Early Risers.

[roundhouse]

Happy new year all 

[Barry O]

3 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

Sounds like everyone here on New Years Eve at the end of  2019, in the middle of a decade long drought, half the place on fire, toxic thick smoke everywhere and travel bans on so we were all locked down inside our houses and couldnt go anywhere . "At least 2020 has to get better!:" we all said...

Well I did deliver the rain, as requested.. I survived Covid in Margaret River...

 

Baz

[zarniwhoop]

3 hours ago, zarniwhoop said:

 Gotta go, do some quality control on Isle of Jura and real Val Dobbiadene 'secco.

As expected, the Isle of Jura ('Journey' - I think that might be the 'basic' variant) was fine. Tested some more to be sure.😄

 

The Val Dobbiadene only merited 'ok' (a lack of decent-sized bubbles, but at least it wasn't sickly sweet like most prosecco.) Fortunately, only a half bottle so none is now left. Will have to quality check some Crémant de Bourgogne today.

 

Hic! Hic!

[Ozexpatriate]

For now, it remains 2022 where I am, though it is already the new year on the east coast and just now, central standard time as well. A college football semifinal ran out the clock to midnight in Georgia, which was was much better than watching the ball drop in NYC on CNN (the only channel that carries it live).

 

New Year's television is strange here. On the broadcast networks it is 'tape-delayed' by three hours and focused on the stroke of midnight on the east coast - but broadcast three hours later. All quite pointless really.

 

Now that the football is over for tonight* is another Harry Potter marathon on a different channel - far better than the 'tape-delayed' nonsense.

 

* Sunday sees a full slate of NFL games, and Monday will see more college bowl games and NFL Monday Night Football. (With New Year's Day on a Sunday, the weekend sees the possibility of watching nine football games essentially back-to-back.)

 

As Harry and Dumbledore search for horcruxes, I hope the new year will find you all healthy, comfortable and contented.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from the Charente.  Beth and I had a very quiet New Year.  Most of the evening was spent watching 3 episodes of "Anatomynof a Scandal' on Netflix. Beth then retired early.  I managed to stay up for French New Year and saw some fireworks from Fontainbleux with the chateau as a backdrop. The rrstvof the programme was inane musi chat shows.  A measurecof Auchentoshan was raised and consumed. Beth had a G&T.  Not a lot to do today but my new French trainspotting book has arrived so I need to get marking up.

 

Jamie

[polybear]

Bear here......

 

 

See the New Year in?  Pah.  Bear was in his pit at about half ten, with no Battle of the Somme re-enactment either - zero, zilch, diddly squat.  Or if there was then this Bear never heard them, which is fine by me.

Yesterday started by securing the Base Rail to the top of the Wall that it was sitting on - it wasn't exactly loose but was slightly wiggly when, er, wiggled.  It doesn't now.  Then it was a bit more wood filling (mainly the freshly drilled screw holes in the Base Rail plus the top edges of the stair stringers) followed by a bit of wall filling (the top of the wall directly beneath the Base Rail).  And that concluded yesterday's fun, apart from watching episode 2 of Litvinenko followed by a Movie showing how Bin Laden was finally caught/killed.  

 

And what New Year Fun awaits Bear today?  Loadsa Pizza?  Nope.  LDC?  Nope.  Fun n' Games?  Nope.  Instead it's a load of washing followed by sanding the filler applied yesterday - and if I'm really lucky then there's always the remnants of a previously opened packet of Salted Peanuts (it's a little-known fact that Bears are rather partial to S.P - but are strictly reserved for Chrimbo) followed by the remnants of a tube of Smarties.  Howz that for wild fun?

 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

New year seen in with a nice glass of Champagne.  My late mother was born on the 1st January so a small slurp was taken in her memory. 

 

Now.. Time to give 2023 some positive instruction on where we need to be..

 

Stay safe!

 

Baz

Edited January 1, 2023 by Barry O

[iL Dottore]

A Happy New Year to all on ER.

