Early Risers.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all from Cell Block GDB,

It's dull and dismal outside and was raining earlier but it's stopped - for now.

Two x grandkids rather concerned now. Gem's doing GCSEs and Joe's doing A levels and wants to go to university. Only good thing is that their mock results and predicted grades are quite good (if that's what gets used) but they were both working really hard to improve. Prior to the school closure announcement Joe had been told that he must stay at home for 12 weeks social distancing etc as he is Type 1 diabetic. This also means that he's having to give up his part time job at Waitrose so he's a bit gutted. At least he'll now have the company of both his sisters as Abbie is WFH.

We have a Sainsbury's delivery due today but have already been advised that we'll only get about 60% of it. That's better than nothing and we'll be OK for a while. Kids and neighbours are in touch daily to check if we're OK and in need of anything.

"Somebody" in the house thinks that "we" could do some decorating. That somebody is not me! Oh no. 

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit grey this morning and evidently it rained last night. I have enough food stocks in for the present but in a day or two I will have to get more bread and milk, hopefully the numpties will have stopped panicking. A woman has been caught smuggling loo rolls.

[The Stationmaster]

13 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Good morning all from Cell Block GDB,

It's dull and dismal outside and was raining earlier but it's stopped - for now.

Two x grandkids rather concerned now. Gem's doing GCSEs and Joe's doing A levels and wants to go to university. Only good thing is that their mock results and predicted grades are quite good (if that's what gets used) but they were both working really hard to improve. Prior to the school closure announcement Joe had been told that he must stay at home for 12 weeks social distancing etc as he is Type 1 diabetic. This also means that he's having to give up his part time job at Waitrose so he's a bit gutted. At least he'll now have the company of both his sisters as Abbie is WFH.

We have a Sainsbury's delivery due today but have already been advised that we'll only get about 60% of it. That's better than nothing and we'll be OK for a while. Kids and neighbours are in touch daily to check if we're OK and in need of anything.

"Somebody" in the house thinks that "we" could do some decorating. That somebody is not me! Oh no. 

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

It is a known scientific fact that the virus lingers for longer on glossy surfaces.  As paint tins have glossy surfaces it is immediately obvious that you are exposing yourself to greater risk of infection if you purchase tins of paint,.  it is of course. possible that those members of a household who are less familiar with the purchase and use of d-i-y materials or who merely issue 'I think' instructions won't know this and they need to be informed.

[BSW01]

I had to go to Sainsbury’s this morning to get some leeks and courgettes for the soup I’m making.

 

 

As you can see, I went into full panic mode!

[Rugd1022]

Morning all,

 

Something I can't quite get my head around is the reaction from some quarters to the schools being closed down - for days, even weeks in some cases, many of those within the education system (and many parents outside of it) have been calling for schools, colleges and universities to be shut but now that the decision has been made the same people are bemoaning the fact that jobs and exam results are now at stake and children right across the country are having to be taken care of at home, I have every sympathy for those affected on all sides, (particularly anyone who find themselves with no income) but how can we have it both ways, surely it's an impossibility..? Whoever sits in government has to make these awful decisions, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't. Personally I think delaying the closures was the right choice but unfortunately the rate of infection and self isolation has overtaken things. Our next door neighbours are self isolating, the mother is a nurse so can't stay at home to look after their three daughters but luckily the father can now work from home and look after them. The grandparents who visit three or four times a week are now having to stay away for the duration though.

 

Sympathies to everyone affected (anyone of us could be out of work tomorrow) but who amongst us of whatever political persuasion would want to be PM right now? I fully understand people's frustrations and worries but the implementation of whatever needs to be done can't be all be done overnight. Those making the necessary decisions are having to rely on whatever data is available to them, data which can change within just a few hours,  I honestly think that criticism for not taking immediate action at any given point should be tempered with the reality that any plans made need a certain amount of flexibility in order to cope with any changes.

 

On a lighter note, I think I spotted Elvis buying loo roll at Tesco this morning....

 

Stay safe all 

Edited March 19, 2020 by Rugd1022

[PhilJ W]

[BoD]

1 hour ago, grandadbob said:

 

"Somebody" in the house thinks that "we" could do some decorating. That somebody is not me! Oh no. 

 

Enjoy your decorating, Bob.

[PhilJ W]

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, BlackRat said:

 

So wrong....... I was predicted to fail O level geography..... I got an A, and a B in geology and biology where i was predicted to get a C or D.

My best wishes to them and I hope that the hard work they put in pays dividends.....

My delightfully sadistic housemaster actually told me that I  deserved to fail all my O levels.  I stuck it to him by getting the only grade 1 in the school for maths  and three prizes at speech day awarded by our subject teachers. Served the pompous pratt right. However there wasn't the pressure about grades back in 1968. I do feel however that the ministers are between a rock and a hard place. Anouncing school closures Thursday has at least given parents a bit of warning to make arrangements and meamtime the civil servamts are getting the detail work done.

 

Jamie

[tetsudofan]

8:00am on a Thursday is normally the start of my regular weekly  shopping expedition to the local out-of-town Sainsburys and, not having been out shopping since last Thursday, thought I better start the weekly shop at 7:00am today.

 

At that time the car park was already crowded and, once inside the shop, it was pandemonium. Somewhat different to a normal peaceful Thursday morning. I was just amazed at what people were buying and wonder how much of what was being purchased today would be discarded or thrown out in due course.

 

I had my regular shopping list with me and was able to purchase virtually all of what was on my list. There was no ordinary milk on the shelves but I was able to get one of the last containers  of Cravendale on sale. There were no fruit loaves available so got a couple of packs of hot cross buns instead - toasted hot cross buns with ginger jam for breakfast for the next week or so.

 

The checkout queue was orderly but spent more time waiting in the queue than doing the actual shopping. 

 

Having lived in Japan for nearly 20 years with the ever constant risk of a major earthquake I always maintained an emergency pack  containing all the basics close to the front door easily accessible in case of an emergency. Since returning to the UK I've always ensured that I have a sufficient supply of things like loo rolls, water, long-life milk, ginger jam, coffee, tea, malt drinks, biscuits, corned beef, corned beef etc. which, if necessary, will keep me going for at least a month or so.

 

Keith

[Happy Hippo]

4 hours ago, AndrewC said:

Speaking of trains and modelling there of. Where is the queen of the awl? I think some of the recent posts are in need of a good awl thrashing. It must be a sign of the apocalypse. Disease, panic buying, modelling posts on ERs. What next??? 

I am posting the following picture, not because it is railway related but due to it being an icon of an  Ealing Comedy. For the vast majority it is of morale boosting properties which is in the finest tradition of ERs, and their caring and helping nature.

 

Do not be scared:  It is not a pannier tank.

 

 

 

 

[Rugd1022]

4 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

I am posting the following picture, not because it is railway related but due to it being an icon of an  Ealing Comedy. For the vast majority it is of morale boosting properties which is in the finest tradition of ERs, and their caring and helping nature.

 

Do not be scared:  It is not a pannier tank.

 

 

 

 

 

You're noble attempt at reducing the nation's considerable woe is to be saluted, applauded and indeed thoroughly admired. I'll gladly buy you a pint of gin at the bar aboard the Titfield Thunderbolt.... .

Edited March 19, 2020 by Rugd1022

[newbryford]

10 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

 

Do not be scared:  It is not a pannier tank.

 

 

 

 

So it isn't G*R then...…?

 

 

 

[BlackRat]

28 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

My delightfully sadistic housemaster actually told me that I  deserved to fail all my O levels.  I stuck it to him by getting the only grade 1 in the school for maths  and three prizes at speech day awarded by our subject teachers. Served the pompous pratt right. However there wasn't the pressure about grades back in 1968. I do feel however that the ministers are between a rock and a hard place. Anouncing school closures Thursday has at least given parents a bit of warning to make arrangements and meamtime the civil servamts are getting the detail work done.

 

Jamie

The head of our 6th predicted I was the most likely to 'do time'..... the fact I ended up as Plod with numerous awards etc speaks volumes

 

At a reunion a few years ago......I bumped into our former head girl. I wondered if she had become a captain of industry etc or whatever, as predicted.......

 

She, like me had fulfilled her lifetime ambitions........ mine to join the R.M. And to become a plod motorcyclist (A Blackrat).

 

Hers was to marry a rich old fool!! !!

[Talltim]

6 minutes ago, BlackRat said:

The head of our 6th predicted I was the most likely to 'do time'..... the fact I ended up as Plod with numerous awards etc speaks volumes

 

 

Well, presumably you have spent more time than the average person in police stations....

Edited March 19, 2020 by Talltim

[BSW01]

3 hours ago, TheQ said:

 

What is a key worker?

Isn't it obvious? 

-  a locksmith

So they can get at all the loo rolls that are being hoarded! 

[Talltim]

28 minutes ago, tetsudofan said:

 - toasted hot cross buns with ginger jam for breakfast for the next week or so.

 

 

mmmm, ginger jam. I'd completely forgotten its existance, but now I want some

[Happy Hippo]

20 minutes ago, BlackRat said:

The head of our 6th predicted I was the most likely to 'do time'..... the fact I ended up as Plod with numerous awards etc speaks volumes

 

At a reunion a few years ago......I bumped into our former head girl. I wondered if she had become a captain of industry etc or whatever, as predicted.......

 

She, like me had fulfilled her lifetime ambitions........ mine to join the R.M. And to become a plod motorcyclist (A Blackrat).

 

Hers was to marry a rich old fool!! !!

Not you then!

[TheQ]

My brother would have been in real trouble with predicted grades for SCE O grade, his school reports were terrible , not paying attention, doesn't study.. When he got 9 A*  They sat up and noticed!!!  What they hadn't noticed, was he read the books with in a week and remembered and therefore was bored for the rest of term.

He, like me, could read very rapidly, I used to read 16 books a week, unfortunately he remembered more than me.. He continued to get A*  / Disitinction through Scottish A levels and University..

[polybear]

7 hours ago, chrisf said:

Some will have mixed feelings about other victims of that ruddy virus.  Glastonbury is off and the Eurovision Song Contest has been cancelled.  Filming of some BBC TV drama has been affected.  Among the consequences is the decision to cut EastEnders to two episodes a week.   I know I watch too much TV, with a knock-on effect on how much useful stuff I get to do, but it will be interesting to see how the yawning gaps in the schedules will be plugged. 

 

EastEnders being cut?  Excellent news

Now for some re-runs of decent telly on prime-time TV.  Minder, The Sweeney, Porridge, The Royal, Heartbeat, Fraggle Rock, Trumpton, The Clangers, Bagpuss, Chigley, Tom and Jerry......

 

3 hours ago, 81C said:

My Babe threatened me Sunday after much thought I felt I didn't another nasty ##w around my neck she's history so it's back to the dating forum to find some more fun. 

 

 

Let me guess:  "Your bogroll, or your life......?"

[tetsudofan]

42 minutes ago, Talltim said:

mmmm, ginger jam. I'd completely forgotten its existance, but now I want some

 

 

Great stuff but £1.05  a jar at Sainsburys, all other jams are 75p a jar. 

 

Don't bother trying the Folkestone Sainsburys, I took the last jar this morning!!

 

Keith

[Tony_S]

A former head of department (he went on to be a science advisor for a London Borough) did a long term study of predicted grades v actual and the conclusions were not good. He tried to introduce more rigour and evidence into the process. I know that when I was an advisory teacher for IT some schools were more “generous” markers  of coursework causing much distress to students when their grades were externally moderated. When I taught A level computing the project coursework was very controlled. Justification against a standard was enforced with random work requested by the board. However a few years ago much coursework was excluded from the exam system. The person who advised the then minister is now advising the present Prime Minister. I seem to be the opposite to most ERs my A level grades were much worse than my predicted grades. Fortunately the university clearing system found a match for me!

[BoD]

We have just received a letter saying that there is a safety recall on our car as they have been notified that the passenger airbag may go off with undue force filing the passenger space with flying metal fragments from its casing.  Obviously they want us to get in touch so that we can take the car to have this rectified.  

 

Not the best timing though,  given the way things are at the moment.  

[Tony_S]

I think Aditi made ginger and courgette jam a couple of years ago, We had a lot of courgettes that year. 

[Coombe Barton]

Tempting as it is to snack from the fridge, I'm resisting and having an apple.