Early Risers.

[PeterBB]

Hope all these breakfasts are not overcooked ... it seems that over cooking/high temperature cooking on a number of foods e.g frying forms acrylamide and some form furan which at industrial levels are toxic chemicals. Research is trying to find out the process that causes it.

 

Just don't let it spoil your weekend breakfasts because currently food level are low.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Getting some old magazines ready for the club sales stand this afternoon and I went to pick a box of them up and it felt as if someone had stabbed me in the back. A couple of co-codamols have eased it somewhat but its still a bit tender so 'take it easy' is the order of the day. Still intending to go out tomorrow though I'll have to get the stroller out

[New Haven Neil]

That's a shame, I like my bacon crispy!

 

Edit - that was a reply to Peter!

Edited June 22, 2018 by New Haven Neil

[PhilJ W]

That's a shame, I like my bacon crispy!

 

Edit - that was a reply to Peter!

That depends on the quality of the bacon. The cheap stuff never crisps up unless it is incinerated because it is full of water (by being soaked in brine). Good quality bacon should cook without the necessity of burning as it is already 'dry'. Thats why I prefer dry cured or smoked bacon.

[New Haven Neil]

We only eat locally smoked bacon - done by the same folk as do the kippers, Moore's.  It's strong...

[AndyID]

No proper bacon here, and they nick it at customs if you try to bring it in.

[PhilJ W]

No proper bacon here, and they nick it at customs if you try to bring it in.

Hasn't anyone tried smuggling it in?

[AndyID]

Hasn't anyone tried smuggling it in?

 

Probably but it's not worth it. If they catch you they don't just confiscate it. They throw you in clink

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[andyram]

Good evening fellow ER's. I hope today has been a good day for everyone. My apologies - but I have not managed to catch up on many posts today. Things have been very busy today. It started with taking Amber to school, some shopping and then a visit to the church model railway group morning work group. Some modelling done whilst a track cleaning vehicle circulated.

 

 This afternoon I returned to my old school, taking a stall at their summer fair. With the nightmare head teacher having left there I felt much more relaxed. Once again there was a lovely response from the children. When I popped my head around the classroom door I was mobbed. Most asked me if I was coming back! That seemed to be a recurring theme with many of the parents asking the same! It is nice to feel appreciated.

 

 The black dog remains firmly shut in his kennel. Long may it continue.

 

Best Wishes

 

Andy

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

Well it’s been an absolutely glorious day hear in the northwest, wall to wall sunshine.

 

This morning’s trip to the hospital went very well indeed. In the car park you get 30 minutes free parking, I was so quick having my sample taken, that I didn’t need to pay the car parking fee! So from there I went straight on to the Trafford Centre, where I picked up the usual bits and pieces and then came home via the butchers, where I collected the weekly meat rations along with a pastie for my dinner.

 

This evening, we had James and Amelia round for tea and they also helped finish off the chocolate cakes I made the other day, they both had 2 each! The evening was rounded off with a nice bottle of red.

 

I also only buy locally dry cured bacon, purchased weekly from our local butchers, it tastes like the bacon we used to get when we were kids!

 

Goodnight all.

[grandadbob]

I like bacon both smoked and unsmoked and it's about the only thing I do like slightly over.   I'll take my chances as I've been eating it like that for the past 60 odd years. 

Edited June 22, 2018 by grandadbob

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[The Stationmaster]

Actually over 30 now as I had one all seven mornings of our cruise.  

 

I thought that might be lurking in the background but decided to be generous in my allowance.  And to make namatters worse laddo came in this evening and asked the management for a fry-up for his dinner, all I got was beans on toast (but I had demolished a nice bowl of fettucine in a local café between the surgery appointment and the visit to the chiropractor.

[newbryford]

School Prom season is in full swing at wife's work. 3 out of 9 completed so far.

