Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Topic started by: Ham on 25 March, 2011, 03:08:53 pm

Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 25 March, 2011, 03:08:53 pm
Surprisingly, I couldn'd find one of these already.

Good news: I've just ordered my n+1 Pompetamine Versa (8 Speed), Yayyyyy!!!  ;D  ;D  ;D

Bad news: I'm not going to be able to ride it for a couple of weeks after is arrives  :'(   :'(  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 25 March, 2011, 03:26:19 pm
Good news: it's Friday and I can have a rest tomorrow.
Bad news: my Pomp is being sent back on Monday and my LHT is still behaving badly. So I don't really have a bike to ride at the moment. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: her_welshness on 25 March, 2011, 04:22:33 pm
Good News - only one week until the end of this contract (its been shitty, will talk more about it)
Bad News - I have one week to find a new job  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 27 March, 2011, 08:39:06 pm
I did an audax!

But the conjunctivitis and the earache are back and even though I've had an absolutely lovely day I actually feel a bit grim :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 28 March, 2011, 04:25:19 pm
Good news: Crinkly did an audax!
Bad news: Crinkly's feeling poorly. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 28 March, 2011, 04:28:52 pm
I did an audax!

But the conjunctivitis and the earache are back and even though I've had an absolutely lovely day I actually feel a bit grim :(

Well done!  Was it "Mountains' Funky Business"?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SlowCoach on 28 March, 2011, 05:04:05 pm
But the conjunctivitis and the earache are back

Look on the bright side - at least you didn't get soaked to the skin or sunburnt  ;) The weather was just about ideal and there wasn't much wrong with the bacon butties at Boroughbridge or the scones at Ripley.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 28 March, 2011, 05:10:37 pm
Actually.... I did manage to get sunburnt!  But not too badly, and it's fading already.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 28 March, 2011, 05:32:52 pm
Good news - I don't have tennis elbow, or badminton elbow (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=39266.msg746490#msg746490)

Bad news - it's golfer's elbow. And I've never played golf in my life.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Gus on 29 March, 2011, 08:33:29 pm
Bad news : I sold my Surly Steamroller

Good news : I now have money for a new fixed bicycle
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Chris S on 30 March, 2011, 05:42:32 pm
Bad News: It's raining.
Good News: I don't give a shit - I have beer.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: GrahamG on 30 March, 2011, 07:50:26 pm
Good news - got a nice house sorted to share with a friend, loads of room for bikes and shit
Bad news - got 30 days notice of redundancy today so I'm out of a job.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 30 March, 2011, 08:50:20 pm
Bad News:  Wednesday.  Headache.  Feel a bit sick.
Good News:  I got through a lot more of the day than I have done of late before it hit.  And hopefully it'll improve.  And that's Wednesday done for another week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 30 March, 2011, 08:56:01 pm
Bad news last Friday.  My colleague is a victim of the latest "rationalisation".  She's lost her job.
Even worse news.  I'm still there.

I s'pose she was cheaper to get rid of.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Majorbloodnok on 30 March, 2011, 09:02:32 pm
Good news: I'm camping on the Isle of Wight

Bad news: I'm camping on the Isle of Wight

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 30 March, 2011, 10:01:00 pm
Bad news:  They've not got those packs of twiglets in the garage over the road any more.
The good new is:  There isn't any more bad news.
Title: Good bad
Post by: Wowbagger on 31 March, 2011, 08:17:30 am
Good: we've just overtaken the freight train that was holding up up. Bad: we are still going to miss our connection.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 March, 2011, 01:41:11 pm
Hurrah!  My leg is not so hurty today.
Bah! This is due to self-medication with 3/4 of a bottle of Bells, so my head is hurty instead.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 03 April, 2011, 10:12:30 pm
Good News: had a nice time in Glasgow and Edinburgh
Bad News: had to come back to London, including getting home via the Tube
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 07 April, 2011, 08:27:20 am
Good news: I'm well enough to go back to work.
Bad news: I have to go back to work.
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 07 April, 2011, 08:38:28 am
Good news : one more week and I'll be working from home
Bad news : I have to work here for another week....

Good news part deux: I have tickets for DeerShed festival
Bad news: Mrs T wants to camp at the festival for the weekend....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 11 April, 2011, 07:41:38 am
Bad news:  even though it's the school holidays (and Dearly_Beloved has the day booked off too) my children decided to wake us up before 6:30 this morning by the little one having a huge toddler tantrum at the foot of the stairs because his big brother didn't let him 'win' and get downstairs first.

Good news: Littly was up for a proper strop, instead of a sniveling whinge-fest, because he's feeling a bit better.  First time that his temperature (without the use of brufen/paracetemol) has been under 38 for 5 days!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 11 April, 2011, 05:18:37 pm
Good news, we're not having our hours cut.
Bad news, we're managing this by not replacing the two days Steve has decided to drop, so there are only three of us on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Jonny hasn't got the job he thought he had.

As a result, the boss asked me to today to try and tell him as early as possible if I think I'm going to be off sick.  Not sure how that works....

(Actually, as he freely admitted, of the three of us, he's one most likely to be off sick, and me the least...)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Greenbank on 12 April, 2011, 11:55:38 pm
Good news: Played 40 minutes of 5-a-side football tonight

Bad news: Played 35 minutes of it in goal as I've done my hip in (it felt like it popped out of the joint1). Wasn't too painful going in goal, we'll see how I feel tomorrow to see if I can play again on Thursday (must take Vitamin I before going to bed). Cycling home was ok but the Severn Across 400 is less than 3 weeks away...

HTFU spray to be applied.

1. This is the hip I broke when I was 2 years old.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Valiant on 13 April, 2011, 01:32:54 am
Just finished sanding the new speakers. Me thinks it's a little tall.

(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205142_10150158085540629_511250628_6541614_7126286_n.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 13 April, 2011, 08:07:09 am
Bad news: for your neighbours :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 13 April, 2011, 09:48:50 am
Bad News- I have to get my arse out of bed 5 minutes earlier each morning to make an extra lunch.

Good News- No.1 Son is a worker Bee again. He applied for a PC Engineer job at a small business nearby. Got a phone call Friday to aske him to come to the workshop for a look around on Monday. He did the look around and liked what he saw. Potential Boss explained that he had a couple of other folk to see before he made his mind up. Later on Monday afternoon Potential Boss phoned and sai that he had been thinking and, as he was a Geek looking to employ a Geek, No.1 Son seemed to fit the bill and did he want to start work the next morning?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 13 April, 2011, 05:25:52 pm
Bad News- I have to get my arse out of bed 5 minutes earlier each morning to make an extra lunch.

Good News- No.1 Son is a worker Bee again. He applied for a PC Engineer job at a small business nearby. Got a phone call Friday to aske him to come to the workshop for a look around on Monday. He did the look around and liked what he saw. Potential Boss explained that he had a couple of other folk to see before he made his mind up. Later on Monday afternoon Potential Boss phoned and sai that he had been thinking and, as he was a Geek looking to employ a Geek, No.1 Son seemed to fit the bill and did he want to start work the next morning?

Well done No.1 Son.  Now he just needs to learn to make his own lunch.

And then how to make yours as well while he's at it.... ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 14 April, 2011, 11:36:58 pm
Good news: My new Pompetamine is being built
Bad news: I'm not going to be able to ride it properly for a while yet, even when it is delivered

Bad news: Going on a week's holiday with the inlaws in France and I can't really go riding
Good news: I've worked out if I change SPDs to flats and hook it on the back of the car, maybe nobody will notice a bike has come along, too
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 15 April, 2011, 09:18:01 am
;D  That's made me smile :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Greenbank on 18 April, 2011, 04:24:26 pm
Bad News: Off 5-a-side for 3 weeks due to hip flexor muscle tear.

Good news: Physio said that cycling is ok and that I should be fine for next weekend's 400km PBP qualifier.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 18 April, 2011, 07:40:35 pm
Good news - I got "Very Good" on my Annual Performance Report, first time in 25 years.

Bad news - this probably means that if I  apply for early release with 12 months wages and bugger off touring they wouldn't let me go...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 18 April, 2011, 08:25:27 pm
Andrewc.  Perhaps you should start throwing a few sickies.  To redress the balance, like.  ;-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 19 April, 2011, 05:32:03 pm
good,news,-,the,shop,hafe,phoned,to,say,my,replacement,keynoard,is,in,stock
nad,news,-,i,can.t,get,there,until,friday
good,news,-,nonn.s,arrifing,here,on,thursday,morning,so,i,could,send,him,while,i.m,at,work,on,thursday
nad,news,-,my,typing,won.t,ne,hilarious,anymore
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 19 April, 2011, 05:39:50 pm
Good: I have two new hearing aids which go up to 11 and sound a lot better than I expected them to before acclimatisation (and indeed any or finer tuning) had happened.

Bad: One of the new hearing aids has a structural problem which means when I tilt my head it feeds back because the transducer is all slack... This will need to be returned for repair or replacement.  I don't know if they'll just swap it or make me do loaner faff.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 19 April, 2011, 06:14:28 pm
good,news,-,the,shop,hafe,phoned,to,say,my,replacement,keynoard,is,in,stock
nad,news,-,i,can.t,get,there,until,friday
good,news,-,nonn.s,arrifing,here,on,thursday,morning,so,i,could,send,him,while,i.m,at,work,on,thursday
nad,news,-,my,typing,won.t,ne,hilarious,anymore

oh, and I'm just getting used to it....

It's a bit like reading an old manuscript, you know where the ss are all fs and the spelling's a bit wobbly.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 19 April, 2011, 10:20:35 pm
good,news,-,the,shop,hafe,phoned,to,say,my,replacement,keynoard,is,in,stock
nad,news,-,i,can.t,get,there,until,friday
good,news,-,nonn.s,arrifing,here,on,thursday,morning,so,i,could,send,him,while,i.m,at,work,on,thursday
nad,news,-,my,typing,won.t,ne,hilarious,anymore

Your recent typing has not been hilarious (apart from the funny bits) , you can express your thoughts in gibberish better than I can in clear text. Strangely enough I've had no problems at all in understanding you.  I blame Iain Banks , once you've acclimatised your brane to Bascule or the Barbarian Swordsman, then all else is child's play  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 20 April, 2011, 06:35:05 am
Bad news - valencia has a wonky spoke and I have a poorly finger, caused by my utter  ineptitude meaning that I ran into Deano's wheel last night when he, tiermat and I went for a ride (to the pub). Good news - Deano did a spot of roadside wheel-truing and the wheel goes round, and he assures me that his bike is fine.

Bad news - I can't believe I damaged the paintwork of the beautiful shiny fire engine red Dave Yates. Guilt!
Good news - at least I no longer have to worry about when my first crash will be.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 20 April, 2011, 06:21:42 pm
Bad news - the 'revenue protection ocifer' on the train home was being a right bullying twat, shouting at the woman and kid who had the temerity to sit in the first class bit of the carriage next to the doorway I was standing in. 

Good news - he hadnt spotted his boss sitting directly opposite who stepped in and gave him a right bollocking.  We cheered.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Rhys W on 20 April, 2011, 06:33:47 pm
Interview/Rejection.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Greenbank on 20 April, 2011, 09:39:45 pm
G: 5 day weekend (I have tomorrow off)
B: 3 day week
G: 4 day weekend
B: 4 day week
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 April, 2011, 12:08:39 pm
This morning I thought someone had stolen my motor-car.  Bah!
Then I remembered I'd parked it on the other side of thr road from yesterday.  Hurrah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 21 April, 2011, 12:11:28 pm
shit, where's the morning gone?

but look, it's lunchtime!!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 22 April, 2011, 12:52:44 am
It's a 4 day weekend.

And it's a 4 day weekend.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: JonBuoy on 22 April, 2011, 07:57:09 am
Good news:  I found the bit I lost 9 months ago.

Bad news:  It really, really shouldn't have been where it was and, with hindsight, I should have looked there when I lost it.

Good news:  It didn't take the opportunity to kill me or my friends like it could so easily have done.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 April, 2011, 12:30:45 pm
Hurrah!  In May 2010 a spiffy new bike shop opened fairly close to Larrington Towers.  I have not had cause to use it but it was nice that it was there.

Yesterday I drove past.  The entire building was surrounded by fencing with a notice attached saying something about the place being demolished.  Bah!

Apparently a fire broke out on Good Friday afternoon which was not fully extinguished until Monday morning :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 10 June, 2011, 04:25:36 pm
:) I'm leaving work at 16:30!

:( I'll be back here tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 10 June, 2011, 04:28:15 pm
I got my wallet back having lost it yesterday afternoon complete with plastics intact and unused".    :)

The notes therein had been purloined.   :(

* Confirmed by the various banks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 21 July, 2011, 08:46:24 am
Bad news, I've just traveled to wurk by tube (yech, but had to today), managed to pick up chewing gum from the floor (via a placcy bag) onto my trousers in such a place that it looks like ..... um..... yeah, more wurk than I can shake a stick at and shitty customers that I would REALLY like to shake a stick at.

Good news? The can all go hang coz in 48 hours I'm going to be in furrin parts for three weeks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mobbsy on 21 July, 2011, 01:15:04 pm
I am being redundant on the 30th September  ....









.... I start a new (better) job on the 1st October.   
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 27 July, 2011, 04:18:38 pm
Bad news:

My hair is falling out
I am overweight

Good news:
My depression/anxiety scores are vastly improved  :thumbsup:
I have lost 5kg

A win on aggregate methinks
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pedaldog. on 27 July, 2011, 10:53:26 pm
Bad news..

Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and some VERY NASTY levels of stuff in my blood, possible already some Kidley damage!

Good News...

After over 15 years of bad medical stuff that is going to be with me for the rest of, stuff I can't change for the better, I have finally found a bit of a purpose to work at getting the Diabetes under good control.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 27 July, 2011, 11:27:49 pm
Bad news..

Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and some VERY NASTY levels of stuff in my blood, possible already some Kidley damage!

Good News...

After over 15 years of bad medical stuff that is going to be with me for the rest of, stuff I can't change for the better, I have finally found a bit of a purpose to work at getting the Diabetes under good control.

Pedaldog,

If you don't mind me being frank, physically you admit to being pretty fucked up (through no fault of your own). Mentally you sound to be right on the button mate :thumbsup:

Good on ya!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 28 July, 2011, 10:17:22 am
PD, your diagnosis is good news.  Means you can do something about it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 28 July, 2011, 03:19:12 pm
Good news.  I have an appointment with a Consultant.  At last!
                     It is on a Saturday, which means Crusty can come.

Bad news.    It's a day I'm supposed to be going on a bike ride with my friends.

I hope it's re-schedule-able for another Saturday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 29 July, 2011, 02:48:16 pm
Bad news: The family has decamped to Hungary until 5th September.
Good news: The family has decamped to Hungary until 5th September.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 29 July, 2011, 09:44:54 pm
Bad news - my tpe wasn't a tpe, it was a guards van and reservations required GC.

Good news - they let me on anyway!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 29 July, 2011, 10:10:20 pm
Can I have a translation please?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 29 July, 2011, 10:21:04 pm
tpe = Trans-Penine Express.  No idea about GC.
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 29 July, 2011, 10:24:48 pm
tpe = Trans-Penine Express.  No idea about GC.

I'd hazzard a guess at Grand Central....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 31 July, 2011, 09:35:36 pm
Grand Central are brilliant.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 31 July, 2011, 09:39:17 pm
Just finished sanding the new speakers. Me thinks it's a little tall.

(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205142_10150158085540629_511250628_6541614_7126286_n.jpg)

If you turn the volume up that will fall over backwards.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 10 August, 2011, 03:25:19 pm
First the bad news

I should have done a 200km Perm today but didn't 'cause Murphy'sLaw manifasted itself at work late yesterday afternoon.A crush injury to right foot:the offending object missed my steel toe cap & fell onto the foot behind it IYSWIM.
At 0600hrs this morning the ball of my foot was swollen & painfull when weight was applied when standing up or trying to walk.I reckoned subjecting it to a 12 hour 200km ride wouldn't help ::-)

Now the good news
following a dose of Ibuprofen things improved late in the morning so I risked a local ride.See the "have you been out today" thread.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 10 August, 2011, 03:40:12 pm
Ouch!  Hope your foot recovers well. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 August, 2011, 03:52:01 pm
Interview/job offer/realisation the hours are crap/vacillation/might accept offer

Will have to miss the Staffs camping trip though :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 10 August, 2011, 10:04:09 pm
Charity starts at home go for it and we can catch up later.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 11 August, 2011, 11:42:02 am
We remain on good terms with our neighbour.   :)

My lovely apple tree is no more  :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 August, 2011, 03:04:20 pm
Interview/job offer/realisation the hours are crap/vacillation/might accept offer

Will have to miss the Staffs camping trip though :(

Well, I've been on the dole since April and all of a sudden two offers appear at once. Both with distinct pros & cons. I'm being pressed for an answer by the first one, but I need to clarify the second offer, so I've (just) managed to squeeze a window till Monday to decide.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 11 August, 2011, 04:08:42 pm
Interview/job offer/realisation the hours are crap/vacillation/might accept offer

Will have to miss the Staffs camping trip though :(

Well, I've been on the dole since April and all of a sudden two offers appear at once. Both with distinct pros & cons. I'm being pressed for an answer by the first one, but I need to clarify the second offer, so I've (just) managed to squeeze a window till Monday to decide.

Well done AWL! None too shabby at all :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 August, 2011, 04:38:35 pm
Thanks, Fuzzy. They're both jobs I'd like to do, but the latest offer is much nearer, more suited to my experience, but pays significantly less, though I need to ask what the possibilities are for progression. It's a small, niche company, so possibly a gamble.

Gut feeling: the nearer option.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 12 August, 2011, 08:55:21 am
Money isn't everything. It helps and is important but, sometimes taking a bit of a financial hit for the sake of better conditions and the subsequent happier state is worth it in the long run.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 12 August, 2011, 09:35:59 am
Happy is good. :thumbsup:

Hope it goes well for you, AWL.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 12 August, 2011, 10:31:58 am
Money isn't everything. It helps and is important but, sometimes taking a bit of a financial hit for the sake of better conditions and the subsequent happier state is worth it in the long run.

Yep,I agree.
BTDTGTTS & still wearing it :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 17 August, 2011, 08:43:32 am
As it happens, my vacillation has cost me the offer of the better paid job - and that was the intention.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 17 August, 2011, 08:45:28 am
Good news: I can avoid a major stressor in my life now that I've figured out what it is!

Bad news: it involves starting my day significantly earlier than before!   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 18 August, 2011, 08:57:25 am
Good: Mefenamic Acid (specialist Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug NSAID for dysmenorrhoea) actually significantly reduces my severe period pain which I was starting to max out codeine doses for. 

Bad: The dizziness side effect is unbelievably hideous and I say this as someone who manages bad-balance on a daily basis.

MUST go in today, A-Level Results day is busy for us
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 18 August, 2011, 10:14:04 am
Good: Mefenamic Acid (specialist Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug NSAID for dysmenorrhoea) actually significantly reduces my severe period pain which I was starting to max out codeine doses for. 

Bad: The dizziness side effect is unbelievably hideous and I say this as someone who manages bad-balance on a daily basis.

MUST go in today, A-Level Results day is busy for us

As someone who's always thought of herself as fairly stoical in the face of colds aches and pains and the like, but spent yesterday afternoon feeling sorry for herself over a wasp sting, it's posts like this that make me realise how bloody lucky I am, healthwise...

Hope it all feels better soon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 18 August, 2011, 01:40:07 pm
Good: Mefenamic Acid (specialist Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug NSAID for dysmenorrhoea) actually significantly reduces my severe period pain which I was starting to max out codeine doses for. 

Bad: The dizziness side effect is unbelievably hideous and I say this as someone who manages bad-balance on a daily basis.

MUST go in today, A-Level Results day is busy for us

Interesting...I found Mefenemic Acid entirely useless for my dysmenorrhea.  This combined with it making me feel sick meant I didn't take much.

I've finally settled on Naproxen plus Buscopan.  Nearly pain-free for the first time in mumble mumble years!  Hope you manage to cope through today!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 18 August, 2011, 03:27:07 pm
The mefenamic acid was useless in my teens but the pill worked wonders (but made me MAAAAD).  This time the pill has just made me depressed/fatigued/stupid and mefenamic acid stops the dysmen and buggers my balance horribly :(

I can't tolerate naproxan or buscopam at all, both make me almost-vomit levels of ill :(  yet I tolerate diclofenac remarkably well but that does nothing for dysmen.  I find it fascinating what does and doesn't work for different things and different people - although more annoyed by this side effect than 'fascinated' for now. 

Question is whether traxenamic acid is worth a try or not - allegedly less effective than mefenamic acid and more for heavy rather than painful periods but.....  *sporks uterus*..   I wonder if they'd let me have a hysterectomy!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 18 August, 2011, 03:33:20 pm
Buscopan is a wonderful, wonderful thing.  I wouldn't be able to do half the cycling I do without it.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 19 August, 2011, 08:39:29 pm
Good news: as it's Friday, I decided to treat myself to a very rare Indian delivery!

Bad news: having received it, I'm actually not that hungry and have struggled to even eat my starter...haven't even touched the main course!  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 19 August, 2011, 09:58:57 pm
Your next two or three meals are sorted! Partner and I frequently stretch our takeaways for many meals after they are delivered. The wonderful thing is the food doesn't get thrown away, like it would in a restaurant.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chris on 21 August, 2011, 12:54:03 pm
Good news: Mrs chris & I were in second place overnight at the Scottish sailing national championship. :thumbsup:

Bad news: We popped on the ferry to Bute to spend the night with relatives and when we went to catch the ferry back this morning it had broken down and not running, scuppering any chance of a podium finish. :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 21 August, 2011, 02:41:27 pm
Good news - I managed to carry the bottle of Arak back off holibobs, putting it into a water bottle - no worries!!

Bad news - Mrs Ham watered a plant with it  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 23 August, 2011, 06:21:54 pm
Good news - We are having a long weekend in Barcelona in October!

Bad news - We fly out the day that Mrs T has bought me tickets to see Lee Evans @ Newcastle Arena.....

Bugger....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 26 August, 2011, 05:18:39 pm
Sounds like good trade-off T!    Crusty's seen sense and is leaving his insane job. But it means I'll be unable to work fewer hours in my insane job. Also a good trade-off.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 27 August, 2011, 12:07:40 am
Good news - it's barakta and my 10th anniversary today.

Bad news - I'm spending it in a soggy tent with a b0rked ankle.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 27 August, 2011, 12:32:25 am
Congrats.
Bugger.
In that order.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 27 August, 2011, 01:35:04 am
Good news - it's barakta and my 10th anniversary today.

 :-* I love you.

Quote
Bad news - I'm spending it in a soggy tent with a b0rked ankle.

Poor Kim.  I still love you even when you're wet inna tent in the rain and have broken bits of body and kit and are some miles away.  I wish I could send you some of my warm and dry.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 27 August, 2011, 01:38:14 am
Good news: It is 10 years today that Kim and I decided to see what happened if we gave a relationship a try.  I've never regretted it for a second, the best decision I have ever made in my life.

Bad news: Kim is all soggy and has b0rked body bits and broken bits of bike kit somewhere in Cambridgeshire instead of in my bed which would be dry, warm and have a me in it!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 27 August, 2011, 09:38:50 am
Happy Anniversary Kim & barakta  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 August, 2011, 01:11:50 pm
The good news is that my luggage has been returned to me and although it is a little the worse for wear, nothing is missing or broken. The bad news is that the !"£$%^&* baggage handlers in Warsaw failed to put it on the plane in the first place. The odd news is that this is so common an occurrence it's worth Heathrow's while keeping a van driver to ferry lost suitcases to points west (and presumably others to go north, south and east) every day. The bloke in charge of this told me they have 200 lost bags a day, and that's just at T1! And he seemed to think knowing this would somehow inspire confidence in me.  :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Phil on 28 August, 2011, 08:34:35 pm
Good news: we've found and are in the process of fixing an enormous great bug in our code that was threatening the future of our product

Bad news: I'm in work at 8.30pm on a Sunday with no prospect of leaving anytime soon :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marj on 29 August, 2011, 07:03:13 pm
Good news: It is 10 years today that Kim and I decided to see what happened if we gave a relationship a try.  I've never regretted it for a second, the best decision I have ever made in my life.

Bad news: Kim is all soggy and has b0rked body bits and broken bits of bike kit somewhere in Cambridgeshire instead of in my bed which would be dry, warm and have a me in it!

Good news - Only just noticed this, congratulations to you both
Bad news - Crap bodies are a ba**ard

Hugs to you both
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 31 August, 2011, 09:57:43 am
Bad news: I've just spent £x00 on a gamble.

Good news: I now have contents insurance, including bike cover away from home.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 31 August, 2011, 10:20:27 am
Good news: It is 10 years today that Kim and I decided to see what happened if we gave a relationship a try.  I've never regretted it for a second, the best decision I have ever made in my life.

Bad news: Kim is all soggy and has b0rked body bits and broken bits of bike kit somewhere in Cambridgeshire instead of in my bed which would be dry, warm and have a me in it!

10 years!
That is really impressive, congratulations to you both. I hope by now that you have managed to dry off and warm up teh Kim.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Phil on 31 August, 2011, 10:33:45 am
Good news: using the tyre sidewall as a braking surface leads to dramatically improved braking performance!
Bad news: using the tyre sidewall as a braking surface leads to dramatically decreased tyre life :-[
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 01 September, 2011, 09:08:50 am
Good (well, exciting) news: off to India on Sunday, have my passport and tickets now.
Bad news: nowhere near ready. Need to stop faffing about here and get on with a big to do list.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 03 September, 2011, 09:46:05 am
Bad news... my 2 month old pannier carrier broked.

Good news....LBS took it back without quibble (or receipt)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Quisling on 05 September, 2011, 10:55:51 am
Good news, my girlfriend and her daughter will be moving in Chez Quisling sometime in the later bit of November, yay!

Bad news:late November? That's nearly a quarter of a year to wait :-(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 05 September, 2011, 12:01:34 pm
The good news: My nose is no longer running with snot.

The bad news: the glands in my neck are rapidly heating up and swelling.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 05 September, 2011, 06:18:11 pm
Good news, my girlfriend and her daughter will be moving in Chez Quisling sometime in the later bit of November, yay!

Bad news:late November? That's nearly a quarter of a year to wait :-(

Nah, that's no time. It'll fly by. Our current washing up rota sheet at work goes up to the end of November.

Anyway, I expect there will be Things To Sort Out (and you still end up sorting them at the last minute!)   ;D

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 05 September, 2011, 09:02:57 pm
Bad news: Ended up having to stay 40mins late at work so didn't have time to weightlift this evening (though I can go tomorrow instead).

Good news: I still managed to fit an hours OU study in rather than going straight on the 'puter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 07 September, 2011, 04:00:13 pm
Good news: we have places at the same schools for Miss Dans Younger and Elder. It is a nice school. We can walk there.
Bad news: first day at school ever for Miss Dan the Younger is now today rather than next week. My careful scheduling of work trip away to be around has failed - she's at school and I'm on another continent. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 07 September, 2011, 08:18:07 pm
Bad News: infestation of mice needing mouse bait etc, and I forgot my panniers to carry stuff so I couldn't carry my lock so I couldn't stop off and buy stuff in Homebase on the way home. Mehhhh.

Good news: A bike fits nicely into the Homebase board carrier trolleys, so you can push it around instead of locking it up.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rower40 on 08 September, 2011, 12:58:32 pm
Bad News: infestation of mice needing mouse bait etc, and I forgot my panniers to carry stuff so I couldn't carry my lock so I couldn't stop off and buy stuff in Homebase on the way home. Mehhhh.

Good news: A bike fits nicely into the Homebase board carrier trolleys, so you can push it around instead of locking it up.  ;D ;D
Did they search for its barcode so as to charge you for it when you came back out through the checkout? ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 10 September, 2011, 09:20:54 am
Great news:  Southwark have removed a whole load of railings at Borough High Street! :thumbsup:

Bad news: Where do I park my bike now? ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 11 September, 2011, 07:51:04 pm
Good news: NFL games are once again being broadcast over the intertubes without having to pay for the privilege.

Bad news: the broadcasts now include all the commercials (previously these were not transmitted).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 12 September, 2011, 09:58:22 am
Bad news : The Texaco petrol station:300 metres from home: has changed
owner/franchise so my regular copy of Cycling World is not,at best,forthcoming in the near future.At worst the new "owner" may not bother with such things?

Good News: I could order a copy from the newsagent at Catchems Corner which would require a round trip of approx 12km.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 12 September, 2011, 10:08:14 am
Good news: NFL games are once again being broadcast over the intertubes without having to pay for the privilege.


Where?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 12 September, 2011, 10:09:36 am
Good news: NFL games are once again being broadcast over the intertubes without having to pay for the privilege.


Where?

I went direct to my team's site to check how the game was progressing and noticed a link to a live feed from the local radio station that carries the games.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 12 September, 2011, 10:10:54 am
OK thanks, I'll check out the Patriot's site. May be a late night tonight though....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 15 September, 2011, 02:11:24 pm
Good news: got out on the bike
Bad news: there are issues with neck,shouldres,wrists,balls of the feet,left knee & palms of both hands.

WTF is that all about :o. It's not like I am a newbie & it was only 30km ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 15 September, 2011, 03:54:24 pm
Jogjer,
welcome to OLD.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 15 September, 2011, 05:21:54 pm
I can't hear you Basil but I fear the truth makes me deaf ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: graculus on 15 September, 2011, 08:29:06 pm
Bad news: Curious metallic 'clunk' from outside this afternoon turned out to be the top half turn of one of the coil springs on the car snapping and falling to the ground.
Good news: It didn't happen while we were on holiday last week 200 miles from home.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 September, 2011, 11:52:54 am
Good news: Senile Mojo didn't wake me up wailing hours before the alarm this morning *happy bounce*
Bad news: My medication induced split lip is getting further across my face. I'm starting to look like The Joker. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 16 September, 2011, 03:09:12 pm
Bad News: I have to go clothes shopping this afternoon
Good News: for the job I start at on Monday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: giropaul on 16 September, 2011, 04:49:47 pm
Bad News: I have to go clothes shopping this afternoon
Good News: for the job I start at on Monday.

Surely you've got that the wrong way round? 8)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jacomus on 16 September, 2011, 05:05:47 pm
Good news: Its sunny

Bad news: I am at my desk, not the pubbe
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 16 September, 2011, 05:30:16 pm
Bad News: I have to go clothes shopping this afternoon
Good News: for the job I start at on Monday.

Surely you've got that the wrong way round? 8)

It depends on what you think about clothes shopping and about getting a job!  Summer is over, so the riding is winding down now anyway...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 September, 2011, 05:41:47 pm
Good: I went to a gig last night, had lots of beer and fun.
Bad: My 50-year-old body can't stand two hours of mosh pit action & copious beer without complaining vociferously the next day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 17 September, 2011, 10:29:20 am
Bad: the decorator rounded of the screws holding the kitchen door

Good: he didn't do them up very tightly. No blood or expletives were deployed
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: gordon taylor on 17 September, 2011, 11:15:27 am
Bad news: my son fell ten feet out of a tree he was working on because he'd strapped himself onto an ivy-covered dead branch, which gave way.

Good news: he landed flat on his back - badly winded but no bones were broken

Very good news: a valuable lesson has been learned, probably in the only way that actually penetrates the skull of fit, cocky young men.

Phew.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 17 September, 2011, 11:18:51 am


Phew.

+1 & relieved
same from Marj
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 17 September, 2011, 11:30:10 am
eep!

glad he's ok, and hope he has indeed learnt from it!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 17 September, 2011, 11:33:39 am
Very pleased to hear he wasn't more badly hurt.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: thelazycyclist on 17 September, 2011, 04:05:39 pm
Good news!  Just had a letter telling me that following a 3 year pay freeze I have finaly been awarded a pay rise.

Bad news!  This is from the job I quit 3 weeks ago.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Valiant on 17 September, 2011, 05:34:51 pm
Our latest project has been a massive success :) http://fwords.co.uk/2011/09/16/arms-trade-hoax-is-outed-as-organisers-admit-it-was-%E2%80%9Can-elaborate-stunt%E2%80%9D-to-embarrass-weapons-dealers/
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 17 September, 2011, 05:38:23 pm
Our latest project has been a massive success :) http://fwords.co.uk/2011/09/16/arms-trade-hoax-is-outed-as-organisers-admit-it-was-%E2%80%9Can-elaborate-stunt%E2%80%9D-to-embarrass-weapons-dealers/

You are Life Neutral?  Kudos Valiant  :-*  Fuckin' A
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Valiant on 17 September, 2011, 05:58:20 pm
The Space Hijackers (http://www.spacehijackers.org) are :) of which I might be a member. It was great, we're on various media, including BBC World Service, and on Drive Time with Eddie Nestor, meaning hundreds of thousands of more people now know about the Arms Fair which was our main aim.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 17 September, 2011, 08:38:51 pm
It was an excellent action.  The media seemed happy to let the Death Trade Fair pass by without comment, but you got it on the airwaves.

Thank you to all the Space Hijackers :-*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 17 September, 2011, 11:21:44 pm
Good news: nice early night so I'm well rested for my first forum ride tomorrow!

Bad news: I have a mosquito in my bedroom which is going to drive me insane!   >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rogerzilla on 18 September, 2011, 02:02:33 pm
Good: the cat has survived and recovered from an iliac embolism, which is in "Never tell me the odds!" territory.

Bad: although he's fully functional again, he may drop dead at any time when another clot gets stuck somewhere vital.  Definitely on his ninth life.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 18 September, 2011, 10:04:17 pm
Bad.  Mrs. B has to get up early for work tomorrow.
Good.  I don't.
 
Being old is brilliant!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 September, 2011, 06:49:38 pm
Bad news: Tetley's Yorkshire Tea Loaf, which I spotted in a supermarket and thought might be a pale imitation of the tea bread my mother used to make, is actually a completely different thing. And it's really not that nice. Far too sweet, not enough dried fruit and far too little tea (10% Yorkshire tea infusion according to the ingredients, whereas my mother's was soaked in a pint of tea overnight).

Good news: well, it is nevertheless cake!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 21 September, 2011, 07:06:27 pm
Good news: I've got my sense of smell back.
Bad news: I work with bins. I've got my sense of smell back...

 ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 21 September, 2011, 10:37:24 pm
Bad news: Tetley's Yorkshire Tea Loaf, which I spotted in a supermarket and thought might be a pale imitation of the tea bread my mother used to make, is actually a completely different thing. And it's really not that nice. Far too sweet, not enough dried fruit and far too little tea (10% Yorkshire tea infusion according to the ingredients, whereas my mother's was soaked in a pint of tea overnight).

Good news: well, it is nevertheless cake!

Your mum's sounds like barm brack.

3/4 pint cold tea
10oz sultanas
2oz of peel or other dried fruit (I usually use 12oz sultanas unless I'm running out)
7oz dark or soft brown sugar
 
Soaked together overnight.

In the morning, whisk in one egg and 10oz self raising flour.
Bake in a loaf tin at about 170 or a little less for between one hour 30 and one hour 45.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 September, 2011, 10:45:21 pm
This is my mum's tea bread recipe:
500g dried fruit
1 mug dark brown sugar (muscovado)
1 mug black tea

soak overnight

add 2 mugs self-raising flour
mix well

bake in medium oven 45-90 mins (depends on size, quantity of tea, etc)

So pretty similar but no egg.
Barm brack sounds a pretty northern name - my mum never lived north of mid-Wales, but her dad's family had connections in the north-west, so maybe it came from there.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 September, 2011, 07:32:31 am
The good news is that I've had a rebate of more than £200 from my electricity supplier. This is the second or third year that this has happened, and is mostly down to my younger daughter leaving home.

The bad news is that my VISA bill this month will be over £2000, boosted hugely by car insurance (>£600) and car service and repair (>£350).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 22 September, 2011, 08:33:35 pm
Car insurance £600!!! You need to shop around old thing.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Quisling on 22 September, 2011, 08:36:12 pm
Good news - I've finally figured out what sort of boss I have

Bad news - knob  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 22 September, 2011, 09:15:01 pm
boosted hugely by car insurance (>£600)
f    uckapig :o what are you driving,a space shuttle?

a 2.5 litre Volvo costs only half of that to insure.
Someone,somewhere must be able to offer you a better deal.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 22 September, 2011, 09:31:28 pm
Bad news, I'm not going to be able to make the FNRttS on the 30th

Good news, it's coz I'm being bunged some cash to do stuff I like.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 September, 2011, 01:08:58 pm
Hurrah!  HMRC have sorted out the bugger-up with half the BigCo's employees' tax codes :thumbsup:

Bah!  I've just discovered I'm a higher-rate tax-payer :sick:  Bang goes my street cred...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 28 September, 2011, 02:12:50 pm
The SRAM Spectro hub gear turned up today & a neighbour took it in whilst I was out on a motorbike ride through the leafy lanes of Warwickshire. Bless.

Because I wasn't in & didn't get it early enough, I can't get the rim I want in time to have the Pompino ready for the weekend! I'm thinking of swapping the tyres on the Orbit that I'll have to take from Schwalbe Land cruisers to Schwalbe Delta Cruisers. There be hills in Shropshire.

Double bollocks: My LBS can't get hold of the rim for 4-5 days. Ho-hum.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 30 September, 2011, 05:53:03 am
good news - my order is on its way!
bad news - so am i!  in one sense this is good news, for i shall have an adventure, but it does mean that next week will now start with attempting redelivery or collection from parcelfarce....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 30 September, 2011, 10:37:36 am
good news - my order is on its way!
bad news - so am i!  in one sense this is good news, for i shall have an adventure, but it does mean that next week will now start with attempting redelivery or collection from parcelfarce....

Ooh, brown paper packages tied up with string tape, what you getting Crinkly?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 05 October, 2011, 10:21:42 am
The house that myself and Mrs T love, not that far from the current THoFC, has come up for sale.

It is £450k

I will let you guess which is which :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 05 October, 2011, 10:32:09 am
The house that myself and Mrs T love, not that far from the current THoFC, has come up for sale.

It is £450k

I will let you guess which is which :(

My Mrs T managed to fall in love with a building in Brompton when we drove past on Sunday. BIG boarded up Victorian pile. For sale by auction. Lottery winners only, I suspect.  :hand:

PS. I seriously want to take a photo of our folders outside the Brompton General Store . . .  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 05 October, 2011, 11:28:18 am
The SRAM Spectro hub gear turned up today & a neighbour took it in whilst I was out on a motorbike ride through the leafy lanes of Warwickshire. Bless.

Because I wasn't in & didn't get it early enough, I can't get the rim I want in time to have the Pompino ready for the weekend! I'm thinking of swapping the tyres on the Orbit that I'll have to take from Schwalbe Land cruisers to Schwalbe Delta Cruisers. There be hills in Shropshire.

Double bollocks: My LBS can't get hold of the rim for 4-5 days. Ho-hum.

Broadribbs LBS Leamington: I'm glad I called in whilst passing yesterday to enquire about this task as it is obviously very low on your priorities. Telling me it may be ready after next weekend made me walk away, as I would have been very blunt had I said anything.

It seems you got the message as you've just called to say it will be ready tomorrow, which coincides with my next visit to your town.

You may be cheap, but I will consider alternatives next time.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 05 October, 2011, 03:28:51 pm
Good:  I be going home in arfan hour :thumbsup:

Bad:  It be very windy and going ominously dark :hand:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 05 October, 2011, 06:01:15 pm


PS. I seriously want to take a photo of our folders outside the Brompton General Store . . .  ;D

It's occurred to me that there must be several places called Brompton, and many roads with that name. There's a photo project...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 06 October, 2011, 12:38:18 pm
There are biscuits in the house,including my flavourite dark chocolate covered ginger biccies.

They are not hidden

Which is good news?which is bad news?Discuss ;D while I scoff the biccies
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 06 October, 2011, 01:06:27 pm
Bobb will be in Edinburgh for my birthday. But not before.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim on 06 October, 2011, 01:13:38 pm
Good news:
Fettled bike is ready for me to collect after work at the LBS.

Bad news:
It's not my bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 06 October, 2011, 03:56:08 pm
i'm going back to work tomorrow  :thumbsup:  and i'm going back to work tomorrow  :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2011, 03:59:32 pm
Hurrah! My replacement Kindle has arrived :thumbsup:
Bah! I'll need to charge it before I can use it >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marj on 06 October, 2011, 07:51:22 pm
i'm going back to work tomorrow  :thumbsup:  and i'm going back to work tomorrow  :-\

Pleased to hear it  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 06 October, 2011, 08:47:46 pm
I got 93% for my first computer marked assignment.

Two of my errors were input errors on my end (though really, how hard is it to set up a system that flags when you've only entered one answer for a question that wants two?!).

Oh well, lesson learned.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 07 October, 2011, 08:57:12 am
Good news: My favourite City sandwich shop, purveyor of much bacony goodness, has finally re-opened after a 2-month refit.

Bad news: My favourite City sandwich shop, purveyor of much bacony goodness, has finally re-opened after a 2-month refit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 08 October, 2011, 12:16:35 am
Good news: I'm on my way home from Toronto

Bad news: I'm coming back on Monday
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 October, 2011, 01:43:43 pm
I am no longer smoking foul USAnian fags.  Hurrah!
I am back on BRITISH fags, which are expensive.  Bah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 October, 2011, 06:19:29 pm
Gasman has been and managed to re-light the pilot on our decrepit boiler, through the devious method of holding the knob down for about 3 times longer than the specified 60 seconds plus a healthy margin that I tried earlier.

He then diagnosed the cycling as a clogged heat exchanger, and declared it uneconomical to repair.

Whether the latter is good or bad news remains to be seen.


I think I traumatised him by knowing how a heat exchanger works...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 10 October, 2011, 07:08:55 pm
Gasman has been and managed to re-light the pilot on our decrepit boiler, through the devious method of holding the knob down for about 3 times longer than the specified 60 seconds plus a healthy margin that I tried earlier.

He then diagnosed the cycling as a clogged heat exchanger, and declared it uneconomical to repair.

Whether the latter is good or bad news remains to be seen.


I think I traumatised him by knowing how a heat exchanger works...

Not just a dodgy thermocouple then..?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 10 October, 2011, 07:11:53 pm


He then diagnosed the cycling as a clogged heat exchanger, .


Option 1 -
Your 'eat exchanger is recumbent?

Option 2 -
If you unclog your heat exchanger you stop cycling? Sounds like a bad bargain to me
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 October, 2011, 08:48:14 pm
Not just a dodgy thermocouple then..?

That is presumably why the pilot went out, but my previous illicit investigations with a multimeter and copy of the service manual support the heat exchanger hypothesis.  "Boiler isn't working" is a slightly more letting-agent-friendly fault report than "boiler cycles intermittently and gives disappointingly lukewarm baths", however.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 12 October, 2011, 10:51:04 pm
Good news: I've had an awesome day with some good news and even Got Some Stuff Done.

Bad news: I feel rotten and am going to sleep!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 October, 2011, 10:56:31 pm
Good news: 3 seem to have finally fixed whatever they broke when they did some "maintenance" in my area.

Bad news: it was broken for about a month. And now I'll probably end up wasting even more time here, oops I mean increasing my knowledge.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 13 October, 2011, 10:58:49 pm
Good news: My manager of the last 15+ years is retiring tomorrow after 40 years and we are all going to get slightly pished..

Bad news: He's going because he can't take the crap anymore and because senior management were going to move him sideways as he wasn't enthusiastic enough about implementing "efficiencies"......
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 14 October, 2011, 06:04:10 pm
Good news: I've been offered a job,
Bad news: I don't want it! It involves lots of cold calling and face-to-face visits. It's also self-employed, which the initial JC+ ad didn't make clear.

There's a chance I can branch into marketing - they do need help in that direction - so I'll see what the chances are before I turn it down flat.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 17 October, 2011, 04:43:59 pm
Good news: We have a shiny (and significantly smaller) new boiler on the wall.

Bad news: They didn't finish plumbing it in, so it's going to be cold water and fan heaters tonight.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 October, 2011, 10:20:47 am
Hurrah!  The BigCo has uncovered the presence of a Thief in the post room, which explains why so much of my Stuffs ordered from Nozama has gone missing in the past couple of years.

Bah!  Although the tea-leaf has been sacked without references, neither the BigCo nor the polis has brought charges ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 20 October, 2011, 09:31:34 pm
Bad news: Oh Open University. I can understand that your study planner only has space for one due date for assignments even if they are in two parts.

But would it not make sense to put the earlier of the two dates in said box. There I am thinking I've got till 23rd Nov for the assignment and NOPE, part 1 is due on 26th of OCTOBER!!

Good news: At least I saw the message warning us of this now rather than later and will have time this weekend to potter through the assignment.

Of course I guess I should have read through more carefully all the paperwork they've sent me  :-[ Work has been manic though but excuses excuses.
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 23 October, 2011, 07:41:47 am
Good news: I have training this morning with my horse and get to use my new horse box for the first time! I'm up on time and very excited!

Bad news: I also feel sick and have just had to go to the loo for the fourth time since getting up an hour and a half ago! :-/
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 24 October, 2011, 05:14:10 pm
Good news:

I have managed to get myself on the site visit to Tobermory WTW (Isle of Mull)

Bad News

8am flight up on tuesday, 9:15pm flight back on Wednesday so no time to cycle whilst there and no taking the bike on the plane.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 24 October, 2011, 09:45:33 pm
Tobermory Water Treatment Works  ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 24 October, 2011, 10:29:36 pm
Good news: I have finished my OU assignment and it is read yto deliver tomorrow and the deadline isn't even till Wednesday!

Bad news: Due to being a slowpoke writing it up it's 10:30 and I want to sleep but still have to have my bath yet.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 25 October, 2011, 08:46:33 am
Tobermory Water Treatment Works  ???

Yep, upgrade to increase capacity.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 October, 2011, 11:04:38 am
Bah!  I have just opened my credit card bill containing my holibobs expenditure, which is teh suxx0r and also massive ARSE.  Also my Babbage-Engine has so much jam in it that it took me fifteen minutes to get into Thieving Gitcorp's web-shite1 to pay it.  And some doppo is wandering around the office taking a collection for the "leaving2" present for someone I have never even spoken to, which is also massive ARSE as pointing out to the doppo that not contributing to the "leaving" present of someone you've never even spoken to makes you look like one or more of the following:


Hurrah!  No, actually there isn't one.

1 - Free money for me now, please, because I am excellent.
2 - Job went to India, more like, but as they're trousering a five-figure redundancy payment,  they're getting this from me: 0.5333 of fsck-all.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 October, 2011, 12:50:23 pm
Where was the good news?

Why would anyone want to give a leaving present to someone they'd never spoken too?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 October, 2011, 01:34:36 pm
Where was the good news?

There wasn't any.  Hence:

Hurrah!  No, actually there isn't one.

ICBA to find the Bad News thread, because I am an idle sod.

Why would anyone want to give a leaving present to someone they'd never spoken too?

You wouldn't, but for some reason the massive arses think you would, because they are massive arses.  The BigCo is full of them, this being in the nature of BigCos.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: TheLurker on 03 November, 2011, 01:59:54 pm
Bad news...  car poorly.

Good news...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 November, 2011, 11:08:40 am
Hurrah:  I have finally met my new The Boss, who is an hairless Scotsman.

Bah: I have finally met my new The Boss, who is an hairless Scotsman.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 10 November, 2011, 01:46:55 pm
Hurrah: now we have a landline I have finally got hold of Southern Electric with regard to changing this damned key-meter to a credit one.

Bah: Southern electric are not our suppliers.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 10 November, 2011, 01:48:36 pm
Hurrah: I have finally got hold of BG to get them to change this damned key-meter to a credit one.

Bah: they can't do it until December.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 10 November, 2011, 05:09:33 pm
Good news: The dentist has finished my root canal, so I now have a shiny new looking tooth :) (and fear of dentists is just about gone)

Bad News: She thinks I'm going to need a crown because of the size of the filling
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 10 November, 2011, 10:11:16 pm
Hurrah: I have finally got hold of BG to get them to change this damned key-meter to a credit one.

Bah: they can't do it until December.

how about you change to Southern Electric and get them to change it sooner.  BG are a bunch of cnuts, and southern electric are based in Havant* and are generally a more amenable bunch.

*Penner Road, just opposite the shit treatment plant....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pedaldog. on 10 November, 2011, 11:14:08 pm
Good news:-  Got my Pacific Reach folder back tonight :thumbsup:

Bad news:-  Brother, Sprogs, is a smeghead for not putting seatpost and saddle in the bag and I am also a Smeghead (Capital "S") for not looking inna bag when I got it :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Morrisette on 11 November, 2011, 09:33:43 am
Hurrah: I have finally got hold of BG to get them to change this damned key-meter to a credit one.

Bah: they can't do it until December.

That's rediculous, we had to have that done when we moved into our new place (yeah thanks for that) and BG did it in about 2 days. It was this time of year as well, in fact it might have actually been TODAY, in 2009!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 11 November, 2011, 09:34:00 am
Good news: My favourite cook shop, supplier of pointy stabby items, The Steamer Trading Company has opened a shop in Beverley

Bad News: See Good News, I foresee a rapid depletion in my bank balance.....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 11 November, 2011, 10:03:17 am
Hurrah: I have finally got hold of BG to get them to change this damned key-meter to a credit one.

Bah: they can't do it until December.

how about you change to Southern Electric and get them to change it sooner.  BG are a bunch of cnuts, and southern electric are based in Havant* and are generally a more amenable bunch.

*Penner Road, just opposite the shit treatment plant....

Well, when I spoke to SE they said that if I wanted their locally branded electrons it would be best to get our current (boom-tish) supplier to sort the meter first, then change suppliers. On the plus side SE would charge £52 to change the meter, BG do it for free.


That's rediculous, we had to have that done when we moved into our new place (yeah thanks for that) and BG did it in about 2 days. It was this time of year as well, in fact it might have actually been TODAY, in 2009!

Yeah, we discovered that we needed to buy electrons before we could make a brew on moving in here a week or so ago  >:( we also needed to get the landline reconnected before we could sort the meter. To give BG their due the guy dealing with it spent quite a while trying to find a cancellation slot for me but there was nothing so I just booked the earliest slot he had.


The person who rented this place before us was watching the pennies and chose to cancel the landline and have a payment meter put in to help her spend less. Seems odd to me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: De Sisti on 11 November, 2011, 10:41:19 am
Bad news: £194 to get car through mot (faulty lamda sensor)

Good news: Mechanics think the car is spotless and a "good, little runner"
(SEAT Arosa R reg, 75,300 miles, full service history).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 November, 2011, 12:01:12 pm
Bad new: Morgan Computers sent me a desktop with a CD/DVD reader not a CD/RW as in the ad. They also chose to ignore an email to them & didn't call back yesterday as promised.

Good news: I spoke to them today & without prompting too much, they offered to send me an external, USB-powered DVD/RW drive which is what I was going to ask for anyway. Hopefully here Monday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 11 November, 2011, 12:13:28 pm
Good news: The dentist has finished my root canal, so I now have a shiny new looking tooth :) (and fear of dentists is just about gone)

Bad News: She thinks I'm going to need a crown because of the size of the filling
Pretty much standard operating procedure, I'm led to believe.
I'm in the same position - I'm having a root canal finished next week (had an abscess in the tooth, so had to wait for infection to clear up etc.) and it'll need to be crowned within 6 months. The bad news is that the crown will cost me the thick end of £300.

The good news is that I'll have a bling gold tooth to go with the titanium teeth I already have :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 11 November, 2011, 09:35:25 pm
Good:  I'll be away from London next weekend.

Bad: I'll be in Dublin for the funeral of a dear friend.  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 12 November, 2011, 07:11:58 pm
Bexley Adult Education wrote to David stating he'd get paid for some talks he'll give soon.
The letter was in Comic Sans.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 12 November, 2011, 07:28:42 pm
Bexley Adult Education wrote to David stating he'd get paid for some talks he'll give soon.
The letter was in Comic Sans.
:facepalm:
Just  :facepalm:

Mind you, there's a tradesperson round these parts who manages the double-whammy of a hotmail email address *and* vehicle lettering in That Font.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 13 November, 2011, 08:07:12 pm
Good - I have fettled a bit of my sleep deficit.  I managed a positively luxurious 5-ish hours of proper conked out zzzzzs before waking up.  Then got up to let cats in and feed them and then went back to bed for another nearly-3 hours more - which was proper sleep, not dozing.

Bad - I have totally failed to take advantage of the relative not-feeling-like-a-zombie-ness to get anything done!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 November, 2011, 09:57:46 pm
Good - a Vietnamese supermarket with wasabi peas.

Bad - wasabi peas.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 14 November, 2011, 01:00:44 pm
Good - after a three month wait, Tees Time To Talk have been in touch to arrange an appointment.

Bad - they're a week too late.  I met the solicitor-appointed therapist for the first time last week  ::-)

If I'd been given two thermarests within a week, that would've been much better.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 15 November, 2011, 11:45:06 am
Trousers down in the doctor's being examined. Her first words:

"Oh that is a big one"  ;)

Bad news: she was looking at my hernia :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rower40 on 15 November, 2011, 10:53:48 pm
Good news: Booked on a scenic landcruise railtour to Scotlandland.
Bad news: the route has changed to avoid the bits I really wanted to do.(*)

(*) And the railtour organisers haven't let on. I found out by interrogating some signalbox computers.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 16 November, 2011, 11:23:33 am
Good news: Booked on a scenic landcruise railtour to Scotlandland.
Bad news: the route has changed to avoid the bits I really wanted to do.(*)

(*) And the railtour organisers haven't let on. I found out by interrogating some signalbox computers.

Is that "insider dealing" Rower? :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 16 November, 2011, 12:01:31 pm
Actually, that's a good point... I was after that Rower chappy for advance warning of what flavour of train would be likely to turn up on Friday so that I can avoid having to run the length of a platform with 2 boys, one (possibly 2) bike and Luggage....

*scurries off to PM*

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 16 November, 2011, 04:57:34 pm
Good news: Booked on a scenic landcruise railtour to Scotlandland.
Bad news: the route has changed to avoid the bits I really wanted to do.(*)

(*) And the railtour organisers haven't let on. I found out by interrogating some signalbox computers.
Just out of interest, what was the original route? Just askin', like ...

Good news: had a job interview today
Bad news: I went in at 1030, and finally left at 1445 :o

Actually, the bad news isn't that bad 'cos much of the time was spent discussing the projects that they're interested in doing, including an iPad app which has massive potential (IMO, at least). A worse bit of 'bad news' is that if I get the job, I'll have to start using .NET  :-\

Not that I mind - I'd rather spend my redundancy money on n+1 or similar, rather than using it to pay bills whilst I'm on the dole.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 November, 2011, 10:49:20 am
I've just been into the shopping centre of town, and found that the "christmas market" is already up. Rows of mock-Bavarian wooden booths selling sausages, toffee apples, gluhwein and tat. It depressed me. I went to Curry's to get an arsecarton bumbox, got there at 9:45 and it was still closed. Wandered around indoor part of shopping centre for a quarter of an hour till they opened. More depressed.

But then on the way home I popped into Oswald Bailey and their radio was playing Come Up And See Me, and I began to feel better. And now I'm at home listening to R3 on my arsecarton, for a while, and I've got a mug of tea and new socks so it's better.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 18 November, 2011, 12:41:31 pm
The good: Had an email back regarding Wednesday's epic interview - there's a definite expression of interest.
The bad: They've got another candidate to interview  so I won't know either way until Thursday or Friday of next week.

Hey ho.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 November, 2011, 12:42:48 pm
Thumbs held for you.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 18 November, 2011, 12:50:51 pm
The good: Had an email back regarding Wednesday's epic interview - there's a definite expression of interest.
The bad: They've got another candidate to interview  so I won't know either way until Thursday or Friday of next week.

Hey ho.

Fingers crossed, it's bloody horrible when that happens, fair enough if they tell you from the outset, but a pig when they give you that info after the fact.  I have, on occasion, been told, either just before or during the interview, that there others to be interviewed after me.  Sometimes I have to wait, other times (as with my current job) the employer cancels the other interviews.

Hope it's good news, but in the meantime GET OUT ON YOUR BIKE.....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 18 November, 2011, 01:36:51 pm
The good: Had an email back regarding Wednesday's epic interview - there's a definite expression of interest.
The bad: They've got another candidate to interview  so I won't know either way until Thursday or Friday of next week.

Hey ho.

Fingers crossed, it's bloody horrible when that happens, fair enough if they tell you from the outset, but a pig when they give you that info after the fact.  I have, on occasion, been told, either just before or during the interview, that there others to be interviewed after me.  Sometimes I have to wait, other times (as with my current job) the employer cancels the other interviews.
I already knew they had someone else to talk to, but I got the impression that this person wasn't what you'd call local.

I don't have a problem with them interviewing this other candidate, after all it's only fair and if I was in their position I'd probably do the same, but it's still a bit annoying that I've got (potentially) at least another week of having to talk to bloody slave traders. The conversations are becoming so predictable that I've been extremely tempted to have my side of a typical conversation as a voicemail message, with appropriate pauses for them to say their bit :)

Quote
Hope it's good news, but in the meantime GET OUT ON YOUR BIKE.....
There is that.
One of the good things about this job is that my commute will effectively double in length, and lacking a car the bike is the only real option as the bus takes an hour(!) and the timings first thing are somewhat erratic.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rower40 on 18 November, 2011, 09:20:14 pm
Good news: Booked on a scenic landcruise railtour to Scotlandland.
Bad news: the route has changed to avoid the bits I really wanted to do.(*)

(*) And the railtour organisers haven't let on. I found out by interrogating some signalbox computers.

Is that "insider dealing" Rower? :)
In a "read-only" way.  Hacking same computers to put the train back on its original advertised route would have been VERY NAUGHTY and probably have led to inquiry and dismissal; not only that, but the signaller would have just cancelled the signals, and put it back to where it's now meant to go.

Just out of interest, what was the original route? Just askin', like ...

Worcester, Birmingham, Derby, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Polmont, Stirling, Alloa, Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath, Ladybank, Dundee.  Short pause.  Dundee, Ladybank, Kirkcaldy, Inverkeithing, Edinburgh, then back as per outward.

New route (after Edinburgh) is Polmont, Stirling, Perth (break), Ladybank, Kirkcaldy and back as original. The highlight of the route was to have been the not-open-to-passengers bit from Alloa to Dunfermline.

Actually, the highlight will be the company.

And Fingers Crossed for your interview.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: arvid on 24 November, 2011, 06:03:26 pm
The good: I'll start working 4 days a week instead of 3(=33% more income before tax), with a more interesting job.
The bad: my commute will go from ~60km to <4km. Just commuting this year got me close to 7000km. I'll have to make an effort again to stay in shape.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 11 December, 2011, 08:02:22 pm
Good news: I came second and first in my two classes with the horse today at a local little competition.   :thumbsup:

Bad news: The second class, where I came first, was one of the worst shows I've EVER done! Giles went into the arena having warmed up beautifully and went "canter? I don't do that and you can't make me".  He was right, I couldn't!  The only reason I got the first rosette was because I was the only competitor in my section...lol!   :facepalm:

To be fair to him, it's the first time we've competed after dark and while the arena was lit, it was quite shadowy and strange. 

I did however win the best Christmas-decorated hat  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 11 December, 2011, 08:14:17 pm
 :thumbsup:Yay!

When I was having lessons a few years back, we used to have a Christmas gymkhana for the last lesson before Christmas. Lots of fun, even though I was generally rubbish, whatever horse they put me on! I often acheived a brisk amble at best.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 14 December, 2011, 05:33:07 pm
I haz new doors! \0/

Unfortunately I didn't realise they were unfinished. This means I must DIY - varnish :(

Especially the bathroom door which is a stoopid size and the joiner had to cut the veneer entirely off the hinge and leading edges, meh.
Better do something with that before the moisture gets in and the whole thing goes 'woof'.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 17 December, 2011, 06:24:56 pm
Good news: I'm not allergic to the Christmas Tree.

Bad news: the sneezing etc. is a cold which which has migrated to my cheat and means I'm a DNS for the race tomorrow :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 17 December, 2011, 06:41:25 pm
Good news: I'm not allergic to the Christmas Tree.

Bad news: the sneezing etc. is a cold which which has migrated to my cheat and means I'm a DNS for the race tomorrow :(

Mistype for chest, or cleat?  I've never heard of cleats getting infections, mind...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 17 December, 2011, 07:46:30 pm
Good news: my lower back is getting better.

Bad news: no exercise involving back extension, i.e. rowing or cycling, for another month.
Running is okay (oh good-o, my favourite.  ::-) ) 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 17 December, 2011, 09:09:46 pm
Good news: I'm not allergic to the Christmas Tree.

Bad news: the sneezing etc. is a cold which which has migrated to my cheat and means I'm a DNS for the race tomorrow :(

Mistype for chest, or cleat?  I've never heard of cleats getting infections, mind...

Well cleat infection would be a good excuse but.....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rower40 on 18 December, 2011, 08:26:18 am
Good news: my lower back is getting better.

Bad news: no exercise involving back extension, i.e. rowing or cycling, for another month.
Running is okay (oh good-o, my favourite.  ::-) )
GWS.
Keep going with the core stability exercises.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 18 December, 2011, 07:39:37 pm
Bad news: I've splashed wood rot hardener on my glasses.
Good news: I can still see.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 03 January, 2012, 02:39:48 pm
Bad news first......I've been out on my bike ::-)

Good news ..... I've seen a nice Honda Goldwing for sale in Stone :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: delthebike on 03 January, 2012, 02:41:26 pm
Good news ..... I've seen a nice Honda Goldwing for sale in Stone :demon:
Looking for a bigger vehicle to tow the caravan?  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 03 January, 2012, 02:43:12 pm
Bad news first......I've been out on my bike ::-)

Good news ..... I've seen a nice Honda Goldwing for sale in Stone :demon:

Ooh, I like those :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 03 January, 2012, 02:53:07 pm
:facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 03 January, 2012, 02:59:25 pm
Good news ..... I've seen a nice Honda Goldwing for sale in Stone :demon:
Looking for a bigger vehicle to tow the caravan?  ::-)

the goldwing does have a tow bar fitted so I could pull a trailer with camping gear within :thumbsup:

Gonna have to keep the ovloV to tow the caravan but I might get rid of the Mondeo :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 03 January, 2012, 03:00:19 pm
How much cake can you carry on a Goldwing?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 03 January, 2012, 03:15:21 pm
The panniers on a Goldwing are of a greater capacity than that of any of my bikes & a roof box could be fitted to the trailer via the ladder racks to which the bike carrier is secured.
Sorted ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 January, 2012, 02:09:22 pm
Your Goldwing with trailer can also be fitted with a sidecar. Sorted, no more heavy haulage worries ever again!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 04 January, 2012, 05:27:46 pm
I saw that setup each year for 3 or 4 in the family section of the BMF rally in Peterborough from ~1990-1994.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: lou boutin on 04 January, 2012, 05:39:55 pm
I thought I was witnessing a freak sighting of the Northern Lights out of my bedroom window.  Then I realised Mr Boutin had returned home and switched on a lava lamp and the wonderful blue and green streaks across the skyline were merely reflections of that :(  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 04 January, 2012, 05:45:56 pm
I start a new job tomorrow. I should be looking forward to it, but I can't say I am. The bad news is that my rather comfortable spell at home is coming to an end. I'd got rather used to having the house to myself in the daytime.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Salvatore on 04 January, 2012, 07:06:51 pm
Bad news: my gear cable/lever/thingy under the BB went all wonky and wrong about 25 km home today (but was fixed) and finally went unrepairable about 5km from home  (i.e 97.5 km into the ride). I ended up riding the last bit on the smallest sprocket

Good news: there was a package on my doorstep when I got home containing a new gear lever and cable.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 04 January, 2012, 08:58:52 pm
The Bad News :  the last of the mince pies has been scoffed

The Good Hews : there is some Xmas cake & a Xmas pudding to be eaten
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 04 January, 2012, 11:54:37 pm
Found all three cameras :)

Found two chargers. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: oncemore on 05 January, 2012, 10:15:11 am
Good. No waiting list for chest x-ray - GP referral late y'day, I phone this a.m., appt tomorrow.

Bad. This reduces the time I thought I'd have in which to decide what to do if, as I'm pretty sure my GP thinks, the result is "keep your reading to short stories!".
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 05 January, 2012, 10:24:48 am
I hope you are able to read War & Peace several dozen times over.Best wishes for more good news.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 05 January, 2012, 10:30:54 am
Wot he said. Hope all goes smoothly and you'll be back with good news very soon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: oncemore on 05 January, 2012, 10:34:43 am
Thank you - but after over 50 years of smoking I can hardly cry foul or unfair! And TBH I'm not particularly fussed either way.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 05 January, 2012, 01:01:40 pm
Jogler.
Attach the caravan to the side of the Goldwing.
Marge can then travel in the biggest F off sidecar ever. :-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 05 January, 2012, 01:04:18 pm
Jogler.
Attach the caravan to the side of the Goldwing.
Marge can then travel in the biggest F off sidecar ever. :-)

Why have Top Gear not done this yet? ;D

Apart from them not knowing Marj, of course.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 05 January, 2012, 01:13:07 pm
PMSL

The entertainment  & laughs from this forum far exceed the best of anything the tv has to offer :thumbsup:

Marj is laughing so much she is having a coughing fit which atm is not a good thing.She has a poorly chest.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 07 January, 2012, 09:56:13 pm
Bad News.  I've just driven up to Brum,
Good News.  I've repaired to the Country Girl.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 January, 2012, 10:19:29 pm
Good news: I have just finished reading this thread, which I have not visited since the past 5 pages were written.

Bad news: I have been reminded why I haven't visited this since the last 5 pages were written. :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 11 January, 2012, 11:42:21 am
Oh ffs. Realised I was sub-optimal, decided to leave early and ride home (mostly) in daylight. At Whitechapel/Mile End Road junction, oncoming numpty just HAS to turn right in front of me. I brake. On diesel. Clothes and me (hand) damaged worse than this morning.

Not my day.

 :'( Broken bone
 :-\ only one
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 11 January, 2012, 11:48:24 am
 :o

Please tell me the broken bone was due to punching the oncoming numpty.

GWS

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 11 January, 2012, 12:36:41 pm
Oh noes!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 11 January, 2012, 04:23:46 pm
:(  Sorry to hear that, Ham.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Juan Martín on 11 January, 2012, 04:28:01 pm
Bad luck Ham. GWS.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rower40 on 11 January, 2012, 08:51:47 pm
Good news: I'm going home. (I've left Didcot!)
Bad news:  I've got to change trains at Mordor.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 11 January, 2012, 10:20:06 pm
Good news: bobb and I are going for a little holiday on Skye in February
Bad news: we won't see each other for another 36 sleeps  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 January, 2012, 09:52:54 am
Bad news: Little Cudzo is ill. Not terribly ill, but it's his first day off school since he started there. And it's swimming today, his favourite part of the whole school week!
Second bad news: This means I'm stuck at home and we'll probably run out of food!

Good news: This explains why he was so upsettable and weepy at school yesterday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 13 January, 2012, 02:15:23 pm
Good news: Cheque received for large amount of beans from ins co of the woman who knocked me off in November.

Bad news: Can't decide which colour for the new Bob Jackson.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 13 January, 2012, 02:36:13 pm
Hurray!  And oh, how my heart bleeds for you.....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rusky on 13 January, 2012, 04:31:12 pm
Bad news: There's been a horrible acrid smell of popped electronic components in the room all week.

Good news: Just found out it's the scent of the flowers on the sideboard!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 14 January, 2012, 11:16:31 am
Good news:  Crusty is building up my old Viking into a singlespeed/fixed, with a view to taking it to India, using bits obtained mostly from MSeries OTP, so it has added Cool.

Bad news:  there's a chance it might have to stay in India when he comes back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 14 January, 2012, 05:25:09 pm
Good news:  Crusty is building up my old Viking into a singlespeed/fixed, with a view to taking it to India, using bits obtained mostly from MSeries OTP, so it has added Cool.

Bad news:  there's a chance it might have to stay in India when he comes back.

can he not ride it back?  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 14 January, 2012, 10:12:47 pm
It would be a shame to have to leave it there. If the problem is the bag or box he'll be using on the flight out, it might be possible to leave that either in some left luggage facility quite cheaply or find a friendly bike shop in Delhi, make contact with them now and ask if they'll store it for a week or two, however long he's going to be out there.

But if he does have to leave it there, I advise also the friendly bike shop, or some club. A bike like that should go to someone who will appreciate it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 14 January, 2012, 11:25:16 pm
Hmm, I suspect that bike has value, but only to me.  I must get Crusty to take some photos  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 January, 2012, 10:53:29 pm
That's all the more reason to bring it back to the person who values it. But if you don't want it, I might be able to relieve you of it.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 January, 2012, 10:19:52 pm
I won a huge box of Thornton's chocolates in the choir's raffle this evening.

We are all trying to lose weight.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 18 January, 2012, 09:32:42 pm
Bad News: I left my phone at home this morning :(

Worse news: It's Our Kid's 21st birthday, so I couldn't ring him or text him congratulations :'(

Also bad news: The phone wasn't left at home; I'd proper lost it >:(

Good news: TGL came home from school with a name and phone number of the person who had found my phone and done some detective work. :)

Gooder news: I've just been to pick it up :D  In exchance for a bottle of booze.

Gooderer news: That added to my commute makes today another unnecessarily 50km day :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 19 January, 2012, 03:18:59 pm
Good:  The meeting I had schedule for Friday is now a teleconference, so I don't need to be suited and booted!

Bad: One of my managers is out of the office tomorrow and I've been asked to cover for him at a contract negotiation, so the person who has been shadowing me at the meetings ref'd on 'Good' above will cover my teleconference - and I'll have to be suited and booted for the contract meeting.

I suspect I may find myself in full business clobber on Fridays quite a few times this year.  :-\
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 19 January, 2012, 03:23:58 pm
Bad news: I am at an extremely tedious meeting to discuss mental health service redesign (not to invite our input, but to tell us what we have to shut up and endure), and the current presentation is highly clinical.

Good news: I got to ride my bike here.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: lou boutin on 20 January, 2012, 12:55:44 pm
Bad News: Sickness/upset tummy has reared its head again.
Good News: But as a result of the above I am now back into size 8 clothes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 21 January, 2012, 03:19:30 pm
Bad news : It's apparent that my knee is going to be a permenant issue & my long distance aspirations will not be fulfilled

Good news : I've found a guitar shop that is very convenient & economic for kit & lessons.I can leave my guitar there at the end of Lesson 1 & subsequently ride there&back on my bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 21 January, 2012, 03:53:28 pm
Good news: it is my besht mate'sh birthday & I am v much looking forward to a night out in celebration of her continued existence.

Bad news: I have to leave this terribly comfortable sofa and comfortable cohab and comfortable cat.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2012, 06:26:28 pm
Good: I've just been for a proper bike ride, at more that Birmingham traffic / barakta pace for the first time this year.

Bad: It was bastard windy, and my knee is chuntering.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 21 January, 2012, 07:11:22 pm
I am begining to wonder if chuntering knee is a contagious condition
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 21 January, 2012, 08:16:39 pm
I am begining to wonder if chuntering knee is a contagious condition
I think it must be...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 21 January, 2012, 08:32:16 pm
Good news: I may well be going to India in March (at work's expense)
Bad news: It looks like I've got a metric fuckton of vaccinations to get done first

I'm pretty used to having blood taken now, but vaccinations still give me the heebie-jeebies ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 21 January, 2012, 10:34:52 pm
Re Interzen:
Good news: Wasn't that many injections when I went. I come over faint with injections as often as not. Nurses seem to prefer me saying in advance and being on the bed already and coming prepared with a mars bar.
Bad news: In the end the gut-rot from the anti-malarials was worse than the injections.

But, lucky you!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Valiant on 22 January, 2012, 01:35:28 am
Good: Coming this week is our latest mobile sound system. It's a wide departure from the universally loved Beatrix but here's some stats to salivate over. 110ah Ultra Deep Discharge power supply, SMPS power amp, 8" carbon fiber drivers, titanium compression drivers, built in 230v charging. It should be pushing on for 130db with a runtime longer than Paula Radcliffe.

Bad: I have a week to design and build it. And it'll have a big advertising space.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 22 January, 2012, 10:54:01 am
I am begining to wonder if chuntering knee is a contagious condition

We have two staff members at St Nicks currently recovering from knee operations. Knees are just a bit rubbish generally.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 22 January, 2012, 10:59:48 am
I am begining to wonder if chuntering knee is a contagious condition

We have two staff members at St Nicks currently recovering from knee operations. Knees are just a bit rubbish generally.
Totally agree.
IME, hips follow knees a fairly close second in the 'Ministry of Crap Design' stakes ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 22 January, 2012, 11:04:02 am
Bad news: In the end the gut-rot from the anti-malarials was worse than the injections.
Hmm ... a lot of people have said that to me.
OTOH, I've had pretty good practice with drug-induced gut-rot thanks to the various diabetes-related medications I have to take (metformin + gliclazide = gastric anarchy!)

Still, taking the long view, even if this trip doesn't come off, and there's no guarantee that it will, at least if I have all the jabs done now it'll be one less thing to worry about when I do have to go to forn parts (for work or otherwise)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 22 January, 2012, 11:16:10 am
I am begining to wonder if chuntering knee is a contagious condition

We have two staff members at St Nicks currently recovering from knee operations. Knees are just a bit rubbish generally.
Totally agree.
IME, hips follow knees a fairly close second in the 'Ministry of Crap Design' stakes ...

Frankly, the whole support system for our bipedal stance is a bit suspect. It rather argues against creationism and intelligent design. If God could get so many animals so perfectly right for their place in life, why did he give us such shoddy legs and spines and make us walk upright?

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 22 January, 2012, 11:18:31 am
He moves in mysterious ways Arch :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 22 January, 2012, 11:26:16 am
He moves in mysterious ways Arch :)

But presumably not bipedally, or He'd be needing new knees and hips Himself by now... ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 22 January, 2012, 11:30:25 am
Bad news: In the end the gut-rot from the anti-malarials was worse than the injections.
Hmm ... a lot of people have said that to me.
OTOH, I've had pretty good practice with drug-induced gut-rot thanks to the various diabetes-related medications I have to take (metformin + gliclazide = gastric anarchy!)

It was more "a mildly unsettled feeling that got a bit tedious two weeks after getting back" than anarchy, so you may not even notice the difference!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rusky on 22 January, 2012, 01:53:25 pm
He moves in mysterious ways Arch :)

But presumably not bipedally, or He'd be needing new knees and hips Himself by now... ;)
That's why he created Ti :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 22 January, 2012, 01:53:44 pm
Frankly, the whole support system for our bipedal stance is a bit suspect. It rather argues against creationism and intelligent design. If God could get so many animals so perfectly right for their place in life, why did he give us such shoddy legs and spines and make us walk upright?

Yeah, but he did at least throw in a brain that could invent the bicycle to make up for it...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 January, 2012, 07:39:12 pm
Bad news: I am ill and have spend all yesterday evening asleep and almost all of today dozing in bed with P.G. Wodehouse and a mug of tea.

Good news: When I woke up this morning there was a marmite sandwich next to my bed. My son had made me breakfast! It was then joined by a cup of tea (made under supervision - his mother's here - but the breakfast was completely his own inspiration) and, gasp, he's just given me a chocolate!  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 22 January, 2012, 08:16:21 pm


Good news: When I woke up this morning there was a marmite sandwich next to my bed.

I hope you didn't find it by getting out of bed and stepping on it!  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 January, 2012, 10:12:39 pm
Ha ha, actually it was much better than that. I heard some noises in the kitchen and a little voice saying something like "I'm making Daddy some breakfast because he's ill" then I dozed off again, and when I woke up there it was on the bedside table (on top of the books and maps and next to the other, empty, tea mug! And why do we call these things tables when they're usually more like drawers or shelves? Well, who cares!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Valiant on 23 January, 2012, 05:29:45 pm
Good: We have a new kitty
Bad: Frankie's being unpleasant
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 January, 2012, 10:22:45 pm
Good news: Mrs. Wow and I have completed and submitted our tax returns.

Bad news: Mrs. Wow has had to pay income tax!  >:(

Ameliorating circumstance:...for the first time since 1978.  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Juan Martín on 26 January, 2012, 12:00:25 pm
Bad news: I noticed on my return from work the other night that some…some type had uprooted the miniature apple tree in my front garden and snapped off the supporting stake. Possibly the result of a drunken collision during a night time short cut.

Good news: The tree had been in this position for about three years and had been struggling; I had been considering transplanting it. And now the job’s half done!

It always does to look on the bright side.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 26 January, 2012, 08:01:36 pm
Good news.  I found my missing Petzl headtorch in time for tomorrow nights camping.

Bad news. I ordered a replacement yesterday after searching high & low.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 26 January, 2012, 08:02:58 pm
^^^^^
that really is Sod's Law ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 26 January, 2012, 08:08:26 pm
Bad news:  I promised CrinklyLion the loan of a map for her Scottish foray (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=54910.0), but couldn't find it when I looked for it this week.

Good news:  found a second-hand one on Ulverston market today.  My favourite type an'all:  the wonderful Barts 100,000.  Been reading it for the last hour, reliving old tours and planning future ones.  And being jealous of CL - is it too early to start hating you yet?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 26 January, 2012, 08:10:33 pm
I found a treasure trove of old maps in a second hand book shop at the north end of Morecombe sea front a few years ago.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 26 January, 2012, 08:51:48 pm
Hurray for mappery making people  :)

Bad news: I'm going out to play with a several of YACFers tomorrow and haven't started baking yet

Good news: I have a plenty of ingredients, a clean and tidy kitchen, a spotify account, a new pinny to test-drive and on past form it's several hours 'til primetime cake o'clock.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Illegal Combat Ant on 26 January, 2012, 08:56:44 pm
Good news: The Daily Mail is being sued for defamation.  ;D

Bad news: By 'Psychic' Sally Morgan. (http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=48632&c=1)  :(

If only they could both lose the case.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 26 January, 2012, 09:06:46 pm
Oh. My. Word.

Please let that get all the way to court and not be sorted out in the lobby beforehand.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Illegal Combat Ant on 26 January, 2012, 09:15:35 pm
Surely she already knows what the outcome will be?
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg82/IllegalCombatAnt/21ltz84.gif)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 26 January, 2012, 09:17:57 pm
That's why it won't get to court.

 ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 26 January, 2012, 09:27:23 pm
Princess Diana's former psychic?  Do you think there was a little something that she forgot to tell Di?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 27 January, 2012, 10:14:52 am
Good news: Neice went to see daddy at work yesterday.
Bad news: Daddy is an A&E doctor.
Good news: Daddy can mend broken daughters
Bad News: Daughter can't ride her pony with a cast on.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Illegal Combat Ant on 27 January, 2012, 10:23:41 am
That's why it won't get to court.

 ;)

Sally assembles her crack legal team. (http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-%26-technology/sally-morgan-to-be-represented-by-disembodied-voice-of-abraham-lincoln-201201264821/)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 29 January, 2012, 02:35:15 pm
Good news: Pugsley will be arriving on Monday ;D

Bad news: I broke a bloody tooth eating a muesli bar last night - OK, so it's a tooth that's getting crowned anyway so the breakage may not be that big a deal, but it's still bloody annoying :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: lou boutin on 29 January, 2012, 02:49:27 pm

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg82/IllegalCombatAnt/21ltz84.gif)

I've stollen your little dog.  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 29 January, 2012, 04:38:28 pm
Bad news:  I couldn't find my ticket to see Josie Long tonight.

Good news:  I telephoned them, and it was actually never sent out.  I am expected.

Bad news:  I spent ages looking for it, and have confirmed that I'm a total Div

Good news:  Going to see Josie Long tonight!  Hurrah!   :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: petes46 on 01 February, 2012, 11:53:38 pm
Bad News:
I discovered at the end of last week that the guy who was supposedly going to buy my house hadn't got a mortgage offer (3 weeks before completion)!   :facepalm:

So: House back on market.   :sick:

Good News:
There were 10 viewings over last weekend.  I now have a new buyer, a sale agreed at the asking price, only one extra link added to the chain and the upper part of the chain has stayed intact! Hooray!!!   ;D :smug:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 07 February, 2012, 02:54:37 pm
God news; We finallly bit the bullet and ordered a new bed - it was £500 less than the manufacturers list price we'd seen at the factory.  :thumbsup:

Bad news; My car was serviced today. What with new brakes, new tyre and new antifreeze that came to the thick end of £500   :facepalm:

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 February, 2012, 06:53:57 pm
Bad news, the pipes were frozen this morning. No shower.

Good news, they appear to have defrosted without a leak and I'm fragrant again.

Good news, I'm off the the yoo-ess-ayy for 4 weeks later this year

Bad news, I've just realised it's the 4 weeks immediately prior to their election, so wall to wall politics...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 08 February, 2012, 07:15:55 pm
Good news, I'm off the the yoo-ess-ayy for 4 weeks later this year
Business or pleasure? And, more importantly, anywhere interesting?

(I ask mainly 'cos I'm up to my eyes in US-related stuff relating to next year's possible holiday in the 49th state ...)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 February, 2012, 07:22:59 pm
Good news, I'm off the the yoo-ess-ayy for 4 weeks later this year
Business or pleasure? And, more importantly, anywhere interesting?

(I ask mainly 'cos I'm up to my eyes in US-related stuff relating to next year's possible holiday in the 49th state ...)

http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=55959.msg1144530#msg1144530

Pleasure hopefully. Flying to Las Vegas from Manchester and hoping to do a similar route to these two through Nevada, Arizona & Utah.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 09 February, 2012, 09:46:19 am
Good News: I fly home from working Saudi overnight tonight

Bad news: I've just seen the weather forecast of SNOW for 9pm to 6am and I'm due to land at 05:20.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 10 February, 2012, 01:00:39 am
Good:  In a few hours I'll be flying home to surprise my Father for a significant birthday.

Bad: Just learned one of the guys I used to performed with died Friday afternoon, so looks like I need to pack for a funeral as well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 14 February, 2012, 11:58:46 am
Good News: the children are playing in the garden for the first time since I started in November (it's tiny and up steep steps) They are having a lovely time hitting nature with sticks :D

Bad News: There may have been some real live plants in the flower bed where the sticks are :-[. Still I expect the hardy ones will survive being stomped on by small wellies ;D.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 15 February, 2012, 06:26:51 pm
Good news: marj has some nomm nomm dark chocolate from the W.I.

Bad news: marj has some nomm nomm dark chocolate from the W.I.


get thee behind me satan
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 16 February, 2012, 02:15:41 pm
Bad news (VERY bad news): I ran out of coffee at 10:30 this morning

Good news: The postman turned up at 11:30 with a new consignment!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 16 February, 2012, 04:11:22 pm
^^^^
you could say you planned that ;)

I'm not sure we would believe you ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 17 February, 2012, 10:02:47 pm
Good news - I picked up a shiny new Delorme road atlas of Arizona from the post office for my trip later this year.

Bad news - It's not pannier friendly and I only need 1/3 of it, so it's going to be butchered with a Stanley knife. I _hate_ doing this, it makes me feel like a vandal  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 20 February, 2012, 04:20:15 pm
good news : there are crisps in the food cupboard

bad news : there will be no weight loss this week
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 21 February, 2012, 08:53:36 am
I'm back on the bike again for the first time in weeks .....YAYYYYYYY!!!!

Hmmm. Pre flight check show fairy visitation for Pompetamine front wheel....BOOOOOO

But that is why we have and can justify a stable, step forward old faithful Marin....YAYYYYYY!

Hmmmm. Mid flight check shows seat tube cracking, rather badly (is there any other sort?). BOOOO

So this could be a good time to n+1 it, what is more it is the Cycle Scheme entrance time at work, must be a sign.....YAYYYYYY!!!

But then I will have to get this past Front Door Customs Control. BOOOOO

<edit post phone call> it appears Marin provide lifetime warranty on the frame, YAYYYY!!!!!

But that means n+1 is a non-starter...... BOOOO
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 21 February, 2012, 10:37:59 am
Your life is, indeed, a rollercoaster, just as Mr Keating advised.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: geraldc on 21 February, 2012, 12:58:56 pm
bad news: shouting match with my boss over progressing some paperwork, he wanted it progressed quickly so we can invoice, I said I have to wait for references and carry out due diligence
good news: discovered potential identify theft and fraud on the paper work I was supposed to progress. So waiting for a phone call, and then a phone call to the police to try get the bugger caught
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 21 February, 2012, 01:05:22 pm
bad news: shouting match with my boss over progressing some paperwork, he wanted it progressed quickly so we can invoice, I said I have to wait for references and carry out due diligence
good news: discovered potential identify theft and fraud on the paper work I was supposed to progress. So waiting for a phone call, and then a phone call to the police to try get the bugger caught

Yay for Gerald, the world of finance needs more Geralds :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 21 February, 2012, 02:07:13 pm
The good
There is an HTC Sensation XE Beats sat charging on my desk.

The bad
MrsCharly doesn't know about it yet, and my current vodafone contract has 3 months to run.

<goes and sits on naughty chair in the corner>
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rusky on 21 February, 2012, 06:03:06 pm
The HTC Sensation XE Beats is nice *strokes his XE Beats*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: trixie on 21 February, 2012, 06:19:29 pm
Good news... I have heard today that my references have been approved and I can arrange start date for my new job!  About time too, the interview was held in December, so there's been a lot of waiting.

Bad News...this is the first time I will have worked full-time since Before Children...and that was twenty years ago...feeling very apprehensive.  Will also have to work 'long days' on a rota basis that includes weekends...but at least there will be no nights.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 21 February, 2012, 06:23:03 pm
Good news - bobb and I are in Portree.

Bad news - the weather is so very very awful we don't want to leave the b&b.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 February, 2012, 12:53:04 pm
Hurrah!  The motel that serves as event HQ in Battle Mountain has not been fully booked by the Orange Hordes!
Bah!  They're only taking bookings by phone this year and with an eight hour time difference it goes on my bill, not the BigCo's.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 22 February, 2012, 12:54:32 pm
Good news - bobb and I are in Portree.

Bad news - the weather is so very very awful we don't want to leave the b&b.

Oh, dear.  Perhaps you should find something to do indoors.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 22 February, 2012, 01:54:55 pm
Back in my day, we had to make our own entertainment. ;D

That thought did cross my mind, but then I realised she'd said B&B, so they might have hours they have to be out. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 22 February, 2012, 09:01:59 pm
Hurrah!  The motel that serves as event HQ in Battle Mountain has not been fully booked by the Orange Hordes!
Bah!  They're only taking bookings by phone this year and with an eight hour time difference it goes on my bill, not the BigCo's.

Join 18185.co.uk, pay 0.5p/min to phone USA (direct debit from credit card) and fret not.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 22 February, 2012, 09:07:20 pm
The milkman seems to have delivered full cream milk instead of our usual semi-skimmed. NOM!
I'm supposed to be losing weight.
(Actually 11 grams more fat per pint won't make much difference...)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rusky on 22 February, 2012, 09:19:14 pm
The Mrs got her end of year bonus :)

So did George Osbourne :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 23 February, 2012, 09:17:14 am
Good news - Marin will honour the lifetime warranty

Bad news - as it's 4 years old and discontinued, it ends up as the current model 29er, not an advance in my view, and loses the carbon fork. I may sell and buy a replica of my model.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 24 February, 2012, 04:38:18 pm
Good News - Mrs T's Carlton is all ready to be prepped and resprayed, and will have a sparkling NOS headtube badge when we get it back.

Bad News - My Carlton is not worth sorting (due to the expense of replacing BB shell or re-tapping threads etc), so no N+1 for me, only for Mrs T.

All this was discovered during a very informative chat I had over the phone with Mr Yates.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 25 February, 2012, 07:49:08 pm
Good news: the LBS had a Tubus 'Logo' rack in stock - at last, I thought, a rack worthy of Pugsley.
Bad news: the bloody thing doesn't fit - the sides of the rack slope inwards and Pug's tyres get in the way.

Possible good news as a result of bad news: I might have to get a Surly or Old Man Mountain rack instead :)

I think this is the first time I've had to return anything to the LBS ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 26 February, 2012, 09:17:29 pm
Good news. I was able to ride to my parents for Sunday lunch (5 miles each way) without it leaving me feeling like I'm made of jelly, so whatever bug has been bothering me all week appears to have gone.

Bad news. I've got a sore throat starting  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 28 February, 2012, 02:17:18 pm
Good news ;I managed to overcome the ICBA curse & went out on my bike.

Bad news; it was a 'mare.

I'm really struggling to avoid the decision to knock it all on the head.

Two punctures didn't help.Neither did the fact that the lbs didn't have what I wanted
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 28 February, 2012, 02:59:34 pm


Bad news; it was a 'mare.

I'm really struggling to avoid the decision to knock it all on the head.


Why was it a 'mare?

You can't give up.  You said you would ride with me this year.   :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Si_Co on 28 February, 2012, 03:01:46 pm
I'm really struggling to avoid the decision to knock it all on the head.

You know you'll regret that......remember the diving?

Just accept the fact that it's a poo day, we all have them, gotta learn to take the good with the bad, soon be summer
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 28 February, 2012, 03:05:30 pm
I'm really struggling to avoid the decision to knock it all on the head.
I can sympathise, really I can.
There's a very good reason why my profile says 'on hiatus' ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 28 February, 2012, 03:09:04 pm


.....remember the diving?



that was not a voluntary decision...
loss of employment=loss of company car=loss of income=fait accompli
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 28 February, 2012, 06:07:19 pm
Good news: I slept for nearly 14 hours last night/today and felt a lot better for it.

Bad news: I went and did my horsey chores (took me nearly 2 hours to do 1/2 hour's worth of stuff) and am now freezing, lightheaded, coughing up 3 or more lungs and bone-wearingly tired.   :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 28 February, 2012, 06:23:04 pm
Jogler, hope tomorrow is a better day.

Why1040, sounds like you're still unwell, hope you can get home and rest as much as possible some more. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 28 February, 2012, 07:08:31 pm
Yep, home, just out of a VERY hot bath for steam-cleaning lungs and warming up purposes and pondering whether I have enough energy to go downstairs and actually make myself some food or I should just have another Belvita breakfast biscuit and a fruit puree...

And eating chilli chocolate, because it's there!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 28 February, 2012, 07:38:07 pm
Bah, hope chocolate makes you feel better soonest!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 28 February, 2012, 08:27:33 pm
Good news: whilst searching for a roll of sellotape, I found a fiver on my desk.
Bad news: despite being in the position whereby I could now by several rolls of sellotape, I still can't find the roll I'm sure I left on here at some point.

Seems that the universe isn't quite finished with me yet.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 28 February, 2012, 08:39:05 pm
Good news: whilst searching for a roll of sellotape, I found a fiver on my desk.
Bad news: despite being in the position whereby I could now by several rolls of sellotape, I still can't find the roll I'm sure I left on here at some point.

Seems that the universe isn't quite finished with me yet.

Put the fiver away, than start looking for it on your desk. You'll find the tape, if you can be convincing enough that you're looking for the fiver...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 28 February, 2012, 09:13:34 pm
Put the fiver away, than start looking for it on your desk. You'll find the tape, if you can be convincing enough that you're looking for the fiver...
Sod that, I'm going to keep looking for the tape just in case I find any more fivers :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 28 February, 2012, 10:11:16 pm
Put the fiver away, than start looking for it on your desk. You'll find the tape, if you can be convincing enough that you're looking for the fiver...
Sod that, I'm going to keep looking for the tape just in case I find any more fivers :)

Careful, if you find any more fivers, you'll have to buy a round at the pub tomorrow...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: RW on 29 February, 2012, 02:41:29 pm
Good news: It's my birthday - it doesn't happen often - apart from today's I've only had 13
Bad news: went to the fridge to find (or more accurately) not find my lunch.  Some bugger's eaten it!

Very good news:  There is CAKE lots of it!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 29 February, 2012, 03:14:34 pm
Happy Birthday CptBob I've never met anyone who I've known to have a 29th Feb birthday - my mum wanted to have me on 29th (I'm 27th) but the docs said no.

Hope you have plenty of CAEK to make up for the missing lunch!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: RW on 29 February, 2012, 04:13:45 pm
I've never met anyone who I've known to have a 29th Feb birthday -
Neither have I.  I've heard tell of them though!

It's good to know you're a fellow fish!

It's gone a bit silly here - someone's just walked past wearing a 2012 anorak - and they've put up 2012 pink signage.  Most of it is pretty irrelevant - we are nowhere near the Olympic Stadium (West) exit.  The toilets have been rebranded, Pit Stop.

I'm retiring on May 11th!  That's good news!  I can't think of any bad news to go with that so I'm clearly going well off topic.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 29 February, 2012, 04:42:51 pm
Good news: It's my birthday - it doesn't happen often - apart from today's I've only had 13


Happy Birthday CptBob.

My cousin is a leap year baby.She is 12 today
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 29 February, 2012, 05:05:50 pm
There's quite a few fish in this wee pond.  ><>
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 29 February, 2012, 05:06:50 pm
Is Weepond anywhere near Weeford?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 29 February, 2012, 05:08:28 pm
it's near Wee Kbladder
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: RW on 29 February, 2012, 07:24:26 pm
it's near Wee Kbladder
Been there
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 29 February, 2012, 08:26:02 pm
Good news, I managed a decent nights sleep without this bloody cough waking me up.

Bad news, I've had the trots from hell all day....I suspect the "past their use by date" lamb chops from last night.

Good news, I'm not sprinting to the bog anymore.

Bad news, the cough appears to be back with a vengeance, sealing up my airways and making my eyes pop out of my head !
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 29 February, 2012, 08:39:23 pm
Good news - the local spar has a special offer on Tunnock's teacakes :D

Bad news - I'm supposed to be dieting  :-[
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 March, 2012, 02:02:34 pm
Good news - I have applied for several jobs.

Bad news - sitting at a computer composing CVs and letters has given me a headache!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 02 March, 2012, 02:16:47 pm
Good news: I'm feeling considerably less ill today.  Tired rather than in pain.

Bad news: Discovered a mysterious bruise (http://yfrog.com/kkowzgcj) on my right calf last night.  Must be from the barakta birthday ride (the last time I rode an upwrong), but I've no memory of a pedal incident, and I'm surprised I didn't spot it sooner.  ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 02 March, 2012, 03:27:07 pm
I often find large nasty looking bruises on my legs with a clue of when or how it happened.
My guess is that it may during an adrenalin rush moment during some sort of incident. (Usually self inflicted)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 03 March, 2012, 10:44:48 am
Bad news:  It is raining.
Good news:  CU and CA are dragging my sorry arse out for a bike ride anyway.  I think they might not be 100% fairweather cyclists any more!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: JenM on 03 March, 2012, 11:09:23 am
Trying to book bargain berth + bike on the Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness

22 May - good news: I have a berth @ £49 / bad news: there is no space for my bike
23 May - good news: I have a berth @ £39 and a space for my bike and they cancelled my reservation for the 22nd / bad news: well its an inconvenience, but hardly bad news
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 March, 2012, 07:59:38 pm
Good news: After years of rolling 3-month contracts, Mrs Cudzo's dept of Big Financial Data Co is finally offering permanent contracts.

Bad news: In Cape Town.

Good news: Ten days ago, she started on a permanent contract in another dept of the same co.

Bad news: It's Sales and she's not sure she can hack it. But it's early days yet.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: dasmoth on 04 March, 2012, 01:35:18 pm
Good news: made it round our usual weekend loop yesterday with only a minimum of grumbling from my lungs (and most of that while riding through the smoke from a bonfire).

Bad news: a lovely village pub where we often stop for a pint on the way back seems to have closed  :(.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 04 March, 2012, 05:19:46 pm
Bad news: MFWHTBAB just cycled off back to his car to drive home. After a whole week together, the flat seems quite empty.*

Good news: while walking back from a coffee out, we picked up three abandoned broken umbrellas to dismantle for bag lining material - two black, and one rather nice black and grey Greek key style pattern.


*Pause for ironic laughter from anyone who's ever seen the amount of clutter in my flat.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Moose57 on 04 March, 2012, 05:24:01 pm
Good news-Remembered Time Team.
Bad news-Still fronted by Tony Robinson. Sigh.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 04 March, 2012, 06:25:47 pm
Good news-Remembered Time Team.
Bad news-Still fronted by Tony Robinson. Sigh.
And by all accounts losing Mick Aston for the next series  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 04 March, 2012, 07:39:18 pm
*Pause for ironic laughter from anyone who's ever seen the amount of clutter in my flat.

Turn it into an art installation then!
You know it makes sense!
http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/ (http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/)
http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=12878 (http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=12878)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 04 March, 2012, 08:23:49 pm
That's quite touching...

I never remember where I heard it, but I heard a story of someone whose granny had a tin labelled "Pieces of string too short to be useful".  That will be me one day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 March, 2012, 08:25:49 pm
I'm fairly sure my gran had one of those.  Possibly without the label.  She was proficient at reef knots, though, so their utility was not lost.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 04 March, 2012, 09:39:36 pm
My Grandma had a Cupboard of Soap. About the size of a small single wardrobe, with shelves, full (I mean, packed) of bars of soap. Fairy, Dove, Simple, that sort of thing, mostly in double or triple packs. Whenever she saw it on offer, she stocked up.

So I know I have the genes....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 04 March, 2012, 09:45:45 pm
My Grandma had a Cupboard of Soap. About the size of a small single wardrobe, with shelves, full (I mean, packed) of bars of soap. Fairy, Dove, Simple, that sort of thing, mostly in double or triple packs. Whenever she saw it on offer, she stocked up.

So I know I have the genes....
So did mine. She said you should always be well in hand with soap, because new soap lathers too much so you should keep it for a while so that it lasts better when you use it.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 05 March, 2012, 08:12:17 pm
The CD's I ordered from the US have arrived  :thumbsup:

I've got a card saying it will cost me £12 duty & handling to collect them  >:(

It was a lovely sunny day  :D

This bloody cough is still plaguing me  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 06 March, 2012, 10:35:54 pm
a friends granny has just died, the funeral is next weekend   :(

so they cant use their tickets for england / ireland at twickenham, and me & mrsmike are free that afternoon  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bairn Again on 06 March, 2012, 10:41:38 pm
good news : my nephews girlfriend has just given birth, so my mum is a great grandmother for the 1st time.  A new baby YLee!

bad news :my big sister is in the same hospital seriously ill having spent all but a few days in there this year.   
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Chris S on 07 March, 2012, 10:50:07 am
so they cant use their tickets for england / ireland at twickenham, and me & mrsmike are free that afternoon  ;D

It's what she would have wanted.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 07 March, 2012, 05:13:36 pm
the Good News : I cycled 67km today without complaint from my knee.

the Bad News : a couple of hours after arriving home pain begins in the knee

 wtf?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 07 March, 2012, 05:16:32 pm
Your knee is allergic to being at home.  Best start planning a long tour :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 07 March, 2012, 05:26:52 pm
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rusky on 07 March, 2012, 06:51:15 pm
there wasn't enough beer to keep it lubricated??
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 12 March, 2012, 12:07:15 pm
Good news; My wife can have her radio-iodine treatment for hyperthroidism next week  :thumbsup:

Bad news; No "close contact" for several days afterwards  :-\

Good News; It won't impact on her planned trip to Canada at the end of May  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 12 March, 2012, 01:02:57 pm
Short term pain, long term gain?  Hope it all goes smoothly.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 12 March, 2012, 01:18:50 pm
Short term pain, long term gain?  Hope it all goes smoothly.

Absolutely, and thanks.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 March, 2012, 02:57:18 pm
Good: My lungs are almost entirely clear.

Bad: Because the unholy slime is all jammed in my sinuses.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 12 March, 2012, 08:30:44 pm
Good news: I finally got off my arse & went to the GP's. Now got Amoxicillin for the chest infection.
Bad news: That probably means I shouldn't drink anything alcoholic for the next week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 12 March, 2012, 08:37:34 pm
Good news: I finally got off my arse & went to the GP's. Now got Amoxicillin for the chest infection.
Bad news: That probably means I shouldn't drink anything alcoholic for the next week.

Get better soon AndrewC and ditto - amox for me too.  The lack of booze isn't too bad for me cos I don't drink much anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: TheLurker on 13 March, 2012, 08:11:28 am
Bad news. 
 - Colleague's garage is broken into.  All family bikes and camping gear stolen.

Good news.  You'd better be sitting down.
- Insurance company don't quibble,  all resolved within a month.  Colleague and his eldest sprog both get upgraded bikes out of it and all camping gear replaced.

Of course he's going to have to spend a small fortune beefing up the security of his garage so it's not unalloyed joy, but still..
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 13 March, 2012, 08:40:40 am
Bad news. 
 - Colleague's garage is broken into.  All family bikes and camping gear stolen.

Good news.  You'd better be sitting down.
- Insurance company don't quibble,  all resolved within a month.  Colleague and his eldest sprog both get upgraded bikes out of it and all camping gear replaced.

Of course he's going to have to spend a small fortune beefing up the security of his garage so it's not unalloyed joy, but still..

So who's the insurance through??
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: WhizzBang on 13 March, 2012, 08:54:39 am
That is indeed good news.   Also would like to know the insurance company  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: TheLurker on 13 March, 2012, 09:06:31 am
Colleague he say, "Halifax".
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 13 March, 2012, 09:31:02 am
Is your colleague aware that the scumbags often return after a few weeks to nick the replacements?

I wonder if there is a market for selling big,garage-dwelling,f66koff Alsation dogs trained to use a shotgun?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: TheLurker on 13 March, 2012, 09:36:59 am
Is your colleague aware that the scumbags often return after a few weeks to nick the replacements?
He is. Which is why he's currently spending a small fortune beefing up the security of his garage.  Better locks, burglar alarm, ground anchors, yada yada..
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 13 March, 2012, 09:37:25 am
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 14 March, 2012, 09:47:41 pm
Good news: The St Nicks info stall on the 'Green Market' sold 2 of my keyrings.
Bad News: That's all they sold. Still, my share of the proceeds (£2.50) paid for some jiffy envelops and a steak bake for tea.

I mean the steak bake was for tea. The jiffy envelopes weren't.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 16 March, 2012, 12:23:58 pm
Good news: I'm not in work today  :-\

Bad news: I appear to have a nasty bit of food poisoning. I was sprinting to the loo all night, and this morning fainted whilst on the throne. I just managed to get onto the floor before I blacked out. Woke up with my arse sticking up in the air and my head wedged into the corner of the shower tray. I didn't have much purchase so it was a panicky struggle to get up.

I'm now feeling weak as a kitten and am drinking tea to try & replace fluids, as I can't find the Nuuns.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 16 March, 2012, 08:54:19 pm
Good news : there's doughnuts in the kitchen
Bad news : I'm home alone.

or should that be reversed?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 17 March, 2012, 07:02:59 am
Good news: I have all the parts I need to make my Pugsley go.

Bad news: I lack the parts to make it stop.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Maverick on 18 March, 2012, 10:32:24 pm
Good news: I completed my first audax since a car knoked me off last September

Bad news: Got left for dead by my fellow arrow team mates

and there is only 3 weeks to find some improvement in speed :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 18 March, 2012, 10:35:20 pm
But did today's audax lead inexorably to a pubbe?  With cake in it?  It's all about the motivation ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 18 March, 2012, 10:36:46 pm
Good news: I completed my first audax since a car knoked me off last September

Bad news: Got left for dead by my fellow arrow team mates

and there is only 3 weeks to find some improvement in speed :(

Congrats on completing the audax Maverick  :thumbsup:

Get some feedback from the team on the speed stuff.  See what they think.  Good luck with your continued recovery  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 20 March, 2012, 07:41:34 am
Good news; My wifes radio Iodine treatment went without a hitch  :thumbsup:

Bad News; I'm now sleeping on the bed settee for the next 10 days  :(

Good News; It not too uncomfortable  :)

Bad News; It was bloody cold, the 4.5 tog duvet is not enough!  :-\

God News; We have another.  ;D

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 20 March, 2012, 08:22:30 am
Glad all went well for your wife and hope you're back in the bed and she's up and running as normal soon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 20 March, 2012, 08:42:15 am
Good news: I have all the parts I need to make my Pugsley go.

Bad news: I lack the parts to make it stop.

Good news: My brakes now have a tracking status of "Mar 17, 2012 1:32:00 PM Status:Departure from outward office of exchange, Location:BEIJING"

Bad News: I'm still no closer to knowing when they'll arrive
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 20 March, 2012, 09:54:39 am
Good news: Spa have leather saddles back in stock, and I have a birthday coming up.  :thumbsup:

Bad news: My dearest has already chosen my birthday present, and said birthday marks the passing of 'early 40s' to 'mid 40s' and downhill to 50  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 20 March, 2012, 10:02:43 am
Good news: Spa have leather saddles back in stock, and I have a birthday coming up.  :thumbsup:

Bad news: My dearest has already chosen my birthday present, and said birthday marks the passing of 'early 40s' to 'mid 40s' and downhill to 50  >:(

mrcharly, my next door neighbour's birthday was last week; he said, "I'm now officially in my mid-eighties."  He's 84.  I've known him since he was 49 and every year he has said, "Well, I won't see this year out!".  You are as young as you're ever going to be, so try and enjoy every minute!  Happy birthday, when it comes!

P.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 20 March, 2012, 07:32:44 pm
He's 84.  I've known him since he was 49 and every year he has said, "Well, I won't see this year out!". 

P.

Eventually his prognosis will be correct.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 21 March, 2012, 03:11:15 pm
Good news: I have all the parts I need to make my Pugsley go.

Bad news: I lack the parts to make it stop.

Good news: My brakes now have a tracking status of "Mar 17, 2012 1:32:00 PM Status:Departure from outward office of exchange, Location:BEIJING"

Bad News: I'm still no closer to knowing when they'll arrive

Good news: The postman brought them today

Bad news: We were out when he came

Great news: He hid them for me rather tab. Making me wait 72hours until I can collect them.  :thumbsup:

I'm going to the shed. I may be some time
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 21 March, 2012, 04:36:51 pm
Good news: my employers have just overpaid my expenses claim by £90

Bad news: the person who's account they've paid it from has noticed so I'll have to givei it straight back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 27 March, 2012, 05:13:00 pm
Bad news : last August I lost an Abus cafe lock outside a pub in St. Keverne,Cornwall.

I replaced with another one almost immediatley

Good news : today I found that Abus cafe lock.Not in St. Keverne but in my Barley saddlebag whilst fettling various luggage & kit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rower40 on 28 March, 2012, 06:22:25 am
Bad News: I've left Orange Bling in Cornwall.
Good News: I'm going back there at Easter to collect it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: arabella on 28 March, 2012, 08:40:27 pm
Good news: younger guy did nearly all of the washing up with only a teensy bit of nagging
Bad news: most of it still needs doing again
But it's a step in the right direction
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 29 March, 2012, 02:20:32 pm
Good News: I should get BT Infinity next week; I'm booked for an engineer to visit next Tuesday.
Bad News: my home broadband is down AGAIN. I've connected on my Voda dongle.
Good news: the mobile connection is fairly stable and fast.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 29 March, 2012, 02:29:36 pm
Good news..... my n-+1 arrived !!

Bad news..... it wasn't quite the model shown in the picture, a new pannier rack required

Bad news ... Winstanleys best "offer" is to sell me a rack for more than it's on sale in Halfords

Good news.... It's still a great bike and a great day to be riding it
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 March, 2012, 02:49:50 pm
Bah! My motor-car's insewarants is up for renewal.
Hurrah! For the first time in about five years I assembled the tuits to shop around and as a result have saved three hundred quid.  Take that, Swiftcover, you bunch of robbing twunts!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 30 March, 2012, 02:52:23 pm
Who's going to pay Iggy Pop's wages now?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 31 March, 2012, 08:02:35 am
Good news: it's 8am and I've been awake for half an hour, so am ready to get going.

Bad news: it's SATURDAY, it's 8am and I've been awake for half an hour, so I'm ready to get going!

*yawn*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 31 March, 2012, 08:38:16 am
Good: I'm at my mum's for the weekend
Bad: This will involve lots of sitting on fat arse and eating shite :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 03 April, 2012, 07:27:30 pm
 :) after-work drinks tonight

 >:( I'm chained to my desk for another hour
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 03 April, 2012, 10:27:17 pm
Good News: I should get BT Infinity next week; I'm booked for an engineer to visit next Tuesday.
Bad News: my home broadband is down AGAIN. I've connected on my Voda dongle.
Good news: the mobile connection is fairly stable and fast.

Good news: the engineer came at the appointed time.
Bad news: half the landline phones don't work.
Good news: there's no spaghetti in the hallway.
I'm getting 23Mbbps download on my laptop, which is nice.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 04 April, 2012, 06:41:55 pm
Good News: I should get BT Infinity next week; I'm booked for an engineer to visit next Tuesday.
Bad News: my home broadband is down AGAIN. I've connected on my Voda dongle.
Good news: the mobile connection is fairly stable and fast.

Good news: the engineer came at the appointed time.
Bad news: half the landline phones don't work.
Good news: there's no spaghetti in the hallway.
I'm getting 23Mbbps download on my laptop, which is nice.

Good News: we've found out why some of the landline phones are not working.
Bad news: the OpenReach 'engineer' cut two cables.
Good news: BT have offered to repair the damage.
Bad news: they have not phoned back.
Good news: I had a 'courtesy cal' from BT asking what I thought of their service.
Bad news: I told them about the cut cables and the location of the connection on an extension, not at the Master Socket...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 06 April, 2012, 11:21:03 am
Good news : I made an effort & went out on my bike :)
Bad news : I cricked my neck & cannot now look over my right shoulder when turning right ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 06 April, 2012, 11:55:32 am
Good news Tree sparrows in the garden Bad news they are on the red list only 100,000 pairs
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 08 April, 2012, 12:30:32 pm
Good news ; went out on my bike for the second consecutive Sunday

Bad news ; the group were too fast
                 the route was too lumpy
                 I was dropped early (10km in ) & in effect had a solo ride   
                 the gearing on the Trek is unkind to my knee; it's now giving me some real grief >:(

 More Good news : I'm scoffing a slab,the size of a dustbin lid,of Marj's lemon meringue         
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: BrianI on 11 April, 2012, 07:49:03 pm
Good news: Tomorrow I'm helping my with a bird survey at Loch of Kinnordy
Bad news:  We need to be there for 6:30am   >:(
Good news: it'll be good experience, and a lot of fun.   :smug:
Bad News:  Except getting rudely awaken by my alarm tomorrow morning at 3:45am   :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 11 April, 2012, 08:16:44 pm
Good news: Tomorrow I'm helping my with a bird survey at Loch of Kinnordy
Bad news:  We need to be there for 6:30am   >:(
Good news: it'll be good experience, and a lot of fun.   :smug:
Bad News:  Except getting rudely awaken by my alarm tomorrow morning at 3:45am   :'(
It'll be horrible until you get there. Then you'll wonder why you don't do that sort of thing more often.
Until about seven in the evening...

Have a good time!

S
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pedaldog. on 12 April, 2012, 01:29:39 am
Good News:-  After many Screw ups by the Local NHS trust meaning that they thought I'd had the Biopsy about 6 weeks ago and I finally managed to get an appointment for it to actually be done.

Bad News:-  Having it done on Friday the 13th!!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: eck on 12 April, 2012, 08:12:03 am
Good news: Tomorrow I'm helping my with a bird survey at Loch of Kinnordy
Bad news:  We need to be there for 6:30am   >:(
Good news: it'll be good experience, and a lot of fun.   :smug:
Bad News:  Except getting rudely awaken by my alarm tomorrow morning at 3:45am   :'(

Kinnordy is just a couple of miles along the road from us... you've got a cracking day for it.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 12 April, 2012, 09:18:14 am
Good news: grandma is finally conceding that she might need a bit of professional help round the house beyond what the district nurse provides.
Bad news: she's getting old and infirm.
Good news: she's got to 103 without.
Better news: I'm not the one that has to find someone she's happy to have around the house.
Bad news: My Mum will be doing this, so I'll still hear all about it.


Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: essexian on 12 April, 2012, 11:49:00 am
Good News: Just had a Heart Stress Test which took my heart up to 190 (115% of my MHR) without any increase in the dull pain I have had in my chest since last November. The test went well, said the Tec, "most people don't manage what you did."

Bad News: Still don't know what is causing this dull chest pain despite a number of tests (My mum died of heart failure last year.... )
I am starting to think that its all in my head.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pedaldog. on 13 April, 2012, 02:44:28 am
Good news: MORE Hospital Screw ups and due to "Staff Difficulties" tomorrow's (Today's now!) Biopsy is off so Friday the 13th doesn't make me fret so much!

Bad news:- More Hospital screw up and due to "Staff difficulties" the Biopsy is now put back until they can rearrange it for, hopefully, next week!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 13 April, 2012, 11:26:25 am
Bad news: my blood test results were catastrophically bad - my blood sugars are almost as high as they were when I was diagnosed  :o Needless to say, the Lead Souffle of Depression is back with a vengeance and the additional meds are making me feel ill.
Good news: it motivated me enough to ride to work this morning
Statement of the bleedin' obvious: diabetes sucks.

Bad news/Good news1 - looks like I might have to come out of hiding now.

1 - depending on your viewpoint
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 13 April, 2012, 11:41:02 am
Bad news: my blood test results were catastrophically bad - my blood sugars are almost as high as they were when I was diagnosed  :o Needless to say, the Lead Souffle of Depression is back with a vengeance and the additional meds are making me feel ill.
Good news: it motivated me enough to ride to work this morning
Statement of the bleedin' obvious: diabetes sucks.

Bad news/Good news1 - looks like I might have to come out of hiding now.

1 - depending on your viewpoint

Sorry to hear that IZ, maybe you should jump on a train some Thursday evenings and join us? :)  The Pugsley would have loved last night....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 13 April, 2012, 12:42:05 pm

Bad news/Good news1 - looks like I might have to come out of hiding now.

1 - depending on your viewpoint

I say GOOD!

Hoe the bgs stabilise soon and that the lead souffle buggers off soon-as.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 17 April, 2012, 12:00:35 am
Good news:
The Country Girl is now open till midnight all week rather than just the weekend as previously.
 
Bad news:
The Country Girl is now open till midnight all week rather than just the weekend as previously.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 17 April, 2012, 09:13:10 am
Good news: I got an emergency appointment with doctor yesterday.

Good news:  No kidney infection

Bad new:  It's probably muscular. Take extra painkillers, just add paracetamol and ibuprofen together.


Bad news:
Back pain still wakes me at 3am every night.
Oh, well, it's not like I *need* to be able to sleep for more than 3 hours. Or do things like have enough energy to ride my bike.

Good news:
I get to hear the birdsong every dawn.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: GrahamG on 18 April, 2012, 12:48:48 pm
I think this qualifies for this thread...

Good news: Wife (currently doing PGCE) phoned school in Oxford about a job she loved the look of and got very positive response and was asked to apply.

Bad news: It would seem that Oxford area rental costs are so eye wateringly high that if I couldn't find myself a job there, 80% odd of her salary would go to covering bills.

Don't want to put a dampener but we did rule out the south-east due to cost of living and it would appear that oxford is within the sphere of influence.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 18 April, 2012, 12:49:47 pm
Oxford is in the south east.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 April, 2012, 01:07:59 pm
Is Oxford really more expensive than Bristol?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: GrahamG on 18 April, 2012, 01:10:27 pm
Oxford is in the south east.

I kind of had it as a bit of a grey area between SE and midlands. Can't believe the cost of rent there.

Cudzo - significantly, like what appears to be in the region of 30-40% more on similarish properties (comparing areas of Oxford that I have some knowledge of!).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 April, 2012, 02:23:17 pm
Oxford is frighteningly expensive.  IIRC Dr Larrington's house there is valued at rather more than Larrington Towers in That London, in spite of being smaller and having the bathroom off the kitchen.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 18 April, 2012, 05:57:21 pm
If you're prepared to live in Studenstville, then the rental prices up the Cowley Road are (comparatively) low.  You can rule out living in Jericho or Summertown unless you have a trust fund, Botley and Blackbird Leys are full of thieves and drug addicts, but I lived in Cowley for a while and it was lovely, and rent was affordableish.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 20 April, 2012, 09:07:05 am
the Good news:

I cycled in to work. Slowly, but I did make it.

The Bad:
Spent 20minutes on the way in arguing with stepson about him going to school. He didn't go.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 20 April, 2012, 09:13:45 am
Good News: Even in vvv heavy rain I did a 24 sec course PB on my 10m TT last night :) :) :)

Bad News: I hurt everywhere due to hitting a pothole in the warm up and taking off through the air, landing in a big heap in front of a car. Handlebar prints on thighs, smashed elbow and wrist, bruises everywhere.

Still pleased with my adrenaline fuelled time though :) :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 April, 2012, 12:49:51 pm
Good news: The builder has arrived to continue the buildering he started many weeks ago.
Bad news: He's buildered a bit and left.
Good news: He's left all his buckets, cement mixer, etc lying around, so clearly intends to come back and finish today.
Bad news: He's left all his buckets, cement mixer, etc lying around.
Good news: He's been very careful not to squash the flowers we planted.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 24 April, 2012, 04:22:35 pm
I think this qualifies for this thread...

Good news: Wife (currently doing PGCE) phoned school in Oxford about a job she loved the look of and got very positive response and was asked to apply.

Bad news: It would seem that Oxford area rental costs are so eye wateringly high that if I couldn't find myself a job there, 80% odd of her salary would go to covering bills.

Don't want to put a dampener but we did rule out the south-east due to cost of living and it would appear that oxford is within the sphere of influence.

Something we discovered, when both myself and Mrs T worked in, or near Oxford, is that Banbury is MUCH cheaper for renting, has a regular train link to Oxford and is the right side of town for Peartree P'n'R.  Banbury itself is not bad, had a brilliant curry house (obviously don't know if it is still there as this was in 2001/2) and all the other services you would require.  It also seems to be as far as most Northerners dare to venture down the M40, as you hear more Yorkshire/Lancs/Scouse accents there than anywhere else in the SE.

Win all round for us, and might be worth looking for your case.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: GrahamG on 24 April, 2012, 04:25:27 pm
Tiermat/Julian,

Thanks for the tips - fingers crossed now for the shortlisting and whole job interview shenanigans!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 24 April, 2012, 07:51:58 pm
I think this qualifies for this thread...

Good news: Wife (currently doing PGCE) phoned school in Oxford about a job she loved the look of and got very positive response and was asked to apply.

Bad news: It would seem that Oxford area rental costs are so eye wateringly high that if I couldn't find myself a job there, 80% odd of her salary would go to covering bills.

Don't want to put a dampener but we did rule out the south-east due to cost of living and it would appear that oxford is within the sphere of influence.
Oxford is a special case, probably more expensive than anywhere outside London.

As well as Banbury, Bicester is relatively affordable, & has an adequate train service.

Back in Oxford, Botley isn't as bad as Julian makes out. Barton is old council estate, still proletarian, & reminds me of where I grew up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rusky on 24 April, 2012, 08:09:19 pm
Good news: I've put a class photo from my infant school on Friendface

Bad news: I'm wasting too much time on Friendface!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 April, 2012, 09:21:23 am
Good news: Mrs. Wow has, without any evidence of panic, set off for Maidstone on her own in the car.

Bad news: it's going to be pissing with rain all day and I've got my two longest commutes of the week for which I'll be relying on a combination of train and bike, or perhaps a bus for this afternoon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 25 April, 2012, 09:32:16 am
Good news: It's not raining.
Bad news: Yet.

Bloody weather.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 25 April, 2012, 12:39:10 pm
Good news: we are finally getting respectable download speeds.
Bad news: the house has ethernet spaghetti everywhere.

It has taken three weeks of effort and bloody-mindedness to get our phones and interwebs to work properly.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 25 April, 2012, 01:06:34 pm
Good news: we are finally getting respectable download speeds.
Bad news: the house has ethernet spaghetti everywhere.

It has taken three weeks of effort and bloody-mindedness to get our phones and interwebs to work properly.
Get yourself a couple of these?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-PA211KIT-200Mbps-Powerline-Ethernet/dp/B004INVKP4/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335355514&sr=8-2-spell

Unless your mains electricity is particularly shonky they work a treat - because of the crappy wireless on my $ky-supplied router I use a couple of these to link the Xbox to the router upstairs. I believe there are also versions available with a pass-through if you're bothered about them hogging the only power socket.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 25 April, 2012, 03:29:38 pm
All the best houses have Ethernet spaghetti.  And Dallas 1-wire spaghetti.  And RS232 spaghetti.  And analogue POTS spaghetti, for that matter.

I don't have a cat5 fetish, honest.  I just like the way that with cables, you put a signal in one end and can be reasonably sure it's going to come out the other.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 25 April, 2012, 03:33:46 pm
All the best houses have Ethernet spaghetti.  And Dallas 1-wire spaghetti.  And RS232 spaghetti.  And analogue POTS spaghetti, for that matter.
Indeed so, but I draw the line at running Cat-5 up the stairs to Mission Control.
Of course, if I was able to use my own router instead of the pieces of shit supplied by Sky1 then it'd be moot since it'd be 5GHz-wireless-to-the-max.

1 - their broadband service is surprisingly good, but the supplied hardware is generally crap.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 25 April, 2012, 03:41:23 pm
We've only got the one run of cat5 going along the stairs.  And some coax that's now redundant since we ditched the TV licence.  There are about 4 runs of it going through a cunning gap where the floorboard split, along beside the heating pipes and down through the cupboard under the stairs, thobut.  Only one actually carries ethernet, though (there's a switch and ATA in the cupboard to feed the downstairs stuff).  The rest is all serial buses, and the incoming line from BT must be in there somewhere.

As long as they're not a tripping hazard, we refuse to get upset about the presence of wires.  That's the sort of wooly aesthetic thinking that leads to storing your bikes outside.

In the unlikely event of ever actually owning a house, I will of course fill the walls with UTP and/or conduit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 25 April, 2012, 03:47:51 pm
Cat 5 cable is minor trip hazard by front door. (Modem is on hall windowsill, rouuter is upstairs.) Cable is tacked to stairway walls.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 25 April, 2012, 03:59:36 pm
Kim as Mad Cat5 Lady. ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 25 April, 2012, 04:00:07 pm
All the best houses have Ethernet spaghetti.  And Dallas 1-wire spaghetti.  And RS232 spaghetti.  And analogue POTS spaghetti, for that matter.

I don't have a cat5 fetish, honest.  I just like the way that with cables, you put a signal in one end and can be reasonably sure it's going to come out the other.

[cue anecdote]

When we moved into Ham towers, the mansion was in a state of entire disrepair, presenting the opportunity of entire renovation to sensible standards, including structured cabling. Having packed Mrs & Miss off to in-laws I proceeded to cable the whole house one weekend. This obviously entails raising floorboards all over, and running loadsalengths of Cat5 to a patch panel on the stairs to the cellar. At around 2 in the morning, I discovered that it is indeed possible, when punching down cables to a patch panel on one side, to use the rear of your shoulder to punch in the panic alarm sequence into the alarm keypad on the other side. Which cannot be cancelled. The police have to attend. And then be convinced by your explanation as to why the house looks like it has been turned over..........
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 25 April, 2012, 04:03:02 pm
*is impressed*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 25 April, 2012, 04:03:52 pm
I see it's already sigged.  I'm honoured.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 25 April, 2012, 06:35:46 pm
Good News: I have a new candle holder.
Bad News: I am now out of port.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Adam on 25 April, 2012, 07:02:47 pm
Good News: I have a new candle holder.
Bad News: I am now out of port.

Where are you sailing to then?


IGMC
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 25 April, 2012, 07:04:20 pm
Good News: I have a new candle holder.
Bad News: I am now out of port.

Where are you sailing to then?


IGMC

With the rain we've had here today, I think a boat may be of more use than a bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 25 April, 2012, 07:44:41 pm
Good news: I had a pizza for dinner and it's not even Friday.  :thumbsup:
Bad news: Not used to cooking them from frozen and it was a tad tepid.  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 25 April, 2012, 07:59:35 pm
All the best houses have Ethernet spaghetti...

Looks down to his right and nods in agreement  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 26 April, 2012, 10:47:37 am
The Good News
-------------------
I got a pay rise!

The Bad News
------------------
Tax  changes mean I get £50 per month less.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 26 April, 2012, 10:54:32 am
The Good News
-------------------
I got a pay rise!

The Bad News
------------------
Tax  changes mean I get £50 per month less.

The last time that looked like it was going to happen to me (moving from just under the threashold to just over it) I asked my manager, and HR to delay the payrise until after the next round, along with an explanation as to why.

It worked, after the next payrise I didn't lose out.  Then again, whilst at the same company, I was offered a payrise one year of X%, where X% was much smaller than the Y% I wanted.  My acceptance of X% was with the with proviso that at the next round of pay reviews I would ONLY accept Z%, which was the figure I had calculated would give me Y% + the missed rise I wanted (and more, it took me into the top 10 paid in that company)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 26 April, 2012, 11:06:43 am
I'm a bit puzzled, as I didn't think my payrise has taken me over any threshold.

The http://www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php agrees with their calculation.

I'm paying nearly £250 more per month in income tax.  Someone has to pay for George Osborne's holidays.

Sounds like I must be earning a lot, doesn't it?

My son, an underpaid hard working chef, takes home half my take-home pay.

But 5 people live off my wage, he has no dependents. For some strange reason, I'm paying him £50 a month to help him out, because he doesn't manage on his income.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 26 April, 2012, 11:32:02 am
Tax  changes mean I get £50 per month less.
Ah! That explains why I appear to be £13/month better off ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 26 April, 2012, 12:17:17 pm
Just remember that this government is family-friendly.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 26 April, 2012, 04:34:18 pm
Just remember that this government is family-friendly.

Yes, but which family?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 26 April, 2012, 04:52:36 pm
Just remember that this government is family-friendly.

Yes, but which family?
No idea, but as a single male in full-time employment I'm used to having the proverbial target attached to my arse where Gubmint money-grabbing is concerned.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: essexian on 27 April, 2012, 04:00:06 pm
My wife has left me.  :(









But the good news is, is that she is coming back next Friday (she has gone away with her aged Mum on holiday to Cornwall leaving me with the eight cats to care for). I am missing her already.... I mean, there is cleaning which needs doing (runs and hides.....)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 27 April, 2012, 04:04:51 pm
bad news: it's raining in Swindon :(

good news: the Beeb's forecast says it won't be raining in London later, and that's where I'll be. They'd better be right.
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Roadie on 27 April, 2012, 11:15:29 pm
My knees feeling better - went for a gentle ride

It's still bloody raining!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 27 April, 2012, 11:44:38 pm
Good news: I stopped for a chicken kebab on the way home.
Bad news: I stopped for a chicken kebab on the way home.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 28 April, 2012, 12:03:30 am
Good news: I ate all of my chicken kebab.
Bad news: I ate all of my chicken kebab.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 28 April, 2012, 10:02:24 am
Just remember that this government is family-friendly.

Yes, but which family?

Bankers'?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 28 April, 2012, 06:13:21 pm
Good news (actually boab-wording brilliant news!): I did the FNRttC withoutbreaking any bones.  And rode over 100km, and it was grand fun :)

Bad news: the last few miles were ridden pretty much one-handed.  It would appear that I can cope with about 100km or some rough road surface or a bit of climbing, but not all in the same ride.  Which means I'm not going to do the Wiggy100 or the Morecambe ride :(

Better news: It's still improving, little by little  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 28 April, 2012, 06:14:50 pm
That sounds positive news Crinkles.   Are you coming to Long Itchington?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 28 April, 2012, 07:07:42 pm
Good news (actually boab-wording brilliant news!): I did the FNRttC withoutbreaking any bones.  And rode over 100km, and it was grand fun :)

Bad news: the last few miles were ridden pretty much one-handed.  It would appear that I can cope with about 100km or some rough road surface or a bit of climbing, but not all in the same ride.  Which means I'm not going to do the Wiggy100 or the Morecambe ride :(

Better news: It's still improving, little by little  :thumbsup:

Maybe that was the exercise part of the exercise/rest recovery cycle, and next time you'll find it's a lot easier?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 29 April, 2012, 01:30:40 pm
Good news:  the cats have learned to communicate!  They are now able to say "Good morning, hooman.  We are afraid that your decision to place our covered litter tray outside the catflap is not acceptable to us during this period of heavy rain, as we are not prepared to get our fur wet travelling a whole metre to get to it."

Bad news:  their preferred medium of communication is pissing on the floor.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 29 April, 2012, 04:25:52 pm
Good news: Miss Marco scored the winning try for Newmarket Girls at Colchester.  :thumbsup:

Bad news: their coach, Mrs Marco, was not there to see it, being on familial duty in Exeter Hospital.  :(

and subsequently...

Good news: it has stopped raining (at bloody last) and the sun is out here!  :thumbsup:

Bad news: I have rugby kit to wash & school stuff to sort out for tomorrow, so no time for a bike ride.   ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 01 May, 2012, 11:49:55 am
Good news:  my new Ibex merino leg warmers are lovely and toasty warm, without all that suffocating bibtight stuff.

Bad news:  the right one slips down.  And they're size XS  :-[   One-legged squats at the gym for me
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 01 May, 2012, 02:29:51 pm
Good news:  my new Ibex merino leg warmers are lovely and toasty warm, without all that suffocating bibtight stuff.

Bad news:  the right one slips down.  And they're size XS  :-[   One-legged squats at the gym for me

Clearly, the cycling equivalent of hold-up stockings Bill.

You've been Marketed, my friend.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 01 May, 2012, 02:47:17 pm
Suspender belt for Mr Plumtree.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 08 May, 2012, 01:32:40 pm
Bad noos: Managed to add damaged foot to damaged hand on ailment list.

Good noos: Already had an appointment booked at the physio

Bad noos: he recommends not cycling for a few days....

Good (??) noos: ....but doesn't see any reason why I shouldn't go for LEL next year if I fancy  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 08 May, 2012, 01:49:37 pm
It would appear that I don't have trigeminal neuralgia  :thumbsup: .


Root canal work in two weeks time  :( .

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 08 May, 2012, 02:54:36 pm
This is from Sunday, but I have only just remembered about it.

Bad news: Whilst Butterfly (and clarion) were out the front of our house being a child taxi service on the Circe, a police car pulls up and a conversation is had about one of TLD's school friends having gone missing.  I went into the back garden and asked the people there who knew this child if they had seen him.  One (the wife of one of the teachers at the school) said she would ring a few people.

Good news: He was found about 5 minutes later, by phone, at the house of one of his friends.  Community trumps Police  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 08 May, 2012, 02:58:38 pm
I hadn't realised the child was known to you!  Mind you, small community, so it's likely. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 08 May, 2012, 03:02:59 pm
I hadn't realised the child was known to you!  Mind you, small community, so it's likely.

Yes, and in fact was at TLD's last birthday party.  Nice kid, if a bit boisterous :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 08 May, 2012, 03:04:42 pm
Bad news:  I'm back in London

Good News: ......................................  Give me a few minutes :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 08 May, 2012, 03:06:21 pm
Bad news:  I'm back in London

Good News: ......................................  Give me a few minutes :(

I swear I saw a little tear in your eye as you went off down the road yesterday morning....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 08 May, 2012, 03:09:35 pm
Aha!

Good news: I'll be in York by Friday night :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 08 May, 2012, 03:11:37 pm
That's a day too late for the Thursday night rides :)  And two days late for the York rides :) :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 08 May, 2012, 03:14:07 pm
Whereyagonnabe on Friday Clarion? I'm going to be heading Yorkwards on Friday afternoon as well :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 08 May, 2012, 03:21:13 pm
We're doing the Wiggy 100, so not up at silly o'clock like yourself. ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 08 May, 2012, 03:34:44 pm
I've just run a cub camp - 5am is normal isn't it :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 08 May, 2012, 04:17:59 pm
Whereyagonnabe on Friday Clarion? I'm going to be heading Yorkwards on Friday afternoon as well :)

Clue - you're heading, AFAIK, to the same place.  As is Kim.  Altho some of you will be leaving it at different times to others, and probably returning to it at also different times.

Any votes on what you want for tea?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 May, 2012, 08:23:27 pm
Good news: I've finally registered some shareware that I'd used for 3362 days unregistered (on that computer, + 5 years on its predecessor).
Bad news: the chap who wrote the program died in 2006.
Good news: proceeds from registation go to his heirs. I was sent a code by his sister.
NO MORE NAGSCREENS!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 08 May, 2012, 08:42:12 pm
Whereyagonnabe on Friday Clarion? I'm going to be heading Yorkwards on Friday afternoon as well :)

Clue - you're heading, AFAIK, to the same place.  As is Kim.  Altho some of you will be leaving it at different times to others, and probably returning to it at also different times.

Any votes on what you want for tea?

Food would be good - I'm really not fussy :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 08 May, 2012, 08:56:40 pm
It would appear that I don't have trigeminal neuralgia  :thumbsup: .


Root canal work in two weeks time  :( .

It gets better.

Root canal work tomorrow.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 May, 2012, 09:31:08 pm
It would appear that I don't have trigeminal neuralgia  :thumbsup: .


Root canal work in two weeks time  :( .

It gets better.

Root canal work tomorrow.

 :thumbsup:

My experience of root canal work is that it's not particularly painful (I think I have 7 root filled teeth).
Hope all goes well!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 08 May, 2012, 09:37:14 pm
Ahem we will save it for another day.........
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 May, 2012, 12:09:56 am
Any votes on what you want for tea?

White rice and hyoscine, the way my digestive system's going.  If it doesn't sort itself out soon, I fear a DNF.   >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 09 May, 2012, 02:16:24 am
Any votes on what you want for tea?

White rice and hyoscine, the way my digestive system's going.  If it doesn't sort itself out soon, I fear a DNF.   >:(

I have dumped some reminders into the bot for hyoscine to see if you can just take small and often doses to help.  Poor cat, you don't deserve this digestive-fail!  :-*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 May, 2012, 09:11:00 am
Any votes on what you want for tea?

White rice and hyoscine, the way my digestive system's going.  If it doesn't sort itself out soon, I fear a DNF.   >:(
How are you with Miso?


My Good News
------------------
Dentist says I'm doing a really good job of looking after my (crappy) teeth. No deterioration.

Bad News
-------------
Two white fillings have fallen out and one amalgam is chipped and crumbling so needs patch or replace.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 09 May, 2012, 09:20:57 am
It would appear that I don't have trigeminal neuralgia  :thumbsup: .


Root canal work in two weeks time  :( .

It gets better.

Root canal work tomorrow.

 :thumbsup:

My experience of root canal work is that it's not particularly painful (I think I have 7 root filled teeth).
Hope all goes well!
It's only painful on the wallet ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Gus on 09 May, 2012, 11:33:26 am
I aced today's test so I get to keep my work, which I hate and wants to leave  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 09 May, 2012, 11:50:34 am
Well done, but I'm sorry to hear it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 09 May, 2012, 01:24:58 pm
Erm, well done Gus, I think.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 May, 2012, 08:47:20 am
Bad news: I watched Birmingham City lose in the play-offs last night

Good news: I can now go to the Long Itchington camping weekend
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 10 May, 2012, 12:55:45 pm
Good news: the kids are enjoying the learn french cd in the car.
Bad news: the songs on it have a backing track that is the musical equivalent of comic sans.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 10 May, 2012, 05:24:59 pm
Bad News: Missed delivery of a parcel today and the courier is based 50 miles away

Good News: I go past their front door on the way to York tomorrow :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 10 May, 2012, 07:24:27 pm
Bad News: Missed delivery of a parcel today and the courier is based 50 miles away

Good News: I go past their front door on the way to York tomorrow :)
Which means, due to the nature of Sod's Law Of Couriers, that when you pop into the depot to pick your parcel up you'll get a quizzical look and then be told that it's out for delivery. This is, of course, despite you contacting the depot and telling them you'll be coming to pick it up.

At least, that's what seems to happen to me ...

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 11 May, 2012, 10:29:08 am
Bad News: Been very ill this week and it's all been a bit upsetting and I'm now unplanning for stuff

Good News: I have a very lovely family already, I'm ok and I'm very lucky with what I already have in life. We need to remain grateful for the good things :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 11 May, 2012, 10:39:38 am
Good news: after an absence of many months, we once again have shortbread biscuits in the office.

Bad news: after an absence of many months, we once again have shortbread biscuits in the office.  And they're not as nice as the ones we used to get.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: lou boutin on 11 May, 2012, 04:16:15 pm
Bad News: Been very ill this week and it's all been a bit upsetting and I'm now unplanning for stuff

Good News: I have a very lovely family already, I'm ok and I'm very lucky with what I already have in life. We need to remain grateful for the good things :)

I hope you start to feel better soon :-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jacomus on 11 May, 2012, 05:12:41 pm
Bad news: The cat stood inside the litter box, but pooed outside it.

Good news: Miss Emily is at home and has cleared it up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 15 May, 2012, 11:04:54 am
Good News: by the end of the day I'll be reunited with my stolen car.

Bad News: It's going to cost me the best part of £1000 to get it back on the road.

Further Bad News: No sign of the bike  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 15 May, 2012, 01:15:12 pm
Good news: Big Little Miss AWL has been selected for a swimming training "boot camp" when someone else couldn't make it.

Bad news: It's this weekend and Ms AWL has exams, so I'll have to go with Big Little Miss AWL if she decides to go*. It's the Long Itchington camping weekend this weekend.

* She correctly perceives that she was not a first choice and feels peeved about this, as she is faster than those ahead of her in the queue, but they are committee members' kids. Very cliquey is our swimming association.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 May, 2012, 10:51:28 am
Good news:

My daughter just emailed me a link to a Sky News bulletin in which she was interviewed as the CRUK representative to talk about the prostate cancer drug on which NICE have done a U-turn.

Bad news: By the time I'd got round to linking to it on this thread, she'd been edited out, the video had been changed and there was no point.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: snail on 16 May, 2012, 12:29:30 pm
Good news: I'm back on the bike after a knee injury and spent a happy morning cycling around, taking photos for an article commission.

Bad news: This afternoon, however, I'm off to help a woman remove her daughter's profile from Facebook as she's sadly passed away.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 16 May, 2012, 12:57:37 pm
Good news:  I've just hoovered the dust and crumbs and crud out of my keyboard.

Bad news:  I've just had to rummage through the dustbag to retrieve my '5' key.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 16 May, 2012, 01:05:11 pm
Couldn't you just use four or six of anything?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 May, 2012, 06:18:47 pm
Good news:

My daughter just emailed me a link to a Sky News bulletin in which she was interviewed as the CRUK representative to talk about the prostate cancer drug on which NICE have done a U-turn.

Bad news: By the time I'd got round to linking to it on this thread, she'd been edited out, the video had been changed and there was no point.

Bad news: she's "quoted" in the Daily Mail.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2144957/New-cancer-drugs-held-NHS-years-rationing-body-accused-letting-patients.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Good news: they made it all up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 17 May, 2012, 08:40:09 pm
Good News: We're getting a John Lewis!
Bad News: because the council approved the plan for the new Monks Cross development, with the resultant extra traffic, and sucking-more-life-out-of-the-city-centre.

I'd love a John Lewis to browse in, but not if I have to ride fecking miles out of town on crap roads or cycle routes.  :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jasmine on 17 May, 2012, 09:33:00 pm
Bad news: the suction system of the toilets on the research vessel I'm on has broken mid-cruise so none of the toilets will flush.   :sick:   

Good news: it's not my job to fix it   :hand:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 May, 2012, 10:51:31 pm
Bad news: the suction system of the toilets on the research vessel I'm on has broken mid-cruise so none of the toilets will flush.   :sick:   

Good news: it's not my job to fix it   :hand:

Quote
The silly buckets on the deck
That had so long remained...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 17 May, 2012, 11:47:56 pm
Bad news:  Mysterious crashy PogoPlug gremlin I've been chasing turns out to be related to uber packet loss on the downstairs ethernet segment.  On performing a level 2 diagnostic[1], the downstairs switch was determined to be making cute whistling noises in time with the packet flow, and emitting ozone.

Good news: I had a 24 port 10/100 managed switch on the shelf that doesn't smell of anything.  Swapping it in appears to have restored normal service.


[1] ie. "stop mucking about with syslog and ping and get off your arse and look at the blinkenlights"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 18 May, 2012, 11:58:11 am
Couldn't you just use four or six of anything?

As a mathematician I'm contractually required to use a '5' every so often, there's a law about that sort of thing.  Now, if I was an engineer...   :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 18 May, 2012, 12:10:27 pm
Good News: Tomorrow I pick up my new Audiolab 8200CD player which I paid £££££s for.
Bad News: Yesterday I fixed the broken cd player it was bought to replace.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 18 May, 2012, 12:41:13 pm
Couldn't you just use four or six of anything?

As a mathematician I'm contractually required to use a '5' every so often, there's a law about that sort of thing.  Now, if I was an engineer...   :demon:

Could you not just use (10/2) whenever you need a 5. ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 18 May, 2012, 01:40:05 pm
Bad News: Work is the shittiest it has ever been, for this employer, today.  I feel like crying and telling them to shove their job where the sun don't shine

Good News: the only reason I haven't done the last bit is that I am now officially on holiday for a week, so they can go and whistle as far as I am concerned :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 18 May, 2012, 03:06:32 pm
Good news: I've finally been able to order a Raspberry Pi.
Bad news: Estimated lead time is currently 3 weeks, and the order is limited to one per customer. The latter is a pain because my plans to build a Raspberry Pi compute cluster1 require at least 10 of them.

1 - just because. Whilst the resulting assemblage will likely have less computing power than the iMac I'm currently using, it'll be a bit of a flashback to my last-but-one job where I designed, amongst other things, HPC clusters.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 18 May, 2012, 06:26:34 pm
Good news:  I finally rode my route to work.  First time in nearly a year and a half.  Hilariously, I nearly got left-hooked at teh site of my accident.

Bad news:  I've remembered how completely grim the route is.  I'm not sure it's worth an extra 10 minutes in bed to take the shortest route to work, through the nastiest part of a nasty town.  (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Keith+Rd,+Middlesbrough,+TS4,+UK&hl=en&ll=54.553064,-1.236048&spn=0.0084,0.026157&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=17.570731,53.569336&oq=keith+&hnear=Keith+Rd,+Middlesbrough+TS4,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=54.552818,-1.234214&panoid=R6C7YGR5egDiRuJJr3ZegQ&cbp=12,59.76,,0,0)

 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 18 May, 2012, 06:43:18 pm
Good News: It's Friday.  It the weekend.  The Cubs are home.

Bad News: I am so tired that it hurts.  Pass me the duvet?  And maybe the gin....

Even Betterer News:  Who cares! Because

Good news:  I finally rode my route to work.  First time in nearly a year and a half.

hurray hurray hurrah huzzah!  Well done. 

*feels ver' ver' proud of her friend*

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 18 May, 2012, 06:44:42 pm
That's great news, LG! :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 18 May, 2012, 07:01:24 pm
Good news:  I finally rode my route to work.  First time in nearly a year and a half.

 :thumbsup:
rock-on LG
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 18 May, 2012, 07:06:15 pm
Good news:  I finally rode my route to work. First time in nearly a year and a half.

\o/

Quote from: Lindagordinho
  Hilariously, I nearly got left-hooked at teh site of my accident.

There's always one ne >:( - At least you made it passed them in one piece :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 18 May, 2012, 07:06:57 pm
 :-[ :-[ :-[

Gosh, thanks chaps!   :-*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 24 May, 2012, 01:57:42 pm
Good news - I got an official "Thank You" from my manager for staying behind to help sort out a major problem earlier in the week.  :thumbsup:

Ban news - The team leader came off a call with a face like death earlier, and there are rumours going around that we are losing 4 people and the rest of us will have to pick up the work  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 24 May, 2012, 02:11:18 pm
Good News- my foot is being fixed tomorrow :) :) :) :)

Bad News- not looking forward to the pain, the weeks in plaster and I'm scared of having a GA as it all went horrendously wrong last time.
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 24 May, 2012, 04:24:10 pm
Bad news: my horse has ulcers, confirmed by gastroscopy today

Good news: we know what it is and the treatment can therefore be started :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 24 May, 2012, 08:20:44 pm
Bad news - I only just got back from work, due to working a bit late, having a natter, and then being unable to get out of the building to the bike shed because of doors being locked, then being unable to get out of the grounds due to gates being locked.

Good news - Friday commute onna Thursday, and the ride home was blooming lovely.  And never mind POETS day - for complimacated reasons, the weekend starts here!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 24 May, 2012, 10:23:23 pm
Good news - the school where I am a governor has been included in the Priority Schools building program, really needed in one of the most deprived areas of the country after the previous program was axed.

Bad news - more than half the schools that applied many of who will have been in similar dire straits have not been successful
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 25 May, 2012, 12:20:16 am
Good news: Quality cycling weather set to continue all weekend.

Bad news: Barakta and I will be spending most of it indoors, at the Deaf Film and TV festival (http://deaffest.co.uk/) in Wolverhampton.

Good news: I suppose it should provide a welcome break from the hayfever, though.

Bad news: My BSL is so rusty I'll probably have a splitting headache after the first hour.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 25 May, 2012, 02:21:21 pm
Bad News ; the warm weathe rcausesd an unpleasant aroma to emenate from the bins.

Good News : marj has relocated the bins away from the patio nearest the kitchen to that part of the side of the house that is almost permenantly in shade.Cooler & no detectable aroma.

More Good News : the resulting space on the patio is ideal for accommodating a turbo or rollers
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: GrahamG on 01 June, 2012, 12:46:38 pm
Good News: My dad gave me his old car, gratis, in case we had to move out of Bristol and couldn't go car free

Bad News: Said new car is leaking oil. And needs a new tyre. And the rear windscreen wiper doesn't work. And there's a cassette jammed in the tape deck (Good news: can still get radio 4).


Ungrateful? Moi?! ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 01 June, 2012, 12:56:22 pm
Good news: as of this morning's weigh-in, I've now lost a stone over the last 6 weeks  :thumbsup:

Bad news: the low-GI diet, whilst obviously doing me some good, also means that certain things are off-limits at least for the time being. All of which means I could absolutely bloody murder a curry. With rice and chapattis  :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: docsquid on 01 June, 2012, 07:12:47 pm
Good News:  Best month ever for the business in May!
Bad News:  Our printer has gone kaput.  It shed a spring from an unknown place.  Of course all the new HP ones now take a different sized cartridge and....we only just put a new £90 black cartridge in the old one. Oh joy!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tonycollinet on 01 June, 2012, 10:05:25 pm
Good news - a long 4 day weekend beckons, followed by a two day week, then a three day weekend.

Bad news?...... er, no - that is all.   ;D   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: epa611 on 03 June, 2012, 10:17:09 pm
Good news : just back from 2 nights at Luss C&CC sites  :thumbsup:

Bad news: forgot my skin so soft, so covered midge bites which are now very itchy  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: lou boutin on 04 June, 2012, 12:59:19 pm
Good news : just back from 2 nights at Luss C&CC sites  :thumbsup:

Bad news: forgot my skin so soft, so covered midge bites which are now very itchy  :'(

I found that I am considered yummy by anything that bites.  My friend, who a pharmacist, suggested Vit B and garlic tablets.  I have found it works for me.  Apparently butting insects don't like vit b or garlic.  I'm not bitten half as much now and my weekend home is by a pool, so lots of miges.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 04 June, 2012, 01:27:23 pm
Good news: the appartment block opposite has put up bunting and a flag in my absence, very jolly.

Bad news: the flag is upside down  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 04 June, 2012, 01:31:54 pm
Good news: the appartment block opposite has put up bunting and a flag in my absence, very jolly.

Bad news: the flag is upside down  :facepalm:
Maybe they're genuinely in distress :)

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 04 June, 2012, 01:34:41 pm
I did wonder if I ought to go over and check....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 04 June, 2012, 04:36:27 pm
Wasn't the flag in front of some celebrating polar explorers upside down?
They did nt appear distressed...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 04 June, 2012, 05:36:57 pm
Good news: just been out for a most enjoyable spin round the lanes.
Bad news: forgot to check my blood sugar before I left ... oops!

Good news: I've got into the habit of carrying my 'hypo kit' with me.
Bad news: it was cold enough to warrant a merino base layer. In June, FFS ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 08 June, 2012, 10:01:44 am
Good news, have ordered some new HDDs to rescue the file storage box, and they will be with me tomorrow

Bad news, the Popcorn Hour's HDD has now given up the ghost :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 11 June, 2012, 11:34:46 am
Good news, have ordered some new HDDs to rescue the file storage box, and they will be with me tomorrow

Bad news, the Popcorn Hour's HDD has now given up the ghost :(

Good news, it wasn't the HDD, it was the PSU

Bad news, common consensus is that you can only get them from PCH in the US, for $27+$35 shipping (and customs cost)

Good news, I have found that PCH in France has stock of them for £45 including shipping :)

Bad news, possibly, it will maybe arrive whilst I am in France :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 11 June, 2012, 11:35:47 am
Good news, have ordered some new HDDs to rescue the file storage box, and they will be with me tomorrow

Bad news, the Popcorn Hour's HDD has now given up the ghost :(

Good news, it wasn't the HDD, it was the PSU

Bad news, common consensus is that you can only get them from PCH in the US, for $27+$35 shipping (and customs cost)

Good news, I have found that PCH in France has stock of them for £45 including shipping :)

Bad news, possibly, it will maybe arrive whilst I am in France :(

Get it shipped to you in France?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 11 June, 2012, 11:40:06 am
I thought of that AFTER I had ordered paid etc.

Not to worry, it'll be a job to do when I get back (but if it arrived before Friday I will be fitting it so Mrs T can catch up on films etc whilst I am away :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 20 June, 2012, 01:42:24 am
Good news:  I entered a Calendar 200km.  Not for the first time, but it will be the first time I've completed one - if I do.  Really want this.

Bad news:  Every other time I've entered a calender 200km, I've fallen over.  This is why I've not yet completed a Calendar 200km.  Still got a bone in me arm from the last time.

Hoping to break my duck, rather than my body.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 June, 2012, 12:24:51 pm
Good news: My friendly Norwegian sales rep phoned me this morning and told me that as I was giving them such a lot of support they'd like to invite me to their local teambuilding weekend, - fishing :D, shooting :(, crab catching ;D and lots of other outdoor jolly japes, all expenses paid.

Bad news: I can't go cos we're in France on holiday. Bollox  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 22 June, 2012, 07:20:12 pm
Good News: got a call from the free school meals lady at the council to tell me all the boxes are ticked and the childers will be getting free dinners on Monday. Being lazy wotnots they've been looking forward to this so they don't have to make their own sandwiches.
Bad News: they won't get them, I've only gone and got a job
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rogerzilla on 22 June, 2012, 07:22:07 pm
Good news: we can have dinner on the company next Thursday night
Bad news: it's a Chinese buffet and there is no way I can risk that before the Dun Run.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 22 June, 2012, 07:26:55 pm
Good News: got a call from the free school meals lady at the council to tell me all the boxes are ticked and the childers will be getting free dinners on Monday. Being lazy wotnots they've been looking forward to this so they don't have to make their own sandwiches.
Bad News: they won't get them, I've only gone and got a job


Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 23 June, 2012, 03:22:10 pm
Bad news: I will probably lose my job in a month or so.

Good news: I shall have the whole of August to myself with the kids flying off to Hungary. Last year was bliss.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 25 June, 2012, 08:52:09 am
Good news:  Not at work today.
Bad news:  No commute.
 
Bad news:  My dental appointment in Lampeter has been cancelled.
Good news:  I'm going to ride there anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 26 June, 2012, 06:56:40 pm
Bad news- my poor doggies have found themselves locked in unintentionally by their dog flap for the past 24 hours. I failed to interpret their attempts to gain attention as the potential toilet-emergency that they were. Their water bowls are outside too!

Good news- although they have pissed on some dogs beds in the kitchen (which I stood in), they haven't crapped anywhere  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Gaston Lagaffe on 27 June, 2012, 09:36:25 am
Good news that 6 yo Doberdog doesn't need a cruciate ligament operation that we were referred for yesterday :thumbsup:



Bad news is she's got a tumour on the joint, being put down @3:15 today after we brought her home for Mlle Lagaffe to say her farewells.

RIP Portia
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 27 June, 2012, 09:51:33 am
Awww no!  Condolences to the family, losing a furry part of the family sucks!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 27 June, 2012, 02:41:06 pm
Good news that 6 yo Doberdog doesn't need a cruciate ligament operation that we were referred for yesterday :thumbsup:



Bad news is she's got a tumour on the joint, being put down @3:15 today after we brought her home for Mlle Lagaffe to say her farewells.

RIP Portia

Very bad news, poor Portia  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 27 June, 2012, 04:50:39 pm
Good news that 6 yo Doberdog doesn't need a cruciate ligament operation that we were referred for yesterday :thumbsup:



Bad news is she's got a tumour on the joint, being put down @3:15 today after we brought her home for Mlle Lagaffe to say her farewells.

RIP Portia

I've had to do this twice & was almost distraught on both occassions.In fact I couldn't take the dog to the vet the last time.
It's the reason I'll not have another dog despite the fact I think Aunty Helen's cockapoodle is the mutts nuts.

RIP Portia
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 27 June, 2012, 05:00:56 pm
Bad news: just had a phone call from my mother - my father has been admitted to hospital with kidney failure.
Good news: it's fixable, and dialysis may not be necessary but matters haven't been helped by the stupendous number of antibiotics he's had to take for A.N.Other condition recently.

Bleh.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rogerzilla on 27 June, 2012, 06:04:09 pm
Good news: I have won a £25 voucher in the Active Swindon Cycle Challenge (http://visuals.sdgworld.net/temp/swindon/cyclechallenge/challengelive.asp).

Bad news: it's for Asda, which is t'other side of town.  Still, booze ahoy!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 27 June, 2012, 06:37:11 pm
Good news: The council have replaced the rotten pallisade posts at one of our entrances, and tarmacced over the cobbles. I hate the cobbles, they are spaced just right to trap a narrow road tyre, and set in a square pattern so that this crevice continues for several yards.

Bad news: in the course of this, they've mangled a lot of the guerilla veg we'd planted there, by dumping the new posts on top of them, and somehow spraying them with tar. How they managed the latter I don't know, as the beds are raised at about 3' high.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 27 June, 2012, 08:00:55 pm
Bad news: just had a phone call from my mother - my father has been admitted to hospital with kidney failure.
Good news: it's fixable, and dialysis may not be necessary but matters haven't been helped by the stupendous number of antibiotics he's had to take for A.N.Other condition recently.

Bleh.
Hope he gets better. I, too, was in hospital with kidney failure but didn't need dialysis and am 100% back to normal now. Hope he gets on as well!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 27 June, 2012, 10:09:17 pm
Bad news: just had a phone call from my mother - my father has been admitted to hospital with kidney failure.
Good news: it's fixable, and dialysis may not be necessary but matters haven't been helped by the stupendous number of antibiotics he's had to take for A.N.Other condition recently.

Bleh.
Hope he gets better. I, too, was in hospital with kidney failure but didn't need dialysis and am 100% back to normal now. Hope he gets on as well!
Just phoned home - his kidney ultrasound came back normal and the IV fluids they're putting in are coming out via the 'normal' route, which indicates to me that kidney function has been restored. He's seeing the consultant tomorrow.

General concensus seems to be that it might be an adverse reaction to one of the umpteen gazillion antibiotics he's been on1. So things are looking up, and whilst it sounds a bit nasty I think my mum is enjoying a bit of a break from having to look after him!

1 - including metronidazole, the antibiotic equivalent of Agent Orange.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 27 June, 2012, 10:18:57 pm
Mine was a reaction to either amoxycillin or voltarol but took about two months to recover. Then a year to get off the steroids!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Valiant on 27 June, 2012, 10:38:23 pm
Yay Radiance Audio Office finally has high speed internet!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 30 June, 2012, 08:45:50 pm
Good news: I can't hear ridiculous volumes of noise from the pub tonight.
Bad news: That's because I can't hear anything over the noise of the bloke upstairs's music.
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 01 July, 2012, 10:44:49 am
Good news: we managed to get 7 horses to the show on time and in good order-which involved 3 lorries and a trailer.

Bad news: one of the other competitors fell off her horse and landed face first.

Good news: she has been picked up by the ambulance and although injured seems mostly to have things attached where they should.

Bad news: it means we are now running late-and our last horse was timed for 5:30 as it was! Looooong day ahead!

Good news: I'm not competing, just driving my lorry with other peoples' ponies on board! So I'm going to have a sleep!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 July, 2012, 11:53:30 am
Good news: New V-brakes are cheaper than I thought they might be.
Bad news: Which one to choose?!
Good news: They're even cheaper on Rose.
Bad news: But then there's the shipping and whatever exchange rate charges the bank might apply.
Good news: Well isn't it best to buy local anyway?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyAuntie on 01 July, 2012, 04:32:38 pm
Good news - I did my first audax today  :)

Bad news - there was no Crinkly Catering even though CL herself also completed the audax!!!  :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 01 July, 2012, 07:06:48 pm
Ooh - which one? :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 01 July, 2012, 07:09:53 pm
Bad news: My bike computer has been seriously under reading.

Bad news: I'll need to recalculate everything since I fitted this computer.

Good news: I've done many more miles than I'd credited myself with

Good news: And faster :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 01 July, 2012, 07:53:56 pm
Oh no. Bobb's going to go mad!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyAuntie on 01 July, 2012, 07:58:27 pm
Is this for me? If so, it was Linton Locks and we were escorted the whole route by the ride organiser  :thumbsup:

It was just a 50km, but it's my first tentative steps into long(er than normal) distance cycling, maybe a 100 will be attempted soon...watch this space  ;D

Ooh - which one? :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: bobb on 01 July, 2012, 09:12:14 pm
Bad news: My bike computer has been seriously under reading.

Bad news: I'll need to recalculate everything since I fitted this computer.

Good news: I've done many more miles than I'd credited myself with

Good news: And faster :thumbsup:

Pffft... A lame excuse  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 02 July, 2012, 10:04:22 am
It's only about 3%, for most of June.  So it isn't going to put much of a dent into about 450km lead you've got.

My (not so) secret plan is to just keep plodding on, and hope I'm hardier than you when it comes to the autumn and winter.  Some hope! ::-) ;)

ETA: Just updated MCL. :D

Still 384.9km behind nonn. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 03 July, 2012, 07:30:48 pm
Good news: I've just found an unopened bag of Jelly Babies  :P

Bad news: The bag is now open and no longer full. I swear that white powder they are coated in is something addictive....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 05 July, 2012, 02:02:02 pm
Good News: I'm watching an episode of Dr Who with Tom Baker. The cheap special effects are fab :). It has K9 in iT :thumbsup:.

Bad News: This is because my eldest charge is ill - he sounds like a donkey when he coughs, it's rotten.  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: JJ on 06 July, 2012, 11:01:04 pm
Good news:  My Ti frame has come back from China, all mended.
Bad news: My swim this weekend, postponed from two weeks ago, is cancelled.
Good news:  Now I've got time to put the bike together
Bad news: All the little J's are coughing
Good news:  Now that I'm not swimming they can have the weekend at home
Bad news:  Mrs J is coughing too
Good news:  I think she'll be well enough for her half-iron man on Sunday
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 08 July, 2012, 05:28:16 pm
Bad news; I sheared off the brakepad post retaining bolt, trying to adjust the pads.


Good news; I had a replacement set of brakes in the junk box
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 08 July, 2012, 05:43:42 pm
My selle italia has finally worn out.  It has a hole in it :(

I collected the replacement from the sorting office on Friday :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Carradice bag lady on 08 July, 2012, 09:18:31 pm
Bad news at carradice -Christine is off work temporarily  but good news she should hopefully be back soon as she is on the mend again now ;D
Also more good news we have a new machinist called Susan not to be mistaken for Sue on the name labels . She is replacing Margaret who (bad news) retired recently . Look out for her bags everyone
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 08 July, 2012, 09:26:29 pm
Best wishes to Christine for a rapid & complete recovery.
Hope Susan is happy in her work & that Margaret enjoys her retirement.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 July, 2012, 09:30:27 pm
This means that Margarets will become collectors items - expect to see them on ebay for £silly as soon as the news gets out!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Carradice bag lady on 08 July, 2012, 09:40:49 pm
Yes maybe they will that would be good she will be missed by all happy retirement Margaret
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 08 July, 2012, 11:41:06 pm
Good News: I'm watching an episode of Dr Who with Tom Baker.
That's nice. I didn't know he was a friend of yours.  ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hulver on 09 July, 2012, 12:00:46 pm
Good news: We've moved into our new house!

Bad news: One of the house moving men stole some of my daughters money that was in one of the bedrooms.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 09 July, 2012, 12:04:44 pm
What a Git!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 09 July, 2012, 09:39:15 pm
Ruler that's disgraceful .

Good news: the Olympic time trial goes past my grandparents house.

Bad news: I'm at work that day
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 10 July, 2012, 08:06:48 am
The good news: My younger brother now has a road bike

The bad news: He chose the Dave Yates built Flying Scot that I was hoping to restore for myself....

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 10 July, 2012, 08:22:43 am
good news:  new job seems pretty good.  Nice people.

bad news: the commute really is 2 hours each way, so I'm going to have to stay in town a couple of days a week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 10 July, 2012, 06:27:25 pm
Good news - after me bitching repeatedly management has sorted out some Juniper training for me and AN Other.

Bad news - it's 3 half day telesessions next week and I'm expected to work the day job in around the edges...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 12 July, 2012, 05:47:01 pm
The good news: The dancing exam results are in

The bad news: I don't know what they are yet, have to wait until I collect TLD @ 18:00 to find out

Why am I sooooooo nervous?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 12 July, 2012, 05:59:14 pm
Good news: I've just had my first enquiry through my website!

Bad news: They want to go to Canada.  I can't help...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 12 July, 2012, 06:13:39 pm
GN: 89/100, distinction and top of class....

BN: It is going to cost me a fortune!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 12 July, 2012, 07:04:41 pm
Brilliant!

She is such a superstar.

Kiss and.cuddle for TLD
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 July, 2012, 08:30:03 pm
Good news 1: I have had my hair cut.
Bad news 1: I've been reminded what a bore the hairdresserbarber is.

Good news 2: I've been to the dentist.
Bad news 2: I have to have a filling.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: arvid on 17 July, 2012, 04:43:21 pm
Good news: I got offered a contract for the job I did an interview for.
Bad news: The wage they offer is hardly any better than my current job, so I'll turn it down.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 17 July, 2012, 04:51:29 pm
Good news- it looks like decent weather for my first TT in 2 months tonight (foot operation and illness)

Bad news- its my 1st TT in 2 months.......

I'm almost too scared to go I'll be so rubbish.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 20 July, 2012, 07:26:46 pm
Good news: %OlympicSponsor has offered me a 3-day junket including the Footy 1/4 final, Yayyyy!!!!

Bad news: It clashes with %BigFamilyBarbecue for which I have a prior contract to cook. Mehhhhh.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 21 July, 2012, 10:09:48 am
More good news: My Pompetamine has been returned all noo frame an' all

Bad news: The fecking fecker who reassembled it cut the fecking rear brake outer too short!

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J1FHbuEJpWM/UApwbAWXW1I/AAAAAAAAiEQ/F_9s-ynNQ5s/s640/IMG_0622.JPG)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: microphonie on 21 July, 2012, 01:22:16 pm
Good news: Rotherham United finally move away from the Don Valley Stadium (Sheffield) & back to a new stadium in Rotherham today with a friendly against Barnsley.

Bad news: I won't be there  :(

 New York Stadium  (http://www.rotherhamunited-mad.co.uk/roll/edb4/nys__mysterymiller_18th_july_749954/index.shtml). Looks effing brilliant  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 22 July, 2012, 09:39:42 am
The Soyuz FG launched safely from Baikanour.  :thumbsup:

Along with the Russian satellites.  :-\

Looks like Vernon could be a bit busy for a while.


Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 22 July, 2012, 01:00:32 pm
Good news: Rotherham United finally move away from the Don Valley Stadium (Sheffield) & back to a new stadium in Rotherham today with a friendly against Barnsley.

Bad news: I won't be there  :(

 New York Stadium  (http://www.rotherhamunited-mad.co.uk/roll/edb4/nys__mysterymiller_18th_july_749954/index.shtml). Looks effing brilliant  :thumbsup:

Grumble - Amazing that they could find the money/land for the football ground that "didn't exist" when the rugby club were trying to do the same (and we were in the Premiership)

Looks like a nice ground :) - Just hope the wind isn't blowing from the NW during matches straight over Blackburn Meadows  :sick:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 23 July, 2012, 12:28:52 am
Good news. They made a fillum of Anna Karenin.

Bad news. Keira Knightley is in it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 23 July, 2012, 12:38:28 am
Did you see the one with Nicola Paget (I think)?  That was pretty good I thought.  Hard to better the book, though!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 23 July, 2012, 12:40:26 am
No I didn't but I'll check it out  :) Thanks Peter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 July, 2012, 06:40:54 am
Good news: last night I shared a tent with a young, fertile female who avidly sucked out my bodily fluids.

Bad news: it was a mosquito.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 23 July, 2012, 11:52:59 am
Good news: it's a lovely day and I have my 3 kids at home with me.

Bad news: I have to wait in for a bike to be collected. Any time between now and 6pm.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: microphonie on 23 July, 2012, 06:49:25 pm
Good news: Rotherham United finally move away from the Don Valley Stadium (Sheffield) & back to a new stadium in Rotherham today with a friendly against Barnsley.

Bad news: I won't be there  :(

 New York Stadium  (http://www.rotherhamunited-mad.co.uk/roll/edb4/nys__mysterymiller_18th_july_749954/index.shtml). Looks effing brilliant  :thumbsup:



Grumble - Amazing that they could find the money/land for the football ground that "didn't exist" when the rugby club were trying to do the same (and we were in the Premiership)

Looks like a nice ground :) - Just hope the wind isn't blowing from the NW during matches straight over Blackburn Meadows  :sick:

Tony Stewart probably wasn't interested in the rugby club at the time. The Millers were still at Millmoor then & got grant funding for the new stand & scoreboard etc that the RFU insisted be in place if the Titans were to be allowed to sully their elite division with their presence
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 23 July, 2012, 07:08:17 pm
Good news: It looks like my boss has succeeded in getting me an extra increment on my pay (aka pay rise - first proper one I've ever had)

Not so good news: This might have been agreed in the hope we'll not push for our job to be graded at what we actually do (grade 7 like half the team) and the level we're currently working at.

Ah well I shall gladly accept the payrise and keep pushing for the regrade cos I can prove competency in SPADES. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 23 July, 2012, 09:08:52 pm

Ah well I shall gladly accept the payrise and keep pushing for the regrade cos I can prove competency in SPADES.

Go for it matey.  :thumbsup:
Just tell 'em who you ARE.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 23 July, 2012, 10:58:11 pm
More good news: My Pompetamine has been returned all noo frame an' all


Great news that On-One came up with the goods (even if they did make an ooopid error with the cable LOL)  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rower40 on 24 July, 2012, 07:23:30 am
Good News: I got my boat out on the water for the first time in months yesterday.
Bad News: As per the Dire Straits song 'Money For Nothing', I have a blister on my thumb.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 July, 2012, 07:21:10 pm
Good news: I had a (very short) ride on a 'road bike': Reynolds 725 frame, carbon fork, fewer spokes on both wheels than my hybrid has in one, supermodel tyres - I loved it! And the shop wot's selling it is discounting it by over a hundred quid...

Bad news: The price is still four figures.


Good news: A fridge full of ice cream!

Bad news: A stomach full of ice cream.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 24 July, 2012, 10:17:16 pm
Good news: I had a (very short) ride on a 'road bike': Reynolds 725 frame, carbon fork, fewer spokes on both wheels than my hybrid has in one, supermodel tyres - I loved it! And the shop wot's selling it is discounting it by over a hundred quid...

Bad news: The price is still four figures.


Good news: A fridge full of ice cream!

Bad news: A stomach full of ice cream.

Go on, you know you want to sell everything you own/your body to get the new bike  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 25 July, 2012, 02:53:12 pm
Good News: Credit Card has written to tell me they are raising my credit limit.
Bad News: WTF should I do with such a ridiculous amount.

Will accept by apathy, ignore credit limit, clear by Direct Debit every month and do nowt.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 25 July, 2012, 02:56:50 pm
Bad News:   Ms AWL and the three kids have departed for Budapest for 6 weeks.

Good news: Ms AWL and the three kids have departed for Budapest for 6 weeks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 25 July, 2012, 04:05:44 pm
Good News: Credit Card has written to tell me they are raising my credit limit.
Bad News: WTF should I do with such a ridiculous amount.

Will accept by apathy, ignore credit limit, clear by Direct Debit every month and do nowt.

That's my usual response to credit card and overdraft limit extensions. Sort of thing which is useful to have in moderation for events like moving house where you get cash flow shortages but otherwise am not stupid enough to spend it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 25 July, 2012, 07:37:08 pm
Good news:  Just finished work for a long weekend away.

Bad news: Just got text from colleague saying we can't finish this without you.

As I was supposed to be off today as well but came in today to help out I may relocate to the rant thread!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 26 July, 2012, 10:46:55 am
Good News: Credit Card has written to tell me they are raising my credit limit.
Bad News: WTF should I do with such a ridiculous amount.

Will accept by apathy, ignore credit limit, clear by Direct Debit every month and do nowt.

That's my usual response to credit card and overdraft limit extensions. Sort of thing which is useful to have in moderation for events like moving house where you get cash flow shortages but otherwise am not stupid enough to spend it.

You are not. Many are. My credit limit will be about 40% of my gross annual income. I have my NHS pension and benefits. Getting anywhere near my credit limit would be very scary...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 July, 2012, 10:52:57 am
Good news: I had a (very short) ride on a 'road bike': Reynolds 725 frame, carbon fork, fewer spokes on both wheels than my hybrid has in one, supermodel tyres - I loved it! And the shop wot's selling it is discounting it by over a hundred quid...

Bad news: The price is still four figures.


Good news: A fridge full of ice cream!

Bad news: A stomach full of ice cream.

Go on, you know you want to sell everything you own/your body to get the new bike  ;D
You reckon I should ride a fifteen-year old Apollo with flat tyres and no brakes!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 26 July, 2012, 12:46:47 pm
I've just worked out my credit is also 40% of my gross income as well - that's quite scary! 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 26 July, 2012, 01:20:03 pm
You reckon I should ride a fifteen-year old Apollo with flat tyres and no brakes!

Apollo 15? what's wrong with that? Now Apollo 13......
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 26 July, 2012, 01:37:04 pm
Good News: Credit Card has written to tell me they are raising my credit limit.
Bad News: WTF should I do with such a ridiculous amount.

Will accept by apathy, ignore credit limit, clear by Direct Debit every month and do nowt.

I used to get letters telling me mine had been raised every 6 months ago (to which I responded the same as you) - however a few years ago I got a letter telling me they'd noticed I wasn't "taking advantage" of it, so they'd slashed it! Hasn't been raised since...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 26 July, 2012, 01:49:56 pm
I've made a big purchase recently and used it to pay a balance to the double glazing folks a few months ago.
I don't think my payments to 18185 would influence it (about £4 bimonthly, direct debit)...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 27 July, 2012, 05:18:10 pm
I decided to treat myself with half a crispy duck (and the usual other bits)

Bad news: my local Chinese got the order wrong
Good news: they gave me a whole duck, not half!

This has now all been consumes along with a few beers.   ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 27 July, 2012, 05:20:39 pm
I decided to treat myself with half a crispy duck (and the usual other bits)

Bad news: my local Chinese got the order wrong
Good news: they gave me a whole duck, not half!

This has now all been consumes along with a few beers.   ;D
That'll fix it!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 28 July, 2012, 03:14:04 pm
Good News: Credit Card has written to tell me they are raising my credit limit.
Bad News: WTF should I do with such a ridiculous amount.

Will accept by apathy, ignore credit limit, clear by Direct Debit every month and do nowt.

That's my usual response to credit card and overdraft limit extensions. Sort of thing which is useful to have in moderation for events like moving house where you get cash flow shortages but otherwise am not stupid enough to spend it.

You are not. Many are. My credit limit will be about 40% of my gross annual income. I have my NHS pension and benefits. Getting anywhere near my credit limit would be very scary...

If I add up the credit limit of all my cards, it's about 400% of my total annual income! It makes online shopping while drunk a very risky business  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2012, 12:35:42 am
Good news: Today's rainy ride confirms that my bar bag is waterproof.

Bad news: Only from the top. Rain and spray soaks into the sides and bottom making the contents soggy from the bottom up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2012, 12:55:47 am
Good news: There's a new extension to the cycle path under construction, under the M4 past Westerleigh rail head up towards Yate.

Bad news: Although it's not yet finished, it's already crap for cycling.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7701144024_491139635c.jpg)

Yes, those bars are wide - 59cm - but many MTBs and almost all 'cruisers' have wider. And that's not all - I even had to squeeze my shoulders in to get through the barrier! I feel a grink to South Glos Council in the making.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 03 August, 2012, 09:10:01 am
Why don't councils just put a single bollard in the middle any more? ::-)

Good News: I'm watching the Australia-Argentina hockey match I intended to this morning.

Bad News: I'm watching it on TV not live as I didn't wake up for my alarm at 3am so didn't make it to London :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nicknack on 03 August, 2012, 09:16:30 am
Why don't councils just put a single bollard in the middle any more? ::-)

Because that will not deter norty motorcyclists.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 03 August, 2012, 09:19:40 am
Considering how few motorbikes you ever see in other areas without the weird anti-disabled cycle contraptions, I do think this is inconveniencing the majority for a problem of a very small minority.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 03 August, 2012, 09:51:05 am
And norty motorcyclists are rarely alone, so are happy to lift their (actually, quite often someone else's, so why should they care?) vehicles over obstructions, so the whole thing is a half-baked waste of time, with snake oil barrier salesmen taking our councils for fools.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nicknack on 03 August, 2012, 10:28:22 am
And norty motorcyclists are rarely alone, so are happy to lift their (actually, quite often someone else's, so why should they care?) vehicles over obstructions, so the whole thing is a half-baked waste of time, with snake oil barrier salesmen taking our councils for fools.

Quite.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 03 August, 2012, 10:30:33 am
Round here we get the silly pedal bender things (small loops in the ground close together that you either catch your ankles or pedals on), next to a horse passable obstacle and then an access gate (field gate size). Then the gates are never locked anyway :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 03 August, 2012, 10:43:43 am
Whereas I've just written again and complained about the self-closing gate we have on one of our local bridleways.  It closes way too quickly to get a horse through unless I have a friend holding it open (who then has to get through herself) or I hop off to lead horse through and then have to find my way back on-not easy with a 17hh horse (that's 5ft 8)!  The gate does bugger all to deter the frequent fly tipping or the motorbikes, so I have no idea why they decided to stick it in instead of the perfectly adequate two bollards wide enough to ride through we had before!  It's heavy, metal, looks very flashy (and expensive), but utterly useless!   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 03 August, 2012, 11:52:23 am
It's heavy, metal, looks very flashy (and expensive), but utterly useless!   :facepalm:

Some of the adjectives therin may apply to the individuals responsible for the decision making process :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 03 August, 2012, 01:18:05 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7701144024_491139635c.jpg)

Yes, those bars are wide - 59cm - but many MTBs and almost all 'cruisers' have wider. And that's not all - I even had to squeeze my shoulders in to get through the barrier! I feel a grink to South Glos Council in the making.

Those barriers are, as far as I can tell, designed to even the score with recumbent trike riders.  They get a rare opportunity to ride straight through, while upwrongular cyclists have to get off, wiggle and (in extreme cases) duck:

(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/secret_park/IMG_20120328_151212.sized.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 03 August, 2012, 01:39:40 pm
Good news: There's a new extension to the cycle path under construction, under the M4 past Westerleigh rail head up towards Yate.

Bad news: Although it's not yet finished, it's already crap for cycling.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7701144024_491139635c.jpg)

Yes, those bars are wide - 59cm - but many MTBs and almost all 'cruisers' have wider. And that's not all - I even had to squeeze my shoulders in to get through the barrier! I feel a grink to South Glos Council in the making.

They are totally rubbish. The one group you expect to use off road paths are families and those barriers are nearly impossible to get a bike seat or trailer through.  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2012, 01:59:12 pm
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/secret_park/IMG_20120328_151212.sized.jpg)
How handy that you happened to have a child with you to help you through! Does he live in one of your rack packs?  :D

Folks, please remind me this evening to grink the responsible bodies!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2012, 02:04:56 pm
Meanwhile, today's good news: My Hope Vision 1 light, which packed up in the rain last night, now works properly after drying out.

Bad news: It might happen again on the next rainy ride.

Good news: Mrs Cudzo is bringing my old Cateye light back from Poland.

Befuddling news: I asked her to check the bracket was with it, saying it might be on the MTB  I've left there (which she has moved to the attic all of her own accord) and subsequent communication showed she thought I was talking about toe clips.

Befuddlinger news: I'm sure that bike didn't have toe clips.

Betterer news: She and Little Cudzo will be back here tonight.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Chris S on 03 August, 2012, 06:00:20 pm
The lack of such obstructive ridiculousness was something that really struck me when I cycled down l'avenue verte from Dieppe last year. I think I had to negotiate one gate (near the start) in about 45km of cycling. Every road crossing was the same layout - and could easily be negotiated without getting off - as shown here: Clickity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AV0216.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2012, 06:10:21 pm
That looks incredibly... flat! You must have felt right at home!  :)
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 03 August, 2012, 07:26:55 pm
Good: Olympics on the bar telly.

Bad: showing tennis.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 03 August, 2012, 09:05:51 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7701144024_491139635c.jpg)

Yes, those bars are wide - 59cm - but many MTBs and almost all 'cruisers' have wider. And that's not all - I even had to squeeze my shoulders in to get through the barrier! I feel a grink to South Glos Council in the making.

Those barriers are, as far as I can tell, designed to even the score with recumbent trike riders.  They get a rare opportunity to ride straight through, while upwrongular cyclists have to get off, wiggle and (in extreme cases) duck:

(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/secret_park/IMG_20120328_151212.sized.jpg)

There's one on the path over the Stamford Bridge viaduct. There are two types of cyclist who can get through it unhindered. A CrinklyCub, and me on my Catrike. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Chris S on 03 August, 2012, 09:18:00 pm
That looks incredibly... flat! You must have felt right at home!  :)

 :)

Old Railways FTW  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: welshwheels on 05 August, 2012, 08:55:04 pm
happy days my daughter who was born on friday has been moved out of the intensive care unit  :thumbsup: She has made massive leaps forward today although she is still in the special care unit she has been moved closer to the door out of there. Hopefully if we can get her feeding a bit more regular on the bottle she will be with mum on the ward tomorrow.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 05 August, 2012, 10:20:50 pm
Fingers and toes and everything crossed WW!

Our good news?  We're liking the borders, and had a fab day on the beach yesterday.  The cottage we're staying in is lovely, and has a whole cupboard of toys including a huge k'nex collection, a playstation 2, big bag of brio, duplo, a proper etch-a-sketch and even  spare sleepy teddies - SmallestCub is regretting not packing his polar bear.

The not-so-good news?  Poor CrinklyAuntie is Not Very Well At All.  The out of hours doc reckons it's gallstones.

The actually quite good news?  Scottish healthcare system ftw!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 05 August, 2012, 10:40:03 pm
Oh, GWS CrinklyAuntie!

Hooray for toys though!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 05 August, 2012, 10:59:31 pm
Please tell cub that I'm very sorry for staying at home but I would love to have been there ;)   
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: welshwheels on 06 August, 2012, 07:38:41 pm
OH HAPPY DAYS  my baby daughter got discharged from the special care unit this afternoon  :thumbsup: she is now on the ward with mrs w w who obviously is over the moon and as long as she keeps feeding as she is they both maybe allowed home tomorrow  :thumbsup: have posted a pick in kidstuff
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 06 August, 2012, 07:47:45 pm
Excellent news. Hope all goes well
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 August, 2012, 08:39:55 pm
The not-so-good news?  Poor CrinklyAuntie is Not Very Well At All.  The out of hours doc reckons it's gallstones.

Eeep!  Those are distinctly non-fun.   :(   She has my sympathy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: GrahamG on 07 August, 2012, 01:03:00 pm
Good news: Tax rebate due - over £1k for last year and a few hundred because I didn't notice I was on a basic rate tax code this year.

Bad news: have to write a whole host of letters to get proof of last years job-seekers' claims, update address records and notify the tax office before they can actually confirm the final amount and stump up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 07 August, 2012, 01:53:16 pm
From Sunday/yesterday: -

Bad News: I left my wallet at the till in Morrisons :facepalm:
Good News: They found it :thumbsup:
More Good News: I managed to take the card home with me anyway :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 07 August, 2012, 05:37:55 pm
soon there will be Bread & Butter pudding

I don't think tomorrow's weigh-in will be positive
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 07 August, 2012, 05:41:19 pm
soon there will be Bread & Butter pudding

I don't think tomorrow's weigh-in will be positive

I think tomorrow's weigh-in will be positive but that's not what you'd like...  ;) ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 08 August, 2012, 10:48:49 am
The good news:
The weather looks good for the ride this evening.

The bad news:
I have a bloody painful sinus & ear infection, & I'm not up to it. I don't think I can even do the direct to the pub pootle.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: graculus on 10 August, 2012, 07:11:03 pm
Good news: I have found the nectarine that did not make it into the fruit bowl after I went to the market a fortnight ago.
Bad news: It was lurking at the bottom of the pannier all the while. On my bike. In the shed. With the sun beating down on the roof.

Carradice ladies, I beg your forgiveness.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 August, 2012, 08:14:15 pm
Good news: I've gained some space in the garage by selling my motorbike.
Bad news: I've almost had to give it away (relatively speaking)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 12 August, 2012, 09:02:41 am
Good News - The Guardian website has a button to hide the Olympics coverage on the front page.

Bad News - I've only just noticed it  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 12 August, 2012, 09:31:09 pm
Now you tell us.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hulver on 13 August, 2012, 09:25:23 am
Good news. The plumber fixed it for only £60, on a Sunday night!

Bad news. I've just drilled through a water pipe while putting up a towel rack.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 13 August, 2012, 09:28:41 am
Good news.  Cycling home from work in the summer is really lovely.

Bad news.  Cycling home from work leaves me feeling fresh, energised and alive, when it's time to go to sleep.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 13 August, 2012, 09:34:14 am
Bad news: wire-brush angle-griding off rust revealed 1/2" x 6" hole in side of boat.

Good news: It's steel, I have an arc welder

Bad news: I suck at arc welding

Good news: boat no longer has a hole in the side
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 13 August, 2012, 09:34:39 am
Good news.  Cycling home from work in the summer is really lovely.

\0/ yay for LG, and summer evening commutes!

Quote
Bad news.  Cycling home from work leaves me feeling fresh, energised and alive, when it's time to go to sleep.

Do housework until you crash, used to work or me (or self medicate with red wine!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 13 August, 2012, 09:38:30 am
Good news.  Cycling home from work in the summer is really lovely.

\0/ yay for LG, and summer evening commutes!

Quote
Bad news.  Cycling home from work leaves me feeling fresh, energised and alive, when it's time to go to sleep.

Do housework until you crash, used to work or me (or self medicate with red wine!)

I like the second one better!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 17 August, 2012, 10:40:51 am
Bad News: I missed my train to work this morning  :facepalm:
Good news: I therefore cycled the 25km in to work in 55 minutes as quicker than waiting for the next train.  :thumbsup:

Even better news: its a birthday at work, they have brought in CAIK  :thumbsup:
Bad news: I am having to be very good and not scoff the lot.  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 17 August, 2012, 09:42:57 pm
Good:  I'm back online!  :thumbsup: Having left my dongle at MFWHTBAB's, I didn't have internet access at home all week.

Bad: I've got some sort of lurgy. Headachey, shivers, sweating, sore throat.  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 22 August, 2012, 10:57:38 am
Good news: I've been given my second piece of training in 8 years at the company (motto "Putting People First")

Bad news: It's a piece of online WOMBAT compliant BS on "Protecting Company and Client Data"

Good news: The site doesn't work

Bad news: When it's back up the final test check of understanding will be a series of patronising multi-choice questions such as:

"You have a piece of confidential client data. Should you:

a. Post it on Facebook

b. Tweet it

c. Leave it on the train
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 22 August, 2012, 11:00:46 am
I think you are being a little glib, Paul; I find it really hard to choose between a, b & c!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 22 August, 2012, 11:00:59 am
Good news: I've been given my second piece of training in 8 years at the company (motto "Putting People First")

Bad news: It's a piece of online WOMBAT compliant BS on "Protecting Company and Client Data"

Good news: The site doesn't work

Bad news: When it's back up the final test check of understanding will be a series of patronising multi-choice questions such as:

"You have a piece of confidential client data. Should you:

a. Post it on Facebook

b. Tweet it

c. Leave it on the train

d. All of the above.


HTH  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 22 August, 2012, 11:08:37 am
I think you are being a little glib, Paul; I find it really hard to choose between a, b & c!

Sorry in my excitement I forgot option d, all of the above which I think will help ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 22 August, 2012, 11:25:15 am
Good News: I bought a new tent for the weekend away swimming with the pony in Norfolk

Bad News: It didn't arrive on time, so I had to buy an emergency replacement from Halfrauds

Good News: Actually, the replacement was a perfectly adequate tent and I'm happy with it

Bad News: UPS have completely lost the tent I actually wanted and tried to get me to sign to say I'd had it delivered but the signature "hadn't gone through the system"   :facepalm:

Good News: On investigating, the seller has discovered that UPS have lost it and has refunded me the full cost with no quibbling-and remarkably quickly!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 August, 2012, 11:38:29 am
Good news: BBC's upgrade last night to Iplayer means that Mrs. Wow can no longer waste all day watching ancient episodes of Cadvile on her very old Mac.

Bad news: Dez is talking her into thinking she wants a new one.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: graculus on 24 August, 2012, 07:53:45 am
Bad news: No 2 son has just been involved in his first car crash (driver behind shunted him while he was waiting at junction).
Good news: No one hurt, his car is still driveable pending repairs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 24 August, 2012, 07:59:56 am
Good news: I've been given my second piece of training in 8 years at the company (motto "Putting People First")

Bad news: It's a piece of online WOMBAT compliant BS on "Protecting Company and Client Data"

Good news: The site doesn't work

Bad news: When it's back up the final test check of understanding will be a series of patronising multi-choice questions such as:

"You have a piece of confidential client data. Should you:

a. Post it on Facebook

b. Tweet it

c. Leave it on the train

Dare I ask, what is WOMBAT compliant stuff?  Is it related to me, angry and therefore shouting in capitals?

My own good news - My DAB radio for my car and the fascia adaptor has arrived, the bad news being the weather forecast..... fitting the aerial should be fun, or not.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 24 August, 2012, 08:36:31 am

Dare I ask, what is WOMBAT compliant stuff?  Is it related to me, angry and therefore shouting in capitals?


Not related to you at all!

WOMBAT = Waste of Money, Brains and Time :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: why1040 on 24 August, 2012, 11:00:17 am
Bad news: My chronic fatigue/painful hips and back are kicking my 'arris today.

Good news: I still managed to cycle the not-quite 1 mile round trip to the doc's for my blood tests as it would've hurt just as much getting in and out of a car!  It's not huge, but it's a big step for me.

Bad news: we still don't have a village shop-that's about 7 years now since they demolished the village centre before putting out to tender for the design of the new one...

Good news: the new Co-op opens on Sept 6!  I'll be able to actually go food shopping within a mile of my house!!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 24 August, 2012, 01:16:01 pm

Dare I ask, what is WOMBAT compliant stuff?  Is it related to me, angry and therefore shouting in capitals?


Not related to you at all!

WOMBAT = Waste of Money, Brains and Time :D

Oh, I'm not so sure, I think that has been said about me.. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 03 September, 2012, 04:30:05 pm
Bad News. Sainsburys Basics Instant Noodles have gone up by a whopping 18%. (2p). This increases my work lunch bill for the week by 8 whole p.

Good News. The till spat out 4 Nectar point coupons for me, three of which are actually going to be useful, as opposed to just trying to make my up my spend next time (which the fourth one does).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rusky on 03 September, 2012, 06:36:30 pm
Good news: The insurance company have settled my claim.

Bad news: It's in Halfords vouchers.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 07 September, 2012, 02:17:41 pm
Good News: My cracked Dawes Vantage frame is going to be replaced under warranty (as this is being done through the LBS I bought the bike from I haven't even needed to find the paperwork) :)

Bad news: It'll take 8 weeks to find a suitable frame for me as they don't have any the same size of the same model available (despite still selling the exact same bike ???)

Good News: they are going to give me a nice chromoly steel Dawes Horizon frame to replace the aluminium Vantage frame :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 07 September, 2012, 02:20:31 pm
Very good news.  The latest Horizon seems to be much improved.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 07 September, 2012, 03:34:13 pm
Bad news: office aircon has been FUBAR'd all day so the office has been at about 30C. Ick.

Good news: typing this into MS Outlook:

Quote
I'm currently out of the office on annual leave and will return on Monday 17th September. I will not have any access to my emails during this time.

  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 07 September, 2012, 06:21:26 pm
Good news: views from campsite stunning.

Bad news: had to strike tent wet this morning so there are puddles inside and the midges are paying too much attention outside.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 07 September, 2012, 09:12:19 pm
Bad news: I had a meeting with some reps this afternoon which I could have done without.
Good news: They looked like they had spent too long sitting down in cars so we took a refreshing walk up the stairs at fit cyclist pace. Right next to the lift.

They were of course too polite to say anything.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 10 September, 2012, 01:50:59 pm
Good news, made ferry to harris. Bad news laundry facilities at camp site broken.
Bad news couldn't wait for laundrette at portee to open.
Good news campsite at Uig let me use their washing machine.
Bad news ran out of time to get stuff dry. I therefore have a pannier of damp washing to dry on Harris tonight.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 10 September, 2012, 03:18:32 pm
Good news, made ferry to harris. Bad news laundry facilities at camp site broken.
Bad news couldn't wait for laundrette at portee to open.
Good news campsite at Uig let me use their washing machine.
Bad news ran out of time to get stuff dry. I therefore have a pannier of damp washing to dry on Harris tonight.

Ah the glamour of cycle camping :) - Hope the weather gets better for you
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 10 September, 2012, 03:39:26 pm
Good news, made ferry to harris. Bad news laundry facilities at camp site broken.
Bad news couldn't wait for laundrette at portee to open.
Good news campsite at Uig let me use their washing machine.
Bad news ran out of time to get stuff dry. I therefore have a pannier of damp washing to dry on Harris tonight.
you are camping in scotland and expecting to have dry clothing?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 13 September, 2012, 08:37:25 pm
Bad news: I dropped my camera this morning.
Good news: the camera itself seems to be OK, the impact being taken by the lens, which is replaceable.
Bad news: the lens is about £300
Good news: it may be covered by insurance

What a prawn!  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pippa on 14 September, 2012, 05:55:43 pm
I attempted some DIY today and managed to successfully replace the washers in my kitchen tap to stop it dripping. Woo hoo.

I now seem to have a leak after the isolation valve. Boo hoo.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 14 September, 2012, 06:31:17 pm
I attempted some DIY today and managed to successfully replace the washers in my kitchen tap to stop it dripping. Woo hoo.

I now seem to have a leak after the isolation valve. Boo hoo.
Sometimes these valves weep a little bit after turning on/off, especially if they've been left in one position for a long period of time - the isolation valve on the feed line of my washing machine did a spectacular impression of a fountain when I opened it after installing the new washer but its been bone dry on the outside since.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: JohnP on 14 September, 2012, 07:03:50 pm
Bad news: I dropped my camera this morning.
Good news: the camera itself seems to be OK, the impact being taken by the lens, which is replaceable.
Bad news: the lens is about £300
Good news: it may be covered by insurance

What a prawn!  :facepalm:

If it's not insured then it may be worth contacting

service-enquiry@hlehmann.co.uk

H. Lehmann Ltd
247 – 249 London Road
Stoke on Trent
Staffs
ST4 5AA

Telephone: 01782 413611

I recently had a damaged Nikon 70-300 AF mechanism repaired and a D7000 checked and adjusted as the lens was on the body when it got damaged.   Not cheap but all less than half the cost of a new lens.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 14 September, 2012, 07:28:46 pm
Thanks, John

Details saved for when I get back to blighty.

S
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 03 October, 2012, 11:57:50 am
I have "borrowed" the monitor from Marj's desk top PC so

Good News...I can use my desk top PC to read my business & personal emails :thumbsup:

Bad News... Marj cannot read the Sage programme  :( or  :demon: or  :-\
 ;D
                   
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 03 October, 2012, 12:08:19 pm
I have "borrowed" the monitor from Marj's desk top PC so

Good News...I can use my desk top PC to read my business & personal emails :thumbsup:

Bad News... Marj cannot read the Sage programme  :( or  :demon: or  :-\
 ;D
                   

Assuming both PCs are in the same room(and you only ever use one at a time), the cheap way around this is one of these:

http://www.cclonline.com/product/8073/F1DL102PEA/KVM-Switches/Belkin-2-Port-KVM-Switch/KVM0024/

It's how I managed to use 2 laptops on my desk, with one HUGE (28") monitor.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 03 October, 2012, 02:29:32 pm
Thanks for that ^^^^^  :thumbsup:

atm I quite like having one less monitor on the desks.

It's likely that I'll make more use of my laptop & Marj's monitor will go back to the Sage PC.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 04 October, 2012, 07:16:41 pm
GN: Today, my cycling mileage for the year passed the 1000 mile mark.
BN: This year's target was 2000 and the date is...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 04 October, 2012, 08:43:37 pm
Good News: I just found out today that my employer's bike to work scheme limit is now £2,000 1

Bad News 1: Scheme entry is in March

Bad News 2: I just found out today that my employer's bike to work scheme limit is now £2,000


1People erroneously think that the limit is £1,000 - it is not. That is the limit that the employer can provide without a consumer credit license and is therefore the most commonly found limit. If they have a CCL, the absolute limit is (I think) £2,500 if they wish to.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 October, 2012, 10:43:29 pm
Good news: I have a new pair of mitts, with - as yet - no wiped in snot marks ( ::-)).

Bad news: They are 'classic crochet backed' mitts. I might be turning into a hipster! Could this be start of a slippery slope leading to a purple and lime green fixie with white disc wheels and no bar tape?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 04 October, 2012, 10:56:18 pm
Good news: exercised enough willpower to leave the works do (read: piss-up) in a suitable condition to cycle home.  :)

Bad news: didn't have enough willpower leftover to resist the temptation of the chicken shop around the corner when I arrived home.  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hulver on 07 October, 2012, 02:02:53 pm
Good news: I've just saved £600 by not having to go to the specialist Dentist on Tuesday for a complicated root canal.

Bad news: Because my tooth just split in half from end to end.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 07 October, 2012, 03:22:10 pm
Good news: I now fit in XL shorts rather than XXL shorts :)
Bad news: cost me £61 to work this out ...

(to be fair, though, I desperately needed a new pair - with the existing ones my modesty, such as it is, is in dire peril)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 October, 2012, 01:40:41 pm
Good news: Both papers I & colleague submitted were indeed accepted for publication at conference.

Bad news: Stress of writing 2 papers at once, and the 2nd one is only accepted for an ePoster but it still means I have to write a full paper. (Only submitted cos mentor told me to and I was hoping it would get bumped altogether).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 09 October, 2012, 05:44:07 pm
I've had my electricity back for an hour.
The local burglar alarms celebrated for twenty minutes...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 October, 2012, 05:47:52 pm
The local burglar alarms celebrated for twenty minutes...

*twitches*


Living, as we do, in an area where 90% of the houses are unoccupied outside of term time, that sort of thing happens rather a lot.  One day I'm going to start shooting out bell boxes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 09 October, 2012, 05:58:10 pm
Good news:
#1 son has moved back into the Bournville house.  I no longer live alone when I'm in Brum.
 
Bad news:
#1 son has moved back into the Bournville house.   I no longer live alone when I'm in Brum.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 09 October, 2012, 07:48:08 pm
Bad news: it looks like the cassette joint on the orange Genesis has died a rather messy death.
Good news: I'm sorely tempted to ride Pugsley to work tomorrow. Just because ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 09 October, 2012, 07:58:49 pm
Good news: I'm sorely tempted to ride Pugsley to work tomorrow. Just because ;D

my final commute before I left London was on the Pugsley for exactly that reason.

Go for it! I guarantee you'll be :D :D all day.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 09 October, 2012, 08:06:23 pm
Good news: I'm sorely tempted to ride Pugsley to work tomorrow. Just because ;D

my final commute before I left London was on the Pugsley for exactly that reason.

Go for it! I guarantee you'll be :D :D all day.
The big problem with that is that I lose the 'stealth' element - you can hear Pugsley coming a mile off because of the tyres, whereas the Genesis is absolutely silent now that the canned gears have been run in.

Also, I'd probably be too tempted to ride over directionally-challenged students rather than around them  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 09 October, 2012, 08:11:49 pm
Running over the students is the fun part, they hear the ominous rumble of an approaching fat tyre and freeze like a rabbit in the headlights :D

Some people might say it makes it too easy....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 09 October, 2012, 08:20:38 pm
Running over the students is the fun part, they hear the ominous rumble of an approaching fat tyre and freeze like a rabbit in the headlights :D
It'd also give the larval-stage hipsters something to talk about over their skinny frappacrappaccinos ...

... that in itself is a fairly compelling pro argument.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 09 October, 2012, 09:38:18 pm
Think you're convinced.  My work here is done :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 October, 2012, 01:48:28 pm
We want to see a video when you're done though. In fact it would be good to start a poll on how many DCSs and other mobile obstacles you get to ride over.  :)
I reckon:
Students 12
Other pedestrians 5
Car bonnets 4
Car roofs 2
Buses 2

Of course I have no idea how long or where your commute is...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 10 October, 2012, 02:10:14 pm
Good news: My internet went down today for a while while they upgraded equipment in the local exchange. About time too, it has been like wading through treacle for months.

Bad news: My connection is still slower than 75% of the UK!
(http://www.speedtest.net/result/2232932507.png)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 10 October, 2012, 02:39:50 pm
We want to see a video when you're done though. In fact it would be good to start a poll on how many DCSs and other mobile obstacles you get to ride over.  :)
I reckon:
Students 12
Other pedestrians 5
Car bonnets 4
Car roofs 2
Buses 2

Of course I have no idea how long or where your commute is...
10 miles each way and in York, respectively.
I drove in to work today anyway - suffering from a mixture of general malaise and apathy; medication changes blow, big time.

There are two things missing from your list, though: cows and sheep - I usually ride across Walmgate Stray, between the barracks and the University, and its still used for grazing animals of the (b)ovine variety. Whilst the sheep tend to scarper, the cows will usually wander blithely across the path - since they're bigger than me I'm quite happy to let them have right of way.

However, once I've got my bike-cam setup sorted out (it'll be based on one of these: http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/robotics/fly-cam-one) I think videos of various things might be a definite possibility.

EDIT: Oh, and rabbits too. Although they're probably too small to count.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 10 October, 2012, 06:38:41 pm
Good news: My internet went down today for a while while they upgraded equipment in the local exchange. About time too, it has been like wading through treacle for months.

Bad news: My connection is still slower than 75% of the UK!
(http://www.speedtest.net/result/2232932507.png)
It's still more than four times as fast as mine.  Must be due to the air being thinner up in those hills.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 10 October, 2012, 06:59:49 pm
Booo!

(http://www.speedtest.net/result/2233561096.png)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 10 October, 2012, 09:07:21 pm
Booo!

(http://www.speedtest.net/result/2233561096.png)

What do you expect buying shit from Murdoch?  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 October, 2012, 09:14:41 pm
I was without electricity yesterday afternoon.
UK Power Networks SMS service sent me regular updates about work beig done to reconnect us.
My broadband seems faster than at the weekend.
(http://www.speedtest.net/result/2233850749.png)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 10 October, 2012, 09:21:51 pm
Booo!

(http://www.speedtest.net/result/2233561096.png)

What do you expect buying shit from Murdoch?  :P

Yeah yeah  :P Is part of a decently priced bundle though and haven't had any problems with downloading too much (how could I at that speed?).

In Sky's defence our phoneline is knackered, if we even get a dial tone it's mega crackly so I'm surprised we get any internet at all, the 'nets been quite good lately up until the past day or so when the connection keeps dropping out.

I do need to get onto them to sort it but need to make sure it's a line fault rather than ours as don't want an absurd engineer call out fee.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 10 October, 2012, 10:10:27 pm
Went for a run last night for the first time in ages. It was great, I got round the circuit without needing to walk and my body felt really alive. It left me feeling great.

My right knee is now swollen and purple. And my left knee is purple too.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 10 October, 2012, 10:11:49 pm
Went for a run last night for the first time in ages. It was great, I got round the circuit without needing to walk and my body felt really alive. It left me feeling great.

My right knee is now swollen and purple. And my left knee is purple too.

Oh poor you. Hurty knees are no fun.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 10 October, 2012, 10:13:08 pm
Went for a run last night for the first time in ages. It was great, I got round the circuit without needing to walk and my body felt really alive. It left me feeling great.

My right knee is now swollen and purple. And my left knee is purple too.

Oh poor you. Hurty knees are no fun.

Oddly they don't hurt at all. Could be worse!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 10 October, 2012, 10:15:40 pm
Oh!  Well that's alright then!  ;)

I hope it stays that way (non hurty, not purple! Unless you specially like purple.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 11 October, 2012, 05:21:41 pm
GN: It's not raining, yet!
BN: Mrs T came home and said "Where's the rain? I would have come out with you on the bike ride if I knew it wasn't going to rain!"

Grrrrrrrrrrr
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 15 October, 2012, 12:54:04 pm
GN: We are going to get the use of our spare bedroom back
BN: Because, soon, I am not going to be working from home anymore

GN: The new job is more money
BN: I'll have to spend the first week in Swindon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 15 October, 2012, 01:19:11 pm
GN: We are going to get the use of our spare bedroom back
BN: Because, soon, I am not going to be working from home anymore

GN: The new job is more money
BN: I'll have to spend the first week in Swindon.

Good luck with the new job :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 16 October, 2012, 07:34:21 pm
GN: We are going to get the use of our spare bedroom back
BN: Because, soon, I am not going to be working from home anymore

GN: The new job is more money
BN: I'll have to spend the first week in Swindon.

Aw  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 17 October, 2012, 12:46:47 pm
Good news: finally finished stripping the bits off my Dave Yates frame.
Bad news: currently debating whether or not to put it on fleaBay.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 17 October, 2012, 03:18:25 pm
Bad news: drove to work today as the weather was unspeakably foul this morning.
Good news: I can see clear blue sky from my window, so screw it, I'm going out for a ride tonight (first time out for 5 days - could be interesting)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 17 October, 2012, 03:19:31 pm
Station, 18:15, Interzen?  should be fun.....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 17 October, 2012, 03:23:22 pm
Station, 18:15, Interzen?  should be fun.....
Too much of the hard, grey stuff.
I aim to get muddy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 17 October, 2012, 03:25:16 pm
Fair enough, no problem
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 17 October, 2012, 03:49:46 pm
Bad news: I've got to tell my supervisor how monumentally stupid I've been for so long, to fuck up this bit of processing that has propagated to a published conference paper and to a journal article currently in review.
Good news: Now that it's fixed, it makes my results better!

Bad news: No, that good idea I had for a new technique does not work.
Good news: It fails in an interesting way, that I can write about.  More thesis for me please  :thumbsup:  This includes inventing yet another technique for doing the same thing.

Bad news: Technique C would work, but would take twice the time to run as does our current teqhnique.
Good news: Yet more thesis for me  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 17 October, 2012, 04:03:08 pm
Bad news: I've got to tell my supervisor how monumentally stupid I've been for so long, to fuck up this bit of processing that has propagated to a published conference paper and to a journal article currently in review.
Good news: Now that it's fixed, it makes my results better!

Bad news: No, that good idea I had for a new technique does not work.
Good news: It fails in an interesting way, that I can write about.  More thesis for me please  :thumbsup:  This includes inventing yet another technique for doing the same thing.

Bad news: Technique C would work, but would take twice the time to run as does our current teqhnique.
Good news: Yet more thesis for me  :thumbsup:

Scientists: happy even when they get it wrong.  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 17 October, 2012, 04:05:34 pm
Only if it's wrong and interesting!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 October, 2012, 04:56:32 pm
Good news: My new retrotastic string and leather mitts (fake leather but real string - at least, I think it's real string!) have proved comfy on a decent length ride. As well as being cheap and looking (fairly) good.

Bad news: They left fake-leather-palm dust all over the lever hoods.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 22 October, 2012, 05:04:04 pm
Good news: My new retrotastic string and leather mitts (fake leather but real string - at least, I think it's real string!) have proved comfy on a decent length ride. As well as being cheap and looking (fairly) good.

Bad news: They left fake-leather-palm dust all over the lever hoods.
But absolutely everybody loves string:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7ogIuxegkQ
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 24 October, 2012, 08:58:14 pm
My daughter has been to the open evenings of her school's 6th form and a local college. She is now absolutely adamant that she wants to do a childcare course alongside English Language and Literature A' levels, and possible philosophy (which she cannot even pronounce!).

The good news is that she is massively enthusiastic about it all and wanting to throw herself into it.
The bad news is she will need to work as an in-house nanny for part of the childcare course and so she has told me that since she wants to do this living at home I will have to produce a new sprog for her to look after, although it must not be born in the next 12 months so it will be the correct age at the time she needs to care for it. I pointed out to her that I am nearly 42, but she seemed unconcerned and said maybe I could adopt one  ;D

Simonp knows nothing of her plans as yet .....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 24 October, 2012, 09:03:43 pm
Better that than offspring providing the sprog...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 24 October, 2012, 09:05:41 pm
Better that than offspring providing the sprog...

Quite .... I am not yet ready to be a granny  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 24 October, 2012, 09:08:50 pm
You do know that my Mum announced she was pregnant when I returned home from my second term at university...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 24 October, 2012, 09:16:58 pm
You do know that my Mum announced she was pregnant when I returned home from my second term at university...

Well I guess if announced that when my son came back from his second term at uni then the timing of teh sprog would suit the daughter's childcare course perfectly  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 24 October, 2012, 09:21:30 pm
You do know that my Mum announced she was pregnant when I returned home from my second term at university...

Well I guess if announced that when my son came back from his second term at uni then the timing of teh sprog would suit the daughter's childcare course perfectly  :facepalm:
.
Little brother has October 13 birthday (like Paul Simon, Margaret Thatcher and Edwina Currie), just a week into university term.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: reddo on 28 October, 2012, 05:54:15 pm
Good news. CAA got the paper work to me.
Bad news. Not in time to start the tour.
Good news. Days off :)
Bad news. Early start with an airline to Portugal to meet the aircraft.
Good news. Flying with a good bloke and it would be a good day out.
Bad news. Something's not working.
Good news. It's not "that" important.
Bad news. Oh yes it is, can't fly in icing (cold) conditions.
Bad news. Flight's off.
Good news. Go to hotel.
Bad news. Are you still at the aeroplane, we may need you to go south (warmer).
Good news. Nope, go to hotel.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 28 October, 2012, 06:50:54 pm
Good news: Five minutes from here you're out of the suburban streets, and five kilometres you're outside London
Bad news: Climbing the North Downs from cold.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 28 October, 2012, 07:25:34 pm
Good news: approximately 5 year old girl on train is being kept quiet by pepper pig game on Ipad.
Bad news: pepper pig game is repetitive and noisy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 28 October, 2012, 08:23:57 pm
Good news: approximately 5 year old girl on train is being kept quiet by pepper pig game on Ipad.
Bad news: pepper pig game is repetitive and noisy.

It's Peppa....

Could be worse. I was on a train where a kid was playing a Thomas the Tank engine video on an Iphone, only it was all.... American! The horror!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: arabella on 28 October, 2012, 08:51:43 pm
Good news: approximately 5 year old girl on train is being kept quiet by pepper pig game on Ipad.
Bad news: pepper pig game is repetitive and noisy.

It's Peppa....

Could be worse. I was on a train where a kid was playing a Thomas the Tank engine video on an Iphone, only it was all.... American! The horror!
<rant alert>
why oh why do the grown ups not tell their charges that they should turn off the sound in trains etc., or wear earphones.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 28 October, 2012, 09:10:49 pm
Rude isn't it? Had a child on a train (with a parent) a while ago, doing his maths homework which is all well and good but using the phone as a calculator without the keypad tones being turned off.

So very annoying.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 November, 2012, 05:29:04 pm
Good - I am home
Bad - belated birthday dinner is off cos there's a sniffly penguin in the house
Good - have to make do with dirty pizza instead
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Valiant on 03 November, 2012, 01:50:35 am
Just got grabbed and snogged by a gay fire man. Werent even cute fml
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pedaldog. on 03 November, 2012, 10:23:27 pm
Bad - I'm going slightly Mad!

Good - I feel confident enough to think of myself as an EX-Smoker!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 03 November, 2012, 10:35:54 pm
Bad - I'm going slightly Mad!

Good - I feel confident enough to think of myself as an EX-Smoker!
Hurrah! Good news on the smoking. (You were already slightly mad :-*)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 November, 2012, 05:20:55 pm
Good news: I rode my bike for the first time in about two weeks (all of 9 miles to the shops).  And I can still feel the fingers in my left hand.

Bad news: I'm now feeling decidedly unwell.  And I think the front gear cable is about to snap.
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 09 November, 2012, 05:36:41 pm
Sends healing thoughts to Kim.

Good news. The RLPO let me in to last nights performance, even though my ticket was for Wednesday.

Bad news. I'm still jet lagged and kept falling asleep. I do hope I wasn't snoring...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 09 November, 2012, 09:26:31 pm
Bad news:  I was really quite down after work today.  I miss my old colleagues.  We went through so many bad times together, and we were like a (mostly dysfunctional) little family.  We didn't know how good it was back then, but it was, and now everyone's getting new jobs, and we've all been split up, and it'll never be the same again.  All those 4am chats, the tears, and the hugs, and the support, and the pep talks ... we knew each other inside out, and backed each other to the hilt.  It was really special, actually.   :'( :'( :'(  So many memories, and crises managed.  So many pizzas. 

Good news:  Playing out on bikes with newtoncap on Sunday!   :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: eck on 11 November, 2012, 06:22:11 pm
Good News: our son (age 23 and a bit) is on leave from his USAF base in Arizona, and is coming back to Scotland for ten days over New Year.
Bad News*: rather than spend hogmanay with us in a quiet highland hotel, he wants to get wasted with his flaky big sister at Embra's midnight revelries.
Good news: we will still be able to see him for several days.

*Not really Bad News: IMHO, his decision shows maturity and good judgement.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 15 November, 2012, 01:45:31 pm
Bad news: Yodel, you may well be cheap, but offering 14-hour collection slots is taking the piss.
Good news: They're cheap & the bloke just collected the parcel.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 20 November, 2012, 11:35:37 am
Good News: my employer has responded positively to my observation about cycling safety in our carpark.

Bad News: they have responded by asking me to represent cyclist needs on the office safety committee. They don't know what they have let themselves in for.  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 20 November, 2012, 11:42:22 am
Isn't that Good News and Gooder News?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 20 November, 2012, 11:51:23 am
Isn't that Good News and Gooder News?
Unfortunately not, the main problem is that the approach to the building is across the front with the entrance to the basement car park at the far end of the building. To compound this the cycle cage is at the exit end of the building. Therefore rather than go past the building, in the entrance, and back under the building, most cyclists go in down the exit ramp. This works fine unless someone is driving out of the car park at the same time...

Breaking this bad habit needs to happen for safety having witnessed conflicts between other partners, but will be very difficult.

Otherwise the facilities are good, sheffield stands in a code lock cage in the basement car park, CCTV coverage, showers, lockers etc. are all provided. The establishment office even have a tool kit and track pump available.

The main cyclist need is a bit of training for both the cyclists and the drivers.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 20 November, 2012, 02:11:54 pm
Permeability is your friend ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 20 November, 2012, 05:21:16 pm
Permeability is your friend ;)

What, Darcy's Law?  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jacomus on 21 November, 2012, 10:25:50 am
[good news]

Quick e-mail fired off to EPD Tipper Hire this morning after spotting one of their drivers take the correct level of care when following a cyclist down a 'just wide enough to force an overtake' stretch of road. Despite WVM behind the truck beeping, the driver didn't do anything but trundle a safe distance behind. The cyclist then RLJed at the junction and the truck driver continued to drive well by not killing a different cyclist who subsequently stopped in the blindspot.

[/good news]

[bad news]

It is a shame that correct driving is such a wonder to behold.

[/bad news]
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 21 November, 2012, 10:29:51 am
Indeed.  I read the words 'email' and 'Tipper Hire', and naturally assumed you'd got your Good & Bad News mixed up :-[

Heartening to hear.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jacomus on 21 November, 2012, 10:42:35 am
Indeed.  I read the words 'email' and 'Tipper Hire', and naturally assumed you'd got your Good & Bad News mixed up :-[

Heartening to hear.

I don't know what building site they are contracting for around here, possibly the Thameslink works, but I've half-noticed new, blue-cabbed tipper truck(s?) driving carefully around here a few times recently. So it's either that one driver is around a lot, or the company takes things pretty seriously. Hopefully it is the latter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 21 November, 2012, 10:49:05 am
BN: My usual supplier doesn't stock Monsoon Malabar anymore :(
GN: The do have Old Brown Java, aged in the same way, so am going to try that!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 21 November, 2012, 11:03:55 am
Monsoon Estates do it mail order... (http://monsooncoffee.oxatis.com/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=9918546)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 22 November, 2012, 03:16:31 pm
GN: The council have sent some around to fix the street lights near our house.

BN: They have turned up at school kicking out time!

Oh well at least the recycling truck wasn't here as well, like it normally is at this time.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 November, 2012, 09:59:13 pm
Bad news: when buying rail tickets yesterday, I was interrupted, got very confused, had a multitude of "senior moments" and bought a ticket to Stowmarket dated today, and a return ticket dated tomorrow. This was not what I intended.

Good news: I travelled home today using tomorrow's ticket, and no-one at Stowmarket, Chelmsford, Shenfield or Prittlewell, or any of the trains in between, inspected my ticket.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 24 November, 2012, 12:08:31 pm
Bad news first:   A training contract remains an almost impossible dream.   A primary opportunity source seems to have gone under.    :(  :(  :(

Good news:   One of my clients for whom I do legal and administrative work has asked me if I'd like to take over managing his business interests for him in the new year.   Negotiations start in two weeks   :) 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 24 November, 2012, 12:51:15 pm
Sorry to hear the ongoing bad news about training contracts PB, it's a really crappy situation and stupid too cos you've got SO much varied experience under your belt.

Good luck with your business negotiations in the new year!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 24 November, 2012, 02:26:57 pm
karma owes you something positive PB. I hope the New Year is prosperous for you. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 November, 2012, 12:54:46 pm
Bad news 1: Roof started leaking in Saturday's rain.

Bad news 2: This means I'll probably have to move my bike while it's being mended. Maybe into the kitchen and then the kitchen bike will have to live outside.  :(

Good news: As there was no comment on Bikes indoors or the Illegal Guinea Pig, they're tacitly approved.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 27 November, 2012, 02:37:38 pm
Good news:  my new Prendas not-neoprene overshoes keep my feet dry and snug in the wet.

Bad news:  my new Prendas not-neoprene overshoes appear to have been cut to go over winkle-pickers, not cycling shoes.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9X4AnpHSN8w/ULTPVhgzs3I/AAAAAAAADbc/Kc3C1mHPnJw/s800/Overshoes.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 27 November, 2012, 03:17:21 pm
Good news:  my new Prendas not-neoprene overshoes keep my feet dry and snug in the wet.

Bad news:  my new Prendas not-neoprene overshoes appear to have been cut to go over winkle-pickers, not cycling shoes.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9X4AnpHSN8w/ULTPVhgzs3I/AAAAAAAADbc/Kc3C1mHPnJw/s800/Overshoes.jpg)

Are you going for the aerodynamic cycling elf look?  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 27 November, 2012, 03:21:39 pm
Good news: I have a day working at home today, so can be comfy and drink lots of tea while I work.

Bad news: I can't enjoy it properly because I can't breathe through this cold! >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 27 November, 2012, 03:30:36 pm
Shouldn't go out wandering round the city in the cold and rain ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 27 November, 2012, 03:41:48 pm
;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 27 November, 2012, 03:43:27 pm
Bad news first:   A training contract remains an almost impossible dream.   A primary opportunity source seems to have gone under.    :(  :(  :(

Good news:   One of my clients for whom I do legal and administrative work has asked me if I'd like to take over managing his business interests for him in the new year.   Negotiations start in two weeks   :)

Good news:   My name seems to have been passed forward and another law firm has invited me to do some work for them.   Maybe life aint so sh1te after all   :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 27 November, 2012, 03:50:12 pm
;D
:-*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 27 November, 2012, 06:16:20 pm
Bad news first:   A training contract remains an almost impossible dream.   A primary opportunity source seems to have gone under.    :(  :(  :(

Good news:   One of my clients for whom I do legal and administrative work has asked me if I'd like to take over managing his business interests for him in the new year.   Negotiations start in two weeks   :)

Good news:   My name seems to have been passed forward and another law firm has invited me to do some work for them.   Maybe life aint so sh1te after all   :)

 :thumbsup:  Well deserved mate!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 27 November, 2012, 07:09:02 pm
Bad: I really hate riding in the rain.
Good: I won't have to do that for the next week or so, I'll be working in China instead.
Bad: I'll be missing out on all of the fun stuff HK and I have planned.
Good: I'll miss out the QA audit next week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: reddo on 29 November, 2012, 03:41:32 pm
Nice one PB  :thumbsup:

Good news. The 3 x Oakley sunnies with new prescriptions were ready. (old frames - updated the lenses)
Bad news. Vision Express misread the prescription and 3 lenses were out.
Good news. Fixed for free.
Even better news. I decided I wanted some "clear" Oakleys for riding and settled on a "transition lens". Vision Express gave me the new frames for free and only charged for the prescription.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 29 November, 2012, 06:11:57 pm
Good news - They've just opened a Co-op 5 minutes walk from the flat.  Finally some competition for Tescos.

Bad news - It looks like this is finally going to kill off our local newsagent/general store.  He's got a business for sale sign up.  I've been getting bread, milk & the occasional copy of the Guardian there for decades  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 30 November, 2012, 04:51:48 pm
Good - I managed to make it to the end of the week without killing anyone at work, despite provocation.
Bad - I have to go to the Xmas dinner now. And it's frikkin freezing out there!

<wonders if 20's theme can be abandoned in favour of duvet jackets, fleecy trousers and snow boots>
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 06 December, 2012, 12:10:02 am
GN: I have got something that is vaguely complete and can be handed in for my OU assignment.

BN: I'm not sure it's great, can see some problems with it but can't work out how to fix them. Brain frazzled.

GN: I don't think it's terrible.

BN: I thought that for the last one and only got 67%.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 December, 2012, 12:12:00 am
<wonders if 20's theme can be abandoned in favour of duvet jackets, fleecy trousers and snow boots>

1920s?  That was the end of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, innit...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 06 December, 2012, 02:35:20 pm
<wonders if 20's theme can be abandoned in favour of duvet jackets, fleecy trousers and snow boots>

1920s?  That was the end of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, innit...
And Everest climbing.


(http://blogs.liverpoolecho.co.uk/aintnomountainhighenough/mm047%20cn.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 06 December, 2012, 02:46:32 pm
Cool tent! I want a tent with wooden poles with knobs on :D.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 December, 2012, 02:53:00 pm
Cool tent! I want a tent with wooden poles with knobs on :D.

You'll probably have to evict a dozen cub scouts first.  I'm fairly sure those tents come with them as standard.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 06 December, 2012, 03:14:37 pm
Yep, we used to use tents like that at guide camp.

So who's for ascending Everest in a tweed jacket and brogues then?

They were tough people. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 06 December, 2012, 05:06:00 pm
You would think that they would have asked their tailors to cut the jackets to fit the extra layers underneath.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 06 December, 2012, 06:55:22 pm
Bad News: My Farce Great Western Train is standing room only and 20 minutes delayed so far.

Good News: The Train Mangler has said we can sit in any seat including First Class.

Bad News: I'm 2 carriages packed with people away from the possibility if a seat.

Bad News: we've got 5 minutes into the journey and are stopped.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 06 December, 2012, 07:31:43 pm
It would seem that Notwork Fail are responsible although why Farce Grate Western packed a full train out of Paddington when it must have been obvious that it would get stuck at Southall beggars belief
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 06 December, 2012, 07:57:29 pm
The train is an hour late and lagging. The Train Mangler has just apologised for the 'slight' delay!!

We're now waiting outside Reading for a free platform. Which is surprising since it seems every other train is also delayed.

And the good news. I'm working at home tomorrow
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 07 December, 2012, 01:09:06 pm
Good news: Ms Marco (Newmarket / Cambs / Eastern Counties scrum-half) has been selected for Divisional trials (girls U15 rugby).  :thumbsup:

Bad news (potentially): Mrs Marco (Newmarket / Cambs / Eastern Counties girls coach) is also a selector, although not involved in either assessing or putting Ms Marco forward for selection...  :-\

Let's hope this doesn't get more than awkward. Cue many difficult phone calls for Mrs Marco to players (& parents) who have not made the grade.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 07 December, 2012, 09:49:15 pm
GN Before the close of business the deal I was working on signed, >$10M! Whooo hooo!

BN I am bloody sure I used to have a n+1 bottles of pecharmant, now it appears to be just n. wurruwurruhnorgsedsf.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 10 December, 2012, 12:21:39 pm
Good news: Ms Marco (yes, her again) passed her Grade 8 sax exam on Sunday morning! (She has been playing it for less than 5 years; don't know where she gets that talent from.) And scored two tries and a conversion for Eastern Counties in the afternoon, for good measure.

(Slightly) Bad news: She missed out on a Merit by 3 marks...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 10 December, 2012, 12:39:57 pm
Congratulations to her - that's a real achievement :).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: madcow on 11 December, 2012, 09:11:01 am
GN  -our CEO must have read my RANT , as he has decided to give us the 24th Dec as an extra holiday free gratis etc.
BN- I had already booked it as annual leave and I can't carry any more days into 2013.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 11 December, 2012, 10:53:48 pm
GN  -our CEO must have read my RANT , as he has decided to give us the 24th Dec as an extra holiday free gratis etc.
BN- I had already booked it as annual leave and I can't carry any more days into 2013.

Book 21st off too giving you extra long weekend before Xmas?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 December, 2012, 07:14:11 pm
Good - the new laptop to replace the one that the screen is about to fall off, arrived today, a day earlier than expected.
Bad - I didn't take the car cos I was expecting it tomorrow so I've had to leave it under my desk.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 12 December, 2012, 07:36:52 pm
Good news - the Xmas Card list is shorter this year
Bad news - not only because of people we choose not to send to  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 14 December, 2012, 11:54:34 am
Good News - I just got a big fat refund to my credit card.
Bad News - because they cancelled 'our' festival in the summer.
Good News - we'll have to think of something else good to do instead.
More Good News - childcare permitting, I might be able to volunteer to help out for Sleepy's 600 now.

Still  :'( about the festival tho....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 December, 2012, 08:16:48 pm
Bad news - the ginger cake has fallen cos Mrs Cudzo opened the oven door too early.
Good news - ginger cake...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 December, 2012, 05:26:50 pm
Good news: I found and bought 3 slim calendars for the kids in Tesco

Bad news: they were so slim, I left them in the trolley
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 17 December, 2012, 11:47:26 am
Following yesterday's foray to Brick Lane and surrounding areas:

BN: I found a gorgeous green velvet jacket which was a perfect fit, but it had patch pockets.  :sick:
GN: Later in the day I found a lovely black velvet jacket which fit well and had proper pockets. :thumbsup:  Also found a white silk scarf1 at the same shop.

1How have I made it to the ripe old age of mubbledymumbble without owning a white silk scarf???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: GrahamG on 18 December, 2012, 02:15:59 pm
My frame is back from the sprayers! However, 'back' means back at the bike shop in Lancs and won't land with me until the new year.... dammit when I'll once again be short on building time!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 18 December, 2012, 06:02:21 pm
Bad news:   I got to the counter in Waterstones and couldn't find my debit card....

Good news: It's in Cotswold, where I left it last night  :facepalm:    I can pop in tomorrow to pick it up, as long as I have photo id.

This means I've no cash until I can sort this out.....  A quiet night in then..
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 18 December, 2012, 06:18:39 pm
Gah to mislaid debitcard but glad it doesn't need cancelling or anything.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 18 December, 2012, 07:01:29 pm
Gah to mislaid debitcard but glad it doesn't need cancelling or anything.

I'm lucky they didn't report it to the bank, who would probably have cancelled it on the spot.  I still have a cheque book somewhere, but it's been a long time since I used it!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 December, 2012, 11:04:45 pm
Bad news:   I got to the counter in Waterstones and couldn't find my debit card....

Good news: It's in Cotswold, where I left it last night  :facepalm:    I can pop in tomorrow to pick it up, as long as I have photo id.

This means I've no cash until I can sort this out.....  A quiet night in then..
You been drinking with Jaded and Flatus again?  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 19 December, 2012, 11:55:12 pm
Good News - Debit card retrieved.

Bad News  I can't find my TWSBI fountain pen, I'm sure I put it in my pocket when I left work  :(

Left it on my desk  :facepalm:      I seem to be getting absent minded, it must be the iminence of turning 48!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 20 December, 2012, 08:50:44 pm
Bad - cos I was feeling better (good) I had to go back to work today.
Good - there was a bottle of wine waiting for me under my desk  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 December, 2012, 09:37:04 pm
I visited my sister today:
Good news: She has a sheffield stand in her garden!
Bad news: She has really bad flu (and now I feel like I might have caught it too).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 December, 2012, 11:42:16 am
Hurrah: Last day at jbex before Christmas.
Bah: What in the name of the wormy black sperm of Beelzebub do They put in those sausages :sick:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 21 December, 2012, 11:48:03 am
Hurrah: Last day at jbex before Christmas.
Bah: What in the name of the wormy black sperm of Beelzebub do They put in those sausages :sick:

Have you answered your own question?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 December, 2012, 12:03:00 pm
Hurrah: Last day at jbex before Christmas.
Bah: What in the name of the wormy black sperm of Beelzebub do They put in those sausages :sick:

Have you answered your own question?

That's possible, but I think it's more likely a high concentration of cows' lips and pigs' arseholes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 21 December, 2012, 02:02:36 pm
Hurrah: Last day at jbex before Christmas.
Bah: What in the name of the wormy black sperm of Beelzebub do They put in those sausages :sick:

Have you answered your own question?

That's possible, but I think it's more likely a high concentration of cows' lips and pigs' arseholes.

That's offal!
IGMC...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 21 December, 2012, 02:16:19 pm
Hurrah: Last day at jbex before Christmas.
Bah: What in the name of the wormy black sperm of Beelzebub do They put in those sausages :sick:

Have you answered your own question?

That's possible, but I think it's more likely a high concentration of cows' lips and pigs' arseholes.

Could be quite the opposite.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 22 December, 2012, 02:21:09 pm
Bad News: it's rather wet here.
Good News: David put new roofing felt on his 'warm room' yesterday.

Bad News: it's even wetter in Christchurch, where David's Dad lives.
Good news: we don't visit him for another fortnight. I've booked very cheap train tickets and Premier Inn accommodation for this trip.
Bad news: these bookings can't be refunded or amended...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 27 December, 2012, 09:00:18 pm
Bad news:  Barakta just did a CrinklyLion after successfully retrieving one of our many cheese graters from a high cupboard.

Good news:  She landed on her arse rather than her hand or head, and so far doesn't appear to have more than her standard invisible bruising.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 27 December, 2012, 09:03:29 pm
Ouch! Hope she's OK.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 27 December, 2012, 09:26:29 pm
A spectacular prat fall for no good reason?  Yeah, I do have form for those...

Well, arses make better landing areas than hands, elbows, hips, or indeed one's cleavage straight down in the mud - trust me, the latter is quite funny but it isn't pretty.

Hope that invisible bruising is the full extent of it!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 27 December, 2012, 09:30:06 pm
Hope that invisible bruising is the full extent of it!

Quite.

She came over rather queasy afterwards, and I was concerned about shock and the possibility of high-innuendo fractures, but seems to be okay now.  Of course I haven't made her ride 7 miles to check...


Plus, she's supposed to be accompanying me to the hospital tomorrow, and I don't think they do BOGOF.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 27 December, 2012, 10:02:40 pm
Hope that invisible bruising is the full extent of it!

Quite.

She came over rather queasy afterwards, and I was concerned about shock and the possibility of high-innuendo fractures, but seems to be okay now.  Of course I haven't made her ride 7 miles to check...


Plus, she's supposed to be accompanying me to the hospital tomorrow, and I don't think they do BOGOF.

What is it with us forum wimmin and why can't we stay upright? Hope barakta's OK.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 December, 2012, 10:06:11 pm
Hope that invisible bruising is the full extent of it!

Quite.

She came over rather queasy afterwards, and I was concerned about shock and the possibility of high-innuendo fractures, but seems to be okay now.  Of course I haven't made her ride 7 miles to check...


Plus, she's supposed to be accompanying me to the hospital tomorrow, and I don't think they do BOGOF.

What is it with us forum wimmin and why can't we stay upright? Hope barakta's OK.

There's more than one way of interpreting that sentence, but far be it from me to cast aspersions in any particular direction.  O:-)

For my part, I would much sooner that Mrs. Wow had succeeded in staying upright on Sunday when I was out. GWS to any of the inadvertently horizontal.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 December, 2012, 10:08:49 pm
BTW, Mrs. Wow was very appreciative of the lovely flowers that a very kind forummer sent to her this morning.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 28 December, 2012, 06:41:37 am
I don't think I've sustained any serious injury but I do hurt quite a lot (especially in the other bad hip which I definitely didn't land on) despite deployment of painkillers.  I'm going to blame vestibular nonsense as I keep tripping over my own feet and veering left into walls. 
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 28 December, 2012, 07:19:53 am
People will just assume you've overdone the seasonal celebrations :-)

Take care, you don't bounce well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 28 December, 2012, 01:01:06 pm
Good news: the village pub is currently selling Tally Ho (http://www.palmersbrewery.com/page.php?p=ales).
Bad news: the village pub is currently selling Tally Ho (http://www.palmersbrewery.com/page.php?p=ales).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 28 December, 2012, 06:42:35 pm
People will just assume you've overdone the seasonal celebrations :-)

Yep, this is a known hazard.  People not believing that my balance really is bad, especially if I'm bunged up.  I know deaf people with bad balance and deaf speech who've been arrested for drunken wossnames by plod who didn't believe they were just deafdizzies.

Quote
Take care, you don't bounce well.

No I don't.  Tonight's foray into the cupboard what is too high involved my usual climbing onto the surface method which looks dodgier but is probably safer for me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 30 December, 2012, 04:51:06 pm
GN: We have had a fantastic day with the Torslanda crew.

BN: My Panasonic Lumix, which was present from Mrs T last Xmas, has died a death, it still takes photos but they are either a) really badly washed out or b) covered in lines. :( Onto Panasonic, I guess, to see if I can get it fixed.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 31 December, 2012, 02:12:34 pm
Bad news: The stitching round the heels of my walking books is going.
Good news: They've lasted me about 22 years.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 31 December, 2012, 10:16:56 pm
Good news:

An old friend of mine phoned me up today & asked if I'd like to go skiing next week. She's going with a few others, & one's dropped out, so she's in a room for two alone. Half board in Tignes, leaving early Saturday morning from Stansted but includes free hotel room on Friday night. Mrs B doesn't mind (she thinks it's safe to let me share a room with a woman who I've known since we were students together without shagging, despite hitchhiking round Europe together with a small tent, & who's been firmly attached to another woman for over 20 years). The person who's had to cancel is willing to let it go cheap. No problem changing the name on the booking. No commitments to stop me going.

Bad news:

I'm still coughing hard enough to double me up sometimes, e.g. whenever I encounter cold air (err - what's the temperature outdoors in Tignes?), & feeling worn out after a short walk. The chance of me being fit to ski all next week, or even for enough of it not to feel that even a discounted holiday is a waste of money seems too small to be worth risking.

I am sad.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 01 January, 2013, 01:51:47 am
Bad news: after 10 whole days together, I have to get a train back to York tomorrow. :'(
Good News: I'll be back with MFWHTBAB on Friday for the weekend. :thumbsup:

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 01 January, 2013, 09:05:01 am
Bad news: I woke up to find the central heating borked.

Good news: After a rather convoluted phone call process I fixed it myself.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 01 January, 2013, 07:44:58 pm
GN I spent the day on a brilliant ride with two fantastic people.

BN I had an off, in "nothing happened" style, in flood water, and now my left leg hurts. May need pain killers to be able to sleep tonight.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 01 January, 2013, 08:17:51 pm
Ouch.  Hope that the result of nothing happening heals well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 02 January, 2013, 11:08:17 am
the good news

My employers have given me a nice new wi-fi enabled digital radio to celebrate 10yrs of making dab radios.

The bad news

It's white with a Union Jack on the front.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 02 January, 2013, 11:14:08 am
It's white with a Union Jack on the front.
:sick:

(not to be unpatriotic or anything, but stuff emblazoned in such a way invariably looks naff)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 02 January, 2013, 12:10:18 pm
BN: I have been reviewing the route for April, and feel that 89miles with 19000ft of climbing, in one day, might be a bit much (especially as it is day3 of the ride).

GN: I have managed to work out a route that goes from and to the same places, which is shorter (68 miles) and climbs less (10000ft)

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 January, 2013, 01:24:14 pm
Bad news: our Time Capsule has died.

Good news: Dez has removed the hard disc from it and is currently copying the data.

Further good news: I have ordered a 1Tb USB disc which will sit on my desk and be my own personal backup.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 02 January, 2013, 01:35:22 pm
Good news: I have had four very good curries in five days.

Bad news: I am now experiencing what can only be described as nappy rash and a very sore behind.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 02 January, 2013, 05:29:20 pm
The good news - I found my Silva sighting compass.

The bad news - it looks like this:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8338927002_84b34da386_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmam/8338927002/)
DSC_9092 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmam/8338927002/) by davidmamartin (http://www.flickr.com/people/davidmam/), on Flickr

The good news - Silva USA claim a lifetime warranty
The bad news - I can't find any mention of it on the Silva sweden page.

A polite email has been sent. The worst they could say is no as I don't have the original proof of purchase from 20 years ago.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 02 January, 2013, 07:18:50 pm
BN: I have been reviewing the route for April, and feel that 89miles with 19000ft of climbing, in one day, might be a bit much (especially as it is day3 of the ride).

GN: I have managed to work out a route that goes from and to the same places, which is shorter (68 miles) and climbs less (10000ft)

phew.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 03 January, 2013, 04:17:04 pm
The good news:

I have only 2 more weeks left of a contract I am not really happy with working for people I don't, on the whole, get on with.

The bad news:

My request to WFH for part of those 2 weeks has been knocked back because I "need to do a handover" to the new guy,  New guy is competent (which makes a nice change), is one of the few people I get on with in the office (we have similar interests such as cooking, cycling, Spain etc etc) and he has only about a dozen servers to look after.  He, during a conversation yesterday, told me he has got his head around how it all hangs together, so I am just baby sitting him.  I have done this today, working from home. <SIGH>
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: anotherdeadhero on 04 January, 2013, 02:30:10 pm
BN: my usual ride to club night was curtailed by persistant cramp in both calves that stubborly refused to 'ride out'.

GN: bailing to nearest train station, find I only have to wait 20 mins, can procure sustenance from nearby garage, service is not a stupid 'thou shalt not board with a bicycle' and is running to time  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: delthebike on 04 January, 2013, 03:21:51 pm
Good news: Steak tonight.  :thumbsup:

Bad news: Indi got there first and snaffled it from the worktop.  :facepalm: Kibble for me then.  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 04 January, 2013, 06:43:40 pm
GN.  Scotrail released the sleeper trains tickets for our dates in March, and the Fort William service is running although at a time different to the usual one and nobody can explain why.

BN.  There are no bargain berths or advance tickets availal at all.  They claim that they have sold out.  This was the case at 9 this morning.  There are also no advances at all on the Inverness service.  This was also the case at 9 this morning.

We can't take the sleeper.  The fare is well over double the price of a flight.  So, assuming that everyone still wants to go, we will be going by in cars and planes to a holiday cottage that was booked entirely and absolutely on the basis that it was attainable by sleeper and connecting services and which will now be really bloody inconvenient to get to.

And my boys will be gutted.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 04 January, 2013, 07:24:03 pm
CL, have you seen this? http://www.simonvarwell.co.uk/2012/12/bargain-berths-get-even-more-elusive/
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 04 January, 2013, 07:29:58 pm
I hadn't seen that - but I have independently commented to Scotrail already when on the phone, and will be grinking.  The cheapest available fare to FW this morning at 9 was £160.  At 8pm last night they were unable to tell me if the service was even running.  Nobody can explain why it's a 20:38 departure not a 21:15 one.

Useless feckers.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 04 January, 2013, 07:41:35 pm
GN: We haz a Bluray player to replace our broked DVD player.  :thumbsup:

BN: We do not however have a HDMI cable so cannot use said player.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 04 January, 2013, 07:59:02 pm
Scotrail - what a bunch of complete wankers.   Methinks my regular sojourns north of the border may have come to an end.   Maybe the danes and the dutch would prefer my tourist pounds. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 04 January, 2013, 08:23:32 pm
Good News: The Fridge is Full
Bad News: The oil tank is empty, and it's a week to pay day.

Holidays are over.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 05 January, 2013, 12:02:29 am
IIRC the tickets are released on one day but the discounted tickets may be released at some point later. Keep trying and the discounted ones may turn up.

I presume you have a Family and Friends railcard?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 06 January, 2013, 10:43:52 pm
Good news: The Village of the Damned is on ITV4 tonight.

Bad news: It's the 2005 remake.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 09 January, 2013, 10:29:31 pm
Bad News: Fog in the Channel Islands cancelled my flight.

Good News: I can go and stay with my parents and catch the flight in the morning.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 10 January, 2013, 07:59:25 am
Bad news: my rescheduled flight (see above) is delayed 2 hours

Good news: I can put in a late bid if I need on an eBay auction
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 10 January, 2013, 07:14:54 pm
GN: I kept the box when I last replaced my bottom bracket so I knew what size I need.

BN: Can I find it? Hell no, it is, I'm sure, somewhere safe  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 January, 2013, 09:40:42 am
GN: The plumber who was supposed to come on Wednesday is here to mend the shower. And he's brought the builder with him to fix the broken kitchen window.

BN: I was just wondering whether to wash my hair before going out for a ride, now I'll have to stay in.

GN: At least I wasn't already washing my hair when they arrived!

BN: Now my hair is just dirty. But it doesn't stink like the builder's old jacket.

GN: An excellent opportunity to read some Yehuda Moon!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jacomus on 11 January, 2013, 09:47:49 am
GN: I had a really good night's sleep after suffering a good week of barely sleeping.

BN: Sleep went on for longer than is allowed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nicknack on 11 January, 2013, 02:37:37 pm
We accepted an offer on our house today.

The house we wanted was sold 2 days ago (after being on the market for 18 months or so).

Is the housing market picking up?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: dasmoth on 12 January, 2013, 06:03:33 pm
Is the housing market picking up?

Reckon it might be.  I was kind-of amazed that the place next door sold within a couple of months, given that the asking price really wasn't that low for an "in need of modernization".  Still waiting to find out exactly what it went for...

Back on topic...  GN: I'm feeling much better after a bout of probably-Norovirus.  BN: poor Emily now seems to have it instead  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 12 January, 2013, 06:50:57 pm
BN: I have near enough decided not to contract any more.

GN: I am being put forward for a job that is within cycling distance (for a given value of cycling distance, your view may vary)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 12 January, 2013, 06:54:19 pm
GN:  On the way to the ride this morning, I passed my MyCyclingLogs target.

BN:  It was last year's target - 12 days late.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 13 January, 2013, 01:15:38 pm
GN: I appear to have put a desposit down on a new bike  :thumbsup:

BN: The intended plan was to look at bikes and sleep on it first  :facepalm:

GN: The shop are willing to order in both sizes that I might fit (the only one in stock was too big but tried similar geometry smaller frames and think we've picked a size) and I can decide on the day.

BN: Now I have to waaaaaaaait, possibly till early March.

GN: That gives me time to actually get the money to pay for it  :-\

BN: But I want it nooooooooooow!  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: delthebike on 13 January, 2013, 01:49:09 pm
Good news: Were getting an extension and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than I thought it would be! Cost about 1/4 of my guess. It's to be a sewing/sitting room, and bike parking. :thumbsup:
Bad news: Guess who's digging the footings and general labouring? You can have three guesses but you'll only need one.  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 14 January, 2013, 02:10:57 pm
GN: Because of the weather we're being stood down at 10 to 4. :thumbsup:

BN:  I normally knock off at 4 anyway ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 14 January, 2013, 02:19:38 pm
BN: I have near enough decided not to contract any more.

GN: I am being put forward for a job that is within cycling distance (for a given value of cycling distance, your view may vary)
And here's me having decided pretty much the opposite ...

BN: most of the job specs that have been punted my way are best described as 'inappropriate' (and at worst 'un-be-fucking-lievable' (and not in a good way)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 14 January, 2013, 02:22:57 pm
IZ, YHPM.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 15 January, 2013, 06:55:47 pm
GN : Someone brought a huge box of Special Toffee in to work.

BN: I am now one filling and half a tooth lighter.

Which makes me talk like a Tory MP.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 15 January, 2013, 07:06:48 pm
GN: I've got a promotion.  Telling my boss he's an idiot clearly has the right result.

BN:  There's more travel and time away from home.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 17 January, 2013, 07:43:26 am
Good news: I got to the station ahead of time and caught an earlier train.

Bad news: it's a slow train and the one that I normally catch has just passed us.

I suppose the fact that everyone else was headed for the other platform should have been a big clue :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 17 January, 2013, 01:52:48 pm
Bad news: Virgin Media - with whom I am generally satisfied - have put my bill up.

Good news: This prompted me to call them with some bollocks about moving to Sky.

Good news: All I really wanted was a Tivo box, but they offered me that & a reduction in my bill of £12.

Bad news: I couldn't get them to drop the £50 installation charge. Still, I am £94 up on the 12-month deal.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Chris S on 17 January, 2013, 02:01:25 pm
Good news: Diss council have salted the cycle path to Tesco
Bad news: It's turned compacted snow that wasn't very slippery at all into four inches of slushy goop that is (a) really slippery, (b) filthy and (c) by the looks of it, really hard to push a push chair through.

Good Work  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nicknack on 17 January, 2013, 03:48:25 pm
Bad: A pair of Josef Seibel shoes that were just getting nicely worn in have split across the soles. I've only had them a year.

Good: Despite me not having the receipt, I sent them back to Josef Seibel who have now sent me a new pair.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 17 January, 2013, 06:08:28 pm
Good news: I was offered a free pair of cycling shoes the right size, with pedals to suit, last night.

Bad news: different pedals from those I use now on my bikes, & my three pairs of matching shoes. Not really worth it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 17 January, 2013, 09:50:24 pm
Bad news: my weekend away has been called off due to bad weather.

Good news: I can now go to bestmate's birthday bash, which she arranged after I'd already booked the weekend away.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 January, 2013, 11:49:09 pm
GN - I have just filed my tax return. This is an enormous relief.

BN - I have also paid a sum in income tax exceeding the sum I paid last year

GN - it was only £23.90 more than I paid last year, but I earned quite a bit more than I did last year

Worrying thought, possibly BN - does this mean I should be grateful to Gideon?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 22 January, 2013, 11:57:16 pm
Do not worry:  HMRC are notoriously variable - they'll tell you that themselves!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 23 January, 2013, 12:00:19 am
It's entirely possibly that they've cocked it up and will lump you with a huge bill next year.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 January, 2013, 12:48:53 am
It's entirely possibly that they've cocked it up and will lump you with a huge bill next year.

I don't think so: personal allowances have gone up fairly significantly and the business partnership formed by Mrs. Wow and myself is not a massive money spinner. My pensions take me over the personal tax allowance so all of my share of the business is subject to tax at 20%. We haven't submitted Mrs. Wow's return yet, but I'm hoping she won't have to pay any tax.

Next year the allowances go up again so my tax bill could be halved.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 23 January, 2013, 09:38:33 am
Good news:  I've got loads of leave left that I must use or lose by the end of Feb.
Good news:  I've pebble-dashed the next 6 weeks of my calender with duvet days, extended (extended) weekends and general loafing.

Bad news:  Well, there isn't any, really.  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 23 January, 2013, 10:35:09 am
Good News: our friends in Aus are going to meet us in Croatia for a jolliday in September.

Bad News: The shortest route we can take still means a 180Km drive from the airport to where we are meeting them :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 23 January, 2013, 03:12:10 pm
Good: The Col, COS, Adjt & RSM have all gone off to various places - I can sod off at 3.30 :thumbsup:

Bad: Around 3.30 is when all the badly driven 4-wheel-drive-shopping-trollies come out to play :hand:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 23 January, 2013, 03:16:54 pm
GN: Office heating is functioning as per specifications, finally!

BN: Office heating is functioning as per specifications.  I'm dressed for the usual state of things being just a bit too cold, which means I am overdressed, too warm, feeling sleepy and losing concentration.  Shedding clothing at my desk is not really an option.  I might loosen my tie and unbutton my collar - just hope it doesn't gain me the reputation of being a bit of a slob.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 23 January, 2013, 10:18:39 pm
Good news: Boss handed me £50-worth of vouchers for doing a particular part of my role. I did it well, apparently.

Bad news: I opted for vouchers for John Lewis, so they will drop into the household pot and will likely never be seen again. Sigh.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 25 January, 2013, 03:13:08 pm
Bad News: I'm in the Belgian office, but that doesn't quite merit a mention in the bad news thread, and the button that holds my trousers up escaped :o

Good News: Our finance director has some string that is now holding my trousers up. :thumbsup:

Bad News: Obviously  I look like a tramp.

Good News: No one has noticed

Bad News: 'Tramp' must therefore be my normal look
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 January, 2013, 09:11:41 pm
Bad - I've tweaked something in my neck/shoulder in one of my pratfalls on Thursday and it fucking hurts.
Good - Pingu has brought me a G&T and my first chocolate in over a week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 27 January, 2013, 03:01:23 pm
Bad news - SmallestCub wasn't very well last night, on the hostelling weekend.  He got up this morning after a good night's sleep but was still a bit wobbly.  This was suboptimal when we were in a Northumbrian bunkhouse a long way from home with a long and complicated journey ahead.  Which was a sightly stressful prospect.

