I recently bought from DigitalRev. Very happy with the experience except for FedEx trying to send a bill after the fact for some sort of import duty. DR themselves were great and vary fast shipping.

Canyon Spectral? I’m still waiting to see if they are doing 29er version again this year. Canyon UK don’t seem to know, but if you want 27.5 then it’s a lot of (very good looking) bike for the money…

New Hyundai Tucson – nice long warranty too!

This from Volvo website:

Diesel cars are equipped with a particle filter, which results in more efficient emission control.
The particles in the exhaust gases are collected in the filter during normal driving. So-called “regeneration” is started in order to burn away the particles and empty the filter. This requires the engine to have reached normal operating temperature.

Filter regeneration takes place automatically and normally takes 10-20 minutes. It may take a little longer at a low average speed. Fuel consumption may increase slightly during regeneration.
Regeneration in cold weather
If the car is frequently driven short distances in cold weather then the engine does not reach normal operating temperature. This means that regeneration of the diesel particle filter does not take place and the filter is not emptied.

When the filter has become approximately 80% full of particles, a yellow warning triangle is shown in the combined instrument panel, and the message Soot filter full See manual is shown in the information display.

Start regeneration of the filter by driving the car until the engine reaches normal operating temperature, preferably on a main road or motorway. The car should then be driven for approximately 20 minutes more.

NOTE
The following may arise during regeneration:

a smaller reduction of engine power may be noticed temporarily
fuel consumption may increase temporarily
a smell of burning may arise.

Dealers should now be trained to understand your likely usage cycle before selling you a diesel, and making very clear that the type of driving you are describing is unsuited to a diesel. As already stated sounds like DPF cycle – the “hot” smell is very noticeable and distinctive. Solution is as they describe – sustained higher speed driving (motorway speeds) allows DPF to get to high enough temperature for a long regeneration cycle. As already said, sounds like they could have made a better effort explaining it…
If it’s a significant issue and is likely to be ongoing “problem” I’d have a word with them about their sales process and consider asking for swap to petrol – they should have checked your usage before ever selling you the car.

That looks fab. I’m considering one of these or a 29″ Canyon Spectral, if they are going to do one this year. Enjoy it – should be a hoot.

For last 4 years have pretty much had one MTB – Lapierre Zesty (26er – niche tastic!). Brief dalliance with a HT 29er means I will replace the French mincecore machine with a more Bratwursty Canyon Spectral 29er. One out, one in is the plan! Wish me luck…

Are they even doing the Spectral as a 29er anymore? No 2016 on the website yet – just 27.5. Shame as I’d like to order one shortly…

+1 for First Direct. Forgot abouth them. Been using them since they started and never been less than impressed.

Kohler. Had a leaky tap – they sent repair kit parts with no proof of purchase or questions even though I told them I had no idea how old the taps were and I knew they were out of warranty.

DigitalREV. Just bought a camera to take on holiday. Ordered Sunday night, arrived Thursday morning from HK. Impeccably packed. FedEx tracking of every step of journey. Brilliant.

I thought it was utterly compelling viewing. Still can’t decide whether is was actually any good, but glad I bothered to watch it. Fascinating. He is clearly batshit mental, and that didn’t do George Clinton any harm (he was similarly worth watching and undoubtedly good.)

Interesting. I am about to buy a new bike, and a Spectral 29er is top of my list. Having spent a bit of time on the interweb I now have another alternative. Looking at a Radon Slide – same direct sales model but seemingly no pricing differential to UK except for shipping cost (which seems fair enough). Quite a bit cheaper for same (arguably better) spec. and geometry looks very similar.

Decision, decisions. Planning to push the button this weekend! Time to get off the fence…

I have a Synology NAS. The Synology app works well, has internet streaming audio and handles iTunes server on the NAS. I have no idea what those words mean when used in that order but music comes out which is what I wanted it to do.

Lovely place. Not necessarily an obvious choice for a family holiday though… I went with Mrs Fopster probably over 10 years ago and we were the only straight couple in the hotel. Some of the sights in bars and on the beach may have been a bit more educational for younger eyes than you’d choose. Sounds like a bit more research could be in order – no doubt someone with more recent experience will be along in a minute…

If she did move to Milton Keynes it’d be handy for some XC at Woburn. Which is nice.

Jag XF Diesel S Estate. About 38mpg. Quite a big engine though – they do a 4 cylinder which no doubt is better…

+1 for Bolle Countours. Order online – usually under a tenner delivered. Job done.

Got my third white car, full Cheshire spec. with black wheels etc. however, have decided that the fad has long since passed, so on to pastures new. Next one will be British Racing Green. Or possibly Brown.

I too bought an LG direct drive machine a few years ago. It was expensive but I was keen to get it for the long term – liked idea of no brushes to fail in the motor – a machine that should last for the long term. It was very quiet and smooth – I was very impressed.

