Early Risers.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Didnt  get to a proper supermarket today, but managed to to some essential  provisions bought. Did a bit of outdoor  work in the afternoon. After tea I was hoping for a bit of shed time but unfortunately I think mojo had been left outside so listened to football and did a bit of eyelid inspection.

Goodnight,

Robert

[The Stationmaster]

6 hours ago, BoD said:

We've all just been talking about how the invitation to jab was split between NHS letters and GP surgeries and I mentioned that Valerie received hers by letter this morning and booked at a local vaccination centre, well I have just been sent a text message from my GP inviting me to book a jab at their surgery.   Ours not to reason why ......

In my case a 'phone call from the surgery telling me the date and time they had booked me to attend there for my first dose of vaccine.  Mrs Stationmaster took the call and duly attached herself to my appointment.   The surgery beat the letters by a couple of days but letters for both of us arrived on the same day whereas the surgery's call to attend was originally only for the slightly older me.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Sheila wishes to says thank you to all who sent her birthday wishes.

 

We didn’t plan on doing anything (like we could anyway!) but the day has ended up being quite busy. My cousin phoned this morning to wish her a happy birthday. She and Sheila chatted for the best part of 45 minutes and I also had a chat with her for over 20 minutes. Not long after, one of Sheila’s friends called round and they ended up chatting (socially distancing of course) for the best part of 30 minutes. Michael phoned her just before dinner and James called just before tea. Then about 6:30, Vickie, Ian, Charlie and Ava called round to drop off her cards and presents. We all stood at the door for about 45 minutes chatting, again maintaining a social distance. It was really nice see the grandkids, as, like many, we’ve not seen much of them over the last 12 months. Charlie has started a course at Manchester Metropolitan University on computer coding, he’s only been doing it since Christmas and of course at the moment it’s all on line and so is still on the basics, but he’s really enjoying it. Within an hour of Vickie getting back home, she phoned Sheila and they spent the rest of the evening chatting, so I did a bit of on line shopping, ordering some ‘Legacy’ track from Hattons, as they were selling it at less than half price! So 6 packs have been placed in my ‘in store trunk’ I’ll go and collect it once they open up for business again, as I’d like a mooch about in the shop as well (if that’s possible!).

 

This afternoon I had a text message from my GP’s surgery inviting me to have a Covid vaccination! So I went on line straight away and I’m now booked in for my vaccination next Wednesday morning, 9:50. I didn’t expect to be getting mine so soon, I was anticipating getting my jab until sometime next month, at the earliest. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[trisonic]

Hello everybody, back again for longer this time. I'm just getting over Covid 19. At the risk of sounding like Trump it wasn't so bad. I did tell my SiL that if I died I was coming back to haunt her - we suspect her of being a Typhoid Mary (who really did exist btw, in NYC).

So I was back on the old PC when I noticed on YouTube a wonderful movie on the subject of Hornsey (EM). What a great layout. Loads of grime and dirt. Just as I remembered BR in 1970.

Liked the old Broad St., set of NLL with the bars on the windows. When I first came across them as a mere lad I though they were to keep one from escaping! It took a while for it to sink in that they were to avoid your head from being knocked off going under Hampstead.

In a very small way I did some work on "Give My Regards to Broad Street" and I still kick myself for not buying a house on Flask Walk when I had a chance.

If you know of any good layouts on here that I wouldn't have seen (or anything else I should read) please let me know on here.

Cheers, Pete.

[trisonic]

20 hours ago, J. S. Bach said:

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

Hey, I lived in Greensboro on The Cardinal for 6 years. Loved the place. Great restaurants, interesting old Southern station (except the old reminders like "Whites Only" lavatories etc). Cheers, Pete.

[J. S. Bach]

50 minutes ago, trisonic said:

Hey, I lived in Greensboro on The Cardinal for 6 years. Loved the place. Great restaurants, interesting old Southern station (except the old reminders like "Whites Only" lavatories etc). Cheers, Pete.

I live in Chester, SC. The Night Owl is/was an overnight train that operated on the Northeast Corridor by Amtrak Washington to Boston. It may have also been operated by by Penn Central before Amtrak.

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[BR60103]

One of our Platelayers reported that his son received a letter offering him a (standard) flu jab. It was sent to the address they lived at before they came to Canada 51 years ago.

