Early Risers.

[Tassie Tex]

Lichen! I wish I could find a way to export it, grows everywhere here and can reach a rather large size but still keep it's fragile'ness. (if that's a word)? delicacy?

Edited April 7, 2015 by Tassie Tex

[Jock67B]

Morning all,

Touch of frost here last night (and I don't mean the programme on 'Alibi'). Typically, I got number two grandson to move four less than hardy Azaleas out of the greenhouse and into the borders when he visited on Sunday! Oops!

Dave (Danemouth), my p/washer died over three years ago but I discovered a Karcher on sale at a good price in Tesco and it has been superb.

Smiffy, I think 'Metroland's reply to your crossing cottage poser is most logical as you no doubt know from your French that 'passage à niveau' translates as level crossing! Hope the Calvados hasn't run out yet!

Neil, your mention of project X is intriguing, can we have a clue - might it have a railway connection?

Richard, loved the photo of the collies on the beach but I've decided to delay my regular am blood pressure check!

Rick, hope you have a comfortable journey and look forward to hearing from you when you touch down. Joanna and I have taken lots of long haul flights over the years (particularly when my brother was alive and living in Boston Mass.) and we both agree with you on Emirates as an airline as we found them to be 'class leaders' by a fair margin over any of the others we've used. Only drag is when I think that I'll probably never enjoy their services again as I'm pretty well grounded. As my 'boss' says however, shouldn't be greedy and there are lots unvisited lovely places she would like to share with me near where we live!

AndrewC, just read your post and it really saddens me - are you certain you really want to continue working for such a cowboy outfit that treats human resources so shabbily? Whatever you decide to do, we will keep our fingers crossed for you! On the employment front, we haven't heard from Flávio(iL Dottore) lately, since he too had the spectre of redundancy hanging over him in his last post - hope all is well in that part of Switzerland, and that the dogs at least are keeping him busy!

I'm still not feeling great so I will try to see my GP and friend later in the week, meanwhile, I'll think of those who are having first day back at work blues. I'll look in later as no doubt Sherry will keep us posted about Ian's progress and perhaps Pete75C could give us an update on Louise? Good luck to anyone else suffering ailments at the moment.

Kind regards

Jock.

PS AndyiD, Joanna is a follower of 'Call the Midwife', although I'm normally to be found in the study when it's on! She likes the feel of what she perceives to be a gentler age.

[NGT6 1315]

Warning: Rail photos follow. Refrain from reading on if such imagery should disturb you.

 

*************

 

Engineering work carried out on Georg-Schumann-Straße this week means that until and including 10 April, a fairly intriguing replacement service arrangement had to be set up. Line 11 trams are rerouted to the Line 4 terminus at Landsberger Straße, turning right at the Lindenthaler Straße intersection. Rail replacement buses cover the gap to the Wahren loop, with Line 11 shuttle services running from there to Schkeuditz and back. In spite of copious passenger information on and off the trams, significant numbers of them but seemed to be disoriented this morning…

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway: Having walked up Landsberger Straße to the Max-Liebermann-Straße intersection, 1204 "Köln" was rolling down towards the city centre on a Line 11 service for the Connewitz, Klemmstraße terminus…

 

 

 

…followed by 1141 "Friedrich Nietzsche" doing its usual Übermensch-like service on Line 4.

 

 

 

Having ridden back to the Lindenthaler Straße/Georg-Schumann-Straße intersection, I took the rail replacement service out to Wahren.

 

 

 

…where 1341 "Mölkau" and company were waiting on the up track for their next trip to Schkeuditz as Turn 11-71. The fact of Leoliner cars working Line 11 services is unusual enough in its own right.

 

 

Now, to help you understand the following photos, I should first post a few screenshots from Google Earth, I think.

 

 

 

The Wahren loop, normally used by Line 10 services, rounds the tree-planted square at the centre of this aerial view. To enter the loop in normal operation, trams turn left at the Linkelstraße intersection, rounding the loop counter-clockwise…

 

 

 

…similar to how the silver Renault Twingo is going in this image. As you can see, the diverging track branches off from the up main track only.

 

 

 

Similarly, the loop exit connects to the down track only.

 

 

 

And a view up Linkelstraße to illustrate the loop entry. As you can see, the loop is double-tracked to permit overtaking, if required.

 

 

 

However, the Schkeuditz-Wahren shuttle services obviously arrived on the down track, so that the only way of entering the loop and returning to the up line…

 

 

 

…is reversing through the loop. On the inside track, a spare formation of 1337 "Knauthain" and 1321 "Probstheida" is powered down and stabled, while 1311 "Schönefeld" and 1348 "Hänichen" back up, with the driver at the shunting control stand at the rear end of 1311.

