Early Risers.

[PeterBB]

1 hour ago, grandadbob said:

 today is the anniversary of the 1981 Penlee Lifeboat disaster.  The  8 crew members from the Solomon Browne and the 5 crew along with the captain's wife and 2 daughters they were trying to rescue from the MV Union Star all lost their lives.  I know that Rick knew and was

Thanks GDB - 39 years ago and it has come up almost as yesterday as too has the memory of having actually seen the Lifeboat.  Remember them every time we go down.  A late FiL was a marine engineer and lost a number of friends and colleagues when one of the company ships  was lost ... and it was not helped by the fact that the issues surrounding its loss came up as a case study on a course I attended some years later.  The Lifeboat men and women risk their lives on a regular basis in saving lives at sea and this end have been supporting for over 50 years.

Edited December 19, 2020 by PeterBB
Spelling

[Coombe Barton]

Penlee - mine is a remote connection as my grandfather served at Mousehole on Boom Defence, barracked, I now know, at what is now the caravan site near Penlee Quarry. He was 57 when the war started, having been a Perry Officer in the Navy during WW!. I've tried to find out more information but have drawn a blank as there is none to be had.

[TheQ]

Coombe Barton, as a direct relative you can get his war records 

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records

 

 

Afternoon Awl,

The land rover was unloaded,

The car was inspected, but since it was raining I just observed the fan belt is a bit loose.. work on that tomorrow.

 

So today I've made,

Three shelving doors, cut one more exact blank, and there is a sheet of OSB , which is part demolished, into a blank which would cover an entire shelving unit.

 

The six inches of the Aft end of the keel was sanded both sides, a thickened resin mix was used  bond on a stop of glass fibre right round the edge , and another strip one side over lapping the edge.

This strip will be matched by another tomorrow, on the other side, forming a thin edge but not sharp. The recommended being less than 5mm to reduce turbulence, but a cut off stern, almost a 'Camm' tail .

I left it with a fan heater gently blowing on it so ensure it reached the 15C setting temperature.

 

Then Ben the it's time for my Walk Collie wanted his long walk.. we didn't get far, the full artillery brigade appears to be blasting the pheasants. Ben refused to go further, so we returned to the house, loaded Ben into the car, and we went to the beach.. He greatly enjoyed that, but we came back when it started raining.

 

Back into the workshop, the keel has set very nicely, fan off , head for the sofa, and an eyelid inspection.

Followed by a glass of red, and a ginger biscuit. I quite like the biscuit, SWMBO wasn't impressed with the chocolate biscuit, so some may come my way in a very rationed format.

 

Ben, decided he would lie alongside me.. giving me the big state, he got a small piece of biscuit, after that he was devoted.. He kept staring at me and then the packet of biscuits....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Coombe Barton]

5 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Coombe Barton, as a direct relative you can get his war records 

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records

 

Tried, thanks, no records

[simontaylor484]

I remember watching a documentary on the loss of the solomon brown horrendous, 

I was watching some programme last week and they took you in to the old lifeboat station left just as it had been when they launched that night. 

 

Much respect to the lifeboat crews and mountain rescue teams that are all volunteers 

[simontaylor484]

Currently watching Audie Murphy playing wait for it Audie Murphy as the most decorated US soldier of ww2.

It was on the other day but i will watch again.

[New Haven Neil]

As an ex-seafarer I support the RNLI as much as I can - lots of rellies get RNLI presents.  Having also lost friends at sea, and almost my own life but for a quirk of fate, it is never far from my mind.

 

Sounds like Simon G got that rain I avoided this morning!  It was heading his way when last seen.

 

We went to a pop-up artisan pie shop for lunch, and had possibly the best snake and ale pie I have ever had.  Of course pastry and half the mash (I left the rest like a brave boy) hasn't done my blood sugar much good (was 9.8 @ 90 minutes - guide is under 8.5 - but OK-ish 6.8  at 120 mins), but you have to have to occasional treat.

 

Mrs NHN is thumping away at the other computer doing her CV.....

 

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by New Haven Neil

[TheQ]

Since just before leaving the RAF in 88,  I kept a CV  on a computer  including everything, it came to a good half dozen pages. Should one be needed, I looked at the job advert and cut it down to the recommended two sides of the most relevant info.

Thinking about it, that Full CV is probably still on the PC somewhere, though not updated for the last 15 years...

 

I see pasties and mash have the same effect on NHN as they do on me..

Talking of which while stirring my porridge yesterday I came across something..a sweetcorn kernel I'm guessing they had been grinding sweetcorn before the oats..  But I do wonder if that's the cause of some erratic readings this week.

 

Richard Todd, the actor took part in the film "The Longest Day" the capture of Pegasus bridge, . He had to play Major John Howard,  in one scene The Major is seen speaking to Lieutenant..Richard Todd..

 

Gone are the days when film actors could play a military serviceman properly.. Because they had been one and knew how to behave...

