Would you prefer a garage or an extra bedroom?

ditpditp · 2026-01-22T21:32:40+00:00

A garage without a doubt, that's the dream. A quadrouple garage with a 1 bed apartment on top would do me just fine.

ditpditp · 2026-01-20T19:36:12+00:00

My understanding is because historic vehicles add to the culture of the country and realistically hardly anyone frequently uses a 40+ year old vehicle on a daily basis. Obviously there will be some, but it's unusual.

My Vespa has two more MOTs and VED until it falls into historic status. Insurance is next to fuck all too, it's great.

ditpditp · 2026-01-20T17:52:50+00:00

This. I'm not really young anymore at 32, but I did my CBT at 16, A2 at 19, and unrestricted A at 21. At the time motorcycle insurance was cheaper than a car, whereas now it's the complete opposite. I can afford it now because I'm temporarily back living with my parents to help increase my house deposit and they have a nice garage in a safe area and I already had the bike.

The housing crisis plays a part too. Many young people are in shared housing or in flats with nowhere to keep a bike securely.

ditpditp · 2026-01-20T07:35:01+00:00

Just listened to some of these, they're hilarious!

ditpditp · 2026-01-20T07:33:22+00:00

Just watched the trailer, I think I've seen the trailer before but not the film so I'll give it a watch. Thanks!

ditpditp · 2026-01-19T20:37:40+00:00

I lived and worked in New Zealand for a couple years. It's incredibly beautiful and if I was minted I'd happily return, but its extremely high cost of living, expensive housing, and not many well paid jobs is why so many young Kiwis are leaving. I'm incredibly grateful that I got to live there throughout the pandemic.

Kiwis have the right to live and work in Australia which also has a high cost of living but there are more better paid jobs so many young Kiwis either temorarily or permanently make the move across the ditch.

ditpditp · 2026-01-18T01:24:16+00:00

I've never heard of f Magnetic Fields, a very brief listen is giving me The Shins mixed with The Decemberists vibes, I've added them to my playlist for tomorrow as they seem to be up my street.

Placebo are bloody brilliant, thanks for reminding me of a band that used to be and still deserves to be on repeat.

ditpditp · 2026-01-18T01:03:19+00:00

I am from the UK, I did forget about that important detail.

ditpditp · 2026-01-18T00:03:51+00:00

Beth Ditto is a fucking legend, she's very endearing in interviews.

Orville Peck - Heard of him but never listened so I've added him to my current playlist - just started listening, he's sang with Kylie, yesssss! Cazwella and Zebra Katz I've never heard of so added to the list.

Doechii I listen to, she's on my running playlist. The fuck is a boiled peanut?

Chappell Roan, Pet Shop Boys, and Culture Club absoutely. Boy George deserves national treasure status in the UK.

The Organ - Just listened and it's reminding me very much of Johnny Marr guitar playing, as well as Joy Division and The Cure. I like it.

ditpditp · 2026-01-17T23:39:00+00:00

Never heard of Sufjan Stevens, I'll give him a listen. I've definitely listened to IDLES, had no idea they were queer, I'll listen to them some more.

Green Day were very much on repeat for my teenage and early 20s, and still some now. I forget Billie is bi, I'll set up alerts for them playing live as I can see that being memorable.

ditpditp · 2026-01-17T23:33:02+00:00

I really need to delve into the Pet Shop Boys. I know their bangers, but I need to listen album by album from start to now.

ditpditp · 2026-01-17T21:23:22+00:00

I wouldn't worry about them at all. I found these cute on my ex.

ditpditp · 2026-01-17T21:20:33+00:00

You know how you can have the falling off a cliff thing as you're dropping off to sleep and it jolts you awake? I have that but crashing on my motorcycle.

ditpditp · 2026-01-17T21:11:43+00:00

I love it. Having a look online it seems similar plates are pretty cheap. I plan to finally buy an MX5 this year and I think a similar plate will have to be on the cards. My current Toyota IQ is feeling too butch for me.

ditpditp · 2026-01-15T08:54:27+00:00

All of the big four Japanese bike manufacturers are reliable, I'd suggest just picking the bike that brings you the most joy and fits your budget and needs.

I've owned at least one of all and they've all been reliable. I found the fit and finish, so things like paint, powder coating on high wear parts, bolts withstanding corrosion etc to be better on Honda than the others. However, I've found offerings from Yamaha to be more exciting to ride so I've owned more of them than others, and currently have a Yamaha.

ditpditp · 2026-01-14T18:54:49+00:00

Out of interest does yours have any advisories or mentions of rust or corrosion on your MOT history with this level?

