Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

Now only 25C here but it seems warmer. No breeze. No sign of the forecast thunder or rain. I went round to the neighbours who are away in Wales again to check all was well with their garden. I managed to lock myself out of my own house. Fortunately I know where my neighbours keep my spare set of keys!

Tony

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. A couple of weeks ago the lid if the swing bin stopped swinging (broken hinge pin). So I purchased a replacement and the old one now lidless was delegated as a container for offcuts of timber. I went to move it yesterday and it just shattered, the plastic had gone brittle, almost certainly from sitting in full sun. Mal, I would be tempted to have a bit of fun with that spammer by telling them that I am a professional porn star and that I would expect royalties if they posted any such pictures.

[Happy Hippo]

 Mal, I would be tempted to have a bit of fun with that spammer by telling them that I am a professional porn star and that I would expect royalties if they posted any such pictures.

The secret lives of ERs!

 

Look out now, Phil's taken the brakes off!

[newbryford]

Not like me to have a (minor) rant, but I think the heat is getting to me (30 degrees round our way)

 

Due to the total closure of the M6 between Junctions 32 and 33, folks have been finding alternative routes - including my usual commute. This is about 25-30 miles east of the closed motorway section taking folks from J31 to J35.

Couldn't believe the number of cockwombles on the country lanes that upon sighting an oncoming vehicle in a narrow section still kept on going, causing a blockage involving mirrors folded in and hedgerow scraping to clear. All it takes is a stop in the wider bit to let the oncoming vehicles pass, then all is well. My mirrors and paintwork is still intact as I just waited a few car lengths back and chuckled watching them fight through the all too narrow gap.

 

Warm one tonight, but there are waiting beverages in the fridge.

 

Have a good Friday folks.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[JohnDMJ]

A pro pos of nothing in particular, why do our continental cousins seem to take temperature in their stride,, whereas we brits are unable so to do?

[lightengine]

A pro pos of nothing in particular, why do our continental cousins seem to take temperature in their stride,, whereas we brits are unable so to do?

Is it our permanent state of unpreparedness for anything?

French have shutters, Spanish have small windows, many Continental have stone floors, Danish have snow clearing equipment, Irish have Pocheen .................

Edited July 26, 2018 by lightengine

[roundhouse]

Glad I wasnt up in London today or travelling anywhere on our lines. from national rail:

 

Ongoing incidents:

• Multiple faults with the signalling system, including between Preston Park and Brighton, Earlswood and Brockley. This means that some services need to follow a proceedure where they are 'talked past' the faulty signals. This is where a trains needs to come to a stand at the affected area and gain verbal permission from the signaller before proceeding. This process can take up to 10 minutes per train, per signal. This doesn't always affect all trains as in many areas of our network, more that one line is available for trains to run on.
  - The Brockley signal fault is affecting services travelling from East Croydon towards London Bridge.
  - At Earlswood, services travelling between Gatwick and East Croydon.
  - At Brighton, some services between Preston Park and Brighton.
• A points failure at Earlswood means that services are unable to be diverted from their route onto an alternative line.
• A power supply problem at Selhurst Depot means that services are currently unable to access it. A train is came to a stand at Selhurst station on platform 1, temporarily blocking one of the lines towards Croydon. This service has now been moved to clear the line; however, the power supply issue at the Depot remains.

Earlier incidents:

• The passenger alarm being activated on board the 11:56 Bognor Regis to London Victoria service whilst at Gatwick Airport. This temporarily blocked one of the lines towards London and caused a queue of trains behind.
• An ill passenger on board the 15:25 London Victoria to Brighton service at Purley station. Services were diverted to alternative lines whilst this was ongoing.
• A bridge strike in the Earlswood area which meant that some services were diverted to run via Redhill and others had to run at a reduced speed of 20mph whilst safety inspections were carried out.
• Various train faults across the network, most recently including Gatwick Airport and Harlington.
• An earlier signal fault at Coulsdon South.
• Because of the high temperatures, the use of some sets of points located in the Earlswood, Gatwick and Three Bridges areas were earlier restricted. Points are movable sections of track which allow trains to move from one line to another. Whilst these restrictions were in place there was less flexibility and Southern couldn't ease the traffic through these areas by diverting trains to alternative lines. These restrictions have now been lifted.
• An earlier points failure at Radlett.

