Nostr notes by Yvan

yeah, they're a pretty "special" bunch. Rebelliously ...

2026-10-30T19:46:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…runx
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yeah, they're a pretty "special" bunch.

Rebelliously unbuckling as the wheels hit the ground.

They queue ... to get through...to another queue. 😅 (Meanwhile ...

2026-10-30T19:45:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…684n
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They queue ... to get through...to another queue. 😅

(Meanwhile we sit and watch, jump on thru at the end of the queue, then sit down and wait to do the same. We're not the only ones of course, but our kind are a small minority.)

It still amazes me how eager people are to queue for ages to get ...

2026-10-30T19:35:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…99w3
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It still amazes me how eager people are to queue for ages to get on to a plane where their seats are reserved anyway.

Damn, I should have made the plane look like a dildo.

2026-10-30T19:21:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…73r7
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Damn, I should have made the plane look like a dildo.

Flying to SIN! (An old joke, but it amuses me... it has been over ...

2026-10-30T19:21:09Z

Flying to SIN!

(An old joke, but it amuses me... it has been over a decade since I've been able to be amused by it.)

and yeah, I just had an excess of boiled eggs this week. So I ...

2026-10-30T19:19:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…ugux
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and yeah, I just had an excess of boiled eggs this week. So I brought them with me. Thought I'd eat them before security, but never got around to it.

oh, yeah, and even worse is I'm heading to Western Australia. ...

2026-10-30T19:19:05Z

In reply to nevent1q…6dhn
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oh, yeah, and even worse is I'm heading to Western Australia. WA doesn't even like you taking anything remotely biological from other bits of Australia.

the doneness of the eggs didn't even come into question, they ...

2026-10-30T19:12:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…v9tg
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the doneness of the eggs didn't even come into question, they were just stashed, in a 6-pack egg carton, in my carry-on. They must have looked very obviously like exactly what they are on the xray... so I guess cartons of eggs are simply not that threatening. 😆

I wonder if you can tell the difference between a boiled and raw egg on xray...

Fun fact: No problems taking boiled eggs through security at ...

2026-10-30T18:14:29Z

Fun fact: No problems taking boiled eggs through security at Heathrow.

Got told by a colleague that I am "wasting away" today. I ...

2026-10-29T15:15:31Z

Got told by a colleague that I am "wasting away" today.

I think I'll take that as a complement? 😂

(There is very much no danger of me wasting away lol.)

the "giant achocha"? ...

2026-10-28T22:30:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…ma2d
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the "giant achocha"?

But hey, I'm off home to Australia for the first time in over ...

2026-10-28T22:24:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…s3qz
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But hey, I'm off home to Australia for the first time in over 13 years. Sunny (🤞🏻) south west Australia.

Also the Cabernet Sauvignon sneakily grew this tiny but perfect bunch of sweet sweet little grapes.

Today the seed garlic arrived from Grown Local. A bit late lol. ...

2026-10-28T22:01:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…snmw
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Today the seed garlic arrived from Grown Local.

A bit late lol. Flying out on Friday night. No beds ready for it. No time. So it's getting planted late November I guess.

Not doing well here really.

Whilst I was at work today Kat was busy at the plot. Sadly due to ...

2026-10-28T21:55:16Z

Whilst I was at work today Kat was busy at the plot.

Sadly due to workload, car mechanics, and just general spoon deficit I have basically not been at the plot for a month. :( (And TBH it has been months since I have really been able to give it proper time.)

As we're about to head off for 3 weeks decided we'd better grab what we can for rapid processing/freezing. Though unsure we (Kat) can really deal with all this.

OK. Left it a bit late... but dead tired & crushed some ...

2026-10-27T22:58:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…5keh
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OK. Left it a bit late... but dead tired & crushed some anxiety squirrels today. Lets try and beat 90 minutes sleep. 😵‍💫

So #ItalianNight pasta dinner is an autumnal affair inspired by a ...

2026-10-27T20:33:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…am04
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So #ItalianNight pasta dinner is an autumnal affair inspired by a friend bringing me a bag of chestnuts from Italy. (I think there was some sort of chestnut festival going on.)

The pasta recipe is chestnut flour tagliatelle from Georgio Locatelli's "Made in Italy". I have rough cut it as more of a fettuccine size.

The sauce was my usual "winging it" sorta thing, roughly:

brown chestnut flour dusted skinless chicken pieces in rendered lightly browned lardo

add sliced shiitake plus evoo and sauté until floppy

in with sliced garlic, sweat, don't brown

roughly chopped blanched chestnuts

chopped thyme

generous glass dry white

simmer down until aroma not so boozy

pot of double cream

low simmer whilst prep pasta

salt & pepper "to taste"

stir cooked pasta through sauce

serve

Pulling out all the stops for "Italian Night" this ...

