebrating fifty years! #Eurovision

Settling in for the #Eurovision final - scoresheets at the ready, Indian takeaway on the way, wine ready to keep me going a bit later.

Man "run over by a van"; "the van failed to stop" - it's not just the journalists at fault for this human-removing language; the police do it too. That van did not do this attack by itself. Also, don't ever tell me the flag-flying was not a fascist act of hate and division.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/15/man-hit-by-van-birmingham-residents-take-down-union-flags-put-up-by-anti-migrant-group

Just written to my MP on the extremely urgent subject of electoral reform. The two-party system is dead and FPTP is not fit for purpose. If Labour doesn't bring in PR now, it is putting the country at genuine risk in the next election.

https://fiets.uk/2026-05-11/letter-to-mp-the-uks-electoral-system/
#JodieGoslingMP #ProportionalRepresentation #UKPolitcs #UKLabour

Voting is done, and that's the important thing - but sadly likely no #BikesAtPollingStations pictures anymore from me. Since moving, the polling station is too nearby to bother with the bike. #LocalElections2026

Thought it was all over - but we're in for a decider for the first time since 2002! Come on Shaun! #Snooker #WorldSnookerChampionship

Come on Shaun! #Snooker #WorldSnookerChampionship

A nice, if very windy, ride at lunchtime today - one of those rare rides where everyone was patient and behaved themselves, coupled with a delightful spring day. That should've made it entirely stress free - but my goodness those potholes are getting extremely tiresome. #UKCycling #Cycling

Survey for Warwickshire people - cross-pavement EV charging is a bad idea, further surrendering and cementing the notion of ownership of public space, and introducing new failure points for pavements. Tensions over "parking in my spot" can already be high. This will make it much worse.

https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/7553/residents-asked-for-views-on-cross-pavement-ev-charging

#ElectricVehicles #EVCharging

📣 Exciting News 📣 #Nuneaton may be about to get its first School Street! #WarwickshireCountyCouncil has said that it's in the planning stages for a new scheme at Chetwynd Junior School/Caroline Close, after the success of its first trial at Eastlands Primary in Rugby!

#SchoolStreets #ActiveTravel

https://fiets.uk/2025-07-03/is-nuneaton-about-to-get-its-first-school-street

The Boy (and me) has just discovered that a number of Vitality Blast matches are shown on YouTube, including this evenings Bears v Yorkshire match. Never getting the TV back now! #Cricket #VitalityBlast #Twenty20 #BirminghamBears #WarwickshireCCC

Diverting pedestrians because of works closing a path? Be sure to teach them how to cross a quiet residential road. Don't worry about telling drivers to look out for extra foot traffic.

Regent Street, #Nuneaton: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XAJ3nESJeZYbccz36

#WarwickshireCountyCouncil #MUAElectricity #MUAGroup

A near clean sweep for Reform here in #Nuneaton + #Bedworth with a complete wipe-out of Conservative councillors for the borough. Seems clear people had lost faith in the old Tory administration but those mindful to vote simply switched their shade of blue.

#LE2025 #LocalElections2025