AlwaysAVFC

I was looking at a pair of Claret and Blue Forum exhibit lows but was being stingy didn't want to pay the full price, they're sold out now.

Took a bit of a gamble and ordered a pair of these. Not normally something I'd go for and a bit if a risk as they're the type of shoe that can just not look right when you put them on but thought for £39 it was worth the gamble.

It wasn't any solid info, just doing what you had done and looking on social media and tipsters that were doing well and looking at what others say about those horses. One particular one and followers had an amazing day. It was just the 3rd and last he didn't have the winner. There were lots of big multiples that came in. No doubt I would have picked a few duds if I went for multiples today and can't complain but I still have the what ifs. I used to know a little about the horses, Saturday afternoons at uni were all about the races and football accumulators. Nowadays I know sod all and try and work something out through others, usually badly.

Was having a fairly uneventful cheltenham. Some winners and places but not combining them well in multiples. Day 1 about £15 up Day 2 about £5 down Day 3 about £25 down Day 4 I'm over a £1.5k up. I wasnt going to bet but heard good things about Faivoir. So stuck £20 on it Then had 30 on Galopin, 5ew on Premier magic and a 20 double with Galopin and Impervious. I also forgot early this morning when I wasn't going to bet I put my last 19p on the Faivoir/Premier magic double. Which I got over £400 back from What a day

Growing up I knew very little of my Dad's side of the family. He died of cancer before I was 1. My Grandad was still a big part of my life but much further than that I didn't know much. I have though got a family bible passed down to me which goes back to my relative that was alive from 1649-1723 so I do actually know the paternal line to there. Which I think is 8th Great grand parents. I don't have a common surname but unfortunately I will probably be the end of my particular line, as I have a daughter so if she has a child it possibly won't have my surname depending on circumstances. I did do a little research on ancestry which was useful. I mentioned on here a while back heir hunters got in touch with me about possible inheritance. I worked out my link to her using the site. That turned to nothing though as a closer relative came forward and a will.

Yeah that's the one

I went in once. I had said I'd pick my parents up from the airport but we were playing Liverpool so I watched the game there, so I wouldn't miss any. We lost 2-1 with Gerrard scoring a late winner.

I had my letter from O2 about the April rate increase. I queried in their chat because the example said for a tariff of £12 it was going upto £14.07 but my tariff is £8. It did just say it was an example so wasn't sure if they got my rate wrong or everyone had that example. The first response just gave the spiel about the increase and its detailed in the contract. I said that didn't really answer my question. Next reply said I can sense you're not happy about the response to your message, confirmed that it is £8 going upto £9.38 and offered me £20 credit to go on my account as a goodwill gesture and would I like at accept it. That more than cancels out the increase to when I can look at sim only deals again in July. Happy with that, especially as I wasn't even trying.

Don't worry didn't read it that way. Apart from these few one dayers at Victorious I don't think I've been to a festival since Glastonbury 10 years ago. I'm not sure what one I'd go to now. Few line up posters have enough to pull me in to rally my mates together for another. When I was younger I think the line up mattered less it was just 3-5days on this piss and whatever else. Now I'd want enough to see to make the ticket price worthwhile. May or may not happen but certainly got another Glastonbury in me, whether that's with mates or taking my girls in a few years time. Its probably the only one that has something on somewhere at whatever time. And as I touched on before me and the Mrs certainly didn't get together because of shared music taste so us going to one together wouldn't really work.

I've done Sundays on 2 previous years and seeing lineups before that. They do somewhat have some nostalgia acts from 90s and now edging into the 2000s. Although you don't really get the middle aged man vibe when you're there. In defence of bookers its probably quite a hard to get a family festival lineup spot on. Even just for my circumstances. I doubt I'd go to a festival with my Mrs as I'd have no interest in what she would want to go to, which would probably piss her off as I would not see her the whole time then there is the kids who I do get to listen to some of my music but they're 5 and 10 so it's pretty mainstream although the eldest is starting to develop her own taste. The worst area was where they have some DJ's as I did feel a bit old there and lots were dressed for a night out and on the sniff. That bit was a bit less family friendly. Although a nice set up in Southsea Castle. In fact the whole set up and location is pretty good if not let down a bit on the lineup which it will get judged on. At least if Sunday isn't popular the queues at the bar will be short.

Oh i agree on the lineup as a whole and wouldn't be one to choose because of the line up certainly the headliners. There's enough there to see even if just for nostalgia. Especially as some of the time will be away from the music in the kids area, splash pad etc as well as meeting up with an old mate and his family. Just a shame I actually have a hotel a short walk away and no need to leave a bit early to get a taxi this time. The youngest will only be just 6 so she might not make it anyway. So looks like I might be the one to leave early while Mrs and other daughter watch one of the stage headliners. I just hope the weather is good. It used to be quite cheap too, still is for kids but day ticket adult tickets are now nearly twice the price.

Didn't go last year but I've took the family to Victorious festival a few times as its really good for young kids. Only do the Sunday and this year we're even in the holiday inn on Southsea Common so perfect location. The Sunday is a shocking lineup for me at least. It is more about the girls but still I'd like to have looked forward to some acts. There's a few ok but compared with the other 2 days it's a bit disappointing, Oh well.

