What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[Guest]

Been fiddling with some HDR software at full strength thanks to a cheeky serial generator. I've wanted to be able to process HDR for ages. I've been applying it to some old shots and I'm not sure about it.

 

 

I still don't think it's a substitute for being able to compose a decent shot in the first place. For me the mise-en-scene is critical, and makes up around 80% of the shot's perceived quality. Some of the post process colours came out a bit weird, so I fiddled with them again in GIMP. It can take me up to ten minutes to properly sort a shot out anyway. Were I to incorporate HDR into every shot the time taken would probably double again.

 

It's nice to know I have the kit to do it now, if needed.

[Negative Creep]

What is it NC??????

 

 

Ah, now that will spoil the surprise/subsequent apathetic disappointment

[ashmicro]

You have PM, Wat.

[Guest]

And the HDR clusterfuckery continues.

 

[Guest]

I will stop twatsing around now.

 

[Guest]

Last one. Promise.

 

[ashmicro]

Boiling hot day here today. Our binmen have to wear hi vis vests, but two of them have hit on the idea of wearing the dayglo yellow Chelsea away shirts.

[Negative Creep]

Sub £300 fully comp insurance quotes

 

 

 

Does anyone know off the top of their head who still does drive any vehicle cover?

[dollywobbler]

Understood they were all trying to phase that out. Not that big a deal really. When I was doing the driving trip around France in the BX, I just added my mate to my policy and took him off at renewal (to avoid another admin charge).

[RoadworkUK]

I think it's a bit of a pain in the arse, to be honest.

 

It just makes things more complicated. Means that I can't offer to drive if my mate / dad / girlfriend needs a kip on a long journey, unless I take the trouble to arrange cover specifically beforehand. Means you can't have a go of your mates new car, means you can't borrow the works van to take a load of shit to the tip....

 

However, it will generate revenue. So that's OK.

[eddyramrod]

Our binmen have to wear hi vis vests, /... the dayglo yellow Chelsea away shirts.

 

Binmen are getting paid much better than when I was one then! Who can afford to wear rip-off football shirts for work at a dirty job instead of the (presumably issued free) hi-vis vest? I know which I'd be in...

[cobblers]

Now I'm 25, Aidy Flux let me drive anything I want. The policy was a bit dearer than it would have otherwise been (they used a different broker) but it was about £40 on a £360 policy for a 160bhp mk2 golf so I had their hand off.

 

 

What makes me grin? I bought a plotter (for making stickers, yo. HIT ME UP if you want fido didos or a backflash for an ambassador or even some that say england in that really shit italic font that seem to be on 85% of vectras on council estates).

 

Typically as soon as I've got the gear I'm at a loss for what do to with it. Hilarious sticker ideas ran dry at "Objects in mirror appear unhindered by speed bumps" which I don't even think was my idea to start with.

[Cavcraft]

Just spent a very enjoyable couple of hours in the company of Warren T Claim, countless disgusting, over-priced old knackers and a nice cup of tea.

Some LOLAGE occurred at the prices of such shit as a nasty looking V6 Hyundai and a bloody nice E36 more door. Came away empty handed though as what looked quite interesting was just too much money.

[warren t claim]

Just spent a very enjoyable couple of hours in the company of Warren T Claim, countless disgusting, over-priced old knackers and a nice cup of tea.

Some LOLAGE occurred at the prices of such shit as a nasty looking V6 Hyundai and a bloody nice E36 more door. Came away empty handed though as what looked quite interesting was just too much money.

Thanks for the company! I'm sorry we left empty handed though.

 

The punter who stuck his hand up at £550 on the E36 as the auctioneer was counting down from £700 deserved a good slap for being so stupid.

 

Still pissed off about missing the £400 Celica .

£650 for a tidy 8v Astra on an 02 plate seemed like a missed opportunity as well. It was a punter friendly colour too.

[Cavcraft]

There will be other auctions and other times Mr Claim! Going there tonight brought back many happy memories and I have a feeling the bug will start to bite again soon.

[warren t claim]

There will be other auctions and other times Mr Claim! Going there tonight brought back many happy memories and I have a feeling the bug will start to bite again soon.

 

I hope it does! The buzz you get of bidding blind on a sub £500 part ex is akin to playing poker. And just as risky.

[ChinaTom]

13:00 today A1 southbound between P'boro and Huntingdon. Beige Allegro following a primer grey Rover P4 following a tatty old red/brown Tatra 613. Made my day.

[catsinthewelder]

That auction sounds like fun

 

I keep meaning to visit our local establishment but I work permanent twilight shift

 

All our insurance policy's have come with "drive other cars" this year which has come as a surprise as we've never had it before on anything. The BX is on a normal car policy with CIS who were the cheapest that weren't Adrian Flux or Tesco who have both irritated me recently.

