Vintage Falcon bike restoration project

A few days back I went to pick up a slide which my wife had bought for the kids over eBay. As I was leaving the lady who sold us the slide mentioned that they had loads of stuff in the garage and enquired whether I would like to take a look. Of course, I couldn't refuse. I suddenly noticed this old black bike and the Falcon sticker. I told her that I would like the bike. Unfortunately her husband was not around and asked me to call up later.

I totally forgot about it until we received an email from the seller later inquiring whether I still wanted the bike and to put in an offer if I did. I offered £20 and he accepted. Later on we had a chat over the phone and he asked for £25. That was a little bit more than I wanted to give him but then one similar bike had gone for little more than £60 on eBay (it was in a better condition though). I had also been looking for a vintage bike to restore and decided to buy the bike.

When I brought it back home, my wife was furious. "What were you thinking?" "I don't want the junk inside my house".

She only calmed down after I explained that the Reynolds 531 alloy frames were going for more than double the price of the bike on eBay.



Here is the lovely looking bike.



I guess this was one of their cheaper models as it only has a sticker instead of the stamped metal headbadge.


The famous Reynolds 531 tubing made of a manganese/molybdenum steel alloy and apparently these are in high demand by fixie bike fans.



Badly rusted pannier rack. I read somewhere that the spokes were cadmium plate units and they must have been shining when they were new. I think all it needs is a touch of metal polish and elbow grease to remove the oxidation and bring the shine back.

It is interesting that this bike has components made in Japan, US, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland and of course, England - truly a global bike.

The cycle has Shimano derailleurs and Weinmann brakes which are in excellent condition. The front tyres are Michillin World Tour 27 x 1 1/4" and still hold air. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the rear tyres (made in Taiwan).

I have no idea how old this bike is as there is very little information about Falcon bike on the net. My guess is that it is from the early 70s - meaning that we might be around the same age.

Initially I was thinking of stripping of the old paint and getting it repainted but I found out that the vintage look is in right now - people actually like the old weathered look on old bikes and have decided to leave it that way with some cleaning and touching up.

8th Blogoversary

It has been 8 long years since I first started blogging on ah ok lah in 2003. What first started out as a place on the web to voice out and share my thoughts, emotions and events ended up changing my life completely. From a hobby it became my source of income and also my area of specialisation.

I received a scholarship to do a PhD  in marketing at the Warwick Business School my research looks at the relationship between interactivity and attitudes towards blogs and towards advertising on blogs. I now blog on several blogs and even have been invited to speak about blogging to different audiences including a presentation on teaching with blogs to some academics at the University of Warwick.

Some say blogging is addictive - in my case it has been therapeutic. Other people play golf, or video games or do yoga. In my case, blogging helped me whenever I was stressed. It has definitely helped me with my writing skills in a language which is not my mother tongue.

I have come a long way - from someone who used to enjoy reading blogs to someone who is now considered an expert on blogging.

Why do I blog?

Flying kite at Memorial Park Coventry

Recently we went to the Memorial park in Coventry as the kids were quite restless at home and my daughter wanted to try out the kite her mum had bought for her.

Unfortunately there was not much wind that day apart from the occasional gusts and we couldn't really get the kite up high. Still we all had fun.

Will definitely be going again when it is a bit more windy.

Muslims are our neighbors

I recently got to know about a film project in the United States called "My Fellow American". The project is devoted to recognizing that Muslims are our neighbors. They have come up with a really touching 2 minute film that you should watch. Visit My Fellow American site here.

Compare car insurance and make sure you get a better deal

Car insurance can be a pain in the proverbial. Third party only, or fully comprehensive? Limited mileage or windscreen excess? Roadside breakdown assistance or…you get the picture. In a world of endless possibilities, car insurance providers can baffle you with a mind-blowing array of choices, options and decisions to make. And you can’t escape it – car insurance is a legal requirement to drive on UK roads. It’s a criminal offence to drive whilst uninsured.

So we all have to bite the bullet and every year do the rounds of car insurance providers. If you already have insurance, the temptation can be to forgo all the hassle and simply stick with what you know. Your current insurance provider has looked after you for the past year at least, so why start swapping and changing just for the sake of it?

Consumer power – putting you in the driving seat
For years, the insurance companies had it all their own way. They knew that customer loyalty was practically guaranteed because the process of hunting around for a better deal was a time consuming and boring business. It meant hours on the phone, repeating your details ad infinitum to different call centres and all to find out that the first or second quote you got was the best one.

Today, things are different. Online comparison sites have made the process much easier. Now, to compare hundreds of car insurance quotes you simply have to type your details in once and an at-a-glance list of potential suppliers pops up instantly. For consumers who want to compare car insurance, online sites have been a revelation.

