Type what you're thinking about right now (11)

[Dougella]

^ I'm never sure what the time frame of semesters are, when does the term end? At Christmas I guess? Universities often have mental health services, you could see what help and support you might be able to get there.

[Jen.]

Originally Posted by Jen.

Thinking about getting something like this:



It's so annoying while working to go downstairs to turn the kettle on, then either choosing to wait there for a few minutes while it boils, or go back upstairs to do something else and then back down again to make a drink.

It turned out this would take a long and vague amount of time to arrive (I think it said 7-10 weeks) and I didn't like the others for various reasons, so I got this hot water dispenser instead last week and it's great.



I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier, they seem very common in the US and they're cheaper to run than a kettle since it heats the water as it pours out.

[Dougella]

^

[Amara 94]

Originally Posted by Dougella

^ I'm never sure what the time frame of semesters are, when does the term end? At Christmas I guess? Universities often have mental health services, you could see what help and support you might be able to get there.

I doubt it’s that good though, the mental health services. For now I think I’m staying though because as much as I want self help I don’t have enough money currently for therapy and quitting uni I’m not guaranteed a job where I will earn as much as my maintenance loan plus part time work. Today at work the other kitchen porter who works with me but is full time developed a bad back and he is in his early to mid 20s I think, too much work for what it’s worth I think. I think full time plus the distance I have to travel would be too much for me so a no no.

[Dougella]

^ It does seem like a good idea to stay if you can. You could always try the mental health service just incase.

[Jen.]

Originally Posted by The Devil, Probably.

Just fill a flask with a whole kettle's worth of boiled water and take that upstairs. It doesn't need some new fangled / expensive solution. I fill a flask first thing in the morning, and it's good until the evening. And the water temp is probably held higher than that of a hot water dispenser.

Hot water dispensers aren't new, they've been around for at least fifty years. I don't know what "the water temp is probably held higher" means since with this machine water is heated and dispensed instantly at exactly the temperature chosen (ranging from 45C to 100C). The problem I wanted a solution for was having to wait while the kettle boiled or making a double trip for each drink, not having to move at all, and this problem no longer exists now that I have the exact temperature I require the second I press a button. I like to drink a variety of freshly-brewed teas throughout the day, e.g. green tea, chamomile, peppermint, etc, depending what I fancy at the time, so making a flask containing a slowly-cooling single variety at the beginning of the day isn't a solution to anything for me.

[genovese]

There was a Which? report recently saying a £10 kettle costs £53ish/year to run and a £30 variable temperature kettle costs circa £11 a year. The forty odd quid difference is based on you hitting the exact temperature each time and never over-boiling.

Anyway, all round to Jen's for a tea & cake get together this weekend.

You have to brush your teeth afterwards!

[choirgirl]

How is it Christmas again already? Why is my life so slow and so fast at the same time?

[biscuits]

^ dudette, yeah. how! Next year is a leap year so one whole extra day to make it a little longer until the next Christmas!

Originally Posted by Amara 94

I doubt it’s that good though, the mental health services. For now I think I’m staying though because as much as I want self help I don’t have enough money currently for therapy and quitting uni I’m not guaranteed a job where I will earn as much as my maintenance loan plus part time work. Today at work the other kitchen porter who works with me but is full time developed a bad back and he is in his early to mid 20s I think, too much work for what it’s worth I think. I think full time plus the distance I have to travel would be too much for me so a no no.

One of the best things about being a student is that you can usually get access to free, in-house counselling fairly quickly through your university, so it's definitely worth exploring that. Plus (in my experience) they are much better at empathising and coaching because they speak with lots of people who experience similar struggles.

At the uni I went to, you just emailed their counselling services and someone saw you within a week for an initial appointment and then I was immediately assigned a counsellor and saw her for most of that entire uni year. It was the best thing I ever did (mental health wise). I also had a mental health advocate and she was really helpful and organised a weekly lunch time walking group and a little trip.

I hope things start to become a little more manageable for you

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by Jen.

Hot water dispensers aren't new, they've been around for at least fifty years. I don't know what "the water temp is probably held higher" means since with this machine water is heated and dispensed instantly at exactly the temperature chosen (ranging from 45C to 100C). The problem I wanted a solution for was having to wait while the kettle boiled or making a double trip for each drink, not having to move at all, and this problem no longer exists now that I have the exact temperature I require the second I press a button. I like to drink a variety of freshly-brewed teas throughout the day, e.g. green tea, chamomile, peppermint, etc, depending what I fancy at the time, so making a flask containing a slowly-cooling single variety at the beginning of the day isn't a solution to anything for me.

