View Full Version : Smile of the day - What is yours?
My friends from London have been up for a few days. I took them for spin to Elan valley and then onto Devil's bridge. They were keen to do the route (b4574) that Henry Cole used in his recent series of the Motorbike show. I can recommend it, it's a narrow road so we plodded along but that gives you more time to take on the scenery.
We had lunch at two hoots cafe in the devil's bridge railway station and these three trucks turned up. Dormobiles they aren't.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190926/e75f161c9e3f41b8f607f17bf6e1d888.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190926/8efcf915ae545b4f234a38f137a1d3a7.jpg
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Chris_SVS
26-09-19, 04:38 PM
JAWBOX Pineapple and Ginger gin :D
Adam Ef
28-09-19, 06:28 AM
After the previous day's struggles with everything I did being awkward / going wrong working on the VFR... the next day was changing the rear tyre. How easy is removing a wheel on a single sided swingarm! So quick. No messing with the brake caliper or wheel alignment refitting. Just four bolts off and back on.
After the previous day's struggles with everything I did being awkward / going wrong working on the VFR... the next day was changing the rear tyre. How easy is removing a wheel on a single sided swingarm! So quick. No messing with the brake caliper or wheel alignment refitting. Just four bolts off and back on.I often take it off while cleaning, as you say it only takes a minute.
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Adam Ef
29-09-19, 10:45 PM
A few hundred miles over the last couple of days in torrential rain and plenty of it motorway. Might not sound like it should be a smile, but between some decent waterproofs and the VFR it went surprisingly well and was mostly very enjoyable. Good to know it can be done.
maviczap
30-09-19, 05:24 AM
If get back on two wheels, then a VFR would be one of my choices
SV650rules
30-09-19, 09:35 AM
If get back on two wheels, then a VFR would be one of my choices
My brother has two - a VFR750 and a VFR800 ( injection but not VTEC ) and the only thing he has had go wrong is a burned out R/R on the 750 - replaced with a mosfet one so should be OK...
Sir Trev
05-10-19, 04:51 PM
Almost a gripe of the day. Arrived at the Ford dealer this morning to pick up my new (well, 7 month old) Focus only to find it seemed to be covered in stone chips. It's a smile as the look of utter panic on the salesman's face, and that of the sales manager, was hilarious. They scampered off to the valeting bay and both got busy with clay bars and thankfully it all came off. Seems one of the compounds for Ford Direct cars is beside a rail line and the metal fallout from train brakes, small flakes of metal and friction material, is notorious for "glueing" itself to paintwork. The valeting guys may get a rocket for this as it should have been sorted before I got there but all was good in the end. And the new car is quieter and smoother than the almost nine year old one I traded it in for, not surprisingly. Happy bunny in the end.
maviczap
05-10-19, 04:57 PM
My brother has two - a VFR750 and a VFR800 ( injection but not VTEC ) and the only thing he has had go wrong is a burned out R/R on the 750 - replaced with a mosfet one so should be OK...
Yes, the RR is a known weak point on the earlier ones if I remember correctly.
I'd like a nice low mileage pre VTEC 800 at some point, once I get my life back in order
BanannaMan
06-10-19, 11:10 AM
I'd like a nice low mileage pre VTEC 800 at some point
Get the VTEC.
All of the negative things you've heard are a lie!
It's smooth, easy, predictable and feels quite natural.
Luckypants
06-10-19, 11:24 AM
^^^^ what he said.
Adam Ef
06-10-19, 11:57 AM
+1 . I don't notice the VTEC kicking in unless I'm looking for it. Which I usually am. :p
Above 7000rpm it suddenly flies! Under that it can be really sedate if needed so good for slower and city stuff too. It really has surprised me how much I like it.
SV650rules
06-10-19, 07:00 PM
Get the VTEC.
All of the negative things you've heard are a lie!
It's smooth, easy, predictable and feels quite natural.
