The final jobs:
* Put up curtain pole and hang curtains - done
* Buy furniture - did that yesterday, so next Saturday we can expect a delivery of a wardrobe, small chest of drawers and a bed side cabinet
* Build beds and other flat pack furniture - beds built, waiting on furniture being delivered Saturday 21st February
* Make the beds ready for guests - done!
Looks much more like a comfortable spare room ready for guests. Don't think we will do B'n'B though (well not yet anyway).
Sunday 15 February 2015
Honda XL700VA-A Transalp - update 5
Thought it was about time I posted some more up-to-date pictures of my Honda XL700 Transalp, so here they are:
Topbox, panniers and heated grips make it a practical tourer
MRA Vario touring screen and Bark Buster hand guards for my protection
Centre and side stand for practicality during servicing
Crash bars to protect the bike in the event of an off
Ram mount for GPS SatNav and waterproof case for mobile phone
To power everything there are twin power sockets tucked in behind the screen and after market mirrors are much smarter that the tatty standard mirrors. In total the bike has now done 18,250 miles which means that I have doubled the mileage in the 2 years I have owned it.
Topbox, panniers and heated grips make it a practical tourer
MRA Vario touring screen and Bark Buster hand guards for my protection
Centre and side stand for practicality during servicing
Crash bars to protect the bike in the event of an off
Ram mount for GPS SatNav and waterproof case for mobile phone
To power everything there are twin power sockets tucked in behind the screen and after market mirrors are much smarter that the tatty standard mirrors. In total the bike has now done 18,250 miles which means that I have doubled the mileage in the 2 years I have owned it.
Thursday 12 February 2015
Beds
New beds arrived late today, a pair of wooden single beds finished in white. Tomorrow I will assemble them and make them up. Looking forward to it. Nudging closer to completing the spare bedroom.
Monday 9 February 2015
Honda XL700VA-A Transalp - uodate 4
Saturday I took my Honda Transalp back to CMC at Daybrook, Nottingham, for it's annual service. When I phoned to book the service I reminded them that they had said the air filter would need changing this time. However, on arrival they had no record of my request and said that it was a 12,000 mile service item so I pointed out that it was them that said it wasn't done at the last service and would need doing this time around. Soon after the bike was up on the ramp I am called over to have a listen to a ticking noise which they said was the plug caps tracking and breaking down - so I said that it was the same noise (only louder) that they had concerns about at the previous service but were then unable to explain. So it needed new plug caps, but they didn't have any, nor did they have an air filter - do you notice a pattern building here?
Next up, I am advised that at 20,000 miles it should have the valve clearances checked and a full fluid change - estimated at £350. Had I been advised of this when I booked the service? Er, No! And I didn't have the budget to do it this visit. So they set about the rest of the service, with one spark plug removed the bodywork all has to be removed to remove the other (front cylinder). I checked the plug and said to leave it and I'd do it when the plug caps and air filter were done as it was in fine shape and not in need of replacement.
I went for a walk up to their showroom and finding a quiet spot I rang Bob Minion Motorcycles, my local Honda dealer in Derby. Yes, they had plug caps in stock. Returning to the service side I then had to wait while a guy took longer to clean my bike that the service monkey had taken to perform 'the service'. On the way home I called into Minion's and got the plug caps and had a chat with Gavin who runs the workshop - the brake fluid change is a 4hr service item, the valve check isn't really necessary and the air filter is something they change every 8,000 miles because of the fuel savings a clean filter returns. Anyway, once I have found out how to remove the bodywork, me and my mate Phil will be doing the valve check, replace the ari filter and spark plugs and their caps. Gavin gets to do the brake fluid change.
Am I going to use CMC servicing again? In a word, No!
Next up, I am advised that at 20,000 miles it should have the valve clearances checked and a full fluid change - estimated at £350. Had I been advised of this when I booked the service? Er, No! And I didn't have the budget to do it this visit. So they set about the rest of the service, with one spark plug removed the bodywork all has to be removed to remove the other (front cylinder). I checked the plug and said to leave it and I'd do it when the plug caps and air filter were done as it was in fine shape and not in need of replacement.
I went for a walk up to their showroom and finding a quiet spot I rang Bob Minion Motorcycles, my local Honda dealer in Derby. Yes, they had plug caps in stock. Returning to the service side I then had to wait while a guy took longer to clean my bike that the service monkey had taken to perform 'the service'. On the way home I called into Minion's and got the plug caps and had a chat with Gavin who runs the workshop - the brake fluid change is a 4hr service item, the valve check isn't really necessary and the air filter is something they change every 8,000 miles because of the fuel savings a clean filter returns. Anyway, once I have found out how to remove the bodywork, me and my mate Phil will be doing the valve check, replace the ari filter and spark plugs and their caps. Gavin gets to do the brake fluid change.
