Early Risers.

[Ian Abel]

On 17/08/2020 at 17:17, newbryford said:

Would it not be more useful in your basement?

Probably, but then we'd have to demolish the place to succeed in riding out the apocalypse 

[Joseph_Pestell]

53 minutes ago, tigerburnie said:

I don't remember brickworks having a smell, my Dad worked at the Butterley one in Blaby, I used to go there and "help" on Saturdays in the school holidays in the 1950's.

 

A friend of mine who grew up in Stewartby said the smell was not that bad there. I think that the height of the chimneys mean that you don't get the smell if you are close by.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Had to go out this afternoon so not a lot of the G word achieved. Tomorrow should be dry if a bit windy according to the seaweed twirlers. GDB congratulations to Jemma on passing her exams. I left school with four O levels Maths, English, Technical Drawing and Geography. We moved house a few weeks after I left school and the school sent my certificates to the old address and I never did get them. Not that it mattered as never once was I asked to produce them at any time in my working career. I have however my old school report book. I had forgotten that in my first term at secondary school I came top of the class. I was moved up to the stream above where I bobbed along midstream until I left school. 

[simontaylor484]

4 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

Probably, but then we'd have to demolish the place to succeed in riding out the apocalypse 

Sounds like that boat Gibbs built in Ncis.

 

[AndyB]

Evening all.

As mentioned fizz has been opened and imbibed.

 

Day off tomorrow as. It was going to be crazy golf to celebrate the youngest's birthday.

 

However, hot on the heels of gcse results there's induction at college for A levels. So plans have been re-jigged somewhat.

[Gwiwer]

Evening all.  A lovely day from start to finish - weather wise.  In other ways it was a bit of a curatic egg.

 

I received a message from Friend (Australian) very early in the morning asking about an incident at the House of Fun which was, apparently, broadcast on their local news.  Yes there was an incident but apart from reporting the facts of it occurring the rest is currently under police investigation so we are not permitted to comment further.  Two members of the public were involved in an argument about face-coverings which led to one punching the other so hard that he was rendered unconscious.  A member of staff was also involved verbally but not physically.  I can say that frustrations are rising generally and that "self-policing" is being taken much too far by a few people who are acting more like self-appointed vigilantes.  Such things are very much the exception but under the extremes of circumstance which this year has offered strange things can and do happen.

 

Speaking of which we had an attempted ending-of-life during my watch.  Several of us spotted the individual sitting in a precarious position and all of us responded per training.  The short version is that he was engaged in conversation by a colleague (exactly as per training) until the police arrived and escorted him to a place of safety.  Which might or might not have come with a piece of paper referring to the Mental Health Act.  All in a day's work.

 

What didn't help that at all was the tree which decided horizontal across the tracks at Godalming was preferable to upright beside them thus causing significant disruption to the main-line service.  We hadn't recovered from that when we had to block some lines to manage the person mentioned above.  And while that was in progress the signals failed royally at Waterloo putting platforms 16 - 24 out of action for a couple of hours.  Yes - all in a day's work.  And "going out with a bang" was how one duty manager described it as he moves on after today to pastures new.  

 

A warm sunny afternoon was spent in the gardens with a little weeding done in between muggertee and beer o'clock.  

 

Gales

I used to make a special trip to the Marquis of Granby in Sompting on occasions because they served Gales HSB (Horndean Special Bitter) which was a superb pint.  As I recall it was a bit pricey compared with my then-normal Charrington's IPA but well worth the trip.  Horndean isn't what it was - effectively an outer suburb of Portsmouth these days - and I haven't seen Gales anywhere in many a long year.  

 

I was tempted by a friend posting a picture of Doom Bar at £1.99 a pint in their local 'spoons.  It's not that price here.  Even with the lowered VAT it's £2.49 because, as they are happy to tell anyone who cares to ask, they have to pay London wages if they want any bar staff.  I'll continue to do my drinking at home for now - SWMBO is still of the opinion that the locks will be changed on the doors if I am found to have visited any public house before we are all vaccinated.  

 

On that note it's time to put the Gwiwer in the shower and then to bed for the night.  A busier weekend follows POETS Day; I may not find time to pop in.  Best wishes to one and all.  

 

 

[Florence Locomotive Works]

5 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

It's now a branch of Costco on Leathley Road in South Leeds.

Thanks Jamie, and you were correct about it being a ploughing engine. Funnily enough the locomotive shops of the Steam Plough Works as it was called have survived, and probably hold the record for most gauges of railway in one building. I think its now a garage or MOT center.

[Coombe Barton]

... and building work ahead ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/08/20/another-day-another-government-cock-up/

[PhilJ W]

7 minutes ago, Florence Locomotive Works said:

Thanks Jamie, and you were correct about it being a ploughing engine. Funnily enough the locomotive shops of the Steam Plough Works as it was called have survived, and probably hold the record for most gauges of railway in one building. I think its now a garage or MOT center.

If your ever in the UK a visit to the Long Shop Museum is a must. Its the former Garrett works at Leiston in Suffolk where they produced steam traction engines among many other machinery.

