Norwich

A fine city

And Mid  – if you mean North/South. Rather than East/West.

bonkers.

I still have one; got all the bits including the large allen key sleeve. Still use it.

Having seen the price on ebay (and the sold prices), I may not have it for much longer.

always CT for me.

they fit, and fit well. Last a few years. Shame they’ve gone from 5 for £100 to 4 for £150.

I need less shirts now as I’m not in all the time, but fortunately (?) the boy has discovered how nice they are as well. So we share an order, but I pay. This is apparently ‘fair’.

We were going with the family back in 2020; COVID killed that one. Haven’t made it back since. A real shame, but I’ll get back when the kids have left.

Stubborn Mule came up with a great itinerary for us; they’ve since done Guatemala/Belize and Vietnam for us very well (but we didn’t use them for Tanzania; that’s Safari & Beach).

@blokeuptheroad – operation was 6 years ago next month. Remember though I had the radiation after that, so that could also have stopped the progression.

I’ve also taken part in the RIDD trial https://ridd.octru.ox.ac.uk/ – using a drug to help dissolve the extra growth. Unfortunately I was on the placebo side, but it does work. Coming soon. Incidentally it was very painful; needle injected horizontally, and then wiggled about under the skin to spread the liquid.

Dunno when it’ll be available though https://oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk/adalimumab-found-to-be-cost-effective-treatment-for-early-stage-dupuytrens-disease/

:-o  Jebus, Mary and the wee donkey!!!

happy to help!

I’ve had the op done on my right pinky (privately). Took quite a lot out, and there’s still a slight bend, but nowhere near as bad as it was. And it’s not got worse since.

My left forefinger started to go (and this is one for @northentom and others in a similar position), and so I investigated, and got irradiated on both hands, about 4 years ago. https://www.dupuytrensuk.com/ Nothing has got worse since. Highly recommend it.

Still have to be careful cycling, or chopping wood, for long periods of time. And do occasionally wear driving gloves when long distance – very Alan Partridge. Oh – and had to get my wedding ring resized, due to swelling fingers. Very first world problem.

And remember, it’s not just the hands that go. Remember Ledderhose and Peyronie’s….

@fenderextender

Delighted to help and all that.

All to do with perching – Passerines perch. Swifts notorious for not coming to earth except for the whole egg laying scenario.

@fenderextender

Sorry to spoil the joke, but – swifts aren’t Passerines, they’re Apodiforms. Now, martins and swallows are Passerines, despite being superficially the same.

Hate to bring reason and fact into the thread, obviously :-)

Just stroll along the south bank to Borough Market. There’ll be something there – even on a monday – to satisfy everyone. And then you can see by the water.

formulated in Scotland for the highland biting midge

true, but the request was for protection against insects/mosquitoes in deepest darkest Wales.

This https://bitebackproducts.co.uk/products/biteback-superfly%E2%84%A2-ultimate-insect-repellent-spray?variant=42528016302295 has the same level of Icaridin as Smidge, and smells like lavender. Excellent against ticks, and mosquitos

it’s also – roughly – 25% of the price of Smidge.

@tired @bruce

There is an injection to dissolve the collagen build up in the tendon sheath

not anymore I’m afraid. Xiaflex was withdrawn from the EU (and even us) as it’s a bit rubbish.

Surgery is the answer, but over a year is a bit much. I have had surgery on one finger (private i’m afraid), and a load of radiation to slow it down (which has been successful).

I did take part in a trial using an anti arthritis drug, which did work (disappointingly, I had the placebo). It’s not on release yet https://ridd.octru.ox.ac.uk/, but may well be out before your appointment!

I’ve been to Vietnam, sleeping in non hotel environments (shall we say).

You do not any sort of sleeping bag unless you’re in the hills. I had a cotton sarong; I got a silk sarong made in Hoi an.

Packs down ultra small. More than warm enough. If in doubt, just get a silk sleeping bag liner.

Here to agree with @hatter, Marie Sharp’s are amazing. The smoky one is my favourite so far. https://www.hotsauceemporium.co.uk/product/marie-sharps-smokin-marie/

but my additions of choice at the moment are either this paste https://belazu.com/shop-all/smoked-chilli-harissa/ or (not spicy, but amazing flavour) https://www.blackgarlic.co.uk/product-page/black-garlic-paste-100-g

something else that affected imports

Even my friends in Murcia are complaining about the price of Olive oil. And they use a bit more than us.

