Hello everybody, all 5 of you.  It is 2026 you know, it's been a while since I've set foot in here.

So what's happening?  Well, I left my job at the gun factory, went to work at the largest motorcycle insurance approved repairers in the country, left to work in Petersfield at a place restoring Vintage Bentleys, then left there because it sucked big time, and went back to the motorbike repairers.

I also lost my rag with someone at the local RC club, and have not been back in 5 years, they don't miss me, and the "chequebook racing" was getting too much.  I was tucked up though, someone took a suggestion I made on social media, stopped the post from being published, then claimed my suggestion as their own, and bathed in the cocksucking that followed, it may have been a "committee member" I think, there's a YT vid of me having a rant about it, if you're bothered.  I aim to return, as I miss the racing a bit, but nowt hardcore as before.

The black cloud makes an appearance here and there, but I try and pay it no notice, so it buggers off again.  I've had the odd health issue, and my left knee is being a prick, so the move to an automatic car might be the way forward.  This also rules out dancing in 6" stilettos in the future.

Hate, so sick of it.  The slant by almost everyone I know to right wing narrow mindedness and hatred is tiring, and scary in a way.  Everyone seems obsessed about having a lying, grifting, Trump loving, nazi uniform wearing, ex tory hiring, frog faced piece of shit as the next guy in charge, what the fuck is wrong with you!  Aside from the aforementioned, can you afford private healthcare?

Trans rights.  I support Trans rights.  If you are unsure whether a trans woman should use the womens loos, read comments about trans women, mostly by men, on almost any social media platform and you realise why trans women should never have to use the blokes loos.  Trans people are just people, I don't understand why this tiny community and their lives are of any business to strangers they've never met.  If you have a problem with me not being a cunt to such a tiny amount of people, then I suggest you do one, but remember, once they start picking off one small set of people, then they'll pick another, and another, and somewhere along the line, they'll be picking on someone you'll know or love, and then what?  you'll let them carry on?  Stop the hate.

Bought a 1987 Golf GTi about 18 months ago, bit of a resto project, great fun just tinkering with it.  Hoping it makes it to tax exempt status before Rachel Reeves fucks me over some more, as it currently costs twice what my Mk6 2L diesel Golf does, mental.

Happy year, This whole post is just a quick dumping of thoughts, no gossip here.  Drop me a line, I'm still alive.  Maybe see some of you soon. 

I'm ok, thanks for your concern.

October 2023, where have the years gone?

Well, we've had covid, Which killed lots of people and saw the so called leader of the so called free world tell everyone to drink bleach, fucking bell end.

While over here, we've had umpteen PMs, all of which have been shit, and continue to be shit.

On a personal note, I left my job at the gun factory in Portsmouth to pursue a job that seemed like it might be lucrative.  Insurance work you say?  Inside the M25 you say?  Manager offering me the job told me there's no reason why I wouldn't be on £40k before too long.  Shit hot.

There was a reason, that reasons name is Simon Erith.  Nice enough bloke, but a bit of a flybynight, and isn't interested in valuing decent employees, and considering he was the one on the phone giving me the aforementioned spiel, I was nowhere fucking near £40k.  So I put my notice in.  He didn't seem to be bothered.

Went for an interview at a place called Penta, in Portsmouth, MD seemed nice, took me out for lunch, thought it was in the bag.  Turns out the other bloke in the interview had something against me as his much unliked/unskilled brother worked a the gun factory and so I never stood a chance really.  I'd rather he'd told me before I was there for 7 hours though.

Got somewhere though. So that's good.  He starts me on Monday, so I'll have a bath on Sunday. 

Not raced RC since March 2021, so that's quite some time as well.  Not one person from either of the clubs have messaged me though to ask if I'm ok.  Which, to be honest, I haven't been, and I don't want to talk about it either, cos if no cunt wants to message me asking if I'm ok after several months of being off the radar, why am I gonna bang on about it here after a couple of years.  What really fucks me off is when you help a mate out after they've had a trying time and you put yourself out for them, and check in with them to see if they're ok, and you do this for ages, but when you go quiet, you hear fuck all from them,  

Some piece of shit keeps vandalising my car.  Been going on for 18 months now.  I have reason to suspect it was the guy who bought my Octavia, 2 and a half years ago. 

Still riding motorbikes though, so everything else can go swivel.

See you in a few years...maybe

is the end nigh?

OK, so I know what you're thinking, "Oh, he's gonna harp on about the covid 19 thing.

Actually, I'm not.

You may remember from a previous post, I mentioned about really not feeling myself, sort of christmas time I think.

Well this post isn't a long one, but the gist is, starting around christmas time, I've had this feeling I won't make the year.  Don't ask me why, because I don't know.

Dying really isn't on my agenda either, and I'm not one of these people who are that depressed that they consider suicide.  This is the first time I've ever felt anything like this, and I'd rather it sod off, but it won't.

I have too much to live for quite frankly, so let's hope I'm getting myself at it.

laterz taterz

who reads this shit?

No really, who's reading this?  Because I have no idea.

Previously, on Drivel:

"I've not been feeling myself".  yeah that.  I've seen the docs and was given 2 courses of pills, kind of worked but still not sleeping.  A chat with my Dad the other day revealed I could have ulcers.  Ahhh, stress, just the result of domestic-ness and life in general.

We got a new bed, thanks to the Mother in Law, she very generously gave Lei a sum of money to get a new comfy bed that might make her condition more bearable.  We hope it works to a more or lesser extent.

Just a picked up a new off roader, so should be hitting the lanes once I've fiddled with it a little, and mot'd the thing of course.

Just seen the results of last years SRS series, out of 140 something drivers, I ended up 38th, not bad, not as good as other years, but last year was quite lean racing wise.  Still driving the SWorkz 353 and proudly driving for Answer RC Distribution.  Can I do better this year? who knows, I'll see how life pans out.

Still DIY-ing, it's coming along and I think I might be at the halfway point, so feel better now and it's not so stressfull as it was a couple of years ago.

Anyway, if you're a regular reader, gizza shout and let me know if you actually read this. 

I look forward to hearing from you, send postcards to the usual address, with a self addressed stamped envelope,

Meet me under the bridge at midnight, make sure you're not followed.

Ooh look, 2020

Alright chilblains

How was your enforced party season?  Mine was wank.  Things haven't been quite as they should for whatever reason.  So without further ado, I'll bore you with what I've been up to.  Maybe you'll slash your wrists so you can't read anymore, thus, give the planet a break with one less human to fuck it up, but don't take that personally, please read on.

Yeah, I've been feeling that way a lot more recently.  The planet is nigh on chock full of twats.  Rich twats, war monger twats, rubbish dumping twats, and thick twats.  If humans just simply ceased to exist, the world, really would, be a much better place.
Wow, and I'm the cheery one in our house, faaaarrrk.

I've found myself reading more and more about adventure biking.  I already have my Triumph Tiger XC, with bash plate, ali rad guard and heated grips, satnav and branded luggage, what more do I need!
I'm actually planning a little trek this year, one that I didn't get round to last year.  Staying in England, I'm heading to Scarborough, riding Olivers Mount, then up to Whitby and along to the Lakes, before making my way home.  I'm in the throws of mustering some camping shit too.  I have also so far watched 4 series of Adventure bike TV on youtube and occasionally buy ABR magazine and enjoy reading where people have gone.  Lyndon Poskitt is also a new favourite sportsman and Austin Vince is entertaining also.  Just bought a copy of Jupiters Travels, by Ted Simon, because I felt like I had to read it.
People will say its my age, midlife crisis and all that codswallop, but I have a younger wife, 2 motorbikes and a loud hifi, where the fuck do I go from there?

I feel like the world, or this life, even, isn't quite giving me something I need, but I don't know what that something is.  The Country is fucked, as is the world, run by central banks, arse kissers, bottom feeders and empire builders.  Yes men who are in it for the perks and not for the good of the people they are employed to look after.
It has been suggested by some that my place of employment is of a similar ilk, but I can neither confirm nor deny this, as I might be construed as a troublemaker.  My works manager already doesn't like me for saying something similar on my own social media outlet about 18 months ago, I've been scowled at every day since.

Not raced for a while unfortunately.  It would seem that I may have bitten off more than I could chew in regards to doing up a whole house on my own, so it keeps taking a lot of time up, and I'm not even a builder of any sort.  Mind you, the prick I bought the house from claimed to be in the building trade and by Odins beard, he was shit.  You outta see some of the things I have uncovered over the years.  I will get trackside soon.  I suspect Pete at Answer RC might wonder where I have gone, although, I'm hardly a big fish in the racing scene, being a club racer and all, so he might forget.

Talking of racing, I put my name in for the DXR Dirt Kings, a 4 day race meet held over the Easter weekend at the Harper Adams agriculteral college in Shropshire somewhere.  It is a capped entry, and names are chosen, mostly big names and regulars.  Needless to say, my inbox was empty regarding a confirmation email.  Maybe next year.

I've also been on a social media blackout, as I've not felt well, and I'm simply not interested in the vapid BS that goes on on these things sometimes.  If you wanna know, text and come round for a cuppa.  Sorry to those I've not got round to texting recently, I've not forgotten you, but it's a two way street y'know.

Watched Bad Boys 3 last week, that cheered me up.  It's only taken 17 years.  Lots of references, and it even kept Mark Mancinas original score from the first film in 1995 rather than the Trevor Rabin score from the second film in 2003.

Anyway, this is me signing off, with a top tip.  Keep business cards from people you don't like, so if you ever hit someones car by accident, simply write "sorry" on the card, and put the card on their wiper blades.

Laters 'Taters

Engineering

Who else here is in engineering?  Not the kind with hard hats and a clipboard, nor the sort where you have a van and go to peoples houses to do shit.  No, I'm on about Precision Engineering, with milling machines, lathes, pillar drills and swarf in your shoes.

   It may or may not be true, but I got the impression that England, as well as being a nation of seafarers and shopkeepers, were also a bit keen on Engineering, what with our history and all.

I have been in this trade since I left school so know a bit.  I currently work at a company who are world renowned for their product in their particular field.  Alas, Once you see how this product is made, you wouldn't waste your money.

I'm not saying what I do is a load of codswallop, far from it,  I take pride in my work but I'm surrounded by an infrastructure and such a backward attitude, that I can only determine that if they were a subcon firm, they would' have gone to the wall years ago.

This is very frustrating for someone in my position.  All our milling machines are Bridgeports, with the newest being a good decade old, and the oldest has to be late '80s, with the tool room in particular being in possession of an Interact Mk1, which I am led to believe was the 1st milling machine to be bought by one of the Directors.  Still, why would you still have such a machine being used?  From a technical aspect, its slow, not fit for purpose.  It doesn't have a coolant pump for starters, so you're cutting metal dry.  It can not hold programs in its memory either.  Mind you, the bloke who uses it has only just starting learning to program but even on a manual mill, couldn't machine anything to 90 degrees if he tried.

Meanwhile, in the machine shop, our plant list has various issues.  One machine can't hold a stable Z.  One can't hold more than 7000 lines of program, period.  Another leaks slideway oil in to the coolant.  Another rapids at about 5 metres a minute, while another one stops mid program because it decides not to read an M99, despite it being a running and proven program.  Another machine also likes to delete numbers from lines in a program and add numbers to other lines upon being sent out of the machine.

We use a program transfer system called Seiki Systems, and that isn't without it's problems either, as I'm sure others will attest to. 

Upon all our requests to have these things sorted, The company is loyal to one maintenance guy.  Yes, ONE.  If said guy is on holiday, we wait till he comes back.  WTAF?  That's if he bothers to fix the problem at all.  We get told there's nothing wrong with the machine or to live with it.  What kind of attitude is that?  Especially one of a multi million pound company with it's own product.

Above all that, they employ idiots and if the rumours are to be believed, they want to have only 1 or 2 skilled men, with the rest being idiots.  A colleague and I work with a couple of these less skilled people and I'll tell you for free, they do not produce a quality finished item as most days we end up mopping up after them to get the jobs out the door.  One day very soon, I'm just gonna leave their parts to one side and let them know they have to try harder or go through them again,

Payrise.  We got a payrise, which I appreciate, because I bet not every other firm was giving out payrises, but I got the same size payrise as another bloke who scraps jobs frequently, the same size as another one who runs less machinery and spends all his time on his phone in the toilet, so one can understand my frustration.

The company loves a yes man, which I am not.  They don't want to hear their idea is crap or that it will take longer than they want, they want 3 bags full Sir all the way.

Anyway, I can program in Heidenhain and Fanuc, I have experience using Fusion 360 and Featuremill for 3D milling, Nikken 4th Axis units and Fanuc horizontal mills.  I am also a certified Mitutoyo CMM user, with experience in programming and running said CMMs using MiCat.  I also have a little experience in using Mitsubishi EDMs.  I'm based in the Portsmouth area, y'know, just in case anyone is interested....

Oh yeah, I can do a bit of manual turning too.

It's been a while

So what have I been up to?

Well, Went to a friends wedding in May.  Oop North, well, the Midlands, Which to us down here, is almost Scotland.  I wasn't best man, but as we've been friends for a quarter of a century, I was asked to do a speech.  Great, except it wasn't.  I had it all planned out in my head, but the room was so hot, it made me feel quite ill, which made me forget the majority of what I was to say.  I got the first bit, then forgot the rest and ended up talking a right load of codswallop, and that's when I thought I would shut my face and sit back down.  I think the bride hates me.

Been DIY-ing

I sold my Off Road motorbike.  I found out early in the year I have osteoarthritis in my right foot.  This made starting the bike quite difficult as it was a kickstart only machine.  On the lookout for another with electric start.

Still RC racing and still driving for those top chaps at Answer RC.  Mixed bag of results lately.

