MSE has a good article on getting a good deal:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-car-hire

* Collision damage waiver (CDW).

This is the basic cover and it reduces your liability in the event of an accident. Without it, you could be forced to pay for the replacement cost of the vehicle.

* Theft waiver (TW).

The equivalent of CDW but protects against theft. Also known as theft protection.

* Super collision damage waiver (SCDW).

Reduces your liability to zero and covers tyres, roofs and windscreens.

* Personal insurance (PI).

Pays out if you kill or injure yourself or a passenger, usually covered on regular travel insurance.

* Personal effects cover (PEC).

Pays out if your property is stolen from a vehicle, usually covered on travel insurance.

Holiday Autos sometimes give free SCDW or you can buy it seperately (links in the MSE article)

Which adds insult to injury

The Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AAMPS) had not changed since they were set in 2002 (AAMPS are the 40p/mile for 10k miles, 25p/mile thereafter values).

http://www.ukpia.com/Portals/0/Repository/Documents/Unleaded%2095%20petrol%202000%20to%202007.pdf reports that the average price of UL in 2002 was 72pence/litre.

Petrolprices.com says the current price of UL or Diesel in the UK is £1.15/litre.

I asked HMRC, via my MP, why the rates hadn't been reviewed and adjusted in-line with the rise in fuel costs. I got some wishy-washy reply. Grrr!

A guy I work with took 7 attempts to pass his test…

After passing, he once drove his Kangoo into the back of the van in front of him. That van was being driven by another of our engineers on the way to the same job as him.

You could, erm, urm, hmmm…

Nip to the B&Q Warehouse just round the corner?

First Questars Adventure Race of the year in the New Forest for me.

Sports Direct (so Mike Ashley) has already tried to buy Blacks Leisure Group (Blacks / Millets) but got told to clear off (though he already owns 28% of BLG).

He has to make another bid by 1st April or shut up ((DT)

I have a Leatherman PST II which lives in my Camelback. That has a small folding but not locking blade. Given it's stuffed away and I'm unlikely to meet a PC in the middle of the sticks, I'd like to think it wouldn't be a problem.

I also have a Charge TTi which does have a decent sized locking blade and the thought of being stopped has crossed my mind (I used to carry it all the time for work). Hence I bought a model without a blade at all, the Knifeless Fuse. Quality isn't as good as the Charge which is a shame. I still reckon you could still hurt somebody will the other tools on it though…

28DL is a great time waste – some stunning photographs to be found.

Electric Mountain at Llanberis is a very interesting trip.

Can we go international? I got the train from Nice to Monte Carlo earlier this month and thought Monte Carlo railway station was very impressive.

I've got a pair of Impact branded batteries for my Sony Alpha and they don't last as long as the proper Sony ones.

Alpkit (I've got a Regular Airic) or Decathlon (my misses has one of the luxury models – bit heavy but uber comfy)

Thanks folks. Are Oakley prescription lenses worth the premium over other decent brands of lens?

Are Oakley as good with "normal" prescription glasses?

The frame snapped on the last pair I bought from Boots and as they were just over a year old, Boots weren't interested in anything other than selling me new a frame at full whack.

I've got some Linebreak shorts and thought I've been sent the size for babies up to 1 year old.

My misses also has some Linebreak 3/4 tights and has tried some Skins 3/4s – she couldn't tell any difference.

I've got the "original" C18 Planet X SL Pro Carbon.

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Road.html – choice of SRAM Rival or Ultegra SL for £999. Love mine to bits.

I've got an Aplkit SkyeHigh 600 but it's a tad over budget at £85…

Tom Sizemore is great in war/action moives – SPR, Heat, Blackhawk Down.

Has he done any films that don't involve guns? 😀

I had a brief visit to Stafford General A&E in October last year and the staff I had contact with were very professional but still warm, kind and caring. I had no complaints about the care they provided.

There were obviously a lot of big issues but I wouldn't like to see all the staff there tarnished.

I go for Decathlon lycra or Linebreak compression shorts under a pair of cheap Umbro baggies (from SportSoccerWorld or whatever it's called).

No chaffing thanks to the lycra, pockets and things kept respectable thanks to the baggies.

We visited Boston in November – great place.

Stayed here : http://www.lenoxhotel.com/ but check otel.com and Expedia.co.uk to find the best price (I asked the hotel for a price match and they couldn't get close). Don't forget about cash back potential from Expedia if you go via TopCashBack.co.uk. The Lenox is spot on for location – great for eating, shopping (it's right next to Lord & Taylor which my misses loved, not to mention Crate & Barrel), and the subway (the T) for getting around.

