Nick Gibbins
@nick.gark.net
Computer science lecturer, film and SF geek, gaming nerd (particularly the #TravellerRPG), manned spaceflight aficionado (but nothing Musky). cis, he/him.
Hey! Winchester is a pre-modern English cathedral with actual legit foundations!
They were built between 1905 and 1911, mostly underwater, mostly by the diver William Walker.
They were built between 1905 and 1911, mostly underwater, mostly by the diver William Walker.
November 12, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Hey! Winchester is a pre-modern English cathedral with actual legit foundations!
They were built between 1905 and 1911, mostly underwater, mostly by the diver William Walker.
They were built between 1905 and 1911, mostly underwater, mostly by the diver William Walker.
Probably just as well it was only mass-produced Red Leicester and not a couple of bars of Scotbloc (the nasty faux-chocolate stuff that tastes like the 1970s). I reckon you’d get deported from Switzerland for that.
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Probably just as well it was only mass-produced Red Leicester and not a couple of bars of Scotbloc (the nasty faux-chocolate stuff that tastes like the 1970s). I reckon you’d get deported from Switzerland for that.
It’s all fun and games until your 2yo takes the lid off their emotional support marker in bed.
November 6, 2025 at 1:13 PM
It’s all fun and games until your 2yo takes the lid off their emotional support marker in bed.
The Afanc! A monstrous Welsh lake beast, said to have dwelled inconveniently in Llyn yr Afanc near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri (Snowdonia) until relocated by Hu Gardan and his oxen.
Also linked with the Arthurian myths in other tellings via a story in the Mabinogion involving Peredur/Percival.
Also linked with the Arthurian myths in other tellings via a story in the Mabinogion involving Peredur/Percival.
October 25, 2025 at 6:18 AM
The Afanc! A monstrous Welsh lake beast, said to have dwelled inconveniently in Llyn yr Afanc near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri (Snowdonia) until relocated by Hu Gardan and his oxen.
Also linked with the Arthurian myths in other tellings via a story in the Mabinogion involving Peredur/Percival.
Also linked with the Arthurian myths in other tellings via a story in the Mabinogion involving Peredur/Percival.
What, you didn’t make a matchbox paddle boat? I bet you didn’t even make the cotton reel and candle tractor on p.24!
October 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
What, you didn’t make a matchbox paddle boat? I bet you didn’t even make the cotton reel and candle tractor on p.24!
It’s astonishing how much worse they look in real life.
I’m still perversely proud of this photo I took last summer in DC of a rubbish truck (and behind it a municipal waste vehicle).
I’m still perversely proud of this photo I took last summer in DC of a rubbish truck (and behind it a municipal waste vehicle).
October 18, 2025 at 6:35 AM
It’s astonishing how much worse they look in real life.
I’m still perversely proud of this photo I took last summer in DC of a rubbish truck (and behind it a municipal waste vehicle).
I’m still perversely proud of this photo I took last summer in DC of a rubbish truck (and behind it a municipal waste vehicle).
Para la cena esta noche:
Tacos de birria de res
Arroz Mexicana
Guacamole
Salsa bandera
Elote
(worth having started last night so that the beef could marinate well)
Tacos de birria de res
Arroz Mexicana
Guacamole
Salsa bandera
Elote
(worth having started last night so that the beef could marinate well)
September 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Para la cena esta noche:
Tacos de birria de res
Arroz Mexicana
Guacamole
Salsa bandera
Elote
(worth having started last night so that the beef could marinate well)
Tacos de birria de res
Arroz Mexicana
Guacamole
Salsa bandera
Elote
(worth having started last night so that the beef could marinate well)
We made a very similar cake for our now-18yo’s 9th birthday - he still says it was one of the best birthday cakes we’ve ever made for him. Glad your kid had a great day!
September 28, 2025 at 7:27 AM
We made a very similar cake for our now-18yo’s 9th birthday - he still says it was one of the best birthday cakes we’ve ever made for him. Glad your kid had a great day!
Our eldest got up early this morning and fed Steph the cat before he headed out. He left us a note telling us that she’d been fed.
Steph, on the other hand, would like to say that the note carries no evidential weight and should therefore be disregarded. #caturday
Steph, on the other hand, would like to say that the note carries no evidential weight and should therefore be disregarded. #caturday
September 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Our eldest got up early this morning and fed Steph the cat before he headed out. He left us a note telling us that she’d been fed.
