Early Risers.

[pH]

3 hours ago, TheQ said:

I'm now just measuring a couple of stray resistors to fill in time before go home time..

I presume (hope) those are inanimate!

[Northroader]

2 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

You got it.  don't say you stopped there too at some time?

I was there 64-65. Fellow inmates you may have come across were Phil Nethercot, who went on to be assistant at Landore diesel, Cyril Candlin, a shift foreman at Tidal, and Steve Malloy, who reported back to BRB on how many wagons there really were in Cardiff Division. Very comfortable place with good meals. Then I got married.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Not a lot happening at the moment but the forecast for the coming week is dry and sunny so I might be able to get the Workmate out to do a few jobs out on the patio. Arthur Itis and Si Attica have both gone away and hopefully will stay away for a while. Time for dinner, be back later.

[polybear]

Bit of a slow day for Bear, particularly this afternoon.  The second coat of grout sealer is done - not a lot else has been achieved apart from that .  Since I'm still on my free Amazon Prime Trial I took the advantage of listening to a book whilst doing the floor - it was the first Harry Potter book (whichever one that is) - I've seen all the films (several times) but never read one of the books.  It's rather good listening to them - I have tried before (lots of times....) when I go to bed but always fall asleep - which is the idea.  The clever bit (when not falling asleep) is that Alexa always remembers where I stopped the book and will start from that point when asked.  Now that Bear is also hooked on numerous Amazon Prime TV programmes (and the opportunity to watch films) it looks like Mr. Bezos will be getting very slightly richer thanks to a certain Bear.  Bvgger.

 

I hope to get the fridge freezer back in the kitchen tomorrow (it's been in the lounge since before chrimbo) - that task will require the help of buddy next door, though he's unaware as yet.....

 

Bear has been pondering ways of making washing machines easier to move (they're b. heavy - some joker fills them with concrete blocks) - four grippy rubber feet don't make life easy.  Anyway, Bear came up with the cunning plan of sticking self-adhesive felt pads to the underside of the rear feet - now I can lift the front very slightly and then slide the machine backwards and forwards on the tiled floor.  It's still b.heavy, but moving it is infinitely easier than before.  I'll not be sticking felt to the front feet cos' I reckon that would be asking for trouble - there's a fair chance it'd go sliding around the floor when the spin gets going.

 

I wonder how many will turn up in Windsor for tomorrow's funeral of HRH - despite being asked not to, and told there will be absolutely nothing to see?  Bear's money is on "lots and lots".....

 

 

 

 

[JohnDMJ]

Good Evening from another fun-filled POTS day! Given the return to normal hours, suspect that much R'n'R will take place this weekend!

 

Only one major task to perform: remove (get removed) the avian excrement which currently adorns the jalopy!

 

One minor task: try to establish why my new tyre inflater read the existing pressure the first time it was applied but failed to show anything but 0 subsequently. Fortunately, I have a mechanical, pen-like, gauge with which I was able to verify that the pump function worked and the errant tyre was pressurised to the appropriate quantity of (non-alcoholic) bar!

 

ChrisF: a question

 

20 hours ago, chrisf said:

Nothing lasts for ever, and this is just as true of hotels as of anything else.  In July 2019 I returned to a Premier Inn on the northern fringe of Bristol and stayed for two nights.  Its only serious flaw was its inability to make tea properly, a defect which it shared with much of Switzerland.  Once I know for certain whether I will be in Bristol on a certain weekend in July I will have to hunt around for somewhere to stay because I cannot return to the Premier Inn.  It burned down three days after my last visit.

 

Where does one purchase suitable incendiary devices with fuses capable of achieving such a result?

 

A colleague and I were once (mid-late 90s) booked for accommodation at a travelodge in the Bracknell area; we checked in, saw our rooms and checked out to make alternative arrangements. We were attending training on Pro-Engineer and Pro-Mechanica CAD systems.

 

I did once have a contre temps with an hotel in which I stayed regularly in Meaux, France; the issue was sorted instantly and without fuss to a very satisfactory conclusion! I always paid them with EuroCheques - remember them? (Claimed back accordingly, of course!) Having spent so much time in this region, I became accustomed (addicted?) to Meaux Brie (much fuller flavour than any other Brie I have tasted!) and 'La Moutarde de Meaux', a grain mustard considerably different to that of Dijon! The mustard may be tricky to find, but there are UK sources. The Brie can often be found at Tess Goes or some small (little?) emporia!

 

Edited April 17, 2021 by JohnDMJ

[Tony_S]

6 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

hy my new tyre inflater read the existing pressure the first time it was applied but failed to show anything but 0

Is there a little button to reset the meter before first use? On my smart pump there was a sticker telling you what to do. I did have to do it again after a year or so of it using it. 