2026-10-27T19:24:23Z

Pulling out all the stops for "Italian Night" this tuesday.

Getting rid of the physical shit is the harder problem than ...

2026-10-27T14:18:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…2tpc
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Getting rid of the physical shit is the harder problem than getting rid of the accounting shit it turns out. (Given the former is now done, the latter remains a massive problem.)

It would be nice to also be able to just pay someone to do that. By a method other than "throw it all in a skip".

My brief attempt to actually sell some stuff via the usual sorts of channels was time consuming and annoying. I lack the time and the patience for it. Time time time.

The accountants have nearly sorted it all out... a decade of ...

2026-10-27T14:13:14Z

The accountants have nearly sorted it all out... a decade of running a sole-trader business (plus 2 years of dealing with fallout of its slow and painful death) finally winding up with just some more documents to sign. No more HMRC bugging me, no more fines... still got the debts, but it'll be nice to have the whole HMRC part of the thing with a big line drawn through it.

Also getting a refund lol. Gotta love accountants. (The refund will all go to the accountants lol, and some.)

Now just also got all the piles of leftover shit to get rid of, all sat in storage, costing money... albatrosses.

I'd strongly recommend against choosing to run a business a a sole trader. Sure, it's easier... but the failure modes are much much worse.

Metrics. LOL ...

2026-10-27T05:32:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…3n2w
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Metrics.

LOL

Got a lot of squirrels right now.

2026-10-27T01:44:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…nmut
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Got a lot of squirrels right now.

Sleep is being elusive, the brain squirrels are extra hyperactive ...

2026-10-27T01:42:13Z

Sleep is being elusive, the brain squirrels are extra hyperactive tonight.

How to crush all the anxieties?

I need to murder some of these squirrels.

How does one dispatch squirrels? With actions I fail to take, words I fail to say, problems I fail to face.

It got me home too even! This car used to clock in at 45mpg on ...

2026-10-26T20:08:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…0knv
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It got me home too even!

This car used to clock in at 45mpg on the commute, I assume it must mainly be the massive exhaust leak fix that has taken it tantalisingly close to 50mpg... presumably having the back seat removed helps a little too, a bit less weight.

But probably I shouldn't drive it again until I am back from Australia and have a chance to recheck all the torques given how much work has been done on it. It's done 100 miles since then, but I am not going to have any time to check it before flying out.

For the record: it got me to work fine, driving fine, seems ...

2026-10-26T15:24:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…48pc
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For the record: it got me to work fine, driving fine, seems better than before. Still a little bit of a stutter which could be be sparks, coils, injectors, or fuel pressure... (or something else) ... but only a very very minor niggle on a 16 year old vehicle. I expect I'll address it in time, new spark plugs are in the boot so just need fitting (in a few weeks when I'm back from Oz). The fuel pump is suspiciously noisy, but also I'd rather not have to change that as that's a £200+ part. (Anecdotally online it being noisy may be just pretty normal, but "noisy" is pretty subjective.)

Right, now to see if it gets me the 45 mile drive to the office ...

2026-10-26T09:23:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…lh2x
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Right, now to see if it gets me the 45 mile drive to the office after having all its suspension, drive shafts, and the bulk of its exhaust system DIY replaced 😅

MOT centre computing system really need some love. Wow. Bad. Also ...

2026-10-26T09:10:41Z

MOT centre computing system really need some love. Wow. Bad.

Also now sure what the "have to wait 5 minute for it tongo through now" step is all about. I think that was a DVSA systems turnaround.

Nice to get up to some reasonably non-depressing political news ...

2026-10-26T09:08:24Z

Nice to get up to some reasonably non-depressing political news headlines for a change.

PASSED ✅✅✅ phew 😅

2026-10-26T09:04:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…759t
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PASSED ✅✅✅ phew 😅

🤞🏻

2026-10-26T08:54:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…kl97
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🤞🏻

Well the Fox is now all back together. Coolant system working ...

2026-10-25T18:24:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…wdyx
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Well the Fox is now all back together. Coolant system working fine.

Did the oil change, new fuel filter, and new cabin air filter too.

Only "full service" item not yet done is the spark plugs.

Ran it up the road and back. Running fine.

Exhaust system certainly holding decent pressure now. Hopefully good enough.

I'll do the MOT retry in the morning. 🤞

It is a good market with many independent real "makers" ...

2026-10-25T13:30:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…h92m
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It is a good market with many independent real "makers" ... counterpoint to the one we visited two weeks ago which was just tables of AliExpress/Temu kinda dross. Utter garbage.

