Early Risers.

[southern42]

' morning all from red dragon land.

Raining. A bit warmer at 8.1C. Rathe, windy though.

 

20 hours ago, Claude_Dreyfus said:

 

 

20 hours ago, Claude_Dreyfus said:

It is also the road from Dorking to Bognor, therefore one of the main roads to the south coast.

 

I must have passed down there a few times as we travelled via Dorking to Bognor for a week's holiday or day out at the seaside with bucket and spade. The photo makes you realise what it was like back then before the M routes and Expressways. I doubt we would stop for a halfway break these days, but there would be the cafe stop in the morning and pub stop on the return in the evening. One such pub did not allow kids, so sis and I were escorted into a huge lounge and told to sit and wait in their great big massive armchairs (compared to ours at home). Little Hampton (great little choo choo ride), Worthing (stank of seaweed). and Brighton (pebbly beach and huge waves put the mockers on that one!) were other destinations when I was small. Transport was by coach (Fox of Hayes* comes to mind but think we may have used another company as Fox's coaches always seemed rather grand in comparison) or Grandad's Morris 1000. Yes, 4 adults and two kids in it! And no seat belts back then.

 

*Once the owner of the Magical Mystery Tour Bus:

 https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/what-happened-to-the-magical-mystery-tour-bus.298902/page-2

 

Click n collect groceries this afternoon.

One "out of stock" - hand wash, not urgent. One short shelf life - grapes so, they will be ok.

We switched, for the Christmas weekend, to Friday, and I noticed some vegetable items were looking a lot fresher than usual. "Is this because new stock comes in on Friday for the weekend?" is the question. We are experimenting! 

 

Keep warm / cool. Be safe. Be a devil....

Polly

 

 

 

[DaveF]

A few photos from my walk yesterday at Newbiggin by the Sea.

 

St Bartholemew's church on the headland by the sea.

 

 

A view to Blyth harbour from Newbiggin

 

 

Newbiggin

 

 

The Couple at Newbiggin.  They are forever looking out to sea from the breakwater protecting the sea wall.

 

David

[The Lurker]

12 hours ago, Barry O said:

The front of house team at the Marie Celeste were laughing and joking when I visited last week.. they just don't bother to answer the phone or give out face to face appointments.. they , definitely , are not overstretched or stressed.

 

Baz

And we can’t get an appointment for Elder Lurker- the E consult says see your GP and they don’t pick up the phone. It feels like Covid has been the perfect excuse to avoid seeing people. Mrs Lurker had a tick bite last  summer and couldn’t see anyone. - eventually the pharmacist gave her something but told her it might have killed jet without treatment!

[Claude_Dreyfus]

20 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Ooooh.  A location I know very well but hadn't associated with Dreyfus Towers until now.  The A272 isn't ideal as a diversionary route because of its slightly sub-standard (by today's criteria) width and in places it's rather sinuous nature.  It is, however, a handy cross-country route though never a quick one.  Add to that the usual several-minutes wait at Buck Barn where the traffic lights rightly prioritise the busier A24 and you can spend half a day over a fairly modest trip from Petersfield across to Haywards Heath.  I wonder how many heavier vehicles might be tempted to use the road through Amberley and come unstuck at the low bridge there?  

Many of the roads in this area are not up to the current standards, although oddly enough the A272 in this area is classified as a trunk road - I wonder how many of those who classified it as such have actually driven it!

 

There were recent discussions about making the A29 a trunk road as well. After being told by all and sundry that the council were all forms of idiot for even contemplating it, the idea was shelved; although I suspect not killed off entirely. 

 

Larger vehicles could go for the Amberley route. As you say it does involve the low bridge, as well as a rather steep climb up Houghton Hill. The main sticking point would be running the gauntlet of Storrington. A nightmare to navigate at the best of times. Any diversion via Petworth would involve the ridiculous excuse for a by-pass (or 'lorry route'). Basically they sort of upgraded a single track lane (Kingspit Lane) to the east of the town and added a coupe of extra passing places. Narrow, steep and winding, it is almost as unsuitable a route for lorries as taking them through the town centre!

