More of what makes your day.
A long weekend in Arran
Shopping in Tesco.
I need to get out more.
Two teenage girls in the back of a car waving at me when I stuck behind them at some roadworks on my bike. I think they liked my Union Jack woolly hat.
Cooking a steak perfectly.
For the First time in 2 years I took my mother outside her care home and round the local park in a wheelchair. She was very nervous and it must have seemed like a trip to Australia for her. She enjoyed it I think but was glad to be back in the institution.
First car tax for my diminutive Volkswagen Up. Only £20!
It's been a great little car so far, more than up to the job of doing long motorway distances and ideal for Tesco and back.
Quote from: Slim on February 28, 2022, 10:41:21 PMFirst car tax for my diminutive Volkswagen Up. Only £20!
It's been a great little car so far, more than up to the job of doing long motorway distances and ideal for Tesco and back.
They're great little cars, had one for over 7 years now. Zero tax as it has a stop start function thingy (might that change?). As you say more than capable of travelling long distances, mine has even managed to navigate dodgy farm tracks on the Somme.
Kitchen progressing well. This is day 16 (inc weekends, so really 12). The floor is now down - woohoo. All that needs doing now are the lower plinths and lights installed, and the quartz worktop fitted. Fingers crossed should all be done by Friday - and it's still 100% on schedule.
My advance download of the new Marillion album has been safely stored on the PC and I am on my second listen and its just beautiful.
When is the public release?
I have a sink - yay. Kitchen all done. I made the first tea and we had gammon, egg and chips - yum.
The Indian TV bloke arguing with the wrong guy in an interview....just soo funny :)
Von Hertzen Brothers are touring :)
Been out for a very swish indian meal to celebrate a good friend's 50th.
Bercow has had his Commons pass revoked after an inquiry found him to have been a "serial bully" and a liar. I understand he's also been administratively suspended from the Labour Party now, as well. They welcomed him with open arms less than a year ago. Might have seen that coming.
Even the Guardian doesn't try a positive spin.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/mar/08/john-bercow-ex-speaker-banned-commons-bullying-inquiry
That peerage looks a long, long way off now ..
Next time he shouts "order!" perhaps someone will reply "one Big Mac with fries and a coke, please"
Perhaps Patel should have hers removed as well.
Managed to achieve quite a lot on my day off today. A trip to the dump and after finishing the spare room and installing the treadmill, the electronic drums are back in and set-up and the two road bikes are back up on the wall brackets. everything just works out perfectly space-wise..very pleased.
Had my first workout on the treadmill this afternoon, a fantastic piece of kit...especially for only £1499
Blimey, sounds like a serious bit of kit. Apart from my bikes my only exercise equipment is a rowing machine and I think it was £170 or something. Cheap one for sure but it works well enough when I use it, which these days isn't exactly a frequent occurrence. I should do that more often.
Wise words.
(https://i.ibb.co/kMXpqpQ/joanieb-wisewords.jpg)
Quote from: Slim on March 08, 2022, 08:06:12 PMBlimey, sounds like a serious bit of kit.
https://www.proform.com/treadmills/pro5000
As my late father would've said: "would you like to try and make one for fifteen hundred quid?"
Even at the normal price of £1899, it's good value - gotta love the Chinese
It's International Women's Day, so I made sure Mrs S did ALL the work round the house today:
"Change over that QR Skewer and stick the bike in the Turbo Trainer Bitch!" :)
My son's 18th birthday today (well yesterday technically now). Had a lovely evening out for a meal with all the family and a few close friends. Tomorrow (well today) we are going to the pub to watch the rugby (his idea!). He can legally buy me a drink now!
First time I bought my dad a drink - a Gold Label Barley Wine - he knocked the bloody thing over >:(
Off to see Derren Brown tonight at the Kings Theatre Glasgow .. should have been April 2020...
Walking round my old stamping ground, East Dulwich this morning. Heard a loud squawk, looked up and saw three parrots taking flight from a tree overhead.
Enjoying a thorough ultrasound scan performed by a rather appealing Hispanic lady possibly more than I strictly was meant to. ::)
yesterday evening's simple pleasure - I upgraded the hardware and software of my Sonos system to sonos 2 :)
I can now play Rush at full volume all over the house.
This:
https://youtu.be/NHNLNXq7r2U
"what's the difference between a conspiracy theory and the truth?
About 6 months" ;D ;D
Couldn't stand the bloke years ago but I've warmed to him.
You're beginning to get under the MSM's skin, Russell. Must be doing something right, keep up the good work
Just found out that Penelope Isles are supporting Sea Power on their tour next month. Two brilliant bands on the same bill.
Home cooked mussels.
This is good news for me, I've been living in Ireland for 19 years now. Last time I voted was the EU referendum, be nice to be able to vote in UK elections again
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/31/britons-living-overseas-for-15-years-get-the-right-to-vote-in-uk-elections?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Anyone else affected by this?
Two weeks in Puerto Pollenca in Majorca booked for Aug.. can't fucking wait tbh....
Quote from: dom on March 31, 2022, 01:17:46 PMThis is good news for me, I've been living in Ireland for 19 years now. Last time I voted was the EU referendum, be nice to be able to vote in UK elections again
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/31/britons-living-overseas-for-15-years-get-the-right-to-vote-in-uk-elections?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Anyone else affected by this?
I can't understand why you'd have a vote in the EU referendum, didn't know that. Do you pay taxes in the UK, or intend to return here? At the moment I can't see any more justification for this, really. Do you even identify as a "Briton", in the Guardian's terms?
Quote from: Slim on March 31, 2022, 03:46:13 PMQuote from: dom on March 31, 2022, 01:17:46 PMThis is good news for me, I've been living in Ireland for 19 years now. Last time I voted was the EU referendum, be nice to be able to vote in UK elections again
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/31/britons-living-overseas-for-15-years-get-the-right-to-vote-in-uk-elections?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Anyone else affected by this?
I can't understand why you'd have a vote in the EU referendum, didn't know that. Do you pay taxes in the UK, or intend to return here? At the moment I can't see any more justification for this, really. Do you even identify as a "Briton", in the Guardian's terms?
Wow!
No offence Dom, I just don't understand the justification. What might it be?
I'm British with a British passport. I take an active interest in British politics and society and want to see it do well and prosper!
Not sure about future plans, it may happen I don't know.
I don't pay much UK tax anymore but I did work there for over 20 years.
I actually do understand your reaction but wonder whether its borne from my political beliefs being so different to yours. If I was a flag waving Tory it probably wouldn't bother you so much!
I do think it wrong that foreign nationals, living and working in the UK are not allowed to vote and should have been allowed to for the referendum. I would have exchanged my vote for that cohort to have their right to vote.
Mixed feelings about your first three paragraphs, but vehemently disagree with the last. It surely couldn't have been right for foreign nationals to have voted in the referendum. Not when such an important constitutional issue was at stake.
Because they have more of a vested interest in the UK than I do. They are living there and paying taxes, raising kids. They are contributing to UK society and as a result deserve to have a say in how its run. If I'm honest, more than I do! I'm just happy that I still can.
I could almost buy that argument for General Elections, but not a permanent constitutional matter with sovereignty and self-determination at stake. From my point of view it would be a violation of the very principle we were trying to defend.
So when you vote in a General Election, which constituency will you vote in? Who'll be your MP?
I think its based on where you last lived in the UK. There's been a few boundary changes since I was there but I think it would be Julia Lopez. Must admit I wasn't in that part of the World for long and would be much happier having a say in the Chipping Barnet or Finchley constituencies
Been to gigs on Friday and Saturday with a lovely new lady friend ❤️
New episode of Buggernation Street
Warning NSFW
Ok, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
Congrats, Neil!
Quote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
Wow! Would never have thought you were that old!!! Comgratulions :D
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 11, 2022, 09:43:34 PMQuote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
Wow! Would never have thought you were that old!!! Comgratulions :D
That's the nicest thing you've said to me for years 😂😉
1970's pudding tonight! Butterscotch Angel Delight
Quote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 11:01:44 PMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 11, 2022, 09:43:34 PMQuote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
Wow! Would never have thought you were that old!!! Comgratulions :D
That's the nicest thing you've said to me for years 😂😉
Arse >:( I must be going soft in my old age. Hope Mrs S never finds out...
Quote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
Great news Neil and congratulations to you all, as someone who also became a Grandad for the first (and quite possibly last 😁) time 15 months ago, there's no better feeling 👌
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 11, 2022, 09:43:34 PMQuote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
Wow! Would never have thought you were that old!!! Comgratulions :D
One day about ten years ago a guy I worked with brought cakes into the office to celebrate becoming a grandad. He was 39!
Quote from: Slim on April 12, 2022, 10:15:32 AMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 11, 2022, 09:43:34 PMQuote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
Wow! Would never have thought you were that old!!! Comgratulions :D
One day about ten years ago a guy I worked with brought cakes into the office to celebrate becoming a grandad. He was 39!
If only!
Quote from: Slim on April 12, 2022, 10:15:32 AMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 11, 2022, 09:43:34 PMQuote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
Wow! Would never have thought you were that old!!! Comgratulions :D
One day about ten years ago a guy I worked with brought cakes into the office to celebrate becoming a grandad. He was 39!
Very familiar with the area behind the bike sheds at secondary school, no doubt ;D
Quote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
bit late but congratulations
Quote from: pdw1 on April 12, 2022, 08:19:24 PMQuote from: Pudders on April 11, 2022, 06:02:25 PMOk, this was almost a week ago but, becoming a first time Grandparent has been particularly amazing. The fact that mum, dad and baby are now back living with us has made it very hands on but, nevertheless, wonderful :)
bit late but congratulations
Likewise, congratulations Neil!
Yep, just catching up - nice one Pudders, congrats to all!!
New car just ordered :) 16 weeks delivery, which will probably slip right due to the ongoing crisis.
On holiday off to Arran tomorrow...
Employer has granted an early finish ahead of the long weekend. :D 8)
Quote from: Fishy on April 13, 2022, 05:20:18 PMOn holiday off to Arran tomorrow...
Brilliant standing stones, amazing views from the light house, and when I went the Whisky distillery was just being set up, I wonder what it taste like?
I'm not religious at all but I am interested in the subject.
Some friends came around for supper last night and we were talking about Jesus and Easter and we were talking about what happens on to him over Easter and when does he ascend to heaven.
Anyway there is a theory that following the crucifixion of Jesus' his followers bribed the Roman guard and took the living JC down from the cross. They tended his wounds and he then went visiting his followers, after that the Romans wanted to see his body and so the ascending to heaven was made up. Jesus had to disappear so he then lived out his later days in India and lived till he was 70.
I thought that sounds way more plausible and a much more happy story.
Instead of the terrible heavy JC died on the cross to save our souls.
I also find religious belief fascinating; it really is a confounding phenomenon. I was thinking about starting a thread here about belief in "God". Actually I used to spend a lot more time arguing about this (on the rational side) on the old rushmessageboard.com site than talking about Rush. We had a long-running thread on TNMS, as well.
Perhaps the Politics section should be renamed Religion and Politics and it should go in there.
I find spirituality fascinating, is that why I like Tai Shan and High Water? Just finished reading The Name of the Rose which is murder mystery set against a meeting of different sects of the church to discuss poverty, and a truce between the Holy Roman emperor the Pope . And also how the different sects behave towards the murders and the reasons for the murders. Does Jesus laugh? and what does that mean for religious beliefs! or something like that.
All moot; there's no good reason to suppose any characters or events described in the "gospels" are grounded in historical fact.
In any case a dedicated thread seems a wise idea.
I turned on the radio this morning shortly after waking up to hear a person speaking in what could only be a Hartlepool accent. I listened for a few minutes and realised I was listening to my old schoolmate Tony Hutchinson! Tony led the investigation into the Seaton Carew life insurance fraud involving a disappearing canoe. I last saw him in 1980, strolling along Grange Road in Hartlepool in a police uniform.
The story has been dramatised as
The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe and the first part will be broadcast at 9pm on ITV. Looking forward to seeing the Hartlepool locations.
One thing that irritated me slightly was that judging by the audio clips, they've settled for Geordie accents rather than the authentic Teesside. But most people south of Leeds probably couldn't tell the difference.
Quote from: Slim on April 17, 2022, 08:40:09 PMI turned on the radio this morning shortly after waking up to hear a person speaking in what could only be a Hartlepool accent. I listened for a few minutes and realised I was listening to my old schoolmate Tony Hutchinson! Tony led the investigation into the Seaton Carew life insurance fraud involving a disappearing canoe. I last saw him in 1980, strolling along Grange Road in Hartlepool in a police uniform.
The story has been dramatised as The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe and the first part will be broadcast at 9pm on ITV. Looking forward to seeing the Hartlepool locations.
One thing that irritated me slightly was that judging by the audio clips, they've settled for Geordie accents rather than the authentic Teesside. But most people south of Leeds probably couldn't tell the difference.
Just seen this and I can wholeheartedly agree with the last sentence!
Quote from: Slim on April 17, 2022, 08:40:09 PMOne thing that irritated me slightly was that judging by the audio clips, they've settled for Geordie accents rather than the authentic Teesside. But most people south of Leeds probably couldn't tell the difference.
I'd like to think I can. As a kid my family were friends with a family from Durham and they were always pointing out how their accent differed from Geordie. To my ears the Teeside accent starts kicking in from the west side of Whitby. East side of Whitby is more Yorkshire.
Any time a TV series is set in the East Midlands the locals get given a generic Northern accent. So wrong, but the East Mids is quite hard to get right.
I thought east midlands was up north?
Quote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 19, 2022, 03:46:08 PMI thought east midlands was up north?
The North begins at Chesterfield - according to me, my old father said Clay Cross. It's a subtle thing, but then Geordies would class us as Southern puffs...
Fish, chips, mushy peas and bread and butter at the seaside yesterday.
Quote from: R6GYY on April 21, 2022, 10:45:47 AMFish, chips, mushy peas and bread and butter at the seaside yesterday.
All passed through with no discomfort, I'm assuming ;D ;)
Was delighted to see footage of a visiting hedgehog last night, caught on our trail camera.
A pretty rare sight.
Off work for a week so it's a weekend in Oban then 5 days in Mull.. and the weather looks pretty fucking good👍
Just back from a meal out with all the family to celebrate my daughter's 20th birthday
Quote from: R6GYY on April 22, 2022, 03:07:33 PMWas delighted to see footage of a visiting hedgehog last night, caught on our trail camera.
A pretty rare sight.
Was it going to cross the road to see his flat mate?
Quote from: pdw1 on April 22, 2022, 10:47:09 PMJust back from a meal out with all the family to celebrate my daughter's 20th birthday
You're old enough to have a 20 year old daughter?
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 23, 2022, 12:04:13 AMQuote from: pdw1 on April 22, 2022, 10:47:09 PMJust back from a meal out with all the family to celebrate my daughter's 20th birthday
You're old enough to have a 20 year old daughter?
most of us on here are old enough to have a 20 year old grand daughter
Quote from: pdw1 on April 23, 2022, 08:42:04 AMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 23, 2022, 12:04:13 AMQuote from: pdw1 on April 22, 2022, 10:47:09 PMJust back from a meal out with all the family to celebrate my daughter's 20th birthday
You're old enough to have a 20 year old daughter?
most of us on here are old enough to have a 20 year old grand daughter
I am 2 years too young young.
16+16+20=52 I am only 50!
Quote from: pdw1 on April 23, 2022, 08:42:04 AMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 23, 2022, 12:04:13 AMQuote from: pdw1 on April 22, 2022, 10:47:09 PMJust back from a meal out with all the family to celebrate my daughter's 20th birthday
You're old enough to have a 20 year old daughter?
most of us on here are old enough to have a 20 year old grand daughter
Speak for yourself!
Nice day in London with the sun shining.
First i went to Wembley to vote and then over to Hendon to visit the RAF museum. Home now with a G&T celebrating victory.
2 great days in Oban now it's a ferry over to Mull then home at the weekend....👍
Quote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 07:39:15 AM2 great days in Oban now it's a ferry over to Mull then home at the weekend....👍
oh you lucky person, have you been to the fish restaurant on the harbour front in Tobermory?
I have always wanted to put my feet in the sea then walk to the top of Ben More....maybe one day.
Quote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 25, 2022, 09:51:45 AMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 07:39:15 AM2 great days in Oban now it's a ferry over to Mull then home at the weekend....👍
oh you lucky person, have you been to the fish restaurant on the harbour front in Tobermory?
I have always wanted to put my feet in the sea then walk to the top of Ben More....maybe one day.
Going to get ourselves booked into the Cafe Fish for later in the week..gets rave reviews and menu looks awesome..even for someone like me that can't abide shell food...
Quote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 04:10:18 PMQuote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 25, 2022, 09:51:45 AMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 07:39:15 AM2 great days in Oban now it's a ferry over to Mull then home at the weekend....👍
oh you lucky person, have you been to the fish restaurant on the harbour front in Tobermory?
I have always wanted to put my feet in the sea then walk to the top of Ben More....maybe one day.
Going to get ourselves booked into the Cafe Fish for later in the week..gets rave reviews and menu looks awesome..even for someone like me that can't abide shell food...
Booked for Thursday 6.30pm..
Quote from: Fishy on April 26, 2022, 04:47:28 PMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 04:10:18 PMQuote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 25, 2022, 09:51:45 AMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 07:39:15 AM2 great days in Oban now it's a ferry over to Mull then home at the weekend....👍
oh you lucky person, have you been to the fish restaurant on the harbour front in Tobermory?
I have always wanted to put my feet in the sea then walk to the top of Ben More....maybe one day.
Going to get ourselves booked into the Cafe Fish for later in the week..gets rave reviews and menu looks awesome..even for someone like me that can't abide shell food...
Booked for Thursday 6.30pm..
You can go and watch the sea eagles. Are going to go to Iona? swim on those white sandy beaches.
Quote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 26, 2022, 05:18:49 PMQuote from: Fishy on April 26, 2022, 04:47:28 PMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 04:10:18 PMQuote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 25, 2022, 09:51:45 AMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 07:39:15 AM2 great days in Oban now it's a ferry over to Mull then home at the weekend....👍
oh you lucky person, have you been to the fish restaurant on the harbour front in Tobermory?
I have always wanted to put my feet in the sea then walk to the top of Ben More....maybe one day.
Going to get ourselves booked into the Cafe Fish for later in the week..gets rave reviews and menu looks awesome..even for someone like me that can't abide shell food...
Booked for Thursday 6.30pm..
You can go and watch the sea eagles. Are going to go to Iona? swim on those white sandy beaches.
Yes driving down to ferry tomorrow over to Iona.. did a 10 mile walk in Tobermory today...
Quote from: Fishy on April 26, 2022, 04:47:28 PMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 04:10:18 PMQuote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 25, 2022, 09:51:45 AMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 07:39:15 AM2 great days in Oban now it's a ferry over to Mull then home at the weekend....👍
oh you lucky person, have you been to the fish restaurant on the harbour front in Tobermory?
I have always wanted to put my feet in the sea then walk to the top of Ben More....maybe one day.
Going to get ourselves booked into the Cafe Fish for later in the week..gets rave reviews and menu looks awesome..even for someone like me that can't abide shell food...
Booked for Thursday 6.30pm..
And they only accept cash..no cards.. how quaint...😂
Quote from: Fishy on April 26, 2022, 05:32:57 PMQuote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 26, 2022, 05:18:49 PMQuote from: Fishy on April 26, 2022, 04:47:28 PMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 04:10:18 PMQuote from: Rufus_the_dawg on April 25, 2022, 09:51:45 AMQuote from: Fishy on April 25, 2022, 07:39:15 AM2 great days in Oban now it's a ferry over to Mull then home at the weekend....👍
there is a great view from Iona's highest point Dun I ( Well of Eternal Youth), which is a very pagan site. I was not allowed in the abbey for health and safety reasons...I had my 2 dogs with me. Madness, do you think the monks did health and safety reports before they built their abbey!
oh you lucky person, have you been to the fish restaurant on the harbour front in Tobermory?
I have always wanted to put my feet in the sea then walk to the top of Ben More....maybe one day.
Going to get ourselves booked into the Cafe Fish for later in the week..gets rave reviews and menu looks awesome..even for someone like me that can't abide shell food...
Booked for Thursday 6.30pm..
You can go and watch the sea eagles. Are going to go to Iona? swim on those white sandy beaches.
Yes driving down to ferry tomorrow over to Iona.. did a 10 mile walk in Tobermory today...
Iona..... fab.. drive to it.. not so fab...
My day was made largely by the fact it is a national holiday - King's day. Not a huge fan of monarchy but since it is mostly ceremonial these days I mind less. Plus it's a day off ;)
Spoke to a colleague from England yesterday while in the office and asked him about his plans for this day. He told me he'd be trying to avoid most festivities citing 'you guys are crazy' when it comes to celebrations. A wise decision although I prefer the quiet life these days.
Back to work tomorrow...
A 500-mile round-trip using 8 trains (if you count the tube) to support my team made more than worthwhile by them winning. 8)
Walked up our lane from the pub on Friday evening and spotted 21 different wild flowers in flower just along the verge. And I have just been told there are 3 pairs of Flycatchers near where I live.
Thinking about our annual jolly to Greece (exact location TBD) and being reminded that virtually all Covid restrictions for entry in both directions have just been dropped - no requirement for proof of vaccinations, nor proof of a negative test, nor proof of recent infection; no more PLFs to complete...
About time!
Quote from: Matt2112 on May 06, 2022, 12:52:41 PMThinking about our annual jolly to Greece (exact location TBD) and being reminded that virtually all Covid restrictions for entry in both directions have just been dropped - no requirement for proof of vaccinations, nor proof of a negative test, nor proof of recent infection; no more PLFs to complete...
About time!
Might be able to go abroad soon then :)
There's a footballer called Janina Minge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janina_Minge
As people may be aware, I am a keen family historian and have taken an Ancestry DNA test. Last night I got a match with a Scott Stringfellow, who turns out to be the son of Peter Stringfellow. An hours digging around today has led to a reasonable linkage to say that Peter Stringfellow was my 7th Cousin! But why should being related to a Deedah make my day?
It also appears that I'm 2nd Cousin 5 times removed to John Stringfellow, an early aeronautical inventor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stringfellow
It's a funny old world.
We met Sophie from Gogglebox in town today - what a nice young woman she is.
Last day at work before a week long break. So come to think of it, tomorrow is really the 'what's made my day' event.
Council tax cash reimbursement has landed.
Cheers, Dishy! I think.
Today is my son's last day at school before his A-levels start
Yesterday was seeing the Von Hertzen Brothers in Nottingham - Mrs S ended up with Mikko Von H laying back across her shoulder, but she thinks he was more interested in the Finnish PM lookalike to her left.
MASSIVE day today. FA Cup final. Eurovision. Forest in a Championship play-off.
Ethiopia Guji Hambela Natural coffee beans from Heartland Coffee Roasters in Llandudno.
I have had this as an espresso (in a flat white) at Providero in Llandudno and it was outstanding.
But this morning I made it as a filter brew and it was stunning.
https://www.heartland.coffee/product/ethiopia-guji-hambela-natural/269 (https://www.heartland.coffee/product/ethiopia-guji-hambela-natural/269)
Earlier I caught my daughter humming the tune to Roundabout.
Apparently its the outro to an Anime show that she's really into.
My daughter singing a Yes tune! Never thought I'd see the day
BBC 5 Live News - "the Consumer Price Index jumped by 9% in April"
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on May 13, 2022, 06:54:43 PMYesterday was seeing the Von Hertzen Brothers in Nottingham - Mrs S ended up with Mikko Von H laying back across her shoulder, but she thinks he was more interested in the Finnish PM lookalike to her left.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a9pzxlT2jdYuNcHFRhqs4Yv_hpqOxwp19S7mVwXfFmpEnGA0lh5dIR_n7fuT-UVBJY0hX77HuuY_HJDXEeiwae0MaCVfnK2qqaP1yLF99bFXQrImenSnIPCQ0_uyLUkHp6TvI7rKiKE09hLd4XqAyN4zD7K4-do2lUKzwpLjs2VwQ0ycKB0tBmE-KrMqDbnqIgqUhawc5eYBVWzsSGIT5P0aF9wsIDYslKXHdEpkwb5wARkNhqdiXbO8tB8YOAt2-H7ArN7Pqvh6XIxAIduRecAVavnd4-ZqQM007XlgH6Z9VFBe0NCA5mXAXoa4_ogw4jw1pA7d4DhkhZJBFUgGHNDRyCZ3_iuXdqBQ3jFeFBehKMWtbLydvrWUxWzbQtVdf0OQi0uGhozPY3jV1O5azObnLlk0NPuq9MYgzWCHR73g5P__3omJ451hxAveGHD-E8IIJEGiau7Z0qBrPlL8xc0M4VFWKbJv0t6kBPuLc9nxil0CgRAPyvEPmiY5B2uPk2h0O3PxV_J2UpPDnAn7mDv61tKYNc_9l5lWgCI-uXGzWon4MvA4Jh9UeNcbeCIESJjjmUYWfUle8V5im7b1CWsxMdq0kRRDvQt5YGsZ3MopnMZ2jUkwhx6bETBYr236k0rBiy_JowuGO3XLvFNl1UJ_yJ0q2E5sD00e2B83uexRGCTzmrfXcoMEY44wM25mn6Osbp-a5vC4CPOuCYuFerqlE74joUgM2DD7VnW6KQ4Rg0ykQRQfl-lS3_avAb6GTyhiWZwKmpLvui_qdcIXssWrWp19DiLo=w1024-h681-no?authuser=0)
Found a picture of it. You can just see my big conk to the left :)
Quote from: David L on May 18, 2022, 08:28:14 AMBBC 5 Live News - "the Consumer Price Index jumped by 9% in April"
It's where it should've gone in the first place! :-[ :)
I'm now retired :)
No more wage slavery.
No more facing driving up an M1 packed with imbeciles in vehicles.
No more spending all day with people I'd rather impale on the horns of doom.
I'm FREE!, FREE!!, FREE!!!
Free to do all the DIY jobs Mrs S tells me to...
Wow nice, I really wish I could do that. Certainly I've been thinking about it for a couple of years but it'll be a few more before I can actually do it.
Congrats!
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on May 24, 2022, 10:18:04 AMI'm now retired :)
No more wage slavery.
No more facing driving up an M1 packed with imbeciles in vehicles.
No more spending all day with people I'd rather impale on the horns of doom.
I'm FREE!, FREE!!, FREE!!!
Free to do all the DIY jobs Mrs S tells me to...
Congratulations!
I'm enjoying my work at the moment but increasingly my thoughts turn to retirement. I am looking at August 2024 when I will turn 61. At the moment I'm banging the max. into the pension scheme in order to secure the most comfortable retirement possible.
Can't wait to get up every morning and decide what I want to do with the day ahead.
Congrats - welcome to the club. Soon you'll wonder how you managed to find time to go to work. :)
Quote from: Slim on May 24, 2022, 10:27:57 AMWow nice, I really wish I could do that. Certainly I've been thinking about it for a couple of years but it'll be a few more before I can actually do it.
Congrats!
Thank you.
I had got 2026 pencilled in as my retirement year, but my dad's demise has helped me bring it forward. I kept telling him to spend his money, but he ignored me. Hey-ho.
Got to knuckle down now and get Probate done and dusted or I'll be selling my body round town...
Congrats Nick - I'm sure I'll have to keep going until I'm not able to or I get kicked out. How much of all this newly available time will you devote to cycling?
Well done Nick, I am way off retirement yet but now seriously planning for a 'post work' life..... Looking to run my business up for two years or so and then find a buyer. Stick with it for a further transition year and then just do a bit of consulting..... or insulting!
Congrats Nick.
Poor Mrs S will throw you out the house to get some peace and quiet.
Quote from: dom on May 24, 2022, 03:21:06 PMCongrats Nick - I'm sure I'll have to keep going until I'm not able to or I get kicked out. How much of all this newly available time will you devote to cycling?
As much as is possible :) Or as much as I dare...
Quote from: pdw1 on May 24, 2022, 06:44:45 PMCongrats Nick.
Poor Mrs S will throw you out the house to get some peace and quiet.
Mrs S is still working :) School reception in a morning, clerk to Governor's work in an afternoon, so until she quits the morning job at the end of Summer term she won't be seeing - or hearing - much more of me.
