Early Risers.

[Dave Hunt]

The best (or worst I suppose) postal experience we ever had was a few years ago when a friend who lived in Spain rang us up and during the conversation said, " I didn't know you were going to Australia again." We told her that we hadn't been there for three years and asked why she thought we had been recently. "Because I've just received a postcard from you posted in Sydney", she said. It had indeed been posted in Sydney but three years earlier!

 

Goodnight all.

 

Dave

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[pH]

1 hour ago, Dave Hunt said:

The best (or worst I suppose) postal experience we ever had was a few years ago when a friend who lived in Spain rang us up and during the conversation said, " I didn't know you were going to Australia again." We told her that we hadn't been there for three years and asked why she thought we had been recently. "Because I've just received a postcard from you posted in Sydney", she said. It had indeed been posted in Sydney but three years earlier!

 

Goodnight all.

 

Dave

 

It wasn't unknown for Christmas cards to be delivered a year (or occasionally more than one year) late in the UK. With the huge increase in mail over the Christmas season, some mail sacks weren't used from one year to the next, and the odd card could lie in the bottom of stored sacks till the sacks were brought out again for use the next Christmas.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[AndyID]

9 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

while I've never been to the USA I have seen 'Men In Black 2' several times so can quite understand why staff in the USPS behave rather oddly.

 

I accepted a job in the US without even having been in the US but that wasn't a problem as we had extensive experience through watching Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers, The Cisco Kid, The High Chaparral, Perry Mason and Kojak.

[pH]

Just now, AndyID said:

 

I accepted a job in the US without even having been in the US but that wasn't a problem as we had extensive experience through watching Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers, The Cisco Kid, The High Chaparral, Perry Mason and Kojak.

 

Excellent preparation!

[BR60103]

I lied yesterday. The laundry wasn't finished until today.

We have a collection of community post boxes in the Village. There's usually no problem except when the postie gets vacation.  She told me once that when she has to cover another route, she does it early, in the light, as she feels safer in the Village than other places.

 

 

[45156]

16 hours ago, 81C said:

Don't you just love Solicitors you get an email from them stating please see the attachments, what bloody attachments. 

I learned early on with these wonderful people not to rely on their e-mail abilities, and insisted that everything be done in the more traditional way, and I would call at their offices to collect and deliver if really urgent, or to have them sent by 1st class post - worked for me.

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is a chilly morning here - but nothing unusual for the time of year.

 

There isn't a lot else to report, so I guess it is time for a coffee!

 

Have a good day everyone...

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

Yesterday's lunch with a friend was at the Blue Bell in Helpston.  We both had haddock and chips and, as we asked nicely, garden peas rather than the mushy version stipulated on the menu.  Getting there was impeded by queuing at the notorious level crossing while three trains passed.  On the return journey we had a clear run.  Then the fun started.  I took a wrong turning.  It is easily done when one has not learned the road, when signposting is deficient and when ones passenger, who lives locally, does not get out much.  The silly thing is that I have taken that wrong turning before, under cover of darkness.  When I got home, eventually, I powered up Google Maps and now know where I went wrong.   It was a roundabout too far.   While all this was going on I was trying to enjoy the sounds of Le Vent Du Nord's CD "Territoires", which is one of my signed trophies from Sidmouth and had been in the hessian bag for four months.  It's good foot-tapping stuff, which is not necessarily the best idea when one of your feet is resting on the gas pedal.

 

Matters arising: Grandad Bob mentioned the Brampton Hut the other day.  I doubt it looks much like the version where I worked in 1966 as a petrol pump attendant and may not even be in quite the same place.  The coming of the A14 has caused much upheaval.  For starters, it was the A604 then.  I used to cycle to and from work, with a shift pattern not designed for beauty sleep - 3 pm to 10 pm one day, 8 am to 3 pm the next.  My route included the very dangerous Nun's Bridge, in a dip near Hinchingbrooke House.  There were a few near misses, especially in the heavy rain which would come on just as I was finishing work.

 

Tomorrow I say farewell to Virgin Trains West Coast, who will take me to and from Manchester for the show.  This means another purposeful stride to the bus station for the 07.30 X5 to MK and making breakfast before I set out as there is precious little chance of finding anything decent in voyage.   In theory I could rise again on Sunday morning, fresh as a daisy recovering from a dose of weedkiller, and head for Peterborough.  I've done two shows in two days before and it puts too great a strain on the superhuman qualities that some attribute to me.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Ozexpatriate]

5 hours ago, AndyID said:

Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers, The Cisco Kid, The High Chaparral, Perry Mason and Kojak

I've been trying to think of a pithy mash-up of those, but have given up after getting this far:

 

That's another fine mess you've gotten me into Pancho. Time wounds all heels. Oh, Cisco! who loves ya baby?

