Modern Vespa

Could be tempted into this too

Do it!

Actually it has been Mc around the world since 1940. I had hoped that a little irony in a Burns Night post would add levity.

I think we've been misunderstanding each other. I, too, was aiming at humour. One day I will learn my lesson....I'm just not funny

You will be disappointed, I'm not as pretty as Bill.

I think handsome is the word you're looking for.

Bill x

Nah, he was right the first time....

Good day today. Our son took us to Stansted airport where the Easy jet staff were courteous and friendly. Surprise!! The flight was on time. On the plane we were invited to sit in the big legroom seats near the emergency exit (the nearest thing to an upgrade on Easy-jet). 

We had reserved an economy car like a   Ford Ka. They told us we were upgraded to a Golf! However, no snow chains for the Golf! So they up upgraded us to a 3 series BMW!!!

I better buy a lottery ticket

Do we have a location for dinner on the 21st? I can suggest a couple of places that I've eaten at recently and enjoyed I'd recommend Brasserie Zedel - it's very central (Piccadilly Circus) yet off the beaten tourist track. It's got a fantastic art deco interior, decent food, a fine selection of beers, and the prices are surprisingly reasonable

Yesterday Genie and I went to look at an exhibition of artwork by England's most violent prisoner, Charles Bronson (who has recently changed his name to Charles Salvador). It was recommended to us by our friend 'Thor', a photography curator with a taste for heavy metal music and extreme weight-lifting.

Bronson has a unique sensibility and a philosophical outlook on his circumstances. His work gives an insightful glimpse into the world of long-term incarceration in Her Majesty's finest high-security establishment for the criminally insane. He has a finally-developed sense of colour and his penmanship is delicate yet assured.

Looks inviting, genie.

While interesting in a voyeuristic 'there but for the grace of G-d go I' kind of way, I question the weight and value of his long-term contribution to the art world.

Of course, he has a long way to go towards catching up with another criminally insane guest of HM Government; William Chester Minor, the largest single contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Chester_Minor

His story, while tragic, is an excellent read:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Professor-Madman-Insanity-Dictionary/dp/0060836261

Thanks to Trepp and William Chester Minor, I now know there is a word for cutting off ones penis -Autopeotomy

Thank you both

I've read that book. An interesting person indeed. I have met several "criminally insane" killers when I worked in such a facility, but this is not the place to talk about them.

Speaking of cutting off penises. On the news the other day a woman in China caught her husband cheating and cut his off. They rushed him to surgery and were reattaching said appendage and somehow she got into the OR, cut it off again and threw it out the window. They rushed down to get it but alas it wasn't there. They surmise that a animal had carted it off. She cut it off with a pair of scissors. Which probably weren't made in China because mine can't cut paper.

Gass is in.
Pepy and Waspman are interested.
Graham is out of town that weekend.
Wobbly (Warren) is busy as its his birthday weekend.
Others quiet so far...

well, as soon as we have a head count let me know and I'll book it up it's still a month away so plenty of time for folks to reply.

In other news: welcome to the advertising hoardings for Mettle and Poise, the newest redevelopment project in my former neighbourhood. An old children's hospital has been turned into ridiculously expensive flats. Rather than the usual happy couple in grey jumpers clutching glasses of white wine, they've taken a different approach with their model tenants. If you want to own one of these exciting new flats, not only do have to have several hundred K on tap, you've also got to look like a total ponce. Here's Billy giving it his best shot:

What a total ponce.

Bill x

Ponce. Sadly a very underused word. Hasn't 'being PC' seen off some gems from everyday speech...

As a kid (70's), I often used the words spaz, gommo and mong when addressing my best mates, sadly now all gone the way of the pc police

excellent story, was her name Chop Suey

Yeah, those were the days, eh?

probably not

Indeed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scootor-/261740708617?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3cf0f64309

Piaggio and scooter spelt incorrectly with crappy upside down photos

is it me?

am I just being picky?

Nope, that's a vast warning sign for me too.
It's snobbery of course, but if someone is that bad at listing an item, are they really going to have taken proper care of it?

On the other hand, if you *are* brave enough to go and have a look you can often find real bargains as there will be far fewer bidders.

