Early Risers.

[polybear]

2 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

When my mother died the solicitor (one employed by the practice) whispered in my ear that it was silly to say them several hundred quid to do what is usually a very straightforward job you can do yourself - so I did. 

 

STOP PRESS!!

@The Stationmaster finds an honest Solicitor!

 

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

There used to ge a very good guide published by Which.  I think that the registrars also give you sone sort of checklist.  I presume  thst there are now some online guides. I used online guides to sort out an aunts estate and had no problems.

 

Jamie

 

Here's a starter for ten:

https://www.which.co.uk/money/wills-and-probate/probate

There are also numerous books on the subject - Bear can recommend this one (there may be later editions), for the grand sum of £2-45

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wills-Probate-Administer-Employing-Solicitor-dp-085202858X/dp/085202858X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

 

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Happy anniversery NHM and Debs.

A former colleague of mine had previously worked for the Co-op funeral service. He was once booked for doing 100mph through Epping Forrest, in a hearse. (Daimler 420G, basically a Jaguar Mk. X.)

 

A friend of Bear's is an undertaker; at one funeral the family had requested someone playing the bagpipes, dressed in the full regalia.  He took a step back and fell down the hole.....

[Tony_S]

Happy Anniversary, Debs and Neil. 

[TheQ]

Having been passed by a hearse on the motorway making my speed (70) looking like I was standing still, I can assure you they are fast.. 

 

My only adventures of Probate were trying to get the Mother in laws documents sorted.. Unfortunately the nearest probate office for MK was in Leicester!!! Only open certain days a week 

I was on the course for going to Saudi at the time, We had an odd day off, which just happened to tie up with the office being open. So my only non weekend day off in the 6 week course was spent driving to Leicester and back..

 

Oh the tyres on that 8X8 landrover £200 ish each.. the standard ones on mine £120 -150 each.

Edited March 12, 2021 by TheQ

[TheSignalEngineer]

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Happy anniversery NHM and Debs.

A former colleague of mine had previously worked for the Co-op funeral service. He was once booked for doing 100mph through Epping Forrest, in a hearse. (Daimler 420G, basically a Jaguar Mk. X.)

A friend of mine was booked many years ago for doing 105mph in a hearse on the A45 past Birmingham Airport. His only complaint was he had been overtaken by a member of the Double Zero club. The only qualification for being a full member of that organisation was having travelled at over 100mph on a motor bike on a public road.

[Winslow Boy]

17 minutes ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

A friend of mine was booked many years ago for doing 105mph in a hearse on the A45 past Birmingham Airport. His only complaint was he had been overtaken by a member of the Double Zero club. The only qualification for being a full member of that organisation was having travelled at over 100mph on a motor bike on a public road.

So if the hearse was booked doing 105 what were the rest of the cortage doing 103 ?

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

 

STOP PRESS!!

@The Stationmaster finds an honest Solicitor!

 

 

Here's a starter for ten:

https://www.which.co.uk/money/wills-and-probate/probate

There are also numerous books on the subject - Bear can recommend this one (there may be later editions), for the grand sum of £2-45

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wills-Probate-Administer-Employing-Solicitor-dp-085202858X/dp/085202858X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

 

 

A friend of Bear's is an undertaker; at one funeral the family had requested someone playing the bagpipes, dressed in the full regalia.  He took a step back and fell down the hole.....

Mr Bear you really don't want to hear some of the things that undertakers have got up to and when I mean really you seriously don't.

[PeterBB]

Happy Anniversary Neil and Debs.  Hope the new job continues to go well.

[J. S. Bach]

3 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

Morning all,

 

Happy anniversary to NHN Neil and Debs     As for all theese multi-wheeled vehocles has anu ybody thought about the cost of a new set of tyres? ...snip...

  Hmmm, how about a set for this:

 

 

[Barry O]

Happy Anniversary Neil and Debs!

 

@pupcam and @polybear  yes it all went downhill when Hatfield moved to Stevenage and Marconi "took over" Bae. Up till then Project Managers were kept in a box  - I could see the onslaught of Project Managers so it was another reason to leave

 

Baz

[Gwiwer]

Afternoon all.  

 

A Happy Anniversary to Neil and Debs and best wishes also for a speedy return to Fraggle-normality.  

 

A slight miscommunication between Dr. SWMBO who is working from her room and myself who has been wrangling the smouldering iron outside.  "What are you up to?"  "Wiring"  "Why don't you email? .......... "  

 

Wiring.  Not "why ring?"  

 

Friday Drinks will commence at 17 o'clock sharp with a toast to the celebrating couple.  The weekend will then formally commence.  It is hot-dog night (OK it's Krakauer night - the closest I could find to the preferred Kransky) and I am apparently required to sit down and watch a movie.  The chances of getting me to sit and be interested in anything on a flat screen for more than 10 minutes is pretty slim.  But we'll see.  Open mind and all that. 

