gremlin wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 12:57 pm
Just to be clear, I do like a drink, but I don't drink on a school night and rarely do I drink so much that I feel rough the next day. As I said, a 5 pint session of an evening would see me feeling rough the next day.
I did once cut out beer and switched to G&T for a few weeks which had me drop a few pounds. Fewer calories and less alcohol per drink. Might go that route again.
That said, I do like beer.
2 doctors have told me to avoid spirits. Beer is fine though
gremlin wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 9:38 am
Went for a BUPA 'Be Assured' health assessment yesterday afternoon. A full two-hour MOT including pre-test questionnaires. I take my heath quite seriously: I average 6/7 gym sessions a week. Mrs. G is utterly focused on nutrition and what we eat is cooked from scratch. We do long walks with the Hound of the Twatville.
And yet, despite me reluctantly taking Ramipril for the high blood pressure I've had on and off for most of my adult life, it sits stubbornly at the high end of the spectrum. Monitor and maybe increase doseage.
Bad cholesterol is now in the high range - I already eat fish, avo, nuts and use extra virgin olive oil - all the right things, apparently. I don't eat processed foods, I rarely fry food in oil. Pushed towards statins, that I really don't want to add to the Ramipril.
It gets worse...
I'm 1.78m and weight 77kg. In real terms that means I take a 32" waist pair of strides. Yet I'm overweight. Granted, my one vice is alcohol, but I'd say I go out once a week and a mad night for me would be 5-6 pints. I know that booze sit heavy on the waist, so maybe my one vice needs to become a half-vice.
In addition, I've been referred to both a cardiologist and neurologist as I've had a few episodes of near-collapse for no apparent reason and memory lapses plus Mrs. G has noticed I'm getting the shakes quite badly at random times.
Despite me best efforts, I'm a fucking wreck.
Just received an email saying they'd tried to contact me urgently but couldn't. Attached is a referral for an urgent urology consultation as my PSA is elevated. (5.05)
My arsehole of a neighbour. The only way I can maintain my gable is over his flat roof. He really doesn't like it but has eventually, after 10 years of moaning and blustering accepted it is necessary. His new complaint is that one of my downpipes discharges onto his flat roof. It always has, since the properties were built 10 years ago. It meets the Building Regs, I have checked. It was like that when he bought the property and in 10 years it has caused zero damage. But no, he wants me to do something else with the water. I have tried pointing out that the law of gravity overrides other laws but he won't have it. He was last seen taking photos of the offending downpipe and muttering about solicitors.
gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 1:44 pm...
Just received an email saying they'd tried to contact me urgently but couldn't. Attached is a referral for an urgent urology consultation as my PSA is elevated. (5.05)
If I was an 'orse, etc., etc...
So. What have you got in the garage that's worth bagsying?
gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 1:44 pm...
Just received an email saying they'd tried to contact me urgently but couldn't. Attached is a referral for an urgent urology consultation as my PSA is elevated. (5.05)
If I was an 'orse, etc., etc...
So. What have you got in the garage that's worth bagsying?
The only thing I have with two wheels is the wheelie bin. Help yourself.
gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 1:44 pm
Just received an email saying they'd tried to contact me urgently but couldn't. Attached is a referral for an urgent urology consultation as my PSA is elevated. (5.05)
If I was an 'orse, etc., etc...
This was in today's newsletter. Timely!
Might make you feel better about that PSA result...
gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 1:44 pm
Just received an email saying they'd tried to contact me urgently but couldn't. Attached is a referral for an urgent urology consultation as my PSA is elevated. (5.05)
If I was an 'orse, etc., etc...
This was in today's newsletter. Timely!
Might make you feel better about that PSA result...
I suspect that had I not had previous with the ol' prostate it would have been a 'keep an eye on this, Sunshine', but as my records show a TURP procedure 2 years ago it probably raises red flags.
I've sent off all three referrals to AXA who'll probably send me a prize for a hat-trick or something.
