Early Risers.

[newbryford]

Brother has made enough improvement to be moved back to Preston CCU from the specialist unit at Wythenshawe.

Slow and steady care plan in place, but obviously very, very strict on visitors, so I have to rely on SiL/nephew for updates. 

Still a long way to go.

 

Have a good Tuesday folks (if I don't check in again later - I'm self-isolating for a couple of hours in my shed)

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

 

 

 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

The weather has been very kind to me today, sunshine for the most part, but I little cloud first thing. So I was able to spend all day outside and I got plenty achieved, all the leaves were swept up, even those that had blown down the cellar steps and gathered around the cellar drain were cleared away. I also cut down both the buddleia and escallonia, but I haven’t yet dug up the stumps, so they are still in situ. All the pots were also cleared of the few weeds that had found a home and the whole garden is now looking a lot tidier. I managed to put 3 wheelbarrow loads of garden waste in the green bin and there is now very little room for anything else!

 

When Sheila got home from her Zumba class she’d received a couple of text messages from our GP’s, the first telling her that her diabetic review tomorrow has been cancelled due to Corvid19. The second reminding her NOT to forget to attend her diabetic review tomorrow, it seems like one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing. 

 

Later this evening I also had confirmation that Saturday’s MERG meeting has also been cancelled, disappointing but I was expecting it after the email I received yesterday. 

 

Goodnight all 

[The Stationmaster]

Evening all,

 

Advice from HM Govt - if somebody in your immediate family has symptoms you should all self-isolate for 14 days.  The Good Doctor works for an NHS Trust - their advice issued today is that if somebody in your immediate family had symptoms you should continue to report for work unless you have any symptoms yourself.  All elective surgery other than day surgery has ceased from this evening in the Oxford Trust hospitals.

 

Now something of relevance to a number of folk on here.  I recently came across a link to an article published in the Lancet which stated that studies had found that patients taking ACE Inhibitors or ARB type drugs are likely to suffer far more seriously from the virus if they become infected.  As I take Ramipril (an ACE inhibitor) and Metformin (an ARB type drug) I today rang my GP and finally received a call back from him.  He said that the first published information stated that what I said above was the case, however a more recent study has shown that it is not the case and a third study has indicated that taking of any drugs in these categories does not appear to have any adverse impact on those infected with the virus.  So he will not be changing any prescriptions but if any information comes to light that there are proven adverse effects he will revise prescriptions accordingly.  

 

Shame that Ally Pally has been cancelled but as I had already decided to suitably isolate myself from a visit there this year it makes no difference for me.  Apparently numerous major sporting events are now being crossed off at an ever increasing pace, it will be interesting to see what happens about the Regatta here especially as it is a very international event although it isn't until July.

 

All that sort of thing apart life goes on and herself managed a bit of time the greenhouse this afternoon whilst I was tasked with the cleaning of vacuum.  Far more importantly Lynda Snell has recovered consciousness and is talking but here the $64,000 question is have we moved on to a different actress in the role, tomorrow's 'Radio Times' ought to sort out that one.  And maybe the RT also let us know if Ambridge's fairly recently acquired immigrant (from Wales) builder will be having his collar felt by the HSE and will fans of 'The Archers' become acquainted with the mysterious letters HSW (also known as HASAWA, and DSEAR, and the 1999 Act in respect of health & safety management.  if the scriptwriters are really out to get him they are going to have a field day on this one.  And that's in addition to whatever insurance situations are going to emerge as Grey Gables' insurers hit him with a massive claim.

Edited March 17, 2020 by The Stationmaster

[andyram]

Hi all

 

Not been on for some time - more to do with other commitments than anything black dog related. I thought I would pop in today and wish everyone well. These are very worrying times and I hope that no-one here is suffering from the virus or knows anybody who is. My best wishes and thoughts to you all.

 

The reason for my absence is due to our new arrival of the foster child variety. This has led to lots of meetings. Naturally I cannot say too much on these pages, but said child has settled in very well. The online marking continues for me, although not at the pace which of more recent times. That will be a worry because the latest government developments will probably kill trade to the shop. I am sure that I will not be he only model shop owner to be suffering a downturn in trade for the foreseeable future due to the restrictions (advisory or otherwise) placed on people and the resulting and understandable cancellation of shows. My best wishes to all fellow shop owners too. That said, I admit to feeling more than a little bewildered at present. The business is now 18 months old and, relatively speaking, progress has been pleasing. But in that time I have had to contend with  1 major fraud attack, a period of closure and a downturn because of flooding, 2 shows invite me and then cancel their invites and now the pandemic!!!!!

