Early Risers.

[Gwiwer]

13 hours ago, polybear said:

Whaaaaaat?  You never invited them in for a slice of LDC???

If it was only up to me .....

 

..... Dr. SWMBO is not yet comfortable about having anyone other than a tiny handful of close friends / family indoors.  Certainly not  anyone who might not have taken a Covid test and who might have been enjoying the social side of life with large numbers of others.  

 

The LDC will have to wait.  

 

Speaking of which today has been a non-event.  I woke with the alarm at 5am and was very clearly unfit for work.  The House of Fun was called and my apologies for absence tendered.  That will now remain the case for at least most of this week.  I have to await the result of a PCR test just in case nad am therefore advised to self-isolate until proven negative.  Just as a precaution, you understand.  

 

I have slept most of the day and only emerged for small bites to eat at random (not conventional meal) times.  I finally get a reply from NHS111 earlier which resulted in much stronger antibiotics being prescribed os we shall see what they do,  The doctor who called me ventured his opinion that my cough does not sound like a Covid cough and the slightly raised temperature is not of undue concern but we have to be aware of the virus in the room.  So it's at least three days rest and medication to see what happens and no visit to the dentist tomorrow nor the GP on Wednesday as I am possibly displaying one symptom of the germ.  A negative PCR test will release me.  That should arrive tomorrow and will be mailed straight back for an overnight result - we hope.  Dr. SWMBO has to take one as well.  

 

Bother, said Pooh.  I don't do being unwell very well.  But there was no question this morning - I wan't fit and that was that.  

[Dave Hunt]

Much sympathy for Ian and family. Having suffered a similar loss last year I know only too well what you are all going through right now. 

 

Other stuff I was going to post seems a bit irrelevant at the moment.

 

Dave

Edited September 13, 2021 by Dave Hunt

[Tony_S]

29 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

will be mailed straight back for an overnight result - we hope.

The Royal Mail “app” shows the location of the “Priority” postboxes for Covid test returns. The ones near us get special Sunday collections too. 

[PupCam]

4 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

Monday, rather a somber mood here after the weekend.

Sorry in advance for not reviewing all the posts, will try and get to some, congratulations and commiserations as needed.

 

Friday we attended a memorial service for a good friend who died last November (age related). We'd known her and the family for 20+ years.

 

After that, we returned home and the Mrs got a text message from the parents of the Michelle, young lady she's been tutoring and helping care for for 14 years.

She had Cerebral Palsy and was in hospital for the past week with some serious respiratory issues. The text said, "come as soon as you can".

The Mrs and Jemma (who had also cared/tutored her while on summer holidays from college) went over and were with her when she died.

She was part a part of our family/life - also the folks who found Bob, our cat, as a stray and Michelle adopted him even though they couldn't keep him themselves because of allergy issues. I'd frequently take Bob over to visit as they loved seeing him.

 

The Mrs took it very hard as she has always felt Michelle was like a second daughter, and Jemma had a special bond with her also.

 

Saturday was quiet and reflective, Jemma had stayed over Friday night and we mostly reminisced about Michelle, she was such a lovely spirit especially given her circumstances. 

Sunday, somewhat better, we visited Trevor and Meagan in the afternoon and the Mrs had a session with Meagan, who'd offered to talk with her about it all. (Meagan is a clinical psychologist).

After that, an Indian take-out.

<phew> heavy weekend all told.

 

Today, one day of work, the Mrs and Jemma are going over to see the family later.

 

Tomorrow we're taking a planned three day vacation with our travelling companions, off to the heart of Wisconsin for a quite retreat.

 

A cool but pleasant and sunny 10 here first thing, forecast of some storm activity later and a high of 23.

 

Stay safe and well, hugs all round the canteen.

 

Puppers' thoughts are with you and your family Ian at this time.      

 

Such posts have a habit of reminding one of the really important things in life  and have a happy knack of highlighting the things that ultimately, just don't matter.

 

Alan

[J. S. Bach]

Condolences to Ian. with that said ,its time for the Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[PeterBB]

On 11/09/2021 at 21:21, Coombe Barton said:

... low cut dresses, otherwise known as Bible dresses, low and behold ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2021/09/11/winter-plans-and-contingency/

Skipping through - didn't realise that a few days had gone but had to listen to Nimrod - very moving.

 

[PhilJ W]

Breaking news, Boris Johnson's mother has just died. Irrespective of what I think of him as a politician sympathies to him and his family.

[PeterBB]

On 12/09/2021 at 13:18, Tony_S said:

Just out of interest are you using an iPad? My current experience using RMWeb on such a device is “frustrating “. Seems ok on my PC so suspect in my case it is an Apple issue. Some websites like Hornby’s also keep requiring me to make security choice statements too. 

Have the same problem frequently and yes, it is frustrating and on odd occasions just give up. Not an iPad but  a Mac.

 

Thoughts with Ian.

 

Edited September 13, 2021 by PeterBB
Added info.

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[Pacific231G]

My condolences Ian. Such sad news but perhaps some comfort that they were able to be with her through the end.

