Brad Romance

https://toot.chez.gay/@brad

Twitter exile. Brit living in Ireland, married to a hunky bear. Into music, tech, gaming and food.

📝 Blog: https://blog.chez.gay
🥾 Hiking Tracker: https://peaks.chez.gay
📖 Currently Reading: A Judgement of Powers — Benedict Jacka (10%)
📚 Hardcover: https://hardcover.app/@BradRomance/books/currently-reading

Public Key

npub132r4xus9nm0jdp9vpnzrwdhdrrstz7taucenf2fdcss0ddl3a06qmle2ft

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsg4p6nwgzeahexsjkqe3phxmk33c930977vve54ykugg8kklc7haqprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntwqm6aj

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub132r4xus9nm0jdp9vpnzrwdhdrrstz7taucenf2fdcss0ddl3a06qmle2ft

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Last Notes

2026-06-26 16:10:00 GMT

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https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/116/817/272/561/786/601/original/ebaf67795236f961.jpg

2025-12-05 19:51:34 GMT

Hi! I'm still alive. 🙋
I got a new phone and it's Android and I'm loving and hating it at the same time, it's very confusing. Some stuff is way better than iOS, some stuff not so good, and some stuff I'm having a hard time with because of years of ingrained muscle memory.
The puppy is doing brilliantly, very clever little guy and super friendly and chill.
It's my birthday tomorrow and also my work Christmas party, yay for free drinks!
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/115/668/691/420/957/042/original/492b8fa7d4ec85ef.jpg
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2025-05-14 21:11:11 GMT

🎵 One day, believe me, you'll be sorry, you're gonna feel this pain,
One day, you'll see me and remember the promises you made,
Just wait and see how you'll be sorry, one day your sky's gonna rain,
One day, believe me, you'll come running back to me again…
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/114/508/239/210/957/043/original/f9f98a823b14c77a.mp4

2025-04-23 14:49:21 GMT

These lilies I bought last year are coming back with a vengeance!
It was just three plants in each container, with three flowers per stem I think. Look at all the new growth this year! 😍
(Wish I could remember what colour they were… I think maybe white.) #bloomscrolling
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/114/387/828/834/664/628/original/cf3544cc0eef736d.jpeg
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2025-04-11 21:48:56 GMT

Man I love a good key change. #BathroomDisco https://toot.chez.gay/@hal/114321477452606018
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2025-01-25 10:15:28 GMT

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Here’s the tree in the garden that was blown over. It’s a shame, it was nice in the summer, and the stuff planted around the base was all moved from the patio when we first moved in. I wonder if we can cut some of the protruding roots off and just push it back into place? 🤔
#StormEowyn #Mastodaoine
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2025-01-25 10:06:00 GMT

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Ok here’s some pics of the tree that was blocking the road.
First, how it was yesterday morning. The next two are how it was left after my neighbour and I did what we could. People could drive past, but it was too only supported by those phone cables.
The last one is how it looks now, after the council made it safe.
#StormEowyn #Mastodaoine
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/113/888/429/832/477/003/original/8f4fbae20ca97855.jpeg
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2025-01-24 18:14:32 GMT

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I was trying to send some pics but they won’t upload, internet is very slow.
Power will be off for a few days anyway, so we’ll lose whatever is in the freezer and a lot of stuff from the fridge. I’ll eat what I can!

2025-01-24 17:44:26 GMT

So the power went at 3:30am, the storm kept me awake for a while but my alarm woke me at 8am. Noticed I had no internet via my phone.
Texted Rob good morning, no answer.
Texted my boss to let him know I wouldn’t be able to work from home, he replied saying there’s no power anywhere in Loughrea so not to worry about it.
Sent Rob a few more messages, still no reply. Tried to call him, straight to voicemail.
Meanwhile, I surveyed the devastation in the garden. A nice tree has been blown over, some stuff from the patio was in the bushes, one of the drainpipes is nowhere to be seen, but worst of all the tank that stores the oil for our heating is upside down on the lawn. I suspect the pipe that runs from it to the boiler is damaged too.
Then I noticed a big tree right at the edge of our property had fallen into the road! 😖 Blocking the road entirely and resting on the phone cables.
And I couldn’t google the number for the council to get them to come and do anything about it! 😖
Finally got a call from Rob, power is out there too, his phone had no service but he borrowed someone else’s. Filled him in on the drama.
A neighbour with a chainsaw helped me clear it enough for people to get past, but it was totally unsafe resting on the cables.
Rob had managed to contact the council and they turned up to make the tree safe, they were glad I’d already done half the job.
Prepped some chicken I had in the fridge to cook on the barbecue.. the gas pipe has a leak, can’t use it. 😖 Gonna have a go at cooking it on the stove, but not sure it will work.
Sorted out some candles so I don’t have to sit in the dark, fed the animals… and then my watch pinged with a message which is how I found out cellular data is working again. And that’s you all up to date!
There’s no estimate for when the power will be back, and no power means no water cos we have a well with an electric pump. And no heating, cos the boiler needs power. (And the oil tank is fucked, of course.)

