Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

3 hours ago, Tony_S said:

I too don’t seem to have congratulated Mrs NHN on her new job. Well done.
She would have got a job with a former boss. We were looking through the applications for a technician. Bob had rejected the list pre selected by personnel (pre HR days).  I asked how he was making a short list. Apparently looking for those with an interest in motorcycles. 

I had a very simple process with job applications - I immediately threw away the list selected by HR and told them to send me the original applications from which I drew up my own list.  

 

The HR person they sent down to one interview asked me why I'd done that so i explained that HR hadn't got the first idea about the sort of person I needed to fit into my team - which was composed of very knowledgeable folk who would only respect somebody else who was knowledgeable in either the job they were expected to do or in any area which interested existing members of the team - ideally railways (various interests acceptable), aviation (civil or military including, ideally knowledge of UK flight paths), buddhism (we had a Buddhist on the team), vegetarian food (we had two vegetarians on the team), shipping, and definitely not football or cricket because everybody on the team considered them very boring subjects.

 

Hence among the interviewees were a former Signalman, a recently retired RN Lt Cmdr helicopter navigator/flight commander, a train planner,  a couple of others to make up the numbers and who apparently had some of the right interests according to existing team members, and one known loose cannon who would either be brilliant or awful (he was awful but he impressed the HR person no end with his convincing sounding nonsense).  The first three I've listed were all very good but two of them were applying for what would have been the wrong job for them and I told them so.    Hence. the former Signalman is now an airline pilot while the ex RN chap subsequently, and deservedly, got a shift manager's job at a maintenance depot with another company.  I took the trainplanner - although it turned out that his frequent travels around Europe for railway hobby activities had not given him any useful language skills or indeed the ability to read French restaurant menus.

[polybear]

3 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Twas 27 degrees and not a cloud to be seen so  I spent the day here.

 

Bear can go off people very quickly.....

 

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

Bit of blue sky here at the moment.. and Sunderland won! Yiiiipppppppeeeeedddddooooo!

Bas

 

Who are Sunderland??

 

In other news:

Bear has varnished the edges of the ply batten previously secured around both sides of the kitchen door sub-frame; I was slightly concerned that contact with the wet plaster could make the ply swell and delaminate a bit, so this should prevent that now.

Then the new extractor fan for the bathroom was fitted, which went well.  The circuit board in the old unit shows numerous scorched components, smells "cooked" and there are signs of blackening and overheating too.  It'll go in the bin, but not before I've salvaged the pcb mounted screw terminals first.  Bear I may be, but there's a touch of squirrel* in there too.

 

* Ok, a red one - just to avert any ideas of unspeakable cruelty....

[New Haven Neil]

Aahh, recruitment.  As a qualified HR professional....CIPD member at one time, I'm lapsed.....recruitment nowadays seems to go against just about everything we practiced in the NHS!  Interestingly the job that Mrs NHN didn't even get an interview for a few weeks ago (a job she used to do very effectively previously!) raised a few questions when she asked for feedback as to why she hadn't been selected for interview.  HR were....stumped as to why too.....and the manager in question has so far failed to provide a meaningful answer to Debs or HR. 

 

We know why, but that's not the point, or rather the point is to expose the manager to scrutiny of her practices.   She is totally incompetent, and Debs used to work alongside her, she knows fine well Debs presence in her department would very quickly expose her shortcomings to the more senior management, who are having a bit of a purge (finally!) on the useless after the department was transferred to a different and more efficient part of Government.  This is now just us having a bit of fun with them, but Debs won't let it drop until she gets an answer.  It will soon be raised to the level of official complaint, which then will reach the ears of very senior management - job done.

[Gwiwer]

Afternoon all. 
 

Despite the warnings no snow has fallen, yellow or otherwise. Plenty of rain has arrived but we already had enough of that so it has gone on its way to the river leaving the lawns almost in a fit state for HH to wallow happily. 
 

