Non-Whigers' Forum. Hard working authors and sensible readers only

MTM et al did you also know your insurance premiums were doctored and marked up according to how many points on a license.
I knew that but hadn't realised they stay up...an acquaintance who works for a broker said a clean license has lowest premium and 5% mark up at 3 points stays even after license is clean again. It's kept on a website and means your an increased risk. Damn cheek.
We're on a waiting game with my sister, appts for further tests and their results but should all be completed within a couple of weeks. Far cry from ten years ago where one test led to another, to another with waits of many weeks between. My father first attended hospital in November with symptoms suspicious of a cancer and it wasn't until May 31st their wedding anniversary that he got awful news confirmed and spread by such time. There's definite improvement in the NHS thank goodness. My niece had check up and all clear which is brilliant.
She explained the state of panic and anxiety when she went for her check. I had to tell her once that diagnosis has been made no matter how clear post op the nerves always set in until hopefully the next all clear. Always feels like a time bomb.

On that note thanks for letting me get that out of my system.

I'm definitely in need of light conversation...anyone there.
Lex is up to his neck in renovation. He was sanding stairs and linseed oiling them. So this am he's probably aching but at least he knows his stairs will be waterproofed :)

Hope you guys are all well, writing or promoting or just waiting for the weather to improve.

Mira are you ok?

I think they just look at my car and add about 50% for that... then again, I know engine size makes a massive difference so even if you get from 0 - 60 in 5, what they're looking at is the fact it's a 1.8.

Re the tests, I so sympathise. This time last year a friend of mine felt a bit asthmatic, thought it was hay fever, turned out she only had a third of one lung left - the rest was cancer - and she was given two months to live. I had a persistent cough at that time that had been going on for months and her situation prompted me to visit the Doctor. They gave me a chest x ray and they aren't allowed to give you the results. I was absolutely pooping myself, nearly in tears I was so scared.

Luckily the radiologist was a sweetheart. I explained about my friend and she said that if there was anything wrong I'd be sent to casualty at once and admitted. She asked me to wait while she checked the photo had come out ok and then came to tell me I could go. She made it as clear as she could, without actually telling me that everything was alright. I didn't know about the admission side of it, so if she'd played it by the book and I'd had to wait 2 weeks for the results I'd have been a nervous wreck!

Cheers

MTM

Yes the waiting is hell. I started nightmares through it all...they say it's post traumatic stress disorder...oh I got the diagnosis wrong when I went back to Gynae oncologist...he asked how I'd been. I was all wound up and dreading the check up...in case of...and I said I'd been diagnosed with mental stress re nightmares. He said have you been given a proper diagnosis...mouth and brain dysfunction spouted post natal distress disorder. Realised by his face...shock and double blink, burst out laughing. Said if that's even a chance of post natal seeing as the works have been cleared out then I'm a millionaire. Got it all sorted and explained. He said I'll get Janet ( my Macmillan Nurse) to ring you. I said don't bother she's partly the cause...yes she's lovely but it's what she stands for in my head....it comes with a large scythe and black cloak so thanks but no thanks. I swear b****y minded works at times. Wonder if this will be deleted? Still get nightmares...4 last night which is greedy. OH is great he wakes me, says it's ok and go back to sleep. It has added benefits re community watch as I've caught two burglars at work in the street with my poor sleep patterns.
I never thought about engine size and insurance. Just ordered a 2L...needed power for caravan really. Oops.

At the bottom line, if the insurance cost is heavy, I'd still rather have a nice car.

Me too Will.
I told Lex we were considering BMW and he said they're the one's in a ditch in snow...rear wheel drive..so gone with 4 wheel drive...only have to watch for other drivers then:)
How often we have snowy winters...I don't think i have many to worry about.

Hum. I'd never chose a 4x4 after she had a Discovery. And rear wheel drives are best in the snow anyway! Only poor drivers (eg most BMW owners) would put one in a ditch.

