What's made you smile today?

[StevenRB45]

Was giving the C3 it's once a season wash...

Now washing this car generally gives me the irrational rage as I know so much of the cosmetic issues it has are from sheer negligence.

Apparently I must have been quietly raging under my breath as my son wandered over, took the wash mitt off me and started washing.



While washing the car he was telling it..."its OK, its OK..."

 

[portland_bill]

A while ago I bought a weed burner, just for the cracks in the driveway. Finished the gas a few days ago, felt sure I had a spare, searched the garage, couldn't find it.

Yesterday, while out and about, collected a couple more. Today, wandered into the garage, thought, "now where would be the right place to store these?", decided, and found my spare.

Next time, I wonder if I'll remember?

 

[Cheest]

A while ago I bought a weed burner, just for the cracks in the driveway. Finished the gas a few days ago, felt sure I had a spare, searched the garage, couldn't find it.

Yesterday, while out and about, collected a couple more. Today, wandered into the garage, thought, "now where would be the right place to store these?", decided, and found my spare.

Next time, I wonder if I'll remember?

Been there, done that.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

A while ago I bought a weed burner, just for the cracks in the driveway. Finished the gas a few days ago, felt sure I had a spare, searched the garage, couldn't find it.

Yesterday, while out and about, collected a couple more. Today, wandered into the garage, thought, "now where would be the right place to store these?", decided, and found my spare.

Next time, I wonder if I'll remember?

I have not been able to find my favourite Stanley knife (box cutter) for over two years and it's been very frustrating. Bought a new one but it just doesn't feel "right" in my hand. Anyway, now got a small plaster crack in the living room wall to fix - Mrs j won't let me rest until it's gone so easier just to do it and avoid the acrimony - Up high on one of the shelves in my garage is my box of decorating stuff. Pulled it down and there, right on top of everything else, is the knife! I'm quite disproportionately pleased to have found it but, for the life of me, I can't remember putting it in that box or even remember when I last had that box down off the shelf - Decorating being one of my most hated tasks!

It's not unknown for me to briefly "loose" tools I've just been using not five minutes previously when working on the cars. I think it's just all part of getting old.

 

[mowermender70]

i know just how you feel paj couple a nights ago woke up thinking my feet were out of the bottom of the bed.SO I GOT OUT AND TUCKED THEM IN. and it was not friday 13th. cannot say much at the moment but clearing out the shed found my 3.800wat generator i only used it once . a job for later????

 

[PuntoHowTo]

The view today made me smile, at about 5500 feet

 

[portland_bill]

I have not been able to find my favourite Stanley knife (box cutter) for over two years and it's been very frustrating. Bought a new one but it just doesn't feel "right" in my hand. Anyway, now got a small plaster crack in the living room wall to fix - Mrs j won't let me rest until it's gone so easier just to do it and avoid the acrimony - Up high on one of the shelves in my garage is my box of decorating stuff. Pulled it down and there, right on top of everything else, is the knife! I'm quite disproportionately pleased to have found it but, for the life of me, I can't remember putting it in that box or even remember when I last had that box down off the shelf - Decorating being one of my most hated tasks!

It's not unknown for me to briefly "loose" tools I've just been using not five minutes previously when working on the cars. I think it's just all part of getting old.

A long time ago, I bought a Sykes Pickavant ball joint splitter. Expensive, but never failed on any ball joint. Well used and cherished, always lived in the bottom of my large toolbox.

Then a couple of years ago now, needed it. Not there. Moved other tools around in the box, several times. Searched everywhere else it might have been placed, no joy. Disappointed, went out and bought a cheaper one, a Laser, so not rubbish, OK on most joints, but might struggle on the largest or most stubborn. Used it OK, did the job. Went to place it back in bottom of toolbox, on top of my Sykes one. Hiding in plain sight. How was it invisible?
Ball joints hold no fear.

 

[Cheest]

Fifteen miles today with half of it into a rough headwind. Today's ride was on the Phoenix, a 1973 Worksop built Raleigh Super Course frame. Called the Phoenix because all the salvageable parts from my beloved Mercier 3 sp fixed gear bike were hung on this frame after I was clobbered by a car in August of 2007. After I was ambulatory again, that is.

I actually feel pretty good being back on a road bike after 6 months of MTBs and not riding fixed gear for at least 18 months. I apparently missed both.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Nice looking bike!
I have a Worksop built Carlton from a similar era. Also rebuilt from parts off a lovely and very light bike which I think was a "Merlin". An idiot in a Vauxhall Viva opened his door just as I was passing him and as I was using toe clips but had a heavy saddle bag full of tins of dog food I was left hanging with the top of his door across my waist and the bike still attached to my feet! That hurt and it cost the guy a new bike frame. He wouldn't pay out for a Merlin - hence the Carlton, which I still have today - sadly not in service though.

 

[Cheest]

Nice looking bike!
I have a Worksop built Carlton from a similar era. Also rebuilt from parts off a lovely and very light bike which I think was a "Merlin". An idiot in a Vauxhall Viva opened his door just as I was passing him and as I was using toe clips but had a heavy saddle bag full of tins of dog food I was left hanging with the top of his door across my waist and the bike still attached to my feet! That hurt and it cost the guy a new bike frame. He wouldn't pay out for a Merlin - hence the Carlton, which I still have today - sadly not in service though.