 

We can't fit a motorhome in our driveway and can't leave anything on the street overnight. When we need to, we book a space in the main parking lot for a couple of nights -- the rig takes up 4 parking spots. Our previous house had a driveway long enough to park our 30-footer but it was hard getting the car out.

 

[TheQ]

Me normal ? Of course not, I'm not even "Normal for Norfolk"..

 

Mooring Awl, 6 hours solid sleep so far..

 

SWMBOs older brother has just had his jab, his wife had hers some time ago as she is in group 1 or 2.

Down to a million minimum in front of me in the queue, but I don't know whether the guesstimator has included the latest people to be shoved up the queue.

 

Last week I  put in a request for quote for insurance for Blue Moon , they got round to replying yesterday , with an apology for delay.. But requested photos and plans.. Duely sent.

 

The Motorscooter, has just been SORN'd, I'm not using it in the winter, and have no intention of the unnecessary visit to The MOT centre, who I observed late last year weren't very compliant with distancing regulations. So it will be MOT'd when the weather is better, and we've had at least had the first jab + 3 weeks.

 

A Short further doze is required,

Time to snore..

 

[iL Dottore]

14 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Not this Bear.  You can live on 'em, but Bear doesn't bother - munch nicer things to munch on; have I mentioned Lemon Drizzle Cake?

Yes, I believe so. 

I really don’t understand this obsession with lemon drizzle cake. It’s pleasant enough, but hardly what I would call the star turn of the patisserie. On my side, I would rather have a slice of a good Dundee fruit cake than a slice of lemon drizzle cake.

12 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

You frequent ERs... you can't possibly be .....NORMAL!!! 

Believe it or not, some of us are actually normal (for a given value of normal). 

10 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

Just  had my stew and pancakes, stew included sprouts

Sprouts in a stew? This is either extreme frugality or extreme desperation. It certainly sounds like you need to get to the supermarket sometime soon.

Sprouts, properly prepared and cooked, can be very more-ish indeed. But in a stew? No! Just No  

8 hours ago, The White Rabbit said:

Thinking of culinary activities, maybe it's an illusion but I don't recall any posts from il D lately - hopefully it's a case of evil plots don't make themselves rather than any problem...

Indeed, evil plots (or “Consulting work“ as I term it) do not create and run themselves. A very busy last week with lots of late night teleconferences. Still, it brings in the moolah and that’s what counts...

6 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

My brain is officially normal as last werks scan showed no abnormalities...

Hmmm, how can I break the news???

Let’s put it this way: the scan showed you have no structural abnormalities and does not reveal any biochemical anomalies. Or to put it in IT terms: the hard disk is fine, but the state of the software is to be determined.....

 

Last year, as some may recall, I sold my Squier Telecaster (and some other guitars) to fund the purchase of a HIWATT amp. Of all the guitars that I sold then, it’s the Tele I miss the most. Now, after a particularly good financial year I have decided to replace the Tele and the dilemma I’m facing is <do I buy a top-of-the-line Squier Tele or do I go for an entry level Fender Telecaster?>
All opinions gratefully received....

 

And on that note: have a happy hump day.

 

iD

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

Cooking a batch of pancakes yesterday was most enjoyable and eating them even more so.  Later I received a reminder from the convenor of the LGBT group that there is a Zoom gathering on Thursday evening.  She asked everyone to bring some pancakes!  In normal times this group meets in a church and the idea is that we share what we bring.  Zoom is a remarkable piece of technology but even it cannot enable us to share food electronically.  I had better see whether anything suitable is on sale in my local Tesco.  I’m not getting my hopes up though, for said supermarket does not even sell bread pudding.   Can you believe it?

 

Ideas come from some strange places.  By watching an undistinguished crime drama on TV I have learned that Majorca has a railway.  I have never wanted to visit Majorca before but I do now!  It looks quite easy according to “The man in seat 61”, which is a rather good travel website.  Will this latest brainstorm come to fruition before my trip to the Cote d’Azur, my trip to Dublin, my trip to Marrakech or another trip that has not yet entered my head?  Why am I thinking of holidays when travel is off the agenda until further notice?  Because I should imagine that we all are!  Whatever those who rule us announce next week about the first faltering steps towards the lifting of the lockdown, it is bound to fall short of expectations, or desires, or both.  They can’t win, poor lambs.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Andrew P]

What  time of day do you call this?

