Early Risers.

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup, where there is blue sky and white fluffy clouds and it has reached  paradise like temperatures in the mid-teens. I even ate my lunch in the back garden; the joys of WFH.

 

I hope that Dave's Dad is moved to the nearer hospice and that he can get some attention from the physio to get him up and running - or at least walking!

 

We don't use our aerial (which is in the loft); the programmes through a talk talk box. As with all of these options, there are loads of channels and none you'd choose. We resorted to the Food Channel for a while but even Mrs Lurker has started to find endless re-runs of Mary Berry a chore. We occasionally watch Saturday Kitchen (on catch up)). They're showing excerpts from old Keith Floyd shows; for some reason Younger Lurker really likes those bits and asks to be called back into the room to see them!!

[simontaylor484]

@Andrew P you know when a bird cr@ps on your car dont take her out on another date.

 

I never fill rubble bags to the top because they tend to split.

Although its better than having a bag of doggy poop split on you and a bin full of that stuff is surprisingly heavy.

[Dave Hunt]

Just had a phone call to say that Dad is being transferred to........ Ludlow. As Baz would put it, Pah! The caller, who was the ward manager, said that it was in Dad's best interests to get him to a rehabilitation unit ASAP so that he can avoid the inherent problems caused by being in bed all day and get the physiotherapy he needs. As there are no beds at Whitchurch for at least a week he has to go to Ludlow but the staff there have been asked to keep checking on bed availability at Whitchurch with a view to transferring him when possible. We shall see...

 

Took the car to the local garage this morning to see why the christmas tree keeps lighting up (I suspect it is one of the wheel rotation sensors that drive the ABS, tyre pressure measurement, auto stop start etc.) only to find it is closed - permanently. Pah! again. However, managed to get it booked in to another one in town for tomorrow morning, then we go to Crewe in Jill's car for our second AZ vaccinations. The vaccination centre at Crewe is (wait for it.....) a Honda motorbike showroom. Whoever writes the script for the sitcom I now appear to be living in seems to be stretching things somewhat.  

 

It's the birthday of a friend who lives solo today so we are having her round for champagne and a steak dinner this evening (she is in our bubble) cooked by yours truly.  To go with the steak Jill has bought a toothsome looking Rioja and afterwards I think I may well find a glass of some Scottish or Welsh happy water that is in need of imbibing before it goes off. The possibility of driving said friend home looks to be receding at the speed of heat.

 

So, from a mixed fortune North Hipposhire I wish you all a good day/evening/night. If I have missed out any time zones I apologise.

 

Dave

[Coombe Barton]

Talking of signs, one in Sainsbury's on the Gents last week:

 

Toilets closed - we apologise for the inconvenience.

[Ian Abel]

Chewsday...

 

Successful navigation of the grocery store yesterday - stocked up "in case".

I DID notice an increasingly large number of a new humanoid I've been encountering in the store recently.

EXTREMELY easy to spot as this species apparently DON'T BREATH THROUGH THEIR NOSES! Their masks only cover their mouth, seem to be generally very low IQ also  

 

I'd consider commenting to them, but given the propensity to find folks being shot for looking sideways at someone else here now, I decline to make any comment!

 

Interesting and good news from Jemma and Brendan today, BOTH had bid on Minneapolis as their base, it's one of the preferred Delta bases and they weren't expecting to stand a chance as they are, what they thought, not senior enough, BOTH got MSP as their assigned base - YAY!  May take up to a year to be scheduled in, but great news 

 

Started out ZERO and overcast, heading for 5 and partly sunny.

 

Stay safe all.

[Barry O]

I have returned from my trip to the wrong side of the Pennines. The Mancs were observed to be suffering from seeing a warm globe in the sky.. no rain has fallen during our visit.

 

Some nice cheeses have been purchased along with some red wine recommended by Dr Eldest Herbert.

 

@Dave Hunt lets hope they see a spare bed asap. It is difficult enough without being too far away from home.

 

listening to the kickballer supporters and club owners is fascinating. I think it was the Chairman or Real Madrid said" youngsters no longer watch kickbal. Our revenues from TV are too low" or similar drivel. Should he be out on his own? If you don't pay plaers daft wages, the TV companies could reduce the cost of viewing..and children could watch. The ECB finally realised that Sky might pay more but less young people watch cricket on sky so participation levels have steadily declined. But professional sport can't continue to rip  youngsters off by charging daft money for replica shirts etc which change every year..or ..have I missed something?

baz

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Just about to run the bath this morning when the postman knocked to deliver a parcel. The parcel contained an item that runs on two parallel strips of metal 16.5 mm apart and I'm well pleased with it. I'd just got into the bath when the postman knocked again with another parcel with contents similar to the first but that I wasn't expecting it just yet. I'd only just ordered it from Radley models on Sunday afternoon, well done Radley models. Sorry to hear that Daves dad will not be going to the nearest care home but it seems that the NHS is doing its best and hopefully they can get him into Whitchurch ASAP. No further news of Gordon, but as someone said, no news is good news. Apart from the morning stiffness (no not that, not at my age) Arthur Itis is not bothering me much. But his mate Si Attica has been busy but my bit of home made physio soon sorted him out. As I'm no fan of kick ball I'm not that interested in the fuss over the 'super league' but I see the remaining clubs in the premier league have got together to condemn it. If I had my way all of the dozen clubs involved should they form such a league should be barred from all other football leagues and then lets see how long it lasts with just 12 teams playing each other over and over again.

[J. S. Bach]

8 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 ...snip... with just 12 teams playing each other over and over again.

Sounds a lot like US football.

[polybear]

7 hours ago, jonny777 said:

Dry and sunny again here in North Somerset.

 

Yesterday was very depressing, for reasons I cannot explain or fathom. Visited the garden centre for a few supplies, but they seemed not to have many items, and their prices appear to have doubled in the last few weeks. 

 

 

 

Two weeks ago, Bear's (long) chip roll and saveloy was £3-70; last week it was four quid....

 

4 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

Bear to note that as the installer actually installed the booster for the multiple feeds (ion his recommendation) I don't think he had anything against such things.   As Tony has noted some of the digital signals can get a bit flaky at times and this appears to be down to transmitter problems or outages rather than anything else.

 

Very Cynical Bear would suspect that Mr. Installer is indeed cunning, as he has managed to sell & install both a new aerial and  a booster....

Puppers would be most relieved that Bear has regained old form so comprehensively.....

 

4 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

Have a good day everyone and stay safe (if those around you allow).  Alas I see the stable door into Britain from India is also falling into the being bolted after the beast has already entered category - not clever once again.

 

If only the UK didn't give those already in India (and potentially infected with the Indian C-19 variant) four days to run back quick....

 

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Thus, with job title inflation Mr P Bear would be a “Senior Vice-President Ursine Patisserie Evaluation and Disposal” (instead of a “cake scoffing bear”)

 

Bear rather likes that title, as it suggests a much bigger salary + benefits than "Cake Scoffing Bear"

Incidentally, and I most certainly didn't watch such cr@p - it just happened to be on - Bear recalls a contestant on "Blind Date" (when Cilla Black was running the show) that introduced himself as a "Vision Technician" - a.k.a Window Cleaner ).

 

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I note with dismay that some stupid Congresswoman has run her mouth off about the current trial of George Floyd’s killer, to the point where the Judge was moved to say that her spouting off risked a mistrial being declared. 
 

 

Reported here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56810245

If there is a not-guilty verdict in Mr Chauvin's trial, Ms Waters said, "then we know that we got to not only stay in the street, but we have got to fight for justice".

She also said: "We've got to get more confrontational. We've got to make sure that they know that we mean business."

It sounds to Bear that she's a graduate of the Trump School of inciting violence....

 

In other news:

Bear has had a busy day:

1.  A visit to the non-ferrous metals scrap yard (actually it's a commercial unit - no snarling dogs called "Satan" were visible) to flog some lead flashing that Bear has had kicking around in the shed for years.  Only a tenner's worth, but every little helps and it's cleared the shed too.  Incidentally, the going rate for a domestic copper hot water storage cylinder is forty odd quid, with tanks being covered in foam insulation being no problem.  So next time you're having the central heating replaced in your house be sure to save all the pipework, fittings, tank, brass bits...

