https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php/23131-taff1954 Kiwi Biker - New Zealand motorcycle community en Thu, 07 May 2026 05:36:59 GMT vBulletin 20 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/images/BP-Brown/misc/rss.jpg https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php/23131-taff1954 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1454-Shock-to-the-System Sat, 27 Mar 2010 07:32:34 GMT I'd gone down with a heavy cold and bad chest, so headed up to see my GP. The doc duly examines me, sure thing, a bout of bronchitis. Antibiotics, paracetamol, week off work. Sorted. Hang on a minute he says, I'd like you to go get a Cardio-vascular disease risk assesment done.

Now generally I keep reasonably good health, so I was a wee bit worried as to why a doctor would want me to do that.

His answer was simple. Because you're somewhat over 55. Who? Me? Never. Oh, hang on, I am!! Now I know when I was born, how many years ago that was, but it's never registered that that's how old I am. A right shock to the system it was.

I got home and told the wife what the doc had said. Her reaction was 'When did that happen?'

I read a great quote a while back. You don't get old and stop riding, you get old because you've stopped riding. I figure that's what's happened. I've been so busy living my life and riding a motorcycle, that I'd forgotten that I was getting older.

I think I'll avoid visiting the doctor for a while. I'm not sure my old heart can handle another shock like that. ]]> taff1954 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1454-Shock-to-the-System https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1200-Why-did-I-go-to-Wellington-last-week Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:19:57 GMT As a teenage apprentice in the mid 70's, I decided at some stage to participate in one of the now famous CND marches in London. At the same time, I was more than a little infatuated with an attractive lass who rode alongside of me on my ride to polytech each day - on her shocking pink Vespa, with boots, gloves, helmet and catsuit to match. I didn't go along to this march because I wanted to end nuclear weapons; I went because Diane asked me to go with her, and to share her hotel room. We split when I refused to chain myself to the railings outside Westminster.

Fast forward to the 80's, and I was standing with other NZED workers in Taupo protesting Muldoons' wage freeze. Not just to protest about my wages, but because it was a day off, with pay.

A few years later, my wife suffered a 'medical misadventure'. She still cannot work. We fought for a change to ACC rules so she could get compensation, and eventually, we won, though not without considerable help from New Plymouths' then MP, Harry Duynhoven.

Every time the (usually National) government changes ACC, we go through another shit-fight. So when the latest announcements came through last month I was up in arms in a minute. I also happen to work with disabled people, many of whom are under ACC's "care". When the opportunity came on the 17th November to ride on Parliament, I decided I wanted to go. After a little to - and - fro-ing, I did.

Not because of a pretty girl, or a day off, nor to ride in such a massive event as it was, but because I can't stand by and watch this country get ripped off by big business, nor can I stand by and watch those who most need ACC's help get pushed to one side.

I may be just one person, but there's a lot more who are 'just one person' out there, and collectively we can make a difference.

That's why I went to Wellington last week. ]]> taff1954 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1200-Why-did-I-go-to-Wellington-last-week