Messages

61

General / Re: Prog drought!

« on: 13 January, 2022, 07:31:24 PM »

Progs are the least of it, bank cards, medical appointments, so many things have been stuffed up. It was done in anger after complaining to the Royal Mail and getting a generic "we're doing our best in difficult times" response. Was impressed that one of her staff got back to me same day with a case ref. saying they have asked RM to investigate problems in my area. Nothing else yet, but if they know the MP's sniffing about they may just put another postie on our route.

62

Events / Re: Judge Dredd - In focus exhibition announced

« on: 13 January, 2022, 02:42:44 PM »

Ooh interesting. I've got a random week off booked in March, might have a trip to London for that.

63

General / Re: Prog drought!

« on: 13 January, 2022, 02:13:45 PM »

Just sent an update email to my MP who promised to look into things - since first contacting her on 15th Dec, we've had just one delivery on 30th December. I've had one of the last four progs.

64

General / Re: Prog drought!

« on: 10 January, 2022, 04:01:39 PM »

We have had one post delivery of anything since before Xmas. Lost track of how many progs I'm behind now.

65

Off Topic / Re: Threadjacking!

« on: 05 January, 2022, 11:34:40 AM »

Had to google him - shameless self-publicist would be my take.

66

Off Topic / Re: RIPs

« on: 31 December, 2021, 11:22:41 PM »

The deluge of memes has begun ...

67

Books & Comics / Re: What did Santa bring you?

« on: 31 December, 2021, 11:14:18 PM »

 I've always liked the idea of boat life and kind of envied you - I was gutted about the accident, but glad to hear that you're sorted. Happy New Year!

68

Off Topic / Re: Xmas gift to yoirself?

« on: 31 December, 2021, 11:06:28 PM »

Now where the feck did you guys get a combination of two of the best things in the world, Dredd and beer?  Love that Jock illustration too.

I ended up accidentally gifting myself a dressing gown.  Bought one for the brother, then saw from his Christmas Day family photos that someone else had got him one, so I kept it and bought him something else.  No complaints from me; I really wanted one.

The answer for me is Thought Bubble!

Couple of years ago my dad's well-used coffee percolator died so I thought, aha - perfect xmas gift. Arrived xmas eve to see a new one on the counter. My brother had visited recently. Bastard. Had to run up to the Spar to get him a bottle of malt instead. But I now own a coffee percolator.

69

Off Topic / Re: RIPs

« on: 31 December, 2021, 10:49:21 PM »

aww.. that's a shame, we've all been hoping she made her 100





Sick humour aside, she was an absolute legend:

70

Books & Comics / Re: What did Santa bring you?

« on: 31 December, 2021, 07:49:14 PM »

Guffaw!

Not socks exactly, but thermal vest and long johns along with the security light my brother gave me.  I liked them anyway.

My mum bought me a set of thermals when I went to uni in Dundee. I scoffed and refused to wear the "old man's underwear" for ages, until my first Dundee winter. First time out was a revelation. Been an unapologetic fan of long johns ever since. Perfect for camping, those chilly evenings around the campfire and as a substitute for pyjamas.

Did you get yourself sorted accommodation-wise JBC? I take it you're landlocked again.

71

Off Topic / Re: Xmas gift to yoirself?

« on: 31 December, 2021, 01:09:33 PM »

Is it weird to wrap up a gift to yourself and stick it under the tree?
2000ad related of course!


Four of these beauties for me from Santa 

Hey, hands off, them two are mine, I recognise the photo!

It's a nice beer - I've filled one of the empty cans with plaster of paris as a permanent souvenir.

72

Off Topic / Re: Y'know what really grinds my gears?

« on: 31 December, 2021, 01:07:23 PM »

One problem I see in many professions is that people who are trained, skilled, experienced and know what they're doing aren't valued, so if they want to get a pay rise they get pushed in to management.  Management is not the thing that they're good at, but there's nowhere else for them to go (and many places have a work culture that you're constantly supposed to be aiming for promotion and 'improvement', rather than just concentrating on doing what you're already doing well).  So we end up with layers of middle management who are potentially good at whatever their job is except with no people skills.

I've worked at same place for 13 years and have monthly one-to-ones with my manager where they always ask about my "development" - they can't seem to fathom that I'm happy to stay at my level and have no interest in promotion to middle management - team manager is a shitty job, far more stress and work for not much more money, but many see it as 'paying their dues' on their way up to one of those cushy jobs where you get paid twice as much to attend one meeting a day. I've had some really good and some really bad STMs down the years. I have actually trained the last two, as they joined the team and then got promoted!

73

Books & Comics / Re: What did Santa bring you?

« on: 30 December, 2021, 06:49:31 PM »

I bought a close friend a Charles Rennie Mackintosh brooch, she likes scottish jewellery and I try to be thoughtful when getting her something.  So I got that and a nice card.  In return, no card and socks.

I bought my sister cashmere gloves for £35. In return she got me a box of Liquorice Allsorts, not even Bassett's, and practically inedible, for probably £3 or something, and some beef jerky. Fffff.....

@ Jade, I also spent more on gifts than I received. When I start to feel bitter I remind myself I bought those nice gifts because that's who I am.

Rara Avis is right, those are pretty crappy exchanges, but you are all clearly finer and more civilised people than your friends and relatives - well done for that.

I've always been a net loser in the Christmas present stakes, not due to thoughtless gifts* but due to our family convention - you buy for your mum and dad, and siblings until they have children, when you buy for their kids instead. Children, when old enough, will buy for siblings and parents, but aren't expected to return-gift aunts and uncles. Which is fine until you remain childless whilst your 2 brothers have 6 children and (currently) five grandchildren between them. I always tried to put thought into the kids' presents - 2 year old George was delighted last week with his Duplo bin lorry (with wheelie bins). One of my warm'n'fuzziest Uncle Memories was when my niece was about 13 or 14 - not the easiest age to shop for considering I saw her about once a year, but she curled up next to me on the sofa and said "Uncle Philip, y'know, you always get the best presents". I played it cool but I was running victory laps in my head. Never forgot it, and it made that long wet afternoon schlepping round the Manchester Christmas markets worth it.


*although 1995's effort from my big brother came close. Can't remember what I got him, but it was the year of the Stallone film, so I'd been dropping not-so-subtle Dredd hints to him for months. I didn't get any cool movie merchandise, or the VHS of the film, or even the novelisation. I got the audiobook of the novelisation on cassette, read by some random.

74

General / Re: Probably going digital

« on: 30 December, 2021, 06:12:46 PM »

I'm still laughing at this as I haven't had a prog for weeks - I've got the local MP looking into how shit our postal service has gotten lately. We get nothing for ages, then two or three weeks of post in a bundle.

Update - Looks like today was our post day - came home to first delivery since pre-Christmas, 8 items including a couple of Christmas cards and prog 2261, which is annoying since 2260 is still AWOL. *sigh*

Postal services everywhere are deteriorating at an alarming rate, in an era when the world is run by tech giants. Hmmm.

75

General / Re: Probably going digital

« on: 30 December, 2021, 01:44:31 PM »

The only thing I'd add is you will only receive access to the Prog on the Wednesday retail date (not as early as the Saturday before as we benefitted from as physical subscribers)

I'm still laughing at this as I haven't had a prog for weeks - I've got the local MP looking into how shit our postal service has gotten lately. We get nothing for ages, then two or three weeks of post in a bundle.

It's really getting on my tits, but I still don't think I could make the leap to digital. They'd end up like all my podcast subscriptions, just stacking up. At least with physical progs, they sit there reminding you until you read 'em and shelve 'em.