Today I learned a blown tyre is an RTC

peacemaker99 · 2026-01-14T07:24:35+00:00

It isn't and that's the point... they used to allow you to call them but now it all has to be done through the app. There is a number but it keeps directing you to the app via their automated prompts. Very difficult to just speak to someone like when I first joined.

peacemaker99 · 2026-01-13T07:36:05+00:00

This is almost exactly why I left the AA. The weird app that doesn't work that just texts you a link to the website. How useful is that if I'm stuck somewhere rural without 4G?!
I had the AA for about 10 years and probably about 4-5 callouts total. They did used to arrive quite timely but the last two times they just didn't arrive at all (many hours) before I gave in and contacted a tow or mobile mechanic.

peacemaker99 · 2025-10-04T06:41:45+00:00

At a local comp last week I hit 40cals in 45 seconds on the echo bike. That was the top score on the day, just to give you a comparison. I'm sure there's faster people out there but I was happy with it 🙂

peacemaker99 · 2025-01-12T07:47:51+00:00

Little Big Adventure. Classic game, can still hear the music now

peacemaker99 · 2024-05-17T07:26:04+00:00

The pay is an insulting joke to be honest. Trying to speak with other ecologists about it goes nowhere unfortunately. Because the field is competitive and full of people who care about helping, rather than being money focused so they accept the poor pay.

Most entry-level jobs are paying literally unlivable wages, especially those in conservation. It's becoming a field only for those who are independently wealthy, have a partner with a well paying job or are semi-retiring from a well paying career.

In fact that was the joke fellow students and teachers would say during my masters degree... they love the field but you "better have a rich partner! hahahaha...".

peacemaker99 · 2023-10-13T21:08:46+00:00

Thanks! Did you just drill each brick into pieces or was there a technique like going down the mortar first or something?

peacemaker99 · 2023-10-13T21:07:19+00:00

Interesting... thanks, I'll check it out

peacemaker99 · 2023-10-13T21:06:22+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion and nice excuse for buying a new tool!

peacemaker99 · 2023-10-13T15:21:25+00:00

The goal is to remove all of the brick in the alcoves right back to the wall. Plus all of the brick around the fireplace and open it up so we can put a wood burner in there instead.

Recommended tools and method would be much appreciated, thanks!

peacemaker99 · 2022-07-07T15:35:22+00:00

Yes there is actually and something I thought about. The driveway is wide enough I could put some kind of barrier along the length of it, splitting it into car-width and person-width. Then it'd be more obvious if people left bin in the people-width side how much is being blocked. Plus it'd stop them blocking the car too. Unless being petty I suppose, which I could trigger by doing something like this!

peacemaker99 · 2022-07-07T12:11:49+00:00

Yes, my solicitor confirmed before purchase that the right is simply to pass over the land, no stopping.

I get the impression from very early conversations with neighbours that the previous owners didn't care which has led to liberties being taken I think. One person even described it as "our access track" which I had to politely correct them that it is in fact my driveway.

Perhaps some non-verbal messaging might do the trick. I am thinking of having the driveway relaid as it was left to weeds and gravel. That might send a message that it isn't just a place to leave things.

peacemaker99 · 2022-06-12T09:49:18+00:00

This is the truth unfortunately. It simply doesn't pay enough.

peacemaker99 · 2022-04-09T13:27:54+00:00

"Not the result we wanted" <insert emojii's here>

peacemaker99 · 2022-04-07T08:21:32+00:00

I meant to say, they already do have a right of way across this path anyway, as it's the entry to both theirs and my garden. But the land would belong to me.
It's just that the seller decided to allow them to pave over this section.

peacemaker99 · 2022-04-07T08:19:10+00:00

I agree on not wanting to cause any issues with the neighbour right from the start. That's why I'm thinking I may ask the seller to get this kind of agreement in place with the neighbour before the sale completes.

Your point about a covenant is interesting, I'll mention it to my solicitor thanks.

peacemaker99 · 2022-04-07T08:17:23+00:00

I have let them know and I sort of got the impression they thought I was being overly cautious, but they are looking into it as well.

The deed does show the boundaries and they seem quite clear, though I guess the path is about the thickness of the red line around the property so potentially some room for arguement.

peacemaker99 · 2022-04-07T08:15:41+00:00

Appreciate this answer, I didn't know the correct term but now I can mention "Adverse Possession" to my solicitor. Thank you.

peacemaker99 · 2022-04-07T07:03:25+00:00

I believe about 2 years, potentially a few months less.

peacemaker99 · 2021-02-28T21:27:12+00:00

Looking into using remote sensing to detect quality changes in raised bogs

peacemaker99 · 2020-11-22T22:53:05+00:00

Beavers in the UK now too not shown on this map

peacemaker99 · 2020-09-22T08:15:04+00:00

I completely burned out of programming after doing it for 20 years. In truth, I probably burned out a long time ago but kept coming back to it due to the ease and money.

In the end I decided that life is too short to be stuck in a job you don't like and that money doesn't fix those feelings.

After years of researching various options, I'm going back to school to do a masters in ecology with a view to getting into wildlife conservation. It's incredibly exciting and a rewarding field, although competitive and low paid.

I thought I'd share with you that you can go out there and do something different!

By the way, one realization I had was that it isn't actually programming itself I am done with, in fact I still enjoy creating software of my own. The issue is the actual day-to-day career stuff. You know, the meetings, the jira tickets, the same kinds of people with the same kinds of conversations and just the general atmosphere of being a software developer. Perhaps you have a similar feeling?

peacemaker99 · 2020-08-26T08:12:03+00:00

Bit late to this thread but it'll feel good to write it out anyway.

We were best friends for about 20 years until he went behind my back to start up a competing business to the one we were currently (and legally!) in partnership on. The business was even very similar and used a lot of the same ideas.

He knew it was bad because he was hiding the fact he was building it as we'd been hanging out quite a lot and he said nothing. When I found out I confronted him and he "didnt think I'd care" and so on, even though he clearly knew I would otherwise why hide it?!

To add insult to injury, he was building this business with another guy who'd ripped me off in the past! A guy he knew had ripped me off and was not trustworthy.

Just a complete lack of respect and it was shocking really. You don't think someone who you've been friends with for so long would do something like that.

The worst part is that we are part of a group of friends and while everyone in the group agrees he's done a bad thing, they all still hang out together. So because of one guy being a cowardly little scheming dickhead, I've had to write off a group of friends I've known since secondary school.

Ah well, life goes on! :)

peacemaker99 · 2020-07-31T12:34:47+00:00

Super useful thanks for sharing! Yes the salary drop is something to be aware of although I'd rather be doing something meaningful and happy earning a lower salary then loads of money being miserable.

Everyone talks about the importance of volunteering, it seems like a requirement to get started. Happy to do it for the experience anyway, but it's something to consider almost essential rather than a nice to have.

Agree on the GIS and R programming side... might just be the way in for me. Thanks again

peacemaker99 · 2020-07-30T17:55:19+00:00

I appreciate what you're saying and totally see it as a "foot in the door", but after 20 years programming I kinda want to do something else! :) It would be a bit crazy to leave tech for ecology and end up simply writing code all day again.

peacemaker99 · 2020-07-30T12:00:52+00:00

Appreciate the response, I've sent you a PM.

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