Modern Vespa

All eventually sorted, and managed to watch the Wimbledon Gentleman's final as well.

Nearly buggered my back though, so taking some prophylactic Ibuprofen.

Oh what a great two days -

Running,Riding, Walking, Pointing at stuff, Pub lunches, Wooden brick houses, meeting up with Doug, cutting up screens, 50's Sci Fi Movies and all kinds of malarkey.

Expand tomorrow.

Bill X

That's something I miss here! "The Thing", "Destination Moon" and more.

Al

obviously you didn't indoctrinate him early enough odd how capability seems to skip a generation.

speaking of capability ... mr. dog and i successfully cut down a tall windscreen with my dremel and a standard cutoff wheel, plus a long cutting file for the final shaping if you look closely you can see one or two small scratches where the dremel slipped, but nary a chip or crack.

the sci fi folly was 'the beast from 20,000 fathoms' (1953), which is playing at a fantastic temporary open-air movie theatre under the A12: http://www.follyforaflyover.co.uk/

I had a very lovely weekend down at Howard's, which included paddling at Kimmeridge, one of my favourite places in the world.

This morning I was passed by one of our Observers on his Africa Twin, who waved a leg at me as he went by. Later I pulled up next to him at traffic lights and asked how come he always recognises me no matter what I'm riding or wearing (someone else's bike and my summer mesh, today).

"It's the way you ride," he said. As he didn't elaborate further I'm choosing to take this as a compliment...

Be careful what you say on this character. I dated her in high school.

Can you just get a collar with a bell on it?
He'll definitely hate it initially but will learn to live with it. You could always look into finding them on the torrent sites.
Being such old films there is less of a legal/moral issue in downloading them and they are all available.

Talking of Sci Fi have any of you read The Forever War by Joe Hadleman ?
It's been thrust into my hands by someone who thinks I'll like it which is always a bad sign because most of the books people think I'll like I don't.

The cut down screen works really well so now I don't regret buying it.
Doug was right, the tall screen is "interesting" on the highway at 70 mph and now all the better for losing a few inches - a bit like myself.

Bill X

That's an oxymoron, and one that I will be avoiding at all costs. Sorry.

I agree with you about capability jim and elder 'orrible though.

Don't write it of Doug. The sound and resolution on the screen were both brilliant and you soon forgot where you were.
Granted the seats were a bit hard but the atmosphere was excellent with many a titter coming from the audience when the acting ran out.
The saddest thing was at the end of the movie when the monster died after having a radioactive isotope shot into its throat, then it was roasted alive as the rollercoaster burnt to the ground around him.
All of the stars of the movie - the male lead, the love interest, the army colonel and the coast guard all seemed pretty chuffed about the outcome but it was a sad way to go for an innocent.

Bill X

I don't want to sit under a flyover in Hackney Wick to watch anything. Or look at follies for that matter. I saw a story on it on BBC London News and my immediate reaction was that it was one place I was definitely not going anywhere near. I think those meejahhhh types around London Fields and Broadway Market are getting to you.

The best thing is we had such a great time with the trendies we are going back to see 2001 in a few weeks time.
They had row boats to rent for just £2.00 so what more do you want ?
What the hell, I'm going to rent one of those next time.
It was quite romatic to watch the sun go down as we cuddled up even if it was under the A12. The roof of the "house" pokes up between and above the highway which must look a bit bizzare to the drivers.

Bill X

No matter how hard you try you're not going to convince me. Evah.

Doesn't float my boat...

if anyone is fed up to the t*ts with meeeeejah braying knobs, it's me ... and even i was charmed with the flyover folly maybe it's because the last time i saw the site 'in use', it was inhabited by a really nasty dirty traveller's encampment ... it's very refreshing to see the space put to positive use at last. and whoever programmed their movies has chosen all my favourite things - sci-fi, b-movie horror, and decent anime. joy!

are you sure you don't want to come on a boat ride with us doug?

I read it on holiday last month and LOVED it. (It was £4 in Fopp so I thought I'd take a punt.)

Sadly I had to leave it behind due to luggage room constraints, but hopefully it will find other fans at its new home in the Lot.

I thought I'd got most of my sci-fi reading over with in my teens but I've got back into it lately, thanks in part to Mr Wonder. Next up is Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land.

PS: The flyover thing sounds great, especially the boat part. I could go on snog patrol and splash water at any couples behaving disgustingly. A similar random-cinema thing is occurring in Bromley this weekend: http://www.bromley.gov.uk/site/scripts/events_info.aspx?eventID=235

One for Alice (in particular):
we get a few aeroplanes over here - apart from airliners at 35,000feet - and I generally rush out to see them, especially the Belgian Air-Force F-16s.
I heard one coming over this morning and, lo-and-behold, it was a Spitfire!
Very exciting!
I think it was a Mk9 as it had cannons on the wings.
The sky was clear blue, the aeroplane was dawdling and it was wonderful.

