Hello all.

My leg is better so my friend Emily (Growler's mate's g/f) and me have been looking at a new car for each like I posted earlier. He made us do it as a project. It's down to the Honda City and a Ford Lynx again like I got already (Mazda-based car I know it is but the Ford saleslady doesn't like to agree! She says it's got Ford on the engine which is true but she doesn't know I read HJ's reviews! Glad I do!)

Lynx is a lot of car for the money. Very nice inside (Ghia), got moonroof, spotlights and a nice sound system. Nice shape, doesn't look like an old bus like the Corolla and the Civic. Anyway both those outside the budget. Leather also. Got those clear tail lights. If we buy two they won't give discount but they said one year's free reg and comp insurance and free breakdown on each plus a free first aid kit , a crooklock thing and a Ford umbrella! (Useful now it's gonna rain for the next 5 months!). G he made me list everything on an xls spreadsheet. I thought bit of a PITA but when I'd done it I saw where he comes from. Honda City is also nice but a bit ordinary, it's the same price but no leather. Also not so much room inside. We didn't like it plus the sales assistant treated us like stupid women. Bit dumb for 2 cash buyers? Might look like silly girls maybe but take the trouble to find out. Well he lost his commission.

Lynx comes out at US$14,679 on the road. Pay in USD not Pesos and you get a better price maybe +/- 2%.

Not much trade in on my old (2001) Lynx though. G says sell it privately. It has been very reliable and Ford service here is really good. Like when the service is due they call and remind you and pick it up from your house and deliver it back, then they call up after 2 or 3 days and ask is everything OK.

G he got a black metallic Lynx with grey leather also last September so I think I'll go for it too. Emily she wants a white one, but they said 6 weeks from the factory. They got a metallic maroon in stock I said why not that. She said maybe but not black it's the devil's color. Well she's from the province so what to do ?! :+)

Now this is the stupid part about the Philippines. It always takes 6-7 weeks to get your number plates from the LTO. That was OK provided you drove around with your registration papers in the car. You got a thing called a conduction sticker to show your registration was being done. Now with all the security (election, terrorist etc) cars without license plates are banned from driving. So you have this new car and nowhere to go in it,

G he knows a couple of big cheeses in the City Hall, says he can get a letter from Mayor's office saying car is on government business not to delay. Costs him a bottle of Tanduay Rum and a box of Tabacaleros famous Filipino cigars). Of course you dont give that in the office, you meet in the pub later! What a country! Love it or leave it he always says but I know he won't leave it.

Good news, my Harley Sportster is on the Evergreen ship to Taiwan from Oakland CA. (home of Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels hehe). I got the bill of lading copy. Its in pieces so can be declared as spare parts. Less duty. It's an '02 one. Big Dadi he said 883 cc not enough power for safe riding so he got a 1200 for me. Not so heavy like the Fatboys and Heritage models and I'm a girl not so strong. Red metallic. Ken our Kiwi mechanic will assemble it and test it and fiddle the reg papers with the LTO thru his contacts to get it legal. Definitely I will post some pix. I'm very excited about having a proper bike after my little Virago. I took my training class also a few months back, he made that a condition.

He wont like me to say this but his big all-dancing 69 Mustang he made so much bola-bola about is in the shop waiting for transmission parts from the USA. Been hot-rodded on the airbase drag meet on Sundays too much by the retired Nam vets here and some stuff burnt out, I don't know what, convertor or something. I told him when he bought it but he never listens .That man, suss maria osep! Now he's looking at an orange '73 Camaro, truly I don't know what to do with him, where we gonna put it: 3 bikes, 4 cars?

But we did have a good summer riding out. Us girls and our crazy men. Youngest is 53 oldest is him - not saying(!) When those HD's fire up on their open pipes one after the other you can feel your whole body reacting. Like a drug. So happy all of us together, we're so lucky. Such beautiful places to see here in the RP, I saw nothing of my own country till these guys showed up .Real gentlemen, really. They do ride hard but they always know what they're doing. We've been to places you can't even find on the map. And so much Jack Daniels they drink my goodness. But never before a ride of course, it's military discipline before we ride off, they all have a military background anyway. Makes us feel safe. And so much better on a m/cycle than in a car. Plus I've learned to ride now and I'm not scared anymore. Even counter-steering! That was a scary one.

Rain now for 5 months so local bar-hopping round the city only for riding, that's it. Manila has so many great bars/pubs/music/girls. Billyboys also (;+))

Drive safely please all, horrid accident on the A23. He used to do that road every day to Brighton he said, lived in Hassocks (Semley Rd), said it has always been dangerous.

I go to church every morning and I always say a small prayer for the BR and all our many friends worldwide.

God bless.

Cathy. Read more

Had anyone come across the rear wheel locking up on a 1994 106 XT petrol. ( not both wheels, just the passenger side rear wheel). Some issue with the brake cable or shoes...I am wondering if the shoe(s) is worn out and is out of place or something or that the insides could just need lubricating.... What I need to know is how to take the dam drum off !!!! is there an adjustment mechnism that will release the tension on the shoes to allow me to take the drum off , and if so where is it ? I was also wondering if it could be one of the brake cables causing it ( been told that there are 2 brake cables for these cars ). any advice would be highly appreciated .... The other Wheel is fine...... Read more