Soop Dogg

I think you might be trying a bit hard to make more out of her choice of words than is really necessary there!

Take a look at Interwave Global. They are in the business of "tracking of cell phones via GPS and Cells. Information via data and satelite maps." Could be something to do with one of their products?

Brown calls woman 'bigoted' on microphone Clang!

(Hopefully not a repost!)

Of course the OP could save money by doing some of the work himself, but the question was whether or not £500 sounds ok for the list of tasks he posted. I'd say that providing the work is done to a high standard, then £500 isn't out of the way at all. Not cheap, but not the most expensive I've heard either. You generally get what you pay for and I'd think you want it done well. Ultimately, you could save almost the whole amount and do it yourself, but that's the answer to another question.

Great result for Johnny Rea. Some great passes there. But what is Foggy thinking when he said that Toseland left him a 'fair bit of room' when Rea passed him in the first race - he was almost on the grass! The other people in the studio pointed out it was a great pass and Foggy says, 'Well that's his job'. I guess it isn't JTs job to NOT get passed then? (Sorry - I think Foggy's a kn0b!) Fingers crossed the Brit boys can keep this for going. Hoping Camier does better next time too.

Sorry - can't leave my post here and keep a clear conscience!

It's a Northern Ireland plate. (Note the 'Northern' - you can't transfer a Republic of Ireland plate to the UK) Chris's 'IIL' prefix plate originated from the Enniskillen licensing office in County Fermanagh. You mention that you would have considered this to have been an Irish or a 'private' plate, but as I said earlier, even a 'private' plate had to start out as a normal registration number and as such had to be part of the existing sequence of numbers being issued.

As far as I'm concerned, there's really no such thing as a 'Private' or 'Personalised' plate as all registration numbers issued in the UK were first issued simply as the next sequential number to the one before it. Pre 1963ish, the numbers issued consisted of just 3 letters and a number from 1 to 999. There wasn't any 'year' letter prefixing or suffixing the plate to denote the year of issue. The 3 letters denoted the licencing office. After 1963, they introduced a year suffix letter, starting at 'A', so you could see numbers such as ABC 123A, followed in 1964 by the suffix letter 'B' and so on. Suffix letters of 'I', 'O', 'Q', 'U', and 'Z' weren't used. Once this number system ran out of numbers in 1982, they swapped the year related letter to a prefix, so you got A123 ABC and so on. Since 2001 we've had the current system. No numbers were issued in response to someone making up a number and asking for it to be created. You could only get a number if it was within the sequential system and hadn't been issued for whatever reason, or in later years because DVLA realised they could make money from plates that could be seen as 'personal' to some people and retained numbers with single digits, or multiples of the same number (111,222 etc) Of course, you the other way to get one of these numbers is to transfer it from someone selling a number you fancy. (One that's already been issued) I think the term 'cherished number' is more accurate as it's been bought by the owner and it means something to them, so they transfer it from vehicle to vehicle over the years. No numbers a truly 'personalised' in the sense of being created just for a particular reason. I guess you could call a number 'private' once it has been bought by someone, but initially it was available to everyone, so in effect was created just as any other sequential number. Generally (apart form plates that contain a name etc) the older the number, the more expensive it is, particularly if it is from the pre-1963 numbering system as they didn't have any year-notation on them. (no prefix or suffix letter) We currently have 3 cherished numbers, 2 in use and one on retention. I had a 4th, but sold it 2 weeks ago.

The story of the BA 747 that unknowingly flew through a volcanic ash cloud is on channel 5 at 12:10 today. Very interesting program - not to mention scary! Shows how bad it could be. Worth Sky+'ing it.

Sorry - it's just some of the magazines pi$$ me off with the things they say about the running costs. Mine's an auto, but the 6spd manual that came with us to Italy last year (hooning around the Stelvio Pass etc) it averaged over 30mpg for the whole 3,000 mile trip! I got about 27.6 and thought that was ok as we weren't hanging around for much of the trip. Economy wasn't the object - we were driving to enjoy ourselves - and we certainly did that!

You winding us up?

Yes, really. Why - you been reading the cr@p spouted in the motoring press? First major service not until 100,000 miles. Until then, servicing costs me about £100 to £120 a time. I average around 23 to 24 mpg driving around the suburbs and in and out of the city. On holiday driving around Europe/ going to Le Mans, I get an average of around 27 to 28mpg, getting early 30's to the gallon at 85mph on the motorway. Apart from tyres, it's cheap to run. I put a set on nearly 2 years ago and am now about half way through this set. Tyres are really the biggest expence. I really do wonder where the motoring press get the idea that it's expensive. Makes me think they're making the figures up!

And also why I hope they never build them in RHD as they may become common. Besides, with the strong euro, it's helped to keep the prices up. If it was RHD, that probably wouldn't be the case. I tend to do more miles each year on the continent too, so LHD is better for me. I've always liked the 997 though - maybe I'll think about one some day. *Twitch* Please don't talk about that car - I'll end up spending more money!

Thanks guys - but I won't recommend you buy one. Total cr@p really - you wouldn't like it! (Remember I said I like it being rare in the UK.... )

If it had to be one of the two options given, it'd be the 997. But for now, I'll stick with my Corvette, thanks. Simply engineered, dirt cheap to run/service, bulletproof motor, rare in the UK and a hoot to drive. All boxes ticked for me thanks!

Search for 'Air Crash Investigation - All engines failed'. Alternatively, look HERE for the first part of the program - it's well worth watching.

Message on the 'info' button on sky: Part One: Experience the TV event of 2010 as the ten-part blockbuster from the makers of Band of Brothers begins. And it's let me series link it, so hopefully it's the full series.

Why would you say 'hopefully'? Fair enough if you want to keep taking it up the rear from Apple, but I'd have thought that competition was a good thing...

It's starting on Saturday at 9pm on Sky3. Now that Sky has got loads of people to subscribe to the Movie channels, they're putting it out free only a few weeks later! Cynical, eh?

Did anyone see the Air Crash Investigation episode about the BA 747 that flew through an ash cloud and lost all 4 engines? Absolutely incredible! [YOUTUBE]gVctfPGY3BI[/YOUTUBE]

Happy birthday, Alex. I have asked if you are still alive before now, but you haven't shown any signs of life recently. What you up to?

Admiral for me. I've got a multi-car policy with the C6 Corvette, Saab 9-3 diesel and Jag X-type Estate (The last 2 cars have business use on them too) All with full European cover and protected no claims. Total policy price - £760. I only pay about £300 for the 'vette on this policy - other companies have quoted me more just for that car alone.

Sorry to go a little off topic, but it annoys me when I see this on American forums: Wala??? Where did you get that, you muppet! It's voila, FFS!! (and breathe....) Oh - that welding idea on his brakes just looks to me like it will end in tears. And blood. And bits of bone and snot and maybe a few teeth mixed in for good measure.

Ah - sorry - missed that bit. If you're worried, you could always email them about the problem or buy them buy phone. Getting them when you arrive is never a problem though.