Early Risers.

[leopardml2341]

20 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Watched 'Secrets of the London Underground' earlier. The subject was the deep underground air raid shelters built under Clapham Common tube station. The shelters were built to the same dimensions and alignment as the tube station directly above it. I couldn't help thinking that you could get a pretty big layout in there.

Darn it, forgot again.

[simontaylor484]

I was wondering how the likes of Toby Carvery and their ilk would be operating due to covid now I have an idea thanks to @andyram. Not that I will be frequenting one in the foreseeable future.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Had the gang around for the day and the weather was quite pleasant which made a change. 

I had a hospital appointment at 5:15 to see a podiatrist which went ok. Just getting old.

Mil is going into hospital at the end of next week so is having to self isolate from Wednesday so we’ve decided to take her out for the day tomorrow.

Goodnight,

Robert

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[monkeysarefun]

10 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Knowing that the Aussie spirit can also involve ready use of fists or other weapons of aggression I am not at all surprised

 

 

To be fair thats only because the wildlife can be total pr1cks sometimes.

 

 

 

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

The VW dealership did itself proud yesterday.  I entrusted my Polo to them at 8 am and by 11.30 am it was ready for collection.  Sadly, as I had foreseen, the bus journey from home to the dealership to retrieve my car took 45 minutes.  It can be driven, if one has a car of course, in less than 10 minutes.  A half-hourly connecting bus is no way to encourage the use of a park and ride site.  I confess that for much the time during which I was becalmed at the bus station awaiting a connection I yearned after public transport in Switzerland, where it is done properly.

 

For some reason the laptop is playing silly tunes and the reluctance of the cursor to go where I want it to go is making me, well, curse.  Carry on regardless, Chris, and move to another burning issue.  Last evening an episode of EastEnders from 1989 was shown on BBC4.  The blink-and-you-miss-it scene where Guido and Colin kissed on the lips caused an almighty furore back in the day.  It was not the first instance of boundaries being pushed and broken in a TV soap and it will not be the last.  It must have taken courage to include that scene but it was absolutely the right decision in my book.  The representation of real life in drama has to start somewhere and be as complete as possible.  Long may boundaries be pushed where the need is identified.

 

Andyram, you are not having a lot of luck eating out, are you?  I have not even thought of it for many a moon.  You used the word “excuse” in the Covid context.  I suspect that using that ruddy virus to explain away inadequacies of service is becoming widespread in many a sector.  A letter to the manager of the outlet, copied to the managing director, might draw attention to the poor service and invite his comments before it is publicised more widely. It’s easy for me to say but probably not so easy for victims to do at the time.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris   

[monkeysarefun]

24 minutes ago, chrisf said:

The blink-and-you-miss-it scene where Guido and Colin kissed on the lips caused an almighty furore back in the day.

 

In that case, imagine what it did in  blokey Australia  back in 1972!

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jul/15/number-96-to-the-box-when-it-comes-to-sexuality-australian-tv-showed-it-all-well-before-anywhere-else

 

Edited August 24, 2021 by monkeysarefun

[polybear]

Bear reporting in.....

Well I think reporting for duty an hour later would've been a bright move, cos' Alexa going off at 0530 came as a bit of a shock.  I guess I shouldn't have watched cr@p films "starring" Arnie S last night, finishing at the wrong side of 11pm.  Oh well.

 

What will today bring?  Well I think Bear will start by playing Comparison Site Bingo, cos' the insurance for Bear Towers is due at the end of the month.  I wouldn't mind so much if the prices they come up with were the prices - by the time you've actually done the final tweaking (such as "no, I really rather not have a £10K excess, thanks very much....") usually required the end price seems to leap extortionately.  Oh deep joy.

 

Then what?  Well I've more or less run out of "significant (or even less significant) tasks to do in the kitchen" for the moment - at buddy next-doors suggestion I called the Tiler last night seeking some idea as to when he may be available (the Tiler is related to him), so at least I have some idea if we're talking weeks away, a month or two away or lots of months way. (If it's the last option then Bear will definitely be doing the job himself).  Sadly I got the mobile phone message service, so I await a call-back today....

