Early Risers.

[southern42]

' morning all from red dragon land.

Light hail to snow when I got up at 0C - nottalot. Still white-ish up here in the foothills.

 

 

Less snow out East according to offspring. They also had a sprinkling but not as much as us. <<That's a brag :D >>

 

Envelopes to write on, today, ready for the posting of the C cards. A short but fruitful toot-on-the-flute had, so it looks like starting on those rectangular things beginning with E next. <<Ah, well!>>

Better do a mugadecaf before I start.

 

Keep warm/cool depending on hemisphere. Take care. Be in command.

Polly

[Tony_S]

Weather update.  It is sunny now, still cold though. Our solar panels are getting some use. It doesn’t have to be warm, just sunny. Anything in December or January is a bonus really.

[polybear]

4 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Who is this "Bozo" of whom you speak?

 

What's YOUR point exactly , or are you only interested in scoring points for some idiotic reason?

 

Point Scoring?  Not at all.  All I said (and it seems quite a few others have too, on both sides of the Pond) that the exchange is, to many, just a little bit ok, quite a lot** one sided and has significant potential for making US Citizens travelling abroad a target for similar exchange deals.  The following is a snip from the NBC website:

 

(** Others may disagree)

 

"Bout, 55, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in 2012 after he was convicted of selling arms to Colombian rebels, which prosecutors said were intended to kill Americans. The Russian government had been demanding his release ever since, saying he was unfairly targeted. 

After the sentencing, Attorney General Eric Holder called Bout “one of the world’s most prolific arms dealers,” while the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, New York, Preet Bharara, said he had been “international arms trafficking enemy number one for many years, arming some of the most violent conflicts around the globe.” Amnesty International says he sold arms to sanctioned human rights abusers in Angola, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo".

 

Now he may have come out of Prison a totally reformed character and intends to see out his days running a nice quiet bookshop somewhere....or he may be just a bit "anti" towards the US.  We'll see.

 

As for Brittney Griner see below:

 

3 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

I don't support the way Russia used this case, but they do have every right to uphold their laws on drugs (which are hardly unusual) and I really don't have much sympathy for Griner.

 

I agree entirely that you abide by the laws of the country you're in; however it has been reported (sorry I don't have a source now) that the crime she committed is normally (IIRC) punished with a fine - but she was sentenced to nine years doing (reportedly) hard labour.  There's something seriously wrong there.

 

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

It is so easy to do and it's almost always pulling out of roadside premises such as petrol stations.  It doesn't happen often after living over here for nearly 5 years but just occasionally.  I still think before pulling out form somewhere but our brains are not infalible.  

 

 

When I've been driving abroad "on the wrong side", even for short periods I do have to be careful when back in the UK - not just initially (after I've got off the plane) but maybe a week or two later - I've had instances where I've turned out of a junction and suddenly thought "Sh1t - what side of the road should I be on?"

 

44 minutes ago, PupCam said:

Indeed they should which is why, IMVHO, and I suspect @polybear and many other UK based ERs and the Police get very frustrated at some, again IMVHO, ridiculously lenient sentences handed out sometimes by the courts for trivial misdemeanours like murder, manslaughter, GBH, aggravated robbery etc etc.

 

Personally I suspect that current sentencing has created the problem of overcrowded Prisons - scrotes get away with crimes repeatedly so just continue as before, until it finally reaches a point where they do get sent down (often leaving a wake of destruction behind them).

Others see the scrotes getting away with crimes and think "I'l have some of that - even if I do get caught then I'll get away with it anyway".  And so it spirals upwards.

Does that make me a Criminologist?

 

In other news......

Some painting done - involving two trips to the shed, no less; fortunately they were short ones - which is good as it's like the Arctic Tundra out there. 🥶

 

After that it was finally (I think.....) finishing off the mods. to the chassis jig.  Tick.

 

 

Edited December 9, 2022 by polybear

[Tony_S]

3 hours ago, AndyID said:

I tried to take bacon from the UK into the US

Have I ever mentioned my brother took English bacon to Pakistan?

