FastFreddy2

When starting to read that, I had something of a fearful moment. ..... I caused some trauma doing exactly 'as described above', but on the M1 some years later. Me in my supercar, joined the M1 at Hemel Hempstead on the South bound carriageway. I almost immediately went into lane 2, with the intention of passing an articulated lorry in lane 1. Including the very long (as was) slip road, this section of motorway had four lanes. As I began passing the lorry, I could see some fool driver trying to beat the lorry to the end of the slip road he was on, which me and the lorry driver knew was unachievable. To avoid an accident, the lorry driver indicated right, and started pulling into my lane. In turn (with me aware I was going to get bumped by the lorry,) I moved toward lane 3. Unfortunately, the vehicle behind us had missed what was going on, and carried on driving - and my rear off-side quarter, nudged the drivers front near side quarter. I felt almost no sensation of contact, but looking back, the vehicle I had touched was spinning like a top, travelling down the motorway still at around 70mph. I know (or have known) people who in my position, would have carried on going. (No cameras in those days, nor onboard video.) But I pulled over and met the driver I had sent spinning down the motorway. We exchanged details, and quite rightly, I was sent a bill for his repairs. (Circa £50.) The spinning bit didn't seem to be a problem, only the minor dent in the wing. Lucky me. I'd been given credit for avoiding the lorry, rather than driving like a twat. Subsequently it turns out, I had made an innocent omission on my insurance application, and was not covered. (Just to confirm, the driving history I declared with the same insurance firm the previous year had the endorsement mentioned, but was missing for the current year. To this day I don't know how I missed it! The omission certainly wasn't intentional. Of course the insurance company ONLY picked up my mistake - when I needed cover and some 6-8 months after I'd paid my very expensive premium.) Back then £50 was a lot of money (about £400-£500 now). The company that owned the 'injured' car were very reasonable though, and I paid off the repair bill in installments. I've always felt a bit hard-done-by with this event, because I always felt the injured party could and should have seen what was unfolding in front of them. With another 40 years of driving experience behind me, I suppose the sensible/ideal thing to do back then, was to brake - and not so quickly the car close behind me would drive into the back of my car. (As happens so often on motorways.) Thing was, back then me and the brake pedal were almost naive to the others presence. I had a tendency to drive out of a problem, rather than use the brakes. I drive much slower cars these days, so that 'tendency' is no longer available to me. Maybe just as well. As this event was (clearly) not a risk to me, it was never intended to be mentioned. And if I wanted to start a 'bad driving thread', it would have begun with the two times (I remember), I've driven into the back of cars that hesitated at empty roundabouts. Fortunately, these and other 'incidents' occurred at very low speeds. So no 'rubbing shoulders' with Mr Reaper.

It looks like the boat was not going to be used much in the UK, save for journeys up estuaries or rivers. It would be an ideal home if moored somewhere on the Thames around London. Or somewhere like the Norfolk Broads? (Scottish Lochs?) Are European canals wider? If not, it might even have been sited somewhere pleasant like the South of France at a permanent mooring. As grand as the sub-boat is, I would have preferred something of that size (or larger still - like a Dutch Barge) to have been made around the Art Deco style of the previous boat with larger (picture) windows. The sub-boat looks more like something the SAS might have commissioned.

Not a great picture, but she's slim and those trousers show it. Stella Maxwell. Full article >> here << (Not really worth looking.)

