What I did at the weekend.

[Bendy]

Yes, remember Monday mornings in primary school when the teacher was clearly feeling the worse for wear and made you all sit down and write about 'what you did at the weekend'? Well it's dull in here today so lets hear it.

Saturday I was on a mission to get the big bike trailer fixed as the wheel bearings had obviously gone and the handling had become rather questionable. The lovely Mister Korn was coming over to help since I have all the technical ability of a howler monkey. Quick trip to Halfords to purchase the correct size of socket, quick trip back to Halfords to exchange it for the size I actually meant to buy and we were ready to start.

First wheel off. Ooooh bad. Apparently bearings being brown is A Bad Thing. Now that we've got a part to match, we hit the yellow pages in search of bearing shops, and after some meandering around and asking a guy in Halfords, we find an excellent Towing Stuff shop just outside Slough. The chappie advises us that new hubs won't cost much more than bearings alone, so I hand over the plastic and we leave with 4 shiny, dare I say 'blingin' gold hubs.

Hub one goes on. Nice. Wheel 2 comes off and it's not pretty. The old bearing is seized solid onto the axle and no amount of lube and crowbar action will free it. Korn ponders how the trailer will handle with only 2 wheels as the only option seems to be to get it to his place and attack the bastard with an angle grinder (there are extension lead issues at my place). The corresponding wheel on the other side is removed, trailer hitched and we head for the M4.

Turns out it handles fine with half it's wheels missing, though I was getting some funny looks and did my best 'I can't see you' when a Police van went past, thankfully on it's way to a shout.

Korn angle grinds the offending bearing off, and the one on the other front wheel which is the same, and makes short work of fitting the other hubs, pausing only to machine a new washer to replace one we've lost somewhere along the way.

Back to Slough in convoy, Korn taking his new bike trailer to leave at my house in an effort to placate his folks. Top chap.

Nice evening, so I head for the twisties, planning to end up in Reading to say hello. Hello turns into a trip to Tesco and G's UberBurgers (bread, potato waffle thing, sausage, burger, cheese, meatballs, bacon, sauce, bread ). Quick blast along the M4, get in at about half midnight or so and just as I take my lid off my phone goes... my friend Gavin is stuck in Reading as the trains are cancelled. In the car, back to Reading to collect him and back home. Awkward bugger.

Nothing of note happened on Sunday. Well, only Luke-related things that he may or may not bother to write about, but see Exchange and Mart for an R6 he's breaking.

There. Wasn't very interesting but if you're bored enough it killed a few minutes.

[Bendy]

27 people have read it and none of them did *anything* at the weekend?

[headlamp]

The weekend started early with a nice leisurely lunch with a client in a French Bistro in Islington. Got home at 4pm, took one of my boys to Starbucks near where we live. The missus phones to say get home now as my sis-in-law has just had the baby and we are going to the Royal Free now! Saw the baby, it was two hours old & there was no way I was kissing it as it still had crud over its head and in his hair. Came back, had a chinese takeaway, did some paperwork...

Saturday up late - the missus took the girls to Brent Cross so I did some chores, cleaned the bike. Went to my sis-in-laws to see the baby. Came back, cooked the kids tea and went to a BBQ at a friends house who used to run a bar in the City. He had a few interesting charcters there including two 'loveable rogues' who had a second career relieving corporations of goods. They regaled lots of stories about being shot, stabbed, getting caught by the old bill, getting off, etc....

Sunday awoken by the missus saying there is no water, so called Thames Water and found out we had been affected by a mains burst by the M1. Watched the Grand Prix and took the kids out to the park to play football etc....in the evening started to read 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Nightime', and am already up to page 120!!

Just the usual typically average weekend in a North London suburban household!
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Using a mobile phone while driving a car should be made a capital offence!

[McJamweasel]

This weekend, I was mostly getting sunburned.

It started early on friday, I was up at around 8am to get to Donington for the MotoGP practice session. The plan was to meet Keith at a Little Chef at 9:30. With keith being Keith, he turned up at 10:10 and we finally got to Donington at about 11, just in time for the 250's free practice.

