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Good point on headphones being a bit rude. Will take them just in case, and a magazine. The artist seems really cool, so I guess she'll be good to chat to.

Not too concerned about the pain at the moment, nerves are more about the actual fact I'm getting inked! Dead excited though

Got a bag of Square Mile Jirmiwachu espresso ealier. Expensive, but soooo good. Chain drunk two cups of it just now and having to stop myself having another to prevent my head exploding.

Going in for my first ever tatt tomorrow... am a little nervous. Any tips for how to pass the time / take your mind off it? Was going to take my mp3 player and a magazine or something (it's going to take 2 - 3 hours apparently so I'm going to need some entertainment).

I've also heard that it's wise to take sugary stuff to eat drink - do any of you guys do this?

Everyone should go see Cult of Luna. I've seen them about 4 times now, and incredible each time. Their gig at the scala for Eternal Kingdom was the best gig I've ever been to I think. And the song they've 'released' from the new album sounds massive.

I'm definitely espressoing up my post ride chocolate Nesquick tomorrow. Might just stave off my apparently compulsory sofa siesta. I may actually get something done in the afternoon other than listening to Kermode & Mayo's podcast in the bath.

does the trick for sure. my head always feels a bit thrashed after a big ride and that normally sorts me out. along with numerous coffees throughout the rest of the day

great thread.

normally a banana, chocolate and espresso smoothie straight after getting in, then after a shower 3 or 4 scrambled eggs on toast depending how far i've gone

Anything involving eggs baked on top of other gooey substances is always ACE.

Olly, I will probably be stealing your recipe for the above. Made similar before but was more long-winded.

Definitely. Having not cycled since 3 months ago I decided to dust off the bike on New Years Day. It was cold, there were endless bank holiday queues of cars and it was a bit boring. Not to mention faffing about with clothes/equipment/maintenance. Fuck it.

I agree with this sentiment - it's partly what made me start running again when I was studying and had hardly any free time. New Year resolution is to get back on the bike and start using it for other than my commute though.

And Pifko - you're probably right about doing too many miles for a newbie, my body probably isn't used to the pounding yet. Thing is, my heart / lungs / legs can manage it at the time so I find it hard to hold back!

Went to Runners Need yesterday to get some new trainers to hopefully stop me ruining my groin / hip, and it turns out I mildly over-pronate, so was reccommended some Brooks Ravenna 3s, which I managed to pick up for just under £50 (half price). Really hope they help a bit. Felt really nice on my foot and don't look too stupid, which some running shoes can in my opinion.

I heel strike pretty hard too, but that probably has nowt to do with these recurring injuries.

Now just need to shake off the current groin strain or whatever it is, has been lingering for ages and is doing my head in....

Got my third gaggia classic since Xmas on saturday, and so far, so good - no problems with it (touch wood).

My shots are coming through pretty fast using the grind I've got at the moment, however, I find if i take the porlex to the next finest grind, the shots come through really really slow. Should I just be tamping the grind I've got at the moment a bit more / harder?

Anyone been to / know of people who've been / heard about happy sailor tattoo in Shoreditch? Thinking of going in for my first ever inking...

Does anyone want a hardback copy of Wiggo? I bought it when it came out, then got a copy with an inscription from dad for Christmas. My copy's in good condition. £5?

Aaarg balls, just got a delivery of this off amazon! Am gonna start it over the weekend, is it any good?

Gaggia Classic, 4 days new.

What's the deal with your GC Miss Mouse?

I sent mine back and am due for a delivery of a new one next week. Fingers, toes, legs and balls crossed this one works properly.

Sainsburys / Pifko / Smallfurry - thanks all. Regarding all your points:

I've wanted new shoes since I started running again so may spunk some cash on a shiny new pair - is getting a gait analysis worthwhile? Running shoes, like cycling shoes, are ridiculously expensive though.

I think my core is pretty strong, I do a lot of cycling and go to the gym, so don't think there's an issue there.

I do have a naturally very long stride as I'm pretty lanky, so may need to think about shortening it - don't really know how to change something that comes so naturally though!

GP didn't have a clue what it was when I got the same problem last time.

Looking at pics of the muscles in the groin, I think it may be the pectineus or adductor longus or brevis.

I don't think it's a hip flexor thing - the pain is lower down in my core / groin that the internet tells me it should be...

Injuries suck.

I went Flat Iron last night. I got the wagu and the gf had the standard flat iron, but were beautifully cooked and incredibly tender. I hadn't been to the popup before this and so had been hoping for a bigger cut, but given it was delicious I'm not complaining for a 10er.

I'm going there next Friday with a load of mates - will we need to book? Can you even book?

Help required please peeps...

I've only started running again in the last 3 or 4 months, but can fairly happily run 8 or 9 miles without feeling too nackered or aching the next day, so I don't think I'm pushing myself too hard. However, I do think my body is still getting used to the pounding element, having been pampered by cycling for so long. Twice in about 6 weeks I've pulled / sprained something in my groin (like, really high in my groin, kind of above the crown jewels) and can't work out what it is. It was on different sides each time.

I always stretch off before and after, which makes me think it may be my trainers or my stride / gait. I'm wearing some trainers I got about 4 years ago when I was into running, they're some that were reccommended after a gait analysis thing in the shop.

