Ooh. I like this idea! When I'm at a computer again I'll look into adding a similar sidebar to !manchester@mcr.town

I'm old enough to remember when Facebook Messenger was compatible with XMPP (as was Google Hangouts, then called Talk). You could talk to people on there from your own server, you could use whatever open source client you wanted. It was great.

Then they cut off the federation. Then they cut off the API.

They'll do the same again. Once enough of your friends and family are on their network they cut of federation and you have to move to them if you don't want to get cut off with it.

Hey! Good point, thanks! To be honest I don't really like the picture and was on my phone when I realised it didn't have one so just uploaded a relevant photo without thinking about the implication! I've scaled it down now.

Also, welcome!

Not so sunny now!

If you're interested in a Manchester based group, btw, I've set one up at !manchester@mcr.town

Ooh. I've never ridden a Brompton but I could see how it would present extra difficulties!

As someone who used to cycle Dartmoor a lot, I have a technique for normal cattle grids.

Speed up at much as possible, grip the top tube with your knees, cling onto your hoods with white knuckles, close your eyes and pray to any gods you can think of. It's always worked so far.

In all honesty though, stop pedalling, hit them at 90⁰ and do not turn the handlebars and you're fine.

There's a word I had to look up and will now annoy everyone with as much as possible!

Also stirred a memory of a Terry Pratchet book from a scarily long time ago!

Got a long weekend since the US based company I work for has given us all Juneteenth off. This means I will be heading for the pub as soon as is socially acceptable!

If it does rain, by the way, it's my fault. New patio set arrived last night.

And tomorrow, yep, more Tears of the Kingdom will definitely be happening!

I can't hear the word eddies without thinking Hitchhiker's Guide

"Eddies," said Ford, "in the space-time continuum."

"Ah," nodded Arthur, "is he. Is he."

I agree, but I wouldn't undervalue how much that simple human connection can mean to people who really need it.

Having to listen to everybody else moan about hayfever!

Seriously, though, it really does feel like everyone except me gets it these days.

I just set up a Lemmy site and am basically posting here to try out how federation works! Other than that... stressy meeting-filled work week!