Anyone remember Comerfords in Thames Ditton??(reminiscence)

MG

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Oct 12, 2002, 8:12:37 AM10/12/02

to

Hi

(A story of an older biker coming back to the fold...)

Ahhh, October, and thoughts returning to me of when I was a
bright-eyed 15 yr old despearte to get onto a moped and took the
shittiest of saturday jobs to save religeously for a new Yamaha
FS1E...

My local dealers were Comerfords at Thames Ditton Surrey, (or a small
place in Shepperton or Len somebody or other in Kingston...?) Anyone
remember Comerfords though?

Always made me laugh, on my log book DVLC had them down as
Comes Loads...!

Anyway, those countless Sundays spent cycling 12 miles just to press
nose against window to oggle the rows of bikes (no Sunday trading
then!) and to check out the bikers as they lined up to check each
other out as they passed by the place...

Got the old FS1E in Oct when (finally as after a lifetime) reached 16
in 1974 (Blackcurrant metallic) £180 otr. Looked after it and sold it
for £190 a year later - yes, £10 profit - and it was fully used it
as I passed Moped test on it and carried loadsa mates about on back.

Went on to a Yamaha RD200 Twin... £395.00 otr from same place. Blue,
MkII decals. Wow, what a little burner... Loved it to bits and started
to hunger then for an RD350... But in meantime, had to start full
time work in Kingston (International Paint on Richmond Rd) and those
cold and wet mornings stuck in Kingston traffic did me in. Started
looking for a cheap Reliant Supervan III to use for commuting on bad
weather days as could run off bike licence, (and keep bike) but they
were silly money then - even if yonks old. In end, my Dad helped do a
deal with the Honda Car side of 'Come Loads' and I bought a 30K miler,
1 yr old ex demo Honda Civic 1200 for £1050 and had to sell the RD200
but got £365... to a bloke who wanted to tour Aus on it!

18 months later sold Civic £1200 and bought a new MGB Roadster -
Black. Still have that but only 30k on clock as has been
'fairweatherd' off over the years. So the spirit of my Bikes is in my
MG at least.

But recently moved more rurally and was to get a little Suzuki 4x4,
but with the markets down and low interest on my savings, having to
postpone that and keep my late Father's old Citroen BX 120k+ miler a
bit longer, But need to be more economic as further away from the town
and the BX only does 27mpg... and spits expensive hydralic at every
chance...

Looked at electric bicycles and in search saw a Puch Maxi Super for
£799 new and it got me looking at those scooters... led to considering
an Indian Vespa import at £1049 (with gears!) but now seriously
considering going off to buy a new Hysosung Cruise II at £1449 as they
will not only accept it on a credit card but I can get 0% for 6 months
on the card option too...

So, back to the biking world albeit in moderation, but a 125 with a
MPG of about 90 is better than walking/cycling or any scooter you
could put in front of me... If only I had not got rid of all my gear
over the years... or that lovely RD200

Oh well, just a tale to hopefully keep you all amused...

See you about sometime maybe?

MG

Raymond Lynch

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Oct 12, 2002, 9:13:57 AM10/12/02

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Yes I remember Comerfords I bought my first bike there a 1937 Tiger70 for
£30 I thought I was one of the 'big spenders'!

As you say, there rows and rows of bikes for what seems now as ridiculous
prices.

Those were the days!

An ex-work colleague of mine, his daughter, worked for a while at
Comerfords, and if you want any further info let me know and I will see
what I can do.

I know that subsequently they either folded or went over to cars and the
Honda franchise, but at that time I had given up bikes for a car and a
family.

I have now returned to the fold having had a Honda VF400 and now am riding a
1000 Triumph Daytona. Rather leery!!

Ray

lozzo

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Oct 12, 2002, 9:30:19 AM10/12/02

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"Raymond Lynch" <raymond...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:bdVp9.6466$345.3...@newsfep2-win.server.ntli.net...

>
> I have now returned to the fold having had a Honda VF400

I had one of those, lovely bike. I went to the south of France for a
long weekend on it, 2-up with camping kit.

--
Lozzo, The Bedford Bastard.
ZZR1100 (Dirty), CB250RS (Rusty).
BOTAFOT#57/70a, BOTAFOF#57, SBS#10, TCP#7, BONY#9, ANORAK#9,
DIAABTCOD#14, UKRMT5BB, IBW#013, MIRTTH#15a/16, BotToS#8, GP#2, two#49.
Url for ukrm newbies : http://www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmscbt.html
I am the monkey.

Unknown

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Oct 13, 2002, 12:29:39 PM10/13/02

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On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 12:12:37 GMT, 10055...@compuserve.com (MG)
wrote:

>My local dealers were Comerfords at Thames Ditton Surrey, (or a small
>place in Shepperton or Len somebody or other in Kingston...?) Anyone
>remember Comerfords though?

*Very* well - on the right as you go from the Scilly Isles towards
Surbiton. Theres a car garage on the site now. Do you remember Bike
Breakers in Kingston then? (up towards the hospital) A right little
aladdins cave of bits for FS1E and AP parts.
The only Shepperton place I know is Jack Lilley - was there another
one?

>Anyway, those countless Sundays spent cycling 12 miles just to press
>nose against window to oggle the rows of bikes (no Sunday trading
>then!) and to check out the bikers as they lined up to check each
>other out as they passed by the place...

Where were you living then?

--
ST1100 Pan European (With optional Get out of Jail Free Card)
ZX9R E1 (Its Green and Clean) XTZ750 (Flying Banana)
"Leaner Meaner Janitorial Cleaner" IBW#5 NATC#1 MHP#1 MMJ#1
BotTOS#1 UKRMFBC#4 Kot HMC APOSTLE#11

Unknown

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Oct 13, 2002, 12:30:42 PM10/13/02

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On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 14:13:57 +0100, "Raymond Lynch"
<raymond...@ntlworld.com> wrote:

>
>An ex-work colleague of mine, his daughter, worked for a while at
>Comerfords, and if you want any further info let me know and I will see
>what I can do.
>
>I know that subsequently they either folded or went over to cars and the
>Honda franchise, but at that time I had given up bikes for a car and a
>family.

