Modern Vespa

There's a set of monks here that make Buckfast, the most lethal wine on the planet, favoured by the Glaswegian bohemian alcoholic. Their vows must be give sanctus to the damned.

A buckie miniature! And buckie in a wine glass!
Some things just wouldn't be done in Glasgow.

Buckfast is versatile and can be served in a variety of milieu. It's an anytime drink!

And by decanting it into one of these, it's possible to avoid the attentions of the local constabulary during the morning stroll to pick up your first hit of the day.

Humbug. Had an alarm-clock awareness FAIL day today. Must do better on Monday setting off for Belgium.

Wonder, thanks to you, and to TheJ, for bringing me up to speed on the enological preferences & practices of the Glaswegian street!

just back from a lovely greek meal with calamari, sea bass and greek wine.

absolutely stuffed

You're making me cry, and my mouth is watering. Takes me back three years to a little Taverna near Sounion.
Was the wine Retsina, I hope??
It's an acquired taste but it does grow on you.

At my last address I had a ground anchor and used this lock...

http://www.saundersonsecurity.co.uk/acatalog/Luma_Dogo_Procombi_Chain_and_Lock.html

The lock goes through the back wheel and acts as disc lock also along with a chain to chain it down or around some immovable object.

spent the day tootling around B-roads in Kent, with a stop at the 'Museum of Kent Life', a charming little reconstructed c19th village with oasthouses and cuddly farm animals - and 'hand sanitizer' absolutely everywhere so people could disinfect themselves after touching the nasty dirty infectious bacteria-laden farm animals for goodness sake.

anyway it was a lovely ride, much of it through fantastic greenery tunnels

There will be more of those on the 1st July Surrey lanes run.

I've discovered the cause of my recent extra lack of alarm-awareness - the bloody battery in my alarm clock was dead! Off to Belgium tomorrow at sparrow's-fart, clock now sorted so might even get up in time. Ever the optimist...

Gave myself a little preview today Jim, went down past Ryka's and then did some nice windies. Lots of bikers out, nice social day, even if I was solo. Possibly down to wearing leathers for once

Rust or not, the 300 gets better and better. 2k on the clock and it gets faster and smoother. Cleaned it Bill style (got the Auto Glym out) and then spattered it with bugs at 70... oh well. It was worth it!

Happy Monday morning to all of you in the UK from Sunday night in the states!

Hey, Genie, I had rice pudding at Rice to Riches in NYC this weekend and thought of you, but I decided it wouldn't survive the mail.

Still missing those Greek salads though.

mmmm, rice pudding i still have the spaceship bowl and the strange paddle-like spoon from Rice to Riches. very cool way to package pudding tho i do wish they'd go biodegradable ....

Morning all!

Well I'm finally back from Le Mans and I'm just a little bit knackered.
The race was great but I have to eat my words because Peugeot came 1st and 2nd and Audi 3rd which was a little upsetting, well for me anyway.
Peugeot ran a updated version of last years car after running 36 hour tests and Audi were running with a car that although had been tested had never been raced. It was thier downfall because there were a few teething problems and one or two offs so Peugeot deserved their win eventhough it pains me to say so. Great looking car too but if you look closely at the Peugeot the air goes over it but with the Audi - it being very radical, the air flows right through it. Next year it will win again of that I'm sure.
Only one problem - I won't be there to see it.
I've done it 21 times in row and I've done it every which way so this is my final visit to Le Sarthe. There really isn't anything else to prove or miss.
Not that it wasn't without event because Nik and I had a blast and I got a great thrill showing him around to all the places that are worth visiting like Mulsanne and Indianapolis but for me the shine has been and gone.

