Early Risers.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Wetherspoons in Barrow provided steak night Tuesday and Curry night Thursday which was very popular. They always had a couple of good beers on as well. It was not a place to visit for the feint hearted on a Saturday night.

 

We stopped going for Curry Nights as they started to run our earlier and earlier so used to go to th Duke up the road, a hand made pizza and some Lancaster red were more expensive than spoons but you were guaranteed to get what you ordered.

 

We have a dark cloud covered sky. It should get better during the day as I am walking up to see the eye consultant. Hopefully when she does the eye pressure test (involving a fine metal object which is pushed towards the eye) it doesn't hurt...

 

 

Mugatea time then off into the wonderful world of Monday.

 

Have as good a day as you can!

Baz

Edited July 6, 2020 by Barry O

[polybear]

9 hours ago, Northroader said:

If  ‘spoons is too posh for you try the Yates Wine Lodge in Harlow.

 

Doorman:  "Are you carrying a knife or any other weapon?"

Customer:  "No"

Doorman:  "Do you want one?"

[roundhouse]

33 minutes ago, Barry O said:

 

Wetherspoons in Barrow provided steak night Tuesday and Curry night Thursday which was very popular. They always had a couple of good beers on as well. It was not a place to visit for the feint hearted on a Saturday night.

 

 

Even Friday nights would be quite lively. Our normal place for food after setting up at the Furness show. Normally we would finish in the Duke a few doors down towards the station where Lancaster brewery ales and guests would be available till early hours. Unfortunately wont be there this October as the show is now cancelled.

 

Yesterdays walk took us to an out of the way pub that we hadn't visited for years as its a long walk of 5 miles. So after pre-booking a mid day slot we walked via the park in Reigate then footpaths across fields and dirt tracks arriving 15 minutes early so we patiently waited whilst they were setting up and the car park marshal turning away anyone without a booking.  We were shown to our table (all outside only) and how to order via the QR code on the table plus the non smartphone option by placing a wooden spoon in a jar to attract attention. However the QR code worked very well and ales arrived very quickly then so did the second round and food order. This pub has 2hour 40 sessions but we departed after 90 minutes mindful of requiring a leek stop sooner if I had another pint. Was all very pleasant although the portaloos could be a bit horrible later on and if it was raining the umbrellas wouldn't keep you completely dry.

 

The next pub no booking was needed as inside was very quiet. No bar screens or staff with face masks so much as pre Covid but its a quitter pub with tables spaced out and a deep bar so you don't get close to staff anyway. Did have to leave our name and tel number before we could order a beer.

 

Last port of call didn't require booking but just had to wait by the gate till we were shown to an available outdoor only  table. here, we had to text the pub with our names and table number before ordering. Loos are accessed by picking up a wooden spoon. No spoon then toilet occupied but I cant help think that handling the spoon by multiple customers is a not good. we have our own hand sanitiser to use afterwards.. One way system out of the pub at this one,  then a couple of miles walk home.

 

SO again another quite pleasant experience at these pubs but its all requiring careful planning to make sure you either have a booking or pick a time that isn't likely to be so busy that you can get in. SO far we have avoided our Spoons but they do have a reasonable range of ales and normally well kept but ever few years they go through a bad spell. Our Spoons is our closest pub so its handy for a leak stop on the way home and we do like their breakfasts  as its not as greasy as other local places. I suspect the recent pour your own tea / coffee machines have now gone and its just one cup fill per order.

 

Now to plan what pubs have reopened around Exeter. The Double locks is closed till late July unfortunately so that's one we will just be walking past on our way to Topsham via the canal and river.

 

Mike - the Great Western used to do great bar food but hasn't done so for many years and a shame that they didn't reintroduce it after they refurbished the bar area. The hotel section isn't anything like it was many years ago.

[pgcroc]

11 hours ago, Sir TophamHatt said:

Aldi have a 3D printer for less than £300... I also found (on the same site as the inner tray), a bunch of other things that could be useful from garden hose connections to chess board pieces.

