WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Tizer]

Two National Grid men on our doorstep this morning to tell us our power will be off from 9.00am to 4.00pm on Thursday because `old wiring has to be replaced' in the local substation. Houses locally have been reporting loss of power so it might mean more than just the wiring in the substation! Infrastructure here is in a bad way but the problem is compounded by all the large new housing estates. Local GP surgeries have said they won't be able to take on any more people as patients and new people moving to this town will have try to find GPs in another town. No doubt GPs in the other towns will then suffer the same problem. The same problem will arise with dentists - already we don't have enough.

[Big Kev]

Same here re doctors and dentists. I consider myself very lucky to have medical insurance with my job. I made use of it yesterday, a bank holiday, made an appointment online at 12:30, video consultation at 13:15, online prescription issued and drugs collected by 14:30. It was an infected insect bite on my elbow, incredibly painful but it's feeling much better now

[Stanley]

They did a big exercise at our local sub-station, the red brick building next to the fire station. Replacing old cables. The old cables were almost 100 years old....

THIS got my attention!
1 hour ago
At first glance, the potter wasp appears to be riding a broomstick. But this industrious insect isn't flying back to stir its witch's cauldron, or playing Quidditch. It's carrying a caterpillar – prey to feed its young. It was captured by macro wildlife photographer Bidyut Kalita and was among the highly commended entries in this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The winning images will be announced on 14 October, followed by an exhibition at the Natural History Museum, showcasing 100 standout photographs from around the world. Scroll down to explore other highly commended works from the competition.

[Tizer]

I'm glad this test was successful otherwise they might have lost 96 big trucks, 96 drivers and what had briefly been the world's tallest bridge!...
`Watch: World's tallest bridge completes key load-bearing test' LINK

[Stanley]

I saw THIS BBC report....
A Scottish monument to Victorian grandeur, Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum has long been in need of redevelopment. Now back on the market, can a buyer be found - and will they satisfy community demands? The former Hebridean hunting lodge has gone back on the market after a previous potential sale collapsed in a row between a millionaire businessman and a Scottish government minister. Owned by Scottish government agency NatureScot, which also manages most of the island, the vacant castle is said to be in a poor state of repair and is on sale for offers over £750,000. Businessman Jeremy Hosking withdrew a bid for the castle two years ago, blaming the Scottish Greens' Lorna Slater - who was biodiversity minister at the time - for his decision. Slater had put the sale on hold after Isle of Rum Community Trust raised concerns. The island, which has a population of about 40 people, is the largest of the Small Isles south of Skye.
Kinloch Castle was built between 1897 and 1900 as a hunting lodge for Lancastrian industrialist George Bullough, who had it luxuriously furnished. It is the only example of a house designed by Leeming and Leeming, London-based architects specialising in commercial and municipal properties. Bullough owned the firm bearing his name in Accrington which made tape sizing machines. (LINK)

[Big Kev]

The customer service, provided by my local garage here in Foulridge. A warning light came on for a failed 'daytime running light' bulb in the Yeti, an easy fix I thought. The bulb is inaccessible if you have hands the size of shovels so I booked it in with someone who has considerably smaller hands. Got a call an hour after dropping it off, turns out the bulb had just come loose in the holder, no charge for sorting it. I bought a small selection of pork pies and sausage rolls, which were still warm, from the butchers on my way back to collect as payment. A good result all round

[Stanley]

Nice to hear of someone caring more about service than making money. And nice to hear of someone who values the effort!

[Wendyf]

The customer service, provided by my local garage here in Foulridge. A warning light came on for a failed 'daytime running light' bulb in the Yeti, an easy fix I thought. The bulb is inaccessible if you have hands the size of shovels so I booked it in with someone who has considerably smaller hands. Got a call an hour after dropping it off, turns out the bulb had just come loose in the holder, no charge for sorting it. I bought a small selection of pork pies and sausage rolls, which were still warm, from the butchers on my way back to collect as payment. A good result all round

Which garage is that Kev? I'm looking for recommendations now Col can't do the work on our vehicles. My diesel Panda is showing 2 faults which need sorting but Col goes into a total meltdown if I suggest taking it to a garage! He thinks I will be ripped off.

[Big Kev]

Which garage is that Kev? I'm looking for recommendations now Col can't do the work on our vehicles. My diesel Panda is showing 2 faults which need sorting but Col goes into a total meltdown if I suggest taking it to a garage! He thinks I will be ripped off.

Noyna Garage on Warehouse Lane. They are very good and upfront, they certainly won't rip you off. Ask for Andrew and say Kevin with the Yeti sent you

Do you know what the faults are?

[Wendyf]

When we bought it two years ago it showed an amber warning light. The garage we bought it from reset it and said it was OK but it soon came back. The problem is with the oil pressure sensor and Col has tried various things but it keeps returning, Before he got ill he had ordered what he believes is the correct replacement sensor butcdidnt get chance to fit it. The second warning popped up in June, the Stop Start was no longer working and the ECU says to Check Engine. He fitted a new battery but that hasn't cleared the fault. He also thinks that he didn't put the correct oil in the last time he drained it down.
I haven't driven it since the beginning of July and now have a petrol 900cc Panda Twinair as well, but its nowhere near as much fun as the diesel which is more powerful!

[Big Kev]

I have an odb2 scanner that'll read the error codes, if you go to the garage armed with those it'll save time on their diagnostics. If they have room you may be able to leave it there and they can work on it when they have opportunity (they're always very busy).

[Wendyf]

Col has a scanner Kev.

[Big Kev]

Col has a scanner Kev.

I had a feeling he would have.

[Stanley]

Lovely to see you two helping each other. Reading the conversation it is quite obvious to me that I am totally out of date with vehicle maintenance!
I wish you the best of luck Wendy and please give Col, my best wishes. He is constantly in my thoughts....