Things that are not all they're cracked up to be

[Barbirollians]

Nationalism

[ahinton]

So you don't think that cooking outside's a good thing to do when weather permits, which admittedly it doesn't so often in UK but does elsewhere?

[ahinton]

Nationalism

Tell that to the resurgent extreme right-wing party leaders in Europe! No, I mean that in the sense of literally telling them.

[Barbirollians]

Agree entirely about the horrors of electric shavers.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Why? What's wrong with any of these? (provided that they all function very well and the first two use as little energy as possible - and there are quite a few today that are reasonably economical to run).

They don't. They're expensive to buy and run. There are easier and more effective ways of doing the tasks they do badly that are not as damaging to the planet. The first two take up far too much space.

Apart from that, I suppose they're alright ...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

So you don't think that cooking outside's a good thing to do when weather permits, which admittedly it doesn't so often in UK but does elsewhere?

What has "cooking" to do with the horrors of a Barbecue? Carcinogenic burnt outside meets campylobacterial food poisoning; smoke clouds that make breathing outside impossible not merely for the guests but the neighbourhood (and ruin the washing hanging out to dry of ecologically aware neighbours, too).

But apart from that ...

[Nick Armstrong]

Electric Shavers

I can't agree... I decided at an early stage that these were infinitely preferable to razors which as far as I'm concerned are the personal hygiene equivalent of the LP - theoretically preferable according to some purists, but practical disadvantages (blood, pain, burn) making the modern option by far the better choice!

What has "cooking" to do with the horrors of a Barbecue? Carcinogenic burnt outside meets campylobacterial food poisoning; smoke clouds that make breathing outside impossible not merely for the guests but the neighbourhood (and ruin the washing hanging out to dry of ecologically aware neighbours, too).

But there, I am with you completely!

Although remember, hanging out the washing isn't all it's cracked up to be....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I can't agree... I decided at an early stage that these were infinitely preferable to razors which as far as I'm concerned are the personal hygiene equivalent of the LP - theoretically preferable according to some purists, but practical disadvantages (blood, pain, burn) making the modern option by far the better choice!

I think that skin types play an important part of this - but every electric shaver I've ever owned/tried has made me look as if I had selective sunburn - and the itch, my god; the itch!!! (AND the ability to light a match on my chin after an hour!)

[Nick Armstrong]

I think that skin types play an important part of this - but every electric shaver I've ever owned/tried has made me look as if I had selective sunburn - and the itch, my god; the itch!!! (AND the ability to light a match on my chin after an hour!)

'Twas the converse for me...

Not a fan of the old cold steel, Mr Mainwaring.

[Barbirollians]

I think that skin types play an important part of this - but every electric shaver I've ever owned/tried has made me look as if I had selective sunburn - and the itch, my god; the itch!!! (AND the ability to light a match on my chin after an hour!)

My maternal grandfather smoked a pipe and used an electric shaver I always wondered if it was in case the matchbox got wet

[Serial_Apologist]

I think that skin types play an important part of this - but every electric shaver I've ever owned/tried has made me look as if I had selective sunburn - and the itch, my god; the itch!!! (AND the ability to light a match on my chin after an hour!)

Never having found an electric shaver that gave me a smooth shave I agree - it was soon back to scrape 'n' bleed, except that these days' multiple-bladed razor heads are designed so as to prevent cutting oneself; and the consequence is that, however many times I go over the same places, I now can't give myself a clean shave that way either!

[Richard Barrett]

I think that skin types play an important part of this - but every electric shaver I've ever owned/tried has made me look as if I had selective sunburn - and the itch, my god; the itch!!! (AND the ability to light a match on my chin after an hour!)

Quite. Regarding dishwashers however I should point out that they are the most environmentally friendly way of doing the job; as for the expense, what price all those valuable hours lost with your hands in the sink? ... unless you enjoy washing up, some people apparently do I guess it's like Marmite or David Matthews.

[Serial_Apologist]

Quite. Regarding dishwashers however I should point out that they are the most environmentally friendly way of doing the job; as for the expense, what price all those valuable hours lost with your hands in the sink? ... unless you enjoy washing up, some people apparently do I guess it's like Marmite or David Matthews.

It is more easy to be at-one with washing dishes than with either Marmite or David Matthews!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Quite. Regarding dishwashers however I should point out that they are the most environmentally friendly way of doing the job; as for the expense, what price all those valuable hours lost with your hands in the sink? ... unless you enjoy washing up, some people apparently do I guess it's like Marmite or David Matthews.

I suppose that if you have a family, dishwashers may well be an efficient way of doing a tedious job. I had one for about ten years, but because it would take up to a week before the thing was full (thus necessitating getting items out of the machine, and hand washing them to be able to use them) AND because when the machine was emptied further hand scrubbing was a regular necessity (to get rid of the gunk the machine couldn't cope with) AND because of the monthly cleaning/rinsing of the machine AND the number of times that I gouged my shins open when the door of the thing was down to be filled/emptied ... I decided that everything was much more under my control, easier, and more efficient than using the damn useless space-wasting contraption.

I don't exactly "like" washing up, but as part of the cooking process (wash each item as the various ingredients are getting done) looking out onto my back garden - watching the birds on the feeders, seeing the various plants coming into flower, thinking what a dog's dinner I made of the gravel pathway, ignoring the kids on the school buses waving V-signs at me) I find it very therapeutic. "Hours"? Ten minutes max, twice a day.

[ahinton]

What has "cooking" to do with the horrors of a Barbecue? Carcinogenic burnt outside meets campylobacterial food poisoning; smoke clouds that make breathing outside impossible not merely for the guests but the neighbourhood (and ruin the washing hanging out to dry of ecologically aware neighbours, too).

But apart from that ...

So you've never tried wrapping food in aluminium foil when barbecuing, then? As to ruining neighbours washing when it's hanging out to dry rather than drying in a tubble drier, I imagine that there must be quite a few other sources of air pollution that are equally good at doing that!