Whats everyone up to right now?

[MikeO]

6 minutes ago, Palfy said:

I’m still a fair weather biker only started up again a couple of years ago, before that I stopped aged 18 and 40 years later had a midlife crisis and got going again. 

Fuck yeah, screw freezing your arse off in the wind and rain. Second bike I bought after my initial pocket rocket was a Honda Superdream CB250 and I bought it second hand from a guy on a farm about twenty miles from home....but it was in early January and I rode it home through snow and ice; plus I'd made the daft mistake of not taking my gear with me as it was just a "viewing" so I wasn't expecting to do a deal on the spot. Didn't even have any gloves! The pain of that ride is still with me but I loved it in the end. 

(Pic is not of mine but one I found online)

[Palfy]

1 hour ago, MikeO said:

Fuck yeah, screw freezing your arse off in the wind and rain. Second bike I bought after my initial pocket rocket was a Honda Superdream CB250 and I bought it second hand from a guy on a farm about twenty miles from home....but it was in early January and I rode it home through snow and ice; plus I'd made the daft mistake of not taking my gear with me as it was just a "viewing" so I wasn't expecting to do a deal on the spot. Didn't even have any gloves! The pain of that ride is still with me but I loved it in the end. 

(Pic is not of mine but one I found online)

Still a nice looking bike especially in the blue and white, I wonder why I like those colours

[MikeO]

14 minutes ago, Palfy said:

Still a nice looking bike especially in the blue and white, I wonder why I like those colours

Mine was the same colour

[Matt]

To paraphrase Animal Farm; 4 wheels good, 2 wheels bad!

[MikeO]

2 hours ago, Matt said:

To paraphrase Animal Farm; 4 wheels good, 2 wheels bad!

Communist

[RPG]

Likewise, pic not of my bike but identical to the one I had. Honda CD 175. Nearly killed myself on it on several occasions.

I would have loved the Superdream but couldn't afford one. Next bike was a BSA C15.

[Palfy]

8 hours ago, RPG said:

Likewise, pic not of my bike but identical to the one I had. Honda CD 175. Nearly killed myself on it on several occasions.

I would have loved the Superdream but couldn't afford one. Next bike was a BSA C15.

Wow what year is that  mate love the look, can’t complete with you boys crack on 

[RPG]

9 hours ago, Palfy said:

Wow what year is that  mate love the look, can’t complete with you boys crack on 

Mine was 1971. I bought it in '79.

Rode it from Lincolnshire to Blackburn and back to watch Blackburn v Grimsby in the old third division when Howard Kendall was manager of Blackburn. All that way and a 0-0 draw!

[Palfy]

Cleaned mine and wife’s motors today and did half hour of my online Spanish course, into week 3 of my lockdown and I’m starting to run out of things to do. 
The mrs wants my to do some decorating which I detest, managed to convince her I won’t be able to get the paint so got out of that one. 
Face timing the kids and grandchildren later so that’s something to look forward to.

What are people who are stuck at home doing to pass the time away, and no one say decorating. 

[MikeO]

52 minutes ago, Palfy said:

What are people who are stuck at home doing to pass the time away, and no one say decorating.

Screw decorating, hate it. Today I've drunk too much so I need to put myself to bed; wife retired four hours ago and will probably be up around 3:00am and then go back to bed around the time I get up. Very strange times.

[Palfy]

Sat in the garden with a few enjoying the sun the birds singing the dog at laying my feet, thinking I could quite easily get use to this, until the tranquillity of it is broken by my missus wanting to know when I plan cleaning the garage out, they hate to see you enjoying yourself it’s like there mission in life is to keep you on your toes. 

[MikeO]

1 hour ago, Palfy said:

Sat in the garden with a few enjoying the sun the birds singing the dog at laying my feet, thinking I could quite easily get use to this, until the tranquillity of it is broken by my missus wanting to know when I plan cleaning the garage out, they hate to see you enjoying yourself it’s like there mission in life is to keep you on your toes. 

