Early Risers.

[Winslow Boy]

7 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

Morning, from a Fraggle that wonders if I wrap myself in that number plate stuff the kids won't be able to see me.

 

A successful day yesterday, with several energy-dissipating places visited.  They brought most of this one back with them, however.

 

 

I'd be careful there Neil as theft of sand is very serious. They could be sentenced to five years hard labour if convicted.

[DaveF]

A pleasant day has been had.  The groceries were quickly put away and a few small jobs done.  Then I decided to try driving the car in sandals, which I haven't done for ages as I haven't worn sandals outdoors for a couple of years.  It worked fine but I wouldn't like to use my left foot on a clutch at the moment, I'm pleased I have a hybrid.  I went to the beach and had a short walk and sat on a seat watching the world go by.  The harbour work boat was doing something by the entrance and a boat was sailing out to sea in the distance,  The sun shone, the light glistened on the sea and it was warm.

 

After a while I visited the Quayside and had another very short walk to look at Forth Jouster which is a small tug moored at the quay and Arklow Breeze moored across the river unloading alumina.  I was home by coffee time and was invited in by friends nearby so we had a good chat.  As they are retired nurses I was given good advice about the toe.

 

I was back home in time to place a supermarket order online before lunch.  Later I ordered some ready meals from Parsley Box, which keep without refrigeration for several months.  I like to cook my own food but they are handy if I've been out and get back late or if I am in a hurry.  Amazon also received an order from me.  I did a bit in the garden and then I sat down and must have dropped off because it was suddenly time for a cup of tea.

 

This evening I intend to go to the annual parish meeting at church, I have not volunteered to do anything more than I do now.  Later I'll probably watched the French version of Maigret again.

 

David

 

 

Edited May 16, 2023 by DaveF

[monkeysarefun]

56 minutes ago, polybear said:

That green thing is one p1g ugly Loco.

And that is why you will NEVER gain Australian citizenship but instead remain there singing "long to rain over us" for ever more.

[Sidecar Racer]

55 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

 

 They could be sentenced to five years hard labour if convicted.

 

 In Australia .    😏

[Dave Hunt]

What an awesome race. Something for the WCML?

 

Dave

[Ozexpatriate]

3 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

we have so much bloody coal still to dig up

The rest of the world would appreciate it if you left most of it where you found it - except for sufficient stocks to fuel steam locomotive drag races of course. 😉

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, Winslow Boy said:

theft of sand is very serious

In some places it certainly is - like the pink sands of Elafonisi. (I have long wondered if this inspired Adams to write about the fabulously beautiful planet of Bethselamin.)

 

A bigger problem is concrete - which prefers estuarine (not desert) sand. Sand mining in some places is subject to organized crime.

[polybear]

£98M for 4-6 years doesn't seem like too bad a deal to this Bear.....

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65601751

[Hroth]

3 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Hey, we have so much bloody coal still to dig up, what are we going to do with it all?

Hmmmm, I know  how about a train drag race?

 

 

 

Thats the "Thomas and Friends" 4 abreast race again?

 

[grandadbob]

Evenin' each,

Still sunny but it's cooled down a bit.

Clinic visited, seen early and it would appear that the offending thing can be removed easily but I will have to wait a few days for them to actually make a decision.   I was in and out so quickly that I reached my selected pub 7 minutes early so was standing outside like a lemon waiting for them to open.  Had an enjoyable couple of pints but didn't eat there as they only seemed to have full meals on offer for lunch and no lighter bites which is all I wanted so waited until I got home for a sandwich.

Lazed about this afternoon and did some eyelid inspection for an hour or so. 

Now clicking on things here for a while and will probably watch Masterchef later.

[The Johnster]

3 hours ago, TheQ said:

Unfortunately it's a herpes delivery so when it will arrive is anyone's guess.

As is where and if…

 

Though the last item I had from them was delivered correctly and on time, to be fair.  

[polybear]

Bear here....