 

Stay safe everyone.

 

Andy

[Ozexpatriate]

2 minutes ago, andyram said:

... 1 major fraud attack, a period of closure and a downturn because of flooding, 2 shows invite me and then cancel their invites and now the pandemic!

Andy, you've certainly had a rough start to the business. Hang in there. Here there is much discussion over how to support small businesses and employees through this crisis though nothing concrete has been enacted other than some mandatory paid sick leave.

 

Congratulations on being selected for foster care. Best wishes for that endeavour.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[BR60103]

I received a list of railway shows today and mostly was a list of cancels.  I think everything to April 4 is cancelled by the location.

The Platelayers will be discussing the Great British Train Show soon; it's possible that it may be cancelled by the recreation centre. SWMBO has told me I'm not going anyway.

Our local mall has announced that it will not open unil noon.  I don't understand what good that will do.

 

We have neighbours who are returning this week from Florida.  We wonder if they will have to isolate themselves.

 

[pH]

1 hour ago, BR60103 said:

We have neighbours who are returning this week from Florida.  We wonder if they will have to isolate themselves.

 

Absolutely! Our son and his family cut short a holiday in Hawaii when the Canadian government  advised that they should, arrived back here on Monday at 1 AM, and have started 14 days of 'self isolating'. Apparently CBSA haven't been too good about telling people arriving in Canada that they should be 'self isolating', but they're now being reminded that they should be doing so.

[Joseph_Pestell]

6 hours ago, andyram said:

Hi all

 

Not been on for some time - more to do with other commitments than anything black dog related. I thought I would pop in today and wish everyone well. These are very worrying times and I hope that no-one here is suffering from the virus or knows anybody who is. My best wishes and thoughts to you all.

 

The reason for my absence is due to our new arrival of the foster child variety. This has led to lots of meetings. Naturally I cannot say too much on these pages, but said child has settled in very well. The online marking continues for me, although not at the pace which of more recent times. That will be a worry because the latest government developments will probably kill trade to the shop. I am sure that I will not be he only model shop owner to be suffering a downturn in trade for the foreseeable future due to the restrictions (advisory or otherwise) placed on people and the resulting and understandable cancellation of shows. My best wishes to all fellow shop owners too. That said, I admit to feeling more than a little bewildered at present. The business is now 18 months old and, relatively speaking, progress has been pleasing. But in that time I have had to contend with  1 major fraud attack, a period of closure and a downturn because of flooding, 2 shows invite me and then cancel their invites and now the pandemic!!!!!

 

Stay safe everyone.

 

Andy

We are all suffering from the virus, even if we have not got it.

 

My pub was supposed to be reopening on 4 April. That's dead in the water and no real idea when or indeed if we might re-start the renovation works. Assistant Manager started her job yesterday. I can't keep her on with no money coming in. But she is vital to the future success of the business.

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all, though some may well wonder what is good about it.

 

I'll start with the good news.  Last night's concert with Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham at The Stables was excellent but there were many empty seats even though it had been a near sell-out.  The new CD has gone straight into the car and is spared the period of purdah that is time in the hessian bag.  Before that I made a bowl of batter and turned it into pancakes despite Lent being in full swing.  Earlier still I did the fodder run and was mildly surprised not to find cans of baked beans and pork sausages available.   To what is the world coming?

 

The rest of the day was carnage.  In addition to taking several exhibitions down the guidance/advice issued by the Government took with it St Neots Folk Club and Stevenage Locomotive Society and doubtless many other well-meaning organisations.  The Today programme is telling us as I type this that we SHOULD all do what was promulgated yesterday rather than SHALL.  As it happens, I am due to preside over an Area Group meeting tomorrow night in a pub - hardly a mass gathering, sadly.  If I have my way it will go ahead but this depends on the pub management.  I will check later if and when it is open.  I need also to cancel my b&b in Wakefield thanks to the demise of Scalefour North.  Up to now I have been impressed with the Government's handling of the virus crisis.  Now it appears that the scaremongers have taken over the asylum.  As a 72 year old with cancer I am considered vulnerable.  The advice/guidance may well delay the arrival of the virus in my system but it will not stop me going stir crazy through social isolation.

