Early Risers.

[J. S. Bach]

Good night owl from the Piedmont.

[TheQ]

Mooring awl, Inner Temple Hare, 

 6 hours solid sleep so far,  .

 

Yesterday,  I felt physically exhausted most of the day,  this morning,  something still doesn't feel right , almost like I've had an overdose of caffeine. Most odd... 

 

Wheel of fortune?  Do they still make that, or is it an ancient repeat because they're not making new shows at the moment?  I prefer something less "excited " like Mastermind.. 

 

Late yesterday an email arrived, the replacement shed for the failing corrugated iron lean to,  should arrive tomorrow.  I'll not start clearing the site till it arrives though. 

 

Time to see if I can get more sleep. 

 

But first, 

 

Stationmaster, mentioned Optimist eye spray, the optimist is a small dinghy,  I immediately thought of this sort of eye spray.. 

 

 

 

 

 

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, brianusa said:

 

Would that such common sense prevail south of the border!  Now there is to be a renters strike and if the clowns with guns get involved ( they seem to show up at signs of civil unrest), there might be undesirable consequences.

     Brian.

Ironically, what these “defenders of freedom” fail to realise is that, in the event of an invasion (or civil war for that matter) their armed resistance will be met by overwhelming force (think Waco but without the restraints). A couple of clowns holed up somewhere with their AK47 knockoffs and similar guns would soon be flattened by air strikes (I don’t think an invading force would be overly concerned about collateral damage). Whereas sharpshooters/snipers picking off “high value” targets (such as officers) could seriously affect the enemy’s morale and be very hard to counter (as the Germans found out to their cost on the Eastern front). Of course, to be an effective sniper you need to be [a] highly trained and be equipped with an appropriate rifle. 

9 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

@AndrewC I feel your pain.  We lost our Great White cat in Australia to organ failure aged 12 1/2.  We suspected his kidneys were failing when there was no output for 24 hours and he was in obvious discomfort.  Within the time it took to book a vet appointment he had lost the ability to walk and dragged himself across the floor.  The vet visit was his last .....   

 

There are no easy words when a family member reaches the end.  A loss is a loss human or otherwise.  Please be assured there is support here when that time comes.  

Sadly true. I have made a promise to myself (and to Lucy and Schotty) that when it is time for them to go, they will be euthanised at home. Our vet provides this service and, in extremis, Mrs iD’s old friend - also a vet - could be called upon. As much as it will be emotionally devastating for me, I want them to have their last moments safe in my arms. I owe them that much.

 

The grief one feels over the loss of a much loved pet is poorly acknowledged, but can often be felt deeper and for longer than the loss of a human family member.

Edited May 3, 2020 by iL Dottore
Typo

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all, with many happy returns to Stewart 45156

 

Let us take another trip into the parallel universe.  Yesterday would have seen the monthly LGBT group breakfast in ‘Spoons, often a convivial occasion.  Tuesday would have seen an agonising choice between the Hut People at St Neots Folk Club and a talk at the LCGB on the last years of the Somerset and Dorset.  On Thursday Belshazzar’s Feast, quite an entertaining duo, were to have played at the Place Theatre and I would have made the short journey to The Stables on Saturday night to see Sam Carter.  Such is the reduction in use of my car that my mileage budget is 2,000 miles in credit.  I’m sure I am not alone in feeling like a caged lion with all those events that are not there for me to attend and enjoy.  What unsettles me, and no doubt many others, is the inability to plan ahead and the futility of even trying.

 

Today I will be putting some of my culinary skills to the test when I roast a cluckbird, as Rick would call it.  It is not the largest possible fowl that may be had but it will do me a good lunch and there will be enough meat left on the carcase to feed me for a few more days.  Such delicacies as risotto and curry may be made from the remains without too much effort.  As a nation I feel that we are losing the knack of making the most of leftovers.  My parents would have been dismayed at the sight of frozen bubble and squeak on sale in supermarkets.  When I was a lad it was made from leftover spuds and greens.  Last year I stayed at a Premier Inn for a night and was intrigued to see bubble and squeak on the breakfast menu.  I wonder how it got its name?

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Sir TophamHatt]

Morning all.

 

So had a dream where I was in control of a bus. It decided to drive off by itself and while I was looking for it, I passed the depot, an impossibly small hairdressers, a nice bakery that had fake bread and cakes in the window and a model railway shop!

 

Clearly I went in.

The entrance had a few glass cabinets like you get at jewellers. The first room had a basic layout on the left with magazines and books underneath. A glass cabinet on the wall on the right. Not many models at all. 

 

The second room was even more sparse. Someone was buying some of the models when the shop owner told an assistant to see if I needed help. I said I was interested in a Class 58.

