Early Risers.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 minutes ago, AndyID said:

That's hardly surprising. About 90% of the people I meet claim Scottish ancestry

 

Of course the other one is a great many claim to be descendants of someone who came over on the Mayflower which means it must have been bigger than the Titanic.

Based on online estimates there are 10 million living American descendants of the Mayflower passengers.  I'm pretty sure I am not one of them. (If you assume a positive population growth over four hundred years the numbers increase dramatically.)

 

Simple maths suggests that using a generation of 20 years and two progeny there could be a total of 50,000,000 descendants of ~50 couples with half that number in the current generation.

 

This year is the 400th anniversary of the New Plymouth settlement. I suspect there are a lot more descendants of the 1630 Puritan settlement in Boston.

 

I don't know about any having Scottish ancestors myself, though my mothers' paternal line has a Anglo mix of English and Irish ancestors (including Irish via Manchester).  She had long thought my grandfather's name was Scottish, but I don't think she and her sister (who have done a lot of research) could definitively determine that. 

[jamie92208]

24 minutes ago, AndyID said:

 

That's hardly surprising. About 90% of the people I meet claim Scottish ancestry

 

Of course the other one is a great many claim to be descendants of someone who came over on the Mayflower which means it must have been bigger than the Titanic.

From conversations  in Oz it became apparent that it's good to be able to claim convict ancestry.  However one person we spoke to told us that she had to keep quiet about her forebears as she was the descendant  of a British Soldier who had gaurded the convicts.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from the dark Charente.  It may get light later.  The market will be visited this morning and coffee drunk with friends.  Apart from that there isn't a lot on the agenda though the P (packing) word has been mentioned as we are heading to the UK in a few days time. I did wonder aloud why we needed a large suitcase for a short trip but apparently  such decisions are well above my salary grade.

 

Good wishes to all who are sufferring and thoughts are with Dave.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Ozexpatriate]

30 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

From conversations  in Oz it became apparent that it's good to be able to claim convict ancestry. 

Given that "The System" of transportation to Australia beginning in 1788 and continued until 1857, included 158,702 individuals, many Australians could trace ancestry to a convict.

 

I am one. One of my ancestors was convicted of stealing a tobacco pouch (presumably he thought it was a purse) and was transported. His father (a porter) spoke for him at the Old Bailey. My mother and her sister found the records of his case at the Old Bailey.

 

There is likely a huge number of descendants of transported convicts in the United States. The histories of these individuals were whitewashed by the revolution. In the period 1607 - 1775, around 72% of all immigrants came to the North American colonies without their freedom. These included slaves (>300,000), convicts (>50,000) and indentured servants (>200,000). I think this is a big part of why the notion of "liberty" was so important in the identity of the new republic.

 

There are certainly a lot more US descendants of convicts than there are Mayflower descendants. Transportation to Australia only began because transportation to the North American colonies ended with the revolution.

 

Edited January 19, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[TheQ]

Mooring awl, inner Temple Hare. 

5.5hours of absolutely solid sleep was followed by 3 hours of intermittent dozing on the sofa,  with the emphasis on the dozing. 

 

The majority of people in the UK and most of Europe are descendants of the un-free. Apart from convicts, in our past,   indentured servants, medieval apprenticeships, serfdom, and slavery were common... 

 

Just before we left for the dinner yesterday,  we got a phone call from SWMBOs widow friend,  we have more artists stuff and some railway sleepers to collect.  Before the awl starts preparing for take off, I suspect , these are what DIY sheds call railway sleepers.  IE half the length and half the thickness of the real thing ( unless you are the Ffestiniog ) and not treated by creosote or kyanising. 

 

The above will limit, porch boat and toolbox work today, I will concentrate on getting the porch done,  as its components are clogging up the marquee. 

 

I've been reading up on cutting the lead, the sheeting is a bit thick for tin snips,  so it looks like jigsaw time. That will mean full protective gear for me,  cutting over a sheet of plastic to collect the dust, which will be bagged for future use. 

 

Time I think to go go cook my bacon and eggs while supping Muggacoffee  no 1.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Coldish and frosty here but a dry day with sunny periods forecast.

Feeling rather carp with a splitting headache so parrotseatemall will be deployed. Headache is not alcohol related as(for once) I had a booze free day yesterday.....or is that the reason?

Breakfast has been offered but unusually for me I'm dithering over whether to accept. I've been given 15 minutes to decide or must go without!  The reason for the "hurry up" is that "we need to get a move on, there's lot's to do this morning." That's because Nicki and the kids are coming round later for Sunday lunch so lots of food including one of Rick's roast cluck birds need preparing along with a veggie dish for Gem. There's also lots of tidying up to do (allegedly) although it looks all right to me.

I have another 7 minutes to decide!

Have a good one,

U.N. Decided.

Edited January 19, 2020 by grandadbob

[New Haven Neil]

Morning.

 

Reet frosty here, a rare occurrence, third this winter I think.  1c, so warm by Ian's standards!

 

There was a time when  a morning like this would have had me rushing out to run a live steamer and enjoy the vapour trails, nowadays I am more inclined to look out of the window and think how uncomfortable that would be!

 

My condolences Dave, it is getting on for 6 years since I lost my bestie Gary in an accident, there is still an aching hole in my life similar to that you must be feeling.  This feeling does however remind me on occasion to ensure we are there whenever possible for Jayne, who must feel so many times worse.  Try to be there for your friend's family and friends too.

[grandadbob]

Decision was made and I had some porridge instead of the usual fry up.  It appears that the "lots to do" wasn't so much after all. The only thing left now is to actually cook the meal later. 

Three rugby matches watched and enjoyed yesterday (especially the Northampton game)  and I've got a couple more recorded so I may try and fit them in before we're invaded. With the latest news about Sarries being relegated at the end of the season I foresee some problems for their England players and England! I think there's about 11 in their squad. Wouldn't be surprised to see some going abroad now as most of the other clubs have fairly full squads themselves. 

Mind you the cynic in me says that if that happened the rules might get changed and England will then select players who play overseas!

 

Edited January 19, 2020 by grandadbob

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Hadon't a nice day yesterday playing trains  visited some nice places (including the bradman museumy )  today.  Breakfast, lunch and tea eaten. 

 

Time for the eyelid inspection to take place as we are off on a river trip early tomorrow. 

Grab the day! 

 

Baz

[Oldddudders]

I'm sorry Dave has lost a friend. Bereavement, whatever your relationship with the deceased, is a tough cookie. We are kinda puzzled by their  departure, be it sudden or expected. I hope you can relish the good times and the sweet memories. This is surely a good place to pour it all out, as you have discovered.

 

Sherry's little event earlier in the week has knocked her back a bit. A confident, self-starting sort of person - can you imagine me wanting to be with any other sort?! - she is a bit wan right now. Last night we were at the theatre, where I was FOH Manager, and she should have been a steward but opted just to watch. Of course, we needed, because of my duties, to be there more than an hour before curtain-up, and this meant plenty of members - cast, crew, FOH - had time to offer their sympathies. Sherry found this rather overwhelming, which is a first, and was quite glad to take her front-row seat. Stress is evident. With an audience of 190, as Manager I may have spent a little too much time with her at the interval, offering comfort. This morning she wandered across to church. Father Paul (it is High C of E) made reference to her illness, but still asked her to read the lesson, which she did without difficulty. He had called in earlier in the week to see how she was - he really does give the clergy a good name. 

 

Wednesday we are due to go to France for a couple of weeks, and then Sherry returns to Devon. Time will tell whether she will recover enough to drive back alone, or whether I need to come back, too.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Had a lay-in this morning followed by a bath soak-in. Now for a late breakfast.

Laze E. Buqqer.

[81C]

Morning afternoon All

I clicked on at 7:45 and the phone went it was Lady Woking  wanting my attention she had been on since 5:30 getting worried I would not answer she

openly admitted she had fallen head over heals bless her she is an American are the women Stateside like that, not bad 5 hours on and off texting most

of the morning she finally rang off having to taken a daughter somewhere, as well as 5 hours last night .

