Sunday, September 19, 2010

Coming down to the wire

Well.....just a few more days and myself along with SWMBO will be getting on a plane to make the trip back home.

Due to a slight change in plans/itinerary/schedule/whatever you want to call it, going up Aberdeen way participation in the Haggis Run had to be put off. As much as I wanted to take part, 'fraid this year is not going to be the time.

Tis a pity as I very much wanted to get up to Scotland, especially at this time of year, to experience a good organized club run by the GCMCC and GBC, fine Scottish weather and hospitality as well as meeting some fine folk.

But from the sounds of it Kawa may be down Midlands way while I'm over so we may be able to meet up somewhere such as the National Motorcycle Museum in Brum. If so, then that'll be great.

But in the meantime, there's a little thing of work that has to be done, making sure that my youngest sprog will be dropping by to feed the three roving alarms (the dogs), getting the mail picked up and this wee outpost called Casa Caimbeul doesn't disappear as well as getting up to the airport.

So, until then I should be gone for a bit unless I can get access to my sisters computer while there.  

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

It figures

After all this time with high heat, a little thing called Tropical Depression Hermine comes outta the Gulf of Mexico and hits NE Mexico yesterday.

So with this little storm comes the rains and winds and they hit this area pretty good. Loads of rain, winds of up to 35 miles/hour, tree branches broke off from trees (where else?) like matchsticks and in some cases trees uprooted.

And the biggest hazard or problem associated with this is the people out driving. For some reason the mentality is that once it starts to rain, people will drive faster  which of course results in numerous accidents around the city and other areas.

And to top this all off, the head of the city postal service decried that the day after a holiday, all mail would be delivered within eight hours.

Typically that means A LOT of mail that has to be sorted into delivery order along with parcels and other bits that are part of the daily routine.

Now this, along with the weather, kamakazi drivers and trying to keep the mail along with ourselves dry makes that a little hard to do. But we do what we have to.

The job got done using extra time, though dryness didn't occur for some.

Just glad that the Bodgers stable of heaps are not in commision right now as riding in that sort of weather is a very good way of being certified as a loony. Like I need help in that department.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Been awhile

Well, it has been awhile since I've posted anything...sorry about that...as noted in the last (?) posting about the weather, it's been as hot as H E double toothpicks here, up over 100F daily with the heat index figured in. At the end of the day, even though I don't have to work any overtime like my co-workers do, it's energy draining and all ya want to do is get home, take a shower and unwind.

Though we did have some rain showers a few time and it cooled things down a bit, down to the mid 90s, it crept back up again.

I did get a swing arm pivot off eBay for Vicky. The original needed to be taken off for painting in the future and I had a feeling that it would be a major fight doing that. As Vicky had been sitting outside for donkeys years no telling if the swing arm was froze in place or what, hence the replacement if needed.

So yesterday I spent a few minutes in the shed while it was coolish. Armed with a 1/2" drive socket, a 32mm socket (I know, I know) and a long pipe for additional leverage if needed, I went to work.

As Vicky is suspended from the overhead beams it made it slightly awkward but with some patience and the pipe, the nut at the end of the spindle started to turn and loosen. Another minute or so and the nut was off and using a small block of wood and lump hammer, the spindle was knocked out and the swing arm came out.

Next step is to get the rubber bushes out of the swing arm. But that's for after me holiday vacation.

Speaking of which, due to some circumstances that came up, the trip to the UK is still on in less than three weeks, however attending the Haggis Run has been put off.

I've already sent GBC an email partially explaining the reasons. I didn't go into full detail as that will be for a later date when things have settled down. But hopefully I'll be invited to attend at a later date.

And yes, a box of choccies I promised. will be mailing then on.

Until the next time....