Early Risers.

[Chris116]

2 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Not HO but there were OO slot cars.

 

https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Minic_Motorways

I had a very large Minic Motorways set up with a five lane figure of eight track. Although they were supposed to be OO, in fact they were much larger being nearer to 7mm scale. 

Edited April 19, 2020 by Chris116
Spelling

[BR60103]

I've suggested before that one should imagine oneself in an episode of Fawlty Towers or Open all Hours when dealing with English merchants.

I was wondering if there was an equivalent show dealing with awkward customers.   Do you have the LNER Locospotters book? The expurgated one, without Gannet.

Shopped early today; wandered around the pharmacy with a mask on. We are now fairly well stocked up and I found 2 railroad magazines.

Edited April 19, 2020 by BR60103

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, BR60103 said:

I was wondering if there was an equivalent show dealing with awkward customers.

Not necessarily as the focus of the whole show, but shopping with difficult customers occurs many times - Are You Being Served, lots of Python sketches Dead Parrot, Cheese Shop, Cannibal undertakers, Hungarian Phrasebook; Two Ronnies sketches or One Ronnie as the case may be. Arguably anytime Ronnie Barker did a shopkeeper sketch it had a lot in common with Open All Hours. 

 

(Admittedly the salesperson was often the butt of the joke in many of these sketches - rather than the customer.)

 

Edited April 19, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[TheQ]

Mooring awl inner Temple, 

A good nights sleep helped by a looooong soak in the bath,  easing the joints. 

 

I've heard Runrig perform live,  though I've not been to a concert... They were on flight to Edinburgh I was on and started singing away,  very Impressive with no accompaniment and no amplifiers.. 

 

I've also played with a bands scalextric,  when the Trogs went to Germany,  their large scalextric got left in my parents front room,  my uncle being in an early version of the band. 

 

Never heard of a school leaving ceremony,  certificates were just posted to me,  but you do see gratuitus film on TV of teen age school girls jumping up and down having collected their certs from school with good results. 

 

Mind you when I was at school we never had proms,  discos or any other entertainment.

 

My degree ceremony was in Ely cathedral,  some nondescript classical music being played in the back ground. 

 

The effects of the loooong bath having worn off, my left knee and right hand have a little pain.  The right hand is probably caused by gripping a drill with a sanding flap wheel in its jaws. I probably need to do a bit more of that today unfortunately.

 

Ben the sleeping collie appears to have turned off his alarm clock,  so I'm not going to move for a while even though light is now pouring in through the front curtains.

 

Plans for today,  same as yesterday,  work on the keel,  and something in the MhRC .

 

Ah Brown eyes has woken up and is now giving me the stare from the doorway. 

 

Time to... Move... 

Edited April 19, 2020 by TheQ

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

It was so nice to catch a snippet of a Keith Floyd TV programme yesterday.  He was making Irish stew in rural Ireland and as always was a joy to watch.  Some of his later programmes credited my late cousin Mike Foren as videotape editor.  Talk about enjoying your work!  I do wish I could have sneaked a peek at some of the out-takes.  After lunch I watched an early Ealing comedy, “Hue and Cry”, which I recorded off air a year or so ago and promptly forgot.  All in all it was not the most productive of days but it was very relaxing.

 

It is good to see Runrig being mentioned in despatches.  What broad and eclectic taste is to be found in the ranks of ERs!  I never quite got to see this band but I liked what I heard.  For me, the Isle of Skye means the Peatbog Faeries.  Their very Scottish music with added psychedelia is a must-hear when they appear at Sidmouth.  I love to hear bagpipes playing what they were not designed for and approve very much of boundaries being pushed.   An early band to do that was the Tannahill Weavers.  By one of those happy accidents that I love so much they were playing in Teignmouth over the same weekend as the Scalefour Society’s AGM a few years ago.  It would have been rude not to attend.

 

Cancelled events in the week ahead included a concert tonight at The Stables with Oysters3, a quiz in Northampton tomorrow night and the Nescot show on Saturday.  Not going anywhere like that still seems so unreal.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Ozexpatriate]

2 minutes ago, chrisf said:

I love to hear bagpipes playing what they were not designed for and approve very much of boundaries being pushed. 

A solo piper played "love me tender" at a wedding I attended in a small church. It did not lend itself to the strengths of bagpipes and had more in common with cat strangulation than successfully pushing boundaries.

 

Google rarely disappoints.

[AndyID]

4 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Not necessarily as the focus of the whole show, but shopping with difficult customers occurs many times - Are You Being Served, lots of Python sketches Dead Parrot, Cheese Shop, Cannibal undertakers, Hungarian Phrasebook; Two Ronnies sketches or One Ronnie as the case may be. (Admittedly the salesperson was often the butt of the joke in many of these sketches.)

 

I was thinking of the "fork 'andles" sketch.

 

In an act of defiance (OK Monsieur Virus, ah whizz in your general direction) or crass stupidity I have renewed my season pass for the ski mountain on the Idaho/Montana line. It won't exactly be financial disaster if I am not able to use it - it only cost $145 (plus tax). You can spend that much for a one day lift ticket in Colorado.

 

The brothers twain in Scotland both called today and I spent most of the morning talking complete shite with them for about three hours. In reality I was paying for the calls because their international call rates are outrageous. We call each other on birthdays.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Sun is shining. We didn't win the lottery. Mugatea to drink.

Hope you all have a great day!

Baz

[BoD]

Morning all.

 

..... and what a beautiful morning it looks too.  I’ve got to agree with Chris though, the whole thing is starting to feel so unreal.  Sunday  would be my day volunteering with the National Trust railways at Ormesby Hall.  I’m really missing that - showing off the fantastic models and just talking to visitors - even though I’m a grumpy old git the rest of the time.
 

During the week I’m not doing that much differently to before lockdown but it still feels wrong.  it’s the little things, the odd coffee while out for a walk, the occasional pub meal or run out somewhere that I am missing.   Even if I wasn’t necessarily doing these things the option was there,  the fact that I could if I wanted too rather than can’t at all seems to make a difference to the mood. I felt really low on Friday.

 

On the plus side the muddle is coming on in leaps and bounds and I am trying things I haven’t done before.

 

I must go and try to Baz the day.

 

Stay safe and well folks.

[AndyID]

9 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

A solo piper played "love me tender" at a wedding I attended in a small church. It did not lend itself to the strengths of bagpipes and had more in common with cat strangulation than successfully pushing boundaries.

 

Google rarely disappoints.

 

Scottish bagpipes are more a weapon of war than a musical instrument. The general idea was to scare the crepe out of the opposition. Sometimes it worked.

 

I had the dubious distinction of maintaining the Solidac computer. Tom O’Beirne programmed it to generate pibroch melodies which drove all the other members of the department bonkers. (It's a sad story because the company that developed Solidac decided there was no future in mini-computers.)

 

On the other hand the uilleann pipes are much more melodic and suitable for a small audience. We went to a great concert in the Capistrano Library. The piper described playing the uilleann pipes as being a bit like playing an intensive care unit.

[roundhouse]

31 minutes ago, chrisf said:

 

Cancelled events in the week ahead included a concert tonight at The Stables with Oysters3, a quiz in Northampton tomorrow night and the Nescot show on Saturday.  Not going anywhere like that still seems so unreal.

 

 

Oh yes very unreal.

 

Normally in the last four weeks we would probably have been in Scotland or even in Eastern Europe but now I get concerned at being stopped for driving just 8 miles to Mums even though thats for legitimate reasons delivering food to her and two nephews who after being in isolation away form Mum for 14 days can now sit down at the table and eat with her but it does mean that they cannot leave the house either. At least Mum has company and if she talks too much to them they have their hide out upstairs that Mum cant get to - Mum will tlak for hours and when I am there I try to send her off ot make me tea so I can concentrate on what ever I am sorting out for her. When I visit on Tuesday with the weekly shopping I do need to start her car with a back up battery plus clean the pond filter, all done at a distance from her and the nephews.

