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Post by nick on Apr 17, 2019 12:42:44 GMT
... wait (rose)... the self-service, unlike every other supermarket's self service, doesn't take cash. I thought both the Coop and M and S didn’t take cash either. Certainly the Coop across the road from me has card only machines.
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Post by nick on Apr 17, 2019 12:40:24 GMT
I can't imagine not using cash at all. I find it easier when paying for something with other people, for example, my friend gave me £10 the other day to buy something, I gave her £3 change. So much easier than faffing with bank transfers. Yes I agree but I’ve had a huge increase in friends using PayPal friends and family to do this. I find it quite convenient because that cash fuels my eBay addiction.
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Post by nick on Apr 15, 2019 16:32:00 GMT
Also I find it very attractive in that it would stop cash a lot of crimes, backhanders and also will make tax avoidance and tax evasion impossible. But hasn't cashless transactions created many new crimes? Big news about the TSB (I think) agreeing to compensate people who have been scammed to give away details so their bank accounts are drained. And on a smaller scale, I found a contactless card on the street and could have gone around spending £29 in a variety of shops until the card was stopped. (FYI I posted it back to the bank). BTW it is still possible for both backhanders and tax avoidance/evasion - using an offshore cashless system (like Paypal) is the way to go. Or Bitcoin if you're brave. On the other hand shops like contactless. There's a fair number of places that only accept cards now. That's because it costs business to deposit cash so the card charges are offset by this and the time saved having to count up at the end of the day and go to the bank. I like cashless but I hope cash stays around. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. However I'd remove copper tomorrow. Of no use at all. And I'd love to see the back of the £3.99 etc prices.
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Post by nick on Apr 13, 2019 8:50:48 GMT
There's so much to love. I enjoy how she confounds normal dramatic convention. It's set up over 2 series for the father to run away from the wedding but instead he gets his foot caught and it turns out that he's actually in love and wants to get married. And that feels right.
And the message of love being so difficult and messy. How you can love difficult people. "The only person I'd rush to an airport for, is you"
Oh and this series she runs a SUCCESSFUL guinea pig cafe partly because of "chatty Tuesdays". She's the grown up one in this series and everyone else has the problems.
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Post by nick on Apr 12, 2019 14:45:09 GMT
Does anyone know if it is the tour or London production going in? (I seem to remember a couple of extra effects on the London version) I went to see this last night. I saw the original West End run and was surprised how different it was. I think it has lost a lot. The train/tube journey didn't feel as well choreographed to show the rising sensory overload and, my favourite bit, the mother watching him asleep and touching him saying "this is the only time I can touch him" was totally missing and, in my opinion, she came across as much less sympathetic - leaving because she loves him so much she cannot cope. Enjoyable but not as strong as the last version I saw.
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Post by nick on Apr 6, 2019 14:25:35 GMT
My wife, who is disabled and with a short body, always takes a cushion to sit on.
However I’ve know people who gave sewn a cushion in their coat so they can sit without people noticing.
I’ve been tempted to sew a shooting stick in one as a groundling at the Globe.
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Post by nick on Mar 31, 2019 7:54:42 GMT
Compared to the others, Leah's origami was hardly noticeable. The collar needed to display itself with more flair to show the folded nature of the construction and the front panel really wasn't origami enough - but none of that seemed to matter. It was just a spotty top with some stripes - none of the complexity of the others. I suspect Leah's top looked better in the flesh. It was complex but not showy. I love that kind of subtleness - You get it in 30s/40s menswear - looks like any old jacket but is so well cut it is stunning. I also like it when the lining has great care and attention paid to it. Having said that Leah should have gone and Riccardo's work is just on another level.
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Post by nick on Mar 22, 2019 9:03:32 GMT
I got once got the review "there is nothing like a good panto and this was nothing like a good panto". But, seeing as it was totally truthful, I didn't complain.
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Post by nick on Mar 20, 2019 8:32:14 GMT
I love the programme but I'm getting a little annoyed with the obvious editing - same with bake off. The editing flags up who is going to be eliminated pretty early on and definitely when they say "and the contestant we are losing is.....". It's sooo predictable. Once you notice what they do it's impossible to avoid it. I wont spell it out for those who haven't noticed. I'm not usually that observant. Oh and the "how long do we have left?" followed immediately by a time check. Very repetitive. Ok I take it all back. In the other programmes they show the loser in a panic during the show and then when Joe says “the person leaving the competition IS...” they cut to that person. THEY DIDNT DO IT THIS WEEK. I was totally wrong footed. Ricardo’s coat has to be garment of the series.
