A place to have a chat.

User

Posted 11 Jun 2025 at 22:47

Spongebob - I do have some radishes and I can taste them which is good. I need to start using them more 'cos I can taste quite a bit of salady things. Tried an Aldi steak and ale pie this evening... not good, couldn't even taste the pastry when soaked in onion gravy. However, my lovely wife found me pineapple ice lollies so I'm having lots of those. Dunno where this thing about losing weight came from, I'm putting on loads probably because I keep eating sugary things.

Phil - Your Escort sounds amazing - a proper customised Ford. Do you remember all the adverts in the papers "XR2 lookalike", "XR3 copy" - and all they'd done is put stickers on or a new air intake?

A bloke just down the road from me had an Alfasud when I lived near Middlesborough in the late '70s. I was a car mad kid at the time but I couldn't believe how it literally rusted away to nothing on his drive in a just a couple of years - it was yellow to start with but became browner with rust everytime I walked past it coming home from school - like a rotting banana! I was telling my wife about it years later (she's an expert on this stuff) and she said that is was manufactured in Alfa's Southern Italian factory with the intention of being sold round the Med and only a few Oop North so it was never waxed like other models, basically just primer and paint over bare metal which is why they rusted so easily especially in the UK and the salty winter roads.

I never had a Capri but a few years ago I did get myself a Reliant Scimitar - it had the 2.8 V6 Cologne engine that the Capri's had. Great car to drive but sadly not reliable enough - enjoyed doing a mad Steampunk look to it and it went to a few car shows.

User

Posted 13 Jun 2025 at 07:58

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I walked past it coming home from school - like a rotting banana! I was telling my wife about it years later (she's an expert on this stuff)

Since my op, my wife's become an expert on rotting bananas.🙂

Edited by member 13 Jun 2025 at 08:14 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 15 Jun 2025 at 16:49

Happy Sunday everyone,

Having successfully grown radishes I can now report my second spot of harvesting which came in the form of some coriander and went straight into last night's Hydrabaddy - tremendous 😄. That's another one Al, coriander for your bucket list. And I am still keeping my eye on that strawberry that looks like it might be going red, I'm getting quite hopeful about it.

It's all a bit dull without any meaningful footy to follow 😬. Nevermind, we carry on.

Cheers

Spongebob

User

Posted 16 Jun 2025 at 10:08

Hi guys.

Well yet another call out to 999 last night. Constipation again . I’m afraid I’m not taking my Laxedo often enough. I was in agony but luckily this time I managed to shift it myself…😳 ! Doctor phoned and said they’d send a paramedic/ambulance to check me over which they did. So must drink more and take regular Laxedo.

Good to hear you guys are keeping up with the veggie growing. It must be lovely to see them popping up. I’m just the hired help in the garden, or I used to be. Now I’m just an interested spectator… We’ve designed our new garden very simply , almost Japanese style.

Ragarding the fast fords. I was definitely a Ford man unlike many of my friends who were BL… I had my Capri for just over a year and then ordered a new RS2000 Custom in black. Last of the RWD. My missus learnt to drive in it when she was 17. Imagine the insurance now. I loved that car and had it a good few years till we moved house and I got a big tax bill. Later on had an XR2i, a FWD RS2000 and Sierra 4x4 2.8 Estate . I also had an MGC 6-cylinder roadster for a while but it needed too much work to keep it running. Never had a Scimitar but a few friends did . One of my mates had a Reliant Sabre as his first car. Thought it’d help pull the birds.

Anyway, keep watering the veggies guys.

Cheers

Phil

User

Posted 16 Jun 2025 at 22:09

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been able to visit the virtual pub for a while, things have been really busy.

Hey Phil, sorry you're still having a rough time, I hope you can get comfortable soon. I remember the north circular, it's really changed a lot over the years, the Silver Street underpass roadworks in Edmonton seemed to take forever! Got talking to a former colleague recently, amazingly, he still has his old RS2000 that he had in 1981, just needs some work to get it back on the road.

