Early Risers.

[TheQ]

Mooring awl,  at stupid o'clock,  I think inner Temple is hare.

Can't get comfortable,  arms,  shoulders and hands aching.

 

I've neither seen the programme, nor read the books, but I understand that the inspector George Gently books were based in Norfolk, but the TV series moved it to somewhere up North... 

 

75 years ago one of my uncles  fighting in Burma was very glad for the surrender of Japan after the dropping of the bombs. 

 

I think. I may have mentioned before,  I think I lived in a black hole for radio, only being able to receive badly Luxembourg and the light programme / Home Service in Wiltshire. 

Once we moved to the hebridies only radio 2 no other radio channel plus snowy bbc1 TV 405 line.  The Hebrides only getting colour TV,  and all the main radio channels in the early 1980s.

 

Plans for today,  cladding and trim on the MhRC,  but first more sleep. 

[iL Dottore]

8 hours ago, BokStein said:

At least Salvo understands the English etiquette and good manners!

Of course one doesn’t speak with one’s mouth full - this is a given across all cultures (at least for a well bred person), what does change  Is the minor etiquette. For example, in Japan it is considered perfectly acceptable to slurp one’s noodles, Yet it is completely unacceptable to eat in the street (except at the outside counters and tables of restaurants and the like).

The subtleties of etiquette across the world are quite fascinating; for example, in Japan (and I believe also in China) it is considered insulting to your host to take your chopsticks and rub them across each other (like Harrison Ford did before eating his noodles at the beginning of Blade Runner).  The reason being, very cheap disposable chopsticks were/are often roughly finished and you would rub the chopsticks against each other to remove any splinters or rough edges. To do so when invited to a meal by somebody, would imply that your host or hostess was being cheap and mean by giving you poor quality chopsticks.

8 hours ago, andyram said:

... The comments by iL-D are correct the people in question have even less experience of fostering than us. However, the decision is similar to the one we had taken anyway...

Cynicism never disappoints, Andy.

However, it is reassuring to learn that the decision made by this “desk wallah” was in fact the right one for you. Too many times, decisions are made that bear but faint resemblance to the problems they are supposed to address. Anyway, much luck to you for the future.

I recently came across a rather intriguing (and also appealing) piece of modern day slang: “the mangie”, a term to describe the professional managerial class that whilst completely unable to do anything useful, can do “management”. Surprisingly, the “professional managerial class“ has been the subject of serious study since the 1970s. One of the contentions made from this research is that “the mangies” are now the new ruling elite. Politicians may bluster and pontificate, but it’s really the mangies just below them that rule the country (and not just in the UK). With their shared, self interested, assumptions, their love of torturous ideology and their willingness to jump onto any bandwagon in order to protect their own cushy little livelihoods, the average mangie makes the famous Sir Humphrey look like the very model of flexibility, reason, compromise  and adaptability. To repeat (and mangle) Madame de Stahl’s famous words “the more I see of men, the more I love my dogs (and bears)“

It is certainly pleasing to hear that little Grace is doing better and I hope that her recovery, slow as it may be, will be completely uneventful and completely successful. I am keeping the appropriate digits crossed.
 

It’s quite sobering, and yet at the same time reassuring, to observe that even as few as 10 years ago little Grace will would not have had the same chance for a full recovery as she has today. Which is yet another reason why we should support the advance of scientific medicine and reject the antiscience, ignorant and incoherent pronunciations of the anti-vaxxers, clean living extremists and others of that ilk.

 

Off to have another muggacoffee, then into the kitchen to prep for tonight (Mrs iD has invited people.....)

 

iD

 

p.s. Before I forget, Happy Birthday Andy

Edited August 15, 2020 by iL Dottore

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all and many happy returns to Andyram.

 

The headless chickens who rule us are really having a field day.  Thankfully I do not know all the ins and out of the mechanism for producing exam results where there are no exams but, to my untutored eye, asking teachers for their advice and then second-guessing what they say in the name of moderation smacks rather of keeping a dog and barking yourself.  May all those young people who have been put through this dreadful ordeal land on their feet and benefit from the wonderful education that they surely deserve.

 

As for the on-off nature of quarantine arrangements which will have counteracted much of the good that holidays are supposed to do, I have to declare an interest.  Just over four months from now I am due to travel to Switzerland for the festive season, outward via the Netherlands and back via Germany, Belgium and France.   Up to now I have taken the view that there is no more than a 50:50 chance of the trip going ahead.  How unusual of me to be so optimistic!  Make that 1:100.  I try to be positive, I really do, but it is so difficult in the face of realism.  On my birthday back in February I was oh so positive about my trip to Dublin.  Within four weeks it lay in ruins.  Like all of us, I have lost so much through that ruddy virus.  We ain't seen nothing yet!

 

On that happy note, best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Happy birthday Andyram! Hope the coming year looks more kindly on you!

 

Again a cool morning with low lyi g dark clouds (ie nist).

 

The first album I ever bouggts was Selling England by the Pound by Genesis way back in 1973..lummy 47 years ago! And I still have it!

 

Today involves a trip to Ilkley for a cricket match .hopefully we can get through this safely.

 

I did see a photo of one of the "polo mint" sections of the new Trident Boats (SSBN) being moved around the  site in Barrow. Hopefully they will weld it all together the correct way up  !

 

Time to make and drink a mugatea!

Have a great day and make the most of Saturday everyone!

Baz

Edited August 15, 2020 by Barry O

[TheQ]

Mooring again,  shortly after my previous missive Ben the I want out Collie appeared, when let out he went running off down the garden.  Then a few minutes later came running back, looking very happy. 

 

I notice on TV adverts have started appearing for a home share dealing app, one of the causes of a great many people loosing money during the Great Depression was a huge increase in the public dealing in shares. The timing seems somewhat worrying. 

 

The governments were on a hiding to nothing with the school exam situation. We all know from when we were at school, teachers are extremely variable,  some will be very hard on pupils assessments, some teachers extremely  easy  and  some hard or easy on those they hate or love.  Reports from Scotland of situations where the teacher assessment for the entire class was an impossible A's all round, do nothing for the situation.. 

 

Ben has now had his normal patrol,  it's  dull with a hint of dampness from the sky, the grass jungle  hasn't yet reacted to yesterday's wet,  I'm sure it will do soon the next couple of days. 

 

Time for breakfast... 

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from a damp and dreary Estuary-Land. Happy birthday Andy, it doesn't seem that long ago that it was my 45th birthday but that was more than 27 years ago! Fingers still crossed for baby Grace and hope the improvement carries on. Our exhibition at the end of October still hasn't been officially cancelled yet, but its extremely doubtful that it will go ahead. Thats it for now, be back later.

[jamie92208]

Good morning to all, It's sunny here. Happy Birthday to Andy.

 

My first LP was Abbey Road by The Beatles and I still have that copy. Bought 50 years ago spending my wages from my holiday job at the creamery.

 

Teenage radio was a very crackly Luxembourg and of course Caroline North which was moored just off Fraggle Rock, listened to on an Alba Tranny via an earphone.

 

Not a lot on the agenda today except the ironing. However  we had a good night quizzing and won again. Pooling our winnings from last time with last nights meant that we only paid €2.70 each for a meal, drinks and the quiz.

 

Jamie

 

 

[laurenceb]

Birthdat greetings Andy

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dull, dismal and damp on the ground but not raining at the moment.

Belated birthday greetings to Andy.

Rugby watched and enjoyed last night although it was a bit scrappy with lots of penalties.    A mixture of rustiness after 5 months layoff and the ref tightening up on the laws of the game.  Good (and correct) result though.  There are 4 matches today but not sure if they're all on the box.  I will watch what I can (Boss permitting! ) and record the rest.

My first album was The Shadows Greatest Hits bought in 1963.  It's still in the loft with some other old vinyls but the sleeve is very "weathered" and unfortunately there's a dirty great scratch across about 3 tracks.

We are due to entertain friends in the garden this evening but I think this may well be cancelled as thunderstorms are forecast.  I'm told "we need to make a decision this morning."  

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited August 15, 2020 by grandadbob
Speelink

[tigerburnie]

Morning, from a rather dark and dank NE Scotland, at least it's cooler. Happy Birthday Andyram and all those celebrating something good wishes. Still eerily quiet alongside the ECML and there still is an air of can't quite believe it, Stonehaven is I am told a sombre place just now.

My first LP's(I had 2 for Christmas) were the Rolling Stones first album and On Campus by John Lee Hooker, my first single was Come On by the Rolling Stones, bought with my paper round money, five shillings which was a weeks wage for me lol.

