We have just returned from the family Christmas lunch and as soon as I arrived home I made myself something to eat. Looking at all our prezzies, I feel lucky to be alive at such an oppulent time. My thoughts are with those that have nada or very little, those that have lost everything or are about to... may you all find the strength to get through these times with dignity.

I am amazed at what I take for granted!

MERRY X-MAS TO YOU ALL!!!




HO HO HO!

I wish all my friends and family a very merry x-mas 2006 and a mighty fine ride into 2007. May all your wishes come true! I wish you health and happiness and most of all GOOD LUCK!

With all my love,
Taina.





P.S.:
Q: ... what's harder than raining cats and dogs?
A: ...Hailing cabs...

(do X-mas jokes get any better with age?)

.

I just came across the ultimate phone...




...if only it was lime green! ...and did you know that the Canadian Prime Minister's wife rides her Yamaha around town? Apparently he does not hop on as a pillion. He does not think it would be a good thing for his image, as his large bottom may not fit on the seat.

This morning I went to pick up my blinker lens, which was supposed to be at Trevor Jordan's Wollongong store by last Wednesday, but guess what?! No show!

Apparently the computer system did overwrite the order... yeah! That bleedin' computer again! Meanwhile I am downed again for at least another week. And that's exactly when I take off to sunny California. When I come back the bike will be out of rego ...

... ... "NOT HAPPY, JAN!" ... ...

Why does EVERYTHING that should be a simple and straightforward matter turn into a drama??!

This photo was taken on the Patonga Ride. Both Joy and I had done a couple of hours of riding by the time we got to the meeting point at Berowra. This side no longer looks as pretty. The Motorcycle Design Specialist had $400 in mind, whilst I thought of doing a quick fix with a detail pen... just to blend it in a little.

In the UNDER CONSTRUCTION section I have just added a couple of Kawasaki Advertisements that cracked us up! I particularly love the one with the tractor! Most entertaining...
So, I have just been to Wollongong Kawasaki and ordered my blinker lens. $10.80 by Wednesday. I have resigned myself to leaving my baby in the garage this weekend and am marvelling at my new hairdo. Shorter, darker, apparently ideal for avoiding 'Helmet Hair'. It takes a bit of getting used to. No more blonde jokes...no longer getting away with those airhead moments.

I've just seen this picture from our Patonga stop-over at the Road Warrior's. There I am in my new red GRO T-shirt....all X-massed out and about, chatting to Lindy, Tim and Jackstar... and my little beauty is glistening in the background... green is such a cool colour! Trish, I apologise, but I had to rip that one off the GRO site! Thanks!
I feel much better about letting her drop, after all, what's a bl**&y blinker cover and a scrape of paint???!!

It could have been worse: I could have been riding it!

I think it's time to talk to Shannon's!

AAAAArrrrrrrrGGGGHHHHHH!
You wont believe this! I just dropped my bike on its side whilst manouvering it into the garage... blinker smashed, scratches on the main panel and the cover of cause! I hate myself!

The Patonga Ride was a nice experience all round. Some amazing scenic routes and nice 25s to 75s to make it all a little challenging, especially when some of us got temporarily lost and had to catch up with the main body of the group...nice! Lindy was showing off her new pipes and seemed to rehearse her jockey impersonation on several occasions...all in best spirits!

Here she is...in the middle of the road on the phone...

My ride actually started at 7am, when I met Joy from Corrimal on her XT250 down Austinmer Beach. She brought back some nice memories: my XT500 days. She kept up very well all the way to Berowra and back from Patonga. Trish told me that she had been on a previous ride, so I did not feel responsible to introduce her to everybody. On second thought, maybe I should have...

We made it in good time to the meeting point and Trish was already there, even though she did not leave until 7:40am.


We had fun with our Trish today: we found out that she has a real phobia about getting near Circada shells, so Ruth's daughter made sure to place some in Trish's helmet... ohoh!

I had never been to the Road Warriors Cafe, so this was a very special occasion. I loved the place! Gotta go another time soon...

...and my favourite bike was there:





...and it was once again a great day out. Pitty I had to leave so early, but after all: it was my anniversary!

PATONGA, here we come!

CHRISTMAS & CHARITY RIDE : SUNDAY 10th DECEMBER, 2006
DESTINATION : PATONGA
MEET : MOBIL SERVICE STATION - PACIFIC HIGHWAY, BEROWRA
TIME: 9.00am for 9.30am departure
RIDE CAPTAIN: TBA

RIDE ROUTE:
Left turn out of Mobile Berowra onto Pacific Highway
Follow Pacific Highway veering off left onto the Old Pacific Hwy
Follow the Old Pacific Highway through Cowan, over Brooklyn Bridge and onto Mt White
Stop at Mt White Road Warrior Café for 1st Break
Depart Road Warrior Café at 11.00am
Right Turn out of Mt White following Old Pacific Highway to Calga Interchange
Right turn at Calga Interchange
Left onto Peats Ridge Road
Turn Left up the Exit Ramp for Wiseman’s Ferry Road
Turn Right at Wisemans Ferry Road
Left turn at Pacific Highway
Right turn at second set of lights which is Woy Woy Road
Right turn at Rawson Road
Right at Ocean Beach Road
OCEAN BEACH ROAD then becomes MT ETTALONG ROAD, which then becomes PATONGA Drive
Follow this all the way to Patonga

I have been pining for a bike ride for weeks! Life has been a little too busy and all my time was devoted to getting the job done, keeping my head above the line and making the most of undesirable situations.
I have been incredibly exhausted and stressed and wondered how that could be possible, but my task list sort of grew on me and the me-time disappeared in no time.
It is my anniversary and my darling husband gave his nod for this ride...thank you, thank you...thank you! (He knows how to keep me happy!)
Trish was looking for a ride buddy for a lady named Joy, who is also from the Gong. So, we may ride to Berowra together, which will be a nice change for moi.
Can't wait! Will travel! Yeeeehaa!

A description of a ride with Wayne Gardiner, well worth the read!
(Copy and paste the URL into your browser address bar, as I have not worked out how to make this a live hyper link...)

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,20567801-5004381,00.html

A few weeks ago I went on a Saturday evening ride with Karleen, broke down with a dead fuel pump in the Castle Hill area and found my very own SAVIOUR:

MICHAEL COOK at CASTLE HILL MOTORCYCLES. He was very pleasant to deal with, went out of his way to help and made the whole experience as stress-free as it can get. The bill was also most reasonable. No complaints from my end, only PRAISE!

http://www.castlehillmotorcycles.com.au/