Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

The what happens if the parking brake fitted to my car actuated at some inopportune moment intrigued me so having nothing better to do I did some online searching. It doesn’t seem to be a problem or at least one that has occurred yet. However I have learned that some people trying to change the rear disc pads themselves without disarming the parking  brake mechanism can end up needing new calipers too. 
Tony

 

Edited March 11, 2021 by Tony_S

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, from a rock that despite comment from friends is still fairly central in the Irish Sea.  Just.

 

Wild night for sure, rain lashing the windows like a corny 50's movie hosepipe job. 50mm in the gauge this morning.  Little sleep had as a result, struggled to get out of my pit until 9, most unusual, and only really just coming to at 11am!

 

My car is a torque converter automatic, so seldom use the handbrake as it holds itself on most hills.  Mrs H's is conventional, the camper (Fiat Ducato) causes issues as the handbrake is on the right between the seat and door, so the left had does a lot of flapping about looking for it.....not that I drive it much nowadays, the clutch being 'bad foot' side.  Its easier for me that a car though due to the angle of the pedals making it, er I was going to say easier, maybe 'less painful' is closer to the truth.  

[BoD]

2 hours ago, Mike Bellamy said:

BoD - why not just fill in the details online for her which is what I have done for father-in-law ...

 

 

If push comes to shove I will,  but mum is still fiercely independent and always likes to (try to) do these things for herself  and asks for help only as a last resort and reluctantly at that.

 

2 hours ago, Mike Bellamy said:

I have now looked again at my letter and have realised that you are given a 10 digit reference number to phone with as well as 16 combination of numbers and letters for your 'household reference code' - why not have the same reference for both options?

 

This 10 digit reference number is clearly unique because that was all that was needed for them to send out a paper form. So …

 

… ours not to reason why.

[Tony_S]

4 minutes ago, BoD said:

independent and always likes to (try to) do these things for herself

A few years ago before MiL’s last trip to India she needed a visa. Insisting on trying to do it own way managed to annoy most of the family. After one rejection it looked as if the system had changed her status to that of a Pakistani ex security man. 

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Somewhat breezy with the wind forecast to be gusting to ' Strong Breeze' and occasionally the next notch up the scale.  Lovely weather if you're at sea (well I think so) but all it's doing here is waving the trees about rather alarmingly reminding me that it's time to have a chat with the tree surgeons.   Good to see the 'Black Rat' will be getting his jab today and presumably at the established vaccination centre near to him - the China Fleet Club.  It must rank as one of the more exotically named places being used for vaccinations and is in a very nice spot, especially if the weather is nice.  Alas it's a good long while since we visited with friends who live locally (and are currently involved with assisting in the marshalling etc of those attending there for vaccination).

 

I used to have. a Citroen GS which being Citroen and French had some quirky, and downright bl**dy awkward, aspects to its design.  However one of its really good features was that the front brake discs were mounted inboard and were very easy to get at to renew the pads.  But you had to be quick because the latent hydraulic pressure caused the pistons behind the pads to start closing in towards the discs as soon as you took out the old pads.  It was however relatively easy to lever them back using a pickaxe head - without the handle - and it was just the right length and strength to get the required amount of leverage in the right place.

 

Have a good day everybody and stay safe

[Two_sugars]

For the last 2 days we have had a Hillman Hawker Hunter flying in loops up and down the Costa . . Looked like it was doing practice bombing runs on Castle Eden Dene . . . according to Flightradar   Flying in at about 1800ft, at about 440 knts.

 

It lifted the boredom, somewhat . . . 

 

Hooley blowing, cloudy but dry . . . . .I don't think NORMAN Hunter will be back in this wind . . . but then . . i'm not a aviation expert .  .

 

 

HAve a good day all, and gan canny . . . 

 

John

[Mike Bellamy]

3 hours ago, tigerburnie said:

 What's all this census talk? not heard anything in Wee Jimmie Crankie land??

 

You get yours next year - deferred due to Covid . . . . . . . 

 

https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/2022

 

 

2 hours ago, BSW01 said:

 

We've had a leaflet saying that the census is coming, but as yet we haven’t received the actual census form. It’ll make boring reading in 100 years time as there’s only the 2 of us here. 

