Early Risers.

[J. S. Bach]

10 hours ago, chrisf said:

That is very true.  "Lager" implies that the brew has been stored, taking on flavour in the process.  I get the impression that if it were possible the stuff made in the UK would be sold within seconds of emerging from the chemistry set.

 

Chris

That reminds me of a wine that I had occasion to drink when I was stationed at NAS Lemoore in California; Carlo Rossi's RED MOUNTAIN Vin Rose. $1.47 a gallon tax paid. It was vintage alright: 8:37AM Tuesday!  

[PhilJ W]

21 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

The situation in Ukraine is horrifying truly horrifying. Putin is committing Genocide now. 

 

I did read an article online and I can't find it now that the reason that Ukraine was managing to "liquidate" (their words not mine) so many top Russian commanders is that they have such poor communication equipment they are using Ukrainian SIM cards in phones that are able to be hacked by the NSA who pass the location back to Kyiev 

You would think that the Russians would be aware of that. I did read that they homed in a missile on a terrorists mobile phone while he was talking on it. I wonder what his last words were. 

Edited March 20, 2022 by PhilJ W

[Sidecar Racer]

2 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

You would think that the Russians would be aware of that. I did read that they homed in a missile on a terrorists mobile phone while he was talking on it. I wonder what his last words were. 

 

Whats that whooshing nois..............

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, Gwiwer said:

The 151 was converted to driver-only and cut back to Romford

I used it a couple of times when carless  to get to within walking distance of where I worked in Harold Hill. It took forever. Though I am sure the short stretch on the A127 (London Arterial) was the fastest those single deckers ever moved at. 

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, simontaylor484 said:

I have also been debating whether to remove the frost covers from my 3 olive trees. We did have a light frost this morning the thing is they are special we planted them in pots as memorial to my Grandad,MIL and BIL when they died.

 

It just shows how mild it is down here. Our two olive trees are just out in pots without any protection at all. 

Edited March 20, 2022 by Tony_S

[PhilJ W]

2 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

It just shows how mild it is down here. Our two olive trees are just out in pots without any protection at all. 

In addition to that my back garden is a veritable sun trap. It is L shaped looking from the house (south facing). The foot of the L, about 16' X 30' is surrounded by brick walls minimum height 6'. The upright of the L, about 32' X 16', also has brick walls on the right hand side and thick shrubbery on the other. 

[PupCam]

Evening Awl!

 

Been  a busy few days here hence I've been AWOL although have had a quick look and rate from time to time.   "Speedy website"  issues haven't helped.

 

A friend (well, my best mate from way back in the school days) came to stay over on Friday as we were making an early start on Saturday to go to the Astronomy Exhibition at Kettering.   We actually did  a bit of star gazing on the Friday night but I said that I mustn't be late going to bed as I really need my beauty sleep.  Otherwise I get totally exhausted in these "post-Great Inconvenience" days.    Anyway, that didn't work!    When I finally did get to bed I couldn't get to sleep as I continued to wrestle with my understanding of Right Ascension, sidereal time and hour angles!      I probably finally nodded off at about 1:30am.   Anyway, I got up at 6:30 and then proceeded to fall part-way down the stairs hurting my right foot and left elbow; the two body parts given a severe pasting a couple of months ago when I slipped on a wet floor and went Base over Apex!    Well at least the nosie served as an alarm call for the others.

 

We arrived at the exhibition about 10 minutes before opening  and so had to wait for a short time to get in and organise the tickets to the lectures we wanted to go to.   One had been replaced by something of no interest but another was very interesting  on "Polar Alignment using Sharpcap".   We particularly liked the exhibition as it was free to get in however the former exhibition-organiser in me kept looking round thinking who the heck is paying for this?  But then, I wasn't really comparing Apples and Apples  because there were no stands with large layouts, with crews of 10 being put-up in a local hotel for 2 or 3 nights etc etc etc!    Always did amaze me just how little the average model railway exhibition punter realised how much time, cost and effort goes into putting on a good, big show.    I suppose that might be considered as a sign of a good show if you don't notice such things .......    

