alastairq

Well, isn't thread-drft marvellous?? We've got central heating, radiators, boilers, curtains, weetabix, bins, tips, re-cycling, you name it....

I have yet to find a home where that isn't the case? Quite why, I know not..but must be something to do with the window wall being the only one long enough to accommodate the size of radiator required?

What's a 'radiator?' If I'm cold, I light a fire. After having put on a number of wooly cardies according to ambient temperature. Room temp adjusted by the use of relevant doors. I have an oil fired boiler, used solely for heating bath water...so the oil lasts a long time [not due a bath for another 7 weeks..saves on bubble bath too] If I need hot water to wash up, I boil a kettle or two, making a cuppa in the process. No gas in the village, aside from that which comes in tall red bottles. Also our village tends to not suffer from total power outages....since the 'supply', being originally farm supplies, comes from two different locations....so generally, only half the village gets a blackout at a time. This has led to consternation on the part of Northern Powergen, who have been busy this summer replacing overheads with underground supplies...but found they could do only half the street, on account of from which direction the homes have received their power originally? Thus, I am now 'underground, as are the next two houses down, then the supplies for the 3rd house down, to the end of the street, are on overheads...they even had to put new stay wires in situ, once they'd removed the overheads from the other side of the pole..then realised...... They spend several days trying to put one cottage's supply underground, only to find their plans thrown awry as, once they' got the wee trench up to the building, that the cottage was built on a solid slab of chalk...and they couldn't go up the wall either, for some reason....much drilling and sawing of rock going on, as the slab is around 3 inches below the surface!! The lads were under the impression first off, that a mini digger and shovels would be all they needed. So, several months on, we are, literally, still, half in, half out, power-wise. Anyway, if there's a power cut, I can always use one of several wee gas camping stoves.....the log fire can be stoked up to melting heat... Oh, and last spring the leccy supplier tried to fit a smart meter, but couldn't get a signal in my meter cupboard...So the fitter immediately gave up and disappeared off to an easier target...Thus far, no efforts made on their part to try other technologies. O how nice to have a low profile lifestyle?

Like riveta, re-cycled cardboard! [As if anyone wondered what happened to all the cardboard boxes one stuffed into one's blue recycling bin?]

That may well be the case [TA no longer exists...they're 'Reservists' now] Seeing as a goodly percentage of military personnel are reservists nowadays.. But...not all of them! Since what one does in civvy street doesn't cross over to the military world, they still have to undergo the relevant training & assessment.

Which is why, when the military conduct tanker driver training, they fill the tanks with water.

Back in the 1980's and 90's, I lived next door to an old retired mechanic [whose 'hobby' was buying & re-building old written-off Fiestas]....who used to work for a Bridlington garage funeral directors local hire car company. [This being during and after WW2, & onwards.} [Boddy's, I think??] Companies like this abounded at the time, and had fingers in many 'transport' pies. Anyway, he was a grand old fella who liked to yarn over a cup o tea in his workshop....I did a lot of 'heavy' lifting for him, on demand, he was in his 80's...... He told me how the firm he worked for bought up a lot of old pre-WW2 Rolls Royces for conversion into hearses or funeral/private hire limos. Apparently, around that time, a lot of RR owners couldn't afford to run their cars, or get spares, their values becoming almost negligible. SO impecunious operators would snap them up for peanuts. This was demonstrated in the old TV drama, ''Darling Buds of May? Anyway, the main problem with them seemed to be the engines, and getting spares for them [plus the cost of the spares?] But old Sid's answer was to buy up crate loads of ex govt. WW2 Ford flathead V8 engines, which came with their gearboxes attached. These could also be bought for peanuts by the dozen, at the time. [Everything in WW2 seemed to be powered by them!] However, pulling the old RR engines meant difficulties simply attaching the Ford engines to the RR gearboxes...so Sid's idea was to insert the Ford flathead V 8 into the RR chassis complete with Ford 3 speed gearboxes, then attach the Ford gearbox output to the RR gearbox input! Problem solved.....for a hearse, no issues with drivng! Apparently some were also converted into what we would nowadays call, minibuses, for school kids... The pre-war Rolls Royces became chuck-away things once worn out.

On the fuel front, I do wonder whether some suppliers might deliberately hold back the cheaper, 95 octane petrol [purporting to be E10...but that means only up to, 10% ethanol]...in order to boost sales of the much more expensive 'super' petrols [max E5]...which round hereabouts, cost upwards of 10 pence a litre more than 95 octane. No...surely not? They wouldn't do a thing like that, would they??

An opportunity to compel the nation to binge out on junket, then?? [ I love junket, especially with a sprinkling of nutmeg]

Ahh, the Siddeley sapphire, a nice car for a biiig family. I was fostered to a family in the early 60's/late 50's, who had a dark green Sapphire....three of their late teenage kids, and me as a 9 year old....plenty of room inside, plus luggage.

