2005 Post

Hope you had a good Christmas, and we both wish you and your family, and all the other "Pheonix Members", a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

We had a card from Norman Leatherland, so will try to get in touch with him.

Happy new year to all our friends!

Sophie, Jordi & I wish you all the best wishes for this end of year party-night from the south of France!!

We hope that all your dreams come true with good health in 2006!!

Keep in touch.

Weve just got back from a seven day cruise around the Canary Islands and Madera. Weve had a great time, apart from the weather around Madera which was light rain, and cut short our sightseeing time. Now we are back at home, (Tenerife) and it's nice and sunny, just how we like it. We are completely knackered, but as we are not expecting anyone for christmas we are just going to crash out.

Have a very Merry Christmas all of you, and I suppose you know that Santa had to go to the doctors. He had a mince pie stuck up his bum, but the doc, gave him some cream for it.

Christmas Cheers for now.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

I will get down to one of the gatherings sometime in 2006, I will honest.

I just wanted to let you all know why I have not had any spare time - see Leicester Mercury spread, extracts below.

Alan Reid in his best suit with partner-in-grime, Andrew Sime.

Can I take this time to wish all past members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Tracey and I will see you all in 2006. All past members are welcome to call in for a drink and see my office showpiece (new RIZLA SUZUKI GSX1000R) in my office!

Do any of you guys (gals) have any memories of my dealerships in the 70's?

Davick Motique in Long Eaton & Derby.

Appreciate any photos or memories.

Has the Bluebell (Hoby) been rebuilt yet? Last time I rode through in the summer it was still a burnt out building?

Is it too early to wish everyone a great christmas? Oh, I thought that might be the answer. If anyone fancies an unofficial pint over the festive period let us know.

I will not be able to get to the New Ellistown on 5th January, even though it's my cousins pub! I have a contract at Tesco HQ in Welwyn Garden City, and I am staying down there during the week. Sorry and all that, but I am sure that the usual gathering will have a good time all the same! (Probably even better). Please document events in the time honoured way, so that I don't feel too left out.

I was at the dentist again today, my 6th visit since losing a tooth. My mouth now looks like this UOUOOUUVWO^><

Dirty Eddy points out Alan Jarvis' missing tooth at the Star and Garter.

Just been on voice mail to Alan Jarvis, 22.35 on Nov 30th. He's back from his trip a day early and he asked if I had heard from you. I said yes, some days ago.

Perhaps you've heard from the news that we had a hurricane a couple of days ago. It hit the north of the Island the most and we got the tail end. Our place suffered no damage (just a few more leaves to sweep up) but the cat didn't like it. Jan made him a nest from an old quilt and he wouldn't leave us for some time. I call him cooking fat or something like that, but I love him really.

Soon be Christmas......... but I bet the girls have been telling you that for weeks. Are they looking in cupboards yet?

I see that you are aware of the audio contact I made with Alan. We were on for about an hour each night. There is a break up in the sound at first but it gets to normal after a few minutes, I've had the same problem with other calls made.

I have received an email from Budge, quite long actually. He says that he is into horses (not literally) and has three. He also hunts hares, not foxes as there aren't any.

I have spoken to him over the telephone over the past couple of years. I am glad that he's not forgotten us. Maybe his attitude will change when 20 of us turn up on his doorstep.

We have programmes at night on the telly where fat people are trying to get thin and thin people are chasing clues all over Europe. I tell you this because these are the times when I am up on my Computer......... So you will know when to find me.

Take care and wrap up warm.

Is Colin Townsend still around? We were quite friendly. I rather liked his Susy, but he seemed to just disappear.

I see Leicestershire County Council is to use molasses with the road salt. Lincs have dropped this idea when they found it makes for a slippery surface.

Oh, the sexual life of the camel
Is staranger than anyone thinks.
In the height of the mating season,
He tries to bugger the sphynx.
But the sphynx's posterior passage
Is filled with the sands of the Nile,
Which accounts for the hump on the camel
And the sphynx's inscrutable smile.

Yes I'm back. I recited that very rally song to my wife while in Luxor, and belive me the sphynx is far more docile than the camels. They belch, fart and spit at everything that moves.

