Smylers
@smylers.uk
Ilkley Christian geek board-gamer puzzle/quiz/crossword fan and parent
Reposted by Smylers
While it's well-known that only one team has ever recovered from 0-2 down to win a series 3-2 (Australia in 1936-37), it's less commonly mentioned that no team has ever recovered from 0-3 down to limit the margin of defeat to 2-3. England have a chance to make history in Sydney.
December 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
While it's well-known that only one team has ever recovered from 0-2 down to win a series 3-2 (Australia in 1936-37), it's less commonly mentioned that no team has ever recovered from 0-3 down to limit the margin of defeat to 2-3. England have a chance to make history in Sydney.
Spouse bought tickets to the theatre without me, because they thought I'd said I wasn't interested in going.
At least, that's what they're claiming I said.
The play? ‘Gaslight’ …
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayho...
At least, that's what they're claiming I said.
The play? ‘Gaslight’ …
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayho...
Gaslight - Ilkley Playhouse
Thu 15 Jan to Sat 24 Jan
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk
December 29, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Spouse bought tickets to the theatre without me, because they thought I'd said I wasn't interested in going.
At least, that's what they're claiming I said.
The play? ‘Gaslight’ …
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayho...
At least, that's what they're claiming I said.
The play? ‘Gaslight’ …
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayho...
Today's philosophical conundrum: what does it mean for Argos to offer a 5-year guarantee on a hot water bottle that they recommend is replaced after 2 years?
www.argos.co.uk/product/8651...
www.argos.co.uk/product/8651...
December 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Today's philosophical conundrum: what does it mean for Argos to offer a 5-year guarantee on a hot water bottle that they recommend is replaced after 2 years?
www.argos.co.uk/product/8651...
www.argos.co.uk/product/8651...
Maybe I've got unrealistic standards, but personally I don't think I'll ever consider something to be an ‘extravaganza’ when it consists of buying some printer ink.
No matter how low the prices.
No matter how low the prices.
December 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Maybe I've got unrealistic standards, but personally I don't think I'll ever consider something to be an ‘extravaganza’ when it consists of buying some printer ink.
No matter how low the prices.
No matter how low the prices.
Radio 1 yesterday broadcast a DJ saying “From now until the big day …”.
Today 6 Music thought it was New Year's Day: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
And it's hard enough to remember what day it is tomorrow without Radio 2 claiming it's both Sunday and Saturday: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
Today 6 Music thought it was New Year's Day: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
And it's hard enough to remember what day it is tomorrow without Radio 2 claiming it's both Sunday and Saturday: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
December 26, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Radio 1 yesterday broadcast a DJ saying “From now until the big day …”.
Today 6 Music thought it was New Year's Day: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
And it's hard enough to remember what day it is tomorrow without Radio 2 claiming it's both Sunday and Saturday: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
Today 6 Music thought it was New Year's Day: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
And it's hard enough to remember what day it is tomorrow without Radio 2 claiming it's both Sunday and Saturday: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
13yo now has an Android phone. Setting it up demands a Google account.
On my laptop, I follow instructions to accounts.google.com/signup to create a child account. Several steps in, Google insists on the child scanning a QR code with their phone … which they can't do yet, because no Google account!
On my laptop, I follow instructions to accounts.google.com/signup to create a child account. Several steps in, Google insists on the child scanning a QR code with their phone … which they can't do yet, because no Google account!
December 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
13yo now has an Android phone. Setting it up demands a Google account.
On my laptop, I follow instructions to accounts.google.com/signup to create a child account. Several steps in, Google insists on the child scanning a QR code with their phone … which they can't do yet, because no Google account!
On my laptop, I follow instructions to accounts.google.com/signup to create a child account. Several steps in, Google insists on the child scanning a QR code with their phone … which they can't do yet, because no Google account!
Prickly feeling following Evert's service (11)
December 24, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Prickly feeling following Evert's service (11)
Reposted by Smylers
Me: i’m Autistic
Them: Oh you take things literally
Me: No that’s kleptomania
Them: Oh you take things literally
Me: No that’s kleptomania
July 11, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Me: i’m Autistic
Them: Oh you take things literally
Me: No that’s kleptomania
Them: Oh you take things literally
Me: No that’s kleptomania
A parade of decorated tractors, a carol service with the Moornotes choir, and a drink in the Christmas teepees, including toasting marshmallows in their fire pit. Altogether feeling quite festive. #Ilkley
December 21, 2025 at 10:09 PM
A parade of decorated tractors, a carol service with the Moornotes choir, and a drink in the Christmas teepees, including toasting marshmallows in their fire pit. Altogether feeling quite festive. #Ilkley
What's the first song in last night's #Strictly final? 0:32–4:48:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
From the intro I was expecting ‘Sunchyme’, but it turned into something different — though still based on ‘Life in a Northern Town’ (which is a curious choice for a montage of London).
