Bell's Banter 2021

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

We would generally refer to a higher than direct 1:1 drive as being an "overdrive" top gear - as opposed to the earlier style Overdrive gearbox which would have a switchable auxiliary gearbox to raise (typically) 3rd and 4th gears on a four-speed box.

Merci pour la clarification, Richard! When talking about gearing when you say "higher" we say "lower". In fact speaking with hands helps a quite a lot!

[john ruston]

Pleased Andrew Kitson completed a painting!!

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Merci pour la clarification, Richard! When talking about gearing when you say "higher" we say "lower". In fact speaking with hands helps a quite a lot!

I guess whether it is higher or lower depends on which end of the input/output process you are. But yes of course in a final drive a higher numerical ratio gives you a lower practical gear

[delta]

Excatley 4 months after Christmas and endless arguments I have been unable to fend off Mrs Delta.
" Finally took down the outside Christmas lights ".

[356sc]

Originally Posted by delta

Excatley 4 months after Christmas and endless arguments I have been unable to fend off Mrs Delta.
" Finally took down the outside Christmas lights ".

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by delta

Excatley 4 months after Christmas and endless arguments I have been unable to fend off Mrs Delta.
" Finally took down the outside Christmas lights ".

*Exactly*

[andy97]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

As for power steering - I think we've all got soft as a result of using PAS cars all day.....

I remember when I used to think power steering was for wimps!

Guilty a charged m’lord.

Doesn’t help that I sit behind a desk and computer screen all day and don’t really do any physical work. I haven’t even been to the gym for over a year (although have just bought a decent rowing machine).

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

*Exactly*

I thought it meant in the manner of a former feline?

Ex - cat - ley

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

I guess whether it is higher or lower depends on which end of the input/output process you are. But yes of course in a final drive a higher numerical ratio gives you a lower practical gear

From the 00's till 2007, I used to drive for a Belgian team entering the Championnat de France d'Endurance. We were called the two Gerard's, the first one being de Ville de Goyet. He's Belgian, Wallon, so speaks a better french than me. For instance, Wallons say "septante" when we say "soixante-dix" both meaning 70. We had a lot of complicity and respect for each other and it was a lot of fun when people around were listening to our technical conversations, me saying "nonante" and him saying "quatre-vingt-dix" for the temps.
Blessed times, cherished souvenir. In two words, Happy Days!

[rbs]

Originally Posted by delta

Excatley 4 months after Christmas and endless arguments I have been unable to fend off Mrs Delta.
" Finally took down the outside Christmas lights ".

Thats a shame as shops start their christmas rush next week!

[Gerard C]

Which Christmas are you talking about, 2019 or 2020?

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

*Exactly*

Come on Peter, it wouldn't be the same without our daily laugh

[Peter Mallett]

Blimey, what a day! So far I've had three calls from Amazon telling me I've spent £300 (each call) and need to confirm the order(s); I missed a call from my Internet Provider who is about to cut me off; and, now the Royal Mail son't deliver my package unless I pay £1.99. It's busier than working!

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Blimey, what a day! So far I've had three calls from Amazon telling me I've spent £300 (each call) and need to confirm the order(s); I missed a call from my Internet Provider who is about to cut me off; and, now the Royal Mail son't deliver my package unless I pay £1.99. It's busier than working!

Some people have all the fun...

[Peter Mallett]

I've got my steps in today just walking to the phone.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Blimey, what a day! So far I've had three calls from Amazon telling me I've spent £300 (each call) and need to confirm the order(s); I missed a call from my Internet Provider who is about to cut me off; and, now the Royal Mail son't deliver my package unless I pay £1.99. It's busier than working!

These scum - I'm being quite polite here - seem to phone you via a number generator, and if it rings a real number, and especially if someone answers at that number, then they sell the number onwards to other scamming scumbags - again being polite - and so on and so forth.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I've got my steps in today just walking to the phone.