Nice looking Zody up front [my favourite Zody Zephs]

I fully understand [and have much experience of] the frustration that LGV drivers [HGV's disappeared in the 1970's]....undergo regarding other types of vehicel, and speeds. However, there is another reason , aside from sizes & weights, that a Cat C licence category is rather more stringently assessed than, for example, a Cat B. The LGV driver has been assessed [and trained, if they but understood it all at the time] to make full allowance for the fact that other road users may not, and are not compelled to, understand the problems faced by an LGV driver. [Or a PCV driver] So if I am driving along at a true 48 mph within a 50 mph limit, and an LGV gains on me from behind, that is the problem of the LGV driver, not mine. If my speedo states 50 mph, regardless of 'accuracy' [it will always be within the lawfully required limits of accuracy].....then, if yours says different, too bad! The LGV driver can easily knock 2 or 3 K's off their cruise control. Intimidation of other road users can be deemed a traffic offence. No LGV driver could ever pass a Cat C driving test by displaying intimidating, or 'bullying' tactics towards other road users.. There is absolutely no difference between the standards of driving having to be displayed on a driving test, and any other time. Anyone who thinks so, has no understanding of what the training, & testing, of drivers actually involves...which is a very common trait amongst all students undergoing training of any sort. Of the above, I have considerable professional experience. In many ways , it dismays me to witness LGV drivers intimidating others. I understand why it happens, on a human level...since not every LGV-licensed] driver possesses the sense of responsibility and duty, towards the Law , and others, that might be expected of someone doing the job I was involved with. In the end, most LGV drivers are much like most car drivers....susceptible to all the influences and misconceptions regarding driving. It would be nice if an LGV driver considered the effect of the size [for example] of their vehicle might have upn other road users...and operate it accordingly. Those who don't give a damn when whizzing their lorry down a road at 30 mph, within a foot of a standing pedestrian, just because the speed limit is 30 mph, without a thought as to the effect their lorry might have on that pedestrian [even if nether touches each other.], are not living up to the standards of consideration their license actually imposes upon them. But, it is human nature not to give a damn about others.....and LGV drivers in general are no exception.

Even going back to the old paper tacho days, discs had to be retained for a certain [longish] period of time. They could be inspected on demand by the VOSA as-was. [DVSA now] Employers have to retain all drivers records too [nowadays on computers] for potential inspection at a later date. The same also goes for vehicle defect cards..... which must have a fitter's response to a reported defect. These are also retained for inspection. Vehicle computers can also be downloaded months & months behind..... Enforcement Officers may need to see a driver's work records out in the field. Hence why the records , in whatever form, need to be 'produced'. In the old days before power steering, the driver had their hand written log book...

The Ghurka Rifles troop had their training area near Catterick Right alongside the Para's P troop training area. It was said, the Paras used to look across to the Ghurka Rifles training, not envying them one iota. Whereas the Ghurka Rifles used to look across at P troop, not envying them either. Ghurkas [and other Nepalese soldiers ] are nowadays fully integrated into all the cap badges.....so one can find Ghurkas in most of the military trades as well.... The infrequent Ghurka curry nights were a taste to remember. Come to that [thinking of Sandhurst?] we also used to get ''Troop Commanders' courses to run [vehicles and associated skills]... Nowadays its all about transport management...

I'm willing to bet 87% of drivers out there have no idea who a Ghurka is, what they can do, and the skills they have. Probably the Ghurka will be driving as well, since they can be very good drivers indeed [having trained many]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-58767230 I think the most worrying aspect of the story linked to above is, the following drivers are all voters? The 2nd most worrying thing for insurance companies is, the following drivers are busy scootling around on the public highways, with an acute lack of awareness? Or, are we expecting too much, of the driving population, to realise what a liquid[fuel] tanker actually looks like, when compared to a bulker? I note the Army are now to be used to shift fuel? I have no doubt whatsoever in the abilities of the drivers [unless trained by contractors?]....but I do worry for their personal safety? Given the behaviour of those who get reported when seeking fuel? I have had zero issues obtaining sufficient fuel for my needs, locally. Diesel Dorises might have issues, but we petrolheadz are well served. Mind, I did witness [ie, I suppose I might have been called a ''victim of?''}...sheer bloody-minded behaviour of a driver when I last went to get fuel? The petrol station, a large Esso [rural] spot, had customers, but no queues. As I turned in, an obviously frustrated [bless him, I suppose I should say?]...panzerwagon driver [all tin bodywork, pill box windows, typical modern car]...was actually driving round in circles looking for a pump which hadn't run dry of diesel...Anyway, he wasn't going to wait for me at all, even though I was entering...he thought he should cut in front of me...well, as it happened, I pulled onto the most convenient pump for me, which had plenty of E10 petrol....mad Mr Gwumpy then did another circle, and went to drive off. As he waited for a gap in the traffic, I bellowed some potential abuse at his open window in my best [into the teeth of a force nine gale] bellow....and filled up. Diesel & E5 petrol had been exhausted...plenty of E10.. Only LGVs were above to fill on the station's LGV pump.... Lady in front of me at checkout, wasting time by asking checkout lass [we don't have 'girls' up here]....if she knew whether lady's 5 year old car could run on E10? [My husband normally puts my fuel in!]....Checkout lass busied herself with a clip board of information....as one does with best customer care.... I did wonder how come folk were driving about so completely unaware of what has been going on in the world of driving, for some years now? All of which confirms my thoughts that the driving licence is merely a travel pass to many?....Like a personal transport oyster card? I hope my doctor is more knowledgeable? Or will he/she/not sure, just rely on a tick list on the NHS website?