Organised a Vintage RC meet at TORCH back in August.  Actual meeting went well, and we had a damn good day.  Only disappointment was the attendance.  Turns out a lot of racers are all mouth and no trousers.

Been DIY-ing, still.

Got a letter from the council.  Turns out my elderly neighbours don't like me playing music too loud.  Knock on my door first and ask me turn it down?  don't be silly.  So I've had to tiptoe around that bastard for a couple of months so far till the fuss dies down.  I'm gonna mount speakers brackets on acoustic board and change walls, just to keep the peace, if you pardon the pun.

Work sucks.  Feeling unappreciated.  Mine is a trade that requires years of knowledge, without it, parts look shit or end up wrong.  Those in charge think we're all just button nuggets, but whenever there's a prototype to be made, muggins here ends up doing it with not a single "well done" at the end.

Still DIY-ing.

Lei and I went to Torture Garden back in August, or July.  I put pics up on my Instagram, lost 5 followers overnight. HA.

That is all.

Watch out for my new book out soon, and I'm doing a documentary for Discovery Channel about transdimensional gateways and stargates which is out next year.  I'll also be on the Graham Norton Show bangin on about my book and talking shit, that will be just before christmas.

tatty bye

Bump ups, batteries, and bad news

It's been a while since my last racing blog.  Mostly as it's been a while since I was in "the zone" for racing.

Anyway, with my engine shatting its conrod at Slough SRS last year and the subsequent purchase of a new engine, which admittedly sat in its box for a while as I took time to do stuff, which I can't think for the life of me what, I thought it best to get the thing ran in and turning wheels.

The last weekend of February saw me attend the penultimate round of South Coast RCs Winter Fandango series, wearing shorts.  yes, that weekend.

So, still pedaling the SWorkz Evo 2 while I wait for new hardware.  It's now Orion Crf/HB powered and ready to be tweaked as the day goes on.

With only 19 or so in attendance, I found myself in Heat 1, so off I go.  With my engine still running quite rich, I fail to finish the 1st two rounds of qualifying as I ran out of fuel about 20 seconds before the end.  However, rather safe than sorry, at least I know it's getting a fighting chance of being ran in with a little bit of finesse instead the touch of Fred West.

Come Finals time and I'm 4th in the C.  Not exactly the best I know, but it's a new engine and I hadn't nitro'd since the Steve and Bernie Memorial race.  With Mark Harding doing me the honour of pitting for me, and an increasingly tense battle with a bloke called Pete I believe.  It all comes down to the last lap or two, and after lots of passing and passing back, Petes chances of making a return pass in the dying seconds fall short as he runs out of fuel, leaving me to breath easy and take the win, and thus, the bump up.

Last (7th) on the grid for the B and pitting for me now is, erm, wossis name, y'know, Future World Models shop guy.  Sorry if I've forgotten your name, anyway, him.
The flag goes up and I make a blinder of a start, and 2 or 3 laps in I'm 2nd.  Then, the announcement for everyone to go back to pitlane.  The timing computer has spazzed out so a restart is on order.

With the restart underway after a fashion, I get a clean start but get whacked on the way down and left for dead after the triple, 1 corner in.  So dead last again after that fiasco.  I make my way up to 3rd by the end of the 15 minutes.  I was quite pleased with that.  Not sure how much better it could've gone, but it could've gone the other way.

A week later, the 3rd of March and I have a stinking cold and it's pissing down with rain.  I'm track bound again, this time the SWorkz S12-m gets a go.  From 1/8th nitro to 1/10th 2wd.  The destination is the last round of TORCH' indoor winter jest fest, held at Swanmore Sports College.

I take one look at the track and wonder how the hell I'm going to drive that.  Looks can be deceiving and I instantly found my feet.  The track was the best of the series, with lots of little details to keep one occupied, including the 4 fingers, the radius jumps and the lino.  I was once again in heat one during qualifying, which I appeared to dominate, with 3 wins out of 4. The last of which was taken by a returning Christian Minter, driving hard.

I'm on pole for the less than glamourous D Final.  Mustn't grumble though, someone has to be.  With messyrs Minter and Mallard behind me, I predict a challenge coming my way.  Christian gives me a run for my money for a few laps but he gives me some breathing space when he makes an error, I check out, lap back markers and take leg 1 win.

Leg 2 is a carbon copy of leg 1 but leg 3 is where it fell apart, folding like a cheap hooker bending down for a twenty.  After a false start where Christian and I were already at the four fingers when the tone went, we lined up for a restart.  Mr Minter wanted this one and on the restart, my car got hit and spun round till I was dead last, and anyone who has ever done RC knows that once that happens in a 5 minute race, it's hard to make that up.

I gave chase and began to make up ground, but I couldn't quite find the rhythm I felt with the rest of the day making errors shortly after making a pass or getting whacked by back markers.  It was mostly all there toward the end though as I had made it to 2nd place and in the dying laps, I made a move on Christian over the double, but the car went up at an angle I wasn't planning on and it hit the track marking head on with a thud and Christian fucked off into the distance to take the leg 3 win. 

I took the over all win though which was nice.  Julian Mallard later cursed me for losing the last leg, as if I had beaten Christian again, he would have got 2nd, instead of the over all 3rd.

I was there with the stepson, and he was also racing, unfortunately, the wheel spring on his radio broke meaning he had no steering centre so he missed out on his Finals.

We were very appreciative though when International and National racing Legend Lee Martin and his fellow Nemo Racing mate, gave us half dozen sets of wheels and tyres, presumably having only done one run each.  Muchos Gracias guys.

So that was that.

Except on the Monday after South Coast, I got the news first hand that a good friend of ours had died suddenly.  Dianne Noble, other half of Bigz.  Had fallen foul of a horrible chain of events beginning with a cold and ending in multiple heart attacks.  We spent lots of time with Dianne and Bigz, Weekends at Brands Hatch, breakfast runs, and runs out on bikes, having known them both since 2002.  She was a lovely person and I'll always remember the lardy cakes she brought over for me when my Mum died.  RIP Dianne, you will be missed.

Driving standards Pt 1

Ok, it's been a while since I posted and although this is setting out to be a rant, I need to get it off my chest as I'm sick to the back teeth of shit road users. 

We all make the odd faux pas here and there and I'm not claiming to be perfect or know every bit of the highway code but there is a part of me that wonders how some of these imbeciles got a license in the first place or aren't dead (yet).

Let's start with the urban and country scourge known as The Cyclist.  Not all of them, but a select few who must be suffering suffocation as the air supply is blocked off by the lycra round their neck and their head up their arse.

Firstly, riding in groups and using up ALL the fucking road, at 15mph.  No matter if it's through urban streets with frigging traffic calming bollards at spaced intervals so you can't get past, or in the sticks, on a single track lane, where, you can't get past.  These bastards have no road sense or regard for other road users, and if you do try and pass them, you get a torrent of abuse.

