Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
Other Stuff => The Blue Oyster bar => Topic started by: geoffbandit on September 27, 2023, 20:48:38
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Powder coated sump guard brackets quite pleased as this was first attempt went on to coat the panels of old generator
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Went to work, called up at Argos and M&S, came home, sandwich and a snooze, watched Pointless, took a shower, waiting for my pizza to cook through, opened a second Spitfire.
Living the dream, eh?
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Pushed out the shop 15 bikes
MoT'd 5 bikes
Fitted several pairs of tyres and tubes
Fitted a chain and sprocket kit
Fixed some leaking forks
One oil change
Fixed two punctures
One set of brake pads
Many phone calls
And just two cups of tea .. :groan:
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Got up, had a shit, then a shower & downstairs for breakfast, (porridge!! :icon_exclaim:) then off to the allotment for a bit of pre-winter digging.
Two hours of that & went to the daughters to take her dog for a walk & a shit.
Home for some food, Sweetcorn I'd picked at the allotment earlier, then back to the allotment for more digging.
Back home & booked the car in for 4 new tyres! (how much!! ###), a quick change then out to visit a couple of the grandkids for a few hours.
Retuning home sorted some tea, beans on toast, then caught up with some correspondence.
Just sat down for the first bottle of Proper Job.
I don't know where I found the time when I was working. :whistle:
And you think you're living the dream Rusty? :whistle:
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Yesterday was frantic, absolutely frantic.
Breakfast listening to The Archers, an hour and twenty minutes dog walk, wash dogs feet. Vacuum downstairs carpets, deep clean downstairs carpets, clean out carpet cleaner. Dinner consisting of treacle on toast, start "Annika" second series, another dog walk of thirty minutes, afternoon nap (approx one hour), cup of coffee whilst watching second episode of "Annika". Watch episode's three and four, tea time consisting of macaroni cheese followed by chocolate concrete with chocolate custard, watch episode five of "Annika", evening dog walk of forty five minutes, watch final episode of "Annika".
Shower.
Bed.
Like you Mick, I don't know how I ever found time to work with such a hectic schedule. :icon_no:
Edit I may have found time to read this thread https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=28845.0;topicseen
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This is more like a proper bikers forum. Now, was it actually treacle, or the more common and slightly less interesting golden syrup?
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@TL
Though basically a factually correct itinerary you've posted not sure it portrays the true picture.
What about the tag, not being allowed more than a mile from home and having to check in with the probation service every two hours...
Just sayin :stirpot: lol
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At my age I have no idea what I did yesterday but if the police come round I'll deny everything.
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@Rusty, your pedantry does you credit. Yes, indeed it was Golden Syrup and today it was blackcurrant conserve (not mere jam).
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Today I was up & out the blocks nice & early and off to work. I got the email I was hoping for and one of our medium sized grid battery sites (49.9MW/99.8MWh) has finally sold ! That means a very pleasant £1,200,000.00 in the company bank account and a hefty 5 figure bonus for me - straight into the pension, zero tax. Happy. Off to Majorca for a weeks wine holiday on Sunday too - happy days :thumb:
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I spent most of today reading Mick's reply.
It was long wasn't it?
I don't know where he finds the time.
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Nice one, 2112. Enjoy Majawker.
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Covid-19 jab today followed by a 2 hours of standing traffic on the A12 North due to a busted HGV in lane 2 adjacent to the Witham on ramp. So that created a three lanes into one puzzle that was just too much for Essex drivers who have to bash into each other and bring everything to a halt. ###
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@Martin, notice the time it was posted! The first proper sit down of the day. :thumb:
Life's tough when you're retired! :stirpot: lol
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I went for a ride along a little of the Devon coast. What a great day and I'm going to ride all day tomorrow too. :thumb: :auto-dirtbike:
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Replaced the thin chipboard shelves in a shelving unit that is supposed to support 265kg per shelf, didn't take long for my 30kg engines to start bowing them so I bought an 8x4 sheet of 19mm ply and made some new ones.
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Wow, that's an outstanding collection of Villiers singles you have there.
I've fully rebuilt a couple of MK10s over the past few years and I've got an old Barford in the garage awaiting some love, great fun to tinker on.
What's the big green one on the top shelf, that's not a MK40 is it?
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The big green one and the one to it's left are both Mk.20 'V' engines, during wartime production Villiers "de-branded" their engines and simply had "The V Engine" cast into the base. I had a Mk.40 for a couple of years then sold to someone for their autotruck restoration. Current count is about 15 Villiers engines of various types :)
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Here's the 2 I've actually finished, the green one is now back on it's Mayfield tractor. My Dad has a small collection of Landmasters and other garden machines, some even run :lala:
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Today I've packed my bags ready to head off to Majorca for a weeks wine holiday. Been on loads of these and they are good fun, not as much wine as you would think but quality over quantity. The weather looks great, so see you all in a week :thumb:
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Today has mostly consisted of a gym session, fixed a toilet, fixed some taps, repealed a bath and tiled a bathroom floor. Also called my normal tyre place and booked the strom in for some new tyres next week
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@Rixington43 I prefer restoring engines rather than showing them so they generally get to a show or two before I move them on.
My most recent was a 1944 Wolesley WD2, before and after pics.
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Can anyone help TLPower? He needs a new lawn mower engine. Again.
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Yesterday......I drove over to Newark to meet a few other
like minded people idiots to sit on the river bank from 10.00 'till 22.00 in the pouring rain.
We met at a cafe for breakfast where I made a school boy error & ordered a small one!! ### It was very nice though.
I did catch a few fish so a grand day out without the bike. :thumb:
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Grandkids rugby tournament in Paignton….👍
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Rixington43 and Robotstar5
If you are interested I have a Villers engine machine I found when I was cleaning out my dads shed (see pics ) it is a Tarpen Flex and if either of you would like it you can have it for free.
Collection from Chelmsford Essex.
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@Asmith61, thanks for the offer, but Essex is a bit far to travel for a small Villiers engine.
Tarpen were well known for small generators, the flex drive set-up is a bit rarer.
For info: your engine is one of the Villiers Lightweight range (512 or 515) I picked a bare engine up for a tenner a couple of years ago.
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Can anyone help TLPower? He needs a new lawn mower engine. Again.
Thank you Rusty, how kind.
A cautionary tale to all of you who have full size horse sculptures in your gardens. Do not ever cut the lawn too close to the structures that secure said horses to the ground. If you are unlucky enough to hit one with a Mountfield petrol mower it will stop the engine very suddenly with sufficient force to bend the crankshaft.
The sensible ones amongst us would take this as some kind of salutary lesson and avoid the four legged bastards at all costs when cutting the lawn with your new mower.
Last Friday afternoon with the sun beaming, the birds singing and everything being well with the world I decided it was time for the weekly lawn mowing duties.
( I say lawn based on the fact that I put "stripes" in with a roller, mowing the lawn without stripes is merely cutting the grass. I digress.)
The front lawn (see above, stripes) was completed without incident, the rear lawn was started upon with me pushing the envelope of skill and sanity by cutting closer and closer to the equine twats.
The resulting collision stopped the engine dead (again), as an added bonus it deposited a significant amount of engine oil from it's bowels it an attempt to show me it was really hurt. Of course I decided to try and re-start the poor thing which to it's credit it did though now rather noisily and with a cloud of smoke a dreadnought would be proud of when "making smoke to escape".
Suspecting another bent crank I retreated to my lair, the Thunderbastard was replaced by the mortally wounded Briggs&Stratton lawnmower on the bike lift which now served as an operating table. Tipping the mower over and turning over the engine showed a blade giving an excellent impression of a long playing record that had spent too much time too close to a radiator. It also managed to pump the remainder of it's oily life blood out of it's various orifices.
Grim.
Undaunted I decided that it might just be wounded and not dead. I fashioned a dial gauge on the top of the crank and turned the engine, that appeared straight, the blade end definitely wasn't, but what if the aluminum blade mounting/rear drive boss was bent instead? All could be well?
I set to removing the boss https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314028637129?hash=item491d90bbc9:g:-u4AAOSw first with a gentle tap, then heavier encouragement and finally my 4 pounder with chisel. The first few blows resulted in nothing more than a few bits of casting making their bids for freedom. Unperturbed I moved the chisel to a new spot and swung a hefty blow.
Unfortunately my aim was poor, instead of steel I hit the base of my thumb.
The pain was immediate and sufficient to pass straight to my bollocks and toes. My latex safety gloves provided a laughable amount of protection. I tentatively removed the glove to be greeted with a tennis ball sized swelling, fearing the worst I sent a pictorial message to Mrs Power who was out delivering grandson number one back to his parents. I mentioned I may need to visit A&E.
As the minutes passed I reasoned that the thumb still moved as did the rest of the digits. Other than the pulsating agony I decided that I could forego a visit. By the time Mrs Power arrived home the swelling had begun to subside with the aid of a cold compress.
Back to the mower.
A quick search on FB marketplace for a replacement engine threw up a likely candidate 45 minutes away. It had been for sale for 20 weeks, I feared the worst but messaged the seller, he replied immediately and a deal was struck for me to collect on Saturday morning. I gave him £10.00 and I was the proud owner of another B&S 450.
It was in a oil tight condition, he assured me it was a runner when he removed it...
I removed the dead engine, I attempted turn the new engine over on the bench to be greeted with it being a little tight. I removed the spark, plug and a large amount of oil spewed out, this did allow the engine to turn over freely. In an effort to clear the rest of the oil out I left it with the engine draining out of the spark plug hole.
I nonchalantly began fitting it into the mower, I even put some music on I was so confident all would be well.
I was wrong.
With everything refitted I attempted a start, this resulted in the pull cord being snatched out of my hand and the engine failing to turn a full revolution, I took the plug out again and it was covered in oil, it would spin over perfectly with the plug out suggesting the presence of oil still in the cylinder.
I removed the head and was treated to a dollop of oil stuck in the combustion chamber. It was teatime so in I went.
Today at just after eleven I started the de-coking process and general fettling, the older engine had a better looking plug cap so I swapped over the magneto, I drained the remaining oil and filled with new. Primed the carb and it started first pull with plenty of smoke which cleared eventually. I finished the remainder of the lawn from last Friday but kept away from the horses. And the bruising is slowly subsiding thank you for asking.
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I've made a point of avoiding anything equine ( except meat ) since 1981 when my then girlfriend made me sit on the horse she owned. Too far off the ground, no proper acceleration device, same with brakes and steering, worst of all a large brain. The brute knew who was boss immediately. It wasn't me.
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Robotstar5 thank you for the info on my engine.
And I quite agree about the distance to travel🤣
I used to have a Wolesley WD2 some 30 years ago I used to show it along with a lister water pump at the local village shows, the last stationary engine I had was a Petter M
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What an excellent read Mr Power.
I was entertained.
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I was just going to say, I have a spare B&S engine just sat here, then noticed you'd got a replacement.
I believe the Briggs and Stratton engines, at least, need the blade to be on when starting, mine ripped the starter out of my hand when I tried to test start it sans blade.
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Thank you TL Power.
Excellent read, I felt your pain but I still laughed.
Loudly.
You should have known better, horses are only good for eating.
Now put that mower away until Spring.
Upt.