As for the allotment, we've got stuff growing and my Mrs gets really excited about it, especially what she's grown from seed. Apparently we have to have 75% of our plot cultivated in the first year so no pressure really. 😳 Did a load more digging yesterday as there's a lot of bind weed.

Met up with my son and DIL this week, the baby's due on the 25th and she looks really uncomfortable now. Looking forward to meeting junior when he arrives.

Managed to sort out the mess of electrical wiring in the kitchen and opened up an old blocked up doorway, so we're almost ready for the builder to remove the wall.

Cheers all,

Kev.

Edited by member 16 Jun 2025 at 22:23 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 17 Jun 2025 at 09:11

Ey up lads and lasses!

Your automobile knowledge puts me to shame. The other day, I struggled for ten minutes to open the the bonnet latch, and my maintenance is limited to washing it twice a year.

Great to see the gardening/allotment activity. Bind weed is a pain Kev, nearly as bad as couch grass. I did my front hedge yesterday. It's escollonia, the flowers had died off and it was getting very bushy and straggly. Its a big old hedge and took some time to do. Hot work, especially in this weather. I dont know about you lads, but the older I'm getting the harder these jobs are becoming.

We're in desperate need of rain here, the grass is going brown and the soil is bone dry.

Kev, I bet you're getting really excited about the new arrival. I've probably asked before but my memory's like a sieve, is he your first grandchild?

Anyway, it looks like another scorcher today. So it'll be more gardening and more Carlsberg. I won't be doing the back privet hedge though. I've got a blackbird nesting there. She's been on the nest for three weeks now, but I've got a feeling she's a young mum and might be sitting on a duff batch of eggs.

Hope you all have a good day.👍

Edited by member 17 Jun 2025 at 09:14 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 17 Jun 2025 at 10:08

Hi guys.

Well I’m taking the Laxedo daily now as I really don’t want to get stuffed up again… Seems to be working so far.

Amazing your old colleague still has his RS from ‘81. Wish I still had mine. Worth a lot of money now. Was like a go cart to drive and quite quick for the time. But when I met my missus in ‘79 I needed a motorbike with a better seat than my almost single seat Ducati and so I bought an almost new Suzuki 1000. Was just about the quickest bike you could buy over the counter and way faster than the RS. I actually rode to Guildford to look at my new I’d RS id ordered but I didn’t like the yellow colour so asked for my deposit back. Rode back with my mate on the back flat out as I had a cob on. Indicating 150 everywhere I could. He was shaking when we got back 🤣. I was ok hunched behind the bikini fairing. But all ended well when I ordered a new RS Custom in black. So much nicer.

Keeping busy with the kitchen Kev. Wish I had the energy now for that type of thing. Respect !! Cant believe it was 5 years ago I was getting stuck into my son’s kitchen rebuild. Was only 2 1/2 years ago I was working up a sweat at the gym twice a week. Have trouble getting up the stairs now. Keep it up while you can 👍

Yes exciting waiting on a new grandchild. Ours is due October.. Will make it more difficult coming over from Jersey. As we don’t like driving on our own to Luton and that’s the only way to pick up a family of 4. So they’ll have to hire a car with 2 child seats or see if our other son or DiL can go. We’ll also need to get another child seat for the car.

Regarding gardens. We were sat in the conservatory at the weekend and a little blue tit was sat on the patio by the summerhouse at the top of the garden. My missus slowly walked up to it and gave it a little stroke. Was new out of the nest by the looks of it. She got a photo and crept away. Not 5 minutes later I heard the Magpies and looked up and two of them had the little Bluetit. 😢. It was too late to do anything but was hard to see. Anyone one else getting a lot of magpies this year? They make a right racket too.

So sat here with my lovely Laxedo listening to the other birds in the garden before the magpies start again…

Enjoy your gardens and allotments and fingers crossed for a little nighttime rain.

Take care

Phil

User

Posted 17 Jun 2025 at 14:47

Hi Adrian,

We're one of those (very modern) blended families.. we have a ten year old granddaughter, (technically my step granddaughter) and our expected arrival will be my grandson and my wife's step grandson.

