Early Risers.

[45156]

Afternoon All

 

As usual, a whole lot of water has passed under the ER bridge since I last logged in, and with the best will in the world, I can't mention every ER who has posted in the last couple of days, but belated Happy Birthday to Ian and John, and of course the usual greetings of the generic variety to eveybody else.

 

Last night I had a night's sleep to rival that of Q - an early night as I was asleep in the chair, then awake at 10.30 for half an hour, felt nauseous about midnight, got up, and finally dropped off around 2, only to wake up again feeling the same again, then managed only to doze until 5, as eveything seemed to be churning in my head, then up at 5 to make breakfast and lunch for 30747, then back to bed, but not to sleep, until 6,30.  Probably a total of 4 hours if that.

 

Then went to the writing group, where my contribution, another episode of Dan the Knocker, which is now up to about 10000 words was well received.  Friday, I return to the creative writing class, where my previous tutor is leading the class, and she's brilliant,  Missed the first session last week, as I was on Devon.

 

Back tomorrow, hopefully (and also hopefully after a better night's sleep).

 

Regards to All

Stewart

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Congratulations NHN, I don't have any kids/grandkids but my friends young son does not have any grandparents, all had gone before he was born. I have slotted in to the role, as Jamie said, its not cheap.

[brianusa]

We have relatives going to NI shortly on holiday.  Can someone confirm the age requirements to rent a car while there, please

        Brian.

[JohnDMJ]

11 hours ago, TheQ said:

Speed through that bridge, yes it is  quite common to go through at speed, if you get it right the boat squats into the water so you get more clearance. The broads are tidal, and you can get a 3 or 4 knot tide going in either direction through the hole. knowing the tides on the broads is most important..

 

 

Not only that but, from my experience of being piloted through Potter Heigham, seems to make the boat more directionally stable.

[trisonic]

Just popping in to warn y'all that a Major Hurricane could be heading to the UK as soon as next week. No, I'm not from the Daily Express this thing looks real. It's called "Lorenzo". Whilst it might reach Cat. 4 level I don't expect it to reach the UK at that level Cat.1 - maybe. That would still be as strong as the October Hurricane of the eighties - Steady winds of 60 -75 mph and gusts to 90 - 105 mph. Just keep an eye on reputable forecasts.....

 

Brian, Car Rentals are usually 25 years of age almost everywhere nowadays.

 

best, Pete.

[Coombe Barton]

Congratulations NHN

 

BTW a live steam 16mm loco is not an appropriate present until they're about four or five.

 

OK, maybe two or three.

 

But one named for them might be appropriate a lot sooner.

[Barry O]

Afternoon  to most!

 

Major eyelid inspection undertaken this afternoon.  Something to do with her indoors making do with 6 hours sleep. Pah!

 

Brian for vans in the UK you have to be over 21 and younger than 70. But you can check it on line.

 

Now off to the railway club.

Baz

 

 

[Coombe Barton]

Hey Pete Trisonic - good to see you posting.

 

[New Haven Neil]

53 minutes ago, Debs. said:

'We' are to be a Grandmother/father.

Absolutely brilliant; many congratulations. 

 

Jokey text aside, it's complicated, Debs.  Charlie isn't my biological Daughter so 'my' Debs isn't technically going to be a Grandmother.....  Charlie adopted me as she doesn't have a Father of her own!  I am as proud of her achievements as if she were my own, from dyslexic girl who left school with no qualifications whatsoever to an MA and a great professional career.  Any part I played in that (the development of her professional career in probation and social work) is my reward. 

 

 

 

[Tony_S]

24 minutes ago, trisonic said:

Just popping in to warn y'all that a Major Hurricane could be heading to the UK as soon as next week. No, I'm not from the Daily Express this thing looks real. It's called "Lorenzo". Whilst it might reach Cat. 4 level I don't expect it to reach the UK at that level Cat.1 - maybe. That would still be as strong as the October Hurricane of the eighties - Steady winds of 60 -75 mph and gusts to 90 - 105 mph. Just keep an eye on reputable forecasts.....

 

Brian, Car Rentals are usually 25 years of age almost everywhere nowadays.

 

best, Pete.

We just crossed from New York to Southampton ahead of one storm and chasing another. The last three days of the crossing had some impressive waves. While Dorian was bashing Nova Scotia we were in Quebec and didn’t feel a thing. There were still power outages and fallen trees as we visited Nova Scotia a few days later.   The Jersey shore  looked quite sunny as we left New York!

