[Bob Williams]

No problem on PC or tablet running Firefox, but I have sympathy for those who have this annoying feature.

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[Bob Williams]

Richard I appreciate your information: however, the old Categories are now replaced by a new system:

http://tinyurl.com/yam4u75j

A, C, S and N are the new Cat’s, going down in serious damage from A as a write off, to N.

Mark, I suspect that your Zafira, if it was a write-off, would be cat B or S. Check your insurance information regarding the category they gave it. I would recommend that you have an engineer’s inspection and report on the car: there may be damage that you cannot determine for yourself. The RAC have a good scheme:

http://tinyurl.com/yd9wo4rk

Yes it costs, but worth it for peace of mind for your family in the car. I don’t know if this is still legal, but until I retired due to injury in 1997, as a qualified Motor Engineer and workshop foreman, I was able to carry out these inspections myself. I gave a report on the company’s Letterhead in triplicate: one for the vehicle owner, one for insurance and one for File. A lot of the inspections were of Custom Cars, many of which were challenging, but interesting work. We also worked a lot on Classics, some of which were US imports. Maybe you could find a local garage (with a qualified Motor Engineer, can’t stress that enough) that will carry out an inspection and report, less expensive. Either way, a good report can reduce your insurance premiums. A bad one means a rethink about the car, but whether you inform the insurance about a bad report is your decision.

In my working days, almost all own my cars were Salvage vehicles that I rebuilt from write-offs, but times have changed and anyone doing that now has many more hoops to jump through. Legislation has tightened up considerably and there are cars I have rebuilt which might not be economically viable, under today’s legislation. I drove nothing that I did not feel was safe and fit for the road then. I always had an RAC inspection and report on each vehicle that I rebuilt for my own use, but as I say times have changed.

Dwynne:

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[Bob Williams]

I think you are wrong about a hypothetical second referendum result VFM. You disregard the number of potential new voters amongst those who became 18 after the first referendum. Those I have met and spoken to, are hopping mad about what they see as a betrayal by the oldest generation. They talk to me because I have 3 grandchildren of voting age with many friends who all know I am in the Remain camp. The youngest has lots of mates and he will be a new voter if the hypothetical vote goes ahead. One of the other two voted at the first, the other did not. All of them want a GE and the signs are that many of them will vote if that happens, and vote Labour. They are sick and tired of what they see as a bunch of proven incompetent Oldpharts ruining their futures.

If a GE happens before the due date, we may face an interesting time, as posited by the “ancient Chinese curse, “May you live in an interesting age.”

Before anyone questions the quote and source, be it known that the first recorded use of it in British public life, was by Austen Chamberlain in the 1930’s. He had worked in the Diplomatic Service in China and was the brother of PM Neville Chamberlain, he of the “Peace in our time” fame. PM Neville used the quote in a Parliamentary speech in 1930. It was apparently taken from a Chinese manuscript in 1627.

Yet another history lesson. Wake up at the back!

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[Bob Williams]

Richard wrote:

” The problem could well be that it is more cost effective to declare a total loss for say a £600 car and well off the remains through a parts breaker where the undamaged doors, engine and gear box, seats, headlights, etc. can earn much more than that £600. ”

I’m afraid it doesn’t always work that way today, Richard. Whether the vehicle is BER (Beyond Economic Repair) or simply too old and unfit for the road, the result is the same: it is classed as having reached End of Life and is then subject to EU, UK and international rules for recycling whatever can be recycled. This link will demonstrate the law and provide information as to what happens next:

http://tinyurl.com/yamkgq8r

Older vehicles (pre-2001 I think, not sure) were not built with each part carrying an ID ‘Number’ – actually a mix of characters, often quite long. They will have parts separated into piles by material, eg plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, fabrics etc. Those vehicles with ID parts may be introduced into the Used Part market if they are without damage. If they are damaged, they will join the piles by material and all will be recycled by material, with sub-divisions. Think about the value of parts produced by ‘Pattern’ manufacturers, which must be made to fit, work and have a warranty in the life of the part – economically better value and can be trusted more than a “used” part. Decisions have to be made about the relevant value of parts fit for recycling: an older part from a mass-market manufacturer, obviously being less valuable than, say, an Aston Martin equivalent part . There is also the fact of pollution, covered by the link. My days as a workshop foreman, visiting a local scrapyard and choosing a used part with an oil-stained label, are long gone. There are no “Scrapyards” now – they are all Reclamation facilities and all have to follow rules enforced by EU and UK law.