Come park in the western Thames valley. Goring or Pangbourne. Close to M4, park on a free back street, split ticket to paddington (cheapest with the split in Maidenhead), and then Lizzie line across town.

Loads do it (well, not the driving from Brizzel bit obviously)

i’ve had a PlanetX/Serotta road bike for the last 8 years, and it’s been fine.

Only simple pootles around country lanes of course.

loads near us. Never seen so much.

So picked loads at the weekend; scones already made, and pesto in the friday ready for the pasta.

I’ll go and get some more this weekend.

am I stuck with them forever after?

this happens with Gigaclear; they do all their own installations, and as a result the list of alternative providers is very small.

So every 18 months i phone up and beg for a discount.

Their installation page should answer most of your questions though https://www.gigaclear.com/installation

The grapes is my favourite pub in town (the beer selection is amazing). Bookbinders is good. The Punter is vegan if that’s your thing. Ended up one night in some pub that did Alice in wonderland themed karaoke, which was odd.

Always love Pierre Victoire for that little bistro vibe. #1 ship street is lovely but pricier. Arbequina is superb for tapas.

If you want a hidden view of the gleaming spires at night, go to the varsity club bar, and the terrace on the top. One shop I like for that pointless thing you never knew you needed is “objects of use”. And it is just nice strolling around picking up the vibe. And obv the museums mentioned above

this is very close to me https://assets.reapit.net/stp/live/pdf.php?p=JCC230006&t=S

half the size, half the price. Still south east.

it’s been on the market a year. It’s in an AONB, next to an SSSI. It includes a scheduled ancient monument. On a steep hill, limited access. Bridle way next to it.

You will never be able to build on it, over and above the two derelict structures on there (and they are really at the four walls only stage of derelict).

I know the bloke next door, and asked what it was like (and have had a couple of cheeky looks myself). He suggested not touching it with a bargepole. We have a vast amount of Ash Dieback here (another neighbour has taken down ~400 trees, with more to come, and the NT are forever lopping things down. Great for the wood burner, less for the scenery).

It is a lovely quiet wood at the moment, with a large amount of wildlife. But owning it, and having responsibility for it? No. But then i’m lucky enough to have a reasonable garden, in a quiet area, with a lot of trees already. Others may not be that lucky.

we replaced the windows in the older part of the house (sounds grand; just pre-extension…) last year.

They were double glazed aluminium, but 40 years old. No vents, 14mm thick etc. They streamed in the mornings at times like these, and the rooms were – despite heating, window vac, dehumidifier, ventilation etc – getting the odd patch of mould.

The new windows are aluminium, 24mm thick, with vents etc. And there is literally no condensation at all. And no mould. Is it warmer? Possibly subjective. But it feels better.

Had a few quotes; mostly around the same price. All local companies, no national chains.

Had a didriksons shell about 15 years ago; very thin, very light, and very waterproof. Still going, but now relegated to an emergency bung in the car one.

I would get another though

ETA Oh and the kids stuff mentioned. That was brilliant stuff.

I’m mostly wearing some sort of barefoot shoe…either a five toed pair, or something like this

Decent sole, and warm enough to wear without socks. Love them

Tricky wizard https://trickycider.com/collections/shop-bottled/products/tricky-wizard

Whin Hill Dabinett. https://www.whinhillnorfolkcider.co.uk/product/dabinett-premium-cider/

Generally buy both in 10l boxes, and just keep in the garage

my school didn’t teach General studies at A-Level.they mentioned it a day before the exam “if you’d like to do it, please turn up tomorrow”. Of course hardly anyone did (me included!), but it would’ve made a bit of difference to my university admission. Those that did turn up generally got an A (i know, i know. Correlation is not causation).My wife did take it, did get an A, and did get the uni admission she wanted.

@stox Daughter used to sniff all the time; and I mean non stop. Used to drive me mad! God knows how she put up with it.