 

We are lucky to have a reasonable garden and the shed ubt even so I am finding it hard not being out and about. We are both drinking almost every day but luckily only a couple of pints instead of more on our normal two days a week out and about so probably not too much more. I do make use of tools etc before opening any beer so as I dont do a GDB

 

At lest we have a hobby that we often do by ourselves and my other half has plenty of recorded TV series to catch up on. I switch the news off as soon as Number 45 Nutter comes on and when the  evening briefing appears (5pm ET, 10pm BST) she is doing much the same aswell which is good as she has the remote her side of the bed.

 

Looks like a nice sunny day ahead here.

[Ozexpatriate]

4 minutes ago, AndyID said:

Scottish bagpipes are more a weapon of war than a musical instrument. The general idea was to scare the crepe out of the opposition. Sometimes it worked.

Indeed. My cousin and her husband are members of a pipe band in Australia. The great highland bagpipe doesn't really have an "inside" voice. I do like pipe bands, outside. They are tremendously loud. Many years ago my cousin fired up her pipes in my parents back yard. Despite being familiar with pipe bands, in a quiet suburban yard it was startling, echoing off the back of the house.

 

As you say, there are many smaller pipes that are better suited to being inside and even in the US are reasonably common in the bands that gig in "Irish" pubs.

[leopardml2341]

Morning all, from a slightly sunny South Derbyshire.

 

Mistake with alarm setting means I'm awake and have already downed the first cuppa, now to catch up here.

[Joseph_Pestell]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

A solo piper played "love me tender" at a wedding I attended in a small church. It did not lend itself to the strengths of bagpipes and had more in common with cat strangulation than successfully pushing boundaries.

 

Google rarely disappoints.

 

This is (or should be) intrinsically wrong. Any tune should be playable on any instrument, including the human voice. The knack is in arranging it to suit that instrument. Like Chris F, I rather enjoy hearing music adapted in this way, often preferring it to the original.

 

Of course, the bagpipes may just be the exception that proves the rule.

[Dave Hunt]

Many years ago I was at the Glencoe visitor centre on a lovely summer day with my family listening to a pipe band playing outside in the company of at least a hundred or so others. Just as they finished and were being applauded a Jaguar came out of nowhere and flew over at very low level, very fast and making a lot of noise, leaving in its wake a hubbub of excited, annoyed or otherwise stirred up people. As the hubbub died down my younger son, then about seven or eight years old, looked at me and in a loud voice said, "Is that what you fly Daddy?" Cue for us to beat a hasty retreat as many pairs of hostile eyes turned my way........ Thanks, son.

 

A bright and sunny day in prospect with no daily orders yet posted except for the probability of a nice steak dinner tonight. Will I get some modelling done? We shall see once muggocoffee has been consumed and a service from Shrewsbury cathedral watched. Have a good one everybody.

 

Dave

[leopardml2341]

Looks like the slightly sunny South Derbyshire is going to improve over the week too.

 

Now, about this 'working from home'...........

[Kingzance]

Good morning,

 

Broken cloud and cool in my little corner of the world. We sat down to a quiz created by son-in-law’s father last evening and won on a tie break question: “How long did the Falklands War last for?” Of course we were not told when the start date was so I had to guess that it began as UK forces re-took control of South Georgia and was only out by a few days. In fact, South Georgia landings were started a day after UK forces landed on The Falklands. That conflict was going on thirty eight years ago and I was still working in a brewery Then. One of my colleagues had recently left the Royal Navy and his last ship had been HMS Sheffield so her loss hit him quite hard as it involved some of his shipmates. Two ships I had sailed on less than three years before had been commandeered to support the Task Force under STUFT regulations and both avoided damage. As winners last night, we have to create and run next Saturday’s quiz, questions on pannier tanks and locomotive liveries will not be in the mix.

