Thinking Out Loud
Thinking Out Loud is a recurring blog post where I just throw out ideas and thoughts that have crossed my mind. I then write them here for your consideration. Some of these thoughts could potentially be the basis of an entire article. However, that is not the idea. I see them as simply opening gambits for possible wider discussions. Some of these ideas can be fairly weighty. Others may be deemed trivial. Such is the nature of the things that we think about. Another major factor in all this is the fact that random thoughts make for easy blog posts and every now and then is perfectly okay to just “coast”. I can’t churn out “pure gold” every day (or ever). Please free to leave any comments that you see fit or challenge any of the ideas presented here. If you think its all somewhat spurious, remember that I’m just “thinking out loud”.
Warhorse Studios are Making a Middle-earth RPG
Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its subsequent sequel have been very well received, both commercially and critically. Hence the recent announcement that developer, Warhorse Studios, are currently working on an open world RPG, set in Middle-earth has caused a great deal of excitement in the gaming community. At present, details are scarce and speculation is rife with regard as to what period in the history of Middle-earth will the game be set in. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t really mind when and where it is set as there are so many potential good choices. But I would like clarification as to whether the game is being made in in first person or third person perspective. By default, I prefer the latter when it comes to this RPG genre. Naturally the best outcome would be if the game supports both. However, it should be noted that the developer’s previous games were in first person. If that is the case with this project, I will revise my expectations.
Socialising When Older
I have been looking around online recently to see if I can find any local social groups that I could possibly join. Simply put, I need to interact with more people. I feel that there is a gap in this part of my life and feel the need to address it. I spoke to my sister who has joined such a club and she really likes the range of activities that they do. There are day trips, quiz nights and meetings just to chat. In principle, these are the sort of things I’m looking for. Yet something I can’t quite identify is holding me back. May be it’s my age. I am 58 and have retired early. Most of the social groups out there are populated by people in their sixties and older. People my own age are mainly still working. Age isn’t always an issue but it can be. Plus I admit that I’m a very particular person. I’m not looking for innocuous small talk and passing company. I want something more tangible and more intellectually demanding. I guess I shouldn’t talk myself out of things before trying.
Lego: Adults Welcome
In recent years Lego have started producing various products that are pitched at adult customers. These sets are usually based upon major film and pop culture franchises, such as The Lord of the Rings and the ubiquitous Star Wars. I recently saw a Lego Jaws set, featuring the Orca and its crew as well as the shark Bruce. It’s all rather niche, entertaining and expensive. However, the sets pitched at the adult market are far from cheap. The aforementioned Jaws set retails at £130.00 in the UK. Another issue stemming from the popularity of these Lego sets is that when you search online for more, a lot of the results returned are fictitious. People use generational AI to create images of sets they’d like to see released by the Danish manufacturers, that are not available. I stumbled across one such example recently. A bogus Where Eagles Dare Lego set. If it was real, I most definitely would buy it. Sadly it isn’t.
The UK and Hot Weather
As I am writing this post (2:00 PM on Monday 25th May 2026) the weather in the UK and indeed parts of Europe is unusually warm for this time of year. It is currently 31°C (87.8°F) in South East London. The heat tends to linger into the evening due to the urban sprawl absorbing it during the day and radiating it out at night. Although unusual for the time of year, there is evidence that the weather is getting warmer in the UK and frankly it shouldn’t be as much as surprise as some people portray it. I bought three very robust (and most importantly quiet) pedestal fans over the last two years and they’re now proving to be worth every penny. Air Conditioning is not yet a default part of UK house building but it may well be so in the years ahead. As for those people who one minute decry how miserable the weather is, then promptly moan the moment the sun appears, try shutting your curtains and pulling your blinds. It does much to reduce the room getting warm.
Jaffa Cakes
For those who do not know, Jaffa Cakes are a popular biscuit in the UK (although for tax purposes they’re considered cakes). They consist of a Genoise sponge base, a layer of orange-flavoured jam and a coating of chocolate. Jaffa Cakes have been around since 1927 and have proven to be a popular indulgence. Sadly, they have in recent years been subject to the most egregious “shrinkflation”, like so many food items. First off, you no longer get a dozen Jaffa Cakes in a box. Secondly, you need an electron microscope to see them. In fact I would go as far as to say that the reduction in size has effectively killed my interest in Jaffa Cakes. They’re gone in a mouthful. If you want to be satisfied you have to eat two at once. A single box therefore yields five mouthfuls.“Shrinkflation” is a false economy and takes consumers for fools. Fuck you McVitie’s. Just make Jaffa Cakes bigger and we’ll pay more.
