Early Risers.

[BoD]

Is Ian Abel’s absence a planned one?  Or simply that he is not at work.  I know Robert said he wouldn’t be here until after the hols.

i hope the explanation is as simple as above.

[TheQ]

Afternoon,  Awl,  you may have noticed I was missing this morning,  actually it was the tablet that was missing,  it was up by the bed and I wasn't waking SWMBO. 

 

Is it lack of mojo,  is it the joint pain,  or is it something else,  but I find it increasingly very hard to get going these days. I have to push myself to get out there knowing it needs to be done. Once started I'm OK,  but I don't keep going for as long as I used to.. 

 

By the time I was getting ready to venture outside,  Ben the alarm clock Collie decided to wake SWMBO anyway..

 

This morning I've built the basic top doors,  they are now glued and screwed, hinges mounted as a single piece to be divided later. 

 

I also filled the bits required on the boat,  so that stops play as everything is now setting. 

 

Ben the impatient collie is awaiting a long patrol,  it will be to the Beach as the battle of the Somme continues outside,  the pheasants are losing both to the west of us and the North.. 

 

Time to. Put the boots on. 

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

2 hours ago, JohnDMJ said:

Whether you would recommend it or not is a personal preference; it was there, let's try it. Prosecco is, per se, a fizz which, whilst not being to my usual taste, did enliven the palette which I considered a sufficient reason for indulging! I was, after all, on holiday! 

 

 

This household mixes Prosecco with Orange juice to make a form of Buck's Fizz, which was known by it's Spoonerism.

 

With the advent of grandchildren, it is now referred to as the slightly less coarse 'Proztitutio'! (Which I formerly thought was a form of Italian  thinly sliced ham.)

[81C]

Morning All

sunny but bloody cold 

I've been packing again and packing and packing I can't believe the amount of sh!t the slapped one has collected over the years I resorted to bring a wheelie bin into the kitchen and just turning 

the cupboards out straight into it, the #itch will be moving her stuff out tomorrow so wont get in my way Monday.

I stood in the flat yesterday and had a good look round I was going to get the carpets cleaned and said sod it buy new ones along with a kitchen and the bathroom Howdens have a good deal at the moment 

on kitchens so a couple of grand will be saved by buying it now, Wickes have bathroom stuff cheap and Tops tiles have a sale so I stand to save 4K.

Sorry got to dash back later. 

[TheQ]

Back from the beach Awl,  water quite rough today,  and even though it's almost high tide because it's neaps there was still a fair amount of beach. Though occasional bigger waves brought water up higher as a photographer with tripod etc found out. He was stood back to the wind when a wave got his feet wet... 

Muggacoffee time.. 

 

[JohnDMJ]

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

Is it lack of mojo,  is it the joint pain,  or is it something else,  but I find it increasingly very hard to get going these days. I have to push myself to get out there knowing it needs to be done. Once started I'm OK,  but I don't keep going for as long as I used to..

 

Self motivation to do stuff is getting harder for me too! During my time in Switzerland, I had no less than three late starts due to oh, WTF!

 

1 hour ago, Happy Hippo said:

This household mixes Prosecco with Orange juice to make a form of Buck's Fizz, which was known by it's Spoonerism.

 

Some fellow travellers did something similar!

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

The Good Doctor and I have today ventured a few miles (c.9 I think) up the road to Cox Green and the MMDMRC exhibition of little things running on parallel bits of metal set various distances apart from each other.  First it was the bacon rolls which meant that instead of waiting until we'd been round and not getting one we actually got in long before they were all gone.  A pleasant morning was enjoyed seeing some nice examples of the things we aren't allowed to mention plus meeting and chatting with various folk most of whom are on RMweb although none of them in this little corner.  One thing which must be mentioned, albeit at considerable personal risk, is one chap who has invented what appears to be a completely new scale/gauge with accurately modelled JNR 3'6" gauge track in 2mm scale - so he first had to turn his own gauges for track construction, all very clever stuff.  Other layouts were more traditional although a Norwegian country terminus was something a bit different.