My main task is carpark/prom vehicle organiser. Once that is done then it's  "your name's not down, you're not coming in" duty if required [*]

 

Despite two very large signs (about A1 size and bright yellow - what else?) giving directions - one of which I usually stand next to, vehicles still stop and check if they are going the correct way. The drivers of said vehicles are usually either 4x4 or German, or in the worst case, both. Once past me, they then encounter Junior NB (who has been well trained and stands no messing......) to check if they want to park up to take photos of their little darlings, or want to drop them off at the front door/red carpet. The ones that sail by without obeying the request to stop are often teachers who think they know better. Great fun watching them get stuck in the drop off queue instead of a simple parking exercise.

And as for parking - there are no lines on the car park which can easily accommodate about 150 cars when parked sensibly. However the spaces left between them reduces the capacity to less than 100..........

 

Nothing spectacular to report on the prom vehicle front so far - after you've seen (and heard because they insist on revving it) one McLaren F1 you've seen 'em all. The most unusual in 3 evenings was an ex-army Leyland 4 tonner.

 

Only a couple of eejits so far and easily spotted in the distance - again driving cars with W, M and B as initials and from a certain section of the community................ I have sussed a way of keeping them calmed down by creating a chicane with traffic cones that prevents them from flooring it.

 

[*] My services are seldom required but about once per year, a pupil will turn up that has been excluded/not invited to the event and try and gate crash. The various school staff are quite wise to this and if required I will assist with a few words of "you're not supposed to be here, so as a private site, you may be considered as a trespasser" usually does the business.

 

That's it for Proms until next Wednesday.

 

Work followed by golf in the early evening with a singles knockout game.

More golf on Sunday for my FiL Memorial Trophy - my proudest golf moment was winning it five years ago. I hope that I can repeat that feat one day.

 

This was the view from my back door earlier this evening.

 

 

The bright bit in the middle is not The Sun - it was already out of view - but it reflecting off the clouds

 

 

Have a good Sunday folks.

 

Cheers.

Mick

 

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[AndyID]

Some of you have noticed that I'm winding up some straight laced gentlemen on the wright write's thread. Thank you for the support.

 

 

I've taken your lead and tried to drag them kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

[TheQ]

Sorry this is 1963 isn't it? No such thing as school proms or even a dance.

Actually in my entire school career 1962- 1975, including 2 primary and 3 secondary schools only one ever had some sort of party. Since coming from a boys only secondary modern in Wiltshire, I had been in the Hebrides only a couple of months, it was mostly in Gaelic, and involved Highland dancing. I was totally mystified as to what was going on...

 

Mooring Awl, inner temple here,

About 5 hours solid sleep but I hope to top that up shortly.

 

We went to the Ben the Border Collie Appreciation Society last night, Ben being the only black ( mostly) dog wandering around yesterday. It was poorly attended as I think several members are taking their holidays away before the prom goers escape.

 

Most tasks went well, but my attempts at 2 mm scale reeds and bullrushes were a failure more research needed I think...

 

A bit later I'm off down to the sailing club, after a row across to the motor boat I'm going to check the batteries, then measure all the windows so I can plan their replacement.

On the way back I'll drop into the Radar museum to drop off my gpdr form.

 

A serious case of river rage during the week, a hirer lost his temper and rammed other boats deliberately, needless to say the police and the boat yard crew were waiting at the next point of call. The boat yard will repair the damaged boats but the hirer will find the collision damage waver doesn't cover deliberate damage, Once he has left police custody...

 

Time too ... Try inspecting eyelids again....

Edited June 23, 2018 by TheQ

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

There is an unexpected postscript to the travel insurance business.  Yesterday afternoon I received the following by e-mail:

 

“Still thinking it over?  Dear Mr Foren, you recently had a travel insurance quote from us, but we see you’ve not yet chosen to buy your policy.  To help make your decision easier, we’d be delighted to give you 15% off our award-winning cover”.

 

One little thing – they did not give me a quote!  What’s 15% of nothing?  Take a bow for crass stupidity, Staysure, self-proclaimed over 50s travel insurance specialists and suspected numpties.

 

At least I did something useful yesterday.  I sprayed herbicide on the weeds and made a batch of pork in honey and mustard sauce which should do me a few days.  The last of the strawberries were harvested.  They have done well this year.  I might just go out for breakfast this morning and bring home with me some plain yogurt, a fitting accompaniment for them.  Tonight I go to Milton Keynes to meet once more the lady who broke my heart 41 years ago and enjoy her singing.

