Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

Sherry had the 1.4 engine in her previous Fiesta - the new one has the 1litre turbo and is night-and-day more performing and more economical. Engines have suddenly evolved. I am hoping to be equally impressed with the 0.9 litre in the Clio estate I have on order.

Aditi had the Renault 1.6 8v engine in her 1998 Clio. The 1.4 16 v in her Fiesta is quite nippy compared to the old Clio. My Land Rover isnt too fast from a standing start but is quite quick once rolling. Aditi doesn't like me putting the gear selector into "sports" mode as it sounds aggressive!

Tony

[laurenceb]

Night all

[southern42]

Mal, wishing you all the best for the op.

 

 

Yesterday, had a great day in Chester with some of the family.  A little bit of Christmas shopping,  eating, drinking and generally wandering around enjoying everyone's company.  Special trip to the model shop to pick up a WW1 tank (female).  I also spotted a lone Oxford diecast Austin 7 Van so I bought that as well.  Those that saw my post on the The Archive of the Month might, by now, be guessing that I have a diorama in mind.  I have the honour of doing a small exhibition on these items as seen in a 1930s postcard of Bangor.  It will be in a display cabinet in one of the university's library rooms in the new year. 

 

The models might not be the exact type as in the postcard and the Austin 7 is definitely a later version with square rather than round windows, but I hope to capture the scene, probably in a box file.  I have already sketched out my ideas and mapped out a number of information cards and photos I could use to expand the two entirely different stories.  In essence, the photo will become 3D using some of the modelling techniques I've built up over the last few years. And it won't be devoid of reference to t***ns, either, as the van just happens to have LMS Advertising and Publicity Services on it! 

 

Also, I had a bit of fun when youngest came with me to one of the market stalls to buy a festive hat for the railway - we have a Christmas do at Joys of Life Railway at the weekend.  But the one I really bought it for is the West Shore Miniature Railway event on Monday after 27th December (weather permitting) - so if you are in the Llandudno area and decide to come for a ride, you'll know which one is me. 

 

Well, if you act like a muppet, no harm in looking like one!

 

A couple of pics of the lights.

 

 

Saw this in a shop window and thought of you.

 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

It's been a quite night here, Sheila has been out with here Zumba friends, but I got to play taxi driver, dropping her off at the restaurant and then picking her and a couple of friends up when it was all over, I just had to wait for the text. Whilst she was out I finished off the knobs I painted this morning and refitted them to the hall cupboard, so tomorrow I've got no tasks to complete, so the day is mine!

I think I'll cash in all the brownie points earned this week :-)

 

Goodnight all.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[AndyID]

An icy blast from Siberia expected tomorrow. Personally, I blame yon wee nyaff in the Kremlin.

[pH]

I'd be careful what you say. It appears the wee nyaff (or maybe his mate, the big nyaff) could well be listening!

[AndyID]

At least we know who the man in the high tower castle is.

[pH]

We went to see local Christmas lights this afternoon. We got there too early - they weren't switched on yet - so we went for a drive round some neighbourhoods we don't often see. We got to see some natural light displays with an orange sun going down in a clear sky. I couldn't stop on the road because it was just two plowed lanes and there was traffic right behind us, but I did get a few photos of the sun through snowy trees:

 

 

 

Then back to the artificial lights, which had been switched on by now:

 

 

 

 

[emt_911]

Morning all. Just got home from a very long nights work. Time for bed I think.

 

Back later

[AndyID]

Morning all. Just got home from a very long nights work. Time for bed I think.

 

Back later

 

You're not kidding. It's almost that time here.

[AndyID]

We went to see local Christmas lights this afternoon. We got there too early - they weren't switched on yet - so we went for a drive round some neighbourhoods we don't often see. We got to see some natural light displays with an orange sun going down in a clear sky. I couldn't stop on the road because it was just two plowed lanes and there was traffic right behind us, but I did get a few photos of the sun through snowy trees:

 

IMG_1111.JPG

 

IMG_1113.JPG

 

Then back to the artificial lights, which had been switched on by now:

 

IMG_1114.JPG

 

IMG_1126.JPG

 

IMG_1128.JPG

 

Christmas lights here are still  a bit of a "work in progress".

 

I managed to attach a lanyard to the top of that tree (it's about 35 feet tall) and haul a string of lights all the way to the top, but it's going to take quite a few more strings of lights and a lot of rearranging to make it look half-presentable.

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

I bought a pair of cords yesterday.  I cannot remember the last time I did that.  The objective had been a new pair of jeans but those in Primark in my size only had button flies and my fingers are no nimbler than they were.  Today, following the rediscovery of an almost out-of-date voucher for £6 whilst looking for something else, I will try and find some additional underwear.  What I need to take with me on holiday is pretty much assembled now and, thank goodness, fits in the new suitcase.  Between now and Tuesday afternoon there are bound to be a few "ooh, must pack that" moments.  It just won't be the same otherwise.

 

I also need to do a fodder run today as I will be in London tomorrow and will need something for Sunday lunch that is not just plucked from the freezer.  Later today there will be ironing.  Joy to the world [that is seasonal, isn't it?].

