Early Risers.

[TheQ]

Mooring awl,  inner Temple Hare, 

Seven hours solid sleep for a change,  there might of been more but Ben the alarm clock Collie wanted out. 

Ben found a rabbit to chase... It wasn't white.. 

He's now lying outside of his bed,  his walk yesterday was a long one,  he's suffering with his joints I think.. 

It's cold windy,  but not a cloud in the sky out there,  a review of the garden shows we have several daffs of our own now in flower. The Alexander is growing rapidly and  I need to mow it down,  but the ground is just too soggy at the moment.  The Met office has announced it the wettest February on record, I suspect it's the windiest as well. 

 

Porridge has been consumed,  Muggacoffee number 1 is awaiting.. 

 

Time to sup...

 

[5 C]

Morning all,

 

Yesterday was spent pruning. First a trip to the barbers then the buddleia. It's now suitably hacked back (the buddleia not my hair which is rather neater) and is bewildering assorted goldfinches, blue tits, sparrows and dunnocks who 24 hours ago, were using it as a convenient jumping off point for the adjacent feeders.

 

I was particularly pleased I managed to cram all the trimmings into my single person-sized garden waste bin which won't be collected for another two weeks.

 

Yesterday's fine if rather windy weather gave me a chance to examine the next candidate for a shearing. It's a juniper bush which my mother gave me when I moved into this house nearly 27 years ago. It was barely a few inches tall back then but has since grown into 20 foot plus monster.

 

In the wind it sways noticeably at the top but I was more concerned about the damage it might be doing to the fence. Every breath of wind produces an ominous squeaking sound. I needn't have worried as it seems the arris rail has worn a neat v-shaped groove into the trunk whilst remaining apparently undamaged. Nevertheless some careful pruning will be done once there is room in the bin.

 

In other news, washing is on, porridge and muggertea are being consumed, Body Attack at 9am may or may not happen. Ironing and housework later.

 

Have a good White Rabbits day everyone.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Blue sky and sunshine here!  However there may be some blustery showers later.

More rugby watched and enjoyed last night, the Gloucester v Sale match recorded from Friday. Gloucester managed to lose again, now 5 matches in succession I believe.

Like Q I had a solid 7 hours sleep. Most unusual. The Boss was up at 7.00 and brought tea up to me. Most unusual.

She has already asked what I'd like for breakfast and not unusually I have chosen a small cooked breakfast with eggs , bacon and toast being prominent. Marmlade will probably also appear at some stage.Not unusual at all, at all.

It would appear that "The house is a tip and we need to do something about it." As usual the house is most definitely not a tip but it's probably best not to argue if I don't want to wear my breakfast. To that end, as usual, I will assist where directed and wait for a message later advising me that I have a parcel ready for collection from Waitrose. 

Seems like things will proceed as usual here at GDB Towers,

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

 

Edited March 1, 2020 by grandadbob

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Time for sleep!

 

Baz

[Oldddudders]

1 hour ago, roundhouse said:

A pint before lunch then a final one afterwards before other half then drove both of us home via the A24 which was busier than normal and then queuing on the A25 at Betchworth

I was born in a cottage on the A25 at Betchworth, not near the roundabout which I suspect was the scene of your delay, but about a mile back towards Dorking, next to the big roadhouse pub - is it a Harvester or similar these days? Then it was the Barley Mow. Mind you, that roundabout was then a crossroads. Much of the road between Dorking and Reigate had been improved in the 1930s, I think, and that stretch from the new Barley Mow to Buckland was new then. The old Barley Mow was on the Old Reigate Road that I used to walk along to skool, and had long become a dwelling by then. In the early '50s two boys a bit older than me lived there, and introduced me to model railways! It was demolished in the 80s, - I think.

[Kingzance]

Good morning,

 

I have a loose connection with The Reverend James ale in that I was helping Buckley’s Brewery to Improve the cleaning of their brew house vessels and pipe work when the then Head Brewer was developing it for re-launching around 1990. This was of course in Llanelli and before Bass closed that site and put the portfolio under the SA Brains label. It isn’t an unpleasant beer but I enjoyed it more when it had a darker colour, was stronger (5.2%) and it was available in draught.

