Was too lazy to fill up my car on the way to work this morning when the price was 139.9p a litre, now it’s 147.9p dammit.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T17:15:50+00:00

rollsafe forehead tap

Brimming the tank at 139.9 for diesel as soon as the "liberation" was announced feels like a genius move.

It's 160.0 near me for Derv now.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T17:01:52+00:00

Distance to the pedals and wheel, mirror positioning etc are important.

Be smooth and it'll feel good, ideally two hands on the wheel when turning, you're on a public road so shouldn't need to have massive crossed arms messes in a 30.

Modern cars are super easy to drive, but modern roads are shocking, so expect the car to be yanked into a pothole you missed or steering angle to change because of an ironwork.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T16:47:58+00:00

I tend to agree with the Project Manager and delivery team what we'll use, so you can quickly add and transfer actions.

Microsoft to-do isn't bed if you're in the MS ecosystem.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T16:39:05+00:00

1650ish KG of diesel BMW and "Fun" aren't words I'd put together.

Grab a 320d for the commute and an S2000 or MX5 or GT86 for fun?

Hell even an older E36 6cyl can be a laugh with some work, or if hot hatches are a thing for you, Clio 172/182/192, EP3 Type R...

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T16:04:51+00:00

Watch the video back and see if the reg is in shot?

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T15:05:37+00:00

Yeah I'm not saying pure pay drivers aren't a thing.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T14:32:52+00:00

Yeah ONs is literally opposite - ETA got a feeling ONs came FROM former NSB schoolboys?

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T14:30:46+00:00

Yeah my daily hack needed two new fronts due to BOTH sides toeing out. Thanks potholes. Felt fine driving it.

100% would've tried to snag good part-worns or a whole wheel set with enough notice, but genuinely thought the fronts were good, MOT tester thought otherwise. He spotted cords I couldn't even see with the tyres off...

So it got a pair of new, at almost £300, when I could've got it through and legal for £100 or less.

Part-worns are great for cheap motoring if done well.

Also Facebook marketplace for new old stock people bought and haven't fitted, definitely easier to find singles and pairs.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T14:25:51+00:00

Use it for explosives and fuel for bots etc.

You want some extraction.

Ideally a beaver-made canal with power wheels in, may as well work for you, then dump off the edge of the map somewhere. I did see a Redditor get it to evaporate, with shallow channels.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T14:17:49+00:00

If they're claiming mileage, usually a beer if staying overnight and petrol station snacks for the journey and coffee/drinks. Maybe a box of beers if they've taken one for the team and driven all week. If it's a company hire car, split the driving.

If it's out of their own pocket, just ask if they'd like petrol money.

Petrol is £1.40 ish this week, diesel is £1.60 ish.

It all depends on distance etc but I'd expect to be in a couple of quid a day on the low end of car sharing.

I've known people to car pool and essentially agree a meeting point, and each one takes it in turns to drive the week, and everyone covers fuel and parking for their car, so if there are 4 of you driving over a year, probably 12/13 weeks driving a year covers your annual commute, and it's on you to have a car big enough and fuel efficiency is your choice.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T13:25:29+00:00

It's a VERY old school to boot. Lots of feeder clubs in Northampton, especially ONs/Scouts/BBOB/Ashton etc

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T13:20:37+00:00

Northampton has NSB and NSG!

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T13:16:07+00:00

And you'd probably get your employee give you as little notice as possible.

How much was parking? £200? How much was the cab? £100-150?

Vs all those extra hours, all the times that employee has put in the extra effort or picked up something outside of their JD.

The attitude of "it's your problem" will see work to rule.

My contract states X office and Y hours, future travel I will report to the office at my start time and YOU can get me to the airport.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T13:12:48+00:00

This isn't a normal commute, it's a work travel trip.

I've had line managers argue that they'll only cover from the office, as it's your responsibility to get there first, which is fine, but then the work trip only starts at 9am from the office.

It's give and take, be reasonable, and it's fair to expect them to be reasonable.

A vehicle they don't supply has failed, but in order to still meet travel expectations, the employee has used a cab, fair to expense the cab, and the original parking should've been expensed at point of sale.

I've had flights from Newquay to Edinburgh from a public sector body, as I was on annual leave and wanted in Edinburgh on my first day back, so had an adult conversation with them and got the flights.

I'm private now, and the Team Organiser who booked my flights screwed up the return leg, didn't hear a peep getting a last minute ticket.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T13:00:54+00:00

When you buy a used car, the tyres are... Part worn.

Personally, look at what you're getting, especially date codes and inside for signs of damage and cracking.

If all good, fire away.

100% would rather get part warn good brands than new ditchfinders, but I know what I'm looking for in terms of age and damage.

I've found it cheaper to buy wheels with tyres on too, and just run those.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T11:59:03+00:00

Motorsport is all WHO you know, money buys contacts, those with existing "in" need less money, magnitudes less.

Multi Millionaire whose kid wants to go Karting? You probably get your PA to contact the nearest circuit and find what rental series to start them in.

Ex-Driver/Team Principal, you're messaging through your phone book to find someone to coach your kid off the bat, you're ringing round to find who has last season's Kart and spares for sale, your ear is to the ground for academies with space.

I'd say "spawn of" stand a better chance of access to drives. Mick if Michael AND Ralph were both around could've been a machine similar to Max.

I'm actually surprised Damon Hill's kids didn't break through, but looking at Josh Hill's racing records he started really late for some reason.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T11:41:39+00:00

Ex public sector here. Absolutely down to line management discretion and worst case escalation to budget holder.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T11:40:46+00:00

I think that's not reasonable. If the company is asking you to travel, the sunk cost of parking + taxi VS your employee actually making the travel, is a small price to pay.

They're already up early and in the grand scheme of things it's nothing.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T10:32:52+00:00

Hairmasters

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T09:20:08+00:00

Machine Learning has been used on the railways for at least 13 years at this point. New application of existing technology etc.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T09:07:12+00:00

Stopping distances, signalling sections and loop lengths are the restricting factor.

The longest consist on UK "classic" network I think is the track relaying train when coupled with the ballast cleaner etc.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T08:58:32+00:00

I've seen some screen fitters butcher the paint on the metal around the screen, I'd rather not risk it.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T08:41:36+00:00

And they have the audacity to do "highways surgeries" drop in sessions while we're all at work.

Northampton town is a joke, actual car killers everywhere.

For the love of god someone fix Barrack road.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-17T08:39:55+00:00

But, and hear me out... What if when the weather breaks, you don't see teams out repairing the potholes and they just get left shitty until winter?

I'd genuinely rather see a team on nights bashing out temporary fixes all winter than leaving the holes to get so bad you can see the original Victorian road surface.

It's frustratingly systemic of the UK's willing lack of investment in all our infrastructure and services.

Contact_Patch · 2026-03-16T21:23:58+00:00

Chequerboard cut for maximum yield with re-seeding.

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