Early Risers.

[jamie92208]

21 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

Having read Jamie's post about black bears taking over railway lines I wondered if CPR follow the NSB. (Norwegian Railways) model of equipping loco cabs with a rifle and ammunition on some of the more remote routes to deal with any similar large fauna that turn a bit nasty or awkward?  

 

As farcas I know CN and CP don't but they still use 2 person crews.  However onevof thevIron Ore lines in Labrador, probably the Q S &N L , do as they single man. They also equip cabs with CD players and instruct their drivers to have a sleep, with the train stopped, if they feel fatigued.

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

There are so many medieval churches in Norfolk you could spend years visting them. 

My favourites are,

the Cathedral of the broads , St Helen's Ranworth, fabulous views from the tower and it's historical effects

St Catherine's church,  Ludham,  with its Elizabethan rood screen. 

St Andrews Hempstead,  although unimpressive outside, it's chancery screen is mostly intact. The church is still Candle lit when required as it has no electricity or water.. 

 

Then of course there are the older round towered Saxon churches,  Norfolk having 124 of the 185 in the UK,  I pass two on the way to work,  St Margarets Old Catton,  and St Swithins Ashmanhaugh. (Pronounced ASHm'no)

 

If you be goin tuh visit Narfuk best yew larn tuh speak Narfuk,  first be place names 

https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/Norfolk-place-pronounciations.aspx

Then the lingo. 

http://www.norfolkdialect.com/glossary.htm

[Andrew P]

On 26/09/2020 at 10:23, Coombe Barton said:

Lived in Peverell from 1952-1955. Grandparents and aunts lived there =from 1912-2003, when the last one died. Cousins live in Hartley. Mum went to Devonport High School for Girls and young second cousin twice removed has just started there.

 

On 26/09/2020 at 13:18, Coombe Barton said:

I recall that, more than 50 years ago when I was still at school in Plymouth, the radio presenter on a local programme pronounced Higher St Budeaux (a place) as "Higher Street, Buddow"

We lived at the top of Watts Park Road until 1954, opposite the Greyhound / Stockcar / Speedway Stadium, and I could just see half a bend and most of the far strait from my Bedroom window. When it was Speedway and Stock Cars it was noisy so my Parents would come up and hold me up at the window, I think they could hear the commentary as well.

If you look up St Budeaux in Wiki it went through many different names through the Centuries, but definitely NOT Buddow, haha. Although my Farther said it should be pronounced St Boodow.

Edited September 30, 2020 by Andrew P

[tigerburnie]

Although Leicester born and bred, I don't really have any connection to the place other than I follow the rugby team in the town and the junior club I played for, I still have a brother there, but we rarely speak. I did go back to see the place I was raised in that used to back onto fields and the old Great Central railway line, but that's all gone, houses on the fields where I played as a kid. I have lived in Holland, France, Devon, London, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Perthshire and now Angus. I have often said it wouldn't bother me if I lived here for ever, but work(or more often lack of it) brought about us moving. I don't actually feel like I have any "roots" to anywhere and home is where I now live, we chose to live at the coast mainly because SWMBO had never lived at the seaside, no regrets on that part, we are a mile inland, so although the easterlie storms can get rough at times, we don't get it too bad.

The only thing I miss is the lack of coarse fishing and English pubs, but Scotland offers sea fishing and mountains, salmon fishing and some great wildlife. I used to go sleep as a kid with steam hauled trains rattling the windows and I can still hear the railway where I am now, though rarely steam hauled and at the moment, very few trains running since the Stonehaven incident, happy enough where I am though I too watch these house hunting programs and could happily move again if I won the lottery.

Edited September 26, 2020 by tigerburnie

[Coombe Barton]

36 minutes ago, TheQ said:

There are so many medieval churches in Norfolk you could spend years visting them. 

 

I have a not so little list, but required some sort of freedom of movement - could bring the caravan across and spend a few days when we're allowed to do so.

If I:m still active by then.

Colby, of course, because of the name.

