Early Risers.

[roundhouse]

Nice and rusty behind Big Lick Brewery in Roanoke VA. Its apparently an M2 class steamer

[pH]

Junior Herbert has had an offer on a house accepted..ooh err! This hopefully means he finally moves his "stuff" out of the garage.

 

Don't hold your breath! (Says he who has three sons "out of the house" but still has rooms and cupboards full of "stuff" that isn't his.)

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

I’m back from Sidmouth, said he stating the bl33ding obvious!  I have now attended more than 40 of these festivals and every year I come away wondering how they can follow that.  This is a festival that runs on infinite improbability drive with impossible choices every day. Don’t tell everyone but I found myself with a pint in my hand, filled and refilled with real ale, from midday to midnight every day for a week.  On the way home I paid an extremely flying visit to RailWells.  I’d like to spend Sunday there but it is daft even by my standards to drive 200+ miles home from Sidmouth only to drive 150 miles back again.

 

Did I hint at breaking news last time I was here?  On my way to Sidmouth I came out to my aunt in Bristol.  I have been uncertain of my sexuality for as long as I can remember and I know only too well that others have had their suspicions.  To cut a very long story short, I have declared myself “not sure but not straight”.  This is not at all what I expected when I said “let’s see what happens” after Bristol Pride and I’m still making sense of it myself.  I’d like to say more tomorrow if that’s OK.

 

Warm thoughts as always to all in distress or missing.  I’m sorry I cannot be more specific at the moment but have you tried catching up with ERs after a week away?

 

Chris

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dull start here and raining. There may be some drier and brighter intervals later.

I hope so because as I mentioned yesterday we're all off to Greenwich today. SiL Steve, Abbie Joe and Gemma are climbing the O2. This is a belated birthday treat for Joe (from February) and left until now in the hope of good weather. Looks like they might get wet.

 

https://tickets.aegeurope.com/upattheo2/climbs.html

 

I was invited but after a bit of thought decided that my knee and hip might cause some problems so will sit it out with rest of the party in a bar below! 

Have a good one.

Bob.

Edited August 12, 2018 by grandadbob

[jamie92208]

Busy day...and now it's chuckinitdarn.

Junior Herbert has had an offer on a house accepted..ooh err! This hopefully means he finally moves his "stuff" out of the garage.

 

Sleep well all!

Baz

The only way we managed it with our three was to move house and anything not removed went to the tip.   Good luck with you ambitions.

 

Nice and rusty behind Big Lick Brewery in Roanoke VA. Its apparently an M2 class steamer

As far as I now it's a 4-8-0 a very strange and almost unique wheel arrangement and 3 of them were stuck in a scrapyard from 1950. They got rescued about 10 years ago and that one belongs to .   It got rescued a few years ago but I've no idea what plans there are for it now.

 

Jamie

Edited August 12, 2018 by jamie92208

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Here,

And not planning to move anywhere till the ibuprofen kicks in.

Yesterday's boat work involved lots of leaning in from outside, and effectively working upside down. This has paid havoc with my back and leg muscles feel like they are on the edge of cramp.

 

I have slowly walked with Ben the Border Collie round the garden, it's quite soggy.

 

With more rain forecast, SWMBO will get her way, as later she requires me sort my model railway stuff out of the mobile home. At the same time, I have to unload the scenically completed board 1 from the Land Rover, as a lot of building stuff from the Orange shed needs buying while the discount still applys.

One thought has occurred to me, I didn't take account of the rebuilt size when building the shelves it lives on. So a bit of measuring is required before its moved as its the heaviest..

 

I've never been to a music festival or come to that, to a disco. My ears are just too sensitive, if we go to a dinner that has a band, disco, or music system, I have to take ear plugs. Using the lawnmower it's ear defender time. At 60 years old having good hearing is an achievement, considering I have worked on fighter jets, though at the front end..

 

SWMBO is moving so Ben tells me, kettle on time...

[jamie92208]

Morning all from the sunny Charente.    Welcome back to Flavio, I look forward to seeing reports of progress on the new layout.

 

Chrisf, welcome back from Sidmouth and as the French wold say, Chapeau, to you for your courage.  I'm glad that the visit to your aunt went well and wish you all the best as you continue your journey of discovery.

 

Yesterday I manged to get one piece of Ikea furniture erected and then tried to do some wiring on the layout.  I became confussed so stopped and had a beer.   I will resume battle this morning. 

 

Today there is not a lot to do this morning then this afternoon we are off to visit a fellow RMWebber, Mike Storey, who lives about 5 miles away and is having a garden party.   I hope to see the results of his work on his new garden railway.   Not a lot else to report so I will wish you all well.

 

I also hope to hear more good news from Lords.

 

 

Jamie

[45156]

In 1894 Teignmouth had 26 pubs. Today we still have 16.

 

Is the Talbot among the pubs still open - when 30747 was about 20, she went there a few times for the jazz, while staying in Teignmouth on holiday.

