Early Risers.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

The rain has been on and off for most of the day, it finally stopped late afternoon. In between the showers, I managed to get 2 more sets of lights up in the garden, these mains powered not solar, but they are LED. They have been plugged in in the workshop on a timer and the cables fed through a gap, between the one of windows and the window frame. I also managed to install the old kitchen under cabinet lights underneath the shelf above my workbench and I must stay they make a big difference and I no longer need the 2 small desktop lights that I used to us, thus freeing up a socket. Once that was done, I did a little more work on the turntable, painting the pulley wheel I made a couple of weeks ago. 

 

Here’s a photo

 

Here it is installed under the turntable 

 

 

When I came in for dinner the postie had been and my company pension has gone up by almost 5%, a very nice surprise indeed. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[brianusa]

15 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Indeed, which is why I am viewing the whole thing with equanimity. Worrying about ain't gonna change a thing. So, Carpe Diem it is...

Good on you, doc!  I shall reach my 87th year soon and cancer free.  I did have colon cancer years ago but it was cut out with no problems so should it return I'll live with it.  At this age you can go go to bed and wake up dead!😇

   Brian.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[J. S. Bach]

16 minutes ago, BSW01 said:

Good evening everyone  ...snip...

Here it is installed under the turntable 

How stable is the 78rpm speed?

[Ozexpatriate]

On 11/04/2022 at 04:47, iL Dottore said:

... or the environment collapses before the explosive eruption of the Yellowstone caldera (also considered by some as overdue).

1 hour ago, PeterBB said:

Trying to place this but a 600 mile 'hidden' crater rings a bell and just over a foot of movement, too small for people to feel, has been recorded.  It it went of ... basically there would probably not be anyone available to record it.

The Yellowstone caldera is monitored extensively - currently the alert level is "normal".

 

Between Hawaii, Alaska and the Cascades volcanoes (in particular Mt St. Helens), the USGS has learned a lot about monitoring volcanic activity including the explosive events.

 

Notwithstanding the 2019 explosive event at Whakaari / White Island off the North Island of New Zealand, where monitors had increased the alert level at least three weeks prior to the eruption:

Quote

Whakaari/White Island is currently on Alert Level 2. This level indicates moderate to heightened volcanic unrest, there is the potential for eruption hazards to occur.

at this point I would like to think that there are measurable indicators prior to catastrophic volcanic events.

 

We can't stop them of course but we have data to indicate when the probability increases.

[chrisf]

Last night I had not been inclined to drive to Hitchin for the RCTS meeting.  Then a change of speaker was announced and a change of mind followed.  Geoff Plumb's look back on 1965 was well worth the journey.  Earlier in the day I received a phone call from the Stalag Surgery physio giving advice on how to deal with a bad back.  There was a bit more to it than 'time is a great healer', but not much.

 

Today I need to brave the supermarket before breakfast.  On past form I should be able to whip round the store, using my trolley as a surrogate zimmer frame, only to find that only one checkout is staffed.  One cannot win.  A job that did not get done before my holiday is to book a hotel in or near Bristol at the time of Bristol Pride in July.  Something tells me that I will not be spoilt for choice.

 

There was a quick double-take just now when koalas were mentioned on the news.   It appears that the poor little marsupials are now to be subjected to assisted reproduction techniques.  I suppose that is better than extinction.

 

Chris

[iL Dottore]

8 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Those foxes are back, and it sounds like a litter of cubs. Problem is that they're very close to my house but not in my garden. I suspect they are in next doors garden, (the currently empty house). I haven't detected any pongs yet but if a vixen has made her den there she will have to be encouraged to go elsewhere.

I’m not at all happy to read that, Phil. Whatever you may think about urban foxes, there is no question that they keep vermin - such as rats and mice - in check. They have a rough enough and short enough life without human intervention. Wild red foxes generally live up to nine years. However, on average, urban foxes only survive between one and three years

At least wait until the cubs are out and about on their own before “encouraging them to go elsewhere”. They deserve a chance of survival.

