Early Risers.

[BR60103]

Ontario has had more restrictions imposed, apparenly due to increase in cases. The number of people wh may gather has been decreased. So the concert by The Elderly Brothers today was cancelled, as is one by A Beautiful Noise tomorrow.

We went to Waterloo today and walked from the University area to downtown and found that the bookstore is closed to visitors. Saw a number of trams and assorted four-legged types at the zoo.

Temperature at night appraoching freezing point. The high may get above room temperature midweek.

 

[TheQ]

Mooring,  awl,  inner Temple Hare, 

5 hours sleep so far. 

 

One thing that was noticeable on our visit to Norwich yesterday,  was how well  behaved people were. 100% wearing of masks inside shops and the corridors of the two shopping centres we went to.  Many continued wearing them outside.. Perhaps people are getting so used to them you forget you are wearing them.. A bit like glasses.  Even the late teens and twenty something's complied inside and some outside . 

This didn't apply to Effin clown town,  the admittedly narrow pavements were crowded by the unmasked. 

 

We need a coffee,  and stopped off at a *bucks,  this one is a kiosk,  so it was easy to isolate on the seats outside.  SWMBO was not however impressed with their tea. Too "flowery".

 

Plans today,  work on the boat.. But first

Time for some more snoring. 

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all, with congratulations to Grandpa Hippo

 

Yesterday was devoted to rest and relaxation, leavened with unspecified pottering.  The fodder run was accomplished speedily but I decided not to go for breakfast at Tesco because the car parking situation in the street where I live had returned to its normal chaotic state.  The respite was so nice while it lasted.  In the afternoon I watched “Robin Hood Prince of Thieves” on Channel 5, recalling as I did just how fine an actor Alan Rickman was.  As some know, I knew him at school – well, two schools actually, primary and grammar.  Avoiding all the sport was rather challenging.  I know only too well that I watch too much TV but I am still finding it difficult to concentrate.  Other mental health issues are available and I would not wish them on anyone.

 

Today I shall make a beef casserole.  This is where steam starts coming out of Flavio’s ears because I am using a packet sauce by Schwarz.  For reasons best known to themselves, Tesco sell ready diced beef in 400 gm packs and the sauce is formulated to yield four portions from 450 gm of beef.  The solution is simple – three larger portions.  It is Sunday, after all.  I am just about remembering to take my blood pressure at the same times each day, though you would never think so from the readings.  Maybe the surgery will learn from this and take the readings themselves in future.  Oink, flap.

 

Other attraction for today include the re-run on BBC4 of the slow TV programme about the Ghan, which I enjoyed before I did the journey for real, and the playing of a newly arrived CD by Will Pound, my reward for taking part in fundraising for Sidmouth folk festival.  Before you ask, Will Pound is an exciting young harmonica player who should be much more widely known now that he has been on the Today programme.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[iL Dottore]

Morning all,

 

A very tired and creaky iD this morning. Yesterday, for the first time for quite a while, I went on the regular Dog Club weekly “long walk“ with the doggies and although I had a splendid time (as did my beasties) by the end of the walk my right knee was audibly swearing and cursing. Such is life.

 

I was particularly impressed by how many Dog Club members are fond of Lucy. When you consider how anxious and aggressive/self-protective she was around strangers when we first got her, her transformation is nothing short of amazing (although I am not complacent; although now 99% of all interactions with strangers are unremarkable, I still have to keep my eye out for that 1% where she goes all Amazon Warrior [to be fair, even to my unobservant eyes, many of this 1% are distinctly ”weird”]).

 

The various commentary on the CoVID-19 situation, especially in regards to the deniers, anti-vaxxers conspiracy theorists, reminded me of the most amusing (and sadly true) post I recently saw, which went: “the world is so screwed up, that in the event of a real zombie apocalypse, there would be ‘zombie rights’ activists“. Obviously, ‘zombie rights’ are important – it is their God-given democratic right to tear open our throats and eat our brains!

