DDolfelin Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Yes - a lot of the above and a sudden rise in my monthly payment for no apparent reason. Further, they held on to my e-mails for four days and suddenly I had 200+ emails to deal with. Now the 'booster' I ordered hasn't arrived after two weeks. When I can find the energy, I'll sort it out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2015 As an in - frequent lurker, I was uplifted reading Jamie's family letter writting. What a great tradition, a hugely valuable history, not only of their family, but probably of the use of language, the changing fortunes of the country and social changes through the years. The cynic ( or entrepreneur) in me might suggest offering the story to a film studio; cue each recipient reading the last written letter, dressed in the style of the day, with background images reflecting the big news stories of the time, the whole atmosphere moving on through the decades - second world war, queen's coronation, moon landings, the Beatles & Elvis..... Cheered me up no end. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Happy Hippo Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) When the Obergrumpenfuhrer started working from home we switched to a BT business package for internet/phone/mobile. The difference of quality in customer service between business and home packages is incredible. Others may have differing views on BT, but the service we have received since the switch has been faultless. Edited February 8, 2015 by Happy Hippo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 As an in - frequent lurker, I was uplifted reading Jamie's family letter writting. What a great tradition, a hugely valuable history, not only of their family, but probably of the use of language, the changing fortunes of the country and social changes through the years. The cynic ( or entrepreneur) in me might suggest offering the story to a film studio; cue each recipient reading the last written letter, dressed in the style of the day, with background images reflecting the big news stories of the time, the whole atmosphere moving on through the decades - second world war, queen's coronation, moon landings, the Beatles & Elvis..... Cheered me up no end. Thanks for that. It is a unique institution as far as I know. Each batch of letters often ahs a different theme, holidays, healthcare, problems of ageing etc. I have often thought of turing the letters into a book, the obvious title of which would be "Dear Family".I did suggest this and several cousins were dead against it. Not all of us keep out letters but as you mention they are a social commentary. Politics does feature but only on the periphery. One of the Canadian pair is an active supporter of the Liberal party in Ontario. In many ways the letters are similar to here on ER's with supportive comments directed at peole who are going through bad times such as cancer scares. Each time the letter arrives I always enjoy reading the new batch then hear my late mother's voice saying "The budget should be posted within two days." I just hope that it continues into the next generation. Jamie 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 The cynic ( or entrepreneur) in me might suggest offering the story to a film studio; cue each recipient reading the last written letter, dressed in the style of the day, with background images reflecting the big news stories of the time, the whole atmosphere moving on through the decades - second world war, queen's coronation, moon landings, the Beatles & Elvis..... Cheered me up no end. That sounds much like they've been doing on Cold Case! I much liked the series for its craftsmanship and it's unfortunate that it has never been released on DVD, far as I'm aware. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2015 Morning all Well the weather has lifted a smidgen, and there is no ice on the horses' water trough today. Apparently we may get the scything northerly back this afternoon, but in the meantime Steve is up doing my roof, so the completion looks pretty hopeful. Dom's photo-essay on the NG stuff is very nice to look at. Just a pity the locos are so modern - no ancient mallets or O&K locos from the trenches to be seen! And interesting to note the border is pretty informal with the Czech Republic. These lands where Moscow ruled until 1990-ish must have seen more social change since then than the rest of us - especially Brits - can imagine. Jamie and his round-robins is an intriguing tale, too. I'm glad that my chance remark about my brothers has sparked such warm revelations by others. Downhill from us is a mill. It hasn't done any milling in decades, I imagine, and the undoubtedly industrial-scale farming that goes on here would have scant use for such an inefficient method, anyway. Being by water I have no doubt damp is a big problem, but there have been residents there on occasions in the last decade, albeit mainly in warmer months. Now we have some new people, who seem to be going for it with determination. A caravan is parked outside, and the first floor of the mill - which is at road level and very close by, so you can see in - is undergoing a complete gutting process. New hardwood windows are being installed. Lovely to see an old building getting the treatment. Conversation with MiL