[J. S. Bach]

14 hours ago, chrisf said:

 ...snip... J S Bach, was it you that reminded me of Crosby Stills and Nash before?  A few months ago I had planned to reach Marrakech by train but I’m going with Sleazyjet now – not nearly so songworthy.

 

Best wishes to all - and thanks to Andy Y for fixing the forum!

 

Chris

 

Yes, it was I. Although not a particular fan of CS&N, I did still do like that song.

Edited April 16, 2021 by J. S. Bach
To add a missing word and correct some grammar.

[JohnDMJ]

3 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Is there a little button to reset the meter before first use? On my smart pump there was a sticker telling you what to do. I did have to do it again after a year or so of it using it. 

 

Thanks, Tony, believe me as an Engineer, I have looked! The manual suggests pressing and holding its - and + buttons at the same time for a few seconds; this only seems to do a factory reset but does not seem to restore the pressure reading facility!

 

Interestingly, the one reading the gizmo did offer was consistent with my trusted mechanical device! Thus, I know that I can use my trusted mechanical device to read the pressure then apply the gizmo to increase it for a given time, after which I then check with the trusted mechanical device and asses the next move! (I have also the option of a Halfords JumpStarter although its pressure gauge is analoguely vague and its fitting to the tyre's valve causes much air to be expelled!)

 

Charged from a USB port, this gizmo certainly packs the required punch to inflate a variety of tyres (car, bike, ball, etc.), it would be useful to have its feedback reading!

 

Before anyone comments, RTFM HAS been applied but to no (as yet) avail!

[PhilJ W]

29 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

I did once have a contre temps with an hotel in which I stayed regularly in Meaux, France; the issue was sorted instantly and without fuss to a very satisfactory conclusion! I always paid them with EuroCheques - remember them? (Claimed back accordingly, of course!) Having spent so much time in this region, I became accustomed (addicted?) to Meaux Brie (much fuller flavour than any other Brie I have tasted!) and 'La Moutarde de Meaux', a grain mustard considerably different to that of Dijon! The mustard may be trick to find, but there are UK sources. The Brie can often be found at Tess Goes or some small (little?) emporia!

 

Meaux just happens to be our 'Twin town' in France. It also has a thriving model railway club and I have been over there four times on exchange visits. These took place in November when the whole town puts on a bi-annual exhibition including a model railway exhibition. The accommodation was chosen by the French MRC and was a motel on the southern edge of the town. Pretty decent accommodation but breakfasts were rather limited, not that it mattered as in typical French fashion everything stopped for lunch which was quite substantial. I have unfortunately never been to our other twin town in Germany, Heilinghaus, its attraction for me is it is only 5 miles away from Wuppertal of suspended monorail fame, perhaps I'll get there some day. 

[pH]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Bear has been pondering ways of making washing machines easier to move (they're b. heavy - some joker fills them with concrete blocks) - four grippy rubber feet don't make life easy.  Anyway, Bear came up with the cunning plan of sticking self-adhesive felt pads to the underside of the rear feet - now I can lift the front very slightly and then slide the machine backwards and forwards on the tiled floor.  It's still b.heavy, but moving it is infinitely easier than before. 

With our bedroom/bathroom/kitchen/laundry floors being tile or laminate, all the appliances and heavy pieces of furniture in those rooms have felt pads on the feet. When moving any of these more than a few inches, though, I’ve found skateboards to be very useful. Fortunately (or not) we have several lying about the storage area, our sons (or at least two out of three) having outgrown them and not having taken them with them when they left home.

[polybear]

1 hour ago, JohnDMJ said:

Where does one purchase suitable incendiary devices with fuses capable of achieving such a result?

 

 

 

Bear gets his from Ebay.

Ooops - maybe shouldn't have said that....

 

54 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Is there a little button to reset the meter before first use? On my smart pump there was a sticker telling you what to do. I did have to do it again after a year or so of it using it. 

 

Bear has a cheapo (very cheapo - but works well) air compressor from Home Bargains (£4-99) - but the gauge on it is less than hopeless.  So Bear uses this kinda pressure gauge (not this actual one) - I used to use the pencil type but they're not the friendliest to use.  The advantage of this kind of dial gauge is that (a) it holds the pressure reading on the display even when removed from the valve, and (b) if the pressure in the tyre is a bit high you can bleed some off by pushing the little button on the side of the gauge until the reading is correct.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Auto-Meter-2343-Autometer-Radiator/dp/B00062YVPW/ref=sr_1_68?dchild=1&keywords=pressure+gauge&qid=1618602424&rnid=1642204031&s=automotive&sr=1-68

 

[Ozexpatriate]

Nice to see the forum functioning again. When I checked last night (early this morning BST) it was misbehaving in strange ways.

