Modern Vespa

Hey look. Another website pushing their monthly fee.

My delivery is late and I have to wait until tomorrow.

They aren't legal in the UK, sadly.

Bill, consider increasing your side-to-side motion when there's someone about to pull out, and USE YOUR HORN.

It's nice to know how much they value your eyeballs.

Oh Jim, I used my horn. my potty mouth and a few digits thrown in post event.

I'll mention it again. It's a big bike, my speed isn't excessive and I'm an experienced rider so we're good with positioning but more people these days just aren't looking before they pull out into traffic, or into me depending on how you look at it.

Bah !

Tried to move a online meeting in Outlook today. Not possible. I finally managed to find the option,,,. In the Teams software. The meeting was created in Outlook! Why can it not be changed there?

At least it's nothing serious. Like world hunger. Or war. Or lack of clean water because it's all been poisoned with industrial waste.

I get pulled out in front of all the time, frequently on my push bike, less frequently on the Vespa and rarely on the Triumph Tiger which I put down to having LED Spotlights.

Oh, and by far and away the age group of these myopic car drivers is the over 60's.

I'm pissed off because I have no Rugby to watch and it's months until my next riding tour.

Lost luggage is a bummer, but at least you got chance to catch yours in the act of getting lost.

It does sound like a scene from an eighties comedy movie, maybe Steve Martin?

Having started reading actual fiction books again, it pisses me off the number of books that don't start on page 1.

I get to say page 40, and think I'm reading pretty quick, then realise it starts on something like page 11

Why even bother numbering the sodding pages?

Is it some sort of f*cked up bibliocelsius measuring system?

Caramac bars to be discontinued after more than 60 years

Nestle say sales of the caramel-flavoured bars have "steadily declined" over the past few years.

Wtf? Really?

Jesus.

There's no point in living.

Who authorised this ?

So my mother named me administrator of her estate, and it's just my sister and me...and well, my brother-in-law and my wife. There's old family history, with my sister being the elder and more assertive. BIL is rather obsessive about managing money. You might see where this is headed.

I set up an appointment with mom's attorney to sort out the actual will and help me through the process, which should be relatively straightforward. So what set me off today is a text from my sister (who is at some distance) suggesting a Facetime of the meeting. While not necessarily a bad idea, I feel she's stepping on my toes and I'm getting more "support" than I want or need. I'm not in love with being administrator, but it's the last thing I can do for my mom. I've already had unsolicited input from her on a few things, and if previous history is anything, I'm sure BIL is giving her a steady stream of his ideas. On the plus side I have a spouse that's able to see things clearly and calmly to keep me from saying anything I'd regret. It would still be nice to have them there if/when needed.

I recall being told this is a thankless job. I think I'll be in full agreement before it's over.

When my grandmother (mother's mother) died, it was just my mom and her older sister, who was executor of the estate. They nearly had a permanent falling out over what really amounted to stupid details, with each digging in their heels because of… principle? I don't even know why.

The important thing is not to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Family gets weird at times like this — again, I don't know why — but just accept that they are weird and try not to let the little things get under your skin.

That's my best advice.

My brother was supposed to be executor of our parents estate. Then he died and I'm 2500miles away. Their lawyer helped tremendously. Wills suck, but are (relatively) easy to create. When it was possible, Mrs Syd and I set up a trust. Executor just follows a script, sells everything, and writes checks. No probate, no worries, especially for us when, well, you know.

Thanks, Jess. Yeah, perilous times. Emotions running at peak, old, sleeping family dysfunctions (okay, my ex wasn't wrong ) awake and threaten a rampage.

After some terse text messaging, I took a nap and thought things over. Calmed down, wrote a clarifying text about how I felt, sister explained her motivation and apologized for her less-than-diplomatic approach, and we're good, until the next speed bump. Truly can't afford to lose her,.

Syd, not sure if my mom's approach was the best one., but we should avoid probate, and minimize tax problems. Guess we'll find out how successful she was.

