Thought it was just me but same symptoms for 3 weeks now. Fatigue, headache, sore throat and now cough………yet still negative on covid. As above, wish it would either get better or come to it’s conclusion then better. Bloody frustrating

We Were Promised Jetpacks  – Some cracking tracks and brilliant live. Thought they might get nearer the Biffy level of success

Drinking alcohol. Pointless, but a hard habit to break sadly

I was called up two weeks ago but by the Tuesday evening I was told I wouldn’t be needed and my service had ended. Kind of glad to be honest.

I’ve had a 2014 Golf Estate GT 2.0 TDI for the past 2 years and it’s been superb. Seriously quick, economical and hasn’t missed a beat despite the 120k miles on the clock.  Worth the £8k I paid at the time and I’m confident it will hit 200k miles.

What’s the aversion to diesel? If well looked after, the Skoda/VW/Audi 1.9/2.0 diesel engines go on and on.

Whilst not inexperienced in the hills, I am a relative novice in full winter conditions. Last winter I purchased my first pair of crampons and proceeded to carry them up umpteen Munro’s where they were not necessary. Last weekend they came into their own and I wouldn’t have summited without them, totally justified the previous trips where they might have been of use.

Meindl walking boots

Meat

Bordeaux red wine

E – Olives then some Cajun haddock with rice

D – Moet Vintage 2008, then Markus Molitor Riesling VV 2020, on to Chateau Plince Pomerol 2012………maybe a dram later

L – Led Zeppelin 4 on vinyl I was gifted for Christmas

M&S have some new malts in. One is an exclusive by Kilchoman and vgv at £35. Their Machir Bay expression is my go to but usually costs £45

Ass hat

The Mrs and I are both in the wine trade. Corked wines are said to be below 5% of naturally cork closed wines due to cork being better sterilised and of higher quality in general. However, it was thought to be around 10% 15-20 years ago

Most of the wines we taste are under cork* but around half of those are technical composite corks. These are dominated by the producer DIAM who make some great corks, with different grades designed to allow the wine to age slower or faster. The DIAM 3 is recommended for 3 years ageing, the DIAM 10 for 10 years and so on.

DIAM Corks

The cork vs screwcap debate will long outlive us all.

Another vote for Hills and Harbour. I used to work for a rival local gin distillery and always loved what they do.

Dreadful game of rugby. Roll on France Scotland tomorrow

Another Pipedream 400 XL user here. Pretty happy with it in terms of pack size and weight, feels nice and is warm above freezing. However, below freezing it can feel a bit chilly and lacking in stuffing, so I use a silk liner.

I’m sure I read the XL doesn’t have any more down filling than the standard one, therefore it’s spread thinner throughout the bag.

My gf has a Mountain Equipment Helium 400. It performs much better below freezing and is comparable in all other areas, a little less expensive when on offer too.

We’re near Peebles, Borders and paying £75 for a builders bag of air dried hardwood. £65 for dried softwood which we’ve had before but try to avoid. This is pretty good value Vs most of the country I believe.

The only thing I have to add to this is buy a good tent or a van to sleep in. Save the cash for a new bike

I think we’ve had it too good for too long with retailers and their “free delivery”. It’s not free and factored into the cost of goods. Courier costs have increased massively so retailers moving to the cheaper options – Yodel/Hermes etc to ensure they can still offer free delivery

The UK staffing crisis, cost of living, and fuel costs are hitting all these companies hard so hardly a surprise the service has gone downhill.

I work in specialist retail and we run two vans. Trying to find p/t staff to work in store or drive a van is a nightmare.

Put it all into perspective and remember a time before Amazon Prime and the delivery culture we’ve become accustomed to.

I’m sure none of it has anything to do with Brexit of course……….

@vd We also considered Billie’s beer festival but a bit pricey and I’d likely get rather pished before seeing Jason which isn’t a good idea. Will definitely be checking out the bar though…..looks cracking!

Biffy Clyro at the OVO Glasgow were amazing tonight, though they never disappoint. Best live band out there just now imo.

@vd We are also off to see Jason Isbell in Antwerp on Saturday. Beyond excited after the two year delay.

@roverpig Unfortunately you do need to provide an email to access Sportspursuit but it is worth it. Still showing in stock my end

Complete waste of taxpayers money.

@joeyr I think you could be right there, though folk still need to live somewhere so would that not put pressure on the value end of the market? Could be case of hanging on months and see what comes up.

