I actually feel sorry for the third party in this case. It’s out of control. Should have been a grand to rectify, absolute MAX. It’s bizarre 😕

Brilliant. Loads to go on there, even if t still means loads of choice, at least I’ve got some understanding of the differences now, and that any of the above will do the job. Thanks all!

Really interesting read, x2 Trimix, thank you. Still think you’re bonkers, but you’re definitely well prepared bonkers! Still too full of nope for me though!

Me too; it’s horrifying and fascinating, at the same time. I’m not one for phobias, (I’m fairly sure I haven’t got any irrational fears) but this thread is so full of ‘**** that’ for me. It’s just too much risk, for too little benefit, for me. One question for the divers; how much redundancy is built into the non rebreathing systems these cave divers use? I know open circuit divers have a spare mouthpiece, but that in that article about Dave Shaws accident, a single piece of equipment broke that put his colleague in massive danger. It just seems people are putting themselves at risk of equipment failure, whilst feeling intoxicated, with literally no way to escape if stuff goes tits up. Bonkers risk 😯

That’s the bit which doesn’t seem unreasonable to me – about the cost of an AA check on a used car.

I suppose; but it was a wing mirror and a wheel, hardly structural… I suppose it ruled out suspension geometry damage etc.

I think they put a new wheel on, which at VW oem prices probably accounts for a chunk. The wing mirror is a colour coded motorised jobby, but it was only the bracket that was broken, there actually wasn’t any visible damage to the mirror bits itself that I could see. But I suppose they’ll have chucked a whole new one on, again at VW prices. Engineers report though? What’s all that about?

It was either a Kia or a Hyundai; similar size to a qashqai (really? No ‘u’ after ‘q’? Feels all wrong). Was okay, nothing special. Was glad to get the golf back. CERTAINLY wasn’t £1700 quids worth. No wonder the third party insurers are fighting it.

Hire car was okay; kind of equivelentish to a golf, but a Kia. Some really close guesses now, so I’ll put it to bed;

Hire car – £1747 😯
Collection and delivery – £50
Repair costs – £3361 😯
Recovery and storage – £420
Engineers report -£102

Total – £5680 Trail Rat wins spot the swindle check book and pen. 8)

Interesting that the people who obviously have had experience with claims management companies were the closest. I’m disgusted to be honest; whilst the third party was liable for the repair and a reasonable hire car whilst it was fixed, this is just taking the piss.

I’d have guessed between 1 and 2k too. Goes to show. I had no choice in whether I used a claims management company; it’s a lease car.

It’s definitely between the two, 😆

Seriously? 😆 It was a mirror and a wheel on a golf 😯

Lower – not THAT gobsmacked…

Just remain reticent man. Nothing really matters, not in the grand scheme of things. And of the things that suck and matter to you, identify if a) you can change it, or b) you can learn from it, then do so. If not, it’s c) time to get over it and move on. It’s not worth worrying about.

Edit; oh and remember rule number one; Be Nice. Statistically, people who are nice to people are more likely to experience niceness in return. Which is nice.

There’s still five in my local Lidl so there’s a fair chance you’ll pick one up at yours.

Given that anyone can become a parent, yet going for a piss requires a relevant NVQ, I would hope that these ‘certificates’ have been introduced to enable the school to get an early indication of how much parental involvement, or not, could be expected.

So, just a symptom of our nanny state then? Cool. Why can’t schools just provide a good education? Who has decided that a school should concern itself with stuff that is not in its remit, like whether Johnny can get dressed by himself? 😕 It’s not like they are going to actually do much about it, anyway…

major flaw/it has a gas can

thats gonna make it a whole lot quicker than solar powered or ethically gathered kindling powered though, isn’t it? What’s the (realistic) alternative? (Genuinely curious, not a very outdoorsy person but would like to be more so)

😆 I’m over it already, and thank you for offering an alternative perspective which I can see even if I don’t entirely agree with, in true STW fashion. I’m still going to grumble about them to myself, mind you 😉

NickC, I did say that I’d be doing them, for that reason. Doesn’t mean I can’t whinge about it though… 😛

And as you quite rightly say, the academic acheivements in reception class are gonna be very dull and few and far between

I certainly didn’t say this; reading, writing and numeracy have improved massively since last year; and these are praised and celebrated by both me and the school, rightly so. I guess what I struggle with is the line between school business and a personal life for the miniVees. I feels that school is for learning cool stuff and gaining skills, not wittering about (or concerning themselves with) the fact that ‘Johnny put his shoes on without any help’ (genuine example given by school). That’s parent stuff. Concentrate on doing good schooling instead, please.

From you’re son’s POV it probably isn’t a bad thing though.

care to expand? I’m interested but you haven’t given me enough to go on. I’m confident that my boy’s life would be absolutely fine without the existence of parent oneupmanship wow moment certificates…

Same as gold stars, it positive reinforcement, innit.

