Alex's even longer post thread.

[Alex]

Glad your cat survived.

45 returned from being relegated to the comedy pages in UK newspapers during the election but has since returned there, or faded away entirely. Oh, another claim from my workmate is that trump will be the last president of the US. There is about to be some revolution and you'll be replacing it with some other figurehead.

Something to look forward to then?

Around 36% of people are saying they won't get the vaccination which puts the whole herd immunity part in jeopardy in the UK. Some places are saying unless you can prove you have had the vaccination though, that they will refuse you entry. Fair enough in my book. It is your right to refuse to take it, but don't expect the rest of the world to suffer because you are an idiot.

[Zapranoth]

I wish you all the best in the UK.  Hopefully there, and here, enough reasonable people will get the vaccine and take basic measures to get us all back on our feet again.

I scored an Xbox Series X today!  Managed to order one online and have confirmation that it is beginning to ship.  Huzzah!  It's the only toy I've really coveted this season.

[Alex]

Congrats and enjoy it, even if Playstations are clearly the superior product. 

[Zapranoth]

Congrats and enjoy it, even if Playstations are clearly the superior product. 

My only regret is Ghost of Tsushima.  Otherwise, no f**ks given.  :)   

Sure gonna suck if the next Elder Scrolls game goes Xbox-exclusive; I hope they don't do that.

[Alex]

Congrats and enjoy it, even if Playstations are clearly the superior product. 

My only regret is Ghost of Tsushima.  Otherwise, no f**ks given.  :)   

Sure gonna suck if the next Elder Scrolls game goes Xbox-exclusive; I hope they don't do that.

I'd be surprised if they did that, but stranger things have happened before.

[Rev. Powell]

Only 71% of the med staff (includes MA's, support staff, non-doctors) said that they definitely would take the vaccine on the survey.  f**king blows my mind.  Probably the number that will take it is going to be higher than 71%, so perhaps I just need to abide.

That is shockingly low. 

[Alex]

I know in the UK a lot of people have serious doubts over the length of time the vaccines have been tested for. I have explained that all the relevant tests have been ran, they just did them all at the same time instead of one after the other, but I can understand peoples hesitation there I guess.

[Alex]

My warcraft renaissance continues. Currently sitting at level 55 and aiming to be max level (60 in classic) in time for next Saturday so I can go on a raid with the guild. We were doing a group mission the other day and a very rare epic item dropped (the items are colour coded for rarity and power, grey is useless items that you can at least sell, white I can't remember the name for, but they are very much like greys, green is a common magic item, blues are rare and purples are epics. There are also legendary (orange) items, but they involve a serious amount of work to get). Anyway, the item has a 0.01% drop chance. I won the roll for it, so I've put it up on the auction house. Went for a bit over 1700 gold which I have split with the people I was adventuring with and one other guy who normally parties with us, but was having a bad day that day and didn't join.

Anyway, we all ended up getting 270 gold out of the sale, which is a fairly substantial boost to anyone's cash in classic. An epic mount (100% ride speed boost) sets you back 1000 gold. Hopefully, people will put their bonus towards that. I am halfway to being able to afford mine currently.

I was hoping the whole family would get a long lie in this morning. The previous two mornings Ash had slept in until 10ish which is unusual. This morning (my first one off work), he woke up at 5 am crying. I was going to get up with him, but Kristi said she would. Half an hour later I wasn't getting back to sleep so I just got up to join them. I was getting myself sorted when I heard Kristi shout at Ash, followed by the cat getting shouted at, so I abandoned my normal morning rituals and went downstairs. Gave Kristi a hug, then put Ash back in his cot and persuaded Kristi to go back to bed for a bit. Of course, since I am awake, I am staying awake and therefore here I am typing.

How is your morning going?

Have a song that could be about an existential crisis, but isn't.

Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

Hoping to get out to the cemetery today. We picked up a wreath for Lilly-Beth and I'd like to place it sooner rather than later, but that is going to be weather dependent. The air has been seriously cold around here and when Kristi and Ash have been out the air has not reacted well to the colds they have.

[Alex]

Cemetary visit is now happening today. Kristi is out delivering some cookies to various neighbours and when she gets back I am going to head out.

Still keeping to my plan of a level per night in Warcraft. The people who said it wasn't possible have now accepted that actually, you can do it if you know what you are doing, which is a shame because their doubt was a major driving factor in me doing it lol.

Painting up a ship that is about 3 feet long. I started with a brown undercoat (because its a wooden sailing ship), but the first can of spray paint ran out before I was even half done. I guess I'll be picking up more spray paint while I am out then (assuming everything isn't in lockdown already). Everyone was told that they would relax the restrictions over the festive period, allow people to meet up with families and so on (all against scientific advice). Then yesterday it was announced that we were going into a lockdown. While I don't disagree with them doing that, telling people it would be fine to meet up and then snatching that away from them is a much crueller blow. I think there is going to be a lot more rule-breaking than if they'd just said we'd be in lockdown from the start. We are also getting cut off as a country due to the new strain of Covid that is spreading much faster than the original version. They seem to think the vaccine will still work against the new strain, or at least that there is a good chance of it. Going to be hellish if it doesn't, or it mutates again.

So much for my conspiracy theorist co-workers claim that as the new year approached Covid would just slowly disappear (all part of a plot to depose the trumpeter, so after the election it wouldn't be needed).

[Alex]

This morning, I hit level 60 in classic World of Warcraft. This is the highest level you can get at the moment. This evening I was asked to be an officer in the guild, leading and organising 20 to 40 man raids.

I really wanted to avoid that and just be a regular player, but for some reason, I said yes.

[chefzombie]

well of course you did, it's who you ARE. leader, protector, chief yeller, scottish guido, all that stuff. merry christmas! 

[Alex]

Managed to get some interest yesterday from Ash in his presents. It was certainly better than last years screaming when we brought him his stuff. His favourites seemed to be his very own mini armchair and a Paw Patrol play tent. After that, it would be all his Hot Wheels cars. Must have gotten at least 30 from different play sets and things.

[chefzombie]

the pic of him in his chair with his footstool is adorable! i'm still in FB jail, so couldn't comment.

[Alex]

The final day of the year rolls around. I certainly seem to be awake early enough to see the most of it.

I see the Oxford vaccine has now been approved for use in the UK. I must admit, given the choice that will be the one I'd want to get. It isn't because it was made in the UK, or even because I know lots about vaccines. I just like it more from what I've read about how it was developed. Not that I am expecting a choice and I'll be happy to get whichever one is available ultimately.

Got out of bed about half three this morning. I was just feeling too hot to sleep. Watched a bad Chinese movie (Croczilla) and caught up a little on the news. A Brexit deal was signed, not quite at the last minute but close enough. Part of me wanted no deal just to let people see what they had really voted for and get what they thought they wanted. I haven't looked at the detail of the deal, or hell even the banner headlines, but I suspect it is a decent one and something that the EU will come to regret. After all, if we can leave and have a good deal then why should anyone else stay in the union?

I hope everyone has a happy new year and a good celebration. May the next one be less troublesome (and I'll drink to that).

[chefzombie]

my final sacrifice to make 2020 go away was whacking off my ponytail. seems to be working so far.