What do you like to do when you're not tiling?

[Ian]

I enjoy tiling very much and consider myself to be very fortunate to be doing a job that is so rewarding but, everyone has other interests what are yours? I have a young family so, spend as much time with them as I possibly can, especially at this time of year with the lighter nights and the warmer weather. Another passion of mine is cars, I've always been a ford fan and have owned half a dozen of them since passing my test in 1997. When I started out tiling professionally 7 years ago I had to sell my beloved mondeo st200 to fund a van and tools etc, I have always said as soon as I get established and can afford to run another vehicle alongside the van, I'd but another. They are 14/15 years old now so finding one in decent condition with low mileage proved to be quite a chore but, after about 18 months of searching and looking at some right dogs, I finally found and purchased this. It's a 2000 W plate with only 55k on the clock and this particular version of it (the 4 door saloon) was a limited edition of only 300, according to the forums and those in the know, there are only 50 or so of them left now so I'm hoping it's a future classic that may be worth a few quid in a few years time.

 

[cam_low]

My friend who works on the rig and has a ridiculous amount of money has just had his escos totally rebuilt by LEGEND in Essex. Its divine.

 

[Tony73]

very nice looking car BRI

 

[Ian]

Cam, the escort cossie is my dream car (other than a super car!), if I had a spare 30k for a concourse one, I'd buy one tomorrow. They are mad money these days, check this out, 50k!!!!!! Not sure it's worth that http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-K-Fo...1697046?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27e391a316

 

[charlie1]

Cars can bring a lot of joy bri, here is mine clk 230 kompressor

 

[Dougs Third Go]

I like to spend as much time outdoors as possible when not at work, always been an outdoors kinda person. Winter is shooting and working my dog, spring a lot of time in garden, summer we get away in caravan as much as we can, autumn is salmon fishing.

 

[cam_low]

I think my mates is running around 500bhp. I am not surprised in the slightest that these are up for that sort of money in concourse condition. Too many 80s kids now buying them, tuning them and ragging them. The time to buy is now if you have storage. Id pay 20k for one in mint condition but any more is ridiculous. They are defo an investment. I'd store one til I was 50 and sell then.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

[video=youtube;rQrG4cj9oqk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQrG4cj9oqk[/video]
my dog working, excuse the language towards the end :lol:

 

[White Room]

[video=youtube;rQrG4cj9oqk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQrG4cj9oqk[/video]
my dog working, excuse the language towards the end :lol:

If your dog had wings it would have got that bird:lol:

 

[cam_low]

As for me, once I clear the van which should be in the next two months I will have some money spare so with that I would like to play more golf, take holidays and attend the gym more that I pay £80 a month for haha!

I am currently trying to piece together what I need for a music system with the help of avforums. Ive tried the sonos...the sound quality is crap if you ask me !

 

[John Benton]

I like to spend my time in the garden especially looking after my lawn as you can see


And then once that done I like to make sure my car is spotless. Spend quite a lot on detailing products, and can take all day to wash, clay bar, wash, dry, polish, wax then gel tyres. Arms are aching by the end of the day though!!!

 

[Dougs Third Go]

love going to gigs too, especially looking forward to two later on this month..Nine Inch Nails at Glasgie and Manchester :8:

 

[Ian]

I think my mates is running around 500bhp. I am not surprised in the slightest that these are up for that sort of money in concourse condition. Too many 80s kids now buying them, tuning them and ragging them. The time to buy is now if you have storage. Id pay 20k for one in mint condition but any more is ridiculous. They are defo an investment. I'd store one til I was 50 and sell then.

My plan is to keep this for 10 years or more, there is one every month on ebay being broken for spares so, I reckon when there is 15-20 of them left, they'll be worth 5k+ If you look at the series 1 escort turbos, they are 10k plus now for a mint one, I'm sure they weren't that much when they were new in the early 80's.

 

[cam_low]

very nice lawn john. you obviously know how to look after it. any tips for me when I get one?

 

[cam_low]

My plan is to keep this for 10 years or more, there is one every month on ebay being broken for spares so, I reckon when there is 15-20 of them left, they'll be worth 5k+ If you look at the series 1 escort turbos, they are 10k plus now for a mint one, I'm sure they weren't that much when they were new in the early 80's.

again I have another friend who has a series one stored away. They are defo money makers if you have the space ! I think cars are to be driven though. My next car when I am out of London...possible move to brighton eventually will be a Maserati. They are £100k now...by the time I can afford one they will probs be £50k. ha

 

[Ian]

very nice lawn john. you obviously know how to look after it. any tips for me when I get one?

Cam, you're in London now, they don't have grass down there I'm afraid :lol:

 

[cam_low]

I'm in woodford green, we have the luxury of trees and grass Bri, couldn't deal with having a lawn to take care of as well as a missus and three cats and a business along with crazy travel times.

 

[John Benton]

very nice lawn john. you obviously know how to look after it. any tips for me when I get one?

Yeah when you lay it, it's green side up :sofahide:

 

[cam_low]

did you use a special cutter ?

 

[Ian]

again I have another friend who has a series one stored away. They are defo money makers if you have the space ! I think cars are to be driven though. My next car when I am out of London...possible move to brighton eventually will be a Maserati. They are £100k now...by the time I can afford one they will probs be £50k. ha

They are deffo a long term investment, the rare ones are always going to be worth more, that was my thinking behind this purchase, it's not that old right now but, I genuinely believe it's a future classic and one of the first ST models ford produced. There is one on ebay at the moment that I'm keeping my eye on as an idea as to what mine might be worth, similar condition, similar mileage. At the end of the day, it's what someone is prepared to pay for it, if someone wants it enough, they may pay a bit above market value.

 

[cam_low]

Fords are always a good buy. I cant see there being many cars considered classics 30 years time that are built in the last 5 years ! Everything is so generic. Unless you can think of any ?

 

[Dougs Third Go]

Yeah when you lay it, it's green side up :sofahide:

cheat!!! I did mine from seed

 

[Dougs Third Go]

get a bit "anal" when I see kids doing this on it though :yikes:

 

[John Benton]

did you use a special cutter ?

This baby

It's all about the way you care for it as well. Scarifying, aerating, top dressing and laying seed at back end of year, then feeding and watering at regular intervals throughout year. Cutting during summer 2-3 times a week.

It's the weight of the roller on the mower that creates the stripes, not the blades themselves, but you're looking at about £4-500 for a decent petrol mower brand new.

And no dogs or kids anywhere near it

 

[Ian]

Fords are always a good buy. I cant see there being many cars considered classics 30 years time that are built in the last 5 years ! Everything is so generic. Unless you can think of any ?

Nah you're right, the last one I can think of is the phase 1 focus RS, only produced in one colour (imperial blue) and only 4500 built, they are starting to fetch strong money for a good one now and they're only 10 years old. All the new RS's and ST's are produced in volume and in every colour going just to make sales, which is fair enough but, they are 10 a penny, not hard to find one at all.