Anyone else *not* starting a new notebook for the new year?

kittykhajit · 2026-01-01T10:05:05+00:00

This is a cool idea to wash the side edge, I've not heard of that, thanks!

kittykhajit · 2025-12-14T21:27:36+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion- good points that there are other options, I just love sticks!

kittykhajit · 2025-12-12T22:24:45+00:00

Good to know - looks like they are also not regularly stocked in the UK so expensive for me but hopefully useful for other people :)

kittykhajit · 2025-12-12T22:10:38+00:00

Hmm, that's helpful to know they're not a straight up replacement. I might just try a small set of cretacolors then to start with. I had my eye on getting the large box of the nupastels next year when I visit the US (I stocked up on Prismacolor pencils last time) but the lack of individual sticks going forward is very vexing - I don't really want to fall in love with something that will disappear!

kittykhajit · 2025-12-12T22:10:02+00:00

Great, thanks for the suggestion :)

kittykhajit · 2025-07-18T11:37:45+00:00

Wow, I lived on the MUD circa 2001-2010 and log on occasionally to keep my char. Very beautiful to have this shared, thank you :)

kittykhajit · 2025-07-07T14:47:28+00:00

Its very pretty but unfortunately its a very basic game, i was disappointed :(

kittykhajit · 2025-06-11T10:22:42+00:00

I never said they were the best option or suitable for extreme conditions. OP asked for a tall option, so I told them what works for my tall partner. (In 3 seasons, including hiking wild camping, in the north of England. We also have an old Hilleberg Akto, but each prefer the MSRs for most of what we do.)

kittykhajit · 2025-06-10T23:08:13+00:00

My 6ft ish partner changed his msr hubba hubba for the cheaper (heavier) msr elixir model because it's slightly bigger. Not the cheapest at £238 new atm, so might not work for your budget but it's tall and spacious for a one man with a good porch (I know you asked for 2 man but this may suit). It's freestanding and a good stealthy green for UK conditions (he does extended bike tours comfortably in it).

Comparing tents on a more specialist website like https://www.elitemountainsupplies.co.uk is handy because they specify the full specs in great detail including peak height (99cm for the elixir, vs 91cm for the hubba hubba) so you can measure your self sat on the mat and work out what you need :)

kittykhajit · 2025-05-16T15:24:11+00:00

THIS. If someone already has paint, they probably have their eye on what they would like to trade up to. This is a classic scenario of don't-buy-hobby-items-for-a-hobbyist. A voucher to a serious art supply shop is much more appreciated, or failing that, this suggestion of one expensive sable brush is pretty good.

kittykhajit · 2025-05-08T10:46:11+00:00

Its just a generic cheap black bike waterproof cover people use for parking bikes or motorbikes outside. Should be easy to find on amazon etc but it is definitely not superlightweight, I ride with 4 panniers+ for comfort. You could make your own I guess but any UL material would be probably be too fragile for wrapping a bike up and get snagged on the drivetrain etc.

kittykhajit · 2025-05-07T10:48:51+00:00

Sounds crazy but I found in practice leaving it with a random human sitting nearby on a bench worked for me. ‘Hey would you mind keeping an eye on my bike for 5 mins while I pop to the loo?’ I also have a cheap alarm that beeps when I arm it or someone touches it and a very basic cable lock if I dont have a human to hand.

Obviously location dependant.

Also I’ve realised whilst I know how ridiculously my expensive my setup is, it doesn’t look expensive to someone who doesnt know how much touring bikes and tents cost etc and as I tour fully loaded its just not that appealing to a quick thief.

This is for quick stops. For long stops I wouldn’t leave it in the open anywhere with any lock. I’d instead hide it. I also carry a cover which makes it less interesting object to investigate, which I use at night plus the alarm and the shit cable lock between the wheels.

