We’ve got a Muji T2 which we’ve had for probably 18 years now and it’s still going strong. In fact my daughter now uses as her main bed. I’ve slept on it at times over the years and have slept really well on it. It’s very stable and firm and has fully slatted base. Doesn’t look like it’s made any more but it’s this one as recently sold on eBay here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MUJI-T2-Sofa-Bed-Double-3-Seater-Sofa-Bed-Charcoal-Grey-COST-750-I-CAN-DELIVER-/143893744725?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

I’d certainly look at something with that sort of design if possible.

I’d also igone.

I was an early gmail adopter when it was in beta so have my email address as name.surname@gmail.com

The downside of this is that I do get quite a bit of this wrong email type stuff where people think they’re using a subtly different gmail address but it gets entered wrong somewhere and ends up with mine.

By far the most prolific of these is a guy in Texas with my name but the middle initial W. This guy seems to have money troubles as I get lots of credit application type emails, as well as dating site emails! Less prolific but also get occasional mail for an Aussie estate agent and also someone in South Africa. I initially tried to pass things on etc but it didn’t stop the emails so now they just get filtered into junk.

1) Corned beef hash with ridiculous amounts of brown sauce

2) melted on to warbie’s bread under the grill

3) In a sourdough sandwich with branston pickle

Plateau-tastic. Stayed the same this week but didn’t expect any better. Overall still 3kg down.

Gap Khakis from the outlet. Cheap, comfy, look decent.

Another 1kg down. 3kg total. Very pleased with that. Have started to feel it in clothes now.

Lol at the avacado bathroom thread. I quite like the square style, but admit I hadn’t clocked the waterfall taps which are shite!

Ok, food for thought there. The floor is pretty rotten under the shower (you can feel how soft it is – we stopped using it pending a refurb and used the main bathroom) so sure that will have to be ripped out at least. Maybe just get the shower out, fix that up and stain paint the hall ceiling?

Will have a chat to my wife later.

There’s a leak that needs repairing which has made a very obvious visible stain on the ceiling in the hallway right where you walk in. It would put me right off and I’m sure it will others. For the sake of 2k or so I’d rather get the leak fixed and get the en suite made presentable. I think it will be cost effective.

On-one big dog or scandal

We’ve taken a good few recommendations from this thread over the Xmas break. Port Royal has probably been the favourite closely followed by carcassone (got the big box and working up through the expansions). Enjoyed Kingdomino and exploding kittens too.

Not seen Ingenious mentioned so far and that’s a big favourite of ours. Simple concept but can get very tactical towards the end of the game.

Nothing lost this week but expected after 5lb in week 1 and having my wife’s birthday (Chinese and wine 😩). Hoping for a better week this week starting with a 10k run this morning.

Well, had the Pfizer jab this afternoon and all good so far.

Next one booked for April 8th so nearer 12 week interval than the licensed 3 weeks, but I think this is fair enough as things stand.

If you do consider a Montane Prism, Go Outdoors have it on offer for £75 at the moment. I picked one up on Sunday.

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15897730/montane-prism-men-s-insulated-jacket-15897730/?istCompanyId=c2ec8a5d-93c1-4850-a97a-f4d89d7c99c8&istFeedId=2755fba0-7dfe-46a9-bfd0-09b37aed8b93&istItemId=iwpxwttaa&istBid=t&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0fr_BRDaARIsAABw4Etb6MvZ5zH7lOHb_eocRH1-9YLbY1X7x-ZJy5yA5nuhTCFccbLdVScaAkIGEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Getting mine tomorrow, wife had hers yesterday – both healthcare workers. Wife seems ok so far except for sore arm as expected.

I’d take an Agressor over an Ardent. Roll just as quick but better at everything else. Ran one on the rear this summer and into the winter with a DHF up front. I kept it on much longer than expected once the trails started to turn as it coped pretty well. Eventually they succumbed to the slop but mostly through not having enough braking traction and spinning out on climbs, so the DHR went on.

I’d be interested to try the dissector actually though.

I was at uni in Brighton from 1998 – 2002 and looking back it was a probably a bit of a golden era for dance music in many ways. I was more into breaks, big beat, funk and there were so many amazing nights on there at the time.

