Alex

That ship has sailed, mate 👍🏻

A boss from a previous job got his skipper qualification (day skipper I think). I don’t think the course was that cheap. But it allowed him to hire a sailing yacht and do a holiday in the Mediterranean without needing to pay for crew. Just the yacht hire, etc. Even then it was a canny bit of money at that time. About 15 years ago, ie a lot more than a week abroad. And he did it in Croatia which was, at that time, the cheapest option in the Med. So, aye, even the least expensive option will cost a lot, plus the hassle, responsibility etc. Fish is right, in that even most people who them will rent them out when they aren’t using them. But Renton is correct to point out they’ll charge a fortune for the privilege

Watched it last night. It did not disappoint

Bit inconsiderate but I’m sure you forgave her

Is that Spuggy off Byker Grove?

Went to the Warner Bros cinema loads of times. Back when the idea of a multiplex was exciting. Wasn’t the Mexican place a Chiquito’s?

All I know is that the ones with tallest masts aren’t always the best. Btw, that was all over the news and that might be the first mention of it on here. Odd that the media saturation didn’t translate into anyone giving a fuck. Not just on here, I never even heard anyone mention it in passing at work or anything like that

Handicap? What mythical comfort blanket has passed into mackem folklore now?

Aye. I had a boss in a previous job and he was canny enough. But he always insisted on asking the same question in every interview: What would you do if it was your job to change the UK to driving on right? And his dream answer was: You’d try it out on a small Scottish (for example) island first. The idea being you’d thought about prototyping, minimising disruption and stuff. And he’d put so much stock in people getting the answer ‘right’. I mean it’s fairly obvious when you think about it. But all it did about 70% of the time was throw people in a panic. It was an IT company and you know how introverted a lot of people in the industry can be. He thought it was such a clever question too

When my dad worked as a programmer at the civic centre he reckons it was normal for people to have about 4 or 5 pints / bottles of brown ale on a lunchtime about 3 times a week. More on a Friday. Mind, that would’ve been in the 70s

Mate, I know a fella who started as an AO in the civil service and he’s the CEO of a public body now. And he said to me that everyone thinks his career has been success after success after success. But in reality he said it’s a been a series of failures. Where he flunked most interviews and the only good thing about that is making sure you learn about what you did wrong and do it better in the next one. And quite apart from all that, 6 minutes for a presentation is ridiculous and your preparation was far from ideal. And you might even have done a lot better than you think. Either way, please don’t be too hard on yourself

Or “just”

Originally the beer was the ‘chaser’. To chase away / get rid of taste of the harsher spirit. Which makes sense given the name. Technically it’s still the case but most people take it to mean the whisk(e)y rather than the beer. Doesn’t really have to be beer and whisky. Sangrita and Tequila is really nice, if it’s nice Tequila

Also, particularly with famous people over there, they seem to have the slightest brush with recreational narcotics, end up in rehab, then spend the rest of their lives on prescription drugs

Well, yeah. Not sure what I was thinking trying to project a veneer of mature adulthood (least of all here) Although I don’t think it’s a reference many young uns would get

https://thequietus.com/culture/film/all-you-old-bastards-should-learn-something-from-this-the-cult-of-chris-needham/

It’s from 92. I didn’t realise it was Loughborough (assumed it was Nottingham where Al is from). He’d have likely been kicking about the place when I was at uni there. I’ll probably watch it properly tonight. Incidentally the early 70s doc they mention on an episode of Chart Music (All Dressed Up And Going Nowhere) is available on YouTube. That’s the one about youth culture in Newcastle and Skins v Rockers violence (featuring the Scotswood Aggro Boys, some narration from a young Mike Neville and a cameo from Frankie Vaughan - rhyming slang for ‘porn’ when I was younger )

I think Bruce was linked with that job too. (How’s the beer can?)

@spongebob toonpants or @PaddockLad On the TOTP podcast, what’s the documentary they go on about? The one that’s in used in the opening titles - ‘What do you like listening to?…*giggles*… Chart music’

Absolutely That too

The one way system makes it seem like there is no escape too iirc.

Coastline at Blyth has aiways been nice when I’ve been. Admittedly not tried the burgers though. Who the fuck gets a burger from the chip shop anyway?

Cast your mind back to then. Newcastle were undoubtedly a big draw for most players. But Man Utd were one of the biggest clubs in the world, had just won the double and were managed by arguably the greatest manager of all time. And Keith thinks Shearer choosing Newcastle over them at that time is a good example to demonstrate that Shearer has never been a ‘real fan’ of NUFC? Even by his standards, that is unbelievably stupid

The Mag’s been shite for years but those adverts as well? It’s painful to read before you even get to the article, if you can call if an article. I love how these self appointed super fans think they’re entitled to answers as well. Proper toys out the pram, entitled, cringeworthy ‘I want a pony’ with nothing in the way of analysis

Sometimes as well you get someone working somewhere and they’re running a scam but everyone else there is legit / completely unaware. Glad you got your money back anyway. I would imagine the small claims court costs would’ve been a reasonable amount for them to pay too. I bet his lass was like “I fucking told you just to pay them back what we owed”