A special dispensation has been agreed, I will be allowed to open my Christmas present today because as my wife says,

"This is something special"

Off to the barn now....

I just opened the present from my family.

Many years ago like most young men I wanted a motorcycle but with only limited funds available I was only able to afford a rather tired and long past its best 1967 T120 Triumph Bonneville. Two tone dark red and white.

. I loved that bike, it took me all over the UK as well as to holidays in France, Austria and Germany. It was easy to work on and I did nearly all the maintenance myself, despite its age and mileage it never let me down and I always said I would never sell it.

After I became a soldier I put it into storage in my father's garage in London. I have on many occasions promised myself I would bring it over to France and start the restoration it needed but always something came along first that needed my attention.