Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

...I watched a bee with well laden pollen sacs making the most of the flowers yesterday.

We had lots of bees visiting yesterday. The geraniums seem popular. There were butterflies too. 

I collected my neighbours from Chelmsford. The service receptionist dealing with their car is the same one who served us recently. He does seem to understand what the problem is. Some just book the cars in. 

I am now sitting waiting for Aditi’s car windscreen to be seen. Then I have to go and buy a shower hose and spray head for MiL’s bathroom. Aditi’s brother asked me to sort it out. MiL wouldn’t know as she has an en-suite shower. She did say she had a spare hose but it turned out to be one that had been removed previously and not chucked away. I think all the original fittings in MiL’s  flat are getting brittle. I have replaced quite a few bits recently.

Tony

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from LBG where it is not currently raining but is certainly threatening to do so.

 

Yesterday saw the annual review at school for Younger Lurker's EHCP. It looked at year 6 and the transition into years 7 and 8.  Funding is still an issue but the woman from the LEA seemed more on top of it than last year's rep. However she didn't know the answers to two key questions; what level of funding is the school actually receiving for him now, and what happens if the desired secondary school is not part of the local Borough education authority? So frustration all around compounded by the school only scheduling an hour for the meeting with another one straight afterwards, and then not starting for a good 10 minutes. I wasn't particularly impressed but if the outcome is positive for the school's ability to meet Younger Lurker's stated needs, I won't mind.

 

We didn't have too much rain unlike places relatively near us - I hear the Land of Sutt suffered as did Orpington. Two colleagues who live in Snodland did not get flooded despite dire reports. We are near the top of Sidcup hill so pretty much level with what I assume is our parish church (there are two at the top end of Sidcup,both Victorian foundations) and I don't know where the parish boundary lies) but we are much higher than the historic churches in Foots Cray (pretty much on the meadows, which is the flood plain of the River Cray) and Lamorbey (allegedly built on the site of an Abbey).

 

 

[Ian Abel]

Hello, HUMP day.

 

Much re-arranging of report details yesterday - the current "management" (a loose term at best) seem to be struggling with... wait for it... page numbering! DON'T EVEN ASK!

Net result is I am reworking about two dozen reports simply to put the PAGE NUMBER in a different place. This is why health care in the US costs so !@$!@$!#$!#$ much.

 

As "expected" and whether you want it or not, here's the promised picture of this weeks transport;

It's not quite as big as it appears, but not a small vehicle by any means.

 

13 and sunny driving in, expected to reach 23 and be nice all day - tomorrow supposed to be a lot of rain first thing and, OF COURSE, about the time I leave

 

Seems I can't ignore the DJM thread, but at least now it's taking a serious thread creep and has all kinds of unrelated rubbish being offered

 

Enjoy the day.

[Kingzance]

Quick respite for the knees from the cold concrete floor as I work my way along various baseboards separating some rail's droppers from others and the sectional bus. In gaining access, a hidden bottle of Primitivo was spotted so I will have something to lubricate protesting knees (much) later.

Drizzle outside meant SWMBO returned earlier than expected from her shopping expedition but I wasn't caught on-line shopping for anything (let alone model railway related items as I was where I should have been, under the baseboards. Time for a muggatea and then, despite protests, back under!

 

As GDB would probably sign off,

 

S O Reknees

[Tony_S]

58 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

 

As "expected" and whether you want it or not, here's the promised picture of this weeks transport;

It's not quite as big as it appears, but not a small vehicle by any means.

 

 

 

Someone down the road has one and it seems to take up quite a lot of space in their drive. It looks much bigger than my Evoque. 

Today I have driven both our cars and I didn’t forget to use the clutch in the Fiesta!

Tony

[81C]

Afternoon All 

I have some great news I have kicked HER into touch, she was having one of her ME moments it just got too much and I snapped she is now history .

It does however give me a problem regarding my layout it will have to go the stock will be kept and I can join the local club as will the rest of it apart from the

boards my eldest will store every thing until I can get it sorted I won't be able to keep it all. I might go off line for awhile I will be moving out once the house sold

I have found a flat locally subject to purchase so I can still support my daughters.

