InvictaMoto's On The Road Again!

And here we go again.. Cases on the up again.

Merry Christmas to everyone that has read the blogs over the course of the year. It's been another tough one with another year of lockdowns and the pandemic ruining lives and curtailing so much of our lives. It's a vain hope that 2022 will be better but it's Christmas and time of joy around the globe. MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

When you get to an advanced age,  birthday cards and presents get fewer and further between. Birthdays themselves still appear regularly as clockwork. So along with socks (!) I got this neck tube from Claire. It looked as though it would be like a Buff® but with a longer front and back bit so not to roll up. Boy, is it tight. It is supposed to come up over the mouth and nose and there are perforations to breathe through. Once the freezing weather is past I might get to try it out... When I suggested it I didn't realise she had bought it and so I ordered the Black one myself.

Masks? Under the Government's Plan B theatres in England aren't closed but audiences should wear masks.  Given that a panto audience is around 60/40 adults to kids it means a massive percentage are unmasked and potentially spreaders. We kept ours on all the time except when munching a chocolate lebkuchen in the interval. Due to Covid two main performers were missing and replaced by two actors from a cancelled panto in St Albans. They only had a few hours to learn the parts and appeared with scripts on clipboards from time to time. This added to the laughs. The story roughly follows the story of Jack and the Beanstalk that me know. At the end, the leading actor playing Jack doesn't marry the girl, but professes his love for his sidekick Johnny. No one batted an eyelid.  Again it was a superb performance. Let's hope the science that Omicron is less dangerous than Delta and previous variants is proved right. At the end Duncan James (Jack and from boy band Blue)...

"Oh no it isn't" Jack and the Beanstalk. The story showing how even the thickest most gullible boy can win the girl and be a success. Until reality TV it was just a fairy story...

Thanks for all the emails and texts. Yes it it my birthday!   I'm 66 today and I have reached state retirement day and still with us. Tempting fate I know, but now it's time to get some of the money I've paid in back! I'll have to change my blogger profile.... Well, someone had to do it!

The Loobman arrived today. A day to unpack and read the instructions. Then get it fitted. Looks easy enough even for a ham fisted pillock like me.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all SE MAG members.......... In spite of the all the necessary restrictions imposed upon us by Covid-19,  SE MAG has still had a very productive year. If you are able, please get along to some MAG meetings or events in 2022. We have a core membership from all over the region who always turn up to support us. It would be great to see some new faces volunteering next year. If you follow the SE FB page, read 'The Road' or get sent 'Network' you'll know what we've been up to. Take a look at the current edition of the 'Road', you'll see we are re-launch of the East Surrey MAG branch in March. (Page 72 'The Road') If you live within reach of Redhill please come along and give your support . Got any local or National motorcycle related problems or campaigns you want discussed ?  Suggestions for ride outs and social events? This is your chance to get involved. All posts will be up for election. Please get in ...

This jacket was my "go to" jacket for quite a few years. I bought it in Scotland when away with the Suzuki Owners Club on one of the camping weekends I organised. I can't remember exactly where.  It was after we had visited a distillery and I came to zip up my old jacket and the zip broke. I was left 400+ miles from home with no serviceable jacket. I posted the old one home and wore this one for the rest of the trip. I never had the old one repaired and it went to charity soon after. The jacket was a budget to medium buy and it would have been the mid-90's.  It is made from quite thick leather, is heavy,  and comes with a back protector. It was made in the pre-armour in the shoulders and elbows days! Just padding. Four zipped external pockets and two inside, but only one zipped. Ideal for wallet and now, the mobile phone! What is a bit different is that it has a double zip fastening at the front.  The idea, I think,  is it can be worn on the tightest zip in the ...

I checked on PayPal that my order on 16th December had gone through as I haven't had a reply from Loobman yet. I know Christmas is on the horizon, but in the digital age you get to expect quick replies or confirmation they have the order and maybe a rough idea of delivery time. Maybe I'm being a bit quick. It's not a criticism just a note!  See what happens this week. www.loobman.co.uk One of the UK V-Strom owners sent me these photos as an idea where to fit it.

