Early Risers.

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

There is no point in trying to hide the fact that today is my 72nd birthday.  The day will be marked rather than celebrated because it is also the anniversary of my mother’s passing in 1985.  I will spend part of the day at Cambridge Crematorium and remember her in my own way.  On this occasion I must do it without the moral support and tissues supplied by a very dear friend who is awaiting an operation.

 

It is opportune today to reflect on what the future holds.  These may be famous last words but I should be good for a few years yet.  At my age, conditions like prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes are occupational hazards, to say nothing of the higher than average risk of heart attack and stroke.  What concerns me more is the slow but steady decline in my fitness and stamina levels.  This is not easily reversed unless, gentle reader, you know otherwise.  It has become very much a case of do it while I still can!  Today I am confirming that I will be spending a few days in Dublin at the end of June.  The trip will embrace Dublin Pride, which will be my first outside the UK.  It will cost me a packet, so some other travel plans have had to be put on hold for the time being.  I plan to take part in some more Prides, a bit closer to home, in the near future but apart from Bristol I do not yet know when and where.

 

Elsewhere life goes on.  The scheduled Area Group meeting took place last night without undue excitement.  Heaven be praised, a miracle.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[jamie92208]

7 hours ago, newbryford said:

I have persuaded the other members of the van crew that we have to set off at a "sensible" hour, so that we can have a late breakfast at the caravan at Devil's Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale.......

A bacon, egg and sausage teacake should see me through to a KFC for tea after we've setup at Glasgow show.

Cheers,

Mick

An excellent choice Mick, hope you have a good journey. The views whilst consumi g the food are difficult to beat.  Just hope you get some good views of the Lune Gorge and the Howgills as you press on.  Hope the weekend goes well.

 

Jamie

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

Australia and New Zealand are feeling the impacy of bad weather a covid.

Not trying to pick on your typing Baz, but by "covid" are you referring to the Chinese novel coronavirus, aka "COVID-19"?

[jamie92208]

Good morning all and Birthday greetings to Chrisf though it will obviously be a day if mixed emotions.  

 

Here a good meal was had at our friend's last night though it was very different without John, who died in November.  Today I will be off fairly soon to buy varioys new nuts and bolts for the shutters, then on to a meeting og the Charente Railway Modellers.  Not a bad day in prospect.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Ozexpatriate]

32 minutes ago, chrisf said:

There is no point in trying to hide the fact that today is my 72nd birthday. 

Happy birthday Chris.

 

I hope you can take a moment to recognize the milestone, tempered no doubt by the remembrance of your mother.

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare, 1018 / 636.

A poor nights sleep as I could get comfortable....

 

The visit by Plod last night has been on the local radio, it's a local from a village about 3 miles south, who was last seen in Happisburgh, it's thought he was walking down the coast. Hence last night police helicopter with search lights, and dog teams until the weather got too bad... Heavy rain and 50mph winds. The man is believed to be in a poor mental state... The search is to continue this morning from first light which is about now...

 

Talking of exhaustion, taking Ben the athletic Collie on his long walk yesterday , I only managed about 1/3 or the route before I had to sit and rest, he eventually got about 1/2 his normal walk. But we made up for some of it by playing ball while I sat, as I had the ball throwing stick with me, great invention them...

 

The drive in Was entertained by 3 new sets of road works with lights and another set with out. Traffic was however very light and I arrived here early.. 

 

The computer has just awoken and said it will reset in ten minutes. so..

 

Time to read the company spam and reset

 

[leopardml2341]

Mornin'

 

Been awake since 04:00; but thought I'd better not disturb you lot....

 

Did something useful in so far as I came into work early - means I can leave early.

 

Have a good 'un!

[Barry O]

54 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Not trying to pick on your typing Baz, but by "covid" are you referring to the Chinese novel coronavirus, aka "COVID-19"?

Yes unless there are outbreaks other Covids at the moment...or do you know something we don't?

As it happens Qantas is reducing flights as is Jetstar, dining places and gift shops are not seeing their usual footfal.

 

It is very noticeable both here and in Oz. Two years ago both  ountries had a lot of chineses visitors. Today we met a coach with people from Hong Kong, another with visitors from Taiwan. But two compared to the many tourist coaches last time is not good for anyone.

 

Baz

 

 

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

A certain song from South Pacific that carries on about cock-eyed optimists comes to mind.

