Early Risers.

[Ian Abel]

30 minutes ago, BoD said:

 

....... and they’ve put the steering wheel on the wrong side.

At least they didn't remove it altogether like the new Mercedes Vision AVTR concept car

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. The lurgi is still in retreat, now down to the odd sniffle and cough. I might chance going to the SEERS meeting tonight if I feel any better. Tea is awaiting, be back later.

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, Ian Abel said:

At least they didn't remove it altogether like the new Mercedes Vision AVTR concept car

Does it have a tiller like the early Lanchester cars?

[tigerburnie]

After dropping SWMBO off in Montrose I decided on a couple of hours muddling, a cold wind but a bit of sunshine and a fan heater made working in The Old Summer House acceptable. I'm still playing around with dry powders just now, then need some more colours and a suitable liquid to add bulk to the muck in places. Todays example needs some red for rust on it's nether regions.

 

[Ian Abel]

52 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Does it have a tiller like the early Lanchester cars?

Afraid not, it's rather scarier than that 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

For some reason we found the ultimate in gas billing procedures and it worked for a reamarlably long time.  When we built the house we had a connection to the gas main added to feed the boiler and the rings on the cooker and it worked q well from the off although the position of the meter and the earth wire caused a degree of discussion among the electrical installation fraternity due to a Catch 22 situation in the Regulations.  But no matter.  We duly signed up with a supplier although of course being connected to the mains we were obviously getting gas, irrespective of who supplied it.  But then there was something of a c*ck up on the admin front and despite constant pestering by us nobody wanted to charge us for the gas we were using - we kept on trying to find out how they wanted to be paid, we kept on giving them meter readings, and they kept on not charging us - for over a year!  Eventually they got the message and decided that they should charge us so we offered to pay the back amount which, surely, was owing.  But they said it was too difficult to calculate (we offered them meter reading details but apparently they wouldn't have been 'official') then somebody came to read the meter and eventually we received a bull, starting from the time they read the meter.

 

Faux Friday today and a visit , my first in quite a while,  to the train spotting branch of Waitrose - where no proper trains were seen, only EMU thingies although we did see a Freightliner passing over the bridge in Pangbourne.  That apart the day has been i,mproved (no it hasn't) by occasional rain which turned into occasional intervals between the rain.

 

Enjoy the rest of your day everybody. 

[newbryford]

Golf was played - not too brilliant.

Weather was dry up top and soggy below after the heavy overnight rain.

 

Just as I was finishing the round, a tr@!n passed by with some w@g0ns that I am doing a m0d£l of.

So a quick change and nip up the local cement works where the w@g0ns were just been shunted in. Pics duly snapped for weathering reference.

 

Result with a flight pricing "watchdog". Returns to New York for less than £245 each for me and Mrs NB later in the year. The basic flight cost is £1 - the rest is made up of taxes and surcharges including a United States - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Fee (APHIS User Fee - Passengers (XA) of £3.

I was considering querying this as neither of us intend to take plants or animals.........................

 

There is a checked baggage charge, but we'll use the free carry on for the outbound and buy a bag out there to put the goodies in for return and have a checked bag one way only

 

Looking like a  result with the energy supplier. When the new tariff kicks in 4 weeks we will be able to apply for the refund without any problem - or so they say. So that's the bulk of the holiday provisionally paid for.

 

I am looking a locations of US model shops - Mrs NB is looking at "things to do/places to see"

 

Stuff to do, tea to eat.

 

Catch up later.

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

[Ian Abel]

52 minutes ago, newbryford said:

I am looking a locations of US model shops - Mrs NB is looking at "things to do/places to see"

Where exactly will you be?

There is Trainworld in Brooklyn, 751 McDonald Ave., Brooklyn, right next to a Subway only a few stops out of Manhattan.

I've visited their branch on Long Island close to where I "toil" and it's pretty large/extensive, although pretty much devoid of ANY UK outline stuff.

They do sell PECO track though, but that'd be like taking coals to Newcastle

 

[petethemole]

Wen we moved here in 2006 I opened gas & electric accounts with BG. For some reason due to a glitch at their end, the gas account wasn't activated, so despite meter readings we didn't receive a bill for about two years. They eventually twigged, but instead of having to pay the expected huge bill for the backlog we got £100 compensation and an apology for their error.

 

Another stressful day on the domestic front. I'm hiding.

 

Have a good evening,

 

Pete

[81C]

Greetings 

The Dog made me laugh he hates the rain but stayed out when it p!ssed down he finally came in I tried to dry him off with a towel he snatched that out of my hands and off he ran no doubt the towel 

will be in shreds when my daughter gets home later, I went to the bank to see about a savings account the young lady explained every thing and I came home and done it all on line then transferred the money,

one thing I notice she had her legs crossed and was swing around on her chair displaying her crutch to me.