 

For more on Foxes, see here: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-secret-life-of-urban-foxes.html

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Bizarre happening last night up in the North West Leeds Highlands.  Three Yorkshire Water vans parked outside our house. Orange convoy and hazard lights on. 6 workers got out and wandered around for the best part of 45 minutes. (The lights kept me awake). Then, just as I was getting ready to go and ask them what the problem was.. they got in the vans and left. No holes were dug, no inspection covers were removed....

 

So onto today.. slop chit is reasonably empty apart from shark wielding and floor swabbing.

 

I note we are missing even more ERs. I hope they are all well.

 

Mugatea has been delivered so TTFN.

 

Baz

[iL Dottore]

Good morning all,

A quiet day beckons: nothing to do this morning, some lunchtime shopping (food plus, more importantly, a bottle of whisky or two) then a little bit of work, followed by a teleconference. After which I’ll be on an Easter break.

 

There’s a big box of “stuff” in the workshop/cellar that needs to sorted out. not a task I am particularly relishing, although I might have a pleasant surprise like the last time I cleared out a box of “stuff“ in the cellar: I found about £400 worth of gift vouchers accumulated over the years (and forgotten about). Many of which, as far as I can tell, have no expiry date 😀

 

The “axe wielders” (or “plank spankers”) amongst us will be interested to learn that my guitar playing mojo has returned and the last pedals needed for my “Pink Floyd” inspired pedal board have arrived. Apart from having to build up the calluses on my fingers and the associated guitar muscles associated with guitar playing, I also need to start thinking about putting together my pedal board. I suppose I could buy in a pedal board, but I’m thinking now that I have     a functioning workshop (all that’s missing is the bandsaw), I probably should build my own bespoke pedal board. Obviously, it wouldn’t be a Pete Cornish jobbie, but would certainly be unique.

 

Having written the above, it just occurs to me that there is some advantages railway modelling has over guitar playing: unlike playing guitar or bass, with railway modelling you can put it aside, go off to do other things for a couple of months, come back and pick up exactly where you left off; unlike playing guitar or bass, with railway modelling solo efforts are just as good as group efforts - unlike with music where you really have to be in a band.

 

Finally, for some reason, society is not as horrified by “extreme” railway modelling (P4, S4, S7) as it is by “extreme” music (death metal, heavy metal, etc). Although, to be fair, you probably have a better chance of becoming a “babe magnet“ by playing heavy metal than by modelling in P4.

 

Happy Hump Day

[polybear]

52 minutes ago, chrisf said:

Earlier in the day I received a phone call from the Stalag Surgery physio giving advice on how to deal with a bad back.  There was a bit more to it than 'time is a great healer', but not much.

 

 

Physio by phone?  Has the NHS stooped to a new low?  Jeez.

 

Bear here.....

Up at 0545, so I'm ahead of the curve today.  More Dado Rail fixing today - based on yesterday's exploits I quite like this bit.  

 

Bear's News of the Day....

Oops.  Oh look, Lithium Batteries have been mentioned.  What a surprise....

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/8700317/moment-superyacht-flames-sinks-spanish-harbour/

 

Inspired?  INSPIRED??  IN-EFFIN'-SPIRED???  No wonder these Tw@ts keep doing it.  Bang 'em up for 3 months in High Security for a first offence and we'll see how many do it again after that.  Perhaps if the Judge had sat in a traffic jam for 6 hours and missed a holiday maybe he'd have a different view:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/judge-is-inspired-by-insulate-britain-protesters-as-he-fines-them-for-m25-demonstration/ar-AAWa8EU?ocid=msedgntp

 

Yet another P&O Ferry bites the dust; Bear predicts that P&O will give up the lot before much longer:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61086897

[Grizz]

Morning All

 

My apologies to you all if any of you on ER could hear the swearing emanating from this old region of the Deep South late last night....and again early this morning ....and again just now as write this. But in my defence, as a railway trained 3rd Dan professional swearer, I did uphold the required level of professionalism throughout the outbursts and swore consistently, using a diverse range of languages and dialects, for at least 5 minutes without repeating myself once!!!

 

And what was the cause of all this unpleasantness??? 

