S-Westerly

With you on black ice. Very careful what roads I ride when black ice can be around and try and avoid darkness then. Never been affected by it on a bike but have written off 2 cars on it.

One thing I really don't like is pork crackling. So that doesn't sell me on an air fryer!

Know the feeling well. I don't get to interview candidates but get stuck with ones who get through the system. Recently had a Third Mate who was utterly useless. Knew virtually nothing other than copy / paste but couldn't even get that right. Managed to get him dismissed in the end. Don't particularly like doing that but his area of responsibility was a dog's dinner and his replacement is having to work overtime trying to put it right.

I use Spotify and especially when I'm away. In the less good quality mode I can download stuff over my limited Internet connection and the quality through a head set or buds is reasonable. Given there is constant background noise of engine, fans pumps etc super quality hifi would be pointless anyway. I don't get much repeat and have found so much music I'd never have heard of otherwise.

This weekend has seen the start of preparation for a forthcoming inspection in Rotterdam. 1200 pages of BS to wade through. If I could turn to drink I would. Still at least I should be home by the end of the month.

We've got a small one. Hardly ever use it and still prefer the oven for most things. Traditionalists us.

I had my doubts about Completely Motorbikes since last November when i was looking at getting a Ducati V2S. They'd recently acquired the Worcester Ducati dealership but wouldn't even countenance a trade in for my decent condition Multistrada. Nor could they give a date for getting said bike in stock other than "maybe April". Another Ducati dealer in Bristol would have been much more helpful but I'd already committed to the Moto Guzzi. Looks like they were on the edge then.

Must be more comfy than it looks but perching my bum on hard wooden beads for 400 miles sounds a bit on the masochistic side to me. I'll stick to gel pads I think!

My current nob of the day is a provider of online news. I've been with this particular outlet for some years now but regularly stop subscribing when they bump up the monthly fee to what I consider an unreasonable amount. They then usually come back after a month or so with an "introductory " offer that's reasonable. This time my reduced offer was coming to an end and it was going up by 4 times the amount I was paying so I started the cancellation procedure. I'd only just got logged in and they offered me an entire years subscription for a pound more than what they were about to charge me per month! WTF. Naturally I accepted it but why all the BS run around in the first place?

My son has a Tesla (company car) and I've had a drive of it. Don't knock it until you've tried it. Wouldn't want one myself although my wife seriously considered getting one but decided against in the end due to my son's experiences on long journeys and charging.

The Hu and Wardruna

What he said. Always carry a kit anda compressor.

Ditto. I've a pair of Richa winter gloves with goretex (Atlantic model?) which are my goto winter gloves and they've been keeping my hands dry for 2 winters now. In really cold weather I combine them with heated inner gloves from Keis in conjunction with a heated vest. As comfortable as it gets and I've ridden in heavy rain all the way from Gloucestershire to Northumberland in December. Not fun but survivable.

Nothing due to my sinophobia. Sorry.

Bloody shitehawks. For the more ornithological among us - blue footed boobies- have colonised my ship. We've picked up about 100 of these feathered shit machines who are using the ship as a mobile hunting platform as we disturb shoals of flying fish. They have covered the ship in shite and a particularly vile rancid fish smelling version of the stuff. I'd snipe the little bast*rds if I could. Totally pissed off.

At least for me commuting isn't an issue and for the same reason I don't have a car. It just wouldn't get used very much.

Depends on what you mean by summer. I was home for June and most of July when it was mostly bloody cold or wet. Joined my ship on 28th of July so missed anything since and from what I've heard it wasn't much.

Well I sure as hell don't take mine out in the dark. I assume that's because of the way oncoming lights get distorted?

My wife has the car I don't. So if I'm going anywhere on my own I ride, including up to Glasgow and Northumberland. I prefer not to ride in snow but sometimes it comes on enroute. I also ride for the sheer pleasure of it and winter isno reason to hold back. This wasn't pleasurable I hasten to add.

Well I do over 5k a year so a bike that old with a genuine 20k I'd class as low mileage.

Must have slept through it as I can't remember any decent weather at all.

Well I'd take any Swiss chocolate over Cadbury any time.

Norway used to be pretty similar with zero tolerance for speeding and on the spot fines. I assume it still is. Shame as the roads are rather good. That said if you visit a foreign country you either follow their rules or be prepared to pay the price for failing to do so, which may well be expensive.

I'm quite glad I ride mine all year long. So much less aggravation all round especially as I'm mechanically inept and the mere thought of spannering makes me need a lie down in a dark room.

Last time I was in Germany I was behaving and queuing then a couple of German bikes went past filtering so I thought wtf and followed. No issues at all and made easier by the German habit of the queuing drivers pulling over to the edges of the carriageway to allow emergency vehicles through. I'd maybe more cautious in Switzerland or just go through France instead.