Obviously, I get that. But I’m perfectly confident that my current positive reinforcement strategy is working just fine, thank you. And it’s this encroachment into ‘non school’ related stuff that grips me, I think. If it was asking us to ‘wow moment’ times when he’s demonstrated his newly aquired knowledge and learning I’d be cool with that; they should stick to schooling and I’ll stick to the parenting. (Appreciate there are cross overs, but you know what I mean).

Edit; repeating myself

5 years ago

Bloody hell Ernie! Kudos for your little black book keeping there; that was at your fingertips! I can’t find the stuff I said a month ago, let alone 5 years ago…

Although the titular Keith could well be one of the 4% Christian population of Islamabad, and the good people of Pakistan could well surprise us. There’s been a good few surprises in global politics recently, some that Trump others.

No, I don’t suppose in the current world we live in, it is very likely. And you know what, that makes me quite proud to live in this society. For all its faults, it got this right.

@ninfan, yes points very well made

Lol.

#torycirclejerk

I’ve been forced to give one a backhander

Interesting way of dealing with it, carrot instead of the stick. aren’t you worried that word will get around and everyone will want a bit of the action though? How much did you give him?

8)

Just popping back to feedback on my new mower; it’s brilliant. Heartily reccomend. I can do front and back small/mid sized lawns on one charge, it’s nice and quiet and it feels pretty good quality. Does what it says on the tin, and so much nicer than battling with my old budget petrol mower.

Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men.

-Douglas Bader

Someone drove into the back of my already battered old landrover once; bent the rear crossmember and creased the panel above a little bit. Insurance blokey who came out offered ‘cash in lieu of repairs’. Basically they offer an amount of money to get it sorted myself. Suited me. One shiny, straight and dent free corner on that old beasty would have looked decidedly odd!

Works fine on my phone, tablet and laptop. Please don’t change anything! 😯

Getting closer; what’s the difference between ‘dip’ and ‘sip’?

does it need to be 90 deg?

Yes, unfortunately; it is so that it can pop out of the radio casing as such;

Which is also why those other suggestions aren’t quite right. Looks like I’ve got something to go on there though, cheers 8)

Thanks (I think, lol) for the PSA. I’ve just bought one of these even though I have no idea whether I will use it. It’s got lots of positive reviews and feedback though, so I expect I’ll be able to utilise it in my home. And £15 is not a great deal of dosh at all these days.

I’ll be;

ANTIPROCRASTINATION MAN!

The things I could do, if I could actually get on with them…

Hang on; there would be no place for STW in AP Man’s world. Scrap that.

(Fittingly; posted whilst I should actually be writing an assignment, at 0050hrs, needing to be up at 0700hrs tomorrow)

What a deliciously ironic street name! 😆 8)

The problem with putting people off…

Is an off quoted justification for ‘free at point of delivery’ healthcare, and has huge merit. BUT in today’s consumer society it does mean that in the eyes of a significant proportion of the population there seems to be no inherent ‘value’ ascribed to seeking medical attention*. People will literally not engage brain before seeing their GP, ringing 111 (and getting an ambulance because THAT service is mind bogglingly shite, in most areas) or just ringing an ambulance of attending ED.

Surely instead of saying that ‘free at point of delivery’ is completely sacrasanct (which it evidently isn’t, see; dentistry) maybe we could have a list of ‘core conditions’ that are free to see the appropriate service for, like chest pain, stroke, RTC etc, no charge from Ambo, but call us out to change your bedsheets (like last night) then no probs, the bill is in the post. Free to see your GP for almost anything, but decline to see the NP first when triaged as appropriate, well no probs, how about a contribution towards the cost of providing ten years of medical training at your beck and call.

I don’t know. I desperately BELIEVE in the NHS as an organisation and as a concept, but I despair as to the lack of value placed on it by large segments of society.

*All in my entirely anecdotal experience, of course. But a valid observation nonetheless, I can’t help but feel.

I’d love for an ambulance to cost the same or maybe £5 more than the cost of a taxi to ED. You’d see our workload halved almost overnight, with the remaining patients most likely being the sort that actually require ambulance assistance. Honestly, if the public knew just what the am I that they have just pulled over to let through a busy road was actually going to, they’d probably think twice about giving way!

But the ambulance service is NOT representative of the whole NHS. The complete waste of time users are deflected from costing the NHS a major fortune by a small army of paramedics, ED nurses and docs, and obviously GPs. The ones that get through to actual ongoing treatment, by and large need to be there.

Over 100k the personal allowance (amount you get that is tax free) goes down.

Not particularly relevant to the public sector minions contributing to this thread, I suspect. 😆

No meaningful advice, but ouch! Gonna be a while before you’re shaving that top lip again… 😉

Opened up on top of a rad or in hot airing cupboard is good advice. Have revived more than one wet phone like that. Obviously battery should be removed already. Don’t try to power it up again until it’s bone dry. Even if it does revive, expect to be replacing it soon; the deposits left on the circuits will be what kills it, most likely.