Sunday.

What a brill weekend...bloody brilliant weather..who could ask for more.

Got a text from Kev this morning to say his mate ( Wayne ) had rang him to say that there were loads of bikes meeting up at the County Hall, and did we want to go there.

I told him that we had not long got up and would be about an hour.

Kev went over there and we joined him shortly afterwards...just before setting out Chris rang us to see what we were dong..we told him where we were going and Chris said they'd meet us there.

When we got there Kev came straight to us in the car park and Dale was also there...to be honest there weren't really that many bikes and we were the only trike there.

We parked up and chilled out on the grass under a tree ( next to the trike )..Chris and Kaye joined us about 20 - 30 mins later.

In the meantime..while lazing under this tree..I saw a young I would say in his very early twenties if that biker of the speed machine variety..standing with a group of mates of his that weren't in leathers so guessing they had gone to meet him there...looking at the trike.

Now as soon as anyone see's someone standing around their bike / trike they always watch to see what they are doing.

We were about 10 - 12 foot away from the trike....while watching, I over heard this young biker telling his mates how trikers or at least us were just " Fair weather riders "...OMG cheeky b***ard...who the hell was he to assume that he knows what us or anyone else does....I immediately said to Norm and co, " Who's he calling a fair weather rider " telling them what I'd just heard.

At that point annoyed that this spotty herbert had dared to talk about us or anyone else that he's never met to his mates, I went over.

As I got near to the trike I then heard him saying " I don't like the VW ones..they are only made for one reason...to be loud and for fair weather "...at this point I was sething...

I got there and they all looked at me..this was within seconds of hearing what he's said....and he then immediately asked " What engine has this got in it ? " I looked at him with a very big grin and said " It's one of those VW engines "..he started to colour up...but then said " Oh is that lever down there the brake or clutch ? " I answered that it was infact the clutch...I then said to him.." The engine is a 1969 1500cc Beetle, if you need to know anything more about it..theres the man to ask " and I pointed at Norm who was standing watching.....I have to say that all the time I was saying this, I said it very politely..even when I was spitting feathers inside.

This numpty then looked at me and at that point seemed to get cocky and said.." Oh no thanks you've answered all I wanted to know about it...it's loud...it's fast...and it's a VW "......OHHHH YESSSS, he opened himself up for my next and final answer good and proper...glaring in the most sarcastic way I could I then said " Well here's something you definately dont know...not only is it a VW ...fast, loud trike...but it's also ridden in ALL weather including the winter "...at that point his face dropped and he just looked embarrassenly down at his feet and said " oh " ...end of conversation with him and left this little know all looking just that ..a know all that knew nothing.

Seeings as we do alot of the charity rides and most of them in the Autumn and Winter monthes we are definately NOT fair weather riders...we just make sure that the trike is cleaned thoroughly after a run.

Anyway..we didn't stay too long as there was hardly anything there to go and see..a couple of expensive stalls selling biking goods.

From there we decided to go and see Russ...Dale couldn't make it and so he went home.

We had been there about an hour when we all said that we should of took some stuff over and had a BBQ....well we did have a BBQ....we all chipped in and the lads went and fetched a load of stuff...Chris took Norm on the back of his Harley and dropped the bike of home so as to be able to bring the food back in his car.

Kev took his bike home and picked Doreen ( his and Russ's mum ) up and his BBQ and came back in Russ's Jag.

We eventually ate at about 9.00pm by the time everyone came back with the stuff and we got the BBQ going...blinking brill.

We sauntered back home not long after and after what has been a great weekend with spot on weather, Norm and myself finally went to bed.

Monday.

Well hasn't the weather been great...great for cycling from and to work...great for getting washing dry, and not shrinking stuff in the tumble dryer...great for making you feel good..and best of all...great for going out without leathers or a woolie hat on on the trike.

Met Kev and Russ up a mate of ours house lastnight ( Steve ), we go there every now and again and have a drink with him and another mate ( Bono ) and play some games of pool...although I don't play pool.

Chris and Kaye didn't turn up...Dale would of liked to of come with us, as he hasn't seen Steve in years, but was unable to make it....maybe next time.

We stayed till about 10.30 pm and reminised about days gone by and the things we all got up to...it was a good night with LOTS of laughs...Steve was a sod then and still is now with his sense of humour.

We don't go very often to see Steve, so don't know when we will be back there again...probably not too long as Dale wants to go next time.

The ride back home was nice..there was a bit of a nip to the air but nothing to complain about, it was still nice enough to only have a hoody on.

Thats it for now.

Tuesday.

Wasn't in work today..spent most of lastnight awake with a headache and hot and feeling quite sick from the headache...ear ache and teeth aching.

Texted centre manager to let her know. She acknowledged the text and wished me a fast recovery.

Spent the majority of today trying to sleep this headache off in a darkened room...not that I could get it dark enough.

Headache finally died down to an annoying throb and has remained for the duration of the day...ear ache and teeth aching finally wore off.

Norm came home from work and asked if I wanted to go out on the trike....I don't think so somehow...

Dale came around ( as Tuesday night is Dale night ), he was hot and bothered himself and we ended up putting the ceiling fans on for him.

His hips were hurting him quite a bit and he struggled to get out of the chair..wish they'd hurry up and do his other Hip Replacement soon, but he isn't back at the Hospital until November...mind you...his hip he has had replaced is still hurting him....Dale has always put it down to building new muscel in that thigh and hip that he hasn't had for a while due to not being able to walk very far...but I'm no longer convinced of that...I would of thought that since he had this done at the begining of the year, that the muscel would be well on it's way to being built back up.

