Early Risers.

[AndrewC]

Greetings from a chilly and very boring borough. 

 

No sleep again last night. Meh. 

 

@Gwiwer Surely that should be Living Under June. (see also Arden, Jann musician)

 

Swimming pools in February. Takes me back. We used to spend the odd weekend in Banff in the winter just for something different. Only a 90 min drive but a world away. The hotel we preferred had a 12 month heated outdoor pool. Even at -38c we'd go outside, swim about until our hair froze, roll around in snow, swim some more, then head to the sauna. 

 

New certification exam day. Security Operations. 3 hours of absolutely no fun at all. I really hate these things. Trick questions, misleading choices, no feedback, just 80% pass/fail with no idea what you actually achieved. I think the worst part is the vendor claims you can pass based on the course material. BULLSH!T. You also need the white paper, preparation doc, release notes, and a sacrifice to the IT gods. 

 

On that note I'll bid you all a good day. Time to find an IV bag filled with Espresso to keep me going for a few hours. 

 

 

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare,

6 hour sleepish, again a delayed start, but once I was away, there was just the one wake up to turn over..

 

It was only after walking around a while making breakfast I thought... Backs not hurting!!!  forepaws stiff, but no real pain.. Left elbow is complaining though, even as I sit here.

 

Ben the comedian Collie was playing games this morning, when we went out he laid down as though wanting comforting.. As I approached, he leapt up and started happily bouncing around. Later on he disappeared,  as I rounded a hedge, he was standing behind it, watching for me to arrive, and then started bouncing around again..

 

On the way in (no pheasants were involved) I spotted a really strange piece of driving , as a BMW approached a roundabout on a dual carriage way it made a definite move to put the white line between lanes, down the middle of the car. At the next roundabout it did it again.. most odd..

 

After the big number of house for sale signs went up, most now have a sold sign on them which is quick, but no more appear to be going up for sale. This suggests the pent up for sales has gone, but the demand for houses out in the country is still there.

 

This weeks major system has passed OK , I'm just waiting for a current source to zero then I'm starting on a big set of current shunts, there's also two 10 Gig Ohm Resistors to do which have a higher priority when they're delivered to me.

 

Ah that's zero'd, now to zero the measurement and it will be ..

 

Time to start measuring..

[Andrew P]

Its Thursday, or maybe it should be re named Dullsday.

 

I don't understand why that should make it the dull start day that it is, but that wont change my outlook, not a lot planned, but plenty I can do in the POD / Pit of Doom. 

 

If it warms up a bit I might treat the Car to its annual bath.

 

Have a good day one and all, stay safe , well and happy with ones lot.

 

 

[polybear]

46 minutes ago, chrisf said:

I am still horrified when I see frozen bubble and squeak on sale in supermarkets.  Is that dish not the very essence of recycling?  

 

Bear was horrified to see ready cooked hard boiler eggs in the local Co-op - four in a plastic box. FFS.

 

Bear has had to resort to using a tablet as the laptop charger is playing up; an in-line connector was added to the dc side of the charger some time ago in order to preserve the connector on the laptop itself. Yesterday I noticed that the connector was decidedly warm to the touch, bordering on hot - though the laptop was still charging.  So now out of Service until I can investigate further.  Oh yes, and walls to paint...

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Weather forecast is for the possibility of snow over the weekend or at least wintery showers. Its going to be cold whatever. Arthur Itis woke up this morning but soon went back to sleep again. I remember Pan Yan pickle but I don't remember ever tasting it so I didn't remember it until Chris mentioned it. It met its demise in 2002 but there is a recipe on the internet, I was going to post it here but pH beat me to it. My preference in pickles is for the sharper end of the scale such as piccalilli but one of my favourites is pickled walnuts, great with a crumbly white cheese.

[New Haven Neil]

Morning world.

 

7c and fine rain here, rainfall radar says dry, Tank out there working disagrees.

 

Pan Yan is a parental unit memory for me too, I think Branston did for it.  I didn't like pickle when a bear cub so don't recall the taste, I love Branston on cheese sandwiches now though.

 

The day will mostly be spent driving the washing machine, woe is me.

[BlackRat]

Morning one and all......

 

Shorts are now the dress of the day, have been since the traditional start of the shorts season which begins on the 1st March and ends sometime in December.

 

Hardly surprising one, has a large collection of shorts to rival an equally large collection of shirts.

