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music, art and culture / Re: Books...

« Last post by spidermonkey09 on Today at 10:59:20 pm »

I recently tried to read (the highly critically acclaimed) 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara. It started off really well, but in a similar vein to the Goldfinch I bailed about half way through. I found it 'jumped the shark' and got too silly. But silly in a really grim way. I started to get uneasy with the way it was going and way things were portrayed,

(spoilers in here)

NSFW  :

mostly regarding mental health, the ability/inability to overcome trauma, enablers (doctors/friends etc), childhood abuse, portrayals of self-harm etc.

about a quarter of the way in but carried on to see how it would pan out. Unfortunately it turned out as I was fearing. A google search later and reading a bunch of reviews and threads it seems it is quite a controversial book and divides opinions strongly. It seems I am very much in one camp and interested to hear if anyone else has read it and what they thought.

I'm reading this now and am enjoying it so far (if that's the right word). I think I am probably approaching the point at which you bailed out so will be interested to see if it maintains my interest. It's very well written and I'm engaged in the characters so far, which is admittedly a prerequisite with a 700 page novel!

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get involved: access, environment, BMC / Re: Spad climbing

« Last post by mrjonathanr on Today at 10:53:56 pm »

I rather hoped this was about Dominic Cummings taking up soloing. Disappointing on so many levels.

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get involved: access, environment, BMC / Re: Spad climbing

« Last post by nik at work on Today at 10:53:00 pm »

The same landowner who is content to have over a 100 dogs on a dog walking meet on a summers afternoon like we witnessed last May.

I'm sorry but some perspective is required here.

I genuinely don’t understand the point you’re making here?

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for sale / wanted / Re: UKB Freecycle

« Last post by nic mullin on Today at 10:35:44 pm »

Thanks Sam, have PM’d.

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music, art and culture / Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second

« Last post by Fultonius on Today at 10:26:45 pm »

Just remembered that I meant to mention some recent ones...

La Chimera - so captivating. Not "edge of the seat" but more "where is this going". Brilliant performances.

Omen - weird but good. Non judgmental intercultural implied themes... (says the mrs) Not as good as La Chimera, but definitely not derivative...

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get involved: access, environment, BMC / Re: Spad climbing

« Last post by Fiend on Today at 10:21:11 pm »

Sigh, and I thought this was another thread about bolting up Gogarth / Craig Y Forwyn....

Even more disappointed that it took me so long to guess the crag 

Obviously I agree with the general condemnation of this on both ethical and access grounds. I would be interested to hear what the people involved have to say.

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music, art and culture / Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second

« Last post by SA Chris on Today at 10:15:55 pm »

Rewatched Dredd on Film 4 recently, possibly one of the last decent action movies made? Solid 8/10

Much better than Stallone version and some good bits and cool effects, but the whole plot is basically the Indonesian film The Raid.

Went and watched The Fall Guy with the family on the weekend. Very low maintenance, gets a bit silly, but a good fun film. With a couple of fun surprises at the end. 

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get involved: access, environment, BMC / Re: Spad climbing

« Last post by AlistairB on Today at 09:11:14 pm »

Can anyone describe exactly what is installed?

Without letting slip the name of the venue, which I'm sure no one could possibly work out from what's been said.

I'm not sure what's there now, but last summer there was a "hand-rail" of tat running along the top of the whole buttress (though not visible from below), at least one bolt (possibly a whole two bolt lower-off IIRC) near the top of the E9 and then a fixed line running all the way to the floor down the HS, from memory with loads of in-situ knots presumably for clipping in lanyards. The fixed line wasn't visible from the main path as it's round the back, but it is certainly somewhere easily accessed by non-climbers which doesn't seem like a great idea.

Earlier in the day we experienced an E2 requiring an ab from a long dead tree surrounded by horribly loose rock, genuinely the worst belay I have had to use in many years. But I guess nobody has added any fixed gear there because they actually read the RAD.

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get involved: access, environment, BMC / Re: Spad climbing

« Last post by webbo on Today at 08:53:11 pm »

The same landowner who is content to have over a 100 dogs on a dog walking meet on a summers afternoon like we witnessed last May.

I'm sorry but some perspective is required here.

I might not agree with aspects of land ownership and how said land was acquired but as the the law stands. It’s up to the landowner who they invite on to their land.

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music, art and culture / Re: Games, games, games

« Last post by JamieG on Today at 08:45:15 pm »

Animal Well! Really enjoyed this. Exploration and puzzle based Metroidvania. For fans of things like Hollow Knight, Tunic, etc. Cliched, but the less you know going in the better. Doesn't take too long to complete the main game, but there is still tons to do afterwards.

https://www.eurogamer.net/animal-well-review