Addition: the two F-16s have just flown over....and under a light plane crossing their path!
Bet that pilot got a surprise.

"The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman is downloading to my Nook right now. I have been reading "Die Trying" by Lee Child (second book in the Jack Reacher series) and they are good too but I need to change it up a bit. Thanks for the tip.

Red Arrows just flown over in V-formation!
Having a great day!

Having checked the European airshow listings, I'm guessing it's:

http://www.mil.be/airshow/index.asp?LAN=nl

Enjoy!

We had a beautiful low-speed, low altitude fly-by of two A-10s yesterday, probably visiting the many Independence Day parades in the area. And when I say low (and slow) I mean that I could distinctly see the pilots face as one went left wing up under the other one. This right in my neighborhood but over the adjacent "truck route" roads and light industrial area. I was so startled I let off the handle of my battery-powered lawn mower and so happy I had to exclaim with a "woohoo" (brill I know)! A good day for happenstance air shows.

I met a very nice man on a black GTS 300 today who rode into the dealership to collect some parts so I lept on him like an eager dog seeking out a new toy.
Very similar to me in that we've both ridden bikes for years but turned to scooters a few years ago when he bought a Gilera Runner as did I.
We both agreed that there aren't any local scooter dealers worth visiting down here because pretty much all of them sell scooters as a side line not a main line plus most of the salesman would rather be trying to sell a Triumph than a Piaggio.
Nice guy and a lot better than the twat on the PX200 I met a few weeks ago.

Bill XX

Checked the VIN of the GTS250 - and yes it's on the fuel-pump recall list. Hopefully it won't be a problem, but if we have a heatwave...

Alice, what's the news on your stranded GT?

Mine is on the list too. I'm not sure if it is worth getting excited about though as it performed faultlessly on the 300 mile days it did.

Litte Gazelle Sammy is still in the vets on a drip. He seems perkier today and is about to have an ultrasound scan. I really wanted to take him home tonight.

My fuel pump gets replaced this Saturday under warranty.

B X

Motorsports has mine to take care of under warranty tomorrow. Sylvie's gets done on Thursday. Neither one of us has had a problem but I suppose we have just been dodging the bullet.

Like you I've not experienced any problems so far but for my own peace of mind I want it replaced.
It's going to have it's fork leg replaced under warranty because it's rusted at the base so I'm going to kill two birds.

Bill X

What what what!?!? Oh, I hope he's OK. Howard has offered to collect it; sorting out a date ATM. (The breakdown people continue to be helpful and lovely.)

I dunno what is up with Sammy, his scan showed squat. If he is eating, I want to take him home this evening. Michael passed his Module 1 Direct Access this morning. Hurray!

Congrats to Michael, and pettin's to Sammy! Hope everyone's celebrating together shortly.

"Litte Gazelle Sammy is still in the vets on a drip. He seems perkier today and is about to have an ultrasound scan. I really wanted to take him home tonight."

Good thoughts for the Sammy and tell Teo I miss her. (That will drive her crazy!)

Back in my fraternity days--years ago--we gave one of the brothers the nickname of Donk. We still use that term to this day, likely because nothing has changed.

Thanks Paige! Michael spent lots of time with him this afternoon feeding him by hand, and he ate a little bit for me this evening. Tao is demented.

Well this morning I fell off my mountian bike. Quite a comical moment as I attempted a U turn on what I always thought was shell-grip but it had the properties of fine shiney wet pebbles ie still slick from the night before.
A quick swear-a-thon and I was off again while praying that not too many people saw me drop it.
What jolly larks.

Keep us all posted on the kitty situation Doug.

Bill X

Poor little mite is half bald now as he has had both front legs shaved for drips, his side and tummy shaved for ultrasound and his neck for venepuncture.

We gonna see you on the Three Peaks ride again this year, Jim?

You will indeed!

Looking forward to it. I'm contemplating completing it on the LX150 instead of the GTS 300, but I'm not sure my back could deal with an all day run on those tiny wheels.

Piece of cake.

Bill X

The LX would be fine on the twisty bits - just the drag getting over to Mt Tam might be a bear. I've no choice - Dimples it shall be.

Aww, poor dude!

When I touched up the paint on my ET4 I was riding it around for a couple of weeks with a big patch on the side that was just primer, before I got round to painting. It reminded me of a spayed cat