Early Risers.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning, rather early, from a warm Charente.   I did get out yesterday but didn't manage much trainspotting as there was some cycle race on and we couldn't get to our usual spots.  Eventually we did manage to get lineside but it was 36 degrees.  Anyway we had a good natter and did see a few trains.

 

This morning we have the delights of a financial advisor coming to see us and tonight some friends are coming round for a drink.  

 

Oh, I actually swept the floor round my workbench yesterday.  I even found an old tobacco tin  with my jewellers screwdrivers in.  I had almost bought some new ones online 2 days ago but waited for some reason. Normally you find things after you've bought the replacement.

 

Jamie

Edited August 25, 2022 by jamie92208

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Been a busy week so far..

 

Monday involved a drive to Chertsey. We called in to see my sister who was on top form.  A1 had a lot of badly driven lorries on it. We waved to @Chris Fas we passed Bedford to get to the M1. M1 then M25 were OK.

 

Stayed at a brewery run hotel in Chertsey ..Bridge Hotel. Room was OK,dood and drink was OK..  but the beer cost HOw much??

 

Next day, enjoyed a nice breakfast then off to the fground. We passed Longcross studios.. Still using some of the buildings at one of my regular places to visit.. RARDE Chertsey. The nearby housing estate has roads named after vehicles they were involved in.. Conqueror for example.

 

Surrey Over 60s were very hospitable and after a very enjoyable game Surrey won by 4 wickets with 8 balls left. Not bad for Yorkshire Ridings as only 4 regular first teasers played. We then talked and had somealcoholic refreshments to let the traffic calm down a bit. Our return journey was OK and we got home at 23:45.

 

We had a visitor yesterday. @LNER4479 who has been building some more baseboards.after a fishnchip tea we went to the cluband he helped take Chapel en le Frith (layout) down ready for an up coming trip to Liverpool.

 

Today will involve providing some breakfast for our visitor, a bit of shark wielding and tidying up!

 

Stay safe! Enjoy your day as well as you can.

 

Baz

[iL Dottore]

Good morning all,

 

Another fairly quiet workday ahead (only about two hours of work – so barely enough cash to fuel up the Dassault Falcon….😢 🤣)

 

As to the Bear (and others) Insinuating that I got my suits from a high street chain store, I must disappointingly inform them that the suits were built for me (“built” being the term used by tailors) by a bona-fide old fashioned tailor. The fellow had an incredible dress sense and I recall once, when looking through the swatch books and happening on a rather garish check, upon voicing my interest in a suit of said cloth he replied “Oh no, sir. Sir would look like a bookie”.

 

In regards to re-finishing the kit built Stratocaster, as much as I do like natural wood finish guitars the wood of this kit is a very soft wood and really wouldn’t look very good in a natural finish (whether clear lacquer, Danish oil or similar). 
 

All this talk about the sordid business of “politicking” makes me (again) wish that we had politicians like Terry Pratchett’s Havelock Vetinari - as Commander Vimes* mused “you always knew where you stood with Lord Vetinari - although you may not always like where you’re standing”.

* another great TP creation - Vimes is the sort of copper you’d wish we had running our police forces.

 

Time for another rather large cup of coffee…

 

Tatty-Bye

 

iD

[polybear]

8 hours ago, PupCam said:

 

Unfortunately I know exactly who you mean (well, it was too easy!)  and  you might think that but I couldn't possible comment!  😉

 

 

So which clue gave the game away?

 

Bear here.....

Well a bluddygreatclapofsoddin'thunderat0410 woke a certain Bear from a nice snooze.  Turdycurses.  Just the one, no more.

And at 0530 Bear was awake again cos' number ones wanted to come and visit - and experience tells me that there's diddlysquat chance of snoozin' again at such a time.  So early starts are today's first activity.

And it's chuckinitdarn - Alexa told me yesterday that there'll be 20mm of the stuff today (just how the hell does she know that??), which is kinda useful and will hopefully help start putting the house foundations back where they belong.  Nottagoodday to be a Bin Man - and I can hear them now....

 

House Insurance?  Oh yes, useful stuff; Bear's is due on the 29th (I had a warning email a week or two back) so figured I still had time to compare.  Fortunately the very kind Insurance People have saved Bear the job and renewed it at 01:56am this morning - wasn't that kind of them?  Can I be bovvered?  Well, no not really - it's a hundred and forty four notes including legal and Home Emergency Cover, which is up by about a tenner or so from last year;  experience has taught me that cheaper quotes tend to have notverynicecrap buried in the T's & C's that are very off-putting to a Bear.  

