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Hope you're doing well, Bob. It's a hard time for many at the moment, but you're not forgotten 😊

Thanks Phili - the box is on a shelf about a foot away from the TV with plenty of ventilation, out of sunlight, etc. Annie - I will ask them to try that, although I've lost count of how many times I've reset the bloody thing, let alone them. I've not done it quite like that though, so I will give it a try and report back! 😁

My parents live in S6, and have TalkTalk TV, Faster Fibre broadband and phone. For well over a year, their TV picture is at times blocky and erratic, to the point of being unwatchable. The picture improves if watching on the HD channels, but not all channels they like are HD. They've had a new box, and a new TV, but the problem persists. They have an older, smaller TV in the next room which is fine (different wire to the aerial, not a spur). Can anyone suggest things to try? TalkTalk say it might be a problem in the street box, but no-one else has reported problems, and they've had an aerial man out who couldn't find a problem.. They are not remotely interested in having super high speed broadband or anything, they just want to be able to watch TV!

Not sure why anyone would think that "we" don't want people living in the city centre? It can only be a good thing. More foot fall for the shops, less reliance on polluting transport for commutes, property that has stood empty for years (if not decades) being developed to house people. Yeah, terrible thing that. 🙄 Speaking to several colleagues who have moved from and lived in many other cities, Sheffield city centre is seen as being much nicer than Leeds or Manchester for singles/couples living as it's reasonably priced, plenty of parks/green space nearby and, importantly, it feels safe. Pretty much the only reason they'll move out of the centre is when they have families and want bigger properties. The way people live has evolved too - people tend not to live in the one house all their life anymore!

Enjoyed Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver, as always beautifully written. I also liked Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin, which is probably the only Rebus novel I've actually enjoyed. I've kept trying because lots of people keep telling me how good he is, but this is the first one I've got through!

This week's chazza shop read was Camino Island by John Grisham, which was surprisingly enjoyable. A huge move away from the lawyer type stuff to insurance fraud 😉. The original F Scott Fitzgerald manuscripts have been audaciously stolen. Can an attractive young writer solve it? You betcha!

Good luck Bob, we're all rooting for you!

Thanks Makapaka.

Has all full-road resurfacing been suspended now? There used to be a handy bit of the SCC website which told you when each area was due for work, but I can't seem to find it now. The roads in Nether Edge are appalling, and although I have reported the worst of the potholes, it's resurfacing that's needed. Kerb works where tree roots have lifted the edges are being done, so I hope this means the resurfacing will follow soon!

They need to move it quick, or at least get rid of the large bit of metal that's stuck out into the path of cars, it's so dangerous!

Does your GP Surgery have a dedicated mental health GP, or one who specialises in addiction problems? Many do, but you need to seek them out. If not, some GP surgeries are "twinned" with other surgeries in the area, and it might be that they are more helpful, if you can request an appointment there. As above, stress that you are drinking heavily, and need better help than you are receiving. You're doing well to acknowledge you need help, keep going xx

Love a Kate Atkinson book! I'll have to seek this one out.

Just finished Melmoth by Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent. Excellent stuff, not a thriller as such, but like the Essex Serpent, it's unsettling. I've also finished 3 chazza shop thrillers that have been hanging round on the 'to do' pile for too long. I've already forgotten what they were! Chewing gum for the eyes 😊

Just finished 'Faithful Place' by Tana French. Detective novel set in Dublin, which was enjoyable for the first three quarters until the story resolved, and the latter quarter was just the hero detective grappling with memories and his conscience in a rather dull fashion.

Just finished The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. Very good!