 

I ain't got up this early since I went to work or to an Exhibition.

 

Mix up on the normal Monday Sainsburys 10am order meant we lost out slot, and the only other available this week is 06.30am this dark, and cold morning.

 

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Andrew P]

Good to see Pete / Trisonic back, and sorry to read you had Covid. Hope you've got no lasting after effects.

[Andrew P]

50 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

 

 

Last year, as some may recall, I sold my Squier Telecaster (and some other guitars) to fund the purchase of a HIWATT amp. Of all the guitars that I sold then, it’s the Tele I miss the most. Now, after a particularly good financial year I have decided to replace the Tele and the dilemma I’m facing is <do I buy a top-of-the-line Squier Tele or do I go for an entry level Fender Telecaster?>
All opinions gratefully received....

 

And on that note: have a happy hump day.

 

iD

Difficult, I keep looking at my Squire Basses, and the Logo. I looked last night, and I would need to sell all 3 to fund one Fender. My problem is that the P/J Bass is nice and has a superb tone. The Daphne Blue Jazz has the Basswood Body but Alnico Pickups, and is sweet, and the Benson plays a dream.

So my question about MY DESCION is, would it be snobbery to say I must have the Fender Logo on the Headstock, or will I actually play £700 better once I sold my cheaper Squires to fund one.

It's also a name thing, I love my Epiphone Les Paul, and the name didn't worry me, but I was never happy with my Squire Strat and so traded up to a bottom of the range Fender, and it wasn't as good.

I'm going to wait until I can actually go to a Store again and get a Fender Bass in my hands and see if there really is £300 difference. 

You pays your money, you makes your choice.

DIFFICULT ONE.

Edited February 17, 2021 by Andrew P

[polybear]

9 hours ago, Mike Bellamy said:

 

Good luck with that John - I was asked to stay on for an additional three months for an 'orderly handover' to my successor - typical university red tape delayed the initial advertising and then there was the usual prolonged shortlisting, interviewing and selection plus the need for the replacement to be replaced in their area which meant that the new staff member was only confirmed the day before I left after a process that took almost six months - and that was just for an administration position. . . . . .

 

 

The idea is to leave at retirement....and then come back as a "Consultant" the next day.....

 

8 hours ago, pH said:

My sister, who had a specialized job in a national company, told her boss and HR on her 64th birthday that she was retiring on her 65th. With 6 months to go, and no sign of a replacement, or any moves to promote/recruit one, she reminded people of what she’d told them. With 3 weeks to go, they gave her a new hire to train. She pointed out that it was very unlikely this person could be fully trained up in the time remaining. HR said “You will be staying on as a consultant though, won’t you?”. “No” she said.

 

Question One:  "How much are you paying?"

 

55 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Yes, I believe so. 

I really don’t understand this obsession with lemon drizzle cake. It’s pleasant enough, but hardly what I would call the star turn of the patisserie. On my side, I would rather have a slice of a good Dundee fruit cake than a slice of lemon drizzle cake.

 

 

Bear is currently (though not this actual moment) onto Salted Caramel Cake - a fine substitute, and equally gooey....

 

Quote

Sprouts in a stew? This is either extreme frugality or extreme desperation. It certainly sounds like you need to get to the supermarket sometime soon.

Sprouts, properly prepared and cooked, can be very more-ish indeed. But in a stew? No! Just No  

 

Last year, as some may recall, I sold my Squier Telecaster (and some other guitars) to fund the purchase of a HIWATT amp. Of all the guitars that I sold then, it’s the Tele I miss the most. Now, after a particularly good financial year I have decided to replace the Tele and the dilemma I’m facing is <do I buy a top-of-the-line Squier Tele or do I go for an entry level Fender Telecaster?>
All opinions gratefully received....

 

Sprouts?  More-ish?  Not for the innocent bystanders.....

 

As for the guitar - why buy a Morris Marina when you could be driving a Rover?

