The totally off-topic thread

[suze2000]

Baileys and I need to know where from.

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/drinks-by-the-dram/the-whisky-advent-calendar/

Beware the import duties. But if you happen to fly to the UK and come back with one in your suitcase, I think you wouldn't have to pay them.

They have others. I do know there's beer/cider ones available from Aussie locations, but haven't looked into it.

And I just found this:

https://carwyncellars.com.au/products/2016-australian-gin-advent-calendar

No guarantees what's in that one though, we've only had the MoM ones, which are goooood.

 

[blackcat20]

When I was doing my PhD, my working space was on a floor where we did not have a dishwasher, let alone enough drying space. Cleaners - obviously - were not contracted nor responsible to wash up dishes, and we had clear signs saying that cleaning up was a personal responsibility.

Unfortunately, in the years that I was there, there always seemed to be an errant few who could never wash their own mugs or the communal cutlery, tip in a bit of money for the milk, clean or wipe over the sandwich toaster or microwave. I know a few times I was so frustrated I washed, rinsed and dried the sink of dirty dishes myself. (And no, before you say it, everyone on the floor had a good enough level of English to understand all the signs).

Some ladies on our floor had a good ruse to discourage others from using their milk (which they paid for by themselves) - they added blue food dye to their milk.

Some of the students at work seem to take on the role of running and emptying the dishwasher. I've never had to touch it even though some might think it would be my job. I just keep the tea and coffee topped up.

Only bad memories of the postgrad common rooms. Some awful biology experiments in the fridge. Forced us to using fridges in the labs and being aware of the OHS officer who couldn't understand that the lab fridge was a better place to store food than the common room fridge.

I refused to use the fridge in our postgrad room; the communal fridge in the kitchen was far safer.

My mother had a fatal heart attack on the way to the toilet. Thankfully though, they were able to revive her, though the active resuscitation went on for ten minutes.

My theory is that the body knows it's on the way out and wants to void itself before it happens!

My grandfather died on the way to the loo in the middle of the night. At least it was quick.

I'm feeling a bit punchy right now, but I'd go so far as to say that someone needs a slap.

My sister died suddenly today too. We do not know why, only that it happened. I think there's going to be police involvement (her life was not easy). That's why I'm reading AFF at 5am. She never got over the death of my father and a couple of others in her life as well, so at least she won't have that burden anymore. She had lots of kids and two grandies so far, so at least there's that.

Sorry to hear.

 

[GarrettM]

Those of you who know my fondness of the red bandanna man would understand why I like this review of his latest book-


Three Great War histories review: Was the slaughtering really worth it?

I've never read Fitzsimmons, although I did pick up one of his large books at the Anzac Centre in Albany last month. I'll see how I go with it.
I am VERY interested in getting my hands on Ham's Passchendaele though, since I heard him on Richard Fidler's ABC podcast. I'll need to track it down.

 

[Denali]

I just found out from a man Ive been working with for 13yrs that he met his wife on Perfect Match from the 80s (we were talking about the tv show First Dates). They were on two different episodes but met after the show.

I guess this weekend I will be watching a lot of youtube Perfect Match to find him

 

[Deleted member]

I have had 3 F & P dish drawers in various homes and my office. I will never have any other dishwasher . the F & P are far and away the best I have ever used in over 40 years., my only regret is that i cant justify getting rid of mine because i would like to have the newer wide body model.

We had a dish drawer F&P in our last place (the original Dishlex died so we replaced it with the F&P). We got rid of it after a couple of years and bought the cheapest Miele. It was 100% on the dish drawer. If you put anything sharp in the dish drawer you run the risk of it swinging up and perforating the cover that comes down to seal the drawer. Our neighbour did this twice in hers! In an office environment I could see this could be a real issue as you have a lot of different people loading the machine.
My advice is for the a low end version of a premier brand as you want something simple to run - with just a push button more or less.

 

[love_the_life]

Been at the cricket today Pushka​?

 

[Pushka]

Been at the cricket today Pushka​?

No but all the men folk are members and are there. In MrP's favourite location at the southern end directly behind the bowler.
One happy father (friend) whose son took the catch in first slip - first touch of the ball was a catch. He (father) and MrP are off to Dubai next week for an ICC cricket presentation.

Should be a lovely sunset.

 

[straitman]

You say complicated. We say interesting!

I vote for complicated :!:

 

[straitman]

Number of people in office really does not matter. As soon as its full turn it on. Of course the problem is making it full.....
The F&P Double Dishdrawer Dishwashwe ones are good because it allows 2 batches to be done separately. Though they are a bit more expensive.

I would go with that one also. The relatively smaller drawers make for a relatively easy unload.

 

[RooFlyer]

Only bad memories of the postgrad common rooms. Some awful biology experiments in the fridge. Forced us to using fridges in the labs and being aware of the OHS officer who couldn't understand that the lab fridge was a better place to store food than the common room fridge.

I've just begun another post grad degree. Boy, have things changed since the last one! No less than Nespresso machines in the common rooms; multiple (small) fridges for different foods/liquids, and so on. A dishwasher, of course, and comfy chairs/couches without holes or tatty fabric.