Dale was talking about trying to save up money for another bike ...he'd like a BSA now to go with the Triumph he's got. His hopes then are after getting the BSA he'd like a Norton Commando....he's got a lot of saving to do.

Kev didn't come round tonight..which is unusual as he normally does...but I think that he may be working ( he's a class 1 Lorry Driver ).

Have just discovered that Norm and myself have double booked ourselves with a bike show ( one of the smaller ones ) and an investigation ( The White Horse Inn ) I really wanted to go to the investigation, especially as I contacted Lee to see if he would be interested in this place...but...the tickets for the bike show had already been booked and paid for and so I am going to have to pull out of the investigation.....such is life....thats the trouble when you have too much going on at the same time....although I can't complain as I'd rather be permanently busy and booked up, than sitting at home night after night bored out of my brains.

Have one of our dogs with a bit of an upset stomache..will keep an eye on him and see how he goes over the next 24 hrs...if it doesn't clear up soon then it will be a trip to the vets for him..one of his biggest pet hates...still he's always happy to find something to growl at in the vets...last time it was a Rabbit...prat....but as soon as the vet calls his name, down go his ears and he tries to make a fast exit out of the door...this then big brave black / white husky sits shaking at the vets door, with his rump firmly tucked under him..you have to virtually uncoil him for her to be able to examine him...big brave husky my eye.

Wednesday.

Back at work, but still had a bit of a headache..one of the girls gave me some paracetamol which helped a little.

Well can report that things seem to be improving at work, as I'm now being informed of things in the centre that I need to be informed of so that I know what is happening...at last...pity it took two all out arguments to get there though.

Demons stomache seems to of settled down...knowing him it was something he's managed to get his teeth on and was something that he shouldn't of had..it does'nt matter how thorough you think you are with him, by trying to make sure he can't get anything he shouldn't have, that dog still manages to get something.


Dale came round and stayed for about an hour..Norm was outside on the front cutting up wood ready for the winter, to burn in the woodburner...or at least he was until the Rip Saw decided to die a death...so now we have to get another...do we ever stop having to pay out.

Norm was going to finish wiring my rear lights up on my trike as well..but even the best made plans never seem to work out...and they didn't get done.

Every time he has gone to finish off doing this, something crops up and they are again put on the back burner...bloody annoying really, as it's only them I'm waiting for to be done and then I'm back riding it again...oh well I'll just keep enjoying travelling around on his trike until it's done.

Did the ironing when I got home from work..I absolutely detest ironing, I think there is nothing more boring than it...I like the smell of stuff being ironed that has been on the line...as long as I'm not doing it...we even bought one of those irons where you fill the tank with water and it then has to get pressure up..it's one of those where you only have to iron one side and the steam pressure automatically gets the creases of out the other...but I still hate ironing...and to make things even worst most of the tops I had worn were fiddly bloody things that took twice as long as anything else.....note to self......Do not under any circumstances what so ever, buy anymore pretty flowy things that do not look or iron like Tshirts....there that'll do it.

So stood there for what seemed like eternity doing this mind numbing chore listening to Rammstein..the only good part about it.

Haven't seen Kev, as he is doing nights until Friday night...miss him like hell and will be glad when he's finished this week....have had texts from him though.

We are all over at Mandi's ( Russ's partner ) on Saturday..she lives over in Whissendine ( think thats how you spell it )..bless her...she's lovely..she's extremely bubbly and is game for anything laugh wise or challenge....she works hard in care work and lives with her two girls.

It's a lovely place where she lives and is very rural. She is buying her house from the council...I wish Norm and myself had got a council house where Mandi's is as it's just great...you look out from her back window and all you see if countryside...a few yards from her house is country lanes and more countryside.

Anyway...she has had a porch built on the front but hasn't been able to get it roofed as yet...so Norm is going over to roof this for her....excuse for us all to go over for a visit and something to eat...although we don't need excuses to go and see her.

She took her module one of her bike test on Tuesday but unfortunately she failed as she caught a cone on the swerve test they have now introduced...this swerve test is where at approx 30 - 31 mph you have to swerve in between cones..the examiner has a speed gun and if you don't hit the speed required you fail..of course you also fail if you clip the cones..the whole idea behind this newly introduced part of the test, is that you should be able to swerve in and out of debris at an accident without hitting any of the debris or anyone laying on the road....there is a huge argument going on about this from instructors and examiners alike, as this test has actually caused accidents..one of them being someone coming off their bike and badly breaking his arm in about four places...examiners have even come off trying to do this.

If someone cancels between now and Saturday, then Mandi can get back in to re do this ...then come back to us all at her house....fingers crossed for her.

Thursday.

Had to go to the Dentist today ( late afternoon ) and have a filling.

Now I can't remember when the last time was that I had a filling, but I do remember it bloody hurt...I had two injections and I swear I could still feel it.

This filling has come about due to breaking a bit of one of my back teeth off about four and a half year ago.

I was at that time working at Coles Garden Centre in the Propagation shed..I was happily chewing away on some gum when it happened...there was a loud crunch and I suddenly had a hard bit stuck in the chewing gum..." Oh my goodness me " I said " would you credit it..I've broken one of my teeth "..although I do have memories of my work mates in fits of laughter saying that I didn't quite put it that way.

Well I should of gone to the dentist then, but the tooth that had broken had already got a filling in from years before..this filling didn't come out or even show signs of doing so...so I thought as it wasn't hurting that I'd leave it...and leave it I did, for over four years.

Not so long back, we got a letter from the dentist we had changed to shortly before this happened..this dentist was writing to tell us that we hadn't been for a long time and that they were now in a position to take on NHS patients and would we like to re-register with them on the NHS.

