Early Risers.

[Coombe Barton]

Plans for today now include going out and taking photos - as I listened to the weather forecast for the remainder of the week and as from tonight it's going to be wet and cooler. So the domestics can wait.

Now wasn't that a great excuse?

[Hroth]

Chocolate.  But in moderation...

[Mike Bellamy]

12 hours ago, PeterBB said:

  One Easter while camping in the Peak District woke up to find 5" of snow on the tent - probably early 80s, Mike Bellamy might remember the actual year.  

 

Sorry Peter, I haven't a clue about that although I do recall that a cricket match at Buxton had to be abandoned in the 1970 (?) in June because of snow.

 

I never have been able to remember dates except for today 9th April as it's my birthday and next year will be three score years and ten . . . .  Also have to remember a date in February (not the 14th !) which was our wedding day 45 years ago and SWMBO's 20th birthday - at least they are both on the same day . . . . ! !

.

[45156]

Happy birthday Mike

[Coombe Barton]

Happy Birthday, Mike

[The Lurker]

Happy Easter to all. Mrs Lurker has decreed the Lurker boys will be doing an Easter hunt. They’re 20 and 14. I doubt even the promise of an alcohol element for Elder will evince much enthusiasm!

 

there is a photo on Wisden of the Windies team in 1975  ( warm up for the first World Cup) at Buxton wondering what all this white stuff is!

 

and I think Buxton has had its cricket interrupted by snow on other occasions 

[jjb1970]

Happy birthday to Mike!

[Tony_S]

Happy birthday to Mike.

[jjb1970]

The daughter is back with us, collected her at Changi airport last night, so there goes peace and quiet. Though they're both back at school tomorrow after the Easter holiday.

 

I think the boy made a bad call at school here. He is very good at Spanish and so was given permission to study Spanish as his second language. Mandarin is compulsory under normal circumstances, although the girl is good at Spanish she elected to study in Mandarin on the sensible basis that she is already decent at Spanish and can practice outside of school, and Mandarin will likely be a very in-demand language. She's doing well in it which is excellent. I recommended to the boy to stick with Mandarin be he wasn't keen and I'd rather he study a language he likes and will learn properly than just sitting doing the minimum to not get into trouble. Oddly, Malay, which is one of the official languages of Singapore (indeed, the national language) wasn't an option, they'd both have loved that as they both speak Indonesian which is effectively the same language when spoken (the differences are largely down to Malay being transcribed into the Roman alphabet by the British and Indonesian by the Dutch).

[grandadbob]

Good morning all and a Happy Birthday to Mike.

Lots of blue sky and sunshine and it should be a fine and dry day.  11°C possibly rising to 18°C.

Late here but up early as The Boss decided to repay my early cuppa for her yesterday with one for me at 06.45.

Her wound seems to be OK and has been dressed again by Staff Nurse GDB.

"We" have lots to do as there is a family gathering here today.  Ten expected for dinner and there are multiple food options as we have two veggies, one with IBS and gluten intolerance and another with dairy intolerance, oh and a small child who is somewhat, shall we say, fussy.   I, on the other hand, can tolerate anything so will enjoy my roast lamb with all the trimmings and whatever goodies are served for dessert.  No vegans today which does help a bit but it wouldn't faze The Boss who, I must admit,  surpasses herself when there are so many things to cook.  Good job we've got two ovens, a microwave and an air fryer.....and there's always the BBQ just in case!

My duties at the moment seem to be of the fetch and carry type and I am being summoned again.

Rugby will have to be recorded and oh....I needtogettamoveon apparently.

Have a good one,

Bob.

Edited April 9, 2023 by grandadbob

[DaveF]

Happy Birthday Mike.

 

David

[New Haven Neil]

Happy Birthday Mike!

 

NHN still under the weather, coughing has finally eased to 'occasional' but still feel half dead.  No discernible energy whatsoever, flat battery human.  This is despite a 'reasonable' night, in fact good by my usual standards (grim) but the body battery won't charge up for some reason.  Bleah.

 

Mrs H out in the garden doing stuff, I'll cook lunch then try to summon the energy to potter on with something.  I had a walk to the shop earlier thinking that would get things moving but I couldn't wait to sit down. Its only half a mile or so.

