Salty Sam

[quote user="Chancer"] He broke down in roadworks on the M20 and was pushed to the side by a Police patrol, restarted and broke down again in the customs shed after they did a big search, he phoned me to say he had missed the boat, was waiting for another but was in the wrong lane and it would not restart again.[/quote] So one can only assume this "old Mazda MX5" that "had been standing a long time", and still on GB plates, had no current road tax or MOT? So once the obstruction was removed after breaking down, the police were not interested and just drove off leaving your friend to sort it himself out, and without any vehicle status check? I would suggest that it wasn't the police who pushed him out of the roadworks, but Highways Agency Traffic Officers who gave him the 2 hour window to carry out DIY repair before enforcing compulsory removal off the motorway!

Think you've missed an golden opportunity there Chancer! Did you consider making it a "Sponsored Paddle"? Bit of local newspaper coverage, sponsorship for the Doctor's hospital or another charity, pictures of participants, mention of your own disability, etc.

Thanks Q. I didn't want to name 'n shame but yes, it was Tripadvisor. As far as I'm aware, the false 'positive' has been reported to them, but the recommendation still stands on their website, but I'll check if this is the case. I'm amazed just how easy it is to leave a recommendation, or a damning report for that matter, apparently without actually being a guest. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to find an element who will use the mention of a Tripadvisor recommendation as a bargaining tool. "I'll provide a 5* report for a good discount!" No discount or other incentive and ..............???????

How credible are the recommendations on websites where 'customers' can leave comments regarding their stay? Friend of mine has found out by chance I might add, that a particular and very expensive establishment, has received 'recommendations' from people who have in fact received complimentary stays, obviously where the intention is to enhance the image of the establishment. Whilst I appreciate these website comments are simply a guide, I do wonder just how easy it is to get those comments removed which are not a 100% true picture, or where false negative comments could affect future business.

Dunno how much canoeing you've done Chancer, but don't expect much white-water stuff. If you're camping there are a couple of waterside sites along the route. You'll probably find the hardest bit battling the wind after the barrage at St Valéry sur Somme!

Thanks for the idea of the Ibis Angela. The logistics of the event suggest a few nights 'roughing it' would be a more sensible option. All being well, it now looks very likely that an offer of alternative accommodation has been made available. Thanks for the help. 

Thank you. As this will be a group of ex-servicemen, and the Centenary year marking the start of WWI, I would have thought there would be facilities in place throughout the year to cater for visitors. I don't think they'd take kindly to being locked in or out for that matter! There again, I don't think a locked gate and a jobsworth would present too much of a problem! I'll look forward to receiving your PM.

Can anyone recommend a decent camp site with showers, preferably within walking distance of a local hostelry, and which would be willing to open its doors to a group of approximately 20 in November 2014? Ideally it should be reasonably close to Thiepval and the Commonwealth Cemeteries to the East of Albert, but no further South than Ribemont-Sur-Ancre. Many thanks.