We watched, filmed and photographed those from the Esses for a bit then buggered off to the Grandstand on the outside of Goddards, we managed to right up at the top and had a brilliant view of the esses and goddards - perfect for the GP bikes.

The GP bikes came out at 2pm, after the 125's had been out for their first qualifying. Loud? Jeez - I've never heard anything like it! They were drowning out the planes from the airport next door. Out came the ear plugs. By the end of that session I noticed that my arm was burning a bit, so as the 250's came out again and we moved over to redgate I left my jacket on, to stay covered. By the time I got home (via Pidock's in Derby for a new clutch cable for me and some gloves for Keith) I was beginning to get quite sore. My face was redder than a very red thing.

So, off to Karens (with a sore face and arm) and up early again on saturday for a repeat trip, but with Karen and Craig instead of Keith. I went out to meet Craig and when we both got back to Karens I decided that I was way to sore to ride - my lid was killing me and my burned forehead. So it was left to Karen to drive, and drive she did. The journey was not without event - Craig had to pull over on the A50 when his oil light came on - he managed to get into a layby but by the time we realised it was him we'd almost gone past, so Karen had to pull over on the edge of the dual carriageway! Anywho, that was deemed to be nothing major so we carried on, again getting to Donington for just after 11 and the 250's.

And again, we headed into the Goddards grandstand for the GP's qualifying, although we didn't get as good a view this time. We later headed over to craner curves (where we got pretty close to Barros and his RCV after he binned it) then to Mclean for the end of that session. For the 250's and the Virgin R6cup race we headed over to the Melbourne loop, saw a couple of the R6 bods bin it and get up and carry on, and Craig got Karma'd - he jump up to laugh as the first binned it and got stung by a wasp!

Anyway - we then left and I found that I'd added to my burn tally. Not good. Yesterday was spent in front of the TV, alternating between playing with kittens and applying moisturiser to my burns.

All in all, quite a good weekend. For anyone who hasn't seen the MotoGP bikes live, you really do need to. There is nothing like the sound of the Ducati Desmosedici screaming past you as the smell of exhaust drifts over. Gorgeous.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[dainesefreak]

Friday night - Wedding reception at a swanky 5* country hotel. Didn't stay too long though to be ready for Saturday.

Saturday - Mate of mine got married to the local Dr's daughter. Suited and booted and at the church for 15.00. Back to the Dr's house for the reception in a nice marquee. I would say in the garden but grounds were more like it.

As soon as we parked up in one of his fields it was champagne time, constantly topped up by the caterers when you got halfway down a glass, which was nice.

Then came a four course meal followed by the bar opening, which was free! Hurray.

Sunday - Sleep time, Anadin extra and Moto GP.

Good weekend.

[Lee_367]

Saturday: Working in the morning (washing vans) then a trip down to the local post office to mail some stuff i sold on ebay.
Later on me and my mate went on a ride through some local villages and then ended up and halfords before going home.

Sunday: Up at 10.30 and set off to matlock (expecting all coppers to be at donny) boy were we wrong. Went past a fair few cop cars, 2 camera vans and an officer issuing tickets for just about anything (heard of 2 people who had been booked). luckily we got past and then stayed at matlock for some dinner. Nobody was really there so we decided to head back the way we came as we didn't know any other way. So trundling past the first officer at 25mph (bike is supposed to be restricted, have a full size L plate and no race pipe ) we managed that and negotiated our way past the 2 camera vans, then went back home.


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?It?s mercy, compassion, and forgiveness I lack?not rationality.?

[atom]

This weekend, I worked saturday and sunday morning, Then rode up to my sisters in Muthill, a brilliant ride on the A823, through glens and gorges and past knockhill racing track.

I got a wasp in my helmet, on the way, will learn to keep it shut some crazy hand signals there and no handed riding. When i was stopped looking at a map of the way, some friendly bikers stopped to ask me if everything was ok, which it was.

On my way back I got lost and ended up in Stirling and made my way back through Alloa, Kincardine Grangemouth and Boness. Which again was a lovely ride.

