The Christmas 2015 Thread

[jinnantonnixx]

I've treated myself to an early Christmas present. A Chromecast Audio.

I was toying with the idea of some kind of streaming Hi-Fi, like a Sonos system, but balked at the price. The Audio version of the Chromecast is £30, and will plug into exisiting Hi-Fis.

 

It hasn't arrived yet, hopefully it will be good. I'll let you know.

 

Well, the Chromecast Audio came today. Two minutes to set up, and all systems go.

 

How does it sound? Excellent. I hooked it up to my modest Rotel RA920 amp and Mission 760i speakers, and the sound from Deezer is getting pretty near CD quality. I'm really pleased with it. I'm glad I held off buying into a Sonos system.

 

If you have a dormant HiFi, this is a great way to bring it up to date.

Edited November 11, 2015 by jinnantonnixx

[witch]

Telescope: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-130EQ-Astromaster-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B000MLL6RS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447075704&sr=8-2&keywords=telescope

 

I may even treat myself to one of these next year.

 

It came today! Weighs a ton and I think he might have an inkling. Currently in the dining room covered in a sheet as it is too heavy to move anywhere else. The children will buy him some accessories for it - job done!!

[sted]

Well, the Chromecast Audio came today. Two minutes to set up, and all systems go.

 

How does it sound? Excellent. I hooked it up to my modest Rotel RA920 amp and Mission 760i speakers, and the sound from Deezer is getting pretty near CD quality. I'm really pleased with it. I'm glad I held off buying into a Sonos system.

 

If you have a dormant HiFi, this is a great way to bring it up to date.

 

if your amp has hdmi does it do anything you couldnt do with a normal chromecast?

[jinnantonnixx]

if your amp has hdmi does it do anything you couldnt do with a normal chromecast?

 

I don't think so. If your amp has HDMI, you're good to go. However, this review suggests that in some circumstances the Chromecast Audio delivers better audio quality than the regular Chromecast.

Chromecast Audio Review: You Can Just Throw Away All Those Crappy Bluetooth Dongles Now

 

I bought it because my amp only has audio inputs, and so for this application it's ideal.

Edited November 12, 2015 by jinnantonnixx

[jinnantonnixx]

Can you imagine Christmases of bygone ages?

 

I don't think any of these would get a CE approval.

 

The 8 Most Wildly Irresponsible Vintage Toys | Cracked.com

 

You must check out the Atomic Energy Lab

Yet, the Atomic Energy Lab kit produced by the American Basic Science Club came with real samples of uranium (which is radioactive) and radium (which is a million times more radioactive than uranium). Since the mere presence of radioactive material in a children's product clearly wasn't insane enough, some of the experiments detailed in the manual also required kids to handle blocks of dry ice. Dry ice, by the way, has a temperature of minus 109.3 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's recommended that it only be handled while wearing gloves (none were included).

The 8 Most Wildly Irresponsible Vintage Toys Part 2 | Cracked.com

Edited November 15, 2015 by jinnantonnixx

[witch]

Now I am looking for presents for my nephews around a tenner. They are 23 and 26.

Any thoughts?

[claireadams]

You're all way too organised, I've still not started, well. I have a part 1 for 2 people

[Garacesh]

Now I am looking for presents for my nephews around a tenner. They are 23 and 26.

Any thoughts?

 

As a 25-year-old bloke I can offer the following.. These may or may not be suitable, but Firebox does have some awesome stuff so it's worth a look. I find I can usually find something for anyone on there.

 

Do they travel and have a bit of a cheeky sense of humour? How to Swear Around the World!

Are they of the sciencey persuasion? Giant Microbes!

Sciencey and with a fondness for the edibles? Space food!

Promiscuous and you want to drop a hint or two? Giant STD's!

Not one for idle hands? Glow-in-the-dark thinking putty! (Also comes in heat-sensitive flavour)

Bit of a rude sense of humour? Stress Sausages!

Enjoy a beer or two? 50 Calibre Bottle Opener!

[claireadams]

I still need to get you silly putty! @Garacesh

[witch]

As a 25-year-old bloke I can offer the following.. These may or may not be suitable, but Firebox does have some awesome stuff so it's worth a look. I find I can usually find something for anyone on there.

 

Do they travel and have a bit of a cheeky sense of humour? How to Swear Around the World!

