The Life and Times of this Old Git

Name:
Location: Teignmouth, Devon, United Kingdom

I'm married with two grown up children and four grandchildren, My wife of 47 years is Sue and we are the same age. My two children are Pamela (blogging occasionly under Pam-bigbustybikerbaby.blogspot.com and Roy,who was recently Paralysed from the waist down due to an Absys on his Spine. My 4 grandchildren are (oldest first) Gavin, Hayley, Thomas,and Zoe. Sue and I are both retired and we're disabled too, her with a badly Arthritic back and spine, me with lung (COPD) and Heart problems.I have always loved Fishing (all sorts) Sue started fishing with me about 8 years ago, now she really enjoys it too. We both love m'cycles and m'cycling, Sue owns and rides her own bike which is a Custom 1981 250 Honda.I own a 1979 Honda CX500. We are both members of this motorcycle club ( view or join our club on http://www.cx-gl.org.uk/) or see my blog post Dec 2007 blog "Getting old, never", of course we're badly resticted now due to our illness, only riding in really good weather.Just over three years ago we lost our best friend and Baby Mojo the border Collie, Gone but never forgotten. Please feel free to use any of our photo's but do let me know you have used them, thank you.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

A STROLL ON THE SEA FRONT.

On boxing day morning Sue and I decided to go to Exmouth, the idea was to go to an Exeter classic motorcycle club bike meet. A few of our CX-GL members decided to join in with this club for the morning meet, this gave us a chance to meet a few of our club members, who before this we had only met on line. The weather was good (mostly sunny and dry) and the classic bike turn out was fair for winter, about 45-50 in all.The meeting point was a cafe on Exmouth sea front, where a welcome cuppa was enjoyed by most, and we spent over an hour meeting and talking to a few bikers, very enjoyable too.
We then thought as the weather was still holding up that, a stroll along Teignmouth sea front would be pleasant. We parked on the sea front and strolled (very leisurely) along past the Pier taking a few pics as we went.There were an awful lot of people still about, probably after watching the annual boxing day walk in the sea.This event is done by all age groups for charities, most of those taking part dress up in some sort of fancy dress costume.80% of the people who actually go into the sea, only go in to around their knees, although there are always the brave ones who go the whole hog and SWIM !!!. On exit there is always a warm towel and a hot cuppa waiting them and of course the local inshore lifeboat is in attendance the whole time. I suppose this event has been happening for 10-12 years now, so attracts quite a good crowd.Anyway we reached the far end of the beach outside the "Lido" outdoor swimming pool, here there is an outdoor beach cafe (open nearly all year round) so a sit, a cuppa and watch the world go by was in order (Pss don't tell anybody but a bacon butty was also enjoyed, naughty naughty). We spent about half an hour there, then ominous clouds started rolling in, so we called it a day.
Above, the view along the sea wall towards Holcombe and Dawlish, taken just yards from our favourite sea front cafe.
Above, The wall further along, note how there is no safety fence along the whole 800-900 metre length.This area is used a lot by enthusiastic steam train spotters/photographers, as the lines are so close. The premonitory sticking up in the sea to the right of the photo is called "the Parson and Clerk" this until a few years ago had another smaller rock perched (obviously) on its top, nobody is actually sure when it fell off (in the last 10 years or so).
The photo above was taken while sitting at our table in/on the sea front cafe. You can see what a lovely day it was by the amount of people.
This photo was taken a few yards along from the car, I'm afraid I had to use this picture as I must have deleted the wrong ( and much better) one by accident, sorry about half in the shade!!. Its not too bad if you click to enlarge it.
The two pictures above and below are taken from the area in the middle of the sea wall walk to Holcombe, this area juts about 25 metres out into the sea and contains the welcome to Teignmouth sign, this sign is for travellers coming into the town by rail, This area is known locally as "Teignmouth letters "or " the letters".If you enlarge this picture you can just see the railway tunnel as it appears just outside Dawlish.As mentioned in a past blog I adore these fern like trees as they remind me of foreign holidays.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

GETTING OLD ? NEVER.

