I needed to be in touch with my son, who had a different phone setup to me – when I last looked, something like Glympse did the trick – worth checking if it’s what you’re after.

We have a 60 plate Octavia 1.4 TSI sitting SORNd waiting to be passed on to son, but pretty sure it’s not £5k even from a dealer. More like under £2k..

ah, is that why I had to get it to pre-authorise – didn’t realise it was because I hadn’t logged in. cheers!

CPS call centre folk have been unfailingly polite, helpful and generally get stuff done. Some of the kit they have to oversee is pretty shonky. I have a CPS card (for old chargers, and now they pre-authorise), Electroverse card and a couple of apps – and that’s in Scotland. ZapMap Pay is pretty handy.

I’ve not been away from MTBing, but with more recent bikes, it can almost feel that way.

I had a Stumjumper M2 for a long long time, as well as a 1995 rigid Kona. The M2 has gone; the Kona still here.

I upgraded twice as it were, to two Singulars – Swift with either plus tyres 27.5″ wheels or 29″ wheelset. Both are perfectly adequate for my needs – bit more squish on the plus tyres obviously. The riding position just feels brilliant to me.

Second upgrade was a Pegasus – took longer to get to grips with that, bar width, fork travel, stem length (or lack) but feels better now and it’s very capable – again, for my needs – old school XC. I’ve need has a FS though so that colours my opinion a bit.

Gifts – as above. Probably not worth messing about with property.

If it’s IHT that’s main concern, it could be utilised in an AIM portfolio – added risk, but after 2 years (* currently) then it passes out of estate. Also, if there’s an IHT concern, what we set up with mum was a small annuity that paid for a policy, paid out on death to settle IHT and expenses. You can also hand over cash in excess of your normal expenses on a semi-regular basis if you are running an income/expenditure surplus. basically invest in high yield assets then give income away.

And plus ++ on the POA – welfare and lasting.

:) our lad, 5 years degree at Strathclyde, 3 then 4 years of a PhD in advanced materials / additive manufacturing – dream job – outdoor instructor..

Not me, but mrs kcal – had previously been to a children’s party, pocketed one of these plastic sparky guns (friction triggers generates sparks). Anyway, grabbed same jacket for trip down to Lancashire to visit relatives – security scan showed up the gun shaped thing. Fair cop. They were pretty good about it, she was mortified.

I have really liked my Vittoria Mezcal ones. I think there were a couple or variants. The good ones were hard to find at a good price.

There were others I looked at for my gravel bike but they were unobtainable or stupidly expensive!

Loch Oldie is a lovely loop. Can make it rough or as smooth a you like for a break. We used to do it from Edinburgh day trip on our rigid MTBS and think it was pretty tough, I think as years go by we’ve reviewed it (and got older, so maybe balanced out!)

I had a couple of Specialized rigids before I got my M2 Stumpjumper, and that’s the one I might have held on to for longer (it lasted 20 years before I gave the frame away). However lack of rear disk mount was a real pain and I don’t really regret getting rid (well, a bit). Having said that I do have a ’95 Kona which is kind of similar, so yes, may be I would.  Otherwise, no, mostly happy with the new-ish bikes I now have.

that’s an impressive bruise. To be honest if the helmet is damaged (and I assume it took a beating too) then it’s an obvious comment to make. I’d be tempted too.

I’d say same, 50-55 was very good, 40 was also good, now early 60s and I reckon it’s a good bit down over last 5 years.

As poly says, standard in Scotland though there is always possibility of a buyer pulling back out if a/ they change their mind (poor show) or can’t raise the funds. 10% over valuation was a standard Edinburgh tactic, probably bit less now. As above they don’t have to accept highest or any offer – my folks sold to the folk they liked best (many decades ago) and daughter bought a flat, one of two offers, but she made good impression on the sellers so got the deal.

Some estate agents can be a bit dodgy – there open local here that apparently pulls that trick of saying there are multiple offers, and word was that wasn’t the case. Bit underhand.

My folks bought their house in 1973. I think they overpaid (house prices were silly in those days too, and inflation mental) but they tarred there until they died/went into care/died – 7/8 years ago. So arguably over that timescale it’s moot. As it happens, we’re in process of demolishing it (it was an oddly built 50s bungalow) and resulting in situ.

