Early Risers.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

After having a late night last night, followed by lie-in this morning, I decided to make the most of the sunshine and what was left of the day, so I headed straight out to the workshop this morning and continued with the repairs. After setting up the chop-saw, I cut the remaining 6 rotten sections out of the rear wall and made 6 new pieces to replace them. These were all fitted, glued and pegged by the time I knocked off just before tea time. It’s all looking a lot better now and it certainly feels a lot more solid than it did before. All that’s left to do now is to cut size and finish the support beam for the rear wall. After that I’ll need to sand down and fill where necessary the joints. I can then sand down the walls inside and out and as a precaution, I’ll add some wood hardener to the sanded wood, it’ll then be ready for repainting. Earlier this evening I placed an order for the paint and hopefully it’ll be here on Tuesday or Wednesday. I’ve gone for a pale blue grey colour for the walls and white for the door, windows and frames. I’m hoping they’ll be enough left to paint the shed the same colours too, as that could do with a coat of paint too. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

More than likely but museums generally seem to be missing the point these days and in fact IMHO many have lost the plot.    "It's not all about the artefacts", sorry but it is and hiding most of them away to create more "learning" and "play" zones for the screaming unwashed is not "making them more relevant" its turning them into (not very good) theme parks.     

An additional consideration is all this “dumbing down“ is incredibly condescending.

 

Basically, it is a matter of: “us, the Oxbridge educated upper-middle-class are the self appointed arbiters of what you, the uneducated proles, are able to understand and so we are making things stupidly simple for you”

 

This neglects (and conveniently overlooks) the long history of various working and lower middle-class associations, clubs and societies dedicated to learning, curiosity about the world and self improvement.

 

A writer, unfortunately I forget whom, wrote very movingly and sympathetically of observing – somewhere “oop north“ – a working-class father very carefully and very knowledgeably explaining a work of art to his son. The point of the essay being to not dismiss peoples’ intellectual abilities because of their class.

 

So why not challenge everyone? Have labels in museums that explain things in such a way that the unfamiliar becomes clear through context; get rid of much of the “multimedia” (often poor quality, frequently “out of order”) and the “play areas” and put out the artefacts. Even young children aren’t as stupid or as simple as the current lot of museum curators, believe. Kids should go home after a museum visit, full of wonder and amazement at what they saw, not complaining because the cheap video display was “out of order” or the “hands on” interactive feature had been vandalised.

 

Of course, to be a tad cynical, all this dumbing down could be because these “right-on curators” themselves don’t know the material they curate and couldn’t tell the difference between a bacterium or a protozoa or wouldn’t recognise a Pzkw Mk IV if it rolled over them (given the quality of some of the so-called university “graduates” I have interviewed over the last few years, this may not be such a far-fetched cynicism after all).

 

A case of “I don’t understand it, so I’m going to make damn sure you’re not going to understand it either”????

[Hroth]

A brief note on the ongoing debate regarding museums.

 

The National Galleries and Museums on Merseyside have a vast stock of largescale ship models, inherited from Cammel Lairds and mostly departed Liverpool shipping lines. Years ago, the newly opened Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead had good displays of well labelled various builders and office display models.  Most have now been shunted into storage in favour of increased administrative facilities and activity rooms for mainly primary school aged children.  In the case of the Maritime Museum, the place seems to have been turned over to illustrating the iniquities of the slave trade and the horrors of The Middle Passage. Oh and the Titanic, which never entered the Mersey...  Its hardly balanced, but there you go.  And yes, there is a largely irrelevant museum shop...

 

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Some museums do have eye watering prices, the London Transport museum for one. However when they have a clear out of their warehouse they will be ridiculously cheap. I've picked up a few bargains that way but the S stock sets and Metropolitan Bo-Bo's sold out within hours (and re-appeared on E-bay at treble the price). One of the best transport museums is the Ipswich transport museum, it still displays models and dioramas pertaining to local industries. The reason for that is it is independent and run by enthusiasts.

[The Lurker]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

Ah, but now you are entering the world of the Panel Van. Every teenage girls parents worst nightmare was to hear  them say "Just off to the drive-in with Kev tonight!" then see Kev turn up in one of these.

 

 

 

 

Australian Philosophers, Culture Vultures, Number Boffins and those who write thick books  always make sure they keep one weekend in September free for the Deniliquin Ute Muster!