You're not wrong about the weather, I might go over the lido this afternoon for my first swim of the year as the water's over 20° now.

Phil,

The deputy head of my school had a yellow RS2000, every morning he'd drive it through the back gate and across the playground to the car park. We'd have to pause any British Bulldog or football so he could drive through. I reckon he only did it to catch any smokers hanging around by the gate or boiler house.

The kitchen's a right mess at the moment as I've had to move units and worktop temporarily, as you've been there before you know what it's like. Still optimistic we'll have a new one completed for Christmas 🤞🏻

We've got too many magpies too, about four years ago I was watching our recently fledged bluetits in a tree when a Jay pounced on one an ripped it to shreds. I'd spent weeks watching them on the nestbox camera so they'd almost become family.

Problem with the allotment and lack of rain is all the extra work watering plants. They have standpipes but you're not allowed to run hosepipes so I'll be up there trudging around later with the watering can. At least It'll keep my step count up.

Cheers,

Kev.

Edited by member 17 Jun 2025 at 14:50 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 17 Jun 2025 at 19:07

Bunny Alert 🐰!

My pea plants have really been through the mangol. First most of the pea seeds were eaten by I don’t know what - mice I think. Then the few that managed to put their heads out the soil got pecked to death by wood pigeons. Then the few remaining stragglers that have made it up to about 2 feet high have now been taken out by a bunny rabbit 🐇! I saw it today as I turned up at my allotment, there was Bugs Bunny plain as day troughing out large on my peas 😬.

So what to do about it? My allotment neighbours appear to be more aligned to Greta Thungthingburg and Chris Packham so they are not likely to approve if I make any attempt to try catch Bugs Bunny and ring it’s neck.

Any ideas?

User

Posted 18 Jun 2025 at 03:36

Hi Spongebob.

As Elmer Fudd said, "Wascawwy wabbit! Tweachewous miscweant!" and remember his advice " Shhh. Be vewy, vewy quiet, when hunting wabbits" 🙂

Hi Kev,

We're also 'modern family'

Technically, my two grandkids are step grandkids. My two sons are in their forties and not interested in having kids, nor is my stepson. My stepdaughter is not planning to have anymore. So it appears I've reached my grandkids limit. 🙂

Edited by member 18 Jun 2025 at 08:51 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 18 Jun 2025 at 08:58

Hi Spongebob,

Maybe you will have to invest in netting of some sort?

Risking an outcry from Greta & Chris, an air rifle will dispatch the rabbit but you'll need the land owner's permission.

We don't have a rabbit problem but then foxes regularly visit so maybe they keep them under control, we also have Red Kites circling overhead. I've seen the occasional rat but the place doesn't seem over run with them, probably due to cats from nearby houses.

Good luck.

Kev.

User

Posted 18 Jun 2025 at 09:40

Morning guys,

Sorry I've been absent for a while, but life seems to have been a bit hectic lately.

Phil - I'm sorry to hear you are still having issues mate. Hopefully the Laxedo will help. I did have to re-read your comment about "shifting it yourself" very carefully though.......

Spongebob - I reckon that rabbit probably needs to succumb to lead poisoning, but it sounds like you'd have to be tooled up and ready pretty early in the morning, to avoid upsetting some of the other plot holders 😬. I took out a big old rat last night in our chicken coop. Tricky buggers when they're on the move, but this one popped its head up out of a hole and sat there looking round. Head shot from 40 feet! Adrian you'd have been proud of me 👍.

Kev - your kitchen sounds like a major project. I started decorating our dining room/kitchen about a year ago, and still haven't got it finished. I'm semi retiring at the end of this year, going down to 3 days a week, so maybe It'll get done then.

Got my latest PSA results back at the weekend, and still undetectable at <0.02. Very happy with that nearly a year post surgery. Also, big news (pun intended) have started to regain some form of functionality downstairs so to speak. Not going to win any prizes, but with a trusty blue tablet and a bit of encouragement, the little fella is starting to show an interest again!

