Modern Vespa

See you folks tomorrow! I'm tempted to bring the ET just to piss Bill off

I collected my two new gerbils today. They're Siamese colour. 'Point' and 'Click'. So cute.

Humbug. The chap who borrowed the trailer today won't be returning it until tomorrow. Ah well, that just means a further visit to Spider's will be needed.

Why the trailer? Spider has graciously agreed to give my original bike-lift a good home. Although it could take an X9, it wasn't wide enough for the Fuoco, or long enough for the GP800, so has been languishing unloved and in the bloody way to boot. As Spider won't be quite as flexible as a bendy-toy for some time, it seemed a good match.

Are these things edible???

The one's my daughter had, many years ago, were eaten by a Siamese cat.

we looked after my daughter's friend's hamster while they were on holiday a few months ago.

sadly it died on day two. my daughter was teaching it 'tricks' all day and i think it suffered heart failure due to it being kept awake all day.

we put it in a tupperware in the freezer and defrosted it the day they returned so that it looked freshly dead!

I think we'd have just bought another one and kept quiet...

That's hilarious!!!

i did, momentarily, consider CPR with drinking straw

Yes J8 on the M20. I'll be there early as usual.

Alice . I see you on the ET4 if it will start.

Bill XX

Golly - woke up in time, so see you guys at the services.

Adventure begins.

I have arrived in Reading, moved in, unpacked, got rid of my parents ( cant fit everything aboard an LX, and parked my scoot in the bike sheds.

Now just short of things to do this afternoon, suppose i will have to socialise 8)

Good luck, 558 - keep us posted, if you have any forum time between studying and partying.

Very nice couple of hours with Spider & Mrs Spider - thanks for all the cakes!

Lovely ride from the Maidstone services to Spider's with Bill and Alice. Spider may have a cracked-up pelvis, but thanks to his (and Bill's) verbal ministrations I now have craiced ribs! Huge hilarity.

Spotted a lovely couple of his'n'hers Minis outside.

Wandered through loads of lovely byways on the way home, hardly touched any A roads. 208 miles door-to-door on a glorious sunny day.

Huge thanks to one and all.

Oh, forgot. Just as I emerged onto the A25 at Limpsfield, I went up to the front at some lights, with an old Bonneville at the very front. He roared off, then ROARED away - Yes, spinning and sliding down the road was his RH silencer! I slowed the traffic down, banged on the hazards (as did the car behind), picked up the pipe and laid it on the grass at the side. 30 seconds later my hands were HOT. Whipped off the gloves pronto.

The rider came back, and the traffic went on its way. He didn't have a spanner - luckily the one provided with the Fuoco kit was the right size for him to refit the pipe. He then stayed just in front of me all the way back to Bletchingley, where he turned off, pipe still attached.

A normal 'day in the life' for a Bonnie then.

Great British build quality huh ?

It wasn't a bad day out at all was it ?
Before I met up with Jim and Alice I'd been riding badly and realised I was getting most of it wrong so I had to have a word with myself to slow down.
I'd not been on the Hornet for 2 weeks and I'd been trying to push it too hard too soon on cold tyres which was asking for trouble.

We got quite lucky on the way to Spider and Tracy's place because we got flashed and sure enough on Charing Hill was a Police Radar trap and after that little scare the pace slowed just a little bit. I'd like to thank the driver of the A4 who did the right thing and saved us all £60 and 3 points.

Once again Spider had me/us crying with laughter with his hilarious tales but my favourite was the Jeremy Kyle story. Please tell it in here when you have time mate.

Tracy how do you put up with him ? Oh yeah nice choice of cakes.
Great to see the both of you again and thanks for putting up with us.

I left early to ride down to meet up with an artist friend of mine at Dungeness who promised to show me the Derek Jarman garden so after a fry up at the cafe next to the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway we walked down the beach to it then after wondering what all the fuss was about I rode back through Old Romney,Appledore,Tenterden,Biddenden and Headcorn but I still wasn't riding very well.
I'm going into the corners too early and buggering up my apexes so I sulked most of way home for being such a crap rider.
Couldn't get my Mojo working today.
I also had a bug fly into the side of my helmet and crawl its way all around my ear for most of the return journey which was quite off putting.
Arse

Bill X

I'm kicking myself for not joining you. I had set aside time for doing things which did not get done.

I would have had much more fun out and about. Glad to hear you are recovering well Spider!

558, Good luck at Uni. I hope you have the best time.

Spider, I am sorry I did not make it to yours today. I know I said some time back that I would be along but a family thing came up.

It sounds like much fun was had by all and some some good riding on a sunny day, you lucky lot.

Bill, I might have been able to keep with you today!

On the upside the family thing that happened today was for girls only, which meant my missus and my daughter were out for the day, which left me at home with young Alfie. And being a couple of boys left at home, we sodded around all day and did nothing else except play silly games. It was a good day

I finally got a chance to jump on the scoot once the kids were asleep and the sun was down. Rode around for a couple of hours in the dark, through the lanes. An interesting and sometimes hairy ride.

thanks so very much for poping down to see us again ..

lovely day again .. cant tell you how much it picks me and tracy up ..
so good to see Jim,Alice and Bill .. sounds like you got home all ok .. anyway .. will be up on the 11th Oct for a cupcake and a pint

Again thanks from us and loads of love to you all

Looking forward to the 11th already!

It's scary how much of my social life revolves around bikes these days...I do have other friends, honest!

Sorry we couldn't make it on Sunday - sound like we missed a good time.

In accident-related news, I got a call from the sales guy at Chiswick Honda, saying my insurers had just contacted them about procuring an SH300.

Looks like things are moving along.

Hurrah! Hope it's with you soon!

With any luck it will be with you before the 11th.

Jim and Alice - it was a pleasure riding with you and Spider my ribs stiill ache from yesterday.

I used the Hornet to commute and on the jouney home I had a swift reminder why I don't use it during the week.

I almost got taken out by two cagers turning into my lane without looking and a pedestrian who walked out in front of me as the lights were going green.

Think I'll leave it in the garage tomorrow.

Bill XX

Welcome to the joys of London commuting! I'm sure Marc and Genie will concur!

I can't seem to figure this out. I'm very protective over my two vehicles and take as good care of them as I can but I don't think about the risks I take with myself and the Hornet when I take it into a corner faster than it's designed to go but when other drivers put me at risk it phases me a bit.

Does that make sense ?

Bill XX

yay gerbils! so cute how are they taking to their new home? pictures please.

You have my concurrence.

Today on the way home from work I used my middle finger in anger for the first time.

I think that's the reason that I don't like to commute on it because it's stops the rides from being special.
Alright every journey to and from work becomes and adventure but I'd rather have it easy during my commute thanks all the same.
The Hornet is like my little treat at the weekends and I actually feel guilty when I ride it to work because it worth more than that, at least to me it is.
OK this might read a little weird but because I don't have any real vices giving the Hornet a good hard run has become my little fix at the weekends and maybe that's why I like to ride quickly - because there's an element of risk to it.
Those who ride with me know that I'm not wreckless but I do like to push things a little bit in the corners which gives me such a thrill especially when I get it right.
I'm a pain when I get it wrong.

Bill X

Busy Busy Busy I swear, I haven't had time to breath. Final year of Uni has started. I found out my newly acquired Honda Pantheon needs a shitting new engine, because it has ceased up completely. Oh and the pictures that I promised to show with all the bird poo poo....when I arrived home that day it had poured down like hell so washed off all the blimming bird cack! (BTW my heart goes out to the people in the Philippines, that experienced Typhoon Andoy..My mother is over there with the family trying to sort out the mess)

Esme is experiencing random stalls and drop in speed around 30-35mph, she decides to turn off her engine when stopping briefly at zebra crossings which is a f*ing annoying as hell. To be fair, she is 9 years old, I think I am going to have to dish out on a new engine, saw an 05 engine on Ebay UK today thinking of purchasing it. Pay day tomorrow...look what I am planning to buy for Esme. http://pic.gd/56399c So umm that is going to kill my bank account.