JayCeeDee has called it correctly. Labour costs are a big factor and safety cell design might mean that the designed-in principle of “Crumple Zones” can transfer damage from one area of impact to another. Modern cars are made to a monocoque or semi-monocoque design, meaning that the whole body has to provide the strength. Think of an eggshell: every part of its surface is its strength. Crack one area and the whole shell is compromised. That is why convertible versions of any car model, have to have strengthened floors, some even have chassis legs introduced into the floor.

Ed‘s information regarding Airbags has truth. When an airbag goes into action, it is a very violent explosion and it happens in fractions of a second. Especially if all doors are closed at impact, this introduces a massive interior shock to the air in the car, which expands and can actually cause some distortion in the body. An insurance Valuer will measure areas such as door, boot, sun roof, vehicle height from the ground, length and bonnet gaps, to  check this. Any (perceived & judged) deformation will mean a write-off. Which, if you think about it, may be in the insurance companies’ interests after all…

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[Bob Williams]

ED wrote:

” I have one gs who is borderline on the spectrum (no noticeable symptoms except an unwillingness to make eye contact), so I take an interest in the subject. ”

Should your gs develop full-blown Aspergers Ed, and you carry out research as I did, you may notice that the eye contact problem fades with members of his immediate family, and others that he has known well for a long time. I tried to work with it when my (now 25 yo gs) was quite young, by repeatedly instructing him to “Look me in the eye.” It worked and he gradually got better, but still cannot make eye contact with strangers, or people he has not known for very long.

Other symptoms include a fierce determination to concentrate upon any task that strongly appeals to them. In the case of my gs, that was computing. I created a monster by building his first PC when he was around 9 or 10. He is now a first rate IT tech, specialising in building systems for contracts with his company, whose boss told me in all sincerity that he is his own right hand and he could not work without him. They have ‘tunnel vision’ which makes them work through any task with such concentration. Couple that with the high intelligence that most Aspergers people usually possess and you have any employer’s dream: the worker who does not give up until the job is done.

He has now suddenly taken an interest in food and is trying out recipes, producing some wonderful meals. He invites family members to his apartment and uses them as guinea pigs! Grandma and granddad have eaten some of his meals and they are good-to- excellent. Another symptom of his Aspergers, by taking up some activity and chasing it down! Now he is developing an interest in Art, probably a result of getting closer to his 13 yo sister, who does not have any Autism but is developing into a polymath, getting A’s and A*’s at her grammar school in all subjects. That gives her a problem, in that she must this year choose the subjects she wishes to carry on with.

I repeat what I have said in other posts about Autism in general and Aspergers in particular: I suspect it may be evolution in action amongst the last two generations, especially the latest.

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[Bob Williams]

Les your admiration of the DofE is based upon the distance you see him from and the media coverage that for years has given a humorous aspect to his many gaffs and his repeated racial and sexual comments. ‘He’s a character’ is the main public view of him. I had several contacts with him as our Colonel-in-Chief in the Army and I have a different view of the over privileged person he really is. I could give several instances, but the list is long and I will just say that, whilst during WWII he served with great distinction in the Royal Navy, he has a very low opinion of the rank and file in Khaki and he demonstrated that in my presence more than once.

He really does believe that he is better than most people around him: even an aide-de-camp, a very young Lieutenant, was subjected to a withering blast from him, complete with obscene language, in my hearing. The Lt’s sin was to correct the DofE’s mistake in confusing medal ribbons worn by a WOII in his 40’s, a very popular guy and well liked in our unit. I believe that all the years he has lived as the Queen’s Consort, have given him an inferiority complex that he hides with a personality defect, by using his position to gain as many privileges as he can. Has everyone forgotten how he treated his own son and the Heir to the Throne? Charles is a very different man to his father: he treats everyone he meets with the same respect, whoever they are. His father saw the sincerity and gentleness of his son as weakness.

The facts about this unhappy event are still relevant: he will not be considered for prosecution or any form of disciplinary action, for two possible infractions of motoring law in two separate incidents, driving without due care and failing to wear a seat belt. I repeat my earlier words: were he an ordinary British citizen, he would have been subject to due process. In the event, I forecast with an expectation of accuracy, that he will not be subject to any such process.

