invicta newsletter~september 2014
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ÂTRANSCRIPT
Harley Owners Group ®
The views and comments contained in this Newsletter are the personal views of the contributors and are not necessarily those expressed by the Editor, Invicta Chapter UK, HOG UK, Harley-Davidson or their authorised dealers or agents.
INVICTA NEWS
September 2014
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF INVICTA CHAPTER UK
Invicta Chapter UK, Harley Owners Group #9141 founded 1991
Itjackdawgreat guide
The Editor’s Column
Important Note for
your Diary –
8th October! This is the date for the Chapters AGM, it is not
on the first Wednesday of the month as so many
members will be in Belgium for the first stage of this year’s Ride
to the Wall.
As the AGM is now on the 8th at Aylesford Village Club, PLEASE NOTE that
all subsequent Area Meets will be pushed
back one week for this month only. See Events Diary (page 23) for AGM
address details and revised area dates.
Pictures inside of the ‘New
Bike’ launch for the Blood
Runners (SERVE – one of
our current Charities),
which took place at the
Dealership.
I trust that everybody has
got their nominations in for
any committee / officer
positions by now. You
should receive this
Newsletter either
electronically or at
Clubnight on the 3rd and
you have until the 5th to get
your nominations in.
We are all glad to hear that
Dodgy Dave Hanna is on
the mend after a big scare
on his trip to Belgium. It
sounds like a minor miracle
that he managed to ride his
bike home!
Thanks should go to Ian
and Andy for their efforts in
helping with the tour and
assisting Jane back home.
We obviously trust that he
makes a speedy and full
recovery.
We have had one mole
advise of a new member to
the Tilt club – welcome
James Bates!
And last but not least……
Please send in your articles,
photos and blackmail for
inclusion in the Newsletter,
to the usual address:
I now have my twin pipes
fitted and they are now
adorned with their gorgeous
fishtails, but… I’m still
having trouble getting loud
pipes - don’t know why? I’m
still baffled!
Chris Thomson
EDITOR
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2013–2014 Invicta Chapter UK Committee
Director Past Director Treasurer
Ian Martin John Felgate Gill Whibley
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
01622 890598 01622 884429 01622 730626
Assistant Director ‘A’ Assistant Director ‘B’ Assistant Director ‘C’
Karen Melhuish Colin Proudlock Graham Chambers
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
01634 305037 / 07758 400055 01304 613117 01732 522809
Events Officer Ladies of Harley Secretary/Membership
Andy Hill Amanda Harding Darren & Diana Boyce
01304 202072
07590 463616
01795 429032
Editor Head Road Captain Webmaster
Awaiting New Appointment – if you think you can do it,
please contact a committee member.
Chris Thomson Lawrence ‘Rocky’ Whibley [email protected]
01304 812731
01622 730626
Hotmail and Events Team – Non Committee Members
Nicky Whitehead Simon Williams Val Pilcher
Contact with the committee must be by email or telephone NOT Facebook or Twitter
HarryDealership Manager
DougMotorcycle Sales Advisor
AndyMotorcycle Sales Advisor
JoeMotorcycle Sales Advisor
SoniaMotorcycle Sales Admin
DaveMaster Technician
MickTechnician
GrubsTechnician
PeterService Advisor
RichardParts & Accessories Advisor
JoeParts & Accessories Advisor
MaryMotorClothes® Specialist
CarolMotorClothes® Supervisor
ElliePart-Time Clothing
SarahClothing Assistant
Maidstone Harley-Davidson®
Forstal Road | Aylesford | Kent | ME20 7XA
01622 711680
www.mshd.co.uk
Meet The Team At Maidstone Harley-Davidson®
Reports
Director’s Dialogue
September 2014
Invicta have been busy since last our last publicat ion and as this year’s SoFER event was cancelled, two
groups had a weekend away.
We have had the Dodgy Bulge Tour, a wonderful weekend only marred by a few delicate stomachs and
Dave Hanna’s headache, which as we now know was not dehydration, sunstroke, alcohol or any other
ailment but a tumour on his Pituitary Gland. All re moved and he is now convalescing.
For the ride back we decided to split from the main group as Dave was still unwell so me and my Jane
rode back with the Hanna’s, and as we had 3 bikes Jane H was pillion on mine to make it easier for him.
When we stopped all he wanted to do was sleep, but we got back. I don’t know how Dave mustered the
strength to keep going but he did, giving me a wry smile on the shuttle as we got back to England, saying
you got my Jane back and I have my bike. He refused any further assistance and went back home with
Jane on his bike, 2 hours later in A&E. All I can say to Dave is respect and glad we could help. Our other
group led by Marcus went off camping to the New Forest and they too had a great weekend.