 

Apart from a bit more investigation of flying fleas I don't feel as if I've achieved a lot today. With rain and thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow and the bathroom scales accusing me of eating too much over the weekend ,I decided to increase my usual 2.5mile (4km) walk to 3.5 reasonably brisk miles.  There seems to be a sudden surge of boats moored on the GUC, between Greenford and Perivale  both narrow boats and the wider barges, no idea why, is there a canal fesitval looming?  

I watched the latest episode of Tim Dunn's railway architecture series and it was pretty good. It also added another to the list of pre Liverpool & Manchester passenger carrying railways but the railway transporting funicular in Germany was the most fascinating. I wish though he'd given just a few words of explanation of how the passing loop worked. one set of double flanged wheels on the  opposite side of each vehicle? 

 

G'night all

[Coombe Barton]

Condolences, Ian

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Well the weather has been kind to me, staying dry all day, although there were a few spots of rain throughout the day, it never actually turned into proper rain, so I carried on and never got wet.

 

Upon my return from dropping Sheila off at her Zumba class, I turned off the water, dismantled the garden tap and removed the spindle washer. Unfortunately, after checking my stock of tap washers, I didn’t have anything remotely like it. So, I set off to the plumbers shop around the corner, they didn’t have anything either, although they had new outside taps, at only £5.47 each, they didn’t break the bank, so I bought one and set off back home. Once back home, I removed the body of the old tap, fitted the new tap, turned the water back on and had it all up and working by 10:15, with no leaks! Tools were then packed away and I then made myself a muggertea to take outside, before heading out to continue building the fireplace wall. I got another 4 courses of brickwork done, but had to cut back some of the hedge, as it was getting in the way. I think I’ve enough bricks left for another 5 courses, so hopefully if the weather is fine tomorrow (the forecast is mixed) I should get it finished. I also managed a bit of gardening, as there was quite a bit of dead heading that needed doing. 

 

No Sainsbury’s Grand Prix this evening, as the grammar school behind us is holding entrance exams today. The prospective parents travel from far and wide and have no manners whatsoever, they will quite happily park across your drive, just so they can be near the school, lazy bar stewards!

 

Ian A, my deepest condolences to you and all the family. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[PhilJ W]

Typical anti-vaxxer.

[iL Dottore]

13 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

….I noticed several members of the medical staff wearing masks under their noses….

Cretinous morons. 

If I had my way they would be fired on the spot! I mean, FFS, they only have to wear a very light mask over mouth AND nose, it’s not like they are being asked to wear “Noddy” (NBC) suits 24/7.

 

I wish our governments (and I include Switzerland in this) would provide clear and definitive instructions about how to wear a mask properly - and devolve enforcement to the local level with individual councils setting their own fine structures (could be a winner - which council would turn down an easy way to make pots of money?).

9 hours ago, Tony_S said:

…The stitches look like a spider escaping from my brain…

Sounds like a great name for a horror comic (or a Frank Zappa album) spiders escaping from my brain!

5 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Typical anti-vaxxer.

Are you sure that this bloke isn’t “extracting the urine”?

If he is (as the Americans say) “for real”, then I reckon it’s time to dust off the principles and practices of eugenics (currently out of fashion) 

 

I’m sorry to hear about @Ian Abel loss. Condolences. There’s something about the death of a young person that really impacts heavily on many people - I suppose it’s because a young person’s death rams home the inevitability of our own mortality. 
 

Better get going and take the doggies out for their morning spin. A busy day awaits, so I’d better get cracking if I want skive off early this afternoon.

 

iD

[chrisf]

Greetings

 

Another half-hour or so was spent in the jungle yesterday morning.  While I was wielding the fork and filling the garden waste bin my neighbour Katerina was sitting in a deckchair on her immaculate lawn reading a book.  Oh, the envy from this side of the wall, and not just because I do not possess a deckchair.  After my exertions my legs still ache, which speaks volumes for my fitness levels, or more accurately their absence.

 

The new Spiers and Boden CD arrived yesterday.  Tomorrow night's expedition via the M1 will provide a good opportunity to enjoy it.  I would have played it on the way to Hitchin tonight for the RCTS meeting, but I will not be going, simply because the subject of the talk does not interest me.  This may sound ungrateful of me but I do rejoice that life as I used to know it is returning to what passes for normal.

 

Condolences to Ian A and best wishes to all

 

Chris

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from the Charente where it's only just getting light.  First of all condolences  to IA and his family. It is good however that Mrs IA and Jemma were able to be there at the end.  

 

Here Beth celebrated another trip round the sun yesterday.  A good day was had despite a rather frustrating visit to the diabetic consultant.  We went out for a meal at a restaurant that's new to us and had a good time, then watched Vigil and enjoyed it.  I had cut a lot of the grass/weeds in the morning and even managed a bit of time in the shed.  Not a bad day.

 

Today will be shopping day and who knows what else.  Orders have not been posted yet.

 

Some good news over here. Some anti vaxxers that we know are now getting jabbed as they were refused entry to some where they wanted to go.  The policy is working well.

 

Jamie

Edited September 14, 2021 by jamie92208

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare.

