Zola

This! Adele had one decent song and then spent years living off it along with a shedload of "oh woe is me" derivitve warblings that would make anyone reach out for a shotgun. That and the fact she swears like a trooper in concert. Cheer up ffs!

I agree with you, and I am ambidextrous in some things - for example playing hockey or the odd game of golf with right handed clubs I don't have a problem with. But try as I might I can't open cans or cut things using right-handed tools. I can barely hold one in my right hand never let alone trying to cut anything.

I think i will find long term relationships on my "Things to do when I'm 30" bucket list! It's just as well I don't have a headboard on my bed - I would feel extremely guilty looking at all of those "notches" running down the bedpost, lol

Have just returned from my local pub after enjoying a rather tasty and crispy BBQ Chicken & Bacon Melt! A little bit sticky and messy, but exceedingly yummy!

i share your pain because I'm a "lefty" too! Right-handed scissors, ladles, can openers, milk saucepans, cheque books, computer keyboards et al, are all a right royal PITA.

No. Not that my can opener would "fit" the job in hand anyway. Instead I borrowed (kept) my dad's decorator's scissors - big unwieldy things; far too big for my puny paws. But I do manage <eventually> to cut through the plastic without injury or loss of digits, lol

I watched "The Shawshank Redemption" last night, and not for the first time either! Often considered one of the greatest dramas ever made, and I think still ranks as the most popular film on IMDb. I think the relationship between Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman certainly adds a big chunk of credence to those claims. It's like one of those dad/son relationships I would imagine, but more than that: Robbins' Andy Dufresne, comes across as childlike, demure, philosophical, a little naive, perhaps a bit secretive too; compare and contrast that with Freeman's "Red" - world-weary, intelligent, commanding, capable but pessimistic. Took some time to develop, but as the film unfolded both Robbins and Morgan's characters seemed to fuse into genuine friendship and hope against all the adversity thrown at them. And of course the ending (which I never really liked - too cliched), just underlined that long-standing friendship.

Sunday 23rd July 2017 Me - "Mom? I just wanted to tell you that Sara and I have split up!" Mom - "Really? But why? I thought you two were doing so well together?" Me - "Don't know really. Guess we got bored of each other." Mom - "But she was so nice, and very polite. You've been together for how long now?" Me - "About 4 months give or take" Mom - "Oh, I thought it was longer?" Me - "Probably felt longer, but yeah, it was about 4 months." Mom - "Are you still friends?" Me - "Oh yes, no problems there. No big fall out. All very amicable and all that." Mom - "So what are you going to do now?" Me - "Take a break and just focus on my work" Mom - "But you never hold down a relationship for long. Why?" Me - "Oh Mom! We always have this same conversation every time I break up with someone." Mom - "But ..." Me - "Yes, I know I need to "settle down and sort my life out", but I'm not ready yet!" Mom - "But how many is this now? Me - "I don't keep score. Probably around 13 or 14" Mom - "Oh Zola!" Me - "Yeah well, you know what they say: practice makes perfect!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The above was an extract for a conversation I had with my mother yesterday. To be honest it's the same conversation I've had with her over the last couple of years other than a different name of girlfriend. I guess it must be hard on my parents to understand why I only indulge or relatively short relationships; more so when they're in conversation with friends and/or relations and they start talking about me. I guess it doesn't go down well when they say "Oh Zola is seeing someone else now!" Maybe its the perception that I have dated over 12 women since the age of 16 (8 years) that probably makes them feel I am sort sort of "slut" or "good time girl". I guess the reality is I don't have a very good attention span for relationships. Unlike college courses, or work, or training courses for which I have the long-term patience, interest and fortitude in, I just "tune out" with relationships (or likewise my interlocutor gets bored of me). So splitting up with Sara yesterday was no big deal for either of us. It was fun while it lasted, and it all ended happily. I don't keep score, but my mother does. Is it a generation thing or one of motherly pride that makes her feel so concerned/embarrassed/disillusioned with me and my "failed" relationships? Move on and live another day, is my preferred way of thinking.