yesterday was bizarre, as after a couple of minutes she said she needed the loo, and would I call her back. Suffice to say she didn't quite make the loo, and being almost blind had no hope of clearing up the resulting mess. Her lunchtime carer was going to have a horrid shock on arrival. Being old can be very humiliating. Hope your weekend going well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Morning all. Temp around freezing and looking a bit windy, so I've every reason to stay on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket. I also have the distinct feeling that the throat thing I've been battling for the past two-and-then-some weeks isn't completely gone yet, so perhaps it'd be wise to see the GP again... But, on to things more pleasant and a few snapshots from our Ore Mountains trip yesterday! An officially designated health resort since 1935, Oberwiesenthal is located immediately near the German-Czech border and with a mean altitude of 914 meters is Germany's highest city (the legal definitions of a city of course being variable internationally), with a population of about 2,231. The city is very popular among those inclined to skiing, which I myself only did once as part of a school excursion more than twenty years ago... Oberwiesenthal is also right beneath the Fichtelberg, which is 1,215 meters high. Furthermore, the Klínovec or Keilberg, 1,244 meters high and the highest summit in the Ore Mountains, is not too far away, on Czech territory. And, the city is the southern terminus of the Fichtelberg Railway, a 17.3-kilometer long 750 mm narrow gauge line starting in Cranzahl where it connects to the standard gauge line from Vejprty to Annaberg-Buchholz and on to Flöha. The Fichtelberg Railway is owned and operated by Sächsische Dampfeisenbahngesellschaft (SDG), the company also holding the Radebeul Ost-Radeburg and Freital-Kipsdorf narrow gauge lines, known as Lößnitzgrundbahn and Weißeritztalbahn respectively. These here are the SDG workshops where stock from all three lines is maintained. 99 1773, one of the typical 2-10-2 tanks of this line, is standing by to work the down P 1002 service departing at 10.13. We then started hiking through snow which in many places turned out almost knee-deep, which made this one of the most exhausting endeavours I've undertaken in a long time! The Hüttenbachtal Viaduct, just outside Oberwiesenthal Station. 99 1785 blasting uphill on the P 1001 service. I should add there were numerous gricers around! It's interesting to note that the south side of the valley, seen here in the distance, is already Czech territory! There are various bits of heritage stock with Deutsche Reichsbahn lettering stabled at Hammerunterwiesenthal, including a transporter wagon with a four-wheeled standard gauge van on it. Border crossing at a footbridge in Hammerunterwiesenthal. The sleepy village on the Czech side is called České Hamry, alternately known as Böhmisch Hammer. Among other bits of information, this sign says the border crossing is open from 8 am till 6 pm in the period from 1 October till 31 March, and from 6 am till 8 pm during the remaining months. …or else! More historic DR style freight stock at Hammerunterwiesenthal... …appropriately lettered for Karl-Marx-Stadt! Here, 99 1773 was rolling downhill on the P 1006 service. Given that this gravel hopper has old-style couplers, I suppose it is no longer in regular use. We then rode uphill on the P 1005 service, headed by 99 1785. The steam locomotives used on the Fichtelberg Railway are ex-Deutsche Reichsbahn class 99.77-79 engines, built 1952-1956 at the People-Owned Karl Marx Locomotive Works in Babelsberg. A total of 26 were built to provide the still-extensive 750 mm narrow gauge lines with modern motive power to relieve and replace the potpourri of pre-WW2 locomotives. Overall length is 11.3 meters; service weight, 55 tonnes; power output, 600 hp; maximum speed, 30 kph. You may actually remain on the coaches' entry platforms during the ride, so I managed to surprise this flock of sheep, and catch other vistas... Coaches are steam-heated. Grice and be griced! Approaching the viaduct... …and passing clouds. Of steam. 99 1785 shunting out... …and running around to the depot for watering. And with that done, she is seen here returning to duty. After that, it was time for a hot coffee and some cake for us! Have a good one, troops... I like the way they have ploughed the road as far as the border and stopped. Lovely set of photo's Dom. Ed 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2015 Morning all, It has been decided that we are going out en famille for breakfast today (a Cafe Rouge 'money off' beckons) which means at least I get a halfway decent proper job breakfast - but will avoid the garlic laced mushrooms, don't go well with scrambled egg and caused a major tummy upset in the not too distant past. And it looks nice and bright outside although probably a bit nippy. Have a good day one & all, I'm under orders to get a move on ... ... 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 Ian, there's a complete SDG locomotive roster here: http://www.sdg-bahn.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/PDF_SDG/sdg_lokomotivliste.pdf. They do have two ex-Saxon IV K Meyer type articulateds, but only 99 1608 seems to be operational ATM. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 I also like the way Deutsche Reichsbahn used to advise hapless onlookers not to drink the chemically treated water from steam locomotive bunkers: 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
