0 for 0 always but I did work as a radio operator. Shame my spelling is not as concise.

My Mum used to stand on Hoylake seafront as a girl in the war and watch Liverpool burn at night in the Blitz.
Doest that count as a warming story?

Career change in late 30’s went from being a deck hand on a dive boat to sitting behind a desk for 4 years for our lovely government. Drove me mental so did City and Guilds Painting and Decorating at college part time. All part of a plan to find work after me and the mrs spent a year biking and climbing round the world. Before we went I had loads of work now don’t have much. Its a struggle at the moment and I do miss the regular income but I don’t miss hating the job and myself for doing it. Sparky would be ok if you have the cash to pay for courses. I met too many people sat in an office wishing their lives away to retirement. You never find out if you don’t try and do you want to be were you are now in 5 years?

4 of us rode the Marin trail yesterday in the sunshine and had nice fish and chips on the way home.
About to drive back out to Wales for 3 days biking.
On holiday to Spain in 2 weeks.
Just brewed a fresh cup of coffee.

No work for a few weeks now but compared to 90 percent of the worlds population I’m very lucky.

Scratch that for biking, mate just rang I’m going out in the sea kayak.

Went climbing then came home for homemade soup by me and homemade cake by her. Clinton cards day load of rubbish.

Is that the w country way?

I’ll be riding round that mini roundabout tomorrow and ignoring the cycle lane. Most on Wirral and Liverpool are rubbish and full of parked cars. Our council is rubbish and probably meeting targets. Still it’s bloomin cold so won’t be too muddy through the park tomorrow.

BEen to area around Orgiva 4 times and going in a few weeks for a bike trip. Ridings good, winter climbing as well with snow in mountains.Thought it was cheap and although lots of expats still very Spanish. There’s a few hippie sites about and a few crazy hippies. Haven’t been to the sites but passed the time of day with people and everyone was nice enough but I wouldn’t want to lend them a fiver.Thinking of heading down for next winter in the van with bike and climbing gear as I don’t work too much over winter.

The wiggle stand wins it for me. Thanks for the ideas chaps.

Thanks for that looks like a good solution. BoardinBob good job but I don’t have a cupboard. Got an Anthem and an Inbred to hang up though.
Don’t non of you robbers come round though now I’ve said that.

Such paranoia. I got diverted by making dinner and seeing posting a photo involved more than my basic I.T. skills allowed, I may try tomorrow if bored. I like tree of bikes and a good busy bookshelf. Stuartie c is that a scaff pole or a proper shop bought one? Are the clamps for purpose or just bodged? Also is their a lot of tensioning the pole as our ceiling it would be on is an an extension. Plasterborad and on an angle.
Off to watch Sahara now.

With cold hands.

And a long walk home after getting 5 punctures last week.

No idea as to the answer of origional question but I support them and was very grateful they exist when I worked on a ship even if I never needed their services.
If you see an old lady outside the local Co-op with a collecting tin give her some cash for the RNLI as it may be my mum!

Painter and Decorator.
Left school. Went to Uni got a BA Hons in the arts(not very useful)
Became a roadie and stage builder. Then packed that in.
Spent 10 years travelling and working my way round world.
Then got a job on a dive boat for 3 years.
Moved back to home town. Worked for Home Office and hated it. Went back to college to become a decorator. Works bit erratic at the moment but hey-ho.
Fancy working abroad again, now-any offers ?

+1 for Jonba. You could try priming with damp proof paint first. Wallpaper paste does nasty things to paint generally, its all in the prep.

You’re hot ART especially when you’re driving the van!

Sorry haven’t read the whole thread so no doubt missed the clever arguments but my sisters a WPC. No Housing or travel allowance. Not a great pension as she joined late. Average height and slim build. Her force is already understaffed and she was sent by herself to break up a pub brawl at the weekend. Any volunteers on here to do that? In the past she has been punched in the face, kicked, bitten and had piss and sh~t thrown at her and was in the front line during the riots. If you think they don’t earn their money as a rule then you are a fool. As a job I think it’s dangerous and sucks for the money. 19k for all that is rubbish and most forces aren’t recruiting anyway due to cuts. Im off to heckle some nurses now on behalf of the underpaid financiers who have shafted us all and reaped the benefits.

Vans rule. And hot girls driving vans are just the hottest girls ever!

Best: Bill Hicks R.I.P.
Worst: Fat bag Miranda. Why does being fat stupid and clumsy make you funny. If this was true walking down the local high street would be hilarious.

Great trail though did manage to break 3 spokes and snap a chain on it one day. Just remember to put some gold ones in the box in the carpark.

BA Hons in History.
Painter and decorator to pay the bills. Im great in a pub quiz though!

I’ve used biking Andalucia and am going back out end of February with them again. Nice accomodation, good trails, very chilled Spanish town and cheap. No need to say Marin recommended you as there is alaways free beer in the fridge.

Thanks chappies, good answers. I am off to see another advisor but dont have spare time at the moment to make an appointment. The advisor is a “she” not that it matters. They insisted it was because I was off travelling which did seem a very odd reason to me as rental yeild, valuation etc all stacked up fine and deposit was not an issue. Dont really fancy fraud on this level but always fun to work out if it can be done.The application to get a mortgage to buy the house was turned down I hadn’t bought the house yet. My mate is bombproof as far as I’m concerned and has had my life in their hands many times. It’s Mrs Marin and she’s my climbing partner as well. Perhaps I should start another thread on how many friends do you have you can really trust?
Thanks again and yes I will be keeping it legal.