Now as it happened at the time of getting this letter, Norm was getting toothache..so I rang up and we re- registered with them.

They got Norm in within a day and sorted out his mouth...he ended up having this tooth out and having two small fillings ( done at a seperate time )..the dentist he saw was so good and he was really impressed with her.

She had a real job to get the tooth out as it had roots that had grown along the gum and had a spur on them..but two injections and a lot of tugging she managed it and without him having to go to the Royal to have it removed.

The fillings he had were very small and she didn't even have to give him a jab for them.

So then it was my turn...she looked at my tooth and said " your cleaning is very good, and that is probably the only thing that has stopped bacteria getting into the tooth and it causing pain"..but..theres alway that but isn't there..." You know it's got to be sorted out don't you "..." Yes " says I, nodding and smiling bravely...whilst Sh*tting myself.

So today was D day..Norm picked me up and took me to the dentist...I felt like a little kid going with Daddy...I sat in the waiting room chatting away without a care in the world..the bravest person on the planet....they called my name and carelessly in I sauntered....and sat on the chair / bed thing..and was nearly sick.

The Dentist looked at me and said " Are you ok Jan ? "..I nodded my head and tried to say " Yes " but as I opened my mouth it became possessed and the words that came out said " No I'm shitting myself...and I'd rather be giving birth right now "...When she eventually stopped laughing, she then proceeded to tell me how I was going to be alright and wouldn't feel a thing.

I'll take your word for that I thought...I then just to make sure that I wasn't going to be squirming around the chair / bed thing told her that I used to have to have AT LEAST two injections so as not to feel anything...not that I liked having the jabs, I was just safeguarding.

She looked and still sniggering from my uncontrolled answer when I first got in there, then told the nurse to prepare the injection...to my horror I heard this nurse say " Small or large ? " and the dentist said " Large "...LARGE WHAT??????...bloody hell they'll be like horse jabs and I'd just asked for TWO of them...at this point I was making attemps to exit the chair / bed thing...while the dentist was gently trying to keep me in it...with some persuation she succeeded and eventually managed to give me this jab..." You'll just feel a bit of a pinch " she said, as she started to give this injection to me...and you know what...that was all I felt...no pain..no nothing...said tooth was sorted and refilled and I never felt a thing....I just knew I had nothing to worry about..can't see what all the fuss is with folks and dentists.

The best part was that I infact only had one jab ( thats what the large bit was all about )...but flippin heck what powerful stuff that jab was...I had a lip like a camel for the rest of the night...I tell ya I could suck spaghetti through a letter box with it...much to the amusement of Russ and everyone else that saw me attempting to drink and smile.

Cost all of £29 and don't have to go back for six monthes.

Friday.

Had a days Annual Leave today..made the most of it by doing....house work...how exciting was that !!!.

Went over to see Russ and stayed for a couple of hours....we're at Mandi's tomorrow.

Saturday.

Up and picked Kev up at 9.00am to head over to Whissendine...Kev had finished his shift at midnight and so was up and about ready to go to Mandi's.

Was a bit wet when we set out, but although the floor was wet when we got to Mandi's it wasn't raining.

Two doors away from Mandi's are fields and some sort of a building complex..to do with a farm...in there was a Miniture Steam Engine Weekend going on.

These steam engines were great..not full sized..hence the miniture bit...but big enough to take passangers and tow trailers...they were immaculately kept..infact they were beautiful...and the smell of these steam engines was great..nothing like it..can certainly see why these people have this as their hobby / passion.

We watched them trundling up and down the road all day...there was even a steam organ in the grounds, and we could hear it playing which added a real nice countryfied atmospher to everything.

Do have to say though, that there was the coldest wind got up that cut straight across the fields and really made you feel cold.

Mandi supplied bacon butties and lots of tea / coffee..which was really nice.

Mandi wasn't there when we first got there as she was having to retake her CBT to continue riding so as to retake the first module of the bike test she failed last week...which she is retaking on Wednesday, and module two is on Thursday...have everything crossed for her.

I have to admit to getting a bit bored before Mandi came back and so I washed her pots for her...she has a Belfast Sink...it is so big and deep..I've decided that I now want one..but what I want and what I get is another story...I'm sure I will get one at some stage, but it's a case of when and the right price...hoping to go and look around some Reclaimation Yards at some time in the near future...these Belfast Sinks are great and look good...I remember my Grandma having one in her house when I was a kid. But was ripped out when the house was modernised...these sinks are now becoming popular again, but can cost a lot of money.

Mandi has two more of these sinks but they are for plants as they are both cracked.

Norm did well with the roofing and had almost finished it when he ran out of tiles.

Mandi said she would go to the suppliers in the morning and get what is needed to finish it.

We eventually got home and still being cold from the cutting wind at Whissendine we decided to light the woodburner...Kev came around..we had all the dogs in..a bottle of Jacques Cider ( the only thing that I will now very occasionally drink ) and chilled out by just the tv and fire light...perfection

Sunday.

Back to Whissendine..regardless to the heavy rain fall, to finish putting the last 25 tiles on.

We got there and Russ and Mandi were still at the suppliers...they arrived shortly afterwards.

Mandi had got the tiles, which are Rosemary Tiles..she got old ones, but they were alot darker than the ones she had previously bought and that Norm had put on for her...so Norm evenly put the darker in with the lighter tiles...moving tiles around from place to place....it looked really nice when finished...he'd already done the flashing...lead work..not dirty rain mac...on the Saturday just before we headed off home, so it was just a case of putting the tiles needed on and moving a few around.