So the next things happening are some of Invicta are off to the New Forest Chapter Blazing Saddles Rally
at the end of September and a few of us off 1st October on the Great Ride to Menin Gate and RTTW. So
as this is the first Wednesday and there are 5 weds in October all club meets are back a week.
By the time you have received this we will have all the nominees in for next year’s committee and the
AGM on the 8th of October, we also have some of our more distinguished RC’s going on the latest RC
course at the Oxford HQ.
Our SoFER 2015 rally is progressing and all will be revealed soon. You can see the up to date news on the
SoFER website, Facebook page, on Twitter and as a taster here is our new Logo.
I think it looks pretty good!
Also with some help from Mags Ivatts updating our website, Invicta have qualified for the Chapter
Support Programme from HOG. Well that’s all from me so enjoy the riding whilst the weather is still
with us.
Be safe out there.
Ian
Reports
The Tilting Files.
Assistant Director ‘C’ – Graham Chambers
More ramblings:
Well, the month did not start out too good for me? We were due to house- sit my
youngest daughter’s house whilst they went on holiday! (Doesn’t matter about my
house being burgled!!!!) They are doing a lot of work on the house, and it was
raining cats and dogs so the patio and steps were a bit on the slimy side, plus my old
Crocs did not have a lot of tread on them (they definitely had seen better days), So
there I am walking down the steps when suddenly I was levitating at forty five
degrees for about one second, and then hit the floor… now at my age you don’t
bounce as much as you use to? Landing on hip and shoulder, I mean I can’t get up at
the best of times. With a black bruise from the waist down to the bottom of the knee,
covering the whole leg I thought I had better go and see the old doc – and as I was
due to go for a Well Man check I thought here’s a good time to bring up the bruising
on the hip and pain in my shoulder!!! After he had done his usual checks I asked him
if he wanted to see my bruise…. He said “If I have too” so I stood and took my
trouser down to show him my black and blue body but he was totally unimpressed
and said “I’ve seen worse! So totally deflated I hobbled out of the surgery? No
sympathy there!! …
Went on the Bexhill ride out led by Rocky; when I left home the sun was shining for
the ride down to the dealership, a matter of a ten minute ride, by the time I got to the
dealership the heavens had opened up and I was soaked, to the amusement of all who
were there? The ride was brilliant and Rocky had chosen a brilliant route apart from
Rocky parking us on the outskirts of Bexhill, only to find out we could have parked
in the High Street reserved for bikes (did he know I had a bruised leg??)…. It rained
whilst we were there and Rocky made a ‘school boy error’ and left his helmet up the
wrong way, cannot say much as I did the same thing!!! Hence soggy helmets. I rode
home and drove into my drive only to see a brand new “Glide” sitting outside my
garage!!!!! (Heart beats faster) - Carol opens the gates, my hopes soared!! For a
moment, I thought Carol had gone out and bought me a new bike? Only to see Brian
and Audrey sitting in the garden with a huge smile on their face, it was Brian’s brand
new toy!!! I have to say both Carol and I sat on it and we were weakening as it does
have all the gizmos.
Then it was Dave’s Dodgy Tour time to the Ardennes. We met at the Services for the
train - off we set for “The Battle of the Bulge Tour” - weather was good, and the trip
to Bouillon went well. Lovely ride out Friday to the Museum, and a tour on the little
train around Bouillon to the castle; the train would have been good if the guide spoke
English? We spent an hour and half listening to a Flemish and French commentary…
(Contd.)
Reports
The next day’s ride out to Dinalt was an experience …. With Cory being given the
job of second man drop!!! I can only put it down to being given too much power? Or
he was attacked by the local insects? Because poor Mandy, being ‘Sweeper’ was
picking up drop off’s in the most strangest of places…. I believe at one time he had
eighteen out of twenty four dropped off, (A bit of exaggeration!) but brilliant to
watch, and a good laugh as we thought he was swotting flies with the hand signals.
(So I’ve put my name down on the new Road Captain course to catch up with things,
as in my day, they didn’t drop you off in the middle of the road!!!) We took a boat
out with Brain and Audrey and took a picnic of pizzas on board - not a good idea!!