Cousin Jack wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 2:11 pm
My arsehole of a neighbour. The only way I can maintain my gable is over his flat roof. He really doesn't like it but has eventually, after 10 years of moaning and blustering accepted it is necessary. His new complaint is that one of my downpipes discharges onto his flat roof. It always has, since the properties were built 10 years ago. It meets the Building Regs, I have checked. It was like that when he bought the property and in 10 years it has caused zero damage. But no, he wants me to do something else with the water. I have tried pointing out that the law of gravity overrides other laws but he won't have it. He was last seen taking photos of the offending downpipe and muttering about solicitors.
Is the flat roof an extension? If the downpipe was there first then maybe you should make a different demand.
Cousin Jack wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 2:11 pm
My arsehole of a neighbour. The only way I can maintain my gable is over his flat roof. He really doesn't like it but has eventually, after 10 years of moaning and blustering accepted it is necessary. His new complaint is that one of my downpipes discharges onto his flat roof. It always has, since the properties were built 10 years ago. It meets the Building Regs, I have checked. It was like that when he bought the property and in 10 years it has caused zero damage. But no, he wants me to do something else with the water. I have tried pointing out that the law of gravity overrides other laws but he won't have it. He was last seen taking photos of the offending downpipe and muttering about solicitors.
Is the flat roof an extension? If the downpipe was there first then maybe you should make a different demand.
Both part of the same development, so both signed off by the Council more or less simultaneously. Neither property has had any exterior changes, and his roof is leak free. The flat roof is covered in a modern synthetic rubber-like stuff, not the bitumen and grit stuff. IMO he is just being an arsehole, but I knew that before this all blew up.
gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 4:21 pm
I suspect that had I not had previous with the ol' prostate it would have been a 'keep an eye on this, Sunshine', but as my records show a TURP procedure 2 years ago it probably raises red flags.
I've sent off all three referrals to AXA who'll probably send me a prize for a hat-trick or something.
As I said in a different thread:
Saga Lout wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2026 11:56 am...the good news for people who get bad news about prostate cancer is that it's treatable. Four years ago I got the bad news after the biopsy (worst pain I've ever experienced) and had radiation treatment. I have 6 monthly PSA tests and they've been clear so it's not the end of the world if the biopsy comes back positive.
By the way, did I mention the prostate biopsy was the worst pain ever? Well, it was the worst pain ever.
Cousin Jack wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 2:11 pm
My arsehole of a neighbour. The only way I can maintain my gable is over his flat roof. He really doesn't like it but has eventually, after 10 years of moaning and blustering accepted it is necessary. His new complaint is that one of my downpipes discharges onto his flat roof. It always has, since the properties were built 10 years ago. It meets the Building Regs, I have checked. It was like that when he bought the property and in 10 years it has caused zero damage. But no, he wants me to do something else with the water. I have tried pointing out that the law of gravity overrides other laws but he won't have it. He was last seen taking photos of the offending downpipe and muttering about solicitors.
Do the reg differ from England to Scotland? I have a customer in a semi detached bungalow. Both housed have an attached outhouse what sit on the middle. My customer got that built up with a flat roof to use as a utility room off the kitchen. The builder just guided the guttering to the next doors outhouse gutter what turned out to be a but no no and had to get it changed.
Twice this week, once by the doctors in France and now by Dvla in UK, I've been asked to pay by cheque.
Its 2026 ffs I don't own a bloody chequebook. Tell you what, send me an invoice by carrier pigeon and we'll go from there shall we?!
The doctors did eventually manage to send me a photo of a scrap of paper with thier bank details.
But it seems with dvla, I have to find a post office and buy a cheque
Cousin Jack wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 2:11 pm
My arsehole of a neighbour. The only way I can maintain my gable is over his flat roof. He really doesn't like it but has eventually, after 10 years of moaning and blustering accepted it is necessary. His new complaint is that one of my downpipes discharges onto his flat roof. It always has, since the properties were built 10 years ago. It meets the Building Regs, I have checked. It was like that when he bought the property and in 10 years it has caused zero damage. But no, he wants me to do something else with the water. I have tried pointing out that the law of gravity overrides other laws but he won't have it. He was last seen taking photos of the offending downpipe and muttering about solicitors.
Do the reg differ from England to Scotland? I have a customer in a semi detached bungalow. Both housed have an attached outhouse what sit on the middle. My customer got that built up with a flat roof to use as a utility room off the kitchen. The builder just guided the guttering to the next doors outhouse gutter what turned out to be a but no no and had to get it changed.