Changes to rules (specifically travel corridors as was asked about) are not immediate because reasonable time has to be allowed for those already “in the system” to emerge from the system. Even now it would probably be considered harsh to insist immediately upon a negative test within 72 hours of an overseas departure.  Those already in transit would be unable to comply. Then what?  Sent back whence they came to obtain a test and return in a few days?  
 

Changes are introduced at short notice but giving enough time to be complied with.  Those already in the air will be landed. Those departing without time to be tested likewise. Those who have time to get both test and result fall under the new requirements. 
 

Yet again the numbers are falling here. Even the goverment-paid scientists are saying so. The second wave has broken and while it still has some power it will wash up the shoreline and swiftly recede.  More than 1 in 30 of us has now received at least one jab. That’s about twice as many as are thought to be infected. We’ve got this. Just hang in there a bit longer ..... 

[Ian Abel]

Saturday - <muffled yay>

FOUR days and counting

 

Today we're off in a hurry to get to the Vet before they close, need some of Bobs prescription cat food. Then a quick stop in for prescriptions for the Mrs.

Later we have our FINAL episode of our murder mystery with our friends.

We (Mrs and I) are pretty sure we've nailed the murderer based on the last packet of evidence received, just have to collaborate/confirm with our friends over a Zoom dinner and discussion.

 

That's about it - fun 'eh!

 

-5 and overcast headed Zero for the high.

 

Tally ho...

[iL Dottore]

Evening All,

A bit of weird day today. Up very early (thanks to a wake up call by my joints), then a simple breakfast of cheeses and meats, prepared the dogs’ breakfasts (and currently, given that I’m back on my diet, they are eating better than me...) then... wham.... my energy levels vanished... batteries on 0v. So most of the day was bleh!

Anyway, enough of that nonsense (at present I could easily post the mother of all whinge-fests, but I shall refrain....). Cooking mojo returned about 18:00 hrs, so I pan-roasted some lamb rumps (“pan-roasted”: seared in a sauté pan, finished in the oven) served with some spiced rice and an adequate Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Some surprises from Mrs iD today; the biggest being her command to learn how to properly massage the pert buttocks of a sultry red head that we both know...

 

Now, before you ‘orrible lot start thinking about “throuples” and the like and jumping, nay plummeting, to the wrong conclusion, let me just clarify: the “sultry red head” is Lucy and the Vet/Physiotherapist said we need to build up Lucy’s musculature - specifically the glutei maximae (or “butt” if you haven’t read your Grey’s Anatomy for a while). Massage and stretching are involved...
Schotty, on the other hand, needs some work on the muscles around L2 -L4. 

 

Currently contemplating whether or not to provide the Cabernet Sauvignon with some company - possibly a single malt or a Vecchia Romagna Etichetta Nera brandy   

Now off to watch the Sumo highlights, enjoy the evening!

 

iD

[polybear]

13 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

 I would argue that “peculiar“ is a relatively harmless state of being (to give a culinary example: putting tomato ketchup instead of brown sauce on your bacon butty is “peculiar”)  whereas “weird“ is so far off the right side of the bell shaped curve that it demands its own graph (again, to give a culinary example:  putting marmalade and mint sauce on your bacon butty is definitely “weird“)

 

So how's about mint sauce on a fry-up, or alternatively (and usually, much to my mum's disgust) salad cream?

Bear is obviously a trend-setter in the world of culinary fashion; some lead, others follow....

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. The rain has almost cleared but Arthur Itis is still banging his drum. In a while if he doesn't quieten down he's going to get the voltarol cream treatment. Now to decide whats for dinner tonight, bangers and mash or liver and bacon, decisions, decisions.

[simontaylor484]

Evening all 

 

We have a bit less snow than this time yesterday. It rained last night and washed it off the box trees in the back garden.

 

 

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

So how's about mint sauce on a fry-up

Maybe if said fry-up included lamb chops or cutlets.  

