So . . . .

[mchughcb]

Blake 7 was very popular in Australia on the ABC.
But I loved the UFO TV series more.
There used to be ads on TV for british tools with the catch cry - Buy British.
Leyland P76 was considered the car of champions with its alloy head and biggest boot in the business.

However none of this would allow you to come back to your genes originated from with as a citizen unless of course your father was a 10 pound pom. It used to be your grandfather but they stopped that early 80s.

 

[Olaf]

I actually have no axe to grind as far as as that's concerned, to be perfectly honest. I do, however, feel that the UK needs to once again become a stand-alone country in its own right once more. The UK was a major factor in overthrowing Axis forces during the last World War, and was a global leader in industry for decades. 'Made in Britain' was once a byword for quality and innovation, and the entire country held the respect of the globe. I have no idea if there's any way the UK can return to those days, (in fact I really have my doubts), but for me the first step in the journey has to be independence from the European nanny state. Not from some misguided and ill-informed patriotic standpoint, but from the position of allowing the UK far more autonomy over it's own affairs without interference. The EU wants a 'one-size-fits-all' solution, and I think we've seen that just doesn't work for the UK over the last decades

I like much of what you say there , and agree in certain ways.
Unfortunately, the world markets are a much different place now to what they were in the 70‘ S and i think that whilst much of the concept of being a ‚stand alone‘ country is honorable, it’s now been proven by our governments trading negotiations with countries outside of the EU to be a very bad idea at present. But, what our government chooses to do in the next few months is certainly going to be entertaining to watch, regardless of how anyone voted. I just hope that pur government dont spank our country any worse than they already have, I have this feeling that they will though! They are a useless bunch.

Kindest regards, Olaf

 

[enfieldspares]

I have no idea if there's any way the UK can return to those days.

It can't. The fact is we can't undercut the Chinese on cost on the major infrastructure projects and, even if we could, we can't out bribe them. I can only speak of Nigeria bit most of the new projects there are Chinese. The new Lagos-Ibadan railway...ninety miles...Chinese. The big Kada Plaza cinema in my wife's home of Benin City opened in 2014 even has the EXIT emergency evacuation signs in Chinese and English! We burned our boats in the 1970s. The New Commonwealth (the non-white former colonies) used to drive, mostly, rubbish Leyland cars. Or Rootes Group. The Hillman Minx! Nowadays its European or Japanese cars. That boat sailed and it sailed big time as West Africa...Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia all now drive on the right. We've lost our inbuilt advantage there too.

 

[Olaf]

I actually have no axe to grind as far as as that's concerned, to be perfectly honest. I do, however, feel that the UK needs to once again become a stand-alone country in its own right once more. The UK was a major factor in overthrowing Axis forces during the last World War, and was a global leader in industry for decades. 'Made in Britain' was once a byword for quality and innovation, and the entire country held the respect of the globe. I have no idea if there's any way the UK can return to those days, (in fact I really have my doubts), but for me the first step in the journey has to be independence from the European nanny state. Not from some misguided and ill-informed patriotic standpoint, but from the position of allowing the UK far more autonomy over it's own affairs without interference. The EU wants a 'one-size-fits-all' solution, and I think we've seen that just doesn't work for the UK over the last decades

Sorry mate, there was something else I forgot to add to my last post and that was that I’d love to see a huge comeback in British manufacturing, we currently have next to no decent home grown industrial production and that’s a real shame. I hope that whatever the outcome is over the next few months that this Nation wide focusing on the state of our country will cause UK companies to get in gear and expand their horizons. It’s just my opinion that we can make Britain a better place , under under present conditions, by remaining in the largest economy in the world. We can always leave the EU when we have actually got our ship in order. At the moment it’s got a few broken masts .
Anyway, happy new year when it comes!
Kindest regards, Olaf

 

[Klenchblaize]

Roll on Jan 14th so we may just get on with it. Whatever "it" may be.

K

 

[Hornet 6]

Olaf.
Go shopping tomorrow, come home with a few 100w and 150w mains voltage light bulbs, oh, and decent powerful mains voltage hoover.

Neil.