 

When stepping outside to the windows in the entrance, half the models were gone. The assistant told me the other customer in the shop had bought "a few" of the 58s. As we were walking back in, I said they were in high demand.

 

Back in the first room, the other customer was on their way out but made an effort to brush past me, even holding their hand out to make sure maximum contact was made.

 

I said "thanks for the social distancing you fat old ".

 

Then I woke up.

 

 

 

 

I don't even want a 58!

[Ozexpatriate]

2 hours ago, TheQ said:

Wheel of fortune?  Do they still make that,

They still make the US version, though they're probably just about out of 'new' episodes taped before the COVID-19 hiatus.

[Ozexpatriate]

25 minutes ago, Sir TophamHatt said:

So had a dream where ...

In the current climate of anxiety there's been much reporting about the vivid dreams people are having.

 

I've noticed it myself.

 

4 hours ago, leopardml2341 said:

Why?

 

Am I awake at this hour?

That's another reaction to the current climate of anxiety.

 

My whole diurnal schedule is out of whack. On weeknights I have been watching late night comics until 1:00am or later and despite being tired, not getting to sleep until very late (or rather very early). Happily I am sleeping, eventually - but not arising at a 'proper' time, and occasionally so when the the little hand approaches double digits. By the time some morning television is lazily watched abed, morning ablutions are complete and brunch is consumed, the chiming clock has done its hardest work of the day.

 

Edited May 3, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[iL Dottore]

32 minutes ago, chrisf said:

...As a nation I feel that we are losing the knack of making the most of leftovers.  My parents would have been dismayed at the sight of frozen bubble and squeak on sale in supermarkets.  When I was a lad it was made from leftover spuds and greens.  Last year I stayed at a Premier Inn for a night and was intrigued to see bubble and squeak on the breakfast menu.  I wonder how it got its name?

I certainly agree with that contention, Chris. Once the creative use of leftovers was part and parcel of every Chef’s, cook’s and housewife’s repertoire (did you know that many appetisers - like Russian Salad [finely diced and sliced cooked vegetables bound in a mayonnaise] - were created in the days before refrigeration so that restaurants wouldn’t loose money by throwing away the day before’s leftovers?). And some dishes are actually better the day after cooking. Unfortunately, one of the many negatives you can associate with a loss of skill with leftovers is the concomitant rise in food waste (lettuce gone limp? Don’t throw it out, make braised lettuce with peas, finely diced shallots/onions and a little white wine or stock).

 

As for the origin of “bubble and squeak” it is an onomatopoeic term (whereby the word or phrase phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes). Presumably, a good “bubble and squeak” will bubble, hiss and squeak pleasingly in the hot pan. 

[Ozexpatriate]

47 minutes ago, chrisf said:

As a nation I feel that we are losing the knack of making the most of leftovers. 

 

7 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I certainly agree with that contention, Chris. Once the creative use of leftovers was part and parcel of every Chef’s, cook’s and housewife’s repertoire (did you know that many appetisers - like Russian Salad [finely diced and sliced cooked vegetables bound in a mayonnaise] - were created in the days before refrigeration so that restaurants wouldn’t loose money by throwing away the day before’s leftovers?).

I am now thinking of corned beef fritters. A favourite leftover from my very early formative years. I do not take the effort to corn a brisket for one. Perhaps I should? Corned beef sandwiches are excellent too, though I have been converted to pastrami.

 

I'm still working through the salmon and taco beef leftovers from meals I prepared on Wednesday and Thursday. Each time I cook I end up with about three portions. A serving of each remains.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Happy Birthday Stewart!

 

Looks like I shall be looking after her indoors today. She has been poorly in the night. (I am in the bad books as I slept through it all). Time to don the HazMat gear...

 

Jopefully back later

 

Baz

[JohnDMJ]

 

1 hour ago, chrisf said:

Let us take another trip into the parallel universe.  Yesterday would have seen the monthly LGBT group breakfast in ‘Spoons, often a convivial occasion.  Tuesday would have seen an agonising choice between the Hut People at St Neots Folk Club and a talk at the LCGB on the last years of the Somerset and Dorset.  On Thursday Belshazzar’s Feast, quite an entertaining duo, were to have played at the Place Theatre and I would have made the short journey to The Stables on Saturday night to see Sam Carter.  Such is the reduction in use of my car that my mileage budget is 2,000 miles in credit.  I’m sure I am not alone in feeling like a caged lion with all those events that are not there for me to attend and enjoy.  What unsettles me, and no doubt many others, is the inability to plan ahead and the futility of even trying.

 

Two things arise from this paragraph.

 

1. You also seem to include Jethro Tull in your likes of music; Living in the Past was, ISTR, one of their better known ditties.