Our garden, front and back, is getting out of hand; I just don't have the energy or strength to do it anymore. My right shoulder, which was damaged and weakened by my surgery six and a half years ago, just gets worse over time.

So today I've bitten the bullet and contacted a local gardener (they're apparently still allowed to work) and he's going to come out and give me a quote. Daughter's partner would normally be first choice but he doesn't drive and obviously I can't go and collect him. Never mind, the money I've saved by not having to fill the car up with diesel for two months will probably cover it.

[Matt]

59 minutes ago, MikeO said:

Our garden, front and back, is getting out of hand; I just don't have the energy or strength to do it anymore. My right shoulder, which was damaged and weakened by my surgery six and a half years ago, just gets worse over time.

So today I've bitten the bullet and contacted a local gardener (they're apparently still allowed to work) and he's going to come out and give me a quote. Daughter's partner would normally be first choice but he doesn't drive and obviously I can't go and collect him. Never mind, the money I've saved by not having to fill the car up with diesel for two months will probably cover it.

Fuel prices are nuts at the moment. We’re about 1.36CHF instead of 1.80 and I think we’ve filled the tank once in 10 weeks? A rough saving of 500chfs!

[Palfy]

1 hour ago, MikeO said:

Our garden, front and back, is getting out of hand; I just don't have the energy or strength to do it anymore. My right shoulder, which was damaged and weakened by my surgery six and a half years ago, just gets worse over time.

So today I've bitten the bullet and contacted a local gardener (they're apparently still allowed to work) and he's going to come out and give me a quote. Daughter's partner would normally be first choice but he doesn't drive and obviously I can't go and collect him. Never mind, the money I've saved by not having to fill the car up with diesel for two months will probably cover it.

Have they come recommended or out the phone book, thing is Mike we are not getting any younger mate, there comes a time in every mans life when we deserve to take it a bit easier and put our feet up, I’ve been telling Mandy that for the last 30 years the cheeky cow called me lazy  

The going rate for a gardener around here is about £20 an hour or £15 cash in the hand, a friend of mine does mine for 20 cash in the hand, you don’t need a Monty Dom mate just someone who can use a lawnmower and keep shrubs in check. 

[MikeO]

7 minutes ago, Palfy said:

Have they come recommended or out the phone book, thing is Mike we are not getting any younger mate, there comes a time in every mans life when we deserve to take it a bit easier and put our feet up, I’ve been telling Mandy that for the last 30 years the cheeky cow called me lazy  

The going rate for a gardener around here is about £20 an hour or £15 cash in the hand, a friend of mine does mine for 20 cash in the hand, you don’t need a Monty Dom mate just someone who can use a lawnmower and keep shrubs in check. 

He's a local guy with just a Facebook page but plenty of positive comments. I'll weigh him up when he comes to quote, think I'm a decent judge of character for an obnoxious bugger, we can normally spot each other.

[markjazzbassist]

3 hours ago, Matt said:

Fuel prices are nuts at the moment. We’re about 1.36CHF instead of 1.80 and I think we’ve filled the tank once in 10 weeks? A rough saving of 500chfs!

it was $2.50 a gallon here in the US, my wife  saw it the other day for $0.99 a gallon.  i wish i could capitalize on it but i'm barely driving!

[johnh]

1 hour ago, Palfy said:

Have they come recommended or out the phone book, thing is Mike we are not getting any younger mate, there comes a time in every mans life when we deserve to take it a bit easier and put our feet up, I’ve been telling Mandy that for the last 30 years the cheeky cow called me lazy  

The going rate for a gardener around here is about £20 an hour or £15 cash in the hand, a friend of mine does mine for 20 cash in the hand, you don’t need a Monty Dom mate just someone who can use a lawnmower and keep shrubs in check. 

Exactly right Palfy.  I have a guy comes in late autumn every year.  Does all the pruning of trees and shrubs and tidies the flower beds.  I have another guy who comes in early spring and scarifies the lawn, front and back.  I can still mow the lawns but as most of our garden is lawn and shrubs that is the only work I have to do.

