Great start to the day. Love their bonkersness. Spent quite a bit of Sunday looking at photos of other dads/heros in the Wingnuts lineage with my kids. We’re lucky to be able to have sepia photos that go back to the 1880s.

Well thats all decided then… I had come to the conclusion drawing on your collective wisdom and several French forum that the DPF was the source of the issue and was going to sort appropriately. However the mechanic got a close look at it this morning and the turbo didn’t survive. The combined cost means the last rites have been issued.

Thanks for the input – this is great collection of people when you need to be pointed in the right direction.

Now I’ve got to find a car to fit the two new tyres that I’m reclaiming….

Great stuff and thanks everyone. Car is 50 miles away so its hard to drop in and have a decent conversation with the mechanic. Accepting top up of the additive, cleaning or replacing the DPF, new air filter etc, how easy is it to clean the turbo after the blow back? Is it a removal job or can we do an engine flush filter changes etc?

I was only putting off the DPF additive for a couple of hundred miles so it wasn’t a case of pressing on regardless. I’m good at checking fluids/servicing etc so this has come as a suprise. The smoke was grey/brown/yellow after an initial darker almost black cloud but there was plenty of it. Tend to agree that repair is the way forward. I’ll see what a proper investigation reveals. It has been a good car and I’ve serviced as required. Nothing else has been giving me concern. Mind you I have seen and Alfa down the road which has been reminding me of a 159 I used to have. Every trip in that was an adventure; a wonderful adventure.

No filtering on the questions then.

WTF!!!!!!! Lets see Laura knife him now!

We have clap day followed immediately by bin day. We can safely walk about in the road chasing loudly from a social distance. The real purpose isn’t one of neighbourliness but to check the recycling bins so we can post the drinking performance results on the WhatsApp group later. We’re hovering in 3rd presently. There has been discussion if you can get more points for spirits compared to wine or beer.

Whats she going to use it for? My 94 year old mum Got a new iPad about 6 months ago. Its her 3rd or 4th after starting with our old cast offs. She has over the last 10 years kept upgrading on her own account. Does all her shopping, email, simple games like Scrabble, video conferencing on FaceTime, WhatsApp and Zoom, research and TV catchup in a straightforward way. Keeps her entertained and in contact. Complains about her younger friends not embracing technology. Sometimes asks for help about symbols or how to format documents but basically foolproof.

I had one of those Midland Bank money boxes. In the 60s I spent many hours trying to hold the spring flap back a press a coin down onto it so that I could then slide it out. Never achieved anything other than waste a few hours.

I watched it as soon as I saw beamer’s link. I remember watching the film as soon as it came out. I was 16 and had a part time job (serving petrol from the pumps) at a small garage. The boss had a Porsche 365B and 3 of us went in it to see the film. Its as a different film for its day.
As a documentary I thought it was really interesting but there was one thing that struck me was how few accidents there were in the making of it. I read in the auto press of the day on one occasion Jo Bonnier wasn’t paying attention to the briefing and when the cars went round a corner onto a straight he thought he could pass a few. Moving out of the line he was confronted by a cameraman lying in the road who was lucky to be terrified enough not to move as the stream of cars passed him to one side and Bonnier went the other. We also forget how dangerous racing was in those days. Jo Bonnier died at Le Mans the following year.
The end result aside I do tend to agree with Dannyh.

Ambridge is short on disabled characters so my prediction is that Linda will become a quadriplegic surviver and as part of his rehabilitation process Freddie will offer a couple of limbs for transplant. In his PTSD Oliver starts molesting Tracy calling her Caroline.

Thought I’d better get ready for Armageddon so slipped a caterers sized tub of Marmite and a gallon of pickled gherkins into the basket tonight. Will provide a mixed diet with the frozen profiteroles in the freezer.

Your blog and bravery for posting on here is inspirational. You are a great human being.

Mine grew v fast. One intellectually and the other physically. They really highlight aspects of your own personality which isn’t always a good thing. They are 35 and 33. Very different kids and has not always been easy watching them grow. But proud of both. The girl will be able to afford the care home I want and the boy (6’2″ of muscle) still hugs and kisses me in public.

Three of my friends and I have come to this conclusion. We have to stand up for what we value and help shape it so that those who only listen to soundbites can relate to it. I’m so depressed by what has happened on all sorts of levels and by all participants that I have to stand up, participate and be counted.

I’d love to see him being served up instead of the insects or kangaroo anuses! Wonder what objection Chris Packham could have?

I do love Gent. I used to go for the Six Day race and then the cross at Koksijde. In the bottom of the Kuipkeis an experience that every cycling fan needs to experience no matter what discipline they come from. Anyway they changed the dates of the cross so that charmed weekend is no more but Gent is great. One gem is the coffee that comes with a small pot of Advocaat. This isn’t the stuff your ancient aunt has at Christmas. It’s a rich and creamy version that is so thick a spoon will stand up in it. The best I’ve had is from the cafe on the square opposite the main train station at Sint Pieters. Want one of those coffees now for breakfast!

This sparked an interesting conversation in our house last night. I share all the above symptoms. 64 a few weeks ago with average fitness but bald and bit overweight. So George Clooney is an extreme aspiration. I can accept that Matt Lucas is probably more realistic.
Anyway I asked my (wonderful, intelligent, fit and considerably younger) wife who I compared with and she said a younger Kirk Douglas. We discussed and compared the merits of my flab and his athletic prowess and she said the most seductive features about any man start with the twinkle in the eyes. Get that right and you can get away with a lot apparently.
My pathetic defence strategy will be to issue any younger pretenders coming into the house with dark sunglasses from now on!

If there was 50p in each bit of clothing here we would all retire! She never saved a penny – it all went from the pension to Primark (by standing order wouldn’t surprise me!

My grandparents packed their cardboard suitcases stood at the bus stop in a Worcestershire village and went on public transport all the way to the arctic circle. This was in 1959/60 and they were in their late 60s! In later conversations the grandchildren (me) referred to it as a reenactment of the British Expeditionary Force! Most of what was in the suitcases was painting equipment.

Well that has been of no use to you at all but I hope it encourages you just to go for it!!!

Agree about Harlem. If you can use the train it is stress free. Probably to far the other side of Amsterdam but well worst is Naarden and Muiden. Castles, cobbled streets, boats, walled town and v safe for kids running about. Got relatives who live close to here and I never get sick of pottering about there.

I’m hoping my daughter decides on this approach. Mind you at 35 and with reputation for intimidation when she and her partner do it, he and everyone else will do exactly what we’re told!

We had a medium do but it was completely on our terms. Walking between elements, lots of music, food made by us and friends. It just vital to do what you want. It’s your decision, money and importantly memories. DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT and don’t be bothered with the pressure of others.

Agree Sandwich, a lifetime of sadness and tension. Jazza on a mission now!?!! Is it going to be one in the eye for Harold?

So what’s Jim all wound up about? I reckon Alistair is Harold’s love child!

Remember some statistics that said it was the worst place in the country for youth crime (related to per head of population) That was some 10 years ago so they will be upstanding citizens now!

For real bangernomics value if you do your research and are prepared to travel to get the right one a Citroen C5 is the jobbie. Go for 2 ltrs or above for all the benefits of the suspension that frightens everyone and drive the price down. £1500 will get you a great fully loaded example with probably low mileage for the year. I needed a van due to huge amounts of building work this year. I’m normally an Alfa or GTI type of owner but was building up to a van. Mrs wing nuts wouldn’t drive one so I looked for a cheap estate to last a year of being trashed. Having had Citroens years ago I knew the value that could be had. I ended up with a one owner 55 plate FSH C5 that had 70k on the clock. New tyres and 6oo miles last year. Pensioners on the south coast are relived to part with them for just over a grand! A great no fault car 12 months and 15k miles on!Going to keep it till it goes to the great Galic soap yard in the sky but don’t see it happening anytime soon.

Looks just like my Dads so ’67ish is my guess for the date. I had it after he died and loved it. It was taken in a burglary and like Andy did. Insurance offered the new version but it was about the connection with Dad and it would just sit in a drawer so I took the cash. They knocked 20% off! Still consider getting one but it just wouldn’t be the same. Try to reunite it. I’d be so generous to who ever got mine back.

Agree that its minefield and you just have to weigh up what makes you feel at ease.

Pistonheads recently upped the limit from £1k to £1500 for their Shed of the week feature. I embraced that limit and bought a Citroen C5 estate. The thing here is to totally buy on condition and history. Its easy to pick up all the essential issues that might affect a particular car including past MOT history etc and real value from tinternet these days. I got my car from a gentleman (and he really was an old school gentleman)on the south coast. Four new tyres, 12 month MOT, new cam belt 18 months ago, 650 miles last year (70k on the clock a 13 year old car) meticulous service history, 2 owners with the last for 10 years. Only selling because he was getting too old and illness was making caravanning to hard. £1400 to you sir with loads of tea and cakes thrown in.

I’ll get two years and possibly more motoring with little additional cost for the equivalent of what one of my neighbours will get for three months lease payments.

If you want something different this is the best veggie restaurant I have ever been to. Very small, very limited menu but came away delighted. Stumbled on it by chance in April when we took my 93 year old mum for a long weekend. We were in a Air B&B and it was the closest place. We had to go because her name is Betty. Not cheap €50 each at least dependent on booze but a great experience and I’m a real carnivore. Not central either but I’ll be back there without a doubt.

https://www.bettys.nl

I’ve sent you a message Bob

McMoonter’s in trouble.

There you go! Got one for a single and one for three bikes. Bloody brilliant. Never need to buy another even if you change cars.

Mini Bomber Rack – 2 Bikes

Agree about perceived fly tipping. I’d have had it on fleabay by now.

This is all great stuff, thanks everyone. Not sure about being able to travel much further afield. I’ll report back in a couple of weeks.

Yes sir! Thanks.

They look great gobalti. 12 miles from the place where we’re stay so bike hire becomes an attractive option.

Thanks for the responses.

Thats a relief about the beer! Casa Labia looks like just the place for Binners. I’ll see if I can get the house remortgaged by Tuesday! Fish restaurants are high on Mrs W’s agenda.

That’s what I want. Thanks monde.

No need for a taxi as there are some real lightweights to ferry us about occasionally 🙂 Any local brews/food to sample? Any venues for music?

More than happy to contribute to the crowd funding of 50% ….. no even 100% of a new pie.

His mates had utter confidence in his awesome shoes and didn’t waste half their macaroni pies throwing them at people. Or did it develop into a Leith version of Gangs of New York with pies being used to cause mayhem in the streets?