She said she wanted to go and have a romantic dinner somewhere so I booked Raymond Blanc's place near to where she lives my daughter sometimes manages

this restaurant when they are short staffed she likes it there having trained there when she first started to work for that company.   

I'd better do something as there is a bit of respite from the phone going off, I did tell her I was a railway buff and she was pleased I had a hobby she said she would like to tag along

if the chaps didn't mind.

                                                Back Later glad Sherry is on the moved    , C.A. Sanova 

[BSW01]

Good afternoon everyone 

 

Late on parade today due to some pressing domestic duties that needed doing. The weather had been foggy all day do far and it looks like it will be here all day. Its not a pea souper, but we can't see the school building that is normally visible from the kitchen window. There are more domestic duties in the pipeline for today, but I'll try to dipping in to keep abreast of what's going on. 

 

Back later 

[TheQ]

It's been brilliant wall to Wall sunshine all day here... 

I spent about 3hours cutting and screwing up the porch,  with a little lead sheet measurements on the side. 

This was followed by the trip to the widows house clearance . The half dozen sleepers turned out to be a dozen 1/3 pieces of full size sleepers,  some in poor condition fit only for firewood. 

However that was not the problem.  

There was a lot more,  that required a second trip with trailer. 

Amoungst that was.. 

A safe,  3 foot square,  with triple deadlocks , one ancient large key and a couple of Modern copies

A wooden table heavily made of solid pine. 

Several plastic drawer assemblies. 

A plastic toolbox,  two hammers,  several scrapers,  several 4 inch paint brushes unused,  a pack of four spring clamps still in the packing, 

Some art books and paintings 

Some books on an unmentionable subject, no not VoldeMort.  More of them to come next week,  those I don't want will Go to the MRCs secondhand stall. 

A full size  onyx chess set with onyx chess pieces. 

A 4ft steel Ruler.

 

After that Ben took us for a walk,   I'm now supping a Muggacoffee,  dinner will Arrive shortly.. 

 

 

[newbryford]

Work has been worked - there may be a slight POE.

 

No hockey tonight as that was last night...………. Without my usual watching partner as Junior NB had joined Mrs NB on a Guide leader weekend.

A home game against Sutton Sting (who play out of Sheffield) - First leg of the Midlands cup semi-final.

So far this season, Sutton have always been the victors and it looked a bit like going that way as they went 0-1 up fairly early on - admittedly against the run of play.

Blackburn equalised for 1-1 at end of P1

Not too long into P2 and it's 1-3 to the visitors and then time to wake up.

Two soft goals to make it 3-3, knocked the wind out of Sutton and it's 5-3 by the end of P2.

Final score of 6-3 to take into the away leg - which is due to face off in about 10 minutes.

A phonecall earlier from Junior asked if we could go to the away game. Normally we would and I'm currently in Yorkshire, very much at the wrong end when compared to Sheffield.

 

It may prove to be a feisty game as there were a lot of niggles and penalties last night. Back to back weekend games - especially a knockout - will try and see scores settled - as well as the first leg result overturned by Sutton.

 

I will be watching updates via FB as soon as I get home.

Time to close the shutters.....

 

Catch up later.

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

[Coombe Barton]

Kerry’s excelled herself again.

 

Today in the park nearing the end of our mile and a quarter, during which she led much of the way, we met a dad with a couple of small daughters. Younger one wanted to approach Kerry and I said yes. He explained to me that she’d witnessed an out of control rottweiler attacking another dog just in front of them, which had naturally scared her. Kerry let herself be stroked and fussed behind the ears (she wasn’t going to object).

Then I offered that the girl could walk Kerry, and that was a success.

 

I hope that she managed to allay some of the fear in the girl. By her shining face it did.

 

And it’s thirteen years ago today (2007) that Kerry was found “very thin” and taken to Dogs’ Trust Ballymena, and then she was transferred to Kenilworth

 

And it’s eighteen years ago (2002) that Sandy was born in Dogs’ Trust Glasgow.