 

ELEGOO MARS UV Photocuring LCD 3D Printer with 3.5" Smart Touch Color Screen Off-line Print 4.53"(L) x 2.56"(W) x 5.9"(H) Printing Size-Silver

 

The above on Amazon for £220 including delivery.

Has good reviews from members of my MERG  group.

I intend to get one once I arrive back in the UK.

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare,,

A good night's sleep of 4.45 hours + 2 hours..

 

Ben the sleepy Collie didn't want to get out of bed this morning, he stayed there till I took SWMBO her morning tea..

 

He did enjoy chasing the rabbits, vast quantities wandering around the garden till Ben spotted them...

 

 I quite liked a chicken Shwarma  or Tammis bread and dips as an alternative to the in House catering in Saudi, which was quite good anyway.. I didn't head for Macdonalds / Wendys/ Subway / Harry Ramsden like many others.

 

It did occur to me that my previous job prior to Saudi would have been unusual during the lock down. I would have had an HMG free to go anywhere in the UK chitty, but of course the hotels would have been closed so I guess arrangement would have been made for me to stay in the officers mess like I did in the Falklands..

 

We used to visit the bar by the river in Potter Heigham (currently called the Norrada), when SWMBO's Aunt and Uncle came for a visit, Me and Uncle Alf would head for the bar, while SWMBO and Aunt Kath headed for the shop, them joining us much later. pleasant sitting out in the sun watching the boats go by. Since they died, I've not been in a local pub..

 

This weeks major system has been running for an hour and a half now, 

 

Time to get on with the next measurement..

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I do find it rather sad that people will travel to exotic destinations (or even other areas of your own country) and then insist on eating there what they eat at home (I’m not talking about expats here, after living in a country for many years wanting the occasional “taste of home“ is something else entirely).  And you don’t even have to travel to exotic destinations, there are lots of wonderful regional foods available, certainly in the US, to make a visit to a fast food chain unecessary. For example, if I am in Louisiana, I would far prefer to have jambalaya, a gumbo or a shrimp po’boy over a fast food burger any day.

 

About the only time we will use a McD is when we're are out and about overseas.  When you need to dispose of small change, you know that if you have the right money in your hand, you will get the drink/ice at that price and not find you have to stump up extra  for the tax or even a service charge.

 

Call me mean, but I do not want a slack handful of useless coinage living in my sock drawer for ages afterwards.

[TheSignalEngineer]

14 hours ago, Barry O said:

The awl came into use as some people wouldn't do that.. so, hence a very limited access for Model Railways.. but everything  else (apart from Politics) is fine.. so there we go  we now know.

Fearing the wrath of the Awl-mighty I will be posting about yesterday's muddling along in another section when the paint has been touched up.

Meanwhile now the weekend exhibition is over I can stow my rucksac and have a shower before venturing out for my tonsorial therapy appointment.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Breakfast has been consumed and I’m just about to head downstairs to the cellar to continue painting the garden bench. This bench has been dismantled and all the bits are in the cellar so that I can carry on working during the present uncertain weather conditions. Once everything has been painted and is ready for re-assembly I will take it outside and finish the task on the workshop decking. 

 

As for fast food, we tend not to eat it as a rule, we’ve only ever been in Mac Donald’s once, never again! Fair enough, the service was fast and the staff pleasant enough, but the food was awful and bland, it put us off for life. 

 

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

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

 

It did occur to me that my previous job prior to Saudi would have been unusual during the lock down. I would have had an HMG free to go anywhere in the UK chitty, but of course the hotels would have been closed so I guess arrangement would have been made for me to stay in the officers mess like I did in the Falklands..

My neighbour’s work has been considered to be “key” and as hotels haven’t been available he had to book accommodation like Air BnB but only after submitting his key worker documentation. One of the other neighbours has been working in Belgium but possibly has special permission (Nato stuff).

My nephew is travelling from Germany to London today. His PhD viva has been postponed until Thursday as one of the panel has a poorly child. 
 

