Early Risers.

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I wanted to see what happened next. Is that when they put the biff in?

I think that the  technical term is " I whispered some sweet nothings into his lug oil your worships". 

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from the Charente.  I got quite a lot done yesterday and a set of decking for a hot tub is taking shape.  I also gave the pool a hoovering, from outside.  I'm not brave enough to get in when it's only 23. Degrees.  

 

Today it's model railway group meeting and hopefully some train watching as well.  All being well my ancient Volvo may pass a significant milestone as the first of 6 figures on the odometer changes from one to two. 

 

Regards to all. 

 

Jamie

 

 

[AndyID]

We had a 2001 XC70 although I think it was labelled V70 XC back then. Might well still be going but it's difficult to tell here because the plates change with new owners. We had it initially in California and the plate was ED4ZHLS.  I still have that plate but the V70 is long gone. I traded it in against a tractor - which I still have.

 

While driving the V70 on a freeway in California I was once buzzed by a Lexus that had a plate that read EBYGUM 😄

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2023 by AndyID
typhoos

[AndyID]

Getting a bit smokey around here. The smoke is drifting down from Canada where there a extensive wildfires. Some of them are not contained at all. The situation is so bad that the Canadian government is asking for help from other countries.

 

Fire conditions here are not bad at the moment but if we enter a really long spell without rain over the Summer and into Autumn it could get very ugly, very quickly. We are surrounded by fir and pine trees that can light up like Roman Candles. If it became really bad we would have to consider jumping in the lake, literally. At least we have that option.

[Ozexpatriate]

28 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

I'm not brave enough to get in when it's only 23. Degrees.

With plenty of snowmelt, the rivers here* are still running around 13°C despite >30°C air temperature - which can be dangerous, not so much from hypothermia, but the shock of jumping in where the reflexive reaction is a sharp inhalation; something you don't want to do underwater. A 19-year old went missing on Wednesday.

 

* Different rivers are different temperatures.

[Ozexpatriate]

16 minutes ago, AndyID said:

The situation is so bad that the Canadian government is asking for help from other countries.

Standard operating procedure across western North America when the fire is big enough. Everyone helps each other out. The Oregon Department of Forestry sent a team 10 days ago.

 

EDIT: (From an ODF presser):

Quote

The Northwest Compact is a mutual assistance agreement that allows five northwest states, including Oregon, and five NW Canadian provinces and territories to easily share resources with one another, creating a larger and more comprehensive fire management system. 

...

In its 25th year, the Northwest Compact was created to facilitate assistance in wildland fire pre-suppression and suppression efforts between member agencies. Member agencies include Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana as well as the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

 

Edited May 19, 2023 by Ozexpatriate

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

3 hours sleep  long awake, 3 hours sleep not enough.

Woke with forepaws complaining , and the back slightly joining in.

 

I've been out with Ben, the I'm not ready to go out yet Collie, it's museum day, I could have done with more repose too.

Light wind, not too cold, thin high cloud, not much dew.

 

Obvious irritant phone calls are just cut off by me, I can't be bothered with them. We seem to get less than we once did.

 

Bin thinking of the FPS radar I'm making in 1/1000, will be trying a slightly different way  of opening up the metal support structure. Instead of trying to cut out with a knife, it will be drilled then filed out.

Still puzzling how to make the antenna, and make it appear a light structure.

 

Oh our museum director is resigning she's taking over at Duxford.

 

Time, to go make breakfast and sarnies.

 

 

[DaveF]

I woke refreshed after a better night's sleep, have had a cup of tea and am catching up here before I have breakfast.

 

It's raining at the moment but the cloud to the north is getting lighter so it should stop soon.  There is a tiny bit of blue sky as well.   It looks as though the people are staying in the house which had the fire, their cars are still outside and the usual curtains are closed.

 

Ineed to be around today as I am expecting some chrysanthemums to come in the post in the next couple of days and both my neighbours usually go out on Fridays.  The toe is still feeling uncomfortable, but nothing like it was earlier in the week.

