Disregarding penalties, starts etc, the Kiwi boat just has more boatspeed on all points.

I hope it blows tomorrow…

I too had great plans this year… I need to clean my kit and sort out the keezer and I might have something palatable for Xmas.

Well it appears that used prices are now coming down, to an extent that my interest in an EV has been piqued again.

We would be looking for a hatchback, about 180 mile range, with a budget of around £14k. Not too bothered about performance. What would be the current recommendation?

That first INEOS start was amazing!

Delighted to see the team coming together.

I am watching it and am amazed at the technology and speed, they also look very difficult to sail. I watched some of the SailGP off St. Tropez last year and I have to say the racing was much better.

Whilst I spent many years campaigning a Class 1 boat in the 90s, I’m currently enjoying racing a 55 year old Squib with my wife – which somewhat less advanced than the current AC75s!

I live in Wales and have absolutely no problem with the 20mph speed limit. I pop the cruise control on and enjoy the slower, and safer, pace.

Sorry to hear that OP.

But it shouldn’t mean the end of cycling for you. I had a partial knee replacement 7 months ago, after six months of bone on bone. On Zwift, I’m about 80% of where I was a couple of years ago and I’m cycling roads with no pain.

All the best.

I’m left handed for most things, although I use a knife and fork like a ‘rightie’. However I do use a soup spoon in my left hand, which can be irritating dining with a rightie to the left of me…

One thing I’ve always wondered about: is it considered rude to use chopsticks with your left hand? I really can’t do it with my right.

I rediscovered Olympic weightlifting in my 50s. 5 or 6 times British champion and represented GBR at world and European championships. Got incredibly fit, but everything hurt ALL THE TIME!

I was 60 last week, a partial knee replacement 12 weeks ago, but back on the (road) bikes and slowly getting the mileage up. Semi-retired at the beginning of August and hoping my health holds out for a few more years yet.

Camping in Northern Australia behind a sign which I read in the morning: ‘Saltwater crocodiles inhabit this area’

As a new beekeeper (see previous posts), I’m worried about my bees!

I took a full box of honey off each hives in late spring. They managed to fill a couple more on each of my two hives in May/June, but the weather has been so bad, with little flowering forage, that they’ve scoffed most of this stored honey. I’ll check them again in a couple of days, but I suspect I will need to start feeding them to ensure they have sufficient reserves to survive the winter; or at least until the heather starts to blossom.

Not a hip, but a knee with me; I’m 59.

Whilst I wasn’t taking painkillers all day, it has got to the stage where I find difficulty walking normally for more than a mile, cycling hurts and I’m unable to go sailing or skiing. My job is pretty stressful and exercise was my way of managing this stress. I took the decision that my quality of life, both mentally and physically, was of utmost importance to me and my family right now. I have an operation for (hopefully) a partial knee replacement tomorrow afternoon – I say hopefully as there may be a chance I will need a total knee replacement.

Partial knee replacements seem to have greater longevity than hips – apparently 80% are still functional after 20 years (I’ve not delved into the stats to understand age distribution though).

All the best to the OP and other posters – joint pain is no fun.

It’s amazing here too in North Wales.

As a novice beekeeper (see a previous thread), the bees have gone absolutely berserk for it – I’m continually checking they have room to store all the nectar, and adding more empty boxes every 4 days or so, to encourage them not to swarm!

I live on Holy Island. Here, and Anglesey as a whole, is a real pull for sea kayakers – challenging, interesting and as it’s an Island you can always find good paddling in any wind direction, and state of tide, somewhere.

I know these waters well, but more as a sailor than a paddler, but I would be a little concerned about going out in a kayak in February. But if you choose to do so, Treaddur Bay / Porth Dafarch would be doable in a gentle onshore wind (W / SW) although there will still be some swell. Alternatively, Holyhead Harbour and paddle up and down the prom in a N / NW wind.

The Holyhead Country Park is interesting both from nature and maritime industrial perspectives and there are some trails which run along Rocky Coast to it on which you could cycle.

For other things to do: South Stack and the Range is amazing, the Sea Zoo in the SW of the island and Melin Llynon for the doughnuts!

Hope you have a great time!

Removing, refurbishing (or converting), and reselling Agas and other range cookers.

You can’t give them away and to buy a refurbished one costs many thousands.

I’m left handed and they used to be a right pain to complete.

I once worked with a very hungry colleague who we nicknamed: Cathy the Buffet Slayer.

Well a brief update…

The quotes we had were c£4k – which I though was really high! I have to confess that we left it a bit late though to shop around. Given the cost and the fact that we had a few days in which to move, we did it ourselves (with the help of one of my son’s friends).