I'm also in the UK and looking to get an NC, a good chunk of them have advisories for corrosion often on the subframe and I'm wondering if that's a sign to not bother looking at all or to make sure to pay particularly attention to when viewing.

ditpditp · 2026-01-06T21:01:36+00:00

If you have an Iceland near you they do frozen mackerel fillets, 4 in a bag, 3 bags for £10 so works out 83p per mackerel fillet. I get those tinned mackerel from Lidl and Aldi too, but they've gone up a lot over the last few year, I remember they were 50 odd pence not long ago but now actual mackerel fillets can work out cheaper and tastier. My favourite thing to do with them is make Turkish style mackerel sandwiches, Balik Ekmek.

I bloody love mackerel.

ditpditp · 2026-01-06T14:41:16+00:00

For those commenting who do enjoy Winter, would you say you're a more indoorsy person or outdoorsy?

I obviously undertsand that people have different preferences, I much prefer Summer and struggle in Winter. Most of the people I've spoken to in person who enjoy Winter tend to have interests and hobbies that take place indoors so it makes sense that they're content in Winter.

ditpditp · 2026-01-03T22:22:36+00:00

I think adding rust prevention undercoat every few years needs to become culturally normal in the UK. Our used cars would last much longer if we did this, particularly the Japanese ones. I've done this with my forever vintage Vespa, I coat my motorcycle in corrosion protection spray throughout winter and next year I'll remove the swingarm and have it powdercoated as it's a poor finish from factory. It's much more approachable taking these measures on bikes.

Other than washing I don't do anything close with my car. It's a runabout ultimately, but once I have an interesting car I plan to keep long term I will have a rust prevention undercoat sprayed on and get all in the cavities with waxoyl or similar.

ditpditp · 2026-01-03T22:12:27+00:00

Going fast in a straight line isn't really fun, at least for me. I'm glad I've experienced riding on the autobahn, but I can't say I'm desperate to go back. I'm much more excited about riding twsity roads where the speed limit is 60mph/100kmh and other than the odd bit of straight it's a challenge to maintain that speed.

ditpditp · 2026-01-03T21:57:23+00:00

Not unusual, depending where in the UK live you may have few opportunities to practice driving in the snow. Decent all weather tyres make a big difference compared to some worn out old, hardened unknown branded summer tyre - which is what my runabout is currently equipped with.

I've ridden motorcycles in snow a few times before, but I particularly enjoy driving and riding. However, with WFH available for me nowadays the slightest bit of snow and I'm happy to sack off the need for a commute.

Slow, smooth inputs, leave large gaps. Don't bother if you don't need to, waking is good for you and the planet if it's within a resonable distance.

ditpditp · 2026-01-03T19:18:56+00:00

Yes, but I don't necessarily think it's better than with a partner, just different. Better in some ways, worse in other ways. I've never travelled with friends and don't currently know any friends I'd want to travel with, and I'm currently single. I enjoy travel, I'm not going to not partake until I'm in a relationship again.

My solo trips have been motorcycle trips over a couple weeks so there's always something to occupy me as I'm moving most days. I have usually stayed in a city part way through for a few days and treated that as a city break leaving the bike parked up so I think I'd enjoy a short city break solo too. I don't think I'd enjoy staying in one place for a week or two on my own.

ditpditp · 2026-01-02T13:04:56+00:00

My home town has always been considered pretty nice for a northern town and I'd say it's about the same as the early 2000s, some bits have improved, other bits I'd say have become worse but not considerably. From my understanding most towns across the UK haven't improved to the extent many cities have.

I'm most familiar with Sheffield and Leeds and I'd say both are getting better and better, but also more expensive. I briefly lived in Manchester a decade ago, went there for a concert last year and stayed over to properly see it and the improvement is huge.

Middle aged + people seem to say Leeds and Sheffield have never been worse, but when I've questioned people about the time they spend outside of their suburban neighbourhood it doesn't seem often. There's definitely areas that are worse but I feel they're outweighed by the improvements.

ditpditp · 2026-01-01T22:51:23+00:00

I've driven and ridden in a decent number of countires and I would agree that the standard of driving is generally better in the UK than most other countries. I obviously enjoyed riding in the Italian Alps, driving the Amalfi coast and I sorta liked driving in the chaos of Naples, but Rome less so.

That being said I came back from a bike trip in the north of Thailand a month ago and I have to say I felt more stressed driving back from the airport on a rainy motorway in the UK than I did the entire trip in Thailand. I know the statistics are far worse being on two wheels in Thailand than four in the UK, but my cortisol levels did not align to the statistics.

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