| Your best and worst buys in lockdown 09:23 - May 29 with 5132 views | loftboy |
Best: scrabble though it game with a board that was as flimsy as a piece of paper an extra fiver invested on eBay on a vintage thicker one was well worth it, play a couple of games a day with the mrs instead of watching TV.
Worst: At the start of lockdown following a thread on here I bought a few airfix kits, as well as the models got a it carried away and bought extra glue , paint and brushes, the kits were completed and all the spares which none were needed are now packed away in a box probably never to be touched again. [Post edited 29 May 2020 9:24]
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:50 - May 29 with 1644 views | Mick_S |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:05 - May 29 by R_from_afar |
Man, I have hardly bought anything during lockdown. I try not to upgrade stuff until it breaks and try to be patient when I want something, although I do sometimes crack.
I was all set to go on a boys trip with my brother, my godson and my niece's fiancee to the music shop to get the Fender amp my wife is buying me for (last) Christmas when lockdown kicked in. I didn't want to go straight after Christmas because my godson had to revise for and then sit mock A-levels. I could order the amp online but I am saving the trip as a treat for us all, when the shackles are finally off.
Two candidates for the best buy:
1: Risotto rice. This week, we finally managed to get some for the first time since March. Result!
2: A load of herb plants for my revamped herb garden. They are all doing well so far and there is some slightly unusual stuff, like lovage and winter savory.
Worst buy:
1: A packet of melittis melissophyllum seeds. I got them in April only to find that they need vernalisation (a prolonged period of exposure to cold) to germinate. You can put them in the fridge but it's a long process. This snafu was compounded by the contents of the seed packet being parsimonious in the extreme: I kid you not, there were under 20 seeds, perhaps just 15, in there. I decided to just plant them anyway and be patient but having so few of them really focuses the mind, especially when you are a clumsy oaf like me. Given my disappointing experience with them thus far, it is perhaps appropriate that their common name is bast@rd balm. Really. |
R - regarding the herbs, try and get hold of this. My auntie brought me back a packet from Cyprus which my wife thoughtfully threw away after tidying a draw.
It's a bit strange in that it doesn't really taste of much, but in the right salad/dressing combination, it is tremendous. Quick to grow and self seeds, so all is not lost for me.
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| Did I ever mention that I was in Minder? |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:51 - May 29 with 1635 views | RBlock |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:28 - May 29 by johann28 |
Best: Wine Society
Worst: Majestic |
This. Majestic are a joke. They'll swap around the vintages of what you order, knowing that most people will just drink it and not bother sending it back.
Wine Society are a lot better, especially now they've started doing mixed cases again. |  | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:01 - May 29 with 1613 views | CliveWilsonSaid |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:39 - May 29 by BucksRanger |
They just lie about it. Don't trust a word they say. |
‘They’ are mostly Robots. ‘It’ would be a better description. Then when you manage to get through to email someone lies and then closes the conversation as you say. Anyway it’s back with the seller now I think so not my problem for a while. |  |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:07 - May 29 with 1600 views | Phildo |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:51 - May 29 by RBlock |
This. Majestic are a joke. They'll swap around the vintages of what you order, knowing that most people will just drink it and not bother sending it back.
Wine Society are a lot better, especially now they've started doing mixed cases again. |
Wine Society is great and glad to see it mentioned on here - they did stop deliveries for a while though during lockdown which was akin to the oxygen being turned off in an aircraft. |  | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:17 - May 29 with 1575 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:24 - May 29 by johann28 |
Top man. Fourme d'Ambert is the business. A good cheese compliment is St Nectaire and wine compliment a Primitivo. Real Cheese Co in Motcomb st always has them (and has remained open throughout the plague 😊). Worth a trip, even it's just to test your eyesight. |
Excellent.
Thanks for the tips. St. Nectaire is new to me. |  |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 19:28 - May 29 with 1455 views | essextaxiboy |
Black and Decker combi drill. Told No 2 son to put his weight behind it to bury screw heads.
