What's made you smile today?

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

No green, no whistling, never mention pigs, always get in the left hand side of the boat, never start on a Friday.
Probably more I've forgotten that'll come back to me later.
An old retired fisherman/famous lifeboat man who had 1400 deckchairs once told me almost 50 years ago as a 12 year old stacking chairs at the end of a hot day, "look at them crows on the beach, we won't sell many chairs tomorrow" obviously I asked why, "the wind will go out off the sea tomorrow and it will be much cooler"
Never seen this proved wrong in my life, as sure a thing as I've ever seen.
Still amazes people who I've told that them crows are never wrong.

Mrs J believes that if all the cows in a field are standing up then it's about to rain - often she's right. Mind you it does rain quite a lot in Scotland

 

[bugsymike]

Mrs J believes that if all the cows in a field are standing up then it's about to rain - often she's right. Mind you it does rain quite a lot in Scotland

I was told it was if they were laying down, to keep their patch dry. Maybe that is only in Devon where it doesn'r rain or snow.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Uh-Huh. I foresee N+1 in your future, where N equals how many bikes you have and 1 equals how many bikes you need. Spoken by an addict...um... sufferer...no...collector(Yeah, that's the ticket)of said units.

You built one, but hey, this build is too nice. Now you need a grocery getter or maybe a commuter bike. Hey, lets try a fixed gear. Or, you just found an old Raleigh 3 speed in the trash and it's in nice shape, so you take it home and fix it up. Next thing you know, you have a half dozen old 3 speeds, all variations on a theme. Maybe it's old Italian racing bikes. Next thing you know, you're wearing racing jerseys with so much advertising emblazoned that you look like a NASCAR driver, but you're mowing the lawn. Or you go the other way and you're wearing Harris Tweed on a hot day while riding that Raleigh.

It could happen. It's a slippery slope.

We have a tv program called Bangers and Cash.A documentary series about a family that auction cars in a town in North Yorkshire. The old / boss manis a collector of cars and vans and admits its hoarding, a disease, and that its because there 9lis something wrong with you..... but of course we call it collecting!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Mrs J believes that if all the cows in a field are standing up then it's about to rain - often she's right. Mind you it does rain quite a lot in Scotland

Goos true saying, even the cow lying down behind the wall so she cant see it agrees

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I was told it was if they were laying down, to keep their patch dry. Maybe that is only in Devon where it doesn'r rain or scow.

Quite possible I got that wrong as I only listen to her with half an ear most of the time!

 

[bugsymike]

Quite possible I got that wrong as I only listen to her with half an ear most of the time!

You need to get Mrs J to become a Forum Member so she can correct your errors.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

You need to get Mrs J to become a Forum Member so she can correct your errors.

Oh yes. Maybe you could all then encourage her to check her levels, tyre pressures and maybe even how to change out a puncture?

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Uh-Huh. I foresee N+1 in your future, where N equals how many bikes you have and 1 equals how many bikes you need. Spoken by an addict...um... sufferer...no...collector(Yeah, that's the ticket)of said units.

You built one, but hey, this build is too nice. Now you need a grocery getter or maybe a commuter bike. Hey, lets try a fixed gear. Or, you just found an old Raleigh 3 speed in the trash and it's in nice shape, so you take it home and fix it up. Next thing you know, you have a half dozen old 3 speeds, all variations on a theme. Maybe it's old Italian racing bikes. Next thing you know, you're wearing racing jerseys with so much advertising emblazoned that you look like a NASCAR driver, but you're mowing the lawn. Or you go the other way and you're wearing Harris Tweed on a hot day while riding that Raleigh.

It could happen. It's a slippery slope.

I’m more Harris Tweed than cycling Jersey, that said I did pic up one the other day as it’s got the big handy pocket on the back.

Currently I am 4 to 1 on the bike ratio. The road bike I recently built, a modern mountain bike I’ve had a little while, this 27 year old mountain bike and a “fiat” branded bike I picked up recently from Facebook because it was cheap. I have been told by my wife I am not allowed anymore… this had not stopped her looking at a new bike for herself.

I have also recently built two bikes for my boy, a balance bike and now one with pedals and stabilisers

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I’m more Harris Tweed than cycling Jersey, that said I did pic up one the other day as it’s got the big handy pocket on the back.

Currently I am 4 to 1 on the bike ratio. The road bike I recently built, a modern mountain bike I’ve had a little while, this 27 year old mountain bike and a “fiat” branded bike I picked up recently from Facebook because it was cheap. I have been told by my wife I am not allowed anymore… this had not stopped her looking at a new bike for herself.

