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Jun 18, 2015 22:25:07 GMT
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As a single man I would jump at the chance, now with a family/daughter in school it complicates things that may otherwise happen :-) I do like the idea of working abroad, outside of the EU. It's a classic case of 'should have done it years ago', nevermind.....Looking forward to your future posts on this though, very fascinating project to be involved with. I guess I was lucky (or not, depending) on being sent out to Asia by my company around 2003 which gave me the opportunity of considering a permanent move. Yes there were some tough decisions to make but I don't regret it one little bit. This'll do me and they can stick me in Manila Norte Cemetery when I'm done  George! Another fantastic thread. I had no idea you were Putin's twin? Just call me Vlad the Jeepney Impaler  Hi, there was a time our railways used to work on whistles and flags.  So they did, the only problems were that the villagers have no sense of time or urgency, so they just carried on as normal because the installation was all working. When it eventually stopped they went back to chucking a bucket down the well. Colin Sounds familiar. I was working a project in Malaysia and we were meeting with the operator to discuss some train specifications. The first request is that they were maintenance free! Thanks for the replies to all your responses George. I suspect that if any of the other guys reading and taking time to respond to your thread are like me, we would happily sit through any other side items/subjects you may want to post in here. Maybe change the title to "George's Observations - Manilla Train Ride" and then edit it when you post different subjects. I think we are often very limited in what we learn as TV etc is aimed at the broad base of the population. You,can add in a bunch of Jeepneys, scooters etc next report........  Good idea, it'll stop my Range Rover thread going a little off topic now and again  I'll rename it 'Letter from Manila', which I write anyway for various mates around the world. Hi it's not like Thailand, they can't pile it high and sell it cheap. Colin Yeah it's a good one that. I tried to upload a video yesterday via photobucket, but it didn't like it very much. I'll have to sort a You Tube thingy out. |
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This is a sidecar ride through Perola Compound, the squatter area just outside the port. The train will run up this road.
The powers that be were amazed I'd taken this. both Dept. of Transport and the Dept. of Public Works and Highways said they will not send their people in there. Bless them.
Once under the flyover, we hit Recto Avenue. I'll put some more up of Recto soon. All we have in the way up there are a load of power lines, a market, a police station and a Barangay (local council) Hall. Nowt to concern yerself about there then.
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Last Edit: Jun 19, 2015 3:06:04 GMT by georgeb
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Here's the second part.
At the beginning is the lower part of Recto Avenue. Later in the video, you will see it open out into a 'dual carriageway' arrangement. The lower half used to be like this as well, but people built houses into the road and nobody bothered!
A bit more compensation flying around here methinks.
On the wider part, the intention will be to run up the road median, where all those sidecars are parked now. There are actually plans to extend MRT Line 2 which will run down the same alignment albeit elevated above our tracks.
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Last Edit: Jun 19, 2015 3:07:10 GMT by georgeb
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This is a sidecar ride through Perola Compound, the squatter area just outside the port. The train will run up this road.
The powers that be were amazed I'd taken this. both Dept. of Transport and the Dept. of Public Works and Highways said they will not send their people in there. Bless them.
Once under the flyover, we hit Recto Avenue. I'll put some more up of Recto soon. All we have in the way up there are a load of power lines, a market, a police station and a Barangay (local council) Hall. Nowt to concern yerself about there then.
That's just brilliant. I can see westerners mostly pooping themselves. Also noted your driver knows your name. Do you have a preferred driver, or is it the time you have spent there? It is amazing how little they have, and yet they just get on with it making a living. I used to chat with two Philipino girls years ago and one had a decent job, but supported a family of about six siblings, the other had part time jobs, but they both wished for a better life, yet just got on with the one they had. Looking at the "chaos" and infrastructure, it is clear you have a huge task ahead, and as you say "stuff" will get converted to rice. Thanks for these, updates.......... This has now instantly become my first stop in the morning. |
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Last Edit: Jun 19, 2015 6:08:37 GMT by grizz
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Oh yes; more top thread action from George - Bookmarked!
As a confirmed puffer-nutter myself it's great seeing these things still somehow working years after anyone last waved a spanner or an oily rag anywhere near them.
You could follow the Col. Stephens method and just chuck down the track roughly laid "on a trend" and have your new dock railway up and running in no time! :-)
I presume that the well maintained Malayan cable car is down to the influence of the hotels not wanting to annoy their guests?
