Oh god, the challenges!

People who regularly run 50-60km a week joining ‘Run 5km in February’

why?

It’s one of the reasons I only follow about 3 non family members.

One chap has suddenly got a peloton. So the feed is now full of 5min warmups followed by 30min cycles, followed by 5min warm down stretch. He also now seems to duplicate every walk, so he is clogging my timeline. He obviously knows he’s doing each walk twice, as he alters the title and responds to comments, but doesn’t do anything about it

Muting here we come….

art of photoshop/image manipulation’

Without a doubt; there’s a women in the village here who does very nice photos of the scenery/plants/birds etc. Wins a lot of plaudits in the community. To me, a lot of them have been photoshoped to within an inch of their lives; they don’t look ‘natural’. They can look great – and possibly better than reality, but….it’s not real.

Fair enough, everyone’s different. And I used to be the same back when I got my 30D, in 2006(?).

Then kids come along, and rather than lugging a massive camera bag/tripod/big lenses etc, I can now throw in a small camera, couple of small lenses, small Ultrapod, and theoretically take the same photos

The phone has a decent camera (42MP, four different cameras, complete manual control, all that jazz), but has nowhere near the quality and depth of the mirrorless’s photos (or even the 15 year old dSLR with 8MP). Which is why – despite some very good landscapes with the phone – I want an 11mm for the camera.

In an ideal world, I would get the EOS-R, but again I’d probably find I don’t take it out anywhere near as much as the small one. Whenever I’m walking now (which is a lot), it’s in the pocket. Generally even comes out on the bike with me.

All maybe perfect true but you missed my point.

none of which I commented on. My rebuttal was the (to paraphase) ‘mirrorless cameras are similar to compacts and rubbish’. Which is wrong.

…compact mirrorless jobbies… slightly better camera than your phone

But yes, a decent tripod and lighting system would be very useful in addition. So the camera and lens on the link I recommended was £300. Leaves £200 for those.

compact mirrorless jobbies mentioned previously would be nice enough if the idea was to have a slightly better camera than your phone

respectfully, I would disagree with that. The sensor in a Canon mirrorless is identical to the sensor in the dSLRs of the same age. So the M100 has the same sensor as an 80d; both have a Digic6, with 24.2MP. The 80d will come with more AF points, better waterproofing, more memory (for a better fps rate), better screen, and an innate ability to put L lenses on. None of which is needed for taking photos of art work. The actual innards are the same; the end result will be the same. Look at the sensor size link I posted earlier; a decent Canon mirrorless gathers 15x more light than a normal compact camera, which is itself a lot better than a phone camera

A prime EF-M lens is as good as a consumer EF or EF-S lens. It won’t be as good as a L lens, but you will be able to put one on – if a) you want to and b) you’ve got the budget. If you want, buy the excellent EF 50mm, but it will be a focal length of ~75mm on either a consumer dSLR or a EOS-M.

The 22mm EF-M lens is an excellent prime lens, has a focal length of 35mm, and ideal for the OP’s wife’s work. https://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/canon/ef-m-22mm-f2-stm/review/

@b230ftw

try here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS-M100-Mirrorless-Camera-with-15-45mm-22mm-Lenses-/362524551152

@lunge

it won’t be a traditional viewfinder. It’ll be a small LCD showing the same as the back panel. Not dissimilar I grant you, but there are definitely differences between an EVF and OVF

Why is mirrorless good?

a SLR has a mirror that flips up to allow light to the film (old days…). This obviously takes up a reasonable amount of space, and is a point of failure over time.

As there is no need for that now (no film…), you can just turn the sensor on an off with a shot

So – Canon mirrorless cameras have same sensor as their dSLRs, but can be a lot smaller. (some other brands don’t have the same sensor as their SLRs; do check). Smaller body needs smaller lenses, so they brought out a new range. But you can you the original with an £20 adaptor from ebay

One consideration; old[er] SLRs were often made of metal for resilience (my old one is magnesium). Heavy, but indestructible. Modern cameras – inc SLRs in the consumer end – are plastic. If you want something to last you have to spend a lot now.

but the M100 from Argos is good. Not completely up to date (but the M200 didn’t add that much difference). Just remember there’s no view finder. It’s all through the LCD (or the app on the phone, so you release remotely).