Imagine my suprise when at 3.5 yrs old the bearings failed. It had a 3 yr guarantee and LG refused to make any goodwill contribution to the repair (as is their right).

Expensive machine bought specifically to last was uneconomic to repair and went to the tip.

Will never buy an LG product of any type again. Have a Siemens now with 5 yr warranty. We’re three years in so far with no issues.

If you want more XC type action (ooh er missus) you’ll also be fairly close to Woburn. Lots to ride there and holds up pretty well in winter.

I love Waitrose. Keeps the riff faff out of Booths.

I was running in the park and I suffered an asthmatic attack.

It was my own fault. I should have heard them, wheezing in the bushes.

Surely there is, and has only ever been, one answer to this question. And as markrh has pointed out, it’s The Fall. End of.

If it’s for a Full Susser, I’d recommend Mudhuggers. Works for me.

A walk on Hampstead Heath, cup of tea at Kenwood House, lunch in the “village” – try The Holly Bush. Very sedate as long as done in daylight hours. A truly lovely part of the world.

Mrs Fopster is a keen sewist and has had a basic John Lewis own brand for 20 years. It’s been used nearly every day and is going strong. Occasional service is all it needs – maybe every couple of years, and that’s with heavy use. Seems bomb proof. Recommended.

My OH also feels the cold. We were camping in Northumberland in a cheap double bag from a well known supermarket and she was very miserable. Went out and bought a better one at a camping shop – still no good. However, when we put the cheap supermarket one INSIDE the better one – happy! happy! joy! joy!

So – top tip for us was to buy two, and not worry if either was top of the range…

Fish and Chips from magpie cafe in Whitby, walk up steps to the Abbey. We thought Scarborough was grim…

Ours has own brand tins with dried food for snacks between meals. One tip – don’t put water bowl next to food. Apparently they won’t drink it – worked for us as ours ignored the clean water until we moved it away from the food.

If you want to support UK jobs (which is a wonderful if sadly all too rare choice) then to chip in with the diesel estate comments I’d also look at Jaaaag. Diesel XF estate is about the same cash and a much nicer drive if you don’t need 4 wheel drive. And Evoque drives VERY differently to Freelander. Had one of the latter and didn’t care for it too much (though Mrs Fopster loved it). Borrowed Evoque was much better. Hope you enjoy whatever you buy – I know some nice people who drive Evoques, are not Orange and can park in a bay. I’ll get banned for that sort of comment…

Sorry to arrive late to this but we’ve been having a party and I’m just tidying up. I’m not sure if I’ve already been counted in the stuff up to this post. I suggest we start again. I’ll be “one”. Anyone for “two”?

Lived overseas for a few years without access to BBC. There were two things I missed badly while away – pubs and the BBC. Best value money I spend all year and always have a small smile to myself when I pay it. I can’t envisage many people opting to ditch it if they have had a decent exposure to not having it (and that’s from someone who maybe watches an hour of TV a week). As people have said – Radio 4, 6 Music, BBC4, Glastonbury coverage last weekend, etc. etc. etc. Happy to subsidise Casualty etc. in return for having alternative to commercial pap.

Trying to watch Metallica with an open mind, but seriously…. What a truly uninspiring dirge. Dull. Boring.

I suspect this makes me a hippy. Not sure how I feel about that. Shall I grow a beard?

Let’s hope tomorrow’s attempt to sit through Dolly Parton goes better. Giving up on this and watching Jack White on catch up instead.

Hope all metal fans enjoy it though. Fair enough to give me the headline slot, but isn’t there a younger metal band that could have done it?

Happens to me not only on STW but several other sites I visit. Irritating but a first world problem?

Bolle countour safety glasses for cycling. Cheap. Brilliant.

Struggling not to buy a Canyon Spectral 29er. Please talk me out of it.

My other half runs on the lanes where we live. I drove past her one evening when she was head to toe in black. She was pretty much invisible. Bought her a load of day-glo with lots of reflective stuff on it and now she shows up clearly and early to drivers. In an ideal world it wouldn’t be necessary as all drivers would be careful and attentive. However, I’m pretty sure the world is not ideal so this seems a sensible way to reduce her risk at minimal cost and zero inconvenience.

Voodoo. Job done. And from halfrauds too – joy!

Having said that, I understand why everyone could want a Singular. Very pretty bikes indeed and I’ve nearly bought one on a number of occasions…

Another vote for Bolle contours here. Love ’em. Not used the ones in the OP post – might be OK for walking but would also worry about steaming up on the bike.

I’d be a bit circumspect about trying it since I learned this evening that one of the founding fathers of homeopathy was recently tragically killed. Apparently he died of an underdose.

I’ll get my coat.