 

 

 

 

Looking at the operation from the loop exit. The orange Volkswagen van belonged to an Operations Director keeping an eye on the shuttle and rail replacement service.

 

 

 

Having taken the mandatory break, the formation of 1348 and 1311 reversed onto Georg-Schumann-Straße…

 

 

 

 

…with one of the replacement buses for Lindenthaler Straße emerging from Linkelstraße to the right. Rail replacement services were run mostly with Solaris Urbino 18 LE bendies, like 14146 (L-NV 4146) here.

 

 

 

 

Soon after that, the next shuttle service came in from Schkeuditz, headed by 1343 "Reudnitz".

 

 

 

 

After some passenger confusion was remedied, the set, with 1323 "Dölitz" at the rear, began reversing into the loop. Who ever said trams were inflexible?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, LVB had also sortied at least one of their "Irvine" styled Mercedes Citaro G bendies, originally designed for public transport operator "üstra" of Hanover on the occasion of the EXPO 2000 fair. The replacement buses, with L-NV 1328 seen in this photo, were obviously signed as Line 11 services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I then rode up to the Landsberger Straße loop, which this week sees a lot of traffic from Lines 4 and 11! Here, this Tatra Großzug of 2124, 2101 and NB4 trailer 903, booked on Line 11, rounded the loop, exiting it through the left of the two departing tracks. Line 4 services use the right departure track.

 

 

 

 

To illustrate – Here, 2124 and company exit the loop onto the shortish single-tracked stretch at the top end of the line…

 

 

 

 

…while 2158 and its trailer emerge from the right departure position just one minute later.

 

 

 

 

A less common sight on this route, Flexity car 1233 "Augsburg" sorties on a Line 11E service to Connewitz, Klemmstraße…

 

 

 

 

…followed by 1112 "Seiferts Oscar" on Line 4, representing the standard fare for this route.

 

 

 

Aside from the complex traffic arrangement on Line 11, Line 10 is affected as well, only serving the southern section from Lößnig to Central Station. Cars reverse through the loop immediately to the west of Central Station…

 

 

…again illustrated by a Google Earth shot with the loop visible rounding the single house off Kurt-Schumacher-Straße.

 

 

 

 

Here, 1143 "Robert Schumann" is turning off the main route to enter the loop, signed as an "E" car.

 

 

 

 

With 1143 visible to the right, 1107 "Hieronymus Lotter" is on its down service to Markkleeberg-West on Line 9…

 

 

 

 

…followed by the trial formation of 1101 "Johann Sebastian Bach" and trailer 906 on Line 11E. As of now, this is the only NGT8, or Type 36, car to have been made compatible with trailers.

 

 

 

And this would be it for today. Thanks for reading! 

Edited April 7, 2015 by 1216 025

[AndrewC]

Thanks Jock. I'd love to tell them where to go, how to get there, and detailed instructions on where to shove their heads. However, I really don't fancy having to start over again with a new pension plan, benefits, etc if I don't have to. The way employment law works is if they can offer you something you either take it or lose any pay out. Another part of the problem is that things move so slowly there. I've got another week before I even get to see HR. Stressful and frustrating more than anything.

[AndyB]

<rant mode on>

So, deciding to do a proper job of the decorating I got a tube of crack filler (steady now!) and started to smear dollops into various holes (oh, really!)

After about half an hour of this activity there was the sound of a large dollop hitting the carpet. 

Physics had taken over and the putty had decided that it was easier to burst the seam at the distal end of the tube rather than force its way out of the nozzle. 

Handily I intend to replace the carpet in the not too distant future. 

<rant mode off>

 

5 hours till swmbo obeyed gets home to inspect progress. 

[Judge Dread]

A setback tonight as the removal of Ian's catheter early this morning has not led to normal urinating service returning so it's back to having a catheter again and potentially another 48 hours in hospital.

 

The consultant broke off from his day off at tea time to visit Ian and gave him the option of going home with a catheter in situ or staying for a couple of days. Bearing in mind the awful time he went through earlier this week when a catheter was fitted (pre op) we agreed that he was far better off remaining in hospital.

 

We've also agreed that I'll have a "day off" from visiting him tomorrow as the 60 mile round trip to Le Mans along with the animal care commitment is tiring.

 

More anon.

