Early Risers.

[Darlington_Shed]

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

We visited the 18inch seam

I found the whole underground experience disturbing, but the thought of spending a whole working shift in the equivalent of an under-the-bed confinement was utterly terrifying. Even reading about cavers and pot-holers gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies. And that's without mentioning the fact that most of the Easington seams ran out under the North Sea 

[pH]

I have just found out, courtesy of Mr. Portillo, that I used to play Sunday morning pub league football on the grounds of a building designed, in collaboration, by Walter Gropius. Who knew? (Not me, obviously!).

Edited March 4, 2022 by pH

[chrisf]

My hospital appointment yesterday took place earlier than scheduled.  For once I had allowed excessive time for the bus journey and arrived a good three quarters of an hour early.  I was seen almost straight away.  As for what if anything was found, I will not know that until I see Professor Oncologist next week.  I shall try not to worry about that until nearer the time.

 

Today I have an early morning fodder run to do.   After that the rest of the day is my own.  With any luck I shall spend it quietly.

 

Chris 

[iL Dottore]

Ah! Oop North!
 

As an outsider, I have noticed that the English South of Watford Gap have only three views about “The North”.  Roman, Medieval and Industrial Revolution…

• Roman: The North is filled with woad-bedaubed savages.
• Medieval: all maps of The North show it filled with “here be dragons” and similar warnings
• Industrial Revolution: nothing to see - just Dark Satanic Mills and slag heaps

I think that much of Britain remains, deep down at heart, tiny little Saxon kingdoms fiercely proud and proudly independent minded.

 

Edited March 4, 2022 by iL Dottore

[NGT6 1315]

Moaning owl. 

 

The plumber's now going about his work. First step seems to be checking the burner settings and circulation pump.

 

Aside from that, we rented a wet/dry carpet cleaner at the nearby drugstore as we want to give a clean sweep to the rugs and upholstery around the house. So, that will be picked up later, too.

 

Enjoy whatever you got planned, and, most of all, be safe...

[pH]

9 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I think that much of Britain remains, deep down at heart, tiny little Saxon kingdoms fiercely proud and proudly independent minded.

Large parts of Britain never were Saxon kingdoms.

[jamie92208]

8 hours ago, BoD said:

I have been down Dawdon a couple of times.  Apparently they only took us to the nicer seams but, as you say, you wouldn’t get me down there for any amount of money.  Fortunately for me, my grandfather, who did work underground, told my father that there was no way that he was going to work down the pit so I was never under any pressure to follow the family ‘tradition’. 
 

Apart from the more serious lung issues,  very few older miners had a full complement of fingers.

 

 

I went down Walton Colliery, with it's steam winder and also temporary home to Blue Peter and Bittern for some years. I also lodged with a  former miner who was missing the end of a finger.  He'd gone back to work after the general strike, very run down from malnutrition. Then got a wood splinter from a pit prop in his finger. The wound turned septic and he spent another 6 months in hospital and lost the tip of his right forefinger. I also went down Saville colliery at Methley.  

3 hours ago, Darlington_Shed said:

I found the whole underground experience disturbing, but the thought of spending a whole working shift in the equivalent of an under-the-bed confinement was utterly terrifying. Even reading about cavers and pot-holers gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies. And that's without mentioning the fact that most of the Easington seams ran out under the North Sea 

For some reason dark enclosed spaces never bothered me.  I enjoyed my two pit visits and also caving an potholing.

 

Anyway, good moaning from the Charente.  It's just getting light here.  It will shortly be time to go and let the hens out.  Various tasks got done yesterday including dog sitting for a friend so Archie and Rosa kept me company. Today I will be heading for the supermarket.  We don't plan to do a lot else.

 

Thoughts with @monkeysarefun I hope that the floods subside without too much damage.

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

That's because them northerners and us easterners are living in the Danelaw nowt to do with them Saxons.

 

Mooring again inner Temple Hare,

Not a good nights sleep, about 3hours long gap, an hour short gap an hour.

 

Really struggling with the site this morning, as well as the descending white bar and the stupid video blocking the screen, the whole thing was jumping around, and at one point showed you need the administrators permission to post. 

 

Working underground or potholing i rate the same as jumping out of perfectly serviceable aircraft. Something to avoid at all times.

 

Now trying to warm up again as Ben the I want out Collie appeared, and it being daylight he had a good long snuffle, having found the smell of a deer wandering around.

The grass needs another mow, but there are lots of snowdrops, primroses, and not yet open daffs to avoid.

It's dull overcast, with just a hint of frost on the most exposed parts.

 

First job go to boat yard and find out why the broads MOT isn't registered for the motorboat.