Now I await my Treason trial.??

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[Bob Williams]

Richard wrote:

I had used a false date and forgotten what it was before moving it closer to ‘real time’.

The sort of event that overtakes all us Oldpharts at some point Richard. This morning I stood in the bedroom wondering why I was there, until I remembered that I had come to recharge the electric razor in my hand.

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[Bob Williams]

Fact: the nonagenarian Prince turned out of a minor road and into the path of a much smaller oncoming vehicle, a Kia. The Kia, being smaller, acted as a wedge and rolled the Freelander over. The Freelander continued its roll and the Prince was trapped by the legs, rescued by another motorist. During my days as a workshop foreman and Recovery work, I saw instances of a smaller car with a lower centre of gravity, having exactly the same effect upon a larger, higher vehicle. Including an early Range Rover being overturned by, of all cars, a Mini. The driver of the Mini did not survive, as the Mini was crushed by the impact. That proves (for one thing) that today’s vehicles have much better crash protection.

Fact: the Prince has stated that he “… was dazzled by the sun.” No excuse – every time I drive out of my parking space in our Close in mornings, I have to make a 3-point turn. If the sun is out, I am dazzled at both ends of the turn. When I reach the end of the Close to turn into a junction into a road which has priority over the Close, I am dazzled again.  At every stage, I adjust or move my sun visor so that I can see the road and any approaching traffic. This is complicated by the number of parked cars to my immediate left. Coming home from my son and daughter’s village, or the restaurant we like, in the evenings, I am driving into the sun and use my sun visor. However, I always manage to do what the Prince failed to do: obey the road signs and take care. It is a simple case of driving without due care and attention and he should be spoken to, with a view to removing his licence. That is what would happen to any ordinary citizen in the same circumstances.

When I worked in the garage, I had a neighbour who was 5 years older than I am now. One day he drove up to the garage in his lovely old Triumph Dolomite that I maintained for him, and handed me the keys. He decided that he could no longer drive with the same reactions and confidence. I sold the Dolly for him (actually got more than he paid for it, we had repainted the body and I rebuilt the engine a few years previously) and admired his decision. That is what I will do when I too decide that I can no longer drive with confidence in my abilities and reactions. I hope it’s a long way off, but I certainly do not want to be driving in my 90’s, or even my 80’s. Should I remain on my perch for that long, that is…??

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[Bob Williams]

Yes my youngest gson is dyslexic, words “float about” he says, can’t write them down. Yet he can rattle down every password he has on PC, laptop and phone, doesn’t even think about it: “I’m on THIS website – type THIS password”, straight out of his head. We have always struggled with him at school and college, most of which was up to me and my missus, as his dad our son is also dyslexic, though not as bad with words. His dad also works like a dog, had to, brought up gson and sister on his own (with our help) from 2 and 4 years old. Gson also does massive mental Maths in his head, can’t write down the working out but always gets it right. He can also be lazy, failed his Electrical Installations course because the Government brought in a rule in his last few months that all college courses had to include an English and Maths qualification. Passed the Maths easily, had 3 tries at the English but it drives him mad. If they let him do it by computer, it would be a breeze, but he can’t write it down. He had passed all the electrical stuff by a mile, what a waste of a good potential Sparky. He settled for 2 days at an engineering workshop where he had been since Work Experience at school from 14, would not stir himself to get a full time job. Both his dad and me kept nagging him. Finally grandma stepped in and frightened him out of his wits. (my missus is tiny, but has a way with kids!) On Wednesday we took him to a Job Fair at Skegness Butlins and he looks like getting a job there in Engineering Maintenance. He was on fire for it until I asked him if he is OK with living in during the week: its 25 miles from his village and the first bus is at 07:12, takes 1½ hours. He is about to take his CBT bike training and test, then get a scooter/moped from the Council, paid monthly. That’s OK in the warmer months, I told him, but the Maintenance is not seasonal, it’s all year: what about the horrible East Coast winter weather? Silence – they don’t think things through.

He is a massive lad with a lovely temperament, but has been a bigger problem than all the other 3 gkids combined. Just does not think about what is going to happen next week, next year, etc. He could spend for England as well. I see him a lot, as I pick him up from the Engineering shop twice a week and he does come to us a lot, will do anything for us. So I probably understand him more than his dad, but that’s not a lot of understanding as he is very deep and keeps things inside a lot.

Bloody kids, thought I had done with all that years ago!???

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[Bob Williams]

Steve wrote: –

The Duke wrote:

I really don’t know what she gets up to, it seems. She is far beyond what her siblings was at.  These kids are for brighter than we take them for. I bet the one behind the hack was only 12.

Daughter’s two are our 25 yo gson (IT Technician, local expanding company) and a 13 yo gdaughter (getting A and A* at a local Grammar). After a few years of complaining that his sister was “annoying” they have become really close, mainly due to her growing IT skills. They are now bouncing ideas off each other. His latest moan to me was that she will probably catch him up soon! Listening to gdaughter talking to her mates makes my head hurt. Daughter and SIL gave up trying to understand her homework last year.

I really believe that this latest generation are evolving humans, and that all the Autism/Aspergers and brilliant kids are a sign of it. Your youngest will probably make your head hurt in a few short years’ time, Steve!

 

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[Bob Williams]

I have SWMBO’s Google account available on my desktop, and a truncated version of mine on her laptop. I also have her Outlook on mine and my hotmail on hers. This makes it easier to resolve laptop Panic Issues when a scream issues from 4 rooms away!

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[Bob Williams]

No worries Richard, log in when circumstances allow. Best wishes to your wife in her treatment.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
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[Bob Williams]

Thanks Ed: checking my passwords now, deleting and changing if necessary.

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[Bob Williams]

There exists a majority of Remainers from all parties and all shades of opinion in Westminster. The PM is just one of these. Who is to say that this whole mess has not been carefully managed behind the scenes, in order to sow confusion, get the public so sick of Brexit that the electorate will accept a result that sees an end to it all, even if that means remaining in the EU in some shape or form?

Bob’s very own Conspiracy Theory…

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[Bob Williams]

This may help Keith:

http://tinyurl.com/y7arggc9

Then there is this:

http://tinyurl.com/yaotus8w

From the same source, how to find and access a care home Assessment:

http://tinyurl.com/yan8wwk4

This is a subject that concerns me directly, as my 89 yo brother is severely affected by dementia, is totally incontinent and does not know his wife, 6 kids, any of the grandkids and Gt-grandkids he loved, or me, which is heartbreaking. His 88 yo wife is a SIL who has always been more like a Big Sis to me and she is now very frail, but refuses to have him placed in a Nursing Home. I have tried to advise her daughters to go for some form of legal advice to overrule mum, but they won’t go against mum’s wishes, although 4 of the 5 are retired themselves. Their brother my nephew supports my point, but has never won any argument against the girls, who are a tight bunch ruled by their 68 yo sister.

Hope the links help, this situation is only going to get worse with an ageing population. At 73 and with serious health issues, I might very well expect to be in the same situation within a decade. So we are considering a few really good holidays!

Good luck with your in-laws Keith.

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[Bob Williams]

Missed it, sorry, hope it was a much better day than the ones you have recently experienced, Richard.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
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[Bob Williams]

As if we didn’t have enough uncertainty and plain panic, here’s the Express trying to outdo the Daily Wail:

http://tinyurl.com/ybj3jqzy

An earlier Express report today from a French fisherman:

” French fisherman RAGES at EU red tape – ‘BEGS UK to save his job’ ”

http://tinyurl.com/y7mod45m

How unusual, if not unique. Conversely, how accurate?

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[Bob Williams]

Richard your observations of those receiving Radiotherapy, match my own experiences of the Chemotherapy “club” members at Grimsby DPoW hospital.

” It has been a surprisingly uplifting experience… ” – definitely! Everyone became friends within minutes of meeting and speaking for the first time, everyone sharing sweets, biscuits and reading material. Jokes about one’s own troubles/physical appearance were common.

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[Bob Williams]

The one computer store which had knowledgeable staff who would give good, sound Tech advice was Maplins. Look what happened to that: Management were not able to sort out development and costs, price of items was noncompetitive and the firm tanked. Another UK company with crap management.

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[Bob Williams]

I bought my youngest Gdaughter a 2 yo AOC 23″ monitor for £40 and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the picture: it compares well with my new 24″HP V240A. She loves it and granddad has more Brownie Points now!

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