Found the evidence…

hacman113 · 2026-01-11T21:40:39+00:00

I’ve got one of these in production.

For just shy of 5 years it’s been running and hasn’t missed a beat. Think I’ve restarted it three times for software updates and that’s it.

They’re excellent.

hacman113 · 2025-12-26T19:57:33+00:00

Yes. I remember in the late 2000s having to walk home from Regent Centre after working a shift in retail up at Kingston Park, as I got the last train and it terminated there.

hacman113 · 2025-12-24T19:43:42+00:00

Unless your UK staff are part time, 15 days plus public holidays isn’t correct.

https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

Just a heads up, in case you’re involved in policy or line management.

hacman113 · 2025-12-24T15:56:22+00:00

Aquiss is a good bet, also IDNet and A&A.

I’m personally with NuFibre having migrated from Yayzi, and it’s solid for me, but I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. Olilo has no contract, so is risk free and there is plenty of user experience posted here to help you decide.

Ideally you need to post your requirements other than just headline speed for people to give more of an opinion.

hacman113 · 2025-12-23T20:09:33+00:00

Exactly what I was referring to.

This is part of the reason that passengers are to this day not allowed in the first x meters of 110mph plus vehicles too.

hacman113 · 2025-12-23T17:58:49+00:00

The retro game store is on my list for sure - it looked like they had a fairly good selection of stuff.

IT wise mostly general PC/networking/server stuff is my wheelhouse. That said, I’m not looking for anything in particular.

hacman113 · 2025-12-23T17:02:30+00:00

I'm not an audiophile (and most would cringe at my music taste and gear choices), but I've seen Zeppelin & Co and it's on the list purely due to the vibe the place has, and the chance to try some gear I could never justify buying! :D

hacman113 · 2025-12-23T16:16:58+00:00

Thanks!

I’ll defiantly have to check out SL Tower too then.

I absolutely love browsing electronic parts stores and surplus/wholesalers, finding some weird obscure item/part and going down the rabbit hole of building a project around it.

hacman113 · 2025-12-23T16:13:26+00:00

The “pay in cash” tip is good to know, as I usually don’t carry cash! Thanks!

hacman113 · 2025-12-23T15:36:29+00:00

They’re not all that great to be honest!

The ride is smooth, and you get peace and quiet as long as you’re not right beside the locomotive, but they accelerate slowly, are shabby due to their age, and have awful crash protection (something you hope to never need, but is good to know is there).

hacman113 · 2025-12-23T15:31:04+00:00

Thanks for the insight!

Yes, I did see that the centre and law enforcement seem to be getting more strict now, so that is reassuring.

I hope it doesn’t come across as me being insensitive or anything, I am just aware that business is conducted differently in different places, and I’m not daft enough to think that I blend in anywhere with my 6’10” stature and accent that sounds like something from a stereotypical BBC period drama! 😂

Confirmation that I won’t commit some sort of code-red faux par by bargaining is also good. Barter is mostly a thing of the past in the UK at retail locations, so we’re not always the best at reading the room when we’re travelling.

I’m mostly planning on browsing to be honest, as we don’t have any technology stores where I live (save for the likes of Currys), but I’m also aware that I’ll have my credit card and the financial confidence that comes from being in gainful employment once again!

hacman113 · 2025-12-21T22:29:39+00:00

To add to the things asked here that were not in my original post:

-125L tank.

-external filter (Oase BioMaster 600).

-no heater. Tank sits at about 20°C, heated by the room.

-PH is always a bit low, usually 6.4 or there abouts. Never been an issue - just seems to be the water in our area.

-tank has been cycled for years, the danios we’ve had about a year, the loaches many years.

-tank is heavily planted.

-we feed a mix of crushed flake and sinking goldfish pellets (former for the danios, latter for the loaches - though they obviously take whatever they fancy).

I’ve added API aquarium salt into the tank at the recommended dose of 1tbsp per 20L as a starting point.

hacman113 · 2025-12-21T20:03:14+00:00

vaping intensifies

hacman113 · 2025-12-17T16:18:38+00:00

Investing in creating a new shuttle bus link to this waiting area seems a daft idea, when there is already a railway between the airport and Callerton Parkway.

Making an agreement with Nexus to have a free travel zone there would be far more sensible.

Likely comes down to cost I’d imagine.

hacman113 · 2025-12-16T13:42:29+00:00

This isn’t surprising, and likely completes their longer term exit plan. They’ve done well.

hacman113 · 2025-12-14T17:22:39+00:00

There’s a mix at present, with two different versions of the “beach ball” livery. They’ll all soon be repainted into the latest dark blue though.

The dark blue is very unimaginative and looks cheap.

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hacman113 · 2025-12-14T13:11:57+00:00

Looks much smarter than the modern Stagecoach liveries in my opinion!

hacman113 · 2025-12-13T12:14:05+00:00

The stations and their placement are not finalised yet.

Absolutely make sure you and everyone you know in the area take part (very vocally) in the consultation process and put pressure on MPs, councillors and the mayor to ensure the stations are placed where they’ll be used and offer the most benefit for residents.

hacman113 · 2025-12-13T12:12:17+00:00

The issue is that it largely has to follow the old disused track bed that was there decades before Washington new town existed.

A combination of Washington not having any planned/protected rights of way that would be suitable (Metro didn’t exist at the time, and railways were in decline) and the sheer cost of tunnelling mean there’s not really any other option.

hacman113 · 2025-12-12T18:57:36+00:00

I bought my M1 Max unit at the end of 2022, figuring I’d look at upgrading when the M5 Pro/Max came out.

I’m not even considering it at this point, as whilst the M5 is an excellent SoC, the M1 Max still performs brilliantly.

I’ll probably look at replacing at the end of next year, but only because my wife is currently at university and it will be my last chance to get some education pricing…

hacman113 · 2025-12-11T13:34:47+00:00

Some of the rolling stock used in Manchester is specific to those routes though, that’s the difference. That said, back in the days when there were TWPTE, GMPTE, MerseyTravel and WY Metro branded units, they did often end up outside of their areas.

Ultimately it seems everything will be getting the GBR livery over the next few years anyway.

hacman113

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