[BSW01]

Goo dafternoon everyone. 

 

Very late on parade today, due to taking Sheila to have her eye consultation. It all went well, he could see that she does have FCED, but doesn’t think this is the problem, so recommends she has laser surgery, which hopefully will sort the problem out. After that she’ll have further test to see how bad the FCED is, but in his opinion, he thinks that won’t need looking at for several years. She’s not been given a date, but it looks like it will be either the first or second Tuesday in January. 

 

Back later. 

 

Brian

[pgcroc]

@Tony_S Have I ever mentioned my brother took English bacon to Pakistan?

 

I used to take bacon/ham/brew kits to Libya.

Never had a problem.

[BoD]

1 hour ago, BSW01 said:

Goo dafternoon

 

I think that sums up my afternoon so far quite nicely.

[TheQ]

3 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

 

 

There is a Norfolk whisky.

https://www.jpha.co.uk/products/the-english-original?variant=43187383533817&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1sucBhDgARIsAFoytUuE73WoMCJrorxS_V_y0yh0blXWE3nePpidETUoXLOyqldn3SMdaQ0aAmywEALw_wcB

Very nice it is too, I have bottle on the shelf, not much left in it though. Had a very good  evening tour / lecture / whisky tasting there, actually before they started selling..

http://www.englishwhisky.co.uk/

 

Afternoon Awl,

I accidentally took a pork pie into Saudi, having bought some to eat in Heathrow, so as not to pay the airports excessive prices for food.. I'd forgotten one in the bottom of my briefcase, luckily they didn't find it.

Very nice it was too when found later.

 

You can buy bacon and pork in the foreigners butchers in Bahrain, they will helpfully label it veal for you should you wish to take it elsewhere.

 

 Rudder sanded again, the trailing edge was getting, somewhat thin, 1mm of stiff foam isn't strong, so I've fibreglassed with tissue on one side. While that was setting with the help of a 2kw fan blowing on it I...

 

Went outside to Blue Moon , having waited until the sun had some effect, the covers were removed, and I cut out the frame section that is in the way.

Moved the seat back, then climbed in to try the position. It will need lowering a couple of inches and tilting back a bit more.

Then I crawled up inside drying out the boat, about half a bucket full of water was removed, mostly from the last soggy trip sailing.

 

Measurements were taken, sketches are under way for the centre console.

 

Ben was then walked, he cut the trip short as there was a pheasant giving an alarm call...

Where the sun hasn't shone the Ice remains..

 

Fibreglass has now set fan is off..

Eyelid inspection required..

 

 

 

 

 

[Sidecar Racer]

5 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Not at all. I think (and you might want to too) that the punishment should be proportional to the crime.

 

So where do they hand down a death penalty and then keep the guilty person on death

row for anything up to 40 years ?

[Tony_S]

When my brother took the bacon it was actually at the request of the British Council. It was sent as a diplomatic package. They asked people “known” to them to be couriers. He had told them if he wasn’t met at security it would be binned!  I suspect for anything confidential they didn’t use friendly engineers.

Edited December 9, 2022 by Tony_S

[simontaylor484]

Afternoon all 

 

Just another quick hello hope everyone is ok 

 

I have a chest infection that has knocked me for 6 at leadt according to covid tests I have escaped the Wu flu

[Coombe Barton]

... Followed the moon to work this morning, cold and clear, the moon hanging in the limpid blue sky to the north west. Readers may conclude that my poetic licence has been renewed. ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2022/12/09/sounds-of-the-season-2022-23-13-increases-and-a-new-variant/

[Gwiwer]

Afternoon all.

 

Any news of @chrisf?

[Two_sugars]

I say chaps/chapesses . . . . Phaphing cold here today . . . Eye not feeling 100% since op. so exercised  my bus pass to go visit a Draculette for my annual blood tests.

 

While out, I bought a bottle of . . . . ABER FALLS WELSH WHISGI...... Asda price £20 . . .  very smooth.