[Palfy]

32 minutes ago, TallPaul1878 said:

Just finished painting some models with the kids. They did a pretty good job actually, I only had for intervene with some of the fiddly bits.

Here is a Lord of Contagion. Waiting to dry before basing and varnish. Some slight touch ups I've spotted too but not much, not bad for a first attempt in about 20 years.

Fantastic mate it’s a work of Art, very impressed with your kids shake their hands for me please mate. 

[Palfy]

I’m sat on deck come balcony over a lake in the Cotswold water park in the sun a tall class of G&T watching water skiers, our house is 5 minutes from here with it’s own lake, we should be moving soon and have put an offer in on a property in the small Saxon town of Cricklade that needs a 3-4 month renovation but is in a cracking location, this will be my last project and I think I’ll stay there till they carry me in a box, so renting this holiday lodge on a rolling month, I’m waiting for Liz Hurley to turn up apparently she owns one two away from me. 
Anyway enjoy your weekend lads I need to get myself another drink  

[MikeO]

18 minutes ago, Palfy said:

I’m sat on deck come balcony over a lake in the Cotswold water park in the sun a tall class of G&T watching water skiers, our house is 5 minutes from here with it’s own lake, we should be moving soon and have put an offer in on a property in the small Saxon town of Cricklade that needs a 3-4 month renovation but is in a cracking location, this will be my last project and I think I’ll stay there till they carry me in a box, so renting this holiday lodge on a rolling month, I’m waiting for Liz Hurley to turn up apparently she owns one two away from me. 
Anyway enjoy your weekend lads I need to get myself another drink  

Nice, I've been to Cricklade but I can't think when/why, it's a great spot.

I should've been in a hotel on Loch Lomond today after two weeks on Skye, all cancelled due to virus. Annoying thing is refund could only be made to cards that paid for the various bits (money laundering rules apparently) and all but £30 of the £1200+ paid out was on my wife's credit/debit cards, and despite me informing the banks of her death they still hadn't formally closed the accounts so now I'm having to faff about to get the money.....which would be pretty simple if I could do it over the phone but being unable to speak kind of hinders that. They won't let me nominate someone to talk on my behalf and don't allow email to be used in bereavement stuff so all done by post and me going into branch. All money was refunded by the 5th April and not a sniff of it yet....apart from the £30 initial deposit I paid.

[Palfy]

8 minutes ago, MikeO said:

Nice, I've been to Cricklade but I can't think when/why, it's a great spot.

I should've been in a hotel on Loch Lomond today after two weeks on Skye, all cancelled due to virus. Annoying thing is refund could only be made to cards that paid for the various bits (money laundering rules apparently) and all but £30 of the £1200+ paid out was on my wife's credit/debit cards, and despite me informing the banks of her death they still hadn't formally closed the accounts so now I'm having to faff about to get the money.....which would be pretty simple if I could do it over the phone but being unable to speak kind of hinders that. They won't let me nominate someone to talk on my behalf and don't allow email to be used in bereavement stuff so all done by post and me going into branch. All money was refunded by the 5th April and not a sniff of it yet....apart from the £30 initial deposit I paid.

That’s a shame mate I’ll have to do Scotland properly whilst I’ve still got time, been there twice for 5 days golfing but you don’t really get to see the true Scotland, but even from the golf courses the scenery is breathtaking, it’s amazing what we have on our own doorsteps yet we still choose to travel far and wide, I’m planning my retirement hence the move, the new Villa in Spain and motor home bought last October, yet at 61 I feel that I haven’t got enough time left to everything I want, I officially finish next April. My new saying to Mandy is money I have time I don’t, which she doesn’t get, “ your 61 for Christ sake “ but like I keep reminding her I’ll be 71 in less than 10 years and to be honest that scares the shit out of me, I’ve so much more I want to see and experience. 

