Belsay Lad

I must admit that I thought that anyone was allowed to replace/repair an existing electrical installation (ie light switches/sockets) in their own home but that there were strict rules regarding adding new circuits etc? However, gas is a totally different game and, quite rightly, anyone dealing with that has to be 'Gas Safe' qualified, although as has already been pointed out in this thread 'qualified' and 'competent' are two totally words and concepts.

Hi Mac I must admit that my post was intended in a funny (or maybe more appropriately 'smutty') response to Kenton's post, as regards my reference to trying to find a real smiley. Please don't take any offence as it wasn't intended. I have to admit that I am a tram fan but as I stay in Edinburgh need I say more other than I am keeping a very low profile... But more seriously I didn't take your use of a large font as shouting. Is that not using capitals throughout a major section/or all of a email/post? I have a close friend who has sight problems and uses a similar font in her online communications so suspected that this might be the case with yourself. Kind regards Eddie (aka Belsay Lad)

At least he wasn't 'playing with his own gadget', which might well have totally different connetations!! (PS where has the basic smiling smiley gone, I can't seem to find it on the selection?

Hi Robert However some petrol-heads today might just decide to see if they can recreate it... (not implicating a certain BBC programme you understand) But I accept your point (and there was no intention to criticize), apologies for any offence. Kind regards Eddie

Yes, the original idea of this thread was just a bit of fun, not to start a campaign to protest or ban specific adverts. But I suppose that dwhite4dcc might have point, if the adverts have entered our minds they might just have achieved their objective! I suspect that most people will take adverts with a pinch of salt and will do a bit of further research before buying (the famous cat food ad that '8 out of 10 cats who expressed an opinion recommended...' is an example). My three 'furry darlings' fell into the remaining 2% and point blank refused to eat it! I seem to recall seeing a tag line used by a member of the RMweb along the lines of 'Ta, I'll make up my own mind!'? Can't remember the exact wording so apologies to whoever I may have mis-quoted, but this is my attitude to all advertising. However, I have to admit that whilst I find the Meerkat ads annoying they are amusing, one up to the advertising agency. But I still probably won't be buying any of their products. PS anyone remember the 'for mash get smash' adverts in the 70's. I think I have tasted the revolting substance once, and that was enough!

As I spend a fair bit of my time in Paris I am well aware of the French motorists' view of speed limits and more relevantly red lights (or the 'vert homme' sign)! So, I would agree with 'Irresponsible - Definitely' but as to 'Great fun-...'? Would you certainly like to be the Gendarme who has to knock on a person's door to tell them that a loved one has been killed by such a twit? (I was originally going to use a vowel much closer in the alphabet to the first in the last word but thought that the Mods might have a fit...)

Which TV adverts get you reaching for the off switch, or even getting up ready to throw the 'idiot lattern' through the window? My current No 1 is the 'But what do you think' adverts for the Virgin Tivo box. Condescending is the (polite) word that springs to mind?

How about another earthy-type woman who liked to 'get dirty!' I refer of course to Charlie Dymock. SWMBO never really understood why I suddenly started to watch a certain gardening programme - especially as at that time all we seemed to grow were weeds!

Several years ago I bought a garden bench from a cut price outlet. On opening it I discovered that the recommended tools to construct it included 'an adjustable wench'... (I still can't work out why they didn't use 'adjustable spanner' but probably somethng was lost in the translation as the bench seemed to originate from a far east country). However, I did have some fun trying to track down the required tool, especially in the Edinburgh docks area!

Jimmy Saville goes into a faulty time machine... Now...then Now...then Now...then

Try my trick (a variation of JeremyC, which I used just last night. 'Caller is trying to sell conservatories.' I sound interested and let them do their sales pitch and then start asking detailed questions about their product as though I am interesting in buying (they have phoned you so the call is costing you nothing but your time which in this case is worth it), But most importantly mention early on that 'previous companies haven't been keen to quote me'. After five minutes or so of this they think they are onto a sucker and start asking for more details, keep the questions going for as long as you can but omit the most important detail... The winner is when they ask for your address:- Say: 'Third floor flat(even if it isn't), xxxx (street), xxxx (town) etc' At which stage the caller will probably terminate the call. Following this the advisor who called you will probably be called up on a discipinarly for their call length (thanks to you asking questions) and the fact that they didn't land a sale Guess who worked in a call-centre enviroment (in an admin role) so knows how it works and how to buck the system when you are on the recieving end?