We only stayed a short while at Mandi's this time, as we had put a Joint of beef in the oven on low to cook while we were over there...we had also built a fire up in the woodburner so that it was warm for when we got back...and it was...Beef was done to a turn, and fire was still glowing by the time we got home.

We went to Hawgrips Garden Centre after we had dinner to pick up a couple of bags of Smokeless Coal...we get a bag or two each week to fortnight so as to stock up for the winter monthes.

Then Norm and myself settled in for the rest of the day by ourselves...for a change.

Looking forwards to this weekend coming up as we have a small bike show on Sunday ..the shows all weekend but not sure if we will go on the Saturday....maybe, as it's a Rock / Metal disco.

Monday.

Chris and Kaye came round to see me today...haven't seen them in a while..we've contacted each other via phones but each time we've gone to each others house we've not been in.

Was good to see them and catch up on things..they stayed for quite a while...stopped me doing my housework...shame.

Malc next door came around. He was in a bit of a flumax as he'd just put a garden fork through his NTL cable...he's putting a lawn down and was preparing the ground for when the grass arrives.

He wanted to know if we were with Virgin Media so as to phone them up and it not cost anything.

I said I wasn't but as he needs a phone ( you never know when your going to need a doctor or emergency services ) that he can ring them regardless as to if there is a charge.

Well he rang them and they are coming out tomorrow in the morning to fix the cable for him.

Went shopping when Norm picked me up from work...I hadn't done any at the weekend.

I do wish that Asda would stop moving things around...you just get used to finding everything and they do it again...move things...so you then spend the rest of the night / day trying to find where they've hidden them.

Came home and Norm got the fire going. Don't know about anyone else, but I think it's been a bit cold these last few days.

Had some dinner, watched some tv, got nice and warm, had the dogs in...then it was bed time.

Tuesday.

Was watching ( for the first and last time ) the American I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here...and it really will be the only time I will ever watch this.

On this program is a married couple ..Heidi and Spencer Pratt..they are Reality Tv hosts...and what a fitting Surname these two have...what a complete pair of PRATS....especially him...who I would love to happily knock his block off...infact I can't think of many people having witnessed what I did on this program with him that wouldn't want to give him a good hiding.

She's as thick as sh*t and he is the most spoilt, arrogant, rude, self centred arse I've ever seen.

When they all got into the jungle ( a North American one ..I think ) there was a monkey swinging and sitting in a tree infront of them...one of the celebs on there noticed it and pointed it out...this Heidi Pratt stood there and unbelievabley said to them..." Do you think it's a real one "..this monkey was quite plainly moving around and making monkey noises..quite sarcastically another of the celebs replied " opposed to being a fake one....yes ".

They got into the camp...these pair of Pratts went off into their own little corner...already deciding that they didn't want to stay there.

They announced that they weren't happy with the environment and the camp and that they were leaving...much to the amazment of the rest of them.

These two back in their little corner were then caught on camera phoning up the producer of the show and complaining to him about being there.

This arrogant up himself brat was then heard as plain as day saying" We're not staying here with this bunch of no bodies " ......one of them being Lou Diamond Phillips..OMG...he then proceeded to say " I'm too famous and rich to be here with these people emptying their Sh*t for them ...we are famous celebraties and we expect to be treated as celebraties...we came into this camp and want to be treated as that..and we are not being "..

They then went back to the rest and told them that they were out of there...Lou Diamond Phillips reminded them about the fact that it was a charity event...and the two seperate charities that this knob and his thick bimbo wife had agreed to represent.

The answer he got was " Yes but we decided to choose the two richest charities, they don't really need the money and thats why we chose them, incase we didn't want to stay "

Well they did stay but later on he got into a spat with one of the female celebs there..he was literally in her face...saying aweful things...making noises quite literally in her face...despite others there trying to stop him....at that point the only thing going through my mind was...if that had been anyone of the people that I know..especially a bloke( but women as well ) ...he would of had his lights well and truely punched out....he was totally unbelieveable.

Lou Diamond Phillips...you still got it babe.

Dale came around and we watched the TT best wins and then the TT Junior Race...we have so got to go over to the TT races...I'm looking into everything for hopefully next year.

One of my mates in the Council sent me a picture through of her Uncle who used to race in the TT in 1945 - 47..his name was George Parsons and he rode a Norton...she's not sure if he actually won any but she is sure that he came either 2nd or 3rd...he is also mentioned in either one or two books...George died two years ago...he lived on the Isle Of Man with his wife who also rode a motorbike...I would loved to of met him / them.

Wednesday.

Mandi passed the first module of the bike test...yayyy..well done you.

I thought she had the second part tomorrow, but it would seem that it's now on Monday.

I'm so pleased she managed to do this...she failed on the swerve test last time.

It appears that yet another biker has come off his bike trying to pass this swerve test, and sustained injuries....theres a surprise..there have been more injuries from people trying to do this stupid new swerve test...of which they have to do it at between 31 and 35 mph..than not...even instructors have come off doing this....crazy.

Had a look on the net for accomadation over on the Isle Of Man, ready for the TT races next year...have to say I was quite pleasently surprised.

The Isle Of Man isn't the cheapest of places to go. But while looking for places to stay over there and prices, found some real nice little cottages that although are expensive if just one couple was to want to hire one, works out real cheap when up to six people do.

Most of these cottages sleep 4 - 6 people and work out to £200 per couple for the TT weeks ( per week ), so really good .

Looking for a good rate on the ferries now...then hopefully will be going on a quite cheap holiday for a week to the TT races.