I have also recently built two bikes for my boy, a balance bike and now one with pedals and stabilisers

When we lived out in the country I always had several vehicles, usually older ones, which were in various states of repair and was always tempted to buy another if it was a "bargain". Then moved into town and space became a problem so shifted more to old bikes and "real" mopeds - mobylettes, etc. but also got more interested in vintage horticultural machines (I've always been interested in them anyway) as well as looking after the family cars. Then I got old - how did that happen? - and Mrs J became so worried I was really going to hurt myself falling off the 'bikes that I shifted my interest to the horticultural stuff which can be easily tackled in doors so a great hobby when your body isn't so up for lying in the cold and wet outside. Trouble is it's much easier to find a corner in the shed or garage to squeeze another knackered mower into and I'm slowly building up a reserve of neglected and abused old machines. I know it's a disease and mental illness but I just can't control myself - much harder to resist another knackered mower, cultivator, strimmer or hedge cutter than it was to give up smoking! Mrs J says that if I pop my clogs before her she's just going to get a large skip in and put then all in it as well as most of the "spares" - which she calls rubbish - in the garage.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Oh yes. Maybe you could all then encourage her to check her levels, tyre pressures and maybe even how to change out a puncture?

No chance there if Mrs PN is similar lol

 

[The Panda Nut]

When we lived out in the country I always had several vehicles, usually older ones, which were in various states of repair and was always tempted to buy another if it was a "bargain". Then moved into town and space became a problem so shifted more to old bikes and "real" mopeds - mobylettes, etc. but also got more interested in vintage horticultural machines (I've always been interested in them anyway) as well as looking after the family cars. Then I got old - how did that happen? - and Mrs J became so worried I was really going to hurt myself falling off the 'bikes that I shifted my interest to the horticultural stuff which can be easily tackled in doors so a great hobby when your body isn't so up for lying in the cold and wet outside. Trouble is it's much easier to find a corner in the shed or garage to squeeze another knackered mower into and I'm slowly building up a reserve of neglected and abused old machines. I know it's a disease and mental illness but I just can't control myself - much harder to resist another knackered mower, cultivator, strimmer or hedge cutter than it was to give up smoking! Mrs J says that if I pop my clogs before her she's just going to get a large skip in and put then all in it as well as most of the "spares" - which she calls rubbish - in the garage.

With me its just tools. I cant stop. Well couldnt. Realisation has come that Im near to not being able to do much more. My collection of at least two of everything... including brace and bits is totally mad. Ebay is thankfully calling.

The bungalow has been a massive strain. Im near to finishing now and will need some time off after. Months rather than days I feel. Once our own house is improved the tools are going, all of them!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

No chance there if Mrs PN is similar lol

Aye, I've said before, Mrs J's answer to any suggestion like that is:- Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

Edit. I may be a bit of an "old dog" but haven't stooped to barking yet. Unless "barking mad" counts?

 

[Cheest]

Bikes just off the top of my head. Five Raleighs, two Dunelts, one Huffy, one Robin Hood(owned for 55 years), one Everton, two Gitanes, one Mercier, one Ross Lion, two Schwinns, one Monark(1947), two Miyatas(had these for decades, too), one Fuji, one Guerciotti, one Rivendell, one Trek, and one Framed.

One of the Raleighs is a US built Technium. One of the Dunelts is a rebadged Raleigh, as are the Robin Hood and Huffy. The other Dunelt is a rebadged high end Phillips. The Rivendell was $3900US and a sweet rider but I usually prefer to ride one of my trash picked Raleighs. I won't cry if one of the beater Raleighs get nicked. The Miyatas were my long distance rides. I did 24hr TTs on one and PBP on the other. One of the Gitanes was a winter commute to work bike. The other is a Mexico track bike. The Trek is an aluminum framed MTB and the Framed is a Fat bike. The Guerciotti is a work in progress. The Schwinns are nothing special.

It's easier to hide one more bike in plain sight from Mrs.Cheest than it is to hide another motorcycle and I have six of those. Don't get me started on camping stoves and pressure lanterns.

 

[bugsymike]

Oh yes. Maybe you could all then encourage her to check her levels, tyre pressures and maybe even how to change out a puncture?

I take it she didn't tell you the saying "why have a dog and bark yourself".
Just read down to your answer.