The little RS had never been so far in one go, but we had a lovely time and I am now completely knackered.
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The Internet: Ceefax for the 21st Century

[sv_cath]

OK - Friday evening I went clothes shopping with my gay best friend (every girl should have one!) and got an outfit for my niece's wedding next week.
Saturday we took our 9 month old baby girl Tanith to the park and she went on the baby swings for the first time. She loved it - she was laughing her head off more and more the higher she went. She's gonna be an adrenaline head like her parents I think! In the evening we went to my mate's wedding reception. She looked like a princess, bless her.
Sunday we took Tanith to her grandparents at 6.30am and rode up to Donington for the MotoGP. Had a fab day and (mostly) good ride there and back before sitting down in the evening to watch it all again on video and polish off a chinese + bottle of red - yum!
And now I'm at work again and very very bored....

[Major_Grooves]

Friday morning got on Eurostar to travel 1st class to Paris with my girlfriend.

Spent next couple of days wandering around Paris areas - Marais (sp?), Montmatre, Latin Quarter, etc. Had nice French food, lots to drink, lots of, ahem, other stuff.

Got back on Eurostar to go 1st class back to London. I've never been 1st class before - it's nice to get waited on and get free food and drink!

If my teacher had seen this I would get marks off for not writing enough.
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About me|@Major_Grooves|My company|Digg|Flickr

[synaptyx]

After spending most of last week vomiting and couging up lung butter, I decided I wan't going to get dressed, so I didn't and spent the day alternately lazing, reading, eating (to catch up with the lack of food during the week). On Sunday we went to see Shrek 2 and when we came out Spider-Man 2 was starting in ten minutes, so we treated ourselves to that and some chocolate too. Ace. Now it's Monday and I'm back on the diet. Duh.

[Adam_P]

Was on holiday last week (hence the reason I haven't posted for over a week!) But...

Friday up ate as on holiday but had work to do as client was having a Go-Kart GP at the local cirucit. Went to help set up awning on side of race transporter, like McJ, felt head and arms getting burnt, but wasn't out long enough for it to take effect.
Was then captain of a kart team (finished 11th out of 18) and had hog roast meal and then a 'driver change challenge' in the team GT racecar, of which I was also forced to have a go, but I decided to be belt man, not trying to squeeze my fat frame into the driving seat!

That ended late, so up late on Saturday before heading off to Peak District for Girlfriends sister-in-law's 30th, held in a camping barn in the middle of nowhere (in the shadow of Mam Tor and not that far from Matlock (thought about going to have a look, but wasn't allowed ) Much wine was taken, then realised no-one had a bottle opener - However, I did have a beer bottle opener in my car, which people were happy about.
There was no electricity, it was all candle-light, and the room was full of smoke by the end of the night (3am) as we all fell asleep. Woke up next morning with raging sore throat - by virtue of breathing in said smoke (It was even enough make my better half decide to quit smoking last night - I kid ye not!). Went for a hearty full English for breakfast after packing up.

Came back to better half's, Ordered a large Pizza for tea, wrote a press release for a client and sent it out. Then woke up at 5am this morning and wrote another one that I'd initially forgtten about and was going to do when I got in the office this morning. Decided that as I couldn't sleep I'd get it out the way.

So, that's me from Friday to Monday morning. My mates were doing a track day at Rockingham on Sunday too and almost made a detour to see how they were getting on, but it was raining and I decided to get home for the GP instead.

The weekend before that, I was at Oulton Park when they had a helicopter crash during the race meeting!

By Adam aged 30 and a bit.
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Colin McRae MBE 1968 - 2007 RIP
Orwell Rolls in his Grave
God is imaginary

[Ste]

Saturday, probably not much really but I could have done as I don't remember.

Sunday, continued looking for a new PC, found a good value one in PC World, would have bought it apart from they didn't have any stock, and I got home called up to see if they have stock in any of the other shops near here, and the answer was "possibly". Either a yes or no answer was what I was looking for so I took my business elsewhere. Sent a reply off to the guy who bought the TL and is trying to kick up a fuss and it's the last bit of Not much other than that and quite a bit of sleeping. Another fun packed day.

[Shade_BW]

Spent most of the weekend at the Insanity rally.

Really wanted to see one of the bands, but when I got there I found out they had ben on at 6:30 and I had missed them. Fuming I was.

