Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

My neighbour is nearly 80 and was planning to go on his roof to replace some ridge tiles but needed to borrow an angle grinder. I forgot that I had one. The other neighbour who does some roofing work said it isn’t a ladder job and offered to get someone very reasonable and reliable to do it. The building neighbour said years ago he would have been up there but not now. He is getting a cherry picker and scaffolding for a job on his own house. The chimney he did for me was considered to be safe and easy. I did chimney repairs on our old house but that roof wasn’t that steep and we hadn’t any money to spare!

Tony

[Gwiwer]

3 hours ago, The Lurker said:

not to be confused with the 321 which runs from New Cross Sainsbury's to Foot's Cray Tesco, part of the old 21 route which used to cross London and end out in the wilds of Farningham. I read that it was in its full glory the longest bus route in London, but don't know enough to be sure. The 21 now stops at Lewisham and runs from Newington Green

I believe it was at one time.  It ran from Turnpike Lane in the north out to Farningham in Kent some way beyond London itself.  The rural rump was surgically removed to become the 21A and gained one-person operation while the main route retained its conductors.  Today's 321 starting from New Cross is the descendant of the 21A.  

 

Other routes which have laid claim to being London's longest at times include the 15 (Acton Vale - Becontree Heath and later Richmond - East Ham) and 59 (West Hampstead - Old Coulsdon).  Current holder of the title is the X26 East Croydon - Heathrow Airport which is a fused version of former Green Line routes 725/6/7 and with many of even Green Line's limited stops no longer served giving it quite a good - though never fast - run.  At night the N98 between Trafalgar Square and Erith takes the honour.  

 

The 321 was once a lengthy marathon between Uxbridge and Luton which a very young Gwiwer used on a few occasions when the parents lodged with one set of grand-parents in Yiewsley and travelled by bus to the other set in Garston.  I must have been under two because my sister has yet to arrive but I remember the trips very clearly on a green RT.  

 

To other news.  The afternoon and early evening has been most uncommonly wet.  So much so that trains have ceased navigating the depths of Fulwell Tunnel nearby.  Despite significant money having been spent a few years back on flood relief and prevention work this short tunnel lies in an awkward dip in the line and still floods in heavy rain.  The good folk of Sunbury and Shepperton are not impressed.  Much more precipitation is forecast for tomorrow.  The shift at the House of Fun may prove to be a lot less fun than might be ideal.  

 

Stay well.  Stay dry if you can.  

[simontaylor484]

Well what an expensive day went outside to start thecar up 

Nothing nada dead 

Call Rac out jump start the car it starts yay. But its not taking a charge boo so a new battery is required its a stop start engine so its a big battery so its also expensive £237 expensive.

Pah to quote Baz 

Muddling tokens gone now

[laurenceb]

Remember reading a biography of Ransom some years ago. It is a wonder that he wrote the Swollows and Amazon series, his wife constantly belittled his work and even wrote to his publisher trying to get them to drop the books

[simontaylor484]

Greetings all 

 

 I have only ever been on 1 bus in the London area Hounslow to Hanwell Library. We were staying at the Heathrow travel lodge, that was interesting when eldest who was around 6 at the time opened the curtains and said Dad the Plane is going to hit us. To be fair it did look damn close. 

 

Roof repairs 

 I was about 18 at the time and my grandparents lived in a dormer bungalow, I went round to see them when I came round the corner my Grandad was sat astride the ridge fixing one of the tiles he was 70 odd at the time. He had even built his own cat ladder to get up the roof. 

It's getting dark here but it has been a beautiful calm evening lovely sunset over the Railway line. Won't be long till the Sun doesn't pass the spire of the Cemetery chapel in its winter track across the heavens.At least we will get proper sunsets for a bit then because once it crosses the embankment we can't see the Sun go down. 