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Jun 19, 2015 20:08:07 GMT
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That's just brilliant. I can see westerners mostly pooping themselves. Also noted your driver knows your name. Do you have a preferred driver, or is it the time you have spent there? It is amazing how little they have, and yet they just get on with it making a living. Never mind Westerners, many Filipinos won't venture into Tondo. Incidentally, Perola is about a km from our Tondo house TBH, despite it's reputation, I've never had a problem in there. It's like any part of any other city in the world, just use some common sense. Saying that, I don't wear jewellery anyway and there's generally a battle over who looks after the P38, so that's well guarded. The driver comes with the sidecar, which is one of ours. This one is used by Madam as part of her delivery fleet for her water, rice, slum landlord and communications empire. I pinched it, and him, for half a day to do a quick survey. We do have a driver for Madam (the reasons for this can be found in the Range Rover thread) who has a license to carry, but our Jeffry, the guy piloting me here is just a cousin. I used to chat with two Philipino girls years ago and one had a decent job, but supported a family of about six siblings, the other had part time jobs, but they both wished for a better life, yet just got on with the one they had. Looking at the "chaos" and infrastructure, it is clear you have a huge task ahead, and as you say "stuff" will get converted to rice. Thanks for these, updates.......... This has now instantly become my first stop in the morning.
Yeah, they don't have an easy life in general and are expected to support unknown numbers of family who then see no need to work themselves. Again, we went through a major family upheaval a few months back which culminated in evicting all Madam's brothers and sisters from the Tondo house for precisely this reason. Hence the armed driver.
In general though, Filipinos are amongst the happiest and friendliest people I know (apart from her family ) and I love it here.
Plenty of 'chaos' and plenty of infrastructure still to come!
Oh yes; more top thread action from George - Bookmarked! As a confirmed puffer-nutter myself it's great seeing these things still somehow working years after anyone last waved a spanner or an oily rag anywhere near them. You could follow the Col. Stephens method and just chuck down the track roughly laid "on a trend" and have your new dock railway up and running in no time! :-) I presume that the well maintained Malayan cable car is down to the influence of the hotels not wanting to annoy their guests?
Glad you are enjoying it.
Aye, it's amazing how some stuff keeps going long after it should have died. Doesn't go on for ever though and PNR have way more locos dead than alive.
This track will be embedded in concrete for two reasons; 1) to provide a flat road surface and 2) to stop the rails going walkabout.
Penang was well maintained not only for the reasons you state but the line was/is a major tourist attraction in Georgetown and brings in a lot of dosh. There's also a very powerful Chinese Malay guy who lives in a really weird house at the top of the hill (stayed there one night - very strange, with a huge and varied insect population, most of whom slept with me) who took a keen interest in it's upkeep, thus keeping the maintainers on their toes.
Okay, Part 3 of our little trip out. Here we continue along Recto towards Tutuban.
This section of Recto is how wide the whole street once was, so you can see how the houses have encroached along the bottom end in video 2. Basically the cars parked along the street on the left hand side are against what used to be the central reservation. Planning permission? Don't make me laugh.
Anyway, you'll note the power lines, don't worry about them, or the onions. They're the least of our problems. At around 30 seconds, you'll see some painters putting the finishing touches to a Philippine National Police (Manila's Finest - it says so on their shoulder boards) outpost. Hmmm, that'll have to move.
At 60 seconds you'll see a recently completed orange and blue Barangay Hall looming. A Barangay is a district, a bit like a local council but can be as small as to only encompass only a couple of streets, so this is where the Barangay Chairman will sit and pontificate. That'll have to go as well.
Then there's the market...
Don't know, and maybe call me cynical, but I started this project back in around September last year and by the time I did this run in November, two brand new (and official) buildings suddenly spring up right where we need to go. Wonder how they knew? No doubt the compensation will far outweigh the build costs and the Chairman and local Police Chief will receive a nice donation, in used notes, for a "children's fund" or whatever it's called this week. Make up your own minds, but I know where I stand on this one!
Anyway, there probably won't be any more uploads over the weekend as me and my little bottle openers are off to Tondo again this morning for the final unveiling of Madam's Big Project, namely the remodeling of the house there. Looking like there'll be a lot of pig on a spit and other dead stuff along with copious amounts of various alcoholic beverages. I'll get some pics.
Got to say, I'm quite looking forward to it for two reasons; one, I like a good 'do' and Tondo 'do's' are right up there, and two, the project end will see Madam return to Malate Towers. This means that I will no longer have sole responsibility for two teenage Filipinas which I have manfully shouldered this last two weeks. Thank God for that. To be fair, what hasn't helped is the new school.
