"The innate hostility of inanimate objects"

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

but going too slow is not the thing either ..... i can be in all kinds of hurry but never in time

even cling film on my willy does not help ....

the compounding factor in such situations for me is a sneezing fit, always get one when calm concentration is required ... or a firm grip etc ....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagghhhccccccccchhhoooooooooooo o and everything is pear-shaped [politeness and ff's injunction as to language prevails here]

[Ferretfancy]

There's a wonderful moment in Alan Ayckbourne's play Bedroom Farce. One of the husbands brings home a self assembly bureau, much to his wife's irritation as he unpacks it and begins putting it together. At a later stage he proudly reveals it, and stands back as it collapses into a heap, presumably achieved on stage with the aid of a hidden piece of string.
On the night that I went, the moment was greatly enhanced for the audience as it toppled onto the front row of the stalls! Corpsing by a piece of furniture, that's hard to beat !

[amateur51]

Does anyone else think train seats have become narrower over the decades?

In the olden days (ie 1950s/60s) the seat edge used to come under the knees, and you could recline without legs becoming an obstruction. Do this nowadays and you risk slumping onto the compartment floor!

Maybe it's just me getting bigger , but I'm quite certain about this, and that it's a general sign of meanness on behalf of manufacturers and the specifications they're given by those who order their products: in this case the needs of train companies to cram in more standees.

There's certainly a lot less leg room in the 4-seater units S_A - I'm quite short (29" inside leg) but because of cream-crackered knees I need to be able to stretch my legs from-time-to-time. In the past this was not a problem as I could negotiate with the person opposite about where our limbs should go but now there simply isn't room, resulting in temporary agony or a lot of unpopularity if I'm seated next to the window & I keep getting up & down to relieve my muscle spasms

So to make the best of a bad job I always book online so that I can specify that I want to sit in the aisle seat - just a bit more room, y'see. Nine times out of 10 these seats are not available

Ah technology, the problem isn't solved, it is merely changed.

[Nick Armstrong]

a sneezing fit, always get one when calm concentration is required ... or a firm grip etc

This is off-topic, strictu sensu, but I have to leap in with sympathy and agreement!

Yes! The sneezing fit when one needs to concentrate, or the itchy nose when neither hand is available (e.g. carrying a very heavy or precarious object)... Or when rushing around, very busy, the urgent need to go for a pee (I suspect the latter is because one has failed to avail oneself of the facilities as usual due to the fact of being busy)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

even cling film on my willy does not help ....

No; but it is an improvement on the days when we had to use Bacofoil.

[amateur51]

No; but it is an improvement on the days when we had to use Bacofoil.

We used decorated gourds and those pink elastic bands so helpfully discarded by the postie

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

We used decorated gourds and those pink elastic bands so helpfully discarded by the postie

LUXURY! Don't come 'ere with yer soft, Southern ways!

[cloughie]

We used decorated gourds and those pink elastic bands so helpfully discarded by the postie

Watch out for ff's robot, guys.

[Nick Armstrong]

I suspect that scanning them from the book and posting [IMG] links would be a breach of copyright. If they are already posted on a site somewhere, there may still be a copyright issue but I wouldn't object to a link to that site. Ask Caliban!

A link to a copy elsewhere would be fine. There could be a technical breach if you copy and post the images here.

"Fair dealing" with e.g. an artistic work for the purposes of private study does not infringe any copyright in the work, provided that it is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement, usually bibliographical details. "Fair dealing" in the context of an artistic work usually means making one copy for research for a non-commercial purpose or private study. Multiple copies are not considered fair dealing.

Placing copyright images on the Internet would probably be considered to be multiple copying and not considered fair dealing.

So fair dealing would protect a student who downloads and uses material in their own work, but it is unlikely that multiple copying of that work by posting on an intranet or website would be covered by this exemption.

[Nick Armstrong]

decorated gourds

W-w-w-what?!

[Serial_Apologist]

There's certainly a lot less leg room in the 4-seater units S_A - I'm quite short (29" inside leg) but because of cream-crackered knees I need to be able to stretch my legs from-time-to-time. In the past this was not a problem as I could negotiate with the person opposite about where our limbs should go but now there simply isn't room, resulting in temporary agony or a lot of unpopularity if I'm seated next to the window & I keep getting up & down to relieve my muscle spasms

So to make the best of a bad job I always book online so that I can specify that I want to sit in the aisle seat - just a bit more room, y'see. Nine times out of 10 these seats are not available

Ah technology, the problem isn't solved, it is merely changed.

The new trains on the E London line are the worst yet - seats arranged along the sides of the carriages, (now interlinked to create the effect of one long carriage btw), so not only is one always facing any passengers on the other side - and the seats are narrow, as previously described - but every time the train moves off or slows down, one is rudely lurched to the side.

The other problem with this particular type of tain is that no longer can one look out of the window - for me a big part of the pleasure of rail travel - without either neck-strain, or causing evident discomfort in one's nearest neighbour.

Oh I've just discovered another complaint about present-day living - this time it's computer mouse batteries suddenly wearing out.

Can I get this message posted before the cursor goes completely into orbit? Just about!

[amateur51]

W-w-w-what?!

Behold!

http://handicraft.alcive.tw/objstore/prodpicb/PG0105004/PG-01-05-004-01.jpg

[Nick Armstrong]

Behold!

http://handicraft.alcive.tw/objstore/prodpicb/PG0105004/PG-01-05-004-01.jpg

Ah... cos for me, gourds are like this: http://www.theamberwolf.com/gourds/y...rds-group1.jpg

[amateur51]

Ah... cos for me, gourds are like this: http://www.theamberwolf.com/gourds/y...rds-group1.jpg

You always were a showoff, Calibs

Mind, a little bird told me that your tailor has told you it's a no-no

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

don't catch yer thumbs Caliban!