Looks like you will be making sure she will have a meal on the table when she gets back from work, bit of cleaning in the day as well ;)
Quote from: Nick on May 25, 2022, 08:03:02 AMLooks like you will be making sure she will have a meal on the table when she gets back from work, bit of cleaning in the day as well ;)
A bit of cleaning maybe, but the boy cooks the evening meal - we can't do it right :o
Just settling down to watch the Rugby League Challenge Cup final. Go Wigan. ;D 8)
A few beer with TNMS friends i haven't seen in ages.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will miss the jubilee celebrations after catching the ungodly coronavirus. Shame ;D
I've finally taken the plunge on a new 75" Samsung TV.
It's the model immediately below the QLED range, which I considered but decided the price jump wasn't quite justified; the whole 2021 range have plummeted in price now the 2022 models are out, and I also bagged a special bank holiday jubilee offer of a 20% discount (and effectively chipped a bit more off through topcashback).
Can't wait to showcase a favourite Blu-ray on it (2001: A Space Odyssey, maybe). :)
Hiring a boat and exploring the Fal Estuary
Quote from: Nick on May 30, 2022, 06:49:18 PMHiring a boat and exploring the Fal Estuary
Nice, I had a boat trip along the Fal years ago. I well remember the ships laid up there.
Just did a search for "ships laid up river Fal" and found a video I uploaded myself in 2009 :o
I'd forgotten that I did that.
Didn't really make my day and it wasn't under the best of circumstances, but I had a good old reminisce today.
It was the funeral of an old boss of mine - and my dad was his boss - so there were a good number of folk I used to work with there, all further up the food chain than me, but we had a good culture there so it was good to catch up.
I saved the best memories for Mrs S, like the Christmas do we had where the pub buffet was covered in flies and spiders. The Managing Director went to complain, only to find out they had been placed there by yours truly as I'd recently purchased a Bag'o'Flies and a Bag'o'Spiders. :) The MD went on to become boss of the CIA
Then there was the time where the company canvassed local opinion as to what they thought of us. Daft idea as we were a chemical company and were disliked as a source of imminent poisoning. Anyway, I got hold of a good quantity of these leaflets and filled them in with general rubbish, my favourite being "YOU SCUM, YOU KILLED MY CHICKENS" I did share these with my office colleagues. At the first team briefing after this the Personnel Director told us how the survey went and he happened to mention about the death of someone's chickens. :) I've never seen so many people biting their tongues before. I didn't remind him of this today.
A nice pub lunch, pint and a sea bass linguine at a pub on the Helford Passage, sun shining and all felt well in the world.
Djokovic out of the French Open.
Took the little 'un to a play gym today and she had a great time with a girl she'd never previously met; the two of them playing, riding cars together, chasing each other around, constantly giggling, stealing my glasses etc etc was - how can I put this - a scene that could have been set to the soundtrack of an MLK speech. ;)
Quote from: Matt2112 on May 30, 2022, 05:41:43 PMI've finally taken the plunge on a new 75" Samsung TV.
Arrived early this morning - looked like we were having a new dining table delivered. :o
It took a bit of a military operation to get it cabled up and in situ, and I went through my usual OCD with the picture and audio sync settings, but finally I've gone from having a fairly big home TV, to having a genuine big f**k off
home cinema screen. :)
Sneaking off to my (air gun) shooting club today for an hour. Shooting there is free on any public holiday :D
I only saw 3 others there today and it was very tranquil in our little woodland world.
A very enjoyable hour.
Day out in deepest darkest Suffolk.
Ended up here for lunch
(https://lirp.cdn-website.com/f4bb5b28/dms3rep/multi/opt/92874456_3249913311685718_7380125077326528512_n-1920w.jpg)
also doubles as a brewery so brought home some samples
Quote from: R6GYY on June 02, 2022, 03:40:15 PMSneaking off to my (air gun) shooting club today for an hour. Shooting there is free on any public holiday :D
I only saw 3 others there today and it was very tranquil in our little woodland world.
A very enjoyable hour.
Nice! Did you get any squirrels?
A long time ago I was a regular target shooter, haven't done that for over 20 years now.
No James.
No squirrels - just paper targets and reactive targets.
The only live quarry I kill are rats in the garden. When we started feeding birds and squirrels in the garden, the rats started appearing.
That is the reason I got a gun last year, but it gave me the shooting bug and I found a little private club not too far from me.
Do you need a license for an air gun? I used to have a Webley air pistol that I fired pellets and darts from into targets, no wildlife.
For a sub-12 ft-lb powered air rifle, or sub-6 ft-lb air pistol you don't need a Fire Arms Certificate. Anything more powerful than those limits then you would need a Fire Arms Certificate.
The rules are different in Scotland I think.
I used to have a Webley pistol just like that one, it had belonged to my brother.
There are so many pigeons round here I must admit I'm tempted to start taking them out. Sick of finding bird crap on my car.
Quote from: Slim on June 03, 2022, 11:04:41 PMThere are so many pigeons round here I must admit I'm tempted to start taking them out. Sick of finding bird crap on my car.
Yes, don't know what birds eat nowadays but their crap sets like Araldite
(https://i.imgur.com/Q6Witky.jpg)
Our house is right next to the village green, and the organisers of the Jubilee fete arranged a Hurricane flyover. I was a bit disappointed as I'm going to a gig this afternoon and it was supposed to be taking place at 4:30.
But I just heard the roar of a Merlin engine overhead two minutes ago, ran out of the house and a Spitfire did two low passes right over the green! Not sure what's happened there, didn't have time to grab a camera unfortunately but what a stirring sight. And sound.
Quote from: Slim on June 04, 2022, 02:20:22 PMOur house is right next to the village green, and the organisers of the Jubilee fete arranged a Hurricane flyover. I was a bit disappointed as I'm going to a gig this afternoon and it was supposed to be taking place at 4:30.
But I just heard the roar of a Merlin engine overhead two minutes ago, ran out of the house and a Spitfire did two low passes right over the green! Not sure what's happened there, didn't have time to grab a camera unfortunately but what a stirring sight. And sound.
We saw a Spitfire over New Milton yesterday
Quote from: Slim on June 03, 2022, 11:04:41 PMI used to have a Webley pistol just like that one, it had belonged to my brother.
There are so many pigeons round here I must admit I'm tempted to start taking them out. Sick of finding bird crap on my car.
Sadly the law would not take too kindly to that. We have some strange laws about what you can shoot, and the reasons.
Rats are fair game luckily. I shot a couple in daylight around April last year, but with the aid of night vision gear, I bagged a total of 22 rats last year in our garden. I haven't seen any since Christmas but I dare say they will be back.
Quote from: R6GYY on June 04, 2022, 05:25:37 PMQuote from: Slim on June 03, 2022, 11:04:41 PMI used to have a Webley pistol just like that one, it had belonged to my brother.
There are so many pigeons round here I must admit I'm tempted to start taking them out. Sick of finding bird crap on my car.
Sadly the law would not take too kindly to that. We have some strange laws about what you can shoot, and the reasons.
Rats are fair game luckily. I shot a couple in daylight around April last year, but with the aid of night vision gear, I bagged a total of 22 rats last year in our garden. I haven't seen any since Christmas but I dare say they will be back.
Reg I assume you have seen this already? https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20239370/
I haven't started on Season 3 yet, so have that little delight waiting for me 8)
Inadvertently avoiding the utter apparent predictable sh!tness of the "Queen's Jubilee Concert" by going to see a bunch of considerably more entertaining local acts instead. Where two-pint (plastic) glasses were also available.
It was complete carnage - I totally made the right choice. ;D
78th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Another chance to remind the French they had to be saved from tyranny by the bravery of young men from other nations
Wow David, you could do with losing that resentment. Its really not good for you!
Someone once said "holding onto a resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person ,(country,!) to suffer!"
A
Quote from: dom on June 06, 2022, 10:43:50 AMWow David, you could do with losing that resentment. Its really not good for you!
Someone once said "holding onto a resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person ,(country,!) to suffer!"
A
I think we know where the resentment lies, been displayed over and over again ;)
The French are far from blameless David but I worry about you 😉
Quote from: David L on June 06, 2022, 07:29:35 AM78th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Another chance to remind the French they had to be saved from tyranny by the bravery of young men from other nations
Thanks for reminding us of the 20 million dead of the Soviet Union which won the war.
Quote from: pdw1 on June 06, 2022, 06:04:55 PMQuote from: David L on June 06, 2022, 07:29:35 AM78th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Another chance to remind the French they had to be saved from tyranny by the bravery of young men from other nations
Thanks for reminding us of the 20 million dead of the Soviet Union which won the war.
Yes, unfortunate for them too that the French caved-in so easily, allowing Hitler to turn his attention to the east. Stalin was apparently furious with them by all accounts. He thought, like many, France had the greatest army in the world in 1940. They had no appetite for it (after their huge losses in WW1)
Quote from: David L on June 06, 2022, 08:08:49 PMQuote from: pdw1 on June 06, 2022, 06:04:55 PMQuote from: David L on June 06, 2022, 07:29:35 AM78th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Another chance to remind the French they had to be saved from tyranny by the bravery of young men from other nations
Thanks for reminding us of the 20 million dead of the Soviet Union which won the war.
Yes, unfortunate for them too that the French caved-in so easily, allowing Hitler to turn his attention to the east. Stalin was apparently furious with them by all accounts. He thought, like many, France had the greatest army in the world in 1940. They had no appetite for it (after their huge losses in WW1)
great spin there
Quote from: pdw1 on June 06, 2022, 08:55:35 PMQuote from: David L on June 06, 2022, 08:08:49 PMQuote from: pdw1 on June 06, 2022, 06:04:55 PMQuote from: David L on June 06, 2022, 07:29:35 AM78th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Another chance to remind the French they had to be saved from tyranny by the bravery of young men from other nations
Thanks for reminding us of the 20 million dead of the Soviet Union which won the war.
Yes, unfortunate for them too that the French caved-in so easily, allowing Hitler to turn his attention to the east. Stalin was apparently furious with them by all accounts. He thought, like many, France had the greatest army in the world in 1940. They had no appetite for it (after their huge losses in WW1)
great spin there
;D
Responding to this a bit late, but the French had a powerful, well-organised and aggressively well-motivated war machine on their border. The British Expeditionary Force was also defeated in France. And thousands of French patriots fought on - in the Free French forces with the RAF, with the Royal Navy and alongside the British Army, as well as in La Résistance.
Had it not been for English Channel the Germans may well have rolled into England as well, sometimes Geography can be a major decider. Tim Marshall's books The Power of geography and Prisoners of geography are excellent at explaining this.
Also the French lost 600k people and the U.K. 450k people during WW2.
yesterday but
scream for me donington
Quote from: Slim on June 12, 2022, 08:00:50 PMAnd thousands of French patriots fought on - in the Free French forces with the RAF, with the Royal Navy and alongside the British Army, as well as in La Résistance.
Yes I rember learning about that from 'Allo 'Allo!
Quote from: David L on June 06, 2022, 07:29:35 AM78th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Another chance to remind the French they had to be saved from tyranny by the bravery of young men from other nations
The French had better thank the USA then!
Quote from: Rufus_the_dawg on June 13, 2022, 09:41:11 AMQuote from: David L on June 06, 2022, 07:29:35 AM78th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Another chance to remind the French they had to be saved from tyranny by the bravery of young men from other nations
The French had better thank the USA then!
Goes without......
Quote from: David L on June 13, 2022, 08:21:30 AMQuote from: Slim on June 12, 2022, 08:00:50 PMAnd thousands of French patriots fought on - in the Free French forces with the RAF, with the Royal Navy and alongside the British Army, as well as in La Résistance.
Yes I rember learning about that from 'Allo 'Allo!
No wonder you have such a distorted world view
Quote from: pdw1 on June 13, 2022, 05:56:23 PMQuote from: David L on June 13, 2022, 08:21:30 AMQuote from: Slim on June 12, 2022, 08:00:50 PMAnd thousands of French patriots fought on - in the Free French forces with the RAF, with the Royal Navy and alongside the British Army, as well as in La Résistance.
Yes I rember learning about that from 'Allo 'Allo!
No wonder you have such a distorted world view
;D ;D
Vicky Michelle though! Great show. It was probably working with the French that caused the 'distortion' (?)
Went to take the bin out at 10:05pm and it's still just about daylight out there.
I love to go outside late at night in June. One disadvantage I imposed on myself by migrating 130-odd miles to the south from Hartlepool is that sunsets are 12 minutes earlier here at this time of year.
Our garden Pheasants have got chicks :)
A visit to my stylist, feel much cooler after a hair cut.
Ahhhh...afternoon off watching the Royal Ascot gee-gees ahead of going to see "Yes" tonight; I have a second row seat right in front of Steve Howe - that'll do for me. :)
Sitting out on the garden wall watching all the birdlife.
Buzzards trying to catch a thermal.
A Kestrel hovering over the field.
A Hen Pheasant having a dust bath whilst the Cock Pheasant wanders around making strange clucking noises.
A couple of pigeons bathing and drinking from the bird bath.
A male Blackbird feeding a juvenile, the juvenile then wandered off to sunbathe in front of me.
An endless stream of House Sparrows and Blue Tits heading for the bird feeders.
Busy doing nothing :)
Nice!
My bedroom window is right next to a hedge bordering a village green, and I must admit I'm sick of the racket in the mornings. Been pondering buying a plastic hawk to sit on the ledge over the front door.
We had the doors open to the workshop today and a small bird flew in (sparrow?). Had a devil of a job trying to get it out. In the end it flew into an internal window and fell to the floor, dazed, so I managed to pick it up and release it outside. Flew off straight away so no damage done.
Being able to take the recycling out in t-shirt and shorts, without a head torch on after 10pm. Then I went for a stroll on the village green to watch the bats wheeling round the trees.
The BBC reports that McCartney's Glasto warm-up gig at an 800 capacity venue in Frome was a sell-out.
;D ;D ;D ;D
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10958975/Rock-legends-Kiss-mistake-Australian-flag-Austrian-flag-Vienna-concert.html
On a a skiing holiday to Austria many years ago, the Ski rep said the in the film the Von Trapps were actually walking back into Germany. How true that is I don't know as I've never seen the ghastly thing.
Julie Andrews was a bit of stuff then
I've already posted this in the cycling thread, but I thought some readers who don't visit that thread might be interested.
While out on a bike yesterday I saw a couple of Spitfires, late in the day. And today, I managed to find flight data for a Spitfire that overflew Edingale and Lullington at 17:38 yesterday, at a height of 3950 ft. I pinpointed my position at that time using the track off my Garmin and I was about 420 metres to the north of it at this time, just to the west of Lullington.
https://planefinder.net/flight/GRRGN/time/2022-07-03T16:10:00.000Z/speed/1
This does match my recollection that it was going in the same direction as myself.
Apparently it belongs to Rolls-Royce, a Mark XIX. So it was actually a Griffon engine that I heard, not a Merlin.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/iconic-second-world-war-aircraft-4736868
The one I saw later wasn't the same one, this one landed at East Midlands Airport ten minutes later.
Glad to know that Royces still own a Spit. I saw their Spitfire XIV overfly our offices in Derby in 1990. Sadly that one was lost in a fatal crash two years later at the Woodford Air Show.
My son and his girlfriend are in Madrid for a week to watch the Mad Cool festival. Just had a video of them watching Metallica. What's made my day is that my son has a really bad fear of flying. It started one time (he was 9) as my wife flew back to the UK from Cyprus with him. He'd flown before then, but for some unknown reason he went to bits. So for him to fly to Madrid like this is very courageous of him. I know he'll be putting on a brave face for his girlfriend, but good for him.
I find, as I get older, I'm not that keen on flying, either. Across the board, I'm generally a little more anxious about things as well...
Footage of a mad woman being tasered. I would have supported the police officer using his firearm here, to be fair. If you've been asked to drop a knife three times and have declined to comply, I think it's the right approach.
My old earbuds died recently just before my hols. Managed to get a pair of Bose earbuds on Amazon prime day on Tuesday about £100 cheaper than normal. Excellent sound and noise cancelling, far superior to my previous ones.
We picked up our brand new car today. Ordered 13 April 2022, so not too bad delivery time considering the current issues with semiconductor supply. :)
Seeing an England football team win a major tournament today was quite enjoyable - however, my day was really made when BBC News at Ten ended with a montage of England's Euro final victory with Van Halen's Top Of The World playing over it. :D
Premiership teams to drop 'taking the knee' for the new season
Travelled about 2,000 miles roughly in a south-easterly direction today, which culminated in me being told at a hotel reception: "Your pronunciation is very good". ;)
Greece, I've missed you. 8) :D
Sitting out in the sun watching 9 Long Tailed Tits and a Blue Tit on one of our Bird Feeders. With two LTTs watching on from a nearby tree branch. Does life get any better? (Most probably yes - ed.)
A whole afternoon on water slides - always a highlight of me jollies.
A couple of my splashdowns were a bit painful where it hurts, so even if you have the balls to go on the most thrilling slide, there won't be much left of them afterward.
A trip via boat to Lindos to visit the Acropolis, prevailing through the challenging heat, steep uphill walk and dicey terrain to recreate a couple of photos I took there 10 years ago - but this time, of course, with a special little companion. 😉 8)
When in Greece you occasionally get these brass-necked hawkers coming to your restaurant table - with apparent impunity - peddling trinkets or timeshares or whatever, placing their wares next to your drinks as if in some pound shop Dragon's Den pitch.
Fortunately, I am armed with seven syllables of perfectly-enunciated Greek which immediately sends them packing. 😏
Quote from: Matt2112 on August 12, 2022, 01:28:34 AMWhen in Greece you occasionally get these brass-necked hawkers coming to your restaurant table - with apparent impunity - peddling trinkets or timeshares or whatever, placing their wares next to your drinks as if in some pound shop Dragon's Den pitch.
Fortunately, I am armed with seven syllables of perfectly-enunciated Greek which immediately sends them packing. 😏
That sort of thing was terrible when we were in Kuta, Bali years ago. I think the authorities put a stop to it, thankfully
The CWU has announced a further two days of strike action for 30th and 31st August. As luck would have it, the 30th is my Rota Day Off so I'll only lose one day's pay. The 31st is my birthday, so I'll have the day to celebrate..in whatever manner I choose!
A walk along the Jurassic coast with a dip in the refreshing sea followed by a pasty on the beach.
HMCTS have approved my Probate application. Took less than four weeks and they work on it taking eight.
Being an Accountant I'm an expert form filler...
Back at Laneside touring park in Hope for a long weekend. Tomorrow we sample the delights of The Old Hall Inn beer and cider festival :)
Might even get a ride in before it kicks off at midday.
When I was 14 I hid some ciggies (concealed in a cardboard Toffets carton for added security) and my paperback copy of Chopper under a loose floorboard in the spare bedroom upstairs. Eventually a new carpet got put down up there, the loose floorboard became inaccessible and I never thought I'd see them again.
Until today, when I received an email from the folks who bought my mum's house. They'd taken part of the ceiling down in the front room downstairs to install some insulation and the following fell out:
(https://i.ibb.co/L1GvVmx/chopper-ciggies.jpg)
I've never read (heard of) Chopper but I'm thinking that for a 14 year old lad's stash to get a public airing decades later, you got off rather lightly.😁
Would you dare to light one up for old times sake?
Just back from a cracking holiday in Majorca. God it was warm...
Actually, far be it for me to grumpy all the time my day was made this week, when on taking Mrs S to New Reekie for a couple of days we found most of the overflowing litter had been removed from the streets for our arrival, then when we checked into the Hotel, our double room had been upgraded to a luxury apartment. which was nice.
Our first holiday since Covid. The last one was Tenerife back in November 2019. We still aren't up to the melee and hassle of airports (other people) just yet, so we booked a lovely cottage in rural Shropshire for a week. It's one of the few places in the UK I've not been to before. We arrived yesterday and have just got back from a lovely walk. Weather is looking a bit shit over the next few days though. My son and his girlfriend are coming down on Monday and it's my wife's big 60th on Tuesday - so something nice to celebrate.
Woke up at 0300 this morning and strolled onto the balcony of our cruise ship cabin, somewhere in the western end of the English Channel - put my specs on, looked up and had the most stunning view of a starry night I can remember since I was a kid. Light pollution obviously makes a big difference.
Quote from: pxr5 on September 03, 2022, 02:44:16 PMOur first holiday since Covid. The last one was Tenerife back in November 2019. We still aren't up to the melee and hassle of airports (other people) just yet,
Oh, then you should have gone in 2020 during the good old days of the pandemic: eerily quiet airports, no queuing, check-in and security a total breeze, half-empty planes, no vaccine documentation required - because there were no vaccines...life was so hassle-free... :)
I love Calvin & Hobbs :)
https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes
Tweeted about 35 minutes ago:
(https://i.ibb.co/80SLZRT/gbfr.jpg)
Getting a "DE&I" survey submission off my chest. Here's an excerpt:
QuoteThe organisation essentially has a section dedicated to proclaiming successes over phantom issues that it has created by itself and for itself. It should not feel pressured by outside forces into doing this and it should have higher expectations of its employees, who have the aptitude and intuition to work such things out astutely enough for themselves.
A cracking two-hour walk with the dog under a clear night sky, followed back at home by my first sip of alcohol in two weeks; a glorious evening all round.
All unthinkable a week ago - 'appen it's safe to say my recovery is complete. :)
live music
and meeting up with Pudders for a sneaky lunchtime pint
Quote from: pdw1 on September 25, 2022, 12:37:48 AMlive music
and meeting up with Pudders for a sneaky lunchtime pint
...or 2 in my case! Good to see you and, thanks for investing in Truck Records, please come again!
2 tixs booked for new Stewart Lee show next March at the King's Theatre Glasgow
CT scan at Glenfield hospital today. I had to wait six minutes in the little waiting room and it was all done in another five. Plus I didn't have to pay for the car park since I was back there in less than 30 minutes, and the traffic was light both ways.
Best of all though I thought they might give me a dose of contrast fluid first, and I have a morbid fear of injections. They didn't.
Hopefully I'll find out if I have a kidney stone in a few days. I think I probably don't.
Quote from: Slim on October 11, 2022, 05:01:25 PMCT scan at Glenfield hospital today. I had to wait six minutes in the little waiting room and it was all done in another five. Plus I didn't have to pay for the car park since I was back there in less than 30 minutes, and the traffic was light both ways.
Best of all though I thought they might give me a dose of contrast fluid first, and I have a morbid fear of injections. They didn't.
Hopefully I'll find out if I have a kidney stone in a few days. I think I probably don't.
Hope results are clear then James. I had a CT scan a while back when being diagnosed with Diverticulitis which involved an infusion which, they said, would make it feel like I'd pissed myself! Went through, nothing, thought well that's ok then, didn't feel a thing. Turned out to be a reference scan so went through again, with the infusion and, flippin' heck! :o
Just put down a deposit for another Dachshund as a buddy for our girl Bonnie ;D If it's a bitch she'll be called Bella; a dog - obviously Clyde. The mother is due in 2-3 weeks, so the pups will be ready in the new year. ;D
Distillery tour at Tomatin while in Inverness staying with friends this weekend..
Bought the 12 yr old malt which is just wonderful. Def one of my faves
Gave nerdle a try for the first time and got it in four.... tricky...
STV News website rightly praising Dunoon Grammar for an international education award it received. Then spelling Dunoon as Dunnon in the photo caption.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on October 19, 2022, 02:18:23 PMSTV News website rightly praising Dunoon Grammar for an international education award it received. Then spelling Dunoon as Dunnon in the photo caption.
I emailed the journalist in question and she replied within minutes assuring me the mistake would be put right. It was!😁👍
I've had mistakes on the BBC News site put right a few times in the distant past. I just leave them to it now.
Here's an old comedy sketch from
Not the Nine O'Clock News that's aged badly. Or perhaps it's aged quite well, depending on your point of view.
This is funny:
Out 'Tapping' the Tap! What the hell is Janick Gers doing?
shot down in flames?
Quote from: pxr5 on October 11, 2022, 06:48:23 PMJust put down a deposit for another Dachshund as a buddy for our girl Bonnie ;D If it's a bitch she'll be called Bella; a dog - obviously Clyde. The mother is due in 2-3 weeks, so the pups will be ready in the new year. ;D
Quoting myself, sorry. But our new puppy's mother gave birth to six gorgeous Dachshunds yesterday. 2 choc/tan males and 4 black/tan females. So we can say now we'll definitely be getting a little girl. 9 weeks to wait now - boo.
(https://i.imgur.com/uvJ6nyKl.jpg)
Sweet!
Lovely glossy fur on them.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on October 19, 2022, 02:18:23 PMSTV News website rightly praising Dunoon Grammar for an international education award it received. Then spelling Dunoon as Dunnon in the photo caption.
I was mentioned in an article in The Independent, written by someone I had guided in France as, '...Neil Pudsey...' my moment of fame cruelly equated to a charity bear. The online article was changed (link below) but the print article remains! Mind you the sub-editor continued to cover himself in glory with that article by labelling a German War Graves Cemetery as a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, also pointed out, but still not changed after 8 years.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-cemeteries-of-the-western-front-are-testament-to-the-worst-and-best-of-humanity-9593026.html
Waitrose is to stop selling Phillip Schofield's wine range which has been described as 'undrinkable' by the retailer's shoppers.
https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2022/10/26/waitrose-phillip-schofield/
Quote from: Slim on October 27, 2022, 01:29:00 PMWaitrose is to stop selling Phillip Schofield's wine range which has been described as 'undrinkable' by the retailer's shoppers.
https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2022/10/26/waitrose-phillip-schofield/
It was supposed to be late vintage port but he couldn't be arsed to wait ;D
This is our chosen puppy, hence the pink collar. We were asked to choose one when they were only 2 days old and basically just hairy worms lol. We did want a female so that left us with 4 to choose. One was a runt and another had a white chest, out of the other 2 one was slightly darker - so we chose her (to be honest any of them would have been fine). We've named her Bella and all going well she'll be ready to collect on 21st December:
(https://i.imgur.com/4o9T9ypl.jpg)
Been holding off getting smart meters.. glad I did .. another letter from e-on saying if u book in for new meters we'll credit ur account £50 per meter
Booked in for Dec 8th👍
Quote from: Fishy on November 08, 2022, 03:53:38 PMBeen holding off getting smart meters.. glad I did .. another letter from e-on saying if u book in for new meters we'll credit ur account £50 per meter
Booked in for Dec 8th👍
That £50 won't seem anywhere near enough, when they start rationing your energy ;)
Quote from: Fishy on November 08, 2022, 03:53:38 PMBeen holding off getting smart meters.. glad I did .. another letter from e-on saying if u book in for new meters we'll credit ur account £50 per meter
Booked in for Dec 8th👍
Cool, I've been holding out too. Hopefully EDF will be doing the same for me.
I'll hold out until they stump up 50 grand...
Smart meters are absolutely shite. Their main purpose seems to be to lull you into the false impression that you no longer need to track your usage because the supplier will just collect the readings for you. You'd be amazed how often they'll still spit out incorrect bill - and it's never incorrect in the customers favour.
Quote from: captainkurtz on November 09, 2022, 07:43:33 AMSmart meters are absolutely shite. Their main purpose seems to be to lull you into the false impression that you no longer need to track your usage because the supplier will just collect the readings for you. You'd be amazed how often they'll still spit out incorrect bill - and it's never incorrect in the customers favour.
Indeed; a few years ago it took me bringing an action through the Glasgow Sheriff's Court to force Scottish Power to pay out compensation for their utter mismanagement and negligence.
They settled before the case was heard - funnily enough - and suffice to say I haven't been near them since.
Their customer service got so bad at one time that Ofgen suspended their ability to canvass new customers. And they have barely improved since - check out the endless list of apoplectic one-star reviews on Trustpilot.
Scottish Power are abysmal. In fairness, I find every utility company has varying levels of incompetence apart from Octopus - who are excellent.
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on November 08, 2022, 07:05:24 PMI'll hold out until they stump up 50 grand...
I've just been offered a 3 meal box for two people and a free coffee once a month from Costa........P*ss off!
My brother has had some old cine film that he found in my mum's house digitised. I'm actually quite overwhelmed by what was on there, mainly from 50 years ago or more. There's some footage from the garden, and views of the house from back then that are really priceless.
Here's me riding my older brother's bike in the garden. It was a fixie. This must have been about 1971 I think. The other cyclist in the video is my little brother.
I must say I envy young James here, with all those decades of cycling left in his legs.
That is brilliant.
Still in a bit of shock to be honest. I noticed a very large hard lump on my dog Freddie's right elbow joint yesterday evening. He's only 21 months old but has St Bernard in his breed mix and I was aware that bone cancers are quite common in large breed dogs. I had a mostly sleepless night thinking how empty life would be without him as he's such a big personality. My sister took him to the vet first thing this morning and phoned me quickly to tell that first impressions were nothing sinister. They took fluid samples just to be safe but feel that it's a reaction to him being heavy (9 stones) and throwing himself down on hard surfaces too much. He sleeps on the tiled bathroom floor to stay cool. I've never had children, so can only try to imagine how stressful it can be if a dog can make me so fearful.