 

Let’s hope that 2023 will not see a further thinning of our numbers, but that we all continue to happily grow old gracefully (or disgracefully in the case of certain ERs who will remain nameless 😀)

[iL Dottore]

9 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

Evening All,

Would have liked an early night but having dogs I’ve got Alexa on playing some ‘relaxing’ music on for the dogs. Not my type of relaxing music but it seems to be working on Hovis and Sydney.

I’ll be glad to be rid of this year and without holding my breath I hope next year is a better one for us all.

Happy New Year,

Robert

Hopefully they’ll keep like this until morning.

Two questions:

1) why haven’t you trained your dogs to pogo and body slam to punk music? Tut, tut, Robert. You’ll have to do better in 2023.

2) what on earth did you play to those poor dogs? They look like they’ve been hit by a massive dose of horse tranquilliser. You haven’t been playing Mantovani or - God Forbid - Greatest Hits on the Wurlitzer to them, have you?

[iL Dottore]

8 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

 

Happy New Year. Happy Hog-as-manay-as-ye-can. And always with the accent on “happy”. 

And a Happy New Year to you, too.

 

Glad to see you happily seeing in the New Year. But there’s something missing from this photo……what is it?……ah, yes, got it…..

 

WHERE’S THE TRAFFIC CONE?

[DaveF]

A Happy New Year to everyone.  I stayed awake until just after midnight listening to the sound of torrential rain, I think I heard one firework.  This morning started dull but the sun has just put in an appearance through a hole in the clouds.  I don't think it will last.

 

David

Edited January 1, 2023 by DaveF

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

7 hours near solid sleep, aches and pains much reduced by basically doing nothing physical but for sewing. The only new pain is my left thumb which has been stabbed a couple of times.

 

Ben the good Collie let me sleep in again, though I think he was enjoying sleeping in himself. He's asleep on SWMBO's chair now.

 

No fireworks here last night, just heavy rain.

 

Ben had a short stroll this morning, he was more interested in the tennis ball he took with him.

Dry above, soggy below, thin high cloud, wind much reduced compared to yesterday.

 

Should of been sailing today, but the club decided to sail tomorrow, less sore heads I think..

 

The final documentation came from the company yesterday. Today I'm totally a free man,  by some Fluke  I'm no longer in employment.. 

 

It seems local post is working, but distant not.. we've not received a single Christmas card from family .

 

Plans for today,

Measuring and drawing up a cutting plan for the under stairs area. With the price of plywood these days it ain't going to be cheap.

Sewing in the afternoon.

 

Time for a muggacoffee..

 

 

 

[Winslow Boy]

Well here we are in the New Year. So far not much different to the old one. Its raining - thank you Q, so its soggy below and 'humid' above. 

 

Well didn't we have fun last night. Sounded like war had been declared. Obviously all those persons - Other descriptions are available from Bear territory had decamped up here. Luckily DD is oblivious to them otherwise my description would have a bit more £%&#34£%&% ( censored).

 

Anyway what to do today. Argh yes DD needs a walk and I need something to eat. So fellow inmates I'm of out. Wish me luck.

[grandadbob]

Good morning and a Happy New Year to all you lovely people,

Dry start and the sun has made a brief appearance but showers are forecast.  10°C now, might reach 12°C.

Late up as nothing much to do today and not in any hurry either.  Got to bed at about 01.15 after watching London fireworks on TV along with some of the Jools Holland show.  The Boss was tired so went to bed about 11.00.  Lots of flashbangs around here but it died out about 01.00.  Friends 3 doors away had a New Year's  coupled with 16th birthday party for their son.  We were invited but declined, there would have been too many youngsters and lots of (c)rap music? noise.  Thankfully that packed up along with the fireworks.   I must be getting too old and miserable for all that sort of stuff and in the end I didn't even have a drink apart from a glass of wine with dinner.  Might make up for it later today as there are various alcoholic beverages available for sampling including Highland Park, Talisker, Glenfiddich, Penderyn and Jamesons.

I did watch a rugby match and there's another one today,  Quins are visiting Northampton. Hope they do better than last week.

Apparently I do need to "gettamoveon" if I want someone to cook the breakfast.  "Aye Aye Boss, Willco."

Have a good'un.

Bob.

