Monday 23 March 2015

Yamaha Tenere XT660Z for sale

A friend of mine is putting her Yamaha Tenere XT660Z up for sale, details are:

Black on the 59 plate
12 months MOT
Appx 20,000 miles
Red key and standard keys
FSH
1 careful lady owner from new!

Touratech bash-plate
Touratech luggage rack
Touratech headlight guard
Centre-stand
Acerbis brush guards (aluminium inserts)
Metal Mule lowering link (easily removed if standard height required)
Pillion pegs were removed & boxed on purchase – will be refitted as required

Looking for £2,100.00

Drop me an email if interested and I'll pass on her details










Friday 20 March 2015

Annual MoT test passed

Well that is a relief, the Mazda passed the MoT test this morning, no advisories. In my mind the first MoT since I purchased the car is always the one I am most nervous about as it will reveal any issues with/caused by previous owners which might be why they sold it.

Only comment from MoT tester man was that it needs new rear pads - something I knew about as service is now due and will be doing that with assistance of eldest son Andy (who is a BMW senior service technician). Items identified for attention:
* Oil & oil filter change
* Replace air filter
* Replace cabin air filter
* Replace rear brake pads
* Check coolant strength, top up as required
* Flush brake fluid
* Check everything else

As Andy has access to 2 post car lift there is nothing on the list that is scary and we should (hopefully) get it done in a couple of hours. I understand the only special tool required is the one to reset the rear brakes, which Andy has to retrieve from a loan to a friend. Looks like it will be on our Easter weekend 'To Do List' that includes building/assembling a new shed.

As they say, no rest for the wicked...

Training vs e-Learning

It is generally recognised that people learn in different ways, some learn 'hands on' or 'on the job' while others learn best in the classroom, reading from books, by researching the internet or using e-learning.

So I ask, why is it that employers insist on moving everything to e-learning? Is it because they perceive it as cheap and therefore cost effective, or, is it because they are too lazy to use training personnel or training establishments? They obviously don't want "the best" form of employee education otherwise they would use all guises of training in its many forms.

Now some would argue that e-learning offers 'standardisation' ensuring that everyone gets exactly the same tutorial and assessment, but e-learning media cannot detect or perceive how a person is performing. It cannot detect when one member of the team has logged on and undertaken the test for any number of other students (who all get a pass mark they haven't earned).

As a confirmed cynic I think there is a much simpler answer, which is, the employer seeks only to put a 'tick in the box' that enables them to gain some meaningless certification such as Investors in People or one of the many provided by the HSE or FCA (or similar). The employer wants that certification achieved as cheaply as possible and for automated reporting that 'proves' how many students took each course and what they scored in the final assessment.

At the end of the day all they achieve is a devaluation of the certification of the subject matter.

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Another target underway

One of my personal targets for 2015 was to replace my ageing shed. Step one has been completed as in it has been ordered and paid for with delivery scheduled for 2nd April.

Thursday 5 March 2015

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Bedroom redecorated 3 - The End

Well the job is done. Ceiling, walls, skirting, door frame, door and windowsill all painted and looking good. Flat pack furniture arrived and beds (2x single), bedside cabinet, small chest of drawers and wardrobe all assembled, curtain pole put up and curtains hung (with tie backs). Craig (our plumber of choice) came along and plumbed in a new radiator with all the fittings to give it some added warmth and Suzie got a few bits to pretty up the top of the chest of drawers for visual effect.

Please excuse the quality of the photographs...
























So that is the result of my handy work and I am very pleased with it. More importantly, Suzie is very happy with it and Andrew has given it a pass for quality standards (everything has to be just so for Andy). Not sure what will be next but this is definitely job done and Sue's sister and her friend have already stayed over a couple of nights and vouch that it is warm and comfortable.

If Carpenters were hired like Programmers

I received an email from linked in today with a link to an article that is very tongue in cheek but comes under the scope of many a true word spoken in jest.

LinkedIn article