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There is no triumphalism from me although I am happy with the result. It was the realisation that the EU had morphed into something it was never meant to be that led me to believe we were better off out than in. The bitterness this has created is unprecedented and anyone who thinks that the remain side did not lie in their campaign is deluded, both sides did. What I find really sad and worrying is that it has been portrayed as old against young and educated against stupid, it was not and the crowds last night showed there were all age groups and levels. What has filled me with fear is that so many who voted remain are wanting the UK to fail and to split up so they can say told you so, why? I never wanted Labour in power yet I did my best to carry on as normal when they were, yet others are saying they will undermine the UK from within to prove a point. really sad. But the bigger question is why we got here? Watch the program that Ed Balls has just done where he went across the EU to find out why the rise of Far Right parties is rampant. It is because the political elite have ignored the populations fears and not delivered what they need and were promised. It is noble to want to help people overseas but when your own population is unable to afford care or fund education and security properly you get a backlash. This is the void that far right parties fill. Hopefully the Tories deliver what they say they will, if the deliver just half it will transform the North and Midlands and stop people feeling that everything is London Centric. We need to come together, find solutions, enjoy success and stop finger pointing as that will never help. We can build a better future for both sides and the sooner we stop bickering the sooner we will all feel better.

Happy new year to you all. I'm a lucky git and get paid more than I can drink, and trust me I can drink a fair bit ! Since the revelations a couple of years ago that some of the Oxfam "employees" were exploiting victims of an earthquake the Sage and I have been struggling to choose a worthwhile Charity to support. I know that Charity can be an emotive subject and the Sage and I have differing views on who or what to support, we often disagree on the choice of cause. I'm most uncomfortable with the thought of my cash going to the pockets of Charity exec's and fund raisers, and I hate handing cash to homeless folks for fear that it turns into booze or worse, I'm far more comfortable buying them food or a coffee, this then leads me on to where this meandering essay is going. A lot of these folks have a companion animal, the animal didn't get to choose it's circumstance, yet to date I've not seen an animal that didn't look well nourished and loved, the same can't be said for some of the owners ! I read a book last year called "A street cat called Bob" there were a few lines in there that to me highlighted the problems homeless folk have when their animal is ill, barely enough money to feed themselves yet the pet gets fed first, then how do you you find Vet's fees, after all they are up there in the stratosphere along with Solicitors and Dentists. This was brought to a sharper focus a month ago when one of our dopey house rabbits managed to self inflict an open fracture to one of her back legs (ankle), we woke up to blood and a lame bunny looking for somewhere to hide, so a quick dash to our Vet's and we were £67 lighter, then a trip to Pets at Home for a cage to act as indoor hospital ward saw us a further £60 lighter, since the first visit to the Vet's it's been another 3 and more dosh paid out, but hey ho we do love our animals and we can afford it. Our Vet's practice is in Hopwood on the outskirts of Birmingham, they have a collection tin for a Charity called StreetVet, I asked the Vet's nurse "who, what, why, when" she gave me the low down. It would appear that these guys & girls are real life Samaritans, they have regional teams that give up their time for FREE and do MOT's & check-ups and treat / vaccinate companion animals, they also offer a FREE engraved ID disk registered with them, so if the animal gets lost they know who's it is and will get it back to them. Now it impresses me that the volunteer Vet's have got to be supplying the prescription med's for the animals, I can only assume that any cash donations will be funding this..... as you and I can't readily buy such items for them. However StreetVet have an Amazon wish list, each region has their own, and it's painless to use, the donor is one step removed from any "pleading" mailshots and such, as any stuff you've bought just gets delivered to them, so no sign up and no pestering from fund raisers (not that they have any that I know about). So in short..... if I've guilt tripped any of you fellow animal lovers into taking a chance and sending your local StreetVet a gift or two then feel free to mention it to me when we meet and I'll buy you a beer.... after all I get paid more than I can drink. Nem........... https://www.facebook.com/streetvet/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARBWjFrjg2qQl0sFjVdwdsPdH6lz1NLOQnOXhD7ocbjPNMz3QMBmfBHdwdJVyfd6Sv_THZsTj_ekZuAe&hc_ref=ARTAAR-gMpzC-sIjPjallPKsswAmdjvdIPl2W9K8xfL5NyahMJYe4Mkt1ireQJo9dvA&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARDWvOXbhOkR8s8UnP9A0uKOrYm9FBom15KVgaFAgP6oNn5i3nKAsuLy88aggYnVRaK77vgtkSbCATROSN8hT0OwqR0tuGO1X21M9lSk2qhEWZoPAjykckwyEdN91pKrPrCvERPW3icFOp95SF8MiMoOoUSqfieqj09JeL3GZiYgfylHM8hQ54EOenr_iOu66GaCfu7BUnqTAloVZEsBbboY6n1zhfBDa1WsYThodJN68Af_dUFoYeYBV4iSvMGHYW-USJvCDUfNsW6ao0P6cZMPxckQtqbZveJr4UOjeu6V0SX0cuM-35OBzDz18owroAccMEZdfjC8g30Z0wIf-_XZ6BG6_p_8d7LH6CcSj73Fa8WK4DvR9Q

New venue voted by the regulars... Essex Area monthly meet is usually the 2nd Sunday of the month but due to the adverse stormy weather due to hit us on the 9th February we have decided to postpone until next week. So February's Essex monthly meet with be on Sunday 16th February at the Cafe on the Water at the Hanningfield reservoir (Gifford Lane, Downham, Chelmsford CM3 8HX). Meet at 09.00 for breakfast and possibly a run afterwards.

Don't forget, it's our monthly meet this Thursday at the Golden Pheasant, Plumley. 7.30 pm See you there!

In fairness that’s not as lot of help 😁 You need to add which size (width and aspect) as that has a rather big effect on diameter 👍

Who needs valentines....... we shopped for food today..... she says "I'll treat me to these" as she stuffs some flowers into the trolley (the irony being that I pay for the shopping)...... but back to the subject of benzine and oily odours....... I wonder if I could get the Sage to play with my grease gun........ Nem....

It’s all the interest he keeps getting, we’re pushing the price up,

It's on again and the price has gone up! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WESTFIELD-SEW/184155779680?hash=item2ae08a3260:g:s7gAAOSw19JeNYqH Strangely a different e-bay account and a different e-mail address in the picture 😁

As will I , but I can't see the Westy being back on the road by then........................................................

I'll be there

Hoping to be there 😁

Intend to go, but will be late arriving owing to Oscar rugby training. Andy

Hats off.

Everyone makes mistakes in life and hopefully they are minor and in your case not too harmful. For our vehicles the need for friendly, experienced specialists is virtually a necessity and I applaud your attitude to this supplier

you should get an MX5

Absolutely! And if what you really want is just affirmation of a decision already made, then people really need to tell us which choice you'd like us to back!! Would save lots of time and doubt It's like the old forum cliche hear, where someone posts asking for new car recommendations, you know the sort of thing, "I'd like a small lightweight European, mid engined sports car, in black with lots of carbon fibre", they list the two or three choices they've looked at, then get a dozen recommendations for cars that loosely match. Before coming back to announce something like "well after all that, I've bought a chrome plated Mustang with a seven litre big block engine"

My new hobby is playing with wood, I’m currently making Toylander Landrovers with my students at school.