On the other had ... my Gawd!! The Uni admin bureaucracy is beyond a joke. A meeting called just (as I found out at the meeting) so I could hand over a form. No kidding ( it's an hours drive to the uni for me). Another meeting where I attended and was asked "Do you have any questions about your enrolment?" (that's all that was on the agenda).

I feel like crying out for a 'safe space' against all the B/S.

The compensation is that my supervisors are great, and one in particular will only have a meeting if its over lunch at the Staff Club with a decent bottle of wine. I've already hinted that Rockfords Basket press is in my cellar and he's foreshadowed an intensive round of meetings coming up. We are gonna get along just fine. :mrgreen:

 

[Flashback]

Sorry to hear of your loss suze2000.

 

[wandering_fred]

Another vote for the F&P dish drawer.

We are on rain water (limited of course) and when we re-built 9 years ago decided on the larger of the two drawer possibilities as it used rather less water than the full size units from the competition. As well the storage drawer that fit under the dish washer is welcome as additional storage.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[blackcat20]

The dogs have been glued to the tv for the last hour watching a David Attenborough documentary

 

[Flashback]

View attachment 84759
The dogs have been glued to the tv for the last hour watching a David Attenborough documentary

Is that Earth II? Watched it on BBC the other night - was good, especially as a lot of the animals etc. shown on it in South America we saw on our recent trip.

 

[blackcat20]

Is that Earth II? Watched it on BBC the other night - was good, especially as a lot of the animals etc. shown on it in South America we saw on our recent trip.

The one about Mountain Lions. They've got a bit too interested and just had a squabble set off by some of the lion noises

 

[Pushka]

The one about Mountain Lions. They've got a bit too interested and just had a squabble set off by some of the lion noises

That photo is adorable.

 

[love_the_life]

That's very cute BC. And Miss Daisy has grown so much

 

[anat0l]

I've just begun another post grad degree. Boy, have things changed since the last one! No less than Nespresso machines in the common rooms; multiple (small) fridges for different foods/liquids, and so on. A dishwasher, of course, and comfy chairs/couches without holes or tatty fabric.

On the other had ... my Gawd!! The Uni admin bureaucracy is beyond a joke. A meeting called just (as I found out at the meeting) so I could hand over a form. No kidding ( it's an hours drive to the uni for me). Another meeting where I attended and was asked "Do you have any questions about your enrolment?" (that's all that was on the agenda).

I feel like crying out for a 'safe space' against all the B/S.

The compensation is that my supervisors are great, and one in particular will only have a meeting if its over lunch at the Staff Club with a decent bottle of wine. I've already hinted that Rockfords Basket press is in my cellar and he's foreshadowed an intensive round of meetings coming up. We are gonna get along just fine. :mrgreen:

Yes, postgrad spaces have gotten a lot better over time. We don't have the Nespresso machines, though; an essential element of the postgrad's drawer is a supply of tea bags.

Our uni has more postgrad working spaces, though funny enough it doesn't seem sufficient! Probably doesn't help that it's hard to tell whether the people using the space are actually bona fide postgrads or not (and unlike classes on an aircraft or priority boarding except on QF, you can't ask someone to prove they are a postgrad let alone kick them out if they are using the space). At least research postgrads are compelled to be assigned a working desk and computer system (if they want), usually hosted by their faculty.

Not sure how long you have been away from universities, but yes, the bureaucracy is... incredible, irrespective of the institution. I'd like to say you oddly get used to it after a while and you learn how to expedite things, but I don't think that will work nor is it of any comfort. I don't know about other faculties but at least in my research institute we were conscious about whether something needed a meeting or not (e.g. an email or phone call would suffice); even more so for students (or staff) who were not easily able to be on campus (e.g. remote).

We maintained a strict working protocol and the staff were nearly always busy, so meetings over wine were not common at all. Coffee, on the other hand......

 

[JohnM]

I've just begun another post grad degree. Boy, have things changed since the last one! No less than Nespresso machines in the common rooms; multiple (small) fridges for different foods/liquids, and so on. A dishwasher, of course, and comfy chairs/couches without holes or tatty fabric.

On the other had ... my Gawd!! The Uni admin bureaucracy is beyond a joke. A meeting called just (as I found out at the meeting) so I could hand over a form. No kidding ( it's an hours drive to the uni for me). Another meeting where I attended and was asked "Do you have any questions about your enrolment?" (that's all that was on the agenda).

I feel like crying out for a 'safe space' against all the B/S.

The compensation is that my supervisors are great, and one in particular will only have a meeting if its over lunch at the Staff Club with a decent bottle of wine. I've already hinted that Rockfords Basket press is in my cellar and he's foreshadowed an intensive round of meetings coming up. We are gonna get along just fine. :mrgreen:

I'd need a lot of Basket Press to dull the bureaucratic BS to the point I could tolerate it...

Just don't post anything on FB about your safe space when you find it .

 

[Hvr]

Didn't have any such benefits when I did my two post graduate degrees (different universities).