The grumpy thread

[Parky]

And global warming etc.

I recycle only if my ordinary grey bin is full and generally do fuck all about being green.

Why?

Because I live under the paraffin trail of EMA,

Anything I do is rendered a total waste of time by the Ryanair that circuits the airport constantly,

Never mind the ones that are actually going anywhere.

 

 

and that is why I dont believe in Global warming ,

 

if we are in such dire danger ,  

 

things that cause damage should be banned  , not taxed

Fair points well made. After all there is no point driving a Tesla, charged exclusively with solar and wind power if airlines and big business pump millions of tons of Shite into the atmosphere.

 

However, the times they are a changing. Commitments to Kyoto mean we have to substantially reduce our CO2 production. Whilst solar or electric planes are Pie in the Sky right now, there’s lots we can do on terra firma to reduce waste and pollution. Don’t get me wrong, i am no mega greenie just yet but increasingly I am starting to see that plastic in the sea isn’t not a good look. Melting ice caps, warming seas and land masses are going to create issues we can’t accurately predict yet.

 

On one hand, if the uk gets a few degrees warmer we will have excellent wines. But will our usual staple crops cope? What sort of new fish species will we have to eat when the North Sea warms up? Will swathes of Southern Europeans be forced north as droughts affect food production?

 

Or will everything be ok and life will continue as it always has. It might not affect us, it might not even affect our kids but I still stand by a previous comment that filling the air with CO2 isn’t a brilliant idea and just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean we have to.

 

I look at the US. They could have such a brilliant renewable power supply with enough coastline and desert to create a massive wind and solar industry. That won’t change under the current administration, or the next few but sooner or later someone less enamoured by big business will get in and it will change. I hope it happens here soon. We are doing a lot of cool stuff (I work at a firm that funds start ups, concentrating on energy efficiency and clean power) which is all highly exportable but it’s not going to happen without “proper” support. Not just government money but businesses and individuals embracing it.

 

It doesn’t have to mean our lives really have to change. Paper bags instead of plastic, electricity from a turbine rather than a coal powered plant, electric cars, solar panels on our houses and battery packs to capture energy to store and use later. It’s actually really exciting!

[MikeR]

genetics and dna engineering seems to be taking off in a big way , they will just make plants that can cope ...

 

try to fix in 5 years what nature has built up over eon's

[Saabnut]

Waiting on the AA in the middle of nowhere as the Discovery of Doom has FTPed again

[drum]

Waiting on the AA in the middle of nowhere as the Discovery of Doom has FTPed again

Where are you Nick?

[sierraman]

Spent a harrowing half hour underneath the Focus attempting to separate the back box from the centre section as it's rattling due to a loose baffle (I think). It saw no reason to part company so I felt disinclined to continue lying underneath like some sort of bastard. It can wait until it starts blowing then someone with a lift and overalls that aren't just dirty from spilling coffee on them can have the pleasure.

 

Instead, I poked at the rear arches to reveal a bit of rust, just surface fortunately and was expecting much worse. Top coat tomorrow whereupon I shall have effected an invisible* repair.

 

Gritters have been out this week despite it being nowhere near freezing at any point, today and yesterday have been lovely. I absolutely fucking hate road salt.

Good luck with separating the box, I’d be tempted to cut it just before the joint then grind back the remaining bits.

[Parky]

genetics and dna engineering seems to be taking off in a big way , they will just make plants that can cope ...

 

try to fix in 5 years what nature has built up over eon's

They? All those scientists enjoying massive government financial support working 24/7 developing these new GM crops capable of surviving a changing landscape? If that’s actually happening on a big enough scale then I am happy to hear it.

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505308/bis-16-160-allocation-science-research-funding-2016-17-2019-20.pdf

 

£26bn being spent on science. Over the next couple of years. That’s a shitload of money. Or is it? That figure represents approximately 3 months NHS budget. And I am not sure that’s enough to safeguard food and energy supplies while ensuring our lifestyles remain relatively consistent.

 

We may have to agree to disagree on this one MikeR but I have to say I hope you are right and i’m not. Thing is we won’t know for years and by the time we do, you and I might not be here to claim victory!

[Tadhg Tiogar]

I think we should let the cows decide, it's their world too.

The cows in India may demand a postal vote.

[MikeR]

another grand indicator of global warming  BS ,

 

is the fact they are going to build some 800 houses around here on flood plain land that is just above sea level .....and has flooded in heavy rain

 

if I saw 800 houses being built as a new town on the side of Snowdon , I would start to believe the hype ..

 

 

this is our local river out to sea a few years back ...

 

yep we can build more houses next to that !!!!

 

just dont mention the thing that never officially happened  ,

 

untill I passed on the photos of the pumps doing over pumping of flood water

 

 

not that any of the yes men lie !!

