The Night Mail

[polybear]

Has anyone else noticed that Happy Hippo has suddenly become Angry Hippo?

 

[DenysW]

27 minutes ago, polybear said:

Happy Hippo has suddenly become Angry Hippo?

Sadly, only moderately terrifying. Say a red pannier instead of the full green monster.

[Dave Hunt]

7 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

I woke up this morning with a bad case of dry eye.

 

Ironically, when this happens, the affected eye streams tears, so it it appears anything other than dry.

 

The problem is that when the eye starts to tear up it washes out the slightly oily lubricant I use to control the condition.

 

There's a lot of it about HH. I get dry eye too and last night it was particularly irritating (see what I did there?) so maybe it's the weather. Jill maintains that central heating has something to do with it.

 

Dave

[J. S. Bach]

6 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 ...snip... Jill maintains that central heating has something to do with it.

Dave

I have heard/read that before; especially with forced air heating.

[Dave Hunt]

1 hour ago, SM42 said:

 

Like system

 

One of those rules like i before e except after c. 

 

The latter rule has apparently been disproved by science 

 

Andy

 

I was taught that the rule was i before e except after c when the sound is ee. But then weird takes care of that, don't it?

 

Dave  

Edited February 8, 2023 by Dave Hunt

[Dave Hunt]

Done it again! Got back from friend's funeral and wake and went down to the workshop to lighten my mood a bit. So what was the first thing I did? Dropped an open bag of weathering powder all over the bl**dy floor. Bu**er. Then while cleaning up I cut my finger on a sharp bit of broken plastic. Double bu**er. At this rate I'll qualify for the golden HH award.

 

Dave   

[Compound2632]

3 hours ago, Northmoor said:

Not modern, West of Offa's Dyke "Y" and "W" have identified as vowels for centuries.  I think Offa's Dyke would be given a different name now though.

 

And there we were thinking it was just a Gen Z thing!

 

[Happy Hippo]

26 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

I was taught that the rule was i before e except after c when the sound is ee. But then weird takes care of that, don't it?

 

Dave  

Wasn't there a movie called Weird Science?

[Happy Hippo]

6 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

.At this rate I'll qualify for the golden HH award.

 

Dave   

You earned that letting me drive you to Broseley and back in the dark.

[newbryford]

4 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

 

Alt+B = Bumblec**t

Alt+C = C*ckwomble

Alt+D = D*ckhead

Ctrl+U = I have control of you 🤣

 

Alt+K = Kn******

Although there may be two different answers.....

😉@Happy Hippo

[Gwiwer]

3 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Another example is "gym" (not to be confused with "Jim")

But "gymnasium" which is the unabbreviated version of "gym" contains three "normal" vowels.  

 

Some letters which, on their own, can sound like a word are vowels. 

A - Eh

E - Eeee (often with a Yorkshire accent)

I - Eye

O - Oh

U - You

Y - Why

 

Others are not

B - Bee

C - See

G - Gee

J - Jay

K- Kay (OK it's a name but so what) 

M - Em (that well-known printer's measure which is handy in Scrabble)

P - Pea

Q - Queue

R - Arrrrr

T - Tea

 

A curious language, this.  

[BoD]

You are XL ing yourself.

[Dave Hunt]

What about:

D - Dee (the river)

L - ell (old English measurement)

X - ex

 

Dave 

[Dave Hunt]

33 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

You earned that letting me drive you to Broseley and back in the dark.

 

Does the fact that I had my eyes closed most of the time disqualify me though?

 

Dave

[jamie92208]

12 hours ago, br2975 said:

Something I just found online, and which should be shared.

.

"Beaver Lumber Co." by Robert Goeyvaert of Antwerp.

.

 

It's absolutely stunning. I saw it at Chattellerault last September where it was part of the Cercle du Zero's equivalent of Guildex.  He's the guy that talked me into French Metre Gauge.  I took some photos and will post them.

 

Jamie

Edited February 9, 2023 by jamie92208

[PhilJ W]

5 hours ago, AndyID said:

The vowels are all yellow (Y can be a vowel too).

 

4 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

I did wonder about that - is this one of those modern things?  A Y that identifies as a vowel?

 

4 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

 

Does he?

 

4 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Apparently some sources mention that y can be considered as a vowel in English  if there are no other vowels in the word., eg my or why.

Have you lot never played hangman? Most participants run through the vowels first but using the longest word in the English language without a vowel, rhythm, you can confuse your 'victim'.

[Dave Hunt]

2 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

It's absolutely stunn8ng.

 

You're not joking. I honestly thought it was real when I first saw that photograph.

 

Dave

[New Haven Neil]

6 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 

 

 

Have you lot never played hangman? Most participants run through the vowels first but using the longest word in the English language without a vowel, rhythm, you can confuse your 'victim'.

 

That's a method....

[Compound2632]

56 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

Done it again!

 

The moral here is simply that Midland engines and weathering are not to be thought of in the same room.

[SM42]

Today amongst other things, a sparky has been engaged to carry out the removal / making safe various bits of now redundant wiring around SM42 Towers. 

 

These circuits are mainly related to the old heating system. 

 

I'm not keen on leaving live cables where the thermostat used to be, cos knowing my luck I would electrify the wall. Likewise the circuits for the control box and immersion heater need to go.  

 

The thermostat has to go as part of the next painting project as do the various electrical remnants in the airing cupboard. ( yes I have to paint in there too)

 

Looks like I'm going  to be busy this spring. 

 

Andy

Who is seriously considering a beer. 

[Dave Hunt]

3 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

That's a method....

 

I was always suspicious of the song "Hit me with your rhythm stick".

 

Dave

[Dave Hunt]

 

4 minutes ago, SM42 said:

........the next painting project....... yes I have to paint in there too.......

 

Looks like I'm going  to be busy this spring. 

 

Andy

Who is seriously considering a beer. 

 

Just where do you live Andy? On the Forth bridge?

 

Dave

[SM42]

6 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

 

Just where do you live Andy? On the Forth bridge?

 

Dave

 

It feels like it, but less windy.

 

Unless there were sprouts for dinner.

 

Mrs SM42 has just returned from the cinema. 

She been to see some horror film ( I didn't go as I'm not a fan of the genre) 

She had the place to herself, just to make it extra scary.

 

Upon her return she has announced that her sister is starting to plan for Christmas. 

I have a feeling some new winter tyres will be needed  by then ( current set getting on a bit now) and there may be skiiing involved. 

 

Yikes

 

Andy

[Winslow Boy]

8 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

 

Just where do you live Andy? On the Forth bridge?

 

Dave

 

I thought they'd sorted that. Perhaps Andy should give them a call and ask if they've got any going spare - 100 litres should do it and I'll lend him a sprayer.

 

He'll have it done in no time and then be able to make a start on the garden ready for spring.

[SM42]

7 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

 

I thought they'd sorted that. Perhaps Andy should give them a call and ask if they've got any going spare - 100 litres should do it and I'll lend him a sprayer.

 

He'll have it done in no time and then be able to make a start on the garden ready for spring.

 

A man has been engaged to assist with the garden. 

 

Lots of lifting you see, and as my doctor said, I'm forbidden. 

 

I shall take up a supervisory roll. 

 

As for spraying, way too much masking. 

 

 

Andy