[Palfy]

Sat out side in Arboleas in Spain having an full English on my own Mandy not jabbed happy days best decision she’s made since agreeing to marry me. In Arboleas for 2 nights after going through some choices and haggling with the builder he’s only 4 months behind which is quite good for the Spanish should be finished end of July. 
Then I’m driving down to Marbella to join my mate at his Villa, 5 rounds of golf booked at a couple of days at Nikki Beach getting mortalled. 
Loving life looking for a bar that’s got the game on COYB

[Hafnia]

37 minutes ago, Palfy said:

Sat out side in Arboleas in Spain having an full English on my own Mandy not jabbed happy days best decision she’s made since agreeing to marry me. In Arboleas for 2 nights after going through some choices and haggling with the builder he’s only 4 months behind which is quite good for the Spanish should be finished end of July. 
Then I’m driving down to Marbella to join my mate at his Villa, 5 rounds of golf booked at a couple of days at Nikki Beach getting mortalled. 
Loving life looking for a bar that’s got the game on COYB

Sounds amazing, enjoy Palf 

[Palfy]

There all showing either Chelsea or City, honestly these Spanish have no class. 

[MikeO]

45 minutes ago, Palfy said:

There all showing either Chelsea or City, honestly these Spanish have no class. 

Said it before Palf but I just don't like Spain, been 5/6 times (mostly pre-Brexit tobacco runs) but really only enjoyed Madrid, the coast and the culture leave me cold when compared to Greece.

The fact that they're not showing Everton confirms they've nowt to commend them, enjoy your trip though....Philistine that you are.

[RPG]

On 24/04/2021 at 20:40, Palfy said:

That’s a shame mate I’ll have to do Scotland properly whilst I’ve still got time, been there twice for 5 days golfing but you don’t really get to see the true Scotland, but even from the golf courses the scenery is breathtaking, it’s amazing what we have on our own doorsteps yet we still choose to travel far and wide, I’m planning my retirement hence the move, the new Villa in Spain and motor home bought last October, yet at 61 I feel that I haven’t got enough time left to everything I want, I officially finish next April. My new saying to Mandy is money I have time I don’t, which she doesn’t get, “ your 61 for Christ sake “ but like I keep reminding her I’ll be 71 in less than 10 years and to be honest that scares the shit out of me, I’ve so much more I want to see and experience. 

I totally understand that. I am now 60 and was made Covid-19 redundant age 58. After the initial disappointment it was actually starting to feel like the best thing that happened to me - until I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, but that's another story. The point is, you are quite right. We know how much money we have but none of us knows how much time we have and it scares the shit out of me too. I have a 6 year old daughter, a bucket list that is getting longer rather than shorter and I just can't see all the boxes getting ticked that I want to.

[Formby]

22 minutes ago, RPG said:

We know how much money we have but none of us knows how much time we have and it scares the shit out of me too. 

Would knowing how much time you had left be any less scarier? We all know more or less (70, 80); some know precisely. Whenever I get too maudlin, I console myself with the fact that far better, worthier, nobler people than I have struggled with the inevitability of death, and fared no better in delaying or understanding it. Shakespeare gets close, I think: life 'is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.' I'll leave it with him.

[Palfy]

3 hours ago, RPG said:

I totally understand that. I am now 60 and was made Covid-19 redundant age 58. After the initial disappointment it was actually starting to feel like the best thing that happened to me - until I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, but that's another story. The point is, you are quite right. We know how much money we have but none of us knows how much time we have and it scares the shit out of me too. I have a 6 year old daughter, a bucket list that is getting longer rather than shorter and I just can't see all the boxes getting ticked that I want to.

I totally get your plight especially as you have a 6 year old daughter, you would absolutely want to be around to see her grow and blossom into adulthood and also hopefully be in good health to enjoy it with her. I’ve had some health issues lately but I don’t have the added worry of young children my eldest is 40 and my youngest is 35 with one in between. I hope Mike doesn’t take offence or get offended by using him as an analogy, but when Mike’s wife died and he was diagnosed with cancer again and it was very touch and go, and he had a young son to look after, I really don’t know how I would have coped with that I know people say you just have to get on with it, but honestly I can’t begin to imagine everything you need as a person to get through that. I know I’ve gone a little bit down a different road with this but there never seems to be a good time in life for major changes out of our control, I just hope we all get to where we need to be in our lives before our time here is done.  