Good Luck Pete. I use FNAC regularly in France and their sales support has always seemed good to me. Hope you are able to get the laptop repaired/replaced without problems. A couples of tips (sorry if you already know this):- Once you get something back from FNAC in working order the first thing you should do (assuming you are using Windows 7, or Vista) is create a recovery disk and a 'restore point' before you start to add any software. That way if anything goes pear-shaped you have the option to get your machine back to a stage where it worked. The restore point should be the first port of call, the recovery disk is the 'nuclear option' as it will always take your PC back to its factory settings. After you have installed your software and you are happy that the PC is still working OK you can create another restore point (in addition to the original one). If you then install further software etc you can then fallback to the previous state if it goes wrong. Restore points don't take the place of regular file packups (photos/documents etc) so you should still have a backup to DVD or external drive scheduled. I am not familiar with Tune-up Utilities but if it does include an anti-virus component then this could be causing problems as if there is more than one anit-virus programme running they are likely to fight each other to a standstill. The general rule is 'only one anti-virus programme at a time'

I have used third party cartridges and whilst they were OK for document printing they gave disappointing results for photographs-; a definate colour cast and the photos faded very quickly. But perhaps I was just unlucky with my choice of cartridges. I'll give Andy Y's link a shot. I have an Epson S20 printer and during the cartridge changing process a screen pops up advising that the use of non-Epson cartridges will be recorded (assuming by some hidden printer software) and will invalidate any guarantee or maintenance agreement. I'm typing this from memory so can't quote the exact wording. I'm not sure if other manufacturers do the same but if a printer is still under guarantee it is probably safer to stick to the proper cartridges. I think you can get a little gizmo to reset the chips on cartridges if you are going to refill them, but as you are going to have to break the seal on the cartridge (or drill a hole in it) in order to refill it there is a greater risk of ink leaking out and damaging the printer.

I went to visit my Clairvoyant today but she had a notice on her door - 'Closed due to unforeseen circumstances'! OK (as is the trend in this thread) my coat is already on...

Re the above - I well remember my driving instructor's parting words to me after I had passed my test *hrm hrm* years ago. 'I have taught you to past the driving test, now is when you will really learn how to drive!'

Thanks everyone, there is some great material in this thread. Images such as these are the history of tomorrow for our children and their heirs I have just spent some three hours today reading through the pages, (or 'wasted 3 hours' according to SWMBO when she came home!) and enjoying pictures of Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and even one or two of Cupar, my home town of many years ago! Many happy memories have been brought back. OK slightly out of the timescale but I worked in Dundee in the late 1970's and travelled home to Cupar on what was normally the local service serviced by class 108 DMUs. Cue a strike - Dundee Tay Bridge Station just after 5pm. No local service to Fife! However an announcement that 'the train arriving at platform 1 will call at all stations to Edinburgh'. (Platform 1 was for mainline expresses). The train duly arrived (maybe from Aberdeen?), 6 coaches with a Deltic on the front (didn't even think to note the number in my excitement!). A lively journey and I still remember the 'take-off' from the stop at Leuchars. Probably the driver was a bit cheesed off at driving a 'stopping at all stations' and decided to emmulate the perfomance of the cream of the RAF from the adjacent base! (McDonnell Phatoms as I seem to remember?) . Unfortunately I don't have much in the way of photos from the period in question thanks to a major flood in a previous house which managed to saturate and destory, amongst a lot more valuable things, the cupboard containing my photo collection. At least now that we are 'digital' we can make backups onto DVD/CD etc... However, looking through the thread there is one connection that has so far not been commented on. The demise of the 'Hooch' (post 341 by jbg06003) was rightly celebrated. But check out post 346 by Stephengillon - is that maybe a variation which has managed to survive to this day???

Hi Stephen/Gordon Thanks again to both of you for your replies. The second circuit looks like what I would go for, having taken Stephen's comment about it not being tested, but I am happy to give it a try. I have just checked out Squires Electronic Compoments Catalogue and confirmed that all the components etc are still available so I'll pop in order an over the next week. I did have a circuit diagram for a quite sophisticated controller dating from (I think) the early 1970's but some of the semiconductors are now apparently defunct! Eddie

Hi Stephen Many thanks for your answer, most helpful. I'll give the circuit a go as soon as I have a chance and let you know how I get on. regards Eddie

Regarding Codar Controllers:- I still have two original 'Tec-Mod' controllers purchased in the late 1970's still giving sterling service on my N Gauge layout. Many years later after Codar ceased trading I needed another controller and bought an ECM 'Compspeed' Simulator with very similar controls to the Codars but with the addition of an 'Accelaration Rate' preset. However, they are two totally different beasts - Codar=pure DC, quiet motors and cool running. ECM=PMW with feedback, much better slow running\speed control but at the expense of motor noise and quite significant motor heating at slow speed. And this is with 'traditional' motors. However, another plus with the ECM is that they incorporated short circuit protection. Probably should be a new thread but I'll chance it anyway- is there a current circuit diagram available anywhere for a 'Codar Tech-Mod' type controller (preferably with short circuit protection) as Codar seemed to have disguised certain key components of their design, obviously to protect their product.