Hi all....a little personal update and howdy to you all.

[Strika]

Hi all, sorry I havn't been around much lately (some will be happy about that I am sure ). But it's been an interesting ride for the start of 2010. It may culminate in me losing the Rex.

As most will know, a few years back I went through a bit of an issue with my financial circumstances altering drastically due to another persons actions. I managed to save the business at the time and battled through for the following few years, slowly getting on top of the debt. However, the start of 2010 saw some interesting changes within all of the large companies I consulted to. I saw my bank accound depleting and work slowly disappear as companies went in house. I was offered two or three of the new roles, but at the time really wanted to try and save the business which I had operated since 1997. However, as more and more of my customers turned to internal training solutions, I could see that I was pretty soon not going to have any work at all. By this stage, funds were getting low.

To add to that, it looks like the other party involved in my original financial demise is in trouble with money...again, to the extent that assets may be siezed. We shared things in our names. One bike and one car in my name and one bike and one car in hers. Problem is, I sold the 9 which was registered in my name, and the Rex is still registered in hers. So, even though Registration is not proof of ownership, the battle might not be financially justifyable. I may lose the Rex in a few months. Not sure yet, but it's looking like it.

On the upside, I was offered a role here in Melbourne as Group Training Manager for a large Automotive retailer. Thankfully, it's a position which sits under the Retail Executive level, so remuneration is enough to get me going again financially. I accepted the role and am now working 10-11 hours each day to earn it. There's always a price, but at least I can start catching up with the bills and eventually, start rebuilding my property portfolio again, with the plan, regardless what happens to the Rex, I am going to buy another bike in 5 or 6 months. Not sure yet, but a late, late model, well suspended Rex is high on my list yet again.



Anyways, just thought I would fill you all in, as I've been a bit quiet of late. Don't worry, it's only temporary, I'll be back on the gas soon enough!!

Ciao

[waynemorgan]

Good one Strika - not the problems etc but the new job and positive attitude!

Bit of a bummer with the $$ side of things but sounds like you're getting things back in order - well done

[Smitty]

...good luck Marty
work and jobs can be a bummer at times
but once settled, things will sort themselves

bikes..??? you can always buy another once the moolah is to hand
dont sweat that.... and hope this all sorts out

[Blurr]

bugger Marty. It's a bitch that your still getting screwed over from previous issues which you thought you paid more than enough for already.

[Plaz]

Onya Marty, really sorry to hear about the business, but you have the guts to thrive where ever you go. Looking forward to hearing about the new bike.....have you looked at the new z1000...hint hint

[hoffy]

yeah..its certainly surprising to see how things have ended up..I still cant believe it..

[seiko1]

I thought it was odd you didn't want to ride Monday
I hope you can work through it soon and always remember, I know a bloke who will fix any problem for the price of a Rex
Thanks for keeping us informed Marty and good luck with "the persistant" problem

[fireyrob]

Glad to see your still around and positive Marty! As they say when life throws you a curve...

[Glen]

Good to hear from you old fella. Knowing you mate I'm sure you'll get back on top again. If you need anything just yell.

[Gosling1]

good luck with the new job mate - hope it works out OK for you. Bugger to hear that the mighty Rex could be swallowed up with those shenanigans ...

But instead of another Rex......how about something like this ?? It sure breaks the mold of the big UJM we all know and love !!!!

keep ya chin up mate, looking forward to the next ride....

[dave#3]

It's great to hear your chin is still well and truly up. Bikes can be replaced ... as long you've got that great attitude you'll be back on your feet in no time. Yell out if you've ever up here and need a bed.

[red_dave]

Good luck with the new job Marty!

Don't be a stranger

[Dizzi]

Hey hey Marty, well I hear ya mate in relation to taking two steps back to try and go forward, I had to do that last year and it's paying off, career wise, the mulla is yet to start shining through but yeah I feel your pain mate, I am hanging onto our rides with everything we possibly can.

[Strika]

good luck with the new job mate - hope it works out OK for you. Bugger to hear that the mighty Rex could be swallowed up with those shenanigans ...

But instead of another Rex......how about something like this ?? It sure breaks the mold of the big UJM we all know and love !!!!

keep ya chin up mate, looking forward to the next ride....

Love the retro look of it, but I'm not sure that the chassis would work as well as the rex's does. I think Kawasaki fluked it with the ZRX frame. It really works amazingly well. It hides the weight better than any bike of it's type which I Have ridden and as other have done, it get's even better when some money is thrown at the suspenders. I also really like Z1000's. The earlier (03/04) ones though, and with the twin sided four muffler gold pipes!!!! I know most loath those pipes, but I reckon it's half the chubby factor on a Z!! While I love the sound of PC's as bangs it down four gears at a time hard on the piks, It would do my head in after half an hour on the bike. I love the lack of sound with the standard fufflers!!

May even go back to a more sports oriented bike yet. I've been thinking that I am rarely doing long trips, I have to use my car mostly to commute to work, as I have to wear a suit evey day now and carry a laptop. It's a right pain having to strip off the wet weather gear everytime you pull into any one of the 15 sites the company operates from. So I rarely ride to work now. As I won't be travelling and am working M-F 8.30-6.00 Min, with only 4 weeks annual leave, I won;t be buggering off four two or three days at a time on the bike. Day rides are 550klms max. It's doable even for an old dinoaur like me. Maybe another late model 9 again. Or perhaps something as mental as an 04 ZX10R? I'll probably change my mind 50 times before deciding on what I want and then go out and buy another Rex regardlesss!!!

[javaman]

Good luck and congratulation with the new job Strika! Hope you don't find out soon enough it's hard to do weekday rides where you look out the window and the sky is blue (... been doing that 10 yrs ). Hope you don't lose the Rex... cheers.