Early Risers.

[grandadbob]

Thanks KZ. I always been very cautious ever since a new credit card was stolen (by our postman at the time) many years ago and 2/3K put on it (it was resolved successfully) and I check bank and credit card transactions daily. I have different pins for every bank and credit card and different passwords for every online account and website I visit. Depending on what sort of account some are very complicated but I usually manage to remember them. Just seems weird that I've forgotten a 4 figure pin.  

[jamie92208]

14 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

Be extremely cautious Bob! Watch your account for any strange transactions and chase the bank after 72 hours if you haven’t had the pin. A good friend was almost done by someone who applied for a new card in his name at one branch then a new password at another branch before he or an accomplice tried to collect my friend’s mail direct from the postman. The attempt failed due to a knowledgeable local postie and some smart private detective work by the two of them. The police couldn’t do anything because, as the crime was prevented, no crime was committed.

 

Nice to see the return of AndrewC and news of the boring borough.

Sounds like lazy plods. There are a multitude of offences that could have been investigated there including, attempts, conspiracy and I'm sure that there are offences involving Her Majesty's mails. However many of my former colleagues never bothered with more than a few basic offences. I ysed to enjoy using the lesser known ones.

 

 

Jamie 

 

 

[TheQ]

Well that's going to give me an expensive problem....

 

The banning of house coal..

 

A typical city dwell / parliament  response to a problem of fancy city houses getting stoves fiteed..

 

Those of us out in the country have no mains gas, live in old houses..

This will give us the choice of tanked LPG  3 time the price of mains gas or oil how long till they ban them? the final choice is electricity.. Also expensive and very unreliable..

 

I think a large amount of muddling tokens will go missing from next year..

[BSW01]

2 hours ago, 45156 said:

 

30474 has gone to work - she is now in her 64th year on the  planet, and if she had not been caught by the changes to State Pension Age, would now have been enjoying her State Pension for three years instead of having to wait another three before drawing it.

The same thing happened to Sheila, but luckily she only has to wait until next year to draw hers. 

[The Lurker]

3 hours ago, AndrewC said:

Greetings all from the noisy borough. 

 

I've given up trying to catch up on nearly 8 weeks of posts. That way madness lies, and I'm mad enough already. I'll just say congrats and commiserations as appropriate. 

 

A noisy but productive week. Network rail have the line closed and are doing work on stabilisation. Most of this is further along by Barnhurst but they've taken the opportunity to also shore up the embankment between Welling and Bexleyheath as well. Today is day 7 of 06:00-23:00 pile driving. Driving me to distraction. New road is closed for the crane and equipment making the High Street worse than ever for traffic as the favoured rat run is diverted.  

 

Building works continues next door. They've just started up with the breaker again in the last 10 minutes. Dunno what they are doing in there but they've filled a skip and a half with nothing but bricks and roofing slates. I have the feeling based on the amount of H section that was delivered recently, they are taking out all the chimney breasts internally and knocking the upstairs bedroom walls about. 

 

The old fence is gone. A shiny new metal one is in its place. That was 4  days of breakers, concrete saw, angle grinding, and other noise. At least the new fence should outlast me. 

 

That's about it. need more coffee. Enjoy the day. 

I read today about the project to dig new tunnels for the electricity supply from Wimbledon via New Cross and Hurst (North Cray) to Crayford. The CPO maps make it appear that this will be under one or other lane of the A2, cutting south near Black Prince and going to a substation near Joydens Wood. I imagine there will be sustained disruption for various parts of this too.

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from LBG. It is cloudy but the sun is trying to break through and the winds are strong. Which is entirely coincidental with me having just eaten a thali from one of the stalls in Borough Market.

 

We have had half a dozen different assessment systems in my time here, with messages from HR varying from these are important for your pay and bonus to your pay and bonus will not be affected to you must complete your assessment or you won't get paid a bonus, if indeed you get one.

 

In my time here the office has expanded from about 250 to 350 people. HR has gone from 5 to about 15. It strikes me as a good career for a young person to go into.

[AndrewC]

58 minutes ago, The Lurker said:

I read today about the project to dig new tunnels for the electricity supply from Wimbledon via New Cross and Hurst (North Cray) to Crayford. The CPO maps make it appear that this will be under one or other lane of the A2, cutting south near Black Prince and going to a substation near Joydens Wood. I imagine there will be sustained disruption for various parts of this too.

Joy unbound. Shame they couldn't just run the cables along with the Tideway tunnels. That construction is bad enough when trying to get through Greenwich & Rotherhithe. Imagine the circus of them disrupting the A2. 