Now, I ride a pushbike, but not like this.  Whatever happened to the highway code rule of cyclists having to ride in single file?  I've not read it for a while so don't know.  I do have a copy that is only a couple of years old so maybe I should have a look, but it surely doesn't give these gits total permission to do as they please. They think they're on a par with Lance fucking Armstrong, not likely, you're in a little club riding around getting in peoples way in the real world, on public roads, not a closed road in a televised event.....have a word with yourself.  Those of us on motorbikes are continually lambasted for riding quick, or being noisy, or dangerous, antisocial, blah blah blah, but we actually took a test and pay a pretty penny for the privilege, unlike you.

The other thing about cyclists which angers me greatly, and you see more of it around this time of year with it being dark, is their use of a flashing light on the front of their bike, what the actual fuck!!!!

As the perennially lovely Jennifer Aniston once said:  "Here's the science bit."  The human eyes and brain can't focus quick enough on a 1200 lumen strobe to judge it's speed and distance.  All it sees is a bastard flashing light.  It could be 50ft away at a standstill or 20ft away doing 25mph, it doesn't matter.  I'm sure a flashing light on the front of a vehicle is illegal isn't it?  Time to check that highway code book again, but I'm sure that since the cyclists guilty of such behaviour are saving the planet by cycling and not killing babies or local Stote habitats by using an evil diesel car, then these self righteous wankers have nothing to be afraid of......except maybe being knocked off by someone who's retinas have just burned away by some twats Cannondale with an early 90s rave strobe masquerading as a headlight, clamped to the handlebars. 

SOLID FRONT NIGHT, SAFE AT NIGHT.

That's some marketing/propaganda/public service announcement slogan drivel I just made up, prepare to see on a bus shelter ad soon, but you saw it here first.

Anyway, cyclists, how about riding sensibly, and get a sensible, solid, front light, then I won't have to shout at you anymore.

Part 2 to follow, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and remember....

Be safe, don't be a twat.

Hello blogger my old friend

"Hey, it's you, not seen you for ages, you've not been round, or written."

"Yeah, I know.  I've just been busy with doing bits to the house, working, a bit of racing, life stuff, y'know."

"Well that's all well and good but no one reads your old blogs anymore so you must come back and make new ones."

"I know, it's just I'm struggling with a few things lately, I don't need to be having a conversation with a Google owned service and it telling me it needs me or some shit."

"I'm not needy, if you want to leave blogs somewhere else be my guest, I didn't ask you to make an account did I."




No, no one did.

2nd Quarter, and things were on the up

...Except the weather that is, that still sucks.

Hello everyone, all one of you.  Welcome to my blog, nowt interesting has happened recently I'll admit except me feeling a little under the weather and not quite myself, but hopefully, with a change of seasons and a bit of fucking around with the clock, I'll be feeling a bit better pretty soon.

Work is pretty much how it was last time you read, except with an increase in the arse kisser population, the reason for that is that we've joined with the machine shop from the HQ building and been plonked in together in another building altogether.

The Summer house, now has its soffit vents, and a couple of comfy chairs, and that's it.  The glass I put in the door though does not leak and it's now insect free thanks to the fine mesh I used on the vents.

RC racing, not done any still, however, emerging from my pessimistic mental cave,  I have noticed that starting on the 6th of May, there is a race every week for at least 3 weeks, all in different places, starting next week at Torch for round 1 of their summer series.  Shall I charge up the shorties and get the Sworkz S12-m back on duty?  Is that even a question?  Then it's round 2 of the SRS at the mighty Slough, THE home of rallycross in the UK so I was told once.  I missed round 1 due to aforementioned cave dwelling but I did fire up the ol' girl the other week.  Looks like I'll have to give it some kind of wrenching for dirt though as it's currently wearing an "astro" kind of stance.

The bike, The Thunderace, the one that got dragged under a car for about 20ft, while the driver carried on merrily in to The Range carpark with me on his windscreen.  Wow, as of this precise moment, it's sat in the workshop with a gallon and half of super in the tank, waiting for me to book the MOT.
I have to give shout outs to the following though as they've done a sterling job.  Graham at The Image Works www.bike-stickers.com did all the new graphics, including the tank lettering, the colour of which, is an absolute spot bollock on match to Yamahas silver.  If you didn't know better, you would say the lettering was sprayed in at the factory.

Which takes me to another who's well deserving of a mention, and that's Lee at Roosters Voodoo Paint, who sorted my tank.  He is just one guy but does a cracking job.  Buy him a bottle of Rum and he'll see you right.  He rides too so understands how you want the paint to look, he won't just give it a flash over and leave more orange peel than the man from Del Monte on a VitC binge in a darkened room, oh no.  He's also a genuine bloke.  Give him a nosey when you want shit painted and tell him I sent you.



I publish this update while sat in front of my pc with a bad back at the end of August, so the 2nd quarter was a while ago.  I've simply been up to my eyeballs in doing stuff to actually blog anything.  I was even meant to take the finished bike to show Lee at Roosters Voodoo Paint to show him how it all looks but life has been in the way.

I'll do a more recent update soon, and remember, that's how, for now.

Welcome to 2018

Greetings and salutations, welcome to 2018, which for me so far, has been a 2017 rollover.  Surrounded by muppets, charlatans and wankers and it's only just turned March.  I've not raced since November as that particular meeting (the indoor one) had a number of people in attendance, a few of which simply cheese me off by their mere presence. 

Anyway, I've been working on my house and my woo-sah in the interim, Oh yeah, and my bike, Which doesn't look it's got anywhere but I have done stuff to it, much like the hallway if I'm honest.

The wifes Fibromyalgia continues to be a thorn in the side, mostly her side, obviously, but as  consequence, it results in the fun being sucked out of life on a continual yearly basis. 

Then there's the eldest stepsons father.  What can I say about this bloke that hasn't already been said?  He's a teacher, he's married to a teacher, and they have a spoilt child together.  She doesn't like the stepson, and has been campaigning to get him out of the house (the kid's 15 and autistic) over the course of the last year or so.  He's gone along with it too, with me nearly putting my fist into his ample body and face in the front yard last summer.  Finally, he's managed to turn his nipper against him enough so that his son doesn't actually want to live there.  So he's won on that front.  What makes it difficult, is that looking after an autistic teenager who has personality traits similar to his father is a difficult job and fucking annoying.

I mean, why must you have to remind them that they have to have a shower and clean their teeth everyday?  This is halfway through the day after I've showered, dressed, gone out, and come back, and seen the bathroom exactly how I left it 2 hours earlier, but they're clothed.


Next it's pricks at work, but because I make certain things at Portsmouths worst kept secret I can't tell you a great deal.  Suffice to say, they're similar to most other mid size private companies, where they hire blokes in shirts and letters after their name and a nice piece of paper from a higher place of learning, who know and display considerably less knowledge than the blokes on the shopfloor who have nothing but decades of hardcore experience from the various places they've worked at.  It pisses me off. 
Add to that, arse kissing bastards.  I hate them.

