OT - What are you doing now? (2024)

CPFC1905

We dive headlong in to the frenetic festive schedule from today.  English roads will be packed with vehicles heading to obscure relatives for the annual, just a little awkward exchange of chocolate, bottle of sherry and budget toiletries.  Interspersed will be other vehicles of euphoric and/or dejected football fans who opted to spend their Yuletide following their team. Naturally, public transport will have failed and the fixture setters conspired to match the most distant teams on the public holiday.  But come on - it’s Christmas!   Six points cover 4th to 13th and Chelsea are serious title contenders, ignore any other opinion on that.  We’ve seen two managerial sackings, just in time for the January transfer window to open. 

Saturday 

Villa v Man City, a home win puts the Villans back in the top 4 and Citeh deep in crisis mode down as far as 7th, moreover a lot of points and form short of where they should be. The hosts are erratic but still good enough to and land a punch. 2-1

Brentford v Forest, The Bees need to be wary of a very successful travelling Forest who are now up to 4th after two victories. Close to call but it feels like 1977 all over again as Forest feature in the top tier title race. 1-2

Ipswich v Newcastle, beating hapless Wolves last week must not paper over the cracks at the struggling Tractor Boys, despite being buoyed by that result - this is Toon and they have enough talent in the tank to take the away win. 0-2

West Ham v Brighton, after a resounding defeat by the mighty Eagles, no really it was - a further defat could really bring about the colly-wobbles. The Hammers have stabilised with a win and draw in recent matches, but let’s face it, neither team are reliable right now. 1-0

Palace v Arsenal, meh - just when we find form and confidence we face one of those teams we just can’t beat. A draw would be a genuinely good result and we have achieved 7 of those so far - the most in the PL and the Gunners have 6, but a narrow defeat feels most likely given the disparity in depth of talent. 1-2

Sunday

Everton v Chelsea, the Toffees saga has turned a corner with new owner; Dan Friedkin - arriving this week. Little chance that will upset the form book for this game but in all likelihood will release the shackles and see Everton float towards upper mid-table. 0-2

Fulham v Southampton, Saints have activated the manager ejector seat and face being bottom at Christmas which is overwhelmingly a portent for relegation in May.  Best hope is for damage limitation now, and a miracle in the New Year. 3-0

Leicester v Wolves, The Old Gold also dispensed with the boss in order to stave off relegation and confront the chippy, awkward and newly spirited Foxes. Both hot off miserable defeats and all results conceivable.  Dreary 0-0 is unlikely, but 1-1 more feasible and equally useless to both teams. 

Man Utd V Bournemouth, far from reliable Utd welcome a Cherries team with nothing to lose and in good form.  Bone shuddering home defeat could occur and to be honest last week’s win over Citeh spoke more of their decline that Utd’s resurgence. 0-1

Spurs v Liverpool, chaos theory personified Spursy Spurs host a static Reds team with two draws behind them.  Business as usual 9-13 scoreline, anyone?  OK 0-2 it is. 

There you have it, and in administrative news; your correspondent will be trialling a new user experience for you next week - providing you with a self-service opportunity, whilst deep behind the cheese eating surrender money lines, where the internet is erratic but chess and wine epic.  

You might choose to reset your notification settings for the premier league to minute by minute updates for ten days,  you might choose to install a WW2 style air operations rooms to chart scores and predictions, you might be thrilled to not see these posts filling a couple of scrolls down the thread. 

In any case, see you in 2025 when everything will be better - right? 

ColtsFan

GrateEggspectations said:

Tools are like kitchen knives. Always keep a cheap one on hand for use by others. 

I even do that with my wife. She has her own little cheap tool box full of anything she would ever need. Leave my roll-around alone...lol

Ozzie_Isaac

JohnInCarolina

ColtsFan said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Tools are like kitchen knives. Always keep a cheap one on hand for use by others. 

I even do that with my wife. She has her own little cheap tool box full of anything she would ever need. Leave my roll-around alone...lol

For a hot second there I thought you were indicating you keep a cheap wife on hand for use by others and I was like… man I thought I knew you but this is some wild Mormon sh!t.

CPFC1905

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Flying to Carcassone tomorrow,  I'll wave to you at the appropriate time    

JohnInCarolina

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Man, you are really suffering from that employee who quit on you.  Sheesh!

lkapigian

JohnInCarolina said:

ColtsFan said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Tools are like kitchen knives. Always keep a cheap one on hand for use by others. 

