Modern Vespa

Look what I found in Amazon's Boxing Day Sale! A Christmas pressie for Froggieposition!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0083E8FZC/ref=gb1h_img_c-2_3927_e66ba8b3?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=01FSYMEJZKF8QXPMEYDG&pf_rd_i=118857031&pf_rd_p=570823927

(I would snap this up but I think my flatmate might actually kill me.)

I quite like that for myself.

Bill x

Christmas Duties

Part of my Christmas duties involve trekking around the country to satisfy all members of the family. My way of getting through this is to do the travelling on the scooter whilst the rest of the family take the car. This has the knock on effect of making more room in the car for the two tall sons.

Since Boxing Day my journey has been Stamford to Broadway - Broadway to Solihull - Solihull to Stamford. The weatherman predicted snow, and on cue it snowed behind me after I left Stamford!

Well I am back home with rosey cheeks (on my face) and the cold frosty ride home made my Christmas break. I know it is nice to see the family but I have difficulty coping with prolonged periods of on activity.

The ride home was at 2 degrees and was so enjoyable I didn't even feel my fingers go numb!

I hope you all had a great time and got to do you what you wanted.

Back to work tomorrow!

How's the GTS running now ?

Bill x

I done proper fixed it!

Good to hear your spannering has been a success.

Here's to Scootering Skok style in 2015!

Here here!

Belgium?

Belgian Vespa Days.
I've put my name down.

I am the only one in my team working this week.

Time to crack on with that novel.

I am the only one on crack this week.

Bill x

Yesterday we both visited the Victoria and Albert Museum to see an amazing exhibition of Horst P Horst's work.

He was Vogue's fashion photographer of choice for many years and even to a layman like me his work was simply stunning.

Just down the corridor there was a display of John Constables work so we ambled around those and pointed quite a bit.

Also available for our viewing pleasure was a collection of wedding dresses from the 18th century to the present day.

Today the roofers came to replace Genie's chimney pot which was an incorrect specification for the fireplace.

No I don't understand that either but it means that we can have an open fire in the dining room after it's done.

Bill x

It might be a good idea to have the chimney swept before you use it. [if you haven't already] And when you do light up the fire, it might also be a good idea to check for fumes in the room above [if there is a room above] as many old house have very porous bricks and old pointing behind the plaster.
Happy new year 8)

the chimney sweep has already been around - he was the one who pointed out the problem with the chimney. he's got to come back and repair the actual fireplace as a couple of bricks are loose, but we've done three smoke tests now and nothing at all is emerging into the room upstairs

[this is genie posting from bill's account btw]

Well done, better to be safe than sorry

Present for you, genie: a free PDF calendar of brutalist architecture in Birmingham!

http://toys.paradisecircus.com/2015_calendar/brutal2015.pdf

Brutal 2015

Made me homesick! Firenze eat your heart out!

cheers alice! that's a cheery reminder of just how horrible english cities can be I shall print that out and it shall grace my office wall at work.

I've seen pictures of Coventry after the German's got finished bombing it. I'm not sure the modern rebuilt city looks noticeably better.

[which should not be taken as a criticism of those who live there, as they were extremely hospitable to me when I was there speaking at a conference held at the nearby University of Warwick]

Hey folks,

Dropping back in to catch up...

That GTS looks familiar. I wonder, is anything really 'original' any more...?!

Always loved the 70s Rally model, a classic Vespa 8)

Wishing all my Skok pals an early Happy New Year

What better way to start it than planning a whole new years riding. The new events list is now up, and there'll be a whole bunch of other dates that'll get added in too I'm sure. See you out there... 8)

UK Rallies and Events 2015

HNY Skoks.

HNY skoks (including those who are already tucked up in bed )

May it be an 'interesting' one.

