Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[jamie92208]

Good morning from OZ or good evening to the UK.  I can report that I have seen my first Australian trains after a visit to the Palace of Attendance across the road. A very helpful lady suggested getting a train out to Lilydale then hiring a taxi to visit a winery. After seeing the eyewatering prices for an organised tour a DIY option appeals. We both feel rather washed out and jet lagged so it's a free tram to Victoria market then possibly a stroll by the river and not a lot else.  

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[AndyID]

5 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

As long as it's just a stick.

 

Speaking of which I watched a recent recording of Steve Martin and Martin Short on stage the other night. I haven't laughed so much in quite a while. I see they are actually touring at the moment. Unfortunately I now know all the gags.

 

Went for an eye test so I could get new "gegs" today. They encouraged me to have my retinas photographed with some new-fangled machine. Seemed like a good idea, so I had it take my pics. Unfortunately the pics reveal that the retina in one eye is partially obscured. Might just be pigmentation but could be something more sinister. Be careful what you ask for.

[BR60103]

Andy:

For a while I was getting my retinas photographed. At one point I had to pay, then it was covered. I haven't had it done since we moved. Mine were usually obscured by my eyelashes on my lazy eye.

Did our taxes today. Amount owing up over last year; needs review.

[AndyID]

20 minutes ago, BR60103 said:

 

Mine were usually obscured by my eyelashes on my lazy eye.

 

 

Thanks David. I was hoping it was due to some sort of artifact too, but there were several pics and they all revealed the same thing. I'll take it to the next diagnostic level and see where it goes from there. The good news is, whatever it is, it's not impairing my vision at all.

 

Today I obtained legitimate Idaho license plates and filed an application for personalized plates (AKA vanity plates) to Idaho DMV. I realize everyone is on the edge of their seats waiting to see what I requested (btw, BOYRAZR and COKWMBL both seem to be possible, but they might not pass the rules) so you'll just have to wait and see.

[roundhouse]

4 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Good morning from OZ or good evening to the UK.  I can report that I have seen my first Australian trains after a visit to the Palace of Attendance across the road. A very helpful lady suggested getting a train out to Lilydale then hiring a taxi to visit a winery. After seeing the eyewatering prices for an organised tour a DIY option appeals. We both feel rather washed out and jet lagged so it's a free tram to Victoria market then possibly a stroll by the river and not a lot else.  

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

Is the view the same as this photo of Flinders station taken on my first visit in 1994 apart from the vehicles ?

 

I hope you have time to visit this superb line. I missed my flight (only one that I have)  so had a whole day to travel on the trams and also go out ot hte Puffing Billy to ride it.

 

Edited April 9, 2019 by roundhouse

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is a rather misty morning today.  Almost autumnal!

 

Time for a coffee.  Have a good day everyone...

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, AndyID said:

(btw, BOYRAZR and COKWMBL both seem to be possible, but they might not pass the rules)

It's hard to imagine how BOYRAZR might offend. 

 

I suspect the people at the Idaho DMV would be hard pressed to figure out what on earth COKWMBL might mean, but that it would run afoul the rules all the same.

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

I had a phone call last night from the b&b in Wakefield.  Clever me had walked off with my room key.  I have located a suitable jiffy bag and will send it back ASAP.  Oh dear.  Today I am visiting Poorly Pal.  Some m*d*ll*ng may take place if I can get my head together [big if].  Tonight the RCTS in Hitchin will enjoy, and that's an order, a talk by Bill Davies called "On and off the footplate".  It will be funny because it always is.  Before I go to St Evenage I ought to do a fodder run but once again I am running late and it may have to await the onset of the morrow.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, roundhouse said:

Is the view the same as this photo of Flinders station taken on my first visit in 1994 apart from the vehicles ?

 

I hope you have time to visit this superb line. I missed my flight (only one that I have)  so had a whole day to travel on the trams and also go out ot hte Puffing Billy to ride it.

 

Snap Ian. You probably went on the cathedral steps like I did to get a better shot.

Our hotel is about 100 yards down the street opposite the station.

 

Jamie

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Rain seems to have stopped for now but more is promised.

