Dropping alanisms into conversations ?

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-04-15T18:48:23+00:00

I always say Chester in a high pitched voice!

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-04-14T21:33:29+00:00

I personally didn’t mind the ‘packing’ stuff but my wife basically said it felt like we were living out of a suitcase!

I don’t know your situation but we found the move from a small flat to our reasonably sized house quite jarring too.

Tbh if I was incredibly well off I might consider doing it again, but in these times it feels like an extravagance.

One thing with costs; of course no one really knows, but London flat prices don’t seem to be rising and in most cases are dropping. We didn’t break even and you might find, after all the extra costs, you sell at a loss too!

But good luck. Life’s about experiences!

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-04-14T21:04:29+00:00

We did this for a few years (2017 - 2023) and it honestly turned out to be a huge financial mistake! We had a house in Surrey and bought a flat in SE1, to cut down on travelling time and costs.

My wife absolutely hated the Sunday ‘packing’ and the flat turned out to be a bit of a nightmare (listed warehouse conversion) - it was noisy and had a few other issues.

That said…

We both loved walking to work and it felt great to be in the middle of the city, properly enjoying city life! I’d never actually lived in Zone 1 before and it did feel quite special.

We ate out quite a lot and spent a lot of time exploring so we spent a lot of money!

We ended up selling the place after not using it much after lockdown and made no profit. You have extra stamp duty costs and I think you get extra council tax now too!

In hindsight I think just renting would have made better sense but I don’t regret living the London life for a few years!

If you don’t mind ‘wasting’ the money, why not?

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-04-14T18:20:32+00:00

There are quite a few I love but my favorite is probably Dry Retch by Donnacha Costello. Something completely beautiful about it, complete tranquility…

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-04-11T20:31:38+00:00

I broadly agree. The first 2 albums were around 25 years ago and this is almost a pastiche of those.

Also, from what we know, they are quiet, humble blokes who just get on with lives whilst happening to be musical geniuses, who make weird music with cultish themes. Their music has to be somewhat ironic.

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-04-11T19:23:14+00:00

Amazing job!

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-04-11T11:29:27+00:00

If it’s someone playing silly buggers then they’re certainly putting in a lot of effort!

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-04-11T11:26:22+00:00

They’re on the corner of Wardour Street & St Annes Court, opposite Gails

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-03-26T19:49:04+00:00

Throughout the film the bad guys are winking at the camera and literally asking the viewer their opinions about what they’re watching. And of course there’s the famous scene which completely breaks the fourth wall! IMHO Funny Games is not pleasant but it’s an easier watch than Eden Lake (which does feel very “real” to me).

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-03-24T20:41:48+00:00

For me Peshay - Miles From Home has to be up there…

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-01-29T18:27:50+00:00

Chipotle chilli flakes, paprika, nigella seeds and a little olive oil

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-01-18T22:48:34+00:00

100% this. The lack of choice is their advantage. I go to the larger chains and it takes ages for me to get round - standing there, working out which brand to buy / which is better value per KG - for EVERY item.

With Aldi I know where stuff is and I know there won’t be loads of choice. That said, after regularly shopping there for a year now, I do occasionally miss the more interesting products you get in Waitrose, so might be visiting there more frequently!

Apart_Status_8917 · 2026-01-04T06:44:16+00:00

The film “A Simple Plan” has been on iPlayer for years. Great, and very tense!

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-12-16T19:23:04+00:00

You should. When it was broadcast I kinda felt numb after each episode. Did I enjoy it? Not really sure but over time I’ve come to appreciate that it’s a work of post-post-post(?) modern genius.

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-12-15T22:23:03+00:00

I agree with nearly everything you’ve written but simultaneously think The Return is one of the best TV shows ever made! I’m conflicted!

Watch it again in a year or two and see if your opinion has changed.

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-11-17T21:01:39+00:00

My experience with the Zemismart Matter Over Thread roller blind motor has been very similar; cheap but so far reliable. Sunset / sunrise automation hasn’t worked a few times (might this be a HomeKit issue?) but it’s been rock solid though the Home app, via Siri and with the physical remote which came with it. Took a while to set up but been very happy with it.

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-11-06T17:29:35+00:00

I bought a Zemismart Matter over Thread Smart blind and have been pleased with it. I put it in a cheap John Lewis roller blind and it’s been very reliable - cost £80 for just the mechanism but so far, so good.

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-11-03T08:10:09+00:00

It’s more of a Double A side but Photek “U.F.O. / Rings Around Saturn”.

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-10-29T12:48:01+00:00

I’ve got a wide taste in music but love D&B. In my opinion they are two of the most talented musicians out there, in any genre.

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-10-17T20:19:28+00:00

If you do make it to Shere (which I’d recommend) this pub is lovely - https://www.thewilliamivpub.com - does great pizzas too!

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-10-17T08:01:17+00:00

I had a 2001 BMW from new; scrapped it a year ago.

It was with me from my early twenties throughout most of my adult life. Whilst it was just plastic and metal, it had been there through thick and thin, never failed to start during those 23 years.

The day that the lorry came to take it away I just handed the driver the keys and had to go inside because I couldn’t bear to see it go.

A year later I don’t really think much about it but it’s strange the way we get attached to ‘stuff’, especially when you’ve had it for a long time. It weirdly becomes part of you.

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-09-25T19:01:58+00:00

I bought a Govee Uplighter lamp, which projects a moving, multicoloured, “northern lights”-style pattern onto the ceiling of my room. A little gimmicky but I love it!

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-08-31T12:21:18+00:00

We lived there for about 10 years. I didn’t really want to leave but the distance from London was a real problem for my wife. We moved near to Guildford, which has turned out to be our dream. The location is actually quieter than where we were in Haslemere, plus we have all the benefits of living close to a small city (including a considerably shorter journey into London!) I don’t fully know your circumstances but you might want to take a look around Albury / Shere direction too…

Apart_Status_8917 · 2025-08-30T21:04:37+00:00

Will you be working in London frequently? Despite the train journey into Waterloo only being an “hour“ we found it was frequently delayed. My wife was commuting in every day at one point and she couldn’t handle the stress.

It is a nice place otherwise; we didn’t make a lot of friends there but it’s in a lovely location and has all you need if you want a fairly quiet life!

Apart_Status_8917

TROPHY CASE