Some of our husky fraturnity mates put their dogs into kennels at Saddington when they go away. Not bad prices and their dogs have always been very well looked after...best part is is that these kennels are also aware of the needs of sled dogs and so our lot will be in very good hands...we've never gone away anywhere and left them in kennels before, so will try it to see how it goes....we are planning on going to the I of M on the trike and bikes.

Norm and myself popped up to see Russ for an hour. He had his plaster off and sutures out today....the hospital has said that he will at some stage go back in to have the wire and screws taken back out...they are happy with how it is all healing.

They have however told him that there is the chance that the ends of the wire will poke through his skin, as that can be a common occurance with it...if/ when that happens they will just take them back out anyway...but he will at some stage be back in to have them removed.

Norm had popped into Kev's before picking me up from work..Kev wasn't there as he has been working nights again this week, so Norm had a cuppa with Doreen ( Kev's mum ), Kev had bought Norm and myself some choc chip mini cakes...yum yum..that Doreen gave to Norm before he left to fetch me.

Had dinner...did a stir fry...let the dogs in...chilled out..bed time.

Thursday.

Norm came home from work and bought me a pressie.....well it's not just for me, it's for both of us really....he bought me..us..another woodburner for the bedroom.

I'd been saying for ages, ever since putting the one in the living room that I'd love to open up the fire places in the bedrooms again.

One thing I always had pleasent memories of at my Grandma's ( not that there were many of them ), was that she still had the open fires not just in the living room but in the bedrooms as well and on really cold winter nights they would be lit, well at least my dads would be ( Grandma never lit hers..or I don't think she did), he would light his fire and I would snuggle down next to him and go to sleep..Grandma would tell him off for lighting it as it would then have to be cleaned out...but it didn't stop him from lighting it.

Thinking about it they were quite big fires as well...I know our next door neighbour ( where we live now ) took their bedroom fire places out not long back, and they were quite small.

When I knew they were taking them out I asked if they minded if we had them off them, of which they didn't mind at all...I offered to pay them for them, but we tend to do each other quite a few favours and have always looked out for each other, so they didn't want any money for them.

Unfortunately they broke whilst being taken out...buggar.

Norm was relieved really as he didn't want an open fire in the bedrooms, but did say that he'd like a woodburner.

Well we've been saying we'd get another, but up to now hadn't got round to getting one....until now.

There had been a woodburner sitting doing nothing at the scrap yard that Norm now works at. It was bought new to go into one of his bosses ( Darrens ) garage for when Darren was in there doing up the classic cars he collects..but he'd never got around to taking it home and putting this woodburner in.

So the woodburner had sat in the scrap yard for quite some time...eventually the paintwork on it started to discolour and show signs of surface rust.

Norm asked what Darren was doing with it as they had got a skip in the yard to take away the bits n peices they didn't want...and it had sat there looking sorry for it's self for a long time.

Darren told him to skip it as he couldn't be bothered to take it home...Norm not one to miss out on a bargain, asked if he could have it and we'd restore it back to it's former glory...happily the man from the scrap yard he say " Yes ".

So Norm bought our pressie home and we've started to reblack the iron work on it.

We still have Flue Pipe left from when we put the woodburner in the living room, so don't have to buy anymore of that..just a case of opening up the fire place in our bedroom..getting the Chimney Sweep in and Norm making the Flue Door to stop the wind / any smoke and any debris coming into the room..can't wait...will beat the hell out of having the central heating on in the colder weather...already been stocking up on smokeless fuel so will be fully set for the winter.

Looking at this woodburner I have a feeling that it's at least a 15 kilo watt..the one in the living room ia an 8 kilo watt..so this one should heat up the upstairs ( I shall leave the door open for the heat to distribute ) nicely.

It's not as fancy as the living room one, that is a typical farmhouse woodburner.

This one is the same as the ones you would see in a typical log cabin where they put the wood in the door at the top of the burner...but is NOT a pot belly one.

This one is cylindrical but is flat on top..a pot belly one is shaped at the top..this one has a circular hatch to put wood in on the top, but also has a door on the front as this one is a multi fuel burner and not just a wood one..it has a grate inside of it so as to be able to burn coal / coke or take the grate out and just burn wood...it certainly would of cost Darren a pretty penny..and we can boil a kettle on it..much to tea belly Norms delight.

Friday.

Went over to Moira to see some mates in the husky fraturnity..Andy and Anne and kids.

We haven't been seeing a great deal of them just lately as both they and us have been very busy with other things.

Got mugged as usual by their dogs ( well eight of them ) and swapped tales of things we've all been doing.

Andy and Anne and kids are very active people, not just with the training of their dogs but with alsorts of sports with the kids, including organising events and training with the teams that the kids are with..we really have to make sure we see more of each other again.

While there Kev texted..wanting to know where we were and what time we would be at his as he had some Orange Cake to share with us...didn't realise we had arranged to go and see him tonight !!.

I let him know we were at Moira and that we would call in later...which we eventually did later in the night.

Got to Kev's and Trev ( his uncle ) was there....we stayed till about 11.30 pm and then made trackes back home...it was nice to be out on the trike again as we hadn't been on it for a week.

Arranged to go and see Kev tomorrow, after Norm gets home from work.

Had an email from two other mates in the husky world, inviting us to a BBQ in July..which of course we will definately be at.

These mates ( Samantha..we call her Sam and Leigh ) are expecting their first baby soon...bless.

They have approx nine huskies and a short hair collie as well as a German Pointer and now three Trail Hound Pups...Trail Hounds are the most awesome of the sled dogs and speed wise are unreal.

Norm had the pleasure of taking a four dog Trail Hound team out for a run once, they totally blew his mind away with the speed that never once faultered...he said that equivalent to running at the kind of power and speed these dogs have we would have to run eight huskies to match a four dog Trail Hound team...absolutely awesome...and can be let off lead as well.