I will send a full report when I've got the sand out of all those unspeakable places.

Can you believe I survived (very well by the way) the girls? Katrina was bad, dropped half of Miami's trees; when we finished cleaning up, came Wilma and dropped the remaining plus all the power lines. They say it was a category 1 and I can tell you I don't look forward to getting to know what a category 5 is! The storm was so big that 5 counties had its eye on at the same time. Look at NASA site, it was interesting. We're all trying to get back to normal life. It's easy to get lost in Miami as you do not recognize the place without its vegetation.

I just got a note from a friend and thought we could share the laughter.

The United Nations decided to carry a worldwide survey. A letter was sent to all nations' representatives, asking this question:

"Please answer, honestly. What is your opinion about the shortage of food in the rest of the world?"

The survey was a complete failure.

None of the Europeans understood what "shortage" meant.

The Africans had no idea what "food" was.

The Cubans required more information about the meaning of "opinion".

The Argentinians had no knowledge of the word "please".

The North Americans had no idea of what the "rest of the world" meant.

And the Brazilian Parliament is still discussing what "honestly" means.

Keep in touch.

I just looked at the North American weather forecast, I think now is the time to tell MaLu to duck.

I can't make South Croxton as I will be in Egypt - one old relic looking at a load of older relics. I will get round to finishing my Greeves story.

Jurst lurv the new sight ... shite ... site (please select the spelling of your choice)

I don't know if this qualifies but do I win the prize for longest running restoration with this effort?

When I was several stones lighter, before Sarah my daughter had been born, I started restoring a Moto-Reve Pioneer m/cycle. I am pleased to announce that Sarah will be having a baby in March, sorry no other news yet on the bike. (well what do you expect over 24 years of blood & sweat. Have you ever tried to choose the colour for your bike!!)

I will be at my time share in Tenerife on the evening of the meal!!!. Much as I would love to to be there I think the lure of sun, sand and sex has slightly more of a pull.

Please pass my hellos to everyone. Oh and Kev hasn't been in touch. Give him another nudge for me will you.

It is always good to receive your newsletter, it makes me feel important and keeps my dream of riding again well alive. I wish I could join you in Feb for the fun ride through cold and ice. Keep me updated.

We were so blessed this season so far. Katrina was merely an inconvenience for Miami. Actually everything that needed to be taken care of will be now as Katrina gave the initial push... What was wrong went bad and will be fixed without big loss. The insurance companies lobbied Jeb Bush and got his blessings so now every insurance policy in Florida has a mandatory 2% deductible. In practical terms it means that you pay your insurance regularly and when the hurricane hits you pick up the cost of repairs and the companies get away with everything. Unless your house is destroyed you see no money from them. Also the companies that do the difficult work which is cutting fallen trees etc are already hired by the power and telephone companies and go from one state to the other so you have to rent equipment and cut them yourself. Hopefully one of your friends who is not afraid of heights can operate a chain saw safely and you can get your backyard in shape quickly. Hurricanes however are a blessing in a way as it is the only chance you have to see your neighbors and eventually get together with them (helping each other clearing the streets) and get company all the time. If you have power all your friends and family want to visit and stay overnight because of the air conditioning and the cold beer.

We're just great and trying to help New Orleans and others as much as we can.

Hope the Big-end rally went as well as the first .............

I remember that one well ....... the superb disco mentioned on the site was ME!! And I've still got all the same records (vinyl) here!

Best of luck for the future ........ one day I'll drop into UK for more than 24 hours and arrange a "do"!! We're thinking of next summer!

By the way, did you know Alan Reid's engaged!

Although I did not know Foz personally, I did appreciate his humour and am sorry to hear of his death.

This last year I have had quite a number of shocks to find people I served with in the army or have worked with in North Yorkshire Police or rode with in the Velocette Le and owners club have passed on, many much younger than me. I suppose I must consider myself lucky to still be fit and healthy at 61 but then my Dad is still with us at 91!!! Odd how you never know.