 

 

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Fair points well made. After all there is no point driving a Tesla, charged exclusively with solar and wind power if airlines and big business pump millions of tons of Shite into the atmosphere.

However, the times they are a changing. Commitments to Kyoto mean we have to substantially reduce our CO2 production. Whilst solar or electric planes are Pie in the Sky right now, there’s lots we can do on terra firma to reduce waste and pollution. ....

The impression I get is that China and India aren't too keen on having all this imposed on them, as it hampers their inexorable economic power. Anyone who has visited Beijing or Delhi in recent years may have something to say about air quality....

[Parky]

Somebody somewhere has decided that building on a flood plain is perfectly fine. The people responsible will be a council official and a housing developer.

 

One needs housing for tenants, the other has a financial interest in building the houses.

 

Climate change bullshit or not, I doubt the parties involved have looked at the long term risks. I wouldn’t buy a house on a flood plain based on assurances from a council official or a house builder as neither will be around when the houses start moving.

 

Saw it in NZ. Lovely houses built cheaply on swampy land. After the earthquake, most were leaning drunkenly like sinking ships as they literally sank. All had to be demolished with the area then declared as unfit for housing. Bit late for the homeowners.

[Parky]

The impression I get is that China and India aren't too keen on having all this imposed on them, as it hampers their inexorable economic power. Anyone who has visited Beijing or Delhi in recent years may have something to say about air quality....

Agreed. Price of industrialisation but they at least have our experiences to learn from. And they will take action when the population starts dropping like flies

 

Pea Souper anyone?

[Tamworthbay]

Thought I'd done quite well with the not buying. Apart from the Rover 45 and the Dolomite. 

 

The i10 is up for sale though!

By your standards you have been amazing mate, your resistance has surprised me on several,occasions, but just remind me how many cars you have had in the last ten years?

[Tamworthbay]

Agreed. Price of industrialisation but they at least have our experiences to learn from. And they will take action when the population starts dropping like flies

Pea Souper anyone?

I think a major problem with the CO2 reduction argument is that so many people are looking for a simple, cheap and BIG answer whereas the reality is that what is needed is everyone to do their bit. Some areas will be easier to reduce whereas ones like aerospace as you mention have bigger challenges but the new wide body planes are helping a bit. A proper integrated high speed public transport system is what is really needed and I don’t mean the HS2 crap. For example If someone could get from London to Edinburgh in four to five hours on a train for a sensible amount of money in a comfyish seat then the number of short haul flights would fall.

[Bazfr69]

Agreed. Price of industrialisation but they at least have our experiences to learn from. And they will take action when the population starts dropping like flies

Pea Souper anyone?

Will they though?

 

Neither are exactly renowned for compassion towards their poorer citizens.

[Saabnut]

Where are you Nick?

Muir of Fowlis near Alford. AA man has been and baffled. Now awaiting the big yellow taxi to take me home

[anonymous user]

 

Climate change bullshit or not, I doubt the parties involved have looked at the long term risks.

 

 

As someone who used to work in flood risk management I beg to differ. The risks and probabilities will most certainly have been looked at, including the likely frequency and consequences, including allowances for increased rainfall.

 

If you want to read a bit about it PPG25 in England and TAN15 in Wales deal with Planning Policy with regard to Flood Risk

 

People have always lived next to water, there will always be flooding, you can reduce and manage the risks, but never remove them entirely.

 

Would I live next to a river? No, I'm risk averse and live on a hill, If the culverted watercourse under the road ever failed the water would follow the road past my house, the people at the bottom of the hill might be in trouble, but I'd be ok. The liklihood of this occurring is extremely low.

[Parky]

As someone who used to work in flood risk management I beg to differ. The risks and probabilities will most certainly have been looked at, including the likely frequency and consequences, including allowances for increased rainfall.

If you want to read a bit about it PPG25 in England and TAN15 in Wales deal with Planning Policy with regard to Flood Risk

People have always lived next to water, there will always be flooding, you can reduce and manage the risks, but never remove them entirely.

Would I live next to a river? No, I'm risk averse and live on a hill, If the culverted watercourse under the road ever failed the water would follow the road past my house, the people at the bottom of the hill might be in trouble, but I'd be ok. The liklihood of this occurring is extremely low.

Excellent, a pro! Is there a timescale that councils look at for this sort of thing? For example do they consider something “safe” if the 25 year predictions are ok or do they go much further?

