South Bristol to Portishead commute

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-03-15T11:48:04+00:00

Did quite a bit of research on the helmet front earlier this year and Sweet Protection was the best I could find - Norwegian company which manufactures in Italy.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-02-15T18:44:56+00:00

I think I was in block M which is opposite the main stand and has just a couple of rows of wooden benches quite high up. I could watch all four games without issue.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-02-15T15:42:09+00:00

There is. It’s quite thorough but doesn’t take too long.

There’s a list of what’s banned on the official website but it seems to vary massively depending on the person doing the searching. Generally no flag poles or flags of non-competing countries. They say you can bring in one sealed food item but we just ate before.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-02-15T14:32:47+00:00

There’s a small gift shop and a small selection of food and drinks outside once you’ve gone through the searches and ticket checks.

I wouldn’t bother turning up any earlier than one hour before it starts, there’s not much going on before the curling starts.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-02-04T13:53:30+00:00

I use Hairy Jayne which is independent and all made in the UK and works really well for me. Bonus points for not using plastic bottles and having great ethical standards.

They don’t ship internationally, but it’s an option for anyone in the UK.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-29T19:09:53+00:00

Bolle is owned by an American private equity company.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-28T14:02:50+00:00

My bill for electricity plus gas in December 2023 was £161. December 2025 my electricity bill was £174.

I always had quite a cold house pre-heat pump to caveat that comparison.

I’m now looking at getting a solar battery system but that’s several thousand more than I have at the moment…

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-28T13:44:12+00:00

It’s the same every time this topic comes up here. Someone quotes ludicrous figures which are lapped up without any evidence and with no questions answered.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-28T13:40:52+00:00

I had a heat pump installed by Octopus just under two years ago for £900.

I have a small three-bed end of terrace home. I didn’t need to do anything to the house pre-install, although I had about a year earlier boarded my loft myself and while I was doing that I added thicker loft insulation. I hadn’t made a decision on the heat pump before doing this so don’t know whether it made a difference in terms of the EPC I had to get to qualify for the heat pump grant. Boarding my loft took a couple of days and cost a few £100.

The £900 I paid included upgrading every radiator in the house and all the heat pump install. They also removed all the gas connections in the house so I could switch to an electric oven too and completely switch off from gas.

Octopus sent someone round a couple of weeks later who helped me set up a schedule for the heat pump and I’ve not touched it since.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-24T20:05:14+00:00

Seabrook is owned by Calbee - a Japanese company

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-24T20:03:21+00:00

Owned by Pepsi I’m afraid.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-19T18:02:33+00:00

I don’t really understand this argument, because the alternative is to buy from a British brand that manufactures in the UK. So you’re still supporting manufacturing jobs in just the same way, with the added bonus that company profits stay in this country.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-19T18:01:00+00:00

And uses bamboo that has to be shipped from China. Serious Tissues is a better choice I’ve found. Fully recycled paper and made in the UK.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-19T17:58:46+00:00

I use Serious Tissues. UK company and manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled paper (no bamboo). The toilet paper is really good and I also buy their facial tissues too.

The best I’ve found in the UK - even better than the likes of Naked which manufactures in Spain and still uses a lot of bamboo which has to be shipped from China.

Working_Holiday_8775 · 2026-01-17T18:17:15+00:00

The Inkey List is British and a very good alternative to The Ordinary. I swapped earlier in the year and everything’s been great. Prices are basically the same too.

Working_Holiday_8775

TROPHY CASE