 

Today sees Bear framing a genuine signed print that's been on top of the wardrobe since 1996, stored in a cardboard tube; there's a possibility that NHN may approve (clue: he was rather good at riding red things 😉) - piccy later.

Some new D-Rings for several piccies in the muddling room were delivered yesterday - some of the frames have picture cords secured to screw eyes (which is fine on light frames but not so good on heavy frames) so I thought I'd swap them over; the frames in question are light ones but I figured I'd do the job properly - and I've noticed that the picture hangs more nicely as a result because it's closer to the wall.

 

I've also got to prepare the lounge ready for the carpet guys arriving tomorrow (glad it's not today as it's rather wet outside).  A buddy is arriving at 0930 (he lives a few doors away) to assist in moving a writing desk from the lounge to the kitchen; after that there's just a few small items to shift, a couple of vertical blind slats to remove (there's a possibility the carpet may cone thru' the window), a quick hoover and that's about it.  I also have a very large carboard box (7ft long - used to deliver a kitchen unit tall end panel last year; I knew it would come in handy....😃) that I'll cut a couple of protectors for Bear's shiny new lounge doorframe in case the carpet comes in thru' the front door.  After that it's a MIUABGA day.

 

Bear gone....

[Tony_S]

25 minutes ago, Barry O said:

waved to @Chris Fas we passed Bedford to get to the M1. M1 then M25 were OK.

 

He seems to live in Michigan. The Bedford one is @chrisf .

 

[polybear]

23 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

The fellow had an incredible dress sense and I recall once, when looking through the swatch books and happening on a rather garish check, upon voicing my interest in a suit of said cloth he replied “Oh no, sir. Sir would look like a bookie”.

 

🤣🤣

That's brightened up a Bear's start to what is a very wet and gloomy day no end....

[The Lurker]

9 hours ago, polybear said:

 

 

I found myself having to purchase some Felt Tipped Pens from the South American Ladies a couple of days ago - I can't recall the last time I did that, decades maybe?  The ones I had were dried up - I've a bluddy good mind to take them back to the Stationary Cupboard at work and complain; unfortunately she that must not be named** that controls that "cupboard" is (a) a total waste of space (a very common opinion), and (b) knows exactly how to "play the system" and as a result the HR Dept. tiptoe around her accordingly.

(**Note to Puppers:  Often used as a privacy hanging at a window.  Got it?)

 

Was she called Annette Curtain? ;)

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup where the downpour has finally happened. We have had a little bit of rain in the past week or so but this one is more consistent and at times heavy. Earlier we had thunder and lightning (although not in that order).

 

Unfortunately it has knocked out the signals between Lee and Hither Green so there are no trains on my line for the next few hours, hence WFH. Fortunately I discovered that before I set off for the station rather than having braved the rain to find out when I got there. That's certainly something the adaptation to lockdowns has given us; if it had been pre-Covid, WFH would have been viewed with a lot suspicion, and worries about whether I had the info I needed to hand. Not so now!

 

 

[AndrewC]

Greetings all from the boring borough. 

 

Finally got some rain the day after Thames water stopped dumping sh*t in the river just long enough to enact a hosepipe ban. The thunder has the cats hiding at present. Poor old George jumped half way to the moon at one point in the night. 

 

Oz's experience with American companies and time zones is at odds with what I've frequently dealt with in the past. Many, including the client I'm finishing up with today expect their offshore suppliers (me) to work to their office hours. (Eastern Time, GMT/BST -5) Some, very few understand that the rest of the world is not the US of A. Then again the UK is almost as bad when it comes to offshoring to India or Lithuania. Expecting them at late afternoon meetings is pretty schitty. 

 

My last missive for a while (stop cheering). Off on a week of Belgian beer hunting tomorrow, then a week on the new client site in Denmark, followed by more time off in the Netherlands. 

 

Enjoy the day 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. There's some strange wet stuff falling from the sky, apparently locally its 63mm so far. BIN day today and I can hear the distant lesser spotted glass and bottle wagon so everyone on the estate is now awake. Thats it for now, be back later.

[simontaylor484]

Morning all 

 

It has rained here too overnight quite heavily. Today sees a drs appointment yes you heard it right I managed to get one.

