Saturday was a busy day, but most important on the day's 'to do list' was the annual visit to Smalley Cross Scooter Centre for the MoT check. This was the 9th such visit to SMSC since I rang them in a panic when I discovered that the Deauville I then owned had ran out its MoT and II needed to re-tax it that day. Mr C Hendry the MoT tester was there and ready for me even though I was 15 minutes early for my appointment, and as has become customary, I was allowed to assist when it came to flicking switches and moving the bike around and stood back out of the way drinking the mug of tea kindly provided by one of the younger staff members. The tally of miles since the last inspection was just over 5,250 since the previous visit so there was always that doubt at the back of my mind.
The end result... a pass, with no advisories suitably reflecting my care and maintenance regime and allowing the bike to be used out there on the Queen's highways and byways. Magic!
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
Thursday, 14 August 2014
Excited
Anticipation... sometimes nervous, sometimes exciting. This time around it is the later as tomorrow afternoon I take delivery of the blue Mazda6 saloon pictured in the previous post.
That will give me a week to adjust to it ahead of a weekend trip to West Mersea, departing next Thursday evening to stay with Suzie's aunt and uncle, taking them to the Clacton-on-Sea air show and visiting some old friends in the area, maybe some family too depending on what they are up to.
Can't wait!
That will give me a week to adjust to it ahead of a weekend trip to West Mersea, departing next Thursday evening to stay with Suzie's aunt and uncle, taking them to the Clacton-on-Sea air show and visiting some old friends in the area, maybe some family too depending on what they are up to.
Can't wait!
Sunday, 10 August 2014
Busy times
Blimey, my last post was back in June and here we are in the middle of August. No excuses, we have just been very busy. So whar has been going on?
The back garden was full of established (read 25 year old) shrubs, bushes and Leylandi. Well they have all gone bar the dwarf Cherry tree and a Wygelia bush.
Slabs removes and hardcore rolled in gets transformed...
We had the old slabs that fulfilled the role of patio taken up, along with part of the lower lawn and textured / coloured concrete laid. That had meant a lot of time doing some creative gardening with a raised flower bed and seeding grass. In turn that has meant several trips to DIY centres and garden centres to purchase appropriate materials and flowers/plants. It is starting to look good now, though there is still a final phase to be done which includes laying slabs as a base for a new shed (12' × 8') then buying and erecting that in time for the guys from BestCrete to come back and play the path to the shed joining it to the patio bit they've already done.
Into this patio with raised flowerbeds.
Then mother has had a 'cataract' operation on each eye in turn so that she no longer needs contact lenses. She has had the all clear on the left eye and hopefully will get the same on the right in 10 days time.
I have had a recurrence of my hip/back problems that are the result of a motorbike accident I had 37 years ago, so I have been under a physio for the last 5 weeks - on going.
Thankfully, but also worryingly, my work has been slack. No redundancy this time though and starting this week I am back to working 3 days a week on client site. Just as well because the little Volvo is showing signs of needing major expenditure over and above it's value, so yesterday I put down the deposit on a Mazda6 which I pick up later this week.
Volvo - soon on its way to a new home...
Soon to be mine - Mazda6 saloon 2.5 litre petrol engine...
Of course there has been loads of other stuff, like last weekend when Suzie and I drove down to Staines and put in the skirting board and laminate flooring in the hallway of Mark and Eleanor's home. Hopefully it will give them a much needed boost to get on with other work that needs doing.
From ancient bare floor boards to this in 1 weekend - not a bad effort.
So, I failed to find time to update the blog, but that has now been rectified, and there is more to come...
The back garden was full of established (read 25 year old) shrubs, bushes and Leylandi. Well they have all gone bar the dwarf Cherry tree and a Wygelia bush.
Slabs removes and hardcore rolled in gets transformed...
We had the old slabs that fulfilled the role of patio taken up, along with part of the lower lawn and textured / coloured concrete laid. That had meant a lot of time doing some creative gardening with a raised flower bed and seeding grass. In turn that has meant several trips to DIY centres and garden centres to purchase appropriate materials and flowers/plants. It is starting to look good now, though there is still a final phase to be done which includes laying slabs as a base for a new shed (12' × 8') then buying and erecting that in time for the guys from BestCrete to come back and play the path to the shed joining it to the patio bit they've already done.
Into this patio with raised flowerbeds.
