I had one as a student in the late 80’s, fond memories, so comfortable and fast for the regularly journeys I was doing then between London and Wales. It was over 6′ in the back with seats folded so you could kip in it after parties etc. The only thing I remember that went wrong was the heater control busted (a brittle plastic rod behind dash) and the alternator packed up meaning it died on some remote mountain road in mid-Wales – days before mobile phones and a long walk to find somewhere to call the AA. I’d love another too, good luck in search.

Honda or Toyota with long MOT etc

That’s a shame, I was out on my early 90’s Diamondback earlier, can’t remember model, its at True Temper TT Lite frame, lots of people think it’s titanium with its raw shiny finish. Had it donkeys years and still a prefered ride to other stuff, a really light for steel and strong frame.

^ Exactly. Just left a couple of (fair) reviews of my experience. Interestingly the most recent other review showing up is poor too and suggests this particular place has gone downhill rapidly since a change in boss. Also submitted the trading standards / CAB form. I’m glad I never actually used them for the work and by reviewing/reporting, it might save others from doing so. I will of course leave a positive review for the other place for any VAG users out there in the Hants/Dorset area.

Sue

Bob

Gut feeling is that I don’t particularly want any dealings or any potential confrontation with them now I have found a good garage and all is well, just leave a review and send details or call local trading standards to tell them what happened. Let’s just say it’s an indy vw Audi specialist in Christchurch, Dorset. Yes have their report / estimate.

Kate humble or Jimmy Carr

Jap stuff – Toyota Yaris or Honda Jazz. Failing that, Ford Fiesta?

Been using Schwalbe CX Pro’s on an old mtb for years, hardly wear, roll well and no punctures (touch wood), thoroughly recommended for crap roads/gravel type riding.

I like to think the ones I went to were like Animal House but in reality they were far more like this one in the 80’s:

There’s always loads of hifi separates inc. cassette decks at our local tip, where my Technics/Arcam/KEF shed stereo comes from, all bought for a fiver or less. Fantastic sound. Car boots too can be a good source of grandad’s old hi fi separates and speakers. Can be risky in case knackered but often worth a punt if only a few quid.

Weirdly an article in our local paper (a bit like a local version of the DM sometimes) today is all about how the O2 signal (giff gaff uses) has all but disappeared in our area since the New Year. Lots of angry residents/businesses complaining to O2 who supposedly make millions in profit etc etc. They are supposedly trying to rectify, I won’t hold my breath

Thanks for the info, as I’m on a monthly sim only package looks like swapping provider to EE is the simplest and most straightforward option. Alllegedly they have good coverage in my area and they also do wifi calling so in theory that should all help. I still can’t understand how Giff Gaff has got a progressively worse signal over a few months; I used to get a few bars by walking about and finding the right spot, now if I’m lucky I might get one bar standing at the bottom of the garden. I thought it might be my new phone but the rest of the family are experiencing it too. Hope EE is better, can’t be any worse that’s for sure.

Thanks for all the tips, looking forward to going

^ iphone SE does in theory do wifi calling but not on giffgaff, just checked….bah.

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated!

I found the government site pages pretty good for guidance when I set up as a sole trader e.g. https://www.gov.uk/expenses-if-youre-self-employed/overview
but I do my own books as quite simple compared to what you are doing.

Shaun Keaveny

Honda jazz automatics, well any small automatic car driven by retired people. And people who begin sentences with SO.

Ditto, any Honda 4 stroke for reliability. Two of our kids when younger had; Honda Innova 125 scooter and Honda XR125 trailie, always started and just went well. Both bought for well under a grand. The scooter was less desirable so cheaper and seemed pretty quick for a 125 as well as amazingly economical. Both later sold after many more miles & getting all the original outlay back plus a bit more, they seem to hold their price well compared to all these weird named import copies you get now, for a reason I guess.

Ask WCA on here for broken ankle stories if you want to both feel sick and enlightened.

Did my left one 18 months ago, still not 100% but can do most things again apart from had to switch from a manual to an auto vehicle, which I now much prefer. Good luck in recovery.

Ps – sadly got into shi*e TV Salvage Hunters and Wheeler Dealers when out of action, at least not Jeremy Kyle

I had the same, went on for 3 years, despite trying to block numbers, being on TPS, telling them to F off etc. An old lady smacked into the back of my van with her car, turned out we were both with Directline so passing on the info must have come from there. I complained to Directline, their CEO etc but they were still in complete denial about doing this.

allegedly

Google compare sites. Directline van insurance was £250 fully comp for me with all the add ons inc. Green Flag breakdown cover, thought that was okay.

Ystradfellte in Brecon Beacons as above

Try t4 forum (covers t5 too)

it is possible, I did it…ask the powers that be nicely

We used to get loads of people stopping outside our house (which is pretty remote) taking pictures of the garden not house it looked like, only seemed at certain times of year. I went and asked someone what they were doing, turned out our place featured in some Rotary Club (or similar) car treasure hunt. Some convoluted clue involved the name of our road and an ornament in our garden. No-one asked us, but maybe it started before we lived there. I moved the ornament out of view being a spoil sport.

Honda, get a honda…..

Another thread on this subject here:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/i-need-a-new-vice-where-from

I ended up with a Record No.23 quick release big meaty one off gumtree for £100, been great, no problems at all

price has just been lowered by £300 on that Toyota HiAce…

needs to 10X that I reckon to get a buyer

I once met Viv Martella at a Beck concert, and regularly used to drive past Sun Hill nick on some industrial estate near Morden. Do I win £5?

Just use the compare sites as above, but I did find my t5 kombi was cheaper on van insurance rather than car by nearly £200 this year.

I’d stretch a bit more if you can to a brand you know to guarantee a good sound – I have fitted numerous ‘budget’ single DIN DAB head units to vans and cars for friends/family etc, from experience I usually go for JVC or Pioneer and bought off ebay ‘graded’ with 12 months warranty (never needed so far) or when Halfords have a decent sale on. Look for ones that come with a USB for smartphone charging and use, plus a DAB aerial too else you’ll have to fork out another £10-20 for one. Depending on the make of vehicle you might be lucky and it’ll plug straight in, otherwise a harness adaptor or some wire joining needed. For the ones I’ve done, I have usually upgraded the speakers too to Fly or Vibe ones if on a budget, these combined with a Pioneer or JVC unit give a great sound for the money I reckon.

Thanks for that, yep get her along to local shop I guess to try

So, in plain English…if I’m a sole trader and not VAT registered, but I buy a van for my work use which has VAT added to the final total, how best to record on my acounts – just the grand total inc. VAT or do I need to record/separate differently?

For new ones, have a look at http://www.happynewvan.co.uk/ for prices, not used them but seem to offer big discounts over list price.

Sounded a bit too much like corporate speak to try and justify. You’ve been exposed Mr Burke, pretending to be a punter…… :oops:
Actually I like it there but will continue to ride in now just to wind you up ha ha

Try bombay ‘duck’ if you think that’s stinky, lovely though https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay_duck