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner temple Hare, 1094/684

 

An odd night sleep I fell asleep an hour early and woke up 2 hours early, so there were several periods of sleep on the sofa.

The above is caused by a pain in the neck and my left arm (elbow to wrist) . I don't remember doing anything to annoy my left arm.

 

Less head waggling today at work as I have 27, 1 G ohm resistances to measure, so they sit on the desk in front of me.. That's reference, two  new resistors, reference, then deliver those two the section that wants them. then reference, 21 resistors in a box, reference, that one's my build up box so I can, next week, calibrate some 10 and 20 G Ohm resistors. That should keep me occupied.

 

Not Driech this morning as it's too windy, it was however drizzly and warm ish.

Ben the I'm Staying in Bed Collie didn't even look out of the door to decide if he wanted out..

 

The heater for future boat work has arrived, hopefully I'll give that a go tomorrow, It has been tested however and seems quite effective.

 

Some thoughts on hinging the toolbox top Led me to decide on Pivot hinges (Knife hinge in the USA), So I started looking up buying some and then... I realised I was looking at some I've already got in stock, A search party will be sent out some time on Saturday..

 

It's almost time to head towards the forest of G Ohms,

 

Time to Check the company Spam first.

[AndyID]

14 minutes ago, 45156 said:

I learned early on with these wonderful people not to rely on their e-mail abilities, and insisted that everything be done in the more traditional way, and I would call at their offices to collect and deliver if really urgent, or to have them sent by 1st class post - worked for me.

 

That reminds me of the time my boss and I flew from Phoenix to Los Angeles to "drop in" on a software outfit to collect something that they were supposed to be delivering to us "any day now". It's so long ago now I can't remember much of the details but the whole episode was pretty entertaining.

 

There was another occasion when I was a member of a team who were evaluating a semi-conductor company as a possible acquisition. IIRC they were somewhere in Texas. We were looking into a clean room through windows. There were several "ball-bonding" machines operating in the clean room. (Ball bonding is the process of connecting the actual silicon chip to the external connections in the packaged device.) People were busily feeding the ball-bonders with more chips.

 

I noticed that that the people who were feeding the machines appeared to be re-cycling devices from the end of the conveyor (reminiscent of the "I Love Lucy" sketch.) Charlie, my highly experienced senior IC Engineer, observed that there wasn't any actual wire in the ball-bonding machines!

 

The deal did not go through.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Need to get ready to go to Peterborough.  M7gatea drunk now i need asome breakfast.

TTFN

Baz

[New Haven Neil]

Morning.  Well I presume it is, its still dark and blowing a hoolie.

 

Fridaaaay!  Which is like an extra Saturday for me, as I work my full  time over 4 days.  Bike, er car club later, than maybe some mudelling, but have to get some new tyres on the car first, where did those 3 years go?

[roundhouse]

Morning all.

 

Been in shed fettling the building and working out next stage for roof construction. 

 

Dropped other half off at station. Trian close to time today for a change. last night it was late but not quite enough for the Delay repay. I know many who don't like Virgin West Coast but I have found them Ok to deal with. Our local Southern / Govia were good but when DaFT changed the franchise it went very pear shaped although many of the problems are Notwork Rail. My other half often has a conversation with others also waiting for delayed services and no one is happy with the GW Worms. Tomorrows trip is by bus and Sundays partly by bus as no trains for us due to engineering works.

 

Its raining hard here now but at least its warmer. back to shed with a cup of tea. A BLI loco has its main driver out ready for wheel pulling but so far not found a trader with a puller in stock. Its something that I really should have in my muddling tools. Luckily a friend has one so will go see him on Monday then I can replace the split gear and hopefully another happy customer.

 

UPDATE

 Spoke too soon about my other halfs trip to work this morning. Underground up creek from Farringdon eastbound so she had to go back to City Thameslink and walk from there. Not one trip this week on time and shes getting really pee'd off with the journey these days. When am I going to find a lottery ticket that isn't faulty!

 

Main PC froze this morning then wouldn't start so switched the power off at the wall and back on again, checked the power lead into the PC but in tight. Still wouldn't start. Just went back to it after looking at new one online. Pulled power lead out then back in and it started. So this 10 year old PC is still working and no new one required just yet.

Edited December 6, 2019 by roundhouse

[bbishop]

Morning all,

 

Up early to finalise my draft of the breakdown procedures for the Stevenage exhibition, get my hair cut, then start on the Christmas cards.

 

Bill

[Happy Hippo]

I am up far too early this morning!

 

Fortunately, the Obergrumpenfuhrer has to attend 'book club', so I may be able to have a nap mid morning to compensate.

 

Do I take the newly filled biscuit barrel with me, or do I empty it pre-snooze?

 

The latter action would prevent the possibility of a great crumb scandal.