I know that I’ve quoted Madame de Stahl before, and I do not hesitate to repeat her, but as this aristocratic Swiss woman who married into the French aristocracy said: “the more I see of men, the more I love my dogs“.

 

Actually, come to think of it, apart from one hobby, my hobbies are all things that I can enjoy doing by myself. Of course, it’s nice to go to model railway exhibitions and meet with other practitioners of the craft, or to get together to make music with like minded old geezers, but it’s not mandatory – unlike with some hobbies such as with many types of sport (neither table tennis nor rugby league can be played just by one person – to give but two examples). Perhaps I am unusual (or an oddity - no, don’t answer that), but I am very happy with my own company and to keep that company in silence. Although I enjoy the company of selected others and enjoy music, radio and television, I don’t have to be around others nor do I need to have background noise. In fact, I much prefer it when silence is not disturbed by others. In many ways, the monastic life appeals to me; but of the monastic requirements for chastity, poverty and obedience I would certainly have considerable difficulties with the poverty bit (having said that, historically the monastic lifestyle before the dissolution of the monasteries really did stretch the concept of “poverty“ more than a little bit).

 

Well, time for another cup of coffee before Terce and on that liturgical note, I bid you a splendid Sunday

iD

 

[polybear]

9 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

Tastes just like chicken

 

I find it somewhat worrying that The Stationmaster, Erichill and Jamie all find the above as "Informative/Useful"......

 

8 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

 The motorway tolls were solved by buying a gizmo to stick on the windscreen that works like a dream.

 

 

 

I've driven my friend's car in France equipped with one of these gadgets - you can supposedly approach the automatic barriers at what appears to be some reckless speed (30-ish?) and the barrier will go up automatically.  Only it doesn't seem to move until you are well short of the necessary stopping distance if the barrier were to fail.  I was never brave enough to test it a full speed.

 

32 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

The various commentary on the CoVID-19 situation, especially in regards to the deniers, anti-vaxxers conspiracy theorists, reminded me of the most amusing (and sadly true) post I recently saw, which went: “the world is so screwed up, that in the event of a real zombie apocalypse, there would be ‘zombie rights’ activists“. Obviously, ‘zombie rights’ are important – it is their God-given democratic right to tear open our throats and eat our brains!

 

 

 

They should get a bunch of deniers and (after signing disclaimers) put them in a locked room with a couple who have bad dose of the virus.  And televise it.

[AndyB]

6 minutes ago, polybear said:

They should get a bunch of deniers and (after signing disclaimers) put them in a locked room with a couple who have bad dose of the virus.  And televise it.

 

They could call it "Share the Love Island". 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Ed Cold has made an appearance...Pah!

 

Not a lot to do today except paperwork... and grass cutting/ grass seed spreading..humph!

 

A win for the Lads yesterday is good.. hope the Black Cats can continue to do so for the rest of the kickball season. 

 

They need volunteers for covid tests so looks like they have a load of them around at the moment..could use the russian technique of using different ways of introducing the covids 8nto their system??

Enjoy your day!

Baz

 

[roundhouse]

3 hours ago, TheQ said:

Mooring,  awl,  inner Temple Hare, 

5 hours sleep so far. 

 

One thing that was noticeable on our visit to Norwich yesterday,  was how well  behaved people were. 100% wearing of masks inside shops and the corridors of the two shopping centres we went to.  Many continued wearing them outside.. Perhaps people are getting so used to them you forget you are wearing them.. A bit like glasses.  Even the late teens and twenty something's complied inside and some outside . 

This didn't apply to Effin clown town,  the admittedly narrow pavements were crowded by the unmasked. 

 

 

In Croydon plenty of young people getting on and off buses with no masks in place. Our bus into Croydon there were under 10 passengers the whole way with everyone wearing masks but on the way home about 5 teenagers got on and sat very close to us with no masks. They couldnt all have had breathing problems as they ran up the stairs. We moved downstairs away from them.

