Well the journey begins. Delivery on Tuesday. I expect to be allowed to drive it in 2024

Thanks pedlad thats great to know. Now just got to sort the dosh. Never had had any finance for a car before and looking at how these seem to be holding prices I’m tempted to pay cash but I’ll see what they offer tomorrow.

This is a marvellous place and is the only forum that I come to. It has given such a range of richness through advice, support, humour and tenderness that if all other means of support to sustain it fail it should be taken under the wing of the National Trust.

Where else would we get Bullheart, naming an obscure pub in Oxfordshire, TJ’s journey, sourcing left handed crank taps, the kindness of strangers all to the stench of the Picolax thread?

Would I miss it? Yes in so many ways which have been reversed above.
Would I pay for it? Yes and do (the digital package as I’ve generally given up on print media)
Would I pay more? Yes but understand the tipping point issues.
This is the only subscription I pay for.

Lets ignore the fact that we’ll be away from tomorrow for a couple of weeks but as you’ve said England I’m now regarding myself as Snubbed of Milton Keynes! Wherever you go though TJ it’s uplifting to see your progress and the depth of humanity (and beer consumption) in the STW community. Keep on buggering along.

Looked like Oakley Frogskins to me but weren’t. Probably artisan crafted out of recycled unicorn horn.

The pain of riding the last hill will change into a memory of loving achievement over time. Take care, our thoughts are with you.

No jealousy from my covid jail cell. Love an old rail track on tour.

Pop but I’d love to see Rog keep his time trial helmet on straight and fight it out with nobody having abad day. Jumbo should have the strongest team and not get distracted with Out and the green jersey.

Got friends who has done this for ages. They have had half a dozen or so and generally in pairs. All the advice as above with the emphasis on never let them off the lead.Even in what you perceive as the safest of places.

The story they tell of one of the first ones they had was about visiting friends. They arrived and having parked in a large enclosed garden let the dog out of the car sans lead. It sniffed the air and charged off to return with a dead cat in its mouth. Knock on door, “Hello looks like Fido has caught a cat”. “Oh that is ours”. Not a great way to start the weekend!

Well that’ll keep those poor folk in Ambridge in business for a while then.

6.00pm tonight! Place your bets!

Javeed just admitted that there would be a VONC on breakfast. It’s going to be an interesting week and I just don’t know what I want the result to be. Obviously I want the lying toe rag gone but as has been rehearsed earlier it would give the Tories time to regroup even we don’t see an obvious replacement. It will really require the opposition parties to step up the promotion of their policy offer.

Just weighed them and its 450gm for a size 10. Surprised they were that much when my Bontrager raid shoes came in at 850gm. They will remain my go to shoe for touring. Going across Germany to Copenhagen at the end of month to see the start of the tour with some guys from the Edinburgh Road Club as it happens!

Shoes are a real pain when long distance touring. I agree that shoes for riding and walking more than a few steps to the shops just don’t mix. So this is what I have and use on my three week long trips in Franceland.
Much against my better stylistic judgement I got some of these:
https://www.lyst.co.uk/shoes/crocstm-mens-swiftwater-wave-sandal-6/
Sorry I haven’t ever learnt how to do pictures! Anyway they are great if you can find them. Light, good to do gentle walking/ambling/exploring in, and when on not to grim to look at. Also there are no issues with getting them dry of course.
Can’t believe I’ve said this in public! My kids will punish me but you will thank me.

Absolutely wonderful. Take a moment to breath and then don’t you ever waste another day!!

Just back from a celebratory meal with Mrs W. Twelve months ago we didn’t know the storm that was going to be unleashed. My mother went down hill very quickly and died. The day after her funeral we got the call that you are expecting. It was difficult and made us question everything. but and its a big BUT, we have come through it and are stronger and happier than we could ever have hoped for.

As has been said you gain strength from the strangest places and people. Its far more common than you expect and there’s a lot of experience to glean support from. In true STW spirit pm if you want anything in terms of shared experience or just to shout. Every journey is different and ours has been even more bizarre than expected:
– from saying goodbyes to
– Brexit causing treatment issues to
– people who you previously dismissed as bonkers being absolutely wonderful to
– cycling discomfort to
– false boobs

Sending a world of hope and support. Call on any of us, STW is wonderful place.

Well you’re not so keep doing the job!

This is an inspiring thread. A great personal adventure and the kindness of strangers.

