Any question answered...

I honestly wouldn’t worry about that. It’s of course annoying but it’s just cosmetic.
If it makes you feel better I have some pretty big gouges on carbon bars on a mtb that I’ve continued riding since it happened 4 years ago. I was over 100kg last year and 96kg right now and they haven’t snapped. Yet.

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Perhaps gouges could be filled with nail varnish or similar, so that if you have the misfortune to be hit by another stone/bush in the same spot, the gouge doesn't get any deeper.

This has definitely put my mind at rest - cheers all!

Am I alone in getting a '403 Forbidden' message when I try to access LFGSS using Safari?
It was ok at about 08:30 this morning, but hasn't been playing ball ever since.

Safari is working okay for me on this site.

Ta. It still isn't working here.

What's the current best method for getting reasonably decent carbon tarck wheels, eg clinchers, brake surface on front wheel.

I remember much discussion on this way back, with people doing group buys from online Chinese retailers, some small builders offering hand built unbranded wheels etc

I should add this is purely an aesthetic purchase

1 1/8 carbon fork, alu steerer, rim brakes, clearance for up to 700x32. Any suggestions?

carbon fork, alu steerer

Why? The differential material joint is the weak spot, you're better off with full carbon.

Ok as above but full carbon. What are the options?

Best wildflower seeds for getting the garden looking more like a meadow and less like we just moved in and cut everything down?

It's possibly a bit late in the year to get anything like a meadow from seeds. You could try getting some wildflower plugs from someone like Landlife Wildflowers - not cheap at about a £1 a plug. Alternatively, you could get some wildflower turf (but again don't know if it's the right time of year).

Planting some yellow rattle would weaken the grass so you get more luck next year...

Thanks. This is what we have, it was totally overgrown with trees taking about 70% of the space. You can see what little grass was getting light in the middle.

Just hoping to get it looking a bit healthier without buying loads of potted goods.

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Idk if it's the answer you want. But personally I would tidy up, get some pots and then plan what you want it to look like.

Fucking around with wild flower gardens is generally a fools errand. Spend your time planting what you want to have.

IMO wildflower gardens bang, I dunno when the best time to plant the seeds is though, most of them all germinate at different times so.

I buy mine from here:

https://wildflowerlawnsandmeadows.com/

For best results you'll want to kill your grass first though.

Obligatory get these, support bees*: https://www.pollenize.org.uk/shop-seeds

*other pollinators may also benefit.

One thing to consider is that if you have a shady area that not even grass can thrive in you might want a specialist wild flower seed mix for shade, and even that might not play the hits.

Right but the aim is this sort of thing:

... and it's mid-May with at least a weekend's work tidying and clearing the rubbish. So seeds in the ground what, penultimate weekend of May/last weekend of May?

What about the in-ground stumpery on the left? I assume they're removing it, so how are the seeds going to feel about being stamped on while those are removed?

IMHO the max amount effort they should commit is grabbing one of those wild seed mix boxes from the supermarket and giving the ground a rake, sow and a water. All while keeping expectations low. Otherwise it'll be high effort, low reward vs buying living plants and getting stuff in the ground.

I'd be much more inclined to grow wild looking flowers in pots (cornflowers, etc.) then plant on in specific locations. That way you could be starting them now without being blocked by the other work. Then pair with a couple of cool grasses and some salvia. It'll be <£50, give interest with the right vibe guaranteed success.

Also it's dull, but you need to do the hard landscaping first.

Eg

https://www.jparkers.co.uk/border-collection-2-2-x-26m

https://www.jparkers.co.uk/vigorous-and-large-flowered-salvia-1020623c

https://www.jparkers.co.uk/verbena-hastata-collection-1019231c

I don't disagree with you, if they feel like the spend and the effort of putting plants in the ground then that will definitely yield instant results. I share your general distrust of "wildflower meadows", they're not the easy breezy solution the picture on the boxes would lead you to believe.

My "wildflower meadow" has taken years to get anywhere and it's still not that amazing compared to stuff like that picture, I've mostly just got leucanthemums. (The rest of my garden slays so it's not an issue)

You can also try and do both, buy some stuff like what you posted, and also dump a bunch of wildflower seed into the bare ground. Could be a waste of seed, might work, who knows.

I got given a wild flower bomb thing at a wedding, chucked it out the window and have now been plagued by wild geraniums for ever. Best not to over think it, throw some seeds around, trust nature.

I bought a few packs of wildflower seeks, chucked them in the flower beds around the edge of the garden with little thought. Nothing's grown. Maybe I should burry them next time.

bought a few packs of wildflower seeks, chucked them in the flower beds around the edge of the garden with little thought

I (accidentally) bought 20 times (yes, 20) as much wildflower bombs are are required for my 5m x 5m garden.
Threw them onto the grass at the beginning of last year.
Last year not much happened.
This year there are some wild flowers, but I think I should've probably rid the garden of couch grass as I think that is stunting/preventing the growth of much.

If anyone can point me in the right direction for French domestic swimming pool regulations, that would be super helpful.

My Dad has a pool and we are trying to work out the best way to child proof it, particularly for my sensory seeking autistic daughter, when not in use. I think they have a certain type of pool cover requirement from visiting friends a very long time ago!

I'm not sure what they used but my mum and step dad have a wild flower meadow in their garden. They set it up probably 7 or 8 years ago and it's only in the last 3 that it's started to come in properly. It looks amazing though, completely different every year!