Early Risers.

[Dave Hunt]

Good morning all. From what I have heard during the run-up to tomorrow's shenanigans, there are quite a few politicians who do a lot of squealing and incoherent shouting and seem to have the IQs and common sense of cabbages so I'm not really surprised that real plants can make a noise.

 

Mugocoffee on the way courtesy of SWMBO then it's market day followed by more festive preparations so not much of interest to report.

 

Have a good day.

 

Dave

[roundhouse]

Morning all form another cold one.

 

Been in shed at 4am and did a bit more on the roof of the station building then remarked out the fiddleyard track psoitions. Now to order N scale track for the fiddleyard.

 

Off in a while ot Homebase ot get more items ot ocmplete the alignemnt of the fiddleyard boards.

 

Also have been trying ot get the TV PC to connect through the HDMI ports of the amp but it just wont do so therfore will have to remain connected via HDMI direct ot the TV. The other poorly PC does work via the amp so trying ot reinstall WIndows on that one.

 

My other half just sent me an article about a robbery at knife point on a G W Worm late at night on the Brighton mainline - these trains are also getting vandalised way more than they used to when the trains had Gaurds. They can be very quiet late at night these days.

[BoD]

2 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

What part of plant anatomy could vibrate at that frequency?

 

.... and how do other plants run away when they hear the squeals of pain?

 

Morning all.

 

Should, due to circumstances, our Christmas decorations come down before January 6th the crib always remains until Epiphany and the arrival of the three wise men (who have been hiding behind the Sky box up until that point).

[45156]

Morning All

 

30747's two days off start here - spoke too soon - phone rang at 7 - one colleague off now until after Christmas due to post op complications, and another has a stomach bug - can 30747 please attend to cover one of them today AND tomorrow - bang goes our trip to Skipton.  Hence this is being written after getting up and rushing to het her to work for 8 - didn't quite make that, but close.  Then walked Lily.

 

All posts have been read and rated - it does seem to take longer each day.  Ian - hopefully Alison will now be able to mind the cats, and you will get to the UK to spend the festive season with Sherry.  Q - I have over the years tried various "Christmas" ciders and ales, but few, if any have really cut the mustard for me, and I always revert to Westons VIntage, which at over 8% is rocket fuel, and I only need one.  Generic greetings to everybody else.

 

Got an email this morning from the Postcode Lottery, which revealed that we have won a life changing £10 - which will buy the Christmas port - Aldi's own brand which is tremendous value, and for a cheapie, is very very palatable indeed.

 

No sign of Barclays in Lancaster re-opening yet.

 

Our tree went up a few days ago, and a few festive decorations, and they will come down on Boxing Day, which is when I take down the decorattions, and 30747 wraps next years Christmas presents, which have been bought over the year when cheaper. 

 

So now instead of a couple of days off, it's jobs domestic, and a trip to somewhere to try to get a bank print.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

Edited December 11, 2019 by 45156

[jamie92208]

6 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Crikey! Where's the skinny copper pipe that merges into waste coming from? Is the waste line connected to a roof vent or does it drain into a vented trap outside the building?

 

2 hours ago, Robert said:

It looks like it could be the central heating boiler expansion overflow.  We had a similar construction until our heating system was renovated.  It is usually associated with a pressure release valve which vents water from the system when the pressure is too high.

Thanks.  You are both on the right track.  It is the pressure relief from the hot water system which is just above it.  The whole system us at mains pressure.  If we go away in the winter we drain the boiler via that pipe.  I had no idea where it went till I removed the cupboard.  I presume that the reason for the twin hot and cold feeds lie in the history of the house.  The utility room and back bedroom used to be an internal garage. At some point the previous owners rebuilt them as they are and also combined the WC and bathroom which gave the need for a separate hot and cold feed through the wall to their new shower.  At some point we may reverse the WC/bathroom split and take that shower out. However the pipes would feed a washandbasin in the WC. By tge way there is no external vent and one would be difficult to fit though I will have a look to see if it is possible.

