Early Risers.

[45156]

Morning All

 

As usual, generic greetings to all who are ailing or celebrating.

 

I was going to revisit yesterday, but the G word was mentioned, and I opted to help, then found that one of the fence posts which also supports a gate between sections of the garden was loose, and needed to be re-cemented.  While I was in that section of the garden, I decided to check the drain - mistake, but just as well I did, as it was getting blocked by a mess of grease and general yuk - so after clearing that, I thoughy I'd better check the bathroom one, and it was just about as bad.  After that I stank, and 30747 was adamant that my old clothes were now so smelly that they would not clean up, and they were thrown out - I had a bath, and a can of cider, and lit the fire using the last of the coal and logs. so the planned revisit never happened.

 

LASAR this morning, don't know what Sue's got planned for me, but I'm sure she'll have something.

 

Back tomorrow

Regards to All

Stewart

[pH]

Feeling pretty rough - cold/flu-like symptons. Before going to bed, I've taken a shot of "Buckley's Mixture". Their advertising slogan is "It tastes awful, and it works" - real truth in advertising. I think it actually scares the body into getting better - "If you don't, you'll be getting more of this!".

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl Inner Temple Hare,

4 Hours solid sleep followed by 3 hours of intermittant awake up with joint pain and struggle to find a new comfortable position and doze.

 

OK what comedien decided to put the clocks forward the same day as a huge drop in temperature, it was decidedly chilly out there in the dark.

 

 Ben The Border Collie, was not so impressed with getting up an hour early, returning to his bed when he felt he shouldn't be following me round the house. Once out he enjoyed it , particularly putting up a couple of Pheasants. Yesterday SWMBO informs me that on the long walk round the green lanes they came across a herd of 5 red Deer. By keeping Ben occupied with his ball until she got him on his lead he couldn't go chasing off. They then slow walked past the group, getting with in 20 feet without Ben or the Deer doing anything other than watching each other ..

 

Gwiwr Say hello to Inverness for me, it's around it's now 44 years since I went to school on the Kyle line. Attended School in Inverness for the term and then finally walked out of the High School gates for the last time wonder what ***l am I going to do now.... The next day catching the train to Edinburgh to be met by my Dad, who took me to our new Home in Bo'ness, instead of meeting me in North Uist to go to our old home.

 

I think I'm measuring some CT units, (DC Current Transformer) today So...

 

Time to go find out if the equipment is available..

Edited April 1, 2019 by TheQ

[Barry O]

WHITE RABBITS!

Ey up!

Not particularly warm here but not really expecting otherwise.

 

Of to see Nurse Drac this morning. I shall carry a garlic clove just in case.

 

One clock hadn't been reset...the heating one..now fixed. 

Our plasterer arrives to morrow. Most of our furniture has been moved out of 2 of the 3 bedrooms to be replastered and painted. I await further instructions on furniture movements. 

 

Have as good a day as you can

 

Special thoughts to Debs and Elsie, John and Sandy and all others who ail or are missing.

 

Baz

Edited April 1, 2019 by Barry O

[bbishop]

So my dentures broke yesterday.  I used superglue to stick the plastic together (not involving the metal) so I have a cosmetic smile but living on soup and yoghurt.  Off to the dentist soon, after which - no smile.

 

Bill

[BoD]

Morning all

 

For some reason it has gone from being quite light when I get up to being almost dark again.   Who gave them permission to take my light away and give it to others later in the day?  I demand a second vote.

 

Mrs BoD has gone to work, well someone has to keep me in the manner to which I am accustomed, and once I have see our grandson, who stayed with us last night, off to school the day is mine.  I have some ridge tiles to sort out.   Fortunately for those of a nervous disposition this won't involve ladders, heights and grandadbobisms but a 4mm model of Crianlarich engine shed.  At some point I should make an effort to get out for a walk.

 

Enjoy your week whatever it entails.

 

 

[jcredfer]

Just come across this thread, I had wondered where you had all got too, with the new format.  Good to see everyone still at the staid advice and deep founded wisdom, none of that there cynical stuff, so common with age. 

 

Hat coat, door, runs.....     lopes!     