Busted ... |  | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 18:10 - May 30 with 1310 views | TacticalR |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:35 - May 29 by CliveWilsonSaid |
What makes things worse is I opted for Click and Collect so the parcel goes to a shop near where I live then I collect. In this case a Convenience store that’s open 7 days a week, 15 hours a day or something. First time the seller got a refund eventually so that’s something. This time they are claiming they’ve attempted delivery 3 times before returning to sender. I can’t even work out how that’s possible! |
Last year my biggest problem was getting a parcel delivered from Germany by DHL, which had taken over a hopeless UK delivery company called UKMail.
Before the lockdown DHL's business model was basically not delivering and making you go to Greenford to get your parcel. For some reason, even a redelivery to their own parcel shops (newsagents) went wrong: 'parcel refused'. Eventually the stuff I had ordered got returned to Germany and then had to be resent.
As these shenanigans are no longer possible with the lockdown (since DHL/UKMail can't hold parcels hostage in Greenford), the system has actually started working! |  |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 22:12 - May 30 with 1258 views | BlackCrowe |
Best: Paddleboard 10 days ago, been out on it at least once day since it's arrival. |  |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:28 - May 31 with 1197 views | theselector |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 10:00 - May 29 by BrianMcCarthy |
Ha ha! I'm never going to fit into this thing. I'm 6'2, 210 pounds and 18% body fats at the moment. I might drop another 5 or 6 pounds but that's my lot.
This thing is pornographic. And not the good kind!  |
I noticed from a previous thread that you started cycling recently, Brian. Someone should have told you - cycling clothes sizes exist in a parallel universe. Basically, for normal stuff you'd buy from a reputable retailer (eg: Halford, Decathlon) you normally need to go up a size. Anything ordered from Amazon, which often comes from China, you should go up at least two sizes, sometimes even three. |  | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:38 - May 31 with 1191 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:28 - May 31 by theselector |
I noticed from a previous thread that you started cycling recently, Brian. Someone should have told you - cycling clothes sizes exist in a parallel universe. Basically, for normal stuff you'd buy from a reputable retailer (eg: Halford, Decathlon) you normally need to go up a size. Anything ordered from Amazon, which often comes from China, you should go up at least two sizes, sometimes even three. |
Thanks, selector. I'll know the next time. | |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:55 - May 31 with 1175 views | SimonJames |
Best buy - Google wifi routers.
Worst buy - yesterday I order new patio slabs... which means I've got to build the fcking thing. |  |
| 100% of people who drink water will die. |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:07 - May 31 with 1167 views | wood_hoop |
Cut my foot just after start of lockdown, loads of blood in lovely pair of slippers, was going to throw in bin but wife said not worry will put in washing machine, one hour later out of machine down to size which would fit a new born !
Only Amazon left to order a new pair, boy they are crap, Dunlop brand, made of some man made shitte, probably made by some poor buggar in the Far East for a dollar a day.
Should have known better, buy cheap get what you pays for. |  | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:09 - May 31 with 1164 views | Dorse |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 18:10 - May 30 by TacticalR |
Last year my biggest problem was getting a parcel delivered from Germany by DHL, which had taken over a hopeless UK delivery company called UKMail.
Before the lockdown DHL's business model was basically not delivering and making you go to Greenford to get your parcel. For some reason, even a redelivery to their own parcel shops (newsagents) went wrong: 'parcel refused'. Eventually the stuff I had ordered got returned to Germany and then had to be resent.
As these shenanigans are no longer possible with the lockdown (since DHL/UKMail can't hold parcels hostage in Greenford), the system has actually started working! |
In the music game, DHL are known as:
'Drop it
Hide it
Lose it'.