 

In order to avoid confusion, Mr Barry Oliver (currently on missionary work in The Land Of The Long White Cloud) is a Durham lad but is so committed to his missionary work that he normally practices that from within Yorkshire . How do I know this? He put me right a while back!

 

I return to the embrace of ERs after an eventful day spent testing the emergency provision of the NHS. I started off with severe pains in my ribs so went to the pharmacist who suggested a trip to A&E. Not wishing to be an extra burden on the system, I chose instead to call the NHS helpline. With my previous medical history, the call handler decided I could be having another cardiac incident and so despatched an ambulance to me. After all sorts of tests, this very professional team were able to say with 99% confidence that I was not suffering from another one. They did say that I should perhaps have a blood test to check for the remaining 1% possibility and made out all the necessary paperwork to allow me to proceed to The Lister in Stevenage - I didn’t want to go by ambulance as I really didn’t feel I was a valid case anyway! Anyway, after some several hours in A&E, blood and urine was surrendered (I was less concerned about the latter than the former), my aorta was checked and I was given the all clear from any cardiac concerns, liver or kidney issues. Intercostal muscular strains will not be so quick to solve! For those who complain about the NHS, I was seen by five people in total, they were immensely professional and caring and I cannot praise them highly enough! I saw at least as many police officers whilst I was there and probably twice as many administrators!

 

Today will be spent trying to find ways of not aggregating my strains!

[AndyB]

Morning all. Back from the south west. The funeral was what you might expect. My friend brought in to Nimrod, his coffin draped in the union flag; his comrades showing no outward emotion whatsoever. A bugler played Last Post and Reveille.

In a speech given at his wake it was clear he was exceptional even by the high standards of the Corps. 

 

[Happy Hippo]

Never mind White Rabbits. 

 

Today is Red Dragon Day.

 

 

[roundhouse]

1 hour ago, Oldddudders said:

I was born in a cottage on the A25 at Betchworth, not near the roundabout which I suspect was the scene of your delay, but about a mile back towards Dorking, next to the big roadhouse pub - is it a Harvester or similar these days? Then it was the Barley Mow. Mind you, that roundabout was then a crossroads. Much of the road between Dorking and Reigate had been improved in the 1930s, I think, and that stretch from the new Barley Mow to Buckland was new then. The old Barley Mow was on the Old Reigate Road that I used to walk along to skool, and had long become a dwelling by then. In the early '50s two boys a bit older than me lived there, and introduced me to model railways! It was demolished in the 80s, - I think.

Yes that large pub is still there. It closed after being a Harvester but eventually reopened after a while as another foody pub. The Dorking to Reigate bus still takes the old road past the pub into Betchworth village and you can guess where it often passes a lorry!

 

The roundabout is normally very busy in peak hours but rarely at weekends.

[Shedman5]

Morning,  Very busy here at Shedman Towers, yesterday I managed to visit the Preston exhibition ( there for when the doors opened) and get back to greet to meet my 8 week old grandson making his first trip north.

Youngest son has arrived so it a full house and lots going on. Its going to be very quiet from Tuesday lunchtime onwards here.

 

Enjoy your day everyone

 

Alan

[Coombe Barton]

6 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Funnily enough this leap day, multiple news outlets have picked up the same story of an alternative, permanent calendar proposed by two Johns Hopkins University professors where every January 1st starts on a Monday (each date has the same day of the week) and each quarter has months of 30, 30 and 31 days respectively.

In 1928 the UK Parliament passed the Easter Act which stated, subject to multiple agreements, that Easter Sunday would be the Sunday after the second Saturday in April.

It has never been implemented.

I just wonder why anyone want to change something that's been used for 2000 years or more? The two Americans seem to want change for change's sake. And to make it work in the UK practically every Act of Parliament would have to be changed.



 

Edited March 1, 2020 by Coombe Barton

[Danemouth]

A happy St David's Day to you all from the capital of the Principality.