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Visited West Bay and Bill.👍
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Tuesday - I went fishing and caught five bream and four carp
Friday I went fishing again and caught nine carp and tench
Today I got on the Stone and went to Great Yarmouth for a coffee at the American Diner
Tomorrow I am going fishing again.
When I have time to attend to the garden I don't.
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Got back from a weeks wine tasting in Majorca, all bottles brought back are intact. Happy, 28c every day and some cracking winery visits. If you are ever thinking about visiting a vineyard while in Majorca check out Mortix up in the Traumantana's, spectacular views and stunning wines at surprisingly sensible prices. I'm like a bronzed god, sadly it's Buddah...
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I like to say that my body used to be temple.
Now it's a carpet warehouse.
In other news instead of riding, I stayed at home and cut the laurel hedge AGAIN. I cut this years growth at the beginning of September and usually that does it for the year, the warm spell apparently told the laurel it was OK to start growing again.
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Nice job :thumb:
I've got a Castlewellian Gold hedge to tackle if we get some decent weather. If not it can wait until next year...
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Possibly the last bit of tent action of the year... though no actual sleeping in the tent.
I've had a Vango Spirit 200+ for 12 years and earlier this year I set it up to check over and loads of the seam tape was pealing off so I bought some seam sealer but the weather has either been too hot or too wet when I've had opportunity to do it.
I was a little unsure about how well it would seal around the half secured tape so I did the outside stiching too.
Now just have to wait for it to dry.
Pitty it's work in the morning or else I'd be in it given the weather.
All ready for next year's bike camping.
This tent has a decent little porch so good if the wether is less than ideal, but still a very small pack size.
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Talking about tents, has anyone tried treating the Oxford Aquatex covers with tent spray? (The stuff that's meant to condition / waterproof / UV protect tents)
I'm going to be on my 3rd cover in 3 and a bit years, they just seem to go really thin, lose the shine, and start tearing, especially on parts that are really exposed to the sun / kept taut. For instance the material round the elastic on the wheels is really strong still, but the section above the seat is dry, crinkly and will tear if you look at it wrong.
Once I bite the bullet (the covers appear to have gone up in price...) I will treat the new one with the spray every so often and see if it lasts longer!
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Tested positive for Covid!! ###
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Oh no Mick there is a lot of it about again, has deb tested positive too ?
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Bugger, get well soon Mick.
On the other hand I've had some great news today, my recent ECG has shown normal heart function, no sign of any damaged tissue and a volumetric flow efficiency of 65% (normal is about 55%) so better than new! Very happy & relieved in equal measures.
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Covid cases are on the up, make sure you're up to date with jabs if you're eligible!
Coming back from a camping weekend (see my earlier post today in 'camping'), putting away the gear, I did the 600 arse-sitting hours service on the foldaway camping chairs. A few washers for screws starting to pull through the fabric, some gluing down of frayed bits and tears, lube on pivot points and silicone spray on sliding bits and a nice sit down after. Not to be attempted by anyone with OCD tendencies... (Don't forget to make a note in the service history). lol
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I had a 4th or 5th covid jab on Saturday along with a flue and phumonia vaccine, I didn't know there was a phumonia vaccine. I never had covid until after my first vaccine and then I didn't know I had it until I did a routine test, as we did back then. It's all very strange, I blame it on the Russians :roll:
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Oh no Mick there is a lot of it about again, has deb tested positive too ?
Yes, she tested positive Thursday.....it was only a matter of time! :GRR:
Thanks 2112. Great news for you that!!
We're due our boosters but can't get an appointment to get them! :angry-banghead:
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Great news 2112,
Really crappy news Mick. I suggest some back copies of Bike magazine and a bottle of Jura Rye Cask.
Upt.
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Great news 2112 👍
And Mick ain’t that about right :icon_batterup:
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I tested positive last wednesday. One of the blokes in the office who like a pint in a few of the ruff pubs in swansea brought it in to share.
Most of the office have either been off or working from home after testing positive.
Hope you get through it without too much issue.
I was coughing all night Thursday and was in no fit state to work on friday.
A few scalding hot baths over the weekend seem to have put me right.
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Talking about tents, has anyone tried treating the Oxford Aquatex covers with tent spray? (The stuff that's meant to condition / waterproof / UV protect tents)
I'm going to be on my 3rd cover in 3 and a bit years, they just seem to go really thin, lose the shine, and start tearing, especially on parts that are really exposed to the sun / kept taut. For instance the material round the elastic on the wheels is really strong still, but the section above the seat is dry, crinkly and will tear if you look at it wrong.
Once I bite the bullet (the covers appear to have gone up in price...) I will treat the new one with the spray every so often and see if it lasts longer!
We use Fabsil waterproofer on all our boat canopies, works well for all year protection.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grangers-Fabsil-Gold-1-lt/dp/B002UG8IQK/ref=asc_df_B002UG8IQK/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=218086732501&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2949937500614828117&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006957&hvtargid=pla-421699537163&th=1
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Cheers Nathan. Yeah it's the coughing that's getting to me. Three days of it now. :angry-banghead:
Glad you're over the worst of it.
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Hope you and Debs feel better soon Mick.
I went to a meeting in Liverpool today only to be met by someone who'd travelled there who was full of cold/covid. No idea why they came as they said they felt awful and we were in a tiny room for 6hrs... Suppose you might as well spread it about these days :shrug:
Great news 2112 :happydance:
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Ref the waterproofing...
I've used Fabsil, it was nasty stuff and to be honest I was never impressed with the level of waterproofing.
I've used Nikiwax waterproofer for years, I stick my bike gear in on a cold wash, then put it through another rinse cycle and pour in 100ml of Nikiwax in the draw and wash it down with an extra litre of water.
Water/rain just beads up on the outside for quite a while after even when riding everyday.
That reminds me, it's bee a while since I washed and re-proofed my gear.
The problems with material degradation and being prone to tearing is due to UV damage... keep it out of the sun, but that's kind of dificult if the bike lives outside.
I had a cover over my bike when it was parked against the house on the south facing side... the side facing the wall was dark black, the side facing the sun was pale grey and crispy after about a year.
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Ref the waterproofing...
I've used Fabsil, it was nasty stuff and to be honest I was never impressed with the level of waterproofing.
I've used Nikiwax waterproofer for years, I stick my bike gear in on a cold wash, then put it through another rinse cycle and pour in 100ml of Nikiwax in the draw and wash it down with an extra litre of water.
Water/rain just beads up on the outside for quite a while after even when riding everyday.
That reminds me, it's bee a while since I washed and re-proofed my gear.
The problems with material degradation and being prone to tearing is due to UV damage... keep it out of the sun, but that's kind of dificult if the bike lives outside.
I had a cover over my bike when it was parked against the house on the south facing side... the side facing the wall was dark black, the side facing the sun was pale grey and crispy after about a year.
No I wouldn't use Fabsil on clothing either,but sprayed onto a clean,dry cover and allowed to dry works well.
We often have new boats (ours and other builders)moored together outside all year,and the Fabsil treated canopies last longer.
Use an old spray bottle of kitchen/bathroom cleaner........free bottle.
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Thanks for the waterproofing suggestions, I'll have a gander and see what I can sort for the new cover!
Also Mick, get well soon. I had it two weeks ago, started as a mild cold and then day 4 onwards I was almost confined to the bathroom as it must have decided to take residence in my bowels. I felt fine except for the obvious inconvenience...
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@Barbel Mick
Sorry to hear you've both been got again.
Had it again myself just a few weeks ago
Just as it cleared up got a text to book a flu and Covid booster lol
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Thanks gents, a lot better today. Just hope I'll be negative for Friday so I can go to the pub with the lads. :obscene-drinkingchug: :)
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I went fishing at "the secret lake". Unfortunately I am not allowed to say more.
Maybe it was the last, sunny, warm, dry day of the year.
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No government restrictions saying you can't go to the pub Friday Mick, positive or not! :grin: Up to your own morals now!
I was going to book my flu/covid jab (at increased risk supposedly...), I might just have the flu one since I've had the real thing again! My one and only time of having real flu I was bedbound for over a week, never again.
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Yes, I am aware that there are no government restrictions if you have, or believe you may have, Covid. However, I wouldn't want to pass this onto anyone if I can avoid it. Being retired (did I ever mention I'm retired) l don't really need to go out (to a public place) for 6/7 days so can see no point in doing so.
I do also have a very good reason for not visiting the pub with my mates if I think I'm still contagious & that is because one of them has been on Chemotherapy treatment for his cancer for a while now & his immune system isn't great.
He might have less time to enjoy a pint in the future than me so happy to give him the opportunity. :thumb:
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I'm glad you seem to have more morals than some in the community Mick! Order some beers in and enjoy them at home 👍
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My emergency supply arrived today. :thumb:
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Order more - quickly!
BBC News - Climate change could make beer taste worse
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67078674
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I'm on it!! lol
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Today we had a 4 1/2 hour power cut and then I took the Tigger (once I could get the garage door open) for it's first ever MOT, which it passed with flying colours.
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Power cut? The man who makes electricity and keeps it behind his house?
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I know, I know, we didn't bother with the Tesla Gateway (the Gateway allows you to run in 'island' mode and power the house from the batteries when an LOM (loss of mains) event occurs) as it means allocating a percentage of the battery which can never be used, except in LOM events. This means, say 20%, of the battery is always held back 'just in case' and I really need to use all of the energy stored. If I had power cuts more often I probably would have gone with this feature, but I'm fairly close to the Primary Substation (Bedlington Reservoir 66/20kV) so it's pretty reliable. Apart from yesterday when a tree decided to fall onto the OHL and bring down one of the conductors. Inconsiderate wooden twat...
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2112, your insights into the world of solar and battery are very interesting. For anyone considering going for a solar setup, impartial advice and information - such as your g98 /g99 are a mine of information. By and large, most of us consumers only get to hear what the sales team want us to hear. The systems are so new to us we just don't know enough about them, or where to look, to make an informed decision. I've no doubt there are more than a few companies hawking unsuitable/ inferior systems at over inflated prices. Same with the heat pump bandwagon.
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:text-goodpost:
Sadly, you are spot on. There are a LOT of companies out there who sell people an incorrect or not fully suitable product just because it's what they're used to or what they stock. It's a big investment, so it has to be right. I've met a (now) customer of ours who was badly mis-sold a heat pump of the wrong size. It basically ran flat out 24/7 just to make the house luke warm... The electricity bills were horrendous too because the poor little heat pump (nothing wrong with the heat pump, if it had been a 1 bedroom flat it was trying to heat and not a 3 bed semi...) was working at it's maximum output constatntly. We managed to force the company to come back and fit the correct size heat pump at no cost to the customer under threat of legal action/loss of contract with Daikin.
It's a minefield out there and a lot of companies just want to make a sale. Solar Thermal (where the hot water is pre-heated to save energy) is another frequently badly specified type of system. We've seen them way too small, so a negligible decrease in energy useage, to oversized where you can get dangerously high tempretuures in the system. Almost always because people can't use a calculator or can't be bothered to...
