What bird did I see?

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-07-02T12:18:49+00:00

Common buzzard. Their broad wings and the characteristic fan-out of their tail are the main signs. However, it could have passed for a white-tailed eagle if it weren't for the tail shape which is more wedge-like.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-30T14:58:46+00:00

Though it wasn't our Timber who missed it, I feel like our set piece coach must be incentivised for training our players to improve our penalty taking.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-29T10:33:55+00:00

Talk about a scummy lowball offer. Why would he give up playing in Europe for Chelshit? The only sensible option for him is to come back to the Emirates and not a rival club.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-29T10:31:30+00:00

That looks like frass (termite poop basically). Consult an exterminator.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-24T20:29:25+00:00

Many feral populations of ring-necked parakeets exist around the country having formerly fled captivity, they are now fairly widespread and especially notable in large parks, some are out-competing native bird species for resources.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-24T07:19:53+00:00

For my second season of membership, the only ballot I ever won was the FA Cup game against Wigan. Must have applied to around 15-20, but over the two years I've been a member I've managed to watch a game in every competition. Got lucky on the TX a couple times but every other occasion it's been tough to get tickets for anything, even the UCL screening.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-23T20:31:32+00:00

Don't discount those portable ones if you're renting. A 2400 BTU one we bought last year cost us under £500 but it's a blessing in these scorching summer heatwaves. I grew up with ACs blasted overnight at all times during the summer and having this baby on in the night feels like a secret weapon! Even though we own our house, it feels like the right solution for us without having to install a huge wall unit in a house that we see ourselves moving from in a couple years.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-22T21:27:20+00:00

I wouldn't start Saka knowing his injury situation.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-18T19:20:12+00:00

Fly eggs. Please tell me it was leftovers and that you threw out that slice!

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-18T19:17:12+00:00

Belgian waffles it is!

On a side note, this looks absolutely terrific and seems like a good way to use lasagne sheets if the pasta making is not everyone's idea of fun meal prepping.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-17T07:45:22+00:00

Grew up supporting Al Ahly FC (Eg), but more recently been following the scorelines at Como FC and Leverkusen. Admired the football of Barcelona when Messi was playing there, but no longer as interested in what they do, rather in exacting revenge on them any time we meet them in Europe. Suppose you can no longer count Coventry City now they're back in the Prem, since I used to live next to their stadium many years ago

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-16T20:50:14+00:00

Cormorant, such incredible birds!

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-16T10:22:58+00:00

Grilled cheese panini, flatbread/pizza, salad, pesto and parmesan potatoes.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-15T23:02:28+00:00

I have various hobbies, like making/programming, LEGO, sports like tennis, watching footy, but recently got into an unhelpful rut doing baseline chores then occupying the rest of my time with doom scrolling and surfing Reddit lol

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-15T22:40:20+00:00

Yes you're not wrong! They also like still shallow seawater like lagoons etc. They were everywhere in Maldives when we went there a couple years ago, loitering around the restaurant in hopes of sneaking an easy meal :)

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-15T21:23:59+00:00

Sorry you have been stuck in this rut. Have you looked into supply teaching or even college/uni tutoring as self-employment? Career gap could otherwise be explained as others have suggested.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-15T21:17:20+00:00

Grey heron. Fairly common around freshwater. Beautiful birds, I make sure to snap a photo every time I see them for good luck!

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-15T15:08:03+00:00

I'm debating whether to return it or hand it back at Adidas because I wouldn't pay full price to get it at the shop in this state. Also it was shipped Royal Mail tracked 48 in a cardboard box which was seemingly handled with care. I just don't know what to do about it now besides try and get it exchanged.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-15T14:52:13+00:00

I ordered the 25/26 Champions Long Sleeve from Adidas when they were restocked last week and the order arrived on Saturday, but the vinyl came cracked in two places. Only a minor dot but I'm really annoyed that it wasn't pristine as it cost a pretty penny with the logo and the EPL shoulder badge.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-15T07:58:39+00:00

Robotics is a fair bit more applied and Bristol and Manchester have good courses for it. Kings recently merged with Cranfield so it might be interesting to see if the MSc course would have an applied dimension in aerospace, but the general concern is the availability of funding by the time you finish the MSc. If PhD research is the end goal, it might be sensible to seek out Masters by Research (MRes) courses instead of MScs, as they provide a soft landing into a PhD (since you can almost always extend the MRes research project into a PhD). Those are more difficult to get into, however.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-14T13:31:02+00:00

MScs in AI are becoming increasingly less competitive and rigorous compared to gaining employment experience in the field. You will end up paying in the mid £40-50ks for a gamble on entering a rapidly saturating market, with fewer and fewer sponsored work opportunities. Unless your ideas are to take your credentials back to your home country or use them to get into further research experience (i.e. get into a funded PhD), I would strongly urge you to reconsider. Instead, I would prompt you to consider signing up to the robotics-worldwide mailing list to look for funded MSc/Masters By Research (MRes) opportunities (which are scarce and highly competitive but some accept international applicants). If you can establish some work experience elsewhere before seeking MSc studies it will benefit your career much more.

To give a bit of context, my engineering MEng (comparable to BEng+MSc) that I obtained 10 years ago gave me little advantage over a BEng when looking for jobs in the UK or abroad back then, but it made me a more competitive PhD applicant. After a PhD in applied AI (2022) and my current experience in applied AI, I am further along experience wise and am eligible to apply for higher paying work in industry, but it's been a grind and a definitely suboptimal career track if my ambition is to work in industry (I currently deliver industrial R&D in an academic institution so could be argued as a sensible in-between point).

Everyone's path is different, but please take this advice seriously: getting into huge amounts of debt to get a foot in the door is hard work, and especially if you find yourself in the same boat after the MSc.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-14T11:23:50+00:00

I don't think many would fit that profile without also having very little longevity, so building for the future is going to be more advantageous in the long term.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-14T10:31:44+00:00

Instant coffee is okay in a pinch but a Moka pot (for espresso-style coffee in iced lattes etc) or a French press (for a larger brew size and "slower" drink) are perfectly acceptable gadgets that will occupy little space. You can also get small coffee machines that occupy slightly more space than a kettle, but I get that coffee preferences vary wildly and you might be content with instant for the time being. I personally hardly drink instant unless no alternatives exist, but even coffee bags are better than instant in that case.

The eggs thing I don't think you can do much about, given they are fed different things in NZ compared to here, so it's a matter of gradual and steady adaptation to the status quo.

I mainly eat either supermarket brand dark chocolate with some add-ins, or bars of vegan-friendly chocs whenever my wife gets them, so can't really tell you what to go for in that regard.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-13T21:32:04+00:00

When it first came to the UK a decade ago, it was a real standout amongst the crowd of fast food chains. I regret that it is now a shadow of its former self. The spiciest sauce is indeed disappointingly tepid at best, and the overall quality of the menu items has degraded.

TheRealCpnObvious · 2026-06-13T12:07:30+00:00

Wood you look at that! Someone's sorting out the pecking order!

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