(edit:  Bear would struggle to play a Triangle - knowledge of clever things like guitars are way above this Bear's head)

Edited February 17, 2021 by polybear

[Andrew P]

Pancakes, along with the other irrelevant shopping has arrived and the Good Lady is cupboardising it now, then I can get back in there to make my breakfast.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Glad to here that @Trisonic is getting ovover Covid. I will see what else I can dig up regarding  layouts to watch.

 

Off for my jab this morning.  Getting to the surgery could be interesting.. parking even more so (small car park surrounded by a large "no parking" area...pah!

 

Hopefully  I may see Nurze Drac as I need a medication review.

 

Her indoors baked a no sugar lemon drizzle cake which is now defrosting. If @chrisfcan find out how to send pancakes by zoom I could have some ready for an event on Saturday.

 

time todrink my mugatea then prepare for my trip out.. and, as my mate sp1der in Barrow says... stay normal..enjoy your day..

 

Baz.

[jamie92208]

13 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

I take it the scanner is still operational then.

I believe that the radiologist who did the report has made an appointment  at Specsavers, at least according to certain so called friends.

 

Chrisf, Majorca does indeed have Railways. The Soller line and Tramway are a must. The rest of the network, looks interesting and the termini are near to each other.

 

Good moaning to all. It's grey and misty outside. Yesterday it was sunny enough for me to stand outside watching trains.  Not a bad day.

 

Off to a local townhall with a friend this morning to try and help out a planning problem. The chimney sweep is due this afternoon, so no fire.

 

Pete, good to see you visit, hope the recovery continues. I also have happy memories of Broad Street and the barred window stock from 1971 in my case.

 

Ttfn

 

Jamie

 

Edited February 17, 2021 by jamie92208

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

I don’t usually get up this early now that I’ve retired, but I have a 9:10 appointment at the surgery for my latest hormone injection. It’s the very same stuff that Chrisf has, every 12 weeks, still it could be worse!

 

Later on this morning I’ll take Sheila for her first Covid injection, then the rest of the day will be one where not a great deal is done. Perhaps I’ll draw up a cutting plan for the plywood sheet needed for the helix. 

 

Nice to see Pete dropping in again and glad to read he’s getting over this dreaded lurgie!

 

iD. Go for the Strat, you know you want to!

 

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

 

Brian

[Mike Bellamy]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

 

The idea is to leave at retirement....and then come back as a "Consultant" the next day.....

Question One:  "How much are you paying?"

 

 

I did get a 'bonus' on top of the salary for the extra three months which made it worthwhile . . . . . . . 

[New Haven Neil]

Morning world.  What is this normal people speak of?  I don't identify with it.

 

A windy but dry start to the day, I also have to risk Checkpoint Charlene at the GP surgery this morning, so will wander around Ramsey for some exercise in the shelter, it's too windy in the village to enjoy a walk.

 

Good to see Pete back, a friend who had CV19 big time tells me you were lucky - his description was of feeling like like he had every illness he had suffered in his 60 odd years of life, all at once.  As there have only been 437 confirmed cases here, he was unlucky to get it, and more unlucky to be so ill.  He's a postie, it ran rife through the sorting office in the early stages.

 

I can't believe the thought of golden syrup on the pancake didn't attract a Polar Bear, what is the word coming to?  LDC is all well and good, but true happiness can only be found at the bottom of a bowl of golden syrup sponge pudding with custard.

 

 

[jonny777]

Much sympathy with Mrs Gwiwer. It must seem that the shielders take one step forwards and then two steps back. 

 

It is a bright and dry morning here in North Somerset and I'm thinking of doing some washing. 

 

Stews should never have vegetables grown above ground in them, because they affect the taste too much. Only root vegetables have the right kind of sugars to improve a stew. 

 

Lemon drizzle cake is quite pleasant, but seems rather over-rated to me. I would prefer a decent chocolate cake (not shop bought as their cakes all contain palm oil) because I always feel that if I am going to indulge in something which is bad for me in many different ways I might as well do it to the max. And, how did everyone manage before someone put salt into caramel? We all just had caramel and liked it; plus we followed medical advice and cut salt from our diet. It seems the salt manufacturers have other ideas. 

 

On the celebrity cooking show, Ed Balls made a victoria sponge mixture using double cream instead of butter/margarine, and the judges all complemented its light airy texture, so I might try that for my birthday cake in a few weeks' time.