More later

Bill X

Usually I stay at the Campanile Hotel at Mayenne for 2 nights then 1 night at Liseux on the return journey but I'm glad I switched that to Laval for 3 nights this year because as we approached Mayenne we saw this huge plume of black smoke in the sky and even after 45 minutes of it belching into the sky it wasn't stopping.
As we got closer to the Super - U Supermarket - which is next to the Campanile we saw that it had been trashed by farmers by dumping erm.... farm waste, straw bails, pallets and a fair amount of tyres which they had set on fire. As per usual the police and arrived in force with one van.
I'm not sure what they were protesting about but they did a pretty good job in making thier point.
The place was a ruin so I'm glad our room was 30 mins further South but when we got to the Ibis Laval we were given a room with a double bed which frankly wasn't what I'd ordered which was one with two single beds.
Now I love Nik but not that much so we had an animated pigeon english type conversation with the reception staff then walked out in a huff and into the Formula 1 Hotel opposite which oddly enough was 9 Euros a night cheaper and joy of joys it had a bunk bed.
OK the shower was down the hall but as luck would have it Nik snores like a bastard so he had the upper and I put my ear plugs in and we slept like little lambs.
There were also 2 resturants within walking distance but one had a Genie clone working in it which was just a little too weird for me.
Same build, facial features, hair colour, smile everything. We had to go back the 2nd night just to make sure it wasn't her.

More later.

Bill X

Sounds like a groove - welcome home!

Anyway we used this place for our base for 3 days and it did pretty well but we did leave in an huge storm this morning which seemed to last at least half of the journey home.
I get a great thrill driving in heavy rain and I was glad that I coated my windshield with rain -x before we left and anyone who uses this product will understand just what a life saver it can be.
You can overtake a truck at 70 - 80 mph in storm conditions and you don't need to have your wiper blades on.

The hotel was situated right next to all the major routes in and out of Laval so it was perfect for our needs and it even had a Ford Dealership within walking distance so Nik and I did the strokey beard thing at the white Ka Studio sitting on the forecourt. I could be changing my mind again.

Anyway we both got home OK after jumping on an earlier train and the poor Fox has clocked up 920 miles door to door and didn't miss a beat but I'm still going to sell it with a years Mot in November.

It's sad to know I won't be going back to the big race again but I've had a great stretch so I have no regrets and ending my run.

Bill XX

Thank you Alice X

I've just realised I can't make the 1st of July because I'll be watching Take That at Wembley.

I'll just leave that one hanging........

Bill X

A few things...

I dont like going to the cinema for various reasons and i dont like Sci Fi films much but i went to the cinema to see Star Trek on Sunday and had a lovely time...WHY you may well ask...because i went at 11.30am on a really sunny day, it was great cos it was cheaper and there was no one in there, i'll be doing that again methinks.

Today i'll be mostly swapping exhausts on the scoot. After the rebuild, porting and general tuning work i've had done on the bike i've been testing exhuasts to see which one gives me what i'm looking for. The stock was on first then the JL righthander and for the low end tourque the stock pipe wins hands down, so i got me self a used Sito+ for £30 and it came in the post today. Its a torquier pipe anyway so it should give me a lot more low end grunt and hopefully a bit more on the top end.

just thought i'd let you know

Welcome back, Guillaume-- Congrats on the 21 year run. Are you sure you don't want to do one more year, just to make sure Audi makes a comeback...?

--Deborah

Deborah I honestly think I've been there for the last time or at least to see that race there.
I've done it so many different ways with so many different people I think I've exhausted all of the possibilities.
Yes I'm proud of having such a long record but this year made it feel like I had to keep coming back rather than I wanted to come back.
As for seeing Audi win again I've already seen them win it 9 times in a row and even when the Bentley won it had an Audi engine in the back of it.
This was the first time sinse 1993 that it was won with anything but a German engine.
Eventhough I'm a VW/Audi man at heart I was glad that a French team with a French team driver won it.
The crowd did go nuts and rightly so.
Good to end on a high though.

Bill X

Bill,

Speed Channel carried the race here in the States and I watched for you, but never caught a glimpse for the time I was on their channel. Speed was more focused on showing the cars, the pits, and the race as opposed to the spectators. It looks like a neat event; reminded me of an Indy car event I caught when I was in Vancouver several years ago. I hope you find another event you enjoy as much!

