Bellend Sebastian

Surprise jump in inflation in UK not helping UK either. I agree, it's not shaping up to be a calm year is it?

Just when it felt like things were calming down markets now crapping the bed again

It makes me feel better until I remember that getting those parts was meant to be my last act before cancelling the insurance on the appliance, which at that point had cost about 3 times the purchase price, and is, of course, still in force

It's worse than I thought. May 2022

In what is possibly a new procrastination record for me I just fitted the replacement parts to my freezer which have been in an increasingly disgusting, rotting cardboard box in the garden since they were delivered well over a year ago. Took about two minutes

The offy/general shop down the road from me has about 3 but its magazine range is generally pitiful. In days of yore the top shelf was rammed! I cannot imagine it was an easy purchase even then but to now confidently reach up, take the one you like the look of, maybe even have a quick look through it there and then before confidently striding up to the counter and to carry out the transaction and slapping down a crisp fiver (would that be enough? You'd hope so) takes a special sort of individual - in fact, if I saw this in real life I would be offering them employment in an entirely unrelated field on the spot!

Buddleia bushes covered in butterflies. Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks seem to have completely disappeared. Although the mighty Red Admiral seems to have made a bit of a comeback, well done lads

In fairness, the cops have been round pretty quickly to at least some of the recent ones near us, and we know that they've started committing more of their limited resources to extra patrols etc. They seem to be taking it pretty seriously as burglaries have gone through the roof here compared to previous years. It can't be just us though

Whilst it seems a bit defeatist I can see the logic. I think I'd rather they just take the car than ransack the place, which has been done to some properties round our way Yeah, I'm wondering what we can do that we don't normally. Stuff that I've never bothered about before, like putting on the alarm at night, locking the outside porch door etc. It is a bit ridiculous but it's difficult not to get paranoid isn't it?

Not since my parents' was done over when I was 13, but feels a bit inevitable at the minute

Yeah, I heard about that, it was all over the Neighbourhood Watch groups this morning (which you might be on) unsurprisingly. That was another car theft wasn't it? My mate has been advised by the police to not hide car keys, but to just leave them so they don't have to go through the whole house to get them. Grim

Oh yeah, it's been coming and to be honest I'm surprised it's taken as long as it has. I know from a copper that I know that more affluent areas were getting hit very hard a few months back and it seems that it's filtered down to us now. Police responses and visibility are probably better at the moment than I'd have expected but as you say it's the underlying causes that are driving it. There was one on Friday that was so ridiculous that you'd think the person actually wanted to go to prison and that's a possibility you can't rule out. I know someone that does sort of counselling/mentoring in prisons and unfortunately this is a thing - life on the inside is easier for some people than when they're out

All the burglaries round our way at the minute. Not just the number, but the nature of them; brazen but also really careless (getting filmed, leaving tons of evidence), and serious enough for custodial sentences when the cops inevitably catch up with them. Seems like folk have gone a bit mental

Can relate to both of these. My car is absurdly large and heavy but it just wafts effortlessly about with minimum drama. I've been experimenting with the i-pedal thingy this week and that allows pretty much one pedal driving. I'm not some EV zealot, I get to drive one because of the benevolence of my employer and it effectively costs me nothing at all. I was probably a decade away from being in a position to get one myself, and I may well have to go back to an ICE car at some stage. It will just feel old and rubbish in comparison whatever it is

All sorted now. Powerline now working properly for first time since we've had it. Previous failing largely down to quite spectacular user error (the extension unit has two buttons on it, one of which I didn't know about)

I put in that password (the longest and most nonsensical yet) so many times yesterday I can almost remember it, which will not impress anybody that knows me and the far more straightforward things I'm very capable of forgetting. If I get this powerline network sorted my sense of self satisfaction will be seen from space. If anybody knows what would actually need to be copied for a powerline/extender to seamlessly mimic an existing WiFi network, do please shout. It's supposed to be able to copy it itself, but naturally it doesn't, but I CAN get into its settings and change them myself - but to what?

WiFi. I mean, it's amazing technology and I have literally no idea of the science behind it but bloody hell it feels like a lore unto itself sometimes. Yes, I have had fibre installed today, and have nearly 20 devices to connect to it and a powerline network to configure. Nearly got it sorted but have given up for today and am now going to bed

Did you say Bryan Ferry? I'd have been 50/50 on whether it was a solo one or with Roxy Music

I'm sure one of the ones are our work is this colour, it's nice! Mind you, I'd have a brown car just to annoy people if that were available

I have two colleagues who have them and although I cannot give you much detail they've both been very happy with their choices

Can't believe more people aren't using the proper technical term for it: "sodcasting". It wasn't music, but a lad of about 16/17 was watching stuff on his phone without headphones waiting in the barbers the other day and that is not a big space and it just seemed weird. Was everybody too self conscious and lacking in confidence to say anything? Of course! I'm not that bothered myself as I've always got my earbuds with me so I can drown them out. Always fascinated behind the motivations behind stuff like this though. Probably all sorts of reasons but I expect it's as simple as: did it once, didn't get punched in the face or shouted at - therefore doing this is OK

I don't really know why people still do stuff like this when there are so many cars around with dash cams on, and the police will issue fixed penalty notices based on dash cam footage alone. You get a recording of someone driving like a ****, takes seconds to email it to the Old Bill and Bob's your uncle

Which dozy c#£* has left his tailgate up while doing his supermarket shopping? Oh, ha ha, it me

Minis are front wheel drive, aren't they? That's very quick even for cheapo tyres. What sort of wear? I wore out a set before their time on my old Astra by having them over inflated (although still within the range suggested by the manufacturer) but being under-inflated will affect lifespan too, and I think I'm right in saying if the tracking's out that will mess up the wear as well. I have to say I'm with Izzy on tyre choice, cheaper tyres can be a false economy. I've never had super cheap ones but I've had mid range ones wear out disappointingly quickly (and lose loads of grip whilst still technically legal) and I've not looked back since I've spent more as not only do they last longer they improve the stability and handling of the car without a doubt. Unfortunately, a "premium" tyre on my current vehicle is going to be close to 300 quid so I may be less evangelical about it when I have to replace them

And I should add that they have truly earned both my love and my respect