Sam and Leigh live out Donnington way and have a fantastic place..so we always love going over there for visits and especially BBQ's as that is the time when we get to meet up with other mates from the husky world that we haven't seen in a while....they always do the most brilliant BBQ's with alsorts of different meats there, to either like or dislike...definately don't like the Kangaroo Burgers he had last time..tasted musty to me.

Saturday.

Found out today that another old biking mate of ours died.

His name is Glen and when we were part of the Bad Company Chapter in the 70's it was Glen who basically ran and organised everything.

He left Leicester and went to live down London...Bad Company dispanded a little while afterwards.

Glen would come back every now and again to see us all ( even though the chapter dispanded everyone still saw each other and drank together just as before, but no longer as a chapter..the heart of it seemed to leave with him ).

Norm saw him a few years back in town and Glen asked for our address...unfortunately Norm forgot to give it to him before they went their seperate ways.

Then we didn't see him again.

Chris ran into him about 18 monthes ago and Glen had moved back to Leicester with his family.

He arranged to go around Chris's to see us all at one of Chris's BBQ's...but the BBQ had to be cancelled due to circumstances.

A few monthes later Chris tried to text him to let him know about a night out we were all having, but there was no response....texts later there was still no response...we thought that Glen had changed his phone, so Chris stopped texting.

It was about that time that Glen seemed to disappear again...Chris not actually knowing where Glen lived...the rest of us never finding out...we tended to do that....we would leave it up to one person to have the details..phone numbers, address, to have contact to arrange things of someone we didn't see too often...as long as one of us had contact with them...of course the more often we saw them, the more contact we all had with them.

Glen could be a bit of a Nomad (spelling ) and didn't used to like staying in one place for too long.

We all assumed that he had yet again up sticks and moved..and again had lost touch with us until a time he would again make contact....only this time is was never to be.

Glen has been dead a year...cancer...and none of us knew about it..until tonight when I recieved a phone call from Chris to tell us what he had just found out.

RIP Rags...your memory will always have a special place in our hearts...not just Bad Company but everyone that knew you along the way.

Jan and Norm.xxxxxx

Sunday.

Kev came around at 9.30 am for breakfast and then we set off up the road to a Custom Bike Show at Leicester Forest East at the Golf Course.

There weren't too many bikes there when we first got there, but it didn't take long before they were coming in in their droves.

We had a look around the stalls, there weren't many of them, but compared to last year there were more there so I'd say this is a show that will improve and increase as it goes on.

Norm and myself got some real good biking googles..not the big Biggles Goggles, but the really nice stylish ones that look like sunglasses but have the elastic head band to keep them on, and the foam / rubber eye protection on the inside to stop bits getting into your eyes.

We already have some goggles and nice ones, but these were real nice.

The bloke had imported a load from the states and was selling them with the cases that clip onto your belt loops for £10..bargain.

Norms also have a choice of different lenses for the different light conditions.

Mine don't have that, but made up for it with the style of them.

There was a rock disco when we first got there and once the crowds started to build up the live band played..and I have to say I really enjoyed listening to them.

Lots of bikes and a couple of trikes entered in the Custom Show with heaps more still rolling in.

The sun was blazing down...the BBQ was well and truely up and running...smelt great..the music was blaring..the atmospher was brill...what more could you ask for.

Some guy came in on a 1942 BSA M20, these bikes were often parachuted into enemy territory, it was a WW2 army bike and he found it abandoned in someones barn about three weeks ago.

http://www.autogallery.org.ru/k/b/40bsaM20_TonyMessenger.jpg

He managed to purchase it off the people and had every intension of stripping off the colour ( Matt Green Army )and do it up.

But as he was begining to take the green paint off it, he noticed a sign painted under the top layer of paint..it was a German sign...turns out this beezer was a captured bike...it had been captured by the Germans in the war ( guessing the rider was killed ) and they had then painted their sign on it ( Iron Cross ) and also painted it in the German Army Green so as not to be shot by their own troops.

At some stage, the bike was regained into British hands and repainted in the British green paint...finally ending up back in Britain...what a history to this bike.

Once the bloke heard this he decided that the bike needs to be left alone...he has had to rewire it...but the rest is as it was in the war, and thats how she'll remain...and so she should...sounded great when he rode in on her and never missed a beat...she's in wonderful condition as well, so was certainly stored well for however long she had been abandoned.

We eventually left, after Norm doing some very careful manouvres to get the trike out from all the bikes parked around it, and we headed off to Bradgate Park.

Having had an ice cream ..I had Rum and Raisen..yum yum...and chilling out there for a while we then went to the Rothley Steam Train Station..now we're not into Steam Trains by any manner of means, but do like to see something different. For as sad as some may think of this I have to say that these trains were awesome.

At the side of the platform there was also a WW2 day going on..they tend to have a few of these and alternate between the British / American and German days.

They had two motorbike combo's ( motorbike and sidecar ) there.

We went and had a look at them. They were both 1942 and 1943 bikes painted in the war time green and yellow.

They were German built bikes and the green paint was alot darker than the BSA we'd seen at the custom show..this was quite a bottle green.

The other bike was from Russia and was painted in a sickly yellow colour..both bikes were orginals and had had no modifications done to them.

http://www.wehrmachtsgespann.de/zuendappenglisch/index.htm#index

They both had the machine guns..of which were replica's on the front of the side cars..my god you really wouldn't want one of these bikes chasing you with someone shooting one of these guns at you..it certainly brought home a bit more of how horrendous it must of been in the war....and still is.