Most famous for pallet-delivering by size, putting acoustic guitars on the bottom and stacking amps etc on top. Pure class. |  |
| 'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!' |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:22 - May 31 with 1154 views | BlackCrowe |
Google mesh? couldn't agree more - we had slow wifi in certain rooms and now it's maxed and throughout the garden too. [Post edited 31 May 2020 20:56]
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:36 - May 31 with 1142 views | rsonist |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:22 - May 31 by BlackCrowe |
Google mesh? couldn't agree more - we had slow wifi in certain rooms and now it's maxed and throughout the garden too. [Post edited 31 May 2020 20:56]
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If you're nerd minded at all I recommend getting ahold of a pair of older Asus routers compatible with their AiMesh feature second hand. The hardware will be far better than the Googles and it works a charm with only a little bit more set up.
For an advanced level of control you can also install the third party Asuswrt-Merlin firmware which is very good.
Should be able to bag a couple second hand (don't have to be the same model) for around £80 on eBay. Some people upgrading sell them on in pairs too which usually turns out a good deal. |  | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 15:36 - May 31 with 1098 views | aston_hoop |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:07 - May 29 by Phildo |
Wine Society is great and glad to see it mentioned on here - they did stop deliveries for a while though during lockdown which was akin to the oxygen being turned off in an aircraft. |
Had a Christmas job taking phone orders for the Wine Society in Stevenage many years ago, the amount of quality wine I got to take home was excellent and started a wine obsession for me.
Best Purchase - Football Manager 2020. Easy to get sucked in and spend all night playing that
Worst purchase - A 3 month travel pass just before things were officially closed, thought it would all blow over in a couple of weeks |  |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 15:37 - May 31 with 1098 views | MrSheen |
I bought BT Whole Home to try to fix my terrible home WiFi. Wireline boosters hadn’t worked as the router was on a separate ring to the rest of the house. Three disks, you plug the first into the router, which connects to the other two wirelessly for rebroadcast around the house. Not cheap - £180 the set - but I installed them in five minutes and they work like a dream. The first thing I did to impress my kids since about 2012. |  | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 15:52 - May 31 with 1092 views | distortR |
No buys recently, except a new pair of back tyres to replace the ones showing wire.
The contrary bastards haven't stopped me yet, so I'm refusing to replace my broken reverse light so they pull me and i can show off my lovely, treaded wheels.
I mean, i go to all the effort to have a vaguely road-worthy vehicle, and nothing. | | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 07:45 - Jun 1 with 1005 views | kingo |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 12:56 - May 29 by BucksRanger |
Type 'Hermes Delivery Problems' into Google to see the cause of your problems. At the beginning of the year I bought an item that was supposed to be delivered by them. Day after day they advised me that they had tried to deliver but I wasn't in. I was in. I was in with some flu / corona like virus that had kept me housebound for weeks. Never once did Hermes ring my doorbell despite them insisting that that had. Daily. According to them.
Biggest bunch of lying toerags I have ever had to deal with. Avoid like the plague.
Parcel never did arrive. [Post edited 29 May 2020 13:04]
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We had a delivery via Hermes go missing. Same experience as you, luckily it was via PayPal so got our money back. Mentioned it to a friend and her husband had been a driver there and said he couldn’t believe how many drivers were nicking parcels the thought looked interesting. He said one bloke didn’t deliver anything, just took it back to his garage and said it had been delivered. |  |
| RIP: Sniffer, Doug and Pat |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 08:29 - Jun 1 with 976 views | Dorse |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 15:37 - May 31 by MrSheen |
I bought BT Whole Home to try to fix my terrible home WiFi. Wireline boosters hadn’t worked as the router was on a separate ring to the rest of the house. Three disks, you plug the first into the router, which connects to the other two wirelessly for rebroadcast around the house. Not cheap - £180 the set - but I installed them in five minutes and they work like a dream. The first thing I did to impress my kids since about 2012. |
I belched loud enough to stun the birdsong into silence and my kids were very impressed. My wife, not so much but that's not the point. | |
| 'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!' |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 08:52 - Jun 1 with 964 views | pastieR |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 15:36 - May 31 by aston_hoop |
Had a Christmas job taking phone orders for the Wine Society in Stevenage many years ago, the amount of quality wine I got to take home was excellent and started a wine obsession for me.
