I cannot believe I have just read that Jay Blade has received an MBE - how utterly ridiculous. He's just a sprayer (as I've said before) of spray paint with so little talent. I love watching the Repair Shop but it's ruined for me by him doing zilch other than a little ironing of new material or - and only once have I seen this happen - putting some nails into the back of a cabinet. The Repair Shop is loved by all but he's not the reason, fgs. I'm truly shocked.

No, I have never met him and have no wish to be called either judgmental or critical because that is how I feel about him.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-61306008 That poor young woman probably chose her dress while twirling in it in front of a mirror, imagining herself walking into a church.

Thinking about another post on here made me wonder... are we brand snobs food wise? What have you swapped for a shops own brand that is just as nice? What food product is a no no to swapping?
I often by own brand Shopping, the one thing I will never swap is tinned spaghetti! I love it on toast but it has to be Heinz.

Had enough scrap metal for two of the dealers that drive slowly around the streets.
The major problem I have to deal wish is a whole load of vulcanised rubber electricity cabling. After I had cut it into pieces it filled 10 black bin bags. I put it outside with the domestic rubbish for collection but the jobsworth binmen cut the bags open to look inside and refused to take them. Even after I tried to bribe them with £20.
So now it looks like I will have to get rid of it gradually by mixing them with the household waste.

This is the 2nd leg of their Champions League semi-final. The 1st leg was that incredible 4-3 win for Man City. Get your predictions in by 7pm.
Good luck

Three months ago I posted, among much derision, about an electricity "saving" device, and promised that I would report back on the results, good or bad, so below I show the figures for the three months, compared to the history.
The data from which these figures are derived is as follows.
I have 21 years of actual total annual usage and 7 years of monthly readings. From these I calculate my annual budget based on the 21 year average compared to the running mean for the last 3 years to ensure that any late trends, if any, are considered.
I believe that this method creates a good estimate since in the last 6 years the difference between my estimate and the actual has never been greater than +/- 2.5%, and always more accurate than my suppliers figure.
For the period under review, Feb- Apr, the results are as follows:-

Year 2022 Estimated usage 1,388 kWh
Year 2022 Actual usage 1,032 " -25.6%
Year 2021 Actual usage 1,188 " - 13.1%
6 year Average actual usage 1,324 " -22.1%

I offer no comment on these results, it is for each member to draw their on conclusion, but IF these figures are true and continue, using the 6 year average as a basis at my present rate of 18.95p kWh I will save £205 a year, as to that we shall see.

fineshttps://news.sky.com/story/durham-police-should-reopen-investigation-into-sir-keir-starmer-lockdown-beers.
When I saw the photo of him through a Window Drinking Beer I said that he should be fined. He is making an Excuse that it is having a Takeaway meal with Colleagues after Work during Covid.

This is the 2nd leg of their Champions League semi-final. Liverpool are ahead 2-0 from the 1st leg. Interesting fact; The Yellow Submarine is in Liverpools, Albert dock. Villareals nickname is The Yellow Submarine. Get your predictions in by 7pm.
Good luck

Hi
I want to buy a compost bin and I’m considering the drum type – on a stand which you rotate every couple of days to mix the compost.
It would be by a south facing wall and as most of them are made of black plastic it would get quite warm which should speed up the composting process.
Do any of you have any experience with that type of compost drum?
Is there anything I should know about them?
They’re claimed to be must faster at making compost but is that true?
Can you recommend any particular brands or suppliers? – I’d like to get a fairly large one.
I’ve seen articles that suggest putting a small amount of garden soil or mature compost in with the kitchen waste and so on to help introduce the bacteria and other microorganisms that help to rot the compost down. Do any of you know if that helps.
TIA

Poor Ukrainians trying to get out, let down again by the b…… Russians, ignoring and defying the promised ceasefire as women and children prepared to finally leave their underground hiding places.

https://www.facebook.com/157035865207998/posts/840153263562918/

Bromley Police
May 2 at 9:35 AM

FREE catalytic Convertor Marking Event ^JT

Monday Night Football. Get your predictions in by 7pm.
Good luck

Photos of famous people together with themselves!

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLtJfDuB/

You may recall in another post the NHA party ( National Health Action Party for the majority that don't know of them) was mentioned, all 5 of them.
I have had a leaflet through the door to tell me that the co-leader of the party is standing in our local election.
He is a Dr. Alastair Fischer who must be desperate to win some sort of election if he is reduced this lowly level, or perhaps just another nut case.

Super Sunday football Get your predictions in by 4pm.
Good luck

Vladimir Putin may be forced to give up control of the war in Ukraine for days as he is set for cancer surgery, a ‘Kremlin insider’ has claimed.

The Russian dictator will reportedly nominate hardline Security Council head and ex-FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev to take control of the invasion while he is incapacitated.

Shadowy Patrushev, 70, is seen as a key architect of the war strategy so far – and the man who convinced Putin that Kyiv is awash with neo-Nazis.

Saturday Night Football. Get your predictions in by 5pm.
Good luck

Distracted ?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/6-divisive-laws-boris-johnson-26825870

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-61272434

No not that one 😂


https://news.sky.com/story/boris-becker-jailed-for-two-and-a-half-years-in-prison-for-flouting-terms-of-his-bankruptcy-12601369

His wife’s comment ? 😄

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61276319

Click on to enlarge (hopefully)

Think most would need a bigger size 😅

https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1602809/russia-news-space-threatens-abandon-nasa-iss-china-space-mission-moon-base

I never knew that China were so scientifically advanced as to send astronauts and material into space and construct a space station.