G/F decided to get her hated tatt reworked, so spent most of sat afternoon in the tattoo tent drinking beer and waiting on her, talking to passers by, which was nice.

More fun and games in the afternoon and evening, including custard wrestling, and more beer.

Very little sleep on sunday morning, careful ride home (still nearly run off road by knobs in a fiesta), and then sat in fron of GP while G/F slept a bit.

Sunday night some mates came round for general chat and to see if they could get my washing machine working (which they did, whoo), and early t bed to catch up on missed sleep.

Shade
Doing it all again this weekend.

[Demonic69]

Saturday: Got up. Took the wheel of the Blade in preparation for a new tyre. Fitted the new-old could to Chez's MZ, then put the battery on to charg (oops, still aint taken it off). Took the wheel in, got the tyre done while I chatted to some bloke about his Imported Fazer and laughed about his missus flying to France to meet him and his mate because she doesn't like going pillion.

Looked for food. Failed to find food so took the dog home and trundled off in search of restaraunty goodness. Found some food in York, with the help of waar lass' 3 phone, only to discover they were shut and would not have a table 'till 9:30. So popped into the nearest pub for some microwave mealage.

Headed off home and opened the pub. Sat lonely till we decided to watch a film, then got 2 punters in. The rest of the village regs poured in about 9:30 and eventually fecked off sometime after that (too many double JD n Cokes to remember)

Sunday:

Got up at 3:30am with tooth-ache. Faffed on PC, chatted to the IRC saddos who were up - none with a viable excuse - and watched shite 5am TV. Nodded off briefly at about 9:30 for a quick kip.
Up again at 11:30, dog in car, and off we go to see the rents. Just as we got round the corner I spotted a fellow biker in distress and we stopped to help. Was some 17yo on an RS125 that seemed like it had holed a piston. After some calling of friends we offered to let him leave the bike round the back of the pub and gave him a lift home.
Then back on our merry way for some parental-face-time. Ate, chatted, bought minging stuff for toothache - which didn't work - faffed with dad's laptop, then buggered off to see Chez's side. Spent way too long faffing with Chez's aunty's knackered PC then skulked off to her parents for a quick 10min visit, collect the pooch and shoot off home. Attempted to watch Potter2, ended up watching CSI then paid an excessive amount for Dreamcatcher on Box Office (not as good as the book).
Got to bed about 2am, managed about an hour un-interrupted sleep then it was 8am and time to call the boss.


So not an amazingly productive weekend.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[MarJay]

[Korn]

My four day weekend:

Friday - day off work, took the wheels off the R1 and went to get new sticky BT012's fitted. Stood around for 30 minutes while the shop fixed their tyre machine then had a small argument with a traffic warden and headed home. Put the wheels back on, changed all the brake pads and fluids etc then called it a day. In the evening, went to fetch a mate and headed off to Norfolk to buy a trailer, stopping at Stockley for a quick hello to Swaffs and Danny who were debating the finer points of crash mushrooms. Got stuck in traffic on the North Circular while plod cleared a car which had overturned and proceeded up the M11 to a sleepy little village type place. Hitched up the trailer and headed home, bit gingerly as it was my first time towing anything, and made it home at just past midnight.

Saturday - helped Bendy out with her wheelz for most of the day then took the bike out for a quick spin to make some progress at scrubbing the tyres in. Found a nice new route through Windsor way then headed home at the first sign of rain (wuss ). Ended the day with a late evening barbecue, getting rather mashed on amateur ganja burgers and cheap beer from tesco's

Sunday - slept a lot. Woke up finally at well past midday and went trail riding in Richmond park (on a push bike, that is), nearly killing myself a few times trying to chase some of the more nutty riders over the jumps. Got home and poked at DIY shit until the evening.

