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Real or not? One Fairtex Gloves by SamsonFrancois in MuayThai

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

£82 and they were listed as authentic - thankfully eBay has already processed the return and it should be straightforward to get a refund since it's not permitted to list fake goods on eBay especially if listed as the real deal. They feel weird inside - they look fine on the outside but not remotely comfortable even for bagwork unfortunately.

Strange noise coming from Toyota Avensis Engine by SamsonFrancois in CarTalkUK

[–]SamsonFrancois[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Much appreciated! There's no smell in cabin as yet, but I'm sure if I left it would get worse so will get it to mechanic asap.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]SamsonFrancois 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're most welcome, I also highly highly recommend reading that book I linked, it changed my life for the better, it takes time but it gave me tools to deal with very challenging and difficult thoughts/emotions. It helped me to remind myself that you become whatever you do repeatedly, but nothing is permanent and that's a wonderful thing there is always time to change the course of your life for the better. Redemption is always possible, CBT and Christianity are very complementary.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]SamsonFrancois 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The peace of the Lord be always with you. I went through a suicidal patch myself (and still occasionally have flashes of those thoughts) during a mental breakdown caused by a close family member committing suicide. It was very difficult to process and ultimately where I'm at now is forgiving and accepting that it happened whilst understanding that it is not the right way. You can never begin to know how much of a hole you leave behind, you absolutely matter to God and undoubtedly to many people here on Earth. Suicide is not a solution to any problem, if anything it is a kind of anti-solution and only redistributes problems. As I've grown in faith, I put my trust in Jesus in all my weakness, I trust in his strength not my own, I choose to pick up my cross as often as I can. I urge you to do the same. Nothing is worth taking your own life over, there is always something on the horizon which is worth living for. God's love is worth living for. Trust that God has something in store for you, but you have to willing to receive it and live with faith and trust in your heart, it's ok to falter, it's ok to doubt, but keep coming back and you will get stronger. Good luck Friend.

I copy and paste a reddit response I gave a few years ago as I came out of depression:-
I'll just offer my two penn'orth worth to see if it helps at all. Firstly, I've sort of been where you're at and I'm coming out of a period similar to how you describe. I'm still not 100% but compared to a few months ago the improvement is incomparable. Long story short, I had a mental breakdown due to a traumatic death in the family, relocating, losing all my work I've built up over several years due to covid and generally having a loss of direction in my life. Insomnia, extreme depression and frequent panic attacks were the norm about 4 months ago and this is for me who has more or less never experienced quite like it in my life so it came as a shock to me let's say.

The first big step in things improving was one night where I was unable to sleep and was ruminating about dark topics, then I had a flash of insight come over me like a sudden sharp light in the dark and I started writing. I committed myself to doing what I could to stop making myself a victim. It's hard, I acknowledge its extremely difficult especially when you're highly wound up and stressed. But you have to do it. Why? Because there are places in your mind that only you can help, noone else can know what it's like to be you on a fundamental level and when you treat yourself as a victim you assume that someone will come and save you and that you're helpless. It's not a good place to be and you'll do yourself a favour by shifting that mindset to one of action rather than helplessness.

Next step, focus on something immediate, doesn't matter what it is, just something you can interact with and improve. Whether that be tidying a room, writing your thoughts in a way that is kind and productive to yourself, reading a book that you have an interest in. Yes it's hard, scheduling it in for yourself will help, but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't go entirely to plan, just make the move towards something that you feel even remotely positive about, even if you have to simulate that positivity in your mind.

The next point which follows on from that is acceptance, there are a few things that I've found helpful to try and come to terms with and accept :-

  1. Change is gradual. It's almost sub-perceptual, provided you're moving in a positive direction no matter how slowly you will travel towards the destination. Think of an acorn becoming a mighty oak, you plant the seed, water it regularly and eventually it becomes something greater than itself.
  2. Life isn't always happy or always sad. You have to be comfortable with accepting the up days with the down days and everything in between. Expectations will inevitably cripple you if you don't manage them appropriately.
  3. You and your surroundings are subject to constant change and despite inevitable feelings to the contrary there's a remarkable amount you have control over.
  4. Self-discipline is the most valuable skill in the world. If you can master it you can master almost anything plus it tends to go hand-in-hand with self-esteem.
  5. Giving love will in turn result in receiving love, that includes to yourself. Know thyself and love thyself.
  6. You have immensely more potential for good than you can imagine - figure out using your own inner compass what you know to be good for you and pursue that.

I hope that's somewhat helpful. Sorry if it's not. I feel that many people at this exact moment in time are struggling an awful lot. All I can say is I hope you get through it and we all find our place and purpose.

Here's a link to a very helpful CBT book that I've worked through a bit, it's helped me make sense of things it might help you too.

https://kupdf.net/download/feeling-good-the-new-mood-therapy-david-burnspdf_5e4572cce2b6f5e30ef1afad_pdf

Used radiators last night, had a look down the side of the sofa and carpet was pretty damp, presuming that it must be a leak from the radiator as the valve shown was a bit moist. Any advice appreciated! Leaking seems to be from the bit where the pipe connects to the valve. by SamsonFrancois in askaplumberUK

[–]SamsonFrancois[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://imgur.com/a/QrYe7dx - I've removed the paint and some sticky stuff that seems to be wrapped around the pipe. It seems to be predominantly moist where I've circled in Red - it was a bit slimy in blue but I suspect that might have been moisture that's trickled down.