Tony

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Q mentioning his house being built on the foundations of an old pub reminded me of the Woolpack in Romford. Outwardly it was a typical mid Victorian building though there had been a pub on the site since the 16th century. Back in the mid 70's I knew the landlord who invited me down to see the cellars. They were probably the original cellars, the walls were of chalk blocks and the headroom was only about 5 feet. The building is still extant but now converted into flats. I had to look up clafoute as mentioned by Jamie. When I used to visit German friends the lady of the house Gudren who was from the Black Forest region served up a similar dish using plums rather than cherries, and not so much sugar.

[PhilJ W]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Doorman:  "Are you carrying a knife or any other weapon?"

Customer:  "No"

Doorman:  "Do you want one?"

I was told not to walk past Yates Wine Lodge if you were drunk as the doorman was likely to throw you IN.

[BSW01]

In our local Yates pub (now long demolished), if you stood for too long in the same spot, it took quite a bit of effort to move! 

[Barry O]

yes I visited Yates Bar in Blackpool once. Took a while to cross from entrance o the bar and an equal time to unstick my feet going the other way (we only went in to ask for some direction as we were lost!)

 

They were refurbishing the Yates Bar in Barrow and it fell down!

 

But if you wanted to chance your arm.. take a trip down Cavendish Street in Barrow or into the Preston Street Club.. it was where they based the bar on in Star Wars..

 

Baz

[southern42]

' morning all from red dragon land.

 

Already had a bit of rain and sunshine.  Maybe some sun around midday. Thereafter, various shades of grey.

 

Playtime.

4mm Headboards Challenge

Thames Valley R. Tour 2 : 1 LCGB-REC* 

*LCGB-REC: One re-make in progress after wrongful slashes received from the Scalpel injured Player No.2.  Referee deemed Player No.2 not fit for purpose.  Scalpel was cautioned.

 

Sun is out again...and bike set up ready to ride.

 

Bike ride on the terrace was undertaken, yesterday, in a pretty good blow.  So good, I folded my wool scarf in three and wrapped it round my neck and down inside the front of my jacket to keep the wind out. I had forgotten how warm that scarf is...but I doubt I will need it, today.

 

 

Toot on the flute is going better than expected...in some areas, anyway.

Working out Half Moon by ear is progressing steadily.  Breaking down the fife bit into sections, I am about 3/4s of the way through it.  This last section has a couple more tricky bits but...

I found out how to slow the video down on the last one so, hopefully, it will not take too long to work them out.

 

Fitt  and  Elfie taking things in their stride.

 

Take care and play safe.

_________

Best wishes

Polly

Edited July 6, 2020 by southern42

[Peter Eaton]

On ‎05‎/‎07‎/‎2020 at 07:18, AndyID said:

Click on the comments (bubble) count number to the far right in the topic heading at it will take you to the most recent comment.

 

thanks

On ‎05‎/‎07‎/‎2020 at 11:04, JohnDMJ said:

Beside the topic heading on the 'View New Content' page is either a star or a black circle. (Black star if you have commented on said post. Grey star if your comment was the last post made)

 

Hover your mouse cursor over this and see that it suggests 'Go to first unread post'. I usually right click on this and open the post in a new tab.

Gentlemen,

for both replies, thanks.

BIG help

Peter

[The Stationmaster]

G'day all,

 

Oh so right about food Flavio.  When we were in Portugal (crikey 20 years ago) we got into the habit of watching where the local folk went when eating out and going to the same places - tremendous grub in consequence and we didn't mind the sight of cats sleeping on sacks of veg in the kitchen in one restaurant.  But a big error on a day trip to a more touristy place where it had the local equivalent of Brussel's 'street of a thousand restaurants' and the one we picked was awful.   Found the same about local eateries  in the south of France although we did have a local 'guide' for some we went to there - again really good food and good value.  On the occasion I spent two nights in Tirano I sort of accidentally landed on my feet as the hotel I'd pre-booked also had parties of police on training courses staying - so inevitably the food was good, I never had a bad meal in Italy even in a place on the beach in Ventimiglia.