Steph, on the other hand, would like to say that the note carries no evidential weight and should therefore be disregarded. #caturday
Steph, on the other hand, would like to say that the note carries no evidential weight and should therefore be disregarded. #caturday
@issy.gark.net and I were discussing what flags we’d fly as a response, and I was mildly surprised that she was enthusiastic about this as I was:
August 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
@issy.gark.net and I were discussing what flags we’d fly as a response, and I was mildly surprised that she was enthusiastic about this as I was:
Tch. The evidence was right there all along.
August 25, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Tch. The evidence was right there all along.
I really need to make some t-shirts with this on:
August 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I really need to make some t-shirts with this on:
Only in Norn Iron will you find sectarian (mock) Lego in toy shops.
That said, I’m kinda disappointed that the King Billy (and his horse) on the banner aren’t also Lego.
That said, I’m kinda disappointed that the King Billy (and his horse) on the banner aren’t also Lego.
August 23, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Only in Norn Iron will you find sectarian (mock) Lego in toy shops.
That said, I’m kinda disappointed that the King Billy (and his horse) on the banner aren’t also Lego.
That said, I’m kinda disappointed that the King Billy (and his horse) on the banner aren’t also Lego.
On the flip side, the kids saw straight through my claim that the Mill Road roundabout in Portstewart had been painted by the local Polish nationalists.
August 23, 2025 at 9:58 AM
On the flip side, the kids saw straight through my claim that the Mill Road roundabout in Portstewart had been painted by the local Polish nationalists.
Rather excitingly, the hatch of the pillbox under Harry’s Shack has finally rusted away, so you can get a rather fine view of the interior, showing both embrasures.
(photos courtesy of child the elder)
(photos courtesy of child the elder)
August 19, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Rather excitingly, the hatch of the pillbox under Harry’s Shack has finally rusted away, so you can get a rather fine view of the interior, showing both embrasures.
(photos courtesy of child the elder)
(photos courtesy of child the elder)
And for those of us who are fans of British WW2 hardened field defences (and who doesn’t like a nice bit of reinforced concrete?) there are not one but two pillboxes, one at each end of the Strand.
edob.mattaldred.com/map/e24495
edob.mattaldred.com/map/e24494
edob.mattaldred.com/map/e24495
edob.mattaldred.com/map/e24494
August 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
And for those of us who are fans of British WW2 hardened field defences (and who doesn’t like a nice bit of reinforced concrete?) there are not one but two pillboxes, one at each end of the Strand.
edob.mattaldred.com/map/e24495
edob.mattaldred.com/map/e24494
edob.mattaldred.com/map/e24495
edob.mattaldred.com/map/e24494
I don’t usually agree with what’s in the Times, but I think that they were right when they declared this the best beach in the UK.
#Portstewart #norniron
#Portstewart #norniron
August 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I don’t usually agree with what’s in the Times, but I think that they were right when they declared this the best beach in the UK.
#Portstewart #norniron
#Portstewart #norniron
Still, we can always hope.
August 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Still, we can always hope.
Of course, I’d just missed any chance to see their 1990 European tour. 3/5
August 11, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Of course, I’d just missed any chance to see their 1990 European tour. 3/5
I’m a bit late to this (I’m camping with the scouts, time is an illusion, etc), but the 9th was the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist and vocalist of the Grateful Dead. 1/5
August 11, 2025 at 8:05 AM
I’m a bit late to this (I’m camping with the scouts, time is an illusion, etc), but the 9th was the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist and vocalist of the Grateful Dead. 1/5
Needs more Nathan Barley.
August 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Needs more Nathan Barley.
Whelan's are certainly more faithful to the books, but I have a soft spot for Steve Weston's covers (for the UK Corgi edition) and the distinctive double wings that his dragons had.
August 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Whelan's are certainly more faithful to the books, but I have a soft spot for Steve Weston's covers (for the UK Corgi edition) and the distinctive double wings that his dragons had.
And the next mead project: after the bread-yeast-redcurrant mead, I bought the elder teen more champagne yeast and a new hydrometer, as well as finings, yeast nutrient, and dried elderflowers. He set it fermenting while we were away, and it was lively enough to coat the sideboard next to it.
August 4, 2025 at 8:38 AM
And the next mead project: after the bread-yeast-redcurrant mead, I bought the elder teen more champagne yeast and a new hydrometer, as well as finings, yeast nutrient, and dried elderflowers. He set it fermenting while we were away, and it was lively enough to coat the sideboard next to it.