I was kinda angry at the world after that market, it was so bad.

Today's market brings some balance... real people making real things... is still a thing.

The market, which was actually the "Autumn Artisan Fayre", is run by a local mob called [Blended Monkey](https://www.blendedmonkey.co.uk/ ) who do workshops.

Went to the local arts and crafts market and did some ...

2026-10-25T13:13:14Z

Went to the local arts and crafts market and did some patronising.

Patronised some local photography, pen making, cyanotyping, copper foiling (stained glass), beading, and linocut printing. Credit card got a thorough workout.

Amongst those many other things obtained, I now possess a locally made (turned & assembled) fountain pen. Incredibly whimsical.

I now need to remember how to write. This is something I was never good at. Though in year 7 at school I did "win" at calligraphy class... though that required painstaking slowness to achieve.

This writing here was also very slow, just trying to recall each letter form.

My "coordination" when it comes to handwriting is abysmal, in normal circumstances I put doctors to shame. But I always found it easier to write with a fountain or felt tip pen, I need the drag, the friction of the point... ball point pens just run away with my hand.

here's to massive risks, and the courage to take them 🍻

2026-10-25T08:42:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…l8xy
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here's to massive risks, and the courage to take them 🍻

Dinner tonight is "fucking massive nachos". Using last ...

2026-10-24T20:23:14Z

Dinner tonight is "fucking massive nachos".

Using last week's venison chilli.

Nostr event nevent1qqsfverxnkrree43vscalqhq5jtukylxdjqkzjx2tp9ljr7ll7r3gpszyz9vumkqqd2vkm9uyj9ktfrqcmdv4rp4uy7jy4g2yl7lkap42w7jcuwdq4n

2026-10-24T19:05:35Z

The fucking fruit flies are a fucking menace this year.

Well. Today could have gone better. Basically all day stood, sat, ...

2026-10-24T17:51:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…sxjn
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Well.

Today could have gone better.

Basically all day stood, sat, knelt, lying... in the rain and damp... fettling damn car shit.

I guess the cat assembly was so cheap as it was selling off seconds/rejects lol. As well as taking back both surfaces I had to drill out one of the holes that was mucked up with weld spatter, and the threads in the outlet were shit and needed tapping.

Got it on. Seems sound. Too late for MOT. Might WfH on Monday AM and see if I can get it to MOT then.

But not quite finished alas. Got the radiator back on but it isn't doing a great job of pulling through the coolant, and the radiator fan didn't kick in despite the coolant thermostat nearing 100°C. I think the fan runs on its own thermostat. I suspect an airlock or air pocket is a problem somewhere.

It got dark, and colder. I couldn't see, I couldn't geel my fingers. So I quit. Alas. So... tomorrow I guess. Joy. Hopefully it isn't too tricky to get working.

All in all… it also could have gone worse.

status: mostly damp, with a serving of meh... moistly damp? ...

2026-10-24T14:34:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…5ltq
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status: mostly damp, with a serving of meh...

moistly damp?

definitely cooler than my old bit of freecycle kitchen bench!

2026-10-24T13:51:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…t939
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definitely cooler than my old bit of freecycle kitchen bench!

Not suuuper flat.... but prob within tolerance for the fat ...

2026-10-24T13:05:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…n8yz
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Not suuuper flat.... but prob within tolerance for the fat graphite type gasket it came with.

Took dings out of the edges with files before surfacing.

Upgraded to 180 from 240 to cut through a bit more, will then 240 and then 400 it. Which should be plenty good enough? (Not intending/expecting perfection here lol.)

Small block is to take some remaining lumpy corrosion off the engine side.

Granite worktop as sanding blocks... ...

2026-10-24T13:00:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…xa94
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Granite worktop as sanding blocks...

The week was unkind to me for time, between work workload (long ...

2026-10-24T09:46:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…n8yz
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The week was unkind to me for time, between work workload (long days, and dark now closing in) and the abysmal weather. So not touched the car since Monday.

[New tools](https://toot.ale.gd/@yvan/117474311674558402 ) already put to good use!

[These](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004LU5PNM ) sorta self-locking stud-extractors have impressed me, "just worked" (only used the M8 one so far).

Ah, hello weekend. ...

2026-10-24T09:40:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…8g3w
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Ah, hello weekend.

It is good weather for a big warming bowl of sinegang. ...

2026-10-23T18:37:12Z

It is good weather for a big warming bowl of sinegang.

...and home is a 1 hour drive away

2026-10-22T20:38:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…m85d
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...and home is a 1 hour drive away

TFW you're leaving the office at what is supposed to be your ...

2026-10-22T20:36:36Z

TFW you're leaving the office at what is supposed to be your bedtime.

our allotment it pretty wild right now. :( Lacking the time and ...

