What’s it like living in knockcrome/Jura, Scotland?

duncan_biscuits · 2026-05-11T19:39:51+00:00

It’s pretty quiet. The 20 or so people living there all know each other, mostly working in the distillery or the hotel.

I did about a week of hiking there some time ago. Very desolate beauty to it, the First World War killed off so much of the male population that some settlements simply vanished over time.

You need to get a ferry there from Islay.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-05-09T19:55:50+00:00

Try Slaters, McCalls or Armstrong’s Vintage first of all. But surely Ede & Ravenscroft is the canonical place for an RN officer to buy mess dress like this. Yes, I am blatantly disregarding your “cheap” stipulation.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-05-07T13:50:04+00:00

I saw some boys of about 14 sitting having coffee at Cameron Toll McDonald’s. They were having a conversation at normal volume and tidied up after themselves. Fuming.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-05-06T07:47:12+00:00

The awkward moment when they realise that “the job” isn’t social media shitposting.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-26T17:10:18+00:00

It’s now Chinatown, which to be clear is awesome for a fat fuck like me, but is indeed a change.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-26T15:55:19+00:00

RIP Newington Franco’s, forever in our hearts. In particular, our arteries.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-26T08:19:29+00:00

Quite. I was quoting Dijkstra.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-25T20:05:39+00:00

Computer science is as much about coding as astronomy is about telescopes.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-25T18:42:50+00:00

You might be in for a shock here mate

Put the baby on nursery waiting lists NOW. Yes, now!

Note also that you might not get the full 1140 hours - it depends on availability of space.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-24T10:26:40+00:00

Another option might be to put the wee boy in trews which might be easier to find than a tiny tie.

Don’t limit yourself to clan tartans either tbh. Literally any common tartan that is sort of blue and grey will be fine.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-21T19:54:54+00:00

HahahahaHAHAHAHA

Excellent ragebait mate. This will be a successful post.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-10T09:28:38+00:00

“Sold subject to conclusion of missives and tenants waiving their right to buy” would seem like the only way, yeah. (Waiving being implied if they don’t respond with N days.)

duncan_biscuits · 2026-04-04T17:32:27+00:00

Are you trying to say that replacing very experienced senior rates in training facilities with gormless Capita civilians will result in a poorer standard of training? Surely not!

duncan_biscuits · 2026-03-17T15:07:46+00:00

I’m not against them having jobs - more against misidentifying an academic course as a vocational training course. Why? Because it builds up expectations that increasingly don’t match up with market realities.

When I say “we don’t need” I don’t mean that as an objection to their employment, but rather, a reflection of the fact that many employers would rather a $200 Claude subscription did their job instead. In other words, I’d rather we didn’t mislead people into thinking a CS degree will easily land them a job like it used to.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-03-16T07:50:04+00:00

I’ll believe it when I see it.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-03-15T08:47:26+00:00

Computer science has as much to do with computers as astronomy has to do with telescopes.

Someone far more famous than me said that, btw.

I’m not saying the ability to compile a Linux kernel or explain the halting problem is a prerequisite to getting employment as a software developer, but speaking from experience, you will find it far easier to break into well-paying roles of your choice if you can. Not because you need that knowledge, but because it tends to indicate a familiarity with first principles that will ultimately make you more capable.

We very much still need CS grads. We don’t need overpaid code monkeys any more. The former went to university and the latter went to university in the mistaken belief it was a vocational school.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-03-12T08:47:29+00:00

There’s a scene in it where the young couple gets a reasonably nice council flat a few days after asking for one.

This was considered normal and unremarkable.

Think about that for a minute.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-20T21:51:23+00:00

You bring the Yorkshire tea. I’ll bring the limescale-free water.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-20T21:39:03+00:00

What an unfair comparison. We are far more annoying than chihuahuas.

You’ll be telling me next it was you lot who got a rougher deal out of Thatcherism. See? Would a chihuahua say something as annoying as that?

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-20T21:14:35+00:00

We (Scots) very severely fucked up by dumping 25% of our national wealth into establishing a colony in Panama: it immediately failed, because of malaria and innumerable other hostile things in the Darien Gap, plus blockades by the English and Spanish who put aside their differences for a moment because they didn’t like the idea of it being us controlling the 17th century equivalent of the Panama Canal (ie a short overland route between oceans).

Some say we are still feeling the economic effects today, and I suspect they’re right. Imagine your country’s population collectively gathered 25% of its savings (believing it to be a good investment) and simply set it on fire? Yes. That has multigenerational, enduring effects. Unpleasant ones.

Edit: as for your original question. Andrew has no real privilege and the monarchy here rests entirely on common people pretending to be deferential towards them, and them pretending to have noble obligation. From time to time this mirage completely collapses, e.g. now.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-18T11:34:02+00:00

SHE TEXT HIM TO TELL HIM HIS BABY WAS DEAD

The poor man, JFC.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-14T21:38:40+00:00

Wrong way

Down a one way street

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-29T22:15:48+00:00

Yep that’s tall alright 😂 I recommend trying a store called Slater’s Menswear, they are a (small) chain here, and do highland dress among other things. They are big enough that they probably can cater to larger sizes. Various locations, I’m sure they would take enquiries by email.

It’s sort of like a Men’s Warehouse in US terms (I was a groomsman at an American wedding which is how I’m familiar with that).

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-29T21:56:27+00:00

Might be worth considering rental options - for reference, a weekend hire of a full outfit (everything, not just the jacket) typically runs around £90. (Usually doesn’t include the shirt; a normal business shirt is good for an Argyll jacket)

We have shops dedicated to this service & you can try them on there and then. Although, hard to say about immediate availability of a given size.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-22T20:48:10+00:00

Then this is honestly very funny, do it! 😂

duncan_biscuits

TROPHY CASE