 

My F**i** B****** C****8***  Mot*********G Poxy F*** TW***IN* ipad decided to commit suicide rather than submit itself to another bothersome day of helping me navigate the world...

"satansforpuletforbandetpokkerforbasketkors i røvensgu!!!!!!"

 

I don't know what I was thinking....last thing last night before going to bed I picked it up, flicked on the screen and took a quick look at the footy results and then...then I made the obviously unreasonable decision to charge it up...using exactly the same charger supplied with the G****T* *R**....the same one that I have always used for charging it. Momentarily it charged and then up flicked the 'White Screen of Death' and then the screen went black.....Z***%£$£(*****FFS* B*8 !!*...DEAD!

 

I have tried all of the usually recommended methods to 'reboot your iPad', to restart the K**R***.....and the result, as you can probably tell from my slightly peevish tone, is Sweet F88* A*L..

 

Now there will probably be some folks reading this who will be firmly in the 'Ha serves you right, that's what you get for owning an Apple product camp' and there may well be some who are sympathetic to my plight.......however the bottom line is I now face a trip into 'Gotham City', to visit the young and very smug employees of the St Stevens Product Co, to bow and scrape and offer my humble apologies for brothering them and "would they please fix my machine".....before my ungrateful B*****D machine ends up being the focus of my undivided attention through my Nikon Scope....and all that this implies!!!!

 

Have a great day all...

 

ATB Grizz

 

 

 

 

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

5 hour +1 hour +1 hour, a good total still being encouraged by pink pills for the sore throat, though I've not taken any this morning.

 

Heavy dew last night, but otherwise dry and comparatively warm out there, Ben the Alarm Clock Collie was half an hour early, but when out only, had a slow plod around as he was very interest in some scents ...

 

New sets of cones on the NDR, someone attempted to go through the central Armco with something big, on a straight bit of road!?

 

Tes and Coe had another tanker in and the independent PFS,  which had a tanker in a couple of days ago has no diesel again.

 

I'm now doing pretty drawings for the local Council roads people, as they seem to be unable to interpret the English language or go to places marked on their own maps.. I will get them to clear the ditch they've blocked...

 

Meanwhile I have a 10G reference being measured, on one reference Multimeter, a 20G ohm Reference being measured on another and, this weeks major system is re running DCV as it seems to have thrown a wobbly during last nights run..

 

time to sit and wait...

 

 

[Tony_S]

35 minutes ago, Grizz said:

 

I have tried all of the usually recommended methods to 'reboot your iPad', to restart the K**R***....

The other day mine went into a major sulk and the only thing left was the “plug it into a computer” and use restore device from iTunes but one last try at turning it back on worked. No idea why it it misbehaved. 
I am curious to know which of the two Apple stores in Sussex counts as Gotham City! 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A dull, but dry start to the day here in England’s northwest. My first task today is a short walk to the surgery, where I have a 9:10 appointment for my 3 monthly hormone treatment, this is what’s keeping my prostate cancer in check. Then it’s back home for a couple of hours before heading to Withington hospital for my kidney scan, which is booked for 12:20. I’m hoping that this won’t take long and I can get back for a slightly later dinner. 

 

Other than that, there are no plans for the rest of the day. 

 

Back later. 

 

Brian

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a rather grey Charente.  Margaret, Beth's friend has just left. Teddy the, I'm being loved up, golden retriever is fine and I will be taking him out in due course.  Various minor tasks have been allocated so I will  be doing them.  Not a whole lot else to report today.  

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Tony_S]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

However, on average, urban foxes only survive between one and three years

This one was having a rest on top of our shed in February 2020. Hope he is still around! There are two groups of foxes nearby, one lives in the school grounds and the other lives in the fields at the end of the road. Neither lot seem particularly bothered by humans. 

[New Haven Neil]

Good morning from a rock that is grey, but not white (whereas my hair.....white) and 10c that officially feels like 8 but in actuality feels like 5.  Dank feeling outside, when retrieving the bin.  The bin Fraggles used to push them back up the drive, but those days are gone.  Also retrieved two neighbours bins, next door are away and the next after that has hurt his back and is hors de combat.   He's a postie (now - made his money earlier with a business, and likes to be busy) so is a bit concerned for his fitness.