 

Yesterday's sunshine and spring-yness has been replaced by a strong wind and overcast, this is not helping.  The fore-guessers were saying it would be the hottest day of the year so far, they were sadly incorrect.

 

OK, off to be grumpy somewhere else.

[jamie92208]

9 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Needs a good layer of roofing felt and tar on it......

 

 

@iL Dottore has gone too far this time.......

Curly Fries are the Food of Gods (well, Bears at least).

 

Bear here.....

I'll leave fellow ER'ers to guess what Bear will be doing today.  It shouldn't be hard.

 

In other news.....

Keep an eye out for Gary the Gorilla; those who nicked him are obviously less than bright cos' they didn't even think of covering him with a Tarpaulin - or even better using a van.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/huge-8ft-gorilla-stolen-from-garden-centre-spotted-on-motorway-in-pickup-truck/ar-AA19CmvX?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=784c3a2f35d6464fba917a608fd4977f&ei=56

 

BG

 

The prisons would be very empty if two things occurred,.

 

Firstly if most of the villains had a reasonable allocation of brain cells and secondly if they stopped upsetting women. 

 

By the way @grandadbobwould like our Emily.  She devours anything put in front of her. Food just vanishes.

 

Jamie

Edited April 9, 2023 by jamie92208

[DaveF]

 

Cooler and mainly dull again today, lunch is now in the oven cooking itself.  There remains just the sprouts and gravy to do in the last few minutes before I eat it.

 

Yesterday I woke early so once again made a cup of tea and went back to bed and read for a while.  After breakfast I drove to the little car park at the beach and walked to the pier along the sand and then back as far as the main car park, up onto the promenade and back to the car.  I noticed there is a small fun fair at the back of the beach huts.  The usual "fun" run was taking place, I found a seat on the prom to avoid being run down by runners - though to be honest a lot of them just jog slowly.

 

Back home to clean the car and then coffee together with ice buns again followed by working on photos and dealing with e mails.  While I was ouside the Ukrainians living with friends opposite came across to bring me an Easter card and a small cake.  They are in the process of moving into a house in one of the older parts of the town.  One of other neighbours hired a van yesterday to help them move the furniture they have acquired, much of it given by local people. 

 

I had scrambled eggs followed by tiramisu for lunch with an afternoon nap for half an hour.

 

I decided to do some gardening, I ended up giving a holly bush/tree a good trim, it is now about 7' tall eand somewhat narrower, the garden wheelie bin is nearly full.  I wore a fleece and thick gloves and the sharp spines on the leaves still attacked me.  I quickly developed an itchy rash - and I am already taking antihistamines.  It was dealt with using Anthisan and is almost back to normal this morning.

 

There followed a quiet evening with a book, music and TV as usual.

 

David

Edited April 9, 2023 by DaveF

[Barry O]

8 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

An interesting clip, thanks Peter.

 

I was quite amazed by what they managed to play on the ukele. Thanks to George Formby (and the like), I had always regarded the ukulele as a “joke” instrument - sort of the curly oven fries of the musical world.

 

Having said that, a talented musician and the right choice of music can make even those instruments usually hidden behind the rest of the orchestra, shine. As these two gifted Swedish lads show:

 
One of my favourite albums.

 

And, thanks to this Israeli musician, I discovered the joys of transcribing solo violin to mandolin.

 

As a professional musician my wife detests the useless..  its a musical dead end for many pupils. Schools switched from the recorder to ukulele... bad move says she.. and trying to keep 20+ of them in tune is a major challenge 

 

Baz

[Barry O]

Happy Birthday  @Mike Bellamy!

 

Baz

[NGT6 1315]

4 hours ago, Hroth said:

Chocolate.  But in moderation...

That is, to my mind, mutually exclusive!

 

Cheers all. Getting sunny around here!

 

And this…

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Happy birthday Mike. 

[PhilJ W]

This may interest some.

https://www.boredpanda.com/city-gadgets-convenient-traffic-urban-equipment/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

Some are good ideas such as in Singapore senior citizens being able to get more time to cross the road by swiping their bus pass.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Feeling a bit cream crackered after this mornings exertions. Didn't buy very much at the toy fair either, just a couple of diecasts. Now time for some eyelid inspection, be back later.

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

Happy Birthday  @Mike Bellamy!

 

Baz

Woteesed.  With LDC.  

 

A hoppy Bunny Day to one and all, or Pask Lowen onen hag oll for those understanding of things west of the Tamar.  

 

No chocolate here by request of The Management.  Hot Cross Buns were enjoyed for breakfast (as they were on Friday - we got two packs for the price on one) but mostly today has been spent trying to manage Dr. SWMBO's anxiety which is once again off the scale for no reason she can explain.  We had lunch outside on the terrace and there were threats to "plant the beans" but nothing has come of the latter so far.  

 

There is yet time to park myself on the lawns with a beer.  A move which will, according to a neighbour, indicate that Spring has truly arrived.

 

Muddling and writing plod along at their own rates.  I have to get back into walking from next week too as I need to be "match fit" for July when I undertake another Macmillan 26-mile "Mighty Hike".  

 

Avagoodun.  What's left of it.   

 

[Barry O]

Eggs have been flung  Boggle Hole has been visited. Back is giving me gip but pink pills has calmed it a bit.  

 

Sunny with acoldwindwhichcutsyouintwo....

 

Baz

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Singapore senior citizens being able to get more time to cross the road by swiping their bus pass.

But is it enough time for them to catch the bus???  

 

How many times, when I was driving such things, did I witness a person of advancing years press the button of a Pelican crossing (which would activate quickly; traffic light controlled pedestrian phases don't always do so) as I approached only to make their best speed across the road "hurrying" to catch the very bus they have delayed by their actions.  

 

Captain Cynical might have taken perverse delight in denying them travel if they were still before the hour permitted for use of their pass.  As was sometimes the case.  This driver simply asked them for the cash fare.  Some paid, some refused and waited for the next bus which might have been an hour away.  But woe betide if they had stopped you by using the crossing and you then drove straight past the stop which they hadn't yet reached.  They would be on the phone to the depot before you had even arrived there.  

 

It's a slightly alarming thought that in three weeks I can apply for, and in five weeks receive, my own bus pass.  That, I suspect, means I could call myself "old".  Which I shall refuse to do.  

[Gwiwer]

22 hours ago, Tony_S said:

The head of English at the school I went to certainly revealed the rude bits. He particularly liked pointing out the bits that Thomas Bowdler had missed. 

We didn't get that from our Head of English who was a very modest Man of the Cloth and reluctant to explain anything he felt uncomfortable with.  

 

But we did get some answers out of his replacement after he retired.  A much younger chap who dressed in hippie style, had very long hair and smelled of patchouly.  He wasn't averse to using the language of his pupils either especially when explaining the finer points of Chaucer or Marston.  

 

"I wold I had thy coillons in mine hond and I wold cotte them off and burry them in an hogges toord" for example.  Or 

"Adieu, pigeon-house.  Thou burr that stickest only to nappy-fortunes.  The serpigo, the stranguary, an eternal ineffectual priapism seize thee."

[Hroth]

21 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

But is it enough time for them to catch the bus???  

 

How many times, when I was driving such things, did I witness a person of advancing years press the button of a Pelican crossing (which would activate quickly; traffic light controlled pedestrian phases don't always do so) as I approached only to make their best speed across the road "hurrying" to catch the very bus they have delayed by their actions.  

 

Captain Cynical might have taken perverse delight in denying them travel if they were still before the hour permitted for use of their pass.  As was sometimes the case.  This driver simply asked them for the cash fare.  Some paid, some refused and waited for the next bus which might have been an hour away.  But woe betide if they had stopped you by using the crossing and you then drove straight past the stop which they hadn't yet reached.  They would be on the phone to the depot before you had even arrived there.  

 

It's a slightly alarming thought that in three weeks I can apply for, and in five weeks receive, my own bus pass.  That, I suspect, means I could call myself "old".  Which I shall refuse to do.  

 

Around here the bus pass wielders are known as the Twirlies. "Am I too early?", they ask as they climb aboard around 9:30am. Some drivers wave them through without getting them to tap their cards on the machine. Others tell them to wait in the wind and rain for the next bus.  I supose it all depends on how many twirlies are at a stop, and how close to 9:30 it is...

 

Some wait at the stop for a few minutes until it IS 9:30 then let them on en masse!

 

 

Edited April 9, 2023 by Hroth