Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

So you'd support most of Northumberland and some of Cumberland being returned to Scotland?

You forgot Berwick-upon-Tweed.

[AndyB]

Morning all,

Sounds like the event up in Coventry is everything that AndyY would have wished for. I'd reckon a big "thank-you" is in order. 

My plan to spend the day building my own layout went slightly awry as the morning was spent trying to fix mum's washing machine which had gone into "lock down mode".

I then popped in to a local supermarket to get the children something to eat while I effected repairs and had one of those events that make you scratch your head...

 

I was standing behind an elderly chap (well, in his 60s )  who plonked his entire basket on the conveyor belt at checkout. He didn't make any attempt to unload it. 

I left plenty of space for him to do so as I realised he would need to unpack it when it was his turn to have his goods swiped through. 

When it did come to his turn  he realised that he had to unload his products to let the sales assistant scan them. 

As the conveyor belt didn't stop the space for him to do so evaporated and he simply turned round and swept all my stuff aside to make room. Not a "by your leave, or an excuse me." What he couldn't fit into the space he simply threw on top of my shopping. I passed it back! 

He then looked at a loss what to do with his empty basket, not realising that he was meant to have unloaded it at the start of the conveyor belt and add it to the pile. 

Improvising he walked over to the door and left it there. 

 

The shop assistant and other shoppers looked as surprised as I did. Naturally being the helpful type of chap that I am I walked over to where he'd left his basket, picked it up and carried it over to the pile of other baskets, with a stage whisper of "Let me help you clear up after yourself."

 

At last when he'd paid and was heading out he murmured a "Thank you" .

Once he was safely outside the sales assistant turned to me and apologies profusely and we wished each other a pleasant afternoon.  

On reflection I wonder if this was his first time in a supermarket, perhaps he'd been widowed and was having to fend for himself. Perhaps he was angry at the world for some reason.

Who knows, but you've got to feel sorry for some folk.

 

I did, however, get the point control wires bedded in and the first parts of the wiring loom sorted and track stuck down. With a following wind I may be able to finish that of today.  

[Oldddudders]

Full marks to AndyB for tolerance. Undoubtedly there are relationships in which each partner does his/her part and never essays the other side of their coin, so separation or bereavement must leave such people all at sea in the most ordinary of circumstances.

 

But Supermarket behaviour does defy belief at times, as Deb found when doing a stint 20-something years ago. I am very fond - not! - of those who bring bags and so-on that they carefully pack as the goods come through the till, and, having zipped everything up, then look for the handbag/wallet to actually pay! Stick it all quickly back in the trolley and get out of everyone's way soonest is the only way I can imagine.

 

Then there was the shop in Wimbledon on a Sunday, where I thanked the girl, smiled, looked her in the eye, all to her apparent surprise. She was black, and no doubt some people behaved as if she didn't exist. Not my way of doing things, thanks.

Edited September 14, 2014 by Oldddudders

[Coombe Barton]

Clearing up dead fencing from the patio - the dead fencing is destined to become kindling.

 

Dry but overcast but pleasant - enough to work outside without either perspiring too much or freezing.

 

Assisting Sandy with jam making this afternoon, having picked the damsons from elderly aunt's tree yesterday. Seems like they're much earlier ripening this year as many were gone over.

 

Good luck everybody - whether for recovery from health difficulties or just difficult situations - sympathy to those who have parted or are about to part from loved ones - and please enjoy the last quarter of the weekend.

[DDolfelin]

Speaking to strange people in Supermarkets is not to be encouraged.

They seem to have no sense of humour when mysterious objects appear in old folks' baskets.

Economy sized Pampers should at least yield a chuckle.

[bluebottle]

You forgot Berwick-upon-Tweed.

 

And with whom will the Isle of Man choose to align itself ?

 

Edit : shocking grammar and spelling.

Edited September 14, 2014 by bluebottle

[Coombe Barton]

Email from student just received

 

"I send you an email yesterday and you haven't replied"

 

Today is Sunday. yeah.

