Early Risers.

[TheQ]

Evening Awl,

Avoiding wildlife of the non venomous kind,  on the way home, two separate times I had to brake to avoid Muntjac..

 

At the MRC Tiree fencing contractors were very busy until they ran out of fence posts, another 15 metres of 0.6 mm square copper wire will be ordered in the morning.

We had a "guest " visitor, another club member who'd missed his normal night so came for a visit tonight.

A shoe box full of stuff to  be on or near  parallel bits of metal was acquired from a new donation to the club. Needless to say, it was a substantial discount on today's prices although some packets said 1966, they are good as today's products, especially the etched kits..

 

We've got a light easterly wind arrived, several hours earlier than forecast, that will cool things down a bit, especially when it gets a bit stronger tomorrow. Good job I was preparing the makings for a stew today, for dinner tomorrow. Slow cooker on, first thing in the morning..

 

Still pondering braking the bobbins..

 

Muggachoccy drunk,

 

Goodnight Awl.

 

[Barry O]

16 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Its all we have til the ashes start.

Depends on the umpires....

 

Baz

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

This morning, Sheila decided to accompany me to the Trafford Centre, needless to say we were there a lot longer than if I’d gone on my own! This evening, we collected Ava and we then went on to the RHS Bridgewater to see the seasonal lights. Sheila and I both thought they were much better than those we saw at Chatsworth on Tuesday, so there’s every chance we'll be doing it again next year. 

 

Goodnight all. 

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

Depends on the umpires....

 

Baz

Putting your hand up Baz? I bet you'd love to give the finger to Matty Wade et al!

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[Coombe Barton]

... memories of Round the Horne, Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Williams in the latter part of the 1960s and Sunday lunchtimes on the radio. People in the know will recognise the reference to the catchphrase ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2022/11/18/more-uncertainty-over-direction/

[iL Dottore]

On 17/11/2022 at 19:45, Winslow Boy said:

 

I believe they tried that and when the price tag reached a billion pounds or some similar high figure and nothing yet had been created but more money was still required the politicians stepped in and said 'go take a running jump' or words to that effect and it got cancelled.

 

On 17/11/2022 at 19:50, monkeysarefun said:

Jeez if Australians can do it...!

 

https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/

 

 

Why not the Australian model, indeed.

It could well be down to the historic combination of “not invented here” and “can’t trust Johnny Foreigner” that has bedevilled Britain over the years - which may explain why Britain came late to adopt many useful things (central heating being a seasonally appropriate example).

 

Quite frankly, I’m quite happy to take a. NINND approach to life (“Nick It [If It’s] Not Nailed Down” - why reinvent the wheel if you can find it somewhere “ready to go”)

[iL Dottore]

16 hours ago, andyram said:

…. I am still feeling quite run down after the Covid but things are slowly improving.

Hang in there, Andy.
 

For me from the onset of CoVID symptoms to full resolution (i.e. a return to normal - or at least what passes for “normal” at Schloss iD)  was about two weeks – with fatigue lasting most of that time and a niggling cough tailing off and disappearing towards the end of that fortnight.

 

Look on the bright side:

 

SWMBO: “We have to visit my mother”

andyram: “Sorry dear, I’d love to go, but I can’t take the risk of infecting MiL…”

 

Every cloud has a silver lining, etc., etc.

[iL Dottore]

13 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

As readers of ER will know we’re getting a dog on Sunday and been out looking for dog toys and came across these two ‘characters’!

They do kind of remind me of a couple of ‘characters’ on here.

 

11 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Dog Toy?  DOG TOY??

 

 

Oh, I don’t know. @Erichill16 could be on to a winner.

 

I reckon that there’s more than a few dog owning ERs who would happily pay good folding money for a squeaky, plush, @polybear dog toy.

 

The image I have of Ben the “where do I bury my toy” Collie trotting happily along with a squeaky @polybear toy in his mouth is quite heartwarming…

[chrisf]

I would have been an early riser this morning but for cramp in both thighs which trapped me in bed!

 

Chris

[iL Dottore]

3 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

... memories of Round the Horne, Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Williams in the latter part of the 1960s and Sunday lunchtimes on the radio.

It is said that the very sympathetic portrayal of two gay actors – “Jules“ and “Sand“ in Round the Horne did much to promote acceptance of the gay community and move Parliament towards passing the Sexual Offences Act 1967 (which greatly reduced the historically savage penalties imposed on the gay community).

 

In addition to Barry Took and Marty Feldman’s sympathetic writing, (they wrote all the scripts of the first 3 series of Around the Horne), they definitely had a touch of genius in how they wrote the comedy: at one level incredibly risqué (for the adults) and at another just incredibly funny even to the innocent and naive.