Then mother has had a 'cataract' operation on each eye in turn so that she no longer needs contact lenses. She has had the all clear on the left eye and hopefully will get the same on the right in 10 days time.
I have had a recurrence of my hip/back problems that are the result of a motorbike accident I had 37 years ago, so I have been under a physio for the last 5 weeks - on going.
Thankfully, but also worryingly, my work has been slack. No redundancy this time though and starting this week I am back to working 3 days a week on client site. Just as well because the little Volvo is showing signs of needing major expenditure over and above it's value, so yesterday I put down the deposit on a Mazda6 which I pick up later this week.
Volvo - soon on its way to a new home...
Soon to be mine - Mazda6 saloon 2.5 litre petrol engine...
Of course there has been loads of other stuff, like last weekend when Suzie and I drove down to Staines and put in the skirting board and laminate flooring in the hallway of Mark and Eleanor's home. Hopefully it will give them a much needed boost to get on with other work that needs doing.
From ancient bare floor boards to this in 1 weekend - not a bad effort.
So, I failed to find time to update the blog, but that has now been rectified, and there is more to come...
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Yet more American muscle
Thought you might like a few more pictures of American motors taken during our trip to Georgia USA back in March...
Corvette
Another older Corvette.
Another older Corvette.
Real muscle from 1957.
Modern muscle car, a newer model year Firebird.
Made in Ireland, the DeLorean.
The Tallahassee Automobile Museum was where we found this lovely example of American motors was a treasure trove of all kinds of collectables, golf clubs, Bat Man memorabilia including Bat Mobiles and the caped crusader's motorbike. A number of motorbikes, motorboats, outboard motors, guns large and small to name a few of the displays. Well worth a visit.
Corvette
Another older Corvette.
Another older Corvette.
Real muscle from 1957.
Modern muscle car, a newer model year Firebird.
Made in Ireland, the DeLorean.
The Tallahassee Automobile Museum was where we found this lovely example of American motors was a treasure trove of all kinds of collectables, golf clubs, Bat Man memorabilia including Bat Mobiles and the caped crusader's motorbike. A number of motorbikes, motorboats, outboard motors, guns large and small to name a few of the displays. Well worth a visit.
Thundersprint 2014
My friends Phil & Dave went to Thundersprint 2014 and sent me a few photos that I thought I'd share them...
Remember these? BSA Bantam.
Yamaha RD400.
More BSAs.
Ready to race.
Remember these? BSA Bantam.
Yamaha RD400.
More BSAs.
Ready to race.
Friday, 30 May 2014
More motors from USA
Thought you might like it if I shared a few more automobile pictures taken during our trip to Georgia USA back in March...
Shame about the rope in the foreground, otherwise a nice Ford GT40.
A brace Ford GT40s.
Remember the Prowler?
Real muscle, Pontiac GTO.
More muscle - Firebird.
More muscle - another Firebird.
Smokey and The Bandit, anyone?
One outrageous Stingray
Same Stingray from another angle
Shame about the rope in the foreground, otherwise a nice Ford GT40.
A brace Ford GT40s.
Remember the Prowler?
Real muscle, Pontiac GTO.
More muscle - Firebird.
More muscle - another Firebird.
Smokey and The Bandit, anyone?
One outrageous Stingray
Same Stingray from another angle
Monday, 26 May 2014
Europe votes - Oh dear...
The votes are in and counted and now come the complaints about UKIP being the biggest winners in the UK. So whats my position on this?
Well, if you didn't want UKIP to win then you should have voted. Apathy is the biggest problem with politics. Overall UK turnout was 33.8%, down slightly on last time which means that roughly 66% or 2/3rds of all people eligible to vote just didn't bother. I am reminded of the favourite quotation: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" - Edmund Burke
It is no good whingeing that you don't like the result if you couldn't be arsed to join in and cast your vote. However, if you did vote, well done, but the party you voted for hasn't managed to enthuse and motivate its supporters, so go chasing them get them voting and get us out of this mess.
For a party with just 2 policies - (1) get the UK out of Europe's farcical membership of the EEC, and (2) Curb immigration from within the EEC - this glorious result, but why did 27.5% of all those that voted put their cross against UKIP? The two main parties (Conservatives and Labour, just in case you are out of touch or unsure) spent most of their campaigning verbally lambasting UKIP. The public love an underdog, and if 2 big boys gang up on a little 'man in the street' guy then he is the one that will get their vote. UKIP didn't need to campaign, Cameron and Miliband did it for them.
