Smylers
@smylers.uk
Ilkley Christian geek board-gamer puzzle/quiz/crossword fan and parent
Prize includes children's books and a T-shirt sized age 3–14.
Entrants must be 16+.
Prizes aren't transferable — what's the winner supposed to do with them, then‽ (Except for the doughnuts, obviously.)
Entrants must be 16+.
Prizes aren't transferable — what's the winner supposed to do with them, then‽ (Except for the doughnuts, obviously.)
January 29, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Prize includes children's books and a T-shirt sized age 3–14.
Entrants must be 16+.
Prizes aren't transferable — what's the winner supposed to do with them, then‽ (Except for the doughnuts, obviously.)
Entrants must be 16+.
Prizes aren't transferable — what's the winner supposed to do with them, then‽ (Except for the doughnuts, obviously.)
What happens when trying to follow the gov's advice to learn AI? It didn't go well, but this thread is as entertaining as it is despairing.
Thank you, @kolektiv.xyncro.com, for suffering this so that the rest of don't have to.
Thank you, @kolektiv.xyncro.com, for suffering this so that the rest of don't have to.
I think I might take one of these "under 20 minutes" AI skills courses the UK Govt. seems very keen on everyone doing and live-post it here... Maybe we can all learn something together! The press release sends me to aiskillshub.org.uk/aiskillsboost/ - let's go and see!
AI Skills Boost - AI Skills Hub
aiskillshub.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 9:31 AM
What happens when trying to follow the gov's advice to learn AI? It didn't go well, but this thread is as entertaining as it is despairing.
Thank you, @kolektiv.xyncro.com, for suffering this so that the rest of don't have to.
Thank you, @kolektiv.xyncro.com, for suffering this so that the rest of don't have to.
Now that's a confusing email subject!
(I presume there's a band called 10 Years After — or possibly one called 60th Anniversary Matinee — but I haven't heard of them.)
(I presume there's a band called 10 Years After — or possibly one called 60th Anniversary Matinee — but I haven't heard of them.)
January 28, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Now that's a confusing email subject!
(I presume there's a band called 10 Years After — or possibly one called 60th Anniversary Matinee — but I haven't heard of them.)
(I presume there's a band called 10 Years After — or possibly one called 60th Anniversary Matinee — but I haven't heard of them.)
Slightly to my surprise, we've already booked our first event of *2027* — we're not always this organized!
www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/the-cu...
Spouse and I have seen it before ~15 years ago; it'll be the first time for the children:
www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/the-cu...
Spouse and I have seen it before ~15 years ago; it'll be the first time for the children:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Leeds Playhouse
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time returns in a thrilling new staging. An unforgettable mystery and coming-of-age drama.
www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk
January 24, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Slightly to my surprise, we've already booked our first event of *2027* — we're not always this organized!
www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/the-cu...
Spouse and I have seen it before ~15 years ago; it'll be the first time for the children:
www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/the-cu...
Spouse and I have seen it before ~15 years ago; it'll be the first time for the children:
Today's Cryptic DJ puzzle is fun: crypticdj.com
I didn't recognize the first piece of music, but having worked out the link from t'other 3, I (eventually) realized what it must be …
I didn't recognize the first piece of music, but having worked out the link from t'other 3, I (eventually) realized what it must be …
Cryptic DJ
Cryptic DJ
crypticdj.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Today's Cryptic DJ puzzle is fun: crypticdj.com
I didn't recognize the first piece of music, but having worked out the link from t'other 3, I (eventually) realized what it must be …
I didn't recognize the first piece of music, but having worked out the link from t'other 3, I (eventually) realized what it must be …
Unexpected side-effect of the GB Rail Sale: I can't work late in the office. There's 5 trains an hour, so with a season ticket I'd finish what I was doing then go home..
But today, with my 90p ticket, I had to be on the 17:02.
(Also meant I couldn't leave early, though.)
But today, with my 90p ticket, I had to be on the 17:02.
(Also meant I couldn't leave early, though.)
January 20, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Unexpected side-effect of the GB Rail Sale: I can't work late in the office. There's 5 trains an hour, so with a season ticket I'd finish what I was doing then go home..
But today, with my 90p ticket, I had to be on the 17:02.
(Also meant I couldn't leave early, though.)
But today, with my 90p ticket, I had to be on the 17:02.
(Also meant I couldn't leave early, though.)
