I hear that a certain Dominic Cummings is planning a new political entity, drop him an email and see if your political outlook matches his.

There’s a lovely little walk starting just outside Talybont on Usk from Pont Blaen-y-glyn up to Blaen y Glyn Uchaf.

Park at Point Blae-y-glyn carpark and start your walk from the bridge and follow the path up the hill that runs along the river. There are a multitude of pools and waterfalls (don’t forget to take your swimmers if its sunny) along the way and continue up until you reach Blaen y Glyn Uchaf. If you are feeling fit, continue up the steep path up the hill towards Gwaun Cerrig Llwydion. Return the same way and then head into Talybont on Usk for dinner and a well deserved drink.

Speak to this lot – RR dog rescue – they have great experience working with, and rehoming problem dogs plus they are terrier aware.

Maggots…!!!

What’s not to like about their wriggly squigglyness? They do an important job as they tidy up the environment, fisherfolk love them as bait and lots of wildlife enjoy a delicious maggoty dinner.

I’m not keen on flies though.

911 GT3’s

Do you have any friendly crows nearby?

I saw a crow fly off with a rather large rat yesterday, presumably for Mr Crows supper.

Not normally interested in politics will admit but I think Boris has had to tread a difficult balance of lockdown/economy/keeping everyone happy. I respect all views above regardless of whether I agree with them or not, but…
Rather than just slagging off everything, why not list how you would have actually managed the pandemic differently? How would you have saved 1000’s of lives, kept the economy going, kept every part of the country happy, vaccinated everyone more quickly and got the pubs open more quickly 🤔

The problem with your question is people on here don’t/didn’t have access to the resources Bojo & chums had.

I agree that the job was incredibly difficult and mistakes were inevitable but not turning up to Cobra meetings and allegedly lying about facts are quite inexcusable.

@ Matt – Why?

Double bed at the back and a pop top double will sleep 4. Add in a second row of seats that convert into a bed and there’s space enough. Cosy but doable.

The more I think about the proposed ESL the more it appears to me that one money making organisation (the clubs) wants a bigger slice of the other money making organisations (Premier League/UEFA & possibly FIFA). The relegation/promotion malarkey will get ironed out, the threats of banning players etc will slowly disappear and the money spinning will end up in the pockets of those that have the biggest attractions i.e – the highest profile players.

Once set up and given 4 or 5 years to settle down, I’m starting to think the ESL might not be such a bad thing.

Is this European Super League announcement (that has riled the Premier League so much) any different to when the Premier League set up its own top flight English football (Premier League) when there was already a top flight English football league?

The Muslim world are going to love you…..

Wowsers…!!! PBUH.

I’m currently in the market for a new van and I’ve found Autoebid very useful for getting competitive quotes.

I’m not sure I agree with PerchyPanther’s comment.

I think giving all political and social opinions airtime means the broadcaster is less likely to be called out for bias.

@oldmanmtb2,

I disagree, I can’t see the tories winning this by-election. It’s a win for Labour IMO.

blokeuptheroad
Which is why someone born into a dysfunctional, abusive home where education and career expectations are low or non existent is pretty much stuffed before they even start, whatever their innate intelligence etc.

Mmmm, you’re probably right but thankfully there are plenty of exceptions to this.

stumpyjon

Bobbins, there’s a world of difference between a management role where you have to think on your feet, take responsibility for your performance, your teams performance and often things out of your control and the traditionally working class roles, trades, machine operator, warehouse work etc. where you are only responsible for your own performance. Something a lot of working class people will never get to experience or understand, partly because their mindset won’t allow them to progress into these roles. Still, lot of rubbish management out there as well.

My word!!!!

Joe – You probably already know but iOverlander is a helpful resource when travelling and looking for places to stay – https://www.ioverlander.com

Joe – without a ferry, the eastern Med route would take you through eastern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Sinai. Your best bet would be to catch a ride on a container/commercial ship to Israel from Italy or Greece. Travel from Egyptian Nubia through Sudan is currently restricted and then you have conflict in Tigray region, with further conflict in South Sudan. Whilst I doubt you’d get caught up in actual conflict, the local population will be tired and looking for opportunity. Once again, I suggest you take a read of Fredriks trip, the constant corruption will break you.

Algeria and Libya is out of the question.

The western route is probably the route I’d take. The borders will reopen and there are people currently travelling safely in Western Sahara and Mauritania but from there, things get complicated. The Mauritaina/Senegal border is renown for corruption, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria both have considerable security issues.

If I was planning a 2022 trip I’d stick to the coast as much as possible but that adds many many kilometres to the journey, OK in a truck but cycling is another thing. Or I’d keep an eye on the security situation in Mali, and travel through Timbuktu and Niger. I’d avoid the DRC completely. The Mali route is my preferred route.

Covid and security issues aside, as things stand you won’t be going anywhere (or 2022) as the 2 routes south from north Africa are shut. The Morocco/Western Sahara-Mauritania border is shut. The Egypt-Sudan border is also shut I believe and there are no ferries between Europe and Egypt.

Try these websites for all the up to date information, experiences, equipment and routes.

https://expeditionportal.com/forum/

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/

Corruption will be a major issue once things open up again, as without tourists lots of people have lost their incomes. They are desperate.

Have a read of this – https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/democratic-republic-of-congo-lubumbashi-to-kinshasa.50799/ – to get an idea of how corruption works. Josephine and Frederiks trip was back in 2003 or something but their experiences are relevant.

The vast majority of overlanders aren’t travelling at the moment but there are a few out there still. I’m sure the overland routes will re-open (hopefully end of 2021/2022) and tourists will be welcomed back again.

