What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[dollywobbler]

If it's not urgent, stuff it in a box and send it over this way and I can give it the once over for you.

 

Thanks. A local chum should be able to have a look. He previously fixed my 2CV's ignition module.

[SiC]

I found lead soldier in Wilco earlier in the year, apparently the ban on lead soldier was in electronics not a total ban.

You're not supposed to mix lead-free solder onto lead soldered assemblies. Just new assemblies are supposed to be lead-free. Hence why you still can get both. Lead-free soldering isn't hard or difficult. Just most cheap hobbist kit is marginal to get up to temperature for lead solder, let alone lead-free.

[SierraMikeHotel]

Thanks, Zel. I used to do a fair number of miles in Metros and I bloody loved them. You've given me a nice glow of nostalgia

[Des]

Interesting that the gearbox whine on this one (1.3) was way, way quieter than on my old 998cc one. Different gearbox innards? Or this car being a 1984 example likely to have some additional sound deadening that my 1981 example lacked?

 

The gearboxes were certainly more audible once the front floorpans had disintegrated.

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

On the manners and educating the youngsters - munchkin turned grump to grin bless him. We are on the Metro 1st stop, so sit and chill for the 7 stops to school, watching the car fill up. I always show him that men have manners and humans always attempt to pay attention to their surroundings.... I fail often, but hopefully he's better at it than I am. 

This morning it started filling up, so we stood to allow two ladies to sit instead...... cue the 30's bloke barging past munchkin to take one of the free seats. Munchkin stood his ground! Right in the guys face and pointed out in French that he'd vacated the place for the lady - as that's what men do...... guy pretended he didn't speak French - so he was informed in English, Dutch and then German too....... I couldn't stop laughing - along with others in the Metro. 

Then a lump in my throat as the ladies both thanked him and he replied - probably not all his fault, his daddy didn't teach him the right things. 

 

Job done - I shall now abandon him to schoolfriends, internet, games and other external influences - it can only be downhill from here.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

.... I shall now abandon him to schoolfriends, internet, games and other external influences - it can only be downhill from here.

 

Yes, but look on the bright side: he'll be able to disgrace himself in four languages 

[kinkersaab]

When i was a cool*  teenager aged 13 or so until i leared to drive, my bike of choice was a Moulton Deluxe i bought of an old lady.  I loved that bike, in fact i still have its remains under a bush somehere.  Today i got  another. 1 owner from new in 1970, been in a shed for about 40 years.  I am super pleased with it, and I don't really like bikes...nor cyclists.   its very "me" though.

 

 

 

 

Moulton designed the rubber suspension system on Mini and then later the hydrolastic suspension on 1100 /allegro etc.   There is even a link to shite 

[Eddie Honda]

I'm a fat bloke who hasn't cycled for some time. I've at least five Moulton F-frames in bits, including a mini and stowaway.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

When i was a cool*  teenager aged 13 or so until i leared to drive, my bike of choice was a Moulton Deluxe i bought of an old lady.  I loved that bike, in fact i still have its remains under a bush somehere.  Today i got  another. 1 owner from new in 1970, been in a shed for about 40 years.  I am super pleased with it, and I don't really like bikes...nor cyclists.   its very "me" though.

 

moulton 3.jpg

 

moulton2.jpg

 

moulton.jpg

 

Moulton designed the rubber suspension system on Mini and then later the hydrolastic suspension on 1100 /allegro etc.   There is even a link to shite 

 

There is one other "unfashionable" brand of bicycle that I can vaguely remember: Bickerton, which I think was a folding bike - looked quite ungainly when unfolded.

[Amishtat]

I've got my mum's old Moulton in the shells like that but gold and much rustic and cobweb-festooned. Our of use since at least 1980,I'll get round to it sometime

[kinkersaab]

I have a white bag thing for the back, it ruins the lines so i will sell it to fund the purchase of the bike 

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

My mum had one too - although it was never ever used..... it just sat there. I had a Raleigh Burner and an old Racing frame from my uncle - used them to potter about when back in UK, down to the seafront and along to shields to visit old haunts. Mum was scrapping a brass bed.... !!! Told the guy to take 'all the crap in the shed too' - of course it was almost emptied. 

Dad went nuts and I wasn't best happy. Her Moulton had literally done zero miles! 

[Ghosty]

Uni really have their shit together.

 

There's fake tax refund spam emails on the internal email system.

[wuvvum]

I have a Moulton, although it's badged as a Triang.  It's a Mini so a little on the small side for my lanky frame (I didn't realise from the eBay pics how small it was).  It needs new tyres so it's currently on hold while I wait for a pair of 14 x 1 3/8 tyres to come up at a sensible price.  Great bit of design though, quite elegant in its own way and the rear suspension still works even after years of neglect.

[Eddie Honda]

I have a white bag thing for the back, it ruins the lines so i will sell it to fund the purchase of the bike 

What's the zip like? Might be interested for my long term projects.

 

Of course I know where everything is:

[Eddie Honda]

I have a Moulton, although it's badged as a Triang.

 

It needs new tyres so it's currently on hold while I wait for a pair of 14 x 1 3/8 tyres to come up at a sensible price.

