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1

General Discussion Area / Re: What has P*ssed you off today?

« on: 20 March 2025, 07:32:56 »

His engineer, who I've met a few times through another common interest, wasn't a 100% fan either. (21:00 onwards)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJbnx660OI

In fact, I recall he wasn't quite as complimentary off the camera.

Lovely bloke whose stories I could listen to for ages. I got talking to him about record players at a Hi-Fi show and he talked about designing suspension for turntables and then casually slipped in "I later applied the idea to F1 cars when I was Technical Director for Williams".

2

General Discussion Area / Re: What has P*ssed you off today?

« on: 18 March 2025, 18:31:30 »

I know, those police drivers.  They get up my arse, flashing wigwam lights and blues and twos, then when I stop to let them past, the also stop and get out, and start with "Evening Nigel Mansell....."

Christ, how long ago did he stop you? It's not even Lewis Hamilton anymore, more like Lando Norris. 

None of them had that many punctures, though...

Mind you, Mansell's were mainly self-inflicted.

3

General Discussion Area / Re: What has P*ssed you off today?

« on: 18 March 2025, 18:30:40 »

I know, those police drivers.  They get up my arse, flashing wigwam lights and blues and twos, then when I stop to let them past, the also stop and get out, and start with "Evening Nigel Mansell....."

Christ, how long ago did he stop you? It's not even Lewis Hamilton anymore, more like Lando Norris. 

None of them had that many punctures, though...

4

General Discussion Area / Re: TV problem?

« on: 02 March 2025, 21:14:31 »

Usual checks - retune, then see if all the impacted channels are on the same Mux, and if so, check the engineering page of your transmitter as it may be a Mux is on reduced power

The muxes carrying the lower budget channels often have lower TX power and / or less robust coding to cram more channels in, so they are often the first to deteriorate. They have also been retuned in recent years, so worth checking that the antenna is still targeting the right group.

5

General Discussion Area / Re: Licence renewal...

« on: 01 March 2025, 10:21:50 »

.. and judging by the omnipresent queue of HGV drivers at the burger van in the layby near my office, if they start binning any that have slightly elevated blood pressure the roads are going to get quite quiet!

6

General Discussion Area / Re: Trump, JD, and Zelenskyy.

« on: 01 March 2025, 10:05:29 »

For all his posturing, Zelenskyy is grudgingly aiming for a ceasefire as a compromise to appease the suppliers of arms rather than a total end to the stalemate they call a war.

The reality is that he's not prepared to concede anything to anyone. And that's a problem.

Dont blame him. His Sovereign country has been invaded by an aggressor who had previously guaranteed Ukraines territorial Sovereignty.
The free world should be united in repelling the aggression, which would also bring about the end of Putin.
This war has been a huge mistake for Putin. It hasnt gone to plan by any stretch of the imagination, and its bankrupting Russia in the meantime.
Thats without even getting into how many Russian families have a son / father / husband who isnt coming home.
Putins position is much weaker than it was three years ago, and for the West to not take full advantage of that makes no sense whatsoever..
At the end of the day, its actually about right and wrong.

Indeed, and a cease fire without any international backing is simply an opportunity for Putin to re-arm, just as he did after annexing Crimea.

7

General Discussion Area / Re: Licence renewal...

« on: 01 March 2025, 10:00:05 »

Licence sent in for renewal, but I have absolutely no idea if it will come back with C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E.and provisional D/DE on it or not.

It might. It might not. They might randomly delete any extra entitlements you've paid for like motorbike, HGV or bus.


If that happens, it's down to you to prove you had them before you sent the licence back, because the new computer record is what DVLA will consider correct. Even though they couldn't update your records properly.


You need to have a good copy of your licence before you even think of sending it away.

I was going to suggest taking a copy of the current licence but as Al has already sent it away I fear our warning could be too late.

I never sent my old one back when I renewed it in December and they've never chased me for it.

8

General Discussion Area / Re: Trump, JD, and Zelenskyy.

« on: 28 February 2025, 18:57:47 »

It did seem a bit premature to be first in the queue for the spoils before showing any evidence of this peace he's going to negotiate nor any commitment to backing it up.

I admire Zelensky for not just holding his nose and kissing a$$, but not sure where this leaves him (and the rest of us).

9

General Discussion Area / Re: Ukraine peace deal

« on: 21 February 2025, 23:02:47 »

I hope we're all watching and learning for next time we buy a new car / have to argue our next insurance premium. This guy's the bestest negotiator. Rote a book n'all. 

10

General Car Chat / Re: The mighty Signum has been sold.

« on: 18 February 2025, 19:27:27 »

Electric vehicle you say.......

Citroen Ami

https://www.citroen.co.uk/ami

Microlino

https://microlino-car.com/en-ch/microlino

Maybe an Easylife.....

https://www.easylifemobility.co.uk/cabin-scooters

I bet French Albs would love that Citroën! 

He loves anything froggy.

Those are all a bit "Johnnycab".

11

General Discussion Area / Re: Boiler Advice

« on: 13 February 2025, 18:57:31 »

Yeah, if they start adding Hydrogen I'll be getting a heat pump.

12

General Discussion Area / Re: Boiler Advice

« on: 12 February 2025, 22:47:00 »

It looks similar to mine (and same vintage) and all that needed was the dried out electrolytic capacitors on the control PCB replacing for 105 deg. C items and it's been fine since.

If it's the gas valve OR the PCB it sounds like diagnostics isn't the guy's strong point. Which one is it?

There would be a marginal increase in efficiency changing for a modern condensing boiler, which will then last 10 years instead of another 30, IMHO.

13

General Car Chat / Re: Running In

« on: 11 February 2025, 07:21:10 »

In summary, as my old mate Johnty (RIP) used to say:

"Build them well, then give 'em hell".

14

General Car Chat / Re: Running In

« on: 10 February 2025, 20:46:29 »

Is it still the tyres that need running in for the first 600 miles?

Just watch it for the first 5 miles or so, whilst the release agent comes off, they can be a little more slippery.  Though unless you're driving towards the limit, you prob won't notice.

The last 5 miles of the old tyres on the way to the depot are always far more hazardous, I find.

15

General Car Chat / Re: Excellent engineering or shouldn't be allowed?

« on: 07 February 2025, 17:13:36 »

How much does a full tank of petrol weigh in an Elan?

Depends how much has leaked out while it was parked.