[johnnyrvf]

Hi Tom, I passed my IAM teat 10 years back but I dont wear a day-glo vest..... my worst accident was when I was 18 (1975) when I lobbed a Trton up the road, my fault entirely. I had support from my parents and find it hard to imagine being ostracised by family members for an road accident....... I now live in France and was recently married but have been part of this family since '05, I have had two get offs, both on oil both at track days both on old Triumph Triples the 1st year '06 I bashed the side of my knee but it was all the protection which minimised the injuries and was back riding on a circuit 3 weeks later ( I fell of a good friends bike ) on my Triumph . The following year I went down again, but high sided and broke my shoulder blade, it fortunately healed quickly but the muscles and tendons are taking longer.........the point of this is that at NO time were family or Friends unsupportive or distant; I think that the U.K. has always suffered from a lack of warmth and this is especially apparent when looking in from the outside after being immersed in a different culture. Keep riding, 'cos you will never please your dearly beloveds by bending to their narrow minded snobbery.