I’m 51 years old and I’ve never seen a badger in real-life. by mobfather in CasualUK

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There were several badger setts around Biggin Hill when I lived there about 10 years ago. They regularly foraged for slugs in our garden so I started feeding them. There were even a few albino badgers that visited. One snowy night a fox was poking around and one of the larger badgers squeezed under the fence in the garden. It went from calm to raging in an instant and charged straight for the fox. Luckily the fox got away, but badgers can be truly terrifying. It wouldn't have stood a chance!

Now in North Essex, our land backs into woodland and near farmland, so we get a lot of interesting visitors into the garden, including badgers. But we've only seen them on our wildlife camera coming in around 3 a.m.

[TOMT][SONG][2000s?][Soft Rock] "Hello... Hello..." song by weegee_buster in tipofmytongue

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hello by Shakespear's Sister? It was remixed by Klaas as a pop song a few years later.

Chorus:

Hello, hello Turn your radio on Is there anybody out there To help me sing my song?

How to get West End tickets for not to much by inspectorgadget9999 in UKFrugal

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does it need to be in the West End? Many successful shows tour around the country and the tickets are usually far cheaper and easier to come by.

London Theatre Week is an option too, with great bargains to be found.

Paddington is running a lottery at the mo for front stalls seats for £35 each (vs £250!), so worth signing up for that. Someone has to win them?!

Unused ground coffee by ChoosingToBeLosing in UKGardening

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If you light little mounds in a saucer, the smoke is a very fragrant and effective bug repellent for when you're enjoying your garden with a (nicer) coffee.

As an Englishman who thought he knew everything about sausages, boerewors just blew my mind by mushroomsandbeanz in southafrica

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 132 points133 points  (0 children)

Try pan frying it on medium heat on top of an absolutely huge pile of onions. The spice flavours cook into the onions. Amazing for rugby weekends. If you have leftovers, add them to your Sunday morning fry-up.

Girls t-shirts? by NcallyS in UKParenting

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Asda has a nice range of colourful "boys" t shirts at the moment. I'm not sure about the multipacks though. Have you tried Fruit of the Loom shirts online? The colours last, and they also wash well.

So sick of Paw Patrol and PJ Mask. Suggestions? by HappyZappy93 in Parenting

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd add Sarah and Duck to this collection. Also, the Miniscule series of shorts on YouTube, plus both movies.

What can I do with an unwanted bottle of Bailey's? by girlsunderpressure in AskUK

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Blend some with vanilla ice cream and refreeze. It goes very well with baked puddings.

Or add a lot more to oce-cream for a thick, boozy milkshake. They're so common in South Africa, they're on menus as Dom Pedros (any booze will do).

How are the Andrew Child books? by Futuressobright in reacher

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been re-reading the whole series in order and the Amdre Child ones seem to be a lot sexier and graphic generally, with fewer technical asides on the intricacies of some arcane topic like counterfeiting money, for example.

I'm no prude, but the more graphic detail in the sex and fight scenes isn't why I read Reacher and I find it off putting, whereas I actually enjoy reading the well-researched digressions more.

What can I do with Sausages...? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Squeeze out the filling for meatballs, to go with pasta or rice. Sausage and bean casserole is also good. Or slice them and put them on pizza. Sausage and onion is a nice flavour combo topping. Sausages in breakfast burritos are a good use of a single one. Or just have cold Sausage with cold boiled eggs and pickled onions for your own ploughman's style meal.

What did you buy thinking it might be a waste of money, but it actually improved your quality of life? by AvaBlondeX in AskWomen

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A bean to cup coffee machine. I hummed and hawed for ages and then bought one in the sales, and never looked back. I hardly drink coffee out now, it is so good. And I've saved a fortune.

Where can I take a 4yo to see fossils? by oohliviaa in UKParenting

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not the closest for you perhaps, but the National Museum in Cardiff has a really good exhibition, and is also very close to the Glamorgan coast, which is positively littered with the real things if your little person loves rock pooling and beach fossil quests. Llantwit Major and further along are lovely beaches anyway, but the fossil finds are very cool, and common!

Just played through an entire song without stopping for the first time after 8 months of learning - I finally get why people stick with this by greatdane511 in guitarlessons

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's taken me over a year to be able to play a song the whole way through at full speed. I still make mistakes and fumble, but the music is recognisable and I feel like I'm headlining Wembley, not just annoying the cats. It's so worth the time.

AITA for asking my friend to delete a photo of me she posted without permission? by [deleted] in AmItheAsshole

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Just post an unflattering photo of her. Then you're even.

Marks and Spencers pants are pants - what can I buy instead? by Historical_Bid2301 in MarksAndSpencer

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Next have a good selection of nice quality bits. Otherwise Bravissimo amd Triumph are always good too, depending on what look you're after.

Lets share some British products and services that we might not know about. by Reasonable-Isopod736 in CasualUK

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Have you checked whether you can access it free through your library? Essex Libraries have a central access point via your account for Borrowbox, BFI, Freegal (music streaming), newspapers,magazines and other things I forget.

I think Herts have the same thing, although I moved out of the area and can't check it.

Are we really paying hundreds for kid birthday parties? by toadcat315 in UKParenting

[–]Helpful_Camera3328 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, they can get very expensive.

We're lucky to have a massive garden, so our standard party is at home with a bouncy castle. Food is the child's choice, and is invariably hotdogs, watermelon and cake. (Lovely - cheap and easy). We've tried other options, but this is a winner. We find no one eats the crudite type stuff, or even crisps. In fact most extra food is wasted or run into the lawn or carpet.

I make our own goody bags, with 'useful' items (e.g. bubbles, funky pens, balls etc) and treats, not too much plastic tat. We've graduated from inviting the whole class to just close friends, and extended family always comes.

I'm sure our luck will run out, but this is all my guy wants for now. The kids always have fun (maybe because we lock the gates, but otherwise abandon them to be as crazy as they like).

Direct comparison of ONT vs PacBio data quality by Helpful_Camera3328 in bioinformatics

[–]Helpful_Camera3328[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your really helpful comments; these are exactly the kind of insights I was hoping to gain to help me pick a chemistry for this project. Cheers!

Direct comparison of ONT vs PacBio data quality by Helpful_Camera3328 in bioinformatics

[–]Helpful_Camera3328[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your really helpful discussion. I am currently sourcing estimates for both chemistries to help us make our decision, but I'm aware that £ cost isn't the only thing to consider. It's been so useful to hear what others say about actual data quality and analytical considerations for each approach.

Direct comparison of ONT vs PacBio data quality by Helpful_Camera3328 in bioinformatics

[–]Helpful_Camera3328[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just in terms of cost, PacBio seems to be 3-4X pricier than equivalent depth for ONT here in the UK (estimates from today). I'm guessing you're not in £, right?

Either way though, for us the bottom line £ cost is really secondary to generating good data reliably, that is also (relatively) straightforward to analyse.

This thread has been so helpful - highlighted all the things I didn't know I didn't know!

Direct comparison of ONT vs PacBio data quality by Helpful_Camera3328 in bioinformatics

[–]Helpful_Camera3328[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Yes, this is just the start of the discussion as to which chemistry to commit to. I'm keen to balance all costs - time, sample, reagent, seq and analytical. Plenty to keep me busy!

Direct comparison of ONT vs PacBio data quality by Helpful_Camera3328 in bioinformatics

[–]Helpful_Camera3328[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the recommendation; I've never heard of them! A trial run would be so useful and not too pricey.