E. Yeswideopen   :-)

[newbryford]

15 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

Where exactly will you be?

There is Trainworld in Brooklyn, 751 McDonald Ave., Brooklyn, right next to a Subway only a few stops out of Manhattan.

I've visited their branch on Long Island close to where I "toil" and it's pretty large/extensive, although pretty much devoid of ANY UK outline stuff.

They do sell PECO track though, but that'd be like taking coals to Newcastle

 

 

I do have a "side project" based on the west side of the Atlantic.

The flight is Manchester-Boston-Newark, so we are toying with the idea of "jumping ship" at Boston on the outward journey. Hire the car in BOS and have a week there before going to NY for the second week and return.

Much is to be planned - we are hoping that our good friends from SC will be able to join us at some point.

 

Last time we were on Long Island, I managed to lock the keys in the car 4 hours before our flight was due home......................

[Tony_S]

When we moved here I went to enquire about the gas as it was a new house and I was told that it had a meter and we would be billed. The first quarter was billed to the builder who had forgotten to transfer the account. He said just accept it as a moving present which was nice as it was winter. A few  months later we got a very threatening letter accusing us of stealing gas. I pointed out they knew who we were (our name on the letter) , we had let the meter reader in and had been in contact with the local office (remember British Gas showrooms). Eventually they tried to blame a computer. I wasn’t having that excuse and got an apology for their error. As soon as it was possible I changed to another supplier. 

[Kingzance]

9 minutes ago, 81C said:

Greetings 

The Dog made me laugh he hates the rain but stayed out when it p!ssed down he finally came in I tried to dry him off with a towel he snatched that out of my hands and off he ran no doubt the towel 

will be in shreds when my daughter gets home later, I went to the bank to see about a savings account the young lady explained every thing and I came home and done it all on line then transferred the money,

one thing I notice she had her legs crossed and was swing around on her chair displaying her crutch to me.

E. Yeswideopen   :-)

Now don’t you go developing a fatal attraction, it wouldn’t be good for your heart or blood pressure!

[roundhouse]

1 minute ago, newbryford said:

 

I do have a "side project" based on the west side of the Atlantic.

The flight is Manchester-Boston-Newark, so we are toying with the idea of "jumping ship" at Boston on the outward journey. Hire the car in BOS and have a week there before going to NY for the second week and return.

Much is to be planned - we are hoping that our good friends from SC will be able to join us at some point.

 

Last time we were on Long Island, I managed to lock the keys in the car 4 hours before our flight was due home......................

I did that when we returned the car to the airport at Kona Big Island Hawaii. I had taken the keys out of the ignition then remembered that they like the keys left in the car so put them on the passenger seat and shut the door. The car then auto locked itself. The woman in the car rental kiosk wasn't happy saying that I had done it deliberately but I didnt know the car would lock itself. We had picked the car up at a different airport so no spare keys. Luckily the assistant knew how to 'break in' and we headed off to the airport.

 

Over the new year break I have been planning our USA 2020 trip. Looks like Gatwick to Toronto then to Chicago, hire car to drive to Rochelle. Then Amtrak form Chicago to St Louis. Do the convention then head to Portland OR. Possibly back via Calgary. Now need to look up the prices but normally its a good price with Westjet.

[Tony_S]

8 minutes ago, newbryford said:

jumping ship" at Boston

I read somewhere about airlines cancelling return flights if part of a flight is missed. Is that actually true?

[JohnDMJ]

10 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ps and I bet you only use tea bags once......

 

Start one off in the morning, then just keep topping it up as required, surely?

[Kingzance]

5 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I read somewhere about airlines cancelling return flights if part of a flight is missed. Is that actually true?

I’m sure that common sense and accepting the customer had paid for a flight anyway wouldn’t enter into an airline’s consideration if they thought more money could be extorted made.

[Ian Abel]

20 minutes ago, newbryford said:

The flight is Manchester-Boston-Newark, so we are toying with the idea of "jumping ship" at Boston on the outward journey. Hire the car in BOS and have a week there before going to NY for the second week and return.

If you decided to do that be VERY SURE to check with Delta first. Airline tickets over here don't technically allow that and you can be determined to NOT have completed the outbound trip and be denied boarding on the return. Some folks have had that happen on multi-leg flights here if it's not explicitly stated you can break the segments.

They do this to avoid those clever folks who manage to find a cheaper flight from A-C via B, when they really only wanted to go to B in the first place, just a word of caution.

 

EDIT: And with that, I'm orf to JFK  will post later (if I'm delayed!!) or tomorrow if the flight is on time - tally ho...

Edited January 9, 2020 by Ian Abel

[PhilJ W]

Off to the SEERS meeting shortly. Lurgi is keeping quiet at the mo. Be back later.