Try telling that to my brothers friend, after riding my brothers 1996 VFR 750 he wanted to do a straight swap for his 5 year old 2006 VFR800 VTEC, but after riding his VTEC my brother politely refused his offer, said it was gutless low down and needed lots of revs to pull away without stalling - which is why his mate didn't like it, and they never sold well,I have owned many VTEC Honda cars and kinda know what the low end torque is like, not too bad on a larger engine but on anything below about 1500 cc too fussy pulling away.
Adam Ef
06-10-19, 08:02 PM
Can't say that's my experience with mine. Pulls away great with only moderate revs. No signs of stalling.
Noticing that after roughly 5 years each the "Gripe of the day" thread currently extends to 768 pages, whereas this one has only managed 422 :)
SV650rules
11-10-19, 07:36 PM
Noticing that after roughly 5 years each the "Gripe of the day" thread currently extends to 768 pages, whereas this one has only managed 422 :)
That is why newspapers and TV show mainly bad news because good news is rarely as exiting as bad news...
dirtydog
11-10-19, 11:43 PM
Saved all my smile of days for one post...
All my customers are paying their invoices on time at the moment,
Applied for secondary school for Libby,
Got new tyres for the sv,
Got New fork seals and oil for the sv
Best of all though I finished at lunchtime today
Saved all my smile of days for one post...
Applied for secondary school for Libby,
ermm what.. where have all the years gone...:confused:
dirtydog
12-10-19, 11:15 AM
ermm what.. where have all the years gone...:confused:
Hahaha yeah time does seem to have flown in, she will be 11 this December :smt119
Oh and if you've seen the latest Virgin media advert on tv (the girl playing football) you would've got a glimpse of Libby in the background
Adam Ef
12-10-19, 10:15 PM
Part of todays commute (cycling)...
Ti3r9lYor1U
Coming back home on the bike from Norwich on the A140, the main road south to Ipswich, when I came on the end of a tailback. I just sailed past the traffic to my road, all 3 and a half miles of it.
dirtydog
16-10-19, 04:28 PM
New tyres on the sv, fork seals replaced, insurance renewed, MoT booked for Friday morning and I've finally got around to (possibly) sorting the speedo after doing a gsxr750 front end swap about 12 years ago :oops::oops:
Adam Ef
16-10-19, 06:00 PM
Got and hour of riding in today and it wasn't even raining! Enjoyed a few corners : )
maviczap
24-10-19, 05:55 PM
Got a call from Lloyds pharmacy to say they had got some flu vaccine in, after my appointment was cancelled on Tuesday.
So I've had my jab now.
See gripe of the day :-)
shiftin_gear98
26-10-19, 03:36 PM
My smile.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48963019171_e6c9d254e7.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hAGgKH)Smile of the day (https://flic.kr/p/2hAGgKH) by martin cockerell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155901659@N02/), on Flickr
My smile.
https://flic.kr/p/2hAGgKHOoooh. Doesn't look like it was dry enough for you to fully exploit.
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shiftin_gear98
26-10-19, 04:55 PM
It was a touch wet.
maviczap
28-10-19, 09:14 PM
At least it's not a Triumph
shiftin_gear98
28-10-19, 10:12 PM
No it's not.
And I bet 3rd gear at 10,000rpm isn't as addictive on a Triumph.
Engage warp engine.
Chris_SVS
31-10-19, 04:55 PM
Deadlift pb:cool:
shiftin_gear98
03-11-19, 09:10 AM
As Flickr is now behaving. My smile from a few days ago when I went to Giggling Squid for a Thai meal. Lucky Buddha Enlightened Beer, I'd never heard of it before, its from China.
Check out the bottle, I had to bring it home. The beer was OK too.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48984752811_3dc5119960.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hCBEpD)2019-10-30_08-59-01 (https://flic.kr/p/2hCBEpD) by martin cockerell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155901659@N02/), on Flickr
maviczap
03-11-19, 09:16 AM
Cool bottle :-)
Cool bottle :-)Ditto
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Adam Ef
03-11-19, 12:20 PM
I had a bottle of Stella that looked like that once. Admittedly I'd had several other normal looking ones beforehand. ;)
As Flickr is now behaving. My smile from a few days ago when I went to Giggling Squid for a Thai meal. Lucky Buddha Enlightened Beer, I'd never heard of it before, its from China.
