Early Risers.

[The White Rabbit]

Afternoon awl,

 

It's been a mixed week. Still chewing fingernails over my 'medical prospects' and got a brush off from a certain purveyor of items in red boxes about my enquiry re mazac rot (multiple turdycurses and an uncomplimentary comment along the lines of 'no more £ for you then') but we have managed to make some progress on other fronts. 

 

Temperatures are falling outside the burrow this afternoon. A peregrination was made this morning and it didn't feel particularly chilly - unless tha's a Geordie, it wasn't one for sunbathing but decent enough for walking. Which seems to help the health, so I'm doing as much as I can. A chat was had with one of the dog-walking regulars we met, amongst other things we commented on the weather forecast and the widespread suggestions we'd have to cope with a large quantity of the white stuff at some point in the next few days. At the time it didn't feel cold enough to snow but it does now and is also looking grey enough. Still, we have enough tinned carrots to cope for a while. 

 

We managed to pass on a large item of furniture yesterday, via Freecycle. Big result with Ladybird book sales too. That helped, we have a bit more space now. If only we could shift a couple more items of furniture and a large quantity of you know whats, we might really make some progress. I think the acid test is does the cat stop coming into certain rooms? Or if it does, does it tuck the tail firmly out of sight? 

 

Outside, the 'big' railway is having another weekend of engineering, with enough things in yellow to gladden the heart of certain well-known (infamous?) RMWebbers. A few minutes ago I saw a 66 and a dozen ballasters amble past. I went up to the station earlier and saw some of the engineering trains loitering. They make quite a change from the usual bog carts and platforms busy with commuters/shoppers. And though they are sometimes run close together (six minutes apart at really busy times), this weekend and last, we've had two engineering trains stacked within a few feet of each other. 

 

Away from such activity, the snowdrops up the hill are doing well. Madam Lickalot is on fine form and still giving us an enthusiastic welcome. Some more salad stuff has been sown, the peanuts topped up for the resident bluetits and birdbaths washed out and refilled. We tried a new dish, a chicken and leek pie was baked earlier, we should probably have left it to cool before cutting into it but ... we couldn't resist temptation to have some hot, so it did sag a bit. Made a bit of boo-boo with the pastry cutting/enclosing too but it tasted alright. I'll have another go soon and see if I can improve. There might have been a danger of unannounced visitors later but plans to bake a chocolate cake at the urging of the Chief Acolyte (yes, shades of Old Harry's Game...) have been put on hold due to a lack of eggs. A certain supermarket missed a few things off the list, despite ticking substitutions allowed. Fingers crossed for Bear - and Simon T. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

A'noon, almost evening, from a chilly, showery rock. 6c most of the day.

 

Archery - meh. Mrs NHN still struggling with a shoulder injury, although it is improving she could only manage 4th, but friend Steve who is the new boy won - he was 'a little pleased'.  I was err 10th, from 11, pah.

 

Our Thai meal last night went disastrously wrong - having checked the place was open on Wednesday evening to plan, to find it closed permanently on Thursday! They have moved to the Big City but neglected to mention this on their advertising pages.  Our favoured Chinese is closed for decoration (is that where Poly is?) so the other was rammed, hence it ended up as a carry out from the expensive posh Indian - it was very nice, but by then we were an hour and a half late.  First world problems I suppose.  Still, Jayne was in good form once again, she really has turned a corner which is super to see. 

 

 

[BoD]

4 hours ago, PupCam said:

Whilst perusing the website of the Great River I came across a nice little circular Arduino display about the same diameter as the rotary encoder.   I'm sure you can see where this is heading 😂.     

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09X1JVRYP/ref=sw_img_1?smid=A2FQD9ZIAONBLW&psc=1

I had put my Arduinos and electonickery stuff into store whilst I concentrated on other interests but that might just tempt me to have a bit play.

[Gwiwer]

St. Piran’s day feast. A Philp’s pasty all the way from Cornwall. 
 

[New Haven Neil]

@PupCam If you're going to use yon electronic timing device, why not just fit a Holley Dominator (or Haltec or Motec) and fuel injection too?  Then you can add timing curves, etc to your electronic heart's content!  and maybe a turbocharger, then you can control boost curve too, oh lots of fun stuff.  You may need a stronger connecting rod though. Much stronger. 😇

[polybear]

BH.......

Thanks for concern - much speed reading done.

Bear been stupid - own bluddy fault.  Bear was booked to go to Missenden Abbey this weekend (muddlin' courses) but last wed am figured that it was highly unlikely the paw/shoulder would be up to it - no insurance so lookin' at losing a couple of deltics. TC's.