 

Before I move on to the wisdom posted elsewhere, warm thoughts to the lonely and depressed, to all travellers and to the ailing, recovering, supporting, grieving and missing.  This post has been the most typo-infested for some time but, I hope, all is now corrected to expunge the bursts of fluent Crabtree.  What was I saying about nimble fingers?

 

Chris

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is a little colder here this morning - but there is still no sign of any frost.

 

Fingers crossed that today isn't too busy!

 

Have a good day everyone...

[JohnDMJ]

God morning all,

 

As today seems to be Ch*****s Jumper day, here's a photo of my offering into the office 'pot':

 

 

Happy POTS day!

[jamie92208]

Morning all from the Charente.  The sky is just beginning to lighten and it looks like it will be a good day.  The forecast says sunny all day.   Yesterday whilst the boss made mince pies I reduced a large pile of cur off branches to brash and poles that can be cut into logs.   I then spent half an hour cutting the jungle of ivy off the wall at the side of the garden that we share with the Mairie.   A good result.  After lunch we went out for a fairly short bike ride which went well apart from a puncture.  However I had a spare inner tube with me and was able to get going again.  The evening was spent at a friends house and much locally produced red liquid was drunk.   The house is still quiet.....

 

Today has been decreed as a rest day so I am hoping to do some work in the railway room  ​shed and may even get some modelling done.   

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Tony_S]

Morning.

Starting to get light. Seems to be dry.

I think I am scheduled to write Christmas cards today.

Tony

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,e

Dry here but a cloudy day forecast with the occasional sunny interval.

Yesterday was a good day as my track is now ballasted! I also finished off running in my new A4 and Terrier and can now think about building the station platforms and doing some scenic work.

I managed to make a small addition to the shopping as well when a rather nice looking piece of fillet steak found itself in our trolley. This is for me tomorrow as The Boss is going out for a Christmas meal with workmates. Due to circumstances beyond my control my usual pre Christmas meet with old workmates will not happen. We're hoping to do it in January.

Chris has just (rather sarcastically) asked if she can make an appointment to speak to me regarding arrangements for the festivities as I seem to be rather tied up doing other (more important things) on here and dealing with model railway issues etc. Knowing her I envisage this will take up quite a while. 

Have a good one, 

Bob.

[NGT6 1315]

Mawnin' awl. Slightly below zero outside but the sun seems to be fighting through at least. I do concur that clear skies and sunshine with frost beat mellow dreichitude any day!

 

 

 

Last night was quite crisp and cool as well, with 1230 "Bochum" at the Schillerplatz loop in Markkleeberg.

 

Ahead of my shift today, I'm booked on an interview for a project currently ongoing in the company, aimed at finding ways and means for reducing stress and improving workplace satisfaction for driving staff. We shall see what may become of it but with traffic volumes continuing to grow, ensuring health and indeed sanity among us will certainly be of prime importance.

 

The interview will be with a psychologist doubling as tram driver on a part-time basis, so I guess he will, to some degree at least, be doing this job out of personal fascination. I'll certainly be interested as to what he may relate from his experience.

 

The project will also entail this colleague riding along with me some time early next year (probably) so that I can discuss any situations I might have perceived as being difficult during a debriefing.

 

Later, folks…

[TheQ]

Morning all, on this dreich day, I'm late on parade because of the doctors appointment being somewhat later than work.

As I put the ashes out from the fire, the geese were flying over, they are very noisy. They stay overnight in the fields around the broads and in the morning fly out to the coast over us, then fly up the coast to feed on the mud flats / marshes. The flight time is modified a bit by the state of the tide. Sometimes they'll stop off when they see an interesting field, They were on the recently harvested beet Fields eating the chippings left over the other day.

 

After much discussion it's been decided we are going to Gt Yarmouth after the docs

 

See you later after the prodding...

[Robert]

The interview will be with a psychologist doubling as tram driver on a part-time basis, so I guess he will, to some degree at least, be doing this job out of personal fascination. I'll certainly be interested as to what he may relate from his experience.

 

The project will also entail this colleague riding along with me some time early next year (probably) so that I can discuss any situations I might have perceived as being difficult during a debriefing.

 

That's a novel, and rather forward looking concept.

[andyram]

Morning all. If my knowledge is correct, the page number - 5509 - matches a steam locomotive named after our old local regiment " The Derbyshire Yeomanry". It has sadly passed into history as has the public house that carried the same name. My parents had their wedding reception there. Anyone wishing to stage a similar event in the building would have to make do with a Big Mac and fries since the building is now a drive through McDonalds.

Here in this small area of Derbyshire I am still in bed. I definitely made the correct decision, health wise, to not go on today. I am just awaiting the first of what, will surely be, a load of emails from the boss. The last request arrived at just before 10pm last night. I am sure there will be plenty more today.

Great to her Grandad Bob had managed to make some modelling progress. Perhaps he could post some pictures. Have a good day.

[BSW01]

Remember to make sure to seal the transaction with a kiss, otherwise you risk loosing said brownie points instantly w/o recompense!

DONE!

[RhBBob]

Last night's Christmas Lights in Boston, UK were, as expected, a dismal sight.

 

Despite being a late night opening for shopping, most places were shut including our little branch of 'Next'.

 

And the bin-emptying charge for 2017/18 is going up by 3%.

 

Another recession year approaches, methinks !