Early Risers.

[leopardml2341]

Mornin'

[Barry O]

@The Q yes loads of people want to have their jabs before vilnerables.. I notice no one has said anything about giving the Army lads and lasses who are in the front line the vaccine.

 

Noticeable reductions in jabs being delivered which is worrying.

 

Baz

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dry outside at the moment after an earlier shower and some sunny spells are forecast.

Feeling rather miserable and carp today,  not sure why.  Aching all over as well but that's not unusual.

However first up today will be a (slow) walk to get some magazines for The Boss and apples for me.  Once I've recovered from that   I may think about visiting the building at the end of the garden.  I wish I was more enthusiastic about it though. 

Have a good one,

S. Loth.

[New Haven Neil]

Morning.

 

Achey here today too, dampness outside probably to blame, it threw it down overnight.

 

Stripped the top end of the underperforming motorcycle engine yesterday, to find broken piston rings, odd as it wasn't burning oil. Only place i can find o line that has the relevant parts (it's 45 years old) won't recognise Fraggle Rock on their drop-down only address system.

 

Time to phone them and see if they understand we're only 35 miles away from them......#sigh#

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Tye rain has stopped and it’s looking a little brighter than of late, although it’s still very wet out there, I’m pleased to say that the lakes puddles in the garden have gone! 

 

As it’s Friday, my first task will be to find the bins that were left out last night. They are never brought back to where they were taken from, sometimes they are close, sometimes they are a good few yards away! After that I’ll take a walk to the butchers for the weekly meat rations and hopefully a pastie for dinner. Then it’s back home, put away the rations and then set off to the Trafford Centre for the rest of the weekend's provisions. Once they have been brought back and packed away I’ll have muggertea No2 and do a bit more of the layout drawing. I’m hoping to finish off the bay platform area and the goods yard. 

 

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

 

Brian

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup where the sun is shining through the window and there are a few clouds in the blue sky.

 

Not a huge amount to report here. It's Friday and we anticipate a delivery of one of these restaurant-food-box type deliveries as a bit of a change from the normal. We had one a few weeks back from Waagyu (burgers made by one of the former finalists on masterchef). Not cheap but very nice. I will see how this week's version turns out; it's a pasta based one.

 

My next mission will be to get a delivery from the favoured curry house. Problem is Mrs Lurker doesn't really like curry and we have never risked Younger Lurker because of the propensity of India takeaways to stick peanuts in to dishes when they shouldn't. I don't really want the NHS to have to deal with anaphylaxsis at this time, never mind the risk to his life!

 

Anyway I must get back to work. Have a good day all

[jonny777]

Hello from a wet North Somerset. It rained overnight, but has brightened a bit with a few showers. The egg lady duly turned up yesterday, and gave me her bank account details, to which I sent payment. This would seem to be an efficient system for the foreseeable, although have yet to sample the eggs. 

 

Ordered more individual suet puddings from Kent. I have run out now, even after restricting myself to one per week. They steam very nicely and the veg can be added to steam for the last 40 minutes or so. Low maintenance meal sorted. 

 

Have also ordered more nitrite free bacon. I have read a few articles about the effects of excessive nitrites on internal organs, and it seems cured meats are full of the stuff. 

 

Slide scanning is progressing nicely. A few years ago I purchased a large number of modern EMU slides. At the time they were everyday images, which is why they were cheap to buy and I didn't do anything with them. Now, I realise that some are almost 20 years old and are becoming far more interesting for the defunct units in equally defunct liveries. So, they have been dragged out of their dusty boxes. 

[Barry O]

No optician visit today. He had a "self isolate now" message last night. Hopefully he will be ok. Rebooked for a visit in early February. 

 

Bacon and mushroom breakfast..coffee next then.. walk to the Post office.

 

Baz

[grandadbob]

Hmm, not going anywhere at the moment as the forecasters have got it wrong and it's raining steadily.

