Nice people thread 2 - now even nicer

vivatifosi

I hasten to add I'm not very wealthy Malcolm. I own an old Audi. In my days I've driven lots of different cars, from a Golf GTi to a 16v Astra sports (yuk, worst car ever) to a split windscreen Morris Minor to a somewhat modified Mini that I bought off a boy racer for £275. I like cars but most of mine since the 80s have been company cars, over which I don't have much choice. If I had the money I would race but it eats cash too much, plus I like racing, but being female at the end of the day I miss the chromosome that makes me enjoy getting oil on my hands, though don't get me wrong, I have changed an engine with help from my Dad. Also I have a relatively low tolerance of wet windy days on racecourses. This is not to say if I was wealthier (like stupid wealthy) I wouldn't buy myself something very fast. Perhaps joining the Ferrari racing series where their mechanics do all the work for you. I did drive a Ferrari round Silverstone earlier this year and it definitely left me wanting more. So more of a watcher, but driven my circumstances more than anything else. Have been watching with my Dad since the 70s. How 'bout you?

vivatifosi

Forgot to mention Malcolm. When I get to my 80s I'm going to put on my cardigan, stick my grey hair up in a bun and blat all the kids away from the lights in the sportscar I'll buy myself then. They'll never expect the little old dear to have a spot of nitrous under the bonnet. I've always fancied being the "Little Old Lady From Pasadena".

Malcolm.

Good interesting post viva. Same here, I can't afford to, especially now that I've .... I've owned an old .... (my favourite - german cars are so comfortable), a .... when I was doing a lot of travelling (horribly underpowered), and my current car's ..... My neighbour and his family are into their classic cars, goes traveling 'around the UK and France racing. I'm told many classics have appreciated well in the last few years, although the market's dipped somewhat of late. I'm definitely more of a watcher than a racer, plus I don't really have a lot of room to work on cars, I need to buy a bigger home first.

<edit: I've removed bits to protect my privacy. Just in case.>

Malcolm.

To add, I would love to race and work on cars, it's not something I forsee having time for though, plus cars are not my expertise. I'm sure I could go racing with friends in their cars. That is assuming my wife agrees to it.

sss555s

Was a better race than i thought it would be.

Especially watching Vettel strop about at the end :rotfl:


:A

vivatifosi

Out of interest all the sssssss, are you a petrolhead, and if so a "racer" petrolhead or a "watcher" petrolhead (per Malcolm's question above)?

Incidentally I agree about removing many of the circuits where overtaking is difficult. Except Monaco, which is a special case.

Its funny, while I remember many of the epic races of the past (Mansell vs Senna, Schumi vs Damon), its more the quirky races that stick in my mind. Like when Panis won at Monaco and was only one of something like six finishers, or the one in Brazil where Fisi won and then his car caught on fire, and most spectacularly the one in Spa (98?) where it rained and Schumi drove into Coulthard then blamed him for it.

sss555s

vivatifosi wrote: »

Out of interest all the sssssss, are you a petrolhead, and if so a "racer" petrolhead or a "watcher" petrolhead (per Malcolm's question above)?

Hey viva

I'm more a competitive sports fan than a petrol head.

I have been to Donnington (Vintage Racing) and Knockhill (Touring cars) and was keen on cars when i was younger.

I've had over 40 cars and used to like tinkering with them and done a full engine rebuild on an old Humber Sceptre years ago.

Only had 2 cars in the last 10 years (BMW530d, Audi A4 1.9tdi Avant) until i changed recently as the BM was getting on a bit, even if it was still a great drive.

The sporty cars i've had were 2 x XR2, 2 x 205 GTI 1.9, Escort RS turbo (the white ones, forget the model) back in the late 80's early 90's but the 530d is the best driving car i've had and i'd have had another if it wasn't for needing a towing machine.

Davesnave

Sorry, I much prefer vans to cars, mainly because I don't usually have to worry about 'whether it will fit' and the view out is so good. Also there's that macho thing, captured so well by Rowan Atkinson & the NTNO'C News team in "I like truckin." (!);)

Actually, both vans we've had in the last ten years or so have been registered to my DW, who enjoys them as much as me. We had a Transit for most of that time, but stepped up to a tall Mercedes Sprinter in the last year or so.

Although the Sprinter has good road manners and is mechanically bomb proof, I'd rather have the Transit for its seats and its more leisurely, down to earth style. I've driven 450 miles in a Transit and stepped out at the end with no back twinges whatever, but I'm all aches & pains after 150 in the Merc.

sss555s

I mostly drive a Renault Trafic as i use it for work.

Love the van too as it's almost car like inside and as you say, you sit high and can see more.

lemonjelly

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

What sort of cucumbers?
There are "ridge" cucumbers that look a bit like this:
http://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/gherkin-diamant-hybrid-cucumber-seeds-p-10587.html
There are exotic cucumbers like these:
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/cucumbers.html
Then there are the sort you normally buy in the supermarket that in normal summers need a greenhouse - a hot damp one at that:
(ie in theory not suitable for mixing with tomatoes & peppers & aubergines - though I used to get away with a polythene sheet between the two.)
When I had a greenhouse 1- -15 years ago one had to ensure the cucumber flowers did not get fertilised (the opposite of marrows) as they would literally look pregnant bulging with seed growing inside and tasting bitter. So lots of time spent picking off male buds.
However the plant breeders have been at work and these cucumbers are now as likely to get pregnant as a banana.

http://www.simplyseed.co.uk/cucumber-seeds/cucumber-seeds-passandra.html

Note the price per seed, compared to the outdoor ridge cucumber offered.it must be a specially pollinated hybrid or perhaps there is a way of getting it to produce male flowers.

Does Africa have any future or is it just a Malthusian laboratory?

Down on the three acre banana farm:

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158321461232&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout

Thank you. I think they are these ones

Davesnave wrote: »

You should harvest as soon as they look ready. The more you take, the more grow to replace them.

I have been growing some of those from Real Seeds listed by John, Tamra & Wautoma. They have both been cropping for six weeks or more. Tamra is the better of the two, but won't be available in future by the look of it.

I should add that I'm not interested in size (!) These six to nine inchers take virtually no looking after and just get on with it, which is what I want from veg. I don't want to !!!! about with F1 varieties, which are for commercial producers, and novices fooled by the blurb.

Perhaps my question should've read "when will I see they are ready to pick?":o

Guesstimations on size - approx 2-3 inches thick, approx 7 inches plus in length...