I like it when you are sit in table service and the custom is when you order, you pay. Get the cakes and coffee down ya, quick chat then outta there. When it gets busy and you are trying to catch the over burdened servers and there is a delay, it is a pita when all you want to do is get out sharpish.

Nothing more than political point scoring. If the Scottish Government really cared about all the work done by all of our excellent public sector professionals then all services would recieve a fair pay rise more often. I would liked to have seen something along the lines of the £500 worked out as a percentage of their pay and given it as a pay rise going forward. Excellent work has been done for years and will continue to be done. I just feel that the financial renumeration does not do justice to the work carried out by these people. It should not take a pandemic for recognition and I don’t feel lauding one service over another is fair. Lots of people have contributed to the fight against Covid in meaningful and direct ways. Police Officers I feel are needlessly in harms way of Covid by being asked to break up needless house parties etc. Wouldn’t be a lot per year but it would be something that would benefit in the long term.

Made the jump from the Mk1 Instinct to the Solar. Heard about PacePro and made the jump to Fenix 6 via Black Friday deal. Glad I did. Bit heavier, but just as comfortable. Loving PacePro. It really is making my runs have a very clear and definite objective. Is it worth the extra money, hmmmm. I’d go back to a Solar if PacePro trickles down that far.

Really disappointed that Garmin has not brought PacePro to the Instinct. It seems a feature that Instinct users would definitely use. I’m going to keep an eye on the Black Friday deals to see if it is worth jumping to the Fenix 6 just for this feature.

I think combined with a scheme like in the Trossachs where it is permit camping only could eventually stop the less considerate of people “wild camping?” in a van.

@bruneep.

If you live in a Level 3 local authority area you should:

avoid any unnecessary travel out of the area

if you have to travel for essential purposes, follow the guidance on travelling safely below

From the Scottish Government website;

Exceptions

This is a list of limited exceptions from the guidance not to travel into or out of Level 3 and 4 local authority areas;

local outdoor informal exercise such as walking, cycling, golf, or running (in groups of up to 6 people from no more than 2 households) that starts and finishes at the same place

So I reckon ok to travel for a walk/cycle of Mount Keen.

Dump the phone. Feels weird at first. I reasoned that in the last 10 years I’ve never needed it. Would I keep taking out anything else that I didn’t use? No, I’d get rid. Yes there may be that one time I need it, unlikely to be a life/death situation. Liberating in a small way.

Rohloff. Mountain biking. All year round. Fully rigid.

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>YES</span>

Also wondered whether getting a more tatty but cheaper via one of the above and paying for them to overhaul it to a certain degree.

This could be a way to go. Get them to do the parts you are not confident with and the bits you do fancy rolling your sleeves up with are enjoyable and let you own the vehicle in a more personal away. I found tinkering around the edges with cosmetic/lighting upgrades eventually led me to full suspension upgrades and Zeus timing gears on my 300tdi. Defenders become addictive.

The 300tdi is a solid choice due to the R380 gearbox. Kids involved, for safety I’d go 110. Proper belts in the back for them. At the upper end of your budget you will get a very good 300tdi. I’d purchase from a Land Rover specialist for extra insurance your not purchasing a dog. Nene Overland etc.

I have Defender experience. What engine are you considering? 200/300tdi, Td5 Puma etc? Or going as modern as possible on your budget?

I have a Thomson. Coming up for 6 years old. One service, one cartridge replacement. Ridden in all weathers. I like it. Never failed to work. Partially protected by a Wee Cog saddle bag. Not used a Brand X. but for 90 quid think I’d go with Thomson quality and reliability.

160cc Honda petrol engine Flymo.

No experience of heated gilets sorry. I understand your problem though. I eventually settled on a down jacket and merino long johns for the bottom half. Layer elsewhere accordingly for the day.

Looking for a strap for a watch where the case has solid bars. Currently on a nato. I would like to try a mesh steel magnetic one. (20mm) Can straps like that be fitted to a case with solid bars? (CWC SBS) can’t seem to find anything.

@root-n-5th. Great effort. 👍

Second hand Paramo. Tough as old boots.

I’m not sure her popularity has increased. The recent lockdown confusion restrictions ( is it a cafe/restaurant) served as a diversion from when it was made knowledgeable that she “forgot” about a meeting in which she believes she was told about harassment complaints against Alex Salmond. Basically amounts to misleading parliament. There seems to be a growing feeling that there is a lid being kept on the Salmond issues and nurse it along until after next year’s elections. Ex labour representative George Galloway may become a thorn in their side now too.

Get professionals in?

A Labour government at Westminster may help to raise their profile in Scotland. Not sure enough to unseat the entrenched current incumbents though. No point in hoping for a fresh start due to independence as there will be no referendum. They have a long hard slog ahead of them to be even seen as worthy and credible opposition.

Are cafes (non licensed premises) in the 5 lock down areas allowed to be open from 06.00 to 18.00? Guidance seems unclear.

If they are, then I can’t understand why licenced premises (restaurants, not ‘wet’ bars) are not allowed to be as open as normal minus their alcohol licence for the duration?

The gym ruling seems like madness too. I can’t be in an 8 person class, but I can share the gym floor with 20 other people. Doesn’t seem backed up by scientific evidence either that gym classes in particular are a hot spot for transmission.