If you are passing near Stony Stratford (Milton Keynes, North Bucks, South Northants) please call in. B&B&Beer available. Let me know when you’re Netherlands bound as we’ve got family and regularly there. Blaricum just east of Amsterdam. They can also provide accommodation – luxurious accommodation and beer! I’d be happy to join you for a poodle from the ferries if you are going in that direction.

Keep posting this is wonderful!

Driving to the tip and sticking religiously to the 30mph limit being overtaken by an electric scooter.

Boys, boys I have accepted responsibility for my first accident in 30 years. That’s not what I’m worried about. If I failed to do something properly I will hold my hands up uncomplainingly but it all feels very slippery from the way the insurance company is behaving. Of course I didn’t check the reviews when I took the policy out but now I’m digging deeper them seem to be a real sheet shower.

dannybgoode – thanks I will do when I calm down a bit. Really not trying anything on with them and can even afford to pay for it all, but I wanted to do it properly.

Doomanic has it – 67 and 100 at 181 if it helps!

Well we got one! A Lenovo and they’ll transfer everything across for him in a couple of days. Your work is done here. Thanks everyone.

I was in this situation 20 years ago, so combined with that and the experience of other friends I’d say a couple of things. Get the £30k together asap as that’s cheap to cut them out of your life. BUT and its the big but get proper advice so that the cut is legally binding. Don’t delay as she is bound to talk to people who (right or wrong) will inflate her idea of what she is entitled to.

Yep DannyBgoode has grasped it. He isn’t a firs time user and may not need all the bundled software/capacity but the familiarity is important.

Got the point about large screen/text but he is pretty determined on a laptop but I’ll suggest the desktop

Windows is what he’s used to so I think that’s the safest approach. This particular old dog is 85!

Sad day. Met him on a crowded train once and he was delightful. We just chatted about the day with no references to “show biz”. Most people didn’t realise the small drab pensioner standing next to them as a genuine legend.

Really heartwarming to see his openness about how hard it is. The strategies he used to cope while he was younger can be seen in almost any group of kids. Brave program and shows why we should read to kids.
Had a friend who worked in a secure remand centre for under 18s and when they were kicking off she would stop all the macho guys who wanted to go in with riot shields she would go into the communal space, sit on the floor and start to read a story, a kids story. It always worked as they had never had stories as kids.

Mrs Wingnuts is home and raised a very big eyebrow when I told her the title of the thread. She’s too knackered to drive up there at the moment but said it was typical of people who live in tight communities with little churn or cosmopolitan influence. The combination of the words and how the context is presented to the casual observer is the crucial issue for her. Would people still keep talking about “black bitches” if she walked in. How would they feel if they walked into a Brixton pub and heard people talking about a gang called the white ponces? (Other terms are available)
Do the school children know the implications of the words/phrases thrown out without context? General usage doesn’t mean something like this is acceptable.
She thinks that the story should be preserved but people should recognise that things move on. Don’t cancel the past, learn from it and do respect others who may have suffered. Her mother was called this term many times in her working career as a cleaner and cook. Was that ok even in banter?
The Black Hound is fine by her.

I’m a white male married to a black female social worker so I’ll discuss this when she gets home. It’ll be an interesting conversation. Despite her profession she doesn’t tend to get over excited about politically correct interpretations (and nor do I) but we will become strident if there are any directed overtones of racism or abuse of power. She mightily took the pee out of some blue rinse who suggested she wanted coffee without milk rather than black at some conference and my Mum when she asked about her ancestry at their first meeting. (Born in Nottingham by the way) However whenever it’s a brave person who mistakes it as a “coconut” position or fails to understand the hurt behind these sensitivities.

We had a discussion about Colston and the Dam Busters’ dog. Her attitude was put the statue in a museum and place some educational context around it. Acknowledge the dog and his part in the story put balance it with another plaque about “time and place” as well as acknowledging the positive contributions of servicemen from other parts of the “Empire”.

I’ll report back if we aren’t on the road to sort them out!

I can have no issues with the Sea Sucker. You just pump by pressing the button with your thumb until the white line goes. You need to see it in real life to appreciate it. You can see how strong they are by the way you pull on the bike and the car moves! I have one for three bikes and one for one. If you leave the car you can chain the bikes to a clip that fits over the edge of a window. You just take the suckers off and dump them in the car when you go for a ride. If you are near Milton Keynes you’re welcome to come and look at ours. Its expensive but when you think of the cost of a tow bar on several cars it starts to make sense.

