Thread 19 - TalkLair: "The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long"

[Kucinghitam]

(Previous thread 18)

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat...

In the TalkLair, the fairy lights are festooned on the mantlepiece, the tree is twinkling with baubles, the mince pies are in the oven, the MN legendary chicken is ready to feed the hordes. The denizens of the lair are a welcoming bunch, always eager for general chit-chat on all manner of topics. We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

Also, I've just found a bar of Lindt 'Intense Orange' chocolate that I hid four years ago and it's absolutely fine.

I got my first hoodie at the age of 24, at a UK Subs gig. Great for wearing on motorbikes, to keep the wind off your neck.

I was late to the game and only got my first hoodies a couple of year ago. In winter they make a lot of difference. Even Mr Bear's mum has one and she's 85.

I don't think I've ever owned a hoodie. I shall be 75 in July, so perhaps it's time to get one?

I had a bizarre experience a couple of days ago when MrG's bank phoned from Montreal and I ended up speaking to them, at his request, because he has dementia and can't remember anything that people tell him. So the chap spoke French, as they do, and I found myself automatically replying. At some point it got ridiculous (they are all bilingual FFS!) and I said (in French) "Can we speak English please?" to which the bloke replied (in French) "No need, your French is very good" and just carried on.

I haven't spoken French, except on short trips to Montreal. since my 1969 A-level, apart from a bit of touristy stuff. So on we went, and the consequence is that I concentrated so hard on understanding him that I can't actually remember the detail of what was said! I think we ended up agreeing that someone would call me back at some point, but I wouldn't swear to it. I hope whoever it is is more merciful.

Might the bank have a recording of the conversation ('for training purposes'), @Gonners

Ha! Osti de câlice de tabarnak! Avez-vous un enregistrement de la conversation? Parce que je ne m'en souviens pas des détails.

You see, I can do that - though Google translate changed me to m'en when I checked it. I should probably leave out the part in bold. But I think I'll just wait and see what, if anything, happens next week. If nothing happens, I'll email them. In English!

Lovely cherry blossom!

I have a hoodie. It’s all fluffy on the inside and is very cosy. I don’t wear it much because this house is kept very hot but in done circumstances it’s the perfect garment. One very good thing about it is keeping wool coats off my neck without needing a scarf.

I wore a hoodie yesterday. No particular reason.

I've been wearing a hoodie every day for months. So damned cosy.

I'd be more surprised if a person didn't wear hoodies on occasion.

In Local Area News, when the clocks went forward on Sunday morning my bedside clock-radio automatically sorted itself out, but Mr G's much older one never has. It's an absolute bastard every time, and tantrums are involved, but three hearty cheers for it this year, because it simply gave up the ghost and died ... perhaps of rage?

As he never uses the radio function I quietly ordered a small wooden analogue alarm clock which turned up within 24 hours and is so very simple and beautiful that I covet it! It demanded a zinc-carbon battery, likely to be unobtainable locally, but Lo! The scruffiest local newsagent's (and purveyor of food you wouldn't eat for a bet) had just one pack. It is completely silent, no ticking, doesn't glow in the dark unless you press a button on the top and I covet it!

Sounds a perfect bedside clock. I am not a fan of overnight ticking.

Overnight ticking, and overnight lights, can all Get To Fuck. I stayed a couple of days ago in a very nice hotel but the control panel for the aircon/heating was lit up like a Christmas tree all night, and, as a very fitful sleeper, it really put me off.

Our bedroom clock has very dull red numbers so it doesn’t bother me. It also has a radio we never use but it is now over 20 years old so I don’t know how much longer it will last.

People have clocks in their bedrooms? 😀

It sounds like me and Mr Gonners may have the same bedside clock. It does what a clock is meant to do, silently, and it's nice and plain.

I need to know about this holy grail of bedside clocks!

For years I had a lovely silent one with the subtlest of glows on the numbers, although I never used the alarm setting because I use my phone for that. It was just for glancing at if I woke in the night or while getting ready for work, etc.

Then DD1's alarm clock stopped working - the alarm function, that is. So we swapped clocks. Turns out her clock had a really annoying tick, which I just couldn't get used to after many weeks of disrupted sleep. Ended up binning it entirely and just using my phone for everything. Which is annoying because if I want to know the time at night I have to tap it and get a faceful of screen light.

Recently the alarm function stopped working on my original nice clock, so we bought DD1 a fancy modern digital clock which she could programme with different times for different days. But she says she doesn't like looking at a digital clock - so she's kept my old clock and hides the new digital one behind it!

This is mine. I don't use the alarm because I've taught myself to wake up at the required time but it's useful in the night.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/aboveClock-Bedside-Function-Bedrooms%E3%80%901-Required%E3%80%91/dp/B09HXRBKDK?th=1

It keeps time very well and the batteries last about a year.

@BetjemansBear Ha ha ... SNAP! Except ours is the dark brown arch-top version.

<Runs to Amazon >

Nice one! They're good little clocks, aren't they.

Well, 48 hours on it's still running and hasn't provoked any tantrums. I consider that a win!

I've ordered a clock.

It's your (pl) fault!

But I have been looking for a replacement for my current clock which is missing the thing that holds the batteries in and depends on increasingly ratty and brittle sellotape. And cost €1 in charity shop at least three years ago. Not having a light unless I press the button was the unique selling point.

OMG. I know it's an April Fool, but I would SO buy this: