Early Risers.

[Gwiwer]

16 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

This works well until Mr. Postman is too lazy to put a "No. 7 has your parcel" card thru' the letterbox......

There had better be no such shennanigans in the next few days.  An urgent request has been sent to Fraggle Rock    Something went "Ping" in an expensive sort of way when I attempted to reason with it and trace the cause of no elecktrickery.  I shall probably find the part that went "Ping" at some future time in a most unexpected place.  

 

At 05.30 this morning a van pulled into the car parking area behind our back door.  Three heavily-coated persons got out and entered the back of the Thai restaurant with ladders.  I couldn't make out what they were about but this was sufficiently unusual that I felt it warranted alerting Plod.  I didn't see the end of it as I had to depart for the House of Fun.  Either some legitimate workmen were doing a very very early shift indeed and would have had to explain themselves or some shifty deals were afoot which the aforesaid Plod would have been better equipped than myself to manage.  

 

In other news the sun is finally out after a grey and foggy morning.  And SWMBO has exited the premises in the general direction of the bakery which suggests the next muggertee might be accompanied by something nice.  

 

 

[Tony_S]

12 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

aforesaid Plod would have been better equipped than myself to manage.  

Years ago the estate where my brother lived had a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. A number of residents reported some very shifty looking characters hanging about and driving like tearaways. When the unfortunate local PC enquired of the suspicious characters he was told to go away and stop interfering in an “undercover “ operation by some sort of regional crime squad. 

[45156]

4 hours ago, 45156 said:

Builder has been - I was fitted in before he goes back down South to work on the Guildhall in Guildford and also a historic church in Brighton - but even when he's working for English Heritage, he still has time for his small jobs, and he doesn't charge us the earth, and the repair to the boiler was only charged at £30 for cash.

I spoke too soon - a few minutes after he departed, the boiler started to leak hot water, and to lose pressure.  An urgent call to him resulted in his turning back from his next job.  Eventually, he found that a small valve up in the top of the boiler had sprung a leak, as it was normally held shut by the pressure in the boiler, and when he depressurised the boiler, it had sprung open, and then not properly shut, and when the pressure built up, there was a deluge.  He worked the valve a few times, and then repressurised things again, and waited until it had reached its full working pressure.  However, he also found a couple of joints which were looser than he'd have liked, and tightened them up as well as initially, he thought that they were the culprits, but the leak was causing the water to run down the pipework and over the pump. 

 

I was going to pick 30747 up from work, and to take her for a fish and chip shop lunch - luckily he was finished in time, and Hodgsons chippy was duly attended, and quite delicious it was too.  I did suggest that we sit in the car and eat them (no sit ins at this shop), and to keep the windows open, and announce as people passed how good they were, in exchange for a discount, but this was politely declined.  But they were particularly good, I must say.

Edited February 6, 2020 by 45156

[Ian Abel]

BIN day greetings to all

All BINs sorted, ta.

 

Nothing to report from yesterday, today happy hour then choir rehearsal - that's about it

 

-12 and sunny first thing, headed for -1

 

Carry on.

[Shedman5]

Afternoon, a nice sunny day here in the North West today, yesterday was not to bad either, we made up a couple of flasks and nipped up to the Lake District and had a very nice 7 mile walk. The pub meal on the way back was well deserved in my opinion!

 

A few jobs done today and my new pressure washer arrived however  I did not take the bait  from my other half when she suggested I try it out by washing her car!

 

Might try it out tomorrow afternoon we will see, if I do I can bet it will rain afterwards.

 

Enjoy what's left of the day.

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

A nice sunny day thus far and somewhat qwarmer then yesterday when I returned indoors from the porch to put on a woolie hat and was quite glad I'done so as it spent most of the reszt of the day on my head although it wasn't much help for my cooled feet.  Video man was with us again but this time I escaped and some other poor chap was duly interviewed, he turned out to be another one take' merchant so I am not alone.

 

Recompense of course had to be paid today to Mrs Stationmaster so we I took us off to Farnham to the premises of BBS T Ltd, official supplier of spare parts for Magimx food mixers in order to have a worn part replaced on herself's food mixer ('spare part' in this case actually meant a new outer casing because the worn bit is part of it - but the mixer is 15 years old).  Part supplied and fitted including VAT cost £29.99, total bill after she had finished 'shopping' in their very small display area came to £127    But then herself is, as she says herself, definitely a person who enjoys what she calls 'kitchen porn' and the additional cutters and a new small mixer we bought are all required items (once she knew they existed  ) and as it happens the small mixer bought there was £6 cheaper than exactly the same thing in several High St stores, and cheaper than some Amazon suppliers.  Big message - if your household kitchen kit includes Magimix mixers etc this is the place, top notch service including postal supply of numerous spare parts - we've used them in that way in the past - and really helpful staff.

