The totally off-topic thread

[wandering_fred]

The news here just said that the NZ Prime Minister had resigned (effective in a couple of days). Much later they got around to identifying who that actually is. Just as well it was in that order...

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[JohnK]

Probably shows you don't read newspapers or watch the news on TV. Pretty hard to miss, even if you aren't interested in politics.

If you didn't know Gough Whitlam isn't still Prime Minister (of Australia), be prepared for a shock. And I regret to say that George VI died.

I read the last 6-7 pages of a newspaper quite often. Cannot remember the last time I watched TV. Self imposed ban thanks to all the rubbish they show and the number of ads increasing over time.

I know all Australian prime ministers since at least 1972. I know most US presidents. I don't know all Greek prime ministers but know many of them.

I love to play golf. I love to travel. That takes up most of my time.

 

[Cynicor]

My wife and I do the occasional parkrun Bundy. Our local is Carine in Perth. Have only done a couple, but looking to do more once I get some semi-proper running shoes. I need to improve my fitness substantially.
I was interested in the Albert Park event when we were last in Melbourne, but couldn't make it work.

You must be around the corner from me, I live a short stroll from the Carine shops, on the Duncraig side!

 

[Foreigner]

No Names...Victoria government issues list of baby names that will not be allowed for registration:

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/pa...s/news-story/8a2f110daf7de8800ca555dbc48e47cc

 

[andye]

No Names...Victoria government issues list of baby names that will not be allowed for registration:

Baby names that are banned in Victoria, Australia

Seaman would be pretty tough in the playground

 

[Bindibuys]

For some reason the diesel fuel filter for the 4.5 L twin turbo diesel is a quarter the size of the diesel fuel filter of the 2.0 litre Golf.

I have the 1.9 ltr turbo Polo, has VW Service Centres been changing the fuel filter? (car only gets serviced about once a year -now you have me worried)

 

[Hvr]

Seaman would be pretty tough in the playground

A bit like a Boy named Sue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOHPuY88Ry4

 

[eastwest101]

Thats right. I don't want to change the filter on some dark and dusty country road half a day from a toyota dealer. For some reason toyota dealership service dept never seem to have that insight.

Even Mrs Quickstatus can change the fuel filter. Its so easy its frustrating they cant do it as part of the capped price servicing. Thats why I rub it in by changing it at their premises.

I carry 2 spares with the requisite allen key.

Yes I have asked Toyota that if we follow that logic then we should do away with the engine oil filters on Landcruisers as well. When the engine explodes and pistons go through the bonnet then presumably its time for the engine oil filter to be changed?

To be fair I don't think that Toyota dealerships came up with the idea, I get the impression thats its more of a "mandate" from head office.

 

[Pushka]

Stupid. Car park frenzy. Christmas.
Why is it that:
1. People immediately on entering a car park see a car being loaded up with groceries and immediately flick on their indicator when a) They are blocking the entrance to the car park and b)there are hundreds of parks further on (we have green and red lights)
2. When said car with flicking indicator lights pulls right up to the car being reversed and keeps on creeping up so that the exiting car cannot exit and flicking car cannot enter park meanwhile everyone else is stuck waiting while they try sort themselves out.

Saw a poor lady today (admittedly unskillfully) try back out of her park while stupid keeps rolling toward her flicking away. Poor lady's car backs straight into a concrete bollard across the way. Stupid meanwhile starts backing towards the stream of cars trying to get in. Poor lady now has large scratch and dent in her car because stupid was impatient.

 

[GarrettM]

You must be around the corner from me, I live a short stroll from the Carine shops, on the Duncraig side!

Not quite that close, as we're coming from a few suburbs away. Although in an ideal world we'll be relocating slightly closer in 2017.

 

[anat0l]

Stupid. Car park frenzy. Christmas.

Car park frenzy is perennial; not just Christmas.

Try in Chinatown or Asian suburbs where the parking lots are set up in tight spaces (i.e. not much room to roam and move to parking spots, and parking spots are relatively thin). I've seen punch ups and people being hit or feet being run over with cars.

Sometimes the best approach is to find the most out of the way spot for the place you want to go and park there, because there'll be less frenzy over it. Friends who live nearby is a good idea. Another approach is to be dropped off and picked up, or take public transport.

One might argue that had the old lady had more skill, she could have moved out of the spot easily without hitting the bollard. After all, when one takes their driving test, you have to demonstrate particular skills (e.g. reverse parallel parking) and you can't take the whole day just to do it, even if you are accurate.

Car park frenzy is also related to airport drop off and pick up zone frenzy, though I believe the latter is worse.

 

[Pushka]

Car park frenzy is perennial; not just Christmas.

Try in Chinatown or Asian suburbs where the parking lots are set up in tight spaces (i.e. not much room to roam and move to parking spots, and parking spots are relatively thin). I've seen punch ups and people being hit or feet being run over with cars.

Sometimes the best approach is to find the most out of the way spot for the place you want to go and park there, because there'll be less frenzy over it. Friends who live nearby is a good idea. Another approach is to be dropped off and picked up, or take public transport.