 

 

Edited January 1, 2023 by grandadbob
Speelink

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

 

2) what on earth did you play to those poor dogs? They look like they’ve been hit by a massive dose of horse tranquilliser. You haven’t been playing Mantovani or - God Forbid - Greatest Hits on the Wurlitzer to them, have you?

No I think it was a bumper collection of Sing Something Simples greatest hits from the Adsms Singers. There is a rumour that that was what the US Army were goi g to play to Noriega, if what they plsyed hadn't worked.

 

Jamie

Edited January 1, 2023 by jamie92208

[Gwiwer]

Good Morning All. Bledhen Nowydh Da. 
 

 

As has been the case every year since its release this was the first song played here once the London firework / drone festival was over.  Born of the Troubles but still with a message every bit as relevant today. Edge hits a few simple notes on the keyboard and the year is under way.  

 

It was particularly poignant during those new years when we were not supposed to “be with you again”  
 

I found it moving to be able to mix freely once more.  Some neighbours were out; we chatted comfortably for some time. 
 

A photo was taken of the first train to stop at the Hill of Strawberries. My employer has determined that several of its lines shall remain closed for three weeks during a period of “industrial action” (action short of a strike) leaving us and many other places without any train service. Except last night.  Explanations will be demanded by the Resident’s Association and our MP; no service for three weeks except between 00.47 and 03.36 this morning. Please explain indeed.  
 

The year wasn’t quite 47 minutes old when this happened. 
 

 

Avagoodun. Stay safe. 

[The Lurker]

Happy New Year to all from Lurker Towers.

 

saw the new year in with a glass of Chapel Down, having watched Glass Onion earlier (amusing pastiche of Agatha Christie type murder mystery starring Daniel Craig as a detective with an execrable accent). 
 

just had a decent cooked breakfast and on to a second coffee- and plan to do not too much today!

[Erichill16]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

 

2) what on earth did you play to those poor dogs? They look like they’ve been hit by a massive dose of horse tranquilliser. You haven’t been playing Mantovani or - God Forbid - Greatest Hits on the Wurlitzer to them, have you?

Alexa choose the music. 
‘Here’s some soothing music based on your listening history’

the Cranberries, R.E.M and Four Non Blonds which we all seemed to enjoy but I’m not sure other people would consider the tracks ‘soothing’ . Duran Duran came up a couple of times, ‘  Alexa next! ‘ came my anguished reply.

What was slightly perturbing was three out of the first four songs I’d been watching/listening to on YouTube earlier in the week, a case of Big Brother ?

Probably not algorithm’s at work but still kinda spooky.

Still testing +ve so restrictions in place.

 

[Claude_Dreyfus]

2022 was seen out with a glass of Glen Nevis, obtained from our summer travels (not the distillery itself, but from the nearby Morrisons. That counts as it is in the shadow of the Ben more or less by the entrance to the eponymous glen!). Most agreeable.

 

2023 is being seen in with Eggs Benedict and the New Years Day concert from Vienna.

[iL Dottore]

7 hours ago, zarniwhoop said:

As expected, the Isle of Jura ('Journey' - I think that might be the 'basic' variant) was fine. Tested some more to be sure.😄

 

The Val Dobbiadene only merited 'ok' (a lack of decent-sized bubbles, but at least it wasn't sickly sweet like most prosecco.) Fortunately, only a half bottle so none is now left. Will have to quality check some Crémant de Bourgogne today.

 

Hic! Hic!

For New Years Eve I had GP friend and Mrs GP friend over for supper (nothing special: apple and parsnip soup; game pie, duck fat roast potatoes, steamed zucchini, mascarpone and walnut dessert, some Cabernet Sauvignon). We finished with a wee dram of Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt (a very nice, albeit non-vintage). After a cut-throat game of Trivial Pursuits, midnight and the New Year was celebrated with a glass of Mumm Cordon Rouge.

 

I must say I prefer a decent NV Champagne (Mumm, Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, etc.) over a Prosecco any day - for two reasons: firstly, most Prosecco sold outside of Italy is sickly sweet (presumably driven by catering for the big German and British markets for bubbly - both of which are favouring a sweet product); and secondly, the really, really good Prosecco is rarely exported and when it is, it’s not cheap (e.g. Valdobbiadene Prosecco superiore docg, extra dry, Col de’Salici at about £115 a bottle).

