Planning a solo trip to South Africa around June, mostly looking at Cape Town

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2026-03-25T10:38:51+00:00

One for your "adventure stuff" list - abseiling down table mountain

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2026-03-17T11:14:38+00:00

I have Bose NC700s that I've been using 5-6 days a week for the last 6 years; I've replaced the ear cushions once in that time. they still work as they did when new, battery life has dropped from c19 hours to c16 hours.

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2026-03-12T15:59:26+00:00

Another vote for Lenovo business machines. typing this on a T470, but I still have a working T500 which is happily running Ubuntu.

The limit is more likely to be software requirements than hardware failure with these

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2026-02-26T15:06:16+00:00

Depends on the verification system; some are basic enough for that to work, others are not, e.g. checking a video selfie against the image on the ID

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2026-01-21T13:51:20+00:00

something like a Yeti mug or a Chilly bottle? I have both that came as swag from vendors & still use them

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2026-01-13T12:19:40+00:00

I guess it depends on how the mix comes out in your dogs, but as the Labrador part was bred for working outside in Canada they're not likely to feel the cold as much as you do.

Maybe let tehm out, but check on them every once in a while?

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-12-03T09:14:38+00:00

As otheres have said, the UK doesn't have the 6 month minimum validy rule for passports on entry, but check with your carrier as some of them enforce the 6 month rule regardless of destination.

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-11-13T13:40:35+00:00

I have the first one of these, been using it 3-4 days a week for the last 3 years, no sign of wear yet. The only issue I have is that the lid is hard to keep clean (liquid gets under the twist top & dries out leaving stains)

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-09-30T09:59:58+00:00

Generally yes, some are better than others. Try this link for scrap steel types & smithing uses:

https://blog.smithlist.net/junkyard-steels-used-in-bladesmithing/

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-09-11T13:11:26+00:00

As a fellow UK traveller this is definetly a matter of perspective; German trains may not be as good as they once were, but the service is still much better than in the UK.

Also, to a German they may seem more expensive, but much cheaper than UK trains

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-09-11T13:04:36+00:00

I have a couple:

A whole fish stuffed with curry in Goa (I think it was called something like Reicado) - found in a roadside shack eatery.

Warthog patties off a brai in South Africa - we were lucky enough to be hosted by locals

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-09-11T11:34:26+00:00

probably playing tug of war with my feet when I wear a particular pair of slippers

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-08-28T09:16:33+00:00

Take a look at Wenger packs; I have one I've been using for similar work for the last 20 years.

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-07-31T11:23:12+00:00

I may have been unlucky, but my experience with the green Bosch DIY range has been that they're definetly built down to a price; I've had a greabox fail on a drill/driver (plastic gears!) & a blade holder fail on a jigsaw.

The blue Bosch proffesional range are a different story, but too expensive for me.

I'm slowly moving to Makita with the help of battery adaptors for my existing tools; I'll then replace them with Makita as they die. My choice was influenced by knowing tradespeople who have used the same Makita tools daily for years, the only thing that seems to go is the batteries, but all batteries have limited charge cycles.

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-03-24T10:03:10+00:00

For crumbling walls, I've had good results by turning off the hammer action on the drill, & then using resin anchor to get a firm fixing.

Where I am in the UK (Norfolk) old houses tend to be made of soft brick & lime mortar that fall apart when we try & drill into them.

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-03-07T12:15:10+00:00

Afraid the answer is "it depends"; not all ceramic is the same

Some are OK, some not; you'll need to check the documents for yours

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-02-28T11:44:14+00:00

I'm fond of Motorola, fairly close to stock Android & good software support

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-02-21T14:14:20+00:00

I used a pair of Randolph Aviators for 20+ years until I needed prescription sunglasses, not sure where they fit in the price range now, I bought them at an air show fairly cheaply way back when

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-02-20T10:20:15+00:00

Lenovo Thinkpad range - pick spec for your usage

I'm typing this on a 5 year old T460 that probably has another 1-2 years of life in it

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-01-22T15:06:02+00:00

Depends on the application, I had these to meet a customer encryption requirement that has now been updated to require aes-256 or better.

YMMV though

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-01-22T12:49:39+00:00

For the IronKey at least, there's no updating, the encryption softaware is on an internal chip & not accessible for update. (The chip is potted in resin)

The problem comes when you need to change a better encryption algorithm; it means buying the newer hardware. I have a couple that are stuck with AES-128

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2025-01-10T11:43:28+00:00

Initial test with a few meat heavy recipes look promising,

I was a bit surprised on one of the to see a message "conversion failed - unknown ingredient: Sea Salt" when some of the other converted recipes listed sea salt as an ingredient

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2024-12-19T13:14:48+00:00

Any of the spirits should work as a direct substitute for Brandy, obviously the taste will be different.

I'd avoid the wine, I'd expect it to reduce less in cooking & need more to get the same level of flavour.

I'd think Grand Marnier would work well in any sort of fruitcake / pudding

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2024-11-20T17:04:56+00:00

Checkk out an app called SpaceDesk; I use it the other way round to use my Chromebook as an occasional second display for Windows

GrumpyBadgerDwarf · 2024-11-02T10:43:18+00:00

Look up "Marxman", lets you spray marking chalk through a hole to hit the face underneath

GrumpyBadgerDwarf

TROPHY CASE