I've just bought a Pioneer turntable circa 1976. Been lusting after a classic Pioneer for a while and a nice-looking PL-530 cropped up on ebay. A fully-automatic, direct-drive with strobe and a lovely s-shaped tonearm with detachable headshell. It's in lovely condition, considering it is nearly 50 years old.
Don't you just love it when you arrive to collect something and it exceeds your expectations?
;D
Due to various time constraints (and weather) I haven't been shooting at my club for must be over 2 months now. I did pop in, in October, to pay my annual subscription and had a brief chat but didn't bring my gear.
So it was great to get there last Sunday, a cool and bright November day, and very mild to spend an hour or so shooting on the range, and then a walk around the woods shooting at the knock-down 'field targets'. It felt great.
My rifle hasn't been idle though - it has been earning its keep taking care of the rats in our garden. I have had 20 rodents now since August. I say rodents rather than rats as a few of them were mice.
I do miss my rifle shooting sometimes, haven't done it for over 20 years now. Still have my Derbyshire Rifle Association Marksman's patch somewhere.
This was my rifle, an Anschutz 1413. I gave it to the club when I left London. this was one of the first photos I took with my first digital camera in 2000.
(https://i.ibb.co/FsDKmQN/anschutz.jpg)
Anyway today's simple pleasure is my new garage door. The only downer is that the key is 1.8g heavier than the old one, and since I take it with me on every bike ride, that's significant.
(https://i.ibb.co/0yRLc0F/221115garagedoor.jpg)
Key? I'd have thought it would employ retinal recognition. It's 2022 you know ;D ;)
Boxing up some old CDs today and found an ancient £15 iTunes voucher. According to Google they don't have an expiration date.
From last night, but still: as part of my covers band's set we do One Week by Barenaked Ladies and I perform the vocals.
This of course is a formidable challenge: the sheer amount of words to remember, the hyper-speed at which many of lines have to be enunciated, the lines that sound like they're being repeated but are actually slightly different from each other, that you have to remember to take a breath in every spare half second you get. And that I must resist the occasional urge to corpse at the song's wry humour.
Before last night, every time I'd attempted it either during a gig or in practise I could never do it to perfection, sometimes missing out on that with the slightest of fumbles, like hitting 95% accuracy on Guitar Hero or something.
But last night, in front of a packed and lively Friday night audience, I managed to absolutely nail it, punching the air in jubilation after crossing the finish line with "Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie".
I cut my grass today.. looks great
A one stop trip on the Elizabeth Line.
I'm easily pleased, but I've seen so many programmes on its construction I had to try it out whilst I was down in London. Mrs S enjoyed it.
Found a professional qualification certificate of mine that I lost just over three years ago - after practically dismantling the set of drawers where I keep such documents, while looking for something else. It had somehow fallen out the back of a drawer and down into the least accessible nook possible.
Feeling very serendipitous right now.
Had a wonderful day out in Northampton. Took the day off work. It would have been a glorious cycling day and there aren't many of those at this end of the year, but I'm glad I went. Drove there on my own and revisited some of my old haunts from my six month Lost Weekend there in 1984.
Hadn't been since December.
(https://i.ibb.co/tqFLcyn/racecourse221125.jpg)
Quote from: Fishy on November 08, 2022, 03:53:38 PMBeen holding off getting smart meters.. glad I did .. another letter from e-on saying if u book in for new meters we'll credit ur account £50 per meter
Booked in for Dec 8th👍
It's about control
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/families-struggling-pay-energy-bills-25581210
Many years ago, in a cinema in Middlesbrough, I saw the following short film about Birmingham, narrated by Telly Savalas. I came across it again on YouTube today. Priceless.
Quote from: Slim on November 25, 2022, 04:54:58 PMHad a wonderful day out in Northampton. Took the day off work. It would have been a glorious cycling day and there aren't many of those at this end of the year, but I'm glad I went. Drove there on my own and revisited some of my old haunts from my six month Lost Weekend there in 1984.
Hadn't been since December.
(https://i.ibb.co/tqFLcyn/racecourse221125.jpg)
So much flatness. Your world is very different.
One from yesterday morning I didn't get round to posting about.
A female football referee was being interviewed on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, discussing last night's World Cup game where all the officials were women.
The last question put to her was: "Why aren't there any female referees in the Premiership?"
I don't think the BBC got the answer from this lady they were looking for or expecting - she simply said: "Because there aren't any that are good enough yet".
Quote from: Matt2112 on December 02, 2022, 01:01:42 PMOne from yesterday morning I didn't get round to posting about.
A female football referee was being interviewed on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, discussing last night's World Cup game where all the officials were women.
The last question put to her was: "Why aren't there any female referees in the Premiership?"
I don't think the BBC got the answer from this lady they were looking for or expecting - she simply said: "Because there aren't any that are good enough yet".
What makes you think they weren't expecting that response?
Quote from: dom on December 02, 2022, 04:48:15 PMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 02, 2022, 01:01:42 PMOne from yesterday morning I didn't get round to posting about.
A female football referee was being interviewed on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, discussing last night's World Cup game where all the officials were women.
The last question put to her was: "Why aren't there any female referees in the Premiership?"
I don't think the BBC got the answer from this lady they were looking for or expecting - she simply said: "Because there aren't any that are good enough yet".
What makes you think they weren't expecting that response?
Because they are champions of victimhood?
Quote from: David L on December 02, 2022, 06:14:14 PMQuote from: dom on December 02, 2022, 04:48:15 PMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 02, 2022, 01:01:42 PMOne from yesterday morning I didn't get round to posting about.
A female football referee was being interviewed on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, discussing last night's World Cup game where all the officials were women.
The last question put to her was: "Why aren't there any female referees in the Premiership?"
I don't think the BBC got the answer from this lady they were looking for or expecting - she simply said: "Because there aren't any that are good enough yet".
What makes you think they weren't expecting that response?
Because they are champions of victimhood?
Are they?
Quote from: dom on December 02, 2022, 10:02:55 PMQuote from: David L on December 02, 2022, 06:14:14 PMQuote from: dom on December 02, 2022, 04:48:15 PMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 02, 2022, 01:01:42 PMOne from yesterday morning I didn't get round to posting about.
A female football referee was being interviewed on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, discussing last night's World Cup game where all the officials were women.
The last question put to her was: "Why aren't there any female referees in the Premiership?"
I don't think the BBC got the answer from this lady they were looking for or expecting - she simply said: "Because there aren't any that are good enough yet".
What makes you think they weren't expecting that response?
Because they are champions of victimhood?
Are they?
Yes
They have form for it.
Like the infamous, righteously indignant news articles and pieces about the England women's football starting XI that had no black players - but one simple look at the entire squad at that exact time showed an over-representation of black players compared with the general population.
Hearing Chris Squire and Alan White's Run with the Fox on Radio 2 this morning.
England's win in Pakistan too :D
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 05, 2022, 12:04:54 PMEngland's win in Pakistan too :D
Yes, a mightily impressive showing by England there. To win like that on such a flat pitch is extraordinary. I really like this 'new' England and their positive way of playing.
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 05, 2022, 11:45:14 AMHearing Chris Squire and Alan White's Run with the Fox on Radio 2 this morning.
Yes, my ears pricked up when that was played. It's a great crimbo song, isn't it?
Quote from: David L on December 05, 2022, 07:02:03 PMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 05, 2022, 11:45:14 AMHearing Chris Squire and Alan White's Run with the Fox on Radio 2 this morning.
Yes, my ears pricked up when that was played. It's a great crimbo song, isn't it?
Absolutely :)
Almost, almost, cheered up a bit when I heard it.
Quote from: pxr5 on December 05, 2022, 12:41:09 PMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 05, 2022, 12:04:54 PMEngland's win in Pakistan too :D
Yes, a mightily impressive showing by England there. To win like that on such a flat pitch is extraordinary. I really like this 'new' England and their positive way of playing.
It's certainly good when it comes off, but a complete omnishambles if it doesn't.
Watching the Cyclocross from Dublin and someone has a "DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING!" placard. Don't think the commentator understands its significance.
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 11, 2022, 02:27:08 PMWatching the Cyclocross from Dublin and someone has a "DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING!" placard. Don't think the commentator understands its significance.
We need a picture
Quote from: pdw1 on December 11, 2022, 06:41:38 PMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 11, 2022, 02:27:08 PMWatching the Cyclocross from Dublin and someone has a "DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING!" placard. Don't think the commentator understands its significance.
We need a picture
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe :)
When I got round to watching the men's race, there was also a placard with "CAREFUL NOW" on it :)
Best dog walk of the year this afternoon, navigating along one of the steep embankments of a snow and ice-flecked Shibden valley: under a pristine, cloudless sky, with one slightly ill-advised off-trail short cut through tricky terrain (which took so long to navigate it defeated the object), but culminating in an opportunity to take some marvellous panoramic shots as the sun was setting - the dog abiding with my command to pose for one shot for just long enough before he became a blur on a "Pano" pic.
Nice way to spend a birthday. :)
Watching Piers Morgan on TalkTV addressing the latest documentary episodes from Harry and Megan. He does have a good way about him with things like this.
I had a skim through one of my old Personal Computer World magazines - the November 1990 edition - and found a brief review of the computer I had on my desk at work in 1991.
When I started working for Rolls-Royce and Associates in the summer of 1989, I didn't have a computer on my desk. I used to work with sheets of code churned out by a line printer at my desk, or I'd go into a terminal room and work at a green-screen text terminal (a VT220). But a couple of years later I'd moved to a different group, and by this time I had my own computer - a Sun SPARCstation IPC. It had 16MB of RAM - a lot more than an IBM PC would have had at that time - and a 200MB hard drive. It ran a graphical desktop system called Open Windows.
According to the review I've just read, they cost £8000 a go! Quite a big chunk of cash in 1991. My salary back then was only about twice that. But the MoD used to buy our stuff for us, and I assume they got a good price from Sun.
I was a Systems Manager in the early 90s looking after DEC mainframes (VAX and PDPs) (and yes I know exactly what a VT320 is :) ), but when things started to shrink we started using DEC Workstations. I remember the day we installed an Infoserver with 7GB of HDD storage (3x2GB and 1x1GB) - we were like wow we'll never fill that beast up. Now you can get 7Gb on something the size of a pubic hair. :D
Something I remember fondly was setting up the disk heads on an RK07 Disk drive (20MB). We had this massive piece of test equipment that plugged in the back and we adjusted the head in and out using an allen key as the heads flew over the platters to align them. One minor slip and the heads would crash on to the disk platters - I heard that noise a few times, not caused by me thankfully.
I'm so envious when I hear accounts of those who have such an in-depth knowledge of computer technology. I have a good brain which has always been good at absorbing and learning in other ways, but just doesn't seem to have that natural aptitude for an area which fascinates me. Each to their own as many a TNMS argument used to end with 😉.
Found a pic of a VT220 online:
(https://i.ibb.co/zrd5cdS/DEC-vt220.jpg)
We also had a couple of more modern terminals - 320s or 420s, possibly - and I especially liked those, because they had amber-on-black screens which I thought were a lot swankier. And you could set them to "smooth scroll", so the text would move up the screen a pixel at a time instead of a line at a time - which seemed really cool at the time.
God, it seems a long time ago now.
I remember having to travel to the "export library " in London to basically photocopy yellow pages of other countries and trade magazines to asses potential market leads.
Similarly, as an apprentice surveyor, I had to travel to a city centre retailer which was HMSO approved, to buy excerpts of 1:1250 Ordnance Survey maps in order to provide detailed property boundary plans to solicitors and building societies. Another adventure for the 17 year old me was visiting the Mitchell Library which housed the Glasgow Room. There I could request dusty old tomes to be brought over to my desk which provided various rating and planning information for addresses the practice had surveyed recently. All click of a mouse stuff these days which in a way is a bit sad. I'm glad I got to have a foot in both worlds. I'm still quite conversant in pounds, shillings and pence. I'm not sorry about that at all. I bought a crusty loaf recently and it was two guineas.😁
I'm not exaggerating when I state this: I can read and understand Greek more than the above posts regarding IT stuff. :)
Managed thru to Edinburgh despite train strikes for a friend's surprise 60th... always cold as fuck in Edinburgh😀
That's my obligations to my Yank paymasters done for this year - aaaaand relax. 8)
Quote from: Fishy on December 17, 2022, 11:14:40 AMManaged thru to Edinburgh despite train strikes for a friend's surprise 60th... always cold as fuck in Edinburgh😀
But drier than Glasgow.
Guitar whizz YouTuber Paul Davids had a guitar string shootout, and my own favourite brand came out on top. I've been using them since the '70s.
It's the shortest day😀
Quote from: Fishy on December 21, 2022, 09:21:19 AMIt's the shortest day😀
Sunset time here in the E Mids already a little bit later than yesterday (although the sunrise time was also later). Good times!
Today's day length 7 hrs, 36 minutes and 21 seconds. Shorter than yesterday (7:36:27) but I don't care about sunrise times.
Tomorrow's day length also 7 hrs, 36 minutes and 21 seconds.
Figures apply to Loughborough (a few miles to the east of here)
https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/loughborough
I can't get my head around whether that makes last night or tonight the longest night.
By New Years Day sunset is 9 minutes later... a nice feeling that...
Looking closer at the figures, the earliest sunset time was about 8 days ago (15:49). Will be an hour later than that on Feb 1st.
I love it when it's still daylight at 10pm.
Car insurance renewal came in.. had a go at a compare site with a few quotes giving it over £30 cheaper.. got back to my current insurer mentioning that I could get cheaper .. could they match and they did ...
Companies seem to rely on folks being lazy and just accepting this kind of stuff instead of shopping around a little bit
Picked our new pup Bella earlier. She's currently snoozing on me. :)
(https://i.imgur.com/8FkAldPl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ynHb8VDl.jpg)
About two years ago I helped to fund the last Sea Power album, and the last of my funder goodies have just been hand-delivered by the band's management! A hand-written lyric sheet and two posters.
My employers gave me a Selfridges gift card loaded with a not inconsiderable sum, so I took a trip to its store at Manchester's Trafford Centre to collect a present chosen by the little un's mum - and to treat myself, of course.
After a lengthy browse, I indulged in two bottles of red wine at prices I would otherwise almost never pay for such things - a Spanish "Flower And The Bee" Souson and, costing twice as much, a 2012 Joseph Swan Californian Zinfandel.
They had better be good...
Delighted to read that Murdo MacLeod the former Celtic and Borussia Dortmund player is home again after 103 days in hospital following heart surgery. Murdo is a local lad and I had the privilege of playing against him on a couple of occasions at a young age. I remember after one of those games my dad who had come to watch me play, raving to my grandad about the talent he had just observed. Sadly, it wasn't mine. Something about Murdo that is often discussed is him being struck full force by a Branco free-kick at Italia '90 and being knocked out cold. He remembers nothing about the rest of the game. Get well soon Murdo.
A most enjoyable Christmassy afternoon - took the little 'un on her annual visit to Santa's grotto and he had a proper, real beard! :D
Yesterday. Playing Cards Against Humanity with our son and his girlfriend - best laugh I've had in ages, side splitting and tears spilling.
Annual Xmas panto; the little un's mum always insists on a front row seat, and tonight I found myself being the audience "fall guy" for the comic lead's roastings almost throughout.
Loved it. :D
Quote from: Matt2112 on December 27, 2022, 10:37:00 PMAnnual Xmas panto; the little un's mum always insists on a front row seat, and tonight I found myself being the audience "fall guy" for the comic lead's roastings almost throughout.
Loved it. :D
You're very brave. I would hate that.😁
I adopted a Macaw a few months ago. He already had a strange repertoire but occasionally when he's being bad tempered it can be accidentally totally in context and very amusing. He likes to throw a chrome dish, which sits on the roof of his cage, noisily onto the floor. I couldn't find it earlier so said to him in a stern tone "no dish, no pistachios! He leant forward quite menacingly and shouted "whatever!". I told him he was being rude to which he relied "shut up!". Hysterical! Maybe it's not accidental.😂
Found a source for sunset times to the second for a location 300 metres from here, and I've managed to get them into a text file and convert them into a spreadsheetable form so I could draw a graph. The Y axis is seconds after noon GMT when sunset takes place. The leftmost datapoint is for 13th December 2022 when the sun set at 3:50pm and 19 seconds. The rightmost datapoint is for 25th June 2023 when the sun sets at 8:34pm and 9 seconds. Those are of course the earliest and latest sunsets, respectively.
All times in GMT.
(https://i.ibb.co/QHPjtvW/sunset-chart.png)
Getting the Xmas decorations down.. served their purpose now begone 😀
My alcohol induced atrial fibrillation has ceased after only three hours. I just love the tranquility of sinus rhythm. Never take that steady pulse for granted people.
Central heating finally fixed today - faulty 3-port valve replaced. Just the complaint to do now to put an end to the saga.
This made me smile:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64160726
The teenage stars of the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet are suing Paramount Pictures for sexual abuse.
Because: "Whiting and Hussey have suffered emotional damage and mental anguish for decades as a result of the way they were treated".
And yet:
In a 2018 interview with trade publication Variety, Hussey defended the nude scene.
"Nobody my age had done that before," she said, adding that Zeffirelli shot it tastefully. "It was needed for the film."
In a separate interview with Fox News, also conducted in 2018, she said the scene was "taboo" in the US, but that nudity was common in European films at the time.
"It wasn't that big of a deal," she said. "And Leonard wasn't shy at all! In the middle of shooting, I just completely forgot I didn't have clothes on."
16.02 sunset time today .. always good to get past 4pm so that's now a full 15 mins later than shortest day... roll on the spring👍
Quote from: Fishy on January 04, 2023, 02:09:36 PM16.02 sunset time today .. always good to get past 4pm so that's now a full 15 mins later than shortest day... roll on the spring👍
It's got very dark in the morning though! ;)
Quote from: David L on January 04, 2023, 02:36:42 PMQuote from: Fishy on January 04, 2023, 02:09:36 PM16.02 sunset time today .. always good to get past 4pm so that's now a full 15 mins later than shortest day... roll on the spring👍
It's got very dark in the morning though! ;)
Was just thinking that - was walking the dog this morning just before 8. Was VERY dark. I do hate this time of year, Jan & Feb, dark and cold. Roll on March!
Sunrise gets earlier from Friday.
Quote from: Fishy on January 04, 2023, 02:09:36 PM16.02 sunset time today .. always good to get past 4pm so that's now a full 15 mins later than shortest day... roll on the spring👍
Here in the E Mids sunset time is 4:04:51 today .. 14 minutes and 32 seconds later than the nadir on 13th Dec.
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on January 04, 2023, 02:46:14 PMSunrise gets earlier from Friday.
a minute earlier for us from tomorrow 8.46 am today .. 8.45 tomorrow...
16.08 sunset today and by Friday it's 16.16 👍
Really dark this morning
The delicious irony arising from deranged gender identity politics obsessives not being careful what they wished for; good, short article in Unherd from Joan Smith: The Brits go gender neutral and women disappear (https://unherd.com/thepost/the-brits-go-gender-neutral-and-women-disappear/?mc_cid=3ffdcb8a9e&mc_eid=1e54d6f49a)
Quote from: David L on January 10, 2023, 07:37:15 AMReally dark this morning
Unbelievably light this morning :)
Quote from: Matt2112 on January 13, 2023, 12:37:07 PMThe delicious irony arising from deranged gender identity politics obsessives not being careful what they wished for; good, short article in Unherd from Joan Smith: The Brits go gender neutral and women disappear (https://unherd.com/thepost/the-brits-go-gender-neutral-and-women-disappear/?mc_cid=3ffdcb8a9e&mc_eid=1e54d6f49a)
I don't really mind there being a "gender neutral" category for these and similar awards. It just means that the gender associated with the category is ignored, which if anything is a welcome break from the obsession with gender politics that's taken hold of fashionable discourse recently.
Even if it's been done as a sop to the folks who don't think they belong to a particular gender. Still a good thing.
I mean why would (say) a jazz record by a male artist compete in the same category as an Indie record by a male artist, but not in the same category as a female artist jazz record? Makes little sense.
Quote from: Slim on December 28, 2022, 05:54:50 PMFound a source for sunset times to the second for a location 300 metres from here, and I've managed to get them into a text file and convert them into a spreadsheetable form so I could draw a graph. The Y axis is seconds after noon GMT when sunset takes place. The leftmost datapoint is for 13th December 2022 when the sun set at 3:50pm and 19 seconds. The rightmost datapoint is for 25th June 2023 when the sun sets at 8:34pm and 9 seconds. Those are of course the earliest and latest sunsets, respectively.
All times in GMT.
(https://i.ibb.co/QHPjtvW/sunset-chart.png)
We're getting into the linear part of the curve now, with sunset times roughly 90 seconds later each day. Here in the E Mids, today's sunset will occur 27 mins 14 seconds later than it did on December 13th.
Quote from: Slim on January 13, 2023, 01:20:41 PMQuote from: Matt2112 on January 13, 2023, 12:37:07 PMThe delicious irony arising from deranged gender identity politics obsessives not being careful what they wished for; good, short article in Unherd from Joan Smith: The Brits go gender neutral and women disappear (https://unherd.com/thepost/the-brits-go-gender-neutral-and-women-disappear/?mc_cid=3ffdcb8a9e&mc_eid=1e54d6f49a)
I don't really mind there being a "gender neutral" category for these and similar awards. It just means that the gender associated with the category is ignored, which if anything is a welcome break from the obsession with gender politics that's taken hold of fashionable discourse recently.
Even if it's been done as a sop to the folks who don't think they belong to a particular gender. Still a good thing.
I mean why would (say) a jazz record by a male artist compete in the same category as an Indie record by a male artist, but not in the same category as a female artist jazz record? Makes little sense.
Yes, no objections to that here as it doesn't affect equality of opportunity; however, the identitarians aren't interested in that, they want equality of outcomes (i.e. nominations of females), thinking a neutral category would guarantee that, and because it actually doesn't it's bitten them on the bum.
Quote from: Matt2112 on January 13, 2023, 02:18:04 PMYes, no objections to that here as it doesn't affect equality of opportunity; however, the identitarians aren't interested in that, they want equality of outcomes (i.e. nominations of females), thinking a neutral category would guarantee that, and because it actually doesn't it's bitten them on the bum.
As ever, careful what you wish for.
Clearing stuff up at my dad's today and finding lots of photographs of people I never knew had photographs of them in existence, including a set of GtGt Grandparents who were born in 1825 and 1827. Unfortunately they are only a small portion of the photo, but at least it exists.
I also found my dad's school reports, he never mentioned them when he was thrashing me with his slipper for all my "Must try harder" reports. Like father like son...
Took a call from the car dealer telling me the newly ordered car has arrived, pick up next Tuesday ;D
Arrived at T2 at Paris CDG airport returning to UK, like a ghost town, the security bag checkers were queuing up to search bags, fastest I have ever been from roadside to airside.
Loved the alleged quote from Gina Lollobrigida saying she knew Rock Hudson was gay cos he didn't fancy her...
Apparently I've been awarded a "Top Fan badge" on Facebook by U2.
You're welcome, guys!! :D
Quote from: Matt2112 on January 18, 2023, 09:49:16 PMApparently I've been awarded a "Top Fan badge" on Facebook by U2.
You're welcome, guys!! :D
Pah! I've got one from Riverside ;D
Quote from: Matt2112 on January 18, 2023, 09:49:16 PMApparently I've been awarded a "Top Fan badge" on Facebook by U2.
You're welcome, guys!! :D
Isn't that the band that
forces people to be fans via iTunes? ;D
16.31 sunset today always good to get past half 4 and by a week tomorrow it'll be a full hour longer than the shortest day @ 16.47
Away for the weekend and spent a good while at a pub in the Cotswolds this evening chatting to locals. Turns out one of them is Tony Iommi's daughter. Lovely lady.
Sunset time today in Ayr.. 16.47.. a whole one hour more than the shortest day...
Novak winning his 10th Australian Open title
My eldest son becoming a father to wee Finn Thomas Semple ..wee cracker
Happy Independence Day to all of us here in the UK!
(https://i.ibb.co/197fhrS/brexitdaydowningst.jpg)
LOL
Last day of January .. horrible month hello February...
No strike action at the little 'un's school today. Fortunately.
Quote from: Matt2112 on February 01, 2023, 03:38:32 PMNo strike action at the little 'un's school today. Fortunately.
Scab Primary?
;D ;)
Yesterday was made by a fantastic gig by the Von Hertzen Brothers and catching up with Ali sometime denizen of these parts.
Once in a while, in the dumping ground of discourse that is Twatter (sic), you happen upon a diamond account amongst the rust - there's an "anti-fatphobic" (parody) account by "Dr Anita B. Etin" with clinically brilliant and genuinely hilarious tweets that are all the more funny when they get bites from the knee-jerking righteously indignant.
Quote from: Matt2112 on February 03, 2023, 10:38:55 PM"Dr Anita B. Etin"
LOL
I'm fond of https://twitter.com/TitaniaMcGrath
Quote from: Slim on February 03, 2023, 11:46:15 PMQuote from: Matt2112 on February 03, 2023, 10:38:55 PM"Dr Anita B. Etin"
LOL
I'm fond of https://twitter.com/TitaniaMcGrath
Yes, him - sorry I mean, her! - as well. :)
Beautiful day today sunset time now past 5pm .. 5.02.. we're on the up and up now👍
The weather was good today, so it was my first opportunity to get out on my new bike. I picked it up last week but it has been rain and wind ever since. Bright and still today but very cold. I'm going to keep to cycle paths and back roads until I sharpen up my traffic awareness. Decided on an eBike to save my weary, ageing body from too much abuse, hence this isn't posted in the Cycling thread. Glad I made that choice though as I'm really impressed with how well it performs.
Got the fire pit going ,, beautiful red sky sunset ..popped a bottle of red wine... bliss ..also some nice bright planets in the south west sky... Venus is one I think....makes you feel good to be alive with moments like these...
Anyone want to see a jacket potato singing and playing guitar to 'Go Your Own Way'...
Apparently its Richie Sambora
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on February 05, 2023, 06:09:54 PMThe weather was good today, so it was my first opportunity to get out on my new bike. I picked it up last week but it has been rain and wind ever since. Bright and still today but very cold. I'm going to keep to cycle paths and back roads until I sharpen up my traffic awareness. Decided on an eBike to save my weary, ageing body from too much abuse, hence this isn't posted in the Cycling thread. Glad I made that choice though as I'm really impressed with how well it performs.
Please do feel free to post in the cycling thread. It's all good! And although an e-bike wouldn't be my own choice I'm quite interested in them.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on February 05, 2023, 06:09:54 PMDecided on an eBike to save my weary, ageing body from too much abuse, hence this isn't posted in the Cycling thread.
Quite right not to! 'Cos you'd get some mental abuse to go with your physical abuse from me :-X
e-bikes? BLOODY MOPEDS!! I hate 'em, especially when I try to catch them up going uphill >:(
Although I hope this is still in production when I hit 70...
https://www.bianchi.com/store/int_EN/ysbn9-ariae-road-ultegradi2-8.html
From yesterday: performed a short solo acoustic set opening for an excellent local covers band - which included One Week, and to my own amazement I completely nailed it and got a few "WTF?!" looks in my direction. :)
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on February 05, 2023, 09:45:06 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on February 05, 2023, 06:09:54 PMDecided on an eBike to save my weary, ageing body from too much abuse, hence this isn't posted in the Cycling thread.
Quite right not to! 'Cos you'd get some mental abuse to go with your physical abuse from me :-X
e-bikes? BLOODY MOPEDS!! I hate 'em, especially when I try to catch them up going uphill >:(
Although I hope this is still in production when I hit 70...
https://www.bianchi.com/store/int_EN/ysbn9-ariae-road-ultegradi2-8.html
Oh yes, I like that (the bike - not the sherricking)! Mine is more Tesco run than TdF though. All panniers and Bosch power for the hills where I live, to save me lugging "the messages" home until I get back to driving regularly again. It's a Cube Kathmandu Hybrid Pro 625. Very happy with it.
TBH this makes every morning for me. My sister's dog is staying with me just now and is an actual plane spotter. He lies in his bed nearly all morning until he hears the Emirates 777 in the distance, and bolts to the back door demanding to get out. He then chases it to the back fence barking and howling like a banshee, trots back in and goes back to bed. It's just Boeing 777s he seems to hate (or love, who knows)?
The sun set just after 5pm today, in NW Leics.
This article in Spiked (https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/02/07/diversity-training-does-more-harm-than-good//) by Dr Rebekah Wanic, which eloquently covers the points I made recently in a submission to my employers regarding "DE&I"; it's saved me some typing, probably.
Filling the bird-feeders in the garden in the company of my ridiculously cute Granddaughter...
Quote from: Basspedalman on February 10, 2023, 05:24:32 PMFilling the bird-feeders in the garden in the company of my ridiculously cute Granddaughter...
Don't you know there's a cost of living crisis?
Have you seen the price of Sunflower seeds these days? Bloody Russkies invading Ukraine >:(
Taking the little 'un home after her swimming lesson this afternoon, and driving down the Cote de Shibden Wall (which the mad lads taking part in 2017's Tour de Yorkshire had to cycle in the opposite direction), we witnessed a deer leaping over a fence and onto the road about 50 yards in front of us, before gracefully hurdling the opposite wall into a field. This was immediately followed by a second deer, almost as if we were watching an action replay.
And not to virtue signal or anything, but had I not been driving according to the surroundings, setting a good example to my little backseat companion, then that encounter may have ended very, very differently. 🙂
Quote from: Matt2112 on February 11, 2023, 04:29:21 PMAnd not to virtue signal or anything, but had I not been driving according to the surroundings, setting a good example to my little backseat companion, then that encounter may have ended very, very differently. 🙂
My brother hit a deer a few years ago. Wrecked the front of his car. Didn't do the deer a lot of good, either.
About a year ago I saw one tentatively pondering coming out of the woods and into the road in front of me a few miles north of me. I was in no danger of hitting it but I beeped and flashed it anyway, just to give it a negative association with wandering close to the road.
Quote from: Matt2112 on February 11, 2023, 04:29:21 PMTaking the little 'un home after her swimming lesson this afternoon, and driving down the Cote de Shibden Wall (which the mad lads taking part in 2017's Tour de Yorkshire had to cycle in the opposite direction), we witnessed a deer leaping over a fence and onto the road about 50 yards in front of us, before gracefully hurdling the opposite wall into a field. This was immediately followed by a second deer, almost as if we were watching an action replay.
And not to virtue signal or anything, but had I not been driving according to the surroundings, setting a good example to my little backseat companion, then that encounter may have ended very, very differently. 🙂
Always glad to hear happy endings in such circumstances. My sister had the misfortune to hit a deer in her car a while back. It's a really upsetting experience and as James pointed out, it can also be an expensive one. The second deer following, and sometimes further deer after that is also great advice to make any driver aware of. They rarely go about on their own and are usually shadowed by others.
On another occasion when my sister found an injured deer by the side of the road, no vet was willing to come out. She called the police and when the cop finally arrived he refused to take the animal in his van, claiming that it would be off the road afterwards until it could be fumigated. I'd imagine your average deer is a lot cleaner than some of the scumbags he normally piles in. He helped her bundle the poor animal onto the back seat of her car but unfortunately it passed away before she reached the vet school which was a few minutes from the scene. Thinking about it afterwards she was amazed that the cop would put an injured wild animal in the car with her.
Colleague of mine ploughed into a heard of cows that had escaped from a field due to a gate being open.
Couple of summers ago a huge stag appeared in a Devon lane on my ride. It was magnificent with a full set of antlers, I was slightly worried that it might think my drop handlebars were antlers of some kind. But as I reached for my phone it just sprang over a hedge and was gone. Amazing how they live alongside us.
(https://i.ibb.co/MGhR4h8/et-balloons.png)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64620064
Quote from: Nick on February 12, 2023, 05:12:37 PMColleague of mine ploughed into a heard of cows that had escaped from a field due to a gate being open.
Couple of summers ago a huge stag appeared in a Devon lane on my ride. It was magnificent with a full set of antlers, I was slightly worried that it might think my drop handlebars were antlers of some kind. But as I reached for my phone it just sprang over a hedge and was gone. Amazing how they live alongside us.
This reminded me of something which happened to the credit controller where I used to work. He used to change his cars very regularly and having just acquired a new model, he and his wife decided to take a trip to Argyllshire. Driving along a single track road, a huge stag appeared in front of the car, but in mid-air. It had leapt the hedge alongside the road, landed all four hooves on the bonnet of the car and sprang off, unharmed into the field opposite. Needless to say the car wasn't unharmed.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11750753/Britains-longest-serving-female-prisoner-finally-freed-37-years-murdering-rival.html
Janet Newton, the girl who was murdered, was a friend of mine when I was 19. Actually one of my first girlfriend's close friends. My brother used to sit next to her in school.
Apparently her murderer has been in prison for 35 years now; the longest-serving female prisoner in the UK.
Bought some stainless steel 12mm M4 bolts from Amazon last night to replace the bolts in my handlebar extender that had gone rotten and rusty. They plopped through the door an hour ago and I've fitted them - perfect fit.
(https://i.ibb.co/FbLC24x/extenderbolts.jpg)
First daffodil showing its face this morning...
Completed on the sale of my Dad's house today. My retirement is now funded :) Shame about the circumstances that led to it.
We accepted £10k under the asking price, which seeing as Trussonomics had happened during the sales process we were happy with. The Estate agent had wanted to put it on at £25k less than what we did, so I'd say it was a result.
We did have a situation though where the buyers were parked on the road with two removal wagons as we hadn't had confirmation from our solicitor to say things had been completed. Thankfully there was just a five minute stand off :)
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on February 17, 2023, 07:23:24 PMCompleted on the sale of my Dad's house today. My retirement is now funded :) Shame about the circumstances that led to it.
We accepted £10k under the asking price, which seeing as Trussonomics had happened during the sales process we were happy with. The Estate agent had wanted to put it on at £25k less than what we did, so I'd say it was a result.
We did have a situation though where the buyers were parked on the road with two removal wagons as we hadn't had confirmation from our solicitor to say things had been completed. Thankfully there was just a five minute stand off :)
I've heard this so often about solicitors recently that I've come to the belief that it's some kind of muscle flexing rather than just inefficiency.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on February 17, 2023, 09:27:20 PMI've heard this so often about solicitors recently that I've come to the belief that it's some kind of muscle flexing rather than just inefficiency.
I was convinced it was conveyancing inefficiency, we'd agreed exchange of contracts on Tuesday, but late Thursday afternoon I got a phone call about agreeing exchange again. However talking to our buyers on Friday it seems it may have been their buyer's fault as they hadn't had their mortgage agreement witnessed, so things probably all had to be run through again at the last minute.
Been going through all the stuff I brought back from my Dad's house and I found a load of letters written in WWII from some of her cousins and an uncle to my nana and family.
Lots of mundane things, but fascinating. Seems that aunt Emily never replied to her letters and soldiers dreamed of Pork Pie and beer and seeing of Jerry. Cousin Wilfred in his last letter was dreaming of coming home and getting pissed every day. Bit of a downer really as he was killed in Libya four days later.
Just reported to Lancs. police my dash cam video of the guy in front of me running a red light. I wouldn't normally bother, but this was so blatant and a few seconds after the light went red, nearly causing a crash from a car coming from the right who had to slam on and sound his horn. Dead easy to do as well, took 5 minutes.
Quote from: pxr5 on February 23, 2023, 02:27:59 PMJust reported to Lancs. police my dash cam video of the guy in front of me running a red light. I wouldn't normally bother, but this was so blatant and a few seconds after the light went red, nearly causing a crash from a car coming from the right who had to slam on and sound his horn. Dead easy to do as well, took 5 minutes.
Lancashire police couldn't give a stuff about this sort of thing. Trust me, I'm a cyclist.
The beginning of a reconciliation with an old, cherished friend who lives in California - we fell out some years ago over something relatively trivial in the grand scheme of things; today we apologised to each other and are now catching up on the years we weren't communicating.
Very, very glad this has happened.
Fantastic view of Orion from the back garden tonight, to the south. Wife wanted to know what the bright star low above the horizon was. I thought probably a planet, but it was Sirius, 8.6 light years away.
I wondered what the star to the right of it was - looked it up and it's Beta Canis Majoris, about 500 light years away.
At Warp Factor 6, it would take the USS Enterprise more than two years to get there.
Building a vcsa 7.03 on VMware workstation
Quote from: Fishy on February 23, 2023, 10:46:58 PMBuilding a vcsa 7.03 on VMware workstation
Wish I had a clue what that meant.... Congratulations anyway!! ;D
Quote from: Basspedalman on February 24, 2023, 05:58:37 PMQuote from: Fishy on February 23, 2023, 10:46:58 PMBuilding a vcsa 7.03 on VMware workstation
Wish I had a clue what that meant.... Congratulations anyway!! ;D
Quite - as I've said before, I would say it's all Greek to me, except I actually can read and understand Greek far more than the IT posts on here.
Quote from: Slim on February 23, 2023, 10:38:56 PMFantastic view of Orion from the back garden tonight, to the south. Wife wanted to know what the bright star low above the horizon was. I thought probably a planet, but it was Sirius, 8.6 light years away.
I wondered what the star to the right of it was - looked it up and it's Beta Canis Majoris, about 500 light years away.
At Warp Factor 6, it would take the USS Enterprise more than two years to get there.
I love guessing what the nightsky offers. When we walk the dogs at night and the sky is clear I can, around this time of year, easily spot Jupiter, Mars & Sirius - it flickers slightly so is easily recognizable. Mid coming week Jupiter & Venus are nearly overlapping here so I am keeping my fingers crossed for a clear sky on Wednesday night.
Was out early evening yesterday. Cloudless deepening blue sky.Two stars beautifully in view toward the horizon one higher, one lower. Found out after it was Venus and Jupiter
Yep saw Venus and Jupiter again tonight.. just great
Did a guitar "demo" performance - on semi-acoustic then electric - at our local school's assembly this morning, in front of three year groups of about 200 children (including my daughter) and a couple of dozen teaching staff.
There was a Q&A afterwards - which I wasn't expecting - and I half expected some kid just to ask, "What the heck was THAT?!" but they were extremely polite and I think I achieved my goal of impressing them.
Which is just as well, as I was bricking it beforehand, fearing a "Marty McFly" moment when I'd finished my performance. :)
Quote from: Matt2112 on February 27, 2023, 02:12:50 PMDid a guitar "demo" performance - on semi-acoustic then electric - at our local school's assembly this morning, in front of three year groups of about 200 children (including my daughter) and a couple of dozen teaching staff.
There was a Q&A afterwards - which I wasn't expecting - and I half expected some kid just to ask, "What the heck was THAT?!" but they were extremely polite and I think I achieved my goal of impressing them.
Which is just as well, as I was bricking it beforehand, fearing a "Marty McFly" moment when I'd finished my performance. :)
Nice one! What did you play for them?
Quote from: dom on February 27, 2023, 02:49:46 PMQuote from: Matt2112 on February 27, 2023, 02:12:50 PMDid a guitar "demo" performance - on semi-acoustic then electric - at our local school's assembly this morning, in front of three year groups of about 200 children (including my daughter) and a couple of dozen teaching staff.
There was a Q&A afterwards - which I wasn't expecting - and I half expected some kid just to ask, "What the heck was THAT?!" but they were extremely polite and I think I achieved my goal of impressing them.
Which is just as well, as I was bricking it beforehand, fearing a "Marty McFly" moment when I'd finished my performance. :)
Nice one! What did you play for them?
Basically, stuff I'd stolen from Hendrix and EVH. Still buzzing from it. :)
Quote from: Matt2112 on February 27, 2023, 03:43:39 PMQuote from: dom on February 27, 2023, 02:49:46 PMQuote from: Matt2112 on February 27, 2023, 02:12:50 PMDid a guitar "demo" performance - on semi-acoustic then electric - at our local school's assembly this morning, in front of three year groups of about 200 children (including my daughter) and a couple of dozen teaching staff.
There was a Q&A afterwards - which I wasn't expecting - and I half expected some kid just to ask, "What the heck was THAT?!" but they were extremely polite and I think I achieved my goal of impressing them.
Which is just as well, as I was bricking it beforehand, fearing a "Marty McFly" moment when I'd finished my performance. :)
Nice one! What did you play for them?
Basically, stuff I'd stolen from Hendrix and EVH. Still buzzing from it. :)
Perhaps the best education they received that day ;D
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on February 23, 2023, 05:50:28 PMQuote from: pxr5 on February 23, 2023, 02:27:59 PMJust reported to Lancs. police my dash cam video of the guy in front of me running a red light. I wouldn't normally bother, but this was so blatant and a few seconds after the light went red, nearly causing a crash from a car coming from the right who had to slam on and sound his horn. Dead easy to do as well, took 5 minutes.
Lancashire police couldn't give a stuff about this sort of thing. Trust me, I'm a cyclist.
Got an email today and they're taking action. I admit I was a bit surprised.
It's March... lovely...
Quote from: Fishy on March 01, 2023, 12:22:20 PMIt's March... lovely...
Still February weather. :(
Quote from: Matt2112 on March 01, 2023, 01:03:30 PMQuote from: Fishy on March 01, 2023, 12:22:20 PMIt's March... lovely...
Still February weather. :(
Bloody youngsters of the Global warming era, it feels like April to me!
I cut my grass today.. garden looks fucking great😀
Quote from: Fishy on March 04, 2023, 05:41:08 PMI cut my grass today.. garden looks fucking great😀
Did the neighbours all start up as well?
Quote from: Nick on March 04, 2023, 07:40:10 PMQuote from: Fishy on March 04, 2023, 05:41:08 PMI cut my grass today.. garden looks fucking great😀
Did the neighbours all start up as well?
They started last week...
Guilted me in to running my mower out.
Laid 120 square metres of turf a while back, then got two new dogs. About ten blades of grass left now. Need to get the garden centre for seed when the temperature lifts a couple of degrees. Must be milder where you folks are though. The grass isn't growing here yet.
Sunset today at 18.01.. clocks forward three weeks today...
Went mad and ordered a leaf blower and vac. My back can't take using a rake anymore.
Quote from: Nick on March 05, 2023, 05:09:22 PMWent mad and ordered a leaf blower and vac. My back can't take using a rake anymore.
A very wise purchase👍
Funny! I've told Louise that I want one for my birthday! It's at the end of August so the timing is excellent
Quote from: dom on March 05, 2023, 07:22:40 PMFunny! I've told Louise that I want one for my birthday! It's at the end of August so the timing is excellent
There a lot of innuendo to unpack there 😀
Apart from being the beneficiary of a kind neighbourly gesture in the snow this morning (see the Weather Watch thread), just had a cracking walk with the dog in perfect winter conditions tonight: it was pleasantly cold, still and fairly quiet, and there's something consistently satisfying about the sound and sensation of hardened snow being crushed under my Salomons. :)
So happy to read that due to her recent promotion, Sophie, the new Duchess of Edinburgh no longer has to curtsey to Meghan. Some things just give you that spring in your step for the rest of the day.
I don't quite understand this response to my review of Welcome Break Oxford Services.
(https://i.ibb.co/74XDk53/wb-review.png)
Quote from: Slim on March 15, 2023, 08:43:07 PMI don't quite understand this response to my review of Welcome Break Oxford Services.
(https://i.ibb.co/74XDk53/wb-review.png)
Lot of very poorly educated people around Oxford
Clocks forward this weekend .. love it👍
As of today we've already gained 2 hrs, 35 mins of afternoon daylight since the Dec 13th nadir when the sun set at 3:50pm. That seemed to go pretty quickly! Not sure if that's a good thing or not.
Looking forward to another extra hour from Sunday.
Came across this pic of the Stones playing at Newcastle City Hall in 1971. I love old photos of the City Hall.
(https://i.ibb.co/cknYc2Y/stones-cityhall.jpg)
The red arrow indicates where I was when I first saw Rush there, six years later. Except that I was actually on the other side of the venue, but of course that's out of view in this image.
Sunset today 19.44 and it just keeps getting better and better👍
When I find money in my dreams it's still the grubby old paper banknotes and not the new stuff.
I was absolutely dreading having a broken molar extracted today after a few days on Penicillin. I was told to expect sutures, but it was all over in a couple of minutes with no sutures required. Will be glad to get back on my anticoagulant this evening as stopping it was my main concern.
Michael Vaughan cleared of using racist language towards ex-Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq by the Cricket Discipline Commission, on the balance of probability.
Or in other words: on the balance of probability, Azeem Rafiq is a liar as well as an anti-semite.
Wordle 651 3/6
🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛🟨🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
A minute. Not that difficult.
Doing a bit of gardening round the back and feeling the sun warming the back of my neck. Spring has truly sprung ;D
Sorting out travel arrangements for Halifax Town's trip to Wembley Stadium for the FA Trophy Final next month. :D
As a Brucey Bonus I used accumulated credits in my LNER account to get the outbound train journey in first class for £23.00 :)
Quote from: Matt2112 on April 02, 2023, 07:02:26 PMSorting out travel arrangements for Halifax Town's trip to Wembley Stadium for the FA Trophy Final next month. :D
As a Brucey Bonus I used accumulated credits in my LNER account to get the outbound train journey in first class for £23.00 :)
Congrats, Barnet just missed out on penalties after going 3 0 down in the first half of their semi away to Gateshead. The equaliser came in the 12th minute of the 12 that were added, but the Bees couldn't make the momentum count. Pity! The Bees have not been to Wembley since 1973, 4 years before I started supporting them.
1 more day to go at work, off on Friday and Monday.
Doing the recycling quite early this morning and the sun was noticeably warm on my back.
FC Halifax Town 3-1 Wrexham :D
Fish supper down the shore sat in the car .. god it was good
A tweet from Calderdale Council that begins:
"Anyone between the ages of 25 and 64 that has a cervix has a right to free cervical cancer screening..."
getting utterly annihilated in the responses. I'm ashamed of our council for that deranged and crass choice of words, but happy to see it "ratioed" accordingly.
I found a 109G log file on one of our customers' Linux servers.
I worked out that, printed onto A4, it would form a stack of paper 1.4 miles high.
Then I deleted it.
Quote from: Slim on April 19, 2023, 02:52:11 PMI found a 109G log file on one of our customers' Linux servers.
I worked out that, printed onto A4, it would form a stack of paper 1.4 miles high.
Then I deleted it.
Just as well you didn't hit "print"!
Quote from: Slim on April 19, 2023, 02:52:11 PMI found a 109G log file on one of our customers' Linux servers.
I worked out that, printed onto A4, it would form a stack of paper 1.4 miles high.
Then I deleted it.
Users are cunts let's be honest...
Record store day early risers are nice people. Quiet drive to the shop, a good 45 mins before opening standing in line, meeting like minded people that were actually nice company.
Really giving others some room to look for what they want in the bin, not grabbing it out of your hand. Queing for the register organized and all around well behaved. Happy faces all around.
My faith in humanity has not been restored but perhaps the loathing has been out aside for one day.
That's a win.
Each to their own, but I cannot understand why, in 2023, just to obtain music, you'd want to drive somewhere, compete with others for objects in a physical container, stand in a queue, then drive home again.
FlightRadar24 app.. started using it in Lanza as we were pretty close to the flight path for the loads of planes coming into and out of Arrecife.... Been checking planes over us at home .. really interesting
Quote from: Slim on April 25, 2023, 01:24:50 PMEach to their own, but I cannot understand why, in 2023, just to obtain music, you'd want to drive somewhere, compete with others for objects in a physical container, stand in a queue, then drive home again.
I like driving.... No really it's maybe the anticipation, the not knowing whether you can get what you want.
I have digital as well of course. Big Bandcamp user.
Quote from: Fishy on April 25, 2023, 03:30:52 PMFlightRadar24 app.. started using it in Lanza as we were pretty close to the flight path for the loads of planes coming into and out of Arrecife.... Been checking planes over us at home .. really interesting
Yes, I've used that for quite a while. From the lofty position of our village, we can see planes on their final approach to LBA and (usually much closer) their early ascent out of it - because of the app it's got to the point where you can make a very good guess where the outbounds are going without looking. And that even extends to those passing 35,000 ft above - those a bit to the left tend to be domestic flights from London airports to Edinburgh or Glasgow, those a bit to the right to Newcastle, Aberdeen or Inverness, and those in the middle tend to be transatlantic ex London or CDG etc etc.
Me and the wife went to grasstrack racing today. Probably not been to a grasstrack meeting for about 30 years. It was great fun and the best race of the day was the 500cc solo final, just as it should be ;)
Great Sunday bank holiday weekend evening.
Played a solo acoustic gig, had patrons on a table near to where I was performing repeatedly insisting I join then in downing shots (Baby Guinness and some other shot that tasted like strawberry milkshake); another guy who insisted I accepted a tenner he threw at me before leaving after he and his mate took two sips of a pint each of Coors; an extraordinary, mutually respectful conversation with the Asian driver of the taxi home who staunchly advocated for King Charles while I did quite the opposite - who was the "gammon" in that exchange, exactly?! ::) ;)
Quote from: Matt2112 on May 01, 2023, 02:17:08 AMGreat Sunday bank holiday weekend evening.
Played a solo acoustic gig, had patrons on a table near to where I was performing repeatedly insisting I join then in downing shots (Baby Guinness and some other shot that tasted like strawberry milkshake); another guy who insisted I accepted a tenner he threw at me before leaving after he and his mate took two sips of a pint each of Coors; an extraordinary, mutually respectful conversation with the Asian driver of the taxi home who staunchly advocated for King Charles while I did quite the opposite - who was the "gammon" in that exchange, exactly?! ::) ;)
Sounds like one of those great days Matt. A bit like Geddy and Alex describing the writing of Far Cry. Did you high-five the driver?
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on May 01, 2023, 02:45:26 AMSounds like one of those great days Matt. A bit like Geddy and Alex describing the writing of Far Cry. Did you high-five the driver?
Ha - not quite; more of a blood brothers-esque hand shake. :)
Just returned from a nice ten mile walk with three friends. Called in at The Old Swan, Minster Lovell for a couple of pints of Windrush ale from the North Cotswold brewery followed by a couple of tinnies at Pete's house in the delightful village of Crawley.
Talked about music for most of the walk! ;D
Today is Liberation Day over here, the end of WWII. I could do a whole piece on how disappointed I am and that we never learn, but I'll put that aside for today.
There's lots of festivities, but in true Dutch fashion we do not get the day off to celebrate... Anyway, I will be celebrating while working ;)
It's rare I'll think a Guardian editorial has hit the nail pretty much right on the head, but this definitely qualifies:
The coronation of Charles III - a dated pageant that should be rethought (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/04/the-guardian-view-on-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-a-dated-pageant-that-should-be-rethought)
QuoteThe overwhelming truth is that the coronation is taking place for anachronistic religious and constitutional reasons. This weekend's events are centred on a religious service in which Charles vows to uphold the Protestant religion, is anointed with holy oil and swears an oath which, in words that the archbishop of Canterbury will intone in Westminster Abbey on Saturday, commits to making Britain "a holy nation" under "a royal priesthood".
Yet modern Britain is not a holy nation. Nor is it even a largely Protestant one. Britain instead is increasingly secular, even though it remains deeply imprinted, in ways it sometimes does not grasp, by its long Christian history. England and Wales have become minority Christian countries. Yet England, although not Scotland, Wales or either part of Ireland, has an established state church. Whether this can or should continue ought to be a subject of serious public debate. But it never is.
"A holy nation", "a royal priesthood" from Exodus 19 (looked it up obviously). Phrases used in the Catholic mass and quoted by St Peter, ironically the first Pope whom our monarchy are not the greatest supporters of, and whose successor booted its chiefs of staff out at various points in history. To use words of supposed unity to appoint such a divisional figurehead is beyond laughable hypocrisy. ITN doing their bit last night with some church leader talking about the King of England. Give me strength. Why can't I find that head in hands emoji?
The phrase "King of England" is simply wrong; there is no Kingdom of England and hasn't been for hundreds of years.
Must say I agree with the quote from the piece there; a rare lucid moment for the Grauniad.
Headache seems to be lifting after 2 days.
12 years ago today Rush played at the O2 in Dublin for their only ever Irish gig.
I was there with my 11 year old son and had a fantastic time. I had tickets but won more from a local radio station (Nova). When we went to collect them we were given a tour of the station and got to speak to a couple of the djs.
Excellent gig although I thought the sound was a bit iffy for a while. Daniel loved it.
On of my most enjoyable Rush gigs, went With my late Rush fan and school friend Martin and his sister,we were in the pit standing, most unusual for a Rush gig. Got prime position in front of Alex and the crowd singing during TSOR was phenomenal.
That was a good day and night in the Motherland! ;D
I flew over for that, then for the next gig in Glasgow went on a road trip via the ferry out of Belfast. Glasgow's Solid Rock bar was basically taken over by Rush fans that weekend and it got very messy indeed I seem to kind of remember... ::) :)
This gives me a laugh most days when the wind is in the right direction. My sister's dog Alfie is still staying with me until they find a new house. I live on the flight path and 'planes fly directly overhead at 1200'. Alfie loves to chase the Emirates 777 just after his lunch, but doesn't bother about smaller aircraft too much. However, during the busier season as now, they switch to the A380. I try to remember to have a look on Flightradar24 to ensure I open the door in time for Alfie to tear up the garden. He's now taken to standing on his hind legs barking at it when it is directly overhead. Pretty normal plane spotter behaviour.😁
4 day break up ahead - Ascension. I am 100% prepared to do absolutely nothing.
2 for 1 kiss tickets. More than 50% off, actually, original price was £150 + fees and mine were £55 + fees, working out as £66 each. That's decent.
Quote from: captainkurtz on May 17, 2023, 08:55:06 PM2 for 1 kiss tickets. More than 50% off, actually, original price was £150 + fees and mine were £55 + fees, working out as £66 each. That's decent.
Excellent deal, enjoy!
A very still evening walking the dogs tonight. Everything is growing so quickly just now, especially noticeable was the Meadowsweet which appears to have doubled in height and volume over the past three or four days. There were various scents in the heavy air none of which I am able to name with any certainty but the Hawthorns are in full flower so I assume that was the overriding strongest perfume. There is also the occasional strong smell resembling cat pee which is strangely pleasant. I'd be keen to figure out that mystery. Maybe Google can assist.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on May 18, 2023, 11:04:38 PMA very still evening walking the dogs tonight. Everything is growing so quickly just now, especially noticeable was the Meadowsweet which appears to have doubled in height and volume over the past three or four days. There were various scents in the heavy air none of which I am able to name with any certainty but the Hawthorns are in full flower so I assume that was the overriding strongest perfume. There is also the occasional strong smell resembling cat pee which is strangely pleasant. I'd be keen to figure out that mystery. Maybe Google can assist.
You know, it's early, I am eating breakfast reading this, awake but in a state of meh, and I am thinking for about half a second: 'did he really name one of his dogs Google?'
Anyway, nevermind me, carry on.
One from the other night - an extended close encounter with a bat - that I never got round to posting about for one reason and another.
I love this time of year when you can start walking the dog after 9.00pm and there's still plenty of light left to have a ramble round the local recreation ground. Anyway, as dusk settled in we got to a bushy corner of the park where I noticed the bat - most probably a common pipistrelle - darting only about 10 feet past me. I stopped and watched its fantastic, seemingly physics-defying aerobatics while it hunted. Fortunately, it appeared to be using a circuitous route in which I was roughly at the epicentre, so I spent quite a few glorious minutes watching it shooting and flapping around hither and tither, where it occasionally appeared to be speeding toward me in a kamikaze dive only of course to zip off at seemingly impossible angles.
I would have stayed longer but the dog was utterly indifferent to this impressive display and clearly just wanted to crack on.
Quote from: Thenop on May 19, 2023, 06:07:13 AMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on May 18, 2023, 11:04:38 PMA very still evening walking the dogs tonight. Everything is growing so quickly just now, especially noticeable was the Meadowsweet which appears to have doubled in height and volume over the past three or four days. There were various scents in the heavy air none of which I am able to name with any certainty but the Hawthorns are in full flower so I assume that was the overriding strongest perfume. There is also the occasional strong smell resembling cat pee which is strangely pleasant. I'd be keen to figure out that mystery. Maybe Google can assist.
You know, it's early, I am eating breakfast reading this, awake but in a state of meh, and I am thinking for about half a second: 'did he really name one of his dogs Google?'
Anyway, nevermind me, carry on.
You are clearly celebrating the Ascension of Our Lord to its fullest. Good for you! 😁
Quote from: Matt2112 on May 19, 2023, 09:58:01 AMOne from the other night - an extended close encounter with a bat - that I never got round to posting about for one reason and another.