2026-10-22T12:06:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…mk63
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our allotment it pretty wild right now. :(

Lacking the time and energy, work is pretty intense lately. Break will be good.

looking forward to it :) [counting down the days...]

2026-10-22T11:59:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…ykjw
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looking forward to it :) [counting down the days...]

Funny how the "4" problem has almost entirely been sunk ...

2026-10-22T10:16:58Z

Funny how the "4" problem has almost entirely been sunk under the PHP-hype.

For many folks, like my workplace, "4" is the real possible problem right now... folks are asking about the PHP thing... we don't have any PHP. (Though well worth double-checking anything you do self host/manage in case there's something!)

For an encore I have updated my Masto server too. I see I am on ...

2026-10-22T06:21:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…l8j6
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For an encore I have updated my Masto server too.

I see I am on v4.8.0 ... so it hasn't gone to this 5.0 version everyone here is loving/hating (delete as appropriate).

Heh, wow, right...<code>$ RAILS_ENV=production bin/tootctl ...

2026-10-22T05:56:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…2x3w
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Heh, wow, right...<code>$ RAILS_ENV=production bin/tootctl media remove --prune-profiles I, [2026-10-22T05:47:59.971106 #2370120] INFO -- : [dotenv] Loaded .env.production 136811/136812 |====== | ETA: ??:??:?? Visited 136811 accounts and removed profile media totaling 26.6 GB </code>

TWENTY SIX POINT SIX GIGS

Why. Why is there a default that even allows this. What for. 🙄

[TBH I should put the time into working out things like how I am ...

2026-10-22T05:54:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…40r4
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[TBH I should put the time into working out things like how I am getting to Heathrow in 7 days, and what I am doing when I land in Australia, lol... plans? Pfftt... we have the "last minute" for that!]

(Got into work at usual early gym time, but the cleaners are ...

2026-10-22T05:52:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…5tgv
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(Got into work at usual early gym time, but the cleaners are unexpectedly in... which makes it all a bit awkward. So here I am poking IT bits instead lol.)

A result of bot/crawler activity? I should probably take some ...

2026-10-22T05:50:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…zjsn
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A result of bot/crawler activity? I should probably take some effort to see what is actually hitting the Mastodon instance.

I also wonder if the "web" UI of it needs to be generally publicly available at all. Wonder if i can just turn that off kinda thing.

Huh, so having a quick poke at my Mastodon to try to work out why ...

2026-10-22T05:48:10Z

Huh, so having a quick poke at my Mastodon to try to work out why it uses so much disc:<code>$ RAILS_ENV=production bin/tootctl media usage I, [2026-10-22T05:44:35.890369 #2367627] INFO -- : [dotenv] Loaded .env.production Object Total Local Attachments 8.57 GB 4.9 GB Custom Emoji 1.3 GB 6.71 KB Avatars 9.66 GB 553 KB Headers 20.3 GB 1.12 MB Preview Cards 169 MB Backups 0 Bytes Settings 275 KB </code>

Why the fuck does it need 20GB of "headers"?

When you're #1 for all the wrong reasons... ...

2026-10-21T21:16:38Z

When you're #1 for all the wrong reasons...

Maybe there will be some jobs for PHP coders to update some old ...

2026-10-21T20:37:38Z

Maybe there will be some jobs for PHP coders to update some old sites. I know one looking for work 😅 (not me, I hate PHP, always preferred Perl)

i386, haha... I've just done updates and hoped. 😅 ...

2026-10-21T19:01:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…e5ts
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i386, haha...

I've just done updates and hoped. 😅

(I've much newer VPSes on Beasts & Hetzner, not that that is any help in this circumstance lol.... I wish I didn't have any PHP crap, damn all the legacy wordpress instances!)

LOL, I wonder how many folks today have looked at the infosec ...

2026-10-21T18:55:43Z

LOL, I wonder how many folks today have looked at the infosec news and simply decided to turn off their websites 😅

It has been more than a few minutes.

How am I going to know which bin to take out now!

I've no idea where this "US Pro" tool brand came ...

2026-10-20T17:11:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…jfst
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I've no idea where this "US Pro" tool brand came from, but I have quite a bit of stuff from that brand now and it has all seemed very good value for money thus far.

The other unknown-to-me-until-recent-times brand I have a lot of bits from is "Lexivon", which likewise has seemed very sound value for money.

Sure, we'd all love to have authentic Snap-On gear, but realistically the DIY level wear-and-tear (and funds don't justify it.

Pretty happy with both these brands thus far.

Impulse(ish) purchases occurred. Weirdly amongst my many tools I ...

2026-10-20T17:02:22Z

Impulse(ish) purchases occurred.