One might argue that had the old lady had more skill, she could have moved out of the spot easily without hitting the bollard. After all, when one takes their driving test, you have to demonstrate particular skills (e.g. reverse parallel parking) and you can't take the whole day just to do it, even if you are accurate.

Car park frenzy is also related to airport drop off and pick up zone frenzy, though I believe the latter is worse.

I avoid skinny car parks like the plague. 18 months in my car and no dents or scratches yet.

Yes agree re her lack of skill but its really stressful when some stupid is breathing down your neck waiting to get in and holding others. Stupid car was a large 4WD. Which is always very handy in suburban shopping centres.

There is a great trick in Adelaide's drop off zone/car park that works a treat.

 

[blackcat20]

I avoid skinny car parks like the plague. 18 months in my car and no dents or scratches yet.

Yes agree re her lack of skill but its really stressful when some stupid is breathing down your neck waiting to get in and holding others. Stupid car was a large 4WD. Which is always very handy in suburban shopping centres.

There is a great trick in Adelaide's drop off zone/car park that works a treat.

I park as far away from the lift as possible in the work carpark and Im still gathering bumps and scratches faster than I can blink. I've had more bumps in 9 months here than the previous 8 years of owning the car (if you exclude the fact people keep running into my car...).

 

[Denali]

I have a personal rule, from the first weekend of December onwards, I DO NOT go to the shopping centres.

Im not going out there again until 2017 - its scary out there

 

[Pushka]

I park as far away from the lift as possible in the work carpark and Im still gathering bumps and scratches faster than I can blink. I've had more bumps in 9 months here than the previous 8 years of owning the car (if you exclude the fact people keep running into my car...).

That really sucks. I have seen a woman leave her trolley next to a column and walk away. Trolley of course takes off and crashes into a car. She saw it happen and drove off so I left her details under the window wipes.
MrP's car is a mass of dings from the people at the gym. They just throw open their doors without a care. Thankfully our local shopping centre has very wide car parks when it was rebuilt recently. Toorak tractors etc.

I have a personal rule, from the first weekend of December onwards, I DO NOT go to the shopping centres.

Im not going out there again until 2017 - its scary out there

I LOVE NATIONAL LAMPOONS CHRISTMAS VACATION. I see it every Christmas Day. Our adult kids hate it!

 

[blackcat20]

That really sucks. I have seen a woman leave her trolley next to a column and walk away. Trolley of course takes off and crashes into a car. She saw it happen and drove off so I left her details under the window wipes.
MrP's car is a mass of dings from the people at the gym. They just throw open their doors without a care. Thankfully our local shopping centre has very wide car parks when it was rebuilt recently. Toorak tractors etc.



I LOVE NATIONAL LAMPOONS CHRISTMAS VACATION. I see it every Christmas Day. Our adult kids hate it!

Parked my car at the gym, got out and noticed a woman attempting to reverse park in the spot beside me. Her aim was terrible and she was headed towards the front of my car so I called out to be careful. Her response? "I have reverse sensors". Mine was "that might be so but you're about to hit my car" and I remained there until I was sure she wasnt going to hit me. One of the gym staff came out to check if everyting was ok; told them that given Id been hit in that carpark before I was making sure it didnt happen again. Problem is this newer technology is making people lazy; she obviously couldnt park and no camera of sensor was going to help with that.

 

[JohnK]

Another train cancellation. That's 3-4 cancellations in the past week.

P.S. How do they know which train I'll catch?

 

[Flashback]

If I was JohnK I'd be complaining I'm stuck at LGW right now due to fog.. But.. Actually, I don't mind as it means a more relaxed start to the day and I can skip my first meeting :mrgreen:

 

[Quickstatus]

I have the 1.9 ltr turbo Polo, has VW Service Centres been changing the fuel filter? (car only gets serviced about once a year -now you have me worried)

Diesel fuel filter is part of VW capped price servicing but the it's about 4 times the size of the Toyota one, and for an engine over two times smaller and only a single turbo rather than the twin for the Toyota. The fuel consumption of golf is 2.5 times less than the Landcruiser

You won't have an issue with the Vw diesel fuel filter as its massively oversized for the car.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Diesel fuel filter is part of VW capped price servicing but the it's about 4 times the size of the Toyota one, and for an engine over two times smaller and only a single turbo rather than the twin for the Toyota. The fuel consumption of golf is 2.5 times less than the Landcruiser

You won't have an issue with the Vw diesel fuel filter as its massively oversized for the car.

The lovely people at Taringa Mercedes were kind enough to only charge us some $278 for the diesel fuel filter on last service for a four year old B200. Given that one can buy same in the U.K. for £19, we have declined their generosity for our next service. Oh yes and they only wanted $110 for a wiper (blade) replacement, and that was for one blade. Found these at $40 per pair online.

I did email the service manager and dealer principal on the issue of their kindness, but received no reply. I thought that was quite rude.