Milestones - past, present and future

From time to time, I've posted about the ageing process; mostly in relation to that highly personal decision of when to stop riding motorcycles. In reality, that's really a subset of what you plan to do post-retirement.  A couple of days ago, it suddenly hit me that this week, I will have been retired for 18 years; apart from a short spell of consultancy back to my old company.  That time has passed in the blink of an eye. It's probably not wise to set plans in stone as there are so many factors which can derail them.  However, having loose plans with some contingencies makes good sense.

Surprise 60th birthday party with my cherished riding mates

The decision to retire at 60 in 2008 is certainly one I haven't regretted although there were more than a few worries at the time with respect to whether it was a sound decision.  I loved the work but with ownership changes, there were clearly better ways to enjoy life.  Although financial considerations were naturally part of the decision, the major concerns revolved around the transition from a demanding career to a more leisurely lifestyle, despite having some broad plans of how to spend that time.  Jennie had her own worries, having retired some time beforehand.  Her concerns mainly centered around me hanging around the house with bugger-all to do, disrupting her personal routines!

I needn't have worried and ditto for Jennie.  The first 12 months were a mix of consulting back to my old company and getting our holiday home fit to live in permanently.  Harmony reigned in the household and still does.  Much of this is down to us having both common interests where we do stuff together, plus personal interests where we can do stuff on our own.

Moving permanently to the Coromandel Peninsula opened up the chance to build strong relationships with the local community and we both volunteered as tutors for Senior Net, an organisation which assists seniors to develop computer skills for everyday living needs.  We did this for the best part of 5 years.  Motorcycling hadn't been neglected during this time but with the twisty nature of Coromandel roads, coupled with age; there was always a plan to move to lower, lighter bikes than my Honda Blackbird.  Several bikes were test-ridden but the one which captured my soul was the Triumph Street Triple.  Choosing a particular bike is a highly personal decision but it's fair to say that the Triple was the best overall bike I've owned in 58 years of riding.

About to head off on the 2010 1000miles/1600 km in under 24 hours Rusty Nuts ride 

It was on the Street Triple that the next part of the "ageing safely" strategy was put into place by joining the Institute of Advanced Motorists to learn advanced riding skills based on UK police roadcraft. That's covered elsewhere in the blog but learning something new and being stretched is a wonderful way of staying both mentally and physically fit.  It also gave the opportunity to repay the IAM mentoring team for all their time and care by eventually becoming a mentor and Examiner with them.  Making new, lifelong friends during that time is also something which has had a massive impact on wellbeing.  I finally retired from IAM in 2021 after 11 years and retired altogether from riding in 2022/3. It was quite an easy decision as we had other established interests to keep life interesting. 

Long arm of the law - Sgt Steve Butler-Jones, another IAM mate

Travel is something we both enjoy and wherever we've travelled, most people we've met have been hospitable, caring human beings who just want to be comfortable and enjoy life. It's just politicians and dare I say it... some so-called religious groups who screw it up for everyone. 

Sweltering in 30 degrees along the Great Wall

Ballooning at dawn on the Serengeti

Mountain biking has been a lot of fun, although readers of this blog will know that it hasn't entirely been plain sailing in the quest to stay fit.  A more conservative approach to choosing safer off-road trails should ensure continued future enjoyment without the pain!  

The Medlock trail, Coromandel

Driving our classic MGB GT is also a lot of fun and was a brilliant suggestion by Jennie to keep an interest in things automotive.  Sea fishing is also something we both enjoy and it has to be admitted that Jennie normally has bragging rights over me!

A still day on the Firth of Thames among the commercial mussel farms

This has been a slightly whimsical post but on reflection, having a plan prior to retirement to keep the brain and ticking over and to keep healthy seems to have worked out fairly well for the last 18 years.  Certainly no regrets about retiring earlier than originally planned to enjoy the really important things in life and to avoid saying the "If only....." phrase.   Jennie is also really busy in her role as president of the local museum.  It's run by volunteers so I spend a bit of time helping out with maintenance and restoring old photos.  Good to put something back into the community

At the end of next year, we'll both be celebrating our 80th birthdays and there are no plans to slack off as long as the bodies stand up ok!  Retirement eventually comes to us all - maybe a bit of food for thought about how to get the most out of it?

Still involved with automotive stuff 

Growing older disgracefully

Out in the Coromandel bush

Back in December 2024, I made a post about a lack of talent on my part leading to a serious injury. I was ejected from my e-mountain bike on a local trail, snapping my femur and having to be rescued.  That story is HERE . In a more recent similar vein, Steve Hoswell, fellow moto-blogger from across the pond in Sydney; had a major accident on his bike.  His harrowing and inspirational story is HERE .  There was a lot of light-hearted banter about our accidents but underneath it all; it could have been so much worse.

