Knackered my shoulder June last year, feels okay now a year later after a few physio trips and various bouts of taking anti-inflammatories. Still wary of doing anything to set it off again though, like lifting heavy things or chucking stuff

Thanks, gives me a good idea, I reckon £25-30 fair for a trailer or pick up back load. Somafunk – lots of those types around here. Jamesfts – New Forest, Hants/Dorset border

A person close to me had to have a nose op under general and said they felt absolutely fantastic for quite a while afterwards, which was probably something to do with the cocaine the doctors stuff up your hooter when doing it

Low blood pressure makes me go wobbly, quite surprised by doc saying to eat more (salty) crisps to counteract it…
I’ve had nose broken twice but not due to former I think, more to do with rugby matches I’ve played in getting out of hand

bog and sauna shed


From WCA’s donation, adapted/extended to fit in end of a shed, cost a few beers and a bit of extra wood we had lying about anyway, and a day to do. It’s okay and gets used occasionally but the heater isn’t really man enough for the size now I think (was originally 4′ square). It’s a plug in heater so easy but to get the full effect we need a meatier one which will involve hard wiring in properly. Other stuff on ours which is wrong is the shape of it, 8′ by 4′ to fit in the end of the shed so you could lie in it, better being square or round for even heat. Doubling the size from original explains why the heater struggles I know. Also being a cheapskate used some pine tongue and groove we had spare to build out from the original cedar. I know this will eventually warp and split.
So, will we keep it and do properly or just return to more bike storage space, who knows. It was good fun to try and cost peanuts – you get what you pay for I guess.

WCA kindly gave me his garage sauna, it is now rebuilt in our bog shed and works fine, will post pictures tomorrow. The heater is a plug in one, I think only about 3kw ish but does the job, okay for 2 people and gets up to about 65 degrees.

wasn’t he in that film Porkies too, what was his surname again…

That point above is true and something the Max Hastings book deals with, we undoubtedly suffered and came good but in terms of losses and scale it was nothing like what happened on the eastern front. Something like 90-95% of German losses were there. The Russians lost an unbelievable amount of people through the conflict (and as a result of Stalin’s actions).

Carreg llywd camp site on Port Eynon beach on the Gower is much better than 3 cliffs. The Ship (shit) inn isn’t much cop though, although the rock pools at low tide and hermits cave are great, as is the yellow banana boat that goes around to worms head. As everyone says you have to have the weather (hence we go to france now….)

Recently read (the very long) WW2 book all hell broke loose by max hastings, a real eye opener as written from the perspective of those who actually took part, recommended

Redstripe, decent mattress and ear plugs

That didn’t take long, someone has just booked it, cheers

Barbara Windsor

DavidB – no problem, I just saw our Matt and told him to expect a call or email, his ext. number is 469. He said they are putting together the apprentice ads for next round soon. If you, your son want to see what it’s like first though call Matt to arrange a visit and/or remember we have the Big Bike Bash http://www.bigbikebash.co.uk on the August Bank holiday weekend, not truly representative of what we offer but a good laugh nonetheless

Contact us at UK Youth, we take on several apprentice instructors every year, pay and accommodate and get formal NGB qualifications along the way. Might not be much for this season now but will be for next I should think. Contact is matt at ukyouth dot org tel 01425 672347
Based in New Forest

Meet Norman, our resident young magpie who can’t fly, suspect a broken wing:

Been banned from shooting him (not that I know he is a he). He’s just struts about the garden eating stuff on the ground. It might be upsetting that his fellow magpies kill other things, rob nests etc but then so do cats and grey squirrels. We recently had a stoat take out a grey squirrel which was quite a sight

Just been chatting to colleague, I think actually it’s at an age and served us well we’ll get shot of it now. Bought off the RNLI near us when it was a couple of years old, we’ve added another 18 years use so not bad really. Time to look for another newish one I think

Thanks for the advice and manual link. I’ll check the breathers and clean carb first, I don’t think it particularly smoked much on start up or decelerating but it has been laid up for a while now because of the problem. I’ll see if I can get it going and check this. I’ve not done a top end engine strip before so a bit wary, just do usual servicing stuff. Down to time and money really, if it looks like a load of hassle I may not bother and just ebay or p/ex it (need another for work) but if we can find someone local to have a look, diagnose and quote reasonably we may hang on to it.

Had them in my thirties, wouldn’t wish on anyone, like others have said you get a bit fed up with people who say they have one when it isn’t. First time I thought I was going to die it was that bad but in time I learnt how to recognise the onset – stop everything, dark room and sleep etc. Pills never seemed to make any difference. Mine never lasted more than 12 hours and the weird thing is that the next day I always felt brilliant, really alert like I could do anything. I’m sure mine were just caused by rushing about trying to do too much when tired, just pressure of life and work at the time. I only ever lost vision once, well all blurry and tunnel vision and it was pretty scary as I was driving one of our kids home at the time. Don’t get them now touch wood but then I lead a lot less hectic life and sleep a lot more.