If anyone is considering a renewable energy sytem (PV, solar thermal, battery, heat pump etc) please feel free to get in touch with me to review any proposition you may have or just to give some impatial information :thumb:
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New brake pads, new fork stanchions and fork oil replaced. Thanks kwackboy :)
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Washed the V-Strom and the kids' bikes. Then spent some time tidying the garage as its too cluttered. Used to be quite spacious until various push bikes and kids' go-karts invaded, now I'm forever dodging stuff. May need to invest in a bigger garage :shy:
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A couple of months ago I purchased a petrol hedge trimmer/grass strimmer. It was a cheap one from Screwfix (Titan). I didn't want to pay a lot for one as I haven't got much use for it. :)
Got it home & put some E5 petrol (two stroke mix) into it. Tickled it, pulled the cord & it fired up first pull. A few weeks later I went round to my mums & cut her hedge with it, it worked fine for 3/4 hours. Filled the tank at least 4/5 times with the same petrol.
A few weeks later I took the grass strimmer part to the allotment to strim the paths, it worked OK for about 30 minutes then it started to cut out on full revs, I had to release the trigger until the revs steadied then start again for a couple of minutes, this kept happening.
A couple of days later I wanted to use it again, it refused to start, nothing!
I took it back to Screwfix who exchanged it for me, same make, different model.
For a number of reasons I didn't try the new one until yesterday. Put the petrol in it (from the same can I had used before), tickled it & pulled the cord & kept pulling the cord, nothing, not a sign of life.
Of course, I thought what am I doing wrong, surely two units, both new, can't have the same fault. I checked for a spark & that the cut off switch was operating correctly. The plug was sparking & it was wet so was getting fuel into the cylinder.
Today I went to the petrol station & got some fresh fuel, mixed a container of two stroke, emptied the old fuel out as best as I could. Filled the tank with the new stuff, tickled it, pulled the cord & it fired up first time!! :icon_exclaim:
Does anyone want half a gallon of suspect petrol? :)
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I've had the axact same issue with a Tutan multi-tool at the missus' place.
Each time I use it, I have to remove the mixture screw and degunk the recess before re-fitting and then resetting the mixture.
It's so annoying that I bought some beefy electric trimmers instead and she promptly borrowed them and cut through the cord :)
Normally I object to replacing petrol with electric but I'm *just* young enough that I bloody hate 2 stroke (sound, smell and histrionics).
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Bloody hedge trimmer, the trimmer itself is about 20 years old and it's had just as many cords and repairs because almost every time it gets used the cord gets cut through.
He rides a bike too...
Plan for today is to fit the old man's new chain and sprockets, and then my bike will get XCPd since I didn't have chance before today, and it's a bit warmer!
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I'll keep an eye on that Rixington, thanks.
But that doesn't explain why the brand new one wouldn't start on the 'old' petrol but fired up straight away on the 'new' stuff. :shrug:
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I know they're bloody expensive........but, Honda make great petrol garden tools.
On the advice of a mate we bought a Honda powered mower and Honda Strimmer/Brush Cutter/Hedge trimmer about 10 years ago when the new larger plot became a part of my life. They just work, changed the plugs once and oil changed every Autumn.
Money well spent in the end.
The mate said if we bought owt else we'd regret it.
They are always run with Super Unleaded and Honda Pro Fuel Stabiliser. They're very economical too.
Upt.
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I too have a Titan brush cutter. I left it over last winter with an E10 2stroke mix in the tank and in the carb. I came to use it this year and guess what?
It started first pull and continued to go even with yonks old E10 that had also seen use as paintbrush cleaner. I did wind out the screw as it used to bog at high revs. This year I've winterised it by emptying the tank and running it until the carb was empty. I also treated it and the lawnmower to E5.
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Were you lucky or was I unlucky? :GRR:
I might use mine a few more times before it gets put away for winter but I think I'll drain it before I do.
Upt North, if I was going to use it on a more regular basis I'd be happy to spend my hard earned on something better. :thumb:
When this one is running it does work well though.
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I've had issues with my ancient Lawnflyte (Kawasaki heavy industries) 2 stroke stimmer for quite a while.
Well it was about 30 years old so bought one of the Titan multi tools. 35cc compared to 25cc on the old one.
Ran great with some old E5 petrol I had premixed ages ago... when I refilled with E10 premix the thing was a bugger to start, took ages to warm up and bogged down all the time unless there was a bit of choke on, which was awkward seeing at it has an auto disengage on the choke.
Did a bit of research and it's a common issue... turns out when the jets get a little film of oil and old petrol on them they close up the openeing and you need to back out the main mixture screw.
E10 being the bastard that it is make the situation worse as it has a lower volatility and is harder to ignite than E5.
I found it still bogged going from idle so I backed out the idle screw and it runs perfectly again.
If you ring their customer services, jump through the hoops they will send you the mixture screw tool FOC... but I just used a recent little needle nose pliers :fix:
Also it says in the manual, not that any of us read it that you should not store it with fuel in it for any length of time... I use it maybe once a month in summer... so I let it co-ol down and drain the tank back into the premix bottle.
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Thanks for that Nathan, something to keep in mind.
I think I'll drain mine & as TLP does, run it until the carb' is dry. :thumb:
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You might also consider running some carb cleaner through it and maybe putting petrol preserver in the tank that you empty the machine into to save it from going stale in storage.
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It's E5 Brocket so should be OK??? :shrug: but for a few £'s I suppose it covers my Donkey! lol I knew it was going to change the word but it does add humour to an otherwise boring post. :)
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lol
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Today, I signed up for the next level of my Cardiac Rehabilitation in the form of a 6 month intensive gym training regime. Doing nothing is not an option, and I have enjoyed the relatively gentle sessions so far. This is a step up but needs must and doing very little got me to where I was... Wish me luck!
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Good luck, if you're enjoying it then that's the big battle won already.
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Enjoying and gym don't belong in the same sentence.
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Keep going Mr12. A lot of the satisfaction of activity you get afterwards, thinking "I did it". And the benefits last far longer. :thumb:
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I Went into :shock:
My bike needs an annual service :fix:
I don't want to ride it in foul weather so how much to have it picked and delivered?
£99
And while I'm thinking about that he says "each way".
:icon_exclaim: ### ### ### ### ###
"Don't bother I'll ride it in."
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Cleaned a bit of shite out of the garage, loaded it into the car & took it to the tip.
The tip just happens to be opposite Powerslide Motorcycles (Derby) and I'd heard they had the 800RE in store so nipped across the road to have a look.
We had a bit of a look around but couldn't see it, then a chap came along & asked if we needed help. When we said we were looking for the new 800RE he said, "You've just walked past it!"
He lead us back outside & stopped at a large cardboard box. When he removed the cardboard this was inside. It will be assembled this afternoon & ready in the showroom tomorrow. It will be the demonstrator.
We'll go & sit on it next week just to check the height & riding position etc. but we've decided not to test ride it just yet until we can see it & ride it fitted with luggage so we know how comfortable it is. We sat on the 1050 last year, complete with Suzuki metal panniers & there was less room than on our 650, I'm not expecting anything different with this model!
3rd photo is just for fat rat. :whistle:
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It'll need a new front wheel though before you can sit on it :shock:
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It looks green in the pictures. The BMW1300GS cost's extra in green, maybe green in the new hip colour for motorbikes, unless the Suzuki is just a trick of the light? :thumb:
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It is green. :thumb:
Metallic Matt Steel Green. Didn't like it.
They also do a blue & black in this model.
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Mick, thanks for piccies, nice beak.
It's difficult ain't it? Trying one with luggage etc. I spent what seemed like months last winter agonising over panniers that would hold at least a bacon sandwich and allow Er'Indoors to still sit on it.
Shad 35's were the answer. But until they're on it's a guessing game.
Upt.
The colour, meh.
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I pulled the bikes out of the garage, picked up the movable junk and ran the vacuum cleaner over the carpet. I moved the bike lift to the middle and put the XJ600 on it ready for a winter fettle. I put the Moto Guzzis on each side and then decided to take three bags of garage rubbish to the dump. Oh! Oooooh! no... Can't do that nowadays as we have to book an appointment a 'fifteen minute slot'.And get a bookig number. On arrival at the dump you have to prove who you are by producing a named addressed document ( not easy when you go paperless) and then produce the booking number. Such a faff. I suppose that's why the headgerows and lanes are getting full of rubbish and litter. Never mind it fulfills the councils target of reducing waste going for landfill.
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Plus the " we don't take this, that, those any more" signs when you do get there. Where exactly do councils think stuff will end up if we can't take it to the tip? Saying that we know a chap who disposed of an entire Reliant Robin bit by bit in his wheelie bin. Before the Bin Polizei with their VERBOTEN stickers were quite so keen.
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My step father was a dustman for a long while ,pre wheelie bins,hard graft.
Back then they used to get xmas tips off of "customers" ,a tidy sum in the week leading up.
I have kept this up and catch the binmen and slip a tenner into the pot for a beer.
It paid off when we moved to wheelie bins.
I now have TWO black bins to fill with cut up fridges/tellies which get taken without question.
Good lads.
Ho Hum
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Up here in the far north east of Essex we have large plastic wheelie bins but everything has to be put in plastic bags in the wheelie bin so the refuse consultants or whatever they are called nowadays have a good idea if anything verboten :angry-tappingfoot: is being smuggled through on the fortnightly collections.
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Brockett ,
I guess you are using the wrong palm grease.
My lot ,as long as the lid is closed and nothing inside is moving........it's gone :thumb:
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Today, I took a picture of our Paperbark Maple which every year has a spectacular finale to the season with a dazzling display of colour. It's been a few years since it's been this vivid -
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After changing the ceiling down lights I am happy that our kitchen refurbishment is finished*. Pics below
* still needs the extractor fan motor replacing, it still works but it's noisy, it's taking forever to turn up...
And yes, that's the Simpsons on the TV and yes we have a rose gold bin - which is battery operated and flips up automatically when you wave your hand near it. Or your arse walking past...
5M x 5m (with a little bit 45 degree door in one corner) for scale/reference.
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I cleaned out some of the gutters at work in preparation for tomorrow's predicted deluge. I was struck by how green the lawn is looking after the first season of using robo mowers. The constant mulching of clippings has done a great job of keeping it fed..
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Wow 2112 that is a lovely kitchen 👍
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Thank you very much. It's been a bit of a slog with various trades people having 'calendar issues'... Utility room next & then the shower room and then the office. Ho hum, always something to do.
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I don’t know how you found time to work 5 days 🤣🤣
Good luck with the 3 planned jobs sounds like you are going to be very busy 👍
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Cheers, it will be a busy run in to Christmas, that's for sure.
Today, we're packing our bags and heading off to Malta for a week :sunny:
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Today, I've cut the grass for the last time this year. It was hard work as the ground is saturated, particularly the rear garden, but it's probably the last chance I'll get to do it before the weather gets too bad.
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Today I joined our local Remembrance day Parade.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them".
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Amen
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The generator "shed" roof at the stables was falling apart after 10 years so to reduce the earache from 'er indoors I made a new one.
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You really are a superstar, she must love you lots. I would have had her get out and do it herself. :icon_no: :grin:
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Went for a night cycle ride down a country lane to test out a Hope R4+ light I was given last year. It produces a measured 1500 lumen apparently. Was very bright compared to my previous 800 lumen light.
This was supposed to be used for some night trail riding at Sherwood Pines but have never got round to it yet...
