On my mother’s side, the Mackay clan:

Bought my wife a Hyundai i10 for £7k new (pre-reg) to use around town. Great little car, well equipped (cd, usb, aircon etc) and surprisingly nice to drive. Small but 5 door and will easily fit 4 adults in, 5 at a push.

My older daughter wanted a FB a/c a few years back at 10 or 11. I showed her the conditions that said minimum age is 13 and she accepted that. When she turned 13 last year I helped her open an account. All her friends are quite sensible and I check it occasionally but there’s never anything on there that bothers me.

Younger daughter (11 tomorrow) thinks it’s only fair that she have a FB account as her sister has one. Told her no chance, she has to wait until she is 13 too.

Cyber-bullying is my main concern about kids using Facebook, there’s too much of it about.

Some Thomas Hardy? The Mayor of Casterbridge is one of my favourites.

Having young kids is majorly stressful. You’ll get through it (there’s no other choice!).

It does get easier. (or at least there are different problems 😀 )

Also The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. One of the few books I think everyone should read.

Requiem for a Wren by Nevil Shute. My mum was a huge Nevil Shute fan and gace me a fair few of his books when I was a teenager.

I’m in Bristol too. Terrible news. I wish I knew what the answer was.

You’re doing brilliantly mate. Your son’s behaviour is probably just his way of dealing with events (not that I’m any kind of expert).

Hope you’re coping as best you can (and as I said, you’re doing great), love to you all.

Young children with pierced ears look terrible. Age 10(ish) upwards – fine.

To be fair I can iron perfectly well, I had to back in the days of living on my own, but I played the useless male card with my wife when we got together and she’s done it ever since! 😉

I eat meat, though very little red meat, but I wouldn’t have a huge problem with giving it up. My 13 year old daughter would be pleased if I did, she’s been a vegetarian (and a very strict one at that) since she was 5.

Men doing ironing? WTF?

Big MPV fan here. My Galaxy does everything I want from a car, eminently practical and the best distance car I’ve ever had.

That picture is quite amusing. Disturbing as well though.

I don’t post that often because of all the argumentative willy-waving bullsh*t.

But yes, you’re right, when it really matters, this place is very special.

CharlieMungus – Member
I’m up for charitable donations. A just giving account run by mods to bruders carity of choice.

Yep, or maybe a holiday for bruders and his family? Just a thought, whatever helps.

I love the way that the OP slagging off UK Bikestore has turned into a great advert for them and they’ll gain business as a result 🙂

warton – Member
when my friend died his wife used Winstons Wish a lot. it’s a charity that specialises is helping kids who have lost loved ones. It may be worth getting in touch

When my wife’s cousin died suddenly at 33 leaving 5yr old twins and a 3 yr old her husband and kids used Winstons Wish a lot. They have nothing but good words to say about them. Could be worth a look.

Another thanks for posting the pictures – lovely.

Read this earlier but was too upset to respond.

I can’t imagine what you are your wife and going through, but my thoughts are with you. Look after each other and your kids.

Do whatever you need to do to get by – if that’s posting on here, chatting to your LBS guys, whatever, just keep do doing it.

So sorry for your loss.

Have to say, though I still listen to a lot of late ’70s punk, I never really got the Clash. I love the first album, but after that it’s all good, very good actually, but I never really felt the love.

My current shape Galaxy takes bikes whole with all the rear seats folded flat, you have to angle them slightly sideways to get them in through the tailgate. Average 42mpg, Tax £120 a year (iirc), reasonable insurance. Practical car to run in my view, and great to bike transport.

Very sad news. RIP Kevin.

Steve Parrish

John Lydon

Using the words “women” and “logic” in the same sentence? Sheesh! Schoolboy error!

Internet. Tissues. It’s the law.

After that has run its course – booze, loud music, Grand Tour or MotoGP dvds.

Did the Asda run earlier – very little bread left.

Mad.

Central Brizzle – nowt!

Our local council tip (recycling centre) will take asbestos as long as it’s bagged, or ideally wrapped in plastic. You need to let them know when you get there and put it in a dedicated enclosed hopper.

Work on £1k per sqm as a (very) rough guide. Mine’s come in a fair bit over that as there is a lot of excavation required, plus underpinning of the existing property.

Groundworks on our 3 storey 60sqm extension started last week. We assumed we’d have no problem with planning permission, but our first plans were rejected. Second were accepted though, without too much loss of internal space.

I had a fair bit of cash to finance it, and remortgaged to cover the rest.

With interest rates being so low at the mo, I’d remortgage and overpay as much as you can each month to pay it off in a reasonable amount of time.

We are making 8 staged payments (16 week projected completion time) in arrears, so in the meantime the cash is sat gaining (a pitiful amount of) interest.

47 – a fair bit of grey hair on the sides and a bit of a monk patch going on, but in the last few months I’ve had quite a few people (of both sexes) say I don’t look anything like my age. I receive such comments gratefully 😀

Sorry, mine was this scheme:

http://www.cycle2work.info/

Damn I love internal combustion engines!

chambo82 – Member
Aka gilo where did u get ur boardman from cos halfords isn’t on the list

My company uses Cyclescheme which only gives the option of getting a bike from Halfords, hence that’s where I got it.

Which scheme does your employer use?

I’m 47. I still have no idea what I want to do with my life.

HTH.

😀

Really can’t fault my Boardman Team CX bought a year ago on Cyclescheme.

Taking the kids to Florida for a fortnight next month – at 13 and 11 they’re the right age I reckon. Should be a cracking family holiday.

Got a fortnight booked in August as well so will aim to get down to Cornwall then.

Steak pie and roasters tonight. Nice bottle of red to wash it down. (The missus will have a glass but I’ll quaff the rest 😀 )