 

Turning to real railways I have over the years used a variety of routes to/from Switzerland and probably the most interesting in railway terms was Basel via Strasburg although Genève - Paris by TGV offers some very interesting scenery in the early stages of the trip.   Via Luxemburg is worth a try but it can be a bit boring and it's only because it's a different way of getting from Bruxelles to Basel  I think my most likely choice would be what I regard as the logical route of Eurostar to Bruxelles, thence via Aachen and Köln to Basel with a strong temptation to return via Strasburg.   My reason for taking that outward route probably has as much to do with being involved with DB and SNCB back in the late 1990s in trying to develop a through connectional, regular interval,  timetable between London to Basel and  Zurich via that route.

 

And that reminds me of another breakfast drink I tried on one occasion when at a timetable conference.  One of the Bulgarian delegates was enjoying the celebration of his birthday and when, at about 08.15, I walked into the dining room for breakfast he and his three colleagues were on their third or fourth bottle of champagne and it would have been extremely rude not to accept a glass so that I might join in their continuing rounds of toasting the birthday boy.   I only had one glass but rapidly concluded that getting involved in drinking with Bulgarians was even more of a session than doing so with Belgian or German railway folk or the Swedish ship's engineering officers who were inviting all and sundry to join their drinking party in the bar of the hotel I was staying in overnight in Szczecin back in the 1970s.  

 

Enjoy the rest of you day and may the fires in NSW not jump into the gap which still existed the other day between Penrith and Katoomba. 

[Coombe Barton]

Tree down, and walkies

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/01/04/sounds-of-the-season-35-taken-for-a-walk-or-two/

[TheSignalEngineer]

4 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

I only had one glass but rapidly concluded that getting involved in drinking with Bulgarians was even more of a session than doing so with Belgian or German railway folk or the Swedish ship's engineering officers who were inviting all and sundry to join their drinking party in the bar of the hotel I was staying in overnight in Szczecin back in the 1970s.

The first Christmas I was on the railway I was working at Curzon St. 'Sid' the yard Pway ganger and his men were WW2 refugees from Poland. He came into my grandad's cabin at about 11am and produced a large bottle of clear liquid from the inside pocket of his overcoat and filled our tea cups. It was a locally distilled illicit beverage based on potatoes and grain. I think it was a good job no-one was smoking when it was poured or we might not have had a cabin left. It was easier to inhale rather than drink, a small amount on the tongue would evaporate before it reached the throat. My grandad and the Poles drank it without flinching. 

Edited January 4, 2020 by TheSignalEngineer

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. No news of my brother but I will not be talking to my niece until later this evening. My nephew said he spoke to him this morning so I will have to check to see if I can call him. If he is able to talk to people its a good sign as he wasn't expected to be able to do so for a few days yet. Time now for a muggatee, be back later.

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.

 

Just licking wounds inflicted by the Marine contingent yesterday - hey I was on your side!

 

Mick, I have a funny feeling about that customer....and a 6 pin Zen decoder on my workbench currently.  Fried.  With solder on the pins......   Lifetime warranty....allegedly 

 

Hope your brother is doing OK Phil, sounds like he's on the mend after a the big op, must be a tough cookie.

[leopardml2341]

Evening awl.

 

Sadly my wishes and hopes for 'all' ERs (earlier) didn't seem to make it through to me

 

Today's been a fighting day, mostly with the Black Dog, but hey I'm still a world away from where I was this time 3yrs ago so all's well really.

 

This may be my last visit today, so although it's early - sleep tight.

Edited January 4, 2020 by leopardml2341

[Gwiwer]

On 03/01/2020 at 03:41, Ozexpatriate said:

 

 

 

Rick, is Uloric available under prescription in the UK? That is the brand name. It is also now available under the generic name Febuxostat. It is very effective.

Available but I am contra-indicated for reasons I don't need to discuss here.  Also not for acute gout attacks as it says in the link although the underlying condition is chronic :-  https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/febuxostat.html

 

Well folks here we are.  Saturday evening and the foot is still the colour of a cricket ball and offering some discomfort though that is steadily abating.  The swelling is taking a while to go down but visibly is reducing and I hope to be able to get the work shoes on tomorrow in order to make the return-to-work phone call that is required if I intend to attend on Moan-day.  That option remains an option however - it is not mandatory and I have a few days grace yet before I need to produce a doctor's letter.  

