Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis came back this morning, in the side that I was laying on and he soon went away when I started moving around.

[Barry O]

Never, ever eat Baked Beans, brocoli or cauliflower just before or during a long flight.

 

Why?  Trust me, I know!!

Baz

[Grizz]

Good Morning All

 

Two more days to go before work starts for 3 months. It’ll be kinda nice to get back to a routine again though. Back to a diet that doesn’t feature high carbs, high sugar and reasonably high and quite regular alcohol. 
No wait….strike that last one. 
 

Muddling this morning, then football and beer and more beer this afternoon. Yaaaaaay! 
 

The calm weather seems to be with us for a day, having had a fairly consistent week of rain. Then back to carp for the rest of the week. Praying for cold and dry.
 

In other news…..You know how the old saying goes?, ‘You can’t mitigate for stupid’…..seems like you can’t mitigate for Complete Fudgewittery either! But you can pay for it through your taxes! 
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-64139348

 

The best bit is they even have a depth gauge at the side of the road at this location, a large one that is really difficult to miss, ….and still total wnackers choose to ignore it. 

 

The Hamsey Great Lakes have returned for a few days. Given the amount of rain that has fallen onto already sodden ground it is hard surprising. Still it makes for a beautiful view. 

 

Have a great day all. 
 

ATB Grizz

 

 

 

Edited January 2, 2023 by Grizz
Spelling

[grandadbob]

🤪

1 hour ago, BoD said:

The only beans that I don’t get on with particularly are human beans

 

I'm with you there Warren,  apart from a few good friends and of course most of the people here.🤪

 

I'm adopting this as my new theme song😂 :  

 

 

Edited January 2, 2023 by grandadbob

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, from the chilly rock of Fraggles.  This Fraggle still broken.  I think its a muscular thing as it now seems to be more right-sided, but it ain't nice. 

 

I sympathise with @Dave Hunt as I had sciatica many years ago, it was like being electrocuted as I stood up, incredibly painful.  While my current (ta daaa) issue isn't sciatica, I think the base of it is from the same area as I damaged all those years ago. Did it twisting while carrying a great weight - never do this!  Fixed with traction twice a week and swimming gently once I could get to the pool.  As I'm seeing the hip Consultant tomorrow, I foresee a spinal referral coming from that!

 

 

[Tony_S]

Morning all .

It is quite sunny here. Showers were forecast but I am not complaining. When we went to Kent a couple of days  ago I didn’t t see any floods like those in Grizz’s Sussex post but there were some big potholes disguised by water. This wasn’t on minor roads either but was on the A2/M2.  To be fair to Kent there was a stretch of the A13 over here in Essex that was like a slalom course of potholes. We are off to  Enfield soon.  MiL rang us quite a few times yesterday to wish us a happy New Year.  I have been given a job to do while I am there, I need to look at MiL’s mini food processor. MiL isn’t strong enough now to grate turmeric root so she had been shredding it in the processor. I think it may have been too much for it. 
Tony
 

[PupCam]

Morning All!

 

11 hours ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 

Type 35's are meant to revved hard .

 

 

 

Yes but on "No load"?

 

Anyway, what a glorious thing of beauty that is!     

 

I can still remember my Dinky Toys version from the early '60s.    Puppers doesn't have  (can't afford) a classic racing car but if he did it would probably be a ......

 

2 hours ago, polybear said:

Bear can do that.....

Awake at half three (bluddy number one....) - I remember 4am, 4.40am. 5.15am.....I don't remember any more after that until.....the s0ddin' alarm goes off at 6.30am.  Piggin' Turdycurses.

 

Alarm?   Another thing I'll have to Google.  

 

My alarm has been set once since I left the Great Empire nearly 4 years ago.   That was last November when I had to get into the City of London by 9:00 for a hospital appointment.

 

 

2 hours ago, grandadbob said:

Today there are mutterings about taking down Christmas decorations which means I'll have to climb Mount Loft Ladder  to retrieve the boxes.

