Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

2 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

.  In the US, fish and chips is commonly accompanied by coleslaw.

I had fish and chips in Houston. The fish was tilapia. 

[The Stationmaster]

8 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I think I would regret the inclusion of mushy peas with fish and chips immediately.

 

Having said that, My dad did like pie and peas (which some Aussies call a floater). But he liked canned peas as well.

 

Personally I do like peas and pea soup. I would probably find mushy peas quite acceptable, but find the idea unappetizing and have avoided them.  In the US, fish and chips is commonly accompanied by coleslaw.

We had mushy peas with our fish & chips one evening last week  and very good they were too -

 

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/254875871?sc_cmp=ppc*GHS+-+Grocery+-+New*PX+|+Shopping+GSC+|+All+Products*New:+F%26D:+Food+Cupboard:+Food+Cupboard*PRODUCT_GROUP254875871*&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz571ksLi4gIVKrvtCh1ADQQrEAQYAyABEgL8dfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Aortic aneurism scans can also be booked if you don't get called automatically.  I missed the age related call because I was past 65 when they were introduced but I just rang the clinic and they booked me in for the next session at our local (almost a) hospital.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening/

 

https://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening/LocationSearch/1910

 

[lightengine]

1 hour ago, bbishop said:

 

Men are offered a check at the age of about 65.  If you pass, that's it for life.  If you fail, it's an (annual?) check.  About 1 in 1000 get a trip in a yellow truck.

I passed.

Bill

I never understand this. Why does it only affect you at 65?   Why not 64.5 or 66?  How come it is that specific?

[Ozexpatriate]

17 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I had fish and chips in Houston. The fish was tilapia. 

That doesn't sound very good. There's nothing wrong with tilapia per se, but it doesn't seem like the best choice for fish and chips - a bit too soft. It would be almost certainly farmed. There are good Gulf fish options in that part of the US.

 

Dare I ask, was it any good?

 

Halibut is the local (Pacific northwest) preferred fish for fish and chips. The hallmark of the fish and chips I grew up with in Australia was the freshness of the fish - and in many places you could pick the fillet (and the coating, breadcrumbs or batter) that you wanted. They were coated and fried to order.

 

Edited June 11, 2019 by Ozexpatriate

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Tony_S]

22 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

That doesn't sound very good. There's nothing wrong with tilapia per se, but it doesn't seem like the best choice for fish and chips - a bit too soft. It would be almost certainly farmed. There are good Gulf fish options in that part of the US.

 

Dare I ask, was it any good?

 

Halibut is the local (Pacific northwest) preferred fish for fish and chips. The hallmark of the fish and chips I grew up with in Australia was the freshness of the fish - and in many places you could pick the fillet (and the coating, breadcrumbs or batter) that you wanted. They were coated and fried to order.

 

I don’t really like fish but I will eat cod and chips or haddock and chips. The battered tilapia was “bland”. Matthew joked that it was fish for people who didn’t like fish. He had  catfish and shrimp Po’boys.  There was loads of salad and what seemed like infinite cola. 

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[AndyID]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Halibut is the local (Pacific northwest) preferred fish for fish and chips.

 

 

IMO you can't beat a nice bit of haddock but I'm not sure this the right plaice to discuss that.

 

Running shoes on - oh burglar! My knee gave out.

[BR60103]

Survived the trip to the big city.  I bought a copy of Brill, which isn't available locally and visited the science-fiction bookstore. Managed to get 2 subway and 2 streetcar trips. There is now a 3:45 return trip.  My schedule is now quite off.

The game of whatever didn't leave many visible results.

Another early day tomorrow as the motor home goes in for servicing "first thing" which is apparently 7:30. I believe that "first thing in the morning" is around noon, apparently a minority opinion.  The unit hasn't been started since december.

 

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is a somewhat humid morning today, but it is now dry and forecast to get warmer later in the day.

 

There isn't a lot else to report, so have a good day everyone...

