You may have noticed that some members are no longer posting, this may be due to them being logged in as another member, and unable to log out. They are therefore unable to log in with their real name.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BCLULHD2j/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I can see that some members are still having trouble viewing TikTok videos. You do not have to be a member of TikTok to view their videos. If you cannot see a video that others can, then the problem is with your device. If you copy the link that you cannot view, and post it for my attention in the Workshop or IT loop, I may be able to post a link to the video that you will be able to view.

Did anyone watch Panorama last night? The subject matter was the ever increasing prices that vets charge for consultations, drugs and tests. The majority of Vet practices in this country have, unfortunately, been taken over by big corporations. I have two jack russels (Neige and Barkley ❤️) and fortunately haven’t had to have many vets visits in the past. Mainly inoculations, deworming and flea control. It’s worth a look on IPlayer if anyone with pets hasn’t seen it.

Went to garden centre this afternoon to have a look around and to have lunch. I could hear loud birdsong. To my surprise, there was a robin singing away over the bird seed display. I approached it and it didn’t fly away. Obviously tame.

I attended Strollercise this morning and thoroughly enjoyed it. The instructor is a very talented woman. An ex ballet dancer. Appeared in West End musicals, danced with the likes of Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Take That amongst others. A very talented lady.

Two lovely adult foxes on my neighbour’s shed. Imagine we have hunters on horseback in this country hell bent on seeing these animals torn to shreds by hounds.

A long worthwhile read.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c394vjm7n4vo

Every year when the Christmas decorations are put away there is a certain unease around the house that something has been left out. This year we were confident we had cracked it, but we hadn't! I found it this morning.

It's been in use multiple times each day without realising that it was a decoration. It's one of those things you use, without particularly looking at it. It's a tea bag dish for collecting dead tea bags. There on top of the dish was a snow scene, together with a car carrying a Christmas Tree. There's no kidding yourself it's just a winter scene, it's a Christmas decoration and has now been put away.

Undoubtedly, sometime around June, we will discover a bauble or something else Christmassy which has escaped detection, but at least the first one has been discovered.

Do you ever find stuff way after its put-away date?

I wouldn’t class myself as being overweight, but I decided to sign up to Slimming World this morning. I wouldn’t mind losing perhaps a couple of Kilos. Whilst at the venue, I was asked if I’d like to join a group called ‘StrollerSize’ too which I have. I like to keep fit. There’s an added bonus of course of meeting new friends. Win win situation.

Anyone interested in ceramics? I’m going to give it a whirl. Im going to book a three hour workshop in Leigh (Southend) I’ll let everyone know the outcome. If successful, I may take it up as a hobby.

I would throw away a vegetable spiralizer, what was l thinking of and why haven’t l got time on my hands now I’ve retired!
Also stopped any calorie counting 50 years ago when l was really skinny and too thin!

I’ve moved to Ashingdon in Essex and have moved into a house with a log burner. I’m not sure I should use it! Can I ask, if anyone knows, what sort of wood should be burned in them and would people class them as environmentally friendly?

https://www.scooploop.com/thread/current-state-of-scooploop

Just seen this in another loop:

'Hello all, I just wondered if any of those who new Boots are going to her funeral today at 10.00 am. It's at Forest Parks Cemetery and Crematorium Ilford. Sad loss of a good friend Rip.'

Beware if you have an alias account. The next batch of account deletions has started. If you have an alias account, you may find that your main account is deleted.

