On Fri, 12 Nov 2021 18:50:26 -0800 (PST), Stephen Packer
<stephen.packer@gmail.com> wrote:

>> > I drive a truck for a couple of mornings a week. And I'm currently
>> > learning to drive a bus. Turns out I don't need much money nowadays.
>> > Life is so much relaxed than the last 5 years (at least) of my full-on
>> > IT professional life

>> I've considerd the PSV licence thing.

>I could understand a truck. But a bus?
>
>Fuck that, I'd have to talk to people. Shudder.

I'm actually quite looking forward to the people thing. The
conversations are a) pretty short and b) primarily transactional

V reckons I'll be good at that bit :-)
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On Fri, 12 Nov 2021 14:20:55 -0800 (PST), WUN <nigel.eaton@gmail.com>
wrote:

>On Friday, November 12, 2021 at 9:07:32 PM UTC, Champ wrote:

>> I'm currently learning to drive a bus.

>Mate... Mate... (How to put this delicately?). I remember being ferried from the
>pub back to Snetterton in Sweller's Sherpa, with you at the wheel.
>
>Are you *sure* about this?

heh

That journey I would have been off duty :-)

For reference, one of the full-time drivers with Bus Vannin is a
certain Richard Quayle [1] [2]

[1] https://www.iomtt.com/tt-database/competitors?ride_id=4383
[2] better known as 'Milky'
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On 13 Nov 2021 13:45:21 GMT, Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com>
wrote:

>But here they have to pay for their own training (about 15000€, I
>believe).

Bus Vannin are paying for my training, and the test. But that will
run to a few hundred quid, not thousands
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On Sat, 13 Nov 2021 02:01:59 -0000, petrolcan <petrolcan@gmail.com>
wrote:

>In article <rnltogho0adml262tt0n7rj5pdpkl3aa2v@4ax.com>,
>Champ says...
>
>> And I'm currently learning to drive a bus.

>Genuinely why?

I'm semi-retired, but want to have a few casual options I can use so I
don't dip into my pension as much as I would if I was just living off
that.

The IoM bus company have full time drivers (which I definitely don't
want to do), but also operate a bank of casual drivers, who get a
phone call when they have a shift needing cover. Turns out if you're
on bank you'll get a few calls every week - but can of course say
"no". Seems ideal to me.
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On 13 Nov 2021 14:01:11 GMT, Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com>
wrote:

>>> Having said that, I want a Cordoba C12 and can't afford it now.
>> Is that some kind of SEAT?

>https://www.thomann.de/es/cordoba_c12_cedar.htm?ref=prod_variations_216778_2

*nice*

I went into a guitar shop in London this last weekend, and very nearly
came out with one of these
https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_slg200s_tbs.htm

I've absolutely no justification for it, apart from the "Wow - cool"
factor. But what better reason is there?
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On 16/11/2021 16:37, Champ wrote:
> On 13 Nov 2021 14:01:11 GMT, Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>>> Having said that, I want a Cordoba C12 and can't afford it now.
>
>>> Is that some kind of SEAT?
>
>> https://www.thomann.de/es/cordoba_c12_cedar.htm?ref=prod_variations_216778_2
>
> *nice*
>
> I went into a guitar shop in London this last weekend, and very nearly
> came out with one of these
> https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_slg200s_tbs.htm
>
> I've absolutely no justification for it, apart from the "Wow - cool"
> factor. But what better reason is there?

I find that I have just purchased
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165167763548. I have also gained forgiveness
from SWMBO.

In article <16n7pgh2v69mft3qhk6q7i9mlg5lpjaq7o@4ax.com>,
Champ says...
>
> On Sat, 13 Nov 2021 02:01:59 -0000, petrolcan <petrolcan@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >In article <rnltogho0adml262tt0n7rj5pdpkl3aa2v@4ax.com>,
> >Champ says...
> >
> >> And I'm currently learning to drive a bus.
>
> >Genuinely why?
>
> I'm semi-retired, but want to have a few casual options I can use so I
> don't dip into my pension as much as I would if I was just living off
> that.
>
> The IoM bus company have full time drivers (which I definitely don't
> want to do), but also operate a bank of casual drivers, who get a
> phone call when they have a shift needing cover. Turns out if you're
> on bank you'll get a few calls every week - but can of course say
> "no". Seems ideal to me.

I forgot you were on the IOM actually and con now see part
of the appeal.

On 16/11/2021 23:34, Mike Fleming wrote:
>
> I find that I have just purchased
> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165167763548. I have also gained forgiveness
> from SWMBO.

If that's any good, that looks like a bargain.

Apart from the obvious defect of it having too many strings, of course.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

On Wed, 17 Nov 2021 01:46:59 +0000, Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:

>On 16/11/2021 23:34, Mike Fleming wrote:
>>
>> I find that I have just purchased
>> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165167763548. I have also gained forgiveness
>> from SWMBO.

>If that's any good, that looks like a bargain.
>
>Apart from the obvious defect of it having too many strings, of course.

I thought it had a lot of strings for a bass, too :-)
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On 17/11/2021 06:33, Champ wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Nov 2021 01:46:59 +0000, Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:
>
>> On 16/11/2021 23:34, Mike Fleming wrote:
>>>
>>> I find that I have just purchased
>>> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165167763548. I have also gained forgiveness
>>> from SWMBO.
>
>> If that's any good, that looks like a bargain.
>>
>> Apart from the obvious defect of it having too many strings, of course.
>
> I thought it had a lot of strings for a bass, too :-)

Most of mine are five-strings, plus a couple of six-strings, a
seven-string, one ten-string (a five-string with octave strings like a
12-string guitar) and a Mobius Megatar 12-string which I really should
try to master sometime.

I'm putting off the Great Re-stringing. Might need a pension draw-down
for that.

On 17/11/2021 16:50, Mike Fleming wrote:
> On 17/11/2021 06:33, Champ wrote:
>> On Wed, 17 Nov 2021 01:46:59 +0000, Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Apart from the obvious defect of it having too many strings, of course.
>>
>> I thought it had a lot of strings for a bass, too :-)
>
> Most of mine are five-strings, plus a couple of six-strings, a
> seven-string, one ten-string (a five-string with octave strings like a
> 12-string guitar) and a Mobius Megatar 12-string which I really should
> try to master sometime.

I used to be half-competent with just four strings, but many years
without practice has lost much of that. Any more than four would be
wasted on me.

> I'm putting off the Great Re-stringing. Might need a pension draw-down
> for that.

Surely they wouldn't all need doing at once, would they?

Alternatively: I used to boil my strings to get some more life out of
them, back when I was a cheapskate that couldn't afford new ones.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

On 17/11/2021 17:23, Eddie wrote:
> On 17/11/2021 16:50, Mike Fleming wrote:
>> On 17/11/2021 06:33, Champ wrote:
>>> On Wed, 17 Nov 2021 01:46:59 +0000, Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Apart from the obvious defect of it having too many strings, of course.
>>>
>>> I thought it had a lot of strings for a bass, too :-)
>>
>> Most of mine are five-strings, plus a couple of six-strings, a
>> seven-string, one ten-string (a five-string with octave strings like a
>> 12-string guitar) and a Mobius Megatar 12-string which I really should
>> try to master sometime.
>
> I used to be half-competent with just four strings, but many years
> without practice has lost much of that. Any more than four would be
> wasted on me.
>
>> I'm putting off the Great Re-stringing. Might need a pension draw-down
>> for that.
>
> Surely they wouldn't all need doing at once, would they?

I doubt it. I don't change them that often anyway. But if I did...

> Alternatively: I used to boil my strings to get some more life out of
> them, back when I was a cheapskate that couldn't afford new ones.

I've tried that. Didn't work.

On 17/11/2021 18:42, Mike Fleming wrote:
> On 17/11/2021 17:23, Eddie wrote:
>> On 17/11/2021 16:50, Mike Fleming wrote:
>>
>>> I'm putting off the Great Re-stringing. Might need a pension
>>> draw-down for that.
>>
>> Surely they wouldn't all need doing at once, would they?
>
> I doubt it. I don't change them that often anyway. But if I did...

Have you ever worked it out, just to see?

>> Alternatively: I used to boil my strings to get some more life out of
>> them, back when I was a cheapskate that couldn't afford new ones.
>
> I've tried that. Didn't work.

Heh. Yeah, that's what I decided eventually.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

Mike Fleming wrote:
> a couple of six-strings

Where did you buy your first real one ?

On Wed, 17 Nov 2021 16:50:16 +0000, Mike Fleming <mike@tauzero.co.uk>
wrote:

>>>> I find that I have just purchased
>>>> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165167763548. I have also gained forgiveness
>>>> from SWMBO.

>>> Apart from the obvious defect of it having too many strings, of course.
>> I thought it had a lot of strings for a bass, too :-)

>Most of mine are five-strings, plus a couple of six-strings, a
>seven-string, one ten-string (a five-string with octave strings like a
>12-string guitar) and a Mobius Megatar 12-string which I really should
>try to master sometime.

Blimey

>I'm putting off the Great Re-stringing. Might need a pension draw-down
>for that.

Yersh. Bass strings are expensive, aren't they
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On Thu, 18 Nov 2021 08:51:31 +0000, Sqirrel99
<secret.sqirrel99@gmail.com> wrote:

>Mike Fleming wrote:
>> a couple of six-strings
>
>Where did you buy your first real one ?

The Five and Dime, presumably?

As an aside, apparently the "69" in that song was never supposed to be
about the year 1969.

--
Ace
http://www.chaletbeauroc.com/

On 17/11/2021 21:02, Eddie wrote:
> On 17/11/2021 18:42, Mike Fleming wrote:
>> On 17/11/2021 17:23, Eddie wrote:
>>> On 17/11/2021 16:50, Mike Fleming wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm putting off the Great Re-stringing. Might need a pension
>>>> draw-down for that.
>>>
>>> Surely they wouldn't all need doing at once, would they?
>>
>> I doubt it. I don't change them that often anyway. But if I did...
>
> Have you ever worked it out, just to see?

A quick look round this room - 84 strings of bass, 12 of electric
guitar, 18 of steel acoustic guitar, 6 of nylon acoustic, one set of
double bass strings at £eek!, and 9 bass uke rubber strings. There's 6
and 12-string acoustics and another few basses upstairs.

>>> Alternatively: I used to boil my strings to get some more life out of
>>> them, back when I was a cheapskate that couldn't afford new ones.
>>
>> I've tried that. Didn't work.
>
> Heh. Yeah, that's what I decided eventually.

I think I also tried with assorted chemicals. Still didn't work.

On 18/11/2021 08:51, Sqirrel99 wrote:
> Mike Fleming wrote:
>> a couple of six-strings
>
> Where did you buy your first real one ?

It would have been about the summer of 1969, when I'd decided I needed
one more than the classical guitar I kept borrowing from my brother.
Then I joined a Glenn Miller tribute band, but Jimmy quit, and Jody got
married after getting in trouble.

On 18/11/2021 11:02, Champ wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Nov 2021 16:50:16 +0000, Mike Fleming <mike@tauzero.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> I'm putting off the Great Re-stringing. Might need a pension draw-down
>> for that.
>
> Yersh. Bass strings are expensive, aren't they

Cheap compared to double bass -
https://www.thestringzone.co.uk/helicore-double-bass-strings-set

I've got a second-hand set of those on the EUB, still cost me £50 or so.

Ace wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Nov 2021 08:51:31 +0000, Sqirrel99
> <secret.sqirrel99@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Mike Fleming wrote:
>>> a couple of six-strings
>> Where did you buy your first real one ?
>
> The Five and Dime, presumably?
>
> As an aside, apparently the "69" in that song was never supposed to be
> about the year 1969.

That depends on which of the co-authors you give more credence to...
Adams says he meant the sexual connotation, Jimmy Valence says he just
intended it to be the year.

On 18/11/2021 12:38, Mike Fleming wrote:
> On 18/11/2021 11:02, Champ wrote:
>>
>> Yersh.  Bass strings are expensive, aren't they
>
> Cheap compared to double bass -
> https://www.thestringzone.co.uk/helicore-double-bass-strings-set

Blimey. I'm sure I paid less than that for my first bass. (Back in the
mid-80's, so not adjusted for inflation.)

> I've got a second-hand set of those on the EUB, still cost me £50 or so.

I didn't realise second-hand strings were a "thing", but I suppose when
they cost that much it makes sense.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

On 18/11/2021 12:33, Mike Fleming wrote:
> On 17/11/2021 21:02, Eddie wrote:
>>
>> Have you ever worked it out, just to see?
>
> A quick look round this room - 84 strings of bass, 12 of electric
> guitar, 18 of steel acoustic guitar, 6 of nylon acoustic, one set of
> double bass strings at £eek!, and 9 bass uke rubber strings. There's 6
> and 12-string acoustics and another few basses upstairs.

Yikes.

Never mind the expense, just think of the man-hours involved to restring
all that lot.

>>>> Alternatively: I used to boil my strings to get some more life out
>>>> of them, back when I was a cheapskate that couldn't afford new ones.
>>>
>>> I've tried that. Didn't work.
>>
>> Heh. Yeah, that's what I decided eventually.
>
> I think I also tried with assorted chemicals. Still didn't work.

You're meant to put the chemicals in with the strings, not ingest them
yourself.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

On Thu, 18 Nov 2021 12:36:02 +0000, Mike Fleming <mike@tauzero.co.uk>
wrote:

>On 18/11/2021 08:51, Sqirrel99 wrote:
>> Mike Fleming wrote:
>>> a couple of six-strings
>>
>> Where did you buy your first real one ?

>It would have been about the summer of 1969, when I'd decided I needed
>one more than the classical guitar I kept borrowing from my brother.
>Then I joined a Glenn Miller tribute band, but Jimmy quit, and Jody got
>married after getting in trouble.

<applause>

Brilliantly done :-)
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On 18 Nov 2021 14:27:52 GMT, "sweller" <sweller@mztech.fsnet.co.uk>
wrote:

>Mike Fleming wrote:
>
>> > Yersh. Bass strings are expensive, aren't they
>> Cheap compared to double bass -
>> https://www.thestringzone.co.uk/helicore-double-bass-strings-set

>I've had cheaper motorbikes!

So have I!
<not adjusted for inflation>
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

Champ wrote:

> >> Cheap compared to double bass -
> >> https://www.thestringzone.co.uk/helicore-double-bass-strings-set
>
> > I've had cheaper motorbikes!
>
> So have I!
> <not adjusted for inflation>

[fx: recalculates to take account of inflation]

I've had cheaper motorbikes!

--
Simon