Good point fizzicist.Say the person now applying is on a good wedge to start with and could reasonably be expected to have easily have saved 20 odd grand from their salary for the deposit a mortgage advisor has suggested this option to me. Its the handing over the house or getting it put into my name with the mortgage that is the niggly point I think. Any idea if legally possible, grey areas are acceptable !

Ta for replies but its info on the riding Im after. The climbing is of big mountain sort which Im sorted for thanks.

biking andalucia out of Orgiva are good in my opinion. Back out with them end of Feb. Come on sunshine. Winter here is rubbish without lots of cold weather and snow on the hills.

Worst. Mother in laws cancer coming back with a vengeance. Uncle died on 22/12, not very close but he worked on Russian convoys in the war so got to respect him for that and the living hell he endured. Work very patchy so no big plans can be made.
Best. Good times with Mrs Marin and friends. Becoming mates with my brother, only took us 40 years. Staying sober on New Years Eve and riding/pushing up Snowdon on New Years Morning to ride down in time for breakfast. Start as you mean to go on yeeehaaa!

Skinny.I eat a LOT but not junk food. Lots of biking, climbing etc and a physical job seems to burn it off pretty fast.

I rent out a couple of houses. I use an agency but arrange or carry out all repairs myself. Rented houses empty which seemed to be easier for me. Left some white goods on understanding I would not replace if broke down. Think I advised tenant it was good will as I know moving into a house is expensive.
Had one DSS single mum tenant for 2 years and was absolutely no problem but I think its luck of the drawer. Young “professionals” description best taken with a large dose of salt.
Floors a mixture of laminate and carpet in mine depends which is cheaper and how much cash you have.
Only have a gas cert nothing needed for electrical but its coming soon!
If your’re tenants are O.K. best to remember they are people who need somewhere decent to live not just a cash cow. When I go to fix stuff I ask their permission to enter, go upstairs etc. I may own it but it’s their home.

MrPhil, do you work a lot with rocks? If you do I know you. The Dungeon is good fun if too brief.

Because they thought they owned a haddock not a Honda.

Apparently a tweet police down south posted about someone according to Radio 2.

I drove through three flooded steam things in New Zealand Southern Alps last year miles from anywhere. Walked all of them first to suss them out then drove nervously through. I think most peoples lives are so routine they now have no concept of not being able to drive where they want.

Paint stripper, brush on, cover with cling film to stop evaporation and lots of patience. Hard to say without seeing really.

“I remember Marcus. I reckon I saw Neds over 25 times. Got snowed in on their first Civic hall gig. Seeen em Leeds, Norwich, Rock City, London, Glasgow, newcastle – used to hitch everywhere.”

Probably met you at some point Marginwalker. I doubt if saying I had dreads and wore a stripey t-shirt and hitched around with my kit bag narrows it down though!

Margin Walker do you know Marcus(bendy leg) or Fletch. Big travelling Neds fans back in the day. Used to go round to Stig’s house, the origional bass player from Scorpio Rising who were an Alien Heat, for regular tea and biscuits.
PWEI are lacking Clint but saw them earlier in the year and they were O.K.

“while we’re on the subject of cheap hash…

what ever happened to red and gold seal resin?

Its all brain mangling skunk these days.

kids eh?”

Come round for a brew sometime and I’ll show you!

Oh those where the the days.

Stripy t-shirt and para boots.
Just got tickets to see Jesus Jones, Wonderstuff and PWEI on the same bill.

Doesn’t Mr Jesus Jones do a bit of mtb journalism now.

If you’re under 30 work visas for NZ, Australia and Canada are pretty easy to get to mix work and travel. I’d say its worth the extra saving and waiting to have money to come back to. If you can rent your house and cover the mortgage do not sell it. You will blow the profit very quickly and have nothing on your return. I was away with the Mrs for 8 months last year and left my van on a friends path which made coming home and finding work again much easier. Travel now whilst its easy to rough it and roll over the problems that come up.
Will you really look back in 5 years and think crickey I’m really pleased I stuck it out in a job Im not intersted in and had no adventures.

Ice axes and crampons are sharpened.
Van ready for last minute trip to Scotland if conditions are right.
Couldn’t feel my feet or hands for last hour of my ride in the lakes on Saturday.
Good endurance levels for cold and discomfort.

Yep, I’m ready.

Posting on here is a first good step to look at your problems I’d say. Also I’d chuck all the booze out as it is an issue. Anti-depressents may help but please advise your doctor of alcohol issues as some react very badly with alcohol.
You’re wife and daughter sound very good reasons to stay posotive. Contact the Samaratins again as they will help. I admit its hard for me to understand such dark feelings but last year I went to an old friends funeral after he lost a similar battle. I think his pain was multiplied to everyone who attended and has caused far longer lasting pain than any of his antics whilst drinking. Realising you have a problem is a very good step. Try and stay posotive and talk to people, those closest to you will want to help. Going for a ride will help both physically and mentaly.
Stay stong, sounds like you have good things in your life. I sincerely hope you can see the posotives looking at you.

T4 SWB only vehicle for 4 years. Don’t wish to ever own a car again. I use it for work and go away in it 2 weekends out of 4 so well worth it’s value to me. Drove a Transit SWB a lot over summer for a job I was doing, seemed like a good van to me. If you have specific needs for them they can’t be beaten. Tootling down the motorway in my armchair of a seat keeps me very chilled.