Looks like dyslexia to me.

Hi Gang. Any rides planned for Feb?

Failed my 2nd mod 2 today (don't ask ) and rebooked it for 2nd of Feb.

Been without a scoot for ~2 months and eager to jump on my Vespa and have a blast around. If there's nothing planned, I've got a 20% discount for frankie and bennys.

Hi, coincidence time. My last producer, did a drama documentary for Sky Crime 3 years ago. I've got a mate Chips Hardy who's son is Tom Hardy the actor who recently played Bronson, and had some correspondence with him. All reckon he's got psychological issues, andis easy to be offended, and therefore react to the prison regime, that's why he'll never get out.

Hi, I met a new donk 2 weeks ago. Name Andy. A few of us were supposed to hook up with him in Clapham, but it was wndy as hell and a couple of donks bailed out at Blackheath as there was too much debris on the road. I met him at the Roundhouse pub, near Trinity rd. Good pub with parking space out front so a good place to meet if in West Clapham. Andy is in education, but is also a drummer by trade. Don't think he's heavy metal, or even mod. Andy's got a black GTS125, as a starter. He's only done up to 50mph, so how fast can you get a 125 to go with a drummer on board?
It has a bit of salt corrosion on the roller case and a rusty rear rack. He'd bought it from someone in Brighton, so must have been the sea air. It's got a nice Akro tailpipe on and not too much mileage. Anyone know if any scooter shops sell breaker's racks n bits. His left lever is bent so must have been in a spill, but his forks are good. I took him west along the Thames, to Mortlake then north to Chiswick, on the south circular. Then north through Ealing and along the North Circular to the Ace cafe. He's now got an Ace sticker, to show he's a scooterboy and not a commuter. We left the Ace via the West way, so Andy's clocking up the experience. I told him what I know about Skok history and that we were a mixed rideout bunch of folk.
Hopefully you'll meet him sooner or later. He's a nice Fella.
Gass silver machine gts 250

Hi Rusty rope, I'm usually scooting aboot in London so can have a ride about in Feb. I'm in West London, where are you based. Maybe we'll get a clear patch one time. There's always first thursday evening, [ thurs 5th] at the Ace cafe. Let's see if you get your MOT or not. Gass silver machine gts 250

Gass how you doing mate?

Not sure if you remember me but I was with you, Gedmunds (Grant) and Matt on the ride back from dungeness.

I'm in Bromley/Orpington, so not too far away and it'll be a breeze when I get the GTS 300. I'm sure Grant will be up for ride along with a few others.

Charles M is in. He's been swapping scooter security tips with Al apparently (to foil all those ram raiding GTS jacking toe rags in Pathos, presumably? )

Diary is a bit light at the minute, so I'm on some bits of GTS maintenance up here. Skok evening do on 21st Feb, so I don't mind riding down in daylight that Sat afternoon for a meet up if weathers not deep winter. Things start to warm up in March - here's the main list -> UK Rallies and Events 2015 Oh bugger (another underused word these days)

Sorry to hear mate - get back in the saddle!

Nice guy. His intro thread is over here... Hello!

Gave him a few thoughts, tips and stuff. Y'know, usual karma... He had a few niggles with the GTS but hopefully got them fixed.

Plenty of used racks, levers etc on eBay etc for him, or new ones from places like SIP Scooter or Scootech.

If riding with you counts as 'riding with us' then he's a probationary Skok and can come to 21 Feb if he fancies it?

Just another January day.

just to note that newdonks, semi-newdonks, and donk associates are all welcome at the meal on the 21st. Al and Ardy are a bit shy with strangers but I'm sure they'll get more chatty once they've had a drink

interestingly, 'ponce' originally meant a man who lived off the earnings of prostitutes. only recently has it come to mean a man of effeminate appearance - at least that's its dictionary definition. i've always understood it to mean an overgroomed self-obsessed prat

It has a darker connotation in prison i think.....

The French have a word for it:

"Honi soit qui mal y ponce"

Now if only they could come up with a word for "entrepreneur"

Johnny - with thanks to former President George W Bush...

I am up for the 21st! Did I hear a ride on the 20th being suggested?

genie, the new block of flats going up near me is called The Crib