The Edinburgh Motorcycle Show 09

I don't want to whinge about it, but I've been ill all week, and Mrs BC most of the week before, so we weren't exactly looking forward to getting up at 6.30AM yesterday (Saturday). But my alarm rang so I leapt out of bed straight away, well, nearly, just a few more minutes... Of course, before we could leave we had to feed / check / water 60 sheep, and make sure the dogs had enough time outdoors, make a space in the van for both of us and our food supplies, and finally make sure the cats had been in, eaten and gone out again. We finally got away by 8.43, 18 minutes earlier than planned and arrived at the show, which is based at Ingliston, next to the Edinbugh airport, just before noon. My plan was to get a burger straight away as I knew if I started working and chatting to people I wouldn't get lunch until goodness knows when, and that would be too late. Feeling kinda poorly, one needs to eat when one feels 'able'. But that plan didn't work as we ended up heading to Shorty's Central Scotland VMCC stand - home of one Triumphant Tigery Cubbious. I can't go in to detail about the bikes (apart from the three other Cubs I saw...) as I've got to write a report for Old Bike Mart, but this is the biggest motorcycle show for both modern and classics, in Scotland, so you can probably imagine what it was like. Had a chat with Kawa, and saw my 'next bike' as he put it. In my confused state where I was running a rather high temperature and my legs were wobbly I didn't realise for a while what he was on about - sorry for being so dim Kwak! What he meant of course, was his 1980 Moto Morini 250cc 2c, which he has very kindly offered to lend me in the summer - it looks like my sort of bike, so I'm looking forward to it, and it'll give me a chance to do a few repairs to Cubbie...perhaps... Being the new VMCC Area Rep for Scotland I had a busy time meeting and greeting fellow members and taking note of any points they raised, so thank you to everyone who came and said 'hello', I think between us, we're got some great ideas. Thanks also to those who pushed money into my hand for Cubbies Counties sponsorship - and get this, even Eric Boocock, former British Speedway champ, has been following Cubbie's progress! He was impressed with the amount of road grime and oil on the bike and awarded Cubbie a special prize, something that perhaps a lot of exhibitors wouldn't want to be awarded...but a prize is a prize...see pic.... Some of the usual suspects were missing, but I did manage to catch up with the Ayr classic club and confirm that I shall be at their show in June to dish the awards out, a quick peek at Kawa's club stand, which was something to do with Kwakkysakkys, oddly enough, bumped into Dave, "Our Man from Morpeth" and his good lady Stella, who you might remember came to the Haggis run last year (er, they're from Morpeth, which is near Newcastle, which isn't near Alford, hence giving them a good mention. I dunno, try and keep up please!!), Joe from Shetland was there too (Edinburgh, not the Haggis run) and who else did I meet? Oh yes, Allan from somewhere to the south of Scotland who says he reads the blog regularly, and Jimmy Steel who does a lot of work in the borders club organising the Jimmy Guthrie Memorial rally. Finally got my burger at way past Hungry Hour, and had to put up with some stupidly loud and very very inappropriate for an indoor venue, 'drum' band. Bang bang bang flippin' BANG. By the time 5pm came I was ready to go home, apologies to those who thought I was just weird, or not very bright, I put it down to the temperature. Shorty was so concerned he even asked me if I felt as bad as I looked. Hmmm, something odd about that question now I come to think about it. Doug and Paula, the organisers of the classic section did a great job (again) of sorting everyone and everything out - I don't envy them! I might add more later if anything springs to mind, still not feeling 100% but seem to be lasting better today than yesterday, big BIG thanks to Kawa (you can give the bike a rinse now if you like) and his chum Fer, and to Shorty for helping to get Cubbie to the show, and hopefully home again.

PS, can't seem to get the hang of posting pictures these days. But I saw this choppy thingy and immediately thought of Darrell and BigBob. Enjoy.

Ah yes, forgot to mention the really high winds that made travelling a little difficult, and the three bikers we saw on the hard shoulder who had been stopped by the cops - probably just for their own safety no doubt. Mrs BC, I wasn't going to mention that you ripped Eric's name badge from his jacket!