 

[bugsymike]

I have also recently built two bikes for my boy, a balance bike and now one with pedals and stabilisers

My four year old grand daughter has gone from balance bikes to normal small bike with pedals and no stabilisers.
We found once she got the balance bike sorted then going to stabilisers was more of a backward step, as it is too easy to lean on one side and rely on the stabilisers.
As her pedal bike was fairly small, then not far to fall and she has hemet, elbow and knee protecters.
Always a worry for parents etc. but she soon picked her self up and no harm done.
When her mum was young I did go the stabiliser route, but this was her choice and I can see it is right for them.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

My four year old grand daughter has gone from balance bikes to normal small bike with pedals and no stabilisers.
We found once she got the balance bike sorted then going to stabilisers was more of a backward step, as it is too easy to lean on one side and rely on the stabilisers.
As her pedal bike was fairly small, then not far to fall and she has hemet, elbow and knee protecters.
Always a worry for parents etc. but she soon picked her self up and no harm done.
When her mum was young I did go the stabiliser route, but this was her choice and I can see it is right for them.

I was hoping to do the same but the little sod complained that the pedal bike was too “wobbly” and that he would fall off so I didn’t have a choice, it was fit stablisers or he wouldn’t touch the bike

 

[bugsymike]

I was hoping to do the same but the little sod complained that the pedal bike was too “wobbly” and that he would fall off so I didn’t have a choice, it was fit stablisers or he wouldn’t touch the bike

Grand daughter had problems with balance bike to start with, not being able to steer without losing control/wobbling, then I made a game of putting a stick in the road and getting her to turn to run it over, she enjoyed that and found she was keeping her balance whilst steering.
Next was getting her to use both brakes on pedal bike, I still worry but she has more control now even down a steep forest path.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I take it she didn't tell you the saying "why have a dog and bark yourself".
Just read down to your answer.

Or did she say if you already gave a *** pack of dogs theres too.much barking already. GET RID OF IT!!

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Grand daughter had problems with balance bike to start with, not being able to steer without losing control/wobbling, then I made a game of putting a stick in the road and getting her to turn to run it over, she enjoyed that and found she was keeping her balance whilst steering.
Next was getting her to use both brakes on pedal bike, I still worry but she has more control now even down a steep forest path.

He’s a balance bike ninja, hurtles along as silly speed, has a single brake on the back so has been getting very good at doing skids,

But despite all that the pedal bike was too “wobbly”

I think part of the issue came from trying to ride the pedal bike like a balance bike and hurting his legs on the pedals.

I think once he’s gained confidence in pedalling he will be well away on a pedal bike but at the moment he is very reluctant.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Bung-allo.
New roof, gotters facias and soffits, rewired, re plumbed, heating recomissioned, boiler reaired and new flue fitted, new radiators all through, old gas fire and back boiler removed. Cracked chimney repaired and new lintel installed. Fire place removed wall and fireplace rendered, floor repaired, porch re built and re roofed, new porch threshold and floor, external porch light switch added. Garage door opened, repaired and security improved, electric supply to garage replaced with circuit breakers added, garage rewired 10 sockets and lights. New front door and porch windows, outside PIR lights front back and side installed, new rear french doors installed, new back bedroom window installed. New window cills installed, all external walls tied back to the internal structure and brick stitching rods installed in bulk. Bathroom window opened and repaired, new window and door locks, and handles fitted, inner door rehung, new electric meter, consumer unit fitted, new coooker supply installed, complete rewire. Bathroom extractor installed. All external walls insulated with HE boards, all walls and ceilings replastered. All cracks from concrete lintels investigated and repaired. Abestos garage ceiling, water tank and fittings removed. Boiler isolation valves ibstalled. Main stop tap replaced, WC waste relocated from interrnal floor to external wall, external waste pipe replaced, man hole rebuilt, drains ceared and rodded. External gullet traps repaired. 64 trailers or tree and hedge removed, garden cleared, over grown shrubs removed or pruned lawncut and tidied, drive paitio and paths cleared of weeds. Ceilinngs and wall painted. Built in cupboards removed. TV cable connected via a new wall socket. Porch roof eaves and facias rebuilt. Outside tap installed.

To do. Tile bathroom and porch floors, porch ceiling and walls to board. Extension floor repair and level, install laminate flooring, finish skirtings. Fit bathroom suite and drainage, fit kitchen and drainage. Decoration.
Its within 2 weeks work of habitable thatsxtwo months for me.

As we used to sing in evensong. - - Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.