Not many months after my lucky escape (above) I had another 'incident' while driving. The conclusion was not so bad, though at the time, it was very very scary. Like many young men of the 21st Century, I was into travelling fast growing up in the 20th Century. My vehicle of choice had been bought and paid for by me working every hour I could for a whole summer, with no holiday or time off I can remember. It wasn't hard work (I wasn't built for that) but the hours were long. Fortunately, we had a long warm year, and I got to be a brown as the proverbial berry working out in the Sun. I drive over the road I helped build, most weeks. I went shopping and bought a car that with the wind behind me, could do 120mph. It was quick enough I could make a standing start as a vehicle passed me at 30mph, and flooring the accelerator I could overtake them as I changed into second gear. The time I tested this, I left a 70 yard line of rubber on the road. Fuel prices back then, were considerably lower than they are now. Regular driving, barely got me 20mpg. Driving like a twat a good bit less. Remembering some of the stupid things I had done in the past, I can only think myself "lucky" the roads weren't as busy then, as they are now. One of the more memorable incidents, involved me doing nothing wrong. I lived in a fairly small town, and despite this, there used to be a pair of 24 hour attended fuel stations on a dual carriageway in our town. (Now, long gone.) One of the pair positioned on either side of the dual carriageway. Perhaps I ought to mention, that to get a few extra BHP from my engine, it had a straight-through exhaust system. This wasn't obvious when the six cylinder V-6 engine was burbling along at 30mph, (practically on tickover) but anything above 40, well, it was audible. I was once stopped by a police office and 'advised', if I didn't want the sound level checked by someone with the gear for doing it, I needed to stop pulling out of a junction opposite where he lived. I took his advice. So coming back from another town around 10pm with a (male) friend, we've followed this open topped sports car with a young Caribbean looking couple in it, up to and across a roundabout. The lady was driving - I found out a bit later, itself a bit weird back then..... Anyway, we then get onto the dual carriageway, where I may have been on intending to get fuel. Realising this is an opportunity for a bit a challenge I decide I'm going to pull up alongside the Triumph sportscar (ignorant to who is driving) to see if something can be done to find out who is driving the faster car. While dark, the road is well lit, and mostly empty - if not empty. (I'm stupid, not suicidal.) The sportscar is travelling around 50mph on a 70mph road in lane 1. I move to overtake at around 60mph in lane 2. As I've mentioned, me accelerating produces no small amount of noise. As I pass the slower vehicles rear quarter (so committed to at least getting level with the car), she turns around to look at the noise, and puts her car some way into my lane doing it. To avoid getting pushed into the opposite carriageway, I begin driving at around 60mph with two wheels up on the kerb of the central reserve, and two wheels in lane 2. The only thing between me and oncoming traffic on the other carriageway, is the occasional concrete post and rotten wire chain link fence. (A fair bit of which has been trodden to the floor over time. ) I manage - through the lack of alternatives, to finish my manoeuvre and get past, finally getting all the wheels of my car back onto lane 2. Once past, my passenger indicates to the driver, to pull over which she did. Once we are parked on the roadside, it was fairly obvious the girl driver was legless. The police arrive, and our story told. As I remember, she was breathalysed, and it came back "sober". Now, it's at this time 'cultural heritage' comes into play. The two people in the sportscar haven't been drinking - at all. They've been on the same stuff I tried in my previous mis-hap. The police officer had worked it out, but his ability to assess suitability for driving, stopped when the driver passed the breath test. Back then, roadside checks for licence and insurance weren't possible either. If you didn't have your paperwork with you, drivers were given an HORT/1 (producer) which back then gave a driver 7 days to take their documents to a police station. As I mentioned, unless you were an actress or model, being a woman and driving a sportscar was almost unheard of. Lots of bells were ringing, but there was nothing to be done. They went on their way, and so did we. My car didn't hit anything - at all. Everyone was still in one piece, and there was no damage to civic property either. I was over the shock of the incident, and with an hours hindsight, began to realise the time for anger was over, and time for relief to start. Plus, it was nice to be treated by the police as the 'wounded party', rather than as the wounder. Of course, if the gap between the dual carriageway kerb and the wire fence had been narrower, this story probably wouldn't be so entertaining. In fact me and my passenger may not have done any further entertaining, ever. Back then, no safety boxes designed into cars. No airbags. No collapsible steering columns. And few people wore seat belts even though cars were fitted with them. (An ex of mine went through a windscreen some years after our relationship ended. Lovely girl, who who survived, but scarred for life both outside - and doubtless inside too.) Even if there had been no traffic on the opposite carriageway, being launched skyward by a concrete post may not have been survivable. Nor being being brought to a dead stop by one either. The whole incident didn't do my 'street-cred' any harm either. My passenger told everyone we knew about the incident, and my sparkling driving ability.

I am trying a compromise. So far, so good.

That choker is sure popular. This is still image taken from Taylor Swift video >> here << that already had at the time of writing, 124 million views four days after its release. It has taken U2, almost 18 years to amass 248 million views of their video "With or without you". Not only has it taken 18 years, this song was/is heavily promoted by an episode of Friends (Rachel and Ross breakup), which is a series still syndicated around the world. If Taylor Swift has monetised that video (why wouldn't she or her record label) it will pay for itself quite quickly from You Tube revenues alone, and act as a publicity machine for her new album. If the revenue stream has been maximised (I'm sure it has) the returns over the life of that one video, could produce more gross income than I've managed through my whole working life. Nearly missed it, but her 8 MALE dance group ..... Wearing heels ...... And to keep this post 'on thread' .....