No plans for the weekend, as it is cooler I might venture out to The Old Summer House and see if things are all ok in the world of parallel bits of metal, stay safe all.

[Erichill16]

Morning All,

Dont usually post so early but can’t get my ar$e in gear this morning. Already had my 2nd coffee which I usually have mid morning. Waiting for today’s duties.

First record I got was , ‘Come on Eileen’ by Dexys Midnight Runners. Probably still got it somewhere. First album was  Autoamercan by Blondie which was on cassette.

SWMBO is stirring so better make a more.

Robert

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

It must have rained overnight as the garden looks damp. It is very overcast now.  
The weather app suggests it will rain in 10 minutes from now.

Our strong white bread flour arrived from Wiltshire a few days ago so there will be some nice white bread for toast this morning. Also various other types of white flour were ordered so there could be cakes too soon.

One of  Aditi’s French Circle committee colleagues wants to join in the Zoom meeting and wants some advice about setting up her Apple Mac. Aditi has volunteered which means she has to find out too. My contribution is to put Aditi‘s Mac Air on to charge and then keep an eye on it as it updates.

Tony

[Coombe Barton]

Weather in west Cornwall

 

 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A sunny start to the day here in the northwest of England. A little bit late out of bed this morning but it is Saturday! Currently sat in the workshop about to start working on the turntable control panel, painting the lines on the fascia that will represent the track formation. 

 

Happy birthday Andy 

 

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

[Chris116]

Happy birthday Andyram.

 

Best wishes to Grace and all her family. 

 

Going to start building a small shunting layout, 8 foot by 1 foot, ready for the arrival of the J70 my wife has bought me for my birthday two weeks ago. She refused to buy anything for the railway because she says I have far too much (which is true) but relented when I would not name anything else that I wanted. 

 

Note to Debs, I am not talking about modelling just about my birthday! 

 

Note to self, keep my head down behind the defences just in case Debs does not believe me. 

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

It's raining off and on is desultory manner but that's what we've been asking for during the heatwave so who am I to complain.  A foraging party has gone forth to Tesco so I might have a change today from tomato sarnies - but there are an awful ot tomatoes sitting there although plenty are being converted into tomato sauce and then frozen for future use.

 

I must be honest and say all this predicted grades stuff inclines me to the same sort of views as 'The Q'.  Plus of course there will be hopefully the chance to sit proper exams in the Autumn term so although uni entry or whatever might be delayed a year there's lot of years ahead of those involved.  What matters for many I expect is what the unis themselves will be prepared to do and it reminds me of the Good Doctor falling a little short on her grades for uni .  After a chat with the admissions folk they still took her because they had looked back originally at GCSE results when awarding her a place.  Subsequently over following years Exeter Uni awarded her, successively, a BA, MA and PhD so clearly A level grades might not necessarily be the be all and end all when it comes to taking advantage of university level education.

 

No other major plans for tidy and for information I have b never in my entire life bought an LP record although i did once buy an EP by Transacord ('The Dukedogs and The City' - what else could it have been?)

 

Have a good day folks and stay safe

[Dave Hunt]

Jill is away today so I'm i/c shopping, cooking etc. as well as finishing the tidying up and cleaning of the shed. To quote Baz - pah!

 

Best wishes to Andy,  still thinking about baby Grace, and very moved by John Coombe Barton's blog post.

 

Enjoy the rest of your day.

 

Dave 

[Chris116]

Further to my previous post, the J70, 68219, has arrived. Looks fantastic and will be tested soon. Showed it to SWMBO who after all had paid for it and her reaction was "I paid how much for that? I thought it would be at least six inches long!" Oh well, one day she will learn that size is not everything. Stop sniggering at the back! 

Edited August 15, 2020 by Chris116
Word went awol

[iL Dottore]

Greetings, one and all,

 

All this brouhaha about exams and how some teachers are incredibly strict with their marking whilst others are incredibly lax, raises the question why don’t universities have proper entrance exams and completely ignore O levels and A level results (or whatever they are called nowadays). So the first step in applying to any university would be to set the university’s own exam and if you get the minimum acceptable mark, you can then move forward to the next stage of being selected for university.

