Good morning it’s bank holiday Monday and the weather is supposed to be hot today. I’m going to the opticians for a check up, I’ve opted for the £10 extra eye exam too.

Later we are going to our sons for a holiday planning meeting ready for our October cruise to the Canaries.

Have a great day everyone.

Had a root canal finished yesterday, stitches taken out of the molar area today - I'm finally starting to pull away from the dentists' chair.

Tough week ahead at work - a Notts signing would brighten things up a bit

I’ve got to have new varifocals, that’ll cost an arm and a leg then. I can’t complain really I’ve had these I’ve got now for five years.

I’ve also got slow growing cataracts apparently which might need to be dealt with in the future.

Sorry to hear that @Fan of Big Tone, let's hope slowly means glacially, but if not it must be pretty routine to remove, in fact, it is.

4 hours ago, theAnticlough said:

Sorry to hear that @Fan of Big Tone, let's hope slowly means glacially, but if not it must be pretty routine to remove, in fact, it is.

Thanks @theAnticlough Yes it’s a routine procedure these days with lasers I think, in any case the optician said it would probably be a few years yet.

@Fan of Big Tone I've used varifocals for over 10 years now. Once you get used to them they are fine. I always have a couple of pairs at a time. (I get a discount if I buy two). When driving HGVs I had an eye test every year, although now I've retired I go every two years now. I also have slow growing cataracts too.

A lovely weekend had with our two young granddaughters in Mablethorpe, not a raindrop in sight and a climax of pure blue sky yesterday.

I also have had varifocals for the last few years and as @Robbie says, they don't take too long to get used to, and once that takes place you don't realise when wearing them and they become part of you. So @Fan of Big Tone dive in with open eyes.

Back to work today (only for 4 days though) soon be the weekend. Then 5 days until Dubai for an 11 night break, can't wait. Will have to get a move on after the Fleetwood game to get to Heathrow Airport though and bed down for the night.

Have a good day everyone. 😀

Thanks guys, I’m not new to varifocals my present glasses are varifocals I just need a new prescription because my eyes have deteriorated a bit.

34 minutes ago, Michael D Pie. said:

Then 5 days until Dubai for an 11 night break, can't wait.

@Michael D Pie. wow, how exciting, enjoy.

I'm counting down the time to Tranmere away; Jake will be joining us. We went last season on the opening day, and Cal (Jake's friend) went. We haven't heard from him since he stopped going, but life moves on, and it's different without him. I started paying for Cal to attend games as a way to bring back enjoyment to Jake, who, for various reasons, wasn't as bothered back then about coming with me to games.

Sunday and Monday have been very difficult for me; I came back from Notts feeling not so good. That extended into a sleepy Sunday and a lot of pain.

I am hoping to get the chance to focus on the content in the forms of articles, and hopefully manage to get over to see Super. My niece's birthday was last week, and Jake has gone to see his cousins until Thursday.

It's pretty quiet in the house, as the girls don't make much noise.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I gave Jake my old electric guitar, which @GrannyPie bought me back when I was 16. After waiting for a new cable and a bit of tinkering with the amp, he has been practicing a lot. With headphones in, when he has managed to get them to work, the amp is very temperamental.

Seven Nation Army is something he can already play quite well for someone who has never had lessons. He wants to be able to play a lot of classic rock songs. I used to be interested in writing music back in the day, which is why GP surprised me with the guitar. With work and life, I never found much time for it, but I find it very befitting to give it to Jake so that he can learn before purchasing his own.

@Chris my grandson Fred can play Seven Nation Army, he is having lessons from someone in West Bridgford and is getting quite good. It’s a shame he’s not into football I don’t get the chance to bond with him as much as I do with Chloe.

It’s Chloe’s birthday coming up so me and Mrs. T popped to the ground today to get her an away shirt which Chloe prefers. Mrs. T also persuaded me to buy myself a shirt, I got a home shirt, it’s the first I’ve bought for years. So that’s £100 gone just like that, I hope Chloe likes it.