Comerfords went bust after the old man died and the site was sold

The Older Gentleman

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Oct 13, 2002, 12:40:57 PM10/13/02

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JP <> wrote:

> On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 12:12:37 GMT, 10055...@compuserve.com (MG)
> wrote:
>
>
> >My local dealers were Comerfords at Thames Ditton Surrey, (or a small
> >place in Shepperton or Len somebody or other in Kingston...?) Anyone
> >remember Comerfords though?
>
> *Very* well - on the right as you go from the Scilly Isles towards
> Surbiton. Theres a car garage on the site now. Do you remember Bike
> Breakers in Kingston then? (up towards the hospital) A right little
> aladdins cave of bits for FS1E and AP parts.
> The only Shepperton place I know is Jack Lilley - was there another
> one?
>

Nearby in Twickenham there's Dennis Heath, aka The Graveyard. *Amazing*
breaker.

--
XJ900S 750SS CB400F Z400 XS400 BOF#30 GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1
WUSS#5 YTC#3 IHABWTJ#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 OSOS#1
www.btinternet.com/~Chateau.Murray/homepage2.html

MG

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Oct 15, 2002, 1:11:47 PM10/15/02

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On Sun, 13 Oct 2002 17:29:39 +0100, JP <> wrote:

>On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 12:12:37 GMT, 10055...@compuserve.com (MG)
>wrote:
>
>
>>My local dealers were Comerfords at Thames Ditton Surrey, (or a small
>>place in Shepperton or Len somebody or other in Kingston...?) Anyone
>>remember Comerfords though?
>
>*Very* well - on the right as you go from the Scilly Isles towards
>Surbiton. Theres a car garage on the site now. Do you remember Bike
>Breakers in Kingston then? (up towards the hospital) A right little
>aladdins cave of bits for FS1E and AP parts.
>The only Shepperton place I know is Jack Lilley - was there another
>one?
>
>
>
>>Anyway, those countless Sundays spent cycling 12 miles just to press
>>nose against window to oggle the rows of bikes (no Sunday trading
>>then!) and to check out the bikers as they lined up to check each
>>other out as they passed by the place...
>
>Where were you living then?

I lived in Hersham and yes Jack Lilly was the dealer in Shepperton!

Good old 'Comes Laods'!

Mark Gardiner

MP

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Sep 28, 2013, 6:04:49 PM9/28/13

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Oh yes Comerfords. I worked there for a while but in the early 60s. It was great mixing with loads of well known trials riders and road racers. I was only 16 and in awe of them, I went on to race both Grass track and Road racing.
The Len mentioned from Kingston was I believe Len from Kingston Motocycles, where I also worked for a while. I drove an ancient sidecar combination which we used to collect motorcycles for repair etc. It was hairy and I remember that the brakes did not work well. Just as well it didn't go very fast.
My very first bike was a Brand new BSA C15, that I later traded for a BSA 500 Shooting Star (From Comerfords) I actually raced that bike at the Silverstone 1000 production race, against the likes of Phil Read, Derek Minter and many other of the greats of their time. I was so short of cash that we had to sleep in the pits the night before, it was freezing cold and pouring with rain. On race day the scrutineers said my front tyre did not have enough tread and because I could not afford a new one, they agreed I could turn it round as it was a predominantly a right hand track. Try that today! GREAT TIMES and GREAT MEMORIES.

SteveL

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Sep 28, 2013, 6:19:48 PM9/28/13

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On Saturday, September 28, 2013 11:04:49 PM UTC+1, MP wrote:
> Stuff

JHC. How do you manage to dig up an 11 year old post?
That's special that is.

Steve

ukrmbot

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Sep 28, 2013, 10:17:16 PM9/28/13

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Shameless re-post from Ixieland, but aposite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0LnNP7mw7XY#at=236

Phil Read is in this, but Mike "the bike" Hailwood did the business.
I hate Mallory park.

Cheerz,

Rod
--
Cagiva 650 Raptor

ukrmbot

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Sep 28, 2013, 11:04:40 PM9/28/13

to

I sed:

> Shameless re-post from Ixieland, but aposite:

8<...
> Rod

Hrrm, missing a p & I can't even spell my own name right. Shoot
me down in flames. Time I hit the pit methinks.

Cheerz,

Rob
--
Cagiva 650 Raptor

Mitch

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Sep 29, 2013, 3:39:24 AM9/29/13

to

Very fond memories; collected my spanking new orange RD200DX from there on a
sunny day in 1976. Nervous as hell as everyone was watching but did'nt stall
it! The size of the place was jaw dropping, each room had perhaps a hundred
or more bikes and there were I think three rooms. A sad loss.

Mike Headon

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Sep 29, 2013, 3:49:31 AM9/29/13

to

I bought a 350 Ajay from them. When I got it home I found it was a 500
and had to pay extra insurance!
Pride and Clarke, Brixton was also a great place for nosying around.

--
Mike Headon
R69S R850R

e-mail: mike dot headon at enn tee ell world dot com

Eiron

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Sep 29, 2013, 4:09:57 AM9/29/13

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On 29/09/2013 08:49, Mike Headon wrote:

> Pride and Clarke, Brixton was also a great place for nosying around.

http://goo.gl/maps/SjYPc
or
http://www.realclassic.co.uk/opinionfiles/opinion07053100.html

--
Eiron.

Ace

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Sep 29, 2013, 4:40:37 AM9/29/13

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On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 08:49:31 +0100, Mike Headon
<po...@spam.junk.YCKMHWA.com> wrote:

>I bought a 350 Ajay from them. When I got it home I found it was a 500
>and had to pay extra insurance!

British build quality - someone fitted the wrong motor. Of course,
there was some other poor sap riding round on a 500 that never quite
gave the top speed quoted...

YTC#1

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Sep 29, 2013, 4:54:07 AM9/29/13

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There has been a bit of this going on across NGs recently

The Older Gentleman

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Sep 29, 2013, 5:06:57 AM9/29/13

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Ace <b.ro...@ifrance.com> wrote:

> British build quality - someone fitted the wrong motor. Of course,
> there was some other poor sap riding round on a 500 that never quite
> gave the top speed quoted...