 

It was good to meet up with friends - could be the last time for a while if there are further nationwide lockdown measures.

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

It does sound as if HH had a good day yesterday sorting out the neighbour’s plumbing and getting a new grandchild. Congratulations.

 I don’t  think there is much planned today, other than taking part in the Zoom chat this afternoon organised by Aditi’s uncle in California. 
Tony
 

[New Haven Neil]

Morning.

 

Cracking shot, Mick! No arguments with that being through the line or not.

 

Mrs NHN would be proud of you, but would want it in a glen through vegetation and all the vagaries of field archery!  She's off to archery today, I doubt she would be able to repeat the quality of that shot last shoot though.  The other guys in her group, who I ride with in the bike club, are still talking about it, Debs is convinced it is the continual barracking and mickey taking that enabled her to do it, after the first shooter missed completely (he's the local competition gold medal holder) and said 'Come on Debs show us how to do it'.  He promises never to say that again! 

 

I'm off to friend Jayne's while Debs is shooting (nooooo, clear your filthy minds....) as she has asked me to do a couple of jobs in the house she can't manage.  This is a BIG step for her, as she has been unable to admit the need for help previously, now some 6 years after Gary's death.  She has also had just a little bit of male company recently, with showing a new to the Island work colleague around the rock - we have hopes.  

[Coombe Barton]

Congratulations to HH.

 

Message to grandchild. If you want to get into mischief Grandad HH will always be up for it.

[AndrewC]

17 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

So on the face of it you have him by the proverbials - no notification was bad enough in itself (and is a breach of statutory duty) although you face the big problem that there is no enforcing authority.  So i can readily understand your frustration.  I'd be inclined to serve him with a bill for restoration of your property and take him to the Samall; Claims Court if he fails to pay it.  and of course I think you might be legally entitled to demolish anything which over reaches the boundary wall onto your property.

 

However surely the council should be aware when considering an application for change of use that the owner of the property has failed to carry out a statutory duty and could not therefore be relied upon in any other way to act in accordance with t any relevant rules ertc?

 

17 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

I may be wrong here and quite happy to be corrected by someone more knowledgeable than my self but the infringement of light and the over reaching of the property line are contraventions of building/planning regulations and as such grounds for appeal. I would at the very least raise the matter, if you haven't already with your ward councillor and submit an official objection to the decision preferably with the support of your neighbour as well.

 

17 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

I hope the flues that have been blocked are not used. Overeaching the boundary in the loft could also be breaching the firewall in the roofspace if there is one depending on the age of the property. I would certainly start to take action sooner rather than later. Also like Stationmaster says i would inform the planning department,who depending upon the circumstances may be able to issue enforcement notices. Perhaps its time to speak to your home insurance provider to see if you are covered for legal costs. Also pre covid dome solicitors did free legal consultations for say 30 mins. There are also party wall surveyors you should be able to fond them on the Rics website 

 

17 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

As far as i am aware the right to light in a property is whats known as an Easement. Also planning permission generally speaking applies to the area defined in red on the plans. The applicant csn only apply for permission in that area. And planning conditions can only be applied to this aera.Obviously they have breached that area.

There are exceptions to this under planning law but usually for larger developments and are outside the scope of this forum.

 

Thanks all for the information and suggestions. My biggest issue is the council granted retrospective permitted development without ever actually doing a proper inspection. (Covid) All they did do was demand the wall of the dormer be set back and the garage no longer be used as accommodation. By asking forgiveness it meant we had no avenue for objection. He even bypassed the council’s building control by hiring a private firm. Contact with them was a waste of time as they claim they can only act on the actual building works. Nothing around the structure exceeding the property width or right to light, or overlooking window. Basically council planning pointed at building control who pointed back to the council. The only recommendation was to as noted above file civil action. Trouble with that is, without both us and the neighbours going together we won’t get a demolition order. We may be able to get a bit of cash for the chimney but no where near enough to compensate for the loss of property value and we are still stuck with an HMO next door as there is no further appeal to the council available. 