 

One of my fondest memories is that of going to see Round the Horne being recorded at the Paris Theatre in London in 1967 (so I was about 11 at the time). I remember enjoying not just the recording but also the interactions between the cast and the audience. I have no idea how much of what was recorded ended up on the cutting room floor, but certainly it was a lot longer than the half hour that was broadcast. Obviously at that age I didn’t get the innuendo or the risqué  jokes, but re-visiting the shows (either on CD or on Radio 4 Extra) I certainly get ”it”  now.

[iL Dottore]

I was going to post a little bit more, but I’m a bit upset right now.

 

Mrs iD surprised me with breakfast in bed this morning, but got very angry with me when I criticised her cooking.

 

She yelled at me and said that in future I could boil my own toast…

[TheQ]

To ChrisF .. eat more bananas it's how I stave off cramp.. I have normally one a day..

 

Mooring Awl,

Ben not the bury the toy Collie, has been patrolled, very wet but not at at the moment from the welkin, windy, and very overcast. Digging is generally a terrier trait, Collies like rounding up things... Like toys.

We have enough holes in the garden caused by the wildlife, we don't need a terrier.

 

Ben's favourite is leaving his toys in the long grass , over the years I've chopped up many a green tennis ball with the lawn mower, luckily his stuffed toys are brighter or contrasting colours so I spot them first..

 

I'm now getting bullied by a certain Collie, I think he's telling me to go make breakfast, he wants his bit of bacon.

 

Time to... Head for the kitchen...

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

 

Why not the Australian model, indeed.

It could well be down to the historic combination of “not invented here” and “can’t trust Johnny Foreigner” that has bedevilled Britain over the years - which may explain why Britain came late to adopt many useful things (central heating being a seasonally appropriate example).

 

Quite frankly, I’m quite happy to take a. NINND approach to life (“Nick It [If It’s] Not Nailed Down” - why reinvent the wheel if you can find it somewhere “ready to go”)

 

Bear in mind that up and till I couple of years ago this was an organisation that was still spending considerable chunks of money on fax machines. So slow and ,,,,,,,,,,,, (insert your favourite cliche here) spring to mind.

Edited November 19, 2022 by Winslow Boy

[Barry O]

7 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Putting your hand up Baz? I bet you'd love to give the finger to Matty Wade et al!

 

 

 

He should have been watching the grass grow for a while doing that.. at least a Level 3bimpingement, penalty runs, fines .. the lot...

Baz

[Winslow Boy]

28 minutes ago, chrisf said:

I would have been an early riser this morning but for cramp in both thighs which trapped me in bed!

 

Chris

 

That's a great excuse there Chris. I'll have to try that one when Devil Dog jumps on my head to get me up to feed her first thing in the morning 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Her indoors decided to have a coughing fit at 5am.. so I was awake for a while.. got back to sleep just in time to get up to make the tea.

 

Off to Durham later. I have to be ready for a zoom meeting at 6pm so.. Premier Inn Pity Me here I come.

 

Interesting statements made about the missile that hit Polish soil.. looki g at the bits they have got gives some very strong clues as to what it was.. we shall see!

 

@chrisf a glue of diet Indian Tonic water helps with some cramps. Or rather it does for me.

 We are missing  a fair few ERs again.. just hope they are well!

 

Stay safe!

 

Baz

Edited November 19, 2022 by Barry O

[polybear]

9 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

We had that from an Icelandic volcano. They'll be grounding all of the planes next 

 

Buddy ex. next door was on hols in Barbados when that happened - for some strange reason they weren't exactly upset; extending the Hotel accommodation wasn't a problem either (IIRC they weren't charged extra either).

 

Bear here.....

Coving day - it'll feel good when it's done.  Hopefully.

Bear gone.

[Grizz]

Good Morning All

 

Up early this morning to cook Mrs Grizz and myself a big old breakfast……reasonably successfully if I do say so myself. 
 

Amazingly it has stopped raining here for two days in a row! Which gives me more time to continue building the hay store and stable. I must admit chippying  is quite enjoyable when rain isn’t p1ssing down the back off my neck and dripping of the end of my nose. 
 

Even the field ornaments have taken an interest…..

As we are right up on top of the South Downs it can get a tad blustery, so If you care to zoom in on the first photo you’ll see that the building is anchored to a 2.3m length of 95lb Bullhead rail. Which is concreted 750mm into the ground. Ha! That is going nowhere! 

 

 

Tonight is the last bonfire out meeting of the season, so it is loads of Old Ale and Rookies. Fortunately Barcombe has their fire site well up above the current flood waters. But the fire site is still likely to be fair soggy. 
 