<G>

--
Honda CB400 Four CB125S Triumph Street Triple Ducati 800SS
BMW K1200RS Yamaha 660 Tenere Suzuki GN250 TS250ER x3
So many bikes, so little garage space....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

PipL

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Sep 29, 2013, 1:45:05 PM9/29/13

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On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 10:40:37 +0200, Ace <b.ro...@ifrance.com> wrote:

>British build quality - someone fitted the wrong motor. Of course,
>there was some other poor sap riding round on a 500 that never quite
>gave the top speed quoted...

At a guess, 90% of the motorcycling public woud have suffered a similkar
problem.
--

Pip

shu...@yahoo.com

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May 28, 2014, 8:07:22 PM5/28/14

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In spring of 1971, my brother and I came from the states to travel Europe. We had designated London to find a shop to buy a couple bikes to use for a couple months. We had a motorcycle magazine published in the states that had an advertisement from Comerfords. We ended up buying a couple new BSA 250's. Mine was the Victor and my brother got the Gold Star. We had them set up and came back to get them. Drove them into London where we were staying at a B & B near Victoria Station, then shortly left for the continent. We put 4,500 miles on those bikes before returning to Comerfords. They were crated and shipped to the states where I met them in Chicago. I still have all the paperwork as well as the bikes. I think of that whole adventure very fondly and with a few chills brought on by a couple close calls in the Alps. Sorry to hear Comerfords is no longer there.

The Older Gentleman

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May 29, 2014, 2:16:55 AM5/29/14

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<shu...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Sorry to hear Comerfords is no longer there.

Went down in the late 1970s/early 1980s, IIRC.

They were a big dirt bike dealer.

--
Honda CB750F2 CB400 Four CB250 CB125Sx2 CG125 Triumph Street
Triple Guzzi California Yamaha 660 Tenere Suzuki TS250ERx3
More garages needed....

lindami...@gmail.com

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Apr 3, 2015, 12:55:32 PM4/3/15

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Comerfords is now CI Sport in Leatherhead

mikenor...@gmail.com

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Jun 3, 2016, 6:32:02 AM6/3/16

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Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.

YTC#1

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Jun 3, 2016, 7:24:00 AM6/3/16

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On 03/06/2016 11:32, mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
> Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
>

No, and I doubt you worked there either, as you can't spell the bike
name correctly

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

jeremy

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Jun 3, 2016, 7:34:33 AM6/3/16

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In article <nirpcf$6i7$1...@dont-email.me>, b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk says...

>
> On 03/06/2016 11:32, mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
> > Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
> > Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
> >
>
>
> No, and I doubt you worked there either, as you can't spell the bike
> name correctly

Why the harsh & disbelieving response?

--
jeremy

YTC#1

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Jun 3, 2016, 7:55:44 AM6/3/16

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UKRM mode

And the spelling pissed me off :-)

Eddie

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Jun 3, 2016, 9:02:24 AM6/3/16

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YTC#1 wrote:
> On 03/06/2016 12:34, jeremy wrote:
>>
>> Why the harsh & disbelieving response?
>
> UKRM mode
>
> And the spelling pissed me off :-)

That's a bit ruff, isn't it?

--
Eddie ed...@deguello.org

Colin Irvine

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Jun 3, 2016, 9:25:27 AM6/3/16

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On Fri, 03 Jun 2016 14:02:21 +0100, Eddie wrote:

> YTC#1 wrote:
>> On 03/06/2016 12:34, jeremy wrote:
>>>
>>> Why the harsh & disbelieving response?
>>
>> UKRM mode
>>
>> And the spelling pissed me off :-)
>
> That's a bit ruff, isn't it?

I'm sure the internet police will feel his collar.

--
Colin Irvine
ZZR1400

Mark Olson

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Jun 3, 2016, 10:02:27 AM6/3/16

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Eddie <ed...@deguello.org> wrote:
> YTC#1 wrote:
>> On 03/06/2016 12:34, jeremy wrote:
>>>
>>> Why the harsh & disbelieving response?
>>
>> UKRM mode
>>
>> And the spelling pissed me off :-)
>
> That's a bit ruff, isn't it?

Mike Fleming

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Jun 3, 2016, 10:47:27 AM6/3/16

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In article <nirpcf$6i7$1...@dont-email.me>, YTC#1

<b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> writes:

> On 03/06/2016 11:32, mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
> > Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
> > Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
>
> No, and I doubt you worked there either, as you can't spell the bike
> name correctly

90% of guitarists and bassists who own Squiers can't spell the name
correctly. Mind you, the ones who don't own them can spell it, so
perhaps that just says something about the IQs of Squier owners.

--
Mike Fleming
Coitum volantum non dono

Champ

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Jun 3, 2016, 11:37:25 AM6/3/16

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On Fri, 3 Jun 2016 12:06:00 -0000 (UTC), "Krusty"
<dontw...@nowhere.invalid> wrote:

>mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
>> Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
>

>I always ask the question when this happens as I'm genuinely
>interested, but never get a reply. I'll keep on trying though: why are
>you responding to a 14 year old post, & how did you find that post in
>the first place?

14 year old? No - it looks to me like th original was from May 29,
2014 and therefore 2 years old.

Your question still stands, of course

YTC#1

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Jun 3, 2016, 2:11:21 PM6/3/16

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Whoosh

YTC#1

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Jun 3, 2016, 2:12:26 PM6/3/16

to

On 03/06/2016 13:06, Krusty wrote:

> mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
>> Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
>

> I always ask the question when this happens as I'm genuinely
> interested, but never get a reply. I'll keep on trying though: why are
> you responding to a 14 year old post, & how did you find that post in
> the first place?
>

I apologise, I didn't read all the headers correctly

Mike Fleming

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Jun 3, 2016, 2:58:40 PM6/3/16

to

In article <nish88$t35$1...@dont-email.me>, YTC#1

<b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> writes:

> On 03/06/2016 15:47, Mike Fleming wrote:
> > In article <nirpcf$6i7$1...@dont-email.me>, YTC#1
> > <b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> writes:
> >
> >> On 03/06/2016 11:32, mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
> >>> Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
> >>> Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
> >>
> >> No, and I doubt you worked there either, as you can't spell the bike
> >> name correctly
> >
> > 90% of guitarists and bassists who own Squiers can't spell the name
> > correctly. Mind you, the ones who don't own them can spell it, so
> > perhaps that just says something about the IQs of Squier owners.
>
> Whoosh

I'm sorry, do I need to explain that more slowly?