Without seeing the scaffolding it’s impossible to say if it’s safe or not.

I recently had a project where the only way to reach the workplace was by using a tower scaffold on top of a scaffold. The scaffold and tower scaffold were both designed for the task correctly and the tower scaffold was even on wheels. I’ve also had podium steps on scaffolds but never with wheels.

Congratulations to Wales and they thoroughly deserved the win. Both tries were fine IMO, with the first probably being the more debatable. The thing is, if England didn’t give away penalties the way they do, then they wouldn’t find themselves in the position of having to defend against them.

Wales played well and to their considerable strengths, adjusted their game to the reffing much better and quicker than England. The final result demonstrated the difference that currently exists between the 2 teams. Wales should win the G.S.

England do seem to have problems and I don’t think the current staff are progressing the team. Farrell isn’t performing well, seems frustrated and just does not deliver the kind of leadership the likes of Alun Wyn Jones does now or Martin Johnson did. England have very talented players, so I do have to question whether Jones (and his selections & tactics) need a refresh. I don’t like calling for coaches to be replaced but Jones’ leadership doesn’t appear to be improving England, the same problems are seen game after game.

I find Benjamin very entertaining. He has visited Kolya many times and always takes him food and drink, although Kolya would happily forego the food I think.

His trips into the ex-Soviet central states and Caucasus Republics are well worth watching too. He got into a bit of bother in Chechnya.

If reliability is your number one concern then you should head towards your local Toyota garage. Maybe consider a brand new car if finances allow (PCP, LH etc but that subject will need a separate thread) as the warranty will give you extra piece of mind.

I would 100% pay the mortgage off and then immediately shift the money you were spending on mortgage payments into pension contributions.

Use 1/2 the remaining inheritance to ‘fun’ and half in a savings account as a buffer.

I think this is very good advice ^^^

I think any recommendations could be cost sensitive. Do you have an approx budget? With covid restrictions and limited opportunities for foreign holidays, the price of property/land/do’er uppers has risen considerably, especially near the coast.

I have recently taken some profits from a fund I’m in that is very very similar to SMIT. I’ve reinvested in sustainable technology funds and kept some for bills and shiny stuff. Mortgage rates are incredibly low but cutting that 1k a month down by 70-80% would appeal greatly to me.

PH Designs do some very good gloves but are rather spendy

Mitts for cold hands

You’ll struggle find better IMO.

As it’s your first pair of age related spectacles I would recommend going to a locally recommended optician. The big chains will have fancy machines and an endless choice of frames whereas an indy might give better advice. I would say getting good lenses very important.

Although you can get glasses cheaper online, I’d leave the online glasses suppliers & opticians until you’ve been wearing and using your new goggles for a while.

Another Inov8 user here and I find the ‘Graphene-Grip’ soles quite good, I think this type od sole is labelled as ‘G’ in the Inov8 range. I haven’t done huge miles in them and I don’t expect them to last forever due to their light weight but they’ve performed perfectly well over this autumn and winter so far. Mainly used in SE England on wet mud, grass and chalk.

Rescue Remedies – WOOF – are still rehoming dogs but as mentioned above, the choice is smaller than in previous times.

They do seem to get a regular stream of new arrivals, keep an eye on their ‘Coming Soon!’ section.

Reuters – Brexit deal is imminent according to a senior EU diplomat, possibly today.

OP – Are you sure you heard the tweed robed one’s insult correctly? “Flat” can easily be confused something else a little more derogatory and coarse in the heat of the moment…..

Good question.

Think that having a dog and being out all day at work isn’t perfect but it can work. Maybe look for a rescue dog that is calm and is used to staying at home by themselves or even better, get a rescue pair. Quite often there are dogs in rescue that have been together before they ended up looking for a new home.

Having a reliable dog walker is another good option and most dogs adore their dog walker (sometimes more than their owners) as evrytime the dog walker appears they go off for a walk.

I think getting a puppy and leaving it alone is a bit unfair on the dog and will result with a frustrated and possibly destructive dog.

He looks a mightily fine dog and I hope you have much fun with him. Thank you for getting a rescue too.

Would a piece of 4″x4″ cut to size + shape work? Maybe introduce a 3/4″ ply spreader plate at floor level to spread the load?

OP – I have the exact van you mention and I have been able to get 3 bikes in without removing any seats.

wwpaddler – IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Your thread will be locked and you will be banned from the forum unless you post photo’s of the dog in question.

;)

Fair play Ling, you’re a very remarkable lady and I will follow you & hubby on your travels. What a fabulous adventure you have ahead of you. All the best.

Looking at your photo’s, it looks like the glass is held in position by a rectangular aluminium glazing bead.

This bead is held in position by a rubber gasket that appears to have been painted. Remove this rubber gasket by lifting the gasket with a chisel or scraper. In your second image (top LHS) you can see the rubber gasket coming away from the bead/glass, so start there.

The vertical glazing beads need to be removed first (you can see the joint in your images). Then remove the horizontal glazing beads. To loosen the glazing beads, carefully push or tap the corner of the glazing bead towards the glass along the length of the glazing bead. I expect the glazing bead clips into the profile of the aluminium extrusion that makes up the door leaf.

I can’t see the appeal of a rematch as far as Teofimo Lopez is concerned. There are other boxers in the division and hanse he already called out Gervonta Davis? Teofimo will be looking at bigger and better things and has the skills to fight at other weights. Loma would probably gain more from a rematch but after this fight, I’m not sure he would prevail.

I think Bob Arum is both boxers promoter so you never know.