New builds always seem to transmit sound badly (unless detached) which seems crazy given that the houses seem to be packed in tighter & tighter.

Completely disagree with all the ones I’ve seen recently.

Personally I would prefer the Victorian place as I like the style of the period from an external point of view but would look for one that has been done up with new wiring, internally insulated etc otherwsie you would pay through the nose for something for its aesthetics qualities only.

If you look at a new build you can ask to see the plans and construction details and find out how the good the design is.. how it was built is another thing.

Are they insured? If they are then is it really an issue if secured in the garage? If they go to a lock up then I would presume they would have to cover your belongings

I know what you mean. Only got one bike now but it doesn’t call me to ride it like some previous bikes I have owned. Problem is I want a light bike I can race on so it’s geared towards that but then I really want something I can throw about so I want a bit more travel etc etc. Basically I don’t know what I want from a bike other than I want one bike that will suit all rider disciplines that I used to enjoy when I was at uni and had more bikes than sense and obviously money

yes we should be looking at Code 6 and Passivehaus, but new build isn’t it, i think part L is calling for Code 3, a long way short. and just to make it worse there are ways of cheating the idea behind the system.
Still like this
the lighthouse
and just to scare you code 6 is meant to apply in 2016! somehow i have my doubts.

Greenwatt Way in Slough is another good example with a mix of construction and heating methods.

Part l is asking for code 3 as standard but find most of the planning authorities I work with write in the conditions of approval that code 4 should be achieved. It’s crap though in instances like a scheme in Southampton where I am pretty much building a building complying to Part L from years ago bit by using a community heating system I achieve good ratings within the energy module

You can get sOme good deals at the moment on new build and developers are slowly starting to realise that schemes with loads of chicken coops on aren’t going to sell as well as decent sized homes. I’m designing houses for other developers that are reasonably sized with good storage space but be aware of kitchen space as some can be shocking.

You can get quite a bit for your money at the moment too. My bro in law has just got a 4 bed housenot far from me for for 180 and he got them to throw in floor tiles and carpets. Not bad considering they were up for 200. A mate is also looking at a three bed with a pokey fourth which is 200 in a well to do area where others are about 250. There are bargains about you just need to find them.

As said above though there are a lot of corners cut in some of these schemes. I too have heard of the insulation in the loft just being left there. My bro in law had this and he confronted the contractor ho said he had to lay it. I simply mentioned I knew the local inspector and it was laid within 2 hours you just have to be ballsy and confront them if you have a problem. The contractor will have a one year defects period and then NHBC will take over.

With the passive house and code six stuff I’m doing one at the moment in Sothampton and we will probably have one radiator in the lounge to supply some heating and maybe some towel rads just for drying them out although won’t be needed. They aren’t as expensive to build as you would have thought either in comparison to a code 3 build.

You don’t overtake out of respect, it’s like not taking your hat off. Depends on the procession though. I saw one near Brighton last year and the dual carriageway got closed off by police and I think there were about a 1000 people walking and a horse drawn

where are you based and who have you applied to?

Paid £2.40 for a Doom at my local but never paid more than £2.80

brooess – do you think it’s a bit ambitious to do 100miles in one day then? I quite liek the idea of the social side on the two day events but then think the 100miler would just be awesome thing to say you’ve done [and will never do again!!!]

Also this one CLICKY

I’m contemplating doing the BHF one as I fancy trying it all in one day but the trailbreak and the link I have given are also appealing but I can’t help thinking that 50miles isn’t that far to travel if you have the entire day in which to do it and the 100miles is a challenge.

