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

chris_m

Pyxis wrote: »

I was a bit worried about you driving back yesterday through all the wind and rain, or did you manage to keep ahead of it?

There was a heavy spell of rain around Wigan but that was it.

There may have been some snow further along, I don't know. Approaching Preston the overhead signs were warning of long delays between junctions 33 and 34, so I was debating whether to come off at 33 or play it a bit safer and come off at 32 (either one letting me switch to the A6) but the satnav had picked up the traffic warnings and decided on coming off at 32, so I did.

It was a case of the best laid plans of mice and men, and satnavs, however. What it didn't know (but I did) is that they've put a bypass in around a village north of Preston so the satnav was a little surprised when I came off the junction and went charging off across what it thought were fields :rotfl:

At least you had the wind behind you coming back...... hence the reduced mpg!

Ah that could have been it - there was a strong headwind for a few stretches on the way south.

However, it really was uphill all the way south and downhill all the way back - my house is at around 25 feet above sea level and my sister's is around 150 feet

I must admit, if I were to ever do those two journeys, it would have to be with a week in between, not just one day! :eek:

That would have been better but rather more expensive - as it was the hotel cost a bit over ££130.
I queried that because it sounded a little low, it turned out they'd forgotten to charge me for the beer I had with the evening meal on Sunday - but they declined to add it on, anyway :beer:

chris_m

vivatifosi wrote: »

Morning all! Glad you had a safe journey Chris.

Cheers

They are predicting that we are due another mini ice age of the type that happened a couple of hundred years ago when the Thames froze over. This is due in the 2030s.

Only "the 2030s"?, Not by 2030, i.e. not by half past eight tonight?

Hopefully we will know the outcome of Brexit by then and whether it is still possible to buy and live in a pied a Terre somewhere warm and away from the ice storms. Brrrrrrr....

I doubt Brexit will have much effect on the availabilty of properties in the Caribbean :rotfl:

Pyxis

chris_m wrote: »

It was a case of the best laid plans of mice and men, and satnavs, however. What it didn't know (but I did) is that they've put a bypass in around a village north of Preston so the satnav was a little surprised when I came off the junction and went charging off across what it thought were fields :rotfl::

Am now giggling at the thought of a very surprised SatNav.

Did it tell you off?
Or did the shock make it blow up?

chris_m wrote: »

That would have been better but rather more expensive - as it was the hotel cost a bit over ££130.
:

Was there no room at the [STRIKE]inn[/STRIKE] sister's?

vivatifosi

chris_m wrote: »

Cheers

I doubt Brexit will have much effect on the availabilty of properties in the Caribbean :rotfl:

Oh I fancied one in the south of Spain. That way I can take advantage of driving over the ice bridge:D. Hopefully it won't get so cold that I can drive to the Caribbean:eek:

Pyxis

Has anybody else watched The Miniaturist? (The first half was on last night).

It's fantastic! I can't believe how good it is, on every level......... plot, acting, sets, script, drama, mystery, atmosphere.......
It's like something straight out of a Rembrandt painting.

Can't wait for the second half tonight!

chris_m

Pyxis wrote: »

Am now giggling at the thought of a very surprised SatNav.
Did it tell you off?
Or did the shock make it blow up?

No, it was actually rather well behaved. It had a couple of goes at telling me to turn round when possible then shut up until I got to a road it knew (i.e. the end of the bypass) then carried on navigating as if nothing untoward had occurred.

A previous one I had (a PDA running TomTom) would give me a long list of instructions to take the next left, take the next right, turn round when possible, repeating those in varied orders until it went into a complete sulk and locked up the PDA which required a full reset.

Was there no room at the [STRIKE]inn[/STRIKE] sister's?

No, they have a three-bedroom house and two high-teen aged daughters. They do have a sofa bed but aunt and uncle were using that.

Jazee

Pyxis, no, but I might just give it a go now, given your review.

ivyleaf

Pyxis Have you seen Girl With A Pearl Earring? That's similar, looks like a moving Dutch painting Just beautiful.

Glad you got home safely Chris!

Pyxis

ivyleaf wrote: »

Pyxis Have you seen Girl With A Pearl Earring? That's similar, looks like a moving Dutch painting Just beautiful.

Yes, I have, and that was equally as enthralling!

I wonder if it was the same producer/director?

chris_m wrote: »

No, it was actually rather well behaved. It had a couple of goes at telling me to turn round when possible then shut up until I got to a road it knew (i.e. the end of the bypass) then carried on navigating as if nothing untoward had occurred.

A previous one I had (a PDA running TomTom) would give me a long list of instructions to take the next left, take the next right, turn round when possible, repeating those in varied orders until it went into a complete sulk and locked up the PDA which required a full reset.

t.

It's obviously a very well-brought-up Satnav!

Either that or it fainted and took a while to come round!

Pyxis

No, not the same producer etc.


And of course, I meant Vermeer, not Rembrandt!

Getting my Dutch masters muddled up!