The new news 24 thread

[Spottedlaurel]

13 hours ago, Joey spud said:

I needed a cheap run around for a 20 minute commute and after briefly being tempted by the dark side (Fiat Panda) i saw sense and tracked down a 1.3 Yaris..........

If you get a good one of these on your driveway life instantly becomes way less stressey.

Indeed, we're more than happy with our non-A/C 1-litre job. Fun to drive and surprisingly roomy inside.

[Asimo]

21 hours ago, mat777 said:

a ton of crated-up Derwent engine

Do you have a Meteor to put the engine in?

[HarmonicCheeseburger]

Who was it with the signature about kicking a pot noodle down the hallway in a massive paddy?

[anonymous user]

1 hour ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

Who was it with the signature about kicking a pot noodle down the hallway in a massive paddy?

I think it was the late Dave numbers, very much missed.

[Jenson Velcro]

Yes, the actual quote was from the late Dave numbers, but twosmoke300 has it as his footer on his posts.

[HarmonicCheeseburger]

Just now, Jenson Velcro said:

Yes, the actual quote was from the late Dave numbers, but twosmoke300 has it as his footer on his posts.

Found it thank you.  Wanted to share with some family as it is hilarious. 

 

 

[mat777]

On 12/23/2022 at 11:25 AM, Asimo said:

Do you have a Meteor to put the engine in?

I don't, but the chap I bought the trailer from has 2 Meteors..... and 3 Phantom cockpits!

[Andyrew]

Been rough the past few days. Tuesday mornkng woke up rough as all stiff with a killer headache, a 48hr thing thats doing the rounds as others in the family had it.  I Had 3 days off and returned to work yesterday ticketyboo. Last night having eaten just toast for 3 days i made a big fuck off dinner and boy did it hit the spot.

An hour of so later said dinner had settled and while i didnt need more food a cup of tea and some custard creams would be the finishing touch. 

As i was  exiting the living room i may have expelled a large volume of gas at a rapid rate, chuckled to myself and went to the kitchen. I return to ask if the other half wanted a cuppa and she was pulling that face and informed me of my disgustingness while lighting a candle.  

"Well i cant smell it so it cant have been that bad"

Tea made, custard creams grabbed. 

**Slurp slurp, scoff scoff**

"Wait, i cant taste these either"

Christmas at the workshop it is!

 

[SiC]

3 hours ago, Andyrew said:

Been rough the past few days. Tuesday mornkng woke up rough as all stiff with a killer headache, a 48hr thing thats doing the rounds as others in the family had it.  I Had 3 days off and returned to work yesterday ticketyboo. Last night having eaten just toast for 3 days i made a big fuck off dinner and boy did it hit the spot.

An hour of so later said dinner had settled and while i didnt need more food a cup of tea and some custard creams would be the finishing touch. 

As i was  exiting the living room i may have expelled a large volume of gas at a rapid rate, chuckled to myself and went to the kitchen. I return to ask if the other half wanted a cuppa and she was pulling that face and informed me of my disgustingness while lighting a candle.  

"Well i cant smell it so it cant have been that bad"

Tea made, custard creams grabbed. 

**Slurp slurp, scoff scoff**

"Wait, i cant taste these either"

Christmas at the workshop it is!

 

Is it your first time? Looks like you have a dye stealer on that test and probably half way through it.

When I had it earlier this year it completely knocked me for six. I'd get up to feed the cats and 5 mins later I was knackered, falling asleep back on the sofa. Mine was the full 10 days and still had continued tiredness for a good few months after. 

[Andyrew]

46 minutes ago, SiC said:

Is it your first time? Looks like you have a dye stealer on that test and probably half way through it.

When I had it earlier this year it completely knocked me for six. I'd get up to feed the cats and 5 mins later I was knackered, falling asleep back on the sofa. Mine was the full 10 days and still had continued tiredness for a good few months after. 

First time ive had it confirmed

Tho Im certain i had it end of 2019 before it was a "thing" here as i was fucked for a weeks.  

[Bren]

Miller and Carter stakehouse at Lakeside - on a barge - began to sink.

It's true - businesses are struggling to stay afloat....

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, Bren said:

Miller and Carter stakehouse at Lakeside - on a barge - began to sink.

It's true - businesses are struggling to stay afloat....

Stakehouse? Is that like a T-bone?

[Bren]

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

Stakehouse? Is that like a T-bone?

Yes - spelling mistake ( misteak?) on my part.

