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Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Berghaus Storm Cloud - I must try to remember that although I think Snod's ex-army pants are worth a shot. They're a lot easier to get off-n-on aren't they Upt', even with ya boots and ya troosers still on.
As for insurance - just smile, take the saving and mutter to yourself "I'm a lucky sod.. I'm a lucky sod..."
13/08/2026 09:59:02 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
If 20% is £60 the you must have been paying £300 or so. Our current combined buildings and contents is just over £220 for an average sort of house & contents..... It includes £50 or so for emergency assistance just in case we get flooded so the base premium is £170. Through Policy Expert.
Of course you probably live in a mansion with millions of pounds worth of jewellery.
13/08/2026 12:23:25 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ian, it is a big hoos for sure but not a mansion. Not by North Northumberland examples anyway.
I did the comparison thing last year and Admiral were the cheapest at around £300.00 for a decent policy so the £60 off is very nice indeed. Didn't even bother checking it this year.
I think the small claim from Storm Arwen in 2021(?) has done us no favours. Lesson learned, don't claim unless your house burns down. Can anybody smell burning?
Upt.
13/08/2026 14:18:30 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I hate sorting insurance. The car is due soon. Urgh.
14/08/2026 08:21:47 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Too hot for the shed.
Regarding insurance I probably wrote about this at the time. Anyway, I had 2 bikes stolen from my garage in March 2004. Fortunately no other damage and they left my Norton behind! I had (and still have) agreeed value insurance as the bikes were "classics". The insurance broker (Howden, then called RH) were excellent and I had a full payout (less excess) within a couple of weeks.
But then the issues started. The underwriter refused to renew my policy as I'd had "two theft events" in the year. In vain I protested that this was a single event but they were adamant. I eventually secured cover from Robin James at around £350 pa - my previous premium had been less than £100.
I stayed with Robin James for a couple of years but tried Howden again this year and was pleased to get a quote of £145 - still more than I used to pay but more acceptable. And when I got the little Herald they agreed to add it to the policy - for an extra £90 or so - despite it being a classic policy and the Herald a mere 10 years old.
I'm not sure what the moral of this tale is (other than that insurance companies in general are greedy money-grabbing vermin) but thought it might be of interest.
14/08/2026 14:11:04 UTC
nab301 said :-
Although I'm in a different jurisdiction I'm envious of the home and motor quotes posted on here, my home insurance policy has increased by approx 40% in recent years. Rebuild costs have increased exponentially since 2020 and adverse weather claims seem to be feeding into the equation.
Nigel
16/08/2026 17:02:21 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Well I never knew this, it never clicked with my little brain. Fascinating.
https://www.roads.org.uk/articles/road-numbers/numbers-and-b-roads...
27/08/2026 13:49:18 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Interesting page, I knew about the spoke business but lots of other details to keep us nitpickers occupied.
28/08/2026 09:50:51 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I always thought it worked like this. The A6 is the major road and roads coming off it were A62 and the like. I always presumed if a road coming off the A6 was the A58 it's because they'd run out of numbers or something.
It's quite impressive how wrong I can be! Now I'm looking at my local area and going "oh yeah! Durgh". Turns out I'm not as clever as I thought I was. Breaking news huh.
28/08/2026 17:02:25 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Packed the inner bags. I feel a road trip coming on......tomorrow.
Honestly don't know a destination but the tunnel is booked for Thursday.
Keep y'all posted.
Upt and Er'Indoors....of course.
31/08/2026 17:08:08 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ooh exciting! Europe is calling?
31/08/2026 19:05:29 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Have fun for those of us who can't at the moment.
01/09/2026 11:13:20 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Is the knee stopping you from having fun Ian?
02/09/2026 21:28:55 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Yes and no. It depends what sort of fun we're talking about.....
It is taking a depressinglylong time but the physio says it's normal. He made me try a few days without the knee support but I think that made it worse. Still, I'm keeping busy in the shed with my gear and brake conversion on the Herald.
03/09/2026 10:13:15 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I can report we've had some fun. Although the Dartford crossing in a biblical storm wasn't fun, or indeed forecast.....pffffffftttttt.
If it's Thursday we'll be in Tournai in Belgium land. We got on an earlier train so arrived in good time, Bon Secours Blonde has been consumed. We had overnight stopovers in Elton, Cambs and Brabourne, Kent. Seems like we've been away three weeks not three days.
I can confirm for Bogger that Bon Secours Blonde should be tried.
Onto German land tomorrow, weather seems iffy at the mo but today has been all good. Except the pretty strong westerly across northern France and into Belgique.
Upt and Er'Indoors.
03/09/2026 17:47:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ahhh The Upt' report is in. 3 days to go from Wooler to Le Shuttle? That sounds very civilised, nice and chill.
Sharon and I are just a little farther north, where the weather is proving "troublesome". I'm sure his Boggerness will be pleased to hear this.
04/09/2026 06:48:32 UTC
Occasional Lurker said :-
Just a little "nugget" of news that may well be of interest to anybody who holds "old-fashioned" characteristics of motorcycle design, rather close to their hearts ...
A couple of weeks ago, I had cause to call into a Honda dealer, for the collection of a couple of parts I'd ordered, ( tarmac damage ... don't ask ...) On the way out, I managed to find a member of the sales team, and asked, "Just when are we going to hear some concrete news of the much anticipated new GB500? ...
With a smile, the reply came ... "Not long now Sir. I can confirm that ALL Honda dealers have been notified recently" ... He then tapped his keyboard, and the said notification appeared before my very eyes..!!! The new GB500 is to be formally announced, for the European market, at the next EICMA show, on November 5th, in Italy ...
So, in eight weeks, we,ll have an end to the rumors, and rather poor computer renderings, of "mashed-up" GB350's...
I for one, can't wait ... Regards, Tony
04/09/2026 09:13:44 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ay up. Say that to someone in Germany. They just look up. Try it, it tickled me.
Now in Soest, Germany. Haven't seen much of it yet, we'll be out in the town shortly. I can report categorically that Belgium and Belgium drivers are blummin lovely....Germans, not so much.
About 260 miles today on busy major routes, as in, busy, busy, busy. No mirrors were harmed during filterin.
On the ride down the M1 The B did 160 miles on 12 Litres of go juice. Haven't worked that out.
Put the Berghaus overtrousers on today Ed, they're magic! It didn't rain.
I know.
Upt and Er'Indoors. She doesn't like filterin.
04/09/2026 17:07:27 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
That is a juicy little nugget Occasional Lurker, which Honda dealer was this? Knowing your location I'd guess Blackpool, possibly Manchester?
The whole purpose of waterproof pants is to ward off rain while making your legs exceedingly sweaty, rendering you as wet as if it was raining.
Keep up the good work folks!
04/09/2026 20:08:38 UTC
Occasional Lurker said :-
Ren,you are spot on with your guess / deduction, of Blackpool Honda ... The parts department have been good at their job, courteous, and friendly ... These things keep me coming back ...
I'm sure you remember the 1989 GB500 ... That was sold recently, at the H&H auction, at the National Motorcycle Museum ... It reached a whisker over my reserve, and I was glad to get the space back from under the stairs ..!!
Now I can get the Hoover out ... My housekeeping regime has been somewhat neglected for the last thirteen years ..!!
Who knows, if the new GB is a tempting prospect, I can see me asking for a test ride .... Just think ... I might just be saying ..... Yes, I've had one of the originals you know.... Regards, Tony
04/09/2026 21:48:19 UTC
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