h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

See the Radio 4 "Questions, Questions" board, thread "Apathetics ..."
msg 196 refers. Comments?

Oh that's interesting, well spotted.

Right, the Script name shows '(7592975) chrissiechrisis / Gerda' posted last week in 194(the presentation is the way I log the number, the name and any subsequent name change.

Then, the new gerda in 195 reads '(8464279) wolfgerda / gerda'. Elsewhere, she has said that she has needed to re-register, see the thread 'The deadline kid rides again'.

Looks odd, may not be!

You ok otherwise?

Thanks for that, you must have a large database by now.

Yes, not bad for my age thanks, and you? And how's the car?

Well, no, it's not a database, Solly, but there's a floating page that attaches to every ID number so you can define the name, add notes, and vary the colour, font and text enhancement (so I can put males in blue, females in pink, snorkies in green, trolls in red etc). It took quite a while to set it up, now it just gets topped up as and when.

Like you, not bad given that I'm now over 40 (and then some)! Oh dear, do I detect that you're in 40+andthensome mode? It's a bummer, innit. Is that what's keeping you away from the boat?

The car is fine, thanks, they changed the relevant bits (coil, crankshaft sensor and rennec(?)) and the bill including recovery was 250 squid so I think I got off lightly. It's a 1988 Volvo 340 which we've had from new and is usually so reliable and problem free that I can't justify letting it go, the annual repair, servcing and MOT costs being considerably lower than annual depreciation on a newer vehicle.(Hated the thing from the start but I've become used to it, and my house move was largely completed using it in van mode).

Right, found the "deadline kid", seems a fair explanation. Are there any threads you miss? You're a mine of information, I knew I could rely on you.

In fairness, when I checked the discussion list, there were only three threads listed ... then she logged on and started posting with a vengeance!

There are loads of threads I go nowhere near at all. Almost never in FA, occasionally in the other ML boards and I usually check where you've been in Q,Q but am just not brave enough to start there as a newbie (plus I want to try to retain a RL / tinternet balance ... snork).

It seems to have been quite a while since I joined any new threads, then went onto maybe three in the last couple of days - like buses!

Regarding your earlier comment - 40+? Shall we say I have a bus pass, and it doesn't have this year's date on it.

Pleased you got the car sorted, much cheaper than buying a new one.

No boating so far this year, engine giving problems, mechanic has tried everything bar prayer. Reluctant to change horses mid stream as a new mechanic would have to cover pretty much the same ground.

Colour codes on ID pages - is this part of the fabled Jont Script which I don't have? If so then that's why I can't find them.

I've been using 40+ for a while now as the rheumatalogist said I should expect the condition 'given my age' which was, I think, 53 at the time. I must have looked askance, because he added 'you're over 40, you see' so I was left feeling that I'd got off lightly for the previous 13 years!

Unless they change the goal posts, I think I have three years to go, or maybe eight. Car has to survive for at least another couple of years deffo, as I need to pace myself until - whoopee - I can start drawing my magnificent state pension.

Think your boat engine and my car are soul mates, bet it's something subtle so costly because of the amount of head-scratching time that's needed; not to mention the cost of the new part.

Yep, I've said before and I'll say again that Firefox is a better browser than IE, and Jont and Achille's Script is how it ought to be, they've done a really good job (and I'm not using anything like all the features).

That puts you at Heinz Varieties then.


Problem with these jobs, whether it be car, boat or domestic washing machine, it's possibly only a twopenny washer so why spend £4,000 on a new engine? So having spent £6,000 on repairs and still not located the problem, it *must* be the next thing we check ... no, that's up to £6,500 now, it *must* be the next ... etc., etc. (The figures I've plucked out of the air, but the meaning is clear).

Heinz is right ... six grand and still not found it? Oops. And I presume we are in the realms of the mechanical here, rather than rocket science?

Much as you trust and respect your mechanic, and between you it's not sorted ... maybe time for a second (or third) opinion, I'd say. Yes, I appreciate that it seems like throwing good money after bad. Had the same problems back in the 70s with errant MGB and assorted Minis; problem solved by buying new Mini. Crap gearbox. What do you expect, madam, it is a British Leyland vehicle?

Ah yes, I remember it well (a Maurice Chevalier moment just then).

As I said, figures plucked out of the air. Don't know how much it's going to cost yet.

It's a diesel too, so there's no spark plug or ignition system to worry about.