[jamie92208]

Good morning from the cliff tops.   Up early and breakfast will be taken shortly.   Off to buy Bowls for Beth today then may call In at the Tank Museum as we will be nearby.   It would be rude not to.  Apart from that not a lot else to report.

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner temple hare,

4 hours sleep woke up and by some miricle went to sleep again for another two...  and then another dozin on the sofa.. that was good,

 

I'd love to visit the tank museum again the last time was about 1965, I'd understand about it all a lot more now, I 'd also like so see anything  about my Grandfathers Corps /  Regiments.

 

The rain yesterday degenerated into a horizontal mist on the way home, and the central heating had come on when I got there. So i've lit the multifuel stove again it looks like I'll need to keep it going till the weekend.

 

SWMBOs aunt died on the operating table due to a burst aorta, and all  parents and grand parents died of heart problems, she WILL be having her scan in 4 year time...

 

The boat cover had stayed on which was good.

 

A very disapointed Ben the Border Collie wanted to play foot ball this morning instead of doing his stuff. no chance I had work to go to.

 

Right , I'm off the measure a couple of 10G ohm Resistors then half a dozen current shunts..

 

but first

 

Time too check the company spam..

 

 

 

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all - I hope so, since yesterday left much to be desired.

 

Yesterday evening I attended a presentation by Adrian White, among other things a rather good photographer from Stevenage.  It is a long time since I was treated to such a collection of stunning images!  As a disciple of Colin Gifford, Adrian is well versed in making the most of the available light, however poor it is, and for thinking well outside the box when choosing a viewpoint.  This was all supposed to inspire those present to go forth and do likewise.  In my case it had the opposite effect.  Over the years I have been lucky enough to have had several photographs published but my enthusiasm for submission was rather dampened when Rail Express lost one of my slides.  Since then I have been increasingly overawed by the work of other lensmen and I am less and less inclined to fish out my camera and have a go myself.  As with so many things, I suppose it's all down to confidence.

 

I spent much of the day in the shed where the layout lives.  With any luck, yesterday's chief task was completed successfully at only the third attempt,  Executing it caused a bit of mess which needs to be cleared up but I'm not sure how.  There is evidence that I am inherently clumsy, which is not the most desirable attribute of a P4 m*d*ll*r.  What I have been working on seems to have taken for ever with little to show for it and it all gets a bit demotivating at times.  One day I will get something right first time but I don't advise taking bets on which day.  It didn't help that for much of the day I was brooding about an issue that won't go away.  This time it looks better in the cold light of day but it will be back.

 

As if by magic, the rather fetching wristband that I bought on Saturday has just fallen apart.  Is it worth investing time and patience in trying to fix it?  Probably not.

 

On the subject of screening for arterial aneurisms, my late father's local health authority routinely screened gentlemen of a certain age.   In 1992 something was found - a massive hole in a major artery, held closed only by a blood clot.  He was on anticoagulants at the time!  His surgery was successful and he lived for another 13 years.  I am almost the age that he was then and I am not aware that my local health authority is in any way proactive about anything.  So far the only screening programme that has embraced me is that for bowel cancer and every other year I receive the sh!t kit.  It makes me smile that I am asked to send samples of sh!t through the post but cannot send substances such as paint.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

Edited June 12, 2019 by chrisf
formatting

[Barry O]

Ey up!

A tad chilly here in the North West Leeds Highlands.  Jumpers shall be worn today.

Fish and chips with Coleslaw..quaint but not for me. Mushy peas, pickled onion, tomato sauce,  vinegar any or all of the above but coleslaw? We did get coleslaw sandwiches for a pack up breakfast in India this year. Not nice...

 

Her in doors is off to see her aunt in Essex via Doncaster(to collect her Grimbarian brother)  Tony she is near Chelmsford so be wary of Honda Jazz cars driven by a nutter!

 

I haven't been to the tank museum since I left Vickers in 1999. I used to get in for free. We were advised not to question some of the information on vehicles but it could be interesting hearing how the Army and Research Branch (RARDE Chertsey) thought we built tanks....nuff said

 

Mugatea is here so TTFN.