Looks like a submarine, floating on the surface ... Yours, for around £225.000 with no mooring. Nice interior .... Full article >> here <<

Time for another thread? "Philosophical treatise" or something along that line? Here's a couple of things that have proven noteworthy to me: "Don't live your life like it's this long '....................................................' because it's only this long '.......' " "You tend to regret the things you don't do, not the things you do." "Nothing worth having comes easy." Love, money, peace of mind. The groundbreaking events that helped me mature my outlook: 1. Around 35 (ish) I was told by my peers on a 2 year management course - while on a residential weekend - it was okay to be me. (Still took me years to do it, but I had the encouragement to let myself 'out' - as it were.) 2. A couple of years later, I learned to be compassionate, an achievement born from a particular relationship after Item 1 started taking effect. 3. While working for someone with absolutely no business sense what-so-ever, not only did I nearly turn his business around, when it finally went to the wall I did make a success out of it. More, I learned that owning a business wasn't beyond me (though hard work) but I didn't need to be an employee any longer than I wanted to be. I have read a witticism somewhere (probably on a birthday card) where: being young is 'learning something new everyday' and being old is 'forgetting more than you learn everyday'. I fear I have reached that stage, but I enjoy learning new things more now, than I ever have. Given the opportunity, (being young enough to be back at school) I would like to 'suck up' every ounce of knowledge I had been offered in my youth. I've never been reluctant to learn, (7 years in total of evening classes should tell that) but I've now a thirst for knowledge unlike any itime before. Regrets: Not making the time to write the 10,000 dissertation (on the second year of a course that was paid for) that would have had me with "MSc" after my name.

That won't be happening. Just not workable really. I've tried a compromise at my end. I'll see how that works out.

There is a difference between loyalty and effectiveness. For example, I've been "critical" (asked about changes that are software options which were subsequently dismissed) regarding some aspects of the site here, both publicly and privately. ie. preview function, editing time window, picture sizes, gallery privacy, to name a few. Nothing changed. While I choose to live with it, is there some reason I shouldn't 'bitch' about it (privately) to other members? I'm human after all, not a machine. Conversely, I promote this site to anyone I can (non-members obviously) would be surprised to discover I'd said or written ANYTHING negative about it anywhere. either publicly or privately. Same true of HHp. If "Admin" of "Moderator" staff were doing things not in the best interests of the sites, I could understand there being an issue. But people complaining privately to each other, that's just human nature. I've never worked anywhere, it didn't happen, and I've worked in companies with 3 employees up to 7,000.

Ahhh, I've worked it out. Sadly, the most recent upgrade to the site now means I'm restricted on what I see. Probably means I won't be adding any pictures in the future. Ho-hum.

And for this ....

This is what I see. Google subscription, fully paid up, thank you.

Great link, thank you. Another from the same site >> here << Pretty much where I am I suppose, though 35 years old, is a bit young for a mid-life crisis. I would suggest 40+ as a starting place, and my own didn't really kick in until well into my 50's. For me, it was the realisation I won't live forever. Didn't produce a "crisis" as such, but it did help me spend a little bit of money I might not have spent otherwise. None of my 'shiny' leggings are made of lycra, but I do plan to wear some shiny ones - at some time. I'm fairly certain the material will be an effective wind barrier, and I don't like the cold ....

Ummmm ... Links or uploaded pictures are missing?

No. What were they? I wear what I expect are a lycra first layer because they are practical, not because I feel the need to show off my little botty to anyone. Given the chance, I would wear lycra anything. (Tops, leggings...) Cost prohibits it, and possibly my age. But it's a wonderful material, stretching with your skin, providing a comfortable covering. I can see that overweight people may not look overly attractive in lycra, but if they are wearing lycra while riding a bike, seems to me they are at least attempting to get fitter?

If only the links weren't 'members only'. The link addresses function, but I don't have a Pinterest account. Nor do I want one.

Sadly, a situation that is becoming more and more typical. I have experience of (but not been the driver of) situations where suppliers were starved of cash in the hope/expectation their business would fail and the debt lost. A blue chip FTSE 100 company I might add. As an individual, I was involved in a business, selling installed equipment to other businesses. Other businesses that dealt with cash sales on a day-to-day basis. Twice we accepted cheques, both times the cheques were stopped. When I got involved, it became C.O. Installation. We still had people try it on.... Working in Sheffield, I had to stay there over night minding the gear I had spent the day installing, as at 11pm I was offered a cheque. I got cash -in full- at 9.30am the next day. Another engineer who worked for me, rang and told me the owner at another installation was AWOL and no cash had been left. I instructed him to remove a bit required to make the system function, and not to answer any calls from the customer until he'd heard from me. With him waiting a half mile away for my call, I discussed the matter with the absent shop owner. We got the cash, which mysteriously became available - although the shop owner was still absent. I've a half dozen of these stories. On a personal level, I never return to any customer who gave me grief over money. Catch me once .... It wasn't a pleasant world, and it seemed everyone was old to scam everyone else. I'm well rid, though it was good to me while I had the stomach for it.