 

 

 

 

The bloke that lived over the road from us when I was a kid did custom paint jobs like that , not on utes (it being rural Kent) but on transit vans and the like. 
 

the bloke that lives there now is a TV actor, who’s been on things like Waterloo Road and the Bill. He seems to be corralled into giving my old man a lift fairly regularly which is decent of him

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[monkeysarefun]

3 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

I can cope with teens - I have some, er, professional experience of controlling their excesses. But smallies, wow they are hard work.  Really these are most sincerely NOT bad kids, they're just full on and a touch loud when operating.  And I'm just a bit to old to cope!  However, running them at full power for two days has resulted in a complete shut-down this evening, asleep slightly before touching their respective pillows. Phew.

 

It should be possible to harvest them to charge your mobile phone.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a land of fist and mog.  Today I've got to try and shake the dust out of my brain as I'joining a French class.  It's only 55 years since I took O level and then gladly gave the subject up.  I never imagined that it would become an essential part of daily life and how much stuck in the bonce.  I just managed a grade 6, the lowest pass available having been consistently 23rd or 24thin my class.  

 

I'm quite looking forward to it, and the cream scones promised by the hostess. 

 

Jamie

[iL Dottore]

11 hours ago, Adam88 said:

 

I had a friend whose sister suffered Pinks Disease in consequence of being treated with some sort of mercury-based potion to manage teething problems as a baby in the 1920s.  Sadly this lady had to be institutionalised for her whole life.

We may joke about the narcotic laden syrups and other “pacifiers” used to keep kids quiet, but the sad fact is that until relatively recently (say 1920s/1930s or so) you could put pretty much what you liked into a concoction - narcotics, heavy metals, alcohols [not just ETOH], etc - and sell it as a remedy for something (many of these so-called patent medicines were cynically and deliberately sold as the low cost alternative to a real pharmaceutical product - despite dangerous ingredients and no proven efficacy).

 

Even today, the FDA, the EMEA and other health authorities regularly seize shipments of “alternative medicine” and “homeopathic medicine” preparations that are contaminated with poisons and heavy metals - sometimes significantly so.

Additionally, another major drug problem nowadays is that of fake pharmaceuticals*. With just “slap on the wrist” penalties it is a relatively low risk/high reward criminal endeavour: whip up a batch of identical looking tablets or pills, pack them into fake packaging (creating fake packaging is very easy to do nowadays) and sell them to unsuspecting patients, making £££££££ on every penny of production costs. IF  the patient is lucky, then nothing will happen - having just taken an innocuous placebo; unfortunately severe toxicities up to and including death can frequently be the result of taking such fake pharmaceuticals. And that’s on top of continuing to suffer from whatever ailment the fake medication was supposed to treat. Furthermore, as always seems to be the case, third world/poor countries suffer the most from fake drugs (although I reckon a lot of the “Viagra” sold on the internet at “bargain prices” are fake - and that’s certainly a first world problem…)

* fake aircraft parts is another low risk/high reward criminal endeavour. A chum in the airline business (a Crossair mechanic) said that such fakes are often very difficult to spot - one screw looks very much like another - as the crucial and critical difference is in the materials used. A “bargain bag” of bolts for a plane isn’t a bargain when they shear in mid-flight. And, again, it’s a problem in the third world and poorer countries.

[jjb1970]

43 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

Good moaning from a land of fist and mog.  Today I've got to try and shake the dust out of my brain as I'joining a French class.  It's only 55 years since I took O level and then gladly gave the subject up.  I never imagined that it would become an essential part of daily life and how much stuck in the bonce.  I just managed a grade 6, the lowest pass available having been consistently 23rd or 24thin my class.  

 

I'm quite looking forward to it, and the cream scones promised by the hostess. 

 

Jamie

 

I keep telling my kids they have no idea what things they learn at school will be useful through life, or whether any of it will be irrelevant. They thought I was talking nonsense when I told I use trigonometry, chemistry, the laws of physics and calculus (the boy is doing special math) and various other things they were whinging about on an almost daily basis so I showed them some of my work files.......I think I may have frightened them.

[Hroth]

6 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

It should be possible to harvest them to charge your mobile phone.

 

Something along the lines of a Hamster Wheel might be effective?

 

[AndyID]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Good moaning from a land of fist and mog.  Today I've got to try and shake the dust out of my brain as I'joining a French class.  It's only 55 years since I took O level and then gladly gave the subject up.  I never imagined that it would become an essential part of daily life and how much stuck in the bonce.  I just managed a grade 6, the lowest pass available having been consistently 23rd or 24thin my class.  

 

I'm quite looking forward to it, and the cream scones promised by the hostess. 

 

Jamie

 

Recently we've been watching episodes of Candice Renoir. Fortunately we can turn on the English subtitles. We receive it streamed on Acorn in the US. We do manage to understand some of the well known phrases but that's about it 🙂

[polybear]

10 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

I'm a member of a model ship forum

 

Oh why did Chimpy post that link.....the "Modelling Tools and Workshop Equipment" section could well cause a certain Bear with little resistance for such things to spend ratheralottamoney.....

