Early Risers.

[andyram]

Good evening fellow ER's and more best wishes to you all. Simon; I am very pleased to hear the positive news following the medical results. That must be a real weight off your mind.

The heat has returned to Norfolk today with temperatures hitting 30 degrees. We visited Cromer with idea of going around the shops, visiting the pier arcades and spending time on the beach. I had hoped to pop into Buoy's Toys too. Sadly our plans went awry today. Sarah was hit with one of her migraines within an hour of arriving. She took some tablets over lunch, which seemed to ease it, but it was not to be and it returned whilst we were in the arcades. As a result we beat a retreat to the car to take her home. She was upset, feeling that she had spoilt the day, but these things happen and she could not help it.

 I did not make the model shop. It was closed for lunch when we got there and, after Sarah's illness, we did not make it back there. Never mind - there will be other times.

 

 In the evening I took Amber down to the local park and then onto the beach. We had great fun paddling in the sea. She had a bit of a swim, under my supervision, and I managed to float on my back a little. We never got out of my standing depth due to my inability to swim. The evening was very enjoyable.

 

 Tomorrow we head for home. Before then we plan to visit the Real Ale shop near Wells before shopping for presents in Hunstanton and the Norfolk Lavender farm. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing week and certainly a more positive week than we had last week.

 

Take care all

 

Best wishes

 

Andy

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

After a rather dull start to the day, it ended up being very sunny and hot. But despite the heat, all the rubble and old rocks that used to form the waterfall and rockery around the pond are now gone. I’d already got rid of one load at the tip and was busy loading the car for a second trip, when the guys doing the landscaping next door asked if I was dumping all that stone. Yes, I replied, he said I could chuck it on the back of my truck and he’ll shove it in their stone crusher. Needless to say, I didn’t need asking twice, as their truck was a lot near than my car was!

 

After a late dinner I spent a couple of hours in the workshop, where today I cleaned out the tank of my ultra-sonic cleaner, as the water was getting a little murky. I also sharpened a couple of Centre punches and scribers that were a bit blunt. I then sorted one of out my drill boxes.

 

Simon. Glad to read some positive news, both the CT scan and UU!

 

Mal. There wasn’t an awful lot of stuff to get rid of, it’s just that large rocks are quite heavy and I didn’t want to overload the car.

 

Goodnight all

[southern42]

' Evening all from red dragon land.
 
We had a great weekend away for the RMweb Tour of Didcot Railway Centre.  Great to meet up with Bob and Bob (GDB and 81C) and Mike (SM).
Photos and account on Jones the Steam's thread  #92  and #93.

 

Lunch out and walk at Llanfairfechan Wednesday and Thursday.  Thursday, because the electric supply was cut off for maintenance work at the end of our road.  We had planned a trip on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway but the sky was blacker in that direction.  We had sunshine in Llan!  Quite breezy, though, but still warm.  Photos below.
 
 

Happy Beer o’Clock from the currently-rechristened Hill of Tomatoes.

It is warm. It is sunny. Things went well this morning at the House of Fun. I even found there is still humour to be had during the Green Train Railway’s morning crush hours.

Receiving another delivery of luggage-laden travellers from Gatwick ar around 07.30 I was approached by a group of them in charge of Sarflunden accents seeking a train to Surrey Quays. My reply? “You travel half way round the world for a holiday in Surrey Quays??? (Feigned look of surprise) “Nah. We bin away now we come ‘ome”. Accompanied by an outbreak of laughter.

Currently enjoying a beer (Doom Bar) on the Terrace and listening to Muddy Waters (which are in very short supply currently - hippos please take note) before sacrificing some lamb chops for tea.

The new oven is due tomorrow. Here’s hoping that job goes well. Until then best wishes to all.

 
No muddy waters to listen to here, though one woolly hippo is checking it out...
 

 
The mooing hippos were on the other side of the wood
 

 
And this sycamore is paying the price of the long hot summer with signs of sooty black disease.
 

 

[BlackRat]

11 miles of walking in oven hot temps.

 

Time for bed.......

 

Gotta do it again tomorrow !!!

[BR60103]

Mr Rat

You can get planning guides for Disney that tell you how to plan your day to get every possible bit of fun out of the park. It involves showing up at rope drop (!) and sprinting for one of the more popular rides. Last bunch of times we went, we stayed in the campground for a month and took a relaxed approach.

I await comments on the Hogwarts Express.

[roundhouse]

Excellent news Simon and fingers crossed regarding the water  is now fixed.

 

 

Morning from another warm night here in Surrey although I did sleep reasonably well till just before 4am.

 

Just been updating our show list for next year. and replying to two organisers.

 

Mum rang last night to say that the venetian blinds for her bathroom have arrived so another trip there htis morning to fit them and if she likes them I will order  more for the rest of the windows in the front of the property so that they will arrive in time for me to fit them when I get back from across the pond.