[Tony_S]

57 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

and carp today

I thought you had put yesterday’s one in the bin?

[grandadbob]

My miserableness has abated somewhat because I've just realised that there is rugby to watch tonight and over the weekend.  

Rain is easing off so once The Boss has finished nattering on the phone to her friend we'll be going for our walk.......possibly next week if the call takes its usual course!  

Edited January 29, 2021 by grandadbob

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

The forecast suggested that after raining all night it would be dry this morning. The dry spell is delayed. I don’t think I will assemble the garden arch today, unless I use the dining table. 
The only delivery yesterday was 1kg of mung beans. Aditi had mentioned that we hadn’t any left after this weeks dal meals so I ordered some. Apparently I shouldn’t have as we have other lentils to use. Mung bean based dal is my favourite though. I shouldn’t have teased Aditi by saying I had accidentally ordered a 25kg “family pack”.

We watched the first episode of a French crime drama series on iPlayer last night. There are 84 more episodes. First episode was from 2005! 
I won’t be needing to go round to the neighbours house to check their mail and phone anymore to let them know if they had received vaccine invitations while they are in Wales. It seems that if you do phone the surgery frequently enough (in spite of clear instructions not to) an appointment can be obtained and they will return to Essex next week. I am in the same vaccination group as one of them but I will wait until summoned. 
Tony

[grandadbob]

She's still on the phone but the rain is now coming down heavier than ever so I won't be going anywhere for a while.

[polybear]

10 hours ago, Chris116 said:

Sadly postage in the other direction is similarly outrageous! I have been put of a number of items on eBay from the US due to the postage.

 

Bear suspects that much of the outrageous charge mentioned is down to the seller doing paperwork etc.; many have also stopped selling to the states for fear of liability insurance in case little Jimmy cuts his finger on a scalpel and sues for $10Bn...

 

9 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Peter BB mentioned the traveller problems we had here in Basildon. The land involved has not been built on since as it is designated green belt. The travellers were claiming legal aid and then it was discovered the the woman in who was named as the defendant owned a property in Ireland valued at £300,000. The defendant was switched to her 18 year old son who didn't own any property so they carried on getting legal aid. Why the court didn't take action over this I don't know. It was an open and shut case anyway, they had built on green belt land without planning permission and in the end the site was cleared and compulsory purchased by the council. The major cause IMHO was the travellers legal representatives milking the legal aid system. Back in the mid 70's legislation was passed making it compulsory for all councils to provide sites for travellers. The London borough that I worked for did so. The first tenants were genuine Romanies, the surnames were either Smith or Lee and for about six months everything was OK. Then there was an altercation and it turned out that another group of (none Romany) travellers had tried to take over the site and the caretaker, one of the original tenants, was in hospital having shotgun pellets removed from his leg! The site was so badly damaged that it had to be closed for repairs and it was never re-opened. 

 

Bear recalls a TV programme that mentioned the illegal building of numerous houses in Ireland without planning permission and built & owned by Travellers, but spent much of their time unoccupied.  The local councils couldn't serve court action paperwork because they couldn't track down those responsible or where they were...it had been going on for years.

There used to be a huge illegal site on the A414 between Hatfield and the M25 junction by the Noke Hotel.  The Police raided it for stolen property and IIRC found literally dozens of illegal firearms.  The site is now long gone.

The problem is (if I understand correctly) that it's not a criminal offence to stop on land etc. - that's a civil offence and the landowners problem.  However, in Ireland it is a criminal offence and you'll get shifted by the Police PDQ.

Where I worked we had a big traveller problem in one of the car parks back in the 90's.  Took a while to get them shifted, and the clean-up cost £60K.  Site security spotted a van that had different plates front & rear and pointed it out to the police also sent to watch them - he shrugged his shoulders - he knew that the chances of being able to do anything was nil.

A second, much smaller incursion was less of a problem - Bear did note the number of very smart sign-written white vans for such trades as Double Glazing.  Worth noting when you're considering an ad in the local paper for that small trader.