[Rustybullethole]

12 minutes ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Brother has COVID.  He's currently at my Mum and Dad's and we were planning on visiting in a couple of days.  That's that plan scuppered...

That’s a fucker! I tested positive last Xmas eve gave me the right needle tool myself off to get pissed and sleep in the van. Woke Xmas morning seeing a little more sense and had distanced present opening with the kids. Scuppered the family feast plans. Of round the outlaws for dinner today as should of last year been banned from seeing my folks though as dads lurkyfied. It’s a cunt. All got to make the best hey there’s many in the world having it worse. 

[HMC]

Happy Christmas shiters

 

The only water flowing is the bittersweet smell of coolant #do they know its Christmas . Little did I know the rad was leaking as I took the pic 😂

[captain_70s]

Only functional car took me up to Pitlochry to see the parent's in their new house for Christmas.

bit less of a trek than going to Strathdon...

[Bren]

Apparently the Admiral Kuznetzov has been on fire. Again.

Given the ships history - and what comes out of it's funnel - it's hard to tell whether it's sailing -  or on fire.

[Soundwave]

Couple of closed down shops in Nuneaton are being refitted, the signage being taken down reveals some high-street names from the past... 

The recently closed Poundland was Woolies in a past life... 

The now-former O2 shop still carried the name of its distant predecessor under its signage... 

 

Love seeing stuff like this.

[doug]

A Proton 1.5 automatic spotted today at Lakeland museum. Must be someone on here surely!

Sent from my SM-A127F using Tapatalk

[Ghosty]

  

28 minutes ago, doug said:

A Proton 1.5 automatic spotted today at Lakeland museum. Must be someone on here surely!

Sent from my SM-A127F using Tapatalk
 

 

Not someone on here but active on FB, and used to belong to @richbraith. I went to Shitefest in that car in 2019. 

[cobblers]

1 hour ago, Soundwave said:

 

 

Love seeing stuff like this.

Good old BT Cellnet Philips Savvy!

They stored the balance on the phone itself! £9 for a mod chip from (very) dodgy Sammys phone shop in rotherham town centre and it reset to £18 credit every time you turned it on. I think half the people in my secondary school managed to get away with it for a few years, but eventually they all got banned.

[SiC]

Just come back from the in-laws for Xmas and taking the TT. Last time it achieved 35.7mpg on super unleaded. Same trip at similar speeds achieved nearly 2mpg less on regular unleaded. Also a lot less lively on regular too. Keep meaning to check peak boost pressures to see if the ECU is holding that back too, not just timing. The mpg drop is even more pronounced on local driving. Presumably because more acceleration is going on and that's more likely to need holding back timing/power than cruising at a steady speed. That difference is almost enough to justify the cost extra for super.

 

Before I went, I spent a bit of time de-rattling.

First was the fusebox area. The washer on the clip is missing and causing it to rattle.

I didn't have a washer to go on the clip, so I used some old plastic packaging to pack out behind. Seemed to have done the trick.

 

Next up was a passenger side rattle. Best guess was this loose metal spacer on the centre console grab handles. The other is press fitted in and tight, so I glued this one in. I think this has fixed it but this was a more intermittent and I'll need to give it time to see if it's solved the rattle.

 

Hoovered half a sandpit worth of sand from under the back seats. Was a selection of colouring in pens, so presumably this has transported children. Explains the broken parcel shelf if stuff has been dumped on it. 

I forgot to take the photo but it seems the driver's footwell is wet again. Really quite disappointed this has happened again as I thought I'd sorted it. My suspicions are now on the windscreen as this can happen when replaced. It's definitely been replaced at least once (no Audi logo on it) and I have read sometimes they're not always refitted the best. Might try some Captain Tolly's on it as definitely not paying out for it to be removed and resealed. As problems with an old TT go, this is minor. But an annoying one nonetheless.

The drive to and from the in-laws went okay. I do need to sort out the dipped reflectors as they must not be reflecting at all. There is a fair bit of light but it's pretty dim and could do with it brighter. On back roads in the wet, it can be tricky to track the centre line. Probably get another set of headlights to pull apart to fix and then fit them on instead. Would like new lights but I can only find them on Autodoc and as £450 each, it's a bit too much of an expensive option. So just going to keep a lookout for a pair of good used halogen lights.

I really want the cruise control lead to arrive. Ordered it from Germany and no doubt hung up in the postal strikes. Was hoping to have fitted it over the Xmas driving period but looking like it might be a while yet before I can. 