Edited July 26, 2018 by roundhouse

[Gwiwer]

And that was just on the Green Train Railway

 

On our side we had the RMT guard’s strike, late running due to train crew not being in the right place, a points failure at Wimbledon which has now become a larger event and is restricting even the reduced service. But on the positive side we did manage to run the Hampton Court service which was listed as not running. So a few more guards (or persons qualified to act as a guard) than had been expected were available.

 

A breeze has sprung up here which makes sitting outside on the terrace a little more refreshing. Still no rain.

 

Best wishes and good night all.

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[petethemole]

The last few days have been busy. Avebury on Sunday was uncomfortably hot outside, so we didn't visit much of the circle, just Mrs mole's favourite bit. The Red Lion was cooler inside and the Sunday roast was good value. Since then I've been sorting stuff out, ebaying and looking for lost things, generally while too hot. Builder came in today to look at a small job I needed doing; it was so small he did it straight off, which was handy. I am however assailed by various techy problems. The sound has gone on the Sky box; not for the first time, but it usually comes back after a few hours. I'll see what tomorrow brings. Also my mobile phone charger plug no longer goes all the way into the socket, which is odd. I'll have to use the stand magnifier to see if something's got stuck inside. things come in threes, so I'm waiting....

 

Night awl, POETS day tomorrow, and a Blood Moon....

 

Pete

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

When I went outside this morning, I had a bit of a change of plan. Instead of clearing away the stuff on the path, I cleared away the stuff that was in front of the shed and then dug up the old power cables hat used to feed the shed. Once the cable was out, I back filled the hole and levelled of the area, I then re-laid the paving in front of the shed, that I’d lifted to get at the cable it wanted re-laying anyway as it had started to dip a little just in front of the shed door. There’s still a bit more work to do around this area, but once I’m happy with everything, I’ll grout it all in and then get on with what I originally planned to do today.

 

After dinner I went to the workshop and just pottered about, mainly organising my spares etc, swept the floor and generally doing not a lot, but it is does look a bit tidier now!

 

Goodnight all

Edited July 26, 2018 by BSW01

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

The temperature reached 39°C yesterday afternoon - We have long passed the point of "reasonable"!

 

Hopefully it will cool down over the weekend.  Moving slowly is called for.

 

Have a good day everyone...

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

Thanks to my random number generating bedside clock radio I was up a little more betimes than planned, 40 minutes to be precise.  A long soak in the bath has generated sufficient perspiration to negate the effects but the water with a squirt of Stergene is being used to soak bed linen and a prime collection of manky towels.

 

On my way to Stevenage yesterday I left a couple of bags full of old clothes – pullovers, mostly – at the Salvation Army collecting point in Tesco’s car park.  I had of course been looking for something else in my cluttered bedroom but it seemed like a good idea to round up the surplus woollies and make a bit of space.  In the process I discovered that I need a new pair of shorts so once again I must venture out shopping in the equatorial conditions.  My 94 year old aunt in Bristol, on whom I shall call on my way to Sidmouth next week, is not enjoying the heat either.  I thought it best to ‘fess up that I had been in Bristol two weeks ago for Pride since it is always wise to own up before you are found out!

 

Today I have my 12 weekly appointment with Sister Syringe, who will administer the expensive preparation that is still combatting my cancer.  Last time I saw her I was in the grip of the black dog and she was kindness itself, which I may or may not have deserved.

 

Warm thoughts to Andyram, Rick, Andy P, Robert, Simon, Simon’s son, Debs, Tony and Aditi, Mal and all who are in distress or missing.

 

Chris

Edited July 27, 2018 by chrisf

[chrisf]

Post deleted

Edited July 27, 2018 by chrisf

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Here,

A very good nights sleep of about seven and a quarter hours was had, IN BED despite it being 27C in the bed room with windows open at 05:00 and 25C downstairs shortly after.

 

There had been a heavy mist last night so on Ben's Morning patrol everything was Dripping slightly.

 

Yesterday evening the Combine left the field in front and started on the U of wheat planted around us. One leg of the U was cut by 21:00 when they gave up for the night. They have done one strip across the bottom of our garden, which is good as it reduces the number of rodents that come into our garden. If they start the other side of the fields it drives them all in to us...

 

WELCOME TO NORFOLK DAY,

The radio was on about 200 special events on around the county, and radio Norfolk are on they are on the vintage Broadsman, one of 4 Double decker river "tour buses" he started by saying its a paddle steamer... errr no, it's a twin screw diesel, with two fake paddles slapped on the sides.. The good news however bad the reporting is, is they are travelliing from Wroxham ( yes they start the Wroxham side of the river not Hoveton) to Horning, So about 1/3 of the trip is the Course of our Regatta ,  (Saturday 28th 12:00 -16:00, Sunday 29th 09:00 to 16:00 on Black Horse Broad, 30th July to the 3rd August 08:00 to 18:00  on the river   from Dydlers mill to Horning sailing club)

 

Well the Temperature meter came back again, after more repairs... I think I'll be sending it back this morning...

The second Major system went onto it's cross checks just before I left yesterday, in 5 minutes I'll go check the results.. if it's OK I'll have a quiet day with just some minor bits and pieces to do.

 

Oh I went and found a coathanger of Old BAe Saudi shirts for the coming week, alongside I found a hanger of blue shirts with epaulettes on them...my old RAF shirts, not worn since 12 days (the amount of leave I had left) before the 26th Oct 1988.. I tried one on .... it fitted, just how many buttons would survive if I sat down I'm not sure...

 

Time To... go check the results...

Edited July 27, 2018 by TheQ

[jamie92208]

Morning all from a slightly cooler Charente. Not a lot got done yesterday as it was so warm. The house, with thick walls built with cellular air bricks, stays cool so we spent a lot of the time inside.

 

Today there isn't much on the agenda except going out for lunch with some friends for the plat du jour at a restaurant that's new to us. As I've been instructed t stay reasonably clean I may set off for the shed shortly and do some wiring.

 

 

Regards to all.

 

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

Oh dear Andy (ram) Sunny Hunny Lighthouse got hit by lightening overnight, ... Welcome to Norfolk Day

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, cloudy and looks like it will rain soon, 18c only - relief!!  Agricultural show on Sat/Sun, so torrential rain a probability.

[roundhouse]

Standing on a street corner in Reigate... Err no it doesn't rhyme aswell as Winslow Arizona but the temperature is similar

To0 hot waiting in the car car whilst my other half is in the dentist then going to get rid of more stuff in the recycling centre before heading home. Other half is thrn working from home whilst I switch off the water mains to replace a faulty valve by the kitchen sink. Best done on a weekday incase I need other parts.

Edited July 27, 2018 by roundhouse

[lightengine]

Is there much money in that these days Roundhouse? And Reigate of all places, not the greatest propositioning town.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone

 

Guess what, the sun is shining, who’d have thought it? Our first task is a trip to the Trafford Centre for a few bits and pieces then home via the butchers, where I’ll pick up the weekly meat rations and hopefully a pastie!

 

I’ve spoken to Tim at Arcadia and after dinner I’ll be heading there to collect a brace of the new Maunsell Restaurant cars that Hornby have just released. So it looks like no work in the garden OR workshop today!

 

Back later

[bbishop]

Morning all,

 

Cooling breeze at Lord's last night.  Plenty of alcohol drunk, but a youngish crowd and no trade for us.

 

Today is:

a) watch the Tour highlights

b) peddle slowly up to the Russian consulate to collect my visa

c) prom

 

Will risk not taking waterproofs, but may need them on Sunday when there is the tri 20-20 between Nepal, the Netherlands and Middlesex.

 

Bill

[Black Marlin]

Standing on a street corner in Reigate... 

 

 

Is there much money in that these days Roundhouse? And Reigate of all places, not the greatest propositioning town.

It's a girl, my Lord, in a flat-bed Ford...

 

Greetings all, and hello to Jason Isaacs.

 

A day off! Hurrah. Will head out shortly to the local coffee place for a croissant and a vanilla latte, while continuing to plough my way through Trevor Royle's Civil War: The Wars of the Three Kingdoms 1638 - 1660. I'm finding it hard going, mainly because it's a period of history about which I know very little. My impressions so far are that Royle has a very good grasp of the personalities involved but he's shaky on the theology those people are using to justify their actions.

 

In other news, I just bought a complete train's worth of maroon Mk1s. I'd been saving up for a while, so this is my reward for months of frugality. Happy days. 

 

Later there shall be m*delling.

 

Kind regards mugging the deserving;

Tinkety-tonk, etc.

Gavin