Am I going to use CMC servicing again? In a word, No!
Thursday 5 February 2015
Bedroom redecorated
Yes, the job is done, redecorating is complete.
Final jobs:
* Put up curtain pole and hang curtains
* Buy furniture
* Build beds and other flat pack furniture
* Make the beds ready for guests
Looks good, I am well happy with the result, as is Suzie.
Final jobs:
* Put up curtain pole and hang curtains
* Buy furniture
* Build beds and other flat pack furniture
* Make the beds ready for guests
Looks good, I am well happy with the result, as is Suzie.
Tuesday 3 February 2015
Honda XL700VA-A Transalp - 2 years on
Yup, its two years since I took ownership of my Honda XL700 Transalp. To mark the occasion the dealer who sold me the bike, CMC in Daybrook, Nottingham, sent me a reminder that it was due an annual service which is now booked for this coming Saturday morning. Also, the lender has written to advise me that the final payment is due on 7th February - after which it will truly be mine and I will be debt free. That is a great feeling.
Now some friends have suggested that I should trade the Transalp in for something newer / bigger / different / whatever saying that as I have been paying out monthly and I am used to servicing a debt of that nature, that I wouldn't notice it if I continued as I have been. My response is that I am happy with the Transalp and don't see a need to replace it and that I want to enjoy being debt free for a while. Maybe next year I will change, maybe.
Now some friends have suggested that I should trade the Transalp in for something newer / bigger / different / whatever saying that as I have been paying out monthly and I am used to servicing a debt of that nature, that I wouldn't notice it if I continued as I have been. My response is that I am happy with the Transalp and don't see a need to replace it and that I want to enjoy being debt free for a while. Maybe next year I will change, maybe.
Progress update 2
Time for another progress update against my targets for 2015:
1) The decorating - have now fitted the light switch and wall power sockets (x3 twin plug). Edging strip for the laminate floor has been bonded to the skirting board. Just a 2nd gloss coat to go onto the window sill (probably later today) and the curtain rail to be fitted. That's it, job done.
2) Renewed my passport in readiness for our trip to Italy. It came through in just 2 weeks which really surprised as we had heard some dire warnings of it taking 3 months - Oh no it doesn't.
3) Canada trip - our itinerary is looking pretty good and very close to being finalised, just need to pre-book a couple of ferry crossings and some excursions/activities.
4) New entry - IDP (International Driving Permit) - I've decided that I'll get one of these 'just in case' so a trip to the Post Office is called for. Should be fairly straightforward.
Other things on my original list like new shed, garden path in back garden and front rockery have all been sidelined while the weather is typical British winter with zero degrees centigrade, snow and ice. It can wait until spring gets here. Likewise, planning for a trip into Europe has seen no real progress, but there is plenty of time to sort that out.
How are others doing? Well Andy has passed his Motorbike Theory Test so is one step closer to getting a motorbike license. Mark has been decorating their 'study room / office' so that Eleanor has somewhere to study and Mark somewhere to 'work from home' should the need arise but no progress on the water supply, kitchen / bathroom remodelling.
So that is it for this update, back again soon.
1) The decorating - have now fitted the light switch and wall power sockets (x3 twin plug). Edging strip for the laminate floor has been bonded to the skirting board. Just a 2nd gloss coat to go onto the window sill (probably later today) and the curtain rail to be fitted. That's it, job done.
2) Renewed my passport in readiness for our trip to Italy. It came through in just 2 weeks which really surprised as we had heard some dire warnings of it taking 3 months - Oh no it doesn't.
3) Canada trip - our itinerary is looking pretty good and very close to being finalised, just need to pre-book a couple of ferry crossings and some excursions/activities.
4) New entry - IDP (International Driving Permit) - I've decided that I'll get one of these 'just in case' so a trip to the Post Office is called for. Should be fairly straightforward.
Other things on my original list like new shed, garden path in back garden and front rockery have all been sidelined while the weather is typical British winter with zero degrees centigrade, snow and ice. It can wait until spring gets here. Likewise, planning for a trip into Europe has seen no real progress, but there is plenty of time to sort that out.
How are others doing? Well Andy has passed his Motorbike Theory Test so is one step closer to getting a motorbike license. Mark has been decorating their 'study room / office' so that Eleanor has somewhere to study and Mark somewhere to 'work from home' should the need arise but no progress on the water supply, kitchen / bathroom remodelling.
So that is it for this update, back again soon.
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