pinkpanther

this was the situation a few days ago: https://x.com/AttenboroughNR/status/1742842559230054864?s=20

A few from Attenborough nature reserve. Lots of detritus from recent flooding, but glad to see the place appears to be large intact ................

Tyres (& and the ability of the driver) probably key factors, although what a great video from an advertising perspective 👍

From Car Magazine's long-term review of the Twin Air Panda (I'm back researching possible future purchases). I used to buy both Car Magazine and Top Gear back in the day, primarily for the purposes of reading these articles. Sad to say, in my view, the current crop of Car Magazines aren't worth anything beyond brief on-line perusal. Month 5: running a Fiat Panda: 'the Panda stands up well to a careless shunt' There’s a sublime episode of Father Ted in which he and Dougal attempt to tap out the smallest of dings on a car donated for a raffle prize. Of course, being Ted and Dougal, they end up flaying the whole thing into an exquisitely and entirely delaminated construct. Despite not being entirely convinced by the Panda’s ‘squircle’-infested styling, I’m fairly certain that little positive rectification would be achieved by similarly attacking it with a large lump of metal. Though someone had other ideas because – alas – the poor Panda has been subjected to a savage and unsolicited assault by a Blue Rinse Biddie-aimed battering-ram shaped much like a Volkswagen Polo. Minding my own business one cheery, I-am-bloody-NOT-listening-to-Tony-Blackburn-so-it’ll-have-to-be-Radio-4 Saturday afternoon, I tailed said Polo into a garden centre car park, whereupon it exited, stage left. I was just considering where to park up when the VW reappeared, at ramming speed, on my port bow. There was to be no windscreen-cracking, cursing co-pilot-accompanied barrel-rolling here, however. It was more like a low impact-speed Lambada, the cars thrust together in grinding embrace, pirouetting through a graunching, graceless 90-degree before coming to a standstill. No one was hurt, and no airbags were deployed in the pile-up. Almost a pity, that; let me explain. Years ago, Saab hosted an ice-driving time trial for a motley crew of international hacks. Happily, the British team’s chances were vastly improved (as he himself pointed out) by the presence of the most pompous, obnoxious Frenchman I have ever met. Fat cigar protruding from fat head, he insisted on going first. Ahhh, the collective power of thought. Willed into mishap by the combined might of miffed English minds, he never made it round the first bend. He assaulted the adjacent snow bank with sufficient vim to set off the airbag, which duly smeared myriad chunks of red-hot Monte Cristo all over his smug chops. No Englishman dodged the gentle indignity of having just a whiff of wee escape into his smalls that afternoon. Ever since, I’ve wondered what an airbag in the face must feel like. Anyway, although the Polo pilot (somewhat ironically hunting for the hospital next door, it transpired) was sufficiently shaken, she also proved sufficiently compos mentis not to admit liability. The VW certainly bested the Fiat, pushing the whole front suspension assembly backwards far enough to jam the tyre solidly against the rear of the wheel arch, making it undriveable. For only the second time in my life I came to experience the three most disheartening consequences of an injury-free accident: the appalling, extended ‘baaaang’ of crumpling metal served with a garnish of tinkling trim; the sudden metamorphosis of man’s only freedom into an immoveable hunk of costly junk and the dread, out-of-cigarettes wait for the rescue services. The AA was, of course, superb. Until it wasn’t. Some two hours after the quoted deadline had expired, precisely the low-loader I’d suggested would be useless lumbered up. Moving at the speed of lard, the operative first attempted to drive the Panda (wince) before deploying every plastic wedge in his armoury to painstakingly scrape it aboard. My last stogie long since smoked and a bottle of Famous Grouse now positively bellowing for attention from my larder, it… took… an… eternity. And to add insult to lack of injury, the AA operative even stopped on the way home to buy himself something to eat. And the lessons to be learned from this sorry tale? Take sandwiches and a good book everywhere; don’t bite the nice AA man; and never, ever build a hospital next door to a garden centre. By Anthony ffrench-Constant (©️)

Glorious sky tonight - hand held only though (too cold to linger with the tripod 🥶).

Just tried this - have to say the sound quality on Internet radio is significantly improved on DAB+ broadcasts. Bit of a faff to set up though, so back to patchy DAB listening (as a consequence of interference from my Dashcam's WiFi signal - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/516540-dashcam-install-has-killed-dab/) for me🤨

Our 2023 1.5 SE L came with the reversible boot mat, although this does little to quieten the car at speed

This echoes my recent experience My 2023 Karoq 1.5 TSi SE L has not met expectations, so I was looking to move it on and just a few months back it was valued at circa £24k, whereas it's current valuation is just over £18k. The car was £29.5k when new, so at 3 months old the quoted P Ex / value offered as a straight sale was effectively purchase price minus VAT. This correction applies across the board and will eventually trickle down to the prices asked for used cars, but given how many dealers are financed they simply cannot slash many thousands of their used stock and hope to stay in business. I noticed the new price of the same model has risen considerably, which combined with rising finance interest rates will no doubt impact new car sales ?

A couple for yesterday's visits to Idle Valley and Danes Hill nature reserves...

Cold and crisp at Rufford Park this evening 🥶

My Yeti -> Karoq transition has not gone especially well. I'll locate previous posts on the subject and will post them up (when I have access to a PC)

Lovely afternoon at Clumber - mist descended at 4pm..............

Never had the opportunity - will keep an eye out 👍

It is, although it's currently closed, possibly on a permanent basis. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-67619107

Glorious here this afternoon - mustn't grumble given its the middle of winter 😁

Stunning 👌 The last time I drove through there (in my sadly missed Shark mapped Yeti) it was the early hours and I came across a family of Deer right by the road.

In Elizabeth of Shrewsbury's kitchen....

Visited the Belton House Christmas Light Trail this evening.......... 20231228_174003.mp4

Used prices have taken a distinct nose-dive recently (and the cost of a new one has risen.

As previously mentioned - each to their own 👍 This car was my first ever factory order, so opted to spend the cash saved on paint (I went for free solid blue) on Winter Pack+. Must admit we use the heated seats (front and rear) and steering wheel pretty much every day. The heated screen was excellent in the recent cold, so I can well understand the decision to retrofit 👍

I have the same car and agree it's not especially quiet at speed. I was hopeful a recent switch to Michelin all-season tyres would help, but sadly not the case. I've also noticed several rattles have recently become evident, mainly from drivers door, drivers side dashboard and boot/parcel shelf area. I too was considering bailing out, but following a recent visit to the supplying dealer (and several online valuations confirming a large drop in part-ex price) this option no longer appears economically viable.

Very bright Moon last night and Ford predictably full🌊

Lovely (? full) Moon still visible this morning..............

Would be a great option, but I'm rarely, if ever, a rear seat passenger😉

The X350 generation is a little more roomy than the earlier cars, although rear leg room is no comparison with a Superb. I had always wanted an XK8, but very cramped inside, to the point of being impractical (for me). After so many glorious cars it's painful to consider Jaguar now only make SUV's😒