Modern Vespa

Saw on the news tonight about the exchange of fire between Gaza and Israel. I hope our friend is OK.

I was wondering that, myself.

Pity more folks over in that area obviously don't ride scooters. If they did, they'd be a lot more laid back, and their differences would be solved with much more amusing methods. Like scooter jousting.

One can dream.

Me too.... I saw the news and my first thoughts went to Trepp. I hope he is okay.

We would have rocket powered scooters?

RAP I heard from him yesterday and he's ok. Spending time in a bomb shelter but otherwise alright. He and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. Might get ugly is what I'm thinking.

Glad to hear, I was thinking the same thing myself.

Thanks Judy!

Thanks for thinking of me and my family. We are all well and safe.

Sadly things will get much worse before they get better. I obviously have much to say on what is going on and why, but the rules of the forum sensibly (imho) prohibit further comment.

Bugger! He's suppose to sell arms not receive them.

It's not enough that I'm under fire, you want to out me as well? Nice!

Trepp,
Looks like your riding season might be over for a while. First your little mishap, now the missiles. I hope things get better very soon.
Stay safe

Hope you and your family stay safe and well

Mark

Best wishes to Trepp & family. Stay safe always.

Saw the photos in the newspaper this morning and instantly thought of you, Trepp. Here's hoping that all the good karma and energy from your good deeds finally makes it over to you and your family and you find some Peace and stability.

Keep your head down and your eyes wide open, my friend.

Thinking of you and your family, Trepp.

Mr. F

Glad you are safe. The first thing I thought about was your welfare. It is amazing how this forum gets us closer to areas (and people) we could never imagine.

May cooler heads prevail - soon.

Glad you're safe. Stay that way!

I hope there's room in there for his scooter.

Hope everything turns out OK.

Chin up old chap, I hope it calms down sooner rather than later...
Graham

Glad Trepp is ok...!

I have a friend (law professor at my university) who has been in Israel/Palestine for the past several weeks doing conflict resolution work. She was getting bombed where she was staying in Israel by homemade shells and Iranian made rockets being lobbed from Gaza and now she is with family/friends in Gaza getting bombed by Israeli/U.S. made weapons... There was nowhere safe for her to go.

Important thing to remember is that once folks put the politics and religious stuff to the side - people just want to live - and this is true of many if not most of those on both sides of this ugly mess.

(Edited for clarity)
Desi B.

This is really going to cut into your riding time.

Be safe my friend!

At least I'm not telling them you're hiding under the kitchen table.

I got a text from the man this morning saying that things are fine.

Fingers crossed for staying that way.

Bill XX

I think you are right on that. Stay safe my friend.

Not much more to say, but want to chime in with another 'be safe."

Praying people learn to play well with each other, especially in your neighborhood. It's a slow grind.

Next time I feel sorry for myself being bound down with the weather here I'll think about you.

Family and You...be safe!

As trying as it is...I know that there is someone watching over all of you!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family David. May this trouble wrap up quickly.

With that, what about ScooterRaton? Is he back in the States as if I remember correctly he used to hang out in Ramallah?! Hope he is safe too!

Na, I couldn't care less.

Stay safe Trepp.

Bill X

[Disclaimer: it is impossible to discuss something as surreal as being bombarded by missiles without at least hinting at some context. I do not wish to enter into a political discussion, but I also felt compelled to respond, respectfully, to what was written above.]

While i obviously hope your friend (and all innocent civilian non-combatants in Gaza) remains safe during this conflict, I hope your friend made the connection between the rockets she endured while in Israel and the rockets she is now experiencing in Gaza. Israelis have been living under the kind of constant bombardment (nearly a thousand missiles each year) she experienced in Israel, and no nation would allow their citizens to be targeted this was for days, much less years. I have no illusions that what my country is now forced to do will bring about any solution to the broader problem that the political leadership in Gaza will never accept the existence of Israel. But for the short term I am hoping this current conflict will create some level of deterrence while destroying the military infrastructure which has been used to target my country's civilians.

My office is in easy range of Gaza and I've lost count of the number of hours over the past few years that my coworkers and I have spent in the bomb shelters listening to explosions nearby rather than in our offices.

We had a couple of rockets land close enough to our home last night to hear the impact, but we are still doing fine.

It has been some time since our youngest (he's eight, almost nine) has joined my wife and me in bed. but when we were in the bomb shelter (every Israeli home must, by law, have one) he kind of lost it and asked if he could sleep with us. It was wonderful to feel his warm body between us again... But sad to consider the reason.

I apologize if this post has strayed into political territory, but as I said, an aside in what was otherwise a commenter's sincere expression of concern for our safety, created the need for some context in my response. I hope the moderators will allow me some latitude, and that nobody will take this as an excuse to argue. I'm just not up to any more conflict right now.

I will respond to respectful PMs from people who genuinely wish to ask about the view from here (which is all i can offer), but I reserve the right to ignore any nonsense from those who wish to lecture me from the comfort of their distant salons.

Peace.

stay safe trepp.

Please don't get this thread locked folks. I PM'D him because i didn't think i could post it on the GD page without it getting locked. He has enough to worry about. Hang in there. Wish my villa in Saudi had a bomb shelter. Being under the dining room table for hours wasn't to comfortable. The way that thing was made it probably coulda withstood a hit tho. Stay safe and your in my thoughts.

Makes me think of a real life version of this:


http://youtu.be/ltmMJntSfQI

Thanks... I needed that!

Bomb shelters are so alien to me. I couldn't begin to imagine what it is like. Good luck to you and your family Trep. Don't keep us in the dark.

Most people here use them for storage. We put bookshelves in ours to take the overflow from our other bookshelves in our house. So in addition to the emergency food and water we keep in there, we'll always have something to read.

Many of us in the UK can remember a bomb shelter in every back garden. I trust yours are more robust than those home-built WWII versions.

In private home like ours, it is a steel reinforced concrete box that is prefabricated to the architects plans and then installed as one of the rooms in the home. If it has a window the window must have armoured steel shutters that can be closed securely, and the door must be of armored steel. Door and window must seal with a rubber gasket (much like a watertight hatch on a warship) and the entire room must be able to be sealed off from the outside environment in case of chemical warfare.

Apartment buildings have the same rules of construction, but there is usually one or more larger shared shelter rooms in the basement or ground floor.

Office buildings have to have a shelter room on each floor.

Keep safe chaver. I want to read about Bedouin and camels on your daily ride, not this shit