Early Risers.

[Two_sugars]

16 minutes ago, BSW01 said:

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. 

 

OH! DEAR! . . . . . . 

 

Morning all from the Costa del P!ssing Down.

 

John

 

P.S Happy birthday Chrisf

Edited February 20, 2020 by Two_sugars

[Shedman5]

Hmm glad this is today and not tomorrow! Though the forecast is not good oh well we will see if I make Glasgow!

 

Due to heavy flooding between Carlisle and Lancaster lines are blocked until further notice. There are rail replacement buses between Preston and Carlisle. Please check your journey before travelling here: https://avantiwestcoast.co.uk/live

 

 

 

[BoD]

Many happy returns, Chris.

Concentrate on the happy memories and the pleasant plans ahead.

[grandadbob]

Well the shopping trip went off OK. When The Boss is doing a major catering job this becomes something akin to a well planned military operation. If it's not on the list then it doesn't go in the trolley! (Apart from my beers that is!  Oh and jam doughnuts for this afternoon! There was only a slight pursing of lips when they appeared.  )

Next up I have to ferry Herself and Nicki to a Chinese manicurist establishment and then pick them up when they are done.

After that I believe I'm free but I won't hold my breath, there's bound to be something else.

Edited February 20, 2020 by grandadbob

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Happy birthday Chris and welcome to the 73rd year, we can but hope that the weather will improve significantly for the rest of it (but 'they' can't blame that on us because we are merely passing through to many more years, I hope). 

 

In a positive continuation of the recent return to tradition today is faux Friday and the selected venue will be the train spotting branch of Waitrose.  Hopefully it might produce some mushrooms of a quality similar to those I obtained there last week although I understand that soup will be is being made for lunch and macaroni cheese is to be offered for dinner this evening.  A visit to Tilehurst will also facilitate an opportunity to refuel with diesel, ideally at a continued saving of 10.2p/litre, as I intend to head to Princes Risborough this Saturday for the usually excellent little show there which nowadays goes by the name of Risex to complement the name of their other show - Railex at Stoke Mandible in few months time.  Risex usually means breakfast at Crepe Escape in Risborough - not exactly on a par with Root One but better than passable.

 

I see the Lancaster & Carlisle Railway is reopening later today but today's trains are of course somewhat disrupted (why isn't disrupted the opposite of rupted I wonder?).  I must admit that my mind has boggled at the thought of a teacake being offered with such additional contents as egg & bacon,  it will be interesting to learn how well bacon goes with sultanas?

 

Enjoy the rest of your day one and all.

[Kingzance]

Good morning,

 

What a lot of catching up was required just for one day’s absence! Best wishes to Chris and I hope his celebration does not become too laden with past memories. Preceding comments indicate I am not alone in thinking that the internals are slowing having past my three score and ten but to the “woke” generation, we are just clogging up the place!

 

We three elderly camera toters chose to continue with our planned visit to the collection of Brunswick Green kettles, chocolate and cream accommodation and grey or brown units for non-humings located in Oxfordshire despite the precipitation that started as we entered Bedfordshire. Our route took us through Wallingford and it would seem from the waters en route that The Stationmaster may soon become The Harbourmaster. Despite that, a pleasant day was had, even if it was spoiled a little by a flat grey sky that never stopped depositing on us. I had hoped to see 2999 but she was in the Lifting Shop having her boiler tubes cleaned for her next foray, thankfully one of the staff offered to take me into the shop - many thanks! She will be appearing on The Severn Valley line in the not too distant if comments we heard are correct!

 

Today sees me awaiting some imitation buck-eyes from the outskirts of Liverpool (postie has just dropped them off), a walk to the local PO to collect what I hope are the new cables to link my camera to a geotagging gizmo and the currently weekly meeting of Hitchin Camera Club. I am sure there were many comments from other contributors that I thought would deserve a response from me but, due to short term memory loss, I’m damned if I can remember them. The myriad of images captured yesterday need sifting, sorting and processing as three are definitely required in a panel for submission on Sunday. It was nice to hear via Baz that The Keeper of The Great Awl remains in good form, even if not posting directly - hence my care in the above composition.

 

Onwards and upwards, keep fighting lurgi and other ailments friends...

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Many happy returns ChrisF, hope its a good'n. I will reach the same milestone in July, fortunately there are no shared adverse anniversaries to ponder. The diminishing stamina of growing old is a buqqer but as Dave said little things like walking down to the shops helps keep your fitness up. I was surprised a few days ago that after moving about 100 kilograms of stone chippings I have not suffered any extra aches and pains though I don't intend to make a habit of it. Weather permitting I'm going to make a start on emptying the garden shed, most of whats in it will be going in the skip/left out for the metal faries, though there are a few things that might be rescued.

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from LBG where the cloudy skies threaten rain.