 

<insert long string of obscenities here> 

[iL Dottore]

3 hours ago, chrisf said:

...Today I shall make a beef casserole.  This is where steam starts coming out of Flavio’s ears because I am using a packet sauce by Schwarz......

I gave up on using packet sauces many years ago when it became evident that:

1. They contain all kinds of interesting chemicals and stuff (such as palm fat, citric acid, silicon dioxide, flavourings, modified starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, carotenes, sulphites - amongst other interesting compounds) that I would prefer NOT to ingest
2. Most sauces based on a white sauce (such as a mushroom sauce, cheese sauce, cream sauce or white wine sauce) I could make as quickly as using a packet
3. There are no real advantages in using a packet for something gets cooked for a long time (such as a casserole).

I do confess that the only "packet" stuff that I have in my kitchen are Thai curry pastes (from Thailand - so made with real ingredients to local tastes) and, of course, Bird's Custard - which is not technically a custard (which takes about as much time to make as Bird's Custard) but something rather unique in its' own right and a British Institution (did you know that Bird's Custard was created by Alfred Bird in 1837 at his chemist shop in Birmingham. He developed the recipe because his wife was allergic to eggs).

 

Tonight I will be pushing out the boat a bit: saddle of rabbit stuffed with black pudding, cooked Sous-Vide; plums and parsnips and a swede mash. I'll probably sauté some chanterelles to go with it as well.

 

Now off to butcher a bunny.....

[Happy Hippo]

11 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

I suppose the good part is that his pannier fund will now be emptied.

 

I have no need of any more panniers, any future funding is now in aid of a couple of 56xx and a 94xx. (And something Midland(ish) to pacify the local chapter of the Red Brigade!)

Edited September 20, 2020 by Happy Hippo

[AndrewC]

Moaning all. 

Meant to wish the Hippo of Happiness a hearty congratulations of the appearance of a grand munchkin. 

 

Had an interesting crawl down a rabbit hole yesterday via Tw@tter. It seems an ancient insult has come back to describe COVID deniers and anti-maskers. “Rat Lickers” So named after those who during the Black Death refused to act in a responsible manner during the plague. 

[Coombe Barton]

12 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

and a 94xx.

Not a pannier, then?

Edited September 20, 2020 by Coombe Barton

[polybear]

11 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Now off to butcher a bunny.....

 

Nooooo.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Winslow Boy]

35 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I gave up on using packet sauces many years ago when it became evident that:

1. They contain all kinds of interesting chemicals and stuff (such as palm fat, citric acid, silicon dioxide, flavourings, modified starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, carotenes, sulphites - amongst other interesting compounds) that I would prefer NOT to ingest
2. Most sauces based on a white sauce (such as a mushroom sauce, cheese sauce, cream sauce or white wine sauce) I could make as quickly as using a packet
3. There are no real advantages in using a packet for something gets cooked for a long time (such as a casserole).

I do confess that the only "packet" stuff that I have in my kitchen are Thai curry pastes (from Thailand - so made with real ingredients to local tastes) and, of course, Bird's Custard - which is not technically a custard (which takes about as much time to make as Bird's Custard) but something rather unique in its' own right and a British Institution (did you know that Bird's Custard was created by Alfred Bird in 1837 at his chemist shop in Birmingham. He developed the recipe because his wife was allergic to eggs).

Can't stand Bird's custard. Too thick, too sweet and......... Can't think of anything else so you'll have to use your imagination.

 

 

Quote

 

Tonight I will be pushing out the boat a bit: saddle of rabbit stuffed with black pudding, cooked Sous-Vide; plums and parsnips and a swede mash. I'll probably sauté some chanterelles to go with it as well.

 

Now off to butcher a bunny.....