Weirdly amongst my many tools I don't actually own a decent ratchet.

I have three sizes of torque wrench, two sizes of breaker bar, and one tiny little 1/4" ratchet, plus the very cheap crappy 1/2" ratchet as part of the basic house toolkit.

So now I add a set of flex head ratchetts.

Plus I got some flex adaptors as they would have been very handy several times recently.

The other items are stud extractors.

I asked him to pull it a bit short, he said: "Like a ...

2026-10-20T12:31:11Z

I asked him to pull it a bit short, he said: "Like a ristretto?"

Points scored!

And it is decent. Good body, good acidity.

England is catching up to 2025 Australia. 🤣

This is the not-so-new Eden café in Comberton near Cambridge.

👀 where did you get that? (My supply of 500ml bottles from EMF ...

2026-10-19T22:08:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…t2zj
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👀 where did you get that? (My supply of 500ml bottles from EMF is running out!)

nice, I'll file the "holts firegum" away for future ...

2026-10-19T17:49:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…2kxz
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nice, I'll file the "holts firegum" away for future reference... I do have a CarPlan exhaust paste which I used when interfacing the new front half of the exhaust tot he old rear half. I wasn't sure about using that around gaskets though.

The first key problem with this is the manifold interface on the cat is waaay off flat, more than 1mm.

But I have bigger problems too, as suspected: https://toot.ale.gd/@yvan/117468815582254321

Proper bloody rabbit hole lol... given how deep in I am I'm going going to keep hacking at this car until it works lol... it's still cheaper than buying something else and it'll pay for itself in fuel savings given my daft driving commute.

Hopefully I don't hit anything actually fatal! If so... well, it has been a learning experience.

[@Maker_of_Things](https://cupoftea.social/@Maker_of_Things )

quoting
note1r08…7s0z

So... next day...

The "optimistic" approach was a fail. Disassemble everything, clean it all up thoroughly, and reassemble. Nope.

Two key issues:
The manifold interface on the cat assembly is waaaay off flat, more than 1mm... raised to the centre, tapering to one side, and that's why it was leaking either side despite the thick graphite core gasket.
After doing a complete clean-up and reassembly it was easy enough to verify with the cowling off that there seems to definitely be a crack/leak in the back of the unit below the cat.

So: cat is fucked.

Thankfully I am not that optimistic and had already ordered a new one via eBay, dubiously cheap, but we shall see lol: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336673019662

I did also pick up new gaskets from EuroCarParts today. I used the lower one already... might be re-usable. But the kit above comes with a set. I didn't use the upper one as it is a typical multi-metal-sheet one, very thin, was never going to work given how out the surface is.

In theory I should be able to take the EuroCarParts one back for ...

2026-10-19T17:46:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…806d
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In theory I should be able to take the EuroCarParts one back for refund if I don't used it.

So presently just hoping the new cat shows up in a timely manner as implied (should be tomorrow). I have new studs and exhaust/manifold nuts on the way too (prob later in week, from Spalding Fastners). So probably Saturday morning I will be reassembling, hoping it is sound, and fingers-crossed get the MOT passed. 🤞

So... next day... The "optimistic" approach was a fail. ...

2026-10-19T17:44:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…xynm
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So... next day...

The "optimistic" approach was a fail. Disassemble everything, clean it all up thoroughly, and reassemble. Nope.

Two key issues:<li>The manifold interface on the cat assembly is waaaay off flat, more than 1mm... raised to the centre, tapering to one side, and that's why it was leaking either side despite the thick graphite core gasket.</li><li>After doing a complete clean-up and reassembly it was easy enough to verify with the cowling off that there seems to definitely be a crack/leak in the back of the unit below the cat.</li>

So: cat is fucked.

Thankfully I am not that optimistic and had already ordered a new one via eBay, dubiously cheap, but we shall see lol: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336673019662

I did also pick up new gaskets from EuroCarParts today. I used the lower one already... might be re-usable. But the kit above comes with a set. I didn't use the upper one as it is a typical multi-metal-sheet one, very thin, was never going to work given how out the surface is.

OK Fedi, how about a game of "name that nut"! The best ...

2026-10-19T13:47:04Z

OK Fedi, how about a game of "name that nut"!

The best description I can think of is: M8 copper-flashed deep-thread flange-nut with clearance/sleeve for stud collar

CC [@Maker_of_Things](https://cupoftea.social/@Maker_of_Things ) who seems most likely to know this sort of thing here!

about that I now mainly feel a sort of anxious guilt

2026-10-18T22:36:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…dkdz
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about that I now mainly feel a sort of anxious guilt

[Suffice to say](https://toot.ale.gd/@yvan/117463235745645742 ), ...