[pH]

Spent the day babysitting grandson while son and daughter-in-law attended a wedding. "So what" you say, "that's one of the duties (or, more correctly, pleasures) of grandparenthood". The unusual thing about today was the location of the wedding. The ceremony was in the grounds here - http://www.wcra.org, the wedding party arrived by train, and the reception was held in this building - http://wcra.org/index.php/cn-roundhouse . We dropped in on the reception at one point, and I took the chance to take some pictures in the museum yard, which I'll post later.

[45156]

Morning All

 

Greetings from a damp village in North Lancs, where we have decided not to visit the A8 car boot this week, as even if it's on, the stuff will be wet, and there's unlikely to be many sellers standing. 

 

Welcome back Chrisf - good to hear from you again, and well done on coming out on RMWeb as well as to your auntie. 

 

Generic greetings are on offer to all who need them, as usual.

 

Back later perhaps after we've visited Gresgarth Hall gardens for a cup of tea and a cake, and a wander round the garden.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[Barry O]

Chuckinitdarn!

 

Forgot to mention that we had a private fly past by the red arrows. Very low over the cricket ground and a lot of white smoke was trailed behind the second 4 aircraft.

Welcome back to our missing Ers. Still a few missing though. Fingers crossed they are OK.

 

Now, do I get ready for a trip to Sessay to umpire or.....

 

C u later

Baz

[southern42]

Busy day...and now it's chuckinitdarn.

Junior Herbert has had an offer on a house accepted..ooh err! This hopefully means he finally moves his "stuff" out of the garage.

 

Sleep well all!

Baz

 

 Sounds familiar.   Youngest is back with us after finishing at Uni but to be fair, darn good at sorting all that "stuff" to minimise impact.  Not a patch on our m*ddling "stuff"  - where did it all come from? 

 

Joys of Life railway Open Day in Bethesda, today and its WET!   Seems there is some contradiction between the seaweed forecasters: one says dry this morning, t'other says rain.  We might pop over later although some more rain is fast approaching from Anglesey.

 

Time to put kettle on.

Enjoy your day.

[Happy Hippo]

Do you want your towel collection autographed?

Up until this point I thought the Towel Collection was something to do with rtr Gauge 0.

 

Fortunately I pick up my new reading specs next week.

[Happy Hippo]

It saddens me to report that after many years of happy wallowing, Muddy Hollow (Rear) is no more.

 

Yesterday, the PH, with the aid of a tracked mini digger, re-featured the area so that a new fence and hedge can be installed. 

 

This digger was also fitted with a post hole borer, which made very short work of digging the holes for the fence posts.

 

He also did some grading in the vegetable plot which will make putting in the new bed and turfing the rest a much easier task.

 

This flurry of activity is getting rid of all the work he owes us prior to his move out in a few weeks time.

 

This includes coppicing all the willow trees at the front of the property, which is why MH(F) is currently unavailable as it is covered in willow logs and brash.

 

We have already had folk asking about the logs:  They will be welcome to try burning willow as it spits like mad when hot, so a proper wood burner or a decent fire guard is essential.

 

The brash will be consumed by a wood chipper that the PH has got 'under repair'............. The willow brash will be a good test post repair.

 

I too am looking forward to getting a lot of freed up space in the garage, garage roof, store area behind the garage, workshop, store shed, various rooms in the house and the attic.

 

Since he is moving to a house that is bigger than ours, I do not see us having to keep his stuff here for too long.

 

I've already offered to store some of my stuff there, as well as building a 7.25" gauge line in his garden.

Edited August 12, 2018 by Happy Hippo

[PeterBB]

Interesting day at GCR with Oliver Cromwell pulling dinner Pullman coaches and with an all-day breakfast facility otherwise.  Double headed steam pulling Windcutters  and also some non-stop expresses.

 

 

NRM team on site (told it was live) and sunny for most of the day.  Final day today but 99% prediction of rain ... will probably affect attendance considerably.

 

Peter

 

Edit - Recreating the 'Fifteen Guinea Special'   Cromwell as itself; Standard Class 5MT 73156 as 73069; Stanier 8F 48624 as 48476; BR Standard 2MT 78018 (with couple of diesels thrown in Class 25 D5185 and Class 47 1705 as it was anticipated that summer would still be with us and the potential for fire.

Edited August 13, 2018 by PeterBB

[New Haven Neil]

Good morning to you all, after a night of torrential downpours, it is now sunny sur le rock, so the visit of friends to run the garden railway goes ahead.  I suspect it will not be as warm as at the garden railway Jamie is visiting though!

 

Best wishes to Chrisf too, I hope your turmoil will resolve itself going forward with positivity.

 

OK, off to tidy the garden (given up with the garage, it is beyond hope) for the guests.

 

Laters.

[southern42]

Update on forecast for Bethesda (Joys of Life)

 

Seaweed forecasters : Double blobs until lunchtime   v  Blobs all day with thunder, lightning and sunshine 1200-1400

  

Who do you believe?

