Modern Vespa

It makes me wonder why I'm still employed.

I may go to Biggin Hill for the Air Show on Saturday if anyone else is interested.

Bill X

How much to get in... ?

There's an easy way to fix that

I'll be at Biggin but I don't know if it'll be Saturday or Sunday yet. It's £21 on the door.

I spent a hour tootling around Westminster with cameras strapped to the 300 and a pillon or two.

I also realised why Westminster is such a pain in the arse... You can't stop, park or do a u turn legally and there are cameras EVERYWHERE. Even on a scooter that is painful.

By 8.30 it was choked. At 7, it was just fine.

Ooh, can I come to the premiere?

Don't get your hopes up but I think it is a great project - I'll let you know what happens.

Alice I couldn't sell the Hornet knowing that the paint that I've lovingly cleaned, dried, polished and polished then polished again would be covered with Orange paint.
One of the Hornets great qualities is it's colour and the condition of its paintwork so at least until the middle of next year it's going to remain in the family.

Come the dark month's I'll probably try and get that cowling painted to make it close to perfect.

Sorry.

Bill X

Oh yeah, I've just ordered my new half face crash helmet.

Unbelievable, Kate is the most energetic person I know. How do you find time for all that?

BTW, we need a new thread ... betting pool on when the UK gives us the first 100-page thread ... no one who posts is allowed to bet.

Before Christmas. Year unspecified.

I'm cream crackered most of the time, Bobo. Something, not me I hope, must give.

I am currently wondering what it will be. Ideally, I will throw my legal practice into the sea and become a cartoonist scooter bum once more.

Rescued from page 2 people.

Bill X

Made tonight my ultima dolce .... pizza con cioccolato
Very delicious

gustoso !!

marc that looks like a cookbook picture.

i'm getting my gear on now, i should be at your place in about twelve hours. keep a slice or two warm for me please i'll bring the wine.

Don't forget to knock me up on the way by Genie.

God I'm so hungry.

Bill X

i think i'll stick to throwing a rock through your bedroom window if you don't mind

Looking back that wasn't really the right kind of phrase was it. Sorry.

Let me re-phrase. Genie if you are on your way to Belgium would you mind waking me from my slumber so I too could enjoy the delicious gastronomic vista ?

Thank you

Bill X

This could be included in your next trip to Europe, if you come all the way to Ghent

Do you want me and Nik to drop by after the 24 hours at Spa on the 26th of July ?

I think we could be to you around 730pm ?

What do you think ?

He snores like a Bastard by the way.

Bill X

Our plan was to get a hotel near Dunkirk or Calais on the Sunday evening and then get the tunnel back in the morning but if you know somewhere closer to you guys let me know.

We'd be more than happy to visit on the way home to Blighty.

I'm getting hungry already.

Bill X

just finished getting half-way through re-decking the end of my garden. it's a lovely spot with a pergola covered in wisteria, hanging over your sozzled head.

bit knacked....and nicely pissed/ and the rest...

So this morning it was do the washing x 2, ironing (naked),dusting and hoovering then break up a bench that's been rotting in my garden for the past 10 years then clean the car.
Then sort out my Visa, Ebay and Wedding invitation/decline stuff.
After that it was meet a friend in town who has asked me to go to London with her to spend a day in a "Duck" doing a tour of London by road and in the Thames.
It was a gift for her 40th and she has no one to go with so I'm being her partner for the day.
Then later met up with Nik at the movies to go see Transformers AGAIN and it's even better 2nd time around then while we were watching the movie a huge storm came over and soaked everything and this is the first time the Hornet has seen rain so I rode it like a pussy all the way home.
Having got home I thought "na bugger it" and went straight out for another ride towards Faverham then back through Lenham.
The B roads were all a but messy from the storm and I had a few moments with the front wheel moving around on the gravel.
Poor thing will get another full valet tomorrow before a ride out to Canterbury on one of my favourite stretches of road - The A20 from Maidstone to Charing and then the A28 to Canterbury.

And just like Bruce Springsteen I'll be returning via Wye avoiding Ashford Town Center.

Sleep well all.

Bill X

Oh yeah I have a spare ticket standing for Take That at Wembley on Wednesday.

Bill, has no-one told you that for blokes at least, ironing naked is NOT a Good Idea? Bits get frazzled...

It's the danger element that keeps it exciting for me.

Let's face it ironing is really boring isn't it so why not throw in a dose of risk huh ?

I always have a box of plasters nearby.

Bill X

OK now the OCD is really kicking in.