Poor old Ian, catheter in, out, shake it all about. I've been catheterised twice now but each time I was off with the fairies during insertion. Further off than usual some would say. As to having one removed, that's a different story. If felt like the thing was about four foot long (1.something metres)

You could try and escape Ian but it didn't work for me. If you do and someone behind in the bus queue, you wishes you "Good luck", don't reply.

I am confident everything will be fine, just be patient. (Me advising anyone to be patient, that will be the day.)

Regards to you both. John.

[Danemouth]

Being as it's a really nice day I decided to uncover the patio furniture and pressure wash the patio which  become very grubby over the winter months.

 

Furniture uncovered and placed on the lawn, hose reconnected to the garden tap and then I get the washer pressure washer from the garden shed. Connect it up and nothing! Half an hour of trying various things and I was unable to coax it into life.

 

Oh b*gger and I've only had it fifteen years

 

Will go and buy a new one later in the week,

 

Regards,

 

Dave

 

Left the pressure washer on the patio last night with a view to taking it to the recycling centre today  and purchasing a new one at a  DIY Shed or supermarket.

 

So this morning I decide to give it one more try - bl00dy thing worked first time. Murphy is alive and getting revenge for goodness only knows what :yes:

 

Nice day again!

 

Regards,

 

Dave

[bluebottle]

Geologist speaking - wrong rock type for the Wirral.

 

Is it? Hm ... I shall have to give the picture further close study.

[bluebottle]

Just had a call from the "Microsoft Service Centre".

Wonder if John from Mumbai has bothered to Google "Awa' an' bile yer heid" ...

[sixoh8sixoh]

Mike,

Glad to see you back.  Honestly we all thought you had been locked up in Holyrood Castle for leaking private conversations between the French Ambassador and the latest SNP fish.

Bill

 

It wisnae me!

 

I understand the next leader of the party definitely isn't Captain Haddock from Tintin...

 

My own mum wouldn't believe it but last night I was attacking the front door handle with Brasso at 11pm... 

[NGT6 1315]

Thanks Jock. I'd love to tell them where to go, how to get there, and detailed instructions on where to shove their heads. However, I really don't fancy having to start over again with a new pension plan, benefits, etc if I don't have to. The way employment law works is if they can offer you something you either take it or lose any pay out. Another part of the problem is that things move so slowly there. I've got another week before I even get to see HR. Stressful and frustrating more than anything.

 

That company of dickheads you're working for must indeed be down in the deepest, lowest chasms of HR standards, Andrew. I can't blame you at all for how you feel about them and I'd certainly feel the same way if I were in your place…

[NGT6 1315]

Just had a call from the "Microsoft Service Centre".

Wonder if John from Mumbai has bothered to Google "Awa' an' bile yer heid" ...

 

If he called someone in Saxony, he might be told, "'Sgladdschdglei!"

 

(Roughly translated, "I'll smack your bloody face.")

[trisonic]

Left the pressure washer on the patio last night with a view to taking it to the recycling centre today  and purchasing a new one at a  DIY Shed or supermarket.

 

So this morning I decide to give it one more try - bl00dy thing worked first time. Murphy is alive and getting revenge for goodness only knows what :yes:

 

Nice day again!

 

Regards,

 

Dave

 

 

What sort of “specs” would you look for in any new pressure washer? I don’t own one but I’m interested. Cleaning patios and decks, siding and car cleaning (incl. underbody) that kind of thing.... 

 

Thanks, Pete.

[The Stationmaster]

G-day all,

 

Mrs Stationmaster duly despatched westwards and no doubt currently heading for either the moors of the seaside with her mayoral friend who is having a  break from her civic and British legion duties for once.  meanwhile I attempted to find the INR clinic at the RBH but it seems not to be open to the public anymore so it was join the queue in the phlebotomy area.  This however showed the frailties of the system - it works by you taking a  numbered card and waiting for your number to be called so quite a sensible system.  I duly took the card on top and then tried to work out how the system worked as my number was lower than some of the others people were already holding, ah well the NHS works in its own strange ways I thought.  But a while later I realised that the numbers were seemingly being called in, well, numerical order - ah well wait and see how things go.  How things went was that I effectively jumped a dozen places in the queue - fortunately no one complained (and they could as easily have taken the card as me and it meant I was only there for just over an hour - having also had to walk most of the length of the hospital to/from the car park.  I can but assume that someone had got hacked off with waiting or the cards had been left in the wrong order - all rather odd.