Mobile to the phone, may be…

[GORDON STREETER]

We have people in Spain going round to most of the English claiming that they are from Repsol and have got to check their gas bottle fittings and hoses.
They produce a piece of paper that looks official and have a badge and play mainly on older people. They then look at the hoses (they do have a date of manufacture printed on them) and if they are out of date they say that they must fit fit a new hose or (hoses) and charge over a €100 for one short piece of rubber hose ! I had one of them round a couple of years ago when I was on my own and I told him at the doorway to "go away" in no uncertain terms ! If my wife had been in without me I don't know what would have happened but she is pretty fluent in Spanish and isn't fooled easily.
You can buy the "official" hose in whatever length you like from the local ferreteria for peanuts and it's only fitted with jubilee clips in a couple of minutes.
Scams have got so bad that I have a job to take anyone's word now and as for the scammers on the phone I'm afraid they get a right ear bashing

[E.B]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

We have people in Spain going round to most of the English claiming that they are from Repsol and have got to check their gas bottle fittings and hoses.
They produce a piece of paper that looks official and have a badge and play mainly on older people. They then look at the hoses (they do have a date of manufacture printed on them) and if they are out of date they say that they must fit fit a new hose or (hoses) and charge over a €100 for one short piece of rubber hose ! I had one of them round a couple of years ago when I was on my own and I told him at the doorway to "go away" in no uncertain terms ! If my wife had been in without me I don't know what would have happened but she is pretty fluent in Spanish and isn't fooled easily.
You can buy the "official" hose in whatever length you like from the local ferreteria for peanuts and it's only fitted with jubilee clips in a couple of minutes.
Scams have got so bad that I have a job to take anyone's word now and as for the scammers on the phone I'm afraid they get a right ear bashing

Thanks for that info Gordon. I will pass the info on to my Mum who as you know lives up the coast from your place in Spain, and also relies on bottled gas which she has delivered. Thanks again.

[S griffin]

People just need to remain suspicious. I'm sure your Mum won't get caught out EB and will keep getting the bottled gas she needs

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by E.B

Thanks for that info Gordon. I will pass the info on to my Mum who as you know lives up the coast from your place in Spain, and also relies on bottled gas which she has delivered. Thanks again.

Chris, I'm surprised that you appear to have not heard of this scam that has been going on for at least 20 years as far as I am aware. Like Gordon, this had been going on in the southern parts of the Costa Blanca when I lived there back in the early 2,000s, and the police have been unable to stop it because, technically, these people are not actually breaking the law, even though they often wear clothing with insignia that is very much similar to Repsol's own uniforms.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by E.B

Thanks for that info Gordon.

May be you've enough hoses to resale them now? How many meters?

[GORDON STREETER]

Just about everybody uses bottled gas in Spain as the only mains gas supply is in the major cities. Actually it's probably a good job that it isn't widely available because if the infrastructure is anything like the mains water supply in our area then there would be serious explosions all over the place !. The Spanish aren't the best at making sure that things are done properly with their "manana" attitude to everything unfortunately.
As an example some English friends of ours that were builders built their own house just down the road to us in the mid 70s. Most of the Spanish houses that have been built in the last 20 years in the same road are always in need of repair with massive cracks and water leaks from the flat roofs, whereas the place they built is structurally the same as the day it was built.
One of our best friends bought a plot of land on a hillside and had a villa built by Spanish builders. After a couple of years massive cracks started to appear and the builders had suddenly gone into administration (something they often seem to do) He took them to court and produced evidence that the foundations that should have been 3m deep were only 1m ! He did win the case and it was rectified with underpinning, however he had enough by then and sold it last year for 650k and moved back to the UK

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

and the police have been unable to stop it because, technically, these people are not actually breaking the law, even though they often wear clothing with insignia that is very much similar to Repsol's own uniforms.

The Spanish police "could" stop it, I guarantee that if the perpetrators were English they would be hauled before the courts double quick !

[Lancsbreaker]

Almost as weird as the scammers - our phone one this morning was a lady of some Eastern origin wanting to talk to me about my BT internet line, who seemed to lose interest rapidly when I advised we didn't have one - is our weather. I know its been said that we've had the chilliest April with manmy nights of air-frost, but I've just noted hail pattering down on the car outside my window, although the external thermometer says its 5C.........