 

2. My poor car doesn't know what's hit it; registered from new in November 2007 (1 week after Eurorats moved from Waterloo to St. Pancras), the 44500 miles on the clock are all mine. Normally, I'd use the train to work rather than drive and fill the car maybe once or twice a year with fuel. Since March, I'm now on my second tank of fuel! 45000 miles here we come!

 

On a positive note, a pessimist is seldom disappointed!

[Ozexpatriate]

Now that the 'Dear Leader' of the PRK appears to be breathing and upright, the USAF is sending B1-Bs back to Guam.

[leopardml2341]

54 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

 

Corned beef sandwiches are excellent too.......

I rediscovered my old toasted sandwich maker; corned beef and cheese it is then

 

If I want to be a bit posh, I might add a smidge of horseradish too - oh the decadence!

Edited May 3, 2020 by leopardml2341

[Dave Hunt]

Good morning from a damp and dismal North Hipposhire.

 

Happy birthday Stewart. I hope that you have as convivial a time as possible. A bottle of bubbly sometimes helps.

 

I see that we are back on the subject of food with a discussion on leftovers. I nearly always over cater when cooking so using leftovers is a way of life here and the idea of buying such things as ready prepared bubble & squeak seems bizarre.

 

The controversy over the constituents of a good breakfast and the pros and cons of kippers seems to be over so I won't add to it.

 

But...... Marmite, yum yum.

 

TTFN

 

Dave

[leopardml2341]

Proper morning this time.

 

Tea has been drunk, Doggo came to investigate and then went straight back to bed, obviously exhausted from all the toy fetch yesterday whilst I was doing garden stuff. Little does he know there's more today

 

That's about it for the moment. Porridge and fruit soon then back outside.

 

Best wishes and thoughts with everyone, especially those who ail.

 

[AndrewC]

morning all from the boring borough. Thanks to all who offered kind words and support with Tiggr. Sadly for us, it isn't our first rodeo and won't be the last. We've gone through losing a pet 7 times in the past 25 years. It never gets easier either.

 

Tiggr does seem up a bit so perhaps the antibiotics given on Thursday are helping with an infection of some sort. His appetite is up as well and his drinking down, so all good signs. We'll do what we can and keep him going as long as he is happy. 

 

One of the downsides of adopting rescue cats is we generally get them mid life. Tiggr and his brother Oscar were born at Celia Hammond to a rescued preggers moggie on march 15 2004. The were adopted out as kittens in a pair. 8 1/2 years ago the people that adopted them returned them to the shelter after they split up. I will never understand people who could do that. We took them home a week later, along with George. Some of you may remember George as having mega colon and we've almost lost him twice. The first trio we adopted in 2005 all had various health issues. Iggy & Emma only survived 2 & 5 years respectively. boB lived for 7 1/2 with us. The three had been rescued when their owner decided to end her life by setting her flat on fire, with the cats. No doubt when the current gang have passed on, we'll be adopting another group of unwanted puddy tats. 

 

Today shall be a light brekkie, latte or 2 and more work in the shed. I figure another couple of hours cleaning & moving and we'll have the Blue Shed Arms open for pints & darts. Like Tony, I may even get the Scalex up and running. 

 

Enjoy the day. 

[Joseph_Pestell]

2 minutes ago, AndrewC said:

. 8 1/2 years ago the people that adopted them returned them to the shelter after they split up. I will never understand people who could do that.

 

Sadly, for many people that is the nature of marital break up. You end up living somewhere that you can not have pets.

 

At this difficult time, it would mean the world for me to still have the dog.

[roundhouse]

We haven't adopted any pets but two next door seem to have adopted us. They wait on the fence for when we open the conservatory door then make a dash for us. The little female cat is hard work as she will climb on anything and will often head straight for upstairs The big black and white cat is a great character. he will beg with his right paw. my other half wold love to have cats but in normal times we are away far too much but at the moment with both of us home every day these two cats are loving it. Also, so are the three foxes around the local gardens with one of them sniffing the garden trains as they went round the garden last ight and me not very far away. I suspect one of them is the same one which would just sit under the tree when it rained whilst I walked past with materials whilst I built the shed last summer.

 

Today there is chance of rain so will probably hold off cutting our and next doors grass till tomorrow.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Late up this morning after a rather unsettled night.

Rather overcast here with the chance of a sunny spell or two and maybe some showers later.

I started my car yesterday for the first time since 17th March to be greeted with an orange warning light denoting an electrical fault.  I suppose it may be something to do with being idle for six weeks. It'll have to wait to be sorted.

Breakfast has been offered, eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato and toast are available and will be consumed within the hour.  

After that I will again be heading Shedwards.  I might just have a running session testing all track and points again before I start painting and ballasting. It will give me an excuse to unbox a few  of my toys.

Just been told if I want that breakfast I need to get a move on.  Don't need telling twice.

Have a good one,

H.ungrysod.

