nudge

You just adapt to it... Just like you adapt to the heat of +40. No difference really; just another extreme to become acclimatised to. Though I certainly prefer the latter

I never really considered Canada before but they are very nice people and it would be a good opportunity to meet again and to see something new as well. I'm with your missus though; there's no way I'm going there in winter either I've had enough of -20 to -30ºC winters in my life to know that I don't enjoy it one bit haha.

Got invited to Canada next summer as my ex-neighbours (a lovely couple) just moved back there... Pretty tempted to be honest.

We used to drink it neat many many years ago but the thought alone makes me gag now I don't mind it in a Bloody Mary (which I love) but other than that I can't stand it either. It's whisky and beer for me only these days. I quite like rum too but I can't really drink it as I can't stand sugar. Vodka with redbull is awful for your heart...

Why do you think I left??? Beer is bigger here than vodka anyway...

I actually dislike vodka

Bloody Mary! Vodka, tomato juice, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a few drops of Tabasco + stir with a celery stalk.

I stopped reading at "Jacques" ...

I can understand the novelty factor but for me it definitely wouldn't be worth it; even if it's not that expensive. I don't really do snorkeling or scuba diving, so being brought by a helicopter to a beach and being told that I can't go anywhere else or interact with the locals doesn't sound like my kind of trip haha.

Never heard of it I'm afraid...

You might find this interesting: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tech-innovation/evs-to-enhance-var-through-ai/5138338.article

A lot of things in life are harmful when abused; moderation is the key with everything. People have used and will continue using various recreational drugs for as long as they exist; nothing's going to change that - whether it's legal or not. I'd say it makes much more sense to legalise a relatively harmless low-risk drug that also has medical uses and regulate it instead of leaving it to sketchy drug dealers in unregulated black market which makes it by far more accessible to kids and by far increases the potential exposure to hard drugs with questionable quality. I'm also of opinion that grown ups should be free to decide what they can and cannot put into their bodies as long as they do not pose danger to society and I'm not a fan of banning things. But that's a different argument altogether.

Nor do I have anything against weed; it just isn't for me... I can't understand why it's not legal everywhere though to be honest. One of the most harmless "drugs" there is and has an extensive medicinal use as well. My mum has an autoimmune disorder and a disability because of it; smoking hashish every once in a while helps a lot with her condition.

I barely ever get wrecked these days as well but every once in a while there's still some unexpected spontaneous night out that makes you regret it the following day I have no interest in cannabis or any other drugs. A beer or two in the evening after work is just perfect for me...

Haha. Nah it's more of a sign that it wasn't treated right some 20 years ago... Now hangovers getting worse is certainly a sign of getting old...

What's that?

It's alright. My right knee and ankle (old injuries) give me trouble from time to time especially when it's cold or rainy outside and I also caught my first cold in years - but other than that all is more or less fine...

It's rumoured that Disney were really pissed when Benioff & Weiss signed a deal with Netflix as they thought (understandably) that it would interfere with their work on the new trilogy of Star Wars movies. However it seems that it was a mutual decision instead of Disney straight out firing them.

Not a rumour!

I haven't read the books either but I have a soft spot for fantasy adventure so I expect it to be good... Liked the pilot episode at least.

Started watching His Dark Materials last night. It's fantastic. @Bluewolf @Viva la FCB

Roger Penske has bought IndyCar series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Sounds great @Grizzly21. I'm starting to look into either a Trans-Siberian rail trip from Moscow to Beijing via the Trans-Mongolian route (and then the connecting train from Beijing to Saigon) or a Silk Road rail trip from Moscow to Beijing via the Central Asia. The second option interests me more but it would require a bit more effort to plan and sort everything out. It's been on my wishlist for quite a while now and I'm starting to seriously consider it for next year. The costs seem lower than I expected them to be and that would be a massive trip to go on...

All four great classics? Nice... I've read Romance of the Three Kingdoms and while I appreciate it and its complexity, it's too heavy with battles and political scheming for me to properly enjoy it. Journey to the West always fascinated me due to mythology & eastern philosophies, allegories, humour and adventurous nature of the story. It was also the last movie (TV adaptation of the novel) I watched together with my Grandma before she passed away and we loved it so it already has a very special place in my heart.