Do you reckon I need some new shoes?
Or could it be that I'm overstriding or something?
Or just that I have a shit groin?

Any pointers much appreciated, thanks in advance!

Since I moved to London from Chicago many years ago, I have consistently made fresh pizza on Saturdays for Mrs. Pharoah and the kids. As Dan Lepard in the Guarniad magazine this weekend had a method for a Chicago-style deep-dish pie, it brought back some memories and I thought I would have a go. So after mixing a pound of flour with some water and butter, adding in a pound of cheese, a pound of sausage, a few tins of tomato, result:

I didn't use his method since it looked more like a pizza than a pie, I went for this instead:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/chicago-style-deep-dish-pizza-recipe
I know some consider deep dish a sacrilege. Recommended, would eat again.

Looks superb. Just what most of us will need later after far too many beers. Isaw that recipe in't paper the other day and instantly wanted to make it.

How'd it turn out?

Steam wand works. I've now emailed customer care. Bad timing with bank holidays and the fact I'm going away in 3 days for a few weeks. Thanks for your assistance today matey.

i feel your pain. have to sort out replacing my second classic today, only got the first one on xmas day!

my nerves about getting another one have only been heightened by seeing that you're having problems too...

Sounds like you may have a faulty/sticky thermostat. I you've just bought the machine, then take it back if it's easy enough to.

If not, I'd personally try replacing the thermostat myself. Can't guarantee that being responsible, but it seems most likely.

No chance I'm fiddling with it, I'll probably accidentally turn it into a microwave or somethning.

I think it must be the thermometer / thermostat, as even when the lights been off for ages, it still chucks out loads of hot water. Think I'll get it replaced, the company I got it from are cool with doing returns etc, it's just the whole organising being around to take delivery etc which is a massive ball-ache.

To all GC owners - are they generally reliable once you've got them up and running? It's just that the first one I got had a cracked water tank, this one has a nackered thermostat.... it's not inspiring confidence in me I must admit...

Once a Gaggia is warmed up, the "brew ready" light will remain on, ie. ready to brew a drink. The light will switch off for about the seconds every few minutes to bring the temperature back up when the thermostat kicks in as it realises the water is too cold.

In brew mode, when then switching to steam mode (which basically just changes the thermostat threshold to a higher temperature), the "brew ready" will switch off again as the boiler has ha to switch on again to increases the temperature further. You need to flush the group in brew mode to drop the temperature back down to brew temperature when going from steam temperature to brew temperature.

You need to pay attention to the heating cycles in order to make consistent espresso.

thanks a lot dude. my light seems to turn off after it's been on once and i've done something with the water (i.e., run hot water through the basket) and then not come back on again even after waiting for ages. so i guess something is up with it... shite.

^^^ yeh, the fun is in the discovery for sure. i'm due to inherit some digital scales and a milk thermometer in the next week or so which will help things. i've been watching quite a few youtube vids on milk foaming etc, is quite a mission!

^ so, if the light is off when the boiler is on, it's correct that the light shouldn't be switching back on once it's reached temperature first time? or not?

^ ok, thanks. what i meant though is should the light come on again after the machine has first reached the correct temperature. i.e., if you run some water through the basket to heat it / clean it out once the temperature light is on, should that light be coming back on after a certain amount of time to indicate the temperature is correct again?

this is because the thermostat will switch on and off between a certain temperature range. a PID upgrade makes this range much smaller so it comes on and off more often, holding a more stable temperature

Right, thanks James - I'll look into the PID.

In general though, should the temperature light be coming back on to indicate that the water is back up to temperature before you use, for example, the steaming wand? I'm worried that there's something up with the machine. Or perhaps I'm not waiting long enough? I've given it a couple of minutes for the light to come back on and no luck - the instructions say it should only be around 20 secs.

Sorry for loads of questions...

With my gaggia, the temperature light comes on when it initially comes to temperature, but if you flush some water through the machine before pulling a shot, it doesn't come back on... similarly, it doesn't come on once you've flipped the steam switch. It seems from the instructions that this should happen in both instances. Am I wrong, or is something up with it?

I'd read an online guide first; apparently some versions of the manual lost a bit in translation and mine came with at least two addendums to the manual around initial set up and pump priming.

Get a normal double basket as the crema one supplied is weird and have a look at the OPV mod

Thanks dude. Unfortunately i've only just seen this having followed the slightly bewildering paper instructions, with, as you say, extra instructions scattered all over the place. One thing that really confused me was when it talks about changing the basket for the pod attachment etc. Although I'm using ground coffee, i tried to get the basket off so I could see what's going on, and I couldn't loosen the fitting. Either I'm being a fanny and not trying hard enough or an idiot and doing it wrong. Or a wonderful combination of the both.

Miss Mouse - yeh, got my milk jug too, just a bog standard one from Cream Supplies for about a fiver. Looks nice, and seems OK, but I guess it's very average in the grand scheme of things. And yes, people are welcome up to stokey for me to caffeinate to the max whilst I try to work out what I'm doing! Just made my first latte / cappucino / weird milky concoction and it tasted OK actually... How've you been getting on? I see you just got one of these gaggia beauties too?

Got to head out for a bit now, got an evening of being wired to look forward to. Can't wait!