Icy Conditions

[Nick]

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This is the first car anyone can actually remember being stolen on the island

It seems it is a stupid little ned from Glasgow who is working on one of the local fishing boats. The polis asked his boss if he had a job as otherwise they were going to keep him banged up, but sadly his boss said yes and the theiving wee scrote is back out. Apparently he was banging on peoples doors at 2.30 asking for a lift to Connel before he decided to steal a car. He won't give a toss about what he has done, but I hope to bring a claim for expenses in the small claims court once he has been tried and convicted.

The insurance have confirmed that there is no chance of any claim being successful for the car because the keys were in it, but they have said they would pay any for any third party damage such as that to our neighbours' fences if I chose to make a claim. Munros have confirmed that the car is a write-off - I still haven't seen it. And of course the poxy scrappage scheme has resulted in a complete and utter dearth of the sort of motors we usually shop for, so getting another one is going to be matter of some considerable luck. Better send those 20 emails out eh?

The thing that really annoys me is that the car only had 56k on the clock and was good for a couple more years at least. Not a bad £350s worth, but they don't come up very often

Still, no-one hurt and worse things happen at sea. Allegedly.

[aquaplane]

I was wondering how anyone could get away with nicking anything in a small place like that, obviously they don't.

[lady_stormrider]

I fully sympathise Nick. Last summer (coincidentally during the time when we were moored up near yours at the Atlantic Bridge) was when my trusty moped was stolen. She was most likely stolen to order for parts even though she was 10 years old but with one careful lady owner.

I'd had her from new and had a rebuilt engine within 500 miles when an oil pump failed, parts of her superglued by my ex to stop me, vandalised on Preston Bus Station, stolen from my garden in Preston (with two locks on her) - another rebuild and finally stolen from a locked garage with another lock on her.

I nicknamed her Lucky.

My replacement bike is chained in the garage whilst this snow is on the ground. Unfortunately I've lost all my no claims bonus. With all this snow it's a train and a bus to work.

[puddock]

Nick, did the police mention who his "boss" was?
It wasn't a clergyman with a rather ruddy complexion was it?

[jim.r]

Nick, did the police mention who his "boss" was?
It wasn't a clergyman with a rather ruddy complexion was it?

Without wishing to be uncharitable a similar thought had occurred to me.

A wee talking to the the glesca nyaff wi' a couple o' big mates micht pay dividends

[little boy blue]

I hope to bring a claim for expenses in the small claims court once he has been tried and convicted.

sorry to hear of your troubles but i wouldn`t wait for that, he may never be tried and convicted. raise an action immediately, ask the sheriff to grant a warrant for the arrestment of his wages on the dependance and get a writ served on him immediately.

[Nick]

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Wouldn't happen I'm afraid. Happy to do it if you know a good solicitor who will take it on on a no win no fee basis, but as we are looking at a few hundred quid at most I somehow don't see that happening. It's not really the money - I need £500 for a new motor now and that is not a sensible way to go about it. Revenge, remember, is a dish best served cold.

I shall knuckle down to the keyboard and complete a few websites. Going live later today - http://www.tinchurch.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for a B&B based in the tin church here on Seil that was featured on 'Build A New Life In The Country'.

Currently being adapted - http://www.westboundcharters.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which is being modified to become a site for a Sigma 33 available for bareboat charter from Castlebay, Barra - hope to have the bulk of this done later today. Anyone fancy a bareboat charter in the Outer Hebs? If you have a YM qualification or a very good sailing CV you could aim for St. Kilda.

Going live next week - a site for a major flying event in the UK.

So although I am broke the company may be able to stump up a 'new old car' divi. Failing that I am sure a Micawbermobile will materialise. One day I will get a couple of decent contracts and Webcraft will buy a tastefully signwritten Lexus (or Prius?) - but we aren't there yet

[claymore]

Sometimes in life things happen
Sometimes you need to get to Connel and no-one is around to help and so you just need to get inventive. As a sailor you will have needed to get inventive from time to time as things broke or went wrong so you should be able to understand this and empathise a little.

Sometimes when you get inventive you take more on than you realise and the person you accessed the resource from perhaps hadn't had things done like have the brakes fixed or steering adjusted to run in a straight line. Perhaps the resource belonged to a high powered web baron and was just too damned much of a handful

this can result in chaotic and unforseen, unplanned outcomes - remember the original mission was to get to Connel not to totalise the resource.

I hope that helps and improves your day.
Sent in the spirit of one who wishes 20 others well.

[Nick]

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Just to let everyone know - a frightened wee laddie just turned up at our door with a very fulsome apology - which I have accepted - and a promise to never drink again. He is going to look for a car for us and will make a contribution when he gets paid. Quite brave I thought.

[Arghiro]

Having sobered up, I suspect he may have considered the local methods of "serving the dish of cold revenge" and has actually pre-empted you. Nonetheless, it does take courage to do that (even if his boss has probably told him to do it), it is one of the "punishments served up to miscreants convicted of such misdemeanours.

Good luck with finding a replacement, enough people will know you are looking I guess.

BTW, can I have my thread back now?

It snowed an inch or two on top of the ice & it wasn't possible to walk on the road, but I sprinkled ashes & cinders on the drive & road & easily drove up the slope & away this morning. But not before SWMBO had slipped & landed on her bum. Fortunately, plenty of padding there so no damage done, altho' it was a while before I could stop laughing long enough to help her up.

[Nick]

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not before SWMBO had slipped & landed on her bum. Fortunately, plenty of padding there so no damage done

So you are fairly confident she doesn't read this forum then . . .

[aquaplane]

Our street is getting worse, it's still hard packed snow but some twat has been sliding down it on planks. This coolness isn't helping.



The local (treated) roads look very similar to yesterday ie. they haven't been grited again and there is a thin film of snow/slush on but they are passable with care.

The express wizzing through Mirfield station this morning looked good and wintery with the snow cloud following it. I was going to post a picture but bucking fastard photobucket has taken it's bat home and stuck a 404 up me. Now sorted I think
Going:

Gone:


Yon laddie coming to apologise does raise his kudos in my estimation, we are constantly told the scroats don't give a chuff, but it seems not, well not al of them anyway.

[jim.r]

Well done to the wee laddie, we all make mistakes but it takes a big person to admit and apologise.

BTW Claysie's luck has struck .. I've just broken ta front spring and blown out a tyre. Changing a tyre in -7 in snow and ice in a T shirt, in slippers, no socks and no phone is not the way forward! Then driving to the garage at 5mph and walking home in snow in aforesaid t-shirt and slippers does get you funny looks!

[Telo]

Well done to the wee laddie, we all make mistakes but it takes a big person to admit and apologise.

Well said Jim. It won't get the original car back, but it may well have been the wake up call that the young man needed. I hope he gets over it, and, together with Nick, finds a decent wee runner.

[Mark]

Just to let everyone know - a frightened wee laddie just turned up at our door with a very fulsome apology - which I have accepted - and a promise to never drink again. He is going to look for a car for us and will make a contribution when he gets paid. Quite brave I thought.

Respect to the lad, that took bottle and was the decent thing to do.

Mind you, as a follower of the banganomics strategy of motor transport myself, I appreciate that finding another decent cheap car is going to be a PITA chore out of all proportion to the monetary worth of the original car.

Another crime: I was looking through the local papers for 1944 this xmas. As you do. I didn't find what I was looking for but I did happen upon the heart breaking story of two lads of 14 in court for stealing a tin of pineapple from an American Airbase. I think they were let off with a verbal b*ll*cking by an understanding magistrate. Imagine being so desperate for tinned pineapple that you steal it.