Check out the bottle, I had to bring it home. The beer was OK too.
https://flic.kr/p/2hCBEpD
shiftin_gear98
07-11-19, 08:23 AM
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49027971102_6708c4a5fa.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hGraGA)My Smile (https://flic.kr/p/2hGraGA) by martin cockerell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155901659@N02/), on Flickr
garynortheast
07-11-19, 11:17 AM
Very tidy Martin. What year?
shiftin_gear98
07-11-19, 02:43 PM
She's an old girl - 2003
But unloved by her last owner - my bother in law - in that he hardly rode her for the last 9 years.
He looked after it, just never rode it. It's seen more rain in the last couple of days than it had since he owned it.
19000 miles on the clock.
Congrats on the new bike.
If we lose many more SV owners the forum will need to be renamed.:(
Sir Trev
07-11-19, 07:02 PM
I could have sworn we decided to change the name to the Triumph Owners Org....
Chris_SVS
07-11-19, 07:04 PM
I could have sworn we decided to change the name to the Triumph Owners Org....
Triples and tipples, because who doesn't like whiney inline 3's and a wee drink? :eek:
Grant66
07-11-19, 07:09 PM
Triples and tipples, because who doesn't like whiney inline 3's and a wee drink? :eek:Vees and threes, covers all the good bikes [emoji12]
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Chris_SVS
08-11-19, 08:09 AM
Vees and threes, covers all the good bikes [emoji12]
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:smt046
There are some decent folk in the world.
I went to a house to fit some blinds to windows for a lady. Just before I arrived she had been measuring where a downpipe from her flat garage roof was missing and water had been running down the wall. A tradesman who was doing some work across the road had seen her, went over and measured up, and as I arrived he returned with a downpipe, shoe, and a couple of brackets, handed them to me to fit, and refused any sort of payment from the lady. Top man.:D
discovering that my TV plays .flac via usb to amp via ARC :-)
it also plays 4K .MKV via USB as well but only DD sound via ARC.
Sir Trev
09-11-19, 04:02 PM
embee - that sounds fantastic.
Bibs - I only understood TV and USB...
Adam Ef
09-11-19, 05:12 PM
discovering that my TV plays .flac via usb to amp via ARC :-)
it also plays 4K .MKV via USB as well but only DD sound via ARC.
You young folk and your fancy technologies. :p
garynortheast
09-11-19, 05:43 PM
You young folk and your fancy technologies. :p
Aye, we 'ad nobbut two tin cans an' a piece o' string when I were a lad!
punyXpress
09-11-19, 09:09 PM
And you still managed to talk to the man in the moon!
Sir Trev
09-11-19, 09:59 PM
String? Luxury! We had to make do with granny's used dental floss.... etc....
garynortheast
10-11-19, 12:04 AM
That was a bit of an open door really wasn't it?
shiftin_gear98
10-11-19, 11:23 AM
My header bolts came out, easy peasy without any issues. Even though they were untouched since being assembled by some bloke at Suzuki. Mini miracle for 12+ years of neglect.
Adam Ef
10-11-19, 11:29 AM
That is a miracle! I'd be breathing a big sigh of relief after my 2 week freezing on the floor of my garage experience with mine.
embee - that sounds fantastic.
Bibs - I only understood TV and USB...
You young folk and your fancy technologies. :p
yes i'm 50+ old and a masive Audio nerd... the truth is out there..
put it this way i had home dolby vhs way back in the early 80's and remember laserdisc :smt040
BTW its Dr Bibs as i have a BSc in geektystuff.. rofl
ok i'm ****ed.. lol.. more beer
daktulos
11-11-19, 09:51 PM
put it this way i had home dolby vhs way back in the early 80's and remember laserdisc :smt040
I still have a box of laserdiscs in the attic - and a player somewhere (upgraded for AC3 to play the American disks). DVDs were such a disappointment by comparison.
I still have a box of laserdiscs in the attic - and a player somewhere (upgraded for AC3 to play the American disks). DVDs were such a disappointment by comparison.
`
dig them out m8.. they are worth a good frew pennies these days.
I became a grandfather today. Another of life's milestones. A baby boy weighing in at 9lb10oz.. is it too soon to get the Scalextrix out of the loft.
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Geodude
16-11-19, 09:30 PM
Nice one John, congratulations to you all :)
Nice one John, congratulations to you all :)Thank you. I've been looking forward to this for some time.
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maviczap
16-11-19, 09:33 PM
Congratulations to you and your family John
Nice to hear something nice for a change
Congratulations to you and your family John
Nice to hear something nice for a changeThanks. Yes, good news is in short supply at the moment.
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garynortheast
16-11-19, 10:01 PM
I became a grandfather today. Another of life's milestones. A baby boy weighing in at 9lb10oz..
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Congratulations to everyone John. A big moment!
is it too soon to get the Scalextrix out of the loft.
Course not, Scalextric and a few beers with mates, what could be better? Oh - hang on, you mean for the grandson!
Chris_SVS
16-11-19, 10:08 PM
Congrats John
BanannaMan
16-11-19, 10:28 PM
Congratulations John.
You'll find grandparenting much easier than parenting.
Let the spoiling began! ;)
Thanks for the comments. My wife has already been spending big time. Mind you, all the baby clothes she's bought now have to be changed as they're too small. [emoji849]
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Sir Trev
17-11-19, 05:15 PM
I became a grandfather today. Another of life's milestones. A baby boy weighing in at 9lb10oz.. is it too soon to get the Scalextrix out of the loft.
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It is never to soon to get Scalextric/Hornby/Lego Technic out of the loft ;)
Congrtas.
maviczap
17-11-19, 07:09 PM
Blimey I've been floored by things this week, as you know I'm going through divorce proceedings.
I haven't had any contact with my wife's family until this week.
I took my daughters out for a birthday tea on Monday, where I got my presents and cards.
One card was from the MIL, with a message to keep in contact, in a genuine gesture of friendship.
Then just now, my BIL called me, to say that the divorce doesn't change our friendship, as we've been colleagues and friends for longer than I've been married.
Has me a bit choked up, in a nice way, as now I know where I stand.
garynortheast
17-11-19, 09:22 PM
That must be incredibly comforting to have support and friendship extended from that quarter Mav. I'd guess it makes it all marginally easier to deal with.
Blimey I've been floored by things this week, as you know I'm going through divorce proceedings.
I haven't had any contact with my wife's family until this week.
I took my daughters out for a birthday tea on Monday, where I got my presents and cards.
One card was from the MIL, with a message to keep in contact, in a genuine gesture of friendship.
Then just now, my BIL called me, to say that the divorce doesn't change our friendship, as we've been colleagues and friends for longer than I've been married.
Has me a bit choked up, in a nice way, as now I know where I stand.That's wonderful. What great people.
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maviczap
17-11-19, 09:30 PM
Thanks both
Also helps him, as we might bump into each other at work, so prevents any awkwardness, plus my BIL's wife works for the our mob too. So nice to know where I stand
BanannaMan
17-11-19, 09:45 PM
Wish you the best going through this Mav.
Having things normal at work will be a great help. Glad your former IL's are decent folk.
maviczap
17-11-19, 09:47 PM
Cheers Bill, I'm so grateful for the support I've had from loads of people, including the mighty Org
chris8886
19-11-19, 10:20 PM
Glad to hear they're not cutting you off completely mav.
andrewsmith
20-11-19, 12:10 PM
Good news mac. Means people aren't being fickle with you
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It's that time of year for silly perfume ads. Some are so over the top that you have to laugh.
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Adam Ef
03-12-19, 04:52 PM
Well, the VFR made it all the way to Weston-super-Mare today, and more importantly home again without issue. Brilliant ride out. One of my favourite type of days. Cold, but sunny and dry.
