Closed for the day

Posted by: Polarbear on 09 October 2010

I thought I would enjoy a nice peaceful trip to Leicester this morning, taking the opportunity to call into my friendly Naim dealer. Yet when I get there I find a row of motorcycle police outside peters shop. Windows are boarded up across Leicester and most small independent shops are closed. Leicester resembles a war zone. Shoppers are outnumbered by the police and helicopters are patrolling over the city.

The reason for all this is that the English defence league are in town and protesting this afternoon. Why this is allowed god only knows as traders are having a tough enough time as it is.

I can't imagine what the cost of all this is, there are police forces from half a dozen counties here today, the cost of boarding up and the cost of cleaning up next week.

Sheer madness to me,

Regards

PB
Posted on: 10 October 2010 by Cymbiosis
quote:
Originally posted by Howlinhounddog:
Precisely Peter, and one wonders how safe it will be for the Police and public when we have protection from a Police force with their budget reduced by 25%.


Rock and a hard place comes to mind........literally! Eek
Posted on: 10 October 2010 by Symonds14
So come on Peter, Fess up! How dd you 'break' a Volvo?
Posted on: 10 October 2010 by Paper Plane
quote:
Originally posted by David Scott?:
Steve (Paper Plane),

It occurs to me to wonder if you somehow didn't realise I was being ironic.


I wasn't.

steve
Posted on: 10 October 2010 by Cymbiosis
quote:
Originally posted by Symonds14:
So come on Peter, Fess up! How dd you 'break' a Volvo?


I didn't - My V70R is just fine thank you. It was my 1981 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. My wife refers to it as the other woman...... 27 years of ownership had a hic-up a couple of weeks ago as I believe (now) that there was a short in the wiring loom resulting in a fire in the engine bay beneath the air box and above the fuel and oil lines.

At first I thought it was a fuel leak, but after an inspection I realised that if one of the high pressure fuel rails has failed I'd have had a far bigger fire to deal with. All the Earls connectors and braided steel pipes held.

I got the fire out in about 90 seconds, but dare not lift the bonnet until I had an extinguisher to hand and ready as it would have fed the flames. Consequently, a few other things suffered like the master cylinder, airbox, injection system etc. However, I think I did well to minimise the damage. The under-bonnet heat shield and damping saved the paint on the bonnet, which is good post trauma. I consider myself very lucky as it could have been worse.

Picture to follow.

KR

Peter
Posted on: 10 October 2010 by David Scott
Steve,

I never thought you were. To clarify: I do not think the UAF demonstrators are crazies and I support their decision to stage a counter protest.
Posted on: 10 October 2010 by Cymbiosis
A sorry sight, hopefully I can get it fixed.....

Anyway, onwards and upwards, and I don't have to replace my shop window again after Saturday's protest passed relatively peacefully.... So that's a positive! Smile
Posted on: 11 October 2010 by Onthlam
quote:
Originally posted by Cymbiosis:
quote:
Originally posted by Polarbear:

What you may not know it the white building in the middle of the shot is the public house where they are allowed to meet up first to have a few bevies to get them in the mood Eek



The Goose - Mmmm, nice place Roll Eyes

Still under control and I have to say the Police are doing a great job in very difficult circumstances.





Peter-
I don't think you have enough plinths to meet the need.
Is MCD giving away food?
Marc
Posted on: 12 October 2010 by Symonds14
Ouch Peter! Sorry about the Lotus Talbot. How easy are spares to find!
Carl
Posted on: 12 October 2010 by Cymbiosis
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Newman:
Is MCD giving away food?
Marc


They should do Marc Big Grin Winker

Carl, the parts except the airbox are all Lotus/Luminition so shouldn't be too bad to find replacements I hope.

It's just a matter of finding the time and someone to replace the loom in the engine bay. Then just a matter of finding someone to map the engine management system on a dyno, as I believe the one I was using is now toast! Frown

Suggestions welcome anyone!

KR

Peter
Posted on: 12 October 2010 by Avalin
Gosh,

I had one of those in 1983. I took it to Scotland one winter when we went climbing on Lochnagar. I remember doing the most beautiful slow motion pirouette in the snow quite near Balmoral Castle !!

Absolutely hopeless in the wet or snow, rear axle tramped all over the place. You learned to opposite lock pretty quickly with that baby. Lotus twin cam engine and those carbs didn't half sound good though. If you could get the side silver transfers off without damaging the body paintwork, it was a real wolf in sheep's clothing. Only give-away were the twin tail exhaust pipes and the rather larger than standard width tyres and alloy wheels.

Memories....

Good luck with the rebuild.

Geoff
Posted on: 13 October 2010 by Pedro
Even when confronted with a torrent of verbal abuse up the street from me as the crowds were gathering, never once did I see any of the Police lose their cool. Very professional, very good.

Anyway, back to normal on Monday Smile

KR

Peter[/QUOTE]

Peter

I'm surprised at you.

Pete
Posted on: 14 October 2010 by Andrew Randle
quote:
Originally posted by count.d:
quote:
If I get the chance I'll pop out and take some more!


Peter, be careful you don't idly walk past the riot police with your hands in your pockets!


LOL!

Andrew
Posted on: 15 October 2010 by Cymbiosis
quote:
Originally posted by GeoffLondon:
Absolutely hopeless in the wet or snow, rear axle tramped all over the place. You learned to opposite lock pretty quickly with that baby. Lotus twin cam engine and those carbs didn't half sound good though. If you could get the side silver transfers off without damaging the body paintwork, it was a real wolf in sheep's clothing. Only give-away were the twin tail exhaust pipes and the rather larger than standard width tyres and alloy wheels.

Memories....

Good luck with the rebuild.

Geoff


LOL! mine has a single tailpipe, just a little larger in diameter.

Fitted with a rear anti-roll bar, rose-jointed. Bilsteins and a limited slip diff of course, it's far better in the handling department. However, driving in the wet results in less grip than I normally enjoy with my Volvo V70 in the snow! Cool Big Grin - Very good fun and keeps me on my toes..... never a dull moment as you might say!!! I always get out having finished a journey with a big grin on my face - but not last month after it's final journey! Frown

It's going to Paul Matty Sportscars in Bromsgrove today. On a low loader.........................

KR

Peter