 

Pondering Polly

 

[lightengine]

Good morning one and all

 

I’m back from Sidmouth, said he stating the bl33ding obvious! On the way home I paid an extremely flying visit to RailWells. I’d like to spend Sunday there but it is daft even by my standards to drive 200+ miles home from Sidmouth only to drive 150 miles back again.Chris

Glad you had a good week Chris but didn't you think of camping for the night near RailWells? Edited August 12, 2018 by lightengine

[lightengine]

Is the Talbot among the pubs still open - when 30747 was about 20, she went there a few times for the jazz, while staying in Teignmouth on holiday.

Sadly the Talbot went in the 80's and some faceless, hideous flats were built in its place. It was a pub I never went in although I passed it often. I remember it advertising Stephane Grapelli on boards outside.

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/devon/teignmouth_talbothotel.html

[chrisf]

Glad you had a good week Chris but didn't you think of camping for the night near RailWells?

 

Not after nine nights under canvas!

 

Chris

[Purley Oaks]

Nice and rusty behind Big Lick Brewery in Roanoke VA. Its apparently an M2 class steamer

Now where's that 'beautiful' button?

 

Don't hold your breath! (Says he who has three sons "out of the house" but still has rooms and cupboards full of "stuff" that isn't his.)

Our daughter arrived back last week, so all three here just now. Is it because we told them we're moving to a smaller house that they all want to reclaim a room?

 

Did I hint at breaking news last time I was here?  On my way to Sidmouth I came out to my aunt in Bristol.  I have been uncertain of my sexuality for as long as I can remember and I know only too well that others have had their suspicions.  To cut a very long story short, I have declared myself “not sure but not straight”.  This is not at all what I expected when I said “let’s see what happens” after Bristol Pride and I’m still making sense of it myself.  I’d like to say more tomorrow if that’s OK.

Nice one, Chris! One of my brothers-in-law came out a while ago - but when you live in London and work in the theatre it's probably a lot easier. Still tough for him at the time, though. So good on you, Chris.

[Purley Oaks]

Good morning all

 

Wet and overcast here the now, but looks like it's clearing up from the west.

 

John Lewis not quite the same as M&S because as well as selling its own-brand goods it also sells other brands (I know M&S sells other brands in its Food Halls); JL also tries to pay all invoices to manufacturers within 30 days (and usually gets a small % reduction for so doing) to keep on top of things, unlike House of Fraser which has left £400m of unpaid bills behind. Wonder about the knock-on effect of that and how many additional jobs will be lost as a result? And that knocks-on to other retailers where the jobless used to spend their hard-earned. Bleak or what?

 

Anyway, nothing planned festival-wise today, just sorting out stuff to get the house on the market once I can get into the room where daughter has pitched up...

 

Have a dry day

 

Mal

[Tony_S]

We went to Enfield on Thursday this week but we are returning today. Just after we departed on Thursday some of MiL’s relatives said they would come and visit her today. Which is why we went shopping again yesterday. Aditi offere to make some scones (the relatives like scones) but MiL vetoed that idea as “inappropriate”.So Aditi said she would make carrot halwa. That too was vetoed as MiL said she didn’t know how good Aditi’s halwa was. Aditi did mutter something about her Mum not complaining when she last had it here!

 

I always enjoy reading ChrisF’s morning tales,of musical and railway excursions. Welcome back.

 

Tony

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Well done Chris, may things take whatever course you wish them to take.  Now to pubs - in my youth the town here had 35 of them and it was physically impossible to have a drink in every one of them, plus the several hotel bars, in a single 5 hour evening (5 hours of evening opening time) and we also had an excellent brewery.  Now in terms of traditional pubs we really only have the one that isn't also some sort of eatery but we have several (four) which are also eateries as well as decent watering holes and another bunch of them have become 'wine bar' type establishments although they hardly count as proper pubs, and we have a micro-brewery.   But in reality that is nothing because if you go back to 1910 the town not only had three breweries but reputedly as many as 70 pubs and I can remember 4 which closed before I reached drinking age so I wouldn't be surprised if there were once even more.

 

Meanwhile the weather gods have again smiled on us and we have had a further wetting of rain - 'a nice soft day' as I think the Irish would describe it and definitely good for the garden and topping up the waterbutts.

 

Enjoy your day one and all.

[The Stationmaster]

Good morning all

 

Wet and overcast here the now, but looks like it's clearing up from the west.

 

John Lewis not quite the same as M&S because as well as selling its own-brand goods it also sells other brands (I know M&S sells other brands in its Food Halls); JL also tries to pay all invoices to manufacturers within 30 days (and usually gets a small % reduction for so doing) to keep on top of things, unlike House of Fraser which has left £400m of unpaid bills behind. Wonder about the knock-on effect of that and how many additional jobs will be lost as a result? And that knocks-on to other retailers where the jobless used to spend their hard-earned. Bleak or what?

 

Anyway, nothing planned festival-wise today, just sorting out stuff to get the house on the market once I can get into the room where daughter has pitched up...

 

Have a dry day

 

Mal

The Waitrose part of the John Lewis empire is definitely going through difficult times.  They have cutback hard on distribution costs and contract labour and this is clearly affecting what can be (or more typically not be) found on the shelves in their shops plus they also seem to be cutting back on quality in many areas with a greater concentration on their 'Essentials' range.