 

Nothing has happened.  I haven't been able to get out because I cannot get footwear on.  SWMBO has gamely upped and done everything required from shopping to cooking and cleaning.  A real upturn in fortunes in the sense that this time last year I wondered if she was ever going to be mentally - and to an extent physically - capable of doing very much at all.  

 

Instead I have watched her homeland burn and one of our friends has been formally identified as deceased.  We await word from many others though understand communications are down and that most are safe after a fashion.  Some have been boat-lifted out of fire-traps at popular summer coastal resorts.  A good friend of mine (now evacuated) has family all along the fire-stormed East Gippsland coast at Marlo, Bemm River, Orbost and Gipsy Point.  

 

The Dragon-in-Law has taken to Antisocial media and let it be known that (in her opinion) Australia has a fine and upstanding Prime Minister who is doing an excellent job.  I wonder which PM that might be because (in my op[inion and that of very many others) ScoMo is about as welcome as another bushfire right now.  We leave politics aside.  Opinions are just that.  

 

The aromas drifting from the kitchen suggest that I am about to be summoned to dine.  I shall endeavour to return later and read some of the past few day's pages which I have yet to catch up on.  

 

Stay safe, stay well.  

 

 

[grandadbob]

Loft visited several times by both me and Steve. He did the heavy lifting as there were a couple of items up there that I want rid of. They are now sitting in the hall awaiting a trip to the dump. That can wait for a while as the place will probably be rammed for a couple of days.

All decs have been removed and The Boss has declared Christmas officially over whilst also saying "Isn't it a shame, everything looks bare and it's all gloomy!" Er, well it was you that wanted to end it all so don't blame me!  

Roll on the next celebration. This year we have Abbie's 21st, Joe's 18th and Gemma's 16th together with our Golden Wedding Anniversary. My wallet is already trembling at the thought.

 

 

 

[grandadbob]

Rick, so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend and I sincerely hope that you don't get any more bad news like that. I don't think any of us living in our coldish damp isle can really comprehend the scale of the disaster happening over there.

[New Haven Neil]

I was just about to express that very thought, GDB. This side of the globe hasn't really got it yet.

 

 

[Kingzance]

Good evening friends,

 

I attempted to post something this morning from my tablet - it didn't happen for whatever reason. Tasks to do today included hosing the outside of both cars to remove mud and gifts from pigeon. As I struggled and eventually gave up trying to get my wellies on, a full clean of both was not undertaken. Various boxes, cut up Norwegian Spruce, used packing materials and other seasonal detritus loaded into one vehicle and deposited on the son-in-law's bonfire site. There is more to do still but tomorrow is another day and once done, it will make access to the world of that which we mustn't mention on here accessible once more. A quick trip over to the farm meat place happened as they have just cut up a couple of nice porkers. Various chops, liver, kidney, heart and eggs (from their chickens, not pigs) acquired for the next couple of weeks. We had one of those Veganuary offerings tonight in the form of a "planet friendly" pizza. I have no idea whether it was made years ago or not but it tasted like the cardboard tray on which it was packaged - an experiment we shall NOT be repeating! Herbie the energetic at night dog was walked (twice) in the hope we could tire him enough for him to sleep through after yet another disturbed night but lo and behold, his owners appeared at around 19:30 so a proper night's sleep may be possible - unless of course SWMBO continues to snore and rumble like an idling Paxman Valetta diesel.

 

I will close noting that I am thankful for living in the coldish damp isle accurately described by GDB and that many of us must be hugely sympathetic to those suffering from Victoria to Queensland. I have family there but thankfully at the moment they are not under immediate threat although my late mother's sister, a venerable 95-y-o, is probably affected by  the airborne particulates, even if the fires themselves are somewhat remote from her. Best wishes too to other ERs who are suffering, may your tribulations diminish. Having enjoyed a rather nice Milanese style coffee, it is now time I poured a couple of fingers from the offerings of The Linkwood Distillery.

Edited January 4, 2020 by Kingzance
tryping again

[Debs.]

A lovely sunny day was enjoyed, so a car-wash was endulged; of course it was sport to tease the car wash lads not to get too much water near the under-carriage "because of the electricity"......my straight faced caution, received with suitably wide-eyed apprehension.