Not pickin' on you, admiles...just a convenient link, tis all....but... The danger that arises on dual carriageways [in the UK] stems from the low levels of competence displayed by the drivers using them [in this instance, the lorry driver{s}] A competent driver on a dual carriageway should expect to come across slow, or even, stationary traffic...especially if they can't physically see clearly, far enough ahead, for the speed & vehicle type they are driving. Even a brand new, just-passed the test, young driver who bothers to undergo what was once called the ''Pass-Plus' additional driver training, would have been aware of the huge differences in what a driver can expect to find, between a dual carriageway, and a motorway. Folk bang on about including motorway driving in the basic driving tests.....yet for decades, the Driving Test had to include [if at all physically possible] a dual carriageway! Far more ''full of dangers'' than any motorway. Also requiring far more attention from the test candidate. The biggest danger with this Cat C{+E} driver shortage, is the temptation to 'lower standards' just to see us through the hard times? But, of course, in real life I suppose all the above is just wishful thinking? LIke everything else, driving standards will level out at the lowest common denominator.... Glad I'm retired from all that stuff now.....

Hmmm, I just spotted the thread entitled 'Washout in Dawlish'....i read that as 'Miss Whiplash...'', twice! All thanks to this thread....and the brain pix it has left me with..

Depends how deep & far the GB Govt. have to go to actually get all those visas effectively issued?

This is...or should be, expected by any competent driver, when driving along a dual carriageway. Along with all sorts of other conflicting traffic .[Crossing traffic, traffic in the right lane stopping to turn right, flocks of sheep [or petrol station queues?] tractors, bicycles, pedestrians, etc. However, I do acknowledge your point, but this is down to drivers failing to change their driving heads from motorway heads to dual carriageway heads. Which is why, the safest roads to drive on are motorways [no conflicting traffic]...and the most 'dangerous' [IE, risk-laden] roads to drive on are dual carriageways. Standing traffic on a motorway [road under motorway regulations..not necessarily multi lane,] is a nasty thing.....

No good for the employee if all the vehicles are 'blacked'.....then there's the mortgage payments to consider? AS well as the backlash from all those who suffered because ambulances or fire appliances cannot get fuel? Or all those whose cars, so essential for getting to work, or working, full stop, because of the lack of fuel deliveries? Certain jobs are deemed of strategic importance, by successive governments of all colours. {For example, the emergency services?} Ever since the coal & electricity generating strikes of the 1970's [which brought down governments]....successive governments have strived to prevent strategic workers from using striking as a method of airing grievances.

Probably find something in employment contracts regarding so-called 'blacking' of vehicles? As I said above, today, in the event of a firepeeps strike, the military would use the proper fire appliances that are currently in storage [Home Office]...which are yesterday's appliances that have been bumped by new machines.

That's waaahaaay out of date. [I was also a Green Goddess Instructor...and that ticket timed out 10 years ago!] The military do not use Green Goddesses. [I expect they've all been sold off to motor caravan builders by now?] Either for their own purposes, or when providing emergency cover. What they will use, for providing emergency cover in a civilian role, are proper fire appliances that have been downgraded from the Fire brigades' current vehicles. {They will be kept in storage, maintained in working order. Just as all unallocated Government vehicles are] The machines will be mostly red, and very very few will have 4wd, or the pumping capacities of the old Green Goddess. The military personnel will also be under the auspices of the Home Office. Not the MoD. Just as in times past, when a Green Goddess surge was imposed, civilian MoD instructors found themselves working under Home Office auspices.

It's {whatever} govt's strategic policy. Like the military providing cover during Firepeeps strikes? The unions can stamp their feet as much as they like.....! The precautions are in place...and have been for some time. The public have demanded it in the past. [Actually achieved with Union Agreement, as it happens. Which is one reason why the training was/is so very much more intensive and in-depth when compared . The civilian instructors ....there are military-personnel instructors as well.............mostly belong to their own Union anyway [PCS] }

Indeed they would! Somewhere up above is a post of mine ''vaguely'' detailing the military 'situation' regarding fuel supplies. Briefly, the ''Op !!!!!'' was established in order to train military personnel to 'take over' civilian fuel supplies in the event of [originally] a tanker drivers' strike. The training course was established by civilian instructors [MoD Civil servants]...and assessed to the criteria set down by the civilian tanker owners. Civilian [owned] vehicles would be used. Military tankers are often inappropriate for civilian use. Don't want to frighten the weee peeps, do we? http://www.military-today.com/trucks/oshkosh_wheeled_tanker_l1.jpg