Spent two weeks in Wales. Going from 50 to 20mph was brutal.  I actually quite enjoyed the 20 zones, got to have a good look about.

I’m so sorry. The absolute worst of times, but many many happy memories to look back on. Take care.

@redsnail Just watched the BBC series about Columbia. Will give that book a go too.

I really liked the book à Man Called Otto. The Swedish film was pretty good, haven’t seen the Tom Hank’s version. 

I’ve binge watched Why Women Kill these past few weeks.  Interesting story telling. 

Reading Mojo still not back! 

Oh yes. The absolute worst. I can generally feel one before it gets awful.
If I get even a tiny bit dehydrated, I will start feeling like I’m getting one.
Here, in Scotland, pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics without need for gp. If you have too many uti’s they will investigate further.
In the meantime, lots and lots of drinking to flush through. Setting an alarm to go and empty the bladder regularly will help. Sympathy and more.

I attended a menopause session today. My work is recognised as being menopause ‘friendly’. 

Today’s session was held by a gp menopause specialist, they are few and far between.

Learned a heap. My temperature control has been off for a while, listening to this lady was hugely enlightening. So much made sense.

If OH sidles over and lays a paw on me I instantly overheat, otherwise I’m usually freezing. That, is a thing seemingly.

It’s a total minefield and one thats unavoidable.

Recommendation was to fill in a symptom questionnaire, go to your GP armed with that. The benefits of menopause treatment far outweigh the risks for most. Actual medical advice to be sought in all circumstances though. 

Received one of my worst injuries in the car park on my way back to the car. So its a no from me. :D

I bought a package deal from Bluefin, 10ft 8, electric pump, kayak seat.

It’s a heavy board, I bought wheels for it, but seems to do the trick. They do lighter ones now. Supplied paddles do have a tendency to crack. I carry duck tape jsut in case.

as with all things biking/supping, it all adds up:

lesson (highly recommended), wetsuit, waist leash, pfd, neoprene socks, decent water shoes, dry robe……………. :D

Just the 6.

General, garden, plastic/metals, paper, glass, food.

I have tried the tablet form over a period of a few months, not going to lie, didn’t notice much difference.

People swear by the liquid collagen supplements, if the internet is to be believed, they are a bit spendy.

Happy birthday, looks amazing.

@Dolcered did you see the Lizard in here? https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/back-from-the-dead-breathing-life-into-a-lizard/

.

I hadn’t, thanks for the link. I still think it looks great :D

I can one up, I have the original luminous orange bottle cage on mine don’t you know.

On it’s final outing with me, I cycled it round Arran. Not bad going on a bike that weighs a tonne, thought I was going to miss the ferry home.

Straight to bike shop, bought a 2003 Rockhopper, which is also still going but now with my nephew. I can give stuff away occasionally.

I still have my 90’s luminous green Raleigh lizard. Loved that bike.

I say I, it’s languishing in my mum’s shed. There’s one in Glasgow’s transport museum, as an age reminder.

Definitely a good idea to hire. We took a T6 Scottish island hopping. Loved it, but after 10 days found it a little on the neat side for 2 plus a GSD.

Next hire was a Citroen relay. Permanent high top. It just worked.

No one waves at you though.

We have the equivalent of a dressing gown for our GSD. Stops her shaking muddy water everywhere. Expensive though, £25 (half price) for a towel. Ruff and Tumble

sorry to hear about your loss.

Quite an informative read on the other thread. I’m not there yet, but I have been known to have irrational emotional angry outbursts when my period is approaching.

My work is very Menopause friendly. As the lone female for a long time, anytime my boss had to raise awareness of resources etc it did feel like I was the target, but clearly it affects the others in our lives too. It’s not something I’m looking forward to, i know some glide through it while others really struggle. It’s good to know there are options to help.

This chat actually came up at my last women’s ride. We formed the stance that typically women just don’t like hills, the thought is enough to stop them getting out on their bikes.

Unfortunately the only way to get ‘good’ at hills is to do them. I hate losing my bike fitness, typically find that me starting again in January each year is getting harder to do.

I also think women are particularly hard on themselves if they are unable to keep up, do as well as their peers.This is not restricted to biking, I see this at work too I have been that person with no faith in my abilities and fear of looking bad/unfit/out my depth.

Inspiring confidence in young girls would help enormously.

Storm Anthony tested all kit today. I can confirm nothing was dry. Dry bag and cover now bought.

Quite pleased with the rack and handling of the bike.

Hello all, Those mudguards don’t look too different. I ended up with crud road racer ones. Fitted with industrial strength velcro. If you don’t have to take them off they are fine. It took ages to get a position that didnt rub/ rattle like mad.

Rattles drive me!

https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/crud_road_racer_mudguards_mk3_pair_black-ID_71420?msclkid=719aee04fa8d17c5e8698ac9bb53fde3

My lock is a token gesture if nothing else. Hails from the 1990’s when I had a Raleigh lizard.🤣. My pride and joy it was.

Typical kit I carry:

Tools, spare tube in saddle bag. Got one on all bikes so I don’t have to keep swapping stuff about.

I like to have, waterproof jacket, money, phone, suncream, lip balm, snacks.

