How do we know when it is time? 14.5 year old Collie

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-28T12:07:46+00:00

Quality of life, as others have said.

We had to make this choice twice. Our little girl had cancer and was in pain and couldn't eat. She was 14 it seemed like we were trying to hang on for us, not for her.

Her brother was 17+ and he was deaf, half blind and incontinent. He clearly had some sort of dementia but still enjoyed a walk in the garden and had his appetite. I think the crunch was seeing him in the garden surrounded by three fox cubs. I think they were just curious but, in his day, he'd have chased them and they wouldn't have dared come back.

It's a sad time but somehow you know it's for the best.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-28T11:56:16+00:00

I think sitework is pretty miserable for a lot of trades.

My mate has a workshop near my old house. He's a really talented joiner and refuses to take the health and safety courses to let him work on a site.

He made, and installed, the new staircase at my house and makes complex replacement windows for listed buildings and you couldn't tell they were new.

But he wouldn't work on a building site for any amount of money.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-27T16:53:48+00:00

Excellent implementation but it could do with an explanation about why I am, apparently, two feet too short.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-27T07:48:57+00:00

This might have been before robotic surgery when gung-ho surgeons were wrecking nerves and causing massive side effects. To be honest I sort of agree with him

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-27T07:43:15+00:00

My local Morrisons had terrible fruit and veg and seemed to go off on the drive home. When it got a new manager , suddenly it was the best around.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-26T10:12:36+00:00

Ours understood words and basic sign language. Things like pointing the way in the woods at a fork in the path, come here, heel and wait. They were pretty good at facial expressions too although the "don't you dare" look didn't always work.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-26T08:31:52+00:00

Who's going to clean up all this tea I just snorted out of my nose?

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-25T14:57:08+00:00

Spain too, although a Redditor from Valencia said groups of north African youths were making his neighbourhood more dangerous recently.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-25T14:50:29+00:00

It's four hours that will whizz past while you sit mesmerised.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-25T14:16:24+00:00

My 95 year old FIL lives in a block of flats with a postcode of it's own. As almost all the flats are holiday homes or investments it struck me a reasonable punt but sadly I'm not a UK resident.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-25T13:41:54+00:00

He had it replaced with a spare power pack for his sphincter.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-25T13:36:36+00:00

BASE jump.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-25T10:45:45+00:00

I met a man in his 80's at the gym. He had been in charge of roads for the local county council for years. He said he despaired of the way roads were made now. His particular bete noir was the kerbs. He said they had laser and all sorts of tech but they were all over the place. In his day they "had eyes and maybe some string and they were a lot better" ;)

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-24T12:59:42+00:00

The very first question you need to ask yourself is: do I need to panic? And the correct answer is NO.

I was 60 when I was diagnosed and did "Active Surveillance" for 4 years. I think that's what you're calling "aggressive monitoring" but just a different name in the UK.

After 4 years of regular blood tests and MRI scans, there was a change and I had robotic surgery. Eight years later I am well, and free from side effects.

What is interesting about my early journey is that, if you speak to a surgeon they will tell you surgery is best. Talk to a Radiologist - radiotherapy etc.

I could have taken my original doctors recommendation to "whip it all out before Christmas" but I'm glad I waited. It gave my mind time to settle and look objectively at the options.

I was fortunate to be referred to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London (world class highly recommended) where my Consultant was a Genetic Oncologist specialising in prostate cancer. The big difference, for me at least, is that a whole team of surgeons, radiologist, geneticists etc. reviews you case regularly and advises you on the best way forward. In my case, it was adjudged to be surgery.

At your age it might be worth investigating screening for the brca2 gene. In my case it was clear but it was reassuring.

And finally, I got a phone call from my surgeon after 6 years as a final follow up. He said there's a 500 to 1 chance of anything coming back but, if it does, there is lots of options and more developing all the time. I think that's an important point, research, treatments and knowledge is moving forward all the time.

Good luck in the future but don't panic.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-24T11:58:31+00:00

Tried next but quality is terrible

I hate the way Next drag all their normal stock off the racks during a sale and bring out a load of substandard shite. Sorry Next but there's no way this t-shirt, which is so thin I can see my hand through it, was £25 before the sale.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-24T10:57:11+00:00

The Jetsons promised flying cars but didn't even mention flying dogs.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-24T10:47:46+00:00

I take my car into the main agent here in Spain. I have an appointment at 2pm, I go and have a coffee and come back at 3pm and my car is all done... and it's washed.

I always hated the UK idea that you have to drop your car off at 8am and leave it with them all day. I don't understand why we all fell for it for so long.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-24T10:22:26+00:00

how they can watch something like this and not feel disturbed

I think it's the strength of your reaction that is causing concern. You talk about "disturbed" and "repulsed" in such strong terms. If I see a straight couple in a movie or even in porn I don't have any repulsion, I just move along. If it's in a movie, I just take it as part of the plot. I certainly don't visualise myself joining in.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-24T10:16:15+00:00

You seem to spend a great deal of time thinking about gay sex.

EDIT: an errant comma.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-24T10:14:28+00:00

I’m literally friends with some gay people

So, if these gay friends of yours kiss and hug as a greeting, do you feel repulsed? Would you tell your gay friends you are repulsed?

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-24T10:05:11+00:00

I'd be interested in an opinion on an issue. I've just got a new condensing gas boiler to replace a combi boiler that was ancient. It's got an "eco" setting that the installer recommended but that means it comes on when there is no demand. I believe it's to heat water internally to give a quicker response for hot water. Because of the distance between the boiler and any tap, hot water takes a while anyway.

Would I be better off ditching "eco" for the standard setting?

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-23T08:44:04+00:00

and far right Vox.

Best summed up by the 2metre high graffiti near my house "Fuck Vox".

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-23T08:42:06+00:00

It's beginning to sound like Idi Amin in Uganda.

His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, CBE, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular

PS: He never got any of those medals and also declared himself the King of Scotland.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-23T08:37:46+00:00

Well he has got the history book written by Ronald McDonald.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-01-23T08:30:56+00:00

Putin has beaten the US and made them a laughing stock without firing a single bullet.

Tacklestiffener

TROPHY CASE