[catsinthewelder]

I think a major problem with the CO2 reduction argument is that so many people are looking for a simple, cheap and BIG answer whereas the reality is that what is needed is everyone to do their bit. Some areas will be easier to reduce whereas ones like aerospace as you mention have bigger challenges but the new wide body planes are helping a bit. A proper integrated high speed public transport system is what is really needed and I don’t mean the HS2 crap. For example If someone could get from London to Edinburgh in four to five hours on a train for a sensible amount of money in a comfyish seat then the number of short haul flights would fall.

 

HS2 is basically a bypass for the busy southern bits of the mainlines that run north out of London.  These lines are running at capacity and improvements to them would be very expensive.  Yes it is costing £billions but so would any approach other than ignoring it, the Newtown bypass cost nearly £100 million FFS.  They could build a slow twisty line that did the same job for slightly less but it wouldn't have as much capacity and would be less help in getting people off short haul flights.

 

In car related news I put 2 new tyres on the 405 on Thursday.  We have a tyrefitters right next to work but I don't like them so try to use the one on the other side of town that don't have much space.  Bearing this in mind I put the back of the 405 up on blocks and drove the wheels over in a little Suzuki which needed fuel, congratulating myself for saving time doing 2 jobs at once. 

 

Obviously this went tits up as on getting back I spotted that 2 of the Suzukis tyres were knackered and it was due out in 3 hours.  A quick call confirmed they had suitable boots and could fit them straight away so the other lad drove it over and walked back.  The following hour passed quickly with lots happening and the other lad was dragged out with customers needing something from the other site.  Within moments of him going a Romanian plated truck arrived outside with a delivery from Denmark.  It was boxed furniture which needed to go into one of the vans and he wouldn't bring the truck into the yard so I was sent dashing round moving neighbours vehicles so we could back the van up to it without blocking entrances.  As I was there on my own I put the cordless phone in my pocket in case anyone called.  Helpfully the customer arrived 40 mins early to collect the car so was sat down with a cuppa in the office while I ran up and down the artic carefully* filling the van with chairs, 'sir, you must take pallets too',  right FFS chuck pallets in 'Sir must take strapping too',  Right FFS in it flew, 'get the lad inside to sign for it'  I called as I shot off in the now full Luton to fetch the Suzuki from the tyrefitters.  Was it ready?  of course it wasn't.  As I walked back outside the mobile rang, 'have you got the phone? its going mental and I can't find it'  FFS.  It all worked out in the end but why does everything happen at once?

[anonymous user]

Excellent, a pro! Is there a timescale that councils look at for this sort of thing? For example do they consider something “safe” if the 25 year predictions are ok or do they go much further?

It's all about probabilities, you can map extents/depths based on various criteria (rainfalls in different milimetres per hour, velocities, topography, etc.) For vulnerable development (houses, hospitals, old people's homes) the probability of flooding should be less than 1 in 100 in any year. You have to make an allowance that even with a 30% increase in rainfall that this would still be true. Flooding from the sea needs the consideration of a less than 1 in 200 probability, there is an allowance for sea level rise. (Storm surges are another matter.) One of the common misconceptions is where flood defences are referred to as 100 year defences, this does not mean you won't flood for a hundred years, it means you have a one in one hundred chance that you may flood in any year. I could go on and on, but I will probably bore everybody. Developers are being encouraged to build in more flood resilience to properties and drainage systems are now designed to ensure that properties should stay flood free from surface water in the 1 in 100 event.

[Saabnut]

Still waiting on the big yellow taxi - now delayed for a further 40 mins FFS!

[beko1987]

It's apt that the numberplate says psa...

 

Have a go on those swings behind you whilst you wait

[John F]

Oh bugger...

 

What's gone wrong with it?

[LightBulbFun]

I can testify to them lasting well. This one has been doing solid service in a back bedroom, now my wife’s office, since the mid 80s.

 

6599E1E9-5B7A-43BB-A056-BEB8706F8C85.jpeg

 

PM me your address and you can have it. Sadly I don’t think I still have the box.

 

Thank you thats very kind of you

 

Le PM has been sent

[chaseracer]

^ This place, etc. 

[beko1987]

 

I can offer this posted for free if you like? Could challenge you to get it working again!

[John F]

Today's grump: the first bastarding ice cream van of the year is currently prowling around the neighbourhood, raising my blood pressure with its crappy, tinny redition of "Greensleeves".

[Tamworthbay]

Mmmm ice cream..........

[dozeydustman]

Just pulled into Clackett lane because the girls need the khasi.

 

Why are lanes 2,3 and 4 of this bit of the M25 running at 60-65mph and lane 1 empty save the odd lorry?

 

I hate the M25

[purplebargeken]

Plan for today: Triumph tinkering.

 

Reality: fixing leaking generator with aquarium PVC pipe for now. 

 

Will a bit of silicone hose be okay?

[John F]

Mmmm ice cream..........

 

Don't encourage the bastards, ffs!