Window man turned up on the dot at the appointed time yesterday and did the full survey. Measured every thing in sight except me. I was thanked for moving furniture etc out the way ready for him, apparently most people don't bother. Installation should be in May in about 5 /6 weeks. While he was here I got him to measure up for a  new glass conservatory roof as well as some of the current laminated stuff is a). full of condensation and b). ridiculously noisy when it rains. If there's enough money left after all the other jobs on the list are completed we'll have it done.

Today will see me filling in the final form for the new shed with various details like access (good) and obstacles (hardly anything to worry about)  that they have requested.

Also need to check with the local pharmacy to see if various prescriptions are ready for collection.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited April 9, 2019 by grandadbob

[NGT6 1315]

10 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

As long as it's just a stick.

 

Shpeak shoftly but carry a big shtick, sayeth I. 

 

Mawnin‘ awl. Just got back from the barber as whatever moderate an amount of hair I got left did require a trim. Now having brekkie.

 

A touch cooler this morning, but I don’t complain. I do like winter as such, but only up to a point, what with shortish daylight hours... If only I could do without the allergy which has started to rear its head the moment things began blooming, causing me a sniffle and cough. Meh.

 

Later. 

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple hare,

1/2 hours sleep, then I awoke to find my glasses on,  a book on my chest and the bedside lamp still on..

then 5 hours sleep, then a couple half dozing on the sofa,,

 

Shoulders ache as does my back, that was moving a pile of bricks 5 ft. Some years ago after the first garage door broke, I collected 6 tons -ish of bricks and slabs from the end of two extension projects at Tesco (or they would have gone into  skips). As the door was broken I piled some of them up in front of the broken door.

Now that has been replaced by a wall and pedestrian door they needed to be moved so I can finish off. I'm going to build a solid seat of breeze blocks (and infill) in front of the wall, it's a nice spot to sit in the morning sun. Then finish off the surface of the wall.

The above task was taken because you don't need to be able to focus your eyes to do it.. Though I needed sunglasses to reduce the amount of light.

 

Well I've arrived at work to find nothing has changed, so I have three systems waiting info from the Boss on what to do next. So I've started a 4th system on the understanding they can have it back anytime if they need it.

 

Time too... take the next measurement

 

 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Jamie you could n get a train direct to Puffing Billy. Have you visited the model shop under Flinders St Station?

Vic market has a good Fish and Chip shop and the night markets are interesting as is the man who sells wine from barrels...the tawny is very nice!

 

In other matters "Bob" is still missing. This is serious as it was a request from Mal while he was very poorly.

Today is tidy up then collect repaired car day. Modelling tokens will be taking a big hit and, as yet, no date for completion on the house sale in Barrroooow. 

 

Have as good a day as you can..and welcome back Dom.

 

Baz

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Today’s start is quite a bit different to yesterday’s, instead of yesterday’s wall to wall sunshine, today it’s dull and cloudy.

 

This morning’s usual Sainsbury’s Grand Prix is being postponed until later in the day, possibly even after tea. The reason for the postponement is that my delivery of new lights for the cellar is expected either today or tomorrow and Sheila has an appointment this morning, so I’ve got to stay in. Depending upon what time Sheila gets back, I might have time do the Grand Prix before dinner. 

 

In the meantime I’ll find something that I can do downstairs, it will have to be something that isn’t too noisy or I won’t hear the door bell. 

 

Enjoy the day, back later. 

[roundhouse]

Glad I went out into the garden yesterday to continue digging around the tree that is to be felled so the tree people can cut the trunk lower to the ground. I also took more accurate measurements for the garden and proposed shed. Turns out the garden narrows towards the very back which means I cant go for the shed width I wanted as it takes it too close to the boundary (within 1m) for a shed over 15sm. So to remain within permitted building the shed will be 19 ft by 8ft  and allows me to go closer to the boundary. Now to draw up the shed construction so that I can take off the materials and finalise the details with the builder for the base. I will do the rest from the base. Plenty of insulation will be added along with double glazed windows etc.

 

As its wet today its modelling time. Plenty to do for the Crawley show this weekend.