Over the years, nearly 50 of them, the Motorcycle Action Group have been fighting for riders' rights.  It's not all about the helmet law of 1973, it's so much more. Check out the website.  Whilst many of us are simply too lazy to actually do anything ourselves, we pay our £27 conscience money and loads of dedicated people campaign for us. MAG have come a long way since 1973. Campaigns cover all aspect of Government and European attacks on our lifestyle. Sadly, membership is miniscule compared with the numbers of registered owners. There are around 1.25 million current motorcycle licences in the UK. All of them benefiting from the work those of us that have joined are funding! So maybe you don't live in the UK. Not to worry. Your country will have a riders' organisation doing the same tasks. Why not join? I rejoined today and consider it worth every penny. Since I am now retired maybe I will get to some local meetings. Chew the fat and see what needs to be done. As a...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK’s leading voice for riders’ rights, is looking forward to a year with more positive outcomes for motorcyclists. MAG will soon be gearing up for another year of defending riders’ rights and contributing to the decision-making processes of national and local Government. MAG’s Chair, Neil Liversidge, noted that, whilst the global challenges of the pandemic had continued throughout 2021, MAG remained focussed on the job in hand: defending motorcycling from disproportionate legislation. Neil stated: “Whilst 2021 has undoubtedly been a better year than 2020, we all continued to work around a very difficult global situation. MAG continued to campaign strongly, with activities on-line and – where possible – in person and was also able to run several of its premier fundraising events again, which was a major achievement under the circumstances, and a testament to the hard work and commitment of our volunteers. Unfortunately, the pandemic rumbles on, b...

The government is meeting soon to discuss whether we will join the Netherlands and impose a lockdown. Whether a "circuit breaker" will allow the virus to be defeated is unknown. Let's see what they decide.

Minister commits to working closely with MAG on decarbonisation The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has thanked Department for Transport (DfT) Minister Trudy Harrison, following a meeting on 15th December 2021.  MAG delivered an honest representation of members' views on decarbonisation.  The Minister committed to continue working closely with MAG to ensure these views are considered. MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, met Trudy Harrison on 15th December and was unapologetic for honestly representing the views of members.  Most are strongly opposed to a coercive, arbitrary date for phasing out the internal combustion engine. Colin explained MAG's opposition, but also its belief that an alternative route exists.  This route can achieve the Government ambition for carbon neutrality whilst also protecting the interests of the riders. Colin said: "I am very grateful to the Minister for giving me the time to explain the depth of feeling amo...

I logged in about 8.30am as normal. As it is the last day of term for all the schools there were very few calls logged. Those that were were easy to fix or for new staff beginning in January. Not my problem. At 3pm we had a Google Meeting for the team and some of my old workmates to login and give me a send off. It was nice to speak to them.  It's always nice when people say good things about you. After 24 years you get to have met and worked with a lot of good people. Some reminiscing. Some stories and at 4pm I logged off for the last time. The end of an era.

Cancelled last year so tickets rolled over to this year.  I didn't bother cancelling and getting a refund as I was hoping that this year that covid would have been defeated.  Of course it hasn't and we have a new panic with the Omicron Variant. This year it is "Jack and the Beanstalk" - the tale of an everyday thicko that becomes a hero. So we have to hope that after being vaccinated three times and back under the Government's Plan B that sitting in a room with air blowing through and wearing our coats and hats and of course, masks, that it will still go ahead. Thursday is my birthday as well. So I am hoping to have a good day out at the matinee and maybe some non Slimming World approved food!

Arsenal vs Sunderland - Carabao Cup - Tuesday 21st December I have a £10 ticket to this game but given that so many games are being cancelled this weekend because of the rapid spread of Omicron variant of Covid, I have decided not to go. Okay, I'll lose my tenner but I'll save the exposure to covid that is getting worse in London by the day, plus I'll save the best part of £35 I would spend on trains, station parking and underground tickets. I don't like to cancel but it is for the best I think. I would rather be able to go with Claire to the panto in Canterbury on my birthday on Thursday 23rd instead. "Oh yes I would!"

Oldham Athletic vs Crawley Town - EFL League 2 My preferred crest!! The game has fallen foul of the Omicron spread and has been cancelled.  I emailed to say that I'd leave my ticket with them for the re-arranged date later in the season. I'll be retired by then and so driving, or if it is later in the season maybe riding the bike, over there won't be a problem! Keep the Faith!

