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.
But you do still have a Mackinaw jacket, right?
(I wouldn’t want to make assumptions about your hockey allegiances, but I’m guessing that you have the requisite shirts)
(I wouldn’t want to make assumptions about your hockey allegiances, but I’m guessing that you have the requisite shirts)
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM
But you do still have a Mackinaw jacket, right?
(I wouldn’t want to make assumptions about your hockey allegiances, but I’m guessing that you have the requisite shirts)
(I wouldn’t want to make assumptions about your hockey allegiances, but I’m guessing that you have the requisite shirts)
Goulash! The cat’s name is Goulash!
(heavens know where I dredged that memory up from)
(heavens know where I dredged that memory up from)
November 22, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Goulash! The cat’s name is Goulash!
(heavens know where I dredged that memory up from)
(heavens know where I dredged that memory up from)
It was getting on a bit when we last visited (which was a while ago), but it acted like it owned the place.
November 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
It was getting on a bit when we last visited (which was a while ago), but it acted like it owned the place.
Yes, but did you get to meet the cat?
November 22, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Yes, but did you get to meet the cat?
Genuinely surprised that they didn't mention taking gold teeth as well.
November 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Genuinely surprised that they didn't mention taking gold teeth as well.
It’s just Piggate all over again.
November 15, 2025 at 9:07 AM
It’s just Piggate all over again.
Interest piqued! What is the name of this documentary, and where may I view it?
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Interest piqued! What is the name of this documentary, and where may I view it?
“One thing about World of Darkness I never could stomach: all the damn vampire live role players.”
November 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
“One thing about World of Darkness I never could stomach: all the damn vampire live role players.”
I really disliked the prominence of the clans in VtM. In my experience, it too often led to one-note roleplaying; Malkavs were “HEY, LOOK AT ME, I’M KERAAAZY!”, Brujah wore leather jackets, etc.
And the less said about vampire LARPers inspired by VtM, the better.
And the less said about vampire LARPers inspired by VtM, the better.
November 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I really disliked the prominence of the clans in VtM. In my experience, it too often led to one-note roleplaying; Malkavs were “HEY, LOOK AT ME, I’M KERAAAZY!”, Brujah wore leather jackets, etc.
And the less said about vampire LARPers inspired by VtM, the better.
And the less said about vampire LARPers inspired by VtM, the better.
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.
Oh, and you’d obviously lose the “Adventure Island” theme park that straddles the pier head, which gives the perfect reason to rebuild it as Peter Pan’s Playground (as god and nature intended) complete with a faithful reconstruction of the old Wendy Glide.
November 12, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Oh, and you’d obviously lose the “Adventure Island” theme park that straddles the pier head, which gives the perfect reason to rebuild it as Peter Pan’s Playground (as god and nature intended) complete with a faithful reconstruction of the old Wendy Glide.
Southend would be fine; it has cliffs. Some window damage, major damage to the pier (nothing new) and you’d probably lose the Rossi’s parlour in Westcliff (the greatest loss tbh).
Canvey Island, on the other hand, would face its greatest disaster since the North Sea Flood of 1953.
Canvey Island, on the other hand, would face its greatest disaster since the North Sea Flood of 1953.
November 12, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Southend would be fine; it has cliffs. Some window damage, major damage to the pier (nothing new) and you’d probably lose the Rossi’s parlour in Westcliff (the greatest loss tbh).
Canvey Island, on the other hand, would face its greatest disaster since the North Sea Flood of 1953.
Canvey Island, on the other hand, would face its greatest disaster since the North Sea Flood of 1953.
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.
On the plus side, the oil refinery that used to stand on the Isle of Grain has now been gone for more than 40 years.
November 11, 2025 at 5:17 PM
On the plus side, the oil refinery that used to stand on the Isle of Grain has now been gone for more than 40 years.
As an Essex boy, that was also my immediate reaction. Yes, there might be some broken windows in Southend, but that's a price worth paying.
November 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
As an Essex boy, that was also my immediate reaction. Yes, there might be some broken windows in Southend, but that's a price worth paying.
When returning from visiting your in-laws in Northern Ireland having again failed to bake the promised simnel cake, do not pack the still-unused block of marzipan in your luggage with all the charging cables and power banks.
Thankfully the nice men at Belfast City Airport saw the funny side. 2/2
Thankfully the nice men at Belfast City Airport saw the funny side. 2/2
November 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
When returning from visiting your in-laws in Northern Ireland having again failed to bake the promised simnel cake, do not pack the still-unused block of marzipan in your luggage with all the charging cables and power banks.
Thankfully the nice men at Belfast City Airport saw the funny side. 2/2
Thankfully the nice men at Belfast City Airport saw the funny side. 2/2
When flying to visit your in-laws in Northern Ireland at Easter, and having failed to bake the promised simnel cake before you left, do not pack the ingredients (including a block of marzipan) in your luggage. 1/2
November 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
When flying to visit your in-laws in Northern Ireland at Easter, and having failed to bake the promised simnel cake before you left, do not pack the ingredients (including a block of marzipan) in your luggage. 1/2
I suspect that there's a non-trivial overlap between the set of lamppost flag-hangers, the set of those who do not attend Remembrance Sunday services, and the set of those who complain when a parade stops them from driving their cars.
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I suspect that there's a non-trivial overlap between the set of lamppost flag-hangers, the set of those who do not attend Remembrance Sunday services, and the set of those who complain when a parade stops them from driving their cars.
Out with my scout group this morning for Remembrance Sunday, and was discussing with my fellow leaders the possibility next year of parading from the nearby gurdwara to the church (interfaith ftw).
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Out with my scout group this morning for Remembrance Sunday, and was discussing with my fellow leaders the possibility next year of parading from the nearby gurdwara to the church (interfaith ftw).
I mean, it’s not exactly a common surname, but somehow the merest twinkle of an inkling had never intruded upon my (apparently) rather thick skull.
What a maroon. What a ultramaroon.
What a maroon. What a ultramaroon.
bugs bunny is standing in the desert with a cactus in the background and says `` what a maroon '' .
Alt: Bugs Bunny is facepalming at my stupidity.
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
I mean, it’s not exactly a common surname, but somehow the merest twinkle of an inkling had never intruded upon my (apparently) rather thick skull.
What a maroon. What a ultramaroon.
What a maroon. What a ultramaroon.
And yes, I too had several friends who worked for him over the years at Sanger, and they all had nothing but good to say about him.
November 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
And yes, I too had several friends who worked for him over the years at Sanger, and they all had nothing but good to say about him.
OMFG. I had no idea they were related!
(I’m clearly a little short on the uptake)
(I’m clearly a little short on the uptake)
November 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
OMFG. I had no idea they were related!
(I’m clearly a little short on the uptake)
(I’m clearly a little short on the uptake)
tbh, the bear is looking rather more stressed than you are.
November 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
tbh, the bear is looking rather more stressed than you are.
A short but eventful trip in a tumbril?
November 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
A short but eventful trip in a tumbril?
I once managed to show reel 3 of Terminator 2 in place of reel 3 of Terminator. Took a while to realise what was wrong…
November 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I once managed to show reel 3 of Terminator 2 in place of reel 3 of Terminator. Took a while to realise what was wrong…