Hope you're all enjoying the sunny weather. Our factory/office complex is basically a big tin box, so it's a bit Betty Swollocks here 😓

Edited by member 18 Jun 2025 at 09:41 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 18 Jun 2025 at 13:42

"lead poisoning" 🤣🤣

Congratulations on your latest PSA result 👍🏻

Also good that your downstairs department is getting some lead too 👍🏻

Cheers.

User

Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 00:18

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi Ian.

Brilliant PSA result, mate, and fantastic news regarding life returning down below. It doesn't seem a year since your op. Doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself. I shall have a pint or two to celebrate your good health.🍻

Great shooting too 🔫. I'd expect nothing less from an old soldier. 🙂 Did you use a telescopic site?

I had awful problems with rats burrowing around my pond. They were crapping everywhere and presenting a hazard to the grandkids. I ended up locating the exits and entrances, blocked off all, bar one, poured in some petrol and whoosh! It solved the problem but I did singe my eyebrows. 🙂

Edited by member 19 Jun 2025 at 06:45 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 12:35

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Great shooting too 🔫. I'd expect nothing less from an old soldier. 🙂 Did you use a telescopic site?

Yes mate, I've got a decent scope on the rifle. I couldn't even see 40 feet nowadays without it😂.

Sounds like your method was successful, if a little excessive! Had you been watching Apocalypse Now? "I love the smell of Napalm in the mornings".......

User

Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 12:38

Right lads, I'd love to stay for a pint, but keep getting that sodding error 502 message every time I try and post more than a few words, so i'll be back later.

User

Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 14:06

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

"I love the smell of Napalm in the mornings".......

I should have played Ride of the Valkyries whilst roasting my rodents.

I agree, mate, this site's IT issues are terrible. They keep saying they're doing maintenance but it never improves. It does my head in!

Edited by member 20 Jun 2025 at 08:19 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 23 Jun 2025 at 10:02

Morning all,

Received this update on our tech issues:

” Hi Ian,

Thanks for your message.

Our developers are still working on resolving the 502 issues on the community. Unfortunately, I do not have an ETA for a fix. We deployed what we hoped was a fix last week but that unfortunately hasn’t worked so the investigation work is ongoing to get this resolved.

Thank you for your patience and I appreciate how frustrating this is.

I will keep you updated regarding a fix.

Best wishes,

Carol

OnlineCommunity”

User

Posted 23 Jun 2025 at 10:57

Cheers mate. 👍

If the lovely Carol was a rapper, she could have replied.

🎵 "What a to do, with 502.

To be true. We've got no clue.

We know the bug, is bugging you.

But we ain't got a Scooby-Do"🎵

😁

PS: Have you 'fixed' the wascawwy wabbit problem? I hope your allotment got as much rain as we got here last night.

Edited by member 23 Jun 2025 at 11:15 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 24 Jun 2025 at 23:45

Yeah Coriander and other spices do work rather well. And the curries and chillies are tasteable. used up a whole jar of wholegrain mustard in two days - could taste it a bit just not enough, branston pickle equivalents working well too.
Solo camping went well - just squeezed the scooter into the back of the van. Stayed away for a couple of nights to check van out and had ride out on scoot. Was nice and peaceful and just read book and listed to music. Damn, I'm missing the alcohol though.
3rd Chemo today, went well again but had the weirdest co-oincidence. Sat there on the chair being filled up (my chemo drip takes 2 hours not 1 cos of the bad reaction I got the first time).
Lady comes and sits next to me with another lady sitting next to her, I noticed at first that the lady sitting next to her wasn't the "relative" type - was a bit formal - so started eavesdropping and the chemo lady starts talking about being moved from T Wing! So I learn forward and say I work at Foston Hall, is that where you are from? And she is! and thats an Officer with her. Considering there's about only about 350 inmates at Foston Hall - I don't know what the chances are of one of them having cancer and sitting next to me at the same time I'm getting mine.

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