2026-10-18T21:40:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…ufdt
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[Suffice to say](https://toot.ale.gd/@yvan/117463235745645742 ), today didn't quite go to plan.

I did get most of the above done. Didn't vacuum or clean the garage or car, but did pack the tools. Testing the Fox exhaust could have.... gone better.

Venison got browned in the oven, and is now in its juices to be turned into chilli another day.

I'm going to experiment with refitting the manifold with the existing gasket, which I have cleaned up. See how it goes with proper torque on it.

Found a UK engineering firm which makes a complete gasket and ...

2026-10-18T19:36:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…lp2e
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Found a UK engineering firm which makes a complete gasket and replacement stud kit for decent prices, so have emailed them... failing that (i.e. no reply tomorrow) I will prob just get the basic shit ones from EuroCarParts which they can get in-branch next-day, and then just clean it up and try and reassemble. Cross fingers. Etc. Just gonna have to do that in the cold/dark outside after work. (Maybe I should have moved it back into the garage before I ripped the front off it lol...)

In other news Claude reckons an exhaust outlet to can get to ...

2026-10-18T18:53:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…5urs
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In other news Claude reckons an exhaust outlet to can get to 800C.

Fucksake. 🤣

Yeah, lets not rely on GenAI for vehicle mechanical work advice.

The trouble is the fancier sorts of gasket I'd rather use for ...

2026-10-18T18:47:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…2lzr
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The trouble is the fancier sorts of gasket I'd rather use for this are £££ (like £30) and are really only supposed to be single-use. So the question is whether I risk spending twice on the gaskets if the cat itself is fucked.

That's quite aside from the question of whether I risk a strangely cheap cat, versus a second hand rusty looking cat (they all look a bit shit), or a more £££ new cat.

My ideal is to get this done by next Saturday so I can redo the MOT within the 10 day free-redo-MOT window.

like... my Fox is Cat powered 😂

2026-10-18T18:45:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…7urz
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like... my Fox is Cat powered 😂

I am maybe using it wrong, I don't know. :( I have kinda come ...

2026-10-18T18:40:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…wxp2
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I am maybe using it wrong, I don't know. :(

I have kinda come to hate it. I don't think it is something I ought to need to be running a whole extra massive VPS for that's bigger than my all-other-services VPS running all my email stuff, multiple wordpress sites, other websites, etc.

I've been running my own server/services for 20+ years and Mastodon is by a very long way the worst thing I have experienced from a sysadmin PoV.

My fairly off the cuff view of it is it is a terribly designed ...

2026-10-18T18:34:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…x67z
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My fairly off the cuff view of it is it is a terribly designed really shitty bit of software. (But my PoV is very much that of a Linux//Unix C/C++ networking/service software kinda old-timer.)

But I accept maybe that the real problem is it just isn't a piece of software that should be used in this single/low user mode of operation. It's designed for infrastructure, to be using storage as a service, etc. (So in a lot of ways it is simply as badly designed as any modern bit of web software lol.)

It could be this, I haven't had any time to try and analyse ...

2026-10-18T18:31:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…prqu
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It could be this, I haven't had any time to try and analyse it. I think a Masto instance can effectively act as a proxy to all other Fedi nodes, so I suspect scrapers can cause it to just cache and cache and cache... gigabytes per day of crap that has nothing to do with local user usage.

Hmmm... this is a strangely (disturbingly) cheap "new" ...

2026-10-18T18:24:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…xy8t
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Hmmm... this is a strangely (disturbingly) cheap "new" cat replacement: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296833087268

Shitty looking second hand ones on eBay are listed for higher prices!

yeah, that was my last solution... but I don't want to just ...

2026-10-18T18:16:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…hg0h
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yeah, that was my last solution... but I don't want to just keep increasing disc space.

It seems phenomenally stupid for this shit to have its current rate of growth.

It has been a while since I have researches ways to fix it, or configure it differently. Would be great if I could do more to slim it down... permanently.

I might have a bigger problem though and I am not sure how to ...

2026-10-18T18:15:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…zmh7
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I might have a bigger problem though and I am not sure how to test/tackle it.

It felt a hell of a lot like there was gas escaping at the base of the cat, above the outlet port.

Visually I cannot see any cracks or anything like that.

And it is quite possible what I felt was just gas jetting out from the top and travelling around the cowling.

So... clean it all up, new gaskets, refit, and hope... or try to test the unit for leaks. I will need to make some blanking plates, and a way to pressurise it. (I do have parts/tools/stuff I could do this with.)

The manifold/cat wasn't torqued on properly at all, it is ...