 

Happy birthday to Chris; I hope he manages a good day even with such mixed emotions.

 

Hotel room costs; we're taking Younger Lurker to the British Grand Prix in July, partly to celebrate his finishing primary school. We managed to book a Travelodge in the middle of Northampton to stay in - no parking, no breakfast - and a family room was eye-watering. The nearer hotels were full. The price maybe eye watering but the tickets for the event itself are far more. Fortunately Mrs Lurker picked up those! I expect I will have to dust off my knowledge of Northampton's eating establishments and pick somewhere suitable for us; sadly I doubt the Giggling Sausage or Aladdins Balti will be acceptable!

[polybear]

17 hours ago, grandadbob said:

Evenin' each,

 

I received this from an old friend today - it made me laugh which given my current daily mood swings must be a good thing.

 

 

Mathematics:

This comes  from 2 math teachers with a combined total of 70  yrs. experience.
It has an indisputable  mathematical logic.
It also made me Laugh Out  Loud.

This is a strictly .....  mathematical  viewpoint... and it goes like  this:

What Makes  100%?

What does it mean  to give MORE than 100%?

Ever  wonder about those people who say they are giving  more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings  where someone wants you to give over  100%.

How about achieving 103%?

What  makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little  mathematical formula that might help you answer  these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J  K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is  represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14  15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then: 

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 =  98%

And 

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E 
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 =  96% 

But ,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E 
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 =  100% 

And, 

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T 
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 =  103% 

AND, look how far ass  kissing  will take you.

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G 
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7  = 118% 

So, one can conclude  with mathematical certainty, that while  Hard  work  and  Knowledge will get you close, and  Attitude  will get you there. Its  the  Bullsh!t   and  Ass  Kissing that will put you over the  top. 

Now you  know why Politicians are where they  are!      And some Management. And Some Coeworkers   ETC. ETC.  

 

Have you ever seen a better  explanation than this formula..............
.....................how true it is..... 

 

As I have 28 days 3 hours and six two one minute remaining before seat pins are pulled and cartridges fire, I've a feeling that the above message is currently in 1st place for a site-wide email to all and sundry (the best part of 2.5K employees, at a guess).  Should get a laugh, though I'll be sure to time it very late on my last day...

I could come up with worse, though it could backfire....

Rule 1:  Never, ever p!ss off a Trials Engineer.....

[The Lurker]

5 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

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:

 

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. 

I only know one song from South pacific, "Happy Talk". And that only because Captain Sensible did a version of it that I saw on Top of the Pops.

It hasn't made me want to explore further.

[Joseph_Pestell]

54 minutes ago, The Lurker said:

I only know one song from South pacific, "Happy Talk". And that only because Captain Sensible did a version of it that I saw on Top of the Pops.

It hasn't made me want to explore further.

 

You almost certainly know several songs from South Pacific. You just don't know that that is where they are from.

[45156]

3 hours ago, Shedman5 said:

Hmm glad this is today and not tomorrow! Though the forecast is not good oh well we will see if I make Glasgow!

 

Due to heavy flooding between Carlisle and Lancaster lines are blocked until further notice. There are rail replacement buses between Preston and Carlisle. Please check your journey before travelling here: https://avantiwestcoast.co.uk/live

 

 

 

Line appears to be open now, but with delays - so hopefully you will get there.

 

Afternoon All

 

Chris - happy birthday - I know it's tempered with sadness, but I always try to remember the good things about a deceased relative - and it has done me well over the 67 years that I have been on the planet.  It's 30747's birthday tomorrow, so you're in good company sharing your birthday week with her - and of course you share yours with Ivana Trump and Cindy Crawford and when I googled these were the only names I recognised among the so-called "celebrities" - she shares hers with Vanessa Feltz and Jilly Coope and when I googled hers, there was nobody listed whose name even meant anything to me, apart from Tuppence Middleton, who played a leading role in the FIshermens Friends film. 

 

I also plead loss of short term memory for not mentioning much - but nice of Ian to drop in and update us on the goings on and on Sherry.  And John - thanks for the news of Debs - hope she's back posting soon.  And generic greetings are on offer to anybody wels who is ailing or celebrating. 

 

Tomorrow 30747 has to work, but hopefully getting a lift, then she's got an appointment at the hairdressers after work, so I'll have to pick her up from there.  THe painting is finished and all the pictures have been put back in new positions, as I couldn't remember where they went - they are numbered, but since I numbered them, we changed the order to fit in a couple of new ones, so I took all the nails out, and then put them back in the new positions.

 

Back tomorrow (probably)

Regards to All

Stewart

Edited February 20, 2020 by 45156

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

KZ I'm ashamed to hear that you apparently drove right past Root One (just outside Wallingford on the road to Didcot, and Pendon) without calling in to sample one of their breakfasts.

 

In the meanwhile we have braved the various bits of well puddled road and crossed the swollen river Thames (twice) which is still flowing well with various land around it somewhat flooded over several miles.  we also passed the turning for a place called Purley-On-Thames where many years ago we went to look at a house (from the outside) and I turned round and drove away before we even got there explaining to herself that there was no way anybody could even give me a house down there let alone sell me one - some houses there are again flooded, alas for the poor s*ds who did buy there.

 

One real train was seen - the return empty Theale tanks waiting on Oxford Road Curve for a path westwards and somewhat late.   33.97 litres of diesel were duly procured but I failed to save 10.2p/litre compared with the price charged locally by EuroPakgarages because the actual saving was 14.2p/litre,.  We really are uin rip off land for fuel locally - the nearest BP station, about 6 miles away, is still  5p/litre of diesel cheaper than the billionaires are charging just down the road and the nearest Tesco is 13p/litre cheaper.

[Ian Abel]

Happy birthday Chris...

 

BIN day, dutifully took them out last evening, and realized just how bloody cold it is out there, having ventured out in shirt-sleeves rather than getting "sensibly" dressed. BIN chorus proceeded apace around 7:15, scattered trucks forecast for much of the morning.

 

Client woes continue as they try and reconcile various reports that have languished unused since I created them a year ago, with the other more popularly used ones <sigh>

 

Notification from the committee chair that we're a scant 3 weeks away from the first meeting for our Cabaret fund raiser for this year - October isn't apparently as far away as it may seem!

 

Will be happy hour and choir rehearsal tonight, something to look forward to, we WON'T be singing any Rogers and Hammerstein though

 

No precipitation here, well, it IS -24, but at least sunny, so not much in the way of moisture capable of being in air that cold!

Expected to be a balmy -10 for the high!

 

Tally ho...

Edited February 20, 2020 by Ian Abel

[roundhouse]

A good if wet day in Brum, Warwick and Banbury although wet. Pubs and beers great including a superb New Zealand beer in Tilt in Brum, a favourite small bar. However would rather be sampling in NZ like Baz.

 

A goid run back but Jerusalem in Clerkenwell is shut due to a technical issue. Odd as it serves ales from handpumps. So sitting in Brewdog waiting for other half to arrive. This bus advertising Daytona Beach. What a let down that place was when we visited some years ago but maybe its changed since the hobby shop closed

 

[TheQ]

A huge hailstorm over Norwich has been followed by heavy rain all around here, roads were awash.. 

 

Work went reasonably well,  annual Assessments part two,  supposed to be an hours interview,  with both of us on the run down to retirement it lasted about a minute.

These now of course have to be reviewed by management in the USA.  

 

The new structure means every other bloke in engineering has a different boss in the USA,  so instead of one USA boss needing to come over, there will be several.

 

Of visitors, we have three next week all on one project,  I'm not involved with it,  but with no deputy boss and the sacked main bosses seat vacant, two of these I'm told important people will be sat near me. 

 

The old sacked boss has found a new job,  right across the country in Somerset.. 

[Gwiwer]

Afternoon all.  Good it is not, particularly.

 

I stand with head bowed in the direction of the Land Downunder where two members of railway staff have lost their lives.  The Sydney - Melbourne XPT is off all wheels and well and truly in the dirt at Wallan, just north of Melbourne, with the loss of driver and pilot.  All passengers have been accounted for.  

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-51573326

 

I am aware of media and some informed-comment accounts as to why and how this occurred but we must not speculate.  Due process will determine fault.  

 

Other than that Thursday hasn't been at all bad.  I slept well, am almost free of medical embuggerances for the time being and a friend has announced the opening of the first play she has written.  We know her as an actress but she kept the writing very close to her chest until making the announcement.  We wish her well.  

 

It is time to think about de-freezing something to eat.  SWMBO mentioned something about home-made burglars.  Or something like that.  I'd better steal the minced beef from the bottom drawer

[leopardml2341]

Early finish didn't quite materialise, but it was early(er) than of late.

 

I have a very tired, for no apparent reason, Doggo on my lap as I sit dozing and 'watching' junk TV.

 

 

Life is good

 

Might be back later, but if not greetings (appropriate to whatever time of day) to all and wishing you a peaceful evening.

[polybear]

59 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Work went reasonably well,  annual Assessments part two,  supposed to be an hours interview,  with both of us on the run down to retirement it lasted about a minute.

These now of course have to be reviewed by management in the USA.  

 

The new structure means every other bloke in engineering has a different boss in the USA,  so instead of one USA boss needing to come over, there will be several.

 

Assessments?  And what a waste of space they are.