Plastic Packaging. I order a lot of things off Amazon, most of it comes in "frustration-free packaging", which is great. But there are some items that come in standard plastic packaging (often called "plastic clamshell casings") where the actual item seems to have been hermetically-sealed into the toughest, sharpest plastic moulding out there! You can't open it by hand (or at least I certainly can't); ordinary scissors won't cut it either; instead you sometimes need a craft knife or decorator's scissors to do the job (have checked on Google for tips too). And even when you cut through the plastic there's every chance you'll be cutting through the product inlay card that may carry instructions about how to use the product. In addition you have to be very careful not to scratch yourself on the plastic as you cut! I do have to wonder why manufacturer's go to these lengths with certain products, especially if there's no easy means of opening the package. And of course if you have arthritis or some other hand/wrist complaint, you're never going to get very far even with the biggest scissors.

I was born in South Africa in 1993, but by the age of 10 or 11 we all moved to England to live permanently. However during my early school years in SA I remember a couple of spooky incidents that left an impression not just with me, but my teacher and 10 or 12 other kids in the class. The school was built in the late 1980s, replacing a row of old shops that had remained vacant for years. I can't remember specific days but I do recall having a music lesson in one of the classrooms. I was about 8 or 9 I think (2001/2). And in the classroom was my music teacher and about 14 other kids, all of us trying to play music either using a flute, triangle, tambourine, recorder, and a single drum. Half the class had these musical instruments, while the rest of us, (myself included), had to sing out loud. I can't recall the song, but about half way through we all heard 4 or 5 notes being played on the piano. Now the piano was on the far side of the classroom, no one was near it, and there was no need to use it for this particular lesson. Moreover the lid was closed, yet all of us - including our teacher - heard those 4 or 5 distinctive piano-sounding notes. They weren't just randomly played either, but seemed to flow with our song. Our classroom was the only musical classroom in the school, and so no other pianos other than here. And it could not have been from a car radio because the main road was on the other side of the school grounds. We were all stunned. And after a few moments my teacher suggested we start the song from the beginning again, but listening intently for the piano. However, nothing happened. We tried a third time but nothing. And then the class had ended and that was that. None of us were sure what to say or what to do, even though ALL of us heard it. Anyway, about a month later, I had another music lesson, same kids, same tutor, same classroom. We'd had other music lessons in the intervening weeks but nothing to report, but then again we didn't play that song then either. However, on this occasion we did.... and guess what? Those 5 piano notes played at exactly the same point as last time, We all heard it, and again the piano lid was closed and no one was near it. We sang the song again, but nothing. The following week we tried the song again but nothing. In fact it never happened again during my remaining few weeks with the school. And I didn't think more of it until years later when I raised those two incidents to a couple of former school friends who were there with me. They told me that before the school was built a row of old shops were demolished, including a musical store, which was owned by an oldish guy who used to tune and repair pianos there. And that there was every chance his store was built where the musical classroom is now, and that from time to time his spirit can be be heard playing a piano! That's the only time I have bore witness to any sort of ghostly residual afterlife. Not particularly scary because both incidents happened during the day and in the company of other people. But it certainly sends a shiver down my spine every time I think about it now.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles A lovely buddy-comedy starring the late great Steve Martin and John Candy. The slapstick comedy was great, and they bounced off each other very well, and certainly had great chemistry together. The ending was also incredibly moving - had me in tears!

Another one that shares the exact same episodes for eviction as @Melancholy, and for exactly the same reasons, but also... The Pilot, being a pilot felt a little unsettling for a number of small reasons; the wishy-washy music to the opening credits; Leo's entry into the West Wing and how there's 3 police officers at the entrance along with a security pass machine, all of which were dumped from episode 2 (along with everyone's ID cards hanging round their necks). The very opening shot of Sam chatting to a reporter and instantaneously hooking up with Laurie across the bar - just like that! (plus the inevitable bedroom scene so that we can see how manly Sam is and his 6 pack chest, which got me thinking this is going to be a silly "this is all about Rob Lowe" show). Then there's the introductory scene of CJ on the treadmill, but then falling on her arse because she can't multitask a text message - which gives the impression that CJ is some kind of incapable woman; Then there's a bit of exposition between Josh and Donna with regards "Donnatella Moss, when did you start working for me?" as if he didn't already know. And then there's Mandy, that really sank the entire episode like a lead balloon inside another lead balloon filled with 100 other lead balloons. Six Meetings.... Zoey. She irritated me back then, and she remained consistent with that throughout the entire show! And the idea of her grabbing Charlie and forcibly kissing him in the corridors of the West Wing, would be seen as sexual harassment these days, perhaps even assault! But of course because it's the president's daughter it's okay! Mr Willis .... CJ not understanding the Census. I mean really!!??