At 6.30 this morning the Hornet was washed with Triplewax Car Shampoo then dried and leathered then the paint was polished with Autoglym.
The seat was condtioned with leather conditioner eventhough it's not leather and the vinal parts were coated with yet another Autoglym product.
The fly screen has been cleaned with a glass cleaner that looks like mud but works a treat and the belly pan was polished with some new stuff called Farecla Gold top that has a mild cutting effect.
It gently removes all the bugs and crap that sticks to the underside of the foot plate without scratching the paint.
All the fluids and tyres have been checked and now I'm off for a nice gentle ride in the country.
Have a great day all.

Bill X

no naked ironing for me today - though i may do some scantily clothed gardening due to the heat. many plants suffered in yesterday's hailstorm and i've got some triage to do i've also got to go down and see my mechanic - i successfully removed the circlip from holding the bearing into the transmission cover but the bearing itself won't budge for love nor money and i don't want to damage the cover bashing it out with a carpentry hammer and giant screwdriver. right tools needed for the job

oh, your such a tease... [added limp wrist action] . I'll get my camera out

Oh get a room you two please.

Back from my ride and now I'm picking off all the bugs off the Hornet that I murdered on my ride while listening to Talking Heads Remain in Light.

Bill XX

Page 2 huh? I blame Bill for "Having too much time on my hands".

good morning all .... just returned from the local powder coaters, who have my transmission cover and bar ends and instructions to do them in a lovely satin black. they may be ready in time for wednesday's ride - if the bar ends aren't i'm going to have to borrow a set for the surrey lanes cruise.

that is all. i'm now off to the dentist.

HOOORAAYYYYY!!

I am now entering my last week at work after Friday I shall be officially unemployed.

It may seem a bit odd to be celebrating such a thing when others are forced into this situation at the moment but i'm affraid i'm a selfish bastard and really am looking forward to the 9 weeks off

unfortunatly there is a down side to all this, in Sept I will be joining the ranks of the great unwashed and will be going back to college to be a STUDENT (again!)

so bring on the pro plus, the talking bollox til 3 in the morining, the endless games of pool and pints of snakebite and black down the SU bar, the oversized woolly hats, skinny jeans and white 80's sunglasses and uncomfortable eye contact with members of the opposite sex.

and like i said after 9 weeks of that i'll be a student again....

I'm already drooling in anticipation of Genie's tasty bar ends. (Black is a bit boring, though, don't you think?)

I had to remove those lovely paw muffs today to enjoy the breeze on my mesh-clad pinkies. I expect they'll be back on within the week when summer's over, but what a joy it was this morning blasting to work with 'God's air conditioning' on full! I pity anyone who had to use public transport.

well done christos!! employment is overrated anyways. i applaud your decision to re-engage with the institution. what kind of nonsense are you going to be studying?

alice: black is most certainly not boring on the contrary it is classy, understated, and goes with everything.

i've had my paws off for over a month

I shall be studying how to get students to study... i.e a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education.

Its a bit like being taught how to do the job i've been doing for the past 6 years by people who have only just started to do the job I've been doing for the last 6 years...

it does mean that by the end of the 1 year course I shall have a piece of paper to show that I can actually do the job I've been doing for the last 6 years and another student loan debt to add to the 4 i've already got but dont need to pay them back because I get paid so badly for the job i've been doing for the last 6 years....seriously you couldn't make this shit up

so pass the bong and stick on some Santana and we'll all have a jolly good time

Alice: What the hell have you been doing riding with muffs still on your bike i cant imagine the amount of moisture you must be generating (mmm does that sound bad??) . I'm actually considering taking a hole punch to the back of my £4.99 gardening gloves and turning them into a perforated pair its so bloody hot

I've still got the muffs on my bikes, and am still using the gloves I use in winter. No problems at all!

Mark ewe, those gloves are fully vented summer gloves.

Every time I thought about taking the muffs off, the weather took a turn for the worse! I've appreciated them a great deal in recent weeks when I've come back from somewhere late at night in the rain.

christos, your descriptions of student life are frighteningly accurate (especially the bong / santana)

Alice I'll be honest I wasn't sure about the matt black look on the Interloper but I've been proven wrong because with each black addition it simply looks better.

Christos you have my respect for going back to learning stuff.
I'm sure at the end when you have your bit of paper it will all be worth it.
My problem is that I need to keep the money flowing and I simply couldn't afford to go and study.
I find when I don't understand something or want to learn I read a book about it. What a cop out huh ?
Well done that man.

Love and Rockets

Bill X

How is that a cop out? It's more than what some of the undergrad students nowdays do, and I've seen their results

I think that I'm envious of those who have the time, application and the income to go to university or college because living on your own at my age soaks up more cash than living with someone so I've realised I simply can't afford to go so reading a book about something I'd like to study its a cop out more of my circumstance rather than my ambition.
Bill X

Thanks for asking the question though.

Pass the crisps and ice cream sandos (it was more Yes and Pink Floyd in my circle, but it's all the same kit, isn't it? Any cartoons on? Wait...did I say that or did I just think it? ).