Monday - another day off, last chance to get everything sorted before Snetterton. Woke up early to take the bike in for its valve clearances service, managing to get caught speeding on the way . Dropped the bike off, caught the train home and went to the plod shop to deal with the producer part of my ticket. Waited around for 45 minutes while a load of chavs were keeping the front desk person busy trying to report a gold chain lost. Made it out and went home for a 2 hour nap, then back to Fulham to pick up the bike. Ragged it home along the A3 to see if it was running better, passing another load of coppers with a speed gun - thankfully I saw these ones! - before deciding that I'd had enough and should probably go home before I lose my licence.
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3516 Miles, 11 Countries

[Kickstart]

Hi

Well, got up fairly early on Friday to meet Col, but then got waylaid by trying to pay for a rear shock I had won for the FZ on Ebay (nice Ohlins one). Think I finally left about the time I was meant to be in Uttoxeter .

Watched the practice sessions for the GP, and landed up quite sunburned. Made sure I kept my sleeves down so my arms are OK, but my forehead suffered badly. Maybe I will have to swallow my pride and buy a baseball cap. Took something like 1100 pictures of the practice day, but not looked at many of them yet.

On Saturday I got up sometime late. Very late. Mooched around a bit and decided to look at the forks on the FZ (the seals had started to weep). Decided to swap the forks over for the old set on which the seals are fine but the springs a bit knackered. Put the forks in and swapped the springs over, then found that Yamaha had not specified a fork oil level just an amount from empty. Lobbed it back together and then gave up and sulked . Went along to have a look at an FZR400 that was for sale in town, to possibly buy as a track bike. Turned out to have no fairings fitted (although the side fairings were with the bike), and to have been fitted with a single headlight and have a bodged petrol cap, so decided it wasn't worth £800 or be really what I wanted (so if anyone knows of an acceptable FZR400 or 600 for up to around £800 tops then PM me).

Sunday I got up late again (but not as bad). Read BCF for a bit then decided to fiddle with the FZ some more. Came in and watched the GP for a bit then fiddled with the FZ, deciding to guess at the fork oil level (set them to a 120mm air gap, about half way between the FZR600 and the FZR1000 specs). Finished the FZ off so went to remove the shock from the Divvy (which for some reason is almost solid and barely moves, so needs checking out). Did that, then decided I really should pull apart the Cagiva Freccia that has been in the back garden for about 2 years (bought for spare parts). Decided to play with the windy wrench so that didn't take long. Once that was in pieces and most of the bits filled in the appropriate piles in the garage I cleared up a touch and then put the bikes away.

Or roughly translated I did very little.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[G]

Oi!.. I'll have you know there was two types of cheese, onion rings and crispy onion bits in those burgers as well, wouldn't want people to think I made my guests starve!

[badlydamaged]

My weekend wasn't that action packed really at all.

On Saturday, I decided to give the bike some love, I put a new seat cover on that I had brought from ebay (with staples and Selotape) to cover the scuffed and holed origenal (from my crash). I also touched up a few scratches, gave it a wash and decided to clean the air filter with white spirit (like the manual says). After cleaning it I left it in the sun to dry, but obviously I didn't leave it long enough before bolting it back on later that day. I resisted the temptation to go for a ride that day, as I was low on money and wanted to save it for a ride in nicer weather. I spent saturday night in door watching a few films.

Sunday a day with nicer weather, so I arranged with Josh to meet up for a ride. I left the house at 12:45 ish and had to get 8 miles down the road within quarter of an hour to meet Josh. No Problem, but unfortunatly with my air filter still being damp I had absolutly no power (and for someone used to 12hp to say no power, he means NO power at all). For the first mile (40 speed limit) it wouldn't run above first gear, which limited me to 20 mph flat out, and I actually had to use my feet to push with the bike to get up a hill, all the while being over taken by honking cagers and lorrys .

By the time I got to Josh the bike was happier, but still would only crack about 50 and the acceleration was god awful, felt like I was riding a 50cc. After borrowing the screw driver from Josh's tool kit (thanks mate) and resting the Airfilter on top of the cylinder head dry it out, the bike was running well enough for a blast. After a slightly dull ride to Mortenhampsted (too much traffic going too slow, althoug hone caraven driver got the thumbs up from us by pulling over and slowing down to let cars / us pass) we turned it round, and with me still not happy with the airfilter headed to my house. In the end I just decided to try and blast all the crap out of the filter by putting it up to my exhuast and reving the bike right up, and this seemed to finally sort the bike.

