I have the ladies version from last year’s sale. It’s a really lovely jacket – well-finished and, as others have said, windproof and packs down (easily) very small. I’ve not worn it on the bike – just for walking, and I’ve been lucky enough that it hasn’t rained, so can’t comment on that. I’ve only worn it when it’s been warm – it’s so thin that it wouldn’t be useful to me if there were any sort of nip in the air, but I generally run cold.

but it’s never too late to pick something back up!

Absolutely agree! I played the violin as a youngster and then left it for a few decades after my teacher retired and life happened. I picked it up again maybe 7 years ago and am enjoying and appreciating it more than I ever did before. I’m having lessons again, and play with two regular musical groups and various other one-off things. It’s really fun. I’m also teaching myself to play the harp – to my ear such a gorgeous sound, and easy to make it sound good even as a complete beginner (not like the violin!).

matt_outandabout … a smiling spoon … superb!

As an adult when I moved 20 miles north to Glasgow, it was called “caramel shortcake” and people looked at me like I was a communist if I asked for “millionaire shortbread”

This has solved a long-standing source of puzzlement for me … I always wondered what millionaire shortbread was, as it looked just like caramel shortcake to me. Turns out they’re the same thing. I’m off for a wee lie down.

Here it is:

STW POSITIVITY THREAD!!

Really sad to hear this. Will look forward to hearing more about what comes next.

Lovely to see those big smiles. 😃

Whats a guddle?

mess, muddle, confusion

– Scottish National Dictionary

Very sorry to hear this. Mayhems were an absolute joy and nightmare rolled into one, and I’ll always be grateful for these fabulous events.

Thanks, Hannah – watched the trailer and will find the time to watch this.

Well done, Clover. It looks great. I can imagine using one for an overnight stay, and would use a waterproof one to fold up my wet swimming things after a trip to the beach or pool.

Loved the bra coming out of the bag with the laptop! 😂

Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs of Joy & Peace. Mellow.

Thanks for the tip about A Man Called Otto, Hannah – I read the book a while back and had forgotten a film was coming. Quite an unusual story, but will be interested to see how the film turns out.

Has anyone been watching their annual film favourites? I tend to watch mine around Christmas time when there’s more time for tv.

I watched Pride and Prejudice (the 2005 film) the other week. It’s such a gorgeous looking film, even apart from the characters and story, and the soundtrack is just fabulous. It put me in mind to watch the 1995 version with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth which, happily, I found on iPlayer.

Reading wise, I’ve just finished Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson. I really enjoyed it – a quiet and thoughtful kind of book, written entirely as letters between the two main characters. I’ll definitely read more of this author. Just started Miss Austen by Gill Hornby – it’s a fictional account of Jane Austen’s sister, Cassandra, and some old family letters.

Bunnyhop – I bought your brother’s first book as a Christmas present for someone. I’m sure they’ll enjoy it. Thanks for the tip!

Finally managed to find a pair of jeans to fit! Levi’s 315s – thanks redsnail!

They’re a bit on the long side, but so is everything … will be fine if I stand on my tippy toes! 🙂

nah, you came here yesterDIE

😂

Many Happy Returns 😃

Making soup today

Hi ahsat 👍 😃

I’ve often seen this but, as you say, it’s never been girls. I’ve never done it … probably two main reasons – I need all my energy for the upcoming ride and wouldn’t want to waste any before we even start off. Also, I have no car park skills whatsoever, and would most likely fall off and injure myself before the ride even started! I might do a spin round the car park to check my brakes &c. are working okay, and then just sit back and watch the show! 😃

😂

Will look forward to the film in due course – ‘Fourteen Bikes and a Beard’, perhaps! (Or am I massively underestimating – is it really forty bikes?!)

😂

Thanks Hannah – started my day with a chuckle! That’s a great first date story too. Was the guy your new husband?

@Rona, are you me?

It’s good to not feel alone! High-waisted jeans are simply ridiculous on me … more like under-bust jeans!

I will certainly have a look at the recommendations on this thread, thanks.