 

I do however have numerous items that would benefit from being on the 'bay instead of being unused and cluttering up Bear Towers - so some time spent listing items may well be called for.  Not this Bear's idea of fun, but it does feel good when they sell, especially if there's a bidding frenzy at the end.

 

And after that I think I'll make it up as I go along.  Seems like a plan.

[polybear]

31 minutes ago, chrisf said:

Last evening an episode of EastEnders from 1989 was shown on BBC4.  The blink-and-you-miss-it scene where Guido and Colin kissed on the lips caused an almighty furore back in the day.  It was not the first instance of boundaries being pushed and broken in a TV soap and it will not be the last.  It must have taken courage to include that scene but it was absolutely the right decision in my book.  The representation of real life in drama has to start somewhere and be as complete as possible.  Long may boundaries be pushed where the need is identified.

 

Bear doesn't recall the incident in question (it was over 30 years ago, in my defence) but Eastenders stopped appearing in Bear Towers probably 20+ years ago; every episode seemed to be filled with squabbling, fighting, murdering and by the end of the 30 minutes of complete cr@p left you feeling like slashing your wrists would be better entertainment.  So off it went.  I have seen odd moments since then - including in recent weeks - where the Gogglebox just happened to be on that channel after watching (or waiting) for something else; I've rapidly come to the conclusion that its' 20+ years worse than it was back then....

 

edit:  In fairness it probably rates as a 5 star watch when compared to complete, total and utter b011ox such as this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58306258

Has Bear ever seen it?  No, never, not on your Nellie.  I'd rather be given a lifetime Cake ban.

Edited August 24, 2021 by polybear

[TheQ]

13 hours ago, Pacific231G said:

And I did say that some people do have a need for access to some kind of firearm. Does your starting cannon count as a shot gun? (What do you load it with- grape shot ?  

It fires a very large bore Shotgun blank and does count as a shotgun..  The only damage to anything other than hearing, was to a sail many years ago. The last boat to finish at the end of regatta week gets a double canon firing, they sailed along the riverbank right by the canon, the wadding inside blew / melted a hole through the sail..

Chatting to the current club holder of the canon, it seems the police like sending junior not done the checks before constables to do checks on this canon, without telling them what it looks like...

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Slept like a log. No more jaw ache this morning.  

 

Lots to do today. We have a visitor staying while the Test Match is on this week so cleaning and tidying mustvbe done before a zoom meeting later.

 

@Debs. is a tad busy with things at the moment... possibly sharpening more awls for use with her multiple shot awl flinging device... but, then again, she may be like other ERs who are lurking, not posting.

 

Have a good day everyone (or evening or night for those not in the GMT zone).

Baz

Edited August 24, 2021 by Barry O

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare, 467 /293

6.5 hours ish sleep just a couple of wake up and turn overs.. Not too bad a night..

Ben the I want to stay out Collie had to be ordered back to the house, he was doing everything to delay going back in.,.

 

Dry 50% cloud cover, not yet cool, as the northerly increases..

 

I noted a couple of days ago they were spraying the potato fields, now the tops are dying off, picking is immanent..

 The Wheat crop is looking about ready to mow as well, I'm guessing they'll be starting during this dry spell..

 

 For the last couple of weeks a jacking rig has just been offshore, I thought it was just parked, but it's moved a couple of times and the crane seems to be in action.. No idea what they are up to...

 

East Enders or the shouting progamme as I refer to it.. I don't think I've ever watched a full programme, it's my excuse to go upstairs and play on the computer..

 

Had to Visit Tes and CO last night, only 50% masked.. Most of those who weren't are grockles, many furriners, and I'm not meaning from the dark Side ...Suffolk... But even more furriner ones as evidenced by a small child running towards two  adults shouting Nonna!!! Nonna!!!

