The All New Megathread

[admin]

Took my wife to the GP today for a routine appointment. Whilst waiting a chap decided to engage in a conversation with me. Subjects included the NHS, Boris, and the EU. These are not subjects that I would choose when talking to a complete stranger but I humoured him. It soon became clear that he was a fully committed Daily Mail reader. He was all for private health insurance, so I mentioned that some people can't afford to eat let alone afford health insurance. He then talked about the EU overriding our laws, so I pointed out that we voted for most of those EU laws.... He seemed a nice enough chap but clearly influenced by the mainstream media in this country.

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[redtrummy]

Lots of flies? check the loft to ensure that the cluster flies have not infested it! They filled my sisters.
Very low number of wasps this year which I find surprising considering the hot weather we had.

[Sir Trev]

On the plus side, the warm weather and flies are good for bats*. I saw one this evening as I walked back from the supermarket, which must be the latest I've ever seen one still flitting around.

*Not that I suggest people encourage them into their house to have a go at any fly infestation they may have...

[garynortheast]

Afternoon orgers....

What's everyone up to?

[Craig380]

Afternoon Gary - just watched the Ar5e regain their position at the top of the league. Persistent drizzle here so staying indoors and about to start doing a Sunday roast. Don't feel like doing much else as we've been at the M-i-L's the past couple of days, running her to various medical appointments.

How's tricks with you? Getting the new gaff sorted?

[mister c]

Hey up Gary.
Been messing with the SV, it now has a frame, wheels & even an engine :)

[redtrummy]

Wet and getting colder,! Started changing the lads bathroom this weekend. Think this could be my Swansong. Getting so its difocult to motivate myself as age takes its toll

[garynortheast]

Afternoon Gary - just watched the Ar5e regain their position at the top of the league. Persistent drizzle here so staying indoors and about to start doing a Sunday roast. Don't feel like doing much else as we've been at the M-i-L's the past couple of days, running her to various medical appointments.

How's tricks with you? Getting the new gaff sorted?

The weather is a bit of a disincentive to doing anything much outdoors isn't it? It's been cold with heavy rain most of the day here so didn't even manage to get much of a walk.
Slowly getting sorted, but I still have this pile of boxes in the living room. :-(

Hey up Gary.
Been messing with the SV, it now has a frame, wheels & even an engine :)

The SV is coming on impressively quickly Col. Looking forward to hearing and seeing it running!

Wet and getting colder,! Started changing the lads bathroom this weekend. Think this could be my Swansong. Getting so its difocult to motivate myself as age takes its toll

I must admit, there comes a time with certain activities where you find yourself thinking, "Do I actually want to be doing this any more?" That's pretty much where I got to with doing IT support for folks. I do very little now, there's too much stuff which us far more interesting to focus on

[Sir Trev]

I managed to transfer some of my compost from the rapidly disintegrating wooden bins I built 15 or more years ago to some very cheap plastic dalek-shaped recycled plastic things I got via the council. Knackering but quite therapeutic, between the relentless rain showers we've been having recently. I have also demolished most of bottle of claret so I am typing this with one eye closed so the letters don't move around as much as I aim for them. I'd probably better go to bed now...

[garynortheast]

I managed to transfer some of my compost from the rapidly disintegrating wooden bins I built 15 or more years ago to some very cheap plastic dalek-shaped recycled plastic things I got via the council. Knackering but quite therapeutic, between the relentless rain showers we've been having recently. I have also demolished most of bottle of claret so I am typing this with one eye closed so the letters don't move around as much as I aim for them. I'd probably better go to bed now...

:smt046

[Sir Trev]

Had my flu jab today. Luckily it had just stopped raining as I set off on the 20 minute walk to the pharmacy, they saw me straight away, and it didn't start raining again until just after I got back home. Covid booster on Wednesday and I'm bound to get soaked as I doubt I'll be as lucky twice in one week :smt090

[Luckypants]

I missed mine today due to being called into a meeting at work ☹️

[Sir Trev]

I feel rubbish today, probably a reaction to the flu jab.