 

It's good to see Andyram posting again.   I hope that the fostering brings all that he would wish.

 

Chris

[Joseph_Pestell]

6 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Congratulations on being selected for foster care. Best wishes for that endeavour.

 

I'll second that. My wife and I went through the process about eight years ago. It was very demanding, perhaps the most difficult thing that I have done.

 

Although, ultimately unsuccessful (too honest!), it was very worthwhile in terms of self-analysis. I learned a lot about myself and some of the key moments in my life that I had tried, unwisely, to suppress.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

After the scalpel incident yesterday I will self isolate myself from said object of pain today. Pah!

 

I just wish that the leaders of this land would stop pußy footing around and shut pubs etc. If Monsieur Macron can do it why can't Doris.

 

Thanks for the update Mike. My review is due but I have postponed it.

 

Shame about Roy Hudd. I grew up listening to the News Huddlines and his music hall repartee on the "Good Old Days". 

 

Not sure what to do today a walk to get milk and bread looks in order. 

 

Look after yourselves everyone, grab today and use the time wisely.

 

Positive thoughts to all who ail!

 

Baz

Edited March 17, 2020 by Barry O

[roundhouse]

Morning from another sunny day. Loo roll hunting was a failure yesterday but did get a rough idea as to when they normally arrive into the local Sainsburys. However they did say that they sell out within 10 minutes so will head there to see if I can get a 4 pack. many aisles were empty when we walked round the place.

After that I may go for a trip to Tonbridge now the line has reopened. I suspect that I will have a whole carriage to my self as its a quiet train at the best of times since they cut back the service and it became unreliable a few years ago.

 

No beer today but I  may still be able to visit the local pubs once in a while as long as they are still open. Some are already very quiet so again little risk.

 

Stateside I see that many others have now shut including all of Rogues establishments. Gigantic is open for take out only as quite a few others are. One of our local craft bars is staying open for now but encouraging takeout from their well stocked fridges.

 

We can certainly last a lot longer with our beer mountain than we can with our dwindling loo rolls.

 

My brother in Devon on the other hand said that the brewery he is working for is going to struggle to survive as 95% of their business is to local pubs. brother in HK has sent me a video of loo rolls locked in the safe but with it only large enough for one roll it wont be much use for very long!!

 

Stay safe and happy modelling with some, especially those with a B in their name, without sharp instruments

Edited March 17, 2020 by roundhouse

[BoD]

Top of the morning to you all ☘️

 

 

The National Trust will be closing all properties from Friday.  This takes a difficult decision away from me. Lands, parks and gardens will remain open.

Chrisf, two of my favourite performers. I’m not surprised the CD has been marked for immediate attention.

[BoD]

11 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

Being the total Anti Social F**k Pig that I am.......

..... and all this time you’ve been conning us into thinking you were a hippo.

[TheQ]

OK which comedien in Microsoft changed the settings so that when every file comes up it says" protected view , This is to protect you from viruses. Are you sure you wish to procede.?"..

 

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare, 992/621.

Another good nights sleep of only 6 hours but solid.. helped by little pink pills..

 

One thing that worries me is I'm due to retire in 2 years, Like many, the final pension amount will depend on an annuity . With the way the economy has crashed,  I don't think it will recover rapidly, though there will be a small bounce once the inital panic is over. We were coming up to being due another recession, as they occur every 10 years or so, however I think this one will be deeper than normal..

 

My Summer sailing club has cancelled the Rigging Out dinner due on  Saturday evening, and the lecture of setting up sailing boats for performance  by one of the top sailers /sail makers in the UK. Expected Audience for either was about 100....

 

The visit to the big orange shed was successful, a new planer was bought, two scaffolding boards of 8ft, roof of garage for the walking on, plus the needed nuts and penny washers for the Inkle loom.

 

With the planned  isolation of over 70's, I think the MRC meetings will  be missing about half it's membership, So that would mean only 4 or 5 on the "quiet" Friday evening meeting, I think I can take the risk of sitting at my layout, with the others spread down the room..

 

Time to continue with measuring this major system...

 

 

 

 

[BlackRat]

The worlds gone mad, mad I tell you.......

Are the powers to be deliberately about to crash the entire worlds economy? 

