Early Risers.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

A sunny and fresh start here and it should be a fine day with temperatures up to 17°C

Today I will (hopefully) be playing with small wheeled toys and running them around parallel strips of metal. As to which will form the inaugural service has yet to be decided Mike. It might be green but then again, shock, horror, it might be blue!

Before that however "we" have decided that we should go for a walk because of the lack of exercise we are getting. I have been banging on about this for about 3 weeks but "somebody" didn't want to go out because the first time we tried it someone walked too close to Herself although they were about 6 feet away. Let's hope today's walk  goes better.

Have a good one,

Bob.

Edited April 20, 2020 by grandadbob

[Erichill16]

I was listening to the radio over the weekend and I heard an expert say that it may not be possible to produce a vaccine. No vaccine has yet been developed against the HIV virus. I think he/she said they have never produced a vaccine against a Corona virus yet. I hope I’m (they’re) wrong. Anyway off to work.

Regards Robert

 

[Dave Hunt]

Good morning to all from a sunny, breezy North Salopshire. Another week, due to start according to SWMBO with an all hands call to house cleaning once muggocoffee has been consumed. Apart from that, no further plans or orders have been posted or considered. Think I'll take as long as I can sipping the coffee......

 

Dave

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

The sun is shining and the sky is blue. I’ve just finished breakfast so I’ll be setting off to complete the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix in a few minutes. Once back and the shopping has been packed away I may well head downstairs and continue working on the towel rail. Other than that there are no other plans for today, but that could well change. 

 

Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. 

[BSW01]

Oops, it seems like I’m repeating myself. 

 

I SAID, IT SEEMS LIKE IM REPEATING MYSELF!

Edited April 20, 2020 by BSW01

[Joseph_Pestell]

8 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I personally think any notion of COVID-19 herd immunity anywhere is moot until a vaccine is available. The concept of herd immunity is only relevant when you can guarantee that high 90s percent of the population is immune and the only way to do that is through vaccines. (With the apparent contagiousness of COVID-19, the vaccination rates for herd immunity will be exceptionally high.) With the lethality of COVID-19 for a small percentage of cases, you can't intentionally expose any amount of the population.

 

Measles was essentially eradicated in the US. Due to the anti-vaxxer movement, vaccination rates had dropped and in 2019 the US had a pretty substantial measles outbreak - the largest number of cases since 1992. we had lost herd immunity for measles.

 

We don't know that yet. It could be that widespread immunity could be achieved without vaccine. But we won't know that until there is adequate testing. Testing is definitely deliverable in a reasonably short timeframe. A vaccine may or may not be deliverable with a timeframe of about a year.

Both are necessary but testing needs to be given more priority.

[AndyID]

20 minutes ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

We don't know that yet.

 

Actually, if you agree with the data, we do. Everything else is simply conjecture.

[AndrewC]

Moaning all from the sunny yet boring borough. A very relaxing weekend but nothing accomplished again. 

 

The stats around the per capita deaths in the UK is highly skewed as the testing is not spread evenly through the population. In the UK they aren't testing minor symptomatic individuals but only ones admitted. That means only the more serious cases are in the statistical population. Ergo, a higher death rate. 

 

Little else of note. Coffee at the ready. Daily status meeting starting to drain my will to live. 

 

Enjoy the day.  

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, Dave Hunt said:

Good morning to all from a sunny, breezy North Salopshire. Another week, due to start according to SWMBO with an all hands call to house cleaning

Obliviously (sic) that is a county wide directive as an identical instruction was issued last evening just prior to going to bed.

 

If there is one thing that disrupts my sleep, it is the worry of impending domestic cleansing.

 

This is probably down to a traumatic event some years back when cakes were being made in the kitchen.

 

I was asked if I really wanted to lick the bowl, which I acknowledged in the affirmative.

 

I had no Idea she meant THAT bowl.

Edited April 20, 2020 by Happy Hippo
Inability to spell simple words

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright and sunny here this morning but chilly if the way in which the dog walkers are wrapped up is anything to go by. It doesn't seem to affect the bees as they're swarming over my california lilac now that the sun is on it. Now to get on with the rest of the day.

[southern42]

On 18/04/2020 at 08:58, southern42 said:

 

I was warned in one email (the seller) that not only were there delays at their end but also delays could be expected by the delivery service.  ParcelForce and Royal Mail both have current advice on their websites.  I expect other delivery services have the same.  It just seems to take a long time...when you are waiting at home without going anywhere to distract your attention away from it.

Hope your stuff comes soon.  One of mine has reached the delivery depot!

_______

Best wishes

Polly

 

One parcel delivered Saturday to Sis.  