We had lunch in the TBI and a nice walk along the river too, I think Mrs T was hoping to see the naked man on the barge I’d seen on Saturday but the barge was locked up and no sign of the man naked or otherwise. 😂

i just finished work.

very average day, nothing exciting to mention. i did not go out for something to eat, i took a pack launch.

i am a bit concerned about thomas (cliftonmagpie), and i would hope he does not mind me saying it. having him and his partner around the house is really nice, but he has not been the same. i wished @Joshua would come to games with me and @TheSkipper. it was really fun how we started going to away games, and i hope thomas will join us. i was always nervous about going to games by myself, but i did and its much better with friends.

we have had so many fun journeys on the road, and met up at the occasional home game.

i normally just turn up for when the gates open, but i did like having a drink before. i really hope thomas is okay.

5 hours ago, Chris said:

Sunday and Monday have been very difficult for me; I came back from Notts feeling not so good. That extended into a sleepy Sunday and a lot of pain.

when you feel pain, just relax. it must be awful not being able to do anything about it. i hope you manage to have more better days than bad.

1 hour ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

It’s Chloe’s birthday coming up so me and Mrs. T popped to the ground today to get her an away shirt which Chloe prefers. Mrs. T also persuaded me to buy myself a shirt, I got a home shirt, it’s the first I’ve bought for years. So that’s £100 gone just like that, I hope Chloe likes it.

that is nice! i tend to set aside a certain amount to spend on the club shop for a new shirt. if i dont buy a shirt, i will spend the money on other things like a training top. i bet the new home shirt looks awesome on you tone. i hope chloe enjoys her gift and her birthday.

1 hour ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

It’s a shame he’s not into football I don’t get the chance to bond with him as much as I do with Chloe.

maybe you could find something you both have in common? if he likes playing guitar, could he play songs you like just to see that bond and interest come together,

8 hours ago, Michael D Pie. said:

Then 5 days until Dubai for an 11 night break, can't wait. Will have to get a move on after the Fleetwood game to get to Heathrow Airport though and bed down for the night.

oooo nice! i hope you have a brilliant time in dubai. lets hope you go seeing notts claim 3 points.

21 hours ago, theAnticlough said:

Had a root canal finished yesterday, stitches taken out of the molar area today - I'm finally starting to pull away from the dentists' chair.

hope it all goes well and you manage to avoid the dentist all together from there, it sounds painful. 😥

I get a reprieve for a few weeks@liampie, then they’ll be installing girders and various hardware into my jawbone. Can’t wait 😜

I've got my 6 monthly visit to the Dentist tomorrow. Happy days.

I don’t enjoy living in Manchester at the moment. It’s become quite rough, and the auditors and vloggers are making things worse. They keep going back to bad areas and stir things up just to get reactions and boost their views. It’s one thing to raise awareness and hope the council steps in, but when you keep poking at the same problems, it just makes it harder to live there. It’s not easy walking through the city centre without someone kicking off.

The visit to the Dentist went ok. Just a check up & nothing untoward found so that's it hopefully for another six months.

Well I’ve ordered my new varifocals they were £180 that’s with the cheapest £30 frames, I’m glad I’m not a fashion icon. 😂 Some of the designer frames were a ridiculous price just because a celebrity has lent their names to them. I certainly didn’t fancy the Elton John frames, they were a bit outlandish.

We've been with Asda Opticians for over 20 years. You get excellent service and a good discount when you buy two sets of glasses. We've always got two sets just in case of a mishap. One for driving, one for general use

21 hours ago, theAnticlough said:

I get a reprieve for a few weeks@liampie, then they’ll be installing girders and various hardware into my jawbone. Can’t wait 😜

😱 i hope all this is done without a fuss or hiccup, and you can stay well away from further dentist work. i had to hold my jaw just reading your reply.

1 hour ago, TheSkipper said:

I don’t enjoy living in Manchester at the moment. It’s become quite rough, and the auditors and vloggers are making things worse. They keep going back to bad areas and stir things up just to get reactions and boost their views. It’s one thing to raise awareness and hope the council steps in, but when you keep poking at the same problems, it just makes it harder to live there. It’s not easy walking through the city centre without someone kicking off.

i have seen some of the stuff, and i agree, manchester looks very hostile with the illegal migrants and antisocial people.