I also have been working on a flyer/poster for the Heroes Ride. Sorry Alex dude for not getting back to you any sooner I shall message you a few of my designs soon. I have asked some customers at work if they would be interested in doing the ride and so far very good feedback just need to get something on paper, but have directed them to the blogs and donation page.

I was mean't to tell you guys more but I've forgotten the rest.. LOL

To end this reply...My little sister had a hamster not long ago. somehow escaped her cage..to find out later on that day, she was stuck on a that mice catching sticky paper. =( Wasn't a very good sight, she passed soon after that incident. My sister only got over it recently...(awwwwwwwww)

RichieRich

Hey Richie, I wish your mum and family the best.

It's good to see you back.

Marc

I have to say I'm really looking forward to the 11th at the Pilot.
It's about time that we all met up again and talked bollocks for a few hours at least. The food there is pretty good too.
It must have been Duxford when we were all together again which although was quite brilliant I think the weather could have been a little kinder to us.
Kate got a really good view of the weather from her Biplane - as you do.
If there are any non - Koks out there that want to come along you are more than welcome to attend.
We are quite a friendly bunch once you get to know us. We are quite a friendly bunch even before you get to know us !
I believe that Spider is going to make the journey so get ready for some more hilarious tales of hospital life.
It's a bit like listen with Mother but with a few more expletives thrown in. Listen with Mother~~~~er ? Just don't ask him to do his Daniel Day Lewis impression. No really don't.
Nik may even pay us a visit and yes he does exsist and he's not one of those special friends that only appear in my head when I hear the voices.

See you all there.

Bill X

i can come out with the complete script of MY LEFT FOOT .. he he he

and the DNA test are on the blokes girlfriend and ex-girlfriend .. is .. yes he was the father of the two babies .. and yes he did lie about jumping in bed with hes ex .. but theres more ... the final DNA test was ..........

will tell you on the 11th

I had an ambulance wave me past this morning. It was first in the queue at the lights and I stayed behind it in case it needed to go somewhere in a hurry, only for a hand to emerge and beckon me forward. Sometimes people are nice! (Perhaps it was an ice cream ambulance like Spider's? Tell that one mate, go on.)

Gerbil photos when I can get them to stay still long enough! They look a lot like the one in this video - it would be nice if I could get them to do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwNJi6SUOeE

Bill Dog, I think you have been somewhat usurped.

There is a newbie on board MV titled "Green Hornet."

Yes I saw that and I'm flattered somewhat. I'd rather be in the Vanguard than in the Guards Van.

Bill XX

My commute was as dull as dish water this evening.

i took the train to work today

i had some reading to do - lots of reading to do, actually - so i waited until rush hour was over and timidly boarded a metropolitan line train to northwick park. it was actually kind of nice. very quiet, and i actually got some reading done.

pegs and crash bars are back from the powder coaters.

Talking of reading I've finally got my reading bug back after not being able to focus on anything printed for 6 months.

Iain Banks's Transtition is absorbing me totally.

Spider, maybe his first book The Wasp Factory would be right up your street ? It's a bit f###ed up.

Alice can we take the Gerbils to Belgium with us and have them running up and down the dashboard ?

Bill XX

funny that .. i started a book a year ago about my trip to Italy on my old GTR .. stories to tell .. was a really fun time full of highs and lows .. of being on your own with no contact with anyone ..
its called " Eating pasta in a Parka "

will finish it one day

Great title! Surely now would be the perfect time to crack on with it...

Bill, certainly not - they would disappear under the clutch pedal, never to be seen again!

Gerby picspam:

Exploring

On top of the world

ah, bless their little gerbil hearts. they are so cute.... is 'click' camera shy? (how ironic would that be?)

the Interloper had its MOT today, which it passed with flying colours ... during the process, the gorgeous colour was admired by yet another Dave (this one at a garage in Dalston). why has everyone (apart from me) who has touched my scooter in the past three weeks, been named Dave?

My name's not dave.

That's not my name.

Bill x