SpruceWillis's recent activity
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
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Comment on Does anyone play Vintage Story? in ~games
SpruceWillis LinkOkay, you've all sold me. I've downloaded it, just about to boot it up and start playing!Okay, you've all sold me. I've downloaded it, just about to boot it up and start playing!
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Comment on Spring gardening thread in ~hobbies
SpruceWillis LinkI got my garden done late last year and got two really great roughly 3ftx8ft beds put in so I've got a ton of space to plant veggies this year. Gone for pretty standard stuff, carrots, broccoli,...I got my garden done late last year and got two really great roughly 3ftx8ft beds put in so I've got a ton of space to plant veggies this year. Gone for pretty standard stuff, carrots, broccoli, potatoes, onions, leeks. I've also got some tomatoes which have done well inside so I'll be moving those out in the next week or so.
I'm also gonna try plant some pumpkins, never done it before so we'll see how we get on.
Strawberries, rhubarb and raspberries are doing great as always, they're really thriving and my herb table is coming to life again.
I did have a plastic tarp greenhouse but I lost it in the horrible storms we got here in Scotland a couple months back so I'm saving up for a proper one but that won't be until later this year in the autumn probably.
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Comment on Does anyone play Vintage Story? in ~games
SpruceWillis LinkI haven't played it but I've just had a look at it, it seems really interesting! The crafting system sounds really cool, it gives me the same vibes I got from Minecraft when I first saw it back in...I haven't played it but I've just had a look at it, it seems really interesting! The crafting system sounds really cool, it gives me the same vibes I got from Minecraft when I first saw it back in mid-2010, that mystery and wonder.
Definitely tempted to grab it, will keep an eye on whether anyone here has played it and what their thoughts are first.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
SpruceWillis Link ParentIt's not a book, but the films Threads, The Day After, and When the Wind Blows deal with the run up to and aftermath of nuclear armageddon. They're all incredibly grim watching but Threads in...It's not a book, but the films Threads, The Day After, and When the Wind Blows deal with the run up to and aftermath of nuclear armageddon.
They're all incredibly grim watching but Threads in particular stayed with me for some time afterwards. It's a very haunting film that just gets worse and worse as it progresses, truly horrendous stuff.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
SpruceWillis Link ParentI read the first book in The First Law trilogy a few months ago, it was very good! Abercrombie has such a fluid way of describing combat, very visual, and the characters are fantastic, especially...I read the first book in The First Law trilogy a few months ago, it was very good! Abercrombie has such a fluid way of describing combat, very visual, and the characters are fantastic, especially Inquisitor Glokta, I was always excited when I got to one of his chapters.
I'm a slow reader though and the books are pretty long so I'm taking a break between the first and second book and reading a few shorter books.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
SpruceWillis Link ParentYeah the chemistry between Lucy and Max wasn't great. Agreed on Max's actor being wooden, I don't know what it was but it felt like he just had a confused look on his face 90% of the time he was...Yeah the chemistry between Lucy and Max wasn't great. Agreed on Max's actor being wooden, I don't know what it was but it felt like he just had a confused look on his face 90% of the time he was on screen.
I liked Ella Purnell as Lucy, she was great fun but I had issues with her acting at points as well. The part that sticks out to me is when...
Spoilers
The Ghoul cuts her finger off with a hunting knife. She doesn't react, like at all...
I can understand a level of shock dulling the pain but outside of a look of mild shock she barely reacts to her finger being clean chopped off.
Walton Goggins was great though, especially considering he had to play two parts, Cooper in pre-war America and The Ghoul in the Wasteland. I've heard he's awesome in Justified, which is another show on my list so if he plays a gunslinger in that then he'll have won me over already.
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Comment on How to end a level 20 D&D campaign with a bang in ~games.tabletop
SpruceWillis LinkCongratulations, sounds like an epic campaign! I've not yet had one reach level 20, managed level 15, but not 20, currently working ot it though. Judt to make you aware, if you fancy doing it...Congratulations, sounds like an epic campaign! I've not yet had one reach level 20, managed level 15, but not 20, currently working ot it though.
Judt to make you aware, if you fancy doing it again, there's a pretty great third party campaign that goes 1-20 called "Odyssey of the Dragonlords". It's written by a couple of the guys who wrote for Mass Effect, KOTOR and Dragon Age so there's a pedigree behind them. It's a super fun, Greek epic campaign set in a really cool Greco-Roman style world.
