Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Got some gardening done and after tea I intended to do some paperwork but

 a quick eyelid inspection turned out to last about 3 hours so no paperwork done.

SWMBO watching SAS who can swear the most, can’t stand the programme.

Dont know what’s on the agenda for tomorrow but Sydney is ok and looks a Bobby dazzler after his hair cut so may take him for a walk into penistone.

Kitchen surface, ours is Silestone.

On that amazing and interesting fact I’ll bid you a goodnight.

Robert

 

[Tony_S]

26 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

Marble slab? Butcher's block?

I don’t do pastry but Aditi does. We do have a marble slab for rolling but she doesn’t bother as it is too big to leave out and is not in an easily accessible cupboard. We do have a wooden chopping board but it is mainly used to store the oven racks on. We don’t really do butchery, or at least nothing beyond dismantling chickens. 

Edited June 10, 2021 by Tony_S

[leopardml2341]

Goodnight folks.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[Dave Hunt]

And it's goodnight from me.

 

Dave

[BSW01]

 

 

The rain that was forecast (although it was only a 40% chance) for today never materialised, although it remained dull all day. Apart from 2 watering sessions, one just after breakfast, the other just after I’d packed up this afternoon, I’ve spent the day in the cellar. 

 

The progress made today is all quite visible, as I’ve completed packing the main doorway, all that’s required now is the application of a bit of filler in the joints, followed by a bit of sanding and the doorframe is ready for painting. The doorway took quite a bit of time to do, as I had to mark and measure the 2 uprights as these required a slight taper to them, to correct the slope of the frame. Using a piece of wood, 1 1/4” by 1” and about 73” long. The top was fine, but the bottom needed about 3/16” taking off! So I marked a line and using a hand plane, I planed the whole length until I was happy with the fit, but my workmate is to nay about 30” wide, so I had to keep moving it whilst planing and this needed doing on both sides! So the whole process was quite lengthy, taking about 45 minutes to complete them both. But it meant that the wider top piece was the same distance along its full length, when it fitted next to the plasterboard. 

 

Here are some photos of today’s work. 

 

The doorway as it was before work began. 

 

A close up of a section of the wall, showing the amount of filling required. The section ‘fresh’ old wood, is where I removed a “lumpy bit” that wasn’t in line with the rest of the frame. 

 

With the tapered fillers in place. 

 

The finished doorframe. 

 

The finished access door. 

 

I also managed to complete the packing around the fireplace to, something I didn’t expect to get done today, which can be seen below. The exposed brickwork that can be seen in the photo below, will remain on show and eventually be varnished and of course the fireplace itself will get a new coat of paint too!

 

In all of the above photos, the final pieces of packing are just a few millimetres proud of the plasterboard, giving Ian a neat finished depth mark. I even managed to pack up earlier than usual, knocking off just after 3 o’clock for a well earned mid afternoon muggertea, followed by a bit of eyelid inspection. 

 

Edited June 10, 2021 by BSW01

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[BR60103]

We have appointments scheduled for our second jabs on Saturday.  The government released seconds for our age group (under 80) and we went to the drugstore on Monday and put our names in. The scheduler phoned back tonight.

 

I would be interested in a conversion table between gallons (or liters) of gasoline and Kilowatt-hours (or whatever) of electricity. 

My feeling is that the IC engine is popular because of convenience.  I can fill my tank in a few minutes. It starts in seconds. I can carry a spare supply if I anticipate problems.

(Note that I  would prefer a steam engine but none were available in my price range.)

 

I was doing some picture re-hanging yesterday. I found that my dollar store $1 level has a ruler on it that is about 2.5% short. I have not checked the centimeters yet.

 

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare,

5 hours sleep so far, on not in the bed, up another degree in the house.

Ben the I'm too hot Collie is sleeping at the bottom of the stairs.

 

Those stainless removable panels look interesting, we have even less surface area to cover  than Coombe Barton's kitchen.