In my B&Q there was a small section of self tapers and wood screwsthat were only a few quid for a 100. Didn’t see them there last time I went. I got 10mm though and think that I should have gone for 12mm and taken the spike off

I’ve been going for tha past four years. It was awesome to start with but it’s gettjg very chavvy to the point where every day you would speak to people who had stuff pinched or their tent trashed. Not had this personally but last year my friend had her four person tent trashed completely which would have taken some effort. Also some bloke nailed a girl in nearby tent only for us to find out later it wasn’t his tent and he stole the persons duvet and left a used jonny in it’s place! Lovely

That said I’ve not had any issues myself other than the fact that I can’t drink anymore and the music is to loud and I need to sleep at 10pm!! I love it there, it’s a small festival but that’s what makes it so intimate and generally you meet a lot of good people there. I tend to go in a group of about 20-30 people so that also makes it an awesome time. Last year the music was ace and as a bonus Wight link forgot to put the ferry prices up whentickets first went on sale so I got a return for 55 instead of 110 and that’s from Pompey. If you’ve not been then defy lately have a go. This year is the 10year anniversary and te line up is awesome.

I would suggest though that you go there for the Thursday if you can as early as possible. That was you can pitch up in teenage wasteland which is nice and close and a dent walking distance from both the cars and the fields.

Stoner – at the end of the day you just want your certificate. A lot of leg work is done durig the design stage and there are checklists for on site checks Most of the schemes I do are inspected by LABC and NHBC. NHBC are darting to get really hot on a lot of issues as they have been caught out badly in the past. Every LABC. inspector I’ve used has been very thorough on site whether it’s a single house going up, 500 houses or a block of flats.

The garage must be a separate compartment from the rest of the house and separated by a fire door of 30mins. This will be your only self closing door in the property. There are two options with regards to the step, 100mm min to level floor or a sloping floor away from the door towards the garage door. These are post 2006 regulations and prior to that you had to build your house with a step as the slanted floor wasn’t acceptable.

I’ve had the aux belt off an it’s definately coming from something on on that drive. Definitely not the engine related. Tensioners all appear fine and so does the alternator and power steering pump. They all turn pretty smoothly with no play. If I put a long screw driver against the alternator or PS bodies there is a major humming coming from the
But because the PS Is fixed on top of te alternator I don’t know if it’s resonating through it. If I put on a shorter belt just to include the alternator then I can find out if under tension it’s that causing the noise. Both u it’s are functioning properly so it’s more of an annoyance at the moment.

Drapoon – I bought the car as a cheap but newer alternative to my old 306. It was a cat d write off and 2005 plate with 38k on the clock and only cost 2k to buy and repair a year ago. Since having it I’ve found out what a crock of sh*t these cars are and are constantly going through coil packs and otter misfire issues. Been lucky with mine though so far I guess. Just trying to find a nice new golf gti instead!

It’s nothing amazing but the Radisson on Fishermans Wharf is lovely.

Edit Radisson

I have to help the mrs dye her her.. since saying I think you need to use two boxes and having been quite successful I’ve found myself doing it more often than I would like. Unortunately I’m also a bit too good at making tea, food and ironing…

Same as bike tyres, different compounds etc. The really expensive ones aren’t necessarily better than the cheaper alternative and when you’re looking at a rpice difference of £5 I wouldn’t be too bothered and would be more concerned about looking at whihc one has better reviews. The tyres for my car can vary from 60 to 100ea and that’s for roughly the same kind of tyre.

Read the reviews on them and then make up your mind. Look at websites like mytyres or blackcircles for other peoples reviews.

I’ve been waiting for band of Brothers to come from Play for ages…. and I’m very impatient

Dad uses a mix of vinegar and something, I use neat screen wash and some elbow grease.

Car has had it’s service and touch wood seems better so far. Engine management light has gone off – fault code reader was saying multiple misfires with the majority happening in cylinder 4. Still got the aux belt issue but the garage confirmed my initial thoughts to it originating from either the alt motor or the ps motor. Going to try and find a shorter belt so that I can bypass one of them and see if the noise persists

Car has had it’s service and touch wood seems better so far. Engine management light has gone off – fault code reader was saying multiple misfires with the majority happening in cylinder 4. Still got the aux belt issue but the garage confirmed my initial thoughts to it originating from either the alt motor or the ps motor. Going to try and find a shorter belt so that I can bypass one of them and see if the noise persists

‘Hang on for five minytes more love.. just need to get on to STW’

Congrats and good luck to you both

has someone fitted a faulty catalytic converter to it?!?!

