a wee jaunt up to portree on skye to day, weather not to bad a bit showery between scorchio moments, yesterday warm and clear skys but working typical. pulled in to yon castle just outside kyle of lochalsh and managed to drop the bike on me totally trapped, luckily not to many people watching, maybe only 2 or 3hundred. . a couple of Swedish bikers ran over and lifted the thing off, and sympathized with me by telling me his wife just done the same thing.. he lent me some tools to straighten some things out whilst taking some photos to put on internet ya!.. not to much damage a few scrapes, bent rear brake pedal. about three hundred miles, to short just wanted to keep on riding. spotted that place char was talking about. i could tell you another story about a trip to skye but you wouldn't believe me. thieir can be only one.
Yesterday and Saturday we were at Donnington for WSBK c/o Watches of Distinction who are one of the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki sponsors. Had a great time both days with a great sit down buffet lunch adjacent to Parc Ferme. We lost count of the number of celebs and riders we saw. One of the highlights was seeing Sykes grin whilst riding a paddock scooter after race 1 win. Had a chat with one of the JHP mechanics about chains, life and lube. Even caught the sun a little
Anyway, being a bank holiday, and a rainy one at that, I've been down the boozer. Best way ever to spend a wet Monday
@gliddofglood - FYI Well worth a visit. I wont do a full review cos the hairy lairy man-types on here will no doubt flame me for it, but it offers quite a bit on different levels, as a visitor. I am no 'plantsman' - i am known as 'the brutal gardener' - if the required horticulture requires brute force or power tools i am your man- but there is plenty at the show to satisfy those whose dedication is specific flowers/plants used in the show garden. Literature on every show garden etc. I am more 'form' and 'ordered shape' - i am no artist, but i dabble in a bit of photography, so i like seeing how the entirety comes together- the planting, stonework, positioning, arches, tree work, water features etc etc , and how pleasing they are to a photographers eye in a three dimensional way, that TV simply cannot replicate. For that reason, depth perception, these gardens are worth visiting at the show. Some gardens work well in a perspective, others are merely 'dumped soil with a scattering of wild flower seeds' - IMHO. The designers will have spent days/weeks thinking up their theme, some worked, but some were less successful. There is of course the HUGE marquee with all sorts of displays/suppliers- from around the world, and all types of plants, from Bonsai to tea roses, veg to tree lilies, and the biggest Alliums i have ever seen plus a Birmingham City Council centrepiece...... which was very good. You may not want to buy much - 'Chelsea' prices, but there was the odd bargain to be had ( Didier Drog.... no, we wont go there). There were some very interesting 'Artisan' show gardens - the second division if you wish- which were intriguing to see also. Plenty of outside stalls selling all sorts of garden related paraphernalia, we came away with two metal forged mosquitoes, sorry Dragon flies - look nice, and if anything carrying a couple of irregularly shaped sharp metal sculptures on the Tube made getting that all important seat, a touch easier. The commuters gave a decent berth.... or were 'accidentally ' jabbed for their troubles. I am reminded why its been while since i have done the London commute for work, from Zummerset... If all else fails - celeb watch - Dan Snow, Monty and a plethora of garden presenter types, and if that fails people watching of those who should know better - ladies of more than a certain age in tight white trousers, and stupid high heels which may have looked good twenty years ago before the onset of that cellulitis, and their paramours, with a chest wig and ray bans. To be fair , not too many of those. Above all, whilst busy, it was - unusually for London - a very polite crowd, everyone wanted to see/get a pic of the show gardens, and people patiently took their turn. i expected to use my manly broad shoulders, and 6 feet of vertical bulk more, but it wasn't necessary. Chelsea Flower show - well worth visit - do it. Tickets on sale to the general public from the RHS website 1/12/2014, if you're interested. I took 221 photos, there must be one good one in that lot... somewhere....
I went to Donington. Good to meet Bradders and Andyb and Nicky Wilson amongst old friends from Ducati Manchester
I got a 'conditional offer' of 3 points and £100 for running a red, so paid it online and sent my license off (a process I'm all too familiar with...). Went to the office only to find out I've also been gifted a £130 fine for going down a no entry road And when I got home I found out my council tax direct debit has failed again and I now owe 3 months. FFS!
I let my R1 take me out for the first time today. Jesus. H. Christ. It wants to kill me. I know understand completely that concept of the front going light...
