Flop

Redherring underpants: so comfortable you'd hardly know they were there. And, measured by one important yardstick, they often aren't.

Not necessarily a design flaw, merely a use case the designer failed to consider. The button is oddly placed for a man of my, er… stature, the main consequence of which is that throughout the day I occasionally flop out. Not protrude or stick out, no. Flop.

It's not a pleasant feeling, but it's not entirely unpleasant either, knowing that a change in posture will precipitate a contact with one's outer garment. The very worst situation (if I'm being honest 'worst' is exaggeration) occurs when I'm neither in nor out.

Enough words, I just got changed into my dressing gown, it's more predictable even when moving the bins to the front of the house on collection day in high winds!

White Twix

Due to the generosity of a man I cannot name to protect his identity[efn_note]But whose name is a homophone of a 'Wallace & Gromit' character.[/efn_note] I am the lucky recipient of a white Twix. 2 fingers too!

Arriving at work today with 30p and needing >70 to buy nearly everything in the confounded snack machine, the man arrived at precisely the right time.

I shall savour it during the next 2 working hours.


Addendum: After some time I caved and ate half a finger. It took 3/4 hour for it all to go. And the verdict?

Worth what I paid.


Mine’s a big one

Just as the lady with the frankly massive puppies who lives at the end of the street has finally trimmed her bush I asked for and thus received a big one earlier today.

It ended poorly.

Now chai latte is an awesome drink but, as I believe I discovered earlier, only in moderation. I asked for a big one before we watched the film ‘Missing Link’. Unfortunately it appears it’s just too much for my otherwise iron constitution.[efn_note]A barefaced lie![/efn_note] So, yeah…

My stomach, it gurgles, a portent of doom down below; my wife advised me to bring a spare toilet roll up, just in case.

Whereas daughter 2 offered up 4-1/4, I’ll give ‘Missing Link’ 3-1/2 of 5 stars. Maybe my judgment will improve once I’ve…


Chess 3

I actually won a game vs the Chess.com computer, still at level 1 but it’s nevertheless a win![efn_note]To my unending chagrin, I wasn’t logged in.[/efn_note]

Computer Level 1:

1  f4  Nc6

2  c4  b6

3  e3  d6

4  d3  Qd7

5  Nf3  Nd8

6  Bd2  e5

7  g3  b5

8  Ba5  bxc4

9  dxc4  Ne7

10  Nc3  exf4

11  gxf4  Ne6

12  f5  Nxf5

13  Bh3  Nc5

14  Nh4  Bb7

15  Bxf5  Bxh1

16  Bxd7+  Ke7

17  Bf5  c6

18  Bc7  f6

19  Qd4  Bd5

20  cxd5  g6

21  a4  Re8

22  e4  g5

23  Nf3  Kf7

24  h4  h6

25  Rb1  gxh4

26  Nxh4  Nd3+

27  Kd2  Nf4

28  Rf1  c5

29  Qe3  Kg8

30  Rxf4  h5

31  Ng6  Re5

32  Nb5  Bh6

33  Nxd6  a5

34  Ne7+  Kg7

35  Ne8+  Rxe8

36  Nc6  Bxf4

37  Qxf4  Rxf5

38  Qxf5  c4

39  Qd7+  Kg6

40  Qxe8+  Kg5

41  Bg3  f5

42  Ne5  h4

43  Bf2  h3

44  Nf3+  Kf6

45  Bh4+  Kg7

46  Qe5+  Kg6

47  Be7  f4

48  Qxf4  Kh7

49  Bf6  h2

50  Nxh2  c3+

51  Kxc3  Kg6

52  Ng4  Kh5

53  Qf5#  1-0

Thwarted

Today, and for the first time in years, the local LibDems candidate visited and leafleted. Amazing; a refreshing change.

Speculating from my amazement and my opening comments that I might be amenable to rejoining the party, he… well I’m honestly considering it, and I have the urge to use my vote wisely[efn_note]This did not end well.[/efn_note] this time around.

Your and my previous scorn, though not entirely misplaced, has… Let’s just say, although neither of us expect a win, both realise after the disappointment of recent years allied to the Nasty Party, there’s a long game to be played here.

At the time of writing though, no-one in Rochdale can know much about any of the candidates; fewer than 15% of the candidates offered up any background information about themselves, see the link below:

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/candidates/31

Oh, the title’s ‘Thwarted’ simply because I’ve been prevented from winding myself up for a good old-fashioned moan.


Chess 2

Playing against the Chess.com computer at the lowest difficulty level I’m getting a lot of games ending in a ‘stalemate’, including one where only the computer’s king remained.

Ok, I’ve read the stalemate rules but it seems just wrong that I’ve not won anything yet. I’ll be honest though, as a newcomer to the game I’m happy enough when I last more than 25 moves without being soundly thrashed.