Sorry, what was the question again?

Having fun with your mates, could be 50 yards to nearest house, could be 50 miles.

Some of you know the sort of riding I do. I know my limitations.

I have adopted some upgrades from when first got into MTBs, hell my first paid upgrade was a pair of M-959s as written about by Shaun. Probably down to the bikes, but I reckon I’m a likely more adept rider than I was say 25 years ago.

Bring back the Armchair Column.

bloody hell. hell of a set of words Chipps. Rob was one of those guys I ‘knew’ in the scene without actually having met – a bit like good number of the posters above. It’s a gift to have no-one have a bad word to say about you, even when you’re very much alive. Rob was one of those.

Glad to see Dross headed out the door, but concerned he’ll just become ever more inflated balloon at Westminster. F’ing glad I’ll not even see his name on my ballot paper.

Shadow Scottish Secretary anyone?

There are other means to achieve that end, if you’re so minded. But probably not as lucrative for the legal firm concerned.

I’ll also be cheering on @retrotom of this parish!

bikes bikes climbs downs, oh and the fire eating uni cyclist juggler :)

lovely! C2C is ace. I did it very softly (*) with a bunch and we stopped at the Oykell Bridge Hotel mid route – what a place, help yourself buffet that carpeted for hunting shooting fishing types – could barely move next morning!

• not entirely – it was on singlespeed :)

hard tail – 3,500 miles – 3/4 years. No.

gravel – 650 miles – a year. No.

nope, nothing. quite an achievement.

where he is, @poly, sounds like my son’s first foray into real renting with his mate – it was advertised as Dennistoun, but my mate accurately referred to it as estate agent Dennistoun- there are nice flats there, one of my friends bought one for his children and still runs it years later.   Son’s one was cold, damp, on main road, really pretty grotty. Now has slightly better one in west end with a mate, which is a hoof from Strathclyde and his PhD.

If they are responsible, it is wroth thinking about making it permanent. How would he feel about renting to friends when he’s at least in an elevated position?  I did manage to buy with parental help after starting work (not as student) and then promptly got made redundant after 5 weeks.  Ouch.

Usual advice on negotiation applies, don’t play all your cards at once. When the HR manager told me I was in line for redundancy, I was glad as, after 20 years I was ready to leave (but didn’t know how to, and lose accumulated holidays and the rest). When they explained the terms of the potential agreement, I looked all serious as if I was reluctant to go, internally I was “YEEESS!” – paid to go away.

Compromise agreement (if not already fully covered) is standard practice Neil. I signed one, basically that you won’t subsequently take them to court later. Mine was worth it (just about) to not quibble. They also did (maybe didn’t have to) pay for a solicitor to give you advice about it. Mine said “take it”. I had some health issues that maybe they were twitchy about that being a reason to go to ET.

Depends on the terms, but f it’s good enough, take it would be my view. It may not be so good next time. I was in the first round for my company, the rest got rid of a year later. 1 month per year of service (capped at 12, buggers).

They may provide help in retraining – mine did.

First £30k (IIRC) is tax free. I was able to select my own solicitor (selected the wife of a former colleague and fellow MTBer who was a top employment lawyer). I guess the 1 month per year allows them to cap their known outgoings at same as a year’s salary..

my only Kona (had been Specialized up til then) is a 95 Kilauea with the SS adapted dropouts. Second hand (probably 3rd hand as it was stock returns). Still a very quick and nimble bike on the right terrain.

I knew a guy who must have done something similar, saved with workplace scheme, invested his pension as well (I think) into the same company. Seemed odd to me, and sure enough – it was HP and he lost a ton of his savings (and his job, latterly).

my mate pointed me to prensioncraft but I kind of glazed over after 7-8 minutes!

Pick a couple of lost cost general funds (Global Tracker, Vanguard) in a low cost wrapper (eg ii) and get on with stuff.

I think it’s a luxury to have – well insulated should not need one, at all, but if all goes tits up on the energy grid (which is shifting towards just electricity) then it’s feasible to have a resilient source of heating IMO.

North Cape, late 70s – I had a great pile jacket that was durable with grey elbow patches.

@convert, are you me?

Should meet up some time for a Dava explore!

