Early Risers.

[grandadbob]

I refer my honourable friends to my comments a couple of days ago about a certain type of person. I have in the past warned neighbours not to use them but they do, usually having their driveway "done". Well and truly done!  "They were very good, did it all ever so quickly & cheaply." *

Then they wonder why the car starts sinking after a few weeks or months.

*As a (former) supplier of building materials I can attest that they were cheap because half the time their materials never bloody cost them anything!

Edited October 19, 2017 by grandadbob

[Horsetan]

The drums of washing machines are now in demand as patio braziers:

 

 

 

 

Beko and Whirlpool products are particularly suitable for fires. Apparently.

[grandadbob]

So much so that their service engineers now ride round in big red vehicles with ladders and blue  flashing lights. 

Edited October 19, 2017 by grandadbob

[AndyB]

 

AndyB I wish I could get the offspring to cook. He took courses for the basics in school but his idea of cooking is the Just Eat app on his phone. 

 

 

 

For what it's worth even well respected chefs can struggle to get their kids interested. 

The chap that taught me said he'd occasionally knock something up at home that he'd have on their 2* restaurant menu. 

Generally the reaction would be a grunted acknowledgement of calories on a plate. 

 

What I do with my lad is recognise that he'll have a finite attention span, so pick meals for him to cook where there's only about a half-dozen things to do, but make sure one or two of them is a challenge that takes his learning a bit further. Last week it was putting a tray in a scorching hot oven and learning how to use the gas hob. This week it'll be working with hot pans.  

[AndrewC]

For what it's worth even well respected chefs can struggle to get their kids interested. 

The chap that taught me said he'd occasionally knock something up at home that he'd have on their 2* restaurant menu. 

Generally the reaction would be a grunted acknowledgement of calories on a plate. 

 

What I do with my lad is recognise that he'll have a finite attention span, so pick meals for him to cook where there's only about a half-dozen things to do, but make sure one or two of them is a challenge that takes his learning a bit further. Last week it was putting a tray in a scorching hot oven and learning how to use the gas hob. This week it'll be working with hot pans.  

My offspring is one of the fussiest pain in the backside individuals to cook for. Nothing with onions but he loves onion rings. Hates most veggies apart from raw carrots, and the el-cheapo mixed frozen veggies. Hates just about anything in sauce. Hates potatoes unless they are crispy. I do a lot of BBQ and can't stand our kitchen to be honest so I end up doing far too much meat and not nearly enough veggies. With him away more and more though I'm getting back to a simpler more veggie based menu. It does make BBQ more difficult as its a waste to cook a 4kg brisket for 2 people. Sous Vide is fast becoming my friend for leftovers. 

[Tony_S]

Matthew is quite good. He will eat most things, though he does object to what he calls overcooked English vegetables.

His own diet seems to include a lot of sauerkraut.

When travelling he likes to try the local speciality. In St John's it was cods tongues.

Tony

Edited October 19, 2017 by Tony_S

[AndrewC]

Matthew is quite good. He will eat most things, though he does object to what he calls overcooked English vegetables.

His own diet seems to include a lot of sauerkraut.

Good thing our prevailing winds don't come from Ireland then. 

[newbryford]

Leaf fall was never such a problem when trains had block brakes which scraped the wheel rims clear of leaf gunk every application. 

 

There was a temporary anti-slide measure a few years ago by splitting 156 and 158 units and making hybrid 156/158 pairs. The 156s have tread brakes and the 158s are disc fitted. It wasn't a total success.

They even tried experiments of putting scrubbing brushes on wheel treads.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[jamie92208]

There was a temporary anti-slide measure a few years ago by splitting 156 and 158 units and making hybrid 156/158 pairs. The 156s have tread brakes and the 158s are disc fitted. It wasn't a total success.

They even tried experiments of putting scrubbing brushes on wheel treads.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Ian Walmsley in Modern Railways oftn has a go at infrastructure maintainers for not doing their job and expecting rolling stock engineers to solve the problem by putting yet more pieces of kit underneath their trains.

 

Jamie

[81C]

I see Bradford are still pushing this piece of Shite onto the unwary   

 

 https://www.bradford.co.uk/flyingscotsmandeskclock.html

[Two_sugars]

And don't forget this tasteful piece . . https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steam-Engine-Train-Cuckoo-Clock/dp/B004SG8C7U

 

 

John

[Tony_S]

I see Bradford are still pushing this piece of Shite onto the unwary

 

https://www.bradford.co.uk/flyingscotsmandeskclock.html

Dick (smiffy2) drew our attention to said artwork yesterday. Edited October 19, 2017 by Tony_S

[Tony_S]

STOP PRESS!

 

Peco Bullshitehead thread closed

Do you think people will just switch to the unifrog thread?

[Barry O]

Leaves on the line... simples.. cut the bl€€dy trees back....