Above. The club advert, please do go check out this club, it has been in existence since 2002.
Above. Most of the work done but waiting for tank badges (still are) Sue at the caravan on her bike.
Above.Sues bike pre having the bent tank straightened and painted.

Above. A very poor picture of Sue's little Honda CM 200.
Above. Our nephew Jason on Sue's first bike a Honda C90.
Above. At our caravan site, with Sue and our friend Bryan (on his Yamaha) this is my latest CX.
Above. Sue on my brand new CX 500, she rode it but struggled to reach the floor so rode wearing HIGH HEELS !!!.
Above. Me with my new CX and left to right Susan (not mine) on moped, Our nephew Jason on the pillion, Me, In the doorway Sue's sister Daphne and behind her is mum,finally Our son Roy.
Above is my Honda 750 FA and left to right Sue,Uncle Gerald, his eldest daughter Deborah, me, our daughter Pam and Geralds daughter Nicola.

Today is Christmas day and I've done my bit!! I helped with breakfast preparation and cooking. My grandson Gavin stayed with us last night and we went down for a few beers and friendly banter. We all met up in my local "The Kings Arms", where at weekends and special occasions Kenny the DJ does his bit. Our neighbors Jan and Alan also came,(we have a friendly xmas light show competition every year). While in there we were also joined by a few more friends and ended up with two joined tables and about 13-14 of us, a jolly good night was had by all. I think in the case of a few, this morning may well have been a bit different though. To get back to date, we have done all the vegetable prep (I did Carrots, Sprouts and Swede) and the Turkey and Beef joints are in the oven, so here I am in front of the computer for a couple of hours. I thought it time I shared our love of motorcycles with everyone, so here goes, both Sue and I have olddish (Classic) bikes. Sue now has a 1981 Honda CM250 T which is basically a custom style bike with a much lowered seat, she had a brand new one of these back in 1982, this she kept until back problems caused her to temporarily stop riding, eventually selling it in 1986-7 .This latest one she purchased in 2005 and is still working trying to get it how she wants it.
Sue first started bike riding in about 1975 with a new Honda 90 step through, a few years later she progressed to a Honda CM 200 on which she passed her test at the first attemp. This little bike stayed with her for around 4 years (she adored it), eventually being sold to make room for a brand new Honda CM 250 T exactly the same model as the one she has now.
My first bikes were old nails back in the "60s" which I sold when the kids came along. I restarted my biking in about 1980 with a Honda 250 Superdream, this one I swapped a year or two later for my first S/Hand CX500 (red), I liked this so much I bought a brand new one, which I kept for 4 years. I then had the "red Mist" descend and decided to go for a bigger, more powerful model in the shape of a Honda 750 FA (four cylinder), this I kept on and off the road for 7 years (mostly because of bike accidents) I eventually sold this (I still regret it, as they are now very much sought after ) around 1993. I myself bought my current CX model again in 2004 to regain my "lost youth", (some bloody chance). These bikes most definitely grow on you, I can't wait for the summer to get back on it. My bike is at the moment up in the midlands with a very good friend (Gary), who kindly offered to do a few jobs for me as a project over the winter period. Earlier this year I decided that perhaps it would be nice to belong, so I applied for membership of the CX and GL (another model of V twin) bike club. This club I thought would enable me to get contacts for advise, parts, and perhaps garages to do work on the bike, also to talk, meet etc like minded people who also love their Honda V twins. I was excepted and am about to meet my first few other members (boxing day) on Exmouth sea front for late a B'fast. This club is very active and holds "Nationals", rally's and regular day out rides and meets, if any of you have any interest at all in classic Honda's then come and see us, to either browse parts of the site or join, Quite reasonably at around a Tenner a head. The club site is on http://www.cx-gl.org.uk/ hope to see you there soon. PS This club is virtually worldwide.
Joke of the day..
An eighty year old man went to the Drs for his annual check up,the Doc asks him "how are you feeling" The old man replies "Iv'e never felt better in my life I have a 20 year old wife who we find is now pregnant, what do you think about that then".The Dr thinks long and hard and eventually says "I have an older friend like you, he is an avid fan of shooting and never misses an opportunity to go, one day when in a bit of a hurry he picked up his walking stick instead of his gun, when he got up into the woods he saw a rabbit, so he picked up his stick and went bang bang, A fraction of a second later two shots rang out and the Rabbit fell dead, what do you think of that?". "Well Now"the old man said, "Id say somebody else pumped a couple into that Rabbit"" My point exactly said the Doctor."

