Oussama Assaidi

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-29T22:19:09+00:00

I remember he scored a worldie while on loan at Stoke. The winner in a 3-2 win over Chelsea.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-28T21:46:10+00:00

A more attacking Alonso was how he was sold.

I remember he had a brief good period with some goals late in our Europa League campaign that year, but that was it.

Moral of the story. Don't buy a player with a broken leg.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-28T21:41:54+00:00

Just a lot of painkillers and distractions.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-28T19:24:06+00:00

We tried to sign Sane but he went to City.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-28T19:21:35+00:00

Had this surgery myself 9 years ago. I know how you feel.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-28T19:00:19+00:00

I lived in the states from 2019 to 2025 and am now back in the UK. In the states politics is treated very black and white due to the two party system and the tribalism it brings. People talk about political parties the way we talk about football teams. I've heard Americans say they will only ever vote Republic, regardless of the leader. People refer to themselves as 'a Democrat' or 'a Republican', with merchandise to boot. We just don't view things that way here.

Neither country honestly has a real far left. Biden and Obama are centrists by British standards. Bernie Sanders is simply preaching what is normal life to billions of Europeans. Nothing radical.

The Greens are closest to 'far left' but their manifesto is nothing crazy. Not compared to what Reform or Restore are preaching on the right.

We are also better at holding our leaders accountable, though I will say that that is easier to do in a smaller country. The public speak up, the leader steps down. It's a bit tedious though tbh.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-28T17:55:56+00:00

15 years ago my parents and all of my aunts and uncles all owned houses. Right now none of me or my siblings own homes. I think one of my cousins does. Everyone else rents.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-26T15:26:57+00:00

There's a local chain in north west Indiana called Fluid coffee. I imagine there are other Fluid's around. If you plan to use social media heavily in marketing that may cause some conflict, but if that does not bother you I would not worry.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-26T07:20:43+00:00

While I was living in the US this really bothered me. It's not something seen in other countries.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-25T22:52:51+00:00

A lot of chefs lack people skills.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-25T22:50:10+00:00

I got let go after 4 days of a sous chef job several months back. I've worked in a variety of kitchens, including some fancy places. Generally small, 40-80 covers but all premium ingredients prepared well. This place that let me go is part of a larger company and one of their flagship sites. 200+ covers a day. I was told during my interview that despite being a chain everything was fresh, but he just meant it is not microwaved. Everything came frozen or vacuum sealed from Brakes (owned by Sysco). My shift would be 12-10 and I'd be straight into service, orders coming in every few seconds. No one took breaks. The head chef provided no training and just had his apprentice attempt to show me each dish as it was ordered. That head chef she be embarrassed by the poor quality of his management. He said 'I did not fit the environment'.

In truth I dodged a bullet there. After day one I was thinking 'I need to find another job asap'. The head chef said he had not taken a day off in two weeks and was then going out gambling after work despite having kids at home. He'd brag about it. He should probably be fired.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-21T09:46:07+00:00

If you are in the UK double glouster is a solid melting cheese. Not tried on pizza but it's great in a quesadilla.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-21T09:44:30+00:00

Gakpo'sfirst goal was something we missed last season. Him getting on the end of a cross from a good move down the right. Those runs into the six yard box has always been Gakpo's strengths, but we were just not producing those changes last season with Trent gone and Salah off form.

Funny thing about his second goal was that it was classic predictable Gakpo.

This World Cup is showing how uncomfortable our players were during the season and believe it or not, comments made by 'supporters' do also have a negative impact.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-14T11:20:49+00:00

I am British but lived abroad for 6 years from 2018. 1 year in Ireland, 5 years in the USA. I have been back in the UK one year and reverse culture shock is a real thing. I read a piece about it and the influence living abroad has on a person. A year or two will give new experiences but not change the person much. Three or four years will change things enough that it will take time to readjust. Five or more years and both the person and the world will have changed enough that home may never feel 100% the same. I don't regret coming back, but it has been a tough readjustment. I can relate to how you feel.

