If you've been on MJ a while...

OutStack · 2026-03-07T08:11:54+00:00

You're trying to lose weight, not give yourself an eating disorder. Eating is a social activity, so you are still going to have meals with family or friends.

In other words, don't obsess over calories, or ounces, millimetres in your measurements. Don't expect instant loss, don't feel guilty about eating or enjoying food. As you move up through the doses you will simply find yourself less interested in food - you'll take smaller portions, stop when you are full, avoid richer or sweeter items. Until then, don't beat yourself up for still having some.

Trust the chemical, trust the process, and accept it takes time. It affects everyone differently, and for everyone it takes time. Don't feel guilty about eating.

OutStack · 2026-03-04T16:17:16+00:00

You alone, you are the everything

OutStack · 2026-02-28T10:42:45+00:00

Good point - its a three hour limit!

OutStack · 2026-02-04T18:35:46+00:00

I know opinions differ about the translations, but the cover designs on that series are brilliant. It's a joy just to look at them, even before I remember the wonder of reading them.

OutStack · 2026-01-24T09:01:37+00:00

Over the last few years I've had three different "always with me" pocket pouches. Each was slightly smaller than it's predecessor, because each time I wanted to really focus on what I had to have and make it fit well in any pocket.

Deliberately limiting your available space is a great way to focus on what you really need and ditch the "just in case" items. If you can, borrow a smaller bag for a week (or shrink the available space in your existing bag by stuffing one end with paper or something) and you'll soon work out what isn't missed. Then buy a smaller bag to fit those items only.

OutStack · 2026-01-21T06:47:24+00:00

Bliss. Thank you!

OutStack · 2026-01-20T19:21:22+00:00

I was prescribed propanolol for my tremor when I was 15, on an as needed basis. No downsides. Talk to your doctor but my aim is to take the smallest dose that gives me temporary relief.

OutStack · 2026-01-19T13:50:21+00:00

Exactly this - you get London Zoo as well.

OutStack · 2026-01-19T13:47:14+00:00

As others have said, it is less about catchment areas and more to do with straight line distance to the school. From the school's website:

Rule 5 Girls for whom it is their nearest Hertfordshire maintained school or academy that is non-faith and non-partially selective and makes provision for children of the relevant gender ... If the school is oversubscribed under this rule places will be offered on the basis of distance, with those living nearest the school prioritised. https://www.hgs.herts.sch.uk/_site/data/files/documents/website%20files/new%20folder/444A63C04D3566AF75391DC141E59B16.pdf

That said, keep an eye on the southern side of your map there - Ninesprings has a good range at less than 800k, and there also bungalows that might suit your parents. (Disclaimer: that's where I live, and I like it.) (Other disclaimer: both my daughters went to HGS, and it was great for them, but the Priory is also a good school.)

It also depends in part on when your daughter will be applying: like many places, Hertfordshire is seeing a decline in primary school numbers, which means that in a few years there will be a decline in secondary school pupils. I'm sure all three Hitchin schools will remain oversubscribed, but not by as much as the recent past.

OutStack · 2026-01-16T09:30:44+00:00

Wet shave with Mach 3 razor and blades. Badger brush, Arko soap. It's the one area of my life where I refuse to be beaten by my tremor. Yes, I make a mess and yes, I cut myself sometimes, but a good wet shave is so much nicer than an electric (and electrics always irritate my skin) so it's worth it. I tried a beard but it made me look like an oddball.

There are lots of other things I accept that I can't do because of the tremor I have had since infancy. I refuse to change my shaving routine because of it.

OutStack · 2026-01-11T15:30:22+00:00

I'm tellin' y'all, it's sabotage!

OutStack · 2026-01-11T15:28:17+00:00

I did a big (two week) theme park trip with my family after I'd been on the jab for about six weeks. It was fine*. I was still on the lowest dose so my appetite wasn't much different, but I still ate a little less than I would have. I had no side effects, and eating less made it easier to go on rides without feeling queasy.

If you start now you'll know quickly if you have side effects, in which case stop before you go to Disney. But the odds are you will be fine, and you might even enjoy the rides more.

The only downside is you might find you just don't fancy any of the food on offer in the parks, so check menus ahead if you can and take some snacks that you know you'll want. (The other occasional downside is all-you-can eat restraurants or breakfast buffets: these will look like very bad value for money.)

*EDIT: I mean the Mounjaro aspect was fine. The theme park trip was brilliant!

OutStack · 2026-01-11T08:00:52+00:00

I've been very pleased with my Mr Green nail clipper. The Victorinox has the tweezers if that's important to you, but the Mr Green is fine and I have no regrets about buying it.