A Triang Junior 1970 - "under Moulton licence" as the tail stickers said.

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/392124112404

 

What's not to like about these Taiwanese beauties brought to you by the Shyh-Hwa Rubber Ind Co Ltd?

 

£18 for pair? Sir needs to stop making excuses. Get 'em bought!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

When i was a cool*  teenager aged 13 or so until i leared to drive, my bike of choice was a Moulton Deluxe i bought of an old lady.  I loved that bike, in fact i still have its remains under a bush somehere.  Today i got  another. 1 owner from new in 1970, been in a shed for about 40 years.  I am super pleased with it, and I don't really like bikes...nor cyclists.   its very "me" though.

 

moulton 3.jpg

 

moulton2.jpg

 

moulton.jpg

 

Moulton designed the rubber suspension system on Mini and then later the hydrolastic suspension on 1100 /allegro etc.   There is even a link to shite 

When all our mates had Choppers or racers , me my brother got one of these each in 1971. Luckily there was a comic at the time where a group of kids solved mystery sand fought crime on similar small wheeled bikes.

We both managed to snap the frame, just behind the seat post . Looked much cooler with a big messy weld and red oxide painted over the repair. The fuckers wouldn't die , even years later when we had better bikes or even when I had a Fizzy they were still being abused round the yard and field by the whole family.

[NorthernMonkey]

Wow. On a train to Preston and the girl in the seat opposite has just finished her conversation with the word ‘ciao’!

[wuvvum]

Wow. On a train to Preston and the girl in the seat opposite has just finished her conversation with the word ‘ciao’!

Surely that should be in the grump thread?

[wuvvum]

A Triang Junior 1970 - "under Moulton licence" as the tail stickers said.

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/392124112404

 

What's not to like about these Taiwanese beauties brought to you by the Shyh-Hwa Rubber Ind Co Ltd?

 

£18 for pair? Sir needs to stop making excuses. Get 'em bought!

I am not riding a bike with white tyres!!!

 

Seriously though, I'm actually holding out in the hope that a pair of NOS Raleigh Records come up cheap - I have those (in 26" form) on my Wayfarer and they're brilliant.

[NorthernMonkey]

Surely that should be in the grump thread?

Nah, it amused me greatly. Little things and all that.

 

It actually got better...she then made another call and asked the recipient to get her a dairy free latte, she’d be there in ten minutes. In Preston FFS. Hilarious.

[Eddie Honda]

I am not riding a bike with white tyres!!!

 

Mud will sort that out.

[The Moog]

Uni really have their shit together.

 

There's fake tax refund spam emails on the internal email system.

 

I think that is targeting unis as we have got that at the moment going round. Probably relying new students to spread it (ignoring the fact that most students dont open any emails ... ever) 

[kinkersaab]

What's the zip like? Might be interested for my long term projects.

 

Of course I know where everything is:

IMG_20181011_135732.jpg

 

it doesn't have a zip.  just a buckle and a couple of press studs.  made by E Arrowsmith.  for a piece of 50 odd year old cardboard and shitty white stuff its in remarkable condition...still looks shit though 

[Parky]

Big interview was today. Bloody tough going but made it to the other side. Thought I did alright but obviously I am not making the decision. Reckon my lack of past experience in that area might be an issue compared with other candidates but we will find out soon enough. They did ask for references at the end though, maybe a positive?

 

It’s a grin because tonight I don’t have to worry about it or write materials or do research. Tonight will consist of a takeaway and a long session with Breaking Bad because I have bloody well earned it.

 

In other news - popped to see a mate and scored a months work, then a quick coffee with another one has lined something else up after that potentially. So if the good one doesn’t pan out, I have stuff to keep me going to the end of the year or so

[cobblers]

I overheard a conversation today in which a colleague spent a decent amount of time and effort trying to explain to someone how somewhere could in the south end of Northern Ireland. "But how can it be in the south if its in the north?"

 

She absolutely couldn't comprehend this until it clicked with me that she didn't realise that North and South were "directions" as well as regions. She's in her mid-20s.

We used google maps to try and help illustrate this, and I ended up mentioning that France is a lot closer to us than Ireland. My colleague mentioned the Channel Tunnel to her, and she didn't believe it was real.

"What? a tunnel? Underwater? Won't it flood? How do the cars see where they are going?"

[Eddie Honda]

it doesn't have a zip.  just a buckle and a couple of press studs.  made by E Arrowsmith.  for a piece of 50 odd year old cardboard and shitty white stuff its in remarkable condition...still looks shit though 

 

I see, mine must be posh one...

 

 

And yes, I found my very tired "Top Gear" brand knitback driving gloves I bought from the Co-op in c.1992.

 

 

 

[Datsuncog]

^^ What's even better is trying to explain how some parts* of Southern Ireland are more northerly than Northern Ireland.

 

 

*Donegal.

[cobblers]

Re reading that it sounds like some bullshit urban legend story, but it really did happen. I'd have presumed she was winding us up if she didn't have form.

[wuvvum]

Tonight will consist of a long session with Breaking Bad because I have bloody well earned it.

Is that a euphemism for smoking meth?