Early Risers.

[Ohmisterporter]

We had an unexpected little visitor today. My wife was in the kitchen with the back door open when she sensed that she was being watched. Upon turning round there was a blackbird standing on the doormat with his head on one side as if weighing things up. He stayed there until he was offered a few raisins, gobbled up a few and flew off. Never had one in the house before but when working in the garden they often come within a foot of any digging that is going on. They seem to know they have nothing to fear from us. About five years ago my wife could only look on as a Sparrow Hawk caught, killed, and ate our resident blackbird in the garden. A sad moment but his place was quickly filled by a younger rival. Such is life. Stay safe all and stay clear of Sparrow Hawks.

[Simon G]

If it's the one my sister-in-law and her husband patronise, you should enjoy it!

I don’t think that there are many Chinese restaurants in Balloch, so it could be the same one. It is called Princess Rose and is right next to the McDonalds in Balloch. We had the set meal for 4 and very good it was too. I am now comfortably full!

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.  Late Call.

 

Loads of red kites in Oxfordshire, we camp near Wallingford and they come bbq raiding!

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[trisonic]

 

I passed my six-month review with flying colours and the advice that I should consider a Team Leader or Trainer position within the next year. We’ll see.

 

Best wishes to all.

 

Be careful, you may be offered CEO of Southern (whatever Ian L’s service is called today)  !!!!

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

Thankfully it didn’t take long to sort out the dip in the front gardens block paving. The sun finally started to shine just as I was packing up, but it was still very warm out there. I was all done and tools etc put away for just gone 11:30, I then came in for a muggertea. After that I got the hose out and gave everything a bit of a swill off, just to clear away some of the excess sand. Once I’d put the hose away, I pottered about in the cellar until it was time for dinner.

 

After dinner I went to the workshop and continued organising my shelves, putting similar items together. After tea I completed the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix and once all the shopping had been put away, the evening was rounded off with a nice bottle of chilled rosé.

 

Goodnight all

[The Stationmaster]

Be careful, you may be offered CEO of Southern (whatever Ian L’s service is called today)  !!!!

 

Yes, the perils of being placed in various positions - such as 'team leader' on stations south of the Thames/anywhere near Southern or Thameslink would definitely cause me too think twice.  Great to be appreciated but don't forget that those promoting such ideas can have their motives - training might be safer albeit less interesting.

 

Incidentally the red Kites round here rarely seem to go for other birds and I have seen then driven off by crows on more than one occasion.  But they're more than bright enough to know when and where an easy meal might be on offer for them hence they regularly appear in certain places at the same time everyday.

[lightengine]

If Red Kites and Sparrow Hawks inter bred would they be Red Sparrow Hawks and fly in hunting formation?

[southern42]

' Evening all from red dragon land.

 

Another few busy days and a couple of trips over to Anglesey.  Friday, low cloud and mist was accompanied by a downpour half way across.  Sunday the sun shone on hill and verge, the roads lined with cow parsley, red campion, and my favourite, buttercups.

 

I could not resist taking a photo of this Ford in the showroom which brought back memories of building my first Airfix kit of the 2-seater Ford Model T when I was seven.  This one is in working order but does not get out very often.  Shame!

 

 

We then popped down to Cemaes harbour (£2 parking, a mugatea for him and carton of apple juice for me from the takeaway cafe) and sat on a bench watching the Cemaes classic lifeboat load up with crew while the tide came in, eventually, going out to sea.  A short walk to the end of the beach and back before going home.  Quite relaxing. 

 

 

 

 

 

In the middle distance is St Patrick's bell, installed in 2014.

 

 

On the way back we were lucky to get across the Menai Bridge which was being surveyed from the air.  It was periodically open for 20 minutes and we got there just in time saving us from joining the long tailbacks on roads leading to the Britannia Bridge.

 

Well, on that cheery note, ' night all and nos da.

Edited June 5, 2018 by southern42

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[BR60103]

 

On the way back we were lucky to get across the Menai Bridge which was being surveyed from the air.  It was periodically open for 20 minutes and we got there just in time saving us from joining the long tailbacks on roads leading to the Britannia Bridge.

 

Is that going to be Rapido's next product?

