The Good News Only - thread...

[briantrumpet]

At such low mileage, would it not be cheaper and less hassle just to hire a car when need, or, even use taxi?

That's almost certainly what I'll do (or see if I can do an informal car share) when this one eventually dies. Taxi would be impractical, as the only times I do use it are getting to relatively distant rural locations for concerts, out in the afternoon, back late at night. It works out about £1.50 per mile all in, which still isn't too bad especially as the fixed costs are spread over so few miles.

If they restart a local car sharing club (the old one went bust at the start of the Ukraine war), that'd be the best way to go.

 

[Mr Celine]

My 23-year-old Nissan Almera sailed through its MOT, having done a grand total of 514 miles this year. And I found somewhere to park it in Topsham until I next need it. Maybe in October.

The Nissan Almera was famously advertised as 'the car they don't want you to drive'. Whoever 'they' were appear to have succeeded.

 

[briantrumpet]

The Nissan Almera was famously advertised as 'the car they don't want you to drive'. Whoever 'they' were appear to have succeeded.

It's boring AF (my Renault Clio, which got to 180k miles was much more fun, despite its much smaller engine), but when my I asked my petrolhead friend whether I should buy it (for £700 at 80k miles), he said yes straight away, as the worst common problems were things like window winder handles coming off. My only annoyance is the front windows being electric, as I'd rather have manual in such a basic car.

 

[Pinno718]

Dual-circuit brakes mean that catastrophic failure is highly unlikely.

All brake systems have duality but if the fronts went, imagine going down a hill at 35mph on your bike with suddenly only a rear brake.

 

[All uphill]

I can't find the link now, but apparently those of us with smart electricity meters are likely to get free leccy at weekends during summer because of a surplus in the network from solar and nuclear.

Son in NL is pissed off about this because their solution is to make you pay to put your electrons from solar into the grid.

 

[UglyWithaSidePart]

I can't find the link now, but apparently those of us with smart electricity meters are likely to get free leccy at weekends during summer because of a surplus in the network from solar and nuclear.

Son in NL is pissed off about this because their solution is to make you pay to put your electrons from solar into the grid.

Those of us on Octopus Agile have been getting this for years, just last week I was getting paid 14p per unit I used👍

 

[The Crofted Crest]

Son in NL is pissed off about this because their solution is to make you pay to put your electrons from solar into the grid.

He should change operator. Not all are charging at the moment.

 

[Pblakeney]

Cool!


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wM-GjTyCvOc

 

[briantrumpet]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g84nxwz8wo

"A vaccine during pregnancy which protects newborns against nasty chest infections is cutting hospital admissions of babies by more than 80%, UK health officials say."

 

[briantrumpet]

Apparently, skylarks, linnets and yellowhammers like solar farms.

https://www.ecoportal.net/en/solar-panels-attract-birds-in-england/20562/

 

[C R]

Elephants defend themselves against millionaire big game hunter

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/24/millionaire-hunter-dies-elephants-gabon

I must admit I was reading the piece thinking of this song. "Alégrame el día, torero" (Bullfighter, make my day - by getting gored).


View: https://youtu.be/0_VBBI63V1U?si=ITQQdcesE9N2mhCw

 

[Pross]

Such a shame.

 

[briantrumpet]

Sure, a biodegradable bamboo-based plastic that compares favourably with oil-based plastic is great in theory, but where are the Chinese going to source all that bamboo from?

One for @First Aspect's scrutiny, as there are some long words in the reports.

https://phys.org/news/2025-10-bamboo-based-plastic-biodegrade-quickly.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63904-2

 

[BoldonLad]

Sure, a biodegradable bamboo-based plastic that compares favourably with oil-based plastic is great in theory, but where are the Chinese going to source all that bamboo from?

One for @First Aspect's scrutiny, as there are some long words in the reports.

https://phys.org/news/2025-10-bamboo-based-plastic-biodegrade-quickly.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63904-2

That's an easy one. Plant a small "patch" of bamboo in your garden, in a year or two all of your neighbours gardens will be overgrown with the stuff. 😂 Plenty to harvest from what used to be your neighbours lawn, and, no grass to cut, win-win.

 

[briantrumpet]

That's an easy one. Plant a small "patch" of bamboo in your garden, in a year or two all of your neighbours gardens will be overgrown with the stuff. 😂 Plenty to harvest from what used to be your neighbours lawn, and, no grass to cut, win-win.

IIRC, there have been court cases resulting from 'undeclared bamboo' growth that has undermined buildings that have been sold, the buyer being unaware at the point of sale.