Who Watches the Watchmen (Our Chit Chat Thread)

For the seamaster I would buy it in a bracelet and pick up the rubber strap as an extra, to me this always makes sense financially

This is the way

adverts can throw up a nice surprise now and then too

After yesterday's rain and thunder, I decided that I was going to have a little BBQ today. Have some lovely rib in pork belly and the plan is to cook low and slow for 4hrs. Then sear on a very hot griddle before serving with some salad and maybe even a beer.

Anyway, another rain and thunder warning just went active so I'll be cooking on my own in the garden whilst the Mrs and kid laugh on from the kitchen.

Al I'll say is, it's a damn good thing I had a good Father's Day yesterday 😉 or I'd let them starve 🤣

And when I say good, it was great. No new watch stuff, but there is a birth year involved? The son managed to stumble across a 1979 copy of Dune 😁 It's a little dog eared but that doesn't matter I have a couple of "reading" copies book & digital. I have loved the book since I 1st read it in late 80's and still read it probably once a year. So in place of socks & jocks, I got something I really love, nice & thoughtful.

The weather was a bit too wet for me to do a full cook outside😟

So I improvised, did a low & slow cook in the oven followed by a quick trip to the grill for a sear.

It actually worked out better than I'd hoped, the overnight marinade no doubt helped too. I had just finished in the grill when there was a torrential down pour too. Worked out well 😁

Anyone any good at translating French?

Herself brought me back a dirty magazine from Switzerland. Heres a few SFW photos

@Ian OB Doirty!

I had a quick look quite recently actually - a watch bought for 2700 inc. shipping would end up costing over 3700 landed, with all the fees. So it'd want to be a bargain.

Plenty of bargains to be had from Japan, tbe used watches from reputable sellers are in fantastic condition

just be patient and always factor in the customs

I think it's something like this - example for a watch that costs 960 and 40 quid to ship.

Value for customs is 1000, so 120 payable (12%).

Value for VAT will be 1120, so 257.6 is payable (23%). Add handling fee of 10 by An Post.

Total import costs are 120+257.6+10 = 387.6, so total cost of watch is 1387.6

Lads, if I were a sailor? I'd surely be named Jonah! Or if I thought that the whims of fate were actually shaped by some sentient higher power, or a kid mashing the buttons on his Sims game 😉 or indeed if my life and it's travails were a soap opera?

I would, seriously start question, God, the kid's hand eye coordination or the sanity of the script writers.

One of my younger brothers, 34 years old collapsed 2 weeks ago at his home. Luckily someone was there with him. Rather than grumble about the ambulance response time, I'll focus on that stroke (if you'll pardon the pun) of luck.

He ended up having a massive haemorrhagic stroke. Thankfully, the ambulance crew took him to CUH rather UHL. He was on a ventilator for a week and last Friday week? I honestly expected us to be switching off his life support. His condition had worsened over the previous few days and Friday was particularly bad.

Fast forward to Monday, and he was off the vent and breathing on his own when I walked into the ICU. Honestly can't express how happy I was to see a little vitality in him. The added coincidence of Monday being my 1st Wife's birthday? Really just added to the sense of melodrama, scripted lunacy 🤷‍♀️

He is in a very bad way still, paralysed over entire right side, with dysphagia and swallowing issues. The prognosis is that as swelling on the brain goes down, that his movement and other issues will improve. Part of his brain is permanently damaged, but it will be about another 4 weeks before the extent of that is known.

He is lucky in that he is young enough to have an amount of brain plasticity that will help him adapt and compensate. So that and the fact he will have 7 of us too help him get back to a semblance of health will hopefully make his recovery a little easier.

Aside from not being the healthiest in terms of diet and weight. The Stroke team have pinpointed an issue with an adrenal gland tumor that is causing issues with his BP and that prolonged period of high BP found a weak spot in a blood vessel and laid him low.

He's my brother, but he's more than that tbh. He came along when I was 10 and I had a permanently attached shadow until moved out of home, and he reattached himself every time I was back 🤣

As I am often wont to say, your health is your wealth. Don't put off getting any niggles or worries addressed and mind yourselves folks!

At some point in the next few months I might run an auction or raffle giveaway for the Bru Columbanus house down at CUH. A service I didn't even know existed until we were in the midst of sorting out hotels and lift rotas to be sure that one of us was always near CUH. They've made a 2 bed apartment available to my family for the foreseeable. In a place that really is set up to support families and eases a burden at a time of huge stress.

It'll be a few weeks yet before I do anything on that front but I will of course run it past @Wibbs and get a Boards ok before I do anything.

Sorry for the essay and don't worry about tiptoeing around the edges of it. Our youngest brother has already changed Stroke Bro's ring tone to:

@banie01 That's quite a trial for you all, but wonderful to see such support from loved ones.

Stay strong.

Seriously considering upgrading from my Sumo to this new GMT Prospex…..

Iirc, yes they will charge you VAT, but you will be hit for customs on the full price, including shipping and handling.