 

Today's plans are, well there aren’t any - other than trying to avoid killing each other. SWMBO took a smallish piece of rolled pork shoulder out of the freezer for us to enjoy later but we are low on green vegetables so frozen broad beans may be called upon to boost parsnip, carrot and roast potatoes. I anticipate a new solid state drive will be delivered by the offspring of large and strong ladies, this to replace a twelve year old Iomega device that is clunking a bit when called into action. When received, I shall be mostly transferring several thousand digital images onto it.

 

SWMBO has enjoyed the muggertea I produced and has started her daily routine of watching the depressing morning tv programmes produced by the BBC. She has just informed me that the plans for progressively removing the lockdown could start around May 11th with school kids but “old and at risk people” could be kept in isolation for up to a year. Yeah, we geriatrics are all going to comply with that I don’t think!

 

On that cheery note, I’m off to sharpen my pitchfork and scythe. Be good, be careful and be like Baz.

Edited April 19, 2020 by Kingzance
Spelling again!

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dry here with a hint of brightness in the sky and sunny spells are possible.

I slept quite well last night until 4.00am when The Boss woke me to tell me she couldn't sleep, She also wakes me to tell me if it's raining, if she can hear noises outside, if the house is creaking and if the wind is blowing or if it's so quiet she can't hear anything! 

Sainsbury's delivered most of what we ordered although there were a couple of missing items that couldn't be substituted but not the end of the world.

More progress made in The Shed and it is possible that today I may have a couple of complete circuits connected up. Still got some sidings to sort out so quite a way to go before I start on scenic stuff.

The Boss is now asleep but I may go and wake her out of spite,  Pah, too late she's now awake and on the move.

Have a good one,

Bob. 

Edited April 19, 2020 by grandadbob

[leopardml2341]

"The Boss is now asleep but I may go and wake her out of spite"

 

Go on, I dare you; don't forget to let us know how it went

 

it could be the biggest GDB accident ever.......

Edited April 19, 2020 by leopardml2341

[TheQ]

13 minutes ago, leopardml2341 said:

"The Boss is now asleep but I may go and wake her out of spite"

 

Go on, I dare you; don't forget to let us know how it went

 

it could be the biggest GDB accident ever.......

If he can

[jamie92208]

Good moaning to all a quick good morning to all and sundry. The boss has just told me that We must be off to the market so ttfn.

 

Jamie

[grandadbob]

Nope, as I said I was too late but just as well as she has now arrived down here and is offering to cook breakfast. I have accepted so eggs and bacon will shortly be delivered to my stomach! 

Won £10 on Thunderingballs last night and have already managed to book a Sainsbury delivery slot for next Saturday.

Things must be looking up 

[Happy Hippo]

3 hours ago, chrisf said:

 Peatbog Faeries. 

According to my brother, they are distant relatives.

 

Right bunch of bog snorkellers

[New Haven Neil]

Morning.

 

Sunny but windy sur le rock.  I suppose the day will be pent in the garden and garage, can't polish the bikes any more or the paint will wear through.

 

As for land of hope and glory, listen through this to the end....

 

 

 

...and he's Dutch!  Professor Ian Tracey at the end there pulling the stops, organist and head of music there.  As in it's 'his' organ and he knows how to really make it thunder.  This is the biggest such instrument in the UK.

 

Carpe the dimes.

[Erichill16]

5 hours ago, Chris116 said:

I had a very large Minic Motorways set up with a five lane figure of eight track. Although they were supposed to be OO, in fact they were much larger being nearer to 7mm scale. 

HO slot cars are now  actually 1/64 scale! Originally they supposed to the 1/87 to match model railways like Triang Minic was with Triang railways. 

Regards

Robert