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Post by Humph on Aug 8, 2019 13:14:47 GMT
There was a man on the ferry back from France in a Berlingo. Fully dressed in camouflage gear and a front tooth missing. On his own, and while waiting for the delayed crossing, he got all manner of military surplus style cooking gear out on Calais docks and made himself something to eat. Lots of far right influenced tattoos too. I avoided his gaze. I felt we would probably not have had much in common.
He made a friend on the ferry, another camo clad chap with similar tattoos stretched over his ample torso and wok like gut, his upper modesty covered only by a sort of waistcoat with too many pockets and his lower body in camouflage cargo pants which reached only to his mid calf.
Odd critters.
The Berlingo had been festooned with bull bars, too many lights, a tray style roof rack normally only found on old Defenders with "One life, live it" stickers on them and topped off with a roof load that was presumably an army surplus tent.
He looked as if he might be the sort of chap to have had a pet bear at his log cabin,
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Post by tyrednexited on Aug 8, 2019 13:35:27 GMT
These emanated entirely from the rear seat, mostly when I was driving and there were two leggy teenagers back there....... ...save your money, you'll soon need it to fund their tuition fees, not their rear-seat comfort. (The alternative point of view, of course, is that you soon won't have any spare money for 5 or so years, so if you have now, spend it!) |
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Post by tyrednexited on Aug 8, 2019 13:46:49 GMT
[Still a van, though, and (presumably) rides like one. Having independent rear suspension (unlike the live rear axle and cart springs on many vans) it is one of the better-riding variety. The one I had recently in Canada had a pretty good ride/handling balance, and given I had a few 400 mile days in it, I'd say it was not a bad choice for such use (though of course it was a petrol, 5-seater, neither of which options are available here. |
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Post by Humph on Aug 8, 2019 13:47:33 GMT
You've got that right T&E ! ( re the costs )
😕
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Post by tyrednexited on Aug 8, 2019 14:09:16 GMT
You've got that right T&E ! ( re the costs ) 😕 ...well, we've been here before, but I'll restate that putting my two through university in a way that allowed them to come out of the end debt-free cost me around £80k for 2x3year courses (one of which was prior to the huge hike in tuition fees). I was lucky enough to be able to afford it, and both are now in decent-paid jobs and (largely*) debt-free. My parents funded me for my aborted degree course, when they could scarce afford it, and it's always been something I hoped to "pass forward". (* I funded tuition fees, basic accommodation and living costs, etc. but any frills over and above were down to them. My daughter is somewhat more fond of her social life than my son, and also followed up with a self-funded Masters, so took advantage of a student loan on top, which she is just in the throes of paying off, ten years later, at the mandated rate. Son, by a mixture of frugality and working, managed to fund himself after the first year, and paid the loan for that year off in a lump sum). That amount would have bought quite a lot of "legroom". |
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Post by Humph on Aug 8, 2019 14:17:26 GMT
I've already advised my son that his 21st birthday present ( not due until early 2021 of course ) will be his bill...
😉
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WDB
Full Member
Posts: 7,425 
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Post by WDB on Aug 8, 2019 14:24:47 GMT
Boy1 is planning an MEng, which lasts four years and could stretch to five. I’m thinking of running away to Brazil.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2019 14:41:31 GMT
Having forked out for private schooling (against my will) for both of mine, which will be 2x 5-18 in the end (probably over half a million pounds all in, I can't bring myself to add it all up), they can take on a student loan for University. It's not really a loan in the traditional sense, it's more of a graduate tax. Hello, real world. They will of course, on graduation, be supported in terms of accommodation until they can pay for their own, and they will inherit a considerable amount in the end also. So I'm in no way going to feel guilty about Uni fees.
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Post by lygonos on Aug 8, 2019 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by Humph on Aug 8, 2019 14:45:34 GMT
We know of course that WDB is a decent sort really, but the trouble with coupes is that most people who have them aren't.
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Post by tyrednexited on Aug 8, 2019 14:45:54 GMT
Son did a BSc in Software Engineering, which was a four year course if you included the 3rd year on industrial placement.
He actually got a year at a medium-sized software house, and they paid him pretty well for a student (and soon found they could use him in a full role, so it suited both. They actually didn't want him to go back for his final year, and would have employed him).
Given he was earning (and because of commuting distance decided not to live at home for most of that year), he (quite rightly) funded himself that year).
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Aug 8, 2019 14:48:24 GMT
Don’t mind four petrol cylinders, but wouldn’t want a four-pot diesel again. (The cheapest 6 GT is a 620d; no 620i.)
That price is about the asking price for a 2018 Approved Used one.
We travelled behind a Kia just like that one in car 24 of Le Shuttle last month. It’s about as wide across the rear wheels as the CLS but I don’t think we’d have fitted inside. Its occupants seemed to have had to shave their heads to get in.
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Post by Humph on Aug 8, 2019 14:59:21 GMT
They may well have done. The other motoring phenomenon I find is that Corsa drivers all seem to have sticky out ears. Can't begin to understand why but check it out and tell me I'm wrong.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2019 16:17:52 GMT
Managed to get son #1 to do a year in industry starting in September. He will live at home so will save and can pay his rent for the last year at university.
Son #2 has decided to do an apprenticeship degree and also live at home whilst working/studying. That will save me a fortune assuming he gets the job he needs.
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Post by dixinormus on Aug 8, 2019 20:35:33 GMT
Don’t know about the Berlingo, but I think I fancy a Corolla more and more. Is that worse?! They are ubiquitous in NZ and I rent them repeatedly and they do a great job. Yesterday’s example was 6 years old with 83,000 miles on the clock but I couldn’t fault it...
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