Despite the danger of electrocution......they do a lovely thorough job!

Edited January 4, 2020 by Debs.

[New Haven Neil]

Must be in the air KZ, as Mrs NHN was as a Sulzer RND at full sea speed last night.  Knackered, me.

 

Nice day out today really, lunch with friend Jayne who is showing continuing signs of improvement and dealing with her bereavement with some positive moves at last.  Met friends in a furniture store we were raiding for inspiration for Jayne, who valued (fools!) our opinion about a sofa they were considering buying!

 

 

[Barry O]

Yipppppeeeeeedddddoooo!

 

sunderland won (3 -1)  as did the mighty Mariners (GTFC) 1-0..A double family celebration is in order!

 

Watching a programme about Railways and the link to growth in Victorian days....it is so full of mistakes (erm the Middleton Railway if older than that at Tanfield, the Liverpool and Manchester came after the Stockton & Darlington.. but not so in the eyes of the TV programme companies... Pah!!)

 

Time for a quick drink then early to bed as I feel very tired for reasons best known to others

 

Baz

 

 

[TheSignalEngineer]

14 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

I was just about to express that very thought, GDB. This side of the globe hasn't really got it yet.

 

 

We thought the 2018 Saddleworth and Winter Hill fires were bad at 9000 acres total. The scale of the Australian fires is truly horrific. 

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by TheSignalEngineer

[Tony_S]

37 minutes ago, Debs. said:

A lovely sunny day was enjoyed, so a car-wash was endulged; of course it was sport to tease the car wash lads not to get too much water near the under-carriage "because of the electricity"......my straight faced caution, received with suitably wide-eyed apprehension.

Despite the danger of electrocution......they do a lovely thorough job!

Neighbours joke when we clean (rarely) Aditi’s car that they never realised it was  white. 

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[Gwiwer]

3 hours ago, grandadbob said:

Rick, so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend and I sincerely hope that you don't get any more bad news like that. I don't think any of us living in our coldish damp isle can really comprehend the scale of the disaster happening over there.

It is only of modest comfort to remember that on Black Saturday, the previous greatest disaster Australia had recorded, no fewer than 173 folk lost their lives.  Bushfire warnings have improved immensely since then but can still sometimes give minutes of warning - if that.  Accounts have emerged from those rescued by "tinny" (a small lake or river fishing boat designed to accommodate no more than six) which put to sea off the Gippsland coast with at least 14 souls aboard.  They received their emergency messages to evacuate now as the fire roared through their township.  They had seconds.  The fire was several kilometres away .......  

 

No-one has seen fires of this magnitude before.  The sheer size geographically confounds minds.  Temperatures have not been measurable.   Pyro-cumulus clouds, which form dangerous storms flinging burning debris back down with dry lightning and thunder, have been seen before but very rarely.  Only in theoretical situations has anyone seen a pyro-tornado before.  The centre of the fire becomes such a violent maelstrom that it creates its own vortex channelling superheated flame and gases towards the limits of our atmosphere.  These things cannot be stopped by anything we can do.  They will only subside when fuel runs out or if vast amounts of rain fall.  No-one knows whether rain can fall in such situations or whether it too will become superheated gas spiralling upwards.  A vast spiralling plume of fire now hangs over several parts of Australia twisting as you see in disaster movies.  Only tens of kilometres wide, not just a thin funnel.  

 

No-one knows for sure how far these plumes of superheated matter will spread nor how they will behave.  They will impact on weather in other continents, as will the vast smoke clouds, but how?

 

We are in the very frightening unknown. For the moment many people are struggling to cope with air quality which would have made a London pea-souper seem like clean, fresh air.  Endless thick, choking smoke, a dusting of grey-black powder which was once forests and goodness knows what else.  And no end in sight yet.  

 

I go to bed uneasy.  Many miles away but with a close personal involvement having family and friends, plus our own home, under attack from all manner of dreadful conditions.  Sleep as well as you can.  

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

We thought the 2018 Saddleworth and Winter Hill fires was bad at 9000 acres total. The scale of the Australian fires is truly horrific. 

 

Currently estimated at 13 million acres and still burning with no sign of relief.  The entire UK is 60 million acres.