Edited May 3, 2020 by grandadbob

[JohnDMJ]

I too would enjoy the company of a cat or a dog, however, being at home for less than 50% of an average day, I would not be doing them justice.

[5 C]

Morning awl from a rather damp Bedfordshire.

 

Yesterday the assault on the ironing mountain began. Progress has been made but the summit has yet to be reached. Mysteriously, it seems to have grown higher during the day. Was it covered in cloud I wonder? Maybe an optical illusion? More likely yesterday's washing frenzy adding to the pile. The trek continues.

 

I'll also admit to being distracted from household chores by repairs to one of an e*ay job lot being sold for spares. It's now running sweetly, so on the back of that success I shall tackle another item from the lot later. It's a £1 fees weekend too, so a couple of the unwanted items will be prepped and put up for sale. I had planned to sell the item that will be repaired today. It's not really appropriate for my area of interest and is rather sought after, so would make good money - potentially enough to pay for the entire lot. Leafing through a reference book yesterday, it seems at least one of the full size examples was once noted in the area and a couple of others had turned up nearby too. I now have a dilemma...

 

An out of the blue Zoom meet with a few friends was also a welcome distraction. Normally at this time of year, we'd be planning an evening at one of the quiz nights held on Chinnor's full size, preserved transportation system that runs on parallel strips of metal. They're great events and our teams generally do quite well. The evenings are always a sell out too, such is their popularity. Sadly, all that's on hold now until who knows when?

 

A bacon, egg and mushroom sandwich may be consumed later and possibly some rhubarb crumble later still. Meanwhile there's ironing in them thar hills.

 

Regards to awl.

[Happy Hippo]

12 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

There was some sort of loophole in US regulations. I cannot describe it to you accurately, but it was related to the separate upper and lower receiver components. I was under the belief that things like a pistol grip were attached to the lower receiver and the stock was often a separate component. (I frequently receive unsolicited catalogues in the mail with all manner of mix and match, customized rifle components.)

 

A whole different kettle of fish in the US is downloadable, plans for additive manufacturing (aka 3D printing) of receivers. The DoJ/ATF is struggling to define how to handle these.

One of the problems concerns the forensic fingerprint of the gun in question.

 

What would concern me is the standard of workmanship, where parts that are manufactured 'at home' might not have the same fine tolerances, nor be made out of the correct materiel.

 

When a rifle goes bang, you don't want it to be the breech block failing.

 

There are all sorts of arcane rules and regulations out there, which might seem rather pointless.

 

For instance, I have a number of rifles fitted with sound moderators.  I can take them on and off at will because they are fitted to air rifle which are not required to have an FAC.

 

However, the same rifles, at FAC power settings, require the moderator to be listed on the FAC, and theoretically one should not remove it from the rifle as it changes the description of the rifle from that stated on the FAC.

 

Some people are under the false impression (too many movies) that FAC rated rifles with moderators get the bang to a pop.  All the moderator does is take the big bang and muffle it.

 

A moderator does have a marked effect on sub 12 ft lb air rifles, which is great when you are using them in confined areas, or places where the neighbours don't want the Battle of The Somme being re-enacted in the field next door on a Sunday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Simon G]

Morning all,

 

Been back out in the garden this morning and planted more seeds, this time they are radish, chard and spinach.  More planting to follow as the day goes on.

 

I fully agree with the sentiments on food leftovers.  Both Mrs G and I abhor waste of food, and some of our best meals have come from a little creativity with leftovers.  It pains me to see the waste that goes on in some places.  The first time we went on an all inclusive holiday in Morocco, the amount of food wasted was incredible.  People just stacked as much as they could get onto a plate, then often just ate about a third of it.  I went along with the stacking of food on the plate, but then ate the lot!  I am lucky to have the type of constitution that allows me to eat pretty much what I want, without putting weight on.

 

Coffee break is now over, so it is back to the garden.

Edited May 3, 2020 by Simon G
Typos

[Chris116]

I set my alarm for 9am, as usual, but this morning I made myself a drink and breakfast as soon as I was awake. Took SWMBO a coffee around 9.50am and awaited instructions on when she required her breakfast. Worked well, so that will be the routine from now on. Listening to American Country Countdown on Chris Country. Getting ready to go for SWMBO's first walk of the day, my job being to take the wheelchair so if she can't walk as far as she wants to I give her a push home. Need to get some bacon, eggs and milk from our local Co-op so the first walk will be in that direction. Stay safe folks. 

[jamie92208]

Good moaning. It's cloudy but a bit wsrmer and there is less Welsh sunshine.  We've actually had the fire lit for the last two days.  However  we have been promised sun tomorrow by the seaweed wranglers.   We did our usual market run today and it seemed a little busier though people were, in general distancing. The may be some more scanning done today.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie