Early Risers.

[TheQ]

The Yeoman nationals are underway, not surprisingly turn out is poor only 9 boats I can .

Unfortunately the wind is very light.

https://www.horning-sailing.club/webcams/

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, southern42 said:

' afternoon all from red dragon land.

4C this morning better than yesterday's 2C. Dry, cloudy with a few areas of blue sky. Not sunny here at the moment, though.

 

Yesterday's Advent Calendar.

[Scare  Warning 1...Look away now if of a sensitive disposition...]

The choccy critter was a Mouse - very tasty.

[Scare  Warning 2...it gets worse...]

The fact behind the window states: There are over 40,000 spiders world-wide. 

 

 

Hope that has not spoilt your day. 

 

Time to get lunch.

 

Fitt  and  Elfie up to their old tricks.

 

Take care everyone and play safe.

_________

Best wishes

Polly, aka Miss D. Meaner.

I like spiders.

[Gwiwer]

Definitely having a bit of a "wobble" today.  

 

SWMBO has told me off for placing an honest and heartfelt message on my FB feed; apparently I am "not 16"   Feeling the longer-term effects of social isolation now.  Yes I have work and haven't missed a day all year but what hurts is seeing friends posting pictures / clips of them enjoying themselves in pubs, restaurants and even just out shopping.  All things I cannot do with SWMBO for at least the foreseeable future.  And all things she is not happy letting me do with others for the same time - and that assumes others would be happy allowing me to meet them.  

 

Not sure what to do now.  It feels as though the world outside is starting to enjoy C*******s while I am unable to do so because I care for and about a vulnerable partner.  Bored doesn't begin to describe it.  

 

[J. S. Bach]

1 hour ago, southern42 said:

 ...snip...

[Scare  Warning 2...it gets worse...]

The fact behind the window states: There are over 40,000 spiders world-wide. 

...snip...

Something tells me that you meant 40,000 species of spiders. I seem to have close to 40,000 spiders in and around my house!

 

I did not have the heart to ruin this web by cutting the grass that day (edit: it was not there the day before!):

 

 

 

 

And this guy is standing guard on my propane tank:

 

 

Edited December 5, 2020 by J. S. Bach

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis has started banging on his drum so I think I'll  take a couple of co-codamols and take a lie down.

[TheQ]

I'm in Ben sitting, SWMBO is out getting a hole punched in her arm at the local doctors, at the flu jab drive through.

 

Earlier Ben came out with me when I went to the workshop, but refused to go in, he wanted to stay in the garden... Then the pheasant massacre started up and he came running in to hide in the space I made for him.

 

The keel has now mostly dried just a little surface tackiness.

 

First task in the garage was a general tidy up, storing all the stuff discovered yesterday.

 

One thing not mentioned was , 4  2inch, by 9 inch by 1ft wooden trays inherited from the previous owners.

I thought they looked handy, so boarded off a 1ft wide section of shelf added rails to the sides, now there are 4 small drawers.

The rails were made from thin battens that were originally covering the joins in the hardboard walls of the mobile home.

Soon as I started up the power tools Ben didn't like the noise, so I took him to the house.

 

I then modified Ben's hidey hole to give him a little more room.

 

It was then time to turn the keel.. I could walk it to 90 degrees, but couldn't turn it as it was too far forward and hitting the workbench. After several different attempts to move it back , I ended up lifting one end at a time onto 2*4 beams on their narrow edge. Then toppling the beams therefore the keel moving backwards. This was repeated 3 times before it cleared the bench.

A reminder, it weights over 150kg...

It now almost in place to be laid on its side.

 

Being now knackered, back to the house for a Muggacoffee and some pink pills. After which Ben wanted me to take him for a long walk.. we did, down by the marshes it was , well... Marshy, the track was very soggy over 6inches deep in water in one place.

We got most of the way round before the pheasant massacre started again, Ben ran back to me for comfort. So I put the lead on him and he towed me the rest of the way home.

At a nearby farm I saw a very light coloured, fairly large  owl fly across.

 

A bottle of red is about to be opened, and I need an eyelid inspection, like Ben the currently snoring Collie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheQ]

4 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis has started banging on his drum so I think I'll  take a couple of co-codamols and take a lie down.

A posting for each pill or 4 pills?

