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196

General Discussion Area / Russian Mobilisation

« on: 21 September 2022, 13:56:00 »

So Putin has finally come away from describing the Ukraine business a Special Military Operation, and has announced a full mobalisation of his forces.

He has now made a clear threat to the West by stating they have many weapons, and a Russian Minister on television has stated they are now going to fight the war based on the fact that NATO forces are supporting that country.

The gloves are off, so tin hats on time!

The observers on all this are stating that Putin has put himself into a corner, failed to quickly win the conflict, has indeed lost ground previously taken, and is now asking the Russian public to support a big call up of conscripts, when it is believed there is little taste for a full on war.  There is even now talk that his regime could collapse with all this.  Let's hope so. A full revolution would resolve a lot of issues.  Ukraine would be spared any more suffering, the energy crisis could diminish, and the price of food could decrease as more is available to the markets, with the starving of this World getting some relief.

Big hopes, a lot of if's, but this could be the start of the end game.  As long as Western, UN, and NATO support does not falter for Ukraine, and our politicians make the right decisions we MAY get the results we all want without a nuclear conflict on a worldwide scale.

197

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 21 September 2022, 09:18:13 »

Big Ben is struck by the clock mechanism, and can't be rung.


You were listening to the half-muffled tenor of Westminster Abbey.

I kind of thought that, Nick, but the bbc commentator definitely mentioned Big Ben. Whichever bell it was, it was impressive.

Westminster Abbey's tenor is 30cwt, which is about average for a heavy ten; both Rochester Cathedral and All Saints Maidstone(I've rung them both) are slightly bigger.

On the subject of the bells that rung for the late Queen, I was impressed by the sound of the Sebastopol Bell in St Georges Chapel.  It represented a terribly bloody seige between the Russians and British armies that lasted a year in the Crimea War that started in 1854.  The war that included the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade.

It is a one ton beast, weighing nearly a ton, one of two taken from a church in Crimea in 1856 .  It is only rung on the occasion of the funeral of a member of the Royal Family.  It rang 96 times on Monday, obviously once for every year of her life.

An addition bit of historical information is that the Bell inspired the line in the poem by John Donne, which is "For whom the bell tolls / It tolls for thee"  This in turn inspired the title of the famous novel by Ernest Hemingway.  For the British royal family though, it is quite literal as it does only ring for a Royal who has died.

The Bell certainly rang with a very mournful note, that reaches deep inside the mind.  Big Bens bells may be impressive, and in regular use, but that bell is something else and I was delighted from a learning point of view to have heard it.

198

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 20 September 2022, 17:30:49 »

I don't really see how it helped it turn as the carriage pivoted in the middle - the coffin was carried on just 1 part of it .... it couldn't NOT turn. But if that's what they said 

I understood from the BBC commentator that the sand stopped the horses skidding on the road surface

199

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 20 September 2022, 13:10:30 »

.....
 and for once they stopped the babbling commentary for the Westminster Hall session.  What a relief, and  ....

Exactly!

but when that coffin descended into the vault of St. Georges Chapel................ :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Charles had a teary eye

Didn't he just from what I saw through my tears!

200

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 20 September 2022, 09:35:59 »

Yes, it was quite something!  Agreat send off that really reflected our love for Her Majesty, and the wonderful traditions of this nation.  It was a superb historical moment that will be written about by historians for years to come.

I thought the BBC broadcast was of the highest standard, and for once they stopped the babbling commentary for the Westminster Hall session.  What a relief, and it really added to the enjoyment and sadness of the proceedings. I was holding back the tears for most of the time, but when that coffin descended into the vault of St. Georges Chapel................ :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

It all certainly got the World's attention in a very impressive way.

201

General Car Chat / Re: Cam Belt

« on: 16 September 2022, 20:23:54 »

I have always used Gates or Contitech kits on mine from the cheapest available source at the time.
Never had any issues.

Thanks

I will request I have those from Serek

202

General Car Chat / Re: Cam Belt

« on: 16 September 2022, 19:32:22 »

It's a common service part, and GM never made any of the components.
The various aftermarket ones used the same components(SKF bearings, Gates or Continental belts) so there was never any reason to insist on GM.


This is true for most of the parts any remaining Omega is going to need, and trying the dealer(who is unlikely to have any interest in a car that's going to be over twenty years old) is virtually guaranteed to be a waste of time and effort. And probably money, if they do manage to find the part.


