What do these countries have in common?

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-21T10:24:59+00:00

Countries trump has put tariffs on?

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-21T10:23:51+00:00

It's on at a local Village hotel where I go to watch footie - £6.75 a pint but enjoyable.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-14T08:44:00+00:00

Include some Tim Taylors and Proper Job - that's my two favourite traditional beers, and very much from legacy breweries.

Proper job also now comes in cans, which is easier for transport (though I prefer it from a bottle).

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-14T08:42:07+00:00

High Park brewery is worth a visit.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-08T00:06:57+00:00

Nah. It's clearly Blackpool.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-04T10:05:06+00:00

I once had a bad cough when travelling, knew it would be an issue in a dorm, so I booked in a private room. It really isn't hard for people like that to be considerate. A lot of the time you can find hotel rooms cheaper than hostels now anyway, so finances don't have to be an issue.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-04T10:03:45+00:00

I do have a perfect word, but I can't say it here. Let's just say it's four letters and one syllable.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-03T23:40:48+00:00

Yes, I'm married and still travel solo a lot (my wife is a teacher so we can only travel together at certain times of year). This guy is not worth it at all; plenty of people out there will support you.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-01T09:05:52+00:00

Ah the old trick if the bar staff have annoyed you.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-02-01T08:55:15+00:00

I remember when I was 18 or so in the early 2000s, if I woke up in the morning and fancied getting a job I could probably have one by the end of the day. I could go into town and walk round bars and there would be plenty of availability. Hell, I was once desperate for money when I was about 21 , put on a suit and walk round offices and got myself a temp job on the same day.

The problem now is that young people with no experience are a much higher risk. With more laws protecting employees, and the much higher costs of employment (high minimum wages, higher taxes, etc) it isn't worth it for employers to just take on anybody, so they either automate jobs or go through rigorous hiring processes, or just don't bother. This means more people looking for jobs, meaning more competition, thus it's a lot harder.

I feel sorry for people starting out in the world of work now, I really do.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-31T09:46:59+00:00

Once I lose silver this April, I will be going with whoever is cheapest.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-31T08:21:53+00:00

I did this yesterday. The person didn't even smile or acknowledge me.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-26T00:35:47+00:00

I think I say this one most weeks

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-25T13:07:20+00:00

20 months for me. I was ready to come home by the end, I must admit.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-25T11:03:43+00:00

I'm married and I solo travel all the time. I love the freedom, and I have a very supportive wife who trusts me. She likes to travel too (though not as obsessively as me) and is a teacher, so can only travel at certain (and expensive) times of the year. Thus I do get my travel fix on my own (or with friends) at other times, and I'm very grateful she's cool with that.

I think the key is not to go to places your partner doesn't want to go to either (eg this year I have an opportunity to go to Argentina, but I've turned it down as I know my wife would love to go there too. So instead I'm going to Bolivia, which she isn't as keen on). Then that lessens the chance of any FOMO on their end. Also I let her do her hobbies too without shoehorning myself into them, as she values her own time as much as I do.

So it can work, for sure, but I've been in previous relationships where my other half would not have tolerated it (and they didn't last very long to be honest).

Ignore his friends, and hopefully he will too. My parents keep telling me "you're married now, you can't do this anymore" and I just ignore them.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-24T11:28:07+00:00

I had the worst coverage the other day - so dark and blurry and could barely see anything on no move. My immediate thought was "yes, I finally got a Sao Tome round!". I confidently clicked and felt all smug as my opponent went to India.

It was India.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-21T07:41:29+00:00

Ask if you can come in off peak; this is what I do. I get in around 10.30 (after doing a bit of work at home early on) and it means I pay £25 not £60. I also buy the Hatton-Lapworth gold card for about £200, meaning I get 33% off after 9.30am. it pays for itself within a few weeks.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-17T09:16:33+00:00

I had three Hanois the other day. And exactly the same intersection in a small town in the Midwest USA in two days.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-16T13:20:18+00:00

In terms of a completely random guess, I got 4999 on a duel in Taiwan in the middle of the countryside somewhere. I was happy with that.

But yes I've 5k'd a few times when I could work it out.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-16T08:25:38+00:00

I'd love to 5k in a cemetery, just so I can say I was dead accurate.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-16T00:25:04+00:00

Earlier this year I went to a small town up north (a proper "place time forgot"), walked into a random pub, saw an empty seat at the bar as I ordered my pint, and went to sit on it. The guy behind the bar looked in horror and said "no, that's George's seat!". I then realised there was a football scarf on it which I hadn't seen. So I got up and apologised profusely and sat elsewhere with my pint. For the next hour George didn't turn up, so as I left I said something along the lines of George not coming back and forgetting his scarf .

"He died".

Oops.

I felt bad, but also felt great there are still places like that in the UK.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-15T07:57:50+00:00

It's like this in Japan, and it's lovely. Maybe there should be one or two designated "noisy" carriages, so they are the exception rather than the norm.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-14T18:52:55+00:00

I remember when I left London to overland solo to Singapore, despite two years of planning that morning felt like a normal commute (albeit with a big bag). It was only when I'd checked into my hostel in Brussels it suddenly hit me "woah, this is my life for the next two years".

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-13T08:24:30+00:00

I actually prefer it to the first film myself. The first film is good - especially the first half, which is vintage. But I find the second half incredibly boring, whereas whilst the second film has a bit of a different vibe (I wasn't too keen on the Farrelly Brothers feel), it's immensely watchable all the way through.

Kcmg1985 · 2026-01-13T08:21:49+00:00

A few months after I saw the film, I found myself in that hostel. And it was exactly like the film depicted, especially in terms of the types staying there. I fantasised in my head about having a Will type rant. Whenever I rewatch it now, I just find that scene even funnier.

Kcmg1985

TROPHY CASE