Early Risers.

[Happy Hippo]

The PH called by last night to drop off some supplies, which saved us going out to the shops. Milk, bread and a squeezy tube of mayo as requested.

 

More importantly was the delivery of the rotivator and the required 2 stroke fuel which will make tilling the soil at the back of the garden a lot easier.

 

I've broken all the required area up  and roughly turned it over with a fork, but I'm not going to break down the lumps of clay infested soil with a mattock.

 

Of course, once I get started it may well turn out that the whole of the back of the garden gets 'the chop' as we need to get it levelled and a bit more civilized.

 

No time for more interesting hobbies this weekend (allegedly)

[PhilJ W]

Wot, no muddy hollow?

[Barry O]

Toasted bacon sandwich for breakfast. Yummy!

 

Currently precipitation being received here. Pah! I had hope to do some more paint spraying..

 

GDB hope  that your good lady returns to good health quickly. 

 

Now time for a mugadecaf or two.

Enjoy your day.

Baz

[81C]

Morning All

Painting again today, I might even open  a few boxes of kit wagons and carry building them later to break the day up.

 

Enjoy your day  B.Oring 

[5 C]

Morning awl.

 

Clouding over here in Bedfordshire following a cold and frosty start. That's probably a good thing as it may encourage those reluctant to practice social distancing to do just that.

 

It's strange to think that the last time I interacted with a real live human being (at a more than required social distance) was Monday when a mobile workshop came to fit tyres to my car in time for the MoT it now no longer needs. At least until October. Otherwise it's been video calls with friends, relatives and colleagues as we all try and make the best of this strange situation. This week's virtual town hall was more challenging as IT hadn't set the access up correctly for the webinar, meaning I had to change the approach on the fly. I've dealt with worse and apparently it all looked pretty seamless to the outside world.

 

Work continues to be relentless. At one point last week I could have been in three different places (i.e. teleconferences) at once, without moving from my kitchen table. Everyone has become acutely aware of the need to communicate, inform and keep people occupied and much of that is channelled through me. A couple of times I've been asked if I there's anything I need. My response has been for someone to stand in a queue for me outside Sainsbury's. 

 

This weekend I will attempt some of the G word plus assorted housework.  And sleep. And maybe, just maybe, a bit of muddling.

 

Regards to awl.

[Simon G]

Morning all,

 

No gardening here yet, as I am working in the kitchen.  Bread maker is on, carrot and artichoke soup is cooking.  I told my new Amazon Echo to “play Pink Floyd”, so it has given me a fantastic selection of 1970s music with Supertramp, Moody Blues, Peter Gabriel, Brian Ferry and Genesis so far, as well as what I asked for.

 

Yesterday we heard some extremely sad news.  The husband of a school friend of Mrs G was out cycling to get provisions when he apparently had a major heart attack, fell off the bike and hit his head.  He is now on life support, but it is likely that it will be turned off very soon.  We are very distressed about it, as he is a lovely guy.

 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Unusually after all the recent sunshine there’s a dull start to the day. I’m hoping to get a bit more done in the garden today, repotting a few plants that have outgrown there current pots and get a few more in the ground. Fingers crossed that it doesn’t rain, but if it does, there’s always the cellar door to finish. 

 

Simon. Thoughts with your wife’s friend.

 

Back later b

[Sir TophamHatt]

It's coming up to 11am.

Been watching Wheeler Dealers since 7am.

Two nappies changed.

He's on his second outfit for the day.

The wife still in bed asleep.

 

Not a bad morning so far!

[Happy Hippo]

It's been a good morning so far, I cleaned up and  re painted the ironing board for the Obergrumpenfuhrer, as it was getting a little rusty under the covers.

 

In doing so the belt sander gave up the ghost.  This will be a replacement as it was over 15 years old and had been repaired by myself at least twice during this time.  Since the industry 'standard' for motor life is around 10 hours for tools such as this, I've not complaints and can now get a new and much superior one without recourse to spending from the miniature transportation fund.

 

It's rather grey and cold outside, not like yesterday where I was in the garden, those with a weak stomach should look away now,  in a T shirt and shorts.

 

I am currently hiding here after asking an innocent (yeah right) question about signalling on Steve Hewitt's thread.  Conflicting answers is always interesting to see, especially when it comes from the knowledgeable side of the forum membership.

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Breaking news, a cat has been found to have the coronavirus. If it was a dog it would be bad enough but how do you isolate a cat? Best thing would be to distance yourself from any animal.

