Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

Morning all. 

Bright and breezy here, well at least the weather is. 

Some friends from Norfolk are coming to visit us today. They managed to choose a route that had delays form after they left. 

 

Andy (AndyRam). I looked at the list of Channel 5 programmes. I can see why you have to keep quiet about such things!

 

Have a good day 

Tony

[lightengine]

8 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Morning all. 

Bright and breezy here, well at least the weather is. 

Some friends from Norfolk are coming to visit us today. They managed to choose a route that had delays form after they left. 

 

Andy (AndyRam). I looked at the list of Channel 5 programmes. I can see why you have to keep quiet about such things!

 

Have a good day 

Tony

Look forward to seeing you build

[Sir TophamHatt]

What a load of rubbish.

 

Accidently left the heater on all night in the model railway room, which has encouraged my latest balasting to dry.

That means I can place the platforms and ballast that area and move on to getting my BM1s in place.

 

However the wind overnight means the chicken coop needs some attention.

This means no model railway this afternoon, busy tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday - three primary days more ballast/paint could be drying.  Tut.

[Ian Abel]

Morning all...

Busy weekend it seemed, and enjoyable too

 

Friday night, impromptu dinner with friends who contacted the Mrs while she was out shopping for dinner, made THAT an easy call 

 

Saturday early afternoon we had a "meet and greet" with a couple that do doggy-daycare. Jemma needs an alternative for those times when we are out of town at the same time as her. Great couple who do dog rescue as well as having their own dog and cat. He works form home (software, so we had some common ground) so there's pretty much always someone there with the animals they sit for.

Got back just as the weather changed for the expected "worse". We had about an hour of sleet/icy rain, then it turned to snow. All in all we only got about 6-8 inches of snow overnight instead of the expected 12-15, always a good thing to get less than expected - unless you're a ski resort I suppose

 

Sunday the Mrs was supposed to have lunch with friends, but they wimped out due to the weather, which, honestly time the morning had rolled around was no issue, just needed the snow plowed/shoveled. Anyway, as a result we decided to go out ourselves for brunch, then added a nice walk at Minnehaha Falls which was definitely a winter wonderland sort of scene.

 

Following that, decided (the Mrs did ANYWAY!!) to go to IKEA and check out some options for the new house guest bedroom, as well as a replacement cooktop for the existing residence - how come one never gets informed of these side ventures BEFORE agreeing to venture out??

 

Finally returned home and then took another walk, this time around the neighborhood, so Whitney could get some steps in.

 

Back to a brisk -13 and sunny here this AM, may make -1 for the high.

 

OK, back to work for me, enjoy the day.

[roundhouse]

Afternoon all.

 

We were hoping for a white Norwich when we got up yesterday as one weather rpeort said it could snow from around 3am but it was just persistent rain walking to Spoons for breakfast then to the station via the cathedral. Luckily they opened the doors earlier than normal for our class 170 DMU to Norwich so grabed the two facing 1st class seats. At Cambridge trains were cancelled or delayed due ot wires down towards liverpool Street so the main platofrm was solid with people awaiting the delayed Great White Worm to Kings Cross. Luckily we managed to get past the crowds, down to the front of the 12 car into 1st class before they declassified the 1st class. The train was so busy by Hitchen that they cancelled the next two intermiediate stops. No trains through the core as per usual of a weekend so Undergtornud to VIC then a train to Purley but just missed the bus home  so a quick half in the pub opposite the bus stop  before catching the next bus - quicker than taking the rail replacement bus to Redhill.

 

More modelling today with spilt gears repalced in a Proto 200 Geep and then finished altering the chimney area on BUDE which is now drying then repainting the modified area.

 

Next door but one parked one of hteir cars in fornt of our cars overnight. Not sure why they didnt park it infront of their other cars but at least I could get one car off the drive. They have now moved it but hope this isnt going to be a regular occurence otherwise they will be woken up early when we need to use the cars.

 

My other half is going to have an interesting journey home due to an earlier bridge strike near London bridga then a power failure at Backfriars. Thameslink trains generally shown as delayed, cancelled or very late at the moment

 

 

[81C]

Afternoon All

Bit slow off the mark today Her has given me no ear-ache YET she has p!ssed off gone out to assist her aunt in buying a kitchen I can see the Howdens Farnborough staff having their day spoilt

things got a bit stressed last week for her aunt now Her has got involved god help them. 

Had an enjoyable day at the Basingstoke show the show going round with GDB we did spend time looking for SM Mike with no success the show it's self was carp, crowded car park in disarray, many layouts not working even the big Hornby train set packed up then some idiot operator tried to walk through me he ended up going over a barrier the pompous sod said he was a exhibitor I said that was no excuse " you ########" it a pity the show has gone down hill it use to be one of  the best, 19 layouts, seen 11 of them before, 5 had zero interest as stock was derailing or not working, the other 4 had a 5 second glace before I walked on and made use of the traders, then made tracks for home it was just too hot in the halls to hang around BTW the catering was pants. 

Well my layout now has 2 newly painted and lettered GWR Siphon G's one has had the correct bogies retro fitted as well so the day has not been wasted.

                                                                                                                                              enjoy the rest of the day I must get on S.H.Owcritik 

                                                                                                                                                              

[Simon G]

A pleasant sunny day here so far today.  It is most likely the calm before the storm, as we are due a wet and windy week according to the BBC website.  I have spent some time outside gardening and cutting firewood, which made a nice change after recent gales.

 

Some modelling done too as I am fettling the GWR locos recently bought at auction.  A new drawbar for a Hall has been fitted to the loco, but the bit on the tender where it locates is missing, so that is the next job.   

[Barry O]

Good afternoon.

 

Modelling tokens spent on some replastering/repainting of 3 bedrooms. So crust earning has started.....first loco..chip fitted..tried..pah! needs re-blowing as as soon as you touch any whistle etc function buttons it cuts all sound...and no motion. Then the software has got itself in a knot..yippppeeeedddo not!

 

Had to help her indoors as our washing line had been knocked flat by the wind..in her haste she then fell over..apparently all my fault...

 

Had 4 cold calls from a "leeds" number about our internet..each time we blank the number we get a call from another. Come on Bangalore Telecom extractus digitus...

 

A mugacoffee is now required..

 

and a different Dajheeling loco

 

 

Baz

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Found the on-line Citibank claim form (for PPI) and duly completed same. A good sign perhaps is they still retained my details (address, tel. number) so they should still have my account details despite the account being settled ten years ago. Glad to hear from Andy R, hopefully we should hear from a few other absentees soon. 

[Gwiwer]

Dafternoon All

 

The day began blustery and cold but both situations have improved as time passed.  Sleep was not as satisfactory as had been hoped due, it would seem, to Neighbour (Upstairs) entertaining a "friend" and causing some .... errrrr ..... squeaking floorboards  .  The joys of living in a 1930s block where sounds travel through the woodwork and voids rather than through the solid brick walls.  

 

The clean-up continues between storms.  Street-sweepers were out in force today and the chain-saw gangs were busy on the linesides dealing with what could wait after dealing with what couldn't wait during yesterday.

 

SWMBO reports having a better day today and is quite bright and breezy for a change.  That can continue any time it likes.  On the other hand Catfeatures is grumpy because it is sheet-washing day and his preferred snoozing location has been removed to the sloshing machine.  No doubt he will endeavour to groat up the new sheets when the bed is made later.

 

It is time to enter the kitchen with a view to creating food.  Back later.

[AndyB]

Evening all.

My terrain-following radar failed last week.

Hence my efforts to make it to retirement without detection failed. 

As a result the management has promoted me. 

Bu££er.  

I hope at least this comes with more modelling tokens. 

[grandadbob]

Spent some time in the railway room today and the layout is now devoid of coaches, wagons, road vehicles, people and sundry other items which have all been boxed up and put away. Tomorrow I'll start on the locos including all those on the shelves above the layout. That should keep me quiet for a while. 

Now enjoying my second glass of Aussie Shiraz. 

[81C]

Evening All

The Saga of the vertical blind headrails is over she has been trolling the Argos stores for 3 more went into another store and the kind assistant tracked down the last remain rail we were short of and arranged to have it delivered  I 

just wonder why the last  toss pot in the other store could not have done that it was delivered before Her got home she has booked the window cleaner to come and clean the conservatory inside and out he does a good job,

the only thing I will clean is the propeller on the light fitting then start replacing these bloody rails she has given grief about the past week.

Andy wait until you retire then you will have a new boss  

                                                                                                                                 Must dash   Weeta King 

[roundhouse]

Spent a good part of the evening trying ot sort out train tickets  to get Mum to Abergavenny on Saturday. With the rugby on in Cardiff no seat reservations are available to Newport on a number of different trains that I have tried to book and for an 86 year old its no good taking a chance that she will find a seat. So the plan now is for her to drive to us, I drop her down at the station with my other half, drive home drop car off and walk back to the station. We all take the train to Reading for a direct train to Hereford where we can make sure she is on the train to Abergavenny and as there will be a guard, even if its busy hopefully they can find her a seat and if not, its only a 22 minute journey. We then go pub crawl in Hereford and work our way home from there via Worcester. Then on Monday she can catch the train back to Hereford with a same platform connection and I will meet her at Reading. It probably will work out al ot easier than changing at Newport as they dont appear to make across platform connections these days. Mum is Ok with her wheely bag but steps are not so easy for her so avoiding footbridges and underground works. I just hope she is ok crossing the footbridge at Abergavenny when she gets there but will try to arrange help in advance.

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, grandadbob said:

 

Now enjoying my second glass of Aussie Shiraz. 

Enjoy alcohol responsibly.  Glass?  What is this glass?  How about second bottle of Aussie Shiraz???

 

That said I'm currently on a rather pleasant French Côtes du Rhone.

[Barry O]

Goonight all!

Baz

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Had a phone call from my gas/electricity supplier this afternoon. They're coming to fit a smart meter or should I say meters in a months time. It will save me having to bend down to read the bl@@dy things.

[laurenceb]

Night awl 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

Today has been absolutely glorious, sunny but cool, but I didn’t see much of it due to today’s task. But I did manage to finish the wiring in Vickie and Ian’s cellar for just before 4:00 this afternoon. By then I’d completed the 4 down lights on the cellar stairs, along with the two-two way switches. The light and switch in the under-stair store cupboard. The 9 down lights in the main (cinema) as well as the switch and the 5 sockets. As I mentioned earlier, the other main room was completed a while ago and is now Charlie’s room. All that’s left now is a double socket, a couple of down lights and a switch in what will eventually be another store room. But this is still waiting for Ian to finish, hopefully it will be done sometime in the next few months.

 

My arms and shoulders have started to ache, it’s been a while since I spent the day wiring things above head height! So, I decided that I’d earned a beer and so I had a glass of Guinness pale ale. At around 9:00 o’clock the rain started coming down, I hope this isn’t the start of storm Gareth!

 

This is what one of the rooms looked like before work started.

 

This is what it looks like afterwards

 

Goodnight all

[newbryford]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Had a phone call from my gas/electricity supplier this afternoon. They're coming to fit a smart meter or should I say meters in a months time. It will save me having to bend down to read the bl@@dy things.

 

A word of warning/advice for those thinking about changing energy suppliers if you have a smart meter.

 

I had smart meters fitted about  2 years ago and I no longer had to take monthly readings to avoid an estimated bill.

 

Two months ago I swapped energy providers and then received an email request to read the meters........... I then sent them an email pointing out that I had a smart meter and received this in return:

 

I am afraid we do not currently support or offer out smart meters. 
This as we are currently awaiting some industry wide changes with regards to smart metering. 

If you were to switch away from the company whom supplied you with the meter to ourselves, the use of the smart meter would no longer be functioning and the new supplier ( being ****) would not be able to digitally take a reading from the device. 

This would mean if you have a smart meter, you can still change and switch suppliers, you will just need to manually submit your meter readings again. 
To do so you will need to retrieve a meter reading from the main meter manually. 

 

I have sent them another email expressing my displeasure - I refrained from using words such as cockwombles and f*ckwits.....

Depending upon their reply, I may have to use the Andrew C big guns in the next one.

 

And another step backwards today in the e-world.

About 12 months ago my GP practice changed from paper to e-prescriptions for repeats, this meant that I could simply order online and then pickup my repeat at my preferred pharmacy. This "efficiency move" meant that the time taken from ordering a repeat to being able to collect it went from less than 6 hours to 72.  Progress? No.

One of my repeats has been re-classified as Class C and now has to have a physically signed prescription rather than an e-copy. Although I can still request a repeat online, the pharmacy has to collect the hard copy before they can dispense it. As they only go round to the GP on a daily basis late in the afternoon, it now adds another few hours onto the potential waiting time between request and availability. Due to the time at which they collect the copies from the GP, I cannot get to the pharmacy in their opening hours, so that's another 24 hours to add on.

What riles me more is that I hadn't been informed about the changes that actually take effect from April 1st, but the GP/pharmacy has implemented the system in advance.

 

More progress? I don't think so.

[rant over]

 

At least after visiting the pain relief consultant today, I've been told there shouldn't be much of a wait for a solution that may relieve my need for the Class C drugs.

 

Despite my need for sciatic painkillers - mainly for sitting and bending, I am quite comfortable rotating my spine - especially with a golf club in my hands. I had a couple of hours spare this morning and attended the Monday morning "roll-up". £1 entry turned into a £3.50 win.......

 

Most of the evening has been spent typing up an article on my DL layout for BRM. 

 

A busy Tuesday beckons.

 

Have a good one folks.

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

 

 

Edited March 11, 2019 by newbryford

[Dave Hunt]

13 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

SHED?

 

He calls it a shed, but in fact it is bigger than my house!

 

Just a slight exaggeration, it is, in fact, 35ft by 20 ft. Actually, it was only supposed to be 8ft by 4ft but I designed it using Templot and got the scale wrong.

 

I did, in fact, get some time in there today doing what I probably dislike more than anything else involved with modelling, which is lining. For a couple of hours all went well (ish) but just as I began to think I would get what I had planned on for the day finished without mishap, WOBBLY LINE !!! 'Oh dear,' I thought (actually it was more like     but is better glossed over). However, instead of my usual habit of compounding the mistake by trying to fix it there and then I decided to leave it and let things dry before attempting rectification.

 

Apart from that I had a lovely time sorting out house insurance. Our present insurers decided that the premium had to increase by 80% despite the fact that nothing had changed and we haven't made any claims so I did some ringing around to get more sensible quotes and ended up with one that was within £1 of last year's premium. When I then rang the present company to tell them we wouldn't be renewing the young man there asked me why. When I told him he asked me to wait a minute and came back saying, 'My manager says we can match that' !!! So why the stupid renewal quote? I asked, then told him that I was a tad disgusted and that they could stick their policy where the sun don't shine. Well, actually I didn't but that was the general drift and then informed him that they had lost a customer due to what I regarded by as sharp practice.

 

For dinner I made spag boll but with courgette instead of pasta. We've got a gizmo that turns the courgettes into thin strips and five minutes in the microwave makes a sort of spaghetti substitute with almost no calories.

 

Well, to quote the Magic Roundabout, 'Time for bed said Zebedee.' Night night each, sleep tight.

 

Dave

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all.

[Coombe Barton]

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/sandys-chemo-day-83-of-126/

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

The chest infection is still making its presence felt and I'm trying to remember that there are other sick people here before grumbling too much.  The car is loaded up ahead of today's visit to Poorly Pal.  We will be having a light lunch, which is just as well as I've not been very hungry for several days.  Tonight sees the AGM of the Hitchin chapter of the Royal Corps of Train Spotters, guaranteeed not to set the world on fire.  The rest of the week is due to be quiet and not require too much energy to get through it.  I'm sorry to be so dismal but I have better things to do than be ill.

 

Chris