Early Risers.

[Ozexpatriate]

2 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

... sacked from the crematorium, he came to us, ... he was meant to source wood for the Council organised bonfire ...

I wasn't quite sure where you were going with that for a moment. I was imagining some kind of Viking funeral* / wicker man episode.

 

* I know, they actually buried them in their boats.

[Ozexpatriate]

3 hours ago, brianusa said:

This is also happening here in the Seattle area on I5.  Early morning is a dangerous time to be driving under bridges.

I think Ian's was accidental - unlike the hooligans in Seattle. I would have thought there were no highway overpass bridges without high fencing these days (unless the rocks are small enough to lob them over the fence).

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I think Ian's was accidental - unlike the hooligans in Seattle. I would have thought there were no highway overpass bridges without high fencing these days (unless the rocks are small enough to lob them over the fence).

You're from Queensland but cars and rocks come up and you didn't mention Dickie Johnson and  Bathurst 1980!

 

Edited July 8, 2021 by monkeysarefun

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

Despite the achey-painy legs some G word got done yesterday.  The garden waste bin is comfortably laden rather than full but worth emptying.  Some time in the next fortnight, before I go to Sidmouth, I shall attempt to fill it again.  Given the state of my legs it is just as well that the Pride parade in Bristol, due to take place the day after tomorrow, has been postponed.  If it had gone ahead and I had found myself unable to hobble the two miles of its route I imagine that I would have suffered some distress.

 

In other news, the killjoys are out in force.  Apparently there has been a football match with a good outcome.  I know nothing of the game and care even less but it has generated much pessimism about increased virus infection and its consequences.  Chill out, people.

 

There have always been some odd things on YouTube.  The latest that I have discovered is a series of clips showing the destination blinds on buses being wound on.  In my long-gone youth the winding on was done by the driver or conductor but the process is now automated.  There now follows an insight into Chris’s murky past.  Where there were still trolleybuses in London, some 60 years ago, my pal Johnny and I set about recording for posterity what was printed on each blind.  We soon found that there were far too many for the task ever to be completed.  Our modus operandi was to creep into a depot with a notebook.  One of us would stand in front of a trolleybus and write down what was showing in the destination screen.  The other would climb into the driving cab and turn the handle above the driving seat to show the next display.  The climber, usually me, had to take care not to step on the power pedal, for it would make a noise and cause us to be ejected from the depot.  Johnny is now in demand among authors of books on bygone buses to make facsimiles of the blinds.  For some strange reason he blames me.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris   

[jamie92208]

Good moaning, it's not raining but is misty.  Yesterday there were some heavy showers, I missed most of them but Beth got caught twice, apparently that's my fault.  I did get what I needed in the morning and the new garden wateri g arrangements  work well.  I need to source some sort of waterproof switch to mount on the wall outside the shed for switching it on.  

 

The car was taken to the garage and hopefully should be ready this morning with no expensive parts to replace, just brake pads on the rear, and the handbrake brake shoes.

 

Kickball was watched and enjoyed, which is strange for me as I don't mormally watch it. I even managed to watch, with awe, some real sportsmen  riding an incredible mountain stage in the TdF.

 

Various tasks for today, including the ironing and hopfully picking the car up. If it's back in time then some trainspotting.

 

Regards to all,

 

Jamie

[pH]

35 minutes ago, chrisf said:

Johnny is now in demand among authors of books on bygone buses to make facsimiles of the blinds.  For some strange reason he blames me.

I presume he is recompensed for his help. What percentage of his fee does he give you?

[Barry O]

My pudgy fingers mean if I try to press the space bar I hit V.. then, when I correct it the jessage doesn't show my corrections.. weird!

Sunny here in the North West Leeds Highlands  this morning. The birds are singing merrily,  the traffic is busy, the lunatic next door has a leak in his new shed roof.. all is well in the world. Herself is off to moreasons  then she is volunteering at the Charity shop before going off to play music with her recorder group.

 

We are nissing a fair few ERs at the moment including Stationmaster Mike. Hope all is well with all our missing ERs.

 

Stay safe!

Baz

[Barry O]

Some important news arrived yesterday. Dr Eldest Herbert has a publishing date for his book. I won't be getting a copy.. it is £99 a go.. no pictures all words..and its about politics... they only need to sell a few to pay him his fee.  

 

Well done Dr Eldest Herbert!

 

Baz

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dull start here but a mainly dry and warm day is forecast with sunny spells and scattered showers later, possibly heavy and thundery.

Like Jamie I watched the T de F with awe and that's putting it mildly.

After that I watched the British Lions match and not the football.  Could gauge the result of the latter by the noise or lack of it from neighbouring houses.   

