Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis was really going to town this morning, Ibuforen has been deployed. I will have to contact the surgery on Tuesday about  my second jab. My first was on the 17th of February and I was told I would be contacted when the second was due but nothing yet. I posted off my ballot papers yesterday, I suspect that somehow I got missed despite being on the electoral register as I didn't receive a poll card either. I must compliment the electoral office in the way they got it sorted.

[PhilJ W]

On the subject of stair lifts:-

[Ref44]

To all, many thanks for the kind wishes and the various experiences of different solutions to the stair problem. SWMBO is being transferred to a community hospital for further rehab and memory tests so expect to be waiting a few weeks for the results.

The humour is also much appreciated; there hasn't been a lot to laugh about so far this year with the domestic situation.

Mike

[polybear]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

We got there an hour later and my words were 'ow much'.  €245 for a battery.  Apparently if stop start is fitted, which it is, the batteries are twice the normal price and havea life of about 4 years.  Pah and double pah.  At least Beth has her car back.  Some sticky chocolate cake from a friend helped the mood.  My wallet is in mourning, but we did get all theckeys back and they did let us off the €99  charge for the CT.  Feedback will ge interesting.

 

 

 

Not sure why a S/S battery should be twice the price - sure, it is likely to have a higher Ah rating but not to double the price.  Mind you, with the ton knocked off it comes down to £145 which is a bit more like it, assuming it's a reasonable make (Bosch etc.).  Bear would be a little wary of negative feedback that has obvious origins as they might just remember it for the future.

 

In other news:

Bear is now ready for the kitchen delivery, apart from dust sheets on the floor and moving a small section of worktop being used as a temporary kitchen work surface - but in the lounge.  New smart plug tested and appears to be working well whilst in the shed - and I've just experienced a scenario where the new plug was responding to on/off commands whilst the Amazon plug (3" away, in the same double socket) wasn't playing - Alexa was telling me "Sorry, plug is not responding" (it appears to do this on a random basis - sometimes it'll behave quite happily).  And all without the new Wifi Extender being plugged in - it appeared to offer very little if any benefit so Amazon can expect that back.  Twenty quid refund, and the new pug was nine quid.  Bear calls that a result.

[45156]

Morning All

 

With the now very common apologies for absence, and pick your excuse from the many that I've given over the years.

 

And of course, it is generic greetings to all fellow ERs.  Much skipping has happened though, so I do hope all is well.

 

Much to report, but not a lot of time - so here's some highlights.

 

30747 is off work as they've had to close due to two staff contracting Covid - she is now on daily lateral flow tests - she may be back on Tuesday, she may not.

Lily is still not signed off at the vet's as her wound is taking time to heal - hopefully today.

Got an enormous cheque from the guide dogs lottery - I wonder how to spend a tenner - won't even buy a bottle of malt.

Washing machine which we bought as a stop gap until our replacement arrived has now been sold, and is being collected this morning.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[Dave Hunt]

My car has stop/start, is nine and a half years old and still has the original battery (cue imminent battery failure?). Every so often the stop/start stops working, which seems to be an indication that the battery charge has fallen too low and a reasonably long journey will resolve the issue.

 

Dad is now settled in to Whitchurch hospital and I'll be going to see him this afternoon. He's still unable to put weight on his leg without excessive pain so that is being investigated; yesterday he was taken back to Shrewsbury for some scans but we haven't heard the outcome yet.

 

Have a good weekend all.

 

Dave

[PupCam]

11 hours ago, polybear said:

 

That's Pupper's card well and truly marked....

 

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I wonder what Puppers would make of me? My loft has Parque flooring, central heating, doubles as a home office/second TV room/guest bedroom and has an ensuite bathroom. Would I be classified as über-posh (or even aristocratic?).

Hmmm.  I can see I'm going to have to re-evaluate my loft experience!

 

I thought my partially boarded (Wickes finest chipboard flooring panels),  loaded with junk useful, previously enjoyed items, old R/C model aircraft airframes  (mostly requiring extensive restoration) and the "resting between engagements" Christmas decorations was the very height of luxury.

 

3 hours ago, polybear said:

Borderline Royalty...

That might be pushing it but as long as ID doesn't flounce off claiming "Press intrusion into his life" and then go and get a 3 hour primetime interview with a famous American "Chat Show" host he might get away with it.   As he is also Captain Cynical I wonder what the full and correct title is by which we should all be addressing him?    I think etiquette dictates that we use the correct title (if only to avoid a one way trip to the Tower).

 

3 hours ago, polybear said:

Bear was briefly tempted by the dark side of the Force....

(Whilst typing that Bear was trying to picture Puppers with a Light Sabre.  Let's call it a work in progress....)

I believe it will soon be May 4th, not that I really know what all the fuss is about as I still haven't seen any of the cinematic delights in that particular series and I intend to keep it that way.  Indeed, I look on it as a positive challenge to avoid all contact with such worlds of make believe until my final breath (I've already had 45 years of it and that was enough ......)

[jonny777]

Dry and sunny in North Somerset at the moment. There were heavy showers around yesterday, but we missed them and my washing dried very quickly. There were several panic stations when very dark clouds appeared, but they passed by in an adjacent fashion. 

 

The idea of changing from winter to summer clothes made me smile. In the UK it would never be worth it. Anyhow, in my case denim jeans are denim jeans, whatever the weather; and a thick sweatshirt will be jettisoned for a thinner polo shirt if the temperatures rise into the mid-20s, but that is about it. 

 

I think this maybe outdoor tomato plant weekend, where 30-40 plants are put into large south facing troughs once cold nights are deemed to be a thing of the past, although the wet and windy bank holiday Monday scenario may delay this event until next Tuesday. Discussions with the Kamp Kommandant will no doubt be lengthy, and subtly framed, to ensure I take the blame for any errors made in the decisions once hindsight can be used with confidence. 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2021 by jonny777

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

.... That might be pushing it but as long as ID doesn't flounce off claiming "Press intrusion into his life" and then go and get a 3 hour primetime interview with a famous American "Chat Show" host he might get away with it.   As he is also Captain Cynical I wonder what the full and correct title is by which we should all be addressing him?    I think etiquette dictates that we use the correct title (if only to avoid a one way trip to the Tower)....

Heaven forbid! I am anything but regal. Noble, perhaps (and with a very noble profile – some would even say handsome), but certainly not regal.

 

Furthermore, neither iD or Captain Cynical would ever dream of flouncing (too nouveau riche by far).

As for the correct way of addressing me: when I am in my civvies it’s just plain ID or even “dottore”, when on duty as “Captain Cynical“ it is either “Captain” or “Sir“ – depending on circumstances. Don’t worry if you commit a faux pas when addressing me, it will certainly won’t result in you enjoying a one-way trip to the tower (besides, have you seen what the Crown charges nowadays for a Tower of London prison cell and the services of a trusty executioner? No wonder HMQ isn’t short a few bob...)

 

Whilst on the subject of execution (or as we call it nowadays in the trade “punitive premature retirement”) Captain Cynical Industries AG is proud to announce a new division “Twice as Bright” (from the Bladerunner quote by the industrialist Tyrell: “The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long”). TaB will provide discrete PPR services, inhuming the chosen target with finesse and refinement (and at very reasonable prices).

 

Obviously, Captain Cynical cannot reveal either clients or client’s targets, but it suffices to say that a certain “influencer” who painted a PPE mask on her face to flaunt the strict masking requirements in Bali will have a rather short shelf life...

Edited May 1, 2021 by iL Dottore
Missed a word

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

We had a lie in this morning, so that resulted in a late breakfast. The original plan was to get the pressure washer out and clean up the front where the skip was, but rain has put paid to that idea. So I'll continue working in the cellar and make a start fixing the socket back boxes in place. I'll have to knock off a little bit earlier this afternoon as Sheila has her second AZ injection this afternoon. 

 

Oh well, time to get the hammer drill started. 

 

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

 

Brian 

[PupCam]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

Not sure why a S/S battery should be twice the price - sure, it is likely to have a higher Ah rating but not to double the price.

The chemistry and cell construction may well also be different in order to cope with the repeated and potentially frequent high discharge and then the severe canning the battery gets as the system tries to replace the often depleted energy levels as quickly as possible so as not to be "caught short" as it were.      Yes, I know, I'm making excuses for the fleecers - Doh!  

 

I always thought it was a stupid idea ......

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, Ref44 said:

To all, many thanks for the kind wishes and the various experiences of different solutions to the stair problem. SWMBO is being transferred to a community hospital for further rehab and memory tests so expect to be waiting a few weeks for the results.

The humour is also much appreciated; there hasn't been a lot to laugh about so far this year with the domestic situation.

Mike

Just a few words of advice about lift sales people. They are worse than used car and used horse sales people. I have never come across such a set of rogues, even professionally.  They make their money out of customers having to buy in a hurry to get their loved one out of hospital.  Stannah were the most expensive but the most honest.  Many of them told lies about who actually manufactured their equipment. Much of it is badged at the factory.  I ended up going with Acorn who were willing to negotiate.  It worked well and we ended up selling it on Ebay when we moved to France. Feel free to PM me if you want any help.  I think I got 6 quotes in the end and ended up paying 30% of the most expensive quote.

 

Jamie

Edited May 1, 2021 by jamie92208

[Ref44]

2 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

Just a few wordsbof advice aboutblift sales people. They are worsecthan used car and used horse sales people. I have never come across such a set of rogues, even professionally.  They make their money out of customers having to buy in a hurry to get theirvloved one out of hospital.  Stannah were the most expensive but tjecmost honest.  Many if them told lies about who avtually manufactured their equipment. Much of it is baged at the factory.  I ended up going with Acorn who were willing to negotiate.  It worked well and we ended up selling it on Ebay when we moved to France. Feel free to PM me if you want any help.  I think I got 6 quotes in the end and ended up paying 30% of the most expensive quote.

 

Jamie

Jamie, many thanks for the advice. Once we know what we are dealing with, then plans can be made. I'm expecting a serious decline in mobility and quite posssibly the permanant use of a wheelchair. If this is the case, then moving will be the outcome as our present home would need too much by way of internal alteration to accomodate one.

[The Stationmaster]

G'day all,

 

Sunny earlier, occasionally so now, but still far from warm.  

 

The battery price sounds somewhat over the top however if la belle France is anything like the land of perfidious Albion Jamie might well be paying ransom money as automotive batteries got into extremely short supply here asa. consequence of Covid.  Yes, really - lockdown's etc (various)  were (according to the AA man who replaced my failed battery - at a price) leading to a distinct lack of exercise and consequent recharging for numerous vehicles with battery failures becoming very common hence difficulty in getting any.   From years of the wrong experience (Citroen GS style, temperamental starters were they) while I don't have a 'stop start mobile' I have always gone for the highest Ah rating I can get when replacing a car battery, definitely the way to go.

 

Main task today currently looks like dealing with recycling can squashing as his ladship has once again 'forgotten' when teh recycling bin was to be emptied - there are now two carrier bagfuls of cans  to do  

 

Good to read that Dave's dad has been transferred to Whitchurch but not so good to hear about the continuing pain he is suffering - hopefully the medics in Salop can diagnose what's adrift and quickly rectify any problems.

 

Have a good day folks and stay safe

[polybear]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Don’t worry if you commit a faux pas when addressing me, it will certainly won’t result in you enjoying a one-way trip to the tower (besides, have you seen what the Crown charges nowadays for a Tower of London prison cell and the services of a trusty executioner? No wonder HMQ isn’t short a few bob...)

 

Seems Her Maj. wants TEN LDC's (that's thirty quid to the uninitiated) for a day pass into the place.  Cake is extra - and I suspect it's a case of "if you have to ask then you can't afford....)

 

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

The chemistry and cell construction may well also be different in order to cope with the repeated and potentially frequent high discharge and then the severe canning the battery gets as the system tries to replace the often depleted energy levels as quickly as possible so as not to be "caught short" as it were.      Yes, I know, I'm making excuses for the fleecers - Doh!  

 

I always thought it was a stupid idea ......

 

Stop-Start?  A cunning scheme dreamt up by manufacturers of starter motors.  Bear's gets selected to the off mode as soon as the car starts - a new starter for my little number is two hundred notes.

 

Bear has just watched "DIY SOS - The Big Build" - series 26 episode 2.  See if you can watch this one without blubbing (repeated tonight - 11pm on HGTV, Freeview Channel 25).  I do wish they'd take a little more time though - building on 3-day old floor screed that's 3" thick can't be a good thing.  I'd quite like a close  look round one of these builds 6 months after they've been done.

 

Still no kitchen   Difficult to plan what to do as a consequence, cos' a truck could appear at any time (supposedly I get a phone call from the crew beforehand....hmmm...).  This morning's fun involved paperwork. Nuff sed.

 

[leopardml2341]

4 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

My car has stop/start, is nine and a half years old and still has the original battery (cue imminent battery failure?). Every so often the stop/start stops working, which seems to be an indication that the battery charge has fallen too low and a reasonably long journey will resolve the issue.

 

Mine too, but I keep it turned off following a tank full of fuel experiment comparing mpg; about 5% better with s/s switched off. Also I can get about 10% better mpg by switching off eco mode and driving how I was taught to.

[JohnDMJ]

Good Afternoon,

 

I have noted the stairs issues and offer:

 

http://bentleymobility.co.uk/

 

They provided us with a stair lift using much tighter radii than Stannah could contemplate. Worked fine and was well maintained by them!

 

At least a stair lift can be easily removed if you move; a vertical lift ain't so easy!

[petethemole]

May Day greetings and Beltane Blessings to all.

[Gwiwer]

Hooray Hooray the First of May

Outdoor sex begins today!  

 

White rabbits.

 

Happy Beltane.

 

May Day greetings.

 

And for friends in or associated with Padstow - "Oss Oss - Wee Oss!"  Even if those celebrations will have to wait for 2022.  

 

The incoming summer season was celebrated with a picnic breakfast beside the river.  "Riverside Picnic with Riparian Delights" to quote Hyacinth Bucket.  Delights included apple porridge and a bacon and tomato baguette for breakfast and the company of Mandarin ducks, coots, shags, Egyptian and Canada geese, Common and Black-headed gulls, the occasional kayakist and our resident fake paddle-steamer "Yarmouth Belle" which is propelled by a diesel engine and a water-churning device aft.  In slightly-warm sun it was a lovely start to the day and by the magic of Zoom it was shared with friends picnicking beside the river at Lerryn in Cornwall. 

 

 

 

 

 

[leopardml2341]

 

Posted as a weblink.

Edited May 1, 2021 by leopardml2341

[polybear]

Bear is currently watching "Without Remorse" via a certain South American River - a good film so far (if you like a "shoot up the baddies" kinda film).

[BSW01]

Whilst I was sat waiting from Sheila to get jabbed, I received a message inviting me for my 2nd jab. So I booked it immediately and consequently I Pfizered again on Saturday 15 at 2:30pm.

[Andrew P]

A lovely visit today from one of our Daughters and 4 of our Great Grand Daughters.

 

They wanted to see Great Grandads Trains.

They were really good, and even the youngest soon got the hang of the F2 Braking system and enjoyed pressing the Horn Buttons.

[Andrew P]

My Stop / Start stopped working soon after I got the Car, and TBH it doesn't worry me, and as said earlier, its cheaper than a new starter Motor.

[jamie92208]

15 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

My Stop / Start stopped working soon after I got the Car, and TBH it doesn't worry me, and as said earlier, its cheaper than a new starter Motor.

Both of us hate it and try and remember to turn it off as soon as we start the car. I find it a pain pulling up atva junction on a slight gradient. As it's an automatic you tend to hold it on tickover then the dratted thing cuts out and you start rolling back.

 

Jamie