Inspiring stuff!

Thank you

amazing nail

your a true inspiration

I'm still not getting this 'Season of goodwill' thing.

Ever since my Mrs finished watching this latest celebrity jungle program she has become convinced that myself and Sean Ryder were separated at birth. Apparently Sean displayed several character traits that could have come directly from the Old-Nail himself.

I am told that those traits included a general grumpy-ness, the lack of desire to socialise, frequent swearing, and a blunt, outspoken manner. Oddly enough, it seems that the public warmed to him - So...Ha! .... Take that my Mrs!

The reason I mention this is because ever since she went on (and on, and on) about these supposed similarities I've been trying to be more 'friendly' to strangers, for want of a better word. This means that for the last few weeks, instead of my usual brusqueness I have tried hard to smile, and make some sort of an effort. It really goes against the grain too I can tell you, but rather than be thought of as old fatty Ryder's twin I gave it a go.

Until today that is, when it all went tits up.

So today we're out on a shopping expedition, which is bad enough in itself with all the driving to here, and then to there, and with finding a non existent parking space each time. Have you ever noticed how ratty and short tempered everyone is about car parking spaces when there are none? I've seen perfectly respectable looking people ripping into each other big time over who had the right of way so often today, that I thought there might be something in the water.

The new, cool, and improved Old-Nail however, rose above all this, and with a Zen like calm simply moved on to look for room elsewhere. By the early afternoon I had a boot full of coal and a back seat full of presents, and was ready to leave the car park. I vacated my space, passing my ticket to the newcomer like you do, and was feeling mighty pleased with myself as I went toward the exit.

Then along came white van man in a small Escort van sized deal. Now I have absolutely no idea what had riled him, and it certainly wasn't me, being as I was charm personified for the day, but he stopped across the front of my car and set sail with such a verbal rampage that I thought he must be mental. His face was on level with mine, and although his window was rolled up so rabid were his motions that he reminded me of an Alsation dog that had been locked in the car to protect it, he was actually salivating against the window as he ranted.

As I looked at him part of me found it quite funny, but the other part, the part that was the old Old -Nail and not the 'new improved version', wanted to jump out and rip his f*cking head off! As I looked at him, his window slowly steaming up from the tirade he was unleashing, my hand moved slowly back off the door handle where I was readying to pounce. Instead I looked him directly in the eye, winked at him and grinned.

"What did you do that for?" says Mrs Nail exitedly, "You'll only make him worse!"

Now there's only so much Zen like calm in the old mind bank for such occasions, and I think I must have used it all up in the previous few hours of shopping and parking, so it was now 'Good will to all men' - except this nob-head.

"Well F*cK 'im" I exploded, feeling my old self surging once more through my veins, while at the same giving the guy 'the finger' in response to his foolishness.

"An' Bollocks to this 'being nice' caper too if that's all it gets you"says I. The bloke then drove off, and we arrived home shortly after. Mrs Nail put the kettle on while I unloaded the coal and presents from the car, I put the car away and came indoors.

On walking in my first words were "What about that f*cking nob? I should have kicked his f*cking head in never mind smiling at 'im"

Mrs Nail smiled, held out a cup of tea, and said "Welcome back - I've missed you!"



Anyway all that's got nowt to do with this photo I've taken just now. What a difference a few days have made. The salt is really starting to bite now, especially (or only) on the overriders to begin with but quite shockingly in it's severity. I've since rubbed the rust off and coated them with waxoyl, should have done that in the first place really.

and you still dont know what you'd done to upset escort van man
Probably just the car , imagine him explaining to his mates how he got a hiding if it had gone wrong.
I covered those over-riders in vaseline when i had them , they probably could do with some quality re-chroming really.

I never fail to be amazed at the sheer number and variety of head cases that there are out there. It's fascinating, I actually think David Attenborough should do some programmes on it.

Thinking back, I might have upset him by giving my space and ticket to somebody other than him, what a pillock! As if ranting like that was going to change the situation for him!

It was the same whenever I refused entry to someone at a Nightclub, they'd stand there for ages arguing the toss. Why do people do that? I used to say "Mate - Your not coming in, and that is the decision. It's not a negotiable thing trust me, this conversation ends with you f*cking off home."

Anyway I was quite proud of my restraint today, and in doing that I've found a brand new hobby - winding people up by smiling at them. Heh heh.

I don't know what it is but I do seem to attract loonies.

Those over riders should have had a coat of waxoyl on them, in fact the whole car could do with it really but I've tried not to as it picks up all the grime from the road. I've cleaned them up and waxoyled them now so they should be fine, what was surprising is how quick that rust appeared, it wasn't there the other day!

Cheap modern chrome i suppose.. for several years up until about 4 years ago my daily to and from work hack was one of my scooters, a battered vespa which i still have, i had one 1960s pencil beam spot lamp mounted on the front (not mod, more practical reasons) , the chrome was and still is in great condition despite all those winters on the front . I bought some chromed original style pattern part legshield beading and it rusted within a week
I wasn't too bothered as it suits the scoot but just shows you, that lamp is over 40 years old!

In another life we spent 3 years on Nauru (Island nation v. near the equator, Central Pacific).
Salt laden atmosphere - island only a few miles long. An early VW which had died there years before had been donated as a plaything in one of the school grounds. Bumpers ... the chrome was still perfect despite being left totally uncared for.
New bought Jap built motorbikes with "chrome" rims had to be cleaned and oiled at least once a week to stave off the rust.
My limited understanding - "proper" chrome involves a 3 step (at least) plating process .. 1st Copper, overlain by Nickel and finally Chrome. They just don't do that anymore, I guess.
Bring back (some of) the olden days.

Reading the wink story, I had a flashback of Roger Moore (zipping along in his yellow 2cv with a choice Bond girl at his side) turning to the pursuing bad guys and raising the 'is there a problem' eyebrow Great stuff.

Bizarre isn't it.

I had some tyres fitted to my car the other day. The kid doing it started to tighten the wheel nuts up with the windy gun. So I politely asked him to nip them up by hand and use a torque wrench. His response was to jump up and inform me "I do kick boxing you know"

As to your paper clips, they've not been chromed properly. To be properly weather profff they need triple plating. Firt copper, then nickel, then chrome. The copper stage gets left out and rust is the result.

what film was this in