Modern Vespa

I'm on a broken down tube going toward heathrow gulp.... Due in San Francisco at 1500 see you later for dinner perhaps? If I get there?

Phew got there, checked in and through security. Just about to have breakfast.

Sincere condolences mate

I'm off to Montreal today on the 1600 flight from T5...if your delayed and still at heathrow. Order me a bacon sarnie. 8)

Anyone want to meet up for a beer,, on me,, in Montreal....I'll also be in Chester township NJ from 8th Nov, if anyones around that area and wants to meet up for a beer on me.. let me know...

brown_beret7, my sincerest condolences sir.

Condolences on your loss.

The trick to keeping your grandparenta with you forever is to speak of them often and be generous with the experiences and lessons they left you. Don't lock them away in your heart... share them often.

Sounds like a plan. Will check to see where the nearest Gourmet British Cusine place might be.

It doesn't surprise me about those Visa questions and i bet somebody has said yes. Back in the 80's i got my passport stolen in Peru. Went to the Embassy and the question that determined that i was a US citizen was "what was Barbra Bush known for". I'm like "is this a trick question and are you guys serious". They were and i answered "ugly clothes, ugly pearls, should i say more? " That got me a new passport and a couple hundred dollars spending money. Ah the good old days before terrorists.

When entering the US, I still don't know exactly how to answer the question, "What was the purpose of your trip abroad?", so I just say, "Pleasure".

We use a rental car locating company on Crete (economycarrentals.com) to find the very best rates. For San Francisco, they found an interesting firm Flightcar.com

They run a service that provides free airport car parking in return for allowing your car to be rented out. Cost us $126 for a nice Prius for 9 days, with full insurance, GPS, etc.

not a great day today

just found out that the two backpacks that Sticky very kindly shipped to my mum in Newfoundland back in August are still sitting in a warehouse, presumably awaiting close inspection by customs officers so they can whack a load of tax and duty onto them even though they actually did only cost $12.99 each. Bastards

Sorry to hear about your loss Paul. Our thoughts are with you.

Wow! That goes way beyond "interesting." I can't imagine putting my car at such risk. Have you gotten to the car and started using it yet? Let us know how it works out.

Paul, sad news indeed. Cherish your memories.

Car is in excellent shape. Had 1/8 tank of petrol, which is what we have to return it with. Getting used to a Prius is a whole other issue.

Already in SF, looking forward to the party tomorrow.

Off soon to decorate the party venue...

Good to hear from you Warren - the clans are gathering.

I am going to see The Barenaked Ladies at the O2 on November 30th and so far I have one spare ticket........

Bill X

Should be a good night. I've seen them live a couple of times.

I've met Ed Robertson and Jim Creeggan on Brighton beach and seen them 6 times.

Most favourite band of all time......ever.

Bill X

I'm not sure which band I've seen most. Bowling for Soup is around 20 shows, but if you count The Wildhearts and all of Ginger's other bands together it's probably slightly more.

There's a few other bands I've seen ten plus times, so I must have spent a fortune in total.

I hear Her Majesty Queen Elizebeth the seconds Maidtone inmates have got the hump tonight!

Seen Marilyn Manson more times than I can remember... 1st seen em in 1994 when they were called Marilyn Manson and The Spooky Kids

... and I've seen Ozric Tentacles dozens of times too 8)


I forgot to say me and Mrs Spike are going to see Wooden Shjips on Dec 10 for my birthday

I have a huge spot on the inside of my nose. It's really painful on the inside and bright red on the outside.
It's so red I look like an ageing alcoholic and it hurts so much treating it with hydrogen peroxide just made my eyes well up.
I also may have sworn a little bit also.
Just wanted to share.

Bill X

A nose piercing could fix that and up your street cred in one fell swoop.

Like I need street cred.

Bill X

I did suggest a toothpick and kleenex tissues today!
Graham

Those are the most satisfying to pop.

Bask in the euphoria of ridding your nasal passage of that massive spot!

...after the pain and tears of popping that sucker in the first place wear off....

What is with you and pustules???

First we had the seeping cannonball claw
Then we has the mysterious third testicle
Now we have a monstrous nasal pimple.

Are you eating enough veg?

DON'T SQUEEZE!:win:

Yikes! Bill thanks for sharing. I hope it not a boil. Those can be so painful. ***eyes welling up with tears*** Your tragedies always get to me. Now I can't stop picturing your nose. What does an aging alcoholic look like?

Na, it's just a spot but it's hard to expunge so I'm cotton budding it with some stuff in a bottle until it decides to leave.
Thankfully it's a lot better this morning and I no longer look like I've benn on the gin since my wife left me 20 years ago.

Are future UK Ironbutters all good for May 10/11th ?

Bill X

Me 8)

So how did the party go Jim, Ivana and Doug ?

UK Ironbutt pencilled in for the 10/11th of May then.

Birreh.

OMG

It's 09:40 here at home already - and we have to get the car back from the party venue to get back to the hotel and clean up the after-party party room.

Awesome evening.

Thanks everyone.

I need more tea...

Like this?

PM sent

just been to Crate Brewery for pizza and beer. Gorgeous we shall return.

oh, and Birreh got mistaken for Walter White, again.

ref the nose yeah it was pretty close to that minus the cheek.

My Walter White count us around the 20 mark now.

Birreh.

My daughter is big on animals right now with aspirations to be a vet. As she's 10 no doubt she'll change her mind a few times before she gets into a job but in the meantime a) we're grateful she doesn't want to be Cheryl Cole and b) we encourage her interests along as best we can. So Friday/Saturday we went to Norfolk (where many of us were on our GTSs last time) and took another boat trip to see the common and grey seal colonies a mile or so offshore. The common seal pups are born in July/August, well developed, and swim almost immediately, but the grey seal pups are born around now, and until they gain important weight from mums full fat milk and shed their heavier white fur, spend their first few weeks on the beach, looking cute and getting papped. We spotted several just a few days old, and a hundred or more will be added to the 500+ seals that call the shingle point home before Christmas.