After nearly twenty years of owning bikes that had a shaft drive, the V-Strom means I am back in the world of chain drive.  It wasn't something I actually thought about. I just liked the look of the bike and for an adventure styled bike Vera was at the price I wanted to pay. Loobman... So what do do about keeping the chain nice and clean, but more importantly lubed? I have had a Scottoiler before and it was good. I have the remnants of it on the Kettle but it is disabled as the guy that rebuilt the engine didn't want to affect the carb balance fitting the vacuum take off. So instead I have followed the suggestions from other V-Strom owners and I have ordered a Loobman system. My order was late on the 16th. It's manually operated by pressing a button rather than a vacuum or even the Scottoiler X that is just shy of £200 and electronic.  The Loobman is £20.99 inc postage. It's worth the gamble. http://www.loobman.co.uk/

An 8 o'clock kickoff. I was up in London early to take my council laptop back and to meet my "work wife" Julie for a coffee. The latter took longer as we chatted face to face in Starbucks at Highbury Corner. About work, holidays planned, holidays cancelled and of course the dreaded C19! It was gone 7 when we parted and I hurried to the ground. We had to be prepared to show Covid "passport" but that didn't happen. Inside we were told to wear masks inside enclosed areas. About 20% compliance. Although many were eating and drinking. Difficult with a mask. As for the game. Arsenal pretty much the better side and closer to scoring. Yet it was all square at half time. Instead of cocoa our lads must have had something invigorating! Martinelli out paced the defence and a low right footed shot beat Fabianski.  Apart from a couple of mistakes, allied with yet again dropping too deep, it was Arsenal all the way. Lacazette got a penalty when Coufal took him and the ball...

Another of my retirement goals was to lose weight and enjoy life a bit more. Riding the bike with too tight gear was going to be a thing of the past.  That was my aim. So far since I started at Slimming World I have lost 1st 10.5lbs (24.5lbs) and have along way to go.  I am still wearing the same jeans as before but I can do the belt up on a tighter hole or so.  But when you are large, losing this amount really doesn't seem to make any visual difference. I an starting from a very high fat lad position! I guess we have all stood in front of the mirror or seen photos of the pink beached whale in swimwear! That was one of my motivators.  Floating off the beach as Venice FL and likely to be mistaken for a manatee in distress.....  The other was forcing myself into tight over trousers on a rainy day when I was caught out!  Dry setting out and then lashing down later.  Hopping on one foot swearing and sweating tugging them on. Anyway. Positive th...

My work laptop is all logged and all my stuff deleted. it's already decommissioned and it in the bag along with the power lead.   All ready to go back to work tomorrow and drop it off with my line manager. I will have two days left and do what I can with my old Dell laptop. The intel i3 will be working overtime to run all the stuff I can from work. It's already failed the test to connect to the Citrix system and so I have to try and login t that and maybe download some more crap for two days!

So we are at that stage where planning has got about as far as it goes. It's now a case of wait and see what happens with Covid and the new variants that pop up every few weeks. Currently travel and return to the UK results in a whole raft of testing and possibly being stuck in a quarantine hotel for two weeks on return. So who actually knows that will happen in September 2022?  

It's next week. Saturday in fact. And I will be there. With Arsenal away at the weekend it was a good opportunity to see my "first love" again. There are limited chances in the south at the moment! It's a 75 mile drive over to Crawley. This time I have opted to sit in the seated area. The last time I went with my brother Neill and I drove.  This time I didn't bother asking him although it might have been time to get a ride in his hybrid Toyota! This last weekend Latics were at home to Forest Green Rovers. FGR topping the table. The game ended 5-5 with Latics coming back from 4-1 down. This means that Latics have scored a quarter of all the goals FGR have conceded this season! So I am hoping that on the 18th, they will show the same backbone and resilience and start to put together some wins.

The seat is so bright in daylight... Sunglasses essential! Any tips for cleaning the seat and getting rid of the previous owners boot marks, without damaging the seat, gratefully received!

After two away losses at Manchester United and Everton, we were hoping for a performance. After a jittery first quarter of an hour, gradually the Gunners took over and a fortunate míss control and headed cross by Tierney was met by Ødegaard and pretty much against the run of play, Arsenal were ahead. Three in three for him. The second half continued where the first left off with Arsenal on top. Two more goals and two shots against both posts and it was all over. 3-0. The entire game played in heavy rain that dulled to a drizzle at the end.

Won't be able to eat and drink out once I am a poor pensioner.

It's that time again. In fact a little later than usual to get the previous month's mileages logged. It's not that hard as Suzi Triplo did the sum total of 0.00 miles/kilometres. Whereas Vera managed 284kms!!? A fair weather rider? Yep. Whilst in the garage getting the updated dash picture I tested the new phones camera with a quick side pic.

