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1

General Discussion Area / Wheel of misfortune

« on: 12 June 2019, 19:57:06 »

We have done that many miles since January1st that we had a routine service , gearbox oil change and new discs fitted by a VW dealer.

Today we were belting down the motorway towards Le Mans doing 130 km an hour when the car developed an enormous vibration which I thought was coming from the front left of our Golf.

Got off the motorway and limped (20kmh) to a nearby VW dealer. Problem was Front wheel only held on by one bolt, rest were loose including the locking wheel nut. Wheel fubar.

JIT gets us one for tomorrow for 776 euros all in. What a bargain that is....😖. At least we’re still alive 🙂

No internet access at dealer. Mobile phone coverage rubbish. Amazingly got a Bergerie organised (despite le mans) tomorrow nights hotel changed from tonights.

Taxi cost 62 euros for 20 km of single track roads to lovely accommodation, and the same back to civilisation tomorrow......Will he come back in the morning for us?  Can we afford it if he does....?

Sitting writing this having a good laugh trying to cook microwave meals without a microwave. How do you know ? The place is very nice barn conversion. First course is porc in caramel and rice which I have enhanced by burning it in the pan. Second course is emince de poulet with sarladaises potatoes. Roughly translated as burnt mince with sardonic potatoes.

Back to the stealer tomorrow. Who is going to pay for all of this?

2

General Discussion Area / Lyme Regis

« on: 11 June 2019, 00:41:05 »

What a splendid seaside town. Spent a very enjoyable day till it rained.

Whilst the roads are scenic in Dorset and Somerset , i can see why you see cars with dings and dents.

3

General Discussion Area / D Day 75 years on

« on: 06 June 2019, 15:09:33 »

Plenty of coverage on tv.

Interesting 10 unusual facts about DDay on the BBC website. I knew some. Maybe someone will post the link..

My dad was scheduled for the landings but was sent to Edinburgh for officer training. He passed the physical tests but failed the interview. He was sent to India instead. Probably a lucky escape.

4

General Discussion Area / 5G rollout

« on: 01 June 2019, 09:24:47 »

I am all for tech but isnt this just increasing speeds for areas with existing service? ( assuming you have a 5G handset)

Am I the only person that thinks mobile phone isn't fit for purpose. Lots of areas whilst driving from Yorkshire to Scotland including motorway with no signal. In Portpatrick there is no 4g signal on 3 and quite often no 3g signal. Portpatrick to Glasgow very patchy service even using car antenna.

Why hasn't the regulator insisted on 99% coverage of the country?

5

General Discussion Area / Rubbish Tip good news story

« on: 31 May 2019, 19:29:23 »

We are nearly at the end of the fourth house emptying following death of a relative.

Had a variety of not so brilliant experiences on the first three. This one in Stranraer area is quite good , well as good as these things can be.

The staff at the tip are pleasant and help you unload. No turning you away because you are not a tax payer in your foreign reg car. Or asking if “ if I hire a van to bring a load of furniture down , will it be alright? “ then next day being turned away initially. The best thing is that they have a community run recycling shop next door with a 20 year lease for “ one mans junk another mans treasure”. the shop does a roaring trade and also does packages to give people setting up home a start.

Why aren't there similar schemes elsewhere or have I just been unlucky before.?

6

General Discussion Area / Care crisis

« on: 29 May 2019, 22:43:34 »

Where is the money going to come from to care for the elderly and the disadvantaged?

How come there is less per head in England than in Wales or Scotland ( where I have noticed everything is free!)? Joking apart from personal family experience care is a problem even in Scotland.

More tax? Keep it the same?

7

General Discussion Area / British Steel

« on: 21 May 2019, 22:19:26 »

Should they be government supported?

Two interesting facts.

China has produced more steel in the last 23 months than Britain has since it started in the industrial revolution.

British steel is an efficient outfit.

A question. If Britain loses its steel making capability due to China undercutting, how do you make weaponry in the event of the next war? Buy the steel in from China?

8

General Car Chat / Service history dealer /independent

« on: 21 May 2019, 18:06:57 »

Anyone got a view on when to stop having a newer car serviced by a main dealer and save money by using an independent garage?

I am thinking around five years. This would be if keeping the vehicle for say  a further five or more years.  If disposing at seven years of age then maybe worth keeping dealer history up to keep up resale value.

9

General Car Chat / NG V8 boat tail sports car

« on: 19 May 2019, 19:37:41 »

Saw three of these NG sports cars parked up in Loch Fyne Oysters this morning.

Never seen one before. Two 1800 cc but one was a V8 !  They were on the 2019 Ecurie Ecosse. What a way ( in dry weather) to see the Highlands! You must have to travel light. Paging Kevin!

I need to win the lottery!

10

General Discussion Area / Applecross driving road

« on: 16 May 2019, 21:48:43 »

Well that is one more thing off my bucket list.

Mixed feelings. I expected sweeping curves and steep climbs and descents. It was steep but was mostly short blats  single road between passing places with an endless stream of timid folk coming the other way.  Awful surface with dodgy edges.  Marvellous views and great seafood at Applecross.

Anyone else been?

11

General Discussion Area / No point traffic lights

« on: 13 May 2019, 23:24:21 »

The second grand tour of the year continues.

Today we reached Portpatrick in. Scotland. 2,380 miles

En route we discovered two sets of traffic lights in a village on the A75 between Dumfries and Stranraer that seem to serve no purpose. Not for pedestrians , not for traffic control for a junction.

Our conclusion was that it slowed down the traffic. Maybe so but an own goal creating more emission pollution as the traffic stopped twice. Most odd.

Anyone else seen them or the same elsewhere in the country?

12

General Discussion Area / Scotland introducing 20p refund scheme

« on: 08 May 2019, 18:29:05 »

Well done Scotland introducing 20p refund on bottles and tinnies.

We are going to Scotland next week. Bring your empties to my dads house. I need a vehicle full. Should pay for the trip including 5star hotels. Particularly interested in those small tonic tins. 

13

General Discussion Area / Hull

« on: 02 May 2019, 16:17:57 »

Hi folks.

Back on “world trip” 2.0. Had a great drive up through Spain and France. Third UK funeral this year. That was yesterday. Very good friend, only 69.

Anyway we have decided to hide for 36 hours to recharge our batteries before reappearing at family in Yorkshire and then going to  Scotland.

A member on here previously recommended Hull so here we are in the centre. Nice rainy day but won’t hold that against it.

14

General Discussion Area / Politics - new parties

« on: 23 April 2019, 23:39:34 »

Been nice having a break from it over Easter.

Spain only allows two weeks of campaigning. Our GE election is on the 28th. I feel in no mans land as we have been dropped from the electoral roll. So can’t vote in national election and never could cant vote in local election but used to be able to. My name is on the EU MEP voting list and always was and will be even with a Brexit. Can vote in a second referendum should there be one, cannot vote in a UK GE. The latter sort of seems fair but expats aren't well represented.

Back to the plot. Does anyone officially monitor the airtime given to Brexit party, Change UK for example? Just watched Change UK launch. Got a lot of airtime.

15

General Discussion Area / New IRA

« on: 19 April 2019, 08:21:55 »

Tragic death of the journalist.

Lets hope the New IRA doesn't gain traction. There would be those that would benefit from it doing so.