 

Good Prosecco is not the only wine hard to get outside of Italy. The Italians produce a number of superb wines that are only ever available locally. I think the Italians are on to something - why export your best stuff to countries like Britain or Germany where the Philistines would only use it to wash down pseudo-Italian food like spag-bol or carbonara mit sahne und käse? 🤣

 

And it’s not just wine, it’s food too: the Swiss may virtuously export a lot of  their best quality cheeses (keeping the lesser grades for domestic sale), but the Italians and French keep the good stuff for themselves. Take ham for example, Prosciutto di Parma (and variations thereon) is readily exported; but culatello (described by some as “prosciutto for grown ups”)? Almost impossible to find outside of Italy and difficult to find in Italy outside of Emilia-Romagna.

 

And as for Guanciale or Finocchiona….

Edited January 1, 2023 by iL Dottore
Spelling

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

We didn’t exactly rush about this morning. Aditi likes to watch the New Year Concert from Vienna so we are doing so.

Pages ago there was mention of TV operating system software and apps becoming dated. On our Samsung the operating system updates itself automatically. The apps can be updated too and also additional ones can be downloaded and added. Ours updates via an internet connection. Mine is wired but it does have wireless capability. 
Tony

Edited January 1, 2023 by Tony_S

[BoD]

1 hour ago, grandadbob said:

Quins are visiting Northampton. Hope they do better than last week.

You need to get in there and sort that lineout out (and Marler).

Edited January 1, 2023 by BoD

[Erichill16]

26 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

 

Good Prosecco is not the only wine hard to get outside of Italy. The Italians produce a number of superb wines that are only ever available locally. I think the Italians are on to something - why export your best stuff to countries like Britain or Germany where the Philistines would only use it to wash down pseudo-Italian food like spag-bol or carbonara mit sahne und käse? 🤣

 

And it’s not just wine, it’s food too: the Swiss may virtuously export a lot of  their best quality cheeses (keeping the lesser grades for domestic sale), but the Italians and French keep the good stuff for themselves. Take ham for example, Prosciutto di Parma (and variations thereon) is readily exported; but culatello (described by some as “prosciutto for grown ups”)? Almost impossible to find outside of Italy and difficult to find in Italy outside of Emilia-Romagna.

 

And as for Guanciale or Finocchiona….

Same thing here with Yorkshire puddings.

Edited January 1, 2023 by Erichill16

[The White Rabbit]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ey up!

 

.... Now.. Time to give 2023 some positive instruction on where we need to be....

 

Err ... after 2022, with due respect, I think something a tad more forceful is called for ... along the lines of a veteran RSM 'instructing' a new recruit ... (say) not to answer his mobile while on parade? 

 

 

Happy New Year all. Add my vote to those hoping for an improvement to 'things' and thoughts to those having a carp time - such as @Natalie and @simontaylor484  - and indeed, fingers crossed we don't have any more thinning of ER's numbers. 

 

The night started promisingly, in bed by half nine and snoring quickly, raindrops rattling the windows with some gusto didn't encourage those with a compulsion to wake others and scare pets but a few distant bangs were heard. Unfortunately there was an awakening in the early hours and during a bathroom visit the bulb blew (gee thanks 2023, be like that then 🙄 )  - fixing that scared sleep away for several hours so this rabbit feels like a bear with a sore head at the moment. Though as the sun is shining, I will try and scurry out to take advantage. 

[grandadbob]

7 minutes ago, BoD said:

You need to get in there and sort that lineout out (and Marler).

 He can sometimes be quite amusing but at other times just doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.  Latest ban doesn't help Quins and might scupper his England chances as well.

 

Plans for today have changed.  Whilst chatting over a very nice breakfast the Boss thought that it might be a good idea to invite friends next door and over the road in for a lunchtime glass or two of something if they're not doing anything.  They have all accepted so I'll get my New Year drink in a bit earlier than I thought.  I can manage that!  😀  If it goes on for any length of time I'll have to record the rugby but that's not a problem.