 

 

I've already made the trip into Loftland this morning and Christmas is being swept away as we speak.    I suppose I'd better getter the outside lights down.

 

TTFNQ

 

Alan

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A bright and sun start here in England’s northwest corner that has blue skies and no clouds. 

 

Today’s plans are to take down all the Christmas decorations, thankfully I don’t need to climb into loft land, all the boxes are stored in the cellar, where they’ve been since putting up the decorations. Once I’ve refilled the boxes, they’ll go back into the cellar and then back into the storage area. This may be today, (if they’re all down in time) or most probably Wednesday. This will make a huge difference to the cellar, as it will be almost empty then and I can get cracking on finishing the refurbishment. 

 

Back later. 

 

Brian

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

You have a Meecro-Wavee?!? Just like Nigella Lawson?*

 

With that sort of high-tech culinary technology to hand, you must be the Bevorzugter Kunde of the tin opener industry….

And how do you boil your toast????

 

* Ms Lawson was widely mocked on social media for pronouncing microwave as “meecro-wavee” in one of her programs.

 

it's actually 'micro ronde' so she got it completely  rong.   

 

As to the Bugattis they look great.  My cousin would probably have been there. He restored a Bugatti and is now the curator of the museum at the Bugatti Trust in The Cotswolds.  He does tours of Europe in his, despite the body being canvas on an ash frame.

 

Anyway good moaning from a rather damp Charente.  I've done my exercise for the day and cut and stacked enough wood for a fortnight.  Now I have to take the car and rescue Beth as she cycled to see a friend  and it's now persisting down.

 

Ttfn.

 

Jamie

Edited January 2, 2023 by jamie92208

[BoD]

1 hour ago, grandadbob said:

....apart from a few good friends and of course most of the people here

 

That's got the paranoid amongst us thinking.

 

I've always found that the best response to anyone who asks "What's wrong with me?" is to reply " You mean apart from the obvious ..."  and then sit back and watch them stew.

[The White Rabbit]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

... Deciding on a paint scheme for the H/S/L is on the cards as well - I'd quite like a woodwork colour other than white (cos' it goes yellow - unless you use water based paints - Bear doesn't as it has it's own problems).  But what colour?  Nothing too "fashionable/designer/daring" etc. so staying pretty light.  Ponder mode engaged.

Bear gone.

 

How about a light brown? Not 'school corridor' brown but a 'wood' colour, such as https://www.woodshopdirect.co.uk/planed-all-round/european-oak-timber/?gid=109&msclkid=85c8e177ff3d1146285a82c542df1777&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=WSD - Top Sellers PLAs&utm_term=4578435157688809&utm_content=WSD - Top Sellers PLAs#type:Cut+To+Size (link purely for colour rather than recommending supplier). If you can't get a natural timber grain effect from using woodstain, then perhaps an artificial grain using a darker shade of stain or paint, a comb and cloth - I've seen this technique used on vintage railway carriages and think it came out well. For any small sections or rebated edges, I think an artists' paintbrush like a 'rake' or 'stippler' is easier, though any artist contributors (such as Polly?) might have better ideas or more specific suggestions. 

 

 

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

Never, ever eat Baked Beans, brocoli or cauliflower just before or during a long flight.

 

Why?  Trust me, I know!!

Baz

Nor vegetarian haggis.  Last night's has had the usual after-effects upon us though was very enjoyable at the time!  

 

A little Arthur Itis in the port-hand these past couple of days hasn't been too well received.  Being a southpaw in most respects the inconvenience to normal life can be imagined.  It's buggered off this morning, thankfully.  

 

Dr. SWMBO has triked into town for coffee with a workmate and promises to call at the Mediterranean Supermarket on her way home.  I expect an influx of Turkish bread, labneh, huge tomatoes and, possibly, some tasty lamb.  