The campaign itself is solid out the box but there's a great community on Discord who have tweaked it, added new sidequests, characters etc to really amp up the campaign and take it to the next level.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
SpruceWillis LinkI finished Mr Inbetween recently and can highly suggest it to anyone who is into crime shows revolving around a violent anti-hero. It's an Australian dark comedy-drama about a hitman. It's very...I finished Mr Inbetween recently and can highly suggest it to anyone who is into crime shows revolving around a violent anti-hero. It's an Australian dark comedy-drama about a hitman. It's very funny, even as a Brit with a passing knowledge of Australian culture, very violent and incredibly well acted.
I then quickly worked my way through Fallout, really enjoyed it, I've got my issues with it (nothing to do with timelimes or canon nonsense, that doesn't bother me, even as a huge fan of the series). It's more that some of the dialogue is a little clunky and some of the acting isn't that great at points but a really great start, and I'm excited for season two.
Now I'm working my way through Barry (another dark comedy-drama about a hitman, seem to have a thing for those at the moment). I'm loving it, since Saturday morning I've gotten through Seasons 1-3 and watched the first episode of season 4 on my lunch today. It's unbelievably good, might be one of my favourite shows ever and I've not even finished it, it's just incredible!
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
SpruceWillis Link ParentYeah, the last interview I did for the secondment I just got was difficult, felt drained after it and now I've got to go through it again for a job I won't actually do for two years. Having the...Yeah, the last interview I did for the secondment I just got was difficult, felt drained after it and now I've got to go through it again for a job I won't actually do for two years.
Having the security that I'm not gonna drop back to my old role and pay after the secondment is over will be good and it is nice to know the senior manager and director she spoke to think that highly of me that they've looked into sorting this for me.
However, like you said, it's so stressful and putting myself through this again is just making me anxious. Thanks though, fingers crossed its not for nothing.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
SpruceWillis LinkI got an interview for a promotion at work. Normally I'd be happy but I'm very "meh" on it. Just last month I had an interview for a promotion at work, I prepped like crazy, aced it, and got the...I got an interview for a promotion at work. Normally I'd be happy but I'm very "meh" on it.
Just last month I had an interview for a promotion at work, I prepped like crazy, aced it, and got the job. However, it's a 2-year secondment, so after the 2 years are up I'll end up back in my old role losing out on money in the process, which sucks.
My senior manager was sad to see me leave the team I'm in, but she told me there were jobs coming up at the same pay grade as the secondment I've got. She even spoke to HR and one of the directors on my behalf and found out if I went for it and got the role I could do my secondment and then just take up the new role in two years time.
When the role came up I almost felt like I had to go for it. It is a role I want don't get me wrong, but I'm burned out on interviews, especially since I went all out on the one I got. Either way, I applied and got an email today confirming that I've been offered an interview next Wednesday at 9am. It'll be competency based and I also have to give a 5-10 minute presentation.
I genuinely have zero desire to do all this again, my weekend has disappeared under interview prep, and I just feel no drive to work on it but I'm gonna drag myself to do it anyway.
Sounds stupid and it is, I should be happy, but in my head I can't get into it, I'm just done for the time being. I want to sit back and enjoy the work I put into getting my new role, instead it's like I'm being told I can't just take a moment to relax.
Other than all that, it was my daughters 2nd birthday yesterday, we went to a safari park and she loved it seeing the lions, monkeys, tigers, rhino, and giraffe.
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Comment on Knocked Loose - Suffocate (ft. Poppy) (2024) in ~music
SpruceWillis Link ParentI hadn't heard it, thanks for letting me know, it's great. That riff is groovy and the breakdowns crazy, didn't realise Poppy had that in her.I hadn't heard it, thanks for letting me know, it's great. That riff is groovy and the breakdowns crazy, didn't realise Poppy had that in her.
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Comment on Knocked Loose - Suffocate (ft. Poppy) (2024) in ~music
SpruceWillis LinkThat breakdown is wild! Knocked Loose are hitting it out the park, also nice to see Poppy's descent into heavier and heavier music.That breakdown is wild! Knocked Loose are hitting it out the park, also nice to see Poppy's descent into heavier and heavier music.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
SpruceWillis LinkBeen going to my GP the past few weeks after my yearly blood pressure check a few weeks ago showed that my blood pressure was indeed quite high. After some monitoring and further check ups I was...Been going to my GP the past few weeks after my yearly blood pressure check a few weeks ago showed that my blood pressure was indeed quite high.
After some monitoring and further check ups I was placed on a daily dose of 1.25mg of Ramipril last week. I had bloods taken yesterday to check that the Ramipril isn't damaging my kidneys and another blood pressure check which showed that while my BP has dropped a decent amount its not quite where the doctor wants it to be so my Ramipril dosage has been doubled and I've been placed on the waiting list for a 24hr ECG to make sure there isn't something wrong with my heart.