[Tony_S]

7 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Tony that surprises me a bit but clearly there are differences across industries and HR cultures. In the employment world that I knew, being female with non-European ancestry would score higher on the diversity points and be much lower down the redundancy list.

Probably not an issue where she worked. She thinks they just picked old people who had had more than 4 days off in the past eighteen months for redundancy.  They of course didn’t count all those extra days spent at weekends or evenings.
 Aditi’s final jobs were in quality and assessment of teaching but I don’t recall HR being involved in her work. She didn’t think her job was to find fault but to improve/help/support if necessary. 
Tony

[Tony_S]

I had an early breakfast this morning as I wasn’t allowed food after 6am. I snoozed for a bit longer and we set off later to Southend for my heart tests. I had to sit on a recumbent exercise bike and pedal steadily for 6 minutes during an ecg and while chemicals were injected, one lot to stress the heart and another that was radioactive. After that a gentle walk and my fatty snack before heading to nuclear medicine. The procedure there was quite quick, about 10 minutes. I have to avoid pregnant women and young children for 24 hours after the test so I should be ok by tomorrow lunchtime. 
Tony

 

[Happy Hippo]

3 hours ago, TheQ said:

Well that's going to give me an expensive problem....

 

The banning of house coal..

 

A typical city dwell / parliament  response to a problem of fancy city houses getting stoves fitted..

 

Those of us out in the country have no mains gas, live in old houses..

This will give us the choice of tanked LPG  3 time the price of mains gas or oil how long till they ban them? the final choice is electricity.. Also expensive and very unreliable..

 

I think a large amount of muddling tokens will go missing from next year..

About two years ago, the Obergrumpenfuhrer and her brother demolished a small cottage which no longer reached the local authorities requirements as a rental property. 

 

In it's place was built a  modern three bedroomed property to all the latest building regulations.  Some would be very happy to live here as most of the internal walls are solid block and not plasterboard and paper.  Sound and thermal insulation are excellent.

 

However, we could not get it signed off by the building inspectors as it was required to have...... wait for it......a wood burning, or multifuel stove fitted!

 

Now they are going to ban the sale of coal and wet wood.

 

Is this another case similar to the diesel saga where we were all encouraged to buy diesel cars and then once we are all weaned onto them,  are told to get rid of them because now they are bad for the environment?

 

Personally everyone who I know with a stove capable of burning wood, thinks it ludicrous to even try to burn timber that has not thoroughly dried out. 

 

Aaddendum:

I have a rather large woodpile of nice dry timber, already cut for the fire, and I don't even have a stove or open fire in the house.

 

It's for me brazier kiddo!

Edited February 21, 2020 by Happy Hippo

[Happy Hippo]

11 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

About two years ago, the Obergrumpenfuhrer and her brother demolished a small cottage

Any more whilst she's at it?

 

 

 

[tigerburnie]

Afternoon all, what a day, first I'm ordered out of the house, "go play in your shed or greenhouse", that's different!!. Some shenanigans being planned for someone's birthday I'm guessing. Then it's decided we need more shopping, so butchers and the Tesco Grand Prix, came out the shop and SWMBO was almost blown off her feet, I don't like these gales, do so much flippin' damage, stay safe all.

[jamie92208]

4 hours ago, TheQ said:

Well that's going to give me an expensive problem....

 

The banning of house coal..

 

A typical city dwell / parliament  response to a problem of fancy city houses getting stoves fiteed..

 

Those of us out in the country have no mains gas, live in old houses..

This will give us the choice of tanked LPG  3 time the price of mains gas or oil how long till they ban them? the final choice is electricity.. Also expensive and very unreliable..

 

I think a large amount of muddling tokens will go missing from next year..

It surprises me that people are allowed to buy wet wood. The rule down here is that you must let wood season for 3 years before burning it.  There really would be a revolution if it was banned.  All the older houses in the village have the rights to cut timber in various places as part of their deeds. Usually about 20 parcels so that the first has regrown by the ti e you get round to it again.  If you do use the rights woods have to be replanted within 3 years of clearance. Everyone has wood piles and there is no problem of theft. This may be connected with the high level of firearm ownership.

 

Anyway I got the painting done, helped move a stive and have just finished playi g with the new toy aka the ride on mower. I like it. The back garden looks better.

 

Jamie

 

Jam

[Gwiwer]

Afternoon all.  Best wishes to Tony.  

 

Welcome to POETS Day.  Poetry is not possible in my line of duty but I was right on time with departure after a rather cheery morning with good-natured banter both among staff and with the customers.  

