Modern Vespa

In an effort to conform (as you know I always do) my avatar has finally been changed from that terrible, irrelevant and boring image that Genie put in.

Charles.

Love it, love it, love it!

fan-bloody-tastic!

that's made my day.

Even looks like him, innit?

Oh sweet jeesus. My fondness for mammalian trash-compactors has been rekindled. Come 'ere, baby.

Who remembers this group of suave men and women about town? (Before I was transformed into a goat).

OMG!! that's the meet that started it all ....

and there's doug on his red GTS what was that, like 6 scooters ago?

Everybody looks so well turned out in that picture. All very prim and proper.
Makes me want to organise another London Calling meet in the very near future.
I know I'd suggested the 6th/7th of June but for me that's too far away.
I can't be away from you delightful people for too long so lets do it again soon ?
Due to my girlfriend being "so busy" every weekend I've got every one free until the 13th/14th of June so someone suggest a date and lets meet up somewhere Italian for lunch.
You London types know the resturants and respective parking better than I so izzy whizzy let get busy.

Much respec

Billy-no-scoot

I'm going to suggest the 2/3rd and 9th/10th of May.

Only three. Where did Olaf go?

Thanks everyone for the birthday greetings. Had a lovely day, but possibly my nicest present must have been someone thinking I might be (as young as) 30 ;0)

(Work keeps blocking my skoking)

Good heavens, why? It's not as if we use rude words.

That is a lovely photo of the inaugural meet. What happened to old Oscar Hotel, whom I thought was dead dishy and also chivalrous in the extreme?

2/3 of may is a bit too soon for moi, but i'm up for italian luncheon (or similar) around the 9/10, weather permitting of course. anybody else? please don't leave me alone with billy

It must still be my birthday.

I got a bottle of champange delivered to my desk this morning. My boss just took me out for the nicest Japanese lunch, and insisted on paying. And work seems to be letting me on MV for the time being.

i think he's a big dogg in the vespa club of britain - and probably doesn't have time for our wee club that ain't a club

i didn't think he was dishy at all but he was awfully nice and he had a great topcase

i wanna work where you work

Aw, that is nice!

Ah if you are serious we can go to Vasco & Piero's on Poland St which is great! Observe their superlative menu for lunch:

http://www.vascosfood.com/lunchmenu.cfm

Or there iws Bocca di Lupo, also great.

2/3 cannot be done as at wedding, 9/10 is okay.

9/10 is looking good. Don't worry Genie you'll be safe with me nya ha ha.

Now where's my Child Catcher outfit from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ?

Happy Belated Birthday Benelli Boy.

You guys choose the resturant.

Regards

Billy

I like the sound of the Bocca di Lupo, though I suppose there may not be real actual wolves involved.

Bank Holiday weekend is out as I'm touring the Somme; 9/10 is possible, though I really need to do an oil change on the ET4 at some point (and yes, that can take up to an entire day, or at least the cleanup operation can).

oh yeah. that menu looks gorgeous. i'm up for it even if it's raining and the scooters have to be left at home.

It seems to be looking good for the 9th/10th of May people.

Any other good looking people want to come along ?

Tailor Mark ? 558 ?

Regards Bill X

How do you know I'm good looking we have yet to meet

I think I will be able to come along... A last breath of freedom before the A-level gloom kicks in

9/10 May looking OK here - but if a good ride in the country lanes crops up I'm afraid I'll choose that instead. Of course we could do the lovely lunch to be followed by the lovely ride.

I don't know that I can make any weekend before the 15th guys, will see

This is likely to open a can of worms, if not worse but...
is it likely to be the 9th or the 10th?

do you know what you've just started?????

just in case you didn't .... another 50-page thread of hopeless, endless waffling and indecision

I'm sorry
If I could take it back I would

558 Let me explain - It could be the 9th or the 10th of May.

I'll decline the offer of a ride afterwards mainly because I'd much rather spend time with the good looking people and socialising with a crowd of people I really like than ride some more.
What could be better than hanging out with like minded friends and good food thrown in for good measure ?
Lets hope for good weather and if not I'll jump on the train and sit with the great unwashed.

Plus I doubt it will be fast enough for my tastes.
Having said that I do like to ride with the pack but I've found that my riding style is a little bit too full on for others and therefore doesn't really fit in with a group ride.
As those that have run with me know I'm not wreckless but I do enjoy carrying a bit of speed and commitment.
I'm waiting with baited breath to hear from Genie and her new K61's to see if they are better than the Pirellis.

Ride safe all

Billy-no-scoot

jury is still out on the K61s - it's too soon for me to tell. my mechanic took the 'Loper for a spin after installing them yesterday and absolutely loved them, so i'm sure i'll come to love them too, but right now they just feel strange. i also found that as soon as i got up to 50mph i started imagining that scary drifty feeling i got when the rear tyre blew out, so i imagine i'll be riding like a fairy for a good few days.

billy are you saying that you're dumping us for anything other than gustatory purposes? what about my riding lessons i'm destined to be a fairy for life now

You stole my line!

That feeling is usual when anything happens. I had a senior moment in the Blackwall Tunnel northbound on Sunday, being memerised by the flashing lights, corners and lorries drifting across the double whites - it has taken me til now to recover.

I think the K61s will be somewhat firmer than the Pirellis, if the Reifentest is anything to go by.

the blackwall tunnel is a bit mental. it's like a rave in there with all the flashing lights and whatnot. i find that it helps to wear sunglasses.

my lovely mechanic gave me a lift into the garage this morning to pick up the 'Loper. it was my first time ever on a huge motocross bike what fun - going over speed humps i was flying up off the back seat. it's a bit like riding a horse, you really have to use your whole body to stay on board. my thighs still hurt.

re. firmness - i think that's what's putting me off a bit - those Pirellis were really soft. I also think Kelvin may have put more air in the Heidenaus than i like, i'll check when i get home this evening.

I'm sick. This is my forth day of gastro hell.

I've never been so damn bored before.

you haven't been to mexico have you? or thought about mexico? or come into contact with anybody who has planned on thinking about mexican pigs? if you answered yes to any of the above, please start washing your hands right now and don't stop until the pandemic has passed

Pah, I won't have caught anything fashionable like swine flu, this is all due to a badly cooked pub burger in Chigwell.

Do you know that the Guvverment intends to send us all a leaflet on swine flu?

The Metro is already referring to the impending 'aporkalypse'.

I am the person who rode into the Blackwall Tunnel wearing shades and wondered why it was so dark

Hope you emerge from gastro hell soon, Kate!

I do that all the time with that left had bend going into town on the A12, where it tunnels under the Hackney Interchange. The bend is fairly tight and by the time I realise that my shaded inner visor is down tis usually too late to do anything.

You shouldn't eat burgers in Chigwell Kate. What on earth were you doing in Chigwell anyway?!

What a bleeding waste of taxpayer's money that is...

OI! what about me? i'm bloody gorgeous

Doug is that you standing on Hove beach? and Genie I cant tell the difference between your old 3 year old heroin addict avatar and your new one

Not Hove, but close, it's on Brighton beach, just east of the palace pier.

I know that now...

I went for a walk called the "London Loop" at the weekend and stopped at the least bad looking pub in Chigwell to refresh myself. Bad mistake!