Interests

Riding

We currently ride 2 bikes a 1981 Susuki GS550 (my wife's) which was an American import , these bikes are known as "bullet proof" due to the fact the engines appear to run forever. We took it round France in the summer of 1996 and had no problem with the engine , only the electrics which failed after 1800 miles .
 
 

In May 1997 I  bought a Yamaha XJ900F I chose this bike because it has a reliable engine , shaft drive and was built for touring (so two up comfort is high)... oh yes and it goes like a fast thing that is very fast! (Well it did for me atthe time)

Unfortunately it went a little too fast , or rather I did around a corner in the wet in July 1997. It is now a write off after a slide and an argument with the curb. We were on our way to the Rock + Blues when it happened. Jean was following on her GS550 and had quiet a shock when she came round the bend and saw my bike in the hedge with me swearing at it ! All that happened to me was a bruised shoulder , backside and pride (the benefit of wearing full leathers) partly due to the fact I bounce well. Rule 1 .. never hang on to the bike , let it go. I must be the only person who can come off outside a pub that shuts a 3 o'clock ! I was going to continue to the Rock + Blues on my GSX250 (yes I have another bike) but Jean insisted I went on hers . I have to admit the "Cat and Fiddle" road in the wet mist just after coming off is a little like a fairground ride . Needless to say I had the Piss taken out of me all weekend. 12 Years claim free biking , now back to 2 Years NCD.

In September I sorted a new bike , another XJ900F a 1992 model with 11,500 miles . I paid over the odds but condition is fantastic! (by November '99 it was upto 41,000 and 2 accidents)
 
It was Jeans turn in April 1999 , so we went a bought another one, a loverly "gurly" GSX750W.I borrowed it for a run to France.
 

When Jean had run the GSX750W in , it could burn off the XJ900F from the lights. Solution, I went and got myself an XJR1300SP.I really have found the bike for me, power,style and "mmmm" appeal!
 

I also have  a little old tired , worn trust GSX250 sits in the garage. I have told my son that it is his when he is old enough (it still works).

And finally a CB175 lurks in the far corner of the garage.
 
 

N.A.B.D

The National Association for Bikers with a Disability is a registered charity set up to enable injured bikers get back on the road again , despite the loss of limbs.

Bikes can be adapted to have controls moved from left to right or foot to hand. Jean has done a thesis on this subject for her degree which will appear here at a later date.
In the meantime browse the  NABD Web site

UKRM

While browsing newsgroups on the internet , like a lot of people I came accross uk.rec.motorcycles here I found a bunch of like minded weirdos and biker types and found myself involved in riding out at the weekends, taking trips to northen France and best of all a run to the Bol D'or 24 hour in the south.
We ride we meet (Eddies dads pub is a good stop over) and drink. Have a look at the web site set up by Darsy, but be warned if tempted to join in *READ THE FAQ* and "lurk" for a week or two before hand.Oh and never use the "s" word.

TRFC

Yes being a total saddo I refuse to follow one of the Merseyside "Big Two" far more enjoyment is gained by watching lower league football. The lack of money in a small club leads to bigger surprises on and off the field. For more information Tranmere Rovers Web Site  but seeing as that is a load of cack these days (you need to register) I recommend  RoversRearguard instead.
 
 

World Cup 98

This is just to prove that my son and I managed what many didn't , it may not have been an England game but the point was that WE made it to a World Cup game !
Apparently the gezzer to my sons right is the Argy Prime Minister. We went over for 5 days , based in Montpellier , with my mate Gibbo . Gibbo took Alan to Paraguay v Bulgaria and I took him to the Argy game (I had only managed to get 4 tickets . 2500 miles to see one goal , oh well nice break.
 
 

Attending Rallies

Bloody good fun ! We enjoy going to the Rock and Blues Custom show each year at Ripley near Derby. This consists of a long weekend of music, booze and bikes. The music is supplied by live bands over two nights (recent ones being The Stranglers , Hawkwind , Saxon ) . Last year (1997) Jethro Tull were the top band. Approximately 10,000 - 20,000 people attend each year .

Update - 1/9/97 .

Jethro Tull put on a great show , the sun blazed down all Saturday and the booze healed my aches and pains (see above). Roll on '98 !

Update - 1/9/98 .

This years highlight was the fact I didn't write off a bike J . The weather was poor , bands average and bike show average as well. Ride there and home were exceptional , the A515 was a stonker.

Update - 9/9/98 .

Went to the Scottish NABD rally over the late August bank holiday , top rally ! Good weather , great band (Sticky Fingers). Some nice bikes. Did some great Scottish roads on the Sunday on the way to St Andrews.

Update - 12/8/99 .

Again another great year , sun blazed down and beer was imbiebed in large quantities. I went up on the Thursday evening , pitched 3 tents and went home again.Nothing wrong with being an advanced party.This year we had Hawkind (yet again) and The Stranglers.

The Ford Capri

OK a sad aspect of my life , I actually like Ford Capris (or Crapi as I call them).My last one was a D (1986) Reg 2.0 Laser , it was a 1600 but I bunged the better engine in. Spares are fairly easy to come by 
 
 

Walking

I used to organise a walk for people that I used to work with , known as Kraptoff (after the official walk/competition we did called Krapton) This year all the gadgets were our , mobile phones , pages , GPS and a digital camera ! Its all just an excuse to get pissed really! That's me on the mobile with my ex supervisor Aidan standing near the Old Man of Coniston.

Walking - More recent Stuff

Since giving up Rugby in 2003 (after a knee and ankle operation) I have been walking more, and now have a digital camera to bore people with :-) 

The Carneds May 2005
Conway April 2005
Snowden Easter 2005
 
 

Occupational Therapy

Seeing as Jean won't type it in I will attempt to do so. OT is all about getting people back to as normal a life as possible after an accident , illness or operation . The task of the OT is to decide what equipment or help is needed to allow the patient back home (if possible) . They need to assess the mobility and mental condition from which they may advise other health professionals.