 

And my original email which prompted yesterday's email was sent in August. From a no-reply address.

 

And this email was asking why they failed.

 

And it isn't even my course.

 

Ho hum.

 

Reply with well-chosen words tomorrow.

Edited September 14, 2014 by Coombe Barton

[AndrewC]

Ahh supermarket customers. I get daily tales of woe, ignorance, brutish behaviour, rudeness, arrogance, and disbelief from the offspring. His day job as you may have guessed is working in that rather posh shop that rhymes with baitrose. The antics of supposedly civilised people just beggars belief.

[trisonic]

re: Supermarkets.   Over here they pack for you - and in busy periods they have two people work each line. I tend to help  because I intend to get out asap, many don’t. It doesn’t worry me too much.

Last time I was over I’d forgotten this, that British SM’s have absolutely no sense of service. They also expected me to pay for the privilege of shopping there - in the parking lot and pay a deposit for the shopping cart. How did it get like that? Otherwise I thought that selection had improved tremendously over the years. This was Sainsburys in Brentwood.

 

Best, Pete.

[DDolfelin]

I suppose there must be other explanations (paralysis in left arm) but I think a near neighbour has just had a stroke.

Paramedic in a fast car responded and has taken him away to hospital.

Poor devil - he has been to and fro from a hospital 50 miles away to visit his wife who has multiple problems.

Always someone worse off.

[Killybegs]

I've joined the ranks of the walking wounded today! Yesterday one of the cables that carry the load on the overhead door (double) to the garage broke. It still worked just but wouldn't close properly and jammed as the free end dropped lower than the other. This morning I decided to see if I could effect a temporary fix. I disconnected the motor drive and used  to lift the dropped end. Couldn't get it come down level and the next time I forgot to use a lever, relying on brute force, ping....., I could swear I actually heard it pop!  SWMBO, who knows about these things, says I have pulled an intercostal muscle but not to worry, it doesn't really do much, it's just there to help you breath! So, I'm spending the afternoon relaxing and kicking myself for being so stupid!

 

John

[shortliner]

Morrisons no longer charge for trolleys, Tesco never have, Asda don't . The only one in this part of the world - You know the odd bit north of the central belt - that charges for parking is Morrisons in Inverness - but it is refundable and is done to stop the city centre workers from dumping their cars for the day. Lidl and Aldi do charge for trollies, but again you get it back when you put the trolley back. Waitrose we don't have, and the only Sainsburys in these northern climes is the one in Nairn - which ranks, in my opinion pretty well alongside the long defunct Fine Fare and Summerfield, both now part of the Co-op, which is going downhill at a run! All will offer help with packing at the checkout - apart from the self service ones

Edited September 14, 2014 by shortliner

[Coombe Barton]

Just finished the mega-joint operation to make damson jam. Now to try to unstick the kitchen.

[trisonic]

Morrisons no longer charge for trolleys, Tesco never have, Asda don't . The only one in this part of the world - You know the odd bit north of the central belt - that charges for parking is Morrisons in Inverness - but it is refundable and is done to stop the city centre workers from dumping their cars for the day. Lidl and Aldi do charge for trollies, but again you get it back when you put the trolley back. Waitrose we don't have, and the only Sainsburys in these northern climes is the one in Nairn - which ranks, in my opinion pretty well alongside the long defunct Fine Fare and Summerfield, both now part of the Co-op, which is going downhill at a run! All will offer help with packing at the checkout - apart from the self service ones

It’s the fact of living near London, I think, Jack - though central London supermarkets like Marks near Marble Arch alway seemed friendly or did...

 

Best, Pete.

[45156]

Naproxen + Diverticulitis don't mix.