 

Back to getting the sound continuous as the Peco Turntable changes polarity.  Got a solution, this week may reveal if it works.  Just got to return M-in-Law to the opposite side of the County first.....  

 

Regards

 

Julian

[roundhouse]

Good morning form a Sunny (but chilly) Surrey.

 

Of to photo the Purley to Cliffe empties this morning then back home to continue with weathering commission. Almost half way through this batch of freight cars and would like to hand them back on Friday. Might get some more to do as he has 100's of NG items that might keep me supplied with beer tokens for some time.

 

I do like Narrow planets new release today

https://shop.narrowplanet.co.uk/pages/narrow-planet-rivet-counter

 

 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

The sun is shining and April is here. Let's hope that if she showers regularly that they are brief.

A very enjoyable day spent at Nicki's yesterday and a lovely meal was prepared by Abbie, Joe and Gemma. My small donation of a Bakewell Tart was accepted and has disappeared!

Today will see me moving money around. A bank needs visiting to collect cash for various small purchases and donations to children for birthday presents and a rather larger amount needs to be transferred to the window replacement people as a deposit for the forthcoming works.

After that I will probably be doing further demolition work on the ex layout.

Have a good one,

Bob.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

It’s a bit of a dull start to the day here in the northwest, it’s also a little cooler too! Sheila has just left for her Zumba class so I now have to kitchen to myself, so I’ll make a start on tonight’s tea, which is corned beef hash. I shall make a huge pan of it and some will eventually end up in the freezer for future consumption.

 

Once that’s cooked I’ll head back to the cellar and continue cleaning the walls of paint. 

 

Back later. 

Edited April 1, 2019 by BSW01

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. My body clock is still an hour behind, it will take me all week to catch up.  Be back later.

[Tony_S]

Good morning all.

It is sunny here, I have no idea how warm it is as I haven’t  been out yet. 

Our visit to Reading to see Matthew’s friends was very enjoyable. The reason may have been sad but but we all remembered good times and swapped stories. We went to a Polish restaurant for lunch. 

Tony

[BoD]

2 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Good morning all.

It is sunny here, I have no idea how warm it is as I haven’t  been out yet. 

Our visit to Reading to see Matthew’s friends was very enjoyable. The reason may have been sad but but we all remembered good times and swapped stories. We went to a Polish restaurant for lunch. 

Tony

 

I'm glad you had a pleasant day, Tony.

I seem to remember that Matthew enjoyed Polish food.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all.

 

Good to hear that yesterday's visit for Tony and Aditi went well notwithstanding the tinge of sadness that went with it.  It is really nice to hear that some of Matthew's friends are keeping in touch with them - really positive news about 'the younger generation' for once.

 

We too have sunshine but it is the calm before the coming storm with three days of rain - of various intensities - forecast to remind us that 'April showers' still exist.  Less cheerfully our favourite restaurant was something of a let down yesterday evening with a new waiter who appeared to have learnt his trade from Manuel of 'Fawlty Towers' fame (albeit without the hysterics but definitely with a similar level of incompetence plus a major lack of attention to customers).  Admittedly the place was crowded and the substitute manager was doing her best but it has been that crowded in the past with far better service.  The offspring even found it difficult to pay the bill because 'Manuel' seemingly forgot that he had been asked for it.  However there was at least almost a real 'Manuel moment' as he 'searched' the coat pegs for a customer's coat - I reckon he must have moved a good 60% of the coats that were there, putting most of them back in a completely different place before not finding the one he was looking for; the customer then came along and picked up her coat without moving any others .   

 

However, and fortunately, the food was as good as ever so Mrs Stationmaster enjoyed her treat for Mother's Day.  The lad had made it home from Middlesborough and had the interesting experience of dinner here, lunch in York, and breakfast in Middlesborough (and a g doggy bag of part of last night's dinner for lunch at work today.

 

Have a good day one and all.