Then there's the unrelenting release of statistical information from Westminster (via the Office for National Statistics or whatever they are calling themselves today) to show that government policies are working, immigration is coming down. Except, that at the end of the quarterly review all the earlier releases were a pack of lies and everything is still going to hell in a hand cart, the government cannot meet its own (too high) targets and nothing that Eric Pickles (Chief Liar on behalf of one Mr D Cameron) can say or do will change that this year or any subsequent years.
Then, as the BBC's Gavin Hewitt reports:
"The people have spoken loud and clear," a triumphant Marine Le Pen told cheering supporters at National Front (FN) party headquarters in Paris. "They no longer want to be led by those outside our borders, by EU commissioners and technocrats who are unelected. They want to be protected from globalisation and take back the reins of their destiny."
I could not have put it better myself.
And then there was the Lib Dems and Nick Clegg who got into the coalition with David Cameron on the back of his promising at the last election to oppose any increase in tuition fees, then in September 2012 he apologised, saying: "We made a pledge, we did not stick to it, and for that I am sorry." Well he will be sorry now as he and his party are no longer the 3rd party in UK politics - students don't support broken promises.
There are so many other reasons why I can think that people voted UKIP. The biggest upset in UK politics since 19010 - let us just hope something good comes of last week's voting.
Well, if you didn't want UKIP to win then you should have voted. Apathy is the biggest problem with politics. Overall UK turnout was 33.8%, down slightly on last time which means that roughly 66% or 2/3rds of all people eligible to vote just didn't bother. I am reminded of the favourite quotation: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" - Edmund Burke
It is no good whingeing that you don't like the result if you couldn't be arsed to join in and cast your vote. However, if you did vote, well done, but the party you voted for hasn't managed to enthuse and motivate its supporters, so go chasing them get them voting and get us out of this mess.
For a party with just 2 policies - (1) get the UK out of Europe's farcical membership of the EEC, and (2) Curb immigration from within the EEC - this glorious result, but why did 27.5% of all those that voted put their cross against UKIP? The two main parties (Conservatives and Labour, just in case you are out of touch or unsure) spent most of their campaigning verbally lambasting UKIP. The public love an underdog, and if 2 big boys gang up on a little 'man in the street' guy then he is the one that will get their vote. UKIP didn't need to campaign, Cameron and Miliband did it for them.
Then there's the unrelenting release of statistical information from Westminster (via the Office for National Statistics or whatever they are calling themselves today) to show that government policies are working, immigration is coming down. Except, that at the end of the quarterly review all the earlier releases were a pack of lies and everything is still going to hell in a hand cart, the government cannot meet its own (too high) targets and nothing that Eric Pickles (Chief Liar on behalf of one Mr D Cameron) can say or do will change that this year or any subsequent years.
Then, as the BBC's Gavin Hewitt reports:
"The people have spoken loud and clear," a triumphant Marine Le Pen told cheering supporters at National Front (FN) party headquarters in Paris. "They no longer want to be led by those outside our borders, by EU commissioners and technocrats who are unelected. They want to be protected from globalisation and take back the reins of their destiny."
I could not have put it better myself.
And then there was the Lib Dems and Nick Clegg who got into the coalition with David Cameron on the back of his promising at the last election to oppose any increase in tuition fees, then in September 2012 he apologised, saying: "We made a pledge, we did not stick to it, and for that I am sorry." Well he will be sorry now as he and his party are no longer the 3rd party in UK politics - students don't support broken promises.
There are so many other reasons why I can think that people voted UKIP. The biggest upset in UK politics since 19010 - let us just hope something good comes of last week's voting.
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Historic Cars USA
Sunday morning 23rd March we were in Georgia with my sister's youngest Nate driving us round meeting family including Simeon, known locally as SM. On the way back on the highway to Twin Lakes I spotted a local historic car meet in Dasher. Nate pulled over and turned round so here are the pictures...
A nice clean little T-bucket hot rod.
T-bucket engine.
The interior.
The T-bucket from the front.
Behind the T-bucket the owners lounge in a gazebo.
My sister looking in at the interior - I can't remember what it is.
Same motor, different view.
From the other side.
From the other side with sister behind.
Cobra Mustang - well someone has to love them.
A nice 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air.
Again from another angle.
The Bel Air interior - a shame about the furry dice.
I have to admit to a having a bit of a soft spot for these Jeeps, especially in as good condition as this one.
Old police car.