Beer and Bonfire…Bonfire and Beer……in this part of the Deep South of Sussex ……”We Wunt be Druv!!!”
 

Well off I jolly well….and all that…..screwingfix beckons…

 

Have a great day all. 
 

ATB Grizz
 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by Grizz
Auto correct

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

It's a bit dull outside but at least it's dry.  Patchy cloud, some sunny spells and maybe light rain later are all a possibility.  Currently 6°C, might reach 11°C.

Still managed to dodge the garden centre visit and we never go at weekends but maybe she'll succeed in getting me there on Monday.

My energy supplier saga goes.  Earlier in the week they said I was about £700 in credit although at least £250 of that will disappear when they eventually charge me for the gas used over the past few months.  However after giving them an up to date meter reading a few days ago and also a further direct debit payment has gone through my credit balance has now leapt up to £1395 which can't possibly be right.  I did try to get a refund online 🤪 but the webshite wasn't having any of that claiming I hadn't given any recent meter readings.  Carp!  A very lengthy email has been sent detailing their shortcomings and demanding answers before I involve Ofgem and/or the Energy Ombudsman because I'm getting sick & tired of it.  It's not doing my blood pressure any good either.

Car insurance renewal is being looked at.  I mentioned the current insurer wants an extra £130, so far I've manged to get it for £70 less than that from the AA.  The hunt will continue.

Car service and MOT are due next month and have been booked.  Luckily payment for both of those are covered by my service plan.  (£14.88 a month which I think is quite a good deal)

Not sure what I'll be doing after breakfast but it may briefly involve a Shark and then The Shed.  This afternoon and evening there is lots of rugby to watch.  Amongst that I will have to suffer watching England take on the All Blacks who will be thirsting for revenge after their last meeting in the 2019 World Cup semi-final.  I predict a hard day at the office for those wearing the Red Rose and those of us who support them.

"Timetogettamoveon" has just been uttered.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by grandadbob
Speelinks and punchingnations.

[monkeysarefun]

41 minutes ago, Barry O said:

He should have been watching the grass grow for a while doing that.. at least a Level 3bimpingement, penalty runs, fines .. the lot...

Baz

True story.... Aussie Rules football was originally developed as a way of keeping cricketers fit in winter (hence its played on a huge oval cricket field) so it's probably no surprise some of the AFL skills like the above keeping the opponent off the ball tactic have crept in to our noble national team players repertoire.

Just think, it could be much worse, our fielders could go full "Up there Cazaly!" on the  batsman whenever they sky the ball.

 

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I was going to post a little bit more, but I’m a bit upset right now.

 

Mrs iD surprised me with breakfast in bed this morning, but got very angry with me when I criticised her cooking.

 

She yelled at me and said that in future I could boil my own toast…

Are you sure that it was only your 'toast' that she suggested boiling.

 

Jamie

Edited November 19, 2022 by jamie92208

[NGT6 1315]

Moaning awl. Caffeination still ongoing!

 

It's been about five degrees below during the night and still freezing right now, but at least the sun is shining.

 

I didn't have my big camera with me yesterday, so the following are snapshots really...

 

Such mid-platform crossovers certainly seem to make a lot of sense for through stations like Erfurt Hbf. I don't remember when I last had to use this station but it struck me as tidy and well-organised.

 

Trams and buses have a separate level below the railway. For a city of about 213,000 in particular, Erfurt certainly seems to have excellent public transport. Trams are prioritised a lot more than here, from what I can tell. Actually, the operator EVAG refers to the tram lines as "Urban Rail."

 

 

 

 

With the last 120s having been retired from DB revenue service in early 2021, some are being given a second life, as in the case of 120 205 now owned by Bahnlogistik24. I have come to reappreciate this class following its retirement!

 

This, uh, prompted a spontaneous purchase while on the train home for a little modding project… 🤩

 

Enjoy whatever you're up to...

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a very sunny Charente.  Lots of blue  skies visible here.  

 

A very good day at the MRG was had and even a lityle trainspotting on the way home through Poitiers.

 

We have just had a lovely hour chatti g to the hirls.  Young Emily is becoming the family comedian with various comments at the appropriate  points.  Combined with a smile and a butter wouldn't melt look, she'll go far.

 

The hens now await my duties as cleaner.  They have all moulted and egg production has ceased for a while. Apart from that there isn't a lot on the agenda  except cooking tinights tea later on.  I think that it will be salmon.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[NGT6 1315]

I also got me this book at the station's bookstore...

 

 

It's fundamentally a collection of articles and essays about various aspects and examples of industrial design on the railway and seems well done to me. It also contains very interesting footage from the DB Museum archives, including design studies I had never seen before.