Probably not as long! Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I have these – used for storing home-made ghee … the lids keep the dust off. I’ve also used them to bake an individual portion of fruit at breakfast time.

Yes, jeans are a problem, and I’ve been trying to find a new pair for years! I have the bigger than average thighs and calves along with a smallish waist, so anything which goes on my legs is generally absurdly big at the waist. I’m also not blessed in the height department, so jeans tend to be massively long too. Howies jeans with a bit of stretch worked pretty well for me until skinny jeans took over (which I don’t feel comfortable in). Recently, I’ve gone the Hannah route and found an alternative … I spend most of my time in shorts or dress with leggings. Sorry … I realise this is completely unhelpful!

On a related note … my would-have-been mother in law once recognised me from a distance at Glentress purely from the shape of my lower legs! However, I like to tell myself that these muscular legs will help me get up off the toilet in my advancing years. 😂 Blethering now!

Happy Birthday stickymitts! Thanks for sharing your photos – looks like you had a brilliant time. 😃

Because I’ve never read it, I’m struggling through Wuthering Heights.

Please do let us know whether it was worth the struggle! I’ve considered reading it quite a few times, but have never quite decided whether I would end up satisfied at reading (what I imagine will be) a well-crafted story, or if I’d just end up feeling worn out!

Yes, lovely film and garden – really enjoyed it. Your Mum mentioned that the windows of the teahouse had been reclaimed from Scotland Street … was that from the School?

👍 😂

Your Mum’s got a lovely accent.

If you’re feeling the need for a proper chill out, I’d recommend Mindful Mix at the Proms – available on iPlayer for 11 months from now – beautiful a cappella singing from VOCES8. I could almost feel my blood pressure dropping along with my shoulders.

Also finally got around to watching the first episode of Earth with Chris Packham – fascinating, and really well presented I thought.

My last new bike was about 20 years ago so I probably have a retro collection without even trying! 😂

👍 🙂 Important to acknowledge the small wins in life, I think! Hope things continue to improve for you.

The Mary Quant exhibition is on at Kelvingrove at the moment if that’s of interest.

GolfChick – This sounds like an interesting book. I’m always on the lookout for good crime books as gifts.

Have been watching some great music on tv recently – watched David Byrne’s American Utopia, and absolutely loved it. Great to hear some familiar tunes performed in a fresh way. Really enjoyed the visual aspects of the performance as well as the music. Also watched Sting live in Berlin with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra – I’d forgotten what a big fan I was of The Police in the early 80s, and then of Sting’s solo work.

I didn’t watch it, but there was a Prom where the soloist was Felix Klieser, who was born with no arms and plays the French horn with his toes. I love to hear about a person who finds their own way to do something they want to do.

Wordle in one. 😃

Daughter’s college enrolment.

Proud Father Day. 👍

I’m so sorry.

That’s great, Bunnyhop. I do like a cherry tree. I’ve never planted a tree before, but my Mum’s promised me an acer cutting, so we’ll see how that goes.

Don’t feel too envious, Julie … I wouldn’t say the kitchen table is exactly free! We bought one of those jigsaw storage things on holiday one year (I know, it’s all rock ‘n’ roll round here), but hardly ever use it as we like to put in a few pieces here and there while hanging about in the kitchen cooking, or waiting for the kettle to boil, or whatnot …  so we never really get a chance to put the jigsaw away. We just put anything that needs to go on the table on top of the jigsaw!

That’s a cracker, Hannah … looks hard – a lot of green! We’ve just finished Galison’s Spring Street, and just started The World of the Tudors.

So sorry to hear this, Hannah. So frustrating for you when all you want to do is feel well. Hope you manage to move forward with it.

Nice to meet a fellow jigsaw-ist, Julie. I love a jigsaw, and almost always have one on the go on the kitchen table. From reading the main forum, I always feel a bit concerned that I’ve misinterpreted a jigsaw (puzzle) for a jig saw, and that what we’re really discussing is power tools (of which I know nothing)! 😃