A random thread for small things that don't really warrant a thread of their own

[citoyen]

In defence of people manning NT attractions (presumed volunteers in most cases) in our experience they have been very good about looking after bags etc when you arrive as a touring cyclist with panniers which you really don't want to lug round a house or even garden. Which is more than I can say about other places, I feel a visit to the grumble thread is in order.

Don't get me wrong - I think they're great and do a super job overall, and bloody well done to them for volunteering. But... they can be a bit odd.

For example: when we took our then-very-young son to Knole for an Easter family fun day thing one year, there was an Easter egg hunt where kids had to go around the house and answer questions to get a chocolate-based reward at the end. The person responsible for giving out prizes was being very strict about checking all the answers and not giving kids their prize if they missed some or didn't get them all right. It didn't seem to be quite in the correct spirit.

Experiences at other NT properties over the years have rather reinforced the impression of prissiness and lack of a sense of humour.

Although in the case of ian's experience, it could just be that they've heard the Mr Kipling gag a bazillion times before and the novelty has slightly worn off.

I'd still rather have them and their oddness than the Restore Trust fascists running the show.

[ian]

Other than the Nymans gate Hitler, I think they’ve mostly been OK, but I think they attract retired school teachers, so a bit of sternness is to be expected.

The best tour we did was a local house. Our guide was leading us through what were obviously not the public areas. “Are we supposed to be here?” one of our group asked. “Oh it’s OK, I live here.”

Glad to see the upper classes mucking in.

[citoyen]

I think they attract retired school teachers, so a bit of sternness is to be expected.

There could be something in that.

[Beardy]

The former Ms Beardy the elder has VERY strong opinions on NT volunteers, but then she is the Volunteer and Community Manager for a group of NT properties in Cornwall.

[CAMRAMan]

I bought a discounted InterRail pass today, so that's next summer's jaunt sorted. Slightly over £20/day for a 15 days in 2 months one. It's about time I practiced my Swedish. I've not been since 1995.

[Jurek]

There's a place in Scandinavia where the borders of Sweden, Finland and Norway coincide where, in theory, you could run around in a circle declaiming loudly "I'm in Sweden! I'm in Finland! I'm in Norway!".
This point exists but, alas, it is in the middle of a lake.
So, unless the water freezes over, accomplishing this this could prove to be irksome.
Until that is one, or more, of the nations concerned have elected to drop a lump of concrete into the aforementioned lake at that spot, build a walkway around it, and connect it to its host nations via foot bridges.

[bhoot]

So it is now a slightly watery version of the Drielandenpunt for NL/BE/DE?  I had fun cycling around that a few years back!

[T42]

Anyone else see that article in the Graun about a jewellery employee in Tokyo defending his shop against thieves with a satsuma?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/30/sasumata-samurai-sword-robbery-attempt-japan-sales-rise

Reminds me: footering about in the cellar yesterday I came across a couple of spears that MrsT's folks had brought back from Uganda.  Both of them look lethal, especially the one with the 60-cm blade.  I'll maybe get rid of the rust and sharpen it.  Dunno how [il]legal they are here.  Not throwing them out, though, I might transfix someone.

[Ham]

That'll stick out the stocking though, won't it?

[Jurek]

A friend, who lives in a dodgy part of Brum has, attached to the inside of his front door frame using a Terry clip, a javelin.
That's not what you'd call a close combat weapon.
That'd poke out of the stocking as well.

[T42]

Still got my old fencing weapons up in the loft, and a pencil sharpener in my office.

[Ham]

You could give someone a nasty nip with these

[citoyen]

So it is now a slightly watery version of the Drielandenpunt for NL/BE/DE?  I had fun cycling around that a few years back!

A few years ago I did a DIY 600 with a couple of mates, visiting four countries - started at Dunkerque, went through Belgium and the SE tip of the Netherlands to Aachen, just over the border in Germany. Return leg was via the Drielandenpunt but it was quite late by the time we got there so we didn't get to enjoy the views.

[CAMRAMan]

There's a place in Scandinavia where the borders of Sweden, Finland and Norway coincide where, in theory, you could run around in a circle declaiming loudly "I'm in Sweden! I'm in Finland! I'm in Norway!".
This point exists but, alas, it is in the middle of a lake.
So, unless the water freezes over, accomplishing this this could prove to be irksome.
Until that is one, or more, of the nations concerned have elected to drop a lump of concrete into the aforementioned lake at that spot, build a walkway around it, and connect it to its host nations via foot bridges.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-Country_Cairn

[Cudzoziemiec]

Someone said today that my "Belgian style" w/proof cycling cap reminded them of Norman Wisdom. I didn't get the reference, despite knowing the name, so I've looked him up. Apparently it's all down to the peak being tipped up:

[robgul]

Someone said today that my "Belgian style" w/proof cycling cap reminded them of Norman Wisdom. I didn't get the reference, despite knowing the name, so I've looked him up. Apparently it's all down to the peak being tipped up:

Is there any other way that a cycling cap should be worn?

[T42]

A.k.a. Belgian aero.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Can be up, can be down. Down keeps sun and rain out of the eyes.

But maybe it was cos it was skewiff.

[TheLurker]

Why are so many 6th formers being allowed to report the news on the BBC?

[Pickled Onion]

There's a place in Scandinavia where the borders of Sweden, Finland and Norway coincide where, in theory, you could run around in a circle declaiming loudly "I'm in Sweden! I'm in Finland! I'm in Norway!".
This point exists but, alas, it is in the middle of a lake.
So, unless the water freezes over, accomplishing this this could prove to be irksome.
Until that is one, or more, of the nations concerned have elected to drop a lump of concrete into the aforementioned lake at that spot, build a walkway around it, and connect it to its host nations via foot bridges.

There's a tripoint between Poland, Czechia and Germany where the borders are two (tiny) rivers. You could in theory do that running around shouting thing, except that the spoilsport Germans have declined to build a little bridge like the Polish/Czech one and you would get wet feet.

[Mr Larrington]

One day I'll stump up the cash and pay the Navajo to let me tit about at the Four Corners monument where the Palefaces decided Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet.

[Wowbagger]

Jan's £10 Christmas present from Margaret Thatcher arrived today. I'm afraid I blew it on two coffees.

[TheLurker]

Jan's £10 Christmas present from Margaret Thatcher arrived today. I'm afraid I blew it on two coffees.

Five sodding quid for a coffee!?  Where the bloody hell were you, the Ritz!?

[citoyen]

Five sodding quid for a coffee!?  Where the bloody hell were you, the Ritz!?

A flat white at my regular place near the office is £3.50 these days. I imagine a hip young gunslinger like Wow goes for something more fancy - double mocha salted caramel chocolate frappucinolatte or whatever it is the kids like these days - so not surprised it might cost a bit more.

[Legs]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-67629952

I'm not sure how I'd feel about having my bike commandeered and then crashed into a fleeing rapscallion.  Is there a compensation fund for things like this?