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Mar 29, 2021 11:46:05 GMT
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Good to see you (almost) sorted in the new place George. What's the general feeling locally on the China situation? I've seen a few rather concerning articles in the news recently, both for yourselves and for Taiwan. Cheers, yes, nearly there. China? Now there's a problem. Our president says there is nothing to worry about. So obviously there is, and he's annoyed he can't just shoot it, like every other problem. He's also signed up to billions of dollars of loans from China who, apart from a couple of piddling ones, haven't paid a single Yuan over yet. The Defence Secretary says he's sending the navy. Then he says, "Well, maybe a Fisheries Protection vessel," because sending in both warships (if they start) would look like "...militarizing the area." Like China hasn't already. "We are ready to defend our national sovereignty and protect the marine resources of the Philippines," and, "...blatant infringement of the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction," soon became, "We should just exercise a high degree of vigilance, a high degree of monitoring and see what happens on the ground.” A fine exercise in appeasement. China doesn't want the Philippines, it wants the stuff under the sea all around the Philippines. We'll just have to wait and see how far they'll go to get it. So far, quite a way. Taiwan's been festering since the mid 1940s and both they, and Manila (Duterte's already pi55ed off Washington. Backtrack? Yeah!), are looking to the US to sort things out. Could be learning Mandarin soon!  |
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Mar 29, 2021 11:50:11 GMT
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Doesnt look like the aircon in the office will be very effective.. Hate aircon, so open (covered in mosquito netting) is brilliant. If the breeze drops, fire up the fan, or 扇子, as the Chinese would say! |
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Last Edit: Mar 29, 2021 11:50:37 GMT by georgeb
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Mar 29, 2021 20:43:02 GMT
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Good to see you (almost) sorted in the new place George. What's the general feeling locally on the China situation? I've seen a few rather concerning articles in the news recently, both for yourselves and for Taiwan. Cheers, yes, nearly there. Taiwan's been festering since the mid 1940s and both they, and Manila (Duterte's already pi55ed off Washington. Backtrack? Yeah!), are looking to the US to sort things out. Could be learning Mandarin soon! But doesn't Taiwan have a watertight agreement with the US , & UK for that matter, that if the chinese try anything war will be declared? |
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Todos con Lorca
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jpsmit
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,274
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Cheers, yes, nearly there. Taiwan's been festering since the mid 1940s and both they, and Manila (Duterte's already pi55ed off Washington. Backtrack? Yeah!), are looking to the US to sort things out. Could be learning Mandarin soon! But doesn't Taiwan have a watertight agreement with the US , & UK for that matter, that if the chinese try anything war will be declared? The dilemna as some are starting to notice is that in pretty much every scenario in that part of the world the Americans get their a55es handed to them. The Chinese have been watching and learning and equipping. America has been err distracted. |
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The only way that war is winnable is if Russia comes in too and takes China in the rear.
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Mar 30, 2021 21:04:11 GMT
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Haven't the Chinese twigged that the only US President to not start a war just got kicked out of office and peace loving Kamila and Sleepy Joe will be trying to get their troops on the ground in some god forsaken hell hole as soon as possible to guarantee re-election....
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Me? I've bought an English-Mandarin phrase book, just to be on the safe side. So, got a little man in this morning to remove a rather large and sturdy old Yale padlock for which there are no keys. My plan was to send him off to avail (also Philippine-lawyer speak for 'buy') a decent set of bolt croppers. He had other ideas. He'd come equipped with a small hammer and a screwdriver and proceeded to hit the lock. After ten minutes, it looked untouched, as you'd imagine. I told him again to go buy a large set of bolt croppers. He disappeared to return with a hacksaw, complete with Cheap blade. No prizes for guessing the outcome. Again, go get some effing decent bolt croppers (I'd already given him the money). So off he went again, returning with a set he'd borrowed. These should never have left their mother. I can't think of anything small enough to use them on that a pair of sidecut pliers couldn't manage. Anyway, he attacked again until, with veins like ropes standing out on his forehead, he admitted defeat and has gone to get what I asked him to in the first place! We'll get there in the end.  Edit to add; he came back with large croppers and a mate. between them, they wrestled it apart.  HIs other task is to purchase 2m of 30mm dowel which I'll be cutting up and using to reset the '38's air suspension over the weekend. Let's see what he comes back with. Edit to add; nothing.  |
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Last Edit: Mar 31, 2021 5:12:59 GMT by georgeb
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Have you not got an oxy-acetylene set then George? Perhaps try some thermite?