 

Forepaws were extremely unhappy yesterday early morning, they are a lot better today, though right forepaw won't be happy latter as it's another day of current shunts  lots of typing.

 

Added another handicap formula to the spreadsheet yesterday as an experiment. This is PHRF, which I've mentioned in the past. This version is the official one, not the modified one I tried in the past, as created by a professor and used by USA sailing.  It's slightly more complicated than FAY as you need to know the dimensions of the sails not just the sail area. Like an aircraft ( particularly gliders) the longer  wing span of an aircraft the more efficient it is.

Anyway the result, came out between the two FAY formula , which is therefore just about a bullseye. Unfortunately not many of the boats have the necessary dimensions available on line to try it against other boats.

 

We had the 3 Rivers Race debriefing last night. The committee met, and  phoned each guardship commander in turn for their comments.

My only Race comments were the buoy flashing light and the top of boat flashing lights failed.. that has been put down to cheap batteries from Wilko,  back to Duracell next year...

 

Their was much apology about my crew , basically two didn't get on and one stormed off, the one that stayed wasn't fit for anything, he must be 30 stone, and was knackered just walking the 100 ft down the quay. He also had great difficulty moving around the boat and spent a lot of time asleep.

 

Anyway MRC tonight. So I must get new batteries for my grass gun..

 

Time to get a little more sleep.

 

 

[iL Dottore]

Morning all!

 

Up very, very early this morning for the usual reasons. This is starting to get a bit tedious. However, those of you who can’t wait to get your grubby little paws onto Captain Cynical’s Alpine Treasures (tm) will be sorely disappointed to learn that, according to the “boy doctor“ at yesterday‘s consultation, everything is ticketyboo! Some age related changes, as you would expect, as well as some minor changes secondary to my medical history (not unexpected and not concerning). Thus, I will not be shuffling off this mortal coil any time soon! So, no invitations to a Viking Funeral as of yet (as Captain Cynical is inherently distrustful of all government departments, he plans to get seriously into debt just before popping his clogs and will then be cremated amongst all his possessions – like a good Viking Chief. Leaving just ashes and sackcloth for the taxman [this all is assuming that Mrs iD goes before me])

 

Now, I do have a question for all the ERs who have been recently at their GP (assuming that a face to face visit had indeed been granted): how many investigations and tests do your GPs actually do in their practice? As I was being prodded and poked at the GP,  I underwent - in the practice - a chest x-ray, a pulmonary function test, an abdominal ultrasound and blood work (basically, an abbreviated chemistry panel). I went to a cardiologist for the stress test and cardiac ultrasound - and that appointment, arranged at mutual convenience, was within a week of my GP deciding that a stress test would be necessary. Are you “serviced in-house” (so to speak) or do you get to go on a grand tour of the local medical facilities? I’m curious to know.

Yesterday, I posted a few comments about a television programme I inadvertently stumbled across on Channel 4 which, uncharitably, could be called “Freak Show TV“. This got me thinking about the parlous state of British terrestrial TV (and for the patriots amongst you, whilst the following comments are quite scathing about British TV, they are but mild and tolerant compared to what Captain Cynical thinks about European TV). It seems that British TV has now become pretty much a junk food diet consisting of violence filled soap operas featuring shabby lowlife’s, cooking shows (most of which teach you very little about cooking), house and garden type shows (which tend to be at the extremes: either featuring properties that require a seriously fat wallet to afford or cheap and tacky makeovers involving a lot of plywood, chipboard, sticky backed plastic and cheap paint) and reality shows featuring individuals who, in saner times, you would cross the road to avoid.

 

Mrs iD is a great fan of Grand Designs (the big fat wallet show), but whenever the presenter - Kevin McCloud - starts talking about "innovative", "ground breaking" and "exciting" - you can tell without glancing at the TV screen that the house in question will be a big box, with lots of glass, steel and concrete, a flat roof and open plan everything. There are a few shows which are interesting such as “The Repair Shop“, but even then they are spoilt by excessive sentimentality (more of “these are the tools and materials used to renovate this item“ and less of the “oh this is wonderful, it reminds me of my grandpa sob, sob, sob“ please). Whatever happened to the British stiff upper lip?