Good news - Mcshroom diverted via Scotch Corner so that he could drive us halfway home, and CrinklyAuntie drove up to meet us there, arriving about 2 minutes before us, so the boy didn't even have to change out of his jimjams and had a very calm and peaceful journey door to door, and is now tucked up on his own sofa with childrens tv to watch and a self-prescribed medicinal jam sandwich for lunch.

Hooray for kind people going a lot of extra miles.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 29 January, 2013, 01:54:44 pm
Good News - I have a ticket for The Parker Quartet (http://www.parkerquartet.com/) at St Georges Hall tonight.

Bad News - I'm sneezing loud enough to wake the dead, there is a Niagra of mucous running out of my nose and I think I've got a bit of a temperature  >:(

I may have to consider asking for a refund on my ticket  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 31 January, 2013, 05:54:53 pm
GN : I've just been told that my lunch box is too big  :thumbsup:

BN : I appear to have gained 6kg since last November  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 31 January, 2013, 06:01:39 pm
That can happen!  :-* :-*It comes, it goes...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 February, 2013, 12:50:30 pm
Bad news: Guardian Extra thingy are doing two-for-one tickets on a concert we're going to. We've already got our tickets.

Good news: It'll be a good concert anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nicknack on 02 February, 2013, 05:09:06 pm
Bad: I am now 60.

Good: The kids with their other halves are coming round and we're all going for a curry. The Belgian beer is already going down very nicely.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 02 February, 2013, 06:18:50 pm
Bad: I am now 60.

welcome to the Saga+ club ;)


Good: The kids with their other halves are coming round and we're all going for a curry. The Belgian beer is already going down very nicely.

We did similar involving pizza & Grolsch & I loved it.

Have a gudun.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nicknack on 02 February, 2013, 06:33:20 pm
Bad: I am now 60.

welcome to the Saga+ club ;)


Good: The kids with their other halves are coming round and we're all going for a curry. The Belgian beer is already going down very nicely.

We did similar involving pizza & Grolsch & I loved it.

Have a gudun.

Thanks. I'm sure I will.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 02 February, 2013, 07:27:50 pm
Bad: I am now 60.

welcome to the Saga+ club ;)


Good: The kids with their other halves are coming round and we're all going for a curry. The Belgian beer is already going down very nicely.

We did similar involving pizza & Grolsch & I loved it.

Have a gudun.

I read that as 'pizza and Goldfish' :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 02 February, 2013, 09:23:32 pm
Specsavers is that >>>>>> way.
They do free eye tests for those aged 60 & more. ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 04 February, 2013, 08:04:34 am
Bad:  Our newish marketing bod has produced a corporate video to show the rebranding.

Good:  it's actually quite good... I had suspected she knew what she was doing, this almost confirms it.  Phew.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 07 February, 2013, 11:03:13 am
GN: we won a 3-course lunch at Meltons in York

BN: I'm having serious dental work done this Sat so can't go. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 07 February, 2013, 03:59:52 pm
GN Vernon has just told me that a parcel has arrived for him*

He's in Guildford with the parcel.


BN I'm not  :(


*May contain caek or traces thereof.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Deano on 07 February, 2013, 04:05:20 pm
There should be enough cake for two!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 07 February, 2013, 05:20:45 pm
And it'll freeze....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 07 February, 2013, 06:45:32 pm
GN I'm home  :thumbsup:.

BN No sign of Vernon  >:(

<drums fingers>

<loudly>

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 07 February, 2013, 06:50:13 pm
P.S. Caek, freeze  ???

<------- Does not understand.


Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 07 February, 2013, 07:06:25 pm
Good news: Mrs B's mother has sent us flowers for our birthdays (they're on consecutive days).
Bad news: they're ten days early. Has she forgotten when her daughter's birthday is?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 12 February, 2013, 09:20:29 am
Good news! My employer has changed the bicycle scheme and now, you can get a bike at any time, not just at the single entry point. Also, they have increased the value from £2,000 to £3,000.

Bad news: oh nononoonononononononono
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 12 February, 2013, 09:42:39 am
Good news! My employer has changed the bicycle scheme and now, you can get a bike at any time, not just at the single entry point. Also, they have increased the value from £2,000 to £3,000.

Bad news: oh nononoonononononononono

Three grand should get you a nice recumbent. ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 12 February, 2013, 10:02:05 am
Good news! My employer has changed the bicycle scheme and now, you can get a bike at any time, not just at the single entry point. Also, they have increased the value from £2,000 to £3,000.

Bad news: oh nononoonononononononono

Three grand should get you a nice recumbent. ;)


You suspect I may need some horizontal transport after Mrs Ham is done with me?

(for those who think "but the cycle scheme has a £1,000 limit" that's only because over that amount the employer needs a consumer credit license, which my megacorp already has)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 12 February, 2013, 03:28:26 pm
Good news: Farnell have finally dispatched my Raspberry Pi ....
Bad news: ... using UPS  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 12 February, 2013, 04:20:44 pm
Good news: Farnell have finally dispatched my Raspberry Pi ....
Bad news: ... using UPS  :facepalm:

UPS have been the best IME...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 12 February, 2013, 06:56:09 pm
Good news: Farnell have finally dispatched my Raspberry Pi ....
Bad news: ... using UPS  :facepalm:

UPS have been the best IME...
Yebbut that's all relative, especially when you consider the competition ... (Hide, Drop 'N Lose, Dave's Parcel Delivery, ShittyLink et.al)

On the plus side, it appears that the UPS website will allow you to reschedule delivery to a different address if an initial attempt at delivery is unsuccessful. This could prove to be handy unless the driver displays some kind of initiative and leaves the package with one of the neighbours.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 February, 2013, 07:49:47 pm
GN:  I had a parcel delivered flawlessly and efficiently by Interlink Express this morning.

BN:  It was the wrong customer's order.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 12 February, 2013, 09:46:14 pm
Good news: Farnell have finally dispatched my Raspberry Pi ....
Bad news: ... using UPS  :facepalm:

UPS have been the best IME...
Yebbut that's all relative, especially when you consider the competition ... (Hide, Drop 'N Lose, Dave's Parcel Delivery, ShittyLink et.al)

On the plus side, it appears that the UPS website will allow you to reschedule delivery to a different address if an initial attempt at delivery is unsuccessful. This could prove to be handy unless the driver displays some kind of initiative and leaves the package with one of the neighbours.

I don't think we've ever had a problem with UPS. Porcel Farce, DPD, Shitty Link and others have been variably poor.
Last Hermes delivery was OK.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 12 February, 2013, 09:54:05 pm
I don't think we've ever had a problem with UPS. Porcel Farce, DPD, Shitty Link and others have been variably poor.
Last Hermes delivery was OK.

D'you know? <whispers quietly> I don't think I've had a problem with any of them.

OK, once with parcel force who stuck a card through my door while I was four feet away reading YACF.  (I ran out but he was accelerating hard)  No big deal - I live ½ mile from the parcel depot.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 12 February, 2013, 10:50:33 pm
Good news: all the code that was working at the start of the day is working again and there is additional code, which mostly works.
Bad news: that could have taken much less time if NetBeans had been able to spot broken reuse of names in javascript (or I'd been a bit more careful  :facepalm: ). It has been crashing often enough that I'm in the mood for a change anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 13 February, 2013, 10:43:04 am
GN: We received a letter today telling us our finance request for new windows and door has been approved.

BN: It means we will be in hock for the next 3 years, but can pay it off sooner.

GN: It's interest free

BN: It means that the "discount" we get on the windows and doors is less I am a cynic and realise that there is no such thing as a free lunch)

Ultimate good news: we will no longer have a cold, draughty house!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 13 February, 2013, 10:46:37 am
Another quick one.

BN: Had an email from Union to say that I'd get my coffee on Friday

extra BN: I ran out yesterday!

GN: The parcel actually arrived last night!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 13 February, 2013, 12:07:04 pm
Bad news: stuck in the isolation room again.

Good news: isolated patient insists on listening to 6 music all day.

We're having a great time   :D :D :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 13 February, 2013, 03:31:32 pm
Good news: I've just ordered Battleship Potemkin on DVD for under £8 (including P&P) :thumbsup:

Bad news: I've got to wait TWO WHOLE DAYS for it to be delivered :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: loadsabikes on 13 February, 2013, 06:27:13 pm
G.N. Following an abdominal US scan, I don't appear to have a liver problem.

B.N.  I do have a gall stone.          Bugger!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 13 February, 2013, 06:29:25 pm
Ugh, horrible things.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 13 February, 2013, 06:55:45 pm
GN: Morrisons had fluorescent light starters for cheaper than B&Q so I could buy both sizes (wasn't sure what I needed) for less than one pack at B&Q.

BN: The tubes don't even try to fire with the new starters. Turns out there's a third size (I'd have thought 4-65W would work in place of 4-22 but apparently not).

Other BN: Looking at the tubes I think it's those rather than the starters.

GN: B&Q had plenty, that's why I didn't buy any as wasn't sure what size I need, thought they came in short medium and long but there were subtle variations around the size I thought I needed.

BN: Means I have to go to the shops again at some point to sort this flickery light.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 14 February, 2013, 11:26:56 pm
Bad News: Scorched MDF really, really stinks.

Good News: This can apparently be mostly contained through the strategic use of an Alpkit dry bag.


Good News: Most of today was spent involved in the creative use of lasers.

Bad News: I didn't have any trained on the fecker who smashed up my windows and broke into my car.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 15 February, 2013, 12:01:34 am
Bastards!  I can't imagine that making things any drier...

Lasers++ though.  They make everything better.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pedaldog. on 15 February, 2013, 12:01:45 am
Good news: The emergency eye surgery in Liverpool last week seems, according to the Eye Guy today, to have repaired the retinal tear.

Bad News: It is still Haemorrhaging so when I go back to Liverpool in a week or so they might want to do more surgery. This involves Needles and eyeballs so I am a little.... nervous?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 15 February, 2013, 12:17:56 am
Bastards!  I can't imagine that making things any drier...

Lasers++ though.  They make everything better.

Yes, my Raspberry Pi is now significantly more water resistant than my car. Also I've contributed to the large amount of broken glass on the streets of Birmingham :(

Seems a lot of effort to go to for a chamois sponge doodad. *sigh*


Still, better than haemorrhaging eyes, though. GWS, Pedaldog.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 15 February, 2013, 08:47:49 am
I'm off to frogland tonight, driving up a mountain to ski....Yayyyyyyyy!!!!  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D


It looks like fog and mist across the whole of France, tonight, booooooooo :(


(yes that could be fogland, it was deliberate)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 15 February, 2013, 10:38:40 am
Good news: The lump in my armpit that's been there a month or so is a sebaceous cyst, so I don't need to worry about it.

Bad news: The mole I had not really been worried about but thought I should tell the doc about while I was there has 3 of the potentially cancerous signs, so will be getting fast track referral to dermatologist for suspected melanoma within 2 weeks. Bugger. TBH I'm not that worried really, but maybe I should be!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 15 February, 2013, 10:43:16 am
TBH, Sounds all good from here, with the mole at least you've caught it and it is easy to deal with - very pleased for you, those things can be very worrying
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 15 February, 2013, 10:44:26 am
Bad News: Scorched MDF really, really stinks.
That'll be the formaldehyde.
I still don't understand why certain organic compounds are called 'aromatic' - they very rarely are1, especially after you set fire to them.

1 - notable exceptions being esters and certain ketones.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: dasmoth on 15 February, 2013, 10:51:22 am
Formaldehyde isn't aromatic.

Most of the esthers and ketones you do like the smell of also lack the required benzene ring.

Edit: the simplest aromatic aldehyde is Benzaldehyde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzaldehyde), which doesn't smell too bad (almonds). 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 15 February, 2013, 10:52:07 am
TBH, Sounds all good from here, with the mole at least you've caught it and it is easy to deal with - very pleased for you, those things can be very worrying

All that.  There's a reason for fast track referral - it means things are easy to deal with and excise completely.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 15 February, 2013, 10:58:19 am
Formaldehyde isn't aromatic.

Most of the esthers and ketones you do like the smell of also lack the required benzene ring.
My apologies - A-level chemistry was over 20 years ago, and whilst I did play with organic compounds during my PhD I was more interested in how well they exploded rather than the nicities of their molecular structure.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 15 February, 2013, 01:23:41 pm
GN: No more HellDesk duty

BN: ... until next week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 15 February, 2013, 01:30:55 pm
Bad news: The mole I had not really been worried about but thought I should tell the doc about while I was there has 3 of the potentially cancerous signs, so will be getting fast track referral to dermatologist for suspected melanoma within 2 weeks. Bugger. TBH I'm not that worried really, but maybe I should be!
The apple-core sampling usually removes the growth entirely - so just the test usually gets rid of these.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 15 February, 2013, 04:15:56 pm
I'm, unusually, riding both ways today. So I took the ridgeback rather than the folder as it is more fun.

Bad news: I've not quite internalized the new bar end shifters. At the start of the short steep trafficy hill I went onto the big ring instead of the small.  :-[

Good news: I was half way up before it occurred to me that I'd done something silly and got the rest of the way without correcting it or stopping.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 February, 2013, 04:12:25 pm
Good news: it was a lovely almost-3-days being visited by Woolly & Peli.

Bad news: they caught the 2.12 train from Prittlewell and will now be whizzing past Ally Pally or somewhere like that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 19 February, 2013, 02:39:33 pm
Good news: the LBS have now taken delivery of the new brakes for the Genesis singlespeed :thumbsup:

Bad news: Won't be able to pick the (hopefully)de-shrieked bike until Friday - LBS is shut Wednesdays and there's not enough time on Thursday to pick the bike up from the LBS and get back in time to get my train up to Northallerton for the pub run.

Good news: the weekend riding should be blessedly free of brakes which shriek so much they scare children and bruise fruit.

EDIT: Just got an email from the LBS to say the bike is ready ... still can't pick it up 'til Friday though :( On the plus side, it now has matching green valve caps as well as new brakes ;D :thumbsup:

(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10679433/379275_10151511163565701_1313318819_n.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 23 February, 2013, 06:07:32 pm
Good news - I found my stainless steel flask, I hadn't seen it since a ride in January!

Bad news -  The remnants of some sweetened black coffee was in there. When I opened it some sort of visible gas leaked out...... :o   It's now having a soak in some Milton....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 23 February, 2013, 06:11:11 pm
Good news: I found my spoke key (in the drawer with the other bike tools ::-)).

Bad news: I'd already bought a set of three more spoke keys. I still can't find my merino buff, and now a pack of spoke reflectors has disappeared too. I swear there are gremlins in the house. >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mmmmartin on 23 February, 2013, 06:28:13 pm
Good news: I'm being made redundant and have ordered a Sherpa from Thorn as retail therapy and so I can ride it round Patagonia and other interesting places.
Bad news: There isn't any.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 23 February, 2013, 06:29:41 pm
Good news: I'm being made redundant and have ordered a Sherpa from Thorn as retail therapy and so I can ride it round Patagonia and other interesting places.
Bad news: There isn't any.

Git.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 23 February, 2013, 06:34:31 pm
Good news: I'm being made redundant and have ordered a Sherpa from Thorn as retail therapy and so I can ride it round Patagonia and other interesting places.
Bad news: There isn't any.

Rock on :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 23 February, 2013, 06:42:52 pm
Good news: Salsa are releasing a carbon fat-bike later this year ....
Bad news: Frame and forks, $2600 (so £2600, in other words)  :o

Anyone wanna buy a Pugsley? :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 23 February, 2013, 06:46:44 pm
Good news: I'm being made redundant and have ordered a Sherpa from Thorn as retail therapy and so I can ride it round Patagonia and other interesting places.
Bad news: There isn't any.

Who you going with? And when?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mmmmartin on 24 February, 2013, 09:59:47 am
Dunno when, might be jan or feb 2014, and probably alone. Want to improve my spanish first, that is why i did gibraltar to madrid in january.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 February, 2013, 03:26:33 pm
Good - there is sun streaming into the room.
Bad - the windows are filthy, I obv need to phone the cleaning co and give them a kick up the jacksie again.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 26 February, 2013, 06:24:04 pm
I don't know if this is good news or bad news.

Todays's full value for money haircut has solicited the comment that I'm developing a mallen streak :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 February, 2013, 06:40:18 pm
You are John Shirley Quirk AICMFP!

(http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Pic-Bio/Shirley-Quirk-John-3.jpeg)

Bad news: when I woke up this morning there was something unexpected in my mouth. It turned out to be a sliver of tooth which has broken off in the night.

Good news: by coincidence I had arranged a dental checkup for 10.45 this morning. I had my checkup and the tooth filled and the dentist didn't charge me a penny.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 26 February, 2013, 06:46:54 pm
I was hoping that a mallen streak is a phrase meaning go-faster cycling ;D

That would be an AlanStreak.A figment of my imagination ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 28 February, 2013, 07:01:47 pm
GN - Lunch!  Nom!

BN - At 7pm.  And working on the understanding that custard creams and rich teas and hobnobs (dunked in instant coffee, natch) constituted breakfast.

GN - I have now taken all teh good drugz!  Including the ones that I should have taken to work with me.  D'oh.

BN - I would still _quite_ like to attack my own sinuses with power tools because surely that would HURT LESS since they haven't really kicked in yet.

Blimey, that was a day.  Next?

ETA 20 minutes later - Teh Drugz, they work.  Hip hip hooray!  Right.  Time to go out.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 28 February, 2013, 07:32:30 pm
GN: I got out and about to sunny Peatboghorror today, and escaped for a day free of Useless Colleague no.1.

BN: The person I was meeting with was ill and working from home. Again. (sigh)

Hey ho. At least I get paid for the extra fuel.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 06 March, 2013, 02:48:17 pm
Good News: Finally sorted out all the infernal legal wrangles for my new house so I can actually move in on Friday* :D :D :D

Bad News: My tenancy on my current flat runs from the 1st of the month, so it looks like I will have to rent my current flat until the 30th April** ::-)

*Up until yesterday there was a chance I was going to have to call it off - tip never buy from a liquidator
**The friendly(!) letting agent is checking just in case, but it looks like that's what I'm signed up for.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 06 March, 2013, 07:15:46 pm
Good news: I've now got two job interviews lined up.

Bad news: I came off on a greasy corner, and have ripped my shorts as well as various bits of skin.  It's time to go to the bike shop and pre-emptively spend some of that salary I'll hopefully be getting.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 06 March, 2013, 10:46:30 pm
Good News: Finally sorted out all the infernal legal wrangles for my new house so I can actually move in on Friday* :D :D :D

Bad News: My tenancy on my current flat runs from the 1st of the month, so it looks like I will have to rent my current flat until the 30th April** ::-)

*Up until yesterday there was a chance I was going to have to call it off - tip never buy from a liquidator
**The friendly(!) letting agent is checking just in case, but it looks like that's what I'm signed up for.

Congratulations!

You can always use the overlap to decorate and get rid of that spiky gravel out the back  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 March, 2013, 10:54:24 pm
Money spent on rent overlap so you don't have to move all your stuff in one go, at the same time as herding estate agents, cleaning, sorting out minor plumbing disasters, beating BT into submission, etc. is never wasted.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 07 March, 2013, 07:12:55 pm
GN: Had a meeting in Copenhagen yesterday (offices in old Danisco sugar factory on the main river, lovely site), and had 4 hours mooching around in beautiful spring weather with a colleague before flight back.

BN: Had to carry small case around with me, and did not hire a bike to join in with the others.

I was not really prepared for the number of bicycle there are in Copenhagen. Blimey... Cobbles everywhere though, so skinny tyres are a bit of a no-no.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 07 March, 2013, 07:48:32 pm
Money spent on rent overlap so you don't have to move all your stuff in one go, at the same time as herding estate agents, cleaning, sorting out minor plumbing disasters, beating BT into submission, etc. is never wasted.

Absolutely.  I'm planning to move in to MFWHTBAB's over the course of months, a rucksack at a time....  Well, except for the book cases and sofa, I'll let him put those in the car....

Of course, I don't have to worry about the plumbing bit, as he's capable of dealing with those as they arise.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 08 March, 2013, 05:26:12 pm
GN:  Its friday afternoon, off to Keswick tomorrow for a weeks walking
BN:  Mrsmike cant come :(  It'll just be me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 12 March, 2013, 08:13:48 pm
GN: I've finally got an eta for my new bike ordered in January, it should be arriving at the shop Mar 18th.  :thumbsup:

BN: Just read a Sgt Pluck's thread on suggestions for a bike and a number of people have said Treks are 'flexy' around the BB. My new bike is a Trek  :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 12 March, 2013, 10:13:54 pm
GN: I've finally got an eta for my new bike ordered in January, it should be arriving at the shop Mar 18th.  :thumbsup:

BN: Just read a Sgt Pluck's thread on suggestions for a bike and a number of people have said Treks are 'flexy' around the BB. My new bike is a Trek  :o

my bold.
I'm one of a number of people who are very satisfied with their Trek.There is insufficient flex in my bottom bracket to be noticed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 13 March, 2013, 08:50:36 am
I would echo jogler's sentiment.

Not all Treks are equal.

The flex I saw was in the chainstay, quite noticeable on shyumu's Trek, but most definately not there on my Ridley.

Of course, being able to flex chainstays is a function of 1) your weight and 2) the amount of Watts you can put through the drivetrain.

I used to be able to flex the chainstays on my Claud Butler so much that the tyre rubbed against them.  No chance of doing this with the Ridley.  However the trade off is that the Ridley is quite a harsh ride.  Effective at putting the power down, yes, but comfy over long rides, maybe less so...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 13 March, 2013, 10:39:17 am


Of course, being able to flex chainstays is a function of 1) your weight and 2) the amount of Watts you can put through the drivetrain.



I have a bit of an issue with 1)* & no prblem with 2)**


*too much
**not enough
 ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 14 March, 2013, 06:34:02 am
Well I'm light and weak so think I'll be ok  :thumbsup: Cheers for the reassurance guys.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 14 March, 2013, 08:04:36 am
Shyumu is pretty darned strong.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Thing2 on 15 March, 2013, 07:02:06 pm
GN: I may have found the source of the creaking we had on the 300 last weekend.

BN: The RH chainstay on our Santana appears to be trying to part company from the seat tube....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 15 March, 2013, 07:07:44 pm
You Things are just too rough with your toys!

At least it will be easier to get sorted on that side of the Pond than from here.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Thing2 on 17 March, 2013, 03:38:53 am
You Things are just too rough with your toys!

At least it will be easier to get sorted on that side of the Pond than from here.

Yup. She's already back at the local dealers who will strip it & send it to Santana. She's likely to be away for 6-8 weeks though (& 1300km of events)  :'(

This afternoon we've been converting Dobbin from heavy duty touring mode to randonneuring mode, which gives us the option to ride a tandem or solos.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 18 March, 2013, 07:30:30 pm
GN: Media Centre RasPi turned up today - I feel a bit of hackery coming on, although I'm trying to fight down an urge to download the RiscOS image and take that for a spin :)

BN: A promising looking job lead turned out to be for an outfit with strong links to the finance industry; I've told the slave-traders where they can shove it and I'll overlook the fact that they royally bullshitted me with respect to what the company in question did - if they thought that I wouldn't do any further research they were either extremely naive or monumentally stupid. The jury's out on that one.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 24 March, 2013, 10:39:50 pm
GN: I haz my new bike  :thumbsup:

BN: It haz issues, a lowrider mount in the fork turning freely whilst trying to undo the bolt, not ideal. Plus I nearly crossthreaded two other bolt holes as the finishing on them isn't great, I don't think I did any damage and they're ok as long as you're careful but given this bike cost ~3.5x what I paid for my last one I'd expect better.

It's a shame as it's a nice bike and I am pleased with it overall it's just put a bit of a damper on what was an exciting day to start off with. Plus my extended fettling means I didn't get to go on a proper ride of my new toy, just 4 miles up and down whilst fiddling with brakes and whatnot.

BN: I've not got any of my assignment due Thursday done which means a couple busy evenings ahead, ok I admit I should have studied first and fettled second but didn't expect it to take as long as it did.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 29 March, 2013, 05:21:58 pm
Good news: half-price port at Booths!
Bad news: I don't need to spell it out, do I?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 29 March, 2013, 05:26:38 pm
Good - Going out for tea later.
Bad - my kitteh has got poopy feet :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 29 March, 2013, 05:27:31 pm
Good: Survived the FNRttC

Bad: Lungs b0rked
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 02 April, 2013, 07:38:47 am
Bad News:  I have to drive up to Brum at some point today so that I can go to work on Wednesday and Thursday.

Good News:  I'll be leaving work as soon as I can get away with on Thursday and driving back down.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 05 April, 2013, 12:25:41 pm
Bad News: the Velcro parted company with the strap on my ski boot.

Good News: went into the ski hire shop to ask where I could get a replacement, he rummaged in his box of bits and found a strap which he gave me for free!

So a big :thumbsup: to Cham Sport
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 06 April, 2013, 04:31:20 pm
BN : The ovloV has not been revvving quite correctly the past few days.Felt like a misfire particularly when stationary & idling at junctions & the like

GN :The local licence to print £,00Sterling spannerman plugged it into his laptop,pressed a few keys &  :thumbsup:

Even better news,no £ changed hands :o

"suck it & see;if it's recurrs bring it back"

not at all shabby that :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 08 April, 2013, 09:05:41 am
GN: there will soon be another spot available for LEL

BN: that spot is mine
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mmmmartin on 08 April, 2013, 10:32:49 am
I know you can tell me when we go to Normandy, but whyso?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 08 April, 2013, 10:44:15 am
I know you can tell me when we go to Normandy, but whyso?

I've managed ZERO preparation so far, even commuting has been pitiful.  Even if weather turns nice and work eases up, I won't be able to start any proper training until mid-May.  That's not enough time to get from my current state to where I need to be, so I'm doing the sensible thing. 

I'm gutted, but this way I won't find myself in the position of starting know only a miracle would get me around in time, and my spot can go to someone who might actually stand a chance.

Guess training for PBP starts now...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mmmmartin on 08 April, 2013, 10:56:43 am
I've managed ZERO preparation so far, even commuting has been pitiful.  Even if weather turns nice and work eases up, I won't be able to start any proper training until mid-May.  That's not enough time to get from my current state to where I need to be
Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear. Er, not sure how to put this. Apart from the monthly RRTY, I am in the same boat. Am hoping once family funeral is out of the way this week, and the York-Hull ride with the ride back to London afterwards at the end of next week, my unemployment state means I will have the time to train.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 08 April, 2013, 03:02:18 pm
Good news:

the For Sale board is up, the brochure is not bad at all, and I can't wait to move house.  Also someone's coming round to clean the house for me so I'm not too ashamed to have people look at it. 

Bad news:

still can't breathe and have another week off sick to look forward to (although seeing my dishy GP is always a bonus).  I'm so bored.  And my air tubes are sore.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 08 April, 2013, 06:16:26 pm
Bad news: Crusty will have to do dinner. I'm poorly.

Good news: Domino Pizza 50% off
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 08 April, 2013, 06:29:49 pm
More like 50% on   ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LindaG on 08 April, 2013, 06:32:53 pm
More like 50% on   ;)

Think you can talk him into doing a nice healthy stir fry PB? Then you can tell me your method 'cos in 15 years I've not managed it yet.

It's a meal.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 08 April, 2013, 10:44:17 pm
Bad news: Crusty will have to do dinner. I'm poorly.

Good news: Domino Pizza 50% off

Domino's Special Stuffed Crusty Pizza
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 April, 2013, 08:47:06 am
Think you can talk him into doing a nice healthy stir fry PB?
Chop up bacon.
Chop up onions
Chop up potatoes (small)

Tip into pan with some butter

Stir while frying
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 09 April, 2013, 08:52:13 am
You know the Good News.

Bad News: They're talking about it endlessly (and fawningly) on the radio :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 09 April, 2013, 09:13:51 am
Two for the price of one!

1)
GN: a lot of people are showing their true colours
BN: a lot of people are showing their true colours

2)
GN: I will be AT the Tweed Run
BN: I will not be ON the Tweed Run
           (Never got a reply to my offer to help marshal the ride, but I will be helping with registration in the morning.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 09 April, 2013, 11:32:06 am
You know the Good News.

Bad News: They're talking about it endlessly (and fawningly) on the radio :(
1) That's bloody nasty. Old, ga-ga, harmless & irrelevant - why do you take pleasure in her death?
2) Yes, that's annoying.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 09 April, 2013, 06:45:59 pm
BN: I drove today cos it was raining a lot when the alarm went off and it looks like I need to drive tomorrow as well now.

GN: I need to drive as it looks like all the bits for my new dyno wheel should be arriving at work :D Except I forgot one thing, I did not order a spokey  :facepalm: But I have a multisized one (only hold two sides of the nipple though) I can use for the initial lacing/tightening and then get a decent one at the weekend.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 09 April, 2013, 07:05:09 pm
More like 50% on   ;)

Think you can talk him into doing a nice healthy stir fry PB? Then you can tell me your method 'cos in 15 years I've not managed it yet.

It's a meal.

I was referring to the price and trying irony.  Sorry.   :-[

Think you can talk him into doing a nice healthy stir fry PB?
Chop up bacon.
Chop up onions
Chop up potatoes (small)

Tip into pan with some butter

Stir while frying

For stir fry also add mushrooms, chopped peppers and mange tout.   Starting with garlic and strips of chicken with the onion you can also cook some pasta as well as add mascapone, grated cheddar and single cream for a truly rich and tasty meal.   :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 09 April, 2013, 08:23:05 pm
Good news: it's only eight sleeps till bobb's next visit
Bad news: it's still eight sleeps till bobb's next visit
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feline on 09 April, 2013, 10:32:03 pm
GN: lent ended and I can drink wine again.
BN: lent ended and I can drink wine again. I'm off my face just from drinking 3 glasses of wine on my own at home. WTF!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 10 April, 2013, 02:57:28 am
GN: I haz been to the 'mall' and found some clothes I actually want to buy
BN: Credit card was stopped after the first purchase  >:( :facepalm: ::-)
Also, my feet hurt.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 10 April, 2013, 07:30:29 pm
BN : The ovloV has not been revvving quite correctly the past few days.Felt like a misfire particularly when stationary & idling at junctions & the like

GN :The local licence to print £,00Sterling spannerman plugged it into his laptop,pressed a few keys &  :thumbsup:

Even better news,no £ changed hands :o

"suck it & see;if it's recurrs bring it back"

not at all shabby that :)

I sucked it & saw that it weren't right.It's been back in the garage today so I'll need to suck it & see again tomorrow.
No £ has yet changed hands.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 11 April, 2013, 08:08:32 pm
Good News: Delighted to see lots of white aerosol paint on the surface of the moon Westferry Road (Part of my commute) which is pock-marked, cratered and pot-holed like the aforementioned natural satellite, to the point where the bad bits outweigh the good bits (thank christ it's now light when I'm going along there).

Bad news: Man with a bucket O' tar remedy has been applied.
Man also had a road roller either with with no weight to it or with moguls built in to the profile of the drum.
Or both.
Or he just didn't bother rolling it.

Well done LB of Tower Hamlets, no really, superbly well done.
You probably think this measure will prevent the sprained ankles and subsequent law suits when the London Marathon takes place along that road on the 21st of this month.
It won't prevent the former.
You've chucked money at it and it is just as $h!t as it was before and, in places, worse.
You do this every year.
Congratulate yourselves.

EDIT: Sorry people. Somehow this has turned into a bit of a rant. I could not help myself.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 12 April, 2013, 12:10:47 pm
Bad news: I have received a ten year award from Megacorp

Good news: At least I didn't have to meet my manager or anything like that, all I had to do was open the door and the postie put the biro in my hand.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 12 April, 2013, 12:13:35 pm
Bad news: I have received a ten year award from Megacorp

Good news: At least I didn't have to meet my manager or anything like that, all I had to do was open the door and the postie put the biro in my hand.

Beers are on your this time next week then! :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 12 April, 2013, 12:15:36 pm
It gets better....

More postie borne good news, quite out the blue I find I may be eligible to receive some compo

Bad news: It is coz I haz a pension (mwah hah hah) with Equitable Life.........
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 12 April, 2013, 01:34:56 pm
Bad news: I have received a ten year award from Megacorp

Good news: At least I didn't have to meet my manager or anything like that, all I had to do was open the door and the postie put the biro in my hand.

10 years service, and all they gave you was a lousy biro?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 12 April, 2013, 01:56:16 pm

10 years service, and all they gave you was a lousy biro?
Don't knock it. 22 years in the MoD and I still have to steal them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 12 April, 2013, 02:02:10 pm
You can afford biros in your part of the public service?  I said the Defence budget was OTT!

Now pharmaceutical companies are not allowed to give away stationery, it's placed a heavy burden on our budgets.

fwiw, and before Regulator steps in, our prescribing patterns have not changed as a result, proving how inept most advertising is.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 12 April, 2013, 09:43:45 pm
I can remember a time when MOD used to buy biro refills in silver tubes containing 25.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 15 April, 2013, 09:52:15 am
Good news!! The problem with my Karcher pressure washer was not  terminal as a result of frost, instead it was caused by a dodgy Hozelock stop valve connector, not opening fully on the Karcher connector (but opening OK on the Hozelock nozzle)

Bad news! I only found this out when the exact same problem surfaced on the brand new pressure washer I bought to replace it.

Maybe good news for someone: Anyone interested in buying a Karcher K3.90 in good working order? (will go on eBay in a week or so)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Greenbank on 18 April, 2013, 01:54:22 pm
Bad news: I have received a ten year award from Megacorp

Good news: At least I didn't have to meet my manager or anything like that, all I had to do was open the door and the postie put the biro in my hand.

Good news: Well done (for avoiding your manager). For mine I was called in to a meeting room in one of those "have you got a minute?" things that can often quickly become bad news; luckily not.

Bad news 1: My 15 years at Megacorp comes up next year (it should really have been last year but they don't count the time they 'employed' me whilst I was a student).

Bad news 2: The pen will also appear on your P11D. Joy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 18 April, 2013, 02:04:33 pm
BN: Turning on the coffee machine without the jug inplace was a bad idea.

GN: I've found the hiding place for the Custard Cream supply... Nom Nom Nom
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 22 April, 2013, 10:13:02 am
GN: the gf bread I left at work last week is still edible

BN: I've nearly run out of coffee.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 22 April, 2013, 03:37:23 pm
BN: I was in the office half an hour early and only got half an hour's lunch because of a ton of Important Time-Critical Stuff which isn't actually my job.

GN: I didn't mind doing it, and now i'm sloping off at 4 instead of 5 for a cheeky spin on the bike. Happy days!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 22 April, 2013, 09:03:03 pm
Good: I am about to collect my repaired frame painted in club colours. Pink, White and Blue.
Bad: Four weeks ago the club decided to return to its 1927 colour scheme. Black & White with a red dragon on the collar.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 23 April, 2013, 01:36:11 pm
GN: found the date for this year's Chap Olympiad - 20th July.

BN: 20th-21st July is the DunRun.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 23 April, 2013, 07:45:29 pm
GN: They're resurfacing Mill Lane in Acaster Malbis, at last! (It was a horrible, crater-strewn surface.)

BN: They haven't finished yet. Riding over the exposed ironwork wasn't particularly pleasant.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 April, 2013, 08:31:57 pm
BN: I lost a library book.
GN: It's been found.
BN: I'll have to pay for it to be posted to me.
GN: Then I'll be able to finish reading it - and in the meantime I can finish the other books due back soon!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 28 April, 2013, 03:41:35 pm
BN: the lakes of the Lake District are being replenished.

GN: I did at least get out to lap Coniston water in the dry break between deluges.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 28 April, 2013, 06:36:58 pm
Bad news: I arrived at my hotel to be told I wasn't expected until tomorrow.

Good news: they have a room anyway!

That is why I prefer to make my own reservations, that and the fact that the office books me out to save £30 ignoring the fact if I have to go to Gatwick that means an extra night in a hotel and a longer drive :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 28 April, 2013, 07:23:53 pm
BN : incurred yet another puncture :(

GN : the new Marathon+ came off & went back on much easier than previously. :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 29 April, 2013, 08:50:00 pm
We got a car.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 29 April, 2013, 09:28:32 pm
Woolly what can I say.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 30 April, 2013, 08:52:58 am
Good! After a couple of years of not being able to play due to a lack of local teams, I've finally found a (fledgling) ultimate frisbee group in Swindonia.

Bad! I went down to chuck a few discs around with them last night, and twisted my knee. Owwww.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: loadsabikes on 30 April, 2013, 09:07:00 am
Bring a frisby to Rutland
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 30 April, 2013, 09:10:01 am
Woolly what can I say.
Well we all know the bad news. Good news is that we can come to more forums rides and I can ride a trike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 02 May, 2013, 06:15:01 pm
Bad: both my calves have painful & madly itchy insect bites, acquired while cycling through South Oxfordshire last nght.

Good: the anti-histamine cream I bought this afternoon is working. Bliss!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 02 May, 2013, 06:25:14 pm
We got a car.

Woolly what can I say.

You could say...

See you at Long Itch?   :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 02 May, 2013, 08:24:06 pm
Now thats an idea.......
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 02 May, 2013, 08:36:41 pm
Bring a frisby to Rutland

Will do!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 02 May, 2013, 08:45:08 pm
We got a car.

Woolly what can I say.

You could say...

See you at Long Itch?   :D

BAD :Had the car for two days and the radiator leaked, GOOD : Got a new radiator fitted for free today, ain't it great to have a real local garage.

Long Itch we will think very hard about that, lets see if we can fit it in.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 03 May, 2013, 09:55:51 am
BN: MegaCorp decided to feature me in the weekly-sent-to-umpteen-thousands newsletter  :sick:

GN: Some old faces from over the years have got back in touch which may prove to be a Get Out Of Jail Free card

(Oh, and Greenbank - that does NOT count as spotting, OK?)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 05 May, 2013, 05:53:20 pm
BN : incurred yet another puncture :(

GN : the new Marathon+ came off & went back on much easier than previously. :)

The bl**dy tube has deflated again >:(. This is the sixth time :o A leak in the same place as before.I reckon the tube is weak;it's a Bontranger.I have had problems with these before so have replaced it with a Hutchinson.Waiting now to see if it stays inflated.

I have checked the tyre for internal protrusions,checked that no spoke heads et al are protruding thru' the rim tape & satisfied myself that the valve is not faulty.

Each time the new Marathon + is taken off & refitted it becomes easier than previously.A small mercy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 06 May, 2013, 04:19:35 pm
BN:
Yet another deflation ::-)
The Hutchinson has failed at the site of a previous patch.

I have decided to spare no expense & now fitted a new tube.


GN:
I didn't have a tantrum
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 06 May, 2013, 04:34:38 pm
BN:  I got caught out and got sunburned legs and ears yeasterday.  :(

GN:  I found some Nivea smurf factor 50 in the touring kit so no sunburn today  :thumbsup:

More GN:  We've cycled two days in a row for the first time this year.  Mlle PB seems quite whacked but my knees have survived unscathed   :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 06 May, 2013, 10:45:32 pm
GN: took 2 minutes off my run home time via the observatory.
BN: Phone failed ot get a GPS signal so I couldn't log the ride or get teh times on the strava segments.
BN2: my legs hurt. might have over done it a bit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 08 May, 2013, 05:54:28 pm
GN:  It only rained twice in Brum today.

BN:  Between 7:30 & 8:30 and between 16:30 & 17:30
 >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 09 May, 2013, 08:59:00 pm
Good news: Last day at work for a fortnight. Off touring tomorrow.

Bad news: My Infinity broadband is dead. DSL light flashing constantly on the modem. Helpful Santosh confirms a fault and raises a ticket. When can you be at home if we need to send an engineer out.....? .err in 2 weeks.....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 May, 2013, 09:28:01 pm
GN:  It only rained twice in Brum today.

BN:  Between 7:30 & 8:30 and between 16:30 & 17:30
 >:(

There was a real bastard of what would nominally be a headwind on your way home, too.  (DAHIKT).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 09 May, 2013, 10:10:19 pm
Bad news: The Giro highlights are on after my bedtime on Eurosport. I can't get previous days programmes out of the online service.
Good news: BT Infinity with TV has Eurosport and can be had at perpetual towers (or so I'm led to believe - it does seem to be a mix of freeview and down the fibre).
Bad news: BT is experiencing unprecedented demand and are failing to process my order.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Littlesox on 11 May, 2013, 03:13:26 pm
Good news - The Coalition is under threat and the Conservatives are getting jittery because of the rise of another party that has stolen 25% vote share.

Bad news - It's UKIP

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Chris S on 13 May, 2013, 07:18:49 pm
Good News: We get to use CEXy the Volvo for another year!

Bad News: It cost £698.86p for the privilege.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 13 May, 2013, 10:21:54 pm
Good news:  we have plenty of Japanese anti-inflammatory patches.
Bad news: I need them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 14 May, 2013, 10:07:29 am
Good News: Child Benefit has gone up!
Bad News: So has everything else.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: davelodwig on 14 May, 2013, 05:57:40 pm
Good News - The Brompton is back from the bike shop with a near rear triangle, bottom bracket and fixed brakes.
Bad News - I could have probably bought a bike for what it cost.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: JonBuoy on 14 May, 2013, 07:38:04 pm
Good news:  I was pretty pleased with the result of my first ever attempt at handlebar taping.

Bad news:  4 miles and half a commute later I came off the bike and scuffed it up.  The skinned knee will fix itself but not the tape  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 14 May, 2013, 10:03:28 pm
GN: My hip hurts less than it did yesterday.
BN: It still hurts.

GN: When I grazed my anke yesterday I didn't even notice.
BN: I notice it now, whenever anything rubs against it.

GN: TRL has asked me to do another cycle farcility trial - for money, as always.
BN: It's this Friday, & I have some fear that my hip will still be painful.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 May, 2013, 06:50:15 pm
BN -I'm getting the cold (again!) and I've got to do planes all day tomorrow. Cue explosive sinus pain ;(
GN - at least it waited til I'd been out for a ride today before manifesting itself.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 19 May, 2013, 08:01:03 pm
GN: it is my birthday tomorrow and there are three separate cakes in the house already (chocolate beetroot, Vicky Sponge, Mars Bar rice krispy cake).
BN: I have caught a horrid lurgy from my dad and I'm feeling weak, wheezy and bleurgh. And cake isn't recommended for such ailments.  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 19 May, 2013, 08:18:20 pm
Starve a fever, feed a cold.
Define your ailment as 'a cold' and

ENJOY YOUR CAKE!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 19 May, 2013, 08:24:05 pm
Helly? Will you be my doctor for life :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 19 May, 2013, 08:28:59 pm
I am afraid I've retired and do not have a Licence to Practise.  :( ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 19 May, 2013, 08:31:39 pm
With advice like that I'm sure that you will have a whole forum full worth of clients :-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 May, 2013, 08:43:05 pm
*waits in line for cake prescription from Helly*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PAC on 19 May, 2013, 09:08:52 pm
Good news...my Dad's triple heart bypass has gone well, he's now out of ICU and enjoying the drugs :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 20 May, 2013, 10:28:12 am
BN: there's a 'bake-off' taking place in the office today and I'm working from home.

GN: there's a 'bake-off' taking place in the office today and I'm working from home.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 May, 2013, 06:46:39 pm
GN: I rode up Nine Tree Hill today just for fun.
BN: I rode up Nine Tree Hill today just for fun.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 May, 2013, 07:00:01 pm
And there's more!
BN: I won't be able to go camping on the first weekend of June.
GN: This is so that Mrs Cudzo can do a Very Important and Useful Training - and then train others!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 22 May, 2013, 11:14:13 am
BN : Peli's bug has become rather nasty - pain, aches all over, hot cold then cold hot, no sleep, fever running amok. Doctor visit ordered since we can't get her out of bed.
FN : since it is more fun news than good news : I had a sleepness night with fever induced chats with Peli - boy does fever bugs make up some well funny stories. If only one could write down what went onu inside her head last night.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 22 May, 2013, 11:24:50 am
boy does fever bugs make up some well funny stories. If only one could write down what went onu inside her head last night.

Ask barakta about the crocodile and the leg letter some time...   :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 22 May, 2013, 03:22:46 pm
BN: I'm pretty sure I have an early-stage Basel cell carcinoma on my forehead

GN: I'm seeing the doc at the end of the month anyway and it will be easy to cut off 'cause it's not covered by hair.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 May, 2013, 07:11:11 pm
Hurrah!  I have booked my flight & car for September's excursion to USAnia.
Bah! It looks like the car will end up as a totally shite Chrysler 200 again.  Bang goes my right ankle.  Only about a 7000 mile round tripp.  Fucksticks >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 22 May, 2013, 09:43:16 pm
Good news: a nice sunny day, cycling, eating real Cornish pasties and a pleasant beer.

Bad news: bending down while erecting my tent, my Endura Humvees split right up the arse seam.  :-(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 22 May, 2013, 09:50:23 pm
too many pasties?
 ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 23 May, 2013, 10:00:09 pm
Good news: a nice sunny day, cycling, eating real Cornish pasties and a pleasant beer.

Bad news: bending down while erecting my tent, my Endura Humvees split right up the arse seam.  :-(

Sounds like good living to me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 31 May, 2013, 01:37:41 pm
GN: MsCharly is back for summer!

BN: She's intending to head off for 2 weeks cycle-touring with her FWHTBAB

GN: She wants to go cycle touring for a week with me

BN: She's intending to go to spain for a while with FWHTBAB (schoolfriend has offered use of a house over there).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 May, 2013, 08:18:22 pm
BN: For 9 days, Mrs Cudzo made me buy "the shitty Sun" - without looking at page 3 of course, because "it's degrading to women" - (both phrases hers) because there was a competition to win tickets to Legoland. So I had to find places where I could be sure nobody I know would see me!
 8) <That's me, incognito and feeling slightly dirty.

GN: She won! (Despite - or because of? - ticking the box to say she never buys it normally.)

BN: Only two tickets and there are three of us.

GN: I've already promised to marshall on Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride that day, anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Littlesox on 01 June, 2013, 08:49:19 am
Good News : - I rode 74 miles yesterday, which included an ascent of the Long Mynd from Rattlinghope

Bad News : - The descent of the Burway into Church Stretton was a life-threatening experience which cooked the brakes on my Giant
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: simonp on 06 June, 2013, 04:41:05 pm
Good: played 5-a-side. Knees fine. Astroturf ftw.

Bad: had a shoulder-nose interface, nosebleed, think slightly cracked cartilage. Nose started bleeding again just now. Arse.

Good: scored 4 goals, was on winning side.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Littlesox on 15 June, 2013, 07:58:01 pm
Bad News - my obnoxious boss returns from 2 weeks in Turkey on Monday

Good News - I've just started 2 weeks leave !

Hussah !

No ""Spade is a spade" Yorkshirisms for a month.

(But I,m sure there will be trouble`t mill on July 1st)


Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 21 June, 2013, 11:15:09 pm
BN:  Due to our complete inability to match four diaries this year, my Sunday 7th July was planned thus:
Drive from camp site in Great Langdale to Bournville -drop off #1 son. - 171 miles
Drive from Bournville to Carmarthen - drop off #2 son (in time for work shift) - 164 miles
Drive from Carmarthen to Waunifor, Maesycrugiau - 15 miles - Load dog  ::-) and bike (I'm doing the annual ride home to Wales next week, so the B'ham tourer will be down there)
Drive from Waunifor to Bournville - 161 miles.
<ride to Country Girl and back - 2.5 miles  ;D>

Wasn't looking forward to over 500 miles in one day.  (Funny - 'cos I've driven >800 mile journeys in USAiania on several occasions without feeling tired (probably 'cos they didn't involve the A40 or dogs)

GN:  Mrs B has booked an earlier day off work and the boys get possession of the car one day earlier.
Great Langdale have responded positively to my e-mail request to move our two night booking forward by one day.

I'd better buy one of those hats that old people wear when they're driving slowly.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 22 June, 2013, 03:33:09 pm
My flat is absolutely filthy and after about a month of meaning to but not, I finally mustered the mojo to get the vacuum cleaner out and at least make a start and then one of the wheels fell off it and won't stay back on.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 June, 2013, 06:31:10 pm
Good - it stayed dry for long enough for me to go for a walk at the local nature reserve while Pingu audaxes.
Bad - the alleged 4.5km route I reckon was more like twice that, it took me 2 hours, I thought I was lost at one point, the path was overgrown with spiky gorse and nettles (ow) and I didn't see a single otter, seal, pine marten or sqrl. Not a bloody sausage.
My feet are fucking killing me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 22 June, 2013, 10:44:09 pm
Good - it stayed dry for long enough for me to go for a walk at the local nature reserve while Pingu audaxes.
Bad - the alleged 4.5km route I reckon was more like twice that, it took me 2 hours, I thought I was lost at one point, the path was overgrown with spiky gorse and nettles (ow) and I didn't see a single otter, seal, pine marten or sqrl. Not a bloody sausage.
My feet are fucking killing me.

I expect the pine martens ate the sausage. Perhaps the others were just on holiday...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 23 June, 2013, 02:01:15 pm
I really shouldn't be allowed out on my own...

Good News:  Went over to Decathlon to have a look at a new sleeping mat.  They didn't have the one I wanted so that saved me some money.   :thumbsup:

Bad News:  I came out with a new bike  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 23 June, 2013, 03:36:38 pm
GN: Eldest daughter has been learnign to ride horses. She is managing very well.
BN: She enjoys it.
GN: She is old enough to pay for her own hobbies now from her paper round.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 23 June, 2013, 03:45:59 pm
GN: Took the Green Machine out for its first spin for quite a while today, which involved meeting people (something I'm not really that good at) and discovering the most excellent cafe in Rowntree Park. It occurred to me that despite having lived in York for nearly 20 years this is the first time I've had a good nose around the park. It's really rather nice.
BN: The brakes are howling like nobody's business, and no amount of fettling seems to have cured it (ie. sanding the pads, cleaning the rotors with isopropyl alcohol, aligning the calipers etc.)
GN: Seem that Avid G2CS rotors are notoriously noisy - looks like the 160mm rotors I mistakenly ordered last week might not need to be sent back after all.
BN-ish: By going down this route I'll still have to fork out for a pair of 180mm rotors for n+1, and probably some sintered pads for the rest of the disc-braked fleet.

Definitely BN: had to bail out of today's ride after a most excellent Sunday lunch - everyone else was off down to Riccall whilst I had to return home to do Proper Work :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 24 June, 2013, 09:20:24 am
BN: the car's MOT expired yonks ago and Ms AWL has been driving round in it blissfully unaware. I only found out when I tried to tax it.

GN: We've got away with it, so far, and the local garage got us booked in this morning at short notice.

Edit: It passed. The garage charged a few quid to align the lights and top up some fluids. Not unreasonable.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 24 June, 2013, 09:41:47 am
GN: Built my first wheel :D
BN: When I finished the clock said 3:20am - oops

BN: I overslept and got to work 30 mins late - :-\
GN: None of the rest of my team are in the office today so it looks like I got away with it :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 24 June, 2013, 11:15:38 am
BN

- On Friday, some ****** nicked the four packets of reduced (down to 25p)  rhubard from my trolley in Waitrose.  I'd scanned them and hadn't noticed, so I ended up paying for them.  >:( >:( >:( >:(

GN

- I still got the money off offer so still made a profit of 25p on not having each one  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 24 June, 2013, 11:38:42 am
BN: On the drive down to work today, I stopped for diesel and got a hot drink.  They had no decaff coffee so I had to have normal.  I now feel really sick.

GN: I is re-inforcing what a bad effect caffiene has on my body.

Footnote: Don't worry about THoFC, I will serve up full strength coffee, just not partake myself (apart from maybe for nigth rides when the wake up effect is needed!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Deano on 25 June, 2013, 08:49:31 pm
I have three tickets for the first day of the Ashes Test at Chester le Street! There were only five left when I booked them...

But, they cost me £182. And one of them is a concession.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 26 June, 2013, 10:28:25 am
Bad News: The trains were buggered about.  A last minute platform switch at Sutton meant that I got the train the 'wrong' way round the loop.  The same thing meant I was not in one of the carriages which I could alight from at my preferred station, and the train got held up for ages before I could finally get off at Blackfriars and walk to work.

Good News: Passing through Guys, I saw a chap with a Harris Hawk.  I asked him if I could take a photo, and he said he had to keep moving to keep the bird working.  I moved with him and got a decent photo as we were walking together.  Beautiful bird, but I'm awful glad it didn't flap when I was nearby.  I could do without an asthma attack right now.

So late to work because of stupid beggaring around, but a happy chance meeting.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 26 June, 2013, 10:34:58 am
Good news 1: made it up the climb from Walmgate Stray to the top of University Road on a 70" gear with panniers full of crap and didn't feel like coughing up a lung at the top. Won't win any speed records, but clearly I am getting fitter. This is a Good Thing.

Good news 2: the TrailMonsterTM's rear wheel is now done. Dingle-speed off-roader FTW ;)

Good news 3: my suspicions regarding n+1's frame geometry were correct - it has, for practical purposes, the same vital statistics as the Green Machine. This means that the GM's framebag fits and I've saved myself £85 in the process.

Bad news: The £85 thus saved will invariably be spent on bike bits rather than going into the savings account.

Easy come, easy go ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 29 June, 2013, 01:56:07 pm
BN: i ache all over.
 
GN: Actually, there are one or two places where my body doesn't ache.
 
BN:  That's because they've gone numb.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 03 July, 2013, 03:08:41 pm
Good news: I have a bag full of biscuits on my desk

Bad News: Ditto
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 03 July, 2013, 03:14:55 pm
Good news: I have a bag full of biscuits on my desk

Bad News: Ditto

Hmm...  My team has no biscuits.  My previous team, located about 20ft away, used to always have a tin of biscuits.  They have none.

Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seinen Bedürfnissen?  ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 03 July, 2013, 03:16:05 pm
Here, have a custard cream, comrade!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: eck on 03 July, 2013, 06:26:53 pm
Bad News: when I got home from today's run, I noticed that my gilet, which I'd strapped under my saddle, had vanished.  :facepalm:
I set off in the car to retrace my route, more in hope than expectation, to see if I could find it...

Good news: there it was, only 16 miles from home:  here (http://goo.gl/maps/PK1D4). The young lad who lived in the cottage had spied it lying in the road and had hung it up on the fence.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 03 July, 2013, 06:33:49 pm
Good news: it appears that Revelate Designs now have a UK distributor, meaning that I can now get myself one of their Viscacha seatpacks without having to flog a kidney to cover VAT, import duty and the sucks-to-be-you-'cos-you-don't-live-in-the-US tax.

Bad news: it appears that Revelate Designs now have a UK distributor, meaning that I can now get myself one of their Viscacha seatpacks without having to flog a kidney to cover VAT, import duty and the sucks-to-be-you-'cos-you-don't-live-in-the-US tax.

Easy come, easy go (again)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 03 July, 2013, 10:12:24 pm
Good news: it appears that Revelate Designs now have a UK distributor, meaning that I can now get myself one of their Viscacha seatpacks without having to flog a kidney to cover VAT, import duty and the sucks-to-be-you-'cos-you-don't-live-in-the-US tax.

Bad news: it appears that Revelate Designs now have a UK distributor, meaning that I can now get myself one of their Viscacha seatpacks without having to flog a kidney to cover VAT, import duty and the sucks-to-be-you-'cos-you-don't-live-in-the-US tax.

Easy come, easy go (again)

Who's the distributor?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 04 July, 2013, 08:09:02 am
Good news: I have a bag full of biscuits on my desk

Bad News: Ditto
In a similar vein
Bad News: my train is canceled
Good News: there is a sandwich shop in the village that sells bacon rolls.

Or vice versa. /belch.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 08 July, 2013, 09:47:10 pm
GN: This alcohol beer is pretty tasty and I don't have to worry about getting a hangover on a work night.

BN: Given that lack of need to restrain myself I'm drinking far more and whilst there's no alcohol health worries it is an awful lot of empty calories going down very easily.

ETA: It may not be as bad as I feared - Becks Blue compared to standard Becks is half the calories @ 52kcal per bottle. And I'd normally be on proper ale which I would expect to be even more calorific.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 12 July, 2013, 11:28:07 am
GN: Rondonneur Pro tyres turned up, look to be decent

BN: I need to spend lunchtime reading a manual so can't install them on bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 12 July, 2013, 11:32:07 am
Good news: it appears that Revelate Designs now have a UK distributor, meaning that I can now get myself one of their Viscacha seatpacks without having to flog a kidney to cover VAT, import duty and the sucks-to-be-you-'cos-you-don't-live-in-the-US tax.

Bad news: it appears that Revelate Designs now have a UK distributor, meaning that I can now get myself one of their Viscacha seatpacks without having to flog a kidney to cover VAT, import duty and the sucks-to-be-you-'cos-you-don't-live-in-the-US tax.

Easy come, easy go (again)

Who's the distributor?
http://www.backcountrybiking.co.uk/

Don't get your hopes up though - pretty much everything is out-of-stock, although they are allowing back-orders on some stuff. Lead times appear suitably ludicrous.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Arch on 14 July, 2013, 10:05:57 pm
GN: we had a nice day out in Southport. Temperature was just right, with a cooling sea breeze, and sun. I wore shorts and sandals.

BN: I now have very red legs and patchwork feet.  Should have remembered sun cream!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Greenbank on 15 July, 2013, 04:55:20 pm
BN: Buckled rail causing travel chaos at London Waterloo.

GN: Am on bike so no delays picking up MiniGB from nursery. Almost decided on getting the train this morning due to apathy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 17 July, 2013, 11:28:28 am
BN: The coffee machine is BROKEN!!!

GN: It's the one at work, not mine at home, phew!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 17 July, 2013, 11:42:31 am
GN: we had a nice day out in Southport. Temperature was just right, with a cooling sea breeze, and sun. I wore shorts and sandals.

BN: I now have very red legs and patchwork feet.  Should have remembered sun cream!
I have patchwork feet. But I don't care.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 17 July, 2013, 11:58:59 am
BN: The coffee machine is BROKEN!!!

GN: It's the one at work, not mine at home, phew!

Thought you had given up the stuff. ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 17 July, 2013, 12:03:34 pm
I only drink decaff now.

There are other coffee machines at work, but they, for some reason despite using the same beans and water, turn out bilge...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 17 July, 2013, 03:38:11 pm
Bad news : A team meeting & my quarterly performance review in one day.

Good news: I got a VG mark when I was expecting to be marked down because I hadn't submitted my Personal Development Plan*.

*WTF is the point of this document if there is no training budget and we are too busy to read the scant documentation we've already got ?  I should be writing documentation showing how the jobs done but just haven't got time  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Greenbank on 17 July, 2013, 03:40:47 pm
*WTF is the point of this document if there is no training budget and we are too busy to read the scant documentation we've already got ?  I should be writing documentation showing how the jobs done but just haven't got time  >:(

Because one of the criteria your boss (or your bosses boss) has his quarterly performance review based upon is the %-age of employees that have submitted their Personal Development Plan.

Optionally you can enter items such as "Invent Time Machine" and "Spend less time with wife and children" in your Plan to highlight the lunacy of such things.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 19 July, 2013, 09:08:48 am
BN: Yesterday morning, it became obvious that our old fridge, which had been behaving erratically for a while, had finally given up the ghost during the night. The freezer compartment was sort of working (but not well), but the fridge section was totally dead.

So I did some looking around during the day, & when Mrs B got home from work, showed her my choices. OK by her, so at ca 6.45 PM, I ordered one.

GN. It's sitting in the kitchen, unpacked, levelled, being left to settle for a while before I switch it on. Delivered just before 8am. Automated call at 7 am to say it would be delivered before 11, then a call from the delivery crew at 7.25 to say they'd be with me within half an hour - and they were.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 19 July, 2013, 09:10:47 am
That's impressive Bledlow.
Do wish to name names wrt such good customer service?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 19 July, 2013, 09:25:49 am
Boots kitchen appliances.

With all charges (next day delivery, taking away dead fridge) slightly more expensive than some others (e.g. £13 more than appliancesonline.co.uk*, though possession of a Boots loyalty card reduces that by several quid), but I'm very happy.


*Lower basic price cancelled out by delivery charge & a higher price for next day delivery.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 20 July, 2013, 10:21:59 pm
Bad news: the mechanism that opens the shower room door failed on me today, while I was in there (handle was moving, catch was not).
Good news: Mrs Dan was in the house and able to pass screwdriver and then hammer through the window. A sharp tap near the catch worked where a good shove hadn't.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 01 August, 2013, 01:31:23 am
GN: It being Ramadan, a number of my local fast-food emporia are open late during the week.

BN: It being Ramadan, a number of my local fast-food emporia are open late during the week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 05 August, 2013, 01:21:05 pm
BN: When I wanted to fettle a thing on my new milling machine[1] I got too greedy and tried to cut to much. A horrible mess to sort out.
GN: I was only making a jig.  The thing turned out as expected.


[1] A milling machine is an old fashioned type of 3D printer which works backwards from a block of metal. Also cool when stepper motors are added.




Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 August, 2013, 04:56:27 pm
GN: I have spent the day wandering from cafe to cafe and in and out of camping shops, without doing a stroke of work all day.

BN: I have spent the day wandering from cafe to cafe and in and out of camping shops, without doing a stroke of work all day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 06 August, 2013, 06:17:21 pm
GN: I have found the mapsource CD

BN: I spent 20 minutes ranting at BT, Talk Talk & Royal Mail on the phone.

How are these connected?

Well, it was only because I had to find an envelope to send the non-redirected letters that RM charged me £1.50 a time for, to re-direction HQ (despite the re-direction lasting till November, hence the rant on the phone), that I finally looked in the box of things that really belong in the desk/filing cabinet and haven't been put away, that I came across it.

Result :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Greenbank on 09 August, 2013, 09:58:23 am
GN: New dishwasher fitted.

BN: They rang at 6.37am to tell us they were coming at 7am. (Fair enough, I did have a 7am-9am delivery/installation slot). But 6.37am. Hangover too. Ugh.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 09 August, 2013, 11:01:15 am
BN: I just raised my blood pressure by several notches ranting on the phone to a poor Barclays customer complaints woman (about a long-standing, hugely irritating complaint - yes, I would like to tell them to flip off, but I don't currently have a regular income and therefore can't open another account!).

GN: I was awarded £62 in compensation. Better than a paper cut.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 10 August, 2013, 05:35:50 pm
My uncle once got the bank to behave by offering to take his overdraft elsewhere. I forget whether he had a regular income.

Good news: MIL is looking after the kids tonight so Mrs Dan and I can go out.
Bad news: Miss Dans Younger and Older will be off with MIL to Corby for the week. They house always feels empty without them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Littlesox on 11 August, 2013, 12:14:08 pm
GN - The cheeky bid I placed on e-bay for that frame was the winning bid !

BN - I now have to explain to Mrs Sox that I have just bought (yet another) bike frame, and need some cash

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 14 August, 2013, 06:28:47 pm
BN - I've really not kept the B'ham garden under any sort of control for two years.

GM- I've just picked over a litre of big fat blackberries.  With signs of lots more coming on.

I guess that even though I've not done much for years, the soil quality in your average garden is probably much more superior to that where blackberries grow in the wild.

*makes note to pick up a bramley on the way home tomorrow.*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 August, 2013, 10:44:22 am
GN: We've had our carpets cleaned. At the landlord's expense.
BN: They are wet and the unpleasant aroma of cleaning fluid (it's not just ordinary carpet shampoo) lingers throughout the house. Apparently it will take 6 to 8 hours to dry in this weather. And it shows how dirty other areas are.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 16 August, 2013, 10:56:53 am
GN: I am going to Germany, again, at work's expense.

BN: Looks like I will either have to Stansted to get a morning flight, or not get to Germany until 13:30.

Extra BN: I will have to be there for a week :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 16 August, 2013, 11:10:24 am
Lucky you, going to Germany.

Enjoy the cake!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 16 August, 2013, 12:01:51 pm
GN: mega chilli harvest from the office plants - all the sunshine means that even the humble Apache chillis have been catapulted into the 'bastard hot' category, and the habaneros are practically incendiary  :thumbsup:

BN: The Bhut Jolokia is steadfastly refusing to bear any fruit, and the chances of getting anything off it this year are getting smaller by the day ... depending on your point of view (and capsaicin tolerance) this could also be GN.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 August, 2013, 04:20:40 pm
GN: The other inhabitants of Cudzo Towers went out and bought some cherries.

BN: The first thing I knew of this was a bowl full of pips and stalks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 21 August, 2013, 03:16:32 pm
BN: My arsehole of a next door neighbour (moving away in 2 weeks) eavesdropped on my conversation with another neighbour where I mooted the idea of hanging out bunting and flags and was a little bit enraged

GN: I'm lying about the bad ...it's ALL good  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 26 August, 2013, 04:53:14 pm
Good news - found a piece of chewing gum at the bottom of my handbag!

Bad news - Juicy Fruit
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 02 September, 2013, 07:27:42 pm
BN:  Visitation

GN: Front wheel
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 02 September, 2013, 07:36:14 pm
Good news: work have finally replaced my laptop.

Bad news: it's the size of a paving slab and twice as heavy
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 05 September, 2013, 08:53:46 am
Good news!!! The removals lorry has arrived to take our arseholes of neighbours away, yayyyyy!!!!!

Bad News.... Miss Ham is insisting I turn the volume down on my playlist: Oh Happy Day, They're coming to take me away, Leaving on a Jetplane, Time of your life (good riddance) etc etc Booooo
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 05 September, 2013, 09:54:16 am
Good news!!! The removals lorry has arrived to take our arseholes of neighbours away, yayyyyy!!!!!

Bad News.... Miss Ham is insisting I turn the volume down on my playlist: Oh Happy Day, They're coming to take me away, Leaving on a Jetplane, Time of your life (good riddance) etc etc Booooo

I wish I had had my phone on mute when I read that. Inappropriate laughing in the middle of a serious conference call. :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 05 September, 2013, 08:50:06 pm
Good news: I get two days in lieu for having to work two days over the last bank holiday weekend, plus a bank hol payment (whatever that is).

Bad news: I will have to wait a year for another Mildenhall Rally...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 05 September, 2013, 10:20:58 pm
GN: My automagically renewing motorbike insurance is cheaper than all my new quotes (albeit only using one comparision site rather than the whole gamut).

BN: They have neglected to note a card number on the renewal form so I'm going to have to phone them to see if they are going to try and use an expired card.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 September, 2013, 09:21:44 am
Good news - I've got the next 2 weeks off to go touring  :thumbsup:

Bad news - I've just woken up with a stiff left shoulder and a case of the sniffles...  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: DrMekon on 13 September, 2013, 08:04:34 am
Good news: new bike arrives today; projected weight of 7.8kg, even with 25mm tyres and a cushy seatpost
Bad news: day from hell at work; no time to pick it up.

Pictures coming if I manage to sneak in before kids bike coaching tonight. Should look something like this

(http://www.riderschoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG_08241-300x225.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 13 September, 2013, 08:29:29 am
Does it come as standard with a magic levitating rear wheel, or is that an optional extra? :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 13 September, 2013, 08:51:27 am
7.8 Kilos including the kickstand? Most impressive :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 September, 2013, 11:11:11 pm
BN: our kettle made a loud noise yesterday and caused the trip switch to do what it's designed to do.

GN: the kettle still seems to work. I'm wondering if some water made a short circuit in the plinth. However, I am also quite wary of it and every time it finishes boiling we are switching it off at the wall.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 22 September, 2013, 12:09:31 pm
Good News:  My new hifi speakers (Spendor A6R) and power ampifiers (2 x AudioLab 8200M) were collected from the shop a week before I expected them on Saturday.
Bad News: I bought the cables at the same time on Thursday, then I left them on the train. Thats £50 quid lost.
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 22 September, 2013, 02:12:34 pm
GN: it's my sister's wedding next Saturday.
BN: see above. (I have to organise An Outfit. I've spent the past two years being scruffy. This is a huge challenge.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 24 September, 2013, 11:23:57 am
GN: it's my sister's wedding next Saturday.
BN: see above. (I have to organise An Outfit. I've spent the past two years being scruffy. This is a huge challenge.)

You would make a potatoe sack look like the bees knees ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 24 September, 2013, 11:55:04 am
Good news: had an email from Back Country Biking last night saying that their back order of Revelate Designs luggage has arrived (after  it had what they describe as 'a month's holiday in Canada' thanks to customs) - I'm getting my replacement Viscacha seatpack at last  :thumbsup:

Good news 2: I'm apparently getting 'double Haribo' as a  thank-you for being patient ;D

Bad news: They now have stocks of very expensive, but beautifully made bikepacking luggage  :-\ (Alpkit are doing similar luggage for less money, but the Revelate gear is, y'know, available now and even if it does go out of stock they'll probably be available again before Alpkit get their act together)

Bad news 2: Apropos of Alpkit, they're now doing their frame bags in orange. Bastards! ;D Why bad news? I don't need another frame bag ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 24 September, 2013, 02:57:57 pm
And there's more:

Good News: Picked up my Mk2 Nexus 7 earlier on - the higher-res screen is truly a thing of beauty, it was just as easy to root as the Mk1 and is now free of Chocolate Factory shovelware. The Kindle app in particular looks absolutely fantastic.

Bad News: the various location aware Android apps I've written don't play nice with the screen on the Mk2, meaning that I'm going to have to get my head into Java-space again :( (and I f'cking hate Java)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 September, 2013, 09:17:20 am
GN: I have a bicycle jaunt planned for today.
BN: I have to stay at home to look after my ill son.
WN: We'll probably all get what he's got.
GN: I really need to catch up on some work anyway.
BN: I'll probably waste a lot of time posting stuff here instead.
GN: I'll probably waste a lot of time posting stuff here instead.
BN: I'm also far, far behind on my cycling target (see ticker).
BN: I'll be busy most of the weekend too.
GN: There's always Monday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 28 September, 2013, 12:56:13 am
BN:  It's almost 1 in the morning, I need chocolate and have none.

GN:  I've found an old mostly full bottle of whisky. (Behind the beans, of course)

BN:  It's Famous Grouse. (prolly provided by Grandma Basil last Crimble)

GN:  I'm not proud.  I've nicked the boy's bottle of coke out of the fridge and I'll render the stuff drinkable.

BN:  I've still not got any chocolate.  -   And I'm in Bournville fer crissake!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 03 October, 2013, 02:01:39 pm
Bad news: We lost the spare key for my wife's car :(

Worse news: A replacement is £200!

Good news: We've now found the key :) In her coat pocket :facepalm:

Bad news: It's too late to cancel the replacement

Good news: The garage has just called to say in this case they can cancel :thu,bsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 03 October, 2013, 03:36:42 pm
Good news: Clean cooker

Bad news: Clean lungs
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 03 October, 2013, 03:38:34 pm
Good news: Clean cooker

Bad news: Clean lungs

Blimey Kim.

You do know you can GAMI for that, don't you?

OVENU are the people I used before we moved.  Life is just too short.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 03 October, 2013, 04:01:08 pm
OVENU are the people I used before we moved.  Life is just too short.

Were they any good? I don't actually mind the clean lungs feeling too much, but I do object to spending effing ages cleaning the oven and then feeling it's barely made any difference, despite leaving nasty chemicals on it for ages.

Maybe I should just try to cook more tidily ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 03 October, 2013, 04:03:57 pm
Oh, life's too short to clean the oven.  The lamp in there blew a while ago, so it doesn't actually matter how clean it isn't.  The hob and associated lid were in a right state, though.

I've discovered that degreaser is far better at cleaning cookers than cooker cleaning products, though equally asthma-inducing.  Beats scrubbing with detergent, though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 October, 2013, 04:43:28 pm
Lid? I remember having a cooker with a lid on the hob. Could never see the point of it. What is the point?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 03 October, 2013, 04:51:22 pm
Lid? I remember having a cooker with a lid on the hob. Could never see the point of it. What is the point?

When down, it doubles the amount of available surface space in our kitchen.  As a bonus, you can use it to hide the state of the hob.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 03 October, 2013, 04:52:22 pm
Lid? I remember having a cooker with a lid on the hob. Could never see the point of it. What is the point?

With thr lid down it gives you some more worktop space
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 03 October, 2013, 04:53:53 pm
BN: Little Miss AWL has outgrown her Islabike Beinn 20

GN: She can have her brother's Beinn 24

BN: That means AWL Jr needs a new bike

BN: That means his big sister will also need one

GN: I have found a buyer for the Beinn 20, I think

GN: LMAWL has tired of the Thorn tandem, so I can sell that too.

GN: Frog Bikes seem almost as good as Islabikes and are £100 cheaper, plus they come with mudguards. This might be a self-financing arrangement!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 03 October, 2013, 08:37:44 pm
OVENU are the people I used before we moved.  Life is just too short.

Were they any good?


Yes.  Very good.  They fixed the oven light because they had a few spares with them, and the stuff they dip your oveny bits in is less damaging that supermarket stuff, apparently.  A lot of it was done with a paint scraper. 

A special bonus for me, having had two husbands who never, ever cleaned the oven, was having a man on his hands and knees in front of me, with a pinny on, cleaning my oven. 

Gave me a proper 'little moment' that did, and I didn't have to pay extra for it.

That might just be me though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 October, 2013, 08:45:41 pm
No, I'd pay for that :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 03 October, 2013, 09:20:20 pm
Our oven's that bad that I'd be embarressed to GAMI. As in we've been here four years and cleaned the oven exactly zero times. The shelves and trays get cleaned but the the oven itself? shudders.

It even has a self clean function but given that I've short circuited the timer out of the thing and it's general condition I think it would just self immolate if I tried that.

I think we've got to the stage of just buying a new oven when it comes to it.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 03 October, 2013, 09:32:32 pm
You would be very surprised just how good those oven cleaner folk really are.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 04 October, 2013, 03:47:40 pm
OVENU are the people I used before we moved.  Life is just too short.

Were they any good?


Yes.  Very good.  They fixed the oven light because they had a few spares with them, and the stuff they dip your oveny bits in is less damaging that supermarket stuff, apparently.  A lot of it was done with a paint scraper. 

A special bonus for me, having had two husbands who never, ever cleaned the oven, was having a man on his hands and knees in front of me, with a pinny on, cleaning my oven. 

Gave me a proper 'little moment' that did, and I didn't have to pay extra for it.

That might just be me though.
Was it the pinny that did it?

I am designated oven cleaner in this house. That has a lot to do with MrsC's arthritis.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 04 October, 2013, 03:55:02 pm
You should change your forum name to MrMuscle.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 04 October, 2013, 04:03:59 pm
Oven are the people I get in for cleaning of the oven. Life is far to short to be doing it yourself. They do a fantastic job and are worth every penny of what they charge.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 04 October, 2013, 04:54:31 pm
GN: I'm going camping
BN: It's with the Scouts
GN: Mine don't arrive until tomorrow
BN: I'll be chasing all over South Holland trying to find them

Actually my first cycle camping trip since 1980!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 07 October, 2013, 10:27:25 am
GN: I'm going camping
BN: It's with the Scouts
GN: Mine don't arrive until tomorrow
BN: I'll be chasing all over South Holland trying to find them

Actually my first cycle camping trip since 1980!
GN: All Scouts made their check points and completed the weekend.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 09 October, 2013, 10:42:42 am
Good news: the yellow bike now has a new home.
Bad news: the proceeds from the sale are effectively spent before I even get them :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 October, 2013, 01:11:04 pm
BN: One of my molars disintegrated over lunch
GN: The dentist will see me on Friday morning
GN: It may finally get to the bottom of why I've had chronic pain from that area for the last few months.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 16 October, 2013, 06:05:32 pm
GN: I've discovered there's another Randonneur that lives in Egremont
BN: The reason I know is because the Postman has delivered his renewal form to me along with my own ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 17 October, 2013, 07:25:04 am
GN: I am in Limburg, Germany for the week (back home tomorrow night)
BN: See Good News

GN: Oktoberfest starts tonight, in Limburg
BN: See Good News :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 17 October, 2013, 09:25:52 am
BN: The holster for my phone is bust, and therefore I dropped the phone containing section this morning between home and the office. So was somewhere on the rail network.  :facepalm:

GN: It was picked up at the station by a colleague at the work end of my commute (I knocked it off carrying my bike down from the platform to the underpass). He has handed it back after he saw other work names in the contact list and put the connection together. *wipes brow in releaved manner*  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 17 October, 2013, 02:15:28 pm
Bad news: The brainweasels have been giving me Those Dreams again. The really realistic ones I believe have really happened. The kind wherr you believe you've had a conversation. And then look like a complete berk because "What change in prescribing meds law? What are you talking about" Ideal with a completely new batch of colleagues. D'oh.


Good news: Going to the teatre with some old colleagues tonight. They all get it. And the play looks fab.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 17 October, 2013, 02:34:17 pm
I dream very vividly, and sometimes have to ask Butterfly to clarify what conversations have, or have not, taken place :-[
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 17 October, 2013, 09:57:47 pm
I dream very vividly, and sometimes have to ask Butterfly to clarify what conversations have, or have not, taken place :-[

I don't know whether it's medication-related or depression-related.   But it's most unhelpful.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 19 October, 2013, 10:51:27 am
Bad news:  Dropped my mountain bike on  my head.  Oweee ow.  Two person job really.

Good news:  My next door neighbour and her daughter came out to rescue me.  So the bike's on the roof of the car now, and we had a nice chat  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 19 October, 2013, 11:13:37 am
Oh goodness. On your head?! Ouch.

Re meds, Woolly has been on something for two days now for his arms/hands/shoulder pain and is talking in his sleep for I think the first time since I've known him. He emits a sort of weird, "Oweyaweeyawee" noise several times in the night. Disturbing!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 19 October, 2013, 11:16:11 am
He's probably dreaming about mountain bikes landing on his head.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 19 October, 2013, 11:21:05 am
 ;D

Oh, you are a quick one, young Ruthie! Or as my surrogate granny Ethel used to say, in a thick Lancashire accent, about Woolly's jokes: "Funny faaace!"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 24 October, 2013, 04:58:26 pm
Good News : On Sunday Morning Sunrise is 58 minutes later, according to the clock, than Saturday.
Bad News: Sunset is an hour and two minutes earlier.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 October, 2013, 05:01:26 pm
Why is later sunrise GN for you?  ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 24 October, 2013, 05:05:00 pm
It's easier to get up and leave the house in sunlight.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 October, 2013, 05:10:08 pm
Ok, so 58 mins later is 2 mins earlier. Clock change, I hate it! Even when I don't forget.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 24 October, 2013, 05:11:24 pm
Ok, so 58 mins later is 2 mins earlier. Clock change, I hate it! Even when I don't forget.
It's just dawned1 on me that the clocks change on Sunday. Bleh.

1 - Bazinga!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 October, 2013, 05:15:02 pm
Oh go on then, let's indulge our 80s crapping cravings. It is almost Haloween.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNgPYXJvqWM
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 24 October, 2013, 06:00:54 pm
BN:   Well, it's been one of those weeks already.

GN:   No commitments tomorrow so I'm down the pub tonight. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Diver300 on 29 October, 2013, 08:05:33 pm
BN: The water pump on my daughters car seized.

GN: The timing belt that drives it continued to keep the valves away from the pistons.

BN: I carried on driving it for nearly 100 miles, and had to keep stopping to let it cool down.

GN: The timing belt continued to keep the valves away from the pistons.

BN: The timing belt got so hot that the outside of the tensioner melted, and the timing belt was down to the cords on the outside.

GN: The timing belt continued to keep the valves away from the pistons.

BN: I had to change the timing belt, water pump and tensioner.

GN: While doing the work, I spotted and corrected the miss-timing of the injector pump that has been causing a fault code for years.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 October, 2013, 05:50:18 pm
BN: I've just spent half an hour trying to send an email. Bloody yahoo.

GN: Eventually I closed and reopened it in frustration, and it's gone back to its former, far more legible and altogether better, layout.

Mrs Cudzo told me she grinked them today about it (before I failed to send this email). I'd like to think it's all down to her.  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 November, 2013, 12:45:08 am
GN: The electrified baraktacycle is perilously close to being road ready, pending the acquisition of appropriately long M3 screws and some final assembly of the wiring harness.

BN: In a moment of tiredness-induced stupidity I shorted the ground terminals of the DC:DC converter that powers the control logic and lighting supply, mit blowenfusen und spitzensparken.  I now have to wait a week or so for replacement magic smoke to be shipped from Germany.

This is actually very annoying.  I was hoping she'd be able to ride it this weekend.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 10 November, 2013, 04:31:33 pm
I hope you are applying for a patent otherwise a Chinese version will be out a week next thursday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 19 November, 2013, 10:33:33 pm
GN: Working at home tomorrow, so no need to commute either by car or by bike.
BN: I've got an appointment with the dental hygienist at 9am and my annual retinopathy scan at 9.50 - because of the latter, the bulk of the morning will be a write-off on account of not being able to see properly  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 29 November, 2013, 02:38:21 pm
GN: It's Friday, so in 54 minutes I shall be heading home

BN: Looking out of the window the A14 W is stacked up, and the A1 at J35 is closed (I can't see that far from my windows, trafficengland tells me that one).  Looks like I might be late getting home tonight :(

ExtraBN: TLD is ill, think she has caught the same bug that IZ has, for the second year in a row!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rogerzilla on 30 November, 2013, 07:38:56 am
Rachel Riley has split with her husband.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 30 November, 2013, 09:09:09 pm
Bad News:  I just knocked someone's pint over.

Worse News:  It was mine.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 01 December, 2013, 08:41:51 am
GN: It's Friday, so in 54 minutes I shall be heading home

BN: Looking out of the window the A14 W is stacked up, and the A1 at J35 is closed (I can't see that far from my windows, trafficengland tells me that one).  Looks like I might be late getting home tonight :(

ExtraBN: TLD is ill, think she has caught the same bug that IZ has, for the second year in a row!

Update, took me 5.5 hours to get home. A14 backed up, A1 backed up north of Peterborough, due to 6 car smash thenA1 shut at Doncaster, so went via M18 and M1.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 01 December, 2013, 09:25:31 am
GN: I have sold my Islabike Beinn to a nice lady in Littlehampton at a price that should see both parties happy.
GN: That enables me to buy AWL Jr's xmas bike.
BN: Despite badgering, he insists on having a BMX bike.
GN: I got an extra £15 off

Rachel Riley has split with her husband.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rogerzilla on 01 December, 2013, 01:17:31 pm
This reminds me of the old joke where a man says to his wife, "Tell me something that will make me happy and sad at the same time."
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 04 December, 2013, 01:40:53 pm
BN: My computer is broken. Has been since Saturday.
GN: I'm in the office for the first time this week and now have a spare to use.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 04 December, 2013, 10:21:39 pm
Woo! Found something useful to do with my air miles - got a £100 Amazon voucher.

Just need to find something else useful to do with Nectar points...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 04 December, 2013, 11:36:25 pm
You can do that? Wanders off to check his Avios balance and whether it is feasible..
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 05 December, 2013, 12:31:15 pm
SAS miles
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 05 December, 2013, 12:59:46 pm
Ah. Don't have any of them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 December, 2013, 01:21:09 pm
This morning I lost my mobile phone when walking the dog in the park.

On discovering its absence when I arrived home, I took my bike and retraced my route, telling the few dog walkers I met thAt I had lost it and asking them to keep their eye out for it. I didn't fin it nut asI arrived home Dez was striding out to meet one of the women I had met, who had found my phone and dialled my home number to let us know.

I think there is a fair chance that it might have been Rachel Riley.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 05 December, 2013, 02:35:38 pm
GN: I now have a shiny, new, ungunged Nexus 7  :thumbsup:
BN: Thanks to the slightly breezy conditions hereabouts my shed no longer has half its roof  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 10 December, 2013, 10:58:15 am
GN
We have a new oven installed (on a set of shelves). A new, large fridge is arriving today. Xmas is saved!

BN

The washing machine broke last night.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 10 December, 2013, 11:10:21 am
BN - the central heating didn't work this morning.

GN - James thinks he can fix it.

BN - he is at work and won't be back until 4pm.

GN - I have lit the woodburner and it's warming the lounge beautifully. The dog is camped out on the chair beside it. We also have a full woodpile so no worries about chucking logs on it all day - we have enough for a year!

BN - I have now finished all the Christmas present wrapping that can be done in the warm lounge and need to get back to work in the slightly chilly study.

GN - a cup of tea ought to help with that!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 December, 2013, 02:35:13 pm
GN: I can still get up the Brow in my normal gear (I think it's 34x21).
BN: Despite looking like a hippopotamus, sounding like a jelly and feeling like blu tack.
GN: But also feeling pretty good just to be there, TBH.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 10 December, 2013, 02:57:44 pm
Where is the Brow?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 December, 2013, 03:20:18 pm
Just a little hill in Bristol. If I told you which one, it would be too embarrassing!  :-[
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 10 December, 2013, 05:22:29 pm
Cotham?  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 11 December, 2013, 07:49:19 pm
BN: The Christmas tree lights appear to be broken.  Only one colour of LED is working, out of four.  I'm going to bin them.
GN: I always thought they were really shitty naff lights anyway.  One less thing in the house that I didn't have a say in the choosing of  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 11 December, 2013, 10:12:10 pm
:)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 11 December, 2013, 10:50:32 pm
I bet they didn't even have a Geiger counter, anyway...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 12 December, 2013, 08:23:04 am
I was musing the other day on what a Giger counter might look like, and what its function would be.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 12 December, 2013, 09:16:04 am
Good News: Neil Young and The National are playing in Hyde Park in July

Bad News: I've only got one thing planned for July, and it's the same day :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 12 December, 2013, 09:22:55 am
Ask Neil to reschedule.  I'm sure he wouldn't mind. ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 December, 2013, 11:47:48 am
BN: System crashed, had to do two restores, took 45 mins, all due to a bloody stupid Windows update.

GN: Didn't lose any data. And it gave me an opportunity to have a cup of tea and toast some crumpets, and have a go at fettling away the corrodeyness that was making my Smart rear light turn itself off and on.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 14 December, 2013, 12:43:16 pm
GN: n+1  :thumbsup:
BN: Won't get it until March :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 17 December, 2013, 03:25:27 pm
GN: Don't need new specs
BN: I'm losing iris pigment, and that's probably what's causing the halos.

 :-\

GN: Early detection means better monitoring
more GN: Only 30% of PDS leads to pigmentary glaucoma
even more GN: even then it's quite responsive to treatment
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 17 December, 2013, 07:58:47 pm
Sorry to hear you are going though it Fb.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 17 December, 2013, 08:34:09 pm
Doesn't sound like a lot of fun.  Hope it resolves best as possible.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 18 December, 2013, 04:40:27 pm
GN: Day off today ...
BN: ... marred by the fact that I feel like shit and, as Sod's Law dictates, had loads of people coming round to do surveys, estimates and whatnot.
GN: It looks like I'll get my cavity wall insulation done for free  :thumbsup: Potentially another £350 towards the SBA fund  :)
BN: The LBS confirmed that n+1 won't arrive until March :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 20 December, 2013, 07:26:41 pm
BN: My pedal of choice has been discontinued  >:(
GN: It was the perfect excuse to buy a slightly higher spec model with baked soot body. Which the LBS had in stock  :thumbsup:
BN: I'm now torn as to whether or not to put aforementioned pedals on n+1 or the Tour Divide bike
GN: Carbon pedals, dammit!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 20 December, 2013, 07:43:18 pm
BN: the gig tonight is 8 o'clock doors, not 7 as I thought.

GN: it has meant I have managed to try some different beers. Good - titanic plum porter and Yorkshire sparkle. Bad- kirkstall smoked porter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: spesh on 21 December, 2013, 02:00:10 am
BN: Some unmentionable cad has left the pub with my coat.

GN: Fortunately, my salbutamol inhaler and wallet were in my jeans pockets.

BN: There was a pair of Berghaus gloves and a JCB beanie in the jacket pockets.
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 06 January, 2014, 10:50:14 am
GN: Having had a chat with $BIG_BOSS this morning, I now have agreement in principle (subject to some decided non-onerous conditions) to take time off to do  the Tour Divide this year  :thumbsup:
BN: Now I'll have to try and stop the brainweasels from planting the inevitable seeds of doubt - the body's up for it, I have to make sure that the mind is too.  :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 06 January, 2014, 10:55:15 am
GN: Having had a chat with $BIG_BOSS this morning, I now have agreement in principle (subject to some decided non-onerous conditions) to take time off to do  the Tour Divide this year  :thumbsup:
BN: Now I'll have to try and stop the brainweasels from planting the inevitable seeds of doubt - the body's up for it, I have to make sure that the mind is too.  :o

Time off agreed is definitely good news.   :thumbsup:      Now stuff those weasels in a weighted sack and chuck them in the river.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: delthebike on 10 January, 2014, 11:07:39 pm
good news: Tonight I was presented with a certificate for riding in a club ride.  :thumbsup:
bad news: My name was spelt wrongly and the distance is incorrect.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 11 January, 2014, 12:17:29 am
good news: Tonight I was presented with a certificate for riding in a club ride.  :thumbsup:
bad news: My name was spelt wrongly and the distance is incorrect.  :facepalm:

BTDT got the misengraved trophy.
CTC DATC women's trophy. Entered 10 events, paid using printed chequebook, filled in 10 forms in BLOCK CAPITALS.

My name was misspelt on the only significant sporting trophy I'd ever get...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 11 January, 2014, 08:17:03 am
good news: Tonight I was presented with a certificate for riding in a club ride.  :thumbsup:
bad news: My name was spelt wrongly and the distance is incorrect.  :facepalm:


My name was misspelt on the only significant sporting trophy I'd ever get...
My name was on 2 AUK trophies last year, spelt correctly on one, and incorrectly on the other.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 January, 2014, 09:16:46 pm
GN: I have a new job. Not exactly my ideal career path, but the people seem fine.
BN: I walked miles in the course of said job - not in itself a bad thing, but I am rather out of condition, so I am aching.
GN: It's a pleasant 4-mile commute and there is a dry-weather route 95% off road and almost 50% on rural bridleways.
BN: The money isn't good, but seeing as my defunct company earned me bugger all in 18 months, the only way is up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 11 January, 2014, 11:18:45 pm
GN: I got a (rare) text from my Dad today.
BN: It took him being in hospital for 5 days to act as enough incentive for him to write it.

Oh well; let's hope I don't get another off him for a while...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 11 January, 2014, 11:23:04 pm
GN: I have a new job. Not exactly my ideal career path, but the people seem fine.
BN: I walked miles in the course of said job - not in itself a bad thing, but I am rather out of condition, so I am aching.
GN: It's a pleasant 4-mile commute and there is a dry-weather route 95% off road and almost 50% on rural bridleways.
BN: The money isn't good, but seeing as my defunct company earned me bugger all in 18 months, the only way is up.

Best of luck with the your direction AWoL.   Post regularly to let us know how you're doing.  Put your own stamp on your new career.      ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 11 January, 2014, 11:28:25 pm
GN: I got a (rare) text from my Dad today.
BN: It took him being in hospital for 5 days to act as enough incentive for him to write it.

"In hospital.  Send real food and reading materials.  Love, Dad." ?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 11 January, 2014, 11:51:22 pm
GN: I got a (rare) text from my Dad today.
BN: It took him being in hospital for 5 days to act as enough incentive for him to write it.

Oh well; let's hope I don't get another off him for a while...

Ouch! At least I got a text off my stepmum when my dad landed in hospital, but yes that seems to be the level of initiated contact I'm at.  Hope he's OK and doesn't need to be negatively incentivised to text you again soon!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 12 January, 2014, 09:41:43 am
 
AWoL
That's strange. I could've sworn those mudguards were intact...  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 12 January, 2014, 05:48:48 pm
Ouch! At least I got a text off my stepmum when my dad landed in hospital, but yes that seems to be the level of initiated contact I'm at.  Hope he's OK and doesn't need to be negatively incentivised to text you again soon!

He sent it once he got home, where he's now steadily regaining a normal colour after a run-in with some penicillin. Have been having daily updates from mum all week.

"In hospital.  Send real food and reading materials.  Love, Dad." ?

Heh! Yes, that would have been a sensible one to send. He was bored out of his brain, but apparently not enough to finally learn how to use his phone.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 14 January, 2014, 09:36:27 pm
BN: My daughter has gone to Young Voices at the NEC as a singer thinking she needed to take a ticket - my ticket, so I can't go.

GN: My daughter has gone to Young Voices at the NEC as a singer thinking she needed to take a ticket - my ticket, so I can't go.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 14 January, 2014, 09:43:16 pm
AWoL
That's strange. I could've sworn those mudguards were intact...  :P

Like your attendance record at the Long Itch camping weekend you mean?   :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 15 January, 2014, 08:12:09 am
I'll have you know I have been on several Long Itch camping weekends, usually a week before...

Now, how did those stays get to that angle :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 15 January, 2014, 08:35:44 am
Injudicious intervention.   

Perhaps you were folding them to post?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 January, 2014, 01:48:51 pm
G: youngerson is, as of this morning, Dr. Youngersonsubjecttominorcorrections.

B: youngerdaughter phoned to say that the teeth she knocked out when she fell off the bike I gave her for her 10th birthday are now wobbling madly and will have to be removed. This will require implants, which are not available on the NHS, and will cost circa £3000.

That's a tandem's worth of teeth. I reckon that's her 28th birthday present sorted out.

Edit: just spoken to youngerson. The corrections he has to do are to dissolve a chapter and put the bits in it into other chapters, so there were no problems with the argument or research, and make it slightly shorter. His panel told him "If there were a category between minor corrections and editorial corrections then we would have put it there."

Younger son commented to me "I'm surprised they thought it was that good."
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 15 January, 2014, 03:40:43 pm
Perhaps you were folding them to post?
What, and trust the Royal Mail...?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 16 January, 2014, 11:38:37 am
GN: I finally managed to gather enough tuits today to start clearing out my car, ready for repair.

BN: as part of this I took the spare wheel out.  The bump has bent the spare wheel well.  BUGGER!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 20 January, 2014, 11:49:37 am
BN:  The glass turntable from the microwave oven clung to a dish David lifted as he extracted dinner on Saturday, fell and smashed on the floor.
BN:  We could find no local stockists of spare microwave turntable plates so I placed an order with Amazon.

GN: This morning, I received an email stating my order would be delivered today.
GN:  My parcel was delivered at 10:40.

BN: This level of service is a nail in the coffin of local shops.
BN: I use the microwave at least twice per day on average. My disability means I am pretty dependant on its use. I feel a bit guilty about using Amazon nonetheless.


BN: David had problems installing a Cat Eye computer to his new bike and destroyed several black 2.5mm x 200mm cable ties in the process.
GN: There were excess long, narrow, black cable ties supplied with a H*lford's computer he possessed.
BN: There were very few long, narrow, black cable ties in my cable tie stock bag.
BN: Maplin have discontinued black 2.5mm x 200mm cable ties. Maplin have also closed the branch that was within half a mile of our abode.
?N: Amazon listed a pack of black 100 2.5 x 200mm cable ties for £1.90 including delivery.
BN: I placed another order with Amazon.

?N:  I see 'Customers who have bought said cable ties' seem also to buy cycle computers...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 January, 2014, 01:00:45 pm
I'm not at all sure that helping to kill Maplin should be a source of guilt - certainly not on a level with local shops. I too have bought cable ties from Amazon (no cycle computers though!). Mine were reusable ones which Maplin only pretend to stock anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 20 January, 2014, 02:15:01 pm
As far as I am concerned, Maplin damaged our custom by closing the local branch.

GN: Amazon have emailed me to tell me the cable ties have been despatched.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 20 January, 2014, 06:36:54 pm
Maplin lost my custom by not stocking half the things I used to be able to buy from them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 20 January, 2014, 11:52:36 pm
Is that good news? Is there a difference between despatched and dispatched where one means killed off and the other means sent on their way?

BN: the rails in the dishwasher keep falling off
GN: they can be temporarily[1] fettled with small cable ties
BN: That means temporarily. They keep falling off but not quite as easily.
GN: I finally found the parts
BN: How much?
GN: they arrived today
BN: bought the wrong number
GN: I have a spare :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 January, 2014, 10:21:56 am
GN: A couple of days ago, in Maidstone, a young female person whom I had not met before declared her love for me.

BN: This proclamation was made from the open window of a moving car and prefixed with the word "Santa".
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 28 January, 2014, 10:05:27 pm
GN: Got my MA assignment finished.

BN: Had to get up at audax o'clock; drive 90 miles; prat around with software and printers and traipse all over campus to get it printed ready for handing in.

GN: Got it handed in in time

BN: Then had an email from tutor to all of the group saying "remember e-mail submission is preferable" when nothing of the sort had been even hinted at before.

GN: Back home now and have a bonus day off tomorrow because I opted not to overnight in Brizzle.

BN: In theory this should mean a lie-in, but my body never obliges.

GN: MY OWN DUVET (and no parrot!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 31 January, 2014, 11:56:17 am
GN: Extra day off as someone's upset on of the site radiation monitors*
BN: I'm spending it waiting for someone from the water board to look at my blocked drains

GN: I got a letter today saying that I'm owed a refund on my student loan
BN: The letter is only about a small amount from last Financial year
GN: I have another £400 of this years that I should be able to claim back if I send evidence :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 31 January, 2014, 12:11:28 pm
GN:  Finally found enough time to complete my own income tax return.    :-\

GN+1:   I have overpaid.    :thumbsup:

BN:  The overpaid amount is not even enough to fund an n+1 Brooks B17.    :(

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 January, 2014, 11:43:38 pm
BN: My neighbour's lost her front door key.

GN: I was able to let her in using my key.

BN: Because I've been doing other things all day, I'm up working at half past eleven.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 01 February, 2014, 12:29:25 pm
BN: Back. Ouch! prevented me getting out on the bike today and I am moving slowly if at all.

GN: Letter in post. At least one Uni will take our daughter off our hands for the next four years pending appropriate grades (and it was her #2 choice, the one where my elder brother did his MSc on glasses that turn dark at the first sign of danger.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 01 February, 2014, 03:40:05 pm
GN:  The SmallestCub didn't actually get his foot stuck in the edge of the escalator whilst travelling a couple of steps up from me and forgetting that you Never Ever prat about on escalators.

BN: In preventing him from doing so I managed to fall up the escalator.  Fortunately in a not too spectacular fashion but I now have a fairly splendid huge painful graze on my left shin that hurt enough to make talking difficult for about 5 minutes (which those who know me will appreciate is like half a lifetime) and my right knee is incredibly painful.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 01 February, 2014, 03:41:59 pm
Five whole minutes?  You should be in hospital.

TPIUWP by the way.

Hope it feels better soon lovely  :-*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 01 February, 2014, 03:52:41 pm
Oww. Hope you feel better soon. :)

My childish side has to ask is the graze stripey like the escalator step?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 01 February, 2014, 03:56:56 pm
It was at first!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 02 February, 2014, 01:15:10 pm
GN:  Beautiful mild, sunny day.  Not too much wind.  Great day for a bike ride.

BN:  No mojo.  No courage.  No sense of direction.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 February, 2014, 02:45:38 pm
Good - 2 nights in my own bed and the kittehs are back today.
Bollox - I'm away again all next week :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 03 February, 2014, 11:56:12 am
GN: Hanananananah the astrononononomer and her partner came to stay with us for the weekend as part of an extended visit to the UK.

BN: H contracted some of the Piccadilly Line's finest lurgy on the way.

GN: I can now turn the heating down from "don't traumatise the South Africans".

BN: I think it may have to go up again soon, as I'm feeling increasingly grotty.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 03 February, 2014, 12:04:17 pm
GN:  Beautiful mild, sunny day.  Not too much wind.  Great day for a bike ride.

BN:  No mojo.  No courage.  No sense of direction.
This. In spades.

SAD and depression suck.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mattc on 03 February, 2014, 07:31:32 pm
BN: Punctured, without any tools,money, phone, pump ... 3 miles from home.

GN: Short walk into village, first bloke I saw outside a house managed to find neglected repair kit and pump. Phew! AND he made me a nice cuppa.


Chap turned out to be an ex-Grenadier Guard - stood outside Buck Pal in a furry hat etc - which was a nice conversation to pass the time.

I can't remember the last time I've ridden that far without at least p*ture repair stuff. I was going to just spin round the estate, but thought I'd pop out to the next village ...  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 03 February, 2014, 07:44:27 pm
BN: Punctured, without any tools,money, phone, pump ... 3 miles from home.

GN: Short walk into village, first bloke I saw outside a house managed to find neglected repair kit and pump. Phew! AND he made me a nice cuppa.


Chap turned out to be an ex-Grenadier Guard - stood outside Buck Pal in a furry hat etc - which was a nice conversation to pass the time.

I can't remember the last time I've ridden that far without at least p*ture repair stuff. I was going to just spin round the estate, but thought I'd pop out to the next village ...  :facepalm:

My tool-free limit was two miles.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 03 February, 2014, 07:45:32 pm
Tool free limit = from dining room to kitchen ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mattc on 03 February, 2014, 07:50:21 pm
It did occur to me that "what's your tool-free limit?" might make a thread of its own!

Hadn't really thought about it before - I guess in practice it's been about a mile (unless I've forgotten some foolish excursions in the distant past). The only other deflation I can remember on that bike was when the old tyre was utterly threadbare. Chunky 26" tyres JUST DONT PUNCTURE on roads - or so I thought ...

(To reinforce this belief, I found a thorn sticking completely through the outer - but the inner was unharmed by it!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 04 February, 2014, 12:54:28 am
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 February, 2014, 02:25:47 pm
Agreed.  I make it about a kilometre.  Or zero if I have reason to suspect the cycle is particularly likely to fail (eg. immediately post-fettling).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 04 February, 2014, 02:35:54 pm
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.

This might not be PC round here, but if I'm prepared to wheel it I'll probably just walk.

(Ride up and down the street to check nothing falls off notwithstanding.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 February, 2014, 02:52:55 pm
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.

This might not be PC round here, but if I'm prepared to wheel it I'll probably just walk.

That too.  I'll do journeys of my 1km no-tools range on foot, except when I want the bike to carry a load.  They're generally better at it than my knee.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 04 February, 2014, 03:00:15 pm
They're generally better at it than my knee.

I had a momentary vision of you playing 'Keepie Uppie' with your shopping as you walked back from the supermarket.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 February, 2014, 03:15:00 pm
Seems reasonable.  I don't think any attempt I've made at playing keepie uppie has been anything other than momentary.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 04 February, 2014, 03:24:28 pm
Even if I'm using the bike as a load trolley, I will take tools.  It's much less fun pushing a bike with a flat tyre (especially as you think of that expensive tyre being damaged with every step, and the rim at risk of damage with every kerb.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 04 February, 2014, 05:34:13 pm
Will it take longer to walk than to fix a broken bike? In which case take tools. Otherwise don't bother. So to work (1.5 miles) I don't bother. It is quicker to either walk home and grab another bike or walk on to work and fix it later.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 04 February, 2014, 05:48:09 pm
I never take a journey short enough on a bike not to take tools.   I will walk anything upto five miles quite happily, and return.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 February, 2014, 05:49:15 pm
Even if I'm using the bike as a load trolley, I will take tools.  It's much less fun pushing a bike with a flat tyre (especially as you think of that expensive tyre being damaged with every step, and the rim at risk of damage with every kerb.

If you're that close to home, you can always leave the bike and walk back to get them, of course.

Ideally I'd have a set of tools permanently associated with each bike, but I swap luggage around too much to make that practical.  I do have appropriate tubes cable-tied to the upwrong and the trailer, as they take unusual[1] flavours, and are used for journeys where I'm most likely to forget to bring the right spares.  A VAR lever and CO2 inflater permanently live with the trike.


[1] 40-406 presta is the standard tube size in this household.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mattc on 04 February, 2014, 07:48:47 pm
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.

This might not be PC round here, but if I'm prepared to wheel it I'll probably just walk.

(Ride up and down the street to check nothing falls off notwithstanding.)
That's sensible enough, but it ignores the rides done purely for the sake of a ride (which is how I ended up in the situation described yesterday).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 04 February, 2014, 08:13:21 pm
Even if I'm using the bike as a load trolley, I will take tools.  It's much less fun pushing a bike with a flat tyre (especially as you think of that expensive tyre being damaged with every step, and the rim at risk of damage with every kerb.

If you're that close to home, you can always leave the bike and walk back to get them, of course.
If it's a load I can't ride with, I'm not going to want to leave it lying on the street.

Quote
Ideally I'd have a set of tools permanently associated with each bike, but I swap luggage around too much to make that practical.

The joy of a Bagman qr  :thumbsup: :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 February, 2014, 08:26:30 pm
Ideally I'd have a set of tools permanently associated with each bike, but I swap luggage around too much to make that practical.

The joy of a Bagman qr  :thumbsup: :D

That just makes it easier to swap a subset of luggage between bikes.  It doesn't solve the problem of having to move tools and spares around every time you select the right combination of bike and luggage for a given trip.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 04 February, 2014, 09:39:46 pm
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.

This might not be PC round here, but if I'm prepared to wheel it I'll probably just walk.

(Ride up and down the street to check nothing falls off notwithstanding.)

I don't see it as unPC.
I gave up cycling to work when I moved into a house 1km away from the workplace. A 12 minute walk made more sense than 5 minutes on the bike and seven minutes locking up and changing clothes.

I didn't bother with tools when I rode two miles to work but never had a visitation either.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 04 February, 2014, 10:35:46 pm
I have just one set of tools to take with me.  I need the same tools regardless of the bike I am riding.   There is a spares difference, i.e. tubes, cables and spokes, but I keep those together and just throw what I need in the bag.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 04 February, 2014, 10:45:10 pm
Ideally I'd have a set of tools permanently associated with each bike, but I swap luggage around too much to make that practical.

The joy of a Bagman qr  :thumbsup: :D

That just makes it easier to swap a subset of luggage between bikes.  It doesn't solve the problem of having to move tools and spares around every time you select the right combination of bike and luggage for a given trip.

Certainly does!  All my relevant tools are kept in my saddlebag, though I do swap the spare inner tube occasionally if riding one of the 'other' bikes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 February, 2014, 09:35:03 pm
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.

This might not be PC round here, but if I'm prepared to wheel it I'll probably just walk.

(Ride up and down the street to check nothing falls off notwithstanding.)

I don't see it as unPC.
I gave up cycling to work when I moved into a house 1km away from the workplace. A 12 minute walk made more sense than 5 minutes on the bike and seven minutes locking up and changing clothes.

I didn't bother with tools when I rode two miles to work but never had a visitation either.
Surely for a five minute ride you could cycle in whatever you would walk in?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 05 February, 2014, 10:01:22 pm
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.

This might not be PC round here, but if I'm prepared to wheel it I'll probably just walk.

(Ride up and down the street to check nothing falls off notwithstanding.)

I don't see it as unPC.
I gave up cycling to work when I moved into a house 1km away from the workplace. A 12 minute walk made more sense than 5 minutes on the bike and seven minutes locking up and changing clothes.

I didn't bother with tools when I rode two miles to work but never had a visitation either.
Surely for a five minute ride you could cycle in whatever you would walk in?

Not if your trousers could get caught in the chain...
At the very least you'll need cycle clips or to tuck your trousers into your socks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 05 February, 2014, 10:23:06 pm
A 12 minute walk involves changing clothes in most weather, too.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 05 February, 2014, 10:42:02 pm
Bad News: I didn't get a place on the Prudential Ride London.
Good News: I don't have to fret about gettign fit enough to enjoy the Ride Londin with a dodgy back
Even Gooder News: The insewerants weasels for the opposition following my attempts at remodelling a Nissan Micra last March have made a most satisfactory offer of restitution that I have no hesitation in taking the advice of my team of sleek attack weasels (the ones with the British Cycling logos on) to accept on my behalf. Not enough for N+1 but definitely a satisfactory recompense for the damage, injury, time and trouble.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 06 February, 2014, 12:40:18 pm
Good news: I have a lunchtime meeting today I can cycle to

Bad news: A couple of key staff are off sick, and I have to stay here. :(

Good News: At least it prompted me to get a Dahon out in order to do a train/bike commute instead of a train/walk

Bad News: I won't get so many chances to take photos :(

Good News: I might get a chance to catch up with editing the ones I've already taken
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 February, 2014, 01:09:26 pm
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.

This might not be PC round here, but if I'm prepared to wheel it I'll probably just walk.

(Ride up and down the street to check nothing falls off notwithstanding.)

I don't see it as unPC.
I gave up cycling to work when I moved into a house 1km away from the workplace. A 12 minute walk made more sense than 5 minutes on the bike and seven minutes locking up and changing clothes.

I didn't bother with tools when I rode two miles to work but never had a visitation either.
Surely for a five minute ride you could cycle in whatever you would walk in?

Not if your trousers could get caught in the chain...
At the very least you'll need cycle clips or to tuck your trousers into your socks.
Slap wraps are what you need.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 06 February, 2014, 01:20:46 pm
GN: It would appear that my LBS has taken delivery of n+1
BN: Due to their workshop being stupendously busy, the up-specced wheels won't be ready by the weekend but I can live with that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 06 February, 2014, 02:27:37 pm
The sensible tool-free limit must be the distance you're prepared to wheel a failed bike.

This might not be PC round here, but if I'm prepared to wheel it I'll probably just walk.

(Ride up and down the street to check nothing falls off notwithstanding.)

I don't see it as unPC.
I gave up cycling to work when I moved into a house 1km away from the workplace. A 12 minute walk made more sense than 5 minutes on the bike and seven minutes locking up and changing clothes.

I didn't bother with tools when I rode two miles to work but never had a visitation either.
Surely for a five minute ride you could cycle in whatever you would walk in?

Not if your trousers could get caught in the chain...
At the very least you'll need cycle clips or to tuck your trousers into your socks.
Slap wraps are what you need.

No they're not. They would not keep my trousers under control. I never got on with cycle clips either. I don't know if this is a girlie calf and girlie trouser problem as partner is fine with clips.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 February, 2014, 02:29:53 pm
Slap wraps are what you need.

No they're not. They would not keep my trousers under control. I never got on with cycle clips either. I don'y know if this is a girlie calf and girlie trouser problem as partner is fine with clips.

+1

Slap wraps have never proved adequate for restraining my trouser legs (regardless of trouser material - it's not just jeans that are the problem).  Maybe they work better for people with thinner ankles?

Clips work, but get painful after about half an hour. (Though I wouldn't want to ride for more than that in civvies.)

I find the Mk1 sock is usually the optimum solution.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 06 February, 2014, 02:33:20 pm
Being in the habit of wearing Humvees whenever I can get away with it, I have an easily adjusted, and very nearly adequate, velcro strap built into me trewen themselves. :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 February, 2014, 02:34:29 pm
Being in the habit of wearing Humvees whenever I can get away with it, I have an easily adjusted, and very nearly adequate, velcro strap built into me trewen themselves. :)

Humvees don't have room for cyclists' thighs.   >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 06 February, 2014, 02:35:04 pm
I don't have slender thighs.  I just don't.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 06 February, 2014, 02:35:20 pm
Slap wraps are what you need.

No they're not. They would not keep my trousers under control. I never got on with cycle clips either. I don'y know if this is a girlie calf and girlie trouser problem as partner is fine with clips.

+1

Slap wraps have never proved adequate for restraining my trouser legs (regardless of trouser material - it's not just jeans that are the problem).  Maybe they work better for people with thinner ankles?

Clips work, but get painful after about half an hour. (Though I wouldn't want to ride for more than that in civvies.)

I find the Mk1 sock is usually the optimum solution.

+1

So long as the sock is long enough. Some girlie ankle socks are far too short, though I seldom wore these 'size 4-7'' creations as my feet are long.
Long men's socks were fine.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 February, 2014, 02:36:42 pm
I don't have slender thighs.  I just don't.

I expect the men's version is a more sensible shape, if you don't need the arse room of the ladies'.

I bought a pair at the York rally a couple of years ago that appeared to fit, spent the weekend wandering around in them, then discovered the problem when I tried to ride a bike.  They don't make a larger size.

Fortunately they're only slightly big for barakta.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 February, 2014, 02:37:37 pm
I find the Mk1 sock is usually the optimum solution.

+1

So long as the sock is long enough. Some girlie ankle socks are far too short, though I seldom wore these 'size 4-7'' creations as my feet are long.
Long men's socks were fine.

Point.  I only wear sturdy men's socks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 06 February, 2014, 02:42:04 pm
I don't have slender thighs.  I just don't.

I expect the men's version is a more sensible shape, if you don't need the arse room of the ladies'.

I bought a pair at the York rally a couple of years ago that appeared to fit, spent the weekend wandering around in them, then discovered the problem when I tried to ride a bike.  They don't make a larger size.

Fortunately they're only slightly big for barakta.

You make a very good point.  I am not sure if cycling clothing manufacturers have ever met a woman, let alone a woman cyclist. ;D

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 February, 2014, 03:11:22 pm
You make a very good point.  I am not sure if cycling clothing manufacturers have ever met a woman, let alone a woman cyclist. ;D

They have.  The problem is they've only met the one.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 06 February, 2014, 03:27:49 pm
I don't have slender thighs.  I just don't.
TTIUWP
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 06 February, 2014, 03:58:24 pm
You make a very good point.  I am not sure if cycling clothing manufacturers have ever met a woman, let alone a woman cyclist. ;D

They have.  The problem is they've only met the one.
It wasn't me, either.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 February, 2014, 04:57:59 pm
I've never found socks to be much good at restraining trouser cuffs. I agree that clips begin to pinch after a while. But as for jeans, I think they tend to be better for riding in than many non-jean trousers precisely because they are less flappy, though they have other disadvantages. If only plus fours would return to fashion...  :) :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 06 February, 2014, 08:31:02 pm
I just roll my civvy trousers up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 06 February, 2014, 09:37:21 pm
Rolled-up trousers have a habit of unrolling IME.
Rolling them up properly takes AGES.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 06 February, 2014, 11:18:01 pm
I mostly use two thin postie style rubber bands, one near the ankle and one about 10cm higher as it's usually an unplanned trip at work.

The best things I've found for holding trousers are 'wowwow's. Little high-viz straps with a velcro fastening. THey aren't elastic, but seem pretty good at staying put.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WOWOW-Arm-Leg-Reflective-Bands/dp/B0045U4P02
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 06 February, 2014, 11:40:18 pm
I was keen on using Respro neoprene reflective straps.http://respro.com/store/product/ankle-bands (http://respro.com/store/product/ankle-bands)

They seemed stretchy enough.
David never liked them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 February, 2014, 11:41:51 pm
The best things I've found for holding trousers are 'wowwow's. Little high-viz straps with a velcro fastening. THey aren't elastic, but seem pretty good at staying put.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WOWOW-Arm-Leg-Reflective-Bands/dp/B0045U4P02

Are they endorsed by Mr Bagger himself?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 07 February, 2014, 02:04:56 pm
I was keen on using Respro neoprene reflective straps.http://respro.com/store/product/ankle-bands (http://respro.com/store/product/ankle-bands)

They seemed stretchy enough.
David never liked them.
Those look just like slapwraps, but presumably if they're neoprene they work differently. Actually, I can't tell from that how they do work!

Velcro - hate it! Incredibly useful stuff, but I'm too clumsy with it and it always gets stuck to the wrong things (eg my socks, especially if they're woolly winter cycling ones).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 07 February, 2014, 04:04:23 pm
I was keen on using Respro neoprene reflective straps.http://respro.com/store/product/ankle-bands (http://respro.com/store/product/ankle-bands)

They seemed stretchy enough.
David never liked them.
Those look just like slapwraps, but presumably if they're neoprene they work differently. Actually, I can't tell from that how they do work!

Velcro - hate it! Incredibly useful stuff, but I'm too clumsy with it and it always gets stuck to the wrong things (eg my socks, especially if they're woolly winter cycling ones).

Never really got on with the Respro things. They worked OK, and their velcro never seemed to stick to anything it shouldn't, but the fluo side was dull and very quickly grubby, while the refelective side just seemed dull.

I fairly quickly decided I was better trying not to ride in normal trousers.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 07 February, 2014, 04:58:02 pm
I get on fairly well with the velcro trouser holders. The advantage is that they go small enough for scrawny ankles (and children). Slippery trousers do sometimes slide out of them, but they mostly work. You need to bend your knee when fastening them though, otherwise your trouser pulls out when you pedal.

Ladies cycling wear, like horseriding clobber is not generally designed for the physique of the people who actually do the activities.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 07 February, 2014, 06:00:44 pm

Velcro - hate it! Incredibly useful stuff, but I'm too clumsy with it and it always gets stuck to the wrong things (eg my socks, especially if they're woolly winter cycling ones).

Which, anecdotally (I heard it at The Science museum) was how it came to be invented. Wee seed heads snagged on yer man's hiking socks and  <foom!> an idea was had.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 February, 2014, 12:37:42 pm
Synthetic goose grass!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: arvid on 08 February, 2014, 12:58:17 pm
GN: Due to the relatively warm (and windy) weather I have set some speed records(/Strava PB's) on my commute (started in October, so I haven't seen any real good weather since the first two weeks) this week.
BN: I have shin muscle pains now.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 12 February, 2014, 04:54:22 pm
Good: owing to the strength of the tail wind my last half-mile home tonight should be a 40mph freewheel. :o :thumbsup:

Bad: owing to the strength of the side wind my first 2 miles home tonight will have to done on foot. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 February, 2014, 06:06:56 pm
Good: owing to the strength of the tail wind my last half-mile home tonight should be a 40mph freewheel. :o :thumbsup:

Bad: owing to the strength of the side wind my first 2 miles home tonight will have to done on foot. :(

I did the first wee bit of mine on foot. It was particularly exciting when the gusts turned up behind me and had me running along the pavement.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 12 February, 2014, 08:32:10 pm
BN: It's cold dark & windy,   I'm _very_ stressed out at work..... I've not ridden my bike for fun since October ?

GN: There is food, rioja and the new Suzanne Vega album on the turntable.    A shame I didn't know about the gig (http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/suzanne-vega-town-hall-birmingham) in Birmingham last week though
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 12 February, 2014, 08:49:08 pm
BN: The tree that David planted in our garden appears to be being blown over by the wind. It now is at 30o to the vertical. Initially it popped back up after the wind stopped but now it has a permanent list. It was about 8ft tall, having grown from about 18 inches or less.

GN It's a Cypressus  Leylandii which I do not like...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 23 February, 2014, 06:36:15 pm
GN: The final disassembly of the Harry Quinn frame went smoothly. Even the bottom bit of the headset didn't put up too much of a struggle.

BN: Deciding that the dishwasher was the ideal way to clean the bits was not a good idea. I now face a major buffing task to get the aluminium bits shiny again.

GN: Discovering that Harry Quinn had discreetly put a serial number on the fork steerer tube dispelled any suspicions I might have had about the F&Fs' provenance.

The ideal shit sandwich!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 25 February, 2014, 08:27:24 pm
GN: Marks and Spencer has opened a large store in The Hague.

BN: Mrs Wunja seems set to do all food shopping there, and I'm not sure the bank account can stand the strain
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 25 February, 2014, 08:32:16 pm
Afternoon off today, and the sun was shining  :)

I really wanted to go on a bike ride, but for some reason felt far too anxious. :'(

Damn and blast it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 05 March, 2014, 08:04:51 am
BN: I may not be able to organize/attend any Cambridge social rides this year.

GN: This is because I am in line, currently, for 3 different contracts which would mean I would be home every night, and able to restart the NTR Thursday night social!

That counts as an overall win, to me!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 05 March, 2014, 02:00:49 pm
GN: Don't need new specs
BN: I'm losing iris pigment, and that's probably what's causing the halos.

 :-\

GN: Early detection means better monitoring
more GN: Only 30% of PDS leads to pigmentary glaucoma
even more GN: even then it's quite responsive to treatment
Update:
Quote from: eye doc
The halos are where light is coming in through your moth-eaten irises. Vigorous exercise will make this worse.
Quote from: fboab
So, if, say, I was the kind of person who gets her kicks from riding a bike all day and into the night, that would make it worse
Quote from: eye doc
Yes. But don't let it stop you doing anything.
Quote from: fboab
But I could use this as an excuse to get other people to change my punctures at night!
Quote from: eye doc
O, well yes, you should certainly do that!
;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 05 March, 2014, 05:25:44 pm
Ride back of tandem more and keep your eyes closed.   ;)  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 05 March, 2014, 07:09:14 pm
Good news: Liverpool's Everyman Theatre has reopened, as has it's much loved bistro.

Bad news: they've put the prices up and the menu is smaller than before.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 06 March, 2014, 06:31:40 am
Good News: after about 4 months my new rims have arrived at my not so LBS

Bad news: there's now a 2 week delay on the hubs

It's all moot as the frame won't be here until the end of the month
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 08 March, 2014, 02:43:17 pm
Good news: Ms Marco has made the England U18 Touch Rugby squad for Euro Champs in Swansea in August!   O:-)  :-*

Bad news: We now have an 'opportunity' to buy the kit... How much?! :o   Oh well...  :)

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 March, 2014, 07:35:56 pm
GN: I had my driving assessment at work today. I was evaluated as low risk. It was rather a worthwhile exercise

BN: that probably means i will have more work put on me for no extra pay.

BN: I am too tired to see The Stranglers in Leamington tonight & it's probably Jet Black's swansong tour.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 11 March, 2014, 08:41:24 pm
Bad news: Motocrossers have ruined the nicest singletrack decent in the village.

Good news: My Strava king of the mountains is safe for a while. ???

On balance though I'd rather have the singletrack though
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 19 March, 2014, 09:30:35 pm
BN: Last week I bust a pedal on the pink magenta bike.

More BN: Tonight the bearing packed up on a pedal on the fixer.

GN: Yesterday I fitted a new pair of pedals to the pink magenta bike. I now have on my shelf one borked RH pedal, one part worn LH pedal.  The pedal that died this evening on this fixer is a LH one. Hurrah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Salvatore on 20 March, 2014, 10:07:05 am
BN: While I was on my way home from dentist and shopping, I got out of the saddle to pull away from the lights at a busy crossroads, and my phone fell out of my pocket onto the tarmac, although I wasn't aware of it.

GN: The people behind me in their car at the traffic lights just happened to be my next-door neighbours, and they were waiting for me when I got home to hand it back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 20 March, 2014, 10:10:21 am
With luck like that Salvatore you should buy a ticket for this week's Friday Euro Millions lottery
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Salvatore on 20 March, 2014, 10:36:52 am
That was my first thought, but I've never bought a lottery ticket and wouldn't know how to go about it. I'd probably make an embarassing faux pas and people at the newsagents would point and giggle.

 I'll just hope that my premium bonds win something in April. That would make it six months in a row.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 March, 2014, 08:56:01 am
GN: last night I won a prize in the choir's Easter Raffle.

BN: The choice was between a lady's electric razor and a bottle of Martini Bianco.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 26 March, 2014, 10:29:19 am
GN: Wowbagger will be setting a PB in this season's Time Trials.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Julian on 26 March, 2014, 12:46:09 pm
Bad news: I'm feeling poorly today.

Good news: My panel, bless their cotton socks, have taken pity and released me until tomorrow. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 26 March, 2014, 01:02:38 pm
GN: Wowbagger will be setting a PB in this season's Time Trials.

Oh very good! Much mirth.  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: haliaetos on 26 March, 2014, 08:24:39 pm
GN: The Di2/hydraulic levers for my new build has appeared at the LBS, and the frame has finally arrived in the country.

BN: The frame still hasn't arrived at the LBS, so it's really going to be cutting it fine to get it built in time for going on holiday with it. Getting stressed, but perhaps this should be going in the first world problems thread...   ::-) :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 28 March, 2014, 07:40:46 pm
BN: The watch mender down the road wants £45  and three weeks to make my watch tick again. That's as much as I paid for it new (albeit about 12 years ago and in a cheap country).