Here is my old Velocette Viper I had new from 1962 to 1964. It has turned up looking very good after a re-build (but more to do such as seat changed and mudguards to be chromed). It is living in Felixtowe now after being in Coventry for two years after I sold it back to Frank Cook Broad Green in Wellingborough where it also stayed two years before being sold. So only three owners from new. The thing is, now he has re-built it will he part with it?

We will have to wait and see.

After spending an inappropriate amount of time looking for a Pan Euro, I have finally given up and bought something else. All I was looking for in a Pan was a machine that had been reasonably well cared for and serviced for a fair price, all I saw was a load of clapped out old nails, owners don't seem to care for their expensive purchases anymore.

On a visit to a dealers in Preston last week, I was offered a Honda PC800, one owner from new, well looked after, very low mileage ect. Tried it out and bought it on the spot.

The PC800 is a sort of cross between a Pan and a Goldwing.Photos above.

I intend to come to Ashby Folville on Tuesday. However due to my age I do not understand which 'Hour' you mean ten minutes past.

I have been living in Canada for some 37 years and during that period I have on occasion come face to face with a Bear.

Dealing with Bears is not that difficult if you understand them.

For the most part, a bear is predictable. If you stumble upon a bear in the wild, the experts say he is more afraid of you than you are of him!

From my personal knowledge, a Bear thinks with his stomach, he is always hungry. A bear is a big animal and needs to eat enormous amounts of food to stay healthy and alive. So, if one day you find yourself confronted by a Bear, take a look behind you to see if you are standing between the Bear and it's food. If this is the case simply step aside quietly and leave the area to let the Bear feed.

I think I should also mention, do not turn this look behind you into a sightseeing trip. If you cannot find an obvious food source within a few seconds, you will be the food source!

My goodness, who would have thought of the internet in the 1960's. Ken Wells passed on the info.

One frightening thing - when one puts on a crash helmet and leathers, it hides the wrinkles, grey hair and expanded waistlines. The little bit on view is basically the same as it was 40 years ago. The shock is on reaching the pub and discarding the gear- wow!

A friend of mine recently sent me these pictures of his bike, and as I see it an e-mail enquiry to have a supercharger fitted. Just thought they might be worth a look to a bunch of bikers (old Phoenix boys and girls)

I am now an old new biker. Have got a Honda VTX 1800 after 15 years off the road. I now feel that I can join in the club outings as I was never one for turning up in my car! Even in rain or snow!

Please therefore keep me up to date with future events as I will be attending.

I have a Corker helmet complete with kite mark but the number is unreadable. Can you please tell me if I can legally wear this helmet on my 1966 Triumph? Thank you for your help in this.

Increasingly it is looking that my trip to Norway will be approved, hence my trip to Leicester will also be scheduled. I am sad about the timing, I was really hoping to be there during an "Ashby Folville" meeting, but I will try to make the most out of whatever is going on at the time.

Glad that you agree with my comments about 1950s 1960s motor cycle lighting. The copper wire was up to the task (providing it wasn't raining) but the 6 and 12 volt systems of the day, combined with the very small weak batterys could not produce or store enough electrical energy, which meant we where kept in the dark.

I went to Ashby Folville last night, and saw 2 or 3 current Phoenix people, Dave Cockerton and Roland Potter and his girlfriend Rosie.

I got there at about 7 pm, and the village was already full! Lots of machinery to look at as usual, with 2 or 3 or 4 wheels. A very nice 8 valve Weslake 750 caught my eye.

See you next time,

I would like to share with you some of my experiences owning and riding a 1950s Velocette.

In its day, the Velocette was one of the finest motor cycles on the road, bred in racing, it handled like a dream and it had a very high top speed combined with unimaginable endurance.

The Velocette had many unique features not found on other motorcycles of that era.