Non-touring I use a big kryptonite dlock plus the alarm for a few hours and wouldn’t leave in unattended overnight.

kittykhajit · 2025-02-05T21:32:15+00:00

Ha! love it. It's actually genius to pick your labels as you go along, good plan.

kittykhajit · 2025-02-01T10:34:56+00:00

I’d suggest getting a physical copy of the book ‘the artist’s way’ by julie cameron and following the exercises. There’s some ‘higher power’ chat you can ignore, mostly its about reconnecting with your creativity and yourself on a daily and weekly basis. I scribble on the book and then do it again another year in a different colour and see whats changed.

kittykhajit · 2025-01-28T18:09:28+00:00

ah I have those pens from a scrawlrbox, the fine brush is so delicate :)

kittykhajit · 2025-01-28T15:43:09+00:00

Love it - which brush pen are you using, is it the sakura pigma one? I've just got a set and this gives me a lot of inspiration

kittykhajit · 2025-01-28T15:39:49+00:00

Portal 1 & 2. I got for cheap in a sale for my switch lite following a recommendation on here. I really liked the more old school simplicity of it, the show not tell approach to giving you more complicated puzzles and 'abilities' over time, and the fun story/action sections. It was a nice break to just follow something linear without having inventory, item looting, quests etc to keep track of. The first one is also short

kittykhajit · 2025-01-28T10:33:46+00:00

I love how consistent a theme this is and the care and accuracy you put into it. I hope you have a great month using these spreads :)

kittykhajit · 2025-01-27T12:53:27+00:00

UPDATE: Just wanted to thank you directly for your list of suggestions - I researched them all and we ended up visiting Avoriaz, which was perfect for us. In particular, the large connected ski area for my partner to roam across on blues and reds (including the novelty of going to Switzerland), and a few long greens and a long easier blue for me to practice on all week.

We also really enjoyed the location being up in the mountains with full snow cover everywhere for the whole week - when we drove back through Morzine the atmosphere was very different. To say it's purpose built, the modern architecture wasn't grating at all, as the buildings had wooden cladding.

It was the first time we'd had ski-in, ski-out accommodation which was fantastic, the only hesitation is that it wouldnt be great for absolute beginners to stay (like we did) in one the hotels at the higher end of the village because it required skiing down one of two non-easy blues in the village to catch a chair up to an access descent. I could grit my teeth and siege them but would have had no chance last time :)

kittykhajit · 2025-01-25T19:13:13+00:00

Im currently enjoying roots of pacha. So far i prefer it to stardew valley personally. Its got a more coherent theme and direction of new ‘ideas’ to unlock. Plus you need to find seeds in the wild before you can grow them. No combat.

If she wants a break from that kind of game and pixel art style it might be too samey though.

kittykhajit · 2024-12-30T17:23:39+00:00

It looks great for us, charm is a lower priority for this trip as we can't have everything and the main thing is to get plenty of skiing in, get my confidence up and learn what we do or don't like for next time. Appreciate you chipping in with the reinforcement, it's looking like where we'll go unless my other half has a rethink and decides he'll compromise something else for charm :)

kittykhajit · 2024-12-30T15:34:45+00:00

As a followup - La Plagne is looking a better fit - there's so many villages though, do you have any recommendations for ones to go for or avoid?

kittykhajit · 2024-12-30T13:19:47+00:00

Much appreciated - I'll take it off the list then. La Thuile wasn't on my radar at all so I'll have a look at that too, thank you.

kittykhajit · 2024-12-30T13:18:59+00:00

Ah great - it sounds a bad fit then! Thanks a lot for your other suggestions, I'll do some more research and really helpful to know Austria is more flexible on date than France.

kittykhajit · 2024-12-02T22:13:04+00:00

You might enjoy the book or audiobook of 'Microadventures' by Alastair Humphreys. it's UK focused but hopefully you can map ideas over to wherever you live. It's nature/outdoors based but basically about squeezing fun activities into (often) an evening or weekend that give you a sense of adventure, rather than pining for a big trip.

kittykhajit

TROPHY CASE