So… could you use a VR kit rather than a telly to drive a PS4…

I don’t have a console since I would never get on the telly due to the Xbox One that my wife is currently playing. Forces me to play guitar (or on the laptop) instead ;-) There are some PS4 titles coming out that I wouldn’t mind playing see!

10w is absolutely fine!

I have a wee 10w (I think) Yamaha job that looks like a radio – plenty loud enough for home. Until I blew the power supply somehow!!!!

The 5W Blackstar is too loud for the house when turned right up ;-)

I had an interesting chat in the guitar shop t’other day – he said DO NOT BUY A FULL SIZE GUITAR! My wee lad is 6 and I thought he would go 3/4 but they said go smaller, half size for his age. 3/4 from about 8 or 9 and not a full size until they could handle it comfortably. They will be more comfortable, play more and get better!

So – go small.

Electric is okay, but I would be inclined to get a nylon strung acoustic for the moment so he is playing something he is familiar with and allowing strength and callouses to develop. Electrics tend to have lighter string tension than steel string acoustics so aren’t as painful… depends on how long he has been playing for really.

Having measured voltages almost daily for the last 13 years I would say that 230 is a lot closer to the norm than 240 ;-)

But aye… stick a big nail in, what’s the worst that could happen…? I was working on a sewage plant a few years back where the entire system was fitted with chunky nails. It made me a touch nervous.

I swapped the RWD van for a 4×4 negating any changes by anyone else from 4×4 to FWD.

However I also got a RWD teeny car of rapidity… so that may cancel out my change of works vehicles.

This is all too confusing!

On the more pertinent point of tyre choice, when my current summer tyres wear down I will probably stick All Seasons on, since they do the job well ooop North.

Got to say – the Sainsbury’s Chrimbo ones (in posh tin) were rather moreish last year ;-)

Navara is on commercial rates – which works out at about £50/month IIRC – for personal use.

However – think of the Polar Bears!!!! You are going to be looking at 30mpg (on a good day) – I don’t think I could justify one if it weren’t for my commercial use. Depends on your own views on such things though.

arogers – 90kg… I wish!!!

At 125kg ish I haven’t found a problem… although I am running the rear can above warranty pressure ;-)

I run 140mm forks on the Fuel EX (I went for the 650b+ model, then just stuck some 29er Hope Hoops in). Climbing is very, very slightly compromised, descending is now ;-) I get a bit of weave/wheel lift when things get steep, but to be honest my technique and lack of fitness is probably a large part of the issue there!

Moving south from Stirling 8 years ago really put a big halt on everything for me – even though the Lakes is a good place to be, the lack of mates to go out with and other commitments that followed on just stopped it all. I was getting out occasionally, but not enough.

Then came injury, surgery… another injury…

Just trying to get back out now – arranged to go out with a mate every other weekend to fit in with family stuff, and hopefully that will spur me on to getting out on my own between times.

I still have a great time when I do get out, and I need to do more of it to rebuild fitness/strength and shift some pounds… so it’s not a chore, just finding the hours that I need to dedicate to it is the issue. I need to get my time better organised as my wife wants me to take her out on the bikes once a week too!

Got a Hans Dampf rear and Magic Mary front at the moment, with plenty of room still evident.

The stock plus tyres just didn’t fill me with much confidence!

It was more for tyre choice in the clag that I put the 29ers in… and I have barely ridden it with the plus wheels since. I have been waiting to get some better plus tyres to give a better comparison ;-)

I also didn’t ride over summer.

I went with the Plus version… then stuck some 29er wheels in. It is fantastic – soooo fast down, and only slow up because of me ;-)

I couldn’t justify the cost difference between the EX8 and EX9.8 in the end, so stuck with the alloy version.

Very much the same position myself, but in the Lakes. Just coming to terms with the whole thing at the moment, which is hopefully the first step in dealing with it.

If you are ever up this way give me a shout though!

It occurred to me recently that I am utterly, utterly screwed. I have very little in my pension, nothing going into it… and I had a horrible realisation that I was contracted out of SERPS back in 1998.

There is a possibility that I can turn things around by selling up and moving somewhere cheaper, keeping working part time until I drop to make ends meet and hopefully not living that far into old age! I don’t want to wind up a burden on anyone, but fortunately my immune system is collapsing so that shouldn’t really be an issue!

Right there with you – I am really struggling at the moment. Not so much work related, although that is partially it (more the lost interest/financially insecure/no chance of ever retiring thing though), more the amount of crap that has gone down in my own life over the last few years that has really taken it’s toll.

I used to have legendary levels of patience – now I am on a very short fuse. I have no energy or enthusiasm, I just don’t *do* anything anymore – kinda like a shell of a human being rather than a proper functioning person. Semi robotic even!

I have absolutely no advice to give at the moment as I really don’t know where to start myself. People have suggested counselling, but I don’t really do that kind of thing and don’t see how a stranger would make it any easier. So long as I keep of suicide watch I think I am doing pretty well!

What I need to do is find myself again. But I am kinda lost.

I have found the HD really rather good on the back of my bouncy bike in the Lakes. I am obviously not radcore enough though ;-)

I would give it a go – just for variety!

It’s fun, just a little over an hour away from here, but I usually tie it in with working over that way!

I have a Smart Wood Les Paul – it is epic. Think it was 2008, so it has the PCB innards which I may rip out and get it handwired at some stage, more for some modifications than anything else (it may get some Bareknuckle pups at the same time). It probably isn’t an investment though ;-)

I think the quality issue is a bit overhyped myself – there are good and bad guitars by most large manufacturers, which is why I wouldn’t buy a Gibson/Fender etc off t’interwebs.

None of my kit is investment material though – not even my very, very old Boogie since it has been gigged to hell and back!!!!

20th January 2017 by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

Grizedale… tourists. And too few fun descents (unless you go off piste)

Whinlatter… tourists. And tourist traffic to get there!

Gisburn… braking bumps on Hully Gully. But no tourists.

I used to be on here all the time back in the day – but changed my name 8 years ago due to a stalker… Picolax was probably the finest thread ever though.

(Just looked – my Subscriber Number is 301 so I am guessing I have been around for a very long time!)

School
Winder
Lupton
Evans
Powell
Sedgwick
Hart

I think that was them anyway.

I have been turned away from tips in Cumbria with very obviously household waste before so can only comment from my experience! They do a pass, but I think it is for a single visit and a bit of a ballache to get in a hurry.

A65 – it’s what I always used to use… just get your times right and the traffic isn’t too bad ;-)

I was usually only going as far as Bingley/Haworth mind back when I was living up there, but even from South Cumbria over to Leeds it was the A65 (although on a Speed Triple traffic wasn’t such an issue…)

You are looking at 2010 or earlier trucks… I had an L200 of slightly later vintage that was good for work (once I changed the tyres) but not an ideal family car (and it was called a Trojan – which was just unnecessary… at least it was black though ;-) )

Had an early last gen Navara that blew up quite a lot.

Tested a Hilux of that kind of age (when it was new) and that was okay. The one I drove over the Amazon was tough as old boots.

The only Ford was the older Mazda/Ford version and that was bloody terrible.

Note also – tips are not going to happen, reduced speed limits and the turning circle of a super tanker.

I used Cooper AT3s on the L200 which were fantastic, but a added to the thirst! The Navara has more road going Continental LXs on it which are a 90/10 road bias and they seem generally good.

So long as you don’t have Bridgestone Duellers then you should be fine ;-) If it has them on, get shot asap – hateful tyres!

Possibly the warmest thing ever

I get a lot of my work gear from Farmers Suppliers rather than outdoor gear. It is cheaper, warmer and more robust. Not as breathable… but if you are not doing active stuff that doesn’t matter!

I have a jacket like the above, but it was a lot cheaper… can’t find the exact one… but I only break it out when it gets really cold and I am not doing too much lifting! It will probably migrate back into the car end of next month “just incase”.

Chocolate Guinness Cake

Salopian Nephilim

Earlier on the sweet sound of a straight 6… now watching Tin Star

Way more room in a Vito, it has been a shock going back to a pickup after 18 months… but the steering blew up a few times so I kinda had to change (and I really was missing 4WD ability!)