2025-01-22 11:39:30 GMT

This is fun! Someone was doing a mandatory training thing at work and their computer read out a long list of slurs, and someone else put it over a beat. 🕺🏻
Couldn’t figure out how to download it from my phone, I’ll try to grab it from my computer later.
https://www.tumblr.com/zeroblogshere/773303004750397440
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2024-12-24 20:41:24 GMT

I hope you’re ready for Santa to come down your chimney, he only comes once a year!
(Yes, I post this every year. No, I’m not gonna stop.)
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2024-12-02 16:26:08 GMT

Some little dickhead thinks my original gmail address which I’ve been using for almost 20 years is theirs. They keep signing up for random stuff with it, and then trying to reset passwords cos they can’t login.
It’s very annoying. Not sure how to fix this cos I don’t know what their ACTUAL email address is to let them know. I don’t use it day to day, so it’s not the end of the world but… how do they not know their own email address?

2024-12-01 12:14:16 GMT

It’s World AIDS day.
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) has transformed the world. You can take a pill to prevent you from contracting HIV. It’s a total no-brainer: if you’re having sex outside of a monogamous relationship, you should take it if you can. (But bear in mind PrEP doesn’t protect you from other STIs so condoms are still a good idea.)
We could eradicate HIV transmission entirely if everyone who can protect themselves did so. In Ireland and the UK you can get it for free from the GUM clinic, there’s really no excuse not to!
Also, U=U, get tested, know your status and don’t be a dick. ✌🏻☺️
#WAD #WorldAidsDay #HIV #PrEP

2024-10-16 00:40:03 GMT

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He arrived at 12:15 and he had WAY undersold how much of a faff that was. The van was literally full of boxes, bed frames and mattresses and ours was, as he said, at the back. He’d clearly unloaded and reloaded stuff already.
I had to help him unload the whole thing onto our wet drive, move our stuff into the house, then reload all the stuff, and the whole time he was thanking me while moaning about how often he’d had to do this today, how long he’d been driving, how tired he was, how little he got paid, how the cab was full of boxes too so he had nowhere to sleep...
I asked about his working hours, he said he’d just been told to get it done in two days (today and tomorrow) and today had been wasted because people refused delivery.
When we finished (around an hour later) he asked to use the bathroom to clean up, no problem at all with that except he stood telling me why he needed to use it and how grateful he was and how he wouldn’t be long, rather than just going and doing what he needed to do. 🙄
Then when he was done I used his phone to drop a pin where the truck stop is, and told him the way to go, and he stood and asked questions and thanked me again, and then when he went outside he asked where I’m from and said we have a nice house and how long have we lived here and what I do for a living and I was kinda short with him cos it’s 1:20am dude, fuck off and park up and go to sleep.
Honestly, I should have said no when he asked if I was ok with the late delivery. But having to do all that first thing in the morning before work would have been even worse, I think!
I feel bad for him but I’m complaining for sure. He said he was falling asleep driving here, that he’d been awake for 27 hours, totally out of order and dangerous. He doesn’t work for the bed company, he works for a random courier company, I asked a couple of times and he didn’t say the name.
And to answer the question several of you have asked, no, he wasn’t fit. In any sense of the word.
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/113/314/312/695/457/773/original/3be4f15b390c27f1.jpeg
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2024-10-15 22:11:40 GMT

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He rang again to say he's on his way.
“My friend, we're gonna have a problem, your bed is right at the back of the truck with other stuff in front of it because the route is all out of order now, we're gonna have to take some other stuff off first. Is it just the two of us?”
No mate, you're the delivery guy, it's just you! FFS. Of course I'll help but honestly…

2024-10-15 21:17:20 GMT

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He just rang to say he was on his way, another big long conversation when all I want to do is enjoy my evening... my dude, we're watching Bake Off!
He was telling me all about how bad a day he's having, last delivery they didn't answer so he's gonna be a bit earlier than expected, he called me on Whatsapp so can see my profile pic (same as on here) and joking about how I'm a big guy and he won't have to do any work, and then asking about where he can park up for the night (I told him there's a truck stop less than 10 mins away), is there a bathroom, and then he said he had to go and hung up.
5 mins later he rings back to tell me he's going back to deliver at the previous job so now he's gonna be even later than he originally said. 🙄