emt_911 Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Morning all. What a change. A pleasant mild day outside with a bit of a breeze. Dom - Thanks for that series of photos and the information supplied with them as well. The parts of the border that I saw many years ago certainly looked nothing like that. Jamie - I really wish our family was as well organised as far as letters go. The social commentary would be fascinating to read back through. I hope that someone is able to contact Trev by means other than here just to make sure that he's okay. A relaxing day planned ready for an early start tomorrow. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killybegs Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Cold, frosty and foggy here this morning, the sun did try to break through earlier but it has now gone back into hiding. The Ireland Italy game was dreadful, but at least I did get in two hours of pedalling with very little to distract me! It is indeed a great shame that one cannot harness the energy that is soaked up by the 'brake' on the bike stand. It certainly gets pretty hot despite having a built in fan. I thought the France Scotland game was a lot better (I was off the bike by then, enough is enough), good to see both teams playing more adventurous rugby than last season. Not a great deal planned today, but we are going to friends for a 'late lunch' and I have a sneaking suspicion that we may well be there for sometime! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 Quick look in, we're taking Jayne out for lunch. Dom, loved the photos, the clarity is superb. Modern or not, the locos are impressive. Be safe. N 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 Morning all from a bright and sunny, if a little cold, Estuary-Land. Sympathies to Ian with regards to his MiL, it must be difficult to decide what to do for the best, let her stay in her own home or place her in a care home where she will receive the 24/7 care that she obviously needs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium AndyB Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 It is indeed a great shame that one cannot harness the energy that is soaked up by the 'brake' on the bike stand. It certainly gets pretty hot despite having a built in fan. Well, in a sense you do. Converting metabolic energy into waste thermal energy heats the room (anywhere between 200-1000 Watts) instead of your central heating system. Likewise the heat that builds up in the brake eventually dissipates into the room. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 As for the mentioning of the informal border crossing seen in my photos, I did wonder what things were like in the GDR era! On one hand, I suppose one could have easily slinked away there, but with both countries having been Socialist Brothers, I wonder how successful any such attempt might have been. But, I do see the possibility of there having been many more informal, good-neighbourly relations than one might think, given the long history of relationship across borders established only centuries later. And, am I the only one in finding the name "Böhmisch Hammer" quite suitable for a boxer or wrestler? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold grandadbob Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2015 Good morning all, Lovely and sunny here but rather "fresh" to say the least so after venturing outside with the rubbish and talking to my neighbour for a couple of minutes I've retreated back into the warm! Back still aching and it's become rather obvious that spending so much time at my computer is not helping the situation. (not seated correctly etc) Loved Jamie's story about his family letters. I come from a very small family and I've only got one younger sister (with 2 children)who I speak to about once every month or so and see maybe twice a year although she lives in Ewhurst which is only about 25 miles away. (I visit more railway shows further away each year!) I've got 1 first cousin who I only now see at funerals and as most relatives are now dead I think the next time we meet will be at his or mine! Last year I met for the first time 3 younger distant cousins but although promises of keeping in touch were made we have yet to do that.......................... and that's my family apart from my own children & grandchildren. And talk about coincidences whilst typing the above my sister phoned for a chat and said it's about time we got together! Think I'll open the bar! Have a good one, Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danemouth Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I too found Jamie's story about The Budget interesting as like Bob I come from a small family. I have one sister who lives over 40 miles away - talk to her on the phone every week. I also haved three first cousins, two of which live in the States - haven't seen or heard from them in many years. My father's sister is still alive but we are not very close. So Jamie's large family is completely outside my experience! Dave 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 