 

One becomes accustomed to the wind, which down ere finds places that other winds do not.

[jcm@gwr]

11 hours ago, polybear said:

 

In other news:

Do any fellow ER'ers possess a Granite Composite Kitchen Sink by any chance?  If so, would you have another?  Bear has to decide between one of those (which appear to have Marmite reviews on the 'net) or a decent stainless jobbie (though inevitable scratches will bug Bear).  Decisions, decisions....

 

I fitted a Composite kitchen sink about 15 years ago, when I did my kitchen, it still cleans up like new, no scratches, no burn marks, no chips, very impressed.

Wouldn't go back to stainless now!

Edited April 8, 2021 by jcm@gwr

[AndrewC]

11 hours ago, polybear said:

In other news:

Do any fellow ER'ers possess a Granite Composite Kitchen Sink by any chance?  If so, would you have another?  Bear has to decide between one of those (which appear to have Marmite reviews on the 'net) or a decent stainless jobbie (though inevitable scratches will bug Bear).  Decisions, decisions....

Sorry Bear, missed this. We had one in the old kitchen. Must have been fairly cheap like most of the kitchen was when we moved in. It took a lot of Barkeeper's Friend to remove curry stains from it. When we replaced the kitchen the decision was made to get a ceramic "Dublin" sink instead. That was a very good decision. Don't think I'd risk having another composite one. Although the new(ish) countertops are composite quartz and clean up easily. 

[jcm@gwr]

8 minutes ago, AndrewC said:

Sorry Bear, missed this. We had one in the old kitchen. Must have been fairly cheap like most of the kitchen was when we moved in. It took a lot of Barkeeper's Friend to remove curry stains from it. When we replaced the kitchen the decision was made to get a ceramic "Dublin" sink instead. That was a very good decision. Don't think I'd risk having another composite one. Although the new(ish) countertops are composite quartz and clean up easily. 

 

Wouldn't touch a ceramic sink, too easily chipped, I've replaced quite a few for customers

that have got cracked (dropping pans etc)

Also, don't get the decent composite ones confused with the cheaper plastic versions, they

do stain, they also tend to crack around the waste hole.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

We must have had some rain overnight as the patio is wet, but the sun is now shining and it’s warmer than earlier in the week, currently 7C. 

 

There are are no plans for any work outside today, instead I’ll carry on with the brace of dining chairs that require the paint job finishing. I’ll get one coat on today and I’ll see if that will allow the top coats to be done early next week. 

 

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

 

Brian

[PeterBB]

13 hours ago, polybear said:

In other news:

Do any fellow ER'ers possess a Granite Composite Kitchen Sink by any chance?  If so, would you have another?  Bear has to decide between one of those (which appear to have Marmite reviews on the 'net) or a decent stainless jobbie (though inevitable scratches will bug Bear).  Decisions, decisions....

Granite composition sink no but worktop yes - a quality stainless steel sink ideal.

[Pacific231G]

Morning all

Dull here this morning.

Ran a loco up and down the layout yesterday evening and and everything worked. In spite of two years storage, the track is remarkably clean. Boxing it up clearly worked and not even any sign of cobwebs.

 

Forgot to defrost anything for breakfast and, after yesterday's weekly shop, there's not really any room in the frig. anyway- so un petit dejeuner a la francais. Half a bake-it-yourself baguette, croissant, poached egg, cheese, coffeee and yummy St. Dalfour orange spread, a superior sort of marmalade from Lot et Garonne "sweetened only with vineyard ripened grape and fruit juices"- that I can now only find in Waitrose. I normally do my weekly shop at Tesco but they no longer stock that and a few other things I like so, every six weeks or thereabouts, I dodge the never-been-off-road Chelsea Tractors of Ealing's middle classes to stock up. Tesco's anti-Covid measures are actually more thorough than Waitrose though best I've seen round here are at the Chinese supermarket in Alperton.  

 

Raked the lawn this morning following its first cut of the season on Tuesday. It's been raining a bit but signs of blue now so probably time for the morning walk.

 

Y'all have a nice day now.

 

[jonny777]

Dry with sunny spells in North Somerset. 

 

Washing now out on the line. I inherited my father's distaste for vinegar so most pickles, chutneys are a no-no for me. 

