Bellend Sebastian

It's definitely not just you. My car has got two big screens, one of which is a touch screen. Mercifully it has got buttons for climate control and a volume knob which almost seems superfluous given there's controls on the steering wheel too, but doing anything else, like putting on the heated seats, involves going through the touch screen menu and guessing where that might be controlled, so best not attempted while actually driving. When I was younger and got a new car I'd read the manual cover to cover and find out all the things it could do and how to access them but given that I'm old and knackered and the manual for my new car is as thick as a particularly drawn out Harry Potter book I simply can't be arsed

Amen to that. Although I'm still pleased that my pension has gone up 5.5% since I switched it in July. As an exciting example of the role of how timing and chance impacts these things, my son's junior ISA which was applied for at the same time but took a bit longer to go through is up nearly 9% since August, the jammy sod

Bloody hell, there are some classics in there that I'd completely forgotten. Being in the Kop at Filbo is over 20 years ago now and it's absolutely doing my head in

I think the problem is that when I was a young man I'd be up for crazy noisy fun after 3 pints of John Smith's and now I have to drink twice that to get the same effect and then only for about five minutes before I just want to have a nice lie down

Well I can see why you won't be rushing back. Mind you, I used to say of the much missed Namaste, I reckon I've eaten here on more than a hundred occasions and I've only been poisoned 3 times! It's also the place I was closest to getting into a fight as an adult. We have the makings of a truly attention grabbing Trip Advisor review

What went wrong? My guess would be that they couldn't cope with that number of diners at once, but that really shouldn't be a big deal, should it?

It's been there forever but I went to Santhi on Granby Street for the first time a few months ago and have already been back twice since. It's not the nicest setting (a basement) but I don't care about decor and the food was GREAT the times we went

Fruit and veg shelf life seems to be a bit crap across the board recently. I mainly shop at Sainsbury's (partly for convenience, partly because my brilliance with a nectar card/smart shop means I get decent value), and soft fruit and broccoli in particular from there needs to be eaten quickly if that's not going in the bin. At least the great strawberry shortage seems to be easing a bit

The Honest John write up is very good, as are the owner reviews on the same site

I followed someone on the way to work the other day I'm convinced was one, and was kicking myself that I didn't realise quicker and take their registration number down. If it had been later in the day I'd probably have clocked it sooner. Driving weirdly slowly (including going into right lane of dual carriageway for no reason and holding everyone up), taking AGES to respond to the lights changing and seemingly concentrating much more on their cigarette than anything else

I think they're leaving early because they think the result is beyond doubt, which is why it was so bad on Saturday, and don't see the point in hanging around. It's short attention spans innit? You come to the game wanting City to win, and as soon as that's certain or you've convinced yourself that's not going to happen, off you toddle

Oh dear. Was it truly 0%? Mine adds a few miles if you turn off the climate control, fan etc

Watched this a couple of nights ago on iPlayer. It's really good

I've left about two matches early in 25 years. I'm only guessing at the mindset

'A' Block is rarely exactly noisy but it was deathly quiet yesterday. Even my mate who never fails to impress with his efforts to get songs going (though rarely successful) wasn't trying. I don't think it's because of attitude or not caring or whatever though. Can't speak for everyone obviously, but from my friendship groups, family, work colleagues, and other people I meet through work, I just think everyone's knackered and a bit worn down. There's not the energy or passion about to support the club in the same way as there perhaps has been in the past. Post pandemic come down, cost of living crisis, a general sense that things are getting shiter rather than improving as time goes on - there's any number of reasons. As for leaving early, there's always been a few folk who are genuinely pushed for time, have a bus to catch or whatever. Yesterday was extreme though, and I'm starting to wonder if this is about attention spans - we're 4-0 up, I wanted City to win and now that's beyond doubt and I've got what I want, what's the point of hanging about? What's the next thing? I could be in the pub etc.

Are you set on a diesel? I'm no expert and this may not be an issue - especially at the moment - but it's unlikely one that age will be ULEZ compliant. Also, what sort of driving do you do? Diesels are better suited to long runs, and like many diesel engines these seem to be prone to DPF and EGR valve problems when used mainly for pottering about. You can get petrol TSI examples for around the same age and price, possibly with slightly lower mileages. That engine was apparently improved after 2012 to sort out some known issues so a late petrol MKVI would be a decent bet if you can get one on budget. I can't emphasise enough, I'm no expert, but there's so much information out there now that you can get a pretty good idea of how likely a car is to let you down. I'm also perhaps a bit unlucky, in that whenever I've bought a car that I knew was prone to a certain thing, sure enough mine would end up with that problem. Any car can break down, it's just about making sure the odds are in your favour

Honest John is always my go to when looking at used motors. https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/2009/ A 3/5 score's not that great. Is it an automatic? The DSG gearbox is a bit risky as if it goes it's spectacularly expensive

How old is it?

It's even more expensive than the PPE Medpro contracts! And set to deliver about the same level of value

The inquest into the death of that head teacher that committed suicide after an Ofsted visit is one of the bleakest things I've read about in a long time

I'd have thought most do now. I know though that there are people that exist that still insist on turning their lights on manually even when automatic lights are fitted, because one used to give me a lift home. Not sure what his policy was on automatic wipers. He'd never used the cruise control his car had, either

Wasn't it Asda that did the Christmas advert using footage of Will Ferrell in Elf? Either way, that was one of the crappest things I've ever seen

I love Dan but he is a BIT out of your way

Dan is ace. He likes a low action but when the one he did for he was a bit buzzy, he just made some adjustments while I sat with him, kept passing the guitar back to me so I could have a quick go and identify any sounds I didn't like and before you know it, all good

Checking 1000 LED cluster light string works after getting it out of the loft. Yes! Climb up ladder to put 1000 LED cluster light string up on front of house. Abandon attempt through as too wet for Gorilla tape to adhere to window surround, and so cold losing all sensation in fingers. Put ladder and stuff away. Wife puts lights on, not realising job not complete and 1000 LED cluster light string hanging haphazardly from front of house looks like we've just thrown it there and hoped for the best, having completely given up on life. Stops raining! Back up ladder after kids gone to bed. Spend another hour in freezing cold running remainder of 1000 LED cluster light string round front of house, over gate, down side fence. Lose all sensation in fingers. Plug in 1000 LED cluster light string. Nothing. Wife suggests have beer. Do not have any beers in