Early Risers.

[Happy Hippo]

Apparently this is one of the young ladies who works the outside seats on a Ryanair flight.

 

She is shown sitting in her take off position!

 

[newbryford]

Apologies for more holiday pics.

 

A rusty one for Neil - heading in the direction of Cuba.......

 

In Grand Turk we went snorkelling - clear blue waters.

 

 I don't know who is more surprised - me or the fish

 

A stopover in the Dominican Republic for some waterfall jumping at Damajagua. As long as I was moving - my back was fine!

 

 

Then the real purpose of the cruise - to celebrate Junior NB's 21st birthday - this was actually at sea all day.

We ate in the "normal" places except for the evening of her birthday.

Mrs NB chose the lobster

My fillet was perfectly seared on the outside and medium inside

Junior likes a steak also - she polished off this 22oz Porterhouse.

 

More food and a champagne breakfast for 2. I'm not into fancy stuff - cornflakes and a bacon butty for me - I just had the coffee, whilst Mrs and Junior tucked in.

 

I mentioned the human hungry hippo game.

When the whistle blows, they shout out which colour ball to go for.

45 seconds of manic fun.

Team NB were victorious over two roumds.

 

The drive down the Keys follows the parallel Overseas Railway that was converted to a road after it was seriously damaged in a hurricane in the mid 1930s.

This is Pigeon Key.. They are currently restoring two miles of bridge as a walkway.

 

The parallel road bridge is a continuous structure - 7 mile bridge (although actually 6.8 miles long)

 

This is the Bahia-Honda bridge - the railway deck is quite visible, but the road was built over the top with ramps at either end.

 

Sunset at Key West from Mallory Square

 

Back to Pantherland for the Panthers v Canucks

Proudly wearing our two sponsored player shirts - the locals had no idea who they were, but we did meet a Scottish couple in the arena that recognised them.

 

The surprise heli trip - a Robinson R44 - in an appropriate colour (Ta Neil for the heli type)

 

A couple of gratuitous rail pics -Florida Tri-Rail with a Brookline BL36PH and Bombardier bi level control car at the other end.

 

 

And final approach to Heathrow on the way home.

 

Thanks for looking

Cheers,

Mick

Edited February 18, 2018 by newbryford

[Horsetan]

Apparently this is one of the young ladies who works the outside seats on a Ryanair flight.

 

She is shown sitting in her take off position!

 

 

Doors to manual.

 

^^^ If she needs a place to stay....

 

 

It's Ryanair. She'll charge extras for that. Edited February 17, 2018 by Horsetan

[Gwiwer]

Very tired tonight. Hoping for a good long sleep.

 

Biggest ship - nothing very grand. Probably the Isle of Wight car ferry (current generation) St. Helena. Or possibly the ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick. Most worrying trip at sea? Aboard the Loch Arkaig, a rather small Western Isles ferry, which ploughed its way up the Kyles of Bute at around 45 degrees up or down alternately whilst everything including the bridge was covered in spray and much more of the vessel than ideal seemed to be underwater most of the time. Mallaig to Kyle of Lochalsh sailing; not far from land but that was a wild passage taking twice as long as expected.

 

G’night all. Bacon ‘n’ eggs Day tomorrow.

[lightengine]

A photo of a real boat.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[The Stationmaster]

Most of the oak tree more than 12-13 feet above ground level is now in small pieces but there are two largish boughs still to remove, once I can work out how to get at them without cutting them too low down.  Tomorrow might see a renewed onslaught assuming I still have any working muscles.

 

I think my views on suitable ships on which to travel are well known - in fact we're wondering what on earth we might do for an alternative when she goes for razor blades in a year or two - but in the meanwhile here she is off Mevagissey and complete with rust in various places if you enlarge the pic.  The black line leaping out of the sea finishes exactly between the two beam windows of our preferred cabin, there's also a third window looking aft from the cabin onto the boat deck.  Maximum passenger capacity is 12 (twelve) and we have tended to go for 'the entertainment' on our most recent voyages as there were some new, quite challenging, jigsaws available in 2016 and last year.

 

G'night all

 

 

 

[newbryford]

Doors to manual

 

It's Ryanair. She'll charge extras for that.

 

 I wonder what else she charges extra for......?

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited February 17, 2018 by newbryford

[newbryford]

Most of the oak tree more than 12-13 feet above ground level is now in small pieces but there are two largish boughs still to remove, once I can work out how to get at them without cutting them too low down.  Tomorrow might see a renewed onslaught assuming I still have any working muscles.

 

I think my views on suitable ships on which to travel are well known - in fact we're wondering what on earth we might do for an alternative when she goes for razor blades in a year or two - but in the meanwhile here she is off Mevagissey and complete with rust in various places if you enlarge the pic.  The black line leaping out of the sea finishes exactly between the two beam windows of our preferred cabin, there's also a third window looking aft from the cabin onto the boat deck.  Maximum passenger capacity is 12 (twelve) and we have tended to go for 'the entertainment' on our most recent voyages as there were some new, quite challenging, jigsaws available in 2016 and last year.

 

G'night all

 

DSCF9732.jpg

 

Sorry.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHARK!

 

 

 

Cheers,

Mick

[BSW01]

Evening everyone

 

Yesterday was Sheila’s birthday, I won’t reveal her age, but the first number of her age is exactly twice that of the second. As for the day, well we did absolutely nothing..... .............. out of the ordinary. First thing was a trip to the Trafford Centre, then it was home for dinner.

 

Then we spent most of the afternoon reading, which was very relaxing. We then had an early tea of fish and chips, as I didn’t fancy cooking, we know how to party here! As we were expecting visitors to be coming and going anytime after 6, we didn’t see the point in opening any wine before then, but when the last guest went, just after 8, it was declared to be wine o’clock precisely.

 

Today has been another day when not a lot has been done really, by either of us. A bit more shopping was done this morning and then once again, an afternoon were we both sat down a read for a bit, which makes for a pleasant change. I’ve not had much chance of catching up on yesterday’s and today’s post, I’ll try and catch up tomorrow.

 

Tony. Sorry to hear about Robbie’s passing.

 

Andy. Hope the new job gets better with time.

 

Goodnight all.

[laurenceb]

21?

Night awl

[Happy Hippo]

A photo of a real boat.

FB_IMG_1518908993974.jpg

No that's a ship.

 

It's boats are dangling from the davits.

[BR60103]

I once went on a rowing boat on the River Wear in Durham City. Passengers 3. Crew me.

Tuppence per person per trip?  or did they pay nobbut fivepence for three?

[Barry O]

Found some more working wifi in Wellington.

Sad news Tony and Aditi.

 

Successfultimately trip to Napier. En route we had an Umpires and scorers meeting of the Northern Region of the ECB ACO.

 

We then drove to Napier for the Art Deco weekend. Fabulous! Music, dancing, people in 1920s clothing, veteran cars, flying displays (5 Harvard's doing acrobatics, RNZAF doing a Red Arrows display in their turbo prop trainers, a P51, Tiger Moths and a Dakota)

 

Some UK based supercharged Bentleys had been shipped over.... obviously some people have a lot of spare cash!

 

And..we met up with some UK kit proprietors.. Judith Edge kits.

 

The Cruiseliners are a pain in the behind. To keep them returning to ports special excursions are played on which means other people miss out on excursions ( our trip on the Tiarei Gorge railway was over an hour late as the Chinese, Germans and American cruise liner passengers train was late back as they didn't think they needed to on the train at a set time. In other places businesses are seeing a rise in verbal abuse from these passengers.... not Good!

 

To me the cruise liners look like a block of flats laid on its side...doesn't appeal me or her indoors.

 

Stay warm and safe.

 

Baz

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

The past two days have been tiring, as m*d*ll*ng is when you do it mostly standing up.  Friday's was part of a last desperate attempt to finish the Camel before its public debut.  Saturday was its public debut with work in progress.  I will say more about that elsewhere later.  For now, suffice it to say that there are rather a lot of expanded polystyrene granules in my toolbox.  Today's unspecified pottering may include their removal.  It will certainly include cooking myself a lump of sirloin steak, whenever that is.  Before any of that I am due a long soak in the bath, hopefully to banish aches and pains arising from the past two days.

 

In the week ahead I have on Monday to stride purposefully towards the surgery to drop in the prescription renewal form.  On Wednesday there is Area Group in Harpenden.  I shall travel by train for once as there is only so much of the M1 that I can take.  On Thursday I am due to visit Poorly Pal and cook us something Chinese.  The next fodder run will check out special offers for Chinese New Year.  There is something else in the diary this week but we will deal with that nearer the time.

 

It was good to see encouraging news from Andyram yesterday - fingers crossed for you.  Cheerful despatches from the direction of Debs cause widespread rejoicing and reports from those travelling overseas are in danger of making me jealous!  

 

Best wishes as always to the ailing, recovering and missing

 

Chris

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

6 hours sleep, back painful.

 

The biggest ship I've been on would be the various ferrys to the outer Hebrides, mostly they were built as nuclear bomb shelters (I'm not joking)

I've also used the Kyle ferry while going to school.

The most recent would be the Reedham chain ferry.

 

Time to go have some breakfast with ibuprofen, before going out on the water in a 20ft Yeoman.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

A bit of sunshine and blue sky has appeared through the cloud and it should stay dry but more cloud later.

Glad I could make Debs laugh. The worrying thing is that if she continues in this vein she will be bringing out her dreaded awl and let's be honest, none of us "would like it up 'em." 

Two rugby matches watched yesterday and only partially enjoyed as Quins came a cropper at Leicester. I'll have to record today's match between Wasps and Exeter as Nicki and the kids will be here for Sunday lunch / dinner. (Not sure what time the meal is scheduled as the Boss hasn't yet seen fit to inform me)

First priority though must be some breaking of fast with, at least, eggs and bacon. I'm trying to lose some weight so my breakfasts this week have been porridge. Lunches have been minimal and evening meals of "the good for you"   variety. There has only been 1 pint of beer all week! It's just not good enough.

Don't know if I've lost any weight yet but today I'm having a day off especially as there will be Chris's home-made steak pie later. 

Have a good one,

N.O.T Soslim of Sutton.

Edited February 18, 2018 by grandadbob

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Up early this morning as I'm taking a little lad and his dad to the Epping and Ongar Railway today. The lad is looking forward to it as as well as the trains there will be a special vintage bus service and he's getting into buses, much to the disgust of his dad who is a diehard railway enthusiast. Thats all I have time for now, be back later.

[jamie92208]

Morning awl from a nice and bright village. More good news on the Debs front which as GDB said is much needed. As to the phrase "They don't like it up em" I laughed myself silly at last night's episode of Dad's Army when the German pilot had to be rescued from the town hall clock. Jones of course uttered his immortal phrase then get stabbed repeatedly in the rear by a figure on the clock with a wooden sword.

 

Beth excelled herself yesterday with two new recipes using pork mince. Breafast muffins at lunchtime and then pork and blue cheese burgers at tea time.

 

Church duties beckon and then this afternoon the back bedroom WILL be tidied as we ended up watching Olympic sliding yesterday.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Horsetan]

I wonder what else she charges extra for......?

Priority boarding?

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

Nice to read about today's culinary experiences. Today I will be partaking of clear liquids including litres of Klean Prep this afternoon. I don't plan any trips out today.

It is very sunny here. Aditi plans to go out into the garden and do some pruning.

Tony

[New Haven Neil]

MOrning.

 

They weren't all bigguns, here is the smallest job I sailed on, 16,000 ton Warwickshire.  She was a very happy ship, and quite old and rusty!  Looks like Valetta to me, photo stolen off the interweb.

 

 

Here's a more sobering view of life at sea.  Picked up 200 North Korean refugees off this sinking fishing boat, 1979.  Sorry the photo is grim, it was almost dark.  One young lady from this crowd later wrote to the shipping company with her thanks, she had just qualified as a Doctor in the UK.  The boat sunk just after we got them off.

 

 

Mick, that's a Robinson helo - close!

[AndyB]

Morning all,

Nothing much planned for today apart from to put my bag together for this week's trip up north. 

 

As Deb's health appears to be improving (hopefully surely and  steadily), I'm only going to allude to the fact that there are various plastic and metal components on the dining room table along with some lining paper. 'nuff said.

 

Today I may take a garden waste dustbin and secatures down the garden and chop back the climbing roses. A display some 15 feet up in the air is, perhaps, not ideal. 

[lightengine]

No that's a ship.

 

It's boats are dangling from the davits.

Ships are known as "boats" to them that worked on 'em. As in when meeting an old shipmate in a bar in a far flung port the 1st question was "what boat are you on now?" Edited February 18, 2018 by lightengine

[New Haven Neil]

Ships are known as "boats" to them that worked on 'em. As in when meeting an old shipmate in a bar in a far flung port the 1st question was "what boat are you on now?"

 

Not where I worked!  Boats are the little things that people 'mess about in', or submarines.