GN: The bloke in Timpson's mended it in 15 minutes and didn't charge a penny. So top thumbs up to Timpson's on The Triangle in Bristol.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 04 April, 2014, 01:16:33 am
BN: Looks like work is going to relocate me in a few months
GN: The new office is nicer, and about the same distance away from home as my current place
BN: Commute isn't as pretty
GN: More scope for different routes after work
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 04 April, 2014, 11:17:10 pm
GN: Had an interesting email exchange with my PhD supervisor - there's a good chance I may be doing some Real ScienceTM soon  :thumbsup:
BN: If things do pan out, then this summer's little expedition to Leftpondia won't be able to happen :(
GN: Real Science!
BN: It may involve FORTRAN 2008  :sick:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 04 April, 2014, 11:31:41 pm
GN: Had an interesting email exchange with my PhD supervisor - there's a good chance I may be doing some Real ScienceTM soon  :thumbsup:
BN: If things do pan out, then this summer's little expedition to Leftpondia won't be able to happen :(
GN: Real Science!
BN: It may involve FORTRAN 2008  :sick:

Oh that would be a crap decision to have to make Simon.  Real Science or the Tour Divide.   Whatever you choose, I hope it makes you happy    (though I was looking forward to the ride reports.....)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 04 April, 2014, 11:39:08 pm
GN: Had an interesting email exchange with my PhD supervisor - there's a good chance I may be doing some Real ScienceTM soon  :thumbsup:
BN: If things do pan out, then this summer's little expedition to Leftpondia won't be able to happen :(
GN: Real Science!
BN: It may involve FORTRAN 2008  :sick:

Oh that would be a crap decision to have to make Simon.  Real Science or the Tour Divide.   Whatever you choose, I hope it makes you happy    (though I was looking forward to the ride reports.....)
To be honest, it wouldn't be that difficult a decision - the Tour Divide will come around again, an opportunity like this may not.
Besides, if I do end up doing TEH SCIENCE then I'll have to make occasional visits to Wales, which means plenty of potential for interesting off-road shenanigans :)

Nothing's been set in stone yet - negotiations are, as they say, ongoing. It may end up being an occasional consultancy thing, but I could cope with that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 05 April, 2014, 04:51:13 pm
GN: New coffee grinder!

BN: Managed to get through over half the bag of beans, just finding a half-decent setting.

GN: Developing a taste for black coffee, and an epic caffeine buzz  ;D

BN: Sore arm.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 05 April, 2014, 07:13:22 pm
GN: New coffee grinder!

BN: Managed to get through over half the bag of beans, just finding a half-decent setting.

GN: Developing a taste for black coffee, and an epic caffeine buzz  ;D

BN: Sore arm.

Top Tip:  Use alternate arms when grinding or you'll end up like one of those medieval archers..... ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 05 April, 2014, 08:35:07 pm
GN: New coffee grinder!

BN: Managed to get through over half the bag of beans, just finding a half-decent setting.

GN: Developing a taste for black coffee, and an epic caffeine buzz  ;D

BN: Sore arm.

Top Tip:  Use alternate arms when grinding or you'll end up like one of those medieval archers..... ;)



99 change hands?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 07 April, 2014, 01:16:06 pm
GN: Had an interesting email exchange with my PhD supervisor - there's a good chance I may be doing some Real ScienceTM soon  :thumbsup:
BN: If things do pan out, then this summer's little expedition to Leftpondia won't be able to happen :(
GN: Real Science!
BN: It may involve FORTRAN 2008  :sick:

Oh that would be a crap decision to have to make Simon.  Real Science or the Tour Divide.   Whatever you choose, I hope it makes you happy    (though I was looking forward to the ride reports.....)
To be honest, it wouldn't be that difficult a decision - the Tour Divide will come around again, an opportunity like this may not.
Besides, if I do end up doing TEH SCIENCE then I'll have to make occasional visits to Wales, which means plenty of potential for interesting off-road shenanigans :)

Yebbut, FORTRAN???   I suppose, in lieu of the ride reports, we'll have an entertaining rant thread
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 07 April, 2014, 01:30:15 pm
GN: Mrs F has joined me in being of the opinion that I should take advantage of the pension I qualified for on 18th march 2014

BN: Job hunting ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 09 April, 2014, 07:54:12 pm
After a complicated commute that involved a detour to the (not very) LBS to collect one bike and deliver another, I phoned son and suggested I call in at the chippy on the way back (it's my turn to cook).
BN:  The chippy was rammed.  They're queueing down the street.
GN: Phoned son to explain I was repairing to the pub next door until it quietens down a bit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 09 April, 2014, 08:04:17 pm
GN: Had an interesting email exchange with my PhD supervisor - there's a good chance I may be doing some Real ScienceTM soon  :thumbsup:
BN: If things do pan out, then this summer's little expedition to Leftpondia won't be able to happen :(
GN: Real Science!
BN: It may involve FORTRAN 2008  :sick:

Oh that would be a crap decision to have to make Simon.  Real Science or the Tour Divide.   Whatever you choose, I hope it makes you happy    (though I was looking forward to the ride reports.....)
To be honest, it wouldn't be that difficult a decision - the Tour Divide will come around again, an opportunity like this may not.
Besides, if I do end up doing TEH SCIENCE then I'll have to make occasional visits to Wales, which means plenty of potential for interesting off-road shenanigans :)

Yebbut, FORTRAN???   I suppose, in lieu of the ride reports, we'll have an entertaining rant thread
The perils of legacy code, innit?
The bulk of the code was written in 1993-4, and it used a bunch of third party libraries to do the Scary SumsTM associated with reaction kinetics, one of which dated back to the early 70s. The main reason I never rewrote everything in C was because writing suitable interfaces to aforementioned scary third party libraries was too horrifying to contemplate.

It still is.

Even so, the code now compiles and runs on my Badass Number Crunching Babbage Engine and it was quite gratifying to watch simulations that took 3-4 days to run in 1994 get chewed up and spat out in a couple of hours and with the correct results  :thumbsup:

Things are progressing, slowly, so it's looking like:

GN: !!SCIENCE!! albeit on a part-time, consultancy-style basis
BN: Probably no Tour Divide this year :( However, there's no way in Hades I'm going to let an opportunity like this slip away.
BN: To implement the really cool stuff that we've agreed needs to be done, I'm going to have to get my head round FORTRAN 2008
GN: Plan B, silly bike ride wise, involves Scotland - with particular reference to the far north-west thereof.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 13 April, 2014, 09:05:31 pm
At Imperial I did a really entertaining parallel computing course, that involved writing functions in Fortran and coordinating them using a Haskell-like DSL. The combination of the two was quite mind expanding.

Good news: Got some pictures I'm pleased with yesterday.
Bad news: Got a pink head in the process.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 13 April, 2014, 09:31:56 pm
This could be considered bad news or good news I suppose.

Mrs Ham & Miss Ham are departing for NYC tomorrow for a few days

They have each taken a spare, empty, case. I think I know how to evaluate that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 13 April, 2014, 09:42:37 pm
That's always been my packing technique for US visits.  Is it too late to put a block on their credit cards?  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 14 April, 2014, 08:20:02 am
BN: Jess woke me up at what was, for me at least, a rather unpleasantly early hour.

GN: I got a lazy lie in bed for half an hour, and still had time to make a travel mug of fresh coffee before I left the house. I could actually get used to that as a routine  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 14 April, 2014, 10:14:01 am
At Imperial I did a really entertaining parallel computing course, that involved writing functions in Fortran and coordinating them using a Haskell-like DSL. The combination of the two was quite mind expanding.
Anything Haskell-like will do that - it'll expand your mind so much that your brains will dribble out of your ears and leave grey puddles on your shoulders.

In fact, for the sort of things that we have in mind, Erlang would be an absolutely perfect fit for handling all the parallel/distributed stuff but we still have the problem of interfacing it to all that crufty old third-party FORTRAN code. FORTRAN 2008 looks to be the path of least resistance, and with my Compiler Of Choice (gfortran) ye-olde-thirde-partye code and modern(ish) code will build and co-exist peacefully.

The downside is that instead of flying out to Canada at the beginning of July, I'll be driving down to Aberystwyth instead. The good news is still !!SCIENCE!!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 14 April, 2014, 12:49:25 pm

In fact, for the sort of things that we have in mind, Erlang would be an absolutely perfect fit for handling all the parallel/distributed stuff but we still have the problem of interfacing it to all that crufty old third-party FORTRAN code. FORTRAN 2008 looks to be the path of least resistance, and with my Compiler Of Choice (gfortran) ye-olde-thirde-partye code and modern(ish) code will build and co-exist peacefully.


There was a reason that Mobile used APL to call the fortran libraries for differential equations.1 you can get student licences for Dyalog APL and it will run under both windows and Linux ;)

Good luck however you do it. It sounds like an interesting challenge.

1. Admittedly they were calculating the inputs to the functions and then carrying out further calculations with the outputs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 15 April, 2014, 11:45:01 am
GN: It's a lovely, sunny, low wind day today.
Extra good news: I am in Northumberland, home of lots of hills and great cycling
BN: I am at work
Extra bad news: Just to rub it in, I look out of the window (my desk overlooks the train station at Prudhoe) and there are 3 cyclists in the station car park. :( GRRRRRRRRRRRR
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 15 April, 2014, 11:56:51 am
There was a reason that Mobile used APL to call the fortran libraries for differential equations.1 you can get student licences for Dyalog APL and it will run under both windows and Linux ;)
Not open source though.
That, as they say, is a deal breaker.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 15 April, 2014, 12:26:14 pm
There was a reason that Mobile used APL to call the fortran libraries for differential equations.1 you can get student licences for Dyalog APL and it will run under both windows and Linux ;)
Not open source though.
That, as they say, is a deal breaker.

Fair dos, I aught to declare my interest in that Dyalog (and the previous company) have employed my father writing Dyalog APL for >30 years. I know he did some development of the Linux keyboards for the APL which uses the 'windows' key on the keyboard as a 'shift' key similarly to switching between two languages.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 15 April, 2014, 02:38:29 pm
GN: I get to have a little lie-in tomorrow, as I have an appointment at the dentist first thing (plus the surgery is only about 200yds from home)
BN: It's with the hygienist. Fillings and extractions I can cope with, seemingly endless amounts of picking and scraping? Nope ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 April, 2014, 10:47:35 am
BN: A while ago I spent an age on the phone to First Utility to discuss my direct debit payment. After about 30 minutes I gave up, still being no. 21 in the queue and only moving up nine places in that time. I submitted my request in a message on their website. They said they would get back to me in 10 days. They didn't.

GN: Today, I whipped myself into an angry customer frenzy and called. I got into a queue again, but was answered within 3 minutes. The very helpful Carrie told me I was £200+ In credit after the mild winter. I asked to have it refunded by BACS transfer, that was agreed. I also asked to move to variable DD. Agreed. My frenzy was unappeased, I'm pleased to say.

GN: I now have an unexpected £200 windfall to spend. Hmm, 3 ASDA bikes?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 16 April, 2014, 11:13:17 am
BN: Visit to the dental hygienist this morning. It was predictably unpleasant.
GN: At least if the world ends over the weekend I'll go to Hell with clean teeth.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 16 April, 2014, 12:01:34 pm
GN: I now have an unexpected £200 windfall to spend.
BN: Hmm, 3 ASDA bikes?

FTFY
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 18 April, 2014, 07:56:03 am
I resisted the ASDA temptation and spent some of it on a pair of Merrells.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: davelodwig on 18 April, 2014, 12:20:57 pm
BN: The car is broken, looks like a water pump as it's empying the coolant system all over the car park

GN: I'm working from home, the sun is shining, and this afternoon I may work from my laptop on the deck.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 18 April, 2014, 12:27:22 pm
GN: It's a glorious day outside - the sun is shining, the birds are singing and all should be right with the world.
BN: I have precisely zero motivation to go out and actually do anything - instead I'm sat up here selling assorted bits of my life on eBay and doing !!SCIENCE!! on the Babbage Engine.

GN(?): The noise coming from next door could be the motivation I need - I realise that they need to do some pretty major renovation work, but the seemingly incessant drilling and hammering is really starting to piss me off.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 24 April, 2014, 08:40:40 pm
BN: Can't find the firewire cable for between the mixer and laptop.

GN: I have a 20 metre XLR cable to run from the drum kit downstairs to the desk top upstairs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 25 April, 2014, 12:06:11 pm
Bad news: Part way down a steep muddy, rutted off road descent my battery pack made a bid for freedom and I had to rely on my head torch for the descent. Made worse by the fact that the rider behind had a very bright light which meant I couldn't see the ground because of my shadow.

Good news: was my second fastest time on that section

Good news (II): I found the battery pack, it didn't seem to have been ridden over too many times  and it still works
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 25 April, 2014, 02:10:10 pm
GN: I can ride my bike without hip pain after the athroscopy in January.

BN: Boy am I unfit. Anyone know any FLAT routes in the lakes from Rydal? This means no chevrons on the map.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 25 April, 2014, 02:20:20 pm
GN: I can ride my bike without hip pain after the athroscopy in January.

BN: Boy am I unfit. Anyone know any FLAT routes in the lakes from Rydal? This means no chevrons on the map.

Through the park towards Ambleside. Stop at the Golden Rule, which is Thee Beste Pubbe evah.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 25 April, 2014, 04:03:13 pm
GN: I can ride my bike without hip pain after the athroscopy in January.

BN: Boy am I unfit. Anyone know any FLAT routes in the lakes from Rydal? This means no chevrons on the map.

Through the park towards Ambleside. Stop at the Golden Rule, which is Thee Beste Pubbe evah.

Then carry on up Great Langdale as far as the Old Dungeon Ghyll, which is also ditto
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 25 April, 2014, 04:08:45 pm
Or take the bike in the car over Dunmail Raise and park on the minor road round the back of Thirlmere.  That's a nice and perfectly flat road.  At the bottom end, cross the A66 and head up St Johns in the Vale to Threlkeld, then onto the cycleway along the old railway into Keswick, and hence to the Dog and Gun
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 25 April, 2014, 04:13:46 pm
Good to hear your hip's sorted anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Moultonaught on 28 April, 2014, 01:03:47 pm
Gn: the presentation to big cheese clients went really well

Bn: I've been in Dubai since Wed, working pretty well the whole time I've been awake, and have only been outside four times! and that was cross the road to/from the clients office! Looking forward to riding my new bargainacious n+1 on my return  :{)>
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 30 April, 2014, 03:28:57 pm
Or take the bike in the car over Dunmail Raise and park on the minor road round the back of Thirlmere.  That's a nice and perfectly flat road.  At the bottom end, cross the A66 and head up St Johns in the Vale to Threlkeld, then onto the cycleway along the old railway into Keswick, and hence to the Dog and Gun
Thirlmere was a nice ride, though the climb out of Grasmere was long it wasn't steep so no problem. The wet concrete on the cycle way to St Johns was more of an issue so I turned south on the 591 to make my way back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 05 May, 2014, 03:22:26 pm
BN: I lost a handlebar tassel! :o

GN: I found it again, lying in the road,a couple of hours later. Phew!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 05 May, 2014, 03:31:53 pm
BN: I lost a handlebar tassel! :o

GN: I found it again, lying in the road,a couple of hours later. Phew!


Phew! Indeed!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 05 May, 2014, 06:45:38 pm
BN: I lost a handlebar tassel! :o

GN: I found it again, lying in the road,a couple of hours later. Phew!

Surely the first should be in the 'First World Problems' thread?

We could all have had a prayer meeting or staged an encounter group session . . .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mattc on 07 May, 2014, 03:46:00 pm
BN: We had to buy a new washing machine - £££££s

GN: For a few precious hours, I know more than N about operating our washing machine  :smug:   :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 07 May, 2014, 08:25:09 pm
GN: After a shady night-time rendezvous at a McDonalds in Mottram I now have my cello back
EBN: The restorer has done a great job with it - it looks great :)

BN: My sister forgot to put the bow back in the case after borrowing it so that's still in the Socialist Republic :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 07 May, 2014, 08:31:30 pm
Ooh, we need a "show us pics of your cello" thread! :D

(I'm most jealous - have wanted a cello for years but I know it would just end up gathering dust like the other instruments, plus it would take up too much space!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 07 May, 2014, 08:48:14 pm
Ooh, we need a "show us pics of your cello" thread! :D
I've put a couple phone shots here (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=46828.0) :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 07 May, 2014, 08:52:30 pm
GN: After a shady night-time rendezvous at a McDonalds in Mottram I now have my cello back
EBN: The restorer has done a great job with it - it looks great :)

BN: My sister forgot to put the bow back in the case after borrowing it so that's still in the Socialist Republic :facepalm:

Finally!!!   :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 07 May, 2014, 10:01:23 pm
Ooh, we need a "show us pics of your cello" thread! :D
I've put a couple phone shots here (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=46828.0) :)

Nice!

I didn't know that thread existed. Must take some pics...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 07 May, 2014, 10:07:48 pm
Ooh, we need a "show us pics of your cello" thread! :D
I've put a couple phone shots here (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=46828.0) :)

Oh, somehow missed that thread. 

*searches photo archive*  Hmm... sure I had pictures of my instruments, at least ones taken for insurance purposes, but can't find them.  Will try to take some new ones this weekend.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 07 May, 2014, 10:20:44 pm
GN: I'm not coming down with a cold!

BN: It's allergies.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 12 May, 2014, 02:57:15 pm
GN: Just received an email from Rose: my new USBWerk has been dispatched.
BN: The 'old' one still hasn't emerged from its hidey hole :( I suspect it may have ended up in the last lot of metal I took for recycling.
SortaGN: if it does turn up, at least I'll have a spare  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 13 May, 2014, 08:48:22 am
BN: I have the lurgy, started Sunday night. Can't stray far from a toilet.
GN: Ate the same food as the rest of the family on Sunday, but they've escaped.
More GN: The pouring sweat, unable to balance fever last night has gone away.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 13 May, 2014, 06:39:56 pm
GN: My house martins are back  :thumbsup:
BN: My house martins are back ... that such a little bird can contain so much shit, and deposit it with such unerring accuracy (usually on the car) is a constant source of both amazement and exasperation.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 13 May, 2014, 07:14:30 pm
Good news: had my ears syringed today :sick: and I can hear properly again after a week.

Bad news: the world really is very noisy!  Even my mouse is loud!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 14 May, 2014, 01:25:54 pm
Bad news: 3 days of acute D&V, not keeping anything down, blacking out, etc.

Good news: Lots of exciting post to open in bed. I now have a HDMI cable, a Schnozzel valve adapter, and an ESR meter to play with.  It's like a slightly rubbish birthday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 14 May, 2014, 01:46:21 pm
The bike rack at work was so full I struggled to park
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 15 May, 2014, 06:20:59 pm
GN: I have just had a telephone interview (though, in my mind that could be classed as bad news, I hate them!)
BN: I will be losing 3-5 hours of my week from now on
GN: Those hours will be evening/weekends, so no real loss (would probably be just taken out of my TV watching hours)
2*GN: I'll get paid for them!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 15 May, 2014, 07:03:02 pm
GN: My missing USBWerk has resurfaced ....
BN: .... two days after the replacement arrived  ::-)
G(?)N: Since I now have a spare, I won't have to faff around (as much) moving them between bikes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 16 May, 2014, 09:54:05 am
BN: I iz off with the lurgy
GN: This (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gironimo-Riding-Very-Terrible-Italy/dp/0224092073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400230072&sr=8-1&keywords=tim+moore) just came on the radio.  I loved French Revolutions, how had I not heard of this before? 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 16 May, 2014, 10:03:12 am
GN: This (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gironimo-Riding-Very-Terrible-Italy/dp/0224092073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400230072&sr=8-1&keywords=tim+moore) just came on the radio.  I loved French Revolutions, how had I not heard of this before?
Oooh ... and only three-anna-half squids for the Kindle version ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 16 May, 2014, 12:39:26 pm
Good: COS said a while ago if we've nowt pressing on we can sod off at 2 :thumbsup:
Bad: Since then it's clouded over and the air's gone sultry ::-)
Terrible: I didn't pick my jacket up this morning :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 16 May, 2014, 06:12:39 pm
GN: Got an email from the LBS to say that my two reforked 29ers are now ready ...  :thumbsup:
BN: The email was timestamped 16:51, I've only just received it and the bike shop shut 10 minutes ago  ::-)
GN: I'll be set for the overnighter(s) I've got planned for BH weekend
BN: It'll take two trips to pick the bikes up, since attempting to fit a pair of 29ers, even in stripped-down form, into the back of my car isn't something I wish to repeat for the sake of my sanity. Or indeed the sanity of anyone within a 5 mile radius.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 16 May, 2014, 09:16:23 pm
BN: I iz off with the lurgy
GN: This (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gironimo-Riding-Very-Terrible-Italy/dp/0224092073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400230072&sr=8-1&keywords=tim+moore) just came on the radio.  I loved French Revolutions, how had I not heard of this before?

Part two is a bit like the audax ride reports! Thanks for the link!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 16 May, 2014, 10:34:34 pm
BN:  I've only just got home after a 13 hr day

GN: I'm off for the next 2 weeks!

I hope that none of the supposedly senior colleagues I handed some crappy jobs off to, have problems with them ....

(feeling a bit guilty, but I'm pretty much a 1 man band and a very busy one at that!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 17 May, 2014, 09:47:47 am
BN: At 8am this morning I sat my first ever driving theory test (aged 52). I did far worse than I did on the mock tests I did.
GN: At 8:50am I was told I had passed.

Theory Test 90%. Pass Mark is 86%
Hazard Test 66.67% Pass Mark is 58.67%

I am amazed, as poorly as I did, I passed.  I briefly assumed that everyone passes first time always. I was corrected on the train home when I overheard a lad who sat the test the same time phone is mum to tell her he failed.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 19 May, 2014, 06:06:55 pm
BN: The AWL Magyar contingent will be decamping to Budapest for 5+ weeks from late July.

GN: The AWL Magyar contingent will be decamping to Budapest for 5+ weeks from late July.

BN: Wizzair's website is the clunkiest, shittiest bit of coding I have experienced in a long, long time. Take a lesson from easyJet you twonks and get an English native speaker to proof read your crappy content.

GN: Despite much aggravation, we got there in the end.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 19 May, 2014, 06:13:14 pm
I am amazed, as poorly as I did, I passed.  I briefly assumed that everyone passes first time always. I was corrected on the train home when I overheard a lad who sat the test the same time phone is mum to tell her he failed.
Just wait 'til you sit your practical test, then  ;)
When I sat my theory/hazard perception tests the results were waiting for me as I left the examination room - I was handed the appropriate bits of paperwork with a 'congratulations, you've passed' from the receptionist, although a couple of the people who were sitting the test at the same time as me weren't quite so lucky.
 
Be prepared to fail your first practical test, though ... I did, in pretty boneheaded fashion (on the way back to the test centre, half a mile to go and the examiner asks me to pull over in a safe place. Right before a crossroads is not a safe place  :facepalm:)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 19 May, 2014, 10:22:44 pm
GN:  A bloke at work wivva van has agreed to help me move for £300.00

BN:  No idea where I'm going to live
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 May, 2014, 11:39:22 pm
'S obvious inni? You're going to live in the YACF commune.
 ;D

(seriously - i thought you'd been through all this recently, with the kitchen trauma and all that?)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 19 May, 2014, 11:42:30 pm
'S obvious inni? You're going to live in the YACF commune.
 ;D

(seriously - i thought you'd been through all this recently, with the kitchen trauma and all that?)

My landlord said I could move immediately, before the end of the lease, as it would be easier to sell without a sitting tenant.  I did not get this in writing  ::-)  He then changed his mind.  I'm moving in July.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 20 May, 2014, 01:16:42 am
NN: I had an appointment at The National Hospital, Queen Square for my annual review at 15.45 19/5/2015.
NN: I booked a taxi for 14:35 to take me there.

GN: The taxi arrived on time
NN: The meter failed after a few miles. I told the driver, who said he was taking the cab to be fixed after he'd dropped me.

BN: The taxi 'died' at Russell Square. It would not budge an inch.
GN: It was close enough to our destination to walk, so David pushed me to Queen Square.

GN: I was seen on time.
?GN: My regular consultant was on maternity leave so I was seen by a locum.
BN: They have remolished the clinic and there is not enough space for wheelchairs.
NN: I needed a blood test so Consultant gave me a form.
BN: The patient's name on the form was Kenneth **** whoops!

NN: After clinic, I used the loo.
BN: Nothing happened when I pressed the small flush button or the big flush button repeatedly. We reported this to clinic staff.

NN: We had time to kill as I had a meeting to chair a couple of miles away at 18.30.
BN: There was a voicemail message from the burglar alarm people to say my alarm had activated.
GN: From the timing, I reckoned there would not have been any intrusion as it was at the time were leaving the house.
GN: We had nice salads at Prêt A Manger.
NN: David thought he'd push me the two miles to my meeting.

BN: We passed the taxi that had died; it had still not budged after two hours though the AA was in attendance. Chatted briefly with driver (a regular).

BN: Alarm company rang to say alarm had briefly activated again...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 20 May, 2014, 08:13:50 pm
BN: I somehow tipped out of my wheelchair when I was unloaded from a cab.
GN: Apart from some minimal bruising to my head and right shoulder, I seem uninjured.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 20 May, 2014, 08:18:26 pm
GN: Tomorrow is my last day at the asylum until next Wednesday  :thumbsup:
BN: Have you seen the weather forecast for the weekend?  :sick: Perfect timing for a couple of overnighters on the Moors ...  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 21 May, 2014, 01:40:49 pm
BN: I somehow tipped out of my wheelchair when I was unloaded from a cab.

!

GN: Apart from some minimal bruising to my head and right shoulder, I seem uninjured.
Phew
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 21 May, 2014, 01:42:20 pm
BN: I somehow tipped out of my wheelchair when I was unloaded from a cab.
GN: Apart from some minimal bruising to my head and right shoulder, I seem uninjured.

How was the chair?  </obligatory post-off question> ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 21 May, 2014, 05:58:42 pm
Bad news: I'm being hassled about the disc use of my email.
Amusing news: Said email included an advert for hello kitty knickers. Just my thing.  :)
Good news: I've actually made it back into work and started to catch up from the lurgy last week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 22 May, 2014, 01:10:13 am
BN: I somehow tipped out of my wheelchair when I was unloaded from a cab.
GN: Apart from some minimal bruising to my head and right shoulder, I seem uninjured.

How was the chair?  </obligatory post-off question> ;D

The chair's fine.
I are a naughty gurl. I told my Mum I'd phone her after I arrived as she knew David was out; we'd shared the taxi, dropping her en route close to her abode.

After my off, I went to the loo and then phoned her. I told her I was in one piece; there is no evidence that this is not true.
I think my knowing about my off would upset her.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 22 May, 2014, 01:23:54 am
This has not been a good week for taxis.
Monday: taxi dies, fortunately close to destination.
Tuesday: decant episode.
Wednesday: went to E&C 'Die-In' and wanted cab to take us back to a restaurant where friends were having a Big Meal.

Wandered around for ages looking for a taxi. First one whose driver's we caught screamed that his ramp didn't work.
Next one was in a hired cab and had to fiddle for AGES, first to open ramp, then to close it.
BN: We were a bit late for the meal.
GN: This didn't matter as nobody had ordered food when we arrived.
BN: Chap organising meal had to leave early as he needed to travel a long way to get a spare key as he ha locked himself out.
BN: Minicab driver on homeward trip drove like a little boy at (speed limit +15mph) all the way home.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 22 May, 2014, 03:19:54 pm
GN: I'm offski soon and not back until Wednesday :thumbsup:
BN: A frikkin thunderstorm has just broken out, right overhead  :o

At least I brought my jacket this time ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 22 May, 2014, 03:32:01 pm
GN: OrangeGina has a new home, so today was spent dismantling, cleaning etc. in preparation for packing and shipping by the LBS tomorrow.
BN: A couple of days ago, I thought I knew what n+1 was going to be. Now I'm not so sure ... it's a three-horse race1  ::-) Curse you, universe ... don't make me choose!

1 - Salsa El Mariachi (original choice, also orange), Salsa Fargo (nice shade of blue) or Surly ECR (just plain bad-ass)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Gattopardo on 22 May, 2014, 03:34:53 pm
ORANGE...

Looking at assembling my own 29er...or converting the super galaxy to a 29er. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 22 May, 2014, 03:38:19 pm
ORANGE...

Looking at assembling my own 29er...or converting the super galaxy to a 29er.
That's what I'm thinking, especially as it'll match the orangeMandarin B17 that was on the Genesis.
However, the bad-assery of the ECR cannot be underestimated, plus it's frame and forks whereas the two Salsas are frame only.

Nyaaargh!

ETA: On the plus side, the El Mariachi is 'special order' with a lead time of 2-3 months according to the distie. This would give me extra time to agonisemake my mind up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 22 May, 2014, 03:41:55 pm
ORANGE...

Looking at assembling my own 29er...or converting the super galaxy to a 29er.

I'd go with building one from a 29er specific frame, trying to covert a road bike would be a bit of a non-tarter, too full of compromises.  Bottom bracket being too high and rear tyre not fitting into frame being just two that I can think of.

FWIW I can whole heartedly recommend the On-One Inbred 29er, it's no lightweight but works, for me, as a on road and off road bike.

I will resist the temptation to post a pic right now :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Gattopardo on 22 May, 2014, 03:45:23 pm
ORANGE...

Looking at assembling my own 29er...or converting the super galaxy to a 29er.
That's what I'm thinking, especially as it'll match the orangeMandarin B17 that was on the Genesis.
However, the bad-assery of the ECR cannot be underestimated, plus it's frame and forks whereas the two Salsas are frame only.

Nyaaargh!

ETA: On the plus side, the El Mariachi is 'special order' with a lead time of 2-3 months according to the distie. This would give me extra time to agonisemake my mind up.

Other frames can be painted that colour ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Deano on 22 May, 2014, 03:45:32 pm
ORANGE...

Looking at assembling my own 29er...or converting the super galaxy to a 29er.
That's what I'm thinking, especially as it'll match the orangeMandarin B17 that was on the Genesis.
However, the bad-assery of the ECR cannot be underestimated, plus it's frame and forks whereas the two Salsas are frame only.

Nyaaargh!

ETA: On the plus side, the El Mariachi is 'special order' with a lead time of 2-3 months according to the distie. This would give me extra time to agonisemake my mind up.
The Surly ECR looks mental.

It would look a bit like Pugsley's little brother in your garage, though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 22 May, 2014, 03:45:53 pm
FWIW I can whole heartedly recommend the On-One Inbred 29er, it's no lightweight but works, for me, as a on road and off road bike.
Also available in orange ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 22 May, 2014, 03:47:13 pm
FWIW I can whole heartedly recommend the On-One Inbred 29er, it's no lightweight but works, for me, as a on road and off road bike.
Also available in orange ...

BUT! Everyone knows the best colour, for that bike at any rate, is Apple Sauce Green.  I think mine is still that colour, under all the dirt and mud...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 22 May, 2014, 03:49:06 pm
The Surly ECR looks mental.

It would look a bit like Pugsley's little brother in your garage, though.
They'd have to be kept apart- there's too much risk of a Universe-shattering singularity of awesomeness if an ECR and Pugsley were kept in close proximity for too long.

I feel the need to meditate on this ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Gattopardo on 22 May, 2014, 03:52:23 pm
ORANGE...

Looking at assembling my own 29er...or converting the super galaxy to a 29er.

I'd go with building one from a 29er specific frame, trying to covert a road bike would be a bit of a non-tarter, too full of compromises.  Bottom bracket being too high and rear tyre not fitting into frame being just two that I can think of.

FWIW I can whole heartedly recommend the On-One Inbred 29er, it's no lightweight but works, for me, as a on road and off road bike.

I will resist the temptation to post a pic right now :)

Was looking at even making the frame myself, but at on one prices I shouldn't bother.

Looking to use the galaxy for something.  Was thinking road bar with bar end gear change triple bike.  But seem to have ended up with lots of frames that I really want to keep but duplication on the same type of bike seems odd.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 22 May, 2014, 03:55:55 pm
If going down the Inbred route, make sure you get the frame with the Swap-outs.  This allows you to run it single speed, IGH or geared by just swapping the drop outs on the back end.

For a while they stopped making them with swap outs, but I think too many people wanted them so they have them in stock again.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 22 May, 2014, 07:59:16 pm
GN: I have sorted out my transport for Edingburgh - a recycled cycle! http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/ - very helpful folk on the end of the phone, all cool

GGN: Mrs Ham when appraised of the fact I was buying another bike, after explanation, said "That's a good idea" (I wonder if she's ill ? )

BN: It will be a couple of weeks before I can get to utilise the same
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 23 May, 2014, 04:15:36 pm
BN: before my camping trip I sterilised the 2.5L Platypus I use for water.  I had no Milton so I used dilute Dettol and rinsed thourouhly.

It was Dettol perfumed with Rosemary & Lavender or some such shite...

GN; I can't taste Dettol and it's not making me I'll.

BN: every drop of water that comes out of the bladder has a sickly sweet smell & taste that even strong Lapsang Souchong can't hide.

More bad news, this morning I refilled both water bottles from the bladder and now they both Ming as well :-(

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 24 May, 2014, 04:50:20 pm
BN:  The kitchen sink tap failed so it can't be turned off
GN:  There are isolator taps under the sink
GN2:The replacement only cost 27 Euros for a single lever ceramic mixer tap.
GN3: Fitting was surprisingly straight forward
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 24 May, 2014, 08:22:02 pm
BN: before my camping trip I sterilised the 2.5L Platypus I use for water.  I had no Milton so I used dilute Dettol and rinsed thourouhly.

It was Dettol perfumed with Rosemary & Lavender or some such shite...

GN; I can't taste Dettol and it's not making me I'll.

BN: every drop of water that comes out of the bladder has a sickly sweet smell & taste that even strong Lapsang Souchong can't hide.

More bad news, this morning I refilled both water bottles from the bladder and now they both Ming as well :-(

Use cheap thin bleach next time! Sainsbury's Basics thin bleach is a whopping 30p for two litres.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 25 May, 2014, 08:31:43 pm
Bad: Acyclovir 800mg pills are monstrous things, & therefore hard to swallow.

Good: The instruction leaflet says the pills can be dispersed (they don't really dissolve) in water & taken thus.

Better: There's no nasty taste, just a slight grittiness.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 June, 2014, 07:38:22 pm
Hurrah!  My new sofa is here and assembled.
Bah!  All cushions available from Mr Sainsbury are expensive, horrid, or both.  This means my fourth trip to IKEA in less than a fortnight chiz :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 June, 2014, 08:51:39 pm
Dunelm Mill, Mr L?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 19 June, 2014, 08:54:01 pm
Dunelm Mill, Mr L?

Also Home base and BM
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 19 June, 2014, 09:09:33 pm
Just paid my first month's rent and my bond for my new place.

This has made a large hole in my finances.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 June, 2014, 10:38:18 pm
Nearest Dunelm is in Enfield, which requires one to travel within close proximity to Edmonton.  B&M are even further away.  And Homebase are a shower of dunces.  IKEA aten't too bad iffen you get early enough and tell yourself that IKEA is just another shop.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 20 June, 2014, 08:33:38 am
GN: Went on a DAET last night.

BN: Her opening gambit - in THE quintessential cycling city, Oxford - was along the lines of "I don't like seeing bikes on the road, I think they're dangerous..."


 :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 June, 2014, 04:18:59 pm
Hurrah!  I have survived IKEA, got my iPod talking to the hifi without needing to turn the amp up to 11 and declared the Great Hall of Larrington Towers open for bizness.
Bah! Larrington Towers no longer contains a functional cassette deck.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 20 June, 2014, 08:25:26 pm
GN ; The recent stem fettle on the tandem has given me the desired more upright position thus alleviating the neck ache previously "enjoyed"

BN ; The recent stem fettle on the tandem has given me the desired more upright position thus
placing more weight on my sit bones.There will be,for the foreseeable future,no sans padded riding in order to avoid Tyranosorearse symptons.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 21 June, 2014, 08:57:43 am
GN : I've just discovered a 600km audax that passes within half a km of my front door

BN : I've just discovered a 600km audax that passes within half a km of my front door


I do wish my body could cash the cheques that my mind writes
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 21 June, 2014, 01:47:20 pm
GN: my distance vision is still "exceptional"

BN: My near vision is, as the optician put it, "maturing". I've known this for a while, tbh, but I've just forked out £135 for the privilege of making it official. Pah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 25 June, 2014, 08:15:15 pm
GN: My mother & sister are enjoying their holiday in Carcassonne ...

BN: The French air traffic controllers are playing silly buggers again...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 26 June, 2014, 09:09:31 am
Good News: I can track the delivery of my new frame online and see an ETA

Bad News: The driver seems to have gone past the end of my road but won't be here for 2 hours :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 26 June, 2014, 09:34:12 am
GN: A very kind friend, who lives in Leftpondia, has sent me a care package containing BBQ sauces, rubs and a Kansas City Barbeque Society book.

BN: See GN, my waistline may well suffer over the next few months (and my bank balance as I think about buying a smoker large enough to cook pork shoulder in)...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 26 June, 2014, 09:54:30 am
GN: A very kind friend, who lives in Leftpondia, has sent me a care package containing BBQ sauces, rubs and a Kansas City Barbeque Society book.

BN: See GN, my waistline may well suffer over the next few months (and my bank balance as I think about buying a smoker large enough to cook pork shoulder in)...

fantastic!  My brother got married in Kansas a couple of years ago and we had our pre-wedding-lunch-with-my-kid-brother at a roadside bbq place, sitting under a tarpaulin roof at plastic tables with paper plates and it was one of the best meals I've ever had!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 26 June, 2014, 03:49:32 pm
GN: Our annual cycle to work scheme is comming round again in a fortnight (I thought it was going to be October this year)

BN: Someone please remind me I don't need another bike :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 26 June, 2014, 04:17:30 pm
GN: Our annual cycle to work scheme is comming round again in a fortnight (I thought it was going to be October this year)

BN: Someone please remind me I don't need another bike :facepalm:

Playing to the wrong crowd there M  :D

You need a sleek carbon shiny now, don't you?  Don't you?  Don't you?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Gattopardo on 26 June, 2014, 04:19:08 pm
GN: A very kind friend, who lives in Leftpondia, has sent me a care package containing BBQ sauces, rubs and a Kansas City Barbeque Society book.

BN: See GN, my waistline may well suffer over the next few months (and my bank balance as I think about buying a smoker large enough to cook pork shoulder in)...

Can make a smoker quite cheaply....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 26 June, 2014, 04:21:30 pm


BN: Someone please remind me I don't need another bike :facepalm:

Of course you need another bike.For instance do you yet have
a recumbent (of any type of the 4 that spring immediately to mind)
a trike?
a folder?

 :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 26 June, 2014, 05:11:47 pm
This is going well ::-) :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 26 June, 2014, 05:42:31 pm
BN: It has been three weeks since I ordered a XLR / 3.5mm jack adaptor. Still no sign of it coming. No one else seems to have them in stock either. I hadn't realised it was such a weird thing to want.

GN: In less than three weeks Alpkit have made and posted the bag I ordered.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 26 June, 2014, 11:01:33 pm
GN: Our annual cycle to work scheme is comming round again in a fortnight (I thought it was going to be October this year)

BN: Someone please remind me I don't need another bike :facepalm:

Playing to the wrong crowd there M  :D

You need a sleek carbon shiny now, don't you?  Don't you?  Don't you?

No, no, n... Er this looks nice
(http://www.planetx.co.uk/imgs/products/px/950_constW/CBHOSTELRIV_P2.jpg)
:facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 26 June, 2014, 11:03:43 pm
That bike smells a bit like shyumu.

This is more 'you'.

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueProductKey.ice?ProductID=CWIL0128KK&gclid=CjkKEQjwia-dBRC07eeatYGe-78BEiQArZhbgNW7dQ1-W2XvLbj08r9RA4cj9_nynmyvtevsZvbnhOzw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 26 June, 2014, 11:05:15 pm
Lovely, and only 50% over the scheme limit ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 26 June, 2014, 11:11:43 pm
Lovely, and only 50% over the scheme limit ;D

Don't bring me problems.  Bring me solutions.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 June, 2014, 05:09:56 pm
BN: The leather patch on my Barley came unstitched.
GN: An email to Carradice received an extremely swift reply saying if I sent it in, they'd mend it.
BN: It could take them three weeks.
BN: I need it before then.
GN: A shoe repairer was able to mend it.
GN: For a whole £2.50.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 28 June, 2014, 02:36:38 pm
BN: Bobb and I have only seen each other twice this year, I miss him a lot, and it's still a month till we next see each other
GN: at the end of August we're going to Mykonos for two weeks. We haven't had a proper holiday together before. Can't wait.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 July, 2014, 08:48:54 am
GN: my younger son is now entitled Dr.

BN: having had his thesis bound, published and placed on the shelves of the University Library, he is Dr. Dolescum, BA, MA, PhD.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: delthebike on 06 July, 2014, 09:21:15 am
BN: having had his thesis bound, published and placed on the shelves of the University Library, he is Dr. Dolescum, BA, MA, PhD.
Why not Dr. Wowbagger Jr?  ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 07 July, 2014, 07:04:41 am
GN:  The TdF goes past our house this morning...  :thumbsup:

BN:  I'm in Telford this morning....  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 07 July, 2014, 02:19:46 pm
GN: I don't have to fly out to Muscat this evening.

BN: I will be deploying the parachute on Saturday instead.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 07 July, 2014, 07:17:03 pm
BN:  I accidentally ate an important part of one of my molars yesterday afternoon.

GN: Rumours of a dental surgery accepting NHS patients up on the Raddlebarn Road weren't exaggerated.

RGN: They dispatched a family of smalls with healthy teeth as I arrived, and by the time I'd completed the form-filling were mostly bored and complaining about health & safety[1], so the dentist had a look and botched my tooth back together with yet more filling there and then.


[1] Apparently they'd just had a bollocking for having no entries in their accident book.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 08 July, 2014, 12:34:50 pm
GN : For the past two weeks I've ridden the bike every other day*

BN : Untill yesterday.

* I know that many otp ride daily but it's a decade & a half since I did that so it's relative iyswim
ETA except for a e2e in 2009
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 08 July, 2014, 08:59:46 pm
GN: I don't have to fly out to Muscat this evening.

BN: I will be deploying the parachute on Saturday instead.

EBGN: the client has delayed approving my travel so I won't be going in the immediate future.

BN: this means the contractor won't be getting the support required and this part of the project is in trouble.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 11 July, 2014, 09:12:29 am
GN: They have filled in the pot holes on Shark Lane!

BN: See GN
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruth on 13 July, 2014, 05:57:11 pm
BN:  I had to bribe The Boy to get him to pack any boxes for the move.

GN:  I bribed The Boy and he's packing the boxes for the move.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 13 July, 2014, 09:06:45 pm
GN:  The football's nearly over.

BN: The football starts again in a couple of weeks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 13 July, 2014, 09:20:11 pm
GN: I can no longer hear the incessantly overflowing overflow from the building opposite.
BN: Nearby jazz festival.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 14 July, 2014, 10:02:31 am
Bad news: I've lost my Kindle. It fell out of my Barley somewhere between Victoria and Teddington on the way to work this morning. It's my own stupid fault, really - the bag was very full, so I didn't have it properly tucked inside the main compartment, just secured under the flap. I've done this before and got away with it but not this time. I first realised something was up when I got off my bike at work and noticed the flap seemed quite loose.  :facepalm:

Good news: it's an excuse to buy a new Kindle, one with a built-in light.  :thumbsup:

Bad news: I can't really afford such frivolous purchases at the moment. But I feel bereft without it.  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 14 July, 2014, 10:23:40 am
Bad news: I've lost my Kindle. It fell out of my Barley somewhere between Victoria and Teddington on the way to work this morning. It's my own stupid fault, really - the bag was very full, so I didn't have it properly tucked inside the main compartment, just secured under the flap. I've done this before and got away with it but not this time. I first realised something was up when I got off my bike at work and noticed the flap seemed quite loose.  :facepalm:

Good news: it's an excuse to buy a new Kindle, one with a built-in light.  :thumbsup:

Bad news: I can't really afford such frivolous purchases at the moment. But I feel bereft without it.  :(

Bad news: YHPM
Good news: Fewer excuses ;)

(or should that be the other way around?)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 14 July, 2014, 11:27:36 am
Good news: yacf!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Moultonaught on 14 July, 2014, 12:43:21 pm
BN: spent yesterday morning selling accumulated 'tat' from the garage that hadn't been unpacked in the 4 1/2 years since the house move.

GN:  despite me worrying that we wouldn't cover the £10 pitch cost, we made £50 profit! Sproggles have extra holiday pocket money  ;D


BN: we only took half the 'tat' from the garage, so we'll have to do another

GN: we only took half the 'tat' from the garage, so we'll have to do another
       It was, to my surprise, quite good fun, and we should make some more £ from the rest of the 'tat'....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: bumper on 15 July, 2014, 08:49:49 pm
Good news.
N+1 has happened, got a 29er on the way :thumbsup:

Bad news.
I purchased it when my wife was out and have received a massive bollocking. She's not talking to me at present. Actually this may be good news too :thumbsup:

Its being delivered tomorrow so I'll be out on it with her ignoring me from afar ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 17 July, 2014, 10:39:37 am
GN: I don't have to fly out to Muscat this evening.

BN: I will be deploying the parachute on Saturday instead.

EBGN: the client has delayed approving my travel so I won't be going in the immediate future.

BN: this means the contractor won't be getting the support required and this part of the project is in trouble.

BN It's back on again flights are being booked for Saturday.

GN I hear Muscat is a nice place to visit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 17 July, 2014, 11:27:10 am
GN: I don't have to fly out to Muscat this evening.

BN: I will be deploying the parachute on Saturday instead.

EBGN: the client has delayed approving my travel so I won't be going in the immediate future.

BN: this means the contractor won't be getting the support required and this part of the project is in trouble.

BN It's back on again flights are being booked for Saturday.

GN I hear Muscat is a nice place to visit.

There's a song about that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgCk3bnvO5Y
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 18 July, 2014, 01:42:06 am
BN: the car decided that three cylinders was sufficient when passing Edinburgh on the way south.

GN: It is no longer my problem

BN: retrieving the trailer may be difficult.

GN: the replacement waggon is big enough for everything
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 18 July, 2014, 02:06:03 am
GN I found the lost Naproxan tablets

BN I need them
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 19 July, 2014, 12:41:44 pm
BN : Volvo fails MOT
GN due only to one of the two rear number plate light bulbs being non-operable

no too shabby for a 14 y.o. vehicle.

GN: the 'orrible noise emenating from the rear o/side was not tyre related
BN :the 'orrible noise emenating from the rear o/side was another wheel bearing failure

GN : the various malfunctioning functions relating to the tailgate,none of which result in an MOT failure, (HRW,lock*,wiper, ) were restored to operation following repair to broken wiring in the tailgate loom.
BN : this required the attentions a person with a licence to print £, a.k.a. an auto electrician.

GN : the cause of high level brake light failure in the tailgate was identified as
BN : a failed relay of some description which costs approx. £260 :o. I'll have this done when I win the lottery.Meantime I can live without it.

BN : the fuel filter was replaced upon tester's recommendation
GN : NisNIbs was not in attendance so he left staff with instructions to give me the keys & asked for me to pop in during the week to settle the bill.It is rather flattering to be so trusted.You don't get that a main dealership.

GN : *this restored the operation of the remote central locking via key fob
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jogler on 21 July, 2014, 10:16:09 am


GN : the various malfunctioning functions relating to the tailgate,none of which result in an MOT failure, (HRW,lock*,wiper, ) were restored to operation following repair to broken wiring in the tailgate loom.
BN : this required the attentions a person with a licence to print £, a.k.a. an auto electrician.



puck a fig

My wallet is in need of cardiac massage ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 July, 2014, 04:44:25 pm
Hurrah: I have a new North American road atlas :thumbsup:
Bah: I should have bought the spiral-bound version, not the large format :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 31 July, 2014, 11:40:51 pm
BN: My hearing aid got knocked out while hugging a friend at BiCon this evening. When I picked it up off the floor it was dead.

GN: I had packed my spare hearing aid so I was able to say to friend it was OK, calmly walk back to my room, chuck a battery in BAHA #2, have a quick 'definitely dead' test on #1 and carry on my BiCon.

GN: Friend is not worried that my hearing aid is broken and believed me when I said it wasn't her fault. These things happen and this is the 1st time in 23.5yrs of using bone anchored hearing aids that one has broken immediately after getting knocked out and they can get knocked out a lot.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 02 August, 2014, 12:43:09 pm
GN: This has been a pretty good summer so far.

BN: As soon as I go camping in The Peaks, it pisses down non-stop. Almost biblically on Thursday afternoon. My shoes are still soaking from that downpour.

GN: The venerable Vaude Taurus II tent has withstood everything thrown at it.

BN: I really want to go home. it's not fun. But some friends are coming for the night, so we're stuck here another night, whilst they sleep soundly in the bunk house.

BN: A couple in a nearby tent decided it was good to carry on chatting at normal volume well into the early hours last night. Twunts.

GN: I have Monday off to recover.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 August, 2014, 01:24:31 pm
Hurrah!  I have taken delivery of my new doorbell :thumbsup:
Bah!  It's b0rked. One of the terminals, and associated wiring, for connecting the bell wire to the coil is simply NOT THERE.  There is no way it could have fallen off.  Gits >:(  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 02 August, 2014, 03:03:18 pm
Hurrah!  I have taken delivery of my new doorbell :thumbsup:

Does it do Rod Hull?   :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 August, 2014, 03:26:39 pm
Hurrah!  I have taken delivery of my new doorbell :thumbsup:

Does it do Rod Hull?   :D

Eh ???

I do know that Half Man Half Biscuit don't play Rod Hull Is Alive - Why? live these days.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 02 August, 2014, 03:32:47 pm
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=80029.25 (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=80029.25)

Quote
Quote from: Basil on February 07, 2014, 07:20:28 PM

    I've still no idea what Kim means by a Rod Hull door bell.
    IANW.


http://youtu.be/FZiAU6ydtv8

(If you're of a generation that was never exposed to this programme, count yourself lucky.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 August, 2014, 06:05:36 pm
Hurrah!  I now have a working doorbell, energised by the voles and ants that come out of the wall.  Went and bought one from Screwfix (which I should probably have done in the first place), recycled the power lead from a dead cassette deck to supply anbarism to the transformer.  All worked first time which was something of a surprise, especially to anyone who has witnessed my attempts to home-brew bicycle lighting systems.

Bah!  My feet hurt and I still have to parcel up the DOA one for collection by Nozama's Minion on Monday.  If said minion doesn't use the doorbell to attract my attention s/he will be killed utterly to DETH.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 02 August, 2014, 06:47:47 pm
BN: My hearing aid got knocked out while hugging a friend at BiCon this evening. When I picked it up off the floor it was dead.

GN: I had packed my spare hearing aid so I was able to say to friend it was OK, calmly walk back to my room, chuck a battery in BAHA #2, have a quick 'definitely dead' test on #1 and carry on my BiCon.

And then the bloody fucking second spare starts conking out and DIED on me at 6pm.  Can't get home and back before end of BiCon, really can't hear at all. Am at use laptop and hope stage.  Fucking public fucking transport and total unfair having TWO hearing aids fail on me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 02 August, 2014, 09:13:01 pm
Hurrah!  I now have a working doorbell, energised by the voles and ants that come out of the wall.  Went and bought one from Screwfix (which I should probably have done in the first place), recycled the power lead from a dead cassette deck to supply anbarism to the transformer.  All worked first time which was something of a surprise, especially to anyone who has witnessed my attempts to home-brew bicycle lighting systems.

Bah!  My feet hurt and I still have to parcel up the DOA one for collection by Nozama's Minion on Monday.  If said minion doesn't use the doorbell to attract my attention s/he will be killed utterly to DETH.

If you have an anbaric doorbell that gets its voles from the mains, I highly recommend fitting an illuminated push button.  This provides an extra hint to couriers, chuggers, meter men and the like that there might be a useful alternative to simply banging on the door.

(I have molished one that flashes angrily in response to door-banging, as an extra hint.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 August, 2014, 09:23:22 pm
I shall possibly have a look for one the next time I find myself in a DIY hellhole.  I lack the both inclination and tech-fu to do anything cleverer than wield a screwdriver1 at it, thobut.

Edit: How does the push button get its supply of anbarism to cause it to be lit?  Does it need another lot of anbaric string to convey voles and ants from for e.g. the transformer?

1 - And a hammer.  Obv.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 02 August, 2014, 11:38:16 pm
BN- No. 2 Son is job hunting.

GN- 'Tis cos he has been awarded a Desmond.

An Fuzzy product has a degree  :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 03 August, 2014, 01:01:32 am
BN: My hearing aid got knocked out while hugging a friend at BiCon this evening. When I picked it up off the floor it was dead.

GN: I had packed my spare hearing aid so I was able to say to friend it was OK, calmly walk back to my room, chuck a battery in BAHA #2, have a quick 'definitely dead' test on #1 and carry on my BiCon.

And then the bloody fucking second spare starts conking out and DIED on me at 6pm.  Can't get home and back before end of BiCon, really can't hear at all. Am at use laptop and hope stage.  Fucking public fucking transport and total unfair having TWO hearing aids fail on me.

And some GN:

But I really am downright fucking tenacious. My friend fed me tea and we got computers to type conversations while I evaluated my options of travel and then not.  After a few wrong starts and random hideous noises I got the first-broken slightly-less-fucked hearing aid to get internal audio off my laptop and subsequently external room audio off my Sansa Clip MP3 player in record but paused mode

Cue using the sansa clip as an external microphone to hearing aid unit and continuing my socialising with friends. Remarkably good sound quality, slightly dodgy for group conversation buts it's been running for 5 hours if I don't mind hitting the ON button again every 15-20 mins when it turns itself off!  I have a friend willing to lend me his Sansa clip tomorrow so I don't flatten the charge on mine!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 03 August, 2014, 08:13:00 am
The bodging of necessity.  :thumbsup:

Hope you continue to hear what you need to.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 03 August, 2014, 11:21:26 am
Tertiary backup hearing aid found, confirmed working and on standby for when you get home... *salutes*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 03 August, 2014, 02:29:54 pm
Tertiary backup hearing aid found, confirmed working and on standby for when you get home... *salutes*

Clever Kim! Thank you. Hoping to leave maybe 3:30pmish but not 100% sure trains etc.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 05 August, 2014, 09:52:18 am
GN: We've won tickets to a music festival (Beacons festival in Skipton).

BN: It's this weekend, already have some things planned and kids are with us (well, as usual)

GN: MsCharly and her FWHTBAB would love to go to a festival but can't afford one . . . Well they can now.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 05 August, 2014, 01:36:05 pm
BN: Daughter missed her uni offer by one grade.

GN: They took her anyway. She is off to Heriott-Watt to study Engineering.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 05 August, 2014, 01:45:20 pm
Glad she was able to get in anyway. Hope she enjoys her course!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 05 August, 2014, 01:58:51 pm
Which flavour of engineering or is it a common first year with teh specialisation chosen later?

 :thumbsup: for engineering students in general and female ones in particular. The industry is known to be missing out on a substantial talent pool.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 05 August, 2014, 02:23:56 pm
It is a general introductory first year (may be first two years) then the chance to specialise in Mechanical, Civil, Chemical or Electronic.

My elder brother did his MSc at H-W.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 06 August, 2014, 05:44:01 pm
GN: finally decided to try some of that caramelised biscuit spread stuff; Waitrose had 25% off.

BN: I fear it may not last the evening. :-[
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 06 August, 2014, 05:52:08 pm
Is that the stuff made out of those little biscuits that you get with coffee? I tried that too, since I am currently resident in a house of astonishing levels of provisioning. It was like eating biscuits on toast. Apparently they bought it in morrisons.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 06 August, 2014, 06:02:57 pm
Is that the stuff made out of those little biscuits that you get with coffee? I tried that too, since I am currently resident in a house of astonishing levels of provisioning. It was like eating biscuits on toast. Apparently they bought it in morrisons.

It is. For full effect, I think I need to try it spread on the caramelised biscuits. Perhaps even make a biscuit and biscuit spread sandwich.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 08 August, 2014, 01:14:04 pm
GN: A book I have waited nearly three years to get has been delivered!

BN: It has been delivered to home and I am at work, some 50 miles away!!!!

The rest of the day is going to go slow, now, even though it's POETS day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 09 August, 2014, 04:30:36 pm
GN: Finally made it to my second Parkrun. The first was 16 months ago.
BN: I am not very fit
GN: I was quicker than I thought I would be
BN: Running with cramp in my calf was not a good idea - rather painful now.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 10 August, 2014, 03:41:22 pm
BN: Between baggage drop and security at MCR I discovered I still had my pen knife in my pocket.
BN: After rushing to T1, discovered the post office was closed so couldn't post it to myself.
GN: Happy look on the shop assistant's face as he became the new owner of my Swiss army knife.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 10 August, 2014, 04:18:26 pm
I once accidentally left a Swiss Army knife in hand baggage.

I told the security people they could keep it, or give it away.

They put it in a big orange plastic envelope with a security tag on it, & sent it as checked baggage. I had to collect it at the other end.

That was Bangkok, IIRC.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 10 August, 2014, 04:39:40 pm
GN: We've won tickets to a music festival (Beacons festival in Skipton).

BN: It's this weekend, already have some things planned and kids are with us (well, as usual)

GN: MsCharly and her FWHTBAB would love to go to a festival but can't afford one . . . Well they can now.
After a lovely day yesterday, I hope they're not getting too wet today. Our friends are there, avec brollies and wellies. Woolly went with them yesterday and paid more for a single day ticket than they did for the whole event!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 13 August, 2014, 10:09:04 am
GN: I've been offered a job, which will allow me to live at home and will mean a £10k pay rise.

BN: It's only fixed term and it's not the job I'm really after.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 13 August, 2014, 01:26:31 pm
BN: Daughter missed her uni offer by one grade.

GN: They took her anyway. She is off to Heriott-Watt to study Engineering.
Huzzah!  Huzzah!  Huzzah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2014, 03:55:24 pm
Hurrah!  My 3.5mm stereo <-> RCA lead has arrived!  Now I can partake of hi-fi-assisted iPoddy Goodness in the Grand Bedchamber as well as in the Great Hall :thumbsup:

Bah!  While hunting out the spare iPod dock from the Big Bag of Anbaric Wossnames, I found a 3.5mm stereo <-> RCA lead :(

Plus a Several of "what the hell is THAT?" items.  Usually with a USB plug at one end.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 13 August, 2014, 04:29:48 pm
(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/universal_converter_box.png)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 13 August, 2014, 04:57:59 pm
Thunderbolt, no Lightning? Very, very frightening!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 13 August, 2014, 08:43:03 pm
GN: Just ridden 25 mins, my commuting time, without any particular discomfort in my right arm

BN: THe bike's still attached to a turbo trainer

Oh well, getting there steadily.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 13 August, 2014, 09:42:57 pm
GN: Just ridden 25 mins, my commuting time, without any particular discomfort in my right arm

BN: THe bike's still attached to a turbo trainer

Oh well, getting there steadily.

That's still good going!
Stay well, stay safe!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Deano on 13 August, 2014, 11:41:13 pm
Nice one, m.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 August, 2014, 07:19:53 pm
Hurrah!  One of my books is worth two and a half grand :thumbsup:

Bah!  No.  No, it isn't.  Just some bunch of chancers selling via Nozama >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 15 August, 2014, 09:25:37 am
GN: The town centre now has a 20mph area

BN: The signs appear to be invisible to anyone in a motor vehicle.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: BlackSheep on 15 August, 2014, 12:01:26 pm
FROM HARRY WEBB'S PERSPECTIVE:

BN Sir Cliff Richard to be questioned by police. Singer flying back from Portugal to be interviewed by detectives. Pop star denies  allegation of historical sexual abuse involving boy aged under 16. Officers search his penthouse in Berkshire.


GN Police prosecuting less than one in three rape cases.

----------------------

All dark text quoted from today's "i"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 16 August, 2014, 11:26:41 am
Can I just be pedantic and point out that the police don't prosecute? So if the 'i' is saying that it's peddling misinformation...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 August, 2014, 12:29:22 pm
Can I just be pedantic and point out that the police don't prosecute? So if the 'i' is saying that it's peddling misinformation...

It didn't look much like a penthouse to me either.

Hurrah!  I've lived in Larrington Towers eighteen years almost to the day and never had a visit from a Jehovah's Witness :thumbsup:
Bah!  Until just now :sick:

He wanted to get me to go to some do they're having at the Excel next weekend but sadly I shall be in either Colorado or Guantanamo by then.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 16 August, 2014, 03:07:07 pm
Bloody Jehovah's witnesses banged on the door at around 10.30 last Saturday morning but did not ring doorbell.
I was home alone and reached door after they had scarpered, leaving leaflets.
Good thing David was out as he is usually still abed at that hour.
We probably get visits twice a year, being only around three miles from Watchtower House.
I have left a review on GoogolMaps.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 18 August, 2014, 08:35:11 pm
GN:  Old Speckled Hen is back on tap at the Country Girl after an absence of several years.

BN:  Old Speckled Hen is back on tap etc etc etc.
 :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 August, 2014, 08:28:55 pm
Hurrah!  I went out this evening wearing jeans, for the first time since about 2006.  I aten't been able to fit inside them since then.

Bah!  On returning home a feral mudguard stay sliced a 3" by 2" L-shaped hole in them >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 19 August, 2014, 10:35:45 pm
Good news Mr L, as evidenced by da yoof ov terday, ripped jeans is all da rage innit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 August, 2014, 12:19:25 am
Were I to want ripped jeans, I would do the ripping deliberately, rather than let the Towpath Bike have any say in the matter.

But I don't want them, because I'm fifty.  I don't want jeans that expose most of my trollies either.

Bah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 August, 2014, 12:42:58 am
Bah!  Tonight's NA meeting was called off as Nice Lady With The Key failed to show up and let us in :(
Hurrah!  This means I have a packet of CHOCKLIT digestives to nom all by myself :thumbsup:
Bah!  I doubt Ms. Treasurer will let me claim the cost back chiz :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 20 August, 2014, 01:10:43 am
GN:  Old Speckled Hen is back on tap at the Country Girl after an absence of several years.

BN:  Old Speckled Hen is back on tap etc etc etc.
 :demon:

BBN:  OSH just isn't the beer that it used to be.  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 20 August, 2014, 11:41:44 am
GN: The Edinburgh hackbike is now stored in the office secure bike store (wot I have just discovered) instead of the street while I am not in same city (most of the time)

BN: For anyone that would have otherwise borrowed the same
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 20 August, 2014, 04:05:10 pm
GN: Physio is very impressed with the improvements in my arm movements since two weeks ago.

BN: She reckons I need to wait for my next orthopaedic appointment before I can even think about getting back on a bike - that's over a month away :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 20 August, 2014, 04:41:02 pm
That Meccano is only held in place by a couple of thin screws.
Maybe it is best to wait until some Bone has grown back to bridge that gap.

You really don't want to break a screw or fracture through a screw hole.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 20 August, 2014, 04:44:06 pm
I was hoping that between my last x-ray (which is nearly four weeks old) and now this would have been happening.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 20 August, 2014, 04:57:10 pm
Methinks if you had an X-ray at this point, it would only show tiny wisps of new bone betwixt the fracture ends, or less.
X-ray appearances do lag behind fibrous union but realistically, an adult mid-shaft humerus takes around three months to join.
The metalwork is doing a lovely job of holding things in place and allowing lightweight activity.

I really wouldn't chance it, sorry.

There was almost nothing bridging the fracture gap in my then 9 year old brother's forearm when they took him out of plaster 26 days after his injury.
I was mortified that they were leaving him unsupported.

I told him to be sensible.
He was.

(Brother is 19 years my junior. I took him to Fracture Clinic as Mum was working. I had worked in Orthopaedics for a year at this point.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 20 August, 2014, 05:26:51 pm
GN:  Old Speckled Hen is back on tap at the Country Girl after an absence of several years.

BN:  Old Speckled Hen is back on tap etc etc etc.
 :demon:

BBN:  OSH just isn't the beer that it used to be.  :(

True for the pub ale.   :(

The bottled stuff is still good.  Don't even think about trying the cans.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 20 August, 2014, 06:10:09 pm
GN:  Old Speckled Hen is back on tap at the Country Girl after an absence of several years.

BN:  Old Speckled Hen is back on tap etc etc etc.
 :demon:

BBN:  OSH just isn't the beer that it used to be.  :(

True for the pub ale.   :(

The bottled stuff is still good.  Don't even think about trying the cans.

Basil speaks wise words, think Morlands went downhill when they moved to Suffolk :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 20 August, 2014, 08:16:38 pm
BN: So busy that lunch was a bag of crisps & a KitKat

GN: Met 2 old friends on the way home from work

BN: 3 pints of Hoegaarden on an empty stomach........ :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 August, 2014, 10:03:33 pm
Hurrah: I have plotted a route for the first part of the upcoming trip to USania.  Bridges may be involved  :thumbsup:

Bah! Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is still closed due to last September's flooding ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 August, 2014, 09:46:35 am
BN: Between baggage drop and security at MCR I discovered I still had my pen knife in my pocket.
BN: After rushing to T1, discovered the post office was closed so couldn't post it to myself.
GN: Happy look on the shop assistant's face as he became the new owner of my Swiss army knife.
I once did that with a jar of Marmite (what do you mean, you don't fly with a jar of Marmite? Why not?)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 August, 2014, 09:58:47 am
BN: Two weeks of (almost) avelopia.
GN: Lay on the meadow in the sun, walked in the forest (sometimes barefoot - it's very sandy soil, so it's like walking on a beach - except with ants!), visited relatives, chatted with friends.
GN: Tasty food.
BN: Tasty food.
GN: Raspberries in the garden. "Are we picking them or pick-and-eating them?"
BN: Didn't go to the bison forest.
GN: Didn't check email or even turn on my phone for two weeks!
GN: Rode BiL's bike to town and back a few times.
BN: Rode BiL's bike to town and back a few times. He is taller than me but saddle seems to be set up for someone about half my height.
Funny N: Seeing Little Cudzo riding a bike he last rode when he was really little (knees literally hitting handlebars).
GN: Mountain bike is in the back of a van on its way to me.
BN: Back now.
GN: Back now.
GN: Might even go back next year.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 05 September, 2014, 01:31:37 pm
GN: Audiology's posted replacement loaner hearing aids (yes TWO of them) actually both work.
BN: This means they've been hiding working hearing aids from me for TWO weeks after I visited saying the original loaner aid was breaking in 2 different ways.   
BN: Suspect they have cupboard-syndrome "These live in the cupboard, couldn't have people USING them".

GN: I can acknowledge receipt of working loaners and ask when my actual replacements will have funding authorised by EMAIL! :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 05 September, 2014, 08:29:57 pm
BN: Between baggage drop and security at MCR I discovered I still had my pen knife in my pocket.
BN: After rushing to T1, discovered the post office was closed so couldn't post it to myself.
GN: Happy look on the shop assistant's face as he became the new owner of my Swiss army knife.
I once did that with a jar of Marmite (what do you mean, you don't fly with a jar of Marmite? Why not?)
I have a mate who works in something to do with airports and customs or whatever (I don't ask). Part of his job involves stuff which has been removed from people getting on airplanes. The excess booze seems to be no problem, but they do have a problem in the office with snow globes!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 September, 2014, 06:55:30 pm
GN:  a phone call from younger son (30 years old in less than a fortnight) to say that he seems to have a job. Casual teaching of undergraduates notwithstanding, which at Essex seems to be a standard perk to help PhD students to help finance their courses, this is his first. To begin with it's casual, hourly-paid stuff in which he helps edit web pages on some energy-based website where many of the contributors' English, for whom it is a second language, may need tweaking by a sufficiently technical native.

BN: Mrs. Wow seems to have lost her wedding ring. Age and gnarly knuckles have persuaded her to wear it on her little finger rather than the tradition 4th finger, where it is a bit too loose. She has been gardening. Despite the fact that she was wearing protective gloves, there was no sign of it when she came back into the house and I fear that it may be lost for ever in a patch of very nasty brambles.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tom_e on 08 September, 2014, 07:06:14 pm
Metal detector?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 September, 2014, 07:34:13 pm
Dez has just gone outside with a torch and found it!  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 08 September, 2014, 08:20:53 pm
Methinks you owe Dez a big one.  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 11 September, 2014, 07:25:43 pm
BN: Nasty clunking & rattling from the front of the car day before yesterday. Mrs B's heard a slight rattle before, but it suddenly got worse. Clunked when starting, steering, & on bumps. Took it to a car repair place (personal recommendation from Simon Bird OTP) yesterday, where they said "It's the steering mechanism" & said it was unsafe to drive, & it'd cost from £530 to over £1200 depending on what they found when they took it out: low end for a repair & refurbishment of the existing mechanism - if possible, top end for a new one. Plus £200 or so for car hire & insurance so Mrs B could do her job.

GN: While taking it out today, the mechanic noticed a couple of the bolts holding it on were loose. Tightening up all the bolts to the correct level fixed the problem. £50 for labour. Mrs B says the owner seemed delighted to have fixed our problem easily & cheaply. I think we'll use him again (thanks Simon). She was able to cancel the hire car without having to pay anything, as well. She'd just arrived there when the garage called her.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 12 September, 2014, 07:23:57 am
That's a result.  Always good when you find a reliable garage.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 12 September, 2014, 08:57:56 am
Indeed.

There are people out there who'd have pretended the £500 repair had been done.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 12 September, 2014, 09:03:54 am
Mine is pretty much the opposite of Bledlow's...

GN: The rumbling bearing on my car is fixed, and the MOT done, all to the tune of ~£500.

BN: Within that £500 was the cost of a new ABS sensor for the NSF wheel (same side as the noisy bearing).  Once I got the car back the ABS light was still on, when the machine was hooked up it showed that the OSR sensor had also gone!  More money....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 14 September, 2014, 08:48:45 pm
Our garage is of the good type. Asked them to investigate a faulty seat belt warning light/ pre tensioner warning light. They had the car for 5 hours and spent most of that investigating-

"Sorry Sir, we tried but can't isolate the fault. I think you will need to take it to a delaer for more specialised diagnostic"

On arrival to collect the car I was told to put my credit card away- "We didn't sort it so we aren't charging for it."

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 15 September, 2014, 11:03:18 am
On Saturday I went to a different garage (I work ~50 miles from the one I went to on Saturday, so taking my car there to be worked on is not really possible), as I had a EML come on whilst driving home on Friday.  I had tried clearing it myself but couldn't.

2 minutes with the plug in doofer and he had it clear for me, and told me the code number so I could look it up.

I got my wallet out and he said "No, don't be silly"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 26 September, 2014, 07:16:05 pm
GN: Just had an hour's ride round sunny Silverdale, thus doubling my hours-ridden-since-February total.
BN: My skin's bad at the mo, so I went out slathered in heavy duty moisturer.  And came back slathered in a thick layer of midgies as a consequence  ::-)
GN: Don't care.  Been out on me bike  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 26 September, 2014, 09:52:55 pm
 :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 26 September, 2014, 10:07:57 pm
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Salvatore on 29 September, 2014, 07:01:42 pm
GN: In the past I have posted GN like this:

I haven't got glaucoma after all.

... and 364 days later I still haven't.

Another year gone, and still no sign of glaucoma. The doctor I saw said that next year they might discharge me and leave the testing to  an optician.

If I'd posted on the subject in September 2013 it would have been something like

BN: The visual fields test shows the first signs of glaucoma.

GN: Thanks to NHS screening, it's been caught at a very early stage, and an eyedrop a day in each eye will mean that it won't get any worse. Unlike the previous generation (i.e. and e.g. my father) who didn't have it diagnosed until late in life, and the next genearation, who might not have an NHS to pay for screening in cases such as mine where there might be an inherited disposition.

BN: December 2013. The eyedrops arent working. I'm given different ones.

GN: April 2014 The new eyedrops are working, so in May I set off on my 11-country tour of Nordic countries and Baltic States (plus Germany, Belgium, France) with a 4-month stock of eyedrops.

BN: May 2014. My eyes become red and itchy, and ooze gunge. This becomes worse during June and July. It becomes so bad I have to force my eyelids apart by hand when I wake up. Small Scandinavian children run away in fear of the man with the garishly red eyes. The only chance to see a world cup match is at a hostel in northern Sweden on a huge TV screen, but there is so much stuff coming out of my eyes that I can'rt see what is going on.  A hospital in the wilds of Swedish Lapland gives me some antibiotic eyedrops. They have no effect.   

GN: On a hunch, but only after much consideration, I try stopping the glaucoma eyedrops. The redness and oozing clear up. Every time I start again, the redness and oozing return. Huzzah! I've found the cause. (But I don't know why I was fine with them from December to May - a bad batch of eyedrops? Unlikely, so perhaps I'd developed an allergy).

BN: It means stopping using the glaucoma eyedrops until I get home and can see an opthalmologist I trust. I really don't wan't my eyesight to be permanently damaged any more, but how much damage was being caused by the eyedrops anyway?.

GN: I already have my normal September check at Frimley Park Eye Department booked for early September just after I'm due to get home, so I won't be without glaucoma medication for too long.

BN: When I get home there's a letter postponing the appointment until the end of September (the 29th), so that's nearly another month without any treatment. The staff nurse I speak to at the hospital won't give me an emergency appointment because I honestly state that the redness/oozing began in May.

GN: The consultant's secretary arranges an emergency appointment. I use the eyedrops (from a new bottle) for the last time (I hope) and take 'before' and 'after' photographs to show the effect.
(http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h323/nocensure/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-09/eyeLB_zpsg0dzlodg.jpg) (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/nocensure/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-09/eyeLB_zpsg0dzlodg.jpg.html)
(http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h323/nocensure/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-09/eyera_zpsj0nag5pr.jpg) (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/nocensure/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-09/eyera_zpsj0nag5pr.jpg.html)
These convince the opthalmologist that the drops are doing me no good. And after looking at the results of the latest visual fields test, she concludes that there is no sign of glaucoma after all, although I might as well go to the September 19th glaucoma clinic to get the official all clear from a glaucoma specialist. Unless they know better.

BN: I was all ready to set off for the appointment this morning when I got a phone call saying the opthalmologist I was due to see was ill, so they'd have to postpone. As I'm going away for a couple of weeks on Friday, that'll mean the end of October at the earliest before they can see me.

GN: Half an hour later another phone call to say the glaucoma consultant can see me tomorrow, so I'll know one way or another.

(to be continued tomorrow in either  the bad news thread or the good news thread)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 29 September, 2014, 07:32:03 pm
Ow, that looks horridly sore.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 29 September, 2014, 07:53:27 pm
Ouch, hope you get  a way forward with this soonest.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Salvatore on 30 September, 2014, 11:16:47 pm
Ow, that looks horridly sore.

Actually it didn't feel any different from normal, just a bit itchy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Salvatore on 30 September, 2014, 11:18:24 pm
(to be continued tomorrow in either  the bad news thread or the good news thread)

Continued here. (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=12.msg1746929#msg1746929)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 01 October, 2014, 12:37:12 pm
GN: I have an appointment at hospital to investigate vertigo/tinnitus/headaches

BN: It is for middle of November.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 01 October, 2014, 01:10:19 pm
Can you phone the hospital and ask if there are any sooner cancellations? Especially if you're happy to be called in at short notice.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 01 October, 2014, 01:20:13 pm
Hospital is in York - I work in Leeds - so can't really take advantage of cancellations.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 01 October, 2014, 01:50:40 pm
GN: New turbo trainer turned up this morning - got everything set up and had my first 'ride' since the off 3 weeks ago.
BN: It's a lot quieter than my old one, meaning that even cranking my cadence up to Ludicrous Speed couldn't drown out Call Me Dave's speech on the anbaric wireless.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 02 October, 2014, 11:51:30 pm
GN: Day off tomorrow.
BN: I've looked at the weather forecast. Don't think I'll be out on my bike. (Instead, I might actually clean it! :o)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 October, 2014, 09:02:06 am
GN- We've got a belated weekend of tasting menus planned in Embra's finest eateries
BN - I got duh cold :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2014, 08:22:37 pm
Hurrah! I no longer have to smoke foul USAnian Marlboro as I have finished the duty-free :thumbsup:
Bah! I have finished the duty-free and good honest BRITISH Marlboro are twice the price :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 06 October, 2014, 09:07:05 pm
GN: Dimensions are sending me a replacement key to the pattern for my embroidery, to replace the one I binned with the newspaper last week.

BN: They quote 4-6 weeks for the post from the USA.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 06 October, 2014, 11:05:59 pm
BN:  Annoyed with my quiz team who overruled me.  I said Jan and Dean.  They all insisted The Beach Boys.  We would have come first equal.  Our tie break answer was far superior, so we would have won.

GN:  I won the raffle.  £25.

No, I didn't share it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 07 October, 2014, 01:04:39 pm
GN: Slept through the night until the alarm went off at 0529 - first time in three years.

BN: No water coming out of the taps - no shower, no shave, no coffee, fizzy bottled water for teeth cleaning.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 08 October, 2014, 09:25:19 am
GN: My Boss has brought a unicycle into work :D

BN: He expects me to learn to ride it to show off to the skool :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 08 October, 2014, 10:17:07 am
*Nelson* HA HA */Nelson*

Good luck with that, oh and can you let us know when so we can come and watch.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 08 October, 2014, 06:53:45 pm
BN: Computer wouldn't boot. Emitted unhappy clicks, flashed HDD light and displayed scrolling screen full of error messages.

<scratch head, recall I have Ubuntu onna stick somewhere, plug it in, no joy, start thinking about BIOS settings>

GN: Discover Home key is being held down by a crumb of last night's cheese. Remove crumb and computer boots.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 08 October, 2014, 06:59:32 pm
OUT OF CHEESE ERROR.  REDO FROM START.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 19 October, 2014, 04:28:01 pm
GN: I've just had a week's leave
BN: Back to work tomorrow  :-[
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 19 October, 2014, 04:28:36 pm
Good luck this week Bunbury  :-*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 19 October, 2014, 05:16:54 pm
Thanks  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 20 October, 2014, 05:02:55 pm
GN: More X-rays and whatnot today - definite signs that my right scaphoid is healing. Extremely grotty cast removed and taken round the back of the bins and shot.
BN: Consultant wasn't happy with me wearing a wrist brace, so I'm casted up for another fortnight.
GN: No tenderness after assorted prodding and poking and the ROM in my wrist hasn't suffered too much - my 'next' cast will apparently be a removable orthoplast job so I'll be able to take it off whilst driving.
BN: Another two sodding weeks with a sodding polyester hand decoration ...

Bah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 21 October, 2014, 08:55:15 am
:(  Still, you want to get it right.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 21 October, 2014, 09:39:34 am
:(  Still, you want to get it right.
Absolutely, although the disappointment was tempered by being told that the fracture will probably resolve itself without surgical intervention (lots of bone callus on the X-ray, which is a good sign)

Still inconvenient though, but having looked out the window just now maybe being off the bike is a small blessing.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 21 October, 2014, 10:22:48 am
The weather looks glorious outside

I'm stuck in the office with a teleconference later.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Somnolent on 23 October, 2014, 02:52:13 pm
http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/zombie-proof-log-cabin-has-10-year-anti-zombie-guarantee/

GN is the 10 year guarantee
BN is the conditions you need to fulfil to in order to claim
 
Quote
we require medical evidence of the presence of a real zombie should you wish to claim under the 10 year anti zombie guarantee
[/size]
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 October, 2014, 12:38:28 pm
Hurrah: I haz a new "Integrated Network AV Receiver".  Or "amplifier", as we Luddites call it.  And as a bonus it comes with labels for cables (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=43262.msg840007#msg840007) :thumbsup:

Bah: The Fucking Manual is:

Do you gronks at Denon have any idea how long it'd take to print that on my cranky old grid of a Canon inkjet ???

Also I'm still waiting for the new loudsqueakers so there's no point in spending a whole day rolling around on the floor with Anbaric String between my teeth only to have to do half of it again when they do :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: reddo on 25 October, 2014, 09:03:04 pm
BN. I thought I rode the 4X slow today. (Chicksands)
GN. Strava said other wise and gained a new PR!

GN. New micro pub has opened in the village.
BN. Bloke's working.
GN. He's landed and will be home soon and off to the new pub!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 28 October, 2014, 09:28:25 am
GN: I am working from home today
BN: It is because I was up, most of the night, cleaning up TLD's sick. Pasta and chocolate cake make for the most noisome vomit, which is a REAL pain to clean out of carpets...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 28 October, 2014, 09:41:48 am
GN: I am working from home today
BN: It is because I was up, most of the night, cleaning up TLD's sick. Pasta and chocolate cake make for the most noisome vomit, which is a REAL pain to clean out of carpets...
In a few years she'll combine it with red wine . . .

GWS, TLD
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 28 October, 2014, 10:25:06 am
GN: I am working from home today
BN: It is because I was up, most of the night, cleaning up TLD's sick. Pasta and chocolate cake make for the most noisome vomit, which is a REAL pain to clean out of carpets...
In a few years she'll combine it with red wine . . .

GWS, TLD

The difference is, when she does that, she'll be cleaning it up, not me!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 28 October, 2014, 12:12:28 pm
GN: I am working from home today
BN: It is because I was up, most of the night, cleaning up TLD's sick. Pasta and chocolate cake make for the most noisome vomit, which is a REAL pain to clean out of carpets...
In a few years she'll combine it with red wine . . .

GWS, TLD

The difference is, when she does that, she'll be cleaning it up, not me!

You sad, deluded fool.......
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 28 October, 2014, 01:15:44 pm
GN: I am working from home today
BN: It is because I was up, most of the night, cleaning up TLD's sick. Pasta and chocolate cake make for the most noisome vomit, which is a REAL pain to clean out of carpets...
In a few years she'll combine it with red wine . . .

GWS, TLD

The difference is, when she does that, she'll be cleaning it up, not me!

You sad, deluded fool.......
Hmm, yes. Shall we bookmark the thread for reference in a few year's time?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 October, 2014, 04:43:51 pm
The weather looks glorious outside

I'm stuck in the office with a teleconference later.

If the teleconference is in the same office as you, isn't it just a conference?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 28 October, 2014, 04:46:55 pm
The weather looks glorious outside

I'm stuck in the office with a teleconference later.

If the teleconference is in the same office as you, isn't it just a conference?

I have attended teleconfs where all participants are int he same office, sometimes just desks apart.  I very much doubt I am alone in having done this.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 28 October, 2014, 04:52:22 pm
The weather looks glorious outside

I'm stuck in the office with a teleconference later.

If the teleconference is in the same office as you, isn't it just a conference?

When the other end of the conference is in Muscat and another middle east location it was most definately a teleconfrence.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 October, 2014, 04:54:02 pm
The weather looks glorious outside

I'm stuck in the office with a teleconference later.

If the teleconference is in the same office as you, isn't it just a conference?

When the other end of the conference is in Muscat and another middle east location it was most definately a teleconfrence.

In that case the teleconference wasn't in the same office as you, only a bit of it was. :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 28 October, 2014, 04:55:46 pm
If a teleconference is to be thought of as having a tangible presence at all, then it's clearly going to be in some server somewhere.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 28 October, 2014, 05:10:33 pm
Hurrah: I haz a new "Integrated Network AV Receiver".  Or "amplifier", as we Luddites call it.  And as a bonus it comes with labels for cables (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=43262.msg840007#msg840007) :thumbsup:

Bah: The Fucking Manual is:
  • 220 pages long, and
  • in PDF format

Do you gronks at Denon have any idea how long it'd take to print that on my cranky old grid of a Canon inkjet ???

Also I'm still waiting for the new loudsqueakers so there's no point in spending a whole day rolling around on the floor with Anbaric String between my teeth only to have to do half of it again when they do :(

We have a Denon AV.

Every time I need to change a setting I have to refer back to teh manuel. And learn it all over again.  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 28 October, 2014, 05:40:38 pm
The weather looks glorious outside

I'm stuck in the office with a teleconference later.

If the teleconference is in the same office as you, isn't it just a conference?

I have attended teleconfs where all participants are int he same office, sometimes just desks apart.  I very much doubt I am alone in having done this.
Of course you aren't alone. For you to be alone, you'd have had to be in all those teleconferences by yourself.  ;D

Why did you do that? Why not just get together & talk?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 28 October, 2014, 05:46:52 pm
I've done it when we haven't been able to get a meeting room...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 October, 2014, 06:20:31 pm
Hurrah: My new loudsqueakers have arrived :thumbsup:

Bah: I have to go out shortly and therefore cannot play with them :'( Or, come to that, get up the stairs
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 31 October, 2014, 03:07:03 pm
GN: The no longer Magenta Mercian is on its way back from Derby.

BN: They did it a lot quicker than they said, so none of the bits are ready to go back on it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 31 October, 2014, 03:34:43 pm
Photos when it arrives.

Is it pink again?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 October, 2014, 05:11:28 pm
TTIUWP...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 03 November, 2014, 04:39:46 pm
GN: scaphoid is still healing and there are now signs of union  :thumbsup: <- I can actually do this with my right hand now!
BN: Still have to wear a cast for at least another fortnight

GN: I've been OK'd to drive and I've had a 'custom' removable cast made for that purpose (insurers are OK with it too)
GN2: It's a hell of a sight more comfortable than my wrist brace but that's not entirely surprising.
BN: I still have to wear the bloody thing

GN: I'll finally be able to pick Pugsley up from the LBS - it's only been there since the beginning of September.
BN: Probably won't be able to ride for another few weeks although turbo'ing is now possible again.

Overall, a definite :thumbsup: :thumbsup: (one for each hand)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 03 November, 2014, 09:31:15 pm
Glad you're further on the mend there Interzen.  Hang in there and be patient cos we want a fully healed you longer term!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 04 November, 2014, 09:29:21 am
Pugsley on the turbo ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 04 November, 2014, 09:35:09 am
Pugsley on the turbo ???
No, although it is tempting :)
The singlespeed is currently on the turbo but I've not been able to ride this past fortnight as extended effort was making my wrist swell which, in turn, was making the cast unacceptably tight. The new cast has adjustable straps, so I can slacken it off a wee bit prior to starting my session.

Once I'm properly out of plaster and into the physio stage then Pugsley will be the bike of choice for a while - the cushioning effect of clown tyres will be very useful, I suspect.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 04 November, 2014, 08:53:36 pm
GN:   I have three days now where I can get on with a backlog of paperwork in the office.    :)

BN:   The pile of paperwork is quite large.   :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 04 November, 2014, 09:24:07 pm
Photos when it arrives.

Is it pink again?

Il postino left a large box today. It has arrived.  The extras I asked for cost a bit more than I thought.  It is very very lovely.

It is not magenta. It is the opposite.

Pics later.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 November, 2014, 09:27:47 pm
It is not magenta. It is the opposite.

Green?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 04 November, 2014, 09:30:50 pm
It is not magenta. It is the opposite.

Green?

(http://whointhehell.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/percy.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: T42 on 04 November, 2014, 09:38:12 pm
GN: managed to produce the first decent espresso on my new machine, about a cm of dark swirly crema.

BN: it was a freebie Moka that came with the grinder, and tasted like a corpse's armpit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 04 November, 2014, 11:25:30 pm
It is not magenta. It is the opposite.

Green?
Tick. VG. With a bit of white. Like this:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MCRidlYn0HY/VFlWw8ndweI/AAAAAAAAGa4/PLGTQaDIHKk/s800/IMGP5445.JPG)(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-czsptnnY05o/VFlXbhpR1iI/AAAAAAAAGbY/lXz2qIt8KG8/s512/IMGP5440.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fh7zfd4nawE/VFlWyTn5PZI/AAAAAAAAGbM/6cEDxnXCwwY/s800/IMGP5442.JPG)(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ymVFlEqiVcs/VFlWxvSBnLI/AAAAAAAAGbA/E_I_xZ4J4G0/s800/IMGP5444.JPG)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 05 November, 2014, 08:58:21 am
That's awful purty.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 05 November, 2014, 10:29:14 am
BN:  I've been waiting over an hour for our builder to not turn up.

GN:  Just went to the kitchen and spotted the shadow of someone pottering about on our roof cast against the neighbours' wall.  He must have sneaked in the back somehow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 05 November, 2014, 10:32:46 am
BN:  I've been waiting over an hour for our builder to not turn up.

GN:  Just went to the kitchen and spotted the shadow of someone pottering about on our roof cast against the neighbours' wall.  He must have sneaked in the back somehow.

Either that or Santa's got Alzheimer's :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 05 November, 2014, 10:39:17 am
Either that or Santa's got Alzheimer's :)

I thought he had a b0rked leg...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: T42 on 05 November, 2014, 10:52:27 am
^^^ so that's what happened to our chimney.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: T42 on 05 November, 2014, 04:02:01 pm
GN: According to New Scientist, a DNA sample can ID the snake that bit you so that the correct antidote can be found

BN: The results are coming by Royal Mail.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 05 November, 2014, 05:18:04 pm
GN: According to New Scientist, a DNA sample can ID the snake that bit you so that the correct antidote can be found

BN: The results are coming by Royal Mail.
At least couriers aren't involved ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 06 November, 2014, 02:07:01 pm
GN: I had a parcel delivered to home this morning.
BN: I am work so I cannot unpack it.

DPD did a good job. At 8:45 I use the interweb tracking to tell me that my parcel is at Spring Meadow Road, Cardiff. 9:30 I get an e-mail your package will be delivered between 10:05 and 11:05 by Robert.  I phone home to warn my parents to expect a package. At 11:10 I click the tracking link and it says it was delivered at 10:08.
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 07 November, 2014, 10:21:55 am
BN: The first three boiler repair people I called couldn't get to us anytime soon.

More BN: Our ancient boiler is too old for British Gas to be interested on their fixed price scheme (their list of boilers claims "NEVER PRODUCED", although I have evidence to the contrary in my airing cupboard).

GN: The most local repair person called me back, can come tomorrow.

Not sure how it'll turn out yet news: I've got to go and get the PCB that I've diagnosed is the fault today. I'm reasonably confident that "PCB burn in the corner" will be at least part of what is wrong. If there's anything else wrong it probably won't get fixed tomorrow.

GN: Sun's out and the house is warming up!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 07 November, 2014, 10:47:01 am
GN: A box containing some rather spiffy brake levers and a set of 10-spd bar-end shifters has arrived from A Certain Bikeshop in Manchester  :thumbsup:
GN2: After last night's Swedish modular furniture shenanigans I now know I can wield an Allen key without serious repercussions.
GN3: I can finally start rebuilding the Croix de Fer (and, more to the point, finally take the knackered bits to the tip now that I can drive again)

BN: Probably won't be riding it 'properly' until the new year although installation on the turbo is a distinct possibility.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 07 November, 2014, 01:54:31 pm
BN: The first three boiler repair people I called couldn't get to us anytime soon.

More BN: Our ancient boiler is too old for British Gas to be interested on their fixed price scheme (their list of boilers claims "NEVER PRODUCED", although I have evidence to the contrary in my airing cupboard).

GN: The most local repair person called me back, can come tomorrow.

Not sure how it'll turn out yet news: I've got to go and get the PCB that I've diagnosed is the fault today. I'm reasonably confident that "PCB burn in the corner" will be at least part of what is wrong. If there's anything else wrong it probably won't get fixed tomorrow.

GN: Sun's out and the house is warming up!
I have a local bloke (lives two streets away) who services my 1980s boiler for a modest cost & assures me on his occasional visits (drinking Mrs B's herb tea while filling out his invoices) it doesn't need replacing yet. He even has a mate who lives in the street between ours & his, who can do the job if he's not available.

I'm sticking to him like glue.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 08 November, 2014, 05:07:13 pm

GN: The most local repair person called me back, can come tomorrow.

Not sure how it'll turn out yet news: I've got to go and get the PCB that I've diagnosed is the fault today. I'm reasonably confident that "PCB burnt in the corner" will be at least part of what is wrong. If there's anything else wrong it probably won't get fixed tomorrow.

GN: Sun's out and the house is warming up!

BN: As well as the PCB one of the connectors had melted enough to be declared unfit.

More BN: Repair man didn't have one with him. (In all my dealings with various boiler install / servicing / repair types the electrical side has never been their forte. But at least he didn't cut the wires to the thermostat or tell me that the extra resistance of thicker cables would be a problem.)

GN: He's coming back Monday, hopes he has one in his store.

Hmm news: If he doesn't he started talking about new wiring looms, which strikes me as overkill. I've just found the bit on Farnell, its an 8 way * 1 row 0.2" molex.

BN: Maplin don't seem to stock them otherwise I could get one tomorrow.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 November, 2014, 05:55:44 pm
But at least he didn't cut the wires to the thermostat or tell me that the extra resistance of thicker cables would be a problem.)

Nah, 'experts' usually reserve that sort of BS for WIMMIN!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 08 November, 2014, 08:33:08 pm
But at least he didn't cut the wires to the thermostat or tell me that the extra resistance of thicker cables would be a problem.)

Nah, 'experts' usually reserve that sort of BS for WIMMIN!

I've had both in the past  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 November, 2014, 08:55:47 pm
But at least he didn't cut the wires to the thermostat or tell me that the extra resistance of thicker cables would be a problem.)

Nah, 'experts' usually reserve that sort of BS for WIMMIN!

I've had both in the past  ::-)

Sympathies! I'd still venture that Kim, AuntyC and some of the other techy women here have had even MOAR techy BS...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 November, 2014, 05:18:48 pm
BN:  I've been waiting over an hour for our builder to not turn up.

GN:  Just went to the kitchen and spotted the shadow of someone pottering about on our roof cast against the neighbours' wall.  He must have sneaked in the back somehow.

Either that or Santa's got Alzheimer's :)

That's not funny and should be in the "I'm getting old" thread!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 November, 2014, 05:19:39 pm
@Tim Hall: the colour of your bike is atnegam.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 November, 2014, 05:21:58 pm
BN:  I've been waiting over an hour for our builder to not turn up.

GN:  Just went to the kitchen and spotted the shadow of someone pottering about on our roof cast against the neighbours' wall.  He must have sneaked in the back somehow.

Either that or Santa's got Alzheimer's :)

That's not funny and should be in the "I'm getting old" thread!

I'd actually forgotten why I dropped in here, which is to say that the Good News is that Dez has fixed the bog.

The Bad News was that a day or two ago he somehow managed to snap the metal handle of the flushing mechanism. He can be a remarkable klutz at times, that older son of mine.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 09 November, 2014, 06:19:05 pm
BN:  I've been waiting over an hour for our builder to not turn up.

GN:  Just went to the kitchen and spotted the shadow of someone pottering about on our roof cast against the neighbours' wall.  He must have sneaked in the back somehow.

Either that or Santa's got Alzheimer's :)

That's not funny and should be in the "I'm getting old" thread!

I'd actually forgotten why I dropped in here, which is to say that the Good News is that Dez has fixed the bog.

The Bad News was that a day or two ago he somehow managed to snap the metal handle of the flushing mechanism. He can be a remarkable klutz at times, that older son of mine.

A metal part of my bog-flushing mechanism suffered a rust/fatigue fracture recently; these things can just fail from old age...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 November, 2014, 07:20:01 pm
Hurrah: Dr Larrington has been appointed a Visiting International Person of Æxcellent1 at the University of Western Australia :thumbsup:

Bah: It doesn't take effect for about two years :(

1: Or something academic, anyway
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 November, 2014, 08:27:15 pm
BN:  I've been waiting over an hour for our builder to not turn up.

GN:  Just went to the kitchen and spotted the shadow of someone pottering about on our roof cast against the neighbours' wall.  He must have sneaked in the back somehow.

Either that or Santa's got Alzheimer's :)

That's not funny and should be in the "I'm getting old" thread!

I'd actually forgotten why I dropped in here, which is to say that the Good News is that Dez has fixed the bog.

The Bad News was that a day or two ago he somehow managed to snap the metal handle of the flushing mechanism. He can be a remarkable klutz at times, that older son of mine.

A metal part of my bog-flushing mechanism suffered a rust/fatigue fracture recently; these things can just fail from old age...
This was the chrome-plated handle. There was no evidence of a previous crack and Dez did say "I sort of lost balance" when flushing the bog. I don't know what sort of balancing act he was involved in.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 09 November, 2014, 08:50:11 pm
GN: According to New Scientist, a DNA sample can ID the snake that bit you so that the correct antidote can be found

BN: The results are coming by Royal Mail.

given a critical time of sub two hours, I would suspect that this would be a useful tool for a coroner rather than a doctor
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 10 November, 2014, 12:26:48 pm
GN - our choice of an iPad for my Father's 81st birthday present was generally well received.

BN - he's somehow managed to persuade it to default to Romanian.......  this means I'll have to go up again & fix it  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 November, 2014, 12:56:15 pm
Mine went into Czech for a while but myslím si že je to teď v pořádku.

Oh, wait...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 November, 2014, 06:54:58 pm
GN: I have the rest of the week free from emptying my sack.

BN: The weather looks like it will be shite.

GN: I am off to Bishop's Castle on Friday for a weekend of beer and puerile, laddish behaviour.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 12 November, 2014, 01:27:17 pm

GN: The most local repair person called me back, can come tomorrow.

Not sure how it'll turn out yet news: I've got to go and get the PCB that I've diagnosed is the fault today. I'm reasonably confident that "PCB burnt in the corner" will be at least part of what is wrong. If there's anything else wrong it probably won't get fixed tomorrow.

GN: Sun's out and the house is warming up!

BN: As well as the PCB one of the connectors had melted enough to be declared unfit.

More BN: Repair man didn't have one with him. (In all my dealings with various boiler install / servicing / repair types the electrical side has never been their forte. But at least he didn't cut the wires to the thermostat or tell me that the extra resistance of thicker cables would be a problem.)

GN: He's coming back Monday, hopes he has one in his store.

Hmm news: If he doesn't he started talking about new wiring looms, which strikes me as overkill. I've just found the bit on Farnell, its an 8 way * 1 row 0.2" molex.

BN: Maplin don't seem to stock them otherwise I could get one tomorrow.

GN: it's working again!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: madcow on 12 November, 2014, 04:13:16 pm
GN - our choice of an iPad for my Father's 81st birthday present was generally well received.

BN - he's somehow managed to persuade it to default to Romanian.......  this means I'll have to go up again & fix it  :facepalm:

Did you buy it off Trotters Independent Trading?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 12 November, 2014, 05:06:23 pm
GN: Managed to use my Powerball1 right-handed - apart from a few clicks and cracks from various bits of my wrist (newly released after 9 weeks in captivity) I managed a relatively pain-free 5-minute workout. My range of motion is, predictably, a bit crap.
BN: It's probably going to ache like a good'un tomorrow ...

1 - http://powerballs.com/
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 12 November, 2014, 05:22:42 pm
Ouch and wow. I tried one, couldn't work it properly and it buggered my hand up for ages afterwards cos my hand isn't so good.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 12 November, 2014, 05:37:03 pm
Ouch and wow. I tried one, couldn't work it properly and it buggered my hand up for ages afterwards cos my hand isn't so good.
I'm trying to loosen things up a bit before I get turfed to the physio - unlike the weekend's attempt at riding, short as it was, this little experiment seems to have been rather more successful.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 12 November, 2014, 05:48:39 pm
Yeah mine was a trial under supervision of fab hand physio. Post-injury recovery of good hand is less annoying than my disability issue so hopefully you'll get on well with that & physio.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 12 November, 2014, 10:55:37 pm
GN - our choice of an iPad for my Father's 81st birthday present was generally well received.

BN - he's somehow managed to persuade it to default to Romanian.......  this means I'll have to go up again & fix it  :facepalm:

And he's now managed to lose his imported collection of (pirated) books, has reset it to factory defaults & is struggling with the number of passwords an iThing requires.  :facepalm:

I should have stuck to buying him bottles of single malt .....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 November, 2014, 12:36:37 am
GN: I have the rest of the week free from emptying my sack.

BN: The weather looks like it will be shite.

GN: I am off to Bishop's Castle on Friday for a weekend of beer and puerile, laddish behaviour.
Fnaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 16 November, 2014, 03:16:04 pm
BN: n-1... The Raleigh singlespeed conversion was always too big for me  :'( so it's been sold to a taller mate.

GN: Selling that and another couple of bits has paid for n+1 again! (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=17.msg1767345#msg1767345)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 17 November, 2014, 11:28:01 am
GN: I've been OK'd to ride again  :thumbsup:
BN: Within reason - I have to be 'sensible' - definition of the word 'sensible' is left as an exercise for the reader.
GN: The fracture is 70% healed and the remaining 'fractured' bit is starting to fill in with bone. Despite having a limited range of motion and assorted aches my right hand is quite usable. I only need to wear a splint at night.
BN(?): Apropos of the 'sensible' above, I've been warned that if I break it again then there will be surgery. This is not an avenue I intend to explore.

Oh happy day, etc.etc.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 17 November, 2014, 12:47:20 pm
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 17 November, 2014, 04:25:08 pm
Congratulations.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 17 November, 2014, 07:42:38 pm
Good news, hope you manage to stay within sensible and don't need worst-case treatment!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 17 November, 2014, 08:10:42 pm
Good news, hope you manage to stay within sensible and don't need worst-case treatment!
I intend to - the 11th Commandment is "Thou shalt not fuck about with scaphoid fractures".

I'm happy to restrict things to the turbo for the moment, with possible ventures to the LBS and/or local hostelry once my ROM starts to improve a bit more. Ragging it over rough stuff probably isn't going to happen until the new year at least.

But who cares? I can ride again!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 17 November, 2014, 08:21:47 pm

But who cares? I can ride again!

 :D  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 17 November, 2014, 08:24:17 pm
GN: First Level 3 OU module assignment marks back - 92%  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: (Albeit it's a half weighted assignment)

BN: The Level 2 maths module I'd studying concurrently is proving tough, I don't like hard sums and I suspect the Level 3 maths module that follows on next year to be even worserer. Eeeep.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 17 November, 2014, 09:57:57 pm
More GN: 89% for the writeup of the residential module I did back in August.  :thumbsup:

BN: I'm on International Rescue duty and can't have a celebratory drink till my partner gets home from her night out.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Diver300 on 18 November, 2014, 07:44:20 am
GN: The bus didn't break down today, so there was no half-hour wait for a replacement,

BN: The bus got stuck in traffic and took half an hour to cover the last 5 miles of the journey. I am not allowed to get off, take my bike from the luggage locker and cover the last 5 miles somewhat faster.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 November, 2014, 04:17:25 pm
Hurrah! The builders over the road have shut their generator off at 16:13 :thumbsup:

Bah!  The builders over the road have restarted their generator at 16:15 >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 23 November, 2014, 06:07:20 pm
GN:  The pub are getting in Old Speckled Hen as one of the guest beers.

BN:  They've only got one barrel.  Its now settling in the cellar and should be ready just as I leave for Waleslandshire.

Bugger.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: billplumtree on 30 November, 2014, 10:45:16 am
This Hurtigruten trip I'm on, they're desperate to fill as many places as they can in a cold, damp, rainy November.  In fact, for a couple of days last week, the crew outnumbered the passengers 41-38.  So anyway, they're offering a northern lights "guarantee" in November and December, in that if the lights don't show then they'll give you a free trip in spring next year.

The bad news is, I won't be getting a free trip... 

The good news is left as an exercise for the reader.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 30 November, 2014, 02:17:18 pm
Looking forward to pics....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 01 December, 2014, 05:53:15 pm
GN: I have the next two days off.

BN: That means I shall be bearing the full brunt of the Solstice postal rush once I return. My back is already playing up...

GN: I have secured the Saturday and Monday off prior to the 25th, so I shall be able to drive the kids to Luton for their trip to Hungary.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 02 December, 2014, 03:25:22 pm
GN:  Had my podiatry biomechanical assessment today.

BN:  It's taken since July to get the appointment.

GN:  My insoles are being crafted by elves and will be ready just after Christmas.

BN:  My insoles won't be ready till after Christmas.

GN:  Light at the end of a long tunnel.

GN:  According to the podiatrist, by next Summer I should be living something approaching a normal life, able to be as active as I was before, mostly without pain.  I can do that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 02 December, 2014, 03:28:57 pm
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 02 December, 2014, 06:10:01 pm
Youpi!

Extra CAIK for the elves, pronto!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 02 December, 2014, 06:23:41 pm
Good news:  They are finally reflooring & redecorating the communal stairwell & landings serving my flat.

Bad news:  I keep my bikes on the top floor landing.  I'm going to have to move them somewhere.....

Moar Bad news: Someone's stuck a note through my door saying that the bikes are a safety hazard.  This is bollocks.  They do not obstruct access to either the stairs or to the neighbouring flat  >:(      I'm going to have to have a word with the estate manager.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 06 December, 2014, 04:46:19 pm
Good news:  Picked up a pair of lovely long-stemmed blue glass candlesticks in a charity shop, they only cost £3.

Bad news:  The superglue to fix one of them after I dropped the bag cost another £3.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 December, 2014, 12:49:32 pm
Hurrah: turn the thermostat up and am rewarded with the clunks, groans and gurgles that signify the heating is "working".
Bah: the top of the radiator in the Great Hall is stone cold.
Hurrah: application of key to bleed valve produces prolonged hissing, watery spurts and, ultimately, a radiator hot to the very top.  Doubly Hurrah-worthy as bitter experience has shewn most radiator bleed valves to be made of cheese, requiring the services of a large adjustable spanner to do the Necessary.
Bah: this morning radiators are stone cold, boiler cryptically mutters "f.22".  Intarwebs suggest that this means Larrington Towers will shortly catch fire, unless I've misunderstood.
Hurrah: application of screwdriver to relevant part of boiler puts pressure gauge back into the green; reboot of boiler produces clunks, groans, gurgles etc.
Bah: my feet are still bloody freezing.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 09 December, 2014, 01:01:02 pm
GN: My employer is going to sign up to "Bike To Work"

BN: I've already too many bikes..... ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 09 December, 2014, 01:03:40 pm
I'm sure that I could help you by taking one or two off your hands...   ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 December, 2014, 01:06:53 pm
too many bikes

This phrase has no meaning.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 December, 2014, 01:12:33 pm
too many bikes

This phrase has no meaning.

It's a mistranslation of "not enough space".  HTH HAND.


Had this discussion with the guy in the LBS recently:  I noted that Bromptons make really good n+1s, because they're small and neat and don't take up much space, so you don't run out of room.  He pointed out you still do, but you need a lot more of them before it becomes a problem, and that can be quite expensive.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 09 December, 2014, 01:16:05 pm
Hurrah: turn the thermostat up and am rewarded with the clunks, groans and gurgles that signify the heating is "working".
Bah: the top of the radiator in the Great Hall is stone cold.
Hurrah: application of key to bleed valve produces prolonged hissing, watery spurts and, ultimately, a radiator hot to the very top.  Doubly Hurrah-worthy as bitter experience has shewn most radiator bleed valves to be made of cheese, requiring the services of a large adjustable spanner to do the Necessary.
Bah: this morning radiators are stone cold, boiler cryptically mutters "f.22".  Intarwebs suggest that this means Larrington Towers will shortly catch fire, unless I've misunderstood.
Hurrah: application of screwdriver to relevant part of boiler puts pressure gauge back into the green; reboot of boiler produces clunks, groans, gurgles etc.
Bah: my feet are still bloody freezing.
If this recurs soonish, it may be what happened to my system on NY day a coupla years ago. It could be a slow leak from somewhere in the system. In my case, a dodgy radiator valve.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 December, 2014, 01:21:21 pm
Hurrah: turn the thermostat up and am rewarded with the clunks, groans and gurgles that signify the heating is "working".
Bah: the top of the radiator in the Great Hall is stone cold.
Hurrah: application of key to bleed valve produces prolonged hissing, watery spurts and, ultimately, a radiator hot to the very top.  Doubly Hurrah-worthy as bitter experience has shewn most radiator bleed valves to be made of cheese, requiring the services of a large adjustable spanner to do the Necessary.
Bah: this morning radiators are stone cold, boiler cryptically mutters "f.22".  Intarwebs suggest that this means Larrington Towers will shortly catch fire, unless I've misunderstood.
Hurrah: application of screwdriver to relevant part of boiler puts pressure gauge back into the green; reboot of boiler produces clunks, groans, gurgles etc.
Bah: my feet are still bloody freezing.
If this recurs soonish, it may be what happened to my system on NY day a coupla years ago. It could be a slow leak from somewhere in the system. In my case, a dodgy radiator valve.

Or the pressure vessel having a had a visitation from the puncture fairy...

But bleeding a radiator on a hot system, not topping it up, then the pressure dropping below the cutout level the next morning is expected behaviour and not indicative of a fault.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 December, 2014, 01:22:48 pm
too many bikes

This phrase has no meaning.

It's a mistranslation of "not enough space".  HTH HAND.


Had this discussion with the guy in the LBS recently:  I noted that Bromptons make really good n+1s, because they're small and neat and don't take up much space, so you don't run out of room.  He pointed out you still do, but you need a lot more of them before it becomes a problem, and that can be quite expensive.
Yes. Lack of space is a problem.

Does HAND mean 'have another doughnut'?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 09 December, 2014, 01:25:28 pm
Hurrah: turn the thermostat up and am rewarded with the clunks, groans and gurgles that signify the heating is "working".
Bah: the top of the radiator in the Great Hall is stone cold.
Hurrah: application of key to bleed valve produces prolonged hissing, watery spurts and, ultimately, a radiator hot to the very top.  Doubly Hurrah-worthy as bitter experience has shewn most radiator bleed valves to be made of cheese, requiring the services of a large adjustable spanner to do the Necessary.
Bah: this morning radiators are stone cold, boiler cryptically mutters "f.22".  Intarwebs suggest that this means Larrington Towers will shortly catch fire, unless I've misunderstood.
Hurrah: application of screwdriver to relevant part of boiler puts pressure gauge back into the green; reboot of boiler produces clunks, groans, gurgles etc.
Bah: my feet are still bloody freezing.
If this recurs soonish, it may be what happened to my system on NY day a coupla years ago. It could be a slow leak from somewhere in the system. In my case, a dodgy radiator valve.

Or the pressure vessel having a had a visitation from the puncture fairy...

But bleeding a radiator on a hot system, not topping it up, then the pressure dropping below the cutout level the next morning is expected behaviour and not indicative of a fault.
Yep.  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 December, 2014, 01:29:51 pm
I am a BEAR of little brane and do not grok matters pertaining to central heating.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 December, 2014, 02:15:17 pm
After Christmas, my weekends will start on a Wednesday evening and finish on a Tuesday lunch time. The school I have just been to changed its school day, and in particular its lunch-break, at the start of this term and it means that the children are trying to condense a meal and a chess club into 45 minutes. They don't like it, so I will be turning up to the school's Breakfast Club at 8am on a Wednesday and giving them a straight 45 minute session. It means I will have to get out of bed before sunrise for the first half-term, at least.

Oh well, it frees up Tuesday lunchtime for other stuff!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 09 December, 2014, 02:37:33 pm
Does HAND mean 'have another doughnut'?

Why not, eh? :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 December, 2014, 02:51:00 pm
Thanks! I'll just put the kettle on. Do you prefer the ones with icing on top or with jam in the middle?  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 09 December, 2014, 02:51:09 pm
Hurrah: turn the thermostat up and am rewarded with the clunks, groans and gurgles that signify the heating is "working".
Bah: the top of the radiator in the Great Hall is stone cold.
Hurrah: application of key to bleed valve produces prolonged hissing, watery spurts and, ultimately, a radiator hot to the very top.  Doubly Hurrah-worthy as bitter experience has shewn most radiator bleed valves to be made of cheese, requiring the services of a large adjustable spanner to do the Necessary.
Bah: this morning radiators are stone cold, boiler cryptically mutters "f.22".  Intarwebs suggest that this means Larrington Towers will shortly catch fire, unless I've misunderstood.
Hurrah: application of screwdriver to relevant part of boiler puts pressure gauge back into the green; reboot of boiler produces clunks, groans, gurgles etc.
Bah: my feet are still bloody freezing.
If this recurs soonish, it may be what happened to my system on NY day a coupla years ago. It could be a slow leak from somewhere in the system. In my case, a dodgy radiator valve.

Makes a change from a dodgy transformer (again).

M Le Maire, f22 means that while Larrington Towers remain foot numbingly cold, it does mean you'll have a nice depth of field. You might have to hold the camera steady though, or use a tripod.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 13 December, 2014, 10:08:10 pm
GN: Assuming she can escape the murderous attentions of fellow female Rugby Union players until fitness tests in January and the World Cup in May, at the age of 17 Ms Marco is an England Women's Open Touch Rugby player and will be going to the World Cup in 2015!  :thumbsup:

BN: The 2015 Touch World Cup is in New South Wales.

GN: The 2015 Touch World Cup is in New South Wales.

BN: We have to pay for everything. Ahh, sod it, let's all go!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: davelodwig on 13 December, 2014, 10:20:59 pm
Hurrah: turn the thermostat up and am rewarded with the clunks, groans and gurgles that signify the heating is "working".
Bah: the top of the radiator in the Great Hall is stone cold.
Hurrah: application of key to bleed valve produces prolonged hissing, watery spurts and, ultimately, a radiator hot to the very top.  Doubly Hurrah-worthy as bitter experience has shewn most radiator bleed valves to be made of cheese, requiring the services of a large adjustable spanner to do the Necessary.
Bah: this morning radiators are stone cold, boiler cryptically mutters "f.22".  Intarwebs suggest that this means Larrington Towers will shortly catch fire, unless I've misunderstood.
Hurrah: application of screwdriver to relevant part of boiler puts pressure gauge back into the green; reboot of boiler produces clunks, groans, gurgles etc.
Bah: my feet are still bloody freezing.
If this recurs soonish, it may be what happened to my system on NY day a coupla years ago. It could be a slow leak from somewhere in the system. In my case, a dodgy radiator valve.

Makes a change from a dodgy transformer (again).

M Le Maire, f22 means that while Larrington Towers remain foot numbingly cold, it does mean you'll have a nice depth of field. You might have to hold the camera steady though, or use a tripod.

I can ask the delightful Mary what that error code means if you tell me what make of boiler, she is the keeper of odd knowledge and wrangler of upset customers for a plumbing outfit.

D.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 13 December, 2014, 10:57:01 pm
Low system pressure, innit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 13 December, 2014, 11:22:54 pm
f22 means a large depth of field.  HTH
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 14 December, 2014, 12:53:10 am
Certainly means yer boiler's effin stopped.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 20 December, 2014, 11:56:10 pm
GN: The Tiger Lillies are touring next year.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf51Wjn4_6I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf51Wjn4_6I)

BN: The nearest gig to me is Salford on 18th March, and I've already got a concert booked for that night  >:(

Edit:   The RLPO concert on the 18th is being repeated on the 19th.  I wonder if I can change my ticket ?   

Cinders may go to the ball after all .... http://www.thelowry.com/event/the-tiger-lillies1 (http://www.thelowry.com/event/the-tiger-lillies1)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 23 December, 2014, 04:25:42 pm
Good News: No Thumbs of DETH at physio today - the whole session was devoted to acupuncture and therefore an enforced lie-down-and-remain-motionless for just under half an hour.

Bad News: The radio in the corner was tuned to Simon Mayo in pre-Christmas mode.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 24 December, 2014, 04:59:16 pm
GN: I sold my Claud Butler Cape Wrath 2 this morning.

BN: I owe Tiermat a tenner because he bet me someone would come in on Xmas Eve needing a bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 24 December, 2014, 06:56:45 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 December, 2014, 05:22:13 pm
Hurrah: In spite of Dr Davis' best efforts there is still half a side of smoked salmon left.
Bah: Guess what's for lunch every day until Monday?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 December, 2014, 07:12:57 pm
Have it on pizza. Also on pasta with a bit of creme fraiche.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 26 December, 2014, 07:18:05 pm
Hurrah: In spite of Dr Davis' best efforts there is still half a side of smoked salmon left.
Bah: Guess what's for lunch every day until Monday?

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3221/easy-spiced-salmon-kedgeree
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 31 December, 2014, 03:09:34 pm
GN: The snow's melting in snowy Switzerland, so I can go for a bike ride
BN: I've run out of spare tubes
GN: I've found the local bike shop
BN: It's closed until funften Januar
GN: It has a tube dispenser outside
BN: I didn't have any coinage on my when I passed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 December, 2014, 04:43:51 pm
A tube dispenser - what a handy idea!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pedaldog. on 31 December, 2014, 11:35:09 pm
A tube dispenser - what a handy idea!  :thumbsup:
Ribbed, flavoured or coloured all available?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 01 January, 2015, 07:53:18 pm
BN:
1. Our water pressure is low, & has been for a couple of days.
2. There's a big hole in the road near the entrance to the cul de sac in which we live, so our car is stuck.

GN: The hole is where Thames Water is fixing the leak that caused 1., had broken the tarmac, & flooded half the road.  We reported it about noon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 01 January, 2015, 08:08:00 pm
A tube dispenser - what a handy idea!  :thumbsup:

Unfortunately, when I went back with some coins I found that they'd turned it off while the shop was closed, so it wouldn't dispense.  That did seem to defeat the point of having an auto tube dispenser.   Harrumph.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 01 January, 2015, 08:28:11 pm
A tube dispenser - what a handy idea!  :thumbsup:

Unfortunately, when I went back with some coins I found that they'd turned it off while the shop was closed, so it wouldn't dispense.  That did seem to defeat the point of having an auto tube dispenser.   Harrumph.

Where are you in Zurich? I may be able to recommend useful bike shops. Probably not routes, as I haven't been in Zurich over winter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 01 January, 2015, 08:52:12 pm
Thanks.  I'm in the Langstrasse area.  There seem to be a good few bike shops around here.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 01 January, 2015, 08:55:40 pm
Bad news.  Didn't leave the house today, not even once.

Good news.  Chest not too bad and haven't needed any Ventolin.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 01 January, 2015, 11:16:36 pm
Bad news.  Didn't leave the house today, not even once.


Me neither. It's been miserable outside and I couldn't be bothered even going for a little walk. :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 01 January, 2015, 11:21:02 pm
BN:Nor me. Heavy rain and strong winds rather put me off.

GN: Looks better tomorrow :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 01 January, 2015, 11:44:08 pm
BN: Warm, wet & windy in Liverpool.   I ventured outside to put some rubbish in the communal bins.
More BN: I'm in work tomorrow & will have to sort my quarterly performance crap out  :-(

GN: tomorrow is at least Friday...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: davelodwig on 02 January, 2015, 10:54:29 am
GN: I'm working from home today to save the 85 mile each way trip to the office just for one day.

BN: everyone else in my team has taken the day off so there is no one to ask about what's happened over Christmas and what needs looking at.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 05 January, 2015, 01:16:43 pm
GN- 2015 cycling has commenced for me
BN- The Christmas lurgy meant my lungs made a desperate bid for freedom :sick:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: T42 on 07 January, 2015, 08:14:14 am
GN: had a really great espresso this morning
BN: it made the tea taste bloody 'orrible.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 07 January, 2015, 03:39:21 pm
I'm leading a ride tonight.

The weather forecast is horrible.  :(
We'll be cycling into the wind all the way out.  :(
It'll blow us home.  :thumbsup:
The publican of the Lyndhurst says because we'll be wet & cold when we get there, he'll turn the heating up ready for our arrival.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 January, 2015, 02:36:10 am
Hurrah!  Those nice people at the Mega-Global Sounds Like A Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia have just bunged the new Stuart MacBride (The Missing And The Dead) onto my Kindle.
Bah!  I haven't yet read the same author's "The 45% Hangover" which the Mega-Global Sounds Like A Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia kindly put there before Christmas, because Greg Iles.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 18 January, 2015, 03:47:57 pm
BN:  The Country Girl closes today for a week for a refurb.

GN: They're trying to clear the cellar.  Cask ales had gone down to £2 a pint.  They have now gone down to £1.  :P

BN:  They're closing at 5pm

GN:  They're closing at 5 PM (this could still get messy)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 18 January, 2015, 05:53:26 pm
BN:  The Country Girl closes today for a week for a refurb.

GN: They're trying to clear the cellar.  Cask ales had gone down to £2 a pint.  They have now gone down to £1.  :P

BN:  They're closing at 5pm

GN:  They're closing at 5 PM (this could still get messy)
Basil? BASIL? Are you ok?!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 January, 2015, 06:21:40 pm
Paging Basil!  Basil to the Great White Courtesy Telephone!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 18 January, 2015, 06:34:09 pm
Hes probably still in the queue outside.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 18 January, 2015, 06:47:56 pm
...or in the cut.
BASIL!

*puts frogmen on standby*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 18 January, 2015, 06:52:52 pm
Maybe he's dressed up as his bicycle and is staying very still in the hope that they'll put him in the cellar for safe keeping during the refurbishment?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 January, 2015, 07:06:23 pm
Perhaps it's worse than any of that... the pub could already have run dry!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 18 January, 2015, 08:10:02 pm
Ah.  How sweet!  Thanks for your concern everyone.
Obv I'm not going to admit to riding a bike absolutely pissed on a public forum so, that didn't happen.   :demon:
After this morning's black ice off, I was using the ice bike.1  Happily it seems to know its way home as well as any of the others.

1 A Dawes Discovery. 2

2. Low end (3),  not a proper one like Kim's
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 19 January, 2015, 08:46:07 am
GN- A youngster came into the shop yesterday, riding his Olmo road bike which I sold him as a PX a few months ago. Much like this one (http://velospace.org/node/18066) but with the DT shifters. he was off out for a ride dressed in his colour coordinated Saxo Tinkoff/ Tinkoff Saxo kit. The bike was a bit big for him when he bought it (saddle slammed as far down as it would go) but there was post showing yesterday :thumbsup:

BN- I may have ruined his young life.

 ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 20 January, 2015, 01:30:22 am
GN: Last night a very lovely young lady who I've known for two or three years decided we should get married, and told me so quite forcefully.

BN: She's four.

GN: I'm still flattered though.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 22 January, 2015, 11:30:20 am
Bad Noos: Virgin(hah!) Active removed £200 from my bank account they should not have done. Boo!!!

More Bad: Even after speaking to them they do nothing. They can't be @rsed to answer my mails. Booo!!!

Good Noos: Getting a direct debit back is really, really easy. Phone up the bank, tell them it was taken wrongly and you get the money back within the day. Yayyy!!!



Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 26 January, 2015, 05:45:14 pm
Bad news: I just smashed the glass shelf in the fridge-freezer
Good news: I smashed it before I washed it rather than after, the product number of the fridge-freezer is on a label inside it rather than on the back/underneath, and Zanussi have replacements in stock. Teh appliance of SCIENCE.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 January, 2015, 12:49:48 pm
GN: Mrs. Wow and I have now completed all three tax returns and submitted them.

BN: We will have to go through it all again next year.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 January, 2015, 04:13:38 pm
GN: I got my watch repaired and had a new strap fitted, and only had to pay for the strap.

BN: It stopped again this afternoon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 30 January, 2015, 04:41:04 pm
GN: I got my watch repaired and had a new strap fitted, and only had to pay for the strap.

BN: It stopped again this afternoon.

I've got a car like that :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 January, 2015, 05:04:53 pm
GN: I got my watch repaired and had a new strap fitted, and only had to pay for the strap.

BN: It stopped again this afternoon.

I've got a car like that :-\
Swap you my watch for your car!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 January, 2015, 05:05:39 pm
GN: Mrs. Wow and I have now completed all three tax returns and submitted them.

BN: We will have to go through it all again next year.
The only GN connected with tax returns for me is that they no longer have debtors' prison.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nikki on 02 February, 2015, 07:47:45 pm
GN: I got the thermostat and heater system back online after a router change.
BN: I'm still shivery.