When they enrolled, apart from uniform, a set of textbooks and 10 notebooks, we had no idea what else they needed and school were playing this very close to their chests. Week one sees them come home with a huge list of stuff they now need so off we traipse to National Book Store and basically empty the joint. "Done." thinks I. Poor deluded White Guy. How long have you been here? You should know better. And indeed I should.
Since then, there hasn't been a day when they haven't come home with yet another item they need so every evening its off to NBS to hand over another wedge of Peso. Bear in mind, they're in different years, so what was demanded of one yesterday, may, or may not, be needed by the other tomorrow. You can't tell, so don't go madly doubling up. Still it's nice to see all my new friends there, every day. On top of this, NBS is located an a mall so I have to go all deaf to entreaties for new shoes, frocks, T-shirts, jeans, make up, and endless snacks, all of which without the young Pinay cannot survive. Then there's the constant demand for food. It's like feeding Queen Mary's boilers on a transatlantic crossing, on your own. I love them dearly, but God it's been wearing!
Madam can take over next week!
Have a good weekend guys.
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Last Edit: Jun 24, 2015 0:13:42 GMT by georgeb
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Ah yes, the market. What can I say? It’s all gotta go! Note that whenever you see a traffic jam, you’ll see a jeepney at the head of it!
We couldn’t turn left where the track would go, due to the bloody market, so we pick up the route just the other side of the mall that we go through.
The line will run on the old alignment behind where all those trucks are parked on the right, so no major issue there. As we then turn right, you can see the old tracks in the road and the blue building on the left behind the wall is Tutuban station. You’ll also note that someone’s handily built the wall over one track but left a nice little gate over the other. Still, it’s all PNR, so no problem there. We’ll only be using one track here anyway, as I’m not greedy and I don’t need two. Just yet!
I was also looking at a possible alternate to Recto and this is the next major road along to the north, Moriones Street.
Nice wide median (with only a couple of statues of dead people on it), no markets and a slightly more direct access to Tutuban. The problem with this one would be the curves at each end. Just too tight to get a freight train round. Oh, and a bridge that crosses a cess pit, sorry, stream that would need completely rebuilding, and we’re trying to avoid that sort of carry-on.
One of the next big problems to tackle along Recto is junction control, especially near the port where 5 roads converge in absolute chaos and we go right through the middle. You can see it at around 1m47s on the first video, and that was a Sunday morning when it was quiet. There’s 4 other cross-streets to deal with as well and simple traffic lights just won’t cut it.
The other is that of keeping vehicles off the tracks. One of the guys wants a fence, but my street running background tells me that a very high kerb is probably a better – and cheaper – bet. No chance of a stray pedestrian being trapped by a train that way, but still keeps the jeepneys at bay. We’ll have that debate tomorrow.
Funny, I was thinking back to a project (now shelved) that I was involved in last year. This called for around 12km of underground MRT line to be built and I was comparing an aspect of it to this one.
So far, we have met with virtually no official resistance, with the Highways authority and the DoT hardly batting an eyelid at sticking a fairly obvious 1,800t freight train up a main road, yet the other project, which called for the driving of a tunnel 20m below Manila Golf Club and which no-one would even have known about, raised screams like the banshees of hell.
I'm guessing here that not too many civil servants live in Tondo, but they do play golf!
Last weekend? The Great House Unveiling Party was cancelled, and why? Well, I think that all the solvents that have been banned for years in Europe have found their way into Philippine paint and Madam, the driver and a cousin all looked like they’d done ten rounds with Mayweather (I won’t say Pacman, he lost) and they all had huge, red and closed eyelids from chemical burns where the paint had splashed. Needless to say, they weren’t too happy, but here’s another legacy the West has left them, antibiotics!
“We go Doctor darling, get antibiotics for eye” announces Madam. It took me around half an hour to convince them that they were completely wasting their time as they love antibiotics for everything and feel cheated of they don’t get any when they see a quack, no matter what the ailment. Anyway, as of yesterday, they’re all looking a lot better, so maybe this weekend? I’m all ready anyway with two cases of San Mig in the fridge and a coupla litres of Emperador brandy standing by, for when I’m full. Bring it on!
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Last Edit: Jun 24, 2015 8:31:54 GMT by georgeb
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Jun 26, 2015 23:43:32 GMT
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Those of you who have been following my Range Rover thread will know that my little bottle openers have now been enrolled in the world famous Malate Catholic School, home to the wonderfully named Cardinal Sin Gymnasium.
I'm actually sitting in that very building as I write, so hopefully will find out what goes on in there.
What actually happened was that the youngest sidled up to me on Thursday night with a form to sign. With the two of them at a new school, this is pretty much a daily occurrence so I signed it and thought no more.