I am doing a bit more travelling and just walking about these days, so podcasts work for me.

I’ve yet to try the Balls / Osborne one — but delve into Rest is Money a bit as they cover political ish matters and get guests on that are quite liberal.

Mk 2 GTI for me – with the obligatory soaking leak through window, and the belated anti theft plate on the doors. B 301 XTS.

The brake lines burst as I headed out of Edinburgh for Elgin – 180 miles or so — eventful drive using the gears and handbrake (it was about 2200 time so little traffic). Dan in Edinburgh managed to get it all working again for minimal fuss, just drilled a new vent on the calliper, can’t imagine managing that now.

Did me well in the late 80s trekking about Scotland and down to Italy as well. I was the third owner – my good mate owned it before, and he bought it from a uni classmate – original owner was a doctor I think. Weird to think could rattle off the owners. I sold it to a colleague at over 100 000 miles, for £500, the oil feed rusted through (it had lived a hard life), went on fire – he still managed to get it repaired and going again.

Daughter was at GSA a couple of years ago — although never actually in the ‘real’ building – started just as the original burned down, and then was still there when the replacement also went on fire. Then went through to Edinburgh College of Art to do  masters over two years.

At first she was in their GSA flats – Margaret Macdonald – but hated it, flatmates were awful. Not sure if they have a postgrad section. Strathclyde do, and maybe Glasgow Uni might support postgrads at the affiliated GSA.   Worth a try initially.

@DB — our trips around local county seem to yield 3.1-3.3 consumption, if the heating has been on. For longer journeys it does seem to rise to 3.4.3.5 at the moment, as I guess the heating evens out over the journey.

** if you have heated wheel and seats — ** use that as seems to be a much better use of energy. I didn’t even know how to turn on heated wheel for months (never having had that, did have a Saab with heated seats though).

I read on the LEAF FB chat group that the blower volume does have an effect, mine is kind of hidden as a +/- switch on dash.

so many apps.  Like parking.   Worse in Englandshire.

I have CPS, Zapmap and also Octopus.   Plus BP pulse. Luckily we were able to get a larger battery than standard, sole household vehicle, came in handy yesterday as Elgin – Perth – Glasgow – Perth – Elgin.   Making use of the Broaden Hub (where even there at least 2 points were out of order or needed manual reset from CPS HQ – who are absolutely brilliant.    We had a nightmare first long journey when the claimed range wasn’t close – but that’s about the same as yours has.

I’ve had occasion to report a driver – Freelander / Discovery type vehicle, pretty ratty – for an unnecessarily close pass – think he’d mis-judged overtake of three cyclists and I was the front runner – reg. taken, called or reported to local Grampian police, went in to make statement a few days later – he was spoken to about driving. Best I could do. Take view that it’s always worthwhile in case he has history, or reacts badly to the polis.

…
My best story from years back in local cyclists group was – they always cycled through small village on a Sunday – Hopeman IIRC. One Sunday am, a guy got really aggressive, gave verbal abuse and threatened them. One of the group reported him. Polis turned up to his house to make representations about his behaviour around the cyclists. “Who are these guys anyway, just a bunch of dickhead cyclists” was his opening gambit.

PC: “Well sir, let’s just say they include the local sheriff, a traffic inspector, a DCI, and a couple of local solicitors..”.

They didn’t see him again for a long time. :)

I was kind of scammed last year (a couple of years).

In my defence I’d taken call after about 4 hours sleep after just got back from holiday. I confirmed a few things, they asked if I had other accounts, and kind of left it at that.    I started to get a bit concerned and cagey near the end, and ends the call. Called my bank, no it wasn’t them and they gave me a ticking off (“everyone thinks they’re savvy, SIR”).

Nothing really came out of it which was a bit weird.

@flicker — quite new to all this but did read about islanding — thanks for reinforcing it.

Trying to work with solar installer to get a decent system installed, currently blocked by DNO to fully integrate into the grid – trying to work out why that is!

Alex — hybrid possibly, and then re-evaluate in another couple of years time.

Towbar and the like are a big hassle as far as I can see — not impossible, but likes of VW ID3 can’t even support roof bars and > 4 travellers, as it’s not rated for that (as far as I understand).