Similarly on zero hours contracts, I effectively worked zero hours contracts, just by a different name, when at uni during holiday’s, so nothing new there. Was a great arrangement, no commitment on either side so if I didn’t want to work one day I didn’t have to.

Erm, that’s not really how a zero hours contract works… I got punted on to one for my almost F/T student job. If I had decided I didn’t want to work one day, I’d have been straight out the door.

Used to shoot at the Bucksburn club in Aberdeen with my stepdad. He used an ancient longbow and I used whatever compound I could get.

Just bought a bow from Amazon and as soon as it arrived, I knew I’d cocked up. It’s pretty much a child’s plaything.

I see little difference to the IRA planting bombs in concrete rubbish bins

They gave warnings. A chance to clear out. These latest attacks are very different.

So they’re taking obscure texts, printing runs of 69 copies and destroying the rest.

As a very, very small time collector of first editions within the niche of folk horror, I’d love to be able to approve or even understand. But I can’t. Idea lost in translation?

Salomon ‘soft’, low-rise goretex boots for me when I can afford them. Covered 100s of miles in Scottish mountains. Paired with gaiters they’re every bit as good as my big boots (from SportPursuit).

They’re a sort of crossover between proper boots and wear all day bouncy trainers.

Made the mistake of helping out a local weirdo with his BSO. He’s also very ill and it’s his only means of transport.

Cursed and swore for a day or two then lent him an old Kona whilst I continued fettling his Falcon Xtreme or whatever.

Next time I saw him, his arm was in plaster and he wasn’t happy. Turned out the headset adapter in my old Kona had loosened off resulting in an OTB which broke his arm.

Told him to take his bike to the shop eventually…

Can’t see the photos but I stupidly took the top off my sram shifters trying to replace the cable and then posted on here in despair.

Eventually took it to my lbs who just laughed. Ended up buying a new shifter.

No way. Cheesy beans on toast needs lashings of Tabasco Sauce.

Anyway, the only thing I ever get genuine cravings for is pickle. Branston sort of stuff and Picalilli. Could eat half a jar with cheese and crackers no bother when the pickle-mist descends.

Start with a decent sized bottle of beer :-) That’s just about enough to entertain a mouse or perhaps a hedgehog at best.

A Nikon D70 – the first ever viable digital SLR. It’s now converted to record the infrared bit of the spectrum and retired from professional duties. I love its six megapixel, black and white goodness.

My day is better for reading all these tales, thank you all!

Mine is slightly sordid but true. 2nd trip to give a sample at the IVF place. Wasn’t looking forward to it. Makes you feel a bit stained and cheap. The nurse (volunteer) was a little older than me and she would not **** off. Made lots of thinly disguised lewd suggestions including, “Now, are you sure you wouldn’t like a hand?”.

Spent ages wondering if I had perhaps just been a bit over sensitive but the memory of her licking her lips is enough to assure me otherwise. Seriously considered sticking in a complaint but it was pretty harmless, if a bit embarrassing.

OS maps are my first port of call when planning a cycle or dog walk. And the necessary maps come with me – it’s not like they weigh much.

That said, I’ve used the backcountrynavigator app to get me out of a few sticky situations over the years. It has real time 1:25000 OS maps and the screen rotates as you turn. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t have it as it’s only seven quid and it gives you zoomable OS mapping of the entire UK.

including two 1k bike only sections

That’s me scuppered – my bike only cost £900 :-(

Wasn’t it Wallington who used to give free entry if you turned up by bike but stopped doing so last year?

Different video dude. No-one gets shot in that ^^^ one.

Just wanted to drop my tuppence-worth in as I was asked to take candid stuff at a funfair a few years ago and considered the ramifications before starting the job. I stuck on a hi-viz vest and nobody blinked an eye! If you’re in a uniform, you’re invisible. Blog post here if you care.

It’s the sort of bike where you don’t have to think about getting kitted up and ready, you just get on it and go whenever you want/need to and whatever you are wearing.

So, every bike ever then?!

I spent a fantastic six months seconded to a branch of my work out at Cults, Aberdeenshire many years ago which meant I had a 10 mile commute. The only bike available to me was my mum’s 1940s BSA Ladys’ Shopper – a step-through behemoth with three speeds. As mentioned, the incredibly high riding position was fantastic and on the flat, it went like stink once you got the momentum going.

Often used to give my colleagues a lift back from my job at a courier company. Usually finished at about 6pm.

Because it was an awful job with awful pay, I didn’t think twice about it.

These days, despite the bonding which went on in my Hyudai Pony and the resulting good feeling, I’d likely demand some recompense.