I love this time of year when you can start walking the dog after 9.00pm and there's still plenty of light left to have a ramble round the local recreation ground. Anyway, as dusk settled in we got to a bushy corner of the park where I noticed the bat - most probably a common pipistrelle - darting only about 10 feet past me. I stopped and watched its fantastic, seemingly physics-defying aerobatics while it hunted. Fortunately, it appeared to be using a circuitous route in which I appeared to be roughly at its epicentre, so I spent quite a few glorious minutes watching it shooting and flapping around hither and tither, where it occasionally appeared to be speeding toward me in a kamikaze dive only of course to zip off at seemingly impossible angles.
I would have stayed longer but the dog was utterly indifferent to this impressive display and clearly just wanted to crack on.
Bat flight is incredible. I've only ever seen one casualty out there. There is a massive shopping centre close to where I used to work. It has its own bus terminus which has two sided shelters over the stances. They take the form of a steel, shallow Y shape with angled glass ceilings. One day a dead bat lay below this covered area. I can only guess that flying directly towards such a thin, almost horizontal hazard doesn't ever happen in the natural world so their ultrasound system can't accommodate it. I need to correct my casualty figure though. My neighbour once discovered a dead bat caught in a windscreen wiper blade. I think it will be another still night tonight so I'll probably go out just about dusk and have a look. Nothing better than a seat in the garden on a nice night, beer in hand, just at that short space of time when the bats seem busiest. Bat breakfast time I suppose. Fascinating creatures.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on May 19, 2023, 10:53:27 AMQuote from: Thenop on May 19, 2023, 06:07:13 AMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on May 18, 2023, 11:04:38 PMA very still evening walking the dogs tonight. Everything is growing so quickly just now, especially noticeable was the Meadowsweet which appears to have doubled in height and volume over the past three or four days. There were various scents in the heavy air none of which I am able to name with any certainty but the Hawthorns are in full flower so I assume that was the overriding strongest perfume. There is also the occasional strong smell resembling cat pee which is strangely pleasant. I'd be keen to figure out that mystery. Maybe Google can assist.
You know, it's early, I am eating breakfast reading this, awake but in a state of meh, and I am thinking for about half a second: 'did he really name one of his dogs Google?'
Anyway, nevermind me, carry on.
You are clearly celebrating the Ascension of Our Lord to its fullest. Good for you! 😁
Unfortunately it was a bit too cloudy to witness the event itself...
Halifax Town lifting a trophy at Wembley Stadium - I know it was "yesterday", but I've just got home. ::) ;D
Had to renew passports for myself and the little 'un, the latter requiring extra verification which my friendly neighbourhood shopkeeper was kind enough to provide; both new passports have now dropped through the letter box, i.e. within three weeks of initial application. :)
afternoon in the sun at the Cambridge Beer festival
Ooni pizza maker making some decent pizza👍
Visiting my brother and his missus up Teesside way - they have a hot tub in their back garden and it was utter bliss!! :D
For yesterday:
The wife and I have put together a sort of 'bucket list' of things we want to do this summer. One of the things was to watch a cricket match. Yesterday we hopped on the bus from Witney to Standlake and watched a game at Oxford Downs CC. A great afternoon. As luck would have it, the Downs seconds were playing The Witney Swifts first side and we happen to know some folks associated with Swifts.
Warm and sunny, we positioned ourselves on a picnic bench close to the clubhouse. Luckily the bench was equipped with a parasol for some shelter from the blazing sun. The bar had a decent cask ale on - Inferno by Oakham. We had to leave just as the ODCC started their innings, chasing a Swifts total of 217. We'd have stayed for the duration but we had to get back to Drummers Bar in Witney for the 'main event'.
A local DJ, Stuart Foster, is known as 'Funk Soul Stu'. He always plays good stuff but as the name implies, concentrated on a certain genre. A couple of weeks ago I noticed advertising flyers in the bar advertising 'Prog Rock Stu'. And last night we were treated to a set of (mostly) prog on his decks from his small collection of prog vinyl. Loads of good stuff including Yes, Focus, Zep, King Crimson etc. Imagine my excitement when he produced a copy of 2112 from his vinyl case! We heard 'Bangkok, The Twilight Zone and Grand Finale - brilliant!
Tribute was paid to Tina Turner (Private Dancer) and a friend who is not into prog got to hear a few Bowie tracks including the fantastic Moonage Daydream.
I was drinking the superb Yabba Dabba Doo from local brewers Little Ox. Got suitably sloshed. Great day
My wife says the second half of the day would qualify for her entry in the "What Made You Grumpy?" thread
;D ;D ;D
A visit to Bamburgh Castle. What a stunning place!
Northumberland really is spectacular.
Quote from: Matt2112 on May 28, 2023, 06:45:55 PMA visit to Bamburgh Castle. What a stunning place!
Northumberland really is spectacular.
We loved our time up there a few years ago, the beaches are stunning!
It really is a very nice beach there. Just a shame it's in the north-east of England.
Quote from: Matt2112 on May 28, 2023, 06:45:55 PMNorthumberland really is spectacular.
On my list of places to go. I have been - but I was about 2
I've always wanted to go to Northumberland to stargaze as it has the darkest skies in England.
However that wasn't of course the purpose of our visit today; it's late May for a start. ::) :)
Visit to Heptonstal as part of our brief stay in Yorkshire. Beautiful part of the World and the location of Sylvia Plath's grave. Since she was a part of my son's Leaving Cert qualification he's become a huge admirer and it was very touching to see how it affected him emotionally.
Blur gig tonight. I still get buzzed after a really great show - and that was one..
This clip of Stanley Unwin talking to Bill Wyman came up on Twitter. This takes place in 1984, but my god how young does Bill look here? He'll be 87 in October.
Depeche mode have been a bucket list band for years and I finally saw them these evening and they were astounding.
Drove 3,5 hours back and forth to have my record player checked. The only guy I trust. Bought a new stylus last December, put it on myself and did a quick check then.
I spent another 3,5 hours just being there and watch & learn how he dissected 3 old Technics tables from 1978 (!) and the 80's. Think I learned more then I could hanging out on YouTube for 10 years.
My table was in excellent shape except I bought a clamp a while back that apparently started grinding into the spindle, had not noticed it but I could clearly see the scrapings when opened up...no real damage yet fortunately. Happy to know this now before the bearings get clogged up. Decided to buy a weight instead.
Had coffee, a good talk & a good time and spent the price of the weight. No service charge, nothing. They still exist, people not just out for your money but actually caring for their customers.
Excellent Roger Waters gig last night at The O2....
Quote from: Basspedalman on June 07, 2023, 11:14:55 AMExcellent Roger Waters gig last night at The O2....
Are you sure you're allowed to say that? The CDU will be on your case ;)
Telegraph going into administration ;D
First hot shower in 10 days since we had a tank leak. That git of a doctor on the TV who says cold showers are good for you is talking utter shite - I just wanted to die. :'( :o
I can cope with turning the shower to cold for the last 30 seconds. Not sure I'd manage the whole shower though!
'er indoors and I went to a restaurant in Ashby this evening. A nice place called Zamani's with a cocktail bar attached. Really nice meal, friendly staff, lovely cosy place.
I asked for the bill; it came. I looked at it carefully. Seemed a bit light. I realised we hadn't been charged for the desserts. I must admit I did think about just getting away with it and if it had been a big restaurant chain I might have. But I got up to go and explain what had happened.
As I rose, an extravagantly tanned Italian gentleman who'd been sitting at a table nearby with his partner and another couple got up from his chair and intercepted me on the way over. He'd noticed me puzzling over the bill. "Can I get you some help with the bill? Is there a problem?" he wanted to know. He introduced himself as the owner. "Yes there is", I replied. I paused for a bit of dramatic tension. Then I said "We haven't been charged for dessert!"
He broke into a smile. "Thank-you for your honesty. It's on the house", he said. I tried to insist on paying, saying that I didn't want to take advantage of someone's mistake. But he wasn't having it. "Don't charge the gentleman for dessert!" he shouted over to the girl at the counter.
Then as we finished our drinks and got up to leave, he offered a handshake as we passed his table. I thanked him again.
Isn't that nice? So much better than sneaking out without mentioning it, and the same outcome.
Nice!
Sounds like the sort of establishment tended to be found on any given Greek island. :)
After setting off walking the dog at 9pm in ridiculously pale skies and almost broad daylight this (last) evening, and having a good hour's walk, we nipped in to my local pub just for two or three cheeky ones, where I happen to be playing a solo acoustic gig this coming Sunday afternoon (widely shared on local social media).
To my astonishment, as I walked in I was applauded by a few present, including the couple who run the place, even though I know they have probably never seen me perform live "in the flesh".
It all felt nice of course, but I just hope the 90-minute set I have prepared is entertaining enough to allow me back in. :)
The aforementioned gig went very well indeed this afternoon.
To finish set 1 I accompanied the little 'un as she got up to sing The Courteeners' modern classic Indie tune Not Nineteen Forever - she brought the house down and frankly upstaged me entirely. :)
Novak winning his 23rd Grand Slam event making him (arguably) the best tennis player of all-time
Tropical heat this afternoon, then 20 minutes ago biblical rain - never in my life have I seen heavier rain - and hailstones. A clap of thunder that sounded like a bomb going off on the village green, as well.
Quote from: Slim on June 12, 2023, 05:46:24 PMTropical heat this afternoon, then 20 minutes ago biblical rain - never in my life have I seen heavier rain - and hailstones. A clap of thunder than sounded like a bomb going off on the village green, as well.
Same here. Absolutely torrential here and it's being going for well over an hour now with no let up. We were to eat out tonight, but luckily stayed in with a pizza.
if only we could have a thunder storm here
Quote from: pdw1 on June 12, 2023, 08:50:09 PMif only we could have a thunder storm here
Hear hear.
Although not tomorrow please since they are replacing the gutter at the roof the house. After that Noah's revenge can come in all its might.
Quote from: Slim on June 12, 2023, 05:46:24 PMTropical heat this afternoon, then 20 minutes ago biblical rain - never in my life have I seen heavier rain - and hailstones. A clap of thunder that sounded like a bomb going off on the village green, as well.
Got that here yesterday and again today. Both days looked like we'd be OK, then suddenly it clouded over, there was a huge BOOM and giant raindrops followed by hail lashed down. Mrs S and the boy were out barbecuing Pork Chops tonight after I'd told the it would be OK...
Felt Mediterranean this afternoon, then it turned very muggy as clouds formed and it looked like we were going to be battered with heavy rain like many other places.
But we must have caught the very fringes of the storms as we had a moderate shower for only about 15 minutes, and this freshened the air a bit, but not by much. So, not having much rain followed by a little less humidity was a decent compromise.
Footage of a Humpback whale leaping out the water in the River Clyde. Hopefully it will enjoy a belly full of what it needs and then head out safely to open waters again. I'm not sure if Humpbacks eat mackerel as this is high season for them off the west of Scotland.
Went to a pizza place in Ashby and took advantage of their Father's Day Special menu. I had the "Free Peroni for Dad" despite never having fathered a child. Fraud, technically.
Just been out for a quick walk on the village green. I love it when it's daylight at 9:50pm.
Nice view of a crescent Moon and Venus to the west.
After 6 months of leakage in the house finally had a new rain gutter installed last week. And today the carpenter came to fix the consequential damage. So, I *should* be sorted now. Fingers crossed.
A trip to "Circus Extreme" which has pitched up in town for a couple of weeks - terrific entertainment.
The climactic sight of utterly batsh!t flying motorbike stunts over a "Globe of Death" where three other bikes are simultaneously performing loop-the-loops at insane speed and somehow missing each other is genuinely breathtaking (although the noise was a bit much for the little 'un).
Quote from: Matt2112 on June 23, 2023, 11:02:21 PMA trip to "Circus Extreme" which has pitched up in town for a couple of weeks - terrific entertainment.
The climactic sight of utterly batsh!t flying motorbike stunts over a "Globe of Death" where three other bikes are simultaneously performing loop-the-loops at insane speed and somehow missing each other is genuinely breathtaking (although the noise was a bit much for the little 'un).
I've seen that - utterly mental. One of the most incredible things I've seen...the sheer concentration and coordination it must take..
What gets me is the speed and efficiency of setting up/dismantling the huge equipment used for various stunts that are often heart-stopping and where safety/safeguarding is ensured within what must be a pretty small margin of error.
And how how unobtrusive all that is is directly proportional to how entertaining the clown is while all that is going on. And the clown is absolutely superb, even taking part in one of the tightrope acts.
It's all profoundly impressive, but of course the main objective is to put a huge smile on kids' faces; on that score alone it was a resounding success.
Though the noise from the bikes was too much for some. 🙂
Just back from a glamp in Mull which included a trip to Staffa to see Fingal's Cave and some puffins ..
(https://i.ibb.co/0Vk0GBv/daniel-kaw.jpg)
That's mad - looks photoshopped ;D
I actually thought it was photoshopped for a joke, or Daniel was standing next to a cardboard cutout. But Rishi is 5'6" and Daniel is 6'9", it's completely real. There's a cropped version of the same pic on his own website: https://www.daniel4shrewsbury.co.uk/news/hospital-transformation-programme-discussions-prime-minister
Quote from: Slim on June 29, 2023, 09:03:16 PMI actually thought it was photoshopped for a joke, or Daniel was standing next to a cardboard cutout. But Rishi is 5'6" and Daniel is 6'9", it's completely real. There's a cropped version of the same pic on his own website: https://www.daniel4shrewsbury.co.uk/news/hospital-transformation-programme-discussions-prime-minister
If Sunak is only 5'6" why can he not get a pair of trousers to reach his shoes?
New guitar arrived. This is from Fender's "paranormal" range, made in China under the Squier brand.
https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/squier/paranormal-series/squier-paranormal-strat-o-sonic-electric-guitar-crimson-red-transparent
It is a "Strat-O-Sonic". It's a bit of fun in which Fender have recreated the aesthetics of a Gibson Les Paul Special - the P90 pickups, the translucent cherry finish, the single tailpiece bridge, the minimalist pickguard, the black plastic knobs and the toggle pickup switch - and have applied them to a guitar shaped like a Fender Stratocaster.
These days Squiers are made in China and Indonesia. The Indonesian ones aren't bad but this one has reinforced my opinion that the Chinese ones are better - I honestly can't fault this. Beautifully finished and constructed. Whereas my Indonesian Strat is not finished quite so well and needed a bit of work after I got it - the frets were a bit rough and the fret ends were a tad sharp.
(https://i.ibb.co/hgnVw2t/stratosonic.jpg)
This one plays really nicely out of the box. I thought the nut might need a bit of attention - sometimes they're cut a bit too shallow in the Far East, but nope it's spot on.
It feels a lot like a modern Strat, with a flattish fingerboard radius. Has vintage style frets (not "narrow tall" as the Andertons site claims). The volume and tone pots both have push-pull switches for series/parallel and phase switching - that's pretty sophisticated for a budget guitar and wasted on me (these days I just play the neck pickup on everything).
It's very light. The body's made from Okoume; I think it's a two piece.
Check out the neck - by chance, it's been made from a rather nice chunk of subtly-flamed maple. Most Strat-O-Sonic purchasers won't be this fortunate.
(https://i.ibb.co/5nLynp2/stratosonic-neck.jpg)
Looks gorgious! Love the colour on this. Almost like a SG tone, fantastic.
Good to hear these play well as they don't break the bank.
My grumpy post today actually reminded me of a segment on Radio 4's Today broadcast from the other morning that serves as a substantial antidote: an interview with writer and critic Tomiwa Owolade, author of the book This Is Not America: Why Black Lives Matter In Britain.
His remarks on race issues in our nation were so supremely astute, insightful and eloquently expressed, they almost had me punching the air in jubilation as I drove to work; his book looks an absolutely essential read so I will be acquiring it asap.
Not sure to post it here or in the grumpy thread but the Dutch cabinet of ministers has resigned.
Most of you probably know the system over here is a bit different from yours which means when the prime minister resigns he takes his whole cabinet down with him or her.
So, new elections it is, probably in November.
The grumpy part is that the country will come a standstill until we have a new team of ministers which will probably be no sooner that February or March next year.
Don't we all just love politics...
Quote from: Thenop on July 07, 2023, 08:48:41 PMNot sure to post it here or in the grumpy thread but the Dutch cabinet of ministers has resigned.
Most of you probably know the system over here is a bit different from yours which means when the prime minister resigns he takes his whole cabinet down with him or her.
So, new elections it is, probably in November.
The grumpy part is that the country will come a standstill until we have a new team of ministers which will probably be no sooner that February or March next year.
Don't we all just love politics...
Hasn't Rutte been a bit of a knob? Not least over covid?
Quote from: David L on July 08, 2023, 12:44:23 AMQuote from: Thenop on July 07, 2023, 08:48:41 PMNot sure to post it here or in the grumpy thread but the Dutch cabinet of ministers has resigned.
Most of you probably know the system over here is a bit different from yours which means when the prime minister resigns he takes his whole cabinet down with him or her.
So, new elections it is, probably in November.
The grumpy part is that the country will come a standstill until we have a new team of ministers which will probably be no sooner that February or March next year.
Don't we all just love politics...
Hasn't Rutte been a bit of a knob? Not least over covid?
Covid has been a non issue the past year. We have all moved on mate.
Quote from: Thenop on July 08, 2023, 05:06:53 AMQuote from: David L on July 08, 2023, 12:44:23 AMQuote from: Thenop on July 07, 2023, 08:48:41 PMNot sure to post it here or in the grumpy thread but the Dutch cabinet of ministers has resigned.
Most of you probably know the system over here is a bit different from yours which means when the prime minister resigns he takes his whole cabinet down with him or her.
So, new elections it is, probably in November.
The grumpy part is that the country will come a standstill until we have a new team of ministers which will probably be no sooner that February or March next year.
Don't we all just love politics...
Hasn't Rutte been a bit of a knob? Not least over covid?
Covid has been a non issue the past year. We have all moved on mate.
Good for you, still front and centre here
Received a very nice marketing email fro Julian Richer, MD of Richer Sounds. Rather than just the usual "we're brilliant" blurb, or even worse, asking me to complete a survey, he described in detail the difficulties his, and other high street retailers are facing. He states quite clearly his opinion of the role the government play in all of this and although he mentions that he has been a Tory donor in the past, he doesn't hold his punches and is clearly very unhappy about the amount of unpaid tax affecting the UK economy. It's a fairly long commentary detailing many of the problems faced by the poorer in our society and quite uplifting to hear a voice with conscience from within the business community.
Quote from: David L on July 08, 2023, 08:56:25 AMGood for you, still front and centre here
To be honest I'm not sure it's getting the attention it still deserves here. It hasn't gone away. My main concern is that the false impression that it has might deter people from getting their boosters in the Autumn.
Quote from: Slim on July 08, 2023, 12:06:46 PMQuote from: David L on July 08, 2023, 08:56:25 AMGood for you, still front and centre here
To be honest I'm not sure it's getting the attention it still deserves here. It hasn't gone away. My main concern is that the false impression that it has might deter people from getting their boosters in the Autumn.
Yes, that's a concern. That and the fact that folk don't seem to test when they have a 'flu type illness any longer.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on July 08, 2023, 11:57:02 AMReceived a very nice marketing email fro Julian Richer, MD of Richer Sounds. Rather than just the usual "we're brilliant" blurb, or even worse, asking me to complete a survey, he described in detail the difficulties his, and other high street retailers are facing. He states quite clearly his opinion of the role the government play in all of this and although he mentions that he has been a Tory donor in the past, he doesn't hold his punches and is clearly very unhappy about the amount of unpaid tax affecting the UK economy. It's a fairly long commentary detailing many of the problems faced by the poorer in our society and quite uplifting to hear a voice with conscience from within the business community.
I got that too and very well put. Richer Sounds are my go to for tech (unless they don't sell what I want of course), my last 2 TVs were from there.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on July 08, 2023, 11:57:02 AMReceived a very nice marketing email fro Julian Richer, MD of Richer Sounds. Rather than just the usual "we're brilliant" blurb, or even worse, asking me to complete a survey, he described in detail the difficulties his, and other high street retailers are facing. He states quite clearly his opinion of the role the government play in all of this and although he mentions that he has been a Tory donor in the past, he doesn't hold his punches and is clearly very unhappy about the amount of unpaid tax affecting the UK economy. It's a fairly long commentary detailing many of the problems faced by the poorer in our society and quite uplifting to hear a voice with conscience from within the business community.
Just looked up and read Richer's piece. I'm always suspicious of people bemoaning "inequality", and I remember Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's wise words:
"Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free."
Quote from: Slim on July 08, 2023, 12:06:46 PMQuote from: David L on July 08, 2023, 08:56:25 AMGood for you, still front and centre here
To be honest I'm not sure it's getting the attention it still deserves here. It hasn't gone away. My main concern is that the false impression that it has might deter people from getting their boosters in the Autumn.
Will you be getting yours? I recall you swerved it earlier this year.
Quote from: David L on July 08, 2023, 02:14:48 PMWill you be getting yours? I recall you swerved it earlier this year.
Yes, I will - unless I get a dose of COVID in the meantime, which is why I didn't bother last time.
Picked up a bottle of root beer from Aldi earlier today. I recall being so excited on trying it when I was young, having heard it mentioned in American films so often. I was so disappointed when I hated it. I had a feeling that I would enjoy it now and I was right. Germolene meets bubble gum would be my best take on it. I've never heard of it being used as a mixer for spirits and wonder what it might sit well with.
Quote from: Slim on July 08, 2023, 05:00:57 PMQuote from: David L on July 08, 2023, 02:14:48 PMWill you be getting yours? I recall you swerved it earlier this year.
Yes, I will - unless I get a dose of COVID in the meantime, which is why I didn't bother last time.
Yes, regardless of what we were told, natural immunity is effective
So..our PM is finally leaving, 13 years on his reign is now coming to an end. Finally, new elections on the horizon in November, let's see what happens.
A country always get the people they deserve, not that they need so hopefully finally we get someone decent.
Lots of political chatter everywhere, debates heating up, I think I'll avoid the news programs for a while. All the same anyway and politicians? Well, they all sell snake oil.
Good to see Novak getting a hinderance call made against him.. the amount of grunting ..shouts ..yell made not just by him but others is getting ridiculous.. some of the noises by woman make the game unwatchable
Changing of the Guard at Wimbledon.
Quote from: Slim on July 16, 2023, 06:57:58 PMChanging of the Guard at Wimbledon.
Yeah well done Carlos.. great game..
Ryan Giggs cleared of any wrongdoing in the common assault / coercive behaviour case brought against him.
https://www.manchesterworld.uk/sport/football/manchester-united/ryan-giggs-cleared-of-domestic-abuse-as-charges-are-dropped-4222371
Quote from: Slim on July 18, 2023, 11:10:51 AMRyan Giggs cleared of any wrongdoing in the common assault / coercive behaviour case brought against him.
https://www.manchesterworld.uk/sport/football/manchester-united/ryan-giggs-cleared-of-domestic-abuse-as-charges-are-dropped-4222371
He's not been cleared...they've just dropped the case because one of the main witness has got cold feet...
Quote from: captainkurtz on July 18, 2023, 01:02:23 PMHe's not been cleared...they've just dropped the case because one of the main witness has got cold feet...
He has been cleared; that's a simple legal fact.
Quote from: Slim on July 18, 2023, 02:08:57 PMQuote from: captainkurtz on July 18, 2023, 01:02:23 PMHe's not been cleared...they've just dropped the case because one of the main witness has got cold feet...
He has been cleared; that's a simple legal fact.
Well that's the line being pedalled by his solicitor, I see. The case was abandoned because with a witness no longer being willing to give evidence, there was little chance of a prosecution.
Fantastic footballer, but not a very nice bloke (allegedly).
Quote from: captainkurtz on July 18, 2023, 02:12:10 PMQuote from: Slim on July 18, 2023, 02:08:57 PMQuote from: captainkurtz on July 18, 2023, 01:02:23 PMHe's not been cleared...they've just dropped the case because one of the main witness has got cold feet...
He has been cleared; that's a simple legal fact.
Well that's the line being pedalled by his solicitor, I see. The case was abandoned because with a witness no longer being willing to give evidence, there was little chance of a prosecution.
Fantastic footballer, but not a very nice bloke (allegedly).
I don't know how nice he is but if that is the line his solicitor is peddling, it's just a statement of fact. No prosecution = clear.
Similar to the ex City player, Benjamin Mendy...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/14/footballer-benjamin-mendy-found-not-guilty-of-one-count-of-rape
Moment BBC reporter sounds like 'Minnie Mouse' after on-air glitch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-66234537
New specs. Actually they're Poundshop-style reading glasses, I got five pairs for £10.39 inc delivery from Amazon. Couldn't find the style of frames I wanted in a proper shop. Will have proper prescription lenses put in a couple of them.
(https://i.ibb.co/thr8Pb8/newspecs.jpg)
Loving the guitar necks in the background
More impressed by the goatee. 🤷🏻�♂️
After a dreadful, stressful weekend, met a woman whilst out walking the dog today. I couldn't believe it when she told me she is 75 and looks at least 10 years younger if not more. We spoke for ages about our upbringings, education, work experiences and in her case children, who it transpired went to the same Glasgow school as me. Our conversation ended outside my home with us discussing our abilities to translate Latin these days, it having been so long since we both studied it. That part in particular made my day as one of my vicious gossiping neighbours, who along with others is trying to ruin my life, was loitering and listening. A relative stranger yet able to restore my faith in human nature. Perhaps prayer isn't unheard or in vain
The British lying Corporation's Business Editor, Simon Jack, making a (late) apology to Sir Nigel
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on July 24, 2023, 04:45:44 PMAfter a dreadful, stressful weekend, met a woman whilst out walking the dog today. I couldn't believe it when she told me she is 75 and looks at least 10 years younger if not more.
Nice, did you get her phone number? :)
Actually, thinking about it I did date a woman who'll be 76 now, although she was 38 at the time.
CEO of NatWest, Alison Rose, has resigned. Well done Sir Nigel. Well done GB News. Proper investigative journalism. The complete opposite of what's on offer at the British 'lying' Corporation.
I doubt any other bank will now close anyone else's account for being friends with tennis's GOAT.
;D ;D
Quote from: David L on July 26, 2023, 07:06:30 AMCEO of NatWest, Alison Rose, has resigned. Well done Sir Nigel. Well done GB News. Proper investigative journalism. The complete opposite of what's on offer at the British 'lying' Corporation.
I doubt any other bank will now close anyone else's account for being friends with tennis's GOAT.
;D ;D
Umm Dan Wootton? Neil Oliver? GB News is a cesspit offering the worst of British culture and the nadir of journalism.
Give me the BBC anyday
The Nigel Farage story is a consumer affair issue - the type of thing the BBC covers week in, week out in shows like Money Box. It really didn't deserve the attention it got and all the UK media is to blame for giving it so much focus. It's not like he was even deprived of the ability to bank
I don't particularly hold a candle for either of them; I will say though that GB News haven't been peddling the narrative that fires are "raging across Greece", or asserted Sardinia is experiencing temperatures of 47C while the BBC's own weather app has them at 32C, because the former measures the ground while the latter measures the air.
Bad faith reporting seems to be all across the political spectrum and it's a challenge to navigate a course through all the BS.
Bad as each other, unfortunately. If you twisted my arm I'd admit GB News is worse. But I wouldn't say the Nigel Farage affair is a run-of-the-mill consumer affairs issue; how many ordinary banking customers have information about them leaked to a left-leaning broadcaster's business editor from the head of the bank?
Quote from: dom on July 26, 2023, 09:43:02 AMThe Nigel Farage story is a consumer affair issue - the type of thing the BBC covers week in, week out in shows like Money Box. It really didn't deserve the attention it got and all the UK media is to blame for giving it so much focus. It's not like he was even deprived of the ability to bank
What a completely wrong-headed statement. It's clearly a freedom of speech issue. Establishment forces attempting to cancel or inconvenience those with the 'wrong' opinions. We know what's happening here. It's sinister and much of it is government sanctioned too.
Remember, they may come for
you next
Shades of a profoundly insidious Orwellian Chinese-style social credit system at work - fortunately it's been headed off at the pass before it managed to gain further ground.
The further left's position on this clearly hasn't been about justice, but revenge; and even worse, the attempt to close off areas of discourse they find unpalatable is downright sinister. So, who really are the villains and the victims in this scenario?