 

We were rather worried about the safety of our wallets as you know, there are many temptations to be had at exhibitions.   We needn't have worried though because as we noted afterwards the show didn't have a lot to sell to newby, cheapskate beginners (that'll be us ).   Whilst it was most interesting looking at the fine telescopes  on offer the price tags of, for example, £7K for the telescope, £6K for the tripod, mount and drive system and £2K for the camera meant that our wallets were in fact perfectly safe.    That was lucky then.

 

In the end a combination of my exhaustion and running out of things to look at for another 2 hours until the next lecture resulted in us baling  out early and going home.   We then spent some time pulling apart my mate's really budget tripod (literally and metaphorically) and comparing it with my budget  tripod.   The equivalent of his telescope/tripod can be purchased for about £150 currently and mine cost me about £280 just before Christmas.    It made for an interesting comparison and certainly illustrated the point I made in the discussion we had about the merits or otherwise of buying really cheap tools a few weeks back.     My telescope is useable but has severe limitations (which only become apparent as soon as you have the merest hint of experience) and his really is just a flashy ornament rather than a scientific instrument.   Never mind, we are both cunning and have an engineering background and will work to improve it.

 

In Other News

 

I had a delivery from the big river yesterday;   3  pairs of 433 MHz transmitters and receivers for another little Arduino project.     Foolishly I assumed that they'd come as individual units, anyone spot the problem?     What complete Muppets!   A Beary Snott-o-gram fed back to the seller via the appropriate channel.

 

 

 

On 18/03/2022 at 09:09, Winslow Boy said:

PS don't let Pupcam see this as he might break down in tears.

 

I've got bits of a BSA engine that look just like that (ish)

 

On 18/03/2022 at 10:06, tigerburnie said:

Morning all, sky is clear blue after a hefty frost earlier, just picked up my report from the CT scan at the GP's, basically I've passed my MOT but with an advisory, seems there's a contained tumour on my kidney, off to the hospital now to see a specialist, who may tell me what they are planning to do with me. Pleased everything else is clear, heart, lungs, spleen, liver, bowels etc all in reasonable working order, though I seem to have more polyps than those we know about in my stomach.

 

Good to hear that most of the MoT went well and hopefully the advisory can be sorted PDQ.

 

Interesting concept this "full-blown MoT", fallen by the wayside hereabouts. in my experience you have to ask the GP to have specific tests done which have previously resulted in statements like "Do you really think you need a PSA test, after all you've had a lot of blood tests recently haven't you?" to which Puppers replied; "Well yes that's true I have had a lot of blood tests recently but none of them have been looking at that have they!"    This is not an isolated experience and the thing that worries me is the thought of all those tests which could/should be done for a "bloke in his 60's with a record" of which I have no knowledge of and therefore don't know to ask about.  I mean, who is the health care professional here?   The GP or the patient?

 

On 18/03/2022 at 11:58, polybear said:

Postie delivered a pair of Hackle Pliers today (of course you do know what hackle pliers are, don't you?  I'm sure Tiger does.....).  I was introduced to them at Great Missenden a couple of weeks ago and they looked rather useful for certain muddling activities....

 

Hackle Pliers?   Give me a pair of Wire Locking pliers any day!    Oh, you did!

 

On 18/03/2022 at 13:05, Pacific231G said:

Apart from giving justice to his other alleged victims, convictions for these earlier alleged offences would also help establish the pattern of progression toward the crime for which he's serving a whole life sentence. That would be useful in dealing with other offenders who might thus be diverted from more serious offences. 

Conviction for these alleged offenced would likely also raise questions about how those earlier allegations were handled that might not get the same attention if they were merely suspected.