Reposted by Smylers
Seems unfair that you only get to use the bouncy slide to get off a plane when things have gone wrong. The bouncy slide should be a treat they give to the best passengers who did the flight correctly.
January 17, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Seems unfair that you only get to use the bouncy slide to get off a plane when things have gone wrong. The bouncy slide should be a treat they give to the best passengers who did the flight correctly.
Watching ‘Outnumbered’ as a family, we've reached this 2010 episode.
Karen is playing ‘Britain's Got Talent’ with her teddies, and the writers got lucky it wasn't yet the David W era. There is a mention of Piers M, but he's somehow turned out to be less controversial: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Karen is playing ‘Britain's Got Talent’ with her teddies, and the writers got lucky it wasn't yet the David W era. There is a mention of Piers M, but he's somehow turned out to be less controversial: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
January 17, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Watching ‘Outnumbered’ as a family, we've reached this 2010 episode.
Karen is playing ‘Britain's Got Talent’ with her teddies, and the writers got lucky it wasn't yet the David W era. There is a mention of Piers M, but he's somehow turned out to be less controversial: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Karen is playing ‘Britain's Got Talent’ with her teddies, and the writers got lucky it wasn't yet the David W era. There is a mention of Piers M, but he's somehow turned out to be less controversial: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Smylers
Let's get everybody pronouncing it "copy lot" by the end of business.
WM Police chief Craig Guildford has apologised for identifying a fictitious West Ham v Maccabi Tel Aviv match in a police report. He’s written to the home affairs committee and blames Microsoft CoPilot for the error
January 14, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Let's get everybody pronouncing it "copy lot" by the end of business.
Reposted by Smylers
If you run an organisation that relies on small regular donations, a friendly word of advice: don't make it hard for people to set up or change regular payments!
"We don't want to manage it in-house, so we're using SphinxGiving where you can set up a £5-a-month donation if you solve a riddle..."
"We don't want to manage it in-house, so we're using SphinxGiving where you can set up a £5-a-month donation if you solve a riddle..."
January 14, 2026 at 9:41 AM
If you run an organisation that relies on small regular donations, a friendly word of advice: don't make it hard for people to set up or change regular payments!
"We don't want to manage it in-house, so we're using SphinxGiving where you can set up a £5-a-month donation if you solve a riddle..."
"We don't want to manage it in-house, so we're using SphinxGiving where you can set up a £5-a-month donation if you solve a riddle..."
Getting dressed in a hurry to make an emergency supermarket dash, because it seems some twocker has nabbed all the milk from our doorstep.
January 14, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Getting dressed in a hurry to make an emergency supermarket dash, because it seems some twocker has nabbed all the milk from our doorstep.
Ostensibly this is hints for today's Telegraph Crossword.
In practice it's actually publicizing Kiss a Ginger Day, announcing my current injury, and highly recommending @janicehallett.bsky.social's latest unreliable-narrator murder mystery book: bigdave44.com/2026/01/12/d...
In practice it's actually publicizing Kiss a Ginger Day, announcing my current injury, and highly recommending @janicehallett.bsky.social's latest unreliable-narrator murder mystery book: bigdave44.com/2026/01/12/d...
January 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Ostensibly this is hints for today's Telegraph Crossword.
In practice it's actually publicizing Kiss a Ginger Day, announcing my current injury, and highly recommending @janicehallett.bsky.social's latest unreliable-narrator murder mystery book: bigdave44.com/2026/01/12/d...
In practice it's actually publicizing Kiss a Ginger Day, announcing my current injury, and highly recommending @janicehallett.bsky.social's latest unreliable-narrator murder mystery book: bigdave44.com/2026/01/12/d...
We're going to see an Agatha Christie play at Skipton Little Theatre after hearing @alexbcann.bsky.social mention it on @www.yourilkley.com.
The theatre's website wants to know where we heard of it … but doesn't allow radio as an answer:
The theatre's website wants to know where we heard of it … but doesn't allow radio as an answer:
January 10, 2026 at 2:30 PM
We're going to see an Agatha Christie play at Skipton Little Theatre after hearing @alexbcann.bsky.social mention it on @www.yourilkley.com.
The theatre's website wants to know where we heard of it … but doesn't allow radio as an answer:
The theatre's website wants to know where we heard of it … but doesn't allow radio as an answer:
Reposted by Smylers
Keeping my death certificate stored conveniently on my phone for when I need it
January 1, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Keeping my death certificate stored conveniently on my phone for when I need it
Reposted by Smylers
This is your annual reminder that New Year's Resolutions DO NOT LEGALLY COME INTO EFFECT until January 6th.
January 1, 2026 at 7:47 PM
This is your annual reminder that New Year's Resolutions DO NOT LEGALLY COME INTO EFFECT until January 6th.
Reposted by Smylers
Population per capita by U.S. state.
December 30, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Population per capita by U.S. state.
Play for Today: www.ntathome.com/nye
December 31, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Play for Today: www.ntathome.com/nye
Reposted by Smylers
Spoiler: They used the money just as wisely as anyone else would, and it's so frustrating that this still isn't a common sense assumption to make.
December 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Spoiler: They used the money just as wisely as anyone else would, and it's so frustrating that this still isn't a common sense assumption to make.
Reposted by Smylers
While it's well-known that only one team has ever recovered from 0-2 down to win a series 3-2 (Australia in 1936-37), it's less commonly mentioned that no team has ever recovered from 0-3 down to limit the margin of defeat to 2-3. England have a chance to make history in Sydney.
December 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
While it's well-known that only one team has ever recovered from 0-2 down to win a series 3-2 (Australia in 1936-37), it's less commonly mentioned that no team has ever recovered from 0-3 down to limit the margin of defeat to 2-3. England have a chance to make history in Sydney.
Spouse bought tickets to the theatre without me, because they thought I'd said I wasn't interested in going.
At least, that's what they're claiming I said.
The play? ‘Gaslight’ …
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayho...
At least, that's what they're claiming I said.
The play? ‘Gaslight’ …
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayho...
Gaslight - Ilkley Playhouse
Thu 15 Jan to Sat 24 Jan
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk
December 29, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Spouse bought tickets to the theatre without me, because they thought I'd said I wasn't interested in going.
At least, that's what they're claiming I said.
The play? ‘Gaslight’ …
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayho...
At least, that's what they're claiming I said.
The play? ‘Gaslight’ …
ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayho...
Today's philosophical conundrum: what does it mean for Argos to offer a 5-year guarantee on a hot water bottle that they recommend is replaced after 2 years?
www.argos.co.uk/product/8651...
www.argos.co.uk/product/8651...
December 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Today's philosophical conundrum: what does it mean for Argos to offer a 5-year guarantee on a hot water bottle that they recommend is replaced after 2 years?
www.argos.co.uk/product/8651...
www.argos.co.uk/product/8651...
Maybe I've got unrealistic standards, but personally I don't think I'll ever consider something to be an ‘extravaganza’ when it consists of buying some printer ink.
No matter how low the prices.
No matter how low the prices.
December 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Maybe I've got unrealistic standards, but personally I don't think I'll ever consider something to be an ‘extravaganza’ when it consists of buying some printer ink.
No matter how low the prices.
No matter how low the prices.
Radio 1 yesterday broadcast a DJ saying “From now until the big day …”.
Today 6 Music thought it was New Year's Day: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
And it's hard enough to remember what day it is tomorrow without Radio 2 claiming it's both Sunday and Saturday: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
Today 6 Music thought it was New Year's Day: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
And it's hard enough to remember what day it is tomorrow without Radio 2 claiming it's both Sunday and Saturday: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
December 26, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Radio 1 yesterday broadcast a DJ saying “From now until the big day …”.
Today 6 Music thought it was New Year's Day: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
And it's hard enough to remember what day it is tomorrow without Radio 2 claiming it's both Sunday and Saturday: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
Today 6 Music thought it was New Year's Day: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
And it's hard enough to remember what day it is tomorrow without Radio 2 claiming it's both Sunday and Saturday: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
13yo now has an Android phone. Setting it up demands a Google account.
On my laptop, I follow instructions to accounts.google.com/signup to create a child account. Several steps in, Google insists on the child scanning a QR code with their phone … which they can't do yet, because no Google account!
On my laptop, I follow instructions to accounts.google.com/signup to create a child account. Several steps in, Google insists on the child scanning a QR code with their phone … which they can't do yet, because no Google account!
December 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
13yo now has an Android phone. Setting it up demands a Google account.
On my laptop, I follow instructions to accounts.google.com/signup to create a child account. Several steps in, Google insists on the child scanning a QR code with their phone … which they can't do yet, because no Google account!
On my laptop, I follow instructions to accounts.google.com/signup to create a child account. Several steps in, Google insists on the child scanning a QR code with their phone … which they can't do yet, because no Google account!