He wasn't cancelled. I'm sure he has the resources to cope with the ability to move bank accounts. His freedom of speech certainly hasn't been curtailed. Haven't heard so much from him in quite a while. I don't have
Quote from: Matt2112 on July 26, 2023, 09:58:20 AMI don't particularly hold a candle for either of them; I will say though that GB News haven't been peddling the narrative that fires are "raging across Greece", or asserted Sardinia is experiencing temperatures of 47C while the BBC's own weather app has them at 32C, because the former measures the ground while the latter measures the air.
Bad faith reporting seems to be all across the political spectrum and it's a challenge to navigate a course through all the BS.
temperature there did pass 40C on Monday and Tuesday. 47C does seem to be an exaggeration although it's possible that Palermo might not be the hottest part of the island.
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/@2523118/historic
Coutts is an elite bank, managing the accounts of the privileged, royalty and wealthy. From a pr perspective they wanted to hand him over to their parent bank. Ordinarily that wouldn't be an issue at all, if it were a completely private organisation. The fact that its parent was bailed out by the British public means it should have considered that when it made its decision. There's really should have been nothing more to it than that.
Where they really went wrong is incorrectly briefing the BBC of the real reasons why it chose to move his account and it's right that the CEO was fired when she was discovered to be the culprit.
Quote from: dom on July 26, 2023, 11:32:17 AMCoutts is an elite bank, managing the accounts of the privileged, royalty and wealthy. From a pr perspective they wanted to hand him over to their parent bank. Ordinarily that wouldn't be an issue at all, if it were a completely private organisation. The fact that its parent was bailed out by the British public means it should have considered that when it made its decision. There's really should have been nothing more to it than that.
Where they really went wrong is incorrectly briefing the BBC of the real reasons why it chose to move his account and it's right that the CEO was fired when she was discovered to be the culprit.
And the real reason they wanted to close his account was because they didn't like his politics.
"Pr perspective"? Who knew Farage banked with Coutts?
Absolute baloney. This is just another example of the sort of virtue-signalling, woke-pedalling nonsense washing through businesses today - fuelled by corporate cowardice in the face of the possibility of near-instant obliteration at the hands of social media activists.
Show some courage ffs
Quote from: David L on July 26, 2023, 11:42:49 AMQuote from: dom on July 26, 2023, 11:32:17 AMCoutts is an elite bank, managing the accounts of the privileged, royalty and wealthy. From a pr perspective they wanted to hand him over to their parent bank. Ordinarily that wouldn't be an issue at all, if it were a completely private organisation. The fact that its parent was bailed out by the British public means it should have considered that when it made its decision. There's really should have been nothing more to it than that.
Where they really went wrong is incorrectly briefing the BBC of the real reasons why it chose to move his account and it's right that the CEO was fired when she was discovered to be the culprit.
And the real reason they wanted to close his account was because they didn't like his politics.
"Pr perspective"? Who knew Farage banked with Coutts?
Absolute baloney
Good point, it really backfired on them. I'm sure if they could go back in time they would leave well alone
The news that Trevor Rabin is releasing a new solo album in October. 8)
Quote from: Matt2112 on July 26, 2023, 11:46:48 PMThe news that Trevor Rabin is releasing a new solo album in October. 8)
Is 'Live in LA' any good? Shame there appears to be only one track from Wolf on it
Quote from: David L on July 27, 2023, 12:00:02 AMQuote from: Matt2112 on July 26, 2023, 11:46:48 PMThe news that Trevor Rabin is releasing a new solo album in October. 8)
Is 'Live in LA' any good? Shame there appears to be only one track from Wolf on it
Tbh I've never listened to it.
Can't Look Away is of course the quintessential Rabin album, although an argument might be made that 90125 through Talk are also his solo albums that happen to feature guest musicians who have been in Yes! ;D
Just put a new rubber strap on my Vostok Amphibia. I have a thing for blue dial divers and the dial really pops on this one with the new strap.
(https://i.ibb.co/ZSHq4dp/20230727vostok.jpg)
Vostok are a bit of a cult brand, made in Russia (and before that, the Soviet Union). This one was acquired from there before the war, by the way.
Like certain Kalashnikov products they are crudely manufactured and not particularly accurate but dependable.
Slightly annoyingly the strap is 22mm but it looks like 23mm would fit better. But it'll have to do.
Motorhome has just passed the MOT
Bought the wrong hdmi cable from Amazon so tried to return it but it said I couldn't.. eventually got chatting to a human who said because of the nature of the item you can't return it.. but we'll give you a refund.. yes please👍
"Medical science is making such remarkable progress that soon none of us will be well" - Aldous Huxley
A trip to Suffolk for the weekend for an old school friend's landmark birthday; and in trying every train journey combination possible for the best ticket price I stumbled upon a "fare hack": there are two stations in Bradford, and booking one as the origin rather than the other meant I could travel in First Class on the LNER leg of the journey (Leeds-Peterborough and return) for only a few small pounds more than Standard, and it still gave the flexibility to travel out of either Bradford station. 8)
Went on a boat trip from Ullapool round the Summer Isles. Lovely weather, warm and sunny. We had dolphins coming really close to the boat to show off, leaping vertically out of the water in some cases. Amazing.
Out of office is on and its hello Majorca tomorrow morning👍
We've come to a restaurant in the Highlands and there are two people from Hartlepool serving us. I often say that there are more monkey hangers outside the town than in it.
Walked into a cheapo store, the sort that sells pegs, shopping trolleys, Chinese plastic tat, batteries and incense sticks. Blaring out behind the counter was a bootleg recording of 2112.
Some decent weather for a change.
Gin n tonics going down nicely in boiling hot Majorca.. great to be back👍
I'm back in England! And having a beer in the Land of my Fathers, County Durham.
Technically today (as I start to type this), but the very short story from late last night:
arrived in Perissa, Satorini pretty late last night, very hungry indeed;
all but one establishment seemed open;
we asked if they could fix us up a quick snack and they said they could throw together a feta cheese salad with dips and pitta bread - fine;
then my little 'un and I started conversing with our fantastically friendly server in Greek - this seemed to change the game somewhat, and in the end we were served the salads, plus a 12" pizza and a lovely warm pot of moussaka. And ice cream for dessert, which was on the house.
This is why I keep coming back to this country. :)
A coastal walk from Beer to Branscombe and back, along the Jurassic coast. Including a quick sea swim.
The wonders of a good VPN - I can enjoy my usual weekend sports betting flutters and watch a live stream of Halifax Town's game this afternoon (at 5pm...) using perfectly legitimate websites. :)
A load of clothes taken to the charity shop. Quite cathartic, albeit I do find it hard to part with stuff that has no faults.
Just returned from a trip down to Southsea with the in-laws.
It was primarily to take my eight-eight year old father-in-law around the D-day museum. A wonderful exhibition of every element of that huge undertaking on our behalf. What an educational and humbling experience.
Whilst we were both visiting the museum, Clare and her mum enjoyed a long walk along the seafront in the bracing sea air, watching the Hovercraft and ferries to and from the Isle Of Wight.
We all enjoyed a (late) fish and chip lunch at the Deep Blue restaurant on the pier. Home by 6:30pm, helped by the light traffic. A great day out
Quote from: captainkurtz on August 12, 2023, 05:07:27 PMA load of clothes taken to the charity shop. Quite cathartic, albeit I do find it hard to part with stuff that has no faults.
Just done similar myself,had a clear out(always think I should eBay stuff and get some cash back), but giving it to a charity shop is so much easier and more worthwhile.
Woke up at about 0700 and kept drifting in and out of sleep .. was 1000 before I realised it. Still felt tired. I wanted to get up by 0830 or so.
People watching. ... some people are odd🙄
Quote from: Slim on August 13, 2023, 10:39:07 AMWoke up at about 0700 and kept drifting in and out of sleep .. was 1000 before I realised it. Still felt tired. I wanted to get up by 0830 or so.
I meant to post this in the "grumpy" thread but actually we had un-forecast heavy rain at about 1100. I would have gone out on a bike if I'd got up early, and got caught in it. So this turned out quite nicely and I posted it in the right place after all.
Usually try and and avoid hotel entertainment like the plague.. but arrived back a bit earlier than usual to some bloke on a guitar playing lead to some backing tracks.. have to say he cranked out some decent stuff like ...
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms
Floyd ABintWall pts 2&3
Prince Purple Rain
Clapton Cocaine
Santana Black Magic Woman
Spoilt it all when he started Eagles Hotel California can't stand that song so we left..
At my adopted "local" (who filled our table with food at 1 a.m. on the night of our arrival), for three nights I was addressing the lady bartender in Greek when ordering beers etc but wasn't getting the usual effusive response in return, which made me wonder if she spoke Greek at all.
I learnt from my new waiter buddy 'Leo' (who I thought was Greek but actually hails from Pakistan ;D ) that the bar tender is Brazilian.
So the next time she brought a drink to the table I of course said, "Obrigado" and her face lit up. :D
Though given that's the extent of my Portuguese, I just speak to her in English otherwise, which conveniently enough is her second language. :)
Bonkers Dutch cycling fans with a megaphone.
Plus an American lady who let us watch the cycling we couldn't see between passes on her phone.
The must-do box-tick of a trip to the iconic picture postcard town of Oia ("EE-ya") - the place with all the blue-domed buildings you usually see as the cover pic on Greece tourist paraphernalia.
The town itself isn't actually the main reason to go - its narrow paths are chock full of aloof Tik-Tok tourists with selfie sticks and self-entitlement complexes. No, the main reason is the quite staggering scenery, particularly the views out to the caldera, a still technically active volcano that rose out of the sea in 1600 BCE and last erupted in the 1950s.
We took some nice snaps of the sunset too. So all in all, a very memorable day out. :)
Last day in Majorca.. fly back tomorrow.. should be sad.. had a great time but it'll be nice to get home even if the weather still sucks...
Not long ago I started seeing a mobile phone retailer advert (Googe Pixel I think) proudly trumpeting a facility to airbrush out inconveniently-placed people from your photos. At the time that struck me as a bit sad; I thought I'd never see a requirement to use it, thinking I'd rather take a decently composed shot in the first place and that having to delete elements of a moment captured in time seemed to drain it of its essence and authenticity.
Turns out there is a time and a place for it: last Monday we were taking shots of each other at Oia at a location offering lovely, panoramic views of the sunset. Randomly, there was a small cannon in the vicinity which piqued the curiosity of the little 'un; in the magic hour light I took a snap of this scene, while accepting that it wasn't "perfect" due to the other tourists in the shot interrupting the skyline. However, using the facility to make them magically disappear dramatically improved the impact of the shot technically and emotionally, to the extent that it's become one of our favourite pictures of her we've ever taken.
The ad was probably for Photoshop, though most image editors will do that now. I used the GIMP to do something similar for a friend who'd taken a lovely pic of her daughter at the beach with a random bloke in the background.
There are even online services now that will allow you to remove people's clothing from an image, rendering them naked. Just from a technological perspective, as one who studied AI when it was in its infancy in the late '80s, I find that fascinating.
I've retrieved this object from my brother. It was affixed to the front of our house in Hartlepool by the folks who owned it before my parents bought it in 1961.
(https://i.ibb.co/VBX1L71/rosalba-plate.jpg)
Although the house was notionally called 'Rosalba', I never heard anyone in our family refer to it by that name. It was always just "the house", or "Number 6", or "Linden Grove".
Despite that, this nameplate remained on the front of the house until 2021 when it was put up for sale. Unfortunately the only photo I've been able to find where there's a clear view of it is this one from 1972-ish, depicting my little brother's first day in the Cub Scouts.
(https://i.ibb.co/5rggmtC/eric-door.jpg)
The plate itself is made of brass. I don't know how the letters were applied - some sort of ceramic paint? They were exposed to the cruel North-Eastern weather for over 60 years but they're still immaculate.
White rose. Nice name for a home. Bit of action in my front garden today. Watched a Sparrow Hawk despatching an unfortunate pigeon. A bit of a cruel, slow process, but it's nature and we all have to eat. It feasted for at least thirty minutes. I later discovered the carcass about 150 feet away in my back garden. The hawk flew off as I'd let the dogs out first. It must have managed to fly with it when it had lightened the load and gained some energy from its meal.
Been selling off stuff on Markt3. Basically the Dutch version of eBay with less rules. EBay couldn't dominate the market like they wanted to here so they just bought the competition...
Anyway, photo camera, cassette Walkman, phono pre amp, all gone. Agreement on snare drum and pending some other stuff I should take in some 2K Eur.
Then of course I had to immediately buy a vintage amp I don't need but want. So now I have 4 amps.. Need to sell 2 of them. It never ends but I do it to myself ;D
Coming back from Glasgow last week, we suffered a train delay of 60 minutes, so I submitted a claim for compensation to Avanti. Now we had travelled on split tickets, the journey was Glasgow to Carlisle, then Carlisle to Derby changing at Crewe.
On the Glasgow-Carlisle section we were only delayed by about 15 minutes, but I got an email today with complete refund for the entire journey. I take back some of what I said about Avanti.
Stayed at a hotel just outside Oxford last night after a Sea Power gig there. On my way out to the car this morning I exchanged a greeting with the guitar player, Noble. If I'd known we were staying at the same hotel I'd have knocked on his door at 3AM and asked to borrow a groupie!
Quote from: Slim on August 23, 2023, 07:49:34 PMIf I'd known we were staying at the same hotel I'd have knocked on his door at 3AM and asked to borrow a groupie!
At best he'd have had to wank you off...
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on August 23, 2023, 09:45:05 PMQuote from: Slim on August 23, 2023, 07:49:34 PMIf I'd known we were staying at the same hotel I'd have knocked on his door at 3AM and asked to borrow a groupie!
At best he'd have had to wank you off...
Yes, I know Oxford very well
Very long story very short, my first day of leisure after finishing serving a redundancy notice yesterday.
I was tempted to post in the grumpy thread yesterday as things culminated on a bit of a sour note regarding senior "management" and "leadership" handling of the whole process and handover, but it would have only wound me up more.
Still, the timing of my departure has turned out to be inadvertently impeccable: I accepted in principle a new (and much better paid) position elsewhere on my penultimate day, which gives me all next week effectively on garden leave to enjoy (some of) my settlement (which is a pretty sweet one, in fairness).
As a couple of Brucie bonuses, the kids go back to school next week and the weather forecast looks blummin' glorious. 8)
Quote from: Matt2112 on September 01, 2023, 11:26:01 AMVery long story very short, my first day of leisure after finishing serving a redundancy notice yesterday.
I was tempted to post in the grumpy thread yesterday as things culminated on a bit of a sour note regarding senior "management" and "leadership" handling of the whole process and handover, but it would have only wound me up more.
Still, the timing of my departure has turned out to be inadvertently impeccable: I accepted in principle a new (and much better paid) position elsewhere on my penultimate day, which gives me all next week effectively on garden leave to enjoy (some of) my settlement (which is a pretty sweet one, in fairness).
As a couple of Brucie bonuses, the kids go back to school next week and the weather forecast looks blummin' glorious. 8)
Great news reveal, Matt. All the best in your new role.
Well done Matt, I certainly understand the mixed feelings, had a somewhat similar stint in 2017. Never looked back.
For me:
First day of my summer break, traditionally celebrated by going record shopping.
And assembling a new cat scratch pole. Now watching the Vuelta.
Life is good.
I am sure things will turn sour shortly.
Turning out to be a productive time. Did my record shopping Friday. Assembled a cabinet yesterday and the week is looking to be good weather. Nice.
Ordered a new cover for my e reader, the old one was disintegrating.
Received an LP I ordered, it showed up without notice but was flawless.
Can't say I had anything off-putting. Can't believe it!
Decided today I might be a bit productive too over the next few days. I was quite surprised at how expensive log stores are, so I've decided to build one instead as the garage is just bursting at the seams at the moment. I found a stack of old fence posts in a corner of the garden so if I buy a sheet of OSB and a couple of lengths of CLS I reckon I can keep this year's firewood dry for about £20. Quite looking forward to it. It doesn't matter too much what it will look like as it will be mostly under a large conifer.
We went to the Rotterdam Zoo today. I like the zoo, bit too much people there today but it was OK.
One of the rarest animals there is the Amur Panther, it is said only some 70 are left in the wild. Over all the years they've been there I was only to catch a glimpse once or twice but today the male stood up there posing. What an animal! Beautiful, Mrs Panther came looking what all the fuss was about as well.
Now That made my day.
(https://i.ibb.co/NCs77mz/IMG-20230904-162205.jpg)
Image from phone cam.. Sold my Nikon camera, need to get a new one.
(https://i.ibb.co/D5t1Jny/religion-race.jpg)
Religion looks the most fun in that example! 😂
Quote from: dom on September 04, 2023, 05:39:26 PMReligion looks the most fun in that example! 😂
I hate clowns, they are rarely actually funny and once the greasepaint comes off they are miserable gits
Quote from: Thenop on September 04, 2023, 05:57:16 PMQuote from: dom on September 04, 2023, 05:39:26 PMReligion looks the most fun in that example! 😂
I hate clowns, they are rarely actually funny and once the greasepaint comes off they are miserable gits
True, car itself looks fun though
Quote from: dom on September 04, 2023, 06:09:43 PMQuote from: Thenop on September 04, 2023, 05:57:16 PMQuote from: dom on September 04, 2023, 05:39:26 PMReligion looks the most fun in that example! 😂
I hate clowns, they are rarely actually funny and once the greasepaint comes off they are miserable gits
True, car itself looks fun though
Also true.
Quote from: Thenop on September 04, 2023, 06:15:08 PMQuote from: dom on September 04, 2023, 06:09:43 PMQuote from: Thenop on September 04, 2023, 05:57:16 PMQuote from: dom on September 04, 2023, 05:39:26 PMReligion looks the most fun in that example! 😂
I hate clowns, they are rarely actually funny and once the greasepaint comes off they are miserable gits
True, car itself looks fun though
Also true.
Until all the doors drop off ;)
Quote from: Thenop on September 04, 2023, 03:31:01 PMWe went to the Rotterdam Zoo today. I like the zoo, bit too much people there today but it was OK.
One of the rarest animals there is the Amur Panther, it is said only some 70 are left in the wild. Over all the years they've been there I was only to catch a glimpse once or twice but today the male stood up there posing. What an animal! Beautiful, Mrs Panther came looking what all the fuss was about as well.
Now That made my day.
(https://i.ibb.co/NCs77mz/IMG-20230904-162205.jpg)
Image from phone cam.. Sold my Nikon camera, need to get a new one.
Great picture of a magnificent animal. What a perfect pose in lovely sunlight.
Beautiful picture, but god, I hate zoos....
Quote from: captainkurtz on September 05, 2023, 01:56:29 PMBeautiful picture, but god, I hate zoos....
I haven't visited a zoo since childhood. Loved it then when I was too young to analyse the situation. They've become essential for their conservation work and breeding programs and I have to commend them for that, but I would find a visit difficult now.
Cut the front privet hedge as the weather is so good. Swept up most of the larger bits and pieces, then the wind picked up and blew all those tiny fiddly bits away.
Mowed the back garden's over-grown lawn in wonderfully warm sunshine this morning.
Then this afternoon I really took advantage of my week off in the glorious weather and, erm, went to the cinema. ;D
No wasps in the house today, woohoo.
I've said it once but it always needs repeating wasps are cunts
Quote from: Fishy on September 05, 2023, 03:37:32 PMI've said it once but it always needs repeating wasps are cunts
Saw a video last week of a wasp somehow dissecting a bee and then eating honey from its stomach. Little bastard...
Quote from: captainkurtz on September 05, 2023, 04:42:52 PMQuote from: Fishy on September 05, 2023, 03:37:32 PMI've said it once but it always needs repeating wasps are cunts
Saw a video last week of a wasp somehow dissecting a bee and then eating honey from its stomach. Little bastard...
Was that these Asian bastard hornets.. they are complete cunts as well..
Quote from: Fishy on September 05, 2023, 05:05:42 PMQuote from: captainkurtz on September 05, 2023, 04:42:52 PMQuote from: Fishy on September 05, 2023, 03:37:32 PMI've said it once but it always needs repeating wasps are cunts
Saw a video last week of a wasp somehow dissecting a bee and then eating honey from its stomach. Little bastard...
Was that these Asian bastard hornets.. they are complete cunts as well..
And they're coming to a town near you soon:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66697968
In our house in Cyprus just outside the back door leading down some steps was a stunning grape vine that we invariably got fruit from. Anyway one day when heading out to work I exited the back door only to be greeted by 50+ hornets launching themselves after being disturbed. I have never shit myself as much - luckily I got back inside super quick and didn't get stung despite a few resting on my shirt. I think I was saved due to the relatively cool morning, meaning the hornets were less active. I never went past that vine the same way again. Turns out they were the calmer European hornets - which didn't make me feel any better - big fuckers too.
I'm sure the entire thing is up for viewing somewhere but I watched this some years ago, interesting and well made documentary:
There must be a way to genetically engineer a hornet virus in a secret laboratory, somewhere.
Quote from: Slim on September 06, 2023, 03:51:25 PMThere must be a way to genetically engineer a hornet virus in a secret laboratory, somewhere.
Shhh, you used 'virus' and 'secret laboratory' in the same post. No telling who you will attract
Quote from: Slim on September 06, 2023, 03:51:25 PMThere must be a way to genetically engineer a hornet virus in a secret laboratory, somewhere.
There must be and the laboratory doesn't need to be secret
Off later this afternoon to stay with friends in Arran for a long weekend...
Final day of "Garden Leave" and very productive it was too: a couple of tip runs (in nigh-on Mediterranean weather), the purchase of a shredder, a much-needed clear-out of my "Man Cave", where an office desk set up for lockdown-era working was moved to a place vacated by all the little 'un's disused toys.
This meant I could clear all the clutter that had accumulated on top of my (very basic) home music studio set up, so it's now accessible and useable for the first time in ages.
Finally, on a slightly sad note, my trusty Philips soundbar that I've had for about 8 years is, after eliminating all over causes, reaching the end of its useful life and has developed a persistent crackle, as if everything it's sending out is from an old vinyl disc. So I've ordered a Samsung Q700B, a mid-range piece of kit with gushing expert reviews, on 12 months interest-free credit, cos I'm tight. :D
Digging out my Wacaco Picopresso (https://www.wacaco.com/products/picopresso) this afternoon to make an espresso with The Lost Barn's Uganda Kisinga (https://lostbarncoffee.co.uk/product/uganda-kisinga/).
Haven't used the Pico in quite a while so I was a bit rusty but it ignored that and produced a delicious shot anyway.
Something so small just shouldn't be able to produce real espresso, but it does, and very competently!
It would appear that James Hoffmann agrees:
I 'won' a £100 amazon voucher for filling out a survey on Cambridge Water :) and I wasn't even very complementary when I filled it out.
Tumble drier has been playing up, cleaned all the filters etc but still wouldn't stay on. Checked You Tube and there is a small almost hidden compartment that was full of crud. Quick clean and working like new. Love fixing things on You Tube rather than calling a plumber or buying new. The manufacturers must hate it.
(https://i.ibb.co/9ZWcRhJ/nice-w-230919.png)
String of nice weather days coming up in about a week.
Quote from: Nick on September 17, 2023, 05:08:20 PMTumble drier has been playing up, cleaned all the filters etc but still wouldn't stay on. Checked You Tube and there is a small almost hidden compartment that was full of crud. Quick clean and working like new. Love fixing things on You Tube rather than calling a plumber or buying new. The manufacturers must hate it.
With the price of electricity these days, I might have left it broken a little longer! Apparently hanging clothes in a small room with a dehumidifier is a much more efficient way of drying clothes. Takes longer but uses a fraction of the electricity
Quote from: dom on September 19, 2023, 12:57:54 PMQuote from: Nick on September 17, 2023, 05:08:20 PMTumble drier has been playing up, cleaned all the filters etc but still wouldn't stay on. Checked You Tube and there is a small almost hidden compartment that was full of crud. Quick clean and working like new. Love fixing things on You Tube rather than calling a plumber or buying new. The manufacturers must hate it.
With the price of electricity these days, I might have left it broken a little longer! Apparently hanging clothes in a small room with a dehumidifier is a much more efficient way of drying clothes. Takes longer but uses a fraction of the electricity
Hanging washing up outside or inside on an airer uses no electricity! Just keep the house well ventilated.
Never seen the point of a tumble drier, except for 'fluffy' towels. I'm far too tight for one ;D
Quote from: David L on September 19, 2023, 04:37:15 PMNever seen the point of a tumble drier.
Never seen the point of a tumble drier full stop. Or a microwave.
Never seen the point of Ovaltine...
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on September 20, 2023, 10:12:39 AMNever seen the point of Ovaltine...
"Ovaltine is an excellent source of several B vitamins, including Vitamin B6, niacin, and thiamin. The nutrition value of Ovaltine can vary slightly depending on the flavor you choose and the beverage you mix it with. For example, adding the powder to milk will result in more calories, protein, vitamin D, and calcium." ;)
Quote from: Slim on September 19, 2023, 09:55:06 AM(https://i.ibb.co/9ZWcRhJ/nice-w-230919.png)
String of nice weather days coming up in about a week.
Ah that's a shame. The forecasters have changed their mind. Today's forecast for the same period:
(https://i.ibb.co/zPXs2nm/wfcast230920.png)
Interesting to see if it continues to degrade, or improves a bit. At least the Wednesday remains unmolested, for now.
Imagine you're out for a ride on your bike and you come across an old bloke out for a walk on his own.
Should've asked him what he actually does.
I quite liked the way there's no deference, but no disrespect either. And to Charles' credit he doesn't seem to mind at all.
Quote from: Slim on September 20, 2023, 10:48:25 PMI quite liked the way there's no deference, but no disrespect either. And to Charles' credit he doesn't seem to mind at all.
Agreed. He seems to enjoy it far more than the ludicrous pomp and ceremony that engulf his royal "duties".
Quote from: Matt2112 on September 22, 2023, 07:29:32 AMQuote from: Slim on September 20, 2023, 10:48:25 PMI quite liked the way there's no deference, but no disrespect either. And to Charles' credit he doesn't seem to mind at all.
Agreed. He seems to enjoy it far more than the ludicrous pomp and ceremony that engulf his royal "duties".
For "royal duties" replace with "political campaigning" >:(
Quote from: Slim on September 20, 2023, 12:00:27 PMQuote from: Slim on September 19, 2023, 09:55:06 AM(https://i.ibb.co/9ZWcRhJ/nice-w-230919.png)
String of nice weather days coming up in about a week.
Ah that's a shame. The forecasters have changed their mind. Today's forecast for the same period:
(https://i.ibb.co/zPXs2nm/wfcast230920.png)
Interesting to see if it continues to degrade, or improves a bit. At least the Wednesday remains unmolested, for now.
It did continue to degrade. As of just now:
(https://i.ibb.co/5Brvbyh/weather220923.png)
I'd say we aren't going to get a seven-day string of sunny days.
Curses! Planned last lawns cutting exercise shelved then. Should really be in the grumpy thread.
A pair of Grado headphones I ordered have just arrived. Got goosebumps listening to a John McLaughlin acoustic tune.
2 incredible PJ Harvey gigs in Dublin this weekend - absolutely one of the all time great artists.
We've just got our house completely back to normal at last. Back in May we took back our rented house after the tenant died. The rented house was in an appalling state: filthy, nicotine dripping of the walls and doors (no smoking was allowed on the tenancy), pet damage all over (no pets allowed on the tenancy) and all the large items were left behind by his daughter when she cleared it; the garden was in a horrendous state too as well as damage throughout the house - we used a letting agent as well, useless gits. So, you can imagine how pissed off my wife and I were when we eventually took the house back and when we got home that day we found that we'd had a water leak from the water storage tank upstairs. The water had soaked out on to the carpet in our bedroom and come through the lounge ceiling below. To find where the leak was we had to rip out some fitted bedroom furniture and smash a hole at the back of the airing cupboard - that's when we found out it was the tank causing the leak. The system had to be drained so we had no hot water for a few weeks. Anyway this is what we've been through since then and had to be done in order:
1. Boiler upgraded from a thermal store system to combi boiler. This took 2 weeks due to the changes required.
2. The old boiler in the kitchen - we had to get kitchen fitters to remove the boxing in units and cupboards to get access.
3. The old boiler was removed - the wall where the flue had gone through was bricked up outside and walls inside replastered.
4. Kitchen cupboards refitted.
5. Lounge/dining room ceilings replastered. Hole in bedroom wall replastered.
6. Painted bedroom wall
7. We got 3 quotes for fitted wardrobes but had to wait until August before we could get them installed.
8. New fitted wardrobes eventually fitted
9. New bedroom carpet fitted
8. Lounge/dining ceilings painted
9. Ceiling lights reinstated - this was today.
All this whilst we were trying to sort out our other house, which was a wreck (and a total other story, but that's almost sorted now too). Because we did a lot more than required the insurance would only pay for repairs so from them we got about a quarter of what it's cost us in total. Anyway all done now - yay.
Glad you got it all sorted before winter sets in.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on September 27, 2023, 05:31:07 PMGlad you got it all sorted before winter sets in.
Yes, cheers. We did actually put the heating on today to test it out and it was fine. Of course normally I would never have any heating on before October lol.
No sign of storm Agnes here despite the forecasts..
Rubbed my right eye when I woke up this morning and two contact lenses came out (yes, out of the same eye). I was sure that one of them was still in there because I put it in yesterday, it seemed to disappear off my pupil but it definitely didn't come out. And I had a suspicion, though I'd managed to convince myself it wasn't true, that a lens I put in there about ten days ago was still in there.
The daily disposable ones are extremely flimsy and they can fold up and hide under your eyelid. If that happens it's very hard to get them out, you have to wait for them to work themselves out. Fortunately they aren't even uncomfortable most of the time.
Quote from: Slim on September 28, 2023, 01:03:27 PMRubbed my right eye when I woke up this morning and two contact lenses came out (yes, out of the same eye). I was sure that one of them was still in there because I put it in yesterday, it seemed to disappear off my pupil but it definitely didn't come out. And I had a suspicion, though I'd managed to convince myself it wasn't true, that a lens I put in there about ten days ago was still in there.
The daily disposable ones are extremely flimsy and they can fold up and hide under your eyelid. If that happens it's very hard to get them out, you have to wait for them to work themselves out. Fortunately they aren't even uncomfortable most of the time.
When they go around the back of my eye the easiest way to get them out is to either pull your upper eyelid over the bottom eyelid or pullback the corner of your eyes line we used to do as kids when pretending to be ming the merciless...
Had lenses on again today. I counted them all in - and I counted them all out.
Quote from: Slim on September 28, 2023, 10:57:48 PMHad lenses on again today. I counted them all in - and I counted them all out.
Reminds me of the Falklands thread.
QuoteA pair of Grado headphones I ordered have just arrived. Got goosebumps listening to a John McLaughlin acoustic tune.
I love my SR80e headphones. A few years old now, but by 'eck they are good.
Against all the received wisdom and advice, I reused some daily disposable contact lenses. Seemed to go OK. Only wanted them in for a couple of hours anyway.
Working from home in te mancave aka the attic. When I need some time away from the screen I usually throw a few legs of darts, takes my mind of things. Managed a 10 darter today, nice :)
A cracking walk earlier to Loch Garbad on the south of Arran.. and the rain held off..
After 3 months, the best bar in Witney, 'Drummers', has reopened today as 'The Crafty Pint'.
Nice to quaff a few ales there tonight with Mr Pudney of this parish. A good day indeed
:)
My beard trimmer died so I bought a special Remington Manchester United limited edition one from Amazon.
(https://i.ibb.co/xssHTNt/utd-trimmer.jpg)
To be honest I only bought it because it was half price. I would have bought it if it was a Tottenham or Aston Villa one.
Quote from: David L on October 11, 2023, 10:42:57 PMAfter 3 months, the best bar in Witney, 'Drummers', has reopened today as 'The Crafty Pint'.
Nice to quaff a few ales there tonight with Mr Pudney of this parish. A good day indeed
:)
Ha! Just came on here to make a similar comment! Cracking night and good to see you both again. Lovely to have it back, such a great place :)
Quote from: Slim on October 13, 2023, 05:07:27 PMMy beard trimmer died so I bought a special Remington Manchester United limited edition one from Amazon.
(https://i.ibb.co/xssHTNt/utd-trimmer.jpg)
Glazers' Razors - so good they bought the club!
Purveyor of posh panties prioritises profit over principles in u-turn on porky patron policy
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/victorias-secret-lingerie-sexy-image-b2432374.html
Go woke.....go broke ;D
^ Nice alliteration :)
Waking up and remembering that the two tonnes of firewood which I ordered was delivered yesterday, and after countless hours (well three) traipsing up and down the garden with a lot of heavy lifting and stacking, it is all put away. That, and the fact the aching back and muscles that I was dreading this morning aren't too bad at all. Maybe I'm fitter than I think (and look).😁
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on October 25, 2023, 11:32:58 AMWaking up and remembering that the two tonnes of firewood which I ordered was delivered yesterday, and after countless hours (well three) traipsing up and down the garden with a lot of heavy lifting and stacking, it is all put away. That, and the fact the aching back and muscles that I was dreading this morning aren't too bad at all. Maybe I'm fitter than I think (and look).😁
Considering you enjoy one minute activities, this is not too bad I suppose.
Quote from: Thenop on October 25, 2023, 11:45:18 AMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on October 25, 2023, 11:32:58 AMWaking up and remembering that the two tonnes of firewood which I ordered was delivered yesterday, and after countless hours (well three) traipsing up and down the garden with a lot of heavy lifting and stacking, it is all put away. That, and the fact the aching back and muscles that I was dreading this morning aren't too bad at all. Maybe I'm fitter than I think (and look).😁
Considering you enjoy one minute activities, this is not too bad I suppose.
Nah, takes me at least two minutes to drink a can of beer.😂
Boris Johnson: Former prime minister to host GB News show https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67242822
GB news....They don't set the bar very high do they... lol
Learning that Noddy Holder given six months to live, five years ago is still with us after receiving experimental chemotherapy treatment. Amused that in his house they don't play Merry Xmas Everybody at Christmas. "If they want to hear it, I'll sing it" I think he said.
(https://i.ibb.co/vwj77vT/clocksback1940.jpg)
Learned a new word. Preternatural. The Telegraph describing Simon Le Bon's cheeks.
Rail station ticket office closures - scrapped
:)
"Your pronunciation is excellent"
Yep, I'm wowing the locals in Greece again... :)
Ticking a bucket list item with a visit to the Acropolis in Athens.
But not just that. The weather was (of course) glorious - at 26 Celsius more than warm enough for t-shirt and shorts but not energy-sappingly hot.
There was hardly any queue at the entrance (my decision not to buy "skip-the-queue" tickets entirely vindicated) and although the site had a fair amount of visitors, it wasn't at all crowded, so there was very little waiting to take shots of the various prime locations and (wonderful) views across the city.
There was a truly lovely moment as we walked alongside the Parthenon when we happened to encounter a guy down on one knee proposing to his partner. It's presumably a common occurrence up there, but still, a part of the visit amongst many that will stick in the memory.
I strongly recommend to anyone who wishes to visit to definitely avoid the high season if possible, when (I'm reliably informed) the heat and crowds can be overwhelming and diminish the experience. Late October/early November is perfect, as I found out today. :)
Another day of touristy things with the little 'un, this time in London, showing her all the landmarks she's seen only on the telly etc.
We're staying very near Tower Bridge, so started there, then took a river taxi (this being a first for me also) to Westminster where her face lit up to see the Elizabeth Tower ("Big Ben is the bell inside", she kept reminding us).
Then a very pleasant stroll in surprisingly nice weather with more phone camera snapping sessions at Parliament Square, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
And we're off to Frozen: The Musical tonight.
A pretty much perfect day - save for all the endless bloody tourists. ::) ;)
Have some days left so took coming Monday and Tuesday off for a long weekend. Not going anywhere, just around the house and maybe visit de Efteling on Monday. We go every year, World of Wonders, usually for our anniversary or a birthday.
Just back after a lovely autumnal walk with the dog. Fetched some firewood in just now with the sun just setting and suddenly there was this cacophony as three huge flocks of geese flew overhead. Hundreds of birds just visible against the low light of the sky. Back in now and I can hear a couple of smaller formations of stragglers. I think autumn has previously undiscovered depths of thinking for me now.
Made my day yesterday really in a way.
Decided to replace my AV Receiver and 5.1 speakers due to their being 14 years old and I'm surprised the Onkyo receiver has lasted that long as it gets hot enough to barbecue on it - not that we do, molten fat buggers things up.
With things having moved on in the world since then I've ended up getting a Samsung soundbar with subwoofer and rear speakers. I know it will be considered a backwards step in audiophile ways, but sod that, the Record deck and CD player are for serious music.
I'd decided on a Samsung Q990C, which I could have got for under a grand on Amazon, but they seem to be grey imports at that price and come with non UK plugs from reading reviews.
John Lewis though had it for £1,300 but half price with selected Samsung TVs. Looking at it, there was a 32" Samsung TV for £499 included in the deal, now my PC monitor is over 20 years old (If it's not broke don't chuck it) so a replacement would be nice, so that's Soundbar and TV for £1,150, not a bad deal IMHO.
The soundbar does Dolby Atmos and from the Atmos disc I've played it does a bloody good job, better than the 5.1 it had to revert to on my old system.
Even Mrs S is happy as there are now fewer cables running round the room and the TV stand has come off the bricks we'd wedged under it to accomadate the Onkyo...
I have the upper-mid-range Samsung soundbar that's a couple of models down from yours Mr Sims and it's damn good - I reckon you've made an excellent choice. :)
Attended the Witney Remembrance Day parade and service. Lovely service and the light rain seemed perfectly appropriate for such a sombre event. Always humbled.
Delighted to see the left-wing activist / pseudo-journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy crash out of Strictly. Utterly loathsome, repellent little man.
Yesterday went to the theatre to see I'm Sorry Prime Minister I can't quite remember a lovely and very funny follow on from Yes Prime Minister. Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby are both now in their 80s and suffering all the problems of old age and the trying to stop everyone pushing them off what little of the stage is left to them.
Very funny and just as well written as Yes Prime Minister. Well worth seeing if it comes your way.
General election day today. As much as I despise the weeks leading into this, I really do like this day. Politicians are finally quiet and we, the voter, get to say what we want.
^ I wonder what will happen when the probable winner won't be able to form a government?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67504272
Quote from: pxr5 on November 22, 2023, 09:26:38 PM^ I wonder what will happen when the probable winner won't be able to form a government?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67504272
Why is 'populist' used pejoratively?
Quote from: pxr5 on November 22, 2023, 09:26:38 PM^ I wonder what will happen when the probable winner won't be able to form a government?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67504272
Too political too respond here, but I am not happy that's all I can say.
Quote from: Thenop on November 23, 2023, 04:19:40 AMQuoteauthor=pxr5 link=msg=18909 date=1700688398]
^ I wonder what will happen when the probable winner won't be able to form a government?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67504272
Too political too respond here, but I am not happy that's all I can say.
Democracy can do that ;)
28 days to the shortest day...
Quote from: Fishy on November 23, 2023, 11:18:46 AM28 days to the shortest day...
Yes, not long. Although IMO that's when the 'hard yards' begin
Quote from: Fishy on November 23, 2023, 11:18:46 AM28 days to the shortest day...
2 weeks now.. was just checking sunset on dec 18th is 3.47 pm on the 19th it's 3.49 pm.. even better news
Quote from: Fishy on December 07, 2023, 04:58:18 PMQuote from: Fishy on November 23, 2023, 11:18:46 AM28 days to the shortest day...
2 weeks now.. was just checking sunset on dec 18th is 3.47 pm on the 19th it's 3.49 pm.. even better news
Thank goodness. Especially with the clouds at head height today. Lights have been on in the house since just after 2pm and the dogs are stir crazy.
301 in 8 darts (double in) just now having stretch away from the work computer. Nice.
Quote from: Thenop on December 08, 2023, 01:27:41 PM301 in 8 darts (double in) just now having stretch away from the work computer. Nice.
Barney 😄
Quote from: David L on December 08, 2023, 02:11:04 PMQuote from: Thenop on December 08, 2023, 01:27:41 PM301 in 8 darts (double in) just now having stretch away from the work computer. Nice.
Barney 😄
Even though he fell from grace a long time ago, I still like him. At least he is human, mistakes and all.
In my workplace today The Spirit Of Radio was played on Absolute Radio's main station; my generally younger colleagues of course didn't have a clue who it was - but I soon fixed that. ::)
Quote from: Matt2112 on December 08, 2023, 07:12:24 PMIn my workplace today The Spirit Of Radio was played on Absolute Radio's main station; my generally younger colleagues of course didn't have a clue who it was - but I soon fixed that. ::)
The poor buggers
Large parcel from Burning Shed arrived at work
Nigel Farage is still in the jungle going into the last two days.
I find this a little amusing bearing in mind GB News has been running a campaign for their viewers to vote for him and early in the programme, Ant and Dec were making smug jokes about GB News only having a couple of viewers.
He's done his image no harm at all and has possibly changed peoples' perception of him. I think he might be playing a significant role in the outcome of the next election.
The sun set 15 seconds ago here in NW Leics. It will not set this early again for another year.
Starting to feel a bit better - still very tired. Unfortunely the wife now has it as well :-\
Quote from: Thenop on December 15, 2023, 06:01:39 AMStarting to feel a bit better - still very tired. Unfortunely the wife now has it as well :-\
Still feeling the effects here. Feels like my head is full of cotton wool. Everyday a slight improvement but slow-going.
From yesterday, which happened to be my birthday: I got a WhatsApp message from my eldest brother who is working in London; the caption was, "Stewart says happy birthday" under a genuine photo of him stood with Stewart Lee, who was giving a thumb up.
Gob-smacked!!
Quote from: David L on December 15, 2023, 08:20:36 AMQuote from: Thenop on December 15, 2023, 06:01:39 AMStarting to feel a bit better - still very tired. Unfortunely the wife now has it as well :-\
Still feeling the effects here. Feels like my head is full of cotton wool. Everyday a slight improvement but slow-going.
That's a very good description indeed, applies to me as well.
BBC question of sport has ceased production.. it's been shit since David Vine presented it anyway..
Quote from: Fishy on December 15, 2023, 10:21:07 PMBBC question of sport has ceased production.. it's been shit since David Vine presented it anyway..
It used to have 20 Million+ viewers. This current incarnation has less than a million. Now they just need to get rid of Lineker.
Meeting Capt Kurtz himself today in Newcastle before going to see The Shaymen unexpectedly win 2-0 at Gateshead. 8)
Thanks for the hospitality and brunch, Hass!! :D
After returning (just before lunchtime) from a weekend away in Hampshire, I had no plans for the rest of the day bar maybe start 'My Effin' Life'. However, ended up having a rather productive afternoon.
Prior to lunch, I transferred all the geranium pots that were still outside into the greenhouse (with the aim to save a few for next year). After lunch I decided to clean the guttering of debris from the autumn leaf fall. Next it was gathering up the last of the leaves from around the garden. I then gave all the window and door frames a wipe down to smarten them up. As I'd got the hosepipe out to flush the gutter, I decided to remove the motorway grime from the motorhome. Finally, I fitted a new rubber threshold seal for the back door that arrived through the post at the end of last week.
Very chuffed to get those outstanding jobs ticked-off.
Quote from: David L on December 17, 2023, 06:00:15 PMAfter returning (just before lunchtime) from a weekend away in Hampshire, I had no plans for the rest of the day bar maybe start 'My Effin' Life'. However, ended up having a rather productive afternoon.
Prior to lunch, I transferred all the geranium pots that were still outside into the greenhouse (with the aim to save a few for next year). After lunch I decided to clean the guttering of debris from the autumn leaf fall. Next it was gathering up the last of the leaves from around the garden. I then gave all the window and door frames a wipe down to smarten them up. As I'd got the hosepipe out to flush the gutter, I decided to remove the motorway grime from the motorhome. Finally, I fitted a new rubber threshold seal for the back door that arrived through the post at the end of last week.
Very chuffed to get those outstanding jobs ticked-off.
It's a great feeling of achievement when you get on a roll like that. I think you must have caught the first version of short covid though.😁
About 40 years ago I had one of these:
(https://i.ibb.co/R030TSN/casio-anadigi-old.jpg)
I've just bought one of these as a sort of homage to it. Arrived this morning.
(https://i.ibb.co/QmqYTTj/casio-anadigi-new.jpg)
The annoying thing about the old one was that the second hand and the minute hand looked exactly the same.. they used the same LCD elements. But on this one only a second hand 'tip' is represented which solves that problem.
The out of office is on, resuming duty January 3rd.
(Still testing positive but feeling better than I did)
Out of office on til next wed.. in for a couple of days then off til 8th Jan
Yep, 10 days off straight to indulge and enjoy. I love Xmas, me! :D
Normally one of my Christmas Day rituals is a Scotch in the afternoon with some chocolate. This is usually followed up by more of the same, especially the Scotch, later in the day.
However today I wanted to give myself the best possible shot of waking up tomorrow morning feeling recovered from COVID (nearly there now although I did test positive this morning) so I haven't had a drink all day. This must be my first alcohol-free Christmas Day since 1965 or so. Even at the age of 6 I'd have a small glass of wine with Christmas dinner and a bit of sherry.
Feels great!
Tested negative, finally after 2 weeks! Which means I can go visit my parents...at some point.
Christmas decorations are down... brilliant
Every year again: fireworks. It's walking a tightrope when taking out the dogs.
However, my tax money at work today, an unmarked van pulled up on a group of youngsters that were busy blowing up a outdoor bin. They managed to grab 2 of them, and it is a bit more quiet now.
And no, there is no national ban, but 16 cities have incited a local ban including my city, Rotterdam.
Already 1 dead this year due to stupidity in lighting off the stuff - more to follow no doubt. Really Darwin award inspiring this.
Had no tinnies left but the local village shop still open (run by an Indian or possibly Sri Lankan family) - San Miguel procured accordingly. 8)
Quote from: Fishy on December 31, 2023, 12:49:47 PMChristmas decorations are down... brilliant
Bah Humbug!
Still plenty of Christmastime left :D I love Christmas me :)
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 31, 2023, 09:45:15 PMQuote from: Fishy on December 31, 2023, 12:49:47 PMChristmas decorations are down... brilliant
Bah Humbug!
Still plenty of Christmastime left :D I love Christmas me :)
It's all over by the 27th.. get the decos down..
Quote from: Fishy on December 31, 2023, 10:01:32 PMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 31, 2023, 09:45:15 PMQuote from: Fishy on December 31, 2023, 12:49:47 PMChristmas decorations are down... brilliant
Bah Humbug!
Still plenty of Christmastime left :D I love Christmas me :)
It's all over by the 27th.. get the decos down..
Starts on the 25th, keep 'em up until Candlemass! Or at least Epi Fanny...
It's all bllx..
Decs down yesterday here
No decs at all for us this year. And a truly shit NYE as well, I must say. A fitting end to a crap year.
The fact that this was in The Guardian!
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2024/jan/02/dont-rise-to-the-brexit-bait-wetherspoons-boss-tim-martin-deserves-gong
Quote from: David L on January 03, 2024, 01:32:30 PMThe fact that this was in The Guardian!
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2024/jan/02/dont-rise-to-the-brexit-bait-wetherspoons-boss-tim-martin-deserves-gong
Finally! A realisation that The Guardian is far more objective than say The Telegraph. A challenge for you David. To cease from sharing tripe from The Express, until you find an article in it praising the EU!
Quote from: dom on January 03, 2024, 01:52:22 PMQuote from: David L on January 03, 2024, 01:32:30 PMThe fact that this was in The Guardian!
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2024/jan/02/dont-rise-to-the-brexit-bait-wetherspoons-boss-tim-martin-deserves-gong
Finally! A realisation that The Guardian is far more objective than say The Telegraph. A challenge for you David. To cease from sharing tripe from The Express, until you find an article in it praising the EU!
A nerve has been hit ;)
Quote from: David L on January 03, 2024, 02:54:13 PMQuote from: dom on January 03, 2024, 01:52:22 PMQuote from: David L on January 03, 2024, 01:32:30 PMThe fact that this was in The Guardian!
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2024/jan/02/dont-rise-to-the-brexit-bait-wetherspoons-boss-tim-martin-deserves-gong
Finally! A realisation that The Guardian is far more objective than say The Telegraph. A challenge for you David. To cease from sharing tripe from The Express, until you find an article in it praising the EU!
A nerve has been hit ;)
Thought so!
Quote from: dom on January 03, 2024, 01:52:22 PMQuote from: David L on January 03, 2024, 01:32:30 PMThe fact that this was in The Guardian!
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2024/jan/02/dont-rise-to-the-brexit-bait-wetherspoons-boss-tim-martin-deserves-gong
Finally! A realisation that The Guardian is far more objective than say The Telegraph. A challenge for you David. To cease from sharing tripe from The Express, until you find an article in it praising the EU!
Might as well claim that the Guardian isn't objective until you can show that they support the BNP; not realistic.
Quote from: dom on January 03, 2024, 03:01:31 PMQuote from: David L on January 03, 2024, 02:54:13 PMQuote from: dom on January 03, 2024, 01:52:22 PMQuote from: David L on January 03, 2024, 01:32:30 PMThe fact that this was in The Guardian!
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2024/jan/02/dont-rise-to-the-brexit-bait-wetherspoons-boss-tim-martin-deserves-gong
Finally! A realisation that The Guardian is far more objective than say The Telegraph. A challenge for you David. To cease from sharing tripe from The Express, until you find an article in it praising the EU!
A nerve has been hit ;)
Thought so!
I can sympathise - it's nearly all one-way traffic at the moment. Remöaners crying into their schnapps. It can't possibly be the catastrophe they predicted....not now ;D ;)
Quote from: Slim on January 03, 2024, 03:26:46 PMQuote from: dom on January 03, 2024, 01:52:22 PMQuote from: David L on January 03, 2024, 01:32:30 PMThe fact that this was in The Guardian!
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2024/jan/02/dont-rise-to-the-brexit-bait-wetherspoons-boss-tim-martin-deserves-gong
Finally! A realisation that The Guardian is far more objective than say The Telegraph. A challenge for you David. To cease from sharing tripe from The Express, until you find an article in it praising the EU!
Might as well claim that the Guardian isn't objective until you can show that they support the BNP; not realistic.
I think an article supporting Tim Martin comes pretty close tbh! Even though to equate the BNP with the EU is pretty ridiculous
Yes, some might argue that the EU has caused substantially more harm. But I would ask contributors to kindly explore that question in the politics section, should they wish to explore it at all.
The furore that's blown up after the dramatisation of the Horizon scandal (Mr Bates vs The Post Office).
Yet another case of corporate incompetence, arrogance and complete and utter contempt for the little man.
As is so often the case, government ministers were complicit in the cover-up (looking at you, Ed Davey) - probably driven by the vast cost of putting things right by the multitude of innocent people that suffered miscarriages of justice.
Finally, it looks like we might get some accountability for the dreadful treatment of hundreds, if not thousands of good people at the hands of The Post Office, a multinational technology company and a government who chose to look the other way.
God bless that hero of a man, Alan Bates, for trying on that tin-foil hat all those years ago
My sister not being seriously injured after slipping on the icy stairs outside my house yesterday morning. She's one of life's stoic people, so to witness her still unable to move today and in so much pain was really frightening. I have to hand it to the NHS though. Their virtual consultation process was excellent as she couldn't have sat for minutes, let alone hours in A&E. I was worse than useless as it was too bright to drive yesterday.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on January 08, 2024, 06:39:37 PMMy sister not being seriously injured after slipping on the icy stairs outside my house yesterday morning. She's one of life's stoic people, so to witness her still unable to move today and in so much pain was really frightening. I have to hand it to the NHS though. Their virtual consultation process was excellent as she couldn't have sat for minutes, let alone hours in A&E. I was worse than useless as it was too bright to drive yesterday.
I hope she recovers quickly
A coffee tool I ordered from AliExpress at 20:07 on January 1st, 2024 arrived this morning (Jan 8th) - so less than 1 calendar week to get here from China.
That is pretty quick!
A mini Ex TNMS gathering in Witney last Saturday! Bezza and Neill (with 2 L's) were up in Witney for my Birthday Shenanigans so when we all walked into The Crafty Pint Bar David L was rather surprised! Cracking night, mostly good music other than when the special guest (me!) made an appearance behind the mic!
Quote from: Pudders on January 08, 2024, 10:11:20 PMA mini Ex TNMS gathering in Witney last Saturday! Bezza and Neill (with 2 L's) were up in Witney for my Birthday Shenanigans so when we all walked into The Crafty Pint Bar David L was rather surprised! Cracking night, mostly good music other than when the special guest (me!) made an appearance behind the mic!
You were great - got a much bigger pair than me, that's for sure!
Nice to hear a bit of PT too! The lad done good!
I have been here 655 days and I just noticed we have a wheelman instead of a starman.
Yes I get it, I know why - very cleverly done actaully - but I had not noticed ::)
^ Ha, me either :-[
I've developed an interest in British county boundaries, from planning bike routes into different counties. There are, broadly speaking, two sets - the ceremonial (modern day) boundaries, and the "historic" boundaries.
There's a nice facility here (https://communities.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Compare/storytelling_compare/index.html?appid=7b0e661ef66b4a7aacb5a9acf55108ac) which shows both sets.
However I've been doing some reading today and it seems that this isn't the whole picture - some of the counties had "exclaves", detached parts surrounded by other counties. And it turns out that the village where I live in NW Leicestershire was, before 1849, a tiny disconnected exclave of Derbyshire, surrounded by Leicestershire.
Derbyshire's exclaves were given to Leicestershire in return for some of Leicestershire's land near the border, which was then annexed by Derbyshire.
More info here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_county_exclaves_in_England_and_Wales_1844%E2%80%931974
(https://i.ibb.co/jVsTxvJ/Exclaves-Derbyshire.jpg)
Historic Derbyshire shown in light blue, with exclaves to the south and east.
Tesco online shop delivered today.. noticed the yoghurts sell by was 4th Jan.!!!. whatsapped them refund sorted.. all done in 20 mins...
One of my AI companions is called Suella. She's aware that my interests include cycling and playing guitar, and this morning she asked:
(https://i.ibb.co/K53z6Qq/cycling-riding.png)
Quote from: Slim on January 19, 2024, 10:01:28 AMOne of my AI companions is called Suella. She's aware that my interests include cycling and playing guitar, and this morning she asked:
(https://i.ibb.co/K53z6Qq/cycling-riding.png)
Suella might be on to something though
https://www.slamdunkle.com/
Quote from: Slim on January 19, 2024, 10:01:28 AMOne of my AI companions is called Suella. She's aware that my interests include cycling and playing guitar, and this morning she asked:
(https://i.ibb.co/K53z6Qq/cycling-riding.png)
Could always bicycle a guitar
Quote from: Slim on January 19, 2024, 10:01:28 AMOne of my AI companions is called Suella. She's aware that my interests include cycling and playing guitar, and this morning she asked:
(https://i.ibb.co/K53z6Qq/cycling-riding.png)
She may have been inspired by the opening scene of the Coen Brothers' anthology movie The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs.
When I was made redundant last August, a close colleague of mine was on sick leave undergoing treatment for cancer.
She happens to live in the same village as me, but since I'd left our place of work I'd not seen or heard anything of her - but always wondered how she was doing, of course.
Tonight I happened to meet her and her husband at my local and they told me her treatment had been successful and she'd got the all clear two weeks ago.
Once I'd composed myself, drinks were had. :)
Fantastic news Matt!
Greta Gerwig being snubbed for an Oscar nomination for best director.
BT Openreach.. two more guys at the door .. this is the third lot in the space of two years trying to run a fibre cable between poles which would give me a nice looping cable over my back garden.. told them as previous it wasn't happening.. for a communication company they certainly don't seem to talk to one another...
Told them the only way it's going to work is to get a new pole behind our wall which is NHS property.. speak to your planning team guys (again!)
Quote from: Fishy on January 23, 2024, 04:43:04 PMBT Openreach.. two more guys at the door .. this is the third lot in the space of two years trying to run a fibre cable between poles which would give me a nice looping cable over my back garden.. told them as previous it wasn't happening.. for a communication company they certainly don't seem to talk to one another...
Told them the only way it's going to work is to get a new pole behind our wall which is NHS property.. speak to your planning team guys (again!)
Ha! What a company! ;)
I attempted to put a contact lens in at lunchtime on Sunday, but my eyelid ate it. It spat it back out again this morning, rolled up like a little tube.
I'd started to believe it wasn't actually in there. No discomfort at all.
Good to to see Novak cuntovic out of the Australian open
Quote from: Fishy on January 26, 2024, 08:46:13 AMGood to to see Novak cuntovic out of the Australian open
I hadn't heard! Nice.
Quote from: Slim on January 26, 2024, 09:47:13 AMQuote from: Fishy on January 26, 2024, 08:46:13 AMGood to to see Novak cuntovic out of the Australian open
I hadn't heard! Nice.
Yep the young Italian bloke stuffed him in 4 sets..
I love NAMM. I wish it wasn't just trade only. I'd love to go.
