Early Risers.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from the Charente.  I had a busy day yesterday.  The decking for the hot tub was finished.  Then I spent half an hour deciphering the instructions for the watering timer for the raised beds Eventually I managed it.  The next task was to try and get the small mower working.  Eventually the blade clutch was removed and was totally US with a spring bent out of shape and many signs of wear.  I decided it wasn't worth repairing.  We've had 8 years use out of it and we paid nothing for it.  It was left in the shed  when we bought the house.  A trip to large shed ensued and a new one was purchased.  That's three deltics worth but I got a 5 year warranty thrown in.  Then a house guest arrived for the next ten days.  Archie is now asleep on the floor in front of me whilst I type.  

 

This morning we are off to a wine Festival.  Sadly I'm driving but I will do my best enjoy it.  

 

Jamir

[monkeysarefun]

4 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

Computational photography is incredible, exposure accuracy using multiple exposures which are then integrated gives results that just aren't possible with film. 

I still get amazed at how brilliant they are getting. I can take a stacked photo of the milky way

 

 and then with the same device take a closeup that shows hairs on a spider,

and it fits in my pocket and needs no attachments. 

 

The IPhone Pros have LIDAR! You can 3D scan your environment and turn it into  to a computer game or 3D model. Amazing stuff.

 

Of course we'll all probably die of weird   cancers of the head..

Edited May 21, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[iL Dottore]

11 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Sorry Bear I was keeping it light-hearted but the departments consultant bobbed in, after doing a round on the golf course and insisted on giving you a diagnosis  

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

 

Your tame consultant was NOT* playing golf!
 

….he was at his club, enjoying a fine Cuban Cigar and a glass of Macallan Coronation Single Malt (after a very fine lunch of a half-dozen Coffin Bay Oysters, a decent côte de bœuf from the clubs own herd of English Longhorn cattle [grilled medium rare, of course], some creamed spinach and triple cooked chips§ and some spotted-dick and custard for pudding [washed down with a decent claret])

 

* Golf is an expensive way of ruining a perfectly good walk

 

§ the club briefly had a chef who tried to economise by using oven chips, after being pelted by the membership with a dozen plates or more of these frozen abominations, he got the message and left…

[iL Dottore]

6 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Very short on the circumstances of how that man who died was attacked.

 

There was a recent 'problem dog/owner' situation in Portland where a dog was involved in two attacks (a person and another dog). Neither was fatal.

 

On each of the last two days I was harassed by the same dog during my walk. It was on a leash and being walked by a woman (who I have guessed to be the carer for a young man). I see them often and they have another dog with a really nasty temperament - it is a large dog, but short and stocky and is probably the scariest looking dog I have ever seen. I avoid them all by keeping my distance, usually staying on the other side of the street.

 

Its (newer) canine companion looks like a breeding experiment gone wrong - sort of a shaggy labradoodle but way too tall. It seems to have learned to bark aggressively (without provocation) from the other dog. On each of the last two days it has broken free of its walker's grasp and run up to me barking. When I stare it down it doesn't quite seem to know what to do and runs back to its walker - so far.

I feel sorry, not only for the victim but also for the dog.

 

Very few dogs are born bad or dangerous - they are made that way by their owners. TBH in the event of a fatal dog attack, not only should the dog be euthanised (sad but necessary, by that stage the animal is so damaged that it can never ever be considered safe - poor beastie) but I’d also euthanise the owners. In fact, I would go as far as saying that there are certain dog-owners who should be preemptively euthanised (and the dogs rehabilitated if possible)

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl 

4.5 hours 1 hour , 1 hours sleep not enough.

 

Bin out with Ben I'm comfortable here Collie, he needed persuasion to patrol. Windy north easterly cool wind. Not what the people of Hemsby want. It causes the maximum damage to their cliffs.

 

Big half hour piece has been on TV about Hemsby's coastal erosion, I just saw a glimpse of our house about ten miles away, well okay the blob of trees our house and the neighbours.  We are the other side of the marshes the former river exit to the sea.

 

Having watched that I'm running late, it's sailing day if I can fit the new gooseneck to the mast.