 

Edited September 26, 2020 by Coombe Barton

[The White Rabbit]

We caught that storm on Thursday, it turned the road and garden white for quite a while, followed by one of the most violent thunderstorms I've been in. One of the neighbours had their garage/hall flooded, had to get the Fire Service out. Half of our back garden turned into a seasonal duck-pond, in places six inches deep. We had a lightning strike I think about 50-100 yards away, many of the electrics beeped/tripped/reset and the windows rattled. All the trees seem to be still there though. Other lightning/thunderbolts landing close by, sounded like an artillery barrage for a good hour. (Memo to self: must offer bigger discounts to ERs with access to tanks). 

 

Missed some of the last couple of week's posts, attendance has been sporadic, so apologies if I've not added my twopennorth or liked anyone's particular post, nothing personal. Purely business, as the mafioso said when pouring cement into a bucket his rival was using to wash his feet... It's been a fortnight for black humour. 

 

I'm sure everyone's sick of the pestilence and comments about it. But I have to confess six months of something close to house arrest are starting to take a toll. Both parents badly ill and I'm worried about them, restrictions make it difficult to help. And more local lock-down restrictions announced Friday. Doesn't help my cabin fever. 

 

Tried some fresh air and the G word this morning but it's blowing half a gale, so didn't last more than half an hour. One thing progress has been made on is a blog, set up and posted a few scribblings. Hopefully about to add some more. And maybe a limerick or two? 

 

I've been a bit of a rolling stone, started out near Doncaster and have progressively moved north and/or west since childhood. Retirement is probably not particularly close but not so far I feel silly thinking about it. Several possible locations to consider - yes, you've guessed it, all to the north and/or west of the present location. Though by the time retirement comes close, things may have changed, so not betting the ranch or setting the heart on anything just yet.

[Coombe Barton]

For one of our friends of this parish.



 

[BokStein]

1 minute ago, Coombe Barton said:

For one of our friends of this parish.



 

 

Careful, John, you're almost tempting me to offer the Indian deviation of Pythagoras' Theorem!

[simontaylor484]

Well good afternoon 

 

Heating has come on today mainly to test before it comes really cold. Dont seem to be getting heat downstairs the bottom floor that is. Middle floor nice and warm,top floor same.bottom floor like a fridge. I think it must be an air lock somewhere. 

I have left my home town on a couple of occasions and ended up coming back. Wehave lost a lot of services over the last 10 to 15 years. We dont have a proper hospital anymore, or a police station lots have banks have shut. I haven't been in town for months but i am told its mainly druggies and the allegedly homeless most of em are in bedsits in Castleford.but they have to come to Pontefract to beg 

My wife doesnt drive (only me mad) so we are ideally located for whats left. 

[southern42]

‘  afternoon all from red dragon land.

Sunny with light breeze.
 

Pleased to say that after 5 weeks of seasonal irritations I seem to be over the worst of it.  This was born out with a toot on the flute. 1st attempt at the moon tune was much to be desired, but the 2nd, apart from longest phrases needing an extra breath or two, & a few duff notes, must be the best I’ve played it. Amazing! Absolutely delighted.  Just have to be patient in getting back to ‘normal’ now.

 

Ladies T20 being enjoyed.

C’mon girls! 
 

Fitt   and   Elfie coming out to play.
 

Take care and play safe.

Best wishes

Polly

[45156]

Afternoon All

 

Just a quick check in, but several pages skipped, so hopefully nothing has happened of moment.  Greetings, as usual, anre offered to all ailing and celebrating ERs.

 

Today has been very busy indeed with an early rise, to find that there had been a frost, then getting the Henchmann ladder out to trim the top of the ten foot hedge at the side, then some bookwork, then getting the porch ready to receive the logs, getting said logs, coal, kindling, and fire lighters, so that the stove, which has been fettled with a new rope seal and some fire cement, can be set (done) and lot (Probably tomorrow).  Possibly a visit to the A6 car boot will ensue - who knows, we did pretty well there last week.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[iL Dottore]

19 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

....Flavio is referring to the 8/500 variety. That is ones containing 8mg of codeine and 500mg of paracetamol. More popular (on prescription) over here in the UK  are the 15/500 and 30/500 varieties containing 15mg and 30mg of codeine. I’m not keen on taking any of them as even the lowest strength ones  give me constipation! We really do dispense a lot of these high dose ones but I’m not sure how many are for  arthritis.

......Enough of that, it’s too much like work. 

I was indeed referring to the low-dose OTC version of Co-Codamol. I do buy a couple of packets of the OTC version when I’m in the UK and although I understand the reason why its purchases are limited,  I do find it a tad frustrating as the amount that I can buy at any one time at any one dispensing chemist. I employ the simple expedient of buying the maximum allowed purchase of Co-Codamol  from a number of different pharmacists, so that I have a reasonable amount of stock to take home (I use it on rare occasions to top up the analgesic effect of an NSAID).  Which of course raises the question that, if I, with no addiction to feed, can easily think of a ways to get around purchasing restrictions, why are these restrictions in place at all? As is well established, addicts have absolutely no problems finding ways to feed their habits, so why impose an extra burden on the already overloaded dispensing chemist?

And, yes Robert, I do know it’s like work, but isn’t “playing with drugs“ (so to speak) just so much fun?

I suppose that, if you were to really stretch the definition, I could be considered a “drug baron“

19 hours ago, BokStein said:

...Apart from visiting our beloved Switzerland (and possibly spending a few hours in the excellent company of iL Dottore), our prime objective is to escape the forced festivities over here...

My goodness me, it’s been a while since I have been the target of such outrageous flattery. Please consider my ego as having been suitably stroked, Mr Stone. A small token of my appreciation and esteem will be awaiting you at the stammtisch in the Stube  - whenever you grace our shores again....

Interesting the various posts about where people came from, have lived and are either retiring to or might retire to.

Now, if I may add my tuppence worth: I was born in Rome (which makes me a Roman citizen. Given that my ancestors conquered and enslaved most of the then “known world” I am not sure whether I should feel incredible guilt that my ancestors enslaved the ancestors of the posters on ER or whether I should crow that “my great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather owned your great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather“, But either way that would be making a fuss over a long dead and buried past, which is something that, surely, no-one today would be foolish enough to do...)
Anyway, I grew up in England (just outside London, which makes me, officially, an “effete Southerner”), Italy and in the USA and I Have lived in Britain, the USA, Switzerland and Italy.

Given this nomadism, and the fact that my job had me travelling around the world for most of my life, I don’t have any particularly deep connection with any place. I have a great deal of fondness for Britain and for Italy, but I am not convinced about retiring to either country (even though the sale of Schloss ID would allow us to purchase quite a reasonable property in either Italy or Britain), Switzerland just works far too well for me to jump ship/bail out at this late stage of my life. Furthermore, and I am not sure if I say this sadly or with relief, but I have no close family as they are all either dead or disappeared. Mrs iD has a cousin here that she sees on a regular basis and some nieces she sees on very rare occasions, so there are no real ties for her here either...
Actually, to be brutally honest, I’m not sure I’m in favour of retiring to Switzerland either, I’m having too much fun working....

Well, enough blathering from me. Mrs ID is in the holiday hovel with the Wolfpack (and she reports that Schotty, having spent a good part of this year as a hot and bothered doggy, is now enjoying himself diving into the first snows of the season) and having visited a well stock purveyor of Indian comestibles this afternoon, I now have an enjoyable Indian meal (to be washed down with Guinness) with which to celebrate my “day release” before the shackles are put back on in 48 hours.

iD

 

[J. S. Bach]

5 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

As farcas I know CN and CP don't but they still use 2 person crews.  However onevof thevIron Ore lines in Labrador, probably the Q S &N L , do as they single man. They also equip cabs with CD players and instruct their drivers to have a sleep, with the train stopped, if they feel fatigued.

 

Jamie

It is QNS&L:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_North_Shore_and_Labrador_Railway

 

[Compound2632]

1 minute ago, J. S. Bach said:

It is QNS&L:

 

 

And I had thought there was only one railway with Q in its initials!

[J. S. Bach]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

I was indeed referring to the low-dose OTC version of Co-Codamol. I do buy a couple of packets of the OTC version when I’m in the UK and although I understand the reason why its purchases are limited,  I do find it a tad frustrating as the amount that I can buy at any one time at any one dispensing chemist. I employ the simple expedient of buying the maximum allowed purchase of Co-Codamol  from a number of different pharmacists, so that I have a reasonable amount of stock to take home  ...snip...

iD

 

I an surprised that the Swiss let you bring it in-country!

[Barry O]

Starting to defrost at last. Cricket was played, umpiring was umpired, end os a short season which has seen poor pitches, poor players and poor umpiring (and that is not about just me!) The wind today was unbelievable!

 

Sunderland managed to beat another of their bogey teams today. H'way the Lass!

 

Baz

[Sir TophamHatt]

On 25/09/2020 at 15:56, J. S. Bach said:

 

I use Thunderbird (81.0b4 32 bit) and created archive folders. I then copy any received/sent emails to the appropriate folder. As PB says: "Works for me." And no lost emails.

 

You can also sign up for an email account (like Outlook / Gmail), then sign in to it through Thunderbird.

 

You should be able to drag and drop emails / folders from other accounts to it.

 

I always "print" emails (to a PDF) and just store them in a folder.

Windows 10 makes searching simple and have found myself using it more and more rather than manually clicking through.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Apart from a quick trip out to Tess Coes for some comestibles I haven't ventured out today. I was born in Romford and spent the first half of my existence in and around the area. I certainly wouldn't want to go back there to live now. As for 'where did I come from' I know from studying my family tree that I am a mongrel, with Jewish, French/Flemish, Welsh, Scottish and Irish ancestry. No doubt if I could go back a lot further I might even find Roman ancestry . Flavio's right not to claim to be Roman in the ancient sense for it is the Romans, not the Jews who executed Jesus Christ. The evidence can be seen in every Christian place of worship. Tea has brewed so its be back later time.

[Tony_S]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

 I do find it a tad frustrating as the amount that I can buy at any one time at any one dispensing chemist. I employ the simple expedient of buying the maximum allowed purchase of Co-Codamol  from a number of different pharmacists, so that I have a reasonable amount of stock to take home (I use it on rare occasions to top up the analgesic effect of an NSAID).  Which of course raises the question that, if I, with no addiction to feed, can easily think of a ways to get around purchasing restrictions, why are these restrictions in place at all?

I found it a bit irritating when it was first introduced but my brother in law said it isn’t to do with addictions. Limiting the number of pills and packets reduces the number of tablets people tend to have at home. Someone temporarily distraught may swallow everything in the medicine cabinet. Limiting the quantity means they are less likely to actually kill themselves.  BiL said it did work. Anyone seriously wanting to overdose can still do so. Saves on liver transplants too.

Tony

[simontaylor484]

I bought some ibuprofen on Tenerife it was in liquid sachets 600mg a dose i used it sparingly but it was damn good stuff kept Arthur at bay better than anything else that I have had since.

 

Also.thinking about Romans wonder if Sadiq and the National trust have realised that any of their remains might actually have been built by Slaves and that they owned slaves too happen a petition to have them demolished ought to be started just for devilment of course 

[BokStein]

10 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I found it a bit irritating when it was first introduced but my brother in law said it isn’t to do with addictions. Limiting the number of pills and packets reduces the number of tablets people tend to have at home. Someone temporarily distraught may swallow everything in the medicine cabinet. Limiting the quantity means they are less likely to actually kill themselves.  BiL said it did work. Anyone seriously wanting to overdose can still do so. Saves on liver transplants too.

Tony

 

In line with iD, I smell excrement of bull here.