Today also sees the start of some major admin work and shredding as I am going to pick up a filing cabinet then all paperwork will be in one place

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Its now stopped raining, the garden certainly needed it. The grass is already looking a bit greener.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

We too have had some overnight rain again, it’s stopped now, but the garden is very wet! We’ve had quite a bit of rain the last few nights, the garden has certainly needed it and the timing has been quite good, in that it rains whilst we’re in bed! Last night we made an executive decision about the short box hedge in the back garden. It no longer fits in with the rest of the garden and has started to look very disheveled of late, so today I’m going to dig it up and get rid of it completely. It will then open up the rest of that border and we’ll be able to see some of the plants that the hedge prevented us from seeing. With a bit of luck, there’ll be enough room in the green bin, so hopefully it’ll be all gone by this afternoon. 

 

Back later. 

 

Brian

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

its 63mm so far

Only 4.3mm here. You must have taken all of our share. 

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl..

I was enjoying some solid sleep for a change when....

At 01:30 Thor arrived.. So it was off downstairs to comfort Ben the I hate loud Noises Collie.

it was a couple of hours before the last strike of the hammer....

I did get a little more sleep..

 We have had some rain about then and more since I've been at work..

 

Got a Reply from the sender of that email about veterans day / Remembrance day... Saying they changed the wording of the invite from Celebration to Honor..

and asking questions about anything else... 

 

 

Did I have fun with that?... I think the Bear would be proud... Took 2.5 hours to write the email between measurements though.. 

hence this missive is late..

 

Yesterday going home was cockwomble day..

1, Moped with L plates... and a Passenger.. illegal and the poor bike was really struggling with the weight..

2, Then the idiot with the 40mph bicycle was on the road again.. or he was till there was a large traffic jam then he took to the pavement......

3, An Organ donor... or will be,  off road type motorcycle over took me on a corner, then proceeded to to overtake two cars where a lot of traffic turns right.. If one of them had been a Indicator less BMW  that would have been the end of him.

4, Behind me at that point was a silver mondeo, it kept weaving in and out, looking to pass.. a long queue of cars and vans following a tractor with a straw bail loaded trailer following a real Bicycle, he had no chance but I was worried he might try...

 

Hmm just heard a big bang, I think Thor is back.

 

Back to measuring the 20G Ohm Box Again..

 

or first..

 

Time for Tea break..

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by TheQ

[Tony_S]

I don’t think we are doing much here today. It would have been Matthew’s 30th birthday yesterday so we went for a quiet walk round the gardens at Hyde Hall. It is always very peaceful there as long as special event days are avoided. My right ankle has been a bit sore since we went to Cambridgeshire last week and it hurt more yesterday but after a cup of tea at the tearoom it definitely improved. I don’t suppose I won the international tact and tolerance award yesterday. Aditi’s worldwide family have a Whatsapp group. Many of the family sent messages to us about Matthew. One of the others sent an inappropriate video. Instead of ignoring it I sent a response that would definitely not be displayed on this forum and left the group. 
We were planning to meet some of Matthew’s university friends near Reading  this weekend . Some couldn’t make it, not surprised as they have just returned from their wedding in Singapore and have to work from Tuesday. With forecast traffic jams and the Reading festival this weekend it seemed sensible to postpone. Probably meet in  Leicester instead in October. 
Tony

[Tony_S]

12 hours ago, polybear said:

Something that shows The Clangers in all it's glory.

Whatever tv you get now will have content accessible from apps so if you intend to decorate the lounge soon I would install some Ethernet cable between your router and the tv. 

[simontaylor484]

We have a light drizzle now no @polybear not Lemon Drizzle.

 

Just had a phone call from Rymans at Castleford the filing cabinet they had in stock is damaged so they are ordering me a new one in. Turdeycurses I wanted to get that done before the bookcases arrive at some point on Saturday. It's the first time I have ordered anything from Ikea for delivery. In the past I have hired a van and filled it 

[chrisf]

Thanks for waving, Barry.

 

I seem to have spent half a lifetime trying to tidy my lounge.  It will be no surprise to most that this is something that I find infernally difficult.  Tomorrow sees a little excursion to the VW dealership so that the Polo may be serviced and fettled and, all being well, get through its first MoT.  I had hoped to be driving to Cardiff on Saturday but this excursion becomes less and less likely.  One day, perhaps ...

 

Chris

[J. S. Bach]

As I was concerned about Douglass (Florence Locomotive Works), I sent him a PM and got this response:

 

"Fear not Dave, I’m doing very well, just incredibly busy at the moment. I’ll be returning soon I hope."

 

That is good to hear. BTW, PM to me posted with his permission.

[Kelly]

Afternoon all. Hope all are well? If not, best wishes as appropriate.

 

Not much to report, the last few days have mostly been rest days following ExpoEM Summer in Wakefield. Though yesterday we went over to the flat to load the car up with more boxes of stuff (about 90% is moved now I reckon), and Richard did a load on Monday.