The common thread is that ordinary activities can easily lead to adverse consequences and those consequences can take a serious amount of time to recover from. They also have a significant impact on those around us.  However, events like this can also lead to positive outcomes during and after recovery - better health and fitness in both Steve's and my instances, not to mention intangible mental benefits.

Rehab exercise, enforced by my wife

My recovery led to some unforeseen circumstances. Sharing them may be of benefit to others, not just umm.... mature folk like me.

After surgery, I was contacted by the senior nurse in charge of the fracture clinic at our major regional base hospital, some 160 km away from where we live.  Kerry and I hit it off straight away with an amusing discussion as to why a 77 year old would choose mountain biking as a pastime. She was super-helpful, talking about rehab options for the older person and also mentioned a condition called osteoporosis - something I'd heard of but knew nothing about.  It's a medical condition in which bones become brittle and fragile, typically as a result of hormonal changes or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.  Older people are particularly susceptible to the condition.  It's normally associated with females, yet 1in 3 males can end up with it.  Kerry then offered me the opportunity for an osteoporosis test at a closer provincial hospital.  This consisted of a series of low-powered X-rays taking less than half an hour, so I thought "Why not?"  

At the end of the tests, I was shocked to find that I did indeed have a degree of osteoporosis which may well have contributed to the broken femur.  Prior to the accident, I always thought I was in good nick, especially for my age. Kerry then outlined treatment options which were surprisingly straightforward, including an exercise regime to strengthen bones and muscles. After discussing it with my GP, medication was started, followed by 3 sessions a week at our local gym.  The exercises started last June and have continued since then because they're both enjoyable and good for me.  A recent blood test has shown that the treatment is working, I feel great and can look forward to the years ahead.

There has been one recent development though, which came from left field. Osteoporosis NZ, responsible for promoting bone health asked me whether I'd talk about my story as an aid to others who might find themselves in similar circumstances.  The following narrative is the draft I wrote for them.  It was well-received and I think it will appear in their publications before long.  Also, they recently arranged for me to be interviewed by a journalist from a national media and lifestyle magazine.  The article will be published any time now.  Let's hope that it will spark a bit of interest about osteoporosis and encourage people to get checked at an appropriate time.

A Surprise Diagnosis – Living With Osteoporosis

By Geoff James

I'm a 78‑year‑old retired professional engineer living on the Coromandel Peninsula. I've always been active, sailing competitively and riding motorcycles for nearly 60 years. Despite my wife's periodic claims that living with me is like living with a five‑year‑old, I thought I showed a modicum of common sense by retiring from riding about four years ago. Older bodies don't respond too well to accidents, and fate makes no distinction about fault, so quitting while ahead made sense.

My wife suggested we buy a classic car to enjoy together, which we duly did, and to keep fit I purchased an e‑mountain bike to explore the Coromandel’s off‑road trails. When someone has to give up a lifelong passion, it’s important to have a fallback interest to keep both mind and body in good shape. Mountain biking has been a lot of fun, and I even lost over 12 kg in the process. Not bad at all. Unfortunately, a notable error in judgment was still to come.

Late in 2024, Karma decided to intervene. I had recently recovered from knee‑replacement surgery after years of sporting abuse and had only been back on the bike for a couple of weeks. One late‑afternoon ride saw me tackling a challenging trail near home. A combination of loose clay “marbles” and a previously undiagnosed lack of rider talent proved my undoing. I was ejected from the bike and landed in an undignified heap.

I knew I was in serious trouble from the way my right leg flopped about, not to mention the excruciating pain. It was obvious I’d broken my femur. I always carry a phone, so my first action was to call my wife. I wasn’t expecting tea and sympathy, but the telling‑off I received firmly put me in my place as an old idiot who should know better. She then called an ambulance, and with the help of several locals — including my GP and one of his medical team — I was moved off the trail and taken to Waikato Hospital. The rapid support and care from everyone involved was humbling, and I later tracked down each person to thank them.

When questioned by the hospital team about the cause of the accident, their tone was much the same as my wife’s, although far more diplomatic. After surgery to pin my femur and beginning rehabilitation, I was contacted by the Waikato Fracture Liaison Service. Given my age and the nature of the injury, I was offered a bone‑density scan. The scan confirmed osteoporosis — quite a shock, given how active and fit I thought I was.