Which is probably why, after all my years, I'm still a normal time served/manual turner/cnc miller/programmer/precision engineer wearing jeans to work.  I don't kiss arse, someone gets my true opinion via my gob.  So, despite my years and skill, some wanker with a brown nose, silver tongue and a mouth full of bullshit will always trump me in the job stakes.


My "summer house" is almost finished.  I say almost, I have to do the soffit vents, insulate it, the glass I picked up today has to go in the door, as well as fitting the beading.  The actual floor is down but not the floor covering, Ie: carpet/laminate/lino etc.  Then of course there's electric to power the lights and whatever else.  That will be channeled in as and when.  I'm doing the patio at the moment then there's a nice lamp post to choose, then the groundwork, then I'll need a sparky. 
I reckon I'll have to an extra fusebox fitted for the outside stuff.  It's probably safer that way.
I'm chuffed though, I built it all myself from timber and it's the first time I've done something like that and it's lasted all winter and been leak free.  Big thanks to Biggsey though, who procured me the fasteners with which to screw the thing together and would've given me an actual hand had he not been going through a shitty time himself.


I was meant to be racing tomorrow for the Clanfield leg of the "Race against cancer" Steve and Bernie Memorial race but both legs have been cancelled due to the weather being a bit pony.
Bernie and Steve were well liked people in the RC racing community who both succumbed to the disease in one form or another late last year.  Bernie was a regular at South Coast RC and before that, Torch.  I have mentioned him a number of times in my previous blogs concerning racing.  Steve was Kevin Brunsdens Dad and all round nice bloke.  I spoke with him a few times and he always had enthusiasm for the hobby/sport but I didn't know him as well as Bernie as he was based around the Reading area so not as local but he was well liked by the guys from up that way, and most of them are sound so he gets my thumbs up.

Alas It's time to say goodnight, but remember, those with cushty jobs aren't always cushty people, sometimes they're utter Wankers.

I'm afraid of Americans..

...sang a great English poet once, and while largely perceived by many to be not quite the full shilling, he was on to something.  Now, normally my blog is usually infested with race reports or bitching about neighbours and other twats but today I'll make an exception.

Firstly though, I have been to America, and it has some nice people, as do other countries, but like other countries, it also has it's fair share of utter wankers.  Do they have more as they are a large country or does it simply seem that way due to social media?  No matter, lets delve in and found out why one should in fact, be afraid of Americans (but not all, only the silly ones)

Flat Earthers.  These people site Nasa as major conspirators, saying because only they go up into space, they can tell us the earth is round and everyone has to believe them.  Right, so before Nasa then, Airline pilots, they have flown around the world.  Surely they would have seen the edge, or are they sworn to secrecy too?  Before airline pilots?  Ohh, Columbus, yeah, that bloke who sailed "too far" and discovered for himself the Americas, thanks for that mate.  I doubt he fell off the edge.  Sailors, who frequently circumnavigate their way round the planet.  They're in on it too I suppose.  Not to mention that if you were in a large open space, a desert for example, you can see the curvature of the earth, only slightly mind.  I read some twats utterings recently, he said that in the old days you could see a ship disappear over the horizon, but with todays cameras, that is no longer the case, proving that the earth is flat.  Lastly for now, that nob who has build his own rocket, with intentions of using it to fly up and prove the earth isn't round.  

Hmmm, I suspect clean up specialists will be digging his remains out of a mountain side for some time to come once he does take off.  It's true not all Americans are flat earthers, it's entirely plausible that all flat earthers are American.

Next up, social media.  It's always good for a laugh, especially the ones with complete fucktards saying stupid things.  The trouble is, they're all American.  Here are a few gems:

"Does it take 18 months for twins to be born, or 9?"

"Been stuck on the escalator for hours, the power went out"

"How does it rain in Australia? as they are at the bottom of the planet surely the rain just falls off "

"How did people no what roads to take before google maps was invented?"

       "they used maps."

"No, I said before google maps"

Hmmm, what do you make of that lot?  All freely available via the internet.  

Donald Trump, what can  say about ol Trumpy that hasn't already been said with such colour?  Fuck all, that's what.  He is the President of one of the largest countries in the world, yet has no clue.  He clearly believes in god, has not moved with the times, ie, evolving attitudes toward the environment, civil rights, and war.  He is a narrow minded throwback voted in by narrow minded throwbacks, and other people who didn't want the other person.  He is American.

This is of course my opinion, and if you don't want to read it, then don't.  Or perhaps you don't share my opinion, that's great, but I'm not here for a debate.

I'm off to get pizza in and watch a movie of something, maybe a New Yorker with extra pastrami, and Team America on dvd.

Stay safe kids and remember, in the land of the free can you be who you want to be.

How have I been?

Struggling, to not put too fine a point on it.

Had a great time at the Clanfield round of the SRS, pitting with Kev, Stumpy, George M and also Richard and Mike Daniel (thanks for the sausage roll by the way Richard), it helped take my mind off the passing of my Mum.  Unfortunately, some utter fucking moron knocked me off my motorbike on the following Tuesday.

It was outside The Range in Portsmouth, it's always been a dodgy looking place to put a carpark entrance and I'm surprised it was greenlit by the council.  Anyway, this bellend came off the roundabout and basically straightlined it across the opposite lane to get into the carpark, thus collecting me on the way as he T-boned me and forced me up his bonnet while he carried on driving with my bike under the front of his car.

Myself and the bike were finally dumped in the actual carpark, me on my right side, the bike on it's left, after being hit on the right.  Anyway, The cunt's paying for it now, I'd like to see his renewal price, the bastard.  He didn't even ask how I was, hell, I didn't even get the obligatory "sorry mate I didn't see you".  In fact, he carried on doing his shopping.  Prick.

The bike was deemed "beyond economical repair", but was bought back as salvage.  she will roll again, I tell thee.


Had a BBQ, everyone was there, from Bob Seger, to Sonny and Cher. (I don't even like that song).  Was a good evening, not so for Terry, who was looking out for me after such a wank time and had to leave cos he was gonna start a fight.  He made himself leave, I had no idea what had happened till a while later.  Thanks to Jax, Bigz and Dianne for helping to tidy up at the end of the evening.  Massive help and greatly apprec'd.


Nearly started a fight myself actually too.  Wifes ex was being a monumental bell end, more so than his normal bell end self.  He had refused to take his nipper back for menial reasons I won't go into here, but his wife refused to speak to the kid aswell, she's a drama teacher apparently, but more like a drama queen, and he didn't wan't him back because his wife was making him choose.

So with all I was dealing with, this prick lands me with HIS problems with HIS stoopid bitch wife.  I can honestly say he was about to get an hiding, and for me to do that, I was on the fucking edge.  Then he started crying, on my front yard, wtf.  He comes to my house, gives me his problems then starts crying.  What a wanker.

That was quite a few weeks ago now, and I can't stand to comprehend his presence, or who knows what will happen.  I have to leave it to his ex wife.