 

On line check in time today for our flight -  beer tokens already packed. Not quite sure how we are going to fit in all the breweries that we wish to visit whilst attending the NMRA convnetion in KC but we will have a good go.

[jamie92208]

Morning all from a rather warm part of France. I spent the day fitting a fly screen but consumed plenty of liquid. In the afternoon I needed to go and buy some wood to fill a particular gap, the temp in the car varied between 34 and 40. However our roof work is now finished and looks very good. However we need a good downpour to test it. Later on while I was waiting for some wood stain to dry we decided to inspect the inside of the pool for an hour. In the evening two friends came round and we had a lovely evening chilling while more liquids were consumed. We even watched Mars make an appearance, it looks spectacular at the moment.

 

 

Today is going to be warm so there will be a bit of work this morning. Another flyscreen to make, just one more small one to do after that.

 

 

Simon, very good news on both fronts.

 

 

Regards to all.

 

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

At The moorings Awl, inner temple here,

 

Running slightly late as I've loaded the landrover for departure tonight.

 

All except for my £1 reading glasses which I've left on the boat. So I'm glad I did yesterday's report last night, as I peer into the fog on this tablet.

Last nights disco seemed to go well from a distance with sound occasionally mixed by a trad jazz band going past on a broads tours boat.

 

It's factor 50 time again, as it's a cloudless sky, with a forecast of 1mph wind and 30C at 13:00. What the wind forecast does not take account of is the sea breeze, as the land heats up and heated air rises, the cooler air comes in from the sea and creats a good breeze. It's something we depend on here.

 

The hover approaches time for boat setting up part 2.....

[Barry O]

Morning to most..off to Ampleforth I go..

C u later

Baz

[Smiffy2]

We're in France with the grandkids. Elisabeth brought us some courgettes:

We're not that keen on courgettes, and we're only here a week...

 

We also had a bit of wood delivered:

 

Yesterday we went out for dinner and on the way home saw a dead cow (very inflated) and a house on fire. Henry then showed up in the garden wearing a pillow case. Just a normal evening...

 

Today is a crafting day, but I'm off to pump up the paddling pool using a naughty tortoise. May be a while.

[New Haven Neil]

Morning.

 

Rather dull here today, but warm and humid.  Old fart's bike club beckons, then who knows what I will get up to!

[The Lurker]

Morning all from LBG which is already heating up nicely. The train this morning was full of Chinese students, presumably going to a language school. They didn't cause as much disruption as the ones that AndrewC referred to last week.

 

Good to read positive news from Simon and I hope that the Unseen University finally finish dealing with the leak today.

 

It strikes me that although Andyram cannot swim, he can do the thing that many learner swimmers seem to find hardest; float. He just needs to move his legs and arms in a vaguely coordinated manner and he will be doing a kind of back stroke!

 

Have a good weekend all

[Tony_S]

Morning from sunny Norfolk.

We are going to the seaside and perhaps a train trip.

Have a good day.

Tony

[New Haven Neil]

Bah.  Just deciding which bike to go to the club on, looked out at the garage, and.....it's chuckinitdarn.  Humbug.

 

So - the i30 or the Picasso!

 

Just saw the news Allan Downes has passed way.  A great modeler and inspiration, he had several times mentioned his battle with cancer.  RIP Allan, you are a legend.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone

 

The sun is now starting to shine, earlier on it was a little cloudy. I’ve already been out to the butchers for our weekly meat rations and was able to procure myself a pastie for dinner! Very shortly we’ll be heading off to the Trafford Centre to get a few other bits a pieces. Whilst we’re there I’m going to look for a new phone as mine is starting to act up, mind you I’ve had it almost 8 years now and I didn’t pay for it, as it was an ex work phone that got upgraded and they never asked for the old one back!

 

Enjoy the day, back later.

[81C]

Morning Peeps 

I fell out of bed a few minutes ago brain transmission seems to have jammed 

Her has bleated/mooed  are you going to finish the garage, no peace for the wicked.

Better get on.

                                                                                                        enjoy your day    Wellunda D Fumm 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

The sun is shining and the temperature is rising. A day in the shade is already planned.

 A great time was had by all yesterday with lunch near St. Paul's at The Centre Page Pub. Our journey was a bit fraught due to signalling problems on Thameslink. Got to the station to find our train was delayed by 20 minutes then after waiting 15 it was cancelled. (Thoughts of Ian (RH) here) The one after that was showing delayed so we decided to grab a bus to Morden and got on the Tube. Managed to arrive only 20 minutes later than scheduled but we'd already phoned the pub so there was no problem with our table reservation. Son Steve couldn't make it because of work problems but Abbie got there OK and luckily the firm are flexible with her lunch break. One pleasant surprise was SiL Steve attending as well (He picked me and The Boss up so we didn't have to walk to the station) and it became a great family day out. After a really nice lunch we ambled across the Millennium Bridge and as it was very hot had a pit stop in The Founders Arms. After a couple of drinks there it was only a short walk to Blackfriars where to our surprise the trains were running on time so we had an easy journey home. Walked back to Nicki's house where, surprise, surprise, it was decreed that some cold drinks were needed. 