However, the support, care, and clear information from the Fracture Liaison Service and my GP removed any fear of the unknown. After discussing options, I began weekly Fosamax tablets. They’ve been easy to manage — a glass of water and staying upright for half an hour afterwards — and I now attend the local gym three times a week for strength and cardio work. It has become an enjoyable and effective routine.

A recent blood test shows the treatment is working, and I can look to the future with optimism. I’m back cycling with no ill effects, although I’ve been banned by my wife — on pain of death — from riding on challenging goat tracks. I can live with flat gravel and road riding.

Some reflections

In the past, I’ve clearly minimised the disparity between my mental and physical age, despite the occasional family comment to this effect. This event has reminded me that taking everyday precautions is long overdue. Avoiding or modifying certain activities is now properly — well, mostly — thought through. No more climbing on the roof, and ladder work is now a matter of negotiation with my wife. Taking personal responsibility for maintaining health and fitness appropriate to my age has become a priority.

Had I not had the accident, my osteoporosis would have remained undiagnosed. My situation isn’t unique — many older New Zealanders discover osteoporosis only after a fracture. Earlier access to bone‑density scans could prevent similar cases and reduce long‑term healthcare costs.

I’m deeply grateful to everyone in the health service who supported me. Without them, the osteoporosis would have gone unnoticed, and a future incident could have had far more serious consequences. A massive thank‑you to all involved.

Back on the bike

Rehab and Adult Toys

For those of you with dirty minds, you're going to be disappointed!  In this instance, "adult toys" refers to classic cars and motorcycles!

The previous post outlined the circumstances of my mountain bike accident and surgery to repair a broken femur.  A number of people were involved with my rescue, several of whom I hadn't previously met.  I was able to track them down, thank them personally and give them each a gift for Christmas.  As with any small community, (population ~1600), news spreads fast so I've had to endure plenty of mickey-taking since the accident every time we go into the village.  Jennie has received nothing but commiserations for putting up with me but I have a plan in place to show appreciation for her not stabbing me to death during rehab.

Rehab has gone well but it's been painful and slow.  Use of crutches stopped a couple of weeks ago and exercises including pedalling a static bike continue to build leg strength and flexibility.  It will be a while yet before I'm back on the mountain bike, even simple road riding.  Confidence has taken a bit of a knock as the time draws closer but we'll get there.  I'm also somewhat anaemic from the surgery but iron-rich food should help in that respect.

Sincerest thanks for your notes of support, comments on the last blog post and also Facebook.  It genuinely means a lot when you're fighting what feels like an uphill battle in terms of recuperation.

The opportunity to do anything interesting has been a bit limited.  Driving our modern vehicles has been ok but actually getting into our MGB GT has been impossible until recently.  Even now, some minor contortions are required.  It so happened that the Coromandel Classic Car Club held its annual car show last weekend for bikes and cars of all shapes and sizes so it was into the MG to see what was on display.  Perfect weather, good food, a ukulele band and line dancing demonstrations to complete the country atmosphere; plus a stunning array of vehicles.  Here are some of the photos I took, with some narrative where appropriate.

If I remember correctly, the registration sticker said a 1934 F series Morgan 3 wheeler.  It's powered by a side valve Ford engine of either 8 or 10 hp.  The vehicle on the background is a 1933 Essex Terraplane.  

Morgan 3 wheeler and US-made Terraplane

Rear view of Morgan and Terraplane

A modern "classic" this time - a 2002 Ford Thunderbird.  It clearly has a European design influence compared with earlier Thunderbirds but in my humble opinion, looks a bit bland. Apparently had a reputation for transferring road vibrations throughout the car.

2002 Ford Thunderbird

The rear end of a 1964 Ford Thunderbird, complete with streamlined headrests.  All the excesses we've come to expect from a convertible of that era.

1964 Ford T'bird

The next 3 photos are of my favourite car at the show, despite all the wonderful exotic hardware on display.  It's a 1950's Borgward Isabella manufactured in Germany.  One of our UK neighbours had one for years.  What makes it my favourite is that it's a genuine recent barn find from the Auckland region. The paint is original but time and UV has reduced it to an odd brown-pink colour. There's the slightest dusting of rust in a few places but no serious rusting or rot at all.  I hope that it's left "as-is" because that's what attracts attention.  

Borgward Isabella

Isabella dashboard and steering wheel

Isabella engine bay

This is a 1942 Chevrolet Fleetline with an in-line 6 cylinder motor.  Production was deferred in 1942 because of WW2.

Chevy Fleetline

The BMW Owner's Club brought 15 classic BMW's along.  They were from the days when you could actually tell them apart and they still look great.