Catching up with what's been happening, and I came across this thread which I must admit - sent shivers down my spine! I can't believe in this day and age, and with the amount of proven research by specialists in the subject, civilian dive groups of whatever nationality stick stubbornly to outdated and potentially dangerous practices! [quote user="Chancer"]Intersesting to read the thoughts about head heat loss and also diving, very timely, I did a wreck dive from Fecamp yesterday and had a very bad turn, I became hypothermic on the boat, uncontrolled shivering and was close to collapse, I couldnt remove my stab jacket, my palms gloves anything or even attach myself to the boat with a mousqeton and had to be dragged out, they removed my wet suit, dried me down and laid me out under blankets and clothing etc, the very first thing that they did was to put a beanie hat on my head before a T shirt or anything else.[/quote] The standard for retrieval of a cold water casualty should if at all possible, be in a horizontal position in order to prevent sudden pooling and taking blood away from the brain. Onward treatment should be as gentle as possible with gentle drying by patting - not rubbing, head covered first, casualty located flat with feet towards the bow - especially important in high speed craft, insulated to prevent further heat loss with clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, etc, both under and over the casualty. From Chancer's further description of events and in his own words, [quote]I was out of it for a few hours, in and out of sleep that is, I knew I was out of danger and the corp tempreature was stabilised but had no feeling in my hands or feet, I knew eventually that they should warm through but I searched in vain for something to cover them with, I was buried in the cabin with all the bags and stuff of all the divers, ironically right at the end I found a blanket right beside me, thats when I knew I hadnt been thinking straight.[/quote] then I think you were very lucky as to progress further down the hypothermic scale, once shivering stops and sleep follows, this is usually followed by coma! You say you were aware your core temperature had stabilised. Can I ask how you knew this as without being able to take a core temperature reading? The fact that you say you were "out of it" for a few hours indicates the crew and your so called dive colleagues did not take the situation seriously, or they would/should have taken immediate affects in declaring a medical emergency with the number one priority of getting you to a medical facility. Equally disturbing after the event, [quote] for breaking down on the autoroute on the way back and delaying the passengers[/quote], what if that breakdown had in fact been a physical breakdown as your body went into a secondary aftershock situation where despite what you think, your core temperature has not returned to normal, causing you to collapse at the wheel? Hypothermia is a medical emergency which requires hospital assessment and treatment, with warming from the inside out to prevent cardiac problems. I'd suggest you look at the works of Frank Golden and Mike Tipton, both of whom are acclaimed experts in cold water survival, and perhaps get hold of a copy of their book "Essentials of Sea Survival".

Go back to the 1950's where there was no such thing as cholesterol, fast-food was the corner chippy, meat was meat, milk came in bottles, and things got cooked in lard. By rights if we believed all the hype regarding "Healthy Foods", none of us eating in that era should have survived past the age of 35![:D]

[quote user="Ivor Nidea"]No need to worry about pointy fingers, I am used to it as I have always been a know-all, so over many years it's water off a ducks back. Think of me as the bloke in the corner of the bar who chips in on every subject as if he has the definitive answer. I have lost count of the number of posts on forums that have come to a shuddering halt whenever I make a post.[/quote] The problem being the know-all in the corner of the bar usually gets ignored or invited to put a sock in it as in many cases, they are wrong and simply like the sound of their own voice, and the false belief they can command attention. [quote user="Ivor Nidea"] Now back to the wider issue on what I am coming to think of as another of my "Zulu Principles." The Horse meat/Obesity scandal. For Rabbie.  Look up how Jim Slater came to call his book of the same name. The dobbin issue is the culmination from many years of the proliferation of eating places in the high street.  Nowadays it's impossible to walk many yards without falling into somewhere selling drinks or food and it appears to be almost obligatory to snack or have a meal whenever anybody goes shopping,  a lot of which is consumed without bothering to even sit down to eat or drink.  So is it any wonder that more and more people are obese, or that more children appear to suffer from allergies and have behavioural issues. [/quote] Q has already provided a more realistic and substantial response, but I would ask you go back a bit in history and look to when horsemeat was freely available in GB? Working on your analysis of the situation, by rights there should be no horsemeat available in France, in fact there should be no meat available anywhere as a separate commodity,  as the vast number of shoppers prefer fast food or eating while on the go!

[quote user="Hoddy"]Does anyone know why we don't usually eat horsemeat in the UK ? Would I be right in thinking that not much of it is eaten (knowingly) in the USA ? Hoddy[/quote] Probably for the same reason we don't see rabbit, game birds, hare, etc, no longer freely available! Far healthier food options but unfortunately society views them all as fluffy, cuddly things! As for the USA, they have a valuable export market in horsemeat via slaughter houses in Mexico and Canada.

Right click on the highlighted word, and you should get an option to disable the nasty bit of adware.

Some points to consider Q, 1. Your car speedometer is very likely 'out' by up to 10% in your favour. 2. Your GPS will indicate a much more accurate speed reading. 3. If the camera is at fault, chances are there are quite a few who are also being stung! Problem being trying to find out exactly how many, and if complaints have been raised. I'd report the matter. There have been successful appeals relating to faulty cameras in GB, including false readings with some cameras when subjected to low operational temperatures. Whether a successful appeal is possible in France however .............