Norman Cook’s big beat boutique at Concorde was a favourite and had loads of good nights there. Similarly, Phonic:Hoop at the Engima with DJs like bonobo and Mr Scruff. Also Krafty Kuts Supercharged night at the Funky Buddha Lounge with DJs like Adam Freeland. Loads of good funk nights at Casablanca’s too.

Feels like I was luckily in the right place at the right time and have very fond memories. Got into DJ’ing myself and spent half my student loan on vinyl in Rounder Records and other local records shops!

5lb (2kg) down which I’m chuffed with. Have run, ridden or zwifted everyday, been having salads for lunch and have cut out a lot of snacks. Haven’t had a drink either.

Loving mine. Built up last spring with a Reba, Shimano/Sunrace 11 speed mix and deore 4 pots. Mines the raw and have a few surface rust spots where it’s had dings but I like it – adds character. Otherwise no issues at all.

It’s actually made me sell my FS which was a 2016 Orbea occam. I’m just converted to 29er wheels, slacker HA, steeper SA and more BB drop. The big dog was just showing it up so want to replace with a 140/150 FS 29ers with similar angles. Possibly new Occam actually, or maybe Vitus Escarpe – stock permitting!

Surprised he hasn’t been mentioned already…

Kenny Dalglish

I’m in. Had a difficult spell last winter and put weight on, got a bit off over summer but not as much as I would’ve liked, then a busy time at work lately has meant the weight has gone on again. Need to sort it out.

Thanks again for all the advice above. It has been reassuring and made us feel more confident that we’re making the right decision. My wife accepted the job offer earlier so this is happening. We may well take up those specific offers of advice from the locals as things move on so thanks again for those kind gestures.

With the places to live there’s some really good thoughts above and particularly about thinking ahead to the girls getting more independent. Of all the places we saw, the Kinoull Hill area of Perth had a lot attractions as mentioned by oldtennisshoes so that seems a solid option. Similarly we liked the feel of the bits to the north of the A90 between Perth and Dundee as mentioned by Highlandman. The villages to the south of the A90 seemed nice too, but I did keep looking over to the hills on the other side of the A90 and thinking I’d probably want to be that side.

Dundee/Broughty Ferry/Monifeith are of course options and we’d definitely keep an open mind to that. We went to the beach at Broughty Ferry on a brisk but sunny Sunday morning and it was lovely with swimmers out in the water, dog walkers, joggers etc. Had a real active and outdoorsy feel that really appealed.

Great advice about the schools and the earlier end to the school year was something we hadn’t considered and this might help us out as mentioned. It’s good to know that generally the standard is pretty consistent as this is probably the major worry we have. I think if the girls settle and thrive that will go a long way to defining the success of the move. Here in Kent we still have the Grammar system and my eldest would be doing the entry test next year if we stayed. If she were to pass then all good as you get almost private school standards without the fees, but if not, then it’s not great. I’d rather they just went to a good school without all the stress and hassle! Luckily they are both naturally pretty outgoing and confident so I’m hopeful they’ll adjust quick enough.

Good shouts on considering air bnb for the interim gap. Hadn’t thought of that so will explore the options there.

Matt OAB – love your post and the pics and your experience is exactly what we’re hoping for. We would love to spend weekends exploring all that Scotland has to offer which would be something we could only do otherwise once in a blue moon.

I’ll update as things move on but again, really appreciate the advice and help.

Hi all.

Fantastic responses. Really appreciate the input. I’m at work but nipping in here and reading when I can! Will reply in more detail later but thanks again.

Beavertown Neck Oil is superb

I was genuinely mortified when I went to uni in Brighton. Couldn’t believe there was no gravy on the menus, in fact there was hardly anything on them. In Liverpool it’s like the Bayeux tapestry going round the walls. 😂

Anyway, I digress…gravy 😋

From a Liverpool chippy…. It’s the thing I miss most from back home! Ideally with a Holland’s pie dinner. I’m salivating thinking about it. I have to have one when I go back. Have to.

We’re watching it and also big Santosh fans. Just comes across as such a gentle soul. Very refreshing to tonic in these times.

I think Alex may win. He also comes across very well. Very talented at only 25. Bart has a good chance too.

