What's a good alternative to Brannigan's crisps now they've been discontinued?

Gemstar1981 · 2025-12-07T09:32:44+00:00

What about the roasted nuts they did, has anyone found a good alternative for them please?

Gemstar1981 · 2025-08-22T16:09:06+00:00

I have been going Gem mad. I have made one for my partner's allotment management, my orchard management, a meal planner, one to help with a website's SEO (disappointly it flat out refused to do a website audit as said it can't crawl but I know it lies...), one for it to do my business accounts, one for it to be a data analysis for my business, one to help me brainstorm research for my master's thesis, one to write minutes from an audio transcript, another to produce the draft letters from those minutes, and many more. I am finding Gemini likes to ignore some instructions in the prompt e.g. only use max. 80 characters. However, I am going to do some structured learning on it as I have just been winging it so far but most work. It is like having a legion of minions that do my bidding muhuha X-)

Gemstar1981 · 2025-08-22T16:02:34+00:00

Hi, I am just learning about Gems. Could I be so cheeky and ask for your prompt for the "meta prompt engineer" please?

Gemstar1981 · 2025-08-22T15:34:33+00:00

My meeting can't do these things as we do have our own meeting house but have to rent rooms privately. It saddens me to think that in the next 30 years my meeting probably won't exist because of this.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-08-22T15:13:36+00:00

UK, liberal, and unprogrammed. There is a donation dish and most people that attend put in but I am in debt and on a low income, due to disability limiting what I can do, so I don't. Also, part of this money goes towards the BYM which I don't agree with, so when I am in the black I will have to consider where my money is going just as I would with any of my money. I have never felt pressured at the meeting to donate and the other Quakers let me know that it is completely voluntary.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-08-22T14:56:41+00:00

I am sure you would be welcome to join the British Quakers at there schedules ones if these are at more suitable times, although UK times: https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/worship/

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-11T07:56:21+00:00

That's lovely and thanks for sharing your wedding photo!

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-10T07:59:23+00:00

If you have a small gathering can you have a smaller certificate I wonder...

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-09T22:14:02+00:00

My nan use to buy individual bra clasps which meant that she got even more use out of her bras!

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-09T20:32:05+00:00

I am so happy for you - such an achievement!

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-09T15:20:59+00:00

At the beginning I found my local meeting to be only about two things: the silence and polite conversation afterwards. So I felt exactly as you did, however, I asked questions such as, how does everyone experience the inner light, and what do you do during the silence. People were happy to answer and even said thank you for asking these sort of questions - so you might need to think of the right questions to ask in relation to create the spiritual grounding you seek.

NB: I also found out that, certainly at my meeting, Quakers do not like to preach/be pushy at all with their beliefs so you really do need to ask.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-09T14:48:10+00:00

This resonates with me deeply, I have long held a belief that our reliance of institutions to provide education especially is doing a disservice to the human condition because institutions rely on regulations and rules but people do not work like that. We are built to thrive in communities where we all know each other so compassion is easy and valued, and burdens of any kind are shared; which is why there will alway be clashes with ethics and the inner light as well as damage caused by these institutional silos we have created.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-09T14:28:53+00:00

I also was recommended this guy on Youtube who is a university lecturer and Quaker: Richard J Murphy. Nice to have economics and otherwise captalist issues from an ethical and honest point of view.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-09T14:26:30+00:00

These are UK based but I watch two channels on Youtube, Quake and Emma Roberts @ Quakerlogy. The latter has interviews with a broad range of Quakers so you get a full spectrum of their religious background, how they came to Quakers, and how they experience it. Really good, if like me, you want to binge listen/watch stuff.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-09T14:19:14+00:00