 

Fine time had at our reunion today..the tank world was put to rights..beer was drunk, food was eaten. I have a new task but more of that anon.

 

Mike I have a bit of background on the trip this week....will let you know on a pm as it's not for general info unfortunately

 

Enjoy the rest of your day.

 

Baz

[81C]

Dick (smiffy2) drew our attention to said artwork yesterday.

Bully for him.

Edited October 19, 2017 by 81C

[Ozexpatriate]

I do a lot of BBQ and can't stand our kitchen to be honest so I end up doing far too much meat and not nearly enough veggies.

I'm not sure what BBQ means in this context. With the brisket reference, I'm thinking a smoker, but if you mean a grill, then are grilled vegetables or even fruit an option?

 

Matthew is quite good. He will eat most things, though he does object to what he calls overcooked English vegetables.

I still object to what I would call overcooked English vegetables. Steamed vegetables are a wonderful thing. Boiled not so much. Boiled cauliflower or broccoli can be really nasty.

[Tony_S]

...

Mike I have a bit of background on the trip this week....will let you know on a pm as it's not for general info unfortunately

...

Baz

That's how conspiracy theories start!

[laurenceb]

And don't forget this tasteful piece . . https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steam-Engine-Train-Cuckoo-Clock/dp/B004SG8C7U

 

 

John

What I find reassuring is that they say you wont find it anyware else - thak goodness!!

[DDolfelin]

The people that feature in ads for HSL chairs are beginning to worry me.

Not only have they bought a chair covered in a ludicrous fabric which has the capacity to fling them into the fireplace and crush the cat in its works, but they've spent so much on the chair that they can only afford one coffee table between them and no other furniture.

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.  That's about it really.

[Horsetan]

Evening....

Yes, it is.

[81C]

The people that feature in ads for HSL chairs are beginning to worry me.

Not only have they bought a chair covered in a ludicrous fabric which has the capacity to fling them into the fireplace and crush the cat in its works, but they've spent so much on the chair that they can only afford one coffee table between them and no other furniture.

I think it's the same wallies that do the Viking boat trips with the posturing. both ads crack me.    

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. I should really cook more than I do, but as I live on my own and especially before I retired my diet was a 'ping' diet. I'm gradually getting out of the habit now and I use a conventional oven and grill more than I used too. The micro still has its uses, if I suspect or find an item is not cooked through properly thirty seconds in the micro soon sorts it out. I also use it to steam vegetables, in a suitable container with a splash of water. I am using less pre-prepared food, mainly because it usually contains too much salt and sugar. One cooking device I find very useful is a dry fryer, you can not only cook chips but cook pies at the same time.

[Gwiwer]

Hattening down the batches upon the Hill as we are told to expect winds of up to 70mph through Saturday.  I hope they hold off until I'm back from Mother's tomorrow night; I'm due home at 23.08.

 

News just in: Great Western Railway have kindly reimbursed my fare to Penzance from the other week which was delayed by precisely 60 minutes due to poor rail conditions.  They even explained in their email that although their Delay Repay scheme does not include "Severe weather" the conditions on that morning were hardly severe in the meteorological sense and the extremely slippery rails which caused us to lose the time could have been treated overnight but were not.  Therefore, and again as they take the trouble to point out, because I was delayed by "more than 59 minutes" I am entitled to a full refund of my fare.  We were all watching the clock as the train drew very cautiously up the platform at Penzance knowing the recorded time of arrival would mean the difference between 50% and 100% refunds.  We passed the signal box some 58 minutes late, were drawing into the platform at 59 late and stopped by my reckoning 60 minutes and 8 seconds late.  That cautious.

 

So I have my refund for £30 thank you GWR.  I actually paid £27.70 so I'll take that as a rounded amount or maybe a tip

 

I have had a few claims of late.  Three of four journeys over three days with Virgin West Coast triggered refunds.  Four of four with Southern over a two-week period likewise.  In the latter case only paltry amounts as the fare paid was a mere £3.30 but I'm entitled because I was delayed between 15 and 30 minutes and therefore claimed.  Aside from poor punctuality within the control of the railway that also means I have had nearly-free trips to Penzance, Glasgow and Manchester, plus to to the Sussex Coast, in the past month.

 

Fireworks are occurring.  It seems to be a staff-and-families event at the railway depot over the road.  They're doing well as it has been raining all day and still is.  The calm before Saturday, perhaps?

 

M   delling is also occurring.  I have had the weathering powders out for the Q1 and am finally fitting the add-on bits to the 71 following which it too will be lightly weathered so as to represent the class in service rather than the factory-weathered ones which seem to me to be overdone more than somewhat.

 

Best wishes to all.  I may be AWOL tomorrow; please play nice in my absence.

[Coombe Barton]

We used to have a colleague who brought wonderful lunch creations in to microwave. One day I named it 'gourmet ping'.