 

The A29 is still closed, as the ground around the slip is still unstable...not helped by the rain.

 

On a more general point, it never ceases to amaze me how rural parts of West Sussex are, especially in the lee of the downs. We are only 50 miles from London, yet there are some very remote areas - try taking the A285 over the downs; 20 miles of nothing more than a small village and a scattering of cottages. 

[PhilJ W]

Hello again from Estuary-Land. The package I was expecting arrived on time and the item (a bath seat) is now installed. Also about five minutes before another package arrived that I was not expecting for another day or two. The bath seat was needed as I have struggled to get out of the bath recently. Although the bath has grab handles they are not ideally placed for levering myself out of the bath. I will give it a dry run later today.

[jjb1970]

A snowman in Singapore, when-oh-when is the world going to wake up to the menace of global colding? 😱

 

[Claude_Dreyfus]

1 hour ago, southern42 said:

I must have passed down there a few times as we travelled via Dorking to Bognor for a week's holiday or day out at the seaside with bucket and spade. The photo makes you realise what it was like back then before the M routes and Expressways. I doubt we would stop for a halfway break these days, but there would be the cafe stop in the morning and pub stop on the return in the evening.

 

 

 

It was a very popular route from south London to the coast. My mum recalls travelling down this way on day-trips in the late 40s/50s. At that time there were many watering holes along the route, most which have now gone. The one she recalls visiting is still with us, the Blacksmith's Arms at Adversane (a couple of miles south from Billingshurst).

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, polybear said:

 

If they (a) hadn't had any tests, and (b) were pretty level-headed then chances are it was no problem; any awaiting test results or those prone to immediately worrying they've got a Brain Tumour every time they have a headache then I suspect it was a lot less fun.…

Curiously, when I have been for any of my “over 65 full check up and service“ my GP likes to send me on, I have been pretty sanguine about the whole business. Even when awaiting the results of an MRI or a biopsy. My attitude was very much “ Biology is biology and what happens, happens. No point in worrying about it as there’s only 3 possibilities: negative, positive but curable/treatable; positive but incurable/untreatable“ whatever the result, life goes on.

 

However, when I took Lucy to the vet, after her having a run of severe gastrointestinal problems, I really was worried. Unfortunately, although there is a considerable overlap between veterinary medicine (in dogs) and human medicine, it certainly isn’t one to one. Especially the presentation of symptoms and differential diagnosis. This meant that I was viewing Lucy’s symptoms through a human oncology prism. So, what immediately came to mind was either gastric cancer or pancreatic cancer.

 

There is the English expression “sick with worry“, this I thought was just a metaphorical saying - until that morning I took Lucy to the vet for the results of her tests. I really felt nauseous with worry on the way there. So you can imagine my relief when the vet explained the difference in presentation between humans and dogs; stating that both such cancers in dogs are very rare, present differently than in humans and progress incredibly rapidly. Tests showed that Lucy had had pancreatitis and would need to remain on pancreatic enzymes for the rest of her life. Expensive as these enzymes may be, they are certainly cheaper and damn sight more efficacious and well tolerated than canine chemotherapy.

Edited December 30, 2022 by iL Dottore
Forgot word

[Tony_S]

6 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

difference in presentation between humans and dogs

Once when I took Robbie to the vets I was convinced I would be returning alone. However the vet we saw (of course Robbie had become unwell, suddenly on a Bank Holiday weekend Sunday) noted that as expected his spinal problem had progressed to the stage where he needed the next level of treatment/medication. He had another 18 months of being active. We were told that the new medication would eventually become ineffective and there was no other possible treatment. So when it did stop working we were well prepared. The medication he was given wasn’t licensed for dogs so the patient information leaflet was for humans. I did read it to him but he didn’t seem to have any of the problems associated with the tablets. 

[jjb1970]

A day out on Sentosa Island today, this is one of the beaches. Unfortunately the lens perspective makes the container ship look much further away than it actually is, it's very close in, sitting at anchor.

 

[Erichill16]

2 hours ago, DaveF said:

A few photos from my walk yesterday at Newbiggin by the Sea.