 

The good Doctor has now been directed regarding today's excavations preparing for tomorrow's concrete etc while the kindly Postie has just put two model railway mags, some poll cards and an auction catalogue in the letterbox to keep me occupied having just checked a small article for a model railway mag - but I've still got to wander through the delights of RMweb.  in the meanwhile continuing good wishes to Ian for a successful catheterectomy when the time comes and a little note for AndrewC regarding redundancy payment - it can only be withheld if you turn down a job which is equal to the one from which you were made redundant, have a look on the Govt website about redundancy.

 

Have a good day everybody

[Tony_S]

I have had the tyres replaced, been to the bank and paid the paper bill. I always leave it for too long as the newsagent always irritates me. He can't count. I really should go in more frequently but even then he can't work out simple sums. Fortunately his wife was there today.

On my walk home there was a chap standing right on the kerb. I realised that he was urinating into a drain. He then starts yelling at me to "go away". He was well dressed in smart walking gear, and had a neat rucksack. He was clearly well groomed and probably old enough to have a twirly pass. I politely replied I was on my home anyway. After he had adjusted his clothing he had an outburst of verbal abuse directed at me. My initial reaction was of annoyance but I did realise that something was wrong. He did stop shouting when I asked if he knew where he was and he said yes and he had been to London. I enquired whether he he needed me to phone anyone but he marched off swearing at me, though quite well spoken, slight northern accent swearing.

Edited April 7, 2015 by Tony_S

[BoD]

If you are going to use it for a car as well, Pete, you need to look at the accessories.  An adjustable pressure lance as a minimum, you don't want to be blasting the car paintwork and seals with water at a pressure that can almost take the surface layer of concrete off. If you are lazy like me a special car attachment that mixes the detergent/ wash in as you go is useful.

[skipepsi]

In your case Pete one that you can drain completely for winter, basically a long lead about 1500watts and standard hose pipe fittings plus attachments for shampoo and a swirly head for patio cleaning.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

All the best to those suffering with health issues. The talk of catheterisation chimes with the experiences of various acquaintance over the years. The 'as supplied' plumbing is so good, nothing alternative comes close.

 

Now ho for the surgery to find out what truly ails MiL, hopefully. The NHS have had a couple of pints of red stuff out of her over the past twelvemonth, so hopefully the specialist will have some more concrete information today...

[Coombe Barton]

What sort of “specs” would you look for in any new pressure washer? I don’t own one but I’m interested. Cleaning patios and decks, siding and car cleaning (incl. underbody) that kind of thing.... 

 

Thanks, Pete.

What they ^^^ said.

 

And one where the plastic handle doesn't part company with itself at the first attempt to pick it up awkwardly.

[Smiffy2]

Grass cut.

Wood chopped.

Beer drunk.

Sunshine absorbed.

 

That is all.

[BoD]

Just had a call from the "Microsoft Service Centre".

Wonder if John from Mumbai has bothered to Google "Awa' an' bile yer heid" ...

 

All the BT people from India who phone me have Scottish accents.

Perhaps that is because they are trying to sell me something rather than fix something.

[Tony_S]

Pete, just don't mistake the catheter advice and the pressure washer advice. We have a Karcher pressure washer. Only the swirly brush tool can shift the sticky oily grime that Aditi's car collects from the A13 commute. It shifts normal mud nicely using the pressure lance on the Land Rover. I bought the rotary patio scrubber, I am sure Gordon recommended it. I have used it more to clean MiL's patio. I try to convince Aditi that our repro antique mock Yorkstone pavers are meant to be grubby and weedy.

[HeeleyBridge]

Mrs HB managed to arrange an 'emergency phone call' and had to depart to her sister's so I have been twiddling my thumbs alone.

 

John Lewis came through ok though and the new food cremation device is now  installed.

 

I suppose I'll have to test it myself as the 'unexpected visit' is unlikely to end before our meal is virtually on the table ...

[Danemouth]

What sort of “specs” would you look for in any new pressure washer? I don’t own one but I’m interested. Cleaning patios and decks, siding and car cleaning (incl. underbody) that kind of thing.... 

 

Thanks, Pete.

 

Mick has already responded with a good answer. Remember the higher the pressure the better particulrly if your patio etc. is really grubby. The highest power of the "amateur" pressure washers appears to be 1800w. Before buying any unit do as Mick suggests and check it has a standard hose connection.

 

Cheers,

 

Dave

[Coombe Barton]

What sort of “specs” would you look for in any new pressure washer? I don’t own one but I’m interested. Cleaning patios and decks, siding and car cleaning (incl. underbody) that kind of thing.... 

 

Thanks, Pete.

And when you're using it - use steel toecapped wellies.