These bikes are not really riden too far now days. The blokes that own them said that they really only do about a hundred mile round trip on them every now and again...they get about 45mph out of them and at a push 50mph, but don't really like to take them to their limit very much.

We left there as they were then getting ready to pack things up..it was a really interesting visit with them and we learnt quite a fair amount about how these bikes were used and how the riders/ gunners of them actually operated..not just a case of ride a bike , shoot a gun, there was more to it than that.

Norm was able to have a sit on the one from Russia..I was offered to but declined as I'm always worried that I'll be getting on and something will happen and I end up doing damage to someones bike...can be a clumsey buggar at times.

We came back and put the trike in the garden..Kev had gone home ...we then went around Dales in the van to pick up some wood he didn't want..it all comes in handy for storing for winter and the woodburner.

Kev came around ours later...Chris rang up to let us know he was back from a golfing tornament in Gloucestershire.

Kev went about 9.30pm and Norm and myself settled in for the night.

Monday.

Nothing at all to enter other than we went shopping after work...oh joy of joys.

Tuesday.

Dale came around and told us that his bike had broken down on him..so now needs to get it sorted.

Kev popped in to get Dales money for the Norton Weekend ticket he got for him.

Kev was on his way up to see Russ and had Doreen in the car with him. He asked us to go to Russ's with him, but Dale didn't seem to want to go and because Tuesday night is Dale night Norm and myself didn't go..Dale is actually begining to pee a few people off just lately...but never mind.

Dale went home about 10ish, and Norm and myself went to bed about 11.00pm

Wednesday.

Today there was a bit more of a cool head wind, and so after work we managed to take the dogs on a short run.

They needed the run as they are getting quite frustrated at not being able to go training due to it being too warm for them. It's a case of picking cool days..not to many of them now.

Was great up the forest as there was no one else there, really peaceful...looked for the Red Kytes but didn't see them flying around..usually they circle around in the area that we park up at..they tend to do a fly round and then majestically fly away. They always come from the same direction and then leave in the opposite one...they are beautiful.

I'm sure we will see them soon though once any chicks born have fledged.

Chinook is doing better now she is running in swing..and Demon is definately better running in single wheel dog...he can't rag anyones necks as they are running along.

Diesel I am very pleased to say, is back on form as lead dog...he now runs dual lead with Axel, which means that not only do we now have our original lead dog back up front and enjoying the responsorbility of it all again..but we have the added fortune of having two excellent leaders up front that will both take instructions in the blink of an eye..these two are such cool dogs..not undermining anything that Demon does at all as he is the powerhorse of the team....biggest hero's of any sled dog team are the leaders and the wheel dogs..one for their intelligence and the other for it's brawn, although a good wheel dog will also lead from the back and pull a team around if a turning or command is missed.

Got back about 10.00 pm and settled the dogs in. Then Norm and myself settled in to watch a bit of tv..but not before Norm informed me that I had just sat on his Jammie Dodgers...honestly.

Thursday.

Norm came home early ( bout an hour ) as he had twisted and pulled his back.

Poor buggar was in real pain and struggled to get out of the van.

Once inside I rang the doctors and asked if they could get him in immediately...they could but he would have to see the Duty Doctor..and if the doc was called out it would be a case of sit and wait.

We got round there and luckily Norm didn't have to wait very long.

He had ripped a Muscel, so had to have Diazepam ( Valium )...he's already on the strongest pain killers for his Arthritis in his hips, so the next painkiller would of been Morphine...sticking with his normal painkillers.

We were told to get him some Deep Heat as well, which we did and let treatment commence..

Let Kev and co know that Norm wasn't coming out to play tonight...so they came round here to see him instead.

Friday.

Norm understandably wasn't in work today...work told him they would still pay him for not being there...meant in the nicest possible way of course.

I went to work and amazingly Norm was there to meet me out when I was coming home...think he was nicely high on the Valium to feel any pain much.

He struggled to get out of the van, but managed to slide down out of the seat.

The Doc's had said to him to keep as active as he could and not to just sit / lay around, so as his back didn't stiffen up.

Kev came around at the night time to see how he was.

The mixture of everything Norm was taking was obviously working as he slept really well on Thursday night.

Saturday.

Norm again slept really well lastnight and even managed to lay on his back long enough to start snoring.

We got up at approx 6.30 am to feed the dogs and get ready to go to the Norton Weekend...Norm was adoment that we were still going as his back felt a bit better.

We picked Dale up at 9.00pm and headed off round to Kev's where we met up with Nick ( Chris's brother) Russ and Mandi.

What a performance we had to get all of us to Donington...30ish miles up the road to a place we have been times before, and we all end up losing each other.

First Norm, Dale and myself realise we are travelling alone..didn't set off on our own...we carried on..expecting to see Kev and Nick go sailing past on Kev's Norton Commando..closely followed by Russ and Mandi in the Jag.

We got to near Barrow On Soar when my phone rang..."Where's you lot "..that was Kev..told him where we were...asked him where they all were.."we're at Russ's" ( Whetstone ) they'd forgotten their tickets...." Ok, we'll meet you there " says us

We arrived and sat in the car park and waited and waited...and waited..tried to ring Russ and his phone is on Voice Mail...tried to ring Kev and no reply..so guessing they are still travelling.

So we waited and waited...my phone rings..it's Kev..."Where are you? " he says..."we're in the car park, where are you? " ..." We're in the Bike Park where we'll be camping, we've been here for the last 10 mins "...not knowing where the bike park was we had to get instructions off him.