Thomas

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Jun 3, 2016, 3:15:35 PM6/3/16

to

On Fri, 03 Jun 2016 11:58:31 -0700, Mike Fleming <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>
wrote:

I think what need to explain to a non-musician is that a Squier is a
knockoff.

ts

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Jun 3, 2016, 4:50:12 PM6/3/16

to

Krusty <dontw...@nowhere.invalid> wrote:

> That was the last post in the thread[1]. The original, & the post he
> replied to, was October 2002.

He probably googled for Comerfords, and was too happy to find a
discussion about that dealer to notice the age of the post. Which in
this case is less significant, since the thread was about a long gone
dealership. Can't see anything wrong with that.

Worse with replies to equally old threads like "where can I park for
free in Westminster".

--
ts // scrap vehicle to send e-mail
75/5, 80/7, K-RS 6v

Mike Fleming

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Jun 3, 2016, 4:53:59 PM6/3/16

to

In article <op.yihw37dbalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
writes:

No it isn't.

Squier is a brand owned by Fender and it's spelt Squier. Most of the
time, it gets spelt "Squire", including by people who are selling
their beloved instruments and only have to read it off the headstock.

YTC#1

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Jun 3, 2016, 5:41:48 PM6/3/16

to

On 03/06/2016 21:53, Mike Fleming wrote:
> In article <op.yihw37dbalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
> writes:
>
>> On Fri, 03 Jun 2016 11:58:31 -0700, Mike Fleming <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> In article <nish88$t35$1...@dont-email.me>, YTC#1
>>> <b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> writes:
>>>
>>>> On 03/06/2016 15:47, Mike Fleming wrote:
>>>>> In article <nirpcf$6i7$1...@dont-email.me>, YTC#1
>>>>> <b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> writes:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 03/06/2016 11:32, mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
>>>>>>> Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> No, and I doubt you worked there either, as you can't spell the bike
>>>>>> name correctly
>>>>>
>>>>> 90% of guitarists and bassists who own Squiers can't spell the name
>>>>> correctly. Mind you, the ones who don't own them can spell it, so
>>>>> perhaps that just says something about the IQs of Squier owners.
>>>>
>>>> Whoosh
>>>
>>> I'm sorry, do I need to explain that more slowly?
>>

Yes.

>> I think what need to explain to a non-musician is that a Squier is a
>> knockoff.
>
> No it isn't.
>
> Squier is a brand owned by Fender and it's spelt Squier. Most of the
> time, it gets spelt "Squire", including by people who are selling
> their beloved instruments and only have to read it off the headstock.
>

Ta.

Thomas

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Jun 3, 2016, 7:53:03 PM6/3/16

to

On Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:53:49 -0700, Mike Fleming <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>

OK, so it's not a knockoff, it's just a cheapo version of Fender brand
guitars. Same diff.

The Older Gentleman

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Jun 4, 2016, 2:57:00 AM6/4/16

to

Krusty <dontw...@nowhere.invalid> wrote:

> mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
>

> > Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
> > Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
>

> I always ask the question when this happens as I'm genuinely
> interested, but never get a reply. I'll keep on trying though: why are
> you responding to a 14 year old post, & how did you find that post in
> the first place?

Webfoot TV?

--
Ninja H2 Honda CB400 Four CD200 Suzuki TS250ERRx2 BMW R60/6
Kawasaki KH100 660 Tenere Street Triple Yamaha V75
More garages needed....
neil underscore murray at fastmail dot fm

Mike Fleming

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Jun 4, 2016, 6:59:20 AM6/4/16

to

In article <nistir$a2t$1...@dont-email.me>, YTC#1

<b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> writes:

> On 03/06/2016 21:53, Mike Fleming wrote:
> > In article <op.yihw37dbalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
> > writes:
> >
> >> On Fri, 03 Jun 2016 11:58:31 -0700, Mike Fleming <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> In article <nish88$t35$1...@dont-email.me>, YTC#1
> >>> <b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> writes:
> >>>
> >>>> On 03/06/2016 15:47, Mike Fleming wrote:
> >>>>> In article <nirpcf$6i7$1...@dont-email.me>, YTC#1
> >>>>> <b...@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> writes:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On 03/06/2016 11:32, mikenor...@gmail.com wrote:
> >>>>>>> Hi yea I worked there around 66/67 great place had a museum with a
> >>>>>>> Bruff Superior and some great trials riders. Good memories.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> No, and I doubt you worked there either, as you can't spell the bike
> >>>>>> name correctly
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 90% of guitarists and bassists who own Squiers can't spell the name
> >>>>> correctly. Mind you, the ones who don't own them can spell it, so
> >>>>> perhaps that just says something about the IQs of Squier owners.
> >>>>
> >>>> Whoosh
> >>>
> >>> I'm sorry, do I need to explain that more slowly?
> >>
>
> Yes.

Ah, that's OK, I was wondering whether I'd been whooshed or you had.

unread,

Jun 4, 2016, 2:44:35 PM6/4/16

to

On Sat, 04 Jun 2016 09:26:48 -0700, Mike Fleming <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>

wrote:

> In article <op.yii9gcmwalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
> writes:
>
>> On Sat, 04 Jun 2016 04:07:01 -0700, Mike Fleming <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > In article <op.yih9ynbpalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
>> > writes:
>> >
>> >> On Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:53:49 -0700, Mike Fleming
>> <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > In article <op.yihw37dbalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
>> >> > writes:
>> >> >
>> >> >> I think what need to explain to a non-musician is that a Squier
>> is a knockoff.
>> >> >
>> >> > No it isn't.
>> >> >
>> >> > Squier is a brand owned by Fender
>> >>
>> >> OK, so it's not a knockoff, it's just a cheapo version of Fender
>> brand guitars. Same diff.
>> >
>> > No it's not. It's far more complicated than that. Japanese-made
>> > Squiers are more desirable than made-in-Mexico Fenders, for example.
>>
>> Not over here, they're not. Mexican Strats are about twice the cost of a
>> Squier.
>
> A Japanese Squier?

Yes.

> Like I said, it gets complicated.

It really isn't.

From Squier's web page:
http://www.squierguitars.com/about/

"Squier is the launching pad for beginners"

"by 1982 the Squier name had resurfaced as a low-cost "value brand"
alternative"

"over the past 25 years, its main focus and most successful approach has
always been to be the "value brand" alternative to its big brother,
Fender."

Even MIM Fenders, which are played by many professionals and are far
better instruments.

YTC#1

unread,

Jun 4, 2016, 3:20:32 PM6/4/16

to

I'm always whooshed

YTC#1

unread,

Jun 4, 2016, 3:21:11 PM6/4/16

to

On 04/06/2016 12:07, Mike Fleming wrote:
> In article <op.yih9ynbpalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
> writes:
>
>> On Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:53:49 -0700, Mike Fleming <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> In article <op.yihw37dbalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
>>> writes:
>>>
>>>> I think what need to explain to a non-musician is that a Squier is a
>>>> knockoff.
>>>
>>> No it isn't.
>>>
>>> Squier is a brand owned by Fender
>>
>> OK, so it's not a knockoff, it's just a cheapo version of Fender brand
>> guitars. Same diff.
>
> No it's not. It's far more complicated than that. Japanese-made
> Squiers are more desirable than made-in-Mexico Fenders, for example.

How is it pronounced ?

YTC#1

unread,

Jun 4, 2016, 5:20:11 PM6/4/16

to

On 04/06/2016 20:26, Krusty wrote:

> YTC#1 wrote:
>
>> On 04/06/2016 12:07, Mike Fleming wrote:
>>> In article <op.yih9ynbpalskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>
>>> writes:
>>>>
>>>> OK, so it's not a knockoff, it's just a cheapo version of Fender
>> brand >> guitars. Same diff.
>>>
>>> No it's not. It's far more complicated than that. Japanese-made
>>> Squiers are more desirable than made-in-Mexico Fenders, for example.
>>
>> How is it pronounced ?
>

> Like sit but without the s.
>

Constantinople ?

Mike Fleming

unread,

Jun 5, 2016, 6:43:28 AM6/5/16

to

In article <op.yijqckyualskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>

You do know that Squiers haven't been made in Japan for decades, don't
you? Korean, Indonesian and Chinese Squiers aren't as highly valued.

> > Like I said, it gets complicated.
>
> It really isn't.
>
> From Squier's web page:
> http://www.squierguitars.com/about/
>
> "Squier is the launching pad for beginners"
>
> "by 1982 the Squier name had resurfaced as a low-cost "value brand"
> alternative"
>
> "over the past 25 years, its main focus and most successful approach has
> always been to be the "value brand" alternative to its big brother,
> Fender."
>
> Even MIM Fenders, which are played by many professionals and are far
> better instruments.

You really don't know much about Squiers, do you? Stick to drums.

Thomas

unread,

Jun 5, 2016, 9:05:45 AM6/5/16

to

On Sun, 05 Jun 2016 03:43:19 -0700, Mike Fleming <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk>

I only know what pros, dealers, and Squier themselves tell me:

"Squier is the launching pad for beginners, pointing intermediate and
advancing guitarists toward their ultimate goal—owning a Fender!"

If you paid as much for yours as any comparable Fender model, you were
hoodwinked.

Mike Fleming

unread,

Jun 5, 2016, 11:30:02 AM6/5/16

to

In article <op.yik5bshualskpa@tom-pc>, Thomas <xs...@xmail.com>

Then you know only a tiny part. Have you actually read anything of
what I've written? Japanese Squiers aren't made any more. The way to
compare desirability, therefore, is to look at the second-hand market,
where Japanses Squiers go for about twice the price of MIM Fenders.

> If you paid as much for yours as any comparable Fender model, you were
> hoodwinked.

Why on earth would I want to buy such dull crap as Fenders or Squiers?

wiff...@gmail.com

unread,

Mar 20, 2017, 3:54:38 AM3/20/17

to

I worked in motorcycle sales at Comerfords in Thames Ditton in the 60s safely its a Ford car distributor now. Do you remember Bert Thorne, Peter Wilson, Don Howlett as the main sales people. It was a pleasure to be able to ride bikes like the BSA Gold star up and down the Portsmouth road. Great memories.
Pete Ward.

ogden

unread,

Mar 20, 2017, 6:02:34 AM3/20/17

to

wiff...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> I worked in motorcycle sales at Comerfords in Thames Ditton in the 60s
> safely its a Ford car distributor now. Do you remember Bert Thorne,
> Peter Wilson, Don Howlett as the main sales people.

I'd have to ask my grandparents, but they're all dead.

--
ogden

boots

unread,

Mar 20, 2017, 7:33:52 AM3/20/17

to

On 20/03/17 15:54, wiff...@gmail.com wrote:
> I worked in motorcycle sales at Comerfords in Thames Ditton in the 60s safely its a Ford car distributor now. Do you remember Bert Thorne, Peter Wilson, Don Howlett as the main sales people. It was a pleasure to be able to ride bikes like the BSA Gold star up and down the Portsmouth road. Great memories.
> Pete Ward.
>

Zombie thread revival time, this one goes back to 2002

--
Ian

tony.pa...@btinternet.com

unread,

Dec 18, 2017, 10:23:22 AM12/18/17

to

On Saturday, 12 October 2002 13:12:37 UTC+1, MG wrote:
> Hi
>
> (A story of an older biker coming back to the fold...)
>
> Ahhh, October, and thoughts returning to me of when I was a
> bright-eyed 15 yr old despearte to get onto a moped and took the
> shittiest of saturday jobs to save religeously for a new Yamaha
> FS1E...
>
> My local dealers were Comerfords at Thames Ditton Surrey, (or a small
> place in Shepperton or Len somebody or other in Kingston...?) Anyone
> remember Comerfords though?
>
> Always made me laugh, on my log book DVLC had them down as
> Comes Loads...!
>
> Anyway, those countless Sundays spent cycling 12 miles just to press
> nose against window to oggle the rows of bikes (no Sunday trading
> then!) and to check out the bikers as they lined up to check each
> other out as they passed by the place...
>
> Got the old FS1E in Oct when (finally as after a lifetime) reached 16
> in 1974 (Blackcurrant metallic) £180 otr. Looked after it and sold it
> for £190 a year later - yes, £10 profit - and it was fully used it
> as I passed Moped test on it and carried loadsa mates about on back.
>
> Went on to a Yamaha RD200 Twin... £395.00 otr from same place. Blue,
> MkII decals. Wow, what a little burner... Loved it to bits and started
> to hunger then for an RD350... But in meantime, had to start full
> time work in Kingston (International Paint on Richmond Rd) and those
> cold and wet mornings stuck in Kingston traffic did me in. Started
> looking for a cheap Reliant Supervan III to use for commuting on bad
> weather days as could run off bike licence, (and keep bike) but they
> were silly money then - even if yonks old. In end, my Dad helped do a
> deal with the Honda Car side of 'Come Loads' and I bought a 30K miler,
> 1 yr old ex demo Honda Civic 1200 for £1050 and had to sell the RD200
> but got £365... to a bloke who wanted to tour Aus on it!
>
> 18 months later sold Civic £1200 and bought a new MGB Roadster -
> Black. Still have that but only 30k on clock as has been
> 'fairweatherd' off over the years. So the spirit of my Bikes is in my
> MG at least.
>
> But recently moved more rurally and was to get a little Suzuki 4x4,
> but with the markets down and low interest on my savings, having to
> postpone that and keep my late Father's old Citroen BX 120k+ miler a
> bit longer, But need to be more economic as further away from the town
> and the BX only does 27mpg... and spits expensive hydralic at every
> chance...
>
> Looked at electric bicycles and in search saw a Puch Maxi Super for
> £799 new and it got me looking at those scooters... led to considering
> an Indian Vespa import at £1049 (with gears!) but now seriously
> considering going off to buy a new Hysosung Cruise II at £1449 as they
> will not only accept it on a credit card but I can get 0% for 6 months
> on the card option too...
>
> So, back to the biking world albeit in moderation, but a 125 with a
> MPG of about 90 is better than walking/cycling or any scooter you
> could put in front of me... If only I had not got rid of all my gear
> over the years... or that lovely RD200
>
> Oh well, just a tale to hopefully keep you all amused...
>
> See you about sometime maybe?
>
> MG

I bought my Tanon inSept `955 engine always went well but bloody bikes brakes were a problem. nibble kept coming of the rear brake cable Glad to see it go at 17 bought my first Triumph tiger 100 then on to my pride and joy the wondeful thunderband. Wish I still had it Tony Payne

boots

unread,

Dec 18, 2017, 10:41:26 AM12/18/17

to

On 18/12/17 23:23, tony.pa...@btinternet.com wrote:
> On Saturday, 12 October 2002 13:12:37 UTC+1, MG wrote:
>> Hi

> I bought my Tanon inSept `955 engine always went well but bloody bikes
brakes were a problem. nibble kept coming of the rear brake cable Glad to see
it go at 17 bought my first Triumph tiger 100 then on to my pride and joy the
wondeful thunderband. Wish I still had it Tony Payne
>

WTF the thread that doesn't die, last resurrected a year ago.

--
Ian

Brownz (via Gurgle Gruppez)

unread,

Dec 20, 2017, 4:55:08 AM12/20/17

to

.... and so it should be.

Old threads never die, they just archive.

I wonder if the OP is dead ?

tonyj...@gmail.com

unread,

May 26, 2018, 5:33:04 PM5/26/18

to

You are going back some. Used to pass their plAce every day going to school in Kingston. Long story short via Canada to South Carolina. Used to have a BSA Bantam as a teen and tear up the blacktop to Esher

Tony Lilley
Easley, South Carolina

boots

unread,

May 26, 2018, 9:55:44 PM5/26/18

to

On 27/05/18 05:33, tonyj...@gmail.com wrote:
> You are going back some. Used to pass their plAce every day going to school in Kingston. Long story short via Canada to South Carolina. Used to have a BSA Bantam as a teen and tear up the blacktop to Esher

Bloody hell the thread that will not die, hello and welcome to 2002 again and
again and again...

--
Ian

"Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of
the last priest"

ogden

unread,

May 27, 2018, 4:35:04 AM5/27/18

to

boots wrote:
> Bloody hell the thread that will not die, hello and welcome to 2002 again and
> again and again...

It won't die until the nostalgic old gimmers do too.

unread,

May 29, 2018, 9:34:31 AM5/29/18

to

On 28/05/2018 14:57, The Older Gentleman wrote:
> Mike Headon <po...@YCKMHWA.com> wrote:
>
>> es, I contributed to this thread the last time round. I am a nostalgic
>> old gimmer for sure - combined age of bike and rider 130.
>
> That'll be the R850R you'll be talking about, then.
>

Ehh? You'll have to speak up! I'm 110, you know.
In fact, the oilhead will be VMCC eligible in 5 years.

timt...@gmail.com

unread,

Aug 9, 2019, 9:14:23 AM8/9/19

to

Sup' Bitches

goggl...@hotmail.com

unread,

Apr 9, 2020, 7:07:10 AM4/9/20

to

I bought an AJS trials bike from them in 1970. I actually used it as a road bike to ride from Farnham in Surrey to Chertsey, where I was a fireman. I loved The Bultaco TSS350 they had on display. I think it was the same one I bought from a well known "dodgy dealer" and raced many years later. I swapped the AJS for a Triumph Formula Cub race bike in 1971 to a man from Cambourne called Lloyd Watson.

Reg and Mo Bull

unread,

Oct 13, 2020, 3:11:44 PM10/13/20

to

On Thursday, 9 April 2020 at 12:07:10 UTC+1, goggl...@hotmail.com wrote:
> I bought an AJS trials bike from them in 1970. I actually used it as a road bike to ride from Farnham in Surrey to Chertsey, where I was a fireman. I loved The Bultaco TSS350 they had on display. I think it was the same one I bought from a well known "dodgy dealer" and raced many years later. I swapped the AJS for a Triumph Formula Cub race bike in 1971 to a man from Cambourne called Lloyd Watson.

I well remember Comerfords having worked in Thames Ditton in 1957. I bought my third motorbike from Comerfords a Norton Dominator then eventually part exchanged it for an Issetta "bubble car" brightly coloured yellow.

Turby

unread,

Oct 13, 2020, 5:04:36 PM10/13/20

to

On 10/13/2020 12:11 PM, Reg and Mo Bull wrote:

> I well remember Comerfords having worked in Thames Ditton in 1957.

Jeezus, you're old. I didn't gt my first job til at least 1961.

--
The erstwhile Thomas
FJR1300, R1200GS, ST1100 (in memorium)

Mark Olson

unread,

Oct 13, 2020, 7:10:53 PM10/13/20

to

Turby <xs...@xmail.com> wrote:
> On 10/13/2020 12:11 PM, Reg and Mo Bull wrote:
>
>> I well remember Comerfords having worked in Thames Ditton in 1957.
>
> Jeezus, you're old. I didn't gt my first job til at least 1961.

I was born in 1957, so both of you are definitely old farts to me.

--
FJR1300A, GL1000, KLR650A6F, EX250J9A, Vespa Ciao

wessie

unread,

Oct 13, 2020, 7:16:29 PM10/13/20

to

Mark Olson <ols...@tiny.invalid> wrote in news:rm5c5r$d7r$1...@dont-email.me:

> Turby <xs...@xmail.com> wrote:
>> On 10/13/2020 12:11 PM, Reg and Mo Bull wrote:
>>
>>> I well remember Comerfords having worked in Thames Ditton in 1957.
>>
>> Jeezus, you're old. I didn't gt my first job til at least 1961.
>
> I was born in 1957, so both of you are definitely old farts to me.
>

oh, look, a duffer off

Gyp

unread,

Oct 14, 2020, 2:30:57 AM10/14/20

to

Has UKRM started to smell of wee?

--
Gyp

boots

unread,

Oct 14, 2020, 2:49:23 AM10/14/20

to

On 14/10/2020 14:30 Gyp penned these words:

> On 14/10/2020 00:16, wessie wrote:
>> Mark Olson <ols...@tiny.invalid> wrote in news:rm5c5r$d7r$1...@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> Turby <xs...@xmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On 10/13/2020 12:11 PM, Reg and Mo Bull wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I well remember Comerfords having worked in Thames Ditton in 1957.
>>>>
>>>> Jeezus, you're old. I didn't gt my first job til at least 1961.
>>>
>>> I was born in 1957, so both of you are definitely old farts to me.
>>>
>>
>> oh, look, a duffer off
>>
> Has UKRM started to smell of wee?
>

When did it stop?

Mike Fleming

unread,

Oct 14, 2020, 3:36:51 AM10/14/20

to

In article <rm5c5r$d7r$1...@dont-email.me>, Mark Olson

<ols...@tiny.invalid> writes:

> Turby <xs...@xmail.com> wrote:
> > On 10/13/2020 12:11 PM, Reg and Mo Bull wrote:
> >
> >> I well remember Comerfords having worked in Thames Ditton in 1957.
> >
> > Jeezus, you're old. I didn't gt my first job til at least 1961.
>
> I was born in 1957, so both of you are definitely old farts to me.

It was a good year for births.

--
Mike Fleming Coitum volantum non dono

Quantum ille canis est in fenestra? - molesworth

Eddie

unread,

Oct 14, 2020, 3:57:23 AM10/14/20

to

On 14/10/2020 07:49, boots wrote:
> On 14/10/2020 14:30 Gyp penned these words:
>> On 14/10/2020 00:16, wessie wrote:
>>>
>>> oh, look, a duffer off
>>>
>> Has UKRM started to smell of wee?
>>
> When did it stop?

About the time Auvache died, I think.

--
Eddie
ed...@deguello.org

YTC#1

unread,

Oct 14, 2020, 4:45:55 AM10/14/20

to

On 14/10/2020 08:57, Eddie wrote:
> On 14/10/2020 07:49, boots wrote:
>> On 14/10/2020 14:30 Gyp penned these words:
>>> On 14/10/2020 00:16, wessie wrote:
>>>>
>>>> oh, look, a duffer off
>>>>
>>> Has UKRM started to smell of wee?
>>>
>> When did it stop?
>
> About the time Auvache died, I think.
>

Harsh , but ....

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

Stephen Packer

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Oct 14, 2020, 7:49:46 AM10/14/20

to

On Wednesday, 14 October 2020 at 08:57:23 UTC+1, Eddie wrote:
> On 14/10/2020 07:49, boots wrote:
> > On 14/10/2020 14:30 Gyp penned these words:
> >> On 14/10/2020 00:16, wessie wrote:
> >>>
> >>> oh, look, a duffer off
> >>>
> >> Has UKRM started to smell of wee?
> >>
> > When did it stop?
> About the time Auvache died, I think.

Only a minor respite.

The stench of urine has been increasing over the last five years.

WUN

unread,

Oct 14, 2020, 11:25:26 AM10/14/20

to

On Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 8:57:23 AM UTC+1, Eddie wrote:
> On 14/10/2020 07:49, boots wrote:
> > On 14/10/2020 14:30 Gyp penned these words:
> >> On 14/10/2020 00:16, wessie wrote:
> >>>
> >>> oh, look, a duffer off
> >>>
> >> Has UKRM started to smell of wee?
> >>
> > When did it stop?
> About the time Auvache died, I think.

Fucking hell, that was over seven years ago!

--
WUN

Kevin

unread,

Oct 14, 2020, 12:14:17 PM10/14/20

to

On 14/10/2020 16:25, WUN wrote:

>> About the time Auvache died, I think.
>
> Fucking hell, that was over seven years ago!

Time flies.

I'd had a couple of exchanges with Steve on here but hardly knew him at
all. I'm still trying to work out how I, and a couple of other other
UKRM reprobates, ended up carrying him in to the crematorium.

I remember one of us got out of it by pleading a bad back and I should
have said the same as I do have a bad back and he was heavy!

--
Kevin

1250 GSA, S10,Dyna Super Glide, FJ12
http://thewellers.net/

Ben Blaney

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Oct 14, 2020, 12:17:29 PM10/14/20

to

I still miss the silly old fucker. I think of him every time I eat dates. He absolutely loved them. When I was living in the ME, I bought a load of dates for him and delivered them when I next visited the UK. We sat in his uncarpeted living room, looking out on the partially-dismantled Bedford van that he wanted to turn into a trike, drank tea and ate dates and talked. It was a really nice way to spend an hour.

Ben Blaney

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Oct 14, 2020, 12:27:56 PM10/14/20

to

On Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 12:14:17 PM UTC-4, Kevin wrote:

> I'd had a couple of exchanges with Steve on here but hardly knew him at
> all. I'm still trying to work out how I, and a couple of other other
> UKRM reprobates, ended up carrying him in to the crematorium.