Just done round 4 of the SRS at South Coast RC.  It rained alot.  A lot of people didn't make the trip.  I ended up in the B Final, which was a bit of a chufty badge.  As normal driving the SWorkz Evo 2 LE.  Qualifying was a mixed bag, not quite 10p mix up quality, but almost as varied.  Someone spun out on the main straight about 4ft in front of me when I was flat chat, he got away nicely, but I finished the race with a bent and stuck in shock shaft, only to come back to my gazebo to find the rain had leaked on my chair.  I almost went home, except the banter from Stumpy, Kev, Sam C, George M and Simon kept me hanging around.  Many thanks again to Steve Spencer for pitting for me in the final, 20 mins of standing in the pissing rain just to refuel my car, hey, it's why we love the hobby right?  Herts Nitro on the 17th for the last round of the SRS, I've never been.  Then last round of SCRCs summer orgy bonanza the week after.


Went to Glastonbury the other week on the bike (the other bike), only a night away, but it was nice.  we climbed the Tor, chilled out, and just enjoyed the time away.  The scenery from the top of the Tor was great.  Cheddar Gorge was visible in the distance, amazing.

Off on Wednesday to Swadlincote in the Midlands, to see my friend John, aka, James Johnson, who's now running his own internet radio station.  Called Unsigned James UK, he showcases artists who are, unsigned, funnily enough.  Anyway, I might be guesting on his show that evening, we will see.

And finally, I'll leave you with these gems I found lurking on the internet

That's it for now, and remember...

Keep This Frequency Clear

My week in words and pictures

Hi all

Like the last blog of mine, which was mostly about the worst news a Son (or daughter even ) could ever have, this one is about a couple of subjects, only far less depressing.  Unfortunately/fortunately (delete as appropriate) one of them is racing.  You, at the back, pay attention now.

Older viewers (in time, not age) of my facebook may remember the picture below from a couple of years ago.  It is of the view from my back garden of my neighbours conservatory.  It is built on the boundary, and has two openers, windows #2 and #4, opening inward.

Obviously, I was unhappy about looking at this, and when he saw me gunning out kerbstones shoring up the shoddy patio I have, he wrote me a letter threatening me with legal action if I didn't replace them.  I've not replaced them, they were on my side of the boundary, which, again, he said had moved to accommodate his conservatory.
He told me there was a written agreement with a previous neighbour in 1984 and is kept with the council.  Well, I was 8 in 1984 so I didn't sign it, the people who did no longer live there, and the council don't keep stuff like that, because I asked them.  It is all with land registry, who have no record of a boundary being changed.  Not only did the kerbstones not get replaced, I smashed out the rest of the patio too, which was shit and was up to damp course.  Who the fuck does that?  Apparently, ol' Trumpy next door (conservatory twat) had a hand in it, need I say anymore?


Anyway, as of this week, this is now currently a view I have in my back garden, looking of course in the same direction.

So no more wanky conservatory to look at, and, He can no longer climb out of his window on to my property.  I'm expecting a letter, although, I wonder if he has realized he's been a nob and won't bother......watch this space.

Moving swiftly along, like some scumbag builder coming by your house in the dead of night and dumping their shit in the skip you've paid good money for, we're on to racing.  

Ah, RC racing, the staple hobby of nerds, engineers, shop owners and former child primadonnas everywhere.  A hobby I love dearly.

Clanfield RC, Almost, quite literally, up my street, albeit 8 miles away, played host today (2nd July '17) to round 3 of the SRS (we've been through this, it's Southern Regional Series ffs).  Upon arrival it becomes apparent that Tony Bolwell and helpers have got the ol' place looking alright.  No hammers or anything.

I'm pitting with KB and the Sunshine band, aka, Model Cars Reading supremo Kev Brunsden, Stumpy, Mr Miller (he's neither a vicar or a serial killer),Mike and Richard Daniel, the latter of which had offerings of sausage rolls, for which I found it hard to contain my enthusiasm.  Had it not been for the bacon and egg baguette I'd just polished off, I woulda eaten ALL the sausage rolls, then carried on munching everything, like the Langoliers. 

I made 6th in the C Final, unfortunately, I finished 7th, but at least I finished, which is a stark difference to the same meeting last year.  In this one, I was at the sharp end, but after my 2nd fuel stop and a couple of joey errors and slow marshalling, my brain seemed to turn to some non conductive splodge, like the crap you get in a front sprocket cover of a motorbike, made of old chain lube and road shit, which simply couldn't control my hands enough to keep my position.

Stumpy made 6th in the B Final, and finished 7th also, after driving the last 3rd of his final "like a complete Spaz".  His words, not mine.

Mike bumped into the A and Kev spent the entire A final locked in battle with Mr NemoRacing himself, Jon Hazelwood, but had to settle for the first runner up spot after Jon beat him over the line by sweet FA.

If, like me, you enjoy reading someone elses twaddle, then tune in next time when I have reports on the local daisy growing championships, and latex clad Dominatrices threatening me with riding crops.  

Same bat time, same bat channel.

Ciao  

Mainly not about racing

Sunday, June 4th 2017. 08;15. M27, westbound.  There he is, look, Grant Fribbens, ol' comedy barnet himself.  He was no doubt on his way to Torch for some 1/10th off road action,  I'm beeping to attract his attention, but like an elderly person who has just wronged you and knows it, he refuses to make eye contact and stares ahead.

Me?  Well, myself and Lei are off to South Coast RC for round 3 of their Summer Off Road Orgy.  Lei did barbeque too which was nice.  It went like this:  I drove around, got pole in the B.  Got away and pulled a 2 lap lead, only for my clutch bearings to shit themselves 30 seconds from the end and took not only the clutch bell but also the spur gear with it.  I got 2nd and no bump up, that's racing.  The Sworkz 350 Truggy was lovely to drive though.

None of that really matters though right now, for in the evening, I went round to my parents house to see my dad and maybe my mum.  On May 15th, only a few weeks ago , my mum had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  In the intervening days/weeks, she had gone downhill a bit and was by now on oromorph or whatever the fuck it's called, frankly, I don't care.  I'm sat around the table chatting with my dad, and he says he's just going to check on mum.  Seconds later, he stumbles back down the stairs, picks up the phone and tells my sister: "she's gone".  My mum had died.  On Sunday, June 4th 2017, 8pm.  This moment will be etched into my brain for the rest of my life.  I couldn't believe it, and still don't.  It's like it's happening to someone else and I'm watching it, like an fpv dream.  I'm on autopilot, I'm subdued (for now), I'm mentally tired and even now (June 8th), I'm still trying to come to terms with has happened.