 

Had a brief Dr.'s appointment at 8:15 a.m. about my cough. Then after coffee took SWMBO to the hairdresser's. Due to schedule mixup, her hairdresser wasn't in. So off for assorted shopping.

[pH]

I don’t think that there are many Chinese restaurants in Balloch, so it could be the same one. It is called Princess Rose and is right next to the McDonalds in Balloch. We had the set meal for 4 and very good it was too. I am now comfortably full!

Yes, that's the one. I couldn't actually remember the name, despite having been in it a couple of times, but my wife says that's it.

[roundhouse]

 

Then after coffee took SWMBO to the hairdresser's. Due to schedule mixup, her hairdresser wasn't in.

I like long hair on my other half

 

I often have a chat with her hairdresser asking him not to cut it too short.

 

Morning from a breezy Surrey. I wonder what GTR has in store for our commute today.

 

Edit

 

Just read the three page letter from our MP in response to my email regarding the state of the rail services. A fairly sensible letter but doubt he will be able to do much.

 

Oh and the mess has started again.our Thameslink train is now diverted away from London Bridge due to an operational incident

Edited June 6, 2018 by roundhouse

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is another bright morning today.  It is definitely going to be warm again later on.

 

Time for a coffee!

 

Have a good day everyone...

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

The talk last night was so frustrating.  You would expect someone talking about a particular railway line to know when it opened but the speaker did not volunteer that information and gave what was clearly the wrong answer when I asked him.  This augurs well for the report which I have to write today.  He went home early and we were treated to a Railway Roundabout DVD for the rest of the evening.  That was fine, but why can people not just sit and listen to the commentary instead of burbling to one another?  I shall find out tomorrow whether my blood pressure is up as a result and as you are all so keen on me having my own sphygmomanometer I will ask Sister D what she thinks.  In late afternoon I must brave what is left of Thameslink so that I may attend a concert by Andy Cutting at Kings Place.  Who knows, I may be home in time to post here in the morning.

 

Congratulations to Rick on passing the six month probation.  Who knows where your future lies?  Andyram, hang on in there.  I wish I could make a more constructive suggestion apart from keeping the lines of communication to the GP open – easier said than done, I suspect. Continuing warm thoughts to you, Debs, Andy P, Robert and his dad, Tony and Aditi, Simon, Mal and all others in distress.

 

Chris

[TheQ]

Morning awl, Inner temple Here.

A not very good nights sleep so the weekend has worn off.

Not helped by no TV at silly oclock. All the TV channels were off from 02:00 to 05:00 as they rejigged the Tacolneston transmitter, something to do with better broad band services apparently?

 

This little chap came visiting King Line cottages https://www.norfolkbroads.com/link/king-line-cottages-671/ In Horning In Norfolk on Sunday (3rd Jun)...

 

Picture Courtesy of Mazza Hawks from another forum I inhabit.

 

Time to goo carry on with this weeks major system.

 

 

[beast66606]

Morning all,

 

We don;t get kites at home but they are often around when I'm out around Eccles / Attleborough as several pairs live alongside the line, we do get sparrowhawks and a lot of predation, but it's nature so accpted.

The hogs are getting predictable now and make a pleasant 5 minutes relaxation watching them snuffle around the food / garden before retiring - last night one was snuffling the garden and randomly running at high speed for a few seconds, who knows what he/she was up to but it was funny to watch. We assumed he'd sensed a tasty morsel.

 

No scanning yesterday, the pollen count has gone very high and has made me sniffly and dopey (the latter being hard to tell), so CBA - maybe today.

 

Thoughts with those who need them and have a good day to all.

[Purley Oaks]

Good morning

 

It was a cracking day weatherwise yesterday, bright and sunny, around 18C.

 

We had a visitor yesterday evening - putting the bins out at 10pm there was some movement in next door's front yard (it is a yard, she keeps it like Steptoe's). It was a fox, which crept away

with its head lowered. Outside in the street it stayed looking at me from about 10 feet away as I said, "Hello, you're quite tame, aren't you."  As I went back inside it trotted off. Not scrawny at all, but not fat, either. Have you ever seen a fat fox? They need to outrun the horses and hounds. Gabe asked how I felt making friends with vermin. But I like seeing street foxes.

 

Am taking my mum to hospital for a cataract operation this afternoon; she should be in-and-out in a few hours so will probably overnight at hers just to make sure she's all right.

