Awww crap ….a proper character & great frontman.

Chris

Got the better half a 32Gb model. Can’t believe how well she’s taken to it !
I’ve got a latest gen ipad, but the Nexus is a truly fantastic piece of kit for the money ! & for portability, it beats my Ipad hands down. ( fits in her hand bag with ease & is easy to use holding in one hand whilst using the other to type / navigate.
I love both. No issues with either.
Chris

Never had an issue with any make or model. Usually go for ones that are both recharggeable and mains operated.
Typically get 5 years out of a set before I look to replace.
I go for a no.2 on the head and no.1 on the beardy bit every couple of weeks.
( always keep it short enough so as not to need a comb or brush….kind of feels clean and tidy)
Chris

If you’re on your own, sticking to something familiar is a good call. But, just because it ‘is’ familiar, don’t get complacent.
About 10 years ago, I managed a cracked rib because of exactly that. Luckily, I was only a couple of miles away from home so no great issue.
It could have been a lot worse as although not exactly in the wilds, the part of the moors I was on isn’t the most visited of places.

Chris

I’ve done it a few times. Just use common sense, don’t attempt anything daft, take a mobile etc etc

… & don’t look behind you ! That noise you hear ? …that’s a wear wolf coming to get you.

HTH
Chris

If this threads indicative of the STW average age …then we’re all old farts 🙂

A great number already mentioned deserve a share of the crown.
( Led Zep or perhaps even Deep Purple … Both magnificent in their prime)

Chris

Id agree with globalti in the sense that a selection of compilation cd’s can cover a wide area in a short space of time.

Don’t fully discard the piano…or anything else for that matter – It’s quite surprising what you end up enjoying.

You seem to like Beethoven. I would class Beethoven as one of the easiest composers to listen to. ( & tbh he’s also one of my perennial favorites). – Try listening to a good version of “Moonlight Sonata” ….Then tell me you don’t like piano 😉

Chris

Made yourself an appointment for a tetanus ? ….you know you’ll need it …

Chris

Whilst I wasn’t anywhere near the place you’ve found yourself in, a couple of years back, it felt like I was. ( this is all relative as I know I can’t handle large amounts).

I stopped drinking my usual tipple all together & also swapped pints of real ale for pints of lager shandy.

May sound an odd way to go about things, but it worked out well for me & quickly.

Didn’t take long before things were properly under control allowing me to deal with some underlying issues I had at the time.

Good luck !
Chris

Tried the spinning classes – Didn’t really get on with it – Think it was mostly to do with the non free-wheel aspect & nearly ripping my ankles off when trying to stop.

Trixter – Thoroughly enjoy it ! ( as comment above – wobbly variable tensioned handlebars & freewheels).

Classes are 45 mins & if you’re not sweating after 5 mins – You’re not doing it right. ( After 45 mins, its quite common to have a small puddle on either side of you).

I just go to the Trixter classes to get barked at by the instructors – Keeps the motivation & effort level up.

As for bike fitness – Can’t see it doing any harm.

Chris

My own experiences are pretty much the same as Rio’s.

Claimed output equivalence is usually a bit low by comparison. ( eg the ones I got which were 5w&6w were supposed to be equivalent to 50w halogens – Nope – 35w seemed closer & the colour was not what I was looking for.

I’m still looking for an LED replacement ( either 12v MR16 or 230v GU10 style) giving the same warm friendly feel and output of a 50w halogen.

( Not tried the Phillips master range though)

Chris

I use Logmein – another In-Law remote support ….Yes….Painful !

Typical experience ….
‘Right, I’m just going to’ …..’Please stop moving the mouse’……’STOP CLICKING ON THINGS’ !!!!! … ‘WILL YOU JUST LEAVE THE BL**DY MOUSE AND KEYBOARD ALONE’ !!!

….etc ……

You think they’d know after all this time to just let me get on with fixing it, but no – They were put on this planet with the sole purpose of p*ssing me off ! – They’re Very good at it !

Sorry – Had to vent steam.
Chris

Wonder what the rest of the hardware spec’s like in comparison to the Nexus 7 ?

I’m still waiting for the Nexus 10 though – Having said that, the way the tablet market’s moving, it’s hellishly fast ….

Chris

Hmmmm – never knew that ! (scuttles off to Google).

Chris

I tend to go for the Mars milk.

Doubt there’s any science behind it, but it just seems to work. ( rather well)

An accidental ‘find’ a few years back when out on a long long ride.

Chris

Been smoke free since towards the end of December last year.

….Just need to loose the 2 stones I put on 🙁

I didn’t change quantity or type of food / drink intake & if anything stepped up on the exercise front & No …it’s not muscle 🙁

Just try not to think about it & if you ‘do’ think about it, congratulate yourself for being smoke free !

Chris

All she wants is the ability to highlights a set of photos and compress them and email them in one foul swoop.

Sounds like a Gmail account for email & Picasa on the pc for the photo sending would be the way forward. ( both free & Picasa sends via a Gmail account)
Picasa makes shrinking & emailing photos an absolute doddle.