But after physio on thurs the paw/sh. was much improved on friday so went.  Friday night was nightmare - 3h sleep + pain bad enough to make a bear refuse ldc.  Cr@p on sat am but slowly improved once got moving - then as day went on it got worse.  sat night even bigger nightmare could've screamed or cried.  managed to do this morning but bailed out 3 hours early cos' otherwise might not be up to doing drive home.  tc's.

on a good side it was a v. good muddlin' weekend with really nice people + excellent tutors (tim watson + tony gee for bear) and crackin' food (no ldc) and learnt a lot.

but if i knew on fri what the paw would be like i would've binned the deltics i think - hopefully it'll settle quick.  dunno why it flared up - it's left paw/sh + bear is right pawed; no sawing etc. only soldering v small bits of etched brass so no strain to speak of.

bear will play bs bingo at 8am for serious pain killers and tell doc to stop f. around and hand over the good stuff (if doc said last nite you can have pill to stop pain straight away but it's a hundred quid each one bear would've said cash or cheque).

sad bear.

ps sorry about crap typing

pps realised it's AP this weekend - no f. chance double piggin rattin tc's

 

any news on how Mrs @Dave Hunt is doing hope all is well.?

[Ozexpatriate]

Little to report here. Weather is a heavy overcast grey with occasional light rain. Dressed for cold (<2°C) while walking with a heavy sweatshirt and ended up needing the rain jacket for nuisance rain. The rain hood and knit cap combination were too hot for the conditions which didn't really feel cold.

 

The whimsical Danish brickmakers have resurrected their Lord of the Rings themed line of toys with a very elegant and creative representation of Imladris - clocking in at >6,000 pieces and a price our resident ursine with pained paws would place at 2½ Deltics or a trolleyful* (125) of lemon drizzle cakes. Despite the price, an order was placed and is eagerly anticipated.

 

* Almost a gross, but this begs the question, could a gross of LDCs be gross? Answers on a postcard.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. The sciatica is back again so co-codamol has been deployed. Its now easing as long as I keep still but I've got things to do. One of the things to do is get dinner ready.

[polybear]

https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/news/video-shocking-near-miss-between-train-and-red-light-running-moped/

 

[New Haven Neil]

2 minutes ago, polybear said:

https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/news/video-shocking-near-miss-between-train-and-red-light-running-moped/

 

 

That one is well close!

[PupCam]

12 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

That one is well close!

……. possible natural selection?

 

All of my sympathy is with all those poor souls who would have to deal with the consequences.

 

Or is that too harsh?   
 

[Mike Bellamy]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

  Bear was booked to go to Missenden Abbey this weekend (muddlin' courses)

 

Sorry to hear of the continuation of Paw Pain - by coincidence the last topic I was looking at before this one was all about the courses at Missenden. Have you seen the link to the photos - I have just been back to try and identify you but all the modellers look human (some more than others) and no sign of anything big white and fluffy . . . . 

 

Click for Link to Missenden Photos

.

[Winslow Boy]

7 minutes ago, Mike Bellamy said:

 

Sorry to hear of the continuation of Paw Pain - by coincidence the last topic I was looking at before this one was all about the courses at Missenden. Have you seen the link to the photos - I have just been back to try and identify you but all the modellers look human (some more than others) and no sign of anything big white and fluffy . . . . 

 

Click for Link to Missenden Photos

.

 

Perhaps Bear was undercover and was disguised. Were there any grizzlies there?

 

Looks of concentrated looks.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

As I expected earlier this afternoon, it didn’t take very long to strip down the gearbox for the Sherman tank, it took me all of 10 minutes. Before starting, I took half a dozen photos of the gearbox before I stripped it down, which I’ll use when it comes to rebuilding it again. The next stage is to give the gearbox frame a good clean then it’ll be marking out the area for the new lay shafts. This will be done, once the new gears arrive. 

 

After tea tonight, we sat and caught up on some recorded TV and had another glass of red. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[Ozexpatriate]

15 minutes ago, BSW01 said:

I took half a dozen photos of the gearbox before I stripped it down, which I’ll use when it comes to rebuilding it again.

Evidently not your first rodeo. I've made the mistake of not doing that with assemblies.

[jamie92208]

12 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

St. Piran’s day feast. A Philp’s pasty all the way from Cornwall. 
 

You should have put a health warning on that Rick.  That kilt is bright for early morning eyes.

10 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

That one is well close!

Yes, I feel sorry for the poor train driver.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good moaning rom the Charente.   The house is reasonably warm this morning though we still have crunchy grass outside.    As I type, I'm watching steel being erected on a new agricultural implement shed about 100 metres away.  It's replacing an earlier smaller one but crucially has an offset roof with the majority facing south at a 30 degree inclination.  There is obviously a solar power subsidy scheme  for farmers as they are all getting such new barns these days.  No doubt the panels will be fitted in due course in time for the summer.    Quite a few jobs to do in the garden today to get the irrigation system complete.  Beth has to head for the Dr's in just over an hour.   

 

I have sent a text to @simontaylor484 and will report back if there is any news.

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

 

Soon after yesterday's missive I got huge headache, one of the strongest for many years, I had delayed taking pills in the hope it would go away, I wish I hadn't, it got worse... An hour after taking pills it finally eased a bit. Before bed time more were taken, and I got 5 hours solid sleep. Came down stairs after that took more pills and got 3 more hours sleep.

 

Feel fairly rough this morning, plus hints of cramp in legs. So climbing into the boat is not planned.

Also stopping direct on the boat is the forecast of intermittent showers, and the fact it's covered in frost.

The car is also frosted but the Landrover not,. It shows that the little bit of heat from driving back from the SC produced just a tiny bit of heat..