                                                                                                                                                   have a good one I will I'm off out to the pub later. A Alcoholmann

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl, we're back online,  I passed a BT wagon half blocking a near by road , so wasn't surprised to find us offline.  I'm glad I wasn't them though it's been bucketing down all afternoon.  It was getting dark even without the rain. 

 

The were signs of rallying on an NDR roundabout, and nearer home someone had caught their left hand wheels in a deep puddle and got dragged into the verge.  Putting mud all over the road. 

 

Today's work went well,  there were long periods of sit and wait.  During an early one it popped into my mind that with about 18 inches of spare head room in the trailer above the layout carriages,  I have room to fit a sliding vertically pelmet, so if I arrive at a show its roll the layout carriages into place,  and then slide the pelmets up and lock them in place.

 

Much waiting time was spent doing sketchs.

Edited June 12, 2019 by TheQ

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

And today's momentous news is - it's raining.  What was no doubt meant to the momentous news was that the town was the start line for some sort of round Britain (or part of Britain) push-bike cycling event.  this seemed yo to involve blocking much of the two to c vehicular traffic, taking possession of one of the two town centre car parks (which caused Councillor Laddo to be asking some serious questions of the minions placing parking comes there yesterday evening when he tried to park for a council meeting), and an expectation of 10,000 visiting spectators.  Quite how the 10,000 were expected to get here remains one of those mysteries know only to 'event promoters because one car park was closed, all the through 'bus routes were blocked or severlt y dislocated due to road closures, and teh branch line can only carry about 800-900 passengers per hour if the trains are crammed full and the booked 3 car set is in use.

 

Net result -0 as I found after the event - was that some roads were still closed after they should have reopened at 12.00, car drivers seemed more lost than normal (which is really saying something), and the shops were empty and had gained no extra. trade.  The town did appear to have a few visitors present after midday but they didn't look like the sort who were into watching push-bike cycle races and in fact there seemed to be fewer grockles about than we'd normally have at this time of year but that could be down to the weather of course.  In fact the town today was much quieter overall than at a similar midweek day time last week and the week before.  So one great momentous event = one commercial non-event for local traders.

 

Then we went to Tesco - that was much the same as normal, then the rain started - and hasn't yet stopped.

 

Enjoy the rest of your day.

[AndyID]

1 hour ago, 81C said:

 

 I snapped she is now history

 

Phew! Just metaphorically speaking then. I was beginning to think you'd done something more permanent.

[AndyID]

Saw another Fiat Spider yesterday. I could not see the plates to determine if it's local or not. It was the flashy Abarth version with lots of little scorpion badges. Also much faster on account of four more BHP, but most importantly it has the raucous Abarth exhaust noise

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Rain hasn't stopped since this morning but its eased off somewhat.

18 minutes ago, AndyID said:

Saw another Fiat Spider yesterday. I could not see the plates to determine if it's local or not. It was the flashy Abarth version with lots of little scorpion badges. Also much faster on account of four more BHP, but most importantly it has the raucous Abarth exhaust noise

I saw a FIAT Abarth yesterday in the supermarket car park. It looked as if it had a black plastic nappy on the bonnet.

[AndyID]

46 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 

I saw a FIAT Abarth yesterday in the supermarket car park. It looked as if it had a black plastic nappy on the bonnet.

 

I don't care for that black paint either. Looks much better without it but I suppose it appeals to some people

[Coombe Barton]

20 hours 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 had mine.

 

They said I was normal

 

Sandy wanted a recount.

[Coombe Barton]

12 hours ago, chrisf said:

It makes me smile that I am asked to send samples of sh!t through the post but cannot send substances such as paint.

 

Works both ways - we get party political literature (?) through the post.

[BoD]

Evening all

 

Since you asked, I didn’t go for an amble I spent the day bodging..... and yes Baz, I will put some photos up sooner or later.

I made a nice risotto for our evening meal followed by a cheese board.  For my part, give me some nice cheese, some crackers and a glass of wine or port and I could munch away all evening. Forget about the main course.  No the wonder I’m fat.

