malumbu

Car occupancy is reducing. That is when we drive a car, there is less likely to be another person in it. Now there may be a good reason for that, I can't think of one. The only reason I can think of is that many people would rather drive on their own. I see enough of it - why are both of you driving to so and so event when you live next door to each other. "Oh the convenience so I can do x and y". Not that we are a patch on the US in our selfish attitude and we can give a pat on our own backs in the metropolis, particularly the young, who are ditching cars or sharing ownership. Anyway until we all take a responsible attitude we need big governments to do big government things like stay in the Paris accord, stay in the big EU club (what? we let the people decide? Which idiot was that?.... some things are too big to be decided by the people). Light the fuse on howls about how anti-democracy I am. Thought I'd take the heat of Rendel for a moment.

WTF HTF can the US use anti-science to pull out of the climate change agreement. Arrogant, ignorant, small minded, shockiing.

I was once on a minor radio show and got my millions and billions mixed up. But I corrected myself. I don't remember a lot of fuss being made. Not sure how many listen to Three Counties Radio consumer show, but I know that these things can become viral. I've had media training so in a good position to criticise others. Starting point is to sound human and in touch with the audience. Corbyn trumps May on that, but this thread has also given fair comment on him too. The labour further education guy in Newsnight the other day was awful who didn't have an answer for how we'd pay for all young people going to university. Here's my advice to TM. So PM you voted to stay in Europe so you don't want to leave. Answer - yes I believed that Britain was better off in Europe, I respect the view of the referendum and the British public, and I will work hard to ensure that we get the best deal. There you go, easy isn't it. Here's another one. So Mr Corbyn, you want to get rid of the monarchy. Yes I am a republican as are a fair number of people, but this is not labour policy so wont be happening and is not a debating point for the election. He almost got this right last night

Thanks - a helpful reality check. From my understanding the west has been pretty impotent - perhaps this is where Clinton was at her finest in trying to take on Russia and once she had stood down to contest the election, and obviously someone who appeared more pro-Russia won, then Russia thought they had an open door to do what they liked. Would Corbyn have the final say if he was PM? Thatcher didn't negotiate with terrorists. But of course she did in an attempt to bring peace to Northern Ireland. Would Corbyn in power be a realist? The whole political scene, general election, Brexit, a divided country, is rather frightening and I want to be four again playing in my sand pit.

Funny how it was 'anyone but Chelsea' on Saturday. Makes a change from 'anyone but Man U' Anyway, ignore that, my point of posting was to congratulate Uddersfield on promotion - first team I saw in a league match the season they were last in the top division (1972). Really didn't want Reading to go up, with their out of town stadium Just checked that McAlpine is less than a mile away from Huddersfield station, and there will be pubs too. It's poo at the Madejski. More importantly I am sure that Hudersfield will be more fun.

Mrs May, why did you try to stop the government publishng it's air quality plan?, and why do you need to intervene in/clear virtually every other important decision since you came into power? Why does everything that your government do have to be seen to be popular? Why are you bally hedging your bets in your answers??? (and I very much expect that I wont, and cannot, vote for the three main parties (and UKIP and the Greens)).

He has been a bit of knob (JP), but there again that it why he is there. I was actually more struck by the ad for on-line bingo after Corbyn. What have we become? I may have a slight adiction to social media, but I am not losing my shirt. That would be a good question, not would you get rid of the monarchy? (where I am with Corbyn, agreeing that this is a low priority) but what would you do to control on-line betting? Oh and payday loans? Oh and cheap alcohol? I'm on a roll.

I think that it must be time for a good conference, perhaps Sheffield? And could the last person to leave Britain after Brexit turn the light out. It's the EDF wot dun it. Up yours Delors.

Bananas do in deed turn.... (soft bananas, yuk, but at this time you can bake them or put them into a desert). If you want to ripen your rock hard avocado then put it in a sealed plastic bag with a banana, which throws of ethylene. Remember to eat your lovely ripe fruit - which as said can go off very quickly. Still want some good recommendations for varieties of spuds. I should charge for all the advice I put out on the EDF!

In an accident you have to exchange details. First you have to stop of course. Report to the Old Bill, and make sure that they follow up. You can also search details of the car through the DVLA database - this will at least tell you it is taxed and MOT'd - if not..... https://cartaxcheck.co.uk/ This one is a commercial one, slightly quicker than SVLA (which is good), you need to have the reg and the make. I usually do it for smoky exhausts because I am a zealot. PS all - you should know all of this when you take your driving test. And remember it. Insurance companies sell on your details. At least we don't live in America where ambulance chasing is many times greater.