 

I should image there's as much chance of a future scrote being diverted from more serious offences by such a trial as a chocolate fire guard preventing you getting too close to a roaring  log fire!     Whilst I agree with Bear's pragmatic financial assertion and agree that it gives little or no benefit to the public at large as others have said, it does give a degree of justice and closure to the victims.   As to "everyone is innocent until proven guilty" the person concerned waived the right to that when they committed the crime for which they've been given a "whole life tariff" (I think it was).

 

On 18/03/2022 at 15:35, Tony_S said:

After searching the paperwork we found it was still (purchased 2013) under parts and labour warranty so we phoned up. The dishwasher technician now has a washing machine to investigate as well. Sometimes having a few items from the same manufacturer has an advantage. 

Aditi has taken the washing I removed round to the neighbours to be spun. I think she is sitting in the sun in their garden drinking coffee. I am just watching television ( the F1 practice from Bahrain). 

 

I'm astonished that a washing machine is till in warranty after 9 years!   I'm guessing that the maximum Design Life of white goods is no more than 5 years these days and from what I've experienced it appears that they are really designed to "just about to hang together for 13 months or maybe 25 months for EU products"!

 

14 hours ago, chrisf said:

At the appointed hour there were but four of us round the table - Grandadbob, Mike Stationmaster and son and yours truly.  S*d that for a game of soldiers!  Someone else can do it next year.

 

Do we know how many ERs actually went to Alley Pally?   I know I didn't ........

 

2 hours ago, melmerby said:

......... but Asda re getting worse by the week

 

This week out of about 30 items, 7 were OOS, 2 were subbed with unsuitable items and returned (had to chase them on that as it hadn't been credited) 1 OK sub and 4 items not subbable.

 

They are obviously trying to keep up (or should that be down?) with Tess  & Co.    We can't believe some of the things that are "Not in stock" with no suitable substitute!     Hell and a handcart spring to mind!

 

TTFNQ

 

Alan

 

Edited March 20, 2022 by PupCam

[polybear]

43 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

You would think that the Russians would be aware of that. I did read that they homed in a missile on a terrorists mobile phone while he was talking on it. I wonder what his last words were. 

 

What the f. was tha.......

 

In other news.....

A couple of nights ago "Mad Max" was on the telly; last night it was MM2, tonight it's MM Beyond Thunderdome.

Is this Bojo's idea of getting us prepped for Poo Tin nukin' us?

[simontaylor484]

5 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

What the f. was tha.......

 

In other news.....

A couple of nights ago "Mad Max" was on the telly; last night it was MM2, tonight it's MM Beyond Thunderdome.

Is this Bojo's idea of getting us prepped for Poo Tin nukin' us?

No that would be an Airing of "Threads" 

 

I did once visit the tennis court cage that was patrolled by the SLR toting traffic warden at the Dore and Totley tennis club which was a half mile walk from my Uni Halls we were on an excursion to the Cricketers Inn at Dore. It's the very southern edge of Sheffield right against the Derbyshire border

[polybear]

14 minutes ago, PupCam said:

Evening Awl!

 

Been  a busy few days here hence I've been AWOL.......

 

It's been noted....

 

14 minutes ago, PupCam said:

I had a delivery from the big river yesterday;   3  pairs of 433 MHz transmitters and receivers for another little Arduino project.     Foolishly I assumed that come as individual units, anyone spot the problem?     What complete Muppets!   A Beary Snott-o-gram fed back to the seller via the appropriate channel.

 

 

All three on the same frequency perhaps?  And on the top board fitting a connector to the left-hand and centre modules may be interesting....

 

14 minutes ago, PupCam said:

Hackle Pliers?   Give me a pair of Wire Locking pliers any day!    Oh, you did!

 

Bear was getting rid of the evidence....

 

14 minutes ago, PupCam said:

I'm astonished that a washing machine is till in warranty after 9 years!   I'm guessing that the maximum Design Life of white goods is no more than 5 years these days and from what I've experienced it appears that they are really designed to "just about to hang together for 13 months or maybe 25 months for EU products"!