I think I'm going to have an ill...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 05 February, 2015, 10:27:31 pm
My work is going to Scottie Land once more, so that has to be close to my poor, languishing scottie-land bike doesn't it? Huzzah!

Ummm. Glasgow, not Edinburgh. Bum :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 05 February, 2015, 10:31:12 pm
They're not that far apart.  That said, weather may not be condusive to a bike ride, but there's always the train.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 11 February, 2015, 10:57:29 am
GN: I have managed not only my first bike rides of this year, but my first solo rides, and my first rides on consecutive days.

BN: My back doesn't half know about it! Think I need to adjust the position of the Jones bars (I have brought the Orange down to Swansea with me)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Deano on 12 February, 2015, 10:52:23 pm
Still, nice one, Phil. Get out to the Gower if you can, it's luvverly. Probably best not to go boozing down the Mumbles on the way back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 13 February, 2015, 07:51:08 am
Still, nice one, Phil. Get out to the Gower if you can, it's luvverly. Probably best not to go boozing down the Mumbles on the way back.

Oddly enough one of the guys here at work said that, almost verbatim, to me yesterday! :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2015, 05:02:03 pm
Bah: The bulb has gone in the Great Hall's standard lamp
Hurrah: Here are some spare bulbs
Hurrah: They were free
Bah: They are the low-energy ones sent to me by $ENERGY_SUPPLIER
Bah: And they are bayonet fitting, and thus completely fucking useless

 >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 13 March, 2015, 05:04:22 pm
GN: I have managed not only my first bike rides of this year, but my first solo rides, and my first rides on consecutive days.

BN: My back doesn't half know about it! Think I need to adjust the position of the Jones bars (I have brought the Orange down to Swansea with me)

I'd like some bars that tell me not to panic, too.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 13 March, 2015, 09:01:27 pm
GN:  #2 Son got two ninterviews this week.
BN:  In Cardiff.
GN:  He got a phone call this afternoon.  WINNER!
BN:  Cardiff.

This is GN/BN from my perspective. 
8 Years ago he moved out and got his own flat in Llandysul.  5 year ago he moved down to Carmarthen ( via a few months in Ferryside)

Now off to Cardiff.  Where several of his Carmarthen mates have already gone and have a room in a house waiting for him.
I'm really going to miss him.

Onwards and upwards, son.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 14 March, 2015, 07:38:52 pm
BN: the TC tip fell out of my £17 450mm masonry bit

GN: Screwfix replaced it without argument.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 March, 2015, 10:23:09 am
BN: The first time I used the part-worn (from another bike) cartridge type brake blocks which replaced the worn out standard ones yesterday, I almost went over the handlebars.

GN: The first time I used the part-worn (from another bike) cartridge type brake blocks which replaced the worn out standard ones yesterday, I almost went over the handlebars.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: madcow on 20 March, 2015, 04:01:56 pm
GN-Off to Twickenham tomorrow.
BN-Taking customers* with me, so have to be well behaved.

Who just informed me that they had reduced their order for a key product. Why do I bother???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 20 March, 2015, 05:09:11 pm
GN-Off to Twickenham tomorrow.
BN-Taking customers* with me, so have to be well behaved.

Who just informed me that they had reduced their order for a key product. Why do I bother???

Reduce their seating allocation accordingly.   :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: madcow on 20 March, 2015, 08:42:53 pm
I have done. I thought that I had bought 4 tickets, 3 of them plus me.
Tickets arrived yesterday and I had 5 , so when their e-mail arrived ,I offered the spare one to daughter's boyfriend.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wobbly John on 23 March, 2015, 04:26:05 pm
Good news: Rode the bike for the first time since surgery 21/2 weeks ago.  :D
Bad news: Don't tell Mrs W, coz I'm not supposed to ride for another 3 weeks.  ::-)
Good news: Nothing went Twang!  :thumbsup:
Bad news: I couldn't catch Teethgrinder.  :facepalm:

...actually that last one is probably good news, because, having not riden for a few months and wearing drainpipe jeans & a big fleece I shouldn't have been able to catch him on the fixie.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Juan Martín on 25 March, 2015, 12:11:03 pm
Good News: Tárrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra. I swore to myself I would learn to play this (on a guitar obviously, rather than on the kazoo or the bagpipe) by my 40th birthday and now I can!

Bad News: That’s an overrun of about 17 years.

In my defence I would note that I tend to restrict my practice to the ten minutes or so that I have spare in the morning before leaving to catch the train to work, so my regime tends to follow the monkey/typewriter model. However, recent timetable changes have increased the time available for practice by about 35% allowing this great leap forward.

Actually, I have learnt to play other things in the meantime although sadly this piece appears  now to have over written them, leaving me a one hit wonder.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: JJ on 26 March, 2015, 04:25:28 pm
 :thumbsup:  That's not easy!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 30 March, 2015, 11:45:46 pm
GN: University of Sheffield sent my undergraduate transcript through in under a week.

BN: University of Sheffield have cocked my transcript up. It contains both my first years including my inglorious failure as a chemistry student but doesn't contain my final year and has my total credits wrong.

I have emailed them very politely and nicely to ask them to send me a corrected one and carefully specified what I believe it should cover and contain. 

Still got at least 10 days before one of my referees (my boss) is available and suspect the other won't check her email before then anyway. Need to decide what I do if my old personal tutor doesn't reply to my reference request as my dissertation supervisor is half retired and was never known for his email organisational fu.  Don't know if I can get away with a non academic reference or what I'm supposed to do if I can't extract references from academics.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 31 March, 2015, 11:29:38 am
Do you need a reference that does much more than confirm your transcript? If so maybe get the someone to chase the partly retired supervisor / write a letter? If not, current head of department would be a reasonable bet. They might then lean on delegate to the tutor / supervisor!

Otherwise, I'm sure yacf would wiki you something that says you're a jolly good egg.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 April, 2015, 12:26:24 pm
GN: I decided to order myself a Koala (the saddle pack, not a dozy bear).

BN: Alpkit are all out of stock.

GN: This has saved me £65 and means I don't need one really.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 02 April, 2015, 12:57:38 pm
GN:  The hot cross bun shop has lots of mllePB's favourite hot cross buns.

BN:   I am doing the shopping so have to haul them home.

GN:  I also got the most fabulous sourdough in Warwickshire.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 April, 2015, 04:19:06 pm
Bah: the bus drove right past the stop at which Lt. Col. Larrington and I were waiting.  For it.

Hurrah: It turned out tha using the town centre car park for an hour is half the price of the bus fare.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 02 April, 2015, 08:32:51 pm
GN: Lovely uni transcript people replied to my email and are resending transcript. They were apologetic, I was very nice to them cos cockups happen and their dept was very helpful when I was a student (so I said so). Hope they get to go to Easter break with one nice email for the day.

GN: I am a fuck of a lot less homicidal than I was on Tuesday. Dealt with a nice academic who saw 'access' for a blind student as an opportunity to improve overall processes department wide such as consistency of module stuff in VLE and reading guidance...  Which could be interesting. AND has got me a link to where we can get one of the major texts for subject of concern in Braille.

GN: My personal tutor replied with a lovely reference. She does remember me (well it seems), updated me on some other tutors and has asked me if I'd write some thing for the alumni newsletter. Given I'd like to see more representation of people who didn't just walk out of uni into their dream job I'm delighted to... Drafting it already :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 April, 2015, 08:55:10 pm
Something's wrong there, Barakta. You're lacking any BN! (And good to hear that lack  :))
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 03 April, 2015, 08:56:35 am
BN: The window for my courier delivery is 7am to 7pm.

GN: That's been narrowed down to 7am to 11am.

GN: They've just been!

BN: It's drizzling heavily.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 08 April, 2015, 09:16:33 am
GN: $Megacorp annual cycle scheme is open! Let's go online and get vouchers for the n+1 wot might be a titanium...

BN: They have reduced the max value from £3,500 to £1,000

GN: We have a system to ask questions and get answers

BN: The reason why is that after how ever many (6? more?) years of offering >£1,000 $Megacorp has decided not to get a credit license.

GN/BN: Oops the deadline has passed and I appear to have £1,000 in vouchers to spend

BN: There is no hole in the fleet that I can think of usefully plugging with £1,000 of bike :(

BN/GN: Apparently I can cancel
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 08 April, 2015, 09:40:09 am

BN: There is no hole in the fleet that I can think of usefully plugging with £1,000 of bike :(

The above statement does not compute ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 08 April, 2015, 09:42:28 am
Guy your system is more stable than mine, because you managed to answer with above statement. I had to reboot just to get this message written.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 08 April, 2015, 12:47:09 pm
B0\
B00\
B000\   
B00/         <--- See that? That's reality intruding
B0/
B/
/

It's a sad fact that any new bike has to come through border control, and the way to do that is to convince myself first.

I have a steel MTB that I never use these days, just don't offroad (intentionally), can't justify changing. OK, it is also completely in pieces.
I have a hybrid currently in Edinburgh not being used
I have a carbon bike that I love to ride it as a Sunday best, can't see how I could justify changing it, and if I did I would have to spend more than £1,000
I have a folder that I use and love, no point changing that or getting another
I have a commuter that I would like to change but nobody makes the bike I want.
I have a fast commuter (steel, drop bars, Alfine) that I don't use that much these days as I don't do the silly commute I used to, but I fancy upgrading to a more versatile tourer, probably titanium with Alfine Di2. That was what I was going to do with the scheme which will need more than £1,000

So, if you think I'm missing something suggest away, I haven't yet thrown the £1,000 back.....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 April, 2015, 12:59:19 pm
n - m + 1 = new n and happy Ham.

Sell the MTB and the hybrid as they are no longer used. Sell the fast commuter and put the money on top of the C2W scheme to get yourself the tourer you want.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: DrMekon on 08 April, 2015, 01:05:05 pm
G/N the £2M grant I'm on got funded
B/N I'm more excited about the improved likelihood I'll get other funding than I am doing the work
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 08 April, 2015, 05:44:38 pm
Ham, no recumbent in your list.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 10 April, 2015, 11:16:33 am
Bad news: entries are closed for the Oasts & Coasts 300

Good news: it looks like I already entered
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 10 April, 2015, 11:39:54 am
GN: LBS has my new frame and headset  :thumbsup:

BN: Only about half the bits I ordered from Elsewheretm have turned up  >:( Sod's law dictates that it's important stuff like handlebars, caliper adapters, disc rotors etc.etc.

Bah!

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 April, 2015, 11:57:21 am
BN: The hot water has packed up and the heating was on all night last night. I think it's time for a new controller.

GN: I have cover and help is on the way.

BN: Any time twixt noon and 5pm.

GN: He came before 3pm.

BN: A new diverter valve is needed and he hadn't got one in his van.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 10 April, 2015, 12:02:50 pm
GN: LBS has my new frame and headset  :thumbsup:



So spill! What are you getting?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 10 April, 2015, 12:18:58 pm
GN: LBS has my new frame and headset  :thumbsup:



So spill! What are you getting?
Surly Karate Monkey - spray-tan orange, naturally :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 10 April, 2015, 12:34:58 pm
Nice!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 10 April, 2015, 04:45:23 pm
GN: LBS has my new frame and headset  :thumbsup:

BN: Only about half the bits I ordered from Elsewheretm have turned up  >:( Sod's law dictates that it's important stuff like handlebars, caliper adapters, disc rotors etc.etc.

Bah!

In a similar vein:

GN: Email from Debbie at Dave Yates. My refurbed frame is all done.

BN: Haven't actually got round to ordering any bits for it. (where can I get stainless steel track nuts?)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: interzen on 10 April, 2015, 05:00:27 pm
BN: Haven't actually got round to ordering any bits for it. (where can I get stainless steel track nuts?)
HubJub or VeloSolo would be my first ports of call.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 10 April, 2015, 05:25:41 pm
GN: The man came round eventually and fixed my door.

BN: Poorly feet and waiting for the man came= a wasted day off when it's been lovely outside.

GN: Drove to the shops and got my painkillers

BN: The walk between car and pharmacy hurt. A lot.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 10 April, 2015, 11:04:24 pm
BN: the usual shitty underesourced week at work.
GN: Bumped into a couple of escaped former colleagues after work.
BN: +6 pints later after escaping from the Women Of Doom who've come down from Lockerbie for the Grand National, I'm only fit for reheating pizza.
MBN: Fall asleep & burn pizza
GN: Wake up before its necessary to call fire brigade.
BN: Crispy pizza... :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 12 April, 2015, 09:15:24 am
BN: lost my job with 3 days notice a few weeks ago.

GN: Interview within a week with Job#1 - went really well, job sounds fantastic.

BN: Came a "close second", but they "may have another opening within a month or two"...

GN: Interview with BigGlobalCorp - went well, like the team, work reasonably interesting.

BN: It's in Docklands.

GN: Offered the job.

BN: Twattish screening process. Then they dick me around for five weeks saying "you can start Monday" followed by "sorry, slight problem, start a week later". Repeatedly.

GN: Friday morning: I have a fully signed contract and firm appointment for induction Monday.

BN?/GN?: Friday afternoon: phone ringing off the hook - Job#1 have the new opening and want me to start a week on Monday!

Dilemma: What to do now??
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 12 April, 2015, 09:18:23 am
PO, in those situations I go with the one I would feel happiest in, if both score equally on that front, the one that pays the most.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 12 April, 2015, 09:45:56 am
If they were both on the table, it would be easy.

But: I have committed to BigGlobalCorp, and as a rule I don't go back on my word, despite the fact they would have no qualms doing so. They pay more, but are harder to get to. I'm not really a fan of BigCorps but the team seem more like me despite being within such an organisation. Job#1 has much more exciting tech, and is more ethically sound, but I've only met the hiring manager.

I've not responded yet, the plan at the moment is to turn up tomorrow and see how it pans out (I won't be 100% convinced it exists until I've got my Brompton under the desk) and let Job#1 know by the end of the day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 12 April, 2015, 04:26:27 pm
PO you sure the 'new' position is not as a result of their preferred candidate not showing up for Job 1?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 12 April, 2015, 08:11:58 pm
Good point! He would have been due to start three weeks ago, so perhaps it's shit and he's walked out...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 April, 2015, 02:48:17 pm
Hurrah: Oddball USAnian stoners Masters Of Reality are playing The Garage at Highbury Corner on May 16th :thumbsup:
Bah: Miss von Brandenburg has not yet replied to my e-mail to say whether she wants to go :(

Hurrah: as reported by the former Supreme Ruler of the Universe PeterM otp (may his House be Free from Tigers) Godspeed You! Black Emperor are playing The Roundhouse on June 30th :thumbsup:
Bah: Do I really need to see them twice in two months ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 16 April, 2015, 08:53:59 pm
Following from my GN that Dave Yates is really quick getting my frame refurbished:

This from Parcel Force's tracking website. 
GN; Frame collected from deepest Lincolnshire (see entry on 14/04/15)
BN: It's now in Plymouth (or "incorrect depot"). Hint: RH2 is not ever so near Plymouth
Quote
16/4/2015   14:59   Plymouth Depot   Forwarded for processing
16/4/2015   9:11   Plymouth Depot   Forwarded to correct depot
16/4/2015   9:11   Plymouth Depot   Received at incorrect depot
15/4/2015   23:43   Plymouth Depot   Received at delivery depot
15/4/2015   10:56   National Hub   Received and processed
15/4/2015   0:46   Lincoln Depot   Forwarded for processing
14/4/2015   11:17   Lincoln Depot   Collected from customer

<taps fingers impatiently>
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 April, 2015, 09:26:42 am
Hurrah: new Babbage-Engine - ordered Sunday pm - has been delivered at the second attempt.
Bah: OS to make new Babbage-Engine go, stop & steer - ordered Sunday pm - is still preparing for taxiing or something.

Ebuyer 1 - 0 Mega-Global Sounds Like A Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia.

Ebuyer will play Chain Reaction Cycles in the semi-final.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 17 April, 2015, 09:54:23 am
Hurrah: new Babbage-Engine - ordered Sunday pm - has been delivered at the second attempt.
Bah: OS to make new Babbage-Engine go, stop & steer - ordered Sunday pm - is still preparing for taxiing or something.

Ebuyer 1 - 0 Mega-Global Sounds Like A Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia.

Ebuyer will play Chain Reaction Cycles in the semi-final.

 ;D  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 17 April, 2015, 10:20:46 am
GN: Work has introduced a Cycle to Work scheme.

BN: No Brommies  :(

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 17 April, 2015, 11:54:19 am
GN: Work has introduced a Cycle to Work scheme.

BN: No Brommies  :(

Surely the next line is:

GN: Have to get a Proper Bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 17 April, 2015, 12:16:24 pm
I'VE GOT TWO PROPER BIKES. I WANNA BROMMIE.

 >:(

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2015, 12:40:27 pm
What's their objection to Bromptons?  Lock-in to a specific supplier?  I believe people have successfully come to arrangements with Halfrauds to source Bromptons in the past...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 17 April, 2015, 12:50:23 pm
Specific supplier, I can have a Bickerton, Dahon or Dawes folder (or some god-awful cheap shit or Montague). I've asked if they can get me a Brommie and the answer is no.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2015, 12:57:25 pm
Bah.  Not that some of those aren't perfectly nice bikes, but nothing folds like a Brom.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 17 April, 2015, 01:11:57 pm
What's their objection to Bromptons?  Lock-in to a specific supplier?  I believe people have successfully come to arrangements with Halfrauds to source Bromptons in the past...
I iz one of those peoples.
Halfrauds pretty much washed their hands of me when I told them I wanted a Brommie, pointing me instead at my LBS/Brommie dealer.
Which dealership are you having to contend with, Clare?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 17 April, 2015, 01:15:02 pm
Cyclesolutions
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 17 April, 2015, 01:22:43 pm
Cyclesolutions

I'm sorry to hear of your sub-optimal experience with them.
Have you tried any of the following, in the following order?

Reasoned negotiation.
Tears.
Pointing out that their name contravenes trades descriptions. They are, in fact, Cycleobstructions.
The cluebat.
The angry, hungry bear wot has a shovel, and is prepared to use it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 17 April, 2015, 01:26:20 pm
I am going to ask again and say pretty please with flowers on top. It might work.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 17 April, 2015, 01:28:38 pm
 :thumbsup: Rootin' for ya! G'luck!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 17 April, 2015, 01:30:57 pm
Hit the LBS with some chocolate biscuits, it like gold and twisting an arm in one :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 17 April, 2015, 11:21:26 pm
Clare, YHPM.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 17 April, 2015, 11:24:30 pm
Received, thanks.

 :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 19 April, 2015, 09:50:11 am
GN: First ride round Arran yesterday*. Wonderful weather, nice group of riders from CC Ecosse, great day

BN: When putting suncream on before the ride, I forgot to use it under my armwarmers. Of course they were removed early on and I now have a pair of pink arms :-[

Grumble: One of the rear spokes in my new bike's wheels unscrewed from the nipple completely so I have a wonky back wheel until I fish out the nipple and fix it this afternoon.

*Will post a better report after church :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 21 April, 2015, 10:58:54 am
GN: Mrs and Ms Marco and me are in Sydney.

BN: category 2 cyclone hits Sydney with worst weather for a decade, 130kmh winds and heavy rain for the last two days and nights.

GN: Mrs Marco packed all the waterproofs...

BN: Sydneysiders don't recognise waterproofs as a valid clothing type and make do with umbrellas, which are bloody everywhere. Good choice for a cyclone...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 21 April, 2015, 11:22:53 am
GN - I received an invite to the Christmas do for the first time this year

BN - It was a mistake as "unfortunately it's company policy that only direct employees are invited to the party" and the person sending out the invites says "This is the first year that I've been asked to arrange and unfortunately I was provided with the wrong information of who to invite."

60% of the most profitable department in the company are - like me - contractors. It's wonderful to be valued...

However..

GN - I wont be faced with the trek back from Sheffield on a December Sunday morning  ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 23 April, 2015, 02:19:48 am
GN: it has finally stopped raining after 3 days and 2 nights

BN: loads of flooding in Sydney and Hunter Valley, and over 100 car drivers rescued so far trying to drive through floods... Floating houses too.

GN: sun is out!

BN: we still have odd sleeping patterns. Late up...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 25 April, 2015, 09:24:43 am
GN - I received an invite to the Christmas do for the first time this year

BN - It was a mistake ...

Are you sure you've not got your G's and B's round the wrong way there?  ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 April, 2015, 02:48:58 pm
Bah: I cannot have tickets to see Masters Of Reality next month >:(

Hurrah: It was just the Webby SCIENCE timing out after sitting on that page for the thick end of a fortnight.  We shall go to the ball :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 26 April, 2015, 03:13:12 pm
GN: I am seeing Half Man Half Biscuit in Bury St Edmunds on June 12th

GN: I am seeing the same group in Bilston on December 10th

BN: I have no leave to do either trip, although the latter is within an hour or so by train

GN: I shall accost the scheduler tomorrow to juggle my days.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 April, 2015, 03:23:13 pm
GN: I am seeing Half Man Half Biscuit in Bury St Edmunds on June 12th

As am I, since it appears to be the closest to That London they are coming this year.  Perhaps we might even manage to meet this time ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 26 April, 2015, 03:29:04 pm
The last attempt to meet up being Kentish Old Town, October 2008, IIRC! My local mate has found out about a brew pub near the venue. I shall let you know.

Edit: must be this place: http://www.oldcannonbrewery.co.uk/drink/ though anywhere calling itself a brasserie gets my CAMRA-Man senses tingling.

Cross post in the ether. Are you OK for meeting up in such a place?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 April, 2015, 03:36:40 pm
The Old Cannon?  One of the Gulag's zek barracks is about not very many doors down the same street but I never got to live in that one.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 26 April, 2015, 05:42:34 pm
GN- I haz tokens for a Clan Fuzzy outing to see that Mr William Bailey

BN- In December

fuzzy wrings hands impatiently
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 April, 2015, 01:30:07 pm
GN - my pal's son got married recently

BN - the HC went to Katmandu for their honeymoon

GN - they were outside the city being driven about when the earthquake struck

BN - they could see the city's buildings toppling form a distance

GN - they survived

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 27 April, 2015, 04:38:42 pm
GN: I am seeing Half Man Half Biscuit in Bury St Edmunds on June 12th

As am I, since it appears to be the closest to That London they are coming this year.  Perhaps we might even manage to meet this time ;D
Talking of The Forum, they're only playing there in October! I shan't be going. London gigs are too big and impersonal.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 27 April, 2015, 05:07:16 pm
GN- I haz tokens for a Clan Fuzzy outing to see that Mr William Bailey

BN- In December

fuzzy wrings hands impatiently
I loved it when he & Kevin Eldon did Kraftwerk-does-the-hokey-cokey.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 April, 2015, 06:27:56 pm
Talking of The Forum, they're only playing there in October! I shan't be going. London gigs are too big and impersonal.

Typical ::-)  I imagine I shall have to drag Miss von Brandenburg along, kicking and screaming.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 27 April, 2015, 08:07:27 pm
GN - my pal's son got married recently

BN - the HC went to Katmandu for their honeymoon

GN - they were outside the city being driven about when the earthquake struck

BN - they could see the city's buildings toppling form a distance

GN - they survived
Hope they get home safe and sound.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 29 April, 2015, 06:33:48 pm
BN: At a funeral this morning.

GN: Friend whom I haven't seen in years came to the UK for funeral, and we'll catch up tomorrow.

GN: After above  BN found a charming used book shop staffed by a lovely proprietess, with whom I passed quite some time chatting about everything and nothing.

GN: In less than two hours I'll be listening to a talk on bikes & bloomers.

After a rough start, it's turned into a pretty good day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 06 May, 2015, 12:39:15 pm
GN I'm getting a new decent spec PC at work

BN It will be running Windows 8 . . .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 06 May, 2015, 12:59:17 pm
BN: I got soaked walking into town at lunchtime (10 minutes to walk there, 30 minutes to walk back!)

GN: I got Mrs T a birthday card! Organisation is not my strongpoint at the moment (her B'day is tomorrow!)

BN: No pressie though!

GN: I got the most gorgeous pork burrito for lunch!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 06 May, 2015, 01:58:15 pm

GN: I got Mrs T a birthday card! Organisation is not my strongpoint at the moment (her B'day is tomorrow!)



Ooh, thanks for the reminder. 
(Mrs B, not Mrs T  ;D )
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jenhunt on 06 May, 2015, 04:24:04 pm
GN I'm getting a new decent spec PC at work

BN It will be running Windows 8 . . .

ditto....

in other news.

GN - it's only 4 office based days until my (cycling in Mallorca) Holibobs (or a week otherwise).

BN - I've got a 13mile obstacle course, literally in my way first.... :/
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 06 May, 2015, 04:40:30 pm
GN I'm getting a new decent spec PC at work

BN It will be running Windows 8 . . .

I get 'migrated' on Monday, but at least it's to Windows 7.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 May, 2015, 05:16:34 pm
Win 8 is mostly OK if you're allowed to install Classic Start Menu, though there are still some things buried in the depths of the Fisher-Price interface which you can't get at from Control Panel chiz.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 07 May, 2015, 12:18:14 pm
G.N. I fly out to S.A. tomorrow evening for a fortnight of kittie sitting at the sanctuary.

B.N. I have an assignment to get to my pool operators course tutor before I go- big technical drawing type thing to finish it off :sick:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 May, 2015, 05:13:42 pm
Hurrah: I have booked my holibobs :thumbsup:
Bah: No convertibles available at Vancouver airport :(
Hurrah: Viva Sea-Tac :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 May, 2015, 06:10:19 pm
Hurrah: my motor-car passed its MOT without issues.
Bah: my washing machine sounds like it's full of rocks.  I didn't think washings machines used the same gearbox as a Speed Six Bentley.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 11 May, 2015, 06:57:00 pm
https://youtu.be/XO38GMQZ68U (https://youtu.be/XO38GMQZ68U)  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wobbly John on 12 May, 2015, 02:20:28 pm
GN: The seismometer I assembled and help set up last week, at the school I work at, recorded a temor this morning.  :smug:

BN: It was the earthquake in Nepal.  :(

It's difficult to have any satisfaction in getting proof that it works, when there are such tragic consequences.  :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 12 May, 2015, 07:42:10 pm
GN.  What a beautiful evening.  I hereby declare Summer.  :D

BN.  The Frankfurt Christmas market in Birmingham starts 6 months today.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 13 May, 2015, 04:59:14 pm
GN: Tossco eventually turned up, so I could get out on my ride to Long Itchington. Very pleasant weather it was too.

BN: The Offchurch Greenway, was more like a Muddy-Brownway and was, very likely, where I got my puncture.

GN: It was a slowie, so I managed to get back to the outskirts of Leamington to get the train to Warwick.

GN: Chiltern Railways have kindly installed a bike pump at Leamington Station, so I could ride the last half mile home.

VBN: When I got to the station, I went to get my wallet, but I had left the pocket open on my rack pack and it had fallen out. No chance of backtracking with a flat tyre.

VGN: When I called home, a kind soul in The Itch had called my landline number to say he'd found it. Phew! I shall call in this evening to collect it and offer Ray a reward.

Update: wallet collected fully intact. Salt of the earth-type people had found it, thankfully. I am utterly relieved to have it back, not only for the money, but the thought of all the ringing around to banks, etc. filled me with dread.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 13 May, 2015, 06:05:23 pm
GN: Mrs and Ms Marco and me are in Sydney.

BN: category 2 cyclone hits Sydney with worst weather for a decade, 130kmh winds and heavy rain for the last two days and nights.

GN: Mrs Marco packed all the waterproofs...

BN: Sydneysiders don't recognise waterproofs as a valid clothing type and make do with umbrellas, which are bloody everywhere. Good choice for a cyclone...

We appear to have been there at the identical time! (we arrived on Sunday night, just in time....)

For added points, we managed to get caught in the 300mm-in-2-hours in Brisbane, resulting in a night on isolated high ground, with the camper van electrics plugged into the garage of some of the extras from Deliverance.

I expected to see kangaroos in Australia, I didn't expect them to be lining up two by two with their luggage.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 May, 2015, 12:53:15 am
Hurrah: Miss von Brandenburg has decided to throw off the shackles of FOREIGNness and become a BRITON :thumbsup:  Seems you don't have to know the offside rule of cricket after all but you do need to know some hist. which is not her strong suit.

Bah: HOW much :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 15 May, 2015, 04:42:33 pm
Do mention the war...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 15 May, 2015, 07:27:42 pm
GN- I are sat in an volunteer house in South Africa.
BN- No.1. Son got his finger too close to a meerkat
GN- the bite isn't infected, just bruised  and bloody.
BN- South Africa is undergoing Load Shedding- power outages due to lack of generation capacity.
GN- The star field is chuffing awesome. Never seen the Milky Way so clearly before.
GN- got a free facial yesterday.
Slightly BN- it was from a cheetah- very rough tongue ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 15 May, 2015, 09:19:21 pm
Hurrah: Miss von Brandenburg has decided to throw off the shackles of FOREIGNness and become a BRITON :thumbsup:  Seems you don't have to know the offside rule of cricket after all but you do need to know some hist. which is not her strong suit.

Bah: HOW much :o
That was my reaction when Mrs B applied for a permanent residence permit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 May, 2015, 06:48:13 pm
Hurrah: I am at Fort Larrington for the weekend.

Bah: Apparently I wasn't supposed to be here until next weekend, which led to me being unable to switch off the burglar alarm, which in turn led to a visit from the rozzers and my having to spend two hours not going inside for fear of setting the bloody thing off again until Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.) get back from his hostipal appointment  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 22 May, 2015, 06:50:59 pm
What rozzers are these, that take notice of burglar alarms?    :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 22 May, 2015, 06:58:01 pm
What rozzers are these, that take notice of burglar alarms?    :o
I was told many years ago, that the rozzers would only come out if four alarms would go off in the same street*. Though I must say Hatton Gardens don't really count as a residential cul-de-sac.

*I was told by the alarm company when I was on the phone with them trying to reset the alarm I had set off - Thanks boss for not telling me, that there was an alarm on the property!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 May, 2015, 07:03:58 pm
What rozzers are these, that take notice of burglar alarms?    :o

This is leafy Surrey, where Crimes against Property are taken rather more seriously than, say, Crimes gainst Humanity.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 23 May, 2015, 12:45:24 pm
Good News: I have found live coverage of Formula 1 pre-practice and qualifying
Bad News: The commentary is in German
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 23 May, 2015, 08:02:19 pm
Good News: I have found live coverage of Formula 1 pre-practice and qualifying
Bad News: The commentary is in German
More good news: Our service provider lost BBC whilst the qualifier highlights were being shown, so glad to have caught the German version.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 24 May, 2015, 11:32:13 am
BN: I sat on my glasses, again. They did not like that.

GN: I was due an eye test.

BN: Initially this showed I had an eye pressure problem

GN: The follow-up, more accurate test showed no problems

GN: I got two pairs of varifocals, one sunglasses, for £163. I chose the 'safe to be sat on' frames for the everyday pair.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 May, 2015, 12:33:18 pm
GN: My nephew's going on a four-day bike tour with his dad.
BN: He doesn't have a suitable bike for it, his paper-round bike being too heavy and rackless.
GN: I was able to give him my old black hybrid, which I've been meaning to sell for ages.
GN: This show's the use of keeping things!
BN: Not selling it.
GN: They've given us bikes in the past, so all square.
GN: More room in the bike shed.*
GN: I'd forgotten just how light that bike was.

*It's not actually a shed, but there is more room.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 May, 2015, 07:06:13 pm
GN: More room in the bike shed.*

Room for n+1 then :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 May, 2015, 09:14:20 pm
There might well be panniers +1, as I'll probably be lending mine to him. They're getting due for replacement anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 May, 2015, 02:08:39 pm
A freebie copy of "Brothers And Sisters In Medieval Literature" has just thudded onto the doormat.

Hurrah: It's dedicated to me. MEMEMEMEMEMEMEME!! :thumbsup:
Bah: It's also dedicated to Miss von Brandenburg :o. How did she manage to sneak in?  Bloody FOREIGNS, comin' 'ere an' takin' our jobs an' swans an' book dedications an' (melts into a puddle of outraged xenophobia)

 ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 28 May, 2015, 02:34:59 pm
It's not cheap though!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 May, 2015, 06:36:36 pm
Not only that, it's gone up three quid on Nozama since it was published :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 June, 2015, 09:26:51 am
BN: Mrs Cudzo's team got presents at work today.

BN: She got oven gloves with a company logo.

GN: This gives us something to laugh at (and a charity shop something to try to sell — or pulp).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 01 June, 2015, 10:14:32 am
Not only that, it's gone up three quid on Nozama since it was published :o
I'd not heard of Nozama. Did they know that it's a Japanese surname, perhaps best known for an anime & TV character played by -
(http://asianwiki.com/images/8/83/Shiho-p2.jpg) ?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 June, 2015, 12:51:13 pm
IIRC "Nozama" was coined by my chum Dai Infidel after a particularly stressful online shopping experience, when she averred that the Mega-Global Sounds Like A Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia was run by an evil madman by the name of Nozama bin Laden.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 June, 2015, 01:04:01 pm
Is your chum Dai Infidel German?  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 June, 2015, 01:08:16 pm
Perhaps surprisingly, she is an unrepentant Welshovik last heard of living in Malmesbury.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 01 June, 2015, 02:05:55 pm
Perhpas Cudzoziemiec has confused your friend Dai Infidel with Die Infidel (née Ungläubigen)?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 June, 2015, 02:11:33 pm
Online shopping. Laden = German for shop.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 01 June, 2015, 02:16:53 pm
Danke.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 June, 2015, 09:03:02 pm
Hurrah: I have a new travel kettle to replace the one which died in USAnia last year :thumbsup:

Bah: It haz one of those stupid moulded plugs so I will have to get busy with the cable strippers.  Again >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 June, 2015, 10:45:10 pm
What rozzers are these, that take notice of burglar alarms?    :o

This is leafy Surrey, where Crimes against Property are taken rather more seriously than, say, Crimes gainst Humanity.

That's the whole world, not just Surrey.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 06 June, 2015, 12:55:00 pm
GN: I've found a place just down the road that does proper 900x600mm paving slabs that match my current patio so I could extend it a bit.

BN: I hadn't thought about them being nearly 70kg each. I'm going to have to think about how I get them home and in position :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 June, 2015, 12:57:47 pm
Legend from the old days of uk.rec.cycling suggest that wearing bib-shorts will soon attract the attention of the Paving Slab Fairy.  She delivers.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 06 June, 2015, 01:43:00 pm
Ooh.  Nostalgia.  The PSF.

Hoorah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 06 June, 2015, 02:20:43 pm
PSF is still active on Twitter and Friendface.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 06 June, 2015, 07:02:38 pm
GN: I got a new Swiss Army Knife for my birthday
BN:
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 06 June, 2015, 07:34:51 pm
GN: I got a new Swiss Army Knife for my birthday
BN:
(click to show/hide)

Do you have a gory injury to display?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The French Tandem on 06 June, 2015, 09:10:29 pm
BN: I hadn't thought about them being nearly 70kg each. I'm going to have to think about how I get them home and in position :facepalm:

This will make an interesting contribution to the "I carried this on my bicycle" thread.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 06 June, 2015, 09:12:11 pm
GN: I've found a place just down the road that does proper 900x600mm paving slabs that match my current patio so I could extend it a bit.

BN: I hadn't thought about them being nearly 70kg each. I'm going to have to think about how I get them home and in position :facepalm:

Why don't you just GAMI?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 06 June, 2015, 11:49:15 pm
GN: I've found a place just down the road that does proper 900x600mm paving slabs that match my current patio so I could extend it a bit.

BN: I hadn't thought about them being nearly 70kg each. I'm going to have to think about how I get them home and in position :facepalm:

Why don't you just GAMI?

Because I'm stubbornly self reliant? There may be a reason I became an audaxer :)

I might have to, but if I do then I'll design the whole garden and get the lot landscaped. Laying 3 paving slabs seems quite a small job.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 07 June, 2015, 10:46:43 am
A cargo bike shaped n+1?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 07 June, 2015, 12:01:34 pm
A Carry Freedom trailer will take 70kg, no problem.  If it's only three slabs you could do three trips.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 07 June, 2015, 04:13:37 pm
My trailer will happily take three or four paving slabs of that size.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 07 June, 2015, 04:17:24 pm
210Kg is not beyond the capabilities for an average car to carry for a one-off, short trip. It is, after all not far off the weight of 2 average adults, or 3 short and skinny ones.

I have carried much more, when the local waste recycling place used to take rubble FOC, in the back of $WHATEVER_CAR_I_HAD_AT_THE_TIME.

JFDI, I say.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 07 June, 2015, 04:25:29 pm
Yes, one in pannier on the left, one in pannier on the right and one in the handlebar bag or backpack easy :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 07 June, 2015, 09:05:36 pm
Cooincidentally considering using these for a waste bin hardstanding. They are a bit of a pain to handle and level though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 08 June, 2015, 01:26:43 pm
Take into consideration the BioNiC state of one of Marcus's arms, he is maybe being sensibly cautious trying not to manhandle 70kg slabs by himself.

While 70Kg is not a huge weight, it is very difficult to lift carefully in and out of a car without denting, scraping and scuffing the car plus straining the lifter. Certainly not to be tried single-handed, as it were.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 17 June, 2015, 04:37:47 pm
GN: I have a new job that is marginally better than the one I already have.

BN: The offer is reliant upon good references. Whilst I haven't done anything wrong in my current job, I have been very assertive of my rights and entitlements. Lots of others aren't and get shat on, but that is seen as the norm. I'm hoping that the boss will be pleased to see the back of me and not muddy the waters. The other two referees will give glowing references though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 24 June, 2015, 11:28:38 am
Good News: After a gap of 25 years I now own a guitar again.

More Good News: I can play as well now as I could then

Bad News: See More Good News^
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 26 June, 2015, 10:01:07 pm
Good news: Just made 36 chocolate crispy cakes and a tray of flapjack

Bad news: Its not for me, but to be sold at the school fête tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 30 June, 2015, 06:26:20 pm
Good News: despite the delays I managed to get a fast train home.

Bad News: in their infinite wisdom Network Fail put it on a track behind the slow train
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 30 June, 2015, 08:05:11 pm
BN.  We're not going to Germany.
GN.  We've just discovered that neither of us wanted to.
BN.  I bought the ferry tickets.
GN.  I really wasn't looking forward to the drive.
BN.   I bought £xc euros.
GN.   Relax and a bit of hill riding in Llandysul
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 01 July, 2015, 03:19:45 pm
Good News: despite the delays I managed to get a fast train home.

Bad News: in their infinite wisdom Network Fail put it on a track behind the slow train
Been there!

Also, a train that wasn't due to stop between Basingstoke & Reading, but inexplicably sat around waiting for the local stopper to fill up & pull out, then crawled along behind it, waiting outside Bramley, Mortimer, & Reading West stations.  :facepalm: I only got on it because it was due to go first. Otherwise, I'd have got the stopper & got off at Reading West.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 06 July, 2015, 11:27:36 am
BN: driving on my way back from Hampton Court around the M25 an Irish artic pulled out as I was overtaking using the signal-go approach

GN: managed to avoid a coming together by application of the brakes, nothing immediately on my rear

MGN: The glaze and consequent squeek building up on my pads as a result of a normal gentle driving technique appears to have gone  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 17 July, 2015, 06:37:34 pm
GN: It's a three-day weekend - yay for local bank holidays! :thumbsup:

BN: The weather. Heavy rain and 40mph winds, again? :hand:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: bumper on 19 July, 2015, 02:38:11 pm
Good: I've seen my face for the first time in over 12 months

Bad: I've shaved off my beard. I don't know who's staring back at me in the mirror :'(


I've just thrown my razor away. Now it's gone, I know I want it back. Work, friends  and family can fuck right off, it's already growing back!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 July, 2015, 03:59:30 pm
GN: My nephew has returned the panniers and bar bag I leant him to go on holiday with his dad.

BN: He's keeping the bike he picked up at the same time.

GN: That saves me trying to sell it at, inevitably, a price higher than anyone is willing to pay but less than it's worth to my memories, and as we've had two bikes off them (actually, as I'm writing I remember a third!), it seems a fair deal!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 23 July, 2015, 12:49:54 pm
BN: left the car unlocked last night. MP3 player*, headphones, 12v adaptor and 2 x USB leads missing this morning
GN: Wallet full of credit cards, bunch of keys, stack of CDs and driving licence all present and correct.


* Let's hope they like listening to For Whom The Bell Tolls, as produced by Her Majesty's BBC.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 25 July, 2015, 09:34:04 am
GN:  Looks like they've completely renovated the Lord Stones Country Park at the top of Carlton Bank, with shiny new camping facilities.

BN:  £17 per night?!  I think not  :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 25 July, 2015, 03:55:21 pm
BN: left the car unlocked last night. MP3 player*, headphones, 12v adaptor and 2 x USB leads missing this morning
GN: Wallet full of credit cards, bunch of keys, stack of CDs and driving licence all present and correct.


* Let's hope they like listening to For Whom The Bell Tolls, as produced by Her Majesty's BBC.

Late realisation of BN:

They took my camera. Arse.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 25 July, 2015, 09:36:54 pm
BN: I accidentally left my door unlocked when I went out to buy train tickets this morning

BN: Someone noticed and opened it

GN: It was the Postman not a thief

GN: He used it to deliver a parcel which otherwise I would have had to get from the sorting office on Monday :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 25 July, 2015, 11:38:38 pm
BN: I overestimated partner's Websaver Account interest by a factor of 5.
GN: There is not much useful difference between 10p an 2p.
BN: Thant's no money anyway...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 27 July, 2015, 06:27:23 pm
BN: left the car unlocked last night. MP3 player*, headphones, 12v adaptor and 2 x USB leads missing this morning
GN: Wallet full of credit cards, bunch of keys, stack of CDs and driving licence all present and correct.


* Let's hope they like listening to For Whom The Bell Tolls, as produced by Her Majesty's BBC.

Late realisation of BN:

They took my camera. Arse.
GN: I spotted it online, told my local rozzers,  who told the Met,  who have recovered it.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 27 July, 2015, 06:41:19 pm
BN: left the car unlocked last night. MP3 player*, headphones, 12v adaptor and 2 x USB leads missing this morning
GN: Wallet full of credit cards, bunch of keys, stack of CDs and driving licence all present and correct.


* Let's hope they like listening to For Whom The Bell Tolls, as produced by Her Majesty's BBC.

Late realisation of BN:

They took my camera. Arse.
GN: I spotted it online, told my local rozzers,  who told the Met,  who have recovered it.

Well done that man!

Hope you get it back soonish. Old boy next door had to wait until after Court case to get his stolen property back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 28 July, 2015, 11:09:10 pm
GN: I got this far without carrying a coffin.
BN: I got to carry a coffin today.
GN: To be one of six in a crowd that size is an honour.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 August, 2015, 12:59:50 pm
GN: it is a beautiful, sunny day.
MGN: I seem to have emerged from the despondency, sloth & funk of the last 6 weeks & can Do Things!

BN: The Things are starting with 6 weeks outstanding housework.
MBN: The flat next door is being renovated,  lots of noisy power tools , I've had to turn the music up!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 08 August, 2015, 01:12:37 pm
:thumbsup: for escaping the Slough of Despond.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 12 August, 2015, 05:48:41 pm
GN: My next door neighbour has got rid of his noisy Ford Mustang
BN: He's replaced it with a noisier Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 12 August, 2015, 09:34:15 pm
GN: My next door neighbour has got rid of his noisy Ford Mustang
BN: He's replaced it with a noisier Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am

*snort*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 August, 2015, 09:37:42 pm
Does it have the wooshy red lights at the front of the bonnet and a stuntman crouched in the rear footwell to do the steering?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 12 August, 2015, 10:06:41 pm
Afraid not. Just a red car with a nose sticking up out of the bonnet, and a loud engine.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 13 August, 2015, 09:52:15 am
GN: We're not in Clearing.

BN: Doesn't stop the phone bloody ringing off the hook.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 13 August, 2015, 10:06:00 am
Aaaaand we're back in.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 13 August, 2015, 10:33:59 am
Out...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 13 August, 2015, 10:38:20 am
In...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 13 August, 2015, 10:40:45 am
Mostly out...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2015, 11:29:14 am
Shake it all about.

(Does the hokey-cokey)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 13 August, 2015, 11:39:49 am
(Turn's around)

That's what it's all about. Oy!

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 13 August, 2015, 08:10:40 pm
BN: Bought pomegranate, instead of cranberry, juice (packaging looks similar).
GN: The pomegranate juice works almost as well as the cranberry, so not a total loss. (But I will be more careful in the future.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 14 August, 2015, 09:01:28 am
Out...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: De Sisti on 14 August, 2015, 10:31:14 am
Bad: Lots of rain, constant fear of leak via chimney brest.
Good: Eight weeks post Achilles tendon rupture, removal of Aircast Boot. Lots of physio and mobility exercises to follow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 14 August, 2015, 12:32:43 pm
Always in if you are from RUK and willing to £££ (and have the grades)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 14 August, 2015, 06:22:38 pm
GN: My Ornette Coleman Box Set (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ornette-Coleman-Complete-Atlantic-Recordings/dp/B00RC9WLAO/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_1) has arrived  :thumbsup:

BN: After it being vacant for several years, a young couple have just moved into the flat next door....     I hope they like music.....   
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: De Sisti on 14 August, 2015, 07:08:02 pm
GN: My Ornette Coleman Box Set (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ornette-Coleman-Complete-Atlantic-Recordings/dp/B00RC9WLAO/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_1) has arrived  :thumbsup:
Good choice.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jakob W on 17 August, 2015, 09:56:21 pm
GN: I turned up a couple of books I'd been wondering where they were.

BN: none of them were actually the book I was looking for right now...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 25 August, 2015, 08:34:53 am
GN I rode my bike. Only to Tadcaster and back (about 15miles), but it is a start.
BN The beta blockers definitely have an effect - I just can't 'put the gas down'. Try to push, put in effort and there is just nothing there. It's like a vehicle speed limiter.
GN It felt good to ride anyway.
BN I broke something in the BB, which is one of these modern things. Don't have tools to fix it, bike going into shop on thurs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 26 August, 2015, 03:18:24 pm
GN: Got my camera back from the rozzers.

BN: The lens hood I bought for it is the wrong size. Hooter.

More GN: They want a statement from me (the rozzers, not the lens hood people).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 26 August, 2015, 03:25:08 pm
GN: Got my camera back from the rozzers.

BN: The lens hood I bought for it is the wrong size. Hooter.

More GN: They want a statement from me (the rozzers, not the lens hood people).
Have you checked to see if there's anything new on the memory card?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 26 August, 2015, 03:29:23 pm
Definitely worth checking.

And yay!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 26 August, 2015, 08:53:31 pm
GN (of sorts): I'm seriously considering re-starting my OU studies after about five years away from it.

BN: I've pretty much missed, or am at least right on top of, the deadline for registering for Autumn '15 modules.

BN: They've withdrawn the degree path I was studying towards.

GN: I can hopefully reuse quite a few of my previous modules on the replacement degree path.

Really BN: OU course fees have skyrocketed (part of why I stopped before). I'm looking at the pointy end of £6-7,000 for the four courses I'd need to do.

I'm going to ring them tomorrow to ask if I can wangle some kind of credit transfer to avoid the level one courses that've changed. I completed all of the level one and level two courses I needed on the old pathway, and really don't want to have to spend four grand and two years essentially repeating introductory material I've already passed.

After that, it's two more level three courses and then boom, second degree  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 27 August, 2015, 08:53:22 pm
GN (of sorts): I'm seriously considering re-starting my OU studies after about five years away from it.

BN: I've pretty much missed, or am at least right on top of, the deadline for registering for Autumn '15 modules.

BN: They've withdrawn the degree path I was studying towards.

GN: I can hopefully reuse quite a few of my previous modules on the replacement degree path.

Really BN: OU course fees have skyrocketed (part of why I stopped before). I'm looking at the pointy end of £6-7,000 for the four courses I'd need to do.

I'm going to ring them tomorrow to ask if I can wangle some kind of credit transfer to avoid the level one courses that've changed. I completed all of the level one and level two courses I needed on the old pathway, and really don't want to have to spend four grand and two years essentially repeating introductory material I've already passed.

After that, it's two more level three courses and then boom, second degree  :thumbsup:

More BN: the more I read about the OU's credit transfer options, the less optimistic I am. After ringing them this morning they're going to get back to me after they've assessed my previous OU modules to see exactly what I can apply to the new degree spec, but I think it's unlikely that they'll exempt me from any additional "intro" modules based on my previous degree (in an unrelated field).

If that's the case, I really don't know if I can justify the time and money it'd take to finish what is essentially a 'hobby' degree.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 27 August, 2015, 09:15:45 pm
BN:  Got shampoo in my eyes

GN:  Can blow bubbles out of my nose!  Awesome!   :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 27 August, 2015, 09:53:14 pm
BN:  Got shampoo in my eyes

GN:  Can blow bubbles out of my nose!  Awesome!   :D
You gotta video that and upload to YouTube :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marj on 27 August, 2015, 09:54:54 pm
BN:  Got shampoo in my eyes

GN:  Can blow bubbles out of my nose!  Awesome!   :D

Next you'll be telling us you can whistle dixie from... Oh never mind 😊
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 28 August, 2015, 09:55:49 am
MATRON!  :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 28 August, 2015, 10:22:18 am
GN: After arriving in the Vendee to rain & force 8 winds (seems we got the tail end of a tropical storm) culminating in almost 48 hours of unrelenting precipitation. The rain has stopped, the puddles drained and the sun is almost visible through the cloud cover.

BN: We begin our homeward journey tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 August, 2015, 11:39:50 am
GN: After arriving in the Vendee to rain & force 8 winds (seems we got the tail end of a tropical storm) culminating in almost 48 hours of unrelenting precipitation. The rain has stopped, the puddles drained and the sun is almost visible through the cloud cover.

I had the tail end of a Pcific hurricane on my holibobs last year.  New Mexico and Texas largely under water.  But it didn't manage to wipe the graffiti off the Mudstang.

GN: AFAIK chief graffiti artist Thomas van Schaik is not going to Battle Mountain this year, having recently moved to China.

BN: AFAIK Thomas van Schaik, a chap who could make $HUMOURLESS_GIT roffle helplessly, is not going to Battle Mountain this year.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 12 September, 2015, 12:24:36 pm
BN: I took my v expensive platinum & diamond nose stud out before swimming and left it on the bedside table, and then when I went to put it back in it had vanished
GN: I found it again, exactly where I had left it
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 12 September, 2015, 06:54:50 pm
Chlorine, it's a bugger!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 14 September, 2015, 08:42:50 am
Chlorine, it's a bugger!

I always thought it was a diatomic nonmetal?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 23 September, 2015, 03:20:39 pm
GN: I am off to Normandy tomorrow

BN: It's a stag weekend that I don't really fancy

BN: I can't find the Euros I had left over from my July trip to Germany
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 23 September, 2015, 06:12:44 pm
GN: I am off to Normandy tomorrow

BN: It's a stag weekend that I don't really fancy

BN: I can't find the Euros I had left over from my July trip to Germany

GN the exchange rate is still 1.36
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 24 September, 2015, 11:07:25 am
Found them in the back of my passport. Nice day frit, too.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 24 September, 2015, 11:12:37 am
That's one helluva stunt to pull to avoid a Long Itch weekend.   :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 27 September, 2015, 07:37:49 am
BN - I got burgled last night.  Bastards let themselves in the front door, picked up my [empty] wallet, my watch and a kitbag full of yesterdays dirty rowing kit, let themselves into the garage and out the garage door, taking a bike with them.

GN - they took my shittest bike, the one i havent ridden in over a year that was hanging on the wall above all my other bikes, all of which I'd miss more than that one

If anyone sees a large on-one inbred with a badly fitted 8-speed alfine hub and pretty average handbuilt wheels (ahem) on ebay - let me know and I won't bid on it!

(bit gutted about my watch....  Insurance will cover it but I've had it a long time and loved it)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 27 September, 2015, 03:13:44 pm
Sorry to hear that Mike, it is not a pleasant experience. Hope all is well otherwise.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 27 September, 2015, 11:46:27 pm
BN - I got burgled last night.  Bastards let themselves in the front door, picked up my [empty] wallet, my watch and a kitbag full of yesterdays dirty rowing kit, let themselves into the garage and out the garage door, taking a bike with them.

GN - they took my shittest bike, the one i havent ridden in over a year that was hanging on the wall above all my other bikes, all of which I'd miss more than that one

If anyone sees a large on-one inbred with a badly fitted 8-speed alfine hub and pretty average handbuilt wheels (ahem) on ebay - let me know and I won't bid on it!

(bit gutted about my watch....  Insurance will cover it but I've had it a long time and loved it)

May bitey, stingy red ants and stuff infest their soon to develop saddle sores.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 28 September, 2015, 01:01:37 pm
Sorry to hear it, Mike. That's shitty. :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2015, 04:35:45 pm
Hurrah! I no longer have to smoke foul USAnian Marlboro as I have finished the duty-free :thumbsup:
Bah! I have finished the duty-free and good honest BRITISH Marlboro are twice the price :(

It's that time of year again :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 06 October, 2015, 04:48:47 pm
BN - I got burgled last night.  Bastards let themselves in the front door, picked up my [empty] wallet, my watch and a kitbag full of yesterdays dirty rowing kit, let themselves into the garage and out the garage door, taking a bike with them.

GN - they took my shittest bike, the one i havent ridden in over a year that was hanging on the wall above all my other bikes, all of which I'd miss more than that one

If anyone sees a large on-one inbred with a badly fitted 8-speed alfine hub and pretty average handbuilt wheels (ahem) on ebay - let me know and I won't bid on it!

(bit gutted about my watch....  Insurance will cover it but I've had it a long time and loved it)

I know that feeling.   I hope that your plod are infinitely better than our plod were.   Fecking useless would be a generous description of the "waste of taxpayer's money that couldn't be arsed to even send a bod round" here.   

Hope that you get everything sorted soonest.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 07 October, 2015, 07:59:34 pm
Good news ,  my new Shimano MT91 boots have arrived from Chain Reaction
Bad news, the Time ATAC cleats I ordered haven't arrived.

Possibly more bad news,  I ordered the boots a size bigger than normal, but with 1 pair of winter socks on they are a touch on the snug side.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 10 October, 2015, 02:38:25 pm
BN - Our cleaner hasn't appeared for several weeks
GN - Our cleaner hasn't appeared for several weeks (our paintwork has breathed a sign of relief)
BN - I had to go on the hunt for a cleaner
GN - Thanks to the magic of t'interwebs and gumtree, I have found someone who could actually turn up immediately
BN - They only speak Ukranian (and Russian), wot I don't
MBN: - They REALLY don't understand any English. Nyetski.
GN - There's always Google Translate
BN - Have you ever tried to communicate with it?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 10 October, 2015, 02:53:24 pm
BN - Our cleaner hasn't appeared for several weeks
GN - Our cleaner hasn't appeared for several weeks (our paintwork has breathed a sign of relief)
BN - I had to go on the hunt for a cleaner
GN - Thanks to the magic of t'interwebs and gumtree, I have found someone who could actually turn up immediately
BN - They only speak Ukranian (and Russian), wot I don't
MBN: - They REALLY don't understand any English. Nyetski.
GN - There's always Google Translate
BN - Have you ever tried to communicate with it?

Sounds like a job for Anrdij OTP.  The translating, not the cleaning.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 October, 2015, 02:54:02 pm
I gotta nice cleaner the day after I looked on Hassle.com.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 10 October, 2015, 03:00:07 pm
BN - Our cleaner hasn't appeared for several weeks
GN - Our cleaner hasn't appeared for several weeks (our paintwork has breathed a sign of relief)
BN - I had to go on the hunt for a cleaner
GN - Thanks to the magic of t'interwebs and gumtree, I have found someone who could actually turn up immediately
BN - They only speak Ukranian (and Russian), wot I don't
MBN: - They REALLY don't understand any English. Nyetski.
GN - There's always Google Translate
BN - Have you ever tried to communicate with it?

Using only Google translate, I managed to procure a Dutch electrical contractor, and engage him to supply and fit 5 x floodlights to illuminate a banner belonging to the fruit-based computer manufacturer from Cupertino, on the side of a retail shed in Groningen.
It was an exceptionally lengthy process, but that wasn't down to language differences....
If there was any surprise on my part it was that I was dealing with a Dutchman who wasn't a polyglot.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 10 October, 2015, 03:01:52 pm
FWIW, it doesn't like Ukranian as much as it does Dutchian, and is happy to tell you.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 October, 2015, 07:43:06 pm
Realised the other day I needed a DPAK that actually fits.  Go to toffs.com

Hurrah: In stock.  Clicks
Bah: Not in stock after all
Hurrah: Shirts made to order
Bah: Could take $LONG_TIME
Hurrah: Arrived today :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 10 October, 2015, 09:39:11 pm
I just Googled DPAK.

Can't understand how Mr. Larrington would wear 'Diploma Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak'

Now even MOAR CONFUZZLED  ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 October, 2015, 04:20:53 am
Dukla Prague Away Kit, you silly person.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 October, 2015, 03:37:16 pm
...and it's not even christmas...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 19 October, 2015, 10:46:50 am
BN - it's time for my six-monthly PRD review. As I said to the boss, they can make me do it, but they can't make me care.
GN - there's a lot of champagne in the current office chocolates.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 19 October, 2015, 01:20:18 pm
And I've just been told I can't avoid my next six monthly review booked for May/June-ish, so thats the bad news.

GN is I really can't be arsed to moan about it, because I leave this place in July....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 20 October, 2015, 10:30:35 am
GN: I have a long weekend free, a new map and 11 pieces of green and orange cardboard.
BN: Failing to get round to finding places to stay, so far only have the first night sorted.
GN: This might just "have" to turn into camping.
BN: The bad news is really rather contrived, isn't it?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 20 October, 2015, 11:13:13 am
BN - I got burgled last night.  Bastards let themselves in the front door, picked up my [empty] wallet, my watch and a kitbag full of yesterdays dirty rowing kit, let themselves into the garage and out the garage door, taking a bike with them.

GN - they took my shittest bike, the one i havent ridden in over a year that was hanging on the wall above all my other bikes, all of which I'd miss more than that one

If anyone sees a large on-one inbred with a badly fitted 8-speed alfine hub and pretty average handbuilt wheels (ahem) on ebay - let me know and I won't bid on it!

(bit gutted about my watch....  Insurance will cover it but I've had it a long time and loved it)

Update:

Good news - The Cambridge police have been brilliant.  They've found the bloke with my bike (and five others which didnt fit him) and he's already been in court and is being detained.  They've given me regular updates and have all been really nice people.  Top marks.

bad news - they havent found my watch and I still dont like the bike :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 20 October, 2015, 01:21:17 pm
GN: I have a long weekend free, a new map and 11 pieces of green and orange cardboard.
BN: Failing to get round to finding places to stay, so far only have the first night sorted.
GN: This might just "have" to turn into camping.
BN: The bad news is really rather contrived, isn't it?

GN: Places to stay are sorted.
BN: No camping.
GN: I think I'll enjoy it more without lugging the extra stuff about and sleeping in a marginally warm enough (for the North East coast in late October) sleeping bag.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 20 October, 2015, 09:50:14 pm
GN: My shiny Nexus 5X has arrived, woop!
BN: Nano sim, BAH!
GN: EE will on asking send out a nano SIM, m'kay
BN: For £10.20, meh
GN: But you can buy a nano cutter for a couple of quid off the 'bay, hokay
BN: Let's hope I can cut the micro sim properly otherwise....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: epa611 on 21 October, 2015, 12:55:07 pm
GN: My shiny Nexus 5X has arrived, woop!
BN: Nano sim, BAH!
GN: EE will on asking send out a nano SIM, m'kay
BN: For £10.20, meh
GN: But you can buy a nano cutter for a couple of quid off the 'bay, hokay
BN: Let's hope I can cut the micro sim properly otherwise....

Download a template from the internet, print it out, and use some sharp scissors on the sim card :-)  I did this for the wife's phone no problem.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 21 October, 2015, 05:39:13 pm
I did consider applying the Dremel, but the cutters are so cheap (and have worked well from standard to micro) that I will go that way.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 23 October, 2015, 01:48:02 pm
B: I managed to throw half my coffee down my white shirt at lunchtime, and I've got a meeting with a new client this afternoon.

G: If you buy a shirt from charles tyritt [30 quid] they'll iron it for you.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 23 October, 2015, 05:20:52 pm
I did consider applying the Dremel, but the cutters are so cheap (and have worked well from standard to micro) that I will go that way.

...and worked perfectly
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 04 November, 2015, 07:30:29 pm
GN: Got my camera back from the rozzers.

BN: The lens hood I bought for it is the wrong size. Hooter.

More GN: They want a statement from me (the rozzers, not the lens hood people).

Update on this. A month or so back I gave a statement at my local nick.  A couple of weeks back I had a call from them saying a collar had been felt, followed by an interview without coffee or biscuits. However chummy, who later sold the camera to a cash for goods place in Sarf Lunnon,  maintained he'd bought the camera off a geezer in the street. Which sounds as dodgy as a whole pack of jammy dodgers.  Email today saying after trying to put him near the scene of the crime using mobile phone and Oyster card records, they couldn't, so it's going to remain on file should anything else come to light.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 08 November, 2015, 09:37:04 am
GN: My train to Gloucester is not running late.
BN: My train to Gloucester is ahead of schedule so we get extra time in Swindon.

At least I don't have to get off the train.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 09 November, 2015, 12:34:23 pm
I had a 9.20 appointment for a blood test this morning, at the surgery about 100 metres from here.
BN: I arrived about 5 minutes late.
GN: I was seen almost immediately
BN: The first attempt to extract blood went wrong.
GN: The second went fine.
GN: We were home at 09.40
BN: Parcel Force left a card to say they had attempted to deliver a parcel at today. The card did not state a time.
GN: Online tracking states delivery was attempted at 09.30 and states where parcel originated.
BN: I don't know what's in the parcel. My only outstanding internet order is for a piano stool, which I made 10 days ago; delivery time was stated as 4-6 weeks.
The supplier and the parcel's origin are about 300 miles apart...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 09 November, 2015, 12:43:41 pm
GN: My train to Gloucester is not running late.
BN: My train to Gloucester is ahead of schedule so we get extra time in Swindon.

At least I don't have to get off the train.
I've occasionally had to visit Swindon. As soon as possible, I retreat to the Glue Pot in the old railway housing. I find Swindon quite bearable while I'm there. Very short walk from the station.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 November, 2015, 01:19:05 pm
GN: My train to Gloucester is not running late.
BN: My train to Gloucester is ahead of schedule so we get extra time in Swindon.

At least I don't have to get off the train.
Until 1895 all trains waited for at least ten minutes in Swindon. This was because Brunel had spent so much on proper engineering there was no money left to build a station at Swindon. A local caterer agreed to fund the station in return for an exclusive concession there and no catering on the trains. By 1895, the GWR had got so fed up with complaints from passengers about the expensive, poor quality food, they decided to buy him out. So sit back and enjoy your Victorian experience!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 November, 2015, 01:24:47 pm
This was because Brunel had spent so much on proper engineering there was no money left to build a station at Swindon.

Bzzt!  Repetition.

Not building a station at Swindon seems like proper engineering to me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 09 November, 2015, 01:25:34 pm
GN: My train to Gloucester is not running late.
BN: My train to Gloucester is ahead of schedule so we get extra time in Swindon.

At least I don't have to get off the train.
Until 1895 all trains waited for at least ten minutes in Swindon. This was because Brunel had spent so much on proper engineering there was no money left to build a station at Swindon. A local caterer agreed to fund the station in return for an exclusive concession there and no catering on the trains. By 1895, the GWR had got so fed up with complaints from passengers about the expensive, poor quality food, they decided to buy him out. So sit back and enjoy your Victorian experience!

Did the caterer move on to motorway service stations|?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: davelodwig on 09 November, 2015, 01:36:30 pm
GN: My train to Gloucester is not running late.
BN: My train to Gloucester is ahead of schedule so we get extra time in Swindon.

At least I don't have to get off the train.

Usually they just sit outside Gloucester so you can enjoy the view from the sidings.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 November, 2015, 02:51:34 pm
Dear Sir,

I assure you Mr Player was wrong in supposing that I thought you had purchased inferior coffee. I thought I said to him that I was surprised you should buy such bad roasted corn. I did not believe that you had such a thing as coffee in the place; I am certain that I never tasted any. I have long ceased to make complaints at Swindon. I avoid taking anything there when I can help it.

Yours faithfully,

I.K. Brunel


Is Archers brewery still next to Swindon station?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 November, 2015, 02:53:48 pm
No, that's the BMW MINI factory. Which explains the coffee.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 November, 2015, 03:16:52 pm
Google tells me that Archers went titsup.com in 2009.  Bah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 09 November, 2015, 07:11:49 pm
I had a 9.20 appointment for a blood test this morning, at the surgery about 100 metres from here.
BN: I arrived about 5 minutes late.
GN: I was seen almost immediately
BN: The first attempt to extract blood went wrong.
GN: The second went fine.
GN: We were home at 09.40
BN: Parcel Force left a card to say they had attempted to deliver a parcel at today. The card did not state a time.
GN: Online tracking states delivery was attempted at 09.30 and states where parcel originated.
BN: I don't know what's in the parcel. My only outstanding internet order is for a piano stool, which I made 10 days ago; delivery time was stated as 4-6 weeks.
The supplier and the parcel's origin are about 300 miles apart...

GN: Parcel Force delivered the piano stool at 17.00 today.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 12 November, 2015, 10:44:18 pm
GN I'm off work tomorrow

BN because they are replacing the mains power feed for each flat in my block, so I've got to be in the flat all day so the spark can get in, and the power will be off all day :-(

Batteries for radio & phone charged.  Trangia on standby on the kitchen worktop.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 13 November, 2015, 08:23:48 am
BN: The Folkstone branch of Sainsbury didn't have any Adnam's Southwold Bitter.

GN: They had Timothy Tailor Landlord which I'm looking forward to trying tonight.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: davelodwig on 13 November, 2015, 10:23:11 am
BN: I have to drive a van down the M5 which I'm not looking forward to.

GN: Today is my last Friday in Birmingham, (I actually leave properly on Wednesday but this is a milestone).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 13 November, 2015, 10:27:30 am
Hurrah for Birmingham in the rear view mirror.

With apologies to those who still live there
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 18 November, 2015, 01:28:39 pm
BN:  All professional oven cleaning services are fully booked until Christmas.  I know this because I 'phoned four different companies.

GN:  Just got a cancellation for two days before I move out.

 :D :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: delthebike on 19 November, 2015, 11:31:16 am
GN: It's not broken!  ;D
BN: No running for three weeks!   :(

Out for a run this morning, pre dawn, and I was crossing a grass verge using a path worn through the grass. I was using a torch at the time but didn't see the lump of concrete sticking out of it and landed on it with the ball of my right foot. At first I thought it was just a twisted ankle and hobbled on and when the pain stopped I started to run again, 2k to home.
At home the top of my foot became extremely painful and I borrowed a walking stick and made my way to A&E. Two hours later, via X-ray, and it's just soft tissue damage just in front of the ankle. Light exercise and no impact sport. Doc said about a week of that and then two weeks for the pain to go.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 19 November, 2015, 12:10:15 pm
IME cycling with a sprained ankle is something you can do even when walking is sore.
GWS!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 19 November, 2015, 12:24:22 pm
Mine too. In fact having to get to work with a damaged ankle and car in the garage for two weeks is what convinced me I could cycle commute 6 years ago and got me back into cycling :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 07 December, 2015, 01:05:55 pm
Good news I got the bug Peli had. Bad news the items in my LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar I have no clue what it is meant to be.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 December, 2015, 01:29:34 pm
Bad news the items in my LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar I have no clue what it is meant to be.

Ruud Gullit sitting on a shed?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 December, 2015, 02:21:43 pm
I ordered a book and two maps for partner from Amazon.
GN: The book arrived the next day. (Amazon Logistics)
BN: The maps have not arrived a week after the book. (Royal Mail)
BN: Royal Mail don't track ordinary post.
GN: Amazon say they are going to send replacement maps by One Day Delivery.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 08 December, 2015, 02:25:19 pm
The maps will turn up eventually. Just seems to happen from time to time. Have to say RM seems pretty good these days overall.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 December, 2015, 03:00:43 pm
In today's post were:
My fortnightly Graze box
A Christmas card for David
Orange cardboard for our New Year visit to David's Dad
Renewal notice from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

but no maps despatched 7 days ago.

Amazon's 'Customer satisfaction survey' has not arrived in my email inbox...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 09 December, 2015, 03:57:26 pm
GN: After 17 months the Council Housing Association are fitting a shower in my bathroom.
BN: It's a piece of crap electric shower.

We're in a ground floor flat with a combi boiler. We have mains pressure hot water that you can cook lobsters in straight from the tap. Why the everlasting fuck don't they just fit a mixer shower? I like a shower so forceful it takes the top layer of skin off.

Don't tell Mr Smith, but he'll shortly be having a wee tap-exchanging plumbing job to undertake.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 December, 2015, 07:55:01 pm
We're in a ground floor flat with a combi boiler. We have mains pressure hot water that you can cook lobsters in straight from the tap. Why the everlasting fuck don't they just fit a mixer shower? I like a shower so forceful it takes the top layer of skin off.

I feel your pain.

I worked around it with one of these (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000TAQH9E/ref=pe_385721_37986871_TE_item) and lashings and lashings of self-amalgamating tape.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 10 December, 2015, 11:14:30 am
I feel your pain.

I worked around it with one of these (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000TAQH9E/ref=pe_385721_37986871_TE_item) and lashings and lashings of self-amalgamating tape.
We've been using one of these (http://www.tesco.com/direct/croydex-shampoo-mixer-spray/208-2077.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=208-2077) for the last 18 months. Now that the whole room is being tiled, Mr Smith someone will be fitting this (http://www.screwfix.com/p/h-c-turn-dual-commercial-lever-bath-shower-mixer-bathroom-tap/25843).
Bollocks to the luke warm drizzle.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 December, 2015, 12:17:39 pm
I feel your pain.

I worked around it with one of these (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000TAQH9E/ref=pe_385721_37986871_TE_item) and lashings and lashings of self-amalgamating tape.
We've been using one of these (http://www.tesco.com/direct/croydex-shampoo-mixer-spray/208-2077.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=208-2077) for the last 18 months. Now that the whole room is being tiled, Mr Smith someone will be fitting this (http://www.screwfix.com/p/h-c-turn-dual-commercial-lever-bath-shower-mixer-bathroom-tap/25843).

I tried one of those when the boiler was first replaced[1].  It couldn't hack our awesome water pressure, and one of the tap condom thingies started to bulge like a defective sidewall that's about to ruin your day.  Gaffer tape constrained the expansion, but it just kept blowing off the tap instead.

I've been tempted to fit a proper mixer tap, but I'm put off by it being at the wrong end of the bath.


Quote
Bollocks to the luke warm drizzle.

Amen!


[1] Original boiler was a piece of 80s nostalgia and had a scaled up secondary heat exchanger that made it unsuitable for showers.  I persuaded a friendly CORGI inspector to condemn it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 December, 2015, 12:27:31 pm
The maps will turn up eventually. Just seems to happen from time to time. Have to say RM seems pretty good these days overall.

GN:Looks like they're in today's post, but that is 10 days in the system.
BN: I offered said maps to sister-in-law, when she said original would turn up.
She also lives in NW London and has three teenage sons and an eight-year-old daughter. She didn't think they'd have a use for these maps. ::-)

I'll find a good home for these maps elsewhere...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 10 December, 2015, 12:38:04 pm
Ironically I saw an advert for the post Office last night which claims you can post up to 23rd of December for Christmas.

Hmmm . . .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 10 December, 2015, 12:48:27 pm
Ironically I saw an advert for the post Office last night which claims you can post up to 23rd of December for Christmas.

Hmmm . . .

Even if it was for Christmas on the Julian Calendar (7th January) I wouldn't believe them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 10 December, 2015, 01:51:43 pm
Ironically I saw an advert for the post Office last night which claims you can post up to 23rd of December for Christmas.

Hmmm . . .

Even if it was for Christmas on the Julian Calendar (7th January) I wouldn't believe them.
Not specifying which year the Christmas falls in could help here.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 11 December, 2015, 04:08:42 pm
GN: Went to the library to get a card, following 5 years non use and a change of address.

GN: The nice librarian told me my old lost one was still valid and she could transfer it my new address.
 
BN: The nice librarian told me I owed £5.35 dating back 5 years.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 December, 2015, 12:00:44 am
Hurrah for Birmingham in the rear view mirror.

With apologies to those who still live there

But if he's driving a van he won't have one, will he?

It's some time since i looked at this thread.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 13 December, 2015, 07:10:06 pm
BN: I am working until 6pm tomorrow
GN: The students, or most of them, will be gone
GN: It'll be dark, so I can try out my new B&M IQ Premium dynamo light. 80 lumens of shine in the right direction. I shall retain the Hope Vision 1 on the 'bars until I know it's all working as it should be.

Update: A partial success. All works as it should, but I need to adjust the beam. I think it'll be trial and error, only when I stop to adjust it the beam disappears! The running lights are useful though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 13 December, 2015, 08:31:58 pm
GN Ordered Optical cable for the TV.
BN Just discovered TV has ARC.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 15 December, 2015, 11:06:52 pm
GN - Boss signed off my leave request for the Clapham hostel weekend and a week in Italy in February.

BN - I've no more leave left until March & may have to be in the flat to let some builder types in to look & something & possibly do some fixing..
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: runsoncake on 15 December, 2015, 11:29:31 pm
GN - Partner had a cataract op. this morning and all went swimmingly  :thumbsup:

BN - It had to be done privately because Hywell Dda Health Board waiting lists are ridiculous for a 20 min local anaesthtic procedure. :( :(

Hopefully she will now be able to get home from work without being clapped out from eyestrain, be able to drive in the dark & return to her normal working hrs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 27 December, 2015, 05:01:47 pm
GN: National Shite Day is the nation's favourite Half Man Half Biscuit song.
BN: That will mean nothing to 99.999% of the population.

...I try to put everything into perspective
Set it against the scale of human suffering
And I thought of the Mugabe government
And the children of the Calcutta railways
This works for a while
But then I encounter Primark FM

Overhead a rainbow appears


In black and white...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Salvatore on 28 December, 2015, 03:22:08 pm
BN: The nephew who was a good source of free Wimbledon tickets (as mattc will testify) is leaving his job with the LTA
GN: Next month he starts his new job at the MCC  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mattc on 28 December, 2015, 03:45:37 pm
BN: The nephew who was a good source of free Wimbledon tickets (as mattc will testify) is leaving his job with the LTA
GN: Next month he starts his new job at the MCC  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Dibs!!! Me Me Me please!

<leaps out of chair with hand headed for the ceiling>
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 January, 2016, 09:18:08 pm
Hurrah! Changed the oil in the deep fat fryer :thumbsup:
Bah! Stabbed myself with a steely knife while doing it >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 02 January, 2016, 09:24:57 pm
What does sharp knife have to do with oil change? (or should I not ask?)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 02 January, 2016, 09:37:00 pm
All depends on quite how old the oil is.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 02 January, 2016, 10:36:42 pm
Hurrah! Changed the oil in the deep fat fryer :thumbsup:
Bah! Stabbed myself with a steely knife while doing it >:(

Just can't kill the beast, eh?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 January, 2016, 11:39:57 pm
What does sharp knife have to do with oil change? (or should I not ask?)

Cutting plastic sealing doofer on the bottle after a fingernail lost the initial skirmish.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 04 January, 2016, 07:36:01 pm
I had planned to go to Glasgow for the day this coming Sunday...
BN: No trains running between Carlisle and Glasgow until February; not possible to arrive in time for plans via replacement service or alternative routes.
GN: Tickets cancelled and full refund obtained.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 04 January, 2016, 09:56:44 pm
Our new shower was fitted today. It's rather nice, & now that end of the renewed bathroom is finished.  :thumbsup:

The light in the middle of the bathroom ceiling had to be moved. Instead of a beautifully smooth professionally re-plastered ceiling covered in fresh white paint added by me, there's now a little round patch of new damp pink plaster, not quite as smooth as the rest of the ceiling.  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 05 January, 2016, 08:19:23 am
sand it when it is dry
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 06 January, 2016, 11:22:25 am
BN - I got burgled last night.  Bastards let themselves in the front door, picked up my [empty] wallet, my watch and a kitbag full of yesterdays dirty rowing kit, let themselves into the garage and out the garage door, taking a bike with them.

GN - they took my shittest bike, the one i havent ridden in over a year that was hanging on the wall above all my other bikes, all of which I'd miss more than that one

If anyone sees a large on-one inbred with a badly fitted 8-speed alfine hub and pretty average handbuilt wheels (ahem) on ebay - let me know and I won't bid on it!

(bit gutted about my watch....  Insurance will cover it but I've had it a long time and loved it)

Update:

Good news - The Cambridge police have been brilliant.  They've found the bloke with my bike (and five others which didnt fit him) and he's already been in court and is being detained.  They've given me regular updates and have all been really nice people.  Top marks.

bad news - they havent found my watch and I still dont like the bike :)

to finish the story, I got a letter from the wonderful policepeople this morning, it seems the the wee scrotal appendage who burgled me also assaulted a copper who was nicking him, pleaded guilty to the whole shebang last week and got 4 years... Result!

And the insurance company has paid out for everything too, so I've been able to replace my camera stuffs and my watch.

no bad news at all!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 06 January, 2016, 06:56:29 pm
 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
A result!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 06 January, 2016, 07:21:33 pm
A reverse entry: Good news, I'm unhurt, as are my passenger and the two guys in the car behind....  Bad news, my lovely clean unmarked car now has a trashed tailgate and rear "bumper" courtesy of being tail ended this morning on the M25.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 07 January, 2016, 10:42:55 pm
Dammit!  Glad you're ok, though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jakob W on 08 January, 2016, 08:43:45 am
GN(?): I joint the property-owning classes when I pick up the keys to our house this lunchtime
Very much GN: no more shyster landlords (who my OH convinced to let us out of our contract early, hurrah - pointing out that council enforcement might be less sanguine about the extensive mould than the landlords are seems to have done the trick.)
BN: I now have to move house again, aargh.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 13 January, 2016, 03:22:11 pm
COngratulations on the new house and good luck with the move :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 16 January, 2016, 02:37:52 pm
Good news. I managed to get the small black stains out of the landing carpet.
Bad news. It's left clean spots!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 17 January, 2016, 01:19:01 am
GN:  Caught the last train home.
BN:  Had to leave the ball just after midnight to do so.  There were pumpkin jokes a-plenty.


Lesson learned - next time I won't plan an early start on Sunday followed by an afternoon of entertaining.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 January, 2016, 06:28:54 pm
GN: I now know what's wrong with my transmission.
BN: I need a new freehub, so effectively a new hub. And probably a new rim too, so might as well get a whole new wheel.
GN: I can refresh my wheelbuilding skills and knit it myself.
BN: If I can remember how. All that measuring stuff...
BN: That means the new chain and cassette I bought weren't needed.
GN: They'll probably come in useful anyway (and they've lasted longer than the freehub!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 January, 2016, 06:55:25 pm
Then again ^ I suppose I could just fit a new freehub and do a rim transfer. That would be quicker and maybe think of a new build later.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 January, 2016, 07:03:36 pm
Then again again ^^ I've just read that Shimano freehubs are specific to each hub. I thought they were generically interchangeable within the limits of speeds and OLD, just getting better bearings, ratchets and metallurgy as you paid more. Shop (who I actually trust) have told me mine is a poor design of freehub (which I suppose explains how it wore out quicker than chain and cassette) so that seems pointless. Ok, new hub and wheelbuild it is or else new factory wheel.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 29 January, 2016, 12:49:42 pm
Good News: flight home fully boarded and doors shut 20 minutes before departure time.

Bad News: take off slot not until 20 minutes after departure time
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 04 February, 2016, 07:47:13 am
Yay!! After enough years working in a different bit of $megacorp to forget it could happen, Teh n+1 fund got an unsuspected hen's-tooth-like pay packet boost, related to a piece of work I'd completed

Boo!! The visit to my dentist will lead to an anti-boost to Teh n+1 fund to the tune of a multiple of the above. (http://yoursmiles.org/ssmile/sad/s0704.gif)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 February, 2016, 10:57:38 am
GN: Club auction last night. Always entertaining. I managed to offload some clutter find new loving homes for items and bought some brand new 105 brakes for £16.75. (Bidding went ... £15, £16, £16.50, £16.75, so it was the final 25p that clinched it!  ::-))

Possible BN: I'm not entirely sure yet they'll fit over my mudguards.

GN: That will be the perfect reason to build up a summer bike!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 19 February, 2016, 10:31:33 pm

GN @ 17:35: "This is the garage, your car has passed its MOT and is ready for collection"

BN @ 17:39: "This is the garage, actually your car has failed its MOT and we won't be able to find out how much it's going to cost to fix it until Monday"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 20 February, 2016, 06:38:40 pm
GN: I'm on holiday ! In Italy, the bus from Pisa is just getting into Florence.

BN: My throat feels like I've been swallowing barbed wire & glass :-(

What's Italian for Strepsil ?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 20 February, 2016, 06:44:01 pm
Vino?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 February, 2016, 06:47:10 pm
Grappa.  Won't stop your throat from hurting, but you won't care.  See also "whisky as a cold cure".
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 20 February, 2016, 06:52:33 pm
And if your throat wasn't hurting before...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 20 February, 2016, 08:03:17 pm
I am not jealous. Git. (GWS).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 21 February, 2016, 09:38:36 am
GN: I'm on holiday ! In Italy, the bus from Pisa is just getting into Florence.

BN: My throat feels like I've been swallowing barbed wire & glass :-(

What's Italian for Strepsil ?

There's a Italian throat spray that On-One used as the name for one of their bikes. Go into a pharmacy and ask for Pompino.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 21 February, 2016, 09:48:44 am
GN: I'm on holiday ! In Italy, the bus from Pisa is just getting into Florence.

BN: My throat feels like I've been swallowing barbed wire & glass :-(

What's Italian for Strepsil ?

There's a Italian throat spray that On-One used as the name for one of their bikes. Go into a pharmacy and ask for Pompino.

Naughty  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 21 February, 2016, 10:43:16 am
Well I suppose that would moisten the back of the throat......

I forgot toothpaste , so now have a nasty mouth as well :-(

Must pick some up on the way back to the hotel
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 21 February, 2016, 10:45:41 am
Modern globalism being what it is I'll bet you recognise the packaging...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 February, 2016, 08:10:28 pm
Bah: Found on the BBC's webby SCIENCE ten whole episodes of "The Infinite Monkey Cage" wot I aten't yet heard :(
Hurrah: iTunes library now contains ten unheard infinite monkeys :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wobbly John on 26 February, 2016, 08:22:53 pm
GN: I got paid an unexpected bonus for teaching one of the sixth form physics sets for a term because the head of Physics has been off sick.  :D

BN: More than a third of it has gone in tax/NI/pension.  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 28 February, 2016, 01:06:50 pm
GN: Standing in the lift on Friday I remembered I can claim mileage for my cycle commuting - yay.
BN: I just had to extensively modify my yearly time, mileage & expenses spreadsheet to account for cycle commuting.  The mileage part was already moderately complicated due to the under / over 10k rates, now there's a 3rd rate to account for.
GN: Only a 3rd rate, not a 3rd and 4th thankfully.
BN: The room I've rented is way too close to work to pay for this years n + 1 in the year.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 28 February, 2016, 04:11:01 pm
Move further away, then when you're slogging through the rain/ice/wind on the way to work you can think "I'm getting paid for doing this".

 ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 01 March, 2016, 10:57:12 pm
BN: I've been slogging away at my desk from about 8 this morning until gone 9.30 tonight to get a job finished...

GN: Hang on a sec, it's it's not the 2nd of March until tomorrow, is it? So in fact I've finished the job a day early?

 :facepalm:

 ;D

Supplementary BN: This means I need to fork out for a new kitchen clock that understands the concept of leap years.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 01 March, 2016, 11:46:09 pm
Can't you just restart/reboot clock after midnight and shelve that for another 4 years?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 02 March, 2016, 12:31:04 am
I'm actually quite enjoying being a day ahead!

I generally make a habit of deliberately setting all clocks in the house a few minutes fast - I find it helps me get to the station on time for my train, although this is no longer such a concern since I finished commuting a couple of weeks ago. Even though I know the clocks are fast, I find myself compelled to act as if the time they are showing is correct.

It never occurred to me before to set the clocks a whole day ahead but now I'm thinking I might just leave it like that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 04 March, 2016, 02:14:45 pm
Good news -
I found some tiles for sale which were a close enough match (a nice old-fashioned green) to the old ones in our kitchen that they'd do for the wall behind the new sink.

Bad news - not local so I had to get em delivered, which put the price of a couple of boxes up significantly.

More bad news - when the bloke doing the work opened the boxes this morning, the majority were broken.

Good - when I phoned the sellers their customer service person Rebecca was helpful & efficient. She said if I sent photos before 4 pm I could have new ones delivered on Monday - and that's now booked, the photos of the broken tiles being satisfactory. She's requested that the delivery be done using their own transport rather than the 3rd party courier used before.

More good - Matt the kitchen & bathroom man (who's already done a good job on the bathroom, to Mrs B's delight) is happy to come back to finish the job. He'll finish early today, when he's done everything else, & we'll fix the date for the tiling when the new tiles have been safely delivered.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: vantage on 04 March, 2016, 03:42:48 pm
Good news: My new bar and tape have arrived.
Bad news: They arrived at my fiancées house which is 11 miles away.

Good news: I have my daughters this weekend.
Bad news: I'll end up having to endure endless Barbie films.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 04 March, 2016, 04:02:22 pm
Bad news: I'll end up having to endure endless Barbie films.

Good news: they're not actually endless, they just feel that way sometimes. ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 04 March, 2016, 09:01:12 pm
At least it's not 'Frozen'.

Just let it go . . .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: vantage on 04 March, 2016, 09:23:39 pm
At least it's not 'Frozen'.

Just let it go . . .
;D

Been there done that  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 04 March, 2016, 09:36:58 pm
At least it's not 'Frozen'.

Just let it go . . .
;D

Been there done that  :P

Luckily we have two sons
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 04 March, 2016, 09:40:12 pm
GN: I haven't broken a rear spoke on the new singlespeed wheel
BN: Three spokes are unscrewing themselves instead.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 05 March, 2016, 09:13:12 am
BN: The rest of the family are sodding off without me over Easter.
GN: No one's mentioned that I've got decorating or other jobs to do (yet).
GN: I guess I could plan a little ride.
BN: I'm suffering from indecision.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: vantage on 06 March, 2016, 02:55:08 pm
Good News: Picked up my new bar and tape  ;D
Bad News: I overstretched the bar tape  :facepalm:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1601/24929672693_9cc5b7a1b6_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DYX69Z)Aaarrggghhh FECK!!! (https://flic.kr/p/DYX69Z) by William McFadden (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137835078@N03/), on Flickr
Why me???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 08 March, 2016, 07:50:53 pm
GN: The dog shelter lady was fairly enthusiastic about me adopting a dog!

BN: Understandably they'd want to see the back garden fenced in properly. From a bit of googling I reckon I won't get much change from about £1500 :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 March, 2016, 09:04:45 pm
GN: The dog shelter lady was fairly enthusiastic about me adopting a dog!

BN: Understandably they'd want to see the back garden fenced in properly. From a bit of googling I reckon I won't get much change from about £1500 :(

I have just paid £2455 to have my right fence replaced today.
They did a very nice job...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Dibdib on 08 March, 2016, 09:12:49 pm
GN: The dog shelter lady was fairly enthusiastic about me adopting a dog!

BN: Understandably they'd want to see the back garden fenced in properly. From a bit of googling I reckon I won't get much change from about £1500 :(

I have just paid £2455 to have my right fence replaced today.
They did a very nice job...

*wince*

The more I look around, the more I think £1500 might be a starting point. :( Depending on how I join it to the garage I reckon I'm looking at needing about 100-120ft of fencing in total. It doesn't need to be decorative but it does need to be fairly good quality; I sure as hell can't afford to do it again any time soon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 March, 2016, 09:51:40 pm
I've been at this abode 16 years and the pre-existing fence finally collapsed last week.
I'd been deferring its replacement but had quotes for this.
Decided to go for it after the collapse as 1) It was necessary and 2) Fence supports conduit for David's observatory.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 11 March, 2016, 12:35:41 pm
BN: While fettling my brakes, I decided the outer for the rear brake was too long, so I trimmed a bit off it. And then it was too short.

GN: While rooting around in the box of bits in the garage for something entirely unrelated, I came across a length of unused brake outer cable - more than enough to replace the bit I'd cut too short.

I really should clear out a lot of the crap in the garage but sometimes hoarding pays off.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 15 March, 2016, 11:33:11 am
BN Dr wants me to give up coffee.

GN I had a minor 'episode' while in surgery and lost speech control. Really good that Dr actually was there to witness this rather me feeling like I'm making it up.
   
BN I'm still going through the motions of 'diagnosis by drug treatment'. Next to try, topiramate.

I'm kind of confused as to why I've never been sent near the hospital neuro department, with its battery of specialist headache nurses.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 15 March, 2016, 12:53:30 pm
BN Dr wants me to give up coffee.

GN I had a minor 'episode' while in surgery and lost speech control. Really good that Dr actually was there to witness this rather me feeling like I'm making it up.
   
BN I'm still going through the motions of 'diagnosis by drug treatment'. Next to try, topiramate.

I'm kind of confused as to why I've never been sent near the hospital neuro department, with its battery of specialist headache nurses.
I don't drink coffee, under doctors' (well, it might have been nurses') orders. It's not that big a hardship,  truly.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 15 March, 2016, 01:16:21 pm
I don't drink coffee, under doctors' (well, it might have been nurses') orders. It's not that big a hardship,  truly.
Heretic!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 15 March, 2016, 03:27:21 pm
Me too.  Coffee, once a big part of my life, went the same way as meat and alcohol into the 'not much missed, actually, all things considered' bin.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 15 March, 2016, 04:11:08 pm
Bad news:
My razor - the one I was given by my mother when I first had a use for one, in another world (it was about 1972), & which I've never needed to replace since it has always worked perfectly well, got knocked (not by me!) onto the tiled floor of the bathroom a few days ago, and one of the butterfly bits that hold the blade down was knocked out of place. My first attempt to put it back completely dislodged it.

Good news:
I've fixed it! With a bit of effort & a small screwdriver to pry things apart far enough to push other bits into place, I got it back together & working.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 16 March, 2016, 09:49:01 am
Bad news:
My razor - the one I was given by my mother when I first had a use for one, in another world (it was about 1972), & which I've never needed to replace since it has always worked perfectly well, got knocked (not by me!) onto the tiled floor of the bathroom a few days ago, and one of the butterfly bits that hold the blade down was knocked out of place. My first attempt to put it back completely dislodged it.
Don't you think it is about time you replaced the blade?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 21 March, 2016, 04:15:25 pm
GN 6 days after my beta-blocker dose has been halved and I'm feeling the benefit. Caught up with a red-light jumper and overtook them on a hill - my heart was up to putting in more effort.

BN Right now I'm so dizzy I'll struggle to walk to the bus station without using a stick.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 21 March, 2016, 04:57:50 pm
Bad news: bird did a dump on me.

Good news: I was wearing my hat, see Mike always prepared :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 24 March, 2016, 06:34:08 pm
Bad news:  my house is filthy.

Good news: my best bike is now called Shiny McShiny Cleanface Sparkle II
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 March, 2016, 08:12:29 pm
:)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 24 March, 2016, 08:50:09 pm
Bad news:  my house is filthy.

Good news: my best bike is now called Shiny McShiny Cleanface Sparkle II

Have you thought of putting forward names for polar exploration vessels Ruthie?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 24 March, 2016, 11:15:31 pm
Bad news:  my house is filthy.

Good news: my best bike is now called Shiny McShiny Cleanface Sparkle II

Have you thought of putting forward names for polar exploration vessels Ruthie?

Or My Little Ponies?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 25 March, 2016, 07:35:49 am
GN the three days of work from hell to meet the end of march deadline will not start today, so I should get out for at least an hour.

BN the remaining clients are far enough behind that the three days of hell will go right to the wire

GN if our new recruit stays another 5 months I'll pick up a nice recruitment bonus as I spotted him

BN the taxman
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 25 March, 2016, 11:36:50 am
GN: it's a beautiful sunny day, ideal for a bike ride.

BN: I've had a stiff neck for the last fortnight & now my upper back is painful as well. I've booked a physio appointment for next week, but don't think riding my bike is going to improve things.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 25 March, 2016, 06:32:22 pm
GN: I'm packed ready for tomorrow.
BN: Tent didn't fit in the panniers. I'm sure I've got a load of stuff I don't really need. I'll probably repack later, after a couple of glasses of wine. That's always a good plan.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 26 March, 2016, 12:31:42 pm
BN:  Poorly in the head
GN: Effective drug management to control the poorly
BN:  Ran out of drugz 'cos I had fewer magic pills than I thought
GN: Ordered moar magic drugz online 'cos you can do that
BN: Pharmacy closed early to no access to magic drugz. 
BN: Prescription is now sent direct to specific pharmacy.  Which is shut.
BN: This will mean a week without magic drugz. 
BN: Increasing head poorliness due to lack of magic drugz
GN: Have now put reminder to order magic drugz on my phone.
BN: Could've done that years ago but was too dumb to think about it.

Oh, well.  Mcshroom dropped off an Easter egg this morning so there's chocolate in the house.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 26 March, 2016, 12:39:34 pm
I would say seeing Mcshroom is good news too :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 26 March, 2016, 12:52:29 pm
I would say seeing Mcshroom is good news too :)

It's always good seeing mcshroom.  Balanced out by the fact that he was supposed to stay over last night but we have some kind of amoebic dysentery/typhoid/norovirus/mild dose of the trots in this house, so I suggested he should not stay over in case he caught it and his audax today was ruined.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 26 March, 2016, 01:04:45 pm
GN: My Dad has recovered from his bout of pneumonia that nearly saw him off.

BN: He's a very lost soul in his respite home that he's in for the next week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 26 March, 2016, 01:07:37 pm
I would say seeing Mcshroom is good news too :)

It's always good seeing mcshroom.  Balanced out by the fact that he was supposed to stay over last night but we have some kind of amoebic dysentery/typhoid/norovirus/mild dose of the trots in this house, so I suggested he should not stay over in case he caught it and his audax today was ruined.
Tailwind to the man and GWS to you :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 31 March, 2016, 12:16:58 pm
GN: London Midland have fully refunded our tickets after that disastrous trip to London caused by apocalyptic flooding the other week.

BN: Rail Travel Vouchers :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 31 March, 2016, 01:29:06 pm
Didn't Wowbagger discover that you are not obliged to accept vouchers and can demand CA$$$H in some previous tale of woe?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 31 March, 2016, 01:38:29 pm
Didn't Wowbagger discover that you are not obliged to accept vouchers and can demand CA$$$H in some previous tale of woe?

I expect that was a goodwill thing.  I'm not sure I can be arsed arguing the toss, given the value of the vouchers.

Annoyingly, they came with a letter explaining that the new rules mean that vouchers issued after July will be exchangeable for cash at a ticket office.  But not these ones, unfortunately.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 March, 2016, 02:54:13 pm
Wait till July. Book another journey. Ensure that one is cancelled due to apocalyptic heatwave or something. Exchange new vouchers for cash. Job done!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 31 March, 2016, 02:56:31 pm
Wait till July. Book another journey. Ensure that one is cancelled due to apocalyptic heatwave or something. Exchange new vouchers for cash. Job done!

 ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jakob W on 31 March, 2016, 05:20:58 pm
GN: Editor sent through article proofs, which look great, so that should cover the a respray at Bob Jackson plus various new bits for my Eclipse.

BN: I don't get paid until it's on newsstands and have to invoice, bah.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 19 April, 2016, 09:18:17 pm
GN: TV guide says Get Carter is on the telly box tonight.
BN: Starring Sylvester Stallone.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 19 April, 2016, 09:40:48 pm
GN: TV guide says Get Carter is on the telly box tonight.
BN: Starring Sylvester Stallone.
That's a disappointment.
The workshop manager at my job at The Science Museum was married to the daughter of the bloke who wrote Get Carter.
As you were...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 20 April, 2016, 09:23:17 am
BN: Customer had his bike nicked.

GN: Police appear to have recovered it.

BN: GMP wanted a picture of 'him with his bike' before they would release it.

GN: I was able to give GMP a detailed description of the bike and I think he's getting it back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 20 April, 2016, 09:32:52 am
Good work John :)

The importance of an LBS and knowing your bike seller :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 20 April, 2016, 01:36:19 pm
And of having photos of you with your bike, I suppose.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 April, 2016, 02:10:17 pm
And a record of the frame number or proof of original purchase.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 20 April, 2016, 04:56:40 pm
Update. He called in earlier to say thanks.

Got the bike back intact, virtually undamaged.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 April, 2016, 05:25:42 pm
Excellent! And quite good luck.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 20 April, 2016, 07:05:35 pm
And a record of the frame number or proof of original purchase.

PSA: Anyone not got their frame numbers on http://www.immobilise.com ?  You know what to do.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 April, 2016, 12:32:54 pm
You can put photos up there too! Must update mine...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 24 April, 2016, 11:51:22 pm
BN. In January the Reading Bicycle Kitchen had to leave the premises in the former Jacksons department store it had been using, for a peppercorn rent, pending its sale. The building had been bought, & the new owners wanted to take possession of a vacant building.

GN. It moved back in yesterday.  :thumbsup: The new owners, like their predecessors, prefer to have tenants than an empty building.

http://www.readingbicyclekitchen.org/ (http://www.readingbicyclekitchen.org/)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: cygnet on 24 April, 2016, 11:59:04 pm
GN - a suspect has been arrested, charged and remanded into custody over the theft of my bike last year

BN - no sign of the bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 25 April, 2016, 03:06:18 am
Pliers. Blowtorch. Medieval.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 25 April, 2016, 12:10:02 pm
BN- My 6 month trial as senior caretaker has been curtailed.

GN- I now have the job on a permanent basis.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Legs on 25 April, 2016, 01:10:07 pm
BN- My 6 month trial as senior caretaker has been curtailed.

GN- I now have the job on a permanent basis.
;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: cycleman on 25 April, 2016, 01:29:16 pm
Good to hear fuzzy  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 25 April, 2016, 01:31:30 pm
Marvellous  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 25 April, 2016, 01:32:12 pm
Wouldn't have expected any other result.

Well done!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 25 April, 2016, 04:22:36 pm
Exactly wot Torslanda said!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 25 April, 2016, 05:45:13 pm
Very good.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 26 April, 2016, 10:10:52 am
Thanks folks :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 26 April, 2016, 10:51:53 am
Another life sentence of servitude.   ;)

Well done old chap.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 26 April, 2016, 11:41:12 am
Next stop: CEO!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 26 April, 2016, 12:32:05 pm
GN:  My friend gave me a box of chocolates this morning!   :D


BN:  I ate the whole top layer in one go  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 26 April, 2016, 12:33:25 pm
"GN: There's a bottom layer"?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 26 April, 2016, 12:44:07 pm
"GN: There's a bottom layer"?

I actually checked as soon as I opened the box  O:-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 26 April, 2016, 01:07:00 pm
"GN: There's a bottom layer"?

BN: both layers contain strawberry cream
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 26 April, 2016, 01:22:57 pm
GN: There's always a friend who likes strawberry cream.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 26 April, 2016, 04:56:26 pm
I like strawberry cream!

This was strawberry and mascarpone, in both layers, and it was nom.

The vicar came round but she only had one chocolate, gosh darn it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 27 April, 2016, 09:03:01 am
So it's not really a sin then.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 28 April, 2016, 08:05:47 pm

It could happen to any one:

Quote
A couple booked a dream holiday to Las Vegas, only to discover when they arrived at Birmingham Airport they had mistakenly booked to fly from Birmingham Alabama.

Richella Heekin saved for two years for a surprise £1,200 holiday for boyfriend Ben Marlow's 30th birthday last month.
But the excited couple arrived to find the airline's desk closed.
Staff confirmed the BHM airport code on their tickets meant Birmingham Alabama, not the UK's second city.
Read live updates from Birmingham, plus more stories
The airport code for the British Birmingham is BHX.

But the couple, from Sutton Coldfield and both carers for children with special needs, were devastated when they turned up to see no flights on the board.


However..

Quote
Since attracting media attention, the couple have been offered a free five-day holiday to Las Vegas by Virgin Holidays.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-36150328

Yeah, I know it's 'Bad news/Good news' but still...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 29 April, 2016, 08:37:39 am
Good news: my broadband speed appears to have doubled overnight.

Bad news: it was 0.5Mb/s yesterday
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 29 April, 2016, 10:56:01 am
Asterix, do you think that's because Virgin value particularly thick patients customers
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 11 May, 2016, 03:58:41 pm
GN: The intense workload I've been under for the last few weeks, less over the last few days, is now pretty much over and I can skive off home early, whoop!

BN: But it's raining

GN: Not that much

BN: Enough to provoke a visitation

GN: But there's a station entrance I can shelter in

BN: I probably didn't want to hoik out the brake pad, this is going to take a little longer than planned

GN: At least I'm in shelter when the heavens opened
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 16 May, 2016, 10:36:53 am
BN: I couldn't find my phone this morning, It didn't ring when I called it from the land line. I realised I must have dropped it when I went to the allotment last evening.
GN: It was safe & sound in the grass by where I'd left my bag while fiddling around on the allotment.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 23 May, 2016, 09:12:26 am
BN: Returned from a Scout camp in Belgium with about 20 mosquito bites
GN: No tic bites but I did find one marching across the back of my hand towards my coat sleeve
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 23 May, 2016, 09:44:25 am
BN - The garage couldn't fully straighten out my bent rim so it'll need replacing.

GN - There's no damage to the rest of the car from whacking that rock, and they've fixed the wheel so I'm safe again.

The plan is to get a new wheel and tyre fitted next week when I get back from France and chuck the old wheel in the boot as a full size spare. Better than a can of foam :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 23 May, 2016, 11:51:59 am
BN - The garage couldn't fully straighten out my bent rim so it'll need replacing.


I really should pay attention.
When I read that I thought, "I didn't know he had a 'bent, and why was he asking a garage to fix it?"    :-[
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 23 May, 2016, 01:12:32 pm
BN - The garage couldn't fully straighten out my bent rim so it'll need replacing.


I really should pay attention.
When I read that I thought, "I didn't know he had a 'bent, and why was he asking a garage to fix it?"    :-[

He might have changed into Von Broad.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Legs on 03 June, 2016, 07:09:04 pm
BN: I've lost my excuse to buy another Garmin Forerunner to replace my ancient (well, 3 year old) FR110.
GN: I managed to fix the strap with trusty old superglue - seems pretty sturdy.
BN: Superglue fingers...  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PeteB99 on 10 June, 2016, 11:55:36 am
GN Just got a letter saying the government want to give me £200 taxfree later in the year.

BN I'm eligible for the winter fuel allowance next winter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 10 June, 2016, 01:17:27 pm
GN Just got a letter saying the government want to give me £200 taxfree later in the year.

BN I'm eligible for the winter fuel allowance next winter.

In Brum, I was very good.  I spent the money on keeping warm.   O:-)

In the pub.   :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 June, 2016, 11:43:23 am
BN: the posh bog roll holder kept falling to pieces. A very poor design where the grub screw kept coming undone. A triumph of style over substance.
GN: the very functional replacement cost £1.45.
GN: the screw holes for the old one almost exactly matched the new ones. No drilling needed. Job done in 2 minutes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 11 June, 2016, 04:35:09 pm
GN: I went for a bike ride.
GN: I, just, outpaced the rain on the way home.
BN: My overall speed, once multiple stops for both making my brakes stop squeaking and eating ice cream are taken into account, was barely more than walking pace.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 12 June, 2016, 04:50:40 pm
GN - M5 frame finally arrived
BN - loads of bits, no instructions (I don't think Bram does instructions), cranks not back yet, need to swap front derailleur
GN - I can start to play meccano
BN - too much work next week
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Si S on 17 June, 2016, 01:57:20 pm
GN: I found me e-cig charger, I don't have to buy a new one
BN: I found my e-cig charger, I've got my first nicotine craving for days  ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 18 June, 2016, 01:28:41 pm
BN: the posh bog roll holder kept falling to pieces. A very poor design where the grub screw kept coming undone. A triumph of style over substance.
GN: the very functional replacement cost £1.45.
GN: the screw holes for the old one almost exactly matched the new ones. No drilling needed. Job done in 2 minutes.
BN: You can't reach over and put a bog roll onto it whilst seated on the throne.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 18 June, 2016, 06:26:30 pm
BN I've done my shoulder/ neck in (over)doing Pilates exercises and can't lift my head upright, or do anything without pain really.
GN our sports massage chap can fit me in on Monday to try to sort it out.
BN I've had to cancel a dog grooming taster course I was due to go on on Monday. Yes, that's bad news in my book.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 20 June, 2016, 03:43:20 pm
BN: the fridge in the lounge at Oslo airport on has alcohol free beer.

GN: there's a tap of draught beer
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 June, 2016, 09:34:29 am
GN: Thanks to something Jo posted elsethread, I am now listening to the Carpenters.
BN: Thanks to something Jo posted elsethread, I am now listening to the Carpenters.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 23 June, 2016, 10:15:14 pm
Voice of an angel, tragic to lose her so young . . .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 23 June, 2016, 11:53:33 pm
Bad news. We're down to our last bulb of home-grown garlic from last year.  :(
Good news. There's a lot more garlic in the allotment.  ;)
Bad. It has rust.  :(
Good. I dug up the rustiest-looking plant & there was a fat juicy mature-looking bulb underneath.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 24 June, 2016, 07:59:16 pm
Well, the bad news, everyone knows.

The good news? well, chez Ham Towers, there is an annual barbecue with loadsapeople and a pig onna stick. As a matter of tradition, said piggy has to be named. The good news, this year there will be no further consideration having fixed on "David"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 24 June, 2016, 09:39:19 pm
GN: I took the early flight home today, finishing at 12noon on a Friday for once
BN : flight was delayed 1 hour at ABZ, then on landing at LHR, due to a French ATC strike screwing everything up, I had a further 90 min delay on the ground
GN: finally home, drinking French white wine, while it's still available.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 24 June, 2016, 10:34:37 pm
GN: Plan to go for a spin with some chums tomorrow.
BN: This might not happen, on account of stopping a carelessly thrown rounders bat with my knee at Scouts tonight.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 27 June, 2016, 10:00:37 am
Well, the bad news, everyone knows.

The good news? well, chez Ham Towers, there is an annual barbecue with loadsapeople and a pig onna stick. As a matter of tradition, said piggy has to be named. The good news, this year there will be no further consideration having fixed on "David"
Seems not quite right. Wouldn't you name the stick David, and the pig Boris?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 28 June, 2016, 09:00:00 pm
GN: Had a lovely day out at Glyndebourne on Sunday to see "Barber of Seville".

BN: The two hour car ride out there made my back twinge a bit; the three-and-a-half hour ride back did me in right and proper.  Back to popping pills every few hours.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 June, 2016, 09:09:50 pm
Could be worse.  It took the Drs Larrington & Davis five hours to get there from Oxford the other day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 28 June, 2016, 09:26:42 pm
Could be worse.  It took the Drs Larrington & Davis five hours to get there from Oxford the other day.

Ouch.  We made the mistake of coming back via the M4 - which is currently shut from 22:00 to 05:00 near Heathrow.  As no one in the car is a regular driver, and even the occasional ones rarely use the M4, this came as a very unpleasant surprise to us.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Legs on 30 June, 2016, 12:16:12 pm
BN:  After my neighbours (both) and Mrs Legs got stung for the second time in two weeks, Mrs Legs and I had a heart-to-heart at the weekend based about
(a) our 3-year-old son
(b) a mild anaphylactic reaction I had a few years ago, and
(c) our beekeeping activities gradually becoming more reactive
and decided that we're going to put our beekeeping on hold for the foreseeable future.  We're taking the hives to Hull to give to my father-in-law.
GN:  Although they're mega-uppity, our bees have been very productive this year and I took off a couple of supers of honey last night  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 14 July, 2016, 03:42:27 pm
GN I finally got a letter from the hospital !

BN It isn't a date for my arm operation, it's a report on my last visit to the neuro. Written 15th of June and just arrived.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 14 July, 2016, 10:34:55 pm
GN : finally got an appointment for orthotics (or at least an assessment)
BN : as usual they sent me an appointment out of th eblue with no consultation and I couldn't make it, but at least they changed it easy enough.  It's only beeen 7 months since the x-rays.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 23 July, 2016, 07:19:55 am
BN: the closest 3 Citybike stations to my flat were empty so I had to walk to the station & missed my train by a couple of minutes.

GN: The Virgin train manager was OK about me using my cheap day return on the next one.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 July, 2016, 06:59:48 pm
Hurrah: my new Shiny arrived a Several of days earlier than expected :thumbsup:
Bah: In the box with the Shiny are vouchers (various), viz.
Nice gesture, Mr E Buyer, but I am a bearded recovering alcoholic whose idea of haute cuisine is a takeaway pizza :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 23 July, 2016, 07:05:54 pm
We received a similar large denomination wine voucher recently, with something ordered electronically. It went straight into paper recycling; we don't drink much...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pedaldog. on 24 July, 2016, 12:48:37 am
Nice gesture, Mr E Buyer, but I am a bearded recovering alcoholic whose idea of haute cuisine is a takeaway pizza :'(

Thing about that is, they may be haute when you get 'em but they're generally a bit cold by the time you'm got home.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 July, 2016, 04:05:05 pm
There ought to be some sort of community voucher exchange, like those phone boxes repurposed as book boxes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 05 August, 2016, 12:37:53 am
BN: Our microwave died tonight after about 8 years.
GN: I've ordered a basic replacement for £34.99 from Curry's.

GN: The Council will collect dead microwaves. (W are car-free and several miles from any dump Recycling and Reuse Centre.
BN: The earliest possible collection date is seven weeks after booking.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 05 August, 2016, 12:48:56 am
I think that the WEEE directive means that any supplier of electrical goods must also take back similar items for recycling and disposal. While it wouldn't surprise me if they can get away with only doing that instore, it's probably worth asking Currys if their delivery service will take the old one away.

ETA - Hmm. Reckon a microwave counts as a large kitchen appliance?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/recycle-1042-theme.html
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 05 August, 2016, 01:03:07 am
The website stated I could take the microwave to a store.

Given that I am disabled and car-free, that isn't very cheaply practicable.

I am not prepared to pay £15 to dispose of my microwave if I can get this free from the council.

Given the length of wait, I'm not surprised people fly-tip.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: arabella on 05 August, 2016, 12:42:14 pm
Wonders if this counts as being discriminatory.  When I got a new washing machine from, I think, AOL, they did take the old one away.
otoh I currently have 2 no-longer-wanted mattresses and the council here charge £26 or thereabouts for up to 5 objects.  So I need to find 3 more items I don't need and which don't fit on my bike trailer...  Perhaps I'll ask some of the neighbours instead.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 05 August, 2016, 01:02:25 pm
I think that the WEEE directive means that any supplier of electrical goods must also take back similar items for recycling and disposal. While it wouldn't surprise me if they can get away with only doing that instore, it's probably worth asking Currys if their delivery service will take the old one away.

ETA - Hmm. Reckon a microwave counts as a large kitchen appliance?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/recycle-1042-theme.html

There are several alternatives for the manufacturer (or importer into the EU) - it's them that has the obligation on the recycling IIRC.

They can fund local authorities, or incentivise the retailers as options, but there is no statutory obligation on the retailer.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 05 August, 2016, 04:10:32 pm
Can't you just leave it in the front garden and discover it's mysteriously vanished the next day?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 05 August, 2016, 04:40:21 pm
The above only applies to something you want to keep, IME . . .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 05 August, 2016, 05:46:44 pm
I can get three free Council collections of up to five items every financial year, which is pretty good. The seven week wait is what galls and might encourage the time and space poor to dump stuffs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 August, 2016, 12:18:31 pm
BN: Not only is my front wheel buckled beyond rim-transplantability, the forks are knocked sideways too.
GN: Argos finally answered the phone, they can straighten them and it costs quite a bit less than a new set. And they'll still be the right colour!
BN: Weirdly, saddle is bent out of shape. (It felt like my hip took all that force!)
GN: It looks as if saddle rails are not bent, just the top of the saddle has somehow been knocked upwards off the rails, so possibly it's bang-back-into-shape-able (oh yeah?).
BN: Now I have to take the bike to pieces.
GN: Finger's healing well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 06 August, 2016, 12:24:29 pm
I think that the WEEE directive means that any supplier of electrical goods must also take back similar items for recycling and disposal. While it wouldn't surprise me if they can get away with only doing that instore, it's probably worth asking Currys if their delivery service will take the old one away.

ETA - Hmm. Reckon a microwave counts as a large kitchen appliance?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/recycle-1042-theme.html
I have replaced a few broken washing machines & fridges in the last 20 years. All were taken away by the deliverers of the new ones. They charged, but not much.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 06 August, 2016, 12:37:24 pm
I think that the WEEE directive means that any supplier of electrical goods must also take back similar items for recycling and disposal. While it wouldn't surprise me if they can get away with only doing that instore, it's probably worth asking Currys if their delivery service will take the old one away.

ETA - Hmm. Reckon a microwave counts as a large kitchen appliance?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/recycle-1042-theme.html
I have replaced a few broken washing machines & fridges in the last 20 years. All were taken away by the deliverers of the new ones. They charged, but not much.

I think Currys would take the old oven but £15 for a £34.99 oven makes it a £50 oven...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 07 August, 2016, 11:26:44 pm
Yes. It seems excessive. IIRC it's more than we were charged last year for taking away our old washing machine by the deliverers of the new one.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 14 August, 2016, 08:22:19 pm
GN: My friends from chuch have just got home after what sounds like a very enjoyable charity Coast to Coast ride.

BN: One of them had their bike nicked at the pub in Newcastle after they'd finished >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 14 August, 2016, 08:29:01 pm
Thieving little numpties ... :( Else good riding :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 14 August, 2016, 08:36:04 pm
Well at least they'd finished the ride.  :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 14 August, 2016, 08:38:21 pm
Yeah there is that. Apparently the cable lock was cut and bike nicked while people were sat at the outside tables near them. One of the people sat outside was astounded (and apologetic) that he hadn't noticed a thing so it sounds like the thief had some experience.

This is the Quayside, a pub I've used for YACF night rides in the past which makes me a little nervous about doing so again.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 15 August, 2016, 03:00:39 pm
GN: Partner ordered Stuffs from Thomann in Deutschland wot were cheaper than UK purchase, despite Brexit, last Thursday night.
GN: Tracking last night stated consignment was in England.
GN: Packages were delivered at 9.00am today.
BN: This awoke the sleeping partner.
BN: Partner received an email timestamped 12.40 stating parcels were out for delivery... ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 17 August, 2016, 02:58:58 pm
GN I have been to mainland europe for some hols already this year.
BN B de Change are currently offering 99 cents for £1. That is an eye watering difference from June. Oh and it means I am much poorer in relative terms.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 17 August, 2016, 03:29:05 pm
GN I'm off on holibobs next week to the Lakes
BN It isn't a walking holiday, it's a family trip
BN Half of the family aren't coming anyway, so 5+ baby are going to be rattling around a house for 12
GN It's a damn holiday anyway
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 14 September, 2016, 09:43:03 pm
GN: New  varifocal glasses arrived today, the old ones not having survived being slept on in a hammock.
BN: How much!? That's the price of half a decent bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 September, 2016, 10:30:32 am
I am expecting a parcel.  From MSI.  In the Nether Lands.  "Ding and, moreover, dong" sa the doorbell and in due course a man from Yodel hand over a package with arcane markings on it indicating it had indeed come from the land of windmills, clogs and tulips.

My suspicions are aroused when, on removing the outer packaging, that which remains is enclosed in a piece of cardboard which, in a previous life, served to contain bags of Haribo Gummi BEARs.  This, I feel, is not the kind of packaging that would be used by a Mega-Global electronics corporation.  Also, their parcel was being delivered by UPS.

Bah: It is not the parcel I was expecting :(
Hurrah: It is instead from my grate frend Jan-Marcel van Dijken and contains a Team Cygnus T-shaped shirt and, and this is the good bit, two packets of Stroopwafels which only have a slender chance of surviving until lunchtime.

Now, UPS, where TF are you?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 30 September, 2016, 02:10:39 pm
"Ding and, moreover, dong" sa the doorbell

I wonder if I could persuade Norman Lovett to record that?  Might be a worthy successor to the now legendary Rod Hull...


Quote
Now, UPS, where TF are you?

Busy searching parcels for stroopwafels.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 September, 2016, 03:03:49 pm
It has arrived.  See the "Bought any computer stuff today" thread for further details.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 October, 2016, 11:20:13 am
Hurrah: Professor Larrington has agreed to take 2D Thomas to Captain Cook's Mistake :thumbsup:
Bah: I think the battery on my Kindle may have died. Fully charged last night, unable to turn itself on this morning >:(

It's not so much the expense of replacing the Kindle that's the problem, it's all the sorting of books into collections.  This will make me grumpy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 05 October, 2016, 07:31:08 pm
Bad news: Little Sister was riding to work this morning & turning right at lights. A van coming the other direction decided to turn left without indicating  >:( .  She hit the brakes too hard & came off her bike.

Good news: Only minor cuts & bruises and the bikes OK, she was able to ride home at the end of the day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 October, 2016, 09:57:45 pm
Hurrah: I finally shook off the clod I've been nurturing since Idaho Falls, just in time for...

Bah: ...Professor Larrington to pass me a home-grown one.

Drat and, moreover, fiddlesticks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 October, 2016, 09:42:51 am
Bad news: Little Sister was riding to work this morning & turning right at lights. A van coming the other direction decided to turn left without indicating  >:( .  She hit the brakes too hard & came off her bike.

Good news: Only minor cuts & bruises and the bikes OK, she was able to ride home at the end of the day.
Good news that you've got the cycle-commuting firmly implanted in her.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2016, 06:37:39 pm
Hurrah: My Kindle's battery issue appears to have been a glitch in The Matrix :thumbsup:
Bah: It then decided that wifi was something for Other People Devices, requiring a factory reset to get it to start speaking over Stan's Radio.  Which means reloading all the content.  Into collections.  The list of which takes up five pages on its own >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: lou boutin on 06 October, 2016, 07:17:15 pm
Hurrah: Professor Larrington has agreed to take 2D Thomas to Captain Cook's Mistake :thumbsup:
Bah: I think the battery on my Kindle may have died. Fully charged last night, unable to turn itself on this morning >:(

It's not so much the expense of replacing the Kindle that's the problem, it's all the sorting of books into collections.  This will make me grumpy.

Dr Larrington has a chair?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 October, 2016, 12:30:22 pm
Hurrah: Professor Larrington has agreed to take 2D Thomas to Captain Cook's Mistake :thumbsup:
Bah: I think the battery on my Kindle may have died. Fully charged last night, unable to turn itself on this morning >:(

It's not so much the expense of replacing the Kindle that's the problem, it's all the sorting of books into collections.  This will make me grumpy.

Dr Larrington has a chair?

She got promoted a couple of months ago; a minion of The Man rang her up and said "Congratulations, ur now teh Professor ov $SUBJECT1".

"O goody!  Is there more money?"

"No"

The visiting wossname she's just starting at the University of Western Australia was arranged a couple of years ago and appears to consist of two parts teaching to one part gadding about the Counterweight Continent plugging her "Game Of Thrones" book :demon:  And we may yet see 2D Thomas at a Test Match, though sadly not one involving the BRITONS' England, if he hasn't been confiscated by Customs or mistaken for lunch by the local fauna.

1: Variation on a theme of Medieval English
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 October, 2016, 05:25:59 pm
Who or what is 2D Thomas?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feanor on 07 October, 2016, 05:30:36 pm
Who or what is 2D Thomas?

A character from Mr Larrington's Automatic Diary (http://automatic-diary.blogspot.com/).

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 October, 2016, 06:13:32 pm
Ah, thx.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 07 October, 2016, 06:15:29 pm
Someone should introduce him to 2D Basil (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=93587.msg1939160#msg1939160).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 October, 2016, 06:24:03 pm
The real Thomas van Schaik was an annual visitor to Battle Mountain as a member of Team Cygnus, first as a rider and then as a dogsbody, but rather inconsiderately moved to China in 2015.  Since the Battle Mountain event wouldn't be the same without him, certain other members of the team created 2D Thomas for joke comedy photographic purposes.  At the awards bash this year it was suggested I took him on a road trip; on returning home I further auggested he should accompany Prof Larrington to the Counterweight Continent where, hopefully, he should now be recovering from jet lag in Perth.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 07 October, 2016, 06:29:12 pm
The real Thomas van Schaik was an annual visitor to Battle Mountain as a member of Team Cygnus, first as a rider and then as a dogsbody, but rather inconsiderately moved to China in 2015.  Since the Battle Mountain event wouldn't be the same without him, certain other members of the team created 2D Thomas for joke comedy photographic purposes.

See, him and Basil have loads in common.  The Tunnel Ride isn't the same without him falling off on the Sands Of Doom.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 07 October, 2016, 09:23:35 pm
See Battle Mountain thread in Dark Side

I'm hoping to become partner in my firm soon, bloody hope there's more money involved
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 07 October, 2016, 10:32:47 pm
Good news about the promotion, bad news about there not being any monies attached. 

I had a call to go and see the big bods on the top floor of the ivory building. During the meeting I was asked why I'd not applied for a chair - a number had been advertised. My answer was that I didn't have a strong enough profile to be a prof yet. To which it was pointed out that the calebra of some of our profs was questionable and I could easily equal, in not better, this bunch.  I don't want to be a prof just because I'd be as weak as the current weakest bunch.

*eyeroll*  *passes you TEA*  Hope you get opportunities to prof-it-up on proper credentials and when you're ready!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 October, 2016, 10:40:56 pm
Good news about the promotion, bad news about there not being any monies attached. 

I had a call to go and see the big bods on the top floor of the ivory building. During the meeting I was asked why I'd not applied for a chair - a number had been advertised. My answer was that I didn't have a strong enough profile to be a prof yet. To which it was pointed out that the calebra of some of our profs was questionable and I could easily equal, in not better, this bunch.  I don't want to be a prof just because I'd be as weak as the current weakest bunch.

Is this not called imposter syndrome?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 07 October, 2016, 11:37:39 pm
The Tunnel Ride isn't the same without him falling off on the Sands Of Doom.

 :-[  ;D
I still hold that the tunnel ride should be re-routed so that the pub stop is before the SoD.  So much more interest for the teetotal, camera wielding members.  :D

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4386/35935916980_e587968597_t.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WKwY8w)basil (https://flic.kr/p/WKwY8w) by Basil W (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153328377@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 09 October, 2016, 09:07:16 am
 >:(: Bread machine has conked out. It's the controller so not repairable. Out of guarantee, but has done at least 2,000 loaves.
 :D: Found one on ebay that someone used once then lost interest.
 >:(: Kneading pizza dough by hand is incredibly hard work!
 :D: The pizza was excellent
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: lou boutin on 09 October, 2016, 04:21:28 pm
Good news about the promotion, bad news about there not being any monies attached. 

I had a call to go and see the big bods on the top floor of the ivory building. During the meeting I was asked why I'd not applied for a chair - a number had been advertised. My answer was that I didn't have a strong enough profile to be a prof yet. To which it was pointed out that the calebra of some of our profs was questionable and I could easily equal, in not better, this bunch.  I don't want to be a prof just because I'd be as weak as the current weakest bunch.