First slice went down the front of my shirt? (Big fine from Cory), in my defence I
was trying to eat Pizza and steer the boat which had a mind of its own all at the same
time. Ride home was good in places, but not in Cambrai, where the heavens decided
that it was time to open up and let it all happen… and since Carol decided for the first
time ever that she would borrow my wets I was soaked, and by the time we arrived at
Bethune my nether regions where crinkled and withered… (Talk about a chapped
bum?) It’s lucky for Cory that the fines were all paid? As he got a flat battery in the
terminal, and had to get the guy out to jump start the bike, that would have been a
hefty fine, still great relief by everyone when it started as we all dread those things
happening. At this point I would like to thank Dave Hanna and Andy Hill for
arranging a fantastic trip, and thank the likes of Dom, Mandy, Scott and Cory; the
two Brian’s for a great weekend as road captains, and for stepping into the breach
when Dave was taken ill and especially to Brian Boorman who led the rides over the
whole weekend without any planning – big thanks Brian.
So glad Dave is back home after his brain operation and glad everything has gone
well for him. Thank you Dave for a brilliant weekend trip just sorry you were not
well enough to enjoy the whole four days, still start sorting out next year’s trip as you
are now back in harness again.
Don’t forget the AGM, and any nominations for the committee to be in by the fifth of
September. I have decided to step down from West Kent Rep this year as I feel we
have such a brilliant bunch of newer members who are so enthusiastic and who have
shown that they are ideal for leading Invicta into the future. I will still be supporting
the club in everything they do but sitting at the back giving the next Assistant
Director a load of banter!!!! – Just hope he does not fall out the door as he gives his
spill as I did!! I would like to thank everyone who has come along to Paddock Wood
and made it a brilliant club night and who have supported Carole and I over the last
ten years – THANK YOU.
See you all out there.
Graham (Tilt)
Reports
Assistant Director ‘A’ – Karen Melhuish
Hi all good Invicta friends,
Thank you so much for your attendance to his month’s Lower Bell meet. This Wednesday we had
our third meet there. I was a bit worried because I had arranged a hot buffet but unfortunately at
very short notice on the same night the dealership had a late night evening with snacks for the
people that Invicta have raised money for with charity monies. As a consequence not so many
people came to the Lower bell, some had also filled up on snacks from the dealership but we still
had a pretty good turn out so I am very grateful that it did not mess up my arrangement with pre-
ordered food and thank you for those that showed loyalty to both events. The buffet was very
good value at £5 per head, we did not have to wait ages for food. Chicken, beans, chips, sausages,
scampi, potato wedges and garlic bread were all on the buffet, so this was much better than the
first couple of nights at this venue. This month I joined in on a couple of ride out’s, on one of them
I was the only female rider. I thought it would be great to see a few more ladies pitch up, so ladies
if you are a bit worried about going it alone give me a call, I will pitch up with you if I am not too
busy, don’t be shy! On the day in mention down came the rain so we had cuppa and cream tea
under a huge brolly but we still enjoyed the day. For the fish and chip run I took my dog Tye to the
dancing dog saloon, he didn’t dance but Val hobbled around the saloon garden with him, I did not
quite get to the fish and chip run ride out due o work commitments but this seemed the best
compromise. I went to Nene valley Old School chapter rally this month with Paul and Trudi this
month, we thought we would give this one a try and they could not have made us more welcome
there, we had a fantastic time. This rally was very inexpensive the camping was great; we laughed
the whole weekend, we were greeted and thanked for coming along to their rally then it was sad
when it came to a close and we had to go home, but when you go back to your own comforts and
a proper bed you sure do appreciate them. I had no trouble sleeping on the first night in my little
tent, due mainly I suppose to the long ride through lots of traffic congestions and closed roads, but
also my sound sleep was brought about by the consumption of much larger. I also tested ale called
Fursty Ferret that was lovely! Whilst there I had a tattoo of a butterfly, to my lower back, no I was
not drunk when I had it done before you ask and it was nothing to do with the fursty ferrett! This
Sunday thanks to Paul and Trudi some of the Invicta members have been to the Ace Café Harley
event for breakfast, we ate to the sounds of a Lynard Skynard tribute band which seemed really
random at 10am, but even stranger than this was Trudi and I eating chilli at this time of the day. I
can’t imagine why we both felt this was an okay thing to do, only that if you get up and get
organised to get to the Ace café nice and early then you do feel like it’s nearly lunch time by the
time you get there. Norman seemed to be repulsed by the amount of cheese I had melted over my
chilli and chips but I have to say I would order th em again they were delicious. This Wednesday I
am off to the BBQ, thanks to Colin, and I am looking forward to this one as it was great last year
fingers crossed on the weather. Lots of other things are still happening each week, rides organised
by our lovely road captains. Keep an eye out on these. Well that all from me right now, thank you
once again for all your support everyone, I’ve said it before and I will say it again, it’s a wonderful
club and it’s full of lovely people.