2026-10-18T18:08:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…xtn7
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The manifold/cat wasn't torqued on properly at all, it is like someone refitted it and just forgot to tighten the bolts.

You can see in this photo where the exhaust has been escaping past the gasket.

How it's going.... ...

2026-10-18T18:05:36Z

How it's going....

Migrating to different Fedi software is a pain to contemplate, as ...

2026-10-18T18:04:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…pmum
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Migrating to different Fedi software is a pain to contemplate, as I kinda want/like to keep my post history. Not sure if that is a solved problem with any of the alternatives yet — basically set up a new instance that can import a Mastodon user/server history.

Running my own Mastodon instance got old quite a while ago. It is ...

2026-10-18T18:03:04Z

Running my own Mastodon instance got old quite a while ago.

It is just a shitty thing to maintain.

I wish I'd chosen one of the more sensible Fedi alternatives.

I need to find a way to make this essentially single user instance not think it needs so many 10s of GB of disc space. It's baseline storage just keeps growing. My instance is at nearly 70GB even after a '--days 1' media remove.

My half of the room we call "the study" & my ...

2026-10-18T14:45:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…dnlp
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My half of the room we call "the study" & my electrical toolboxes got a mild re-org & tidying out of this at least.

Silver linings, hey.

LOL, sadly, just had such a typically me experience. I had to ...

2026-10-18T14:41:51Z

LOL, sadly, just had such a typically me experience.

I had to replace a broken plug on one of my work lights. (I must have trod on it or something.)

Job done, under 5 minutes.

Then spend 20+ minutes looking for the lost screw from the new plug because hell knows what I absent mindedly did with the thing.

Found it. It was in my left shoe.

My fucking left shoe.

Which was on my fucking foot.

IDK. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Gave myself a mild beating for my own incompetence.

Also, entirely fuck the people who put these brittle plastic "earth" pins onto something like a jobsite spotlight. Absolutely brain dead.

I haven't yet remembered to eat today, this probably does not help.

Right. Wet rub on venison time.

Then back to the garage tidy.

Anyway... today? I need to: * tidy up / org all the tools in the ...

2026-10-18T12:04:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…nqud
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Anyway... today?

I need to:

* tidy up / org all the tools in the garage from the 6 months of Fox tinkering (the garage complemented me on the full suspension and drive shaft work, if not my exhaust work lol)

* vacuum garage (& whilst at it maybe also the Fox, and give it a wash too?)

* make a venison chilli con carne

* boil 18 eggs

* put a rub on 18 chicken thighs and bake them

* test Fox exhaust, also replace number plate bulb

* prep for work tomorrow (but might WfH if the Fox is MOT-able)

The allotment is mainly neglected right now. I have lost the capacity to deal with it. This needs some thought. Especially in context of thinking seriously about wanting to move closer to Cambridge next year.)

Car: in under 10 weeks of commuting having the Fox back OTR will ...

2026-10-18T11:53:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…8mvq
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Car: in under 10 weeks of commuting having the Fox back OTR will save more in fuel £££ than the cost of that stereo upgrade. Maybe I should also throw in new speakers, and a nice sub (of course), oh no, I found another rabbit hole tonget lost in lol.

Gluten: I have always suffered from a certain level of constant congestion. I have realised that when I am mainly "off carbs" like I have been for the last 6+ months, this mainly goes away. On Friday I had 2 burger buns, last night I had pizza, today I have the congestion. 🤔 (But correlation is not causation, etc.)

Yesterday was up very early (for Saturday) for Fox MOT, which ...

2026-10-18T11:48:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…ek68
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Yesterday was up very early (for Saturday) for Fox MOT, which failed on exhaust leak, so then a bunch of the day was about that. Lost too much time. Tried epoxy exhaust paste but that didn't work in one place, so trying high-temp silicone now, need to wait until late arvo for cure time. Hoping this "fix" will get it past MOT tomorrow. But in the meantime planning to order a hopefully better graphite type gasket to fit, and new threaded studs.

Ordered some other "nice" little bits for the Fox, and researched modern stereo replacement for it. (Bluetooth, etc... drop £400 on a nice Kenwood with Fox fitting kit? Feels a bit OTT for a car I probably couldn't sell for that much, haha.)

Also did the usual Saturday butcher & veg shopping and refuelled the V70. Hit the £120 limit pay at pump for the first time (5 days in-office commute cost, sigh).

Did a little bit of work-work, tying up loose ends.

Odds, and ends.

Ordered pizza dinner. Pondering if I have some level of gluten intolerance.

Two coffee batches into Sunday and still in bed. 😅 Yes... much ...

2026-10-18T11:36:38Z

Two coffee batches into Sunday and still in bed. 😅

Yes... much to do.