After a relaxing couple of hours we didn't fancy the 20 minute walk home in the heat so we got a cab. All in all a terrific day.

 

Andy - I agree with He Who Lurks and I wonder if you'd ever thought of getting some swimming lessons. The fun you could have with Amber would be even greater and who knows, in years to come there could be grandchildren who from my own experience love going for a swim with their Grandad!    

 

Have a good one,

Bob.

Edited August 3, 2018 by grandadbob

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright and sunny here this morning but getting a bit sticky. Got to get things ready for the trip tomorrow as its an early start to get to the Southwold show. Fortunately the coast is going to be two or three degrees cooler than inland but still in the mid twenties. Also lined up for next Wednesday is the Family Fun Day at the Essex Fire Museum though I'm a bit dubious about one of the advertised activities, water squirting Though my friends young son is usually very well behaved he can be a little monkey when he wants to be I might pack a towel just in case. Thats it for now, be back later.

[lightengine]

Bah.  Just deciding which bike to go to the club on, looked out at the garage, and.....it's chuckinitdarn.  Humbug.

 

So - the i30 or the Picasso!

 

Just saw the news Allan Downes has passed way.  A great modeler and inspiration, he had several times mentioned his battle with cancer.  RIP Allan, you are a legend.

R.I.P. Allan, great modelling with tremendous detail.

[AndrewC]

Morning all from the tropical wasteland that is the boring borough. 

 

Bedroom is getting plastered. Wish I was.    Oh well, tomorrow is the London Craft Beer Fest. Aka hipster city. 

 

Lurker's comment about swimming reminded me of how few people in this country seem to have had swimming lessons. For a tiny island surrounded by the sea that seems a bit bizarre. It's been part of the physical education curriculum in most if not all Canadian provinces since the 60s. 

 

coffee has been consumed. The cockwombles at work all seem to have taken the day off, so its a peaceful friday so far. Roll on 16:00. 

 

Enjoy your day and weekend. 

[shortliner]

 

 

Lurker's comment about swimming reminded me of how few people in this country seem to have had swimming lessons. For a tiny island surrounded by the sea that seems a bit bizarre. It's been part of the physical education curriculum in most if not all Canadian provinces since the 60s. 

 

 

 

 

I have heard it said  that most fishermen (the trawler and inshore, etc variety) haven't learned to swim, preferring to drown quickly, rather than thrash about in the sea hoping for rescue.  In the North Sea in winter, survival times for pilots, after ejecting, and not getting into a dinghy, are quoted as about 4 minutes!

[New Haven Neil]

Still raining.

[AndrewC]

I have heard it said  that most fishermen (the trawler and inshore, etc variety) haven't learned to swim, preferring to drown quickly, rather than thrash about in the sea hoping for rescue.  In the North Sea in winter, survival times for pilots, after ejecting, and not getting into a dinghy, are quoted as about 4 minutes!

About the same survival time as some glacial lakes. I have gone for an unplanned swim in one of these lakes. Bloody cold. Remembering my survival swimming course the consensus then was better to slip into unconsciousness through hypothermia than the panic of drowning and having your lungs fill with water.  

 

NHN: all donations of rain gratefully received. 31c in the boring borough according to the weather app. 

[PeterBB]

Some interesting thoughts on swimming vs drowning ... most of the Titanic casualties died from hypothermia rather than drowning.

[southern42]

' Afternoon all from red dragon land.

Another overcast day but not to worry, we are having a day indoors.

 

Morning all from LBG which is already heating up nicely. The train this morning was full of Chinese students, presumably going to a language school. They didn't cause as much disruption as the ones that AndrewC referred to last week.

 

Good to read positive news from Simon and I hope that the Unseen University finally finish dealing with the leak today.

 

It strikes me that although Andyram cannot swim, he can do the thing that many learner swimmers seem to find hardest; float. He just needs to move his legs and arms in a vaguely coordinated manner and he will be doing a kind of back stroke!

 

Have a good weekend all

 

I could swim but I was scared stiff of floating.  

Most of my latter day swimming was in a drysuit when we capsized the sailing dinghy, a common activity on the Menai Strait, especially in rough choppy sea or when you sailed from one sea breeze into the other, one coming up from the Caernarfon end, the other coming down from the Beaumaris end.  Just make sure, when sailing downwind, you get the spinnaker down in time!

I stick to watching boats from the safety of West Shore, these days.  Even yachting seems a hard life, now!  Gently cruising round the coast is one thing, being thrown about is quite another, not to mention all the winter maintenance!

 

But I guess driving tr**ns  round and round just off the beach in strong winds is not for everyone either.  

 

Lunch time, now  so I had better go and do something about it. 

 

Back later.  In the meantime, be good.