Some of my friends have a set up of the R4 mounted to their helmets, and an R8 (3000 lumens) on their bikes :sunny: :shock:
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I have a cateye volt 1200 I use for cycling in the dark ( most times this time of year) and it was a revelation after years of non LED .I saw the light as it were.
Last time I used it not to go to work was down Weavers Way,a disused railway line at about 11 at night.Saw no one for an hour(middle of nowhere) then came across a lady pushing her dog in a pushchair!!! WTF
Ho Hum.
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Took the Moto Guzzi V7 Special ( actually it took me) to Colchester Kawasaki for it's Annual Service. As it has only covered 1000 miles since last service it just needed an oil and filter change and general inspection of specific parts. All the people there are very nice and the cafe upstairs is very good. I'll not tell you what it cost me in case some of you have a heart attack. Some few months ago I tried to "adjust" the footrest bracket so the gear lever could be repositioned to accommodate my boot - long story but suffice to say don't trust a pensioner with a grinder .... it's still perfectly safe and not even slightly unsightly but in case I sell the bike I feel it should be "as standard" condition. I ordered a replacement. £112 and I was expecting it to be a whole lot more. It was mostly dry roads for the journey home and I was so happy to be out on a bike again. Back in the garage now for the winter lay-up parked next to it's twin sister V7 Stone. The XJ600n is exited at being hoicked up the riding list although I sall not be telling it that it is now my winter rat bike. Shuuuuuush not a word eh!
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Today, I have just returned from a wine tasting weekend at Riverdale Hall Hotel, Bellingham (https://www.riverdalehallhotel.co.uk/). This is a cracking hotel with amazing quality food and super friendly & helpful staff. The wines we had were very diverse from a 2022 to Malvasia to a 49 year old châteauneuf du pap ! It was a cracking weekend and it's a great place to stay and explore Northumberland.
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Oh, how the other half live. :thumb:
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Today, I bought a Samsung 55" led TV for the back sitting room. The 50" plasma item that was there is starting to show it's age a bit so, out with the old, in with the new. More importantly, all our tV's will have the same style of remote control, so much easier to navigate.
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I do believe Samsung is the way to go for a television, my friend swears by them, we have a 50” LG but when that gives up our next one will be a Samsung
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Been using Samsung for many years, their picture quality and ease of use is, in my opinion, far better than most.
Our phones are also Samsung and even our washing machine... :grin:
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Apparently LG make most of the "screens" for many other TV manufacturers. But I, too, am a Samsung fan.
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A Samsung fan eh! no one needs a fan in the winter.
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Fan-tastic ..!!
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:GRR: :icon_batterup:
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lol
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We had a dentist appointment on the other side of town today then, on the way to order the meat for Christmas we called into Powerslide, Derby to have another look at the 800RE.
When we called there a few weeks ago it was still in the crate, today I could sit on it.
I gave her one job to do & she misses my head off. Deliberate? Probably!! :roll:
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Christmas meat is one thing ,but did you get the sprouts on. :whistle:
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Nigel, the sprouts are still growing down at the allotment, waiting for a bit of frost to sweeten them up. :icon_wink:
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Well now I am torn, do I wish for sweet sprouts or salt free roads?.......I'm going to have to bow to the inevitable I reckon and go for the sprouts.
Ho Hum
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4 hour return journey to Surrey and met a very nice Italian gentleman with a blue Vespa PX200.
(Well you did ask... :grin:)
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Went to MCL. Test rode an 800RE. Overall a nice bike, seemed a bit smaller than my 650 when sat on it (fuel tank is a slightly different design to the 650s), felt a bit more nimble. Seat height was an advantage too (apparently just due to the wheels on it, the DE is only higher seat height due to the different wheels). The dash was nice too, clear, colour coded, didn't play with any of the riding modes / abs / traction (although set the traction off once playing with the quick shifter - not to my taste, very harsh, apparently there is a learning curve!).
However, low down torque seems to be reduced compared to my trusty 650, and the engine / exhaust note was a bit disappointing... I'll stick with my trusty steed for the time being!
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BM, it appears the front looks low, like the clocks are where you'd expect them on a sportbike. The seat looks good, especially the pillion perch.
Them sprouts need to be on soon, they'll never be sulphurous and black unless you crack on with them.
PBU, interesting you prefer your 650, nice write up, especially the points on the engine.
Upt.
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Upt North, yes the display did appear to be a little lower than the 650 & there was a bigger space between the bars & the screen but didn't seem too bad. The bars are lower & narrower too. (I do have risers on the 650 though)
Regarding the seat, as we only sat on it today it's difficult to say but the first thing Deb noticed was that the pillion pegs seemed higher & her knees were more bent than on the 650. (knackered ligaments in her left knee can cause her problems after a few hours riding)
It is lower, by a fraction, than the 650, but I don't know where the rear pre-load was set, it could have been wound right off?
We're waiting for the luggage to arrive before having a road test, as we do ride a lot of miles with it fitted & we need to know how it sits on the bike. Although the rider can 'cope', the pillion has to be comfortable.
I'll be watching out for after market stuff to fit as well just in case it gives more room.
I reckon it'll be spring before we take it out now anyway so plenty of time to think about it. :thumb:
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This is a true story and only the language has been left out to protect delicate ears. The day started badly when I saw the lavatory seat cover was cracked. Better get that changed as Grandson is coming over for the weekend. Went to local DIY shop and bought a new soft closing seat. While fitting the seat I saw a drip from the base of the cistern. Oh! what... it's leaking. Apply WD 40 to stopcock and spend 30 minutes freeing it enough to shut off the water. Operate the flush and use a sponge to empty the cistern. Removed the top, and undo the bolts to remove the cistern. Nah! the cistern fixing bolts are rusty and swollen with crud. So they broke rather than undo. Use hacksaw and then use a number of drills increasing in size until the bolts are removed. Go 35 miles find a Wickes and buy a cistern fixing kit, a cistern to pan seal, a combined bottom feed inlet and level float and a flushing valve/ actuator. Go another 25 miles to collect grandson. and then drive 55 miles home via the evening nightmare also known as the A12 roadworks. Get home and put 2 pizzas in the oven. Help grandson to unpack. Eat pizzas. Settle grandson in the lounge to set up his playstation while I spend the next hour or so assembling the cistern and installing it with the kit I bought. Trial a number of flushes and check for leaks. All good so far.
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Phew,
You got a full quota of "movement" there. :thumb:
Ho Hum
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Today, we had the first 'proper' snow of winter with a pleasant 2" covering of the stuff. It motivated me to take a couple of pictures of the pristine snow -
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Dropped into Robinsons foundry Canterbury fir their 55yr Suzuki anniversary.
Found a 800RE outside as we went to leave. I can get on the RE and not the DE.
Bar position felt good, very similar to Tracer 9.
Felt similar in length to a Glee, a little lower and seemed easier to move about.
Shall have to test ride next year...I.e. when it's warmer...
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Following on from our very recent kitchen refurbishment it's the turn of the utility room (or plant room as it should be called due to the number of inverters etc). Tim the kitchen fitter is finished, so it's over to us for painting (featuring a LOT of masking off), the continuation of the kitchen floor to go down and a new back door to be fitted. Then it's new downlights and extractor fan as the mrs like to dry clothes in there on an 'old school' airer. No rest for the wicked and I even put the Christmas lights up today too -
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I managed to get a picture of the new front door that was fitted yesterday now it's stopped bucketing down. It's a bit wider than normal and centralised (we had two standard size doors previously, one opening, one fixed). It lets loads of extra light into the hallway. It's got a swanky high security lock fitted, after jumping through a vast number of security 'hoops' I managed to order another two keys at a rather hefty £23 each. They also turned up with a new back door too, but they measured it wrong and it was 10cm out. A rather expensive mistake for them oops...
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Dark Strom.
Either your 8' tall, or that 800 is tiny?
Upt.
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Booked bikers campsite for next August bank holiday... 23rd to 26th - Bank holiday on the Monday? :lala:
Hopefully I've booked a pod for 2 people for 3 nights... but with past experience of being called a buffoon I could very well have booked the whole site... it'll be a very quiet weekend then lol
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Blimey Diver, that's some impressive forward planning! Good work!
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Up north, the tank and front end are a good 200mm lower than on the 650 I would say.
If you look at MB's photo it's the same. :thumb:
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Put the optimate on until green - green, all good.
And took a picture.
Pffffffftttttt.
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That sky looks well moody Upt North great picture 👍
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Today was the weekly meet of The Friday Night Club (FNC), 8 lads who have known each other for the best part of 60 years!
Usually it's a few beers early doors, but today was the Christmas party, which involved pork pie, sausage rolls, pickled onions & a few extra beers ........ well, it is 'nearly' Christmas. :obscene-drinkingchug: :thumb:
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Time spent with friends is never wasted.
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A bit of a personal acheivement for myself & the Mrs today - we paid the mortgage off! It's been 25 years in the making but it's done & dusted. We took a massive gamble some 15 years ago and borrowed a chunk of money against the house to set up the wife's share in her Pharmacy business. She's now retired and we've chipped away at the extra burden until today. Mortage free feels great, it could only be better if it was my 58th birthday tomorrow - oh hang on, it is :happydance:
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Finished the first part of our decorating, next week it all starts again ready for new carpets .. :crazy:
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Today is my birthday, a 'young' 58. Pick of the presents is a copy of Geddy Lee's autobiography 'My effin' life' which I will be reading throughout the year (I'm not a fast or particular reader, I just pick up books up as & when I feel like it). Oh, and lots of wine...
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Many happy returns. :obscene-drinkingchug:
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:dl_angryfire: 2112
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Cheers folks, much appreciated. I've just got back from a couple of quiet drinks (followed by several rowdy ones..) with friends and a curry at the Manzil at Morpeth.
All in all, a top day :lala:
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Belated happy birthday 2112 👍
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Cheers mate :obscene-drinkingchug:
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Today I dragged the Mrs out for a rather bracing walk. We've done 3 miles and it's a bit blustery so we've got rosy red cheeks. Time for a well deserved cuppa & biscuit I think.
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Sat around for an hour or two this morning then cooked & ate the first breakfast of the year.
Fixed the waste bin in the kitchen. It's been faulty for months but you can't rush these things.....turned out to be a 5 minute job. :icon_wink:
Now sitting down again ready to watch Derby progress in their push for promotion! :thumb:
Photo to prove it did happen. :grin:
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First Rate! Where's the black puddin!
And as for you 2112, pull your trousers up whilst you're walkin.
Pffffffftttttt.
Upt.
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I bet it's under the eggs with a haggis slice?
I've just gone real hungry.
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Pigs in blankets bolognese for tea.......again.
Ho Hum.
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Upt North, a school boy error I'm afraid, none in the house, not even in the freezer!
I've let you down, I've let the forum down but most of all I've let myself down! :roll:
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Mick, just like my school report....."you must try harder".
:welcome2:
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Am not at all jealous Mick :icon_drool5:
I accidentally went for a 32 mile cycle ride which had 2,280 ft of elevation. Turns out the route I thought of doing whilst out was further than I thought. Maybe I need to play with the cycle computer's satnav/route planning features for the next one.
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2280 ft wow.
I live in Norfolk and am lucky to see 200 ft on Strava when cycling.