 

9 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Postage between the EU and the UK has increased considerably since we left the EU. An item that would normally cost £3:90 to post is now in the region of £15, thanks a million Boris.

 

Bear is always amazed at how little things cost when sent from China (Ebay etc) - IIRC this is due to China getting a cheap deal as they are classed as a "developing country" - amazingly.  I think the USA is trying to put a stop to that little number.  So if you buy anything regularly this could be worth watching out for, and be ready to stock up...

 

8 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

Bear can have mine, as per my later post regarding needles.

 

What cake would Sir like in exchange?

 

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

I'm going to have a go at some tile cutting today to try and do some boxing in of pipes in the bathroom.  I've made the box out of ply but need to tile it, then fix it in place with silicon. 

 

Fortunately  again, a friend and I stocked up on BA nuts and bolts in November with a joint purchase.  With the customs boorder that now exists, the purchase of a new loco kit could be awkward.  When we do eventually  get over to the UK, currently booked for May, we will have to be careful what we bring back, food wise.

 

 

Ebay is always a good source for nuts and bolts etc from China, at cheap prices too.

As for the boxing in, you've given Bear an idea....there are a couple of pipes (cold water and gas) that live behind the washing machine; whilst looking at them last night I was wishing I'd boxed them in & had them plastered over, but quickly realised that wasn't an option as I wouldn't know what length to make the box (there will be kitchen units either side).  Plan 2:  box them in and tile.  Even though all this lives behind the washing machine and won't be seen unless the washer comes out for floor washing, dusting etc. I'd still like it to be neat and easy to clean.  I'm that kinda Bear 

As for food, there was mention on the BBC news website earlier this year about UK truckers getting quizzed and sarnies confiscated if they had the wrong filling.  Barking.

 

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

Postage anywhere at the moment is a lot hit and miss. Royal Mail have lost 3 parcels recently.. pah!

 

Sounds to me like a sticky fingered postie somewhere along the line..

 

Well today's fun started with a visit from Nurse Covid, then investigation of the duff leccy underblanket.  The blanket itself has continuity, so pulling the control box to bits was carried out (it was noted to rattle beforehand).  The control box case was only clipped together - and not very strongly either - Bear thought that such items had to be screwed etc. to deter prying little fingers; separation reveals lots of bits for little jimmy to get fried on....

It'll be binned, as numerous loose parts (switch parts) fell out....I've saved the fuse and a couple of self tappers as you never know when they might come in handy   Hopefully I won't need to replace it until next winter now.

 

 

Regulars may recall mention of the "stair box" as part of the kitchen refurb - it started like this (the hole being an investigation to check construction before ripping the lot down):
 

 

- then became this:

 

 

- and now looks like this:

 

 

Bear much happier - it's still a pain, but much less so; it would've been possible to slope the vertical end panel inwards too, but the timberwork would've been a right pain, with no benefit really as a tall cabinet will stand next to that face anyway.

Plan for today?  Well, the washing up (not straightforward as I don't have a sink...) then dusting the lounge and fitting a door dust seal between lounge and kitchen, prior to prep work recommencing once the plaster has dried out fully (probably a couple of weeks).

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A dull grey morning this morning and rain is predicted by the seaweed twirlers about now. They were right about last nights rain as was Arthur Itis but nothing from him about this morning. I am waiting for a couple of parcels from Hong Kong, ordered before Christmas so I e-mailed the vendors. One has replied saying they are sending a replacement. Another item that I ordered from a UK supplier is on its way but there shouldn't be any problems but I mustn't say any more as it runs on parallel strips of metal. The rain that Tony mentioned has just reached here about ten minutes later. As for my parcels from Hong Kong I saw somewhere that a few weeks ago that a container ship lost a few overboard, thats a possible reason for the vendors readiness to send a replacement, just needs to claim insurance.. 

