I am a life long football fan (Hull City). I have supported the same team all my life after my dad took me to my first game aged 2 or 3. When living in different parts of the country or through other family I have picked up a number of teams that I always check the scores (Carlisle Utd, Villa, Wrexham, Morecambe, Berwick Rangers). All apart from Berwick have been my local team at some point and I went to games when I could. A trip to see Hull would always have been a preference. As a result I don’t understand how people can just pick a team that they don’t have a link to the area or club.

If you are wanting a Scottish team then pick a random lower league team or somewhere you have been on holiday. The SPL is dull with not much to play for unless you follow Celtic. The lower league teams have some interesting results throughout the season and if you are ever in the area the welcome at a small club is always better.

This type of dog owner is what puts me off getting a dog. I know they are a small minority but it would make taking the dog for a walk not the relaxing activity it should be.

I got some from Argos for about £20. They’ve done the job for now.

I’ve been looking at these for a while. I’m looking for an xc 29er that can also be used for some bike packing and multi day hostel trips and this looks like a good option. Does anyone have any info on the size? I’m 5 ft 9, would I be best with a medium or large?

Still not got my copy. Fingers crossed it arrives tomorrow.

Good to see you’ve checked in. As others have said this forum is brilliant when one of the community needs help. Keep logging on and telling us how it’s going.

Last year I was really struggling. The messages I received on here from people I have never met made a big difference.

Keep talking to us. Speak to your doc, the samaritans. You’ll get better.

Thanks there are some great films on there. It looks like Kendal Mountain Festival are doing something similar. Get on their email list so you see the collections.

If you’re using a laptop then get a mouse and keyboard. Then raise the laptop so the screen is at eye level. There are loads of little platforms to do it but make sure it’s for a laptop and not a monitor.

Most of my teachers were ok. Some better than others, some clearly nice people but clueless. The worst was a deputy head teacher who bullied kids. It was a nice school with very few problems in comparison with other schools. But this maggot used to scream and shout at kids for the most minor misdemeanours. He lived in the small town. I still don’t know how he didn’t get a beating from former pupils when went to the shops.

On the flip side was a brilliant teacher in 6th form. He spoke to us like adults, explained how the content of his lessons applied to the real world and would have a laugh. Best of all was him teaching us about betting odds and horse racing form. It was the early days of internet betting, we were 16 or 17 years old and had online accounts. He thought it was a game and not for real money. With his help me and a couple of mates ended up with a tidy profit from our online betting.

Accidental Brewery in Lancaster are canning anything they have on tap (normally a choice of 10!). They are also delivering via Uber Eats.

I use teams and skype for work. If you have Apple tech then facetime seems a good option. alternatively Whatsapp video calling seems easy.

My Mum sent a message earlier to say my Dad (aged 69) was using Zoom for a meeting. I don’t think it was going too well.

I put some cash and a card in a money bag and my phone has a griffin survivor case so is well protected. It’s not a pretty solution but it’s cheap and has served me well in all weathers.

Is he a STW forum member?

PR and marketing at Tesco must be p*ssing themselves and basking in the glory of their social media reach. They have harnessed the power of the super-woke and mega-gammon to spread the word about their new product range. Well done.

With regards to the products, it seems like a nice idea. If you don’t like it don’t buy it.

Midtown Manhattan is a good start if it’s your first trip. You are close to lots of the places you would want to visit and the subway can get you to the rest.

I’m not sure you will find a cheap hotel in that area but there are some deals if you look around. Alternatively look at Brooklyn.

As others have mentioned above. A salesperson is required to be a team player for the good of the company. That is until it gets tough then it’s all the fault of the individual and they take the hit for it (commission / job). It’s similar to Premier League managers, that’s why the staff turnover is so high.

It seems like saleperson 1 is out of order but I would agree that if the customer changed their mind so quickly it wasn’t a “done deal”.

My advice would be learn from it but don’t dwell on it. Move on and chase the next sale.

Bordeaux is worth a couple of nights. Food and wine are good and it’s a nice city to walk around.

La Rochelle is small and was very nice when I went last summer. Again loads of good places to eat and Il De Re looked great.

What about a stop at Mont Sant Michel further up the coast?

Ha ha! Perhaps his strange rantings last week were an early indicator that he was already infected.

His total disregard for the health of other people just so they could get home showed his true colours.

He’s not happy because the food is different and the people talk funny.

Tough luck, he’s getting cared for and will be brought home when it is safe for everyone.

That’s what I wanted to hear.

Thanks

All look good. I’m not going to starve or go thirsty.

@GrahamS Wylam Tap was already on the list.

Thanks.

Have a look at Long Valley Yurts. They have yurts on sites across the lakes.

Barcelona is one of my favourite cities. All the places mentioned above will be enough to keep you busy for a weekend.

Another place to look at is around the uni. Brew Dog have a bar in the area which is home to other less touristy bars and restaurants. It’s a couple of stops on the metro from Placa Catalunya.

The notes about security are valid. I’ve been loads of times and not had a problem. But, I have never carried a bag, wallet, camera, only taking some cash and a card with me. Be very aware of your surroundings and if it feels dodgy get out. My last trip there was in early 2019 and it was noticeably worse than previous trips.

Thanks for the PSA. I was about to go to bed. I’ve now got 30 mins of quiet after everyone else has gone to bed.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

We stayed there for one night during a trip around Italy. I wish we had more time it was lovely and the food was brilliant. It’s nickname the fat city is justified.

Well done.

Bottley
Rylan
Jack Whitehall

There are loads more people could be on this list. It’s probably quicker to list the people on tv that don’t p1ss me off.

Was the injury proceeded by a shout of “watch this!”?

I hope it mends fast and well.

I need to do something again.

I’ve sent you a DM.

Sorry to drift off topic. Where was that photo taken?

I enjoyed it. Much better than the fastest tractor a few weeks ago.

Edinburgh is brilliant for new year. Make sure you do the torch procession on the 30th.

Here’s the link to fat bikes and beer.

I like something “craft” from a small brewery. This is possibly the most singletrack beer product. Can we have a growler cage and growler in the STW shop?

Thanks Tom.

Does anyone know the name of the film maker or film about the couple retracing his grandfathers bike tour of Norway? They showed some of it at bike night.

I agree about the Rapha session. It was painful. The Raphabot that was presenting failed to understand that we went to hear the stories and see the films of road / adventure riding, not to hear him and his mate repeat the same stuff about how the world is changing and the world tour is dying. But don’t forget Rapha is our friend, making cycling and racing accessible for all (if you can afford their overpriced kit).

The rest of the festival was good as always.

+1 for the podcast to go with the series.

Try one of the independent coffee roasters that does a subscription. I have bought them for other people and they have always been popular and I have had one bought for me as a Christmas present last year. Each month you get different coffee so you don’t get bored, it gave me chance to try coffee from countries I probably wouldn’t have looked at. The two I can recommend are:

https://thecoffeehopper.com/coffee-subscription/

and

https://www.carvetiicoffee.co.uk/collections/subscriptions

The subscriptions alone won’t give you enough to see you through a month but as an alternative to your normal beans it is a bit different.

Both do mail order of their regular ranges so if you find a coffee you like on the subscription you could also take a 1kg bag.