Baz

[Mike Bellamy]

39 minutes ago, TheQ said:

 

I'd love to visit the tank museum again the last time was about 1965, 

 

 

You wouldn't recognise it now then - I went three years ago and it was very different to when we went 20 years ago with the kids. Had a very interesting and enjoyable day - the wife dropped me off and she then went to Monkey World which is nearby - well known from their TV programmes which she always watches but that had no interest for me at all. I would have probably been locked in a cage and left there ! !

 

.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Rather dull and dismal here with some rain forecast, heavy thundery showers are a possibility. This forecast also applies to where we were due to go today for our day out so it looks like I'm off the hook and can quite happily wait in for my parcel which according to the tracking will be here with our postman around 11.30 to 2.30.

I've found the rolling road and the means to power it amongst the many boxes stacked up so there's a good chance that the item can be tested later.

Before that I have to nip out to buy an anniversary card for tomorrow.

The Boss is having a bit of a lie in but I suspect she would like some tea so I will return later.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited June 12, 2019 by grandadbob

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

it is rather overcast and somewhat breezy at the moment. I will check Google Maps soon to see what delights of morning traffic await me en-route to Chelmsford. I don’t have to go into central Chelmsford, just to one of the many industrial/retail “parks” in Chelmer Village. 

Tony

[45156]

Morning All

 

I too have had an aortal scan just after age 65, and got the all clear - I was told that this was a one off, but I think as my dad died of a ruptured aortal aneurism, I might see whether I can have one in the next couple of years.

 

As usual, a lot of water has passed under the ER bridge, and the best I can do is to offer the usual generic greetings.

 

Not a great deal to report here at 45156 towers. 

 

Back later

Regards to All

Stewart

[bbishop]

8 hours ago, lightengine said:

I never understand this. Why does it only affect you at 65?   Why not 64.5 or 66?  How come it is that specific?

 

Statistics, dear boy, statistics.  One is unlikely to get a burst AA before 65 and it's a good age to spot if you are at risk later.  Look it up if you are interested.  I checked after I posted and was happy that my post was sufficiently accurate.  I think an issue is that as male and female lifestyles coalesce (Smoking, drinking, unhealthy fast food), women will be increasingly at risk.

 

Bill

[Dave Hunt]

It's not actually raining here in the North Salopshire borderlands but it's grey and chilly with the forecast of rain - yuk!

 

Off to the market shortly once muggocoffee is consumed then to the mobility shop to see why the insurance for Dad's scooter hasn't come through after more than a week. It has been decide by higher authority (SWMBO and Dad) that after Dad's car is fixed she will be having it and 'we' (I.e., me) will be selling her car, so some more niffnaff and trivia coming my way. 

 

We're being gradually adopted by next door's cat. They only keep it because the woman there wants it to keep rats and mice away but it isn't allowed in the house and has a cat flap into the garage where it lives. The garage, however, has broken windows and can't really be that attractive as a dwelling. The cat has been hanging around our house for something like a year now and we started feeding it a while back, not knowing until recently that it belonged next door and thinking it was a stray. Also SWMBO has made it a bed in the back porch with our old dog blanket so, I suppose unsurprisingly, it wants to move in with us but since it isn't actually ours and SWMBO wants to get another dog sometime soon I'm not sure that would be a good idea. I guess we've made a rod for our own backs. What to do? Mmmm........

 

I hope you all have a good day but thoughts for those who can't. I've just read on another thread that Roy Jackson, that great modeller and leader of the team that built Retford, has died, which is a great loss to our hobby. RIP Roy.

 

Dave

[Kingzance]

Mawning,

 

Still precipitating in NE Herts and seaweeds twirlers suggest that will be so until late tomorrow. CowboysRUs in full swing but craning of roof trusses was completed yesterday. We may have a new venue for the World Mud Wrestling Championships . Cribbage passed a few hours happily and subsequently a few awakenings to pass something else were required so sleep was somewhat interrupted but I enjoyed the several games and jars plus we won more than I/we lost. Earlier in the day, new strides arrived from on-line tailoring co. Sadly,  it’s tape measure isn’t calibrated to the Kingzance measuring system so will need to be returned. Also delivered was a box of Wago caged-clamp connectors so I may be under the boards for a while today.

