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Post by masonmart on Dec 10, 2023 13:19:22 GMT 1
An interesting year, my 73rd, and one which has seen some amazing new developments for me. The 2 stroke Japanese bike resto (YPVS F1/LC2) was a leap into the unknown, a new world after British bikes. A fantastic experience and a fantastic community but my first exposure to people who would sell 4 boxes of trash (OK, my own fault) as a going machine and not a clue about what the bike actually was. Lots of parts sellers who are pretty low on the integrity side too. On the other hand of course there are many, especially on here who are real enthusiasts and great people. I’ve progressed slowly to almost completion just needing to wire in the Ignitech CDI and repair yet another cylinder stud. I’ve learned massively and done things that I would have paid to have done and I think that the bike will be great. Many thanks to all those who have kindly helped me via this excellent site. The other amazing things in this year of my life just to bore you but were amazing for me. I sold my boat and won’t sail again for the first time in over 50 years; I stopped drinking after having become a serious alchie; I’m putting my Porsche up for sale so no more prime cars and I’m in the process of running down my bike collections which I hope to complete in the next year in the life. I’m in Malaysia now until April and can’t work on my bike but here’s hoping you all have great next years in your particular lifes.  |
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Post by headcoats on Dec 10, 2023 15:16:27 GMT 1
Pretty much mirrors my life
Apart from none of it LOL
All the best old pal 👍
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Post by steve h on Dec 11, 2023 0:10:55 GMT 1
Giving up the sauce after being an "alchie"....  The rest should be a piece of piss!  |
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Post by masonmart on Dec 11, 2023 2:28:51 GMT 1
My biggest regret now over many years was never getting into the YPVS. They are a great bike and a true classic but I was out of UK biking for many years from the late 70's working abroad and when I was eventually born again, biking had moved on from small to middleweight 2T's to 4T muscle bikes. Classics for me were only bikes from the late 60's that I had lusted after but had no chance of affording. I'm for sure a little bit late getting into the YPVS but better late than never. My plan now is, when I finish my current one, to use it on the road and do another now I've had a practice. Maybe even a better biking year than this one.
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Post by veg on Dec 11, 2023 8:29:59 GMT 1
Gave up drinking over two years ago one of the best things I ever did. I now get to enjoy myself without a hangover, get to spend time doing what I love without having to make excuses. Hope you manage to stick at it. 👍
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Post by masonmart on Dec 11, 2023 11:02:08 GMT 1
Well done Veg, hopefully we can both keep it up. You ever get the taste for it or are you OK now?
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Post by tony2stroke on Dec 11, 2023 13:27:44 GMT 1
Well done Veg, hopefully we can both keep it up. You ever get the taste for it or are you OK now? If it's not too personal, can I ask what made you stop drinking, was it your choice or decided for you, ie family, health, money ect, or you just decided to stop. No need to go into detail, decided for you or your choice will do, just wondering. |
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Post by masonmart on Dec 12, 2023 7:50:45 GMT 1
Well done Veg, hopefully we can both keep it up. You ever get the taste for it or are you OK now? If it's not too personal, can I ask what made you stop drinking, was it your choice or decided for you, ie family, health, money ect, or you just decided to stop. No need to go into detail, decided for you or your choice will do, just wondering. Don't mind telling you, maybe I can help others who may get into the same situation. Started with putting lots of weight on, Blood Pressure shot up, developed Atrial Fibrilation (heart Arhythmia), had some bad falls from heart stopping and had to have a pacemaker installed, developed fatty liver pushing cirrhosis which caused bad skin problems and I was a mess. Not drinking is just amazing, get up every morning feeling good, BP down from 172 to consistently < 130, weight coming down. heart completely normal. Up until 15 years ago I was still running and fit as a butchers pup but lost it. Looked like it was the end really and then - I stopped. Completely cold turkey, no AA. I'm an atheist but if I believed in God I would thank him for the wonderful gift. If anybody asked me for one reason to drink, one positive thing, I would say there isn't one. To not drink? I could write a book. Sorry to bore you all but I have to say that one of the massive benefits of stopping is that I now wake up early and with a clear head and have managed to make great progress on my YPVS resto and hope to find another but that is next year now. . |
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Post by tony2stroke on Dec 12, 2023 10:02:20 GMT 1
Sounds like you turned things round just in time, well done!
A Hart attack 2 years ago was my wake up call, same as you, I just stopped, 4 days in hospital without any alcohol was the start, when I got home I just didn't want it anymore, 2 years in now, and I do sometimes think on a sunny day when I see people with a pint outside a pub, that would be nice, but I know it's just too risky to have even 1, as I did stop before as I was also alcoholic, again after a 10 day stay in hospital as I had caught TB of all things, 18 months off alcohol whilst on antibiotics as I know they work better without alcohol, don't know why I started again, I suppose I thought I could control it, you can't, it soon creeps back up to every day with more and more needed, as you say, I can't think of any good reason to drink again, but I can think of many not to.