See you all soon.
Love and kisses, stay safe.
Karen X
Reports
The Incredible Shrinking Man
Assistant Director C – Colin Proudlock
Hi All.
Firstly can I thank all those who turned up for the July meet at the Jackdaw,
a much better turn out than June, thanks again.
It's sad to hear of Dave Hannah's illness, get well soon matey.
I am glad you had a good trip to Belgium and the camping weekend and that you all
got home safely. I understand that the road captains did a great job in Belgium, well
done lads, great stuff
On September 13, between 09.30 -14.00, Trees & I are holding a Macmillan
Cancer Tea/Coffee & Cake morning at our home in Sandwich. Rocky has
kindly offered to do a ride out of East Kent on the day, stopping off on route
for a tea stop, all in a good cause - thanks Rocky.
By the time you get this we would have had this years BBQ I hope you all enjoyed
it and had a good evening
Keep safe out there. Colin
For your information…….. This is the new SofER logo, which will be used in the future.
Be sure to look out for it!
New Charities
Invicta are pleased and proud to announce our two new
Charities which we will be supporting for the next two years.
They are ‘The Hospice in the Weald’
And Spadework, an organisation that helps adults with both
learning and other difficulties.
Lets hope we can raise record amounts for these worthy
charities.
Launch of Bloodrunners New Bike at Dealership
Members Trades and Services
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We are in the beautiful region of the 7 Valleys near WW1
battlefields, museums and pretty medieval and coastal
towns – and a race track only 5 minutes’ away!
For further information, please visit our website… or ask TILT
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Members Trades and Services
ONLY £25.00 TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS / SERVICE / PRODUCT IN THE NEXT 12
EDITIONS OF INVICTA NEWS ~ PLEASE SEND YOUR ADVERTISEMENT & CHEQUE TO:
Gill Whibley (Treasurer) 117 Spot Lane, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 8UB
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Club Night Venue
The Red Lion
Charing Heath
Ashford
Kent
TN27 0AU Meet held on 1st Weds of the month
North Kent Area Meet Venue
The Lower Bell
Off Bluebell Hill
Maidstone
Kent
ME20 7EF Meet held on
3rd Weds of the month
West Kent Area Meet Venue
The Brookers Oast
The Hop Farm
Beltring
Paddock Wood
Tonbridge
Kent Meet held on
TN12 6PY 2nd Weds of the month
East Kent Area Meet Venue
The Jackdaw
Denton
Canterbury
Kent
CT4 6QZ Meet held on
4th Weds of the month
Reports
Hello Everyone, I hope you have been enjoying the continuing good weather that we have been
having, just hope it continues into September.
Belgium was brilliant and such fantastic company, many thanks to Dave Hanna and
the road crew who lead us all down and safely back. As you all are now aware, Dave
was taken ill while we were away, and after a successful operation is now on the
mend.
Love and best wishes from myself and Dom to Dave & Jane xx
Well as you may have heard, I had a little accident when we got to the hotel by falling
and dropping both of our helmets, Dom’s coming off the worst. Visor costing £70 to
replace - ouch!!!
Folkestone was a great ride lead by Scott and Des, windy but I believe fun by all. I
have also now signed up for my IAM and will hopefully starting soon.
I am planning a poker run and the date planned is 21st September, I hope that all of
you can make this, as this is planning to be a lot of fun, more info to follow on the hot
mail soon.
Also I can’t believe that almost two years have passed and my restriction will be
coming off in the beginning of September and I’m having the bike stage 1 as well -
there’s no holding me back!
Thanks for reading, hope to see you all soon!
Love and Kisses
Mandy x
And a Harley high five from Frank x
Events
Andy’s Almanac
Here we are just a day to go before the editor’s dead line, and I am off in the
morning to France, so this is going to be just a few lines.
I think the Big Bulge trip was a huge successes apart from Dave Hanna trying
to give up the ghost on us, how he rode home I don’t know, I will let him
explain, anyhow I think he has come though the worst now.
Next month its Ride To The Wall and Thierry Tasset
the Guy who is organising the Belgium bit at Menin
gate, Ypres has had some patches made-up so if you
want one then please let us know they are €10-00,( I
think) no time to check that now.
The team is looking ahead and I will now have to use the ‘C’ word “Christmas”
and a dinner with some extras added. Val has been doing her utmost to find
somewhere, then when she thought she had cracked it with an all in venue
including cabaret, on further investigation it turned out not to be up to
standard, so we are a bit stuck between a rock and a hard place. I am sure we
will come up with something! At the present it looks as if it might be at the
Dancing Dog Saloon?!
