What’s on your mind?

[avro707]

Oh, how I wish to be running right now. 32 days post surgery, and provisionally (until doctors say otherwise) 90 days (12 weeks) is when my sternum is healed enough to recommence running. Walking is great, and up to 5.5kms (1 hr ish) in a day, but despite the podcasts, and audiobooks, it's boring.
It's getting real close to Christmas, and with, what's left of my family in the UK, so far away, and being of that age, in a newish country, my 'friends' are colleagues, who are off to spend time with family, whilst I navigate these '58' days, alone and bored.
Fairytale of New York came up on YouTube today, the Jimmy Fallon/Saoirse Ronan version, and the tears appeared. Good news though, although I don't consider myself a non-drinker, but rather someone who chooses not to drink, today, I've chosen to buy a 6 pack of Guinness and reflect on my roots.
Merry Xmas y'all. 🎄

Easy does it for recovery otherwise you end up like I did with bones not healing up and doctors threatening more surgery (bone grafts or hip replacement). I avoided those thankfully.

Good distance for walking - it was part of my recovery as well (trying to learn how to walk again).


Totally random thing, surprised me completely - I saw a Wartburg 353 today! I’m opposite end of the world from the former DDR where those were built. What on earth it was doing here I have no idea. Interesting to see. Someone was obviously a real devotee.

I live in the UK and our wildlife is so dull compared to yours. Foxes, a few deer, no bears or Elk.

Come to my country, we have one of the most dangerous spiders (funnelweb), and a lovely thing called “Eastern Brown” - a type of snake that happens to be extremely venomous and very aggressive.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Had some rough days recently, me and my wife both poorly with colds, stepdaughter struggling with her mental health, horrible dark weather but yesterday was good. Walk in the sunshine with my stepdaughter I feel better.

I find a walk in the countryside often lifts my spirits. This is not my favourite time of year, but I enjoyed a walk this morning in the countryside.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I live in the UK and our wildlife is so dull compared to yours. Foxes, a few deer, no bears or Elk.

I also live in the UK. We have more than a few deer. I recently read they were going to reintroduce wolves to cull the numbers.

I also enjoy seeing squirrels (but where I live it’s the US invaders), and the many bird species. I like photographing them.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Easy does it for recovery otherwise you end up like I did with bones not healing up and doctors threatening more surgery (bone grafts or hip replacement). I avoided those thankfully.

Good distance for walking - it was part of my recovery as well (trying to learn how to walk again).


Totally random thing, surprised me completely - I saw a Wartburg 353 today! I’m opposite end of the world from the former DDR where those were built. What on earth it was doing here I have no idea. Interesting to see. Someone was obviously a real devotee.


Come to my country, we have one of the most dangerous spiders (funnelweb), and a lovely thing called “Eastern Brown” - a type of snake that happens to be extremely venomous and very aggressive.

You can keep your snakes and spiders. What about those killer Koala’s though? So cute as they rip you to shreds!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Visited the cemetery today, as, firstly, I had a car at my disposal, secondly, tomorrow is the seventh anniversary of my mother's death, (she died just before midnight, on the night of December 21st), and thirdly, I wished to pay them a visit, think about them, and wish them well, above all, (though, in general, I detest this time of year) for the Christmas, or Yuletide, season.

Although it was drizzling (lightly), I must say that it was strangely restful and tranquil and peaceful.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Visited the cemetery today, as, firstly, I had a car at my disposal, secondly, tomorrow is the seventh anniversary of my mother's death, (she died just before midnight, on the night of December 21st), and thirdly, I wished to pay them a visit, think about them, and wish them well, above all, (though, in general, I detest this time of year) for the Christmas, or Yuletide, season.

Although it was drizzling (lightly), I must say that it was strangely restful and tranquil and peaceful.

Did you go with your brother(s)?

Anyway I hope you were able to share happy memories and thoughts of them both.

Here my Dad has just left on a cruise ship for a couple of weeks. He’s far to tight to pay for ship WiFi, so I’ll speak to him in the NY.

Getting dark out there already. Where do the days go.
I did some photo editing earlier. The old Mac Mini is struggling a bit with the editing. But hoping to eke it out until the M5 Studio is released.

Still struggling with neck and back pain today. Doing lots of stretches and taking pain killers but no relief.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Did you go with your brother(s)?

No, I went by myself - both brothers live elsewhere - but I shall tell them about it by phone and/or email.

Anyway I hope you were able to share happy memories and thoughts of them both.

Yes, in a way, I was.

It was strangely restful, tranquil, serene and unexpectedly, almost pleasant. I stayed for a while, thinking about them both.

While the actual anniversary of my mother's death is tomorrow, - and, it is now all of seven years since she died - for that matter, I vividly remember writing about it, here, when it happened, and earlier, when I was charting her long decline - it is strange to note that it is twenty years since my dad died.

My brothers and I agree that we were very fortunate in our parents, though, as is so often the case, we spent much of our teens muttering, grumbling, sighing, and loudly complaining about (and to) them both.

