Wednesday, 28 February 2007

My Package

No, not that sort of package - this is what all the fuss was about



a nice big box from Motohaus in Hampshire. Got it home and did the 'pass the parcel' trick, gradually removing packaging stuff, to find these:



The new crash bars for my Africa Twin - at £130 a side for the fairing panels, this might give a bit of protection for my wallet!

As a bonus, the bubble-wrap bags that they came in have made perfect packing material for the centre stand and Dominator seat that I'm selling, so hopefully they'll get a sensible postage price tonight when I take them up to the sorting office.

Just need to find a nice weekend day to fit the bars now.

Next stop will probably be a tank bag and some more straps to hold my waterproof bag on the rack.

Tuesday, 27 February 2007

Post Office - grr

On a mini rant right now with the postal service - ordered new crash bars for the Africa Twin and they were despatched from Odiham in Hampshire on Tuesday 20th Feb, and they still haven't arrived in the IOM!

Also, got a buyer for the centre stand off my old bike who lives in Norway, and the initial quote for the postage is £35! I'm only asking £40 for the centre stand! I think the package prices are now taking the proverbial, especially as the same package would only cost £45 with FedEx, the courier company!

My spare seat for the Dominatrix has also found a buyer in Wales, and 2-day post for that is only £8 - much more acceptable! Just need to find a box big enough now lol

[Edit]What do you know, get home from work today and there's a card to say DHL tried to deliver something - DHL??? Went out and picked up the parcel, it's my crash bars! Bonus is that the bubble wrap bags that the bars were wrapped in is perfect for the seat and centre stand - both wrapped up and covered in brown paper and parcel tape ready to send :-)

Sunday, 25 February 2007

The Raven

Another week done, just doing same-o at work, relaxing in the evenings.

Didn't do anything yesterday (Sat) really, just bimbled around at home, but today was a ride with the UKGSer lot with lunch at The Raven pub in Ballaugh. Rode down from Douglas to Port Erin in the morning, meeting the others at The Haven pub. Filled up the bike at the petrol station (206 miles, just under 19 litres, 50mpg!), then we rode up to Ballaugh via The Sloc hill (through the fog), turning off for Peel at Cross Fourways. Rode along the quay in Peel, then up via the coast road to Kirk Michael, re-joined the TT course at Douglas Road Corner and followed it to Ballaugh, where we had a table booked for lunch at The Raven.

Had a beef roast for lunch, much chatting and laughing, then we broke up to head our separate ways. I followed the TT course, with a stupid young lad driving a Fiesta with R plates first following me, then overtaking on blind bends and brows of hills, doing 70 in a 50 etc - I kept away from him! Rode over the Mountain in thick fog, then stopped at Harry's for a cuppa and a chat. Started raining hard, so had another cuppa :-)

Now home to do laundry, eat tea etc.

Wednesday, 21 February 2007

Music & Lyrics

Went to see the new Hugh Grant film tonight, co-starring Drew Barrymore. Hugh's character Alex is a 80s pop has-been, asked to write a new record for a modern starlet, and he's never been one for the lyrics. Enter Drew's character Sophie, who's only there to tend to Alex's house plants, but turns out to have a natural talent for song lyrics.

Not one of Hugh's better films, but still has some good bits (both cringe-worthy and laughing), and it was made all the better by the company - great to see you again, Sara :-)

Sunday, 18 February 2007

Numb fingertips

Woke up this morning at about 9, looked out the window and saw a beautiful sunny day, so decided to go for a quick lap around the TT course (well quick in contrast - I do it in an hour, the top racers do it in 18 minutes :-D ). Geared up and went out to the bike by 10am.

Wheeled it onto the road and set off - hmmm, this is a bit nippy out. Joined the course at Quarterbridge and headed off towards Peel. Going fine, if a little chilly, and followed the course at Ballacraine - went over Ballig Bridge and glanced over at the field - eeek, it's white! Overnight frost so I took it careful all through Glen Helen until I climbed up out onto the Cronk-y-Voddy straight. I was able to open the throttle a bit more there, but I still took it carefully all the way to Ramsey, especially when under the trees and in shadow.

As I rode through Ramsey I saw the matrix sign at White Gates - Caution-Mountain Ice! Darn, no nice clean run today then. Continued on up over the Mountain, no ice around but I still took it carefully in the corners etc, overtaking the slower moving cars where possible. Came down the straight from Creg-ny-Baa heading towards Brandish and wow! They really have changed the corner from an almost 90-degree left corner to a smooth, sweeping left-hand bend - the racers are really going to carry some speed through here!

Stopped off at Harry's for a cuppa - my fingertips were numb with cold so needed the hot tea mug to warm them up :-) Had a chat then off home, for an afternoon of laundry etc :-(

Time to chill for the evening now

Saturday, 17 February 2007

Covered in paint

Another week at work, struggling to get some database scripts to work. Didn't do much in the evenings, just groceries, and a TT Marshal's meeting on Thursday night in the Press Centre up at the Grandstand, talking about some possible plans for the Centenary TT this year.

Friday night my flatmate and I went to a store car park so that he could practice his driving techniques - he's only learning, and is having trouble with finding the clutch bite point, so a few stops and starts done to give him practice.

Today I was up at the Grandstand again all day, helping out with some furniture moving and re-painting the hospitality suite to turn it into the IOM TT Hall of Fame. We also put a coat of paint in the race office. Got a bit frustrated though as it was a gorgeous day, and wished I could've been out on the bike!

Stopped off at my mate Harry's on the way home to lend him my copy of the TT100 book, and a general chat. Had tea up there and then came home to have a shower to remove the paint splatters, and to put my splattered clothes through the laundry.

Just chilling now

Sunday, 11 February 2007

Quick ride

Didn't go for a ride yesterday, I don't tend to when I'm tired, but a much better day today weather-wise, so I went out for a quick bimble. Down from Douglas to Castletown, then back up to Foxdale and home via the back roads - only 30 miles, but each mile ridden is giving me back more confidence after the accident, and more confidence in the bike.

I was going to ride around the island, but it was cold and the metacarpal that I dislocated in my left hand was aching a fair bit by about half-way round, so I called it quits.

I did stop to look at "my" house - or rather the decrepit farmhouse that I'd buy if I had the money, to re-build.



Friday, 9 February 2007

Blahs

Another week over at work, and since coming back from my parents' I've had a big case of the blahs - don't know why, maybe it's just the time of year etc *shrugs* Hopefully the weather will improve soon, bringing the delights of the sun and warmer days

Sunday, 4 February 2007

Long weekend in Yeovil

Just got back from a long weekend back at the parent's - my last grandparent died last week, so it was the funeral at the crematorium on Friday.

Heck of a journey - flight to Liverpool, train to Bristol Temple Meads changing at Crewe, then picked up there by my brother and parents for the last 40-odd miles to home.

The funeral went as well as can be expected, and I saw members of the family that I haven't seen for a number of months. The internment of the ashes is set for the 17th February.

On Saturday, my brother's friend had sponsors tickets for the Yeovil Town football game, so I went along to watch, with a few beers in the bar before, during and after the game - I decided not to stay out with them though as I travelled home today (Sunday). Rather tipsy when I got back to my parent's house!

Travelled home today using the same route reversed - slight delay on the flight back to the island as the island had been fogged in, but got in finally about 45 minutes late