The seaweed twirlers reckon today is the start of meteorological spring, well  in days gone by it was set by those who know to be March 30th this year.. for a good reason.

 

Bad missive from the MRC, the landlord wants a 40% price increase, it sounds a lot, but we've not had an increase in 10 years... Having looked that up, the inflation rate since then has been 46.6% so I think that's actually not too bad...

 

Ben the slow Collie, had an extended plod around the garden, leaving a deposit by the rabbit hole.. 

He's asleep on SWMBO's chair at the moment.

 

I had a thought yesterday about Blue Moon, while having lunch yesterday at the SC I watched someone heaving at the somewhat knackered siding door. The handle taking a lot of the muscle power.

The steel bar , I've put back in on BM to help myself out of the seat, is in the way from the centre console to seat. So I've searched for heavy duty door pull handles, and ordered 2. They will be attached 1 each side of the cockpit giving a clear route through.

 

The SC is due to replace the door,

and all the other doors, walls ceilings floors. Yep they're planning a new building, the old one was opened in 1963, I don't think portacabins were designed to last 60 years...

 

Plans for today,

Four pre made pads for Blue Moon will be varnished.

Then if I'm up to it, more flooring in the hallway to be laid.

 

 

[Grizz]

Morning All

 

Well it was a much night thanks to the ‘night meds’…taken around 20:00, D & D works a treat and it is totally worn off and out of my system by morning. I actually don’t feel too bad this morning. Not exactly refreshed, not rested or ready to run a marathon, but not too bad. 
 

So it is a big hurrah for Dihydrocodeine and Diazepam.

 

Although there is a slight down side, as for now and for the duration of the ‘Night Meds’, I have been advised to abstain from my medicinal bedtime single malt treat. Apparently they don’t mix well…although in my case they might just possibly mix far too well, with a potentially huge increased risk of being unable to breath when asleep.
My body doesn’t exactly need any help on this score, as my oxygen levels usually drop down to 88 whilst asleep. This is due to having nocturnal hyper respiratory disorder, a form of involuntary very shallow breathing whilst asleep, which results in gradual reduction in oxygen absorption…. And I’ve been tested…..and I’ve got a certificate and everything! 
 

So as I’m on D & D for a week, I’ve taken a weeks leave.
 

Now some might think “Oooooooo a weeks leave what ever shall I do? Wherever shall I go? “…..…..Well not me…..I’ve got Mrs Grizz to take care of that conundrum for me…..bless her.

So far, APPARENTLY, I have got the continuing painting detail for en-suite woodwork components. I’ve got to manufacture oak trim for an en-suite cupboard. I’ve got to landscape an area around the battlements, something I apparently promised to do last year. Although I have no recollection of this. 
In the interim I’m running Grizz’s cabs, for the benefit of regular customers cub 1 & cub 2. 
After this there is the creosoting of a fence, the clearing of a car port of general crap, the dumping of burnable timber to a secret timber burning location and…when I get a minute I am writing R.A.M.S.for next week’s on track activities. 
 

Part of me is beginning to regret mentioning that I was in pain and couldn’t sleep. 😂

 

On a lighter note I had an encounter with a harvest mouse yesterday evening. In the garden, less than two feet away from me, it zoomed out to grab some corn feed that I had dropped. It didn’t seem bothered by me, in fact it seemed like I was so big that it couldn’t recognise me as a threat….who knows. Moving at glacial speed I took out my phone and filmed it and it was not bothered at all. 
 

 

 

And this morning the usual view from Grizz Castle had the sun highlighting Hamsey Church. I shall try my best to focus on these positives as I try to enjoy the other opportunities that life has brought up on my week off work. 
 

 

Have a great day all.

 

ATB Grizz
 

 

 

 

[45156]

16 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Oxfam have an online book store and things like railway books and other specialised subjects are usually on it.

We normally put anything above about £11.99 online - there is an online specialist who works on Saturdays doing the listing - and the manager or assistant manager both spend about an hour a day on sending out the sales.  The sales are handled from the shop, and not centrally.

[TheQ]

Many model railway clubs will take in books for sale at their next show, often giving you a portion of the money raised. Clubs need the money, especially with a 46.6% rent increase.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Had a bit of a fright this morning, My left leg went a bit wobbly and numb and I nearly fell over, also there was pins and needles sensation. Fortunately it soon passed and everything's back to normal. I did fear for a minute that it might be a stroke but I was laying on that side last night and that might have something to do with it. 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Another dull beginning to the day here.  There's a chance of some showers along with the odd bright spell.  3°C now and might reach 8°C.

Had quite a good and relaxing day yesterday which included a visit to The Shed and some tidying up in there.  Steve came at lunchtime and we had a catch up over a pint and finalised arrangements for our boy's day out on Tuesday.  Rugby watched as usual in the afternoon followed by a very nice beef casserole and then watched Endeavour in the evening. 

Breakfast is imminent and then plans will be made for the rest of the day.  I've already got an idea what I'm going to do but that may well will almost certainly differ from what Herself wants so we may well be going our separate ways today.

Have a good one,

Bob.