[Gwlad all over]

Just read RPG's post and Mike immediately sprang to mind, well put Palfy.

[Palfy]

Just packing and getting the dogs stuff sorted for my boy who’s picking her up in a couple of hours, going to Spain for 5 days to do final snags on Villa only 10 months behind schedule which is about average for Spanish builders, been over 2 years in the making hopefully the excitement will be still there when I see it, but honestly not feeling it right now. If Mike doesn’t mind may send a few pics for him to post for me and if he does tough

[Gwlad all over]

At least you aren't missing any football! enjoy Spain.

I'm watching the Italian GP.

[Palfy]

55 minutes ago, Gwlad all over said:

At least you aren't missing any football! enjoy Spain.

I'm watching the Italian GP.

Same as it’s going to be interesting last couple of laps if the strategy works out for Ferrari. 

[RPG]

Just watched the rather disappointing safety car finish to the Italian GP. Approaching 11-00pm here so time for bed as another early start tomorrow morning for the school run. They start and finish school early here. Registration is at 7-55am.

[Palfy]

Just did a 20 question IQ test had 20 seconds to complete it and finished it in just under 8 seconds. To my utter amazement got an IQ score of 150 which apparently puts me in top 0.33% in the world, I'm so made up I've paid £21.99 for an official certificate that I can hang in my office, where it will be strategically placed for all to see. 
Today I start my first day as an official genius

[Matt]

9 minutes ago, Palfy said:

Just did a 20 question IQ test had 20 seconds to complete it and finished it in just under 8 seconds. To my utter amazement got an IQ score of 150 which apparently puts me in top 0.33% in the world, I'm so made up I've paid £21.99 for an official certificate that I can hang in my office, where it will be strategically placed for all to see. 
Today I start my first day as an official genius

Were any of the questions related to punctuation and grammar?

 

[Palfy]

19 minutes ago, Matt said:

Were any of the questions related to punctuation and grammar?

 

Happily no

[Palfy]

1 hour ago, Palfy said:

Just did a 20 question IQ test had 20 seconds to complete it and finished it in just under 8 seconds. To my utter amazement got an IQ score of 150 which apparently puts me in top 0.33% in the world, I'm so made up I've paid £21.99 for an official certificate that I can hang in my office, where it will be strategically placed for all to see. 
Today I start my first day as an official genius

Sorry it wasn't seconds it was minutes, letting my IQ get way ahead of me there

[Gwlad all over]

Tofeetalk for the Genius Evertonian.

[MikeO]

Waiting for a taxi to take me to A&E in Exeter, spent this aternoon in our local urgent treatment centre....have fractured and partially dislocated my left upper humerus; in a bloody world of pain.

I actually passed out in the waiting room earlier and bashed my head as a bonus; good part of that was that once they got me into wheelchair I jumped the queue....small victories

[Formby]

13 minutes ago, MikeO said:

Waiting for a taxi to take me to A&E in Exeter, spent this aternoon in our local urgent treatment centre....have fractured and partially dislocated my left upper humerus; in a bloody world of pain.

I actually passed out in the waiting room earlier and bashed my head as a bonus; good part of that was that once they got me into wheelchair I jumped the queue....small victories

Nothing humerus about that, Mike. The last bit sounds rather Frank Spencer-ish. Hopefully, they got you sorted soon. 

[MikeO]

2.45 and still in A&E

[Palfy]

3 minutes ago, MikeO said:

2.45 and still in A&E

What's happened mate?

Apoligies Mike just read the before message, hope they've got you sorted with some pain relief. Let us know how you are getting on. 

[MikeO]

22 minutes ago, Palfy said:

What's happened mate?

Apoligies Mike just read the before message, hope they've got you sorted with some pain relief. Let us know how you are getting on. 