Here my Dad has just left on a cruise ship for a couple of weeks. He’s far to tight to pay for ship WiFi, so I’ll speak to him in the NY.

Taking a cruise these days without wifi would seem to me to be something of a false economy, not least, as cruises don't come cheaply.

Getting dark out there already.

Very much so.

Solstice, here we come.....

And, after that (although, granted, not very obvious, or noticeable, initially), the days will start to (slowly, at first) lengthen.

Where do the days go.

Indeed.

Days of darkness to darkness in no time at all.

I did some photo editing earlier. The old Mac Mini is struggling a bit with the editing. But hoping to eke it out until the M5 Studio is released.

Good luck.

Still struggling with neck and back pain today. Doing lots of stretches and taking pain killers but no relief.

My sympathies; any chance of an appointment with a chiropractor before the Christmas shut-down?

 

[Apple fanboy]

No, I went by myself - both brothers live elsewhere - but I shall tell them about it by phone and/or email.

Yes, in a way, I was.

It was strangely restful, tranquil, serene and unexpectedly, almost pleasant. I stayed for a while, thinking about them both.

While the actual anniversary of my mother's death is tomorrow, - and, it is now all of seven years since she died - for that matter, I vividly remember writing about it, here, when it happened, and earlier, when I was charting her long decline - it is strange to note that it is twenty years since my dad died.

My brothers and I agree that we were very fortunate in our parents, though, as is so often the case, we spent much of our teens muttering, grumbling, sighing, and loudly complaining about (and to) them both.

Taking a cruise these days without wifi would seem to me to be something of a false economy, not least, as cruises don't come cheaply.

Very much so.

Solstice, here we come.....

And, after that (although, granted, not very obvious, or noticeable, initially), the days will start to (slowly, at first) lengthen.

Indeed.

Days of darkness to darkness in no time at all.

Good luck.

My sympathies; any chance of an appointment with a chiropractor before the Christmas shut-down?

No chance. Unfortunately she is fully booked weeks in advance. I have one booked for January.

My Dad is the sort that can easily go without the internet. He’s not on social media etc.

Personally an idea of a cruise is the opposite of what I would like for a break. Far too many people.

But going somewhere warm does appeal!

 

[WriteNow]

While the actual anniversary of my mother's death is tomorrow, - and, it is now all of seven years since she died - for that matter, I vividly remember writing about it, here, when it happened, and earlier, when I was charting her long decline - it is strange to note that it is twenty years since my dad died.

The anniversary of my mother's birthday was earlier this month, so she was on my mind a lot that week. She's been gone more than a quarter century. I wish she'd lived longer. Part of this wish is a selfish one that I wish I'd known her longer as an adult. Plus I wonder if she'd have adapted to the Internet age. She was not the #1 fan of computers, although she liked what I could do with page layout, even with modest software on my SE. But I have thought she might have liked the Internet after it had matured a bit mire as a research tool.

I've never been back to her grave--I had to move not long after her death. "Someday" maybe I'll get a chace to go back.

 

[Hamdullah Retarderson]

I don't know where I caught it, at work or outside. I have a really bad flu. My nostrils get blocked every 10 minutes. One opens up, then the other gets blocked again. What do you suggest I do

 

[rm5]

Traveling nightmares are on my mind. Missed my connection in Denver last night because the original plane was delayed. Got a hotel room and now at DEN to do this all over again. Literally just for a 45 minute regional flight. I am at the gate an hour and a half early this morning so I will make it.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Traveling nightmares are on my mind. Missed my connection in Denver last night because the original plane was delayed. Got a hotel room and now at DEN to do this all over again. Literally just for a 45 minute regional flight. I am at the gate an hour and a half early this morning so I will make it.

How long is the drive? By the time you’ve been at the airport an hour and a half early is it even worth flying 45 minutes? Probably quicker by car or coach.

Glad I have no travelling coming up. Trip to the office on Tuesday. Then our London office in January.

 

[rm5]

How long is the drive? By the time you’ve been at the airport an hour and a half early is it even worth flying 45 minutes? Probably quicker by car or coach.

Glad I have no travelling coming up. Trip to the office on Tuesday. Then our London office in January.

Certainly would have been faster to drive but I’m not quite old enough to rent a car (usually that’s 21 or 25).

 

[Apple fanboy]

Certainly would have been faster to drive but I’m not quite old enough to rent a car (usually that’s 21 or 25).

I'm not sure what the age limit is here, but it's been a while since I was younger than 25. Naturally I still look 25 though!

 

[rm5]

Just made it. Holy crap, that was a lot. Though it was kind of fun having this kind of an adventure.

 

[Mac Geezer]

Funny how that works innit?

 

[chown33]

I watched the sun come up this morning, listening to Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album. It's a nice mix of slower (Christmas Time is Here) and up-tempo (Linus and Lucy) memories.

The sun didn't rise in a noticeably different place than a few days ago, but around the solstices are when the change from day to day is smallest.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I watched the sun come up this morning, listening to Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album. It's a nice mix of slower (Christmas Time is Here) and up-tempo (Linus and Lucy) memories.