Using the ‘C’ word again have
been in contact with the 5th
Season Chapter and once
again we are most welcome to
their Christmas party in
Cologne. When I get the
booking details, I will get them out to all, it will be at the same venue as
previous years and it will be a car Rideout there. The added attraction is the
Christmas markets that are all around the hotel in the centre of the city.
I have been persuaded into doing another year as Events Officer and have also
been talking with Colin Barden about taking over the post which he is happy to
do, so we will work together for next year and see how it goes. You may think
this is a bit of a presumptious of me as all posts are up for grabs, so if you
want to give it a go don’t think you will in anyway upset me by putting your
name forward.
Sorry its short got to go see you all around.
Andy Hill – Events Officer
Hi, my recent illness was quite a public affair within the club and Facebook and so it’s perhaps only fitting I should fill you in
on some of the bits you may have missed. Dave (Dodgy) Hanna.
The Big Bulge Dodgy Tour
After being out of action for over a year with my frozen shoulder it was great to get back in the saddle
again and I was really looking forward to leading our group of 35 Invicta Chapter Members for the next
4 days on our WW2 themed tour to the Ardennes in Belgium. So it was a great feeling as I led the group
of 24 bikes gently away from the tunnel complex and eased the ride progressively faster onto the A16
towards Lille.
Our journey of 280 miles was going to be quite a long one on motorways and it was important to try to keep the momentum
going all the way to the hotel. Being blessed with a plethora of road captains it made the task easier and we set up a rota
allowing shared tasks throughout the long weekend and the RC’s stepped right up to the mark to deliver a 3rd man drop off
system that worked well.
It took most of the rest of the day to reach our destination, the pretty village of Bouillons set in the Belgium Ardennes
Region, but we arrived without incident and packed our bikes safely away in the garage of our hotel, The Hotel de la Poste
at about 5pm
There followed the usual social gathering of people outside on the hotel bar terrace area and soon the beers were flowing
with stories of past rides being shared.
All too soon it was time to get cleaned up for the evening and we all sat down as one group at 7.30pm to a prearranged
rather nice 4 course A la carte meal. The wine flowed as we relaxed back and we looked forward to the next few days we
had in the warm climate of this region before settling down for a good night’s sleep
Next day Jane and I awoke early and we went down to a very nice buffet breakfast in the hotel where they were even
serving fizz on tap, an obvious advantage of being very close to the Champagne regions of France.
Following breakfast I had asked for a 9.30 am depart for our short trip of the day to Bastogne. The Dodgy Tour had been so
named "The Big Bulge Dodgy Tour "as this area of the Ardennes in December 1944 was
subjected to some of the fiercest fighting between the Germans and the allied troop invasion
forces with the 101 Airborne division (as featured in Band of Brothers series) being featured
heavily. They were, amongst others dug in for a time in the forest areas around the town of
Bastogne when the Germans conducted a massive offensive. But the Allies held Bastogne
against all odds whilst the enemy line bulged around them until they were finally re supplied with
ammo and food enough for them to advance forward. The Battle became known through the
British press as "The Battle of the Bulge".
In honour of this time the small town of Bastogne has just opened a new Museum to document the events and we had
booked our group in there for the morning
We arrived from our 40 mile journey once again under the expert handling of our new road captains for the day and parked
up outside. The museum is state of the art with multi language audio sets and the theme is presented as soon as you start
the tour. There are four characters (A schoolteacher, a young boy, a German soldier and of course an American Soldier).
These 4 characters would feature as you walked the mixture of displays and theatres and exhibits that were laid out in date
- time order to depict the struggle to retain Bastogne from the enemy, a town that had been in German occupation for a long
time.
There was a lot to take in but we gradually filtered out and regrouped for our ride back to Bouillon for a relax In the
afternoon sunshine. The rest of the day was a lazy affair and followed a relaxing theme of social drinking amongst groups
and dinner outside in a riverside restaurant for me and Jane, Brian & Audrey and Carol & Graham. We had said for
everyone to go out and find their own restaurant for this night and I am sure all would have had a good time.