 

Anyway good moaning to all.  Slept in today so breakfast has been had and I am off to The Danglies to collect the results of my CT scan.  Then the ironing awaits.  Oh frabjous joy.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

 

 

[Kingzance]

Morning has dawned with light cloud and the odd blue patch with cloud building. Muggertea has been drunk, yet to decide today’s level of Meh but I hope it is lower than yesterday’s.
 

I haven’t mentioned CowboysRUs recently as there has been absolutely no progress on the nearest blockhouses fishtanks apartment blocks, the interiors of which remain exposed to the elements as they have since erection nearly six months ago. I wonder if it is in the builder’s plan to add such a method of ensuring the residents live in a humid environment, of course at some no doubt exorbitant extra charge? I only mention that as other structures are receiving some attention from a variety of workers blessed with a fair range of Anglo-Saxon tongue whose discussions drift across the morning breeze. They are certainly loud enough to drown out the screams of any plants being stressed. As shop shelves are now generally stocked with sufficient Brussels Sprouts, the massed screams of a choir of brassicas may be a thing of the past for this year.

 

The day’s plans are gradually being revealed to me by SWMBO. I fear that it will be more than just “stringing up some outside LED lights”. I hope to catch up on other external lighting tasks down the road and preparing the wood store for its restocking. Decorations (yet to be put up) in this household have to be down by 12th Night, i.e. bedtime on the 5th - or at an earlier time when SWMBO has become fed up of them. 

 

Be good and stay safe all, here’s to improvements where necessary and in whatever forms they may take.

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

I eagerly await the arrival of a draw saw and spare blades.

 

The theory behind this purchase is it will improve my cutting ability, whether this proves to be a worthwhile investment remains to be seen.

 

Festive decorations of the Muddy Hollow do not take place, although I did consider putting a light projector (used to shine the likes of snowflakes onto the side of the house) up in a tree facing down onto the surface of MH(F).

 

Can you imagine me, at the top of a skinny tree, with electrical flex and a snowflake projector and half a glass of whiskey at 3 am in the morning with my reputation?

 

Internal decoration of the Hippodrome is in the Obergrumpenfuhrer's remit.  All I am trusted required to do is lift and carry heavy things, and repair decorations where necessary.  So far this year this has only been putting new batteries in some low voltage lights and re-soldering an LED which had come adrift on the second set of tree lights.

 

However, there is  one internal decoration that I am entrusted with (In fact I insist on it):  

 

This involves copious amounts of cake (what else?), chocolate, dry roasted nuts, whisky, whiskey, port, gin, Chablis, turkish delight and various other delights.

 

It is a never ending task, but someone has to do it!

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright and sunny this morning if a bit breezy. In the article about plants screaming there was a possible explaination in that the cells that hold the plants water also contain a minute amount of air that vibrates when any changes take place. As some insects and even mammals such as bats can hear them makes me wonder if the purpose is to tell them if they are under attack from insects. For example if a plant is attacked by aphids it sends out a message that predators of aphids interpret as 'dinners ready'. Thats it for now, be back later. 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A bright sunny day here in the northwest of England. I was up just after 9 o’clock this morning, Sheila was supposed to be getting up just after me, but she fell back to sleep and has only just arisen. In the meantime I have eaten my breakfast, finished my large muggertea and made the base for the cheesecake. Other than finishing of that task, there isn’t much else planned for the day, although that could change!

 

Enjoy the day, back later. 

[81C]

Morning All 

Up early to get on with the laundry, last night I made another date with my dear Czech lady I mentioned going for a meal at a pub where she lives she seems very enthusiastic about it 

we would need to book this time of year I'm waiting for here to tell me what day she would like to go.

Someone mentioned decorations the only stuff I will be putting up is paint if the sale goes through next week I was at the lounge/common room at the flats last night I was invited to a finger 

buffet it was a fishy affair as every item of food had prawns draped on top the food was vey nice and I indulged in a glass of  wine spending most of the evening with 2 ladies wanting to know all about me.