         

[Coombe Barton]

... and wielding crowbars ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/moving-spaces/

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. My roof tiles were rattling in the strong winds a couple of nights ago. A subsequent inspection revealed nothing out of place but it sounded as if the whole roof was going to go. I used to get a sudden stabbing back pain that I put down to sciatica but it turned out to be a kidney stone working its way out. My brother had exactly the same sort of back pain and like me thought it was sciatica. Unfortunately his kidney stone stuck and now he's on dialysis three times a week for the rest of his life. 

[Barry O]

1 hour ago, laurenceb said:

Remember reading a biography of Ransom some years ago. It is a wonder that he wrote the Swollows and Amazon series, his wife constantly belittled his work and even wrote to his publisher trying to get them to drop the books

But, being aLoiner, Ransome was made of sterner stuff...

 

Baz

[Barry O]

Goodnight to most , afternoon to some and goodday to our antipodean readers 

Baz

[laurenceb]

4 minutes ago, Barry O said:

But, being aLoiner, Ransome was made of sterner stuff...

 

Baz

I am glad he was

Night awl

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[Tony_S]

16 minutes ago, Barry O said:

But, being aLoiner, Ransome was made of sterner stuff...

 

Baz

Probably had to be. Second wife had been Trotsky’s personal secretary. 

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Relatively busy day here, so little time to keep abreast of goings on here in ER land, so I hope I find everyone happy and contented. 
Morning spent catching up on paperwork then nephews and Syd came round so went on a walk. After taking them home after tea I did a quick trim of the lawn as the green bin is due for emptying to tomorrow.weather been pretty good but tomorrow looks like a washout.Again no shed time.

Good night

Robert

[simontaylor484]

10 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Probably had to be. Second wife had been Trotsky’s personal secretary. 

Wonder if she made Trotskys appointment with the ice axe?

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

I did in fact eat alfresco today, I found a nice dry bench in the garden area, which was particularly shaded and sat and enjoyed my sandwich in the sunshine, it made a nice change from the recent weather that we’ve had. However, it’s been a long day, the scan took longer than expected almost 50 minutes in all, but it’s done now. This meant that I hit the start of the evening rush hour traffic, the junction where I would normally join the motorway had a long queue. Luckily I know the area well, so I took a different route home via Sale Moor, avoiding the majority of the traffic and I was still home just before 4:45, probably no more than 5 minutes longer than I would have been had I taken my normal route. I was out for 7 hours in total, it’s a long time since I’ve been out of the house for that length of time, it was probably the Manchester Christmas Model Railway show. I’ve still to have a CT scan, but as yet I don’t have a date, but no doubt that will be a marathon session too!

 

In other news, James has informed us that he, Amelia and Amelia’s mother have all tested negative for corvid, which is a huge relief for us all. 

 

Considering I’ve done bu99er all all day, I’m bucking follocksed!

 

Goodnight all 

 

Brian 

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[J. S. Bach]

Someone about two miles away decide to have a barbecue:

 

 

 

 

 

More info:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/five-firefighters-hurt-battling-massive-fire-at-carolina-poly-in-chester-sc/ar-BB18jCvA

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by J. S. Bach

[J. S. Bach]

Well, after that excitement, Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[TheQ]

Mooring awl inner Temple Hare, 

Yep. Can't sleep again , not helped by SWMBO having a very bad night.  She invited the friend who delivered food to us during lockdowns, to come over with her adult children,  to raid the orchard. 

SWMBO did far to much, including climbing step ladders before they arrived. She is now paying for it and her painkillers are just not sufficient. She has cancelled her visit to her weaving group today, though as it would be outside,  there a good chance it would be cancelled anyway. 

 

I see Francis has arrived for those living to the south west of a line from Liverpool to London.  So it's imminent here,  as my hands are also saying. 

 

I have Ransome's biography somewhere,  he had a most unusual life,  working as a spy in Russia for the secret intelligence service,  but suspected as being a spy for the Soviets by MI5.

 

 

Time to try for more sleep. 

 

[TheQ]

Mooring again, Just before It may become moorings.