This Buick was gorgeous.
So I just had to get into the picture.
The wooden bed in the back of this pick-up was superb.
Just as clean under the hood.
Not many cars but so obviously a local meeting of friends of a like mind with a few lovely cars. I am so glad Nate turned around for us.
A nice clean little T-bucket hot rod.
T-bucket engine.
The interior.
The T-bucket from the front.
Behind the T-bucket the owners lounge in a gazebo.
My sister looking in at the interior - I can't remember what it is.
Same motor, different view.
From the other side.
From the other side with sister behind.
Cobra Mustang - well someone has to love them.
A nice 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air.
Again from another angle.
The Bel Air interior - a shame about the furry dice.
I have to admit to a having a bit of a soft spot for these Jeeps, especially in as good condition as this one.
Old police car.
This Buick was gorgeous.
So I just had to get into the picture.
The wooden bed in the back of this pick-up was superb.
Just as clean under the hood.
Not many cars but so obviously a local meeting of friends of a like mind with a few lovely cars. I am so glad Nate turned around for us.
Friday, 4 April 2014
Jackie's 1956 Beetle
Jackie is Margi's husband and Marji is Wayne's sister and Wayne is married to my sister - that's not complicated! Kept for special occasions it is definitely not a daily driver, but is lovingly cherished and costs just $200 a year to run (tax, insurance, fuel and servicing - everything, all in) but remember, fuel is only $3.55 for a US gallon.
Nicely restored 1956 Beetle is as old as me but in better condition.
Used to earn the odd dollar as a wedding car.
The man himself with his car.
The original plate that was on the car, but changed due to new state rules.
You may spot the 'Just Married' transfer in the rear window as Jackie had done a wedding the previous week. The car didn't sparkle as we were assured it normally did for the simple reason that it is under a car port and had gathered a covering or dust and pollen in the few days it had been parked up.
We spent a lovely evening with Jackie and Marji which we thoroughly enjoyed. Hope we can get back there again sometime.
Nicely restored 1956 Beetle is as old as me but in better condition.
Used to earn the odd dollar as a wedding car.
The man himself with his car.
The original plate that was on the car, but changed due to new state rules.
You may spot the 'Just Married' transfer in the rear window as Jackie had done a wedding the previous week. The car didn't sparkle as we were assured it normally did for the simple reason that it is under a car port and had gathered a covering or dust and pollen in the few days it had been parked up.
We spent a lovely evening with Jackie and Marji which we thoroughly enjoyed. Hope we can get back there again sometime.
Love America
Just a quick post to say that Suzie & I spent a lovely extended week with my sister Christine and her family in Twin Lakes near Valdosta in Georgia, USA and we loved it. Fabulous place and some lovely people. While there we met some of her husband Wayne's family including his father SM and sister Marji and her husband Jackie, and there will be some picture to follow just as soon as I get them off the cameras and sorted (yes, I did say cameras, a Canon IXUS 110, a Fujifilm F550EXR, a Panasonic FZ150 plus the 2 Galaxy S2 mobile phones - one can't have too many cameras).
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Ride to work
Joy of joys, today dawned chilly but bright and promising a better day, so with a commute to Sheffield on the cards it was a case of pulling the bike out of the shed and being brave but not foolish on the greasy roads. Care on the corners and roundabouts and making progress north on the M1 resulted in a good 1hr 10 minute commute time (it is regularly 1 hr 30 mins or more in the car).
Best bit, coming home. The day had stayed dry and bright so the roads were excellent and the return time matched the outbound morning trip - less time on the motorway but same journey time due to the shorter trip. What a great way to commute! All those frustrated car drivers should get out of their boxes and onto 2 wheels, preferably with a V-twin engine.
Best bit, coming home. The day had stayed dry and bright so the roads were excellent and the return time matched the outbound morning trip - less time on the motorway but same journey time due to the shorter trip. What a great way to commute! All those frustrated car drivers should get out of their boxes and onto 2 wheels, preferably with a V-twin engine.
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Congratulations & Commiserations
Phil - the man in the Suzuki Jimny a few posts down had his 61st birthday yesterday.
This morning he had an early call from the residential home where his mother has been these last few months - she passed away at 4:15 this morning.
The thoughts of our family are with Phil and Jane and family at this sad time.
This morning he had an early call from the residential home where his mother has been these last few months - she passed away at 4:15 this morning.
The thoughts of our family are with Phil and Jane and family at this sad time.
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