thistledo

With Spector checking out, that's now two of my team from last year. Fucked it. If anyone has Desmond Tutu, Phil or Vanessa Redgrave this year you're probably picking up points.

If you dedicate some time and effort to understand investing, you can do the early days yourself. If you can't or don't want to, then maybe financial advisor. I personally don't use IFA's just be sensible with the amount invested e.g. think about your attitude to risk & reward and what you are willing to lose, diversify (you'll be sick of that term soon), research. For the money you are talking in the future and depending how your investments go you'll probably want to speak to a wealth manager further down the line.

I've never understood the need to always have something new-ish and pay over the odds for it either, except I can only imagine it's their image they are concerned about. I recently got rid of a car I had for 15 years, bought it cash as a young lad but after the arrival of the wean and the fact the car was slowly being reclaimed by nature it was time for something new. Ended up thinking I'll treat myself and go to Audi, I have to say Audi salesman are, I'd say rather expectedly, complete and utter bellends. All I wanted to do was look at a couple A4 estates and maybe test drive something this expensive before I bought it. He was essentially trying to get me to agree to buy the car after driving it and kept on disappearing for 10-15 minutes at a time. Now angry at his behaviour I decided to get my own back, finally got a test drive and managed to drive us into horrendous traffic on the M8, he was absolutely furious, took us ages to get back. During the drive I proclaimed it was a great car and I wanted it. We got back to the dealership and he was about to do his disappearing act again and I said not bother I'd changed my mind. I genuinely thought he might have taken a swing for me, said I'd lost him another sale during that, I politely thanked him for his time and left. I could hear him furiously ripping up paper as I turned and walked away. Ended up going to Arnold Clark (I know) and buying a nice Golf GTI, that had more gadgets than the Audi and they weren't optional extras. It was also far nicer to drive. About half the cost of the Audi as well.

My main reason for dropping her. Best of luck though.

Gutted I dropped her from my team this year, absolute rookie mistake.

For the Jacqui Low fans and fans of the current regime. What would you say she has done to improve our club since she became involved? Genuine question. If there are any such fans on here. I can also completely understand not funding the current board if you don't think it's working.

Please don't joke about this.

On one hand, I think I've picked the wrong captain. On the other hand, that sort of response to stage 4 glioblastoma is quite incredible.

You've used mental health and depression to get bites? Well fucking done arsehole, I'm sure you feel smashing about that.

Top ten finish, pleased with that. Congrats to you @Bishop Briggs ya spooky b*****d

And pumped the General. Oh wait, no, never mind.

I actually joined (was coerced into) the social committee in a previous work place. More or less my sole purpose was to ensure there was lots of free booze. It was run by a very attractive lass, who was essentially made to do it because she was PA to the department head and her second in command 'the General', a recently separated from her boyfriend, man hating control freak who wanted to call the shots. The rest of the members were essentially just there to be dogsbody's for the General. I remember one of the missions was to visit locations in Edinburgh to host the Christmas party, this was done during office hours which was ideal as my boss being the good corporate employee actually thought this was an important task. Turns out everyone else ditched this task except for me and the General. Great. So off we went on our trip around the city visiting various places and on the way she complained about her ex, and in general "why are men assholes" followed up with enquiring of any single friends I may have. Took me all my will power not to say "I'm sure they'd be dying to meet you". It was fun. I remember thinking to myself, what the actual f*ck am I doing here, this isn't anything I would normally do, but f*ck it we're here now. Turned out to actually be quite class, loads of free food, free booze and all these places were trying very hard to get the business. The downside was I had to actually pretend I gave a f**k about any of this, the General had a big folder and lots of questions and I'm there with fuckall to contribute, I think I might have asked at some point "How tall is the Christmas tree?" in a desperate attempt to add something, I think it was met with odd looks and some laughter. By the time we finished, there was no real point making our way back to the office, after having consumed a fair amount of champagne I was feeling a small buzz and in the mood to get on it. The General suggested a debrief, actual words used, so I suggested the pub and she agreed. By this point the alcohol had softened her attitude and I believe she may also be having some fun, I am after all quite good company. In the pub, she literally meant a debrief, we sat down and she flung open the big folder and was ready to discuss it. f**k me. I got the drinks so I could at least order a chaser as well as pint. I got back and the General was in full flow of themes and colour schemes. f**k. But it gave me the opportunity to stress the importance of free booze and lots of it, which she seemed amenable to. Success and with that done, I somehow managed to convince her that "oh we need to probably discuss with the others" I thought she would be reluctant, but she agreed and the folder disappeared. Briefly it was back to the ex and man hating. I was thinking what in fucks name am I doing again. Then it actually became quite a laugh and the internal gossip flowed. We drank for quite some time, I'm a fairly capable session drinker and by this point I could see she was not. The battle hardened General was now quite coy and then flirtatious. Before I really knew it we were back at my place and the General was very much ready for action. The fucking things I do to ensure people have a decent Christmas night out with loads of booze. The next week was massively awkward and I left the social committee. As expected when Christmas night out came the General had returned and she was incredibly frosty with me. But alcohol flowed and everyone else was having a nice time. Some say I even saved Christmas. I was more or less regarded as a hero.*** ***So we never ended up back at my place, she did seem to suggest it until she found out I was not single and in no way interested. I just wanted to end it the way people thought it was going since you had to read all that. Unsurprisingly the rest is true and I did however leave once the booze situ was confirmed and she was in fact very frosty with me for leaving. Also rumours in the office arose there was something between us, no idea where that came from but it took a fair while to shift. You can tell I am absolutely fully in the Christmas wind down.