[quote user="AnOther"] http://www.healthystuff.org/get-stuff.php?group-report=Cars [/quote] Scaremongering at its very best![:)]

[quote user="Yonner"]Consider squirrels too! They love the sap under the bark, and “ring” the tree for it. If the bark is stripped downwards, then it's deer.  We’ve lost small fruit trees in a similar way, and are going to use the heavy plastic wrap initially, that fixes deer and squirrels. We’ll move to fences as the trees grow if necessary. Good luck.[/quote] Slight correction! Deer strip bark in an upwards movement, with the damage being fairly obvious by the broad teeth marks running up the stem, and with broken or torn bark shreds left hanging. As deer have no upper incisors, it is virtually impossible for them to strip bark in a downwards fashion. Rabbits and Hare will strip or gnaw on bark. Wire netting fixed around the tree is a good deterrent, or tree guards. Chemical deterrents for rabbit, hare, or deer - Aaprotect. Although the product of choice, I'm unsure if it is still freely available and may be restricted in its sale.

Getting back to the OP's original question. I made some a few years back as gifts, and posed the same question on another forum. The best results come from using any close grained wood - or so I was told at the time! Since then I've made them from softwoods including pine offcuts, once completed applying copious amounts of Brandon Bespoke Chopping Board & Butcher's Block Lotion to seal the wood.

[quote user="Théière"]Dodgy decision without the facts but hey that's management! If you had access to staff codes would you give out your own (think risk of being caught and termination) or someone else's? [/quote] In the case mentioned, apparently the code belonged to an employee whose services had been terminated.

Yes Sid, I appreciate you weren't encouraging such action. The purpose of my post was simply to make people aware these codes are or have been available, since 2003/4. As you have said, the system was tightened up and no doubt as these scams arise, they turn the screws harder to seal the leak.

Earlier, Sid made mention of using an Employee Discount Code to achieve a discounted fare. I'd advise anyone who uses these codes to be prepared for a shock upon arrival at either terminal. A friend of mine turned up at Folkestone and couldn't get past the barrier, despite having his ticket. His ticket had been cancelled, and after some intense questioning on how he acquired the code, was offered the opportunity to pay the full cost of the crossing - which after checking later he found to have been surcharged! An expensive lesson in trying to buck the system.

[quote user="Bugsy"]You should also be aware of Fake Brake Pads, made in Çhina and sold in identical boxes to large reputable companies. Some garages do buy this crap to save a few Euros. They are everywhere along with fake Spark Plugs, Injectors, Water Pumps, Gasket Sets, etc, etc.[/quote] Even the dealerships and main agents have been fooled in the past. These were appearing in VW garages a couple of years ago http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/pdf/Counterfeit_Brake_Pads.pdf

[quote user="sid"]Now that brake pads are not made using asbestos they wear differently, they're harder, and the discs wear more as a result. It is usual now to have to replace the discs at the same time as the pads. If the discs were not replaced then the pads would have had a high rate of wear as they bedded-in to the part-worn discs.  [/quote] All depends on make! A Renault went through two complete sets necessitating disc changes, with the "environment" being the so called cause of the premature wear.[:-))] Another make of vehicle used in the same "environment" did not suffer the same extent of wear, nor require disc changes. 4x4 used daily in an off-road capacity recently had a change of pads for the first time. Discs measured as a matter of course by the garage, and no noticeable wear recorded. Are the replacement pads a manufacturer's part or an off-the-shelf 'budget' buy?

One of the first locations to show the images of semi-nudity was no other than a web forum. Nothing unusual there, only the forum concerned is for serving and former British RN personnel![blink] Watch out for the Court-Martial  process and executions for treason, on a large scale.[:D] 

In a 1979 build bungalow I would think it highly unlikely to find anything other than a solid base beneath the tiles. Tiling over the existing floor covering means all fixed furniture, skirtings, doors, will require removing. Go round the floor tapping the existing surface checking for loose or hollow voids beneath. If present, laying on top will not remedy problems below! The existing surface is also going to require a deep clean in order to remove any surface treatments, which in the case of porous tiles will have penetrated the material, before retiling. No, get rid and start again.[:)]

If you find an error on the mapping, including postcode searches, then report it to Navteq; http://mapreporter.navteq.com/ The page provides you the option to add or correct features.