 

We have decided to venture Up Town this afternoon in order to "see the lights" at Dr. SWMBO's request.  There's a limited train service which will allow us to get there and back and there are large red things to ride upon once there.  Buses, some call 'em.  Not those dreaded Boris Bikes!!!  And then back to the House of Fun tomorrow with all the seasonal leave used.  Heads down and bums up until Easter then.  With a week of rostered leave in February to be argued over though I am told we are going to be away somewhere for at least a few days of that.  

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

Alarm?   Another thing I'll have to Google.  

My alarm has been set once since I left the Great Empire nearly 4 years ago.   That was last November when I had to get into the City of London by 9:00 for a hospital appointment.

Alan

When I retired almost fifteen years ago my retirement gift from my colleagues was an alarm clock radio*. I have on a few occasions had to use the alarm function but each time I have had to look up the destructions to set the alarm. *When asked what I would like I asked for a DAB radio, which it also is. At the time there was a lot of kerfuffle about radio going digital and conventional transmissions ceasing. I'm still listening on medium wave so what happened to DAB?

Edited January 2, 2023 by PhilJ W

[Compound2632]

5 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

When I retired almost fifteen years ago my retirement gift from my colleagues was an alarm clock radio*.

 

Not comment on your habitual lateness into the office, I take it?

 

6 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

DVD

 

DAB - digital audio broadcasting. I think now standard for car radios but possibly not as dominant as it was thought it would become, thanks to the rise of internet broadcasting.

 

As I write, I have Radio 3 on FM on here downstairs while Lexi has it on the DAB radio upstairs - I can hear the several seconds delay!

[grandadbob]

Loft visited and boxes retrieved.  Decorations are slowly being taken down.  Just got the tree and  all the lights to pack up now.  I tend to do this very carefully so that the following year they aren't all tangled up....... it works sometimes.

Tea break now and then "we" will carry on.

[PupCam]

45 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

As to the Bugattis they look great.  My cousin would probably have been there. He restored a Bugatti and is now the curator of the museum at the Bugatti Trust in The Cotswolds. 

 

Oo!   Sounds like some research and a trip to the Cotswolds is required!

 

23 minutes ago, The White Rabbit said:

How about a light brown? Not 'school corridor' brown but a 'wood' colour, such as https://www.woodshopdirect.co.uk/planed-all-round/european-oak-timber/?gid=109&msclkid=85c8e177ff3d1146285a82c542df1777&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=WSD - Top Sellers PLAs&utm_term=4578435157688809&utm_content=WSD - Top Sellers PLAs#type:Cut+To+Size (link purely for colour rather than recommending supplier). If you can't get a natural timber grain effect from using woodstain, then perhaps an artificial grain using a darker shade of stain or paint, a comb and cloth - I've seen this technique used on vintage railway carriages and think it came out well. For any small sections or rebated edges, I think an artists' paintbrush like a 'rake' or 'stippler' is easier, though any artist contributors (such as Polly?) might have better ideas or more specific suggestions.

 

Come on @polybear, what are you?  Man or railway enthusiast?    I would have thought a properly scumbled teak finish would be most appropriate.    Would gold seriffed lettering with drop shadows be over-cooking it on the door labels?   No, I don't think so 🤣

 

9 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

When I retired almost fifteen years ago my retirement gift from my colleagues was an alarm clock radio*. I have on a few occasions had to use the alarm function but each time I have had to look up the destructions to set the alarm. *When asked what I would like I asked for a DVD radio, which it also is. At the time there was a lot of kerfuffle about radio going digital and conventional transmissions ceasing. I'm still listening on medium wave so what happened to DVD?

 

One of the "trinkets" given to me on departure from the GE was a project themed Security Pass lanyard.   Hello?   Surprisingly it's seen no service.  It's not mandatory (or even advised) to wear a security pass at Puppers Towers.

[The Lurker]

15 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

 

I also have not encountered the Ovine Known as Barnsley but I am familiar with one called Romney. Romney Marsh. 

Didn’t he keep wicket for Australia?

[PhilJ W]

13 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

Not comment on your habitual lateness into the office, I take it?

 

 

DAB - digital audio broadcasting. I think now standard for car radios but possibly not as dominant as it was thought it would become, thanks to the rise of internet broadcasting.