[The White Rabbit]

Good moaning to all. Again, unfortunately it's been a busy week but could be a quieter weekend, so maybe I might get chance to catch up a bit. Trouble is ERs runs at such a pace it's difficult to catch up if you've missed a few days! 

 

Some chasing around this morning, I was pleasantly surprised by the length of the queue at a local Post Office - I had to wait but only for 30 seconds. Considering earlier in the week the queue stretched back about 50 yards, that was quite a good start to the day. Two parcels and three large letters to send. Then a trolley dash around Mr C's emporium. I was reminded of the Stationmaster as I saw a Tesla in the car-park on the way out. Venison was on offer and that prompted me to wonder how Phil got on with his Christmas lunch recce. (Apologies if I've missed any feedback already posted). 

 

I try to avoid Amazon for the usual reasons quoted above. Plus the fact the local delivery driver makes Frank Spencer look practical and competent. Yes, businesses need to make money whatever size they are but there's profitable and profiteering. Whether it was running the modelshop, bookshop or an exhibition trade stand, I always tried to give good customer service, treat people well and behave fairly. You can never please all the people all of the time but judging by the following built up for various enterprises, I can't have done too badly. Even now, closing things down and selling the stock off at cost, no changes to company policy, it's a small world and people can have long memories. Especially those ERs with access to armoured vehicles and planes! 

 

It was certainly chilly this morning, it sleeted a bit yesterday but the rain washed any white stuff anyway PDQ. On the trip out this am the tops had a light dusting of snow. Not exactly hardship compared with what the ERs overseas might have but it's certainly a harbinger of winter for us. 

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for calendars for next year? No cute kittens please, but landscapes and/or trains favoured. I've tried a few heritage railway sites, nothing's grabbed me so far. Just thought it's December and time I did some forward plan

ning. 

 

 

[Barry O]

Lasering..  done...

 

Eye hurts a bit.. back in 6 weeks for a revue.

 

A glass of red is required..for medicinal purposes only..

 

Baz

Edited December 5, 2020 by Barry O

[simontaylor484]

Greetings and best wishes 

 

I have a confession i have broken my own rule of not watching the BBC but it was the Railway Children.

 

I cant see how the Bbc and Channel 4 can criticize Amazon for tax dodging when it turned out a lot of their so called talent were using loopholes to dodge tax on their ill gotten gains. Talent my ar$€

 

Started to watch Oasis at Barrowlands Ballroom on Sky Arts but it reminded me of my Uni days when i had dreams and i wasnt ill.

The best sweets to come from Sheffield are old fashioned black bullet mints. Made by a firm called Maxons they are now banned in our house due to type 2 diabetes

Edited December 5, 2020 by simontaylor484

[Ian Abel]

Saturday, luvly jubbly.

 

<RANT>

Am I the only one that is rather p!ssed about the incraese in advertising on RMWeb? I KNOW it's needed to maintain the site, and fully accept the ad banner on the right side of the screen, but since yesterday I'm now also BARRAGED with a FULL SCREEN ad at the top of every page, AND a pop-up ad at the bottom - example below;

 

sorry if I offend anyone, but that's frankly TOO MUCH, and is really starting to frost my cake - the above takes up about 95% of the ENTIRE browser window and that's on my 24" monitor for christ sake  again, I appreciate the need, but there's a limit for everything! 

<RANT OFF>

 

Yesterday, precious little to report, we DID however manage to win the battle between us and the latest puzzle;

1000 pieces and quite nice to put together although the Mrs bailed on the hard to handle all blue sky upper left, as she hates that part of almost all puzzles, I persevered and we won

Managed a rather tasty baked salmon recipe for diner with a very passable glaze and we watched an oldie, "CLUE", with Tim Curry, Madeline Khan and a decent cast, was an excellent return to something we'd not seen for years.

 

Not a lot going today, more basement cleanup and then we continue or Murder Mystery with our friends, week two of something like SIX I think.

 

Weather is also "fairly" acceptable with a starting temp of -7 but sunny and heading for unseasonable high of 4.

 

Enjoy whatever you're upto today.

 

Edited December 5, 2020 by Ian Abel

[New Haven Neil]

I mentioned the advert yesterday and didn't get a response, Ian - drives me nuts too.

 

Bit of a busy day, got duped into going to Tescos, after a lunch out.  Also attended a craft fair a friend was selling at, the interesting Jewish/Kiwi/Manxi girl, now partner of another good friend - they're a lovely couple.

 

The seafront in Ramsey was rather cold looking this morning.  Because it was cold, probably!  Still several people on the beach walking dogs etc, this is where some greedy men want to build houses and a marina.  No, simply.  Sorry its not very sharp, it was 1 dark, 2 blowing a hoolie 3 I was freezing!

 

[iL Dottore]

37 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

....Am I the only one that is rather p!ssed about the incraese in advertising on RMWeb? I KNOW it's needed to maintain the site, and fully accept the ad banner on the right side of the screen, but since yesterday I'm now also BARRAGED with a FULL SCREEN ad at the top of every page, AND a pop-up ad at the bottom ...

The solution, I’ve found, is to use Firefox with an ad-blocker, most effective. I avoid Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge (aka internet explorer) and Apple Safari like the plague. I also have No-Script as an add-on (used manually, I can opt to inactivate certain things - like banner ads - on the websites I visit)

Firfox on an iPad also has minimal ads (some sites have more than others)

[Ian Abel]

3 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

I mentioned the advert yesterday and didn't get a response, Ian - drives me nuts too.

Indeed, I saw your mention of it an expected a raft of commentary, surprised there hasn't been any... oh well, maybe it's just you and me that are seeing them. Makes me wonder what we did wrong or did right to be blessed with them  

[Ian Abel]

5 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

The solution, I’ve found, is to use Firefox with an ad-blocker, most effective. I avoid Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge (aka internet explorer) and Apple Safari like the plague. I also have No-Script as an add-on (used manually, I can opt to inactivate certain things - like banner ads - on the websites I visit)

Firfox on an iPad also has minimal ads (some sites have more than others)

Agree, I actually HAVE an ad blocker but in deference to @Andy Y, who knew some folks would/do use them, I was OK with the right side ads as I'd not wanted to sign up for the "no ad" (if it still exists) premium membership.

Seems that I'll simply have to turn on my ad-blocker now <sigh> certainly not MY loss, but RMWeb who don't necessarily know when "enough is enough".

Edited December 5, 2020 by Ian Abel

[simontaylor484]

On my Amazon tablet i only get ads at the bottom of the screen so it's not too bad on my phone (Android) i get annoying little ads that cover the submit reply button.

I am more amused by the subject of the ads i get sometimes this afternoon I had a mobile train weighing system for 12 inch to the foot gauge. Natty bit of kit like but where on earth would i keep it??

Edited December 5, 2020 by simontaylor484
Autocorrect

[polybear]

5 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

I like spiders.

 

I like 'em best when they're stuck to the sharp end of a wire brush.......

 

40 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

Saturday, luvly jubbly.

 

<RANT>

Am I the only one that is rather p!ssed about the incraese in advertising on RMWeb? I KNOW it's needed to maintain the site, and fully accept the ad banner on the right side of the screen, but since yesterday I'm now also BARRAGED with a FULL SCREEN ad at the top of every page, AND a pop-up ad at the bottom - example below;

 

 

 

Bear uses Firefox and sees no adverts on RMWeb, presumably due to the settings selected on FF.

 

In other news:

Bear has finally finished the framework for the Mk. 2 Stair Box ; here's the "before" shape:

 

- and the "after" shape:

 

 

The woodwork won't win prizes for appearance (it doesn't need to, cos' after it's covered in plasterboard on monday I hope never to see it again) but it's all straight/aligned/in the right place/rigid etc. etc. and as strong as hell (I knew those 3" woodscrews would come in handy one day).  I also took the opportunity to add bracing and a few extra woodscrews to the top two stair steps and I now have a set of stairs that no longer squeak.  I also managed to clear some of my stocks of "that'll come in handy one day" timber stored in the shed.

 

No significant kitchen work planned for tomorrow; instead I'll have a tidy up of tools & other bits no longer needed.  Buddy next door wants a look at how I've done the framework, as he's having similar ideas now he knows it's possible.  I could've added a slope to the end as well as the side, but the more I thought about it the more I realised that the framework would be very complicated and the subsequent plastering job more involved also;  it would've added very little benefit, especially as there will be a tall kitchen cabinet to the right of the photo which will obscure much of the end of the box.

