Robert - DL3RR
@robertdl3rr.bsky.social
Chartered Engineer, Amateur radio (especially QRP), cycling, walking, armchair narrowboater, model railways and retro-computing.
There be Dragons!
November 6, 2025 at 11:14 AM
There be Dragons!
Most of my games and so on came from WHSmiths and occasionally Boots - There was a John Menzies in the next town, so I did visit occasionally. There was a computer shop in the town, which is where my Spectrum came from, but it closed quite quickly. I think by 1984 it had gone.
November 6, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Most of my games and so on came from WHSmiths and occasionally Boots - There was a John Menzies in the next town, so I did visit occasionally. There was a computer shop in the town, which is where my Spectrum came from, but it closed quite quickly. I think by 1984 it had gone.
I've got some Computapes too somewhere. I don't remember where I got them though - Maybe Boots?
November 6, 2025 at 6:58 AM
I've got some Computapes too somewhere. I don't remember where I got them though - Maybe Boots?
I found these in a dusty corner of Smith's a few years ago and cleaned out their stock. I don't think they knew what they had!
November 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM
I found these in a dusty corner of Smith's a few years ago and cleaned out their stock. I don't think they knew what they had!
Looks like it might have got a tad warm 🤭
November 4, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Looks like it might have got a tad warm 🤭
... and you can still fill up the car for £20!
November 1, 2025 at 11:41 AM
... and you can still fill up the car for £20!
A whole quid?!? These are like 30p in my head.
November 1, 2025 at 11:34 AM
A whole quid?!? These are like 30p in my head.
That's true, the knob only lowers the beam, for when there's a lot of weight in/on the back of the vehicle.
It shouldn't be possible to raise the beam above its highest setting - although this obviously doesn't help if badly adjusted!
Here, headlight adjustment is an item on the MOT checklist.
It shouldn't be possible to raise the beam above its highest setting - although this obviously doesn't help if badly adjusted!
Here, headlight adjustment is an item on the MOT checklist.
October 28, 2025 at 11:51 AM
That's true, the knob only lowers the beam, for when there's a lot of weight in/on the back of the vehicle.
It shouldn't be possible to raise the beam above its highest setting - although this obviously doesn't help if badly adjusted!
Here, headlight adjustment is an item on the MOT checklist.
It shouldn't be possible to raise the beam above its highest setting - although this obviously doesn't help if badly adjusted!
Here, headlight adjustment is an item on the MOT checklist.
Agreed - Although some of them basically are. Matrix headlights are supposed to use a system of mirrors controlled by an ECU to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. My experience seems to suggest it doesn't always work!
October 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Agreed - Although some of them basically are. Matrix headlights are supposed to use a system of mirrors controlled by an ECU to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. My experience seems to suggest it doesn't always work!
I quite enjoyed this one BITD. It was similar to Wizards Lair (I think the game engine was similar) but different enough to make it fun.
October 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I quite enjoyed this one BITD. It was similar to Wizards Lair (I think the game engine was similar) but different enough to make it fun.
EF80 is an "interesting" choice. I wonder why they did that?
October 14, 2025 at 9:03 AM
EF80 is an "interesting" choice. I wonder why they did that?
It's certainly a good game. Arguably the best 16k game!
October 10, 2025 at 5:20 AM
It's certainly a good game. Arguably the best 16k game!
One of my favourites! I spent hours exploring the mansion. I never came close to completing it though. I didn't even realise the bugs made it impossible to complete until later, when the pokes to fix the problems appeared in Crash.
October 8, 2025 at 5:07 AM
One of my favourites! I spent hours exploring the mansion. I never came close to completing it though. I didn't even realise the bugs made it impossible to complete until later, when the pokes to fix the problems appeared in Crash.
Yes - That was the Central Cavern. It was a master stroke because it looked simple, but the highest level on the screen was difficult because of the two keys right next to nasties and the collapsing floor.
It took me ages before I finally got to the Cold Room!
It took me ages before I finally got to the Cold Room!
October 7, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Yes - That was the Central Cavern. It was a master stroke because it looked simple, but the highest level on the screen was difficult because of the two keys right next to nasties and the collapsing floor.
It took me ages before I finally got to the Cold Room!
It took me ages before I finally got to the Cold Room!
I still remember 6031769!
October 7, 2025 at 4:37 AM
I still remember 6031769!
Interesting! For me, it was the Central Cavern. It took ages before I cracked it, then things went pretty smoothly until the later levels (Eugene's Lair and then the Skylab Landing Bay 😖).
I remember reading somewhere that Matthew Smith regretted making the Central Cavern so hard as a first level.
I remember reading somewhere that Matthew Smith regretted making the Central Cavern so hard as a first level.
October 7, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Interesting! For me, it was the Central Cavern. It took ages before I cracked it, then things went pretty smoothly until the later levels (Eugene's Lair and then the Skylab Landing Bay 😖).
I remember reading somewhere that Matthew Smith regretted making the Central Cavern so hard as a first level.
I remember reading somewhere that Matthew Smith regretted making the Central Cavern so hard as a first level.
It'll run Fuzix though!
September 29, 2025 at 9:03 AM
It'll run Fuzix though!
Fantastic stuff for removing grease from hands, and it's not abrasive.
September 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Fantastic stuff for removing grease from hands, and it's not abrasive.
Can you get Swarfega in your part of the world?
September 20, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Can you get Swarfega in your part of the world?
Fantastic! That centrifugal governor is wonderful.
September 5, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Fantastic! That centrifugal governor is wonderful.
I've never had to deal with something like that, but I have had similar on small engine recoil starters. Terrible things to work with!
September 5, 2025 at 6:11 AM
I've never had to deal with something like that, but I have had similar on small engine recoil starters. Terrible things to work with!
I've seen it! Will reply tomorrow when I've spoken to my Mum.
September 3, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I've seen it! Will reply tomorrow when I've spoken to my Mum.
He moved out of the area in the late 60s, so it would have been before you were a member. I'll see if I can dig out some of his logs from that time, because IIRC he used to take part in the Christmas morning top band nets.
September 3, 2025 at 11:27 AM
He moved out of the area in the late 60s, so it would have been before you were a member. I'll see if I can dig out some of his logs from that time, because IIRC he used to take part in the Christmas morning top band nets.
Wow - Small world!
September 3, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Wow - Small world!