I've more packing to do so up an atom, enjoy your day.  A. Pickford

[Tony_S]

2 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

eagerly await the arrival of a draw saw and spare blades.

According to someone in the first year (at secondary school) engineering theory exam the cutting direction for a hacksaw was “north “. 

[Tony_S]

Benfleet seasonal decorations.

 

[PhilJ W]

I spotted that the other day when I drove past it.

[81C]

Tony that is the way you put the blade in north to the front like north lights on a roof, a draw saw has the blades the other way round . Simples 

[PhilJ W]

Except for jig saw blades for cutting plywood. They are reversed so that they don't rip the wood.

[Gwiwer]

Morning all.  For morning it is, just about, as I open this page.  

 

All is well Upon the Hill of Strawberries.  Yesterday afternoon I heard a large number of emergency service sirens screaming and wailing in a southerly direction.   It turns out they were headed for Kingston where a large crane was toppled by the winds in the grounds of the university.  The morning snooze-rag contained a blurry picture.  I had thought it must be something big because emergency vehicles around here are uncommon and a procession of them hitherto unknown.

 

With winds gusting to 100mph we were perhaps lucky that the majority of deciduous leaves had already fallen otherwise some trees may have also ended up horizontal and in danger of becoming Ewell Yule Logs.

 

Tomorrow will be a unique day.  We rise with one administration and return to our beds later with another.  I don't make political posts - not least because AY doesn't allow them - but suffice to say it matters not who you vote for because the winner will always be the Government.  

 

It is now afternoon.  It lust be munchtime.

[Kingzance]

1 minute ago, 81C said:

Tony that is the way you put the blade in north to the front like north lights on a roof, a draw saw has the blades the other way round . Simples 

Being a somewhat simple and old fashioned person, I simply felt which way the teeth faced to know which way round to fit the blade in a hacksaw. Jigsaws are a different matter, normally cutting on the stroke that pulls the blade towards to gearbox but you can get ( and I do keep) reverse-action jigsaw blades for delicate cuts where you don’t wish to mark the surface and you can’t cut from the underside.

A S Tickwhitler.

[Tony_S]

28 minutes ago, 81C said:

like north lights on a roof,

Northlights were once considered to be an essential part of an artist's studio to avoid the effects of direct sun in their painting. 
The person who thought hacksaw blades pointed north went on to be a chef.

Tony

[Tony_S]

32 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

Being a somewhat simple and old fashioned person, I simply felt which way the teeth faced to know which way round to fit the blade in a hacksaw. Jigsaws are a different matter, normally cutting on the stroke that pulls the blade towards to gearbox but you can get ( and I do keep) reverse-action jigsaw blades for delicate cuts where you don’t wish to mark the surface and you can’t cut from the underside.

A S Tickwhitler.

I must have been really good at the theory for engineering and woodwork O levels as my practical projects were terrible. Practice did not make perfect, in my case it made things worse. I was quite good at forge work, hitting hot metal was my best skill. The only option choice at my school was art or woodwork. Neither teacher wanted me. The woodwork teacher finally had no choice as the art class would have had too many students. 
Tony

[jamie92208]

14 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Northlights were once considered to be an essential part of an artist's studio to avoid the effects of direct sun in their painting. 
The person who thought hacksaw blades pointed north went on to be a chef.

Tony

The windows in spinning sheds were usually north lights in them dark satanic mills. Weaving  sheds were usually multi storey and spinning sheds  single. Apparently  due to the weight of reciprocating machinery powered from the same drive shafts. They didn't want resonant frequencies shaking the place to bits.

 

Anyway good news on the scan results. I apparently have an intact and healthy aorta.