[PhilJ W]

Not for the squeamish:-

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mums-mystery-three-day-sickness-22553016

[simontaylor484]

35 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Evening all.  A lovely day from start to finish - weather wise.  In other ways it was a bit of a curatic egg.

 

I received a message from Friend (Australian) very early in the morning asking about an incident at the House of Fun which was, apparently, broadcast on their local news.  Yes there was an incident but apart from reporting the facts of it occurring the rest is currently under police investigation so we are not permitted to comment further.  Two members of the public were involved in an argument about face-coverings which led to one punching the other so hard that he was rendered unconscious.  A member of staff was also involved verbally but not physically.  I can say that frustrations are rising generally and that "self-policing" is being taken much too far by a few people who are acting more like self-appointed vigilantes.  Such things are very much the exception but under the extremes of circumstance which this year has offered strange things can and do happen.

 

Speaking of which we had an attempted ending-of-life during my watch.  Several of us spotted the individual sitting in a precarious position and all of us responded per training.  The short version is that he was engaged in conversation by a colleague (exactly as per training) until the police arrived and escorted him to a place of safety.  Which might or might not have come with a piece of paper referring to the Mental Health Act.  All in a day's work.

 

What didn't help that at all was the tree which decided horizontal across the tracks at Godalming was preferable to upright beside them thus causing significant disruption to the main-line service.  We hadn't recovered from that when we had to block some lines to manage the person mentioned above.  And while that was in progress the signals failed royally at Waterloo putting platforms 16 - 24 out of action for a couple of hours.  Yes - all in a day's work.  And "going out with a bang" was how one duty manager described it as he moves on after today to pastures new.  

 

A warm sunny afternoon was spent in the gardens with a little weeding done in between muggertee and beer o'clock.  

 

 

 

I used to make a special trip to the Marquis of Granby in Sompting on occasions because they served Gales HSB (Horndean Special Bitter) which was a superb pint.  As I recall it was a bit pricey compared with my then-normal Charrington's IPA but well worth the trip.  Horndean isn't what it was - effectively an outer suburb of Portsmouth these days - and I haven't seen Gales anywhere in many a long year.  

 

I was tempted by a friend posting a picture of Doom Bar at £1.99 a pint in their local 'spoons.  It's not that price here.  Even with the lowered VAT it's £2.49 because, as they are happy to tell anyone who cares to ask, they have to pay London wages if they want any bar staff.  I'll continue to do my drinking at home for now - SWMBO is still of the opinion that the locks will be changed on the doors if I am found to have visited any public house before we are all vaccinated.  

 

On that note it's time to put the Gwiwer in the shower and then to bed for the night.  A busier weekend follows POETS Day; I may not find time to pop in.  Best wishes to one and all.  

 

 

I saw said incident on the Daily Mail website they had the video. It was a right cowtailer from the guy with the pushchair 

[TheSignalEngineer]

Well, I can emerge from the damp yesterday having completed a second orbit on the mortal coil since joining the Coffin Dodgers League, those who have survived beyond the allotted span. 

Much better weather today but the Woodhead area is besieged by Twitchers. A Bearded Vulture has taken up residence overlooking the upper reaches of old line. It's only the second time one has been recorded in the UK. I've not spotted it yet but know where it is supposed to be hanging out. It will be pretty obvious if I see it flying around as they grow up to 4 feet long with a wing span up to 9 feet, probably the largest wild bird to visit Britain in recent times. No wonder the local cat population seem to be keeping a low profile.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[Erichill16]

Evening All, 

Sorry but due to work commitments not upto date with what everyone’s been getting up to.

Back to smells, there’s an abattoir on the road to a Mils, about two miles away. In the summer that place really stinks, goodness( and perhaps Flavio)  only knows what the smell is and to tell you the truth I really don’t want to know. There are a few houses next door and a pub and I don’t know how they stand it. 
Anyway, early night as work again tomorrow so

Goodnight.

[Andrew P]

21 minutes ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

Well, I can emerge from the damp yesterday having completed a second orbit on the mortal coil since joining the Coffin Dodgers League, those who have survived beyond the allotted span. 

Much better weather today but the Woodhead area is besieged by Twitchers. A Bearded Vulture has taken up residence overlooking the upper reaches of old line. It's only the second time one has been recorded in the UK. I've not spotted it yet but know where it is supposed to be hanging out. It will be pretty obvious if I see it flying around as they grow up to 4 feet long with a wing span up to 9 feet, probably the largest wild bird to visit Britain in recent times. No wonder the local cat population seem to be keeping a low profile.

Happy belated Birthday wishes Mr SignalEngineer, I hope you see many more rotations.

[polybear]

13 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

....... I used to get the worst of the collective outpourings, particularly from one hooker who was known as Cheesey.

 

It took me a little while to realise you were talking about Rugby.  I had something completely different in mind.....

[TheSignalEngineer]

19 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

Happy belated Birthday wishes Mr SignalEngineer, I hope you see many more rotations.

Hopefully so Andy. My Dad made 90, his Paternal Grandmother 88, Maternal Grandfather 96 and Aunt 102. On Mom's side she was just short of 89 and some of her ancestors made high 80s in times when life expectancy was under 50.

 

Eric

Edited August 20, 2020 by TheSignalEngineer

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Went out and done a bit of tidying up in the garden, pulling up a few weeds and dumping them in the garden waste bin. Belated happy returns to Eric (Signal Engineer) from another coffin dodger. Arthur Itis is grumbling again so rain is expected in the early hours. Thats it for now, be back later.

Edited August 20, 2020 by PhilJ W

[polybear]

I had a feeling that squeezing in that last D&S Wagon Kit into the Great Unbuilt K*t Cupboard on the wall was a mistake....anyone got any polyfilla?

 

In other news:

I see that GCSE Passes have risen dramatically.  Could that mean that prospective employers will look upon those with qualifications dating from 2020 will look upon them with suspicion?  And will we see an increase in University students struggling with the work in coming years?

 

A certain Bear has commenced a long (very long) overdue revamp of the Kitchen, ably assisted with much needed and appreciated expert technical advice from a certain very knowledgeable fellow RMwebber - who makes a fine partner to Eggs, Sausages, Beans, Chips, Fried Bread, Toast and Tea (got it?).  The orange doors are intended for such building works and appear to be working very well so far at preventing the spread of dust around the house

I'd be interested in the opinions of fellow ERer's as regards pro's and cons of various suppliers of self-install kitchens - Wickes, B&Q, Ikea, Magnet, possibly Howdens etc. etc.

 

I caught some clown from the council chucking my black wheelie bin (the whole lot - not just the contents) onto the back of a truck yesterday.  Seems their paperwork was wrong - it should've been my new neighbours next door - their bin is busted and they've been given a new one.  Bin duly unloaded and returned to me, complete with new scuffs up the side   Of course, they couldn't take the correct bin as that house number wasn't on their paperwork.....nuts.

[J. S. Bach]

19 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

It took me a little while to realise you were talking about Rugby.  I had something completely different in mind.....

Same here! Especially as I know absolutely NOTHING about Rugby; well, just how to spell it.

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, Florence Locomotive Works said:

Thanks Jamie, and you were correct about it being a ploughing engine. Funnily enough the locomotive shops of the Steam Plough Works as it was called have survived, and probably hold the record for most gauges of railway in one building. I think its now a garage or MOT center.

Yes Douglas there were several sections of Multi gauge track in that area. I was a youngisg bobby in 1975 and Hundlet was my favourite beat. The HunsletvEngine Co on Jack Lane had a multi gauge track and the security office made good tea.  I watchec the Yorkshie Patent Steam Wagon co , by then Hestair Eagle, get demolished and there were many traces of Hunslets Industrial past. There were still manned signal boxes on the railway where we were usually welcome on a cold night.

 

Jamie

[laurenceb]

Birthday greetings Eric

[Dave Hunt]

59 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

It took me a little while to realise you were talking about Rugby.  I had something completely different in mind.....

 

Just because the topic was bad smells there is no need to drag this forum into the gutter . Mind you, I got some funny looks once during a coffee break at a meeting in San Diego when I said to a Brit colleague, "Oh him. Yes, he was the best hooker we had then." Not half as many looks as I got in a crowded bar though, also in San Diego, when I asked my mate who was a little way off in a loud voice, "Can I bum a fag?" The place went quiet until an American colleague said, "He's a Brit - means something different over there." We still left soon afterwards though.....

 

G'night all and a belated happy birthday to Eric as well as congratulations to GDB's Gemma.

 

Dave

 

PS, for Douglas and other colonials, the phrase meant, "Can I scrounge a cigarette?"

Edited August 20, 2020 by Dave Hunt

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

This morning’s sunshine lasted all day, but as the day progressed the wind steadily grew a bit stronger, but by teatime it had eased a wee bit and we a gentle breeze. 

 

This morning’s walk to the butchers was successful in that I managed to get all that was o my shopping list plus a pastie for my dinner, which went down very well in deed. After a quick muggertea I then went on to the Trafford Centre and picked up the rest of the items that cannot be picked up from Sainsbury’s. 

 

The afternoon was spent sat in front of the old laptop amending some of the circuit diagrams I’ve recently drawn up. Sheila on the other hand, sat watching a few recorded tv programs, I generally refer to these as property p0rn.

 

The British Steel factory that I worked in made Railway wheels and wheel sets that were shipped all over the world. The storage area where the finished wheel sets were stored had lots of different gauges there, but I never counted them. It also had (when first installed) the longest one piece conveyor belt in the world. When laid out in one straight length it was 1/4 mile long! 

 

Dave, I also played in the No 8 position for our school rugby team and know exactly what you mean!

 

GDB. Congratulations to Gemma on her exam results. 

 

Happy birthday Eric. 

 

Goodnight all. 

[laurenceb]

Congratulations to all with GCSE results today

The only farm smell I had trouble with was chicken muck everything I just took in my stride

Night awl