@alwaysthecritic.bsky.social
Got a new tool as a half term treat. This battery Worx circular saw is night and day better than the decades old mains thing I was using. Lighter, quieter, finer cuts, and the ExacTrack mechanism is super cool: you can cut flush to the guide edge! Phenomenal.
And I already had the batteries!
And I already had the batteries!
October 30, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Got a new tool as a half term treat. This battery Worx circular saw is night and day better than the decades old mains thing I was using. Lighter, quieter, finer cuts, and the ExacTrack mechanism is super cool: you can cut flush to the guide edge! Phenomenal.
And I already had the batteries!
And I already had the batteries!
I’m a fan of the tethered bottle lids, but with a smoothie, you end up with a bunch of it clinging to the lid threatening to fall out on you as you drink. So I end up lapping it up out of the lid like a dog. Am I the only one?
September 1, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I’m a fan of the tethered bottle lids, but with a smoothie, you end up with a bunch of it clinging to the lid threatening to fall out on you as you drink. So I end up lapping it up out of the lid like a dog. Am I the only one?
Lots of fear around “wet belt” car engines. Had my Citroen wet belt replaced at six years and 37k miles, and apart from crazed cracking of the back surface, it’s fine. All teeth present and correct.
August 30, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Lots of fear around “wet belt” car engines. Had my Citroen wet belt replaced at six years and 37k miles, and apart from crazed cracking of the back surface, it’s fine. All teeth present and correct.
I never especially had time for Wayne Rooney the person (but always appreciated the footballer). This interview with him is great, and really opened my eyes: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Wayne Rooney: Manchester United and England legend in his own words
Wayne Rooney sat down with Kelly Somers for a wide-ranging chat to discuss his career, life away from football and family.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 16, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I never especially had time for Wayne Rooney the person (but always appreciated the footballer). This interview with him is great, and really opened my eyes: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Oven knobs. So often, with the usual range that you actually regularly use (160-220c) hidden out of sight at the bottom, so you have to duck down to see the numbers. Usability fail.
August 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Oven knobs. So often, with the usual range that you actually regularly use (160-220c) hidden out of sight at the bottom, so you have to duck down to see the numbers. Usability fail.
That’s two nights in a row I’ve had to chuck this guy out.
August 11, 2025 at 10:54 PM
That’s two nights in a row I’ve had to chuck this guy out.
Which brings me to a truth about lawnmowers. This cost about £350 about fifteen years ago. I could have paid £50+ each year to have it serviced. Which would have totalled £750+ by now. More economical to do very basic maintenance yourself and buy a new lawnmower when it’s finally past it.
A bit of duct tape will fix that right up. Again. It’s even a great colour match!
August 9, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Which brings me to a truth about lawnmowers. This cost about £350 about fifteen years ago. I could have paid £50+ each year to have it serviced. Which would have totalled £750+ by now. More economical to do very basic maintenance yourself and buy a new lawnmower when it’s finally past it.
A bit of duct tape will fix that right up. Again. It’s even a great colour match!
August 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
A bit of duct tape will fix that right up. Again. It’s even a great colour match!
Stunned to find some cheap new cars are putting even basic functions like windscreen wipers behind a touchscreen interface. This is a safety issue! When a truck splashes muddy water over your windscreen all of a sudden, you need a swipe of the wipers to be immediately available, within a second.
July 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Stunned to find some cheap new cars are putting even basic functions like windscreen wipers behind a touchscreen interface. This is a safety issue! When a truck splashes muddy water over your windscreen all of a sudden, you need a swipe of the wipers to be immediately available, within a second.
One of the knobs on my Siemens electric hob has started peeling; a bit of the thin metal layer is sticking up and threatens to cut fingers. I’ve ordered a replacement, but can you believe it’s over £20?! For one knob. Replacing all four would be closing in on £100, which is insane.
July 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
One of the knobs on my Siemens electric hob has started peeling; a bit of the thin metal layer is sticking up and threatens to cut fingers. I’ve ordered a replacement, but can you believe it’s over £20?! For one knob. Replacing all four would be closing in on £100, which is insane.
Found a massive cyclamen corm in the garden. About 18 cm across. I didn’t know they got this large so had to look it up.
July 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Found a massive cyclamen corm in the garden. About 18 cm across. I didn’t know they got this large so had to look it up.
I followed screeching in the woods, and found a group of (presumably fledgling) sparrow hawks flopping around between low branches and the ground. Or maybe they had a kill on the ground?
July 16, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I followed screeching in the woods, and found a group of (presumably fledgling) sparrow hawks flopping around between low branches and the ground. Or maybe they had a kill on the ground?
Does anyone else ever notice that red peppers (raw) sometimes smell like really tangy dog poo?
July 15, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Does anyone else ever notice that red peppers (raw) sometimes smell like really tangy dog poo?
You know what’s more annoying than people who say “hello” on Teams (or corporate collaboration app of choice) and then wait for a response before getting into their real ask?
People with a permanent status message telling everyone else not to do that. Because it clogs up the UI 100% of the time!
People with a permanent status message telling everyone else not to do that. Because it clogs up the UI 100% of the time!
July 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM
You know what’s more annoying than people who say “hello” on Teams (or corporate collaboration app of choice) and then wait for a response before getting into their real ask?
People with a permanent status message telling everyone else not to do that. Because it clogs up the UI 100% of the time!
People with a permanent status message telling everyone else not to do that. Because it clogs up the UI 100% of the time!
Can I have my food on a plate please. The only things I want in a bowl are cornflakes or soup. For everything else it just makes it more annoying to eat.
Rule of thumb: if you eat it with a spoon, bowl, otherwise plate.
Rule of thumb: if you eat it with a spoon, bowl, otherwise plate.
July 9, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Can I have my food on a plate please. The only things I want in a bowl are cornflakes or soup. For everything else it just makes it more annoying to eat.
Rule of thumb: if you eat it with a spoon, bowl, otherwise plate.
Rule of thumb: if you eat it with a spoon, bowl, otherwise plate.
I’ve taken my top off.
July 8, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I’ve taken my top off.
Dragonfly crash landed in the paddling pool so I fished it out. Good for pictures whilst it dried out.
July 4, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Dragonfly crash landed in the paddling pool so I fished it out. Good for pictures whilst it dried out.
Replaced the siphon in toilet cistern, so now it flushes properly. Many good things about DIYing this: only paid for parts; didn’t have to wait for plumber; learnt new things; satisfaction of daunting job conquered. Hooray!
July 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Replaced the siphon in toilet cistern, so now it flushes properly. Many good things about DIYing this: only paid for parts; didn’t have to wait for plumber; learnt new things; satisfaction of daunting job conquered. Hooray!
Had a kefir drink. It was disgusting. Probably didn’t help that it had been out of the fridge for a couple of hours.
July 2, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Had a kefir drink. It was disgusting. Probably didn’t help that it had been out of the fridge for a couple of hours.
Here’s a curious fellow. Looks like a harvestman of some sort.
June 29, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Here’s a curious fellow. Looks like a harvestman of some sort.
I’ve had many ice cube trays over the years, and this old school example is simply the best. But there are some specific touches that make it so: raised sides to prevent spillage; gaps allow level to even out; doesn’t flex when putting in freezer; does flex and pop them out nicely; good sized cubes.
June 21, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I’ve had many ice cube trays over the years, and this old school example is simply the best. But there are some specific touches that make it so: raised sides to prevent spillage; gaps allow level to even out; doesn’t flex when putting in freezer; does flex and pop them out nicely; good sized cubes.
Battery failed in my electric toothbrush ☹️. But I’m going to replace it myself rather than buying a whole new toothbrush, using instructions (and battery) from toothbrushbattery.com/guides/oral-...
Braun Oral-B iO Toothbrush Battery Replacement Guide - ToothbrushBattery.com
This battery replacement guide shows how to open & replace the battery in the Braun Oral-B iO series toothbrush. Repair your toothbrush now!
toothbrushbattery.com
June 19, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Battery failed in my electric toothbrush ☹️. But I’m going to replace it myself rather than buying a whole new toothbrush, using instructions (and battery) from toothbrushbattery.com/guides/oral-...
I have tied my laces like this, with added twists, because the tightness would keep migrating to the front of the shoe, until my forefoot and toes were uncomfortably squeezed. Now that no longer happens. Result! You may do the same, for just £1 royalty per shoe. You’re welcome.
June 7, 2025 at 11:58 PM
I have tied my laces like this, with added twists, because the tightness would keep migrating to the front of the shoe, until my forefoot and toes were uncomfortably squeezed. Now that no longer happens. Result! You may do the same, for just £1 royalty per shoe. You’re welcome.
Does anyone else use Grape Nuts as a crunchy garnish on your breakfast cereal? The box shows a whole bowl of them, but this feels like an impossible dream. I mean, that would be the whole box gone in one go!
June 4, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Does anyone else use Grape Nuts as a crunchy garnish on your breakfast cereal? The box shows a whole bowl of them, but this feels like an impossible dream. I mean, that would be the whole box gone in one go!