 

Mind you, and I know I am betraying both my age and my personal prejudices, but it seems to be that ever since a certain prime minister brayed  “education, education, education“ there has been a sudden decline in the quality of university graduates (I certainly have seen that in my particular area of expertise).  What I find rather sad, is that many young people will take on a lot of student debt to get a degree in something like media studies, hoping to get a job in broadcasting, journalism or other aspects of the media, when the reality is that the media industry is incredibly incestuous and unless you have family or friends in the business, it is very hard to get a foot in the door. In comparison, getting a job at a top university in the sciences, a top scientific Institute or In a science-based industry is relatively straightforward: either you’re up to the job or you you’re not. Who you know or who you are related to are pretty much irrelevant.

 

I am also betraying my age in saying that I actually can’t remember the first LP/album I bought (I think that it was Pink Floyd‘s Dark Side of The Moon), I do, however, remember the first proper 45 that I bought: it was Mary Hopkins singing “Those Were The Days“ on the now-defunct Apple label.

Edited August 15, 2020 by iL Dottore

[jamie92208]

5 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I am also betraying my age in saying that I actually can’t remember the first LP/album I bought (I think that it was Pink Floyd‘s Dark Side of The Moon), I do, however, remember the first proper 45 that I bought: it was Mary Hopkins singing “Those Were The Days“ on the now-defunct Apple label.

You are betraying your age ID. many a teenage lad dreamed of Ms Hopkin.  She was in the charts when I bought the Alba Tranny I mentioned above.  Not sure if the word Tranny has the same meaning nowadays.

 

Jamie

[simontaylor484]

Afternoon all

 

First album i bought was Kylie her first one in the 80s

 

Kylie was no1 (the one where. She was deployed into that dress) when I first met my Mrs

 

Dido was no1 when we got married 

 

P daddy and enya and Mario winans were no 1 when eldest born

 

 

Im

[TheQ]

Afternoon awl,  I think the first album I bought was Rick wakeman's "journey to the centre of the earth " about 76, on cassette. I've got the revised version on CD,  but I prefer the original. Never bought too many vinyl Albums,  too much moving around in my life. 

 

I certainly didn't buy albums while still at school, a single cost weeks pocket money... 

Rick now lives about 40 miles from here.. 

 

Oddly SWMBO yesterday found my box of cassettes,  in the first round of, sort thing out before playing musical rooms.. So I now need to sort through them all find out if any are OK and if they are, transfer them onto the NAS disk. 

 

Well it took just under 6 hour to clad the underside of the eaves overhang. By the end of that I was getting very tired and making mistakes. So I've not continued and done the front face today. 

 

I'm now lying on the bed straightening my painful back , reaching up above my head to screw on the panels did my back no good at all. 

It was decided during a Muggacoffee coffee that the entrance to the alley way will be revised, so when I  do the front face of the eaves I have to allow  for extending in that direction. 

 

I think its time for an ocular observation. 

 

 

[simontaylor484]

I never bought that much music i used to tape it from the chart show on a Sunday afternoon although I have a rather extensive download collection of what the wife calls the worst taste in music ever.

 

[big jim]

1 hour ago, simontaylor484 said:

Mario winans were no 1 when eldest born

middle of June 2004? 
 

edit: so glad that was No 1 the week my eldest was born too, there were 2 songs at the top of the charts for 7 weeks prior to that, the first one was called “F**k it” by eamon which was 4 weeks at No1 and the 2nd one was called “F**k you right back” by frankee which was 3 weeks at No1

 

mario was No1 for a week then Britney Spears took No1 with sometimes 

may least he’s has a pleasant enough song for his birthday, couldn’t see Vanessa playing either of the others on her jolly good fellows birthday slot somehow

 

Edited August 15, 2020 by big jim

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup where it is raining again and where there is damp washing around the house as it is too muggy to dry.

 

re A levels; I suspect that the powers that be are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Experience shows that 75% of students don’t achieve their predicted grades so moderation was always going to be needed; yes, teachers know their pupils but they seem to tend towards generosity- no doubt this is natural; whether the algorithm was the best is something we cannot be sure but it is what we have got . The students actually have more chance to appeal than in a normal year and that is something that we may well look to take advantage of for Elder Lurker; there was no such chance when he didn’t do as predicted by his school for GCSEs.

 

happy birthday to Andyram; I hope that year 46 is a positive one for him.

 

the snooker is on the telly; they’ve just shown part of the Ebdon-Hendry final. Mrs Lurker was heavily pregnant with Elder Lurker at the time and we ended up watching quite a bit of it; doesn’t seem like 18 years ago though!