 

My parcel should be here late afternoon - Parcel Force Express 24:

 

1  Despatched  2 Collection depot 3 Hub 4 In delivery depot

5 Out for delivery 6 Delivered

 

Item tracking history - 5 days (4 working days!)

Date            Time          Location.           Tracking Event

20 4 2020   Today                                    Arriving late afternoon

20 4 2020   9.15ish.     Home                Phone msg

 

18 4 2020   5:06          Deeside Depot   Received at delivery depot

17 4 2020   20:43        North West         Sorted

16 4 2020   18:57        Gatwick Depot   On route to hub

16 4 2020   16:34        Gatwick Depot   Collected

 

******************************************************

Order - 3 days

16 4 2020 Hobgoblin Dispatched

14 4 2020 12:01 Hobgoblin Ordered

 

In these times, I am delighted we can get this service at all!

 

....[Snip] Food shopping idea cancelled.

 

Fitt  and  Elfie still at it.

Keep safe everyone.

_________

Best wishes

Polly

 

Edited April 20, 2020 by southern42

[Kingzance]

Good morning from a bright but cool NEHerts,

 

Final editing of the Waitrose OnLine List is the most important matter to be addressed this morning. That will be followed by prescription collection and any other random thoughts that become orders from her bossiness. 
 

Last night’s shoulder of pork was enjoyed but with roast spuds, broccoli, carrots and parsnips I have subsequently found that my weight loss plan has done in inverse what HMG wish the see happen with the Covid-19 curve. Portion control again!
 

Talking of that dreaded virus, there was a piece by a Times writer today that made a lot of sense - even if I generally disagree with the content of her contributions. In it she pointed out that our civil liberties champions will actually obstruct any reasonable actions to identify those who have had, those who are immune and those who are at a consequential risk. Their “protection of our freedoms” will keep us all in danger whilst the secondary benefits of biometric id far outweigh the much protested intrusions. Along with various contributors on here, I do wonder how testing can be useful if it is anonymous and how valid comparisons can be if only based upon those in hospital? The very same people who clamour for more testing yet complain about loss of liberty will almost invariably tick the online box allowing their data to be harvested by our tax-avoiding global IT companies when visiting a new web site.

 

Must go, lists to edit. C u later...

[Joseph_Pestell]

1 hour ago, AndyID said:

 

Actually, if you agree with the data, we do. Everything else is simply conjecture.

 

I don't disagree with the data that we have. Data is data (a given). The problem in this case is that the data that we have is swamped in volume by the data that we don't have and won't have until we have a proper testing programme.

[Kingzance]

25 minutes ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

 

I don't disagree with the data that we have. Data is data (a given). The problem in this case is that the data that we have is swamped in volume by the data that we don't have and won't have until we have a proper testing programme.

And how the data is used / abused to support one view or another!

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 S8ddin' editor duly cleared so the time of day is correct (it currently always presents me with 'G'night all' so has to be cleared except at one time of day).

 

The various comments about household cleaning will - I have a nasty feeling - probably also arise here and I shall be asked directed to clean the vacuum once again.  Woodshed roof re-covering brownie points will be instantly forgotten as there is unlikely to be any escape from such direction (unless I 'forget' to do it before she decides to have her afternoon kip - which means I then can't  do it).   The lad started his day by attempting conversation in French with one of his European mainland colleagues - well he said 'Bonjour', but then apparently there was a Skype problem, he says

 

As the sun is shining once more, albeit with a lower max ten mperature than last week I might well look for something to do in teh garden before vacuum is mentioned.  Hmm, not sure about that strategy

 

Havea good day one and all and stay sfae (GDB to not that 'staying safe' means NOT something in blue - unless it's in H&P blue which is acceptable).

[tigerburnie]

Morning, bright and clear here, we had a frost earlier, but the temps are climbing, the gardens been watered, well the veggies have, now to cut all the grass, I may be gone for some time, enjoy the day and safe all.

[Happy Hippo]

The C word seems to have been forgotten as the Obergrumpenfuhrer is busy writing a long and complicated email.

 

I quickly redeployed my considerable assets onto the terrace where I started removing all the non flowers from between the paving slabs.

 

This has met with approval so far, a low profile doing other useful tasks is a wise tactic.

 

The parcel containing the paints has finally arrived, so I can finally start on the backlog of wagons that need attention.

 

A couple of Juno from Shawbury are clattering around the local area: Obviously our turn to be the low flying area today.

 

I can report that they are socially distancing.

 

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

I nearly had an unplanned lack of distance interaction this morning. I was going to go out the front door to the garage but I noticed some movement.  I looked from the bay window and there was a neighbour up a ladder watering my hanging basket. No idea why as I watered it yesterday and every alternate day before. I have a lance attachment so as not to require a ladder. This is a neighbour who is 10 years older than I am. What do you do if if someone falls off a ladder doing an unnecessary job at the moment? 
Tony

[BoD]

Morning all just back from the daily amble.