[newbryford]

1 hour ago, Ian Abel said:

If you decided to do that be VERY SURE to check with Delta first. Airline tickets over here don't technically allow that and you can be determined to NOT have completed the outbound trip and be denied boarding on the return. Some folks have had that happen on multi-leg flights here if it's not explicitly stated you can break the segments.

They do this to avoid those clever folks who manage to find a cheaper flight from A-C via B, when they really only wanted to go to B in the first place, just a word of caution.

 

EDIT: And with that, I'm orf to JFK  will post later (if I'm delayed!!) or tomorrow if the flight is on time - tally ho...

 

I did mention this to Mrs NB. Not a problem, as there's plenty to do in the NY area and Boston is only 200 miles away if she wants to go there. We visited Boston many years ago and promised to return someday.

 

Plan B is Washington DC for a week.

 

No doubt there will be a plan C, Cversion2/D/E/F etc.....

 

I am already looking at Amtrak schedules.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited January 9, 2020 by newbryford

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.

 

Better mood today with work under control rather then me being in it's control!  

 

Had a rough night, waking with indigestion at midnight, took ages to get back off to sleep, then whatever caused it made re-entry later before breakfast....TMI.

 

Day orf tomorrow of course, thank crunchie, Friday is bike day.  Well, bike club day.  Car day more likely, it's cold.  In fact there was snow this morning on Snaefell Mrs NHN reported - therefore local bred folk all panicking. Happens every year #sigh#  Time to get this one out for it's annual airing!

 

 

 

[BoD]

12 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ps and I bet you only use tea bags once......

 

1 hour ago, JohnDMJ said:

Start one off in the morning, then just keep topping it up as required, surely?

 

We start ours going on the first of each month ......… even if the previous month had less than 31 days.

[brianusa]

46 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

In fact there was snow this morning on Snaefell Mrs NHN reported - therefore local bred folk all panicking. Happens every year #sigh#  Time to get this one out for it's annual airing!

 

The first real snow of the year fell here this morning also, elev 300' !  Not much yet but more is promised for the next couple of weeks.  

     Brian.

 

[TheQ]

Evening awl, 

Just back from my sailing compatriot, he's definitely getting better,  although still on two sticks the docs have progressed him from, don't do anything strenuous with the duff leg,  to add 1 kg to your foot and do these lifting excersizes.

I noticed one of his Christmas presents.. A meccano model landrover series 1.

 

I had a study of his Yeoman keel, the boats parked on his parents front garden. ... Humm that's thin at the top, maybe 2 inches thick, it widens to over 6 inches at the bottom..( it weighs 1/2 ton).  He noticed my observations  from his chair in the house, so there were long discussions with him and his dad,  also a sailor,  about keel design..  

That keel is what I wish to emulate,  but I can't afford to have a mold made and it made from cast iron,  so mine will be welded Steel,  with ballast weights molded with layers of lead covered in grp and bolted on. 

 

Coming back was not funny,   heavy rain, narrow dark roads to start with.  On the A47 dual carriageway most cars including me,  had gone into the left hand lane at 50mph,. Just those with superbright white lights and radar vision  were hammering down the right hand lane.. 

 

Tomorrow I've got to report to the check point Charlene and ask for Debbie.... 

 

To make an appointment for lessons in the use of a BP machine... 

 

I may have mentioned it before,  but I know of a Tesco big branch that has a broken gas meter,  despite the gas company being informed many times and being given the same reading every month for years.  They have never fixed the meter.. 

 

Time for my muggachoccy.. 

 

Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie...

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by TheQ

[Gwiwer]

Evening all.

 

I continue to feel better by slow-moving degrees and hope to enjoy a decent sleep starting very soon.

 

Question of the day just came in from Former Neighbour (Upstairs) who is, apparently, on a date and was messaging me from her date's car.  She wanted to know if she should have had a drink before going out.       This from a 23-year old who is no stranger to riding in cars with boys.  I must admit I felt somewhat under-qualified to advise but in any case it was too late as she was already out.  I'm sure I shall hear more about the evening in due course; she's like that.  She and her former flatmate have always said that I am "one of the girls" to them.  

 

SWMBO has finally - after something like seven years - set a submission date for her PhD.  31st March.  As has often been the case she finds it hard to apply herself whilst also working full time and, of late, caring for a defective hubby who has been able to do little more than snooze on the sofa amid occasional yelps of pain.  She deserves to be endoctored if nothing else for sheer persistence and the amount of work that has gone into this over all that time.  

 

So now to bed.  Earlier than some because the alarm is set for oh-my-goodness o'clock as always.  I am trying to maintain a minimum of seven hours sleep which, on the whole, is working provided I can remove myself from the computer.  

 

Good night all.