Totally agree with Mikewsmith on moving away from ISP based email. – When you change your Internet provider – it’s far far easier if you don’t have to keep telling all your contacts your new contact details.

And whist your at it, I’d recommend more than one email address ….One for emailing family & friends, another for online shopping, forum signups etc.

Chris

I remember having one of them early Mini’s – I used cardboard to stop water getting at the distributor cap …..which was located directly behind the radiator grill ( ….proper numpty headed design).

Found out the hard way – every time rain sprayed into & through the radiator or I drove through a puddle – the car ground to a halt.

Chris

Mikehow +1

…them damn gates !

Hope you enjoy it.

Chris

You should be able to update the maps for the Navman. You’ll probably have to pay for it but it’s just done over USB. Or buy a new SD card

I’d just this minute looked into that – Decided the price differential between the cost of the new maps & the cost of a brand new (low range) toy wasn’t ‘that’ big. – It’s nice to have new toys occasionally 🙂

Chris

I just got a cheap n cheerful unit as it seldom gets used. ( Absolutely perfect for what I need it for).
If you’re a rep or someone who goes to all four corners of the country then look at something better.

I find I just rely on the voice prompts – Can’t say I tend to look at the display much.

My 6 year old plus Navman F10’s a bit long in the tooth now & city centres have altered too much for it to be relied on, but out on country lanes, it still works very well. Still, it’s probably about time to replace it.

Chris

Another Thanks 🙂

Chris

Similar issues many years ago.
Pigeon obviously got in at the top. Went on the roof & took the small chimney pot off to make it easier.
– Used a Drain Rod set with the brush attached & ever so gently pushed the pigeon back up & out it popped non the worse for it’s 12 hour ordeal.

Otherwise …. take off and nuke the site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure 😉

Chris

Remember seeing Isaac Guillory in Hebden Trades club a few months before he sadly passed away.
Stunning craftsmanship !

One of those evenings where everyone was mesmerised.
& what a nice chap to talk to !

Chris

Just come back from a very pleasant week in Paphos.
Cyprus is one of the very few places we’ve been more than once so I totally agree with the above comments.

Just get it booked 🙂

Chris

Thanks for the suggestions. 🙂

tbh I’ve been a bit tunnel visioned on Tahoe’s as the various models I’ve owned have served me very well over the years, but times and technology have moved on…hence the request for alternatives !

As far as walking / scrambling – I’ve just got back from a ride of which a disproportionate amount seemed to be squelching in peat bogs and stumbling around on rocky ground, so although I understand the need for stiff soles, I do need at least some flexibility. – I dare say a more competent rider would have managed most of the rocky sections without too much of a problem but having had two broken ankles in the last three years, I came to the conclusion that I don’t bounce as well as I used to when I come off 🙁
(But, point taken when Ive been out all day & the ball’s of my feet are giving me grief right where the cleats are….something which stiffer soles could very well help with).

As for flats, I’ve spent the last ten years plus clipped in & the odd occasion when I do ride flats, it feels totally alien.

Ton – That’s a very kind offer, but you’re a couple of shoe sizes bigger than me !

Thanks for the suggestions – I will be investigating them.
Thanks guys,
Chris

I’m pretty much the same as Toys19 (…other than a couple of pairs of Shimano winter boots)

I’m reckoning I’ll still need an element of flexibility for when I’m walking / scrambling up or down things.

Chris

who uses bottle cages anyway

Seem to be using bottles most of the time these days as its less of a faff.

Chris

Must admit, of the supermarket diesel – I’ve always found Asda’s offering to be the bottom of the pile.
Morrisons, in MPG & performance seems to be very close if not identical to the big boys. The other supermarket branded diesel somewhere inbetween.

…All circumstantial of course ….YMMV – Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun 😉

Chris

Mr Woppit,

Higher end Japanese integrates can be stunning ! – Go and listen to some Accuphase as an example.

As far as HiFi amplification was concerned, I was a Naim a holic / obsessive for many years and have had many many of their amps, pre-amps, PSU’s and power amps ( etc) over the last 20 years but I’ve come to realise that, not only are there other brands out there, some of them sound very good !

I still like the Naim sound, but I have started to prefer something different. – I’ve changed over the years & so have my preferences in musical presentation.

Chris

There are Jap integratedes & Jap integrateds. – Did an awful lot of research on this, bought a few from Ebay before I did anything too rash. The naim kit was relocated upstairs during Feb to see if I could indeed live without it.
The ‘AU’ series Sansui amp’s from the mid to late 70’s are a very good place to start. ( better than the competition from around the same era) Things like construction & quality of components seemed to go downhill in the 1980’s and onwards.

Tbh – I think I might have just been looking for something different. I’ve had Naim kit for about the last 15 years, possibly more. Wanted to reduce the box count, it was sat in the living room where the kids seem to rule. – I end up on a battered old settee in the kitchen with a Tivoli Model 1. ( I quite like hanging out in the kitchen though – feels somehow comfortable)

There’s no denying that the Naim kit was fantastic but I was always fretting about something or other not sounding quite right – It obviously was – it was just me.

Al,
If you’re into sound systems & looking for a cheap play thing for a while, it’s worth keeping a look on Ebay to see what these things go for – A lot of the time, it’s peanuts & at that kind of price, its worth it just to ‘play’ as you can easily sell it if you get bored ( The AU317 or the MK2 version would be my preference on the bang per buck basis – The lesser AU217 sounds very open and very musical but a little lacking in that gutsy feeling, where as the AU417, whist sounding very good indeed, becomes quite an internally complex beast & the same applies the further up the line you go)
If things go wrong with it, there’s a very healthy & supportive Sansui group on AudioKarma.org

Chris

Used to be very ‘into’ sound systems just got fed up of catching myself listening to the system more than the music.

So, in this last week, I’ve stopped procrastinating & sold the Naim 32.5 / bespoke PSU / 250. The LP12’s been boxed up and stored (…couldn’t quite bring myself to sell the LP12) & I’ve given hundreds of vinyl albums to a charity shop.

In an odd way, I feel quite liberated & de-cluttered !

I’ve kept the Creek CD player & the Naim Amps have been replaced by… a Sansui AU 317 MK2 – made in 1979 ! & cost under £50 inc £13 postage) – A Sansui amp from the Golden era with battleship construction.
It’s sounds totally different to the Naim kit, but has a beguiling organic quality which I really like.

So, just because the Trio / Kenwood kit is old & seemingly financially worthless, remember that construction values were quite different then. – Don’t think it can’t sound good ! – It might just surprise you.

Chris

Found an app on my phone that makes my wife look fat.

it’s called “Camera”

The Garmin Geko’s sound to be pretty much ideal for what you need. – I still use a 201 for similar reasons to what you’ve mentioned.
Please note that by today’s standards, they can be viewed as pretty low tech & don’t have the most sensitive of receivers.

Still, AAA batts, pretty good life, small size, inexpensive ( shop around), & able to give an OS Grid ref.

Chris

Not swear by, but use in conjunction with for those …”I know I’m on this map somewhere” moments.

Mostly get by just fine with an appropriate OS map, but as a safety net….GPS is priceless.

( Small Garmin Geko as its ….small).

Chris

We had a not dissimilar issue with the dining room a few months ago – The builder ( a no nonsense type guy as opposed to a smooth talking BS artist) spent ages diagnosing the issue. He pointed out various potential contributory factors.
He recommended a drain/trench type arrangement channelling in the concrete at the side of the house to divert water flow off the drive directly to the drain so as to avoid water hitting the wall of the house.
This was in conjunction with three strategically placed airbricks & treatmant of the ends of the underfloor timbers that water had seeped into. (I got the distinct impression he wasn’t a fan of totally sealed houses whatever their age).
In our case, it cost somewhere between £400 & £500 and took two guys a full day to do the channeling, brickwork & timber treatment.

The end result is a nice dry room with no damp smells 🙂 Took about three weeks for the smell of the chemicals and any residual dampness to die down after the building work.

( money well spent in my humble opinion)

Chris

Typically, averages out at an hour per week.

Think I just got out of the habit – Usual preference is sat on the battered settee in the kitchen, book in one hand, radio on in the background.
That’s my preference, but the other half always looks at this as being unproductive & likes to try and find things for me to do 😉
Feels like Last of the summer wine at times – It’s a battle that’s been going on for nearly 25 years….& she still hasn’t won ! !

Chris

The Stopping Smoking thread previously mentioned, was the catalyst I needed to actually do it.- As others have mentioned, you have to want to give up. – I’d come around to the idea that I actually did want to stop and that me telling myself that I didn’t was only a method of me not wanting to put myself in the position of attempting to stop & failing – I can be rather pig headed, stubborn & stupid at times 🙂

There’s lots of good advise & info on this forum alone !

Everyone has their own method – Mine was an E-Cig – except I didn’t use it as the conventional direct replacement – When the craving was high, I had just a single drag – This proved to be enough.
Within a couple of weeks & without any concious thought or effort, I found I’d stopped using it.

All I can say is..

GOOD LUCK !!!

Chris

It’s actually been quite easy – a fact which was totally unexpected, but I’m exceedingly happy about.
Gave up day after boxing day. Used one of those E cigs for a week or so after & been totally free since.

Must admit, my body seems to have fallen to pieces since with one thing or another.

Looking forward to the positive aspects….whenever they decide to show themselfs.

Chris

Laguna estate DCi 150
typical MPG = 39 to 42 ( mostly shortish journeys)

Recently did a trip to Birmingham & due to awful weather conditions, averaged less than 60mph – The MPG returned was 57 !!!
( I was quite impressed)

Periodic Italian tuning does seem to make the engine run better. ( but, ONLY do this when the engine is thoroughly warmed up)

Chris