Most supermarket fruit and veg is tasteless/unripe. Avocados that would break windows. Ripen in the box fruit that you could use for hard core in the road. Trouble is shoppers buy them. You will see me outside the supermarket on Forest Hill Road having a good feel of the melons (actually the smell is more important). And groping other exotic fruit. Nothing like a ripe pair of plums. Best spuds - Warsaw. Best exotic fruit? Bali. Best tomatoes? Bulgaria. All a bit far. Best strawberries - PYO from my childhood. Would love suggestions on varieties of spuds and where to get them.

Just reminds me of the odd time I travel on the tube (or at a gig) when occasionally someone shoves their way through and even at my advanced age I give them a little shove, elbow, kick. Was gobsmacked - we know the bloke is no statesman but this is just bullying (and makes the nation a laughing stock). Shame the chap from Montenegro didn't deck him one! Wonder what the excuse will be this time.

When I was young mild was an old man's drink (I've now joined the old people's club so OK to drink this, Manns, Mackeson etc). Up in the real world it was generally dark, but in the South due to White supremacists it was often light in colour. Clearly that is not the real reason. Mild was quite weak, and distinguished from bitter as the malted barley was toasted and the beer sweeter (and not so hoppy). Historically milds were not necessary weak and the new microbreweries do quite strong mild. M&B did a brilliant mild at their Highgate brewery, closed, but no doubt brewed elsewhere under license. Perhaps the dog will stock it. I see that Highgate mild has been relaunched http://www.siba.co.uk/2015/01/30/award-winning-historic-highgate-dark-mild-relaunched-a-true-taste-of-history/ To be serious it would be nice to have a wider range of beers as opposed to the now ubiquitous super-hopped American style beers - some being supercooled and fizzy and ?5 a pint. The Dog in recent years had a good range of ales and my only criticism (avoiding the masses on Sunday lunch time) was no free cashpoint in Dulwich at a time before cards were accepted.

Judging by your age you'd enjoy a nice pint of M&B mild Mr Fox. Yes I have done the M&B bit before but still enjoy it. And it is May mild month (try the Speaker in Victoria) - doubt if any of you young hipsters would appreciate it. Couldn't find an M&B ad but the next best thing is Banks and here's one featuring the late Roger Moore, very fitting

There is the law/highway code And then the rule of vulnerability Buses/trucks bigger than cars, cars bigger than bikes, bikes bigger than pedestrians and you respect that (ie appreciate the vulnerability of those smaller than you. I am very much towards the law, but have become progressively so as I become older, more mature and influenced by others. If I am driving I am also influenced by some bloody good tuition, including motorcycle training, and that in my youth we were always being stopped by the feds mainly because we were driving old cars, but often they'd then threaten to do you for a bit of dirt on your headlamp. Different days now as the police don't stop motorists any more. But if I come to a red light at 3 in the morning on my push bike and nobody around, beyond 'letting the side down', it doesn't make the damned difference to humanity that I go through it. I'll also run the red light, as a protest/political statement around Mostyn road in Loughborough Junction, as this is the most pointless/unecessary red light in London, and not far behind it the lights on the South side of Lambeth bridge, which doesn't make any difference as all the motorised vehicles drive nose to tail blocking the roundabout in any case. Now on Rye Lane I just curse muttering to myself about the dwell times that are far too long, and that there are no pedestrians in any case, and stay put for fear of being seen by Rendel. My point here is that my Golden rule is however good or naughty I am don't harass pedestians being one myself on a regular basis. Robert Goodwill has been long gone from DfT, and if he was unwise saying something about cyclists not being prosecuted for cycling on pavements, he was at least being truthful. At the end of the day it's up to us to behave ourself. I will shout at any cyclist going full pelt through lights with pedestrians on it, and similarly on the pavement. If there is nobody about I may say something or not depending on the situation. I am far far more bothered about driving standards, selfish behaviour, speeding etc. Generally us cyclists are on the side of the angels. Funny story, saw a cop on Rye Lane, and I thought he was on a mobile, before realising he was drinking coffee. Well, still only one hand on the wheel. Then I looked at the number of cars parked on the double yellows and I thought it was pointless saying anything. Driving without proper control, whilst others park dangerously, seem the norm. Separately there needs to be a campaign for pedestrians to have stop and indicator lights. How many times have I almost walked into someone who just stops to check a text? If you stop to check a text and get an earful then it will be probably me.

Great thread, I'll refrain from commenting on the excellent posts (beyond I almost bought a MZ150 and my mate ran Jawa 350s). More please. My only other addition is that the incredibly unreliable GT380 - one big end seizure, and two broken pistons, all separate incidents, and three sets of points, can now fetch ?4 - ?6k, I sold if for a few hundred in today's money. Now as for a kettle.....