 

 

No form - just a letter with a link to the web page - if you can't deal with it online then you have to phone to get a paper form sent to you.

.

[laurenceb]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

A few years ago before MiL’s last trip to India she needed a visa. Insisting on trying to do it own way managed to annoy most of the family. After one rejection it looked as if the system had changed her status to that of a Pakistani ex security man. 

I bet that went down very well

Just received my cencus stuff including a paper form, Colour me puzzled.

[PhilJ W]

33 minutes ago, Two_sugars said:

For the last 2 days we have had a Hillman Hawker Hunter flying in loops up and down the Costa . . Looked like it was doing practice bombing runs on Castle Eden Dene . . . according to Flightradar   Flying in at about 1800ft, at about 440 knts.

 

It lifted the boredom, somewhat . . . 

 

Hooley blowing, cloudy but dry . . . . .I don't think NORMAN Hunter will be back in this wind . . . but then . . i'm not a aviation expert .  .

 

 

HAve a good day all, and gan canny . . . 

 

John

So thats what Dave Hunt keeps in his shed. 

[PhilJ W]

Getting back to the census. I worked on three censuses, 1981, 1991 and 2001, quite an eye opener in more ways than one. On one occasion my knock was answered by a very attractive young lady who was stark naked, only keeping her modesty behind a small towel. She was completely unfussed about standing in front of a male stranger in the buff (her not me, it was too bl@@dy cold).

[Gwiwer]

Morning all.  OK it's afternoon again but who's counting?

 

Cars: I don't own one but have strong feelings about some bits they come with.  I prefer a manual and aI prefer a "proper" handbrake.  I dislike the uncertainty of "is it on?" when stopping on a hill with an electric-type device and I dislike the possibility that it could apply itself without warning whilst at speed.  Electrics / electronics have their place but KISS always applies.  I like to be in control of the vehicle, not have the vehicle controlling me.  For the same reasons I dislike displays which suggest I need to shift up or down and I never set a cruise speed.  The car is a machine which - in order to maximise safety - I need to be fully in control of.  When the day comes that I cannot safely manage that then Swansea will get my licence back.  I don't do handbrake turns either but am fully aware of how they are done having had my day on the skid-pan whilst training to drive large passenger-carrying vehicles.  

 

Census: We could be forgiven for remaining blissfully unaware of it here.  No form, no door-to-door callers unless you fail to complete it (for which we thank Covid) and only what appeared to be another piece of recycling to advise us that it has to be done online.  It arrived interleaved with the other recycling which advertised pizzas, estate agents and other local businesses.  Despite the "No junk mail" sticker on the letterbox the Royal Mail is obliged to deliver what they are paid to deliver including advertising material.  Our regular postman knows this and if he has to call in order to deliver a packet he greets us with "One for you, boss, and here's the recycling".  A top bloke, our postman.  

 

I wonder what level of response they will get this year.  They suggest it is normally close to 100% but this year is very different.  It may be rather lower despite the threat of (quite modest) fines for failing to comply.  £1000 for not filling in a census; £6400 for being a Covidiot.  Hmmm.  Not a tough choice there, really

 

And now ......... I'm off to the tooth-wrangler to part with a large chunk of the month's income.  If you see me foaming and dribbling on the way home it has nothing to do with trains.  Nothing.   

 

 

 

[Winslow Boy]

2 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Getting back to the census. I worked on three censuses, 1981, 1991 and 2001, quite an eye opener in more ways than one. On one occasion my knock was answered by a very attractive young lady who was stark naked, only keeping her modesty behind a small towel. She was completely unfussed about standing in front of a male stranger in the buff (her not me, it was too bl@@dy cold).

Perhaps she was expecting someone else.

[Gwiwer]

1 minute ago, Winslow Boy said:

Perhaps she was expecting someone else.

Or something else   

 

"Hey mate - you can survey this at any time"   

[jamie92208]

1 minute ago, Winslow Boy said:

Perhaps she was expecting someone else.

But as it was cold there would have been two pegs to keep the top edge of the towel in place.

 

Jamie

[Winslow Boy]

3 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

But as it was cold there would have been two pegs to keep the top edge of the towel in place.

 

Jamie

I believe the correct term is ' n..........e pasties'

[PhilJ W]

2 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

Perhaps she was expecting someone else.

She seemed completely noneplussed. I told her that I'd come for the census form and she just said she'd fetch it for me. When she came back she was wearing a bath robe. Despite the cold I was sweating.

6 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Or something else   

 

"Hey mate - you can survey this at any time"   

There were certain addresses where only female enumerators were sent, this wasn't one of them. 

[Tony_S]

5 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

prefer a manual and aI prefer a "proper" handbrake

I can see why manufacturers moved to electric ones. I have over the years had issues with cable operated handbrakes and none whatsoever with the electric ones on my cars. The one on the hired Renault (manual gearbox) took a while to trust but I am sure it wouldn’t have taken long. If the rear brakes are discs the electric brake on the main disc holds more firmly allegedly than cable operated mini calipers or auxiliary drums. 
Having a car with various features doesn’t appear to affect my driving ability. I can get in the Fiesta with its manual gearbox and traditional handbrake with no problem. The Fiesta is traditional enough to have an ignition key as well though I must admit to occasionally looking for the “start” button. 

[jamie92208]

22 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

I believe the correct term is ' n..........e pasties'

No the correct term where I lived was chapel hat pegs.

 

Jamie

[petethemole]

28 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

I believe the correct term is ' chapel hatpegs'

Fixed it for you. (Jamie got in first)

 

We have our census leaflet, I haven't opened it yet.  I'm wondering if the resident 'conspiracy theorist' will refuse to do her bit.  As it probably doesn't require any info I don't already know, I can do it myself.  Mum was an enumerator for the '61 census and aged 13 I was required to carry the bag of forms door to door as she had back trouble.

 

It was very windy overnight.  One of my DG bedroom windows is a less than perfect fit. The slight gap is taped over but the tape has partly unstuck, so I got extra sound effects.  It's died down now and dried out.

 

Stay elfy,

Pete

Edited March 11, 2021 by petethemole

[Tony_S]

I have just filled in the online census form. I don’t think our status will change before the specific day. I am sure that future historians will be pleased to know about our central heating fuel, number of bedrooms and cars. Fortunately Aditi knows when she arrived first in the UK as it was her birthday. I suppose I arrived on my birthday too but not at the age of 6. 

[polybear]

Bear's morning consisted of.....wallpaper, though a finale of Bear's favourite Dr. Oetker's Pizza brightened the day somewhat.  If only it didn't disappear so quickly

 

Bear noted Prince William being quizzed on the lunchtime news.  When asked about Harry my Beary senses detected a slight "atmosphere".  Perhaps Harry should record the phone call that is no doubt imminent - now that should sell to Oprah for a nice little earner.....

 

Currently watching "Run silent, run deep" for the nth time.....

[The Stationmaster]

1 hour ago, Winslow Boy said:

I believe the correct term is ' n..........e pasties'

Great, I like pasties

 

[simontaylor484]

My last 2 cars had electronic handbrakes. My wife at first thought there was something wrong with car she thought i was messing under dashboard.

I enjoyed start button on the petrol honda civic but the diesel didnt have one.

 

My Grandad always used to moan even 20-25 years ago thst all this stuff added to cars was just more to go wrong and it all relied on 1 battery.

 

Although i dont like Piers Morgan remember the fake photos that got him sacked from the Daily Mirror and put lives of British forces in danger. He shouldent be forced of Gmb by Meghan the manipulator. Personally i think she is a stunner but she has a lot of problems with her own family never mind trying to fit in with the Royals i think this interview is going to blow up in her face and take Harry with her. 

Edited March 11, 2021 by simontaylor484
Missed off text

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

No the correct term where I lived was chapel hat pegs.

 

Jamie

Could one from that statement infer that you were very 'devote' and 'faithful' follower.

[PeterBB]

16 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

We’ve got ours up here including Mil. SWMBO is  having to fill it in on her mothers  behalf as she’s not computer literate and doesn’t have a computer. SWMBO  found the letter quite amusing. It says if you want a paper copy of the census email the council! How they expect Mil and many others to complete it I really don’t know, going to really effect the results.

Robert

One presumes that those that are not 'computer returned' will have people on the ground following up on the doorstep as usual.