Report in the Gazette today: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/junior-struck-off-over-stolen-bike-insurance-claim/5127700.article

Some Redditors will know the bloke. The chap might even read this.

I then read the SDT judgement. You’ll find it here: https://solicitorstribunal.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/12863-2025-Ferguson-1.pdf

I can’t reconcile the SDT’s statement that the solicitor was not ‘inherently dishonest’ with a finding of dishonesty. I’ve no doubt that the bloke was an idiot and I think he acted in a moment of madness caused by the particular circumstances. I can’t help but feel that in the particular circumstances of this case - important, that - this is a very harsh, severe, decision, the Tribunal seems to have been determined to strike off and then used tortuous logic to justify it. Striking off is awful, the ink barely dry on his practising certificate. I feel very sorry for him.

Just wondering what other professional lawyers think.

Some of you will think I’m a bit insane… but I like to plan ahead. I’ve had a magnificent display of cone flowers this year, and next year I’d like more. So I got some seeds from Yorkshire Seeds - pink and red echinacea. I planted them today. Hoping for great things🌸🌸🌸

Pan fydd gwynt ar y môr… yn Y Bermo heno🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😊

I’ve been in London a few days and as I was wandering around the lovely Finsbury Circus Gardens (just off Moorgate) I saw these. It’s commonly known as ‘Jack Pye weed’. I think they’re beautiful. The City of London Corporation maintains the gardens, they had planted them with echinops, monarda, verbena, coneflowers, and pink gaura. I thought it looked stunning. And it was growing well in the shade of huge plane trees. So on the train home today I did some research, and discovered that they’re frost-hardy (essential for where I live) and so I have ordered some seeds. Has anyone grown eupatorium from seed, any advice please?

Lots of water and TLC🌸🌸

I did one of the junctions I absolutely hate today. It’s the junction of the B4407 from Pentrefoelas with the B4391, which runs from the A4212 above Bala to Llan Ffestiniog. It’s in the Arenig mountains in north Wales, and truly in the middle of nowhere. See pic from Streetview, only that downhill is MUCH steeper than it looks in the pic. And the visibility either way isn’t good. I wanted to turn right to Ffestiniog.

Knowing that it was coming, I was tensing up. There was no traffic behind me and to my shame I pulled over in a small parking area on the left just behind the camera and babied the bike down the hill on my feet. My mate had gone ahead and was waiting for me in that small parking area directly opposite, wetting himself at my total incompetence and ineptitude. I have this mental block about the junction, thinking ‘self you’re going to drop it…’ I hate stopping downhill.

So… any tips on how to approach steep downhill junctions properly without having to jam on the brakes and drop the bike?

It’s very unusual to have 30C+ in north Wales, but today it was 32C. Here’s my bike on the fabulous road between Ruthin and Cerrigydrudion today. The views are fabulous😎😎😎 and next, Ffynnon Eidda, one of many Welsh holy wells, this one is in the middle of nowhere between Bala and Ysbyty Ifan. Then went on to the Lakeside Café in Blaenau Ffestiniog and then for a cold beer at the Waterloo Hotel in Betws-y-Coed.

Well it never really stops here (Gwynedd). I was over in my other home in Shrewsbury, the single carriageway part of the A5 at Montford Bridge had a slow procession of them, refusing to move to the left to let me get past. Now I used to tow a caravan and never drove like that - I’d always pull slightly to the left so faster traffic could overtake safely. TFMs… total fucking morons. And the dualled bit of the A5, more fucking caravans, tractors with slurry tankers, milk wagons, bloody horse boxes… ugh.

Pic of bike at Ruyton-XI-Towns, just for attention. Ruyton-XI-Towns. What a name🤣 Mae’n ddoniol iawn (that means: it’s very funny)🤣🤣 and people think Welsh place names are silly🤣🤣🤣

You have no idea how happy I am😊 For all sorts of reasons life got in the way… so you’ll laugh but this is my first real attempt at growing runner beans. It brings me straight back to my childhood in South London 60 years ago, I have vivid memories of my mum digging a trench and digging out the manure to fill it, from a heap she had started 2 or 3 years before, and then backfilling the trench. She grew seeds in pots on the kitchen windowsill, and then oh the excitement of planting them😊 of course I was a willing helper, well I thought I was, but as a 6 year old I probably just got in the way🤣 and then the excitement of watching them grow up the canes. And picking them😎 So today is for you mum, I haven’t forgotten what you taught me. I’m hoping for a bumper crop😊😊 One of life’s greatest lessons… never forget where you came from😊 I haven’t😊

I had major knee surgery and couldn’t bend my knee, I couldn’t get my foot on the peg, or change gear, still less hold the weight of the bike. It’s now healed up nicely… and what a lovely day for a ride🌞 I didn’t want to go too far in case it flared up, so just around the town (Shrewsbury). It’s great to be back😊😊😊