 

p.s.  I was right when I said the rain looked set in. It’s still doing it.

Edited June 12, 2019 by BoD

[81C]

2 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Phew! Just metaphorically speaking then. I was beginning to think you'd done something more permanent.

I must admit I was tempted on several occasions she was that bad.

I'm glad it's over I call time on the marriage last week she went 2 days later, I'll get the divorce paper served once the house is sold .

Life moves on I'm off to the singles club Sunday. 

 

[JohnDMJ]

7 minutes ago, BoD said:

Evening all

 

Since you asked, I didn’t go for an amble I spent the day bodging..... and yes Baz, I will put some photos up sooner or later.

I made a nice risotto for our evening meal followed by a cheese board.  For my part, give me some nice cheese, some crackers and a glass of wine or port and I could munch away all evening. Forget about the main course.  No the wonder I’m fat.

 

p.s.  I was right when I said the rain looked set in. It’s still doing it.

 

If you like Brie cheese, try Brie de Meaux. Has much more flavour than the normal wishy-washy bries one finds both from France and the UK!. Made with ewes milk.

[AndyID]

We lived in a sleepy little town in New Jersey for about six years. All very tranquil. Lot's of mature trees and big lawns. The lots were at least half an acre.

 

Our neighbors next door (let's call them Chuck and Mabel cos that was their names) were very nice to us and our kids. Many pleasant afternoons were spent sitting by their pool while the kids went swimming.

 

Until one day the local constabulary arrived and Chuck was escorted from the house wearing shiny restraining bracelets, never to be seen again. So you never really know.

[BoD]

5 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

 

If you like Brie cheese, try Brie de Meaux. Has much more flavour than the normal wishy-washy bries one finds both from France and the UK!. Made with ewes milk.

 

We stayed in a hotel last October that did some very interesting cheeseboards and I did have Brie de Meaux one evening.  As you say, very flavoursome.

[lightengine]

My Dad had his aorta checked at 82 in 2011, had the operation to correct it, and the following morning died of a massive heart attack.

[lightengine]

11 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

 

If you like Brie cheese, try Brie de Meaux. Has much more flavour than the normal wishy-washy bries one finds both from France and the UK!. Made with ewes milk.

If you can't get Brie de Meaux, Le Rustique Brie & Camembert is pretty good.  My wife trained me to take the box lid off and press the centre of the cheese to see if it was ripe enough to buy and eat.  President brie and camembert is not quite so nice.

[brianusa]

Now it can be told!  I am eighty four today, not that it is of much interest to anybody other than myself.   But after listening to a relative whose husband is much younger than I, suffers from terminal Parkinsons, I feel pretty good about it.  Once upon a time, I thought anyone this age was over the hill but at least I'm still able to climb it.  Takes longer though.

      Brian.

[JohnDMJ]

4 minutes ago, lightengine said:

If you can't get Brie de Meaux, Le Rustique Brie & Camembert is pretty good.  My wife trained me to take the box lid off and press the centre of the cheese to see if it was ripe enough to buy and eat.  President brie and camembert is not quite so nice.

 

My late father trained me similarly.

 

President is far too bland in either style. Almost like somerset brie

 

Lidls do sometimes have Brie de Meaux as do some Tes Cos and Sains berries but I will keep a look put for Le Rustique.

 

The best Camembert I ever had was removed from its plastic wrapper, re-wrapped in aluminIum foil and placed back in its box then buried in the dying coals of a barbecue; 'eaten' with a spoon, it was delicious!

Edited June 12, 2019 by JohnDMJ

[BoD]

Many happy returns, Brian.

[AndyID]

32 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

 

If you like Brie cheese, try Brie de Meaux. Has much more flavour than the normal wishy-washy bries one finds both from France and the UK!. Made with ewes milk.

 

We get a nice and very reasonably priced Normandy brie at Costco.  The flavor becomes more intense if it is aged in the fridge for a few weeks. They also sell an excellent Dorset cheddar. The brand is Coastal.