Following our meal, Jane and I heard music coming from a bar across the river and we ventured across the bridge to have
a look. The bar was heaving but opposite was a convenient cafe so we settled down to our second carafe of wine of the
evening and listened to the pleasant music being played. Soon others joined us for the pleasant atmosphere. At some
point we walked back across the bridge to our hotel and straight to bed. It was at some point in the early hours of Saturday
morning that I woke up with a blinding headache, this followed with extreme vomiting and all sorts of unpleasant things best
not to mention. That Friday night and the following day seemed to last forever and I just lay in bed all day with Jane giving
me a cocktail of painkillers to try to stem the pain. The group continued with the prearranged planned ride out to Dinant with
out their lead Captain (me). Instead Andy Hill took charge, electing others to the RC duties. There was nothing they could
do to ease my suffering so best to carry on with the plan. Sunday morning came and the last breakfast before leaving for
home. I still hadn't eaten and I crept gingerly down to breakfast not really feeling any better. I had some coffee and a light
offering of food in the shape of yoghurt and made I the big decision to ride back separately from the group at my own pace.
Our Chapter Director Ian and his wife Jane said they would accompany me and Ian would take my Jane on his bike to ease
my task ahead. We planned our route back through France this time via Hirson and Cambrai, this being a much less
demanding route than the all motorway affair we had taken on the way down.
I followed Ian and Jane for most of the journey and even led on one or two occasions. I just focussed on the task of getting
home, battling through the pain in my head with the help of painkillers, albeit with no appreciable effect.
After what seemed an age of getting through the customs we finally boarded the train and soon I knew I was safe in the
English system. Jane and I regrouped on our bike and we headed the 20 miles back home to Canterbury. And after pushing
the bike back into the garage I staggered indoors and collapsed exhausted on the sofa.
Jane immediately rang 111 and they advised a direct visit to Ashford A&E, we packed a few things and sped off down there
in the car.
It was then that I was to start the biggest journey of my life. Sunday went into Monday and a CT scan showed a tumour on
my Pituitary gland. Tuesday came and I was still in the clinical assessment area waiting a chance to get on the MRI
scanner. They finally found me a slot and the results on Wednesday showed I had a Pituitary Apoplexy. This more serious
condition meant the tumour was enlarged, had bled and was pushing against the optic nerve bending it upwards. The time
bomb was really ticking now and a deep peripheral eye test showed I already had a loss of vision in some areas. I also had
a very low sodium issue which had to be addressed and I was continually given litres upon litres of saline drips into me to
try to get the value up.
Following talks with Kings College Hospital on Wednesday morning the advice was to get me to them ASAP. At 6pm they
said you are going to Kings as soon as they could get me Ambulance transport. At 7.30pm 2 rookie ambulance girls
escorted me into their ambulance for the trip and I gave a quick emotional farewell to my family present. The girls let me
know that they had no paramedic training but they would take me as safely as they could, requesting help on any passing
blues and twos if I got into difficulty.
So Wednesday night, my first in Kings College Hospital and I was keen to carry on the same pain relieving format that I had
put together in Ashford A&E. This was of 2 paracetamol and 2 codeine tablets every 6 hours at 12.00, 6.00, 12.00, and
6.00. Although this didn't take the pain away entirely it did at least dull it for a few hours and I could clock watch and know
when my next relief would come. This meant I avoided the morphine as much as possible and the possible side effects of
that later on.
I had also imagined a sort of Karma state that I could put myself into so that I would hopefully remain calm for what lay
ahead. It may sound silly but having a blinding Headache for a week and you will resort to anything to put it to the back of
your mind. (This pain relief and calming method indeed took me right up to 6.00 am on the morning of the op an Friday).
Thursday I had so many people look over me and I could see that I was in good hands. There were two teams who would
look after me, a surgical team and an endocrine team. When I told the surgical team I had ridden 250 miles back home they
were amazed. Then the lead person said right you are having an operation to remove the tumour mid-morning tomorrow as
your sight is deteriorating fast. Then she spelt out the risks, luckily Jane had just arrived and she was able to take in with
me the fact that the tumour had enlarged and was bending my optic nerve up over it, so blindness was a certainty if not
dealt with fast along with even more complications than that.
Jane and I sat and talked long and hard, hoping all was going to go well.
Friday morning came and I had told Jane not to make the effort to come up to see me as I was going to be in no state to
communicate. I had been expecting to go down mid-morning but at 08.15 a porter arrived and whisked me away on my bed
I was soon placed on the very thin operating table and being secured in place either side of me it seemed I was now first on
the list. The next thing I remember was waking up with a start and seeing a door saying operating theatre I was outside this
and so assumed it had finished and I had had my op.
I was still not really with it but I remember a man in a blue gown come up to me and say "look at you" "you're looking great".