*eyeroll*  *passes you TEA*  Hope you get opportunities to prof-it-up on proper credentials and when you're ready!

Thank you.

Good news about the promotion, bad news about there not being any monies attached. 

I had a call to go and see the big bods on the top floor of the ivory building. During the meeting I was asked why I'd not applied for a chair - a number had been advertised. My answer was that I didn't have a strong enough profile to be a prof yet. To which it was pointed out that the calebra of some of our profs was questionable and I could easily equal, in not better, this bunch.  I don't want to be a prof just because I'd be as weak as the current weakest bunch.

Is this not called imposter syndrome?

I think I'm at readership at the moment not prof.  I'd would struggle with Professorial targets. I'm not even sure I want to be a professor and certainly not where I work.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 10 October, 2016, 01:49:00 pm
But being a Prof. means you can apply for a Beaker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaker_(Muppet))!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 11 October, 2016, 01:26:11 am

Is this not called imposter syndrome?

I think I'm at readership at the moment not prof.  I'd would struggle with Professorial targets.

Imposter, or Dunning-Kruger?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 14 October, 2016, 09:53:38 pm
BN:  Our elite table of geniuses did not win the quiz tonight.

GN:  Another table won, and they were from our church too, so we get the trophy!    :thumbsup:

Take that, St Matthew's Cockerton!    :P :P :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: lou boutin on 21 October, 2016, 07:02:47 pm

Is this not called imposter syndrome?

I think I'm at readership at the moment not prof.  I'd would struggle with Professorial targets.

Imposter, or Dunning-Kruger?

Thanks for that. I am not inept or too stipupid to realise it!!

Dunning Kruger Efect

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which low-ability individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability as much higher than it really is. Dunning and Kruger attributed this bias to a metacognitive inability of those of low ability to recognize their ineptitude and evaluate their ability accurately.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 21 October, 2016, 09:37:40 pm

Is this not called imposter syndrome?

I think I'm at readership at the moment not prof.  I'd would struggle with Professorial targets.

Imposter, or Dunning-Kruger?

Thanks for that. I am not inept or too stipupid to realise it!!

Dunning Kruger Efect

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which low-ability individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability as much higher than it really is. Dunning and Kruger attributed this bias to a metacognitive inability of those of low ability to recognize their ineptitude and evaluate their ability accurately.

I rather meant the next bit of that entry: "Their research also suggests corollaries: high-ability individuals may underestimate their relative competence"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Aunt Maud on 21 October, 2016, 09:45:16 pm
>:(: Bread machine has conked out. It's the controller so not repairable. Out of guarantee, but has done at least 2,000 loaves.
 :D: Found one on ebay that someone used once then lost interest.
 >:(: Kneading pizza dough by hand is incredibly hard work!
 :D: The pizza was excellent

Try "Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast" by Ken Forkish.

He makes excellent Pizza dough without the hard work.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 22 October, 2016, 06:28:33 am
Baaaaad noos: Mrs Ham has spent a small fortune on acquiring two tickets to see Phil Collins in concert at the Albert Hall

Good noos: Miss Ham is her companion of choice and I don't have to go  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Hot Flatus on 22 October, 2016, 12:43:38 pm
It's impossible to like Phil Collins. Even though Face Value is one of the best Albums ever made.

Ditto Dire Straits and Love over Gold.

It's far easier to take a view on Mick Hucknall.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 October, 2016, 03:47:18 pm

Is this not called imposter syndrome?

I think I'm at readership at the moment not prof.  I'd would struggle with Professorial targets.

Imposter, or Dunning-Kruger?

Thanks for that. I am not inept or too stipupid to realise it!!

Dunning Kruger Efect

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which low-ability individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability as much higher than it really is. Dunning and Kruger attributed this bias to a metacognitive inability of those of low ability to recognize their ineptitude and evaluate their ability accurately.

I worked with one of those, unconsciously incompetent....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 22 October, 2016, 09:16:53 pm
Mick Hucknell :sick:

Dire straights  :thumbsup:. Great band, great catalogue and some very good songs individually. Mark knopfler solo also v good

Phil Collins meh, I've got some of it, some very good songs individually, another day in paradise, Jesus he knows me etc
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: RibbleRouser on 23 October, 2016, 08:24:01 am
Good piece on BBC1's ONE SHOW about cars overtaking bicycles safely, bad news was Phil Collins following it with a rant about cyclists without lights at night, and cyclists going through red traffic lights (he forgot to mention lack of helmets)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 23 October, 2016, 09:08:51 am
I saw that and it made me dislike him even more than before.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 October, 2016, 09:25:44 am
Phil Collins confirms all your worst prejudices about drummers.  Just hit things with sticks, Phil, and STFU.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 October, 2016, 12:16:22 pm
>:(: Bread machine has conked out. It's the controller so not repairable. Out of guarantee, but has done at least 2,000 loaves.
 :D: Found one on ebay that someone used once then lost interest.
 >:(: Kneading pizza dough by hand is incredibly hard work!
 :D: The pizza was excellent

Try "Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast" by Ken Forkish.

He makes excellent Pizza dough without the hard work.
Top marks for nom det!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 26 October, 2016, 03:56:02 pm
no specific BN

GN : had a missed call from the hotel yesterday where my stuff got nicked.  After an exchange of e-mails with them trying to avoid responsibility and me pointing out how crap they've been, the chief concierge left a message to say "we are going to learn from this and want to discuss how to reimburse you for the items"
Personally, I think they know it's an inside job, and now I've notified the police they're interested, especially considering the other crap elements of the stay I pointed out.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 October, 2016, 05:31:25 pm
no specific BN

GN : had a missed call from the hotel yesterday where my stuff got nicked.  After an exchange of e-mails with them trying to avoid responsibility and me pointing out how crap they've been, the chief concierge left a message to say "we are going to learn from this and want to discuss how to reimburse you for the items"
Personally, I think they know it's an inside job, and now I've notified the police they're interested, especially considering the other crap elements of the stay I pointed out.

What did you get nicked?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 26 October, 2016, 11:19:39 pm
Altura rack pack plus contents

Light (battery was attached to frame and left)
Bungees
Tyre levers, tube and co2 inflator, multi tool and a bunch tube full of odds and sods
Rip-off sleeves to a jacket, so I now have a softshell gilet
Various foodstuffs, dried bananas etc

Whoever nicked it will be disappointed.
Luckily I chose not to put my Garmin in there when I finished my ride
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 27 October, 2016, 12:06:38 am
Rip-off or zip-off?  ;)

Glad some progress is occurring.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 27 October, 2016, 07:27:13 am
bloody auto correct, the z and the r are nowhere near each other on my keyboard.

(don't get me started on that stupid French AZERTY thing)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 27 October, 2016, 08:53:09 pm
GN: I found a new bridleway to add to the various routes home from work. Very agricultural.
BN: At some stage I got a puncture
GN: It didn't flat out the rear tyre until I wasn't that far from home; it was a pleasant place to push the bike along
GN: A nice bloke rode past, then stopped and offered to help. I gratefully declined, as I was only a mile from home
GN: That gave me the chance to switch from the Schwalbe Rapid Sams to Land Cruiser Plusses.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 09 November, 2016, 09:37:27 pm
BN: The Trump Got Elected early this morning
GN: But I can still ride a bike to work and enjoy it
BN: It was tipping down
GN: But I can still ride a bike to work and enjoy it. Even if it is cold, wet, dark, windy.
BN: Which is quite clearly the trigger for the fairy to leave her visiting card
GN: Just by the Bow flyover, so I could get in the dry
BN: But it was still effing cold
GN: It turned out they have installed one of those roadside track pumps there, un-vandalised
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 09 November, 2016, 09:42:24 pm
BN: Trump

GN: I got a cheque from the taxman with a tax refund to the tune of £12.50.

On balance, I'd call that a pretty good day.

Oh, hang on...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: RibbleRouser on 10 November, 2016, 09:33:13 am
BN: The Trump Got Elected early this morning
GN: But I can still ride a bike to work and enjoy it
BN: It was tipping down
GN: But I can still ride a bike to work and enjoy it. Even if it is cold, wet, dark, windy.
BN: Which is quite clearly the trigger for the fairy to leave her visiting card
GN: Just by the Bow flyover, so I could get in the dry
BN: But it was still effing cold
GN: It turned out they have installed one of those roadside track pumps there, un-vandalised
Roadside track pump !?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 November, 2016, 11:39:01 am

GN: It turned out they have installed one of those roadside track pumps there, un-vandalised
Roadside track pump !?

Common in the Netherlands and Denmark, now appearing in the enlightened parts of BRITAIN.
http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/ (http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: RibbleRouser on 10 November, 2016, 12:22:15 pm

GN: It turned out they have installed one of those roadside track pumps there, un-vandalised
Roadside track pump !?

Common in the Netherlands and Denmark, now appearing in the enlightened parts of BRITAIN.
http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/ (http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/)
I'll mention it t' missionaries next time they're up this way. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 November, 2016, 12:34:00 pm
If you're a posh person who likes to scrounge free coffee you'll see them outside Waitrose and Aldi.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 November, 2016, 02:21:22 pm

GN: It turned out they have installed one of those roadside track pumps there, un-vandalised
Roadside track pump !?

Common in the Netherlands and Denmark, now appearing in the enlightened parts of BRITAIN.
http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/ (http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/)

Beware of the ones in ABROAD though.  The dastardly FOREIGNS use funny tyre valves, and it may simply lure you into emptying all the air from your tyre in the time it takes to work out that the chuck won't fit properly.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 10 November, 2016, 02:22:47 pm
GN: Arrived early at Heathrow with no circling.

BN: 10 minute wait for a free parking slot means we lost all the time we'd gained
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 10 November, 2016, 08:10:09 pm

GN: It turned out they have installed one of those roadside track pumps there, un-vandalised
Roadside track pump !?

Common in the Netherlands and Denmark, now appearing in the enlightened parts of BRITAIN.
http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/ (http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/)

Indeed so, and I notice the one I used isn't even on there. They appear to be fairly bomb proof, and have twin schraeder/presta heads, and a pressure gague
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 November, 2016, 10:03:19 pm

GN: It turned out they have installed one of those roadside track pumps there, un-vandalised
Roadside track pump !?

Common in the Netherlands and Denmark, now appearing in the enlightened parts of BRITAIN.
http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/ (http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/find-your-nearest-public-bike-pump/)

Beware of the ones in ABROAD though.  The dastardly FOREIGNS use funny tyre valves, and it may simply lure you into emptying all the air from your tyre in the time it takes to work out that the chuck won't fit properly.
How so? What is there on bikes apart from Presta, Schrader and Dunlop? Well, I've heard there's another that's common in Japan, but I don't think you're talking about that sort of abroad.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 November, 2016, 10:35:33 pm
Beware of the ones in ABROAD though.  The dastardly FOREIGNS use funny tyre valves, and it may simply lure you into emptying all the air from your tyre in the time it takes to work out that the chuck won't fit properly.
How so? What is there on bikes apart from Presta, Schrader and Dunlop? Well, I've heard there's another that's common in Japan, but I don't think you're talking about that sort of abroad.

The one that defeated a crack team of Fridays tyre experts in Tilberg (.nl) was presumably designed for a Dunlop valve, but in a way that wouldn't play fair with the Presta it was offered, at least not in the time it took for the primary source of group faff to be resolved and for someone to break out their trusty Road Morph.

Part of the tradition of such things is that if a group of cyclists are going to find themselves loitering for half an hour in close proximity to a municipal track pump, the soft tyre is only discovered at around the 25 minute mark, and the pump some time after that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 November, 2016, 10:57:05 pm
Perhaps they should paint the pumps a distinctive, attention-grabbing colour, like fire hydrants.

Odd about the valve. Don't the pumps have multiple heads? I'll have to take a look at the ones we've got here; never used one so don't know.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 11 November, 2016, 06:00:31 am
Most bikes in Germany have a 'blitz' valve, whatever that is.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 November, 2016, 09:50:25 am
Dunlop. A Blitzventil pump should be compatible with Presta and vice versa, at least in theory.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 12 November, 2016, 11:50:34 am
Quote
"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."

    -- YogiBerra

The problem is that the woods valve pumps don't have the depth to go over the presta's screw part and will let all of the air out when you attempt to push it on.
In the bike parking area at work there was a compressor hose for inflating tyres which I looked at longingly on several occasions as I hand pumped my tyres!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 15 November, 2016, 06:48:47 pm
BN: email at 10:30 today: Your planning permission1 blah blah blah and as such I will be recommending refusal2.
GN: email at 14:30 today: On behalf of <the person who sent the 10:30 email> please find attached planning permission3.




1. To build a proper bike bunker in what should be my garden but hasn't been fenced off since 1927
2. On the grounds that I clearly don't possess enough cars, and if I get another one I should park it so that it blocks the public footpath. If I build a bike bunker it will not only prevent me from doing so, it will also prevent random people bringing their cars on to my garden and blocking the public footpath. And furthermore, they direct me look on Google streetview to see how I should park an obnoxious wankpanzer antisocially.  Yes, this is Highways.
3. Quote from architect: "I have no idea..."
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 November, 2016, 08:18:48 pm
Well that's the purpose of Highways Depts. To get more cars in the world. It's only by ever-increasing congestion they can continue to justify their jobs.

Go build your bunker!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 15 November, 2016, 08:24:37 pm
Are you sure?  I thought their primary purpose was to provide sightseeing and rehabilitation opportunities to the UK's road cone population.  Cars are just a means to an end...


At risk of coming across like one of those websites that's clearly maintained by an autistic teenager, aren't BRITISH road cones great?  So much classier than the ones the FOREIGNS use...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 November, 2016, 08:38:09 pm
I disagree, Kim. I rather like the road cones they use in Japan.* With a spiral stripe. So much classier than a simple horizontal band.

*I've never been to Japan but I've seen them in films. Or something.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 15 November, 2016, 10:48:05 pm
Nope, it's gotta be these:

(http://www.dosavannah.com/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_enhanced/public/photos/url.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 16 November, 2016, 12:37:35 am
Yebbut, they're not actually CONES, and as such can't really qualify for an award of CONE classiness.

On a not-entirely-unrelated note, whatever happened to the CONES hotline?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 16 November, 2016, 03:47:07 pm
On a not-entirely-unrelated note, whatever happened to the CONES hotline?

Morphed into the Highways Agency information line in 1995.  After answering 19999 prank calls asking for icecream, presumably.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cones_Hotline
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 20 November, 2016, 10:52:49 am
GN: Slept through the storm last night.
BN: Part of the fence blew down in the night.
GN: It missed a neighbour's car by a couple of cm.
BN: Two posts have had it.
GN: I've got a spare. (No idea why.) And the panels and gate are fine.
BN: A spare.
BN: Screwfix's website is down, which is the most convenient place to buy bits from as it is 3 minutes walk.
More BN: I can't find anywhere local on the web that does ready morticed fence posts. Much less tall ready morticed at 90 degrees.

Any ideas on the last one? Is morticed the right term - holes cut into the post to take the panel rails, not a slot all the way up and down the post. I don't think I have the equipment to do a decent job myself and I'd much rather not bodge the panel to fit it to an ordinary post.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 20 November, 2016, 01:29:40 pm
More BN: I can't find anywhere local on the web that does ready morticed fence posts. Much less tall ready morticed at 90 degrees.
I didn't realise this was a thing. I drilled a row of intersecting holes a 24mm bit then cleaned up with a chisel.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 20 November, 2016, 04:04:53 pm
I fear it isn't, but I did find one website that suggested that they are a thing without actually being able to sell me them! Having been out and measured, I now know that the spacings are slightly different on each panel so ready done doesn't seem so sensible. I've got a lack of daylight time this week to muck about with fence posts, so may find someone who can do it for me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 November, 2016, 02:28:27 pm
BN: Suspicious burning smell when CudzoMini was using the cake mixer.
GN: Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 27 November, 2016, 03:36:24 pm
BN: For years we have used Nectar and collected fair amount of points. Went on a pootle in 2012 and was told upon return that you haven't used Nectar for over a year - so null and void. Applied for a new card.

BN: Tried to login to Nectar to figure out if we still had and/or used it. Was told again you haven't used it for a year so null and void.

GN: Contacted them via chat - oh that, we will just enable your card and put lost points back on, even though it was only a few points. So I just asked on their chat, kinda tongue in cheek, what about the lost points from 2013. Oh nee bother we pop them on your card.

So we now got about £60 to spend, which is nice :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 27 November, 2016, 07:44:02 pm
That's a result!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 28 November, 2016, 08:10:44 am
GN: Bacon roll for brekkie yesterday, thanks Helen!
BN: Oh God, 266 mile journey home ahead, and I've got to fill up the car first.
GN: The lady at the Texaco/Co-op filling station on Boroughbridge Road, York, was of such a sunny disposition that I started my long journey feeling bright and happy.  Thank you lady, whoever you are!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 01 December, 2016, 10:15:49 am
Good news.
I remembered to check the oil tank.

Bad news.
OMG.  Panic phone call to the supplier.

Good news
1000 litres delivered early this morning.   Phew!

Bad news
39p a litre.   :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 01 December, 2016, 11:19:54 am
GN: I have the day off today & it's sunny, if crisp.

BN: I'm on antibiotics for a chest infection, so the planned switch to winter tyres on the bike, plus a XC ride to test them out isn't going to happen. The best I can hope for is to trim the hedge later if it warms up slightly & the sun stays out :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 02 December, 2016, 12:20:45 am
Good news.
I remembered to check the oil tank.

Bad news.
OMG.  Panic phone call to the supplier.

Good news
1000 litres delivered early this morning.   Phew!

Bad news
39p a litre.   :o

Betterer Newsage: If you run a small, inconspicuous diesel car that's cheap motoring.  :demon:

Allegedly . . .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 02 December, 2016, 11:51:43 am
Definitely not. You'd be amazed at how many police cars are equipped with the testing gear.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 02 December, 2016, 01:01:33 pm
Gosh.  I had wondered about that.  (Just wondering if it would work - not actually doing it).
I'd be surprised if it didn't happen to a degree round here, if not heating oil, definitely red diesel.
I would imagine that the oil supplier would not be happy to make more deliveries above what could feasibly be used by central heating.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 02 December, 2016, 01:16:04 pm
GN. I like sprouts

BN. So do moths.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 02 December, 2016, 02:23:34 pm
What does a moth fart smell like?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 02 December, 2016, 03:14:34 pm
What does a moth fart smell like?

Sprouts obviously! But given how small a moth is the risk is if they fart they'll go supersonic.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mattc on 08 December, 2016, 08:16:49 pm
BN: we had a loud snorer and paper-thin walls in the hotel, first half of this week.

GN: we didnt do this to him:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/prank-backfires-with-fatal-consequences-after-two-men-leave-snoring-friend-outside-overnight-114244308.html
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 27 December, 2016, 09:34:02 am
GN: Due to a masterpiece of planning MrsC and I are having both lunch and dinner in a pub (two different pubs, obviously).

BN: Due to a masterpiece of planning MrsC and I are having both lunch and dinner in a pub (two different pubs, obviously).

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Si S on 05 January, 2017, 02:58:51 pm
GN: 12 bottles of wine just landed on my desk

BN: 12 bottles of wine just landed on my desk
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 10 January, 2017, 02:01:49 pm
GN: My new hat arrived in the post
BN: It's not very good and not as described
GN: I've got a return number for it, so it's going back.
More GN: I think I've found an alternative supplier of a higher quality hat.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 12 January, 2017, 01:45:37 pm
GN: Son's girlfriend has just heard she's got into Cambridge.

BN: He'll be in Manchester. I give them until Christmas.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 21 January, 2017, 06:26:46 pm
More GN: I think I've found an alternative supplier of a higher quality hat.

You know you're going to have to post pictures now...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 22 January, 2017, 07:31:29 pm
More GN: I think I've found an alternative supplier of a higher quality hat.

You know you're going to have to post pictures now...
When it arrives. (Taps foot impatiently)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 23 January, 2017, 08:19:18 am
BN
Daughter's flat got burgled while she was out celebrating her 21st birthday. Every laptop in flat stolen (4 students, 4 high-end laptops).

GN
She's coping with it remarkably well.

GN
Our house insurance covers her laptop

BN
Cover is only for force-able breakins. Someone left a window open (which is really rare, they are normally incredibly careful to check when they leave the flat) and they told the police the window was left open. So the insurance almost certainly won't pay out.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 23 January, 2017, 09:01:51 am
Bugger.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 23 January, 2017, 02:51:34 pm
That's standard burgling procedure here in Silly Oak.  Wait for someone's housemate to leave a door/window open, then pop in and round up all the laptops/iThings.

Life would be generally much easier if you could take out insurance against your housemates being crap...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 23 January, 2017, 02:57:05 pm
:( Students are a high target group for thieving shits cos prevalence of easily stealable/sellable stuff + carelessness even amongst the most careful households.  My colleague who was a student where I worked said he used to see the burglars scouting places out from his bedroom window most days - this was before the active police presence/engagement where he could have tweeted at the plod or called 101 to send someone round to catch em in the act.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 23 January, 2017, 04:04:26 pm
They are usually so careful. Walk outside their flat and check, looking down before they head off.

The daft wee ejits told the police that they'd left the window open, rather than saying that they couldn't be certain.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 23 January, 2017, 04:17:43 pm
That's what happens when they're brung up to be truthful to authoritah... Or something...  :hand:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 23 January, 2017, 10:11:56 pm
More GN: I think I've found an alternative supplier of a higher quality hat.

You know you're going to have to post pictures now...
When it arrives. (Taps foot impatiently)

The hat has landed!
(https://photos-4.dropbox.com/t/2/AABXyd2sSdDCWYCySpYX_gVpeIIh4E5lJzN-vIn0Q8e62w/12/79796424/jpeg/32x32/1/_/1/2/2017-01-23%2021.11.17.jpg/ELyCgj4Y9FUgAigC/XTyDZtOzgbOuF8tf1w7NKj_pcKmE8tJImaypQqjLMfs?size=1600x1200&size_mode=3)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 23 January, 2017, 10:12:34 pm
More GN: I think I've found an alternative supplier of a higher quality hat.

You know you're going to have to post pictures now...
When it arrives. (Taps foot impatiently)

The hat has landed!
(https://photos-4.dropbox.com/t/2/AABXyd2sSdDCWYCySpYX_gVpeIIh4E5lJzN-vIn0Q8e62w/12/79796424/jpeg/32x32/1/_/1/2/2017-01-23%2021.11.17.jpg/ELyCgj4Y9FUgAigC/XTyDZtOzgbOuF8tf1w7NKj_pcKmE8tJImaypQqjLMfs?size=1600x1200&size_mode=3)

Unfortunately, the image has not.  (403)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 23 January, 2017, 10:13:23 pm
Hat.
Where is?
Disappoint.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 23 January, 2017, 10:17:59 pm
More GN: I think I've found an alternative supplier of a higher quality hat.

You know you're going to have to post pictures now...
When it arrives. (Taps foot impatiently)

The hat has landed!
(https://photos-4.dropbox.com/t/2/AABXyd2sSdDCWYCySpYX_gVpeIIh4E5lJzN-vIn0Q8e62w/12/79796424/jpeg/32x32/1/_/1/2/2017-01-23%2021.11.17.jpg/ELyCgj4Y9FUgAigC/XTyDZtOzgbOuF8tf1w7NKj_pcKmE8tJImaypQqjLMfs?size=1600x1200&size_mode=3)

Unfortunately, the image has not.  (403)

Arse. Poxy dropbox. Give me a minute.
<fx: tappity tap>
What about now?
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ALEj0g192ZOwsaQ2QEmgL2AJfuc_17j-6m59rXLPC72HPJLaciYBdo9aGBGUwBaeujqzSAZWHgcKIvgLE90AYGr6eVFCDYpIZqkU9B6rnPdFq9Zo3HxSeIJHTb66fy84Zg_Nab7kza0GPKuwP09lV2Cg-kXV6097QrrLe1U9MSOkpk1DkuCELLDBrdDedjWvE4VGCuyQDl13tlXsFqGjUZ-kodlPXsscoEdXRjPqKUKChhQpcEcLg7XgkMpEfrBAwdaVhuQs7cvtYNiloixvzbBwZ3QMrPvDOYBcQ0JUlfcgDTKH_Rs2bA3M3Zhia7CU0Kq8mej3lc-ZcWRkIPvaM-DzKE_7qOxabqt0aSigjq4-uonEqpeOhj-RIG80P4kigKMXU_HI0R1QHacP-wT14rbRzjWOGft36rxlVL0k2Q3oQaKMbeT5Azjh0IBIo8nMGb1RqYmt6A2ZJxNNWemmOgPV-KuQwGavjIWYcmi5b5ozetzlD-WS1PXmuk92qngBdLZ49xUYhoF8xsNYAKv0AyFQcfgcyC-lMB6rXSIugzk-G_JDtsVu8StGu96Zmefkh08mPiV05EVXCHldJFNEGo2k2RZ_1LnoJT7lVs_-B1J21l_x6rUL=w1387-h780-no)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 23 January, 2017, 10:20:11 pm
That's a serious hat.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 23 January, 2017, 10:27:21 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu4krJJkkIs
https://youtu.be/Wu4krJJkkIs
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 23 January, 2017, 10:29:49 pm
Nice hat
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 23 January, 2017, 10:30:39 pm
More GN: I think I've found an alternative supplier of a higher quality hat.

You know you're going to have to post pictures now...
When it arrives. (Taps foot impatiently)

The hat has landed!
(https://photos-4.dropbox.com/t/2/AABXyd2sSdDCWYCySpYX_gVpeIIh4E5lJzN-vIn0Q8e62w/12/79796424/jpeg/32x32/1/_/1/2/2017-01-23%2021.11.17.jpg/ELyCgj4Y9FUgAigC/XTyDZtOzgbOuF8tf1w7NKj_pcKmE8tJImaypQqjLMfs?size=1600x1200&size_mode=3)

Unfortunately, the image has not.  (403)

Arse. Poxy dropbox. Give me a minute.
<fx: tappity tap>
What about now?
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ALEj0g192ZOwsaQ2QEmgL2AJfuc_17j-6m59rXLPC72HPJLaciYBdo9aGBGUwBaeujqzSAZWHgcKIvgLE90AYGr6eVFCDYpIZqkU9B6rnPdFq9Zo3HxSeIJHTb66fy84Zg_Nab7kza0GPKuwP09lV2Cg-kXV6097QrrLe1U9MSOkpk1DkuCELLDBrdDedjWvE4VGCuyQDl13tlXsFqGjUZ-kodlPXsscoEdXRjPqKUKChhQpcEcLg7XgkMpEfrBAwdaVhuQs7cvtYNiloixvzbBwZ3QMrPvDOYBcQ0JUlfcgDTKH_Rs2bA3M3Zhia7CU0Kq8mej3lc-ZcWRkIPvaM-DzKE_7qOxabqt0aSigjq4-uonEqpeOhj-RIG80P4kigKMXU_HI0R1QHacP-wT14rbRzjWOGft36rxlVL0k2Q3oQaKMbeT5Azjh0IBIo8nMGb1RqYmt6A2ZJxNNWemmOgPV-KuQwGavjIWYcmi5b5ozetzlD-WS1PXmuk92qngBdLZ49xUYhoF8xsNYAKv0AyFQcfgcyC-lMB6rXSIugzk-G_JDtsVu8StGu96Zmefkh08mPiV05EVXCHldJFNEGo2k2RZ_1LnoJT7lVs_-B1J21l_x6rUL=w1387-h780-no)

(http://files.sharenator.com/I_approve_Sharenator_Original_Content_Proposal-s360x294-326732.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 23 January, 2017, 10:31:44 pm
Woah! Andrij has morphed into Riggers!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: peliroja on 23 January, 2017, 11:56:46 pm
I can't see it.  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 24 January, 2017, 06:53:45 am
Me neither :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 24 January, 2017, 09:08:40 am
I think it's signed in to Google thing. Why is stuff so complicated.  Does this link work?

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPdqp-ncXK56-CYejXlJi69pvEibr9_MZpzgiQzwU48ccMwwt7EH7eVGqdisaWguQ?key=aXR5a3NNbTNmV0lBSFFXaUZJYmVyQ2NUQ01adWhR (https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPdqp-ncXK56-CYejXlJi69pvEibr9_MZpzgiQzwU48ccMwwt7EH7eVGqdisaWguQ?key=aXR5a3NNbTNmV0lBSFFXaUZJYmVyQ2NUQ01adWhR)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 24 January, 2017, 09:13:06 am
To confuse it more I did see I straight away but didn't know what we're talking as I didn't know what the others couldn't see :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 January, 2017, 09:48:40 am
Hat not showing in thread but link works. That's a coolly serious hat! Like Baden-Powell or Timothy who is not an armadillo from Pigeon Post...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 24 January, 2017, 10:05:14 am
I could see it, but I can't now
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 24 January, 2017, 10:29:16 am
Hat not showing in thread but link works. That's a coolly serious hat! Like Baden-Powell or Timothy who is not an armadillo from Pigeon Post...

Didn't Timothy have a floppy hat (hence his original name). The brim on this one is as stiff as a board. 

A couple of years ago I caught the ferry from Poole Harbour to Brownsea Island. There's a statue of Baden-Powell in his "Campaign Hat" on the quay. I was wearing my splendid Amazon Tarp hat. A bloke accosted me as we pulled in to Brownsea and explained that his Small Boy had thought I was Baden-Powell ("look Daddy, it's That Man."). To the best of my knowledge I haven't withstood any sieges in any South African towns.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 January, 2017, 10:50:51 am
Squashy, I think, which is not quite the same as floppy, but still probably doesn't indicate a board stiff brim. And I've only just twigged (at least consciously; perhaps it was some subconscious link that brought it to my mind in the first place) that of course you already are a Timothy, hat or no hat!  :D :facepalm: ::-) :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 January, 2017, 02:22:10 pm
I see no X hat here.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jakob W on 24 January, 2017, 05:39:02 pm
I could see the picture earlier, but now I can't. No matter; out of interest, where might one acquire such a fine piece of headgear?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 24 January, 2017, 09:58:37 pm
I could see the picture earlier, but now I can't. No matter; out of interest, where might one acquire such a fine piece of headgear?

Apart from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, you mean?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jakob W on 24 January, 2017, 10:32:37 pm
Well, I'm not sure even the notorious Canadian politeness extends to letting people pinch your headgear...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 24 January, 2017, 10:56:37 pm
Well, I'm not sure even the notorious Canadian politeness extends to letting people pinch your headgear...

So failing them, try the British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts (an early splinter group from what went on to become the Scout Association)

Linky to a news item about buying hats: http://bbsandbgs.org.uk/news.php#ni3 (http://bbsandbgs.org.uk/news.php#ni3).  Use the Contact Us page to order one. I got an email from the head honcho, who sent me a pro forma invoice. Bank transfer and the hat arrived a couple of days later.  The hats are made by Olney http://www.olney-headwear.co.uk/ (http://www.olney-headwear.co.uk/) but they don't seem to show them on their website, so it might be an exclusive deal with the BBS.  The Scout Association also do a lemon squeezer hat, but it's rubbish not very good when compared with the BBS one. The hat band is thin pvc (despite the website saying it's leather) and it felt like a toy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 24 January, 2017, 11:06:38 pm
So are you a scouter? That's a good price for a lot of hat even if you're not.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 25 January, 2017, 11:46:52 am
The hats are made by Olney http://www.olney-headwear.co.uk/ (http://www.olney-headwear.co.uk/)
What an impressive website! They appear to have found someone who is a cross between Woolly and Wowbagger to model their hats.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 07 February, 2017, 10:23:27 pm
BN:   Our 14 year old washing machine stopped working at the weekend.

GN:   Diagnosis says that it's just the motor - probably worn brushes.

BN:   Bosch no longer recognises our model number.

GN:   Ransom Spares does and has the part necessary for a princely £7.25.

Fingers crossed that new brushes gives us a few more years of washing.   
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 08 February, 2017, 07:01:11 pm
Good luck with that.

We had an ancient Bosch washing machine that we got second hand and used for a further six or seven years, it must have been 20 years old and apart from the occasional blockage of the drain hose, worked faultlessly. Had to leave it in Holland as it was left hand drive.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 February, 2017, 01:06:30 pm
GN: I have seen a job advertised that I could most definitely do: Technical writing experience in CAD software - yes; Swedish language knowledge - most definitely

BN: It's via an agency & I fear my vintage almost certainly will rule me out of their candidates

GN: I've managed to find the company with a bit of digging - right up my street and I'll approach them directly

BN: It's too far to commute by bike

GN: There's a direct train that takes me within 3 miles, albeit with a 1-hour journey
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jakob W on 12 February, 2017, 10:54:17 pm
GN: freed up one and a half alcove shelves in the front room by having a tidy.

BN: a sweep of the other rooms filled all of this space with books, as well as taking the bedside to-read pile to vertiginous levels...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 12 February, 2017, 11:14:28 pm
GN new kitchen works start tomorrow

BN House now looks like Steptoe's yard despite three visits to the tip.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 February, 2017, 11:21:23 pm
BN: Letter in an envelope with a window.
GN: It's not anything I have to pay.
GN: It's telling me someone's paid me.
BN/GN: It's an invoice I sent out in 2013.
GN: It's in euros so I end up with more in pounds now than if they'd paid four years ago!
BN: It was only a very small amount.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Vince on 18 February, 2017, 02:20:33 pm
BN. Running the sound desk for an 8 hour hard core concert and I don't appreciate hard core music.
GN. It's in a brewery.
More GN. The drink is free for staff.
BN. I can't drink because I'm running the sound desk.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 18 February, 2017, 03:07:39 pm
GN: It's hard core, so they won't notice if the soundie is drunk.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 18 February, 2017, 03:42:02 pm
GN kitchen works are going well.

BN boiler is playing silly beggars, new board so far and still indicating fault. Luckily we have a gas fire and immersion heater.


Footnote. Exposed construction details within this house are poor.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 20 February, 2017, 01:05:24 pm
Bad News: I forgot to pack my Bluetooth speaker condemning me to tinny music from my phone's speaker.

Good news: The hotel I'm staying in has them as standard in the room :thumbsup:

Better News: It's a really good speaker!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 24 February, 2017, 12:26:24 pm
GN, I saw an amusing video on Twitter with tigers chasing a drone.


BN, on checking it's filmed in a notorious "tiger farm" in China   :( [size=78%]                http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-24/darker-side-to-video-of-tigers-taking-down-drone/8299490[/size]
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 03 March, 2017, 07:53:03 pm
GN: I'm home, there will shortly be steak, asparagus & red wine  :P


BN: 2 1/2 hours later than I should be due to 2 different sets of customers who can't live in sensible time zones , Leftpondia  I'm looking at you  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 04 March, 2017, 09:13:29 am
BN: 2 1/2 hours later than I should be due to 2 different sets of customers who can't live in sensible time zones , Leftpondia  I'm looking at you  >:(

The joy of clocks being changed on different dates is still to come...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 07 March, 2017, 08:27:18 am
GN new kitchen arrived late last night and very pleased with it.

BN I missed ordering a 600 wall unit and this despite double checking the schedule several times...............manufacture lead in time 4 weeks. Senility beckons.  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 March, 2017, 04:19:25 pm
GN: The fire alarm is working correctly.
BN: The electricians are not.
GN: There is no fire.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 08 March, 2017, 05:10:43 pm
Are they going to have to install some new magic smoke in something?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 March, 2017, 07:48:54 pm
No, I think they decapitated a vole or squashed an ant. Something like that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 12 March, 2017, 05:50:22 pm
Good news.  The 20 mph signs which have been going up on all roads in the village were uncovered the other  day.  The speed limit is now in force.

Bad news.  A car just passed me doing at least 40.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 March, 2017, 05:54:16 pm
Good news.  The 20 mph signs which have been going up on all roads in the village were uncovered the other  day.  The speed limit is now in force.

Bad news.  A car just passed me doing at least 40.

84% of them will, apparently: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533244/free-flow-vehicle-speeds-great-britain-2015.pdf
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 12 March, 2017, 06:01:07 pm
I'm assuming there will be a period of 'grace' before the speed camera vans are deployed.   :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 12 March, 2017, 08:42:31 pm
Police are very reluctant to enforce 20mph in some areas.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 13 March, 2017, 11:56:21 am
I'm assuming there will be a period of 'grace' before the speed camera vans are deployed.   :(
No more than about thirty years, I imagine (to be extended if required)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 13 March, 2017, 03:37:29 pm
GN: I knew I had 75 Euros in my old wallet at home. However, when I went to count them, I found they had multiplied to 130.

BN: I have no trip scheduled on which to spend them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 13 March, 2017, 03:42:52 pm
BN: I have no trip scheduled on which to spend them.
Well, send them here and I'll find a way to spend them for you and with that your bad news just went away ... poof ... just like that :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 13 March, 2017, 08:15:22 pm
How very kind of you, Woolly! Let me get back to you on that one...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 14 March, 2017, 03:45:52 pm
GN: strolling around Venice a woman stopped me & called me "Mr Elegance"  8)


BN: she was only trying to get me to sign a petition
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Si S on 17 March, 2017, 03:30:08 pm
BN: I left my house keys hanging in the back door

GN: Miss S noticed and retrieved them

GN: My director has just declared a POETS day

BN: I can't get in the house until Mrs S is home
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 17 March, 2017, 03:52:00 pm
GN: You'll have to go for a nice bike ride then.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 17 March, 2017, 04:38:47 pm
GN: or the pub?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 18 March, 2017, 03:05:17 pm
GN free tickets for a concert in Oxford tonight.

BN timing means I'll have to miss the end of the England game
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 23 March, 2017, 08:07:16 pm
BN Got distracted and cook my steak somewhat more than intended.

GN The distraction was adding a couple spoonfulls of red pesto to the veg (brocolli, brussel sprouts and asparagus) I was stir frying alongside. Verdict delicious  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

GN The steak was still yummy indeed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 May, 2017, 08:24:20 pm
Hurrah: booked me holibobs :thumbsup:
Bah: 33% more expensive than last year >:(

Thanks, Mr Cameron, you gammon-faced pig-botherer.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: clarion on 02 May, 2017, 02:51:36 pm
Ah, but at least you have taken back control! :D

*runs....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Salvatore on 17 May, 2017, 05:00:55 pm
GN: I've been asked to provide 2 photographs for an exhibition in Dublin (at the National Photographic Archive gallery)

BN: One of them has to be of the "real life" me, by which I assume some sort of portrait is required.

But I might send this one

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Nuncio on 17 May, 2017, 09:17:43 pm
GN: I've been asked to provide 2 photographs for an exhibition in Dublin (at the National Photographic Archive gallery)

BN: One of them has to be of the "real life" me, by which I assume some sort of portrait is required.

But I might send this one

(click to show/hide)

That's landscape.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fimm on 22 May, 2017, 09:47:16 am
Bad news: the airline managed to loose my O/H's hand luggage.
Good news: they found it and got it back to him within 24 hours.

(This isn't quite as bizarre as it seems - they'd asked for people with large items of hand luggage to offer to check it in, and the bag somehow didn't go on the plane with him. Fortunately he'd taken most of the really valuable stuff in his pockets - it was just his house keys that were an issue.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 02 June, 2017, 05:05:26 pm
GN: I went to the shops.  Onna bicycle.

BN: Discovered that there's rather less shoe on one of my bike shoes than I remember.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 03 June, 2017, 10:30:31 pm
GN: I'm off on a short tour to ABROAD on Friday
BN: I pumped up the tyres of my steed of choice this morning, shortly followed by a BANG as thee back tyre exploded caused by the rim peeling off.
GN: DCR Wheels may well have a replacement
More GN: My chum Dave, who groks wheel voodoo, is available to help

I could really do with this holiday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 03 June, 2017, 10:36:03 pm
Have fun!  If all else fails, grab a Boris bike and stump up for the fine when you get back home  ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 07 June, 2017, 11:26:05 pm
GN: Got a replacement rim and, with much help from my friend Dave, turned it in to a wheel.
BN: Got home and tried to fit tyre and tube. Bloody valve hole hasn't been properly drilled out, so the valve won't go through.

I really really need this holiday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: T42 on 08 June, 2017, 07:59:26 am
GN: Just parcelled up our professional Internet kit to go back to Orange, therewith despatching the last of the bothersome oughts that have been darkening my days. After a good 6 months of sending in declarations, requests, plaints and panic phone-calls, full & adequate pensions are rolling in and I am now free to ride my bike and build guitars.

BN: Can't quite believe it. There has to be something waiting to clobber me on the back of the neck...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 June, 2017, 07:41:24 pm
Enjoy! :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: MalRees on 23 June, 2017, 02:36:30 pm
Most excellent news; started new chemotherapy regime yesterday, and had no allergic reaction to the new "cocktail". Pass the ice please waiter!

Even better news; I am awake today - the previous cocktails knocked me out of action for at least a day and a half. Hello World!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 23 June, 2017, 02:56:22 pm
Most excellent news; started new chemotherapy regime yesterday, and had no allergic reaction to the new "cocktail". Pass the ice please waiter!

Even better news; I am awake today - the previous cocktails knocked me out of action for at least a day and a half. Hello World!
Time to raise a pint at the rally?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: MalRees on 23 June, 2017, 03:18:38 pm
Absolutely! Can't waste such an opportunity. I seem to recall doing quite a lot of that last time we were there!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 26 June, 2017, 09:37:27 pm
GN: Virgin Media have put my broadband speed 'up to 200mbps'.

BN: Can't see any difference.

BN: Their letter will almost certainly herald a follow up in a short while telling me the price is going up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 17 July, 2017, 12:44:09 pm
Bad news: when I got off the bus I realised my sunglasses case had fallen out of my bag somewhere and was lost.

Good news: when I got off the other bus after coming back the other way, not only was my sunglasses case lying in the gutter, but it had blown across the road so that it was on the right side of the road for me to pick it up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 17 July, 2017, 01:39:14 pm
GN: Virgin Media have put my broadband speed 'up to 200mbps'.

BN: Can't see any difference.
Last time they put my speed up I didn't notice it, but the speed testers all agreed that it had gone up to what they said.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 17 July, 2017, 01:47:03 pm
Obviously a connection that's faster than your LAN speed won't make a difference.  Lots of people are still running 100Mb Ethernet at home, and while some of the newer forms of WiFi can exceed that, it's very much a fair day with a following wind type thing (and if you care about performance you won't be using wireless anyway).

And of course even when that's not an issue you end up hitting the limit with which the server can send you data, or that your computer can process it.  Typical browsing isn't going to be affected much.  Big downloads getting faster is the main thing people will notice.  The associated lower latency is good news for the gamers.  And having enough headroom that multiple people can do bandwidth-intensive things simultaneously over the same connection is good news for students in shared houses or those breeding teenagers.

But what it mostly comes down to is that the industry competes on  a) speed  and  b) price.  Mainly because it's an uphill struggle to explain anything else to non-technical consumers (see also: megapixels).  Bigger numbers == moar betterer.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 24 July, 2017, 12:41:34 pm
BN pay group have made a mistake with my pension arrangements dating back to 2014

GN They are giving me  a one off payment of ££££  next month to sort it out.
 
BN parents are having a new central heating boiler installed, so I think I'll be making a larger payment for that than I'd planned  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 24 July, 2017, 04:15:06 pm
Can you buy added years? If so go for it. Hugely tax efficient.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 24 July, 2017, 04:21:11 pm
No, not in my situation. I've looked into it in the past.    I'm just sticking a load into AVC's each month.    Unfortunately we think they are now looking at closing the decent final salary / career average scheme & forcing us onto the one for new staff which is not as good  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Quisling on 26 July, 2017, 11:10:04 am
GN: I now have underfloor heating
BN: I don't have underfloor heating - I have a domestic hot water leak under the floor of the kitchen which was only re-fitted in March  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 26 July, 2017, 02:08:39 pm
Hello all. Anybody miss me? - Thought not  :P ;D

GN: After a month off following a nervous breakdown in the office, I am now deemed well enough to come back to work (afternoons only for now)
BN: I have been deemed well enough to come back to the same bloody nonsense that ground me down in the first place..
GN: At least I'll *have* to get on my bike every day now.
BN: The destination each day isn't really one I'd have chosen if I had my druthers.

Well, I'm back (sort of). Wish me luck.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 26 July, 2017, 03:05:07 pm
Welcome back, Guy.  Sorry to hear you weren't feeling so good.  GWS.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 26 July, 2017, 03:55:25 pm
Thanks Basil. The worst bit about coming back is having to do work stuff when I'm trying to catch up with a months worth of YACF
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 26 July, 2017, 06:25:43 pm
GWS.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 July, 2017, 08:18:07 pm
WelcOmE bAcK GuY!

GN: I have "fat juicy veins" good for taking blood from.
BN: The nurse is a vampire.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 28 July, 2017, 11:37:44 am
BN pay group have made a mistake with my pension arrangements dating back to 2014

GN They are giving me  a one off payment of ££££  next month to sort it out.
 
BN parents are having a new central heating boiler installed, so I think I'll be making a larger payment for that than I'd planned  ::-)

GN , the extra payment is in my account
BN, I appear to have been taxed at 40% on it  >:(         Query has been sent to the appropriate people.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: menthel on 03 August, 2017, 02:00:29 pm
BN: It takes Openreach 2 weeks to set up a phone and internet for a house that had them before we moved in.
GN: Finally phone activated a day late.
BN: No internet anywhere to be seen.
MBN: Sky's phone system is terrible but get through to people and promised it will be sorted.
EMBN: It wasn't. Phoned again and the case had been closed with no action.
EEMBN: Still wasn't sorted when chased- would be 24 hours before update, not even a fix. Apparently Sky are beholden to the shower of bastards at Openreach who don't care one jot.
GN: Surprisingly, 15 minutes after the last call the broadband came online. Sky were slightly surprised by this.

I won't bore you with the saga that ended up with the dullards at Sky sending me 4 ADSL router thingies...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: MalRees on 04 August, 2017, 11:28:30 pm
GN: Littlewheel and I went cycling in the Orkneys last weekend. We didn't pedal too far, but we did leave the car on the mainland and put all the camping gear on the bikes. We had a great time.
BN: Oxyliplatin side effects kicking in. Warm long fingered gloves and chemical hand warmers must always be in the bag.
GN: We are cyclists once more!!!!!!  :D :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 19 August, 2017, 11:23:10 am
BN: Still can't find my British Library Reader Pass, so have to get a replacement.

GN: My lost Pass was close enough to expiring that I have been able to renew (£0) rather than replace (£10).  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 23 August, 2017, 05:38:20 pm
BN: My team lost in the League Cup last night.
BN: When I got back I had to wade through a lot of water because the front outside tap piping had come loose from its feed. Loadsa water.
GN: I'm insured for (nearly) all the repairs, and the leak was fixed this afternoon, I can use the bogs and shower.
BN: The laminate flooring downstairs will need replacing
GN: I was going to replace some of it anyway
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 04 September, 2017, 12:43:54 pm
BN : Letter from the tax man

gulp!

GN : they owe me money

\o/

Side note: their site couldn't handle the rush as it took me about 6 attempts to get past the login page and it was not because I forgot the magic words.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 23 September, 2017, 09:20:31 pm
It's nice when that happens!

BN: Laptop cooked its graphics chip a little while back.
GN: I've found magic incantations to disable graphics and use the internal to CPU chipset one.
BN: Though I can log in, the graphics are slow, colour crap and brightness control broken.
More BN: Laptop is old and repair seems unlikely. I've got better things to spend my money on than a whole new one.
GN: Found old non-laptop and got it set up. The stuff I use all the time is mostly there again (though I need a "remember the password" session in email).
More GN: Tapatalk is all very well, but it's nice to be back here in a browser :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 29 September, 2017, 11:35:05 am
BN: We had a water pipe leak on 22/8
BN: They allegedly found asbestos in the flooring - this caused much delay
GN: The blowers and dehumidifiers are now in-situ
GN: They are creating a lot of heat, so we don't need the heating on & the insurance company is paying
GN: We'll get a new floor out of it with a nice separate part for the kitchen & utility area
GN: The stair carpet I've never liked might also get replaced
BN: No doubt the insurance company will get its pound of flesh on renewal
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 05 October, 2017, 07:42:00 pm
More BN: the blowers, now supplemented, have to stay at least another week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: gibbo on 10 October, 2017, 01:34:34 pm
BN - friend is ill enough to be put on the kidney transplant list
BN - said friend is also diabetic, has been from birth (I think)
GN - friend has had double transplant - kidney and pancreas
MGN - friend is no longer diabetic and came home from hospital yesterday
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 13 October, 2017, 04:16:16 pm
More BN: the blowers, now supplemented, have to stay at least another week.
GN: Blowers & humidifiers have now gone.
BN: The flooring won't be reinstated until 20/11.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 24 October, 2017, 09:37:01 am
BN The dog rolled in fox 🦊 poo 💩 this morning.

GN She was booked into the groomer today anyway
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 24 October, 2017, 09:10:17 pm
BN - friend is ill enough to be put on the kidney transplant list
BN - said friend is also diabetic, has been from birth (I think)
GN - friend has had double transplant - kidney and pancreas
MGN - friend is no longer diabetic and came home from hospital yesterday

I hope said friend can remain non-diabetic, pancreas transplants are not always successful
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 November, 2017, 08:56:57 am
Good news - my parcel is being delivered to my office today by TNT  :thumbsup:

Bad news - I wasn't expecting it until Thursday or Friday & was going to bring my folding trolley in, as it's 15Kg unpacked.   Taxi home tonight then.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 08 November, 2017, 09:15:29 am
The front brake on my new commuter has been fixed, yay! (it was a faulty caliper, who would have guessed? Me actually, but at least it is sorted. This involved transporting said bike to the LBS in my car, although I rode it back)

Now then, guess whose lights are still sitting in the boot of whose car?  :facepalm: Boo.

Oh well, I have an Evans voucher, I can use, just need to get the same lights and they will slip into the bracket. Yay!

Evans in The Cut are out of Cateye lights. Boo.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 November, 2017, 06:35:39 pm
Good news - my parcel is being delivered to my office today by TNT  :thumbsup:

Bad news - I wasn't expecting it until Thursday or Friday & was going to bring my folding trolley in, as it's 15Kg unpacked.   Taxi home tonight then.


Good news - the driver had been given my home address rather than my office address, but said he'd try & get it down there, otherwise they'd deliver it tomorrow.


Bad news - no further contact so I went home.  When I checked their website it shows our doorman signed for it at 15:30.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 10 November, 2017, 12:46:17 pm
Bad News: We have no Nespresso capsules. I drank the last one 2 hours ago.

More Bad News: It was decaff :(

Good News: We have a package from Nespresso

Even More Bad News: It contains descaler
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 10 November, 2017, 05:24:52 pm
And I though I was cutting it fine, down to my last bag of beans before the market tomorrow
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 November, 2017, 05:27:38 pm
I thought there was a thread for First-World Problems...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: madcow on 10 November, 2017, 05:44:43 pm
Aren't Nespresso capsules officially the work of Stan , being non recyclable and all that?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 10 November, 2017, 06:22:32 pm
Aren't Nespresso capsules officially the work of Stan , being non recyclable and all that?

Aluminium and all that - lost of work being done on recyclability at the moment, along with Costa et al cups
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 November, 2017, 10:45:22 pm
Aren't Nespresso capsules officially the work of Stan , being non recyclable and all that?

Indeed they are.
Being willing to imbibe almost anything labeled 'coffee', I never jumped onto that bandwagon.

Sainsbury's Gold Roast instant does for me.

I have eschewed Pringle cos packaging.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 15 November, 2017, 07:02:09 pm
My old bathroom mat is worn to rags, so I decided to pop into S&M to see if they had anything suitable.


GN: They still had one that matched the bright blue shade of the new towels I bought last year
BN: £19:95  :jurek:
GN: It went though the till at £1:86 , and the guy gave me a big wink & said I'd got the bargain of the day  :-D     (He reckoned they'd not changed the label properly after the last sale.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mcshroom on 15 November, 2017, 08:24:00 pm
BN - My dishwasher started leaking last week
BN - Replacing the rubber seals hasn't fixed it
GN - I've found the problem - it's the lower spray arm that's splitting.
GN - Duct tape has fixed it for now :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 20 December, 2017, 04:06:15 pm
BN:  Mrs B is having an 'At Home' with her team this evening.  She's been prepping unwrapping and laying out little tasty stuffs for an hour but I am not allowed to touch them.

MBN:  I'm to be on my best behaviour and dressed suitably ("No.  Not those trousers.  Not that jumper  either") for meeting and greeting.

GN:  I must then bugger off to the pub and not come back before 8.

BN:  With the dog.

VBN:  Under no circumstances may I get even a little drunk.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 20 December, 2017, 04:53:40 pm
BN:  Mrs B is having an 'At Home' with her team this evening.  She's been prepping unwrapping and laying out little tasty stuffs for an hour but I am not allowed to touch them.

MBN:  I'm to be on my best behaviour and dressed suitably ("No.  Not those trousers.  Not that jumper  either") for meeting and greeting.

GN:  I must then bugger off to the pub and not come back before 8.

BN:  With the dog.

VBN:  Under no circumstances may I get even a little drunk.

Sounds like you will have to practice your darts then.  ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 20 December, 2017, 05:06:12 pm
BN:  Mrs B is having an 'At Home' with her team this evening.  She's been prepping unwrapping and laying out little tasty stuffs for an hour but I am not allowed to touch them.

MBN:  I'm to be on my best behaviour and dressed suitably ("No.  Not those trousers.  Not that jumper  either") for meeting and greeting.

GN:  I must then bugger off to the pub and not come back before 8.

BN:  With the dog.

VBN:  Under no circumstances may I get even a little drunk.

Sounds like you will have to practice your darts then.  ;)

Hurrumph.  I've just seen the amount of prosecco she's laid in  :o (I'm still here on bottle opening duties and being genial duties)
As far as I am aware, only one of them is staying the night.  This could be amusing.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ScumOfTheRoad on 20 December, 2017, 05:13:22 pm
I have eschewed Pringle cos packaging.

Nooo...   Pringles are worth laying the Earth to waste.
My only concern, should I have the last Pringle from the last tube, sitting on the bare earth of a sun blasted wasteland, is where the next tube may be found.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 29 December, 2017, 05:02:44 pm
I phoned to arrange assistance for our forthcoming trip to Christchurch.

BN: Automated answering, Pressed 1
BN: Repeated muzak/automated announcement cycle
BN: Human answering phone did not have English as first language ad I had to give train departure details twice. Spoke from pre-written script so sounded like machine, with heavy foreign accent.
BN: He then transferred my call to South Western Railway. More waiting, more muzak
GN: Phone answered by efficient person to whom I didn't need to repeat myself.
MGN: Received confirmation email PDQ.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 02 January, 2018, 06:05:14 pm
GN: At check in this morning my bike bag weighed in at 31.8Kg, the limit is 32.  Pure blind luck.
MGN: Bike arrived in Italy on the same flight as me.
MMGN: Barely a scuff on the bag.
BN: Rear brake rotor bent.  I'm going to say packing fail on my part, some squishing of the bag is inevitable.  I thought a bent rotor was a possibility but I didn't see anything I could do about it bar remove them which I elected not to do.
GN: It appears no other damage.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 06 January, 2018, 07:18:57 pm
BN: I am too skint to afford a new sofa
BN: I have missed out on two really nice ones on Guntree
GN: My mate's wealthy brother is giving me two of his (very expensive) sofas that will be surplus to requirements in a few weeks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: gibbo on 08 January, 2018, 09:16:10 am
BN - friend is ill enough to be put on the kidney transplant list
BN - said friend is also diabetic, has been from birth (I think)
GN - friend has had double transplant - kidney and pancreas
MGN - friend is no longer diabetic and came home from hospital yesterday

I hope said friend can remain non-diabetic, pancreas transplants are not always successful

Indeed, but so far so good. She's finding it quite strange not having to inject at certain times and is enjoying that side of things immensely.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: David Martin on 09 January, 2018, 11:37:47 pm
GN: I found my cross country ski waxes. Every thing from green to red ultra special.
BN: I also found the klister. It had leaked. Everything was rather sticky.
GN: I has ski waxes so might actually dig out the skis this winter if we have snow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 22 January, 2018, 09:57:23 am
GN: My Atlas des Cols des Alpes (vol 3) has turned up this morning, yay!!!!
Slightly BN: The condition was slightly worse than described by the Amazon.fr market seller
GN: So they added in Vol 2 for free!
BN: But I have to work today..... boooo
GN: Nobody has turned up to a weekly "clinic" call I hold (unusually), yayy! ...hang "do not disturb" sign over my status...

They are fascinating volumes.

ETA: BN: Bastard Germans. Turning up late and spoiling my morning.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 09 February, 2018, 08:24:22 pm
Vicariously:

GN:  Our friend moved to his new home last Wednesday.
BN:  The ancient boiler, unused for six months is toast!
GN:  A new Worcester Bosch was fitted today.
BN:  It's busted right out of the box.
MBN:  They cannot get the bits before Monday at the earliest.!

Should've got a Vaillant.... 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 February, 2018, 08:30:43 pm
Should've got a Vaillant.... 

I'm not sure it's wise to have a boiler with that much mojo.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 24 February, 2018, 01:15:02 pm
GN: I got out of a day’s frock shopping for mother of the bride outfits with Dr Beardy (Mrs)
BN: it cost me a new tyre
MBN: I’m still going to have to accompany Dr Beardy (Mrs) on said frock shopping expedition
GN: it won’t be for at least a couple of weeks because she’s working next Saturday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 02 March, 2018, 04:09:01 pm
GN: We got let out of work early for the bad weather
BN: I arrived home to find I still had the (only set of) works keys in my coat pocket
BN: I had also left my house keys at work
GN: The journey there and back was easy
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 06 March, 2018, 10:39:57 am
BN: Mislaid my wallet last week, so cancelled cards
GN: Have alternate bank card in another wallet
BN: Searched high and low, retraced my steps on the Sno bike, no luck
GN: Local cop shop just phoned, it's been handed in.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mattc on 06 March, 2018, 08:31:36 pm
GN: We are going to https://commonpeopleoxford.ticketline.co.uk/ on May BH (James, Maximo Park et al) :smug:
And N gets 20% staff discount :)

BN: the above is almost wiped out by the Booking Fee, and the separate DELIVERY BY FUCKING EMAIL charge (the latter being about 50p less than the delivery-by-post charge. er ... yay.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 March, 2018, 08:33:39 pm
GN: We are going to https://commonpeopleoxford.ticketline.co.uk/ on May BH (James, Maximo Park et al) :smug:
And N gets 20% staff discount :)
Should be Pulp with a name like that!

(Delivery by email charge – WTF?)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mr ben on 12 March, 2018, 07:02:56 pm
BN: bike nicked.
GN: it was the cheapest of the stable shed.  Just wish I hadn't bothered cleaning it yesterday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 March, 2018, 07:52:59 pm
BN: bike nicked.
GN: it was the cheapest of the stable shed.  Just wish I hadn't bothered cleaning it yesterday.

Bastards.   >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 March, 2018, 08:41:27 pm
BN: bike nicked.
GN: it was the cheapest of the stable shed.  Just wish I hadn't bothered cleaning it yesterday.
May the thief suffer painful warts on every body part, or even better, an attack of remorse and return the bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mr ben on 12 March, 2018, 09:05:47 pm
I was thinking "I hope they get oil on their right inner ankle area"*. Perhaps I should up my revenge-thoughts.

*They will because I just lubed it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 13 March, 2018, 11:10:53 am
BN: Linked In has taken to not forwarding my job applications with CV
GN: companies are finding me anyway
More GN: Oracle HR, to whom I sent a job application weeks ago, scanned my LinkedIN profile, and phoned me, offering me a job interview
BN: I've accepted a job elsewhere already
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 17 March, 2018, 07:24:15 am
BN.  Woken up at 6:30 am by the sound of someone dragging something in my enclosed back garden.

GN.  1000 litres of heating oil delivered.

BN.  Can't get back to sleep.  May have to get up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 18 March, 2018, 08:40:09 pm
Further to the above.   
We had been getting a bit low on oil and then the Beast from the East cold event happened.  Due to excessive central heating we were then worryingly low.  I rang my usual supplier but they were unable to quote their normally pretty prompt delivery date and even gloomily suggested I should ring around the other suppliers.  I eventually found someone who gauranted 7 days.  Worry.

Bad news:   Because I didn't have an account, they wanted payment up front.  1000 litres at 49.5p plus 5% vat.  They delivered yesterday after 9 days, sparrow fart on the day I had decided I would have to switch off the boiler and face the wrath of Mrs B.

Good news:  Seems I got it right.  Just been talking to a chap who says they are now quoting 60p + vat! And 2 weeks delivery!  (And round here 2 weeks means more than two weeks)

Phew.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 20 March, 2018, 06:27:06 pm
BN: I got careless doing potato dauphinois & ended up with a good pan with a layer of burnt on black stuff.


GN: The pan is now clean again.


BN: the flat stinks of the boiling vinegar I used to get the crap off.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 20 March, 2018, 07:50:47 pm
BN: The toilet flush mechanism broke at 6.30 this evening
GN: It was of the type that has a separate push button that clicks into place
GN: It was only £6 at Screwfix who were open until 8pm
GN: Once I got it home, it was a 2-minute fix
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 06 April, 2018, 07:08:48 pm
Bad news: my 20 year old Rab down jacket size L is just a bit too snug these days.


Good news: I saw & ordered a likely replacement which arrived today https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/klaettermusen-liv-20-sweater-down-jumpers/


Bad news: The XL size I ordered is a bit too snug , so it will have to go back  :facepalm:    Sob, it's lovely & soft & snuggly. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 17 April, 2018, 10:40:35 am
BN: I am in a truly shit job. Tedious in the extreme and only made vaguely bearable by decent colleagues - mainly.

GN: The DfE are advertising jobs that are remarkably similar to the role I did in 2009-11 for them on a very good wage, but was terminated soon after the 2010 election.

BN: The gap might count against me, but I am going to give it a go!

GN: It is something positive to aim for job-wise.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 17 April, 2018, 12:01:15 pm
Good luck going for another ....er....erm.... post  ;D :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 18 April, 2018, 02:00:42 pm
grrr, this week is not getting better

BN - Last week someone fucked up to I had to fly to Aberdeen on Sunday to go offshore midday Monday, back late Tuesday

BN Monday Fog - no movements

GN Tuesday early flight - Hooray

BN Wednesday - planned early return delayed, giving me the joy of almost four hours in Aberdeen airport

G-ish N - sorted out a proposal for somebody else, they couldn't do it because they were "busy", I managed it while "busy" and "offshore"
More BN Wednesday, boarding the helicopter offshore, the downdraft catches my glasses which disappear over the edge of the helideck and across the platform.  Someone is going to be very confused at finding a pair of glasses on deck somewhere.  They were my new pair as well.

GN - Aberdeen airport looks better blurry, I may do as well as I've had at least three smiles from interesting looking women (but they were blurry so I may be wrong)

And a Meh! fact, birthday today, not my first away or offshore, but Meh! anyway.

Edit: more GN - my glasses were found on the platform and will be returned to me
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 18 April, 2018, 08:43:52 pm
And a Meh! fact, birthday today, not my first away or offshore, but Meh! anyway.

Edit: more GN - my glasses were found on the platform and will be returned to me

Happy birthday for what's left...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 18 April, 2018, 09:09:02 pm
Further to the above.   
We had been getting a bit low on oil and then the Beast from the East cold event happened.  Due to excessive central heating we were then worryingly low.  I rang my usual supplier but they were unable to quote their normally pretty prompt delivery date and even gloomily suggested I should ring around the other suppliers.  I eventually found someone who gauranted 7 days.  Worry.

Bad news:   Because I didn't have an account, they wanted payment up front.  1000 litres at 49.5p plus 5% vat.  They delivered yesterday after 9 days, sparrow fart on the day I had decided I would have to switch off the boiler and face the wrath of Mrs B.

Good news:  Seems I got it right.  Just been talking to a chap who says they are now quoting 60p + vat! And 2 weeks delivery!  (And round here 2 weeks means more than two weeks)

Phew.

Blimey, hadn't realised it had gone up that much!  This directly relates to my BN/GN.

BN Outgoing residents leave a pathetic amount of oil in the tank
GN Pickstocks can deliver same day, which they attempted to do, to find
BN a) the tank lid locked, and b) me 10 miles away at the estate agents attempting to pick up the keys for the house.
GN, they are happy to come back later that day, or the next morning, as desired.
BN (almost two months and several snowings in later) There is an old steel central heating oil tank in the barn, which is in the way of my planned workshop
BN, it is incredibly heavy and I cannot move it, why?
GN, Erm, that'll be because it has about 250 litres of perfectly good central heating oil in it!
BN spent an entire day draining it, checking it for water, and transferring it to the new plastic tank which is actually in commission (installed a year ago by the hard to remove previous owners).
GN smugness when I see the level gauge (clever remote thingy) has gone right back up to the top of the scale
GN This goes well with the fact that the solar PV seems to be keeping the electricity meter going backwards nearly as much as it ever goes forwards  ;D
GN our wood burning stove is happy living partly on a diet of used pallets, and most of the delivery trucks visiting our house seem to have a spare pallet or two in the back that they're happy to get rid of.
BN How the hell do Powys CC claim this 3 bed bungalow is a band F?  All the references I've found say its an E, which is horrifying enough, but F, its not a bloody palace!


Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 19 April, 2018, 04:01:51 pm
BN: A tooth that had been rather tender of late decided to crack at lunchtime & when I called the dentist, they were closed for lunch - how quaint.

GN: When I eventually called, they had a cancellation <1 hour later & I managed to swing the time off. The tooth was fixed.

GN: The electric bike whisked me there very rapidly.

BN: I now have to pay for dental treatment, although £60 seems reasonable, I spose.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 19 April, 2018, 04:31:59 pm
And a Meh! fact, birthday today, not my first away or offshore, but Meh! anyway.

Edit: more GN - my glasses were found on the platform and will be returned to me

Happy birthday for what's left...

Thanks HM
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 20 April, 2018, 06:52:55 pm
BN: this morning when i knelt to do up my shoes my trousers ripped from arse to fly.

GN: happened at home not in the office.

GN: replacement pair are a size smaller.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 17 May, 2018, 03:57:35 pm
GN: I’m in Honfleur and it’s a gorgeous day.


BN: €9 for a large beer & it’s only Jupiler... :jurek:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 17 May, 2018, 11:35:56 pm
You could buy a crate for that in Carrefour . . . !  :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 24 June, 2018, 12:43:38 pm
BN: The bar end mirror disappeared from David's bike after he parked it at Queensbury yesterday.
GN: Evans a couple of miles away can supply a replacement, which I have ordered on Click & Collect.
BN: I've ordered this on my account and the email they've sent states they'll only give these things to account holders with umpteen layers of ID.

Does anyone know how difficult they are?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fimm on 25 June, 2018, 03:17:03 pm
Depends on the value of the thing, and the staff, I suspect.
My experience was I wandered in, said "hello I am Mrs <UnusualName> an my husband has ordered a <widget> and we wondered if I could pick it up seeing as I was passing" and they gave it to me (I may have shown my driving licence, I can't remember). But the widget was very small (something for repairing punctures in tubeless tyres. No, me neither). They did say they wouldn't have done that if it had been a bike!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 25 June, 2018, 04:36:57 pm
BN: The bar end mirror disappeared from David's bike after he parked it at Queensbury yesterday.
GN: Evans a couple of miles away can supply a replacement, which I have ordered on Click & Collect.
BN: I've ordered this on my account and the email they've sent states they'll only give these things to account holders with umpteen layers of ID.

Does anyone know how difficult they are?
Queensbury? As in up by Mountain[1] where Cat's Eyes come from[2]?

1. Bradford way
2. You must know this story, surely. Apparently a chap that liked a drink in Queensbury had to drive home via mountain where there were no street lights and it being in olden timesTM his car lights were crap. However, as he went around a corner his dim car lights shone on a cat and reflected back at him. so the following morning, hangover permitting, he invented 'cats eyes' for roads, and made his fortune.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 25 June, 2018, 08:15:25 pm
Queensbury was the name for this area, favoured in an estate agent's competition in the 1930s, when estates were mushrooming after The Great War. Kingsbury nearby was an old settlement so the name Queensbury appealed.

Stanmore and Canons to the north had housed GF Händel and the Duke of Chandos.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: orienteer on 25 June, 2018, 08:20:26 pm
BN: The bar end mirror disappeared from David's bike after he parked it at Queensbury yesterday.
GN: Evans a couple of miles away can supply a replacement, which I have ordered on Click & Collect.
BN: I've ordered this on my account and the email they've sent states they'll only give these things to account holders with umpteen layers of ID.

Does anyone know how difficult they are?
Queensbury? As in up by Mountain[1] where Cat's Eyes come from[2]?

1. Bradford way
2. You must know this story, surely. Apparently a chap that liked a drink in Queensbury had to drive home via mountain where there were no street lights and it being in olden timesTM his car lights were crap. However, as he went around a corner his dim car lights shone on a cat and reflected back at him. so the following morning, hangover permitting, he invented 'cats eyes' for roads, and made his fortune.

That was the Queensbury in West Yorkshire, near Bradford. The inventor Percy Shaw lived nearby in Halifax.

Not on the Jubilee Line, which is the one Helly lives near.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 25 June, 2018, 08:44:22 pm
Which is probably why I mentioned BRADFORD  ;D

I did work briefly in Queensbury telephone exchange when I was an apprentice technician, though that’s in Clayton, not Queensbury.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 25 June, 2018, 08:54:53 pm
Not the big Strowger on the De Havilland site then?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 25 June, 2018, 09:55:58 pm
Not the big Strowger on the De Havilland site then?
Although I’m old enough to have been trained to maintain strowger, that was more because of the lack of ‘qualifying courses’1 on any other exchange technology. My stint at Queensbury (Bradford) was on Telephone eXchange Electronic 2 (TXE2).

1. One of which was at Bletchley Park, because it happened to be a Post Office Telephones training centre at the time. The chap that actually designed, built (and paid for) the first electronic computer built there during the war was acutually a GPO research centre bod before and after the war. Tommy Flowers is considered a bit of an unsung hero at Martlesham Heath and role model for ‘Martleman’, the strange nerd type that existed before they were called nerds.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 25 June, 2018, 10:56:00 pm
Tommy Flowers is considered a bit of an unsung hero full stop.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 25 June, 2018, 11:03:28 pm
Tommy Flowers is considered a bit of an unsung hero full stop.
we have a bust of him in the entrance to The Hub (staff restaurant) at work.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 26 June, 2018, 08:59:22 am
Depends on the value of the thing, and the staff, I suspect.
My experience was I wandered in, said "hello I am Mrs <UnusualName> an my husband has ordered a <widget> and we wondered if I could pick it up seeing as I was passing" and they gave it to me (I may have shown my driving licence, I can't remember). But the widget was very small (something for repairing punctures in tubeless tyres. No, me neither). They did say they wouldn't have done that if it had been a bike!
Ordered a pair of shoes from Cotwold, on sale at £86.
Needed to take ID and print-out of order.
Tried on the shoes, went to counter, no ID etc. required. Reason: they're 13s - if they fit you...
Mind, nobody checked that I actually took 13s, but if I'd been 5'FA there might have been queries.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 26 June, 2018, 11:45:53 am
My kid brother's a Size 12 but only 5'9"...

I phone up the shop.
Hung on and on. Phone cut out.
Redialled.
Eventually spoke to a chap, explained situation, gave him my postcode, order number, told him how I'd paid and what I'd ordered.
Told him David was coming by bike and would be at shop within ten minutes - it's two miles away.

David got his £13.49 mirror. He had the confirmation email on his phone.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 June, 2018, 06:35:37 pm
Hurrah!  I have booked accommodation for the first half of this year's Leftpondian anabasis, so I won't need to sleep in my motor-car  :thumbsup:

Bah!  No prospect of changing motor-car reservation for anything more interesting than some horrible people-carrying barge :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 27 June, 2018, 10:17:23 pm
BN drove for an hour to do a clinic this morning
GN which saved 20 people 2 hours each of extra driving,
BN then drove 90 minutes to do a home visit followed by a 2 hour drive home. 
BN Shattered. 
BNNo quiet day this week so my little extrovert overload sign is in red zone. 
BN But now 3 weeks without being on the bike which is making me really depressed
BN Working this saturday
GN then ordination of friend on sunday
BN No cycling
GN finally put in formal notice of retirement as from 1 September
BN they want me back but I cannot decide what i want and no plan for succession in place!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 30 June, 2018, 02:53:18 pm
GN: My next door neighbour gave me a bunch of flowers.
BN: He's 94 and struggled round to my place with the flowers and his shopping list because his carer had not materialised today. Phoning had been met by a dead phone line. He was running out of milk.
GN: I was able to give him some frozen milk. He has enough liquid milk for a cup of tea and I thought frozen milk in a plastic carton was safer than a glass milk bottle.
GN: He is *just* mobile enough to walk here.

I am unimpressed by the care and support neighbour is receiving, not to speak of its (un)reliability.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 01 July, 2018, 12:10:53 pm
A lot of council websites will insist people have tried asking their neighbours to cook and shop for them before any council help is provided... Shocking and awful.

Glad you could help a little, it does sound really neglectful and horrible for neighbour. Especially now online delivery has a minimum amount of £25 or £40 which is more than many poorer old people can afford to spend on food or will eat.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 01 July, 2018, 12:18:43 pm
Neighbour is pre-internet.

I order stuffs when I fancy and let him know in advance to give me a list. If I could hold a pen he could dictate over the phone but I can't.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 01 July, 2018, 12:22:35 pm
*nods* you can only do what you can do and your own disabilities limit that.  And he shouldn't have to rely on unreliable carers, he should have proper reliable care that covers what he needs. And or a mobility aid like a scooter if he can use one safely.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 01 July, 2018, 12:33:07 pm
I order stuffs when I fancy and let him know in advance to give me a list. If I could hold a pen he could dictate over the phone but I can't.

Record the phone call and play it back at your leisure?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 01 July, 2018, 12:59:49 pm
I order stuffs when I fancy and let him know in advance to give me a list. If I could hold a pen he could dictate over the phone but I can't.

Record the phone call and play it back at your leisure?

I don't think I have enough hands to juggle two gadgets really.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 01 July, 2018, 01:01:45 pm
I was envisioning something that didn't require juggling, like an automatic recording device or an app.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 01 July, 2018, 01:10:55 pm
Having spent 15 years providing ever increasing levels of support to our neighbours1, it’s strange to have a younger couple2 next door who are frequently knocking on the door to ask for their frisbee back!

1. Both sides were very well supported by their families, but I was closer in the event of emergencies. To be honest. I was always glad that they felt able to call on me rather than them struggle on until their families could get to them.

2. It is the couple and there mates as none of them have children that I’ve seen!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 02 July, 2018, 11:10:49 pm
I order stuffs when I fancy and let him know in advance to give me a list. If I could hold a pen he could dictate over the phone but I can't.

Record the phone call and play it back at your leisure?

I don't think I have enough hands to juggle two gadgets really.
Hmm - I think you are someone who would benefit from owning an Echo.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 03 July, 2018, 11:55:55 am
GN: Going to BHPC meet at Betteshanger.
MGN: Taking Speedies (plural) and stuffs in a hire van. Loadsa room plus emergency sleeping quarters if inclement.  :thumbsup:
BN: Photocard licence expired May 18 - See 'Div' thread. Arse!
GN: Renew online!!1! Only 14 quid. Easy peasy.
BN: Needed for rental van next Thursday.
MBN:'Delivered within 2 weeks'. How vague is that? Instant renewal, instant payment, everything checked, every question answered. Why?
GN: Call to rental co this AM. Not a problem. Bring your passport and we will confirm with DVLA while you wait.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 03 July, 2018, 01:35:37 pm
New photocards took less than a week for both my wife and I when we had to renew - something like 5 days I think. I'd be surprised if you didn't have it well before next Thursday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 03 July, 2018, 02:24:00 pm
Would be really good if that happened.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 03 July, 2018, 04:28:25 pm
which reminds me, I'd better have a look at mine
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 03 July, 2018, 05:21:21 pm
You'll get a reminder from the DVLA giving about 8 weeks notice and threatening dire consequences if your card expires whilst you're still entitled to drive.

'The bullshit piled up so fast you needed wings to stay above it...'
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 03 July, 2018, 09:12:53 pm
I’ve got two more years so I’m alright. The reason I was concerned is that I took my Motorcycle test in 2008, but I obviously waited for two years before I gave up my paper licence.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 04 July, 2018, 12:03:12 pm
GN - Last November I resigned from my job, as it was taking too much of a toll on my health, and importantly I was in a position financially so to do, at least for a while.

BN - When you’re 61 opportunities are limited, but I was determined not to be a “stay away” contractor.

GN - I did get some interviews, one in Feb and two in May.

BN - I didn’t get the jobs, and the second was only 7 miles from home.

GN - A week ago I had an interview for a temp to perm job, and today I heard I’d got it  :)

MGN - It’s just what I wanted, a bit of project work, a bit of engineering, and no customer facing  :thumbsup:

EMGN - It’s 2 1/2 miles from home  :D

BN (sort of) - I can’t start until August 6th because building works mean no office.

GN - I’ll see the heatwave out before I start  ;D

I is a happy bunny.  8)

I is a happy bunny
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 04 July, 2018, 12:30:52 pm
That's great.  :thumbsup: 
Also, I had to read back through your post to check if there was actually any bad news, and what it was.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 04 July, 2018, 12:53:44 pm
Lol it’s relative isn’t it  :). And the weather forecast is suggesting all of July will be fine for us next southerners. I suppose the bad news is also that I’ll not be able to cycle quite so much, though cycle commuting is obviously on the cards.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 09 August, 2018, 09:27:13 pm
GN: Booked flights with FinnAir.  Never flown with them before, so a new airline to add to my list.

BN: "Operated by American Airlines".  Bugger.1


1 Stronger language may have actually been used.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 August, 2018, 10:52:19 am
Bah: The recent mild spell warped the outer front door of Larrington Towers to such an extent that it became almost impossible to shut property.  It blew open.

Hurrah: This allowed the postie to pop my delivery of Avon Skin-So-Soft in the porch while I was still hunting for my glasses two floors up.  Also the door has unwarped and now shuts nicely again.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 August, 2018, 03:31:26 pm
GN: I managed to access details of my Teachers' Pension pot
BN: My part-time service wan't much
GN: My transferred pension pot made it up to a half-decent sum
GN?: My lump sum will only allow me to buy a property outright in northern Sweden* (a distinct possibility) or darkest Hungary (not such an attractive proposition).

*Northern Sweden is being depopulated so rapidly that property prices are ridiculously low. A 100+M2 house in decent nick and a large plot of land for £16K!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 10 August, 2018, 04:39:54 pm
*Northern Sweden is being depopulated so rapidly that property prices are ridiculously low. A 100+M2 house in decent nick and a large plot of land for £16K!
So what is the downside? High property taxes? Risk of being an extra in real-life scandi noir? Or worse, no broadband?  :hand:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 August, 2018, 05:22:14 pm
20-hour nights in December. If it's overcast then, you don't even get proper daylight either. -30C is not uncommon. In '94, it was -30C for over 3 weeks when I lived there & dipped down to -36C one day. Sweden is one of the most connected places in the world, so broadband is an absolute given.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 10 August, 2018, 08:39:11 pm
*Northern Sweden is being depopulated so rapidly that property prices are ridiculously low. A 100+M2 house in decent nick and a large plot of land for £16K!
So what is the downside? High property taxes? Risk of being an extra in real-life scandi noir? Or worse, no broadband?  :hand:

Those jumpers they wear would annoy me . . . .   (and the price of alcohol)

Rob
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 10 August, 2018, 09:24:23 pm
Brew your own. Nobody will be round to check...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 10 August, 2018, 10:49:04 pm
the Swedish and Norwegian homebrew scene is thriving

I imagine there may be a few sneaky acquavit stills in operation as well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 August, 2018, 11:40:08 pm
Brew your own. Nobody will be round to check...

I think eyebrows get raised if you buy lots of sugar...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 11 August, 2018, 12:06:58 am
Especially if they are buying potassium chlorate as well!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 11 August, 2018, 02:13:58 am
That might raise the roof as well as eyebrows...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 August, 2018, 01:38:48 pm
Alcohol is VERY expensive in Sweden in pubs & restaurants. However, Sysytembolaget - the national alcohol monopoly - has a good range of beers at not-too-expensive prices. They are, I believe, the world's largest wine buyer and their wines are also pretty reasonably priced. Their shops are like old-fashioned chemists (or used to be) with the workers in white coats, as if they are handing over prescriptions. They deliver to shops in more remote settlements for sinners to then collect from there. Lowish -alcohol beer is available from supermarkets and that is cheap.
Fullers Porter, about £2/can: https://www.systembolaget.se/dryck/ol/fullers-163412 (https://www.systembolaget.se/dryck/ol/fullers-163412)

Portuguese plonk for about a fiver: https://www.systembolaget.se/dryck/roda-viner/dao-1252001 (https://www.systembolaget.se/dryck/roda-viner/dao-1252001)
3.5% Europiss @ <£1/can: https://www.ica.se/handla/produkt/ol-3-5-50cl-pripps-bla--id_p_7310070766052/#s=ica-supermarket-vannas-id_02986
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 September, 2018, 10:27:40 am
GN: School has started again.
BN: School has started again.
GN: School has finally started again.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 08 September, 2018, 11:40:27 am
GN: For the first time since the hot weather broke I have time to mow the lawn today, it's almost a silage crop.
BN: it's raining.

BN: My endowment had it's 2nd worst year of the 21 its been running (by one method of measure)
GN: If it performs that badly the remaining 4 years it will still hit the target

GN: Blood letting time in Chepstow next week, I had a feeling it was about due.
BN: I'll be in Italy

BN: I was overcharged by Southern Fail when I went to the GBBF, the cheapest price shown online wasn't available at the machine.
GN: I complained and the cheque for a refund of the difference turned up yesterday

GN: The kids aren't screaming and screeching round their gardens all damn day any more
BN: Their parents are trying to kill me on the roads again
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Redjeep! on 10 September, 2018, 05:50:44 pm
20-hour nights in December. If it's overcast then, you don't even get proper daylight either. -30C is not uncommon. In '94, it was -30C for over 3 weeks when I lived there & dipped down to -36C one day. Sweden is one of the most connected places in the world, so broadband is an absolute given.

I worked for a company that had a facility in Sweden that was 700 km north of Stockholm. I believe at one stage they were literally giving houses away to people to go and live there.

It was nice but very, very desolate (and cold). Very high suicide rate. We had a phenomenon where people would drive to work and couldn't get out of their car. It was most common at the end of the summer as people got depressed with the coming winter.

On the plus side, all the houses I saw had extensive finished basements and a mate of mine (non-Swede) was convinced that it was because the locals were into exotic swinger parties. I never found out if this was true and it probably said more about him than the locals.

I did find alcohol in the state ran shops wasn't too expensive.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 07 October, 2018, 03:02:15 pm
GN: I have found the Raspberry Pi and hard drive! Finally I can have some decent music!

BN: Where the fuck are the leads?  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pickled Onion on 07 October, 2018, 04:05:50 pm
BN: My last trip has worn out: one chain (new); one pair of brake blocks (Estonian); one tyre (also new).

GN: I discovered this today, five days before the next trip, rather than like last time when I discovered a sheared chainring bolt while packing at the airport  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 07 October, 2018, 10:39:03 pm
BN: I've just discovered that they've made another Sharknado film.  I suppose that means I'll have to watch it.
GN: Blow-by-blow IRC review (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6884.msg2265637#msg2265637) coming to the film thread in due course, so you don't have to.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 17 October, 2018, 04:49:06 pm
20-hour nights in December. If it's overcast then, you don't even get proper daylight either. -30C is not uncommon. In '94, it was -30C for over 3 weeks when I lived there & dipped down to -36C one day. Sweden is one of the most connected places in the world, so broadband is an absolute given.
It was nice but very, very desolate (and cold). Very high suicide rate. We had a phenomenon where people would drive to work and couldn't get out of their car. It was most common at the end of the summer as people got depressed with the coming winter.
The thing with suicide is that the Swedes are very open about it. A suicide is unfortunate & regrettable, of course, but nothing that society finds shameful. So, the suicide rate appears high, as coroners have no qualms about declaring it as such. Other societies, ours included, go to great lengths to label a suicide as misadventure, an accident or anything that removes some of the stigma. I studied the subject once, a long time ago, and Catholic countries, in particular, were prone to covering up suicides, because of the sin aspect.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 19 October, 2018, 08:29:36 pm

GN: my prescription swimming goggles have arrived.
BN: so has the first of this seasons sore throats.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 27 October, 2018, 07:10:44 pm
GN.  I got a text to say I'd won a prize in the flood relief  raffle.
Even better news. I had to go to the pub to find out what it was.
BN.  It wasn't the top prize.-Two tickets for any Ospreys game.
GN.  It wasn't the two tickets for any Swansea City match.

It was a £10 voucher for the Chinese.
GN.  That's dinner sorted one day next week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 14 November, 2018, 04:30:38 pm
Good news - of a sort - I'm getting a strange shadowing on one of my 14 year old Eizo flat monitors, that means I should be able to justify changing for something New! Shiny! 2 x 19" seemed like a lot at the time, it doesn't any more.

I'd better just check pushing the connector fully in though, hadn't I?

Oh.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 24 November, 2018, 12:01:16 pm
BN - we have a gas leak in the supply to the boiler
GN - SGN were out within half an hour to look at it
BN - It’s a pinhole leak in the side at a bend, and too time consuming for the engineer to be allowed to fix, which would have been FOC so supply has been isolated
GN - we have immersion heater, fan heaters, electric cooker and an open fire
BN - our plumber doesn’t work weekends any more.
GN - I first smelt gas Thursday evening, but we have none inside so dismissed it as the Eucalyptus leaves in a bouquet my wife had - thankfully no mishaps!!!  Helped by the supply pipe being external to the house albeit the leak was close to the boiler cupboard. Could have been a LOT worse   :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 24 November, 2018, 12:14:44 pm

GN: my prescription swimming goggles have arrived.
BN: so has the first of this seasons sore throats.

You ATE the goggles?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 24 November, 2018, 03:46:19 pm
BN: The Proclaimers gig at Edinburgh Castle on 20/7/19 was sold out by the time I remembered to check. 20,000 tickets in 55 minutes.

GN: They announced another gig the day after and I bagged a brace.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 19 December, 2018, 10:35:23 am
BN: The abscess I had on a tooth has returned, despite root canal work.

GN: I phoned the dentist at 9am, and had an appointment and 9:30 - luckily I work only 20 minutes walk away.

MGN: Nothing major, despite waking up looking like I'd taken a left hook to the jaw, 5 day course of antibiotics prescribed

BN: They are of a type (Metronidazole / Flagyl) that you shouldn't consume alcohol with, because nausea, vomiting, palpitations, hot flushes etc., plus for 48 hours after finishing  :( (apparently it has an "antabuse-like effect")

GN: Last time I had them I only left it 24 hrs and was fine, so hopefully can start celebrations Christmas Eve eve.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 19 December, 2018, 10:58:50 am
Ouch.

BN my last minute dentist an hygienist appt books yesterday is half cancelled, hygienist is sick

GN only half the teeth scraping/fiddling today

BN. More teeth scraping to come
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 23 December, 2018, 05:41:09 pm
GN: I’ve finished the antibiotics and, fingers crossed, they seem to have done the trick.

BN: I miscalculated the dates. My 7 days of enforced sobriety extends to Christmas Day lunchtime.

GN: Probably as a result of the BN my blood pressure registered as 120/76. I’ll take that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 23 December, 2018, 05:54:10 pm
GN - scraping re-booked

BN - filling needed, choice of small amalgam, or larger porcelain joining the filling already in that tooth. 

GN - porcelain would be permanent, amalgam would need replacing sometime (although I've had other amalgam fillings for over 15 years)

BN - porcelain ££££
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 06 January, 2019, 10:18:35 pm
Bad News : I did my accounts Current Account < Credit Card
Good News : I checked my share account I have some dividends to transfer :-)

It so easy for you people who work. I can only take three ski holidays then I run out of money.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 10 January, 2019, 03:37:07 pm
BN - I suddenly realised that I needed some Euros.  So the nearest place is ASDA (sometimes better than average rates). Then I noticed that I could  not pick up my money until 3pm Friday. I would have already started my journey.

GN - I changed to MoneyCorp at Bristol Airport. The exchange rate was better.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 13 January, 2019, 10:42:33 pm
GN: I've finished most of the ironing backlog & now have pressed shirts & trousers for the next few weeks.
BN: most... not all ......


GN: The grilled lamb chops were delicious.
BN: It was probably a bad idea to coat them with shredded, dried chillies & then cook them in the grill pan , on a cold , wet, windy night.   I had to open the windows, and this was not a good thing.



Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 January, 2019, 02:57:13 pm
BN: My The North Face snow boots have got a massive crack across the plastic bit across the toes.

GN: That's another project for that bumper pack of Sugru I bought last week (see thread in OT knowledge)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 21 January, 2019, 06:46:38 pm
BN: My home broadband is playing up again , downloads speed is less than 7M, it was over 50M the last time I had them out to look at it.
GN: I can now get the latest shiny ultrafast fibre to the premises,  and as I work for the relevant telco it's free!  That only leaves wrestling with the "staff benefits" order page to deal with.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 31 January, 2019, 08:43:06 pm
BN: Well I've just realised that tomorrow's 9am hospital appointment is in Hastings rather than Eastbourne as I'd thought. So that's half an hour on a school kid packed train (standing room only) and then either a rush hour taxi or a 2.5 mile walk rather than a simple twenty mnute walk from home. And it's meant to snow overnight.

BN: The hospital appointment is because I've had gut issues since November. November 2017. And I'll be on a train in which you can't move let alone get to the toilet.

GN: At least I realised now rather than at half eight tomorrow morning.


I'm irked though. Both at myself for not checking and at the consultant who assured me it would be in Eastbourne when I asked where it would be as transport could be aproblem.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 31 January, 2019, 09:10:10 pm
I hope you don't get all the way there only to be told there's no one to see you cos of snow.
Pessimist, moi?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 31 January, 2019, 09:18:15 pm
Annoyingly I have a friend who lives in Hastings and if I'd realised sooner I could just have slept at her place. That's what I'm doing for part two of the test next Friday anyway.

It doesn't help that my gut issues are worse in the morning and exacerbated by stress.

I want it to snow enough that I can just not make it and rearrange. After all I'm not seeing the consultant for the results till April despite the test itself being quite quick.

What I expect to happen is it to snow enough to be aright pain in the arse but not actually prevent travel. Or I'll get to Hastings but not be able to get home.

Bah. Fed up.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Feanor on 31 January, 2019, 09:19:45 pm
I had a hopsital appointment a month or so back when we had sno before.
I cycled in along the North Deeside Road, past stationary traffic.
I was 15 minutes late.

There were lots of people with the same appointment time at the clinic, but I was the only one there.
Everyone else was stuck in traffic, it seems.

The doc was in, and i got seen straight away!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 12 February, 2019, 03:19:24 pm
GN: Insurance company paid up following the theft of my Mercian.
BN: The New! Shiny! will cost a fuck load MOAR money than they shelled out.
GN: I can afford it. 631, 531. Fancy lugs, curved tubes. <little moment>
MOAR GN: Deposit paid.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 12 February, 2019, 09:43:49 pm
Excellent!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 15 February, 2019, 03:23:43 pm
GN: We're going to Llanerchindda Farm, near Llandovery, by train, for the weekend of 3-6 May.
BN: I was unable to penetrate the log-in to buy tickets via GWR. They charge an extra £1 for postal ticket delivery.
GN: I was able to buy tickets via Transport for Wales. They do not charge extra for postal ticket delivery.
More GN: Tickets arrived this morn in bilingual wallet. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 15 February, 2019, 03:53:19 pm
GN: We're going to Llanerchindda Farm, near Llandovery, by train, for the weekend of 3-6 May.
BN: I was unable to penetrate the log-in to buy tickets via GWR. They charge an extra £1 for postal ticket delivery.
GN: I was able to buy tickets via Transport for Wales. They do not charge extra for postal ticket delivery.
More GN: Tickets arrived this morn in bilingual wallet.

TfW are quite good at the moment as they are still trying hard.  They are new and eager to please, having recently taken over the contract from ArrivaTrainsWalesAreSorryToAnnouceThat.....
Mind you, they haven't got round to re-branding much of the rolling stock yet, so you may not notice. (Other than possibly being more or less on time)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 15 February, 2019, 03:59:43 pm
GN: Insurance company paid up following the theft of my Mercian.
BN: The New! Shiny! will cost a fuck load MOAR money than they shelled out.
GN: I can afford it. 631, 531. Fancy lugs, curved tubes. <little moment>
MOAR GN: Deposit paid.

Must have progress reports.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 15 February, 2019, 04:38:19 pm
GN: Insurance company paid up following the theft of my Mercian.
BN: The New! Shiny! will cost a fuck load MOAR money than they shelled out.
GN: I can afford it. 631, 531. Fancy lugs, curved tubes. <little moment>
MOAR GN: Deposit paid.

Must have progress reports.  :thumbsup:
Progress report #1: Nice man from bike shop gets in touch.  Do I want a band on or braze on front mech? Do I want a metal head tube badge?
Progress report #2: Waiting. Waiting. Twiddling thumbs. Waiting. Thinking about paint schemes. Waiting.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jakob W on 15 February, 2019, 07:23:45 pm
So what did you end up going for - a Bob Jackson?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 15 February, 2019, 10:31:55 pm
So what did you end up going for - a Bob Jackson?
Yes. It'll be built up by Pilgrim Cycles.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 19 February, 2019, 09:55:51 pm
gn : I connected Monitor Audio Silver 100 as surround speakers to my Denon AVR-X3400H
bn : the front speakers and centre speaker are connected via Audiolab power amplifiers.  The difference in volume is too much for the Denon to compensate so the rears can hardly be heard.

CommuteTooFar Setup:
Philips 55Pos9002 Oled TV
Pioneer BDP-LX55 Blue ray player
Denon AVR-X3400H
Front Speakers Spendor A6R connected via Audiolab 8300MB
Centre Speaker Monitor Audio Silver C350 via Audiolab 8200M
Surround Speaker Monitor Audio Silver 100 directly connected to Denon AVR-X3400H



Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 20 February, 2019, 12:39:59 pm
CommuteTooFar,
As I know nothing about the Denon AVR-X3400H, I am puzzled by the complexity of your system. Does it not have power amp facilities to power the front and centre speakers?  My own system just comprises an AV amp which is a good few years old, so "only" 5.1 feeding all 5 speakers, and fed by a Sony 4K blu-ray player, and connected to a Sony 4K TV.  No, the amp isn't a Sony, 'cos they were too stupid to make one that would actually read the data stream from an SACD played in one of their own Blu-ray players...  :facepalm:  I think they do now, but spending money on such things is not on the current agenda.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 February, 2019, 01:12:24 pm
I've got an AVR-X2000 in here and can confirm that it's quite capable of powering seven squeakers (the sub needs its own power supply) without resorting to intermediate power amps.  So unless there's something unusual about CTF's front & centre squeakers then I don't get it either.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 24 February, 2019, 12:42:20 am
I originally had a Audiolab 8200ap which is a preamp only so power amps were required. Unfortunately it failed so I bought the denon. As I had the power amps I continued to use them.
The Denon AVR-X3400H is a very well regarded AV Receiver. Five star review from what hifi. It seems that is auto calibration (Audyssy) failed to cope with the relative sensitivity of Spendor A6R versus Monitor Audio Silver. I bought a sound meter and will try again setting it up manually.
 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 25 February, 2019, 11:15:32 am
GN I appear to have gained an unexpected week which I can use for cycling.

BN this is due to workplace induced stress.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 February, 2019, 01:00:39 pm
Yesterday Jan and I were jostled/harassed on the Paris metro by 3 or more blokes trying us out for what they could nick. This involved one guy trying to relieve me of our suitcase and another reaching for Jan’s coat pocket.

The good news is that we have escaped unscathed. However, my experience of French speaking large cities is that they are awash with street crime. Pal Jeff had his watch nicked in Brussels, I had >€200 lifted when I had my pocket picked in Lille, and now this.

That is 3 visits, 3 incidents in less than 2 years.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 27 February, 2019, 01:51:37 pm
GN: colleague is back on his bike after breaking his shoulder in a 5-a-side football game after work last year.

BN: front puncture off road lead to a topple last night and he has bust a couple of ribs and his scapular.

MBN: currently in hospital after a cat scan and awaiting decision on plates.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Torslanda on 27 February, 2019, 03:00:30 pm
Yesterday Jan and I were jostled/harassed on the Paris metro by 3 or more blokes trying us out for what they could nick. This involved one guy trying to relieve me of our suitcase and another reaching for Jan’s coat pocket.

The good news is that we have escaped unscathed. However, my experience of French speaking large cities is that they are awash with street crime. Pal Jeff had his watch nicked in Brussels, I had >€200 lifted when I had my pocket picked in Lille, and now this.

That is 3 visits, 3 incidents in less than 2 years.

That's one upside of having a dinojuice jamjar.

ETA

Sorry, that sounded mocking and fatuous. It wasn't intended...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 06 March, 2019, 11:08:13 am
GN: I made myself a lovely lunch to bring to work last night

BN: I left it at home this morning.

GN: I bought a second lunch (intending to eat both) on the way to work this morning.

BN: Now I only have one lunch.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 15 March, 2019, 10:46:56 pm
Sitting in Bergen airport this evening after a week in Norway and having spent the previous 6 hours travelling.
The chap at the departure gate announces;
Quote
Due to a technical fault the plane for this flight has been replaced by a smaller plane and we are requesting 16 volunteers to change to a flight leaving from Stavanger tomorrow afternoon
:-\
5 mins later
Quote
We'll give you 250 Euros and otherwise we'll choose people based on booking class

I was expecting them to read out a list of names but instead they just started boarding and then rejected people going through the gate based on the computer saying no. Thankfully I got a green light. :D Some people I'd been at the conference with got the red light and there was some stropping and bag launching. I felt sorry for them but OTOH they are the competition, so not *that* sad.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 17 March, 2019, 11:53:04 am
Bad news: I couldn’t find a way to coax a return fare out of a train company for the combination of London / Glasgow and back tickets I want - even though the OJP suggested they exist.

Meh news: not *that* much more money.

Bad news: there are no seat reservations available for the way back at the moment.

Bad news: Southern aren’t confirming engineering work until about a month before, which interacts badly with reserving anything.

OK news: I can ride to a working station for most likely combinations of Southerning of this end’s trains.

Good news: a sensible priced reservation was available for the sleeper to Scotland.

Good news: the impenetrable nature of bike booking on Virgin means I have a bike space on the awaker getting back again.

Which, combines to the good news that I’m getting four and a bit days of riding to and around Jura, Islay and Arran in May. :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 17 March, 2019, 01:13:20 pm
You'll love it, I did Islay and Arran last august, going back again for islay and mull this year.  If youre going to Glasgow I guess you're using the ferries?  Enjoy crossing the mull of kintyre
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 17 March, 2019, 01:16:49 pm
Thanks :)
Yes, the plan is go go from Wemyss Bay and ferry / ride * several on the way there, and via Arran and Ardrossan on the way back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 03 April, 2019, 10:50:14 am
GN: Insurance company paid up following the theft of my Mercian.
BN: The New! Shiny! will cost a fuck load MOAR money than they shelled out.
GN: I can afford it. 631, 531. Fancy lugs, curved tubes. <little moment>
MOAR GN: Deposit paid.

Must have progress reports.  :thumbsup:
Progress report #1: Nice man from bike shop gets in touch.  Do I want a band on or braze on front mech? Do I want a metal head tube badge?
Progress report #2: Waiting. Waiting. Twiddling thumbs. Waiting. Thinking about paint schemes. Waiting.
Progress report #3: Consulted people who know which colours go together well. Chose paint scheme (BRG with ivory head tube, panel on seat tube and lug lining).
Progress report #4: Some mild faffing due to 10 speed/11 speed hub availability affecting choice of rim and wheel build.
Progress report #5: The frame is at Pilgrim! Saddle and bar tape colour confirmed. Hopefully I'll collect the bike at the weekend. Somewhat excited.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 04 April, 2019, 02:23:13 pm
GN: Insurance company paid up following the theft of my Mercian.
BN: The New! Shiny! will cost a fuck load MOAR money than they shelled out.
GN: I can afford it. 631, 531. Fancy lugs, curved tubes. <little moment>
MOAR GN: Deposit paid.

Must have progress reports.  :thumbsup:
Progress report #1: Nice man from bike shop gets in touch.  Do I want a band on or braze on front mech? Do I want a metal head tube badge?
Progress report #2: Waiting. Waiting. Twiddling thumbs. Waiting. Thinking about paint schemes. Waiting.
Progress report #3: Consulted people who know which colours go together well. Chose paint scheme (BRG with ivory head tube, panel on seat tube and lug lining).
Progress report #4: Some mild faffing due to 10 speed/11 speed hub availability affecting choice of rim and wheel build.
Progress report #5: The frame is at Pilgrim! Saddle and bar tape colour confirmed. Hopefully I'll collect the bike at the weekend. Somewhat excited.
Progress report #6: Dave at Pilgrim has got lots of dirty bike servicing to do, so I won't get the bike this weekend. Hopefully sometime next week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Butterfly on 05 April, 2019, 09:42:05 am
Progress report #6: Dave at Pilgrim has got lots of dirty bike servicing to do, so I won't get the bike this weekend. Hopefully sometime next week.

Oh Bother!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 11 April, 2019, 03:13:35 pm
GN: Insurance company paid up following the theft of my Mercian.
BN: The New! Shiny! will cost a fuck load MOAR money than they shelled out.
GN: I can afford it. 631, 531. Fancy lugs, curved tubes. <little moment>
MOAR GN: Deposit paid.

Must have progress reports.  :thumbsup:
Progress report #1: Nice man from bike shop gets in touch.  Do I want a band on or braze on front mech? Do I want a metal head tube badge?
Progress report #2: Waiting. Waiting. Twiddling thumbs. Waiting. Thinking about paint schemes. Waiting.
Progress report #3: Consulted people who know which colours go together well. Chose paint scheme (BRG with ivory head tube, panel on seat tube and lug lining).
Progress report #4: Some mild faffing due to 10 speed/11 speed hub availability affecting choice of rim and wheel build.
Progress report #5: The frame is at Pilgrim! Saddle and bar tape colour confirmed. Hopefully I'll collect the bike at the weekend. Somewhat excited.
Progress report #6: Dave at Pilgrim has got lots of dirty bike servicing to do, so I won't get the bike this weekend. Hopefully sometime next week.
Progress report #7: It's ready. Pick up on Saturday. Maybe a quick twiddle up Box Hill afterwards.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 12 April, 2019, 03:54:20 pm
BN: Can't pick the bike up Saturday
GN: I dropped in to Pilgrim Cycles on the way back from a meeting in London's famous London today instead.

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)
I may have had a Little Moment.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 April, 2019, 04:10:33 pm
Phwoar, look at the lugs on that!

I hate to tell you this, Tim, but I think an elephant has sat on your seat stays...  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 12 April, 2019, 04:19:06 pm
I thought it was made from a pushmepullyou
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 12 April, 2019, 04:26:41 pm
That looks rather spiffing curly stays an' all.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 April, 2019, 07:43:25 pm
Nice lugs, but I wouldn't be happy having BJ embossed on my bike.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 April, 2019, 07:59:57 pm
Nice lugs, but I wouldn't be happy having BJ embossed on my bike.

Unless it was a Pompino?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 April, 2019, 08:44:51 pm
Very good!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 16 April, 2019, 05:49:13 pm
BN: I definitely won't be able to do PBP this year.

GN: The reason for that BN is that my maternity cover contract looks like being made permanent (the person I'm covering for has decided she's not coming back to work). When I took the job on, I was expecting the contract to finish by the end of July, which would have been perfect PBP-wise, but if I'm staying, the schedule means there's no way I will be able to take the time off in August. But a permanent contract is excellent news for all sorts of reasons, so not to be sniffed at.

++GN: One of those reasons is that I'll be able to take advantage of the C2W scheme to replace my dead Brompton (and will have justifiable reason for doing so).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 17 April, 2019, 07:49:25 pm
BN. A local village pond had all its fish hoovered out some months ago by scrotes.
GN. Visited today and pond was full of fish of all sizes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 01 May, 2019, 01:53:03 pm
Good news: Back in March i got a ticket and bike reservation to get me back from Glasgow later in May (a daytime train).

Bad news (then): the phone booking with virgin was time and energy consuming and they couldn't sort me out a seat reservation.

Good news: went to Brighton station today to see if they could rustle me up a seat. They could.

More good news: the original bike reservation was for the right day of the month, but the wrong month (March). The ticket office lady spotted this and got me a correct bike reservation as well.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 May, 2019, 05:58:56 pm
BN:
And now a grumble, just to restore this thread to its allotted grumpiness quotient. I've lost the pump that mounted in a bracket next to the bottle cage on one of my bikes. It could have fallen off while I was riding (but I think I'd have noticed – probably felt and/or seen it fall, as it was on the downtube, and heard the clunk), it could be hiding somewhere at home (but I don't remember removing it and I've looked in all the places), it could have got knocked off while parked in town (boo!), or it could have been stolen (grrrrrrrrrrrr!). Either of the last two seems the most likely. Still, I'd had it ten years and IIRC it came free with a bike (that I no longer have), so okay. But now I need a new one. Probably go for one that I can put in a pannier, as I pretty much always have a pannier on this bike. Except then it's bound to end up in the wrong pannier...
The answer, of course, is to have one pump for each pannier, left and right. And one for each small pannier as well, just in case I use those instead. Oh, and one for the rack pack. Hmm....£$£
GN: Found the little Blackburn pump! Along with its bracket, which I could zip tie to the top tube. And it's still in very good condition despite being about 30 years old (I think). It is a bit small for my big 700x38 tyres though. But I also found one of those Zefal HPX pumps, the ones that look really oldskool though I think mine's only a couple of years old. I'd forgotten I had that one. Too big for a pannier though and I reckon leaving on a town bike is just going to get it nicked, so I'll use the Blackburn. Aluminium barrel, wooh!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 03 May, 2019, 12:07:43 am
I'm still rattling a Cyclaire around in the bottom of my shopping pannier for that reason.  Its high performance to pannierbility ratio (combined with coming in a little bag with room for some tyre levers, a box of patches and assorted pingfuckits) makes it a good utility bike pump, though (BN) the chuck on mine's getting a bit iffy these days.

Road Morph's fine in its bracket on the tourer, but it's not ideal for cramming into a rack bag, and I'm not sure how well it would take to being crushed by tins of BOGOF beans.  Maybe I'll just tape a few CO2 cartridges together and have done with it.  The tyres I'm using are good training sturdy enough that visitations aren't a frequent occurrence.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 10 May, 2019, 03:31:11 pm
BN: I manage to break the winding crown pinion on my less than two year old watch (OK, strictly not a winder, it is an automatic) by means of a very strange interface between my wrist and a plastic shopping trolley, French hypermarket stylee. Don't ask me how I did it, got jammed in and the only way out was ping. Contemplated sending it to an independent watch repairer, decided that I'd go official.

GN: Just heard from them, they're going to repair under warranty!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 14 May, 2019, 03:58:17 pm
GN: My new lawn mower arrived today
BN: After one strip of lawn it stopped working.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 14 May, 2019, 07:01:24 pm
GN: My new lawn mower arrived today
BN: After one strip of lawn it stopped working.

GN: Built-in excuse to go for a bike ride.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 19 May, 2019, 03:05:09 pm
gn: I still have bottles of 2009 Bordeaux
bn: I drank a whole bottle (of Chateau Beaumont)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 19 May, 2019, 04:49:29 pm
GN: I saw 6 goals and history being made.
BN: I saw 6 goals being scored and waved a flag.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 20 May, 2019, 01:39:19 pm
GN: I saw 6 goals and history being made.
BN: I saw 6 goals being scored and waved a flag.

From that I take it you were in the Yellow and Red end.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 20 May, 2019, 04:53:05 pm
GN: I am planning a holiday, more later
GN: This is because I finally made a decision to get my arse in gear and apply for contract jobs (I have been sticking out for perm, but no dice so far)
BN: See second GN
GN: Still have more than enough money to see me through the next few months, which appears to scare interviewers...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: T42 on 23 May, 2019, 08:52:06 am
BN: Our 300L water heater popped its top last night - looked like a failed soufflée with water running down one side.
GN: El Prez's job was fitting the things. Tomorrow he's bringing his trailer and we'll go get a new one & he'll fit it, then help cart the old one off to the dump recycling centre.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 May, 2019, 06:12:19 pm
Hurrah:Mr Sainsbury's House Of Toothy Comestibles has CHOKLIT flapjack bites again  :thumbsup:
Bah:Mr Sainsbury's House Of Toothy Comestibles no longer has a watchdoctor's emporium in the car park  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 28 May, 2019, 09:52:40 pm
GN: I saw 6 goals and history being made.
BN: I saw 6 goals being scored and waved a flag.

From that I take it you were in the Yellow and Red end.  :facepalm:

Sorry, just seen this. Yes, that's where I was...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 29 May, 2019, 10:24:11 am
BN: The North Birmingham team beat the Rams
BN: Cameron & William Windsor - both faux fans - could pretend to be elated and be real people
GN: I'm struggling to think of anything...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: zigzag on 04 June, 2019, 09:27:26 pm
some oik launched an egg at me (on a bike) from a passing chavmobile today

gn: it bounced off my torso and splatted on the pavement

what's wrong with some people? ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 June, 2019, 10:46:50 pm
what's wrong with some people? ???

It's the question of where they get the eggs.  They can't all be catering students, it's not Halloween (or northern equivalent) and pancake day was ages ago.  Are they doing the shopping for mum?  Will they get into trouble if half the eggs are missing?  Do they keep a box in the glove compartment just in case, like USAnians with handguns?

On a FNRttC some time ago, a chavmobile passed the group, then returned 5 minutes later having stocked up on ammunition at a 24hour supermarket.  But that must be exceptional.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Guy on 12 June, 2019, 03:56:06 pm
GN - Locally, the Sunne will shine again!
BN _ According to yr.no, not until around 0600 o'clock hrs on Friday. And then only for a couple of hours.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 14 June, 2019, 08:10:52 am
GN: Hurrah! I'm being paid to go to Barcelona next week
BN: Bah! This week would have been more sociable
MBN: No flights from London City any more, Boo!
EMBN: They want me to stay in the same hotel Oh noooooo
GN: At least I'm senior enough these days to Just Say No. he he he

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 14 June, 2019, 09:56:16 am
Enjoy it, I've flown into Barcelona but never visited.  Last time was Andorra, which is a great drive up into the mountains to a tax-free haven
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 14 June, 2019, 01:55:02 pm
Aiiiii. MBN. The address of where I have to be has Llobregat as part of its name. Hmmm. Great for the airport......

I suspect my hotel will be a ride away.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 14 June, 2019, 02:02:11 pm
Aiiiii. MBN. The address of where I have to be has Llobregat as part of its name. Hmmm. Great for the airport......

I suspect my hotel will be a ride away.

Is that anything like Llareggub? Maybe you'll get a glimpse of the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboatbobbing sea. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 14 June, 2019, 02:35:57 pm
It certainly is similar. Bugger all except for a brewery.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 14 June, 2019, 03:07:13 pm
Montserrat is worth a visit if you get a chance.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 14 June, 2019, 05:07:51 pm
Aiiiii. MBN. The address of where I have to be has Llobregat as part of its name. Hmmm. Great for the airport......

I suspect my hotel will be a ride away.

Is that anything like Llareggub? Maybe you'll get a glimpse of the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboatbobbing sea.

It will neither be spring nor moonless...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 17 June, 2019, 10:50:29 am
BN: The screw fell out of the arm of my glasses as I left the doctors.

GN: There's an opticians in the practice who fixed them for me

EBN: FOC :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 19 July, 2019, 11:43:31 pm
BN: its raining and town is onr big puddle.
GN: I've just discovered that i can ride home from the station without putting a foot down.
BN: a wetsuit might have been more appropriate than denim, but maybe less so for the cinema. I'm soaked after less than 10 minutes out.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 20 July, 2019, 10:37:14 am
GN: I managed to get tickets for tomorrow's Proclaimers concert at Edinburgh Castle.
BN(GN): My daughter qualified for a gala in Sheffield the same weekend. I am in Sheffield
GN: I (unsurprisingly) managed to sell my Proclaimers tickets in minutes - at face value - on Ticketmaster
BN: The Travelodge was £234 for the 2 nights
GN: The Hilton was £212 and is MUCH nicer
GN: I am <5 mins from the pool. Watching other people's kids swim up and down a pool in a humid viewing area is not my idea of fun.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 20 July, 2019, 01:02:09 pm
Sheffield to Edinburgh and back, that's about 500 miles, right?   ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 20 July, 2019, 02:48:15 pm
500M of swimming is more than enough :-)

One consolation is that I shall soon witness the mighty River Don Engine running in Steam. Followed closely by a pint in the Millowners' Arms.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 23 August, 2019, 09:05:22 pm
GN: The wait for my new flat is nearly over. I signed the contract today
BN: It won't be ready for a month
GN: The lounge overlooks countryside and Warwick racecourse
BN: My (for-now) wife will soon find out that my daughter will be moving in with me. Do we have a shit-hits-fan emoji?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 25 August, 2019, 05:28:04 pm
Depending on your feelings about tha matter, either  8) or  :o I'd have thought....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 26 August, 2019, 07:06:33 pm
Good news: i've cleaned, oiled, checked over and ridden up the street on half a dozen bikes today.

Alarming news: in preparation for N-several.

Good news: you've not missed the adverts, I've just gone to the beach to meet an old friend and recover from the shock.



Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 27 August, 2019, 08:46:04 am
Not entirely unrelated...
BN: I've pulled my back
GN: it's hot enough for sandals, so i didn't have to bend over and do socks and laces.
BN: it's hot enough that this heat pack feels sweaty already.
More BN: holding hadlebars is the wrong sort of bending.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 27 August, 2019, 10:08:05 am
GN - I’m in Japan, albeit for work.

BN - It’s “sauna season” and around 90% humidity.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 27 August, 2019, 10:45:11 am
GN: While waiting for my new job to start  I'm on gardening leave.
BN: Nope. There is no BN.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 August, 2019, 10:48:04 am
GN: While waiting for my new job to start  I'm on gardening leave.
BN: Nope. There is no BN.
We used to have a thread for that. https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=12.msg41#msg41
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 27 August, 2019, 11:28:19 am
GN: My esteemed employer is sending me on a training course! (dog knows why, but hey ho)  :-\
BN: It's a five day course, my workload won't disappear for the duration  >:(
GN: But it is in Den Bosch, which is a Rather Good Place, IME  :D
BN: But I am on a diet so no beer, poffertjes or stroopwafels  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: fuzzy on 27 August, 2019, 11:34:31 am
GN: My esteemed employer is sending me on a training course! (dog knows why, but hey ho)  :-\
BN: It's a five day course, my workload won't disappear for the duration  >:(
GN: But it is in Den Bosch, which is a Rather Good Place, IME  :D
BN: But I am on a diet so no beer, poffertjes or stroopwafels :(

What happens in den Bosch stays in Den Bosch.....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 30 August, 2019, 02:25:09 pm
BN: We have returned to being a two car household (give it 18 months and that might well become 3).

GN: The place I am currently contracting at have extended my contract to keep me in work whilst the pre-employment checks complete. This means I will have more than enough to cover for the above (the first part, not the second!)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andy64 on 05 September, 2019, 05:53:33 am
BN: My bike was retired from commuting duties, and from last night (night shift) I'll be using the car

GN: Only because I needed to clear out my locker......... I am now retired  😀😀😀
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 05 September, 2019, 07:50:04 am
GN: a bright shiny morning.
MGN: the waistband of these trousers feels looser. Is the diet actually working  :D  ?


BN: SlugsSlugsSlugs
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 05 September, 2019, 07:56:39 am
GN: a bright shiny morning.
MGN: the waistband of these trousers feels looser. Is the diet actually working  :D  ?


BN: SlugsSlugsSlugs

That's just madness.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 September, 2019, 10:31:12 am
It must be slugs, slugs, slugs
Nothing more, nothing less,
Slugs are the best
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 05 September, 2019, 01:16:10 pm
I took the shell off my racing snail, after all it stands to reason that a lighter more streamlined racing snail will go faster. Imagine my chagrin when it just made him more sluggish.

I’ll collect my coat on my way out.  ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 05 September, 2019, 01:20:40 pm
It must be slugs, slugs, slugs
Nothing more, nothing less,
Slugs are the best

They want to be near me
Every night, every day
I know it's hedgehogs I need
To take the slugs away
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 05 September, 2019, 01:41:56 pm
Congratulations Andy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 05 September, 2019, 02:03:48 pm
BN: The inland revenue sent me a letter saying I paid the wrong amount of tax.
GN: They demanded I reclaim £772
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 11 September, 2019, 05:05:52 pm
GN: My esteemed employer is sending me on a training course! (dog knows why, but hey ho)  :-\
BN: It's a five day course, my workload won't disappear for the duration  >:(
GN: But it is in Den Bosch, which is a Rather Good Place, IME  :D
BN: But I am on a diet so no beer, poffertjes or stroopwafels  :(

BN: it took forever and lord knows how many hours to get the approvals and booking sorted
GN: But it is now, travelling from LCY
MGN: And, I have a bike hire booked,  and they will deliver it to my hotel
EMGN: And I'll be able to charge it to expenses.
So-So-N: It will be a Omafiets, as far as I can tell
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 13 September, 2019, 06:14:30 am
That reminds me, I'm going to Belgium in a few weeks, by Eurostar

There will be space in the suitcase for stroopwaffels and beer.

I'm staying in Geeraardsbergen, home of The Mud, think I'll! Walk it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 September, 2019, 04:48:07 pm
That reminds me, I'm going to Belgium in a few weeks, by Eurostar

There will be space in the suitcase for stroopwaffels and beer.

I'm staying in Geeraardsbergen, home of The Mud, think I'll! Walk it.
Make sure you get yourself some mattentaarts too :P
https://www.visitflanders.com/en/themes/flemish-food/flemish-dishes-and-specialities/flemish-specialities/mattentaart/
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Chris S on 21 September, 2019, 09:09:09 pm
Nobody actually tests a shower when they're viewing a property, do they? Well - we didn't, and today we moved in.

BN: The power shower in the en-suite sounds like a Boeing 777 on spool-up, and is deafening.
GN: You can probably see the water level dropping in the Derwent Reservoir when it's running  :thumbsup:
BN: You really need to keep the jets away from sensitive parts
GN: Free Exfoliation!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 21 September, 2019, 09:15:09 pm
Nobody actually tests a shower when they're viewing a property, do they? Well - we didn't, and today we moved in.

BN: The power shower in the en-suite sounds like a Boeing 777 on spool-up, and is deafening.
GN: You can probably see the water level dropping in the Derwent Reservoir when it's running  :thumbsup:
BN: You really need to keep the jets away from sensitive parts
GN: Free Exfoliation!
Sounds like a result, to me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 23 September, 2019, 08:43:55 am
Nobody actually tests a shower when they're viewing a property, do they? Well - we didn't, and today we moved in.

BN: The power shower in the en-suite sounds like a Boeing 777 on spool-up, and is deafening.
GN: You can probably see the water level dropping in the Derwent Reservoir when it's running  :thumbsup:
BN: You really need to keep the jets away from sensitive parts
GN: Free Exfoliation!
Oh, a pumped power shower.
They seem like a good idea, until you live with one.

There was one in a shared house I was in. We had an agreement that nobody took a shower between 11pm and 7am. It wasn't possible to sleep through the noise.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2019, 09:27:02 am
We have a pumped rain-shower thing, it's not that noisy. You can hear it certainly, but you'd hear the shower anyway, particularly in a house where you can't close doors (because cats). The mechanism lives in the loft.

It's one of my favourite things, I could stand under it all day.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2019, 01:39:30 pm
Nobody actually tests a shower when they're viewing a property, do they?

After a year of shivering[1] under the lukewarm dribble from a carbonated-encrusted 7kW landlord-issue electric shower as a PSO, I do.


[1] Try not to gasp when you first step under it, you'll inhale the mould.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2019, 02:14:16 pm
I swear by the daily shower spray stuff – it stops the near-ubiquitous mould (and other crud) that infests shower cubicles and the like.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2019, 05:21:14 pm
I swear by the daily shower spray stuff – it stops the near-ubiquitous mould (and other crud) that infests shower cubicles and the like.

Working central heating works wonders, too.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andytheflyer on 25 September, 2019, 08:30:09 am
I swear by the daily shower spray stuff – it stops the near-ubiquitous mould (and other crud) that infests shower cubicles and the like.
So did I, until I realised that I was buying and throwing away 12 trigger spray plastic bottles a year. Now, if I knew what the formulation was I could mix it up in bulk and only use one trigger bottle a year - or even less maybe. Until then, I just give the shower a light spray with diluted bleach once in a while.  As well as cleaning it, obvs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 25 September, 2019, 08:40:10 am
Vinegar is good for cleaning and scale removal. Smells a bit mind. Alternatively descaler is available in larger quantities on the interwebbie.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 25 September, 2019, 01:57:32 pm
The best scale removal product I have found is Kilrock.

https://www.kilrock.co.uk/
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andytheflyer on 25 September, 2019, 06:13:43 pm
Hi.  It's not scale remover I'm after - our water is super soft and direct from Llyn Vyrnwy.  I'm after something to break the surface tension so the soap scum drains off quickly before it dries - at least I assume that's that what the shower spray stuff is.  The stuff I was buying worked perfectly, it was the environmental damage of all those plastic bottles that I wanted to avoid.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 25 September, 2019, 06:45:09 pm
Sainsbury's 'multi-surface cleaner' now rebadged as All Purpose Cleaner comes in non-trigger one litre bottles. Still plastic but theoretically recyclable. Not a specific bathroom or shower cleaner either but I use the litre bottle to refill the 500ml trigger sprays in my kitchen. It might do for your shower, given the water is soft.

£1 for a one litre bottle in 'Cotton' and 'Citrus' aromas when I last looked.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rr on 25 September, 2019, 07:22:38 pm
Hi.  It's not scale remover I'm after - our water is super soft and direct from Llyn Vyrnwy.  I'm after something to break the surface tension so the soap scum drains off quickly before it dries - at least I assume that's that what the shower spray stuff is.  The stuff I was buying worked perfectly, it was the environmental damage of all those plastic bottles that I wanted to avoid.
Watered down dishwasher rinse aid in a reusable spray?

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 28 September, 2019, 01:28:52 pm
GN: It’s a lovely sunny day & I’m walking around Edinburgh.


BN: £6 for a bottle of Erdinger? You are shitting me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 28 September, 2019, 01:45:52 pm
Hi.  It's not scale remover I'm after - our water is super soft and direct from Llyn Vyrnwy.  I'm after something to break the surface tension so the soap scum drains off quickly before it dries - at least I assume that's that what the shower spray stuff is.  The stuff I was buying worked perfectly, it was the environmental damage of all those plastic bottles that I wanted to avoid.
Cif are now doing tiny refills of kitchen and bathroom cleaner concentrate to make up a new spray bottle. No idea how good the bathroom stuff is for cleaning showers tho.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 28 September, 2019, 07:46:54 pm
I swear by the daily shower spray stuff – it stops the near-ubiquitous mould (and other crud) that infests shower cubicles and the like.
So did I, until I realised that I was buying and throwing away 12 trigger spray plastic bottles a year. Now, if I knew what the formulation was I could mix it up in bulk and only use one trigger bottle a year - or even less maybe. Until then, I just give the shower a light spray with diluted bleach once in a while.  As well as cleaning it, obvs.

