*awaits pic of said colouring in*

As has been mentioned above, winning public support is crucial here – especially for the govt to take any notice. Striking over bonfire night hardly seems the best way to do it – fireworks displays will be cancelled – bonfires torn down etc as Heath & Safety officers declare them too dangerous without adequate fire brigade cover.

Sounds like a PR own goal no matter how sound the motives behind it.

+1 – been with it for about 10 years since way back Telewest – only hang in because their broadband has been fast and faultless. TV is absolutely carp.

No ideas – but I like your style and would love to do the same.

My initial reaction is as per most above – tell him to pack up and f off. However, a hell of a lot easier to hand him £67.50 and then tell him to pack up and f-off. And get him to sign some kind of receipt acknowledging receipt of the money and terminating his rights of occupation.

If it only costs £67.50 to solve this problem, then I wouldn’t bother with a solicitor as £67.50 won’t even get one to answer the phone. And you’ve already effectively written off the previous sums owed.

Hand him the dosh in return for something in writing and make sure he vacates on Sunday.

If it comes to a legal argument later, you can demonstrate that you have acted reasonably at every stage.

PS speaking as a surveyor with a large portfolio of residential tenants.

Fookin hell – Howies Epic rider trousers – £120. Alpkit Epic jeans – appear to be exactly the same – £30!

Foxy – you’re right – my wife does this too and hasn’t paid full price in years but seems that most of what they discount is some of the wackier jumpers or jeans down from £145 to “only” £100!

Gripped by it too – only thing on telly worth watching at the mo.

If Howies has gone from niche (we like niche here don’t we?) skate/bike inspired gear to w@nk designer gear aimed at the kind of people who buy jack Wills, then who are the new Howies?

I have a load of Howies gear – got really into it maybe 6/7 years ago but last purchase was maybe 3 years ago. The prices now are ridiculous for sure. Good kit – I still have many pairs of trousers and shorts and jackets – but I’ll not be rushing to get any more. Quite disappointed actually as they were quite cool – I really liked their gear.

Sh1tty flu now for a week -turns out real flu not man flu – had jabs and all. So miserable my skin actually hurts. Only ray of sunshine is my new Helius picked up yesterday (well 2nd hand – new to me!)

Then go and look at pron.

Great shout. Going to get it now (wearing 2 jumpers and 2 coats – so coooollllldddddd) and will fiddle with my bits when I get back.

No recommendations but similar experience. Was going to book family (2 adults, 1 3yo) in a chalet. 3 yo pays EXACTLY the same price as adult despite not eating the same food (largely), not drinking alcohol (obviously the rest of us will be scooping the crap free wine by the barrel load) and sleeping on a z-bed in our room.

Told them to ram it – 3yo now staying at home with Granny and we’re going on our own. But same issue coming next year I presume – again keen to hear any ideas.

ALL insurance is a scam

I’ve spent on average £30 a month for 8 years on my dog – total outlay – circa £3,000. They have paid out £38,000. I don’t see the scam – enlighten me?

Or at the very least, a gamble…

Indeed – you might need it, you might not. What do YOU do – insure nothing and save the dosh you would outlay on premiums and put it under your mattress? Over many years, you MAY have saved up enough readies to cover that unexpected vet bill or that stolen bike. On the other hand, you may not. I certainly wouldn’t in my example above. Not insuring is a gamble too.

You pays your money and you takes your choices – but I don’t see the “scam” part. :?

Picking mine up tomorrow – cannae wait. All I need is Trout’s LL3 to arrive in the post and it is after work night riding heaven for me this week.

jeezo – just logged in after the weekend – dropped 7000 places! That’s me knackered then!

Direct Line – £38,000 over 8 years. Never a problem with them. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Still using mine – originally fitted to my 1997 Klein – I have ridden it hard on 3 bikes now and have 2 other bikes all with Thomson – it works forever so why bother with anything else? Your £20 saving will be forgotten when your cheap post snaps miles from home or you’re replacing your cheap one every 6 months.

I drive a Defender. No need.

Only knew him through his posts but sad to hear this news. :(

Thoughts go out to friends and family.

As a dedicated photographer I regularly copy/sync 750/800gb (400,000 files) of files across computers. Best software I’ve found is Allway Sync. Much faster than copy paste and dead easy to use.

Is free for home users and only about $25 for huge use like I have.

Middleburn Duo anyone?

Nice looking trails – not the first MTB riding destination you’d think of.

anyone know if this is coming to Edinburgh??

Bah! Blown up overnight – falling well back and now stuck square in the middle of the low!! :(

+1 for Carcassonne. Awesome game.

+1 for Otterbox Defender

Having had dogs of all kinds in our extended family – spaniels of various types, Newfie, boxers, collies, irish setter, border terriers and currently 2 labs myself – the setter is a lovely dog but definitely not the brightest or easiest to train of the bunch. And the last(OK, apart from the Newfie) that I’d take biking! Still – YMMV of course. Good luck whatever you go for – best decision of your life is to get a dog – I really mean that!

after the stage to Cape Town, I take it we all start again together for the next leg? Or do the first finishers get to turn straight round and crack on? Surely there must be a time limit to get into port in that case?

Sadly I’ve become quite addicted to this game. Running in the background constantly! For a game where nothing happens for hours at a time, it is very compelling.

:oops: upgraded before the “no upgrading” rule was posted. I think it is making bugger all difference though to be honest – have ended up using the normal sails 75% of the time thus far.

Do they?

EDIT I’ve just seen the other post and voted!!

Lumix FT2 – waterproof – image stabilized – shockproof – small – 28mm wide. Little bit above budget but very good.

Recently used on off road motorbike trip to Sahara – lots of sand and dust and general abuse – all shrugged off. Ideal for biking too.

I am quite into my photography (also have an EP1, G10 and EOS 7D) and this compares very well for a compact camera.

I don’t think anyone has been crafty or devious to be fair to both sides. Seller was silent on the poploc. Purchaser assumed either poplock or manual but didn’t ask. Both sides have left a lot unsaid until after the event.

I think a return to seller and refund is fair, or split the cost 50/50 as I think both sides are to blame.

Going west young man.

You’ve hit the nail on the head – I’m concerned that it has turned into a big skate park.

Surprised no mention of the Drift HD170 – generally reckoned the best at the mo. Built in screen – remote on/off button for the handlebars. The way forward by all accounts – I’ve been doing a lot of homework and this is where my dosh is going.

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Prefer to buy UK – that way I can speak to the manufacturers etc. At least that’s what I thought. Emailed Exposure twice now about my dying Enduro and haven’t heard a squeak in reply. Crap service IMO. They might tell me to get stuffed – that’s fine – but at least a response would be nice.

Do it regularly when I can’t get the other boys to MTFU and get out. As you say – leave details with someone and check in when ride complete. I have a mega lightweight bothy bag which I normally take on the hills and I stuff it at the bottom of my bag so if it all goes really wrong at least I can get some shelter while waiting for the cavalry.

Great to go somewhere like GT and be the only car in the car park!

Choice is just between the two foxes. Sounds like the general consensus is coil then. Oh so exciting!

What colour are you going for and did you make up your mind about a shock?

It’s a second hand deal so no choice on the colour – anodised dark grey all over which suits me fine.

No clearer on shock! I was drawn to air but now thinking coil spring – hopefully getting to try both before buying.