Cookies Monster Rock Page

Sulby Glen Hotel, Sulby- 5th June
This was the last gig on the tour, and we really hamed it up. We had fun and so did the people who came to watch us. One guy decided to strip - not sure our guitarist was too happy with ending up with the guys clothes being chucked at him though. For once it didnt rain on us when we packed up! Been asked to do 2 more here next year year - must have been good eh?

4th June - Day off!! Went up to the Bungalow to see the practice races - rain, fog and wind combined to call off the racing. So I went up to the top of the Isle of Man mountain - yep they have a real mountain. Climbing in fog isnt too clever, but I made it and took the electric train back down in time to head for Sulby to see the side car racing.

We put up a shed for our hosts,in the evening. They just happened to have one needing to be erected. Nice job we made of it too. Best bit was finding we had put it up with 2 people inside and the door wouldnt open - needed digging out!

Played the Creek last night - whole place went mad!! Offered 2 gigs for TT week next year - can't be bad eh?

Well recommend the place whenever you visit he island - and walk the hills behind while you are there

3rd June
Port Erin Beach Stage, Isle of Man  . Now this one was always going to be an odd gig. Setting up on a beach isn't the best of venues for electrical equipment. Finding out that the tent on the beach is only the size of a large stage paniced us a bit - but it turned out that we were to be on the stage and the crowd were on the sea wall. We had the view of the sea wall - I mean, it was at head hight. Accoustically this could have been a nightmare, but in the event, it sounded great. Pictures HEREIf you are ever in Port Erin, check out the cafe nearby for Pizas - very good they are

Played Bushies last night = storming gig - great fun.

Cheers to Bat and all the crew who make Bushies possible.

No TT racing yet - bad weather. But lots of partys and gigs to play at

1st June
Bushy's - Isle of Man TT Tour Debut Gig.  As it turns out the Bushies gig was one of our best. The frount line (the big speakers and amps) belonged to Bushies and they even layed on an electrician (Bat) and a sound engineer. The place was packed out and we had a great time. As usual, it rained while packing up the gear (we should go to droughts and play a gig or 2) PicturesHERE

2nd June
Creek (Peel) Isle of Man 
Great pub, the Creek. Peel is a Cornwall style fishing village, has Peel Castle round the bay and a white sandy beech, formed by the

disposal of thousands of scollop shells into the sea from a great hight nearby.
The landlady was the only person on the island to appreciate all the hard work it takes to get a band set up. She provided

sandwiches and tea as well as the odd pint when no one was looking.
The Gig went well, with poeple shouting for some AC/DC from the start. As AC/DC isn't on the set till near the end, we made a joke

of it and promised to do some if they were 'good'. The place was packed and people seemed to really enjoy what we did. Pictures HERE Back to our

beds at about 2am - this is hard work you know!

In the Isle of Man with the band GUILTY. We are staying with a loverly family in the North East part of the island. Putting up with a 5 member rock band and a roadie - very brave eh?
We are here to do 4 gigs for the run up to the TT races and our first gig is at the Bushies tent. Bushies is THE place to be during TT, so lots of pressure to get it right.

Wont be back online for a while. Off to Belgium and the Isle of Man fo the TT.

When I get back I may be a bit short on contact, reason - will explain when i get back.

TTFN

26th of May
Packed up the K1200lt (BMW) and set off for Petes place (no, not a chippie, is a mate who we are going to Belgium with).
27th of May set off for Belgium. On the way the bike starts to over heat. At first I didnt worrey, as it does this quite often and usually the fan cuts in and brings the temperature down to normal. Comming up to Dover, it didn't come down though. So we stoped and assesded the situation.
The bike could be suffering in the heat - hottest day of the year, could have anotgher air lock or could have a leak in the water system. We plod on.
Once in Belgium, the rad problem becomes obvius - coolant all down the fairing. With many stops, we manage to limp to the camp site at Loppem Nr Brugge. Meet up with the WozWolf nutters and have a really good evening.
Next day the rally organizers tyell me that there is a BMW dealership not far away and I go with the bike to see what hey suggest.