All I can say is “thank goodness for VHS tapes and DVDs“! One can just pull out some classic TV treasures from the 80s and sit back and enjoy refined, sophisticated television of yesteryear - like naked nun mud-wrestling 

And on that refined and edifying note, I bid you all a great POETS day

iD

[TheQ]

The conversion between electric and ICE is not a straight one, because electric is available at full power from almost zero rpm whereas ICE has a power peak often around 5000rpm for petrol 3000 rpm for diesel. This means the straight power terms you can get away with a much smaller electric engine as most power in normal use is needed for acceleration.

 

For example in our motorboat the 35hp inboard diesel engine which translates 27kW, was replaced by a 10kW, electric.

The problem is energy Storage. The amount of energy in a gallon of petrol. Vastly exceeds that held by a similar volume battery , and although getting better charging takes longer.

 

Unless things vastly improve on a motorway service station many parking spaces will need a charger. Not just a small filling station.

 

[TheQ]

Being diabetic I every 6 months get my extremities prodded, and blood tested . The blood test is not just sugar levels and once a year two portions of blood are taken for further tests.

Eyes are also tested and photographed once a year. I have had heart tests onsite but not every year, that's partly connected to malignant hyperpyrexia due to my heart rate going stupid with some foods.

I know they have some onsite facilities for X rays, other than that they make appointments at any of three hospitals all approximately 25 miles away. One north, one south, one west.

 

Other than occasionally dropping in on the F1, grand designs is the only CH 4 I watch normally. You know it will be over budget, you know K, McC will wax lyrical on concrete box monstrosities. But occasionally there are the odd interesting builds. I remember the big tile arch building, and a couple of the earth sheltered buildings have been interesting.

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

Still it goes on.  It was no surprise, but a great disappointment, to learn yesterday that Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend had fallen victim to that ruddy virus.  There will be some virtual events over the weekend but there is no way that 15,000 marchers can do it virtually – not that I know, anyway.  I love marching through Cardiff.  Oh well, better luck next year.  Mind you, that’s what I said last year.

 

My forgettery has struck again.  Whilst carrying out a long overdue binning of old papers I came across those relating to last year’s Swiss trip that did not happen.  How in the name of anything could I have forgotten the novel route to Switzerland that I devised with much help from The Man In Seat 61?  It would have taken in Harwich, the Hook of Holland, Utrecht and Frankfurt, where a comfortable five hour journey to Interlaken by a white German train whose name I also forget would have been waiting.  More to the point, what will the travel company say if I go back to them now?  Best wait till next year, I guess.  If I remember.

 

On a much happier note, I do not often click on the links to music that form part of John Coombe Barton’s estimable blog.  Last night I cluck and jerked a memory in the process.  Something over 40 years ago, scarily, City Waites played at the Angel in Bedford and I was the compere.   The version of “Pastime with good company” at the other end of the link is a paradise of gentle crumhorns and strident shawm, both familiar to King Henry VIII who composed the song.  For once I slept peacefully after hearing it.

 

Best wishes to all, especially all the sick and missing.

 

Chris

[Andrew P]

Off to Eastleigh for a few hours today, it will commence at Spoons for breakfast, which is conveniently situated opposite the Station. Breakfast will be consisting of either scrambled or poached egg on toast, and I may ask for a couple of sausages to accompany it.

 

The Sun must be up there somewhere my Good Lady assures me, but it won't be shorts wearing weather, as the forecast is a cool breeze and light sun.

 

As I'll be doing a bit of walking today, I'll miss this mornings exercise and just have something light to wash down my tablets, once my Blood Pressure has been taken in half an hour or so.

 

Have a good day one and all, stay safe and keep well.

[polybear]

9 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Well raccoons like to wash their food before eating, perhaps some bears do too,

 

 

Not so sure that LDC would take kindly to that.....

 

9 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

..... isinglass ......

 

 

 

Paws up all those who think of a purveyor of fine drawings when seeing this word?  It's use elsewhere (and meaning) was a new one on this Bear.

 

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

...... (as Captain Cynical is inherently distrustful of all government departments, he plans to get seriously into debt just before popping his clogs and will then be cremated amongst all his possessions – like a good Viking Chief. Leaving just ashes and sackcloth for the taxman [this all is assuming that Mrs iD goes before me])

 

Timing is everything, however.  Could be tricky.....

 

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Now, I do have a question for all the ERs who have been recently at their GP (assuming that a face to face visit had indeed been granted): how many investigations and tests do your GPs actually do in their practice? As I was being prodded and poked at the GP,  I underwent - in the practice - a chest x-ray, a pulmonary function test, an abdominal ultrasound and blood work (basically, an abbreviated chemistry panel). I went to a cardiologist for the stress test and cardiac ultrasound - and that appointment, arranged at mutual convenience, was within a week of my GP deciding that a stress test would be necessary. Are you “serviced in-house” (so to speak) or do you get to go on a grand tour of the local medical facilities? I’m curious to know.

 

That little list is probably 9 month's work (on a good day) .  As for in-house servicing,  not so much as a blood test.

 

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Mrs iD is a great fan of Grand Designs (the big fat wallet show), but whenever the presenter - Kevin McCloud - starts talking about "innovative", "ground breaking" and "exciting" - you can tell without glancing at the TV screen that the house in question will be a big box, with lots of glass, steel and concrete, a flat roof and open plan everything. There are a few shows which are interesting such as “The Repair Shop“, but even then they are spoilt by excessive sentimentality (more of “these are the tools and materials used to renovate this item“ and less of the “oh this is wonderful, it reminds me of my grandpa sob, sob, sob“ please). Whatever happened to the British stiff upper lip?

 

 

This Bear also watches GD, though many (all?) the current offerings appear to be re-runs.  Some places are fantastic, whilst others are just plain hideous.  I hope the owners never have to sell cos' they'll never shift 'em in a year of Sundays (one place had no windows cos' the owners appeared paranoid about people looking in.  Curtains?).

I'd like to see proper DIY programmes, showing techniques in detail.  Some hope.  As for Soaps, even this gave up on them long ago.

 

In other news:

Bear has an appointment with a Nobex Mitre Saw this morning - I'll get the plinths for the kitchen base units finished all cut as a starter for ten (I also want to paint the cut ends to seal them), then I'll make it up as I go along - I can fit the last tall end panel today as well (now that I've finished painting the correct end....)

I feel an expedition into Beam Land (aka the loft) is called for - there are two fans up there that could be put to much better use now that hot weather has arrived.

Apparently "Clarksons Farm" (Jeremy Clarkson) starts on Amazon Prime today as well - could be entertaining.  Or total dross.  We'll see....

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, BR60103 said:

 

I would be interested in a conversion table between gallons (or liters) of gasoline and Kilowatt-hours (or whatever) of electricity. 

 

As Q has alluded to, the problem is storage. I believe that it's called energy density and may be measured in Kwh per Kg or something like that. It was briefly mentioned in my post yesterday. As far as I know, Petrol and Diesel  and are streets ahead of both battery and hydrogen.

 

Jamie

Edited June 11, 2021 by jamie92208

[New Haven Neil]

Morning all.

 

Windy (outside) once again, 16c first thing though, and dry.  Bike club later, I'm 'tour leader' so better get my thinking cap on for the days route.

 

iD, as a regular attendee at our surgery, basically bar taking blood, nothing is done in house.  The second of the island's two hospitals is in the next street (Ramsey Cottage Hospital) so X-ray facilities are available there (and an MIU) and things like bursa injections, but for anything more I have to go to the Big City (24 miles) and Noble's Hospital, effectively a General Hospital.  Podiatry and my orthotics are dealt with (when ever it may happen again - covid delays) are at clinics once again in the Big City. I have never yet been to the diabetic clinic in Noble's grounds, presumably as my condition was diagnosed not too long before covid, but my optician (Big City again) takes care of her side of things, and as I see the Podiatrist as a result of my foot Lisfranc injury that is covered. 