 

More modelling crust earning is also in the pipeline. Keeping it low key till the shed is built.

[Dave Hunt]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

Have you visited the model shop under Flinders St Station?

 

I once hired a car from a place near Flinders St. station and whilst doing the paperwork the chap at the desk noticed that I had a copy of MRJ in my bag. "Have you seen the model shop at Flinders St? " he said. "If you like I'll hold the car while you have a look." By the time I got back to our hotel, SWMBO was chomping at the bit and demanding to know what had held me up. I'm not sure that my mumbled, "Traffic was bad," really convinced her.

 

My Dad is a bit better, although the GP couldn't actually find anything obviously wrong. It has been suggested that at least some of his symptoms could be caused by of a sort of PTSD as a result of his breaking his hip just before Christmas - apparently this sort of thing is not uncommon in the very elderly. Just in case, though, he is being booked for some 'tests'.

 

SWMBO and I are off to see some friends in Wolverhampton this evening where I will be playing trains discussing some historical aspects of the transport system and having a few beers trying out their new coffee machine.

 

Have a good day everyone with commiserations for those with troubles.

 

Dave

Edited April 9, 2019 by Dave Hunt
Badd speling

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Clearly Exeter have a top quality load of seaweed in use at present as the promised rain has, er, lived up to their promise. Anyway not to complain as it's good for the weeds garden.  Strangely it's also a little autumnal here as we are getting morning mists - not too bad yesterday and on Sunday but today it's enough to cloak from view the oligarch's palace on the opposite side of the valley.

 

I am told that a major plan for today involves my head and the trimming of the air which is affixed to it.  Notwithstanding an offer to 'come with me to the hairdresser' (at herself's expense) I believe that as today has been announced as the day on which i will receive attention the job will be done at home and therefore for considerably less money (dare i ask for the amount that will have saved her?).

 

Have a good day everyone and all.  And I trust Jamie and Beth will continue to enjoy Aus.

[grandadbob]

Raining again so I  we decided to go for a walk in it to the pharmacy. Drugs now restocked and also popped into the surgery to pick up another blood form for the re-test.

Been up to the loft and found a couple of spare tarpaulins in readiness for covering the contents of the old shed which should be going on Monday.

Coffee now and then form filling and emailing.

For a long time now I have refused to pay barbers to cut the little hair I've got as it only takes them about 3/4 minutes so at £8 a time means they'd be earning £120 -£160 an hour. Not from me they won't! The Boss makes a pretty good job of it and charges nothing. 

Edited April 9, 2019 by grandadbob

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit grey and cool this morning but at least its dry. The back copy of Backtrack that I ordered has just dropped through the letterbox so a bit of reading to do.

[tigerburnie]

Morning...…(just), been for a polish and clean at the dentist this morning, why does it hurt more than having an extraction and why does it cost nearly as much for a bit of tooth paste? Sun is shining though it's a cool 8 degrees and there's some cloud about, might get the electric bikes out for a spin if it stays dry. I have had another photograph published in the Scottish Field magazine,  May edition of a hovering Kingfisher,I seem to be their go to wildlife photographer, I think I might have to think about charging them soon at this rate lol.

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ey up!

Jamie you could n get a train direct to Puffing Billy. Have you visited the model shop under Flinders St Station?

Vic market has a good Fish and Chip shop and the night markets are interesting as is the man who sells wine from barrels...the tawny is very nice!

 

Baz

Ta Baz. Yes I found the shop but haven't been in yet. Is that chippy open on an evening?

 

As to puffing Billy, I might keep my powder dry as there is a rather large train to see in the US.  I did however got sent train spotting this afternoon and we t to Southern Cross. Where else could you see two locks of the same class with different gauges and on the same shed. Piccys to follow later.

 

Jamie

 

[NGT6 1315]

Spot the mistakes.

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

I have been shorn.  My suggestion that the money saved be 'donated' (to me) was treated with derision - I was not surprised.

[The Stationmaster]

9 minutes ago, NGT6 1315 said:

Spot the mistakes.

 

 

 

Presumably normal (Britsh style) interlocking of points and signals does not apply on tramways in Germany?