Recent content by Furbles

Apologies, I should have added: it also passes on the ground that it’s not a modified cubic capacity: the 300Tdi is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Land Rover engine fitted as original equipment to the 110/Defender. Same capacity class, same cylinder count, same manufacturer, same model line.

Yep, I did do my research before buying. On all grounds it should be fine: it probably was installed 30+ years ago (though there is no evidence), and it’s also true that the original engines are not available. This is an original engine for the same car fitted from 1994. Plenty of historical...

True to my word, I have ordered a recommissioned 110 from 1985 with a 300tdi. No MOT, no tax, and no clean air zone. Birmingham City Council can put that in their pipe and smoke it…

Indeed, and more fool them as I’m now in the market for a late 80s Land Rover 90 or 110, which will be far more polluting but is exempt from the clean air zone because it’s 40+ years old. Make it make sense…

Sadly, I’ve decided the time has come to sell my FL2. The Clean Air Zone in a Birmingham is responsible, as I now work inside it, and I’m not paying £8 per day to drive into work… I suspect there will be another Landy on my driveway soon…

My door handles were looking particularly manky (lacquer and paint peeling), so I’ve ‘downgraded’ from body-coloured ones to matte black handles instead. Have to say I prefer them in black!

The non-stretchy nature of G-1000 means I never wear the Vidda Pros anymore. I would definitely recommend the Ventilated variants, as the only difference is stretchy material in the crotch, and side vent zips. They are much more comfortable. That said, I exclusively wear the Kebs now. These are...

Parked next to a fellow instructor’s 110. My FL2 is in the garage today for a new O/S/F lower suspension arm and ball joint. That’s my Christmas present!

One of the things that has made it harder, in my humble view, is the loss of quiet woodland areas, and the ability to carry knives and make fire - two core ‘bushcraft’ things. Even foraging is difficult. That leaves tree and plant ID, bird-watching, and all of the other things that we can do...

Now, you do remember that I am a Professor of Law, right?

It’s definitely a universal EPB problem, it seems. I managed to unseize mine this morning before RAC turned up, by waggling the connector on the rear right actuator. Ordered new actuators and wiring looms this afternoon for both sides, so (probably stupidly) I am going to attempt to do this...

Sadly not! Or at least, the FL2 console isn’t so easy to snap off and on. Alright alright, don’t rub it in…

Awaiting the RAC as my electronic parking brake is seized and stuck on. I suspect a faulty actuator. Arses.

I haven't used Gmail for years, with the privacy concerns attached to their ads (i.e. already reading our emails). I highly recommend Fastmail for fast, secure personal email.

Speaking of leather notebooks… one item I made some years ago was a leather notebook. It’s designed to hold 3 x Moleskine cahier journals, and as I fill them up I can just replace them. I still use this every day (for work), and every so often someone comments on it or asks where I got it from.