gjm

A question for our Mercedes but relevant to other marques too. Many cars, as they get older, see under bonnet insulation either peel away, or dry out, flake, and fall on to the engine. Can't be fixed - buy new insulation and fit. So what adhesive is most appropriate? One suggestion is 3M 5200 which (as far as I can tell) is a marine adhesive. Any other recommendations?

PFL, I think. Square corners - same as the E24 (iirc).

Just seen a pair of fog lights advertised for $300, reduced from $400. They must have the unobtainium reflectors and sapphire crystal lenses.

Similar, though not the same, issue here. Airbag light is sometimes on. Could be driving along and light is on, then off, then on again. Nothing has so far shown up on a scan.

Not had snow, but it's been cold the last few days, especially in the evenings.

Following Harm's @leichtbau pic I remembered seeing this... https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/monaco-monza-macao-wellington-1990/quotes

1989 Schnitzer team on Wellington seafront for the Wellington 500. Winners Emanuele Pirro (he did that a lot!) and Robert Ravaglia (on the left, car no. 1), and Steve Soper and Fabien Giroix (right, car no. 10). And the entirely indispensable support team. http://touringcarracing.net/Races/1989 Wellington.html

Hasn't replied to my PM, or (as far as i can see) any other questions. There's a build thread on here somewhere, I think?

ONE Apus tipped 1800 containers, out of China, into the sea earlier this month....

I'm friends with Lance Burdett who runs WARN International. Very interesting guy and an excellent presenter. Mindfulness is one of those things that so many people regard as a bit wishy-washy but it does make sense when you get involved. Lots of little things can help. @Jacko's comment at the top about going for a drive is a great example; another is that I've been taking the pup for a walk on the beach each day. I love the beach - could sit there for hours and just watch the sea. Just listening to music can make a difference. Just doing some of these things can help. The issue is that at the end of it, my mind is either clear and identifying way(s) forward, or it is a vacuum and all the stress just floods back in.

Received an 'interesting' reply from the GM in question. Seems evident that it is a collaborated message, with significant HR input. The tone has changed completely: there's still reference to increased pace, but much more 'softly softly' than I have seen before. My reply is going to be to agree with on detail, and reiterate that I'll consider everything else and reply more fully in the New Year. While this approach is one agreed with legal advice, it is an approach I have suggested. The absolute worst that can happen is that this is the end of this role at this organisation. I'm extremely aware that NZ is a small place, and that Hawke's Bay (we have no intention of moving) is a tiny part of NZ. People talk. So I'll not be antagonistic, I'll not be throwing blood into a shark pool, and I'll not be bad-mouthing anyone. I know where the 'drive' (which is what is adversely affecting me) is coming from and while I might not agree with parts of it, I'll not be critical. I've always found leaving an organisation a difficult thing to do. There's a reason why I joined - if I didn't like what I saw at the outset, I'd not have been there. Maybe it is time for a change. That might mean a significant winding back of the (let's face it) expensive hobbies but health and happiness are far, far more important than anything else. The comments re NZ management, especially in tech areas, are absolutely true. The only place you get decent senior IT-related management is in IT companies, and even then it's not always good. A great tech (or any other specialist) is not necessarily (not often?) a good manager or even role model. Again - huge thanks to everyone for their support. I've always loved Christmas - this year I'm looking forward to it even more than usual. 😊 🎅

I do need to take time out during the working day for me, and do it properly. I've developed a bad habit of taking a break at my desk, just doing something different. I need to get out, and a walk is a good way to do that. I have consoled myself with the knowledge that others have been much worse than me, and moved on to much better things. I might be able to avoid some triggers, if I could remove the interaction with seemingly indifferent senior management! That's not going to happen so I need to change that dynamic. It's something I'm working on, in the back of my mind. I am still struggling with 'letting go'. The overwhelming nature of being unable to stop thinking, stop going over and over the same problem, is crippling.

This always the biggest issue. By the time anyone realises something is amiss, several 'events' have usually passed. I'm keeping *everything*. Regardless of my situation, really hope you're good now.

Good (if expensive!) meeting this morning. A response I had thought of sending to my GM wasn't confrontational, but the suggestion was to remove detail from it, generalise, and take time and space to think. The offer of support if that doesn't work is available. I have an appointment with EAP Services tomorrow morning. I'm not going to try fooling myself into thinking things are getting better, but the very vaguest outlines of a plan are emerging.

From my perspective there is organisational duplicity - saying one thing (several things), then recording something else. Or leaving out details. Hence legal advice. I'm absolutely reviewing 'me'. Is there something I've (not) done that can change, be better? Probably. But that's not reciprocated. I genuinely feel they are saying the right things, but as if they are reading a script. There's no substance behind it. That said, I think they've had some practice over the last 6 months. Meds aren't an immediate option but are part of a plan. I do need to sort me, but I must sort the situation too. Little benefit in my feeling better if I then dump myself back into a mess; that'll adversely affect me again.

First - thank you all. Really. So very much appreciated. No two ways about it - it's a shitty way to feel. I sincerely doubt I'm in danger of doing anything silly, but pressure, stress, anxiety are all present. I start feeling better, then have an unavoidable conversation with a GM at work and WHAM! Back to square 1. I have a request for an appointment with EAP Services (through work), and I have a video call with an employment specialist tomorrow morning. Sometimes just the act of doing something - anything - can help. Equally I'm aware that there is an underlying issue which must be addressed but I'll take that one small step at a time.

Taking the pup for a walk on the beach helps clear my head. That's a real issue - trying to stop thinking about, and probably over-thinking, the problem.

Avoid it. It really messes you up. Having some BIG issues at the moment... Not sure if I'm being 'managed out' or if the senior bods really don't know/understand what they're doing, but I'm sort-of working from home (last week and next) in the run up to Christmas, having been certificated off work for the previous week. I'm not even in the office this coming week, it's Sunday afternoon, and I'm still experiencing anxiety! The biggest issue is the insidious nature of this. It creeps up on you. Suddenly you're aware you're not sleeping properly, there's a hollow feeling in your gut, you're not functioning effectively at work or at home, patience tends to be short... Take care everyone.

I'm *sure* I recognise the rego.

OK. Embarrassing, but the last non-running issue is down to me. Having extricated the old pump from the pump cradle, including removal of work-hardened plastic fuel line (a mission in itself), I got it all back together. It seems what I heard wasn't - couldn't have been - the pump. Fuses in dash and engine checked, relay checked, checked filter installed correctly, voltage present at fuel pump plug (new pump installed) but no fuel. Why not? In my exultation at having finally got the pump back together in the cradle, I'd neglected to properly attach the spade connectors to the new pump. No power to pump = no fuel to engine. Sorted that, crank the engine for a few seconds, and we have life again. It is running much smoother too, so replacing the pump and filter were worthwhile. Thanks to @dirty doogle, Mrs Doogle, and Oscar for their visit and support! Pixel says to come back any time. 🐶

Looks like a nice car but silly pricing. Imported, converted to manual, fitted with coilovers, but no mention of a cert. Still, start with a high price, and you never know your luck.

Good side cutters, as with many tools, are so well worth spending extra money on. The problem I had removing them was mainly one of leverage. The type of clip used is possibly less of an issue than the consistency of use. BMW have seemingly used everything - even the fuel filter is connected to the car using short flexible hose (sensible) - hose secured at one end by one-way fastening non-removable clips, and the other by jubilee clips (BMW p/n 07129952104). Then the same pipe is terminated at the pump end using a completely different, again non-reusable, Oetiker (ear clamp) clip (a better hose securing design). What price consistency?