Ho Hum
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I can only dream of flat roads. I have a 200ft climb in the first two miles from my house - it's always a brutal start to any cycle ride.
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I could hardly sleep last night worrying about Upt North worrying about my lack of Black Pudding so I thought I'd better do something about it.
There was still none in the house, so if I had to go out to get some I thought I'd treat Deb, the daughter & grandson to a bite to eat. We went to a café not far up the road & I although I didn't want to, honestly :whistle:, I ended up ordering a breakfast ..... complete with Black Pudding. :thumb:
That's two in two days this year already!! Only 364 more to go! lol
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Blimey ... Good job you've got upgraded suspension on your vstrom .. :stirpot:
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That's more like it Mick'ster.
Even a biccie with your cuppa.
Although, and I know I'm being picky, there's a bit of a gap between that egg and hash brown that would have looked better with a wee haggis slice in it. Although, and in due recognition to your location in the south ( lol ) , you may be forgiven such an oversight. I'm looking forward to your diet advice later in the year.
Upt and much happierer.
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No problem, I'm always here to help.
Regarding the Haggis, we're off to Scotland later this year so I'm hoping to include a slice or two with my breakfasts when there. I do like a bit of Haggis, but 'while in England' & all that. :grin:
PS We're not in The South, Derby is The Midlands but your forgiveness is accepted. :thumb:
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Derby ! in the North ???? I'll have to check the guide.
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Thank you Brockett for that wonderful map. I identify as an old man sliding down a hill in a bathtub.
I actually carried out the act when I was 13 or 14, two chums and I liberated a galvanised tub from Whitley Hall Cricket Club and carried it a couple of miles to the top of Jawbone Hill (not made up, real name) on the outskirts of Grenoside. Using physics we decided that Richard Denton (tallest) should sit at the front, me next and Andrew Maurer at the rear. Using gravity and the friction reducing snow we set off, at first it was perhaps just above walking pace as the hill became steeper the pace became much faster. Luckily a gorse bush stopped us hitting the drystone wall at the side of the road that comes up from Foxhill.
Satisfied with our adventure we left the bath where it had come to rest and went home.
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Due to circumstances beyond my control, a planned wine week at Lake Garda has been moved to suit the hotel. This has buggered up my ferries (North Shields - Ijmuden & return), so after a lot of holding on the phone I finally managed to get the dates changed. However, the rooms I had booked have more than doubled, so I've downgraded to shitty little indoor cabins and have still had to pay an extra £105!!!!
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Well that don’t seem right mate ? Especially having to pay more money ?
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2112 did you book a flexi fare or not?
I've been in one of the little shitty outside cabins before. Blummin cramped for two with bike kit. We've got the bigguns booked for this Autumn's ride.
You may ( not wanting to judge ) have to go on a diet before the trip, just to be able to turn round in the bog, I think I had to walk in backards.
Upt.
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Sadly, no flexi fare and I do remeber being in the bowels of the ship on deck 2 once and I had to reverse in for a dump. Some piggin noisy Germans on that trip too, pissed up and singing & telling Stan Boardman jokes on their way to bed at 03:00. They were less keen on singing when I banged on their doors at 08:00 mind...
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On the bright side I've booked a night at this place, worth it for the novelty factor alone - https://hausfueck.de/
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Today I became a septuagenarian! So what better way to celebrate than with a full English! :)
Yesterday we had planned to go out on the bike but last night the gritter was out so today the bike remained in the garage & we went to a local cafe in the car. Only a regular breakfast today so there was a bit of room for some birthday cake. :grin:
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It puts my two bananas to shame, or the other way around possibly? Happy birthday and congratulations on reaching a significant milestone in life :thumb: May you have many happy
breakfasts birthdays to come
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I've just sat at my desk in work and now I'm looking for the number for the local cafe.
:dl_angryfire:
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Belated birthday greetings from me Mick. You are a inspiration to us all. :clap:
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Congratulations Mick.
Not much of a present but made your grass a bit greener
:)
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Hiccy burpy :text-bravo:
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I'm in Southern Spain at the moment and have just got back from a walk with the dog. I rushed to the yapping dog who was jumping and spinning with joy as he had found a new friend, it was a snake. It was about 18" long, slender and brown in colour. I think it was probably harmless but it was coiled ready to defend. I don't know how many times I have told the dog to keep away from anything that hisses'. A cat scratched his nose last week.
Anyway, that has been the most exiting thing to happen today. Happy day's. :thumb:
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Appy berfday Mick .. :text-bravo:
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Happy Belated birthday Mick 🍰🍻🎂
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:dl_angryfire: Mick. That was another tasty looking breakfast. You should treat yourself again tomorrow.
Doc, you definitely need to remind the dog that snakes are bad for him.
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Belated birthday wishes Mick.
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Submitted tax return. Not long left if you have to submit one too!
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:text-goodpost:
The Mrs got hers sent off today :thumb:
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I went to visit my mate in his workshop, he is rebuilding a damaged AC cobra (kit) that he has bought and making a lovely job of it I may add.
He is also working on a damaged Jaguar XK8 that he also bought.
I am having trouble posting pictures but I will try to post a few 🤞
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I don’t know what’s going on but it would not let me post the pictures.
But I managed to post them on GB bikers.
Help please Martin or Andy ?
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That'll be the 4 wheel filter kicking in, not allowing car pics on a bike site.
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lol lol
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As part of the recovery process from my heart attack last year, I signed up for the NHS sponsored Cardiac Rehabilitation sessions in the gym. I've completed the first stage and I'm now well into stage 2. However, I'm managing these rather well so (under guidance) I've been to the gym today for session number 3 this week. It was a bit of an effort to get myself going but once I got there I fully enjoyed it and I should reap the benfits at my next class on Tuesday. Doing nothing is not really an option any more, so needs must - but it's going well & I'm felling great.
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Today we left the bike in the garage (again) & loaded the car with camera, long lens, binoculars & some warm clothing.
We had heard that Waxwings were 'showing' on the Monsal Trail at Hassop Station, so, as we'd not seen one in our ten years experience of bird watching, off we went.
The Waxwing isn't a rare bird in this country by any means but they don't always show in great numbers around these parts. It seems that the berries are in short supply in Eastern Europe & they've come over in numbers this year.
We're not 'twitchers' & don't usually chase after a bird (the photo of the crowd show you why ..... we don't like people :grin:) but because these were fairly close, it was a nice day & there was nothing in the diary we thought we might as well.
After viewing the Waxwings (& the Redwings & Fieldfares) we departed the very busy Hassop Station car park (haven't these people got jobs to go to?) & made our way to The Yonderman for a bite to eat. I managed to avoid buying a breakfast, just, & satisfied my hunger with a pulled pork with barbecue sauce cob & a bowl of chips. :icon_drool5:
Just as a biking interest, there were two GS's at Hassop, the two bikes pictured at The Yonderman & we spotted three bikes parked up at Monyash as we drove passed on the way home.
A few photos .............
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Waxwings are on Look North now, Mick.
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Thanks for the heads up Mick :thumb:
Some particularly hard weather in Denmark and Sweden recently I believe.
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Fantastic pictures Mick thanks for sharing :text-goodpost:
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With my wife, went to a solicitor and spent time devising a will. That'll be a weight off her mind and some relief for my ears.
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A few years ago it was on local TV news that twitchers were watching Fieldfares somewhere in Devon. I went for a walk with the dog and passed a field full of them and not a twitcher in sight. I think watching the few they showed on telly was their mistake, not that I'm very interested in birds other than birds of prey. :thumb:
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I had a run into Newcastle today (£2 on the bus each way, bargain) and picked up a present for my mates birthday and dropped my watch off for a much needed service. It's not been holding it's power reserve very well and it is overdue by a few months.
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I've been having a good look around the house and garden today before todays storm hits. I've sorted one loose finishing plate on the roof edging and secured a few garden items. Time to batten down the hatches...
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Same here ..
Although we're pretty sheltered here some of our garden bits have ended up elsewhere in previous storms. :smirk:
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Yes same here..
We have also been battening down the hatches.
Although we have a few ridge tiles where the mortar has come loose that are due to be done soon, hopefully they will be OK 🤞
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Presently 70.1 mph from the SSW apparently.
I think I need another Scotch, it could be a long night above the 55th parallel.
Pffffffftttttt.
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Today I've had the ladder out to fix a bit of storm damage, luckily it's a bungalow so not a big deal. I've lost a few bits of roof trim (no idea what it's technical name is) but found the pieces in next doors garden. A bit of 'RAF' engineering (large screw & repair washer) and they are securely fastned back on the roof. A more visually attractive repair will be carried out in calmer weather...
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Those tile cappings are a PITA. Lots of roofers nail them on for quickness but they should be screwed on the top edge and then the next one locks in before being screwed again. I think you have to start from the bottom and work your way up to the top.
You're welcome.
Upt.
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Yes, sadly, there is a good days work (in better weather) to put them right permanently. Not a screw in sight either, only a few 2" nails...
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Ooo ventilated soffits....
Spent a pleasant (!) couple of days installing the circular vent jobbies, in an attempt to improve ventilation in the roof space.
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I suspected as much 2112. And those ventilated roof spaces are very noisy on a windy night. Ours is a similar construction and was also roofed by someone who couldn't give a monkeys.
As an aside I've just spent a very unpleasant morning removing last year's wasps nests from the loft.
I do hope they pick someone else's roof this year. Pffffffftttttt.
Upt.
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I have spent the past few weeks collecting those 'Dry Verge' end caps off my lawn and returning them to the surrounding properties who all have them installed, well temporarily anyway :)
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When we had a full new roof (#yorkshirebattlecry) we had dry verges fitted. The roofers said dry verge systems should only be used with new, longer, battens which protrude far enough to fix the plastics properly. As ours were. Maybe some of the quick fix replacement stuff isn't securely held. Ours haven't budged an inch. Our neighbour got a cheaper roofer, he comes back 2 or three times a year to fix it.
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My neighbour knocked on the door to say our shed roof is in his garden...
I need to go round tomorrow to get it back as didn't have time today before it went dark.
Oddly looks like it was only nailed on with four screws on each side so surprised it stayed on for the last decade but on the plus side, my refelting held so the roof came off in one go (shame I need to cut it in half to get it back)
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Unless the wind blew all the contents away too, you don't need a shed.
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lol
The shed contents are blocking the Strom in the garage so I have an incentive to sort the roof out. Good excuse to tidy the shed though as it's been needing doing for a while.
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" looks like it was only nailed on with four screws "
There's your problem.
Next time, screw it on with four nails. :smirk:
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Something's wrong here, you say it's stayed there for a decade but gives the impression of brand spanking new wood as if it was only put up at the weekend? Is it treated/protected? Are the walls bolted down with long enough nails?
I suspect the roof pitch was 9°. lol
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Retrieved the shed roof from the neighbour's garden. Ended up cutting through the roof felt at the ridge to separate it in two and pass it under the fence panels.
I'll be hammering the screws in with a saw on Saturday :grin: (or using longer nails and more of them to secure it down).
The walls seem fairly secure - as much as a shed can be*
It is treated and gets repainted every couple of years. You can see it needs repainting at the bottom so will be done this summer. Might change the colour this time as it's a bit orange (supposed to be Oak leaf or something like that).