So how do I use a comparison site?
Once you’ve typed your details in (and remember not to leave any important details out as it could invalidate any policy you buy), you can then start to see what each provider offers. The simple choice first – what cover do you need? The obvious is to go for fully comprehensive cover, but that will cost more than third party or third party, fire and theft. However, it does provide the most comprehensive cover (hence the name).

Then there’s the excess to think about. The more you are prepared to pay, the cheaper your premiums. But remember that the excess will have to come out of your pocket, so consider carefully how much you could budget for in an emergency and put in a realistic amount. It’s better to pay a couple of pounds more and have a lower excess than to discover that you have to find the first £500 on a £600 claim out of your own pocket.

All those little ‘extras’
If you already have breakdown cover, do you really need to pay for it again? You would be surprised just how many people pay twice as much as they need to by including unnecessary additional breakdown cover on their insurance policy. A normal standard on all comprehensive policies is windscreen cover. A cracked or shattered windscreen can cost a small fortune to repair, especially if the windscreen is a non-standard size or shape as in some ‘panoramic windscreen’ style cars.

What about my no claims bonus?
Transferring your car insurance to a new provider does not necessarily mean that you lose your accumulated no claims bonus. Look for insurers who will allow you to transfer your bonus over to a new policy. Some will even offer a considerable discount for careful drivers with over five years’ worth of no claims.

By using an online comparison site to compare car insurance, not only could you save a considerable amount of money on your policy, but you could also end up with a tailor-made package that suits your requirements better than your existing provider. And never be afraid to haggle with your current insurer for a better deal. Comparison sites have given consumers back an element of control over their financial affairs, so use the information you can gather from a comparison site to your advantage.

Tragedy in Norway

Was really shocked when I heard about the twin attacks in Norway yesterday. This follows the three separate explosions in Mumbai just last week and the first thought that came to mind was "Muslim terrorists!" Even the BBC reports speculated that extremist "Jihadis" were responsible for the attacks. "Bloody F£$%^&g, B£$%^&ds" I cursed.

Not surprisingly comments on most online news sites including the Telegraph, Sun and the Daily Mail were filled with anti-Muslim and anti-immigration sentiment. Many were so blatantly islamophobic and some actually were incitement to violence.

Today it emerged that the man at the centre of the attack has been identified as Anders Breivik, 32, a Norwegian with links with to right-wing extremists and a neo-Nazi. He is also said to have anti-Muslim feelings and against a multi-culturarism. Few reports describe him as a conservative Christian.

I could almost hear a collective sigh of relief from Muslims all over the World.

I was really interested to see how the readers of the newspapers responded to the latest news. A lot of people were offended about the description of the killer as "conservative" and as a "Christian". Some guys correctly pointed out that when similar incidents involving a Muslim happens around the World, news reports promptly put "Islamic terrorist" or "Jihadi" tag, whereas in this case the guy was simply a "mad man" or simply  "the Oslo gunman".

Larry Keffer of the Biblical Research Center in Norway warned that "that people should not think that just because Breivik says he is a Christian that he actually is one."

The best comment was by a Mohammed kamran on the Daily Mail .

He points out that

"Terrorists use religion to get the moral high ground and give themselves a cause. My religion has been hijacked by terrorist s*** but Muslims reading this know he is NOT a Christian. We know what it's like when someone claims to be of your religion and causes an outrage like this. My thoughts and prayers are with Norway. God bless you."

I do wonder whether the anti-Muslim and anti-immigration rhetoric sweeping all over Europe may have had a part in this tragedy.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragedy in Norway.

Updated: Various pictures also show him wearing the ceremonial robes of the Freemasons. I wonder what is his link with this very secretive group.

Trip to Ayr

Last week we drove up to Ayr, in Scotland. We went along with another family. We started off around 11 from our house in Coventry and then went to Derby to pick up our friends. The whole journey took us about 7 hours from Derby to reach Travelodge Ayr - our accommodation at Ayr.

We didn't exactly go there for a holiday - we were there to get our son's eyes examined by Ian Jordan who has an optical practice. However, still get the chance to go down to the beautiful beach and the kids really enjoyed themselves. Wish we had more time to roam around this ancient town.









Would love to come back here again someday.

Choi Time tea review 1

First of all I would like to clarify that I am not an expert on teas. However, I love teas. If you come to my house you can rest assured that I will have a tea you like - from the ordinary English breakfast teas to herbal teas. Just take a look at range I have:

So you can imagine how delighted I was when Choi Time, a company specialising in quality Chinese green, rose bud and chrysanthemum flower teas, sent me a couple of samples to try out.