Thanks for the warning. 

Tony

[Ozexpatriate]

41 minutes ago, trisonic said:

... It's called "Lorenzo". Whilst it might reach Cat. 4 level I don't expect it to reach the UK at that level Cat.1 - maybe.

 

10 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

We just crossed from New York to Southampton ahead of one storm and chasing another. The last three days of the crossing had some impressive waves. While Dorian was bashing Nova Scotia we were in Quebec and didn’t feel a thing. There were still power outages and fallen trees as we visited Nova Scotia a few days later. 

Jerry, Karen and Lorenzo are all still churning around. Jerry is a weakening post-tropical cyclone around Bermuda. Karen is taking a weird left turn east of the Bahamas, but as Pete says, Lorenzo is the largest. Hopefully Melissa will be a no show.

 

Tony dealt with the remnants of Humberto while re-crossing the Atlantic. Imelda created heavy flooding in south east Texas - a region still dealing with Harvey-related flooding from 2017.

[laurenceb]

good to see you Pete

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, brianusa said:

We have relatives going to NI shortly on holiday.  Can someone confirm the age requirements to rent a car while there, please

        Brian.

Upper age limits depend on the hire company. If your relatives are not used to manual gearboxes remind them to specify auto. Last time I rented a car in Ireland I was asked if I was going to travel in NI. I wasn’t but I suspect it would have been chargeable! The reverse may apply if your relatives cross the border. All to do with insurance I believe. 

Edited September 25, 2019 by Tony_S

[brianusa]

1 hour ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

Jokey text aside, it's complicated, Debs.  Charlie isn't my biological Daughter so 'my' Debs isn't technically going to be a Grandmother.....  Charlie adopted me as she doesn't have a Father of her own!  I am as proud of her achievements as if she were my own, from dyslexic girl who left school with no qualifications whatsoever to an MA and a great professional career.  Any part I played in that (the development of her professional career in probation and social work) is my reward. 

 

 

 

 

Pretty girl!  Or can't you say that these days.

      Brian.

[New Haven Neil]

I have no issue with that, nor does Charlie!  The hard thing is to realise she's 33.....

 

She is a 'character' - full of fun and bright approach to life.  i.e. totally nuts, in a nice way.

[Dave Hunt]

13 hours ago, Barry O said:

Positive thoughts to all who ail especially John, Sandy, Debs and our missing fighter pilot. Get that black dog chained up well Dave..would a 120mm Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Dispensing sabot round help??

Baz

 

Many thanks for the thought Baz. The dog got its nose out of its kennel after I had a couple more medical issues (including The Damn Toe becoming infected again!) concurrent with my Dad being diagnosed as possibly having lymphoma on the second anniversary of my Mum dying and another couple of minor troubles but it all added up. Fortunately the black one didn't get fully out and I think I've managed to get it back under control but for a while I just didn't feel like posting on ERs although I did visit a couple of times and keep in touch with the various goings on, which actually helped. Hence the 120mm isn't required at the moment but I'll bear it in mind. Out of interest, I've actually been in a Chieftain in the 70s when one such piece of ordnance was fired - noisy is the best description I can give. 

 

Once again, thanks for the kind thought. Looking ahead, will you be at Warley?

 

My thoughts are also with those ailing.

 

Dave

 

 

 

  

[trisonic]

1 hour ago, laurenceb said:

good to see you Pete

I've been in the desert or is it nose down in the dessert?

 

Anyway I thought I'd hang around for a while.......

 

My typing is not improved, alas.  Best, Pete.

[trisonic]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

We just crossed from New York to Southampton ahead of one storm and chasing another. The last three days of the crossing had some impressive waves. While Dorian was bashing Nova Scotia we were in Quebec and didn’t feel a thing. There were still power outages and fallen trees as we visited Nova Scotia a few days later.   The Jersey shore  looked quite sunny as we left New York!

Thanks for the warning. 

Tony

1 hour ago, laurenceb said:

good to see you Pete

I was in Bruce country at the weekend - Asbury Park,  Stone Temple Pilots were playing at The Stone Pony's outdoor stage. We listened from the boardwalk. Tremendous weather here right now.

  Best, Pete.

Edited September 25, 2019 by trisonic

[Tony_S]

43 minutes ago, trisonic said:

I've been in the desert ...

