Modern Vespa

I am not allowed to tell them they are thick and incompetent because otherwise I will be reported to the National Bullying Helpline.

University education in Britain is in very bad shape. If it was my money, I'd employ a school leaver. School leavers don't have the same level of expectant stupidity that I will fill in all the difficult bits for them.

Oh, I was utterly wet behind the ears on graduation; I wouldn't have employed me, but luckily someone eventually did.

I did know the difference between a possessive and a plural, mind.

I'm going to see 'Nation' at the NT tonight! Tickets are only a fiver! Mixed reviews but we'll see.

edit: Oh look, it's trying to rain and snow at the same time. Hoorah.

bloody graduates!

i went back to college as a mature student at the age of 25 after 6 years of hard graft as a courier. once i'd landed in student-land i couldn't believe what a fuss they all made about a bit of reading and essay writing. i was able to continue working 30 hours a week in the evenings and weekends to pay my rent, car expenses, holidays and going out costs and still managed to get my work done on time.

sorry to hear about your cat, genie. i've been there twice before and there's something quite noble about making the right decision on time. we are, after all, defined by the responsibilities we take. very sad, though.

By contrast I have another officer who has been working since he was 16 and you know what, he's brilliant, smart and constantly shows the initiative the thicky grad lacks. I am writing a reference for him for a job he will certainly get because he is excellent.

He probably would get a lot OUT (SPACKER EDIT) of university if he wanted to go. Unlike the numbskull who regarded it as a finishing school.

Spacktard

out, you need to insert the word "out" to make the sentance work.......

5/10

see me after class

Guilty as charged!

Time for an edit...

Oh crap. I've had a pretty reasonable day.

A couple of "all things happening at once" moments but other than that OK.

I feel bad now.

Tough call Genie but you know it's for the best.

Touch Cheese Wonder. Did you pronounce the K in Fucking Hell ?

Bill XX

Mr Wonderful - Both Cock and Shaft in one post - just hilarious.

Funny and very helpful too.

A rare combination.

Bill X

I've just given blood so I'm all smug! And tonight I am having dinner with the lovely Benelli Boy and Benelli Girl, and indeed Benelli Baby! Yay!

Well done for doing your bit, Alice.

I gave blood once, but have since developed a phobia of big needles interacting with body parts so am now unable to give any more. It's a sorry development, really, but for me the original donation was a failed experiment in aversion therapy for my growing squeamishness.

I don't mind needles but I have a phobia of being sick/fainting in public, which doesn't go well with lying down on a bed in close proximity to loads of other people with a tube attached to my arm. I always make sure I take a good book!

I was talking to a customer today, someone who I have been chatting and talking to since I was a kid. I always knew he was really well known around the area but never really thought about it. Anyway he spots the GTS out back and we get talking scooter. His name is Eddy Grimstead and it turns out he used to sell scooters back in the day. Earlier this evening I was reading Scootering magazine and he is mentioned as one of the first scooter shops to mix and match body panels and to offer custom paint and chrome back in the 60's. I called my dad who said he bought a 200cc Vespa back in the day. I said yeah right. Anyway I did a google and found this. Small world.

That's cool! 8)

A tenner for a different paintjob? Don't suppose he mentioned getting back into the game?

Just a quick 1 -
1. Genie - I feel for you and the tender one. Best to you both. It's going to get far worse in the short term, I'm sad to say.
2. Wonder - Incredible day, eh? Hang in there, it can't get worse, all things considered, can it?
3. TailorMarc - THE Eddy Grimstead? Well known all over, I'd say. This is incredible - thought that story was done and over with. Good for him. He must be well on?
4. Huskyteer - Did you know that I'm unable to give blood here in the states due to spending more than six months total in the U.K. since 1980? Something about a mad old cow that can't work with graduate students I never fail to check to see if my blood is currently good enough when the old bloodmobile rolls around, though!

Cheers everyone... and good morning.

bloody hell

THE eddy grimstead

I'm now stuck cleaning someone else's mess AGAIN.

Yeah, trial list and all evidence by Monday. Dental surgery on Tuesday.

If there's one thing I can't stand its having to sort out someone else's f'king legally binding mess.

Morning dudes! A taxi driver THANKED me this morning for letting him pull out from behind a bus that was stopping. Hell must have frozen over.

Ronin - yeah, lots of countries reject blood from anyone who lived in the UK during mad cow season. Luckily we still use our own or we wouldn't have any!

Sorry there's so much suck in your life currently, Wonder. I know you will clean up the mess really, really well, and hopefully earn undying gratitude though I suspect not.

Alice, what a result. Perhaps it was because the sun shone this morning?

On my trial I've got him bang to rights because he's a lying, cheating arse. And I have PROOF.