Ivy house is canny

Right enough now it isn’t the smokiest pub in the world. Used to be unbearable, even when I was on a packet of baccy a day. Fair way from Roker though.

On that note, The Stables at Herrington (sort of still Sunderland) is the best kept secret in Britain. Still smells of horses all these years later but in a very good way.

I live here. Scottish expat. The people are mostly decent but the city centre is vile.

The older generation are still getting used to the influx of foreign students – the city is propped up by their fees and spending power.

My house is for sale and my wanting to move back to Aberdeen should give you a clue about my present surroundings.

All that said, the countryside round here is varied and verging on lush. I’ll miss that.

No dog walk today. Can get my head off the pillow but only to go downstairs for pills. Got weird, dancing black spots at the edge of my vision. Is this normal?

Only on day three and if I had the energy, I’d refute some of these allegations about not really being ill. It’s the sort of crapness that means you never really sleep and when you do catch the odd half hour, you wake up with your whole head stuck to the pillow with snot.

And then the idea of getting wet is so hideous that you don’t shower or shave which makes everything a bit worse.

I’m at a point where Dot 5 seems like a reasonable suggestion…

I have to say, this is far more sympathy than I’d expected from you bonny boys. Ta. Alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen. If it isn’t flu, it can’t be far off.

So, whisky or not? And the good stuff or the Bells from the back of the cupboard?

It’s full blown hallucinations when I go outside. The sky’s green and stuff. I kind of have to walk the dog or suffer barking all evening which is as painful as you might imagine. And through all this, people are asking me to do normal work stuff which I just can’t do.

Never normally get ill so it’s come as a bit of a shock.

Bah. Seems that error(null) is not a valid W32 application

Cheers guys. Honestly didn’t think there were options.

Coming from a slightly different position… I take pictures for the very few lucky clients who literally (and I do mean literally) put bread on the table. So I really don’t care at all about criticism and critique unless it’s genuinely increasing the amount of bread.

Anyway, Photobucket is still working and that’s the main thing.

Edit. As always, apologies to Mrs. Toast.

I underestimated how sharp the knife was

Around the same time as that awful occurrence, my mate turned up at work with his new Leatherman. He also volunteers for the coastal rescue or somesuch and told us the story of how his colleague had been a bit ‘free’ when dealing with the main blade and cut his thumb open.

As he told us this story, he got said Lethearman out to demonstrate the keenness of the blade and immediately sliced two of his fingertips off. How we (really did) laugh :lol:

Still working here… Logged in on my 2010 phone earlier to post a photo on the big, shiny knife thread no problem but now on laptop and yes, overrun with awful adverts.

Anyway.

Erm, actually, I got a detention from Mr. Allan. But tomorrow, right?!

My money would be on the moggy every single time.

Right. FIGHT. My dogs and your mogs behind the science block at 4.00.

Mine certainly seems to be a bit ‘special’ mostly :oops:

Yeah, if they do get a bit handbags with each other, there’s only likely to be one winner. And its highly unlikely to be the slobbery, barky one.

You’re kidding right? Or perhaps haven’t met many lurchers / sight hounds.

Edit for clarity: our rescue dog is a lurcher cross and despite being ten and well trained, he’s on the lead if there’s ever even the slightest chance of seeing a cat. We’re talking about animals who will kill with a quick snap, even if their eyes are hanging out of their sockets!

I don’t think she is naked. After a careful perusal, she seems to be wearing some sort of very sheer stocking thing. A lady could tell you what it’s called.

I use Zenfolio so they can just download their photos without any intervention on my part. Saves a lot of time for full wedding galleries. Thinking of moving to an “in person sales” scenario for family / dog stuff which would involve a face to face meeting and on the day purchasing of prints / wall art. I know from bitter experience that this approach doesn’t sit well on STW. But I have to earn a crust :-)

(we all remember my ‘i cat my finger open thread..’)

Ah! I immediately thought of that when I read the title of this thread. Was that you? The bikepacking trip and forgetting to cut way from yourself?

Does Android have any localisation settings that the app may be using to determine location?

Donno, but it does boil my pee when I follow a link to a BBC page, paid for with UK taxes and it tells me the content is “unavailable in your country”.

Hmm. Stopped working for me about four months ago on Android. Then I broke my phone and am currently using an HTC from 2010 so I’m not even going to try… Managed to get Audible up and running though :-)

A dog isn’t an apex predator, it is a scavenger carnivore

Ok, imagine being made to live with a scavenger carnivore twice your size. Still got big teeth and a gaping maw.

I suspect the cops would laugh at it.

I suspect they will detain you.

You’re probably right but I’ve carried a penknife of one kind or another since I was 11. Never stabbed anyone apart from my own clumsy self and am willing to take the risk for the practicality.