On the other hand, feeling a little lucky not to have a mortgage up for renewal in the next few months. We know a few folk in this boat and they’re feeling rather uneasy

Been trying to buy our first home for around a year now, and even with a hefty deposit we find ourselves still renting. Granted we are rather fussy in what we want so have been hanging on for the right thing.

Feeling totally disheartened by the rate increases and mortgages being pulled this week, so likely to be renting for the foreseeable.

Great idea, however, since Brexit the limit you can bring into the UK is 24 bottles per person. If you don’t need more than this then go for it.

I work for a UK-wide wine merchant so feel free to PM me for any help/advice

Got some Ergon bar ends on the carbon hardtail. Definitely adds hand positions and only negative is steep descents can be a little spicier

E – Sausages, spuds, green beans
D – Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2017
L – Jason Isbell mix on Spotify

Cycled those very switchbacks out of Kotor back in 2009. That was fully loaded touring on route to Athens, and thankfully only mid 20s temperature wise. Not an easy climb but so worth it for the forts and views back down to the bay. The roads over the otherside and on to Podgorica were not in the best of condition but a gravel bike would work a treat!

I highly recommend Montenegro and can’t wait to return

Once or twice. Most recently today, driving my car which ran out of MOT yesterday. Motoring offences don’t really count though……….

Tried Penderyn Myth a couple times…. horrendous excuse for whisky, and I did really want to like it. In contrast, Cotswold distillery whisky is delicious and it really pains me to admit that.

For proper whisky my go to drams are Bunnahabainn 12yo, Aberlour 12yo and anything from Kilchoman

As suggested, days in the hills to build supporting muscles but also suggest poles. I suffer with bad knees on the downhills, especially on multi-day hikes so swear by poles to take the pressure off.

I’ve had a couple of different pairs and I’m very happy with my current poles which are comfy, lightweight and sub £60 – Fizan Compact 4

Fair play @mogrim. That’s some effort and the scenery looks epic too. One to add to the long list of races I must try

Such was the presence of Taylor in the band that I don’t believe they should replace him and a line should be drawn with the end of Foo Fighters. RIP Taylor

Whilst it’s not quite £99, the Fenix 6 Pro Solar is currently £399 on SportsPursuit. £100 less than anywhere else by the looks of it. Finally found a replacement to the Instinct that didn’t turn up.

Fenix 6

‘Frustrating’ is a fair and measured way to describe it. Fully aware why we can’t just go wading in to help on the ground or impose a no fly zone but it’s currently a no win situation. I fully appreciate the Ukrainians anger at the rest of Europe just now. It’s irrational but would we not feel the same if under attack??

Aside from donating to DEC which I’ve done, I’m at a loss as to how to help. Feeling so angry and wish Europe/NATO would do more. If I thought it would help I’d be travelling to Ukraine or supporting countries Poland/Hungary/Moldova at the drop of a hat.

Also just watched the Netflix doc on Maidan in 2014. A super insight on the conflicts running up to the current state of fairs. Hard to watch but worthwhile education.

Feeling absolutely helpless but want to help and be with the Ukrainian people fighting to save their country. Truly heartbreaking

Can’t help much on the food side as I’m also hopelessly addicted to sugar, eating biscuits and chocolate everyday. Also tall, skinny with a beer gut.

On the exercise front though, have you tried another outdoor pursuit? I also CBA with cycling a lot of the time due to the cold, with constant cold hands and feet. However, I have been hiking/running loads during lockdown and don’t suffer the cold due to moving my lanky limbs a lot more.

@mogrim – you’re not wrong, that demon has already appeared now the knees have recovered a little. I’m sure I’ll do another at some stage…..with a bit more effort.

16.5k is a huge effort considering that incline! Though I’d imagine plenty of fast hiking on the ups as opposed to running per se

Decided today was the day to finally give marathon distance a go. Trail with 300m ascent. Was hoping for sub 5 hours and managed 4hr 45 so quite chuffed. First 15k was enjoyable then slowly but surely fatigue set in, with the last 3k walking.

Given the longest run I’ve managed in the past 6 months was 20k….and some time ago, it wasn’t a bad result.

Glad to have ticked it off the list but zero interest on repeating it

You have impeccable taste @frankconway – Matuselum, Apostoles and Noe are all delicious and often make up part of our cabinet