They have an amazing selection and the first tea I tried out was the one called Exotic mixed flowers. This is how it looked before...



...and after I poured the hot water in. It was amazing watching the ball unfurl to reveal needle tea leaves with several other flowers carefully woven.






This tea apparently has several health benefits as well. For example, chrysanthemum is said to have cooling properties and detoxifies the blood, helps with sinus decongestion, lowers high blood pressure and also calm the nerves. On the other hand, Marigold aids in improving digestion. The tea has a strong aroma and a slight hint of bitterness which is replaced by a sweet after taste. I refilled the pot with hot water twice and my wife preferred it the second time around - with a light taste.

A few days later, I tried out the Jasmine Pearls. This tea has won 3 gold stars at the Great taste awards in 2007 and 2008.



Made from lu-cha tea leaves and scented with Jasmine blossoms, the handrolled balls slowly unfurled as I poured in the hot water.



Jasmine teas are the most popular type of Chinese teas and I can see why the Sunday Times Style Magazine called this tea the Dom Perignon of the tea world. Has a nice aroma and light taste with a really  nice slightly sweet after-taste. They are also said to have several health benefits as well.

Though I liked both, I would have to say I definitely liked the latter slightly more. The former is really dramatic and can be a nice conversation starter when you have guests at home. I am definitely going to order packs of both teas.

UPDATE:
Choi Time is offering an extra 10% discount to all my readers. All you have to do is use the code twithadamok. Enjoy.

Godiva Festival 2011

Last Saturday I went along with my daughter to the Memorial Park in Coventry for the Godiva Festival. Even though I have been here in Coventry for quite sometime, this was the first time I went to the Festival. There was no direct bus to the festival and there were some angry people and raised voices at the Pool Meadow bus station. I got into the #12 bus which took us to Earlsdon and we got down near the library there. We walked to the park from there.

My daughter really enjoyed the Kid's art and crafts tent where we spent quite sometime making "stuff".

We then went around the various stalls and exhibits - learnt a few new and interesting things in the process.

Next was the Funfair - didn't go on any of the rides but my daughter won a bunny rabbit stuffed toy which is now her favourite toy at the moment. What is it with girls and soft toys?

We then moved to the main festival area - bought some over priced ice-cream. Got some freebies for filling up a survey at the NHS stand and then sat down to listen to some music. No idea who was playing but they were OK but my daughter was more interested in visiting the 'Bang Goes the Theory' tent. I found some of the exhibits quite fascinating.

We then finally left the park at around 5 pm and walked back to Earlsdon where my wife picked us up.
It was nice to finally spend some quality time alone with my daughter.

Promotional items online

Today as I was jotting down some notes, I noticed that the pen I was writing with was a souvenir that I had received at a conference sometime back. It made me realise how important promotional items are. Among the best ways to promote your company or brand is by giving away promotional items printed clearly with the company names and logos. Given away as door gifts, part of the conference pack or gifts to clients, the most common items include t-shirts, pens, mugs, mousepads and stationery.

There are several online stores where you can order promotional items for your company and the World's biggest online seller of promotional products is said to be Branders.com. Another popular company is Vistaprint.co.uk.

These sites carry all types of gifts ranging from the usual items like pens and mugs to promotional apparel and even personalized food gifts.

Motorway rest area cons - beware

This weekend, we were on our way back from London on the M1 and stopped at the Toddington rest area to take a break. As soon as I got out of the car a guy approached me - white, about 5 feet 6 with short cropped hair, wearing jeans and a white t-shirt and sneakers.

He said that his car was out of petrol and that his kids were with him in the car ( he pointed somewhere far away and there were a lot of cars). He wanted to borrow £5 just to get back home. I instinctively reached for my wallet without thinking but I took a look at him and didn't really the look in his eyes. I told him that I didn't have any change. But he was persistent an asked me if I could take out money from the ATM. This made me even more suspicious and I refused and walked away. I was feeling a bit guilty and thinking to myself "what if he was telling the truth?" when I noticed he was then talking to another car driver but this time he was pointing in the opposite direction. It was then I realised that he was a con artist and I am glad that I trusted my instincts.

Not sure whether the guy is still trying to con people at the rest areas but be careful.

Early signs of autism

While talking to other parents, we have come to realise that all our kids had certain similar signs and symptoms when they were small. Here I list down the 10 main ones to look out for. If your child displays some of these symptoms, I seriously suggest that you should go and see a developmental paediatrician to have your child examined.