It turned out it was a deviated septum. Quick operation and all sorted

as a bit of an aside, i think that website just helps show what a good deal the wine society is.

Loch Fyne Whiskey – 1991 Speyside, £725 https://www.lochfynewhiskies.com/connoisseurs-choice-upper-tormore-1991-31-year-old-15381
Wine Society – 1991 Speyside, £120 https://www.thewinesociety.com/product/the-societys-reserve-cask-selection-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-1991-89a671fa

Not entirely comparable I realise, but…

You could almost use the full 6 bottle allowance for the price of one.

Or a OnePlus, for less, with keyboard case for free

https://www.oneplus.com/uk/buy-oneplus-pad

https://www.techradar.com/reviews/oneplus-pad-review

It’s not just TTs though.

A village near here runs the 70 year old Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race.

It used to be 120 miles, via 7 laps, and 7 times up a reasonably steep hill.

This year, due to the 20mphs on the routes, it’s changed.

The new 20mph limits in Woodcote & Goring mean we have to use the shorter course without Flint Hill. 

To me, that’s a shame. Less climb, less distance, devalued course.

I always like https://mistralni.co.uk/products/ammonium-sulphamate

No longer officially a weedkiller/stump killer, but it works

For improving the rotting of dead tree stumps drill holes in the stump before applying the crystals.

Tried a new island this year; Amorgos.

Flew into Santorini, Small Cyclades line to Katapola, and transferred over the hills to Aegiali. Very laid back, and very quiet in comparison to naxos/paros/mykonos/santorini etc.

following on from an earlier thread, islabike MTBs are now half price https://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/creig

dare i say, designed for the smaller person

Went to the Cooks/Rarotonga 25 years ago (and Hawaii).

In those days Air NZ would allow you to stop between Auckland and LAX for an extra $100 i think.

Absolutely loved it. Would love to go back. So incredibly relaxed, amazing people and scenary. And the reef was immense.

Go – you’ll only think “what if” if you don’t.

After all the eulogising of Rarotonga, I can’t recommend Oahu. So over developed, and [to me] a different and worse way of doing things. Americans destroyed all the culture there, whereas it still exists in tonga/rarotonga/fiji

This’ll work on the carpets for the residual ones
https://www.pest-expert.com/pest-expert-formula-c-flea-spray-5l-128-p.asp

Lasts for ages in the fibres.

Dean at Yorkshire Sole in, er, Yorkshire does my shoes when they need a repair or resole. You can specify the type of sole, and what you want done. Apparently now on that there Repair Shop, so presumably is recommended by others.

https://yorkshiresole.co.uk/

Or there’s another reputable one in Kent https://www.shoe-repairs.co.uk/mens-shoe-repairs. Not used them myself but would be my second go to

For the smaller fixes ( I got a pair of second hand RM Chukkas from Australia that needed a quick stitch in the leather) there will be a decent cobbler nearby. Word of mouth and all that.

not trying to disuade you, as i’m in a similar spot.

I’ve been running a flip chromebook for a few years; they can run all android apps now, and if you flip in the right way, it is just a tablet.

bit thicker though. But then more capable as well!

they’ve tried to sell Streatley a couple of times before; most recently just before covid.

The building was donated to the YHA on the basis it was to continue to be available to young people for holidays.

I’m quite surprised they’re trying again, but I fear covid may have stopped a lot of the school parties. As – of course – has Brexit. It used to be heavily used by European kids all year.

A friend informed me that his Audi has the ability to read speed limit signs and the cruise control/ speed limiter can adjust accordingly

our volvo does that.

It can be a pain in the proverbial. Pootling along at 70 on the motorway, and it registers 30 on a side road. It slams on the brakes. It’s done it a few times, and is the most disconcerting thing.

Or there’s a road near us – one side of the road has a 30, the other side has a NSL. Same direction. Basically because the builders in the field next to it only had the one 30mph sign. That confuses the car.

So – whilst it will get there – it’s not there yet.

A walking blog, but a lot of photos of the route you want. https://www.macadder.net/walking/ridgeway/

following the ridge way is like following the M4, it’s quite big

definitely this near us – 10ft wide chalk path, against a green border. You can (and we do) follow it in the pitch black with no issues.