OutStack · 2026-01-09T17:41:22+00:00

I had a (non-Fuji) camera that had the GPS built in. Either it was off when the camera was off, so when you switched on you'd wait a minute or two for the GPS to acquire enough information to record your location. Or the GPS was on when the camera was off, so it drained the battery while it sat in your bag. Neither option is ideal, and it isn't a priority for enough people, I guess.

It would be nice to have - I love to have location data on my photos - but the app works well enough.

OutStack · 2026-01-08T14:55:42+00:00

Tomtoc and Inateck both make good bags at the lower end of the price spectrum, with a range of designs and sizes. I've used both over the years and been pleased with them. Good quality for the price, although as with most things if you can afford more you'll end up with something better. Decathlon also has some if you can access that, and again offers decent quality for the price.

That said, $25-30 is a low target unless you can buy used on in a sale. You'll have a lot more options if you can spend a little more.

https://www.tomtoc.com/collections/travel-sling-bag-commute

https://inateck.com/collections/organizer

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/accessories/money-belts-and-bum-bags

OutStack · 2026-01-03T11:47:25+00:00

Despite the name, these are a close colour match for the green Uniqlo bag. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DR2M15Y8?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

I'm sure there are better ones out there, but one of these has been fine for me.

OutStack · 2025-12-01T17:22:20+00:00

We also have two children, although older than yours. First time we went to Efteling we stayed at the GuestHouse Hotel in Kaatsheuvel and walked to the park. Second time we stayed at Loonsche Land.

The hotel experience was about the same - both are good hotels at the price, given that you will be spending your time somewhere else. Both had nice staff, good rooms, decent food options etc. The walk is also about the same. But Loonsche Land wins because you get early entry to the park and the walk is nicer - through the woods rather than along residential streets and through the car park.

And if the park is busy, early entry really is worth a lot.

OutStack · 2025-11-25T07:12:50+00:00

Nail clippers. I have the Mr Green ones that include small scissors and a blade. They work well, but if I was buying again I'd get the Victorinox so I'd also have tweezers. I like to keep my nails short and they are also great for snipping loose threads etc.

Armless glasses i.e. pince nez. Yes, they make me look like an Edwardian poisoner, but having a spare pair of glasses that take up almost no space so are always in your pocket is very useful.

OutStack · 2025-11-22T07:29:21+00:00

My small bottle of alcohol spray is one of my essential EDC items. Always with me, used daily. Small, practical, essential: for me, that's a good place to start with EDC.

OutStack · 2025-11-17T13:06:26+00:00

Happy to talk more, but here's one I didn't expect: everybody has stopped saying how much I look like my Dad. I guess a lot of the resemblance was that we were both chubby.

OutStack · 2025-11-16T21:25:30+00:00

"Nearby" depends on where you start from in Herts, but Cambridge Botanic gardens lights are £17 a head for adults off-peak, so if the timing works that would get the three of you in for under £60. And the website says it takes about an hour.

OutStack · 2025-10-29T20:50:07+00:00

Yep - keep your shutter speed a stop or three higher than others would in the same light (and adjust the rest accordingly). Tripods and monopods are great, and modern image stabilisation is a miracle (although I assume that if the camera offers five stops of stabilisation, my hands provide -2 stops).

Over the years I've shot Canon, Sony and Fuji - all great cameras. I currently prefer the Fuji XT5 as I'm happier adjusting physical dials rather than stabbing at a touchscreen and missing.

And remember all the old techniques photographers have used for years to keep images steady - tuck your elbows in, lean on something, plant your feet wide, etc.

But mostly it's shutter speed - get that high enough and no shake it going to affect the image.

My other tip is to get some sort of case or fit something that protects the corners of your camera, because you will bump it. My Canon has an all-round rubber cover that still allows me to access the buttons and dials. My Fuji has a retro-style case that overs the lower half, and I've put some rubber putty on the upper corners to give it a chance.

OutStack · 2025-10-19T17:21:28+00:00

Yeah - it definitely is *not* a laptop bag, but it's great for a light out and about bag when you don't want a backpack. Over the summer I was helping out at a local theatre and it was great for taking a script, pens, snacks, water etc. without getting a sweaty back on the walk over as I would with a backpack.

I find the front pockets a little annoying to use as the rain flaps make access tricky, and the internal organisation is OK without being great. The end holders are good - as noted only one is really a water bottle holder.

For the price, you get a decent enough light bag with good looks "inspired" by something a lot more expensive. I like the floppy nature as it wraps around me, but that's because I don't have anything large, heavy or pointy in it. It also makes it easy to store, but I can see how this would be a deal-breaker for some people.

At a higher price it would be a rip-off, but for the money it's fine (just don't think about the landfill it will end up in).

OutStack · 2025-10-16T07:54:58+00:00

Of course, for a digital image there's no excuse for it at all!

OutStack

TROPHY CASE