Duck

Apart from non-stick aluminium foil (maybe as a result of a deprived adulthood but I've only seen it in the US, not UK) shiny and dull sides are simply a result of the manufacturing process. The shiny side will reflect a tiny amount more radiated heat than the dull side, no difference with convected heat and no effect on whether something will stick or not. Greaseproof/parchment paper can stop sticking but cooking time may need to be increased a little. Non-stick pans work as does a small amount of cooking oil in a standard pan but then pre-heated in the oven for a few minutes.

Much closer to home than the US is http://www.shootinginprague.com, who will indulge you in shooting a wide range of common and exotic rifles and handguns. The problem is that unless you opt for something more than a taster AND you return at regular intervals then all you'll learn are the very basics with little opportunity to develop safe handling procedure or marksmanship. AR 15 "lookalikes" chambered in .22 are common and with the best ones mimicking virtually all aspects of a real AR15, learning to handle, shoot, strip and clean one is perfectly UK legal for a FAC holder. Going this route means you can also learn how to shoot a semi-automatic as .22's are still legal (and very common) in semi-auto configuration at any gun club.

If you own land not bordering a busy road, housing estate etc and want a shotgun for vermin control then getting a certificate should be simple. If you intend shooting on someone else’s property you’ll need to prove you have permission. Broadly the same for FAC’s and vermin control, deer-hunting etc but you’ll also need to justify the calibre of firearm requested. The usual route to a FAC is by joining a Home Office approved club, going through their training programme then apply for the FAC with “good reason” being target shooting with one or more of the calibre for which the club is approved. Clubs and Police forces vary but the whole process will typically take 7-12 months and in most cases will now entail obtaining information from your GP about any presenting problems or medication involving depression, anxiety etc. FAC renewal is at 5 year intervals but will be refused if your club cannot confirm you are an active member and using the firearms itemised on the FAC. It’s easy to find clubs with 25 or maybe 50 metre ranges but they’ll likely be restricted to .22 or perhaps “pistol calibre” (.357, .38. .44) so if you want to shoot larger calibre firearms over longer distances look for 100 metre ranges and/or clubs using MOD ranges, although you’ll then be into serious money for rifles, scopes and ammunition! Small or large calibre firearms or shotguns will all need a police-approved gun cabinet and ideally a separate ammunition safe but you can delay installing these until you have a date for a firearms officer visit as part of your FAC application. Home/Self-defence? Using this as a “good reason” for a FAC or shotgun licence will guarantee you’re turned down and as others have said, hearing a burglar then unlocking your cabinet, fitting the bolt, loading a magazine etc just isn’t realistic. Add to that you would not be considered to have defended yourself “proportionately” and threatening let alone wounding or killing an intruder would see you in deep, deep trouble.

Shakespeare, J.B. Priestley or any other play text was written to be watched and listened to as a piece of theatre rather than something that needs “translating” before it will make sense. Yes, there will be words or phrases that are used differently today or need explanation but it’s usually the density of language and amount of meaning contained in a few words that throws modern students. Audiences brought up with TV, Video and Film are used to visual rather than aural communication, hence the Hollywood-productions that will cut text and replace it with visual fireworks. Although these can still be worthwhile, the productions to be avoided are those adaptations where the original text is ditched in favour of 21st Century colloquial language. A good quality live production is definitely worth a visit but with MACBETH and AN INSPECTOR CALLS available on DVD/Youtube then starting there and with repeated viewings will get the basic story and character relationships sorted out. And that’s the key: more is needed at A level but fully understanding the story, who the characters are and how they relate to one another will provide a solid basis for answering GCSE questions. Study guides are useful when checking expressions no longer in common use (Steady The Buffs) or summarising events but just confuse and actually infantilize the people they are aiming to help by treating texts as huge lists of problems to be solved. A small example: students will often interpret study guide summaries of Macbeth as a weak, indecisive man who is dominated by a powerful wife whereas reading and understanding the description of his actions at the beginning of the play - Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chops - portrays a violent, bloodthirsty warrior.

Oh great....yet another cause with which to bash the boomers, although I guess it saves even further comment and analysis of the snowflakes. Seriously though, I've reached my three score-years-and-ten but probably eating the least amount of best prepared and most varied food ever. I can and do make interesting and tasty vegetarian food, probably 2 to 3 times per week, fish at the same interval plus more and more varied vegetables and salad than in the past. Red meat features maybe once a week, chicken more often while olive and rapeseed has largely replaced sunflower oil, butter and cream feature more regularly than they did ten years ago and much of the vegetables and salad we eat is grown in a small garden bed. And all this largely ignoring the never-ending, often conflicting dietary advice but based instead on solid, personal, empirical evidence of what works for us in terms of waistlines and general well-being.

Wasy for you to say

And another one that just scrapes in to early 70's....though maybe should have posted on the trans madness thread?

Just scrapes in (1970) and admittedly a cover of a Wilbert Harrison original. Catchy 1960's hits such as "Up The Country" might suggest a very lightweight/pretend-blues outfit but Canned Heat were a stunning, tight, hard-driving and VERY loud live band.

DVD Regions and their corresponding countries: R1 Region 1 ~ U.S.A., U.S. Territories and Canada R2 Region 2 ~ Europe, Japan, the Middle East, Egypt, South Africa, Greenland R3 Region 3 ~ Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong R4 Region 4 ~ Mexico, South and Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Caribbean R5 Region 5 ~ Russia, Eastern Europe, India, Africa (excluding South Africa), North Korea, Mongolia R6 Region 6 ~ China

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/2164811/cathay-pacific-aeroplane-gets-new-paint-job-complete

The reason I wrote the situation with catherters, TWOC and TURP is confused and I’m unclear why another type of procedure - Rezum - would be indicated is because I was trying to understand why it was impossible to successfully perform TWOC and thereby return to the post-1st biopsy position with the major problems handled by medication. If, as you say, the medication is ineffective after a while and a potential side-effect could affect eyesight (Tamsulosin/Flomax and intraoperative floppy iris syndrome - IFIS?) then Rezum does seem worth exploring further. If TURP is the only realistic option I suppose there’s a calculation to be made as to whether potential complications of retrograde ejaculation, incontinence and erectile dysfunction are something you might have to deal with. I certainly understand your feelings about the urology department you’ve been dealing with. Everything from insensitive bedside manner to outright incompetence via delay and contradiction is the last thing you need. If you have faith in your GP and s/he can arrange for you to see an urologist at a different hospital that might help with regaining some confidence in the system but failing that and if funds allow, I would be tempted to see someone privately with a view to them reviewing all the notes and test results and advising on the best course of action, whether that be privately or via the NHS but armed with an authoritative “outside” opinion. Sorry to hear you’re having to go through all this and hope you have more luck in the near future. Best wishes

You probably know all this but for the sake of clarity, BPH or benign enlarged prostate is very common in older men and while the symptoms of increased need to urinate are annoying and can be uncomfortable, medication that aims to reduce the size of the prostate (Finasteride) or counter the urge to pee (Alpha Blockers such as Tamsulosin) is often very helpful. PSA tests can be a useful measure of prostate health but are far from being an accurate indicator of whether cancer is present. The accepted maximum figures for a particular age can be a guide but as an example, my PSA has been in the 8-10 range for several years, much above what would be typical for a man of my age. BPH symptoms, a high PSA and a digital rectal examination (DRE) identifying a much enlarged prostate with a granular texture is, I believe, a good reason for a biopsy or other further examination though bear in mind that Finasteride and biopsy will each affect subsequent PSA scores. It sounds as though things were going along OK for you after the first biopsy but rapidly went downhill after the PSA went to 7 and you had a second biopsy. Assuming neither biopsy indicated cancer, it seems the situation with catherters, TWOC and TURP is confused and I’m unclear why another type of procedure - Rezum - would be indicated. Would it not be best to get back to the situation after the first biopsy, i.e. no indication of cancer, medication making life bearable and only a raised PSA to worry about? That way, 6 monthly PSA checks plus DRE’s will give you and the GP an opportunity to use Watchful Waiting to see how quickly - if at all - PSA is rising and leave TURP or Rezum as possible future treatments if and when medication ceases to be effective? Easy to say at a distance and not suffering the problems you’ve had to endure but rather than a surgical procedure I think I would be pushing the GP and urologist to get rid of the catheter and return to medical treatment of BPH.

No, not pedantic although my answer may be. Each of the slatted "grills" in my barbecue takes exactly 2 x 70 cm slices of pork, that once cooked can then be transferred to keep warm on one of the solid plates set higher!

Pork tenderloin, beaten out into approx. 70 cm slices, marinaded for at least 3 hours in olive oil, cider vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, chilli and wholegrain mustard. Cook for 2 minutes per side on barbecue..........'tis good!