Busy Life

Life in the past few months has been very busy. Commuting to the new work place takes best part of 3 hours every day. But the good thing is that I get over an hour and half of quality reading time on the train. The power walks between station and office offers me the chance to burn my calories (still not burning enough).

This summer has truly been unbelievable. Certainly couldn't have asked for a much better weather. Most of the weekends have been spent burning fuel to clock endless miles on my Beemer and Gixxer Thou. It's been almost a year since I brought my Gixxer Thou home. It's a gem of a beauty. Taking it for a spin on some of the country roads is a pleasure and joy. It's a shame that I can't take my bike to the places I love the most, The Highlands, Borders and North Wales, as they are all at impractical distance to cover and tour over an extended weekend. Never mind.

Beemer has been great. When I bought it a few months ago never did I imagine that I'd be doing so many miles. At my current mileage rate, I'm certain that the car insurance got to get amended not in the distant future. I've sort of grown into my car and am already thinking about my next one.

I've not had a proper holiday so far this year. Though I've been enjoying the weekends it's the short breaks that I've been missing dearly. I've planned a short break to one of my favourite locations. Every evening is being spent in planning for this break. I just can't wait for it.

Life is fun and I'm having every bit of it.

Good Biking Roads in Essex

B172: Located in Essex, this road albeit a very short one,  offers some decent corners/apex for motorcycling. All the turns are free-flowing and can be taken at the legal speed limit. Visibility is good as well. Traffic could be a problem on nice sunny days.  National speed limit applies unless a different speed limit is signposted.



View Good Biking Roads in Essex  - B172 in a larger map




A113: Located in Essex, Abridge to Chipping Ongar is a good biking road. The route is not demanding but can be fun, has good visibility and the traffic may not be heavy. National speed limit applies unless a different speed limit is signposted.

View Good Biking Roads in Essex - A113 in a larger map

Car driving test

It's been almost a decade since I came to the UK and it's been over 9 years since I received my Learner license. In all these years I've never felt missing a car or the urge to take my car driving test. The only time I was seriously preparing for the car driving test was after my marriage. After failing the test with 3 minors and 1 major (left reverse round the corner - went wider than is allowed in a narrow side road), I lost the drive to retry. It's not that I can't drive or something, if I've survived driving in India on city/highway roads then I certainly can drive in real life situations.

With my photo license due for renewal in the next few months, I wanted to give one final try. I contacted my bike instructor and booked classes through 1 Stop Instruction. The problem with me was my comfort in driving as an experienced driver. It took me some time to act like a learner driver. I can tell that it is not easy at all to act like a learner driver. I just wanted to prove the test examiner that I can safely drive a car and no more silly excuses from my end. I took the test in Barking, statistically the worst place to take your car driving test. I've to admit that in some ways I was lucky with the test. There was unusually heavy traffic and it was school holiday time. Due to the traffic we ended up in a "dead-end" road, did a reverse parking and turn in the road and I was back at the test centre after doing a few side roads. I was told I had passed the test with 5 minors - two for undue hesitation, one for dropping a wheel on a pothole and one for gear change (whatever that means), one for slow driving.

After the test, the examiner asked me what motorcycle I'd (after seeing my pink license). I told him that I ride a Gixxer Thou. He was sort of amazed and said "I'm sure you don't drive/ride like you did today". I imagine I've done my best to "impress" him. So there you go, I've proved a test examiner that I can drive safely in the UK.