 

 

In fact Naproxen and its more vicious relative Diclofenac don't mix with stomachs very well - I was on the latter for only a short course, and it knackered my stomach for good, and I now have to take Lanzoprazole daily to cut my acid production - these NSAI drugs are actually best avoided - then strongest I can now take is Ibuprofen, which is bad news, as I now have arthritis in my bad hip, and the pain is quite difficult to manage at times.

 

Afternoon All

 

Just caught up and have been checking out the progress of the show, which seems to have gone down well with many people, though not all.  I was sorry not to get there, but personal circumstances meant it was impossilbe - and it looks as if I had a lucky escape from being seriously held up as there was disruption on the WCML due to (yet another) fatality.  I sincerely hope that the final verdict is that the show is deemed a success, and can be repeated next year.

 

Been stuck on a number of domestic tasks this afternoon, having spent the morning at a car boot looking round for bargains - some hope - about three of the stands had a few model railway items, but nithing that I'd actually pay money for - a box with a knackered looking H&M controller, a Tri-Ang P5 and a few tatty bits of track for a tenner, and another selling a few items of well battered Tri-Ang rolling stock from the 1960s plus a loco (well you might call Thomas a loco) also wanting a tenner.  Wound up only getting a few items that I needed to finish off securing the side gate - and even they were things that I probably have in the garage if only I'd cared to look.

 

Lily appears to be starting to recover from her hot spot irritation, and is stlll having her buster collar as soon as she starts to nibble.

Regards to All

Stewart

 

Edited September 14, 2014 by 45156

[Killybegs]

I think the worst offenders in supermarkets are those that consider it beneath them to fill their own bags, which means the check out girl has to do it for them. If this doesn't slow things down enough, they often wait for everything to be packed before they even start looking for their purse. Grrrr. SWMBO tells me to keep calm and think about the more pleasant things in life - good advise. Life is to short to get worked up by other peoples inconsiderate behaviour. 

 

I have to say that, in my experience and on the whole, the attitude of check out staff has improved immeasurably in recent years.

 

John

[Ian Hargrave]

Morning all,

Sounds like the event up in Coventry is everything that AndyY would have wished for. I'd reckon a big "thank-you" is in order. 

My plan to spend the day building my own layout went slightly awry as the morning was spent trying to fix mum's washing machine which had gone into "lock down mode".

I then popped in to a local supermarket to get the children something to eat while I effected repairs and had one of those events that make you scratch your head...

 

I was standing behind an elderly chap (well, in his 60s )  who plonked his entire basket on the conveyor belt at checkout. He didn't make any attempt to unload it. 

I left plenty of space for him to do so as I realised he would need to unpack it when it was his turn to have his goods swiped through. 

When it did come to his turn  he realised that he had to unload his products to let the sales assistant scan them. 

As the conveyor belt didn't stop the space for him to do so evaporated and he simply turned round and swept all my stuff aside to make room. Not a "by your leave, or an excuse me." What he couldn't fit into the space he simply threw on top of my shopping. I passed it back! 

He then looked at a loss what to do with his empty basket, not realising that he was meant to have unloaded it at the start of the conveyor belt and add it to the pile. 

Improvising he walked over to the door and left it there. 

 

The shop assistant and other shoppers looked as surprised as I did. Naturally being the helpful type of chap that I am I walked over to where he'd left his basket, picked it up and carried it over to the pile of other baskets, with a stage whisper of "Let me help you clear up after yourself."

 

At last when he'd paid and was heading out he murmured a "Thank you" .

Once he was safely outside the sales assistant turned to me and apologies profusely and we wished each other a pleasant afternoon.  

On reflection I wonder if this was his first time in a supermarket, perhaps he'd been widowed and was having to fend for himself. Perhaps he was angry at the world for some reason.

Who knows, but you've got to feel sorry for some folk.

 

I did, however, get the point control wires bedded in and the first parts of the wiring loom sorted and track stuck down. With a following wind I may be able to finish that of today.  

Reading this,it strikes me that the gentleman concerned could be in the early stages of dementia.

[AndyB]

You maybe right Ian. Who knows. He seemed quite subdued. 