 

St Bartholemew's church on the headland by the sea.

 

 

A view to Blyth harbour from Newbiggin

 

 

Newbiggin

 

 

The Couple at Newbiggin.  They are forever looking out to sea from the breakwater protecting the sea wall.

 

David

Lovely pictures, the sunlight certainly helps.   

[Erichill16]

While there is some talk of dogs, heres hovis with one of her sisters from the same litter. Surprisingly no barking, as Hovis was rehomed due to not getting on with other dogs. 

Hovis is in front. 

Edited December 30, 2022 by Erichill16
Add sentance

[Tony_S]

It is now sunny here too. Instead of thinking “how nice”, Aditi started working out which electrical appliances she could use. 
However we need to go and collect some medication so a walk round the park has been suggested too. It isn’t a pretty park, lots of sporting pitches and grassy areas popular with dog walkers. The field nearest the railway line won’t be a good place to walk today. It is deliberately liable to flood.  A certain spaniel (see avatar photo) really likes that field. 

[New Haven Neil]

Another late call.

 

Awful night, howling wind, letterbox slapping, bad back etc etc.  S o late-ish up, then rush out to Old Farts Bike Club in the car as it was still persisting down and very windy.  Mountain road is closed due to 'an obstruction', doubt it is a tree down as there aren't any up there, mare likely one of those famous inverted Manx cars.

 

Now sat in comfort, woodburner lit, awaiting a friend calling around to return our wood splitter he has had on loan.  No intention of using it wile my back is so bad, no idea how I have done this but I am very uncomfortable indeed.  Pah.

[Tony_S]

2 hours ago, DaveF said:

The Couple at Newbiggin.  They are forever looking out to sea from the breakwater protecting the sea wall

Is the gull on the woman’s head visiting or part of the artwork?

[The White Rabbit]

Afternoon all. Not a good day today, not as bad as having a beloved canine companion in pain or having to take that final trip to the vet but I have still been muttering words which the software would censor. Our TV has thrown its toys out of the pram and is on strike. It's not completely dead, as the standby light blinks at us whenever it's plugged in but it refuses to light up the screen. Resets and manual overrides have failed and the manufacturer's web-site 'support' (pah!) pages have never heard of such an issue. Unless (to paraphrase Blackadder 4) someone can think of something very quickly, it's about to have an urgent and terminal encounter with an 8 lb sledgehammer. Replacing it is likely to be complicated. Is a new one compatible with a BT box, DVD player etc.? Errr, [annoying computer synthesizer voice on] system error, delete question and try again... which begs the question, should we even try to replace it? 

[monkeysarefun]

 

 

Disaffected train driving boffins unhappy with their current lot and  looking for a change of scenery may want to consider applying for this. It is slightly off the beaten track though, the closest major town is over 1200km away. And is  in New Guinea.

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Media%20Centre/Media%20Releases/Pages/The-rail-career-that-comes-with-a-house!-Drive-a-legend-of-the-outback.aspx&ved=2ahUKEwi8o5fpwqH8AhUY-DgGHeVDBU4QFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3SE1PVdPM8uYl1tkJO6R4Z

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[roundhouse]

1 hour ago, Claude_Dreyfus said:

Many of the roads in this area are not up to the current standards, although oddly enough the A272 in this area is classified as a trunk road - I wonder how many of those who classified it as such have actually driven it!

 

There were recent discussions about making the A29 a trunk road as well. After being told by all and sundry that the council were all forms of idiot for even contemplating it, the idea was shelved; although I suspect not killed off entirely. 

 

Larger vehicles could go for the Amberley route. As you say it does involve the low bridge, as well as a rather steep climb up Houghton Hill. The main sticking point would be running the gauntlet of Storrington. A nightmare to navigate at the best of times. Any diversion via Petworth would involve the ridiculous excuse for a by-pass (or 'lorry route'). Basically they sort of upgraded a single track lane (Kingspit Lane) to the east of the town and added a coupe of extra passing places. Narrow, steep and winding, it is almost as unsuitable a route for lorries as taking them through the town centre!

 

The A29 is still closed, as the ground around the slip is still unstable...not helped by the rain.

 

On a more general point, it never ceases to amaze me how rural parts of West Sussex are, especially in the lee of the downs. We are only 50 miles from London, yet there are some very remote areas - try taking the A285 over the downs; 20 miles of nothing more than a small village and a scattering of cottages. 

One reason why we travel early on a Saturday when heading to mother in law near Fontwell. We normally go via the A23 then across via Cowfold to the A24 and then via Storrington and Amberley. However a few weeks ago we got stuck behind a transit van from the A23 that would only do 25 miles an hour then sped up as we joined the A24. At least we got past it incase it turned off the same way we did from the A24. Sometimes we will come back via the A29 through Pulborough but I can never convince my other half to stop for a pint at the few pubs left along that route.

 

Currently have the news on here in Oceanside. Its been on about the 13,000 or so cancelled Southwest Airlines flights since the storms hit across the USA. Glad that we decided to book direct flights from the UK to LAX and that we do carry on only bags as the airports have been jammed up with baggage.

 

Its been raining this morning but still dark outside. Yesterday it was a very pleasant 17 degrees C in San Diego. One big noticeable change since our last visit 4 years ago is the huge number of street people in San Diego , especially in downtown. Its got very bad but luckily where we were staying in Mission Valley, it was generally OK although someone was saying that they had the fuel line cut and fuel drained out of their car in the hotel car park overnight.

 

My other half keeping warm outside the hotel lobby last night waiting for our friends.

Edited December 30, 2022 by roundhouse

[polybear]

13 minutes ago, The White Rabbit said:

Afternoon all. Not a good day today, not as bad as having a beloved canine companion in pain or having to take that final trip to the vet but I have still been muttering words which the software would censor. Our TV has thrown its toys out of the pram and is on strike. It's not completely dead, as the standby light blinks at us whenever it's plugged in but it refuses to light up the screen. Resets and manual overrides have failed and the manufacturer's web-site 'support' (pah!) pages have never heard of such an issue. Unless (to paraphrase Blackadder 4) someone can think of something very quickly, it's about to have an urgent and terminal encounter with an 8 lb sledgehammer. Replacing it is likely to be complicated. Is a new one compatible with a BT box, DVD player etc.? Errr, [annoying computer synthesizer voice on] system error, delete question and try again... which begs the question, should we even try to replace it? 

 

Shine a torch at the screen when the telly's on and see if you can see an image (it'll be very faint - turning the room light off may or may not help); if you can then the screen backlight is fu'barred - new telly time.  John Lewis normally bung an extra years' warranty as a freebie.

[New Haven Neil]

Our telly died earlier this year, total cartoon fumph sound and magic smoke.  Went to a local place rather than Currys (who have a 'bit' of a reputation here) and got it down to a couple, and asked the salesbloke what was the difference for an extra hundred ish quid.  'None for you' was the answer, unless we had a younger family member - the more expensive version was 'picture wise the same, the extra dosh paid for zillions of gaming type functions young people want, but you'll never use' kind of answer - good man.  Open and honest, we have returned there since for other things.

 

The TV is a Samsung BTW, no idea what model but getting anything smaller than about ten feet was a problem, modest sizes are apparently not 'the thing'.  Does all we want, smart enough for catch up type things and you toob type stuff. Top class picture, almost able to understand the remote too.....🤣

[DaveF]

48 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Is the gull on the woman’s head visiting or part of the artwork?

 

 

Just visiting - perhaps it can see further that bit higher up.

 

David

[Tony_S]

5 minutes ago, DaveF said:

 

 

Just visiting - perhaps it can see further that bit higher up.

 

David

There is a telephone pole in the next road. It has a replica hawk mounted on top. It was put there to deter some birds that were pecking at cables. Nowadays it is usually seen with a pigeon perching on the hawk. 

[Tony_S]

53 minutes ago, The White Rabbit said:

Replacing it is likely to be complicated. Is a new one compatible with a BT box, DVD player etc.