 

2 hours ago, polybear said:

or alternatively (and usually, much to my mum's disgust) salad cream?

Salad cream NO because it is an invention of the Devil.  Mayonnaise however is a yes and is often applied to chips here so why not on a fry-up?  And whilst setting trends why not sriracha mayonnaise?  I have a bottle in the fridge which is frequently used for making salads more interesting; it can be tried with other things too.

[brianusa]

15 hours ago, chrisf said:

it is so good to find another Father Brown aficionado.  I find the series very well cast and written and it is always a pleasure when Flambeau makes an appearance, as he did yesterday.  Yes, I know: I watch too much TV.

 

 

As we watch FB on PBS over here, one of the problems is repeats.  Some shows can be shown umpteen times with nary a new one.  Its never really been the same since Sid and Lady Felicia left while the bountiful Bunty leaves a lot to be desired and as for Inspector Mallory; its amazing he actually solves anything with the good Father around!

      Brian.

[Coombe Barton]

... and there looks to be space appearing ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2021/01/16/longer-lockdown/

[simontaylor484]

We have the same problem on the Drama channel with repeats of Father Brown. I never get to see the latest ones on BBC. 

 

 

[brianusa]

16 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Well, quite.  I think the problem in the UK (and the US) especially (although seen in most of the western world) is twofold: the first is the lack of thorough enforcement of mask wearing (in those Asian countries that have almost completely stamped out the virus,  penalties can be swift and draconian for not wearing a mask or for wearing it improperly - like just below the nose, instead of over the nose!). The second, and I know this will be contentious, is that in the UK (and elsewhere) there are permitted exemptions for mask wearing.  Quite frankly, if you have a medical condition which preclude you from wearing a mask, then you should really not be out and about maskless during a respiratory disease pandemic

 

The main problem would seem to to be the individuals we see crowding on beaches, pubs or wherever else crowds are.  Young people, especially are drawn to this lousy environment in spite of all the rules which they cavalierly ignore and end up adding to the frightening totals.  No amount of policing, rules or regulations will stop the mob mentality similarly to events in Washington.  What happens there come Inauguration Day will shape the future containment of unruly mobs of rave goers, even some protesters all of whom show little respect to the rule of law.

     Brian.

[leopardml2341]

Nowt much to report today.

 

G'night awl.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. The day seems to have disappeared again. Where it went I don't know.

[Barry O]

Goodnight to most, good afternoon to some and good morning to others

 

Baz

[PhilJ W]

Watch out, some hand sanitizers are deadlier than covid-19.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/urgent-recall-potentially-deadly-hand-23332491#source=push

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[monkeysarefun]

11 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Bear can go off people very quickly

Hey man, it's been a tough year! Last summer we were sheltering inside unable to go anywhere due to bushfire smoke and flames, then there were floods that Barry O caused then we all got locked down for weeks because of covid. Tis nice to put that all behind for a bit and lie in the golden Wollongong sand  and go for a splash in the  Sth Pacific Ocean.

 

Except for all the sharks and stuff.

Edited January 17, 2021 by monkeysarefun

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Not had a bad day until this evening and MY football team lost. 
Thought Flavio, Lucy, Shotty,  Ian Abel, Whitney, theQ, Ben, Simon484 and Rolo   (and anyone else with a dog) might find this amusing. 

Edited January 17, 2021 by Erichill16

[Erichill16]

Sorry, haven’t wished you all goodnight so,

Goodnight,

Robert

[BSW01]

38 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Hey man, it's been a tough year! Last summer we were sheltering inside unable to go anywhere due to bushfire smoke and flames, then there were floods, then we all got locked down for weeks because of covid. Tis nice to put that all behind for a bit and lie in the golden Wollongong sand  and go for a splash in the Pacific Ocean.

 

Except for all the sharks and stuff.

I agree with bear, you can go off people.