Happy New year, Donks n Scooterists. Had a relatively easy one last night, which is a bit unusual for me. Went out for an evening meal, in West London, then back to theirs for the late evening and watched all the fireworks going off as we stood on their roof in Notting Hill. Could see as far as the big display around the Millenium wheel. Drank ale and vintage port, and now surprisingly hangover free. So as weather ok will go for a spin on my GTs and peruse the New Year.
I'd just come back from doing Christmas at my sisters in Sheffield. Brass monkeys...as she lives near the Peak District. On Boxing day evening a big dump of snow, very local to her area. People were trapped, and coaches abandoned with folk having to sleep overnight in churches. Only 6 inches of snow! But Hey Ho, Britain has only been built for rain. Any way I was the local heroe as I'd gone up in my trusty 18 yeard old Ford Explorer, 4x4. It served me well, so I was hauling stranded cars and moving around easily on the iced up, hilly roads. After a couple of days, Sheffield was still in snow chaos. I zoomed back to London in my trusty Ford. However I swung by a mate's place on Wappng High st, and found my vehicle had somehow lost reverse gear. I'd parked my motor, next to the River Police's station next to his warehouse conversion. it took 6 hours to get an AA supplier to come and looksee, then tow me away. They reckon my 'converter' on reverse in the gear box is gone. It's only done 80,000 miles. So may have to scrap it, as the cars's only worth £300. even though it's in tip top condition. Ford don't supply parts for these, if over 10 years old.. or fit parts from breakers yards. Does any one know how big a job this would be?

Also I read a post pre Christmas about an american guy, who's going to visit the UK with his family and wants to stay nearish to Heathrow. He was also looking to find some vintage football shirts, and maybe some mod stuff. I've got some ideas. Can anyone tell me where to find the post.
Have fun this year everyone, and shiny side up. Gass silver machine gts 250

Went out for my first ride of the year today. Only a relatively short one, but I do like to put the effort in as soon as possible.

Sorry to hear about your ford gass billy has put his thinking cap on and is working on a solution for you.

We went for a bracing walk in havering country park this morning. Once again I left my hunter wellies at home and as a result have totally destroyed a pair of leather boots.

We're now enjoying a tasty lunch in a rather nice pub just outside if Brentwood

Gass, bill wants to know if your ford had an automatic or manual gearbox?

Here you are:
London in March

Don't give up on the Exploder!

I did like that picture.

Long and detailed text sent Gass.

Bill x

Happy New Year, everyone! Cautiously optimistic so far.

HNY all!
Went for my first ride of the year. Proper windy was blown all over the place on the faster dual carriageways. Was sooooglad for the relative refugeof the Blackwall Tunnel.
Be safe my fellow Skoks and my extended MV fam!

Out on two wheels again today, but traded 23 horsepower for one Alexpower.
Hardly surprising, but the average speed was a lot lower. 21 miles of total unpleasantness.

On a bike ? Easy.

Done 3 x 5 mile runs this week already.

The sprouts helped.

Birreh !

Lol. Frog, scoot and loo. Top three favs?

considering the phrase is more often than not preceded by "Literally", has anyone ever really actually been hanging on by the skin of their teeth?

Depends if I brushed that day or not.




I joke. I brush once or twice daily.
That's literally gross

A couple of days ago I passed my California car driving test - and today I passed the motorcycle test. Took all of five minutes (lollipop thingy) - after over a two-hour wait in the queue for the tests. Still, the sun was shining, and there were interesting people to talk to in the queue. The test itself was very simple - but to be fair it does demand precise slow-speed control, which is probably a very good indicator of operator ability.

The DMV was *CHOCKA*. All down to AB60 - from today California is also issuing driver's licences to those who cannot prove their legal presence in the USA. A wise move, but it'll take a long, long while for the rush to die down!

http://dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/ab60/index?lang=en

I think that belongs to one of the lads from the GTS Owners Club. Lovely looking bike.

Does this mean that anyone who wishes to drive/ride in California has to pass a test in California before they can drive in the state?

Congratulations on passing your tests

I giggled