Might struggle to get it outside the North West but if you can its a cracking beer!

X5’s may be technically excellent, but they are naff, driven by wag wannabees and wives of grafters

My MIL is the managing director of quite a successful company so I guess there is always one that bucks the trend eh!? :roll:

MIL has an X5, think its the 40d Msport.

She loves it, its her second one in a row. The engine on it is immense too, hugely powerful diesel so passes everything with ease.

If you are using it for 7 people regualrly though there might be better options. On the times there has been 7 of us in it there is basically no leg room in the back two seats (guess its ok if its just 2 little toddlers) but for more fully grown people its a bit of a squeeze.

Thats about all I can comment on it though.

Post ride refreshment at the Black Dog Inn in Belmont……Salt and Vinegar McCoys and a proper beer! Perfect after San Marino.

Scampi fries

I have a car that I use to commute to work in. It’s just over 30miles each way so riding both ways each day isn’t really an option.

I know it costs me money but it gets me to work in order to earn money.

Gaper gap, we always referred to it as a Punter gap.

Could be worse though, could be rocking the helmet with sunglasses combo!

Most deffinately want kids one day. We are only 25 & 24 so not in any rush at the moment though!

Depends on when I am showering:

Post gym/ride/run (evening shower) – cheap shower gel that is on offer from supermarket.
Morning shower before work – 2in1 loreal shampoo/conditioner stuff
If I am making an effort for going out – Molton Brown or Clarins shower gel that I ALWAYS have left over from Birthdays or Christmas!

Skyscanner

Yeah it says parking charge notice.

I would just ignore it, but seen as we still physically have the ticket i thought it might just be worth pointing out we have paid and we have proof, it was just a small error.

Should assume that many of the employees will have the oppurtunity to TUPE over?

Where I work at the moment we run the roads for the Highways Agency. The company who currently does that is changing, so employees can transfer over to the new company and keep their T&C’s (broadly speaking).

I would assume its similar in this case, I could however be miles out!

So what would you suggest then RealMan as the OP said he wants it on a budget so as not to worry about it,

Thread reading fail :lol:

Sorry what? Friends? Socialising? Riding? Not sure what you mean.

Sounds like that could be missing from your life then…..

Probably Cumbria (right in the heart of the lakes). Currently in Lancashire though so not a million miles away….

As mentioned previously the reason they are there is for safety.

In terms of street lights in residential areas they help the public feel safer walking about at night.

On the motorways they are generally there to improve visibility at night time, particularly around junctions where accidents are more likely to occur.
In the North West we have been experimenting with midnight – 5am switch off on the quiter bits of the network (eg M6 J27 – 31), and in some cases, where schemes are being carried out, a number of lighting columns now deemed to be not required are being removed.
However on busier sections and complex junctions lights are likely to stay on safety grounds.

Many of the existing columns on the motorway network are being upgraded to new, more energy efficient ones, however only a small amount are done a year due to the cost involved.

Did you not watch Quantum of Solice!?

Ned – BUSC!?

I’d agree.

I’d avoid the M62 between Leeds and Manchester at the moment as there are roadworks from J30 to J25(ish) so on a friday afternoon that gets pretty busy. Also tends to be busy from J18-12 as its the Manchester ring road.

Finally M6 around knutsford is usually a pain on a friday and the general southbound M6 to Birmingham is statistically the most unreliable road in the UK for journey times (read traffic jams)!!

Stupid phone sending twice with delay

From endomondo a 5 mile run is about 550cal and 40mins

From endomondo 550cal on bike off road is about 1hr and 8/9 miles.

They’re just a guess using some of my stats

It’s going to be a very depleted ski season for me this year. We are getting married next summer do needs to save as much holiday, and cash as we can for that at the moment.

Saying that I’ll be out in Lauterbrunnen for 4-5 days over new year visiting my parents so should get a few days in then.

Got my stag do on the slopes in January too! There’s 18 of us heading out for the Lauberhorn Men’s World Cup race in Wengen. A couple of days skiing, some great nights out and then one massive party day for the downhill! Can’t wait for it!

What First need to do is make a standard fare, no matter what time of day, get the trains full all day,

That’s not even close to being possible.

Most people want to travel at peak times, that’s why they call them peak times! And that’s also why they discount fares at off-peak times, to encourage those who can travel then to do so.

Honestly, do you think they make this stuff up because they’re bored?

Shirley its not that unfeasable. Switzerland has a flat price for train ticket regardless of when you travel. Im pretty sure they do in Germany too.

I can see somewhat of the reasoning behind it but the difference in price is obscene.

Preston to London return: Off peak – £78
Peak – £255

Thats a rip off in anyones book!

FWIW,

I proposed last December to my girlfriend of 4 years. Leading up to popping the question I was really nervous, not about if she would say yes but if she would like the ring.