After that, home and boat work, sanding though it won't be full cover off as there is rain forecast later.

Typical ... Ben is now snoring in his pit.

 

Time to get a muggacoffee and breakfast.

 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Last night was very foggy. Driving home from the cricket meeting was not good. Planes landed at the airport but the road Itravelled on  is unlit and potholed. Took a while toget back home.

 

I did some time inthe deep south  (St Evenage and Didcot) on missionary duties. I then moved up to Leeds (which is still in the South) to continue my work. What that did was to convert a maisonette into a 3 bedhouse then into a 4 bed 1920s semi we live in today.

 

My ancestors were from Normandy, Northumberland and Scotland.. not much saxon dna I am afraid.

 

Today will involve drawing process map for use in course sign off and review.. Will take time as my version of Visio no longer works..and the updated version costs ..How Much!!!

 

Have a good day.. hope the rainstops soon in Oz.. at least this time I can't be blamed for it!

 

Stay safe! Positive thoughts to all.

 

Baz

[iL Dottore]

35 minutes ago, pH said:

Large parts of Britain never were Saxon kingdoms.

I stand corrected!

However, my premise of lots of  small kingdoms fiercely proud and proudly independent minded I think it’s still valid

[Grizz]

Morning All.

 

Saxons here in the Deep South (Sarff) were clobbered by Normans (Vikings) in 1066. The jumping off point is about 20 miles away from here. Loads of Norman Viking DNA got….er….introduced in this district. 
 

The breakfast bells aclanging so have a good one all.

 

ATB Grizz

Edited March 4, 2022 by Grizz

[jamie92208]

I, like Baz am a northener, but from thevother sidevof the hills. I did missionary work in Yorkshire for 60 years then realised that my efforts were pointless and moved on even further south. When visitors came to Leeds they often expressed concern about the north. My reply was ususlly that we only ate the neighbours on a Thursday and as they were coming for the weekend they were safe.

 

Jamie

[Grizz]

In Sussex, well East Sussex anyway, the biggest issue is ‘THE INVASION FROM THE NORTH…’ 

 

And No not ‘Oop Nerth’………’That bloody Lundan Up North’…..Or DFLs (Down From Londons) as they are referred to here. And the invaders aren’t missionaries either! 

 

Covid has definitely increased this invasion. In our nearby small town you here them on their mobiles..”Oh hello Tiffany darling, you really must come and experience this genuine quaint Sussex place…it’s simply devine….bring Tarquin and Barty and Harriet and Fabian…we can have drinkies in this Old Sussex Tavern come Wine Bar….

 

The next thing you know coffee is a Fiver a cup and we can’t move for Bentlys, driving gloves and green Hunter Wellingtons.

 

Then having invaded they keep asking stupid questions like….”Do you really NEED to do that Bonfire Night thingy you do again? I mean you did it last year! It really is time that this sort of thing was stopped….what with all the noise and those frightful outsider people coming into the town. Do you know they damaged our maid’s Range Rover last time.”……..

 

Yeah well you try stopping BFN and see what happens. We are best described as Irritable round here. And very touchy on the subject of banning things by interfering ‘DFLs’ who should either get drunk and join in with the peasants or pack up and go back to Knightsbridge….Darling!
 

Phew I am knackered now! Think I might have to have another beer…….erm…..I meant coffee….yes coffee… 

[AndrewC]

Greetings from that most boring of boroughs. 

A very busy week so far work wise. One project going ahead nicely. One project sinking faster than the Titanic. The latter being a case of one partner supplying the pig and another the lipstick. The actual customer is having a civil war about the whole thing as implementation would mean some of the stakeholders losing their jobs. The last project is nearing completion but having to work with this team has become difficult as many are based in Lithuania and there was a major outbreak of covid in their offices. About half are off sick. 

 

Once upon a time I went on a tour of a coal mine (1974). It was fairly large and not too bad. A year later I had the chance to go caving. Got about 20m in and that was enough. I call it Winnie the Pooh syndrome. Fear of being stuck. To this day I can't handle caves or tight spaces. I even have difficulties on the tube if it is too crowded. I will wait for several trains if I have to. 

 

Another batch of bacon has finished curing and is now being gently smoked with hickory wood. Should be settled and ready for slicing by moanday. mmm, bacon. 

 

A belated Hippo Birdy two ewe, to Ian and Mr Tiger. 

 

That's about all. Enjoy the weekend. 

[New Haven Neil]

MOrning, from a rock that decrees a feels like of 2C, actually 6C, looks colder.

 

iD's correct about the enclaves, Mrs NHN's elderly Cornish rellies announced they were coming up to the north-east for the first time (some years ago before we moved), their friends tried to persuade them not to go, saying it's all cranes, shipyards and Corrie-like back to back houses.  A week in Northumberland 'somewhat' changed their ideas of the north.  They moaned like hell when we came here as they wanted to use us as B&B for their Northumberland adventures every year.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northumberland

[jamie92208]

Many of the same thi gs that @Grizzhas mentioned were being said in my village in the Yorkshire Dales, Giggleswick, when I was growing up in the 60's.  Close that quarry down. Oh where have the jobs for my schoolmates gone.  Fortunately  the quarry still oprates, as does the dairy that produced smells that offcumduns didn't like.  House prices rocketed with 2nd homers. Many from Manchester who followed a certain Russell Harty who came to the village to teach. This meant that most of my friends from primary school couldn't afford houses.  I believe that the situation has got worse since.

 

In my current village it's also a problem withe Les Anglais often bei g blsmed for high prices.  However  the 2nd homers are mainly Parisians though there are 4 British and one Irish owned maison secondaires.  There are also srversl empty ptoperties. Anyone want an ivy covered house compkete with ivy covered citroen  for €10,000

 

Jamie

[New Haven Neil]

I have a ex-work colleague/friend who has a second home in France (Bergerac, right on the Dordogne), he tells me that young French people don't want old houses, hence they are cheap and available for....les Anglaise.  He's a real Francophile so spends half his year down there, but considers winters can be colder than here!

 

 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dull, dreary, dismal and depressing here but at least its dry, not damp....yet. That will come later.  It's a bit warmer at 8°C.

Yet another day of not much happening.  The Boss has got to go to the dentist to check on last week's excavation so we may incorporate a walk with that visit and we also have a parcel due.  

There are various things that I should be doing.  Some are quite important but I just cannot summon up any enthusiasm.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited March 4, 2022 by grandadbob

[polybear]

9 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Yesterday I saw an interview with a woman at the border in tears over abandoning her home, cats and dogs while escaping to the west.

 

 

That's one decision that at least one Bear couldn't make (and I have no Pets).  Faced with the choice then this Bear would stay put - a Bear's Home is his Castle n' all that.

 

8 hours ago, NGT6 1315 said:

 

 

 

 

Jeez - a brand new Loco and the Graffiti Gang have hit it already....

 

8 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

And spiders dont like getting their 8 tiny feet wet either. From last years floods.

 

 

 

 

Eeek  

Floods (and Spiders n' Snakes) - or the Russian Army?  Would you like Tea or Coffee Mr. Poo Tin, Sir....

 

7 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

War what is it good for? Absolutely nothing 

 

unless you are a shareholder of an Australian energy exporter. (from Sydney Morning Herald)

 

 

Making obscene profits on the back of other people misery doesn't sit well with this Bear.  Existing customer orders should be honoured (at their current levels) and if production can be cranked up then take on new orders at current prices - and not get into a bidding war.

 

6 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Meanwhile the news is reporting weapons being directed at a south eastern Ukrainian nuclear power plant (Zaporizhzhia and reportedly one of the largest in Europe), which is on fire amid urgent calls for a local ceasefire to permit firefighters to extinguish the fire.

 

 

The fire is reported to be out now, with no radiation leaks.  Shelling a Nuke Power Station seems like a pretty dumb thing to do in this Bear's book.

The station is now reported to be in Russian hands.  Don't worry, I'm sure Private Igor of the Russian Artillery knows how to run a Reactor....

 

In other news:

The Co-op have pulled Russian Vodka off it's shelves; don't worry - supplies of LDC and Dr. Oetker's Pizza are safe  (apparently the Co-op M.D. is reported to have said that "If we pulled those we'd be in deep sh1t and no-where would be safe to hide".  You're right there, matey....)

 

Airbus and Boeing have pulled all their support in Russia - so no new plugs, points or filters to be supplied, along with all other support.

 

Rumours that Action Man are in talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy (the Ukraine President) about releasing a new Soldier in his image are as yet unconfirmed;  Barbie are to follow suit with one based on Poo Tin, apparently....  (now that would be a good wheeze - profits to Ukraine etc.)

 

More seriously, this report REALLY, REALLY p1sses this Bear off....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-60596789

 

I do hope so....

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/former-cia-chief-says-russia-s-economy-could-collapse-and-moscow-scared-of-even-opening-stock-exchange/ar-AAUzgVH?ocid=msedgntp

 

A short clip worth watching - from 3m 30s:

 

And finally - a happy ending that I'm sure all ER'ers (and several in particular) will be very happy with:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-60532632

 

[polybear]

21 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

House prices rocketed with 2nd homers. Many from Manchester who followed a certain Russell Harty who came to the village to teach. This meant that most of my friends from primary school couldn't afford houses.  I believe that the situation has got worse since.

