Robert StartPlayer
@startplayer.bsky.social
Boardgames, baking, geocaching, poker, coeliac, trying to draw and learn Italian. 🏳️🌈
My attempts to post in Italian at
@giocatoreiniziale.bsky.social
My attempts to post in Italian at
@giocatoreiniziale.bsky.social
Pinned
Seems worth posting an Intro thread here.
I'm Robert living in Leeds, UK. My hobbies are listed above.... these are some more details.... I may add more to this as I go.
I'm Robert living in Leeds, UK. My hobbies are listed above.... these are some more details.... I may add more to this as I go.
Im finally trying to learn boardgames vocab in Italian.
In English we ‘draw a card’. In Italian “Pesco una carta” or “i fish a card”
Suddenly the name of the game ‘Go Fish’ makes much more sense.
In English we ‘draw a card’. In Italian “Pesco una carta” or “i fish a card”
Suddenly the name of the game ‘Go Fish’ makes much more sense.
November 21, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Im finally trying to learn boardgames vocab in Italian.
In English we ‘draw a card’. In Italian “Pesco una carta” or “i fish a card”
Suddenly the name of the game ‘Go Fish’ makes much more sense.
In English we ‘draw a card’. In Italian “Pesco una carta” or “i fish a card”
Suddenly the name of the game ‘Go Fish’ makes much more sense.
Ive just baked this amazing #glutenFree quiche that looks exactly like picture in book. Im normally critical of my own work but these really was amazing.
As I’ve had coeliac diagnosis almost 3 years I’ve got the hand of much of baking now.
As I’ve had coeliac diagnosis almost 3 years I’ve got the hand of much of baking now.
November 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Ive just baked this amazing #glutenFree quiche that looks exactly like picture in book. Im normally critical of my own work but these really was amazing.
As I’ve had coeliac diagnosis almost 3 years I’ve got the hand of much of baking now.
As I’ve had coeliac diagnosis almost 3 years I’ve got the hand of much of baking now.
After many attempts and recipe tweaks i think I’ve perfected Caccio E Pepe.
Im using pecorino and not any oil or butter. So hopefully this is authentic and wont upset and italians.
Penso che sia squisito!
Im using pecorino and not any oil or butter. So hopefully this is authentic and wont upset and italians.
Penso che sia squisito!
November 10, 2025 at 12:20 PM
After many attempts and recipe tweaks i think I’ve perfected Caccio E Pepe.
Im using pecorino and not any oil or butter. So hopefully this is authentic and wont upset and italians.
Penso che sia squisito!
Im using pecorino and not any oil or butter. So hopefully this is authentic and wont upset and italians.
Penso che sia squisito!
Today i played Caylus 1303. I still love this game and how it took an great okd game and added a bit of modern polish to it. We were surprisingly nice to each other. #boardgames
November 2, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Today i played Caylus 1303. I still love this game and how it took an great okd game and added a bit of modern polish to it. We were surprisingly nice to each other. #boardgames
More #boardgames played ar top secret games con…
I learnt Compile. Apparently this is has been selling out but left me abit flat. A bit to ‘play card and do some text’ for my tastes.
I learnt Compile. Apparently this is has been selling out but left me abit flat. A bit to ‘play card and do some text’ for my tastes.
November 2, 2025 at 1:21 AM
More #boardgames played ar top secret games con…
I learnt Compile. Apparently this is has been selling out but left me abit flat. A bit to ‘play card and do some text’ for my tastes.
I learnt Compile. Apparently this is has been selling out but left me abit flat. A bit to ‘play card and do some text’ for my tastes.
Im at a top secret private games con. Yesterday i played Barcelona. I fell
Victim to the classic “I’ll just take the points things” strategy in a game that ended unusually quickly!
#boardgames
Victim to the classic “I’ll just take the points things” strategy in a game that ended unusually quickly!
#boardgames
October 31, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Im at a top secret private games con. Yesterday i played Barcelona. I fell
Victim to the classic “I’ll just take the points things” strategy in a game that ended unusually quickly!
#boardgames
Victim to the classic “I’ll just take the points things” strategy in a game that ended unusually quickly!
#boardgames
@matthewdunstan.bsky.social i just saw in Italy that they sell a My Shelfie jigsaw. Can I ask is merchandise/promos something a designer should ask a publisher when signing a contract?
October 19, 2025 at 9:49 AM
@matthewdunstan.bsky.social i just saw in Italy that they sell a My Shelfie jigsaw. Can I ask is merchandise/promos something a designer should ask a publisher when signing a contract?
Apparently in italy there is a market for jigsaws of #boardgames art.
October 19, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Apparently in italy there is a market for jigsaws of #boardgames art.
Im back in Rome for 6th time this year. Feeling almost like home here now!
Tomorrow morning, after 15 months of studying, I’m taking an Italian for foreigners exam at a CEFR A2 level. Not sure exactly why I’m putting myself through this! Anyone else done exams they don’t need to?!
