Adios VFR !

Woke up on Monday of this week, with the dreaded realisation that I had 5 days to sell my motorbike. By Monday afternoon it was clear that I should have done something about it in the summertime rather than trying to offload it just as winter is drawing in. It is gone now, but the manner in which it was sold? lets just say you couldn't make it up. It now belongs to a stranger who could afford it rather than my friend who "Karmically" deserves to be back on 2-wheels. I never made enough use of that bike, (classic fairweather biker) but it was never anything less than a joy to be on. Honda VFR750 F, the finest sports tourer of its generation ... bar none! Now then.... anyone want a super reliable 1997 Silver Audi A4 1.9TDi?

Leaving the flat on Friday !

Moved in January 6th 2005, lived through a complete refurbishment and got to enjoy the space for about the last 3 months.But, it is one of my loose ends and it gets tied on Friday night. Calling all the Utlity companies and Enfield Council to tell them they can't have any more of my money has been particularly enjoyable. Moving back to my parents' place?.....now that's a different story...no web access there either !

Panama Votes "Yes" to Canal Expansion

Well, the wait is over and those that voted (turnout was below 40%) seem to have overwhelmingly decided "yes" to the mutli-billion dollar Panama Canal Expansion Plan. There appears to be no provision in the plan to ensure that Panama's poorest benefit from this massive project, just lots of talk about "trickle down" and "benefits for all". Yes, the completed project will mean more and bigger ships passing through, but will the extra revenue cover the enormous (and doubtless woefully underestimated) cost? or will the Panama Canal eventually wind up being owned by the consortium of Banks gleefully waiting to put up the money? It is a failure of modern democracy that those who perceive themselves least likely to benefit, don't bother to vote. Amid the inevitable rumpus and accusations of "vote buying" and other electoral mischief, I wonder if the cleverest bit of electioneering was simply to hold the referendum on the day that Madrid faced Barcelona in La Liga!

Diwali Greetings & Saal Mubarak

If your any kind of Hindu (not to mention Sikhs or Jains) you will have spent this weekend celebrating the "Festival of Lights" known to all as Diwali (or Deepavali). It is a celebration of good over evil, and for Hindus, the the start of the New Year in the Hindu calendar. Above all, a time for families to gather and feed themselves in to oblivion with loads of great food. My experience was no exception, Saal Mubarak (New Years Greetings) to one and all!

A loose end tied

Great news, the lettings agent has found a tenant to rent my flat. It took a worrying 6 weeks to get someone in but a nice French woman (Schoolteacher) is moving in at the start of November....PHEW! .... and to the crank caller (posing as a prospective tenant) who called using a thick Indian accent, and strung me along before finally asking ... "can I f**k your sister?" very funny.... but get a life!

A narrow victory

Got 2, £85 parking fines in the post yesterday morning from that new breed of Tech Fascist, a Private Parking Control Company (no ticket on the car, just fines in the post). The most heinous use of numberplate recognition technology. Still, I was able to get them cancelled without going through the official appeals procedure (which would never have worked anyway). Numberplate recognition cameras, (which require the collusion of the DVLA), are fast replacing the wheel clamp as the weapon of choice. The fact remains, anyone who works for such companies can and should take a good look at themselves and do something, anything else.

Thanks be to elvis..

Heartfelt thanks to elvis (see links) for getting me started on this blog, such a shame that lampost jumped out and smacked you in the head immediately after! It just doesn't seem right.

Downtown Panama City

Welcome...

Alas, the hammock in question is hypothetical at the moment as I am still in London tying up loose ends. Anyway, the road to Panama beckons and it can't come soon enough. Tropical heat, Latina sights and sounds, and with a bit of luck, lots of business to be done.