 

The weather here is again scintillating with unblemished blue skies and bright sunshine. With warming temperatures, every day this week is our hottest day so far this year. Tomorrow (if the forecast of  28°C holds) we may break a record for the highest recorded, local April 17th temperature.

 

'Normal' high temperatures are in the range of 16°C so this weather is unseasonably warm and exceptionally dry. We are now behind our cumulative rainfall by 3.5" and already the burn bans are in place, which does not augur well for fire season. I have determined to restart the drip irrigation - which is something I normally only need to do in the summer and early autumn.

 

It is nice to finally have the windows open during the day. (Normally I do crack the windows in my bedroom open at night. I like to sleep under heavy covers and this needs some cool air.)

 

[brianusa]

12 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

I didn't share his enthusiasm for Mahler, Bruckner and some of the earlier theatrical and choral pieces.  On the other hand I am open to a journey of discovery and there will be some hidden gems in there for sure.  

 

Listen carefully and you will find themes that are just as memorable as those of more popular composers.  These will be the gems to which you refer and Mahler had some superb finales!

     Brian.

Edited April 16, 2021 by brianusa

[simontaylor484]

@polybear to move the washer try a sheet of hardboard underneath shiny side up or you can get small runners to fit underneath especially for moving appliances

[leopardml2341]

Goodnight folks.

 

Bit dark here, but it looks like it might brighten up later.......

[PeterBB]

13 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

 I have also tried scanning some of my late father's slides from the collection I inherited after his passing.  He was never a great photographer and used film after film snapping flowers in bloom to a rather mediocre standard.  I also don't seem to have a quality slide-scanning option within VueScan - I thought there was one - so need to investigate alternatives as I also have some of my own slides which could be scanned and cleaned up.  

 

Jamie recommends an Epson Perfection V800 with an A4 viewbed.  It looks great but SWMBO says its too expensive what with the other essential expenses that are currently more important.

[Coombe Barton]

... a computing degree comes in handy - in setting the cooker clock ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2021/04/16/contrasts/

[Tony_S]

7 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

a computing degree comes in handy - in setting the cooker clock ..

Is there an “app” for the cooker? I was a bit sceptical that our recent cooker purchase has WiFi capability but the it is actually quite useful. The clock uses internet time somehow. 

[Gwiwer]

7 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

... a computing degree comes in handy - in setting the cooker clock ...

 

 

We have spent three hours attempting to set the thermostat for the new boiler.  It comes with "Instructions" which are pictograms and a two-word "instruction" which in some cases is as vague as "Press This".  Having had the apparent luxury of a rotating dial with the ability to set on-off every 15 minutes all day as many times as we desired (but not the precise temperature) we now have a system which has required two quite good brains, the supplied instructions, the "full" instructions on the internet, two You Tube videos of "how to" and we finally discover that we now have a system which can only be turned on / off a maximum of twice in each 24-hour period but for which we can set the temperature.  

 

So - if we have it correct which currently I doubt - we can turn the heating to 19C at 04.30, at 10.30 it will re-set to 5C (the coolest available - it will not set to 0C nor will it turn off) and at 15.00 back to 19C until 21.00 when it reverts to 5C until 04.30.  

 

Crazy.  Who is paid to dream up this stuff?  Have they not heard of KISS?  Nice new boiler - absolutely rubbish control system.  At least the hot water is set to 48C but that's directly on the boiler and I have turned off "eco" mode because it wastes too much water before running hot.  

 

Old Grumblebum is off to bed now.  Sleep well.  

[polybear]

5 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Is there an “app” for the cooker? I was a bit sceptical that our recent cooker purchase has WiFi capability but the it is actually quite useful. The clock uses internet time somehow. 

 

The dishwasher that Bear will most likely end up with also has wifi capability.  Bear thinks that a stack of LDC would be far more useful........

[Coombe Barton]

8 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Is there an “app” for the cooker?

It's not that posh.

[Coombe Barton]

23 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

We have spent three hours attempting to set the thermostat for the new boiler.

My thermostat on the new one is internet connected and the app in the phone does everything. I have a multi-page manual for the controls but Vaillant have excelled themselves with the simplicity of the control.

Edited April 16, 2021 by Coombe Barton

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. The fitter who installed my new boiler explained how the controls worked and how to set times most of which I've forgotten. The only control I use is the temperature which as I am at home most of the time is all that is required.

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Goodnight All,

Robert

[tigerburnie]

G'night all