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
From the intro I was expecting ‘Sunchyme’, but it turned into something different — though still based on ‘Life in a Northern Town’ (which is a curious choice for a montage of London).
Strictly Come Dancing - Series 23: The Final
It’s the biggest night in the ballroom – the grand final. After three months of hard-fought competition, the 2025 Strictly champion is crowned.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 12:19 PM
What's the first song in last night's #Strictly final? 0:32–4:48:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
From the intro I was expecting ‘Sunchyme’, but it turned into something different — though still based on ‘Life in a Northern Town’ (which is a curious choice for a montage of London).
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
From the intro I was expecting ‘Sunchyme’, but it turned into something different — though still based on ‘Life in a Northern Town’ (which is a curious choice for a montage of London).
Today's UK Online Safety Act annoyance: I'm no longer allowed to view a (boring, technical, safe-for-work) screen recording *that I made* for a bug report, because the easiest way for the image-hosting service to comply with the new law is to give up on UK users: bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour...
December 18, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Today's UK Online Safety Act annoyance: I'm no longer allowed to view a (boring, technical, safe-for-work) screen recording *that I made* for a bug report, because the easiest way for the image-hosting service to comply with the new law is to give up on UK users: bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour...
Interesting to see the government doing something that few oppose — a minority in voters of all parties.
The UK is set to rejoin the EU's Erasmus scheme for university students, a move supported by 65% of Britons
Net support by party
Lib Dem +81
Lab +77
Con +36
Reform +7
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Net support by party
Lib Dem +81
Lab +77
Con +36
Reform +7
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
December 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Interesting to see the government doing something that few oppose — a minority in voters of all parties.
First time this winter catching a train to work in the dark.
Though admittedly that's less about the time of sunrise and more to do with my mis-clicking and accidentally booking a ticket for an earlier train …
Though admittedly that's less about the time of sunrise and more to do with my mis-clicking and accidentally booking a ticket for an earlier train …
December 16, 2025 at 7:48 AM
First time this winter catching a train to work in the dark.
Though admittedly that's less about the time of sunrise and more to do with my mis-clicking and accidentally booking a ticket for an earlier train …
Though admittedly that's less about the time of sunrise and more to do with my mis-clicking and accidentally booking a ticket for an earlier train …
“Close in 7 h 42 min” — that seems less convenient for both users and the website than simply displaying the actual time it closes.
And I don't trust me to add on 7-hours-something without being out by an hour …
And I don't trust me to add on 7-hours-something without being out by an hour …
December 15, 2025 at 1:27 PM
“Close in 7 h 42 min” — that seems less convenient for both users and the website than simply displaying the actual time it closes.
And I don't trust me to add on 7-hours-something without being out by an hour …
And I don't trust me to add on 7-hours-something without being out by an hour …
Divining the window of when our smoke alarm battery was last changed by the supermarket logo on the battery: logos.fandom.com/wiki/Morrisons
December 14, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Divining the window of when our smoke alarm battery was last changed by the supermarket logo on the battery: logos.fandom.com/wiki/Morrisons
Reposted by Smylers
But: it will take 7-12 days to get to me.
And thén it needs to go to the UK.
My question is :
1) could anybody who is in Spain right now order this item on Vinted Spain and send it directly to Ali ( Im vouching for Ali)
OR
2) does anyone in The Netherlands travel to the UK in 7-12 days time 2/n
And thén it needs to go to the UK.
My question is :
1) could anybody who is in Spain right now order this item on Vinted Spain and send it directly to Ali ( Im vouching for Ali)
OR
2) does anyone in The Netherlands travel to the UK in 7-12 days time 2/n
December 14, 2025 at 11:59 AM
But: it will take 7-12 days to get to me.
And thén it needs to go to the UK.
My question is :
1) could anybody who is in Spain right now order this item on Vinted Spain and send it directly to Ali ( Im vouching for Ali)
OR
2) does anyone in The Netherlands travel to the UK in 7-12 days time 2/n
And thén it needs to go to the UK.
My question is :
1) could anybody who is in Spain right now order this item on Vinted Spain and send it directly to Ali ( Im vouching for Ali)
OR
2) does anyone in The Netherlands travel to the UK in 7-12 days time 2/n
I think this is the most-niche I've ever been at NYT #Connections. I got green straight away. I still didn't know what blue was even after I'd randomly stumbled on it. www.nytimes.com/games/connec... #916
December 13, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I think this is the most-niche I've ever been at NYT #Connections. I got green straight away. I still didn't know what blue was even after I'd randomly stumbled on it. www.nytimes.com/games/connec... #916
This card game claims to be “brought to life from TW3”, but I don't feel the satire and humour has translated well from the original, and David Frost doesn't feature at all: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/43...