It's worrying, especially at 33 years old, but I don't think there's anything wrong with my heart if I'm being honest. My mums side of the family has always had huge issues with blood pressure related diseases (with my own mum having suffered a stroke, that she survived, 6 years ago) so I reckon it's just dodgy genetics and the doctor just wanting to rule out any other conclusions.
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Comment on Ukrainians contemplate the once unthinkable: Losing the war with Russia in ~misc
SpruceWillis Link ParentI don't really know what you expect then, turning into a bit of a cyclical argument here. You're arguing that Europe isn't doing enough compared to the US, however in pure monetary and hardware...I don't really know what you expect then, turning into a bit of a cyclical argument here.
You're arguing that Europe isn't doing enough compared to the US, however in pure monetary and hardware terms its impossible for any country to compare to the US. However, if you look at per capita figures, a lot of European countries are contributing close to or more than the US but you say this comparison isn't fair. So to make it fair a poster compares some of the biggest contributors in Europe against the US and suddenly that's not a fair comparison so the goalposts move again.
Then suddenly it's that comparisons aren't the point and it suddenly becomes a call to emotion talking about how you just want more weapons and hardware on the ground in Ukraine.
We all want that to be fair, I won't argue with you there, but weapons, ammo and shells don't just magically appear. Europe's defence industries have been lazy, granted, but by next year there'll be a tenfold increase in the number of shells that can be made monthly and defence spending has been increasing massively across Europe for the past 7 or 8 years, never mind the past two once Russia invaded.
You're also forgetting that Europe isn't a hive mind. Within my own country, the UK has been training and arming Ukrainian soldiers since 2014, MI6 was right there with the US warning that Russia was going to invade in 2022 from the get go and has almost definitely been offering classified intelligence to Ukraine since then, and our special forces like the SAS, SBS, and probably even E Squadron have possibly been in Ukraine for some time offering support if reports are to be believed.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
SpruceWillis Link ParentHalo might be, in my opinion, one of the greatest metal songs ever written, it's so good.Halo might be, in my opinion, one of the greatest metal songs ever written, it's so good.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
SpruceWillis LinkWent out with some uni friends last night for pizza which was great fun, we try to do it every month or two and it's always nice seeing them. Got my brother in laws 30th birthday tomorrow, so free...Went out with some uni friends last night for pizza which was great fun, we try to do it every month or two and it's always nice seeing them.
Got my brother in laws 30th birthday tomorrow, so free lunch and then D&D later Saturday evening with friends.
I also went for a follow up with my GP yesterday on the back of my annual blood pressure check. After monitoring my blood pressure for the past week they've agreed that it's regularly quite high, averaging around 145/100.
I've now been placed on 1.25mg of Ramipril to manage it. It was always gonna happen, my family has got a horrible history of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke but I'm glad it's been picked up now at 34 and not at 60 after decades of damage or after potentially collapsing at home or something.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
SpruceWillis LinkI met up with a couple of uni friends the other night for pizza and a catch up and we started chatting about great metal albums and we settled on The Blackening being Machine Heads best and one of...I met up with a couple of uni friends the other night for pizza and a catch up and we started chatting about great metal albums and we settled on The Blackening being Machine Heads best and one of the best metal albums of all time. So naturally, I've been listening to it a bit since then, such an incredible album,
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Comment on In Berlin, I experience icks I never thought possible in ~travel
SpruceWillis Link ParentCouldn't believe it when I read that, has to be satire of some sort, surely. She'd freak out at my job, I get 42 holiday days a year with the ability to build up and use 20 flexi days a year and I...Couldn't believe it when I read that, has to be satire of some sort, surely.
She'd freak out at my job, I get 42 holiday days a year with the ability to build up and use 20 flexi days a year and I can carry a maximum of 8 days over. So if I played my cards right, I could maximise my holiday time and get 70 days off a year!
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Comment on Parenthood venting thread in ~talk
SpruceWillis Link ParentYeah, Still Game was and still is incredibly popular here. I went to see the Still Game live shows at the OVO Hydro arena in Glasgow, not as good as the TV show but still really enjoyable. If you...Yeah, Still Game was and still is incredibly popular here. I went to see the Still Game live shows at the OVO Hydro arena in Glasgow, not as good as the TV show but still really enjoyable.
If you haven't watched it, the TV sketch show, "Chewin' the Fat" by Ford and Greg (Jack and Victor) is also very funny and is where Jack and Victor got their start.
After finishing Barry which I absolutely adored (needs a bit more time but I think it'll settle into my Top 5 of all time list) I moved on to Shogun. I'm really liking it so far, currently half way through the season and it looks gorgeous, the political intrigue, back stabbing and maneuvering is fantastic, and the actors are all just great in their roles.