 

As I write, I have Radio 3 on FM on here downstairs while Lexi has it on the DAB radio upstairs - I can hear the several seconds delay!

Thanks for the correction and post amended. In fact I was always the first in the office, often before eight o'clock. That way I avoided the rush hours.

[southern42]

' morning all

 

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

Never, ever eat Baked Beans, brocoli or cauliflower just before or during a long flight.

 

Why?  Trust me, I know!!

Baz

 

And never give your kids banana before or during long distance travel by car!

I found out the hard way!

 

Ah! Food!

As we were going to have turkey and pork for Christmas with family, we bought a Duck and put it in the freezer to keep the chicken company. The duck was roasted on Saturday to celebrate New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  We were at the r**lway museum, yesterday, but got back in time to do some roasties, oven-reheated duck and bubble n squeak. Later, today, I will see how much meat is left on the bone, if any, and rig up a duck cottage pie. Fingers crossed.

 

Fun day out.

As I said, a day at the museum playing tr**ns. I got away with just taking the covered boxes on flanged wheels round to the station platform driving the petrol-driven "diesel"! Ray did all the passenger runs. The day was one of cold wet air, drizzle, light showers, heavy downpours, sun with showers, and the odd dry spell. A few chats with staff in the shop but time mostly spent in the heated up workshop playing my flute! Since I carry the flute around in my rucksack, when I took it out it was quite cold but it soon warmed up. Because my hands tend to get cold as well, I got myself some double layered "wrist warmers" in a gift shop across the road from Betws-y-coed Station before Christmas. These keep the hands warm while the fingers are free to twiddle on the fiddle flute.That gave me an idea! Not only somewhere to put the mitts when not in use but added insulation around the outside of the flute case...

 

 

Now to discover some better insulation on the inside than the thin bubble wrap I use to protect the flute when travelling. Bamboo cracks or, at worse, breaks if dropped!

 

Back to the grindstone, now. I have been forced to re-do the calendar this year.  I received copies of it before Christmas but the images printed out way too dark. With refund obtained in the form of vouchers, I have been duplicating my images and making them lighter to compensate for their darkening process. Hopefully, that will work and the images will come out as they should. <<???>> <<sigh!>>

 

Keep warm / cool. Be good. Put your ideas to good use - laugh if you must. 🤣

 

Polly

[polybear]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

And how do you boil your toast????

 

 

Bear recalls a TV Programme where one the so-called "Stars" didn't know how to make Toast...🤣

The Programme?  (IIRC) The Kardashians.

 

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

I've already made the trip into Loftland this morning and Christmas is being swept away as we speak.    I suppose I'd better getter the outside lights down.

 

 

Outside Lights??  FFS Puppers, you need help.....and I don't mean holding the ladder either....

Let's see now....Bear recovers box from wardrobe, unplugs power adapter, puts little fibre optic village thingy in box, puts the whole lot back in the loft until next year.  Ten minutes should do it.

 

41 minutes ago, The White Rabbit said:

How about a light brown? Not 'school corridor' brown but a 'wood' colour, such as https://www.woodshopdirect.co.uk/planed-all-round/european-oak-timber/?gid=109&msclkid=85c8e177ff3d1146285a82c542df1777&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=WSD - Top Sellers PLAs&utm_term=4578435157688809&utm_content=WSD - Top Sellers PLAs#type:Cut+To+Size (link purely for colour rather than recommending supplier). If you can't get a natural timber grain effect from using woodstain, then perhaps an artificial grain using a darker shade of stain or paint, a comb and cloth - I've seen this technique used on vintage railway carriages and think it came out well. For any small sections or rebated edges, I think an artists' paintbrush like a 'rake' or 'stippler' is easier, though any artist contributors (such as Polly?) might have better ideas or more specific suggestions. 

 

9 minutes ago, PupCam said:

Come on @polybear, what are you?  Man or railway enthusiast?    I would have thought a properly scumbled teak finish would be most appropriate.    Would gold seriffed lettering with drop shadows be over-cooking it on the door labels?   No, I don't think so 🤣

 

 

Bear would quite like to finish The Great H/S/L Refurb some time this Decade (and ideally early-ish this year too).  Besides, even this Bear's naughty word vocabulary is ill-equipped for such antics.

 

27 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

When I retired almost fifteen years ago my retirement gift from my colleagues was an alarm clock radio*.

 

Bear, having retired at the start of the first lockdown, totally missed out on a prezzie cos' pretty much everyone else had already bvggered off home to "work" remotely.

 

 

Fortunately about a year later very good buddy Numpty Pete sorted a framed presentation piccy showing various projects Bear has worked on; the picture mount has been signed by numerous people I've worked with - some of whom are incapable of understanding the instruction "Don't sign within 5mm of the outer edge" (the frame obscures the signature), whilst others have a signature that is a total mystery and leaves the recipient thinking "Who the F. Is That??"  Bear is very pleased to have received that - it's on the wall in the lounge.

[Barry O]

@southern42..try putting the Flute in a thick wooly sock.her indoors gas socks with crumhorns, recorders, shawms etc.. keeps them warm and safe..

 

Baz

[polybear]

1 hour ago, southern42 said:

That gave me an idea! Not only somewhere to put the mitts when not in use but added insulation around the outside of the flute case...

Now to discover some better insulation on the inside than the thin bubble wrap I use to protect the flute when travelling. Bamboo cracks or, at worse, breaks if dropped!

 

 

 

How about pipe insulation?

 

 

[DaveF]

This morning was sunshine without a cloud in the sky and bitterly cold with a frost.

 

New Years day was dull but brightened up at times.  It started with the usual phone calls and e mails, I heard about two people I knew who died just before Christmas which is very sad.

 

I watched parts of the New Year's Day concert from Vienna while I was cooking my lunch - another turkey joint with all the usual trimmings.  As a result I missed parts of it so I watched it again in the evening, it was worth it as this year it had some unfamiliar music.  In the afternoon I made a start on sorting out both my things and things from Mum's flat by bringing some shoe boxes down from the loft to sort through.  Anything I keep will not go back into the loft as I know that the boxes contain at least some things with fabrics and so need to be kept really dry and warm.  To keep them in the house something else will have to go.

 

After a cup of tea just as it was getting dark I went out for a walk and met a neighbour who was standing outside his door geting some fresh air so stopped and had a good chat.

 

Then the evening passed pleasantly with the concert, a DVD, a magazine and music.

 

David

 

 

Edited January 2, 2023 by DaveF

[Coombe Barton]

... Have I got done over Christmas what I intended? No way. There’s still as much chaos, some of it in different places but it has not diminished. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/01/02/sounds-of-the-season-2022-23-37-decreases-and-pattern-comparisons/

[45156]

Afternoon All,

 

Christmas decs were taken down last week - I think 28th comes to mind, so longer than previous, as they usually come down on Boxing day - consigned to loft on Saturday - no fears of the loft now that the redoubtable Ian has fitted a Youngman loft ladder - so it's just like going up more stairs - it has treads, and a handrail - well worth the £179 to buy it, and £260 to fit it.

 

Today, I have done quite a lot of tasks domestic - like unblocking the hoover, and unravelling the hair from the roller.  Then scrubbing the bathroom floor, and giving the tiles and the shower screen a good clean - then the bath and loo - as 30747 had a bad tum last night and was abed by 8.45, I didn't seek her help, and she got on with doing some rewriting of the forthcoming dates on the calendar, as she got a rather nice one as part of a subscription for a magazine.  She wasn't entitled, as it was an introductory offer, and she was renewing, and no amount of arguing with the subscription team would change that, so she redid the subscription online in my name, and cancelled her existing one - no doubt she'll do the same next year.

 

Oh and for whisky lovers, Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair is at £26 a bottle in Morereasons - large measure coming up with dinner.

 

Regards to All

Stewart