 

It never hurts to have a chat with the checkout staff. The other week a young lad on checkout asked if I wanted my bags packed. 

That was unusual, so I asked if he was new there. 

"Nope, it's my last day. Back to uni." 

"What are you studying?"

"Biology, but I've no idea where to get a job after graduating."

"I did something like that." says I.

"Well, it must have been ok - you're wearing a suit!"

 I gave him the name of a website where they employ folk specialising in his branch of biology and he turned to his next customer with a smile on his face having written down the url.

[Ian Hargrave]

Exactly what I thought! Put me in mind of that Mr. Bean sketch when he was in a line up to meet the Queen and his shirt tail became entangled in his zip............!

 

I shouldn't really be on here as I have a list in my head of a few tasks to complete before I pack up to drive to our mobile home near Lassay les Chateaux. We've survived a month together - our  longest time ever and we have plenty more good times ahead, with Ian coming to the UK next month and me returning here for Christmas and New Year. Within the next few weeks, I shall be moving into an apartment which will be easy to leave for my visits to France.

 

Hope you are all having a good weekend and looking forward to hearing some news of Don B.

 

If you live in the Midlands, you might have heard of the tragic death of a young man called Paul Averill in Ilkeston at the end of last week. He was a pupil of mine in Rugeley in the 90's and his family was involved with our theatre company there. A thoroughly decent guy - so sad to read of his demise.

Rugeley used not to be a featherbed for the teaching profession...there again,no mining community ever was.Sad that I post this in the past tense.So,then....another Staffs. L.E.A.old lag..

[DonBradley]

Hi it's Tim here.

 

Good news as Don is out of high care and is in the regular ward.

Still got lots of recovering to do and some physiotherapy to get all the body working again properly.

He says he would like to be bright and chirpy but is not. He has a minimal degree of pain but a major degree of bordem.

He says he misses all you guys every morning and can't wait to be back on the after breakfast show.

His major ddeprivation is coffee. The doctors originally said go for it but have now put it back on the band list. One sip of coffee results in five minutes of paroxysms. I brought him the next best alternative being orange juice which is having the same effect-coughing fit.

 

He says he has not the faintest idea when he might return to some form of normal. But he can't wait till he can have One sip of orange juice successfully downed without chocking and coughing.

Till then.

 

Cheers Tim and Don

[AndyB]

Tim, wish him well from all of us!

Andy

[Tony_S]

Pete, The pound deposit is usually in high crime areas where customers walk off with trolleys. Tesco at Pitsea has high tech trolleys that a brake applies if  a customer crosses the exits to the car parks. I find the £ deposit irritating as I frequently don't have cash. I now have a "trolley coin substitute" from a Christmas cracker on my key ring.

 

I have had a play with my trains today. My "City of Nottingham" kept derailing at one place where nothing else did so I had some fun checking back to backs and bending the front bogie pivot arm. It now goes round slowly and at unrealistically high speeds (just for testing). Also did some rewiring for a class 47 diesel.

 

Also I managed to help a neighbour whose printer wouldn't print and she was trying to print out all the documentation for a trip to Rome she is taking her husband on. He knows they are going somewhere but not where, hence why she didn't want him sorting their printer out!

 

Tony

[Tony_S]

Matthew sent me this today.

 

 

Guess what his mother's reaction was?

 

 

[Coombe Barton]

Pete, The pound deposit is usually in high crime areas where customers walk off with trolleys. Tesco at Pitsea has high tech trolleys that a brake applies if  a customer crosses the exits to the car parks. I find the £ deposit irritating as I frequently don't have cash. I now have a "trolley coin substitute" from a Christmas cracker on my key ring.

 

And with shopping trolleys going in at £70-100 each plus VAT a supermarket had to sell £2-4k of normal produce to pay for just one.

[PhilJ W]

I wish that supermarket parking spaces were a bit bigger, especially as many of their customers could not park a car properly if their life depended on it.