Flavio's turning into a Bunny boiler 

Edited September 20, 2020 by Winslow Boy

[tigerburnie]

Morning all, a great day out yesterday, but today looks overcast and rather dull, may well stay at home. Re the problem Racoon.......................................I believe they make a nice hat, always wanted a Davy Crocket hat as a kid.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Andrew, I think you will find that by rubber stamping next doors  planning application your council has failed in its statutory obligations, whatever the circumstances. However the planning regulations have been cut back and watered down by politicians of all colours resulting in the situation. By all means put in an objection and if you can put in an order to stop until it is resolved.

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Morning all,

 

: “the world is so screwed up, that in the event of a real zombie apocalypse, there would be ‘zombie rights’ activists“. Obviously, ‘zombie rights’ are important – it is their God-given democratic right to tear open our throats and eat our brains!

iD

 

Have you ever thought that the zombies might be already amongst us disguised as anti-vaxxers, Covid deniers and a few other weirdo's to which I would add anti abortionists (the sort that congregate outside clinics to scream their bile at women entering those clinics) and lycra louts who ignore red lights as they are already 'un-dead'. Well thats my theory anyway.

Edited September 20, 2020 by PhilJ W

[BSW01]

Good afternoon everyone 

 

This morning after breakfast I went straight to the workshop and carried on working on the turntable. I'm just taking a bit of a break so thought I'd catch up with ER's. 

 

Not much else of note happening today.

 

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

 

Brian 

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Nooooo.......

 

Now where did I put that recipe for bear casserole???  
Bunnies were butchered (basically broken down into forelegs, saddle, hindlegs and “trimmings”) and the saddles boned out (for which I would award myself 7/10 as the boned saddles remained only partly intact at the thin part [which is found just above the spine], though the rest of the meat was kept intact).

One of these days I’ll have to take a meat butchery course...

2 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Can't stand Bird's custard. Too thick, too sweet and......... Can't think of anything else so you'll have to use your imagination.

...Flavio's turning into a Bunny boiler 

Glutinous is the first word that comes to mind...

I find that if you start with Bird’s Custard Powder (as opposed to ready-made Bird’s Custard) you can adjust the sweetness and consistency by decreasing the amount of sugar used and increasing the amount of milk. With a bit of experimentation you can get a semi-sweet, thin, pouring custard that would meet your needs.

”Bunny Boiler”? I think not! Rabbit is too lean to be boiled (unless you enjoy eating leather). Like all very lean meats, Rabbit benefits from being cooked “low and slow” with a fat source (bacon, prosciutto, a rabbit and pork farce, black pudding) to keep it moist.

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

...Have you ever thought that the zombies might be already amongst us disguised as anti-vaxxers, Covid deniers and a few other weirdo's to which I would add anti abortionists (the sort that congregate outside clinics to scream their bile at women entering those clinics) and lycra louts who ignore red lights as they are already 'un-dead'. Well thats my theory anyway.

Sadly (or perhaps fortunately), such types - as gruesome as they may be - are not “undead”. Whilst it is undeniable that their cortex is functioning at the minimal level possible to sustain life. the rest of the body remains functional - not exhibiting the total organ shutdown, loss of bodily fluids and resulting desiccation of the corpse of a true zombie (as I’ve found in my cellar lab experiments.....). Nor can an insatiable appetite for mega-junk burgers, watery & fizzy beer and deep fried extruded potato products be remotely considered anything like a true zombie “flesh-hunger” (again, as I have seen in my experiments...)

 

And on that note, I’m off to see what happens when I join two viruses, three prions, a bacterium and a fungus together using CRISPR technology...

 

Don’t forget to keep your doors locked and gates shut...

 

Toodle-pip

 

iD

Edited September 20, 2020 by iL Dottore

[jamie92208]

A rather late Gday to you all for various reasons.  Interesting  day yesterday. I took the Volvo to gave the aircon looked at. After about half an hour the guy diagnosed the proble and has cone up with a realively economical solution that doesn't involve either re-gassing and/or a new compressor.  A part has been ordered. In the process he reset all the error codes that were hanging about uncancelled in the system. Some I recognised as pertaining to repairs done some years ago. Then a very interesting  one appeared on screen.  "Mileage manipulated ". It appears that 13 years ago the car may have been clocked when I bought it as a 3 yr old with under 50K on the clock.  Obviously it didn't come with any previous MOT's. Obviously I can't do anything about it now but I might do some digging in the service history that I have.  

 

in the afternoon I sorted and started to label some slides and discovered another two films worth of negatives mixed up with the packets of slides.  In the evening we took our friends, Grace and Jill out to celebrate Jill's birthday and a good time was had. I was even forced to eat a 2nd piece of fig tart when we got home. It's a hard life.

 

This morning we both slept in so it was straight to the market after breakfast. As we sat outside with our coffees a sortbof folk orchestra appeared. 2 smallish harps, 2 flutes, 2 guitars, 2 accordians, a harmonica and all conducted by another flautist. It was lovely music, not load and eaucous and much with a sort of scottish/Irish lilt. A lovely morning treat.

 

Anyway more slide sorting now beckons.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

Now where did I put that recipe for bear casserole???  
Bunnies were butchered (basically broken down into forelegs, saddle, hindlegs and “trimmings”) and the saddles boned out (for which I would award myself 7/10 as the boned saddles remained only partly intact at the thin part [which is found just above the spine], though the rest of the meat was kept intact).

One of these days I’ll have to take a meat butchery course...

Glutinous is the first word that comes to mind...

I find that if you start with Bird’s Custard Powder (as opposed to ready-made Bird’s Custard) you can adjust the sweetness and consistency by decreasing the amount of sugar used and increasing the amount of milk. With a bit of experimentation you can get a semi-sweet, thin, pouring custard that would meet your needs.

”Bunny Boiler”? I think not! Rabbit is too lean to be boiled (unless you enjoy eating leather). Like all very lean meats, Rabbit benefits from being cooked “low and slow” with a fat source (bacon, prosciutto, a rabbit and pork farce, black pudding) to keep it moist.

Sadly (or perhaps fortunately), such types - as gruesome as they may be - are not “undead”. Whilst it is undeniable that their cortex is functioning at the minimal level possible to sustain life. the rest of the body remains functional - not exhibiting the total organ shutdown, loss of bodily fluids and resulting desiccation of the corpse of a true zombie (as I’ve found in my cellar lab experiments.....). Nor can an insatiable appetite for mega-junk burgers, watery & fizzy beer and deep fried extruded potato products be remotely considered anything like a true zombie “flesh-hunger” (again, as I have seen in my experiments...)

 

And on that note, I’m off to see what happens when I join two viruses, three prions, a bacterium and a fungus together using CRISPR technology...

 

Don’t forget to keep your doors locked and gates shut...

 

Toodle-pip

 

iD

Flavio Trust you to interprete my comment about boiling bunnies into a recipe suggestion. I was infact referring to the scene in the Michael Douglas & Glenn Close film. I have in fact eaten rabbit and it was very tasty indeed.

[polybear]

3 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Andrew, I think you will find that by rubber stamping next doors  planning application your council has failed in its statutory obligations, whatever the circumstances. However the planning regulations have been cut back and watered down by politicians of all colours resulting in the situation. By all means put in an objection and if you can put in an order to stop until it is resolved.

 

 

Could you interest  your local Councillor to come round and take a look/hear your objections?  They might then light a flame under the ar5es of Buildings Control.......

 

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Then a very interesting  one appeared on screen.  "Mileage manipulated ". It appears that 13 years ago the car may have been clocked when I bought it as a 3 yr old with under 50K on the clock.  Obviously it didn't come with any previous MOT's. Obviously I can't do anything about it now but I might do some digging in the service history that I have.  

 

 

 

Any ideas why the message has never been seen before, or reported to you?

 

In other news:

Bear has finally finished de-dusting the Bear Cave