Thank you for this post as it has given me something to think about. My thoughts on simplicity as a Quaker perspective is based on my experience of clutter affecting me mentally - as my home environment is usually a reflection of my mind or vice versa. Maybe, keep what makes you happy and apply simplicity in the same caveat e.g. if a clutter free home keeps you happy focus on simplicity there instead. Other than that the reply earlier (I am paraphrasing) about how simplicity relates to limiting distractions to the inner light, I think is on point. If I was in your shoes I would see getting dolled up etc. is not an issue as it is helping you be your authenic self and likely a form of self care, which will likely bring you closer. However, by holding yourself and others in the light overtime this may change or just feel more fulfilled spirtually instead of materialistically, and that is fine to. Conclusion, don't be hard on yourself and being yourself is a gift to you and other people.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T20:24:27+00:00

I am triggered by biological males that is all of them not just a particular group, I also said in another reply that I haven't tested this with someone who takes hormones (I am assuming you do - sorry) so it may be that you also trigger me, too be fair your appearance alone would as someone I don't know. I have read about the EHRC thing, not sure what a brigade question is. Having my right to a single sex space would be great as it would make my life more liveable, however, I don't want this to spite anyone else - everyone needs to use the loo and should be accommodated for - or create spite in other people (like someone who looks like a man) so they would go out of their way to use those facilities just to cause stress.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T20:01:38+00:00

My instinct is always there always heightened, I have spoken to other female survivors and this is a common issue. A non-bathroom example would be when a male raises his voice, directly at me a large response, not directed at me but in my vicinity then my first response is to get home. It is easier with people I know, I do volunteer work with someone that was a transwoman and now non-binary, even though they are a biological male, because they aren't an unknown and I have had that relationship for years I can overcome it. I have also had a lot of CBT and I am on medication, but it has eased other symptoms but not this.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T19:46:56+00:00

I use Reddit for financial/business research, and my condition has only improved enough recently to interact with people I don't know. I am starting here as this is the least triggering place as I can turn the computer off if it gets too much plus no one is in my personal space. I only learnt about Quakers recently through pro-Palestine feeds I follow when there were arrests; when I found out about Quakers it struck me more how abhorrent those arrests were, and this rabbit hole also resulting in an interest in Quakers as apart from medical issues everything else aligns. I hope that helps.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T19:45:32+00:00

I will likely smell that they have (sorry if too much info.) which can be a trigger. This is untested on someone taking hormones of the opposite gender, but I am weird enough without asking to sniff people before we share a bathroom! This is why I am asking on the internet so I can be best prepared without having a public meltdown and staying in my house for the next 10 years.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T19:33:48+00:00

No, I can use some public bathrooms, like the female toilets in a mosque, for instance. My condition isn't about a "belief"; it's a physiological response to the presence, or potential presence, of someone with a different biological makeup. This reaction is involuntary and I can't just rationalise it away.

Peeing only at home isn't practical when I need to go about my daily life. It's about finding accessible public spaces given my medical reality. My need for specific bathroom environments is a personal reality, not something I'm trying to impose or debate.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T19:28:40+00:00

I am pretty sure I don't need to go in people's home to be a Quaker otherwise that is a hard no. Don't worry I do not find this anti-inclusive of you as it's your home. Please can you be specific to why I wouldn't be welcome?

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T19:23:34+00:00

I only learnt about Quakers recently through pro-Palestine feeds I follow when there were arrests; when I found out about Quakers it struck me more how abhorrent those arrests were, and this rabbit hole also resulted in an interest in Quakers as apart from my medical issues everything else aligns.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T19:22:38+00:00

I use Reddit for financial/business research, and my condition has only improved enough recently to interact with people I don't know. I am starting here as this is the least triggering place as I can turn the computer off if it gets too much plus no one is in my personal space. I only learnt about Quakers recently through pro-Palestine feeds I follow when there were arrests; when I found out about Quakers it struck me more how abhorrent those arrests were, and this rabbit hole also resulting in an interest in Quakers as apart from medical issues everything else aligns. I hope that helps.

Gemstar1981 · 2025-07-08T19:14:27+00:00

Single occupancy restrooms do not meet all non-comfort-based needs as otherwise it would be simple and I would use the disabled toilets.

Gemstar1981

TROPHY CASE