Still, I was very good and did not hunt down the new bike announcements from Honda and Suzuki until lunchtime. I've already mentioned in another thread how I think the V-Strom800DE looks terrible (and too heavy, too tall, dreadful paint schemes, etc,) and the GSX-8S has the stupidest back end this side of the Katana.

The New Transalp however looks much more like it. I'll probably need the low seat option as it's 60mm higher than my T100 as standard, and it's a shame they've not announced a 19in front/cast wheel options like the 650 Stroms and Tiger 900s, but I will certainly be looking to have a sit on one at the NEC in two weeks if I can get near one.

I may be taking some paracetamol and having an early night. I have my covid booster tomorrow as well so if that reacts with me too I may have a great excuse to miss my dental appointment on Friday. Small win I guess...

[admin]

I feel rubbish today, probably a reaction to the flu jab.

Still, I was very good and did not hunt down the new bike announcements from Honda and Suzuki until lunchtime. I've already mentioned in another thread how I think the V-Strom800DE looks terrible (and too heavy, too tall, dreadful paint schemes, etc,) and the GSX-8S has the stupidest back end this side of the Katana.

The New Transalp however looks much more like it. I'll probably need the low seat option as it's 60mm higher than my T100 as standard, and it's a shame they've not announced a 19in front/cast wheel options like the 650 Stroms and Tiger 900s, but I will certainly be looking to have a sit on one at the NEC in two weeks if I can get near one.

I may be taking some paracetamol and having an early night. I have my covid booster tomorrow as well so if that reacts with me too I may have a great excuse to miss my dental appointment on Friday. Small win I guess...I can't say the new GSX8s does anything for me. The usual street fighter styling with droopy headlight and ridiculously small rear seat unit.

Now the Transalp I'm seriously interested in. I'd prefer a cast wheel too but it looks comfortable and practical for touring or blatting around Welsh B roads.

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[Sir Trev]

The 8S, just like the new Hornet, fails my topbox test. They'd both look ridiculous with one fitted but I like having one, so its a thing for me.

Have now seen some videos from MotoBob on the Tube doing a walk around of the Strom and 8S and they don't look as bad in moving pictures as they do in the official website pics, but I've not changed my opinion.

If I do go for a Transalp I may actually be able to keep up with Gary next time I come over the border. :D

[garynortheast]

If I do go for a Transalp I may actually be able to keep up with Gary next time I come over the border. :D

:smt046

[Sir Trev]

I cannot believe I got the mower out this afternoon and cut the lawn! It's been so mild so far the grass is still growing well and most of the deciduous shrubs and trees in the garden still have half their leaves or more attached.

It was my mate Richards birthday yesterday and he said it was the first time ever he's been able to sit outside and have lunch on the day itself, which I can believe. We were in Brighton visiting the Munchkin this weekend and didn't need a coat until the sun went down. So odd.

[Luckypants]

We were walking the dogs on the beach in t-shirts yesterday morning! Weird!

[redtrummy]

Cold and damp here today - and that's inside! Going to brush up soon on how to turn the heating on!

[garynortheast]

Afternoon all. Cold and wet here now. Had a walk this morning with a group of folk and we managed to dodge the showers, but no dodging the rain now!

[redtrummy]

Been here today- https://avoncroft.org.uk/ Got a working Strowger telephone exchange, plus all the buildings around the site, really enjoyed it. Anyone who fancies a ride on a nice day (not like today) can recommend it

[Sir Trev]

It absolutely hosed it down on me all the way to Nottingham this morning. I was exhausted by the time I dropped the car off for a dashcam fitting. Escaped across the road for a decidedly mediocre breakfast at the local Spoons and it dried up again, so my wanderings around town killing time until I could collect the car again was much nicer than the journey up. Mainly dry coming home but so much traffic...

[admin]

Been here today- https://avoncroft.org.uk/ Got a working Strowger telephone exchange, plus all the buildings around the site, really enjoyed it. Anyone who fancies a ride on a nice day (not like today) can recommend itThe cafe at the entrance was originally sited in Shrewsbury. It was a coop then. Definitely worth a visit.

