chrisjpainter

How many fires do you think are caused by washing machines? I'll give you a clue...it's a LOT more than slow cookers!

You got a washing machine though, right? Yup I love slow cooker. It's only a small one, but with the two of us it's perfect. The small drifting through the hours for hours is both tantalising and frustrating though! Makes you want dinner right then. At four in the afternoon when it's not even ready!

Yeah I've been doing a bit of research about the blade and I think the translation's something like 'three uses' so meat, fish and veg. But the lack of a point seems hampering if you're looking to cut anything really bulky, a downside that you don't get with a chef's knife. And the downsides of the chef's blade (curved edge, for one) seem to be surmountable with the correct technique, so I don't really see the value in the santoku

I've not heard that about the new ones. What's happening with them?

I've not used one of these before and, given I'm about to replace a few reasonable but not exhilarating kitchen knives - my chef's knife included - I was looking at different options. Those of you who use Santoku knives, are they as utilitarian as suggested or more a case of the worst of all worlds all round into one - i.e. not quite this, not quite that etc! Any advice would be useful. I'm looking at Global knives, if that makes a difference! Many thanks Chris

Paracord activities are a big hit with our Cub Scouts group. Bracelets, zip pullers, little men keyrings, it's all good fun!

This is the generation I have, but in 8x32. I'd love to know the upgrade from Trinovid to Trinovid HD. Just to see where the biggest incremental improvement is. If it's a small improvement in glass to the HD's then I'd be tempted to skip them and go for the Ultravids, but if it's a big initial step, I'm not sure I'd benefit too much more going beyond the Trinovid HD's

Anyone out there using Leicas? I'm thinking of upgrading mine to either the Trinovid HD or the Ultravids. Has anyone got any experiences of either or preferably both that can help me decide if the Ultras are worth the extra? This is mostly for birding and are often used in conjunction with my scope. I'm 90% sure it'll be 8x32 and 99% sure I don't want to look at any other brand. I have some Trinovids now and have been so happy with them. They're comfortable in the hand and the weight suits me! Unfortunately trying out a pair of either down here isn't an option, so I want to get as much donkey work done first before I commit to takin a trip to try some out. Many thanks Chris

Birders. Famously poor at seeing the bigger picture...

You're not the only one with that experience. This seems to be nation wide and it ties in with my feeling birding in countryside. So either the birds are all having a quiet little picnic in one tiny corner of Britain where no one goes, or there are far fewer of them. We all know about bird flu's effect on seabird numbers, but their colonies are far more obvious and easy to analyse. Our small birds might be the unnoticed victims. Not a good sign and desperate timing for greenfinch; numbers were beginning to creep up after Trichonomosis crashed the population.

Happy new year, one and all! My birding year started off really poorly! I booked in half a day's birding before pub lunch with the family. I was hoping to get in 70 species across three sites of wetlands, farmland and coast. Ordinarily it'd be a good winter challenge. I managed 47. I was gazumped by all the wetland areas that produce good numbers of waders were completely flooded. A strong wind put the kibosh on lots of passerines and it was all a bit rubbish! Notable exceptions were things like little egrets, rooks and pheasants. HOW DOES ONE GO OUT BIRDING AND NOT SEE A PHEASANT?! I didn't even know that was even possible. But anyway. It was marvellous. Great Northern Divers in Portland harbour and more snipe at Lodmoor than could be shot by a medium sized army. Here's to a new year of seeing some excellent feathered friends.

Or DIY gender reassignment surgery...🥵

Ooh a matching pair! I think that means you win a food processor? Nice work.

SOLD

MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Duplicated Christmas present, so it's unused and hasn't even been taken out of its box. Great stove, but I don't need two of them. Great to have in a fishing bag or in a car glove box/emergency kit Manufacturer's blurb: Ultralight isobutene-propane backpacking stove weighs just 73G (2.6 oz) Flame easily adjusts from a simmer to a rolling boil. Easy-to-use design needs no priming, preheating or pressurizing Serrated pot supports accommodate a range of cooking pot sizes and fold exceptionally small Includes ultralight hard shell protective carry case £25+postage if needed

Agreed. The sooner manufacturing returns to normal inside China, the better. It's still stagnating many industries and world economies for very little justification now.

You definitely need to be building an owl box. Not sure even my tawny box will fit that; shove a dog kennel in a tree, perhaps?

Are there lots of woodpeckers in the vicinity? You might find it worthwhile to get a metal panel around the hole, similar to this one. It stops woodpeckers enlarging the hole and then stealing the chicks out of it...

Looks good! Next step size it up and make an owl box!

Not watched much football from La Liga, Ligue 1 or Serie A then, have you? If you think we're bad, try watching a few league matches from Spain or France!

The one I couldn't fathom was taking Saka off for Stirling. Saka was the brightest spark by far; the one player who'd constantly turned the French defence. Whereas Stirling came on and barely did anything except overhit a couple of crosses. He only landed in Qatar yesterday after what must have been a few unpleasant days back home. There's no way his head was clear enough to play in a cauldron of a World Cup Quarter. Baffling

NOW SOLD

As above. In great condition and a perfect feeder/light carp, or specialist reel. Manufacturer's features blurb: ATD Drag Tough Digigear DS4 Body & Rotor Air Rotor Crosswrap Infinite Anti-Reverse £40+ postage UNLESS someone wants to swap for the exact same reel, but in 5000 size? then we could do a deal!

Berkley X9 Braid 40lb in dark green. This is brand new. I'd been saving it to go on a new baitcaster, but in the end I've gone back to my ready-spooled fixed spool reel for my new pike setup. Very decent braid and a full, untouched 300m £25 plus postage

Perhaps, but when Kiwi Brendan McCullum walked into the dressing room as coach of England's test team, he put together a plan to completely dismantle New Zealand in our series this summer, including specific plans for specific batters, based on weaknesses he'd seen in players when they were his teammates! I can't imagine a coach selection panel for Australia rugby looking at Jones' CV and thinking 'ah yeah, he failed to win against us when he coached the English, that's the man for us!' Surely a coach would want to retain his credibility, regardless of the club or country. A world class coach would do the best he can regardless of the team, or he ain't going to be world class for long.