1. Delayed speech.
2. Poor eye contact.
3. Spinning objects.
4. Hand flapping.
5. Rocking back and forth.
6. Limited diet, consisting mostly of gluten (e.g., bread, cookies, etc.).
7. Sensitivity to light and loud sounds.
8. Walking on tip toes.
9. Lining up objects.
10. Poor sleep.

Spraying on the plaster

I am really into DIY right now and am picking up the skills by trial and error. I find the DIY programmes on TV really, especially where they buy a dump and turn it into their dream home. Another reason I like to watch these programme is because I would like up to do up my own home one day. For now my DIY work is limited to painting walls and putting up shelves. Anyway, one skill I would liek to learn is plastering the walls.

I recently saw a programme where the plaster was sprayed on instead of the normal hand troweling. It looked much more convenient and is obviously faster. Anyway,if you are looking for plastering tools, check out Mortarsprayer.com. The company which is based in Eugene, Oregon manufactures 3 different plastering tools which should cover all your different plastering needs.

Sponsored post

Royal Wedding - what people are talking about

Last weekend I was in London to see my in-laws off. I was thinking of going out to watch the Royal wedding celebrations but changed my decision at the thought of the crowds and my kids. We were able to watch the wedding in the comfort of my bro-in-law's house.

I really enjoyed and what ever people say, I think that the event was really what the British public needed. To a lot of people weary of the cuts, rise in prices, job losses and everything else, the event provided a welcome respite and brought cheer to a lot of people - even republicans. I am still enjoying the holidays.

Looking at the blogosphere and the various social media, the two most popular topics related to the wedding seem to be about bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem, who is also Prince William god daughter.

She was covering her ears and not really enjoying the event. Many thought that she might have some sensory problems (autism?) but people seem to forget that she is just 3 years old. Some of the comments were really cruel.

Another popular topic is Princess Beatrice's Philip Treacy Hat. It's a viral on the net now and you can even have your own picture with the hat on.

A lot of people don't seem to like the hat. If it was attention she was looking for when she choose the hat, she got it. I thought it was really brave of her.

Other popular news seems to be about Pippa Middleton, the bride's sister and maid of honour;and about the controversial snub of former (Labour)Prime Ministers, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, both of whom were not invited to the wedding.

Another autism guide

A few days back we had our son's six month review. This was to evaluate whether his school is suitable for him. We had fought hard to get a place in this school which is actually the only Mainstream school in Coventry to have a special autism unit attached with it. The places are limited but we were able to get our son in. We did not want to send him to a general special school which are not really focussed on children with autism.

Anyway, we have realised that because of our son, our research on autism has actually exceeded that of our own PhD research (based on the number of files and books we have in the house).

I will be carrying a list of blogs and resources on the net on autism with my readers. This is the first of the series.

While going through the net, I came across the autism guide for parents. This is an informative blog with short posts that I think will assist parents of autistic children. There are several posts and one of the posts talks about 'how parent's cope with autistic children". I can definitely relate to some of the stuff written down there. I wish other parents with neurotypical children understand what we have to go through.

Join us in our journey with our son Imaan as well.

Alternative registration for cars in California

If you live in California and hate to queue up to register your car with the Department of Motor vehicles or the DMV, visit Nodmvlines.com.

According to Skeet DMV Consultant and Owner of Nodmvlines.com, if you need to register your car, she will deal with the DMV so that you do not need to go in, make an appointment, or ever have to go to the DMV and wait in line.

The office is located at 21777 Ventura Boulevard Suite 267, Woodland Hills, CA 91364.

The service will take care of all registration requirements so you dont have to wait or make an appointment. Other services include transfer of vehicle ownership, lost plates and certificates, registration of out-of-state vehicles among others. The company can also help you obtain personalised plates as well.

Please visit the site for more details. More content will be added soon.

Sponsored Post

Warm baselayer made from bamboo

Last month, the guys at BAM Bamboo clothing sent me a Zip neck baselayer to review.

It was a perfect fit when I first tried it on and it really felt comfy. I have been using it for a while now and I only have good things to say about it. It was apparently designed for skiers and come with thumbloops to keep wrists warm and prevent snow going up your sleeves when you have a wipeout.



When using it for cycling, I don't use the thumbloops as they were uncomfortable with the gloves on.

The first time I tried it on while cycling to the University of Warwick campus, the morning air was a bit nippy and I put a light jacket on. Halfway to the University, it became warmer and after a while I was sweating really bad. I stopped halfway and took off my jacket which is waterproof. I was soaked but I had no choice but to go on. The cold air was refreshing and I reached my office soon. I took the baselayer off which was soaking wet in the toilet and put on a fresh T-shirt I had bought along. As usual, I dried off the baselayer on top of the radiator and it was completely dry in a couple of minutes before my room mates came in.