There is no doubt in mind, that is the case. Although 40 years ago, it was exactly that kind of 'mimic' lifestyle, that got my girlfriend (and a million+ more like her) spending with a credit card to give them an exotic lifestyle. Why don't I own a pair of the very desirable H. of C.B. PVC trousers? Money. Other than suit trousers, I don't possess anything I would put on my legs that cost that sort of money. If/when I own a pair, (and I hope to) it'll be because I have the money for them. (Or someone is generous around my birthday.) There are no circumstances I would borrow money unless in doing so, meant I saved money. For example, if buying something on a card when I didn't have cash, meant I still saved money on the deal even with the potential of interest payments. I have to say, I've yet to experience that set of circumstances. Usually - if not always - I treat my c/c as a charge card and it's only ever used for online purchases anyway. Other than that, if I don't have the money to hand, I don't buy. Conversely, I've known many people who have lived off their c/c or overdraft. Nuts.

Be it the commercial side or retail (for us consumers), loans (usury) are the life-blood of banks. They use customers money which they pay nothing for (a quarter of 1 percent) to make loans to people who borrow, simply because they can. (They've been trained to spend what they want when they want.) This isn't new of course. 40 years ago, I was shocked to find my girlfriend had a 'maxed out' credit card, with a debt not too far off 6 months salary. Conclusion: she wasn't marriage material. 9/10 years ago, I met a couple (chavs) both with debts of over £10k each. They married, and honeymooned in Mexico on their new credit cards. Bonkers. Banks need us in debt; loans/mortgage/overdraft to function. It's in their interest for us to be as deep in debt as they can get us, to maximise the profits from these debts. The people who borrow, are using expensive money, since every pound spent, carries with it 'interest' on the money to be returned. Bonkers. This fine until those with large debts, can't pay. Then the 'house of cards' falls down and often puts those with moderate debt (say mortgages) into a situation where they can't pay either, as higher interest rates (caused by bad debt) pushes employers and entrepreneurs into liquidation. From what I've been reading, car loans (hire financing) is the new 'loan' industry with banks and finance houses. The market is larger, and is attractive to the young with 'disposable' income while they live at home with their parents. Again, expensive money, on a poor (fast depreciating) investment. "Sucker" investment? Again okay, provided the income keeps rolling in. Good for the wealth of the individual? Nope. Good for the economy? Nope. Only really any good for banks.

Judging by the (current) personal debt of the UK populace, it would seem to be the case! >> Not good. <<

A well known 'management' adage. In this instance, it was 'luck' the shoes had not been out on a sales rack. Me acquiring them, was the product of several sets of circumstances that could and would never be repeated. The essence of these circumstances, was the result of bad luck for others. The last bit was me getting my arse into gear, and buying them. A close call since I couldn't get anyone to pick up the phone from the store on the day, and wasn't sure I should make the journey in case they hadn't been kept. It was the opportunity to do something nice for Mrs Freddy, that was the deciding factor in travelling to make a purchase. As it turned out, we both got the items we had hoped to. In fact, it was almost worth the trip to see the look of shock on the sales assistants faces when they found out the price I was buying them for. "Priceless".

They are, thank you. Can't believe I found a new pair that hadn't been languishing on a sales rack for July and August. About time I experienced a bit of 'luck', though I did put some effort into getting lucky.

Similar photo added elsewhere, and this image completes the set. Not shiny, but there is a slight sheen. Added because of the shoes really. Office "Hampton" with 130mm heel.

Weeeeeeellllll.... Got the camera out yesterday, having found my M+S scuba leggings. Basic cycling shorts ..... As I ride, with additional baggy MTB style shorts (usually filled with puncture repair equipment.) Plus M+S 'scuba' leggings. Very warm, ought to be lovely in winter. Notes on photo's: Obviously, a little tummy sucking-in was used during the session. One or two patches of thread vein have been photoshopped out. (For vanity reasons.) Otherwise, everything is as it appears. Might add a bike picture later.....