I know, but I do recycle them rather than throw them in the woods (I'm a bit narked that they used to do litre bottles and now it's 500ml). It's probably some kind of fungicidal surfactant (benzalkonium chloride, if I recall) solution. There's a shop in town that does bulk stuff now, you can fill your own bottles, but alas I don't think they do magic shower spray.

Surfactant is the stuff that breaks down surface tension.

I don't clean the shower, that's the cleaner's job. She always messes up the order of my fruity shower gels.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andytheflyer on 30 September, 2019, 03:33:56 pm
I swear by the daily shower spray stuff – it stops the near-ubiquitous mould (and other crud) that infests shower cubicles and the like.
So did I, until I realised that I was buying and throwing away 12 trigger spray plastic bottles a year. Now, if I knew what the formulation was I could mix it up in bulk and only use one trigger bottle a year - or even less maybe. Until then, I just give the shower a light spray with diluted bleach once in a while.  As well as cleaning it, obvs.

I know, but I do recycle them rather than throw them in the woods (I'm a bit narked that they used to do litre bottles and now it's 500ml).
Even though I'm (was) a geologist, I worked in the solid waste management industry and was involved in recycling schemes in the Third World. Regrettably, in the UK, I have little confidence that if I put out a plastic item for recycling it'll actually get recycled.  It might, but only PET and PE is enthusiastically recycled here.  It might get incinerated in an Energy from Waste facility - so some of the value is recovered as energy, but it's better to use the spray bottle over and over again by refilling it - if you could get the appropriate liquid to go inside.

BN then:  Regrettably, our retail model does not want us to be as environmentally-friendly as we could be.  Bet I can't buy benzalkonium chloride (if that's what the surfactant is) by the 5 litre bottle....

EDIT:  Oh yes I can - FleaBay has lots of it.  Wonder if it's worth a punt?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 18 November, 2019, 06:10:29 pm
GN: Just had a shower (first time in weeks), the new tiles remained attached.

BN: The trap is leaking.  I'm going to have to get dirty again applying ham-fisted monkey force to it later.

Grumble:  The trap wouldn't have been disturbed in the first place if the tiler had followed the golden rule of working with Important Screws in the vicinity of a plughole.   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 18 November, 2019, 06:19:26 pm
Surfactant is the stuff that breaks down surface tension.

There's surfactant in bogeys.  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 18 November, 2019, 08:47:47 pm
GN: Applied ham-fisted monkey force to the trap, and removed a hairball from the joint, which seems to have resolved the leak.

BN: Water seems to be sneaking through the gap between the tiles and the bath.  Also spotted a hairline crack in the grout, and a small missed-a-bit, in unrelated locations.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 18 November, 2019, 09:36:07 pm
Showers/baths. Dontcha just love 'em.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 18 November, 2019, 10:02:59 pm
BN: Further drips from the right-angle joint further down the waste pipe, where I can barely reach.

BN: Barakta's spotted more flaws in the grout.

BN: Shower screen isn't sealing against the bath like it used to.  Have not fully investigated.

BN: I've completely depleted my reserve of cope for sloppy unreliable optimist[1] tradespeople who don't actually want to do the job in the first place.

BN: Landlord's pet maintenance bod (who is competent, and believes in doing things properly) is unavailable for the foreseeable future.  I hope he hasn't got a serious illness or anything.

GN: I got to be clean for an hour or two?



[1] I really don't understand how natural optimism can survive working with sealant for any amount of time.  But I don't understand how extroverts can survive prolonged exposure to people, either.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 18 November, 2019, 10:06:25 pm
 :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 19 November, 2019, 06:01:53 pm
BN: I think I've got the lurgy.  This has prevented me from seeking grout and waste fittings with non-age-hardened gaskets and such.

BN: Barakta's Thunderbirds-effect uppy-downy desk malfunctioned, with one side failing in the 'down' capacity.  After failed attempts at turning it off and on again etc, we removed the top[1] in an attempt to apply persuasion to the left-side lifting column without it being under load.  Long story short, the linear actuator self-destructed, and I'm now looking at an armature, some very strong magnets, and a deeply suspicious circlip.  I'm not sure how I could further dismantle the motor in order to correctly align the brushes on reassembly, but I'm reasonably sure that putting it back together afterwards involves a hydraulic press.

GN: It's got a 5 year warranty, with about 2 weeks left on it.

BN: This involves dealing with Posturite, a company whose general uselessness strikes fear into the heart of barakta in her professional capacity.

GN: I've found a supplier for the relevant part, if that doesn't work out.

BN: Wrong colour (it's an obsolete model) and the best part of £400


[1] Incompetently, causing assorted minor injuries that I'll undoubtedly feel in the morning.  Fortunately the heavy bit landed on my knee, rather than barakta's arms.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 28 November, 2019, 11:49:13 am
Bad news:  Whilst rummaging in my kit cupboard I knocked my stainless steel vacuum flask off the shelf.   It landed on something hard & sustained a deep dent.   Filling it with boiling water showed the outside getting scorchio at the site of the ding.

Good news: By dint of some gentle squeezing I was able to un-ding the thing.  I filled it back up with hot water & this was still finger hot 18 hours later. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 28 November, 2019, 01:21:25 pm
GN: Lurgy fucked off, and I was able to obtain some new seals for the unobtanium-sized bath trap (the mere purchase of which appears to have scared the original into not leaking), and some grout with which I have touched up the dodgy bits, and re-attached a bit of broken tile in the kitchen.

GN: Discovered that replacement rubber bits for shower screens are available in a range of fucking sizes.  Obtained and (with the help of barakta and harsh language) fitted one, which now seals better than the original did.  No screws were lost down the plughole in the process.

GN: Posturite responded to assorted stern emails from barakta by shipping a new part, so I was able to re-mantle the desk in working order.  Barakta can now do her Thunderbirds thing, and I'm no longer tripping over kettle leads and bits of awkwardly-shaped steel.

BN: She's suffering from the effects of a week of bad ergonomics, and has a backlog of work to do.

BN: I think my lurgy's flaring up again.

GN: The weather's about to get properly wintery anyway.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 29 November, 2019, 08:22:41 pm
BN: Yesterday, my phone stopped working. The power switch that activates the screen stopped responding, so if someone phoned me(!!!) I could answer but I couldn't make calls(!!!), send texts, use apps, etc. Taking the back off and poking the switch with a sharp object sometimes worked and sometimes didn't and was never practical.

GN: Today it works as it should. Don't know why.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 November, 2019, 12:49:23 pm
Temporary phone issues are sometimes caused by proximity to a demon.  Once the demon is banished the phone will start working again.  It's true.  I read it in a book.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 30 November, 2019, 01:32:44 pm
The sheer amount of wireless communications in a modern smartphone means they're demonic by default.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 November, 2019, 01:51:46 pm
Temporary phone issues are sometimes caused by proximity to a demon.  Once the demon is banished the phone will start working again.  It's true.  I read it in a book.
So ian's written it after all!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: spesh on 30 November, 2019, 05:16:17 pm
The sheer amount of wireless communications in a modern smartphone means they're demonic by default.

Demonic possession might go some way to explaining the fun and games I've had in the past tuning and testing amplifiers operating in the S to Ku-bands (2-18 GHz).  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 11 December, 2019, 06:37:12 pm
Ordered a couple of floor-standing halogen uplighters, with a view to retrofitting with LEDs.

BN: They sent the wrong items.

GN: They were significantly higher spec dimmable LED uplighters.

BN: The dimmers PWM at ~200Hz, which isn't barakta-friendly.

GN: The LED modules themselves aren't a bad colour and are within spec for my flicker-free driver, saving me a large amount of mechanical fettling (notably, cutting sheet aluminium, which is always more swear-inducing that it ought to be); just need to add a temperature sensor, upgrade the homeopathic layer of thermal paste and replace the cable.

BN: Gave one of the dimmers the Big Clive treatment.  Someone had been naughty with one of the cable strain reliefs.

GN: They're otherwise pretty good.  Plenty of filtering, decent separation, proper class X/Y capacitors[1], looks like it's doing PFC, etc.  Maybe they'll come in handy for something where I don't want to dim (there's no flicker at 100% brightness).


[1] To achieve what ian refers to as "Chinese earthing".  Not to be confused with true Chinese earthing, which generally involves a mysterious[2] green wire from the mains lead flapping about unterminated inside a conductive enclosure.
[2] To the person assembling it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 20 December, 2019, 10:31:22 pm
GN: I've recently discovered that I have £30 worth of premium bonds, presumably purchased on my behalf by a grandparent, in 1981.

BN: They've never won anything.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 21 December, 2019, 12:11:57 am
You will win.

Trust me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 21 December, 2019, 12:15:57 am
My mum won 50 quid on them once.  She had rather more than £30 worth though, as she used them as a way of squirrelling away the equivalent of the cost of extended warranties in order to self-insure whitegoods.  (A strategy that seemed to be reasonably effective.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 21 December, 2019, 08:40:25 am
You keep the original investment, albeit aff3cted by inflation.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rr on 21 December, 2019, 09:21:32 am




GN: Discovered that replacement rubber bits for shower screens are available in a range of fucking sizes.  Obtained and (with the help of barakta and harsh language) fitted one, which now seals better than the original did.  No screws were lost down the plughole in the process.


R's first law of bathroom work: always cover the plug hole before unleashing pinfuckits.
Second law: pad anything that can be scratched or broken before using tools.

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: orienteer on 30 December, 2019, 05:16:36 pm
BN: Tried to play an LP on my hi-fi today, but JVC turntable no longer works. Can only be about 35 years old. :(
GN: Half decent Marantz turntable on offer for less than a ton at Richer Sounds, will pick up tomorrow.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 05 January, 2020, 06:33:00 pm
Good news: I picked up a mandolin for the first time in nearly a year.

More good news: I can still play as well today as I could a year ago.

Bad news: I can still play as well today as I could a year ago.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 13 January, 2020, 10:51:54 am
GN: I'm off to Germany on Friday for a boozy weekend in Bamberg
BN: I'd forgotten to book the leave! Short staffed too! Utter stupidity, if true, which is what the evidence points to.
GN: Just before I found that out I'd agreed to do the boss a favour
GN: Because of that he has let me have the two days off.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 January, 2020, 05:05:53 pm
Enjoy Bamberg. Make sure you have some Schlenkerla.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 13 January, 2020, 07:57:46 pm
I prefer the rather more subtle Spezial Rauchbier to the Schlenkerla. I shall have to remind myself of both beers, just to make sure, obviously :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 14 January, 2020, 11:03:04 pm
A U  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 19 January, 2020, 08:48:47 pm
After a cold trek up the river, Keesman was open, but Mahrs closed for renovation, as was Klosterbräu. January is not the ideal time to hit here, with hindsight...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 03 February, 2020, 08:35:27 pm
Good news tax rebate. Bad news wife paid her tax bill (she does a bit of freelance). Nett loss of £2 between the two
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 20 February, 2020, 11:13:05 am
VGN: I managed to find an extremely good ebike in another parish at a very good price
VVGN: It came with two large capacity batteries. Bosch batteries are VERY expensive; i.e. £650 new for a 500Wh one like this one
VVVGN: I've sold one of them on eBay for a good price, making the new bike even better value
BN: I now have to pack it up and post it
BN: My knees mean that I need an ebike
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 22 February, 2020, 02:42:18 pm
BN: EldestCub's beloved Triban was nicked from the bike stands while he was 10 pin bowling. Poor sod had just put his shiny new Christmas present tyres on the Triban last week, and spent a couple of hundred quid on a new rear wheel and service for it just before Christmas :(
GN: A while ago a very kind forumite donated a mtb to him, which we stuck in storage as it was a squeak to big for him
More GN: Granny Annie had her second cataract op this am, which went well, and my sis dropped the bike off on their way home from the hospital
BN: No saddle, clipless pedals (and he has no suitable shoes) and in need of a service
GN: I found a saddle in the bits box, his Bedstemor sent him some cash which he is going to use to buy some flats, and we've got a workshop slot tomorrow


Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 22 February, 2020, 03:14:32 pm
BN: EldestCub's beloved Triban was nicked from the bike stands while he was 10 pin bowling. Poor sod had just put his shiny new Christmas present tyres on the Triban last week, and spent a couple of hundred quid on a new rear wheel and service for it just before Christmas :(
GN: A while ago a very kind forumite donated a mtb to him, which we stuck in storage as it was a squeak to big for him
More GN: Granny Annie had her second cataract op this am, which went well, and my sis dropped the bike off on their way home from the hospital
BN: No saddle, clipless pedals (and he has no suitable shoes) and in need of a service
GN: I found a saddle in the bits box, his Bedstemor sent him some cash which he is going to use to buy some flats, and we've got a workshop slot tomorrow
We could pop some flats in the post?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 22 February, 2020, 03:55:34 pm
Thank you :) We're hoping to get him on the road by Monday, if not he's going to have to take my bike to get to college!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 22 February, 2020, 04:03:36 pm
 >:(

Hope the lowlife scum tea leaf gets an incurable, embarrassing and pustulent disease.


Glad to hear GA is doing well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 29 February, 2020, 09:15:32 pm
GN: I finally got around to replacing the spotlights in my kitchen.
BN: the new ones are a tad fierce, and show up in embarrassing detail how filthy & untidy the kitchen is  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 March, 2020, 12:29:00 am
GN: I just received my first ever instalment of my state pension.

BN: see above.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 06 March, 2020, 05:46:31 am
GN got a £15 ÜberEats voucher

BN the only local place that takes is is the “Scottish restaurant “
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 March, 2020, 06:14:51 pm
BN: Somebody spilled red wine on the carpet last night.
GN: I found an old tin of carpet cleaner lurking in the wash house which seems to have improved it somewhat (or maybe it's just the sun is going down so the stain is harder to see).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 08 March, 2020, 05:50:04 pm
Dr Beckman's patent carpet cleaner works on red wine (and cat sick, it's primary use in our house). Getting a 'distressed' hardwood floor also helps.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 12 March, 2020, 12:24:18 pm
Bad News: Our boiler is on the fritz. We have no heating or hot water. It's OK for Jon - he's in a nice warm office at the hospital. I'm stuck in a cold house, with a grumpy dog, waiting for the gas engineer to arrive.

Good News: The good news is that the gas engineer is Perry... a veritable Adonis of eye candy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 12 March, 2020, 12:36:34 pm
Bad News: Our boiler is on the fritz. We have no heating or hot water. It's OK for Jon - he's in a nice warm office at the hospital. I'm stuck in a cold house, with a grumpy dog, waiting for the gas engineer to arrive.

Good News: The good news is that the gas engineer is Perry... a veritable Adonis of eye candy.


Isn't this the start of most cheesy porn movies ?    :jurek:   
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 12 March, 2020, 01:17:51 pm
cleaned the pipes
restored the power
injected the fernox
all hot and bothered

the comments go on and on!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2020, 01:56:29 pm
Hurrah: a shiny new copy of "Traveling (sic) The Lewis & Clark Trail", which I had thought lost in transit, has landed on the doormat :thumbsup:

Bah: With worldwide anti-Lurgi restrictions steadily ramping up I'm in two minds as to whether even to book flights and motor-cars at all :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 13 March, 2020, 02:10:18 pm
Bad News: Our boiler is on the fritz. We have no heating or hot water. It's OK for Jon - he's in a nice warm office at the hospital. I'm stuck in a cold house, with a grumpy dog, waiting for the gas engineer to arrive.

Good News: The good news is that the gas engineer is Perry... a veritable Adonis of eye candy.


Isn't this the start of most cheesy porn movies ?    :jurek:   

I'm sure I did the if porn movies were real-life post before, but if it were real life, the lady of the drama would spend the day sitting in her lingerie waiting for a tradesman to fail to turn up.

And if he did, he'd not have the appropriate tool and have to promise to come back next week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 13 March, 2020, 02:28:03 pm
I prefer the one where the lady of the drama puts some clothes on and fixes the fucking boiler.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 13 March, 2020, 02:51:30 pm
I thought it was the fucking washing machine.

The boiler's normally wall mounted  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Hot Flatus on 13 March, 2020, 03:04:31 pm
Bad News: Our boiler is on the fritz. We have no heating or hot water. It's OK for Jon - he's in a nice warm office at the hospital. I'm stuck in a cold house, with a grumpy dog, waiting for the gas engineer to arrive.

Good News: The good news is that the gas engineer is Perry... a veritable Adonis of eye candy.


Isn't this the start of most cheesy porn movies ?    :jurek:   

Regulator is currently polishing his pipework to a backing tune of 1970s disco electric guitar
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 13 March, 2020, 08:43:04 pm
I prefer the one where the lady of the drama puts some clothes on and fixes the fucking boiler.

The boiler's already fucking? Unusual narrative approach (or so I'm told).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 14 March, 2020, 07:58:06 am
I prefer the one where the lady of the drama puts some clothes on and fixes the fucking boiler.

The boiler's already fucking? Unusual narrative approach (or so I'm told).

You are right, boilers are most frequently buggered.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: DrMekon on 17 March, 2020, 12:25:45 pm
Bad news - I've got lung disease, so full on iso / working from home.

Good news - I'm besotted with my GF, and she's off work too!

Bad news - the trials I work on are all being delayed.

Good news - see previous good news.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 21 March, 2020, 01:21:37 pm
GN: I found a buyer for my e-bike at a very good price
BN: On the day he showed up, the battery decided to die
BN: The local Bosch LBS were unable to even diagnose the issue
GN: I found a higher capacity battery on fleabay at a really good price
GN: Fleabay were having a 10% discount sale
GN: I told the potential buyer about the new battery & he arranged to pick it up
GN: He turned up on time today & paid cash.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 21 March, 2020, 02:14:44 pm
GN found a good heating engineer

BN he is ignroring all my messages.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 23 March, 2020, 10:21:57 pm
GN: I brought everything I needed to wfh home this evening.
BN:  I don’t expect the job to last for long.
GN:  Thank f**k we have a garden.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 30 March, 2020, 03:51:56 pm
The National Eisteddfod moves (is awarded to) a different location each time.
GN. This year it is Ceredigion.
BN. Cancelled/postponed until 2021.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: canny colin on 30 March, 2020, 11:37:00 pm
Good news  I have finished the year end tax books .

BAD NEWS  The plumbers I sub contract for &  have a bill for   shut up the shop .

Good news  tonight  I have been asked to help lay 20 cubic meters of concrete at the local bog roll factory. Starting  at 7 am Tomorrow morning

Bad news  I will have to re cook the books .
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 31 March, 2020, 08:03:40 am
Quote from: canny colin link=topic=45576.msg2482134#msg2482134

Good news  tonight  I have been asked to help lay 20 cubic meters of concrete at the local bog roll factory. Starting  at 7 am Tomorrow morning


Fortifications?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 31 March, 2020, 11:32:48 pm
Good News - last annual emissions report submitted to client with 40 mins remaining before midnight deadline

Bad News - I'll probably be dragged into it again next year, even though I'm jumping the fence
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 April, 2020, 09:39:48 pm
From 1995 to about 2012 I paid £100 a month into a pension with Norwich Union. When the time came to take that pension it seemed that the best option was to buy an annuity with Legal & General. I took a lump sum and thereafter, until I die, I'll receive a princely £86 and a few pence every month. I will have to live until I'm 84 to get the money back that I paid in.

However, I miscalculated. Just over a month ago I became old enough to take my state pension and to my considerable surprise my Legal and General pension has gone down to about £69 a month. I'm paying £17 a month in Income tax. For quite a few years my pensions have been too small or me to pay income tax.

Now it seems highly improbable that I will live long enough to recoup the money I paid into that pension.

The good news is that now I can start to claim gift aid on any charitable donations that I make.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 18 April, 2020, 05:49:15 pm
GN: recycling bins were finally emptied this morning.
BN: mine wasn't.

Why?  Because downstairs neighbours put regular rubbish in the recycling bin. >:(  Even putting it in one of the orange recycling bags couldn't hide that it was regular rubbish in the bag.  Also, seems bin men (who visited yesterday) won't collect regular rubbish unless it's in a bin, as evidenced by the three bags sitting next to the bins.  I'll cut the neighbours some slack in that regard as they've only recently moved in.  But if they keep generating that much trash I'll tell them to get another bin from the council.  When it starts getting warm things will turn rather unpleasant, never mind what will happen once the foxes catch on.

Yeah, this could have gone into the rant thread.  Will do so if the situation doesn't improve.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 24 April, 2020, 09:36:06 am
GN: the garden centre has delivered my order
GN; Everything is there correctly
BN: they delivered two days early so I wasn't home
GN: they delivered to my back garden as per the delivery instructions
BN I haven't finished preparing the beds.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 03 May, 2020, 09:07:15 am
GN: After 10 weeks of no work I started WFH on Friday.
BN: After 10 glorious, wonderful, fantastic weeks of doing whatever I want all day I have to stay confined to the office.
GN: It is a very well equipped office with a nice view.
BN: it's still confinement.
GN: 8 hours a day Mon - Fri, for a while it looked like I might have to work 03:00 - 15:00 Mon - Sat.
BN: Still got 5 weeks to get through before I get paid again.
MBN: I have to work every week instead of 4on/4off.
EMBN: Pay rate is pish. Even working every week I'll only get 3/4 of my regular pay over each 8 week period.
GN: At least I'm home so I can do stuff in the garden lunch time & evenings. Normally in my 4 working weeks I'm in an isolation bubble in Forrin
BN: Looks like I'll be fiscally treading water until late summer or autumn.
GN: Only another 5 weeks of living off savings.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 11 May, 2020, 10:03:20 pm
BN: even with the seat all the way down, my hybrid was still too big* for my SO
GN: she found something with a better fit - and step-through frame - on the Bay-of-E
MGN: the seller brought it to her this afternoon.

* not IMHO, but not having cycled for a few decades, not being able to be on the saddle and put a foot at the same time was a non-starter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Andrij on 21 May, 2020, 06:56:44 pm
From a different thread...
The complete* works of Bad Religion
Now that I've got Banshee working properly, it's much easier to play through my collection.  I will confess I miss using iTunes on my old PC.

* all 17 albums I own.

Bugger.  Banshee can't make it through an entire album before crashing.  No warning, no error message. Tried other albums/artists, same thing. >:(
Suppose this could qualify as a FWP, too.

Bad News: Banshee keeps crashing.
Badder News: I have the current version, which dates back to 2014.
Good News: Exaile seems to work just fine, if not quite as intuitive.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 June, 2020, 04:05:54 pm
BN: Hot water packed up on Sunday evening.
GN: New boiler fitted today.
BN: This meant most of the day with no water and gas.
BN: I nearly died of tea deprivation.
GN: We now have gas again.
GN: We now have running water again.
BN: But only cold.
GN: But that's only until tomorrow.
GN: We can cope with that.
BN: Plumber left an awful mess.
GN: This is getting a bit FWP isn't it?  ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 14 June, 2020, 02:27:39 pm
GN: fleabay are having a £1 mximum final value fee sale, so I can flog my Brompton
BN: my tolerance of fleabay eejits and shysters is non-existent
GN: I also put it on nextdoor.co.uk and a very nice person bought it this morning at my asking price.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 14 June, 2020, 02:51:16 pm
GN: fleabay are having a £1 mximum final value fee sale, so I can flog my Brompton
BN: my tolerance of fleabay eejits and shysters is non-existent
GN: I also put it on nextdoor.co.uk and a very nice person bought it this morning at my asking price.

:thumbsup:

I put my fat bike up for sale on a specialist Facebook group on Friday night, had a message the next morning and it was collected yesterday afternoon. Very easy transaction and nice guy to deal with.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 June, 2020, 08:12:36 am
BN: My ebike battery packed in. It's a Bosch, so very expensive.
GN: Someone on fleabay was selling one & a charger for not very much money
GN: The charger is worth £60+, so that'll be sold once it arrives
GN: Someone bought the old, knackered battery on fleabay. I'm posting it today
GN: My 'new' battery will end up costing me only £60 or so

Edit:
BN: The charger is £75 new, so I'll only get £40 at best.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 20 June, 2020, 02:09:23 pm
GN: Thursday's post included Arrivée and a brown envelope from HMRC
MGN: HMRC informs me I have overpaid tax by £*** for the past tax year and can claim a refund. Follow linky in post.
BN: I cannot get into Government Gateway. Have had this trouble since March but I WANT MY MONEY.
BN: Spend ages on phone getting nowhere.
GN: Borrowed D's windows laptop and got in quickly.
GN: Money should appear in current account soon.
BN: Seems HMRC no longer works with Safari on a Mac. WTAF?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 20 June, 2020, 02:11:06 pm
That'll be because the gubbishment will be using all of their Apple spoons on the new tracking app ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 20 June, 2020, 03:25:36 pm
Nice try!
I was unable to use the Government Gateway on 11 March with Safari onna Mac. Gave up through lack of spoons then.

Acquired spoons when I had refund letter.

I don't think they've spent the last three months cobbling this app. If they HAD worked on it that long, they might have made something workable.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 24 June, 2020, 04:53:09 pm
GN: I got my hands on a surplus Bosch ebike battery charger as part of a cheap battery deal.
GN: eBay were having a £1 max. fees deal, so on it went.
BN: I was bombarded with the usual moronic questions, particularly one person who had no idea how fleabay works and asked me to end a listing early, as she needed the charger quickly. I declined.
GN: It sold for £6 more than I would have accepted if the buyer had initially used the Make an Offer feature that I pointed him to.
GN: Payment made & item wrapped for dispatch tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 25 June, 2020, 09:02:59 am
The moronic question issue is why I will no longer use ebay for selling.

It all ended like this :

Advertise a towbar for a Honda FRV, stating years it is suitable for and a link to the manufacturer documentation for the same.

First question "What year of CRV does it fit?"

Second one "What make and model is it?"

Third one "Will it fit a Toyota?"

All within quick succession.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 26 June, 2020, 07:15:50 pm
Two people - one with 200+ feedback - couldn't fathom out how to make an offer, despite the big, blue Make an Offer button. They kept sending them via messages, which was useless. It's a specialised product, so fleabay was my, regrettably, best option.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 June, 2020, 08:18:44 pm
I collected my click this afternoon. Except it wasn't all there. They had missed out all the fresh fruit & veg.

After a series of calls I returned to Messrs Waite's & Rose's hall of higher class toothy comestibles where there was a rather nice bottle of Italian red which had been given to me as some compensation for my buggered-up afternoon - which had already been buggered up by the weather.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 29 June, 2020, 06:45:24 pm
BN Central Heating Faulted
GN As Mum is 85 I was an emergency case and Britsh Gas came within 2 hours. I now have Grundfos Alpha 2 pump in the airing cupboard which is probably better than the forty year old one that had given up.

 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 29 June, 2020, 08:14:16 pm
Good piece of kit.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 29 June, 2020, 08:17:42 pm
A flatulent heating pump?  Sounds dodgy.........   Should have got a Vogon job, better warranty.      https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Grunthos_the_Flatulent
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 02 July, 2020, 04:43:19 pm
GN: My new car washer jets (Fan spray type) turned up, having been ordered yesterday.

BN:  Contrary to expectations, they need a T8 torx bit to adjust the spray angle

GN:  After hunting around and finding only T10’s, just before ordering one, I had a thought - and found one in the hard drive upgrade kit I bought for the iMac  8)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 July, 2020, 02:51:38 pm
Two people - one with 200+ feedback - couldn't fathom out how to make an offer, despite the big, blue Make an Offer button. They kept sending them via messages, which was useless. It's a specialised product, so fleabay was my, regrettably, best option.
GN: My Mondaine Swiss Railways watch sold on fleabay for £51. The buyer coughed up promptly.
(Possible) BN: I described it as it is, very scratched and has seen some action in its life, so I'm wondering if the buyer hasn't read the description. I would never pay £51 for such tat.
GN: I have another identical watch in far better nick that I'm now going to flog next time fleabay have a listing fees sale.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 19 July, 2020, 01:14:33 pm
GN: MotoGP starts today  :thumbsup:

BN: It seems Quest aren’t actually showing the highlights  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 21 July, 2020, 08:20:12 pm
GN: my boy and his partner is moving to the Angles after a several of years in THAT LONDON
MGN: they are looting, at least initially, for a home in our town.
BN: any nebulous plans we have to run away from brexit to Scotlandland are now put on hold.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 July, 2020, 08:22:12 pm
GN: my boy and his partner is moving to the Angles after a several of years in THAT LONDON
MGN: they are looting, at least initially, for a home in our town.
BN: any nebulous plans we have to run away from brexit to Scotlandland are now put on hold.

BN: we still have Brexshit in Scotlandland
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 21 July, 2020, 08:41:28 pm
Looting or looking?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 21 July, 2020, 09:20:48 pm
 
Looting or looking?
:facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 21 July, 2020, 09:22:21 pm
GN: my boy and his partner is moving to the Angles after a several of years in THAT LONDON
MGN: they are looting, at least initially, for a home in our town.
BN: any nebulous plans we have to run away from brexit to Scotlandland are now put on hold.

BN: we still have Brexshit in Scotlandland
Yes, but there is a concerted effort by the devolved leadership to try and minimise the impact, unlike the tosses in Westminster.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 July, 2020, 09:25:34 pm
Come, and bring your offspring too and agitate for a Yes vote then :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 21 July, 2020, 10:06:30 pm
What currency are you planning? Do I need to start investing in haggis, neeps, and tatties future?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 July, 2020, 12:57:25 am
Is there still support for a "Coalition of the Sane" in That Scotland, viz. Scotland, Canada & New Zealand?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 27 July, 2020, 12:11:56 pm
BN: I bought a macbook air for work 2 months ago. It was awful - couldn't cope with video calls without the noisy fan kicking in, really slow switching between apps, laggy in excel and powerpoint.  Phone support was well meaning but didn't actually change anything.

GN: Went into the apple store over the weekend and within 5 mins of talking through the problem she agreed it wasn't working out for me the way it should be and swapped it for a macbook pro completely free, even though it cost about 300 quid more.   She did all the data transfer too. It's been great on this mornings video calls and havent heard the fan once yet.

I suspect there are 'known issues' with the noise of the fan of the Air, so worth a trip to the store if you're suffering too!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 27 July, 2020, 12:23:21 pm
Sounds like a result  :thumbsup:
I've had a Macbook Air since January or thereabouts.
Can't say that I've noticed any noisy fan problems - but I don't use it for video-con - or any of the other problems you've mentioned.
Maybe they'd sold you a Friday afternoon model.
Nice to get the upgrade thobut.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 27 July, 2020, 01:12:05 pm
My MacBook Air was really noisy fanwise in the heatwave at the end of June but has been quiet since.
David replaced the dead hard drive in his old iMac over the weekend. This was supplied with a trial version of some temperature regulating software, which ran for a whole 60 minutes before expiring, causing fans to roar.
Machine went silent after software payment had reactivated program.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 27 July, 2020, 02:02:46 pm
I suspect there are 'known issues' with the noise of the fan of the Air, so worth a trip to the store if you're suffering too!

Interesting. What spec was yours? Mine is the i5 and seems to cope with everything pretty well, certainly no noticeable lag. However, Teams does get the fan going, but not alarmingly so.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 29 July, 2020, 09:39:15 am
The only thing that ever makes fans audible in my Mac laptops is video conferencing or the late unlamented Flash. It really needs something to get CPUs up to 100% for a while. My office gets up into the 30s on hot days.

If the fans are running all the time, it sounds like a controller fault (sometimes resetting it does the job). But generally, you shouldn't hear the fans in a Mac, silences is one of the pleasures of the modern Apple world.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mike on 29 July, 2020, 03:02:42 pm
I suspect there are 'known issues' with the noise of the fan of the Air, so worth a trip to the store if you're suffering too!

Interesting. What spec was yours? Mine is the i5 and seems to cope with everything pretty well, certainly no noticeable lag. However, Teams does get the fan going, but not alarmingly so.

it was the i5, 16GB so should have been fine, perhaps it was a Friday special.   Either way, the pro is awesome :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 July, 2020, 04:32:02 pm
Hurrah: newly-acquired fondleslab is set up :thumbsup:

Bah: the keyboard layout is different from the old one so I can't find the "[" or "~" keys any more >:(
Title: Hurrah/Bah
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 August, 2020, 02:01:32 pm
Thames Water are digging up Larrington Towers Road all week.

Hurrah: no buses waking me up at audax o’clock :thumbsup:

Bah: no buses to waft me to 'stow Central to go to the opticians >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 18 August, 2020, 06:48:16 pm
BN: My Mallorca trip's just been cancelled for the second time this year (originally April, then October).

GN: Probably a blessing in disguise considering my total lack of cycling this year (I'd need an ebike to get up Sa Calobra these days!), and I should be able to reschedule for next April...third time lucky, perhaps?!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 14 September, 2020, 10:55:23 pm
Good news.  I have ridden my bike to a campsite.  I am inna tent .


Bad news. God I’m out of shape & practice. It was only a short ride so I didn’t leave until mid afternoon.  That’ll be why I didn’t get here until after dark (I made a navigation error as well, a few miles the wrong way on a canal towpath.   Too tired to cook, luckily I had some fruit loaf  , I’ve drunk large amounts of liquids as well.   Shower needs coins & I’ve got none.


Time for bed zzzzz...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ashaman42 on 21 October, 2020, 08:36:33 pm
I was looking again the other day at the Brewdog Advent Calendar. Didn't get round to ordering it because I got distracted by dinnertime.

Good thing too because my lovely partner had only gone and ordered one the first time I spotted them and ummed and ahhed over buying one. It arrived today whilst I was out for a run.

The bad news being I've got to resist opening it till December!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 22 October, 2020, 03:18:02 pm
BN: Quest HD failed to record Stage 15 of il Giro - had 45 min. of polychromatic stick-ball & ads. then 15 min. of race with a 5 min. break.
GN: ITV4 is showing a 2-week-behind summary so I can have another go. Judging by the change at the top, it was an interesting stage (as most of this year's has been).

BN: a few weeks ago Imagine... on BBC had the Kanneh-Masons on and I didn't realise until about half of it had passed.
GN: It's on in a week's time; recording set.
It's really one of the most extraordinary and admirable families in the whole world and Potters Bar - and the older girls, Isata especially, are gorgeous - several orders of magnitude out of my league though!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 25 October, 2020, 05:36:55 pm
GN: I've started the process of buying a new-build house
GN: It's out in the sticks
BN: It's out in the sticks
GN: We had a sneak preview today and managed to get into the back garden where I found a shed, small I grnt you, but still...
BN: It's smaller than I thought, but still all my own
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: orienteer on 25 October, 2020, 08:26:37 pm
Are you sure the shed is not the loo?  :demon:

Many years ago I visited a new build flat. It only gradually dawned that the internal doors were absent.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 25 October, 2020, 08:42:44 pm
Are you sure the shed is not the loo?  :demon:

Many years ago I visited a new build flat. It only gradually dawned that the internal doors were absent.

Yep - an old trick - and there's usually a 4ft (!!!) "double" bed in the main bedroom . . .  and photos are always with very short people in them . .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 26 October, 2020, 08:44:40 am
First job after moving in:build a bigger shed. As he had the space, my brother built a 20'x40' shed in one 'garden' (also planted a few hundred trees). Having worked on farms a lot the job took just a few days - it'd take me a month and some of the neighbours' gardens!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 November, 2020, 08:25:08 pm
BN: Saturday morning I found that the elastic cord in the hood of my favourite purple Ilsa Jacobsen raincoat was falling to bits.
GN: Saturday afternoon while I was having another purge of tat I found an envelope of just the right sort of elastic I don't remember purchasing.
BN: It's black, not purple
GN: After a bit of a problem putting it in tonight I eventually got it all sorted.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 03 November, 2020, 08:51:06 pm
BN: Quest HD failed to record Stage 15 of il Giro - had 45 min. of polychromatic stick-ball & ads. then 15 min. of race with a 5 min. break.
GN: ITV4 is showing a 2-week-behind summary so I can have another go. Judging by the change at the top, it was an interesting stage (as most of this year's has been).

BN: a few weeks ago Imagine... on BBC had the Kanneh-Masons on and I didn't realise until about half of it had passed.
GN: It's on in a week's time; recording set.
It's really one of the most extraordinary and admirable families in the whole world and Potters Bar - and the older girls, Isata especially, are gorgeous - several orders of magnitude out of my league though!

You are old enough to be their GRANDFATHER.

I think they did a family concert at the Barbican very recently, which I missed.

You might find a recording online...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 04 November, 2020, 12:58:37 pm
Good News: My slow and steady weight loss continues.
Bad News: My wedding ring is is danger of slipping off these cold mornings, and the jewellers are of course  closing for the duration.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 04 November, 2020, 01:00:46 pm
You can buy mini silicone inserts that should hold it in place. eBay is your friend.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: T42 on 04 November, 2020, 01:02:45 pm
First time I've heard of silicone being used in fingers...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 04 November, 2020, 01:07:32 pm
They make squirrel condoms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_cot) out of silicone, for applications where hygiene isn't important and a thicker re-usable one will suffice.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 04 November, 2020, 02:24:34 pm
I think that I've d/l that and filed it somewhere.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 04 November, 2020, 02:34:03 pm
You can buy mini silicone inserts that should hold it in place. eBay is your friend.

So I discovered! All I recalled was some gold clip-in things.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 05 November, 2020, 05:17:27 pm
GN: I got a purple pair of Keen sandals from Sportpursuit. Super cheap cos youth sizes so a mere £14.99. And did I mention purple?  :smug:
BN: doesn't look like I'll be needing them any time soon. Oh well, they'll keep.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 05 November, 2020, 11:06:45 pm
Hope they are not made of polyurethane foam, in which case they might not keep...











(Polyurethane foam soles can self-destruct by hydrolysis in your cupboard. DAMHIKT)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 06 November, 2020, 08:47:49 am
I had a pair of Clarke's Hikers; tried them then put them in a cupboard. About 10 years later wore them for a 3-mile test and they fell to pieces half way round. Not good value.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 06 November, 2020, 12:12:43 pm
GN:  After almost 40 years of holding them, finally had a premium bond win.

BN: It wasn't one of the top prizes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Legs on 06 November, 2020, 12:38:50 pm
Well done Reg and ERNIE!

In a similar vein:

GN: Mrs Legs also got a £25 premium bond win this month.
BN: Because she's got the maximum holding, her expected monthly winnings is actually £50.
GN: She won a £1000 prize a few months back, and is well ahead of the game.
BN: Still waiting for the £1m...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 06 November, 2020, 02:31:03 pm
At the age of 12 I bought 5 premium bonds. (That was a lot of paper rounds for a 12 year old kid)
Since then I have won precisely nothing.

Now, I know 5 is not many, but in 59 years surely I could have got lucky once?

I've also never been asked for jury duty.  I wonder if there is a connection?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 November, 2020, 05:17:59 pm
I've had £30 worth since the mid-80s, bought by a grandparent.  They've never won anything.  Indeed, I only found out about them recently when I set up online access to National Savings.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 November, 2020, 06:00:01 pm
Hope they are not made of polyurethane foam, in which case they might not keep...

(Polyurethane foam soles can self-destruct by hydrolysis in your cupboard. DAMHIKT)

I did actually find this out a couple of weeks ago while I was googling to find out if I could have my safety boots resoled.

I had a pair of Clarke's Hikers; tried them then put them in a cupboard. About 10 years later wore them for a 3-mile test and they fell to pieces half way round. Not good value.

My brother was complaining of something similar a few weeks back. He is a tremendous hoarder.

My safety boots I had assumed probably fell to bits after being exposed to crude oil and other such nasties as you might find on the floor of an oil platform.
I know I said the Keens will keep but I'm hoping it's not going to be years... even if they do fall to bits it'll only be 15 quid down the drain.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 November, 2020, 06:01:51 pm
At the age of 12 I bought 5 premium bonds. (That was a lot of paper rounds for a 12 year old kid)
Since then I have won precisely nothing.

Now, I know 5 is not many, but in 59 years surely I could have got lucky once?

I've also never been asked for jury duty.  I wonder if there is a connection?

I would say not being called for jury duty is you getting lucky. They keep coming back for me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 06 November, 2020, 07:15:25 pm
Hope they are not made of polyurethane foam, in which case they might not keep...
Polyurethane foam soles can self-destruct by hydrolysis in your cupboard. DAMHIKT)
I did actually find this out a couple of weeks ago while I was googling to find out if I could have my safety boots resoled.
I had a pair of Clarke's Hikers; tried them then put them in a cupboard. About 10 years later wore them for a 3-mile test and they fell to pieces half way round. Not good value.

I had some lovely black Ecco nubuck leather lace-ups I bought from the Clark's outlet in Street, when I was a choir course at Wells Cathedral nearby. They were smart enough for concerts and special occasions and comfortable enough to stand all day in them.
Soles turned to crumbly dust.
Same with my K sandals.

My brother was complaining of something similar a few weeks back. He is a tremendous hoarder.

My safety boots I had assumed probably fell to bits after being exposed to crude oil and other such nasties as you might find on the floor of an oil platform.
I know I said the Keens will keep but I'm hoping it's not going to be years... even if they do fall to bits it'll only be 15 quid down the drain.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 November, 2020, 11:11:33 am
Hurrah:The Man has restarted the Coronalurgi-interrupted eye screening thingz0rz and sent me an appointment :thumbsup:
Bah:09:30?  There’s no such time >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 10 November, 2020, 10:46:14 am
GN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.
BN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.

As a matter of comparison, my mother had to wait until she was 87 before that became true for her, and I reached my 44th birthday. I am a mere 66.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 10 November, 2020, 11:43:27 am
GN: I've won Premium Bonds prizes, last one just a few weeks ago!

GN: I've never been called for Jury Duty (is there an age cut off)

Not sure what this counts as: At one point Gran, Dad and I were very nearly 90, 60, 30. One of us was out by a couple of months.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 10 November, 2020, 12:02:20 pm
GN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.
BN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.

As a matter of comparison, my mother had to wait until she was 87 before that became true for her, and I reached my 44th birthday. I am a mere 66.

I remember when I reached the half my father's age point.  I took him out for the day and only told him about the half his age bit later in the day.  He was quite emotional. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 10 November, 2020, 12:18:04 pm
Hmm, I'm more than twice as old as my father managed...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 10 November, 2020, 12:47:59 pm
Hmm, I'm more than twice as old as my father managed...

It's sobering isn't it? - I'm now past the ages my parent managed by 20 years (mother) and 2 years (father)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 10 November, 2020, 01:00:27 pm
Yes.  I'm closer to Wombat's situation.  My ancestry hasn't taken up much of earth's valuable time:-

Dad 39
Grandfather 26
Great grandfather 44
Great great grandfather c 35

There are several tragedies there: congenital illness, pit and foundry accidents and general working-classedness.  I'm from the first generation to go to university and waste his education.  We are not without problems but I know how lucky I've been.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 November, 2020, 02:20:59 pm
GN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.
BN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.

As a matter of comparison, my mother had to wait until she was 87 before that became true for her, and I reached my 44th birthday. I am a mere 66.

My mother was only 44...

I'm not sure about your arithmetic here...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 10 November, 2020, 07:21:09 pm
GN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.
BN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.

As a matter of comparison, my mother had to wait until she was 87 before that became true for her, and I reached my 44th birthday. I am a mere 66.

My mother was only 44...

I'm not sure about your arithmetic here...

Not sure which bit of my arithmetic is wrong.

I was 66 in June.

My daughter is 34 today.

My mother was born in May 1911 so was 43 years 1 month or so older than me. She would have already reached her 87th birthday (19th May 1998) when I reached my 44th, and therefore exceeded half her age in whole years on 26th June 1998.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 10 November, 2020, 11:10:55 pm
Hope they are not made of polyurethane foam, in which case they might not keep...

(Polyurethane foam soles can self-destruct by hydrolysis in your cupboard. DAMHIKT)

I did actually find this out a couple of weeks ago while I was googling to find out if I could have my safety boots resoled.

I had a pair of Clarke's Hikers; tried them then put them in a cupboard. About 10 years later wore them for a 3-mile test and they fell to pieces half way round. Not good value.

My brother was complaining of something similar a few weeks back. He is a tremendous hoarder.

My safety boots I had assumed probably fell to bits after being exposed to crude oil and other such nasties as you might find on the floor of an oil platform.
I know I said the Keens will keep but I'm hoping it's not going to be years... even if they do fall to bits it'll only be 15 quid down the drain.

Sulphuric acid makes the soles fall off as well, from my experience
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 10 November, 2020, 11:28:26 pm
That's predictable.
Frustrating thing about this hydrolysis lark is the disintegration when you think NOTHING has caused it.
It's a nasty surprise!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 11 November, 2020, 12:58:06 am
GN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.
BN: as of today, my youngest child is more than half my age in competed years.

As a matter of comparison, my mother had to wait until she was 87 before that became true for her, and I reached my 44th birthday. I am a mere 66.

My mother was only 44...

I'm not sure about your arithmetic here...

Not sure which bit of my arithmetic is wrong.

I was 66 in June.

My daughter is 34 today.

My mother was born in May 1911 so was 43 years 1 month or so older than me. She would have already reached her 87th birthday (19th May 1998) when I reached my 44th, and therefore exceeded half her age in whole years on 26th June 1998.

Apologies! I somehow misread your post, idiot that I sometimes am!

<y mother recently attained this with Kid Brother, who turned 43 in October. Mum's 84.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 23 November, 2020, 12:04:02 pm
GN: I am off work until 3/12
BN: It's because I'm self-isolating because my daughter's tested positive for Covid
GN: I can't work from home
BN: I've had a low-intensity headache for the last two days
GN: No classic Covid symptoms
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 24 November, 2020, 01:55:54 pm
Bad news: yesterday was the fifth scheduled appointment at the court for my partner Klaus's divorce to finally happen. The first scheduled appointment was a year and a half ago but the lawyers couldn't get things organised in time so the appointments kept getting cancelled. The whole divorce has been almost three years (he left his wife four years ago and had the separation year as required). Anyway, everything was set, it would be the equivalent of Decree Nisi and Decree Absolute all on the same day as everything was agreed.... but..... on Thursday we discover his lawyer has COVID, as do several in that practice, so it has to be delayed AGAIN. We think it unlikely to happen in 2020 which would at least have been one good thing this year.

Good news: today I phoned up the Ausländerbehörde to find out how progress was going with my dual citizenship application and I spoke to a lady who said that my contact there was off sick. But what was my surname? Oh, this was one of the cases that Frau Wittke had passed on to her as it was almost complete and she sent the certificate to Stadt Kempen last week. I have been awarded citizenship, but my local office now has to do a bit of paperwork (and get 255€ from me) and then all is complete. Before Brexit. Hurrah!!!!!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 24 November, 2020, 01:59:19 pm
congrats Tante Helen!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 24 November, 2020, 02:17:41 pm
Sorry to hear about the divorce shenanigans, I'd be spitting nails by now.

Congrats on pending citizenship, that is great news!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Auntie Helen on 24 November, 2020, 02:50:16 pm
I cannot tell you what a load off my mind it is to know I will still have European citizenship.

Klaus is regularly being headhunted and most recently it was a company in Austria. But after Brexit I couldn't simply have moved there (Klaus and I are not yet married, see divorce rant above) so it would be mega paperwork if he did decide to move and would probably influence him to reject a good job offer. Now I will remain an EU citizen he can decide on any new job on its merits.

I have such a white-hot anger at people who voted to deprive me of my rights to live, work, retire and marry in lots of other countries - and for what? I am almost 50 and have lived my entire adult life knowing I could move within Europe if I wanted to - and I did indeed exercise that right, before Brexit was a thing. To lose it for stupid post-Empire xenophobia is just so petty.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 24 November, 2020, 04:45:41 pm
agree entirely I have no current desire to move there myself, but it is having that effect on my daughter just as she's looking to move into serious choices about her future
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 24 November, 2020, 04:45:47 pm
Helen, I totally agree. I too am angry that people voted Brexit for a variety of shitty reasons like:
"Sovreignty"
"Deep philosophical chunter with EU but don't care if we rejoined (on worse terms)"
"Racism"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 November, 2020, 04:48:06 pm
Gosh it sounds tremendously difficult to get divorced in Germany.

Good news on getting citizenship! As I said to QG, not jealous at all....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 12 December, 2020, 01:49:06 pm
Well feck you too 2020.

Just got an email from my old man, mum have fallen an broke her leg just below the hip joint and then they found that she had an infection in the small intestine but at a point where no camera could see so they have do an operation to find out what was going on. She fell on the 2. dec and the was in for the op last night.

Sods law is that I can't go there with the risk of bringing covid to her and I can't come back home either with the risk of bringing it to the lass or better yet stuck somewhere because a further lockdown upgrade

So beers will be had and some swear word said.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 12 December, 2020, 02:56:26 pm
I'm with you Wooly, bollocks to 2020. Wishing your mam well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 December, 2020, 03:12:43 pm
Wishing you well, Woolly. Go easy on the booze.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 14 December, 2020, 11:09:07 am
NHS England has extended the IS contract provisions until end of March 2021...

...which means that much of the work I have done over the last month or so it out the window...  >:(

...but it means I can have two weeks off over Christmas and New Year, which I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 15 December, 2020, 07:55:03 pm
GN: I have rearranged my SIPP. I no longer have  a growth portfolio. It is now an income portfolio. Should yield around £25,000.
BN: It cost me £3,000 to do it. It hurt to sell Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust which was my best purchase for years.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 December, 2020, 07:07:43 pm
15:29 Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.) takes delivery of a sizeable quantity of Christmas Toothy Comestibles  :thumbsup:
16:21 Bloody Stupid Johnson cancels Christmas >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 19 December, 2020, 09:22:07 pm
GN: Everyone in the company got a £50 pre-paid Visa card
BN: Despite the accompanying leaflet mentioning Laithwates, the website doesn’t mention the
Result: No Chateauneuf de Pape and Chablis for Christmas
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 December, 2020, 10:11:13 pm
Good: Have received an email today from Amazon telling me they have just got my return and given me a refund.
Bad:  The item, a tv bracket, was returned early in June. 

I'd forgotten all about it :-[.  I don't remember why I returned it or know where they have credited it to.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 December, 2020, 01:18:15 pm
Went to Tesco yesterday.
GN: Queue not as long as before Christmas.
BN: No couscous or green lentils.
GN: Rice available at conventional price.
BN: Autotill claims to allow you to pack straight into your own bag but it wouldn't recognize my pannier.
BN: So I had to put it on the floor and it got dirty.
GN: That doesn't matter, it's a cycle pannier.
BN: It was heavy and cycling was quite lopsided.
GN: As you know, that doesn't matter either as soon as you're above slow walking speed.
GN: Good that I went yesterday because today the roads locally are covered in ice.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 31 December, 2020, 03:17:20 pm

BN: Autotill claims to allow you to pack straight into your own bag but it wouldn't recognize my pannier.

Yeah always had a fight with these machines, use with pannier NO, use without NO etc etc

That's why I gone back to human service. Cause it will always moan because something it didn't like and then you have to wait for a human to come and beep the machine to be able to finish your shopping. So therefore they aren't that fast compared to full human service.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 December, 2020, 03:44:50 pm
Also, someone who spends all week scanning items is inevitably quicker at that than someone who does it once a week.

(Though I'm kinda surprised that you, being Covid-cautious, opt for the human service at this time.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 31 December, 2020, 06:11:43 pm
I was talking in the past. Haven't been to a shop/pub/etc since early January. I don't think the super markets have updated thier non human beeper since then :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 31 December, 2020, 11:38:06 pm
Also, someone who spends all week scanning items is inevitably quicker at that than someone who does it once a week.

There's a fair bit of that (I seem to waste a surprising amount of time trying to find barcodes on things, and a skilled operator will be much faster at entering non-barcode items), but I think it's also the way they're programmed.  Even when it doesn't cause problems, faffing about re-weighing the packing area each time slows it right down, and even the tills that don't bother with that (eg. Waitrose) seem to be overzealous in their use of timeouts, presumably to prevent accidental duplicate scans.  The proper tills let the operator whizz items through with impunity, and give them the tools to deal with adding or removing duplicates as needed.

There's an element of parallelism too, in that at a self-humiliation checkout you're scanning *and* packing (or at least tetrising items onto the packing scales), where the regular till operators can mostly just shove items to the side and let the customer sort them out.
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Davef on 01 January, 2021, 08:05:10 am
I always do the scan as you shop thing. Doing your scanning and packing as you walk to the next item is very time efficient and avoids the whole unexpected item in the bagging area. I also like the looks of horror from other shoppers if you put an item in your pocket.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 01 January, 2021, 08:43:43 am
I virtually always use the self scan. The wait I shorter and I can pack as I scan. Most barcodes are I. Normal places and easily scanned by the two scanners.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 01 January, 2021, 08:56:57 am
I virtually always use the self scan. The wait I shorter and I can pack as I scan. Most barcodes are I. Normal places and easily scanned by the two scanners.

I too haven't been in a supermarket/food shop of any size since the start of February (Mrs robgul or Mr Ocado oblige) - but I understand from a friend that's on the top managemtent team at Aldi that most of their products have barcodes on many faces of the packaging to ensure "right first time" swiping at the tills . . . perhaps something others might follow suit with?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 01 January, 2021, 09:43:56 am
I gave up due the dumb things' dislike of my 2.5kg rucksack 'Unexpected bag in item area', although those at Waitrose aren't as stupid.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 01 January, 2021, 10:09:19 am
Thats odd, I've always found the Waitrose ones a right PITA with panniers, or anything else for that matter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 01 January, 2021, 11:29:27 am
I virtually always use the self scan. The wait I shorter and I can pack as I scan. Most barcodes are I. Normal places and easily scanned by the two scanners.

I too haven't been in a supermarket/food shop of any size since the start of February (Mrs robgul or Mr Ocado oblige) - but I understand from a friend that's on the top managemtent team at Aldi that most of their products have barcodes on many faces of the packaging to ensure "right first time" swiping at the tills . . . perhaps something others might follow suit with?

Both Aldi and Lidl have huge bar codes compared to any of the other stores. Some are full width (and then sides) of the packaging, saves time in scanning as you say.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 January, 2021, 12:29:38 pm
I always do the scan as you shop thing. Doing your scanning and packing as you walk to the next item is very time efficient and avoids the whole unexpected item in the bagging area. I also like the looks of horror from other shoppers if you put an item in your pocket.
I've only seen scan as you shop at Mr Rose's Weighty House of Toothy Comestibles, and therefore have never used it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 01 January, 2021, 12:51:54 pm
Tesco and Asda have it round here. Not sure about Morrison's.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Davef on 01 January, 2021, 01:19:53 pm
Waitrose and Tesco’s have it here. The Waitrose is slightly better as you can weigh and scan loose fruit and veg in the veg aisle.

This however is nothing compared to the prototype Amazon food stores where you take things off the shelf, pop them in your bag without scanning and walk out, with your account being billed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 January, 2021, 01:45:10 pm
I expect it's as much about size of shop as brand.
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Davef on 01 January, 2021, 01:47:52 pm
I expect it's as much about size of shop as brand.
You can do it at all Waitrose’s even if they are too small to have a rack of scanners... in which case your can use you mobile phone instead.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 January, 2021, 01:55:35 pm
The self-styled "Little Waitrose" is the second largest supermarket I regularly enter after "big Sainsbury's" which most people would actually consider medium-small (and I've only been in there twice since March). All the other Tescos and Sainsos round here are Spar-sized, and the Cooper @ Ives are the same size as they are anywhere else. I'm sure if I could be bothered to go out to a larger Tesco etc they'd have that system.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PeteB99 on 01 January, 2021, 02:09:09 pm
I always do the scan as you shop thing. Doing your scanning and packing as you walk to the next item is very time efficient and avoids the whole unexpected item in the bagging area. I also like the looks of horror from other shoppers if you put an item in your pocket.

Ah so you're the one that blocks the aisle while you search for the barcode and then have to rearrange the shopping bag to avoid putting the potatoes on top of the eggs.  ;D

And at the moment there don't seem to be queues at the checkouts. Keep 6 feet away from the cashier and you're probably ok
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Davef on 01 January, 2021, 03:57:51 pm
I always do the scan as you shop thing. Doing your scanning and packing as you walk to the next item is very time efficient and avoids the whole unexpected item in the bagging area. I also like the looks of horror from other shoppers if you put an item in your pocket.

Ah so you're the one that blocks the aisle while you search for the barcode and then have to rearrange the shopping bag to avoid putting the potatoes on top of the eggs.  ;D

And at the moment there don't seem to be queues at the checkouts. Keep 6 feet away from the cashier and you're probably ok
If potatoes or eggs were in the wrong section of the list it would not survive the pre-shop vetting.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 02 January, 2021, 12:35:18 pm
BN: I have one month a year without income. I thought it was this month.
GN: It was last month so this month I should have more money than expected.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 05 January, 2021, 08:44:12 pm
The Waitrose mobile phone app is also (IMO) best in the current plague conditions, as you don't have to fondle another device. The app has been substantially improved since it's early days, when whatever you wanted, you got pants.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 05 January, 2021, 09:36:15 pm
Doesn't work in our local branch, a mobile signal black hole
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 08 January, 2021, 12:47:52 pm
GN: Royal Mail has delivered my new merino wool beanie from IsoBaa

BN:  Royal Mail driver hit the vintage cast iron lamppost outside our house, which will now require replacing.  Unfortunately Highways will only replace with new modern ugly lamppost.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 21 January, 2021, 02:37:21 pm
GN: Just had first vaccination for that modern lurgy thing that's so popular atm.
BN: Pfizer; at my age AZ would have been better. Now hoping for mild but noticeable reaction to show that the protest against bodies is working.

Just to make sure that I got there I walked nearly 5 miles (if the bus doesn't turn up...), then walked another 2 miles to Waitrose to buy goodies. The (Muslim) bus driver didn't seem to be impressed by my happylunch of ham sandwiches and port.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: tiermat on 21 January, 2021, 03:30:22 pm
GN: The house got a stress test last night

BN: It failed in the "Not letting in water" bit.  Specifically over our bloody bedroom!

GN: Rufus who did the other end of the roof last year is still working so he can sort it the weekend after next.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2021, 05:21:08 pm
GN: Rufus who did the other end of the roof last year is still working so he can sort it the weekend after next.

The nominative determinism thread is that way...  ->
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 21 January, 2021, 05:29:52 pm
You are a phoneticist - your statue will be resoundingly unmolished!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 21 January, 2021, 06:57:43 pm
GN: Just had first vaccination for that modern lurgy thing that's so popular atm.
BN: Pfizer; at my age AZ would have been better. Now hoping for mild but noticeable reaction to show that the protest against bodies is working.
Just to make sure that I got there I walked nearly 5 miles (if the bus doesn't turn up...), then walked another 2 miles to Waitrose to buy goodies. The (Muslim) bus driver didn't seem to be impressed by my happylunch of ham sandwiches and port.
Suspect your necessary unmasking to consume concerned him more than what you ingested.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: orienteer on 21 January, 2021, 09:56:05 pm
Bus companies disapprove, and sometimes ban, eating on board, due to the inevitable detritus and potential annoyance to other passengers, often including potent odours.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 21 January, 2021, 09:59:38 pm
Seems entirely reasonable, given I've been on buses resembling the pavements outside McD's.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 January, 2021, 10:22:39 pm
They generally ban hot food, so ham sandwiches okay, and alcohol, so port defo not okay.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 21 January, 2021, 10:38:55 pm
Whatever, I think in these Covid times, passengers should be masked for the whole journey.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 22 January, 2021, 09:02:55 am
GN: Just had first vaccination for that modern lurgy thing that's so popular atm.
BN: Pfizer; at my age AZ would have been better. Now hoping for mild but noticeable reaction to show that the protest against bodies is working.
Just to make sure that I got there I walked nearly 5 miles (if the bus doesn't turn up...), then walked another 2 miles to Waitrose to buy goodies. The (Muslim) bus driver didn't seem to be impressed by my happylunch of ham sandwiches and port.
Suspect your necessary unmasking to consume concerned him more than what you ingested.
As I simply told him (we know each other and chat a bit - used to be more a year ago) then had lunch at home, unmasking wasn't necessary.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 22 January, 2021, 09:47:25 am
Maybe he though a nice chianti would have been more appropriate?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: nicknack on 22 January, 2021, 09:48:26 am
GN: Nothing happened yesterday or the day before that or the day before that, etc.

BN: Nothing happened yesterday or the day before that or the day before that, etc.

Hibernation would be a handy skill.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 22 January, 2021, 11:11:46 am
GN: It's a beautiful sunny day, not a contrail to be seen.
BN: SNO warning from 4pm until Sunday
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 01 February, 2021, 08:38:21 am
Heard Bob Jackson went bust

Also heard that Woodrup are taking over the famous name (Bob Jackson died last century) but not the physical premises which were in sad need of investment.

Good to know it won't become just a decal on a BSO.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 09 February, 2021, 06:05:47 pm
GN:  I should be getting a shiny new laptop next week,  16G of ram instead of 4G in the current piece of crap.  Maybe now Teams calls won't lock my machine up half the time.


BN: Windows 10.  Wassat then ?   Better or worse than 7?



Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 09 February, 2021, 06:13:30 pm
GN:  I should be getting a shiny new laptop next week,  16G of ram instead of 4G in the current piece of crap.  Maybe now Teams calls won't lock my machine up half the time.


BN: Windows 10.  Wassat then ?   Better or worse than 7?
G'luck with that. I'm still struggling with it a year on.
As in: Where the f*ck is everything?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 February, 2021, 06:24:31 pm
GN:  I should be getting a shiny new laptop next week,  16G of ram instead of 4G in the current piece of crap.  Maybe now Teams calls won't lock my machine up half the time.


BN: Windows 10.  Wassat then ?   Better or worse than 7?

Win 10:

Hurrah: less flaky than W7 :thumbsup:
Bah: Fisher-Price user interface  :sick:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 February, 2021, 12:34:41 am
^ This.

My XP-era Windows knowledge is stretched to breaking point by where it's hidden things inna "O hai, I iz tablet nao" stylee.  But it performs surprisingly well and seems less Crashy McCrashface than 8 or The Versions That Shall Not Be Named.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 February, 2021, 01:23:06 am
Classic Shell is ur frend, assuming the Thought Police will let you install Stuffs.  Can't recall mine doing a proper crash at least since I replaced the moving picture card with one that actually fitted in the available space.

Updates still suck like a twin-turbocharged Henry though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 10 February, 2021, 01:00:31 pm
Classic Shell is ur frend, assuming the Thought Police will let you install Stuffs.  Can't recall mine doing a proper crash at least since I replaced the moving picture card with one that actually fitted in the available space.

Updates still suck like a twin-turbocharged Henry though.

Does that give windows a proper edging? Cos if so. I'm tempted to put in a helldesk request for installation privs cos the lack of window edges does my vision in.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 February, 2021, 01:24:38 pm
Classic Shell is ur frend, assuming the Thought Police will let you install Stuffs.  Can't recall mine doing a proper crash at least since I replaced the moving picture card with one that actually fitted in the available space.

Updates still suck like a twin-turbocharged Henry though.

Does that give windows a proper edging? Cos if so. I'm tempted to put in a helldesk request for installation privs cos the lack of window edges does my vision in.

Probably worth a suck-it-and-see on your personal Windows box, at least?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 13 February, 2021, 12:48:08 pm
GN:   My new laptop has been delivered....


BN: to the post office,  which means I've got to put my woolly jumper on & venture out into the cold.   Bloody parcelfarce. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 15 February, 2021, 02:03:21 pm
GN: It's here.


BN: The video output is this new fangled HDMI & they didn't include a cable.  I think there was one included with my monitor,  but I've not a clue where it is.  Rummaging or shopping ?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 15 February, 2021, 02:07:12 pm
Well shopping always helps you finding it :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Luke on 18 February, 2021, 03:28:32 pm
GN: I’ve bought at ‘95 Kona cinder cone.  8)

BN: A shoulder injury is keeping me from being able to actually ride it, or any other of my bikes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andytheflyer on 19 February, 2021, 08:57:37 am
Confused me there Luke. Where I come from (the geological world) cinder cones are piles of once-very hot rocks that sit on the sides of volcanoes.  Why would you want to ride it?  I am not understanding..........
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 19 February, 2021, 11:17:07 am
Confused me there Luke. Where I come from (the geological world) cinder cones are piles of once-very hot rocks that sit on the sides of volcanoes.  Why would you want to ride it?  I am not understanding..........

Think he means one of these (https://www.mtbr.com/attachments/kona-001-jpg.183870/)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: spesh on 19 February, 2021, 11:35:38 am
Kona have had a thing for naming some of their bikes on a volcanic theme - Cinder Cone, Lava Dome, Fire Mountain, Kilauea...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 19 February, 2021, 12:06:05 pm
When I bought my Marin Muirwoods in 1998 I really wished that I could have got a Konami at the time but I simply couldn't get my hands on one.

Beautiful bikes.  Never owned one but really wanted one.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andytheflyer on 19 February, 2021, 02:47:09 pm
Kona have had a thing for naming some of their bikes on a volcanic theme - Cinder Cone, Lava Dome, Fire Mountain, Kilauea...
Ah!  Thx.  New one on me.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 21 February, 2021, 05:57:01 pm
GN: the magnum of Puy de Lignac 2004 is still just about drinkable.
BN: there are only 2 of us to drink it.
GN: it makes superb gravy to go with the steak.
GN: every sip of it reminds me of drinking cheap rough red wine in a small restaurant serving only duck on warm sunny evenings with my father in the Medoc. Wandering home down the road I. The dark with my wife and two sons feeling very merry.
BN: the restaurant is now closed and a ruin, my father is 10 years dead but the memories remain.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 11 March, 2021, 08:54:04 pm
GN:  I won the lottery!


BN: Only £30.  Not enough  :'(   https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78674979#/
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 16 March, 2021, 11:24:02 am
GN: I will drink less beer
BN: One of my favourite beer shops BelgiumInABox has been killed by Covid.
Very BN: I have a £88 order outstanding.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 March, 2021, 12:49:35 pm
GN: I will drink less beer
BN: One of my favourite beer shops BelgiumInABox has been killed by Covid.
Very BN: I have a £88 order outstanding.


Oh really?  That's a bit crap.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 17 March, 2021, 07:22:57 am
BN: AO.com are delivering my fridge/freezer at 7am
BN/GN: They arrived at 6.45, so I let them in rather than sit around bothering the neighbours in their noisy van
BN: There's a barely perceptible dent in the fridge door
GN: AO offer me 80 quid. I bite their hand off, though I could probably have got more
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 02 April, 2021, 05:50:47 pm
GN: Its my Birthday
BN: I want one on each of the other 364 days but it is not allowed
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 04 April, 2021, 11:55:36 pm
Kona have had a thing for naming some of their bikes on a volcanic theme - Cinder Cone, Lava Dome, Fire Mountain, Kilauea...
I have a 1998 Lava Dome.

It hasn't done any proper off road recently, but with semi-slicks it's handy for pothole filled country lanes & the like.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 13 April, 2021, 11:42:51 am
BN: Our CH room stat failed this morning, prompting a panicked text from my wife.
GN: Our plumber (who's kids my wife used to teach) came out within a couple of hours, and fitted a New! Shiny! programmable one
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 13 April, 2021, 12:36:56 pm
can you program it to make chocolate cake ?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 13 April, 2021, 03:58:44 pm
I wish, but no. And in fact I shan't programme it at all, I'll just use it as a dumb stat like it's predecessor and let the controller do it's thing. The stat just allows the temperature during the day to be varied automatically, but my wife doesn't do "cooler during the day" temperatures!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 13 April, 2021, 04:52:58 pm
Well then that news should clearly be in the really really real bad news thread, no cake ;(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 14 April, 2021, 12:59:40 pm
GN:  another successful job.  Customer upgraded from 2 x 100M links at 1 site to 2 x 500M links split across 2 sites.  Finished in half the allocated time & customer happy.


BN: He's got emails dating back to 2014, when the original service was installed, & guess who set it up & tested it with him then ?   I've been doing this for too long!



Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 15 April, 2021, 12:40:39 pm
GN my car only needed wipers to pass its MOT

BN (possibly should be in div thread) I expected this so bought new wipers through trade account at work and completely forgot to fit them so will be paying garage prices for them
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 23 April, 2021, 09:58:57 pm
GN:  Last week my investments rose by £7,000
BN: This week they fell by £6,000.
GN: This is the first week they have fallen since the start of the calendar year.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 09 August, 2021, 09:33:23 pm
GN: I have a new job.
BN: I have a new job.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 11 August, 2021, 11:37:22 pm
BN. A sheep pooed on my gate.

(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/IMG_8260.jpg)

GN. The road has been resurfaced for the first time since 1952.

(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Aug%2011%202021%20P8110002.jpg)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Karla on 12 August, 2021, 09:44:30 am
GN: I have a new job.
BN: I have a new job.

Congratulations!


GN: I have a new job.
BN: It's right next to Condor Cycles so none of my salary is going to last more than 5 minutes out the door.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Morat on 16 August, 2021, 09:38:15 pm
GN - I had a two week holiday!
BN - The bastards called my personal mobile for 4 of the first 5 days
GN - They left me alone after than
BN - Christ, my INBOX!!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 16 August, 2021, 09:42:02 pm
...BN - Christ, my INBOX!!

Ctrl-a, shift-delete.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 16 August, 2021, 11:03:36 pm
GN - I had a two week holiday!
BN - The bastards called my personal mobile for 4 of the first 5 days
GN - They left me alone after than
BN - Christ, my INBOX!!

You should take 4 days of sickies and turn your mobile off to make up for calls on your holidays, that is BAD management to have people doing that!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 17 August, 2021, 08:15:49 am
GN: My eyes are healthy
BN: …for my age

Had a long overdue eye test, partly because it really is time I replaced my reading glasses - current ones are falling apart and scratched, also not powerful enough any more.

Also partly because I’ve been seeing spots in my vision, which is a little concerning. But apparently - and I’m sure you all know this already - this is a normal part of age related physical degeneration of the jelly in your eyes, which leaves “floaters”.

Had the 3D scan thing for the first time - fascinating yet slightly weird to see what the inside of my eyes look like.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 17 August, 2021, 08:54:42 am
Don't knock it, I had an MRI scan and the comment was basically 'brain looks alright for someone of his age.' I wanted the brain of a 20-year-old. And not pickled and in a jar, like the ones I already have.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 28 August, 2021, 06:55:03 pm
BN: The family across the road appear to have got themselves 2 really yappy dogs
GN: We'll be leaving them behind on Tuesday. Good timing.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 29 August, 2021, 06:48:23 am
BN: My 18 speed bike is really only a 16 speed bike
GN: My new chain is therefore be 40% cheaper



Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 31 August, 2021, 09:49:19 am
GN: I have 30 days leave accrued.
BN: We can only carry over 20 days.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 31 August, 2021, 12:59:56 pm
Sound like you need to holiday hard, make every second count double :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 31 August, 2021, 01:11:28 pm
Sound like you need to holiday hard, make every second count double :)

I was due to be on leave from 10 September for a week... but forgot to book it  :facepalm:.  In the meantime my line manager and my boss both booked time off.  I can't have time off as well at the same time.

GN: Boss is trying to ensure we can carry over the extra as long as they're used by the end of the year.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 September, 2021, 10:36:13 am
Bad
I missed an important meeting last night, because the invite was sent after I had left work.

Good
Leaving work early meant I was able to meet up with friends and go kayaking.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 September, 2021, 11:21:21 pm
Bah: One of the lights on the Grand Escalier of Larrington Towers has et a bulb :(

Hurrah: It's not the one requiring the Giant Ladder o'Doom to change :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 18 September, 2021, 08:50:46 pm
Grumble: Strictly-come-fuckwits has started again

Hooraah!: I can re-familiarise myself with my uke and try, yet again, to learn "It Must Be Love", amongst others

20 mins and my fingertips know they've been doing soemthing unusual
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: TheLurker on 18 September, 2021, 09:20:33 pm
It's brilliant!  For three months or thereabouts I get two, or more, hours every Sat. evening of completely undisturbed building of toy aeroplanes.  Huzzah for dansey dansey say I.  :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 18 September, 2021, 10:56:54 pm
GN:  In short supply

BN: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-58611030 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-58611030)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 21 September, 2021, 02:21:12 pm
GN: My average monthly income covers my outgoings.
BN: My income is uneven, this month it was £500 short
GN I fixed  it a bit in three months time my income should be £200 more.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 29 September, 2021, 04:48:21 pm
GN: I've just been called "by far the most self-sufficient and capable editor across the entire company".

BN1: That really doesn't say much for the others.
BN2: Blandishments such as this will surely be followed by outrageous demands.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 29 September, 2021, 04:54:48 pm
GN: I've just been called "by far the most self-sufficient and capable editor across the entire company".

BN1: That really doesn't say much for the others.
BN2: Blandishments such as this will surely be followed by outrageous demands.


Congratumalations.  I suggest you outrageously demand a pay rise to reflect your recognised status.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 29 September, 2021, 09:46:43 pm
Are you self-employed?  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 October, 2021, 12:49:35 pm
And yesterday I got a complaint!
Quote
I am reaching out today because I would like to discuss your last experience working with us transcription.

Please find the job numbers below:

O-54456

We focus on the Quality of each project we carry about, so it is really important to know if did you have any issues in delivering the job? We are asking you this because we got a complaint today about the delivery of the job and we would like to understand what happened.
I've found job 54456, it was last week. Nothing special. How am I supposed to respond to this when they say nothing about the content of the complaint? Also, why is "Quality" capitalised? To say nothing of "working with us transcription." Bin!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 02 October, 2021, 12:58:54 pm
Have you by any chance been providing confusingly literate transcription?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 October, 2021, 01:22:54 pm
The original conversations or presentations are frequently rather confused, so that is possible.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 19 October, 2021, 02:35:58 pm
BN - water softener/filter that feeds our coffee machine packed up today after 14 years (non-repairable valve)
GN - exact replacement is only £9.00 more than the original (£60 in 2007 - £69.00 today) - staggering  :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 21 October, 2021, 10:13:29 pm
GN:  Finally made it to BSc(Hons).

BN:  My little brother was going to come over from the Netherlands for my graduation but now PlagueIslandGB has been classed as Very High Risk, he won’t be able to make it  :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 21 October, 2021, 10:16:09 pm
GN:  Finally made it to BSc(Hons).

BN:  My little brother was going to come over from the Netherlands for my graduation but now PlagueIslandGB has been classed as Very High Risk, he won’t be able to make it  :'(
Ooh! Well done on the BSc(Hons)!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 October, 2021, 10:20:02 pm
GN:  Finally made it to BSc(Hons).

BN:  My little brother was going to come over from the Netherlands for my graduation but now PlagueIslandGB has been classed as Very High Risk, he won’t be able to make it  :'(

I would clap, but it could be construed as being ironic.

Well done, Ruthie! You are a star!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 October, 2021, 10:22:23 pm
Well done, what is your degree in?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 21 October, 2021, 11:12:53 pm
Well done Ruthie.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 22 October, 2021, 12:00:38 am
  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 22 October, 2021, 07:10:05 am
Congratulations Ruthie, and we'll done on all the hard work.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 22 October, 2021, 07:39:55 am
Congrats Ruthie.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 22 October, 2021, 07:51:22 am
Well done!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 22 October, 2021, 09:16:33 am
Well done, what is your degree in?

Thank you!

I topped up my existing nursing qualification to a degree.

A word of advice: don’t take up degree level study just before a pandemic breaks out. That would just be really really stupid.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 22 October, 2021, 09:18:03 am
Thank you for the good wishes, everyone 😙
I was so looking forward to having my brother there. Haven’t seen him since the Before Times.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 October, 2021, 10:45:45 am
Congratulations, Honourable Scientific Ruthie!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 22 October, 2021, 10:54:43 am
Congratulations
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 22 October, 2021, 06:01:46 pm
Thank you  :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 22 October, 2021, 08:41:40 pm
Congrats Ruthie, I'm in awe of any NHS worker doing a degree as well as NHS work this last 19 months! So you're now Brilliantly Scientific!

I'm sorry your brother couldn't come to your graduation and celebration. That's frustrating.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 22 October, 2021, 10:24:05 pm
Ooh congratulations.  And yes, what barakta said.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 23 October, 2021, 10:10:45 am
Congratulations Ruthie.

Getting bachelored is difficult enough in ‘normal’ times, doing it in the Covid epoch makes you a bona fide double hard bastard. Bloody well done!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 23 October, 2021, 10:57:21 am
Bicyclist of Superior Cleverness  :thumbsup:     Congratulations Ruthie. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: cycleman on 23 October, 2021, 11:44:58 am
Congratulations ruthie  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 23 October, 2021, 12:22:29 pm
This is making me feel better! I miss my brother for sure, but it’s going to be a celebration.!
Thank you, cycling chums  :-*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 23 October, 2021, 12:29:42 pm
Congratulations Ruthie
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 25 October, 2021, 03:12:36 pm
Congrats!   Hopefully you'll get to graduate formally before the government are forced to lockdown again...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 26 October, 2021, 07:55:53 pm
Thank you  :-*
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 November, 2021, 09:42:33 am
I had an email this morning informing me that I had an online message from HMRC so would I please log on to have a look at it. I did, and to my complete surprise they thought I owed them over £1300. This was news to me: it was all in penalties for not filing a tax return last year. Another part of their website has a questionnaire - that you can only see when you are logged in - which assesses whether you need to fill in a tax return or not. Mine says I don't. Furthermore, on my last tax return, submitted in January 2019, we stated that we had wound up our partnership on 31/8/2018.

I've just phoned HMRC and after a bit of a wait, all the penalties have been cancelled.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 12 November, 2021, 01:07:51 pm
BN: On my way home from a work trip yesterday I was phoned by my water supplier to say that the water meter is spinning and to request a customer side leakage visit.
GN: on getting home the building is still standing, there are no damp patches and the toilets are not overflowing to waste.

BN: this means that the leak is probably in the buried pipe between the external stop tap and the building.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 12 November, 2021, 01:53:29 pm
BN: On my way home from a work trip yesterday I was phoned by my water supplier to say that the water meter is spinning and to request a customer side leakage visit.
GN: on getting home the building is still standing, there are no damp patches and the toilets are not overflowing to waste.

BN: this means that the leak is probably in the buried pipe between the external stop tap and the building.
My wife's church just had this.  They found a leak in cast iron pipework thought to date to 1899 ish under a load of flagstones.

If you know anything about the church of England you will know the fun that caused!  We were told they problem would be getting matching cast iron to replace the section.

Actually there were real problems getting someone with enough expertise to be willing to even touch such old pipework
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 12 November, 2021, 02:11:44 pm
BN: On my way home from a work trip yesterday I was phoned by my water supplier to say that the water meter is spinning and to request a customer side leakage visit.
GN: on getting home the building is still standing, there are no damp patches and the toilets are not overflowing to waste.

BN: this means that the leak is probably in the buried pipe between the external stop tap and the building.
My wife's church just had this.  They found a leak in cast iron pipework thought to date to 1899 ish under a load of flagstones.

If you know anything about the church of England you will know the fun that caused!  We were told they problem would be getting matching cast iron to replace the section.

Actually there were real problems getting someone with enough expertise to be willing to even touch such old pipework

Having been a facilities lead on a PCC I fully understand those complexities.  :o

Personally as someone in the water industry I would have looked a either slip lining that cast iron pipe with PE (put a plastic pipe inside the cast iron) or if that would have made the pipe too small then use a pipe bursting replacement technique to minimise the digging in the church.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 13 November, 2021, 04:42:19 pm
BN: On my way home from a work trip yesterday I was phoned by my water supplier to say that the water meter is spinning and to request a customer side leakage visit.
GN: on getting home the building is still standing, there are no damp patches and the toilets are not overflowing to waste.

BN: this means that the leak is probably in the buried pipe between the external stop tap and the building.
My wife's church just had this.  They found a leak in cast iron pipework thought to date to 1899 ish under a load of flagstones.

If you know anything about the church of England you will know the fun that caused!  We were told they problem would be getting matching cast iron to replace the section.

Actually there were real problems getting someone with enough expertise to be willing to even touch such old pipework

Having been a facilities lead on a PCC I fully understand those complexities.  :o

Personally as someone in the water industry I would have looked a either slip lining that cast iron pipe with PE (put a plastic pipe inside the cast iron) or if that would have made the pipe too small then use a pipe bursting replacement technique to minimise the digging in the church.

I try not to get involved too much but there is a little bit of telling the vicar's husband because he is a man and will understand.  I can also feedback a bit more of what the wardens, etc are thinking but do not quite want to say.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 November, 2021, 05:07:31 pm
Slip lining has recently been used to replace the entire water mains for Bristol. Apparently the reduced bore is not (in this case) a problem, thanks in part to the reduced friction of plastic pipes compared to cast iron. Though this is presumably a simplified version of the reality, produced for consumption of the general public.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ruthie on 13 November, 2021, 11:13:42 pm
Serving on a PCC is a non-stop firefighting exercise in shoring up a money pit of a building.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 15 November, 2021, 01:05:22 pm
Slip lining has recently been used to replace the entire water mains for Bristol. Apparently the reduced bore is not (in this case) a problem, thanks in part to the reduced friction of plastic pipes compared to cast iron. Though this is presumably a simplified version of the reality, produced for consumption of the general public.

No that's pretty much spot on, an old cast Iron pipe will either have a lot of rust or a cement lining which makes the surface rough while a new plastic pipe will be smooth. The effect of this is to reduce the friction losses as the water flows along the pipe so that the same pressure generates the same flow through a smaller cross section. Just don't think about 50 years time and when a limescale deposit has built up in the plastic pipe.  ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 01 December, 2021, 04:49:38 pm
GN: I’ve managed to find a local dentist who is taking on new patients, after our new dentist very inconsiderately went and died 18months after taking over from our now retired dentist. This has the added bonus of getting me in the good books of Dr Beardy (Mrs) because, obviously, it’s all my fault.

BN: They aren’t booking appointments until next April! This will carry the added weight of getting me in the bad books of Dr Beardy (Mrs) because , obviously, it’s all my fault.

Moar BN: This is a private practice and the first appointment fee is £150 each.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 01 December, 2021, 08:35:09 pm
GN: our chimney sheep has arrived

BN: this means I need to grub about in the flue opening to remove the build up of grot there before I position the sheep.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 December, 2021, 08:36:16 pm
GN: our chimney sheep has arrived

BN: this means I need to grub about in the flue opening to remove the build up of grot there before I position the sheep.

Baa humbug?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 01 December, 2021, 08:46:38 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 01 December, 2021, 08:47:38 pm
GN: our chimney sheep has arrived

BN: this means I need to grub about in the flue opening to remove the build up of grot there before I position the sheep.

Shirley you need the sweep before the sheep?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 01 December, 2021, 09:30:27 pm
Slip lining has recently been used to replace the entire water mains for Bristol. Apparently the reduced bore is not (in this case) a problem, thanks in part to the reduced friction of plastic pipes compared to cast iron. Though this is presumably a simplified version of the reality, produced for consumption of the general public.

No that's pretty much spot on, an old cast Iron pipe will either have a lot of rust or a cement lining which makes the surface rough while a new plastic pipe will be smooth. The effect of this is to reduce the friction losses as the water flows along the pipe so that the same pressure generates the same flow through a smaller cross section. Just don't think about 50 years time and when a limescale deposit has built up in the plastic pipe.  ;)

Pretty much the same with gas mains replacement, live insertion, electrofusion joints on PE pipe, only no limescale. You can up the pressure to account for the reduced bore.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: orienteer on 01 December, 2021, 10:17:29 pm
When slip linings are put into old water and gas mains, how are the connections to premises dealt with, and made water/gas tight?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 02 December, 2021, 05:42:44 am
For the final connection, I'm not sure if they simply replace that bit, only 1" typically for domestic, or insert and cut near the end.  One of the main benefits of live insertion is not needing to dig up massive swathes of the high Street, just pits at either end of the insertion.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: matthew on 02 December, 2021, 10:33:56 am
The preference is to slip line the main trunk mains that don't have the customer connections directly then the slip lining can be circa 500m lengths and only needs a large excavation at these points. When slip lining a main with customer connections then an excavation circa 0.3m x 0.75m is required at every customer connection to cut away a section of the old main and fuse on a ferrule for the customer supply.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: orienteer on 02 December, 2021, 02:47:10 pm
OK thanks both. No AI robots yet then. ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 02 December, 2021, 05:16:13 pm
they do have no/minimal dig solutions already, "moles" for getting the 1" pipe from the pavement to the house and "core and vac" trucks to basically take a plug of road out over a leak, sadly both still require human operators.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 14 December, 2021, 12:19:27 pm
BN: A nice cup of tea is not instant
GN: I had that thought three minutes ago
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 14 December, 2021, 06:48:06 pm
BN eldest monkey tested positive on a lateral flow

GN apart from being tired she's thus far fine

GN our, well really she's the wife's but we get on well due to a mutual love of cricket, absolutely lovely and thankfully well off friend deliveroo ordered us snacks and wine to cheer us. Initially I rejected as we often get deliveries not for us till the courier mentioned the name although I did have to ring her for her DOB as had wine on and my wife was on a zoom call so hadn't seen the message
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 December, 2021, 11:49:43 am
BN: LF positive on Tuesday, despite a negative on Monday.
GN: I was sent home from work to self-isolate for 11 days. Taking me conveniently to the start of my leave until 4/1.
GN: My PCR test arrived yesterday and was opened, completed and posted less than an hour later.
GN: On tracking the item on Royal Mail's website, it was delivered at 23.24 yesterday, so less than 6.5 hours after the collection time. Impressive!
BN: Although not too ill generally, I have a very sore throat that is defying ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 19 December, 2021, 12:55:25 pm
Bad news: the vacuum cleaner is broken.

Good news: I’m choosing the believe that the acrid burning smell is the soul of James Dyson.

More good news: Mrs Dan had already bought another vacuum cleaner, so the housework can still be done.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 23 December, 2021, 10:52:36 am
Good News - Coldplay to stop making "music"

Bad News - But not until 2025.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 December, 2021, 11:09:11 am
They interviewed Coldplay's bass player on the anbaric distascope the other night and he actually seemed like a perfectly nice sort of chap.  Either he led a life of unparalleled wickedness in a previous incarnation or he’s like James Blunt, who should also never have been allowed within a day’s tank drive of a recording studio.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 23 December, 2021, 11:18:37 am
Bad news.   Several days ago the bottom 2 5ths of my phone screen failed. Or left 2 5ths in landscape.  Or right 2 5ths....
GN.  Last night it was working again, for no apparent reason.
BN.   It wasn't working again this morning.
GN.   I'm getting really good at knowing where to tap on the missing part of the keyboard.

BN.  I can't afford a new phone right now.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 23 December, 2021, 12:15:09 pm
They interviewed Coldplay's bass player on the anbaric distascope the other night and he actually seemed like a perfectly nice sort of chap.  Either he led a life of unparalleled wickedness in a previous incarnation or he’s like James Blunt, who should also never have been allowed within a day’s tank drive of a recording studio.

"Parachutes" was the soundtrack to many a summers evening - courtesy of our then neighbour who delighted in serenading the neighbourhood with it from around her firepit  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 23 December, 2021, 01:45:03 pm
They interviewed Coldplay's bass player on the anbaric distascope the other night and he actually seemed like a perfectly nice sort of chap.  Either he led a life of unparalleled wickedness in a previous incarnation or he’s like James Blunt, who should also never have been allowed within a day’s tank drive of a recording studio.

I think Mitch Benn covered everything we need to know about both inexplicably popular beat combos.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 23 December, 2021, 04:33:22 pm
They interviewed Coldplay's bass player on the anbaric distascope the other night and he actually seemed like a perfectly nice sort of chap.  Either he led a life of unparalleled wickedness in a previous incarnation or he’s like James Blunt, who should also never have been allowed within a day’s tank drive of a recording studio.

"Parachutes" was the soundtrack to many a summers evening - courtesy of our then neighbour who delighted in serenading the neighbourhood with it from around her firepit  >:(
Not heard it called that before.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 24 December, 2021, 08:40:20 am
I assume that she's a redhead.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 January, 2022, 08:13:55 pm
Hurrah: The Great Monthly Backup of All Things, which started running at 05:30 on New Year's Eve, is about to finish part 17/19 :thumbsup:
Bah: Actually it isn’t, because there's eleven episodes of Messrs. MacGregor & Boorman titting around on motorbikes, at around 2GB a pop, still to go :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 January, 2022, 10:43:20 pm
BN:  Pinged by the Covid app.  So that will probably have been last nights concert at St Georges Hall, featuring Isata Kaneh-Mason.   Mandatory mask wearing for the audience & staff, with 100% compliance from what I saw.   


GN: tonights test negative, though i have a slightly sore throat.   Will definitely be doing another tomorrow before visiting family, or may just call it off altogether.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 January, 2022, 08:46:31 pm
BN: Wizzair changed my flight times from LTN to silly o'clock. I booked LTN because the nearer BHX flight times were silly o'clock.

GN: I'll get a refund.

GN: APCOA refunded my car parking very quickly, without quibbling or hassle.

BN: It'll mean that I won't see my eldest daughter for over a year.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: eckagain on 18 January, 2022, 04:44:30 am
Bad News: I had a tumble on black ice on Sunday, ripping my nice tights, bought from Shutt Velo just a few weeks ago. They weren't cheap, and were possibly the best tights I'd ever had.

Good News: I had a quick look at Shutt's website, to see how much a replacement pair would cost, more in hope than expectation. Guess what:they have a "Crash Replacement Policy". Just send them a short description of the incident and a photy of the damage, and get a replacement for 50% of what you paid. So, I emailed them with my tale of woe and got a discount code from them within minutes. No hassle, no "send us you damaged item for us to inspect" condition. Well impressed.  :thumbsup:
https://shuttvr.com/pages/crash-replacement (https://shuttvr.com/pages/crash-replacement)

I know some helmet companies do crash replacement deals, but I'm not aware of any other clothing companies that do?

MODS: Maybe this should be in Reviews?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 January, 2022, 09:32:05 am
Don't/didn't Rapha do something similar? I've never owned any Rapha so commenting only from hearsay.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: JonBuoy on 18 January, 2022, 11:07:47 am
Don't/didn't Rapha do something similar? I've never owned any Rapha so commenting only from hearsay.

Free repair service (with some restrictions): https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/repair-service
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 18 January, 2022, 11:12:18 am
I've had Rapha repaired. Twice. They did a pretty good job, actually. I didn't mention that the hole on the hip was where I'd managed to rip a hole in them with my fingernails. The knee repair was crash damage.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 January, 2022, 11:24:39 am
If only actual knees were as easy to repair. :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 18 January, 2022, 02:31:42 pm
The only Rapha I've crashed in was, of course, something I'd bought second-hand, and therefore couldn't provide the original receipt to get it repaired. :(

On a different note...
GN: The Christmas tree forest in the street has finally gone!
BN: The council only collected it 13 days late... :-\
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 18 January, 2022, 03:25:28 pm
My Rapha was also second hand. Ex Mrs swiss hat, IIRC.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 18 January, 2022, 08:26:32 pm
GN: Yesterday I logged into interactive investor.  It said my SIPP + ISA was worth 1 and mostly 6 noughts.
BN: Not today.
More BN: I left school in 1980 when 5% of us went to University. Using the 4% rule 40K puts me in the 91 percentile of income so I am a failure.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 18 January, 2022, 08:39:34 pm
Measuring success or failure by income is rather missing the point in my opinion.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 18 January, 2022, 11:03:30 pm
That's what all Arsenal fans say.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 January, 2022, 12:03:18 am
He who dies with the most toys, wins.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 21 January, 2022, 07:51:22 pm
BN.  The Llandysul carnival hasn't happened for the last two years.
GN.  It will be happening this year.
BN.  They've decided to hold it on Brenda's jubilee thingy weekend instead of the usual first Saturday in July.

Dilemma. If I don't cover the house in bunting as usual, I'll be 'not joining in'. If I do I'll be a royalist.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 21 January, 2022, 07:52:39 pm
GN as usual the Eastern European who came to work to collect a truck today that had been repaired was friendly

BN they came at 1630 which is half hour before I finish for the day. Truck had a dead battery, well pair of as its 24v

GN 20 minutes charge and the BOOST function to my amazement was enough to start the truck. Reckon anyone within about  a mile heard me awoooohooo.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 21 January, 2022, 08:21:58 pm
BN.  The Llandysul carnival hasn't happened for the last two years.
GN.  It will be happening this year.
BN.  They've decided to hold it on Brenda's jubilee thingy weekend instead of the usual first Saturday in July.

Dilemma. If I don't cover the house in bunting as usual, I'll be 'not joining in'. If I do I'll be a royalist.

Do the Welsh Nationalists still burn down houses owned by the English?

Just make sure the bunting has loads of red dragons on it and you'll be fine
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 January, 2022, 09:04:17 pm
He who dies with the most toys, wins.
He who toys with the most death, dies.
He toys with the most dyes, dies of ink poisoning.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 January, 2022, 08:28:29 pm
Hurrah! I haz new Shiny*! :thumbsup:
Bah! I haz not time to configure new Shiny before departing to Fort Larrington for an unspecified period tomorrow :'(

* Moto G10
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 January, 2022, 08:31:12 pm
You can configure it when Larrington Snr is snoozing, no?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 January, 2022, 09:15:44 pm
Looking up how to transfer Stuffs from creaking steam-powered Sony to new Shiny will require intertubes (available via a fondleslab) and possibly a Babbage-Engine (not available unless I disinter my laptop from under a TPoC or steal borrow Professor Larrington’s, which course of action may lead to Bad Swears and/or lost data as she's a Worshipper at the Shrine of the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 27 January, 2022, 01:21:27 pm
Looking up how to transfer Stuffs from creaking steam-powered Sony to new Shiny will require intertubes (available via a fondleslab) and possibly a Babbage-Engine (not available unless I disinter my laptop from under a TPoC or steal borrow Professor Larrington’s, which course of action may lead to Bad Swears and/or lost data as she's a Worshipper at the Shrine of the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia).

If you signed over your soul to Google, then the sync should be automatic.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wombat on 27 January, 2022, 02:59:37 pm
Indeed, my previous change, from old dead Sony to new warranty replacement Sony, was absolutely automatic, as was the transfer from preceding lost and wiped Sony to new one.  Old perfectly OK but too old to do wifi calling Sony to new Chinese cheap thing also automatic, in the last 6 months or so.  Any transfers involving Samsung don't seem to work, including from old Samsung tablet to new Samsung tablet.

Just initiate transfer, and walk away...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 27 January, 2022, 03:11:31 pm
I have had success without issues of any nature with transfers from Samsung to Samsung and most recently Samsung to Google.  They just seem to work.

Galaxy S4 to S7, S7 to S9, S9 to Tab S7 Plus and S9 to Pixel 6 Pro.

I'm still running the S9 as my burner phone* but it really does need the battery replacing. 

* It is in fact the phone that I carry when running.  It fits perfectly into the front pocket of my small running waist pack and loses about 10% of battery per hour so I reckon that it would last for a full marathon if my ability ever matches my ambition!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 January, 2022, 04:17:55 pm
Points is all moot, thobut, coz the new Shiny is still at Larrington Towers while I am not.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 29 January, 2022, 01:34:35 pm
GN: I upped my monthly contribution to the British Red Cross from £15 to £84 (thats £1008 a year)
BN: After I did it I feel guilty not paying more to charity
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 02 February, 2022, 08:45:08 pm
GN:  I removed the SSD from the iMac that died last week in the hope of being able to re-use it. (so many little screws!)


BN: I can't find the little plug in caddy that will let me check if it's still functional.  Buried under a Teetering Pile Of Crap somewhere.   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Beardy on 28 March, 2022, 06:47:55 pm
GN: Ms Beardy the Elder has got a new job

MGN: it’s a promotion meaning a bigger moer interesting job and of course moer money.

BN: Her current role includes tied accommodation; the new job doesn’t

MBN: the new job is in a VERY expensive part of Cornwall, so overall a net reduction in disposable income.

ABN: her husband has JUST been promoted in his own job in Devon

AGN: his boss says he can continue to work from home AND if he can work on the train can count his travelling time as working hours when he does have to come into the office.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 09 May, 2022, 02:24:31 pm
GN:  1000 litres of domestic oil delivered this morning.  Only just in time.  Phew, I was beginning to worry.

BN: One hell of an invoice will be turning up at the end of the week.  :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 11 May, 2022, 07:29:25 pm
BN: made redundant on Friday, with no immediate prospect of other employment.

GN: got a call yesterday afternoon asking if I’m available for interview today at 12

GN+: they offered me the job just before 6pm today

Crikey. Slightly shell shocked. Think I shall allow myself a beer to celebrate.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 11 May, 2022, 07:32:18 pm
Brilliant news!
Whatcha gonna be doing?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 11 May, 2022, 09:16:14 pm
Brilliant news!
Whatcha gonna be doing?

I'll be entering the glamorous world of corporate communications! It's a freelance contract but long-term*, and the money is decent (ie more like what I should be getting for this kind of work, rather than being massively underpaid as I have been for a long time).

Overall, should be a nice change of pace from the increasingly soul-destroying world of commercial publishing.


*minimum three months but likely to be rolling, and might even lead to something permanent, but I know better than to count on anything.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 11 May, 2022, 10:10:07 pm
Well good luck and hope it works out for you :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 11 May, 2022, 10:33:54 pm
Ta!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 13 May, 2022, 09:21:08 am
Perhaps they'll make you design Powerpoint templates?

Or maybe design a brochure using, you know, Powerpoint.

Or an entire atlas of corporate flowcharts, using, well, Powerpoint.

Perhaps.
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 13 May, 2022, 09:43:30 am
I’m pleased to be able to say with some confidence that is highly unlikely - they work with InCopy/InDesign, which for all their faults have the major plus of not being PowerPoint.

Mind you, i found myself longing for PowerPoint yesterday when I had to* work on a 120-page Google Slides presentation… The document was a pitch for a fairly big piece of work. I spoke to one of the senior account managers and she said the client had specifically asked for it to be presented in this format, which is just mental.

But the whole thing could have been condensed into around 10 pages - and would have been much better for it.

*Yes, I could have turned down the work, but while I’m between jobs I thought it would be prudent to accept it, plus it was helping out a mate.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 24 May, 2022, 08:54:54 pm
GN was out picking some parts up at work so got home a bit early

BN as I walked in heard a odd noise and went through to kitchen where our dog was being sick all over his bed

GN well at least had time to wash it all and get it on the line
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 27 May, 2022, 06:44:10 pm
BN: made redundant on Friday, with no immediate prospect of other employment.

GN: got a call yesterday afternoon asking if I’m available for interview today at 12

GN+: they offered me the job just before 6pm today

Crikey. Slightly shell shocked. Think I shall allow myself a beer to celebrate.

BN: it's taken them forever to sort out the admin at their end, so I'm still officially "between jobs"...

GN: lots of time in the garden enjoying the sunshine

GN: and I finally got the formal offer letter today, and they're starting the "onboarding" process.

BN: forms, forms, forms... also, I'm perfectly happy for them to check my employment history, but it's complicated by the fact that the last three companies I worked for (before the one I just left) no longer exist, so contacting them for references will be rather tricky... I worry this is going to make life unnecessarily complicated... ugh!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 27 May, 2022, 07:29:42 pm
BN: made redundant on Friday, with no immediate prospect of other employment.

GN: got a call yesterday afternoon asking if I’m available for interview today at 12

GN+: they offered me the job just before 6pm today

Crikey. Slightly shell shocked. Think I shall allow myself a beer to celebrate.

BN: it's taken them forever to sort out the admin at their end, so I'm still officially "between jobs"...

GN: lots of time in the garden enjoying the sunshine

GN: and I finally got the formal offer letter today, and they're starting the "onboarding" process.

BN: forms, forms, forms... also, I'm perfectly happy for them to check my employment history, but it's complicated by the fact that the last three companies I worked for (before the one I just left) no longer exist, so contacting them for references will be rather tricky... I worry this is going to make life unnecessarily complicated... ugh!
Sounds like a right pain. G'luck with it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 27 May, 2022, 09:03:52 pm
BN: made redundant on Friday, with no immediate prospect of other employment.

GN: got a call yesterday afternoon asking if I’m available for interview today at 12

GN+: they offered me the job just before 6pm today

Crikey. Slightly shell shocked. Think I shall allow myself a beer to celebrate.

BN: it's taken them forever to sort out the admin at their end, so I'm still officially "between jobs"...

GN: lots of time in the garden enjoying the sunshine

GN: and I finally got the formal offer letter today, and they're starting the "onboarding" process.

BN: forms, forms, forms... also, I'm perfectly happy for them to check my employment history, but it's complicated by the fact that the last three companies I worked for (before the one I just left) no longer exist, so contacting them for references will be rather tricky... I worry this is going to make life unnecessarily complicated... ugh!
Sounds like a right pain. G'luck with it.
First word problems, innit? But thanks!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 27 May, 2022, 09:19:32 pm
Does anyone even do references anymore?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: citoyen on 28 May, 2022, 12:52:38 am
Does anyone even do references anymore?

I think it's mostly about verifying your claim that you were an employee of X company between these dates with this job title. People are too scared of litigation to offer anything more than that.

It all gets a bit complicated when your personal circumstances don't fit the forms neatly, so they start to ask awkward questions. Not that I've got anything to hide, but what it says on my CV doesn't tell the full story (not a lie, just doesn't spell out all the boring details, for the sake of brevity).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 28 May, 2022, 10:29:59 am
Does anyone even do references anymore?

Yes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 28 May, 2022, 01:04:37 pm

It all gets a bit complicated when your personal circumstances don't fit the forms neatly, so they start to ask awkward questions. Not that I've got anything to hide, but what it says on my CV doesn't tell the full story (not a lie, just doesn't spell out all the boring details, for the sake of brevity).

Whose CV tells the whole story? It’s two sides to lay claim to the right skills, and outline your career. At some point either detail or two sides has to give.

If there’s big gaps I can imagine that would be of interest. Oh, in 2012 you joined a cult? You’ll fit right in here.

Coping with companies that don’t exist anymore is something all employers will have to do. I’ve given a person rather than a company before in that situation.

I do occasionally get asked to give a reference. I’ll say more than “x was a y between a and b” if I can. But, outside of academia, they are mostly confirming that some bit of the cv is legit. They rarely seem to be more than a formality.

Oh, and well done on the job / good luck with the forms!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 28 May, 2022, 10:27:15 pm
I occasionally get asked for references though I send those to HR (in a thrilling break from the usual, we have a People team). I have never seen a reference ever, hence my question. A former colleague of mine has a very florid CV that only has a casual relationship with his actual career to date. That said, he works in sales so maybe it’s a good sign. If he can’t sell himself, after all.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 29 May, 2022, 06:23:18 pm
GN: Some big piles of wood have appeared in our neighbours garden, so soon we should have a fence for the first time in 7 months or whatever that was.

BN: Something else for me to paint.
I'm hoping this 'yorkshire style' fence will be easier and quicker to paint than the crappy overlap panels.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 June, 2022, 12:29:17 pm
Bah: Oooh, that’s not a bad price, said Mr Larrington as he poked and prodded the webby SCIENCE of BRITISH Airways.  Oh.  Wait.  You want to take The Luggage with you?  That’ll be another sixty nicker.  Biggest piece of robdoggery since Air Canuckistan published ticket prices without mentioning that you had to pay an extra £35 each way for a fucking seat >:(

Hurrah: Used some of my Best Western Reward Points such that the first night’s stay on September's anabasis to Battle Mountain cost the princely sum of $0.00 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 14 June, 2022, 03:42:35 am
Attn Mr Larrington: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAg0lUYHHFc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAg0lUYHHFc)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 27 June, 2022, 07:45:30 am
GN - Got a message saying A12 which I go on for work was shut  so made a quick tea for the journey and left a bit early. The GN is that it had reopened and got to work faster then usual

BN was at work 35 minutes too early
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 27 June, 2022, 08:03:20 am
then you can leave 35 mins early and miss the traffic home
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 June, 2022, 02:32:33 pm
Hurrah: B&Q had gardening gloves for only three of the BRITONS' pounds :thumbsup:

Bah: Now I have no excuse not to massacre thee Horble Spiky Bush ov Doom, or the Tapping-on-the-Window shrub >:(

And the latter is urgent because it’s the Great Hall window it taps on, and the Tour starts on Friday.  The former only guards the gas meter.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 09 July, 2022, 07:43:30 pm
Good news: our water bill has gone down.

Bad news: I blame the low water pressure, at 5.5l/minute we’d be hard pressed to run up a massive bill. The shower is too hot to be long and leisurely for a start.

Good news: water board will come and have a look. Though it’s Southern, so I’ll reserve judgement on just how good that news is until they’ve been.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 18 July, 2022, 02:11:46 pm
Bad news. Recently discovered that my passport was 4 months out of date.

Posted old one off to them on 7th July.

Good news.  TNT have just delivered my new one. A better turnaround than I was expecting.

Even more GN.  I'm not going anywhere for at least 2 months.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 18 July, 2022, 02:30:04 pm
Bad news. Recently discovered that my passport was 4 months out of date.

Posted old one off to them on 7th July.

Good news.  TNT have just delivered my new one. A better turnaround than I was expecting.

Even more GN.  I'm not going anywhere for at least 2 months.

That's a similar turnaround to mine last week (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=31801.msg2735896#msg2735896). Though mine hadn't quite expired when I noticed. ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 18 July, 2022, 02:50:23 pm
Good news: our water bill has gone down.

Bad news: I blame the low water pressure, at 5.5l/minute we’d be hard pressed to run up a massive bill. The shower is too hot to be long and leisurely for a start.

Good news: water board will come and have a look. Though it’s Southern, so I’ll reserve judgement on just how good that news is until they’ve been.

Good luck. Thames Water’s response to our low pressure - occasionally too low to fill the loft tank - was to tell us their remit was water at a kitchen tap. No minimum flow or pressure. Luckily one hot spell it affected our neighbour, and his insurance (one of those covering utilities) “found a leak” (we all knew it was a crushed pipe under a neighbouring extension). Anyway they pigged a nice new main in for us.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 20 July, 2022, 09:24:30 pm
Good news: our water bill has gone down.

Bad news: I blame the low water pressure, at 5.5l/minute we’d be hard pressed to run up a massive bill. The shower is too hot to be long and leisurely for a start.

Good news: water board will come and have a look. Though it’s Southern, so I’ll reserve judgement on just how good that news is until they’ve been.

Good luck. Thames Water’s response to our low pressure - occasionally too low to fill the loft tank - was to tell us their remit was water at a kitchen tap. No minimum flow or pressure. Luckily one hot spell it affected our neighbour, and his insurance (one of those covering utilities) “found a leak” (we all knew it was a crushed pipe under a neighbouring extension). Anyway they pigged a nice new main in for us.
Southern’s website says 9l/minute. They cancelled and rebooked to August though. So, no update yet.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 03 August, 2022, 11:51:25 am
GN
After living with 50-year-old carpet for a year, we finally have new hall, stairs and landing carpet fitted.

BN
I now have to adjust 10 doors so that they clear the new carpet. Bugger.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jayjay on 03 August, 2022, 06:12:42 pm
GN: it only cost £5.32 to add my missus back on to the insurance for my car.

BN: The 35 minutes on the phone cost us £5.07.

GN: The £5.07 was at no cost; included in our call package.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 03 August, 2022, 06:55:35 pm
Good news: our water bill has gone down.

Bad news: I blame the low water pressure, at 5.5l/minute we’d be hard pressed to run up a massive bill. The shower is too hot to be long and leisurely for a start.

Good news: water board will come and have a look. Though it’s Southern, so I’ll reserve judgement on just how good that news is until they’ve been.

Good luck. Thames Water’s response to our low pressure - occasionally too low to fill the loft tank - was to tell us their remit was water at a kitchen tap. No minimum flow or pressure. Luckily one hot spell it affected our neighbour, and his insurance (one of those covering utilities) “found a leak” (we all knew it was a crushed pipe under a neighbouring extension). Anyway they pigged a nice new main in for us.
Southern’s website says 9l/minute. They cancelled and rebooked to August though. So, no update yet.
Southern came and demonstrated perfectly good pressure at the meter.
GN: A plumber came and fiddled with the stop cock and got good pressure. So it’s not something buried that’s got squashed.
BN: It was back to low pressure by the evening. Another fiddle improved things. So maybe it’s time to get our antique stopcock replaced.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 03 August, 2022, 09:27:31 pm
Good news: our water bill has gone down.

Bad news: I blame the low water pressure, at 5.5l/minute we’d be hard pressed to run up a massive bill. The shower is too hot to be long and leisurely for a start.

Good news: water board will come and have a look. Though it’s Southern, so I’ll reserve judgement on just how good that news is until they’ve been.

Good luck. Thames Water’s response to our low pressure - occasionally too low to fill the loft tank - was to tell us their remit was water at a kitchen tap. No minimum flow or pressure. Luckily one hot spell it affected our neighbour, and his insurance (one of those covering utilities) “found a leak” (we all knew it was a crushed pipe under a neighbouring extension). Anyway they pigged a nice new main in for us.
Southern’s website says 9l/minute. They cancelled and rebooked to August though. So, no update yet.
Southern came and demonstrated perfectly good pressure at the meter.
GN: A plumber came and fiddled with the stop cock and got good pressure. So it’s not something buried that’s got squashed.
BN: It was back to low pressure by the evening. Another fiddle improved things. So maybe it’s time to get our antique stopcock replaced.

That reminds me of a line from the Goons
"Where's your stop cock?"
"I don't know cock"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 04 August, 2022, 09:25:38 am
A worn stopcock would be more prone to failing open than restricting flow. And they're not metering / control valves, so the rule of thumb would be 10% open = 90% flow.  I guess there might be some decris reducing the opening so that flow/pressure drops off quickly, but at initial opening of a tap you would still ge full pressure and (instantaneously) full flow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 04 August, 2022, 04:22:22 pm
A worn stopcock would be more prone to failing open than restricting flow. And they're not metering / control valves, so the rule of thumb would be 10% open = 90% flow.  I guess there might be some decris reducing the opening so that flow/pressure drops off quickly, but at initial opening of a tap you would still ge full pressure and (instantaneously) full flow.
That wouldn’t surprise me at all. It’s been fixed before, initially for being stuck open and later for dripping. Access is a vent where pipes have been boxed in during a garage conversation (before our time), which makes working on it cumbersome even by plumbing standards.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 10 August, 2022, 09:53:16 am
BN: John Lewis sent an electricity only tradesman to replace my gas hob with an electric one twice.
GN: Third visit this morning.  A gas approved fitter removed the gas hob.  I expect a shiny new induction hob to fill the hole in the kitchen work top tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 August, 2022, 11:32:58 am
T'was on a Wednesday morning, the electrician came:
He called me 'Mr. Sanderson', which isn't quite the name;
He couldn't reach the fuse box without standing on the bin,
And his foot went through a window, so I called the glazier in!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: woollypigs on 10 August, 2022, 11:34:06 am
BN: John Lewis sent an electricity only tradesman to replace my gas hob with an electric one twice.
GN: Third visit this morning.  A gas approved fitter removed the gas hob.  I expect a shiny new induction hob to fill the hole in the kitchen work top tomorrow.
How are you/they gonna fit that, when a gas only tradesperson arrives with the new leccy hob ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 August, 2022, 12:15:21 pm
BN: John Lewis sent an electricity only tradesman to replace my gas hob with an electric one twice.
GN: Third visit this morning.  A gas approved fitter removed the gas hob.  I expect a shiny new induction hob to fill the hole in the kitchen work top tomorrow.
How are you/they gonna fit that, when a gas only tradesperson arrives with the new leccy hob ;)

The phrase "wired by plumbers" springs to mind...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 August, 2022, 12:19:55 pm
"Wired by a plumber" was the frequent complaint of my late father-in-law, who was an electrician. Particularly about the light switch in our first flat that had been installed in the neutral rather than live side, and the wire for some gadget (think it might have been a radio) that had been wound tightly round the radiator and was visibly charred.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 10 August, 2022, 12:23:38 pm
A staple of plumber wiring seems to be choc-block abuse.  Strip your wires, twist them together, stuff them into the same side of a single piece of choc-block.  Repeat for all other connections.  Cram cover onto junction box and run away.  It's the standard way to install boiler controls.

Somebody badly needs to introduce them to Wago connectors.  Which they'll no doubt embrace with all the belated enthusiasm they had for push-fit plastic pipe fittings.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 10 August, 2022, 01:20:53 pm
BN: John Lewis sent an electricity only tradesman to replace my gas hob with an electric one twice.
GN: Third visit this morning.  A gas approved fitter removed the gas hob.  I expect a shiny new induction hob to fill the hole in the kitchen work top tomorrow.

That makes no sense.

Disconnecting a gas hob from the gas supply is nearly always a case of 'twist bayonet, done'.

Gas Safe plumber not required.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 10 August, 2022, 01:35:05 pm
And then capping off to make safe. I would not rely on a bayonet fitting to be a permanent isolation
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: De Sisti on 10 August, 2022, 01:52:15 pm

Good news:
New kitchen
fully installed. Now to put everything back in cupboards. I didn't realise I had
so much stuff in there.

Front railings erected in May, double-glazed windows* in late July. Now onto levelling out two-thirds of the back patio. I know a man who can do it. :thumbsup:

Bad news:
Nothing to add to my other bad news, apart from being given a date for the procedure, so the
prospect of wearing the catheter looms even closer. :hand:
   

*I'm looking forwards to the winter months for the wrong reasons. I want to see how long I can
last before putting the heating on, and compare the performance of the new windows with the
ones they replaced.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 10 August, 2022, 01:57:09 pm
Always worth capping off - same as disconnecting a washing machine and putting a blank cap on the outlet of the supply.

As for an electric hob: a friend had a new electric cooker, I looked at the booklet, wired it to the outlet in 6 mm (on a 30A MCB), job done. Biggest problem was getting it to stand level on a wonky floor.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 10 August, 2022, 03:39:40 pm
A staple of plumber wiring seems to be choc-block abuse.  Strip your wires, twist them together, stuff them into the same side of a single piece of choc-block.  Repeat for all other connections.  Cram cover onto junction box and run away.  It's the standard way to install boiler controls.

Somebody badly needs to introduce them to Wago connectors.  Which they'll no doubt embrace with all the belated enthusiasm they had for push-fit plastic pipe fittings.
When did you visit my kitchen?

Sparky installed two above counter isolators for the two under counter 13A sockets to power the washing machine and dishwasher.  A year or so later I get central heating installed.
Plumber visits, measures, confirms boiler will fit.
Plumber and troupe of monkeys arrive. Boiler doesn't fit after all, so one isolator needs to be moved. In addition two 13A sockets are needed for the boiler and associated gadgetery. Plumber "repurposes" the above counter isolators and moves one such that there are now two 13A sockets above the counter and no isolators. Or something
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 12 August, 2022, 09:55:30 pm
John Lewis part 2.

BN: John Lewis told me when I ordered my hob we can fit it provided there is a 30 amp supply nearby.  So I contact one of the local electricians (Gabe Electrical) who did a neat job installing a 40 amp supply terminated in a new cooker switch 50cm from where the new hob will be installed.  Any competent electrician could install the hob and connect it to the other side of this switch.

So Yesterday John Lewis turn up with the hob.  Look at the hole in the work top where it was meant to go.  I showed them the new cooker switch and say connect to that.  John Lewis chap says cant do it we don't have the cable. I ask isn't there one in the hob box.  They knew there was not.  So I am left wondering why doesn't someone intended to install cookers not have a huge roll of cooker cable in the van.   I suspect the person sent was only capable of plugging in a toaster.

GN: I contact Gabe Electrical. James comes this morning wires the hob up in less than half an hour.  The cables neatly hidden behind the kitchen units and the hob looks if it was always part of my fitted kitchen.   First use. I cooked baked beans. More to follow in the next week.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 August, 2022, 09:58:21 pm
So I am left wondering why doesn't someone intended to install cookers does not have a huge roll of cooker cable in the van.   I suspect the person sent was only cable of plugging in a toaster.

Reminiscent of a friend having the 'installer' refuse to install their new washing machine because the isolator valves required a screwdriver to open.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 13 August, 2022, 08:23:30 am
JL wouldn’t fit our washing machine because it had to be wired into the socket rather than pugged in
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 13 August, 2022, 06:09:37 pm
GN.  The church bells began ringing very enthusiastically.  The sort of full on peal they do as a wedding party leaves the church.   Very nice.

BN.  After a pause, they continued with what i assume was 'Bell Practice' for four hours. Practicing changes etc.

GN.  They finally stopped at 5pm.  I like the bells, but that was a bit much.

BN.  New neighbour two doors down is learning to play the sax.  'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'.  Over and over again.  A very new learner, so all the right notes, and yes, in the right order, but with no phrasing. Again, very repetitive.  They have finally got beyond the first 'Weigh a pie' and are now attempting the next bit.
Honk!

Please note that this is not in the Grumble thread.

Yet.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Marco Stefano on 13 August, 2022, 06:11:27 pm
BN: old up-'n'-over garage doors are suddenly very difficult to open
GN: appears to be nothing wrong with either door
BN: the apertures they operate in are no longer square as the garage is subsiding and one side wall is 1.5cm off its footing, cracks in various places
GN: new garage doors half-paid for not yet fitted due to life getting in the way, and are therefore not scrap
BN: bikes dotted around in various places not in the garage

Shit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 13 August, 2022, 06:16:49 pm
Basil, sounds like they rang a peal, half-peal or quarter-peal, depending on how many bells they had in the tower. You may have mercifully escaped. A full peal on eight bells can take over 20 hours.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 13 August, 2022, 06:51:32 pm
Basil, sounds like they rang a peal, half-peal or quarter-peal, depending on how many bells they had in the tower. You may have mercifully escaped. A full peal on eight bells can take over 20 hours.

6 bells here.  I'm not sure they were doing a peel, just practicing changes.  Sometimes they got it right, sometimes they didn't. 
I think that since the pandemic, during which they missed nearly two years,  they have lost a few members,  leaving a novice band that needs the practice.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2022, 11:00:46 pm
Hurrah: Don’t have to drive a van to Dorchester and back tomorrow :thumbsup:
Bah: I was going to while away the hours listening to the latest series of “The Infinite Monkey Cage” :(
Title: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: De Sisti on 15 August, 2022, 02:55:47 pm
Good News.
Two Contemporary Natural Solid Oak Lamp Tables which I ordered and paid for from Oak furnitureland
back in January 2022 are finally due to be delivered this Friday.

Bad News.
I'm not sure I really want them now. :-\

Bad News/Good News.
One of my automatic watches (Traser Automatic) suddenly started to gain several
minutes per day, after I left it on its side one night whilst on holiday. I emailed The
Watchguy in Nailsworth and they said they'd sort it out for me.

I took it there and a few minutes later they had it keeping correct time (it had become
magnetised, and possibly suffered some sort of shock, 'perhaps being dropped possibly
from a few cms'; they said).

"How much do I owe you"? I said.
"Nothing, it's still in warranty", replied Christian.
"It's been out of warranty for nearly nine months", I said.
"For today, it is in warranty", was Christian's reply.

What great service (given to a repeat customer). :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 August, 2022, 06:18:09 pm
My Stowa started gaining significantly late last year. I bought a demagnetiser for about £10, plugged it in and passed the watch through its field for a few seconds. Job done.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Demagnetizer-Repair-Professional-Degausser-Father/dp/B09YHLK1H8/ref=asc_df_B09YHLK1H8/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=570371910231&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13308655399181515266&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007216&hvtargid=pla-1658532672903&psc=1
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 26 August, 2022, 05:38:09 pm
BN: I did have any plums this year.
GN: I committed Plumtreeicide last year.  This year I had my best ever apple harvest largely free of plum worm holes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 27 August, 2022, 03:54:45 pm
I'll do the same soon - fed up of fighting worms, rot, mildew etc. plus branches just breaking off even when not very bountiful.
It's a Victoria and susceptible to all sorts of nasties; I might get a different one as an espalier, so long as it grows quickly - I'm not in the first flush of youth!
Only one benefit to all the dud plums: the wasps like them and I like wasps.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 27 August, 2022, 05:10:30 pm
BN: I got very rained on on Thursday, and fell off my bike hurting my knee in the process
GN: None of my luggage leaked at all
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 27 August, 2022, 07:33:38 pm
GN: I had an amazon delivery today
BN: Some items in the 'delivered 'order were missing.  Surprisingly Amazon does not have a system response for this problem.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 August, 2022, 11:55:52 pm
Hurrah: new NAS scheduled for delivery on Thursday :thumbsup:
Bah: It's being delivered by the useless workshy twats of UPS >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 31 August, 2022, 06:20:43 am
Hurrah: new NAS scheduled for delivery on Thursday :thumbsup:
Bah: It's being delivered by the useless workshy twats of UPS >:(

You are Liz Truss AICMFP.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 August, 2022, 09:55:01 am
Hurrah: new NAS scheduled for delivery on Thursday :thumbsup:
Bah: It's being delivered by the useless workshy twats of UPS >:(

You are Liz Truss AICMFP.

No, UPS really are useless workshy twats.  See the Shite Courier Thread for details.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 05 October, 2022, 06:08:06 pm
Bad news: I need to pay the plumber the thick end of £250 for replacing our dead shower.
Good: HMRC says they owe me a refund for most of that.
(I have no idea how, their explanation is just a pile of numbers but never mind).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 05 October, 2022, 07:45:50 pm
Reminds me:

Good news: HMRC sent me a cheque for £92 for overpayment last year.
Bad news: I owe HMRC £972 for last year.

I have no idea either (seems I was on an emergency tax code when I started this job, or it might have been the annual bonus, but it's taxes, so c'est la vie).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 25 October, 2022, 11:25:01 pm
GN. We are on a plane due to fly from São Paulo to LHR.
BN.  There was a red light so we returned to the stand and the engineer checked everything
GN. We were cleared to fly.
BN. 13 passengers were scared and refused to fly. So we returned to the stand a second time.

Now we wait to hear if the crew have enough flight time!
We need more fuel having run the engines for 2 hours on the ground.
Hopefully we get more champagne!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 October, 2022, 03:54:37 pm
Hurrah: I managed to snag the very last one-pint container of semi-skilled milk in Mr Sainsbury’s House of Toothy Comestibles  :thumbsup:

Bah: It's organic and therefore expensive  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 05 November, 2022, 04:46:22 pm
GN: We have a glut of sweet, rosy, ripe Bramley apples.
GN2: I found the tuits to chop, nuke and mash these for Future use yesterday.

BN: I put my left ring finger in the path of the chopping knife, which I drove down HARD.

GN: Bugger was so blunt there's hardly a mark on my finger from the knife today.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 November, 2022, 05:33:07 pm
Ouch! There goes Helly's late-blossoming career as a concert pianist, I thought. But every cloud has a slivered tining, etc.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 05 November, 2022, 06:49:03 pm
As I posted, there is scarcely a mark today!
There was a groove from the blade yesterday but that's gone.

D say he can't sharpen my ancient serrated Kitchen Devil.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 06 November, 2022, 05:48:21 pm
It can be sharpened. I have an old one for use in the garden - the steel is crap if used on Real Stuffs. I don't sharpen the one in the kitchen because anticoagulant and blood.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 November, 2022, 10:56:10 am
Hurrah!Mr Zuckerberg’s Walled Garden has finally cottoned on to the notion of my not living in USAnia :thumbsup:
Bah!The shitverts are still, well, shit.  Yes, Danny D, I'll bear you in mind if I ever find myself in Norwich needing an MOT for the motorcycle which in my case I have not got >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 22 November, 2022, 01:43:58 pm
which in my case I have not got >:(

Speaking of which, the other week at Scouts I got one of my chums to come along and talk about various things connected with the First World War. He brought along his Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee Enfield.