Well it's funny that you should say that because I'm going to the Spa Francorchamp Circuit in Belgium ( easily the best racing circuit in the World ) next month to try a 24 hour race there and if I like it enough I feel I'll be going back there from now on. It's closer, cheaper and alot less crowded than Le Mans. Plus it's located in the Ardenne Mountains.
Alright it nearly always rains there but who cares, there are plenty of grandstands to hide in to stay dry.
I can't explain why I like the longer races so much.
There is something quite odd about watching 6 hours of a race then going for some food and a sleep then coming back in the morning to watch the last 6 hours.

Regards

Bill X

Rescued from the second page people.

Bill X

Maver reminded me about the Duxford Aircraft Musuem meeting of the Donkei Skoks and the Norfolk Broadsmen on the 19th of July the other day so who else wants to come along ?

I'm sure that others will be made welcome as well if anyone else wants to attend.

I for one aim to be there because I can't wait to see the boys again and I'm not talking about my own testicles.

Maybe we could meet in the East London and blast North up the M11 ?
Not that I'm control freak or anything nor nuffink not niver guv'ner.

Love and Rockets

Bill X

There is also a very good chance that I'll ride down to Camber Sands on the 4th of July to meet up with Pepy because the road from my place to Rye is a blast so I'll be doing that in full chase mode if anyone wants to join me. Who want's to chase me ?
I believe that there is a run to Hastings as well around 12.OO as well
Difficult to resist huh ?

If I bring Mr WM to Duxford then we will be heading up via Royston owing to his shame plates but that is a nice run which I remember from college.

Otherwise I will join you on the set the controls for the heart of the sun ride up the M11.

Cooladoodle Do.

Anymore for anymore ?

Bill X

i'm up for it if my kids' birthday parties permit.

would be great to see the nbsc again.

same goes for mr. genie and his L's of humiliation

i bought this today. finally a winter jacket that doesn't a)not fit, and/or b) make me look like a transgendered footballer.

Ooh, its nice and I like the fact it is not black. Richa?

duxford for me 8)

nice jacket genie, lovely curves, very feminine 8)

It goes without saying that I'll want to ride to Duxford at speed so anyone who wants to cruise at 70mph for most of the journey just put your names on a list.

I think meeting around the East between the Blackwall Tunnel and the M11 would be a good place to gather.

Dear Father Christmas I don't often ask for much but please don't let it rain that day.

Maver how many of the other "Gentlemen with a fuller figure " can you bring along with you ?

I have no idea how much it costs to get in but that's not much of an issue is it ?

Love and Rockets

Bill X

Frank Thomas 'Zarina'. On sale right now at Infinity for a mere ton. the colour i bought is actually the lightest shade, below. it also comes in the darker grey shown above, a very lovely dark brown, and black. and they throw in a fluffy furry neck thing for added coziness in extra chilly weather.

Wonder, Husky and Doug will know that i have tried on nearly every women's textile jacket available in the greater london area, and rejected them all as being too damn short and allowing the dreaded chilly gap between trouser top and bottom of jacket. The tail on this new one reaches all the way down to my bum

anybody want to buy my Richa? bargain at £40.

Out of the running on the jacket thing - too many of the damn things already.

Good news on the shame plates for Mr WM. He is taking his theory test, and having received a bonus from work, now has enough cash to take some extra training to pass his test and buy a good 250 afterwards. Yippee!

And a nice story too. On parking up, Mr WM talked to a GT 125 rider and said what a good scoot the GT 125 was. Rider pointed at the 300 parked up nearby and said "yeah, but that's the daddy".

Mr WM, "That belongs to my wife".

What a pleasant evening I am already having.

My good friend Paul has just dropped over to catch up on all the gossip and Christ if you thought I was a cronic flirt you should meet him.

I think I've met my match when it comes to the "Well if you are ever in the area" kind of guy. He is terrible but in really good way.

Anyway he's just left and while I'm waiting for 2 more good friends of mine Andrew and Tracy to come over I'm playing Micheal Mymans Film Music 1980 - 2001 CD which has soothed my mood some what after a very busy week at work.

The child in me is telling me to go and see Transformers at the weekend.

Love and Rockets

Bill X

just off out the door to see christian marclay and shelley hirsch in dalston. oooo hipster friday night

I can't wait 8)

Nice one!