I cant help but think the results of the mass hysteria that is currently happening could potentially have far more disastrous results than the virus.

 

Having returned over a week ago from the Tirol....... With some symptoms, I contacted my GP, NHS111 ( repeatedly) GP again, several times and was just bounced about from one place to another, and 9 days after returning and still fluey I still have no answers to my questions.

 

So carry on as normal? 

 

Ill await the next announcement...... I'm sure as soon as it starts to bite important hedge fund holders in the pocket....it will soon revert to normal.

 

Good luck and best wishes everyone.

 

ps.......small bit on the news this morning.......a Zoo in a secret location has discovered some of its Chimps can talk...........

 

[Happy Hippo]

7 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

All that sort of thing apart life goes on and herself managed a bit of time the greenhouse this afternoon whilst I was tasked with the cleaning of vacuum.  Far more importantly Lynda Snell has recovered consciousness and is talking but here the $64,000 question is have we moved on to a different actress in the role, tomorrow's 'Radio Times' ought to sort out that one.  And maybe the RT also let us know if Ambridge's fairly recently acquired immigrant (from Wales) builder will be having his collar felt by the HSE and will fans of 'The Archers' become acquainted with the mysterious letters HSW (also known as HASAWA, and DSEAR, and the 1999 Act in respect of health & safety management.  if the scriptwriters are really out to get him they are going to have a field day on this one.  And that's in addition to whatever insurance situations are going to emerge as Grey Gables' insurers hit him with a massive claim.

I won't go into the technicalities of building a fuel air bomb, but this story line in The Archers is riddled with technical inaccuracy.  Yes petrol (gasoline) fumes are volitile, but the amount needed to create an explosion of the magnitude to bring down parts of the structure would have had 'Blake' dead from inhalation of the fumes and the building and it's grounds reeking of fuel long before the level required for such an event was reached.

 

Although the scriptwriters may wish to 'get him' in reality the system goes for the company not the individual. 

 

I think the insurance situation is easily resolved, providing the company has the legally required public liability insurance. Once described to me as insurance specifically to protect against one's own stupidity or negligence.  

[Happy Hippo]

34 minutes ago, BoD said:

..... and all this time you’ve been conning us into thinking you were a hippo.

ASFP is a term of endearment within the world wide hippo community.

[AndrewC]

Good moaning all. cough cough. I'm now really self isolating as I've come down with a cold. I fear if I walked into a pub or shop and started coughing, I'd cause mass panic. I'm not worried here though. It is one of my 3 annual colds. (Christmas, late March, June) Its like bloody clockwork sometimes. Although the Chrimbo cold was early this year. 

 

Ian, if you are in Tonbridge, you must visit Fuggles. The frequently have De Molen and Omnipollo on tap. Support our pubs and restaurants as the government has hung them out to dry. By telling people to avoid but not actually forcing closure, the government is negating the business's insurance. Asshats. 

 

SWMBO had another quiet commute today. We think this may be her last day in the office if the hoofw*nking sp**kmuppets in her IT dept can sort out everyone's remote working. They issued her with a laptop last week that sort of works but she can't get into all the main systems that she needs. Typical. 

 

Not much else to say. Stay healthy all. Enjoy the day. Enjoy the silence if you are at home. 

[Andrew P]

17 minutes ago, BlackRat said:

 

 

ps.......small bit on the news this morning.......a Zoo in a secret location has discovered some of its Chimps can talk...........

 

Do you mean the House of Commons?

[jamie92208]

Good moaning. Apparently  the lockdown starts in 2.5 hours time.  Kits will be slrted into order of priority this afternoon  with potential completion  dates appended. The year 2100 comes to mind.  Should I go OTT and create a spreadsheet listing them all then weight their priority on several factors suchbas availability  of parts, paints, transfers etc along with how soon they are needed in the Green Ayre train plan.  

 

We are now waiting for the French Government  website to be updated with the form we need for travel. Apart from that we are fine. Stocks of French, Scottish and English (gin) liquid antiseptic  are high and as mentioned above the kit mou tain is adequately  stocked.

 

I hope that all those worse effected can get through this OK and Baz, please don't set up a GDB impersonators group. 

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

6 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

Do you mean the House of Commons?

Having just seen a certain press conference on the telly, I did wonder who the chimp near the scientific advisor was.

 

Jamie