 

In my final big railway job I took on a timetabling chap who I knew spent a lot of his spare time travelling on continental railways (various) but I had a rude awakening the first time I took him over to a meeting in Paris as it quickly became apparent that he couldn't understand a menu in any language but English and the regular restaurant I used at that time in Montmatre only used French in their menus.  So I asked him how he got on elsewhere - frightening answer, he and his mates either went to McD's or if there wasn't one they just pointed at a dish on the menu in a restaurant or café and hoped for the best when it arrived.

 

And pubs - in my lifetime our town (with a population of only around 10,000 in my youth but now up to about 12,000) had c.30 pubs plus a local brewery - the 30 included 4 hotels with public bars.  One of the hotels survives as an hotel and another hotel is now a 'spoons but still does accommodation (the other two hotels have closed).  Of the pubs I think only 7 survive as pubs although 5 of them are as much about food as having a bar; one other is tapas bar (whatever that is), and another is wine bar while one is a restaurant (Zizi - if you can call that a restaurant),  The rest have gone - some converted into houses, several demolished and now under housing, and one converted into a shop.  But if you think that's a change go back to the 1912 local guide and the town had c.50 pubs (excluding hotels) and three breweries - and a smaller population! 

 

Time for a look round RMweb and then mushrooms and bacon to do for lunch.  Yesterday lunch was proper job pasties surplus from Saturday evening - herself makes pasties of a decent size so one at a sitting ss quite enough for most people and for luch we had two pasties between three of us so more a snack than a meal.  Part of a past batch can be viewed below for those of you who have not previously encountered Mrs Stationmaster's creations.

 

Have a good day one and all and stay safe

 

 

 

 

[Gwiwer]

15 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

tapas bar (whatever that is)

The only one I ever knowingly went into was certainly a tap-ar$e bar

 

Afternoon all.  Moan-day features cool, sunny bits, breezy bits and a feeling that Autumn might have arrived very early Upon the Hill of Strawberries.  As in previous weeks there has been a steady but still slight increase in numbers through the House of Fun although today I found my train to work loaded rather better than it has done since March.  More or less every window seat was occupied by the time I alighted and a few folk were standing in various spaces.  Until now it has been me and about 20 - 30 others on the train.  Today it was more like 200.  In fairness there might have been a cancellation just in front - I didn't bother to check.

 

More trains are running and some are longer.  And just to keep everyone guessing some are at different times to the timetable and journey planners.  Chessington trains have been quite happily running in their normal timings throughout the emergency (though hourly not half-hourly) but are now seven minutes later and taking the paths of the Dorking trains.  Dorking trains have in consequence shifter to 15 minutes later than normal taking the path of Guildford trains and the Guildford trains are running six minutes earlier .....  got that?

 

Now can anyone explain why?  

 

I have some club work to attend to this afternoon which involves learning how to create a Word document with letterhead and logo from .pdf files.  It's probably very easy but it isn't something I have ever done before.  Computers and Gwiwers are seldom comfortable companions.  We shall see how much hair the latter has left by afternoon muggertee   

 

There is also a box due in from Camborne as if the crate (a Bachmann outer) I received last week wasn't enough.  This one should be somewhat smaller! 

 

SWMBO reports feeling a little out of sorts today probably the result of too much hayfever and a slight reaction to a normally non-reactive medication but which combined with her normal meds might have upset her a tad.  

 

Friend in Brizzle has just checked in from her first post-problem pub perambulation and reports that all is well.  She is a letter-carrying shielder so upon her head be it.  No name nor contact details taken but ordering via the app will theoretically trace her if needed.  

 

Stay well until Ron pops in.  Later Ron that is ...... 

[TheSignalEngineer]

5 hours ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

Meanwhile now the weekend exhibition is over I can stow my rucksac and have a shower before venturing out for my tonsorial therapy appointment

My head feels several pounds lighter now, as is my wallet.

[45156]

1 hour ago, Gwiwer said:

 And just to keep everyone guessing some are at different times to the timetable and journey planners.  Chessington trains have been quite happily running in their normal timings throughout the emergency (though hourly not half-hourly) but are now seven minutes later and taking the paths of the Dorking trains.  Dorking trains have in consequence shifter to 15 minutes later than normal taking the path of Guildford trains and the Guildford trains are running six minutes earlier .....  got that?