1 hour ago, Robbie said:

The visit to the Dentist went ok. Just a check up & nothing untoward found so that's it hopefully for another six months.

glad your check up went smoothly, at least with six months you can forget about it.

i hate visiting the dentist even tho i have no issues so far, i am always mindful of what if. 😥

45 minutes ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

Well I’ve ordered my new varifocals they were £180 that’s with the cheapest £30 frames, I’m glad I’m not a fashion icon. 😂 Some of the designer frames were a ridiculous price just because a celebrity has lent their names to them. I certainly didn’t fancy the Elton John frames, they were a bit outlandish.

oh come on tone, i would love to see you wearing elton john style glasses, with a scarf around your face. you would be a mixture of austin powers [international man of mystery] and piano man.

School starts again soon and I don’t have much time left. My mum and dad have cut down how long I can be online or play games. They keep telling me to go outside and see my mates more. I don’t just sit in my room all day, but I get why they want me to go out.

Today I’m using some of the time I’m allowed. I could use my phone, but I like my computer better. It’s easier to see things and type properly. I’m trying to enjoy it while I can before school begins again.

The weather’s acting weird. It looks sunny, but it keeps trying to rain. I think there’s a storm coming. I hope it doesn’t ruin the rest of the day because I really want to make the most of it.

On 27/08/2025 at 16:36, TheSkipper said:

I don’t enjoy living in Manchester at the moment. It’s become quite rough, and the auditors and vloggers are making things worse. They keep going back to bad areas and stir things up just to get reactions and boost their views. It’s one thing to raise awareness and hope the council steps in, but when you keep poking at the same problems, it just makes it harder to live there. It’s not easy walking through the city centre without someone kicking off.

I turned last season's Salford game into a Manchester stay - a city i used to live in. I visited all of my old haunts. Generally though, I was sad about the state of things there.

I was especially disappointed with the area around the Etihad Stadium. Years back it really was post-apocalyptic around there - Ashton Old Road / New Road and the Clayton Aniline area but all the regeneration was lipstick on a pig IMO.

On 27/08/2025 at 19:12, Ash said:

School starts again soon and I don’t have much time left. My mum and dad have cut down how long I can be online or play games. They keep telling me to go outside and see my mates more. I don’t just sit in my room all day, but I get why they want me to go out.

Today I’m using some of the time I’m allowed. I could use my phone, but I like my computer better. It’s easier to see things and type properly. I’m trying to enjoy it while I can before school begins again.

Same here, much prefer the computer. I keep my phone as far away from me as possible!

It's good you get where your parents are coming from. Years down the line you'll remember all the things you did outside and with friends, and too much unproductive time on devices will seem like a waste of a youth. I guess a healthy balance of all things is a challenge for all of us, but especially for the younger generations. When school restarts you'll get back to a normal routine

On 26/08/2025 at 17:48, liampie said:

i am a bit concerned about thomas (cliftonmagpie), and i would hope he does not mind me saying it. having him and his partner around the house is really nice, but he has not been the same.

I appreciate the concern, mate. I'm still finding my feet, literally but I’ll feel more like myself soon. It’s all new to me, and most of my focus is on finding the right job. I’ll be back watching Notts away before long, so no need to worry about that.

oooo nice! i hope you have a brilliant time in dubai. lets hope you go seeing notts claim 3 points.

Thank you @liampie we will do our bestest, and 3 points would be a bonus.

We return on the 18th so will also be back for Crawley at home. Also Mrs P hits the big 60 on the 21st and celebrations are now being prepared by our two sons, therefore another 3 points would be adding to the already prepared knee's up. 🥳👌⚽️

Then return to normality on the 22nd, where does time go?

1 minute ago, CliftonMagpie said:

I appreciate the concern, mate. I'm still finding my feet, literally but I’ll feel more like myself soon. It’s all new to me, and most of my focus is on finding the right job. I’ll be back watching Notts away before long, so no need to worry about that.

But we all do @CliftonMagpie Always here if a chinwag is needed.You do seem to be coping though but any time you have a set back you know where your friends are

as super says, you will find a lot of friends here @CliftonMagpie. even if i can now speak to you in person, I will let you talk if you need to get something off your chest.