 

Bear's guess is that it's on some form of paid-for yearly breakdown insurance that includes a "if we can't fix it we'll replace it" clause, up to a certain age.

 

 

[Gwiwer]

57 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I used it a couple of times when carless  to get to within walking distance of where I worked in Harold Hill. It took forever. Though I am sure the short stretch on the A127 (London Arterial) was the fastest those single deckers ever moved at. 

I used the 251 at times which paralleled the 151 between Wood Green and Billericay.  A 15-minute headway over that length of route these days  would be unthinkable!  

 

My interest lay partly in the fact of it being a lengthy crew-operated route and Bristol FLFs amid a sea of Routemasters and square boxes.  I was easily able to hop aboard in north London and manage a round-trip out to Brentwood in an evening sighting some more of Eastern National's elderly vehicles working local services around that town or, often as not, parked up by that time of the day.  Just once I managed a complete "rounder" from Wood Green to Southend and back; the conductor looked quizzically at me when asked for a return with the "Are you sure?" expression that only a bus conductor being asked for something quite out of the ordinary yet perfectly reasonable might manage.  

 

There was also another interest who lived in Tillingham   Even EN's fairly generous coverage didn't stretch to a bus that far into the wilds on a Friday evening nor a Sunday so she collected me from and returned me to the 251 at Wickford by car on numerous weekends.   Maldon or Bradwell would have been closer but Wickford was just one bus each way. 

 

 

[monkeysarefun]

40 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

What the f. was tha.......

 

In other news.....

A couple of nights ago "Mad Max" was on the telly; last night it was MM2, tonight it's MM Beyond Thunderdome.

Is this Bojo's idea of getting us prepped for Poo Tin nukin' us?

 

 

Lucky for you those 2 Ford hardtops havent yet found a buyer so youre  still  in with a chance. 

 

Here there is a slightly different slant on the war - (from the Guardian) 

 

"The falling unemployment rate – now at its lowest since 2008 – is helping to lift tax revenues and reduce welfare payments. However, about half of the improvement in the budget outlook stems from the commodity price surge, further increased by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions.

“The world is giving us a stunning pay rise,” Richardson said. “It’s not just that we have recovered faster and better than expected – it’s that the world is handing us money at a rate we’ve never seen before.”

 

 

As a result the budget forecasts made in December have had to be revised upwards by nearly 100 billion dollars, which puts the 70 million we are sending Ukraine in weapons and aid into perspective. 

[Gwiwer]

And that was the weekend that was. 
 

Today saw us at RHS Wisley which was sunny but chilly and very busy. Dr. SWMBO received word whilst we were there that attendance at Kew yesterday had topped five figures and therefore broken some records for a day with no special event taking place. 
 

People are clearly out enjoying the Spring weather. 
 

 

 

 

 

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

I'm astonished that a washing machine is till in warranty after 9 years!   I'm guessing that the maximum Design Life of white goods is no more than 5 years these days and from what I've experienced it appears that they are really designed to "just about to hang together for 13 months or maybe 25 months for EU products"!

It is a Miele. For some reason, to celebrate 111 years of making washing machines they gave certain models a 10 year parts and labour warranty. They guarantee to make spare parts available for 20 years too. It is very dead, no lights, messages on lcd display etc, just a faint “click” when the power turns on.  So I suspect a control unit fault. I don’t want to look idiotic when the technician arrives so I did check the fuse, this was before I noticed the faint click. I assume it can be repaired. It worked perfectly until Friday and looks brand new . I have no idea what happens if it can’t be repaired, I haven’t read the warranty. The equivalent model to ours is now more expensive than what we paid. 
Tony

Edited March 20, 2022 by Tony_S

[Pacific231G]

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

 

 

Do we know how many ERs actually went to Alley Pally?   I know I didn't ........

 

 

Well I did, though not as a punter as I was staffing a society stand. Had I not been I'd certainly have gone there today anyway. I encountered at least three other RMwebbers though I don't know if any were ERs.