 

The Dub and the 1100 are on classic policy's with Heritage (Chaucer) and Lancaster.

 

I seem to remember that the deal clincher from CIS was a promise of no admin charges on changes to the policy, I'll test this later in the week by putting the VW on this policy instead as its got recovery. I know there's some issue if you're insured by two company's at once but I'll consider that their problem rather than mine

[scaryoldcortina]

Here is a rare post, praising a PCSO

 

Yesterday, I was shopping in asda, used one of their awful self-service tills and got £10 cash back on my card. As I was finishing packing and paying, a local mong started talking to me about his fiat and I got distracted trying to get rid of him. Basically, I walked away from the till with my £10 still sitting in the tray. Of course, 10 seconds later I realized, turned round and went back, but no tenner (and no-one using the till) so I asked the assistant. She got the security guard, who checked the CCTV, which showed a young lad walk round the back of me and take the tenner. They told me to call the police, then they could do something. I popped into the police station on the way home, and reported it, although I wasn't expecting much. Today at work I got a phone call from a PCSO saying that they have viewed the CCTV, identified the culprit and did I want to press charges or would a bollocking and the tenner back do. I said the latter, so a 15 year old (with no record) got a shoeing in front of his mam and I got my ten pounds back. His excuse was that he thought it had just been "forgotten" and was OK to take. He knows better now.

[cms206]

There's a rather sooty Cavalier outside my house pissing unknown fluids on the driveway after a faultless drive from the beautiful south east of Scotland...

 

NEIGHBOURS BE HATIN'...

[scaryoldcortina]

Andy, you're no different than Cundolini, really, who merely wanted his hand back.... no need for cops and all that rot. Such a waste...

 

 

Norm, for the first time in my entire life, the cops did something about it, quickly, efficiently and as far as I can see sensibly. Besides, they wouldn't tell me who it was.

[scaryoldcortina]

Norm, we've had words about the lyrics already.

 

#keeping the mike warm 'gainst the Norm

[Station]

He knows better now.

 

I've done that a couple of times (nearly everytime). They need to put it in a better place, it's nearly by your knee.

[scaryoldcortina]

Right turn, Clyde.....

[scaryoldcortina]

Only works in a LHD pick-up truck. You'd get a maw full of hairy simian paw on your merry island with that line!

 

 

No, round here that line means "that guy over there looks like an orang-utang"

[Pete-M]

I'd forgotten all about Clyde. Nice one dudes. Perfect avatar for a big ginger dude.

[cort16]

There's a rather sooty Cavalier outside my house pissing unknown fluids on the driveway after a faultless drive from the beautiful south east of Scotland...

 

NEIGHBOURS BE HATIN'...

 

Ah, I'm glad someone bought that as seemed like a bargain. Is the back of your t-shirt and trousers sooty from the return journey?

[Cavcraft]

+1.

 

I reckon my missus would have finally flipped if I'd gone all the way up there to save that. Nice work CMS!

[cms206]

Cheers guys; despite wearing a white t-shirt (was half way there when I realised) I am remarkably soot free - the seat is caked, but it won't come off that easily so top points to Vauxhall for stain retention.

 

I can confirm it is a sweet as Garry said, pretty free revving for having indeterminate servicing history, drives straight, stops straight, not a squeak, rattle or bang from anywhere and everything works except the heater motor. Other than a strange fluid leak which manifested itself last night on arrival at Chez CMS it seems to be pretty much all there and it is better than the pics suggested. Need to check timing belt as the last note of it being changed was at 54k 12 years ago; I'd assume it's been done, but I want to be sure.

 

I'm assured by a mechanic mate of mine that brake cleaner is the stuff to use to clean the seats but I don't know if I'm that brave, so I'll be bunging seat covers on for the time being.

 

 

Cheers also to Garry for his hospitality despite me being pushed for time to get back, "TOP SELLAR WUD DEIL AGEN A1++++++++"

[Cavcraft]

Water based brake cleaner would probably work (and it does alloy wheels nicely too) but the best gear can be had from Brown Bros if you have one near you. Mix it with (hot) water, scrub it in then either let it dry 'au natural' or get a wet and dry vac on it. Or take them out and jet wash them of course.

 

Can't think of an Achille's heel with leaking fluids though sorry, could only guess at something like power steering fluid. If it's like a Mk3 Astra the pipes on the bulkhead can 'go' but they're ridiculously simple to change and dirt cheap from a scrapyard.

Heater motor another job I'm not aware of being a common problem but this would hopefully mean sourcing a decent second hand one shouldn't be a problem.

Anyhow looking forward to the pictures!