 

And a useful credit in brownie points for me.  Oh and we came past the really good chippy in Tilehurst on the way home so popped in for a couple of bags of chips.  it is almost 13 years since we moved from there although we pop in at very infrequent intervals but the Chinese lady behind the counter recognised us immediately - more quality family service and chips freshly fried to order.

 

Enjoy the rest of your day one and all.

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

 stop interfering in an “undercover “ operation 

I spoke to the local police about a 'covert vehicle' which had been parked in our lane for 3 days with wires underneath it connected to a box.  It was parked very close to a road junction with restricted visibility and I was concerned it was likely to get collided with.

 

An inspector from one of the specialist police groups rang me to enquire how I know it was a police vehicle; had I spoken to anyone else about it, could I not divulge the fact it was a police vehicle to any other party etc, and that it was covertly gathering intelligence for a police operation.

 

I had to point out that the whole village knew it was a police vehicle because it was covered in blue and yellow checker board markings with POLICE written in large letters on certain parts of the vehicle.

 

It was gone within the hour.

 

And there are those who say army Intelligence is an oxymoron.

 

 

Edited February 6, 2020 by Happy Hippo

[tigerburnie]

Evening all(tis dark so it must be), had a nice afternoon out in the sunshine bird watching with a chum, early February in NE Scotland and we didn't need thermals, deffo climate changing round here, didn't get many photos, but it's nice to see wildlife getting chirpy with Spring not that far away(still expecting some snow yet though).

[AndyB]

Evening all. 

Busy day culminating in saying goodbye to my sports car and bonjour to my new sensible car. 

If I can figure out the plethora of controls and features in this new fangled vehicle I'll let you know! 

 

[81C]

Afternoon All

Returning from the dog minding I started the car up and the information screen was blank I done a restart as the thing is a computer with no luck I was near army ground so it might have been 

a jammer I returned home and tried a reboot still no luck but at least the screen went off when I slammed the door oh good no flat battery later on.

Went back to the car after an hour turned the ignition on and it lit up as normal at least its working now.

Off to the solicitors today as the money grabber has become really untrustworthy a new will was drawn up she has no access to my estate now. HA HA  

Dinner time so onwards and upwards H. Rumpole (from SWMBO fame) 

[BoD]

17 minutes ago, 81C said:

....... a new will was drawn up she has no access to my estate now. HA HA  

...... but how did you manage to divide it up between all of your new admirers?

[JohnDMJ]

10 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Morning all from the former pit village.  Lurgi still in retreat but despite that we had a very good evening out with the step dragon in law last night.  Today Beth is going out with a friend so I am being taken to a railway station by daughter and granddaughter  to be left to my own devices.  Not a bad plan for the day methinks.

 

As to TV appearances. I did a few when I was in the job about incidents. However on Cristmas Day 1976 the nation was no doubt traumatised by my appearance, in uniform, on Sale of The Century. They did a special emergency  services edition with a nurse from Great Ormond Street and a fireman from Glasgow. By various nefarious means I was chosen as the orficer of the law. I enjoyed 2 days special leave, a night in a hotel in Norwich and was allowed to keep all my prizes, one of which was 6 dozen bittles of wine.  Somewhere I have some photos of me with my arms round Angela Daniels and Linda Hooks.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie.

 

But not around the late, great NP?!

 

Allo, Allo, these weren't from Crabtree by any chance?

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Spent an hour cleaning out the garage, the up-and-over door only fits where it touches, especially at the bottom where one side is close to the sill and the other side there is a two inch gap. First job was sweeping out the dead leaves and litter blown under the door. That was after removing about 8 months of spiders webs. After all that effort there was no apparent difference. Tea is made so its I'll be back later.

[Barry O]

Kia Ora!

Off on a train trip today (which, in this part of the world is something which only happens once a day).

 

Despite warnings of potential noise last night slept like a log until the bin lorry arrived. The bin lorfy operatives must have been trained in Leeds.

 

Breakfast requited then a walk to the railway station.

 

Have a good evening!

 

Baz in the land of the Long White Cloud

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.

 

Rick, your new ping has been dispatched - hopefully IoM Post and Royal Mail will between them do us both proud.  On the grounds I don't work Fridays you won't get to berate me in person tomorrow if it doesn't turn up!  You're welcome to come along to the Friday morning bike (talk crepe club, in truth) any time though.  