At least you are not thinking of the "... wash that man right out of my hair" earworm. A very uneven production from Rodgers and Hammerstein that one though apparently the movie was the highest grossing movie in the UK until Goldfinger came along. The Wikipedia page has this to say:

Quote

 Time magazine stated that it was "almost impossible to make a bad movie out of it – but the moviemakers appear to have tried"

 

My parents (in particular my dad) were big fans of the golden age of Broadway musicals and had (still have) quite a collection of the original Broadway cast and/or movie sound track vinyl LP recordings of Rodgers and Hammerstein plays in particular.  I don't remember the South Pacific record being played much at home so thankfully I don't have those songs in my head like some of the other Rodgers and Hammerstein collaborations.

 

I'm not sure that Mitzi Gaynor's version of that song is the best. Unlike most of the actors, she actually did her own singing in the film. Nellie Forbush was first played on stage by Mary Martin and she sounds very much like her Oklahoma character. Unsurprisingly, there is a version of it by Julie Andrews which is less grating than the others. You Tube will oblige. 

[Barry O]

Happy birthday Chris!

Baz

[Dave Hunt]

Happy birthday Chris. I hope that you enjoy it despite the memories it brings of your Mum. Having reached the same age nine months ago I sympathise concerning fitness level decline but find that riding my bike for such things as going to the shops when just needing small supplies and not pressed for time does help somewhat. Judging by the aches and pains involved after a session clambering in and out from under baseboards when wiring up a la**ut that must be doing something beneficial too - if you subscribe to the pain and gain principle that is.

 

For the rest of you ERs, good morning and let's all Baz the day.

 

Dave

[grandadbob]

Good morning all and Many Happy Returns to Chris.

A bit dull here and it looks like it was raining earlier with more to come later.

Today is a major shopping day. As I mentioned yesterday Abbie is 21 next week and she's having a party on Saturday. The Boss is I/C catering which means I'll be hearing lots of "We need to get a move on, there's lot's to do, do you think you can leave that computer for at least a few minutes to help?" etc etc etc. over the next couple of days. 

This also means Shed time will be reduced which is probably just as well given yesterday's pathetic attempt at tracklaying.

The first "We've got to get a move on" has just been heard so I best be about it!

Have a good one,

H.A. Rassed  of Sutton.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave Hunt]

26 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

A very uneven production from Rodgers and Hammerstein that one though apparently the movie was the highest grossing movie in the UK until Goldfinger came along.

 

I'm not surprised by that Oz; most of my pocket money as a fifteen year old was spent taking Jill to see it! Oh, and thanks for planting the gonna wash that man earworm that I think I'm now stuck with for the rest of the day......

 

Dave

Edited February 20, 2020 by Dave Hunt

[Ozexpatriate]

2 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

I think I'm now stuck with for the rest of the day

Sorry about that chief!

 

I could link you a nice rendition of A Cockeyed Optimist in a University student production I found on You Tube if it helps.

[Dave Hunt]

23 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Sorry about that chief!

 

I could link you a nice rendition of A Cockeyed Optimist in a University student production I found on You Tube if it helps.

 

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

[Happy Hippo]

9 hours ago, newbryford said:

 

 

I have persuaded the other members of the van crew that we have to set off at a "sensible" hour, so that we can have a late breakfast at the caravan at Devil's Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale.......

 

 

I know we have had strong winds, but the move by Devil's Bridge from the  Aberystwyth area to KL is unbelievable!

 

OFMC meeting this morning which means I will spend little time working and a lot of time making tea between bouts of yelling:

 

'No, not like that'.

 

'Does anyone want a tea?'

 

'If you fix that down like that, how will we get it open afterwards?'

 

'I'll get some more tea.'

 

'Never mind, here's one I cut earlier as a spare, just in case this sort of thing happened'.

 

'I'm going to make the tea.'

 

'I'll cut another couple, you've just destroyed the spare!'

 

'Tea?'

 

'I'll do that later, when the other bit has set.'

 

 

 

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

Birthday greetings to Chris.

It is quite breezy here and forecast to rain later. Aditi will attempt to go to Brentwood for a rescheduled haircut this afternoon. 
From 10am today (24 hours prior to heart tests) I cant have anything containing caffeine. I don’t find this to be too difficult. Apparently some people do. I think Aditi is one of those who would. 
Tony

Edited February 20, 2020 by Tony_S

[81C]

Morning All 

Happy birthday Chrisf 

P!ssing down here again my babes is driving over this evening I will keep one eye on the weather she has a Toyota 4x4 thing on stilts so she should manage to get here.

lots to do today again this is getting a habit doing things and not sitting on my butt Pah . 