COVID was not “just a lung infection.”
SARS-CoV-2 has an unusual ability to disrupt core regulatory systems in the body. In some people, those systems never fully reset or repair after the infection, even if the initial illness was mild.
Clinically, this shows up as dysfunction across six root mechanisms (people have different combinations and severity of each). It’s not single cause,so there is no single treatment. As soon as you realize this, you will be ready to get better the right way.
1. Dysautonomia
COVID can disrupt the autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate, blood pressure, temperature regulation, breathing patterns, and gut motility. This explains palpitations, POTS, dizziness, heat intolerance, GI slowing, and adrenaline surges.
2. Mitochondrial dysfunction
The virus and the downstream inflammatory response can impair cellular energy production. This is why exertion feels disproportionately exhausting and why post-exertional crashes occur. The body’s energy “battery” does not recharge normally.
3. Endothelial dysfunction and microvascular injury
COVID inflames and destabilizes the lining of blood vessels. Impaired microcirculation means oxygen and nutrients are not delivered efficiently to the brain, nerves, muscles, and organs, contributing to brain fog, shortness of breath, pain, and exercise intolerance.
4. Hormone imbalance
COVID can disrupt the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and gonadal axes, affecting cortisol, thyroid hormones, sex hormones, melatonin, and insulin signaling. Hormone instability worsens fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety-like symptoms, temperature intolerance, weight changes, and poor stress tolerance.
5. Mast cell activation and histamine excess
COVID can trigger abnormal mast cell behavior, leading to histamine intolerance, flushing, rashes, GI symptoms, tachycardia, air hunger, and exaggerated responses to foods, medications, heat, or stress.
6. Gut dysbiosis and barrier dysfunction
Changes in the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier perpetuate inflammation, immune signaling, nutrient malabsorption, and neurologic symptoms through the gut–brain axis.
This is why:
• Routine labs and imaging are often “normal”
• Symptoms worsen with exertion, stress, heat, or illness
• Previously healthy, high-functioning people are often affected
• One-size-fits-all treatments fail
Long COVID is not anxiety, not deconditioning, and not “just CFS”.
It is a post-viral multi-system disorder, driven by different combinations of these six mechanisms in different people.

Have a good time everyone if you can. Back after Xmas.

Santa is preparing his reindeer for his epic journey around the world. You can track his journey here:
https://www.noradsanta.org/en/map

Meanwhile, have a safe and Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

I’ve not been on this forum long, but I’d like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and New Year. I’ve not been well for over a week but hope to be able to get out and about soon.

that you've not seen before. Can be anything real or imagined.

To anyone who has or is suffering from flu, you have my sincerest sympathy. I’ve been poorly for over a week now. Haven’t been out. Can’t go out. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I’ve been surviving on hot lemon and honey drinks. I really hope I’m fully recovered before Christmas 🧑‍🦳

Openreach has closed down the telephone exchange in Deddington, Oxfordshire. It is the first of 4600 telephone exchanges to be closed.

Just saw this in the Anything loop:

https://www.scooploop.com/thread/a-moving-piece-about-a-mother

A few of us went to a Moroccan restaurant last night.
The food was delicious and the staff as charming as you would hope.

I've attached some pictures from the Christmas lights in Windsor.
The crown is, (with others), strung across Peascod Street. The tree is at the top of Peascod Street next to the Queen Victoria Statue.
The lit wall is just along Thames Street (towards the Theatre Royal) from the tree.

https://www.scooploop.com/thread/butterfly-a7c00

Does anyone live in the Rayleigh, Hockley or anywhere local? If so, I’m sure you’ll agree that the Christmas lights/trees are outstanding. I only moved to the area recently but I’m extremely impressed. Ashingdon, my area, is adorned with household /business arrays of lights. Joyous and heartwarming.

This morning I received a text message from this random number:
07563 939434
the message was "Can I take a moment of your time?"

Would you reply to that?

...by Ryanair standards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCgCuFv5u3c

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/articles/lifeexpectancycalculator/2019-06-07

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=353376859373528

https://www.scooploop.com/user/JohnnyBee

https://www.scooploop.com/user/Brenda38

Charging an admin fee for using the counter instead of the self service.
My Post Office is inside a shop called TG Jones, so I don't know if it is them or the Post Office decision to add the admin fee.
Yesterday I went into the Post Office to send a calendar to a friend. We send each other one every year. I always use the self service screens. I thought great there is one free. There was a notes saying card payment only which was fine. I put the parcel on the scales and pressed Send an Item. Then I saw the message. "if you are sending to Northern Ireland or international destinations please go to the main counter". So I had no choice but to join the really long queue stretching into the main shop. Eventually it was my turn. Weighed it, handed it over, then the lady said the cost of postage "and an admin fee of £1.50". When I asked her what is the admin fee for? she said "it's for using the manned counter instead of the self service machines". She even joked that "it's not for me".
Decided not to argue with her that they had made the self service machine only useable for sending UK letters only.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1154053963579043

...while I was there I tasted a botanical which was prevalent when I was a child. It is natural and is 30 to 50 times sweeter than sugar.

Any guesses?

....only available on the streaming service.
I've been noticing that some TV dramas are only showing the first episode on the broadcast channel, then if you want to watch the rest of the series you have to login to that channel's streaming or catch up service.
Recent examples are Lioness, which was shown on ITV for one episode, the rest of the series was only on ITVx. And last Saturday Channel 4 showed the opening episode of The Serpent Queen, the rest of the series is only on My4.
Got me thinking how many will think a series has been cancelled and don't realise it has moved to streaming only.