Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning again.

 

Ultrasound No.1 duly completed - definitely worth arriving in good time as the job was done and we actually left the 'almost' hospital a couple of minutes before the appointment time.  Abdominal aorta duly noted as 'normal' so I am discharged from the programme and my GP will be advised accordingly - which will no doubt come as a pleasant surprise to him as he didn't even know I was going for the scan because I 'self referred' after reading about it here on ERs:  who says the internet is a waste of time and ERs is just a talking shop?

 

Enjoy the rest of your day folks.

[roundhouse]

Strike day 1 of 2 (plus driver overtime ban continues) so no option to be driven to Caterham as that portion of the LBG train is not running .

 

So it was to Redhill to catch a Thameslink train. Luck was on my side as the doors stopped right by me for a change and plenty of seats. The one we often catch still hadn't left Brighton due to lack of driver so we might have been on one of only 3 trains heading to London in the morning peak.

 

Then a pleasant walk along the Southbank to the office. At least it wasnt raining then as it is now.

 

Just a few more days to go and its all over for this year although it will be straight back into a week long driver and guard strike.

 

Must go get some Dollars this week although the rate has gone against us since the USA put up their interest rates. Might have to drink 16 oz pints rather than 20oz ones

[The Lurker]

Greetings all.

 

Well it was a grey weekend and the fog made Younger Lurker's birthday trip on the London Eye somewhat disappointing. He seemed to enjoy it despite the weather and a meal afterwards in the Strada at More London went down well.

 

Mrs Lurker ordered an upgrade to her phone, and found it very difficult to get to grips with. I was asked to assist - and I tried not to let my amusement show because Mrs Lurker used to work in IT.

 

Work is marginally quieter this week and I have found time to buy a Christmas present at lunchtime. Only one more to go, which I shall acquire on Wednesday - tomorrow being an opportunity for a curry....

 

 

Enjoy the rest of your day!

[Happy Hippo]

I'm back!

[Horsetan]

I'm back!

 

Everyone look busy!!

[Gwiwer]

Thanks for the reminder Rick. My admiration for the guys and girls of the RNLI knows no bounds.

I usually make a charitable donation to someone at Christmas so that's where this year's is going  has gone.

 

A donation is always made in the name of Penhayle Bay Railway.

[newbryford]

Everyone look busy muddy!!

 

Post duly edited.

[Killybegs]

Thanks for the reminder Rick. My admiration for the guys and girls of the RNLI knows no bounds.

I usually make a charitable donation to someone at Christmas so that's where this year's is going  has gone.

 

 As someone who is involved in the fundraising side of the RNLI, may I say a big thank you.

A donation is always made in the name of Penhayle Bay Railway.

 As per my last posting, many thanks.

[Ian Abel]

Morning all.

 

Yesterday included a very enjoyable lunch with Trevor and Meagan, together with Andy his best man and long-time friend.

We took Whitney as she and Otis, their dog, seem to get on extremely well.

Meagan is in the category of real "crazy" with Otis, who she's had for going on 8 years, and besides spoiling/pampering him, also has every manner of toy and clothing for the poor chap!

Both the dogs are quite similar in size, as a result the two dogs got to play dress-up as well

 

 

Not sure Whitney was that impressed, but didn't seem to complain!

 

I did get some time later in the afternoon to work on the railway - finally installed the separate buss for the point motors, and started to re-wire them to that buss. When I started I figured I didn't need one, partly as I thought I'd use manual control for the points (ya RIGHT!!!), but that made no sense, especially with more than 50 point motors to control! Hindsight, oh well

 

Will take a lunch break today to go to the vet with Jemma and Whitney, since the Humane Society pay for any/all veterinary needs for the first 30 days, including an initial visit/checkup, it seemed like a good idea to get it done soon as possible.

 

Only -13 this morning partly sunny and a light breeze so no significant wind-chill. Will reach a tropical -6 for the high today.

 

Hope your week starts well.

Edited December 19, 2016 by Ian Abel

[Horsetan]

I really should have had the camera out when on my alcohack yesterday; there, at the entrance to the public park in Sarratt, was a sign marked "NO FOULING". Below the sign was someone's dog having a dump.

 

 

Poor pooches! I really don't see the point in "dressing up" dogs (or any other animal!) like that, just for human "entertainment"

 

I wonder if anyone's done any research into the concept of canine embarrassment?

[Tony_S]

 

 

 

 

I wonder if anyone's done any research into the concept of canine embarrassment?