I wonder what Zeus is going to eat today after the eggs yesterday he is a laugh a minute. 

Better get on enjoy your day.  K. N. Ackered 

[Oldddudders]

Morning all

 

Some things in life take longer than you imagine, and other things happen pleasingly more quickly than expected. When I first met Alison 7 years ago, she was just starting a torrid romance with François, the married farmer next door. The relationship was evidently very  - er - intimate from the start, and lots of dreams dreamed and passion expended. But it was only last Saturday that F finally told his wife, in Alison's presence, that he was leaving. So he has now moved in with A. As her boys are away with the ex in Aberystwyth for this half-term week, A & F are having a sort of honeymoon. There will be lots to do to unravel the complexities of the formal business partnership between F and his wife, and parts of the farm (400 acres in all) will have to be sold or disposed of to pay her off. This could take years if she is as awkward as expected. On 10th March she is due to face a Tribunal to consider the facts of her having hit Alison some months ago, doing facial damage, which shows how volatile and nasty she is. She faces a fine and a suspended sentence. We have to hope her present threats of pouring petrol on Alison and igniting it are indeed just threats.

 

At the other end of the timescale idea, a couple of weeks ago I became aware that the dishwasher was no longer heating water. As it was 13 years old, fair enough. The very hard water here is not kind to white goods. At about 14.40 last Tuesday, I walked into the local shop and ordered a new machine - 100 minutes later it was installed, demonstrated and working, the old machine being removed. Not bad going!

 

Sherry had been staying with her daughter in Crewe for the weekend, but Monday night had a serious tummy upset which knocked her sideways, probably gastric flu, so instead of returning home on Tuesday she's today on the Manchester - Paignton train, having joined at Stafford as usual. Tomorrow she sees her GP to discuss the drug regime given by the cardiologist a month ago. As this seems to be inducing breathlessness - there is much to discuss!

[roundhouse]

Happy birthday Chris and here’s to many more.

 

Today I am heading to Birmingham but unfortunately the loco hauled set has been replaced with a DMU for this journey. Whilst Chiltern units aren’t bad, this one is very rough riding.

 

Had a superb run from Redhill to Victoria earlier non stop till Clapham Junction as it was a diverted Dorking via Leatherhead train due to a land slip so I guess it started from Gatwick and ran fast even through East Croydon. Saved me getting on the late running GW Worm that my other half was catching.

 

will be beer in the Wellington then To Warwick for a beer there. After that to Leamington Spa for a loco hauled service to Banbury and a beer in the Ye Olde Reindeer before catching another loco hauled service back to Marylebone.

 

Took ages typing this due to this very rough riding train.

[PeterBB]

Happy Birthday to Chris F - we know the effect of a parent dying on a daughters birthday and as such it is never celebrated.  Other aspects of Chris's post have brought things to mind.  You may remember some time ago I mentioned how a colleague turned round to me to tell me the result of my father's PSA ...

My father was Trade Time Recorders ( a line he worked in for over 60 years).  You can imaging how pleased I was some years ago at the Roundhouse Museum at Barrow Hill when I discovered this - I keep reminding myself to write something about it.

[laurenceb]

Birthdat greetings Chris

Will have to start proding you again Peter!

Morrnin awl

Edited February 20, 2020 by laurenceb

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Well it must have started raining during the night as we’ve got a few puddles in the back garden and it’s still raining now, but not as heavy as it was an hour or so ago. There are no plans set for today, although a visit to Waitrose was mentioned last night, but we’ll have to wait an see how the day develops to see if that actually happens today or is postponed until another day. In the meantime, I’ll continue my work with the soldering iron, so in essence I’ll just keep soldering on!

 

Chrisf, happy birthday 

 

Back later. 

[Oldddudders]

On reading back a bit I have been remiss - Happy Birthday, Chris! 

[Shedman5]

Morning,  Firstly Happy Birthday ChrisF

Heavy rain and wind prevail at the moment and looks like its in for a few hours more.

Quiet day today other half out to have her hair done and then lunch with friends so left to my own devices as they say.

 

Off to model rail Scotland tomorrow  courtesy of Avanti West Coast well thats the plan just hope the weather does not play havoc with my plans for the day.

 

Enjoy your day folks!

 

Alan