I genuinely hope that you’re right. Like, I properly want to be wrong about this. I’m just realistic enough to suspect that I won’t be.

Rationale? 2020 was very much a constant state of trial and error regards travel and socialising, with Europe opening and closing all over and at different times. We know more about the virus now and with the damage it’s done I can see 2021 won’t even ‘start’ until 75% of the population is vaccinated. The Dutch government has already said no foreign travel until mid March, and they don’t have a vaccination programme started. Pretending that everything is fine or will work out hasn’t worked.

It’s possible if you’re already in the EU. But probable? Nobody knows. I’m in the Netherlands and they’ve just imposed a proper lockdown, as the numbers weren’t coming down after the pubs and restaurants were closed about two months ago. So the schools are out early and homeschooling is restarting in early January. We aren’t getting across a border until mid March at the earliest. Non essential shops are closed – so you can still get to the supermarket, grocer’s, butcher’s, etc, but flowers, toys, clothes? Nope. The bike shops are open, obviously, because it’s the Netherlands, but only the workshop part. You’re not buying yourself any bling for the foreseeable.
IIRC Germany and France have imposed similar measures to bring the numbers down. This isn’t going away any time soon, and I’m expecting a worse 2021 than 2020.

If you like Alison Brie then try Bojack Horseman. She’s fantastic in it.

That’s series 11 of Archer just landed on Netflix. Feels a touch tamer three episodes in, but that’s to be expected after a three year long coma, I guess…

Seat Exeo is an A4 without the image problem and is a fantastic car. The problem is finding one! If I couldn’t, I’d be in the best V50 I could get instead.

DMR V8 Classic all day, every day.

Hahaha, yeah. To be fair they seem to be Marmite, with some folk loving them once they get into the geometry. I’ve just never managed to get there.

Agree about the Macintosh watch not even being in contention. I like Macintosh computers. Their fashion accessories I do not. Something that does sleep tracking needing charged every 24 hours is pish, frankly.

Probably should have mentioned that her mum has just been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat so she’s worried about that – if any of these things can detect that then it’s a massive plus.

Alloy. In better nick than that, but obviously not as desirable! Thanks.

We need a link! There are a few 4k€ ones here on Marktplaats, but I suspect that’s not what you meant…

Will check out the Garmin Vivo stuff, thanks! Was looking at the Polar Unite as it looked like it had the right sort of functionality – and yeah, didn’t look like a big boiled sweet – but real-world reviews seemed to suggest it was quite temperamental.

Excellent. Some Onza Porcupaws clear grips with the Onza stickers on the bars underneath next, please.
And Ritchey Z-Maxes. Please.

Forgot about this until I was in a shop that was playing it earlier. FFS.

Better Living Through Chemistry sits in the shade compared to Fatboy Slim’s other albums which is criminal as it’s ace.
Synthia by The Jezabels never sold anything like as well as their previous two albums but it’s umpteen times more accomplished.
Beautiful by Garbage sounds soooo good now as well, but it was panned because it wasn’t Version 2.0 part 2. In fact, all their stuff past Version 2.0 is easily as good but not as radio friendly so never achieved the success it should have…

Just because it hasn’t been suggested yet, but Lipton Ice Tea bottles are an absolute essential for long journeys when you absolutely cannot leave the car. Perfect for wintertime camping, too.

The Nissan news isn’t unexpected. The town over from me here in Holland, their Nissan dealer’s been boarded up for a few months now. Probably unrelated, though…

Like Pondo, 12 days before, 12 days after. But I detest Christmas and wouldn’t have any up at all if I could get away with it!
I kinda envy folk who can enjoy the whole thing. I just can’t.

That’ll look shitty in no time. Some second hand Dexion and fresh marine ply is a much better bet, and possibly around the same money if you’re lucky or patient.

That’s actually really useful, thanks Kelvin.

1) they did patent it, but made it freely available

2)its plate is mlnmilr, or similar

I also knew those, and not because they were mentioned in the Volvo museum when I was there in 2017 and 18… which they are.

I’d be keeping that and doing the suspension work myself.