 

Today's number 1 task I have been left is fitting a new carpet to the van cab, which allegedly is made to fit exactly.  Report later, probably with language much like Grizz, but Navy stylee.  The original one doesn't come up to Mrs NHN's exacting standards, I can't see what's wrong with it, but I know my place - in the wrong.

 

Then a tip to the tip with the old one, and any other detritus around, then if the roads have dried a ride out perhaps.

Edited April 13, 2022 by New Haven Neil

[PhilJ W]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I’m not at all happy to read that, Phil. Whatever you may think about urban foxes, there is no question that they keep vermin - such as rats and mice - in check. They have a rough enough and short enough life without human intervention. Wild red foxes generally live up to nine years. However, on average, urban foxes only survive between one and three years

At least wait until the cubs are out and about on their own before “encouraging them to go elsewhere”. They deserve a chance of survival.

 

For more on Foxes, see here: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-secret-life-of-urban-foxes.html

There has been some older cubs in my back garden a couple of weeks ago but this sounded like some very young cubs. A vixen will have several 'maternity dens' and will move the cubs every few days. One at a time she will carry them to the next den which might be only a few metres away. This happens even if they're not disturbed. There is evidence of another den at the bottom of the next garden but I will not be going near it so as not to disturb any occupants, its far enough away from housing not to cause a problem.

[Grizz]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

The other day mine went into a major sulk and the only thing left was the “plug it into a computer” and use restore device from iTunes but one last try at turning it back on worked. No idea why it it misbehaved. 
I am curious to know which of the two Apple stores in Sussex counts as Gotham City! 

 

Mrs Grizz who has got the patience of a saint, well she has put up with me for all these years, has currently got the 'rotten apple' plugged into her iMac....that'll teach the little basket....😆 The iMac is now going to interrogate it.... I am on stand by with a bucket of water and some jump leads!

 

I'll give you a clue as to the location of the Apple store in Gotham.......It's the one in 'Hilter's Triangle'😉 .....The city got referred to as Gotham City because of its exotic and well diverse nightlife and day life. And for its population, any number of whom, could be seen out day or night wearing all in one shrink wrapped Batman style outfits...hence Gotham.

 

It was a great place to go growing up as a Metalhead. I just blended in with the rest of the "unconventionalness".

Edited April 13, 2022 by Grizz

[tigerburnie]

Morning, district nurse has been and gone, my wound is healing nicely but the site of the drain that was fitted is a bit behind in repairing, a foot long gash is fine but a quarter inch hole is taking longer, oh well, no need for further visits was todays answer. I'm still sore and taking paracetamol, but seem to be getting better. Yesterdays phone consultation about my eyes sort of followed the same vein, ie they're not too bothered, I am now wearing my specs minus the prism and all seems fine, I have not yet however tried to drive, that will be the test it seems. Another quiet day for us, might go for some eyelid inspection after all the excitement, take care all.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Apparently the blockade of the fuel distribution depot is over, so now I expect there to be queues at the pumps. As I said I will not venture out very much over the bank holiday, being midway between the two main roads into Southend (A13 and A127) and the predicted weather for the bank holiday being hot dry and sunny I expect the hoards to descend.

Now we know why he's called Handy Andy.

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/8703172/prince-andrew-porn-claims-vip-suite/?rec_article=true

Edited April 13, 2022 by PhilJ W

[BSW01]

I'm back, we'll actually I've been back since 9:30. All went as well as these things go and I've nice pin hole in my belly where the needle went in. 

 

Not much to do but sit around and drink tea until its time to head off to Withington. A bit reminiscent of how work used to be sometimes 🤣

 

Back later

 

Brian 

Edited April 13, 2022 by BSW01

[simontaylor484]

Morning all 

 

I spotted a fox last night coming down the backs, the first time in months.

 

I have to agree with a certain Bear. If that Judge is so inspired by the climate nutters he should pay for the costs that the delays they created.

 

Apart from that having to go to various shops with her ladyship.