Thanks mate. They're keeping me in and putting me back together in the morning, hopefully a shorter stay than most of NHS holidays. Just waiting to see orthopedic doc then bed....I bloody need it!

[Palfy]

1 hour ago, MikeO said:

Thanks mate. They're keeping me in and putting me back together in the morning, hopefully a shorter stay than most of NHS holidays. Just waiting to see orthopedic doc then bed....I bloody need it!

Christ mate you don't do things in half measures do you, hopefully you can get some decent rest with what's left of the night, and then tomorrow sent to the repair shop and be on your merry way back home. You need to change your profile picture to Steve Austin mate Good night buddy catch up later  

[Romey 1878]

Hope everything gets sorted for you today, Mike!

[MikeO]

6 hours ago, Palfy said:

Christ mate you don't do things in half measures do you, hopefully you can get some decent rest with what's left of the night, and then tomorrow sent to the repair shop and be on your merry way back home. You need to change your profile picture to Steve Austin mate Good night buddy catch up later  

Finally got a bed at 5.30. Got a few hours in, have a high tec (blue) sling so feeling a bit easier today. Also back on my old ward so some priceless faces this morning when they saw it was me again .

[Zoo 2.0]

Nothing could be more painful than watching Everton, so hopefully you're not doing too badly @MikeO. 

Speedy recovery to you.

[Palfy]

7 hours ago, MikeO said:

Finally got a bed at 5.30. Got a few hours in, have a high tec (blue) sling so feeling a bit easier today. Also back on my old ward so some priceless faces this morning when they saw it was me again .

 Same room as last time Mr Oldfield, would you also like an alarm call, breakfast in bed and a morning paper Sir  

[Gwlad all over]

Hope you have a release clause in your hospital contract. Seriously get well soon, Mike.

[MikeO]

19 hours ago, Gwlad all over said:

Hope you have a release clause in your hospital contract. Seriously get well soon, Mike.

Home now, have go back in next Thursday. 

[Matt]

23 minutes ago, MikeO said:

Home now, have go back in next Thursday. 

Surgery then or just a follow-up?

[MikeO]

1 minute ago, Matt said:

Surgery then or just a follow-up?

Discharge notes say "hoping for a conservative treatment" but no guarantees I guess; this is the x-ray, doesn't show the fracture but the highlighted bits are the ball and socket which should obviously be a snug fit....at the moment they appear to be strangers!

[Matt]

Having broken so many bones and had so many x-rays, I know exactly how painful that is. Good luck man.

[Palfy]

2 hours ago, MikeO said:

Discharge notes say "hoping for a conservative treatment" but no guarantees I guess; this is the x-ray, doesn't show the fracture but the highlighted bits are the ball and socket which should obviously be a snug fit....at the moment they appear to be strangers!

That looks nasty mate. I haven't seen what you did to sustain your injury, something wild and heroic I'm guessing? 

[MikeO]

6 minutes ago, Palfy said:

That looks nasty mate. I haven't seen what you did to sustain your injury, something wild and heroic I'm guessing? 

If I told you I'd have to kill you

[Gwlad all over]

hoping for a conservative treatment

 

That won't sit well with you Mike!!

[MikeO]

9 minutes ago, Gwlad all over said:

hoping for a conservative treatment

 

That won't sit well with you Mike!!

Rather that than go into labour

[Palfy]

39 minutes ago, MikeO said:

If I told you I'd have to kill you

I promise not to laugh  

[Gwlad all over]

Count down to kick off and plan on continuing where I left off after lunch out with neighbours. 

[MikeO]

Told to keep on my wonderful NHS sling until next week but it was held together with micropore tape and inevitably fell to bits today (they took the decent one I'd had in hospital off me and gave me a crappy one on discharge for some reason); so ordered a new one online which will hopefully arrive tomorrow.

Still so bloody painful, and everywhere I look seems to say that fixing dislocation needs to be done asap; it's going to be ten days until I get back in....don't get it.