Yeah, my situation a couple of years ago was a bit different as we were moving to my parents until our house completed so unless we stored it, doing it ourselves (myself) was the only option. After 3 trips of an hour and half each way in a long wheel based van, I would most definitely use a removal firm next time. We massively cut down what we kept. No sofa, TV, Fridge, cooker, beds but no matter how much you reduce it, it's more than you think. Although half of one trip was baby related stuff, just in case we had another. Which is now in the loft but I think we have ruled that one out now. Also amazed we fitted everything at my parents plus increasing that as we bought more stuff for the new house.

When we go out for a short amount of time, we often find our dog sleeping in the places she's not really allowed. She always makes herself very comfortable and doesn't look best pleased when we disturb her on our return. Longer periods she's right behind the door waiting for us, when she hears us coming back. I'm pretty sure that cushion was against the back of sofa and you can see the blanket where she is supposed go on.

My Nan went into a care home last week. She's 93 and has been more or less living in her bedroom at my parents for a few years. The dementia has got a bit much in terms of my Mom caring for her. She still mostly recognises people after occasional initial confusion and can have a conversation with her although often the same one over and over. Hopefully the care home will give her a bit of freedom and mobility and the social side too. It could go the other way to though unfortunately, and lead to a deterioration. I do worry about my mum too, at which point do you allow for old age, in terms of forgetfulness and when should you seek medical help options.

Delivering to 3 new build estates today and I've got Platform housings rent increase letters. It highlights one big reason for high house prices. While more social housing is required, there are very few of the small 3 bed and 2 bed houses that are privately owned. They are either general housing or shared ownership. With so few available it will drive the price up and have a knock on effect all the way up the ladder as well as meaning more demand for social housing as its hard to be able to afford it.

When we were house hunting I insisted to my Mrs that I'd never buy a house with a Triton shower (Not quite at the level of that bloke that refused service from Auto Windscreens when stuck on roadside with wife and kids in bad weather) Anyway haven't been tested whether I'd go through with my convictions. It's the one sponsor of them that had always wanted me to avoid. My attempt at fixing a drip coming from my mixer shower, pretty up sums up my DIY skills. Got soaked when I took off one too many bits before turning off the water at the mains. Had a fiddle, and put it back together and without trying somehow managing to get the water temperature to match the dial which it didn't before, but made no difference to the drip whatsoever.

It helps that me and my Mrs both don't like full class parties. I don't think the eldest got one but her birthday is in August so it's a bit of a minefield who can make it. The youngest had one last year for her 5th while in reception but we won't do a full one this year, just a few friends. The one we did do compared with others was pretty good as we had a magician who entertained them too, puppet, disco, balloon animals. We just had to sort food and drink. He even kept the adults amused and a decent gift for our daughter. Some we've attended (probably cost more than ours) have been awful, lost the attention of the kids which just creates a free for all and the gift for the birthday boy at the weekend was a plastic medal.

Completely bypassing whatever has been already said, as I've not ventured in much. Someone needs to take control of VAR, it's getting worse. When it came in, the big talking points were offside and the debate of whether a few cm is offside or common sense on advantage to the attacker should be given. Now we have mistake after mistake where whoever in control gets it completely wrong. Its not even favouring certain teams* , they are simply getting obvious calls wrong. *I'm not saying they don't favour teams, as its pretty obvious they will give decisions to some and not to others and spend a lot longer to find fault for some. However the plain wrong decisions are indiscriminate.

This mostly happened just before Covid but the school our daughter went to had an excellent Ofsted but hadn't been inspected in quite a while. It finally got it and was flagged as needs improving. We weren't too worried as sometimes these things can help as they will be trying hard to Improve. It was in an affluent village in Wiltshire, many families in my opinion overreacted and took there kids out and sent them to private schools in the area. We moved to West Mids 2 and a half years ago now, but the school seems to have really struggled with the amount that have left.

I think that varies quite a lot. For me, I know my Mrs pass code and have used it lots(99% of time she is with me), she probably couldn't tell you mine but I have told her it several times for things like when I've been driving and received a message or we need to send someone a message. It wouldn't have been an issue for me if she didn't share her code though it just worked that way.

I took the Mrs to Ludlow for our anniversary. I did drag her there for a couple. Think I had a Staircase and Red Dawn.

An album I've not listened to in a number of years. It was only because I saw The Lousiana in Bristol on TV the other day and reminded me of the time I saw them there, which is a great little venue. Everyone was getting kicked out after the gig and the three of us were allowed to stay as they thought we were in the band/support band. Although we didn't get to stay long anyway as my mates girlfriend was picking us up to take us to Worcester.

Cheeky bastards have today upped our direct debit from £210 to £217.50 despite being in credit. I've changed it back to £210.

This one has been a weird one and if it wasn't for Emery mentioning his name in a press conference I would have put it in the over hyped press talk category and not a lot in it. He has and hasn't wanted to join us. We've both bid and Marseille have received no bids. Yes you can have talks without actually officially bidding but this has been going on for weeks now. So it could be so many things. I've just listed then deleted the options that I thought could be the case. The one that looks more likely is he doesn't want to come so the interest was there but we haven't bothered bidding, who knows though.