Stanley Melrose

It'll be completely irrelevant when ACC is universal - and cannot be over-ridden if the driver wants to be insured.

And John Jennison (Mr Brassmasters), a qualified accountant, is, I suspect, thoroughly versed in all aspects of business as well as being a very nice chap but don't let that get in the way of slinging mud.

Get well soon, Gordon. Here's hoping for a speedy and complete return to good health. Stan

All I will add to this thread is that you get on and do it. We paid £10780 for a 16 panel installation in 2011 and got our capital back in 6 years. OK, we were very early adopters and just happened to have the cash available (from our 25% tax free retirement pension lump sums). We've now been paid over 150% of our initial capital outlay and still have 15+ years of inflation proofed income ahead of us. The FIT rate we got as early adopters means we are getting over £2000 a year tax free income. I realise that these figures are way beyond what is on offer nowadays but I get to charge my BEV for nothing as well as much of the electricity we use in the house and even export some to the grid. Just do it is my message. Stan

My dad picked up his first car (in the 1930s), drove it to the test and passed! He'd never sat in the driver's seat of a car before then . . .

Much more relevant - when do we P4 modellers get to purchase them to our specification?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/25/tory-milkman-delivers-speech-surreal-even-by-commons-standards Well done that man!

Interesting to recall that I was, from time to time while working at Ford, a member of an ad hoc weight-reduction task force. We would be given a selection of components and the challenge was to see where they could be made lighter. I seem to remember (it was over 40 years ago) that 1lb of cast iron cost 10d (~4p) so getting 1lb weight off every casting was a good outcome by itself. When that was fed into the brake specification, etc. it contributed more than the cost reduction in the casting so well worth doing. The challenge to get weight reductions in EVs must be continuous, although engine braking is a useful offset, no doubt

Was that the George Turnbull who was presented with a computerised 3 days fixed 5 days indicative pile of fan-fold paper. He ignored it for a couple of weeks until he was asked if he found it useful? It turned out he took it off his desk every morning unread and presented it to his secretary who used it as a footrest. Her office was draughty so keeping her feet off the ground was a blessing. I believe he was a good rugby player but like most of the early 1970s Austin Morris senior management singularly unimpressive. Stan

Not much help for BEVs but, given our island geography, this could be an interesting contribution to carbon zero plans <<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWgkl7W9xU0>>

I thought I'd risk another check to see if there might be a chance that the Midland Railway Centre kit for a 70ft Cowans Sheldon tTT had sneaked into availability after many years of TBA. The link from MetalSmiths website does not give access to the Midland Railway Centre nor does using a search engine provide access. I realise this may be a problem just for me but if anyone can advise whether the Midland Railway Centre is open for business, I'd appreciate confirmation - or otherwise. Keep safe! Stan

Going back some way into this thread, I have watched professional football for almost 70 years. I was a willing participant in football at a very basic level into my 30s without anything close to success but I sure know when a top class player plays badly. I'm prepared to criticise a painting in a gallery even though I've never tried to paint. There is plenty of music that I do not like to hear and will avoid. There are layouts I don't think much of and plenty of models that I can pass by, even though they are, to others, better than anything I could ever make. It's my opinion and I'm entitled to it just as you are to yours so anyone who tries the "Show us yours" on me will always get short shrift. I hope, however, that I am not often guilty of speaking from complete ignorance! Sometimes I feel that some of the threads on RMWeb would be better listed under "Things that make you smile" because of the pretentious content they include. Perhaps others may guess those to which I refer? Stan

Maybe being a CofE vicar helped in terms of time available?

A real challenge to anyone with OCD! But seriously good advice so NOT to be ignored.

How was Job when you last spoke to him?

In my student days working on Liverpool docks in my hols, I recall one "bog" on whose wall was written: In this marble hall, use the paper, not the wall. If, alas, there is no paper, behind the seat there is a scraper.

From the Marcway online catalogue: Copper Clad Sheet 4"X2" Paxoline 1.2mm Thick (SMP) £ 1.70 Copper Clad Sheet 9"X4" Glass Fibre 1.2mm Thick £ 5.25

Looks like this could run and run - until the penny drops that this is now well and truly history , , ,

I think so I am . . . . I'm pink so I'm spam

Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery. Stan

I hope this link works <https://www.facebook.com/theulsterfry/videos/180703533771949/?hc_ref=ARTx4nN8af1ZKS0wq3z3vhfEUQBaoTotmdZ9boxXhED962GeGYVRx0fL09WIiyKw5AI&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARCQ0eZadMRN3Y9mXMA6J-fzJuoxPCTPKu8y8n9y1tPHSjCLHzS7P7q-LKxBl6Wcpxn8H_qp-6vLnPp4BpAdPo2id3INgJjzuyh-PR5_Vt6vmx1-EgwEJqw6oexm4h0u53TtmC8EQUdgRNY1fnh2JB7qg4GzJEjo_qoO_VfZft4a06cjHYN6FjxXAMWvbIItHeOdhvj8RPByS1xROkT1r32botWTNkGsLdZNMFakr2nNju06PQNl7_237oSgL_VtT-L73q28382f3lRkbR3isvC_O6nQdOrpEHZExx6onA6ODTXTW7M8jcgK21kR5WCdGh9408quSJZhZyf4CQ&__tn__=kC-R>

In the middle of last year I received a lovely letter from Ray, whom I have known (along with his wife, Iris) for many years. He wondered if he might purchase two Japanese-built LMS 2-6-0 Crabs back from me? He had sold them to me some 20 plus years previously. I was delighted to agree and Tony (Rail-Online) delivered them to Ray. I had a phone call from Ray and despite his speech difficulties and my hearing problems we had a wonderful few minutes recalling our membership of the 5516 Group - named after the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, LMS Patriot loco. Far too many of those who were members* are no longer with us and now Ray has gone. A sad day, indeed. Rest in peace, Ray, and keep an eye out for those of us left behind to remember your friendship and who enjoyed observing your modelling skills. * Brian Rogers, Gerry Arundel, Sid Waite, Don Field come to mind but there are so many others.

Well surprise, surprise, VW engineers are not superior beings, after all! My ID.3 First Edition had some odd quirks which I reported to the dealer. One was the Assisted Cruise Control deciding the speed limit on a local dual carriageway was 110Mph. That was displayed on the instrument cluster in front of me. The car accelerated to 110Kph (=68Mph) but the display definitely indicated 110Mph. This happened 4 times so I was invited to return the car for a software update. Amazingly, this took 8 hours and would be done overnight so the car was away for 2 days. When collected the speed quirk had indeed been sorted but there was a niggle which was occasional display of a warning of a fault in the 12V system. I mentioned this in an email to the dealer but carried on using the car as despite the warnings, it seemed to work OK. Just over a week ago, I went to do our weekly click and collect from the local supermarket but was greeted by a string of error messages on the display so I abandoned using the ID.3 and went off in my wife's car. On my return I went out armed with paper and pen to note the error messages. No way, the car was absolutely dead. I phoned the dealer and was asked to contact VW Assistance which I did. An AA Patrol turned up in 25 minutes manned by a VW enthusiast who knew nothing about BEVs but wanted to see an ID.3 up close as he was thinking of getting one. It was soon apparent that he was unable to suggest anything that might make the car drivable but we agreed that charging the auxiliary battery might be useful. He connected his jump start kit and in 5-10 minutes it was clear that the car was coming back to life. I suggested that I charge it fully overnight using my battery charger and he agreed so I set that up and he left. Next morning the battery was fully charged so I called the dealer and told them what had happened since we spoke and was asked to bring the car in for them to fix it. I was very reluctant to do this as if the battery lost charge while I was driving, it could be pretty serious. Nevertheless, I decided to risk it and made it to the dealership without incident. That was a week ago! The dealer's service guys have been unable to trace the problem but have engaged in lengthy discussions with VW Technical Staff who claim to be working on a fix and I have been told they hope to provide this by Friday this week. We shall see! In the meantime, I have the loan of another ID.3 which so far is OK - except it shows 110Mph on the dual carriageway . . . Keep safe - I'm trying to!

Just heard on Channel 4 News that hospitals in Wales are treating people with Corona Virus. I confess I heard that the wrong way and wondered what their poor patients had done to deserve what the vaccine deniers should be getting.

Bowl of cherries.pdf