 

Other people have been complaining of fist and mog. However:

[81C]

Evening All 

Been texting all day to lady Woking has extended our dates she has invited me to dinner Saturday even had a choice of menu she is clearly a loving woman

and wants to please me. 

I managed to empty 5 more boxes today one of paperwork 2 of kitchen items I nick nacks and some clothing in another LW said she would like to help nothing

would get done if she turned up here. 

Laundry , haircut , coffee date and Zeus tomorrow  and Lady W in the evening .

I'm retired and have no time to myself must try harder to become lazy. 

                                                                                                                              Washing up to do then TV  Slipta  A Length 

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. I don't know where the days gone as I haven't done anything other than a bit of shopping. Now for a mug of tea, be back later.

[leopardml2341]

Evening to everyone who's around.

 

Lots achieved this weekend, mainly of a domestic kind, one tiny bit of muddling done - but that was only investigatory so not too risky to mention it.

 

More of that work stuff tomorrow.

 

Need to go sort the laundry and start the dishwasher, might be back later - but if not, Goodnight.

[AndyB]

Evening all. The weekend dashed by as I tackled decorating the youngest's bedroom. Thwarted on occasion by paint simply peeling off certain patches. Grrrr.

I was hoping to start building shelving supports in the garage for the new layout. But that'll have to wait till next weekend now. 

 

Back to the office for a rest. 

 

Hopefully the journey wont be as exciting as Friday's when a tyre blew on the motorway. 

[AndyB]

<Rant mode on>

I bought a new smoke detector earlier in Janunary. Built in and sealed battery with a multi-year guarantee. You can't recharge or replace the battery. 

At 02.30 this morning after 3 weeks of useful operation it sprung in to life at gawd knows how many decibels to indicate that the battery was running low.

Now only fit for landfill.

I'm quite looking fwd to writing the review on this piece of carp!

<Rant over>

[polybear]

17 minutes ago, AndyB said:

<Rant mode on>

I bought a new smoke detector earlier in Janunary. Built in and sealed battery with a multi-year guarantee. You can't recharge or replace the battery. 

At 02.30 this morning after 3 weeks of useful operation it sprung in to life at gawd knows how many decibels to indicate that the battery was running low.

Now only fit for landfill.

I'm quite looking fwd to writing the review on this piece of carp!

<Rant over>

 

FireAngel by any chance?  I've lost count of the number of times I've phoned them for a replacement cos' the battery low indication started sounding, despite being no-where near ten years old.  No problems with them sending a replacement, though the last time they wanted the duff one sending back (at my expense) for checking.  I've a feeling that some of the replacement units have since played up too (I should've kept a check).

 

[brianusa]

15 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Based on online estimates there are 10 million living American descendants of the Mayflower passengers.  I'm pretty sure I am not one of them. (If you assume a positive population growth over four hundred years the numbers increase dramatically.)

 

Simple maths suggests that using a generation of 20 years and two progeny there could be a total of 50,000,000 descendants of ~50 couples with half that number in the current generation.

 

 

I came over on a PAA 707 which took about eight hours.  A better way to go and we didn't add to the excess population

    Brian.

[polybear]

Only 46 at-work days to go until I bang out on nice n' early retirement

I've also rigged my holiday and flexidays to give a 3-day week until my last week in the f un factory

This starts tomorrow....only I forgot until someone asked this evening when my 3-day week starts.  I was all primed up to not looking forward to being back in the hole tomorrow ...only now I don't have to and get another day to play. 

Just don't tell anyone I forgot. I have a work-shy reputation to protect.

[newbryford]

Away win for the Hawks 4-3 for a 10-6 aggregate score. 

Must look out for the final fixtures - this will be another two-leg match. Probably against Solihull in mid-Feb whilst Junior is away in the US and watching a NHL game with her cousin.

 

Have a good week folks - I will complete another orbit in a few days.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited January 19, 2020 by newbryford