 

Remember there are only two kinds of people in this world - those who are Welsh and those that wish they were Welsh

 

Dave

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

We have cancelled our trip to Enfield. We ate out last night. Aditi is “not well” this morning. We ate the same things last night except  that she also had fruit salad and some wine (a glass, not a huge glass either ). 
So a quiet day at home I think.

Tony

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright and sunny at the mo so I might pop down into the town later. Muggatee to be drunk first though, be back later.

[newbryford]

It's a bit breezy in the Southern Uplands of the Yorkshire Dales oday, but at least there isn't liquid sunshine - yet.

Work is being worked, hockey to be watched later wearing my present from Junior NBs recent US trip - a Carolina Hurricanes cap.

 

Preston Ex is normally visited, but not this year as work calls.

 

Have a good Sunday folks.

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

 

Edited March 1, 2020 by newbryford

[Gwiwer]

Good Morning all,

 

Bright and Breezy Upon the Hill this morning with a cold shiny thing where the heater usually is in the sky.  

 

A rather poor night's sleep was had for reasons which elude me because I wasn't awake at the time   I was awake at 06.55 and felt as though a large vehicle had been driving to and fro across me. I suspect I had dozed off with my head in a position which made the passage of air through the tubes more difficult than was ideal.  All's becoming well now after a breakfast which included both cracked black pepper on the fried eggs and hot green chilli sauce.  

 

I wasn't asleep last night when Former Neighbour (Upstairs) messaged for a chat.  I haven't heard a lot from her for a while but I know things haven't all been good.  She has walked away from her job after finding the excessive hours - well - excessive and utterly draining.  Contracted for 8-5 she was working more like 7-7 every day and getting home too tired to even eat properly.  She now has a shiny new man in her life and is keen to catch up over lunch one day next week now that she isn't constrained or exhausted by the job.  

 

Antisocial media can be wonderful.  My inner teenager posted a picture of last night's tiramisu just because it was a very generous portion.  Overnight it brought from the woodwork of my life a couple of comments from folks I knew back at the Palace of Attendance but haven't heard from since.  So a humble and somewhat ridiculous image of a dessert may be responsible for the reawakening of a couple of good friendships .........  

 

Life eh?  Can't beat it.  

 

I hope Sunday treats you all kindly.  White Rabbits if it matters.  Pinch Punch if that's what you do.  

 

 

Edited March 1, 2020 by Gwiwer
Because Muggertee

[81C]

Morning All 

Sunny and bright 

Up with the lark and crept back in as usual fell out at 8:30 woken by a phone call it was my Babe to say the break down guy had fixed her car 

didn't even know it was cattled off out to a Beefeater tonight food is better than the Spoons we went in last week I wanted to go posh but she

says its waste of money still a Beefeater is posh judging by the remarks on this forum.

I'm a bit down today I've not had my bin lorry fix still I can squirm tomorrow as they will be collecting rubbish from 6 house waste bins. 

It's coming up to lunch time so I better get on enjoy your day S.T.Arvinn 

[BSW01]

Good afternoon everyone 

 

A bit late on parade today, due to a long lie-in this morning. The sun is shining and the skies are blue, but the strong winds mean I'll stay indoors. So, its back downstairs to continue working on the shelving, hopefully I'll be at the stage where I can drill the walls tomorrow for the fixings. 

 

Enjoy whatever you've got planned for the day. 

 

Back later 

[TheQ]

Afternoon awl, 

Much Ivy,  cleared from back of garage,  once I'd just got to halfway I found a major crack in the wall. Above that a piece of the beam  supporting the roof18.5 inches long had badly rotted.  So I chiseled  the remains away and scarfed in a treated piece of new beam.  Then,  the hollows between the asbestos roof and the beam were filled with expanding foam..  The crack I think has been partly caused by expanding rusting bolts through the wall,  they hold a support beam for the center of the roof. I'm going to research what to inject into the crack to seal it from the weather.. 