I should be in excellent shape to fillet him shitless on Monday morning in court. Which will be some compensation for the fact that my otherwise perfectly organised week was disrupted by this legal turd. Fear the very tired grumpeh defence solicitor with toothache, taking legalised smack for the pain. Be very, very afraid.

god help him

seeing as you're having some success in slapping down lying, cheating arseholes ... perhaps you would care to take on my senior management team? I am in the process of filing an Employment Tribunal Claim against them, for breach of promise, and unpaid wages. (that's a joke, btw - i'll be represented for free by a union lawyer - but perhaps you can send some vibes my way )

Little Orky aka wee kitty aka lil' miss aka animalita passed into kitty heaven around noon today. The kind vet paid a home visit. She was fierceness to the very end - her last mortal act was to bite me hard on the thumb as the vet was injecting her. I'd envisioned a calm and claw-free passage into the next world, but she wasn't having it

condolences genie

i'm a cat lover but no longer a cat owner, my 3 big boys went some time ago

She sounds like a smasher. And look at those lovely white toes! *sympathetic hugs*

Aww, a love bite.

Character cats are the best ones. I'm so sorry.

4 iron of the tee

An old Pilot sat down at the Starbucks and ordered a cup of coffee.
As he sat sipping his coffee, a young woman sat down next to him.
She turned to the pilot and asked, 'Are you a real pilot?'

He replied, 'Well, I've spent my whole life flying biplanes, Cubs,
Aeronca's, Nieuports, flew in WWII in a B-29, and later in the Korean
conflict, taught 50 people to fly and gave rides to hundreds, so I guess I
am a pilot, and you, what are you?

She said, 'I'm a lesbian. I spend my whole day thinking about naked women.
As soon as I get up in the morning, I think about naked women. When I
shower, I think about naked women. When I watch TV, I think about naked
women. It seems everything makes me think of naked women.'

The two sat sipping in silence.

A little while later, a young man sat down on the other side of the old
pilot and asked: "are you a real pilot?"

He replied, 'I always thought I was, but I just found out I'm a lesbian.'

That's sweet...
Probably it was quite a comfort to her
that she could express her bitter objection to events right up to the end

(And Maver, nice job on that old classic!
)

Goodbye Little Orky.

It was a pleasure knowing you and your strange little meow.

My eyes actually welled up when I heard the news.

I'm going to miss you.

Bill XX

atleast you was with her ... me and our lass were with our bob dog when she had to go ....

then the first song i heard was rems everybody hurts ... i still well up when i hear it

Just think how different it would be if our pets could speak.

I've been lucky because all the pets I've known that had to be put down have been somebody elses.

How tough must it be to end the suffering of a pet that has given you so much love.

All good things.

Bill XX

bitsa's got two mod tits! well done you. now to post some really off-colour humour and lose them again.

i only post nice humour ... its just some people dont get it

poor little cat.

condolences, genie. sounds like she stayed true to herself to the very last bite.

The last Burns Night of the 20th Century my Mum, my brother and I took our dog down to the vet while my Dad was away at work. It was easier on the old boy if he didn't have to be there. The fact that it was Burns Night was a coincidence that means I'll never forget the date.

As the vet was explaining what was going to happen my brother was welling up and had to go out to the waiting room. Then after he gave the first jag my Mum had to go too, so I was left comforting her to end. That's it, folks, leave it all to the teenager - he'll just add it to his big pile of angst.

What an emotional bunch!

Actually it wasn't nearly as bad as that makes out, but over the next few days and weeks I really noticed how empty the house was during the tiniest moments and at the most unexpected times.

So, my point is: I feel for you, Genie, but well done again for doing the right thing.

We had to put our old friend Freddy of 17 years down, some 5 years back. He was a Yellow Lab who didn't know he was a dog.
Just thought he was a different sort of human, and so did we.
Hardest thing we ever had to do.
Haven't had a pet since as we don't think we could ever do that again.
Still we have a few of our neighbours' animals that we sort of act as god parents to as well as several feral cats that frequent our yard.
Know how you're feeling Genie.

Genie, I am sorry to hear about your poor little Orky. I know it was time and you made the correct decision, but it is still very sad and I feel for you.

Wow, One of the nation's scootering legends. 8)



And Genie, I'm sorry about the cat.

genie - I've huge sympathy with you, but glad for your cat. Best end - at least she gave you something extra to remember her by.

I've had to have quite a few dogs and cats put down over the years, always tearful, but not doing it (or not being able to do it) would have been even more heart-rending.

Agree with you, Jim.
The first one I had to put down, I couldn't bear to stay. The second, I kept company until the end.

Genie, I can just imagine your cat arriving at the pearly gates with your blood on her lips and glint in her eye. Saint Peter look out!

cheers for your good wishes everyone one of my mantras has always been 'leave the party while you're still having a good time', and i didn't want to selfishly keep her around for my sake. she'd declined significantly in the last week and i couldn't in good conscience leave her any longer.

Our neighbour's cat Felix spends a lot of time in my flat. i forgot to kick him out last night before going to bed, and this morning he greeted me by sitting on my chest and presenting me with his anus at very close range, all the while purring loudly and digging his claws into my belly. this is his standard morning routine. such a comfort

Bugger. My bike FAILED its mot today - broken exhaust stud. Could be an engine out job to drill it out

at least it's at CBS, but I'm on the bloody tube

Nuts! Hope it doesn't come to taking the engine out - I'm sure it won't *crosses fingers*