But – it’s a cliché i know – the best camera is the one you have with you. And the size of the M100 and 22mm is really that small to take everywhere. A dSLR isn’t

like @lunge, i have a small mirrorless canon (m100 in my case)

got a few lenses now, but the 22mm stays on all the time, the macro is used when I’m getting arty, and I’m just about to buy a wide angle one for landscapes

If I need a long lens, I can put on the 100-300mm from my old dSLR (gives an equivalent focal length of about 450mm), which is old and massive. Weighs the camera down, so you’ll need a tripod really.

unlike the dSLR, i can throw the mirrorless and 22mm in my pocket easily. It’s a lovely camera, and re-awakened my love of a decent photo.

This is what I started with, https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9181236. Bearing in mind it’s a good couple of hundred quid of lens thrown in, it’s not a bad price.

Remember, it’s not necessarily the number of megapixels, but the size of the sensor that matters
http://photoseek.com/2013/compare-digital-camera-sensor-sizes-full-frame-35mm-aps-c-micro-four-thirds-1-inch-type/

@ewan –

one way I’ve looked at it is the 16k you mention is just you. My wife will also have a decent pension (no idea what it’s worth, but she’s worked well for the same length of time as me, with a couple of DB pensions thrown in).

So yes, 16k for just me (or especially me and her) might be a challenge. But [say] 32k for two of us will be more than enough I’d’ve thought

Pension calculators never seem to take the spouse into account

The next village to us has the most amazing cheese shop

https://cheese-etc.co.uk/

apparently (reading the site….) Cheesemonger of the year, and Cheesecounter of the year

loads of selection, lovely people, and they do the superb jalapeno pretzels as well

they do a few different monthly boxes if you fancy someone choosing for you

This may also help though

https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/food-drink/subscription-boxes/best-cheese-subscription-box-gifts-london-uk-monthly-rated-a9536066.html

The first rule of Charity work is no one talks about Charity work

or something

i used to work at London law firm, in the database side (so full access to everything)

Start aged 24 on £45k, then up £70k on qualification (aged 26). Work hard for a few years, get to be partner and start to pull in £500k. Top partners were on £2m

Yet even after 30 years of being a partner, they’d still be coming in at 7am, and going home at 9pm. Then home to the big house, to see the wife and family you never see. Couple of hours sleep, and repeat

What is the point? Seriously? You may have a lot of money, but for what?

you can eat your own poo twice

Rabbits of course have to eat their own effluent https://bunnylady.com/why-do-rabbits-eat-their-own-poop/

I prefer to think of “calories absorbed”

Basically, yes. You could eat (and drink) continuously, but with a dodgy intestine (coeliac? Crohn’s? Diarrohea? etc) you’re not absorbing, and therefore not taking advantage of the calorific content of the food.

Want to lose weight fast? Salmonella works wonders.

I’d put it down to what is in your guts (oesophagus, stomach, both intestines, bowel) are not actually in you (we are triploblasic after all). It’s just a tube going through you. “Calories in” are only in when they leave this tube, and enter through the intestines into the blood stream

So faecal matter is mostly what you can’t digest (plus dead blood cells etc), and as a result the calorific content may be there, but we can’t use it.

comme ci?

https://twitter.com/Conservatives/status/1352314725816786946/photo/1

If you step into the road without knowing what’s approaching

I had this a couple of weeks ago; a couple, aged 60ish, going the same way as me, just walked into the road right when I was coming past. They didn’t look behind them at all. No reason – the footway was still there

Didn’t have time to ring my bell. But could faintly hear the chap say ‘Yet another one not ringing his bell’

Almost stopped and said something. But it wouldn’t be worth it. So I just rang my bell loudly and tutted to myself.

i quite like isobaa

another one of the sports pursuit own brands (i think) but very nice. Some smarter than others. Obviously cheaper on SP, than their website

See @mikeg , that does sound ideal, and what I’m after. Just need to work on Mrs P

we’ve been together too long for her to believe any option is something she wants!

and indeed something like this

https://www.coversandall.co.uk/custom-pergola-cover.html

but the retractable one looks even better!

interesting – thanks.

I’ll have a look

I’ve seen the price of their sails and masts, yes

we’re probably at the cheaper end of the market to that

canvas – possible. Depends how waterproof. And how it withstand a decent wind

yeah, that doesn’t work as an argument. Trust me

well, it was a garage I guess!