85 miles riding fitted in between school runs. Just under half a tank used, so looks like fuel economy might be back on track. One of those days where I really enjoyed just riding, cruising along. Made me realise how much I love the VFR too. I took the Striple out for a bit yesterday and didn't get half as much enjoyment out of it. The VFR is making me want to go touring. :D
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49163688638_c21d06c25b_c.jpg
Glad you got it sorted. The vfr is very versatile. I'm loath to move on from mine as I think anything else will be disappointing.
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shiftin_gear98
03-12-19, 06:18 PM
Adam, best get the Stipple up for sale then. Its an expensive ornament.
shiftin_gear98
03-12-19, 06:22 PM
Made me smile.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49164793502_520ebe5132.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hUwqeu)Smile (https://flic.kr/p/2hUwqeu) by martin cockerell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155901659@N02/), on Flickr
Adam Ef
03-12-19, 06:34 PM
Adam, best get the Stipple up for sale then. Its an expensive ornament.
The VFR and Striple compliment each other really well. One is very light, naked and nimble... the other heavier but cruises better because of it and is no slouch and can handle being thrown about a bit too. I kind of even feel more stable thrwoing the VFR around than I do on the Striple, which needs some more fettling and suspension sorting before it rides properly I think.
The VFR was meant to be the extra bike though and has turned into my main ride. I'll have to think about what to do if I haven't paid off the Striple come spring. The VFR was a cheap as chips CAT C "winter" bike, all paid for already.
shiftin_gear98
04-12-19, 07:56 AM
Looking at the mileage on the old Mot's on my GSXR. When I got it in Oct it had done 594 miles since Aug 2014.
I'll be seeing 1000 miles appear on the counter sometime tomorrow.
More miles more smiles
(Apart from this morning, when the freezing fog wasn't all that)
Adam Ef
04-12-19, 10:36 AM
Have you ever compared the 750 to your 1000? Something about the 750 has caught my eye. How do you find the riding position on yours compares to an SV? More room?
shiftin_gear98
04-12-19, 10:56 AM
I've never tired the 750, I imagine if it's lighter it'd be fun and a bit more flickable, the thou is a bit of a lump. A bloody fast one albeit.
But that might just be that I'm still not used to it, and I've only ridden it in the dark/wet.
So I've limited any hooning as I'd rather not die just yet.
The riding position is fine, not very different, I think the pegs might be higher as it's a fraction harder to initially get my stiff morning legs on there, but after that it's fine. Getting tank grips made it miles different. Without the grips I found quite a bit of weight on my wrist. With the grips there is no weight there at all.
I'm really happy with it. It's ludicrous. And the noise it makes is fantastic, especially the gargle and burble when you ease off the throttle.
Luckypants
04-12-19, 11:02 AM
The VFR is making me want to go touring. :D
Eventually I'll have the money to sort the VFR suspendies for two up touring. Makes it a proper weapon with a pillion. (Had Maxton on previous VFR). It tours beautifully, having done several on my Viffers. Do it.
garynortheast
04-12-19, 06:01 PM
SotD is our wonderful NHS and the fabulous, caring, committed folk who staff it. If anyone does anything to endanger this incredible organisation over the next couple of weeks, I would never be able to forgive them.
Dave20046
05-12-19, 09:46 PM
Coincidentally stumbling across some pictures of an old SV650 tour of the isle of man
Eventually I'll have the money to sort the VFR suspendies for two up touring. Makes it a proper weapon with a pillion. (Had Maxton on previous VFR). It tours beautifully, having done several on my Viffers. Do it.
And I seem to remember observing the backside of a VFR feeling the G's,carving up the twisties at ridiculous lean angles.
timwilky
05-12-19, 09:57 PM
Got the no longer at risk letter, 35 years with the same org, 4 different "owners" over 30,000 gone in the UK in my time and 25% world wide so getting to the my turn one day.
Hopefully in about 3 years I will get the other letter and start an early retirement.
maviczap
06-12-19, 07:08 AM
Got the no longer at risk letter, 35 years with the same org, 4 different "owners" over 30,000 gone in the UK in my time and 25% world wide so getting to the my turn one day.
Hopefully in about 3 years I will get the other letter and start an early retirement.
Cool, just make sure to keep healthy enough to enjoy early retirement if it comes your way.
I've seen too many folk recently nearly get to finishing tape, only to peg it before enjoying any benefit of their work. :-(
just had a little giggle to myself, put judas priest - brittish steel on and forgot they done a song called Grinder... its funny as all those years ago Rob was into Grinder.... :-)
maviczap
07-12-19, 07:54 AM
He still is :-)
timwilky
11-12-19, 08:52 AM
You may initially think this a strange place to post. But.
The wife's cancer is officially back. Appointment with oncologist yesterday confirmed it is widespread though out her skeleton and in her lungs. It was discovered when she mentioned in passing she had had a cough for a few weeks and the doc said lets get a CT.
So why in smile. I smile because as I said back. 13 years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer requiring a mastectomy. 12 weeks of chemo and a month of radio therapy. We have had 13 years that would have been stolen from us if she hadn't gone through the hell back then.
We know she has a different fight now. Her employers (NHS) seem far more ready to accept she will be long term sick and may even require ill health retirement etc. The drugs we are told will not work for ever. But we can wake every day smiling knowing we have kept the reaper at bay for yet another day!
So life is for living, smile and get on with it.
Luckypants
11-12-19, 09:20 AM
You may initially think this a strange place to post. But.
The wife's cancer is officially back. Appointment with oncologist yesterday confirmed it is widespread though out her skeleton and in her lungs. It was discovered when she mentioned in passing she had had a cough for a few weeks and the doc said lets get a CT.
So why in smile. I smile because as I said back. 13 years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer requiring a mastectomy. 12 weeks of chemo and a month of radio therapy. We have had 13 years that would have been stolen from us if she hadn't gone through the hell back then.
We know she has a different fight now. Her employers (NHS) seem far more ready to accept she will be long term sick and may even require ill health retirement etc. The drugs we are told will not work for ever. But we can wake every day smiling knowing we have kept the reaper at bay for yet another day!
So life is for living, smile and get on with it.
What a positive message Tim! Quite right too.
All the very best to you and Lynne on the road ahead.
maviczap
11-12-19, 09:45 AM
It's a positive way of looking at it Tim, and 13 years extra time together is a good thing.
Wishing you the longest remaining time together, we all know that we've all got to go sometime, and we have no real control over it.
shiftin_gear98
11-12-19, 12:22 PM
Tim, I hope if I am ever in your position I can be as strong. That is a lovely way to look at it.
I hope you both have as many days together as possible.
shiftin_gear98
11-12-19, 12:24 PM
My smile is much more trivial.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49203678787_68be9ab9ef.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hXXHtr)Toasty (https://flic.kr/p/2hXXHtr) by martin cockerell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155901659@N02/), on Flickr
Warm fingers!
garynortheast
11-12-19, 08:31 PM
Tim, that is quite the most positive way of dealing with your situation. I hope you can make the most of every day you have together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaRzJaUiJqY
LMFAO.. i think its superb and strangely addictive :-)
garynortheast
13-12-19, 12:35 PM
Excellent. Love a bit of eastern European folk music with strange time signatures.
Sir Trev
13-12-19, 07:50 PM
How on earth did you find that Bibster? What sort of search did you do and why did you click on it as I'm so curious.
How on earth did you find that Bibster? What sort of search did you do and why did you click on it as I'm so curious.
was browsing son #2 music collection and found them. within 10 seconds i was PMSL listening to them. different and refreshing springs to mind :D
Sir Trev
14-12-19, 07:55 PM
Just back form an afternoon in London catching up with my old mates from uni. Not much hair left between us now and it's almost all grey... We spent half the time discussing how we were planning ahead for retirement in ten to fifteen years time which makes me feel so old. I also feel flippin' tired but that may be the five pints of Doom Bar more than anything else.
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