Thursday, December 20, 2007

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

Tonight Sue and I went to Dawlish, this little town is only about four miles from Teignmouth. Every year here, a street named Coronation Avenue puts on a magnificent light show for charity, so we purposely went after it was dark, when we arrived we were just a little disappointed.This year there were probably about 8 or 10 less houses taking part, I know the local council had been giving some of the residents grief over these lights, so perhaps that put a few off, which, is a great shame. Here are a few of the good ones that remain.
DO CLICK ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE.
I took about 4 or 5 video's but I'm afraid this blog would not accept them, very strange because it took one a fortnight ago!!!.
Above and below, these houses are next door to one another.
Because this is becoming so popular, it is quite difficult to get good shots because of parked and moving cars.
Above and below are both of the same house and is probably the best dressed of them all, but who the devil would want to pay the electricity bill. (Probably plugged direct into National grid).
I was going to post a picture or two of our lights but, after looking at these on here, I removed them. I will post pictures later because we like what we've done.
Joke of the day.
A distinguished young woman on a flight from Switzerland asked the Priest beside her,”Father, may I ask a favour?" "Of course. What may I do for you?"
"Well, I bought an expensive woman's electronic hair dryer for my mother's birthday. It is unopened and well over the Customs limits, and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through Customs for me? Under your robes perhaps?"
"Would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you -- I will not lie."
"With your honest face, Father, no one will question you.” When they got to Customs, she let the priest go ahead of her. The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?” From the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare." The official thought this answer strange, so asked, "And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?" "I have a marvellous instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused.
"Roaring with laughter, the official said, "Go ahead, Father. Next!"


Wednesday, December 19, 2007

TRY THIS ONE.

While rambling around a few blogs this morning I came across this on a Canadian bloggers site. So I thought I would give you my edition of it.Please make one of your own, with your own numbered list, then post it to me on e-mail (address in profile), also post on to other bloggers and friends. You could also do a naughty one
So, (Then as a laugh, try singing it to the tune of 12 days of Christmas).

12 ... Days of Christmas.. passing
11 ... Christmas crackers.. popping
10 ... Green bottles.. falling
9 ... Glasses.. Clinking
8 ... Chocolate Mints.. Munching
7 ... Dwarfs.. Singing
6 ... At Dinner .. Eating
5 ... Quintets .. Crying
4 ... Seasons ..Changing
3 ... Boozers .. Boozing
2 ... Couples ..Kissing
1 ... Alone .. Lonely ........... and a Fairy.. on the top of our tree.

Joke of the Day.
A flat chested lady went to Dr Smith about getting her very very flat chest enlarged. The Dr said to her "every day after your shower rub your chest and say Scoobie doobie doobies I want bigger boobies". So off she went and did that for several months and it worked, she grew large DD size boobs!. One morning when she was running very late, she jumped on the bus and realised that she had forgotten her usual ritual. Frightened that she might lose her lovely new boobs, she stood there in the middle of the aisle closed her eyes and started her usual chant "Scoobie Doobie doobies, I want bigger boobies". A guy sitting just ahead of her turned and asked "are you by any chance a patient of Dr Smiths" "why yes I am" the lady replied, "but how did you know". The man leaned close to her ear and whispered "Hickory Dickory Dock ..........".

Monday, December 17, 2007

NOT THAT TIME AGAIN !!!.

Christmas time is here again,
So take up paper take up pen,
Those christmas cards we all have to write,
About Santa's reindeer and snow so white.

We have to sit down and think so hard
Whom could have sent us a Christmas card,
A lot of these we struggle to remember,
Because we havn't spoken since last December.

For our closest friends and family too,
There's still an awful lot to do,
What pressies to buy for the family,
For us to tuck under the Christmas tree.

