Early Risers.

[monkeysarefun]

18 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I rather liked your loco.

 

 Wise man!

 

Meanwhile, earlier today at   a small model railway shop in Pendle Hill, Sydney...

Edited March 29, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[BoD]

5 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Well, obviously, the country in which one lives clearly has all the answers. Otherwise, why one one even continue living there?

Because they won’t let me in anywhere else.

[New Haven Neil]

10 minutes ago, BoD said:

Because they won’t let me in anywhere else.

 

We were close to going to Kiwi at one time, Mrs NHN's folks are naturalised so we have right of entry, or did.  Having seen and heard recently of the economical state of the place, we're glad we didn't.  You think it's bad here/UK?

 

We came to live in a 'tax haven' instead, that oddly has stricter financial rules than the City of London, but journalists don't let that get in the way of a good story. We had to keep the millions somewhere.  Millions of 16t minerals of course.

[PhilH]

20 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 Wise man!

 

Meanwhile, earlier today at   a small model railway shop in Pendle Hill, Sydney...

Musically Rod hasn’t been on my radar since his Faces days but one thing I like about him is he has never hidden his love of model railways.

[DaveF]

I have to start with an apology - yesterday evening I managed to rate several posts incorrectly so I ended up simply removing some of the ratings rather than try to sort them all out.

 

Today is mainly dull with drizzle in the air, again.

 

Yesterday I realised I needed some petrol so went to the garage and found petrol is a little bit cheaper than last time, then I drove to the edge of town and walked inland along the old waggonway for a mile or so.  It was cold and damp so I decided that was enough outdoor exercise for the day.  I thought about looking at the local shops but it was such a dismal grey day I just went back home and had an early coffee,

 

I tidied away the remaining jewellery, checked it is all in the right bags and put it away until I sort other things out which may need to go to an antiques dealer or auction.  Fortunately there is a good auction firm not too far away. 

 

Then I did some kitchen cleaning and polishing and also threw out some old paperwork which had been put on a shelf some time ago to check.  After that I felt very weary so simply had lunch and went to have a lie down for a while.  I think that a few nights of not sleeping well plus the clock change had caught up with me.  Once I woke I felt better but realised I had a "mild" migraine, typical of me after a period of stress (i.e. dealing with the jewellery and some other family issues). Even though I have no close family I still sometimes get asked to help sort things out as an (almost) neutral person.

 

I spent the rest of the day doing puzzles, looking through the catalogues that come in the post even though I never buy anything from them and watching TV.

 

Once again it did eventually occur to me tht I am in my 70s and cannot do quite as much quite as quickly as I used to and that a day off now and then might be a good idea. - so guess what I am doing today.

 

David

[polybear]

3 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 Wise man!

 

Meanwhile, earlier today at   a small model railway shop in Pendle Hill, Sydney...

 

At last - sentenced to Transportation.  Big Tick

 

Bear here...

Well the Ebay seller was PDQ in agreeing to a return and providing a return tracked postage label, so that's a Tick (though I'll not see a refund until he's actually got the item back in his paws, which is fair enough).

 

I've also checked Mickey the MG's Tyre and been for a drive for a couple of miles and all seems well so far....I'll check the pressure again tomorrow.

 

No wallpapering today after all - I've decided that The Paw/Shoulders/Neck are protesting slightly (not surprising) so I'm giving it a miss for today after all.

Bear gone.

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl,

Sanding of yesterday's filling was followed by...

 

Waistline trim fitted, once I'd got the level marked up, there was no problem, even though it crossed two doors and a fixed panel.

 

The skirting board was more difficult across the same areas, but somewhat lower down.. This is because the thickness of boards is greater than the offset given by the hinges. Some further trimming may yet occur at the corners / junctions.

 

By the end of the above I was really struggling, energy levels had become severely depleted. I had to push myself to complete today's task.

 

Then it was time to take Ben on his long walk, he'd been limping a little, we think he bashed his left foreleg while charging around yesterday.

By the end of the first section his leg had eased off. He was offered his medium or full long walk, he chose the full long walk.

 

By the time we were back in I was totally knackered, an hours eyelid inspection was definitely needed.

When I awoke, rain had occurred outside.

 

[grandadbob]

A'noon.

Well we visited M & S earlier and returned "our" unwanted item.  Pleased to say that nothing else was bought to return another day and we were so quick the car park only cost one pound note coin.  Only downside is that The Back has continued to cause me much aggravation and although I joined a Zoom meeting I had to abort because of it.  I've now resorted to the Tramadol as Ibuprofen and Parrotseatemall weren't doing the trick and that's now kicked in.

