Have been riding Elite’s since 2003 (on 4 bikes IIR). Not had a single issue. Unbreakable, super light and supremely adjustable. What is there not to like?

Me and the ex stayed in a pub/hotel that I think was in New Abbey, which meant instant access to Mabie and Dalbeattie. We then moved on to a cottage in Peebles – just a mile or two from GT and Inners.

Happy memories :-)

Very sad.

Sincere condolences to family and friends.

I’ve just bought my first car a Polo.

Why – did it have bad breath?

IGMC

+1 Zen

Have been with them for about 2yrs now. If you have an issue (which is unlikely anyway), you get to speak to a polite/professional/proper English-speaking person in England. They know what they’re talking about and even go beyond the remit of their “cover.” They also call you back too.

One thing that does my head in when people compare smart phones is they say things like; bigger screen, better camera, better video, more ringtones, louder call volume, browser plays Flash, etc. FFS, smart phones are supposedly called such for a reason – they do smart stuff, i.e. run loads of funky/fun/functional apps while integrating with social media/networking/etc that make your everyday life that bit easier (in all sorts of ways).

And for that reason alone, the iPhone IMO wins hands down because of 1) the interface is super slick and quick, and 2) the app store pi55es over the competition.

Having been with WM since Jan 08 and Android since Aug 09, I’d say I’m sufficiently qualified to comment – at least from my perspective. Hence why I finally opted for an iPhone (4) about 10 weeks ago … and it is by far (IMO) the best in class. End of.

EDIT: if you want the best camera and the ability to change your ringtone, then fine, get something else. But if you want the level of functionality that only the smartest phone can deliver, then the iPhone is where it’s at.

No real comment from me on Giant and Trek … but I’ve had 5 Spesh bikes and various other bits of their kit. Have also had nothing but excellent customer service (like many others), so what’s not to like? IMO they make stuff that works. Nuff said.

IMO Spooks has been unwatchable for 4-5 years.

Waking The Dead has been treading the same path too. It used to be pretty decent back in the day, but then it became all self-indulgent in an OTT/preposterous kind of way. Even the likes of Tara Fitzgerald et al struggled to make it worth watching.

I think the first thing you should do is make sure your keyboard has the automated-grammar-correction plugin :-)

I didn’t take to him when he first started, but that was more a case of me not being that interested in his work at the time. Have watched a few of his shows since and IMO he’s a top bloke who’s very adept at getting on the inside of whoever (or whatever) he wants to “investigate.”

BTW OP, as other have said, cast your net as far as you can. Decent 3 beds for £300k are not easy to find in these parts, particularly if you’re looking for one or more of; privacy and “space”, decent bit of garden, tidy interior, parking (either OS or immediately outside), and of course location/location/location.

Depends of course on what’s important to you, but there’s a huge reality gap in looking at a tidy set of pics on Rightmove and then pulling up outside the property in real life.

I’m in Horsham, which is about 20 minutes west of Dorking

What compass/maps are you using? I think you’ll find Horsham is 20 mins south of Dorking :-)

Me and a couple of workmates gave it a go for a fortnight or so about 5 years ago. Did nothing whatsoever for either of us. Nothing more than expensive neon cordial.

Cheers guys – am now using Freecorder (runs off IE and FF).

PS downloaded mp3mymp3 from 6 different sites but all had errors or KIS found them suspect.

I advertised mine in a few places but National Numbers[/url] got me the best deal by far and did all the paperwork. Made 400% profit too :)

I’ve got Audacity but couldn’t get it to do this, even by setting input as the sound card or whatever it was. Am about to try Clubber’s recommendation – if that doesn’t work I’ll go with Audacity again.

Cheers guys

EDIT: Great – mp3mymp3’s download is corrupt :( Looking for another one

Fair comment. Like you say, you can get yourself in a right mess if you fiddle with the wrong settings etc.

BTW, I’ve also been using ATF-Cleaner because it seems to clean up a few Mb lefts behind by CCleaner.

Cougar, I’ll check out TLC one day … but will stick with CCleaner for now because I’ve been using it for years and it’s stable and works. Judging by the feedback, it seems to me that a few people have had issues with TLC.

It’s also worth running something like CCleaner [/url]quite regularly (everyday for some people (like me), every week/month for others) so you remove all the cr4p and temp files that build up.

And check out free defraggers like Defraggler or Auslogics [/url]– IME these are a lot quicker than the default Windows app.

Can’t speak for using meths, but a big black can of brake cleaner should do the trick – does for me …

Ar5e, the Technoline one looks good, but it only charges AA and AAA :(

A friend makes the most amazing pumpkin pie – one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.

And we’re growing our own this year again … nom noms

Jesus, £50 for that bad boy! Not sure I can justify that on just a charger – but will look into it. Cheers.

1. A few years back, a cow fell onto the bonnet of my gf’s dad’s car. He’d made the (innocent) mistake of parking by a raised bank near a railway platform … toodled off to do his own thing … came back minutes later and only to see a cow sloping off having left a big f&*k off dent on his motor. Unable to believe what he was seeing, he climbed up the bank and saw a whole herd of cows tucked away (previously) out of sight.

2. Not sure how true this is but it’s from a reliable mate who called me one night to say he and his mates had made a cow fall over by prodding it somewhere on its back/hind quarters. Could well be b0ll0cks, but TBH I’ve never known him lie about anything.

BTW, using a desktop app like Tweetdeck [/url] makes it a whole lot simpler because you can organise what you’re interested in into columns.

I gave it a go shortly after it started but didn’t know what I wanted to use it for – plus mates were using it to say the usual inane sh1t like “Having a fag waiting for the 10.05 to London Bridge” and “Need a cup of tea”. I mean, WTF?

Picked it up again a year ago and suddenly it clicked. Use it all the time to keep in touch with what’s happening in my industry, i.e. share comments, articles and (RSS) news feeds, plus generally “meet” like-minded people online to see where we have some synergy.

martinxyz – that’s not by any chance the saga involving Ahmed(?) about 2 years ago? There was a huge thread on VX220 that ended up proving the car he was selling “wasn’t quite the genuine article he purported.”

I preferred driving a VX220 round the track to an exige, lovely car to drive.

+1 mefty

I too tracked an Exige and it was a bucket of bolts – couldn’t stand it. Engine was baggy and just not right. VXT on the other hand – especially on a cold day with the Turbo guzzling all those icy notes – far more enjoyable.

If it’s fun you’re after, then a VX220 Turbo will do the trick – should be able to pick up a decent one for that kind of spend.

I had an 03 plate back in 2004 and it was a cracking piece of kit. Quicker than most and handles like a Scaletrix equivalent :D . Okay, it’s a little impractical for stowage – I just about managed my golf bag in the passenger seat with the roof off – but you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the boot (okay, about 4 bags of shopping).

IMO better built than its Lotus “sibling” and offers more bang, plus you’ll get unlimited support from those on the VX220 forum … and of course there are several seriously gifted tuning firms out there; Plans MotorSport, Thorney MotorSport, et al. Get it running a Stage II or above and you’re stepping up another level :D

As has been said already, “bigger” more prestige motors could set you back a fair wad in running costs, e.g M3 E46, Maseratti 3200 (nearly bought one before the VX), 911, etc.

PS go for the T and not the NA – otherwise you’ll miss the torque.

PPS and track days are excellent in the VXT :D

Hope they wait until me washing’s finished mind. That would be most inconvenient if they used it this very second.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to be taken out before doing your washing? I mean, it’s not like you’ll be going anywhere fancy once you’re dead … unless you’re one of those off-worlder types who has a secret bunker on a neighbouring moon (and the means to get the pretty damn fast)?

Pretty savage that though eh? I mean an entire planet gone. Just in the blink of an eye. On the whim of someone wielding great power…

How come you suddenly felt compelled to open this to the STW masses? Have you experienced some kind of mass compassion this afternoon?

However I learnt today that money-wringer Lucas is doing 3D versions

I just heard this too … sounds like Part I is coming out in 2012. Methinks I’ll skip the first three.

Having been in the world of sales (and PR) for years, I’ve seen it all. And the ones that make me cringe are just like those on the Apprentice.

Same here mate, although I don’t think either of us at the ripe old age of mid-30’s can quite say we’ve seen it all … but I know what you mean.

Then again, could you imagine a re-make of the show with uber-talented altruistics skilled in “proper” solution sales actually being watchable? Probably not …

ah but what was the name of the planet leia named as home to the rebels just before tarkin destroyed alderaan?

I thought Alderaan was her home, seeing as she was the Princess (and Senator) of Alderaan?

alderan

I think you’ll find it was Alderaan. And yes, it was Tarkin and Palpatine that gave the instruction.

In terms of commercial sense, the concept is so not Reality TV … but that’s probably the appeal to a lot of people who 1) work in similar fields/industries and have a better idea of how things are done, or 2) don’t work in anything like their environment and haven’t a clue.

Either way, it can be good viewing, but can also be complete b0ll0cks.

BTW, one of my mates (whom I’ve thought for years would be suited to giving it a go), got from 50,000 down to the last 40. Mid 20’s, owns 5 or more properties, and made his money in recruitment. Shame he didn’t get on – would’ve been a right laugh.

I thought it was great – and naturally got more and more intense with each episode. Last week’s ‘scene’ (you know the one) was particularly nasty, as was last night’s retribution, even more so with the intervention of a certain person.

All in all I think that particular thread was the only really heavy one – the others were the kind of things most of us got up to at some point in our teens or twenties.

I recommend some of you watch the film version – pretty bonkers in parts, and with a horrible ending (one I would never watch again).

+1 for what Cougar says – it’s none of their business.

Folding seats are a must IMO. I had a 320d Sport (which I specced without the split seats extra because it was £silly) and had to squeeze my bike behind the front seats. Did manage to do a Wales trip though with a mates bike also squeezed in on the back seats. Can’t see how the boot space in a 5 is going to be THAT much bigger than a 3.

Nice work Phil. IMO, it seems a bit weird how some of them made it into the book though, e.g. Leith Hill, Ranmore, Zig Zags …

Steyning Bowl used to be an absolute ar5e in 30deg+ heat as a teenage road biker.