BMW classic mix

This 1955 Cadillac looks like something out of Toy Story!  The finish was nigh-on perfect. 

1955 Cadillac Series 60

A motorcycle for a change.  A Czechoslovakian Jawa CZ owned by a local resident.  Pretty sure that it's a 175cc twin from the late 50's or early 60's.  I was given one and got it going but never registered it for road use.

Jawa CZ 175 2 stroke

A couple of British 650's.  This particular BSA Lightning was from the early 70's when the British motorcycle industry was in decline.  Designed with American market styling, it was a decent bike but didn't have the good looks of the earlier A65 Lightning and sales were poor.  The Triumph Bonneville was what captured the public imagination in the early days and held a number of world land speed records (hence the name).  This model is probably from 1965.

BSA Lightning and Triumph Bonneville

The HRD Vincent is one of the most famous bikes of all time.  This one is absolutely flawless. It's a generalisation but any Vincent 1000 will probably sell for upwards of NZ $50,000.  Looking on British auction websites, prices vary considerably according to precise model and condition.  There are a few currently being advertised at NZ$130,000 or more - a good investment, eh?

HRD Vincent 1000

The 2 cars below were a mainstay of the 60's in Australasia, the '62 EH Holden Special station wagon and a '62 Chrysler Valiant.  The Holden in particular was a favourite on the surfing scene.

EH Holden and Chrysler (AUS) Valiant

A seriously large Ford Galaxie.  I saw them raced at Silverstone in the late 60's by Jack Sears and Sir Gawain Baille.  They took up a fair percentage of the track width and added another complication to getting past them!

Ford Galaxie, 1968 model with 7 litre engine

Another 7 litre job - a '75 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible.  Looks very presidential before armour plate became necessary.

75 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Some nice local machinery from different eras.  a '74 Toyota Landcruiser, a 1979 Mitsubishi Jeep and a 1936 Ford Coupe in metalflake cherry red.

A nice mix

Arty shot of a 1973 Jaguar E type V12

E Type Jaguar

A flawless finish on this Chevy truck

A Chevy work of art

Orange must be the new black!  '22 Corvette being driven by a local young lady.

Attractive Corvette, equally attractive owner

A V8-powered hot rod which started off as a Ford Prefect with an 1172cc side valve engine!

Originally a UK Ford Prefect

The Ford Prefect origins can clearly be seen from the rear.

The original is just about recognisable

A modern "classic" - a 1990 Nissan (C33?) Laurel.  It looks to be drift car inspired with lots of goodies under the bonnet including a big turbo.  Compliments to the person who engineered it and it was so clean that you could conduct surgery in the engine bay.

1990 Nissan Laurel Turbo

The vehicle below is a 2013 replica of a 1933 Ford. The owner would have had to jump through hoops with transport authorities to make it road legal.  Given the problems I had with the MGB GT for a minor discrepancy, I take my hat off to the owner for perseverance and craftmanship!

1933 Ford replica

The Australian-made Valiant Charger is a personal favourite of mine and only superficially resembles the US-made Dodge Charger.  I'd be very happy to own one but collectors have pushed it out of my price range!

1972 Valiant Charger

Our GT engine bay pretty much in its normal state - doesn't take much looking after considering that it's almost a daily driver.

1972 MGB GT

I hope that you've enjoyed just a handful of photos from the car fair. Exhibits must have been 200 or so, including our MGB GT which earned some nice compliments.  A large proportion of them are owned by residents of the Coromandel Peninsula.  Given our low population density and relatively remote location, I'm always amazed what people have lurking in their sheds.  I suspect this represents the tip of the iceberg!  I'd like to think that we're merely custodians of these cool vehicles and that they'll continue their march through time with future custodians who will love them as much as we do.

Winter and plenty to do

When a time deadline is coming up and you decide to sneak in "one more quick job" beforehand, you almost always know that it isn't going to end well, don't you?  This time, it was a weekender away with the Auckland chapter of the NZ MG Car Club, doing a winter lap of the Coromandel Peninsula.  The "one quick job" was checking engine and gearbox oil levels.  Engine oil was a piece of cake, over and done with in 2 minutes.  Checking the gearbox level involves removing a large rubber plug situated behind the lower instrument console on top of the transmission tunnel.  Using a technical phrase, it's a bugger to get at; involving bodily contortions as well forcing your hand partially through the opening to pull up the gearbox dipstick. There's also a risk of dropping it as removal and replacement has to be done by feel alone.  That's why I cunningly fitted a cable tie to the dipstick last time so that I could hook a finger round it for additional security.  It's impossible to photograph the hole and dipstick but follow the plastic pipe below and you'll get the drift.  This was the gearbox oil change from nearly 3 years ago.

