Amazingly practical and a decent drive.

However, as pointed out above maintenance costs are eye watering. Suspension, brakes and steering went on mine.

As much as I like the idea of owning another, it will never happen.

I made the Chilli linked on Page 1 by Malvern Rider tonight.

Wow 👍 T’was very good indeed.

I’ve had good ones from:

mksnatostraps.com

TJ, I clicked well enough with my counsellor and was certainly ready to engage. I just benefited more from having conversations with friends and family and working things through myself.
To each there own though and I don’t doubt that it works for others.

@tails a multivitamin high in vits D, B1, B2, B3, B6 & B12.

@poly I don’t eat sweeties and no longer drink beer or wine, so none of those examples are particularly applicable to me.

I am enjoying eating a veg based diet and I feel healthier for it (albeit short term at the moment). That seems reason enough to me without having an ethical reason.
I’m still feeding my dogs a BARF diet as it’s the right thing for them. I’m not “anti meat”.

My shopping bill seems to be a bit cheaper too, and I am being a little more imaginative with my cooking, so don’t feel as if I am limiting my choices (I have bookmarked the previous veg recipe pages and look forward to trying them out).

I’ve an old Leatherman Fuse which is still like new despite years of abuse offshore.

Also have a Skeletool which lives in my walking/camping pack.

I had one Gerber years ago (don’t remember which model) but the quality wasn’t close to a Leatherman.

Funnily enough, the same video popped up in my news feed this morning too.

I won’t go in to my circumstances as there is probably too much to cover!

I tried counseling but it wasn’t for me. That isn’t knocking it, I just didn’t take anything from it.
I tried AD’s and they just made me feel as if I was sleepwalking through the day.
(No disrespect intended if either of the above work for others)

What has worked…
Stopping trying to compare my life to that of my friends and peers.
Going on long walks in the woods with the dogs.
Going hillwalking, camping and bothying and just taking in my surroundings.
Cutting out all alcohol.
Cutting crap out of my diet.
Taking vitamin supplements.
When my kids are with me, ensuring I spend quality time with them rather than just spending time (their favourite family pastime is a family session at the skatepark!).
Limiting social media and online time – reading books instead.
Have just started with a mindfulness app which seems quite good so far.

Thanks for the replies folks. The suggestions above and the previous threads Cougar linked to have given me plenty of things to get on with.

Maybe I’ve just been overthinking things.

I’ve got a good organic farm shop two minutes from the house, so a good source of veg to begin with.

@nickc thats a bit of a selective quote! I was asking if anyone had pointers to ensure I got a good balance of food rather than just “eat vegetables”.

Thanks @Cougar. Will have a lookey through some recipes.

Haha, poorly worded on my part ;-)

Jeez, I thought it was a new pup and you were being overcautious.

A hefty vet bill passed on to insurance for a three year old dog eating a morcel of malt loaf that may or may not have contained a raisin. 😔

As per dirksdigglers last two sentences, I would be looking for another Vet too.

I’d love to know what treatment they would prescribe when you invevitably come home to the shredded remnants of a black bag, where once proudly stood a full pedal bin!

For context, I was in my vets last Christmas and overheard conversation where a client phoned reception to say that their Lab had eaten a selection box. They asked for the weight of the dog and approx amount of chocolate eaten. The Vet advised the owner to monitor the dog and bring it in if there was any symptoms of illness (and also to be prepared for it coming out the other end). That seems a reasonable response to me.

The Vet saw you coming. Given the amount of sh*t that dogs attempt to eat, I would just have kept an eye on the pupper and only taken it to the vet if there was any change.

It boils my piss when some vets try and give neutritional advice (despite spending a tiny amount of time studying the subject…usually sponsored by a big pet food company), by recommending IAMS, Royal Canin etc, which are crap.

I had a hilarious conversation with my Vet when she tried to push Royal Canin as it’s the best food available (her words, not mine). I explained that I feed the dogs a raw diet. She tried to chastise me, before eventually admitting she also fed her dogs a raw diet!

Rant over!

Also, they will tell you a dog should never eat garlic. My two get a clove each twice a week as a natural flea treatment. Rather that than give them horrible spot on stuff.

This ☝️ Exactly how it works in this house and it works.

@tomd, that may be your experience but it worked for me. I can’t think of any occasion when I’ve had to cook separate adult and kids meals. They eat what I eat. Simples.