I wish I knew how quotes worked on this site. Haha

Cock Piss Farage made me proper lol

I’m doing a refresh on my T4 at the moment and I’m impressed with the design and quality of the entire front end, tbh. It’s pushing 25 years old now and the only reason I’m having to pull it apart is perished rubbers and CV boots that are close to (but haven’t properly started) splitting. Had to do the head gasket a couple of years ago and that wasn’t too frustrating, either. The only real annoyance I have with it is the shitty oil filter placement.
T5s on the other hand… cleverly designed for ease of assembly. Not so pleasant to disassemble.

Mine could, even though she couldn’t get on with the books.
Complicity was the first ‘modern’ adult book I read, at about 11 or 12 years old. The Crow Road I’ve read at least twenty times in the last twenty five years, and it felt like my life mirrored that of Prentice’s for a lot of my first twenty years on this planet. Transition I read from cover to cover while my wife was in protracted labour with our first, and Raw Spirit was what got me in to whisky. I miss Iain Banks.

Will watch whatever Chris Harris does on it. That Schmee manchild makes me want to break everything in sight the moment he speaks.

I’ve disliked Daniel Craig in absolutely everything I’ve seen him in, with the notable exception of Logan Lucky.

Just had notice that my bank accounts are being closed because I don’t live in the UK anymore. I still have income and outgoings there, though. So that’s nice.

I loved my Range Rover Classic but yeah, it did take a bit of tickling with the MIG. And there was always something twatty needing fixing. It had enough character, and was a pleasant enough place to be that that was entirely forgivable. I can’t imagine feeling the same way about a Defender.

They’re the T5 in the trail centre car park, but of a different scene, if that makes sense?
Are they great? Yes, kinda. They’re good off road but horrible on road. They are tiring on long journeys down to the lack of soundproofing and the basically fixed seats and steering column. I wouldn’t entertain one for even a moment for daily duties for the money they fetch.
Interestingly (or not, I guess) the Defender chassis was derived from the original Range Rover chassis. They developed the Range Rover chassis, and ended up using it under the first two generations of Discovery as well. Both of which are better bets. A late Range Rover Classic is a genuine joy to drive. A Disco is comfortable and competent, but has annoying wiper stalks.
But for your money? I’d be buying a G-Wagen. Or a Land Cruiser, if I wasn’t completely averse to Japanese vehicles.

I’ve got just over a year to wait until I can apply for Dutch citizenship. I’ll be doing it literally the day I become eligible.

You’ll get your deposit back without any hassle when you change your mind and go for a Transit instead. Allegedly.

We’ve got a mk5 GTI and a mk1 TT 225 on our driveway right now. The GTI we’ve had for six or seven years now. Either will do what you’re asking, happily.

I really like mine. I’m 6’2½”, and if anything the large feels just a smidge too long, even with a stem where the bars are near enough touching the fork steerer! Built mine with some XT and SLX kit I had lying around, a cheap Rock Shox fork, and Planet X’s own Smorgasbord tyres. It feels fast and playful most of the time, but of course it’s too long for some tighter trails – I’ve run wide on some stuff that I could nail happily on my older 26 and 27½” wheeled bikes, but that could have been a factor of me being faster on the Scandal, too.
It’s made me really reevaluate 29ers, tbh. Every one I’d ridden before this always felt like a city bike with knobbly tyres. I also rarely ride my full susser now, grabbing the Scandal in its stead. Make of that what you will.

‘British driving license’

Chapeau!

I think HG chains are that sort of price from Decathlon anyway? Their own brand stuff is KMC, btw.

Had this recently with a set of brake discs and pads for the TT. Bought a set for a 225, they sent me 180 rears. Told them about their mistake and they sent out the correct rears and they said they’d send out a return label for the wrong ones at some point. They never did. Probably hardly worth their time and effort for a reasonably heavy but low value item. I’ll probably sell them on in six months or something.

Aye, they’re massive now. I’m talking about the originals from 2004!

That’s a good shout, actually. We’ve got a really decent optician here. Will try them.
The other first world problem with bigger shades is that they don’t fit in the shades holder in my car…