 

Yesterday evening I found a pleasant programme about Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg on a German TV channel about building the Italian part of it, there were some interesting shots of the people actually building the secenery and buildings, and of the cleaners working at night.

 

David

Edited May 19, 2023 by DaveF

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Busy day yesterday completed successfully. Grass was cut ,washing was dried and collected in, cricket questions answered, Fajitas assembled and eaten for tea..

 

Only one diddly little problem.  I have to have a photo taken of my retinas. Spent an hour waiting to get through to move the appointment. They rang me back just after I had got the on line cancellation form to work. I am out of luck getting a new date. They only do the photos on a Tuesday  and i have a particular role I fulfill on Tuesdays. I asked could I have this done by my optician (who has a swish bit of kit to do it), or at the place I had it done last year (an Asda opticians nearby).. not sure was the response...

 

Her indoors is off to take her brother to get some specialist tests on his eyes. He is booked in for cataract sorting in early June. 

 

Dr Eldest Herbert thought he had marked all the dissertations he needed to.. until he had 12 more dumped on him as one of his full time colleagues has gone sick..pah!

 

As for today.. well it looks like it could rain so Beast, who needs a good external wash , may get treated to a quick rinse before the rain...then it's off to do more wire strangling investigation at the club.

 

Enjoy your day whatever you do!

 

Baz

[polybear]

8 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

I dont know why I thought of you when I watched this. Weird.

 

 

 

 

Bear would've kicked that  ____er off long before that chase ended.....

 

"He told the court Cole, a mechanic (and high on Meth), was dealing with significant mental health issues at the time of the offending."

 

No idea what he was "Mekkanikin" but if it were mine then I sure as hell wouldn't want him within 100 yards of it.

 

55 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Oh our museum director is resigning she's taking over at Duxford.

 

 

If she's getting the top job then hopefully she's better (not hard, from what I hear) than the current one.

 

Bear here....

Danglin'.....

 

In other news....

Enough to make a certain ER'er @Dave Hunt weep:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/raf-blows-50m-on-flying-lessons-with-zero-students-as-school-refuses-to-refund-cash/ar-AA1biXBD?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1dbedb5f665a420b80e094d8ce0f6785&ei=75

 

BG

[Compound2632]

53 minutes ago, polybear said:

In other news....

Enough to make a certain ER'er @Dave Hunt weep:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/raf-blows-50m-on-flying-lessons-with-zero-students-as-school-refuses-to-refund-cash/ar-AA1biXBD?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1dbedb5f665a420b80e094d8ce0f6785&ei=75

 

Well, that's the idea, isn't it? Instead of taxpayers' money being used to support the lifestyle of the armed forces, it's being put back into the economy at large...

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

It was raining when I got up, but thankfully it seems to have stopped now. So hopefully, I won’t get wet when I walk to the butchers for the weekly meat rations shortly. Then I’ll head off to the Trafford Centre for a few more bits and pieces. After that, I’m planning on having a lazy day. 
 

I also cut off cold callers, both on the telephone and at the door, a polite no thank you is about all they get. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Not much fuss from the arthritis this morning, a few pains that the Nurofen has dealt with but the joints are stiff which makes moving about problematical. I am now having to use a stick to get around the house, it makes quite a difference. I am still in two minds as to whether or not to go to the Chelmsford exhibition tomorrow, depends as to if I feel up to it.

[iL Dottore]

7 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

People who know their way around the coal face and also have a good academic are in great demand as they're scarce.

Which is why I can charge the fees I charge and why my clients do NOT want me to retire*

 

It didn't seem like it at the time, but sewing up drunks in the ER and resuscitating end-stage cancer patients on the consultant's orders made for incredibly useful "coal face" experience (though I'm not sure where the stoner chick who completely disrobed when I said I had to check her BP fits in...)

 

* we've compromised - I'll be providing coverage as and when needed with an average work load of 20% - so enough to keep the AS350 B3e in fuel....

[tomparryharry]

13 hours ago, figworthy said:

 

I used to get those.  It confused the hell out of them when I told them that I didn't have any windows.

 

Whilst it wasn't strictly true, legally speaking that was the case.  I had a leasehold flat, and the lease clearly stated that the windows were the property and responsibility of the freeholder.  For some reason or other, I always forgot to explain that bit.

 

Adrian

 

Stock response here: Well, until I invent another stock response... "Oh! Hang on, I'll just get her!" Lay phone down, nothing to see here; carry on.... 

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, from a much relaxed Fraggle.  The mini tornados got home OK after annoying the ferry passengers for three hours, apparently the hope of them napping was unfulfilled.  The washing machine doesn't know what hit it, we're just about up to date but I'll have to wash and polish all the hard floors next week, as they have left their mark so to speak.

 

Doorstep cold calling is illegal here, there was a group came past year, they managed one street before plod invited them to leave the island forthwith.  Folk here 'know their rights' when it comes to stuff like that.  We do get some phone calls despite TPS registration, if I can be bothered I sometimes ask them if their mother knows what they do for a living.  

 

Mrs NHN just doing some work-work (supposed to be off but she's conscientious and it'll also make next week easier) then we're off on the bikes for a lunch then a brew somewhere quiet. With trains.  Dave H knows where!

[PupCam]

Morning All!

 

10 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

I dont know why I thought of you when I watched this. Weird.

 

 

 

 

What a complete kn.....

 

3 hours ago, TheQ said:

Oh our museum director is resigning she's taking over at Duxford.

 

Director or manager?

 

I note that Sir John Allison is Chairman (no PC here! 😀) of the board of Trustees of the Neatishead museum.    He used to be the aviation Trustee at Shuttleworth and it was he and the Shuttleworth display organiser that I gave a presentation to on the Dawn Patrol WW1 Display team (1/3 scale R/C models NOT the full-size Great War Display team).  This resulted in us being invited to take part in some of their full-size displays a few years ago before Covid screwed everything up.     The display organiser and I have since become good friends.  Which reminds me, it must be time to organise another trip down to the pub office for another session of putting the world to rights.

 

This was perhaps our greatest gathering, back in 2013 in front of the iconic Shuttleworth blister hangar.

 

The eagle-eyed may well be able to spot a certain Puppers along with an unfinished Sopwith Triplane in the photograph.  Unfortunately the Triphound is still unfinished.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, polybear said:

Enough to make a certain ER'er  weep:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/raf-blows-50m-on-flying-lessons-with-zero-students-as-school-refuses-to-refund-cash/ar-AA1biXBD?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1dbedb5f665a420b80e094d8ce0f6785&ei=75

 

 

Outrageous but I suspect typical!     I've never, ever, understood agreed with the  "Outsourcing" / "Privatising"  model for any walk of life let alone the military for services needed by an organisation.   I've seen it close at hand on numerous occasions on a variety of scales and guess who always came off worst!    Yes, allegedly there are economies of scale to be had but they are often considerably outweighed by the fact that the "something" is outsourced to a business.   The sole reason for being in business is to make a profit ......   And the profit always goes on top of the actual cost of provision,   If you "do it yourself" (i.e. internally you've only got to break even.   You also get intangible benefits   such as gaining/retaining knowledge and experience, retaining IP (if relevant) etc etc   But then clearly I know naff all about it ....

 

In Other News

 

Today is a day of waiting;

 

       Waiting for a new cooker to be delivered and installed.

 

       Waiting for news from the garage regarding the little red driving box.

 

      Waiting for the sky to clear and night to fall so I can try out the telescope camera again

 

Meanwhile the credit card is waiting nervously in my wallet!

 

TTFNQ

 

 

Edited May 19, 2023 by PupCam

[Dave Hunt]

1 hour ago, tomparryharry said:

 

Stock response here: Well, until I invent another stock response... "Oh! Hang on, I'll just get her!" Lay phone down, nothing to see here; carry on.... 

 

A mate of mine often responds with, “Can’t help you mate, I’m just here with the bailiffs.”

 

Dave

[Dave Hunt]

15 minutes ago, PupCam said:

 

I note that Sir John Allison is Chairman (no PC here! 😀) of the board of Trustees of the Neatishead museum.    He used to be the aviation Trustee at Shuttleworth.......

 

I know John Allison well; he was my boss when I was on the staff of the Phantom Operational Conversion Unit and used to go gliding with my Dad. A good man to have on your side but definitely not one to be trifled with.

 

Dave

[BSW01]

I’m back home after my 2 successful shopping trips, the cupboards and fridge are now both groaning. So, I’m now sat in the dining room with a muggertea keeping out of the way, I intend to do this for the rest of the day, although,I’m might pop downstairs to the office for a bit later. 
 

Brian

[Hroth]

4 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

A mate of mine often responds with, “Can’t help you mate, I’m just here with the bailiffs.”

 

Dave

 

As an alternative, you could try "I'm Wicky, the householder is... unavailable..."

 

When they start straight in with "Am I speaking to xxxx", I ask "Who's calling", and if they start to reply, it's "no thanks" and I put the phone down.

 

A friend used to get frequent double glazing calls. They'd play along and when it got to "how many windows?", "over 500" would stop the caller dead. Well, it was an office phone....

 

Edited May 19, 2023 by Hroth
spelin. how I didn't spot it I don't kno...

[tomparryharry]

2 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

As an alternitive, you could try "I'm Wicky, the householder is... unavailable..."

 

When they start straight in with "Am I speaking to xxxx", I ask "Who's calling", and if they start to reply, it's "no thanks" and I put the phone down.

 

A friend used to get frequent double glazing calls. They'd play along and when it got to "how many windows?", "over 500" would stop the caller dead. Well, it was an office phone....

 

 

Or, glad you've called, I am indeed looking at a glazing upgrade"

 

"Excellent, we do quotes! How many windows?"

 

293, 655. "We're thinking of rebuilding the Crystal Palace. Do the old place up, you know...."

[polybear]

12 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Dinner was a spaghetti bolo, a couple of days beyond the 'best before' date. No ill effects either. 

 

B.B. dates are no problem - they're just that and you're highly unlikely to get ill (Bear has scoffed items that are 1+ years after the B.B. date with no ill effects - or any indication that the quality is reduced either).

Use By dates are a different matter entirely - though I'll sometimes go up to a couple of days past a UN date; I reckon the manufacturers put a bit of a safety margin in the dates.  An item doesn't suddenly become poisonous at a minute past minute after all.

 

2 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

 

Well, that's the idea, isn't it? Instead of taxpayers' money being used to support the lifestyle of the armed forces, it's being put back into the economy at large...

 

Or in this case the shareholders of Lockheed Martin and Babcock International.

 

1 hour ago, tomparryharry said:

 

Stock response here: Well, until I invent another stock response... "Oh! Hang on, I'll just get her!" Lay phone down, nothing to see here; carry on.... 

 

I have to remember that - next time I'll use "One moment please - I'll just transfer you" and then place the phone next to Alexa for 5 minutes so they can listen to Radio 2 - or Harry Potter...."

 

Bear here.....

Danglin' done.  Tick.  Unfortunately the H/S/L progress is being dictated by the speed at which paint dries.....

 

In other news....

NNNND have got a Gardener in to tidy their back garden.  That's cheating. 

 

BG

[Hroth]

7 minutes ago, polybear said:

In other news....

NNNND have got a Gardener in to tidy their back garden.  That's cheating. 

 

Not just cheating, but blatant showing off!

 

That reminds me, I need to scrape off the weeds that were sprouting between the paving slabs that I weedkillered a couple of weeks ago.  Now it doesn't look green and uncared for, merely brown and uncared for....

 

[PupCam]

9 minutes ago, polybear said:

Unfortunately the H/S/L progress is being dictated by the speed at which paint dries.....

 

You need to watch that very carefully ......