Somewhere to stash an outer layer if I’m overheating. Size wise, the wedge trunk bag should be more than adequate, without the sore shoulders. It wasn’t dear so waterproofing still to be tested.

Bar bag wouldn’t work with where my camera/computer mount is. Psychology do some nice ones of them.

Good article, cheers for the link. Quite a neat solution,  a little spendy for me😊.

We’ll see how this set up goes on Saturday. Unlike when I go on holiday, I aim not to carry that much…… Tools, jacket, lock, coffee shop change, factor 50.

We watched Sweet Tooth just recently, Dolcered … it’s one of the few series where I’ve thought the second season was better than the first.

Agreed, I think the budget went up a bit for season 2. They have teed up a 3rd so we’ll see it that comes to anything.

Congratulations Heather/Redsnail. Your topic sounds right up my street, I deal mainly in aerospace metallics and composites and not human factors.

Evening all,

Probably watch far too much telly.

I never did Grey’s anatomy at the time. I’m on season 2 of that. I could be some time.

We finished Sweet tooth recently which I really enjoyed.

Along with many others I’ve just been to see Barbie -loved it. Oppenheimer next.

Eagerly waiting on Neighbours coming back.

I was a big reader, struggle with fitting it in now. Reading a book which was in a hired campervan,my hubby thought it was mine. Unfortunately, it’s the most boring book, but I’ve started it so…..

I don’t have this issue. It’s just not his thing

We tried it once.  Cycled to the kelpies from Kirkintilloch, a fair distance there and back as a first ride out. He didn’t like my ‘advice’.

He had such a sore backside on the way back, it was miserable for everyone. I vowed I wasn’t going back out on a bike with him.

He can stick to footie.🤣. Everyone happy.

We met at and still work together. Plenty of shared time.

Hi all

Also a long time lurker and occasional contributor to the other forum!

I’m Ann-Marie but that’s too long so AM. I’m based in Ayrshire in Scotland.

I’ve retired my mtb and given my wee rockhopper to my nephew. I found road biking in 2005 (a red Specialized Dolce – hence my user name) and added a cyclocross bike to the fleet in 2016 and that’s my current favourite bike to use.

I’m a member of Cycling UK, for the insurance mainly, and started going out with the local women’s group in lockdown. I wasn’t really enjoying tootling about myself. Twelve of us cycled up to Glasgow the other week, 43 miles. Its all about the mileage and not the speed for me now!

I’m an aeronautical engineer, another quite male dominated industry, but getting better.

No doubt after I hit post, I’ll think of a million other things I could have said. Nice to meet you all.

AM

I had the PCB go on a Samsung last year and it was £200 for the part

We surely must be into the realms now of this being little more than a scam.

our Samsung machine had a power surge last year. Pcb was fried, just out of warranty. Local repair outfit said it was a right off. Refurbed pcb was 64 pounds on ebay. If you sent them the old one you got a discount.

Machine still going, but don’t trust it!

Allan Dorans – nothing
my old address Marion Fallows – nothing

I’m so sorry. My thoughts are with you all.

See this a lot. Glad someone else did.

Ambulance Drivers?

Highly skilled paramedics surely.

Prescriptions are nearly double that. Don’t look at the cost of care.

also Council tax is generally cheaper
water is not a separate charge.

the savings you’d make by going to live in England, wouldn’t last long.

Surely the wee little cranky is going to spend it on trying to find a way to force through Indy ref 2?

..and you wonder why people north of the border no longer want to be part of this ‘union’ – the SNP has a bigger political mandate than any other UK party and support for independence is growing despite the best endeavours of predominantly right-wing media and folks who spout their tripe.

this.

Re Scottish influence – with that many SNP MPs it’s not hard to see how they could hold the balance of power in a parliament. Or even if they weren’t all SNP, the total number of Scottish seats is significant.

Labour don’t like to side with the SNP?

Wee woman in work was telling me how much she regrets her No vote in 2014, after the last 8 years + yesterday’s ruling.

Our kitchen is grey. Fitted 20 years ago, we are finally trendy…….

Covid arrived the week before my appointment. Rescheduled for December, along with the flu jag. Never had a flu jag before, but this year I will take it.

I lurk here a lot, so fair play, time to contribute.

Definitely impressed with Mick Lynch and Eddy Dempsey. It really irks the ‘journalists’ that can’t make two blokes talking sense be the bad guys.

Union membership in my place has gone up very recently. My full team are all members now.

I liked it too, I do find it hard to fault BCS.

New season of Westworld however, what on earth is going on there.

I’m genuinely going to miss it :(

thanks matt_outandabout

I went for a Bluefin cruise 10.8. Heavy board, has a 5 year warranty, also UK based. I can’t tell the difference between it and the board I had a lesson on which was a RED. I’m sure the RED will be a better board, but in the meantime the cruise will do me.

If you are feeling brave, I can share the secret waterfall-with-beach-and-perfect-flat-campsite or old-village-spooky-but-camp-in-the-ruined-walled-garden locations on Loch Tay…They do require a crossing of Loch Tay, which can be sporting at times. There is always a walk out though if it is too lumpy.

yes please.