 

It was no different back in North-East England in terms of services provided at the GP surgery, on fact less even though the population of my home town was greater than that of Fraggle Rock.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a warm and pleasant  land.  Yesterday went well, the rubbish was tipped, our friends rubbish was tipped that earned us a very nice lunch and two more metre cube water tanks were brought home. After that as it was so warm, Beth and I adjourned to thevpool which was a pleasant 28 degrees. I'm sure that Brian @BSW01 would be gery happy if Salford Quays were that warm.  

 

Then off to Ruffec and a good evening chatting to Andy and seeing some trains, loco numbers still readable at 22.20 when we adjourned so that I could be home before curfew.

 

Today we are doing indoir jobs so as to ve near the phone in case our GP rings to call us in early for Jab no 2. It's due on 25th June but we've been put on standby in case of no shows today and next Friday.  The main task is to tidy the spare bedroom and check thst ants have not got in in the corner near the utility room. If it's hotter than yesterday, which is promised the the pool may become very attractive as a retreat.  This evening we're having a sort if late picnic with some friends  in their garden. Some guitar playing has been threatened.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[leopardml2341]

Mornin'

After effects of Covid Jab 2 seem to have abated , this is not only good news for me but also the surrounding f@@ckwits and C@ockwombles  

 

Yesterday, they did not fare well.

 

Back later, if only to wish each a goodnight.

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis was going hammer and tongs this morning, a brace of nurofen has been deployed. Grey and overcast at the moment but should clear up later but pollen count is still sky high. I have to go out on the fodder run but the pollen filters on the car are working well but the facemasks don't make a lot of difference. Time for breakfast, be back later.

[Tony_S]

Morning all. 
It is rather overcast here but should warm up later. 
I don’t think much is planned for today. We had a nice gentle walk at the RHS garden at Hyde Hall. I think this is their rose fortnight. There were a lot of blooms. We had a meal out, if eating an ice cream while sitting on a bench counts as eating out!
Tony

Edited June 11, 2021 by Tony_S

[Mike Bellamy]

22 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 we are considering what to do about getting people in to clean the house and take care of the garden on a regular basis. When I mentioned this to Dad he cavilled about the expense so I asked him whether at 98 he was saving up for his old age.

 

 

Dave - we found that Age UK were able to arrange for a cleaner to visit each week and a gardener each fortnight - since FiL went into the home, we have retained the gardener service to keep the lawns mowed and may use Age UK for a 'deep clean' once the house is empty before the estate agents take their photos . . . . . . 

 

21 hours ago, Tony_S said:

I may try that with MiL. She isn’t short of money but getting her to buy something new is very difficult. She just says there is no point at her age. She really begrudges the money she pays for care too. It should be going to her grandchildren not carers apparently.

 

 

Father-in-Law was like that and didn't want us to replace his non working gas fire so he spent his time in his chair wrapped in a blanket next to an oil filled electric radiator (no central heating). However once we insisted, he did admit it was nice being warm!

 

When SWMBO visited him last week, she had to take his building society book for him to check the balance as he had somehow got it into his head that as he was in a home, his pension would have been stopped. Whilst this applies to some benefits depending if you are in hospital or a home, and who is funding that care, the basic old age pension continues. He was happy when he saw the balance!

. 

[Erichill16]

Morning All, 

Still here, contemplating asking bil if we can take Sydney for a walk. Can’t really face doing anything else, though bookwork, emails and phone calls are building up.

Slept a bit better last night as we didn’t have the crows/magpies fighting on the bedroom roof and windowsills at 4am.

Got 3 of the F4 phantom questions right but the page was corrupted and didn’t show the questions, only the multiple choice answers!

Doctors visit, I’ll get back to that, SWMBO is stirring so better make a move.

Robert