All posts tagged: Vespa

Mr Right: 10 Reasons to Marry a Mod

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I recently overheard two men talking about their respective wives. There was nothing particularly spectacular about the conversation, in fact it contained all the obligatory clichés: Why does she need MORE shoes? Why does it take her so bloody long to get ready? I’m getting earache (adopts whining tone) “we never go anywhere?”… and it struck me that I couldn’t really imagine hearing George say any of these things (not within earshot anyway!). Later that same day I joked with a friend that, being the clothes obsessed shoeaholic that I am, being married to a Mod definitely has its benefits.  In all seriousness there are many reasons why I love my husband, and love spending time with him; none of them related to Mod. The bottom line is that time is best spent with someone who shares your passions.  However, it did get me thinking about the Mod Man and so, here is my tongue in cheek look at why every girl should marry a Mod… 1STYLING The Mod Man always looks good. Modernist Man knows how to …

Viva Lam-bretta!

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I feel thoroughly spoiled after my trip to Las Vegas. It was my first time visiting this truly bonkers bizarre city and, to be completely honest I had fully expected to chalk it up to experience and cross it off my ‘to do’ list. Instead, we already have plans to return next year! On the advice of friends we booked into the five-star Wynn. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting but nothing can really prepare you for the Wynn (or Vegas generally for that matter!). As soon as we stepped inside we were bombarded with a sensory overload; an indoor garden, complete with trees and floral sculptures. And, that was just the entrance! In fact the hotel is, quite literally festooned with floral sculptures by the artist Preston Bailey, including a large air balloon sculpture and working carousel. After travelling for a day, and being awake for almost 24 hours we checked into a room, with a footprint greater than our own home and decided to head straight out to take a look around. The first thing that hits you when …

Icons & Influencers: Claire Mahoney

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By far one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things about being active in a scene and on social media is the social aspect. Some friends, by virtue of distance or circumstance remain ‘virtual’ until such time that you find yourself at the same event. Claire Mahoney, journalist, broadcaster & Mod is one of those friends. Being a writing ‘enthusiast’, Claire (as the professional) is an inspiration to me.  In fact, if you’re in the Mod or Scooter scene yourself and haven’t heard of Claire, then shame on you! Claire isn’t just an active member of the Mod scene, as a journalist and broadcaster she is an influential promoter of the scene. An obvious choice for The Mod Closet’s Icons & Influencers series, I was absolutely delighted when Claire agreed to put virtual pen to paper and tell us a bit about herself. Claire also gave us a sneak peak into her Mod Closet to show us her favourite outfit, which you can see here! Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you live? …

Icons & Influencers: Serena Chamberlain

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When was the last time you joined a gang? Ok, maybe not a gang but a club or team? A well established one? It’s a bit daunting isn’t it? You hope you’re going to be welcomed on arrival; you torment yourself with the thought What if no one speaks to me? and ask yourself Why, exactly am I doing this? Well, Serena is the main reason my first scooter meet was the best possible experience it could’ve been. Last year, having just gained my motorbike license and, finally being able to ride my scooter (Beryl’s engine is too big for a CBT), George and I went on our first scooter meet. One sunny Sunday afternoon we headed north and rode a whole 4.3 miles up the road to Sturdy’s Castle in Kidlington. This wasn’t just my first scooter meet, it was my first time riding two wheels on a proper road, with other road users and everything! My first rookie mistake: I dressed to impress rather than appropriately and for safety; I haven’t made that mistake again! By the …

Choke On My Two-Stroke (this Female Scooterist shifts gear)

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As every new scooterists knows there are some key milestones in the scooting experience and I enjoyed a major one this weekend.  I don’t want to be a drama queen about the whole experience but I do think it’s far more difficult to learn something new the older you are, particularly something physical and riding a scooter is fairly physical; handlebar gears are counterintuitive to everything I have ever known in adulthood. It’s also harder on the ego! By mid-life you’re probably an expert in almost everything you do so, suddenly being a beginner/novice takes some psychological effort on my part. I do so love being the expert …and, I do so hate being the newbie. Also, and I may have mentioned this before, I’ve discovered a phobia of travelling on two wheels; preferring instead, the protection of a big metal shell with ABS and lovely big old airbags! Anyway, I digress: This weekend was a major milestone in my scooting experience. We joined the ride-out to Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire and, firstly I couldn’t help …

Beryl’s New Clothes

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I am so delighted with Beryl’s new vinyl that I am unashamedly giving her her own Lookbook feature. Beryl the Yellow Peril, to give her her full name, was already a good-looking Li Series 2, with a Series 1 headset and horncast but, the addition of the new vinyl set has made her a bit of a show stopper …but, of course I am biased. BEFORE… It has been a bit of a journey getting here. I had originally planned to have her upholstered in yellow leather hide but, ended up falling out with the upholsterer (the same company that previously upholstered and recovered Lammy; George’s Li Series 2). My request to bring the whole lot in under £400 was enthusiastically agreed; Oh my god *laughs* of course it will come in well under that price; only to receive a text, some time later that said “the hide has arrived!!! £650 all in!”. We fell out, when the owner tried to argue that £650 was nowhere near 60% more than £400 and, even if it was (it is), …

Ibiza: Our Spiritual Holiday Home?

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Are mid-life Mods & Scooterists channelling their inner Peter Pan or whatever the female equivalent is? For those of us returning to the scene, are we embracing our mid-life transition? I would never use the term mid-life crisis that puts far too negative a spin on it.  My personal definition of the mid-life transition is the point in life where you were expecting to feel settled and satisfied only to find, when you get there, that you are neither settled nor satisfied… Getting older means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. …Maybe, you have been living your life according to external expectations, rather than your internal values and, you have discovered they are not the same.  However, (and here’s the wonderful part) you have had enough experience to be clear about what makes you happy and enough time left to enjoy it. My lovely friend (and talented hairdresser) Karen, has a more succinct term for it: “second-life” or “second-lifers”. Personally, I think we’re all just geeks. Simon Pegg is quoted as saying: …

Ibiza Views

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Disclaimer: George and I stayed in an All Inclusive hotel for seven nights in June 2015 and, bearing in mind this was our first visit to Ibiza, our view is probably quite limited. However, we did get out and about during our stay so, I’ll do my best to give you our Ibiza low down… San Antonio George and I stayed in Cala Gracio, which is about 2km north of San Antonio. Our hotel was on the Cala Gracio beach; a short five/ten minute walk along the beach road to the big name cafes in San Antonio: Mint Lounge, Cafe del Mar, Cafe Mambo, Savannah Beach Club etc. A bit pricey; we paid €38 for a jug of Cava Sangria in Cafe del Mar, although you’ll find food and drink to suit most budgets. However, along the beach path between Cala Gracio and San Antonio there are many other beach-front cafes and bars offering cheaper alternatives and two-for-one deals. A further five/ten minutes walk along the beach path you’ll arrive in San Antonio proper. There is a lively strip of clubs, …

Celebrate Everything

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Reward and recognition are important values but, how often do we celebrate our own successes?  ‘Celebrate Everything’ has been an important motto of mine for some time now.  I forget what triggered it, maybe when I was in the midst of my Coaching & Mentoring Post Grad at Oxford Brookes: “How are you going to celebrate that?” sounds like a typical coaching question.  Whilst the moment itself isn’t memorable it was hugely significant because, the moment you decide to celebrate your own success you change the game.  It is transformational. In my real-world job (not Coaching & Mentoring, that’s an extra-curricular activity) I work very closely with colleagues based in the US.  In fact my boss and team are based there and the global nature of my role means I have first-hand experience of how diverse the two cultures are and, how they influence each other – for those of you witnessing the American invasion into our language and culture I assure you it works both ways!  One of the ways in which we differ …

Too Far South: Mods Adrift on the Isle of Wight

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We’re suffering from Bank Holiday Blues in the Mod Closet this week.  Having planned, talked about and counted down the months, weeks, days and sleeps to the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally – and, by planned I mean bought me a scooter; customised two scooters and endured nine motorcycle tests between us (one of us had to take the Mod1 twice) – we’re feeling a little deflated now that it’s all over. You may be questioning why a couple of Mods didn’t attend the Brighton Mod weekender. Brighton was our original plan but when we struggled to find a hotel with suitable parking we decided on the Isle of Wight instead.  In the weeks leading up to the Mod-milestone weekend we began to wonder if we’d made a terrible mistake. I appreciate that this may not sound like the biggest decision in one’s life but I do struggle with simple decisions.  Major decisions like, the sale of my house (yes), where to live (back in Oxford), where to get married (New York); should we invoke …