 

[enfieldspares]

100w and 150w are absolutely no problem. Lots of independent electric retailers sell them. They are still allowed for workshop use. That's all you need to say. The one that's three doors down from Joe Beatham's Gunshop EB is where I get mine when I'm down there. But in truth as others may say there are now better modern alternatives. The world has moved on from Mr Edison's day. But re the other thread. I dread if we exit with "no deal" what the added on customs charges will be on European optics, guns, powders and the add on cost of shotgun cartridges (all cases used in the UK by the likes of Hull, Lylvale, Eley, Gamebore and Etc., are made on the continent). But, hey ho, Mr Rees-Mogg tells me kumquat and avocado will be cheaper.

 

[Olaf]

Olaf.
Go shopping tomorrow, come home with a few 100w and 150w mains voltage light bulbs, oh, and decent powerful mains voltage hoover.

Neil.

I Love that Post, are you genuinely serious?
Filament light bulbs are a thing of the past now, LED is the future because they can produce way more lumens and with an absolute fraction of the energy required. I’ve just built a bespoke kitchen in my house and used them for all my lighting requirements and I’m so impressed. I’ve got two LED spot lights too, for task lighting where I butcher my deer carcasses and they are so powerful when I turn the dimmer switch up on full that I don’t ever use them on full power.
The new vacuum cleaners from Miele that I’ve read about have a better efficiency than the Henry piece of crap that I’ve currently got, indeed, you have just reminded me to go and get a new and more powerful one.
Im a fully trained Industrial designer, I can assure you that I know how to make a decent vacuum cleaner work and crap Chinese ones that are available on Amazon really are bad for the environment and your pocket.
But, can you please tell me what freedom you are missing from our current EU membership? I honestly want to know and I genuinely do care for your opinion on that, it’s not a trick question, it’s something that really Puzzles me when people say that they want their freedom back etc.
Anyway, kindest regards, best wishes and happy Christmas and a new year mate.

Cheers, Olaf ( currently sipping a nice Single malt...yey !)

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

Garlic bread,s the future! mind you that stuffs like mince pies terrible.

 

[african jack]

I Love that Post, are you genuinely serious?
Filament light bulbs are a thing of the past now, LED is the future because they can produce way more lumens and with an absolute fraction of the energy required. I’ve just built a bespoke kitchen in my house and used them for all my lighting requirements and I’m so impressed. I’ve got two LED spot lights too, for task lighting where I butcher my deer carcasses and they are so powerful when I turn the dimmer switch up on full that I don’t ever use them on full power.
The new vacuum cleaners from Miele that I’ve read about have a better efficiency than the Henry piece of crap that I’ve currently got, indeed, you have just reminded me to go and get a new and more powerful one.
Im a fully trained Industrial designer, I can assure you that I know how to make a decent vacuum cleaner work and crap Chinese ones that are available on Amazon really are bad for the environment and your pocket.
But, can you please tell me what freedom you are missing from our current EU membership? I honestly want to know and I genuinely do care for your opinion on that, it’s not a trick question, it’s something that really Puzzles me when people say that they want their freedom back etc.
Anyway, kindest regards, best wishes and happy Christmas and a new year mate.

Cheers, Olaf ( currently sipping a nice Single malt...yey !)

LED don't work in a biltong box

 

[enfieldspares]

LED don't work in a biltong box

Don't worry AJ. The whole of Southern Africa, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana will be falling over themselves to do us such absolutely bloody fantastic Free Trade deals on biltong that you'll never need to make you own again. Liam Fox told me. So I know it's true.

 

[Olaf]

LED don't work in a biltong box

Ha ha ha ...

 

[Olaf]

Don't worry AJ. The whole of Southern Africa, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana will be falling over themselves to do us such absolutely bloody fantastic Free Trade deals on biltong that you'll never need to make you own again. Liam Fox told me. So I know it's true.

 

[Freeforester]

Er, doesn't James Dyson make decent vacuum cleaners? Not at all sure he'd agree with your sentiments, but hey-ho; perhaps it's just that when Germany looks around and sees the number of 'continental partners' it is either going to have to bail out (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain, come to mind) support or else say 'auf wiedersehen' to, its perhaps little wonder they look to UK (or its treasury) to help keep the EU show on the road, but alas - the bell has already rung, and the party guests are now looking to part, starting, but certainly not ending with the UK.

Happily, the UK can now forge its own destiny, offering both bilateral and/or unilateral low- or zero-tariff (free) trade deals and attractive business arrangments with the majority of Commonwealth and other non-EU-ropean countries as we see fit, and the rest of the EU can follow Germany toward the inevitable conclusion in respect of the 'grand projet', the end game is becoming rapidly clearer as EU unity and fiscal arrangements unravel...