 

The wind continues to wind but the falling-down juice and ice-laden hurty-rain of this morning has ceased for now.   

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

Oh the tyres on that 8X8 landrover £200 ish each.. the standard ones on mine £120 -150 each.

I will need (should we ever go on a longish journey ever again) some tyres.  The Freelanders used to wear the tyres evenly but the Evoque wears the front slightly more than the rears. If I put the registration number into any of the tyre dealer search engines it gives the right size but wrong load and speed ratings.  The local very good tyre place does stock the exact tyres I would need, considerably more than either of the prices quoted by Q but at least I only need 4. I notice that it is recommended to have TPMS service kits installed into the valves which will add somewhat to the price.

Tony

[TheSignalEngineer]

2 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

So if the hearse was booked doing 105 what were the rest of the cortage doing 103 ?

No, he was going out on a removal and positioning move to the Funeral Parlour. Had the empty box ready in the back.

At the time the daughter of the local undertaker was part of our drinking crowd. It was very useful as she would phone the on-call man from a party and half a dozen of us would get picked up in her dad's big black limo for a lift home.

[Erichill16]

5 hours ago, polybear said:

 

 

Bear received a text invite from the NHS for the jab this morning, despite not being in the required age group yet - so duly booked at a location 10 miles away and right next to a Toolstation, conveniently .

I got my invite today due to ‘underlying health conditions’ Didnt know i had a condition that allowed me to jump the queue . Having said that I’m 55 so its about my turn anyway. Keep up the good work and no sneaky skiving  

offto watching afternoon tv films. 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Went to Tess Coes earlier and bread pudding was being put out on the shelves  . 

2 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Mr Bear you really don't want to hear some of the things that undertakers have got up to and when I mean really you seriously don't.

I quite agree, my friend of the speeding hearse used to regail us with some stories. I won't repeat any here but when he got caught for speeding he had an empty coffin in the back. He said that that elicited quite a few remarks from the police officers. 

[Ian Abel]

POETS...

 

Things mostly back to whatever "normal" is here after all the car hunting/finding/buying.

Last two pieces were to return the rental car yesterday - easy, and await the key merchant today to get a second key for the new car.

Apparently, many of the "used" vehicles around don't have the second key when traded (which, of course isn't really a KEY, more like a small hand-held computer!!), so we were given a credit/discount/whatever off the purchase price to obtain a second key. $200!!!

At least the service will come here and save me driving half way across the city to get one at a decent price. The Ford dealerships want nearly $300 time they provide it and program it. Yikes!!

I'll not get into too much discussion about "new/automated features" as I'm at the opposite end of the scale compared to many ERs seems like - I LOVE features/automation, and this thing has pretty much everything you could think of. I will take advantage of 98% of them, the Mrs maybe 35% at best.

Has adaptive cruise control and all kinds of toys, ties to my smartphone (with an APP, SURPRISE, SURPRISE) and I can even see trips made, locate it, lock/unlock and start it all from the phone.
 

 

The weekend will include an outdoor neighborhood get together again, as the weather is cooperating, the final "round" of our murder mystery, this week determining who the murderer is, and probably some additional outdoor enjoyment. The garden railway, MAY get investigated, but there are still some small patches of snow covering the shaded areas.

Also, a neighborhood teen, who has a summer business doing various chores, has advertised back garden dog POO cleanup for $50, to get his seasonal earning started! Took him up on that offer VERY QUICKLY, happens tomorrow 

 

Will POE as the Long Island client is quiet...

 

-2 first thing but sunny, heading for +6, expected to make 14-16 tomorrow though.

 

Enjoy the start of the weekend...

 

 

[TheQ]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

I will need (should we ever go on a longish journey ever again) some tyres.  The Freelanders used to wear the tyres evenly but the Evoque wears the front slightly more than the rears. If I put the registration number into any of the tyre dealer search engines it gives the right size but wrong load and speed ratings.  The local very good tyre place does stock the exact tyres I would need, considerably more than either of the prices quoted by Q but at least I only need 4. I notice that it is recommended to have TPMS service kits installed into the valves which will add somewhat to the price.

Tony

Don't damage a head lamp on yours, £400 to £1000  depending on model, on mine £18..

 

All the daffs are showing on the route, in our garden, none..

 

I'm awaiting 4 lengths of metal for the trailer, to be precise to extend the boat supports. They're coming from up north, but ordered via the house of strong ladies..

 

Researched the thermostat for this fridge freezer. You have to take half the fridge apart to do it..

