Modern Vespa

His internet debut is post 666. No good will come of that.

What a cute kid though. He'll glide through life on cute alone.

Congrats!

And for posterity:

Probably have to add some chrome and two tone paint ... maybe purple and green.

Attach some other brand parts and paint them all the same color

Congrats Nomad, the start of a wonderful and sometimes painful but ultimately rewarding journey for you all.

Love the little mitts. Are they Tucano Urbano? Congratulations!

Congratulations! About bloody time! He looks gorgeous and has been blessed with more hair than his dad! Give Abel a kiss from us xxx

While on Bike Normandy, we were all admiring Doug's powerbank for charging phones and things on the go, so I thought I'd mention that ALDI have some in at the moment:

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-7th-august/product-detail/ps/p/2600-mah-powerbank/

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/hurry-while-stocks-last/hurry-while-stocks-last-product-detail-page/ps/p/professional-power-bankrugged-power-bank/

I bought one of the Rugged ones and tested it out - seems good.

That could be handy, though knowing me I'll find that it's flat when I need to use it.

I'll probably still take all my chargers on holiday as well, just in case...

I'm surprised more folks don't speak up about powerbank type products. I have a 5,600 mAH Tekkeon that has saved our bacon more than once. Use it on VCdM rallies to extend GPS battery life, rather than jury rig a 12V outlet on a rental scooter. Gives my TomTom over 8 hours service time.

It's a really big help when reading eBooks on the beach, as nothing is worse than a low battery situation just when you are getting to the best part of a book.

Congratulations on the addition Nomad68. Cute little tyke.

Took a quick trip to "The Henry Ford" museum yesterday and somehow thought of you lot.



They also had this funny little green and yellow car there! (That I visit every time.)



And this rather low two-times winning Le Mans monster that is usually out on loan somewhere. (They very rarely let Jim's car go out and about... only to Indy or Goodwood.)

Yellow tires?

That are larger than standard.

Congratulations Nomad!

Enjoy those early months before they are up and running around. Soon enough they are off to school. It goes by so fast!

Then their first scoot rides.....

nomad - we did notice, and wondered where you'd been. Now we see what you've been up to! He's gorgeous, just like his dad

I gather the GTS has gone?

I bought a 14Ah one a few months ago - it's saved many a potentially frustrating moment.

Speaking of GPSs - My (ex-Doug, thanks) Garmin Nuvi has mysteriously acquired a cracked screen, so now looking for something else. Thinking of the Zumo 390lm - any tales of delight or woe with these?

well done nomad on the new arrival - been meaning to text to see how it was going.
all the best to mum, baby and yourself

Ronin: that is a big wiener

First of 7 night shifts

Oh, that's not a good sign.

Bill x

My coworkers had a hand drawn version of that pasted across my office door for the past couple of weeks.

You were missed! (no grumbling Akra, orange vest and fighter pilot lid!)

Well done Noel, enjoy every minute of these special days with the new little 'un!

Soooo....

Hurricane Bertha, Ebola, shift work, house moves, DIY, new babies. When are the UK Skoks next getting together to ride?!

Provisional delivery date for the new X10 500 is September 1st....

Congrats on the new arrival Noel. I can see the resemblance

The London night ride on the 16th?]

Us with Jonathan Meades. Love this photo.

At last - Ivana Tinkle and I have booked a three-week holiday (yes I know I'm on permanent vacation, do be quiet at the back). Fly to the UK on Oct 15th, return to CA Nov 4th, and in between flying to Lisbon for a week, hiring scoots (undetermined yet, possibly a Tmax 500) and 'doing' Portugal via highways and byways (21-28 Oct). Most of this paid for (almost incredibly) with Avios - which are normally bloody hard to divest for anything useful.

So a grubby (food that is) Skok meet is in order at some stage, and I must remember to organise a belated wedding celebration at the Roebuck.

I'll also be attempting to set in train the selling of my present London pad and buying another smaller one, re-investing the difference in 'good times' in the future.

So my question is - does anyone have places to recommend in Portugal? Must-see's? Must-go's?

We should, without question have a massive Skok meet during your visit Jim.

Get a weekend date narrowed down and I for one will be there.

Bill xxx

So my question is - does anyone have places to recommend in Portugal? Must-see's? Must-go's?

Jim
Lisbon is great. As is Cascais, a short distance away. Lovely seaside..
Eastern algarve too. Olhao and the surrounding area. Also Tavira. Truly unspoilt Portugal.

Sort that was. Bit short but it's 7am and I'm verrrry tired and need my bed x

With Jims dates and his UK time, makes just two options I think - Sat/Sun 18-19 Oct or Sat/Sun 1/2 Nov?

Warm gloves on by then I 'spect. Brrrrr...

(can't make the London night run as double-booked. Arse )

looks like Birreh and I will be up for the night ride too, as long as it's not sharting it down with rain.

and of course any opportunity to celebrate Jim's nuptials (no matter how delays) will be jumped upon

Definitely!

It is possible that 7 out of 10 spaces for Bike Normandy may already have gone, BTW...

...and likewise news of house warming at new Chez Genie?!

I confirm that I am alive but insanely busy, I would recommend Porto.

It's very beautiful (pleasingly free of advertising - almost to the level of a communist country), the architecture is stunning, the Duoro can be swam in on warm days, the bridge is a heart stopping piece of engineering, and it remains Anglo friendly at the port lodges. They drink beer for breakfast in this part of Portugal, and very good it is too.

There's something wonderful about sitting in the lodges, cool as a cucumber, sipping a vintage or two, surrounded by Private Eye cartoons in what looks very much like a gentleman's club. Except when you go outside, the weather is simply splendid and you don't have to wear a tie.

When I suggested Portugal to Howard, he said "You don't want to go there, they sell puppies at the side of the road". As you might imagine, this has done little to put me off...

first impressions of Havering Council (gained whilst trying to register for council tax at my new address):

disorganised
unprofessional
clueless

a bit like Hackney council in the 1990s then.