I think the latest restrictions will actually have the opposite effect and help to spread the virus. People looking to get away for the October break will now avoid the Central belt area or spill out of these areas in search of more normal surroundings for the week. Probably to areas less affected. Can’t see the locals being happy with an influx of tourists from heavily affected Covid postcodes.

If the deluge of van owners is here to stay then I think villages across Scotland need to consider the idea of municipal campsites like the ones in France. Cheap, cheerful and basic. Glen Etive this year has been terrible. People meet up and cars littered everywhere. The verges have become so badly cut up at points you are reversing anywhere up to 500m to allow safe passage. Also detracts from the views somewhat. The permit camping in the Trossachs NP seems to have gone some way to helping dilute irresponsible behaviour. Maybe an expansion of this idea?

This new normal of folks exploring their own country (yes yes, cars, pollution, gluepots, I know) has to be factored in now, and embraced, as the cat is out of the bag now.

Another recent phenomenon is “camper vans” parked in every passing place on a single track road. Gone past the inconsiderate stage, to the downright dangerous. On the way out at night they are invariably unoccupied again, apart from the carrier bags full of rubbish left behind. Heartbreaking.

What are people wearing on their feet for summer days on the bigger mountains? My summer boots need replaced so was looking around for end of season deals. I see people with mudclaw type sole lightweight boots but wondered about amount of support given.

Good.

I like them. Came as standard on my bike and had no issues. I like the peace of mind of having a good back up service too with spares readily available.

As a family we enjoy high quality venison sausages and meatballs from the local butcher. They aren’t always available though. Having a more reliable supply would be good. Sometimes we will get the shoulder cuts for a casserole. Never had the steaks though as not having cooked them before and the expense we always seem to be afraid we overcook them and turn to leather. Some brief cooking guidelines and recipe ideas on the packaging would be nice.(our butcher doesn’t eat venison and can’t provide help)  A source, ie which estate/glen the meat came from would be nice to know. No particular reason, just interesting.

Arnold Clark do a service very much like WBAC, minus the hassle.

So much negativity from people who have never driven/owned or required one. If these things are the devil reincarnated why are there so many sales? Perhaps individuals actually require vehicles of this type? We don’t all live in suburbia (thank goodness) and drive exclusively on tarmac. Where a lot of you will be going on staycation, some of us live and work there year round. Often using these monsters to remove Prius etc from verges, fields, mild frosted campsites.  If you are after a witch hunt go look at the people who purchase hybrids for a tax dodge and run them on exclusively hydrocarbon power. How friendly is this to the environment? Or the latest lifestyle statement of owning a van, the same negative arguments could be directed here. People drive what they want/need to, what’s the point in getting heated up about it? What are you going to be doing next, inspecting their bikes before a ride for environmental considerations and then telling them they would be better off with a/b/c. Live and let live. Flame away as expected.

Had  4 pick ups now. In order of preference. Navara, Amarok, D Max, Hilux. Different generation/specs, so maybe not entirely fair. Currently in the Navara and it is really refined. A lot of hate on here for them but if they suit your needs then they really are great vehicles.

You’ll have a SRAM XD drive hub, not sure how simple or expensive it is to convert it to run Shimano. Guess it depends on your current hub.

Something that might be suitable in the classifieds here?

Surly

Not to my tastes. Very formal. Pitches are all lined out and woe betide infringement on the many rules. I am no party animal, I like the outdoors for a reason and it is not to have the equivalent camping experience of attending a Butlins camp. Proximity to food/drink/biking is good though if you can overlook the rest of the experience.

If life is as easy as “anywhere with an internet connection” at mid twenties. This is an enviable position. What about “getting the hell out of Dodge”

Chamonix?

“Brexit” yadda yadda ya.

Switzerland?

Perhaps you’ve done your homework and Scotland is where you want to be, and that is cool, from personal experience and the trajectory the UK is on, I’d be looking at pulling the cord and get going before you fall into the schooling/mortgage trap.

*Disclaimer* I may be old, bitter and twisted though.

But I do have homes in various locations and no county is without issue, so I can speak from experience.

If I had to to do it again and had to pick a place in Scotland for the reasons you cite, and in answering the OP, you’d find me in Auchterarder. Not my personal choice, but I feel here would meet your requirements.

Go rigid and get a Jones? More of an upright riding position.

I’ve always found the lakes extremely frustrating with the busyness and ‘gerrof moi land’-ness.

Can’t say I’ve ever encountered this attitude in the Lakes. Although in general I’ve only ever been in areas that I know I’m allowed to access. Never felt the need to be somewhere maybe I wouldn’t be welcome. It is a big area with lots to do and I’m not sure how I could ever find myself somewhere I’m intruding.

Lake District. Better than Scotland if you can work from anywhere. All the activities that interest you exist there in close proximity. The scenery is amazing, and I think you could become more a part of the fabric of a place like the Lakes than you could in Scotland. With your relatively young age this could be a nice way to live your life. Relative close proximity to the M6 giving access to a lot of the country is a bonus, of which Scotland would be included.

What is the riding position like, are you stretched out low in like a racing position like the original Whippet or is it a more upright trail riding position?

My current daily beater is a 2006 Pace RC200. Works a treat, like they say, age is just a number.