Bangers & mash to look forward to tonight so that might perk me up a bit.

 

[jamie92208]

Good evening from a former brickworks that used to be one of my teaspots when I was the village Bobby for the two villages.  It became a builders merchants (Naylor Myers) and is now a Premier Inn and our home for the next 6 nights. I've had a good day so far. Breakfast out at a Deli with Rachel, Beth and of course Emily.  Then off to Wakefield to see how PNLD is fairing after I set it up in the early 90's.  It appears to be in rude good health and good hands. Now has a turnover of £1million a year and 9 employees and is used 24/7 by operational officers, which it was designed for. I was made most welcome and  thoroughly enjoyed the visit.    Then back to take Em to nursery and say goodbye. Off to some friends this evening with wine bottle in hand.

Regards to all. 

 

Jamie

 

PS, On our leaders advice I've installed anew keyboard app and sofar so good.  It doesn't stop typos. Miracles take a little longer. 

 

Edited March 29, 2023 by jamie92208

[grandadbob]

Evenin' each,

Chucking it down here.  Bangers & mash surrounded,  enjoyed and accompanied by a glass of Corbières kindly donated from Naked Wines via my mate Russ from next door.  Cheers Russ!

Back is so so at the moment, pills and wine must be doing something.

Doesn't seem to be much on the box tonight except for The Repair Shop so after that I'll search for something to watch online, failing that there's always music to listen to. 

[Coombe Barton]

... appears to be a developing row over the depth of the Covid enquiry in Wales and Northern Ireland. However long it takes, it won’t bring back those who died ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/03/29/gently-downwards-for-new-infections/

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Predicted to rain tonight, by both the weather persons and Arthur Itis, co-codamol is about to be taken followed by a toad-in-the-hole dinner.

[Ozexpatriate]

13 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

... people en masse are pretty ghastly (no matter where you are).

Not necessarily. But this exchange (from Men in Black) expresses what you mean regarding group think/mob behaviour:

Quote

Edwards: Why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it.

Kay: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. 

 

[monkeysarefun]

5 hours ago, polybear said:

At last - sentenced to Transportation.  Big Tick

 

Whats with the English thing of always talking  down your celebrities, hoping they'll move elsewhere and so on? Same for your sports people and national teams  - its fatalistically assumed they are hopeless and will lose in the early stages.

Conversely, you are the opposite with your weather "Its a lovely summers day!" you'll say just  because the sun is out when in reality its about 20 degrees and you should all be wearing puffy jackets. 

Edited March 29, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[Ozexpatriate]

In contrast to yesterday, today is forecast to to be dry. The morning began with fairly heavy fog. The fog has now lifted but the sky is still heavy, though I'm starting to see some thinning revealing blue beyond.

 

For a change I have evening plans. Last night, my eldest offered my younger son and I tickets for a basketball game this evening. My son is very excited about it. The local team has not been doing well down the stretch to the playoffs. At this point they won't make it to the post season and are rumoured to be throwing in the towel, intentionally sitting all their star, starting players. All the same I will enjoy an evening with my son.

 

I now have to adapt to the whole "your mobile telephone is your ticket" routine. I've checked that the tickets are browser-accessible on my 'phone. I don't want to download the app, or put them in a NFC-accessible mobile wallet. Hopefully it will all go smoothly.

[Ozexpatriate]

8 hours ago, PhilH said:

one thing I like about him is he has never hidden his love of model railways ...

His layout was on the cover of Model Railroader some time back.

 

In the accompanying story he describes how he brings everything he needs to do modelling* while touring. It's his way of relaxing on the road.

 

* kit building, painting, weathering etc for rolling stock and structures.

[TheQ]

Xxxxxxxx. Connectors, guess who got the wrong micro mini lightning, A B C  usb connector adapter cable.

Just ordered the right one.

My forepaws agree with PhilW's friend, the unfriendly Arthur it's. So does this gadget, when switched on it said rain immanent.

 

[Ozexpatriate]

10 hours ago, southern42 said:

After months of revision mainly on the North, I remember just one relevant to the area question on the "O" level exam paper - a comparison of fishing off Newfoundland and Japanese waters

Fishing off the grand banks of Newfoundland was an essential part of European colonization of North America and the rise of mercantilism. The Basque were likely fishing there before Columbus.

 

Investors in British West Country fishing companies didn't like the colonists fishing on the Grand Banks.

 

Cod represented 35% of the revenue for Colonial Massachusetts Bay Colony. Trade (in dried cod) with French Caribbean slave plantations (rather than British slave plantations) led to the Molasses Act of 1733 - a early precursor to the Revolutionary War as it escalated to the Sugar Act of 1764* and bans on trading with the French.

 

* in the wake of the Seven Years War

[Ozexpatriate]

10 hours ago, Tony_S said:

I remember also in the pre O level year studying farming and fishing in NW Europe. In those days Norway was a fairly poor country and there was much emphasis on how they got two hay crops a year and how they preserved fish. Oil has since made a significant change to their economy. 

The so-called "Cod Wars" over fishing rights between the UK and Iceland were very much a thing in the 1950s and 1970s.

 

I don't remember what constituted Geography in my formal schooling. As youngsters we were obliged to learn the locations of countries on a map, their flags and capitals and I do remember later doing assignments on Japanese culture/geography of the four main islands and the states of Mexico. I'm sure there were others. By my junior/senior years (11th / 12th grades) I did not take "Geography" as a subject. I'm not sure it was even offered.

 

[polybear]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

Conversely, you are the opposite with your weather "Its a lovely summers day!" you'll say just  because the sun is out when in reality its about 20 degrees and you should all be wearing puffy jackets. 

 

Ah yes, but when it's a blue sky and the sun is shining then even if the temperature is slightly low you can easily stay warm with a puffy jacket etc.

But if its 35 degrees then staying cool gets a lot more difficult than it takes to stay warm - it'll involve aircon, staying in the shade or being in a pool etc.

This Bear would much rather do something to stay warm than have to do something to stay cool - it's a lot easier.

 

In other news.....

Nottalot this afternoon or evening - Tigger bounce busted for some reason, plus the Beary Body is achin' a bit, despite Trammies/Pink Pills/Paracetamol.  Hopefully it'll buggeroff overnight.

 

Bear gone.

[Gwiwer]

Waited in for a delivery this afternoon.  

 

Within the appointed two-hour time-slot there was a knock at the door and I was presented with a cardboard tube bearing an address label and another confirming the sender.  

 

The problem was the lack of contents.  And the lack of one end of the tube.  Parcel tape and a plastic cap secured the closed end but at the other there was no sign of either ever having been there.  

 

I returned the "parcel" to the driver who agreed it was empty and should have had contents.  He marked it as "damaged in transit".  I emailed the sender.  A response is awaited.  

 

The word "turdycurses" came to mind.  

[Tony_S]

34 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I did not take "Geography" as a subject. I'm not sure it was even offered.

Aditi was employed as a geography lecturer in 1975. While she was on maternity leave in 1991  the college decided to stop offering geography as it was too expensive. Rather than be unemployed she reinvented herself as a sociology lecturer. She then gradually moved over to the Higher Education part of the college, teaching sociology and research methods, not geography. Matthew’s first degree was  Human Geography which pleased his Mum!

Edited March 29, 2023 by Tony_S

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

 

 

In the accompanying story he describes how he brings everything he needs to do modelling* while touring. It's his way of relaxing on the road.

 

* kit building, painting, weathering etc for rolling stock and structures.

 

 

I assume that is why he was at Woodpeckers. He's touring her ATM so I guess he ran low on humbrol rust or something.

 

I like the idea of all the weird powder housekeeping would discover whenever  he vacates the room, must run the local police drugs labs ragged. 

Edited March 29, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[monkeysarefun]

57 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Ah yes, but when it's a blue sky and the sun is shining then even if the temperature is slightly low you can easily stay warm with a puffy jacket etc.

But if its 35 degrees then staying cool gets a lot more difficult than it takes to stay warm - it'll involve aircon, staying in the shade or being in a pool etc.

This Bear would much rather do something to stay warm than have to do something to stay cool - it's a lot easier.

 

In other news.....

Nottalot this afternoon or evening - Tigger bounce busted for some reason, plus the Beary Body is achin' a bit, despite Trammies/Pink Pills/Paracetamol.  Hopefully it'll buggeroff overnight.

 

Bear gone.

 

 

I like how you obviously had in mind the intention of including an example of a Really Hot Day ......and picked 35!

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Feeling cream crackered this evening so a bit of tidying up and off to bed.