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Post by nick on Mar 18, 2019 8:42:52 GMT
I love the programme but I'm getting a little annoyed with the obvious editing - same with bake off. The editing flags up who is going to be eliminated pretty early on and definitely when they say "and the contestant we are losing is.....". It's sooo predictable. Once you notice what they do it's impossible to avoid it. I wont spell it out for those who haven't noticed. I'm not usually that observant.
Oh and the "how long do we have left?" followed immediately by a time check. Very repetitive.
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Post by nick on Feb 16, 2019 12:53:48 GMT
I can’t see his name on the forum so here I go.
I’ve just seen Ruffian on the Stair at the Hope Theatre in Islington. A creditable production but I found Adam to be very very good. At the very least he has the potential to be an excellent Orton actor (and that’s no easy thing in my experience).
I can’t find much about him. Anyone around here got any info/comments about him? And I guess I might have to stalk him on Twitter to find out what his upcoming shows will be.
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Post by nick on Feb 3, 2019 10:26:06 GMT
And can I turn this on its head? I LOVED Pippin at the Menier (saw it three times) but was obviously swimming against the tide as tickets were half price very early on.
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Post by nick on Feb 3, 2019 10:23:33 GMT
Yes I agree with Cats, only saw it once , just to say I have seen it. Part of seeing it was to see Nicole Scherzinger too! The success of Cats, for me, was the original staging. I saw it when it originally opened and again at the Palladium. The first was amazing. I managed not to walk out of the second by nodding off.
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Post by nick on Jan 26, 2019 21:12:25 GMT
Lucky me!
2pm today I'm looking at tickets for the Playhouse and thinking "bloody hell that's expensive". On a whim I scooted over to the Menier site and lo and behold 2 seats dead centre, row B for the matinee starting in 90 minutes.
It's very good. beautifully acted. Male dancing is amazing. A very intimate show - I hope they can keep that when it transfers.
As I say - lucky me.
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Post by nick on Jan 25, 2019 7:28:53 GMT
So you don't buy CDs or any modern music? All of which is digitised. It depends how you digitise it. There are "lossless" formats that keep all the quality. No I meant non-physical formats such as streaming. I do buy CDs. What are these lossless formats? Even with that, I still like having a physical product that has an element of design. Sorry to be slow replying. FLAC is probably the most popular. The Guardian have an article today about formats: www.theguardian.com/info/2019/jan/25/balancing-quality-and-performance-audio-advice-for-voice-apps
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Post by nick on Jan 21, 2019 6:57:15 GMT
I understand people's reasons for digitising music but I think it's a shame we put space and convenience above quality. So you don't buy CDs or any modern music? All of which is digitised. It depends how you digitise it. There are "lossless" formats that keep all the quality.
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Post by nick on Jan 20, 2019 9:37:18 GMT
My "clutter" issue isn't with things I've bought - I can be ruthless about those - but with unsuitable gifts from close family, especially hand-knitted jumpers etc. I'll never wear them & not being the handicrafts type myself, I can't unwind them & make something else, but how can I give away something made with hours of love and care by someone who thought I would cherish it? Yes be careful. My wife spent months making a patchwork quilt for her sister as a wedding present 30 years ago. And she's still not quite forgiven her for never using it.
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Post by nick on Jan 19, 2019 15:29:10 GMT
I've been thinking about this on and off today and I've realised that I haven't really decluttered - all I've done is move things onto electronic storage - scanned photos, DVDs, music. And I've now got MORE magazines as I've downloaded scanned versions of out of copyright fashion mags from the 20th Century as well as old comics. It just doesn't take up much space any more.
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Post by nick on Jan 19, 2019 12:16:15 GMT
Do we need photos? I reckon my 'decluttered' might still be someone else's idea of cluttered. Istill have stuff, just a lot less stuff than I used to have.
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Post by nick on Jan 18, 2019 17:13:03 GMT
I highly recommend it. We gathered tat for years until we needed our roof replaced last so needed the attic emptied. We're also of an age where we are more aware of the time left.
I think "And you’re only allowed to keep things that ‘spark joy" is a great motto. The great thing has been that the things we genuinely love are now easily accessible instead of hiding amongst a pile of tat.
We've used various approaches:
1/ music, DVDs etc are now digitised and we have Spotify plus a couple of Alexas. Ditto with books although we have plenty of vintage and non-fiction left. I've kept some vinyl and 78s as well 'cos I love setting them up and playing them.
2/ We got a skip for the roof and a large pile of stuff went into it.
3/ We've used charity shops to get rid of the tat that still has some life in it but wasn't worth selling.