UK Hiaces have easy to access (under bonnet as opposed to seats) engine since about 1995. 40mpg possible if you drive sensibly but yes around 30 if you are heavier on the right foot. Run well on veg oil and even better (with improved mpg) on posh diesel like BP Ultimate (worth the extra few pence a litre).
I agree with comments about people having a tendency to slag off what they don’t have, pretty much all suggested will do the job I reckon. After years of having different (make) vans I’m at a stage where I can’t be arsed to spend loads of time working on them or worrying about minor impracticalities, looks/cool factor, just want something I know I can chuck loads of stuff in, will always start and can drive off anywhere with no worries. As someone else has said I’d better shut up now before prices start getting hiked if too many people know.

I got one from US and back already, after local 8.5% US tax, £110 cheaper for the 32gb model wanted compared to UK price, just hope it’ll be okay guarantee wise should there be any problems.

great pics
wascally wabbit/hartley hare mutant is still hanging about:
P1060181
P1060177

Thanks for tips, have got a work colleague over in US now due back next week, I’ll see what price they are there first. Assume if she can’t sneak back might get clobbered for some kind of duty?

Hiace’s can be had in SWB or LWB, about the same size as Transporter, and don’t break down and about 25-40% cheaper than the same age VW. The older non-turbo ones are a bit sluggish as are the 88 and 95 versions, rarer but if you can find a 102bhp 2002-2005 or post 2006 120bhp version they go much better, you won’t break the land speed record but go well up hills loaded and you can overtake stuff. Shame they stopped making them in 2012. Bit wary of the new Proace replacement, a Peugeot/Citroen in disguise.
Bongos are at an age now I’d personally be reluctant unless it really does have a good service history, some still at silly prices. Toyota Granvias too, lovely to drive and Toyota reliability but pretty thirsty as 3 litre autos often with 4wd, plus also getting on a bit now. Pain getting the back seats out too if you need carry big things. I still can’t believe how much some dealers ask for imported jap campers/MPV’s, much rather get a younger UK van cheaper and do what I want.
One last one, Hyundai iLoad & crew vans, worth a look too.

Toyota Hiace D4D with 102 or 120 engine

Don’t be a sheep, get a Toyota Hiace D4D post 2002, you want have any of the problems associated with VW/Ford/Merc/Vauxhall etc. Will go on forever. Disabled converted ones are handy as have the rear windows and often removeable seats, easy camper conversion.

watch out for personal income tax if letting your property, you’re supposed to inform HMRC

Get a post 2002 Toyota Hiace D4D, you won’t have any issues with it

My tongue in cheek comments about getting rid of her are exactly that, I am not horrible to her as I understand the stress will pass on and make it worse. Had cats for many years, just none have done this before, our place is pretty open plan so not much scope for keeping out of areas. I’ll try the spray stuff and scaring big ginger at every opportunity, last resort I guess one of those enclosed litter trays

I’m not horrible to her and do (& the rest of the family) make a fuss of her frequently. I’ll try the Feliway stuff and scaring off the ginger

I know it’s her (and not the ginger thing coming in) as she’s been caught a couple of times. I don’t want a litter tray as she will then crap in it which will stink our low ceilings house out even more.

Been using ebay for 13 years for our business to sell stuff, as a guesstimate we get about 1 in 20 transactions pissing you about, usually just not hearing anything back, occasionally a reply to say they haven’t got the money/my young son or daughter bid by mistake (heard every excuse). I suspect with OP’s bike like that it was some yoof getting over-excited. I wouldn’t take it off ebay for ending early until they have actually been and paid. I just shrug my shoulders and have it set it up to launch an unpaid item dispute after 3 days so we get fees back, they get an unpaid item strike and we then re-list or do a second chance offer. It’s not worth getting worked up over, you’ve done nothing wrong, just accept there are knobs out there
cheers

Update – got the official letter back from CEO’s office basically saying they don’t pass on personal details, they follow all sorts of codes of conducts, could I pass on any phone numbers for them to investigate, if I’m still not happy I can go to the Ombudsman etc etc

Oddly a couple of days after I sent my complaint in the calls stopped. Coincidence?

http://www.avontyrrell.org.uk in the New Forest, (home of the Big Bike Bash too), try one of our smaller lodges, lots on site and out in Forest or nearby beaches

Eight Ace and have 10p change

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Viz_comic_strips

The back of a nearby new visitor centre

hengistbury

+1 for Burley woodburners

used to go to Longleat years ago when a mate worked there and got deals but so bloody expensive now, would much rather go to France with kids, somewhere like Domaines des Ormes in Brittany, has everything centre parcs has but more options on accomodation, ability to escape to nearby beaches/towns, better food/climate of course

OP said £5K budget so should get a decent Hiace for that. I agree about later Proace, worried about it not being a proper Toyota

I’ve had Technics 1210 turntables with Stanton cartridges for far too many years I’m prepared to admit but have never gone wrong, really tough and great sound. Not sure if they are made any more but could be worth a look.