Best Purchase - Football Manager 2020. Easy to get sucked in and spend all night playing that
Worst purchase - A 3 month travel pass just before things were officially closed, thought it would all blow over in a couple of weeks |
if the 3 month travel pass is oyster, you were able to get a refund (not sure if it's still available). But I just cancelled mine online and got 75% of the monthly travel card back
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/refunds-and-replacements/coronavirus | | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 09:33 - Jun 1 with 931 views | RBlock |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 14:07 - May 29 by Phildo |
Wine Society is great and glad to see it mentioned on here - they did stop deliveries for a while though during lockdown which was akin to the oxygen being turned off in an aircraft. |
After a drink on Friday, went for a Riedel decanter and glass set. On offer for only 48 quid, and really great quality glass.
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 09:47 - Jun 1 with 915 views | Lblock |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:39 - May 29 by Lblock |
Best so far :- I’m waiting on it.... sign for the garden I’ve had custom done, should arrive next week. It reads “I need some time in the sunshine....”
looks great in the artwork and if it ticks the boxes it’s going on one side of the back garden fence and then on other side I’m getting them to make “I gotta slow it right down”
Worst :- new BBQ. Bloody thing is crap compared to the Outback one I had for last three years. The final insult there is neighbours 10 doors down took the old one, deep cleaned, repaired and use it all the time telling us how excellent it is and thanking us effusively for letting them take it rather than the do as you likeys
Gutted!!! |
UPDATE......
Sign arrived late Saturday night (my respect for courier drivers has increased immensely over Lockdown, big up Loftboy et al). Very happy with it and second set being ordered today.
BBQ obviously has a stat issue and temperature never correct. I’ll get around that and the weekends food became increasingly less incendiary as I get to grips. Still not happy with this purchase at £270 though |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
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| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 19:29 - Jun 1 with 864 views | CiderwithRsie |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 13:50 - May 29 by Mick_S |
R - regarding the herbs, try and get hold of this. My auntie brought me back a packet from Cyprus which my wife thoughtfully threw away after tidying a draw.
It's a bit strange in that it doesn't really taste of much, but in the right salad/dressing combination, it is tremendous. Quick to grow and self seeds, so all is not lost for me.
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Agree about purslane in salads but the one I'm always trying to get hold of seeds for is Winter Purslane, which I believe is a completely different unrelated plant. Does a similar job in salads but you get leaves "out of season". I can generally buy the actual leaves from a market trader I know but can't find the seeds.
Meant to grow Buckler Leaf Sorrel and think I've missed the boat this year, another really tasty leaf (makes good soup too) | | | |
| Your best and worst buys in lockdown on 08:48 - Jun 2 with 743 views | Discodroids |
Best buy . At the start of lockdown I could see the lay of the land re my job and that i would be a man of leisure for a protracted period. i.e the rest of my life.
This being the case, i decided to learn Hungarian and also master the Prog Rock monolith, the mellotron m4000d midi, which would also come in well fackin handy with my Leigh On sea Krautrock berlin school collective which i'm also putting together over lockdown.
Not really. I bought a Winmau BDO blade 5 Tournament quality dartboard with triple-wheel lock and tensile wiring. Teamed it up with 90% tungsten Mervyn King Darts . A right bastard to master old Merv's darts but i'll reap the rewards once having done so.
My 3 dart average has gone from 26 to 28.54 in 7 weeks . Beat that.
Worst buy.
12 cans of pabst blue ribbon which tastes like prison apricot skin hooch and 'Super Striker,' which i got on e bay for £40 sheets.
Half the players heads are on back to front and have legs missing. The pitch also has what appears to be a shit stain on it, Running at 2 inches in length, just along the right touchline. Thus you have to avoid that area of the pitch which is a bit hard to do as the nap of the baize is lightening quick and the ball flys off in all directions. Crap. [Post edited 2 Jun 2020 11:21]
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| "...The monkey is never dead, Dealer. The monkey never dies. When you kick him off, he just hides in a corner, waiting his turn." |
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