Abittapaintin'done.  Tick

Then a small result on a purchase from the 'bay.....the word "proxxon" may have featured somewhere....

The house opposite Bear Towers now has a smooth cream-coloured finish (sprayed on I think) in place of the pebbledash finish it's had for the last 100 years (and the houses either side and in the rest of the street still have).  Whilst it looks ok from a distance it'll be interesting to see what it looks like in a few years time.

 

I got my G & E Bill in for the last month - £141 (I "pay as you go" rather than a fixed direct debit each month - I submit my own readings on the 15th of every month, having given up on smart meters).  I've just started a little experiment in that I'll have showers instead of baths for the next month just to see how it affects the bill; I did switch over to showers a while back but slipped back again as I was missing a wallow in the bubbles...

 

Whilst painting I finally finished the last Harry Potter Audio Book at long last; whilst I have books 1-4 on Alexa (freebie downloads from Audible) I have to resort to the Laptop (linked to Alexa) for Books 5, 6 & 7 as these were freebie downloads from the Library Service.  I listen to Books 1 - 4 via Alexa pretty much on a loop as I'm entering zeddyland (I set Alexa to stop playing after 30 minutes - I'm usually asleep well before then and have to search backwards the following night to find the last bit I remember).  What is apparent is the books have far, far more in them than the films do - the latter having obviously been adapted from the books to suit the big screen.  Even having listened to the books "numerous times" (and some) I still learn new bits I'd missed before.  J.K. Rowling most certainly does have the most amazing creative imagination, that's for sure.

I rather fancy a visit to the Harry Potter Studio Tour sometime.

 

Bear gone.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Went to Tess Coes for some shopping this afternoon and now I'm feeling cream crackered. 

[Hroth]

12 minutes ago, polybear said:

Whilst painting I finally finished the last Harry Potter Audio Book at long last; whilst I have books 1-4 on Alexa (freebie downloads from Audible) I have to resort to the Laptop (linked to Alexa) for Books 5, 6 & 7 as these were freebie downloads from the Library Service.  I listen to Books 1 - 4 via Alexa pretty much on a loop as I'm entering zeddyland (I set Alexa to stop playing after 30 minutes - I'm usually asleep well before then and have to search backwards the following night to find the last bit I remember).  What is apparent is the books have far, far more in them than the films do - the latter having obviously been adapted from the books to suit the big screen.  Even having listened to the books "numerous times" (and some) I still learn new bits I'd missed before.  J.K. Rowling most certainly does have the most amazing creative imagination, that's for sure.

I rather fancy a visit to the Harry Potter Studio Tour sometime.

 

I've got the complete Harry Potter audio books on CDs, spread over Christmas and Birthdays.  They came from The Book People* at a considerable discount on list.  I really must listen to them...

 

For getting to sleep, I've a number of Classic FM CDs. "Relaxation" on three disks, "Summer Guitar" on two, "Studying" which is a single disk and "for Babies"** on three disks...  Nice soothing "classics" without any banging about, its like listening to Classic FM without presenters, adverts and the news!  It doesn't matter if I only hear part of a disk, the CD player switches off after a while, and I just select another disk to lull me into oblivion for the next evening.  Even better, I usually find them in charity shops for about a pound each....

 

* Now defunct.

** Really relaxing!  I suppose they're supposed to sooth the sproglet when its kicking in the womb...

 

[Coombe Barton]

... on the way home, a detour with the camera. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/05/16/still-upwards-maybe-the-coronation-effect/

[Hroth]

15 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

... on the way home, a detour with the camera. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/05/16/still-upwards-maybe-the-coronation-effect/

 

I thought the performers rather mouthed their words and were indistinct in places, this lot seem to have a bit more clarity...

 

 

What do you think?

 

[Gwiwer]

Evening all. 
 

A beautiful sunny day today. Dr. SWMBO was up early too on account of a need to be at Wakehurst for 09.30. She wasn’t; her booked taxi failed to show at Haywards Heath and she waited 45 minutes for another. 
 

She then had a nightmare trip home. All was well until a sudden and unscheduled stop at Selhurst due to a trespasser on the line.  According to her driver the offender was playing hide & seek with trains. The police turned up with a search drone but still failed to find him after an hour. 
 

All this time the traction current was off with many trains at a standstill. They were ready to go again with power restored when the occupants of one train grew inpatient, forced the doors and self-evacuated onto the track.  The power went off again. 
 

After a further hour Dr. SWMBO bailed out, found an Uber and came home at her own expense arriving some 2½ hours late from a trip which should only have taken 1½

 

Some refunds will be demanded. 
 

I, on the other hand, had a splendid afternoon walk from Staines to Shepperton along the Thames Path. At one point I passed through a meadow in which, conservatively, I guesstimated a million or more buttercups were in flower. Swans were swanning, ducks ducked, coots cooted and there were sh@gs too. 

And that concluded my 65th lap of the sun. Tomorrow I shall have another number after my name. But it’s just a number. I could retire but why would I when I’m able to work, have a job and enjoy decent health.   
 

Onwards and upwards. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Many happy returns Rick.

[TheQ]

Evening Awl,

To my surprise herpes delivered, sort of.

The keyboard was left half in and half out of the letter box. It's considerably thinner and narrower than the slot in the box and there is no obstruction to stop it going all the way in.. but no,  it was left there for all to see. It's a good job we are out in the countryside, not in a big town that would have gone.

 

Also delivered, some fatter scalpel blade holders, these paws are beginning not like holding small items all day.

And of paws, some new posh wear gloves arrived, the old ones were damaged, then I lost one at the deep market the other day. These are real leather, with thinsulate hidden in the lining.

 

More Seco hut work done and a decision made on the huts foundations, they are at the moment bare polyfilla, the decision being , they will look like built up stone,  but the nissen huts will be on red brick..

 

Muggachoccy not yet gone so I'm off for a wander round the forum.

[Barry O]

4 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

What an awesome race. Something for the WCML?

 

Dave

It looked good! I saw the green streamliier at the Thirlmere steam weekend in Oz this year. The loco is a thing of great beauty and power!

 

Baz

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Just been watching a program on BBC2 about forensics. Fascinating stuff, the crucial evidence that got a conviction (for rape) came from a doorbell camera. The arthritis has been set off by this afternoons exertions, it feels as if my hips are on fire. More Nurofen has been taken and has eased it a little but something stronger will be consumed before bed.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

My paint order arrived not long avid posted the pictures of my Lego model. So, once I’d taken the boxes downstairs to cellar and check all was correct with the contents, I set off to go to the big orange DIY shed to pick up my click and collect order. As Costco is close by and the car was getting low on petrol, I decided to fill up. Once back home, I headed outside to the workshop to make a start on repairing the tall cupboard. The bottom of the right hand side and bottom panel, both showed signs of damage from water. So, my first task was I to mark out and cut the section of the side that needed to go. A new piece was then let in, dowel holes drilled in both the side and new piece, dowels fitted and then the new part glued in place and left clamped up whilst I went inside to eat my dinner.

 

After dinner, I gave the bottom panel a closer inspection and about 85% was salvageable, but it was easier to cut a straight piece than an angled one, so I did the same as I did with the side, the back part was cut away, a new piece was then cut to size, drilled, dowelled and is currently clamped up. All I need to do is rout a channel at the rear for the back and then it can be re-assembled, hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to fit it back in place. Then, with a bit of luck, I’ll be able to tidy up enough for me and Charlie to be able to spend Thursday afternoon in there, doing a bit of muddling, something we haven’t done for a few weeks now. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[monkeysarefun]

4 hours ago, Barry O said:

It looked good! I saw the green streamliier at the Thirlmere steam weekend in Oz this year. The loco is a thing of great beauty and power!

 

 

 

Too right! Lucky we had it at hand  to give this poor old thing  a hurry up.

 

 

Edited May 17, 2023 by monkeysarefun