[jamie92208]

Morning all from a village that is a long way from Ikea.  No sign of strikes/blockades etc and all the petrol stations seemed to be in action. The only effect on me 2as the diversion to Caen instead of St Malo.  Much to be done today, putting stuff away and distributing ourchases to their various recipients.  

 

Our regular postie is excellent but I'm not sure about La Poste in general.  Mail seems to get to the UK inb about 3 days max but takes anything up to 2 weeks in the other direction. Some of last years Christmas cards arrived mid January.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

Edited December 6, 2019 by jamie92208

[Shedman5]

Morning, still dark outside but I know it's not raining...yet. Decided a couple of days ago it was time to change the pc given its age and other reasons, hmm it must know as yesterday it had in human terms a major heart attack,, followed by a stroke and various other complaints!

 

Took me ages to fix it and get it behaving, the need to change has been reinforced and has moved up the priority list,

Otherwise all is well or will be when we return from shopping , at least it's food shopping!

 

 

Enjoy your day

 

Alan

[AndyID]

As it's December the radio stations here have taken the cue to start pumping out the usual "holiday" tunes. I was skipping through the stations on the truck's radio and one of them was playing the attached. Not my usual sort of music but this is very clever and so well produced.

 

 

[polybear]

14 hours ago, tigerburnie said:

Tell them you are going to another company, I bet someone gets straight back to you(I think I would anyway, can you imagine what trying to claim from them might be like)

 

And tell Mr. Mercedes you'll think very hard before buying one of their cars again.  That should sort it....

 

12 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

There's a happy bunny residing in North Hipposhire today - me! Took SWMBO to Stoke station this morning for her departure to Leatherhead where she is staying until Monday for some grandchild adoration baby sitting therapy duties leaving me with only a few minor domestic chores. The rest of my time as a bachelor will be divided between mod***ing and going to the Manchester show until Monday morning when I have to take Dad for a hospital appointment before picking up the wanderer at Stoke. The word bliss springs to mind.

 

Dave  

 

I'd suggest a rapid and total Comms failure, else air traffic are sure to divert you onto other tasks not mentioned prior to departure....

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

A wet and windy night and more of the same forecast today.

Still feeling rough so not doing much at the moment.

Chris, ISTR from my childhood in the 50s that the Brampton Hut was a large white painted building. We stopped there for breakfast in September on the way to Beamish and today it looks just like any other Premier Inn.

https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/cambridgeshire/huntingdon/huntingdon-a1a14.html

 

Son Steve was working from home yesterday so popped in to collect a parcel and stayed for lunch so that broke the day up a bit. The Boss didn't get home from shopping till about 4.00pm laden with "stuff" and I was told not to pry.

I didn't get to The Shed so haven't tested my new acquisition but intend to do so today.

Time for some breakfast,

Have a good one,

K.I. Dwithnewtoy

 

 

Edited December 6, 2019 by grandadbob

[AndrewC]

To quote the Good Place. Thank Fork it's Friday. (If you haven't seen it, it is one of the better American comedies on at the moment. You can't swear in the good place so it is all fork, shirt, ash, beach) 

What a shirt week this has been. Still coughing up internal organs. No sign of relief. Run out of weapons grade codeine and can't get a refill without an actual appointment with the quack. Can't get one of those until next week as they are overrun with other plague victims. Bunch of ashholes. 

 

PH your experience with Canada Pest is far better than what we used to get in yyc. Rumour was the sorting office was overcapacity and mail often ended up in Vancouver or Edmonton for sorting. Never ever got anything in under 5 days. UK parcels averaged about 18 days as for some reason ours all came via Montreal instead of Vancouver. That in itself was a pain as "model" on the customs form got translated there as "art & sculpture" subject to heavy import duties. Spent many hours in the Harry Hays building in yyc with a box of trains trying to explain they are scale models and under the same no duty category as toys in order to get a refund. Our "home" parcel delivery went like this. Small > super box, Medium > local pickup post office. (in a 7-11 like you but the desk was only open mon-fri 9-5) larger > Purolater depot by the airport. (140km round trip for us)  By comparison our Royal Mail depot is open 07:00-17:30 mon-fri, 08:00-16:00 on sat, and even open 08:00-13:00 on Sundays. 

 

enough beaching about the past. Time for coffee and more time wasting meetings with morons. 

Enjoy the day, have a great weekend. 

[45156]

Morning All

 

As usual, apologies for absence due to pressure of other matters on and off the laptop.  And of course generic greetings, as a lot of water has certainly passed under the ER bridge.

 

For music afficionados among us, this popped into my YouYube suggested plays, and I took a listen to find one of the most incredible renditions of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" that I've ever heard - what a voice that girl has.

 

 

I got it suggested because of a viewing of another version from a channel I subscribe to - see if you agree with me that they are both in their own way incredibly good covers

 

 

LASAR this morning so back tomorrow.

 

Regards To All

Stewart