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[Sir Trev]

Cannot believe how nice the weather has been today. Considering how I drove through biblical rain on both of the past two days when I had places to go it seems unfair that while stuck in the study all day working from home the sun has been shining the whole day...

Ah well. At least I had time during the day to look up prices and specs of the Tiger 900, which won out in my "which ADV bike can Trevor actually get on to without a stepladder and feel comfortable on" quest at the Show yesterday. May have to start saving though as used bike prices seem to be getting back to normal after the ridiculous way everything held it's value last year, so I won't get as much for Hugh now when I do come to change. It's next year's first world problem anyway and the new base model Tiger has not yet landed, so I'll sit tight and dream for now.

[garynortheast]

Evening orgers all!

Well that was a bit of a manic couple of days. My girls came over here this weekend, Whitchurch on Saturday for Eleri and me, playing for the winter fair/Christmas lights switch on. Then back home to collect Sioned and a drive out to Dolgellau to play at a huge trad Welsh music session in the evening.

All good fun but I'm a bit knackered now.

[Craig380]

That's a lot of squeezeboxin' :)

[Sir Trev]

Hope the events were good fun Gary.

[garynortheast]

Evening organs.

[Craig380]

Morning Gary. A day of ups and downs here.

Downside: at the m-i-l's.
Upside: leaving in an hour or so

[garynortheast]

Morning Gary. A day of ups and downs here.

Downside: at the m-i-l's.
Upside: leaving in an hour or so

:smt046

Sat on a flatbed lorry and played euphonium with the Porthywaen silver band this morning for the procession around Oswestry. It was bloody freezing!

[Craig380]

Wouldn't like to have to warm up a euphonium on a cold winter's day ...

[garynortheast]

It took some warming up!

I did my warming up afterwards at Fat Rabbit with hot chocolate and a monster piece of flapjack.

[garynortheast]

Morning organs! Cold and wet here today. Some talk of snow for next week too. It's feeling more like winter at last.

[Craig380]

Cold and damp here too. Not much biking in prospect in the coming couple of weeks!

[Sir Trev]

Met up with my old mates from uni in London yesterday - packed trains in both directions and flippin freezing as I wandered around Fitzrovia gathering geocaches before heading to the pub. It did not feel as cold four pints later as I wandered back to Marylebone...

Spent today using bits of timber salvaged from an old fence of mine that fell down to make sturdy duck boards behind the shed, so I don't get muddy feet getting to the compost bins. Knew I'd use the palings for something if I kept them :cool:

[admin]

The local Honda dealer is taking deposits for the Transalp. They're hopefully getting a demonstrator in Jan/Feb. I'll put down a deposit once I've seen it in the flesh and checked it for weight and riding position.

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[Craig380]

The Transalp does look good, and the engine seems punchy from the initial road tests of the Hornet equivalent.

If the dimensions are close to the Tenere then it should be really slim.

[Sir Trev]

Having sat on one at the Show I can attest to it being narrow and upright that's for sure. Shame my inside leg is too short for it. 208 kg wet is the claim so it should be a really nice bike.

[garynortheast]

Bbrrrr.... Mae'n oer iawn yma. Roedd yna dipyn bach o eira p'nawn yma hefyd. Dwi ddim isio eira cyn dwi'n dod i Gaerdydd i ddod ag Eleri adref dydd Sadwrn nesa. :sad:

[Craig380]

Ta' det roligt, vejret bliver helt sikkert bedre naeste Lørdag. (As we're doing second languages ;))

[garynortheast]

Dwi'n gobeithio!

[garynortheast]

Evening Organs! How was everyone's weekend?

[admin]

Flipping cold.brrr.

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[garynortheast]

Looking like it's going to be cold all week too John!

[Sir Trev]

We had a cm or two of snow overnight, nothing much but our road (a hill) was still impassable for most cars trying to go up for most of the morning. I worked from home as usual, Lady Poppy brushed her car off and headed downhill and off to work no problem, but amazingly next door's roofers came in! They worked all weekend, probably to close in the extension before the weather turned, but at 9am I could hear brushing noises outside the study window and when I opened the blinds to peek out there they all were. Hardy bunch! Unlike the posties or bin men, neither which turned up today...