 

Weather foreguess looks like our rock is going to take a pounding over the weekend, we may be closer to Cumbria by Monday.

[Tony_S]

3 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

be closer to Cumbria by Monday

The weather forecast yesterday evening for the weekend suggested we too may be heading towards Cumbria this weekend. 
 

[PhilJ W]

Tonights forecast suggests Norway is more likely.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

So I took off the fleece that I was wearing. It seemed quite heavy when I picked it up this morning to put it on.....

All's well that ends well!

 

I found my glasses around bedtime. After retiring I had gone downstairs to refill my water bottle and stepped into the downstairs toilet (by which I mean the room* not the seat of ease). And there camouflaged on a convenient horizontal surface, the which was the same colour as the frames, were my glasses.

 

* Some might refer to it as a "powder room", but there is none of that going on in my home. A realtor might list it as a "half bathroom" but there are no bathing facilities there.

 

I'll spare you all the story of how the glasses got there other than to hint that a particular level of urgency was involved.

[TheQ]

Evening awl, 

My sailing compatriot is getting better but his knee isn't.. Or it might be...

It's giving a lot more pain which hopefully means it's connecting things up just above there,  not going wrong.  He has another quacks appointment in a few days so he'll ask.. 

 

Getting to him was a right pain a lot of it caused by a cyclist at the front at the lights slowing the traffic so you missed the next set of green,  so while you waited he went up the front , for the next set,  the next,  the next... 

More parts for the inkle loom have arrived and also been bought at a big orange shed,  only thing missing is a bit more threaded rod and the tube to go over it. 

 

More thought has been going on about the keel.... More wood has been bought.. This is getting like muddling..  A cheap DMM has been bought to encourage the good one to appear from its hiding place,  One of them will be wielded Saturday to find out what's wrong with the landrover . After the sides of the marquee are removed, 

 

I'm Told Ben the scaredy Collie has not been happy with the noise,  several very large bits of machinery were queuing to leave the field next door,  as I arrived home. He's cuddled up to me at present.. 

Tis fatchy pog out there 

 

[New Haven Neil]

Parental War Tales - my old man ended up as a Lieutenant (E) Wavy Navy due to being in the wrong place at someone else's right time!  Most relations were in reserved occupations - shipyards.  I don't mean mum was Rosie the Rivetter though...... 

[Tony_S]

17 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

convenient horizontal surface, the which was the same colour as the frames, were my glasses.

I used Google to see what were popular colours for bathrooms in the US. Yellow is apparently “on trend”. Aditi told me that avocado green is making a return in the UK. This did surprise me.

Tony

[Tony_S]

13 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Tis fatchy pog out there

The fog at Heathrow caused a BA flight to London to be diverted to Southend (or London Southend officially!) this morning as it was clear and sunny here. 
 

[JohnDMJ]

5 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I used Google to see what were popular colours for bathrooms in the US. Yellow is apparently “on trend”. Aditi told me that avocado green is making a return in the UK. This did surprise me.

Tony

 

The bathroom in my flat in Chingford was Avocado Green (those who chose it had pulled out of the purchase thus being out of my control). I found it somewhat soothing!

[Gwiwer]

Upon the Second Day the Gas Man promiseth to arrive.  

We waiteth upon him verily until 5 of the after noon yet he cometh not.

He attendeth upon other flats in the block for the second day but ignoreth us.  He doth not answer his phone.

Yay even though we prevaileth upon the landlord's agent to intercede on our behalf, for they requireth the Gas Safety Certificate.  

Upon the fifth hour after noon he departeth precisely upon his finish time.

I waiteth not upon him during the morrow; if he seeketh entrance he must taketh his chances.  I hath better things to attend unto.

 

"Oh Lord", I cried, "What taketh it to ensure he keepeth his promises?"

And the Lord spake unto me and said

"He is a Gas Man.  Of his kind none telleth the truth.  They leadeth others into false hope.  They speaketh falsely and they incurreth mine Wrath.

 

Why else dost thou think I hath sent rains, pestilence, fires and plagues upon the Earth?"

 

 

[PhilJ W]

I had a similar experience with a cyclist as Q did. What is more he was obviously doing it deliberately because he gave the two finger salute to a few drivers and looked very pleased with himself. Then we came to a set of lights with a high kerb topped with railings on the n/s. There I deliberately pulled as far to the left as I could and stopped. There was not enough room for him to squeeze by on the left and he found that the driver behind me had cottoned on to what I was doing and had pulled up close behind me so that the cyclist couldn't get through.