I don’t mind a temporary roof. Something that takes a couple of hours to put up/take down each winter. But i’m struggling to find anything

Clear roof

I did think of a polycarb roof – and I quite like the idea – but it draws parallels with my grandfather’s old carport…

thanks – should be fine on planning, as our boundary is about 10m away

Outbuildings and garages to be single storey with maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of four metres with a dual pitched roof or three metres for any other roof.

@aus

seriously – give the clockworks a call. It won’t be that much there – even if you end up sending it registered or someting

I stopped getting my Dunhill serviced at Dunhill when they confessed they could no longer guarantee it was waterproof (on a diver’s watch!) as they’d stopped making a seal

Not quite up to the Patek Philippe tag line…

So I now use a bloke in Didcot. His online presence seems to fluctuate (it was here), but he’s called The Clockworks. He’s very good, and like the chap off the repair shop seems to be a proper horologist. Takes orders from all over, and does work for the smaller individual jewellers who can’t do it themselves. When I was in, he showed me how he measured the second loss per day; mine was good. Under 1 sec per day.

Think he charge £75 for a service, as opposed to the £300 plus for Dunhill. He’s guaranteed the watch for 5 years, and has a clock of ours in at the moment

As an aside, he knows the bloke off the repair shop (who is here – Witney and Didcot are close to each other) and really doesn’t rate him at all.

remember that the rest of the body needs to be warm

I always thought the extremities got cold as the blood (and heat) left them to concentrate on warming the core.

Warm core=warm extremities

bung on more thermal layers, down gilets, hats etc

Course, with actual Raynauds it is slightly different. This is from the Mayo clinic (hmmmm…..mayo….)

To gently warm your fingers and toes:

Get indoors or to a warmer area
Wiggle your fingers and toes
Place hands under armpits
Make wide circles (windmills) with your arms
Run warm — not hot — water over your fingers and toes
Massage your hands and feet

high quality, lined and well fitted boots like Aigles

With the rain and mud here recently, I’ve been wearing my better aigles (which appear to be parcours2) for long walks, up to about 3-4 hours and 15km. Very comfy. Only slight downside is the left boot twists my lower trouser leg unless I tuck it into my sock. Not the biggest issue in the world to be fair

I do also have decent leather walking boots, but some of the paths have been under a foot or so of water. Right equipment for the conditions and all that.

i use both (iOS with work, Android personal), but I prefer Android. Probably due to all the google stuff I also use (chromebooks/nest/smart speakers etc)

There’s not a lot in it. It’s just personal preference. Drives the rest of the family mad though (they’re all apple; even to the extent of all extended family on both sides. I always like to be different…)

i’ve got back into bovril in the last month (got one on the go at the moment)

The family find it weird, but it’s hot, wet and meaty. What’s not to like?

anything in proper rubber (or neoprene) rather than PVC. And then store them properly, out of the sun, and variations in temp

Personally – couple of pairs of Aigle. One pair is 10 years old, the other maybe 7. No issues with either

@cougar

It’s costing you £18/month for her ignorance

but that’s the point…it’s not. We use Sipgate, for VoIP. It’s free if it’s only incoming calls.

We pay nothing, she’s happy. Win win

assuming the MiL is dialing from her landline

Was for her, due to the ridiculously expensive BT package they were on.

The main downside with Sky/Virgin/Gigaclear is you pay (£10 a month or whatever)

If you don’t use the phone for outgoing calls, but still want one for people who have the old number, or those that trust a landline number, then is there any point spending the money?

hence the sipgate route. It costs nothing after the porting of the number. If you don’t want to port the number, it’s totally free

Course, if you want to use the landline to call out, the others are straightforward and probably a lot easier to set up

we did this

We use Gigaclear as a broadband provider, an old iphone 5s as the phone, Sipgate as the provider, and Grandstream Wave as the app to join the phone to the provider.

If memory serves, it cost £20 to transfer our number to Sipgate, but it’s free from then, if you do not make any calls. Definitely free to receive but you need to receive a call every month I think to keep it active

We basically only have it for the MiL, who doesn’t understand that calling a mobile is the same price as calling a landline.

Works fine though. Possibly a slight delay on pick up (confuses said MiL), but it’s one call a week, and not for me, so I don’t investigate too much.