Longrider

This article in the Telegraph triggered all sorts of memories. Classic bikes have always had an appeal for me - I grew up when the old British “thumper” was still a regular sight on our roads. My father had a series of single-cylinder British bikes during the years that I was a child - the earliest that I recall was the Norton 600, followed by the P&M Panther. Prior to that, there was a 350 Royal Enfield and a BSA C12.

When I wanted a bike in the summer of 1975, the year I turned 17, Dad decided that an old British bike rather than one of the modern Japanese imports would be more suitable. Simpler in design, it would give me an education on how it worked so that I could learn to repair it when things went wrong. There was a logic in his approach and my first bike was a BSA C15 SS. It was, unfortunately, a wreck, so those things that went wrong were inevitable. Worn out main bearings when I bought it were the least of my problems. The big end bearing failed dramatically in a plume of smoke and an ominous grinding noise taking with it the piston and cylinder requiring a resleeve. The electrics were dire, failing completely on one occasion causing me to crawl home in virtual darkness. Things shook off it regularly. Passing my test meant that I could get something bigger (and better). I bought an Ariel NH 350 Red Hunter. One of the last of its kind, it was typical of the old pre-unit British motorcycles built to the old quality before the rush to beat the Japanese at their own game brought about the decline in quality that the BSA suffered. The Ariel was dependable and robust. Over a period of about a year, I spent time and money restoring it to its former glory. A state I enjoyed for a couple of weeks before some thieving scumbag stole it.

A brief encounter with an Ariel Arrow in similar condition to that of my erstwhile BSA while I awaited the insurance payout convinced me that a new bike was a better proposition. I bought a Laverda and haven’t looked back.

I still enjoy the sights and sounds of those old classic bikes, but these days I’m happy to ride my modern BMW.

This piece of "news" comes as no surprise to me. After all when Michael Howard was Home Secretary, he proposed a similar scheme. The only thing I suspect that is sticking in his throat is that it is a Labour government that is showing signs of succeeding where he failed.

He said that the police had said ID cards could:

"help them foil a terror bomb plot in which people could lose their lives. When the police say that you have to take them seriously".

How many times will this tired and discredited argument be trotted out by buffoons who believe their own rhetoric?

ID cards do not prevent terrorism. Identity of the perpetrators is not the issue - intent is. ID cards are a solution looking for a problem. Mr Howard has just confirmed his utter unsuitablity for high office - well, from his last performance, we knew that already….

This story is also covered over at the UK ID Card Blog

I’ll be less prolific during the next couple of weeks - ‘cos I’ll be Here:

Mostly, I will be painting and decorating.

According to a UGOV poll, younger people are ignorant of the basics of Christianity. Well, I won’t claim any surprise - standards of education in the UK have been declining for a couple of decades. Yes, despite government claims to the contrary, obtaining basic educational qualifications today is easier than when I did mine. At least my generation learned the basics of grammar - English and foreign languages. Conversational French is all very well, but a true understanding of a language is underpinned by an understanding of its grammar and it is a good idea to start with one’s own.

I digress - this was about Christianity. What amuses me is the Church leaders’ disappointment at an increasingly secular society in the UK. Don’t they realise that this is a good thing? Obviously not. True religious tolerance is built upon an acceptance of each individual’s right to practice whatever belief system they choose. This will only happen in a truly secular system. There is no place for a theocracy (and the Christian church has demonstrated what it can do when that happens - the inquisitions anybody?) in a modern liberal democracy. No, true tolerance means that everybody has the right to express their religious views free from oppression or sanction by the “state” religion - and that includes the right of non-believers to criticise, satirise and ridicule if they see fit.

So while Church leaders are concerned that Britain can no longer be described as a Christian country, I am content.

David Blunkett finally succumbed to the inevitable this evening and resigned. So departs one of the worst Home Secretaries in living memory. For those of us determined to fight his nasty authoritarian regime, it is merely a brief respite. After all, we know not who will replace him. The government has set out its stall and doubtless will still try to deliver. There is always the hope that Blunkett’s replacement will not have the stomach for some of the more extreme measures and will prioritise them so that they slip quietly off the parliamentary timetable - we can but hope.

On a personal level, I am not a vindictive person and feel just a little sorry for David Blunkett, the man. I am inclined to believe his protestations of innocence. His biggest mistake was to forget who his friends were.