Think the roof pitch is low, just like the garage one. I might tackle making the shed larger at some point by changing the sides so could make the roof better then.
*This reminds me of an article Road.cc had with a retired 'professional-bicycle-thief' he said he used to do handstands against sheds and push the roof off with his legs. Would steal the bikes and put the roof back on so owners wouldn't realise. ###
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A length of batten screwed to the underneath of the roof then to the shed walls will stop it moving in the future.
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The wind blew my wheelie bin over :shrug:
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Today, I have booked my 'retirement holiday' for January 2025; it's a a 30 day epic trip to New Zealand ! The holiday is broken up with a 2 night stay in Singapore on the way out and an additional 2 nights on the way back in Dubai. A link to it is below -
https://www.distantjourneys.co.uk/new-zealand-tours/very-best-new-zealand-tour/
Any tips or hints for those of you who have been to New Zealand are most welcome.
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Wow - insanely jealous! No need for me to "hope" that you enjoy -you will. :thumb:
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Cheers mate, it's a once in a lifetime trip so we intend to make the most of it. That said, the Mrs fancies a 44 day trip around Australia the year after...
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Such a shame to go and miss most of a British Winter....
Take a million pics!
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Wow 2112 that sounds an amazing 😀 something to really look look forward to. :text-goodpost:
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I'm giddy with excitement and it's still 11 1/2 months away ! I'm debating if I should get a better camera, but nothing too big ? We have a Panasonic Lumix which takes very good (but not spectacular) pictures, but it's over 10 years old. I certainly don't want the bulk of a DSLR or even a bridge camera, even through both will (should) give better results. Any photographers out there that could recommend a good quality compact camera ?
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All the camera you will probably ever need, the viewfinder is a game changer.
Upt.
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-hx90
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:text-goodpost:
That looks exactly what I'm looking for :thumb:
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I've got a similar but earlier model (HX80?) , I think it's a bit like saying it's a Honda (Sony) , they just work. Also a great size to keep with you on the bike.
Mine is probably around three years old now.
Upt.
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I've got an old Lumix TZ10, which while still takes good qualiy pictures, has a few issues. The main issue is when you zoom the lens you can't one-zoom/retract the lens unless you switch it off. I guess it must be at least 15 years old so I've had my use out of it!
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I also have an earlier HX60. Great little pocket camera, great features and good lens for a pocket camera.
At 20.4mp it will take a far better image than any of the 200pm phone cameras due to the lens.
It had an outing today for my 4yr old's birthday party.
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Finished putting the roof back on the shed. Did the majority yesterday but removed the original nails 'holding' it on at each corner and replaced them with 11 pan roofing screws all fastened to the frame front and back.
The roof re-felt is a temporary job using felt I had in the shed pending full replacement when the weather is better.
Also popped the Strom's battery on charge in readiness for an outing this week - it'll be the first one of 2024 :shock:
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So, I'm making a nice filter coffee and I look out of the window and see this foxy lady taking shelter under our hedge at the bottom of the garden. She's been in the garden before but seems very relaxed & at home. Sorry about the picture quality but it's through double glazing.
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I hope you are going to adopt the fox and feed her dog food and meat scraps. :thumb:
Unless you have a cat! ###
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She's been coming in to the garden for a few years now and seems happy here. Not keen on feeding as it attracts other 4 legged rodents...
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I have the odd fox that sun bathes and a badger or two, but the beasts that worry me are the deer. Its a very small garden and so walking out of the back door and finding a huge stag a little taller than me with a full set of ariels on top is not something I want to repeat. Hedgehogs shagging sound like grisley bears and even telling them to "shut it" doesn't always distract them. Not many song birds though too many magpies and sea gulls nicking the eggs and scoffing the chicks. Some years there are lots of slow worms and other years there are newts or toads but never in the same years and strangely there are no lakes or garden ponds in the area.
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Today I went to my mum's 100th birthday 'gathering'. I say gathering rather than party as mum, 'didn't want a fuss', so it was just a quiet get together with her five children, two nieces over from Ireland & then grandkids & great grandkids making short visits throughout the day.
:dl_angryfire: Mum. XXX
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:occasion-balloons:
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:clap: :clap:
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Congratulations to your Mum. She doesn't look 100 :thumb:
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:dl_angryfire: :occasion-balloons: :occasion-balloons: :occasion-balloons:
Happy birthday to your mum. Hope she had a fantastic day!
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That is some milestone, congratulations to Your mum :thumb:
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Today, our shower room refurbishment started in earnest. However, it didn't take long before some 'issues' raised their heads... Three rotten joists, rotten wall studs & flooring beyond use. A few plumbing issues were spotted too, such as an upwards sloping waste pipe and some poor pipe routing. It's a mess and it'll cost a bit to fix but, hay ho - it is what it is. It's even affected what is our home office which was to get a makeover later on this year. It looks like it will be quite a bit sooner now as the fitted wardrobe was dismantled by hammer. Pictures of the carnage below -
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Crikey! Good luck :dl_hyperhysteria:
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I blummin hate plumbin.
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Happy belated birthday micks mum wow 100 that is some milestone.
And 2112 we had very similar just before Christmas at a rental house we have.
Had to replace all the floor joists, bearers & flooring. Big job good luck 🤞
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Cheers, thankfully I'm not doing it
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I left my car for two and a half months and when I got home the fob wasn't recognised by the car and I was instructed to put the fob on top of the on off button then press start. That worked so I then drove to a moto factors and bought a new battery. It made no difference.
Today I visited the local (Exeter) Nissan dealer where I was told the car would need a diagnostic check £156. I had to agree so signed the form for them to proceed while I had a free coffee. ten minutes later the receptionist came and told me I had put the battery in upside down, she had fixed it and the car was now okay.
I felt stupid and embarrassed but saved £156. Wow! An honest garage, I have so much respect for the garage. :lala: :bow-blue:
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"free coffee" lol better than a £156 coffee. At least they were honest enough not to bullshit you and keep it.
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Doctor, did you use a quality new button cell? I bought 'em cheap off Ebay and the minute they drop to 2.99V it's game over. I change them in our Nissan Leaf fob it feels like several times a year! When the pack of a squillion is finally empty I'm going to not be so cheap from then on.
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Not Glyn Hopkins then??
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I agree with the batteries. I've put every other brand than the manufacturers dealers use in my key, and all of them go back to "Key 1 has a low battery" within a couple of months. The key works well past that though up to a year or more.
They must just be tuned to use one kind of battery and everything else won't do!
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I rather think that the batteries supplied with a vehicle are somewhat "special". Even when you buy what looks identicle it doesn't seem to last as long. The opposite of my experience with tyres - new bike tyres seem to fall off a cliff much quicker than an apparent replica replacement. The first Bridgestone front tyre on my Kawasaki 1000 SX was shot in 2700 miles and the replacement went to over 5000 :shrug:
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In answer to the question about which batteries I chose. My car is 2014 and I bought it one year old from Nissan, it was one of their staffs company car. I haven't had to change the batteries in the fob's since but I have changed the vehicle battery.
The replacement fob batteries I bought from a moto factors , two for £1:50, cheap. I will know what to do next time they expire and if it happens in less than a year then they will be replaced with Nissan batteries. I can't fault the Exeter Nissan dealer, they are superb and even wash my car for free every Saturday for as long as I own it. :bow-blue:
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Brockett “I rather think that the batteries supplied with a vehicle are somewhat "special".
On a slightly different slant about battery longevity,I have had my current car since 2012,and the key fob has never had a new battery,I have never tried the spare key so not sure if that would work,plus I replaced the original battery on my L2 bike before going on holiday 18 months ago,” just in case” when it was 10 plus years old.I checked the old battery that was still in the garage a few weeks ago and it still had 12.6 volts in it.So the original Japanese make batteries are really good bits of kit.
Note:before anyone asks I checked the date stamp on the original and it was made in 2011.
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@Brockett your comment regarding the lack of life from tyres fitted to new bikes rang a bell. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv97i_-V7hA
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I like his videos or is it blogs? Anyway, thank you for posting that one, it is particularly good and explains what I always thought but didn't quite know how to say it. :thumb: :text-goodpost:
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Another day in the garage working on the XJ600.
Seat off, tank off, airbox off. Throttle disconnected, battery positive disconnected. TPS disconnected and carbs removed to workbench. Floats removed and float level tabs adjusted so that all are the same as I can get them. Re-assemble and replace carbs and TPS and balance carbs 2 with 3 then 3 with 4 and ten 2 with 1. Refit everything else and fire up again. Yep that sounds much better. Remove sump plug drain and change engine oil. Only has 600 miles of use but I feel the need to check it for petrol contamination since I suspect the carbs were flooding into the bores. No sign of that but at least that little voice of doubt won't run around inside my helmet next time I go out. Filter was not changed. Centre stand removed for corrosion removal and repaint. Rear chain adjusted and tyres brought up to pressure. But then it was getting too late for test ride due to failing light. The job shown above was started at 1030 and finished at 1645. Everything is awkward to get at and even more difficult to put back in place. However, as I bought it to play with, it is serving me well. I gave both Moto Guzzis a wipe over and used a pastry brush dipped on AFC50 to dab as required, connected the optimates and then covered them up again. My sons now unloved Honda 125 Varadero sits a little falorrnly (and in the bloody way) since he passed his test and committed all his love to a 600 Fazer. So I may have to spent a few months making the little Honda looking presentable for someone to buy. ( Scabby water pump housings are not just a V-Strom thing)
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Today I've picked up a bug or virus which is making me very ill. I was throwing up earlier but it has now worked itself downwards. The phrase 'thinner than water' applies...
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Had to have a half day at work so I could go meet our granddaughter Rosie ... born today ... :lala:
.
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Congratulations :thumb:
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Kwackboy congratulations 👍
2112 hope you feel better soon.
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Congratulations to one and all kwackboy.
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2112 - Oooh! that's not good I do hope you feel better very soon
Kwackboy - Congratulations Grandchildren are great .... (and I thought I had a busy day)
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Congratulations Kwackboy :thumb:
I'm up for a liquified 'poo' every 20 mins at the moment, not nice.
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Took the V-stom for its MoT it sailed through without fault.
I'm sure that the engine is even better now, with 50'000 + miles on the clock than it was 20.000 miles ago!
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I've managed to eat something today (porridge, no milk or sugar, just water), my first meal since some ill-fated toast on Friday came through me like a train. Not sure what I've had but it's not been pleasant. I'm still not 100% but I'm able to move more than three steps away from the porcelain...
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.....and even that's too much detail! :shock:
Get well soon.
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FFS, 2112! Every time I click on this thread, I'm eating!! lol
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Hell, it sounds like you could hit the porcelain from three steps away. Get well soon, roast dinner by next Sunday :thumb:
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So, it turns out that my botty woes have been caused by a little bug called gastroenteritis, probably picked up in filthy Manchester if the timeline is to be believed ? Things are well on the mend now, but I'm still far from 100% fit. I've just jumped on the scales and I've lost 7kg since the last time I got weighed ! That's just over 15lb in pre-decimal money, no wonder I feel knackered...