It was a somewhat smaller show in terms of layouts than previous ones but nevertheless pretty good and I did enjoy it. I was only there today and I gather it was busier yesterday - it usually is on the Saturday- but, as the crowds thinned in mid-afternoon, I was able to have a good chat with several layout builders. We did pretty well on Society sales on both days and got a couple of new members which is always a positive outcome.

Of all the exhibiiton venues I know, Alexandra Palace is far and away my favourite.

Edited March 20, 2022 by Pacific231G

[TheSignalEngineer]

4 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

But even the humble community Christian church, which may be non- or inter-denominational these days, still has a security presence. 
 

Wardens, sidesmen and similar roles fulfill that function and can ask people to leave. 

Years ago I remember a drunk from the local pub causing trouble at the Midnight Mass. It was before Dad became an ordained minister,  he was the 'People's Warden' nominated by the congregation. The Vicar's Warden and People's Warden sat on opposite sides of the aisle in the middle of the church symbolically there to keep the population in order. His 'Badge of Office' was a rather smart black wand about 4 feet long with a polished metal globe about the size of a cricket ball on the top. 

Dad picks up wand and approaches the drunk who started hurling abuse and threats of violence to all and sundry. The Verger had come across and he told the drunk that it would be better if he left quietly, as although he looked a perfect gentleman Dad's CV included proficiency at removing obstructions with a fireman's axe and policing sectarian riots in Calcutta.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. I was feeling a bit cream crackered after this mornings exertions but less tired now. I hope it doesn't stop me sleeping tonight.

[brianusa]

After the trains, the RHS gardens are a main source of interest.  The relatives are in the mix also!  This one is particularly lovely!

     Brian.

[Tony_S]

We have driven near the RHS garden at Wisley so many times and must have said we must visit “this year” and never have. We have been to the RHS gardens at Hyde Hall so many times over the years. It is only a 15 minute drive from here so doesn’t even need much planning in advance. 

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[TheSignalEngineer]

2 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

the reason that Ukraine was managing to "liquidate" (their words not mine) so many top Russian commanders is that they have such poor communication equipment they are using Ukrainian SIM cards in phones that are able to be hacked by the NSA who pass the location back to Kyiev

I read an article recently about a new Russian battlefield communication system which relied on what is basically a 3G/4G mobile phone system. It was supposed to be able to save setting up lots of gear when invading a country by effectively 'Roaming' on the local network. It seems that one problem has been that nobody told the mechanised artillery how it is supposed to function and they had been taking pot-shots at the mobile phone masts as they went along, then wondering why their Deliveroo service didn't bring their food and ammunition.

 

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

I did read that they homed in a missile on a terrorists mobile phone while he was talking on it.

 

The Americans tried that trick after 9/11. They dropped a 10 ton bomb on a mountain cave system and blew away half of the hillside. Meanwhile Osama bin Laden had changed to a new mobile phone before shifting base and leaving his old one switched on at the cave he had been hiding in.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[melmerby]

On 20/03/2022 at 21:13, PupCam said:

.

 

In Other News

 

I had a delivery from the big river yesterday;   3  pairs of 433 MHz transmitters and receivers for another little Arduino project.     Foolishly I assumed that they'd come as individual units, anyone spot the problem?     What complete Muppets!   A Beary Snott-o-gram fed back to the seller via the appropriate channel.

 

 

 

 

Alan

 

I think you are the muppet as that's how multiple modules come these days, in "snappable" blocks, you just break them apart manually:

 

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by melmerby

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[J. S. Bach]

3 hours ago, Pacific231G said:

 ...snip...Of all the exhibiiton venues I know, Alexandra Palace is far and away my favourite.

Thank you, I think that you just answered a question that I was about to (finally) ask: What does "Ally Pally" really mean.

 

Now, if someone would tell me why a "Black 5" is called that!

Edited March 21, 2022 by J. S. Bach