Don't usually do jokes.....

....but I found these names on Yahoo and I thought they were so funny I would share them with you!

"Here's the full list of unfortunate names from the UK: Stan Still, Helen Back, Doug Hole, Terry Bull, Tim Burr, Rose Bush, Pearl Button, Will Power, Barry Cade, Mary Christmas, Chris Cross, Teresa Green, Ray Gunn, Jo King, Sonny Day, Justin Case, Lee King and Max Power.

A similar search in the US found these: Bill Board, Anna Prentice, Annette Curtain and my personal favourite Carrie Oakey".

Doug's latest bike and an update on mine...

Doug finally brought his 750 Triumph Trident 3 into work today, and what a beastie of a bike it is! I understand that it is known as the first superbike, and also that it is the last bike designed/built by Triumph. Nice!

Doug has also rescued my bike by putting a new barrel on a custom decompressor cable, made from a pushbike gear lever. Fitted it lunchtime, and it works. Still a complete pain in the but to start, though. The electronic ignition and new ammeter arrived a couple of days ago, just need to fit them. I must say, once the bike is running it goes and ticks over well, it's just starting it!

Last night we finally got to see "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", staring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. It's a love story, basically. Brad Pitt plays Benjamin, who is born old and gets younger and younger until he becomes a baby and dies. Cate Blanchett is the love interest that meets the old Benjamin when she is a young girl and as she grows old, he grows younger. It's a good, arty film, long at 2hrs 30 minutes, but worth it. Well at least I thought so. We went to the Reel Cinema in Andover, for the first time.

Anyway, lot's going on, maybe I will post again, soon....

Been busy....and working on the 'bike!

Unusual I know but I have been busy AND I have done some work on the bike! I think I mentioned that the throttle cable broke on the RE, so a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday I decided to take the tank off (recommended by Pete's manual) and had to take the seat off, then I was cleaning around the bottom of the bike and I took the footrests off and the brake arm!

Having drained the petrol tank, I then took off the front wheel....because it was clonking. Spent a while cleaning it (there is a line of rust around the rim). Also took off the front mudguard. And cleaned it!

Decided to replace the handlebars, the original ones were some odd hi-rise things, so I bought "proper" low rise handlebars for an Indian import Bullet, new hand grips and a kit of new rubbers (to replace the one rubber holding the speedo cable to the front mudguard).

A week later and the bit's had arrived, so on Sunday I thought I would spend a couple of hours fitting them. No! The original (Magura) hand grips etc would not fit in the handlebars, even though they are the same 22mm. I had to file out with all sorts of things the centre of the bits! Took ages! Finally got it all together, and tried to start it.

It started first kick, then died. A few kicks later it started again, then died. And again! I checked the plug and cleaned it, checked the fuel, tried again. Then the decompressor lever broke! So I gave up...

Next day (Monday) tried to get a new decompressor lever, but Hitchcocks say it's no longer available. Can't get it from Ashwin in India, either. Nut's! Monday night the bike started OK (there was not enough fuel to run it on main, but it ran on reserve). Have to push the decompressor manually, which is ok when it is not too hot! Went out to Tidworth and got petrol.

Been thinkimg what to do, don't want to fit a chrome lever, would prefer to find a second hand Magura lever from Ebay. Might botch it with a pushbike lever for now.

Last Saturday was Valentines Day and Julies birthday, Kim and Steve came from Stevenage with their son Ben and, after lunch, we went to Salisbury. When we came back we went to the Amesbury Archer, which was packed! Remember to book next time (if there is a next time, because service was rubbish and the food cold!). had a great day...

There, now you are up-to-date (more or less!)....

Great RE Books and DVD by Paul Grace

I've just finished reading "No Way To Treat A Classic British Motorcycle" by Paul Grace, which was given to me last week for my 50th. It's a great read about how Paul takes a collection of old and donated parts and builds a 1959 framed RE Bullet Scrambler. Then he takes part in a couple of scrambles. Along the way we go to Russia for a great ride on a Ural. Fantastic!

I've also read Paul's "The Classic Motorcyle Diaries" which was a Christmas present, and I have Pauls' DVD of his trip up to the Himalayan snow line on a RE loaned to him by an Indian Enfield Dealer (the same one used by Charlie Boorman On his TV show, By Any Means).

Called "The Long Way Up", Paul's DVD documents his trip on the RE with a new-found Indian friend, with no support vehicles, camera crews etc etc. As much as I like "Long Way Round/Down/Pari-Dakar/By Any Means" etc, this DVD is a refreshing and somewhat spritual trip on a motorcycle. I wish I could try it someday!


Both books and the DVD are well worth having, and can be bought from Paul's website, www.greenlane.biz. At pocket money prices, they make great presents!

It's still snowing...........

Well it's been snowing on and off for five days now, and it's getting a bit annoying! Top picture is Wednesday morning, then Thursday morning and finally today (Friday). To be honest it was worse today than any other day! It would seem that if you come out of our village towards Andover (Hampshire)the road is clear(er), if you go left towards Tidworth (Wilts) it is awful, no gritting has been done...

The slush is really slippery, and several cars have just slid into walls or each other. At work it is clear in the carpark and surrounding roads, but it is still snowing, quite heavily. Slush has cleared up but it is windy and cold!

Yesterday I bought a Tom Tom One on the Internet from Ebay for my birthday present, and also electronic ignition and a new ammeter for the Enfield, with money from my mum and mother in law. Just waiting for delivery now.

Not doing much once I get home due to the drastic weather. Just hope it clears, it is our turn to do B&Z next Tuesday, hope the snow has gone and the school opens before then.

Nothing much planned this weekend, I guess it depends on the weather!


That's all for now....

Wow we have had some snow....

Several inches in fact! Monday morning (2nd Feb), took Dan to college, car's could not get up the little hill to work, I managed it in the Focus. Came home early. Tuesday it was just as thick in the Crescent, but clear on the main road. Took Dan to college, Julie to hospital, went to work, then took them both home again! Second time Dan has been sent home due to bad weather!

Tonite it is still snowing quite hard, so Wednesday promises to be interesting! I wonder if Dan will be sent home again! Tash has just rung from Amesbury, she is about to try and come home. Fingers crossed.....

Big changes at work, can't tell you about it until the end of the month....

REOC meeting was cancelled, give the weather! Can't wait until the summer so I can use the bike (when the throttle has been fixed!). Watching a Triumph Tiger in bit's on Ebay, not sure if I will bid...it's in Norwich!

Must go....

Well I made it!

Well I made it! 50 and a day now...

Had a great weekend, did radio as usual, had a party Saturday night, Chris and Tracie came and lot's of friends, and saw them again Sunday. Great presents, I am off driving a Porsche and a single seater racer round Thruxton!

Today there is a LOT of snow!


Bye for now...