4x4's are useless in snow (sorry!) unless you fit them with off road tyres. Otherwise they just slide like anything else.

Caro, if you're in need of a distraction, stop by my blog. I finally learned how to embed video, now have three. It's easy when you know what to do. http://texasdruids.blogspot.com

I got rid of my car, gone, I loved it, Toyota, MR2 MK1. Insurance, tax, running costs, parking costs, MOT, petrol, repairs, too much for me, it had to go, I gave it away. I walk now.
You see so much more, but then I have just retired (ill health, invovled in the London 7/7 tube bombings), so I do not need it to get to work. I have since moved out of London and live by the moors with my two cats.
I write poetry and am now an artist, I have been in one exhibition and have a web page with my poetry.

Be blessed
Blilith

My Honda 4x4 has been great in snow and ice...maybe the tyres;-)

Haha I aspire to be a BMW driver:))
Thanks Lyn, soon as I get a minute I will.

Hello Blilith...interesting name, devilishly interesting parts to it:)
You are another who has found the value to life then. Wishing you many years of healthy retirement. There are others retired or semi retired and yet others who aspire to be. Writing, reading and editing are the main interests here. Call and chat whenever, it's a friendly bunch on here. I'm pleased you have found a place for your spiritual peace and walk. Sadly I need wheels as I can't get far on my crutches....sticks and other mobility aids are a common experience for many on this thread...but I and other's do some mean pole dancing routines. Reminds me Carol never sorted those costumes out as yet;0)

Dearest carocaro,

I am glad you like my name, it is mine. It is interesting that you know about Lilith, not many people do. I still study. Old German, Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and write in Theban and Nordic runes, long gone now, but still there. I carry on learning and reading, but never pole dancing, I would love to see that but never will, it must be fun. Perhaps I should watch Jerry Springer......

I do not like BMWs, I had one it was rubbish, go for for the new F type Jaguar or the new Skoda, faster better. Skoda have built one of the fastest cars, top speed over 220mph, but they only built one. I used to race bikes and cars, being a girly I had to stand my own, lots of injuries a bit reckless.

Be blessed
Blilith

Time for the Skoda jokes!

What do they call a convertible skoda?

(A Skip...)

Can I have some new windscreen wipers for my skoda? asked the man in the motor spares shop.
Yes, said the salesman. That sounds like a fair swap.
Hello there Blillith. Yeh a jag is cool but a Lotus is better Mwa ha ha hahargh! Amazingly, it's actually pretty good in snow.

Cheers

MTM

Blilith you are in good company re speed. However, I need an automatic and a 4 wheel drive as my OH likes to drag a snail shell around with us called a caravan. We have decided on a visit to Scotland and Wales but I will give fair warning so you can avoid those roads.
Talking of walking I saw on the news the whole welsh coastline of 800+ miles is now officially open. Bon voyage to all who manage to crawl round her, say hello to Owyn Glyndywer from me and Prince Llewellyn up the coast aways.
Do you have a book Blilith out...is it poetry, or are you a reader? Or both?

Gosh it's been years since I heard skoda jokes. Probably since Volkswagon took it over.

My problem with low cars like the Lotus is i get in and feel like I'm sitting up in bed...hence bum on road and driving a bed so to speak.

Still no nearer finding out what killed my friend as yet. There's to be a second PM as first is inconclusive. The equipment has a slightly sticking valve but not believed to have been the problem. I know nothing about valves and scuba.

Bum on road! Mwa ha hahrgh. True but if you have a knee that locks periodically there's no embarrassing gettign out at junctions and jumping up and down to unlock it. Not becuase I can't get out like that, clearly, but becasue driving with a very much straighter leg means no locked knee!

It's brill.

Cheers

MTM

Caro, my current girlfriend hated my gorgeous V12 XJS, because it was so low.

I loved it. Once got it to 120 in Devon, and there was a lot more life left in her, but I worried about my licence and backed off.

Are you talking life left in current girlfriend or...?
Coz 120 is getting on a bit...Guiness Book of Records at a guess.

