Jen

...but they always used to price match? Find the best deal on the internet then take it to Jessops and get your hands on the camera the same day UV filter I agree is a very useful thing. Polerising filter is the other one that never leaves the camera case - great for taking off the reflections in water and bringing out the colours in strong sunlight B)

Completely agree - there isn't much between them spec wise, so once you've got your short list get down the shops

I've had my Canon 350D for a couple of years now, I brought it with the intention of taking pics on the America/Canada/Alaska trip but now find it rarely leaves my side. The poor thing has been through hell and back, left outside in the rain at least 3 times ( ) and dried in the airing cupboard it still worked, melted on the edge of my Coleman gas lamp, dropped in more muddy puddles than I care to remember, subjected to the heat of Death Valley, Cold of the Yukon and thrown... and i mean literally thrown... accross a rocky track in the Coloardo Mountains when I was clearing rocks and the strap got caught around a bolder just as I threw it. I thought I'd killed it then but picked it up and, you guessed it, it still works! It's currently living in the garage amid grinders and welders when it's not bouncing around in the back of the Camel. For me, as a learner it's fantastic. The combination of the quick shot functions and the 'proper techy bits' (stop me if I'm being to technical) makes a great combination of pick upand shoot or mess around when you've got enough time. I've taken some stunning shots which I credit entirely to the Camera. The standard lense isn't too shoddy either, so it'll do unless you want to specialise. When I was choosing I cut it down to the Nikkon or the Canon (Sony wasn't an option then) and the only way I decided was by heading to the local Jessops to try them both. Unless you pick up and press the buttons/work the menus you won't know which will suit you best. Some people have trouble with buttons being too small, menus not intuative etc. As it turns out Jessops also price matched, so I ended up buying my camera from them and I was very happy with the purchase. Without doubt, if I had to buy another one tomorrow, I wouldn't hesitate to go back to Canon.

Mm, and there was me thinking everyone was talking about Billing and the weekend we had, how much we enjoyed ourselves and if the effects of the weekend had worn off enough... Sorry, must remember, don't use the reply option to anyone I know on the forum... Surely this is a 'chat about the weekend at Billing thread?' It's getting too scary to post on this forum without risks of being accused of going slightly OffT. I really hope this stops as it's ruining what I always thought of as a friendly forum Anyway, this probably isn't the place for this so enough of a rant, back OT.

I can confirm I am still grinning and everyone at work is throughly bored of stories about big yellow portal trucks ...although the grin did falter slightly when I realised Ryan posted a pic of my bum... it's because I called your truck Gary isn't it.... Glad you got the Rangie and Zuz home safe Jules

best bit? Driving Mouse around the arena Jez had decided the 'Ladies' should take it in so Zuz drove into the arena and did a superb job talking about Ladoga and then convinced me to drive it out (although I got told off for not reving it enough to make it growl! ) Still, it was superb and my face was aching from grinning most of the day afterwards. Dreams that night were of LS's and Boggers, I'll be hiding in the garage for the foreseeable future to try to finish my own Portal truck worst bit? Mm, nothing really. Weirdly it's still not my favourite show, I love the atmosphere of Eastnor. If we could get the number of trade stands with the Eastnor setting/number of club stands I think it would be my favourite show any other thoughts? Security I was actually quite impressed with. For some reason I spent most of Saturday night walking backwards and forwards to the toilet (don't ask ) and the first time I walked back through the trucks on the Shires stand - I was promptly stopped by a security guy and asked what I was doing - but I think the fact I was in my PJ's and looked pretty carp convinced him I wasn't trying to steal stuff Showers were good, toilets were clean, weather was ok - thumbs up from me (no straight series wings though )

Dan and I will be at Billing. I think we ordered a t-shirt, ladies one and rugby shirt

Looks like you all had a great time B) Loving the pictures. Next year....

B) Excellent... I started at a playday in a Disco... then started doing more playdays ... then some fun competitions... then an expedition in our Camel 110... now I'm building my own Series IIA... hope you're ready for this

Excellent pics from Katy B) You guys definatly won the most photogenic stuck of the day

But it's no fun if we can't take the mick out of Will

Wow Daan I didn't realise it was that bent! You'd obviously straightened it up lots before I saw it back at the car park... Lovely truck, I was glad to see it 'real life' Rule number 1 at Shire events is: 'Don't listen to Will Warne'

It was worth it though Ryan - that's an awesome second picture! B) Excellent day, great to see everyone and meet some new faces (nice to meet you Daan ). I had a good day driving around in the Camel taking pics/the mick out of stuck people, it's just made me more enthusastic to finish my Landy now!

We'll be there as usual, it will be nice to meet you Daan

Oh, and @ Jez

lol! I had a split second of panic there before I remembered my axles were square! @ Tonk Thanks for the advice folks and thanks for the call FF. I know what needs to be done now

That's what I was thinking - I think the springs are the things confusing matters... Evil springs.

No, it's not (although is sitting perfectly horizontal and vertical if you see what I mean), so we've been careful just to find the centre point above where the axle is going to sit and then take measurements from lines from the chassis using straight bar/plumb bobs etc. But surely that would mean it's not straight in relation to the vehicle itself? Or doesn't that matter Or, do you mean the springs will always be the weak point so trying to locate it centrally to the (projected) chassis points whilst sat on the springs will be a no hope situation? tbh, I think we've got it pretty spot on now, so it maybe best just to check they're straight to the axle and weld 'em on I guess you get the play in the springs to situate them correctly by not tightening the shackle bolts until the weight of the vehicle has settled on them? Sorry for being paranoid - but I suspect this is quite important to get right!

It would be normal practise to follow their complaint procedures initially, but if that's unsucessful this is the obudsman's website: http://www.lgo.org.uk/complain.htm If I can offer any assistance let me know

Are you sure? Man you guys were living on the edge this year. My planned mounts allow for a 16" in the rear, but I could counterbalance this with a 3" on the rearview mirror... I'm a little worried about the Fu alignment though.

You need to place (legally) at least 1 notice on the highway it would affect. That notice needs to be maintained for the 21 day public consultation period. It's good practise however to place lots of notices on the road as they usually are just A4 laminated paper and, to be honest, you don't want people missing them.

(although its not really encouraged or good practise)

You can legally implement a TRO and not have the signs/lines inplace, it's just not enforceable until you do. This is because it's practically impossible to tie contractors down to specific dates to implement lining and signing, especially when you can't line in the rain. Interesting they have to do the map and the signs, I would have thought the map would have been enough (i.e. it's no longer a right of way).

B) Loving the pictures - the sunset in the last ones is beautiful

I'd understand if they gave them the power to do the TRO (as a Borough Council we work as agents to the Highway Authority so that's entirely possible) but how does that stop them bypassing the legal process? I think that would be a question worth putting to them. The consultation is part of the legal process for implementing a TRO. Yes, a notice should be posted stating the TRO has been made and if it has prevented vehicular access a sign should be inplace to state that (and/or the definitive map changed), if neither has happened then I doubt it would be enforceable.