Very quiet out there - which is as it should be I suppose.

 

Our son's partner was tested on Saturday, arranged for her by the care home.  It looks like they are finally starting to be serious about what is going on in care homes.  Not before time.  The test was carried out by army who had taken over an IKEA car park and was apparently all done with military precision.  Number plate checked, directed into lane, first tent details confirmed and plastic bag put under windscreen wiper on her side.  Next tent swab taken (not very pleasant apparently) and bottled and into bag.   Next tent, bag removed from windscreen and off they go. Now the wait, results within 72 hours by text message.  Son said there were dozens and dozens going through.

 

Enjoy the rest of your day; stay safe and well.

[roundhouse]

Afternoon all.

 

Been in the shed setting up a new Pc that is now generally working as required with just working out how to get it to talk with the network storage. After nah our or so I decided it was time to move onto something else.

 

Yesterday had a few emails between various people. One was an ex work colleague who lives not far from the pub that chrisF visited some months back, The oval in Croydon. Its doing take out beers so let the ex work colleague know but apparently he was banned some years back even though he wasn't there at the time but his local footy team was so he got banned along with them by association.

 

Another friend who we last saw Easter 2019 and would probably have met up this Easter  said that he is going stir crazy being locked down in his place by himself in Cumbria. He and others should have been going across the pond very soon but now cant. We did discuss the xmas avoider 2020 o California this year so finger crossed that can happen as we missed last xmas trip which we now regret.

 

There is talk of pubs not reopening till xmas. If that is the case then I cant see many being around to reopen. The news mentioned that Cornwall could lose 80% of its businesses if it cant reopen in time for Summer holidays.

 

Today we go food shopping for us and mum so will have to queue up separately to make sure that we can both be allowed in as despite Sainsburys saying they will help with people shopping for vulnerable people they are not when trying to get in as just one of us cant get enough food in one go.

 

My other half now hates going shopping when she used to enjoy it. 

 

Anyway, time to run more trains in the garden.

[81C]

Morning All 

sunny and bright 

Did anyone see Hello Hello on channel 24 last night I was in tears of laughter I won't spoil it but I think its on of the funniest I'd seen.

Talking of fun I was video calling my Babe I told here to watch the steam run up the West coast railway behind a thing called a Black 5

on TV  last night she wanted to see the Glenfinnan Viaduct and I welcomed her to my hobby she said she would like to go there dependent on what

sort of holiday we can book for later in the year.

Hope you are all staying safe.  Bob

 

Edited April 20, 2020 by 81C
typo

[Kingzance]

In response to the expressed fears that Cornwall may remain closed through the holiday season or pubs may not be allowed to open until Christmas, I remind you that this is just conjecture although as previously posted the cynical may think that a government could leak such ideas to create an outcry and then offer something less draconian that the masses would then think is good.
 

I would hope that the whining bearded owner of the Virgin Empire is unsuccessful in his pleas for government loans from his luxurious isolation on his offshore tax haven when other businesses in the UK are under such threats - businesses that don’t avoid taxes and believe in this country and it’s people! I think he should be contacted by HMG and told two words, the second being off, but the again, no doubt he will offer free first class travel to get the decision in his favour.

 

I find it even more easy to get wound up in the present climate, as you can read!

[AndrewC]

4 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

I would hope that the whining bearded owner of the Virgin Empire is unsuccessful in his pleas for government loans from his luxurious isolation on his offshore tax haven when other businesses in the UK are under such threats - businesses that don’t avoid taxes and believe in this country and it’s people! I think he should be contacted by HMG and told two words, the second being off, but the again, no doubt he will offer free first class travel to get the decision in his favour.

More than likely he will head to the courts as he did against the NHS when he lost the contract bid. I'm shocked he didn't go begging to the country where his company is based and pays its taxes. Oops. 

[Joseph_Pestell]

35 minutes ago, roundhouse said:

 

 

There is talk of pubs not reopening till xmas. If that is the case then I cant see many being around to reopen. The news mentioned that Cornwall could lose 80% of its businesses if it cant reopen in time for Summer holidays.

 

 

 

The biggest problem here is the uncertainty. If we knew that there was no prospect of opening until Xmas, we could plan accordingly and many could find ways to "mothball" the business until then. I am more concerned in that scenario for many of the small breweries who have made major investment in brewing capacity.

What we certainly can not do is reopen for a period and then have another shutdown.

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup where it is sunny out and the breeze is increasingly fresh. The start of another working week brings  little in the way of excitement although the  boys have "gone back to school". in other words they both have work on google classroom to deal with. Mrs Lurker is back on the rota at school but does not have to attend until next week.