He grabbed a piece of paper hand towel from the machine and tenderly wiped the drips of blood from my nose. He said "I
hear you ride a Harley, what bike do you ride" I said in a daze "Heritage Softail" with which he replied "Oh I had one of
those but I have a glide now and have chopped it to look like a Street glide"
He said he would pop in to see me on Sunday when I would be more with it. I made no connections of who this man was at
the time other than him being a kind Harley man that I had met outside the operating theatre.
I progressed my way through the recovery units, having an emotional battle with the effects of the Aesthetic until I finally
found myself in a nice private room on a recovery ward on Sunday. I was still sitting there trying to get all my boxes back in
the right place in my head when in came this guy in Motorcycle wet weather gear. Sitting down in the chair beside me, he
said "you look good" and I, vaguely remembering him as part of my operating team said "thanks to all you guys for what you
have done." He said "that's the wonders of endoscopy and the unobtrusive procedure it entails" and we proceeded to talk
about Harley's and his weekend away in France that he had just had.
He said it was really raining coming up through Boulogne and the roads were very slippery. I said that was really nice of him
to pop in and see me on his way back home and as he got up to go I shook his hand and said "you must thank my surgeon
Mr Barazi for me as I have not seen him yet. With which he replied softly "I am Mr Barazi, Sinan Barazi or Mr Barazi if you
like". "Hey when you get better we should go out for a ride sometime" and with that he left by the open door. I sat there for a
while and contemplated what had just happened and it was only then that the connection was made in my head. The
friendly Harley guy with whom I had been talking bikes to on two occasions was indeed my Surgeon Sinan Barazi. The
same man who had saved my sight and brought me back to my own Family and my now extended Harley Family. Thank
you so much Sinan and everyone at Kings you are all great people.
After 3 more days of tests I was allowed to come home and will only have to return as an outpatient for a while to sort out
some issues..But they did request that I stay off the bike for a bit which is ok with me for a while.
So "Dave's Dodgy Tours" is over for another year. I didn't get to even see half of it but along with Andy's help I had put
together a great programme of events which I think still ran smoothly. This leaves me thank firstly my Harley friends
Especially Director Ian and Jane who made sure I got home Ok. Andy and everyone who helped get Jane to Kings Hospital
for her to visit. Thank you Jane my wife for being my soul mate and most of all my Harley riding Surgeon Mr Sinan Barazi
whom flew off to Denmark soon after our last meeting together to holiday with his family.
Thank You Sinan see you out there on the road sometime.
Dave Hanna
Invicta Historian.
P.S. And the question people have been asking …. Yes there will be a “ Dave’s Dodgy Tour in 2015”.
Big Bulge Dodgy Tour~2014
Big Bulge Dodgy Tour~2014
Miscellaneous
New MembersNew MembersNew MembersNew Members
Invicta Chapter UK would like to extend a very warm welcome to the
following New Members:
HAPPY BIRTHDAYHAPPY BIRTHDAYHAPPY BIRTHDAYHAPPY BIRTHDAY
Percy Cogger Richard Cranston Sue Fairbairn Michael Fallaize Brian Hanmore Dominic Harding Adam Hollands Ian Jenkins Michele Krieps Ian Martin Kenny Morrison Paul Newton Rick Owen Penny Pemble Teresa Proudlock Dave Souter
Gaynor Walker John Ward Gillian Welby
Our Hon Sec is on holiday so if any Birthdays have been missed they will appear in next months Newsletter!
New Members This Month
David Murphy
Please speak to any committee member if you require any help or assistance.