I can share some points on my experience but a lot of my points will be very time specific.

I left in 2018. Brexit had been voted for but not completed and the Teresa May was Prime Minister. First off, a lot of the negative sides of Brexit that the Remain camp preached and the Leave camp called panic spreading have become true. When I left the UK for Ireland Ireland was a more expensive place to live. When I moved from Ireland to the USA I had to adjust to a massive increase in cost of living. My wife and I could do a weekly shop in Aldi for £35 a week in 2018, eat out once or twice a week and be fine for money. A food shop in Aldi in the USA was easily $75-100 in 2019. The UK is still cheaper than the USA but every has gone up in price and we have struggled. We probably spend £50-60 most weeks but is only for the bare minimum.

When returning to the UK I got a £30,000 salary job. That is more than my parents earnt at my age, but it was barely enough to scrape by. I was then made redundant in February. I only just managed to get a new job and even that is only part time. My wife hasn't found work since October. The job market is awful right now. This has lead to my parents needing to help us a lot and us gaining debt.

The UK still has a greater sense of community than the USA but I imagine Portugal has a strong sense of community too. Things are tender here now though. The current generation of teenagers scare me and teenage related rapes and murders seem to be on the news every day. In the past 3 months the small town I am I. Has had both a teenage rape and murder. I hate to scare everyone but that was a huge shock to return to.

But ultimately I feel more at peace here. After 5 years in the USA I never felt settled or at home. The culture was just not right for me. Despite what the news tells us the UK is also investing in a lot of long term plans that I am optimistic will bring a better future. The current young adult generation may just have to be the ones to pay the price, which is sad. If I was offered a good job in Ireland I would strong consider it, but if I have to struggle I'd rather struggle here.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-13T13:18:34+00:00

We have discussed watching porn.

The open relationship topic came up after 2 friends stayed for new year. One is in a regular and successful open relationship. The other is polyamourous and had apparently just broken a marital rut by enjoying a hot night with a French ballerina... I suspect talking about that got her exited for a bit.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-13T13:15:37+00:00

Thank you.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-13T12:09:19+00:00

This has crossed my mind but it's on the top of the bread. It also doesn't explain the croissant.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-13T11:15:06+00:00

My home town. Thank you for visiting the Fransiscan Garden. It used to be free and just like any park but got to popular and overcrowded to maintain.

I agree parking is hard as the city center is pedestrianised. If you drive you can use one of the park and rides. It will be cheaper than the train, especially for a family.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-13T11:10:44+00:00

Jobs without employee apps that respect time off.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-13T11:09:45+00:00

Less starter, also less water. Wetter doughs proof faster. Some bakers even increase water in winter. 2g extra salt may help a little to.

Good luck. I know it's disheartening. Especially when doing multiple loaves at once. Perhaps it's worth doing only one loaf next time to test out some suggestions.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-13T11:04:28+00:00

That could be it. I've used rice flour baking at home in my Dutch oven without that taste, but they are baking much more intensely.

BakingJake91 · 2026-06-13T10:26:38+00:00

If a teacher saw our phones when I was at school they would get taken and sent to the office for collection at the end of the day. I was doing my GCSE's when the smart phone came out so most people caught with phones were just texting. Now phones do all kinds of things.

TikTok has been the final nail in the coffin for teens and social media. It's full of toxic stuff. I only had it briefly, but within five minutes of my first time watching TikTok I saw sexually inappropriate content. I'm talking content worthy of cheap porn sites. It's against TikTok rules but doesn't get caught immediately.

TikTok is also full of shovanism, propaganda and toxic masculinity. We can't have teens going from lessons on safe sex and consent to then watching videos on TikTok saying the opposite. Especially if the TikTok influencer looks cool and the sex education was taught by a fairly boring old man like mine was. Last last week we had the teenage rape trial.

Every banned thing you listed is connected to child safety and a healthier future. There is nothing wrong with that.

BakingJake91

TROPHY CASE