Thanks, now I have an earworm!

[Ozexpatriate]

10 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Thanks, now I have an earworm!

Could be worse.

 

Public television in the US is broadcasting a eight-part history of Country Music. So far seven episodes have been broadcast, running to about 14.5 hours of content with a (mostly) wall to wall background track.

 

This morning I woke up with "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" (by Charlie Pride) in my head. I don't know why, I'm not even sure that was on any of the shows. At least it wasn't "Jolene" (by Dolly Parton) which was playing over the closing credits last night.

 

Googling "Jolene" to check the spelling, the first (and presumably most popular) YouTube video reference is Miley Cyrus. I could say "what is the world coming to?", but I know I'm just getting older. I didn't know she even covered it.

 

Edited September 26, 2019 by Ozexpatriate

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Glad to see you back Pete, what with Olddudders, Ashcombe and Debs returning as well its getting a bit crowded. (Not that I'm complaining.) 

3 hours ago, brianusa said:

We have relatives going to NI shortly on holiday.  Can someone confirm the age requirements to rent a car while there, please

        Brian.

As has been said it can vary from company to company. Best to use the internet to shop around.

[Ozexpatriate]

3 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

... its getting a bit crowded ...

Plenty of room for all - the more the merrier!

[Gwiwer]

22 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

That was over 13 years ago and was probably on par for the Swansea area.

 

Of course, the goat might not have been killed if it had been wearing a seatbelt.

 

Just lucky it didn't happen in the Maesglas tunnel, otherwise conspiracy theorists would have had a field day.

 

 

In which case I'll raise you one from the London Evening Standard of many more than 13 years ago when it announced as its headline "Passengers hit by cancelled trains"

 

Today didn't exactly go as planned.  It was raining steadily all morning meaning a hoped-for day trip to the Chilterns was, to use rail-speak, caped.  I don't know why the same thing in Australia is termed AMEX (or Amexed) but it is and it has nothing to do with a famous piece of plastic.  Come to that why is it caped?  

 

So shopping was performed in preparation for tomorrow night's guests.  The menu will have a definite British-take-on-Indian-food theme to it.  I make a decent sag aloo if I say so myself.  Most of the rest is no more complex than cooking the meat and adding the sauce though I did learn some rudiments many years ago including dry-frying the spices. I also fry in ghee, never in oil.  

 

SWMBO revisited St. George's Hospital, Tooting, after work for a CPAP review and came home with a positive report.  It is working as it should for her and has improved her sleep significantly.  It has also improved mine as there is no longer a wallowing, snortling, gasping noisy person close by when I am hoping to be asleep.  Instead there is a normally-breathing person and the gentle hiss of the CPAP pump which has the added bonus of deterring the cat from getting too close.  One hurdle cleared.  Several more to go.

 

Today included a small victory.  We received a fine and warning of prosecution for littering - specifically leaving a flattened cardboard box next to rather than inside the local recycling skip.  It happened to include SWMBO name and our address on the label which is how we were traced.  We didn't leave it and I was at work several miles away at the time of the alleged offence.  Some other bits and pieces I had booked for a prepaid council collection also vanished at the same time but as life-expired vacuum cleaners, steam mops and random pieces of wood don't have our details stuck to them these could not be proven as ours.  We spoke with the property manager as their handyman had been clearing and tidying around the block on the day in question.  He has denied moving anything from outside our place of course but almost put his foot firmly in his mouth by adding "I did have to put some other cardboard in another place". A quick call to the officer issuing the notice and an exchange of emails saw the threat cancelled and our names cleared.  

 

Tomorrow is fully booked with cleaning, cooking and entertaining.  The latter will be enlivened a little by the bottle of Talisker which I liberated from Waitrose earlier.  Saturday is fully booked visiting various friends along the Sussex coast.  Friday might be an opportunity to get out and do me stuff.  

 

Best wishes to all.  And for those who sail in her please remember to check bridge clearance and tide height before making a public spectacle of yourselves and damaging your boat in the process.  I mean it happens all the time (and all too often) when road vehicles bash rail bridges.  The bridge is never at fault ......... 

 

 

 

 

[Gwiwer]

53 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Thanks, now I have an earworm!

Better that than an earwig.  Personally I trim my ear hair when required

 

trisonic

Good to see you back Pete.

[bbishop]

The Berlin group has been disbanded, as we are back in the UK.

 

Bill