 

I've also had a text to inform me that another C-19 test for the ONS is due tomorrow, so that's another voucher to spend, sorry I meant to say another contribution to society....

[roundhouse]

5 hours ago, J. S. Bach said:

Something tells me that you meant 40,000 species of spiders. I seem to have close to 40,000 spiders in and around my house!

 

I did not have the heart to ruin this web by cutting the grass that day (edit: it was not there the day before!):

 

 

 

 

And this guy is standing guard on my propane tank:

 

 

I think that you were more concerned that it might eat you alive looking at the size of it

[simontaylor484]

It's another record for me tonight I have itv 1 on the Tv on a Saturday night first time in years 

[roundhouse]

11 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

It's another record for me tonight I have itv 1 on the Tv on a Saturday night first time in years 

I cant get anything on the TV these days as they are too thin to do so

[Tony_S]

3 minutes ago, roundhouse said:

I cant get anything on the TV these days as they are too thin to do so

There isn’t even too much to dust ...

[southern42]

5 hours ago, The White Rabbit said:

Good moaning to all. Again, unfortunately it's been a busy week but could be a quieter weekend, so maybe I might get chance to catch up a bit. Trouble is ERs runs at such a pace it's difficult to catch up if you've missed a few days! 

 

Some chasing around this morning, I was pleasantly surprised by the length of the queue at a local Post Office - I had to wait but only for 30 seconds. Considering earlier in the week the queue stretched back about 50 yards, that was quite a good start to the day. Two parcels and three large letters to send. Then a trolley dash around Mr C's emporium. I was reminded of the Stationmaster as I saw a Tesla in the car-park on the way out. Venison was on offer and that prompted me to wonder how Phil got on with his Christmas lunch recce. (Apologies if I've missed any feedback already posted). 

 

I try to avoid Amazon for the usual reasons quoted above. Plus the fact the local delivery driver makes Frank Spencer look practical and competent. Yes, businesses need to make money whatever size they are but there's profitable and profiteering. Whether it was running the modelshop, bookshop or an exhibition trade stand, I always tried to give good customer service, treat people well and behave fairly. You can never please all the people all of the time but judging by the following built up for various enterprises, I can't have done too badly. Even now, closing things down and selling the stock off at cost, no changes to company policy, it's a small world and people can have long memories. Especially those ERs with access to armoured vehicles and planes! 

 

It was certainly chilly this morning, it sleeted a bit yesterday but the rain washed any white stuff anyway PDQ. On the trip out this am the tops had a light dusting of snow. Not exactly hardship compared with what the ERs overseas might have but it's certainly a harbinger of winter for us. 

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for calendars for next year? No cute kittens please, but landscapes and/or trains favoured. I've tried a few heritage railway sites, nothing's grabbed me so far. Just thought it's December and time I did some forward plan

ning. 

 

 

 

Calendars.  For several years, now, I have designed my own, uploading our own photos, through a couple of online websites. There is usually a choice of format and size with various options that can be added such as text, colour, background, embellishments, etc to choose from.  There seem to be quite a few to choose from.  Some offer various discounts on the given price, while others charge less per item as the number of ordered calendars increases.  Other items can also be made: greetings cards, mouse mats, canvases, posters, prints, etc, etc, etc.

 

[New Haven Neil]

We normally do a Donk calendar for some friends who know him, but he's hardly been anywhere to misbehave this year.

 

'archive image'

 

Edited December 5, 2020 by New Haven Neil

[Coombe Barton]

... and the Great Bosworth Bake Off ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/12/05/sounds-of-the-season-7-baking/

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Nearly forgot dinner this evening, just not feeling hungry, just as well as I could do with losing a bit of weight.

5 hours ago, The White Rabbit said:

Venison was on offer and that prompted me to wonder how Phil got on with his Christmas lunch recce. (Apologies if I've missed any feedback already posted). 

 

 

Very well actually. I pan fried it as recommended in a bit of olive oil for 10-12 minutes turning it frequently to ensure that it was 'sealed'. I then gave it a quick blast of microwaves to make sure it was cooked through. I must have done it right because it melted in the mouth. FYI it looks like and tastes similar to beef only a bit more 'gamey'. I already have another steak in the fridge ready for Christmas day. Much preferable to turkey IMHO and no left overs to eat into new year.