 

 

 

 

 "

 

[New Haven Neil]

Q, porridge is a no no for me, gives me a 13.....we're all different in T2 diabetes world!  Rice is the worst, then spuds, pasta and processed floury things - pastry, bread (Burgen isn't as bad, half the carb) and so on.  But it isn't always the same, I think the erratic readings are part and parcel of the condition, sometimes there is just no explanation.  I treat myself to fish and half a portion of chips once a week, and don't usually measure too bad afterwards, about 8, then one week it will be 12. As my HBA1c is always OK (35) then it is well under control.

[polybear]

Bear has just had his ears lowered - and some....

I tried the new place in the village, despite my better judgement at a price of seventeen quid (my usual place is twelve quid).  All very  swish, free t & c if you want it, bikkies, sweets, a short walk from home.....and red hot on anti C-19 measures

Into the chair, guy asks want I wanted....."Number 3, says I".

"Ok, number 3 on the sides and back?"

"No, all over", not thinking that my usual place does the top bit with scissors....

"Ok", says the guy, and goes for it all over with a Number 3.

By the time Bear realised what his mistake was the hair was already on the deck.  Very cold ears now....

 

On the bright side, it turns out that a "Buzz Cut" costs a tenner, and not the seventeen quid I was expecting (which apparently is the price for a "normal" cut).  I can feel a fashion change coming on.  Not only that, it'll need cutting less often, so more money for cake

 

Incidentally, the young guy in the chair before me was saying that he "might be going to a party tonight", with mention of a local road called "The Ridgeway" (aka multi-millionaire's row - think premiership footie prima donna's etc.).  There was mention of a scheme growing in popularity which is for party-goer's to pay a "deposit" to attend; the proceeds are used to pay any Police Fine which may arise - if the host gets away with it then you get your deposit back....

Anyone confused as to why London & the SE is now going into Tier 4?  Thought not....

Looks like I got my hair cut just in time (edit: literally - another 3 hours and they'd be shut down until next year...)

Edited December 19, 2020 by polybear

[New Haven Neil]

Way to go Poly - I have a 4 in winter, 2 in summer, but for free in the kitchen!  Wahl clippers, had them years.

[tigerburnie]

I've still not had a hair cut, almost a year now, starting to look like Boris, but with a beard lol.

[BokStein]

14 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Way to go Poly - I have a 4 in winter, 2 in summer, but for free in the kitchen!  Wahl clippers, had them years.

 

I got me a Wahl a few years back; never used any of the 'spacers', just the basic clippers. Saved myself a fortune doing it myself but have to check I haven't missed a lump!

Edited December 19, 2020 by BokStein

[The Stationmaster]

Mrs Stationmaster cuts my hair so no problems about getting it done this year.  The other day i was even called upon t0 trim and tidy hers around the back of her neck.  My success in that task can be judged by the fact that i have subsequently made posts here and elsewhere on RMweb (or a lack of suitable mirrors to view the back of her head?)

 

CVs?  In my inconsultancy days I used to keep 4 different CVs on the 'puter using whichever one suited the job the company were bidding me for.

Edited December 19, 2020 by The Stationmaster

[woodenhead]

I do my own hair, no2 or no1 cut depending how hot it is, much to the annoyance of Mrs W I only shave when I cut my hair so perhaps I should be cutting my hair more often.

[The White Rabbit]

Generic greetings to all. I am swiftly coming to the conclusion somebody or something is testing me to see how much I can take before I go insane or kill myself. Just about every week's been worse than the last and no matter how hard I try to make progress, something else crops up and knocks me back. This week one parent was discharged from hospital at very short notice - having previously said we're keeping them until Christmas, within 12 hours that shifted to "kick 'em out now". This is despite having a positive Covid test. So with all the official advice/orders being isolate and contain, to deliberately send a positive person home and put the others in the house at risk, quite took my breath away. All objections overruled and we were made to feel our feelings and continued good health counted for nothing. 

 

Because of that, the delivery of autocar newsletters, which I normally pack and post, happened just as the house went into quarantine. There was no time to get them to someone else to send as a one-off. So we can't send those out for a week at the earliest. And if one of us starts showing symptoms, longer. This issue included details of the virtual AGM in January, so of all the issues to be delayed, this was not it. 

 

The other parent, having been released from hospital two weeks ago after a few months inside, has just been rushed in again. Because we're in quarantine, I'm trapped here. I won't post details on a public forum but there are things happening which mean that's likely to be a very serious problem. Guess whose lap it's going to be dumped in? 

 

And this is after a week of nearly killing myself trying to get things sorted out for them, working flat-out to pay the bills (including some of theirs), doing quite a bit of nursing and dealing with accusatory **** from neighbours and  so called friends who are very good at making criticisms and **** poor at providing tangible help. 

 

At home we have one set of good neighbours who've helped and someone at work has offered help too, so we're not completely screwed. But the killer blows have been those from poor decisions by others - utterly infuriating when I advise on doing X, because I can see a potential problem and it gets dismissed, only for later, the very thing I warned against happens and the whole mess is given to me to unravel, instead of them fixing it. Now and then, well these things do happen, but a combination of half a dozen all at once just overloads me. 