Sorry Will's girl only joking.

Seriously you and Lex too this holds for an interesting conversation.
My first new car was a Rover 25 sport, then an MG and oh they were underestimated. They could shift...Manchester to B'ham 40 mins. No blue flashing thank goodness. I was trying to beat my Mom's family record. She was with me sitting shotgun on cop patrol. Brilliant. I do miss her so.

At 120 in the XJ-S, I could actually see the petrol guage moving. (downwards...)

I visualise you knee locked exiting bum first then extricating to standing.
Actually my disability was a great help once when two men slammed the break on in front of me at an island once, and I touched the back of their old banger. They wanted me out of the car to look at the damage. They opened the door and one had his hand on my elbow encouraging me not quite dragging me. I pleaded disability, he saw sticks and i said we could go to the local cop shop to follow me. They said it was my lucky day and to drive safely. Yeh! They must have thought me stupid. As soon as I got out they would have been in and off. I went to the police with their number but as nothing happened they didn't want to know...not even log it as a complaint. My son in law has said since never let the duty official get away with that but ask to see the superior...i didn't know though.

Caro, you lucky girl! I wish I could join you on your trip to Scotland and Wales. OH and I did a whirlwind tour of Scotland and Ireland several years ago, not nearly long enough. The Scottish Highlands just called out to me. I kept thinking about Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped. I adored that book when I was about junior high age, say 13-15. And then there's Diana Gabaldon, my idol, and her Outlander series. Her writing makes me laugh and cry and "see" the people and lands she describes. Oh, to have half her talent!

Caro, No book yet, but I have a web page, I am writing a book but that will take time. I proof read for other writers, for free, I can read very fast. I shall publish on Kindle it far cheaper than getting a paper version and finding a publisher.

Scotland is a great place, I lived there for seven years been to most places except Stornaway (if you wish I will tell you why). Wales I loved I have many Welsh friends.

The jokes about the Skoda are long gone, they are great cars, win many rallies and races. Well built and unlike BMW come with all extras.

Hi there MTM, the best car ever (in my humble opinion) was the D type Jaguar. It looks wonderful, single seater racer, if you have seen one, Google it, it is an icon of design.

Be blessed
Blilith

Be blessed
Blilith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_D-Type

If you have never seen a D-type Jaguar go to the above link. The first was sold for £2,201,500, a tiny bit out of my price range :-), I cannot even imagine the insurace costs.
I do have model of it. It won many races, but had a 3.6l engine and the rules were changed to limit racing cars to 3l, end of the D-type. There very few left now and they are in collections.
There are replicas, but even the copies are pricey. One of my friends has an E-type and the insurance costs are prohibitive, the terms and conditions are draconian.

D type? slumps drooling to the floor. Oh yes. Although the Lotus 11 wasn't bad. ;-)

McOther had an e-type for a while but the gumby went and bought an original one with 20,000 miles on the clock... what he should have done is bought one that had been rebuilt so he could use it without fear. It was way cool but it was very very slow at stopping and it handled like a waterbed on castors.

Not bad... but here's a picture of one anyway.... http://www.lotuseleven.co.uk/communities/9/004/008/209/289/images/4539565591.jpg

Or actually, what about one of these...?

http://m.images.boldride.com/mercedes-benz/thumbnails/654.436.mercedes-benz-300-slr-uhlenhaut-coupe-1321414504-30908.jpg

For anyone whose read my book, that's the Interceptor.

cheers

MTM

Yes Lyn we intend to travel up the West Coast to the Highlands, visit a couple of the beautiful Hebridean Islands too. I know where there are Orca and may be lucky to see them. If time allows we go across the Caledonian canal...may see a monster or two...preferably in a kilt:)

That is the car they used in the Inspector Morse series isn't it?
Blilith...my OH wanted a mazerati. The kids bought him one but it's a dinky model...ah shame.

Oops just found it...not the Morse one...the shark one!