Have you checked the filters? My drains stannk the other day so put some soda crystals down there and they were fine after.

I’ve got a few pairs but the bike specific ones i have are DHB ones from wiggle with a fixed lense. Another place to look is screw fix, got some nice Bolle ones from there with a fixed clear and a fixed tinted lense. Both very good fits and don’t make you look a ****

I use it far too much….

American film views on vietnam, war, getting rid of aliens and their power trips over being the strongest force in the universe.

It doesn’t seem to be down for everyone at the same time. Was down for an hour with me last night in which time other were able to post on a topic of mine

I like Moyles and am used to the tripe he sometimes spouts off but I’m not sure I like being woken up by the sound of emtal in the mornings. Took me back to my uni days a bit but did find myself hitting Heart on the drive in to work this morning. Zane is an awesome DJ though and much better than Moyles but think there are particular times of day that he shouldn’t be on radio.

Thanks Nick, I’ve resorted to getting my local garage to do a full service for me so they will look at what’s in there and what Pug originally specified but looking at the Pug parts it looks to be a standard plug. I agree and don’t think iridiums are what should be used as they would be opverkill but they are down on the service intervals as being changed every 40k which is normal for iridiums. First time in four years for someone else to do a service but I can’t shift this man flu and don’t think sitting on a cold concrete deck is going to do me any justice. Are you looking at Documentation Technique AP by any chance? I’ll sort the other bits out in a week or so when I feel a bit better.

Thanks for the reply guys. Its a 1.6 16v so not covered in a Haynes unfortunately.

I have a feeling the belt noise could be the tensioners but if I put a screw driver against the alternator and put my ear to it I can hear a little screaching which can’t be heard if put against the power steering motor [or not as clearly]. Could be feedback from the tensioner into the belt though. Would rather change a tensioner than the alternator that’s for sure. Not had the cambelt changed but it will be changed next visit to Wales, car has done 60k and it will be due in next 20k but will get it done sooner to be on the safe side.

Anti pollution I think is EGR not sure what I’m doing with it but Haynes just about covers it so will follow that. Is taking it off relatively straightforward? Got to take the air box out to change the filter anyway. Oxygen sensor – on top of manifold? Think that an easy swap from what I can see.

As far as the plugs, I was going to go for some Bosch Super Plus’, I’ve been advised against NGKs by a number of people as they apparently don’t agree with Pugs.

I know what you mean Gary, my car is fun to drive but plagued with issues. WIll get these few issues sorted and look at an upgrade

Any of you guys suffering over the xmas period managed to get out on the bike yet? Still reasonably knackered after running up a set of stairs and went shopping with the mrs earlier and feel ready for bed now. Want to get out on the bike tomorrow of only to do 5 miles or so, going mental here, just want to get out before my two week break is over

XCracer

Not as well made and expensive for what you get. The ride quality isn’t as good as they used to be I had a rocky ridge that was completely respecced with manitou twos etc and loved but when I tried to upgrade to an Indian fire trail I just didnt fancy it. The change in the full suss range also wasn’t the best. The quad link wasn’t the best move an I never found it that nice to ride for that kind of money you could get better

I learnt from a very young age on my old and simple bikes. Other than that used my Dad, local bike shop at the time, Haynes manual and then in later years my uni mates and here

Belated Congratulations to mr & mrs bigG then!!

Happy new year to y’all

I think I said ‘ride more’ this time last year. Now it will simply be to ride!

A mate changed the iPhone battery himself. eBay for a accreted and then followed a how-to from google. He did it in no time for a fraction of what apple wanted.

Had it since Xmas eve and still not great, mrs has got it now but it’s not as bad as mine obviously. Got out today but only to car wash-was completely knackered out after. Hopes of getting out on the bike a lot the Xmas have been totally scuppered.

Hope those still suffering get better soon

Got Halifax insurance. Mrs’ bike is included in standard contents which I think is up to £500 mine was additional as it’s 2ks worth of parts.