No idea. The English Building Regs just state that discharge to a flat roof is ok, with limits on area and the caveat that the flat roof itself must be drained. Both conditions are ok. Since both house are part of the same development both will have been signed off together. No mention in the Regs about other properties, but historically terraced housing often shares all sorts of stuff, drainage, access, etc
MrLongbeard wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 9:07 am
Audible changing their pricing tiers / membership levels
Have they? I’ve not seen anything.
I have logged in (via website) and apparently I’m on Premium Plus at £8.99 per month, i.e. one credit per month but I don’t see there is much difference between that and Standard at £5.99 per month unless I’m missing something…
Confusingly, their 2 credit per month is also called Premium Plus
MrLongbeard wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 9:07 am
Audible changing their pricing tiers / membership levels
Have they? I’ve not seen anything.
I have logged in (via website) and apparently I’m on Premium Plus at £8.99 per month, i.e. one credit per month but I don’t see there is much difference between that and Standard at £5.99 per month unless I’m missing something…
Confusingly, their 2 credit per month is also called Premium Plus
They have, I used to be on 'standard' and got one credit a month, now you need to be on 'premium plus' for the 1 credit, on 'standard' you get the one book a month but importantly you can only listen to it for as long as you remain a paying member rather than owning it when bought with a credit.
When it changed I don't know as I've only just renewed my account after 8 months or so.
Either that or I was on some special deal with my original account and only paying a fiver a month for 'premium plus' :dunno:
The last two deliveries:
1. "Handed to resident". Presumably they handed me the package and I promptly leant it against my wheelie bin, because that's what the photo shows.
2. There was a knock on the door. It took me about 15 to 20 seconds to get to the door and open it. The package was leaning against the door, the delivery driver and his vehicle were nowhere to be seen. I guess he leant the package against the door, took the confirmation photo, knocked and sprinted back to his vehicle. Maybe it's a game he plays: deliver and get away before the buyer opens the door.
MrLongbeard wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 9:07 am
Audible changing their pricing tiers / membership levels
Have they? I’ve not seen anything.
I have logged in (via website) and apparently I’m on Premium Plus at £8.99 per month, i.e. one credit per month but I don’t see there is much difference between that and Standard at £5.99 per month unless I’m missing something…
Confusingly, their 2 credit per month is also called Premium Plus
They have, I used to be on 'standard' and got one credit a month, now you need to be on 'premium plus' for the 1 credit, on 'standard' you get the one book a month but importantly you can only listen to it for as long as you remain a paying member rather than owning it when bought with a credit.
When it changed I don't know as I've only just renewed my account after 8 months or so.
Either that or I was on some special deal with my original account and only paying a fiver a month for 'premium plus' :dunno:
Ah, makes sense as I do recall them changing the payment amount a few months ago, not sure when this happened though.
Taipan wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2026 12:00 pm
Garden furniture, specifically seating, chairs, settees etc. Been out looking for a couple of settees, chairs, coffee table-type sets, and all I saw was some really cheap shite. That plastic rattan stuff seems to be made of coat hangers underneath the cheap plastic woven material! The wooden sets we saw in The Range seemed to be made of pallet wood.
I CBA to go to a garden centre on a sunny Sunday, but will maybe go tomorrow to see if their offerings are any better, but most things I see there are similar crap but with higher prices. My wife thinks I'm expecting too much from occasional-use furniture, and maybe she has a point, but I'm not parting with my hard-earned for the crap I've just seen.
We're revisiting this now. Finally got my wife to agree that a corner unit loses a seat unless one of the persons sitting there is an amputee. Another good thing is we're not spending bundles on this, as it can only be covered up over winter and not put away, and tastes change, so my wife will probably want something else in a couple of summers' time.
One thing that bothers me is why is furniture built for midgets. Some of the stuff is so low I'll be looking through my knees like a gun sight!
Granted, my one vice is alcohol, but I'd say I go out once a week and a mad night for me would be 5-6 pints. I know that booze sit heavy on the waist, so maybe my one vice needs to become a half-vice. 