1. Decompression Lever This lever was located under the left handlebar, it was supposed to assist in starting the beast. But in reality its real function was to provide an extra place to hang on when the kick start kicked back. Placing it under the left handlebar meant you would be launched 15 feet in the air and end up in a ditch, as opposed to be launched into oncoming traffic.
2. Adjustable Rear Suspension I played with this feature for a long time. I found no difference in handling no matter where I set the shocks. I did however find one benefit. If you move the shocks to the rear-most position, the effective force of hitting a bump in the road was moved away from the rider's male parts and concentrated to his girlfriends area of the seat. If you had selected your girlfriend carefully, no damage was done.
3. Two Pint Oil Reservoir This was a great innovation that allowed oil to leak for months not just days.
4. Carburettor The carburettor was factory set for sea level performance or perhaps below sea level. The only adjustment was the "idle mixture screw". Every evening on my way home to Highfields, half way up the Melbourne Road I could hear the bike starving for fuel. I think Hannibal crossed the Alps faster than my Velocette could, given the elevation.

I got into work this morning at 08:00, and after I got my first cup of tea, I had a look at the RealClassic website.

You might recognise the Provence article!! I sent it in to them after talking to Rowena at the Stanford Hall Classic Clubs show some weeks ago. They have now asked me to do a write-up about my Yamaha XS850. I think I am getting a Tee shirt out of it!

I also got in another mention of LPMCC in Classic Bike Guide clubs page after talking to them at another show! But they got the wrong end of the stick slightly, and the way they wrote it makes it seem as if the current LPMCC meets at Ashby Folville on 2nd Tuesday. Ooops! Could you let Pete Juby know it was me, and apologise.

See you tomorrow night at Ashby Folville?

Alan's comments about lights sums up most of my experiences with bike electrics during the sixties. My bikes seemed to be wired from barely conductive materials causing huge voltage drops from the battery to the bulb. Twelve volts, now when that came in, what a revelation, you could even warm your hands on the zener diode heatsink. Still, one of the benefits of simple electrics meant that most problems could be overcome with a bit of thought. Not so my present machine, with its two computers, banks of fuses and relays in every cubby hole, multiplex loom etc. I have to get my son to set the clock to the right time. (You need a degree in video remote programming)

I have just read your latest update to the LPMCC website and one of your comments rings a familiar bell in my mind.

My first bike was a 1959 Velo Viper which came from the factory with 6 volt lighting. The lights worked fine until it got dark. As soon as the sun went down I could not tell the difference if the lights were on or off! With my mechanical background of the era I thought about mounting a candle on the handlebars or even perhaps installing a miner's lamp on the front mudgard, but I decided against it because I did not want to blind other Velo rider's riding towards me.

Why is there nothing on this site about the 25th anniversary of the Big End Rally? Some of us would like to know what you have planned for such a big anniversary! Or is it just the same old strangers again? Please put a little more fun in this site!

It is a very busy time for me at work, I have been travelling a lot this year. It may come to pass that I will be able to stop off in the UK in late August for a few days or a week on route, if that happens perhaps we can meet for a pint or two?

I joined the Phoenix in the late 1970's at the same time as "Bandit" Paul Lockwood-Lee, Maureen Kemp and Bryn Sabin etc.

I had an RS250, Z500, then GPZ550. I'm afraid I jumped ship and joined the 4 Aces in Kettering and did all the usual rallies etc. Stopped riding on the roads when I started racing (sidecar passenger). Now I race Enduro and do trials (just finished the evening trial in Earl Shilton - well finished early as bike broke and doing a 3 hour enduro tomorrow!) so the FZR600 I own is still in bits!!

I remember lot's of the old members. We did have a good time with all the camping weekends we did. I only really still see Cyn Mauger. Can't believe went to the very 1st Big End Rally!!

Just to inform you from July 2nd my email address will change. Hope to keep hearing from you in the future and I hope to get to a reunion asap.

PS Spoke to my neighbour tonight Paul Ilston, still a Pheonix member. Said Tuesday skittle night was very good. Hope to get to next one.

Hope you all had a good get together at Croft on Tuesday night

We are having some building work done which will take between two to three months and I am doing the labouring, mixing cement,carrying bricks, mixing concrete etc and have not been finishing till gone nine some nights so the chance of getting out is rather slim at the moment.

I did make it to Stanford Hall to the Classic Show and had an enjoyable day there. I spoke to Peter Juby who said your paths hadn't crossed but according to your e -mail you did not make it.

Are you going to Ashby Folville in July? if so I may see you there.