[garynortheast]

Morning Organs! Beautiful morning here; clear blue skies and sunshine, but very cold. Just been for a frosty winter walk with Mabel.

[Luckypants]

Morning! Chuffing freezing here too. Sat still working at the computer is cold...

[Craig380]

Was down to minus 9C here overnight - the earth is indeed as hard as iron, which means we've had some lovely crisp walks across the fields etc.

The clear blue skies trigger my 'get out on the bike' reflex, but stepping outside the door puts the kybosh on that idea rather swiftly ....

[garynortheast]

Morning! Chuffing freezing here too. Sat still working at the computer is cold...

Yep, it soon feels chilly sitting still. I at least have the luxury of time to get outside and walk. Feels warmer when I get back then.

Was down to minus 9C here overnight - the earth is indeed as hard as iron, which means we've had some lovely crisp walks across the fields etc.

The clear blue skies trigger my 'get out on the bike' reflex, but stepping outside the door puts the kybosh on that idea rather swiftly ....


The clear blue skies trigger my 'get out on the bike' reflex, but stepping outside the door puts the kybosh on that idea rather swiftly ....

Ha ha! I know what you mean, I thought the same. Just opening the back door to let Mabel out made me realise how daft the idea was

[Sir Trev]

I pitied the Open Reach engineer who was up and down ladders at Trev Towers today connecting us to full fibre - it was perishing. Trouble is its been so cold and the pavements so treacherous I've barely left the house now for four days. Cabin fever is starting to kick in!!

[admin]

I was out in Shrewsbury last night taking photos. It was -3° . My wife thought I was mental, she's probably right.

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[Sir Trev]

Some of the frosty foliage and fields, lit by the low sun, as we passed by in rural Norfolk on Sunday morning on our way home from my parent's were spectacular. Hope you got some nice shots John.

[admin]

Some of the frosty foliage and fields, lit by the low sun, as we passed by in rural Norfolk on Sunday morning on our way home from my parent's were spectacular. Hope you got some nice shots John.I did get some good shots but I've been busy at work since so not had a chance to edit them.

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[garynortheast]

We've just had a very fine covering of either rain or sleet. Barely visible but it was onto a frozen surface, and it's now absolutely lethal trying to walk on it!

[admin]

Warmer here this morning. 2.7°c. didn't have to defrost the car for a change.

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[Craig380]

The last company car I had before I retired was a 225xe plug-in hybrid, which had a pre-conditioning function. Via the car's menu or app you could set your planned morning departure time and the target interior temperature, and about 20 mins before the departure time the car's heater would switch on. It was great to walk out of the house and get straight into a warm cabin, with all windows completely clear and frost-free. I miss that car, it was also amusingly quick.

[Luckypants]

It's the beauty of electric cars. Love that feature in ours.

We've had rain on frozen ground too and the ice was terrible when I walked the dogs. Managed to stay upright though.

[redtrummy]

I have a flying lead hanging over the garage door, have to nip out and plug in the fan heater that resides in the car this time of the year. No room in the garage unfortunately bikes come first

[Sir Trev]

After sitting on the driveway under a few centimetres of snow for five days I had to use the car today. Most of it was weirdly large ice crystals that mainly brushed off which was lucky - I was expecting frozen solid. Looks like I'll be plugging it in to the charger tomorrow though as it was very reluctant to start. Not yet four years old and less than 30k miles (one upside of covid) but as the handbrake and autobox are electrically controlled I cannot have a battery fail or I'll be stranded. Might just charge the jump pack too and pop it in the boot, just in case...

[garynortheast]

Evening all, how was everyone's weekend then?

[Craig380]

Morning Gary - quiet weekend because of the cold weather, so mostly watching the football and catching up on series that we're behind on. Ideal for December :)

[Luckypants]

Evening all, how was everyone's weekend then?
We had a great weekend. We had our grandson to stay Friday and Saturday which was (mainly) a delight. He's only 4 so sleepovers are a big deal. Took him to the reindeer farm Saturday night to see the reindeer that will pull Santa's sleigh so he was very excited. The next day we judged the Christmas tree and Colouring competition for the village children that the Church run with him helping to judge :D After that we met his Mum and Dad to hand him back and had a very nice lunch while exchanging presents as we are unlikely to see them over Christmas. Back home to judge the Christmas tree and Colouring competition again due to some late entries before a carol service at the pub and prize giving to the children. A busy but lovely weekend.

[Craig380]

Took him to the reindeer farm Saturday night to see the reindeer that will pull Santa's sleigh so he was very excited.

I've had reindeer a couple of times when visiting Finland. Delicious (though it's probably not a good idea to tell your grandson that Rudolph and the gang are very tasty when their days of sleigh-pulling are over ;) )

[DarrenSV650S]

What's keith_d doing in Dundee?

https://i.imgur.com/LRdbNcJ.jpg

[Geodude]

Hahaha :D

[garynortheast]

Morning Orgers. A dismal, wet morning here. Not a lot going to be happening outside today I suspect!

[Bibio]

morning Gary. yup its a damp grey and miserable day here.

[garynortheast]

You got no snow up there then Lance?

[Bibio]

not now no. we had a shed load in Strathaven (Straven) when i was through. weirdly Kirkcaldy has its own little micro climate so it can be blowing a blizzard in Glenrothes but dry here.

the floods were really bad over Straven, West Calder way and i almost never made it over the other day as there was a massive flood at Newbridge but my old faithful gAy class made it.

[garynortheast]

No snow here although quite a few areas not far away had some, and some had quite a bit. Just really wet here, been raining pretty much all day.

[Seeker]

At 6:50 am this morning (Jan 4th, 2023) it was 12.4°C (54°F) in my (unheated) garage. A few days ago it was 1°C. Weird weather!

[garynortheast]

Evening all. That was a bit of a week that was! How was everyone else's week?

[Geodude]

Usual roller coaster here, hope you get your car mystery sorted.

[redtrummy]

About the same here. Brother in law in finanncial trouble again - although the wife has four siblings its her that has to sort him out. On Saturday we had a day off and went to the Whittlsea Straw Bear festival. (Google it) Great time then back home, then at 6.30 the EE fraud dept. rang us over the same said B.I.L. Kind of put a cloud over the day

[garynortheast]

Usual roller coaster here, hope you get your car mystery sorted.

Waiting on the result of emails and form filling now Geo.

About the same here. Brother in law in finanncial trouble again - although the wife has four siblings its her that has to sort him out. On Saturday we had a day off and went to the Whittlsea Straw Bear festival. (Google it) Great time then back home, then at 6.30 the EE fraud dept. rang us over the same said B.I.L. Kind of put a cloud over the day

Straw Bear Festival looks like fun RT. We were at y Fari Lwyd in Dinas Mawddwy (https://welearnwelsh.com/blog/welsh-christmas-horse-skull-mari-lwyd/) on Saturday for Hen Nos Galan.

Business with BiL doesn't sound good!

[Craig380]

We were at y Fari Lwyd in Dinas Mawddwy (https://welearnwelsh.com/blog/welsh-christmas-horse-skull-mari-lwyd/) on Saturday for Hen Nos Galan.


An old-school rap battle involving a horse's skull? I'm in :D

[redtrummy]

That looks interesting but no good for me I still struggle with English!
Don't know if you came across Les Barker Gary, he wrote loads of great funny poems and a great entertainer, from Manchester originally but made Wales his home - winning awards for his recital of his poems in Welsh. He passed away yesterday. An example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohneoZKw8es

[garynortheast]

I knew Les, RT. I was at a friends house for tunes on New Years day. Les lived in the same village, and was there too, reading some of his poetry. I hadn't seen him since just before the pandemic struck so it was an opportunity for a bit of a catch up. Little did I know it was going to be my last chance to chat with him. It's very sad news. He was a lovely bloke, and we're all going to miss him terribly.

[redtrummy]

Yea first time I came across him he came to our (then) local folk club (back in the early 80s) and ran the Coalville marathon next day. How his health deteriorated in his later years it does gives pause for thought.

[garynortheast]

Evening folks, how is everyone? Ice and a thin skim of snow here, just enough to make driving a bit sketchy!

[Sir Trev]

Ev'nin Gary. Been frosty the last two mornings but that's been about it. It was bad enough yesterday for my driver's side mirror to stick in (powerfold jobbie when the doors lock) and it only relented after much swearing and nudging. Looks like the coldest days are now behind us.

[Craig380]

Evening Gary. Yes, ice and a thin dusting of snow here. Have been keeping the bird feeders topped up as they were looking at me in an accusing way the other day :)

[Luckypants]

Evening folks, how is everyone? Ice and a thin skim of snow here, just enough to make driving a bit sketchy!

We had a bit of fun yesterday evening. We had 2-3 inches of snow accumulate yesterday but road was fairly clear due to traffic. It had not been ploughed or gritted. We had to go out to help step-son move house in the evening, so took the big car. Coming home three hours later it was clear there had been a significant fall of snow while we were out (nothing in the Vale). So took it easy on the road to the village and it wasn't too bad until we got to the village. The steep hill to our part of the village had 2-3 inches of new slushy snow on it and the EV is 2.2 tonne RWD...... we got stuck 10 yards from the top. A few handfuls of grit, turning off various 'driving aids' then just allowing the car to creep with no throttle input got us to the crest of the hill, so only 10 minutes of fannying around. About 40 minutes later I went out with a shovel to grit the hill to find the snow-plough had finally been through and the road was clear and gritted.:rolleyes:

[garynortheast]

Morning all. It's going to be a long day today. I'm driving Eleri back to uni in Cardiff, the best part of a 300 mile round trip.

[Luckypants]

Morning Gary, a long trip that one as the roads are quite windy. Have a safe journey.

[garynortheast]

Thanks Mike. Worst part will be coming back without Eleri. :-(

[admin]

A long day but at least the weather is reasonable. I bit of sunlit scenery will help.

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[garynortheast]

Stopped in Y Fenni at Morrisons for a late breakfast. Roads are all good, and the scenery is stunning with blue skies and snow on the hills. Shame about some of the drivers who seem incapable of exceeding 35mph.

[garynortheast]

Morning orgers. Very cold and frosty here this morning. Busy day coming up; helping out at a Repair Cafe in Newtown this morning, so a bit of a drive to get there. Then I have to empty the brick outbuilding in the back garden as the asbestos roof is being removed tomorrow and the day after the builders are coming to rebuild the top part of the shed which is crumbling, and put a new window in for me.

[Craig380]

It still amazes me that we grew up living in houses, going to schools etc that often had a lot of asbestos in their structures. It's great stuff until you start cutting it, or it breaks ...

[redtrummy]

My understanding is that white asbestos is relatively safe if its not disturbed, its fibres are curly so tend not to get stuck in the lungs. My Dad was a builder and he cut white asbestos cement board with impunity (despite me trying to persuade him otherwise.) I read that the air in Coventry, when we had a car industry, was beyond the present legal limit

[garynortheast]

Can't get warm! Off out for a run, hopefully I'll be warmer when I get back.

[garynortheast]

Back, and warmer! Also in a better frame of mind. I took Eleri back down to Cardiff on Friday for uni, and woke up this morning feeling a bit dismal about the empty house after having had her here with me for the whole week. The exertion and surroundings of my run has improved my mental state somewhat.

[garynortheast]

Evening orgers. Mr Creosote checking in here. I'm effing stuffed, having just scoffed most of an enormous Chinese take-away. Belch!!

[Craig380]

A waffer-theen meent? ;)

[garynortheast]

F**k off, I'm stuffed!

[Luckypants]

morning orgers...... the joys of system changes. I'll be around a while yet I fear.

[garynortheast]

Morning Mike, what's happened?

[Luckypants]

Work system upgrade last night, new version of z/OS and associated software updates. My bit was just a change to parameters and some scripts for the storage management system. We were delayed by problems with system shutdown and IPL (boot) of the new OS. What should have taken 00:00 - 00:30 took almost 3 hours, most of it twiddling my thumbs.

[garynortheast]

Don't you love working with systems. Half my time was spent, even at the simple end of things dealt with, watching rotating doughnuts or progress bars. :?