This is why my dog doesn't wear clothes

[Horsetan]

Many north Indians I know have interesting discussions about balti cooking. Now there is a place called Baltistan in Pakistan. There are those that suggest it is the original of balti style meals. However as Ivan suggests that food popularised in Birmingham isn't particularly indigenous to that part of Pakistan. The most popular belief is that the style is named after the balti. This can mean bucket or cooking bowl. Now when my brother worked in Pakistan in Karachi and Lahore his hosts took him out and told him he won't have seen and tasted food like that in the UK. He told them it was just like the Balti places he ate at in Birmingham.....

 

Now this looks promising....

[trisonic]

Hope you can see this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLR1vk86o0E

 

Alec Baldwin as the Pres Elect.

 

 

Best, Pete.

[JohnDMJ]

The festive period is a non event for me for various reasons

 

 

 

For me too, which is why I aim to get out of the Country over the period. However, this year, that was thwarted so I've opted to work so that colleagues with family can spend the break together!

 

Thanks for the reminder Rick. My admiration for the guys and girls of the RNLI knows no bounds.

I usually make a charitable donation to someone at Christmas so that's where this year's is going  has gone.

 

RNLI is my charity of preference too!

[trisonic]

 

I wonder if anyone's done any research into the concept of canine embarrassment?

 

 

Hmmm, how about humans dressed as Tigers? I believe that we need more pics 

 

Best, Pete.

[iL Dottore]

Evening All,

 

I have been lurking lately, for numerous reasons, mostly to do with one's own health (but still upright and breathing, alas!).

 

Most interesting was the debate about authenticity of food and the various food "laws" one must observe if one is of one particular religion or another. Here, in my corner of Switzerland, "authentic foreign" cuisine simply does NOT exist. Even the "Italian" food they serve in the so-called "Italian" restaurants is about as Italian as - say - ChrisF or the Stationmaster (to name but two sturdily British individuals). I have voiced my opinion about the typical British "SpagBol" (the less said, the better), but here in Switzerland we have the Swiss version of the Roman classic Spaghetti alla Carbonara - which is as about as Italian as I am Norwegian! For the record: the pasta should be Bucatini NOT spaghetti, the meat should be Guanciale (cured pig jowl) NOT bacon, there is no cream or cheese used in the sauce - just eggs and it is dusted with black pepper before serving NOT parmesan (my mother - who met my father in Rome in the early 50s - was taught to cook by her Italian girlfriends: real Roman housewives). One of the things that I enjoy about London is that with little effort one can find truly authentic "foreign" cuisine, I wish I could say the same about Basel.

 

The discussion about keeping kosher (or whatever dietary restriction you place upon yourself) was interesting, especially as I recently read something about how the common understanding that such dietary laws came into effect for health and/or economic reasons (e.g. pork carries a high risk of Trichinosis in many countries; camels are too valuable as beasts of burden) is actually wrong. The reason for such dietary laws - so went the article - was to artificially create "in groups" and "out groups" to create tribal and societal cohesion. So that those who don't eat baked beans with a Full English (the "in-group") can easily separate themselves from/identify members of - those who do eat beans at breakfast (the "out group"). Quite frankly, I have little patience with food fads - as does my friend the GP, who is frequently treating patients (usually young women) who turn up with various nutritional deficiency diseases because they are Vegans or Macrobiotic eaters or some such. Interestingly, he cited to me a paper that examined the rise in "gluten intolerance" - which can lead to Coeliac disease. And guess what, the incidence of correctly diagnosed Coeliac disease has NOT changed over the past 25 years! (both he and I share the same black humour: we both agreed that the next time someone said that they are "allergic" to X, we'd place a hypodermic loaded with epinephrine on the table and say "go ahead and eat, we're prepared").

 

I noted that Planet Earth II was nominated best TV series in 2016 by the Grauniad and well deserved too. As wonderful as the series was, am I the only one to think that it had been sanitised not to upset the tinies and the "snowflake generation"? Whatever happened to "Nature: red in tooth and claw"?

 

I watch from afar, with some amazement, the current chaos that unions are unleashing on the British public this Christmas. It's almost a replay of the late 70s/early 80s confrontations. Clearly the union leaders, like - it said of the Bourbon Kings - have "learnt nothing and forgotten nothing". I recognise the importance of unions (especially as I am deeply unimpressed with much of British "management" that I have so far encountered), but it seems that they (the Unions) are extremely short sighted: shunning technology to keep jobs. And in today's borderless, globalised, world those holding the purse strings can easily find places that have cheaper, more cooperative, technology-savvy and tech-friendly workforces. Clearly Southern (run, operated and manned by a bunch of c*wombles from what I can see) has a true monopoly (unless a consortium of season ticket holders form their own TOC), but BA? Virgin? the Post Office? All have effective, competently run and above all hungry competition out there. If too many passengers get pissed-off at BA, I am certain that Swiss, Lufthansa, etc. would be happy to fly them around....  TNT, UPS FedEx would also happily dive deeper into the UK market. One could argue that the militant unions intent on keeping every job and at high rates of pay and the shareholders who are intent on maximising quarterly profit at any cost are two sides of the same coin.