Look at Sea Sucker. A hard concept to get your head round but I’ve got two and they are bloody fantastic. Expensive but transfer from car to car so stops the need to change fittings when you change cars. We’ve used them on Audi TTs, Alfas, BMW coupes, Minis and VW Transporters. CANNOT RECOMMEND STRONGLY ENOUGH.

Thanks people. Credit cards, overdrafts, store cards and some pay day loans I suspect. I’ve asked her to get all the info together so that a really accurate picture and priorities can be set. Doubt that she has a good enough credit rating to move to a 0% card but we can explore. I like the open banking link idea but I suspect that there will still need to be manual input. Its difficult balance for us to prevent the support becoming too involved and taking responsibility away from her.

Bought a 62 plate t5 180 bi turbo off a neighbour (and friend) a couple of months ago. He had had it off the first owner 4 years ago and was only selling because he’s moving to Spain and needs a left hooker. He had no issues with it at all and it has done 125Kmiles. Full history and always had issues addressed. Anyway got it for a good price and started thinking about what to do with it kitting out wise. Came across the oil issue and freaked. Asked him about it (not moving for 6 months) and never heard about it or had any consumption issues. Did oil and compression test which were fine. Being ultra cautious and because it was convenient I went to Retro Resus and had the ERG changed and a few other bits. Safe rather than sorry but great service and lovely drive on the way home that included a speeding ticket.
Do your research, get oil and compression test before you buy, FSH is a must, haggle hard.

The difference in expectations of behaviour is staggering. Let’s give them the benefit of doubt and suppose it is a “work meeting” but then consider that in comparison to what is demanded of normal people. Where is it acceptable to drink “at work” these days? Not many places I suggest. A train driver friend of mine talks of the random tests for drugs and drink because he has the safety of several hundred people in his hands. Instant dismissal for not taking that responsibility seriously. If those in the photo are responsible for our safety, should they be drinking? I mean they are looking after 3.9 million each!!!

Got a Contigo and a couple of Camelbaks. Neither of the Camelbaks have ever leaked in the 10 odd years we have had them.The automatic closure is great when on the move. Drop it but no spill, warm rather than hot after 6 hours. Contigo has a larger capacity but I feel is an office based option compared to the Camelbak.

It won’t be a 50:50 split. You will be expected to reach an agreement about when the kids see each parent. By the sounds of it you divorce her and she has to leave the marital home. There may be maintenance issues to sort but they will be worth it. If you remain in the current situation unfortunately things will remain the same or get worse. The kids will become even more damaged and resentful.
I imagine that the kids will remain in their home with you. Then you both will be agree access. Although it could be 50:50 the reality is that because of your wife’s situation she won’t cope with anything like that. The kids will also withdraw from the arrangement of their own volition if they feel unsafe.

You’ve got my sympathy about getting to the point where you have to make such hard decisions. I divorced my first wife 20 years ago and its interesting to talk to my grown up kids about it. No violence or other issues, just incompatibility. They hated the conflict and never wanted to make a choice between parents even when they see one who is obviously unreasonable so the fact that your kids have asked about divorce speaks volumes.

Concerning parental responsibility I can give you very specific advice. It’s my wife profession. You won’t get anything other than joint custody. It’s the default position and only a court order will change that. A court order will only be granted if there is independent evidence of actual harm to support the claim of risk. To that end you need to start reporting concerns and ask for help. Tell the school, the doctor and anyone else about the issue. She might not have much family or a support network report but get it into the open. Report incidents and ask for help from your local Children’s Social services. You won’t meet their threshold for intervention but the issue will be logged. As Willard said – report her for drink driving. If she arrives drunk to collect the kids don’t let the go and report it to the police if she gets out of hand. You have to create the evidence. This is all confrontational and very stressful but without evidence you have absolutely no chance of sole parental responsibility. Sorry but that’s the way it is.

As the kids get older they will develop their own ways of avoiding the drunken parent and make choices that will keep themselves safe. They will only want to go for very short periods of time and to public spaces (MacDonalds, school performances/games etc)

Whatever happens it’s going to be hard and my heart goes out to you.

Sell it to Warren Buffet (CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and worth $106 billion) who haggled with a car dealer to reduce the price on some new car with hailstone damage not so long ago (well 20 years perhaps) according to his daughter.