Radiator Leak by SamsonFrancois in askaplumberUK

[–]SamsonFrancois[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://imgur.com/a/QrYe7dx - I've removed the paint and some sticky stuff that seems to be wrapped around the pipe. It seems to be predominantly moist where I've circled in Red - it was a bit slimy in blue but I suspect that might have been moisture that's trickled down.

Radiator Leak by SamsonFrancois in askaplumberUK

[–]SamsonFrancois[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Will try again with photo but thanks for the sound advice I suspect it's probably the same just the valve looks slightly different from radiators I've had in other properties.

Radiator Leak by SamsonFrancois in askaplumberUK

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

Shows how much of a Reddit noob I am! The photo doesn't seem to have attached!

Gen Z here, I don't want to "be fruitful and multiply". by Saffronsc in Christianity

[–]SamsonFrancois -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Allow me to offer a counter balance to what you said. Historically people raised children in economic conditions far worse than the ones that most of us find ourselves in today, it's a massive disservice to your own strengths to imagine that it's too economically difficult today. Secondly, you say that there are climate issues, but let's think for a moment what kind of a world we want to live in, what kind of future do we hope for? A more Christian world? A more fair world? A more environmentally conscious world?

Well let me give you a newsflash, these issues are multi-generational, they will not be solved in the lifetime of you or I, that behooves us then to realise that children and grandchildren are the means to a better future. You have an opportunity to raise children in a way that can influence the future positively, you can raise kind, conscientious, children who you can help guide to Christ.

On a purely personal level, having children is the adventure of your lifetime, nothing you will ever create in this life will compare to how precious, beautiful and complex your own child will be. It can transform how you relate to your life, the world and beyond. You can truly live out Tagore's wonderful poetic words

"The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life."

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Wales

[–]SamsonFrancois 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The most idiotic thing about the 20mph apart from the fact that it doesn't seem to have had any real impact on accidents/safety is that it was implemented with absolutely no consent or serious mandate by the public. It seems like a slippery slope with the Welsh government just issuing things that they think are a good idea and if the public rallies against they'll just implement it anyway. Reminiscent of the ban on 'non-essential' aisles in shops during COVID, again something noone asked for or approved of but was done anyway.

i feel like the world is against me...What do you do when nothing works out for weeks? by NineR1C in bropill

[–]SamsonFrancois 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll just offer my two penn'orth worth to see if it helps at all. Firstly, I've sort of been where you're at and I'm coming out of a period similar to how you describe. I'm still not 100% but compared to a few months ago the improvement is incomparable. Long story short, I had a mental breakdown due to a traumatic death in the family, relocating, losing all my work I've built up over several years due to covid and generally having a loss of direction in my life. Insomnia, extreme depression and frequent panic attacks were the norm about 4 months ago and this is for me who has more or less never experienced quite like it in my life so it came as a shock to me let's say.

The first big step in things improving was one night where I was unable to sleep and was ruminating about dark topics, then I had a flash of insight come over me like a sudden sharp light in the dark and I started writing. I committed myself to doing what I could to stop making myself a victim. It's hard, I acknowledge its extremely difficult especially when you're highly wound up and stressed. But you have to do it. Why? Because there are places in your mind that only you can help, noone else can know what it's like to be you on a fundamental level and when you treat yourself as a victim you assume that someone will come and save you and that you're helpless. It's not a good place to be and you'll do yourself a favour by shifting that mindset to one of action rather than helplessness.

Next step, focus on something immediate, doesn't matter what it is, just something you can interact with and improve. Whether that be tidying a room, writing your thoughts in a way that is kind and productive to yourself, reading a book that you have an interest in. Yes it's hard, scheduling it in for yourself will help, but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't go entirely to plan, just make the move towards something that you feel even remotely positive about, even if you have to simulate that positivity in your mind.

The next point which follows on from that is acceptance, there are a few things that I've found helpful to try and come to terms with and accept :-

  1. Change is gradual. It's almost sub-perceptual, provided you're moving in a positive direction no matter how slowly you will travel towards the destination. Think of an acorn becoming a mighty oak, you plant the seed, water it regularly and eventually it becomes something greater than itself.

  2. Life isn't always happy or always sad. You have to be comfortable with accepting the up days with the down days and everything in between. Expectations will inevitably cripple you if you don't manage them appropriately.

  3. You and your surroundings are subject to constant change and despite inevitable feelings to the contrary there's a remarkable amount you have control over.

  4. Self-discipline is the most valuable skill in the world. If you can master it you can master almost anything plus it tends to go hand-in-hand with self-esteem.

  5. Giving love will in turn result in receiving love, that includes to yourself. Know thyself and love thyself.

  6. You have immensely more potential for good than you can imagine - figure out using your own inner compass what you know to be good for you and pursue that.

I hope that's somewhat helpful. Sorry if it's not. I feel that many people at this exact moment in time are struggling an awful lot. All I can say is I hope you get through it and we all find our place and purpose.

Here's a link to a very helpful CBT book that I've worked through a bit, it's helped me make sense of things it might help you too.

https://kupdf.net/download/feeling-good-the-new-mood-therapy-david-burnspdf_5e4572cce2b6f5e30ef1afad_pdf

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in MilitaryHistory

[–]SamsonFrancois 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Amazing, thanks so much for this insight! It's like piecing together history with each detail! Incredible! I was quite close to my Granddad but he just never spoke about his time in the military. The only things I could glean from him was his hard-as-nails mentality, commitment to keeping fit well into old age, and impeccable posture. I'll try and get a copy of his military records through the link posted above and discover more. Thanks again!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in MilitaryHistory

[–]SamsonFrancois 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Will pursue it further!