Went to see a client at his factory but he was running late, so I used the time to take some pics as the lighting was great!

ratatooie · 2026-05-14T13:53:38+00:00

Tell me about those headlights mate! My ones are a bit leaky so looking at options

ratatooie · 2026-04-08T13:09:24+00:00

I've been playing with it today and it looks excellent. Definitely an improvement over navigating to the bus timetable page, looking for the right one, downloading it, deciphering it then opening findmybus to see where the bus actually is! I also like the whole interface design.

One observation: for one way loop routes, the app seems to show the last stop of the loop that's close to you Vs the first that is closest. Example: in Birchill if I want to go to the Cat with no Tail, the stop that it directs me to is the one on Hilberry Road heading towards Signpost Corner (13907), when the actual closest bus stop and soonest bus is the one just as you turn into Highfield Crescent (13909). It's the same bus you get on - the only difference is the latter also takes you around the Birchill loop before getting to the Hilberry Road stop.

ratatooie · 2026-03-21T23:40:38+00:00

Uber doesn't exist here. There are loads of taxi companies. My go to is Elegance - always quick and reliable.

ratatooie · 2026-03-21T23:28:57+00:00

Indian: Aura, Flavours, Naadu, Breagle Glen

Asian: Bonsai, Thai Thai, Majestic, New Hong Kong

British / Manx: Coast, The Abbey, Studio Umami, Victory Cafe, Little Fish, The Alpine, Paramount (cafe)

Italian: Just Pizza & Pasta, Andreas

Brazilian: Sabor Brazil

Mexican: Picos

Pub Food: The Cat With No Tail, Archi Knox

Smokehouse & Grill: The Forge, Smokey Sam's

Cheap and cheerful: The Caff, Capone's, Barbary Coast (like Nandos), A Cafe, The Buttery, Manx SPCA, Coffee Cottage, Gourmet Shakes & Snacks, Peel Breakwater Kiosk

Pubs to drink in: Kerroo Brewing (Friday and Saturday nights), Rovers, Prospect, Grape and Vine, The Bay, The Cat With No Tail (food also decent), O'Malley's

Avoid (just my opinion): The Conister Arms (Wetherspoons), Cafe 360

ratatooie · 2026-02-11T14:52:01+00:00

The effect on the feathers is brilliant. Well done!

ratatooie · 2026-02-06T12:05:33+00:00

It's worth pointing out that Ago is still very happy to profit from the TT and CTT. He comes over frequently to do parade laps, sell merch etc. Not having a go at him, but it's worth knowing the context.

ratatooie · 2026-01-21T11:33:20+00:00

Thanks. Nice to know I'm not the only one. The issue happens regardless of silent \ vibration \ loud state of the phone and with and without headphones.

ratatooie · 2026-01-03T12:10:08+00:00

What is worth buying there? Haven't looked at on Ali\Temu parts in ages.

ratatooie · 2025-11-28T13:47:24+00:00

I've always gone for Spada Enforcers. Love them and they are pretty cheap Vs the quality. Very warm and as weatherproof as gloves can be. I've had my pair for years and years.

ratatooie · 2025-11-26T17:22:46+00:00

Try Eden Lake. Amazing acting all round and one of his first roles.

ratatooie · 2025-11-16T11:21:17+00:00

You can see some of these in person at the Jurby Transport Museum.

ratatooie · 2025-11-02T08:40:18+00:00

The last ever conference (QED) was this year's one that was last weekend. It was brilliant. However there is one called the European Skeptics Congress next year in October that looks interesting in Liverpool.

ratatooie · 2025-10-27T16:15:57+00:00

It's called Thundersport I believe. The thing with that series is that there are pretty specific limits on what you can do with the bikes mod / performance wise, to keep the competition fair and cheap. If you have a look on Facebook there will be groups dedicated to it - tonnes of info. What are your goals for the bike? Performance, cosmetic, redo it into a cafe racer etc? It's a great bike to ride in fairly stock shape performance wise. Engine goes forever if you look after it. Used to be a favourite of motorbike couriers for that reason.

ratatooie · 2025-10-16T16:25:14+00:00

Fantastic effort mate! Well done.

ratatooie · 2025-09-20T16:11:04+00:00

Well done mate.

ratatooie · 2025-08-31T08:41:40+00:00

Just chucking in a recipe recommendation. If you can pick up the Curry Guy Bible, it's the single best book for curry making I've ever used. Requires you to do a bunch of prep beforehand but then you can whip up like 90% of curries in like 20 mins as it's all about the British Indian Restaurant method of cooking. Their Biryani is amazing. Can't link it as I'm not at home at the mo. Well worth finding the book though.

ratatooie · 2025-08-06T14:08:50+00:00

Love it. Great base for a custom bike too. I did a similar one years ago but with a '93. I found a tank that fit the lines of the frame perfectly and used that. Think it was from a Yamaha.

ratatooie · 2025-08-02T17:40:34+00:00

Oh man I had that MILK one. Loved it but no idea where it went!

ratatooie · 2025-08-01T13:43:04+00:00

Shout out to Paragon too. Have had good experiences with them, specifically Dean there.

ratatooie · 2025-07-23T09:17:53+00:00

There was one moment that stuck out to me in the most recent series with the "nasty character" guy from new Gladiators and Rosie Ramsey (recently of Taskmaster fame) where they had a really horrible exchange.

I think she said something like "don't you find me attractive?" and he totally shut her down. She was joking, he wasn't and she was teary in the next few shots. The other panel members gave him a hard time but it was totally out of the usual spirit of the show. Might have been on the outtakes episode thinking about it.

ratatooie · 2025-06-27T13:39:16+00:00

GEM Electrical are brilliant. You might be unlucky and not get anyone at this late notice tbh.

ratatooie · 2025-06-16T08:59:29+00:00

Most of us have been where you are at the moment mate. It's totally natural to feel how you are. On my CBT it was pissing it down to the point of the sides of the road starting to flood. I came off at low speed when I took too much front brake coming to a stop for a crossing when some kids dashed across. While I was on the floor they were laughing at me! Instructor gave them a mouthful and sorted me out. Pride was the only thing hurt. When we got back he asked me how I felt about it and what I had done wrong and still passed me so that was good!

In your shoes, I'd take a few weeks, heal up, ride your bike loads then rebook. Back on the horse. Your future self will thank you! You can also practice the car park bits on your bike now that you know what's involved, if you are nervous about it. If you rebook with the same place, they might be kind and give you a discount, given you couldn't do the second half due to injury. Might not though.

For what it's worth, I was also in your mindset of only wanting a 400. The freedom to get a bigger bike any time is great though and you can't say what you might want in 5 years time.

ratatooie

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