As they piled into the hateful Fortuner yesterday afternoon, the cry of, "Don't forget school tomorrow!", was heard.
Yes, I'd been volunteered to attend the Parents' Orientation morning. 7.30 - 12 whilst everyone else relaxes in a sun-kissed Tondo.
What the hell will they talk about for four and a half hours FFS? Of course, it's late starting already.
Life just ain't fair.
Must read the form next time.
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Those of you who have been following my Range Rover thread will know that my little bottle openers have now been enrolled in the world famous Malate Catholic School, home to the wonderfully named Cardinal Sin Gymnasium. I'm actually sitting in that very building as I write, so hopefully will find out what goes on in there. What actually happened was that the youngest sidled up to me on Thursday night with a form to sign. With the two of them at a new school, this is pretty much a daily occurrence so I signed it and thought no more. As they piled into the hateful Fortuner yesterday afternoon, the cry of, "Don't forget school tomorrow!", was heard. Yes, I'd been volunteered to attend the Parents' Orientation morning. 7.30 - 12 whilst everyone else relaxes in a sun-kissed Tondo. What the hell will they talk about for four and a half hours FFS? Of course, it's late starting already. Life just ain't fair. Must read the form next time. Sorry, but I did chuckle. |
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Hi, Yeah, they are learning, you need to keep your wits about you now.
Colin
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Jun 27, 2015 16:34:59 GMT
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Lucky it wasn't your cheque book! Mind you, I get the feeling that things mostly run on a cash/barter/steal economy from your posts |
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Jun 27, 2015 22:42:04 GMT
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Sorry, but I did chuckle.
I bailed out at 10.30 having been saved by work.
When it finally got going we had an hour of praying stuff - well, I suppose it is a religious school, but it's impossible to find one that isn't - followed by a nun with a screechy voice bellowing into a microphone about Key Performance Indicators, Strategic Directions, Initiatives, School Clustering (whatever that is), Oversight Committees and many other management book favorites.
At the same time, a Power Point presentation was showing which no doubt someone had spent hours putting together using every trick in the graphics book, but using yellow font, so no-one could actually read it. I got the distinct impression that the whole thing was building up to a request for money - as so often things do here.
Fortunately, before we got to this stage, I got a mail from a client asking if the 5 presentation slides he needs from me (not in yellow!) on the freight job could be done for the afternoon. "Be my pleasure" I replied and did a bunk. Sorry Girls!
Shot home, did the slides and treated myself to an afternoon down t'Cafe Adriatico for a few well deserved (in my eyes) cold ones.
On a sad note, the Cardinal Sin Gymnasium is due for demolition and replacement. The demolition should be fairly easy, as having seen inside, just wait for the next typhoon. That'll do it. I just hope they keep the name.
Hi, Yeah, they are learning, you need to keep your wits about you now. Colin Yes, but I never taught them to shaft Daddy George. It must be the 'Con the White Guy' gene which every Filipina has to a greater or lesser extent flexing its new found muscles. As you say, I'll start sleeping with one eye open from now.  Lucky it wasn't your cheque book! Mind you, I get the feeling that things mostly run on a cash/barter/steal economy from your posts Everything runs on a cash/barter/steal economy. Actually, I prefer it. I've always liked to deal in cash rather than cards and it's just expected here. Also if you don't haggle, they think there's something fundamentally wrong with you.
But yes, if you ever have anything stolen, just wander around Ermita of an afternoon/evening and I'll guarantee you'll be able to buy it back an hour later. In addition, if you barter hard enough, he'll throw in some Viagra and an hour with his sister as well!
Be very, very careful of that offer. You have been warned!
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Last Edit: Jun 27, 2015 22:42:54 GMT by georgeb
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Well, a fun filled Sunday and no mistake.
For reasons I can't explain, this morning I fancied a drive over to see the Presidential Palace, which sits on the banks of the sparkling Pasig River around 5km from my apartment.
After two hours of closed roads, one way (wrong way) streets and various other vehicular imposed impediments, I gave up. Heading down a street, I saw a sign directing me to turn left if I fancied heading for Manila City Hall. "That'll do for me", I thought, as it's near home, and promptly made the turn. Recognising the road I was now on, I was confident that navigation to Malate was now not an issue.
Around 300m later, a very nice man on a motorbike invites me to pull over and discuss the transgression I had apparently made at the junction. We chatted about how turning left there was a no-no, how he agreed the sign was so small as to be invisible, he had a look at my UK license, issued in 1978, and marveled, no doubt the same way the Dead Sea Scrolls were wondered at, upon their first discovery.