 

However, when we got back, getting out of the car and bending down to pick up a cardigan, my back went pop, so I've been rather stiff and painful as a result. Today Richard is rearranging the two upstairs rooms to swap them around, he spent the morning dismantling the bed in one room, in a moment we'll be dismantling the computers to move them to the room that has the bed currently. Some normality might happen by the weekend...

 

Good to see Chris has resolved his computer issues and returned to ER, hope you're keeping well.

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, The Lurker said:

Was she called Annette Curtain? ;)

When the boss was a medical secretary she had a patient called Annette Kerten.  She had great difficuly calling her from the waiting room with a straight face.

 

Jamie

Edited August 25, 2022 by jamie92208

[polybear]

5 hours ago, The Lurker said:

Was she called Annette Curtain? ;)

 

Not quite - but close enough....

 

5 hours ago, The Lurker said:

Unfortunately it has knocked out the signals between Lee and Hither Green .....

 

Let's hear it for progress....

Short of a direct strike I somehow doubt that Lightning could nobble signalling driven by levers, pulleys and bowden cables.

 

2 hours ago, TheQ said:

Got a Reply from the sender of that email about veterans day / Remembrance day... Saying they changed the wording of the invite from Celebration to Honor..

and asking questions about anything else... 

 

Did I have fun with that?... I think the Bear would be proud...

 

Absolutely - LDC on the way.....👏

 

2 hours ago, TheQ said:

Took 2.5 hours to write the email between measurements though.. 

hence this missive is late..

 

Hey, they were paying you.  Their loss....🤣

 

2 hours ago, TheQ said:

Hmm just heard a big bang, I think Thor is back.

 

 

Bear was kinda hoping it was the Mondeo driver....

 

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

Whatever tv you get now will have content accessible from apps

 

Wot's an "App?"  Pupperzzzzz............

 

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

so if you intend to decorate the lounge soon.....  

 

Er......

 

15 minutes ago, J. S. Bach said:

As I was concerned about Douglass (Florence Locomotive Works), I sent him a PM and got this response:

 

"Fear not Dave, I’m doing very well, just incredibly busy at the moment. I’ll be returning soon I hope."

 

That is good to hear. BTW, PM to me posted with his permission.

 

Excellent - many thanks for sharing the PM.

And Florence @Florence Locomotive Works - we are now all expecting that "incredibly busy" means wonderful things involving bits of Brass.  No pressure....😄

 

In other news.....

 

D-Rings fitted to a couple of piccy frames, at which point Buddy arrived to assist in the moving of a writing desk; we then spent the next 2 hours putting the world to rights, which was rather good.

Din Dins has been scoffed (Beary Tip:  Lidl crinkle cut oven chips aren't as good as the Co-op ones) and now it's time to frame a print.

Bear gone. 

[DaveF]

Another pleasant day yesterday.  I started by writing a letter to the freeholder/management company of the flat to officially inform them of Mum's death, up to now we've talked informally but as the sale should proceed soon they now need hard evidence.   So they now have a letter and a copy of the death certificate. 

 

After posting the letter I went to the beach for a walk, I found 27 cowrie shells and a few others.  At the water's edge there was a dead seal pup, as the tide started to flood it was washed away before I got close to it.  It is sad but not all young seals can survive - to maintain the population each female in her lifetime needs only two pups to grow to maturity.  The beach was much quieter than recently, I only saw four other people.

 

I was back home in time for coffee and dealt with a number of e mails, folllowed by salmon and new potatoes for lunch.

 

The afternoon was spent doing the pointing on part of the back wall of the garage.  Inside it looks untidy but I can't see it most of the time.  Outside it is not perfect but it can only be seen from the bedrooms of two houses behind me so I am not worried.  It needs a brush with a stiff brush to remove any loose bits of mortar in a few days time.  It was then time to pick some sweet peas, they are flowering much better now there has been a little bit oif rain and it is not so hot.  

 

My aunt rang for a chat at cup of tea time and then I decided it is time I had some new trainers for walking on the beach, so they have been ordered.

 

Later I settled down in front of the TV for "The Repair Shop" - I wish they would show more of how they do things - followed by "Shetland".  I also decided I need to make a list of the main things I brought home from the flat just in case I ever have an insurance claim.  There is nothing very valuable but it mounts up, perhaps I should also take photos.

 

David

[J. S. Bach]

Speaking of rain, the local NOAA report stated "light rain"; well, there is more rain falling on the moon than there is here.