 

[enfieldspares]

Er, doesn't James Dyson make decent vacuum cleaners?

If he does he doesn't sell them here. They are not as good as you'd think them to be. All hyped by Dyson. The best apparently are SEBO. German. A close friend that is a multi property landlord uses one.

Anyway here's a link to Trust Pilot:

Dyson is rated "Bad" with 2.3 / 10 on Trustpilot

And made outside the UK. The man's support for Brexit isn't about what's good for UK plc it's about what's good for Dyson plc.

 

[Freeforester]

Sorry to hear you don't rate them, 'Which' consumer magazine, and yours truly certainly do, so I'm happy to support Great British design. Horses for courses, I suppose.

Enlightened self-interest is no bad thing, considering the alternatives, comrades! I suppose Herr SEBO is doing his works charitably, for the greater good, etc..

 

[enfieldspares]

No. Of course Dyson should look after himself. He'd be daft not to. But I'd respect him if he were open about it. His vacuum cleaners are made in Malaysia. So his intetest in Brexiit is about tariffs on the things. And the massive profits from factories not having to comply with EU employment rights standards. Shame that he appears not to be open about the fact that they are made in factories that have nowhere near the levels of worker rights and protections that such people would have in the EU.

Same as the Wetherspoon bloke. But there's many who aren't 100% about why they are pro-Brexit. Dressing up their own self-interest up as national interest. I certainly wouldn't trust Rees-Mogg whatsoever at all. "Which" reviews i wouldn't trust at all. I work in the travel industry and I can assure you that "Which" reviews can, and are, able to be manipulated as they are often based on a very low survey sample. Not on a sample of actual consumers of the product.

About the only person who seems truly to act on what he thinks is right for UK plc is Michael Gove.

Johnson IMHO sees Brexit as no more nor less than what is best for the political advancement of Johnson.

 

[potshotpat]

Sorry Fellas, what's a Dyson.

 

[enfieldspares]

It's a thing that comes in white. Like your Missus wears on your wedding day. 'Cos white is the traditional colour of most household and kitchen appliances. Similar to why God made women with smaller feet than men. So they can stand closer to the kitchen sink.

It's amazing how a large mug of calvados for a bad back brings back the worst of your clients' jokes to you. The back gets progressively better as the brain gets progressively addled. But worry not I'll certainly not be driving tomorrow.

 

[Freeforester]

You must surely realise that the bigger half of the products available on the high street today are made under similar keenly competitive conditions - clothing, footwear, even foodstuffs? Should we get the unions back and go with their version of 'productivity', or perhaps renationalise and glean the 'benefits'? Then the dream team of Corbyn, Mc'Donnel and Abbot are your best bet next time around...

It is precisely because the EU's regulations and controls render much of their economies relatively sclerotic that nimble businesses with an eye and thought to the future head to where prospects for more dynamic progress can be made. All consumers both within and beyond the bounds of the EU choose to buy according to their purse strings and/or with regard to their own idea as to what represents 'value'; to some, indeed many, that may equate to lowest cost; to others, their determining factor may be 'best quality' available, according to their needs or desires; by all means protect rights of EU workers by such regulations, but don't be surprised when consumers buy more competitively priced or better 'value' goods etc from elsewhere as and when they can, with ultimately stark prospects for such relatively less-competitive players in the market. Bear in mind too, the growth of consumer demand for the foreseeable future will be greater from outwith the EU, and not within it - most countries in the world where economic development and thus prospects for trade are greater lie beyond the EU's borders.

But we seem to be digressing somewhat; just because the ECJ ruled that we may choose to repeal Article 50 unilaterally, doesn't mean that we are obliged to, and nor shall it be the case that we do, rest assured.

BTW the irony of the EU unelected finally beginning to realise (alas, too late, at least for the purpose of keeping the U.K. aboard) that their project is in need of serious and extensive reform from within just as we bid them 'adieu' is not lost in these parts, yet for now they continue to argue that whatever the problem or issue might be, the answer is more EU, not less; this is their clear error of judgement, and why the EU, under its current guise is operating on borrowed time...

ps I'm sure supplies of Adrien Camut, DuPont and the other truly great Calvados marques will still be found beyond Normandy come April coming - salut!