4 days it took in a high top LWB Transit; 4 170 mile round trips and three car loads, and £700 to hire the van, fuel it and pay my son’s pal. It was physically and mentally much harder than we expected and I ached for 3 days!

At 59, I’m NEVER doing that again!

Thanks all, a removal company it is then!

So many!

Alpkit Filo
Aeropress
ACF50
Bike components, frames etc etc

I’m sure many more; the reviews here beat anything.

I’ll be brewing a pseudo-lager with Lutra this weekend for my sons when they come back from university.

Cutting it a bit fine for Xmas tho’…

I’m going to be brewing an English Barley Wine for Xmas this weekend.

I used to compete in my teens then had a bit of a break to my late 40s! I competed internationally for GBR at Masters level in my 50s.

It’s a fantastic sport which is as much about flexibility and speed as strength; all of which are vitally important as we get older. You won’t develop a bodybuilders a physique, but you will add functional muscle (especially quads and back) and improve bone density.

As mentioned a few times above, the lifts are quite complex and technical, so finding a coach is v. important. Luckily enough, there are plenty around and massively enthusiastic in helping learners.

I too have a Love/Hate SS. It’s been geared, Alfine geared and now back to SS.

It’s my only MTB now and gets used in the Clwydians and Llandegla at least 3 times a week.

I’ll never sell this one!

So sorry to read this TJ. Take care and all the best.

Just kegged a Raspberry Berlinner Wiesse. Hoping the weather warms up soon…

May I recommend this excellent book to assist with thinking about risk: Reckoning with Risk

I’ve been considering this too, but one thing concerns me: my existing email address with the ISP’s suffix has been my main email address for years – can I retain this email address somehow or would it cease to be?

Was going to start agin I’m just caught in a loop of getting going or waiting and buying a pressurised fermenter, any thoughts?

I use a Fermzilla and an All Rounder, the former when I’m dry hopping. Whilst here are loads of reports of issues (mainly around dismantling the FZ), I think they are excellent. As fermentation under pressure naturally carbonates the beer, you can serve from the fermenter – I tend to do a closed transfer to a keg however. For beers that rely on the yeast flavours, particularly Belgium beers, I ferment without pressure. I think they’re ace.

Currently finishing fermenting a Belgium Saison and will be starting an Elvis Juice clone on Saturday.

I’m a Zwift newbie, but have really enjoyed the last month trying some training programmes and event rides. Today I registered for Zwift Power and linked my Zwift account successfully. The question I have is: do my historic training/events carry over from Zwift, or only from the date I created the ZP account and opted-in via Zwift?

Currently a Belgium Tripel fermenting with (overpitched) M31. Projected at 9.6%.

First time using this yeast; I’m ramping up the temp by 1 degree every 2 days.

I’m still hanging on.

Put a new brew on to ferment on Saturday, a milkshake IPA. Looking forward to that in November!

Bakey – just be careful as hell with your cleaning after using souring bacteria – they are persistent buggers and can infect your next “straight” brews. Especially if you use a plastic fermenter instead of glass or stainless steel. I also keep a separate set of gaskets, tubing and bottling wand just for infected beers.

Yourguitarhero – just spotted this. You’re quite right, but this is a yeast which produces lactic acid as a byproduct; its not a Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. I was extra careful with cleaning though and my current NEIPA in the Fermzilla hasn’t been tainted.

Currently brewing a Raspberry Berliner Weisse for when the weather warms up! Rather than kettle souring, I’m having a go with Philly Sour a lachancea which produces lactic acid as a by product.

Really interested to see how this turns out.

I’m new to Kamado cooking, but now have both the Aldi and Lidl ones…

So far the larger Aldi kamado has made some absolutely outstanding smoked pulled pork, chicken wings and belly pork. Ultra stable temperature wise and very economic with the charcoal (after a 10 hour burn, there was still 30% or so left). The small Lidl one is great too, have just used it for steak and burgers so far and is perfect for two people – it needs a heat deflector plate for low and slow cooking really. The Aldi one is 81kgs and the Lidl one 21Kgs – so the little one is coming camping with us

Loads, particularly as I’ve now the outstanding Aldi Kamado…

However to try and partially offset the weekend meatfest; we are now having at least one veggie meal a week.

When I worked in the City, I used to frequent The Old Bell Tavern in Fleet Street. I remember being horrified when I was no longer able to buy 4 pints for a fiver….

I’ve a few percent of my pension pot invested in that Fund…

I really should diversify out of equities a bit – anyone recommend a cheap gilt/bond tracker?

Hello there Juan.

Been here for 12 years or so… Whatever happened to Fred?

What an incredibly inspiring, brave and humorous guy.

RIP Bullheart