Hi all.

Long time since I was here. I’m starting to feel better, controlling the lows and the “dark thoughts” are almost entirely gone. Confidence is returning slowly. The medication seems to be working, as does taking each day one by one.

I also started playing airsoft with my son and that’s ...

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Wed Sep 03, 2025 8:24 pm Buy a car

Commuting to London by car is not happening.

“ With a decent laminated jacket you can give it a shake and 90% of the water will come off before you enter the office”

Wry good point. We have a room for bicycle people to store wet gear, but yeah if I get the over jacket I can just shake it off and I’m done.

My backpack is waterproof and I’ll ...

I’m commuting by bike again - all weathers. Not in ice or snow but otherwise. Until my bike dies and I have to rewire it.

Should I get a big actually waterproof Richa or should I get a £50 over jacket on top of my leathers?

I used to have a a £600 jacket but it still let water in. My commute is 25 ...

I don’t lube chains I just buy new ones.

Problem solved.

Or, I put it on a stand and let the rear run with the engine on about 5k, and smear grease on using my fingers.

Easy.

I spent £300 on some Pando Moto slim fit trousers. Looking at the zips, I’ll need to send em back. I doubt they’ll keep the water out.

I don’t like trains, so need to find a solution. Maybe surplus forested is how I’ll go. I can’t wear cheap oxford overalls as they melt.

Bigger engined 2 series BMW is winning. It’s small, has buttons inside, sounds good, has enough space for what I need.

Love it. Can I have with a 500 in?

https://www.mtcars.com/ady-cars-collection/audi-quattro?pgid=kykoqkw8-04db2a_c97d11874fec44978ec91e0a0689cc8bmv2.jpg


You win.

Checking size charts it appears the X3 is no longer “big”. The 4 series is longer and not much narrower. The Polestar is basically the same size.

So - it’s looking ...

Or…. Polestar 2.

But. The interior of all electric cars is utter wank. Total shit. I want to have buttons and feel cocooned not like I’m in an Apple Store.

I’ve come to the conclusion I either need to buy old or embrace electric.

Rivian R3 might be worth waiting for.

Or… life is short and if I can work out a car porch or safe storage option I might get a Mk.1 https://mst-cars.com/mk1-fast-road-tour ... ad-touring

With those criteria, I'd buy an M4. Probably a convertible.

I think you'll have trouble with the no four pot requirement, everything is four pot these days, even the council spec Boxster/Cayman.


I was thinking smaller. Also, again, shit roads so no point with an M4. 2 series maybe. My average ...

Count Steer wrote: Mon Aug 11, 2025 6:29 pm Not 4 cylinders.

More or less?

More. 6 would be lovely. I just think little 4 cylinder engines are a bit shit. Maybe that’s just the massively underpowered things VW use. Our Tiguan is dangerously slow.

Ok. I need a new car.

“Need” is quite a strong word. Possibly want is more accurate. I had a Porsche, sold it because local roads are now so bad I had to plan routes to avoid bits where the roads has been replaced by rubble. I got a BMW X3 which is nice in that I don’t care about it, but it’s huge ...

So, yes. Where to start.

Trigger warning, I am going to talk about suicide. Mods please delete if not appropriate.

I suffer with depression. And suicidal thoughts. As in - I know how I’d do it, where. It’s planned out. I have my affairs in order and every couple of months go through phases of ...

Thank you everyone. I now have a hugely long list of things saved to watch and read and listen to that isn’t main stream bollocks.

My old 696 is finally about to be finished after a long time being sick (me, not the bike) and this’ll keep me entertained in the garage as I do it.

I’ll post updates.

I need a new source of things to read. I am on no social media, I don’t read the news. It’s all just too much bollocks and politics and mind rot.

I need a few new sources of inspiration or interest. Science, tech, creative thinkers, engineering. Just stuff to read that isn’t blaming me for being a ...

I work in a team that works with AI for a large brand. ChatGPT is not a danger, AI in the broadest sense 100% is.

It is already replacing people, job safety is already impacted and that’ll get worse rapidly for anyone working on process based tasks, or that can be made into processes which is ...

So an update on this and I’ll start posting pictures again soon. Found a fab paint shop, so that is sorted. Lost a few bits I need so they are on order. All I need to do really is bolt in a few bits, change the oil and filters, ride it for an MOT and I’m done. Probably get new tyres put on it.

Bit ...

Decided to try the diesel heater. Will install it outside in steel box, drilling holes to get air in will be fun.


Out of interest, which one did you go for? Our workshop is twice the size you've quoted, and we were thinking about putting a wood burner in, but this might be a better plan ...