 

Now can anyone explain why?  

 

 

Because they can, and will change just for the sake of it - You've worked for public transport for long enough to know that planning and common sense do not really share the same pages.

 

Afternoon All

 

Generic greetings, and fodder run is now completed, and not all posts read or rated, as I have been a bit busy with steam cleaing the hard floors - I wish that we hadn't acquired a free steam cleaner, as it seems that now we've got it, it has to be used - frequently.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[Gwiwer]

2 minutes ago, 45156 said:

You've worked for public transport for long enough to know that planning and common sense do not really share the same pages.

True, that.  

 

It does seem odd that while for the months we have had this emergency that trains have normally run in their usual paths but with longer intervals between due to the many which have not run.  So today without warning things suddenly change.  So suddenly that most journey planners don't have today's service uploaded.  Which causes its own problems when faced with customers who expected the 07.20 to Little Nuttingford to have run at 07.20.  

 

The only explanation I can think of is that the change brings an even 15-minute headway to Motspur Park.  And to nowhere else.  What is special about Motspur Park, I wonder?  Does someone in a very expensive suit live there?  

 

Indeed planning and common sense are seldom on the same page of the Railway Operating Manual.  

 

[Simon G]

8 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ey up!

Wetherspoons in Barrow provided steak night Tuesday and Curry night Thursday which was very popular. They always had a couple of good beers on as well. It was not a place to visit for the feint hearted on a Saturday night.

 

To be honest, not many pubs in the towns in Cumbria are suitable for the faint hearted on a Saturday night!  I recall coming out of the spoons in Whitehaven one night, and set off up the street, only to encounter what looked like a pitched battle going on.  We quickly turned round and went the other way!  That particular street does have a reputation for such things and there is a regular police presence there on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

Bright and sunny here today, but still a stiff wind from the north west, making it quite cool.  The hedges had got a bit overgrown so today has been spent trimming them again, and they now look much better for it.  I just need to clean up all the trimmings now!

 

[81C]

Afternoon All

Overcast here 

Went out to empty the bins and dump the bottles in the pink wheelie bin, the residence of the other 25 flats fill it up weekly, noticed the new motor covered in bird

so I tried out my new pressure washer nozzle on the communion hose it works very well it removed all of the crap, the car has paint protection treatment prior to purchasing 

it so it's just a wash down with the occasional car shampoo sprayed on it and left for 5 minutes the dirt falls off when washed off with the power hose.

Tiling commence in the kitchen today not feeling too good this am which started out with a migraine at 6am lasted till I've downed tools early pleased with the effort I'm in not

going to rush it and the job turns out carp.

I think its nap time stay safe and mind the gap. H.E.Adache   

[Barry O]

@Gwiwer  well, the timetabling staff have had to have something to do while working from home!

 

Baz

[Erichill16]

8 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I do find it rather sad that people will travel to exotic destinations (or even other areas of your own country) and then insist on eating there what they eat at home (I’m not talking about expats here, after living in a country for many years wanting the occasional “taste of home“ is something else entirely).  And you don’t even have to travel to exotic destinations, there are lots of wonderful regional foods available, certainly in the US, to make a visit to a fast food chain unecessary. For example, if I am in Louisiana, I would far prefer to have jambalaya, a gumbo or a shrimp po’boy over a fast food burger any day.

 

Enjoy your Monday.

 

iD

I know you enjoy ‘local’ food when you’re abroad and wonder whether, as a well travelled man, you’d ever visited the pot noodle museum in Yokohama?
Im sure they would have samples for you to try.

Unfortunately I didn’t have time last year when I was in Yokohama as there was Germany beer festival on at the same time.
Regards

Robert

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Still a bit breezy here at the moment but I've got to get on with assembling the wheelbarrow. Question is where to put it when its finished? The lack of a shed is beginning to be a problem. Now my laser printer has a problem, its not printing. There is a faint outline of what I want to print but  the ink is pushed to the edge of the page and is still powdery instead of being 'set'. It also is making a clunking noise when (not) printing.