Great evening at Croft, reminded me of many years ago at the "Rocket", same faces, same bikes. Wishbone, Dirty Eddie and I arrived at the same time. Last time I spoke to them was 39 years ago. Eddie coudn't remember me until he recalled the bike I rode back then. The old Greeves must have made more of an impression than I did.

Great to meet up with Bill & Sue again after 25 years, although sad to see Bill surrounded by scaffolding. I think some alternative physiotherapy is called for, perhaps a tyre changing competition? We had a good laugh about tyre changing on a trip to Bedgellert the three of us made and the soaking we got on the way back.

My son Craig, who is short on long sentances and long on short comments said he thought he was at an "Age Concern" outing, which I suppose has some truth in it, as none of us are getting any younger. For me, these meetings remind me of happy times long ago, when I didn't have any pressures from work or mortgages etc, only enough cash left at the end of the week for a few beers and a gallon of petrol for the bike.

Why don't we have lots of photos on the web site? I would like to see more!

It is nice to hear that Wishbone is alive and well.

Please remind all the past Phoenix members that during their skittle match they will be tossing their balls on my Birthday! And remind them also that I wish I could be there!

Just a line to let you know that we are still ok. I have spent a little more time on my computer in the last few days and find it most frustrating, but I suppose I will have to persevere. At least I have the radio in the background this Sunday afternoon, I'm listening to Hot Jazz Saturday night, broadcast from Capitol Hill Washington USA. Naturally it's last night's recording as it starts about 2am GMT and runs for about three hours.

Tell me have you started to put your bike back together yet? Or have I got to come over and do it for you? Do you think that it will ever be ridden again? I would love to have a go again, perhaps when one of my mates comes over in the autumn we might hire a couple of nails and have a ride up Teide. (or is it pipedreams)

Take care out there.

Had the pleasure of Sue & Bill Langley's company at the Ruby Aniversary of Freda & myself's wedding 40 years ago. Bill & Sue were guests of ours on that day to.

Just had an e-mail from Derek Foster. He hopes to be holidaying in London some time in June. It seems as though this is going to be just a holiday for him & Jan touring the sights of the capital. It does not sound as though he will be coming up to Leicester. As this is their first proper holiday for about eight years, I think it is a good idea for them to do their own thing without the added hassle of comiing to Leicester. He said he would let me know the next time he will be in our local area.

Hope to see you soon,
cheers for now.

Back in '67 I was in "between jobs" and had an interview in Cambridge, some 50 miles from Kettering where I lived at the time. I didn't have a car that was running and the same with the bike. So my best mate at the time Roy Houghton had a Daytona and Roy said I could borrow it, fair enough. I took it home that night ready for an early start the next morning but it snowed ... heavily. Undeterred I set off in plenty of time along the A604 and the roads were awfull, several inches of snow, slush and frozen ruts. On the way I passed many abandoned cars and more than one in the ditch. Only a few turned up for the interviews but I still didn't get the job. Must have had my mind too much on getting the bike back in one piece which I did, hankfully.

That evening it was club night at Geddington for the Kettering and District Motor Cycle Club and I picked Roy up at his parents house saying "Thanks Roy, you can drive now"! He did and we crashed!!! As we picked ourselves up I said "A few less rev's will get you anywhere". I did well over 100 miles that day.

I came across a motorbike on one shopping trip in a car park. It looked like a Harley, but was Japanese, the name was Hyosung. Have you come across this make? I must remember to carry my digital camera (Canon Isus 11) with me all the time.

I seem to have a lot of work to do lately. Having nearly altered our back room to house the computer (Ordenadora) when we had unexpected guests for a while, then major repairs to our holiday apartment (which we've nearly completed). Then a suprise week for my 70th birthday when my eldest daughter paid me a surprise visit, so I had the week off taking her around to see different parts of the Island. Now she has returned to the UK, so all the nearly done jobs are waiting to be completed and my time on the computer seems to be less and less.

I would love to talk to the following; Phil Barton, Cliffe & Margaret Payne, Colin Hill, Jack Thomas (Harley Davidson?), Mal White, (he had a close mate also from Wellingborough with a Norton SS and short blonde hair), Jim Yeomans, I think he lost his brother Tom didn't he? Jim instigated playing football when foot & mouth stopped us trials riding in '67. Buzz was a close working friend of Roy, Russ & Sue (with the pony tail!),and Trev.

Margaret went out with a guy who lived at the bottom of our road before going with Cliffe. Who was that? I've forgotten!

I will log on to LPMCC as soon as time allows, as I'm late with two reports on The Denia Classic Revival Meeting for Fishtail and Vintage MCC as well as finishing off Velo rebuilding.

Thanks very very much for all the info. Can't believe it, so many names that I remember.

I joined Ketters in about 1962 with my C15 (new in '60) Then I bought my Viper in '62 and kept it for only two years and then got into cars I'm afraid but had some old wrecks for a few years including creating a racing bantam!!

I was comp. sec. in '63 when in '63/4 we held two of the biggest moto-cross meetings in the country at Stanford Hall, including Smith, Bickers, Rickmans, Horsfield, Lampkins, a truly world class event that I will never forget. But it cost us dearly. I became chairman when they left in droves and it went down to me and Shirley Everard (tres.) until the "young 'ns" came, all those that you mention.

I stopped going in about '71, and bought a trials Honda in '75 and joined Harboro' club, till I moved to Leicester. Got divorced in '80 and bought a heap of s**t called a "Viper" in '83 and spent 5 years doing a rebuild (I'll send a pikkie later as I won the conkers at Velo club annual meeting at Stanford Hall.

I then added a Harley sportster in '90,and swapped it for a Classic Electra Gluide in '93. Just before coming out here I then added an Italjet 180 scooter, it does 85mph!!!

We are gathering a classic "club" out here as a branch of the local H-D shop. We now have two Vipers, BSA RGS, BSA Goldie, Sunbeam S7, Matchbox G12, Norton ES2 and steadily growing.

Dianne and I have just signed for a two bed two bath apartment to rent, so anyone who wants to come down they will be most welcome. Prices are not yet sorted but will be a lot cheaper than on the coast (nearest twenty minutes away). We are very much in biking country here, mountainous country, quiet roads.

Please pass this on to anyone who knows me and or would like to use the apartment.

Will also pass on later photo's.

I would love to know who you met at Kettering. Did you get any names? I'm still in touch with a couple of guys from the sixties. Roy Houghton, CB72 and Triumph Daytona 500, and Keith Vincent (Tappets), Continental G.T. Roy now lives in Devon but Keith lives in Whetsone and would love to know where they meet these days, lets say Pheonix as well as Kettering.

Keith came over here to go to the MotoGP last year at Valencia. I guess Phil Barton must still be involved with things? He was going to write a book I believe at one time on the clubs history. In about '65 there wouldn't be a club if it wasn't for me and a "girl" friend (treasurer) Shirley Everard (no, no, no, she was a lot older than me!!!)

Sorry I have not been in touch for some time, but have been very busy at work recently, so not a great deal of spare time for reunions or visits, although number 3 son and I managed to go to the classic bike show at Stafford on Sunday. Whilst looking round I realised that I'd owned an awful lot of the bike on show in the past (or was that a lot of awful bikes?) My son probably put it more accurately saying they were all crap! There was a restored jampot AJS mod 18 there - remember them? On sale at £4,000. I think you had to pay somebody to take them away a few years ago.

Should see you soon, May's Classic night at Ashby Folville hopefully.

We had a great time on Tuesday, nice to see old faces again. Had a nice quick ride home. Roll on June and we can get over to the IOM. Taking the outfit as we do the Jumbo run over there with the handicapped children. Looking forward to seeing you around sometime in your N Reg Volvo. Mine is similar blue but the saloon not estate. If you see me give me a wave.

Safe riding.

Thank you for passing my email on to John & Jan and as a result of which I have now been in contact.

Hello,

I own a few English racing motorcycles, A Rob North Triumph; a Rickman Metisse;a Norton [, a Triumph] Daytona and a G50 [Matchless] etc. I would like to rent a road bike, because I .............. don't have one. Where are you based?

I saw an article on the "pqr" last year. I do not really need a guide because I know the south .... and I know the handling of English machines which I love. It is in the hope of sharing this love with my girlfriend that I am writing to you. Cheers Eric

bonjour je possede queques motos de course anglaise triumph rob north, rickman metisse, norton daytona g50 etc je desire louer une moto de route car je n en aio pas ou etes vous localise j ai vu un article sur la pqr l annee derniere je nai pas vraiment besoin de guide car je connais bien le sud siet je connais le maniement des machine anglaises dont je suis amoureux c est pour faire partage cet amour a monamie dans lattente de vous lire a+ eric

BSA made the first mono-wheel called the Füllenhof. This developed 2000bhp from a 125cc engine, and ran only on a mixture of methanol and diluted turnip juice. Unfortunately on a test run spaghetti junction was the death of this wondrous machine. Due to the tremendous speed and roadholding the test rider A. Fuull missed one slip road, hit another by mistake and disappeared up his own exhaust pipe. This was all hushed up and although several attempts to erect a memorial were made MI6 vetoed the idea. If you venture under the junction there are several bits of metal which members of MAG swear are original parts.

Just to let you know I have joined the 21st century.

Well I finally got to install the latest version of AOL on my new computer. It was simple really, all I had to do was log on to my old computer and e-mail (transfer) a copy of the old version of AOL to my new computer. The transfer went really well, only timed out about six times, generally it was the best five hours I have wasted this week! Now when I click on the AOL icon it asks me which version I want to use! I really have to think about that one. If I delete or ignore the old version, I will lose the dialup information.

I think I am in the wrong business, after tonight, I think we need more guns and violence in the computer industry, the latest insult is, spellcheck is only available in French!! So now I will have to learn to spell or at least use accents over the "e"s!

With officially less than two weeks to go before spring arrives I wanted to share with you what the weather is like in my part of Canada.

This picture was taken today, the temperature overnight was minus 28C, new snow in last 3 days 18 inches, old snow over the winter from 7 to 9 feet, give take a foot or two. It's enough to drive a man to drink!

I used to think as a child that Leicester was a harsh place to live, with its two up and two down houses in the Highfields, and who can forget the outside toilets that used to freeze up in the winter!

But believe me, this cold is different and beyond compare. To take a pee outdoors a man has to keep backing up! When I go outside in morning to start my car the liquid in my eye's freezes before I can open the car door!

It may sound like I am complaining, well perhaps I am but, our summers usually make up for the difficulties we face during the winter. Least I hope it is true this year.

I have just finished chewing all the bits of food that accumulated in my keyboard during the winter nights. It's amazing what you find in the stark light of day.

I cannot see us ever riding the bike as a couple again. However if we know where the end of the May Day pub run is we will try to make it.

Security for the Royal Wedding is going to be dead easy, the third person has to be the terrorist.

I just got back from a business trip to Arizona. The weather was disappointing as expressed by the locals, but it suited me just fine! It is great to get away from the snow for a while at this time of year.

I have attached a picture showing the affects of the rain and the local flooding, big event in Arizona, but the soil in Arizona cannot handle one inch of rain!

Still plodding along with this new toy.

Having trouble with sending emails to people with @ntlworld in their title. Can you help? I've tried many times. Today I've noticed an information error showing, and when clicking on to their help column it's suggesting that I try their subscribed email. Any suggestions?

By the way the the crane and car pictures were brilliant.

I've now picked up the CX500 Custom that I bought. It looks and goes OK, should be good for my commute to Newark and keep the salt off the Norton. I've attached a couple of the Ebay photos of it.

See you again soon no doubt.

Can't get to the do but thinking of you - I'm a poet but didn't know it!!

The new family are doing fine here and soon a site on the net will tell all about our lives!!!!!!!!! Maybe not all!!! somethings are best left in the bedroom............or shower.......or kitchen!!

By the way, tell Steve White that, as I live in France, the salt fields near to the Camargue etc are not flooded by tidal waters ......... no tides exist in the Mediterranean except for in the Gibraltar region, and that the flooding is done by a series of traps that look like small canal locks!! Apart from that he seems to have had a great time in an area that I know really well. (this week I started in Fos-sur-mer in the centre of his holiday itinery!!!!!!!!

Speak soon, photo's soon as well

I looked at your B4114 pictures and I think I spotted a serious safety hazard. Everyone appears to driving on the wrong side of the road!

I've just looked at the study on the B4114. It's not a road that I use very often, but I agree that some form of speed enforcement is needed. In particular on the approach to the garage site and the left turn towards Cosby. Whenever I've used this stretch of road I've found that mortorists and motorcyclists tend to exeed the limit by a considerable margin. This then leaves very little room for error when turning left.

For the reunion at the end of the month. I'd like to make it, but I'm afraid that work commitments at the moment are quite tight. This weekend it's populating a large spreadsheet with data from asbestos surveys carried out over the last two months. At the moment I'm up to row 7441, and need to enter half as much again by Monday morning.

I hope to get to one of the meetings soon.

With regard to the cameras, can I suggest that you install ALL of them along the A5, instead of one every 1/4 mile. This would be of considerable help to us all. We would know where they were and avoid them. And in case of invasion by the Welsh we nab the lot, make a fortune.

How are you? Can you believe it will soon be end of January! Happy new year.

Last Monday I met Maurice Tidmarsh. (now 67yrs old). Certainly a character and he has kindly agreed to talk about the KMCST on video.

You kindly sent me a text from someone who had been in part of the club. Did you ever find out who this text was from ?

Also remember the 8mm or Super 8mm film. I would be interested in any film with motor cycles in it OR ANY FILM of old Leicester or Leicestershire - it doesn't matter what it is as long it is period footage from 1960s - 1970s. I want the documentary to have as much old footage as possible.

When you have time.

With best wishes

I wish I could be with you on your birthday, I hope you and all the LPMMC alumnae have a good time.

I have a trip planned to Norway in March-April and I may get the chance to spend a few days in the UK, if that happens I will get in touch with you.

Thank you for sending me updates, I have been so busy lately I have not had much time to log-on to the website.

Best regards

Thanks for the update. I can't make it to many of the get togethers but it's nice to know what's happening.

I can make it to your get together at the Harvester at Loughborough on the 30th. Diane's going to Symphony Hall so I will be bringing Mike Fisher.

I will try to catch up with everybody's news then. In the meantime I'll try to find out why my Honda won't go. Some things never change do they.

Happy New Year to All.

Leicester is installing secure parking lockers at various sites, the first three have been installed at the car park at the top of Oxford St. More are supposed to be positioned at the top of Abbey St and hopefully some in Bowling-Green St. The council has purchased fourteen altogether, and they should be free; however you will have to insert a £1 to release the chain and use your disc lock to fasten it. After use you reinsert the chain which should then return the £. The BMF and Leicester Forum working for you???

Ken, and the Crossword Kid, or just M to you.

Wishing u a very happy new 2005

Greetings from Bruxelles!!

hope 2 hear from u soon !!!

Best wishes to you and your family for the new year.

Unable to attend the gathering on Jan 4th, however I do intend to come along to the Sunday lunch on 30th Jan. Having mentioned this date to Jackie, she was most interested and hopes that she will be able to join me. The venue and the time of meeting up will need to be sent to me via email as I have deleted quite a few e-mails and the one with the information in it must have been among the deleted ones.

I received an e-mail from Derek Foster during the holiday to say that he was up and running. This will make contacting him that much easier for all of us.

Look forward to seeing you on the 30th.

cheers for now.

Happy new year!

Sorry for the long delay between emails, I have been up to my armpits in work for the past few months and with no sign of things slowing down anytime soon, and to add to the difficulties, winter arrived here many months before it's appointed day on the calendar. In my part of Canada we have set new records for snow and cold temperatures and the worst doesn't usually arrive until January and February!

I spent a couple of days over the Christmas holidays going through all my old pictures but, alas I did not find any of my motorcycle years. I did however find some interesting pictures of my early youth which gave the kids a chuckle!

Bye for now

I have found a few old photos of myself and various people and will e-mail them to you. I do not know if the quality is any good as some of these photos are more than 100 years old, like myself.

Cheers