Now this brings us back to my favorite thing,
Being dragged into town to do the shopping,
Every year I love this little treat,
Plodding round shops on aching feet.

Lets do our best to park the car,
Not a space around, not near nor far,
Round and round not a space in sight,
When we started off it was still light.

When at last around these shops we plod,
The missus says I'm a miserable s..d,
I'm glad its only once a year,
Cause every thing is so damn dear.

Now pockets empty, feeling sad,
Getting home I'm oh so glad,
Now I can settle in my chair,
Cause the missus says I've done my share.

Friday, December 14, 2007

TEIGNMOUTH, And there's more.

Here we are again in my hometown of Teignmouth down here in beautiful Devon.Below is my house (Click to enlarge) mine is just above yellow tractor, second row (arrowed in red), third in from the right. This picture was taken from the middle of the river Teign, at low water of course.The busy little dock in the foreground.
Should any of you visit by rail, then this sign will appear on your left, just as you leave Dawlish (home of the Black Swans) and just a few hundred yards from the town centre.
One of the Towns Features, 3 public houses in 130 yds, of these 2 are situated right on the beach the other 15 yards back. (there are 26 licensed public houses + hotels, restaurants etc).
Below the passenger ferry, this ferries back and forth, on the short journey between Teignmouth and Shaldon, three times an hour, during daylight hours, in summer up until 10 pm.
This view along the sea front looking toward Dawlish, is part of the lovely sea wall walk nearly a mile to the village of Holcombe which is the half way mark to Dawlish.In bad weather this is a part of the railway that causes lengthy delays on the main Plymouth line, In a real Easterly blow waves here have been known to attain 30 feet.You would certainly not want to be here (no hand rails).
Taken still looking in the same direction this time from half way along the sea wall.(there is a lovely outdoor Cafe here, photo's in a future blog).
This portion of the sea wall is the last piece added, it contains a kiddies paddling pool and one or two fast food kiosks, Pier is on the right, just out of view (on the left) is an award winning childrens play park, that I must admit is really ideal for children 2 to 12 years old.
The last photo here reminds me so much of our holidays in Majorca, mainland Spain and Turkey,I'm not a botanist so I don't know the name of this tree, its very fern like and thrives all over the Mediterranean.
Life here in Teignmouth is almost ideal for Sue and I, a fairly moderate climate, fairly quiet (for Devon) and almost central. The problems associated with big towns and cities have still not reached here in any significant proportions, crime, such as vandalism is still at low levels, although as every where drugs are becoming a large problem. Any problems in the town centre seem to come mainly very late at night 12.30 or later, we also have problems in the large council estates with youths some as young as 7 or 8, mainly throwing verbal abuse plus the usual graffiti.In our area we are just a stones throw from the town centre pubs and shops, and 80 yards from a public park.I can honestly say Sue and I could go for a stroll (and often do) down into the town and back as late as 9- 10 pm without any fears.
Joke of the day.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/jokes/read/5480

Thursday, December 13, 2007

THROUGH THE YEARS (part 8).

Now then this picture taken in 1945 of Sue as a baby originally started this blog as the very last picture, it was supposed to run through her life from adult to baby, oh no blogger thought that far too well organised and put it at the top, never mind, things never run smoothly.

This is a picture of my wife Sue and me just after the birth of our first baby Pamela, my dont we look young (19).
This one (below) a year earlier 1963, taken on a trip up on the Cotswolds.
Sue (below) aged about 10 or 11 years old, amazing how we gain lines and wrinkles but the face is still very recognisable.
Below a couple of years younger (9) Aint she cute!!!.
This one taken at age 7, do you like the little bow in her hair? And the really pronounced freckles. (she threatened me if I put this pickie on) She says her ears look big and awful (now now no calls of Dumbo please).
Below this one is a real cutie, taken when she was just 4 years old, its a pity about the quality of the photo, (mind it was 58 years ago).


