Freedom Brewery have a 24 pack for 28.99. Not tried this beer but their pales and lagers are nice.

https://freedombrewery.com/shop/entente-cordiale/

Perchy, what was wrong with that lone stray log?

I enjoy gardening, as it means going to the garden centre and indulging in their lovely cakes.

Received my headphones today, pair well and sound great with my mac, but forgot to order a transmitter for my Cambridge amp. Any recommendations for a bluetooth transmitter I can plug in to the amplifier?
Thanks again!

Not mine but my parents when I was younger. A white vauxhall cavalier estate early 90s.
Waiting to be picked up after football practise or from fishing, you could hear it coming from miles off.

Also one holiday in Dorset, dad had to take run ups at a hill, never quite reached the top so had to turn round and find another route after a few attempts.

Ive actually been pleased with all the cars I’ve owned.

I had exactly the same as you OP. I felt a little nervy at first, so wore a shoulder support which really helped with confidence. I still do shoulder strengthening exercises that my physio showed me after the op and the op was 7 years ago. I feel it if I have not done my exercises for a time, so just keep up those up. I have fallen on it a few times, but all OK, after my first fall and nothing happened (didn’t pop out) I did gain even more confidence.

This is the brace I wore- https://www.dirtbikebitz.com/EVS-SB04-Shoulder-Brace/d57134482.htm?colour=Black&sku=753170&productid=205597&gclid=CjwKCAjwu5CDBhB9EiwA0w6sLb8QjzJUGRHra4bZdq-m3gZ-9GVu7DuMTEUJdNqVqgNnTvX6EX63HxoCxL8QAvD_BwE

Cheers for all the recommendations. I’ve gone with some Sony XM3, found some slightly above budget, but they look great for what I want. Cups will be OK in the summer as our house stays pretty cool.

Done.

Are there any books with collections of short stories anecdotes etc? Just read a fishing one that was easy to pick up, short story, put down. Some funny, some about amazing catches, but all centred on why people go fishing.

After reading many of the threads on here, I bet singltrack could publish a collection of stories/experiences. I do not always want to read about pros, I like to read more stuff I can relate to.

Year started off so well, I got married then just before lockdown I was offered a new job which was a shift away from teaching. Lockdown hit and I must admit I really enjoyed it. I like my own company and hate forced social events, so luckily none of those. I’d already been working at home for a few weeks as schools cancelled museum sessions etc. The weather was amazing, so I did loads of outdoor jobs, plenty of BBQs too.
A few weeks in to lockdown our old boxer was diagnosed with cancer, which really hit me. We’d only had him three years as a rescue and he really was my best mate. The one good thing with lockdown and working from home was that I got to spend so much time with him. Unfortunately he passed in September and working from home after that has been a mental ball ache. I’ve hated it. Even today I had a massive sob because he wasn’t behind me snoring on his sofa as I work.
However. We are expecting our first child in August, plus hopefully seeing friends and family we have not seen since our wedding as they live at the other end of the country.

It has turned a corner it feels like. Lots of colour starting to appear in the garden now. Just need some sun!

Is that Aylesford Poopscoop?

Matt, It depends upon what you want to get out of brewing. I started with kits then went to AG thanks to some advice on here. I love the AG route, yes it’s a bit more hassle but the way you can customise your brews and experiment is great fun and rewarding. I love the learning process too, looking in to hop varieties etc.
I think those pinter things may get a bit boring after a while. But each to their own.
As said, startup kit of AG isn’t that pricey at all.

The Ham Hill cider is lovely stuff. I had some at the Prince of Wales pub after a walk with the dog last summer.

I still haven’t tried the Trickys cider despite living down the road from it. When the pub next door to it opens again, I’ll have to try a bit.

I am very partial to the Sheppys cider. It used to be on my commute so filling a flagon or two in the summer came a regular occurence.
I do love their vintage and reserve. Also found in Tesco.

For a proper farmhouse cider, there is a place near Wedmore, Wilkins I think it is. Cash only though.

Turned a corner recently (before that I was really struggling), I think the weather has helped and the fact that I can see life starting to show with daffs, snowdrops and hawthorn. Not ridden for months, as lacked no motivation to head out on very wet and muddy trails. Start of the river trout season where I am, so off to winkle out some brown trout on a tiny Devon stream. That’ll put my head in a good place.
Plus, expecting our first child in August, so very excited about that.

A few things are now in my sights, that give me something to really look forward too. I think just having an end in sight has alleviated much of anxiety and stress.

As Dickyboy says, they are just one of those groups who have missed out massively on financial support over the last year. As they also had savings (saved for the house that was just about to be built) they didn’t qualify for anything. All those savings went.
Universal Credit barely covered their animal feed too.
They do have rewards attached to support, as they are using what they have, their knowledge and skills to say thank you for supporting them.

Edit* they only had one great dane, but inherited the other as their owner died of cancer and wanted her to go to a good home.
Their main source of income went overnight- they run small holding courses, which they could no longer run.

Thanks Poopscoop. They’ll be hugely grateful :) Chatted to him this morning and they’re getting a great response from those who watched the show. Hopefully they’ll be able to build their new home now.

I recently put one of these above my garage. Not for security really, but so I can see what I am doing on the drive. Works really well. The cable for between the panel and lights is long enough so you can mount the panel in a sunny position, away from the light. The light itself isn’t too bright, plus you can angle them in different positions.
https://www.powerbee.co.uk/solar-security-light-56-smd.html

As per poolmans post. I signed up for a subscription service from my local roasters. Free delivery and a mix of beans/grind etc.