 

When I worked near Birmingham, I occasionally frequented the Sutton Coldfield Waitrose. This was where (it was said) all the local footballers' wives or au-pairs used to shop. Certainly the car park was full of very expensive looking motors with personalised numberplate; so much so that I parked my 10 year old Mondeo in the farthest corner, so as to not take any chances with specks of rust drifting across from my transport. 

 

It was very expensive inside as well. There were whole Parma Hams for sale for a price I could not even dream of spending on anything, and a very large selection of champagnes. 

 

[polybear]

3 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

I love Branston on cheese sandwiches now though.

 

 

 

Fried egg

On baked beans

On melted cheese

On Cranston pickle

On toast

With salad cream (or mayo if you're posh ) on top.

 

2 hours ago, jcm@gwr said:

 

I fitted a Composite kitchen sink about 15 years ago, when I did my kitchen, it still cleans up like new, no scratches, no burn marks, no chips, very impressed.

Wouldn't go back to stainless now!

 

Many thanks -do you happen to know what make/model of sink you have please?  Bear is looking at Blanco silgranit (in a dark colour), or maybe one of their stainless jobbies.

 

2 hours ago, jcm@gwr said:

 

Wouldn't touch a ceramic sink, too easily chipped, I've replaced quite a few for customers

that have got cracked (dropping pans etc)

Also, don't get the decent composite ones confused with the cheaper plastic versions, they

do stain, they also tend to crack around the waste hole.

 

That is what puts Bear off a ceramic sink, though I'm very careful and most work will now be done by the dishwasher - when I buy it..

 

25 minutes ago, jonny777 said:

 

It was very expensive inside as well. There were whole Parma Hams for sale for a price I could not even dream of spending on anything, and a very large selection of champagnes. 

 

 

Bear has noticed the local Co-op going a bit up-market too, presumably to go with all the big expensive houses being built.  Two in a pack scotch eggs have disappeared in favour of more expensive single designer jobbies.

 

In other news:

I hate this effin' tablet - it keeps  changing what I type and the keypad takes ages. Unhappy Bear

[Tony_S]

Our groceries have come from Waitrose exclusively for a year now. They are sourced from the big Waitrose in Southend rather than our nearer one in Leigh. So they have the full range of products. I am sure Aditi is aware of the expensive champagne as she used champagne or whisky to get the minimum order up to £60 (now £40) to reserve delivery slots. Unlike some people she was organised enough to replace them with more everyday items nearer delivery time. 

 I could order from Morrison’s via Amazon Prime but haven’t needed to yet. 

[southern42]

‘ afternoon all from red dragon land.

Pine cone predictors seem to have got it wrong. Wet n windy today, they said. Not going to be good for click n collect groceries this afternoon. Turns out it is dry with a bit of blue sky. Bit of a breeze. No need to worry about the groceries getting wet - seems the pine cones  have changed, too. 

Dull and overcast yesterday, though. With modelling mojo taking a dip with it, I did at least manage to start a platform for the signal on my cakebox thingy. It is only made of plasticard but for a while I was wondering what I could use for the hand rails. Ah! Staples! A new box was conveniently waiting to be opened. They easily bent into the shape I wanted but were right fiddly to put into the holes I made on the platform. I eventually got one handrail stuck on, but decided to leave the other one til today - I got fed up looking for it every time I dropped it on the floor! Why do I persist in such microventures? 
 

This morning, I fixed the other handrail. Now, halfway through making the platform brackets with more staples, but if successful, I will redo the platform as it is not quite right. Dropping is not a problem - I am working down on the floor! 
 

Giving the fingers n thumbs a rest - til after lunch, anyway.

Fitt  and  Elfie getting to grips with the weather. 
 

Take care all and play safe.

Best wishes

————-

Polly

 

[J. S. Bach]

9 hours ago, BR60103 said:

They say you can tell the Canadians in Florida -- they're in the swimming pool in February.

And wearing the skimpiest of bathing attire when so doing!   A trip down A1A along Ft. Lauderdale beach proves that.

 

PS: Some of those mentioned above should remain fully clothed!

[PhilJ W]

9 minutes ago, J. S. Bach said:

And wearing the skimpiest of bathing attire when so doing!   A trip down A1A along Ft. Lauderdale beach proves that.

 

PS: Some of those mentioned above should remain fully clothed!

Photographic evidence?

[J. S. Bach]

Not by me! There must be some beach webcams that could provide evidence!

[JohnDMJ]

Good afternoon from the penultimate day of double day shifts!