We leave it with them for the day and go into Brugge. If you havnt been to brugge - go. Its a great place with ancient houses, canals and great window shopping. If you like beer - the trappest monks have been brewing it for so long they have basically perfected making 10%+ beer taste great.
Back to the bike at BMW - bad news. It has a really big hole in the rad. It is not going anywhere. They even suggest I should not ride it back to the camp site. They bring it in a van - wouldnt charge anything for all their time!
29th of May Time to call out the tow truck to get back to the UK. All runs smoothly, great service from Carol Nash insurance

All the photos cvan be found on Smirfs site - http://www.captainsmurf.com/zedelgem05/zedelgem05.htm

Past It M.C.C. was started up in 1995 by Ron Warman. This was their 10th Birthday, so they held a party! Well, why not eh? Members and supporters came from Worcester, Malvern, Droitwich, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Birmingham, and even further. So it was good to see, that despite the rain, (and it really tipped it down) people still turned up on bikes and many camped out. (This IS NOT one of those clubs that end up being a 4x4 owners club of people that used to ride bikes!!).

Proper bikers, proper history and party time.

I must say, that I don't think I have been in the presence of so many 'veteran' bikers - and by this I don't mean old, I mean bikers who have been bikers for more than 15 years. The place was heaving with people you just knew had been in the biker thing since Brit bikes were the only thing to be seen on. So it was a proud moment when we eventually started up and played some of the classic rock tracks from the last 40 years. I say eventually, because we had to do one of those things that is a big No No - i.e. a sound check while the audience is in! This was due to the extended FA cup, cricketers and having to move the drums 3 times. (I won’t go into that one - it would be as long and as boring as it was for us trying to get a sound check in, in the afternoon)

Anyway we really enjoyed the gig, and it was really good to see Maj there after so many years - not changed a bit!

I hope others enjoyed the party and I would personally suggest that anyone who hasn't partied with Past IT M.C.C. get on down to their next Zimmer Frame Rally on the August bank holiday.

Past It M.C.C.s mailing list is @ E-mailing list

Web site @ http://www.pastitmcc.com

I remember when biking was the cheaper transport option. 90 miles per gallon, cheap insurance and garages that worked for next to nowt.

I just had a blow out on the K1200lt. The tyre can't be fixed despite only having done <400 miles - £150 for a new one!!

So that's a grand total of £1k in the last 2 months on one of the two bikes alone! - £300 on tyres and £700ish to get it through its MOT (rear disk, head light, brake pots)

The ST1100 is easier to work on so I do things myself, but I still had to buy a lot of parts to keep it going recently - gear foot peg, wiring loom, center stand spring, new seat, heated grips, screen, wing mirror, Swinging arm, fuel tank, loads of fluids. I dread to think how much that lot would have come to if I was paying someone to fit it all. It sure is worth buying a decent set of tools and a service manual. The one thing I did treat the Pan to was a set of stainless exhausts. Done by Gazelle in Wales. They hand make these very nice bits of kit while you wait. Even tune them (sound-wise) to the note you prefer. I like mine deep and meaty - so thats what I now have - a snip at just under £500.

At the end of the day though, the smiles these bikes produce are priceless.

K1200lt Smiles per hour = 9/10 (£2.50 per mile +fuel+insurance)

ST1100 Smiles per hour = 10/10 (£0.15 per mile +fuel+insurance)

The K had better buck its ideas up!

Mate of mine at work is selling this massive blow up tent on ebay - maybe a bike club wants it - setails @ http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4383133109&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:UK:1

Loads of band pics now available @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/guilty/

Final preps are being made for the Isle of Man TT Tour. Just 1 or 2 rehearsals left and then off to Belgium.umm, yep, thats were I am off to before heading off to Isle of Man. Mainly to try to secure a few Europe gigs for next year.

This is a very exciting tour for GUILTY, we will be sharing the island tour with acts such as John Ottway and Loaded no less!

If anyone is going to the TT this year - we hope to see you there - FREE band dvd for those who ask!!!!!!!!!!!