Not a task for the faint-hearted

With a finger hooked through the cable tie, I gave it a tug and found to my horror that it wasn't the cable tie I pulled but the power lead to the overdrive unit. It had separated at the spade connection which was impossible to reach without jacking up the car and grovelling underneath.  Don't ask me how I know!

Doing the club run without overdrive would be a nuisance, as well as chewing through more gas so the car got jacked up, axle stands put in place and a 76 year old body squeezed underneath. It's a horrible job to reconnect it because of the limited space and last time, I ended up using a lot of bad language, thanks to severe cramp in my fingers.  This time, I cunningly held one end of the connector in place with a fishing hook disgorger from the boat toolkit and slid the other end of the connector in place with the other hand.  Still not easy but cramp avoided.  I should add that the overdrive power supply has now been slightly re-routed so fingers crossed, no more accidental disconnections!

Looking up from the garage floor. The gap is  about 2 cm wide

Another job not under a time constraint was a continuation of one that I thought I'd fixed a few weeks ago.  For some unknown reason, the front disc brakes on the MG started squealing when applied, but only on the first occasion they were used during the day - weird.  A quick bit of research revealed that brake squeal was relatively common on older cars due to the pads chattering slightly in the calipers.  That's why more modern vehicles have spring loaded backing shims or similar.  Anyway, a recommended fix was to coat the backing face of the pads with a copper-based grease to act as a damper. I did this and it worked fine for a while but the offside front rotor assembly started intermittently squealing again.  It may have been that I didn't use enough grease in the first place or that heat caused the grease to thin out.  In any event, I found some purpose-made high viscosity lubricant with a high melting point (see photo below).  Worked an absolute treat and hopefully, brake squeal is a thing of the past.  Another of life's learning experiences to file away!

Purpose-made disc pad ceramic grease

Replacing retaining clips and pins, greasing pad backplates

All done!

The tour with the MG club was a blast.  A warm, sunny winter weekend with virtually no traffic on the road other than us - awesome.  A great mix of MG's from 1950's T series cars through to an MG factory RV8 with the Rover 3.9 litre V8 engine.  Lovely twisty roads by the ocean and over the Coromandel Range, driving them how they were meant to be driven - pure heaven.  A great dinner together on our home turf of Coromandel Township and a photo shoot the next morning before the Auckland contingent headed for home.  Here's some photos.

Jennie and some disreputable old geezer

Near-neighbour Denise in the family '54 TF

A good mix of MG models and years

Lots more rolling in

Immaculate LHD MGA, imported from the USA

It was Mother's Day in NZ recently and Jennie wanted to go out in the MG for a picnic.  We chose a nice spot by the beach and where we parked, there was a walking/cycling track.  There were a few nice comments by passers-by of "a certain age" but one encounter really cracked us up!  We watched an elderly gentleman on a sporting upmarket mobility scooter approaching at an impressive rate of knots.  When he was really close, he banged on the brakes and slid to a stop sideways right next to us. His first words, nodding at the car were "I had one of those a few years back".   I suggested that he'd lost none of his skills which really amused him.  It's chance encounters like that which makes everyone's day!

Mother's Day picnic, Buffalo Beach, Whitianga

The knee rehab following surgery is coming along nicely.  There's more movement to come but we're now at the stage where I can venture off-road again without too much risk as long as I'm sensible.  We're fortunate through the generosity of a local landowner to have the Medlock Trail within 10 minutes of home.  It has substantial altitude changes and runs through both bush (forest) and open areas with stunning views.  Here's a panoramic taken at one of the high points, looking down over Coromandel Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf.  The beauty is that you can pick 'n mix the route length and difficulty to some extent but spending up to an hour or thereabouts most days doesn't interfere with other commitments too much.

Coromandel Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf

A clay climb - slippery when wet!  

Hill country riding

Open country on the Medlock Trail

At my age, it would be nigh on impossible to ride the trail without e-assist for the steep bits but there's no shame in that.  It gives access to places I'd never otherwise see and keeps me fairly fit as long as I don't hit the deck too hard in the tricky stuff.  Some parts of the trail are best avoided when riding solo in marginal conditions as calling for help after an "off" could be a bit hit and miss with phone reception. However, having local access plus an adjoining bike skills park with a number of severity grades right on our doorstep is what I'd call a win-win. Hopefully, keeping mentally and physically in reasonable nick means that we can still behave disgracefully for a few years yet!