 

* Some lead was saved for use on anything which may require the addition of ballast 

 

2.  A visit to Home Bargains - the first time for probably 6 months - they responded by relieving Bear of seventy-odd quid.  However, Bear did note that they had McVities Chocolate Lemon Drizzle Biscuits, Lemon Drizzle Cake (though unlikely to be of Co-op quality - but it was less than half the price), Lemon Puffs...you get the idea.  Bear *may* have purchased *some* of the above - plus others too numerous to mention.

Fortunately Bears have exclusive access to the Calorie Free Isle, which is accessed in a similar manner (though not the same - it's a closely guarded secret) to that offered by Platform 9 3/4.  I understand Hippo's were also party to such benefits - however membership was withdrawn due to abuse of privilege. 

 

3.  Meeting up with work buddy in the car park of B&Q (we pick the most scenic of places) and then spending the best part of an hour setting the world to rights. All very politically correct...not....

 

4.  Then the dreaded visit to the tooth vet for a check-up - a task which took all of ten minutes or so.  Ker-ching.....twenty four quid blown.  Bear should've been a Dentist - I mean, just how hard can it be?  It's not like they do very clever things like make amazing scratch-built locos in 2mm scale, is it?

 

Once back home, Bear then had the fun job of wiping down & disinfecting seventy-odd quid's worth of shopping.  Oh what fun.

 

Bear has decided that tonight's din dins will feature a pizza, as it's (a) yummy, and (b) easy.  Chips may be involved.....

[Barry O]

Yes a Professor Tooth wangler who makes very nice scale models of items which run on invisible to normal eyes tracks.. I first met him when he was nowt but a lad...

 

Naz

[brianusa]

11 hours ago, polybear said:

Airfares start  around $400 return, not sure how that is compared before all this so I can't say if they are pricing it low to get business back, or high to recoup losses.

 

Just like car rentals.  Apparently due to slow business due to covid, they got rid of a lot of cars so consequently they are hard to get now and much more expensive.  At least over here!

   Brian.

[JohnDMJ]

Good Evening,

 

Just managed to scan today's posts as my eyes are still (physically) watering after two days! Advice is being souht!

 

However,

 

11 hours ago, TheQ said:

One thing with HS2, is it's not Boris's vanity project, nor Mays, Nor Camerons , Not even Browns.. It dates back to the Blair.. If they built railways at the speed we do now, back in the 1830's, I think the first line from London to Manchester might just be being finished. They could build a line using a pick and shovel faster, than all the machinery we have now..

 

And Polytix (although I should not mention that here!)

[PhilJ W]

Well its happening, Chelsea have just announced that they're pulling out of the proposed 'super' league.

[New Haven Neil]

Evening all.

 

The BBC Mancunychester Look Norf obviously have a mole on here (Winslow suspected)  as there was a positive IoM report this evening - about 'Becki Cruel' aka Becky Flint away from the Toob of You.  Included in the list of something or other for young business people.  I used to work with her dad who was a Police Inspector. Decent bloke.

[Ozexpatriate]

10 hours ago, BSW01 said:

As for me, I’ll be back down in what Sheila calls ‘Middle Earth’ removing some more of the cellar ceiling.

At least Midgard is preferable to realm of Hel / Helheim in the roots of Yggdrasil.

 

Do you ascend back to Asgard via the Bilröst (rainbow bridge)?

 

Do watch out for Jörmungandr in the encircling sea.

[polybear]

1 hour ago, JohnDMJ said:

And Polytix (although I should not mention that here!)

 

Bear was half-way thru' typing Polytix into Google when I finally twigged....

 

57 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Well its happening, Chelsea have just announced that they're pulling out of the proposed 'super' league.

 

Rumour has it that Mun U are getting twitchy too...

 

In other news:

Bear has tested the LDC offering from Home Bargains.  Whilst more than edible, it's basically a slab of mild lemony flavour sponge cake with a thin icing coating on top.  The Co-op has nothing to worry about....

[Erichill16]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Well its happening, Chelsea have just announced that they're pulling out of the proposed 'super' league.

Man City have also withdrawn.

Think the whole thing will implode now.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, TheQ said:

Ingenuity is just the stupid name they have given to the helicopter, so they are really just saying,  "helicopters name" project manager..

