just because you don’t like something doesn’t make it wrong

Spot on. I’m 41 and do what I can within my means for my family. Believe me, if I could afford it, we’d be off trucking round Africa for 6 weeks every summer.

Might I respectfully suggest some lessons in economics for the reason as to why this happens?

I understand why it happens. Doesn’t make it right though.

russianbob – the authorisation process is now out of the school’s control (effective 1/9/13) – the detail is around page 1 or 2 of this thread.

Is this out of date then???? – https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/overview

You could do worse than speak to the head about this. The school could authorise the absence, doing so would not necessarily set a precendent, the option to fine parents for unauthorised absences has always been there but in my experience this option has not been excercised in the past. I would assume that it would be implemented with a little more rigour for repeat offenders. Speak to them, but respect their decision, or be willing to stump up if you chose not to.

I do feel your pain, my partner teaches and we have 3 children of school age. To go to Greece say, even for a week, in the summer holidays would end up costing us in excess of £4K. So we ‘make do’ with France or Spain, driving and camping. What needs addressing here is the greed of the holiday companies, not the fact that the government feels it should impose rules to educate children. Teachers teach, they don’t implement government policy.

Never been hit. Never had anyone say it’s too bright. Cars pass noticeably slower and further out when running the District.

They may simply not be aware that the noise travels. When we moved into our house we never heard a peep from next door so assumed that the noise they heard from us (3 girls under 10) was a similar level. We only found out the truth when the new neighbours moved in.

As for meathead gamer man, I look like a meathead – shaved head, 6 ft 3, 16 stone etc, but actually I’m a very reasonable person and if our neighbours came round and, reasonably, told me about the noise problem I’d do something about it.

If you’re unhappy, I’d get in touch with them. Some of the very very best customer service in the business.

I bought a Norrona Trollveggen Goretex Pro at the start of this year. Awesome bit of kit. Love it.

I use an Osprey Momentum 34. Prior to that I used a Deuter Trans Alpine 32. Both good bits of kit. I prefer the Osprey though, lots of nice features and good laptop padding.

Have a look at http://www.finisterreuk.com/

Thanks chaps.

Used to ride in Shining Cliff and on Crich Chase 25 years ago!!! Folks still live in Nether Heage and whilst there the other weekend we took the dog for a walk through Shining Cliff up to Betty Kenny’s tree and back along the top to the old Youth Hostel.

The amount of trails in the is astonishing, a fair bit of litter too, not a lot of effort been put into keeping things low key. That said, I plan on taking my bike next time we visit. How is the Chase in comparison?

I think she’s got a very valid point. Pedestrians should have insurance too for that matter, they can make a right mess of windscreens and bodywork that the car driver’s insurance has to pony up for.

Thirded for the Park Plaza Westminster. Pool as well. The hotel can be pricey though.

Have you considered camping? I can recommend Cala Llevado between Loret and Tossa.

I had a 2001 B5 estate from 2004 until 2010. Loved it. We moved onto a car I shall not name as we had our third child. Then in 2011 I went back to Passats and got a company B7 estate, again, love it. Just been to Spain and back in it from Yorkshire with tents, camping gear, roof box, kayak, three kids in the back. And it just did it. The soft squidgy bit behind the steering wheel was the only weakness.

Eurghhh, everyone knows it’s buffalo jizz.

Quite like it myself from 12 Apostles down to the stream. The stuff that replaced the boardwalk. Is that known as the red bog? After the stream the single track to the right down towards the cow and calf if nice.

Have a look at the iCam app. Does exactly what you want using the iMac camera. Works well, though best to test when you’re not on the same wifi before you go away, you may need to open some ports. Records via iPhone and will also record on motion detection.

Put a ton of them into those hotel/conference/bar competition things. Like a hundred at a time. You’ll almost definitely win some stuff.

+1 for Black Diamond. Titan, Apollo or Voyager. Well made, dimmable, rechargable, bright.

actually, mine is an XL. Sorry. Still a dead good bike though.

I’m 6’3″ and weigh in at about 16.5 stone. I ride a 2008 large Heckler and it’s spot on I think. They changed the swingarm in 2010 I think to move away from the pinch bolts onto a collet thingy, though mine was swapped out under warrany after a tiny crack developed in the weld. In terms of geometry they stayed the same though. So, aside from the very recent 650b changes they’ve stayed the same over the past 5 or so years. Brilliant bike, feels just right for me now, and even though I run pretty heavy components I’m really happy with it.

It costs something like £3 to get the ownership details off the land registry. You can do it all online as well.

Get the app Daisy Disk, really good at telling you what’s taking up space. Can’t remember how much I paid for it but I use it a fair bit across my Macs and it’s really useful.

http://www.innatwhitewell.com

Your insurance often covers you for this in the same way as it does for glass – no effect on no claims. Worth a go. Also if it was a BP garage they sometimes cough up as they have in the past admitted that their pumps look very similar.

http://www.theaa.com/resources/Documents/pdf/motoring-advice/fuel-reports/june2013.pdf

Yes. What we must do is continue to use non-renewable sources of energy so a few birds don’t die.

We have a Hailo Kickmaxx, and up until the flap spring broke a couple of weeks ago, the hound never got in it. Regarding the spring breaking, we’ve had the bin for 2.5 years, they have a 5 year warranty though so they’re sending us a brand spanker, no questions asked. Dog proof, good looking, excellent customer service. Highly recommended.

I know how to open a link in a new tab, thanks.

I also know that most other forums, nay most of websites, do this as a matter of course, not really that bothered to be honest, just makes a site more usable in my opinion.

Thanks very much for your thoughts though. Especially Rob Hilton, a clearly splendid type.

Out of interest, did you just send them back or did you speak to the retailer first?

Careful, I think these are the Winnies locals that might beat you up….

http://www.pinkbike.com/u/GCG-Photography/album/B-Y-C/

Jealous. Wish I was in that position.

Project – like I said before, “Get back to your Daily Mail”. I’m sure you’ll dismayed to know that the poor weather we’re going to experience this weekend is coming from Eastern Europe.

Use the system scanner on http://www.crucial.com/uk it’ll give you a list of compatible modules. Fairly cheap as well.

http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/

Project – without the men and women that teach in our schools there would be no productive industries in this country. If you’re unhappy with the status quo do something about it, but don’t belittle other’s hard work when clearly you have no alternative.

You’re nothing more than a wind up merchant. Get back to your copy of the Daily Mail.

In fact, if you have kids now I suggest you take them out of school and educate them yourself. If you don’t, and assuming you do in the future, then prepare for them to be educated in classes of 40+, because that’s what’s going to happen if Gove continues on this path.

eskay – hoping that’s how it’s going to. It’s not like it’s a rubbish bike either. And all three are girls so colour isn’t an issue.

Two finger click is same as right click

Cheers dude. It’ll be going into a mk7 SE with the standard DAB.