 

I'm sorry to go through all this here, I like to keep ER posts positive but I am hopping * mad at the moment. I didn't have high expectations for Christmas but what hopes I did have have been smashed, with little prospect of things improving anytime soon. Sorry chaps, hope whoever posts next can be more cheerful. My tail's well down. 

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. So now we're in tier 4. Not that it will make a lot of difference to me other than I will not be going into town tomorrow as the shops I intended going to will be shut. On to other things, I collected the TV schedule and had a quick look and I noticed that 'The eagle has landed' is on this evening at 5:50 on BBC2. I do recall someone (ChrisF?) saying they would watch it if its on. Better be quick as its only five minutes as I write.

[BoD]

Stranger times.

 

Does the panel think...

 

..... that the good folk of London and the S.E. will just accept that their Xmas plans have been cancelled with less than a weeks notice or will there be trouble at t’mill palace.

 

 

[Coombe Barton]

If anyone is feeling alone over Christmas then I'm up for virtual contact and chat (probably inconsequential) any day from Thursday 24th December to Sunday 3rd January. I'm only going out shopping on Wednesday 30th, when buttered scones will possibly be on the menu.

 

How do we chat? Don't know. Zoom? Or is there something better.

[Tony_S]

9 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

I noticed that 'The eagle has landed' is on this evening at 5:50 on BBC2. I do recall someone (ChrisF?) saying they would watch it if its on.

I think it was “Where Eagles Dare” not being on this Christmas that got a mention. I have just set the Sky Box to record The Eagle Has Landed”. I am recording three programmes but only two are in at once. No errors generated  so it should be ok. Aditi asked me to record the 1951 “Scrooge”. I have but I really don’t like A Christmas Carol unless it has Muppets.

Tony

 

[Tony_S]

9 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

Zoom

One of the people in Aditi’s French group doesn’t have a computer or broadband or a smartphone. It doesn’t stop her suggesting other people who do should practice to make their presentations of a high quality. Anyway this person  did go to a relatives house (support bubble location) for the final meeting of the year. When they joined the Zoom meeting the computer joined with the relatives name. The host didn’t recognise the name so rejected and blocked. After a phone call another computer was tried. Someone had to phone to gently point out that a computer without camera and microphone wasn’t going to work well. 
Aditi being positive said they at least now know how to unblock someone. 
Tony

[TheQ]

The last commercial hair cut, about 15 years ago for the interview for my current job.

 

What's left of my hair I trim with scissors when it gets annoying. If it needs to be neat SWMBO is a qualified dog groomer, though she's never done it commercially. So anyway for neatness out come the dog clippers..

 

Porridge does send my levels up, but at the moment, I haven't found a good low sugar alternative to the bacon and egg I eat at weekends.

 

Woof woof..

[grandadbob]

Change to Tier 4 has resulted in more than 4 tears here.  Weeks ago we’d accepted that our normal hectic multi household Christmas Day and Boxing Day with loads of visitors couldn’t happen and we’d reduced to 3 and then 2 households with just 7 of us on the 25th.  The Boss is very upset and it’s no good telling her we’re better off than many others as at least there are two of us.  Whatever I say at the moment is wrong.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.  

 

As far as haircuts go it’s Wahl clippers set at 0.5 once a fortnight for me 

Woolly hat always needed for a few days after that.

 

P.S.  Costs nothing as The Boss does the deed.

Edited December 19, 2020 by grandadbob

[Ian Abel]

Saturday looms large, 'tis afternoon already.

 

Getting my ears lowered later, the Mrs has done the honors for years so there's no excuse

We're baking mince pies, once the dough has "rested", not sure why it needs to rest, it's not done a blqqdy thing so far anyway 

 

Re; COVID and lockdowns - all personal opinions, your mileage may/will differ;

1) Content to self-isolate, wear masks when using curbside pickups for take-out, prescriptions etc.

2) Not a good comparison, war/blitz vs. a pandemic. In the war, agreed, they just wanted to carry on, but being bombed only meant your own life you were responsible for, not all the others you contact and may contract something from you in a pandemic!

3) Latest "failure-of-joined-up-thinking" here from another of the owners of a bar/restaurant opening in contravention of the governors order.
    He said "in MY opinion it's unconstitutional, so I'm opening".
    Does that mean that I can use the same (flawed) logic and decide "I can speed to his restaurant and REFUSE to pay for my meal, as IN MY OPINION, both activities are unconstitutional"? Morons-at-large in Minnesota, sadly.

 

OK, off to bake, then ears lowered, then prescriptions to collect, then dinner at our Zoom restaurant with friends

 

-5 and overcast, zero the high later...

 

Have a good Saturday all.

[jonny777]

Oh well, I suppose SWMBO and myself will just have to munch our way through Christmas on our own. 

 

Who is going to do a long two-way trip just to eat some turkey and go home again before the end of the day? Not our offspring anyway. 

 

It may take a day to sink in, but I think the general instruction is for the majority of people to spend Christmas Day in their own homes, unless they live quite close to their family members. 

The 24th and 26th will be normal tier days, which means minimal social contact, so we might as well just grin and bear it.