Indeed.

 

But is "Ingenuity" really a stupid name? Is building a rotorcraft to fly in 37% of earth's gravity and dramatically less atmospheric pressure (0.6%) insufficiently ingenious to be worthy of the name? Apparently the rotor blades rotate at 2,537 rpm to develop enough lift - about five times that of terrestrial rotorcraft.

 

At least it's not "Copter McCopter Face".

 

Edited April 20, 2021 by Ozexpatriate

[J. S. Bach]

12 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Indeed.

 

But is "Ingenuity" really a stupid name? Is building a rotorcraft to fly in 37% of earth's gravity and dramatically less atmospheric pressure (0.6%) insufficiently ingenious to be worthy of the name? Apparently the rotor blades rotate at 2,537 rpm to develop enough lift - about five times that of terrestrial rotorcraft.

 

A total waste of money!

[polybear]

Sounds very promising if it proves successful:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56823627

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. The European super league is being scrapped. Barca and Atletico have also pulled out, good job too. All those billionaire club owners should look on the bright side, there won't be so much money for them to count.

[Coombe Barton]

... Project management by experiment and adaptation ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2021/04/20/another-wave-expected/

[Sir TophamHatt]

On 19/04/2021 at 20:16, simontaylor484 said:

@Sir TophamHatt you could get a signal booster that plugs in to the mains and the back of your tv so the ladders dont need to come out.

 

@polybearScrewfix  and Toolstation seperate their tools in to hand and power tools that could be why the non electric saw does not show up

I thought about this but didn't want something else powered.
That was after I bought all the kit to do it!

 

On 19/04/2021 at 19:29, PhilJ W said:

You could always fit a booster to the aerial. I had one until I went over to cable. Only down about one is it is fitted to the aerial and would mean getting the ladders out again to fit one.

I could potentially fit it in the loft as the new aerial comes in and then joins to another cable, which goes down into the wall downstairs.

I bought the kit (fused spur, plug socket, back boxes) to convert a spare twin and earth cable for powered operation but didn't bother in the end.

 

On 19/04/2021 at 19:51, Coombe Barton said:

Waltham on the Wolds transmitter was always problematic west of Victoria Park. I guess that you're on the west of Leicester. 

Indeed, by quite a fair bit.
Despite being in the catchment area for it :confused:

 

 

So to finally finish this off...

 

Flattened the aerial so it wasn't pointing up any more.  Retuned and got ~70 channels.

Turned it to the left a little.  Retuned and got ~50 channels.
Turned it a little to the right.  Retuned and got ~70 channels again.
Turned a bit more to the right.  Retuned and got ~40 channels.

Took aerial down, turned it round on the bracket and mounted it towards Sutton Coldfield.  Retuned and got 96 channels.

 

I don't have any more time to devote to this so West Midlands local news it is.
To be fair, we can always change back to freesat and watch the East Mids news if we REALLY want but I suspect we won't miss it.

 

Learnt a lot through it all though and probably worked off a 10th of a pizza slice!

 

Now on to more pressing matters - repotting sunflowers and veg!

From large metal devices to dainty fragile plants.  Two ends of some sort of scale!

[leopardml2341]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Sounds very promising if it proves successful:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56823627

SWMBO has been involved in conducting the trials of this (or similar) medication. Bit of a downside is that it involves regular contact with Covid Positive candidates, lots of ppe and cleansing needed.

[leopardml2341]

5 minutes ago, Sir TophamHatt said:

 

Flattened the aerial so it wasn't pointing up any more.  Retuned and got ~70 channels.

Turned it to the left a little.  Retuned and got ~50 channels.
Turned it a little to the right.  Retuned and got ~70 channels again.
Turned a bit more to the right.  Retuned and got ~40 channels.

Took aerial down, turned it round on the bracket and mounted it towards Sutton Coldfield.  Retuned and got 96 channels.

 

I don't have any more time to devote to this so West Midlands local news it is.
To be fair, we can always change back to freesat and watch the East Mids news if we REALLY want but I suspect we won't miss it.

 

Been there, done that; South Derbyshire has a similar problem. I too have to watch Yam Yam news

Edited April 20, 2021 by leopardml2341