Pharmacist here. Just on emergency supply, this is possible but as the name suggests is for emergencies and we are limited to the smallest possible amount that would get you through until you could get a prescption. If it was tablets that could be a single tablet. For eye drops it will be one bottle but you’ll never get 3 months without a prescription.

Otherwise agree with docrobster. Everything we’ve had from the DH procurement teams has been not to supply extra as this will create more problems than it solves.

I had positive antibodies after being asymptomatic and then a few months later got a positive swab after a routine test at work whilst again asymptomatic. Had to self isolate etc after the swab but I think it was probably a false positive. I thought occ health might want to test me more given the potentially I might’ve asymptomatically had it twice but they didn’t. Tests were more scarce then so may have played a part. I work across 3 hospitals and 3 hospices so pretty high potential for exposure regardless. I’ve since had 3 other negative swabs through routine ones at work. Who knows!

If I was the OP I’d get tested though for sure.

This one?

https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/mount-for-150/300/450/500-lumen-front-lights-with-gopro-attachment-931410

I think that’s what use with my Fluxient u2 mini after a recommendation on here.

Genius

Absolute poetry. Anderson Cooper should win the Nobel Prize for literature just for this #ElectionResults2020 #TrumpMeltdownpic.twitter.com/3qZRyrHrZm

— Gully Burrows (@gully_burrows) November 6, 2020

We’ve got the decathlon one mentioned above and also an OEX phoxx 2. Both good but would go with the Decathlon out of the two. Pitches all in one with only one pole and prefer having the asymmetrical layout with the larger recess on one side as it’s more useable.

Octavia 1.4 or 1.6. Big boot with the rear seats flat. Drives like a smaller car. Good reliability.

I loved the Ling thread. Had me in stitches at the time.

What a great story. Sounds like a great adventure.

I’m in. Attempted it last year, got to about day 60 I think then the wheels fell off. Can’t recall exactly why but think it was a combo of illness or injury and a stressy time at work. Hoping for better this time.

…And congrats @ Waliboy!

Just wanted to add that thoughts are with you OP.

I work in palliative care and would just echo what others have said about engaging as early as possible with the support services near you such as Macmillan and if you can, get referred in to your local hospice.

Many people think hospices are a place just for the last days of life but they should in most cases provide support for anyone with a terminal diagnosis even if the prognosis is up to a year.

At the hospice I work, there is a very holistic approach and a level of care which you’re unlikely to get in mainstream NHS care (I also work for the NHS so not a knock, but just the realities of the pressures on NHS services). Support is provided for the whole family and includes help with financial issues, social care, counselling, bereavement support etc. The medics, physios, occupational therapists etc are all specialists and will have the expert knowledge and experience to give you the best possible support.

We sometimes see families that have been reluctant to engage with hospice services, fearing that it is in some way ‘giving up’ on their loved one, but then once they engage, they see what it’s about and wish they had been more open to hospice support earlier so I would just make the point to engage early if you can with any specialist palliative care resources available to you locally.

Best wishes.

@Murf

Thanks. We had a spin around the blue at Abriachan and had a look around Glen Urquhart forest which was near to us (we were along the road to Cannich). I reckoned there would be off piste about given the terrain but we had plenty to keep us busy anyway.

@redmex Portree on Skye. Lovely place.

The pics include Comrie (stopped on the way up), Glen Affric, Findhorn beach / Moray coastal trail, Top of Laggan red, paddle board view of Urquhart Castle from Loch Ness and Skye – Portree, Old man of storr, fairy pools and wild camping near Coral beach.

We tried to chase the weather and largely decided our itinerary based on that and whilst the whole two weeks weren’t clear blue skies we had generally good weather and certainly had no wash out days.

Despite covering over 2500 miles including the drive up from Kent, feel like we only scratched the surface.

Just wanted to say thanks again for the advice and recommendations. Been back a couple of days but been tied up getting back to school and work. Did most of the things suggested plus a few other bits. Promised a few pics. It’s a pretty dull and miserable part of world 😉

Yes, have already bought smidge! Forgot Skye in the OP, that is also on the list if possible. A friend mentioned the fairy pools there?

Will post some pics!

Thanks, this is great. Will have a read around these suggestions.

@scotroutes, in terms of riding – anything really! I guess mainly something different to what I can get here (forest singletrack), so rocky, big views, lochs, elevation.