Trail Bike Adventure Magazine

Just chillin'. March 29

Saturday, 27 March 2010 15:24

Its actually Saturday arvo, but I'm getting in early because I'm at my desk anyway (trying to finish issue #33), and this coming week is going to be difficult. And I don't want Goba to have to remind me in his polite and friendly way that my blog's late again.

I have to say, he's made a huge improvement in the site in a very short time - and I'm not just saying that to suck up when he checks to see if I've blogged this week or not...although it can't hurt, I suppose. There's new material on there all the time. I log on whenever I have a spare moment now, just to see what's there.

Of course, I haven't had many spare moments this last week. Trying to get this issue finished has been a trial, especially when I find myself caught in obvious mismanagement activities. Activities that I'm contemptuous of in other editors.

In any case, the damage is done and I can only continue to get things done as best I can. It's hard to believe that with an eight-week production cycle, being out of touch for a single week can make such a huge impact. Of course, the week I was out of touch included missing a trip to Tasmania where I'd planned to shoot the cover and a stack of other material, and a trip out west which I had earmarked for another swag of pics and tech pieces.

No excuses, but. There it is.

Where was I...at my desk on a Saturday arvo. Well I've confessed why that is. This week to be difficult!

I have to do a heap of advertiser visits this week, and with the mag running so late, that's a potentially serious problem. I'm not game to postpone them, but, because I postponed them already once when I broke the leg. Also, they're actually enjoyable. It's easy to go a year without seeing some of the mag's biggest supporters, and they're all nice folks whose company I enjoy. We talk on the phone or exchange e-mails, but unless we book a specific time, we seldom get to sit and chat. That might sound whimsical, but it's amazing how much important information is exchanged during informal chats, especially ideas which can benefit both the mag and another business.

So I'll be enjoying top-quality capuccino and good company, and checking proofs and writing captions in the hire car between visits.

The injuries complicate the whole thing - I'm still not able to lie down - but I'm bored with talking about injuries, and I'm sure youse are bored hearing about them. The only thing that's kind of funny is to think the best place for me to sleep may well be the reclining front seat of the hire car. Ha! I'll make sure I get pics if it happens.

Jay's DR650 is still a problem, because I haven't been able to get it to Graham Whipp's workshop yet. I've been flat out here, and he's in Victoria somewhere. I hope to get that sorted out tomorrow. I've been up to Link International during the week, so I have some new Polisport plastics and handguards, and Robin Box at Safari Tanks has been fabulous. He'll ship me a new tank as soon he gets one made, so that part of things is covered. I'm keen to get the bike back in shape and return it to Jay (even though he's been totally forgiving and easy-going about the whole thing).

I'd better go. I still have magazine to take care of.

Because the pressure's on to run pics on the blog, and because I like quizzes and stuff, here's a pic. If you can correctly identify who it is - and prove you're over 18 - I'll send you a couple more. If you're under 18, or shy, don't look at it.

Email your answers.

TF