In 2010, my mum was 70, and for her birthday.  My friend John drove all the way down from Swadlincote in the Midlands to do the disco.  We set the gazebo up, got the rig going, food on the bar and drinks in the glasses.  Everyone came round and we had a right ol' knees up.  We even had a police car and 2 police vans turn up in an attempt to "break up a rowdy party".  I answered the door and couldn't believe my eyes with 3 coppers stood there, I swear they didn't believe me until my mum came into the hall clutching a helium balloon with 70 emblazoned upon it, wishing to know who was at the door.  They wished her a happy birthday and promptly left.

Or the time I gave her a lift to work on my RXS100 shortly after I had passed my bike test back in '95.  She was grateful, but certain she wouldn't do it again.  I suppose going down the A3 might have been a step too soon.

This was my mum, whom, as a child I would watch in amazement as she carried multiple bags of shopping and walk with them all the way from the ville to home, no taxis, no bus, no fuss.  Or the time she had my childhood nemesis up against the wall by his neck, branding him a "little shit" for his continued bullying of me, he didn't do it again.

Her legendary hospitality.  When I lived at home, my friends were always made welcome, sometimes too welcome in fact.  On several occasions this one friend would turn up at 9am on christmas morning, and would be happily offered a bacon sarnie.  Friends would stay over and there would be snacks and extra food laid on for us to feed upon.  One new year, we were all up the pub, and afterward it was back to my parents, where my friends were all offered floor space and blankets, with some breakfast in the morning.

At christmas she would make mince pies, and they were a favourite of everyone, from me to the people in the local one stop.

An incredibly houseproud woman, I was inspired, and still am, by her domestic prowess.  We didn't have a lot when I was younger and I was always made fun of for not having what the other kids had, but she taught me to be grateful for what I did have and always try to look after it, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

She was my mum, the bestest mum a son a could ever have and I'll miss her forever.

On any sunday? not quite.

9th of April marked a Sunday, it was no doubt also someones birthday, it wouldn't surprise me if it was also some inane "National something day", like National Percy Thrower day or some such, the kind no one actually gives two fucks about. However, it was also the first round of the 2017 South Coast RC Summer Gangbang, its unofficial name I hasten to add. Unfortunately, it clashed with the Truggy National in Kent, so a few regulars were missing, thus making its attendance lower than it would be normally. No matter, I chose to run the Sworkz Evo 2 and its Pro 8 Italia engine, which last saw use at last years Slough SRS round.

I'll admit it was only a half arsed attempt on my part at first. The alarm went off and I'd had such a shit weekend so far that it was a toss up between that, taking a motorbike out for a few hours or more diy. I chose to go racing. Pitting next me was a recent Sworkz/Answer RC signing, Andy Sullivan, we strike up conversation and exchange ideas, as he too is driving the Evo2. It's all good in Sworkz corner. I have a few laps practice and soon realize it's a damn sight more nimble than the truggy, and I will need to make some changes to the car.  It also turns out it's the hottest day of the year.....so far, sending the mercury rising....hang on....that sounds familiar.

1st round of Q and I get 5 laps, which is a bit pony, even by my standards. Not helped by driving over the bank or cutting as I leave pit lane. Amongst a couple of chassis changes, I change tyres for the 2nd round, going from Schumacher mini spikes in yellow compound to Pro-line Pinpoints. Which felt like a mistake at first, but having paid good money for the bastards and only used them once, I decide to persevere. I made a couple of other changes and try a couple of things with my driving, and I manage the mid/late 39s. This was enough to plonk me in the A Final.

First off though, my services as pit man are requested by fellow Sworkz driver and car park neighbour Andy. Who is in the B. Due to low numbers though, marshalls double as pit men with drivers having to drive to their pitmans marshalling position to refuel. This was to become party to Andys undoing though as I didn't notice he had cut as I was marshalling. I fuel him up and try to restart the car but to no avail. We swap plugs, still nowt. As it turns out, he told me afterwards, his glow starter was flat.

Final time for me, and I'm dead last of course, but the A is still the A. Simon Asquith was politely press ganged in to being my pitman, as he has done so before, and being of electric pursuasion, he needs the practice. I get off the line successfully and being last, I navigate the inevitable first corner balls up that usually gobbles up a third of the cars. Unfortunately, my throttle connection pops off the carb 7 minutes in, leaving me going nowhere fast. I finish the lap though as a lack of throttle return meant the carb was open enough for my car to move under it's steam. I reconnect and get back out. Only for it to happen again, so a DNF for me I'm afraid. Still, that's racing and just like the National Lottery, It could be you.

Once home and the circus unpacked from my car, I did find the front prop shaft had loosened off the pinion, thus loosing drive at the front. Also, an ominous notchy feel and noise coming from the rear gearbox, so a stripdown is in order which will result in those good chaps Pete and Karl at Answer RC sorting me out in exchange for some GBPs

So, with some track time once again under my belt, I'll hopefully be in a better position next time. I have a few massive projects at home though so racing will not be a weekly occurrence. I'm putting a fence up to hide my neighbours conservatory, much to the neighbours annoyance, so that could get messy (if you've seen a recent fb status of mine, you could take that either way). There's also a summer house and a patio in the pipeline. All with my fair hands. So stay tuned.

Stay safe kids, and remember, Cadburys Boost is slightly rippled, with a flat underside.

Back once again...

with RC racing, summat summat summat with the ill behaviour, with the ill behaviour etc etc...... Anyyyyyhoooooo.

Today, alias, aka the 12th of February 2017 marked the day I managed to return to racing after a brief hiatus doing real life shizzle, and suffering several race meets being cancelled a the last minute, however, I digress.

South Coast RC, in Three Legged Cross, were holding the *penultimate* round of their winter jamboree.  That's not it's proper name but it sounds better than plain ol' winter series I think you'll agree.  I decide on racing the Sworkz s350T US edition (to give it it's full designation) and I brave the wintery conditions where the temperature actually reached the heady heights of Fucking Cold.

Straight out of the box after nearly 3 months of no RC and I come 2nd in the 1st round of qualifying, beaten by Mr Stephen Brunsden (I'm in heat 2 btw, there were 3 heats for today).  There were enough truggies today to have held a full heat of their own but the powers that be decided instead tooooo......RallyX purists look away now........ mix truggies and buggies in the same heat (gasp)

Q2 time and I came in with a 10 lapper and a win so I was pleased with that, with Mr Brunsden in 2nd (his name will shorten throughout this blog).  Q3 was much the same, with another 10 lapper and in Q4, the bottom end on my engine had somehow leaned itself off and robbed me of any low down go I might have had which meant trying to keep the speed up but also get round the corners, it wasn't easy and did wonder if I'd actually finish the round, which I did but the Brunds beat me to 10 laps.

So then, that puts me 2nd on the grid for the B Final, Which isn't shabby.  I make a getaway and have a good opening third of the final with Steve Hamilton, each of us making passes and cock ups in equal measure.  He suffers a breakdown on his Mugen and I clear off, at some point after I had a brief skirmish with a *truggy*, who it would appear was in 1st place, I say was, because that's where I ended up.  I came in for fuel in the lead but lost it while Rob Woodrow was kind enough to chuck some Racing Experience 25% at my fuel tank in a less haphazard way than that actually insinuates.  Back out and after a fashion and a few passes, I was back in the lead.  However, several laps from the end, The *truggy* from earlier is catching me back up and I could hear words of encouragement coming in my direction so knew this other guy was on the move, *this other guy guy being Bernard btw*.  The buzzer sounds and I finish the race with a B Final win.  Top banana (I don't actually like bananas, they make me wanna puke)

Ye gods, I won the B, you know what that means don't you!  I get the bump up spot (I now qualify for the A Final) albeit in last place.  *Simon Asquith* set me off from the line while Steve Hamilton did the pitting honours.  I made a clean getaway and after negotiating the obligatory 1st corner pile up, I found myself in 4th, then further along I found myself a place or two higher.  It wasn't to be though, after knocking into Andy Tanners upside down Kyosho truggy, and a bit of a marshalling balls up which lead to everyone going past me before I was wheel side down, I end up dead last and that is unfortunately where I finished.

Anyway, hats off to the SCRC crew for a good day, Rob Woodrow and Steve Hamilton for pitting for me, Simon Asquith and the other bloke whose name I still don't know for seeing me off the line, and Tony RC Scott for driving into me on purpose in the air after I accidentally drove over you, all part of the banter.  Thanks also to Pete and Karl at Answer RC, without whom I'd still probably be kicking about with a Hyper ST.

See you all soon.


* * - denotes amendment

so far it's all been a bit......

Well, on December 29th, I felt a bit rough, I got through the day and thought nowt of it.  To cut a long story short, from the 30th onwards, I was sick as a dog, pissing out of my arse with blood chucked in for good measure, so happy new year.  I didn't return to work on 3rd of January as scheduled but spent untill the 7th, in bed, not eating.  Didn't feel back to normal until the weekend of the 14th/15th.  Turns out I had Campylobacter, a strain of food poisoning. A week later we were at the hospital again as Lei sliced her finger with a new knife, now I have a crappy cold.  

In the xmas week though I did fit some new lights in my crappy workshop, 3 new electronic battens with daylight tubes, wow, what a difference.  If you have a similar workspace I recommend going the daylight way.  Makes working on anything, soldering, motorbikes or otherwise so much easier. 

Talking of bikes, I visited facebook recently, and as you know, I have a bit of a love/hate thing with it, anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find 3 of my friends had tagged me in some copy and paste thing about motorbikes.  It's all generic social media behaviour I know but someone had taken the time to type my name in which means I was thought of.  I haven't copied/pasted or posted anything yet but will do when I get to my pc. 

At the same time I notice I have been deleted as a friend by a fellow motorcyclist.  Here is a man who, since he passed his test 18 months ago, I have tried to help, advise and even ridden with on several occasions.  My only crime?  I took the piss out of him, which, frankly is normal behaviour for friends.  It's what we do, it's called banter, it's not malicious, and as the son of a bricklayer, it was drummed into me at childhood that if I didn't learn to take a joke when it was given out, I'd have a miserable life. 

If all the biker friends I'd met over the years behaved like this, my friends list would be empty and there'd be no one to go on breakfast runs with.  If you are reading this and you are that person, be thankful you met me now and not 15 years ago, I'm not half as good as I was.  Oh yeah, watch yourself when buying a new pair of tyres, I hear having two different makes on either end of your bike is just as good as 2 from the same manufacturer. All that matching pair talk?  That's just someone filling your head with shit. You're an alright bloke, but you have issues. Sort yourself out and come out for a ride you twat.

Cyclists, why do some of you choose to have a flashing light on the front of your bike as opposed to a solid one?  Are you a bit simple? Do you not know that's it is illegal to have a flashing white light on the front of your vehicle? It is meant to be solid. It probably has something to do with the human brain/eye combo not being able to process the speed and distance of a strobe light. Every time I see one I feel like breaking out some early Prodigy or Altern-8. You see them all lycra'd up, toad helmet on, miners torch, the lot, but they'd be the first to complain if you took one out. “are you blind? Can't you see the 6000 lumen light on the front of my bike?” “no, twat, cos it's basically a flashing strobe, which is illegal”. Use the road, I don't have a problem with that at all, but use a proper front light.

There has been no racing. I was due to hit Clanfield on the 22^nd, but it was cancelled due to frost, and I was due at South Coast RC today, but that too was cancelled due to rain, so I guess an hour on VRC will have to do for now I'm afraid.

I'd love to hear from you if you actually read this, I have no idea as to who actually reads it or if any notice is taken. The only thing I do know is that I have no subscribers. Please feel free to comment.

Catch yaz later

Tis the season.....

.....For singing christmas songs.  Yes folks, it's time for parties and celebrations etc etc.  I hope you're all set, at Chez Croucher, the wife has been busy xmasfying the lounge, ck knows why, she's pagan, but I suppose it's because it looks cosy at night and the kids like it.  In fact, it almost warms my cold and cynical heart.

I've been playing the odd seasonal tune too, suffering the earworm that is Andy Williams' "it's the most wonderful of the year" for days on end, still, it's not a tat song and at least he could hold a note and has plenty more to his catalogue than that one song.  We'll also be watching Die Hard imminently too, as we do.
      While watching Arrow the other day, Oliver Queen was holding a christmas party and giving a mayoral speech.

Oliver: "one of my favourite christmas films ever, is Die Hard".

Leilei: "YEESSSSSSSSSS"

Right in my ear.


Racing, took the Sworkz S12-1m to Torch last week, the track was piss wet through and misty, I came last all morning, beating only the step son with his FTX edge in his third ever visit to the club, mind you, in my defense I was on Schumacher Yellow minispikes and driving a laydown gearbox car.  Also it was only the 2nd time I had driven that car, the 1st being in May, in the sunshine.  Best not hang on to that result methinks.

I was meant to be racing my truggy this past weekend at Clanfield, in a bid to avenge my DNF a few weeks previously, unfortunately, I woke up on saturday with a sore throat, and in the hours that followed, snot flowed freely from my nose and prevented me from sleeping properly.  However, I still got up to go racing but fell fowl of not having enough sleep and feeling a bit crap so once I woke up again for the 3rd time, I thought it best to put everything away again.  I see they had a good day, just wish I was well enough.  Oh well, there's always next time.


We went out for breakfast the other week.  Took the bike out on a bitter cold saturday morning and rode to a cafe called the Departure Lounge Cafe.  We had the large breakfast, which came with the most awesome fried eggs.  Nothing fancy about them as such except they were perfectly cooked, and piping hot, unlike ya 5 quid breakfast from wetherspoons.
       I highly recommend that cafe if you're of a motoring persuasion.  It is on the A339 (aka the death road) just north of Alton.


Anyway, I doubt I'll see you before Christmas, maybe I'll bump into on Boxing Day if you happen to be in Wickham Square in the morning.

Stay safe kids, and remember, even a chocolate teapot is of use, only once mind, and very briefly, but still of use.

Laterz