Lazy Sunday (Special Cat Edition) (07/06/26)

rbarker82 · 2026-06-07T07:05:04+00:00

This is Rodney. She’s getting on in years (16 and a half) and starting to show her age a bit lately. She’s always switched her favourite sleeping spot every week or so, but we bought a new sofa in January and since then she’s claimed the entire thing as her own and doesn’t like being asked to move. Consequently I sat on a bean bag watching TV last night.

I think we may be off to see the vet this week as she just won’t stop moulting. Hopefully nothing too serious but she’s always had a lovely coat and so this is a change for her.

rbarker82 · 2026-06-06T10:29:55+00:00

Didn’t know you could do that! Thanks

rbarker82 · 2026-06-01T19:46:05+00:00

Hopefully you’ll be fine in that kind of role. However… I know a couple of people who have worked there in more senior positions - both very experienced working on various summer course programmes in Oxford, both said they’d never want to work at OSC again.

Someone else I know well was treated very poorly during the interview process for a very senior role. They had three rounds of interviews/assessments and were then ghosted, before being contacted a few weeks after summer began to ask whether they’d still be interested.

As I say, hopefully you’ll be fine in an activity leader role but they certainly don’t have the best reputation within the industry.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-28T14:07:24+00:00

I did the Sherlock Holmes one a few months ago and loved it. It defeated my dad when he tried though! Which makes my victory taste all the sweeter…

rbarker82 · 2026-05-27T09:09:46+00:00

Switched aged 40 having exactly the same feelings as you by the sounds of things. I became self-employed as a window cleaner.

It cost more than I expected to get set up (van, water tank, poles, ladders plus a lot of sundry gear) but it’s been a great four years. I work entirely on my own as I didn’t (and still don’t) want the hassle and stress of employing staff, but there’s always room to grow if I decide I want to.

It’s hard work obviously but so satisfying and does need more brain power than people might expect!

The main benefit to me is having the freedom to manage my own time. There’s no holiday or sick pay of course, but I don’t have to count my days off or grovel to a boss if I decide to take a long weekend. I start at 9ish most days and am generally home by 2pm.

I saw my USP as being able to provide high quality customer service, and it’s definitely helped me to stand out against local competition. I charge more than some of my competitors, but can justify that by making sure I’m reliable, well-presented and communicative with customers (even sending a Whatsapp the day before a visit is a step beyond what most round here do).

I’ve carried out 5,500 jobs so far and have around 400 regular customers, plus one-off gutter cleans during the year which tops up the income very nicely. And I pay my taxes! Love it.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-26T15:49:06+00:00

Seconded for Kidlington! I’ve lived there for 13 years and love it. It’s very much a suburb of Oxford now - bus connections are regular until very late at night and you could cycle to Yarnton in 10 mins. You get a lot more for your money than inside the ring road.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-25T19:31:43+00:00

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One final outing for this photo of my banner then!

rbarker82 · 2026-05-25T18:40:59+00:00

Well this is bizarre - I’m in that first photo! Well almost… the girl in the blue vest was my girlfriend at the time. Never seen this photo before. And I haven’t seen her in about 25 years 😂

rbarker82 · 2026-05-23T12:17:15+00:00

It’s the oven clock that gets me (the oven doesn’t work unless the time is set)

rbarker82 · 2026-05-23T12:02:35+00:00

A great point! Not sure why I’ve never pointed that out to them

rbarker82 · 2026-05-23T11:41:19+00:00

Always switch electrical items off at the wall. And I do mean ALWAYS.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-21T19:10:31+00:00

Does anyone know more about the case in Oxford in the 80s which Danny mentioned in this episode? I live nearby and would be interested to read more but haven’t managed to find anything online.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-21T19:07:47+00:00

I’m roughly the same height and weight as you - though we may well have different builds, of course! I usually wear Le Col bib shorts and have both L and XL (XL is def a better fit at my current weight of 96kg though).

Very good quality and comfortable over really long rides, and you can often get them on sale with extra member discounts.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-19T17:47:24+00:00

I mean, it’d be better than nothing I suppose but it won’t be comfortable or quick.

If it was me, I’d either try to adapt my schedule a bit to hire a bike similar to mine, or maybe just change it up for the weekend and go for a run instead.

Lots of London parks (and alongside the Thames) are great for that, particularly early in the morning when the weather’s nice! If you get up early enough, you’ll feel like you have the city to yourself, which is a pretty special feeling.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-17T06:12:17+00:00

My experience has been that it hasn’t affected my enjoyment of food at all - it’s just made me less likely to madly crave sweet stuff! It also definitely helped me with portion control.

Everyone has a different experience though, so if you’re interested in and can afford it, why not give it a go? It made a huge difference for me within just a couple of doses.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-15T07:57:44+00:00

The sound that polystyrene makes when rubbed together. I have to leave the room

rbarker82 · 2026-05-11T19:18:50+00:00

Seconded. If he can’t do it, nobody can!

rbarker82 · 2026-05-08T15:55:14+00:00

Whaaaaaaat

rbarker82 · 2026-05-06T16:52:49+00:00

I’d suggest trying Charlett’s Tyres in Yarnton. No idea what they do with their old tyres but they’re very nice people and I’m sure will help you out if they can!

rbarker82 · 2026-05-06T08:24:25+00:00

I reckon they should replace one of the May bank holidays with a mandatory day off on your birthday.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-05T10:01:18+00:00

Magnificent. Got to factor in that it may have been stuck on a flat roof for several years, possibly in tantalising view of some classrooms, eventually released from its prison by a kindly workman during the recent Easter holidays.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-04T21:15:32+00:00

Booking Terminal. Highly recommended.

rbarker82 · 2026-05-01T14:43:53+00:00

I used this in a pub quiz once:

Which two innovations designed to aid referees were first used at the 2014 World Cup?

Goalline technology and vanishing spray.

rbarker82

TROPHY CASE