So to the bike park we headed...my phone rings...it's Russ " Where abouts is Donington ? " says he..." You've been here before haven't you ????" says I..." No never " was the answer " Kev lost us along the way "..I handed the phone to Norm " Where are you? " he asks.." We're on the M42 " Says Russ.." Oh sh*t " says Norm...and tells him where to come to.

No sooner has Russ rang off than my phone rings again...and it's an impatient Kev asking where we are...we tell him we're walking ...hopefully to the bike park and inform him that Russ and Mandi are lost.

We eventually find Kev and Nick..and some time later my phone rings.." Where's the bloody entrance for this Norton do?..we can't find it and we're at a place called Melbourne or something like that" about four miles the wrong way....eventually having got Russ and Mandi back to Donington we all met up...HURRRRAAAAAYYYYY...

Donington it's self was a let down and the Norton do wasn't much better..mainly due to Donington telling the Norton do that they couldn't have any stalls selling stuff there as it would take profits away from Donington.

The band that we were promised in the brochure wasn't included in the ticket prices..although the brochure never mentioned that it would have to be paid for seperately ( £5 per head extra )..think there will be alot of complaints going in, as the brochurre promised alsorts of stalls, entertainment and other stuff that didn't happen.

The most disgusting one of all was that people ( Kev and Nick included ) paid a further £10 each to go on the Friday and have a tour around the Norton Factory as well as go on a Norton Ride Out and other stuff...and none of it happened..the excuse they were given was " All the staff are doing stuff for the event over the weekend "...then WHY take their money...there are going to be heaps of folks demanding a refund for that, and rightly so.

Anyway we managed to make a real good situation out of a badly run one.

We did get to go and watch the bike racing...excellent..and later on we all went and started to put up Russ/ Mandi's , Kev's, and Nicks tents.

It was like something out of the Chuckle Brothers...there was a breeze..a nice warm one..that nearly took the half erected tents off..Norm and Nick managed to put Nicks outer tent up ..inside out..and I lost count of how many times one of us fell over a guide rope somewhere...in the end we could barely put the tents up for laughing.

Got the tents up and inflated the airbeds...left them out to doss on..got a BBQ started..out came the Jacques Cider...and yes I did have some....Norm had bought the van around to the camp site and we had a mixture of Black Sabbath / Meatloaf's new cd (Best out of Hell ) AC/DC ...would of bought more music if we'd of thought about it.

We didn't intend to have the music blaring, as we were considered the older biking generation that were there ( and there were a great deal of them )...but we must of had it on louder than thought, as when we looked around alot of the folks there were either slightly head banging or appeared to be singing along to songs...so we turned it up.

Certainly livened up a very quiet field and ended up with folks coming over to us to chat and listen to music...even the old guys.

They eventually all sauntered off to get ready to go to a meal ( £39 a head ) organised by Norton...we were just as happy with out music, BBQ, drink and company.

Norm , myself and Dale eventually left as Dale needed to be back home for 9.00 as Lizzy was at work for 10.00pm.

Sunday.

Norm and myself were considering going to Stanford Hall to a Cortina event there...this is the place that does the nicest apple pie I've ever eaten.

Kev rang and said they had had to pack up and be off the camping site for 9.00am that morning..so they were now all in the Sunday Market having breakfast and were we going over to them.

We did.. and not even that could go as planned.

We went on the trike...Norms back feeling heaps better...good o'l Valium..we arrived in the Sunday Market car park and much to my disbelief Norm then rode back out...down the road and parked back in the car park for the Norton do...of which we were going to watch the races again later.

" Ok smart arse " says me " Now you've parked us right down here, how do we get back to the Market "..." We'll ask that Marshal the way..there must be a short cut from here " says Norm.

We were told that there was a small silver gate that we could go through and follow the path which SHOULD take us to the market...but marshal wasn't sure as he's never been that way.

Off we set..through the little silver gate and into a ...camp site...that had paths going everywhere...and not a happy camper to be seen.

" It's this way " says Norm and off we head in the direction he's pointing.

We kept walking and eventually came to a field.."we've come the wrong way " says I..." No we've not...look theres the car park and the markets over there..there'll be a hole in the hedge somewhere " says Norm the intrepid explorer.

Stupidly I follow him into the field..and the next field and the next one..climbing through the ranch fencing...they were paddocks...horse paddocks...with horses in the last one...OMG...at that point, seeing these horses eyeing us up and then starting to come over to us I decide to make a very swift exit...bad back or none, Norm was on his own.

As we're smartley exiting we see a very bemused woman with a horse looking at us...so over we go and explain why we were in her paddocks in the first place...luckily she see's the funny side of it and then tells us that we have to go back through the paddocks ( not the one with the horses in ) and in the distance is another little gate...go through that and follow the road around to the market...what a nice horsey lady.

We eventually make it and meet up with the rest of them..who find our adventure very amusing.

Spent a real good day in the market and bought some great stuff...mostly biking style Tshirts...had some food and tea and coffee...whilst sitting under a Gazebo in the shade..could of stayed there and not moved to be honest... and then decided to go to the races.

In the meantime though Norm and Nick walked back to where Norm had parked the trike and bought it round to the market carpark....should of parked it there in the first place.

We got to the bike racing at the Norton do and after walking for what seemed an eternity we found a brilliant place to sit on the grass banks of the track and watch the bikes go by....Russ took some great pics of it all, can't wait to see them.

We left there about 4.00pm and made our ways home...was a real good ride back, with Norm having no back problems to speak of.

We all piled around Kev's and had a cuppa with Doreen before heading our seperate ways.

Got home, had dinner, got washing done and on the line...chilled out for the rest of the night and finally got into bed.

All in all we made a great weekend out of what would of been a very big disappointment other wise.