I too found Jamie's story about The Budget interesting as like Bob I come from a small family. I have one sister who lives over 40 miles away - talk to her on the phone every week. I also haved three first cousins, two of which live in the States - haven't seen or heard from them in many years. My father's sister is still alive but we are not very close. So Jamie's large family is completely outside my experience! Dave That's interesting to hear Dave. Coming from a large family seemed normal to me and having umpteen cousins and aunts (shades of The Mikado) was great at Christmas, though writing all the thank you letters was a chore. I think my brother and I negotiated a deal that we could write two a day each until they were done. It was also good for us only having each other as the family had sorted out that they each split a pound between their children at Christmas, thus my brother and I got ten bob each but many of my cousins only got 6/8d. (For younger readers thats 50p or 33.33pence each) However my wife comes from a small family and at times can find my enourmous number of relations quite daunting. the last get together was a golden wedding with over 80 people there. Due to the budget we were all quite well up to date on family news and didn't need to spend ages catching up before getting into more serious conversations such as tapping up my jeweller cousin for advice on working in metals etc. Beth can often feel a bit margnalised so I have to be careful. Jamie 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 45156 Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2015 Afternoon All Currently cold, damp, and very foggy - temperature is now above zero as frost on car windscreens has melted, but with the dank clamminess, it feels as if it is freezing. Forecast is for the fog to lift and to warm up a little, we'll see. A lot of interesting stuff here over the last few hours, and interesting to learn of various siblings. I have two brothers, one a couple of years younger than I am, and the other 15 years younger, and we ocasionally exchange e-mails, and phone calls, and also exchange Christmas cards, but that's about it. VIsiting is quite unusual, and I have never been to my younger brother's home - in fact, I haven't seen him since his wedding, and that was about six years ago. Ian (Olddudders) - my mum got to a stage where she just couldn't cope at home any longer, and she had to go into a home for her own good - a VERY difficult choice to make, but in many cases it's the best choice. Usually the only person who thinks that it isn't for the best is the person concerned, and it can take a lot of convincing. General commiserations/congratulations where needed. Regards to All Stewart 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy2 Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I'm finding the 'Buttons' thread quite surreal. We now have people posting code to show where the missing buttons were, just in case anyone touches a button by mistake. The whole thread is bizarre... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I'm finding the 'Buttons' thread quite surreal. We now have people posting code to show where the missing buttons were, just in case anyone touches a button by mistake. The whole thread is bizarre... And me - thought (and said on the thread) that it would die down in a week but now it's been two weeks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy2 Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Andrew - Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danemouth Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 That's interesting to hear Dave. Coming from a large family seemed normal to me and having umpteen cousins and aunts (shades of The Mikado) was great at Christmas, though writing all the thank you letters was a chore. I think my brother and I negotiated a deal that we could write two a day each until they were done. It was also good for us only having each other as the family had sorted out that they each split a pound between their children at Christmas, thus my brother and I got ten bob each but many of my cousins only got 6/8d. (For younger readers thats 50p or 33.33pence each) Jamie, As somebody who appreciates G & S I always think in terms of Sir Joseph Porter KCB from HMS Pinafore who "reckons up his sisters and cousins by dozens" when it comes to larger extended families Regards, Dave 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Happy Hippo Posted February 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) I've just had a beer! Dismantling two book cases (for scrapping0, and moving around and re organising the rest of the upstairs office has taken up most of the day so far. It is now definitely his 'n hers. My desk and a single book case which takes all my railway stuff is at one end. All the guiding stuff on the other bookcases and in the chest(s) of drawers are at the other. Total separation at last. There is also much more space! Now I need to find somewhere to keep all my gun stuff!...............Probably in the back of my wardrobe. Perhaps I'd better have another beer! Now if only I can do the same to my workshop? Edited February 8, 2015 by Happy Hippo 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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