Finally I opened the window with the passenger side switches to say bye to the in-laws. While it opened fine, the switch refused to close back up. Great! 🤦 Thankfully the drivers side control worked and saved us from a very cold and wet drive back. Gives me something else that I need to fix now. Bloody flimsy thing.

[JJ0063]

Anyone know much about UPVC windows?

 

The small opening window in our bathroom doesn’t open. The handle just goes right round. Took the handle off tonight and that part looks fine, it’s the inner of the actual window that looks fucked. Looks as though the bit the handle spindle slots into is snapped so the handle doesn’t actually function.

 

Just wondered if it’s an easy DIY fix or if I need to arrange for “a man” to come in.

[Ghosty]

39 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

Anyone know much about UPVC windows?

 

The small opening window in our bathroom doesn’t open. The handle just goes right round. Took the handle off tonight and that part looks fine, it’s the inner of the actual window that looks fucked. Looks as though the bit the handle spindle slots into is snapped so the handle doesn’t actually function.

 

Just wondered if it’s an easy DIY fix or if I need to arrange for “a man” to come in.

If it's stuck shut it can involve taking the window apart and out of the wall to open it and fix it. Repairable yes, but not something I'd like to be doing myself. 

[Markeh]

I've two like that that are thankfully stuck open so keen to see if there's anything I can do - the handle broke on one, so I tried to fit a new one and fucked up the mechanism in the process - the other one just broke of its own accord.

[catsinthewelder]

If the toolkit won't move it I would try putting a small amount of something like car body filler into the formally square hole then put the handle back on.  With a bit of luck once it's dried the handle will turn the mechanism.

Probably worth pouring a load of penetrating oil into the window first as something has probably seized to cause that to happen. 

[wuvvum]

Well that was a Christmas I won't forget in a hurry.

Set off on Saturday morning in the Rover, got as far as Thetford and the indicators stopped working.  Pulled over to investigate, couldn't see anything obvious, then when I restarted the engine I lost the radio (and the central screen).  Then a couple of miles later the climate control started to display an error message.  Fortunately it was still putting out a bit of heat but I wasn't looking forward to the next 200 miles with no indicators.  Shortly before Bedford though everything came back to life and has been fine since.  Very odd!

On Christmas day there were 12 of us for dinner - my parents and me, plus my uncle and aunt and three cousins, and one cousin's wife and three kids.  I was dreading it a bit as the last time I saw cousin-with-a-family (Christmas 2019) his kids were a bit of a pain in the arse, but they've all grown up a lot in the intervening three years and they behaved fine.  The eldest boy in particular (just turned 12) has turned into a great kid, and very bright - other than a lengthy discussion about cars (during which we covered, inter alia, the demise of MG Rover and the ways in which Korean cars are now better than the "premium" German equivalents), we had conversations (all led by him) on, among other things, the dangers to shipping in the Gulf of Oman and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the US and Royal Navies; the best way to deprive Russia of a market for its oil; the pros and cons of the various ongoing strikes in the UK; and the evolution of the US Dollar to Sterling exchange rate since the start of the Ukrainian conflict.  It's a depressingly long time since I was 12 but I'm pretty certain I wasn't that up to speed on world affairs at that age...  I had an enjoyable catch-up with my cousin as well, reminiscing about the immaculate Mk2 Fiesta he used to own (which has since been replaced by a Morris Minor saloon, standard apart from a set of Weller wheels).  All in all it was one of the best Christmas days I've had in a long time.

On Boxing Day my brother, sister-in-law and nephew came over from France to stay with my parents for the rest of the week.  I hadn't seen them for even longer - summer of 2019 in fact.  Nephew is 5 now, he's a strange little lad in some ways but a lot of fun.  Sadly the enjoyment of being reunited was tempered somewhat when my parents received a message while we were having tea to say that one of my dad's best and oldest friends had just died suddenly of a heart attack.  It was completely out of the blue - in fact he and his wife were scheduled to head up to my parents' place on Friday to visit my brother (they are his godparents).  He was 70, so not particularly old, and although he'd had heart problems in the past he'd been doing a lot better recently.  He was still working full time (he was the senior partner in a firm of solicitors) and was reasonably active.  Trying to put a positive spin on it, he died at home, with his wife and some of his children by his side and having just enjoyed Christmas with the family, so in terms of ways to go there are worse possibilities.  It's just strange to think he's not there anymore - he's always been a part of our family's life and he and his wife were two of my favourite people in the world.  It's also made me think more about my own parents' mortality, given that they are the same age (they were all at uni together), which is kind of a depressing thought...

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, JJ0063 said:

Anyone know much about UPVC windows?

 

The small opening window in our bathroom doesn’t open. The handle just goes right round. Took the handle off tonight and that part looks fine, it’s the inner of the actual window that looks fucked. Looks as though the bit the handle spindle slots into is snapped so the handle doesn’t actually function.

 

Just wondered if it’s an easy DIY fix or if I need to arrange for “a man” to come in.

Got a small window installer near you? Take the buggered metal in, they'll measure & order you a direct replacement. £20 ish.

[Popsicle]

1 hour ago, JJ0063 said:

Anyone know much about UPVC windows?

 

The small opening window in our bathroom doesn’t open. The handle just goes right round. Took the handle off tonight and that part looks fine, it’s the inner of the actual window that looks fucked. Looks as though the bit the handle spindle slots into is snapped so the handle doesn’t actually function.

 

Just wondered if it’s an easy DIY fix or if I need to arrange for “a man” to come in.

I know its not local to you but these guys in Derby have been a godsend to me a few times over the years https://lockfinder.co.uk/

Nothing to much trouble and really helpful, might be worth a call or email.

I have even plonked a front door on their counter while they sorted out a shagged gearbox and sliding locking thing for me.

[RoverFolkUs]

23 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Well that was a Christmas I won't forget in a hurry.

Set off on Saturday morning in the Rover, got as far as Thetford and the indicators stopped working.  Pulled over to investigate, couldn't see anything obvious, then when I restarted the engine I lost the radio (and the central screen).  Then a couple of miles later the climate control started to display an error message.  Fortunately it was still putting out a bit of heat but I wasn't looking forward to the next 200 miles with no indicators.  Shortly before Bedford though everything came back to life and has been fine since.  Very odd!

On Christmas day there were 12 of us for dinner - my parents and me, plus my uncle and aunt and three cousins, and one cousin's wife and three kids.  I was dreading it a bit as the last time I saw cousin-with-a-family (Christmas 2019) his kids were a bit of a pain in the arse, but they've all grown up a lot in the intervening three years and they behaved fine.  The eldest boy in particular (just turned 12) has turned into a great kid, and very bright - other than a lengthy discussion about cars (during which we covered, inter alia, the demise of MG Rover and the ways in which Korean cars are now better than the "premium" German equivalents), we had conversations (all led by him) on, among other things, the dangers to shipping in the Gulf of Oman and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the US and Royal Navies; the best way to deprive Russia of a market for its oil; the pros and cons of the various ongoing strikes in the UK; and the evolution of the US Dollar to Sterling exchange rate since the start of the Ukrainian conflict.  It's a depressingly long time since I was 12 but I'm pretty certain I wasn't that up to speed on world affairs at that age...  I had an enjoyable catch-up with my cousin as well, reminiscing about the immaculate Mk2 Fiesta he used to own (which has since been replaced by a Morris Minor saloon, standard apart from a set of Weller wheels).  All in all it was one of the best Christmas days I've had in a long time.

On Boxing Day my brother, sister-in-law and nephew came over from France to stay with my parents for the rest of the week.  I hadn't seen them for even longer - summer of 2019 in fact.  Nephew is 5 now, he's a strange little lad in some ways but a lot of fun.  Sadly the enjoyment of being reunited was tempered somewhat when my parents received a message while we were having tea to say that one of my dad's best and oldest friends had just died suddenly of a heart attack.  It was completely out of the blue - in fact he and his wife were scheduled to head up to my parents' place on Friday to visit my brother (they are his godparents).  He was 70, so not particularly old, and although he'd had heart problems in the past he'd been doing a lot better recently.  He was still working full time (he was the senior partner in a firm of solicitors) and was reasonably active.  Trying to put a positive spin on it, he died at home, with his wife and some of his children by his side and having just enjoyed Christmas with the family, so in terms of ways to go there are worse possibilities.  It's just strange to think he's not there anymore - he's always been a part of our family's life and he and his wife were two of my favourite people in the world.  It's also made me think more about my own parents' mortality, given that they are the same age (they were all at uni together), which is kind of a depressing thought...

I expect your 75 will have a Pektron BCU? Probably the early signs of it playing up and playing silly buggers with the relays - I'm guessing it's got the circular remote fob rather than the classis square 2-button Rover fob? 

Sorry to hear of your family's loss