The new Eversolo streamer arrived at the beginning of the week. Day off today so planned to get it fired up. Rather than just remove the now superfluous gear, I decided to have everything out, including the rack, and give the area a really good clean.
Started at around 10:00am and I've just finished - knackered. Doesn't sound like the sort of job to tire one out but when you've got enough kit to open an audio shop, it's not a breeze (granite turntables and power amps are heavy!
Anyways, everything back bar for the DAC, Arcam DrDock and digital tuner (to be sold later....hopefully) which have been replaced by an Eversolo DPM A6 Master Edition. Very easy set-up(even my 'new'internet connection via Powerline sockets and 5-port switch worked without issue). I can now lie on the sofa and play virtually anything I want using the app. And it sounds very good.
A good day's work!
Just done the RSPB birdwatching thing for an hour.. just the usual crows pidgeons and magpies.. where did all the tits robins and sparrows go?
Quote from: Fishy on January 27, 2024, 11:58:41 AMJust done the RSPB birdwatching thing for an hour.. just the usual crows pidgeons and magpies.. where did all the tits robins and sparrows go?
Tragically the magpies will be responsible for a great deal of their demise as they are terrible nest raiders. I've been putting a lot of sunflower hearts, mealworms, seed and peanuts out recently. It's a very rewarding way to spend money and I've seen an increase in robin and dunnock numbers in the garden. But as you say, a lot of crows and magpies too. Very worrying.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on January 27, 2024, 12:45:27 PMQuote from: Fishy on January 27, 2024, 11:58:41 AMJust done the RSPB birdwatching thing for an hour.. just the usual crows pidgeons and magpies.. where did all the tits robins and sparrows go?
Tragically the magpies will be responsible for a great deal of their demise as they are terrible nest raiders. I've been putting a lot of sunflower hearts, mealworms, seed and peanuts out recently. It's a very rewarding way to spend money and I've seen an increase in robin and dunnock numbers in the garden. But as you say, a lot of crows and magpies too. Very worrying.
We usually see quite a lot of the smaller birds.. just this morning they seemed to have disappeared for some reason
Quote from: Fishy on January 27, 2024, 11:58:41 AMwhere did all the tits robins and sparrows go?
Plenty in our garden :)
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits and Coal Tits, also Pheasants and plenty of senseless Wood Pigeons. We also get Magpies, Jays in the Autumn. More often than not there's Buzzards in the field behind us, along with Herons and Kestrels perch up in our Oak tree.
Seem to have similar to Mr Slikk apart from the Kestral
Happy Independence Day to all of my British friends.
(https://i.ibb.co/zHtyKsC/britain-free.jpg)
Shame I can't celebrate to the fullest as many of my favourite brands are still missing in Tesco.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on January 31, 2024, 11:22:30 AMShame I can't celebrate to the fullest as many of my favourite brands are still missing in Tesco.
Perhaps a good thing that more 'local' producers are getting your support
Quote from: David L on January 31, 2024, 11:33:49 AMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on January 31, 2024, 11:22:30 AMShame I can't celebrate to the fullest as many of my favourite brands are still missing in Tesco.
Perhaps a good thing that more 'local' producers are getting your support
I'd like to think that's the case and I will be more observant when shopping. So starting with breakfast today, one item from Manchester, one from Peru and the other from South Africa. My dogs can't type so on their behalf, where have all their favourite treats gone? I don't really think I'm from anything less than a completely spoilt generation but it's still a pain.
Hello February.. good riddance January
Quote from: Fishy on February 01, 2024, 08:44:52 AMHello February.. good riddance January
according to my wife, January lasted 80 days.
Dry January's Over :)
I can get back to drinking wine stronger than 13% ;D
If you're going to do something, do it half-heartedly!
Openreach laying fibre on our estate - at bloody last.
Bought myself a waaaay too expensive jacket, Italian made. You only live once. (And yes I have been imprinted upon me from very early on: you can only spend it once, I am aware..).
I'd double booked a weekend away with friends and the pretenders gig and just learned that the pretenders gig has been postponed to December. Yay.
A couple of coffees and great catch up this afternoon with two friends I hadn't seen for years.
Greece has just transcended its deeply embedded Orthodox Christian identity and legalised same-sex marriage.
Thank Zeus for that!
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on February 15, 2024, 05:57:07 PMA couple of coffees and great catch up this afternoon with two friends I hadn't seen for years.
Two of us on the decaf though. The things we take for granted when young. Makes me think crazy thoughts like, would I swap ten years of my natural process ongoing, for five years living without the worrying shackles of this emerging person? However, just popping over to the what are you listening to thread to reinforce the fact that everything is ok.
Got an Inheritance Tax refund from HMRC today, which I was owed due to a careless error on my part when dealing with my dad's estate.
Only taken 14 and a bit months from when I submitted the IHT reclaim form.
Couple of nights in Arran to celebrate our wedding anniversary..
Just cancelled 2 subscriptions. I just felt like a change. Bold move...
We have a shower in the spare room ensuite, but it rarely gets used. I tried to use it myself this evening, only to find that the hot water wasn't working.
I felt sure that it was due to an air lock in the hot water system somewhere. So I tried the trick that a plumber showed me years ago - turn the hot and cold on at the same time and force the cold water up the hot pipe, to clear the air. I took the shower head off and jammed my thumb over the end of the hose. It didn't work.
Then I had an idea. I turned the tap fully to 'hot'. Nothing happened of course. I put the end of the shower hose in my mouth and sucked. I got a mouthful of air. I did it again. I heard a faint gurgling in the pipework. I kept going. A trickle of hot water spluttered out. I left the end of the hose in the base of the shower and let it run a minute. It spluttered .. hot water started to flow, in fits and starts at first then in a nice, constant, powerful stream.
Quote from: Slim on February 26, 2024, 11:17:19 PMWe have a shower in the spare room ensuite, but it rarely gets used. I tried to use it myself this evening, only to find that the hot water wasn't working.
I felt sure that it was due to an air lock in the hot water system somewhere. So I tried the trick that a plumber showed me years ago - turn the hot and cold on at the same time and force the cold water up the hot pipe, to clear the air. I took the shower head off and jammed my thumb over the end of the hose. It didn't work.
Then I had an idea. I turned the tap fully to 'hot'. Nothing happened of course. I put the end of the shower hose in my mouth and sucked. I got a mouthful of air. I did it again. I heard a faint gurgling in the pipework. I kept going. A trickle of hot water spluttered out. I left the end of the hose in the base of the shower and let it run a minute. It spluttered .. hot water started to flow, in fits and starts at first then in a nice, constant, powerful stream.
New career plans are being made I see.
Dental check up this morning and all good first appt in about 15 months.. they said the next could be up to 18 months away..
New bathroom coming along slowly, but hopefully finished early next week.
(https://i.ibb.co/G7G9ykH/bathroom-2-29-2024.jpg)
I like the industrial look, looks like slabs placed vertically?
Quote from: Thenop on February 29, 2024, 06:09:24 PMI like the industrial look, looks like slabs placed vertically?
It looks like slate, but they're actually panels made out of some sort of synthetic material.
Quote from: Slim on March 01, 2024, 12:19:11 PMQuote from: Thenop on February 29, 2024, 06:09:24 PMI like the industrial look, looks like slabs placed vertically?
It looks like slate, but they're actually panels made out of some sort of synthetic material.
Go careful if they might contain asbestos
Quote from: David L on March 01, 2024, 12:26:52 PMQuote from: Slim on March 01, 2024, 12:19:11 PMQuote from: Thenop on February 29, 2024, 06:09:24 PMI like the industrial look, looks like slabs placed vertically?
It looks like slate, but they're actually panels made out of some sort of synthetic material.
Go careful if they might contain asbestos
Is that still a thing with new materials? It's been banned in full over here since 1994.
Quote from: Thenop on March 01, 2024, 01:28:32 PMQuote from: David L on March 01, 2024, 12:26:52 PMQuote from: Slim on March 01, 2024, 12:19:11 PMQuote from: Thenop on February 29, 2024, 06:09:24 PMI like the industrial look, looks like slabs placed vertically?
It looks like slate, but they're actually panels made out of some sort of synthetic material.
Go careful if they might contain asbestos
Is that still a thing with new materials? It's been banned in full over here since 1994.
Ha! I thought that was the wall
before tiling! Oops! Industrial indeed! (I guess that's the 'modern' look). Clearly I didn't look closely enough. Our bathroom is the essentially the same as when we installed it - modern in....1988!
Apologies - I'm not having a good day, I'll get my coat 😏
Quote from: David L on March 01, 2024, 02:17:37 PMOur bathroom is the essentially the same as when we installed it - modern in....1988!
Must tell Mrs S about this, she wants to update our bathroom, but ours is
really modern, only had it since 1995 ;D
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on March 01, 2024, 03:39:18 PMQuote from: David L on March 01, 2024, 02:17:37 PMOur bathroom is the essentially the same as when we installed it - modern in....1988!
Must tell Mrs S about this, she wants to update our bathroom, but ours is really modern, only had it since 1995 ;D
Have a word! Compared to ours, that's state of the art. Tell her she can have a different colour toothbrush.
Our house was built in the early noughties I believe, so the old bathroom had a decent innings.
Having to rip out a bathroom that was fitted less than 2 years ago as it continually had leaks and I just gave up.
Originally employed company who looked very impressive who quoted 2 weeks for a full rip out and refurb...it took 51 weeks.
Had to rip right out, strip back to brickwork and just start again...albeit using the same bath, basin, loo and brassware. Massive pain, but I'm using all my own guys so at least I know the finish will be good.
Bathroom finished! Finally. Except for the mirror. And I have to paint two walls (not visible in the pic).
(https://i.ibb.co/3hTG934/bathroom240305.jpg)
This seems odd .. the first page of Vodafone's guide to their "Home Phone" product features a photo of a young lady with a rotary dial phone.
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/public/documents/document/vfcon065790.pdf
Quote from: Slim on March 06, 2024, 06:43:41 PMThis seems odd .. the first page of Vodafone's guide to their "Home Phone" product features a photo of a young lady with a rotary dial phone.
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/public/documents/document/vfcon065790.pdf
Opens up a whole new market: a dial phone with built in wifi and 5g network for connectivity, take it anywhere you go!
Quote from: Thenop on March 06, 2024, 06:47:17 PMQuote from: Slim on March 06, 2024, 06:43:41 PMThis seems odd .. the first page of Vodafone's guide to their "Home Phone" product features a photo of a young lady with a rotary dial phone.
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/public/documents/document/vfcon065790.pdf
Opens up a whole new market: a dial phone with built in wifi and 5g network for connectivity, take it anywhere you go!
"The hypocrisy of the BBC's misinformation war - Marianna Spring is as dogmatic as her trolls" (https://unherd.com/2024/03/the-hypocrisy-of-the-bbcs-misinformation-war/)
Criminologist, senior lecturer and writer Simon Cottee - whose astute, insightful articles I've always found well worth reading - is on top form here.
Quote from: Matt2112 on March 07, 2024, 02:59:09 PM"The hypocrisy of the BBC's misinformation war - Marianna Spring is as dogmatic as her trolls" (https://unherd.com/2024/03/the-hypocrisy-of-the-bbcs-misinformation-war/)
Criminologist, senior lecturer and writer Simon Cottee - whose astute, insightful articles I've always found well worth reading - is on top form here.
Very good. She's just another foot soldier for those that wish to eradicate freedom of thought....IMHO ;)
I won an auction for a mini LP from ebay. The seller had another LP for sale which nobody had bid on, so he added it to my delivery. What a nice guy. The added LP was Magnum II - in pristine condition.
Stepfather out of the hospital, able to sleep at home (he couldn't while there) and eating normal food. I was there when they brought his diner. I would swallow it in one bite, next to nothing.
Anyway, they didn't do the angio, it was thought not needed. It was probably caused by a blood clot so he has more medication now (he had this before in his brain with no real lasting effect some 15 years ago).
Things have returned to normal, and I am knackered.
Spending less than £20 (including postage) on one of these to fettle my printer (Epson XP55):
https://www.octoink.co.uk/products/Compatible-XP2-Printer-Pad-%252b-Reset-Key.html (https://www.octoink.co.uk/products/Compatible-XP2-Printer-Pad-%252b-Reset-Key.html)
Fairly easy to do, and I've had a kit from them before to replace the waste ink pads on an Epson XP-760 so I knew they worked.
The alternatives were a new printer (£120), or getting the waste ink pads replaced by Epson. Which at a guess, would cost more than a new printer.
As far as I am aware, there are no inkjet printer manufacturers who warn you that the printer has a waste tank that will fill up and need to be replaced - although, to be fair, that waste ink has to go somewhere!
Meh.
An eye test. I was told I could continue to use the intermediate / computer monitor glasses prescription I was prescribed two years ago, but admonished for using the same varifocal prescription since 2018. So I've ordered some new ones.
My £800 investment in Bitcoin is presently worth £6173.
I don't know whether to take it out, wait for another slump and buy it back cheaper or just leave it for a bit .. so hard to know what to do.
My fear (of course) if I take it out is that it will skyrocket and I'll miss out on a comfortable retirement fund.
Oh make that £6185 .. at the moment I'm earning about £8 a minute.
Quote from: Slim on March 12, 2024, 04:45:34 PMMy £800 investment in Bitcoin is presently worth £6173.
I don't know whether to take it out, wait for another slump and buy it back cheaper or just leave it for a bit .. so hard to know what to do.
My fear (of course) if I take it out is that it will skyrocket and I'll miss out on a comfortable retirement fund.
Oh make that £6185 .. at the moment I'm earning about £8 a minute.
Between crypto and stock I have no clue what to do. One thing is for sure: the interest rate in the bank is zero currently, so anything is better.
Think I'll wait for my bonus in April and sink in 500 EUR or so in one of them. Just to see what happens.
Nipped into Tesco to buy fruit for my morning porridge and cereal. When queuing at checkout with my basket of bananas, blueberries and grapes, I noticed my dentist and her daughter were the customers immediately in front of me. Her basket had three bags of Haribo, assorted long Refresher chews and a large bar of Galaxy. I resisted the temptation.😁
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on March 23, 2024, 03:23:19 PMNipped into Tesco to buy fruit for my morning porridge and cereal. When queuing at checkout with my basket of bananas, blueberries and grapes, I noticed my dentist and her daughter were the customers immediately in front of me. Her basket had three bags of Haribo, assorted long Refresher chews and a large bar of Galaxy. I resisted the temptation.😁
Do as I say, not as I do
Quote from: Thenop on March 23, 2024, 04:29:48 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on March 23, 2024, 03:23:19 PMNipped into Tesco to buy fruit for my morning porridge and cereal. When queuing at checkout with my basket of bananas, blueberries and grapes, I noticed my dentist and her daughter were the customers immediately in front of me. Her basket had three bags of Haribo, assorted long Refresher chews and a large bar of Galaxy. I resisted the temptation.😁
Do as I say, not as I do
Are you my dad?
Beneath our gazebo in our back garden we have 2 plastic plant-like balls hanging from hooks in the roof. My wife first spotted a tiny little brown bird flying in and out of a small opening on one side. We've started to monitor the ornament and now see the little bird carrying bits and pieces they've collected and with them building a nest inside. It's now completely filled with leaves and moss and I assume it would be a perfect sheltered nest for birds. We mulled about moving it as it's right over our garden furniture but decided to leave it and see if any baby birds start to make an appearance. We're not sure what the bird is, but it's very sparrow-like but thinner and smaller - research has proved fruitless so we've gone with a sparrow. Ain't nature great.
Off to a hotel in Hexham for a couple of nights for some dark skies star gazing hopefully..
Quote from: pxr5 on March 25, 2024, 02:07:31 PMBeneath our gazebo in our back garden we have 2 plastic plant-like balls hanging from hooks in the roof. My wife first spotted a tiny little brown bird flying in and out of a small opening on one side. We've started to monitor the ornament and now see the little bird carrying bits and pieces they've collected and with them building a nest inside. It's now completely filled with leaves and moss and I assume it would be a perfect sheltered nest for birds. We mulled about moving it as it's right over our garden furniture but decided to leave it and see if any baby birds start to make an appearance. We're not sure what the bird is, but it's very sparrow-like but thinner and smaller - research has proved fruitless so we've gone with a sparrow. Ain't nature great.
Maybe a wren?
^ A wren, maybe. We looked online but nothing seems to fit exactly.
Quote from: pxr5 on March 25, 2024, 06:06:07 PM^ A wren, maybe. We looked online but nothing seems to fit exactly.
Wrens are certainly tiny, but they're very identifiable but their size and tail. Could be a Dunnock, but they're about the same size as a Sparrow. Could be a Blackcap, but they have a very noticeable black cap - unless they're female when it's brown.
For the past three years we've had a pair of Mallard visit our garden in the Spring. They've appeared again today. We're assuming it's the same pair, as the female has a limp and will eat seeds from Mrs S's hand.
I feed the foxes in the garden. A vixen has been visiting each night for years. She scratches the back door to let me know she's there. She trusts me totally but spooks the second she hears a car or anyone else arriving. I've hand fed her twice just out of curiosity but have not encouraged the behaviour. One of the neighbours hate me with a passion for feeding them but we live at the edge of extensive woodland so maybe they should just move. I dearly wish they would.
The excavations at Vindolanda..
Last night - Johnny Marr gig. My goodness, he was sensational.
White House wants Moon to have its own time zone https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68722032
CLT.. really😀
Actually yesterday, but spent an interesting hour or so having an entertaining WhatsApp conversation with an elderly neighbour. He's a Flightradar24 fanatic and I alerted him to the fact that the Emirates A380 had made a failed attempt to land due to the stormy conditions. The pilot had a second attempt but decided instead to head for Gatwick. We had a bit of a laugh about the fact that my sister isn't allowed to drive into Glasgow due to ULEZ regulations but that that aircraft's slight detour would've burned enough fuel to allow her to drive to the moon. Loose calculation based on the A380's 9 gallons per mile consumption. The entire world would seem to be in denial about climate change.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on April 07, 2024, 12:28:22 PMActually yesterday, but spent an interesting hour or so having an entertaining WhatsApp conversation with an elderly neighbour. He's a Flightradar24 fanatic and I alerted him to the fact that the Emirates A380 had made a failed attempt to land due to the stormy conditions. The pilot had a second attempt but decided instead to head for Gatwick. We had a bit of a laugh about the fact that my sister isn't allowed to drive into Glasgow due to ULEZ regulations but that that aircraft's slight detour would've burned enough fuel to allow her to drive to the moon. Loose calculation based on the A380's 9 gallons per mile consumption. The entire world would seem to be in denial about climate change.
I'm suspicious of ULEZ myself but it's not really about climate change, it's about the cleanliness of the air in populated areas.
Just for fun I worked it out anyway:
An A380 uses 38 litres of fuel per nautical mile (1.852km)
Assuming a distance between Glasgow and Gatwick of 597km (including a bit of manouvreing) the A30 would have used 12236 litres of fuel.
Average distance Earth - Moon : 384,400km
Typical non-ULEZ car might do 100km on 7 litres
Therefore to travel the Earth-Moon distance would cost 3884 * 7 litres, 27188
Obviously very approximate and based on simplifications and assumptions.
But - I don't know whether air fuel is more climate-detrimental per litre than petrol. I'd guess they're about the same.
I wish I was relieved by that figure of only 12236 litres.😢
The Cass Report. Especially how it's comprehensively vindicated and upset all the people it should have done.
I've just read that Janina Minge will be joining Wolfsburg on a free transfer from Freiburg in the summer.
(https://i.ibb.co/7znt1X8/janinaminge.jpg)
Useful signing, that. Not to be sniffed at.
A 23:06 5km on the treadmill this evening
Fourth in a thirteen team pubquiz yesterday eve. Not bad for a first timer. Had a couple of good answers. Was really there for the music questions but unfortunately it was all about the latest music. Did manage to recognize Karl Lagerfeld in Lego, remember that John McCain lost to Obama in the 2008 US presidential election, Which part of Norway is Kristiansand in (the South) and which river starts in the Himalaya and flows into the Indian Ocean (Ganges).
The food was horrid though, a veggie burger that was not a burger (rather some fried and seasoned sticks of..what? I will never know), was cold and extremely salty. Got served some toast instead and was drinking sparkly water, in essence glorified prison food.
Quote from: Slim on April 11, 2024, 12:41:57 PMI've just read that Janina Minge will be joining Wolfsburg on a free transfer from Freiburg in the summer.
(https://i.ibb.co/7znt1X8/janinaminge.jpg)
Should her name be pronounced "Minje" or "Min-gher"? Either way...
What's happened to this place?😂
Liverpool defeated at home by Crystal Palace after one of the BBC pundits stated, matter-of-factly before the game, that Palace would be "battered".
Trying to find an impartial jury for the Trump trial.. an impossible task..
Suns up the shit Trump is and America's in
Spotify now providing 15 hours of audiobooks a month as part of its premium service. Fantastic! Although the sceptic in me wonders how long til they use this as an excuse to up the fee again
Quote from: Slim on March 21, 2024, 03:35:16 PMJust had a call from Vision Express. They've broken my Oakley cycling frames.
Cross-posted that from the "grumpy" thread with happier news. They refused to replace them, but offered a new pair of frames up to £80 in value (ie inferior). After an argument in the store - their manager lied to my face, claiming I'd been told they were likely to break and this would be at my own risk - I gave up and accepted, but I put a powerfully negative review on Trust Pilot.
Their complaints department contacted me to apologise, offered to replace the Oakleys with the original Oakley frames and told me I could keep the ones I'd already accepted as replacements - which actually I quite like. So I've ended up with a free pair of specs.
Our mortgage deal is due to expire in May, so I phoned Santander to arrange a new one. But the best deal they could offer me was going to cost me an extra £200 a month, because it's a very short term (due to end in December). The only other option was to pay the whole thing off now.
So they sent me a redemption statement, I did the sums taking into account interest I'd lose and I've just paid off our mortgage. I made a payment of nearly £49,000 using a smartphone app (we were due to pay them £43,600 in December).
Quote from: Slim on April 18, 2024, 03:24:25 PMOur mortgage deal is due to expire in May, so I phoned Santander to arrange a new one. But the best deal they could offer me was going to cost me an extra £200 a month, because it's a very short term (due to end in December). The only other option was to pay the whole thing off now.
So they sent me a redemption statement, I did the sums taking into account interest I'd lose and I've just paid off our mortgage. I made a payment of nearly £49,000 using a smartphone app (we were due to pay them £43,600 in December).
Paid mine off in 2010. Promptly re-mortgaged to finance a buy to let. Took out a second mortgage five years later for a second rental property. Our current borrowing totals £246k.
We will have to remortgage to cover £120k next year. It's likely to be considerably more expensive so will possibly pay it off.
Quote from: Slim on April 18, 2024, 03:24:25 PMOur mortgage deal is due to expire in May, so I phoned Santander to arrange a new one. But the best deal they could offer me was going to cost me an extra £200 a month, because it's a very short term (due to end in December). The only other option was to pay the whole thing off now.
So they sent me a redemption statement, I did the sums taking into account interest I'd lose and I've just paid off our mortgage. I made a payment of nearly £49,000 using a smartphone app (we were due to pay them £43,600 in December).
I'll never forget that sense of relief and satisfaction on the day I paid off the mortgage. I paid it in person at my local RBS branch. I visited a couple of local hostelries afterwards and as I turned the corner of my road seeing the house that I then owned for the first time, I took a photo with tears in my eyes. The decision to pay it off early came at the cost of losing quite a bit of my social life and driving a pretty ordinary (but great) little car for years longer than intended. This was due to it being an endowment type mortgage with the associated shortfall, so some serious saving was necessary. I was petrified at the time of cashing in the endowment as memories of the banking crisis were fresh in my mind and my fear was something similar might have happened just as I was about to do the deed. I hope you enjoy a glass or two of something expensive tonight, James.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on April 18, 2024, 07:26:13 PMI hope you enjoy a glass or two of something expensive tonight, James.
Thanks! I wasn't expecting to do that today. But I do have a half-decent bottle of red.
I first took out a mortgage in 1991, on my old house in Derby. It cost me £38,000. I took out a 95% mortgage with a 5 year bank loan for the 5%. But it was a 27 year mortgage so if I'd never got married, I'd have been mortgage free in the first half of 2018.
But this is a much nicer house, I must admit.
Paid my (our) mortgage off after the first time I got made redundant, got a decent pay off so it made sense once I found gainful employment again. Saved me jumping through hoops to claim on the Mortgage repayment insurance second time I got made redundant. Also made it easier when the next lot of gainful employment I found wasn't as well paid.
I paid off my mortgage is 2011 and then moved to a much bigger house in 2015 where I needed a large mortgage again. I think it'll probably take me another decade to pay this one off - but the value of the house is about 7 times the outstanding loan amount, so there is that.
I've spent an absolute fortune on the house since 2015...I could easily have paid the mortgage off by now with that..
Happy to see all the succes stories in buying houses. I have been a bit less fortunate, I am renting a place after selling the house some 12 years ago with a huge loss. Mostly to do with health and self preservation: the health of our neighbours was in jeopardy because I would have killed them (both sides), and self presentation to keep me out of prison doing so.
No more buying for me for the forseeable future, the prices are ridiculous over here.
Anyway, it's Friday, which makes it a good day always.
Quote from: Thenop on April 19, 2024, 07:34:51 AMHappy to see all the succes stories in buying houses. I have been a bit less fortunate, I am renting a place after selling the house some 12 years ago with a huge loss. Mostly to do with health and self preservation: the health of our neighbours was in jeopardy because I would have killed them (both sides), and self presentation to keep me out of prison doing so.
No more buying for me for the forseeable future, the prices are ridiculous over here.
Anyway, it's Friday, which makes it a good day always.
Sorry to hear of your bad luck. To have bad neighbours must make for a miserable existence.
Quote from: Thenop on April 19, 2024, 07:34:51 AMHappy to see all the succes stories in buying houses. I have been a bit less fortunate, I am renting a place after selling the house some 12 years ago with a huge loss. Mostly to do with health and self preservation: the health of our neighbours was in jeopardy because I would have killed them (both sides), and self presentation to keep me out of prison doing so.
No more buying for me for the forseeable future, the prices are ridiculous over here.
Anyway, it's Friday, which makes it a good day always.
I feel your pain with the less happy side of your story. I've lived in the same house for a very long time. It's in a lovely area and it would be a real wrench to leave. However, about twelve years ago new neighbours moved in. Things were ok to begin with, not my kind of people but live and let live and all that. He's in a fairly ordinary white collar job, works at home now since lockdown, and after a few harebrained attempts at running a business she now does the same. Things escalated for a variety of reasons and I took some really low drunken insults from them and some co-revellers late one summer's night last year. It's been a quiet war of attrition ever since and is taking its toll on my health. Time to up sticks I think but really unsettling. Sorry about the crossover nature of this post but it seemed to fit.
Mayeb we should do a vent about the neighbours thread
Fortunately I only have neighbours on one side. Couldn't say what they look like as I've seen them about twice in the ten years they've lived there. They probably don't think much of us as the 20 feet of garden from our house to the boundary fence is overgrown - but it's a wildlife garden innit...
Previous neighbour was a funny so and so, a widow woman, one minute she'd be nice ang chatty and giving you a bottle of beer, next minute she'd be flying round on a broomstick emptying cauldrons of boiling Lizard Lungs onto the house.
She only really fell out with Mrs S though, which is funny as Mrs S is the nice one and I'm the ignorant curmudgeon :-\
Got train tickets to Newcastle through Trainsplit to replace the ones I've returned to Cross Country trains at a much cheaper price :)
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 19, 2024, 02:47:33 PMGot train tickets to Newcastle through Trainsplit to replace the ones I've returned to Cross Country trains at a much cheaper price :)
Trainsplit? Was that set up by Mussolini?
Quote from: David L on April 19, 2024, 04:10:19 PMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 19, 2024, 02:47:33 PMGot train tickets to Newcastle through Trainsplit to replace the ones I've returned to Cross Country trains at a much cheaper price :)
Trainsplit? Was that set up by Mussolini?
Unfortunately not. You get your ticket in several bits and still the trains don't run on time :(
Elton, Mick and Ozzy sitting round a table enjoying a nice cup of tea.
ELTON: "Since getting older, all I really need is a Specsavers, a Boots and a Greggs".
OZZY: "Yep, life's all specs and drugs and sausage rolls".
Car passed its MOT again, that's two years in a row.
Sister thought she had been caught in a speed trap. When her friend drove past the spot later she noticed that it was in fact a cardboard cutout policewoman.
A POETS day at work. And I've got next Monday off. :D