Tomorrow morning, after 15 months of studying, I’m taking an Italian for foreigners exam at a CEFR A2 level. Not sure exactly why I’m putting myself through this! Anyone else done exams they don’t need to?!
October 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Im back in Rome for 6th time this year. Feeling almost like home here now!
Tomorrow morning, after 15 months of studying, I’m taking an Italian for foreigners exam at a CEFR A2 level. Not sure exactly why I’m putting myself through this! Anyone else done exams they don’t need to?!
Tomorrow morning, after 15 months of studying, I’m taking an Italian for foreigners exam at a CEFR A2 level. Not sure exactly why I’m putting myself through this! Anyone else done exams they don’t need to?!
My #Italian learning is at Peppa Pig Level. Out of all the language skills I’ve found listening the hardest. I’ve needed subtitles a lot to follow film and TV. Peppa Pig in Italian on Netflix doesn’t have subtitles. But despite it still being a little fast for me I can understand about 90% of it.
October 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
My #Italian learning is at Peppa Pig Level. Out of all the language skills I’ve found listening the hardest. I’ve needed subtitles a lot to follow film and TV. Peppa Pig in Italian on Netflix doesn’t have subtitles. But despite it still being a little fast for me I can understand about 90% of it.
Im not #vegan but I’m experiment lots more with aqua faba as eggs so expensive now. This omelette is made by folding garam flour and spices into whisked aqua faba so #glutenFree too.
It ended up sticking to the pan but the crispy bits were really nice. I will absolutely experiment more with this.
It ended up sticking to the pan but the crispy bits were really nice. I will absolutely experiment more with this.
October 2, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Im not #vegan but I’m experiment lots more with aqua faba as eggs so expensive now. This omelette is made by folding garam flour and spices into whisked aqua faba so #glutenFree too.
It ended up sticking to the pan but the crispy bits were really nice. I will absolutely experiment more with this.
It ended up sticking to the pan but the crispy bits were really nice. I will absolutely experiment more with this.
Today was the #Leeds @playtestuk.bsky.social event. I seem to be trying to make another children’s game. A sort of push your luck roll and move with player interaction. Seems to be finding some sort of shape
Also I’m happy that so far it’s all be totally analogue. No digital development at all.
Also I’m happy that so far it’s all be totally analogue. No digital development at all.
September 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Today was the #Leeds @playtestuk.bsky.social event. I seem to be trying to make another children’s game. A sort of push your luck roll and move with player interaction. Seems to be finding some sort of shape
Also I’m happy that so far it’s all be totally analogue. No digital development at all.
Also I’m happy that so far it’s all be totally analogue. No digital development at all.
I’ve baked @nigella.bsky.social ‘s buckwheat chocolate cookies. I forgot to add the cocoa powder but still delicious. It’s good to make a simple and tasty #GlutenFree chocolate cookie recipe. I’m going to try and tweak this to do chilli chocolate perhaps! #baking
September 28, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I’ve baked @nigella.bsky.social ‘s buckwheat chocolate cookies. I forgot to add the cocoa powder but still delicious. It’s good to make a simple and tasty #GlutenFree chocolate cookie recipe. I’m going to try and tweak this to do chilli chocolate perhaps! #baking
I don’t know when I last was #baking #cupcakes. I really wanted to see if using aquafaba to make Swiss meringue would work. I’m happy to report that it does. Now I need to adapt lots of old recipes for #GlutenFree versions. I will try is as well in other egg white recipes.
September 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
I don’t know when I last was #baking #cupcakes. I really wanted to see if using aquafaba to make Swiss meringue would work. I’m happy to report that it does. Now I need to adapt lots of old recipes for #GlutenFree versions. I will try is as well in other egg white recipes.
This wonderful book about Manic Street Preachers arrived. Its so nice to read human sounding words and critique in the year 2025.
I’m alittle sad the book has destroyed my believe in the myth Richey played on No Surface All Feeling. Listening to it feels different now. @keithcameron2.bsky.social
I’m alittle sad the book has destroyed my believe in the myth Richey played on No Surface All Feeling. Listening to it feels different now. @keithcameron2.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This wonderful book about Manic Street Preachers arrived. Its so nice to read human sounding words and critique in the year 2025.
I’m alittle sad the book has destroyed my believe in the myth Richey played on No Surface All Feeling. Listening to it feels different now. @keithcameron2.bsky.social
I’m alittle sad the book has destroyed my believe in the myth Richey played on No Surface All Feeling. Listening to it feels different now. @keithcameron2.bsky.social
After getting back from Italy I’m now wanting to bet back to #baking more breads again. This is a #GlutenFree Foccacia and is frankly amazing. I’m thinking of so many ways I could customise this. Recipe from The Loopy Whisk blog here. theloopywhisk.com/2024/06/07/e...
September 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM
After getting back from Italy I’m now wanting to bet back to #baking more breads again. This is a #GlutenFree Foccacia and is frankly amazing. I’m thinking of so many ways I could customise this. Recipe from The Loopy Whisk blog here. theloopywhisk.com/2024/06/07/e...
How’s my Italian going….
Well I’m in Rome and was just stoped by the police whilst geocaching. I managed to explain in Italian what the hobby was before they let us go on our way! If that’s that’s not basically fluent I don’t know what is!
Well I’m in Rome and was just stoped by the police whilst geocaching. I managed to explain in Italian what the hobby was before they let us go on our way! If that’s that’s not basically fluent I don’t know what is!
September 11, 2025 at 5:24 PM
How’s my Italian going….
Well I’m in Rome and was just stoped by the police whilst geocaching. I managed to explain in Italian what the hobby was before they let us go on our way! If that’s that’s not basically fluent I don’t know what is!
Well I’m in Rome and was just stoped by the police whilst geocaching. I managed to explain in Italian what the hobby was before they let us go on our way! If that’s that’s not basically fluent I don’t know what is!
Things I like - seeing #GlutenFree food in Leeds clearly labeled.
Things I don’t like - when I ask if it’s #coeliac safe GF or just gluten intolerant safe that I’m asked “what’s coealic?” By someone working with food.
Decided as it’s was on a bottom shelf they probably weren’t coeliac safe :-(
Things I don’t like - when I ask if it’s #coeliac safe GF or just gluten intolerant safe that I’m asked “what’s coealic?” By someone working with food.
Decided as it’s was on a bottom shelf they probably weren’t coeliac safe :-(
September 4, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Things I like - seeing #GlutenFree food in Leeds clearly labeled.
Things I don’t like - when I ask if it’s #coeliac safe GF or just gluten intolerant safe that I’m asked “what’s coealic?” By someone working with food.
Decided as it’s was on a bottom shelf they probably weren’t coeliac safe :-(
Things I don’t like - when I ask if it’s #coeliac safe GF or just gluten intolerant safe that I’m asked “what’s coealic?” By someone working with food.
Decided as it’s was on a bottom shelf they probably weren’t coeliac safe :-(
Played the classic Alhambra. There was once a time where the classic 3 gateway games were this, Carcassonne and Ticket To Ride. It seems to me Alhambra has been mostly forgotten in recent years which is a shame as it’s a brilliant* game.
*At low player counts anything above 4 is chaos. #boardgames
*At low player counts anything above 4 is chaos. #boardgames
September 3, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Played the classic Alhambra. There was once a time where the classic 3 gateway games were this, Carcassonne and Ticket To Ride. It seems to me Alhambra has been mostly forgotten in recent years which is a shame as it’s a brilliant* game.
*At low player counts anything above 4 is chaos. #boardgames
*At low player counts anything above 4 is chaos. #boardgames
Played Pirates Of Maracaibo. Like Maracaibo but but so much of the extra faff stripped away and for me a better game. It still felt fairly solitaire but I had a lot of fun playing. #boardgames
September 3, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Played Pirates Of Maracaibo. Like Maracaibo but but so much of the extra faff stripped away and for me a better game. It still felt fairly solitaire but I had a lot of fun playing. #boardgames
Note to #boardgames publishers. If you need token to represent 4 different things…. Please don’t make loads of tokens with unique, but very similar, artwork. We made so many mistakes playing because we are always having to work out exactly what a token means!
September 3, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Note to #boardgames publishers. If you need token to represent 4 different things…. Please don’t make loads of tokens with unique, but very similar, artwork. We made so many mistakes playing because we are always having to work out exactly what a token means!
Yesterday I played Keltis. I hadn’t played this in along time and I enjoyed this a lot. Very similar to Lost Cities but with a. Little bit more to think about. #boardgames
September 3, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Yesterday I played Keltis. I hadn’t played this in along time and I enjoyed this a lot. Very similar to Lost Cities but with a. Little bit more to think about. #boardgames
Gig night tonight at The Brudenell seeing Luke Haines and Peter Buck. In the 20 years I’ve lived in Leeds I’ve come here soooo many times. I feel very lucky to live in a city where such a vibrant music venue is still thriving.
August 28, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Gig night tonight at The Brudenell seeing Luke Haines and Peter Buck. In the 20 years I’ve lived in Leeds I’ve come here soooo many times. I feel very lucky to live in a city where such a vibrant music venue is still thriving.
Today in my online #Italian lesson I managed to use a verb I learnt though an online play list of Italian Rock music.
Who knew I’d be able to take a song called “Spacco Tutto” (I break everything) and use it the context of trying to make supermarket dry lasagne sheets fit correctly into a pan.
Who knew I’d be able to take a song called “Spacco Tutto” (I break everything) and use it the context of trying to make supermarket dry lasagne sheets fit correctly into a pan.
August 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Today in my online #Italian lesson I managed to use a verb I learnt though an online play list of Italian Rock music.
Who knew I’d be able to take a song called “Spacco Tutto” (I break everything) and use it the context of trying to make supermarket dry lasagne sheets fit correctly into a pan.
Who knew I’d be able to take a song called “Spacco Tutto” (I break everything) and use it the context of trying to make supermarket dry lasagne sheets fit correctly into a pan.