 

 

Measuring 20G resistors today, 3 of them which means measuring the value 5 times, a lot of sitting, not moving required..

 

Time to sit and not move..

 

 

[polybear]

25 minutes ago, Barry O said:

@Debs is a tad busy with things at the moment... possibly sharpening more awls forbuse with her multiple shot awl flinging device... but, then again, she may be like other ERs who are lurking, not posting.

 

Hmm....covert surveillance.  Worrying....

In other news:

Whilst we managed perfectly well at keeping armed-to-the-teeth Nazi's out for five years in WW2 (some 80 years ago now), it seems that even with all our modern technology we are incapable of keeping Asylum Seekers, sorry, Illegal Immigrants out:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58312630

Is that a Rant?

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I can honestly say that I have never watched East Enders. I had already given up watching Coronation Street before it (East Enders) started. Apart from the news/weather I watch very little TV, less than an hour or two each week. Not so much of the stiff joints this morning and they soon eased up when I moved and when I get into the bath shortly should ease the joints even more. Will be running that bath when I've caught up with the rest of RMweb.

Edited August 24, 2021 by PhilJ W

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, from a dry, 13c rock which houses a frustrated Fraggle.  Bl**dy boiler engineer didn't turn up yesterday after leaving a message promising to change a component in the boiler he has been going to do for ages.  Chased him to eventually get some excuse about his van, why can't these people call customers to let us know they are delayed?  He will allegedly arrive this afternoon after lunch, NHN is thinking it is the last time we use him (his firm actually fitted the boiler when the house was built, but the fitter has left recently - clue there) if he doesn't arrive.

 

This morning is a trip to the Bright Lights of Royal Ramsey, running errands and maybe a sneaky lunch somewhere.  I also need to kick the ar$e of the dealer supplying my new bike, which has still not arrived despite it now being past the promised delivery date.  This may or may not be his fault, but again he is notorious for a lackadaisical attitude to customer service - but in this case there's no alternative.  I could go 'across' for one but it would add about £500 to the price, ferry travel and van hire.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from Stalag Luft Bywater, all being well for the last time. Car is partially packed.  A bit of shopping still to do but most preparations are now complete.  Officially I'm out of isolation at midnight tonight so I'm wondering whether a trumpet fanfare should be played.   I'ts a pity that the old pit hootervisn't still working.

 

Not a lot else to report.

 

Enjoy your day everyone.

 

The prisoner of Zenda.

[iL Dottore]

Good morning all,

Interesting comments being made about eating out in the UK as of late. Without getting too overly political (or contentious) I think what you are seeing is not so much a consequence of the pandemic, but rather the consequence of a business model that often relied on cheap and cheerful labour (and in the hospitality sector labour was mostly provided by non-British individuals), a high throughput of diners and - dare I say it - a frequently less than discerning clientele with the cost of eating a meal out often being the overriding and deciding factor. For such a business model low staff wages and very low cost ingredients were the only way to make money. For various reasons (discussion of which could certainly stray into the “political“) low-cost hospitality staff and low-cost ingredients I think will become very much a thing of the past. And people will now start to have to pay the real cost of eating out.
 

Poly Bear is, methinks, treading on thin (political) ice, but as we are skating around the topic (no pun intended), I’ve always wondered why any country cannot greet economic refugees with a simple proposal: “as you want to come to our country to better yourself, we propose giving you a loan, that must be paid back, to help you get back on your feet and once you sign on the dotted line you will be required to work for the local authority - working for the community where you will be placed. A proportion of monies earned going to repay the loan. At the end of a specified period of time, and once the loan has been paid back and once you have learnt our language, customs and laws, you will be eligible for citizenship“ Of course for such a scheme to work you would need both political and public will, as well as an ID card system to make sure any refugee doesn’t disappear into the unregulated and impenetrable underground.

 

And continuing on the theme of (almost) forbidden subjects, It has slowly dawned on me that, despite the time afforded by the pandemic restrictions, I haven’t done any r*****y m*******g for over two years now.
 