Expect it to be fucking shite. Unless you are attending with a small group of patter merchants, then it might be ok. I can't express just how shite it is on a Friday, at home talking to people you largely couldn't give a f**k about on webcam.

A bit like a younger, male, slightly less utter shite Janey Godley. Pish basically.

I always get a fair bit of enjoyment at witnessing two c***s on the road both in the wrong having a go at each other, while you can just sit back and bask in the glory of not being a c**t. There is this roundabout near my house that was recently built, which seems to have an inner smaller circle you clearly can't drive over and an outer circle that is almost like a lowered pavement, then you have the road. It's clear to most drivers that you don't use the outer circle either and I'm fairly certain you shouldn't. Anyway, the other night the Mercedes out in front attempts to make essentially a right turn at the roundabout without indicating and a delivery van cuts across the outer circle to go the same way, they both almost collide. I'd have loved to have heard the argument and counter argument from them as to who was in the right, as when I got to the lights further down the road they were still in same bit likely having a go at each other.

Sena seems to be developing well now, I think that's fair. Positive news about Spittal, I had thought he would be out a lot longer.

Likewise, probably a bit tech heavy at the moment actually and some of it will be getting offloaded when the time is right, hard to tell when that is, it was a bit cyclical for a while but seems more steady following the US election result. Fundsmith equity has been a steady ship for many years now, a lot of that down to Terry Smith and the fees reflect that, superb if you want to chuck a large sum down and have little time for management, definitely better value out there though.

Thanks. If you like them, charge on son, don't let anyone tell you any different. My dear Rugster, I have come close to visiting, but I chose train home rather than a 3rd bloody Uber back from Edinburgh that year alone. His treatment of your good self over the kebab shop recommendations is frankly vile. Its become so awkward I am considering going there myself just so that theres someone to pat you on the head and day well done.... If you could pick me up one as well, thanks.

This. Baillie Gifford American is a good example, up %125 for the year and I believe during the pandemic it made the majority of those gains.

I know exactly what you mean about the burning sensation... *Kenneth Williams gif* Care to share the name of the good pizza place?

Just read on wiki he married someone named Glennis Dickhouse, that's an outstandingly unfortunate name.

Massively craving pizza now and trying to eat healthier fucksake

Headlight bulb changing always involves a lot of swearing for me. What year is the Zafira? Usually the passenger side you can still get to unless you have shovels for hands, IIRC you can move the fuse box cabling aside to make it easier, it's still fiddly as f**k. These videos on YouTube of people taking off bumpers to replace bulbs are idiots usually. I had to change the bulbs on the missus' shitty wee Corsa, tiny wee engine and loads of space... Except near the headlight bulbs, ended up needing to disconnect the airbox pipe to fit my hand in. It's always fucking winter that it happens as well, never a nice warm summers night.

I thought Still Game was largely a decent show before it ended. Haven't watched any of the new ones as I've heard it's pish. Paul Young should have been in it a lot more, superb actor. I love this scene, ignore the fact the below seems to have been recorded with a potato.