Norn Iron

Top Tip For Record Decks If you have an older turntable, don't forget to oil the bearings and motor which can be accessed from the centre spindle (normally pulls out). There used to be such a thing as Turntable oil but Sewing Machine oil (readily available from wool shops etc) is fine to use. I could bore you even more on how to clean your vinyl to get rid of the pops and scratch noises....

My first and only turntable which is still going strong, was bought in 1983. I bought the Scottish made Ariston RD80 from a small shop on the slipway leading to the Colston Hall/Beacon (opposite the BRI). The ADC ALT tonearm was cheaper than a Linn (can't remember their cheapest model). I was on a budget. Amazingly, 40 years on, the ADC is worth more than a Linn. Can't remember the name of this shop. In those days, HIFI Markets was the place to be in Union St unless you had mega dosh, in which case Radfords in Gloucester Rd was your venue. I bought the then recently released NAD 3020 from Hifi Markets but just after the price had gone up to £83.00 (original price I think was £68).Their vinyl reference was usually Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds! I eventually made it to Radfords and spent some redundancy money on upgrading my amp. I had already upgraded from the NAD to A and R Cambridge A60 (later to shorten their name to Arcam) and purchased the Arcam Delta 290 which I still have but used for its phono board*. Radfords were kind enough to let me spend even more money on upgrading my CD player! I purchased the Arcam CD 170.3 Transport only player plus the Arcam Black Box 3 (DAC). My Arcam P77 cartridge for the record deck is still used. The stylus (again Arcam) has been replaced over the years normally with Arcam! They are no longer made but courtesy of a stylus dealer on the Web, he sold me a Japanese equivalent which I received 2 months ago. It is fantastic and fits snuggly into the P77. Then there's my passion with Surround Sound Processors that first entered into my life in the early 90s! Let's not go there! If I had saved all my money instead of buying HIFI and all things AV (including projectors) and watching City, I'd be wealthier but a lot more miserable! *The 290 was upgraded in the 00s to believe it or not to an Arcam Pre Amp and an Arcam Power Amp.

BBC News - Terry Anderson: US journalist held hostage in Lebanon for years dies at 76 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68871753

Absolutely correct. Analogue is reliant on getting a decent audio feed and cables are so important. Before upgrading your speakers, check your cables. If you have Bell wire then you have a major issue! :laugh: I made my own cables using Cat5 and it was very interesting and cost saving when comparing the market. I've now upgraded to Audioquest for interconnects. Regarding speaker cables though, I have had a few in my time. Monster Cable was the big thing early 80s, then QED 79 strand late 80s. I can't remember what I replaced those with but 5 years ago I went to my local hifi store for a demo. What I ended up purchasing was not what I thought I was going to initially buy. Chord Cables have always been deemed as really good but expensive. However, when listening to their range, the Sarsen cable from Chord really amazed me. It's deliberately thinner than most cables and is designed to go round corners and for hiding out of sight. Yet, the quality was unbelievable. I bought more than 20 ft per speaker. More than enough to run my front speakers from where the amp is. I have given you the length to emphasise just how good they can handle the load required to drive my floor Standers. Take your favourite CDs etc with you as you'll know the tracks and how they sound. Upgrading speaker cable is far cheaper than upgrading the speakers themselves. FWIW, my speakers are over 30 years old. I've replaced the rubber rings once 6 years ago. They still sound great. The cables have added a new life to the speakers and saved me money!

The rubber ring which connects the speaker cone to the metal ring (which is screwed into the speaker cabinet) can be the first to suffer wear and tear. However, the ring is fairly easy to replace and fix yourself. My beloved custom built speakers from the late 80s, were suffering badly. New rings which included the glue, cost me £30 on ebay. Who'd have thought that clothes pegs could also be used as mini vices to glue together the ring to the metal? Don't throw out any speakers just because the ring is starting to disintegrate. A cheap fix is available.

Isn't this from the classic ashes test when rain stopped play on the last day (Oval)? They resumed with only 30 odd minutes to go and Deadly did the rest. Bowled the Aussies all out.

Nor me! I'd go for Australia away!

My all time Cricket hero. I too bowled left handed and was almost as good as Deadly until I released the ball. He could bat as well.....

I have the answer to that white tower.... The timber structure was removed in the early 70s as it was deemed unsafe. It was on top of Broadmead Baptist Church. We all must've walked by this church 100s of times without knowing it was there. In my day, WH Smith and HMV were underneath. Nowadays, according to the photos, it's a Tesco Express. If you're trying to place where it is, go down Union Street and at the bottom, it'll be on your right just before John Lewis (again in my day, then another Department store and now Primark I think).

What was the white statue/whatever to the left of the gentleman? Can't remember or even place where it was.

Over a packet of crisps? You're crackers! And if you're as old as me, may I recommend the (Alan) Crawford Crackers!

Surely... Goal from the Twine is all mine all mine Goal from the Twine's all mine

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/chris-cross-ultravox-death-vienna-midge-ure-b2521937.html

Maybe it is a new genre called Dumb and Bass(ic).

Didn't Ian Matthews die twice? The first time was when his obituary was printed in a national daily and he wrote back to say his demise had been greatly exaggerated.

I thought you might know. Thanks Slarti

The only Fairport drummer I can name is Dave Mattacks....and only because he had the drum stool for an XTC LP (Nonsuch). I take it then that Dave wasn't FCs first drummer?

Very well put Luke My wife was in hospital for last 3 months of pregnancy with severe preeclampsia. Our only son is now 23. Michelle's husband used to visit this site. If he's reading this thread, please pass on a Thatcher's from us!

My memory of this game was trying to do an oil change for my MG Metro car in the morning. Trouble was I messed up the thread for the oil sump bung. I had to drive to a garage in Avonmouth who fixed it!

BBC News - Leicester City: Premier League charges Championship club with alleged breaches of financial rules https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68580638 Cue Mr P!

And how many versions of Spiderman origins are going to be made? They missed a trick here as the last one should have only been available on the web

You also have many of the film titles having nothing really to do with the actual book apart from character names. Then there was the Thunderball court case which meant the co-author could claim rights. The result was the final Sean Connery 007 outing that isn't part of the Eon canon of James Bond releases. Sticking to some of the original book plots could be the way to go.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13209157/Belgian-football-club-OH-Leuven-release-beer-inspired-kit-homage-birthplace-Stella-Artois-help-fans-developed-AI.html Cider kit please!

Wasn't his chant Amankwaah, wo ho ho oo, He plays out on the right.... Kevin had a talent that was exciting to watch. As others have said, the unfortunate car crash changed things. Thank you for posting the story about his mum. Wow! Good to know Kevin is still involved in some way re fitness.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/steve-harley-death-cockney-rebel-make-me-smile-b2513960.html