Early Risers.

[lightengine]

Chris it is claimed that one in four of the population will have mental health problemems at some stage. Personaly I think that is an underestimate

And quoted yesterday that 50% will have a form of cancer.

[andyram]

Chris F, Andyram, I am meeting at Derby with Richard, the Happy Hippo at Hi Noon, (12 O Clock) on Saturday, at Mick, / Newbryford's  Deadmans Lane, if either of you, or any others going, would just like 5 minutes to say hello and put names to faces, (although I have met Chris and Andy more than once).

 

 

Funnily enough ChrisF and I have arranged to meet at the same time by the bar!!!!!

[chrisf]

Chris F, Andyram, I am meeting at Derby with Richard, the Happy Hippo at Hi Noon, (12 O Clock) on Saturday, at Mick, / Newbryford's  Deadmans Lane, if either of you, or any others going, would just like 5 minutes to say hello and put names to faces, (although I have met Chris and Andy more than once).

 

Good idea, Andrew!  I've not knowingly met Andy yet and look forward to doing so. I shall be wearing a T shirt with a drawing of a morris dancer and cannot seriously imagine that anyone else would do such a thing ...

 

Chris

 

EDIT - didn't see Andy's post when I was trying to rescue mine from the auto-save.  Andy, shall we join the elite at Deadman's Lane and carry on from there?

Edited May 11, 2018 by chrisf

[andyram]

Good idea, Andrew!  I've not knowingly met Andy yet and look forward to doing so. I shall be wearing a T shirt with a drawing of a morris dancer and cannot seriously imagine that anyone else would do such a thing ...

 

Chris

 

EDIT - didn't see Andy's post when I was trying to rescue mine from the auto-save.  Andy, shall we join the elite at Deadman's Lane and carry on from there?

 

 

That sounds like a plan to me.

[iL Dottore]

Güte Morgë Zssäme*

You better not tell them the German alternative meaning for BMW sometimes used by MB owners. Dom and Robert may know what I'm on about.

 

What IS it about most BMW drivers worldwide? In Switzerland they also have a similar reputation as elsewhere (puts on scientist's hat). I reckon - given the large number of drivers who succumb - that it is an Autosomal dominant genetic defect that is triggered by something in the BMW environment (paint solvents used? leather finishing chemicals?) that turns people into automotive cockwombles. And only a fortunate few (such as our very own "The Lurker" or Horsetan) being autosomal recessive for this particular gene and are thus resistant to cockwomblelisation....

 

*that's your actual Swiss German, that is...

...Fortunately it looks as if a French Insurer is willing to take us on even tough the car is still registered in the UK..... 

 

Regards to all, 

 

Jamie

Don't you ever get the impression that for a lot of UK based businesses, "customers" are a regrettable inconvenience on the path towards big bonuses and "trebles all round" [© Private Eye]

 

Mind you, I suspect that a lot of the problems for UK based businesses is poorly educated staff - especially in comparison with their European and Asian counterparts. Whether in Japan (not particularly known for its' linguistic heterogeneity), Malaysia or closer to home in Germany, France or Switzerland; shop keepers, receptionists and the like parry my (admittedly sometimes apalling attempts at) local language skills with often impeccable English (indeed, recently, I had a Swiss carpenter do some work for us and upon hearing me speak to SWMBO in English, switched from Swiss German to English without missing a beat...). Sadly to say, but many native born Brits are barely coherent in their Mother Tongue...

 

I wonder how much of this is down to social mores. I remember moving in the early 80s from Italy (where the dearest wish of many a working class parent was for their son/daughter to become a doctor/lawyer/engineer/accountant) to the UK (where I got the impression that the dearest wish of many a working class dad was for his son to go down the mines/work in the shipyards/work in the factory just like he did and his dad did). Interestingly, and it's only anecdotal, back then I was working as a locum and there was a young working class lad at work, a skinhead but nonetheless a nice fellow, who told me and an office colleague that he planned to "go into the Army, learn a trade and not go down the mines like his dad". I, of course was supportive, but my office colleague was horrified, mumbling something about the young lad being "a class traitor".... Go figure.

 

On another note, my "technology grab" has come to an end, with upgrades for 4 major home electronics components being completed. I am particularly enjoying my new PlayStation 4 (my birthday gift from SWMBO), there's something particularly satisfying - after a day at the computer trying to come up with "training and awareness" concepts [one of my paying jobs] - about entering an imaginary world and - violently and gorily - kill zombies, trolls, ice monsters and criminals... Actually, thinking about it,  I could probably make a fortune by designing a "first person shooter" game whereby the software takes a scanned picture of a person and transforms it into a game character. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to scan in photos of rivals, cockwombles, social and work nemesis, turn them into game characters and spend an evening blowing them into small, bloody gobbets of ripped flesh (take that "Headmaster X"...).

 

Oh well, back to paying work.

 

Congratulations and Commiserations to all as appropriate. Fingers crossed for ChrisF

 

Stay Frosty Folks

 

iD

Edited May 11, 2018 by iL Dottore

[Simon G]

Morning all from a cool and breezy Cumbria.

 

CT scan completed this morning in double quick time. The appointment was for 08.40, and I arrived at 08.25, got seen almost straight away and was out of the hospital by 08.40. I then walked down into town, which took 25 minutes, bought a few vegetable seeds, met SWMBO and came home.

 

Now for a bit of gardening, and I might get to plant some of the seeds.

 

Thinking of all those under the weather and in distress. Andyram, I hope the new venture proves successful and best of luck with it.

[andyram]

Morning all from a cool and breezy Cumbria.

 

CT scan completed this morning in double quick time. The appointment was for 08.40, and I arrived at 08.25, got seen almost straight away and was out of the hospital by 08.40. I then walked down into town, which took 25 minutes, bought a few vegetable seeds, met SWMBO and came home.

 

Now for a bit of gardening, and I might get to plant some of the seeds.

 

Thinking of all those under the weather and in distress. Andyram, I hope the new venture proves successful and best of luck with it.

 

 

Thanks Simon.

I hope the CT scan went well.

[beast66606]

On another note, my "technology grab" has come to an end, with upgrades for 4 major home electronics components being completed. I am particularly enjoying my new PlayStation 4 (my birthday gift from SWMBO), there's something particularly satisfying - after a day at the computer trying to come up with "training and awareness" concepts [one of my paying jobs] - about entering an imaginary world and - violently and gorily - kill zombies, trolls, ice monsters and criminals... Actually, thinking about it,  I could probably make a fortune by designing a "first person shooter" game whereby the software takes a scanned picture of a person and transforms it into a game character. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to scan in photos of rivals, cockwombles, social and work nemesis, turn them into game characters and spend an evening blowing them into small, bloody gobbets of ripped flesh (take that "Headmaster X"...).

 

Skool Daze and Bak 2 Skool on the Spectrum allowed the names of the pupil characters to be changed, it was particularly pleasing when an "enemy" in real life got lines for being late into class because you'd knocked him over on the stairs on the way to geography. "2000 lines *****, Don't be late again" (swap ***** for a name of your choice)

 

Hog Update - a visit at midnight but then one of the neighbourhood cats ate most of the food around 01:00 so (s)he didn't return - I've got some hog food now so I'll try that tonight and see if the hog(s) will eat it and other animals won't.

[Tony_S]

I had noticed AndyRam's commercial venture via the layout page on Facebook. Hope it all goes well.

Cool with gentle breezes here.

We were going to Chelmsford today but enthusiasm has waned! Perhaps enough enthusiasm for tea will require a trip to a nearby shop for some milk.

Tony

[Andrew P]

Funnily enough ChrisF and I have arranged to meet at the same time by the bar!!!!!

 

 

Good idea, Andrew!  I've not knowingly met Andy yet and look forward to doing so. I shall be wearing a T shirt with a drawing of a morris dancer and cannot seriously imagine that anyone else would do such a thing ...

 

Chris

 

EDIT - didn't see Andy's post when I was trying to rescue mine from the auto-save.  Andy, shall we join the elite at Deadman's Lane and carry on from there?

 

 

That sounds like a plan to me.

 

I don't do Bar's and Pubs, hahahha  

[trisonic]

GDB’s getting into demolition:

 

 

“No Problem! We’ll have it down in a jiffy, put the kettle on”.

 

Best, Pete.

Edited May 11, 2018 by trisonic

[Horsetan]

GDB’s getting into demolition:

 

men_03.jpg

 

“No Problem! We’ll have it down in a jiffy, put the kettle on”.

 

 

[88C]

 

 

Snap.

 

Brian Hunt

[chrisf]

Good afternoon one and all.  This cannot wait until tomorrow.

 

i have just returned from an audience with Professor Oncologist, who tells me that my PSA reading is down to 1.8.  This, I gather, is the irreducible minimum and is a ruddy sight better than the 800+ it was when I was diagnosed nearly three years ago.  Of course, the only way now is up but the Prof has no plans to change my treatment and has plenty of weapons up his sleeve when the present regime no longer works.

 

After some of what happened during the past two weeks this news has made me feel a whole lot better.  It won't last, I tell you ...

 

Chris  

[Mike Bellamy]

Chris F, Andyram, I am meeting at Derby with Richard, the Happy Hippo at Hi Noon, (12 O Clock) on Saturday, at Mick, / Newbryford's  Deadmans Lane, if either of you, or any others going, would just like 5 minutes to say hello and put names to faces, (although I have met Chris and Andy more than once).

 

.

If I can escape from being locked in the 'Counting House' then I'll try and join you - followed rather quickly with a trip to the bar - there's only so much tea you can drink in a day . . . . . 

 

Mike

 

.

[andyram]

.

If I can escape from being locked in the 'Counting House' then I'll try and join you - followed rather quickly with a trip to the bar - there's only so much tea you can drink in a day . . . . . 

 

Mike

 

.

 

The bar is my planned destination too.

[Purley Oaks]

Good afternoon one and all.  This cannot wait until tomorrow.

 

i have just returned from an audience with Professor Oncologist, who tells me that my PSA reading is down to 1.8.  This, I gather, is the irreducible minimum and is a ruddy sight better than the 800+ it was when I was diagnosed nearly three years ago.  Of course, the only way now is up but the Prof has no plans to change my treatment and has plenty of weapons up his sleeve when the present regime no longer works.

 

After some of what happened during the past two weeks this news has made me feel a whole lot better.  It won't last, I tell you ...

 

Chris

Great news, Chris! Really pleased to hear it.

Have a good day tomorrow, too

Mal

[tetsudofan]

Afternoon everybody, the azaleas and bluebells are flourishing down here in the bright and sunny southeast corner:

 

 

Have decided to journey up to The Smoke tomorrow (advance singles on HS1 at £9.00 a pop) to attend the AGM of the Tramway & Light Railway Society being held at the Museum of London Docklands. What interests me as well is the Pre-AGM Tour over parts of the Docklands Light Railway and a flight on the Emirates Air Line cable car, something that I've not done before. Something different!!

 

Have also decided to venture north of the Thames (something done very rarely these days!!) at a later date to get a train to Crewe to attend a certain Scanning Party mentioned elsewhere on another thread. Means leaving here at 7:02am to get the Crewe at 10:11am but gives me plenty of time to have a McMuffin during the transit from St. Pancras to Euston. Already got my Advance First tickets and Virgin have told me by doing so I've saved just over £126.00.

 

Time now to return to the garden, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky and no wind blowing. Perfect!!

 

Keith

[Ian Abel]

POETS but I'm OFF already

 

Very quick check-in as departure for the lake cabin is imminent. Hoping all goes WELL with the pump installation <har har>

 

I'm returning later today, and will have tomorrow to myself - modeling on the cards!

Note for anyone looking at some of the Hornby deliveries, I just got a notification that the S15 TTS decoder I order has been billed to my credit card and shipped - YAY!

At 33 quid including delivery it now beats the Sountraxx Econami UK steam decoder (which I STILL think are pretty good buys) by HALF and since I have one of those IN an S15, I can do a swap out and have yet another sound loco -  

 

Only 6 here this AM, cloudy, expected to reach maybe 9 if we're lucky with cloudy and rain all day.

 

Enjoy the day, POE if you can. Back a LOT later...

[laurenceb]

Good afternoon one and all.  This cannot wait until tomorrow.

 

i have just returned from an audience with Professor Oncologist, who tells me that my PSA reading is down to 1.8.  This, I gather, is the irreducible minimum and is a ruddy sight better than the 800+ it was when I was diagnosed nearly three years ago.  Of course, the only way now is up but the Prof has no plans to change my treatment and has plenty of weapons up his sleeve when the present regime no longer works.

 

After some of what happened during the past two weeks this news has made me feel a whole lot better.  It won't last, I tell you ...

 

Chris  

Good news Chris

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon one and all.  This cannot wait until tomorrow.

 

i have just returned from an audience with Professor Oncologist, who tells me that my PSA reading is down to 1.8.  This, I gather, is the irreducible minimum and is a ruddy sight better than the 800+ it was when I was diagnosed nearly three years ago.  Of course, the only way now is up but the Prof has no plans to change my treatment and has plenty of weapons up his sleeve when the present regime no longer works.

 

After some of what happened during the past two weeks this news has made me feel a whole lot better.  It won't last, I tell you ...

 

Chris  

That's great news Chris, really pleased for you.

 

Jamie

[The Lurker]

Good news Chris.

 

And positive thoughts to others still suffering

 

have a good weekend all

[southern42]

' Evening all from red dragon land.

Pleased to report in, Barry!

Glad to hear your good news Chrisf and best wishes to all, especially to our Debs.  Thanks, John for the updates.

 

I have been a tad busy of late designing publicity material for West Shore Miniature Railway (though I did do a bit of lurking on here).
Further information for the year & our Grand Opening of the completed track; leaflet; and poster.on the NWMES thread.

Quite a bit of work but thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

Ray has been busy, too, over hauling, and adding an injector to, our 14xx (among other things...).

Looking forward to getting on the driver's seat, again.

 

 

Talking of cups of tea - Bernard Cribbins video    - I finally took the plunge and have gone over to herbal teas.

The first one, a berries concoction by Lichfields that I tried at the Museum café in Betws-y-Coed, on Tuesday, was quite palatable even when it had cooled down.  So, I went for it and bought two twinings and one Tess Coe packs.  The blackcurrant was much improved with a dash of pressed apple juice!  The ginger had a rather hot twang to it which I dissipated afterwards with a large juicy date.  I think this might be quite a challenge to find one I actually want to drink!  I ruled out chamomile years ago...

 

Went to town this morning to get some jeans from my usual stockist and they don't stock my leg length in the style I like, only the longer sizes!  A trip to Llandudno branch next week, then!

 

 

Shortie

Edited May 11, 2018 by southern42

[grandadbob]

Evenin' all and particularly Chris - that is splendid news.

 

We ventured out to a garden centre this morning and various purchases were made. I was going to pretend to The Boss that I'd lost my protective sheet of polythene so we couldn't load the boot up with garden stuff but I'd have come a cropper if I had because they had a roll of free protective boot liner standing by the flippin' checkouts. We were in Esher* so I suppose all the Merc, BMW, Lexi and Rangerover owners expect stuff like that. They've probably got "people" to plant the bloody stuff they buy as well. I haven't and now my back is killing me.

 

Gardening? Pah!!! 

 

I.M.H. Urting

 

 

* Just to give you an idea of the sort of place it was the woman in front of us at the checkout spent £37 on about 8 little packets of fancy sweets!

Edited May 11, 2018 by grandadbob

[grandadbob]

Further to our visit out earlier the garden centre is approached via a fairly narrow road. A dirty great 44ft Artic was heading slowly towards me so naturally I reversed up into a parking space to let him by. So did the bloke behind me. Henwomble behind him went flying past both of us and stopped in front of said artic. After trying to stare him out she then realised that there was no way he was going to reverse all the way back to let her through so eventually she gave way. Just as well because yours truly was about to get out of the car to "give advice" as was the car driver behind me. Big thumbs up from the artic driver when he went past.