Today on the Santa Paws walk we did our usual walk across the canal from home on the Palmarsh Bridge and then turned westwards away from Hythe and towards West Hythe. After two days of torrential rain and high winds I expected the "usual" places to be either flooded or deep mud.  Even though the paths are saturated and muddy, cyclists seem to have no sense of avoiding the area.  The churned up ground by their tyres is a testament to this. By the time we got past the last of the nearby picnic spots it began to get muddier and hey presto. The path is flooded again and people have started to walk further an further to the edge to get by.  This will be like this until March. Such a shame as this is a really good place to walk and cycle, all the things that a carbon neutral and active world is calling for. Me and Reggie Just starting to flood! Maybe at some stage the local authority will spend some money at "our" end of the path rather than ignoring us.

Thanks to the guy/woman/wanker that left a comment one of the blog posts to tell me that I was a "fat ugly c***".  I moderate all comments and delete the rude or plainly cretinous. This person didn't even have the guts to sign on with a Google id. I have changed the criteria now. Unless I know the person called  "anonymous" I suspect he/she/they/it was looking at my profile picture.  I ask them. Do you really think that this is a representation of a real person? It's a character from "Doctor Who", the long running and popular SF TV series from the BBC.  It's getting on for 60 years since the first Doctor, actor William Hartnell, came on our black and white TV's in the UK. The picture is of a Sontaron. An alien that pops up every so often to harass the world and the Doctor in particular. Here's a clip of one of the programmes where the Sontaron is one of the main characters. This from 1975!!! There are plenty more episodes on YouTube.

I bought this phone, Motorola "Moto G50" as a retirement and birthday present to me.  I am not in the market for a £1000+ Apple or Samsung cell/mobile phone.  I haven't seen the need to "Keep up with the Jonesy's" for quite a few years. What made the decision was that my Honor 9 Lite was beginning to get a little buggy and slowing down quite badly. Whether this was the last upgrade of Huawei's version of Android I have no idea. Why the Moto G50?  I wanted a decent "budget" smartphone and after looking at a lot of reviews and then at the G50 in the Tesco Mobile shop I plumped for it.   Of course, I was beaten to the punch by Claire. She has a very old but premium priced OnePlus 5T. It has plenty of RAM available and the onboard storage isn't too stressed unlike my 32gb Honor. But is has become buggy and prone to simply locking up.  So after we sorted my 84yo Aunt Yvonne with her first ever smartphone on Saturday, Claire was on Google to look...

I have been watching Itchy Boots on YouTube for a while now and she goes places mostly where I would like to. Others not so much. But all her channel is worth watching.

With Claire already trying to find me meaningful unpaid work in the new year, I thought I'd look to see what I could do. So when I saw an advert for Kent Greyhound Rescue I thought I'd see what they wanted. The ad said they were looking for volunteers to walk and feed the dogs. I can do that. I filled in the form and there were bits that didn't match the advert on Facebook. I left a few bits blank! I also sent a covering email to explain the blanks. I said 1-5 hours a week but I could easily do two mornings a week. See what happens now.

I am not going to ask for money but just publicise this annual fund raising event. I have a subtle patterned jumper and Claire has one. Reggie might still have his somewhere. https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/christmas-jumper-day

Due to a combination of the two, Suzi, has not been out since I got back from Rye.  It's either been raining or wintery and they have been gritting the roads. Of course, it's not just grit but is a mixture of grit and salt.  Salt.  No friend of exposed metal. No friend of  polished alloy engine cases and nice new wheel rims and spokes! So as a result Suzuki is in the garage. If we get a dry day I need to get her out and give her a good going over with soap and water and dry her off. Then apply the ACF-50 I have just bought. Dry day?  Like we are going to get one soon with all these storms that are piling up in Atlantic.

If you want to know anything now you just need to go to Google and ask. My search for places to go, hopefully open in February, just after the schools' half term holiday over has come up with quite a few places.  Whether being dog friendly is Reggie-friendly remains to be seen. Luckily we, Claire and me, have plenty of waterproof walking boots and warm coats to wear should Derbyshire turn into the cold and wet place it has a few time I have been before. Reggie though has a choice of waterproof coats and a Rough & Tumble towelling body wrap that we force him into when he is wet, after a rough towelling down! Although he looks more miserable when he is wearing it than the dog in the website photo! In my previous life as a rough-tough biker I have camped often in the Peak District at motorcycle rallies. Mostly around the Ashbourne area.  Usually though in the summer when it has been mostly warm and sunny.   So where to go? Well there are plenty of places here:...