Any question answered...

The trouble us that the 'outdoor leisure' market demands three things:

instant comfort
dry feet
cheap

This has lead to the man-made composite boot with leather/suede trimmings at points of wear.

if you want a traditional boot that'll take breaking in and need (shock-horror) cleaning/nourishing, then offerings a so few and far between I can't think of any.

try this quite good comparison site > http://www.buachaille.com/

Shimano MT54 and a bicycle.

instant comfort
dry feet
cheap

You make it sound like those are bad things.

they're what the market wants, nay demands, hence the way boots are now. but if you're a flat-earthiest such as chas then that's no good is it..

If the earth were flat, I'd walk everywhere in my Vibram KSOs

Actually, I own a bicycle, and as a result I do so little walking that I'm still using the same instant-comfort, dry-feet, cheap Berghaus Gore Tex fabric and suede boots I bought 25 years ago, on the rare occasions when I feel compelled to tackle rough terrain on foot.

Vibram KSOs

get back IN THE SEA

I would only class myself as a partially flat earthist. My issue with membrane liners isn't that I like getting wet feet or think that everything must be made out of hair shirts, it just that I've never had a pair of membrane lined boots or shoes which I found comfortable to wear - they just make my feet hot and sweaty.

Also, leather with decent proofing in it is waterproof enough for anything that I'm likely to be doing.

A very good boot is
this
by Meindl, which is issued to the UK military who often flog them cheap and unworn. Very breathable and zero maintenance, and fairly grippy but not too stiff sole. I have done about 2000 miles on one pair, and just got new pair (for £40) although the first pair are still fine. In wet weather I wear sealskin or gore tex socks, but otherwise they cope with a lot more abuse than you might think. They come in half sizes. Go to a boot shop and get fitted for any Meindl boot, the sizing is very consistent.
I have a couple of pairs of the Meindl Borneo 2, which I have had for years, and are very good, but they are very stiff and the sole is very hard. I really only use them for upland walking. They are probably the best non gore tex boot available, and can be had for £120 if you shop around.

Those Meindl desert boots look really good at £40-£50. Unfortunately everyone seems to have only small sizes in stock.

There seems to be some question over the durability of the Meindl Borneos. A long time ago I had some old German army surplus boots - they were completely indestructible and comfortable. They were at least a size too big for me, though. I see you can still get German "para" boots. Soles look a bit shit but might be worth a punt.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/German-Army-Para-Boots-Genuine-Military-Surplus-Black-Leather-Paratrooper-Combat-/171514940336?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

My dad claimed that they were made of horse leather - this was a Good Thing as far as he was concerned. Got them from a place called "Mr Lee's" that used to be on Hornsey Road, just down from Jav's Cafe.

Try the army surplus guys on brick lane tomorrow, up toward the bagel shops. They had a lot of lightweight desert boots, new, as well as used black para boots

and we're back to goose-stepping http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GERMAN-ARMY-BLACK-LEATHER-JACK-BOOTS-UK-SIZE-9-/121549296547

As someone without a driver's license with little/no desire to own a motorised vehicle.....

Whyyyyy do I want a classic (Japanese) motorbike every time I watch a 70's film?

Whyyyyy do I want a classic (Japanese) motorbike

Because you've never ridden one. Unless you're a total masochist or feeling suicidal, 5 minutes on a 1970 CB750 after riding a 2016 CB650 would be enough to rid you of any desire to go back in time.

Should go find a car park and a willing owner, then.

In the seventies you also had shitty tyres like "Teflon Superslides" or whatever made by Bridgestone etc. They made the bikes feel even worse. For all their faults Jap Crap bikes were better than than the run of the mill Brit bikes though.

For all their faults Jap Crap bikes were better than than the run of the mill Brit bikes though

This is also true.

Light fittings. What do you call the bit that screws into the bulb holder that holds the light shade in place? I need to replace one I lost.

Had to check the avatar to see if that was @Dammit replying to that post.

What do you call the bit that screws into the bulb holder that holds the light shade in place?

It's called the lampholder skirt. I think the threads are often proprietary, so you'd probably be best getting a complete pendant set (or whatever style of fitting you have). The lampholders are usually fairly knackered after a few years anyway, the last thing you want to do is hunt down the specific skirt and then crack the lampholder when you try to attach it.

If you can find a Wickes or similar outlet you'll find a bulb holder flex and ceiling rose for £1.99 with all the bits you'll ever need.

Is a brand new fitting. They got installed after ceiling plastered. The skirt got put to one side. And has gone missing.... Thanks for the name.

£1.99

£1.97!

Of course, I'd get the Shockguard version, and to hell with the expense:
https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/10257182767151368142

I don't have flex wire. It's a ceiling fitting. Fits flush. No dangly light.