Some of the previously suggested GM only parts dogma advice will need reassessing.

Thanks Nick

My Vx parts manger mentioned them, and I have noted their cam belt kits on the sites I previously mentioned.

I think now I will just wait until the reliable Serek is back, and obtain his recommendations and prices.  I can at least have a good day out, with many coffees in Dunelm

203

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 16 September 2022, 19:27:05 »

Now I have learnt the queuing time is 24 hours!!!!!

Bloody hell. I just could not be bothered to do that now, if before.  I know the Queen is not there, but elsewhere in the spirit world.  To pass a coffin with a flag over it is good from a historical point of view, but…………

Still it is obvious many thousands are prepared to do it.  Best of luck to them

Spirit world? Give it a fickin rest 

Is that for you a bottle of whisky or rum?

No doubt there will be wakes for the Queen.  A good excuse for booze

204

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 16 September 2022, 17:26:07 »

Now I have learnt the queuing time is 24 hours!!!!!

Bloody hell. I just could not be bothered to do that now, if before.  I know the Queen is not there, but elsewhere in the spirit world.  To pass a coffin with a flag over it is good from a historical point of view, but…………

Still it is obvious many thousands are prepared to do it.  Best of luck to them

205

General Car Chat / Cam Belt

« on: 16 September 2022, 17:05:16 »

Time for my cam belt change, so I asked my friendly Vx parts manager for a quote.  Sorry he says, bad news, they have been discontinued!

So yet another Omega part unavailable from them, but he is finding out a price for an alternative………but he cannot sell the kit to me, as it must be fitted by their service team!

Previously I had obtained the genuine parts from Vx and had Serek fit it all.

Serek is away at the moment, so when he returns I will obtain a price from him for supply and fitting.  The only trouble is by the time I have travelled to his outfit and back, I would have spent approx £80-90 on fuel and refreshments.

So, in the meantime I will be hunting around for more options, including Germany and the States.

But, the lack of Omega parts at the old GM dealers is becoming total, which will make it far more difficult to keep our old girls going :'(

Now looking at Autodoc, Euro Car Parts and others.  Good makes available, at all different, big variance,  prices!

206

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 16 September 2022, 16:54:10 »

I take my hat off to all those willing to stand in that long queue to pay their respects to Her Maj.

Great Britons all of them! 

So do I.  I could not believe at first how long that queue is in a part of London I know.  4.5 growing to 5 miles over the Thames all the way back to Bermondsey. it will soon be  arriving at Rotherhithe!

The British queuing system is alive and well.

Now that is a bloody long queue that I could not do now, without a chair, picnic, and more importantly toilets, available every few yards, although I understand there are good facilities at the Westminster end.

207

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 14 September 2022, 14:02:33 »

I cant stand the clapping, cheering, whooping etc.
Do these people really not understand the concept of quiet, reverential, respectful mourning.
It was like they were greeting the arrival of their favourite pop star or footballer. 
On top of that, most people filming it on their phones rather than being part of the moment. Makes me wonder just how much respect they really had for the Queen. 

I understand what you saying.  The people today do not conform to the traditional ways of the past, of standing, heads bowed, as the coffin goes by.

But, this is 2022.  The way you have seen the crowds behaving is how the people of today do show their emotions.  Those emotions are no longer kept at bay, inside their heads, and never shown.  That was unhealthy, and led to complications in themselves.

It is wonderful how, especially the young who you could think would not care a damn about all this, are releasing their feelings of support for the late Queen, and at other times for King Charles III.
That is far more acceptable than no one showing any interest, and not lining the streets.

The late Queen even was involved in the designing of the Jaguar hearse (what a beautiful car!) so that when she, and her descendants are taken in funeral Ceremonies the great openness, and good lighting, encourage people to see what they want to see.

No, all in all, I feel it is all good.  Those who want to are paying their respects in the modern way, but adhering to the centuries old basic traditions of historic ceremonies that this great country of ours is famous for.

208

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 14 September 2022, 12:19:04 »

Swindon’s Magic Roundabout possibly?

Right in the centre of all 5!

209

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 12 September 2022, 19:51:50 »

Bit late for growing roses

This is a thread about our beloved, late Queen Elizabeth II.

Show respect and stop the childish insults 

210

General Discussion Area / Re: HM Queen Elizabeth ll health

« on: 12 September 2022, 18:57:42 »

Not me. I had to Google Pietism. 

Not me either, as I am a good and proper sinner!