Jock

Poppy

Two engraved brass tags on my two. Both been around there necks for four years and perfectly legible.

@tthew I meant to say…afaik, any Seiko 007 bezel and insert should fit a Scuba Dude or Komandirskie.

@tthew both are from am-diver. Pricey, but a cut above cheaper ones. The bezels and inserts are beveled match the shape of the crystals.

Also, have a look at “one second closer” online. They do some lovely Vostok/Seiko bits and are a little different to the norm.

Both crystals are original. They just get a toothpaste polish every so often (the teal scuba is from the 80’s!).

And another one.

Hopefully this upload works or I give up!

Modded cheap russian beater.

Loved this back in the day…

Get legal advice. It used to annoy the hell out of me fixing typos in their letters, but it’s worth it in the long run as things are set in stone.

I walked away from the family house, as was my choice, with no money. It protected my pensions etc.

I would love to know how someone ended up paying 11 pound odd a week. I was £750 a month until recently for my two, and that included me buying all clothes etc. for when they were with me (8 days a month).

On a positive spin, things will work out with your kids as hard as it is to begin with. Me and mine have a great relationship and they love the split time.

I am is Scotland so things may differ for you.

Hope it works out!

Bob_Summers, sorry for your loss. It’s hard.

I was lucky (😔) that I bought a Seamaster for me, gave it to my Dad, then inherited it back when he passed.

I hope you find a watch that makes you smile when you think of your Dad.

I tend to stick with Mountain Equipment jackets these days. Good hoods and spot on for UK conditions.
Also Arc’teryx.

Xperia 5 FTW

I’ve had various breeds in the past but currently have two Cairn Terriers and can’t see me wanting another breed.
Fantastic with kids. The breed club motto is “the best wee pal in the world” and I’d agree with that. Happy sleeping away and equally happy on a Monro or three. 👍

Ditched it just before Christmas. Two letters through the door already, with a mildly threatening tone to them!

Lovely looking dog. Hope it all works out ok 👍

Sorry for your loss.

Thank you for posting that Mint Sauce cartoon. My dad was the reason for my love of bikes and I let that slide after his passing. The cartoon and a conversation at a family funeral last week are the inspiration I need to get my finger out again.

Always have a tough time of it at this time of year. Normally just batten the hatches and try to ride it out, or disappear to a bothy for a place where I don’t need to think.

Lost my job in October so Christmas has been a bit of a financial struggle, but I think I’ve done enough to make sure kids are happy.

My Mum had a brain aneurysm this year and was touch and go for a while but made it through.

Just back tonight from my Uncles funeral, who died after basically just giving up on life.
But, and it a big but, my Ex has decided I can see my kids at Christmas for the first time in five years.

I’m hoping that seeing them smile opening presents for the first time in years will make me think of it as being a happy time going forward, rather than a horrible time and I’m fortunate my mum will see it too.
Trying very hard to focus on the positives.

Thoughts to anyone who may be having a hard time.

Lorraine Kelly

Refund it is, despite Cougars post above being my preferred response.

Been on Fleabay for years without being a victim of asshattery! Suppose i have been lucky.

My girls got the original Fitbit Ace for their Christmas last year (then aged 8 & 9). The display is quite basic on the watch itself, but they both use them to make sure they do enough activity during the day (not prompted by me). They get rewards for hitting step counts etc. I was surprised about how much they encourage the kids to step away from the TV and actually do something.

I have them synced to the App on my phone and it’s not much of a pain at all.

Both of my kids started of on Enuff and Birdhouse boards at about the same age and they were good enough. They weren’t doing much in the way of tricks at that age and they get the kids used to rolling around, doing kick turns etc.

Deffo agree with the post above about using soft bushings. Makes a big difference.

Both kids now on Welcome Nora V mini decks with indy trucks and spitfire wheels! 😯

Got a few “nicer” watches, but i’m developing a thing for Vostok Scuba Dudes. Cheap, cheerful and easy to mod, with a great history too. A proper beater watch!
Just waiting on the postman for bits to mod a couple more. Apologies for crap pic.

I have a few FJ jackets that I wear to work or to the pub etc. as they look decent. Would I wear one in a a situation where I wanted waterproof and warm…absolutely not.
If you want a decent quality casual jacket, FJ is OK. If you want a good jacket that will keep you warm and dry, look elsewhere (layer up with ME, Arc etc).