Cha-cha-cha-cha-changes.....

Sold the Seat car on the island, and rode the Africa Twin down here. M & D sold me their old VW Bora so that I've got something to roll around in, those happening sounds of radio 4 blaring out of the open windows.....

I've got the bike through its first MOT test in nearly 3 years (last one was in Jan 07 in N. Ireland when I bought it as the IOM doesn't have them) with flying colours, so will have to go down to Exeter in the next week or so to re-register it.

I've been humming and hawing about what to do next for transport - I've thought about a 60s VW camper as it's been a dream for years, but I think I've missed the boat on those. They're so damned expensive - last time I looked at one in the early 90s it was £1500 - a similar condition one now would be closer to £8-9k! A good one is cloer to £12,000 - too rich for my blood!

So back to musing on a new bike - I realised that I've never bought a vehicle that was younger than 8 years old on day of purchase, so I think, at 37, it's time to treat myself! I thought about a scooter, but then nah, I thought about a sports bike but that's not my scene, man! Back to the adventure sports rides, and as I enjoyed my Dominatrix (Honda NX650 Dominator) a single cylinder bike might be back on the agenda.

I sat on a Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré at the local dealer yesterday, and (damn my little legs!) I could just about get both sets of toes touching the floor! It can be lowered, plus my bulk will probably lower it slightly as it all settles in, so I'm gonna arrange a test ride next Saturday

Settling in

Over a month since my last post - "I'm not the Messiah, I'm a very naughty boy" (in best Life of Brian mimicry).

Settled back in to my old room at the parent's house now, built some shelving with my dad to hold my books and dvds - the CDs are still boxed up in the garage with nowhere to store them, along with umpteen other boxes (mostly kitchen goods, crockery, glasse, etc). Still haven't found my iPod Touch or torque wrench though

Hmm, I suppose the title of this blog no longer applies, having been off Mann for 6 weeks now (still miss some of the people though), so I shall think of something witty etc to rename it as.

Still got stuff to do here, but at least I've got a desk to work from when broadband was down for a couple of days, as I went up to Ikea in Brizzul. Connection to work can be slow sometimes, but it's great to be able to wander in to work at 8.30 and finish when I want to, and when I can afford to.

Movement, finally

Had an email from my advocate, and the apartment sale is finally going through - meeting with him on Friday morning to sign various bits and pieces, and then the money comes from the buyer on the 31st.

So, M&D have now booked the Transit and the ferry crossing, coming over next Tuesday afternoon, going back on Thursday afternoon, and I've booked the single crossing for the bike on the Thursday too - should get home around 11pm or so, so long day.

Stuff to take to charity shop/chuck - dvd/cd rack, settees, bookcases (maybe), computer desk, double mattress, coffee table, old crockery, corner shelving unit -wow, lots of stuff, I'd better get a wriggle on!

Starting to feel more with it now - whoever heard of having to fax through a repeat prescription request in this day and age though??

Tired, but the end of the working day is nigh, and I'm going to see Ice Age 3 tonight, so that might help take my mind off its home-grown worries and strifes.

Will someone please hurry up and invent a switch for the back of my head that will turn off the bits of my brain that don't let me get off to sleep!

Oh me

Well, the apartment passed the pre-sale inspection on Friday so another step forward.

Went out on Kaiy's 21st on Saturday night, had a few wodkas and home by 1, unlike Kaiy who had a couple too many rums.....

Woke up this morning to a few shakes and tears, and no beta-blockers around :-( Time to get a repeat prescription, I think.

Moving forward

Well, contact with the advocate this morning, and stuff is progressing - he's sending the various forms to the Attorney General's office today. He sees no problem with hitting my end of July completion aim.

Still not heard anything from the government about viewing the apartment though....

Should get my iLap laptop stand in the next day or so, and just ordered 4gb or memory for the MBP - should make life a little easier.

Updated my travelogues website to include last September's trip to Dartmoor finally - it's only taken 10 months lol

Closer and closer

Well, been a few weeks since my last entry, but not been much to tell.

Apart from, I'm still going, but my flatmate hasn't been offered the apartment, so back to square one on that front. Joy of joys, the advocate dealing with the sale of the apartment is now moving to a new firm - he's taking my work with him, but I haven't got new contact details yet. I'll have to send an e-mail to his old address and hope he still gets them! Haven't heard anything from the government yet, which is annoying.

I've found out that paperback books and DVDs fit perfectly into lettuce boxes from the supermarket lol so first four boxes of things done. A friend might be popping over at the weekend with some more boxes to start packing the kitchen stuff.

Had a few texts from my parents, on holiday for 17 days in the south west of France - they hit 98f in the shade (36c) and told me I'm not allowed to move there as it's too hot in the summer lol Told them if I move to France it'll be to near the mountains anyway :-)

The boss has already asked if I'll be free to do a demo of the software in Honiton, Devon on the 7th August - hmmm, 32 miles each way at 40ppm, that's £25 earned lol

Starting to hit home that I'll be leaving some true friends behind (and I hope they know who they are), but with the marvels of computers and phones, we'll stay in touch, and once I get a new place, I'll open the door to all waifs and strays who want to come visit :-) Might even try and talk Kaiy into coming down for a break lol

Going to try and do more stuff, both on the bike and off, maybe hit Lunnon for a weekend or two, maybe see a show or three (you listening, boop? lol), go away for long weekends as the bank holidays allow, and try to get back onto the continent on the bike. Also got to fit in going to see Pete in HK before he leaves there - busy, busy!