Modern Vespa

So, I have been riding for about 17 years and never had a real accident.

Then, this year, back in the early spring, a minor altercation at an intersection in Belgium resulted in a fall when a rider I was with rode into the back of me.

No major harm done, little respray here and there etc.

Then, today, the builders working on my home are finally loading up the rubbish that has been building up when I arrive home. As my bike parking is near where they are loading I decide to be clever and park on the empty road for 15 mins so there is no risk of them damaging the bike (they know not to touch it at pain of death).

Next thing I know, the kids come in to tell me to go outside. The builder has reversed into the bike and knocked it over. So, side panel all scratched, trim broken and brake lever out of place. Obviously, builder feels bad (the job has not been going well for him as it is and I was about to fire him yesterday until we had a heart to heart).

Arrrrrrrrrgggggggggg.

Two knockdowns in 4 months. Both by known assailants!

Charles....

(PS: On top of this, the taps for the sink are wrong, the wall cabinet from Italy is damaged and my new electric drill has gone missing in the post).

that's a pain charles .... though part of me... wants to .... i'm sorry i can't help it



no, seriously, that's really annoying. i hope the builder is going to make good the damage. please understand that i'm only laughing because you haven't actually had a crash ... it's all just a bit slapstick ...

I never relalized remodeling could be so complicated.

OK that just blows, sorry about your scooter Charles.

O'Reilly Building Contractors?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4284283070720244890

Sorry! I too know the helpless feeling of watching from afar as my scooter goes down, and it sucks.

But look at the sunny side: you didn't go down with it, and you can afford a builder. Both good things.

You have to keep everything of value away from the builder/contractor and his workers, especially the painter. The painters seem to be the stupidest; it must be the noxious fumes they have been breathing for years. I came home one day to find our contractor about the set a saw for cutting tile on the back of my BMW convertible in the garage. I almost had an epileptic seizure Luckily, my husband stopped him before I went to jail for murder. My incident is not nearly as bad as yours. I hope it gets fixed quickly and without a dime on your part. I hope things improve.

ARGH! I feel for you Charles. Hopefully all will get sorted amicably and the quality of work on the house will now be impeccable!

That is such bad luck Charles. Watch out for the 3rd event because you know what they say about bad things.

Bill X

Well, a nights sleep and I still feel frustrated about it.

The quality of the building work has been very good and was slipping for the final stages, it will now improve dramatically!

The most annoying thing of all is that, having recently replaced the chrome leg shield trim, I vowed to never do that again as it is a total pain to remove the glovebox and floor - the builders even watched in amazement as I did it. They are also very keen to get one for themselves so they can rush between jobs sorting out bits and pieces.

I will probably fund the repair myself and make sure I get twice as much value in extra work out of them - it cannot cost me more than about £200 to fix it - I am sure I can milk about £500 of work out of them in return.

I will play this tactically in an hour or so when they arrive (I hope they do not read this website - if they do, I will give a little just to show I was only joking)!

Now, off to straighten the brake lever so I can at least still ride it, it currently points in a forward direction.

Charles.

PS: Genie, I know everyone is laughing really, it is just you who does it so openly.

CHARLES you better watch your goat since he looks like he might be the third culprit on damage to your scooter Has that glimmer of what can i put these nice big horns into next I hate it when people have blatant disregard for others property Hope all goes well and like people have said it's a good thing you weren't on the scooter. Good luck.