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, polybear said:

 

EBays a good source for nuts and bolts etc from China, at cheap prices too.

As for the boxing in, you've given Bear an idea....there are a couple of pipes (cold water and gas) that live behind the washing machine; whilst looking at them last night I was wishing I'd boxed them in & had them plastered over, but quickly realised that wasn't an option as I wouldn't know what length to make the box (there will be kitchen units either side).  Plan 2:  box them in and tile.  Even though all this lives behind the washing machine and won't be seen unless the washer comes out for floor washing, dusting etc. I'd still like it to be neat and easy to clean.  I'm that kinda Bear 

 

That was sort of my problem. When we decided to reinstall a bath, the only feasible path for water and waste pipes was across to the bath from the cupboard under the washbasin. Also it turns out said cupboard ended up a tile height (250mm) above the floor so the sink piping us still exposed.  I've now made a box that will cover the whole lot.  Tile cutting to start soon, they are already marked up. Personal needs break of scones and coffee being taken after we cut and stacked a week or so's worth of logs.

 

Jamie

Edited January 29, 2021 by jamie92208

[Happy Hippo]

50 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Bear much happier - it's still a pain, but much less so; it would've been possible to slope the vertical end panel inwards too, but the timberwork would've been a right pain, with no benefit really as a tall cabinet will stand next to that face anyway.

Plan for today?  Well, the washing up (not straightforward as I don't have a sink...) then dusting the lounge and fitting a door dust seal between lounge and kitchen, prior to prep work recommencing once the plaster has dried out fully (probably a couple of weeks).

I admire the style, could you add a smallish pipe coming down from the base?

 

It is so GWR loco sandbox!

[grandadbob]

One phone call finished eventually so she then decided to phone an old friend in Norfolk.  Rain stopped while that was going on (for what seemed like forever) then when she'd finished we decided to go for the walk but as we got our coats it started hissing down again!   

I'm now staying put whatever happens.

[Winslow Boy]

2 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

Morning.

 

Achey here today too, dampness outside probably to blame, it threw it down overnight.

 

Stripped the top end of the underperforming motorcycle engine yesterday, to find broken piston rings, odd as it wasn't burning oil. Only place i can find o line that has the relevant parts (it's 45 years old) won't recognise Fraggle Rock on their drop-down only address system.

 

Time to phone them and see if they understand we're only 35 miles away from them......#sigh#

Ah yes you might be only thirty five miles away but you are outside the twelve mile limit so international rates will apply.

[New Haven Neil]

7 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

Ah yes you might be only thirty five miles away but you are outside the twelve mile limit so international rates will apply.

 

For couriers, but not Royal Mail.  It is a regular thing to call businesses and ask them to send items by ordinary post - they tend to be amazed at how cheap it is......

 

The problem for couriers is the rates the Steam Racket charge for goods vehicles.  Astronomical.

[Winslow Boy]

3 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

For couriers, but not Royal Mail.  It is a regular thing to call businesses and ask them to send items by ordinary post - they tend to be amazed at how cheap it is......

 

The problem for couriers is the rates the Steam Racket charge for goods vehicles.  Astronomical.

Carrier pigeon?

[leopardml2341]

4 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

The problem for couriers is the rates the Steam Racket charge for goods vehicles.  Astronomical.

Hence the pseudonym 'Steam Racket'

 

[New Haven Neil]

1 minute ago, Winslow Boy said:

Carrier pigeon?

 

It takes a lot of those to lift a container full of mail..... 

[New Haven Neil]

Just now, leopardml2341 said:

Hence the pseudonym 'Steam Racket'

 

 

We always get annoyed TT week when visitors complain they put the prices up for that period - no, we always have to pay that much - same with fuel prices.

[leopardml2341]

3 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

Carrier pigeon?

 

1 minute ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

It takes a lot of those to lift a container full of mail..... 

You obviously ain't seen the size of the pigeons 'round 'ere