2024-10-15 17:08:56 GMT

Just had an absolutely unhinged call from a driver who wants to deliver our new bed.
He rambled for five minutes about how he’s been messed about by people and then asked if he can deliver the bed late tonight, I said how late, he said 11:30pm. I said to be honest I’d rather not, he said how about 5:30am! No, dude.
So he’s coming at 11:30 but tbh I don’t expect him here then - he’s up in Leitrim, has a delivery there where he has to assemble the bed, then somewhere in Westmeath with another assembly… you’d struggle to drive from Sligo to Westmeath to here on the back roads in 5 hours, let alone drive and deliver and assemble two beds… We shall see!
I was told I’d get 24-48 hours notice of delivery which I was already a bit prickly about, but this is ridiculous. I can’t imagine he’s driving legally.

2024-09-02 15:57:15 GMT

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Yeah I did that last year, and moved everything I found to a different email. 👍🏻

2024-09-02 15:33:36 GMT

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I’ve searched my emails and haven’t received anything but spam to that address for a long time. I don’t think.

2024-09-02 11:29:14 GMT

A domain I used to use is due to expire tomorrow. I’ve checked and rechecked that no important accounts use that domain for email, I think I’m safe, but still… 😖
I’m pretty sure I was at this point last year and decided to renew just in case. 😅

2024-09-01 10:27:08 GMT

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I run Plex on an ooooold HP Gen 8 Microserver via Xpenology (hacky Synology software) and it’s fine, but I don’t have any 4k content on there.
Worried lately that it’s getting a bit long in the tooth and looking at replacements. I have a more powerful box doing a Home Assistant and a few other bits via Proxmox, I might move Plex there and leave the Microserver for storage.

2024-08-19 14:08:42 GMT

Aww man my iPhone screen is scratched to fuck now. 😔 Lots of small scratches, nothing major, but still annoying, and all because I started using a back-only case. Most cases have a lip which is proud of the screen and keeps it off the table or whatever. This doesn’t.
Le sigh.

2024-08-17 16:45:20 GMT

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Yeah, but just a basic one with two heat settings and a timer. This one is FANCY.

2024-08-16 22:12:52 GMT

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My favourite things about our new tumble dryer:
There are sensors so it knows how dry the laundry is and can give you an estimate about when it will be done.
It links to the washing machine and suggests the best programme based on the laundry you just did (won’t be helpful cos I always use the same laundry programme, but still, nice).
The setting where it keeps the laundry moving to stop it getting creased if you don’t take it out right away.
The door is reversible (but it was already the right way, whereas the old one was not).
There’s a light inside that comes on when you open the door, like a fridge.
#YoungFogey
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/112/973/995/520/259/098/original/b5101c17e00a1eaa.mp4

2024-08-15 08:29:47 GMT

It’s new large appliance day á Chez Gay. #YoungFogey (Fancy new heat pump tumble drier, not an intimidating sex toy. This time.)
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/112/965/096/693/126/445/original/8129f5e2bad88e1a.mp4

2024-06-28 23:16:29 GMT

Parade outfit for tomorrow! 🏳️‍🌈 #pride #DublinPride
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/112/696/792/591/282/065/original/b0994b819aab73cb.jpeg

2024-06-26 13:16:05 GMT

I think we’re safe from the algorithm for a while yet.
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2024-06-23 13:41:10 GMT

I’m sure the label on these calla lilies said they were orange. Oh well. #bloomscrolling
https://toot.chez.gay/system/media_attachments/files/112/666/218/721/640/896/original/09b17b4d8d0c920f.jpeg

2024-06-05 08:47:33 GMT

During my fiddling with Ambilight last night, I had to install the #Hue app and add the lights to it, and I spent a while playing with the UI. It really is a nice interface for controlling multiple lights, all of them on one colour wheel and you can move each one separately without having to go back a step and select a different light.
On top of that they have some gorgeous scenes with limited colour palettes, when you tap one it applies those colours randomly to the various lights in the room and gives you a harmonious scene with zero effort, and you can tap to make them fade between colours slowly. Some of the scenes are very subtle, lots of sunset ones full of shades of red and orange, floral ones with pastel colours, some really bright and funky ones (I like those a lot!).
These are nice features I wish were part of #HomeAssistant. I found an add-on to replicate the scenes, I’ll give it a go later but I don’t think the UI will be as nice. https://github.com/Hypfer/hass-scene_presets
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2024-06-01 22:55:10 GMT

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Drinks at the hotel’s rooftop garden bar overlooking Loughrea after dinner. @npub1g43…32r7
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2024-06-01 19:32:21 GMT

Out for dinner for @npub1g43…32r7‘s birthday.
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