Amazon exiles discussion
Trackless wastes
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Today, I shall mostly be...
Collette wrote: "Today so far...quickie housework with just a few bears left to comb. We also ordered some more multi purpose face shields off of eBay, after realising that if we were to get them from SA Fishing ag..."Oh how I wish the only housework I had left to do was combing a few bears :)
Tim wrote: "Serial wrote: "On another note, is anyone else pissed off listening to whining students?"No, not really. And I'm listening to them all day, every day. They are cooped up on their own and struggling to work out what they're supposed to be doing, while, in some cases, paying to live in accommodation they don't really need to be in (if all teaching has moved online for their course/institution).
I'm a bit tired of them asking for their fees to be refunded, when it's costing us more to deliver the course this way than to do it conventially (and has wiped out any chance we had of taking a break over the summer), but I understand that they're not particularly enjoying it and feel they're being skinned for their accommodation in some cases.
Gordon wrote: "Tim wrote: "Serial wrote: "On another note, is anyone else pissed off listening to whining students?"No, not really. And I'm listening to them all day, every day. They are cooped up on their own ..."
But in real world terms their tribulations are minor.
Poor sensitive souls.
Generation snowflake.
Gordon wrote: "Tim wrote: "Serial wrote: "On another note, is anyone else pissed off listening to whining students?"No, not really. And I'm listening to them all day, every day. They are cooped up on their own ..."
The costs of a Uni education (for which I paid precisely zero, got a partial grant and was able to claim supplementary benefit during the hols although I mostly worked) nowadays are exorbitant. I remember well my son coming home from his 6th form college in his final year casually declaring that some of his friends were thinking of redoing their A levels, ie, had fannied around, were likely to underachieve and were looking for a way out. Since the next year was the last for £3k a year tuition before the big tripling to £9k I politely(!) informed him in no uncertain terms of the error of his mates' thinking and that he would not be following the slackers' into unnecessarily massive debt. As it was he just undershot his offer but they accepted him anyway on the only NUCLEAR physics course in the country. He then fluffed a year, redid it butthen only scraped a Desmond (Tutu or 2:2) so, against our best counsel and pointing out that we wouldn't be funding him to live away and that he couldn't or shouldn't get a further loan to do so, decided to plough all the money he had coming to him at 21, £10k, into a Masters which he didn't complete and then worked minimum wage on a zero hours contract in a carvery for a few years so he didn't earn enough to begin paying back his student loan. He does now have a graduate level job relevant to his degree with a good salary but I'm glad we didn't let him dig a £27k hole for the original degree.
Life over the weekend has revolved around the new pupper, a 5 month old Romanian rescue female mutt, sorry mixed breed now called Minnie (thanks for that suggestion suzy). She's only peed on the living room carpet twice and the kitchen tiles once, the latter I only realised as I stepped barefoot towards the sink to fill the kettle. No indoor poopage though which is a bonus. The cats have vacated the house even though Minnie shows no interest in them but it's early doors yet. There was an unplanned meeting in the downstairs corridor between Minnie returning from a last nighttime pee-stroll and the near-feral Louis who arched his back, hissed and promptly ran and hid at the top of the stairs. Minnie showed no reaction.She is gorgeous - that's not just my opinion but the unsolicited outpouring of a host of instantly smitten women, a babe-magnet if ever I saw one ..... and the dog's cute too. She's also superfriendly and snuggly, loves the grooming glove (who doesn't?), makes no noise from the kitchen during the night and we've taken progressively longer walks around the area - extremely tentatively with her tail between her legs at first but more confidently with tail up today. Think she's tired out - hasn't moved for the last 90 minutes on the sofa. Will put some photos up on my profile soon-ish.
Brass Neck wrote: "Life over the weekend has revolved around the new pupper, a 5 month old Romanian rescue female mutt, sorry mixed breed now called Minnie (thanks for that suggestion suzy). She's only peed on the li..."Sounds great, Brass.
Nothing better than a new Dog. You're lucky to get one, if it's anything the same in the UK as Ireland. Dogs are scarce and crazy money.
We wanted a new pup, but now our aging Lab is blind I couldn't do it to her, our new kitten is challenge enough.
Serial wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "Life over the weekend has revolved around the new pupper, a 5 month old Romanian rescue female mutt, sorry mixed breed now called Minnie (thanks for that suggestion suzy). She's ..."Yes, you either get offered other people's problem dogs (including quite a few who got a pup in lockdown but then had to go back to work or whose relationship didn't survive being home together 24/7) for a couple of hundred or KC reg'd pointless ornaments riddled with heriditary issues for £2-3K+. As I said, she's a rescue and mixed breed so only £325. She's exactly what I was hoping for since she's not a high-value pedigree or designer cross-breed, although there's more than a hint of Bordhuahua (chihuahua/border collie cross) to her, since there's an alarming recent trend of dog theft. People walking dogs get asked a whole bunch of questions, way beyond polite interest about its name, breed, neutering (obvs not is preferred), etc then as the asker reaches a distance they call to it to see if it'll run to them. I've also seen evidence of plastic slip-ties being put on fences of houses with an attractive pooch for later theft attempts.
I did despair after several applications to this particular rescue since they just didn't respond - was there some answer on the form which didn't match up to their idea of the perfect owner, especially as I read on a different rescue that their cut-off was 60 - FFS why, there are plenty of 40 year olds less fit and healthy than moi. This one wasn't even listed but I applied for her sister and then got an email offering Minnie to me which was brilliant, met her and knew in seconds she was the pooch for me - had a lot to do with her bounding towards me on her little legs, bum and tail waggling and flopping over at my feet for a belly rub before we'd even been introduced!
The Mighty Trumpet rides again.Toot toot.
Meanwhile in Ireland, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommend Ireland immediately go to level 5 countrywide.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1004/116...
Basically a full lockdown.
Will be interesting to see what happens now, the government have followed NPHET's advice up to now. But it seems unlikely they will now, too much pressure from business and many people sick of restrictions.
So I bought extra cement, wall ties and some other bits so I can carry on with building extension, if the builders suppliers closes.
Toilet roll man, you need masses of arse-wipe.
Wandering about with my camera, trying to find an interesting image or two. Is anything up with the site? I have to go through a complicated rigmarole to find any latest posts. I had an update of my system a few days ago and wondered if it was a coincidence...
Brass Neck wrote: "Serial wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "Life over the weekend has revolved around the new pupper, a 5 month old Romanian rescue female mutt, sorry mixed breed now called Minnie (thanks for that suggestio..."Does she mooch?
Nothing amiss here - are you logged in? If not it won't know where you have and haven't been.
Lez wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "Serial wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "Life over the weekend has revolved around the new pupper, a 5 month old Romanian rescue female mutt, sorry mixed breed now called Minnie (thanks..."She mainly pooches.
Brass Neck wrote: "Nothing amiss here - are you logged in? If not it won't know where you have and haven't been."Tried all I can think of, even to turning off the laptop and logging in again. Must be me!
No problem here, Isabella. Have you a different machine you could try?
Isabella wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "Nothing amiss here - are you logged in? If not it won't know where you have and haven't been."Tried all I can think of, even to turning off the laptop and logging in again. Mus..."
No number of new posts showing at the top right of page for me, for couple days. Have to scroll down thread menu to spot threads with new posts.
Who goes out of a dark rainy evening to buy an old rusty cast iron gate?That'll be me :0
Photo on profile for anyone who likes rusty old gates.....
lol
Serial wrote: "Isabella wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "Nothing amiss here - are you logged in? If not it won't know where you have and haven't been."Tried all I can think of, even to turning off the laptop and logg..."
Yes, that's the problem I've got. Bit irritating...
I've never clicked on that bell (alarm?) icon before. No wonder it was showing 50+. I keep an open tab on my browser for this grouphttps://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
so I can see all the threads and if there are any new posts, they show up in red.
Serial wrote: "Who goes out of a dark rainy evening to buy an old rusty cast iron gate?That'll be me :0
Photo on profile for anyone who likes rusty old gates.....
lol"
As long as you're happy...😬
Serial wrote: "Who goes out of a dark rainy evening to buy an old rusty cast iron gate?That'll be me :0
Photo on profile for anyone who likes rusty old gates.....
lol"
I was expecting something a little grander - bigger with scrolls and other decorative features?