We nattered about how I'd have to give him my licence in exchange for a lovely ticket, which I could redeem back for my permit to drive by parting with PHP2,500, in five working days time at Manila City Hall. We talked about his family and the fact he was doing a criminology degree after work every night.
Then the magic words, "...but I can help you".
Within 45 seconds, he'd passed his ticket book through the window, magically disappeared a chunk of Peso, returned my licence, shaken my hand, told me I was, "a good man" and disappeared into the traffic.
God knows how we're going to get on if anyone decides to pay the police a living wage.
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Jun 29, 2015 13:01:32 GMT
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LOL - the very definition of a free market economy! Out of interest, how do you know what is the correct amount to offer in these situations - such as helping him pay for his criminology degree studies in this case? I'd hate to offer so little he thinks he'll go official anyway out of disgust/spite at the insult, or offer too much and be marked for future milking! |
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Jun 30, 2015 10:06:27 GMT
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LOL - the very definition of a free market economy! Out of interest, how do you know what is the correct amount to offer in these situations - such as helping him pay for his criminology degree studies in this case? I'd hate to offer so little he thinks he'll go official anyway out of disgust/spite at the insult, or offer too much and be marked for future milking! Okay, my little rule of thumb, learned when Madam negotiated my first little fine-ette, is take whatever they say the official fine to going to be and roughly half it. That seems to be about right. Don't forget, he doesn't want the labour of writing the ticket any more than you want to spend your dotage down Manila City Hall waiting for the wheels to turn. So it's got to be equitable to all. The big trick is to get the stage of a bung, whoops, an on-the-spot-fine in the first place. Remember, despite all appearances, some are honest, will not take any money and a ticket is inevitable. So, you let him chat, they're great talkers, smile and be pleasant and wait until you hear the words above, "...but I can help you". If these are not forthcoming, try dropping something like, "I've only just moved to the Philippines and don't know all the laws yet, can you help me, Kuya?" You will either get a softening of the face and an invitation to cross his ticket book with used ones or, you'll get an endless lecture on what you've done wrong (again) and a ticket. As to being marked? White Guy + Range Rover? You're marked the second you turn the key, 20 years old or not. To be fair, every time I've been pulled, which is four times now, three left turns and one following a Jeepney the wrong way up a one way street (guess which one got booked!), it's been genuine. I've never had one stop me and make something up. |
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Jun 30, 2015 10:36:42 GMT
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Top bunging George! How many £ is half PHP2,500?
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96 E320 W210 Wafter - on 18" split Mono's - Sold :-(
10 Kia Ceed Sportwagon - Our new daily
03 Import Forester STi - Sold
98 W140 CL500 AMG - Brutal weekend bruiser! Sold :-(
99 E240 S210 Barge - Now sold
02 Accord 2.0SE - wife's old daily - gone in PX
88 P100 2.9efi Custom - Sold
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village
Part of things
Always carries a toolbox. Because Volkswagen.......
Posts: 567
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Jun 30, 2015 12:32:14 GMT
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about 17 quid if google is to be believed
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"The White Van is strong with this one...."
Chris "Chesney" Allen 1976-2005 RIP
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Jun 30, 2015 17:19:57 GMT
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Top bunging George! How many £ is half PHP2,500? Around 14 quid. A very cost effective way to avoid a world of hurt. The only genuine ticket I received was the one-way street one when we first moved to Malate. I used my then still in-date Malaysian license on that one, but eventually ended up paying a relative of Madam's, on top of the fine, to go to City Hall day after day to queue until he was finally successful in retrieving it. Took around three weeks in the end. Never again if I can avoid it. |
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Jun 30, 2015 17:59:18 GMT
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Awesome. Bribing is a veritable BARGAIN! Are there any 'Typical' holiday resorts for Brits out there? You know the sort of thing... A little luxury for us whiteys from around London lol.  |
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96 E320 W210 Wafter - on 18" split Mono's - Sold :-(
10 Kia Ceed Sportwagon - Our new daily
03 Import Forester STi - Sold
98 W140 CL500 AMG - Brutal weekend bruiser! Sold :-(
99 E240 S210 Barge - Now sold
02 Accord 2.0SE - wife's old daily - gone in PX
88 P100 2.9efi Custom - Sold
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Jun 30, 2015 19:06:37 GMT
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about 17 quid if google is to be believed Sorry, you're right for half of 2,500, but I actually gave him 1,000 in the end. We don't want to mess around with small change during these transactions, it's unseemly |
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