4/ I used Ziffit to get rid of books and DVDs that had some value. It was so easy to do with a smart phone.
5/ We had a garden sale for the tat with a small value. Great fun - so much so I'm planning on arranging for the whole street to do one in the spring.
6/ I have a pile of vintage stuff that will either go on eBay or to the Classic Car Boot fair that's held at King's Cross regularly (Because we have a 1966 Morris Traveller). Again the Boot Fair is great fun and a chance for celeb spotting - Michael Barrymore bought a pair of 1930s swimming trunks from me.
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Post by nick on Dec 29, 2018 13:34:09 GMT
Charity shops is where I get mine but I'm a skin flint and wont pay more than £2. Some branches (in particular Oxfam) specialise in vinyl and books. I think the Oxfam in Islington is one of those.
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Post by nick on Nov 18, 2018 17:34:51 GMT
I voted for Lauren because I thought she had been undermarked . That Argentine tango stuff is hard and Graeme was just trotting around the room. Sorry to lose Kate, again she had that AG in previous week and it was v tricky. But her dance this week was too safe. I don't vote but I agree with this. It doesn't seem fair that someone does a hard dance and so gets marked down and then someone does an easy dance and gets high marks. I love the couple's choice dances but they seem to be very highly marked so help the couple get through that week.
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Post by nick on Nov 15, 2018 14:44:51 GMT
.... She's the Doctor, she already knows. Needs a bit of weight to her now, I feel. No no no. Neither Hartnell or Troughton knew anything. They couldn't control their spaceship and, Troughton particularly, often won by accident. I think recent Doctors have been TOO knowing and godlike. It's good to have someone who might actually lose.
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Post by nick on Oct 27, 2018 17:09:41 GMT
I'm a bit worried because it's a different writer. Fingers crossed.
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Post by nick on Oct 13, 2018 13:33:17 GMT
Best - Dr Faustus at the Royal Exchange in Manchester with Ben Kingsley in the early 80s. Stunning production that made such good use of the space. And I loved Pippin at the Menier but I know I'm in a minority.
Worst - The recent revival of Cats was such a disappointment. Mind you I'm sure there's been plenty over the yers that I simply walked out of and have now forgotten.
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Post by nick on Sept 25, 2018 14:32:24 GMT
Standing ovations - My wife doesn't stand up (she's a part time wheelchair user) so I sit with her. We have no problem with ovations although looking at a sea of arses is not my idea of fun. Only time I at all minded was seeing The Zombies at the Palladium. Everyone stood for the encore so we had to make do with listening only. But no big deal.
For me it's in the same league as a tall person in front or a fidgety child next to me. I'd rather not but I'm not going to stress over it.
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Post by nick on Sept 22, 2018 16:53:52 GMT
I've seen all of it and it's the best thing on TV this year (IMO). Phoebe Waller-watserface is genius. Her humour undercuts the gore. I guess you have to like the fact that it's either totally tongue in cheek or deadly deadly with nothing in between. It's one of those series that oozes with it's own confidence
And the acting is top notch.
Pushed all my buttons.
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Post by nick on Aug 27, 2018 16:08:52 GMT
First saw Bonnie in the original run of Cats and thought she was great. She was already a well known name when she joined Doctor Who - the most known person to be a companion up to that point.
I've got the centre of row G on Sat 8th. But, unlike you lot above, mine are for the matinee.
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Post by nick on Aug 10, 2018 14:51:43 GMT
Oh, I did wonder which theatre it was - it was way too huge for an end-of-pier. Lovely that it has a working organ... we all appreciate those. Love the nightclub stuff too. It's still working but is rarely played. They had a session last year where they got an organist in and put cameras in the loft so we could see all the instruments up above. So when he pressed "cymbal" we could see the cymbal being hit. They also operated the baffles above the stage so we could see the 'volume control' - closed = quiet, open = loud. Then he played along to an Elsa Lanchester silent film - she's a local girl apparently.
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Post by nick on Aug 10, 2018 11:33:46 GMT
I'm tempted to riposte with the Catford locations used in the TV play Babs but it's much less exotic. Go on, don't leave us in suspense... OK actually there is a relevance for a theatre board. The theatre scenes (her auditions and Oh What a Lovely War) used the Broadway theatre in Catford that is virtually unused these days but has a working theatre organ that is quite marvellous. The Krays no so nice night club used the Catford Constituitional Club that is a bar behind the theatre that is pure shabby chic - it uses the old Catford Conservative club (CCC gettit) and they haven't bothered replastering etc. And the posher nightclubs used the good old Rivoli Ballroom that is up the road in Crofton Park. It's been used for hundreds of TV and films.
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