 

6 hours ago, AndrewC said:

 

Swimming pools in February. Takes me back. We used to spend the odd weekend in Banff in the winter just for something different. Only a 90 min drive but a world away. The hotel we preferred had a 12 month heated outdoor pool. Even at -38c we'd go outside, swim about until our hair froze, roll around in snow, swim some more, then head to the sauna. 

 

 

Thought the roll in the snow usually followed the sauna!

 

6 hours ago, TheQ said:

On the way in (no pheasants were involved) I spotted a really strange piece of driving , as a BMW approached a roundabout on a dual carriage way it made a definite move to put the white line between lanes, down the middle of the car. At the next roundabout it did it again.. most odd..

 

Google found this for me:

 

[Gwiwer]

6 hours ago, BlackRat said:

One becomes accustomed to the wind, which down ere finds places that other winds do not.

Must be something in the pasties  

 

Not for nothing do we have Coldwind Cross in that part of the world.  And indeed Boxheater though it never seems to be any warmer up there than elsewhere!  

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup where I have a day off work and it is grey and cloudy to celebrate!

 

not a lot happening today although I did go a walk with Younger Lurker.

 

depending on the weather I will undertake some outdoor chores tomorrow.

 

have a good day 

[iL Dottore]

16 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

I mentioned use by dates recently.

That may work for Bears hungering for Rabbit, but if you put a "use by date" from 1995 on a LDC would it deter a P.Bear?

8 hours ago, chrisf said:

......I am still horrified when I see frozen bubble and squeak on sale in supermarkets.  Is that dish not the very essence of recycling? 

Most definitely. Presumably, frozen bubble-and-squeak was created for those (pre-pandemic) who were either "cash-rich/time poor", an incompetent cook or just plain b.......-lazy.

On a tangential note: in a supermarket I once read - purely out of curiosity - the instructions on a packet of "ready made spaghetti carbonara" - it would have taken longer than doing it from scratch.

5 hours ago, jcm@gwr said:

I fitted a Composite kitchen sink about 15 years ago, when I did my kitchen, it still cleans up like new, no scratches, no burn marks, no chips, very impressed.

Wouldn't go back to stainless now!

When we moved into the house, we redid the kitchen and I installed stainless steel worktops and sink. They are OK, but as they are items produced for the domestic market, not a patch on the pro worktops I've had the pleasure of using the few times I've worked in a professional kitchen (helping out a friend-of-a-friend)

2 hours ago, Tony_S said:

....I am sure Aditi is aware of the expensive champagne as she used champagne or whisky to get the minimum order up to £60 (now £40) to reserve delivery slots. Unlike some people she was organised enough to replace them with more everyday items nearer delivery time...

Why?

Why replace the Champagne? Churchill said of it "In victory I deserve it. In defeat I need it". 

Mind you, Champagne is an oenological minefield. Some inexpensive Champagne is sublime; some expensive [and well known brands] barely passable.  As you would expect from a seasoned Gastronaut, I do have a "house" Champagne and a "house" Crémant. The former is very inexpensive, but superb, from a small vinyard with limited production (and, no, I'm not saying who, production is very small) and the Crémant is only available in Switzerland.

Of course, the dilemma facing anyone opening a bottle of Champagne or Crémant, is what to do with the leftovers (Mrs iD and I rarely drink more than half-a-bottle) and there a Champagne (or Crémant) risotto is the solution, just before the risotto has finished cooking, ladles of stiock are replaced by glugs of Champagne/Crémant. Delicious and an utter luxury!

One other thought, Tony, surely single-malt whisky should be a weekly grocery staple along with butter, cheese, eggs and milk?

[simontaylor484]

17 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Bear still remembers Saturday Afternoon Wrestling on "The World of Sport" - anyone going up against either Big Daddy or Giant Haystacks (boy, was he an animal...) ended up of the receiving end of "The Splash".  I hope they were getting paid a lot, cos' they very rarely got up after one of those.

 

In other news:

Do any fellow ER'ers possess a Granite Composite Kitchen Sink by any chance?  If so, would you have another?  Bear has to decide between one of those (which appear to have Marmite reviews on the 'net) or a decent stainless jobbie (though inevitable scratches will bug Bear).  Decisions, decisions....

One year the wrestling came to Pontefract Town hall  me mum and grandad went it was brilliant  they were all there Big Daddy,Giant Haystacks, fit finlay, kendo Nagasaki