 

After that I returned to the house for a warm up and Muggacoffee  I was exposed to the force of Horhay and not in the sun at that time of day. 

Going out again to the garage,  the hydrodynamic pieces were powerplaned to rough size,  next week  a hand plane will be employed to finish,  a spokeshave will be deployed to finish the dillet. 

 

After a Muggacoffee and a corned beef and onion sarnie,  I returned to the back of the garage,  now in full sun.  More Ivy cleared,  and you can see the length of the wall  though it's not finished.

 

One certain discovery is the roof panels are second hand,  there are lots of extra holes covered by tar patches.  Some have now failed and will need repair. 

 

Next week finish the back  then start clearing the roof.. After which those holes can be fixed.. 

 

Time to... Go have a long soak in the bath.. 

 

 

[Ozexpatriate]

7 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

I just wonder why anyone want to change something that's been used for 2000 years or more? The two Americans seem to want change for change's sake.

Fear not. In an interview broadcast on CBS news they admitted that they'd been at it for 20 years and no one has shown any interest.

 

All measurements of time, with our Babylonian twelves (extrapolated to sixties and three hundred and sixties) are a dog's breakfast but they are too much in place to change. It took Great Britain 170 years to adopt the Gregorian Calendar.

 

A calendar where the ninth through twelfth months are named as months 7 - 10 is quite absurd but it is what it is. It's also odd that we would use a solar calendar, yet it is offset by around ten days from a meaningful solar observation, something the calendar proposal does not address and actually aggravates.

 

The French Republican calendar lasted twelve years before Napoleon abolished it. Without doing pointlessly detailed careful calculations (I found an on line converter) today is 12 Ventôse an CCXXVIII. Even the Republican French with the opportunity to resolve the "year 1" problem didn't and argued about it for years. The Republican French of course did decimalize time, with 10 decimal hours per day of 100 decimal minutes, each with 100 decimal seconds, but it didn't catch on even when mandated and even then they used twelve months.

 

Edited March 1, 2020 by Ozexpatriate
Changed the French date

[PhilJ W]

Evening from Estuary-Land. Where has today gone? the simple answer to that is I've spent the latter half of the afternoon on eyelid inspection. Managed to nip into town earlier to find that a small car park that had been closed has been re-opened. Not many people seem to be aware of it (yet) so it was only half full. Thats it for now, be back later.

[newbryford]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

 

 

All measurements of time, with our Babylonian twelves (extrapolated to sixties and three hundred and sixties) are a dog's breakfast but they are too much in place to change. It took Great Britain 170 years to adopt the Gregorian Calendar.

 

 

 

 

This is the Greg or Ian calendar.

 

Monday: Greg

Tuesday: Ian

Wednesday: Greg

Thursday: Ian

Friday: Greg

Saturday: Ian

Sunday: Greg

 

As a aside, I used to work making calenders - not calendars.......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calender

 

Hockey report later.

Need to warm up first.

 

 

[leopardml2341]

This weekend has been, shall we say indifferent. Think I may be contracting something......

 

Goodnight all.

 

Best wishes to those with worries, ailments, hopes or fears.

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.

 

We once again missed the horgay rain, but boy oh boy did we get the wind.   Last night was wild (livid even) and this morning little better, but things have quietened down now, perhaps the island has run aground over by Simon somewhere.  The day ended bright, outside of my car even got washed, Mrs NHN's.....er not.  Oops.

 

Little damage apparent, I thing everything that could be blown down already has, last weekend.

 

I used to maintain a calender in the hospital laundry, way back when I had just left the sea and worked in NHS estates, it was used to iron bedsheets. There was also a gadget it fed into that folded them, that was clever.  When it worked.  Took a bit of setting up, then it wasn't NHS Laundry Operative proof.....far from it.

 

 

[brianusa]

15 hours ago, chrisf said:

In November and December this strategy goes for a burton when I send out my seasonal greetings cards using stamps bought specially. 

"Goes for a Burton"

Does anyone use that phrase anymore?  I picked it up amongst others from my Dad who was in the RAF but that was a long time ago!

    Brian.