The rugby match was affected by Covid with some of the Lions squad and staff having to isolate.  The match on Saturday has been called off due to Covid in the opposition but they are trying to find another side to play.  The Springbok squad had their second Test against Georgia called off so there could be more cancellations.

 

It's Thursday so  we are excited!!!  Bins will be emptied and Sainsbury's are delivering (with only one minor substitution)

It then gets better as The Boss wants to go to a garden centre. Yippee!!!  She wants to buy more plants.  Guess who will end up planting them.  Whoopee!!!   

False happiness mode off.

 

True happiness mode on:  Last night we had a text from Joe inviting himself and Abbie to lunch today.  As we haven't seen them for quite a while this has made our day as we really miss our grandchildren.  It's a shame that Gemma won't be able to come because she will be at school.

 

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

 

Edited July 8, 2021 by grandadbob
Speelinking

[polybear]

7 hours ago, BSW01 said:

I also need to sort out my pension from the company I worked for after leaving school, up until I left to take up the position I retired from in 2017. I can start drawing on this pension from this August! I got a pension pack yesterday, giving me some idea of what I am entitled to, but I need to have a good look at what the small print says. It won’t be a huge amount as I was only paying into it for 11 years, but it will mean a few more modelling tokens going in the bank each month!

 

Using the fund to buy an annuity from another REPUTABLE provider can be a very worthwhile exercise and worth investigating in my experience (not for me, but for a friend - quotes from several providers were obtained and there was a noticeable difference between them; all were much better than the pension company offering).  Some give increased rates depending on health status, marriage etc. - it really bugs me that Bear got the same pension that someone who is married gets, yet if they were to die then their spouse carries on getting a payment, whilst if Bear were to snuff it (hopefully not just yet as I've got a kitchen to finish) then that's it.  The woman at the Pension Dept. was pretty p1ssed at this too, as she was also unmarried and had flagged up this shortcoming but it fell on deaf ears.

 

6 hours ago, Brian D said:

More kickball related blood pressure probs looming on Sunday it seems. 

 Nite all. 

 

And if the result is a bad one then no doubt there'll be problems for a few shop windows, cars etc.

 

38 minutes ago, chrisf said:

In other news, the killjoys are out in force.  Apparently there has been a football match with a good outcome.  I know nothing of the game and care even less but it has generated much pessimism about increased virus infection and its consequences.   

 

After seeing the crowds on Wembly Way last night on the telly I'll be more than surprised if a few don't get the lurgy as a result.

 

In other news:

Bear found this clip of the bonfire construction previously mentioned:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-57688737

Another day of Kitchen refurb work is planned - the very last decorative end panel to plane & fit, followed by the corner post between wall units.  Bear had the unusually sensible idea of saving much of the packaging from the kitchen unit delivery some weeks ago, and this is used to cover and protect the granite worktops whilst working.  Still nerve-wracking, though.

I'm also close to the point where I need to book the wall tiler, as no doubt there will be a wait of several weeks before he's available.

 

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare,

 I successfully missed all the prima donnas by going to bed, sadly it was a terrible night's lack of sleep I've now got a lack of sleep headache.. I think I'll be  grumpy bear all day..

 

For some reason Classic FM is playing a tune about three pussy cats sitting on someone's shirt. It has of course been arranged in a classical format and comes out quite well.

 

There was a miscreant throwing stones at cars just over the border on the dark side (Suffolk) it took some months before they got him by which time many cars had been hit.. He hid behind trees and hedges to do so.

 

Pensions earned many years ago may only have been for a short time, but the interest earned since could still make it worthwhile..

 

Ben the changeable Collie was not quite as happy this morning, he did have a good snuffle around though, He left a deposit at what I think is the foxes hole, Reminding them who's territory it is..

 

I was a bootiful morning as I drove in, there were, hedge pigs, heorot, cony, brock, feathered rats all over the roads on the way in, however they were all freshly flattened , having got their Darwin awards..

Otherwise the roads were full lockdown quiet on the way in, until the NDR, I only saw one car going in my direction and only a couple going the other.. 

 

It was noticable on the way home yesterday, Effin clown town was in full non covid holiday mode, grockles everywhere including wandering on the "A " Road. Time to start using the alternative route..

 

One of this weekends tasks has to be starting hedge trimming, the internal to the garden Berberis purpura, it's looking like Sideshow Bob.

 

Time to measure more, while thinking about that rudder.

[NGT6 1315]

Cheers all. Looking like rain outside, which wouldn't be surprising as it was raining heavily at this time yesterday!

 

We visited my mum and dad oop narf for a couple of days as they hadn't been able to meet Livia in person before. So, a good time was had all around and we'll visit again for about a fortnight in August.