Get a Charlie Card for the T – allows unlimited use on the subway and buses which can be nice to give the legs a rest. You can also get out to Harvard on it – that's a good morning.

I enjoyed the Boston Aquarium, personally better than the Natural History Museum at Harvard.

Try Mike's City Diner (http://www.mikescitydiner.com/) for breakfast – I tried the three blueberry pancakes and thought I was going to explode. If you fancy a cheap tea one night, go to the Quincy Market Hall – take your pick from all the different food places (ace clam chowder).

http://www.atlanticfishco.com/ is crawling distance from the Lenox. Also worth going up the Prudential Tower at night for a drink. Minimum spend per person if you want a table but you can have a few drinks at the bar.

Don't forget to visit the Sam Adams for the brewery tour (use the T). Free for the short tour and then free beer tasting (don't forget your ID though) 8)

I've got a Word document at home listing all the places we found to visit, eat etc

HTH,
Chris.

I didn't ride at Canmore / Banff but thought Canmore was a much nicer place when there a few years back.

Spent a couple of days riding with Fernie Fat Tyre (now http://www.sacredrides.com/). Great riding with some really good people, though I have memories of thinking I was going to cough up a lung trying to keep up with Eddy on a climb.

Bonkers – quality stuff!

I visited whilst in Krakow a few years ago.

What sunk in the most with me was how cold it was (visited in February or March). We were there in multiple layers of modern, thermal man-made fabrics and I was still cold. Was hard to imagine living in thin pajamas.

R-Studio has come up trumps for me in the past.

http://www.r-studio.com/

Questars isn't really "up north" this year

New Forest
Brecon Beacons
Chilterns
Cannock Chase

I thought it looked liked nice gear too – good to see our license fee being well used…

My good lady and her sister have been on the bobsleigh track in Latvia.

Cost about £6, they were given a crash helmet, bunged at the front of the sleigh and sent down the hill with some other random folks.

It was bonkers apparently – she gets motion sickness in a car…

http://www.simonseeks.com/travel-guides/uncool-runnings-bobsleigh-latvia__112400

Something like these?

http://www.saundersonsecurity.co.uk/acatalog/Enfield_Garage_Door_Lock.html

I'm planning on running the Sheffield Half again this year. Clocked 1:58 last year, so looking to scrape some time off it. Have a 10k race this Sunday in Llandudno as well.

Waiting to see if I get in the place in the Great North run main ballot (didn't get in via the Mirror ballot).

I've got a pair of Crossmark 2.1s (folding, 70a compound) which have been ridden once for sale – £25 posted. Not a tyre for me but they are for others (ie the folks posting above).

http://www.titaninternet.co.uk/

Yes you can probably find it cheaper somewhere, but excellent support.

What's the deal on the Ti Sirius?

Domain is registered in the US:

Domain name:
crazycameras.co.uk

Registrant:
George Hill

Registrant type:
Unknown

Registrant's address:
691 Dell Road
Juno
AK
63209
United States

Smells fishy to me.

I've been looking at this recently too. I have a Nokia E66 which has GPS built in, so I'm thinking of…

A Boxit handlebar mount and waterproof case from CRC

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Brands.aspx?BrandID=522

Comes to about £22/£23

Then Viewranger for mapping on the phone:

http://www.viewranger.com/

Plus a spare battery for the phone.

Chris

Maybe worth a look at the Lambert Arms in Watlington?

http://www.merchant-inns.com/pg/2/our+inns.html

I've stayed at the Talbot Inn in the same group near Woking a few times and it's always been very good.

Got my renewal down by £200 earlier this month – £500 with Privilege down to £300 with Aviva. Just waiting for my £60 cashback (via TopCashback).

I hadn't realised Mr Magoo was such a celebrity.

Thanks for the information on visiting Lee.

Chris.

Fab thread. I'd love to have a dog again in the future but as a stop-gap, I sponsor this loon via the Dogs Trust

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/sponsor/saddoglibrary/mistermagoo.aspx

Need to call in and visit him for the first time at some point 😀

I've got the Rendez (in 2.1 62 exception) on my Trance. Very happy with them – they've seen the Dyfi Enduro, trip to the Brecon Beacons, Cut Gate and more.

The NHS home use programme is great.

Office 2007 Enterprise for under £20 😀