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Regretably fewer people wash their hands after using a toilet these days. People seem to be forget how simple hygiene works. As the world population grows and the cost of travel falls more and more viruses will spread and of course the uncontrolled and often inadequte use of anti-biotics will be catastrophic for many communities. Most of us did not live in a time when a scratch from a rusty nail could be fatal. Our grandparents did, as will our grandchildren. COVID 19 was just a taster of what is to come.
P.S. sounds like you're on the mend 2112. Good show - I hope you are fully recovered very soon.
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Feeling for you 2112, I've had it and I don't want it again. Although I could do with losing some pre-decimal weight.
Brockett, I fear you are wise.
Upt.
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Brocket, you are right about people not washing their hands after using the toilet. I visit public loos a lot because I can't stop peeing. It shocks me that even after number two's some chaps don't wash. I hate touching the handle of the door when leaving. Dirty bas****s.
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Cheers chaps, appreciated. I'm nearly back on to solid food now too. Whoop.
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Foot operated shithouse door opener.
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he'll never reach that from his place
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I'd never reach it with my stumpy legs.
@2112, it's good to hear you on the mend. A 7kg loss, that's a decent amount. Where exactly in Manchester did you visit?
Asking for a friend obviously.
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TLPower, are your legs so short they don't even reach the floor?
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Not when he's sat on that monster he rides! :grin:
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Hope you're referring to his KTM ... :icon_wink: :stirpot:
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@2112, it's good to hear you on the mend. A 7kg loss, that's a decent amount. Where exactly in Manchester did you visit?
Stockport. I always struggle with germs when I visit the midlands...
When I used to work for Balfour Beattie I was based out of Bamber Bridge near Preston. I always got a good bite when I mentioned that I'd come down from the North to work in the midlands. Every time.
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As the board title says I dread to think what 2112's conclusive post will say....... let alone the emoji "This thread is worthless without pics". :shock:
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I think I'm pretty much back to my normal (note, not normal, but normal for me...) now and everything is working as it should do. Pleased to see the back of it to be honest and sick of having a ringpiece like a dragons nostril. On the bright side I've just dipped under 18 stone for the first time in several years. I'm off to Milton Keynes for two nights next week as I'm doing a lecture on Wednesday. What's the worst that could happen ?
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Glad you're feeling better. Fingers crossed you don't go through that again.
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It's an effective diet, but difficult to recommend...
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"dragon's nostril" lol lol lol
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Have ordered some new brake discs and pads for the Strom as the discs were measuring 4.53mm on one side. Still above spec, but only just.
Was going to order from Sportsbikeshop but Demon Tweaks were £100 cheaper (25% off the discs at the moment). SBS' website says they'll price match but only one of each item, so only one disc :shrug:
Hopefully these discs will last another 60,000 miles
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Today I've had to tackle my first bit of gardening this year. We have a few Potentilla (Fruticosa Bella Lindsey, in case you were wondering) bushes which need a good hard cut back every 3-4 years. This was one of those years. I'm probably only 2 to 3 weeks away from the first cut of the grass too. And so the annual battle to keep nature in some sort of control begins...
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I opoened the back door and looked at the garden which has not been touched for five years. I went back inside and closed the door. Mild winters don't knock back the weeds like they used to do.
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Agreed, too mild to knock anything back. Bring back the good old days of proper frosts, several feet of snow & the whole country grinding to a halt.
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Tonight I've moved the computer into the dining room and converted it to wireless with a USB adapter. It's running a bit slow, but acceptable. This allows me to crack on and rip what's left of the office/bedroom 5 out and get it ready for a major refurbishment. Never ending the amount of work going on here! I'm incentivised to get it done quickly as the better weather is on the horizon...
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I had a run into Newcastle today to pick up my watch from the jewlers. It's been back to Breitling for a major service, full refurbishment polish, replacement glass & two damaged links replaced in the bracelet. The watch looks & feels like new again, absolutely stunning! I cannot believe how well they've got the scratches out of the case & bracelet. Note to self, do not wear your watch while doing DIY, gardening or in the garage...
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Very nice, I don't usually like Breitling because they are often over cluttered but I do like that. I have a watch the same colour. :thumb:
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Cheers, like yourself I like a simple dial (as I often tease the wife...) and I can do without all the other distractions. It had some quite serious 'battle damage' and has come back like new, so pleased.
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Can I ask roughly what that cost you 2112 (watch service)? You can tell me where to go of course......
I have a Tissot and daren't wear it other than for weddings and funerals. :whistle:
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It went back to the mothership (Breitling UK) as it was badly scuffed and I knew it needed some link repairs and the glass replacing. All in with the major service (includes pressure test), polish & repairs it came to £670. Generally, you will be looking at around £120-£180 for a standard service (without pressure test for waterproofness) excluding any parts. The Mrs has a Hamilton which is well overdue a service and we have been quoted locally as £140.
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Wow! OK, the watch is worth it but not your bank account...... A once in a lifetime repair one would assume? :icon_wink:
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UK Vstrom (February 25th)to save money,order one disc and then after it arrives,order another,that way you will get your discount on both items.👍
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Took the bike out to see if my repair to the ABS power supply has worked,and it did ☺️ (The ABS light would not go off)
Thanks to the forum member that posted a couple of weeks ago that he had found a bad connection,sorry I can’t remember your name.There are two cables in parallel coming from the battery positive terminal,the heaviest cable goes to the starter solenoid and the other goes directly to the ABS 25A fuse,this cable has a push on connector in the middle of it,I released the securing plastic clip and inside was a verdigris mess,I cleaned it all off and tried the connector,there was virtually no friction between the two terminals,hence a very bad connection,gave the female connection a squeeze with a pair of pliers,smeared anti-corrosive terminal grease inside and reconnected.
Biggest job was getting both of the rear fairing pieces off and back on.The light goes off quicker now than it ever has done.Good result to a niggling and theoretically very expensive job.
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A once in a lifetime repair one would assume? :icon_wink:
I hope so, I'll be taking better care of it from now on...
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Good shout about ordering the parts a day apart Ian, but it seemed too much of a faff at the time.
I bet if I'd gone into the local SBS shop they'd have price matched the whole order (even if ordering them separately) but didn't have time to get there.
Good fix on the ABS light too. I've not had issues (yet) but will be remembering this post. (I do wonder if having a rear hugger has helped with this??)
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Today we've loaded the car up and are off to Harrogate for a mid-week break and some wine tasting. We have a visit at Dunesford Vinyard booked and then a tasting at a boutique wine shop in Harrogate. Happy days :obscene-drinkingchug:
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This morning I sanded down the majority of my forks with a view to respraying as they're a mess. I then utterly failed to remove the rear to bolts from the mudguard. The square washers are just spinning in their wells and I can't get them off. Currently considering just masking it all off and trying to spray the forks in situ. Bloody thread lock............
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I think you will find they are rusted in rather than threadlocked,don’t forget your bike is about 11years old this year.I had a few problems with my L2 when I stripped the forks out to fit fork gaiters,and ended up drilling the thread out of the square nuts,then soldering new nuts onto the square nuts and then you can get a spanner onto them next time they are removed.Plus I used a copperslip type anti-seize grease on them when re-assembling.
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I had a short ride out north of Newbury. I was given as a present maybe 15 years ago a ring-binder of “AA 1001 Country Walks” and it has sat on the shelf until last year when I thought I’d make a start. Now up to 117, so 884 to go, but if I do 100 a year I’ll finish in 2032???
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Just my luck, I picked up a 24 hr bug and have been on the pot passing fizzy gravy for most of yesterday! After a very hot/cold/hot night I seem to have sweated it out of my system. Not having much luck with these things at the moment...
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You could use a "ring binder" yourself, by the sound of it.
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Yesterday I bought a £1 scratch card. Today I saw that I have won! :lala: :sunny: £2. :roll:
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Finished a little project today, a coffee table, made out of old scaffold boards left over from another bigger decking project. I don't like waste ... :icon_wink:
Not quite finished yet , it needs a final sanding, white washing and varnishing.
.
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Looks good, nicely chamfered ahd sculpted near the joints. I assume it's glued too? :thumb:
Edit: I play with my router a lot for similar jobs. You have one or a bench set up?
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Cheers ...
I've got a couple of routers, I'm not skilled enough to do it any other way... :grin:
Yes , it's glued with wooded dowels, I've been learning joinery and quit like the idea of making items without the screws or nails.
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Nicely done Kwackboy,
Money to be made at that game,some of the stuff on ebay goes for silly money( some of our joiners make good on the side cash there :whistle:), if you decide to cut back on bike fixing :thumb:
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Today, I took my car for it's third annual service and it's first MOT. I am pleased to say it passed with no advisories (as it should do) and all is well. All for a very reasonable £130 and an extra years 'free' breakdown cover with the AA thrown in. Happy :)
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Deb & myself have been over on the East coast (Suffolk) for a few days & knowing one of our members lives not too far away, we arranged to meet for breakfast today.
Cracking little cafe & an equally cracking little breakfast. ☺️
Cheers Brocket, great to see you & your mates for a catch up.
Steve & Pep seem like old mates now. 🙂
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So very nice to see you both again.
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Easter holidays means a few days looking after the grandkids, or is it them looking after me? :whistle:
Yesterday, after Oxygen, a Trampoline & play centre, we made a visit to Great Northern Classics. https://www.greatnorthernclassics.co.uk/ A new venture just opened in Derby. I thought it was a museum but it's more of a workshop for classis vehicles. There were half a dozen or so cars & a few motorcycles on display though.
Today, after Ten Pin Bowling we made a visit to The Museum of Making in Derby. That was excellent & a couple more motorcycles spotted. We couldn't stay long enough to 'do' the whole thing as we had to have one of the kids home for Gymnastics.
A good couple of days, the grandkids enjoyed the trampolining & bowling & grandad enjoyed the motorcycles. :thumb:
The last three photos are from the Museum of Making. The exhibition is to do with the City of Derby.
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For some reason I was unable to download any photos on the original post, not even one. :shrug:
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This is odd?
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.
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.
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Got there with the photos in the end but I'm not sure what happened. The first 3 times trying it just kept saying failed. Tried reducing the photos & putting fewer in each post, still no good. Then when I do manage to get some up in separate posts, those that wouldn't show in the first post suddenly appear. :crazy:
Maybe it was me after two days with the grandkids!! lol
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I have had problems over the bank holiday too,using my usual file size ,and when they were accepted ,taking forever to up load.I opened the site in another window ,hit home to refresh ,and the photo post immediately uploaded on the first window ????
don't know?
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I've had a busy day around the house & garden today. Firstly I removed all the carpet tiles that were in my back passage (!) and took them to the tip. Some came up easily, others needed to be chiseled carefully from the floor. We have painters in for three/four days decorating starting on Monday and then the flooring people are in the following Monday and it's LVT throughout the front & rear passages. Then it was a burst of energy outside as I cut the grass for the first time this year. Knackered, so it's a well deserved glass of wine (or two) tonight.
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I was asked to do a Drone flight at Dover castle. early this morning before for it was open to the public as they have some major leaks in the roofs. The wind was really strong with gusts of 30 mph. I put the Drone up just to see if I could do this for them. But I had to abandon the flight as the wind was fighting the Drone to much and I was worried I was going to loose it.
I will be going back to do the flight when it’s less windy.
On the way back I noticed a sign for Samphire Hoe so turned off to take a look it turns out that Samphire Hoe was created from the Channel Tunnel spoils and has added 89 acres to this part of Kent.