I was screwed during pay rise time about five years ago - when I asked why, they were coming up with complete and utter b0llox answers, such as:

1. Strives for a high quality output, sometimes at the expense of timescales (Me:  What about that urgent job you wanted half-way thru' the first one?....)

2. Needs more exposure to document writing (Me: I do what you tell me to do...)

And after chasing this all the way to HR, enquiring as to why these issues had never been raised before - giving me the option to correct their cobblers or apply corrective action, the HR response was:  "Your previous Assessments were being done wrong".  Again, total b0llox - they just wanted to lay the blame on my boss - who had no input to my pay rise and didn't agree with it - and told them so.

HR wouldn't budge on the pay rise (cos' the money would've gone to some Graduate in the first place, and I was being screwed purely to balance the books).

When I asked the next step in the process they were somewhat taken aback.  Their response was (and I use the exact words - not in writing unfortunately):

"Well, you could always use the formal grievance procedure, but you should think carefully before going down that route"  T0ssers.

 

I pondered doing so, but my Boss then tells me that "...they're Sh1tting on me now"

"Why?", says I

"Because they say I did your Assessment wrong"  (Subsequent Assessments have all been the same, including those by a different Boss - although Boss No.2 doesn't buy me a Bacon Roll, as Boss No. 1 did - prior to retiring last May)

 

So I let the matter drop, at least outwardly.  All I can say is there's more than one way to skin a cat

 

 

Edited February 20, 2020 by polybear

[petethemole]

Happy Birthday to Chris.  I was on much earlier but had to leave the PC to go out on an 'urgent' mission. In the rain.  It was accomplished but was folowed by other distractions and a shopping run. 

 

A landslip between Romsey and Salisbury has stopped the job for both SWR and GWR, with bus replacements.  I would have thought that SWR could operate part of their shuttle route (Salisbury to Romsey via Southampton and Eastleigh), i.e. a Romsey to Romsey shuttle.  I know the units live and are serviced at Salisbury, but they could be got onto their route via Basingstoke.  My trip to the Romsey show next month will therefore take longer, involving two service buses, but will be FREE, thanks to my Old Git's pass.  Living near Swaythling station, the train is much more convenient, and not exactly expensive, so I normally prefer it for trips to Romsey.

 

I'm having a rare evening out, to a gig by Old Time Rag, friends of Mrs mole.

 

Have a good evening,

 

Pete

[leopardml2341]

44 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

 

So I let the matter drop, at least outwardly.  All I can say is there's more than one way to skin a cat

 

 

Keep copious notes of conversations, indeed ask if you can record them (it's not 'entrapment' if you ask; if they refuse note that as well) email said notes to your boss and HR, asking them to confirm receipt, send copies to a bcc address of your own and turn on the delivered and read receipt options n your email client.

 

You'll then have all the evidence of such behaviour should you decide to use it, or if you need to.

 

I suppose it depends on personal circumstances, and what your risk aversion is, as to how far you take it.

 

I did this once and even the possibility that I was serious about taking action in the future based on the evidence collected created an immediate change in attitude. I didn't get anything out of it other than satisfaction, but then again I didn't lose anything either.

 

But, please do remember your health and wellbeing is the most important thing.

Edited February 20, 2020 by leopardml2341

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Time for a mugacaff tp get the day rolling.

Cloudy start to the day here.

 

Dudders, hope it all works out for A&F. Is Sherry on betablockers? They can cause breathing problems. 

 

Annual assessments.. waste of time in most places. I had to do them with my tea HR were not happy that I always followed up on the training needs identified. My response was "if you want me to ask the question you have to deliver the training"

 

 

Have a good "rest of the day"

 

Baz

[Danemouth]

1 hour ago, leopardml2341 said:

I have a very tired, for no apparent reason, Doggo on my lap as I sit dozing and 'watching' junk TV.

 

 

Our cocker spaniel sat next to me on the settee and let a silent but deadly escape. I soon moved her!!!  Rarely happens thank goodness,

 

Dave

[Joseph_Pestell]

6 minutes ago, Danemouth said:

 

Our cocker spaniel sat next to me on the settee and let a silent but deadly escape. I soon moved her!!!  Rarely happens thank goodness,

 

Dave

As much as I love spaniels, that is a serious downside of the breed. You are lucky if it only happens rarely with yours.

[grandadbob]

Taxi job done earlier but with one  slight problem. When they phoned asking to be collected I said "I'll be there in 10 minutes." I can't stop outside the place so they had to walk about 30 yards around the corner where I could pick them up. It was absolutely hissing down and blowing a mini gale.  Trouble was there are road works on the way and the traffic lights blew a fuse and weren't working so it took me 17 minutes. I  duly picked up two very damp passengers whose umbrellas had blown inside out. Ooops.

On the plus side this afternoon's doughnuts had more jam than I have ever seen in a doughnut in my life, it was flooding out!