Good luck and stay positive, we will all get cravings now and then, addiction is a terrible thing, and no addict wants to be addicted, you just want to enjoy a bit now and then, but that is just not possible once you have crossed the line into addiction, the only way is total abstinence, but I am sure you already know that, I wish you all the best in the future and keep my fingers crossed that you don't weaken.
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Post by masonmart on Dec 12, 2023 10:28:19 GMT 1
You're way ahead of me Tony but a very similar path. Thank you very much for the encouragement and same to you. Correct, if you have an addictive personality like us then there can only be one way and that can't include booze. I'm over the physical addiction I think but the mental addiction is strong. I have a life to live now and it's great, I'm hoping that a large part of it will be bike orientated especially YPVS.
i have
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Post by geoffers997 on Dec 12, 2023 13:22:42 GMT 1
I quit smoking 30 years ago. I miss it from time to time but wouldn’t go back to it for anything.
I ride my bikes (bicycle and bike), eat well, exercise and drink in moderation- I love a beer but never while working and normally only at weekends.
I recently got into 0% beer in Spain - it’s really good but confuses my head as my brain says ‘You had 6 beers last night, you should have a hangover’; I don’t and that’s a great feeling.
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Post by veg on Dec 12, 2023 23:15:46 GMT 1
Well done Veg, hopefully we can both keep it up. You ever get the taste for it or are you OK now? We’d had a dinner party and I’d caned the wine and rum, I woke with a horrible hangover and just thought enough is enough. I then realised what I’d missed out on because of alcohol (too many positives) then realised it was taking more out of me than I was of it. First few weeks were hard, now it’s my new normal my new habit. I rarely get a need for it or miss it and I get so much from not drinking. Anyone can do it, but I know how hard it can be. Be kind to yourself my mantra is I don’t want one today, I’ll never say I won’t ever have another, just not now. 👍 |
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Post by peter1962 on Dec 13, 2023 17:15:30 GMT 1
I also drink in moderation, i go out with my brother every saturday, have a few beers put the world to rights n have a good old grump, after a week of hard work it helps me chill out.
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Post by masonmart on Dec 14, 2023 0:21:38 GMT 1
I also drink in moderation, i go out with my brother every saturday, have a few beers put the world to rights n have a good old grump, after a week of hard work it helps me chill out. That is fantastic and it's the civilised side of alcohol use. I'm hoping that I can also do that now but the only difference would be that it'll be a soft drink in my hand. |
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Post by hudtm60 on Dec 14, 2023 7:04:13 GMT 1
This is not the conversation that I expected to find after not being on the site for a bit but, I have to jump in and agree, yes, stopping drinking improves your life starting with the mornings. A cool beer or three provides some cuddly insulation from the real world problems but you might as well look them in the eyes and deal with it because they sure as hell aren't going away. What was the motivation? I was lucky it was nothing more than too many stupid mistakes in the garage. One night I rolled my H2 up on the the bike lift with the side stand down only to see it leave my hands and fall away from me. (If you know you know). The real problem was 20mins later I did the exact same thing again! Amazing fact was, although it fell some two feet....twice....apart from a toasted mirror....zero other damage. I took it as a sign and gave up Jan 1 2021. Feel better, but sad I'm not any smarter. wtf.
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Post by masonmart on Dec 14, 2023 7:48:24 GMT 1
Sorry hud. The really important part of my year was getting together my 4 boxes of junk into an F1/LC2 YPVS. Being clear headed stopped it failing. Know what you mean about the bike falling, I managed to drop my CB77 off the lift on to my wife's car.
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Post by liffy16 on Dec 14, 2023 10:10:52 GMT 1
Alcohol always been in my life since I left school and as most working class people of the era who worked in factories etc Friday you went out loads of pints repeat Saturday night,roll on 40 years still the same but I don't go out maybe bottle of red Friday and Saturday with a few craft beers. Will do dry January again next year,this year I did 7 weeks without beer,until a friend texts 'fancy a pint ?'so for me alcohol is a difficult one ,most probably could give up all together, then again life's too short??!!
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Post by masonmart on Dec 14, 2023 10:41:39 GMT 1
Liffy, I can't criticise anybody and will never get on a pedestal because I'm a recovering pisshead (Nee 50's, working class, biker model ). I would ask one question though, is life not too short not to give up? You can do it too from what you say, there are many who would give anything to be in that position. Best Wishes. |
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Post by liffy16 on Dec 14, 2023 10:57:27 GMT 1
Liffy, I can't criticise anybody and will never get on a pedestal because I'm a recovering pisshead (Nee 50's, working class, biker model ). I would ask one question though, is life not too short not to give up? You can do it too from what you say, there are many who would give anything to be in that position. Best Wishes. No problem masonmart, perhaps next year is when I could give it a real effort once I'm over the the first weekend I'm usually okay, it's just breaking a habit of a lifetime think a lot are in the same situation?? 2024 could be a new beginning 🤞 |
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Post by masonmart on Dec 14, 2023 14:44:23 GMT 1
I really hope so Liffy. I feel fantastic now physically and mentally but I'm under no illusions of how easy it can be to lose it. |
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