The sun didn't rise in a noticeably different place than a few days ago, but around the solstices are when the change from day to day is smallest.

Due to careful planning and timing the only Christmas music I’ve head this year have been on TV adverts (which I tune out to anyway). Only another week or so to go and I can go back to listening to the radio again after my December hiatus.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Today is the anniversary of my mother's death, and today - as it happened - was also when the annual (and amazing) Christmas Carol Service - actually, a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols - occurred in the large medieval church in the city centre, an incredible, imposing and amazingly atmospheric place which is over 700 years old. I decided to mark the occasion by attending this event.

Anyway, today's choir comprised their own Great Choir, their Choristers, and the University's Choral Scholars, among others, all of them superb singers.

Moreover, the service was ecumenical, (and absolutely packed, I turned up an hour early in order to secure an excellent seat), and, while some of the carols were well known classics, others - some of which I had never heard before - dated from medieval times; there was also a haunting hymn sung in Ukrainian.

Wonderful.

Decent Brother phoned me as the formal procession was about to proceed along the nave at the very start of the service; hence, now, ensconced in a pub, with a glass of beer - Weihenstephaner, naturally, this time, on tap - (and sparkling mineral water), I returned his call and we had a good chat.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Today is the anniversary of my mother's death, and today - as it happened - was also when the annual (and amazing) Christmas Carol Service - actually, a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols - occurred place in the large medieval church in the city centre, an incredible and atmospheric place which is over 700 years old. I decided to mark the occasion by attending this event.

Anyway, today's choir comprised their own Great Choir, their Choristers, and the University's Choral Scholars, among others, all of them superb singers.

Moreover, the service was ecumenical, (and absolutely packed, I turned up an hour early in order to secure an excellent seat), and, while some of the carols were well known classics, others - some of which I had never heard before - dated from medieval times; there was also a haunting hymn sung in Ukrainian.

Wonderful.

Decent Brother phoned me as the formal procession was about to proceed along the nave; hence, now, ensconced in a pub, with a glass of beer - Weihenstephaner, naturally, this time, on tap - (and sparkling mineral water), I returned his call and we had a good chat.

Enjoy your beer. Feels much more like a tea day today to me! In fact I’ve just started one.

Glad you and your brother are able to talk and presumably remember your mother fondly.

 

[Mac Geezer]

I listened to a reading of Dylan Thomas's "A Child's Christmas in Wales" this morning and got all wistful and had that feeling of falling into the past.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Enjoy your beer.

Thank you.

Feels much more like a tea day today to me!

To be honest, I'd have preferred a coffee, but all of the coffee shops had shut by the time the service ended.

In fact I’ve just started one.

Enjoy.

Glad you and your brother are able to talk and presumably remember your mother fondly.

Yes, we did remember her fondly, though we agreed that my father - who loved music - would have greatly enjoyed the service I attended; anyway, we had a lovely chat.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Well, that was interesting.
I was going through my ink collection, looking for some vintage inks.
I found a box of Parker Quink Permanent Black, with Solv-X, from the '80s??.
Anyway, written on the box, in faded ballpoint (how disgusting, writing on a fountain pen ink bottle in ballpoint!!!) are the words --

STONE HUT LANE
FULL of TROUT!

I think I bought it from the UK via eBay, quite some years ago.
If anybody from the UK knows* where Stone Hut Lane is, can they confirm that it is still full of trout?



*Look, we know that, compared to Aus, the UK is such a tiny place, so someone probably knows there the place is.
Just like, every Briton I have ever met has said "I met an Aussie once. His name was Bruce. Do you know him?"

 

[WriteNow]

Anyway, written on the box, in faded ballpoint (how disgusting, writing on a fountain pen ink bottle in ballpoint!!!)

How horrifying!

I hope that the ballpoint coming so close to that ink, even if only for a moment to defile that box, had no lasting harm on the ink.

Incidentally, I am not sure if I should be angry or depressed at the thought that 80s ink might be considered vintage.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I live in the UK and our wildlife is so dull compared to yours. Foxes, a few deer, no bears or Elk.

I assume that living anywhere is the city does not offer any opportunities to observe most of the wildlife, Fozes are quite curious and figure ways to fill theirs and families stomachs by roaming around the city

Had some rough days recently, me and my wife both poorly with colds, stepdaughter struggling with her mental health, horrible dark weather but yesterday was good. Walk in the sunshine with my stepdaughter I feel better.

First I must apologize to you since I don't know about your step daughter's mental health condition. In this case I can tell about something that some people in Alaska are affected by (below):

The long hours of darkness can be tough to handle for quite a lot of Alaskans. The darkness, plus isolation for some people, create a medical condition referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Alaskans commonly call this condition as "cabin fever." People use what are called "SAD lights, which are available at the local stores and medical facilities, but I have no idea if these lights help to not. I do know that it is best to not be alone in the house if for whatever reason one is lonely. Instead, it is best to socialize or become involved in some outdoors activity among friends and family. The problem in here is that in the interior of Alaska winters aren't only dark, but extremely cold, so in days or nights like today's at -40º (where the F meets C), it is best to stay indoors