Gwent: The Legendary Card Game
Gwent: The Card Game is a strategic, faction-based card game brought to life from TW3
boardgamegeek.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:25 AM
This card game claims to be “brought to life from TW3”, but I don't feel the satire and humour has translated well from the original, and David Frost doesn't feature at all: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/43...
Back on the @guestimators.bsky.social leaderboard; it's been a while: www.guestimators.com/quiz081225
Well done to those who got 10/10. I fell for the question asking about the top ‘cardinal sin’ for under-30s, which I presumed meant theirs was different to the overall answer. It wasn't!
Well done to those who got 10/10. I fell for the question asking about the top ‘cardinal sin’ for under-30s, which I presumed meant theirs was different to the overall answer. It wasn't!
December 12, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Back on the @guestimators.bsky.social leaderboard; it's been a while: www.guestimators.com/quiz081225
Well done to those who got 10/10. I fell for the question asking about the top ‘cardinal sin’ for under-30s, which I presumed meant theirs was different to the overall answer. It wasn't!
Well done to those who got 10/10. I fell for the question asking about the top ‘cardinal sin’ for under-30s, which I presumed meant theirs was different to the overall answer. It wasn't!
This Captcha wouldn't let me through until I told it the bottom-right image is a crosswalk.
As if doing these things isn't bad enough in the first place, I now have to re-enforce Google's AI's mistakes.
As if doing these things isn't bad enough in the first place, I now have to re-enforce Google's AI's mistakes.
December 11, 2025 at 6:30 AM
This Captcha wouldn't let me through until I told it the bottom-right image is a crosswalk.
As if doing these things isn't bad enough in the first place, I now have to re-enforce Google's AI's mistakes.
As if doing these things isn't bad enough in the first place, I now have to re-enforce Google's AI's mistakes.
I'm resorting to hints for some of the previous days in my murder mystery advent calendar.
The hints start with errata. Of 24 puzzles, that's quite a high proportion that that they've messed up:
The hints start with errata. Of 24 puzzles, that's quite a high proportion that that they've messed up:
December 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I'm resorting to hints for some of the previous days in my murder mystery advent calendar.
The hints start with errata. Of 24 puzzles, that's quite a high proportion that that they've messed up:
The hints start with errata. Of 24 puzzles, that's quite a high proportion that that they've messed up:
The new LNER timetable from next week means Ilkley–London only has a 30 min change in Leeds, down from 35 — a small improvement.
But … it also scuppers the possibility of sneakily doing the change in 5 minutes (on to the previous train), and ending up in London half an hour ahead of schedule.
But … it also scuppers the possibility of sneakily doing the change in 5 minutes (on to the previous train), and ending up in London half an hour ahead of schedule.
December 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The new LNER timetable from next week means Ilkley–London only has a 30 min change in Leeds, down from 35 — a small improvement.
But … it also scuppers the possibility of sneakily doing the change in 5 minutes (on to the previous train), and ending up in London half an hour ahead of schedule.
But … it also scuppers the possibility of sneakily doing the change in 5 minutes (on to the previous train), and ending up in London half an hour ahead of schedule.
Today's awkwardly phrased YouGov question. I can definitely change a *wheel* (the thing one does if a tyre gets a puncture). But I doubt I could change a tyre itself.
December 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Today's awkwardly phrased YouGov question. I can definitely change a *wheel* (the thing one does if a tyre gets a puncture). But I doubt I could change a tyre itself.
Another 39 on #PopMaster — what's happening? None for 3 years, then 2 in a fortnight!
And no guesses this time. Somehow they were all things I knew (though I might not have remembered Salt-n-Peppa without the multiple choice).
And no guesses this time. Somehow they were all things I knew (though I might not have remembered Salt-n-Peppa without the multiple choice).
39 points on #PopMaster — my first since Ken Bruce moved from Radio 2 to GHR!
Sonia and ‘… Delight’ were guesses, but everything just fell the right way for once.
Sonia and ‘… Delight’ were guesses, but everything just fell the right way for once.
December 8, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Another 39 on #PopMaster — what's happening? None for 3 years, then 2 in a fortnight!
And no guesses this time. Somehow they were all things I knew (though I might not have remembered Salt-n-Peppa without the multiple choice).
And no guesses this time. Somehow they were all things I knew (though I might not have remembered Salt-n-Peppa without the multiple choice).