Sue was born in August 1945 to mother Joan Emms (formerly Lamb) and Horse guardsman (at the time)Jim Emms. Sue was born in Bidford upon Avon (Warks) in her Gran/grandads house in a little terrace called "Stepps piece). A year or so later Jim came out of the forces, the family moved a few miles to a tiny village called "Barton", here Jim worked as a Cowman for several years. Sue's sister Daphne was born here in 1948. After a year or two Jim showed interest in the Gamekeeping side and was eventually taken on as underkeeper.He kept this up until his retirement as a head keeper on Lord Shuckborough's estate(Daventry area), during this time Jim took several posts each one meaning moves, so Sue remembers living in 4 or more houses before meeting me.Sue and I met while working at the "Maudsley Motor Company" of Great Alne Alcester.She was a junior clerk and I an apprentice engineer, each day on her way to collect the tea and biscuits for the office Sue walked past the area that I worked in.The only reason I asked her out was for a bet, a lad I worked with named Bryan Curtis bet that he could date her before me. Needless to say he lost, and here we are. Anyone interested can get more history on Through the years, and parts 1-2-3-4-5 in February, part6 in March and 7 in November of 07.
Joke of the day.
"Do you believe in life after death" the boss asks his new employee,"why yes sir"replies the worker."Well that makes everything just fine then"says the boss,he went on "Yesterday when you went early to attend your grans funeral, well she stopped by a little later".

Saturday, December 08, 2007

THE OTHER HALF.







This blog is going to be all about my wife and soul mate Sue. She would be the first to admit that academically she is a bit lacking, mainly due to the fact that she missed over 18 months schooling. When about 10 Sue had an accident injuring her knee/leg quite badly, needing her to be in plaster from toes to groin. Sue at the time lived about one and a half miles outside a small village near Bidford on Avon in Warwickshire, their house (Tied) was across four fields accessed by a very rough track. At home were her Gamekeeper father and house wife/book keeper mother and a younger sister. In order to get to school each day they cycled across these fields then left their bicycle's by the cattle grid and caught a school bus the five or six miles to school. In those days most people didn't own a car and Sue's family were not the exception, therefore they could not get her to school daily.
To make up for this she is very adept at many other skills, these include, Passing both her car and motorcycle test at the first attempt. At home she has set her hand over the years to carpet laying, painting, wallpaper hanging, curtain making/hanging etc. also an extremely and much sought after cook as a job for twenty three years. Her hobbies include Lace making, dress making, knitting, Crochet, and a five year stint as a florist/floral arranger. She is also a fairly competent photographer and Fisher women,winning at sea fishing, several NFSA medals and winning several ladies competitions, now turning her hand (with me) to Coarse fishing, picking it up very quickly. During the Winter months she dabbles with painting, mostly in oil, also occasionally in water colours. Some of these (I think they are quite good) I will put on a future blog. For now I will show the ones she does as a quick relaxing time, these, as she puts it are "cartooney" pictures and are not easily criticised as they dont contain real people, Animals etc. She intends printing these off to make into personalised xmas cards. Look at the following photo's see what you think?.
Do please click on any photo to enlarge.






Sunday, December 02, 2007

THE STREETS OF TEIGNMOUTH.

Here are a few pictures from here in Teignmouth, to illustrate our small streets typical of a hundred years or more ago.
Some of these Streets date back a couple of hundred years, a lot were burnt down by French invaders in 1690 (one of several forays here).
Below, This particular street was the only way in and out (by Vehicles) until the late 1950s, imagine double decker buses and heavy lorries negotiating these.
To the right of this little road was a lovely little junior School again until the the progress!! of the 50s.
Below French street has the dubious distinction of being the last street to be completely raised to the ground by the French.
Teignmouth is a town well worth a visit, not perhaps to stay too long as a holiday maker, because of its limited facilities (Cinemas, large Theatres, etc) a weekend break would be ideal, or as a base for touring the west country as we are very central here.
Joke of the day.
Two Biologists are on a trip into the African bush to try to follow the life of lions by tagging two. On the morning of departure the one pulls on his stout hiking boots, the other a pair of trainers.The man with the hiking boots says "why are you wearing trainers", the other man replies "if something goes wrong we might have to make a run for it " "you must be crazy"says the first man "everyone knows you cant outrun a lion" " I know" says the second man,"thats why I'm wearing trainers I only have to outrun you".