 

Jamie

[Kingzance]

4 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I must have been really good at the theory for engineering and woodwork O levels as my practical projects were terrible. Practice did not make perfect, in my case it made things worse. I was quite good at forge work, hitting hot metal was my best skill. The only option choice at my school was art or woodwork. Neither teacher wanted me. The woodwork teacher finally had no choice as the art class would have had too many students. 
Tony

I always had something of a practical bent Tony, possible going back to my parents giving me a second-hand Meccano set one Christmas. That was a present that got used endlessly over several years.
My first secondary school was also the local Tech College and so had grand facilities for wood and metal work plus technical drawing which, as someone who could never draw a person unless it was in the style of LS Lowry, I was able to practice all those topics. When Dad’s job required a move, the new school was geared much more to languages, the classics, art and rugby. You could do either woodwork or metalwork and, as my experience of machining metal was clear to that school’s staff, I was asked to follow that route and was immediately tasked with making blanks for that year’s GCE O-Level students’ metalwork exam. I haven’t used a lathe since leaving the sea many years back.

[Happy Hippo]

All this talk of metal work reminds me that yesterday I managed to cut my left index finger on a milling cutter.

 

No!  The machine was not switched on and the cutter was well clear of the workpiece, I reached through to change the Z axis stop, and as I had my reading glasses on under the safety goggles, was out of focus and managed to snag the side of the finger on the extreme tip of the 10 mm cutter.

 

I have found that a blob of paraffin wax on the cutter, and a little more on the work face stops the aluminium strips from fouling the cutter.  (One day I will get around to clearing up a woodruff cutter that looks more like a solid lump of aluminium.

 

Rain has stopped play on the woodwork front as it's pouring down outside, and I refuse to work on the driveway where I usually do all my large cutting tasks.

[Tony_S]

2 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

I haven’t used a lathe since leaving the sea many years back

Being able to use a lathe was one of the skills we were supposed to leave school with. Also the use of mechanical calculating devices and basic electronics (thermionic emission devices, the characteristics of). In the early 1960s the government had decided the country needed more science and technology people. We studied German as the educational establishment thought that would be the common language for scientists and engineers. It was quite a broad curriculum at school as it was normal to sit 12 exams, at O level, or if they thought you might not pass at that level, CSE. I did use a lathe a few times after leaving school, but I suppose playing with a CNC lathe to help Technology teachers doesn’t really count. I did have a whole summer of paid lathe work making bolts and rivets in an aircraft factory. The sales director told me I could have a bright future there and could become a toolmaker. I disappointed him saying I had to return to university.

Aditi as a student was told she didn’t have the aptitude to be a checkout operator at Caters supermarket one summer. She got a job in a cake shop which she was definitely suited too. 

[TheQ]

Afternoon awl, 

 

Ballcocks. 

 

 

 

Yep today's plans were disrupted by a Ballcock which decided to leak,  this is for the toilet in the bathroom which is above the electrical cupboard, so something had to be done. 

As we have low water pressure,  then once the Ballcocks was obtained,  and tools prised from their repose, then once things were loosened,  it was just a case of opening the bath tap to stop water coming out of the Ballcocks mounting.  The actual swap went well,  considering I suspect the old one is from 1984.

 

I enjoyed  woodwork and metal work but my second secondary school which was the first in Scotland,  did not teach either. This in combination of a different spread of lessons meant I was unable to continue when I moved on to my 3rd secondary school which was in Inverness. 

 

Since then a major sort out of items collected for various tasks,  house,  sailing and muddling , these had accumulated near my chair in a box. 

 

A cheese and onion toastie is being consumed,  along with a Muggacoffee.  This will be followed by taking Ben the sand boy Collie to the beach.

 

On return,  it's bills to pay, cheques to write...

 

Walkies!!!! 

[81C]

Jig saw blades are termed up stroke or down stroke, up stoke are the standard use ones where as the down stoke are for cutting kitchen work tops and coated panels 

you can see where you are cutting these blades have a tendency  to wander of their own accord so it's best to use the correct one's, you don't need to turn the work

just buy the correct blades unless you are a tight #rse.