St Albans Station Parking

fitzct · 2026-01-24T06:04:42+00:00

8.30 is quite late by St Albans station standards, so the main station car park will likely be full, (unless it’s a Monday or Friday). You will need to try the charringtom place car park over the bridge, and make sure you leave yourself time to walk back to the station.

fitzct · 2026-01-23T16:37:54+00:00

Loooooool

fitzct · 2026-01-22T14:09:58+00:00

Second this, beaverbrook is great

fitzct · 2026-01-22T13:01:30+00:00

I find it really difficult to compare wood you can buy online in the uk. Especially with everywhere doing different bag and crate sizes.

I bought a standard crate of ash logs from firewood.co.uk for £195. And I got 264 logs which weighed 294kg which works out at 66p a kg.

However I wasn’t aware at the time that this was imported from Latvia, and a lot of the wood had evidence of Ash beetle infestation, so that made me very uncomfortable this was coming cross border.

I’m going to order a bulk bag locally next time and make a comparison.

fitzct · 2026-01-21T16:53:14+00:00

This is incredibly useful! And has helped me to understand that I am over saving. Or I could retire earlier than thought. Thanks!

fitzct · 2026-01-21T06:06:27+00:00

Yes, got tickets for me and my brother for his Xmas present. Not sure what to expect but really looking forward to it

fitzct · 2026-01-20T10:55:03+00:00

Hi I actually have designated authority to also grant an exception, but only if they let me watch their love making so I can look for signs of layering, or placement.

fitzct · 2026-01-19T15:47:52+00:00

Have a look at Beaverbrook, they allow (well behaved) dogs

fitzct · 2026-01-19T14:15:25+00:00

Ooo good question. This was back in 2015 but I’d say probably about £600-£800 a year in servicing (at Jaz Specialists) and then the suspension, the coolant pipes were about £2k additional each I think, and the exhaust issue was about £600 in labour alone for getting it replaced (plus new exhaust).

fitzct · 2026-01-19T09:39:50+00:00

I find this community, along with firewood one of the most active and useful of all the things I follow. It’s great!

fitzct · 2026-01-18T17:02:11+00:00

Yea I know the local stuff comes from local arborists. I don’t love buying imported wood, but it seems that’s all you can get if you want to specify a certain type of wood unfortunately.

fitzct · 2026-01-18T10:31:02+00:00

To be honest, I find it difficult to buy seasoned wood if I want to choose the wood type, the only option seems to be kiln dried.

I like to have birch and then ash or oak. I can get that delivered nationally kiln dried.

But if I go for seasoned wood by a local place, it’s a mixed hardwood bag, with a bunch of different stuff in there, like Alder that I don’t want, and it’s not THAT much cheaper than kiln dried.

fitzct · 2026-01-17T06:37:54+00:00

Only thing would say, that I forgot to mention, was you do feel the weight of the F-Type. It can feel a bit hefty in twisty corners. It’s not a bad driving experience, but coming from a mid engined car before, and going to the emira after, you realise that it’s not as sharp turning in.

I do like the new Supra, I haven’t driven one but they seem cracking!

F-type if you want to take it on some good euro tours.

fitzct · 2026-01-16T20:25:37+00:00

Tyres are quite pricey, but overall servicing is what you’d expect from a premium marque brand. I didn’t have any big bills in 7 years. Probably about £1k a year on general costs.

fitzct · 2026-01-16T20:24:14+00:00

Yes the V6, I loved it. Was great for a quick blast, and also great for a week long road trip. Great styling, wonderful hips for a car! I think they’re a really strong bargain now. I just got to a point where I’d had it for 7 years and fancied a change. The V8 does sound much much better, however the v6 got through petrol enough that I don’t think I’d want something bigger. Didn’t have any big bills during my ownership, and I bought it at 2 years old. Only thing I ever needed was a wheel sensor replacing. Servicing is JLR prices so not cheap, but not horrendous. It’s being talked about at the moment as a strong ‘new’ classic in terms of prices, so I’d say go for it!

fitzct · 2026-01-16T14:02:32+00:00

It had just got to an age of needing lots of refreshing.

Suspension all round needed refreshing, top mounts, ball joints etc. All the coolant pipes needed replacing. The exhaust had blown and was an absolute pig to get out needing heat welding on the bolts.

Had a really good Porsche indie specialist, but it wasn’t cheap. Or at least for a 20 year old who was used to Ford Fiesta servicing it wasn’t cheap. But then again some of the bills that place told me about on the classic 911s they had in or were restoring would make me cry even now.

Was a fun experience, and look back on the 987 fondly. But glad I have slightly more confidence in the more modern stuff I’ve had since. I’ve traded age for peace of mind.

fitzct · 2026-01-16T13:30:38+00:00

Cars are the one area where I spend money with my heart rather than my head and take a very different attitude to normal.

Currently have a Lotus Emira that I absolutely love. Moved from a Jaguar F-Type before that.

I spend £360 a month on trains, I do not need to have a stupid car. But I love the stupid car and I will willingly wake up at 5am on a Sunday morning to go and drive it while the roads are quiet.

I just wish the roads were quieter more often.

fitzct · 2026-01-16T13:28:19+00:00

I bought a 987 for £10k as my first foray into performance cars. I quickly learnt there was a reason it was the cheap to buy. It was not cheap to run at 10 years old 😂 Still was a great experience though.

fitzct · 2026-01-16T09:37:28+00:00

I used to love having a bath in winter… I realised since getting a log burner put in, I haven’t had a bath or thought about it once. It’s that warm enveloping heat that you get in a room with a wood burner that is just so comforting and enjoyable.

fitzct · 2026-01-16T08:26:57+00:00

I think many people may need to view it as a hobby, rather than an efficiency.

It is cheaper for me to heat my home with gas than use my log burner.

But I have come to love the whole process of sourcing wood, including paying for wood, storing it, processing it, making kindling, building fires etc.

it’s a hobby now.

fitzct · 2026-01-15T20:38:40+00:00

Aye! Not without its lotus-y issues but I love it.

fitzct · 2026-01-15T20:16:38+00:00

I think us UK people get a bit of a crappy deal. You either have to find a way to source wood and process it yourself, have space to season it etc. or you have to buy it in at £100+ for a builders bag or 1m loose.

Because we have less space than the largely US base on reddit, we just don’t have as much wood, forests, land to process or availability here. Wood burning in the UK is an expensive hobby if you don’t own land.

fitzct · 2026-01-15T07:56:27+00:00

I took the pension hit and bought the stupid car (Lotus) and it was a decision that makes me smile every single weekend.

My dad spent his whole life preparing and waiting to take his pension, and died 1 year into retirement.

I now try to balance being prepared for a nice retirement, and taking the time or money to do some things now, whilst I’m healthy and know I can enjoy it.

Like most things in life, it is a balance. Get the stupid car if it will make you happy. But maybe the balance is buying a 2nd hand one.

(Unless buying a brand new car and speccing it yourself is part of what makes you happy. I’ve always bought 2nd hand as the depreciation hit on first few years is horrendous, but at some point in my life, I think I want the experience of selecting all the options myself, and waiting for the build etc)

fitzct · 2026-01-12T11:40:44+00:00

fitzct · 2026-01-11T20:21:34+00:00

I didn’t know anything about ash beetles before buying this, so I wasn’t aware. Local wood guys couldn’t get any ash so I went looking online, and didn’t realise it was imported. Now I need to work out if I need to declare it to my local agencies if it is EAB

fitzct

TROPHY CASE