 

Mind you, 'twas ever thus. I read in a history of the Great War (WWI) that while the British were relying on huge numbers of semi-skilled and unskilled workers in their shipyards - many of whom were barely literate and numerate, the Germans were employing the latest technology and skilled workers who had completed secondary and technische hochschule educations. A trivial factoid, perhaps, but who's selling - world wide - expensive and much sought after cars in 2017? Certainly not British Leyland. Both unions and management in the UK would do well to carefully study the German system (and German unions - like IG Metall aren't pussycats and German management a lot more pragmatic and realistic than their UK equivalent [not that either are without fault]).

 

Talk later!

 

iD

[The Stationmaster]

Evenin' all

 

And ultrasound No.2 also completed before booked time - although I was there very early having misread the appointment time (right side failure).  An interesting contrast of establishments -

 

Morning - our brand new 'almost' hospital; nice receptionist, hard chairs in the waiting area; Nurse Technician (or whatever they're called) came out to call 'anyone booked for an AAA'

Afternoon - converted large house plus extensions; nice receptionist although a bit daffy; large, comfy, armchairs plus free newspaper in the waiting area; free drinks available from machines in waiting area;  very nice Nurse came out to call me by name and conduct through a small maze to radiography land (where they also happen to have an MRI scanner);  enroute Nurse checks to make sure I use a hand sanitiser dispenser.

Morning - Nurse Technician working alone goes through the paperwork, tells me to lie down then does the job giving instant result, I return alone to waiting area.

Afternoon - Nurse preps me, no paperwork just confirm permission to proceed, bench on which I lie somewhat more comfy and effort made to make sure I'm comfortable, Doctor arrives and introduces himself and does the scanning and tells me what he has found/not found, twice as much paper towel available to clean myself up as in the morning, Nurse takes me back to the waiting area and bids me goodbye.

 

Both appeared to be using very similar scanners - quite different from the last time I saw one and you can't see the screen unfortunately - but the Doctor this afternoon was doing a lot more twiddling of knobs and using the second keyboard; Nurse told me that the Doctor specialises in the scanning of hernias.  So in both cases job done very punctually, both scanner operators clearly knew exactly what they were at and explained the result (afternoon = hernia left side, NFF right side).  All 100% NHS funded but the private hospital this afternoon certainly came over as a cut above the other with plenty of room to park the car (I walked down this morning).

 

For those not familiar with good old BR Repair Book entries NFF = No Fault Found - and I was told the surgeon 'will probably have a  look over that side whilst he's in there'  (whenever that happens to occur as it all now depends on the NHS having the funding for the next stage of course and it currently seems they're a bit short of funding for anything according to the media).

[Coombe Barton]

Hmmm, how about humans dressed as Tigers? I believe that we need more pics 

 

Best, Pete.

Our University's heraldic beast is a tiger. However tiger costumes are like rocking horse sh** so anyone dressing up has to be a rather carton like lion.

[emt_911]

The first day of the final work week of the year was definitely long and arduous. This certainly wasn't helped by the traffic.

 

Only 3 more days of work left for the year. I'm off on Wednesday to see some friends. Next week will be mainly relaxing and also some modelling

 

The RNLI is a regular donation for me as well. I have friends who still respond. They are all much better people than myself.

[New Haven Neil]

We don't send Christmas cards, but send the money to the RNLI.   Lets not forget where Sir William Hillary set it up, and where he lived.  Oft forgotten.....

 

The loss of the Derbyshire always is in my mind at these times too, as well as Penlee.  No hope of any help for her when she sunk, but if something like that happens in British waters, the boys and girls are there.

 

 

 

 

[NGT6 1315]

Cripes... http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38373867

[trisonic]

However tiger costumes are like rocking horse sh** 

 

Ye of little faith.  Lawyers can find anything......

 

Best, Pete.

[Mike Bellamy]

 

Today, 19th December, will forever be a dark one in the diary.  35 years ago eight brave souls left the comfort of their homes to answer the shout for lifeboat service.  Two were known to me; I also knew some of the other families through living in the next village and being at the same school as the Mousehole kids.

 

 

 

Just looking at the RNLI website and I see that Trevelyan Richard's Gold Medal is missing from Poole HQ. A reward has been offered for information leading to its return

 

https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2016/december/12/rnli-offers-reward-for-safe-return-of-gold-medal-awarded-to-penlee-coxswain

 

.

[emt_911]

Another ER tomorrow.

 

Night all

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all