 

SWMBO today intends buying some birthday and anniversary cards so peace will be present whilst I bang my head and bend my back and utter various expletives. We are now scheduled to be in charge of the multiple grandchildren from ridiculous-o’clock on Friday morning until late Sunday whilst daughter and son-in-law revisit their youth at The Isle of Wight Festival. It would seem that galoshes will be essential for their wandering.

 

Earlier comments about fish and chips brings to mind that I love such a traditional Brit dish but the quality of batter as well as of the fish can be so various - probably not aided by the cleanliness and temperature of the fat in which they are fried. Where we last lived, a Cypriot gentleman ran a most excellent such establishment and his output is amongst the top few best chippies I have ever visited. In amongst that select list is Stein’s on Padstow harbour wall, The Cabin in Ferryside, Carmarthenshire and The Hive on Burton Bradstock beach. Many establishments can cook good chips or good fish but few achieve both in one serving. Tonight, I shall be cooking fish and chips for SWMBO but they are not to the style associated with vinegar and newspaper but instead it will be matchstick potatoes cooked in vermouth with a turbot poached on top. It is a dish I was shown how to cook at a well-known fish-lover’s cookery school almost a decade ago and, as my wet fish man had a nice turbot on display yesterday, I couldn’t resist.

 

Ah-ha (as A Partridge would say) it has stopped persisting down for a short while. I am sure the grass is too wet to cut, particularly with an electric mower! TTFN.

[NGT6 1315]

Cheers, lads and laddesses. My, my, time flies...

 

Hope I didn't miss anything serious. If I did, do feel free to message me as I suppose trying to catch up will again be a hopeless endeavour… In any case, I hope everyone who hasn't been well shall be on the mend, however slowly. Thinking of John and Sandy in particular, of course.

 

The summerly spell out here has become fairly humid, too, and strings of t-storms passed these lands for the past two nights, bringing some much-needed precip. More are predicted to commence this afternoon; however, on balance, this year does seem to continue the tendency of the last one in being too dry. Last week, a burst of stormy winds certainly evoked Dust Bowl-like associations as I drove through the city, which kind of reminded me of the setting of Interstellar.

 

Much engineering work is again ongoing on the urban rail front, so here are a few phone photos from the Exhibition Centre yesterday. The tram loop there needs to be completely redone due to being worn out for good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the aft half of the tram loop has been broken up already, this week requires Route 16 services...

 

 

 

…to back up from the arrival platform into the departure one.

 

 

 

Which in turn requires some manual point setting!

 

 

 

 

Right, some household stuff is waiting. Later…

Edited June 12, 2019 by NGT6 1315
Reposted larger photos!

[BoD]

Morning all

 

It’s nice to see Dom still popping in now and again.

 

The yellow rain that wasn’t yesterday is today and it looks set to be quite prolonged.  So......do I get waterproofed and go for my walk or should I just retire to the workbench and start cutting, glueing and generally bodging with some of the bits and pieces acquired yesterday?  Decisions decisions.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Well knock me down with a feather, it’s stopped raining, but by the sound the passing cars are making, not that long ago. Today we are taking a trip out to a garden centre, where we are hoping to purchase another apple tree and possibly a few plants that Sheila has got on her list. On the way back I will call at the butchers and buy some mince beef for tonight’s tea, spaghetti bolognese!

 

As for mushy peas, I’ve over heard several Americans talking about them and not liking them, many not having even tried them, they don’t know what they are missing. As for coleslaw, it reminds me of someone’s meal that they have suddenly become reacquainted with. 

 

Back later

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. The sun was shining first thing this morning but now its clouded over with heavy rain predicted with possibly hail and thunder. Despite the wet and chilly weather the poppies are flowering and I watched a bee with well laden pollen sacs making the most of the flowers yesterday. Muggatee to be drunk, be back later.