 

9 hours ago, pH said:

Johnster, what you would have seen in 1961 is not what’s there now. In 1961, you would have been in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, and the number and range of the exhibits was huge. As jjb1970 says, the display is now in the Transport Museum and I don’t think there are as many models on display as there were in the Art Gallery. I can’t remember if there are any still on display in the Art Gallery (maybe someone local could confirm). Visits to Kelvingrove on more recent trips back to Scotland have been to see things other than ship models.

 

These links may be of interest:

 

https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/video-new-book-catalogues-glasgow-museums-vast-array-of-model-ships/

A quick search of the net suggests that much(?) of the model ship collection now seems to reside at the Waterside Museum in Glasgow.

(The book is available on both Abe Books and Amazon, incidentally).

 

Bear here...

Yesterday saw Bear doing yet more architrave work - the bits for the doorframe to The Bear Cave went very well indeed, whilst those for the front door are a complete fuggin' tram smash.  Turdycurses.  Not helped by (a) uneven wall levels on the RHS, and (b) Bear screwin' up the scribing & cutting of the bit on the LHS.  Double Turdycurses.  I didn't buy any spare bits - and it was a mail-order with thirty quid minimum order.  I may be able to recover the situation by reducing the width of the LHS bit using the table saw - only that's an accessory to which the hand-held circular saw has to be clamped.  Pah.  It works well enough for occasional use, but is a pain to set up.  Oh yes, and it lives in the loft....

 

Today will see Bear swapping to the architrave around the lounge door frame - that wall has been re-plastered and *should* be straightforward.....

 

I also gave the Leccy C.U. Box a final (I hope) coat of paint so hopefully I can finish that off today as well.

BG

Edited May 15, 2023 by polybear

[TheQ]

For NHN, ,

Feed them sugar, play some music and. https://energy-floors.com/products/the-dancer/

At least you get your electricity paid for..

 

Mooring Awl,

Five hours intermittent sleep trying to find a comfortable position, due to a painful undercarriage.

 

Then down stairs switched on TV, and. I see Honing station just 4 miles away, now a foot path, but a team as cleared the undergrowth, with some restoration but no rebuilding, so you can see what it was. It's on one of those R******y walks programmes. They then proceeded to Stalham,, a few words from the car park that's now on part of that site. Then by the museum of the broads without mentioning it, but he did some paddle boarding. Then it gets geographically challenged as he disappears off onto the Wherry Albion. Five miles to the south west.

 

 

He was near Thurne mill, our return start line being from the near motorboat by the mill to  5mph sign on the opposite rive bank hidden by the mill. we saw Albion yesterday near St Benet's Abbey

 

the gate house of which is in picture.

Then he suddenly appears on the beach in California, 5 miles to the east, having avoided mentioning from Stalham his walk would be down the Busy A149, which has no foot path before crossing the river Thurne and turning left to the coast through several villages.

 

I did eventually get another couple of hours sleep, ..

 

Ben the demanding Collie wanted out, there's a chilly northerly out there with scattered clouds, and a light dew. More prunings were collected and move to the site of the next fire.

 

I'm now wrapped up on the sofa getting warmed up.

 

Plans for today. 

There's a pile of bits arrived for the computer room, while there I've got part two of getting the club treasurer's system set up as I would like.

 

Hunger is over coming temperature,

 

Time to head for the kitchen.

Edited May 15, 2023 by TheQ

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A bright sunny start to the day here in the northwest corner of England, which is typical, because Sheila is having her diabetic eye test, so she’s not a happy bunny. For this particular test (a split lamp eye test) she has to go to Sale, which is at 9 o’clock, again, she’s not happy, as she got up later than planned and is now running round like a headless chicken. once back home, I’ll go and complete the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix.

 

This morning I’ve had notification that my paint order will arrive tomorrow, but I’ve not got a time, so I’ll need to stay inside to get the door, as sheila won’t be able to handle a package of that size. 
 

Back later.
 

Brian

Edited May 15, 2023 by BSW01

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

It rained earlier but the the sun has now made an appearance.  Sunny spells forecast with the chance of some more showers.  12°C up to 18°C today.

Slow start again, this is getting to be a habit.

Rugby watched yesterday and enjoyed although I doubt if TB and DH felt the same way. As a neutral I was OK with the result and TBH the better team on the day won.

First task after breakfast will be a walk to the surgery to pick up an X-ray form for the hospital and a visit to the pharmacy  to collect a prescription.  The X-ray will have to wait until Wednesday as I have another medical appointment elsewhere tomorrow morning.  

I have a couple of small admin tasks to do and then I may carry on with toy testing in The Shed.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited May 15, 2023 by grandadbob

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis was doing a rain dance this morning but the Nurofen is now kicking in. Also the sun is now shining and it looks like a good day.

[DaveF]

A lovely sunny morning here though cloud is beginning to appear, there may be rain/showers later.  I'm not going out today, so the weather doesn't matter.  I have to be in this morning as I have a parcel coming with some books, one of which is heavy (large format 500 pages of photos of late 19th/early 20th century scenes). If it is any good I'll mention it's title later.

 

The toe settled down yesterday evening, at bedtime I found a large woollen sock which is comfortable and gives it more protection.  I can wear sandals or slippers but not shoes - it's the dressing which is the problem!  This morning I can walk well as long as I don't put weight on the toe.

 

I found out how I stubbed my toe, a small chest of drawers would be better moved so that is today's task.  All being well it will end up in the garage to be used for storage as it doesn't match the rest of the bedroom furniture - it was one left over when Mum's flat was cleared and it came home.  I shall have to reorganise other drawers and cupboards to give the contents a home.

 

Mentioning Mum's flat it is a year today since she died.  Probably thinking of that and not what I was doing caused the mishap yesterday.  Sometime in the next week or so I will go and visit the grave - once I can walk in comfort.

 

Once the bedroom is sorted out I intend to work on photos, read, watch a DVD  and relax.   I expect I'll find something that "needs" doing though.

 

David

[tigerburnie]

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

For NHN, ,

Feed them sugar, play some music and. https://energy-floors.com/products/the-dancer/

At least you get your electricity paid for..

 

Mooring Awl,

Five hours intermittent sleep trying to find a comfortable position, due to a painful undercarriage.

 

Then down stairs switched on TV, and. I see Honing station just 4 miles away, now a foot path, but a team as cleared the undergrowth, with some restoration but no rebuilding, so you can see what it was. It's on one of those R******y walks programmes. They then proceeded to Stalham,, a few words from the car park that's now on part of that site. Then by the museum of the broads without mentioning it, but he did some paddle boarding. Then it gets geographically challenged as he disappears off onto the Wherry Albion. Five miles to the south west.

 

 

He was near Thurne mill, our return start line being from the near motorboat by the mill to  5mph sign on the opposite rive bank hidden by the mill. we saw Albion yesterday near St Benet's Abbey

 

the gate house of which is in picture.

Then he suddenly appears on the beach in California, 5 miles to the east, having avoided mentioning from Stalham his walk would be down the Busy A149, which has no foot path before crossing the river Thurne and turning left to the coast through several villages.

 

I did eventually get another couple of hours sleep, ..

 

Ben the demanding Collie wanted out, there's a chilly northerly out there with scattered clouds, and a light dew. More prunings were collected and move to the site of the next fire.

 

I'm now wrapped up on the sofa getting warmed up.

 

Plans for today. 

There's a pile of bits arrived for the computer room, while there I've got part two of getting the club treasurer's system set up as I would like.

 

Hunger is over coming temperature,

 

Time to head for the kitchen.

An area I used to fish regularly, even moored my boat in the same spot, is the pub still there at the end of the dyke?

[tigerburnie]

Is anyone else getting these large adverts across the screen, scantily clad lasses in bikinis, I did try getting it to go away.........................................or at least that's what I told the wife....................

[grandadbob]

@tigerburnie  Nope,  please send link urgently!!  😂

[New Haven Neil]

3 hours ago, TheQ said:

For NHN, ,

Feed them sugar, play some music and. https://energy-floors.com/products/the-dancer/

At least you get your electricity paid for..

 

 

Not a bad idea at all, but given they are still very small and thus not that heavy, I'm not sure they would generate much. 

 

They have gone to the swimming pool this morning while I tidy up, no doubt it will be reported as half empty soon due to the splashing they have generated.  Maybe it's the vogon vegan diet their father insists upon - we don't personally agree it is appropriate for children, but it isn't our choice to make.

[Hroth]

1 hour ago, tigerburnie said:

Is anyone else getting these large adverts across the screen, scantily clad lasses in bikinis, I did try getting it to go away.........................................or at least that's what I told the wife....................

 

You've not been searching for "Tractors" again?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-61290017

 

[grandadbob]

A walk has been walked but The Hip started complaining after half a mile however we  "needed" to come back via Asda so a mile in total was achieved.  We also seem to have gained a small Acer which The Boss said  You'll have to plant it as you're better at that than me."  That's Bosspeak for "I don't want to get my hands dirty!"  Double Pah!