I was in half a mind to get her to pick it with me as I didnt want to stuff it up. HOwever I went into the local jewellery shop, that all her fmily have got their stuff from, and looked through the options of what they had and what I could afford. I knew she was quite a traditional girl and that she would want something classic so looked at a simple single diamond solitaire rings and basically looked for the best one I could afford. I had been saving up for a while as I wanted to get her something really nice.

When I spoke to her dad about asking her to marry me I asked him what he thought about the ring and he said he thought that it didnt matter what I picked, she would love it anyway so to just go for the one I thought she would like. After all I am going to marry her so I should have a good idea what she likes and doesnt like by now!

Anyway, bought the ring. We went to Boston in America for a long weekend in December, so I managed to hide it all the way out there. I proposed in Boston Public Gardens on our 4th anniversary (yes i got down on one knee….which she loved), and the rest is history. She loves her ring and loved that I had been into to do the research and pick it myself.

Now we are planning the wedding which is going to be eventful I am sure!

I guess what im trying to say is that I know its stressful and youll be anxious about not getting to it right, but trust yourself and she will love it anyway and love that youve put the effort in to pick one you think is best for her.

If it is wrong then just take it back and buy the Nomad frame! :lol:

My top sightseeing tip is the Top of the Rock.

Its in a better location then Empire state building as it is right by central park so you get a great view of that. Also the Empire state is nice to look over at whereas the Rockafella isnt so great. They do a dawn and dusk ticket which you go up once in the day and once at night which is really good as it looks so different, doesnt cost much more either.

Other tips from my trip:

Great diner called Pershing Square opposite Grand Central station, amazing place for breafast, think awesome pancakes, waffles, ‘french toast’ etc

When we went we got a 3 day subway pass and just used that to get around. Its a long way from downtown to Central park so using the subway means you can see alot in a short time.

Just spend an afternoon exploring central park, its huge and loads of bits to it. We were very touristy and had a hot dog there, gotta be done!

My little brother is 22. He graduated from Uni last year and is currently living out in Whistler……and loves it.

He worked at home straight after uni to earn enough money for the air fare and a little buffer, then went out to Canada in November and hasnt been back since.

He was working in a hotel for the winter season and then decided it was so good he would stay and do a summer season. From what I hear of him now he rides most days with all the other 20 somethings out there, works to pay his way for accommodation and then uses tips for all his spending money.

We went to visit him back in March and it was a fantastic place to be. He has had the best time and loves it, maybe something like that would suit you well?

Think he just googled jobs in Whistler to start with and then found some job fair in London in September time.

super duper fast

If I am buying one the Pizza Express Sloppy Guiseppe(sp?) is the dogs danglies.

A fan of making our own here too though. If I cant quite be bothered to make the dough too then we tend to buy bases, then top with tomato & basil puree, mozerella, parma ham and fresh figs, delish!

Kenny – good point, and he is a bit more famous now than he was 15mins ago too!

Im friends with Lawrence Clarke (running in the 110m hurdles finals tonight) ‘s sisters.

You did ask for tenuous……

I dont get how some people seem to get so annoyed by them?

How about this poor lad, deprived of a state education.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/9459924/Going-to-Eton-put-me-at-a-disadvantage-says-Olympic-hurdler.html

Ha Ha I actually know his two sisters. I went to uni with one and my brother was at uni with the other! They’re very nice girls to be honest, pretty posh though! :oops:

Alister Brownlee winning the Triathlon yesterday. I mean they were always the favourite but the fact that he ran the last 10km in 29.07 is outstanding.

If he had been in the 10km final that Mo ran he would have been only 1:30 behind Farar, 1 second behind the second placed brit and by no means last, and thats after the swim and the cycle already, truely a fantastic effort!

They both looked pretty goosed at the end though! :lol:

Cracking performance from Alistair Brownlee there!

Thanks, will have a look at those options!

When they go all lights-a-blazing and close lanes of a motorway just because someone has a flat, now that’s a different matter…! Grrrr.

Safety tho innit.

Vehicle might have got a drivers side flat on a bit of hard shoulder that is too narrow to safely change it otherwise.
We had 2 guys killed by a lorry that side swiped them when doing exactly that just last year.

in a pointless fake 4×4 when a van would be better and cheaper

I dont get what is fake about a Navara as a 4×4?

The same could be said about a lot of police vehicles to with regards to there being a better cheaper alternative for what theyre driving.

I’ve kick started my mArathon training this week.

Went out for 2 x 10km runs during the week then put in a 22.5km run on saturday. Did my half marathon in 1.50 which I was fairly happy with.

Cut the bottom of my foot yesterday though which is in a bit of an awkward spot for running on, will have to see how it feels later.

I am, I’m not even talking baby tigers…..

Massive portion of turkey chilli left over from last nights tea.

Cooking Pad Thai this evening and having a couple of Tigers with it, it is Friday after all!