 

OK, thou shall not purchase more then 32 paracetamol from a supermarket in a single transaction. Within a timescale of less than an hour, I can visit Tess C0s pharmacy then Sainsbury's followed by B00ts and a private pharmacy next door (only the brick wall separates them) and end up with 128 paracetamol! If I could be bothered to walk the extra 1/2 mile to Lidl, I could end up with another 32 (= 160!)

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.

 

Poly, I know a fair bit about TTS, having had some involvement with the occasional motorbike (ahem) in the past, and their opinions of Jock Kerr products are not misguided - 'Our' Jock also had the same opinion of his Father's products, and I think IIRC there was 'some disagreement'  between them in this regard.  His 400/4 turbo kit was probably the most ineffective item in the catalogue.  I don't think anyone ever got one to work.

 

My origins (bar a complex family tree and alleged traces of Roman ancestry on fathers side - show me a hint of sun and I turn olive) are firmly as a 'Sand-dancer' - South Shields having a large golden sand beach.  Freezing cold of course.  I travelled extensively while pushing up Tennent's Brewery shares in the Merchant Navy, but met Mrs NHN at home, as she moved into the area from a background of Cornwall (Liskeard, Pelynt, Lanreath) Croydon, Caterham, Guernsey and New Zealand.....her parents have itchy feet.  We decided to move here 18 years ago to improve our lives after both having the worst days at work, having visited here for years for the racing so we already had a small circle of friends, and I didn't need a work permit as my mum was Manx.  No regrets on that one, we bought a modest....nay, small bungalow as our last house planning ahead as Debs has a very knackered knee from a childhood accident, not knowing at that time my hip issues that would emerge and my foot injury would severely curtail the use of stairs for me too! No regrets on that either, built a 5m square 'garage' ie man cave, a garden railway and the cars can live outside!  

[Mark Saunders]

3 minutes ago, BokStein said:

 

In line with iD, I smell excrement of bull here.

 

OK, thou shall not purchase more then 32 paracetamol from a supermarket in a single transaction. Within a timescale of less than an hour, I can visit Tess C0s pharmacy then Sainsbury's followed by B00ts and a private pharmacy next door (only the brick wall separates them) and end up with 128 paracetamol! If I could be bothered to walk the extra 1/2 mile to Lidl, I could end up with another 32 (= 160!)

Tried once to buy two boxes of ibuprofen and a box of paracetamol at same time that was a no! Too many tablets!

 

Tried when accompanied by wife for four boxes of ibuprofen but again no it allowed to do as two separate transactions!

 

[Tony_S]

47 minutes ago, BokStein said:

 

In line with iD, I smell excrement of bull here.

 

OK, thou shall not purchase more then 32 paracetamol from a supermarket in a single transaction. Within a timescale of less than an hour, I can visit Tess C0s pharmacy then Sainsbury's followed by B00ts and a private pharmacy next door (only the brick wall separates them) and end up with 128 paracetamol! If I could be bothered to walk the extra 1/2 mile to Lidl, I could end up with another 32 (= 160!)

I bow to your superior knowledge of bull products but the legislation is not aimed at anyone seriously setting off to acquire enough medication to kill themselves. It is aimed at reducing the likelihood of someone thinking they want to die but don’t really. There are people who think anyone stupid enough to chug down a cocktail of OTC drugs for whatever reason don’t deserve to survive. I am sorry but having taught teenagers for years, many who do silly things do grow up to be sensible adults. 
If you do want a lot of paracetamol and can’t walk too far you can buy much bigger packs of the soluble form. 
 

Edited September 26, 2020 by Tony_S
Commas

[polybear]

The usual Friday evening fone call from Sister "Down yer Gob and Up yer 'Ooter" was not forthcoming, so I'd no idea if she was going to turn up this morning for the usual C-19 test;  I kept the usual 8am - 9am window open just in case, but there was a definite no-show on her part - a call to let me know what was happening might've been decent.  At half nine I gave up all hope and considered that this week's voucher was likely never to be seen; however this evening I got a call to arrange a test for tomorrow morning - it seems a lack of test kits was to blame.....

 

Yet another day working on the kitchen refurb.  There's a loooong way to go yet.....