You have to wait at a set of Traffic lights to access the site then go through a Tunnel. There are 2 car parks (50p for half an hour ) there seem to be nice walks including along the sea wall. There are toilets and a education centre we were only there for a short time and took a few pictures.
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A few more pictures
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Great pictures :thumb:
It looks an interesting spot & good use of what must have been thousands and thousands of tons of rock, rubble & sand.
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Pity the Government didn't arrange for the rock and sand to be dumped on the east coast where erosion is taking away land and people homes.
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Too far away from London for the politicians to care, sadly...
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Tyres checked and inflated, bike checked, bit of a run tomorrow. And just in time, I appear to have a cold coming on, fantastic timing!
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Might not be a cold,the pollen count is high now.Affects me a lot,with cold like symptoms,sniffing,tickly throat,it’s tree pollen.
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I never suffered with hay fever until I was 70 and then I was knocked flat for a while until I associated my symptoms with me pruning and hedging some Leylandii (Bloody things) The pollen from those is dreadful.
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You know what, you might be right. Sneezing has started now although it doesn't change for time of day. Hopefully it is just a bad year of hayfever for me.
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Back in 2018 I went to the GP due my eyes becoming very light sensitive. Any sunlight was blinding and painful and my eyes were streaming. I was referred to hospital specialist and because I could not see I had to take a cab each way. Three appointments later I was told there was no reason for the symptoms. I had to stay home all day and only go out when it was overcast. I could not drive at night being unable to see when headlights approached. In mid August out for a brief ride on a cloudy day, a friend said his eyes were stinging because he had not taken his hay fever medication. CLANG yes a loud bell rang. Next day I went to Morrisons and bought a packet of one a day allergy remedy.
After three days my eyesight was back to normal for the first time in five months. I told the GP but as expected I was not believed. Every year since then I have to stock up with a few boxes of meds and over the years I need to take them less and less.
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Results are in, it wasn't hayfever, bloody man flu. First time I've been outside in a few days yesterday!
I had some weird and wacky dreams... including multiple dreams about eating a massive portion of fish and chips complete with salt and vinegar. Considering I still can't taste anything, maybe that's just my brain wishing.
Also managed to offer up the cool cover crazyhorse sent over, looks like it'll fit a goodun!
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Fitted pannier rails to the bike. Getting ready (very early) for European trip in August
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Went to sportsbikeshop in Harlow...
Spent too much money ..!! :bawl:
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Went in the garage and started The B up for the first time since October. First prod and it sung... :lala:
Just as it got up to one bar on the temp gauge a biblical storm arrived... ###
Pffffffftttttt.
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Went to sportsbikeshop in Harlow...
Spent too much money ..!! :bawl:
Kwackboy I haven’t been yet but I must go. I have been buying stuff online for years but now there is one so close I will go and have a look round.
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A friend of mine runs it, it's a nice shop with plenty to choose from.
It's about 30miles from me but as the weather was nice I thought I'd have a little run up there for a mooch ..
My wallet was a bit lighter after I left . :bawl:
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Not very exciting, but I managed to get some weedkiller sprinkled around the garden. It's getting choked with all manner of naughty vegeatation, some of which I've not seen before but is growing and spreading quite vigorously.
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Very French 2112, use the toilet next time, you won't worry the neighbours........ lol
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Have you seen the price of Roundup these days? Every little helps...
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I have taken to using a homebrew cocktail of white vinegar, salt and laundry liquid. It keeps the weeds down without poisoning the local cats and dogs. it does have to be oversprayed every week and it doesn't kill the roots. It is quite effective when sprayed on the huge blackberry thing invading my garden. It stopped the development of the berries and prevented the wasp and bee problems of previous years.
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I have tried this method, but found the lingering smell of vinegar a bit too unpleasant. Does knock weeds down quick though.
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Today, it was time to get the suitcases out and get packing for a week in Menorca (Cala en Bosch). Never been to Menorca before (been to Majorca & Ibiza loads) but it looks very pleasant. The hotel looks nice and gets great reviews and we've even upgraded to a suite. I can hardly wait for the alarm to go off at 03:45 tomorrow morning mind...
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Hope you have a great holiday 👍
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Cheers, looking forward to it :thumb:
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Went for a ride to Durdle Dor, without the benefit of intercom as wife’s intercom faulty. Stop 30 minutes after leaving when wife shouts she has lost her phone. Ride back to Durdle Dor to look for it, thinking it fell out in car park when she put her jacket on. Ring phone to find it was in her “other” inside pocket she didn’t know existed, all the time. Get intercom unit to replace faulty one only to find problem was a poor battery connection. Send unit back for refund (thanks helmet City).
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Dare I say that you may need to consider more than one faulty item....... :shrug:
Don't know if they all come with lifetime refund though. :whistle:
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Not today but yesterday. I went for a pre med before being operated on next month. One of the many tests was to squeeze on a device that measured the strength of my hands. I was asked which was my predominant hand, my right and then the device clearly showed that my left hand is much stronger than my right.
I was a bit puzzled at the time but realised later that I pull the brake on my bike with my right hand, and pull the clutch (and hold it) with the left (obviously). I wonder if all motorcyclists would be the same in having a stronger left hand?
I remember reading or hearing somewhere that barmaids have one boob bigger than the other (if only slightly) because of repeatedly pulling pints with their predominant hand. Anyway, just an observation and useless peace of information. :thumb:
I wonder what I could do to exercise my right hand more to equal things up. :roll:
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An old British single with a kickstarter is a great way to get lopsided muscles.....
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Swap the clutch & front brake over, doc. That'll even it out. Then lend your bike to a mate.
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@Dr 46,
I had a physical / dexterity assessment before starting at Rolls Royce in '12, part of which included a strength test... asked which was my dominant hand I replied "right" as I'm right handed, which was tested first then the left hand which turned out to be stronger over a greater duration. Seeing the puzzled look on my face the Dr said "that in most cases the less dominant hand is stronger because it does all the holding, steadying etc". Also most people are also likely to have less dexterity / flexibility in their non-dominant hand due to the aforementioned... opinions vary of course.
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An old boy I used to work with ,now long retired, was VERY right handed.
40 plus years of rubbing down boats by hand only using his right was noticeable in his huge right bicep :icon_wink:
His party trick was getting you to stand on the blade of a shovel,then he would pick it up, you with it !!!!!
Ho Hum
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I'm completely ambidextrous. I can do bugger all with both hands.
I'll get me coat.....
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Are these a THING!
I hope so as I've just bought em.
HSS CO drill bits. Bought......well.....why wouldn't you buy a new tool.....because they're supposed to be super tough. I will put them in a VERY safe place so I can't find em when I need em.
That's a plan then, pffffffftttttt.
:grin:
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Ahhh well now.............that depends.
Does the C stand for Cobalt or Chineseium.
Heller bits are not bad, so probably the former.
They do last longer , but at a price, especially for hard metals but can be brittle, best in a pillar drill or go easy.
We do get them at work ,but only when a rep comes in with them on offer.
For us it is cheaper to get HSS 'cos then when you drop one off the boat ,either in the water (gone) or onto the concrete ,Cobalts don't like that, it is less of a loss.
But ....yes a thing.
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Today, I returned from a weeks holiday in Menorca looking like a bronze god (sadly, Buddha) to a very wet & miserable Newcastle airport. Unusually, there was a LOT of customs prescence with customs officers and police all over the place. We got straight through mind, must look respectable or something...
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Been tinkering with my Honda, getting back to a respectable commutable condition after a crash last month.
Many thanks to the ever adaptive cable tie... :icon_wink:
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And don't forget duct tape, if you haven't fixed it with duct tape, it just means you haven't used enough :lala:
Ho Hum
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When I was in the army (a lifetime ago) I realised that if the enemy had found a chemical to destroy duct tape and bungees they could wipe out the British army. :thumb:
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Today I started by cleaning and sorting the utility room, all the fishing gear and tools and bike gear are all nicely organised :shrug:
I then set about doing a service and steering wheel squib change on SWMBO's Quashqui.
Service was all good apart from all the bodywork pop clips that hold the under-tray on all fell to pieces.
Luckily Nissan fitted a couple a of pointless in fill panels in the engine bay, yes infill panels, not covering anything, just to neaten up the engine bay :shock: - well they were pinned in place with the same 8mm pop clips I needed for the under tray :fix:
Ordered a bag of 50 from Amazon, as I'm likely to need more next service and there should be 6 holding the under tray not 4 anyway.
The Squib change didn't go so well, got the airbag off the wheel, all controls and panels off.
You need to swap the steering wheel position sensor over to the new squib on the aftermarket ones, but the Nissan one is over £250 but the parts place have supplied the wrong one and the sensor tabs don't line up :angry-banghead:
All back together with the original squib and I'm going to console myself with a calzone from the local pizza place :happydance:
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Took the kids cycling around Sherwood Pines. Just as we joined the A1 from the A64 a blue 63 plate Glee went past Followed the rider until the A1/M1 splits whereupon the Glee picked up the pace.
Good to have a day with the kids though a small part missed the Glee especially at the traffic jam on the A1 where they're doing never ending bridge repairs.
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I have succesfully completed the 6 month, second stage cardiac rehabilitation programme and move on to stage 3 on Monday. This is the last step and runs in perpetuity, as long as I want to keep fit basically. I'ts during the day this time, but work have been superb and I can just just move my schedule around it. We also have a cracking shower at work so I can get freshened up when I get back. Looking forward to it, but I know it will be a bit more strenuous than the last sessions. Still, no point slacking off now.
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Last week I was reversing my car and clipped the edge of the wing mirror damaging the LED indicator in it. Ordered a used one off eBay and it arrived today.
Using my skills of working with plastic clip things on my debeak project I got the swap done fairly quickly and all good. But jings the wires! There is a motor to fold the thing, a puddle light, a motor to adjust the mirror, the indicator LED thingy, wires to the heated mirror and finally some sort of thermostat thingy with wires also on the mirror glass.
And yes strictly speaking it is a door mirror not a wing mirror.
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I'm glad you sorted that out at the end, I had 'it's a door mirror ' in my head all the way through, you were in for a right tongue lashing otherwise! :icon_wink:
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you were in for a right tongue lashing otherwise! :icon_wink:
Dodged a bullet there then :grin:
I also discovered the thermostat thingy I referred to is in fact an auto-dimming feature. The glass alone is about £300 to £350!! I'm glad I didn't know that before I took it out, I'd have been a bundle of nerves.
A heated only glass is a £40, so if I ever need a new glass guess what I'll be doing!
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Today it was my first 'stage 3' cardiac rehab' session, which is a bit of a step up from stage 2. I was happy how I did, but it's definitely more intense! Also, my new Spada Splash textile gloves arrived from Sportsbike shop today. They are very light, breathable and comfy from the off. Very happy with tham and at £14.99 you just can't get robbed. Cracking summer gloves.
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The second day of the Battle of the Brambles. I might have mentioned before the huge patch of brambles invading my property from adjacent land. Yesterday I set to and cleared some and today some more. If I can work my way up the banking I can get it all cleared in another five or six days subject to dry weather. A local landscape company quoted £3000 to clear the land. That's why, despite my extreme decrepitude I am having a go at it.