We are 1cm taller in the morning than in the evening 300 million cells die in adult body every minute, but produces 300 billion new cells every day! The average man/woman can go without food for 20 days, but can survive only 2 days without drinking.

I am big fan of the original Evil Dead films - they were not terribly frightening, but the blood & gore was so OTT that you just enjoyed the goofiness of it all; helped a great deal by the charismatic Bruce "Groovy" Campbell. However, for whatever reason, an "Evil Dead" reboot was dug up in 2013, but should have been cremated, buried and summarily pissed on shortly after! A truly dreadful film - no story, awful acting, wayward direction and shabby editing. A soulless film with empty characters. The only difference compared to the original is that more money has been thrown at the film along with a bucketload of CGI. But none of that made an ounce of difference. It's still poor. The blood and gore have also been ramped up to distract the viewer from the lack of any real suspense. Instead let's just shock-the-shit out of people with some good old torture-porn. But again, unlike the originals (and the rather splendid "Ash Vs Evil Dead" TV show), there's absolutely no wacky outrageousness about the violence; it was all done to seriously shock in a very sadistic way. Definitely not groovy at all!

Bastet is right! It's a joint (back leg) of pork that has been cured a certain way, and can be served as ham slices, steaks or as joints. Here in the UK sliced gammon is quite popular at carveries and Christmas Day dinners, either as the main meat or shared with beef or turkey. Gammon steaks, on the other hand, can be served with chips (fries), fried eggs and veg etc - absolutely gorgeous! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gammon_(meat)

I do have most of his books in my bookcase, including "Prehistory....", so it's definitely on my "next book to read" list! And the "Cow Tools" sketch is really weird, yet somewhat familiar ... but not quite! And that's the beauty of Larson's Far Side world, and I love it because you sometimes have to do a double-take at either the one-liner joke, and/or the cartoon itself

My parents and I, are South African, and we can drink white wine by the bottle and not feel the consequences the day after. However, none of us can get past one glass of red wine without feeling sick & hungover before we've even got truly started!

Sounds like the voice of experience, lol. I don't think I would have the nerve to resort to physical retribution unless some guy tried to put his hand up my skirt or something equally intrusive. And talking of crowded trains, another bugbear is people who talk out loud on their mobile phones; even putting it on speaker so that everyone can hear!

A great scene in episode 2 ...but for every upside there's always a downside - in this case the arrival of Mandy in her Beemer :(

My girlfriend is coming over tonight, and she's expressed a preference for a piece of gammon steak, a slice of pineapple, a couple of fried eggs, mixed veg and a few chips (fries) I think I will go for the same but with jacket potatoes rather than chips. And perhaps a sliced & diced pepper/chilli just to sex things up a bit. Just need to go out and buy some gammon I suppose.

(thank you everyone for not making Season 1 the winner. I was starting to shake a little at the thought of watching "Access" without clicking the FF button. lol) 5, 14, 16

Sounds like a plan! Although I don't generally wear heels when I know I'm catching a train for fear of genuinely stepping on someone's toes (male or female). On the rare occasions I do catch trains these days I can't help but people-watch on crowded carriages, and the way that some guys will try to stand behind a short woman and try to peek down her blouse. I am always in the moral quandary as to whether to speak up and say something? I never do because I don't really have hard proof, and it could all get out of hand if I did. (I don't generally have that problem myself given that I'm 5ft 10 in my flats)

According to NASA (and other scientific sources), the "average" human body is 70% water; which, by coincidence is the same for planet Earth, which is also roughly 70% water!

Thank you for the great tips. I have been on caving trips both here in the UK and South Africa, and always hi-viz jackets, rugged boots and a torch etc. But if Mammoth Cave does actually happen on my "to do" list, i will definitely book in advance either for one day or perhaps two. As for the Everglades - I really want to go, but friends have mentioned mosquitoes and sawgrass being problems. But I wouldn't want either to put me off from going.