 

Simon, I am glad that you are through your chemo and hope that you have a smoother passage through the maelstrom that is travel insurance than I did.  Andyram, yesterday must have given you a real boost.  Warm thoughts to you both and to Debs, Andy P, Robert and his dad, Tony and Aditi, Mal and all others in distress.

 

Chris

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Sunshine and blue sky here in The Land of Sutt. It will be a dry warm day with temperatures possibly reaching 25^oC.

Up earlier than of late due to a bit of a restless night. Woke at 3.00am again with a throbbing tooth but a couple of Paramol ® eventually eased  that.

First task this morning is a visit to Argos to pick up a small cheap sofa for the conservatory as the present incumbent is not very well and will be consigned to the tip along with some other dead furniture next week.

The car needs a wash but I think by the time I'm ready to do that it will be too hot so I may give it a miss.  

The garden also needs some attention as well but I refer you to my previous statement.

There are one or two small domestic repairs that may possibly get done as I don't want to give the impression of being completely bone idle. 

Later I will don my England Rugby Supporter mantle and suffer in silence as they try to avoid a whitewash in South Africa. I'll not hold my breath.

After that there is the choice of Argentina v Scotland or the Rugby League match between New Zealand & England. (Or both if I watch one and record t'other)

Have a good one,

Bob.

Edited June 23, 2018 by grandadbob

[Simon G]

Up early this morning, probably due to the effects of the steroids. Still, I don’t mind as I feel Ok as a result of taking them, and I can always cat-nap if I feel tired.

 

Many thanks to ChrisF for his advice to me on travel insurance, which I am sure will help me when the time comes, which will hopefully be soon. It goes to show the difference between northerly and more southerly parts of England when your strawberries are finished, and mine are still doing quite well. Not as well as in some years as I completely replanted the strawberry bed with new runners last autumn, and I think that the dry weather here hasn’t helped their size. Still they taste great, and far superior to some I bought from a supermarket earlier this week.

 

Like GDB, there will hopefully be some rugby watched today. We will see if England can finally play well for a full 80minutes!

[jamie92208]

Morning awl from a sunny Charente Maritime, east of Le Paradis. There are signs that summer has arrived. Our usual rush hour is 3 cars per hour instead of 2. To that you now have to add 4 combine harvesters and their attendant vehicles that tow the cutter bars plus escort vehicles. They usually start at about 11am and can come back at 1am. I between time you have a repeated pattern of vehicles taking the crop to the silo. At the moment the crop is Barley but there is some baled silage as well. The Combines can be recognised very easily by the sound of their, presumably, turbos. They make a noise very like a jet on take off. Such is rural life.

 

 

More tidying got done yesterday after the Insurance man had been. He gave us some very good advice and our premium for the house and contents is half what it is in the UK for better cover. He was impressed with the security upgrades tat I have done to the shed, that aren't visible from the outside. I didn't show him the drop down gunports or the landmine triggers..... In the afternoon I managed to change my address with the bank, the electricity company and the water company, all in French. I was knackered afterwards but pleased. The young lady in the bank was very nice and when I needed an actual utility bill, rather than a piece of correspondence, helped me to download and email my electric bill from my mobile. My kids would be most impressed with their dinosaur dad. Then in the evening we attended a village musical evening at the Town Hall. Much beer and plenty of food was consumed at a total cost of 18 euros. Over 70 people turned up which was good.

 

 

More shifting around of things is on the cards for today and sorting of the top end of the shed before the pallets arrive on Monday.

 

 

I'm glad to hear that canines are being controlled Andy and Chris and that chemo has been done Simon. Just hope for news from Debs.

 

Jamie

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Just a quick hello before I go out, have a good day all.

[Barry O]

Hey up!

 

Our 39th wedding Anniversary is..today. hope the couple who's marriage we are attending today stay together even longer than we have (so far).

 

Have a greatday!

 

Baz

[Simon G]

Happy Anniversary Baz and Mrs Baz, and many more of them. Our anniversary was 37 years ago on Wednesday, but with my chemo session on Thursday, we didn’t actually celebrate much.