Baldbloke

Well that’s not too bad considering my old nails[emoji1303]

Just wondering whether this applies to existing petrol and diesel vehicles or just new ones? The article isn’t too clear over whether it’s new rules for all or just new rules for new cars. If it’s a massive hike for all, what’s to stop you cashing in your remaining duty and renewing a month before to at least get 11 months at the present rip off rate? New car tax rules penalise every petrol or diesel car driver APPLE.NEWS Vehicle Excise Duty rates rise from April 11

🤣 it has happened

I tend to keep my diesel cars for years and have had tuning boxes on three at present without issues. The one on my Mercedes 3 ltr V6 has been on for 56,000 miles, and gives a noticeable boost to the original claimed 224 bhp, although I haven’t put it on a rolling road to check. I have checked the fuel consumption however, which with moderated driving does not seem to have deteriorated. 37 mpg on a trip to the South of France and back was not too bad considering it was mainly at higher speeds. That was checked against fuel receipts and actual mileage. I also have two VW Tiguans, one a 150 and the other a 140 bhp. Ones done 35,000 miles with the box and the others done 21,000 miles. The box on the lower powered Tiguan has had the added benefit of curing or disguising the unmodified car’s occasional former stutter. Both are considerably quicker and fuel consumption on both is 44 mpg + on a run of over 20 miles. My lower powered one occasionally exceeds 50 mpg if I’m stuck in slower traffic. None of the boxes are removed for an MOT test. I’m a bit of a fan of them, like the price for the performance and like that you can remove them for eventual selling.

About 20 years ago my good previous employer insisted that I did a basic saw course in spite of having been paid by the tonnage for many years previously. This to satisfy insurance employment criteria. That did tidy up a few of my previous poor habits. Windfall with scenarios of multiple stems interlinked, being within them and trying to figure out compression and tension loadings while clearing up the mess has probably been one of the dodgiest times. Tiredness and shedding out peripheral hairy ancient large spruces has in the past seen occasional contents of the interior stuffing of the safety trousers doing circuits of the saw bar. But, to date, thank goodness, no losses or cuts except on occasion a slip with a sharpening file.

Very true. She’s stood by me through some tricky times so I’d be loath to upset her by being unreasonable. My other bikes are travel limiting to me too. 200 miles is a big trip on the Thunderbird Sport, and I’m glad to get off the sports bike after 50 miles. The Guzzi is sofa comfy with zero discomfort after a number of miles. Proper old fashioned deep seat with room to move.

Fair enough! I’ve been known to go too far on occasion.

Good point about the State Pension. The ‘mansion’ will cover itself as long as the wind turbine behaves and keeps generating income. I’d aim to do the trip quicker than in 2 years, although Chris may wish to not be in such a hurry. It’s really about my wife, job, Covid, health and the encouragement to get my arse into gear. Social issues??

1. Been lucky there. 2. Absolutely. 3. Spot on! So are some of the Jordanian women. Tourists covered that mutual need[emoji1303] 4. Yes, saw 46 C in Eilat.

Thank you for the reminder! Probably better than cash in the bank if you get to use it.

I like your thinking. Maybe I should try for an unpaid sabbatical effort, although I can’t see them being too impressed[emoji3]

The age of the bike is not an issue and it’s actually more repairable than a fuel injected ECU operated more modern bike. Carburettors and points can usually get you home and are more bodgeable than a circuit board. Supposedly Boorman and McGregor has backup bikes and a full crew in case of mishaps. I have done 600 mile daily trips on good roads on my old Guzzi. She sits comfortably at 85 and will top 120 if asked as well as returning 50 mpg + at the lower speed. I do have more modern 25 year old bikes but would be more concerned at their reliability. We did get invited to a Kibbutz but were deemed a bad materialistic (bikes) influence to the workers and asked to leave. But I did like the Israelis and still keep in contact with a couple. Your experience in israel will be something you’d always remember. Can’t remember which Kibbutz it was[emoji1312]

I’d love to, but (rather like many others on this forum) have worked from a young age outside, and know that I may struggle to do the things I can presently do by the time a worthwhile NHS pension kicks in. Because of my ignorance through not filling in the appropriate paperwork or being able to prove working in NZ, Australia, France and Germany -to name a few, I am short of 9 years of U.K. state pension. Totally my fault, and the belief that I’d live forever, and that my Dad was wrong.[emoji3]

I have been told that by my friends[emoji1303]

Following on from my last post and talking about coincidences, one of the doctors I occasionally drive in an out of hour capacity in his youth guided tourists around the Middle East in a truck within a year of me doing the same thing, also as a guide, but on motorcycles. We both had similar scary experiences too🤣