 

Wales has a fix.  Seems very sensible to this Bear:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-60575264

 

21 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

There are also several empty properties. Anyone want an ivy covered house complete with ivy covered citroen  for €10,000

 

Jamie

 

HOW MUCH??

Is it falling down or summat?

[Nearholmer]

47 minutes ago, Grizz said:

 

In Sussex, well East Sussex anyway, the biggest issue is ‘THE INVASION FROM THE NORTH…’ 

 

Which is very definitely not a new thing.

 

If you look back to Victorian times, posh Londoners were building small mansions in multiple parts of ES, commuting to town on a weekly basis, and they were followed by only slightly less prosperous folks who commuted on a daily basis …….. it’s all the fault of the railways!

 

The reason I moved away from the area forty years ago was that house prices were unaffordably high, largely because of ‘settlers’, my two brothers likewise. 
 

Mind you, at least one of our antecedents probably got to The Weald as an invader, in that there is a pretty solid trace back to 1066, and I guess the South Saxons were sort-off invaders themselves.

 

On the positive side, the small towns in The Weald are now a tiny bit more cosmopolitan, and with some younger people, than they were - there was a period when they felt decidedly stuck in past, and lacking in vitality. Even now Wealden has I think the second oldest population of any district in England, after North Norfolk.

[simontaylor484]

Morning all

 

I did my underground surveying part of my Degree in an old copper mine in the Manifold valley in the Staffordshire peak district. It wasn't like potholing thank God you could walk upright most of the time but by heck was it damp. The eyepiece on the theodolites and levels kept misting up. Climbing ladders encrusted with mineral deposits was also very interesting shall we say. The satisfaction of producing 4 A0 sheets of drawings of underground and overground surveys that actually joined up was amazing especially when I have the drawing ability of a dead fly.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A quick look in before I head off to the surgery for my blood tests. The rain has stopped so hopefully I won’t get wet walking there. 

 

Back later. 

 

Brian

[Grizz]

40 minutes ago, Nearholmer said:

Which is very definitely not a new thing.

 

If you look back to Victorian times, posh Londoners were building small mansions in multiple parts of ES, commuting to town on a weekly basis, and they were followed by only slightly less prosperous folks who commuted on a daily basis …….. it’s all the fault of the railways!

 

Snip……Even now Wealden has I think the second oldest population of any district in England, after North Norfolk.

Ah that’s a shame, surely nothing can be the fault of railways….totally agree though. But it is still horrible to hear that about something I love some much. 
 

The cuts to our railway network across the county, especially the East to West links resulted in the underdevelopment of the E.S small market towns of Uckfield and Heathfield, right up to the 1980s before really cheap motoring came about. It was very noticeable growing up in a village near Uckfield, with its dead end railway. Especially when compared with small towns like Hassocks and Burgess Hill on the Brighton main line in West Sussex. Heathfield is still probably one of the most underdeveloped but being so close to the edge of the main part of the High Weald it might be argued that being less developed was likely to a degree anyway. 
 

Yep full of old gits here! And I’m proud to say that I’m well on my way to being a fully fledged member…at least according to Mrs Grizz anyway.
 

I guess my point was the recent influx (tidal wave) of DFLs has been Covid driven so probably isn’t truly reflective of normal patterns. Yes that has raised house prices here, but that is all relative if you already live here and only want to move locally. It is the shear column of change that comes with this type of mass influx, especially the financial might that interferes with the general balance. Suddenly you find that the nice DFLs have become a ruthless dominant force in local housing rental. It seems to be the total disproportionate amount of money, power and influence that this group of folks seem to want to inflict, with little if any regard, on the place they first supposedly fell in love with and which is what brought them here in the first place. Sad. I am not anti change despite that.
 

In the 1970s we were so backward in our village, we even had our own dairy, with its own milk bottles and single milk float….and cow! No only kidding about the cow. But I do remember wandering down with my mum to pay the milk bill in cash. Several families didn’t have any motor vehicles and one house had no electricity, although they were very elderly and quite eccentric. Most houses in our village still had outside loos, although I think nearly all had inside ones as well. Obviously this was a legacy of the estates and estate management prior to rental or private ownership. Open sewers ran across the fields at the back of our houses. It was piped up to the end of the gardens at least. 
 

Just leave BFN alone…..oh and the Brewery, yes definitely leave the brewery alone. 

[TheSignalEngineer]

On 02/03/2022 at 17:10, Gwiwer said:

Afternoon all.  That was three days in one, that was.  Phew!

Well done Rick, behaving like a proper railwayman in times of chaos.

At least there are still a few like that within the system.