The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

ivyleaf

How very annoying Pyxis I hope you are able to get any refunds which are due without them arguing about it.

Interesting day yesterday - flat tyre (no idea how that happened, it seemed ok the day before!) but RAC were able to arrive very quickly as their man happened to be nearby when OH rang. He'd been told there would be a wait of about 3 hours, then almost immediately had a call from the local man who said he'd be here soon, and he changed the wheel astonishingly fast. We were so glad OH had paid the extra for a spare wheel when he ordered the car (it's a Motability car).
It's a "spacesaver" wheel so we can't go faster than 50 mph, but KwikFit are coming with a new tyre for the proper wheel on Tuesday. If OH gets fed up before then, he can take the car to a less local branch and have the new tyre put on there. But there's really no need as we won't need to go far afield before Tuesday.

And one of the arms of OH's glasses snapped as he was changing over from his reading glasses when the RAC man arrived, so we'll have to go to the optician's this morning to see if they can be repaired - I hope they're still under guarantee, as he's only just paid for a new pair for me!

hoping today will be a little less interesting!

PasturesNew

ivyleaf wrote: »

.... snapped ...

If not, there's always superglue, brown parcel tape or a plaster

Even if just kept/used as a "spare pair round the house"

PasturesNew

I am awaiting a workman "mid morning" .... then, when it comes to the day, you wonder when that is

Need to "lurk" and see arrival to point him to where to park..... but I can't hear arriving vehicles, even bigguns.

Indeed, I can be completely oblivious to building site noises, heavy machinery noises, diggers, grinders, power tools .... and completely oblivious to diesel delivery vans, postman vans, bigger cars, all sorts .... but if there's the slightest sniff of a ball or a skate it's as if armageddon's started.

Ideally I'd like a subtle "periscope viewer" so I could see what's the other side of the high fence for moments like this.

Pyxis

Ivy, I'm a bit puzzled that you said you chose to buy a spare wheel. I thought a spare wheel was mandatory?
Maybe I'm wrong.

PasturesNew wrote: »

I am awaiting a workman "mid morning" .... then, when it comes to the day, you wonder when that is

Need to "lurk" and see arrival to point him to where to park..... but I can't hear arriving vehicles, even bigguns.

Indeed, I can be completely oblivious to building site noises, heavy machinery noises, diggers, grinders, power tools .... and completely oblivious to diesel delivery vans, postman vans, bigger cars, all sorts .... but if there's the slightest sniff of a ball or a skate it's as if armageddon's started.

Ideally I'd like a subtle "periscope viewer" so I could see what's the other side of the high fence for moments like this.

Here's one....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Navir-NALP-Looky-Periscope/dp/B000GJ0NGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499507858&sr=8-1&keywords=periscopes


Or you could make one from a square cardboard tube and two small handbag mirrors.

chris_m

Pyxis wrote: »

Ivy, I'm a bit puzzled that you said you chose to buy a spare wheel. I thought a spare wheel was mandatory?
Maybe I'm wrong.

Many cars nowadays don't come with a spare wheel but a pump and a can of "jollop" tyre sealant, which is road legal.
It's a combination of saving money and saving weight to help with emissions. To be even more unhelpful, the sealant only works on basic punctures and tyre places often refuse to repair tyres that have had the sealant used because the stuff goes everywhere inside the tyre.

Some cars don't have the space to store a full-size wheel and tyre but do include a space saver wheel and tyre, some (like my now departed Mercedes A-Class) don't even have the space to store any form of spare wheel other than taking up some of the normal boot space.

I'm pleased to say that my Dacia Duster did come with a full-sized spare, albeit a steel rather than alloy wheel, but that's only because it's the 4x4 variant. The 4x2 variants only get the jollop, although real spare wheels and an under-floor cage are an option.

Pyxis

I never knew that about spare wheels.

Mine has a space saver that came with it, but it is 11 years old now. I'd hate not to have a spare wheel. It's been used twice so far.

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

....could make one from a square cardboard tube and two small handbag mirrors.

You know that's now on my To Do List

I'd already thought about using sticky mirror tiles on small blocks of wood from various points in the garden... could do both, over time.

Still no sign of/no call from the expected "mid morning" workman.

chris_m

Pyxis wrote: »

I never knew that about spare wheels.

Mine has a space saver that came with it, but it is 11 years old now. I'd hate not to have a spare wheel. It's been used twice so far.

I'd have that tyre checked if I were you - the rubber doesn't last for ever, it can dry out (the oils in it) and start cracking.

I've never had to use it, but I'm with you as regards a spare wheel - particularly since on the sort of roads I use most I've more likely to damage the sidewall on a rock at the edge of the road than just pick up a puncture.
When I bought my Rover in 2005 I had to pay for a spare, and that had to be a spacesaver because the full-size one wouldn't fit in the boot well. The Merc had no option for a spare, so I bought one and took the hit on boot space.
The Duster had no option to NOT have a spare, suited me fine

PasturesNew

Well, it's done. It's new, it looks strong; ideally there are some small aspects I wish were slightly different, but it's done. And the small aspects can be "worked with" by me. Nothing major, just "tidying up round the base" stuff really... no more floppy/insecure gate and fence bit at least (on that bit).

And I've now got something worth splashing with creosote stuff.... but not today

Pyxis

chris_m wrote: »

I'd have that tyre checked if I were you - the rubber doesn't last for ever, it can dry out (the oils in it) and start cracking.
)

it's ok, it's checked every year at its MOT and service.