From what I have had:

Hilux – must have been about ’95. Drove it across the Amazon and loved it! Not a real world test though ;-)

Last Gen Navara – it was good to drive back in it’s time (mine was about 2008 IIRC), but I kept blowing up the engine/rear diff/4WD system. It was a “bad one” apparently.

Last Gen L200 – noisy, bouncy – get rid of the hideous Bridgestone tyres to prevent the back end escaping. It was great off road and in the manky snow though, and had a very good turning circle for a pickup.

Last Gen Isuzu – think it was last gen anyway. Nice – quiet and comfy

Current Navara – this is what replaced the Vito, exceptionally good all round, other than being smaller inside but bigger outside! Has grown up suspension too.

No idea what the SsanYongs or Great Walls are like – probably crap – but newer for less money so perhaps worth a look when comparing against old kit. Most have horrible back ends (for traction) and horrible load areas. Most have the turning circle of a supertanker… and most drink fuel like it is going out of fashion. I use them for work, which is what they were designed for… even if mine is covered in cow and automatic stuff… not a great family wagon though!

Seconded aircast – used one to support my broken ankle before and after surgery! Would have been even more unbearable a person without it :-)

Both my boys are at a Catholic Primary – despite neither of us being religious (me very much anti-religious) and not having brought them up with any leanings towards any form of Christianity.

They are both doing well – great school… they talk about Jesus a bit, but don’t seem overly fussed beyond that. It has given them an interesting interpretation of death which has been really useful over the past few years and made some of the difficult situations a lot easier to deal with as a result.

Here they aren’t over subscribed – and I think a lot of parents shy away because it is Catholic (CofE is much more familiar I guess), which made it easier to get them in. The school has a fantastic record which is why we sent them!

Shagger by Rob Sutherland[/url], on Flickr

My take from almost 2 years with an Aga…

Boiling stuff – put the lid on the pan. Otherwise it won’t boil. Generally speaking start stuff off on top and then bung it in the oven and use the stored heat to do the rest of the cooking.

Roasted stuff is brilliant. I have a salt marsh lamb leg in mine at the moment and some tatties. ‘Snips to go in soon…

Steaks. I have pretty much given up with the idea of cooking a good steak, I just can’t get the pan hot enough to make it work. Same goes for stirfry – nae chance.

I should really get mine serviced come to think of it… but steak has never worked. That is what the gas bbq outside is for (although that needs replacing sometime soon too). If and when we redo the kitchen there is going to be an LPG hob or something in there too!

Quite tempted by the Worx one for… well… work use! I was thinking of getting a new petrol pressure washer, but wondering if one of these may just do the job with less hassle.

And I could use it on the bikes :-)

Nah – the ones from Bitz n Pizza in Whitby are just nasty. Or perhaps that is just when the goths are in town.

The ones I have had in Oz were actually rather tasty….

Been there and done it. Got depressed, got fat – changed jobs and it was all better… until history repeated itself. Changed careers and it has been okay for 12 years or so.

Until the last few months.

Problem now is that if I quit my Dad goes out of business and it is pretty much all that is keeping him going since my Mum died a few years back. I am not earning a great deal so finances are not the main worry. Like you, I know I need to do it – my Dad is financially fine, it is purely a quality of life thing for him – but I just can’t quite bring myself to do it yet.

My local place of choice does a damn fine kebab. I can even eat the Donner… sober! Surely a sign of excellence!!!

Been home for an hour and a half ;-)

Trains in were delayed so didn’t get away until 5pm from Bristol – somehow managed to cut straight to the motorway and had a clear run up to J6 on the M5. Came off for a cuppa and to see the outlaws, then back on the motorway behind all the traffic!

The slow sections were slow, but steady… so I got back from Hartlebury in 3 1/2 hours (plus the hour and a half from Bristol there).

Not bad I think!

The train journey down was 8 hours of hell mind!

I am off to pick up my birthday present from mine in Bristol.

Then drive it home ;-)