I even do that with my wife. She has her own little cheap tool box full of anything she would ever need. Leave my roll-around alone...lol

For a hot second there I thought you were indicating you keep a cheap wife on hand for use by others and I was like… man I thought I knew you but this is some wild Mormon sh!t.

lol 

Foghorn

CPFC1905 said:

We dive headlong in to the frenetic festive schedule from today.  English roads will be packed with vehicles heading to obscure relatives for the annual, just a little awkward exchange of chocolate, bottle of sherry and budget toiletries.  Interspersed will be other vehicles of euphoric and/or dejected football fans who opted to spend their Yuletide following their team. Naturally, public transport will have failed and the fixture setters conspired to match the most distant teams on the public holiday.  But come on - it’s Christmas!   Six points cover 4th to 13th and Chelsea are serious title contenders, ignore any other opinion on that.  We’ve seen two managerial sackings, just in time for the January transfer window to open. 

Saturday 

Villa v Man City, a home win puts the Villans back in the top 4 and Citeh deep in crisis mode down as far as 7th, moreover a lot of points and form short of where they should be. The hosts are erratic but still good enough to and land a punch. 2-1

Brentford v Forest, The Bees need to be wary of a very successful travelling Forest who are now up to 4th after two victories. Close to call but it feels like 1977 all over again as Forest feature in the top tier title race. 1-2

Ipswich v Newcastle, beating hapless Wolves last week must not paper over the cracks at the struggling Tractor Boys, despite being buoyed by that result - this is Toon and they have enough talent in the tank to take the away win. 0-2

West Ham v Brighton, after a resounding defeat by the mighty Eagles, no really it was - a further defat could really bring about the colly-wobbles. The Hammers have stabilised with a win and draw in recent matches, but let’s face it, neither team are reliable right now. 1-0

Palace v Arsenal, meh - just when we find form and confidence we face one of those teams we just can’t beat. A draw would be a genuinely good result and we have achieved 7 of those so far - the most in the PL and the Gunners have 6, but a narrow defeat feels most likely given the disparity in depth of talent. 1-2

Sunday

Everton v Chelsea, the Toffees saga has turned a corner with new owner; Dan Friedkin - arriving this week. Little chance that will upset the form book for this game but in all likelihood will release the shackles and see Everton float towards upper mid-table. 0-2

Fulham v Southampton, Saints have activated the manager ejector seat and face being bottom at Christmas which is overwhelmingly a portent for relegation in May.  Best hope is for damage limitation now, and a miracle in the New Year. 3-0

Leicester v Wolves, The Old Gold also dispensed with the boss in order to stave off relegation and confront the chippy, awkward and newly spirited Foxes. Both hot off miserable defeats and all results conceivable.  Dreary 0-0 is unlikely, but 1-1 more feasible and equally useless to both teams. 

Man Utd V Bournemouth, far from reliable Utd welcome a Cherries team with nothing to lose and in good form.  Bone shuddering home defeat could occur and to be honest last week’s win over Citeh spoke more of their decline that Utd’s resurgence. 0-1

Spurs v Liverpool, chaos theory personified Spursy Spurs host a static Reds team with two draws behind them.  Business as usual 9-13 scoreline, anyone?  OK 0-2 it is. 

There you have it, and in administrative news; your correspondent will be trialling a new user experience for you next week - providing you with a self-service opportunity, whilst deep behind the cheese eating surrender money lines, where the internet is erratic but chess and wine epic.  

You might choose to reset your notification settings for the premier league to minute by minute updates for ten days,  you might choose to install a WW2 style air operations rooms to chart scores and predictions, you might be thrilled to not see these posts filling a couple of scrolls down the thread. 

In any case, see you in 2025 when everything will be better - right? 

Well, since you are abandoning me next week I guess this has to be the week when I actually bet it all based on your perfect predictions.  Retirement here I come!  Enjoy your holiday chess and wine.  I won't be able to set up an operations room as I will be traveling a couple of times between Florida and Texas for the holidays - particularly on the Saturdays.  And I'm working on Boxing Day so I won't be able to enjoy those matches either.  With that said, I'll track the results as able.  And when I'm not working, there will be a lot of good wine consumed while watching the waves of the Atlantic, or manatees, or tequila tasting at EPCOT.

Canugghead

JohnInCarolina said:

ColtsFan said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Tools are like kitchen knives. Always keep a cheap one on hand for use by others. 

I even do that with my wife. She has her own little cheap tool box full of anything she would ever need. Leave my roll-around alone...lol

For a hot second there I thought you were indicating you keep a cheap wife on hand for use by others and I was like… man I thought I knew you but this is some wild Mormon sh!t.

+1

Legume

Is that Quebec City @Ozzie_Isaac?

ColtsFan

@JohnInCarolina LOL!

