The future's bright, the future is

[Count Steer]

The fireman took my keys and got my bike out - my friends are calling it The Phoenix.

The Phoenix

Nicknames have to be earned

With hindsight, the scene feels familiar - looking on with tears and white knuckles, as close to the flames as is safe, waiting for a hero to appear out of the smoke with your pride and joy. I think the familiarity is from the book Black Beauty which I read as a child. I'm pretty sure that there was a stable fire in that.

Could be worse, could have been called 'Grace'....but you'd need to know your Archers history for that one.

[Trinity765]

Nicknames have to be earned

With hindsight, the scene feels familiar - looking on with tears and white knuckles, as close to the flames as is safe, waiting for a hero to appear out of the smoke with your pride and joy. I think the familiarity is from the book Black Beauty which I read as a child. I'm pretty sure that there was a stable fire in that.

Could be worse, could have been called 'Grace'....but you'd need to know your Archers history for that one.

Which I don't

[Bustaspoke]

Sorry to hear about the fire & more sorry to hear about your friend.I'm going to an old friends funeral next monday,the big C took him aged 60,I'm so glad I managed to retire at 61,I've wasted enough years at work...
Long live the Phoenix!

[Horse]

The fireman took my keys and got my bike out - my friends are calling it The Phoenix.

The Phoenix

Nicknames have to be earned

Fenghuang
The phoenix represented power sent from the heavens to the Empress.

@Trinity765

[KungFooBob]

"Phoenix" always makes me think of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (well it was called G-Force when I was a kid and it was dubbed into English).

[Mr. Dazzle]

Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man. With the peroxide hair.

[KungFooBob]

Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man. With the peroxide hair.

Now all I can think about is the three sea shells.

[MingtheMerciless]

Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man. With the peroxide hair.

Now all I can think about is the three sea shells.

Murder, death, kill

[ChrisW]

Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man. With the peroxide hair.

Now all I can think about is the three sea shells.

Murder, death, kill

I'd like that as a better version of the 'live, laugh, love' home stuff!

[asmethurst99]

I've been a bit quiet because life hasn't stopped throwing curved balls at me.

Just over two weeks ago I lost a good friend. He felt a bit ill over Christmas and died on 16th February of cancer, a day before his 61st birthday. He was the founder of the London Motorcycle Riders Club which is the most successful UK biking club in the last decade and I believe it's success was down to his leadership. I'm heading into to town later today to raise a glass with some of his closest friends. Paul Hayden

Last Sunday, while pottering around at home in my flat I heard some popping and banging. I looked outside and saw smoke pouring out the garage adjacent to mine. I ran outside just as the fire brigade turned up. I stood in the rain watching them tackle the fire. After a while I started to cry as I believed I'd lost my bike and everything else in the garage. The neighbour's garage was used for storage and full of junk and it took over an hour to put the fire out as he wasn't around and it took them ages to get the door open. The fireman took my keys and got my bike out - my friends are calling it The Phoenix. My bike was ok, black with soot and smelling bad but ok. I took it immediately to a friends house and I've spent my spare time this week cleaning up.

The Phoenix

Sorry to hear of your loss
My friend told me about Paul Hayden - when he moved to London he didn’t know anyone and the club helped him make friends.

[The Spin Doctor]

I've been a bit quiet because life hasn't stopped throwing curved balls at me.

Just over two weeks ago I lost a good friend. He felt a bit ill over Christmas and died on 16th February of cancer, a day before his 61st birthday. He was the founder of the London Motorcycle Riders Club which is the most successful UK biking club in the last decade and I believe it's success was down to his leadership. I'm heading into to town later today to raise a glass with some of his closest friends. Paul Hayden

I'm sorry to hear that.

I delivered a couple of presentations to LMRC, with the second not being that long ago.

Glad the bike survived.

[Trinity765]

The curved balls are still coming.

This year's Picos trip has been canceled as one of the two friends that I was going with has a health issue (hip/back immobility). I am gutted for him We were all looking forward to the trip and it wouldn't be proper to go without him. All monies have been refunded bar the Portsmouth/Santander ferry which we can only be postpone with the dates for next year not being released until November. Pushing the trip back to next year encroaches on my sabbatical but that may work as I'd like to spend it in the same region but on foot so it may all work out fine if I can find a lock-up for my bike while I do the solo walking bit.

I've got a nice big AirBNB credit burning a hole in my pocket now I've moved my 2024 holiday from the end of May to the end of June and booked a cabin in The Highlands as I've not been to Scotland since BC and I've certainly not explored that region enough.

I hope my friend with the dodgy hip gets better soon - I shouldn't have so many old friends

[mangocrazy]

Pushing the trip back to next year encroaches on my sabbatical but that may work as I'd like to spend it in the same region but on foot so it may all work out fine if I can find a lock-up for my bike while I do the solo walking bit.

You'd be welcome to stash the bike in our garage in France, but it's a fair distance between the Picos and a small village close to Beziers. Don't know if that could work out...?

[Dodgy69]

That's a shame, I'd of still gone. Invite someone else or just the 2 of you, I'm sure your mate wouldn't mind.

[Trinity765]

Pushing the trip back to next year encroaches on my sabbatical but that may work as I'd like to spend it in the same region but on foot so it may all work out fine if I can find a lock-up for my bike while I do the solo walking bit.

You'd be welcome to stash the bike in our garage in France, but it's a fair distance between the Picos and a small village close to Beziers. Don't know if that could work out...?

Thanks! I will remember you said that

That's a shame, I'd of still gone. Invite someone else or just the 2 of you, I'm sure your mate wouldn't mind.

It started to get complicated so we all said that we were happy to push it back. I'm due to have a coffee and catch up with the non-invalid soon and we'll discuss options. We're all, shall we say "advanced riders", who've ridden together and know each other's style and it gets difficult to find riders that you know you are compatible and also that you'd want to spend your evenings with. I'm not even sure I want to spend two weeks with those two to be honest

I originally wanted to go on my own and if I can wangle that out of this situation, I will. I may have to buy one of the others out of their ferry ticket.

[Bustaspoke]

I originally wanted to go on my own and if I can wangle that out of this situation, I will. I may have to buy one of the others out of their ferry ticket.

I'm in France for a fortnight on my own,then going over to Belgium to meet up with my mates for a week,maybe you could meet your mate(s) over there?.

[Trinity765]

I originally wanted to go on my own and if I can wangle that out of this situation, I will. I may have to buy one of the others out of their ferry ticket.

I'm in France for a fortnight on my own,then going over to Belgium to meet up with my mates for a week,maybe you could meet your mate(s) over there?.

Yes, I hope something like that works out. I think we'll sit on it for a couple of months and see what happens regards my friend with the hip problem and then make some kind of plan. My employer would be flexible with the dates of my sabbatical next year.