Thank you, and that didn’t sound fun. It only takes a split second, too. No lasting physical damage to you, I hope.

Before pic of my Mercier.

After. Damage is worse than it looks. Not a straight tube on the frame.

I was hit from behind by a young kid at 45 mph. I should be glad that he was driving a import tuner instead of a hulking American pick up. I basically slid across the hood(bonnet), over the top of his car and landed on my back on the roadway. Bounced several times then slid across the tarmac and through the gravel shoulder on my elbows and knees. Mind you, I saw none of this. That’s what I heard from witnesses.

I heard, more than felt, a thud. Then I was looking at the sky and wondered what happened and was I ever going to hit the ground. That was followed by a severe beating by person or persons unknown, then by repeated viewings of the sun and ground. I came to lying along side the roadway in the gravel, staring at the white blouse of an ER nurse who had been on her way to work. The only thought I can remember is that I had gotten blood on her nice blouse.

I came away with about 25 stitches, sprained ankle, and severe road rash. I was told that landing on my Camelback first minimized the damage. I was on crutches for about a month.

I was pissed about the bike and didn’t let up on the insurance company. I spent almost a year chasing period correct parts for the bike and shelled out a lot of coin in the process. They relented and I ended up with a very pricey Rivendell Bleriot. I ride in all weather.

 

[portland_bill]

Tesco petrol station seemed less busy today, so hopefully the mad panic is slowing a little as all tanks are full.

Made me think that the few with electric cars are probably feeling very smug right now, maybe rightly so. Until the electric runs out.

For our members outside the UK, we are currently in the middle of a fuel buying panic, rather like the toilet roll panic at the beginning of the covid pandemic, although moderated to some extent by vehicle's fuel tank size.
In the UK we are suffering a shortage of lorry drivers. Partly due to Brexit, and many foreign drivers heading home, rather than fill out reams of paperwork to stay, and made worse by many drivers isolating due to covid testing positive. Then there is the natural wastage, due to retirement or leaving the industry for other reasons, and due to a year or so of lockdowns, new drivers aren't qualified.
Oops!

 

[jimboy]

It’s at times like this I thank my lucky stars, no doubt there will the odd panic buying driver up here, but no real silly fuel purchasing to be seen here at all.

 

[portland_bill]

Had a silly thought. The 'range anxiety' we are feeling as we look at our fuel gauge, is preparation for EV ownership.

 

[varesecrazy]

Tesco petrol station seemed less busy today, so hopefully the mad panic is over!

Tesco up here at the top of our valley was SHUT .. no fuel
Went further up to Morrisons..also coned off

The tiny 'murco' type place I had 1st driven past had a car at 1 pump on my return
Turns out it was the only pump left.. and only had unleaded.

You do wonder how the Self Employed with commercial vehicles are coping right now

Appears to be no Diesel on forecourts for @15 mile radius this long weekend

I bought £12 of unleaded.. will do my 110 mile journey today..10p per mile

 

[Cheest]

Tesco petrol station seemed less busy today, so hopefully the mad panic is slowing a little as all tanks are full.

Made me think that the few with electric cars are probably feeling very smug right now, maybe rightly so. Until the electric runs out.

For our members outside the UK, we are currently in the middle of a fuel buying panic, rather like the toilet roll panic at the beginning of the covid pandemic, although moderated to some extent by vehicle's fuel tank size.
In the UK we are suffering a shortage of lorry drivers. Partly due to Brexit, and many foreign drivers heading home, rather than fill out reams of paperwork to stay, and made worse by many drivers isolating due to covid testing positive. Then there is the natural wastage, due to retirement or leaving the industry for other reasons, and due to a year or so of lockdowns, new drivers aren't qualified.
Oops!

I heard about the fuel issues, and reasons why, on NPR, National Public Radio, while driving from Philadelphia to Newark, NJ yesterday. Fuel hasn’t been much of a problem here. Yet. Unless you count the Colonial Pipeline computer hacking. There is also a shortage of truckers here, causing backups at the ports at this time. Sure to be a ripple effect.

 

[chr1s]

Fuel hasn’t been much of a problem here. Yet.

All it takes is the media to mention panic buying, and a government minister to say "there's plenty of fuel, just buy as normal".

 

[chr1s]

I can see the idiots queuing up for petrol from my bathroom window.

 

[varesecrazy]

Long m.way trip today..so had the radio on

One reporter kept saying 'filling their tanks'.. regarding fuel queues

Then somebody called in to complain how some people in the 1.5 hour fuel queue were only spending a tenner

I obviously misread every news item ..

 

[The Panda Nut]

I went to Mancheter last week (Thurs) and returned Saturday. Fortunately I always fill up at the end of every journey or weekly if just local so had a full tank less about 10 miles. There was no petrol from Manchester to Spalding! I saw an open forecourt and filled up after 157 miles it swallowed 12 litres. The range moved to 406. After a steady cruise the last 70 miles I arrived home with the tank still showing full and the range showing 398.

Pandas forever! 57mpg 39mph. Well suited.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Trudged up the garden to lay a few more bricks for my new (old secondhand) greenhouse base. For once I have all my tools at home as the Manchester project if over for now. Just some finishing in the kitchen and its done... So nice to have all the gear back. I just need to organise and stow it. That will take some time,

HOORAY