 

[jamie92208]

Morning all.  It's shirt sleeve weather here, for me, but not the locals.   A good evening was had with out Dutch friends last night.  This morning it was off early with Beth for her Dr's appointment to get enough tablets for the big trip.  Then to the chemist where I was needed to explain various things to the lady behind the counter.  I am not normally allowed to assist in shopping trips as my competency is suspect.   Then to the bar for a quick coffee and the bakery for some bread.   The young lady bakeress is very easy on the eye so that visit was a real trial.   Grass cutting to start soon then some time in the shed wielding a mallet and chisel.

 

Happy Birthday to Mike (SM)

 

Thoughts with Debs, I believe that her dad's funeral is this week.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[tigerburnie]

Morning, been fuddling around in the greenhouse, things are moving along now, so getting raised beds ready for planting out side, added fleece to warm the soil up a bit and a bag of manure, Mammoth Onions need to be planted out if winter doesn't return(sleet and snow forecast for later this week). Measured up the roof of The Old Summer House, ready to lash out on some new corrugated sheets of some fibrous material or other, that will require installing once the weather settles for a day or two, then I can look at internal insulation and finally building of the new layout and partial dismantling of the old Great Central one, going to be a busy summer.

[lightengine]

Went to Inverness way back in mid 80's to travel on the Kyle of Lochalsh line and stopped overnight in Kyle before going on to Skye.  My ex wanted to read Iain Banks's The Wasp Factory.  We had tried all WH Smiths from West Sussex, London stations to Cambridge,  then via Stoke to Inverness and couldn't get a copy.

Waiting in Kyle for the ferry to Skye we had some time so we popped into a small bookshop close to the quay.  It was about the size of a decent garden shed and there was a copy.

 

Sunny in sunny Teignmouth today, but a bit chilly apparently, but ventured out yet I have not.

[Tony_S]

We were, thanks to Mike's tales of local life, not surprised to see red kites circling and mentioning  of muntjac in gardens yesterday.  I suppose the South Essex equivalent would have been  gulls and badgers.  

Tony

 

 

[Ian Abel]

Morning.

Yesterday was productive, fixing various gutter/downspout issues after the severe winter took it's toll, also repaired/created a fence section to keep the dogs from escaping to the wider world. After that we surveyed the "other house" to start planning the various things that need addressing in the wake of the flood, as well as reviewing how we're going to make best use of the place when we move there.

All of that, plus a quick visit/tea break with Trevor and Meagan resulted in no time left to even unbox the "Lord Nelson", let alone play test run it. Seems that will have to wait until later this week <sigh>

 

Tonight we have a meeting with the "Cabaret Committee" at church. Tonight is the kick-off meeting for the event, an annual "Cabaret" which is a huge fundraiser and we managed to volunteer to help! Apparently we're now in charge of ticket sales for the event!  This event spans three performances and attracts 500+ attendees for each performance. We shall see how frazzled we are by the end of the evening!

 

-1 and partly sunny this morning, headed for a high of 9.

 

All for now...

[81C]

Afternoon All 

It working out logging at this time into ER is becoming a habit I'm amazed about the amount of things I get done by logging on later and it shuts Her up me not sitting here all morning.

Talking of Her she has been out all morning with the youngest daughter at the solicitors to finalize the purchase of her flat the SiL is in awe at the speed things have happened after

the initial upset on missing out on part rent part buy flat last year.

Her is off out again to change some clothes at the frock shop as she has shrunk a bit in places, she has been directed to pick up the new extension lead for these recliners instead of 25 mtrs

on a bloody great drum we have been using.

Tony we are fortunate to live on the edge of untouched woodland and get most wildlife around the estate we purposely chose the area because of it.

The Airarseoles have been used in anger today several coach rooves done and a couple of bags of packing crates and folded tarpaulins (or should I say sheets Mike) and other goods platform

items I stuck it all on double sided tape to save all the little bits being blown away.

                                                                                                                                                    Must get on  J. Constable 

[Ozexpatriate]

Happy Monday. Hopefully I am not jinxing it by saying so, but my (minor) lurgi seems to have passed. 

 

My weekend was odd. The weather was wonderful, but in the end I didn't venture out into the garden as I had intended.  I was happy with the results of the Miami tennis finals. It was nice to see a young Queenslander win her first significant tournament and the Swiss master chalk up number 101. Less so with the local (English) football team who chalked up another loss on the road. I believe they are now 0-3-1 (after having made the MLS cup final last year). Due to expansion of their home field facilities with additional grand stand decks, they won't play a home game until June.

 

Income taxes (due here on April 15) were paid. Based on the dent in my accounts the 'so-called' tax cuts of the present administration seem to have done very little for me. I was told that companies are withholding less taxes in paycheques. The net result for me was that my final tax bill was larger.

 

On Saturday I learned that my son was struggling emotionally with his job and resigned. His fall back is online food delivery which pays him much the same and its flexible hours will be helpful if he does return to studies in the Autumn. I am anxious for him. Relatedly Sunday was spent in a low energy state and I didn't catch up on the garden, or some work I had brought home from the office, like I had planned.

 

I am finding myself increasingly irritated by the use of the word "hack" in advertising. Meant to imply a useful trick or short cut, the notion that one can have a "life hack" or a "menu hack" seems contrived to me but whether I approve or not, it is now very much "a thing" in colloquial usage. I continue to observe the imminent death of the adverb in sports commentary and advertising. The word "quickly" seems to be a particular victim.

 

My calendar had noted "Mothering Sunday" on the last day of March. This is not a tradition that (as far as I know) ever made it to Australia where "Mothers' Day" will be commemorated on May 12 - like it is in the US.  Noting "Mothering Sunday" on the calendar I kept thinking of what the Rev. Spooner might have made of it.

Edited April 1, 2019 by Ozexpatriate

[Gwiwer]

Bah Humbug. I have come down with pH’s lurgy. Felt like carp first thing but struggled through the shift wishing I hadn’t gone in 

 

Struggled home too as there was no joke whatsoever about the person-versus-train at Barnes. I actually boarded my intended train only to have it terminated and sent forth to Wombletown Depot via the District Line. To their credit the energency services swiftly allowed the Down Windsor Slow to reopen permitting a number of otherwise trapped trains to move. 

 

I was expecting to turn left at Point Pleasant and take the curve up to East Putney but we accelerated past the junction and headed off via Barnes. One of the newish 707 units was stopped on the Up Windsor Fast not quite clear of the platform and with a tell-tale shape in its smashed windscreen. It was perfectly obvious what had taken place and where with a gathering of hi-viz in the “four foot” beside the Up Fast platform.  Nothing else was visible; if it had been we would not have been allowed to pass. 

 

Why is it that when such things happen certain elements of the Great British Public turn into ranting morons? My colleague on the platform at Clapham suddenly had to empty trains, redirect passengers, deal with many questions and remain calm and professional. That he did even when verbally and physically assaulted for “pulling an April Fool stunt” which upset some folk. 

 

Other business. It is SWMBO’s birthday and here I am retired to bed feeling very unwell. Poor thing - after her sudden indisposition on our night out recently this must feel as though she has upset some sort of deity or karma. 

 

I shall make it up to her as soon as possible. And I shall not be attending the House of Fun tomorrow. 

 

Night all. 

[New Haven Neil]

I hope your recovery is faster than mine (and Chrisf's), Rick.  Although I now feel basically OK the cough is a corker.  I may have to see the quack about it, week 3 now barking away.  Not much sleep as a result.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Went down to the old garden shed this afternoon to see if there is anything to be rescued. The shed itself is disintegrating rapidly but considering that it has stood for over 30 years with only the occasional coat of preservative its not done too bad. No news from the mix-and-lay people but in retrospect a smaller storage unit on the patio should suffice, there is space in the corner for quite a large one. A happy birthday to Stationmaster and get well soon Rick and C&C's to other ER's as required.

[Tony_S]

10 hours ago, BoD said:

 

I'm glad you had a pleasant day, Tony.

I seem to remember that Matthew enjoyed Polish food.

Matthew liked trying food in local cafes wherever he travelled but he did like the food served in Polish establishments. When he did his research in Cork he met lots of people to interview in the cafes. He also appreciated the value for money and portion size too. He also liked food in the Balkans too.

Edited April 1, 2019 by Tony_S