Open back lower, remove panel, break open a sealed plastic box, disconnect various bits, tie a long bit of string to cables, 

Go front, take door off,

Take knobs off, 

Remove facia panel, 

Undo various screws and lever thermostat out.

Gradually pull out, hoping, cables and string follow through , doesn't catch, loose the string  or break.

If that worked then tie the new thermostat cables  to the string and hope it all pulls back through the other way. 

Then put it all back together..

 

Is it worth it for a 20 + year old fridge freezer?

I'm not sure, but I'll have a look tomorrow..

 

For some reason forepaws are complaining again, I think I need some anaesthetic....

Red liquid type will do..

 

 

 

 

[pH]

8 hours ago, TheQ said:

There is a Landrover Defender around with an American 5ltr V8 petrol engine with twin turbo chargers fitted.. Tested on an airfield, the flying brick nearly reached 170mph...  and then had to visit the petrol station again..

I once, somewhere along the south coast in England, got a lift in the reverse of that - a big US station wagon, converted to right hand drive, and fitted with a small British straight four. It also had two gearboxes, in line and with the second one ‘back to front’. The guy driving this had to be very busy with gear levers anywhere but on a long, straight unrestricted road.

[PhilJ W]

Despite his favourite weather Arthur Itis has been quiet today with one exception. He has discovered a bunion which I have had for years that I hardly have ever noticed, he has just bought it to my attention.

[pH]

6 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Happy anniversery NHM and Debs.

A former colleague of mine had previously worked for the Co-op funeral service. He was once booked for doing 100mph through Epping Forrest, in a hearse. (Daimler 420G, basically a Jaguar Mk. X.)

With ‘Get Me to the Church on Time’ on the stereo?

[Ian Abel]

Arrghh... forgot to add Happy anniversary to @New Haven Neil and his bride 

[pH]

Apparently, our town is the fifth most common subject of searches on ‘houses for sale’ sites in Canada! 

[polybear]

 

4 hours ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

The only qualification for being a full member of that organisation was having travelled at over 100mph on a motor bike on a public road.

 

Bear's admitting nothing......

 

3 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Mr Bear you really don't want to hear some of the things that undertakers have got up to and when I mean really you seriously don't.

 

Bear has heard, including how to get a Police officer to

 

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

@pupcam and @polybear  yes it all went downhill when Hatfield moved to Stevenage.....

 

 

Both Bear and Puppers fully conversant with that little episode, much to our disgust  

I still have my "Hatfield Mafia Club" tie in the wardrobe, the wearing of which was considered to be (and I quote) "Career Limiting" by the Top Brass at Stevenage.  Perhaps that explains Bear's fall from grace - or was it one of the numerous other episodes that Bear was suspected of but which could never be proved....

 

50 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Don't damage a head lamp on yours, £400 to £1000  depending on model, on mine £18..

 

 

HOW MUCH???

FFS

 

50 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Is it worth it for a 20 + year old fridge freezer?

I'm not sure, but I'll have a look tomorrow..

 

 

Absolutely - that feeling of achievement when fixing something.  Will a modern one last 20+ years?  There's a fair chance it's been designed by a bunch of Graduates (who spent one day in a workshop during their Degree Course),  all overseen by a Project Manager doing his very best to save as much money as possible to boost his yearly bonus...

 

In other news:

Bear has only one more strip of wallpaper to apply , and an easy one at that.  Tomorrow will also see a big "washing day", after which the washing machine will be shifted into the lounge (with the aid of buddy next door); the cooker and sink unit will also head the same way on Monday, ready for the start of the Tiler on Tuesday.  I'd better start lifting the vinyl floor tiles tomorrow too - early experiments show they come up very easily, but I don't want to risk my luck in case some are stuck like s*** to a blanket.  Hopefully the adhesive underneath will either be stuck like concrete (in which case it can stay put) or come up very easily too - anything in between will be bad news.  The floor isn't as level as it might be (there's a definite high spot in the middle) so the first job the Tiler will have will be to apply self-leveller over the floor.  More money

 

[simontaylor484]

Happy anniversary to Neil and her Debship. For what's left of the day.

 

My Brother was going to buy a hearse as he is mad keen on fishing but found that they were too thirsty on juice he bought a little car derived van instead. A couple of years ago a guy at the top of our street had a motorbike picked up by a guy in a hearse all the woodwork had been stripped out forgot to add the driver even put on a top hat with the black ribbon on.

 

 

 

Edited March 12, 2021 by simontaylor484
Further thought

[PhilJ W]

A hearse would be great for transporting a layout.

[Ian Abel]

6 hours ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

The only qualification for being a full member of that organisation was having travelled at over 100mph on a motor bike on a public road.

Been there, done that

Back when there were no speed limits, on my buddy's Vincent 500...

Edited March 12, 2021 by Ian Abel