Are they of the sciencey persuasion? Giant Microbes!

Sciencey and with a fondness for the edibles? Space food!

Promiscuous and you want to drop a hint or two? Giant STD's!

Not one for idle hands? Glow-in-the-dark thinking putty! (Also comes in heat-sensitive flavour)

Bit of a rude sense of humour? Stress Sausages!

Enjoy a beer or two? 50 Calibre Bottle Opener!

 

I had a look at firebox too and thought about the putty or the bottle opener

[Garacesh]

I want the magnetic flavour thinking putty but I don't think I'd have a use for it, it'd just sit there gathering dust and getting less gooey over time.

[bald_pig]

I want the magnetic flavour thinking putty but I don't think I'd have a use for it, it'd just sit there gathering dust and getting less gooey over time.

 

What does magnetic even taste like?

[abillybob]

All my Christmas Shopping is finally done:

 

Mum:

Fluffy Dressing gown, Fluffy Slippers, Perfume and a Dog Shaming Book

 

Lil Bro:

Willy Warmer, Pac-Man light and Fallout 4

 

The Girlfriend:

Samsung Galaxy S6 (Missed the deal from HUKD:(), Bluetooth enabled alarm clock, Loads of chocolate, personalised mug and a personalised card

 

Dad:

Willy warmer and some Port

 

Mum's partner:

Self stirring mug, grow your own jesus, huge Tolborone (or however you spell it) and some port

 

WHOOOOO! All done.

[Garacesh]

Willy Warmer

Wat. Do I even want to know? lol

 

Still a little bit stuck of what to get mum and sister (well, mum and nephew, as sister wants people to buy things for nephew rather than her, which is reasonable )

Looked at a lot of those day-events and whilst they seem nice, there's nothing local that I think would take their fancy. I know they don't mind driving but it's a bit much to say "Go down to London for a wine tasting!" when they live in Stockport! Though admittedly I haven't done much research into other companies since there's still so much time left lol.

[abillybob]

Wat. Do I even want to know? lol

 

Got it from Hawkins Bizarre

[claireadams]

please, just don't @Garacesh... I'll settle for the bowtie

[Garacesh]

Got it from Hawkins Bizarre

[ATTACH=CONFIG]33284[/ATTACH]

Now there's one Christmas jumper you really hope your mum doesn't knit you

[Oaktech]

Got it from Hawkins Bizarre

 

You mean Bazaar...

 

Or maybe you were right the first time.

[Iain.Faulkner]

Wat. Do I even want to know? lol

 

Still a little bit stuck of what to get mum and sister (well, mum and nephew, as sister wants people to buy things for nephew rather than her, which is reasonable )

Looked at a lot of those day-events and whilst they seem nice, there's nothing local that I think would take their fancy. I know they don't mind driving but it's a bit much to say "Go down to London for a wine tasting!" when they live in Stockport! Though admittedly I haven't done much research into other companies since there's still so much time left lol.

 

Hi @Garacesh If you're looking for a wine tasting experience in the Stockport Area, take a look at the Bubble room in Bramhall/Alderley Edge, run by the Wine School of Cheshire they are supposed to be very good. Not cheap though (which has stopped me booking this as a present for my Dad in the past).

 

Wine tasting in Cheshire: Chester · Alderley Edge · Bramhall

 

The Bubble Room | Bar & Restaurant | Alderley Edge | Bramhall

[mikeprice]

Now there's one Christmas jumper you really hope your mum doesn't knit you

 

especially if she want to check the size

[witch]

especially if she want to check the size

 

She changed the nappies - she knows the size! (and yes, in this respect, the child is father to the man, I'm told)

[abillybob]

especially if she want to check the size

 

I'd recommend buying one of these over someone's mum knitting them a personal sized one. This clearly states on the packet "One Size fits most"

[Garacesh]

But a knitted-by-your-mum one would fit you snugly. What if you're not one of the 'most'?

Also you could personalise an individually knitted one Jingle bells springs to mind

[Andrew_C]

If we still did gifts amongst the adults, I'd get my father one of these, not just because he's starting to feel the cold, but just "cool".

 

EBlag linky

[mikeprice]

For anyone who has a relative who likes gardening

 

The UKIP complete Book of Gardening

 

Actually its not much use for Lawn advise because it spend all the time talking about the borders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry:getmecoat: