Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

G'day all,

 

A longish but generally enjoyable day yesterday.  An early rise (for once) and a trip southwards from Reading care of XC trains got me to So'ton Parkway with not too long to wait for the shuttle 'bus - hardly vintage (much younger than me as it happens) and with an internal aroma of not wholly combusted diesel fuel but is seemed to both work and be driven much better than the usual free shuttle 'bus which carries us to the Basingstoke show.  Big queue to get into the show but I jumped that, was told the exhibitors' passes were already at the layout so walked on in.  Then a fairly good day of Pre-war ECML enjoyment albeit with only 16.5mm between the parallel strips of metal but rather tiring spending a longish day on my feet.  Very good lunch - excellent catering and hot meal main courses were all at £6 which very handily equated to the amount on the exhibitor's meal voucher so only a drink to buy on top of that. I made the serious error of going for the (excellent) fish & chips having overlooked the fact that some was planned for the evening meal at home (that fish is now in the freezer).

 

Had a very pleasant chat with one of Bill Bishop's colleagues from a certain P4 layout that lurks in southern England and if Bill is reading I'm still waiting for her younger self to give full details of her roster as I'm not quite sure how far it goes into the upcoming month.  Not time to see too much of the show but brief chats with various folk during what was left of my lunch break.  I hope Chris F manages ok with parking today as people were saying yesterday that most nearby side streets were well and truly full.

 

Train ride back to Reading was not wonderful as the coach was inhabited by some very noisy football supporters who were using language bad enough to even make me blush - a good job Mrs Stationmaster was not aboard because she would have given them 'a major telling off' and would no doubt have requested their removal at the next stop, even if it happened to be at a red signal in the middle of nowhere.  Then the usual weird procession of inept drivers on the road home.  Having got past a couple of slouchs I found myself unable to pass the final two with the leader standing on his brakes every time somebody came the other way.  Then he/she/it turned off and I looked forward to more rapid progress only to find the new leader of the pack was even worse at braking at the slightest hint of headlights coming towards us.  Why on earth do these people go out in the dark if they are frightened of it?

 

Enjoy the rest of your day and hope things improve for Rick and Baz. (Baz to note that Red Leader was in a pretty good mood despite one or two things not going exactly as they should have).

[Barry O]

A nice evening. Following a welcome from a local elder fireworks commenced.

Apart from a bit too much AC/DC and Kylie a well organised and drunk free event.

[PhilJ W]

Another station up for sale. Well the platform buildings anyway as the station is still open.

https://www.mouseprice.com/property-for-sale/ref-30883137/for-sale?utm_source=property.mitula.co.uk&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR2qiveeEfwZZ-_DuQhBS-fBPXooUWSazhJMSCDI-m9pXxORTXKdL7ZmdKY

I would convert it into self catering holiday accomodation.

[BoD]

2 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Another station up for sale. Well the platform buildings anyway as the station is still open.

https://www.mouseprice.com/property-for-sale/ref-30883137/for-sale?utm_source=property.mitula.co.uk&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR2qiveeEfwZZ-_DuQhBS-fBPXooUWSazhJMSCDI-m9pXxORTXKdL7ZmdKY

I would convert it into self catering holiday accomodation.

The price history is interesting.

Perhaps they saw you looking and put the price up again.

[roundhouse]

Good afternoon. A bit of a restless night despite plenty of beer yesterday in Shoreham By Sea with an ER. A very overcast day and quite chilly but at least it was normally just a short walk to the next pub. Only downside was that the best one was wedged so we didn't stay.

 

I have been in the shed this morning laying Modroc that was our from late friends modelling stash that we were given a few years ago, so he will be remembered on the new layout. Work as now resumed on the buildings with the signal cabin now under way - its tiny.

[Coombe Barton]

2 hours ago, leopardml2341 said:

Same here; overnight

 

Stafford show without the white stuff, I don't believe it......

But there will probably still be the mud.

[Gwiwer]

If British banks are a bother try the Aussie mob.  Not a good 'un among them.  I no longer have any financial connection with the Land Downunder other than my name being attached to property deeds but was never satisfied with the "service" offered by the banks.

 

SWMBO had always been with the Bank of Melbourne which was taken over by the Westpac Corporation by the time I shipped out.  In the interests of having both our accounts with the same bank - theoretically making house loans and other business easier - I signed up.  I soon learned why they get called Wet Cr@p.  In the end the mortgage was brokered through the then Wizard Home Loans but later transferred to Commonwealth Bank.  Known to some as Con-bank.  We found them difficult to deal with and less than transparent when it came to fees and charges.  

[Gwiwer]

36 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

language bad enough to even make me blush

 

I suffered that at times from school-children when I was driving.  Usually on the homeward-bound run.  My trick - which may not work so well on a train full of football "fans" - was to identify a ringleader, stop, summon that person to the front of the bus and then ask them to apologise.  

 

With the added rider that I was not going to take them any further until the offender had explained what that word / those words meant.  An apology was hard enough for them.  Having to explain in front of a bus-load of classmates was the ultimate in humiliation.