Braziers in Wellington, Somerset. A nice range of coffee.

Typical STW, op asks for one thing and others say, nah, this is what you want to do. Sorry OP! :)

We fostered a Romanian rescue for a bit and she had a very strong prey drive. Like others have said, most of the training was done in the house. Getting them used to returning to us when called. We then booked a secure dog park and practised recall there with high value treats such as chicken and cheese.
When she would return from a quick run and sniff while on the walk we’d make a fuss so she wanted to come back. With you being on your bike, they may not want to come back all the time as where is the benefit or fun?
The whole idea about being dominant over your dog is rubbish. My FiL has used the cesar methods and now only he can control the dogs, they don’t listen to anyone else and try and dominate others in the house, especially visiting children.
There is a great book, in defence of dogs. Worth a read.

And with those cuts and after their greater involvement and huge contracts, who will step in to fill those ‘failing’ services?!

What could be an issue for them is that the nurses pay rise has come during a week where Boris wants to set up a charity to spunk loads of money up the wall on renovating downing Street and wasted millions on a press room and Priti shelling out hundreds of thousands for bullying. It doesn’t look good.

Matt, I think it is what they will thrive on, causing discontent between public sector workers. Those who have had a pay rise and those who haven’t. After years of pay freezes and below inflation rises, so many more deserve better.

Their customer service is excellent too. I had a dodgy hub after a couple of rides, and I had a rebuilt wheel in just over a week. No issues since and it’s done many miles.

I have one for bikepacking and bumbling around the Blackdowns. It’s got the rigid forks as a 29er. It is fun to ride, with a decent riding position, fairly upright. It is a heavy lump though, particularly the wheel set. For the price though, it’s great. I managed to get it when they had an extra 10% off.

I got our local MP in back in my first school to chat to my politics students. They prepped for ages and when she came in, they gave her a real grilling! She looked quite uncomfortable with it all. But afterwards said she loved the experience as they were clearly passionate.
After that she contacted me and asked me to tutor her son in A level politics.

I have some FiveTen Access trainers which are great. Had them a few years now and they are really comfy, grippy too and look decent. Unsure if they still do them though? I purchased my current ones from SportsPursuit.

Depends upon how the nduja comes. We buy it as a sausage, so sliced and scattered on the pizza. Don’t put too much on as it’s essentially whipped pork fat. You’ll have a very oily pizza.

It is also amazing if you pop it under the skin of a whole chicken and roast it.

My OHs favourite is Lahmacun. She cannot eat dairy so we make that (vegan cheese is an abomination). Minced lamb, cumin, garlic, chilli then once cooked top with loads of fresh herbs, coriander, mint and parsley.

Get decent chorizo, not supermarket stuff. Duchy charcuterie and also Good Game down in Devon do some amazing stuff.
I can highly recommend nduja too on a pizza. On anything really.

https://www.duchycharcuterie.co.uk/

https://www.good-game.co.uk/

Leeks, finely slice spud and blue cheese is a winner.

If you can get hold of some smoked mozzarella that’s good stuff too (easy to smoke your own)

Remnance of the Baekdeker raids. Germans bombed cities based upon a famous German travel guide. Exeter was the first city to be hit.

Something a bit different. A company in Somerset which is fairly local to us. We had our wedding rings made by them.

You can get materials to them so they can make a ring out of it. So a piece of wood from somewhere special etc.

https://ecowoodrings.co.uk

That is amazing RNP. Without community groups like Shine On and people like MrsRNP, far far more people would be struggling and in dire straights. It restores your faith in humanity hearing about things like this.

Got some Hungarian Hot Wax on the go and some Habanero. Last years crop was disastrous! Hoping for better this year.

Also looking forward to heading down to the South Devon Chilli farm this summer. Their open poly tunnel is amazing with all the varieties in. Plus they do a cracking chocolate orange and chilli brownie.

First Daffs out in our garden with all the snow drops, crocus is flowering too. What a lift mentally this has given me after quite a few weeks really struggling with the dark days and same four walls.

Our nest boxes are all being investigated by the tits, Robins etc. Pond full of spawn. Nature is amazing and a it gives us a huge boost mentally.

Riding glasses worn just in case mud and grit gets in. Always carry a couple of spares too.

Greenflag here. Used them quite a few times over the last few years with my old beloved T4. Service has been great and with the app you can track where the recovery vehicle is. They do use local people, so only issue I had was they sent a vauxhall astra to pull the T4 out of my drive and up a dirt track. The astra broke down once it had pulled me up the drive.

+1 for the Burgtec comps. I have them on my winter hack and cannot fault them for the price.

That is sad news. We had an exhibition of his work at the museum I used to work in, amazingly talented. But still lots of his drawings still up in the main galleries.

Really helped bring the location of the digs to life.

It’s all about the tipo ’00’ flour. That finer ground flour gives the best base, lighter, fluffier and Crisps up at the edges and base well.
Franco Manca recipe all the way.
250ml water
30g sourdough starter or. 2g yeast
8g olive oil
10g salt
380g flour.

It’s been a while since I read the book so cannot remember how close the film is to Fawcett’s life as also watched the film a while back.

Try the lost city of Z by David Grann.

Get in touch with your local authority or overall health care provider. There is at the moment a huge drive to get people in to the care sector and mental health is a part of this.

I am running an LA project with the last bit of European funding over three years encouraging routes in. They are crying out for people and really trying to open up routes through on the job training or simple skill up courses, and a key audience are those looking for a career change.