[AndrewC]

Morning all from the borough of boring. Up and out at the crack of wtf this morning. SWMBO needed a few things from the shops. Sod that. Sainsbury’s at 07:55 had well over 200 people queued out the door waiting for a now later public opening. I did manage to get a tank o diesel for £1.08/l. We stopped at a tiny Co-op on the way back and managed to get just about everything. Should have stopped there first. Even the little Turkish grocery near us had a queue. Lidl looked stupid busy as well. Staying home now. Beer delivery from our local brewer expected. 

 

Enjoy the day. 

[Coombe Barton]

Wood delivered the morning.

I'll leave others to rearrange as appropriate.

[81C]

27 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Breaking news, a cat has been found to have the coronavirus. If it was a dog it would be bad enough but how do you isolate a cat? Best thing would be to distance yourself from any animal.

 Zeus wash giving me a wash yesterday I do wonder sometimes but he is always preening himself .

 

 

[Tony_S]

45 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

isolate a cat

Our friends in Connecticut had strictly “indoor cats”.  They allegedly would have been coyote snacks if left outside. 

[Gwiwer]

47 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Breaking news, a cat has been found to have the coronavirus. If it was a dog it would be bad enough but how do you isolate a cat? Best thing would be to distance yourself from any animal.

 

Ours lives indoors and only goes out side onto the terrace and under close supervision at that.  It has been noticeable that there are fewer cats wandering around the Hill of Strawberries of late.

 

Good morning all.  A bright but cold and breezy day it is here.  SWMBO has been busily potting stuff up for the greenhouse (strictly within the bounds of the property and nowhere near anyone else) and has Spring-cleaned our little outdoor area I call the Terrace.  We enjoyed breakfast out there again and noticed the difference after several days of near-silence; today there are people about, cars moving and more trains.  The latter, however, is because we are receiving diversions owing to a tree blocking the line near Barnes.  

 

We anticipate a supermarket delivery tomorrow but how much of the order will appear is of course open to debate.  As we are already amply stocked in most departments there is no need to venture forth with the shopping bag today.  

 

In other news friends in Oz have checked in - they are halfway through their enforced house-arrest (a term of their choice and one I also see used elsewhere) having returned from Noozilland on a cruise ship.  Nephew the Eldest and his wife on Fraggle Rock (South) off the coast of Southampton have both gone down with symptoms - he being an NHS porter and probably exposed to several cases in close quarters - but reported to be very mild and managing at home.  Former Neighbour (Australian) says she and partner are almost recovered and still uncertain if they had the Dreaded Lurgy or something else though the symptoms suggested the former.  

 

Still awaiting advice of whether I am required to attend the House of Fun on Moan-day but if nothing is heard I shall make my way in and see what happens.  In the meantime there is much to do here with a 15-minute weathering video to prepare, all the stock boxes to sort through and even some laundry and dusting about the house.  SWMBO has tidied her wardrobe which I reckon is over and above the call of duty!  

 

Stay well. All the best.  

[BoD]

Morning (ish) all.
 

Our son’s shifts have finished so he has his dog back for a couple of weeks (perhaps longer if he is stood down too) but I still went for my daily walk.  The seafront was deserted unlike last weekend when it was like a bank holiday.  There were only one or two other people obviously exercising like myself but a few more on bikes.  They did not look like regular, or for that matter very confident, cyclists.
 

Enjoy your weekend .... if you are still distinguishing one day from another.

[Gwiwer]

And in other news confirmation has just been received that my application to volunteer via GoodSam as an NHS volunteer has been accepted.  I am on stand-by to deliver medications and offer online / phone conversations as of Monday.  

[tigerburnie]

22 minutes ago, BoD said:

Morning (ish) all.
 

Enjoy your weekend .... if you are still distinguishing one day from another.

After being retired for 5 years now, we have no idea what the day is most days and have to check on my phone...………...great it is too.

 

Afternoon all, spent the morning digging out the second old apple tree root and commenced digging the first layer of the pond, it's only going to be 6 foot wide(2 metres for tut young 'uns) and 9 feet long(3 metres lol) and a foot deep(god only knows how deep that is in foreign), then a deeper hole in the middle where the old tin bath tub will be buried, this will have two benefits, it'll stop any tree roots causing any damage and it will save me a trip to the tip as well. Then the underlay and then the liner then the water and some plants, probably won't get many plants until we are out of isolation though.

[BoD]

43 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

And in other news confirmation has just been received that my application to volunteer via GoodSam as an NHS volunteer has been accepted.  I am on stand-by to deliver medications and offer online / phone conversations as of Monday.  

I volunteered to help out.

They asked me if I would rather be Prime Minister or Health Secretary.