Any suggestions for restarting the r*****y m*******g Mojo?

Edited August 24, 2021 by iL Dottore

[Dave Hunt]

Managed to get to see the practice nurse yesterday and have the dressing on my nose changed again. Apparently it's doing OK but still has weeks to go before healing is complete; I still haven't heard from the clinic about an appointment to discuss the biopsy results and whether any further treatment will be required.

 

I've finally given in and joined the 21st century by acquiring an iPhone 6+ that I am currently setting up. So far I've watched over an hour of tutorials on the thing and have learned how to do lots of clever stuff with it (the vast majority of which I'm extremely unlikely ever to use) but so far haven't found out how to make a 'phone call! It seems that is a minor consideration. Fortunately I haven't paid a fortune for it - in fact I haven't paid anything for it as it was given to me by a friend who is in the business and has recently upgraded his own 'phone so had this one lying in a drawer. Tightwad, me??

 

Well, the currently resident small pink terrorist we have staying has just risen so I'd better get on with the day.TTFN.

 

Dave

[Erichill16]

Morning All,

Just planning the day. Mil isn’t bothered where we go but Derbyshire is the likely destination so looking what GF cafes are available. Better get a move on.

Robert

 

[New Haven Neil]

@iL Dottore IIRC you started an 'Underground' cameo - how about watching the 'Secrets of the UndergrounD' TV prog on catch-up and.....finishing it?  It had a rather special feel to it, the work you had done was rather good and inspirational.  Not sure why I find the Underground so interesting, but it fascinates me.  I'd love to go on one of those trips around the secret parts (ie unused/abandoned), even better if it was with Siddy Holloway....

[BlackRat]

Morning one and all, and to those who need them, thoughts and best wishes to you.

 

Restaurants.......Interesting to hear other view points post pandemic.....Well We've eaten out numerous times since, well since we could.

 

Local pub, chef not back yet but great meals for a fiver and quite a bit of variety. You can eat inside, outside, but not in the land ladies chamber.

 

Last few weeks we have had Indian, Japanese, Nepalese and Thai. No problems what so ever with the food, staff, or service.

 

Numerous cups of coffee, ice creams and breakfasts as we are trying to do our bit to keep the local businesses going, which includes the rather splendid choo choo shop in the Muff.

 

No requirement to cut any slack because everyone is doing their very best and beyond here, tho doubt we could find fault if we really looked hard enough. 

 

Well no, probably not, because everyone has seemed to be going above and beyond.

 

Eateries and staff here seem just glad to see you.

 

Some of the local tourist hotspots are busy, nay very busy so we are keeping away for now, mainly because it's impossible to park, even on the bike!

 

Come to Devon or Cornwall, people do seem to be genuinely doing their very best.

 

No complaints here Sarnt Major.

Edited August 24, 2021 by BlackRat

[AndrewC]

Moaning all from the boring borough. 

 

@New Haven Neil we went on the Down St tour a few years ago. Well worth the money. The down side is all of the tours are quite expensive and pretty limited in capacity, so you either have to be on TfL Museum's mailing list or keep checking the site. 

 

Last day of summer holidays. Nasty cold/throat infection has kept me mostly in bed since Sunday. Still testing negative for the schitty beer virus though. All of our grand plans fell through. In the end it was one evening out in the west end Friday afternoon in the pub with a few friends. The latter reminded me of why we so seldom go anywhere anymore. 'click' Uber.... £19 one way. Sod it we'll take the bus. Get half way to our change. Wait and wait as one after another vanishes off the app. 'click' Uber ..... £39 due to high use. Finally get to pub 95 mins later. Going home, Uber £14? Argh!!. Actual driving time, around 20 mins. Going east to west in this part of London is simples. North & south, sucks like a sucking thing at a sucking convention. 

Net result, no rest, no recovery, no recharge, waste of annual leave. Black dog still p*ssing on the carpet so to speak. Still not sure about the job or anything else these days. Meh.