 A reasonable nights sleep for a change, 5:15 ish in bed and another 2 on the sofa .

 

Ben the I don't like the dark Collie, had to be encouraged out by putting the outside lights on, another light has decided not to work properly.. So that's two to replace soon, they are baby 10W LED floodlights.

I awoke with my paws indicating a change in the weather, there are only a couple of damp patches on the roads at the moment.

A quick look at boat festivals site indicates the next one is in Brownhills just north of Birmingham 18-21 Sept.. So four days, yes they could make it, but I would have thought it unlikely to have caused increased traffic in London, unless they decided to "travel in company".

 

Successfully filled in the medical pills review form online for our surgery..

It's online.. So why can you only fill it in during office hours? it's not as if they review it immediately , you don't get a reply for several days..

 

Jobs it looks like the Graduate has been accepted and has accepted the role of deputy head of lab, the boss is now talking of a couple of years of working 2 days a week past his planned retirement in order to escort the Graduate through his training..

 

They are now advertising for apprentices here , 4 places available, £750 to any one who finds one and they stay through their probation.. Yep they can't even find apprentices now , they used to be buried under applications.

 

Overheard personnel discussing getting recruits, they used to get degree holders for technicians places and MSCs for engineering posts.. Now they are only getting not very good degree applications for the higher places.. I'm at least 10 to 20 years too old, I remember when I finished training they said there would be a shortage of electronics personnel.. Well now it's happening... 40 + years late..

 

Something electrically noisy must be on in / near the factory, it's taking a very long time for this reading to settle..

 

Time to sit and ... wait..

 

 

 

 

[polybear]

9 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Breaking news, Boris Johnson's mother has just died. Irrespective of what I think of him as a politician sympathies to him and his family.

 

Bear was about to post the same news:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58548437

All of us know it happens  - but to other people's mums, never to ours......

So big Beary thoughts are with Bozo today. 

(And if that breaks the "No Politics Rule" then I'll take the awl gladly.)

 

7 hours ago, BSW01 said:

The prospective parents travel from far and wide and have no manners whatsoever, they will quite happily park across your drive, just so they can be near the school, lazy bar stewards!

 

Carpet Gripper Rod.  Home-made.  Get rid of those 6" nails you've no use for.....

 

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Some good news over here. Some anti vaxxers  that we know are now getting jabbed as they were refused entry to some where they wanted to go.  The policy is working well.

 

And the UK has just ditched the perfect opportunity to do the same.  T0ssers

 

In other news:

Bear's plan for the day (so far):

1. Sort the kitchen, ready for the arrival of the Tiler this afternoon - cover/protect the granite worktops (I saved large sheets of corrugated cardboard from the kitchen unit delivery specially for this task, mask off some areas, protect the granite up-stand from possible splashes of wall sealer etc.

2.  Off for an appointment to have Bear's ears lowered.

3.  Collect prescription

4.  Tiler arrives.....

5.  Back-up the laptop to external hard drive

That'll do for starters.....

[polybear]

10 minutes ago, TheQ said:

it looks like the Graduate has been accepted and has accepted the role of deputy head of lab, the boss is now talking of a couple of years of working 2 days a week past his planned retirement in order to escort the Graduate through his training..

 

Graduate to Deputy Head of Dept. in one step.  Dunno whether to larf or cry.

Bear predicts he'll do a couple of years cos' it'll look good on his CV and then bang out.  I'll even bet a LDC.

 

 

10 minutes ago, TheQ said:

They are now advertising for apprentices here , 4 places available, £750 to any one who finds one and they stay through their probation.. Yep they can't even find apprentices now , they used to be buried under applications.

 

 

 

When Bear applied for a BA Engineering Apprenticeship at Heathrow (1981) it was 2700 applicants for 60 jobs.

 

In totally other news:

Bear has just had an email from the bunch running the voucher scheme for the ONS Covid 19 testing Survey, confirming that Amazon have been dropped from the scheme 

And who's running the scheme?  Sodexo.......

Damn Piggin' Turdycurses.

 

Edited September 14, 2021 by polybear

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis barely stirred this morning, only just enough to remind me that he's still hanging about. The builder is coming round to fit the new handrail this afternoon. I mentioned it to a neighbour and that a metal rail was now cheaper, he then said that the cost of timber here in the UK has more than trebled (£7 to £22). 

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Are you sure that this bloke isn’t “extracting the urine”?

If he is (as the Americans say) “for real”, then I reckon it’s time to dust off the principles and practices of eugenics (currently out of fashion) 

iD

It is for real, by blowing up the pic the placards make it certain that its an anti vax rally. No need to dust off eugenics however, just let nature take its course (and perhaps refuse treatment to anti-vaxxers*) 

*I know this would be against medical ethics but what about making them sign a consent form to be treated for covid. 

Edited September 14, 2021 by PhilJ W

[Erichill16]

Morning All,

Thoughts for Ian, family and others affected.

Robert

[BoD]

Thoughts are with you and your family, Ian.

[Andrew P]

Sorry to read of your loss Ian, @Ian Abel