Am pondering silicone and wondering how it sets/cures. Given it has a very long shelf life in the tube. (Though not forever, I have tried to use years-old unused silicone tubes a few times, set solid.)

If you use this "silicone gasket" type of product which "cures in 24 hours" ... is the silicone that is effectively sealed away, a very thin amount, between the mated interface of two pieces of steel going to actually be set? Or is there likely to be a long time in which there is some in the middle uncured?

back home in Australia we had such a rich variety of youth ...

2026-10-18T11:20:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…zr35
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back home in Australia we had such a rich variety of youth fiction pre-HP. I am not up to date on such things, but it feels sad to think HP "hype" may have erased that. Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden, Taronga by Victor Kelleher, Paul Jennings, Tim Winton... etc. Some strong reading memories. All still there to read today of course! If I had kids I'd like to think these things & more contemporary equivalents are what they would have on their bookshelves (but hell knows...)

HP was weird that in the late 90s I had friends my age reading it and loving it, I tried a couple but it seemed a bit meh to me (I was well into adults sci-fi by then, and Pratchett, and was several re-reads into Tolkien, so HP felt like very watered down B grade fantasy.)

"At least they were reading" ... I guess.

[I am not diagnosed anything in particular, but am probably ...

2026-10-18T11:07:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…cwfm
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[I am not diagnosed anything in particular, but am probably something somewhere on some spectrum or another lol, or just old, and in some ways brought up older than my own time.]

ah, I love this terminology, and feel "seen" in it (more ...

2026-10-18T11:06:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…7rnf
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ah, I love this terminology, and feel "seen" in it (more seeing myself). My brain never ceases to run what I think of as "speculation loops".

I keep explaining (defending) my written verbosity to colleagues in this way: "Sorry for the amount of text, but its the only way to get my thoughts in an order that will translate to you." Without the written form I struggle to relay the detail in a conversational format. "Tie down your thinking" is exactly it. Oftentimes it is more for my own benefit than theirs.

(On the plus side I am usually complemented (non- sarcastically? maybe) on my "wonderful" weekly reports. Like this is... unusual... I sometimes wonder how badly people have simply lost the actual ability to write coherently. We no longer value written records I think, all has become so fleeting, ephemeral, in the headlong rush of relentless continuous progress. Stop, take a breath, get your thoughts in order.)

Apparently they could not find my DNA in a whole tube of spit. I ...

2026-10-17T13:33:27Z

Apparently they could not find my DNA in a whole tube of spit.

I always knew I was probably an android, or some other synthetic lifeform.

Amused that me having ripped the rear seat out of the Fox is a ...

2026-10-17T09:23:48Z

Amused that me having ripped the rear seat out of the Fox is a MOT "monitor and repair if necessary (advisories)"

Pity about the exhaust, its just a leaky joint, I should have managed to identify that myself.

Figured I may as well get some work done whilst I wait. But about ...

2026-10-17T08:10:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…e06u
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Figured I may as well get some work done whilst I wait.

But about 60% I just wanted to play with the toy on the ground behind.

Starting out my Saturday in style with a bean-to-cup black coffee ...

2026-10-17T07:03:44Z

Starting out my Saturday in style with a bean-to-cup black coffee in an In-n-Out (which sounds more like the name of a dodgy back roads brothel than a garage).

It's actually... decent enough.

When I moved to the UK you'd be lucky to be offered a dirty looking mug of instant.

The phone really doesn't capure it well lol.... ...

2026-10-16T15:48:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…xy24
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The phone really doesn't capure it well lol....

Mega rainbow action going on over the office!! ...

2026-10-16T15:47:16Z

Mega rainbow action going on over the office!!

Meh. Anyway, looks like the watch and the app just needed more ...

2026-10-16T07:36:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…c37e
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Meh.

Anyway, looks like the watch and the app just needed more time to get in sync.

Right. It was a slight struggle, but I did make it to the office ...

2026-10-16T06:03:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…rlyu
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Right. It was a slight struggle, but I did make it to the office at "gym time" at least, but I am sat staring at the kit thinking: where is a good spot to try and lie down and have a nap?

The couches are looking pretty inviting.

Might just run through the motions on some low weights.

I got the Withings ScanWatch2 — since Tuesday — Tues night ...

2026-10-16T06:00:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…y3lu
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I got the Withings ScanWatch2 — since Tuesday — Tues night sleep was "OK" according to it, Weds... not so great... last night... 🤷🏻‍♂️

I am a bundle of too many anxieties. Deranged squirrels running around in my head.

I am unsure of the value of this sort of watch thing, I have tried them before, but I am also just not a wearer of watches in general. Primary motivation for this is getting some kinda sleep metrics, followed by general longer term health trends I guess.