Struth. We are one of the three big players in Europe and can be seen to dampen down the power of the Germans. In my particular area we dressed up some good areas of EU policy as our own, almost as if we were embarassed to say good things about the Union. "It was the prospect of that "ever closer union" concept (driven by France and Germany) that frightened these voters -quite understandable, given the failure of monetary union." Maybe the view of some of the informed voters, and similarly that the EU was an evil institution that supported the mill owners and bankers that did not benefit the masses (I assume Corbyn's core beliefts). But for many (if not the masses) - misinformation, immigration, loathing the metropolitan elite, lack of perceived benefits from gloablisation

Wow, perhaps a letter to the Dailty Mail (angry of ED), I'm not taking the pee rather that would be an interesting experiment.

Cycling for an hour or so in London is good for your health. If you were cycling all day then the exposures would outweigh the cardio-vascular benefits. These aren't my words but an acedemic expert. Air quality is worse in-vehicle, particular for cabbies. There have been some good pop science programmes that explain this well. Sadly I can't find the programme on Youtube http://www.open.edu/openlearn/whats-on/tv/bang-goes-the-theory-series-7-episode-8 https://www.ovguide.com/tv_episode/bang-goes-the-theory-season-7-episode-8-air-pollution-4520959 Neither actually seem to show the programme, anyway they put monitors on a commuter cyclist, rail commuter and driver in Brum and exposure increased in that order. It was repeated with the same results on a more recent science programme.

I expect that most posting here feel passionately about leaving Europe, many like me will be in denial for the next two years, others are being more pragmatic, and some welcoming it. I don't think that we we are representive of the nation as a whole where there are no doubt many 'weak' remainers and leavers who just want to get on with it all, and a fair number may not even be bothered to vote in the GE. Don't take this as a sign that it was a good decision to leave.

There was a lot of interest on air quality on this site, but it seems to have gone quiet. Respond by 15 June. www.gov.uk/government/news/new-air-quality-plan-published-for-consultation I think most manifestos have commitments. I've tried to raise the broader picture under the diesel cars thread. Do read the plan and give views, there are no simple answers in a Western economy and I worry that Brexit and the Election will marginalise the Environment and that future governments will not want to intervene against the motorist as this loses votes. No rise in fuel tax for 13 years now.

Started on a Yammy RS 125 single at 20 (relatively old), then a 250 Honda Superdream (as the masses did, but got caught up when learner laws changed making it worthless), Suzy 380 two stroke GT380 tripple (knock knock, who's that, my piston seizing - but now quite collectable, weird Honda CBX 550, monster Kwaka Z1100A shaft (disolved into rust), ancient Honda 250 (about 1975), French grey import Yamaha 750 shaft, then two Kwaka ZZR600s, first got stolen and the seoond I used so infrequently that it just started falling apart. Then, even though I hadn't reached middle age, just seemed pointless as I wasn't riding. Had push bikes for most of the time too. Always wanted a A10 (Beezer) and have ridden a couple of them. Borrowed a BM k100 (odd tripple 1000cc) and also ran a c90 step through doing it up for someone and got a Suzie 100 dumped on me once. Dunno how I would cope if I was a kid nowadays, 75 part test and insurance at about ten grand. Have a Jersey motorbike license somewhere (long out of date) as well as a UK one. Sometimes I surprise people by telling them of my biking days. Doing 500 miles in day coming to an interview for example. Only one crash when a Riley Elf (in Jersey) pulled across me driven by a old lady. I had to call the OB who turned up on a BMW R80 twin and worked out quickly who was to blame. A Riley Elf was a variant of the mini (like the Wolsley Hornet). Leathers and helmets are probably still in the loft. Tell us about your bikes, young and old (bikes and people).

Ah 'minorit' of motorbike hating cyclists. Apologies didn't read this, there are so many blanket statements made on this site. So I am definitely and ass for ass-uming. EV (electric vehicle) access to bus lanes is being proposed and may already be happening eg in Milton Keynes. And in Norway. Watch this space.

I've known a couple of Beverley (males) both would now be between 60 and 90 suggesting that it was a bloke's name. What a great term bloke is, and geezer too. They'd make great names. Mate was dog sitting for 'Scrotum' and 'Retch' walking around the park shouting their names. John Seldom Gummer called his dogs Saddam and soemthing like Tariq (it wasn't Tariq but another henchman) What about Renton?

Should'nt be allowed full stop - a popularist move by Boris, and I resonded to the consultation. Nor electric cars. And this is from someone who rode motorbikes for a long time in central London and is a supporter of electric cars. As a cyclist I used to note a pecking order in ability from motorbike (best) to scooter to cabbies doing the knowledge (worst). Doesn't seem so pronounced nowadays. My commmute on motorbike from Havering to SW1 in the late 80s is for another thread. It was like war out there! Why the comment motorbike hating cyclists? We all have to get on together and generally do.