 

No-one did it to me twice.  

[PeterBB]

2 hours ago, leopardml2341 said:

Same here; overnight

 

Stafford show without the white stuff, I don't believe it......

Hope springs eternal!

[TheQ]

Afternoon awl, 

Keel mounting  measured,

I started to sand tool box drawers,  but found some jammed,  I don't know what's happened,  the tool box,  is sitting on the old Steel keel so it's not getting warped.  I can only suppose the wood has swelled in the damp atmosphere.  Anyway the drawers were extracted,  and further sanded to loosen them up. Then the fronts got the treatment, before being given a coat of paint. 

 

Ben then took us for the long walk,  the mud lanes are dryer ,we picked up some seed potatoes obviously dropped by a tractor... The forecast indicates it could be Soggy again tomorrow .

 

I'm getting heavy pressure to produce an inkle loom,  I suspect boat building time will get used next weekend.  I have a 8*4ft sheet of 3/4 inch ply from which to cut supports for the hull on the trailer.  This is basically two hull shaped "U"s interlocked by beams.  Cutting out the "U"s  centres should give sufficient ply for the inkle loom frame. 

 

Time for dinner.. 

Edited January 26, 2020 by TheQ

[Northroader]

When it’s finished do you intend knitting inkles for anybody to asks for one? (At reasonable prices, naturally)

Edited January 26, 2020 by Northroader

[New Haven Neil]

2 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

 

I suffered that at times from school-children when I was driving.  Usually on the homeward-bound run.  My trick - which may not work so well on a train full of football "fans" - was to identify a ringleader, stop, summon that person to the front of the bus and then ask them to apologise.  

 

With the added rider that I was not going to take them any further until the offender had explained what that word / those words meant.  An apology was hard enough for them.  Having to explain in front of a bus-load of classmates was the ultimate in humiliation.

 

No-one did it to me twice.  

 

Restorative Justice, Rick - works a treat.  One of our weapons we used to use with young offenders, way back when. Crikey nearly 6 years ago now.

[tigerburnie]

I banked with Nat West briefly as they had a branch in the village we lived in, when we moved I moved banks to again have a local branch. Some weeks later I had to go into Nat West as I had a rather confusing call from the council, my council tax had been paid twice. I informed the teller thus at Nat West, " thankyou for paying my council tax" . "That's what we are here for" came the reply, but I replied " I no longer bank with you and you don't have any of my money", never seen a bank manager move so quick in my life lol.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

However it will always be a question of who got there first - and it looks like the USAF well and truly won the race -

It would have been nice if that article actually backed it up with images or specific unit badges.

 

I don't believe that Air Force Space Command insignia dates from 1961. Air Force Space Command (the older badge illustrated in the article) was activated in 1982 - shortly before the Reagan Strategic Defense Initiative / "Star Wars" days.

 

The predecessor units to Air Force Space Command (Tactical Air Command and Air Force Systems Command) don't appear to have used it.

 

I'm not insisting that the USAF did not use a swallowtail delta device at some point earlier, but when making such an assertion, responsible journalism would back it up with specifics - otherwise this is little better than a "he said" / "she said" assertion. Triangles are a very common device in US military badges, but the tall, swallowtail triangle is less so.

 

EDIT

The unit patch of the 412th Fighter Group, later 412th Test Wing does have a launching triangle device, but absent the swallowtail. I imagine there is something out there somewhere but it's not obvious.

 

Further web dragging finds the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB. The unit was created in 1961 and has a launching swallowtail delta device. (I don't know when this badge was designed though it conceivably dates to 1961.) It has similarity to other 'space age' designs. 

 

If there is a inspiration for the StarFleet logo, it is more likely the chevron in the NASA shield.

 

Edited January 26, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[grandadbob]

5 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

Train ride back to Reading was not wonderful as the coach was inhabited by some very noisy football supporters who were using language bad enough to even make me blush - a good job Mrs Stationmaster was not aboard because she would have given them 'a major telling off' and would no doubt have requested their removal at the next stop, even if it happened to be at a red signal in the middle of nowhere.  

 

I can certainly understand how one would want to say something but probably a very good job that Mrs SM was not aboard Mike because in my experience of a certain type of moron her words to them would regrettably probably have made them worse. It could of course depend on which team they "support" as it would appear that some are considerably worse than others.

I'm just glad I watch the men playing with funny shaped balls. On that subject Oh Joy, Oh Bliss. my team won and won handsomely today. Yes the opposition had 7 or 8 first choice players away on England duty and are probably feeling a bit down because of their relegation. Quins only lost 2 to England but have a considerable injury list with 5 or 6 centres, 1 full back and a couple of others crocked at the moment. I don't care as 41 -14 is a result, especially in the torrential rain that fell for most of the match. Two Quins players in particular (Marcus Smith and Alex Dombrandt) played out of their skins and must come to the attention of Eddie Jones before long.

 

I actually went to The Shed for an hour or so before the match. I've been worried that my track might have contributed to the recent loco failure but tested 6 different locos at various speeds including full tilt backwards and forwards and there was not a single problem so that cheered me up a bit.

 

The Boss cooked a superb Boeuf Bourguignon tonight. Before that I had my first beer for about a week (yes really!) and I then accompanied the meal with Black Label Merlot and am following up with more so the day is ending up très bon here at Château GDB.

 

Santé 

 

 

Edited January 26, 2020 by grandadbob

[Gwiwer]

Whodathunkit?

 

After months of frustration I have managed to re-knit the rat's-nest and something moves!!!  So far the main running area is up and running bar one problem which requires some inverted soldering to fix.  

 

And in other news there is both lamb shank and vegetarian haggis in preparation for our enjoyment in the very near future.  OK I know "vegetarian" and "haggis" could be considered an oxymoron but the real things are bloody offal which SWMBO considers to be .... well ..... bl**dy a***l.  The Talisker is airing and a half-decent Australian Merlot - Grenache will also be partaken of.  

 

Sunday may have slipped by almost unnoticed here but something has been achieved.  

[AndyB]

GDB, it does occur to me if I have my first beer next Friday after a month off the sauce I may be a bit hungover at the Alton show! 

There is still some debate whether next Friday can be a normal pub night as it is still in January, albeit the last day. 

[grandadbob]

Nah, go for it Andy. I've only had a week off the beer and a couple of alcohol free days. The only dry thing in January I've been having is wine. 

Mustn't mention the occasional port, cognac, gin or whisky that has also been sampled. Ooops. Just did. This is getting to be a habit. I'm Doomed........is there a Bar close by?  

Edited January 26, 2020 by grandadbob

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Having spent the best part of the morning in bed or bath I spent a lot of the afternoon doing eyelid inspection. I will have to get to bed a bit earlier. Arthur Itis has been quiet lately but the return of the dampness has woken him up but not too much. Tea is waiting to be drunk, be back later.

Laze E. Buqqer.

[81C]

I suppose I'd better get my #rse into gear if I want to go to Alton next week I'm hoping the trip out won't be affected by Lady Woking I don't 

think she will want to do things as she will need to take it easy after a bout of pneumonia she is still in hospital and might be out Tuesday fingers crossed. 

Gottha Jitters 

[Tony_S]

56 minutes ago, 81C said:

I suppose I'd better get my #rse into gear if I want to go to Alton next week I'm hoping the trip out won't be affected by Lady Woking I don't 

think she will want to do things as she will need to take it easy after a bout of pneumonia she is still in hospital and might be out Tuesday fingers crossed. 

Gottha Jitters 

I certainly needed to take it easy for a while after my pneumonia episode a couple of years ago. Fortunately I was able to. 

[BoD]

2 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

It would have been nice if that article actually backed it up with images or specific unit badges.

 

I don't believe that Air Force Space Command insignia dates from 1961. Air Force Space Command (the older badge illustrated in the article) was activated in 1982 - shortly before the Reagan Strategic Defense Initiative / "Star Wars" days.

 

The predecessor units to Air Force Space Command (Tactical Air Command and Air Force Systems Command) don't appear to have used it.

 

I'm not insisting that the USAF did not use a swallowtail delta device at some point earlier, but when making such an assertion, responsible journalism would back it up with specifics - otherwise this is little better than a "he said" / "she said" assertion. Triangles are a very common device in US military badges, but the tall, swallowtail triangle is less so.

 

EDIT

The unit patch of the 412th Fighter Group, later 412th Test Wing does have a launching triangle device, but absent the swallowtail. I imagine there is something out there somewhere but it's not obvious.

 

Further web dragging finds the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB. The unit was created in 1961 and has a launching swallowtail delta device. (I don't know when this badge was designed though it conceivably dates to 1961.) It has similarity to other 'space age' designs. 

 

If there is a inspiration for the StarFleet logo, it is more likely the chevron in the NASA shield.

 

 

They all just look like my SatNav pointer and I’m sure it must have been around a long time before they were.

[Ozexpatriate]

I was a bit taken aback this afternoon. I had watched a replay of tennis from late Saturday night in the Australian Open (the Swiss maestro) and when the next replay was that of a match I already watched live, switched the channel.

 

On the crawl at the bottom was news that Kobe Bryant (a retired NBA basketball player) had died in a helicopter crash in Southern California. This news will not perhaps mean much in the UK, but Kobe was a basketball megastar. He was 41 and leaves behind three of his four daughters born 2003 through 2019. Reports are coming in that his 13 year-old daughter was also a casualty of the helicopter crash.

 

I'm not a big basketball fan, but this news was very unexpected.

 

His record as the number three scorer in the NBA was surpassed only yesterday.

  

Edited January 26, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[jamie92208]

Evening all from the former pit site. We have been out and about today visiting our former chur h, seeing friends then having a noisy but fun filled meal with no 2 son, the one who has had najor problems, and the family that he lives with. Then back here and a good chat with Rachel and Laura.  Not a lot on the agenda tomorrow.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Ed cold on the wane..hay fever tablets kicking in..good.

 

Her indoors is collecting the car and driving us south today..

 

Sleep well ERs

Baz