So off we went again, on another nice blast around some random roads which was a lot more fun, particually as I now just about had enough power to pass the sunday drivers that had previously been holding us up. After about an hour we got back to our meeting place and saw two lads making a 230 mile trip down to Cornwall on a Yamaha SR125 and TW125. We had a quick chat with them before we decided to all go our seperate ways (I was nearly out of fuel / oil and had no money )

After protecting Josh's new license (as I was so slow he couldn't ride like the speed freak he is ) I made my way home (and Josh headed back onto the A30 to pick on more unsuspecting cagers ). I decided to wash my bike again as a reward for not blowing up on me despite the fact I was nailing it while it was running on a mixture of Petrol / Air and white spirit fumes. Then I put the bike to bed and spent the rest of the day inside just chilling out.

Not the most exciting weekend but I enjoyed having a quiet one and it was fun riding with Josh on his super duper bike .

So far today I spent the morning working, spent the afternoon helping my mate sort his bike out for it's MOT, and then went to the hospital for a check on whats left of my shoulder (still quite a lot of it raw ).
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My bike: 1988 Kawasaki KH100 Status: Polluting Devon with two stroke smog and noise pollution!
"Its not your engine size that matters!, It's what you do with it that counts"
Add me to MSN if you want! badlydamaged@hotmail.com.

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

At the weekend I generally hung around in rotherham, got shouted at by the police (actually my mate on an R6 got shouted at by the police - they let me and my 3 mates off cos we're all on L's and my mate on the R6 was obviously corrupting our young minds ), and had lots of drag races at the local drag strip ( ). I slept a lot, and didn't drink anything.
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https://www.bikepics.com/members/nsrandy/96rs250/ My Bike!

"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

[Nighteyes]

Had a cold
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My Precioussss!, My Bikes, The Lord & Master, Canis Lupus!
39. Something nice about the person who sent this to you? She's beautiful, funny, and has a huge heart.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Friday evening was very nice so I popped into Boxhill for a bit then rode down the A24 (I think) for a few miles and back.

Saturday afternoon I went out for a ride to Brighton. It was packed out with bikes , very hot, very sunny and very busy

Sunday I thought long and hard about going to the GP, but in the end decided it wasn't worth it with the variable weather forecasted. Kind of regretted not going though Spent the rest of the day relaxing and watching motorsport on tv.

[karen_moomin]

I had a good (but expensive) weekend.

On Friday I managed to blag an early finish at work so that I could go home to wash my car and give my rabbit a cuddle (I was feeling guilty for neglecting her). I also witnessed the sale of my housemate's boyfriends Fiesta XR2i (horrible thing!) to some guys that loaded it onto a trailer to take it away to be made into a rally car. Good riddance I say!

On Saturday me and Col went to Donington with CraigZZR, which Col has covered most of the happenings above. My particular favourite part of the day was Craig's karma incident. I must admit that all of us were hoping for an exciting (but not nasty) crash all day but as Craig jumped up and cheered when the R6 crashed, I really couldn't help laughing when the wasp stung him at the same time! The ultimate proof that karma exists! I also enjoyed seeing the mini moto's in action (never seen them up close before) and also going to the different stalls and trying out sitting on different bikes. I was looking for BCF members all day but sadly didn't see anyone which was a real shame. Oh, and there was a New Rock stall which I wish wasn't there because I found the most gorgeous pair of boots which I am now going to have to buy

On Sunday I had a really early start - I went to Hoar Cross Hall which is a health spa resort near Burton on Trent. It was a friend's hen do. Cost me a bloody fortune but I can't say I didn't enjoy it.

So that was my weekend!

[zaknafien]

[IBITE]

I wish I had a life!

My weekend, as normal, consists of catching up with everything I don't have time to do through the week - housework, washing, ironing etc - need I go on? Then of course - there's the pets! Far too many to list but boy do they take alot of looking after!!! And I guess I better not forget to mention the 15 year daughter! Nuff said!

My most exciting part of the weekend was taking my bike out for a blast! Nothing like it!

I should add that, some weekends, I do manage to: socialise, get drunk, practice mixing on my turntables, ride my horse, get my leathers on and fire up the bike, indulge myself in my love of northern soul, buy shoes.......... Makes it all worthwhile!