 

Sharing concerns about chrisf . . . . 

 

John

Edited December 9, 2022 by Two_sugars

[polybear]

1 hour ago, simontaylor484 said:

Afternoon all 

 

Just another quick hello hope everyone is ok 

 

I have a chest infection that has knocked me for 6 at leadt according to covid tests I have escaped the Wu flu

 

Bear's Buddy's Daughter works in a testing lab in London - it seems that the number of cases of Pneumonia are going thru' the roof in London at the moment....

 

Bear here.....

Having just sold the redundant TV Stand via Ebay that came with the new lounge telly some months ago (I purchased a much more appropriate adjustable stand separately) I had lots of fun (not) packing the bluddy thing up this afternoon; first problem was discovering that I didn't have a suitable box (or any box, for that matter) large enough to use.  Turdycurses.  

Plan 2 was to make a "box" - o.k. it's actually more of a "wrap" in a couple of large pieces of corrugated cardboard; fortunately, I still had some of the packing left from when the Kitchen Units were delivered.  By the time I'd finished (which had involved two trips into Beamland in search of boxes before finally realising that I had no other option, other than cancel the sale and risk grief from the Buyer) I was starting to think it'd been a lot of Agg for nottahugeamountof Cake Tokens (but worthwhile though).  Still, it's done now and due for collection tomorrow; it's good to know that it'll go to someone that needs it rather than end up in the Loft or in Landfill.  A small Tick.

 

No action on the H/S/L today though - I needtogettamoveon.....

 

 

[polybear]

Oh yes....

Heard from friend in Hospital earlier - there's a threat she'll be kicked out today, despite a suggestion earlier that a sample suggested the possible presence of ........Norovirus 😲 - but the Doc didn't think so; more checks are underway it seems.  Friend's confidence levels in what's going on may best be described as "low" - though she did use alternative words likely to get a certain Bear bumped onto moderated status......

[DaveF]

 

This morning was frosty at -1C, it got up to 1C at lunchtime, with sun all day.  I have been busy again, this is the first time I've stopped, more tomorrow about that.

 

Yesterday morning I spent a little while at the flat as it was the last ever visit I will make, so I said "goodbye", did a final check of everything and read the meters. It was a bit sad.  Then I walked across the road to church where we had a very pleasant communion service.  Afterwards there was coffee or hot chocolate - the latter was very welcome on a cold morning - and having paid for the drink I was told to bring the mug home as they had been donated to the church to be sold to raise funds.  I had another look at the Christmas trees and decided which one to vote for for the award for best tree.

 

I came home for lunch and then went into town, parking in a different place now I no longer have to visit the flat.  I visited the bank to pay in a refund from HMRC of Mum's income tax overpayment.  They hadn't put my full initials on the cheque so I couldn't pay it in with my phone.  Fortunately the bank staff know me so it was easy to do - even more fortunately there is still a bank! 

 

Then I walked a few yards along the road to the estate agents to leave them the keys to flat, a letter from the management company and a note about the heating controls and the key safe combination etc for the buyer.  A bit further along the road I passed the funeral parlour and checked to see if they know the date for replacing the headstone with the added details for Mum.   It will be before New Year if the ground doesn't settle any more, otherwise late January.

 

On the way back to the car I bought some very cheap snowdrop bulbs and other necessities, the bulbs were planted as soon as I got home during a sleet shower.  Later there was a snow shower and it froze so I didn't go to the camera club.

 

Later the evening passed quietly catching up with a few odd jobs and reading.

 

David

 

Edited December 9, 2022 by DaveF

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from a cold Sidcup, where the frost hasn't cleared off cars that haven't moved for several days.

 

In the throes of battling the auditors on year end. It's getting close to signing date so suddenly they are asking questions about things they have been provided with several months ago - it's all very frustrating.

 

But at least it is the weekend and a chance to drink a couple of beers from my advent calendar...! Now that the footie is back on we have an excuse not to watch re-runs of cookery shows.

 

Hopefully chrisf is doing all right.

[polybear]

Bear here,,,,

Having arranged to take in a parcel on behalf of NNND, I just encountered the most delightful (and rather nice 🤪) young lady Courier working for DPD.  Not only was she bang on time, she spoke in a perfect and extremely polite manner (despite having an obviously foreign accent).  There were lots of phrases like "Good Evening Sir**", "May I", "Thank You So Much" and "Goodnight".  Unless she's doing the job as a stop-gap/in-fill then she's totally wasted being a Courier.  First Class - and a very nice change from some of the Neanderthals I have encountered.

 

(** Hmmm, "Sir Bear".  Kinda has a nice ring to it, wouldn't you agree Puppers? @PupCam 🤣)

 

In other news......

Friend in Hospital was most p1ssed off after having just had a blood sample taken from the back of her hand, which I can fully understand; Bear had an I.V into the back of a paw many, many moons ago and bluddy'ellitreallyreallydidfuggin'urt, even though I was pretty much "out of it" at the time.  I'm in no hurry to repeat the experience, that's for sure.  She has a suspicion that she'll not be going home today after all; she also suspects she's not the only one on the ward being tested for viruses (Virii?), various. 

Edited December 9, 2022 by polybear

[Ian Abel]

POETS, yes please...

 

Yesterday, nothing much other than an overly long rehearsal in the evening.

Jemma was due to go on her first OE flight series tomorrow but was just informed the check airman called in sick. She's awaiting new "orders"...

 

Today, the "tree" will be decorated some this afternoon, after the Mrs returns from a Brunch with friends and a hair-do appointment!

Then this evening we're off to our friends new condo to see how it is now they've moved in - take-out indian is the order of the day as they're not sorted enough to cook a meal right now - still unpacking a lot of stuff.

 

Weekend will be busy I'm sure. Will update as details become known 😀

 

Weather trending upward/warmer (ALL RELATIVE OF COURSE!!), only -4c first thing, overcast though and a high right around Zero expected.

 

Carry on.

[Dave Hunt]

Went round to Dad's house today to check on the heating only to find that not only was the heating not on but the hot taps wouldn't run. Oh, bo**ocks. Called our friendly plumber/heating man who came round within a couple of hours and we found that the main CB had tripped for some reason meaning that the boiler hadn't worked, probably for a few days. However, the boiler won't start and he thinks that result the water in it may have frozen as the boiler is mounted on an outside wall in the loft (what a stupid place to site a boiler). Hence we closed the main stopcock, drained down the water and left the loft hatch open with a couple of electric radiators and a fan heater on to warm the place up. We'll see in the morning whether that has helped. I just hope that we can get it sorted as a surveyor is due to come to look at the house next week for some prospective purchasers.

 

As the French would say, there's allus bl00dy summat.

 

Dave  

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.  It snaad. Only a little, the high road was like this:

 

 

The lower roads were an inch of slush, but that didn't stop a FWD moron rolling his vehicle on to its roof on the TT course road and delaying my journey. Pah.

[88C]

3 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Afternoon all.

 

Any news of @chrisf?

Sorry to say, no. If the police have been round they haven’t let me know. As soon as I hear anything I will post on here.

 

Brian

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Lazy day today, didn't do a thing but still feeling cream crackered. @Dave Hunt My boiler is also in the loft on an outside wall, not much option really as there's no other option as to where to place the vent. I hope @chrisf is ok and hopefully it isn't the black dog.

[Ozexpatriate]

8 hours ago, polybear said:

... it has been reported (sorry I don't have a source now) that the crime she committed is normally (IIRC) punished with a fine - but she was sentenced to nine years doing (reportedly) hard labour.  There's something seriously wrong there.

Wikipedia:

Quote

Cannabis in Russia is illegal. Possession of up to 6 grams (or two grams of hashish) is an administrative offense, punishable by a fine or detention of 15 days.

Brittney Griner 'possessed' two vape cartridges of 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil, totaling 0.702 grams.