Val wrote: "I've never clicked on that bell (alarm?) icon before. No wonder it was showing 50+. I keep an open tab on my browser for this grouphttps://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
so I ..."
Thanks, Val, works a treat! :o)
Isabella wrote: "Val wrote: "I've never clicked on that bell (alarm?) icon before. No wonder it was showing 50+. I keep an open tab on my browser for this grouphttps://www.goodreads.com/group/show/......"
I do the same as Val.
Brass Neck wrote: "Serial wrote: "Who goes out of a dark rainy evening to buy an old rusty cast iron gate?That'll be me :0
Photo on profile for anyone who likes rusty old gates.....
lol"
I was expecting somethin..."
Ahh no, the beauty is in the simplicity.
That's just the type of gate that would have been used at a lowly cottage like ours.
Collette wrote: "Serial wrote: "Who goes out of a dark rainy evening to buy an old rusty cast iron gate?That'll be me :0
Photo on profile for anyone who likes rusty old gates.....
lol"
As long as you're happy...😬"
I am, C.
:0
....waiting on covid test results, as a colleague was in contact with someone tested as positive. 'course i worked practically all day with him on monday, before he got hunted home, his jacket next to mine on rack - left work monday night with (my good dm's) jacket and bag in clear tied refuse bags, to be untouched for 72 hours. so can't come into contact with my father (shopping day) until i have result. too much fun!
Tech XXIII wrote: "....waiting on covid test results, as a colleague was in contact with someone tested as positive. 'course i worked practically all day with him on monday, before he got hunted home, his jacket next..."Fingers crossed for you. However, they (scientists) are now saying that infection by transfer from items touched is unlikely (unless someone's just coughed up a spitball and wiped it on you) and that it's all about the fine droplets exhaled from the mouth and nose especially in poorly ventilated interiors (and who wants to sit through winter with the windows open whether at work or at home?). Wear your masks properly people; not dangling from one ear, under the chin, over the mouth but under the nose, etc and don't put any faith in one of those open at the sides and bottom visors.
My fingers are crossed too, tech. Please let us know when you get the results. I hope all your family stay well. Covid's a bugger.
Don't know what it's like where you are but here, the speed and efficiency of getting results seems to depend on where you go for testing. My local GP doesn't do tests but my daughter had to take her 3 year old for testing at her local doctor's surgery. Apart from being incredibly gentle (child didn't even blink), she got the results back the same day with not only Covid negative, but negative for 3 or 4 other nasal-type infections as well. When she had to be tested, she went to a drive-through testing station and had to wait about 3 days for the result, which was for Covid only. My son went to his local hospital for testing. He was admitted as a patient (wrist band and all), then directed to a big set-up in the car park, where he was the only "patient", and got his result back (text message, at home) in a couple of hours.
Val wrote: "Don't know what it's like where you are but here, the speed and efficiency of getting results seems to depend on where you go for testing. My local GP doesn't do tests but my daughter had to take h..."Is your testing being run by the state (mostly I suspect) or has it been farmed out on lucrative multi-million bungs, sorry outsourcing contracts, with no tendering or Parliamentary scrutiny to a bunch of (Govt's big mates') management consultancy firms with no prior expertise like wot we is doin'? At least you can get tested and the results, while occasionally slow, do arrive and aren't lost because some dimwit didn't know the size limits of an Excel spreadshit!
My niece's husband (consultant in a Glasgow Hosp), recovering from Covid was asked to go to Aberdeen for testing. He could hardly walk, never mind drive.
Lez wrote: "My niece's husband (consultant in a Glasgow Hosp), recovering from Covid was asked to go to Aberdeen for testing. He could hardly walk, never mind drive."Why would someone who has definitely got/had Covid require testing?
Brass Neck wrote: "Lez wrote: "My niece's husband (consultant in a Glasgow Hosp), recovering from Covid was asked to go to Aberdeen for testing. He could hardly walk, never mind drive."Why would someone who has def..."
Don't ask me!
Study now saying 86% of people infected with Covid, have no symptoms atall.Where that leaves things I don't know, certainly the idea that you isolate to not infect others isn't going to work if 86% of people have no symptoms. Then they can just spread it while feeling fine. How many of us have had it and have no idea?
My sister works in a school in Cornwall. She had symptoms, so thought she might have Covid, as did one of her children. So she stayed home, took her kids out of school and tried to get a test.
Which she couldn't.
So had to do a postal test for herself and child.
Which eventually came back negative.
It left me thinking. One if a self administered test can be relied on, and two that the results of making getting tested difficult lead to time off work/school.
Bit of an all round shit show imo.
The answer to which is to ramp up test and trace, proper-like, by getting a national (UK) organisation with long-standing health expertise to organise it with zero input from Tory-buddy profit-led (mis)management consultancy chancers? Now, where can we find one of those?The bait awaits Tim, ohhh Tim?
thanks, i appear to have tested negative. appear because it's a shitshow, whereby, if you don't hear anything, then you're negative. this despite requesting and being promised, an either way notification. and also despite a colleague (different from the above) testing positive. they're going to have to shape up with notifications or i'm refusing any more testing.
Tech XXIII wrote: "thanks, i appear to have tested negative. appear because it's a shitshow, whereby, if you don't hear anything, then you're negative..."Anyone remember the Herald of Free Enterprise, the ferry that sank off Zeebrugge in 1987? Because the bow door warning light wasn't on the captain assumed the door was closed. Nobody seemed to have thought about what happened if the warning light bulb blew.
No result is not the same as a negative result. There could be any number of reasons for no result, and there's no reason at all to assume that a negative test is even the most likely of these. Any organisation that says it is is hugely irresponsible and therefore likely to be showered with government contracts.
I hope someone competent takes over testing in your region, Tech. It's about as likely as my winning the lottery. For information: I haven't bought a lottery ticket since 2008.
Brass Neck wrote: "The answer to which is to ramp up test and trace, proper-like, by getting a national (UK) organisation with long-standing health expertise to organise it with zero input from Tory-buddy profit-led ..."What, like Public Health England perhaps (you know, the quango run by a guy with no medical qualifications); the body which until not so long ago was counting as covid deaths anybody who'd tested positive, even if they died from a heart attack or a road accident (and still does if they die within 28 days of a test). Or perhaps you'd prefer a body like Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffor... for the short memoried!
Stocking up a little halal shop. Amazing how reasonable the spices are priced, and decent bags too, better than those terrible miniscule supermarket spice pots.Got 5kg of my favorite brown basmati rice too.
Saw someone crossing the street with a huge wheeled shopping trolley, looked to be piled solely with toilet roll. Fks sake.
Tim wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "The answer to which is to ramp up test and trace, proper-like, by getting a national (UK) organisation with long-standing health expertise to organise it with zero input from Tor..."No I'd prefer the NHS before the quangos, trusts and other bullshit tampering it has endured in recent times on its slow slide towards privatisation.
Serial wrote: "Stocking up a little halal shop. Amazing how reasonable the spices are priced, and decent bags too, better than those terrible miniscule supermarket spice pots.Got 5kg of my favorite brown basmat..."
Are any of those items actually halal as opposed to originating in the Indian subcontinent? If they are that'll be undone by the non-halal way your animals were slaughtered and butchered.
Brass Neck wrote: "Serial wrote: "Stocking up a little halal shop. Amazing how reasonable the spices are priced, and decent bags too, better than those terrible miniscule supermarket spice pots.Got 5kg of my favori..."
Who knows what's halal or not!
It's a great shop. I could spend a long time in there. The selection of Halva and Baklava is something to behold.
They do have a large meat section, which I'm guessing is all halal. I bought some Goat there once for curry.
Curry goat - we'll make a rasta of you yet.
Brass Neck wrote: "Curry goat - we'll make a rasta of you yet."lol!
It was mighty curry
Serial wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "Curry goat - we'll make a rasta of you yet."lol!
It was mighty curry"
Does curry goat give you butt problems?
I once had a gorgeous goat's cheese quiche in an Edinburgh art gallery.
Amazon exiles
Books mentioned in this topic
Time of the Child (other topics)This Is Happiness (other topics)
Time of the Child (other topics)
Mog's Christmas (other topics)
We're Going on a Bear Hunt (other topics)
More...
That's me sorted for a long time. Apart from a shower later, I plan to be a couch potato for the rest of the day.