Panchen Lama Birthday Campaign
Tomorrow, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will be 14 years old. He will have spent eight years being held by the Chinese authorities because of who he is.

In 1995, he was just six years old when following his recognition as the 11th Panchen Lama (Panchen Lama is a title like Vice-President or Prime Minister that Tibetans give to the second greatest leader of Tibet.) by the Dalai Lama, Gedhun and his family were abducted by the Chinese authorities. These same authorities were desperate to control the top Tibetan Buddhist positions as a means of combating the political dissent that emanated from the ranks of nuns and monks in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Despite requests from the UN and numerous governments, the Chinese authorities have so far refused to allow impartial international observers to meet with Gedhun and his family to check on their health and well-being. For more information on Tibet and related issues check out Free Tibet

On the road again
Got up early this morning (06.30) and got my bike out. I was gutted to see the state it was in. I bought it say 4 - 5 years ago and put 250 miles on its clock winter came in and I didn't get serious about it again. Now the GT after being in the shed for a few years is rusty, the tyres are flat and the gears need a service....... You know I always wanted a Kona and I'm coming 30 next month! Naaa maybe not.

A word of appreciation: - For the great night I had last night at Hugo & Sue Dales and for the great pleasure I took in watching Man Utd being stopped in their tracks with their obsession for European glory!!