 

This morning it's bright but think it may cloud over later. The swifts are wheeling in the sky as I type this.

 

Hope your days are fine and clear

 

Mal

[grandadbob]

Good morning all, 

A bit cloudy with a hint of sunshine that should increase as the day progresses and it will be warmer.

My racking didn't arrive yesterday and seems to be stuck in the depot at Mitcham. Hopefully it will arrive today as The Boss is getting fed up with waiting in and wants (us) to go to the shops. I have suggested she uses the very good bus service(s) we have here. That went down well. 

Kids were their usual cheerful selves yesterday. Gemma is a darling but lives in a world of her own we call Planet Gem. She is normally very laid back like her Dad and takes her time about everything. Joe is full of life and does sometimes wind her up and pushes his luck because we then see a different side of her and she erupts.  

Joe seems to be at ease with all the exams and is still quite relaxed about them which can only be a good thing. He has been revising heavily for months and still is and I sincerely hope all his effort pays off.

I might start clearing the shed today (What you say? Again? Thought he was going to that yesterday...and Monday!)

Have a good one,

Bob.

Edited June 6, 2018 by grandadbob

[Barry O]

Good morning to most!

Grey and overcast here. It started like that here yesterday but once the sun broke through it was a fantastic day.

 

Went to the Town Hall Tavern in the City Centre last night. As it is a Timothy Taylors' pub i had a pint of dark mild followed by a couple of pints of my favourite beer.. Ram Tam.

 

Having slept well I may just do some gardening today.

Enjoy whatever you do today.

 

Supportive thoughts to all who ail

Baz

[jamie92208]

Morning all from a slightly grey and overcast village.   Not had time to read through as there is much to do.  So generic C's and C's.

 

Yesterday was a fabulous and unforgettable experience and in fact my ears are still ringing a bit despite 6 hours sleep.  How the Strolling Bones do it at their combined ages I don't know but they must truly be the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the world.   The trains journey went well, though the return on the 23.35 from Man Picc was very slow on a path that obviously allowed for frequent diversions.   

 

I met Bill, who I had known at school and last seen in 1969.  We had a great time catching up and pulling our old school to pieces.  What a great day.  I got home at 01.30 and woke this morning at 07.30.   The last night I will spend in this house after 39 years.   Beth ahs departed for Fat Club and two of us are due to start taking furniture to the tip this morning.  From this evening we are moving into the nearby Premier Inn (Other hotel brands are available) for our last 3 nights oop north.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

 

Jamie

[AndrewC]

Be careful, you may be offered CEO of Southern (whatever Ian L’s service is called today)  !!!!

That job comes with a free lobotomy. 

 

 

 

Greetings from the boring borough. Construction still crawling along. The counter tops for the kitchen are due to arrive and be installed today. That means tonight, I have a brand new functional kitchen. It also means tomorrow, I have to move my temporary office space as they demolish the old kitchen. Half way through week 13 of the 8-10 week build. We can sort of see the light at the end of the tunnel though. One bit of heavy work left on creating the through lounge, but all the rest is just plaster, flooring, and skirting boards. 

 

Took MiL for her birthday meal last night at the Ivy. She loves that place so the choice was a no brainer. Service and food was impeccable but some of the clientele left a lot to be desired. Dress code of smart casual, had obviously gone out the window with some people looking as if they'd just come off a building site. 

 

Andrew P - take it easy. 

Andy Ram - see above. 

 

Burger all else to say apart from enjoy the day. 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone

 

The sun is shining so I’m off to do a little bit of gardening before I head of to the workshop. My first task though, will be to retrieve the bins from wherever they have been left by the bin men. We are instructed not to leave them by our gate, not blocking the pavements, they they leave them all over the place, often grouped together, making passing them difficult, especially for those in wheelchairs and with young children in buggies!

 

Mal. I hope your Mum’s op goes well today

 

Back later

Edited June 6, 2018 by BSW01

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Pollen must be very high as I'm beginning to block up. I don't very often suffer from the grass pollen, more from the tree pollen that is a bit earlier in the year. At least its a bit sunnier than yesterday but despite that the central heating was in action this morning. Haven't checked the poppies this morning but the sunshine hopefully will encourage them to flower. Thats it for now, be back later.