You have my sympathies. Allow me to share a story with you about BIL interference.

I bought into a property that my parents owned on the agreement that if I paid for all of the costs such as Maintenance, Building Insurance, Bills and all Servicing Costs at the time of their passing I would inherit the property regardless of the cash remaining in probate.

After they both died the Lawyers mistakenly allocated the cash equivalent of the remaining half of the property to my Sister which was against the instructions in the Will. It was worth around $50,000 and so an argument ensued between myself, the Lawyers and my Sister who was being "supported" by my BIL.

Supported = Directed.

To compound the issue the compensation had been paid into her account and so a bit of leverage was needed to get it back.

I think that at least one of my parents had seen the future as they also made my Uncle an Executor as well as myself and my Sister and so when the time was right a meeting was called for and he said a few choice words in her ear which went something like " You are disrespecting my late Sister's wishes and I won't forgive that".

My Uncle is a Legend of understatement.

An offer was made to pay the money back at $1300 a month for the next 3 years which I immediately declined. Within a week the money was paid back in full.

It turns out that my BIL had already "allocated" that money to give to his daughter for a deposit on a house.

I was quite prepared to write her off if things hadn't been redressed.

There's a Part 2 if you're interested.

When significant family members pass away many of those close to that individual start to act a little bit weird especially if they have something to gain.

Be prepared for crass and insensitive enquiries en masse as many people don't really know what to say so they'll say something that lacks thought and articulation.

Dave, Dog,

There also doesn't seem to be any correlation between the amount involved and how goofy relatives get. A passing and smooth disposition of the estate is a rare event.

Years ago, at the loss of my mother (Dad died earlier), my mom and dad had invested a bundle in my older brother's company stock. He was pretty high up in EcoLabs as the Vice President of Research and Development and got super stock options. Mom put the account in both are names. When Mom died, the money went poof away. I only found out about it because the investment firm notified me the account had been closed. When I spoke to them, they said yes the account was 50/50 with my brother, but he had total control of the account.
(My amount involved $70,000).

I brought this up to my brother - he has ignored me and not spoke with me in +20 years. It would have cost +30,000 to sue him. I just gave up on it. As recently as last year, I wrote him saying I missed him. We had been close with him and his family. I unconfirmed suspect he is staying away because his wife is straight as an arrow honest and would get all over him. I also know he lost 50% of all of his investments in a down turn of the market about the same time.

So, that is my story - I'm sure many of you have the same. Money kills family.

Good luck Dave.

Bob Copeland

I think I'll be okay. Stress and loss makes it hard to be our best. My sister and BIL are reasonable people.

Then there are the sociopaths. My grandfather remarried after his wife died young. Remarried after a decade to a woman that was mostly interested in security. She live off of his money and saved hers. When he passed, her and her 5 kids carted away everything that was his and fit in a car...his tools, ladders, etc. My grandmother had plaques, plaster religious things of the 1940s? that she'd scratched the names of the child she wanted them to go to. Second wife took those too...when pressed, she brought them back, with the names crossed off.

I heard this story only once from my MIL. When her husband's parents passed, the extended family descended on the house to remove whatever they desired. It was so bad the sons kicked everyone out, locked the doors with just them inside, and settled the estate.

I'll finish with this little gem.

My parents lived about 50 miles from my sisters place and because she didn't drive my BIL had to drive her over to help me go through the process of clearing and cleaning their house.

Soon after he arrived he started to complain about how much it was costing him in gas to bring my sister to their house.

It's all about context isn't it.

Just received this email on my work email: I removed the link information.

I read through it and said to myself, "Nope, you're not catching me with this. Not gonna click that link, even if it is legit."

When I mouse over the link text it shows as docs.google.com, with a long-ass string of text after it.

Today I met up with an old flame of mine for a catch up and within 30 minutes of arriving at a local Cafe an elderly customer had thrown up, passed out and so an Ambulance had to be called.

Later on I took myself to the unisex bathroom and there in the toilet bowl was the biggest turd that had wedged itself sideways in an effort not to be flushed away.

A romantic reunion it was not.

You do live an interesting life!

I'm measuring a gage for one of the new Rivian Amazon van tail lamps. It's what I do. This is for one of the seven lamps that goes around the outside of the back of the van. If you haven't seen them, they're pretty spectacular.



The gage I am checking is for the top right lamp.

There's a diamond shaped pin that checks the location of one of the mounting holes. It has to be good to +/- 0.1mm.

I had to disassemble the gage and soak the pin in penetrating oil for an hour and a half just to get it to move.

I sure hope it's good. It must be really important considering it's my job to check it and all.

I don't make these things happen but they all seem to happen to me.

I don't know if you remember "The Young Ones", but you just made me think of Neil.

A bit reminiscent of an intended romantic getaway with the missus years back. Stopped for lunch on arrival, barely finished the meal when I wound up doing CPR on the elderly gentleman behind me. (He came back!)

Went to check in at the bed and breakfast. Pull up in front, hostess smiling from the porch waiting to welcome us...

Wife: "YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE! WITH YOUR EX!"

Which set off defensive responses, like the fact it had been 10 years, new owners, an a fairly shitty time....all the while the woman on the porch keeps smiling at us.

Weekend ended better than it started, but learned never to ignore wife's intuition.

Oh, yeah, COVID. Niece coming after mom died likely culprit.Half my sister's family positive. And me of course.

Guess if I deny myself rest during a crisis, nature will take care of it.

Hi Bulldog, Jim C , Jess and others.Apologies for being absent from the forum, for a while. Had stuff to do , places to see, blah blah, blah..
I've just come back from Beijing... The whole place, scooters,cars, vans, lorries, tuk tuks 95 % electric. And supremely better for it..
My son Jack was marrying his fiance Ning from London there. My partner Kathy left there about 10 years ago and worked all over the reionfor about 10 years.
When she left the air was heavily polluted, with visibility around 2 miles in the city on a good day. Now it's clear up to 40 miles when you are viewing from a tall building. There's plenty of old Vespas still going and some motorbikes, including vintage Urals.. The upside is that it's clean air and quiet. If you walk along a 6 lane highway inon one of the main through roads in Beijing, everyone can stroll and chat quietly, as if in a big park. There's is no noise, people are calmer and it's very pleasant.
There are utility electric scooters , but also lots of funky modded up new ones. I'll post some pics later...
Here's one of the Ace Cafe interior in the Art District in Beijing.
The future will be electric, and there will be decent and modded up scooters.
Also I ll be going to the Ride of Rememberance hosted by Wasps of London scooter club. Usually meet at Eel Brook Common Fulham then a ride to Hyde Park Corner for a 12 Noon ceremony...
Cheers Gass... Silver Machine ... Donkieskok

Fleas.

My kitten has fleas and i know he caught them from a dog (he's quite friendly with a couple of smaller local dogs). All fleas are dog fleas.

Can't even get my name right.

That pisses me off.

Maybe it was autocorrect?

Bill Dog- Bill Dog - Bill Dog.... Ok now Mr Moody.
Cheers Gass

Without getting into details here, I have to agree with this. I used to have a great relationship with my 2 brothers. That all changed with the passing of a family member and their estate.

Guess I(we) were lucky as there was not much money to worry about when second parent passed. Family home was a modest two bed room house on a very small plot. If there was any friction at all it was between two wives of mine and my brothers over some minor items. When parents did wills my older brother was in the Air Force so he was left out of the executor ship job so that landed on me and my younger sister. Basically each of us took what we wanted of any possessions and after sale of house that small amount was divided by three and done!

I'm glad I only have one sibling, a brother. 4 years older. He gives me shit from time to time, but I would go into a scrum with him any day.

"two wives of mine and my brothers". It's amazing you survived.