At the end of the evening I set the little blighters a question: "Go and find a poem that talks about piling swivels, which in this case he did have"

Ever eager to win a bar of chocolate, some of them managed it.  Hurrah.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 24 November, 2022, 11:07:14 pm
BN: I opened a bottle of beer and a huge fountain of beer shot out of the neck.
GN: It all landed in a foil pie tray I had for dinner so no mess.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2022, 02:17:24 pm
Hurrah: this month's credit car bill only £15.45 :thumbsup:

Bah: that means next month's will have the car tyres, the laptop and the car servicing on it >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 05 December, 2022, 07:51:32 pm
which in my case I have not got >:(

Speaking of which, the other week at Scouts I got one of my chums to come along and talk about various things connected with the First World War. He brought along his Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee Enfield.

At the end of the evening I set the little blighters a question: "Go and find a poem that talks about piling swivels, which in this case he did have"

Ever eager to win a bar of chocolate, some of them managed it.  Hurrah.
Did you name any other parts?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 07 December, 2022, 11:39:54 am
BN.  As always, our numbers didn't come up in the Llandysul Lotto draw last week.

GN. I've just found last week's envelopes with our usual numbers and £1 coins in.  I'd forgotten to hand them in.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 18 December, 2022, 02:09:49 pm
BN: Evri lost my parcel
GN: I got a refund
GN: Evri delivered it today
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 19 December, 2022, 02:48:01 pm
GN: Evri delivered my parcel at 14.07 today.
BN: Evri sent out email, timestamped 13.32, informing me delivery would be between 13.00 & 15.00.
GN: Delivery was well within time window.
BN: I did not read email as we were eating. D was disturbed at a time when He Must Not Be Disturbed. There was but 35 minutes between email and parcel delivery. I had been watching tracking like a hawk at times I had the laptop out but still missed the vital email..
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 19 December, 2022, 06:16:06 pm
Evri sent email rescheduling to a later time; it was timed for about half an hour after delivery.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 21 December, 2022, 07:50:31 am
Can things stop breaking, please?
We are heading south for 10 days tomorrow.
BN Since Friday
- The heating stopped working (fixed it on Sat, but it cost me half the day - all the time I set aside for Xmas shopping)
- Car battery died - bought replacement Mon
- Barn door broke - semi-patched Tues

FFS
GN erm, well, the ferry is running on Thurs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 26 December, 2022, 11:58:58 am
BN.  The Boxing Day Hunt and all their hounds have just come through.

GN.  It is now absolutely sheeting it down with rain.

Ha Ha.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 28 December, 2022, 05:38:44 pm
BN - I've been a bit ill over Christmas. In fact and I realise how lucky this makes me but probably the first proper illness in 14 years. I had to miss my youngest daughters birthday treats and have been in bed around 8pm for nearly a week. Isn't covid as tested and has hit me far more then covid did

GN - because of the above I have stopped, rested, watched some crap TV and read loads which usually I feel guilty about as so much to do which there still is but I have actually had to say to myself you need rest so while the gardens not been sorted as had planned over Christmas and the kitchens more of a mess then usual I have actually stopped and rested.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 28 December, 2022, 10:14:35 pm
GN: We are in the Premier Inn, Christchurch, fed and watered.

BN: 14.10 taxi never materialised. Took bus partway to Kingsbury station was pushed the rest in cold drizzle. Rather slow progress to Waterloo, where we arrived 7 min before train departure.

GN: Family with buggy stepped out of lift to allow us to rush to train.
GN: Station staff helpful. We caught train.

BN: Accessible toilet out of service.
GN: Guard allowed us to use station toilet at Winchester, holding train while I made my visit.

BN: Missed connecting train at Southampton (no direct trains due to restricted timetable/strike) 200 frustrated passengers…

BN:3 wheelchair users need to travel on a train with only two wheelchair spaces. Train packed to gunwales.
GN? Other wheelchair user able to transfer to train seat and stow his folded chair behind mine. His helpful care bought us a sandwich at Southampton. David used his RADAR key to let chap into loo at Southampton.

I used to enjoy travel...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 30 December, 2022, 03:10:03 pm
Central heating stopped functioning this morning. I can’t get anyone to look at it until Tuesday. I believe the condensation conduit to have become blocked. I’ve put a take-away plastic box under the boiler to catch the drips. I noticed last week that we had a damp patch on the outside wall where the boiler is mounted.

I checked the header tank this morning. There is still plenty of water in that.

Fortunately we can heat two rooms to a comfortable temperature with a fan heater and two oil-filled radiators. It could be a lot worse.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 30 December, 2022, 08:35:16 pm
Our combi has a fault in the wossname that detects the flow of hot water, such that it only makes an effort if the tap is wide open.  This is irksome, as it means I've been washing up in very splashy luke-warm water, and showering under the pissy trickle afforded by an 8kW electric shower in the depths of winter, but at least the heating still works.

The diagnostic manual suggests that the flow sensing is achieved by means of a little turbine thingy, combined with what I infer from the plumber-speak to be a Hall sensor, rather than the easily-replaced microswitch that was responsible for our previous boiler having this fault.  As such, I've opted to leave it well alone, and will invoke the agency in the new year.  I predict a drawn-out saga of landlord quotes and a new boiler, as this is now well out of warranty and shows signs of combustion chamber corrosion.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 31 December, 2022, 09:53:10 pm
GN: We are in the Premier Inn, Christchurch, fed and watered.
BN: 14.10 taxi never materialised. Took bus partway to Kingsbury station was pushed the rest in cold drizzle. Rather slow progress to Waterloo, where we arrived 7 min before train departure.
GN: Family with buggy stepped out of lift to allow us to rush to train.
GN: Station staff helpful. We caught train.
BN: Accessible toilet out of service.
GN: Guard allowed us to use station toilet at Winchester, holding train while I made my visit.
BN: Missed connecting train at Southampton (no direct trains due to restricted timetable/strike) 200 frustrated passengers…
BN:3 wheelchair users need to travel on a train with only two wheelchair spaces. Train packed to gunwales.
GN? Other wheelchair user able to transfer to train seat and stow his folded chair behind mine. His helpful care bought us a sandwich at Southampton. David used his RADAR key to let chap into loo at Southampton.
I used to enjoy travel...

Return journey:
GN: Scheduled 13.10 train ran on time.
BN: 2 wheelchair users already occupying bays on train & guard wouldn't let us on.
GN: Station staff at end of shift arranged taxi to take us to Southampton. Meter read £100 by the end of trip, but on SWR's tab...
BN: He'd already locked up loo. Had very uncomfortable taxi ride.
GN: I didn't wet my pants.
GN: Onward train to London had wheelchair space.
BN: Commuter type train. I sat facing sideways and many passengers walked into my feet.
GN: I didn't need toilet on that train.
BN: Toilet door would not close from inside so other passengers had to close the cubicle from without.
BN: Accessible toilet inside 'Waterloo' taped shut.
GN: Accessible toilet on cab rank road seemed OK, once you'd found it, the RADAR key & battled the heavily-sprung door.
BN: Total journey time more than 2 hours greater than usual.

We are car-free because David can't drive and I'm not safe but...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 31 December, 2022, 10:18:11 pm
Oh dear Helly, I think that you have just summed up the UK in 2022/3.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 02 January, 2023, 04:20:29 pm
Compound factors isn't it...

Disgrace that there's so few wheelchair accessible spaces on any trains. Often only 2-4 in a several hundred seater train.

Wheelchair users make up 1 in 55 of the population and in my view are more likely to have to rely on public transport for disability not being able to drive reasons. Therefore we need public transport to be providing 2-5% wheelchair spaceable slots per transport vehicle at the very least.

We also need to improve railway toilet access so there's plenty that are open and working and backups if one is out for repairs. They should be checked regularly and repairs done swiftly. My friend Doug Paulley has an ongoing fight with Euston about their changing places toilet as his wheelchair doesn't fit in the other ones. He's found the shower out of use despite suing them twice or more over it.

While you might be OK in a taxi, I know several wheelchair users who are too tall and can't transfer safely, so a taxi trip is an exercise in lack fo safety and or severe discomfort.

The government knows what the issues are but chooses not to invest in resolving them  >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: JellyLegs on 02 January, 2023, 05:08:33 pm
GN : Last tax year’s self assessment return (the joys of having multiple jobs on the go at the same time) done between Xmas and New Year with over a month to spare before deadline.  Payment of small amount of tax owed not at all painful.

BN: Within 48 hours of submission, I receive an email telling me that HMRC estimate I will owe them a large wad of cash by the end of this tax year1 and have adjusted my tax code to reclaim the whole chunk in the next 3 months.

1 I won’t owe them anywhere near what they say, but using their quoted timescales for answering communications and allowing for the usual back and forth by snail mail before they adjust their estimates, the quickest way to get my cash back will be to suck it up, wait for the end of the tax year and submit my Self Assessment return asap.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 02 January, 2023, 06:55:37 pm
Compound factors isn't it...

Disgrace that there's so few wheelchair accessible spaces on any trains. Often only 2-4 in a several hundred seater train.

Wheelchair users make up 1 in 55 of the population and in my view are more likely to have to rely on public transport for disability not being able to drive reasons. Therefore we need public transport to be providing 2-5% wheelchair spaceable slots per transport vehicle at the very least.

We also need to improve railway toilet access so there's plenty that are open and working and backups if one is out for repairs. They should be checked regularly and repairs done swiftly. My friend Doug Paulley has an ongoing fight with Euston about their changing places toilet as his wheelchair doesn't fit in the other ones. He's found the shower out of use despite suing them twice or more over it.

While you might be OK in a taxi, I know several wheelchair users who are too tall and can't transfer safely, so a taxi trip is an exercise in lack fo safety and or severe discomfort.

The government knows what the issues are but chooses not to invest in resolving them  >:(

The government likes to publicly brand disabled people as workshy scroungers and plays to it's radicalised fascist base at every opportunity.  And then they play to the anti woke brigade because having compassion for disabled people is just "woke".  WTF !!!

Glad that you got home eventually Helly.  You simply should not have to suffer such shithousery. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: MikeFromLFE on 03 January, 2023, 10:23:45 am
BN:
Turned on the kitchen sink tap this morning and a connector blew apart under the sink. Water everywhere in the couple of minutes it took to turn the stopcock off.

GN:
The only plumber I know (who did our bathroom last year) was round within the hour on his way to work. Fixed the connection within minutes.
VGN:
He refused to take any payment
(I'll bung a few quid to Mind)

Bonus:
He left me a couple of spare connectors in case it happens again.
And.... The kitchen floor is clean
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 January, 2023, 11:38:49 am
We also need to improve railway toilet access so there's plenty that are open and working and backups if one is out for repairs. They should be checked regularly and repairs done swiftly. My friend Doug Paulley has an ongoing fight with Euston about their changing places toilet as his wheelchair doesn't fit in the other ones. He's found the shower out of use despite suing them twice or more over it.
I've not used the new shuttle trains between Reading and London, which I think are run by TfL, but I've heard they have no toilets whatsoever. Apparently this is okay because it's not a normal train, it's a "metropolitan" service.  ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 03 January, 2023, 03:02:10 pm
No toilets at all is an age, sex/pregnancy and disability issue...

Lots of pregnant people, older people and some disabled people have conditions that mean they can need the toilet more often than average and or at short notice... It's just selfish not to provide toilet facilities. Especially for someone who can't just jump off at a station without assistance so can't even nip off to the loos at a station and get the 'next train'.

Public transport is not fit for purpose and government is not listening to people who represent people who do and want to use it for what we need in order to be able to use it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 January, 2023, 03:28:48 pm
Crossrail is what I'm thinking of. Apparently the trains are "Class 345" and it confirms in Wikipedia what I've heard elsewhere:
Quote
The 70 units are formed from a total of 630 carriages.[49][3] Like many other contemporary designs for commuter rolling stock, the trains feature open gangways between carriages. There are no toilets on board. Trains have a mix of longitudinal and transverse seating, all of which is standard class.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_345
AIUI the justification for no toilets is that it's like an underground train or a bus, even though it's eg an hour from Twyford to the City. Actually I've heard there are also no toilets on the "South Downs" trains (don't know whether this is the same rolling stock) and these trains are popular with people heading home to Surrey and Kent towns after a Friday night on the piss in London, hence reliably full of vomit and pee.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 04 January, 2023, 08:38:45 pm
I work with many people who are stuck unable to go out much because access to toilets in public is so poor. Especially if there's compound toilet fail e.g. you can't go to the loo at the station cos they're out of order, or you had to rush onto infrequent train, and then no bogs on train... Only takes a bit of delays and that 1 hour is 2 or 3.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 09 January, 2023, 09:43:12 pm
BN: The boiler appears to be leaking (probably condensate).
GN: It's already been declared beyond economic repair on account of a b0rked diverter valve.
BN: The landlord is being stubborn about authorising a replacement because he doesn't like pipes.
GN: There is no more good news.  That's what you get for not being old enough to own houses.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 January, 2023, 10:05:42 pm
I assume the buggered boiler comes under some sort of gas safety thing that the landlord must rectify tout suite. Still a pain in the bahookie though.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 10 January, 2023, 12:36:33 pm
Not so much gas safety but access to hot water yes.

Problem is, rules in England for landlords are shit and enforcement is worse. We'd get evicted if we kicked off.

And to be fair, it won't turn into months of fail cos the agency will sort it, but it's slower than it should be cos the landlord is a rich wanker.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jayjay on 10 January, 2023, 06:18:16 pm
BN: Wardrobe rail needs fixing; I believe because I shoved the hangers sideways a bit hard, liberating the tiny screws.
GN: Mum gets cake today at the care home, birthday No. 92, we visited extra long.
BN: Need nail glue, splitty thing.
BN: SWMBO has a torn bleedy hand.
GN: A top I ordered 4 December has arrived, fits and looks better than the illustration.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 January, 2023, 01:28:48 pm
Bah: tickets for Half Man Half Biscuit gig a week on Friday missing from usual gig ticket storage location  >:(

Hurrah: tickets located down the back of the Shelves Where Shoes Go To Die :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 11 January, 2023, 01:30:18 pm
GN: Phone call from gas man.
BN: Agency are still working on the landlord.  It seems likely that he'll want to get some quotes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 11 January, 2023, 01:52:05 pm
Bah: tickets for Half Man Half Biscuit gig a week on Friday missing from usual gig ticket storage location  >:(

Hurrah: tickets located down the back of the Shelves Where Shoes Go To Die :thumbsup:

BN: I'm not going to the Laaarndun HMHB gig next week.

GN: I've got tickets for the Stowmarket gig at the John Peel place in April.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 11 January, 2023, 02:56:32 pm
GN: My wife is flying back from Tenerife today, landing at Gatwick around 6pm
BN: It's a really shitty looking day to be driving half way round the M25
GN: I've subcontracted that task to a nice man in a Mercedes limo.
BN: It'll cost me an arm and a leg
GN: It's (and she's) worth it!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 January, 2023, 11:38:20 pm
Central heating stopped functioning this morning. I can’t get anyone to look at it until Tuesday. I believe the condensation conduit to have become blocked. I’ve put a take-away plastic box under the boiler to catch the drips. I noticed last week that we had a damp patch on the outside wall where the boiler is mounted.

I checked the header tank this morning. There is still plenty of water in that.

Fortunately we can heat two rooms to a comfortable temperature with a fan heater and two oil-filled radiators. It could be a lot worse.

New boiler time. Heat exchanger leaking. Oddly, it's intermittent and our Man explained that it's down to the extra pressure when the water is at its hottest.

It's PITA because I was hoping this boiler would see us through this winter then I'd research air source heat pumps. But we can't be doing without for the next few months. It looks as though we are going for a Baxi 800 with a 10 year guarantee. Hopefully this bugger will see me into my 80s.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 January, 2023, 08:46:44 am
Could you get a 2nd hand boiler to keep you going a couple of years (assuming you're wedded to an ASHP and insulated enough)?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 12 January, 2023, 09:54:21 am
No hope of a new heat exchanger? 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 12 January, 2023, 10:22:33 am
No hope of a new heat exchanger?
If Wow can find a plumber willing to fit it . . .

That could get expensive. Modern boilers are a bit like modern cars; difficult to dismantle and fit parts.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 January, 2023, 12:14:23 pm
Further boiler news: We've heard from the agency that we're going to hear from some random (presumably lowest-bidder) gas company to install a Worcester Greenstar 4000/25.  I hope they're not too shoddy.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 12 January, 2023, 12:27:30 pm
Worcester make decent boilers.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 January, 2023, 12:29:02 pm
It's not the boiler's shoddiness that I'm worried about.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 12 January, 2023, 12:32:16 pm
They are not the cheapest either.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 12 January, 2023, 12:37:35 pm
Central heating stopped functioning this morning. I can’t get anyone to look at it until Tuesday. I believe the condensation conduit to have become blocked. I’ve put a take-away plastic box under the boiler to catch the drips. I noticed last week that we had a damp patch on the outside wall where the boiler is mounted.

I checked the header tank this morning. There is still plenty of water in that.

Fortunately we can heat two rooms to a comfortable temperature with a fan heater and two oil-filled radiators. It could be a lot worse.

New boiler time. Heat exchanger leaking. Oddly, it's intermittent and our Man explained that it's down to the extra pressure when the water is at its hottest.

It's PITA because I was hoping this boiler would see us through this winter then I'd research air source heat pumps. But we can't be doing without for the next few months. It looks as though we are going for a Baxi 800 with a 10 year guarantee. Hopefully this bugger will see me into my 80s.

Wow,

We recently had the heat exchanger replaced on our 20+ year old Vaillant combi (pre condensing).  It cost less than £400 including a replacement fill loop and all done in under an hour.

My plan is to look at ASHPs too and I've been experimenting with how low an output temp from the boiler I can use to heat the house.  It works very well at 55 which puts us in range of an ASHP.  I am also hoping that the boiler lasts for another couple of years whilst I research these "batteries" that deal with the domestic hot water requirement.  We'll be needing one of them too.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 12 January, 2023, 01:28:25 pm
GN: We've been contacted by the random boiler-installers.
BN: They're coming on Monday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 January, 2023, 02:13:39 pm
Gosh that is quick.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 12 January, 2023, 11:14:29 pm
Gosh that is quick.

That's cos as a landlord they're under legal obligations to fix stuff within 24 hours cos it involves hot water... Which they'll miss by about 6 days, 4 of them thanks to the landlord, and arguably it should have been replaced as discussed after the last repair where it wasn't economical to repair it and was known to be dying.

But yes, if we owned the house, we'd probably not get as quick a fix, but we'd have somewhat more control on decisions and which installer did it. We'll see if this one is useless or OK.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 January, 2023, 12:16:45 pm
Gosh that is quick.

That's cos as a landlord they're under legal obligations to fix stuff within 24 hours cos it involves hot water... Which they'll miss by about 6 days, 4 of them thanks to the landlord, and arguably it should have been replaced as discussed after the last repair where it wasn't economical to repair it and was known to be dying.

But yes, if we owned the house, we'd probably not get as quick a fix, but we'd have somewhat more control on decisions and which installer did it. We'll see if this one is useless or OK.

For your sake I'm hoping that the availability of said boiler installer at short notice does not equal them being pants.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 13 January, 2023, 12:23:29 pm
For your sake I'm hoping that the availability of said boiler installer at short notice does not equal them being pants.

I'm reasonably sure that the fact they're not the usual known-good agency gas man, who was ready to do the job at the end of last week before the landlord started quibbling about pipes, means they're going to be.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 January, 2023, 12:38:13 pm
:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 13 January, 2023, 10:11:30 pm
We're going for a new boiler, one of these, I think. https://www.baxi.co.uk/our-boilers/heat-only-boilers/baxi-800-heat Chap is coming to fit it on Tuesday. It's going to be cold next week.

We've been managing for the past week or more with a couple of oil-filled radiators, a fan heater and a rather good convection heater borrowed rom by good friend Penelope. We've only been heating two rooms but it's been ok, except that I haven't felt like playing the piano when the temperature in there is only about 14°C. We take the fan heater up to the bedroom about half an hour before we go to bed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 16 January, 2023, 11:52:38 am
GN  It is gloriously snowy outside. Crisp and dry.

BN I still have a bloody chest virus, even 5 min outside didn't feel good.

GN  Snow is supposed to persist until Wed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 16 January, 2023, 12:01:49 pm
BN:  after my shower on Saturday I came down to the kitchen to find water flowing around one of the flush ceiling lights and down onto the worktop below.

GN:  it very quickly stopped indicating that it's not a high pressure side leak.

More GN:  a test by pouring water directly down the shower tray drain resulted in no repeat performances in the kitchen.

Even more GN:  as we have a separate bath we are not going smelly.

I have been thinking about the state of the silicone and grout and even bought a few tools and bit in preparation for a rake out and re-grout and seal so perhaps my concerns were justified.

I'll add this to the round tuit list.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 16 January, 2023, 05:16:27 pm
BN:  after my shower on Saturday I came down to the kitchen to find water flowing around one of the flush ceiling lights and down onto the worktop below.

GN:  it very quickly stopped indicating that it's not a high pressure side leak.

More GN:  a test by pouring water directly down the shower tray drain resulted in no repeat performances in the kitchen.

Even more GN:  as we have a separate bath we are not going smelly.

I have been thinking about the state of the silicone and grout and even bought a few tools and bit in preparation for a rake out and re-grout and seal so perhaps my concerns were justified.

I'll add this to the round tuit list.
We have a constant, similar problem in our house in York.

I re-grouted tiles. Re-grouted silicone.

Oddly, it only happened when certain people showered . . .

Eventually traced it to how they were showering (got them to show me where they pointed the shower head). They were directing a lot of the flow against the shower screen, which passed over the bath. The bath-screen interface couldn't cope and it overflowed the edge of the bath.

Solution; shoot children.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 January, 2023, 05:21:54 pm
That reminds me of my daughter. After she finishes her shower she points the shower head towards the curtain so that it spurts all over me when I turn it on.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 16 January, 2023, 05:27:09 pm
This may be a hereditary deficiency and can be solved by observing the shower head before turning the water on.  How's your boy, by the way?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 16 January, 2023, 05:56:49 pm
GN:  We have a new boiler, and hence hot water.  Barakta eagerly anticipates her first bath of the year.
BN:  I discovered a First Law of Engineering problem about an hour after the installer left.  Fortunately just condensate.
GN:  The installer was decent, I believe subcontracted out by the usual gasman.  Pipes are very neat, but sadly still exist, so I expect the landlord with still moan.
BN:  I got round to cleaning up the mouldy wall behind the washing machine.  It was this: Minging.  Have marinated the nexus of structural anagylpta and un-flaked paint in didecyldimethylammonium chloride (HT: Mrs Pingu), which might prevent a re-occurrence.
GN:  As part of the pipe-tidying endeavour, the washing machine hot fill tap has been removed, creating enough space for the washing machine.  I'm optimistic that the fridge may now fit without being chocked up on breeze blocks.
BN:  The new boiler has its own proprietary wireless thermostat/timer.  There isn't anywhere convenient to wire my Shelly for internet-of-shit control.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 January, 2023, 05:58:14 pm
This may be a hereditary deficiency and can be solved by observing the shower head before turning the water on.  How's your boy, by the way?
He doesn't do such a silly thing! He does - hopefully did - lots of other silly stuff. Given the choice, I'd have a dousing every time!

He's out of rehab and going to AA/CA meetings. Early days, but cautious optimism. Thanks for asking.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 16 January, 2023, 06:07:59 pm
GN: My fixer frame is back from the powder coaters.
More GN: It looks Very Lovely.
BN: I am out in London's famous London tonight so can't start reassembly
GN: I'm off to the BBC to watch Brian Cox and chums get recorded.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 16 January, 2023, 06:10:11 pm
GN: My fixer frame is back from the powder coaters.
More GN: It looks Very Lovely.
BN: I am out in London's famous London tonight so can't start reassembly
GN: I'm off to the BBC to watch Brian Cox and chums get recorded.
Is this the M Steel?
What colour?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 January, 2023, 06:11:38 pm
@Kim, hope that is mostly net win.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 January, 2023, 06:22:46 pm
Regarding my last mouldy cupboard post:
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=124709.msg2776408#msg2776408

Before xmas I took delivery of some Granocryl and some paste, but not the insulation panels to be applied using said paste as they went missing in transit (thanks, APC). So my holiday project did not happen.
After multiple phone calls and emails the supplier finally said today they would send out a replacement batch tomorrow. So with a bit of luck I can try insulating the cupboard soon.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 16 January, 2023, 06:41:55 pm
GN: My fixer frame is back from the powder coaters.
More GN: It looks Very Lovely.
BN: I am out in London's famous London tonight so can't start reassembly
GN: I'm off to the BBC to watch Brian Cox and chums get recorded.
Is this the M Steel?
What colour?
It is. Some kind of Ultramarine blue, gloss finish. I've got a RAL number somewhere. I wanted IKB but that's somewhat tricky ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 January, 2023, 06:46:56 pm
GN: My fixer frame is back from the powder coaters.
More GN: It looks Very Lovely.
BN: I am out in London's famous London tonight so can't start reassembly
GN: I'm off to the BBC to watch Brian Cox and chums get recorded.
Is this the M Steel?
What colour?
It is. Some kind of Ultramarine blue, gloss finish. I've got a RAL number somewhere. I wanted IKB but that's somewhat tricky ...

I bet it's pink. ;)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 January, 2023, 07:06:19 pm
GN: My fixer frame is back from the powder coaters.
More GN: It looks Very Lovely.
[…]
Is this the M Steel?
What colour?
It is. Some kind of Ultramarine blue, gloss finish. I've got a RAL number somewhere. I wanted IKB but that's somewhat tricky ...

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Robert_Howlett_%28Isambard_Kingdom_Brunel_Standing_Before_the_Launching_Chains_of_the_Great_Eastern%29%2C_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_-_restoration1.jpg/1200px-Robert_Howlett_%28Isambard_Kingdom_Brunel_Standing_Before_the_Launching_Chains_of_the_Great_Eastern%29%2C_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_-_restoration1.jpg)

Chain's a bit slack :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 January, 2023, 07:52:13 pm
This may be a hereditary deficiency and can be solved by observing the shower head before turning the water on.  How's your boy, by the way?
He doesn't do such a silly thing! He does - hopefully did - lots of other silly stuff. Given the choice, I'd have a dousing every time!

He's out of rehab and going to AA/CA meetings. Early days, but cautious optimism. Thanks for asking.
GN!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Peter on 16 January, 2023, 07:54:43 pm
Good News indeed.  Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 16 January, 2023, 09:27:44 pm
GN: My fixer frame is back from the powder coaters.
More GN: It looks Very Lovely.
[…]
Is this the M Steel?
What colour?
It is. Some kind of Ultramarine blue, gloss finish. I've got a RAL number somewhere. I wanted IKB but that's somewhat tricky ...

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Robert_Howlett_%28Isambard_Kingdom_Brunel_Standing_Before_the_Launching_Chains_of_the_Great_Eastern%29%2C_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_-_restoration1.jpg/1200px-Robert_Howlett_%28Isambard_Kingdom_Brunel_Standing_Before_the_Launching_Chains_of_the_Great_Eastern%29%2C_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_-_restoration1.jpg)

Chain's a bit slack :demon:
Now there's a thing. I painted my bathroom in Dulux's closest to IKB*. I also have an IKB** rubber duck in my bathroom.

* A colour
** A engineer
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Diver300 on 17 January, 2023, 07:00:37 am
BN:  The new boiler has its own proprietary wireless thermostat/timer.  There isn't anywhere convenient to wire my Shelly for internet-of-shit control.
Can you fit a small Peltier cell to the temperature sensor of the proprietary thermostat, and drive that from the Shelly? Depending on the construction of the thermostat, that might be possible in a non-destructive way.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 17 January, 2023, 10:36:59 am
BN:  The new boiler has its own proprietary wireless thermostat/timer.  There isn't anywhere convenient to wire my Shelly for internet-of-shit control.
Rtl_sdr & reverse engineering?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 January, 2023, 01:19:02 pm
We're going for a new boiler, one of these, I think. https://www.baxi.co.uk/our-boilers/heat-only-boilers/baxi-800-heat Chap is coming to fit it on Tuesday. It's going to be cold next week.

We've been managing for the past week or more with a couple of oil-filled radiators, a fan heater and a rather good convection heater borrowed rom by good friend Penelope. We've only been heating two rooms but it's been ok, except that I haven't felt like playing the piano when the temperature in there is only about 14°C. We take the fan heater up to the bedroom about half an hour before we go to bed.

Our Man is here now. He drained the system, has fitted the boiler, and the time came to refill the header tank in the loft. But ... it still had water in it, with a covering of ice (our loft seems to be pretty well insulated), despite him draining the system. There's a blockage to the pipe somewhere between the header tank and the boiler. Which could prove to be a right bugger to remove. I'm sure it can't be ice. There is no mains connection to this tank - it has to be filled manually. I went up there late Oct/early Nov Nov 14th and checked that it had plenty of water in it.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 17 January, 2023, 02:11:26 pm
BN:  The new boiler has its own proprietary wireless thermostat/timer.  There isn't anywhere convenient to wire my Shelly for internet-of-shit control.
Rtl_sdr & reverse engineering?

I did google around the subject and it seems ominous that nobody seems to have had a crack at the RF side.  Most of the work, quite reasonably, seems to be concentrated on speaking the EMS bus protocol that the boiler uses to communicate with wired thermostats (and, presumably the internal RF receiver).  There's a lovely mature project to MQTTify them with an ESP32, but that doesn't support our specific boiler yet.

But that all means opening up the boiler to install wiring/widgets, and removing it whenever someone from the agency comes.  If I were inclined to do that, I could just disconnect the receiver and wire the Shelly across the legacy thermostat input.

So yes, it's either reverse-engineer the RF protocol or hack the thermostat[1].


[1] Possibly through the magic of buying a sacrificial one.  I can see what appears to be the thermistor, but it's the sort of fiddly SMD stuff that I can't reasonably solder to without leaving a trace.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 17 January, 2023, 02:13:29 pm
Our Man is here now. He drained the system, has fitted the boiler, and the time came to refill the header tank in the loft. But ... it still had water in it, with a covering of ice (our loft seems to be pretty well insulated).

This is why you're supposed to put the insulation around water tanks, and leave the underside uninsulated to allow heat from below to keep the water from freezing.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 January, 2023, 02:19:56 pm
Our Man is here now. He drained the system, has fitted the boiler, and the time came to refill the header tank in the loft. But ... it still had water in it, with a covering of ice (our loft seems to be pretty well insulated).

This is why you're supposed to put the insulation around water tanks, and leave the underside uninsulated to allow heat from below to keep the water from freezing.
Indeed. But our insulation pre-dates us in this house (we have been here sine 1994). My concern is that the blockage isn't ice. I topped the tank up on 14th November and the level doesn't seem to have changed. On 21st December my pal Jon noticed how damp the outside wall was around where the boiler was mounted. that water must have come from somewhere and I can't think of anywhere else.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 17 January, 2023, 02:22:23 pm
We're going for a new boiler, one of these, I think. https://www.baxi.co.uk/our-boilers/heat-only-boilers/baxi-800-heat Chap is coming to fit it on Tuesday. It's going to be cold next week.

We've been managing for the past week or more with a couple of oil-filled radiators, a fan heater and a rather good convection heater borrowed rom by good friend Penelope. We've only been heating two rooms but it's been ok, except that I haven't felt like playing the piano when the temperature in there is only about 14°C. We take the fan heater up to the bedroom about half an hour before we go to bed.


Our Man is here now. He drained the system, has fitted the boiler, and the time came to refill the header tank in the loft. But ... it still had water in it, with a covering of ice (our loft seems to be pretty well insulated), despite him draining the system. There's a blockage to the pipe somewhere between the header tank and the boiler. Which could prove to be a right bugger to remove. I'm sure it can't be ice. There is no mains connection to this tank - it has to be filled manually. I went up there late Oct/early Nov Nov 14th and checked that it had plenty of water in it.

That seems very very unlikely (no mains to the tank).

I strongly suspect that either:
- The tank isn't connected to any plumbing that is in use anymore.
- Or, (most likely), there is a filling loop for the boiler, and the header tank is merely used for overflow/pressure maintenance of the heating circuit.

If it is the second, then there is probably a pipe into the tank (from the heating circuit) part-way up the tank.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 January, 2023, 02:41:39 pm
Well, we've lived here for almost 29 years and it hasn't changed.

It would be extremely annoying if there were a mains feed, as, apart from the cold tap in the kitchen, all our water goes through a softener and my understanding from more than one heating engineer is that you don't want softened water in central heating as it eats its way through the heat exchanger much faster than unsoftened water.

Besides, the heating engineer expressed concern that there must be a mains feed and it took some convincing by me that there wasn't. He drained the system and we weren't flooded.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 17 January, 2023, 02:50:47 pm
As suggested no mains feed to a CH header tank is very, very unlikely.  If it's header tank of the era you state then it would in all probablity have a ball-valve/float.

Question: since 1994 how much water have you had to add to the header tank, manually?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 January, 2023, 04:12:12 pm
As suggested no mains feed to a CH header tank is very, very unlikely.  If it's header tank of the era you state then it would in all probablity have a ball-valve/float.

Question: since 1994 how much water have you had to add to the header tank, manually?

Quite a bit. I check it every year. Unlikely or not, it's what we have.

The good news is that we have a new boiler which gives all the outward symptoms of working.

The bad news is that the radiators are not getting hot.

Other bad news: it seems that the leak I had attributed to hte old boiler and its heat exchanger/condensing system is in fact from somewhere else. I've been a queue for the insurance co's claims mob for 25 minutes.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 17 January, 2023, 04:28:17 pm
GN: Boiler man has returned and managed to stop the condensate leak.
BN: Using a cable tie around the rubber condom bit that fits onto the drain pipe, which didn't work.
GN: I had a jubilee clip in my collection of tqt, which I handed to him along with an appropriate screwdriver, which did.
BN: I didn't get a plumber's call-out fee.
GN: He's going to WTF at Worcester as this level of bodgery shouldn't be necessary.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 17 January, 2023, 05:54:31 pm
As suggested no mains feed to a CH header tank is very, very unlikely.  If it's header tank of the era you state then it would in all probablity have a ball-valve/float.

Question: since 1994 how much water have you had to add to the header tank, manually?

Quite a bit. I check it every year. Unlikely or not, it's what we have.

The good news is that we have a new boiler which gives all the outward symptoms of working.

The bad news is that the radiators are not getting hot.

Other bad news: it seems that the leak I had attributed to hte old boiler and its heat exchanger/condensing system is in fact from somewhere else. I've been a queue for the insurance co's claims mob for 25 minutes.

Have you been flushed? - you may need to be power-flushed to get all the sludge out the bottom of the rads
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 January, 2023, 07:09:54 pm
We were some years ago. Can't remember - 4 perhaps? I probably mentioned it on here somewhere.

The problem with this house is that when we had the granny annexe built in 2000, the builder tagged on an extra 5 radiators in a loop. It means that it's a right pain in the arse whenever we get anything done that involves draining the system.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 17 January, 2023, 07:47:27 pm
Almost certainly some airlocks.

Usual cure is to attach a hose at the lowest drain point, check that there is an overflow (for non-pressurised systems; yours is probably an overflow from the header tank) and turn the hose on. Go around all rads and keep letting water/air out.

Do this for 3-4 hours.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 18 January, 2023, 07:53:13 am
2nd to what mrcharly said.
Our system is standard open header (though does have a supply pipe & float valve).  When we moved in it had to be drained several times (loft tank replacement one at a time as I insulated up there) and each time it was a couple of days of fiddling, bleeding and faffing to get heat moving properly.  So one day faced with that again I connected a hose pipe to the drain point next to the boiler & filled the system bottom to top instead of top to bottom. I left the header tank shut off and used a camera to see when to stop filling though the header tank does have an overflow. Everything worked first go, minor bleeding over the next few days obviously but I'm dealing with a couple of cold inches at the top of the rads not stone cold airlocked ones.
Later I had a filling loop added at the lowest point to make it even easier.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 18 January, 2023, 08:53:03 am
We were some years ago. Can't remember - 4 perhaps? I probably mentioned it on here somewhere.

The problem with this house is that when we had the granny annexe built in 2000, the builder tagged on an extra 5 radiators in a loop. It means that it's a right pain in the arse whenever we get anything done that involves draining the system.

I feel your pain with the draining . . . .  our house has ground floor radiators that are fed from a commom circuit that goes around the house at first-floor skirting board level . . . so each raditator on the ground floor has a flow and return down/up the wall to/from the rad valves forming a loop . . .  BUT there are no drain cocks on the bottom of the radiators!!  WTF, that's mad.    We wanted to make an alteration to one rad (actually add another in the circuit) and had to drain the whole system by cracking the valve on a rad and taking out the water bucket by bucketful.   One of the jobs on the list is to drain the whole lot and retro-fit a drain cock to all ground floor rads - that may get done this summer when I want to retro-fit electric elements to the bathroom towel rails for summer use.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 18 January, 2023, 08:57:00 am
I feel your pain with the draining . . . .  our house has ground floor radiators that are fed from a commom circuit that goes around the house at first-floor skirting board level . . . so each raditator on the ground floor has a flow and return down/up the wall to/from the rad valves forming a loop . . . 
Does that work ok for you?  We have the same system and get naff all heat to the ground floor rads until the upstairs TRVs close.
We do have drain cocks on all the downstairs rads thankfully.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PeteB99 on 18 January, 2023, 11:28:10 am
Good news - I was booked in at the local hospital for an ultra sound scan of my leg next monday. The hospital have just rung and asked if I can make it for tomorrow.

Bad news I'll have to walk through the picket line. Where can I get one of those full cover hoodies the perps wear for going in and out of court?

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 18 January, 2023, 11:40:42 am
I feel your pain with the draining . . . .  our house has ground floor radiators that are fed from a commom circuit that goes around the house at first-floor skirting board level . . . so each raditator on the ground floor has a flow and return down/up the wall to/from the rad valves forming a loop . . . 
Does that work ok for you?  We have the same system and get naff all heat to the ground floor rads until the upstairs TRVs close.
We do have drain cocks on all the downstairs rads thankfully.

It's not that efficient (and the downstairs rads except one are all tall, narrow "designer" ones that aren't very effective) and heat takes a while to arrive on start up - it does work as upstairs we only have the 2 bathroom towel rails on and the rad in one small bedroom (office) and that's choked right down as it keeps warm. 
One bedroom has a Hive TRV that's used as a time switch (I've described that elsewhere) for 2 short periods each day - the other bedrooms have the rads off and doors closed as we don't use them.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 18 January, 2023, 01:04:10 pm
GN: The new boiler continues to work and not leak.
BN: We got the inevitable letter from the agency putting the rent up this morning.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 18 January, 2023, 01:29:04 pm
GN: The new boiler continues to work and not leak.
BN: We got the inevitable letter from the agency putting the rent up this morning.

Bastards.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 18 January, 2023, 02:06:33 pm
GN: The new boiler continues to work and not leak.
BN: We got the inevitable letter from the agency putting the rent up this morning.

. . . presumably with the usual assured tenancy required notice period?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 18 January, 2023, 05:54:14 pm
GN: The new boiler continues to work and not leak.
BN: We got the inevitable letter from the agency putting the rent up this morning.

. . . presumably with the usual assured tenancy required notice period?

Of course.  The agency themselves are competent, and actually quite nice as parasites go.  The landlord's a grumpy old man with too much money and nothing better to do than watch daytime TV and occasionally inflict the lessons learned therein on his tenants.

Rent increases happen sporadically whenever something happens to remind him what houses he owns.

(If you're reading this post and happen to work in programme commissioning for ITV2 or whatever, we badly need a programme about the importance of high-quality routine maintenance.  You know it makes sense.)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 18 January, 2023, 08:00:49 pm
Good news - I was booked in at the local hospital for an ultra sound scan of my leg next monday. The hospital have just rung and asked if I can make it for tomorrow.

Bad news I'll have to walk through the picket line. Where can I get one of those full cover hoodies the perps wear for going in and out of court?

The picket line is for staff not patients or service users. If you go and say hi to the picket, show solidarity, take some leaflets and so on, that will be appreciated.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 19 January, 2023, 08:36:14 am
Good news - I was booked in at the local hospital for an ultra sound scan of my leg next monday. The hospital have just rung and asked if I can make it for tomorrow.

Bad news I'll have to walk through the picket line. Where can I get one of those full cover hoodies the perps wear for going in and out of court?

The picket line is for staff not patients or service users. If you go and say hi to the picket, show solidarity, take some leaflets and so on, that will be appreciated.

Quite so.

The staff don't want people to suffer and are for the most part the most considerate and caring of people.  They will appreciate positive support and wish you well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 19 January, 2023, 07:26:18 pm
GN: I managed to book a test drive in a car I’m interested in for a convenient time tomorrow.
BN: On my way home this evening my car informed me of a loss of pressure in the front left tyre.
GN: I got home ok without major drama
BN: A brief inspection showed a screw through the tread.
GN: It was in a repairable position
MGN: My neighbour was just arriving home, so I asked for the details of his mobile tyre bloke.
EMGN: I called the guy at 5pm, he arrived at 6pm, and was all done by 6:15pm

Excellent service from PMK Tyres of Aylesbury (Connor is the guy’s name).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 19 January, 2023, 10:23:36 pm
GN: My Kieslowski Three Colours poster tube arrived from Hungary where it's sat for at least 15 years.
MGN: The posters inside are in perfect condition.
BN: Blue isn't in there. But it must be somewhere in the flat in Budapest.
GN: My daughter's going to have another look.
BN: Replacements now cost a fortune.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 January, 2023, 02:58:56 pm
We were some years ago. Can't remember - 4 perhaps? I probably mentioned it on here somewhere.

The problem with this house is that when we had the granny annexe built in 2000, the builder tagged on an extra 5 radiators in a loop. It means that it's a right pain in the arse whenever we get anything done that involves draining the system.

I feel your pain with the draining . . . .  our house has ground floor radiators that are fed from a commom circuit that goes around the house at first-floor skirting board level . . . so each raditator on the ground floor has a flow and return down/up the wall to/from the rad valves forming a loop . . .  BUT there are no drain cocks on the bottom of the radiators!!  WTF, that's mad.    We wanted to make an alteration to one rad (actually add another in the circuit) and had to drain the whole system by cracking the valve on a rad and taking out the water bucket by bucketful.   One of the jobs on the list is to drain the whole lot and retro-fit a drain cock to all ground floor rads - that may get done this summer when I want to retro-fit electric elements to the bathroom towel rails for summer use.

We've got Our Man coming on Tuesday to sort out the rest of the house/remove the airlock.

This is such a persistent problem whenever we drain the system that it would be worth putting a small loop in a pipe down the far end of the extension and add a pump to that. it wouldn't have to be very powerful but it would suck all the water where we wanted it and - presumably - move the airlock on so that it would eventually get trapped in a radiator and we'd bleed it in the normal way. You wouldn't need the pump on all the time - just to remove airlocks after you'd drained it.

Sadly, Mr. C's suggestion of connection a hose up to the lowest point to flush the airlock upwards would be fraught with difficulty in our case, because of the idiosyncratic manual-fill header tank, which of course has no overflow option. If you can see the water level when you are filling it up, then you're not going to put too much water in. I don't know how far back that system goes. When we moved here in 1994, we inherited a Servowarm boiler, and a lot of the radiator thermostatic valves are Servowarm, so I reckon it's original. We needed a new boiler when the granny annexe was built (2000) and I think we replaced that around 2012 or 2013. It was around the time that Peli & Woolly were staying with us for a month or two before they "Scratched their Itch" because I recall Peli being amused at the frequent problems we had with the old boiler.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 20 January, 2023, 05:49:04 pm
We were some years ago. Can't remember - 4 perhaps? I probably mentioned it on here somewhere.

The problem with this house is that when we had the granny annexe built in 2000, the builder tagged on an extra 5 radiators in a loop. It means that it's a right pain in the arse whenever we get anything done that involves draining the system.

I feel your pain with the draining . . . .  our house has ground floor radiators that are fed from a commom circuit that goes around the house at first-floor skirting board level . . . so each raditator on the ground floor has a flow and return down/up the wall to/from the rad valves forming a loop . . .  BUT there are no drain cocks on the bottom of the radiators!!  WTF, that's mad.    We wanted to make an alteration to one rad (actually add another in the circuit) and had to drain the whole system by cracking the valve on a rad and taking out the water bucket by bucketful.   One of the jobs on the list is to drain the whole lot and retro-fit a drain cock to all ground floor rads - that may get done this summer when I want to retro-fit electric elements to the bathroom towel rails for summer use.

We've got Our Man coming on Tuesday to sort out the rest of the house/remove the airlock.

This is such a persistent problem whenever we drain the system that it would be worth putting a small loop in a pipe down the far end of the extension and add a pump to that. it wouldn't have to be very powerful but it would suck all the water where we wanted it and - presumably - move the airlock on so that it would eventually get trapped in a radiator and we'd bleed it in the normal way. You wouldn't need the pump on all the time - just to remove airlocks after you'd drained it.

Sadly, Mr. C's suggestion of connection a hose up to the lowest point to flush the airlock upwards would be fraught with difficulty in our case, because of the idiosyncratic manual-fill header tank, which of course has no overflow option. If you can see the water level when you are filling it up, then you're not going to put too much water in. I don't know how far back that system goes. When we moved here in 1994, we inherited a Servowarm boiler, and a lot of the radiator thermostatic valves are Servowarm, so I reckon it's original. We needed a new boiler when the granny annexe was built (2000) and I think we replaced that around 2012 or 2013. It was around the time that Peli & Woolly were staying with us for a month or two before they "Scratched their Itch" because I recall Peli being amused at the frequent problems we had with the old boiler.

There must be a drain point - it might even be below floorboards.

Even my crappy system, installed in the 70s, has a drain (it is external to the house, so conveniently freezes in cold weather).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 January, 2023, 08:33:43 pm
Oh, there are two drain points, one on the old part of the system, the other on the new. But if I understood you correctly (and I may well not have done) I thought you were suggesting connection a hose to one of these drain points and back-flushing the system from the mains so that the surplus water escaped via the header tank's overflow. The header tank doesn't have an overflow, so that would be messy. ;)

Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 20 January, 2023, 10:48:50 pm
A couple of weeks ago I went to the GP because my right hand was borked. A little graze hadn't healed for ages, then I got a local infection & was prescribed antibiotics, but although it was no longer hot, I still had stiff, swollen fingers, with red blotches turning scabby, itching like mad & sore bits.

She said infection over, or nearly so. I have Raynaud's. My fingers were in trouble because their blood supply was. Fuck!

I've always had a tendency to cold hands & feet, & need gloves when many others don't, but never anything remotely like this before.

Good news: doing what she said to has resulted in a big improvement. Looks as if she was right. At least I know now.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 20 January, 2023, 10:51:58 pm
Oh, there are two drain points, one on the old part of the system, the other on the new. But if I understood you correctly (and I may well not have done) I thought you were suggesting connection a hose to one of these drain points and back-flushing the system from the mains so that the surplus water escaped via the header tank's overflow. The header tank doesn't have an overflow, so that would be messy. ;)

Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.
Did no one suggest you install a system boiler with a pressurised installation which would do away with the need for an F and E tank altogether but retain a HW cylinder?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2023, 12:02:11 am
Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.

I've had experience of various creative hose attachments for wrong-shaped taps over the years, and can assure you that they're all crap.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 21 January, 2023, 12:42:05 pm
A couple of weeks ago I went to the GP because my right hand was borked. A little graze hadn't healed for ages, then I got a local infection & was prescribed antibiotics, but although it was no longer hot, I still had stiff, swollen fingers, with red blotches turning scabby, itching like mad & sore bits.

She said infection over, or nearly so. I have Raynaud's. My fingers were in trouble because their blood supply was. Fuck!

I've always had a tendency to cold hands & feet, & need gloves when many others don't, but never anything remotely like this before.

Good news: doing what she said to has resulted in a big improvement. Looks as if she was right. At least I know now.
If you have Raynaud's then in this cold weather remember to keep your hands really well moisturised.  As the humidity drops in the cold the skin becomes more likely to cricket the keratin outer layer leading to the painful small non-healing wounds we all know about.
Secondly If you truly have Raynaud's (most people don't) then Viagra may well be useful.  I tend to prescribe it a bit like smarties in this weather.

When I say most people do not have raynauds, they may have been told by a GP or even a rheumatologist that they have but when I see photographs about 50% of people simply have a slightly more severe reaction to cold than normal. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 January, 2023, 01:54:14 pm
Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.

I've had experience of various creative hose attachments for wrong-shaped taps over the years, and can assure you that they're all crap.

I suspected that that was the case.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 January, 2023, 02:39:01 pm
Oh, there are two drain points, one on the old part of the system, the other on the new. But if I understood you correctly (and I may well not have done) I thought you were suggesting connection a hose to one of these drain points and back-flushing the system from the mains so that the surplus water escaped via the header tank's overflow. The header tank doesn't have an overflow, so that would be messy. ;)

Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.
Did no one suggest you install a system boiler with a pressurised installation which would do away with the need for an F and E tank altogether but retain a HW cylinder?

No.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 21 January, 2023, 02:51:12 pm
Oh, there are two drain points, one on the old part of the system, the other on the new. But if I understood you correctly (and I may well not have done) I thought you were suggesting connection a hose to one of these drain points and back-flushing the system from the mains so that the surplus water escaped via the header tank's overflow. The header tank doesn't have an overflow, so that would be messy. ;)

Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.
Did no one suggest you install a system boiler with a pressurised installation which would do away with the need for an F and E tank altogether but retain a HW cylinder?

Central heating unless you get a good installer seems to be very much hit and miss.  My son and family are looking at replacing their boiler in the next couple of years and he's is very much working the costs and implications of the various systems including ASHP.  They tend to run their house a lot cooler than us by probably an average of 3degC so I reckon they could make AHSP work for them.
No.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 22 January, 2023, 12:33:43 am
GN:  As part of the pipe-tidying endeavour, the washing machine hot fill tap has been removed, creating enough space for the washing machine.  I'm optimistic that the fridge may now fit without being chocked up on breeze blocks.

GN: The fridge now fits without being chocked up on breeze blocks.  You can open the washing machine door, and the freezer door opens just barely enough to pull the drawers out.

BN: The fridge door bashes the wanky program-select rotary encoder knob thingy[1] on the front of the washing machine if flung open with gay abandon.  The likely consequences would be expensive.

I have taped a random lump of acoustic foam to the edge of the fridge door by way of a temporary shock absorber, while I devise a less nasty means of protecting it.


Quote
BN:  The new boiler has its own proprietary wireless thermostat/timer.  There isn't anywhere convenient to wire my Shelly for internet-of-shit control.

GN: Through the magic of buying two of them, I now have a h4xx0r3d proprietary wireless thermostat which thinks the room temperature is whatever my ESP32 tells it.  I've modified my heating controller code to output an analogue value rather than cycle a relay on and off, which appears to be working nicely.

BN: I'm going to have to get the dremel out and build some kind of enclosure for the associated circuitry, which is currently flapping about in the breeze.  Sigh.


[1] Seriously, all the other controls are by capacitive touch sensors.  Power on: Capacitive touch.  Select a program: Twiddle the wanky knob.  Want to adjust the temperature?  Tap the temperature capacitive touch sensor repeatedly.  Spin speed?  Likewise.  How about the delay timer, shirley a rotary encoder would be a convenient and intuitive way to set that?  Nope, that's a dozen taps on yet another capacitive touch sensor too.  Might as well use capacitive touch sensors for selecting programs (which already have individual light-up bits of display), and then at least the whole panel would be both wipe-clean and reasonably fridge-proof.  Stupid.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 22 January, 2023, 12:40:12 am
TTIUWP, as they say  :P
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mike Ayling on 22 January, 2023, 05:38:10 am
Good news - I was booked in at the local hospital for an ultra sound scan of my leg next monday. The hospital have just rung and asked if I can make it for tomorrow.

Bad news I'll have to walk through the picket line. Where can I get one of those full cover hoodies the perps wear for going in and out of court?
What country are you in? IMHO the person in the hoodie should be referred to as "the accused" and only if convicted could become a "perp"
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 22 January, 2023, 07:50:22 am
Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.

I've had experience of various creative hose attachments for wrong-shaped taps over the years, and can assure you that they're all crap.
I just ran a hose in from the outside tap.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 22 January, 2023, 12:48:33 pm
Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.

I've had experience of various creative hose attachments for wrong-shaped taps over the years, and can assure you that they're all crap.
I just ran a hose in from the outside tap.

You'll never guess why I have experience of creative hose attachments for wrong-shaped taps...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SoreTween on 22 January, 2023, 02:41:57 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 23 January, 2023, 08:31:33 am
GN: I go for knee replacement surgery on Saturday and we're all on track
BN: Mr Smith has broken his arm. Multiple fractures and displacement of the proximal humerus.
MBN: The right of a right handed fella
EMBN: He did it Saturday and he still doesn't know what or when treatment, he's home waiting for a call from the virtual fracture clinic.
YMBN: Durham hospital has a very poor reputation locally

The next couple of months will be hell, for both of us.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 23 January, 2023, 08:34:39 am
I like the good news, not so much the bad. Good luck to both of you!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 23 January, 2023, 12:21:43 pm
Oh dear. How did he manage that? Hope you both heal well.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jaded on 23 January, 2023, 12:29:53 pm
Oh my!

I'm guessing that it is a real fracture, not a virtual one...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 23 January, 2023, 12:44:48 pm
Bloody hell.  Looks like you two have got barakta's bone karma...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 23 January, 2023, 12:53:25 pm
Blimey, you two.  Lots of 'bugger' there.  Best wishes, both of you.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 January, 2023, 12:55:41 pm
The GN does look seriously outnumbered there.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 23 January, 2023, 01:10:16 pm
Oh dear. Best wishes both.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 23 January, 2023, 01:23:19 pm
Well that is a bit of a bugger.

I've heard of sympathetic pregnancies, but sympathetic fractures is taking it too far.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 23 January, 2023, 03:14:35 pm
Oh no!!!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 23 January, 2023, 03:25:47 pm
Update

GN: I will get full pay while I'm off (I can't believe it took them 6 weeks to decide this)
MGN: So will Mr Smith
EMGN: Mr Smith (jnr) is not working at the moment, but full time OU studying so has very kindly volunteered to come stay with us
YMGN: Yes, that is the son who's a chef

BN: No speedy resolution for Mr Smith (snr), lots of painkillers and some physio guidelines until next x-ray next Thursday. "we can't operate or even determine whether to operate yet as there's so much trauma in there"
?N: Mr Smith may never be able to OHP again. He'd maybe just taken some DRUGS but seemed ridiculously cheered by this.
Quote
I bloody hate overhead press. Heh
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 23 January, 2023, 03:29:56 pm
Having seen Mr Smith's 4+ [ETA reviewing the pic, I see at least 7 fragments] part proximal humerus fracture on Facebook (I presume that makes it not very confidential?) it looks pretty ouch and I don't know if anyone would try to screw that together.
The good news is that the fracture has mostly spared the articular surface of the humerus, so future mobility might be fair.

Looks like a long and painful business…

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 January, 2023, 03:54:12 pm
That isn't funny.


























































































sorry
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 23 January, 2023, 09:13:22 pm
Bloody hell.  Looks like you two have got barakta's bone karma...

Hey!

I don't break my own bones. I leave that job of bone breaking etc to the Ortho bros!

GWS Mr Smith and hope surgery goes well on Saturday Lindsay! Hope Mr Smith junior cooks you both brilliant food during his stay.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 January, 2023, 09:18:35 pm
Edit: also, our mains pipes have nowhere convenient to attach a hose. Even the taps are all the wrong shape - although I'm no expert in tap connectors. It may be that someone has designed something for mixer taps etc.

I've had experience of various creative hose attachments for wrong-shaped taps over the years, and can assure you that they're all crap.
I just ran a hose in from the outside tap.

We don't have an outside tap...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 January, 2023, 09:21:27 pm
GWS Mr Smith and L CC. That x-ray looked especially nasty. And I'm not even trained to look at x-rays.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 23 January, 2023, 10:22:13 pm
For those who do not have Facebook friends can we all see the gruesomeness?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 24 January, 2023, 01:21:43 am
Happy birthday Mr Smith!

Hope you have happier birthdays and mend well!

(https://scontent.flhr4-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/327127653_857934035440333_6551528347498182838_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=9J4hA0mUlZIAX-cIzZe&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr4-4.fna&oh=00_AfATrmzrPAr7_S3FEmR4t8UjjGOyyOKspFTfwYSLw4OJ9w&oe=63D34B26)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: perpetual dan on 24 January, 2023, 07:37:03 am
Ouch. Heal soon and well, both of you.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 24 January, 2023, 11:20:48 am
A few drywall screws in that and it'd be right.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 January, 2023, 11:37:22 am
We have A Man In in response to an insurance claim regarding a leak. He's found one - it wasn't that hard when he knew where to look. A crack in a 97-year-old lead pipe. He's cut that out and is replacing a load of stuff with plastic. Apparently modern plastic pipes can withstand 12 bar of pressure.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 January, 2023, 12:50:21 pm
Our Man has gone, and hopefully so has the leak.

The two rooms adjacent to the leak, one of which is the kitchen, show no sign internally of any damp at all. When we had these rooms decorated we made sure the external walls were lined with a damp-proof plaster board. It has worked very well. The good news about that is that the internal decor is undamaged. The bad news is that we didn't notice the leak for quite some time.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 25 January, 2023, 08:18:48 am
BN My erbaeur combi drill died last night. Battery ok, switch ok (well, the light came on), but motor absolutely dead. No sound, no smell, nothing.
BN It is out of warranty
BN Can't order the same model, it is buy in store only. That's annoying - the batteries and charger are still fine.

GN A bosch Blue of similar capacity is £60 off at Screwfix
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 25 January, 2023, 10:12:40 pm
GN: I managed to book a test drive in a car I’m interested in for a convenient time tomorrow.
BN: On my way home this evening my car informed me of a loss of pressure in the front left tyre.
GN: I got home ok without major drama
BN: A brief inspection showed a screw through the tread.
GN: It was in a repairable position
MGN: My neighbour was just arriving home, so I asked for the details of his mobile tyre bloke.
EMGN: I called the guy at 5pm, he arrived at 6pm, and was all done by 6:15pm

Excellent service from PMK Tyres of Aylesbury (Connor is the guy’s name).
Oooh! I'll note that in case anything happens to Mrs B on days when she works in Aylesbury. And I'll pass it on to my family members with boats there.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Bledlow on 25 January, 2023, 10:30:13 pm
A couple of weeks ago I went to the GP because my right hand was borked. A little graze hadn't healed for ages, then I got a local infection & was prescribed antibiotics, but although it was no longer hot, I still had stiff, swollen fingers, with red blotches turning scabby, itching like mad & sore bits.

She said infection over, or nearly so. I have Raynaud's. My fingers were in trouble because their blood supply was. Fuck!

I've always had a tendency to cold hands & feet, & need gloves when many others don't, but never anything remotely like this before.

Good news: doing what she said to has resulted in a big improvement. Looks as if she was right. At least I know now.
If you have Raynaud's then in this cold weather remember to keep your hands really well moisturised.  As the humidity drops in the cold the skin becomes more likely to cricket the keratin outer layer leading to the painful small non-healing wounds we all know about.
Secondly If you truly have Raynaud's (most people don't) then Viagra may well be useful.  I tend to prescribe it a bit like smarties in this weather.

When I say most people do not have raynauds, they may have been told by a GP or even a rheumatologist that they have but when I see photographs about 50% of people simply have a slightly more severe reaction to cold than normal.
GP said to keep moisturising. Was going to prescribe some fancy moisturiser until I told her Mrs B collects it, & we have lots. My right hand was a bit dry & scaly, so I've been madly moisturising.

Still got a new cracked bit yesterday.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Clare on 26 January, 2023, 01:05:41 am
Get a pair of white cotton gloves of the type worn by snooker referees and a hyooooge pot of emollient ointment. Prior to going to sleep slather your hands with the ointment and put on the gloves. The ointment will do its work overnight.


Technical bit - fold the gloves halfway inside out, so the hand bit is folded back over the fingers it is then easier to get them on with massively gooped-up hands by sticking your fingers in the finger holes of both gloves then using gloved fingers to fold the bottom part of each glove down to cover the rest of your hands.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 26 January, 2023, 07:25:56 am
good advice by Clare.

Also a tube of superglue gel is useful.  As soon as you get a crack put a drop of the superglue gel in and then some water to activate it and it will seal the edges and make it less painful.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 January, 2023, 09:13:31 am
Get a pair of white cotton gloves of the type worn by snooker referees and a hyooooge pot of emollient ointment. Prior to going to sleep slather your hands with the ointment and put on the gloves. The ointment will do its work overnight.

And then do the Len Ganley Stance.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 30 January, 2023, 08:00:52 pm
BN: The fridge door bashes the wanky program-select rotary encoder knob thingy[1] on the front of the washing machine if flung open with gay abandon.  The likely consequences would be expensive.

I have taped a random lump of acoustic foam to the edge of the fridge door by way of a temporary shock absorber, while I devise a less nasty means of protecting it.

Wanky Knob Protection Bumper™ now upgraded using materials found in ye shedde.

TTIUWP, as they say  :P

(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/random/2023_01_30_19_04_17.sized.jpg)

(Unless you meant the thermostat?)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 30 January, 2023, 08:05:49 pm
Excellent :)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 30 January, 2023, 08:09:27 pm
As a bonus feature, it hides the split in the worktop where the previous boiler-installers greatly overestimated the tensile strength of mildly damp chipboard.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 31 January, 2023, 10:32:24 am
GN:  The merino wool mattress topper I ordered has arrived after a missed delivery yesterday.


BN: That means it's time to change the bedding & rotate the mattress, which is a good upper body workout in an awkward corner. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 February, 2023, 12:08:55 pm
Our Man has gone, and hopefully so has the leak.

The two rooms adjacent to the leak, one of which is the kitchen, show no sign internally of any damp at all. When we had these rooms decorated we made sure the external walls were lined with a damp-proof plaster board. It has worked very well. The good news about that is that the internal decor is undamaged. The bad news is that we didn't notice the leak for quite some time.

The leak hadn't gone and we called the same guy out again. It turns out there were two leaks that he fixed. In total, we had 4 leaks, all from different pipes/appliances within about a metre of each other over the space of less than 2 months.

1. One of the feeder pipes to the shower pump in the airing cupboard started to drip. I first noticed this when standing at the kitchen sink and water landing on my pate. This was the most trivial but the only one to cause damage to the decor. I still haven't got it fixed and we have been coming downstairs for showers.

2. Something mysterious that I thought was the boiler. Subsequent investigation showed that the heat exchanger was indeed leaking, but intermittently. I had found some small puddles in the boiler cupboard. The heating guy did find a problem with the boiler and cured it, but it was several hours after he left that I sent him photos of the leak. He diagnosed leaking heat exchanger.

3. A crack in an ancient lead pipe under the floorboards of the airing cupboard. Guy from AquaKare (South Ockendon) came out and fixed it. Impressed with his work.

4. After AquaKare Guy had buggered off, I thought "There's still a leak here!" The hot water tank had emptied itself of hot water and the outside wall looked wetter than ever. AquaKare Guy came back and found another leak, which I am convinced was caused by central heating guy drilling through a pipe when he fitted the boiler. Put in a different bit of pipe to bypass the one embedded in the wall.

To cap it all, the immersion heater decided to blow a fuse in the Eve plug with which we control it. Haven't got that fixed either, but we won't be needing it for a few months now that the sun is getting higher in the sky and heating the solar panel.

I've just had the bill from AquaKare. Cheeky buggers had included two callout trace/detect charges at £495. I phoned up a few minutes ago expecting a battle but the Main Man instantly agreed to send out a new invoice.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 07 February, 2023, 07:48:13 am
BN: Dog has started waking me between 4:30 and 5am

GN: I have quiet time to catch up on work.

BN: I'm f*king knackered. A 5am work start doesn't mean I stop early; I have meetings in the evening. Last night I finished work at 10:30pm.

GN: This justifies taking a 2hr break in the middle of the day.

BN: I'm f*king knackered.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 07 February, 2023, 05:15:36 pm
Our Man has gone, and hopefully so has the leak.

The two rooms adjacent to the leak, one of which is the kitchen, show no sign internally of any damp at all. When we had these rooms decorated we made sure the external walls were lined with a damp-proof plaster board. It has worked very well. The good news about that is that the internal decor is undamaged. The bad news is that we didn't notice the leak for quite some time.
The leak hadn't gone and we called the same guy out again. It turns out there were two leaks that he fixed. In total, we had 4 leaks, all from different pipes/appliances within about a metre of each other over the space of less than 2 months.
<stuff>
To cap it all, the immersion heater decided to blow a fuse in the Eve plug with which we control it. Haven't got that fixed either, but we won't be needing it for a few months now that the sun is getting higher in the sky and heating the solar panel.
I've just had the bill from AquaKare. Cheeky buggers had included two callout trace/detect charges at £495. I phoned up a few minutes ago expecting a battle but the Main Man instantly agreed to send out a new invoice.

'No puncture repair is complete until you have checked the whole tube for another leak.'

Shame plumbers don't learn from yacf...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 07 February, 2023, 05:36:44 pm
To cap it all, the immersion heater decided to blow a fuse in the Eve plug with which we control it. Haven't got that fixed either, but we won't be needing it for a few months now that the sun is getting higher in the sky and heating the solar panel.

Smart plugs and fuses seem to be a bad combination - I've posted elsewhere about an otherwise reasonable example which had (presumably when modifying an existing European design to fit BRITISH sockets) included a BS1362 fuse without any consideration for the thermal dissipation.  Try to power a decent load with it, and the ABS case melts.

Most designs seem not to bother[1], and run much cooler as a result.

For an immersion heater, I'd probably hard-wire it with a Shelly 1 (PM) or similar, which is rated at 16A.  Or better, use a contactor to do the switching, and keep the juicy amps out of the smart bits entirely.


[1] They'll still have something protecting the internal electronics, but the plug fuse should suffice to protect the relay against overload.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 08 February, 2023, 10:01:11 am
BN: Mrs Ham now requires a Blue Badge, Booo!
GN: Applying for it was a straightforward process, Yay!
BN: The first time we use it, we go through the "I'm scared of the yellow line, why don't you park in that bay?" With hindsight and with a yellow bag and penalty notice in my hand the answer was Southwark do not allow parking in resident bays, Booo!
GN: My appeal, saying "soz, but it was the first time we used it and got it rong, we could have parked legally on either side of the residents bay - a double yellow or a pay for parking bay." succeeded, Yay!
EMGN: They only took two days to respond.


Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CrinklyLion on 08 February, 2023, 10:12:15 am
I hope the badge proves helpful as you get the hang of it, and that the reason for it being needed is moderately tolerable and remains so or, even better, may improve.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 10 February, 2023, 07:24:19 pm
BN: I have always been unable to access the Barclays app for unknown reasons.
GN: I got a number to call to fix things.
BN: I got passed from pillar to post, ending up by talking to an offshore operative who was talking in a boomy, empty room. She just ended the call.
GN: I was polite throughout
MGN: I got through to affable Sean. Although he couldn't sort out the app issue, he got me onto online banking, so I could arrange my mortgage overpayments.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 February, 2023, 09:53:48 am
Went to pick up a hire van yesterday.  “Just need to see your driving licence” said Fred the Van Man.

Bah: blank space in wallet where driving licence normally lives >:(

Hurrah: pink plastic finally spotted lurking behind my Lobster Card :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 06 March, 2023, 06:10:26 pm
BN: The Bastard Cedars Hotel in Stowmarket cancelled my booking on the night of the Half Man Half Biscuit gig I'm going to next month. The feckers.
GN: The nearest Travelodge has a room and it was duly booked.
BN: It's 2.5 miles away from the venue along a busy A road.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 06 March, 2023, 06:38:18 pm
The Travelodge at Stowmarket is on the old A14, there's a bike path all the way.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: L CC on 06 March, 2023, 06:39:47 pm
Also, the Cedars is not great (worse than a Travelodge) so you've dodged not just a bullet but relentless phone calls after your visit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 06 March, 2023, 07:35:17 pm
The recent reviews weren't exactly glowing, so my Trip Advisor review mentioned dodging a bullet.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 08 March, 2023, 08:58:40 pm
Just renewed the D. Parking permit for the Mrs. Still annoys me that the same information (including a 30 year old certificate) has to be provided time and time again when they already possess it and maintain an electoral roll. They also have document imaging. And who do you register with when registered blind.........mmmm?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 08 March, 2023, 09:40:47 pm
Just renewed the D. Parking permit for the Mrs. Still annoys me that the same information (including a 30 year old certificate) has to be provided time and time again when they already possess it and maintain an electoral roll. They also have document imaging. And who do you register with when registered blind.........mmmm?

Barakta has had some success with [I forget which agency, probably AtW or something] using a data protection subject access request to combat repeated requests for the same information as a bureaucratic delaying tactic.  Funny how they're suddenly able to find that they actually do have the documents on record when you do that...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 09 March, 2023, 09:48:49 pm
I actually lost that specific argument with AtW "recomplete all our shit inaccessible forms from scratch every year" cos they argued they had the right to "check the information was accurate".

The arguments I've won were the:
DWP: "Oh we can't do X cos you never sent us Y"
Me: "I sent it on Z date"
DWP: "We have no record"
Me: "Hi. Plz to be reporting yourself to the Information Commissioner's Office for loss of data and show me you did it, or I'll do it for you (and you didn't do it in the 72hrs so you'll be in the shit).
DWP: "X is approved"

(never any apology, or admission they actually found your data by BOTHERING to loo)

I can kinda understand why blue badges need renewing (lots of fraud including people dying and their relative keeping the badge to abuse) but that could be done with a v quick form of "can we confirm you are still alive and in need".

But it isn't about giving disabled people fewer barriers and mitigations to the disabling world. It's about control and gatekeeping.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 10 March, 2023, 09:56:03 am
DVLA lost my daughter and SiL's documents when they submitted them to get driving licenses.

Both of them had changed their names, DVLA require 'original or certified' documents. So that mean daughter and SiL didn't have their proof of change of names, couldn't do bank account changes etc etc.

Massive amount of stress, time lost getting new documents and cost.

F8k the DVLA.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 11 March, 2023, 02:18:05 pm
DVLA seem to be particularly incompetent at many levels.

I hope a massive complaint, data protection report and demand for serious compo has gone their way. Also count costs of consequences.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 15 March, 2023, 05:32:43 pm
GN: a driving instructor just phoned me so I’ve now got a double refresher lesson booked for April 3rd.
BN: it’s over the water, in Birkenhead. That’s forrin!
More BN: I’ve not driven for over 20 years. Slightly nervous 😬
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 03 April, 2023, 06:43:24 pm
GN: a driving instructor just phoned me so I’ve now got a double refresher lesson booked for April 3rd.
BN: it’s over the water, in Birkenhead. That’s forrin!
More BN: I’ve not driven for over 20 years. Slightly nervous 😬


Well I didn't kill anyone or break anything , and he didn't shout at me, but I didn't really enjoy that.  Road positioning & speed control need a lot of work and what's with a 6 speed gear box.  5 was posh when I were a lad... 


The instructor was ex BT as well.  He left in 92 but I remembered his name when he told me.


I had to have a drink afterwards to calm my nerves...... Is that the right order of things ?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 03 April, 2023, 07:22:25 pm
Thats a normal driving day these days. Don't forget to learn how to mime Wan......er with fearsome face grimace and associated hand movements.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 03 April, 2023, 08:24:01 pm
Best thing ever when behind the wheel imo is to let everything wash over you.  There are enough angry wankers on the road already. 

Gears: how quaint.  🙂
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 03 April, 2023, 10:43:37 pm
Best thing ever when behind the wheel imo is to let everything wash over you.  There are enough angry wankers on the road already.

Quite.  Channel the wisdom of Ogmios.

 
Quote
Gears: how quaint.  🙂

All the best people drive fixies.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 May, 2023, 11:17:07 pm
Bah: That black HDMI cable I fished out of the bag o'cables is not an HDMI cable >:(

Hurrah: The grey HDMI cable also fished of of the bag o'cables actually is one :thumbsup:

Hurrah: The DVD player that sits at one end of the cable transmits pictures and sounds to the Fort Larrington distascope  :thumbsup:

Bah: So why didn’t it do so at Larrington Towers >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 06 June, 2023, 07:50:33 am
BN - with it being light early the hounds waking up early so outbthe door for walk just after 5am this morning

GN - means got loads done before work, posted letters and went to tetrapak recycling on walk, emptied dishwasher and reloaded for trays etc which involves removing top shelf and clipping in an extra bit at back. Made girls lunches, pumped tyres up on wife's bike and sorted chickens before getting the rabble up
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 19 June, 2023, 10:30:09 am
BN - Had a piece of tooth and associated filling come loose on Sunday.

GN - It doesn’t hurt, and isn’t gouging either tongue or cheek.

MGN - Phone the dentist (NHS) Monday at 9:15 and get straight through

EMGN - They have an appointment Tuesday at 10:30.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 June, 2023, 12:01:12 am
Best thing ever when behind the wheel imo is to let everything wash over you.  There are enough angry wankers on the road already. 

Gears: how quaint.  🙂

I think my first driving was with a 3-speed column change car. Vauxhall Victor, circa 1971*. My parents soon upgraded to a Vauxhall Viva with 4 gears and a gearstick in what is now the normal place.

I don't think I've ever driven a car with more than 4 gears. Our last 3 cars have been electric and the previous one was a Toyota Pious.

*When I drove it, not when it was built. Its registration was OO 5547. I think that makes it a 1962 model.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 June, 2023, 01:12:03 am
Drove a car with a manual column change – a Peugeot 404 – precisely once, for about ten yards.  USAnian automatics with shift wossnames sticking out of odd places don’t count.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 29 June, 2023, 09:48:36 am
BN:  Had a shower & the water wasn't draining properly.
GN: after some vigorous thrusting with the plunger some lumps of matted body hair  :sick:  were dislodged and the water vanished with a satisfying gurgle.
BN: I went into the bathroom later & found 2 sizeable slugs, 1 in the tray & 1 on the wall.  I assume they've come up the drain....
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 29 June, 2023, 12:48:57 pm
Reminds me of a trip to Africa.  We were staying on an Island (the hairy lemon) in the Nile just down from the main wave.  The shower was open air and had a wooden slatted platform.  I turned on the shower to see a writhing mass of 6inch long centipedes disentangling themselves and scurrying away from the water.

After that i washed in the Nile.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Ham on 08 July, 2023, 11:15:03 am
Miss Ham ( I really need to mind an alternative moniker for her now) had just left us and was walking away with the smallest member of Clan Ham (at 9 months) in a push chair, when I went out and called her back for summat, she turned but failed to put the brake on the chair.

In the Shockingly Bad News category, the chair starts towards the kerb and reaches it before either of us could, tips over in such a way the the child within hits the ground with their head.

In the Wonderfully Good News category, baby had a soft landing and was entirely unharmed. She face planted into a big pile of fresh horse poo.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 08 July, 2023, 12:11:26 pm
Blimey Ham.

My heart was in my mouth as I read that. Then I read the finale. I'm afraid I may have laughed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 08 July, 2023, 12:14:05 pm
Meanwhile my GN/BN:

Here at my Rural Idyll it is are raining.

GN: I don't have to traipse up and down the stiairs to water the Upper 50 Acres (1st floor flat, not outside tap)
BN: I have just hung out the washing on the Siegfried Line whirling thing in the Upper 50 Acres. Bah.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Diver300 on 08 July, 2023, 08:05:05 pm
I don't think I've ever driven a car with more than 4 gears. Our last 3 cars have been electric and the previous one was a Toyota Pious.
Arguably, the Prius has an infinite number of gears.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PhilO on 14 July, 2023, 09:45:17 am
BN: It's my day in the blue and white hell that my employer laughably calls a 'brilliant place to work'

EMBN: Someone's half-inched my coffi out the fridge.

GN: There's an on-site shop which stocks ground coffi

BN: ...for £9.75.

GN: Chilled tap water is better for me.  O:-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 14 July, 2023, 01:00:14 pm
GN. Mrs B won the Llandysul Lotto.

Not so GN.  It wasn't up in the thousands.  It's been won two weeks running and the pot was only £230.

BN. There were two winners.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 15 July, 2023, 07:09:05 pm
BN:  Shed at my wife's allotment broken into some time in the last 24 hours, bolts/padlocks levered off with a garden fork.

GN: Nothing appears to be missing (I was worried about my 60 year old camping kettle and 40 year old Camping Gaz stove) - and we seem to have gained a good quality garden fork that none of the other allotmenteers has claimed.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 06 August, 2023, 11:01:43 am
BN:  My phone got drownded at scout camp and the display finally gave up the ghost yestarday after I got home.
GN: The Boy has a spare phone wot I am transferring stuffs to while I think about a replacement.
BN: The old phone is playing my alarm tone "By A Sleepy Lagoon" on endless loop and I can find no way of turning it off.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 August, 2023, 12:40:17 pm
That's a very gentle alarm.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 06 August, 2023, 05:58:46 pm
BN:  My phone got drownded...
BN: The old phone is playing my alarm tone "By A Sleepy Lagoon" on endless loop...

Seems appropriate.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 August, 2023, 12:31:14 pm
Because Jurek, I decided my life would not be complete without a cordless screwdriver.  Also it will make hanging the front door immeasurably easier.

Hurrah: e-mail from Toolstation saying it’s in :thumbsup:

Bah: It'll need charging before I can play with it >:(

Edit: Bah2: In between writing that ^^^^ and putting my shoes on it’s started raining, which the BB bloody C's weather app said had a 0% chance of happening  >:( >:(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: De Sisti on 11 September, 2023, 05:43:19 pm
Bad news.
The Honest John forum has withdrawn their offer to me to be one of their new moderators.This was after reading their terms of reference and replying, stating that I would lock anti-cyclistthreads (which I thought were getting out of hand); and there have been a few.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 14 September, 2023, 06:19:06 pm
BN: My GCH boiler's been making some funny noises when heating water of late.
GN: The local Farcebook group recommended someone who slotted me in today. My annual service is overdue, so two birds/one stone...
GN: He charged less for a service than last year's bloke charged for a mere safety inspection
BN: New gas valve needed, which ties in with my googling of the error code
GN: He had one on the van
BN: it's an extra £90
GN: all's well now
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 15 September, 2023, 09:07:04 am
GN One of the youngest just bought a house with her partner.
BN The house needs work, including repairs to guttering.
MBN A builder who quoted for the gutter work pointed out that the hip tiles lacked mortar and the rear chimney needed repointing.
GN He quoted £600 for the roof repairs, including capping both chimneys!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 15 September, 2023, 01:50:42 pm
Why cap the flues?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 15 September, 2023, 02:43:41 pm
Why cap the flues?

I could be wrong but I read that as referring to capping bricks on top of the stacks, as opposed to (the bad practice of) blocking flues.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 15 September, 2023, 05:08:57 pm
Why cap the flues?
They are unused chimneys with open pots. He included putting in vents
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 16 September, 2023, 10:41:55 pm
Drove a car with a manual column change – a Peugeot 404 – precisely once, for about ten yards.  USAnian automatics with shift wossnames sticking out of odd places don’t count.

No 2CV in yours or Wowbagger's histories? I drove one, once, and decided to buy an Ovlov instead. Looking back I would have the 2CV for the lols
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Basil on 16 September, 2023, 11:21:47 pm
A previous partner and I had a Ford Consul with three gear column shift.
Yay! Bench front seat. We were kids(ish) and we loved it.


Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 18 September, 2023, 09:29:22 am
Drove a car with a manual column change – a Peugeot 404 – precisely once, for about ten yards.  USAnian automatics with shift wossnames sticking out of odd places don’t count.

No 2CV in yours or Wowbagger's histories? I drove one, once, and decided to buy an Ovlov instead. Looking back I would have the 2CV for the lols

We had a Renault 4 (known as a Wendy House on Wheels).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 18 September, 2023, 10:12:45 am
I recall having a "drive" of a Renault 4 on private land somewhere in Oxfordshire.  There was an umbrella handle jutting from the dashboard with which I had to select gears.  IRCC 1st was where you would normally expect 2nd to be, 2nd where 3rd would normally be, etc.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 18 September, 2023, 10:21:11 am
A previous partner and I had a Ford Consul with three gear column shift.
Yay! Bench front seat. We were kids(ish) and we loved it.
My Dad was going to buy one of those as our first car.
I was beside myself with excitement.
Imagine my disappointment when he came home with an Austin 1100 instead.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 18 September, 2023, 10:45:34 am
I'm wondering when the first bench seat EV will appear.  No gear lever or and brake lever to accommodate and a nice, flat floor surely makes it possible.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 18 September, 2023, 10:47:11 am
My parents had at least 3 renault 4s, a white one, a green one and a red one. The red and green ones were used as parts to make one multicoloured working one. All before about 1984 so my memory of them is largely from photos.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 September, 2023, 11:06:04 am
The Renault 4 had that French knack of being utilitarian but in a stylish way.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 18 September, 2023, 11:18:44 am
I'm wondering when the first bench seat EV will appear.  No gear lever or and brake lever to accommodate and a nice, flat floor surely makes it possible.
My work Berlingo EV has a split driver/2passenger seat arrangement. I doubt a bench option will appear, as the passenger seats can be folded forwards and a hatch opened to allow long objects to be carried .
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 18 September, 2023, 11:49:14 am
Bench seats are pretty awful.

They don't provide any lateral stability, so every sharp corner has you sliding into the person next to you.

Individually-bolted down seats are much better. They also give you the flexibility of removing or folding one seat.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 18 September, 2023, 12:18:50 pm
I recall having a "drive" of a Renault 4 on private land somewhere in Oxfordshire.  There was an umbrella handle jutting from the dashboard with which I had to select gears.  IRCC 1st was where you would normally expect 2nd to be, 2nd where 3rd would normally be, etc.

Yep - we had one for a while in about 1977-8 - remarkably useful as a small van if you took the rear seats out . . .  and if you got the revs right you could change gear without the clutch.   Biggest issue with was rust!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2023, 01:00:30 am
Hurrah: 26 degrees in Seattle  :thumbsup:

Bah: Shiny Metal Birb doesn’t leave for another six hours  :(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 September, 2023, 12:09:58 pm
2CV? Nein Danke!

I don't think bench seats will make a come-back. Where would the arm rests, cup-holders and mobile phone charging points go?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 September, 2023, 12:24:54 pm
I'm mildly surprised bench seats are even legal, in a modern vehicle, for the driver.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 23 September, 2023, 05:10:53 pm
I once drove a Bedford mini-bus that had a bench front seat, so no adjustment. The windscreen was rather lacking in height and I had to hunch down as much as I could; this gave a view that allowed a speed of about 25 mph, or 30 if the road dropped away a bit.
It was ideal for motons as there was never anything to avoid - couldn't see it, t'ain't there. I like to be able to stop in under half the visible or actual clear road.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 October, 2023, 07:00:22 pm
Plumber came this arvo to replace the leaking bleed valve in our radiator.
Unfortunately he left with our rad bleed key. (We do have a spare but it's the one with the tiny rod for a handle that makes it uncomfortable to use.)
I knew I should have moved the good key from the area...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: spesh on 02 October, 2023, 07:28:31 pm
Plumber came this arvo to replace the leaking bleed valve in our radiator.
Unfortunately he left with our rad bleed key. (We do have a spare but it's the one with the tiny rod for a handle that makes it uncomfortable to use.)
I knew I should have moved the good key from the area...

When I had my new boiler installed in 2019, one of the installers managed to leave a bleed key behind, so I guess the cosmic balance of the universe is now restored.  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 02 October, 2023, 07:41:14 pm
I recall having a "drive" of a Renault 4 on private land somewhere in Oxfordshire.  There was an umbrella handle jutting from the dashboard with which I had to select gears.  IRCC 1st was where you would normally expect 2nd to be, 2nd where 3rd would normally be, etc.

Yep - we had one for a while in about 1977-8 - remarkably useful as a small van if you took the rear seats out . . .  and if you got the revs right you could change gear without the clutch.   Biggest issue with was rust!

Passed my test in one. Only 3 gears, no etc.  Top speed 65 and drum brakes that got brake fade on long hills. Beautiful design: at the end of its life everything failed at once, rust and mechanicals.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 02 October, 2023, 08:44:09 pm
Plumber came this arvo to replace the leaking bleed valve in our radiator.
Unfortunately he left with our rad bleed key. (We do have a spare but it's the one with the tiny rod for a handle that makes it uncomfortable to use.)
I knew I should have moved the good key from the area...

I have a much-loved brass bleed key that's similar in size and shape to the sort of key that you'd use to wind a clock - beautiful (it lives on my desk, not in the plumbing tool box)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 October, 2023, 09:23:46 pm
I've got one of those too.  Only problem is, it doesn’t fit any of the radiators in Larrington Towers and I've no idea where it came from or what it’s for ???
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 02 October, 2023, 09:29:54 pm
I've got one of those too.  Only problem is, it doesn’t fit any of the radiators in Larrington Towers and I've no idea where it came from or what it’s for ???
Piling swivel adjustment. Which in your case you have not got.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 03 October, 2023, 05:13:52 pm
I've several rad. keys of the clock type. One's in the toolbox for plumbing; the others are in a drawer with plumbing kit.
I learnt quite early on to put something in the key to limit the depth - nipple unscrewed all the way and was too far back to start the thread.
I always put a smear of Boss White or similar on the thread - it stops seizing and seals better.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 October, 2023, 07:58:12 pm
Bah: Milk's off ergo no tea :(

Hurrah: Brewdog Punk AF to the rescue :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 08 October, 2023, 08:30:41 pm
Bah: Milk's off ergo no tea :(

Hurrah: Brewdog Punk AF to the rescue :thumbsup:
All power to your AF drinkage. Howsumdiver, Mr Brewdog is a bit of a knob.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 October, 2023, 08:58:36 pm
Bah: Milk's off ergo no tea :(

Hurrah: Brewdog Punk AF to the rescue :thumbsup:
All power to your AF drinkage. Howsumdiver, Mr Brewdog is a bit of a knob.

This is true, but the alcohol-free Leffe seems to be extinct, if not in the wild then certain in my local Mr Sainsbury’s House of Toothy Comestibles.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 October, 2023, 10:49:50 pm
I can recommend Brulo, based in Embra but contract brewed in Belgium for non alcoholic beer (they deliver). A lot nicer than Punk AF too.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 October, 2023, 01:08:05 am
Do they sell it in Mr Sainsbury’s House of Toothy Comestibles, though?

Edit: also, HOW MUCH :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 October, 2023, 10:03:41 am
I can recommend Brulo, based in Embra but contract brewed in Belgium for non alcoholic beer (they deliver). A lot nicer than Punk AF too.
Agree with this. A local bistro place stocks it and I really appreciate the stout with a meal.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 October, 2023, 12:45:26 pm
17 quid for six tins, when the Punk AF is four for a fiver?  I'm afraid Brewdog win that one by a KO, though only because Mr Sainsbury’s House of Toothy Comestibles never seems to have the 0% Leffe when I'm in a BEER-drinking mood.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 October, 2023, 12:53:48 pm
I only buy it when they've got a special offer on, usually 20 or 25 per cent off.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 09 October, 2023, 02:56:56 pm
BN: I have taken a liking to a certain variety of alcoholic apple beverage* that seems only to be available in Notaroundhereingham, Nowhereshire. Double bad news, their website only has trade orders.

GN: a nice lady called Alex just left two cases outside, having delivered them herself on her way to visit her mum. And I got a fiver discount.

*Hurstwood Cider from the Eastery Sussexes. I normally abhor the sickly sweet, fruit-flavoured stuff which is basically Wkd for people whose taste buds have been in a terrible accident, but this proper appley goodness that tastes like it was made by people who drive tractors rather than press buttons on an apple-flavouring machine.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 October, 2023, 03:49:41 pm
Turns out the Brewdog is only £1/can if you have a Nectar card.  And since Mr Sainsbury now takes actual cash money off your grocery bill if you use such a card Nectar's ongoing sordid relationship with the D**ly M**l has had to take a back seat of late.

They did have Leffe today but only one six-pack in a state of falling-to-bitsness chiz.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 10 October, 2023, 04:23:00 pm
This morning was enlivened by the sound of clunky footsteps & tool use on the roof above my flat.   Chaps fixing the roof.


Good thinks I,  hopefully that will cure the leak allowing water to come in via the window lintel.  I can finally start to think about replacing that stained wallpaper. 


Having a shower later,  crunch.  The rather old shower tray cracks underneath me.  I suspect that anything under the thin top layer has crumbled to dust.   I think replacing that is going to have to take priority over the wallpapering........   :facepalm:


A good job I took out a membership at the Uni sports centre.  I'm going to be showering over there until I can get this sorted. 
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 10 October, 2023, 06:25:43 pm
The laptop stand I ordered off Etsy last week arrived today.
What arrived was not what I ordered, sigh.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 13 October, 2023, 06:10:44 pm
This morning was enlivened by the sound of clunky footsteps & tool use on the roof above my flat.   Chaps fixing the roof.

Good thinks I,  hopefully that will cure the leak allowing water to come in via the window lintel.  I can finally start to think about replacing that stained wallpaper. 



Just seen my next door neighbour.  The bulk of the work was being done over his (rented) flat.   The chaps abandoned the job when it started raining & left the working area uncovered.....    He had all areas running water for a while.    It's got into the flat below him as well....  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 October, 2023, 06:35:53 pm
They sound like keepers.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 13 October, 2023, 07:04:29 pm
Smoke a bit of weed and fill the sink with mould and you're well on the way to an authentic SHITE BUNKER experience.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 15 October, 2023, 04:41:11 pm
On Thursday my dentist X-rayed me & told me to come back in a year for my next check up.


Today’s lunch involved pork crackling.  A large fragment of molar sheared off.  I’ve a feeling this is going to be expensive & painful to repair….
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 15 October, 2023, 05:00:30 pm
Very variable scenario andrew. I had similar treat by 'building up - cheap, quick and painless'
Otherwise, the sky's the limit.
D's just had extraction & implant which was very spendy.
He's got a cracked molar now & a dental appointment next week...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 16 October, 2023, 10:05:25 am
GN: the dentist can see me on Thursday.


BN: There are still chaps clumping about on the roof, now directly above my flat.  Good morning sez I, bare chested in the autumn air.  Have you looked at the problem at the _back_ of the flat ?  The one you were supposed to have already fixed....    Oh,  no, we didn't know that was still a problem.  We'll take a look... :facepalm:


More BN:  The plumber who's done stuff for me in the past has retired & doesn't like doing shower trays,  "they always leak" he says...... 


Even more BN:  My internet connection is down.  Problem at the local cab.  They'll have an engineer out on Wednesday & will send me a wifi hub tomorrow.  In the mean time I've tethered the Mac to my phone.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 16 October, 2023, 10:58:55 am
Trick I've read about shower trays is to load them with sandbags before siliconing.

Tiling over the upstand sounds like a good idea, although I'm rather taken with the utility of the plastic slabs we have in the downstairs shower.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 16 October, 2023, 12:06:19 pm
Trick I've read about shower trays is to load them with sandbags before siliconing.

Tiling over the upstand sounds like a good idea, although I'm rather taken with the utility of the plastic slabs we have in the downstairs shower.

Similar plan to filling a bath with water before applying silicone caulking - it works.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 16 October, 2023, 03:24:57 pm
A Layer of EPDM underneath would do no harm either. Use a caulking tool not a fingertip.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 16 October, 2023, 06:26:13 pm
I much prefer the sheets these days for shower trays. Much easier to work with
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rogerzilla on 17 October, 2023, 10:19:40 am
I gouged a large chunk of flesh from the top of my head when hoovering out the car. 

It happened to be where I had a large solar keratosis that was resistant to the Soleraze chemo cream.  A month later, my scalp has healed but the keratosis has not come back.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 17 October, 2023, 10:44:24 am
I gouged a large chunk of flesh from the top of my head when hoovering out the car. 

It happened to be where I had a large solar keratosis that was resistant to the Soleraze chemo cream.  A month later, my scalp has healed but the keratosis has not come back.

Sounds like the DIY version of the procedure I had with a plastic surgeon to dig one out of the side of my head!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rogerzilla on 17 October, 2023, 02:38:18 pm
I once amputated a protruding mole by accident when itching my stomach.  I'm getting good at this.  Might try rectal polyps next  :hand:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 18 October, 2023, 12:39:54 pm
On Thursday my dentist X-rayed me & told me to come back in a year for my next check up.


Today’s lunch involved pork crackling.  A large fragment of molar sheared off.  I’ve a feeling this is going to be expensive & painful to repair….


Tooth repaired & she re-opened the account from last week & only charged me the difference!    She said if it fails again a crown might be required,  that tooth is about 75% filling!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 18 October, 2023, 10:21:02 pm
As I am sure I mentioned, a chunk of my molar calved last week, victim of a malefic pomegranate seed. I swear that tooth has enough amalgam filling that I could sell mining rights and retire on the proceeds.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 19 October, 2023, 10:56:06 am
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it's sometimes worth asking for a ceramic filling, as it bonds to the remaining tooth better than amalgam. Says he with two gold molars.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 20 October, 2023, 09:10:19 pm
I now have two new fillings (he found another missing filling at the back), though I assume composite resin as he set it with UV. Guaranteed for 'a year' – sheesh, I have amalgam fillings that are probably twenty-plus years older than the dentist. My childhood dentist was off her head on drugs and basically performed unnecessary procedures to fund her recreational bad habits till she was struck off. I mean, I'm fine with them taking a pop of nitrous at the end of the day. Now £450 poorer because I forgot to tick the 'dental insurance' option in the work benefits computer. Never see a dentist in the US though, it's terrifying.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 20 October, 2023, 10:55:00 pm
I have amalgam fillings that are probably twenty-plus years older than the dentist.

I have a several of those, on account of:

Quote
My childhood dentist [...] performed unnecessary procedures

In this case, there was a brief early-90s fad for capping children's perfectly good molars with some sort of UV-curing resin, presumably on the basis that middle class parents would pay handsomely in order to give their offspring a purported degree of immunity to sugar.

In practice, this mostly served to prevent the teeth from meshing together properly, until the resin (and underlying enamel) cracked under the stress, with the inevitable result of lots of mid-90s amalgam fillings.  Credit where it's due, my particular dentist was a lot better with amalgam than she was with resin, to the point where they've never given me any trouble. 

My latest toothiologist (who has probably removed me from the list since I turned down a checkup at the start of the pandemic), was keen to drill them out and replace them, on the basis that they were evidently very old.  I muttered something about bathtub curves and ran away.


While we're on the subject, apparently the niblings (8 and 5 respectively) have both had a milk tooth pulled, which seems odd.  I had to have a couple removed when I was a small, on account of them interfering with the growth of the adult teeth below.  But that was done after x-rays and careful consideration, and with the aid of a whole brain-needle[1] of anaesthetic.  It appears that the niblings just got a swift yank, followed by lots of bleeding.  Seems odd that they'd both need the same procedure like that...


[1] The ones normally brought out to persuade drunks that they don't want to be in A&E any more.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 20 October, 2023, 11:16:23 pm
Going to the dentist reduces me to a gibbering wreck,  mainly because I think my childhood dentist did a lot of needless work rather badly.  He'd jam probes into teeth until you jumped, and every session seemed to result in a filling being required.  I had a lot of extractions under gas as well. Do local dentists still do those ? 


My current dentist is a very gentle Spanish lady,  I'm still on the books as an NHS patient and the last 2 times I've had fillings repaired I don't think she's charged me the full amount.   She's part of one of the big conglomerates though, so I expect I'll eventually be pressured into signing up for a monthly payment plan.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 21 October, 2023, 12:01:21 am
...I had a lot of extractions under gas as well. Do local dentists still do those ?....

They were stopped from doing that ages ago. Something to do with killing too many patients I think.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: alfapete on 21 October, 2023, 09:17:48 am
In this case, there was a brief early-90s fad for capping children's perfectly good molars with some sort of UV-curing resin, presumably on the basis that middle class parents would pay handsomely in order to give their offspring a purported degree of immunity to sugar.

In practice, this mostly served to prevent the teeth from meshing together properly, until the resin (and underlying enamel) cracked under the stress, with the inevitable result of lots of mid-90s amalgam fillings.  Credit where it's due, my particular dentist was a lot better with amalgam than she was with resin, to the point where they've never given me any trouble. 

As a working dentist during that period I struggled to understand what on earth you were going on about in this passage. Then figured it must be fissure sealing - a visible light-cured material which flowed into the very narrow fissures in the tooth surfaces to prevent decay in areas inaccessible to the brush and the cleansing action of mastication. It had absolutely no effect on the underlying tooth (?meshing together...?). It was evidence-based and highly effective but was never funded by the NHS and so didn't catch on sufficiently to prove effective on a population wide basis. The difficulty was getting six year olds (it was most effective in first permanent molar teeth) to sit still with their mouths open and tongues relaxed for the 60-90 seconds it took for each tooth, which had to be perfectly dry, to be sealed.

Oh, just going through that description makes me grateful yet again for retirement.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Polar Bear on 21 October, 2023, 10:38:36 am
I remember having something which sounds like this done when I was young on an upper and a lower molar on the left side of my mouth.

I am 60 now and the only teeth that have ever given me issues are those two.  Both have broken.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: alfapete on 21 October, 2023, 11:58:39 am
I remember having something which sounds like this done when I was young on an upper and a lower molar on the left side of my mouth.

I am 60 now and the only teeth that have ever given me issues are those two.  Both have broken.
But association is not causation....
And if you remember the 'work' being light-cured then you would have been far too old for the sealants to have been preventive which is what I was talking about. Light curing became widespread in the late 80's.
Light curing of restorations (fillings) comes with a whole host of other (polymerisation shrinkage) problems but this probably isn't the place for that.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 October, 2023, 12:48:13 pm
My dentist experience is the other way round. Childhood visits were fun and always included the comment "Perrrfect" in the dentist's Jamaican accent (he was about 20% of the town's unwhite population). Adult experience, less fun.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 21 October, 2023, 01:24:59 pm
In this case, there was a brief early-90s fad for capping children's perfectly good molars with some sort of UV-curing resin, presumably on the basis that middle class parents would pay handsomely in order to give their offspring a purported degree of immunity to sugar.

In practice, this mostly served to prevent the teeth from meshing together properly, until the resin (and underlying enamel) cracked under the stress, with the inevitable result of lots of mid-90s amalgam fillings.  Credit where it's due, my particular dentist was a lot better with amalgam than she was with resin, to the point where they've never given me any trouble. 

As a working dentist during that period I struggled to understand what on earth you were going on about in this passage. Then figured it must be fissure sealing - a visible light-cured material which flowed into the very narrow fissures in the tooth surfaces to prevent decay in areas inaccessible to the brush and the cleansing action of mastication. It had absolutely no effect on the underlying tooth (?meshing together...?). It was evidence-based and highly effective but was never funded by the NHS and so didn't catch on sufficiently to prove effective on a population wide basis. The difficulty was getting six year olds (it was most effective in first permanent molar teeth) to sit still with their mouths open and tongues relaxed for the 60-90 seconds it took for each tooth, which had to be perfectly dry, to be sealed.

Oh, just going through that description makes me grateful yet again for retirement.

That'll be the one.  I was a child at the time, so I didn't get a proper explanation of what was going on - I think I assumed it was some sort of novel cleaning procedure, because what else would they be doing to healthy teeth?  And for obvious reasons I was guessing about the wavelength, as I don't have eyes inside my mouth.

What I do remember was it being applied (which wasn't exactly fun, but as a veteran of ENT procedures I was good at staying still, especially as this one was neither loud nor painful), and the resulting change in the shape of the upper surface of the teeth - which nobody has warned me about (which as a kid who'd never had a filling or anything, I found quite distressing).  And then needing a load of fillings a few years later on teeth that were ostensibly supposed to be decay-proof.  Maybe it didn't cause the damage, but it certainly failed at its one job.

I think they gave up on my younger brother, who was a wriggler.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: rafletcher on 21 October, 2023, 01:39:36 pm
Meatball dentistry on the NHS to get the piecework payments was commonplace. In the late 80’s, when I still trusted dentists to do what was best for me as a patient (more fool me) I had one such in Coventry plough through 4 adjacent molars - on both sides of my mouth, so 8 in total - in 2 sessions. Guess which teeth, some 35 years later, are missing or capped.

Fortunately dentistry has improved markedly for us lucky enough to still have an NHS dentist. Admittedly ours are only there for a 6 month, occasionally 12 month placement, but at least, as recently qualified ones, they are up to date. The practice owner (who, naturally, only does private work) is a lecturer at Kings dental school. My first NHS dentist at that practice is now a maxillo-facial surgeon, but still pops in on a Saturday morning to see a few (private) patients.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 21 October, 2023, 01:53:04 pm
When comparing this sort of anecdata, it's important to bear in mind that:

a) Even if the dentist is doing less-than-necessary work to get the money, they're going to pick the teeth that are in most need of it, because they're a dentist.

b) Of course the tooth that needed previous work is the one that's going to cause problems later on.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 21 October, 2023, 07:51:57 pm
Given I’d not graced a dentist’s chair for about twenty years, I figure two fillings is getting off lightly. UV cured resin seems to be the thing these days. Does anyone use amalgam or is it now on a banned list? I presume there is a small risk. Amalgam fillings astonish American dentists.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: SteveC on 21 October, 2023, 08:42:25 pm
My dentist prefers to use UV cured resin. However there are some circumstances when it is not appropriate and he will use amalgam then.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 22 October, 2023, 01:19:40 pm
Crematoria have had to have specialist filter equipment fitted in recent years to deal with the level of lead bearing amalgam contained in the age group now coming to end of life.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: alfapete on 22 October, 2023, 02:47:45 pm
Crematoria have had to have specialist filter equipment fitted in recent years to deal with the level of lead mercury bearing amalgam contained in the age group now coming to end of life.
FTFY

Amalgam fillings (principally silver, mercury, tin and copper) were wonderful, invented in the days before concerns about metal toxicity. It's main advantage was the tolerance of it's chemistry in the hostile, always wet environment that it was used making it quick, simple and cheap to use. This characteristic is not shared by the newer resin materials which have now largely taken over - these are very technique sensitive, time consuming and expensive.
No decent studies show any ill effects from the mercury which releases so slowly from the material over many years, and amalgam remains fairly widely used. In recent years the main driver towards resin materials has been amalgam's poor aesthetics, and an understandable determination to reduce mercury in the overall environment - it's banned in one or two Scandinavian countries, I believe.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ian on 22 October, 2023, 04:28:01 pm
Non-organic room temperature mercury isn't particularly biologically labile, so any slow wear in amalgam fillings is unlikely to have any health effects, I'd have thought. Mercury vapour would be more toxic, so I'd imagine the most risk is to the dentist who regularly manipulates and drills into amalgam (and, of course, burning dead bodies). Other than the tooth I broke (and it was the enamel and not the filling) and the other filling that must have fallen out entirely, those childhood amalgam fillings show practically no wear despite a good number of decades chomping. Anyway, the dentist didn't give me a choice, just the cost of big filling and little filling. Modern life, innit.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 22 October, 2023, 05:29:27 pm
...I had a lot of extractions under gas as well. Do local dentists still do those ?....

They were stopped from doing that ages ago. Something to do with killing too many patients I think.

Correct.

Kids needing a general anaesthetic for dental treatment are admitted to hospital formally, usually as day patients.

This is the commonest reason for a child to be admitted to hospital.

I think dentists resist filling milk teeth nowadays; they either wait for the decayed tooth to fall out or admit for GA extraction.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 22 October, 2023, 05:30:38 pm
Crematoria have had to have specialist filter equipment fitted in recent years to deal with the level of lead mercury bearing amalgam contained in the age group now coming to end of life.
FTFY

Amalgam fillings (principally silver, mercury, tin and copper) were wonderful, invented in the days before concerns about metal toxicity. It's main advantage was the tolerance of it's chemistry in the hostile, always wet environment that it was used making it quick, simple and cheap to use. This characteristic is not shared by the newer resin materials which have now largely taken over - these are very technique sensitive, time consuming and expensive.
No decent studies show any ill effects from the mercury which releases so slowly from the material over many years, and amalgam remains fairly widely used. In recent years the main driver towards resin materials has been amalgam's poor aesthetics, and an understandable determination to reduce mercury in the overall environment - it's banned in one or two Scandinavian countries, I believe.

Our last dentist had a real thing against mercury amalgam and tried to convince us we REALLY NEEDED to pay extra as NHS patients for resin AND that we needed our mercury fillings replaced. He was REALLY pushy about it. He didn't know what to say when I came back having looked it up on Cochrane and said "no thanks". I disliked his pushy approach as it really felt very pressury and bullying, by someone who could not understand that I was unemployed at the time and did not have the money for what he was suggesting nevermind whether it was justified. Felt like putting the fear into people unreasonably.

Same practice that allegedly supports 'anxious' patients but repeatedly refused to listen to me about deaf awareness and what would make dentistry accessible for me as a deaf patient. Instead insisting They Knew Best and babbling at me throughout so I couldn't work out what was an instruction and what was meaningless whitter that I was getting massively stressed trying to process and hear.

I have not been back. I can't find a dentist who will do deaf/disability access, so no dentistry for me. The old fangs seem to have been fine for the several years since, so...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 22 October, 2023, 05:32:42 pm
I think dentists resist filling milk teeth nowadays; they either wait for the decayed tooth to fall out or admit for GA extraction.

Except for my sister's family new dentist who apparently yoinked a milk tooth (not wobbly or decayed) without anaesthetic from each of my nieces 8.5 and 5.5 years old respectively last week. I need to find out where I can direct my sister to independent advice on whether that is appropriate cos my nieces were quite upset and it was apparently very painful and one of them bled a lot too. I'm of the Get Another Dentist, except sister had just moved to this practice from another horrid rude dentist...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 25 October, 2023, 11:53:42 am
Crematoria have had to have specialist filter equipment fitted in recent years to deal with the level of lead mercury bearing amalgam contained in the age group now coming to end of life.
FTFY

Amalgam fillings (principally silver, mercury, tin and copper) were wonderful, invented in the days before concerns about metal toxicity. It's main advantage was the tolerance of it's chemistry in the hostile, always wet environment that it was used making it quick, simple and cheap to use. This characteristic is not shared by the newer resin materials which have now largely taken over - these are very technique sensitive, time consuming and expensive.
No decent studies show any ill effects from the mercury which releases so slowly from the material over many years, and amalgam remains fairly widely used. In recent years the main driver towards resin materials has been amalgam's poor aesthetics, and an understandable determination to reduce mercury in the overall environment - it's banned in one or two Scandinavian countries, I believe.
Ooops senior moment thinks..... ::-)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 03 November, 2023, 08:03:55 am
Bad news: my train was cancelled

Good news: because of the disconnect between buses and trains which means I always have a long wait at the station for either a train or bus I was actually able to catch the earlier one.

Bad news: we’re stationary so I probably won’t arrive any earlier
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: TheLurker on 06 November, 2023, 02:17:21 pm
Good news.  Ha'penny Bridge has re-opened after 5 months.
Bad news. The direct road to Swindon is now open.
Worse news.  Traffic through the town has returned to pre-closure levels.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 November, 2023, 07:52:16 pm
Hurrah: New remote for the PVR arrived today :thumbsup:
Bah: It's half the size of the old one and consequently less operable by stubby peasant fingers :(
Bah2: It doesn’t work >:(
Hurrah: Put flatteries back in old remote, switched box on, swapped flatteries back into new one which now works :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Begone, foul shitverts!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 November, 2023, 06:33:20 pm
I couldn't find a Good News thread, so this is OT - I'm not including any bad news. Maybe it's a Tenuous Claim to Fame?

My sister was part of a change-ringing team that won a competition today. She was in Prittlewell A, who came first, and Prittlewell B came second. There were 7 teams in all and the competition took place at St. Laurence Church, Eastwood - the one that was threatened with demolition when the airpot expanded a few years ago.

Huzzah!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 18 November, 2023, 10:47:25 pm
I couldn't find a Good News thread...

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=12.0
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: PaulF on 19 November, 2023, 06:54:36 am
GN: There's a free mini-bar in my hotel room.

BN: As it's Kuwait that also means it's alcohol free
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 22 November, 2023, 03:17:45 pm
BN the new tyres for my bike I missed the delivery and is a day my immediate neighbours weren't in

GN I think after putting through an we will reattempt delivery card they then saw the people who live opposite as was a second card saying was left at number accross the road. Can't tell if cards came separately as our dog walker had been in and put cards on stairs

GN home early from work so could fit tyres

BN accross Road neighbours appear to be out
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 22 November, 2023, 07:18:48 pm

Bad news: Concorde to fly again
Good news: It’s the smaller version and is only 11 feet long
 (https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2023-11-21/concorde-to-take-to-the-skies-for-the-first-time-in-20-years)
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 23 November, 2023, 04:51:02 pm
GN:  I have a ticket to see some chap called Fiennes play Macbeth in Liverpool tonight.


BN:  I'm feeling tired & lethargic,  which is an improvement on yesterday when I was tired, lethargic & shivery.   Covid tests negative, but I think I'll be masking up for the show.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 02 December, 2023, 12:51:34 pm
GN I've spent an hour or so chainsawing and splitting wood for the wood burner which should keep us going for a while

BN some of the wood I had picked up was too rotten to be any use (the tree had been felled as was going over)


BN2 then had to go and dispatch one of our chickens which was ill
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 December, 2023, 05:51:28 pm
On Thursday my dentist X-rayed me & told me to come back in a year for my next check up.


Today’s lunch involved pork crackling.  A large fragment of molar sheared off.  I’ve a feeling this is going to be expensive & painful to repair….


Tooth repaired & she re-opened the account from last week & only charged me the difference!    She said if it fails again a crown might be required,  that tooth is about 75% filling!


Guess what happened yesterday......     not the same tooth but a chunk sheared off another rear molar.  Crusty sourdough to blame this time.    :facepalm:


Dental appointment next week.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: alfapete on 08 December, 2023, 07:56:26 pm

Guess what happened yesterday......     not the same tooth but a chunk sheared off another rear molar.  Crusty sourdough to blame this time.    :facepalm:

Don't blame the sourdough, blame your occlusion (the relationship between upper and lower teeth position. The two fractures are related, even though they might be in completely different parts of the mouth.

When your lumpy bumpy back teeth slide over each other whilst chewing or grinding in regular patterns of movement they are guided by a particular lump on one of the teeth. Once that bit fractures off then the 'guidance' moves to somewhere else in the mouth and, if that bit isn't so strong (teeth usually weakened by previous dental work) then that breaks, too - often soon afterwards. It's uncommon for it to happen more than twice in succession, but it can do.

You can demonstrate this to yourself: if you clench on your back teeth together then slowly grind off to one side you will feel a contact/slide somewhere between the upper and lower teeth as you slowly move. It might be on the same or on the other side from the one you're moving towards (it's the bottom jaw that moves, remember, and don't go back and forth, just slowly one way from the central position). You can try the same but going the other way now.
In an ideal occlusion the guidance is on your canine teeth - canine guidance - which are very robust and hardly ever break but, depending on your jaw shape and the progressive wear of your canines, it might end up being on your filled back teeth which are prone to breaking.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 08 December, 2023, 08:20:25 pm
Interesting.  It’s the molar below the previously repaired one, but the bit came off the other side.  I’d been feeling a horizontal ridge or crack there for a couple of weeks.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 08 December, 2023, 09:05:49 pm
Ah!  That explains the weird shape of my lower right canine.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 08 December, 2023, 09:49:15 pm
Partner's deciduous lower canine decided to leave his mouth last year, after progressive loosening. He was 58 at the time. There is no permanent successor to this.
I'm not sure if his current woes are related to this.

My Ancient Mum still has a couple of 'milk' teeth...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: ElyDave on 08 December, 2023, 10:42:33 pm
my canines are very blunt these days
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: alfapete on 09 December, 2023, 08:55:08 am
Partner's deciduous lower canine decided to leave his mouth last year, after progressive loosening. He was 58 at the time. There is no permanent successor to this.
I'm not sure if his current woes are related to this.

My Ancient Mum still has a couple of 'milk' teeth...

Deciduous canines are so small they don't take on the same 'canine guidance' role so your partner's guidance will have been somewhere else in their mouth (this can predispose to TMJ or jaw joint problems but that's not inevitable).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: alfapete on 09 December, 2023, 09:01:05 am
my canines are very blunt these days

After reading your post in a different thread, I'm not surprised
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 December, 2023, 10:27:35 am
 :D
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 09 December, 2023, 10:30:05 am
Partner's deciduous lower canine decided to leave his mouth last year, after progressive loosening. He was 58 at the time. There is no permanent successor to this.
I'm not sure if his current woes are related to this.
My Ancient Mum still has a couple of 'milk' teeth...
Deciduous canines are so small they don't take on the same 'canine guidance' role so your partner's guidance will have been somewhere else in their mouth (this can predispose to TMJ or jaw joint problems but that's not inevitable).

No TMJ stuff AFAIK. Woes have been mostly due to trouble in isolated molars. One extraction & implant last year and crown fitting on tooth that broke imminent. Old milk tooth was out of line with others and VERY worn; nice root though!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Tim Hall on 09 December, 2023, 10:44:18 am
GN: I am at Scout camp, with a bunch of wonderful inspiring Young People.
BN: The little sods woke at $TOO_EARLY and were Very Loud.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 December, 2023, 12:31:58 pm
Hurrah: Last Perfectly Good Gentleman’s Mountain Bicycle shopping trip of the year :thumbsup:

Bah: No 1-pint wossnames of semi-skilled milk to be had even for ready money >:(  Not even poncey organic Stuffs.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 18 December, 2023, 04:53:14 pm
GN. Expecting a hefty bill, I attended my Optician today and was told don't need new specs atm.

BN. My venerable Altec Lansing sound system which I use for my PC is dying, the sub bass has now given up altogether and the volume control is playing up. Most odd, is that when pressing the incorporated test button all speakers sound, but ho hum. What's more the kit is only thirty or so years old.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 22 December, 2023, 05:24:15 pm
GN: After much vacillation on the parts of senior managers, my role has been reviewed and upgraded. A decent pay rise ensues.

BN: I was on the top scale point of the previous grade and that isn't recognised, so I'm back to the bottom of the scale for the new grade. Especially galling to my colleague with 16 years' service who's now paid the same as another colleague who started two months ago.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 December, 2023, 05:39:37 pm
Surely being at the bottom of the next scale up is good cos there's more room for future pay rises?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CAMRAMan on 22 December, 2023, 06:44:58 pm
Well, it was wishful thinking that I'd jump up 4 scale points and it's a pleasant 7% pay rise anyway...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 04 January, 2024, 06:50:27 pm
GN - I re-waxed my Maharishi waxed cotton jacket about a year and a half ago.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52429947003_f9a63f4a52_4k.jpg) (http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nT4bBv) (https://flic.kr/p/2nT4bBv)  (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/)
BN - The left shoulder continues to leak, exacerbated  by tonight's foul conditions.
GN - Under the kitchen sink, I have found the remnants of a tin of Barbour wax, which will be deftly deployed once the moisture has evaporated from the surface of the jacket.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 13 January, 2024, 11:55:59 am
BN.  A frantic text message last night.  My parent's fridge-freezer appears to have died, and the freezer was full to the brim with expensive goodies.


GN. I have an empty freezer in my kitchen, unused since I ran down my pandemic stockpile.   I turned that on overnight & this morning my sister turned up in a taxi with an unfeasibly large number of bags.  These are now safely ensconced in Mr Zanussi.


BN. Sister started running a finger over worktops & shelves and commenting on the layers of dust...  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: spesh on 13 January, 2024, 12:40:40 pm
One of my fridge magnets says "You can touch the dust, but please don't write in it."  :demon:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 13 January, 2024, 12:48:21 pm
One of my fridge magnets says "You can touch the dust, but please don't write in it."  :demon:

Mrs Barakta's-Mum has one of those.  This Unit endorses this product, service or sentiment.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 13 January, 2024, 12:58:58 pm
I have a little artwork on the shelf above the radiator in my house.

It reads ‘This house is protected by an ever-present coating of dust’...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: barakta on 14 January, 2024, 08:06:55 pm
My mum gave me a fridge magnet about ignoring the dust and turning out the light. For all her faults, snootiness about cleanliness isn't one of them (she'd lose!).
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 16 January, 2024, 01:15:32 pm
On Thursday my dentist X-rayed me & told me to come back in a year for my next check up.


Today’s lunch involved pork crackling.  A large fragment of molar sheared off.  I’ve a feeling this is going to be expensive & painful to repair….


Tooth repaired & she re-opened the account from last week & only charged me the difference!    She said if it fails again a crown might be required,  that tooth is about 75% filling!


Guess what happened yesterday......     not the same tooth but a chunk sheared off another rear molar.  Crusty sourdough to blame this time.    :facepalm:


Dental appointment next week.


That tooth was repaired on the 14th of December.   I had some crusty sourdough on Saturday & the repair came off , leaving me crunching on it.    I phoned the dentist yesterday & got a next day appointment (NHS via MyDentist).    She's repaired it using a different material,  but says that if it goes again I might need to have the entire massive filling replaced or a crown fitted.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: hellymedic on 18 January, 2024, 02:13:09 am
Many of my contemporaries seem to be having heavily teeth coming to bits…

Mum (87+)’s teeth seem to be holding up pretty well, though a restoration cracked when she fell last year.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Regulator on 18 January, 2024, 10:02:54 am
Good news: my thyroid scan has been moved forward from the end of March to next Friday.

Bas news: I can't eat seafood for the next week... and the majority of the meals I ordered for next week are seafood based.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 18 January, 2024, 02:17:15 pm
Mum's new fridge-freezer was due to be delivered today between 11:30 & 13:30.    I got the train up to give her a hand clearing the way for the delivery men.


Bastarding John Lewis delivered & installed it 3/4s of an hour early so I had a wasted trip!   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Canardly on 21 January, 2024, 12:08:18 pm
OTOH if you had not gone.......as sure as eggs is eggs!
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: HTFB on 30 January, 2024, 09:46:53 am
That envelope of cash (yes, really, in 2024) shouldn't have been left where those removal men could spot it.

OTOH they only removed about a third of the contents. Could have been worse.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 February, 2024, 02:21:43 am
Hurrah: I have just applied for a TfL Over-60s Photocard :thumbsup:

Bah: I am entitled to a TfL Over-60s Photocard :'(
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 February, 2024, 04:32:56 pm
Pingu will be joining you shortly...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: robgul on 13 February, 2024, 07:41:46 pm
Hurrah: I have just applied for a TfL Over-60s Photocard :thumbsup:

Bah: I am entitled to a TfL Over-60s Photocard :'(

Huh! - wait until you have to renew your driving licence every 3 years!   

Pretty much just a couple of questions:  Are you warm and standing up, and can see OK with/without specs?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Jurek on 13 February, 2024, 08:44:44 pm
Hurrah: I have just applied for a TfL Over-60s Photocard :thumbsup:

Bah: I am entitled to a TfL Over-60s Photocard :'(
I found it to be a double-edged sword.
Happy with the free travel, (even though I still have to cough full whack when I board the 05.56 Ginger Line from Forest Hill of a morning).
Less happy with succumbing easily to the inclination to reduce my cycling miles.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: andrewc on 13 February, 2024, 08:52:45 pm
We get free travel on Merseyside as well, from Southport down to Chester.  Another 8 months for me to wait.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Flite on 13 February, 2024, 09:42:43 pm
I've had a travel card for about 15 years.
I've used it twice.*
Both occasions I drove about 25 miles to the city and got on the park and ride to the hospital.
I'd probably need to book B&B to get there using public transport.
* OK 4 times if you count the return...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 February, 2024, 01:36:29 am
Hurrah: I have just applied for a TfL Over-60s Photocard :thumbsup:

Bah: I am entitled to a TfL Over-60s Photocard :'(
I found it to be a double-edged sword.
Happy with the free travel, (even though I still have to cough full whack when I board the 05.56 Ginger Line from Forest Hill of a morning).
Less happy with succumbing easily to the inclination to reduce my cycling miles.

The vast majority of my tube/bus use is at sensible hours, thought I'll likely have to pay full whack to get to LHR in September chiz.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Giraffe on 14 February, 2024, 04:09:19 pm
Had mine for nearly 17 years. It saved me a fortune in the Lakes in '09, especially as I'd found a B&B for 7 nights trans-weekend (don't Google for that, children) so that I could do Kendal - Shap and back for nowt.
Buses are, atm, £2/trip - bearable in all but principle.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Pingu on 15 February, 2024, 04:48:30 pm
Hurrah: I have just applied for a TfL Over-60s Photocard :thumbsup:

Bah: I am entitled to a TfL Over-60s Photocard :'(

Me too also, but it's a 'National Entitlement Card' up here.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 February, 2024, 05:12:51 pm
Which presumably leads to tedious joaks about the entitled oldies.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 February, 2024, 10:18:12 am
Not exactly because the yoof have them too, in order to get their free bus travel, I believe.
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 23 February, 2024, 05:53:43 pm
GN: Today I made ten curry meals so that is nine future meals in the freezer.
BN: I am about to wash the dishes
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 March, 2024, 07:54:17 pm
Bah: Microwave stopped microwaving >:(

Hurrah! Microwave restarted microwaving after a reboot :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Kim on 06 March, 2024, 10:23:39 pm
I've noticed that our microwave's performance tails off alarmingly during times of Silly Oak vole shortage.  Which is mostly in the evenings and around lunchtime, obviously.  It took 7 minutes, 6 seconds[1] to almost completely fail to defrost a curry the other day.


[1] Throwback to our previous - much better - microwave, which in its twilight years suffered from a corroded membrane keypad, with the effect that the '0', '2' '5' and 'auto defrost' buttons were non-functional[2].  As a result we've developed some peculiar habits when it comes to arbitrary durations for microwaving things.
[2] There was a brief reprive when Hananananah The Astronononmer[3] and I carefully peeled it apart and applied conductive paint to the b0rked bit.
[3] Optical, so has entirely normal attitudes towards microwave ovens.

Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 March, 2024, 01:04:38 am
If it’s to do with cookery shouldn’t she be an astonomnomnomer?
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: jsabine on 07 March, 2024, 08:00:27 am
If it’s to do with cookery shouldn’t she be an astonomnomnomer?

Only if she's associated with Brum's second university ...
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 March, 2024, 10:26:45 am
If it’s to do with cookery shouldn’t she be an astonomnomnomer?

Only if she's associated with Brum's second university ...

 :facepalm:  It was late, is my excuse
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 March, 2024, 12:09:16 pm
Bah: Hi-vizzed heavies on the door at Mr Sainsbury’s House of Toothy Comestibles.  “Cash only except for $BANK”.  Had to go up the road to Mr Morrison's House of Toothy Comestibles for my supplies of Rugby-Watching Fluid instead :(

Hurrah: Neither raining nor beset with a Mighty Rushing Wind :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Good News / Bad News Thread
Post by: TheLurker on 27 March, 2024, 03:58:24 pm
Bad news.  Radiator leaking,well weeping, from top by bleed valve.  Radiator is 30+ years old.
Good news.  Radiator is 30+ years old so plumber able to remove, clean up and refit the affected part in under half an hour.