The idea is to take a flask or metal bottle of boiling water and then pour it into a cup with a teabag in, rather than make a flask of stewed tea. It's a pretty good idea! Although, if I worked from home I'd be loving any excuse to be up and about.

I stayed in a bit of a swanky air bnb that had a boiling water tap at the sink. Changer of games, but sadly it's not ideal as I would most definitely accidentally turn it on to wash my hands in a day dream and scald my hands.

[BFG_]

I'm thinking it's time to emigrate to Bulgaria

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properti...annel=OVERSEAS

[biscuits]

^

[Amara 94]

To begin saving for a ps5 because of gta 6 but I wouldn’t be surprised if ps6 comes out.

[Laurel]

Originally Posted by BFG_

I'm thinking it's time to emigrate to Bulgaria

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properti...annel=OVERSEAS

That does look good

[BFG_]

^only downside is from what I've read non Bulgarian nationals can never own the land the property is on. To get citizenship you have to buy a property with minimum £266k value.

So you could buy your 10k house renovate it then Bulgaria gives your house and land to a Bulgarian

[Dougella]

Originally Posted by The Devil, Probably.

Benjamin Zephaniah: Writer, poet and Peaky Blinders actor dies aged 65

Back in the days before social media he was a big name in animal rights.

It's really sad, and seems too soon

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by The Devil, Probably.

Benjamin Zephaniah: Writer, poet and Peaky Blinders actor dies aged 65

Back in the days before social media he was a big name in animal rights.

Aw this is sad. I loved him and his poems.

I think you would like Talking Turkeys:

[genovese]

Originally Posted by The Devil, Probably.

Benjamin Zephaniah: .

So few people on TV/media resonate the humanity he did.

He was Professor of poetry and creative writing at Brunel. To have been in just one of his lectures would have been a blessing.

"When I see what people have to put up with from their governments, I’m surprised they don’t rise up more often”

[Jen.]

He came into my secondary school once to do a class, just performed some of his stuff and played some word games. He was great and seemed like a really nice man - he was obviously very considerate of making sure that everyone was involved but in a way that each person was happy with (which the teachers never did when it came to things like that) so it was a good memory.

[genovese]

https://twitter.com/SunApology/statu...21967776796672

[Tubbs]

^ Holy f*cking shit!

[Dougella]

^^ The sun has always been vile. But that is still shocking.

[Tembo]

The only reason The S*n is less vile now, as saying stuff like that is (presumably) illegal now. Otherwise they’d happily still be saying things like that.

Thankfully The Sun readership is massively declining. It’s gone from about 3.5 million to 1 million in 20 years. So, when a few more of the gammons die off it hopefully will not be here in a decade or so.

[Laurel]

it is problematic coming up with things to do this time of year. You either got mush if you go for walk, or you got mass people rushes if you go to the stores.

[choirgirl]

He always seemed like a good sort.

[Amara 94]

Originally Posted by genovese

https://twitter.com/SunApology/statu...21967776796672

[Tembo]

Originally Posted by Laurel

it is problematic coming up with things to do this time of year. You either got mush if you go for walk, or you got mass people rushes if you go to the stores.

Exactly what I’m thinking about right now!
Are you fairly close to the sea at all? I’ve been trying to go more often at the moment because it’s not muddy there.

I tried going to my favourite cafes or pubs this weekend but they were all so busy, probably because of the above - less people are going for walks, and more people are in town shopping.

[anxiouslondoner]

Wondering why I'm still seeing loads of ads for Smile Direct Club on Youtube when they've just apparently gone into bankruptcy.
Also a disturbing number of Youtubers I liked are doing Better Help sponsorships despite the many bright red flags about the company's very dubious practices... not very encouraging.

[Chess&Junkfood]

[Laurel]

Originally Posted by Tembo

Exactly what I’m thinking about right now!
Are you fairly close to the sea at all? I’ve been trying to go more often at the moment because it’s not muddy there.

I tried going to my favourite cafes or pubs this weekend but they were all so busy, probably because of the above - less people are going for walks, and more people are in town shopping.

By the sea is just as muddy here, although there are some paveways.