Bit of a quandary at the moment. When I was a youngster in my 20s I used to guide tourists (by motorcycle) around the Middle East and sometimes over the Atlas Mountains (Morocco) and down through the Western Sahara towards Senegal. I lived abroad as a kid, went to boarding school from six, and was chucked out of Rannoch school in the highlands by 15. At 17 I worked my way around NZ and Aus, and couldn’t settle for a while after that, hence why I did a fair bit of travel. Motorbikes were my thing, and still are. 43 years ago I was travelling alone and having gone through the then shithole of the former Yugoslavia (having met up with an old friend who was then working in Belgrade) I decided I would go down to meet other friends in Athens. However, in Northern Greece another bike traveller stopped when he noticed my U.K. plates. He was off to Australia, and because my pockets were flush with cash from doing a stint in a German stone quarry, I said I’d go along with him for a while. We had a great time but got stuck in Israel as the surrounding Arab countries wouldn’t let us out of Israel and into their countries with our own transport. You could only leave Israel by foot or by public transport as a tourist and only if you’d been sensible enough to not have your passport stamped on initial entry into Israel. We did try a few very dodgy but unsuccessful entries in spite of this issue. I left my friend shortly afterwards as my bike was needing a rebuild having done 25,000 miles in less than 7 months. Chris went back to a Greek island and then onto Syria, but then went onto Cape Town in South Africa rather than his original destination of Australia. Pretty unheard of in those days doing a solo trip down the east side of conflict raging Africa. Crossing the Namibian Desert and with 600 mile fuel un-availability being the least of it. Within a year of doing that remarkable trip on a large road bike he completed North and South America too. Chris Donaldson’s book on this is called ‘Going the wrong way.’ Within the first couple of chapters you’ll realise that this chap is truthful, honest and doesn’t embellish his story in spite of it often sounding like fiction. I highly recommend it if you’re into travel or just to read an exciting book! I’m Jeff in the book as in my immature youth hated my given Christian name. He’s now been back in touch and wants to complete his original wish of travelling to Australia on the exact same bike he travelled on through Africa, the Americas and Russia. His bike is a slightly modified 1978 Moto Guzzi Le Mans. His travelling companion this time, lost his bottle in the Middle East and has returned home. He now wants me to join him on my equally ancient Moto Guzzi. The trouble is, I’m 63, married and have a well paid secure job so would lose it and any chance at building a pension. I’d also have to cover the cost of running my home in my absence, my travel costs, as well as trying to keep the long suffering wife happy, by trying to fly her out to wherever we were for occasion visits. I know I’ll regret not doing this and in spite of needing another new hip and other arthritic bollocks know this is something that’ll top up my life experiences with which to look back on when I can no longer function as presently. What would you do[emoji848]

Will Alder grow in warmer Central France?

Was down from the NE of Scotland to London on my oldest 42 year old bike and visited Ace Cafe and the centre of the city. Nice to know you can breeze through on an old timer while giving a finger to these charges. A number of years ago being totally oblivious to these charges I went through a similar place along the bus lane wondering why everyone was queuing in the snow. Must have been lucky in my hire car as never got anything unpleasant in the post.

What about a compromise like a secondhand VW Tiguan? Not too shabby on the 4WD and a diesel will do 45/50 mpg with a bit of performance. They started making them in 2008 so something reasonable should be available. Mine occasionally drags logs in as well.Remember that whether you’re young, or not, a commercial vehicle will sting you for insurance compared to a car.

Good point on the controls for multiple heat/wind etc. although I have plenty of ways to use up our generation and heat, it still requires manual input to either turn valves or throw switches to get the best out of it. I should have also said previously that the biomass boiler and associated install has been 100% reliable over the last 8 years,- unlike the temperamental wind turbine[emoji849]

With modern LEDs your electric bill for lights alone will be minimal. Probably best to have solar roof pipes that directly feed into your hot water immersion tank to save on heating water, as the subsidy for electric isn’t really worth the effort nowadays.

Like Drax, where they import wood for fuel from abroad using boats and marine diesel? Sounds a bit like electric cars with diesel generators.

Totally hopeless and wouldn’t have gone there without the payback. Most things Green have a lot to answer for, and few would entertain going Green with the hassle unless they were incentivised.

Wasn’t involved in that crock of shit, but yes, I got in trouble from my wife when I shouted at Geldof and the other well meaning idiots on the telly. I was more involved in West Africa where necessary items (pipe work, pumps and medical stuff) were sent directly. That was largely a waste of time too as the Customs men needed their cut (cash or essential items from the containers) and the the locals would soon lose or break anything that was installed. Corruption, greed and darwinism in action. The Chinese and Indians understand this and that’s why they’re successful businessmen, in a small part, in that continent.