Thanks for doing that. I wasn't able to get to his funeral.

> I remember one of us got out of it by pleading a bad back and I should
> have said the same as I do have a bad back and he was heavy!

Blimey, he must have packed on weight then, because last time I saw him he was about 8 stone, I'd guess. Not notably tall, was Steve, and he was proud of his svelte physique (he posted many times about how the women of the world were in awe of his magnificent posterior).

Truth is, coffins are heavy.

unread,

Oct 15, 2020, 7:41:49 AM10/15/20

to

Mark Olson <ols...@tiny.invalid> wrote in news:rm9c2c$804$1...@dont-email.me:

> The Older Gentleman <totallyde...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> Mark Olson <ols...@tiny.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>> I was born in 1957, so both of you are definitely old farts to me.
>>
>> I'm younger than Olson![1]
>>
>> *Proud*.
>>
>> [1] But then, most people are, I now realise.
>
> Got me thinking about the global median age. I've been older than
> that since about 1979-1980 or so.
>
> About all I can truly say about aging is that I suppose it beats the
> alternative of not getting older.
>

up to a point...

YTC#1

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Oct 15, 2020, 10:01:51 AM10/15/20

to

On 15/10/2020 09:42, The Older Gentleman wrote:
> Ben Blaney <benb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Truth is, coffins are heavy.
>
> I help carry a friend's a few years ago. Crem. He'd stipulated a basket
> weave one, for which we were all profoundly grateful.

I've done 3.
And I was shocked at how light they where.
Especially my dad's.

So I can only assume someone is dumping lead in everyone elses.

>
> Coffins and crems: many present here will know Niall Rowan, and that
> he's a pro fire tester.
>
> Anyway, he once had to fire test a coffin designed for crems. All the
> handles and fripperies are made of plastics and the like, painted to
> look like brass and other metals, and the test was to make certain they
> don't give off too much (or any) toxic fumes when they burn.
>
> So the test was duly done, the fumes measured, and Niall submitted a
> report (it passed!) to the coffin maker, detailing so many ppm of CO2,
> so many ppm of soot, so many ppm of other gases, etc etc, and got a call
> from the coffin maker asking what 'ppm' meant.
>
> "Parts per million," replied Niall, smoothly.
>
> "Oh!" quoth the coffin maker. "I thought it stood for 'Parts Per Man'."
>

Sexist undertaker.

Pipl

unread,

Oct 15, 2020, 11:05:29 AM10/15/20

to

On Thu, 15 Oct 2020 09:42:13 +0100, totallyde...@yahoo.co.uk
(The Older Gentleman) wrote:

>Ben Blaney <benb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Truth is, coffins are heavy.
>
>I help carry a friend's a few years ago. Crem. He'd stipulated a basket
>weave one, for which we were all profoundly grateful.

So long as the corpse doesn't drip...

--

-Pip

Alan

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Oct 15, 2020, 11:25:13 AM10/15/20

to

But, it would have been so funny.

Stephen Packer

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Oct 15, 2020, 12:07:00 PM10/15/20

to

My grandfather, allegedly, used to help an undertaker from time to time
when he was a young man. On one occasion there was a corpse to
move from a bedroom, down a narrow spiral staircase. After a little
thought the conclusion was that the only way to move in the confined
space was slung over my grandfather's shoulder.

As my grandfather carried the corpse down the stairs... the corpse
farted. My grandfather's view was 'if he had enough life to do that,
the dirty bugger had enough life to walk down the stairs on his own'.

In his youth my grandfather was a motorcyclist having owned at least
Rudge and Douglas models (at least these are the ones I've a memory
of him talking about).

unread,

Oct 15, 2020, 3:58:11 PM10/15/20

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And now I'm put in mind of this
http://champ.org.uk/images/Shobba/He%20was%20a%20life%20long%20rallyist.jpg

Mike Headon

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Oct 15, 2020, 3:59:34 PM10/15/20

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I recounted my Comerfords experience in this learned forum several years
ago, and I am not going to risk the (perfectly justified) accusation of
sentimental-old-gimmerdom by repeating it.
I will, however, admit to having helped to bear my mother-in-law's
coffin. And, to forestall the clever remarks, I can assure you all that
she was a lovely person, admired by all who knew her.

--
Mike Headon
R69S R850R
IIIc IIIg FT FTn FT2 EOS450D
e-mail: mike dot headon at enn tee ell world dot com

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petrolcan

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Oct 15, 2020, 8:36:53 PM10/15/20

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In article <hurg00...@mid.individual.net>, siwilson says...

>
> On 14/10/2020 17:17, Ben Blaney wrote:

> > I still miss the silly old fucker. I think of him every time I eat dates.
> He absolutely loved them. When I was living in the ME, I bought a
> load of dates for him and delivered them when I next visited the UK.
> We sat in his uncarpeted living room, looking out on the partially-
> dismantled Bedford van that he wanted to turn into a trike, drank tea
> and ate dates and talked. It was a really nice way to spend an hour.
> >
> Strawberries for me. His description of picking one in the garden and
> eating it was wonderful.
>
> I never met him irl.

I had the pleasure a few times.

He was just one of those people you could spend time with regardless of
how much shite he was spouting because he did it in such a wonderful
way.

boots

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Oct 15, 2020, 10:36:14 PM10/15/20

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On 16/10/2020 02:14 Turby penned these words:

> I had a buddy in the army whose family owned a mortuary. The prep room
> was in the basement. He talked about being down there alone, working on
> a body, when the corpse on the next table would suddenly sit up.
> Apparently, bodies that have been in a contorted position for a while
> are difficult to keep supine. That alone would keep me out of the
> profession.

When I first went to work for what was the Post Office Telephones one of the
guys had an apprentice with him. The usual score was once you were sure they
were at least 1/2 competent was send them off to do jobs on their own and to
call for help if they struggles. They were at the hospital and the apprentice
was duly dispatched to sort out a problem on the extension in the mortuary and
given directions of the the long way to get there. They guy training him then
rushed there by a shorter route so he could be on a trolley under a sheet. How
the fuck he didn't give the apprentice a heart attack...

--
Ian

"Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of
the last priest"