CPFC1905

Foghorn said:

Well, since you are abandoning me next week I guess this has to be the week when I actually bet it all based on your perfect predictions.  Retirement here I come!  Enjoy your holiday chess and wine.  I won't be able to set up an operations room as I will be traveling a couple of times between Florida and Texas for the holidays - particularly on the Saturdays.  And I'm working on Boxing Day so I won't be able to enjoy those matches either.  With that said, I'll track the results as able.  And when I'm not working, there will be a lot of good wine consumed while watching the waves of the Atlantic, or manatees, or tequila tasting at EPCOT.

I would send corresponding views of the Atlantic, but we're nearer the Med.  How about a distant view of Andorra? 

Ozzie_Isaac

Foghorn

CPFC1905 said:

Foghorn said:

Well, since you are abandoning me next week I guess this has to be the week when I actually bet it all based on your perfect predictions.  Retirement here I come!  Enjoy your holiday chess and wine.  I won't be able to set up an operations room as I will be traveling a couple of times between Florida and Texas for the holidays - particularly on the Saturdays.  And I'm working on Boxing Day so I won't be able to enjoy those matches either.  With that said, I'll track the results as able.  And when I'm not working, there will be a lot of good wine consumed while watching the waves of the Atlantic, or manatees, or tequila tasting at EPCOT.

I would send corresponding views of the Atlantic, but we're nearer the Med.  How about a distant view of Andorra? 

I've only been near there once. The Med in that area is spectacular.  I will get back to Tossa de Mar at some point - probably in a VRBO for a month or more.  Sounds like you'll be more inland - maybe even on the north side of the national border there?

CPFC1905

Foghorn said:

CPFC1905 said:

Foghorn said:

Well, since you are abandoning me next week I guess this has to be the week when I actually bet it all based on your perfect predictions.  Retirement here I come!  Enjoy your holiday chess and wine.  I won't be able to set up an operations room as I will be traveling a couple of times between Florida and Texas for the holidays - particularly on the Saturdays.  And I'm working on Boxing Day so I won't be able to enjoy those matches either.  With that said, I'll track the results as able.  And when I'm not working, there will be a lot of good wine consumed while watching the waves of the Atlantic, or manatees, or tequila tasting at EPCOT.

I would send corresponding views of the Atlantic, but we're nearer the Med.  How about a distant view of Andorra? 

I've only been near there once. The Med in that area is spectacular.  I will get back to Tossa de Mar at some point - probably in a VRBO for a month or more.  Sounds like you'll be more inland - maybe even on the north side of the national border there?

Yes, in the Occitanie     Daughter has a house there, a former village rectory. 
We plan a road trip (year to be decided) and will take in Spain along the coast you describe and maybe all the way to the Algarve via Seville, where we had many happy holidays with the kinds when they were young. 

ColbyLang

Enjoy @Ozzie_Isaac

Canugghead

When all else failed and the rubber strap wrench is misplaced

alaskanassasin

Canugghead said:

When all else failed and the rubber strap wrench is misplaced

Have you tried hitting the corner of the lid the back of a butter knife? If you aren’t reusing the lid that is a sure fire way to break the seal.

GrateEggspectations

Canugghead said:

When all else failed and the rubber strap wrench is misplaced

I hope that Santa is bringing you some dumbbells. 😛

Dyal_SC

Pre-trimmed 16.28 lb Costco choice. Also picked up some holy cow and butcher paper. Never used either one!  A smell-good night planned. 

Canugghead

@alaskanassasin I'd probably slipped and hit my hand, or drop the jar 

MasterC

Enjoyed dinner with Mrs.C celebrating our 33rd anniversary. Now we're getting ready to watch our Alma mater beat Notre Dame
Go Hoosiers

Canugghead

@GrateEggspectations No problem unpacking the new range and switching out the old one single handedly, then moving the new one out and in repeatedly to level it. They each weigh 200lb

poster

This is sure to be a classic

Ozzie_Isaac

Ordered an @SGH style “snack” for breakfast.

Ozzie_Isaac

Stayed at a hotel last night at Champs-Élysées.




 Made it to our (maybe final) place for next week while in Paris.  A houseboat by the Eiffel Tower.

alaskanassasin

Too cool @Ozzie_Isaac thanks for sharing.

lousubcap

@Ozzie_Isaac - that is really livin' the life right there.  I'm sure it is fully staffed to manage your every need.
Plan on any short river trips?  Beautiful setting.  The river is clean now according to the mayor.  A morning plunge is in order.  

shtgunal3

Sitting in a shooting house catching up on the forum.

ColbyLang

Food prep. Helping my folks for my mom’s side of the family Xmas party. She’s number 5 of 10. I’ve got 31 first cousins. They’ve mostly all got kids, some have grandkids. Everyone will be in attendance (including my cousin who now lives in Austria with her husband and children). Expected headcount is about 120. I’m doing proteins. Two whole beef tenderloins reverse seared, two pork loins, and backstrap bombs. Let’s gooooooooo