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I had a bit of good news today, At work I was on a 6 month contract (allegedly everybody does that here now because it's so bloody difficult and expensive to actually get rid of someone who's on an indefinate contract) but the boss, true to his word, confirmed today that he's signing me an idefinate contract from the end of this month, then I'll be able to breath again.

Finally got back out with the Dear Boy today, bit wet and gloopy but still the air is fresh. We managed a 4.3 mile loop. I do enjoy a bit of beach art, I think it is because whoever did it to the time to engage with their surroundings even if it was just in a transitory way. Prolly kids, but at least they aren't on a screen for the time it took to do it. The Dear Boy know his way home Priddy primroses. We walked back up the Parade to home. Over the shoulder look back a Readymoney.

Can't go out today, we are snowed in!

I have been up there a couple of times. The first time I found some of the roads were very small and covered in green moss, as they were under trees. I then ran into a thick bank of cloud, which wasn't so much fun. But I'm planning on heading up there and across to the Pyrénées at some point during the summer.

That was the thrust of what I was saying is if and when my E46 is no more I will try and find something older and simpler, I don't enjoy the way new cars are going in terms of owning one. Great to drive but way to complicated and expensive to fix, the modern Skodas I drive at work are great cars to drive but I wouldn't own one. The breakdowns we have had over their 5 years with us have been numerous and expensive, we have even had one of the 10 burn to the ground. We have got Kodiaqs coming in May, that's going to be interesting in service. Again lovely cars to drive but how they will cope with our service will be interesting which DCT's, button handbrakes and touch screen everything.

When I was about to order my bike a dealership tried to sell me a fully loaded used bike. It had everything possible except the keyless ignition, the previous owner bought it with a reality tv winner’s purse, and then traded it in for one with the keyless thing. Outraged after his mate showed up with no key in his ignition!!! It was still 7000€ more than what I paid for mine, and ruined by a tv celebrity having sat on it

Snowed in. Day off and snowed in. I’m not bitter. Just checked the calendar and today marks 100. So tomorrow 99 and so on. Tick Tock. Meanwhile the snow is deep and crisp and even and good king Wenceslas needs shooting. I wouldn’t mind but I tripped over my imaginary 12 bore and twisted it’s snoot. a life ruined.

Got out on the ebike this morning. It had rained overnight, but had stopped and was quite mild when we set off. Some nice backroads and tracks on this route. Bike needs a bit of a wash now.

That will mean Puddles! which makes this bit of snow seem insignificant.

Yes he's definitely living in the 70's he should move back to the UK because he recons that's where we are heading so he will feel right at home

I had a Renault Magane ()a few years ago, that had the credit card thing that was pushed in the dash slot.......it worked quite well, until I sat down with it in my back pocket...........and snapped it almost in half. The rest of the car was a disaster.......if that car was a horse I would have shot it.

See? You‘re a modern man, not like xTreme Caveman in Spain

That's what gets to me, I keep the fob in my pocket but I'm shit scared of losing it, it just doesn't seem right not putting a key in an ignition because then you always know whwere it is .

I'm not a fan of it, when my E46 dies I don't know what I will do, all this new tech, keyless, touchscreen, push button handbrake, DCT malarky just gets on my tits.

well the work in itself is easy enough and I'm still learning a lot about the machines, the computer systems and programs, electric motors and control systems. If I get bored I step into the workshop and annoy the mechanics till they let me take something apart . The atmosphere is good and it's pretty relaxed. What I miss ( and this was going to be the case whatever "other" job I got into) is being one of the best at what I do. I'm not blowing my own trumpet vainly but with over 40 years playing with boats, 30 of those professionally, having driven everything from dingy's to RORC Racing yachts and from canoes and kayaks to 60ton barges I know I wll never attain that level of competence in any other domain, and that competence brings a confidence that I have never experienced elsewhere and never will. that feeling, I will miss. apart from that, yeah I'menjoying it.

So he hasn't sussed that you're a Cunt? Result!

If I'd had seen the name plate at the bottom I'd have gone outside and snapped a pic. Next time.

I used to have great fun trail riding one of these many years ago one of the ugliest bikes in the world but it was reliable and good on fuel

It's pretty mild here today, but the forecast is predicting 90kmh winds over the next couple of days! Not going to be cold, just very windy! Got back from the ride this morning and had trouble opening the front door. Brute force won the day, but the lock mechanism has been dodgy since we moved in, so I've bitten the bullet and ordered a new lock mechanism. Unfortunately it won't be a direct replacement for the current one, so there's likely to be some modifications to be made to get it to fit. Shame that I got rid of most of my woodworking tools before I moved over here. Ho hum!

Feck it we should have a National one peggers day

Dear Boy recharging his batteries in bed with my daughter. Looks like she will need clean bedding later he was quite muddy.

7 degrees C and drizzly

If I hadn't, I'd be eating squirrels like the rest of them zzzak.

We'll call them by their local name, les montagnes noires, if that makes you feel any better?

You cycled to Wales? i thought the black mountains were exclusive to us i feel violated

I would trust it too, but electronics on newer cars are easier. Back in E46 time if something goes wrong you’re mostly guessing and try and error fixing it.

well you wouldn't want either of them actually touching stuff....

The GS with the non key to run the bike but key to work the luggage. It’s like they’re just making it complicated for the sake of it.

And don't get me started on the newer Ducati's (other bikes may have it as well) where you only have a fob. There's no way I'll ever be buying a bike with that system .........

That’s ironic because an E46 with its key detection immobilizer is a little bit the worse of both worlds.

Not a lover of them myself, Make sure you keep the fobs in a faraday box as they can be scanned from outside your house and your car can be driven off

My brother is trying his hardest to catch covid, last week it was Macedonia, then Zagreb and Bucharest for a few days. Everyone there at his office had a bad flu or covid, he had the sniffles. Since he’s ok now he went to China

mummy

I’m polishing my trombone as I type. Ready at a moments notice to wave it around the parish. I might even take it with me. I’m sure it’ll go down a storm in the misty hills of Liguria. In short. Yes.

Hurrah !! the mafia staff car passed it's MOT today, it's done the grand total of 748 miles in the past three years

True mate only saw a couple of them the whole time.

Looks ace Saul, the grimy weather means less peeps about

Fuckin spell check, DRZ not bloody dry

I know what you mean Bob, on a personal level I’m all for making things easy for myself and that’s because I’m very aware of my ability limits and technical know-how. Im just impressed by people that do things differently, not always better but always different.

I can see what you say Bob , but it does look like Nathan was having fun in that video with his Benly. I would like to do one of his tours in the summer, perhaps with his Aussie post bikes, looks a blast.

Keep up the good work @zzzak

that's modern technology for you can be a pain in the butt

And the bike will be well away from them!

Going to be 17 here with rain later!

I've thought about this many times but I've come to the conclusion that old bikes like that would just be a pain to trail ride for any length of time. Drum brakes, skinny forks , 6V electrics , I could go on........... I'll stick to my CRF250, starts first time every time, stops and steers decently even if the operator is prone to bending a few things .

Bit of a cold one in work today discovered the van is shit in the snow this morning