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Have you not got an oxy-acetylene set then George? Perhaps try some thermite? Can't help but feel that if we let him loose with a gas-axe, the only thing left would be the bloody padlock! |
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Knock up a bit of thermite, the girls will enjoy the show!
What was the padlock protecting?
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Mar 31, 2021 10:41:21 GMT
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Knock up a bit of thermite, the girls will enjoy the show! What was the padlock protecting?  That door, directly to my relaxing (smoking) area. I'll get a pic of the lock tomorrow, it's a bit of a monster. |
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Perhaps try some thermite?
But usually he can pick them more quickly.
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Last Edit: Apr 1, 2021 7:38:13 GMT by theoldman
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Was sent this... Makes you wonder why you bother! I'm betting on seven dogs being more of a deterrent! |
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Anyway, it's Holy Week here, when the Philippines all but shuts down and this last month's work has been bonkers. Showered this morning, put my overalls on, went outside and was hit by a huge wall of lassitude. Came back in, changed into shorts and T-shirt and spent the day chilling in the garden with les animaux instead. Rear shockers can wait a few hours. |
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Last Edit: Apr 1, 2021 10:59:52 GMT by georgeb
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Look what I found just around the corner...  Ordered 8 a couple to try tomorrow. |
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I occasionally watch a YouTube channel called the lock picking lawyer, pretty much shows that any lock can be picked by someone with the knowledge, he is very entertaining and highly skilled.
In a previous life to 'bypass locks' i operated a man portable thermic cutter which ran oxygen through hollow steel cable producing at least 1750 degrees centigrade at the cutting point, highly dramatic and ever so slightly dangerous, great fun. We later changed to a battery powered surface cutter as used for rebar trimming not as much fun but far safer.
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Last Edit: Apr 5, 2021 12:44:36 GMT by duggers
Needs a bigger hammer mate.......
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Well, the minced beef pies are highly recommended and, at two quid a pop, not bank-breakers either! Steak and mushroom tomorrow. Just as important, had another air-drop of beer and brandy. As a bonus, two large boxes of tea bags arrived from the UK. They were only posted in December, so pretty quick! |
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Hey ecosse01, how are you doing? Hopefully on your next trip, we'll have a raft of new places to explore and sample! Regards to both. |
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ecosse01
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 44
Club RR Member Number: 28
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Hi George,
Things are okay back here, hope your settling in to your new house okay.
Them pies don't don't look to bad.
Don't know when the next trip will be yet, but I'm looking forward to our next San-Mig Lite together.
If you want anything posted out just let me know.
I can always put something in the next box we send to the in-laws and get them to put it in the Phil Post.
Regards to everyone
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Apr 15, 2021 10:32:46 GMT
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Hi George, Things are okay back here, hope your settling in to your new house okay. Them pies don't don't look to bad. Don't know when the next trip will be yet, but I'm looking forward to our next San-Mig Lite together. If you want anything posted out just let me know. I can always put something in the next box we send to the in-laws and get them to put it in the Phil Post. Regards to everyone Cheers Robert, settling in nicely now. Just waiting for the latest lockdown to lift a coupla notches and then I can go proper exploring, if any bars are still around to reopen. When you do get over, I'm sure we'll find somewhere and, if not, under the mango tree is a very pleasant spot! Pies are top stuff. Bought two each of the minced beef, lamb roast (think meat and potato), beef and mushroom, and pork (made with minced pork, not like the UK) and they've all been excellent. Bought the same again and shipped them over to a mate who lives in Quezon City on Sunday (excuse for a run out) who said, after trying, "I didn't realise how much I'd missed a good pie!" Think I've just found myself a fortnightly delivery task! Got stopped at a checkpoint on the way home and told them I'd been delivering food to an aged friend who was housebound. The soldier was impressed, my mate, when I told him, not so much! Finally got around to ordering some 30mm diameter nylon rod to cut up to make calibration blocks and set up the '38's air suspension properly. Of course, despite having 30mm in the advert and having 30mm written on the ends, they're 32mm. If it don't fit, just force it! That'll be a right riveting read in the RR thread! To keep the automotive content going, when I pulled up for only my second pie collection, the shop was deserted. A minute later, she came out with my order already packed up. "How did you know it was me?" "I see your car pull up and recognise it from the other day" That'll do for me! |
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