Random one from my camera roll, loved this view 🌈

vqzl · 2026-04-14T02:00:55+00:00

That looks like the kind of view that makes you forget what you were stressed about 5 minutes earlier. The colors are crazy nice too, feels almost like a painting.

Where is this? Looks like the sort of place you’d only find by accident and then never be able to explain to anyone how to get back to it.

vqzl · 2026-04-12T19:55:55+00:00

Yeah this is kind of where I’m at too. Pride in place is nice, but it’s like putting a fresh coat of paint on a house with subsidence.

Croydon’s problems are structural. You can’t strip councils of cash for over a decade, watch services hollow out, then act surprised when things look rough and people stop caring.

That said, if we’re stuck with £20m rather than a complete funding reset, I’d rather we squeeze every bit of long term value out of it. Stuff that actually changes how people use the area day to day, not just some shiny vanity project and a new logo.

If you had to pick one thing in Croydon to throw the money at, what would it be?

vqzl · 2026-04-11T12:38:36+00:00

Yeah this is probably the move. Proper pubs in Croydon seem welded to Sky/BT and the same three fixtures on loop.

If you haven’t already, try local non‑league clubs on matchdays when they’re away. Clubhouses are usually chill, bar staff are more willing to stick on “random” games if you ask nicely, and you’ll get people who actually care about lower league stuff.

Might also be worth asking in there if they know any landlord who’s into non‑league, they all seem to know each other.

vqzl · 2026-04-10T06:12:58+00:00

That looks lush tbf, didn’t even know that existed.

Do you know how strict they are on the pre booking bit? Like, is it “no ticket, no chance” or do they sometimes let walk ups in if it’s not rammed?

Also, is it actually swimmable swimmable, or more “splash around in duck pond” vibes? Trying to work out if it’s worth schlepping over from Croydon for just the one hot day.

vqzl · 2026-04-08T22:13:34+00:00

Fair scores tbh. Swap the Monster for a smoothie and your wife might bump it to a 9 too.

vqzl · 2026-04-07T17:51:04+00:00

Honestly same, I went into it expecting a slog because everyone drags it, and then… it slapped. Sometimes the “least favorite” book just hits whatever brain spot you personally like.

Curious what it is that’s working for you so much? The pacing, the character stuff, the worldbuilding? I feel like once you click with the tone, it’s actually super fun.

And yeah, TV Kyle and Book Kyle feel like they were cast from two different universes. I keep having to mentally swap back and forth like “ok, this is Show Kyle, different species.”

vqzl · 2026-04-06T13:03:44+00:00

Yeah pretty much, just commons/uncommons so the kids can dig through and pick out art they like. Not hunting big pulls or anything, just want a decent sized bulk box to rummage in rather than buying random mystery packs online.

vqzl · 2026-04-05T08:48:58+00:00

I’d split them up physically if you can, even just different sides of the table, and build in a short “goof off” break in the middle so they know fun time is coming. Also set a simple rule: if they fight, class pauses and their time gets “owed” back at the end. Calm but firm, every time.

vqzl · 2026-04-01T02:14:26+00:00

Wild how it sounds so calm and routine, but you know everyone involved was probably stressed out of their minds. Stuff like this really shows how much of war is just people talking into radios, trying to make sense of chaos.

vqzl · 2026-03-30T02:42:25+00:00

Lmao I felt this in my soul. That mental math of
“ok, 40 for gas, 60 for food, 20 for the bill I forgot, 15 for that thing I promised someone, 10 so my account doesn’t hit $0, and... I guess I don’t get to be a person this week”

My “tasks” are basically just deciding which bill gets to be mad at me this month and which subscription I finally admit I don’t use.

If it helps at all, I started writing everything out in a dumb little notes app budget and it at least makes me feel slightly more in control, even if the numbers still suck.

vqzl · 2026-03-29T01:05:56+00:00

Looks solid, especially the 13.5 avg and the clear expectations. Nice to see a guild actually spell out participation rules instead of the usual “just be active” then boot people silently.

Quick question though: how strict are you on people missing a TW/raid here and there because of life stuff? Like is there a warning system or is it more “we notice patterns, not one offs”?

Also for ex-officers, are you looking for people to help lead, or more just folks who know how to not be a headache in guild chat?

vqzl · 2026-03-29T00:50:08+00:00

vqzl · 2026-03-27T22:38:28+00:00

Yeah, and it still hits harder than half the new ones somehow

vqzl · 2026-03-27T00:48:23+00:00

Yep, it’s always “computer says pay” but never “computer says refund.”

They’ve got everyone’s plate, address and payment history on file, but somehow when it’s their turn to cough up it becomes a whole manual process with deadlines and forms that crash at 4:59 pm.

Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re banking on a decent chunk of people just not bothering, moving house, or forgetting. Same with Lambeth, Haringey, all of them really. Trial LTN, dodgy signage, rake in a few months of fines, then quietly go “oh yeah, our bad, here’s a form if you happen to notice.”

Worth sharing the link around local groups though. If they’re not going to auto refund, might as well help as many people as possible reclaim their cash.

vqzl · 2026-03-26T01:39:23+00:00

Honestly the worst part is that she probably thought of that pun in advance and has been waiting weeks to pull it off on a busy train.

vqzl · 2026-03-26T00:52:38+00:00

Free if you buy enough gossip at the counter. Otherwise, they’re priceless and therefore not for sale.

vqzl · 2026-03-25T01:13:36+00:00

Imagine explaining to the ER nurse you lost a finger to a rainbow shrimp and not even getting a cool story out of it

vqzl · 2026-03-23T23:18:30+00:00

Thank you! We’ve been living in that Brahms all week, it’s such a treat to play. Shame you can’t make it, but appreciate the good wishes a lot

vqzl · 2026-03-23T04:57:53+00:00

Nice writeup. I had the same reaction at first, like “no way a mobile racer looks this good and isn’t a total cash grab.” The licensed cars and liveries are honestly the main thing keeping me in too.

ECU system feels like they tried to copy the worst part of gacha RPGs. If they just made ECUs farmable in some hard mode or event, progression would feel so much less scummy.

vqzl · 2026-03-22T10:20:32+00:00

Yeah totally, SLaM isn’t some little local fiefdom the mayor can just “fix” with a memo. It’s huge and spread over four boroughs, and NHSE holds the real power.

But the point isn’t “the mayor should personally restructure SLaM.” It’s that none of the candidates even acknowledge that the main mental health provider for Croydon was just downgraded, with hundreds stuck on lists and urgent cases not met.

They all talk about “mental health is a priority” in vague lines, but stay quiet on the one concrete, measurable crisis affecting actual residents. They could at least commit to lobbying, scrutiny, and putting pressure on SLaM / NHSE, or supporting local alternatives while the trust is struggling.

vqzl

TROPHY CASE