 

Other than that, I guess I may have to trim the ivy around the house again. With this summer having been much more humid than previous years, the stuff seems to turn into something triffid-like. Still, I understand a lot more precipitation would be required to compensate for the drought of the past few years. I also redid the lawn several weeks ago, which is growing nicely as well.

Frankly, I wouldn't mind one bit if it were to be raining for all of this summer. I do not at all like the oppressive heat which seems to have become characteristic at this time of year here in the city. Give me temperate northern climes any day...

 

Best wishes and thoughts to everyone who might need them. 

[Andrew P]

We are still being Weed upon, very fine misty stuff, like the stuff that doesn't look wet but gets you wet.

 

The Good Lady is being taken out for Lunch today, so a couple of hours with nothing to do which is no different to when she is at home. She never gives me instructions and only very rarely ask me to do jobbies etc. It more than likely because she has seen my DIY skills and prefers the place not to be knocked down just yet.

 

Time to splash some water over myself and have some breakfast as walking in the rain is out of the question.

 

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

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Only one thing in the news this morning so a good time for those who govern us to sneak the bad news out. Now time to run a bath, be back later.

[jonny777]

Dry and bright here in North Somerset. Quite humid, but no wind. 

 

Toadstools are now growing in the grass at the back of the house. They must think autumn has arrived, and I suppose the weather has given that impression of late. 

 

A quiet day in prospect hopefully, as I partook of the ciders while watching the football on telly, and would prefer it if noise levels were kept to a minimum. 

[leopardml2341]

Mornin' from a surprisingly bright South Derbyshire.

 

Work (again) with a(nother) busy day in prospect, but I will escape for 1/2 hour or so occasioned by a visit to the docs for some investigative blood letting.

 

See you later.

[AndrewC]

Greetings all from the boring borough. 

 

Like Mr Q, a schitty sleep. In this case brought about by w*nkpuffins yelling, screaming, and honking their pen!smobile horns until well after midnight. Makes me hope the Italians win on Sunday just to shut the forkers up. 

 

Little else to say. Last 3 days with the current employer then on to new horizons. 

 

Enjoy the day. 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

It is a bright sunny day here in England’s northwest, the first dry start we have had for over a week now I think. 

 

As mentioned last night, I am having today off as I have a few things that I want to get done, as well as a few items to pick up etc. Sheila will be at her Zumba class this morning, then she is going for a coffee with some of them to catch up with another friend, so she will not get back until almost diner time, so I will have the place to myself.

 

Last night I received an email from the RHS containing our print at home tickets for the up and coming show at Tatton in less than 2 weeks time, so that is one more step closer to normality and day out another day out for us!

 

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

 

Brian

[simontaylor484]

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

Some important news arrived yesterday. Dr Eldest Herbert has a publishing date for his book. I won't be getting a copy.. it is £99 a go.. no pictures all words..and its about politics... they only need to sell a few to pay him his fee.  

 

Well done Dr Eldest Herbert!

 

Baz

He will probably out sell Meghan Markle though. 

I do sincerely wish him well with it, you would have thought he would give his old man a complimentary signed copy.

[simontaylor484]

Morning all

 

I saw the last few minutes of the game last night not through choice the eldest asked me to watch it with him as his poor nerves couldn't stand it. It was nice to see something to celebrate after this long months of lockdowns and what have you.

 

I have today received a payout from another pension I had it wasn't a lot so I couldn't buy an annuity from it. It has taken over 6 months to get the payout at least it will pay for youngest new school uniform he starts high school in September. The Mrs is having kittens already how he will cope with his problems in the mainstream part. There is a specialist resources unit there so we are quite hopeful.

[Tony_S]

Good morning. 
It is sunny and approaching 20C here. Our delivery slot from Wickes which was 7am to 7pm has been narrowed down to between 10am and 3pm. Hopefully before the forecast rain arrives. Not that it really matters, I suspect the wood is shrink wrapped and the slate clippings are probably used to rain. 

It is very quiet here although there seem to be a lot of vans parked nearby, the workers aren’t making much noise. 
Tony
 

[PhilJ W]

The package I was expecting this morning arrived half an hour ago. Five masks that give 99% protection for when I start going back to visiting exhibitions and swap meets.

[polybear]

Gordon S has taken a turn for the worse:

 

 

- Let's hope that things may improve once more.  Thoughts are with Gordon and his family.

[simontaylor484]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

The package I was expecting this morning arrived half an hour ago. Five masks that give 99% protection for when I start going back to visiting exhibitions and swap meets.

Get some vapo rub to put a little on inside of the masks to deal with the soap dodgers