 

Backpack-carrying group : 

"Where can we find a train to Windsor?"

"Windsor? - an excellent choice if I may say so"

"Ah yes, we thought so too - we're from Noozilland"

"Ah Godzone ..... in thit case your train depearts from plitform sucks"

"Hey mate - thit was perfuct!!!"

 

Elderly couple : 

"Excuse me - where is the train to Olympia?"

"Olympia trains depart from platform 1 sir, up the stairs and turn right" 

"Ah thank you for that"

"And it's good to see you taking your daughter out for the day, sir"

<cue smile and big hug from flattered wife>

 

Dr. Acula has been consulted and blood has been found in my alcohol system.  They now have to count how many uric acid crystals are in there.  I return on Tuesday for the verdict and a discussion on whether or not I might be placed on preventive medication for the future or sit and wait for things to flare up (which might be another year or two) before bombing the system with pills then instead.  

 

The Hop Tisshun has also been consulted because comparison with old and new goggles has proven the old ones are the correct prescription while the new ones do not afford me pin-sharp distance vision as they should.  I return on Monday for a full re-test but today's verdict was "Ah - we think we know what the problem is" suggesting the aforesaid problem lies with their product and not with me.

 

SWMBO is home today and will be for next week in the final round of leave from work to submit her PhD thesis.  We have permission from the landlord and agent to manage the garden beds at our end of the block so that will be commenced tomorrow after purchase of a hoe.  The other tools we already own.  

 

It must be beer o'clock somewhere - it is always beer o'clock somewhere - therefore I need to cellar-brate with something appropriate to the time of week.  See you later.  Maybe   

[Tony_S]

58 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Any more whilst she's at it?

 

 

 

Was their small cottage in Russia?

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

Tesco has been shopped - mainly to procure salad items to accompany tonight's pork fillet, plus renewing the streaky bacon supply as present stock would not last beyond my lunch on Sunday.

 

When it comes to even dafter daft ideas and proscription from Govt I have to put the burning of wet wood pretty near the top of the list.  What kind of idiot (apart from US film maker)s actually thinks that anybody in their right mind would burn wet wood?  Everything that is cut in our garden and is of a size for domestic use in the stove is stood for at least a year and the fir we are using has been stood for over 7 years.  similarly the chap we buy y the occasional load from will nott sell wet wood for teh simple reason those who buy it would never go back to him.

 

And yes, I bought a diesasal powered car on the advice of Govt but at least it still chucks out less CO2 than petrol engined machines and considerably less than hybrids.  Oh, and it has the further advantage of saving Govt even more money by allegedly causing premature deaths although it seems their latest idea is to look to an imported virus to help in that respect if their lack of preparedness is any indication.  And surely if diesels were that dangerous in pumping out nasties even a British Govt would have banned them by now?

 

Right end of rant and back to birthdays.  We tend to celebrate mine and Mrs Stationmaster's with visits to The Mill At Sonning and mine always coincides with their annual Christmas/New Year season musical   So on my next birthday, all being well, I shall be watching a production of 'Top Hat' and wondering in the days beforehand who might be in it.  If they're looking for a good tap-dancer we might see Richard Gibson (Herr Flick in 'Allo 'all) who we've seen in the past in a musical at the Mill and who is a pretty good tap-dancer in anybody's money.

 

Talking of The Mill I see that the flooding of George Clooney's front lawn next door has made the national gutter press.  Odd to relate I did wonder at the time it was made public that he was buying the place if he knew that he was buying somewhere with a front lawn that was prone to being flooded?  If he didn't then he does now.

 

Enjoy the rest of your day one and all.

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.

 

Gast is flabbered about the wood - we have a burner, but only burn wood that is seasoned, there's no point otherwise, you use all the heat to dry the wood you put on the fire.  If we cut it ourselves (we have friends with land so if a tree falls we get a bit) we have a three year system, and other wood we buy from several suppliers here already seasoned, which stands here 6 months before it is used also.  Bu to ban wood sales....and coal.....how do they expect us country folk to heat ourselves, oh yes the fossil fuel gas....madness.  Or electrically,from....our gasfired power station.

[81C]

Morning All 

conversation with site manager Bob was that your new kitchen being delivered Me Yes Him have you got the OK from head office Me no Him you cant' put it in Me I'm not

it's my new lounge folley I had to buy  it now to get a mega discount Him you still need permission Me I know but i'm saving £1,500 Him you still can't Me I'm not going to live with that rubbish 

that is a poor excuse for a kitchen much longer I'm sure a company like yours would not treat me in an ungainly way Him no we wouldn't  Me thank you.

He stood there mouth agape for a minute or 2 thinking he had been outwitted . 

Went to B&Q and got my bathroom planned the chap was very helpful all free of charge this with the kitchen plans will be emailed to the freeholders office for approval 

4 weeks time the flat should look like a home instead of someone elses #hit hole. the lounge blind turned up yesterday better get that up so the nosey B'stards across the road 

can't doss in.

 

Minding him yesterday a skip driver left a skip on the drive but could not find the payment it was were it's was normally left, he stood in from of me and Big Boy was being me with his front paws on top of my shoulders 

matey broke out in a cold sweat WTF is that I told him he was an attack dog so don't move until I shut the door Zeus does not stop growing.  I'm sure matey would have #hit himself had Zeus got out.

 

Onwards and upwards  I.M. Painfree 

 

[Ian Abel]

POETS and a late posting, blame the client panic mode for that

 

We're after finding where $14 has gone astray between two reports, this will be fun considering the $ amount with the discrepancy is made up of a LARGE number of accounts and is in the range of $22 million!

 

A package arrived, containing 30ft (5 x 6ft) of LARGE brass metal strips separated by plastic bits  A bargain/decent win on eBay! All I need now is the snow to disappear and the weather to warm up and I can start "planting" them in the front garden

 

Will POE today, weekend plans have me supposedly starting on the basement organizing the revival of the currently dormant railway

We'll see how that works out - usually those plans fail to materialize it seems.

Tomorrow evening a dinner and play with friends.

 

-10 and sunny first thing, heading for a tropical +3 for the high - woo hoo!!

 

Enjoy the start of your respective weekends...

Edited February 21, 2020 by Ian Abel

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

Was their small cottage in Russia?

No the Gogledd gulag, but the family do get around in the property re-development market.

[pH]

10 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

We're after finding where $14 has gone astray between two reports, this will be fun considering the $ amount with the discrepancy is made up of a LARGE number of accounts and is in the range of $22 million!

 

That sounds like a case of "the sum of rounds very seldom equals the rounding of a sum". 

[BoD]

Evening all.

 

I'm happily (eh?) ensconced in a Premier Inn in Glasgow.  I visited some friends today and will 'do' Model Rail Scotland tomorrow.  I usually try to do it all in a day but this year I thought I would fit it over two. Much more civilised and relaxing.

Book far enough in advance and Premier Inns arent too bad a price and they are more than adequate for somewhere to kip overnight.

 

Weather is pretty bleak up here so I don't think I'll be hitting the town tonight.

[Kingzance]

SWMBO taken to her medical appointment this lunchtime, then Waitrose as was planned. After that, things got akin to sky-ward pointing mammaries. Firstly I had intended on picking up my next batch of medication although the chemist turned out to shut over lunch - grrrr! Second, I confused myself in terms of when the next Farmer’s Market takes place, a premature reaction on my part . I withdrew to lick my wounds / consider my next move. I decided that son-in-law’s failed chainsaw would benefit from attention. The starting problems were simply down to a blocked air filter, easily solved under the hot water tap. I then sharpened the chain, which would have struggled to cut butter without such care. Finally, a test run proved it would start easily and swiftly go through green-ish wood from a tree that fell in Storm Ciara. It will be cut up and split prior to stacking at the far end of their wood shed, probably not being required until autumn ‘22 at the earliest.

 

We have a wood burning stove and use that through the winter months, it cuts our use of gas. As others have said, wet wood doesn’t burn and suppliers of such would struggle to keep in business. The whole drive towards electricity is an absolute farce when you consider that we have to import around 10% of our electricity from mainland Europe and we generate around 30% of our own electricity from imported gas. A further proportion of our electricity comes from biomass, much of which is in the form of wood pellets that are grown and prepared in Canada before being shipped over here. Of course the real issue is actually about generating and storing electricity by methods that don’t create CO2 or particulates and doing that here to provide energy security. Every push to swap more consumption onto electricity should include a strong consideration of how that additional electrical demand can be met. Of course that means an ability to use “joined up” thinking, something that governments and activists seem unable to do, particularly if they are benefitting from financial support from the Big Six providers and network operators.

 

Time to crawl back under my stone...

[81C]

Very interesting. 

[tigerburnie]

We burn turf...….or peat...………….so where does that fit, oh hang on it's only England. wee Jimmie Crankie will no doubt get her minions to ban that up here.