Ben the I want out Collie's morning patrol was just as the drizzle started, but in absolute flat calm, when the drizzle got a little heavier, He cut it short and headed back to the house..

 

I noticed on the patrol four more buckets of fruit inside the gate, they are for the small holder who gives SWMBO the fleeces of his few sheep. He collected a few buckets of fruit the other day.

Our kitchen is an obstacle course of buckets, the best fruit will be stored for eating, the less good will be demolished into freezer packs for making fruit pies and crumbles..

 

The Drive in was Drizzle then rain, but the real nasties will arrive shortly..

 

This weeks major system is going well,  so hopefully it will be finished today except for the overnight cross check.

 

 

 

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

It was so good to be out of the house and behind the wheel yesterday.  Some useful advice was proffered by one friend which should help me get in not quite such a mess usng Zoom in future.  Tomorrow night will be the acid test of that theory.  I collected some m*d*ll*ng requisites on which said friend had pounced on my behalf when they came up for sale.  We shall see whether they help me overcome the confidence issues from which I suffer.  A quick trip cross-country took us to the shed where the layout lives.  There, some of what I had worked on over the weeks and months was subjected to a critical appraisal.  Out came the pliers, the track gauges and the heavy duty soldering iron and there I was, back in remedial class.  It was exactly what I expected.  Lunch comprised two packets of Tesco sandwiches.  Normally I refuse to buy ready made sarnies given their price compared with that of two slices of bread, a smear of low fat spread, a slab of cheese and a none too generous dollop of pickle but needs must and all that.  The in-car CD player played host to a new homemade album by Jim Causley and one from Sidmouth 2019 by Merry Hell - folk rock from Wigan, but it works.

 

The excursion into Hertfordshire was a good way of escaping the ironing but nothing lasts for ever and it will be my principal task today.  I also need to venture out for a watch battery and some wheat germ.  It's all stop here.

 

As I compose this the radio is announcing that Rule Britannia will feature in the Last Night of the Proms after all, but withut the vocalist.  The cynical might see this as a slap on the wrist for Jamie Barton, who waved a rainbow flag during her performance last year.  That took me well and truly by pleasant surprise at the time and flummoxed the BBC presenter, who muttered something about flags of all nations.  Shame on you, madam.  The incident may be viewed on YouTube and the cheers of the audience come across oh so clearly.

 

Best wishes to all, except ill-briefed TV commentators.

 

Chris

 

[chrisf]

If I may be permitted a second bite as my forgettery has let me down again: warm thoughts to Tony and Aditi the day after what would have been Matthew's 28th birthday.  How quickly time passes.

 

Chris

[jamie92208]

Good moaning.  Francis hadn't visited The Charente.  It's sunny and cloudless at the moment.  

 

Thoughts with Tony and Aditi, on what cannot have been an easy day.

 

Yesterday for me was meant to be soent digging out the pile of rubbish at the corner of the new fence and the shed. That did get done but then Beth found a leak in the utility room where the hotvsupply divides to go to the shower and the en suite. One joint on a T piece had sprung a leak in a compression fitting. I tried my best but it wouldn't stop so it was off to Villefagnan 12 miles away for some new fitti gs.  I decided to go with soldered joints and after 15 minutes in the shed had a, not very neatly , soldered assembly. This was jointed into the existing pipework and hey presto, no leaks.  Success, but 5 hours had wasted away. I do think that a few brownie points  have been earned.

 

Anyway today André the retired teachercand truffle farmer is coming to finish the fence so I will be assisting.  

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 Chuckinitdarn here.

 

Tony and Aditi, no words can help but I hope you have a peaceful day.

 

Brian did you fall asleep during the scan? I was told off for doing so the last two scans I have had. So confortbale and the latest scanners are a lot quieter!

I note that tanks are obsolete in Britain, no words to be used in the twomost well known pieces on the last night of the proms..befuddled thinking is back with a vengeance in the UK...

 

I may get some more work done inthe railway room today..can't see any need to go out in the rain.

 

Make best use of the day everyone!

Baz