If your BT box and DVD box are oldish they may only have Scart connectors. Modern TVs don’t seem to have them, HDMI are usual now. TVs often come with digital coax or optical connectors for connection to external audio but that might not bother you. We got a Samsung in 2019 that seems fine still and came with a 5 year warranty from John Lewis. 
Tony

[PupCam]

Afternoon All!

 

6 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Here's one for @PupCam 

 

 

 

I'd forgotten about that lot!   Good to see the projects just about on the verge of aviating 😀     I've got the equivalent set of those drawings for the Tripehound - The original Sopworth drawings (100's of them) onto 7 or 8 very large sheets.   An American chap (whose name escapes me for the moment) did them and I kept meaning to acquire sets of all the aircraft I was likely to be interested in as he was retiring and selling up.  That was 15 years ago ........ Bu**er!

 

Shame they haven't got a rotary engine in it although a modern radial will be far more reliable.   Just ask Shuttleworth!

 

3 hours ago, Claude_Dreyfus said:

Many of the roads in this area are not up to the current standards, although oddly enough the A272 in this area is classified as a trunk road - I wonder how many of those who classified it as such have actually driven it!

 

I think the bit I've emphasised is superfluous.    All of the roads I've come across lately are in an appalling  state and not up to any standard at all whether that be the roads in Puppershire, the M25, the roads down in Hampshire & West Sussex, Devon, Cambridgeshire the list goes on.   They are all capable of causing significant damage to our precious driving boxes and  flipin' lethal  for us 2 wheel merchants.     Come to think of it though, most of the roads we went along in Suffolk earlier in the year seemed to be "OK" .   Perhaps we should move 🤔

 

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Curiously, when I have been for any of my “over 65 full check up and service“ my GP likes to send me on,

 

I'm afraid that statement doesn't compute at all!   What is this thing "GP"?

 

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

 I have been pretty sanguine about the whole business. Even when awaiting the results of an MRI or a biopsy. My attitude was very much “ Biology is biology and what happens, happens. No point in worrying about it as there’s only 3 possibilities: negative, positive but curable/treatable; positive but incurable/untreatable“ whatever the result, life goes on.

 

You and me both, which leads into ......

 

In Other News

 

Went for the annual check-up of my" implanted electronic module" (It's probably a posh Arduino) yesterday.    It seems to be working as intended and required.   Remaining battery life  stated as 7.5 years ......

 

Nice clear night last night although extremely windy.    Nipped out to try out the focuser in anger though.    Things seemed to be working  when the whole kit and caboodle wasn't twanging around in the gale.

 

 

 

TTFNQ

 

Alan

[NGT6 1315]

Cheers all. Someone just set off some fireworks outside. One day early, as usual!

 

A trip to Büsum was in the cards today. In fact, it was the second day in a row we went there, but yesterday we took a few hours off at a new seawater spa there. They also have outdoor jacuzzis, which was quite appealing yesterday as it had been rainy and windy!

 

Büsum harbour today:

 

 

I later noticed the boat in the foreground there is used for burials at sea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coast Guard buoy tender Triton...

 

 

 

…Coast Guard maritime police cruiser Helgoland...

 

 

…and Coast Guard work vessel Wulf Isebrand.

 

Note that what is called Coast Guard here is technically not one unified authority but a collaborative command made up of maritime assets belonging to the Federal Police, Waterways and Navigation Administration, Customs Service and the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Nutrition. Law enforcement and customs vessels generally have blue hulls, while Waterways and Navigation craft have black hulls with white superstructures, and Fisheries Protection craft black hulls with grey superstructures. The Coast Guard here does not have combatant status either.

 

 

 

Historic GMRS lifeboats Günter Kuchenbecker (19-meter class, commissioned 1969 and retired 1997) and Rickmer Bock (commissioned as Hindenburg in 1944 and retired 1981). Rickmer Bock is actually still seaworthy and the Büsum Harbour Museum Association continues to sail her for an annual excursion to Heligoland.

 

 

 

Haven't seen that approach to putting up a Christmas tree yet!

 

 

 

Low tide on the North Frisian coast!

 

 

 

And now, who of you are familiar with the Rungholt legend?