The great thing was that despite all the sweat, it was not smelly at all. I later found out that the baselayer is guaranteed to be odour free. I know of many people who refuse to go into a lift with a sweating cyclist - this revolutionary clothing might actually change that. I also read somewhere that the bamboo fibres inhibit bacterial growth and is also anti-fungal and anti-static (meaning it won't stick to your skin) as well.

On the way back home, I wore it without the jacket and I was quite comfortable despite the chilly air. It is quite long and doesn't ride up my back while cycling which is really good. The wicking action was as good as my other baselayers but this one felt much warmer. The other baselayers have a mash type of material which facilitates wicking but can get really chilly.



Since then, I have worn the baselayer several times when cycling and even at home when it gets a bit chilly. It costs £40 in the online BAM store I am definitely going to buy a few more of them.

Bad experience with Etihad

It's really shocking how some big companies treat (or should I say mistreat) their customers. My brother-in-law was just telling us about their bad experience with Etihad Airways(which is the national airline of the UAE) recently and I wanted to blog about it here so that other people are aware. It was really surprising because the company has a long list of awards which they have won for their customer service.

They had bought a ticket to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from London for my nephew in January. Somehow they ended up charging my brother-in-law's credit card twice. The amount is about £550 which is not a small sum.

He promptly called them up to get a reimbursement following which they directed him to send them an email with details of the ticket/transaction. Apparently he has had the same conversation a few times and have been sending them back similar emails several times as well.

It has been three months since the original travel date and my brother-in-law still hasn't received anything, not even an acknowledgement.

In the meantime, he's been paying interest on the cost. Right now he totally fed up and is contemplating sending an official complaint to Consumer Direct.

I hope they solve it before it goes to that.

An ethical question

Imagine that your company (an MNC) is looking forward to enter a foreign country. You are the manager responsible for the entry and dealing with foreign Government officials.

After a few months of negotiations, the Government officials of the country which has recently opened up a particular sector, have agreed to let you in and also give you preferential treatment. Getting this approval is crucial as it would mean that your company would have the first mover advantage. None of your competitors have entered the market yet.

The chief Government official responsible for the decision calls you suddenly and when you get to his office, he suddenly makes it clear that he would require a cut - a gift for "services rendered". He also hints that even though your company had the approval "almost in your hands, there was still a chance that you might lose it if you delayed....".

He makes it clear that if you don't agree to provide a cut, they were going to choose another competitor even though they were clearly no where near as as good as your company. He also mentioned that he was willing to negotiate.

Your company does not have a policy with regards to "gift giving" or "kickbacks" and you know that if you refuse, there were several other companies who would go ahead and give money just to get into the newly opened lucrative market.

You don't want to lose out on this opportunity but at the same time, you are not comfortable with the idea of engaging in corruption.

Put yourself in the shoes of this manager.

What would you do?

Manipur, the sports powerhouse of India

Manipur, a small strife torn state in the north-eastern corner of India has emerged as the sports powerhouse of the country. At the recently concluded 34th National Games held in
held from 12 February 2011 to 26 February 2011 at Ranchi in the state of Jharkhand, they came second with a total of 108 medal including 46 gold, 33 silver and 29 bronge medals behind Services (Services Sports Control Board - SSCB), which was a combined team of the Indian armed forces. Manipur took the best state award.

What makes it more amazing is the fact that "35 Manipuris won medals for the Services Board, 17 of them won medals for Jharkhand, 11 for Delhi, six for Kerala, 34 for Madhya Pradesh, two for Uttar Pradesh, one for Karnataka, two for Andhra Pradesh, 21 for Assam, two for Orissa and one for Bihar."

Manipuris have been making a mark internationally as well and during the Common Wealth Games, 2010 at Delhi, Manipur players have won 3 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze Medals. Among those who have made their mark internationally is MC Mary Kom,a mother of two who is five times World Boxing Champion and aiming for a Olympic Gold in 2012. She follows in the footsteps of Dingko Singh, another boxer who won the gold medal at 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok.

This is pretty amazing for a state which makes up only 0.1% of India's population (2,388,634) and has seen a violent separatist insurgency since 1964. According to a journalist friend of mine, the state has had more people die due to the violence as compared to Kashmir, another troubled state but has been out of the international media spotlight. The state has no particular industry of note and government jobs are in high demand. Successful sports people are often given huge cash prizes and jobs in the public sector, especially in the armed forces and thus this is a huge incentive to take up sports as a career.

I wonder whether investing in sports might be a better strategy for the Indian Government to defeat the insurgency rather then sending more troops into the state.