2013 – 14 Invicta Road Captains
Lawrence Whibley
HRC
John Blandford
Graham Bliss
Graham Chambers
John Felgate
Mary Felgate
Dave Hanna
Dom Harding
Andy Hill
Mags Ivatts
Des Larner
Norman Ouzman
Brian Boorman
Nick Ovenden
Jim Whitson
Corey Mills
Brian Hanmore
If you are already a
Road Marshall,
consider upgrading to
Road Captain –
please speak to the
HRC
Paul Ouzman
Scott Montgomery
2013 – 14 Invicta Road Marshalls
Gary Pilcher
Amanda Harding
Have you thought
of improving your
riding skills and
becoming a Road
Marshall – please
talk to the HRC
Paul Hillier
Simon Williams
This could be you
LOOK
Surely you’re a better
rider than these two
(Left and Right)
Talk to the HRC
about becoming a
Road Marshall This could be you
Calendar
EVENTS DIARYEVENTS DIARYEVENTS DIARYEVENTS DIARY
September 2014
3 Wed Club Night, RED LION, Charing Heath, TN27 0AU Closed
10 Wed West Kent Area Meet, The Brookers Oast, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY Open
13 Sun Macmillan Cancer Charity Rideout, see Hotmail for details. Open
17 Wed North Kent Area Meet, The Lower Bell, off Blue Bell Hill, ME20 7EF Open
24 Wed East Kent Area Meet, The Jackdaw, Canterbury CT4 6QZ Open
October 2014
1-5 Wed-Sun Ride to the Wall, Part One commencing in Belgium, Part Two
joining up at Lakeside Services for ride to Tamworth
Open
8 Wed AGM and Club Night, Aylesford Village Club, 57 Rochester
Road, Aylesford. ME20 7BS
Closed
15 Wed West Kent Area Meet, The Brookers Oast, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY Open
22 Wed North Kent Area Meet, The Lower Bell, off Blue Bell Hill, ME20 7EF Open
29 Wed East Kent Area Meet, The Jackdaw, Canterbury CT4 6QZ Open
November 2014
5 Wed Club Night, RED LION, Charing Heath, TN27 0AU Closed
12 Wed West Kent Area Meet, The Brookers Oast, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY Open
19 Wed North Kent Area Meet, The Lower Bell, off Blue Bell Hill, ME20 7EF Open
26 Wed East Kent Area Meet, The Jackdaw, Canterbury CT4 6QZ Open
December 2014
3 Wed Club Night, RED LION, Charing Heath, TN27 0AU Closed
10 Wed West Kent Area Meet, The Brookers Oast, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY Open
17 Wed North Kent Area Meet, The Lower Bell, off Blue Bell Hill, ME20 7EF Open
24 Wed East Kent Area Meet, The Jackdaw, Canterbury CT4 6QZ - CANCELLED Open
Key To H.O.G. Terminology
Closed Event ~ Those Chapter events which are open to Chapter
members and one guest per member
Open Event ~ Those Chapter events which are open to Chapter
members, international H.O.G. members and other
guests as desired
Member Events ~ Events only open to H.O.G. members
***** Remember, to participate in Invicta Chapter Closed *****
***** Events, you must keep your H.O.G. and Invicta ***** ***** Chapter memberships current. *****
The Last Word
WORDSEARCH ~ UNDERWATER WORLD
ANCHOVY, ANGELFISH, ATLANTIC COD,
BARRACUDA, CARP, CONGER EEL, CUTTLEFISH,
DOLPHIN, FLOUNDER, FLYING FISH, GROUPER,
HADDOCK, HAKE, HALIBUT, HERRING, JELLYFISH,
JOHN DORY, KRILL, LAMPREY, LION FISH, LOBSTER,
MACKEREL, MANATEE, MANTA RAY, MARLIN,
NARWHAL, OAR FISH, OCTOPUS, PILCHARD,
PLANKTON, PORPOISE, PRAWN, PUFFER FISH,
SALMON, SEA HORSE, SEA TURTLE, SHARK, SQUID,
STARFISH, SWORDFISH, TROUT, WHALE, WHITING.
A father put his 3 year old daughter to bed, told
her a story and listened to her prayers which
ended by saying, "God bless Mummy, God bless
Daddy, God bless Grandma and good-bye
Grandpa.
"The father asked, 'Why did you say good-bye
Grandpa?' The little girl said, "I don't know daddy,
it just seemed like the thing to do."
The next day grandpa died. The father thought it
was a strange coincidence. A few months later the
father put the girl to bed and listened to her
prayers which went like this, "God bless Mummy,
God Bless Daddy and good-bye Grandma. "The
next day the grandmother died. Thought the
father, "this kid is in contact with the other side."
Several weeks later when the girl was going to bed
the dad heard her say, "God bless Mummy and
good-bye Daddy."
He practically went into shock. He couldn't sleep
all night and got up at the crack of dawn to go to
his office. He was nervous as a cat all day, had
lunch and watched the clock. He figured if he
could get by until midnight he would be okay. He
felt safe in the office, so instead of going home at
the end of the day he stayed there, drinking
coffee, looking at his watch and jumping at every
sound.
Finally midnight arrived; he breathed a sigh of
relief and went home. When he got home his wife
said, "I've never seen you work so late. What's the
matter?"
He said, "I don't want to talk about it, I've just
spent the worst day of my life." She said, "You
think you had a bad day, you'll never believe what
happened to me. This morning my golf pro
dropped dead in the middle of my lesson!"
VERY HARD SUDOKU Fill in the grid so that every column, row and
3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9 only once.
A day without sunshine is like ... night! Vlad the Impaler