Happyoldgit

Ok, given the importance of the current international situation and the effect it is likely to have on all of us, I've split these posts off from the "might be of interest" thread.

When I'm back on my laptop later I might have a look to see if there's a reasonable point where the thread can be split. As the current situation impacts all of us I think it is worthy of its own dedicated space.

I do like the simple, chunky controls but not sure about the steering wheel either. In terms of external aesthetics the more I see it the more I see a Defender / Santana lookalike. I'm beginning to wonder if they missed the chance to produce something that looks less copy, more unique with more an eye to the future as opposed to the past of another company.

Sanctions against Russia will inevitably see oil prices rise. The war means the same applies to some foodstuffs.

We had oil based heating in our last house but so many things used to pee me off about it. I got fed up with unreliable deliveries, the chore of ringing around suppliers haggling over the price every time we needed a refill, boiler servicing costs, the inefficiency of long runs of pipework, the list goes on. The village had no mains gas and the prices negotiated by the oil club never really seemed to be that competitive. When we bought this old, somewhat isolated farmhouse, the only heating here was open fireplaces, a solid fuel AGA that had been in place since the 50s (no rads connected) and electric night store heaters. The combination worked but we eventually decided to have an electric conversation on the AGA as the dust from the solid fuel (coal) was playing up my son's asthma. We had a woodburner and chimney liner installed in the largest open fireplace too. We are now actively looking for a woodburning stove and cooker combination so we will have heating and cooking if, or rather when, we have a power cut. There is no mains gas out here, I don't want a bulk LPG tank nor to I want to install miles of plumbing feeding radiators around the place. Wood we have.

Yep, I had that ^^^^ carried out on my last one.

If deer are that much of a problem, as they are not far from here, then slowing down a tad can be helpful.

I could not agree more. My old chap died suddenly two weeks after his 65th birthday, one minute we were having a chat over a cup of coffee and the next he was gone due to a massive heart attack. Life is indeed too short. Something that was again brought home to me again in late 2020 when I received a terminal cancer diagnosis. I will be forever grateful to the amazing care and treatment which resulted in me still being on top of the grass. Life is very precious and passes so very quickly.

I note that prices for the S96 have dropped quite a bit since I bought this one which makes them reasonable value for a phone that you can use often but will hold a charge for a decent amount of time. Many things in life are a compromise and this product is no exception. I don't enter into phone contracts any more and have spent chunks of cash on high spec, lightweight phones in the past that have proved fragile even in when enclosed in Otter Boxes etc. I've got used to the chunkiness, if I went back to a lightweight device I would be forever be patting my pockets to check if it was still there.

I've encountered the same and it appears to be an Android issue with some phones. Basically from what I read it is a proximity sensor issue as the phone is supposed to shut down on screen controls while pressed against ones lughole. I downloaded a couple of apps* that allow you to either recalibrate the sensor or shut it down completely but it's worth noting that screen protectors or screen smears can interfere with correct operation. * The Apps are called Proximity Sensor Reset and Andro sensor. As an aside I've dropped mine from ear height onto quarry and payment tiles indoors and gravel, concrete, mud and puddles outdoors without breakage but plead guilty to either having it in a rubber case or leather bound flip case. Not sure I'd want to tempt fate by doing the same to any naked phone, rugged or standard ...cue cutting comments about cased rugged phones😉

Still got it, still using it and content with it. I don't need 5G at present so it still satisfies my day to day needs.

Fascinating thread chaps but so glad I'm not doing the work. I really hope you can breathe life back into that thing without too much frustration.

You are free to ask whatever price you like, whether the item will ever realise the asking price is a different matter. The dash has elements of crass, poorly executed amateurism that would not have looked out of place in a 1970's boy racer Escort van. As an aside I liked the Puma dash in those late Defenders I bought new [especially with the glovebox conversion] and considered the heating and convenience far better than the outdated 90/110 / Defender earlier ones I owned - late TD5's included.

Classic Blue Peter. Where was Petra? 🤔

That's on a Defender, he is referring to the Grenadier which presumably is different.

Presumably the obsession with roof cutting is to enable fitting of things like their flip up roof conversions.

Actually the rope is a vital part of the cooling system of the Mk IV flux capacitor.

I would think a lot of us have witnessed events like that and on wet grass too, lack of experience and proper vehicle control are invariably to blame. Where did the beep, beep come from? If it's real and not added audio that horn needs to be inserted where the sun don't shine.

If you were around 30, female, attractive, with a willing spirit body to die for and a passion for older men then I may be tempted to splash the cash but certain conditions would have to be met.

Aye, I like Harry's presentation style. I don't always agree with what he says but like the way he says it, refreshing change from the over the top, loudmouthed presenters now. Fifty something grand for a base model, modified by Land Rover Special Vehicles but retaining standard passenger interior trim in the restricted loadspace makes it an expensive and awkward workhorse.

Listening on my phone which isn't ideal but as you seem to eliminated most sources I would probably want to have a nose at the rear diff, halfshafts and bearings. Sound sources can be hard to pinpoint, I ended up using a GoPro on a flexi mount under the chassis to pick up an elusive clonk on the last new Defender I had.

I've owned both multiple times over and I always kept the 110's longer. Doing what I did the additional internal loadspace and better towing characteristics were an advantage over the slightly better nippiness and manoeuvrability of the 90's [same applied to the Series I had before the coilers]. I was never a fan of nausea inducing side facing seats nor the forward facing loadspace seats in the first 110 XS Puma I had, subsequent Puma's were all 110 XS USW's.

Oh I'll book the D-Max V Cross in for it's first service in July, I might wash it a few times between now and then. If my health keeps slowly improving I might drop the transmission out of the '43 Willys Jeep strip and rebuild it, if not I might trailer it down to a guy who rebuilds them all the time and just pay the bill when he's finished. Scouting about for a Series or early ish 90 for my daughter is also on the cards. All a bit tame really but that's all I feel up to these days.

So when do the clowns come on chucking custard pies and hitting the vehicle with giant inflatable hammers which promptly explodes and falls to bits?