Tiangong is a space station that the Chinese Manned Space Agency (CMSA) is building in low Earth orbit. In May 2021, China launched Tianhe, the first of the orbiting space station's three modules, and the country aims to finish building the station by the end of 2022. CMSA hopes to keep Tiangong inhabited continuously by three astronauts for at least a decade. The space station will host many experiments from both China and other countries.

This little tip sounds great for gardeners.

https://www.tips-and-tricks.co/home-and-garden/sticks-rose-stalk-potato-look-happens-week-later-amazing/

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1602953/manchester-news-woman-humiliated-pizza-place-rejects-lone-diner

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61257107.amp

The Tories spent millions on ppe that couldn’t be used and vaccines that were dumped out of date 😂 and then Boris gets his facts wrong 😑

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18387839/130k-cash-discovered-ebay-kitchen-cabinets/amp/

Kelloggs are taking the government to court because of their directive to make shops put high sugar products in less prominent locations.
Kelloggs are arguing that their cereals have been listed at high sugar because they have only been measured as a dry cereal. When in reality they are eaten with milk making them a healthy option.

I have a man coming Saturday to see about painting my living room, I have no idea what sort of price to expect so need some guide line to go by please.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10762165/Eco-anarchists-SABOTAGE-Shell-petrol-station-M25.html
2 hours ago ... Eco-anarchists SABOTAGE two M25 petrol stations: Just Stop Oil zealot brags he's 'disabled' fuel garage as activists block forecourts at

Tonight's match is the Europa League Semi-final 1st leg. Get your predictions in by 7.30pm
Good luck

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/there-s-a-massive-antarctic-exploration-vehicle-lost-somewhere-at-the-bottom-of-the-world?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB

This probably should be in the local loop but I'm not sure many people look at them

https://www.change.org/p/improve-facilities-and-maintenance-in-kelsey-park-beckenham?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_33052848_en-GB%3A4&recruited_by_id=1cfd3200-c60e-11ec-8a40-079816ada2b0&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=petition_dashboard

The other Champions League Semi-final 1st leg, and another England v Spain clash. Get your predictions in by 7pm.
Good luck

The five HealthWatches in north central London (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington) have surveyed long Covid sufferers seeking medical help. Their experiences weren't positive but let's hope that this evidence might help to change that in future.
https://www.healthwatchbarnet.co.uk/report/2022-04-13/new-healthwatch-report-long-covid-north-central-london?fbclid=IwAR2bid5sJfE1dFqz7f5QVz2DJlxzu38xmm-XDOhxZlLPloZicy8FT3_BNzo

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1601448/GP-surgery-appointment-waiting-NHS-latest-Jeremy-Vine-video-private-healthcare-vn

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2022/04/fake-council-tax-energy-rebate-scam-targeting-households/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=Scamalert230422&utm_content=Scam+alert+230422

https://bit.ly/3kf6XN9

https://platinumjubilee.gov.uk/events/

Rupert Murdoch's news channel launched last night as a direct rival to GB News. I've been dipping in and out last night and today and every programme is the same. A middle aged man in a suit presenting, talking to another middle aged man in a suit about something in the news. The exception is the Julia Hartley-Brewer show but only because she is female, and Piers Morgan will possibly be worth a watch.
I think GB News has a better variety of shows and more involvement of guests being able to voice an opinion.
I did notice two GB News panellists have defected to TalkTV; Daisy McAndrew and Esther Krakue.
But it is only day one so it might improve and become just as popular as it's rival

I just caught the end of Your and Yours on car radio this morning when the subject was obviously cash or cashless. I appreciate I am vintage but two things stood out. A retired gentleman in Bournemouth who said he was quite happy using his smart phone for parking, didn't worry him that without one some couldn't park there, only annoyance was it cost £1.10 instead of £1 but that was fine, he found it very simple. Then mentioned going to the beach with his grandson and buying him an ice-cream - before him in the queue I gather were two youngsters clutching the cash who were refused an ice cream as the place didn't take cash. Being the magnanimous kind-hearted pensioner that he was, he bought them for the kids - as mother didn't have much English so he could understand her problem. He absolutely saw nothing wrong with the whole system that cash is becoming unacceptable - just as well they couldn't hear me shouting at the radio telling him what a snobbish patronising person he was.
Also a lady doing voluntary work for a small animal charity saying that when she goes to collect the boxes, they now have very little in them as nobody carries cash anymore. Then she went on to say that they make a profit by holding events where there are tea and cake stalls, etc. which were largely going unsold as nobody carried cash. Was even asked if they took cards by some.
A Travel man did say be sure to take some cash when abroad as they are still living normal lives where cash is acceptable (my words).

Tonight it's the Champions League semi-final 1st leg. Get your predictions in by 7pm.
Good luck

I've just bought a small woodturning lathe and I'm looking for some chunks of suitable wood for turning.
Softwood such as pine isn't ideal so I'm looking for harder woods.
Pieces roughly 15cm or longer and 5cm square/round or larger. The sizes and shapes aren't critical, but the wood needs to be free of cracks, nails and so on.
If I buy this new it costs an arm and a leg, so I'm looking for offcuts.
I've tried Champions, Homebase and BandQ but without luck.
Can any of you suggest a suitable place to obtain hardwood offcuts somewhere within a reasonable distance of Epsom?
Or alternatively do any of you in my neck of the woods have bits of hardwood cluttering up your shed which you'd like to get rid of?

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLpPnEms/

A DJ was booked for an event at an Arizona high school. When the schools diversity and inclusion committee saw photos of the DJ they immediately accused him of "blackface".
The DJ responded saying, "it's not blackface, I am actually black"
Instead of admitting their mistake, they still accused him of blackface because he was making himself look more black than he should be. For instance a big afro hairstyle.

Got my postal vote paper today
Just Labour or Conservative - nothing else.