[Tony_S]

MiL (age 92) has just received a letter from her GP asking about her end of life preferences. I suppose in case her family are not available at the present time. She was mainly concerned that family should not travel in the event of her passing. Actually most of her call was how she was really cross with her brother who came close to being arrested in the Indian lockdown. He doesn’t watch television and although he knew going to work was banned somehow thought it was ok to drive to the tennis club. He was fortunate, perhaps due to being old as the Indian Police are not using “polite warnings “ to discourage people going out. MiL has issued an order for younger brother in California to tell his big brother to be sensible as he is ignoring his sisters. 
Tony

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

NR is reportedly appealing for retired Signallers ('orrible word) and Controllers to help them out - seems some of the big 'wide area' all singing and dancing signalling centres aren't quite so singing & dancing as they ought to be.   I'll put a bid in next time they want to rewrite the GWR timetable - based on past experience that ought to keep me occupied for a night (two nights if I have to do the locals and branches as well).

 

Referring to Flavio's comments the lad works for a Swiss company and they do indeed take stuff from bottom up - as the CEO said some months back when he met Rob 'you're the chap who keeps sending me all these new procedures to sign off'  (judging by the addition the CEO has made to the lad's company bonus I suspect he has been more than happy to sign-off new and revised procedures).

 

Having attacked most of the grassed area of the jungle yesterday - except the patch most thickly covered with various wild flowers - and had a go at some of the considerable acreage of blackberry bush.  The management and Good Doctor have finished all the direct seed sowing (some things are already underway in the greenhouse for eventual planting out) and the bean poles are up waiting plants.  Still some oddments of grass to cut but all the main area is now done - and will no doubt get growing again pdq.

 

The big fridge failed again and hasn't subsequently returned to life - it will now have to wait repair or replacement.  The new fridge is much smaller but the beer fridge is now available once again to supplement to it although herself still seems to think in terms of far too frequent shopping of stuff like fresh veg.  Also we have now got the Trinity House cheque so 'we' will have to visit the bank one day next week, probably combined with a Waitrose visit, to pay that in.

 

No sign of rain as yet but it's forecast for Monday and it has got much colder.  Hope Mrs GDB will improve soon and get back to keeping him in order (and off the cake).

 

Enjoy the rest of your day one and all.

 

[TheQ]

Afternoon awl,  the bonfire was successful,  and is now on its final pile of charcoal . Once the initial burn had gone, I  started pushing the remains around with a long all metal rake.  Using it to burn out any brambles in that area of the jungle.  Front of me very hot..  Back of me freezing from the wind.. 

 

The heat made me think of.... 

  I suffer from Susceptiblity to Malignant Hyperpyrexia under anesthesia ,  I wondered if the may have an effect on happens when I get corona virus. So I've had a wander around the net but as yet no results.  Not surprising really as MH is quite rare.  We are as a group very prone to ill effects from overheating a covid-19 symptom  with or without drugs which is quite worrying. 

 

When I've finished this Muggacoffee it's time for Ben's long walk,  my turn today as SWMBO seems to have hurt her foot.. 

[roundhouse]

More timber chopped for the heater on the shed patio.

 

We have been out for our weekly walk via three pubs. The first two were locked up but the third that we were heading to is now a takeout bar. There is a board outside with whats available. They poured us 4 pints of Tillingbourne Doormouse, the only draft beer they have at present, Plenty of min kegs form Pilgrim so may go back tomorrow in the car. Paid contactless through the glass of the door then they put the beer container on a table via a side door.

 

Walked past our favourite pub but all locked up as expected. Two car dealers have moved all their cars off the forecourt.

 

Sainsburys had a queue along the pedestrian area so avoided that and queued up outside Icelend but was only a 10 minute wait. They had most things we were after including toilet rolls.

 

Walked back home and time to take the 4pint Doormouse up to the shed bar to let it settle for a short time.

 

 

[45156]

Back as promised.

 

Fencing now done - didn't take as long as expected, as some of the old feathering which had blown down was still OK and just needed nailing and screwing back, no cutting at all - so 30747 "suggested" that I should "just get the fence paint out and give it a quick go" - so I did, and now I'm totally knackered.

 

Made a nice 5 egg, bacon, and mushroom omelette with saute potatoes for dinner - it was delicious, and I washed it down with a nice bottle of Bishop's FInger which I JUST happened to have in the kitchen and ready to open.

 

Back tomorrow

[tigerburnie]

Bad weather has stopped play in the garden, the pond construction was halted firstly by rain, then SWMBO shouted "Hail Burnie" , I thanked her and pointed out that reverence is usually reserved for Roman Emperors, I was lucky it was raining or I might have collected something round the back of my lug...……………………………….