 

Time to make breakfast, then make sure I've got all the bits in the landrover before departing.

 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Weather wise a cracking day yesterday. Despite application of sun cream my elbow is now a bit sore.

 

Game was over by 5 as the team batting first worked hard to get themselves out. My colleague is a learner umpire who has a lot to learn..nuff said!

 

Having said that I watched the T20 on TV. Yorkshire were shocking but my two professional colleagues were less than good. One batter was given Not Out when he, in cricket parlance, "took the cover off it ". In the 2nd innings someone was given Out..  and the ball was nowhere near the bat... of course they get paid far more than us amateur umpires...

 

As for today.. well the sun is shining, I am being allocated some gardening/garage tasks and beast needs a wash.

 

Mugatea time then.. onwards and upwards!

 

Enjoy your day!

Baz

Edited May 21, 2023 by Barry O
Not out should've said out the second time

[polybear]

11 hours ago, The Johnster said:

I imagine the subject avoided in the interests of general harmony.  They are, after all, all in the same (space) boat and it’s not in anyone’s interest to promote discord!

 

I'd guess that those who are not from Russia keep their gobs shut - the small detail of getting home again requiring the use of a Ruskie Spacecraft (or is a certain car dealer offering that service as well now?) being a helpful persuader.  And then of course when they land back home they're in Russia.....

 

10 hours ago, Tony_S said:

I thought it was a Harley Davidson.

 

Bear was on the right track:

 

"The Harley Davidson MT350 motorcycle was built in the USA starting in 1993 and was derived from the earlier Armstrong MT500 built for the British army.

Armstrong motorcycles was set up in Bolton in 1981 having taken control of the former Clews Competition Motorcycles (CCM) founded by Alan Clews. In 1983 they licensed the rights to build the military Can-Am motorcycle in the UK from the Canadian Bombardier company which they then produced until 1987. In 1984 Armstrong-CCM then bought the rights to the Rotax engined XN Tornado from the Milan based SWM company after they had gone into liquidation. From this they developed the Armstrong MT500 and then produced about 3,500 of the bikes for the British Army between 1984 and 1987. They also produced a limited number of MT500’s for the Canadian and Jordanian armies.

However, in 1987, after the MT500 had been adopted as the standard motorcycle for NATO, Armstrong sold the rights to Harley Davidson who took over production in the United States where they produced the Harley Davidson badged MT350 version of the motorcycle. The British Army began buying this version in 1993".

 

Bear here.....

Let's see now.....oh yes, danglin'.....

This'll be the final coat on the upstairs doorframe architraves; I do need to ponder what I'm going to do with the doorframes regarding colour - the three bedrooms currently have white frames and doors - the doors won't be touched but I do have the option of painting some areas of the frames (those visible when standing on the landing) to match the colour of the architraves.  Since the doors remain open for the most part (or usually do - they spend much of their time closed during the refurb to minimise the spread of dust) it'll need thought; maybe I paint just the edge of the door stile to match the architrave colour and leave the rest white?  Ponder mode in overdrive.

After that it'll be MIUABGAD - which may include trimming a large Pyracantha Bush that grows up (and beyond the height of) the 6ft back fence.  If you've never had the pleasure of that job then you're lucky - the spikes are right B'sterds, which is what makes them an excellent choice for keeping scrotes out.

 

In other news.....

Bear has done bvggerall about planning any sort of hols this year - maybe I should get my little furry ar5e in gear?

Let's see now....Europe, plenty to keep me amused for a week, not into lying on beaches/beside the pool/clubbing/getting ratar5ed, no hire car needed, dead easy (and not too long) transfers to and from Airport.  That'll do for starters

Any suggestions much appreciated.

BG

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

 

Your tame consultant was NOT* playing golf!
 

….he was at his club, enjoying a fine Cuban Cigar and a glass of Macallan Coronation Single Malt (after a very fine lunch of a half-dozen Coffin Bay Oysters, a decent côte de bœuf from the clubs own herd of English Longhorn cattle [grilled medium rare, of course], some creamed spinach and triple cooked chips§ and some spotted-dick and custard for pudding [washed down with a decent claret])

 

* Golf is an expensive way of ruining a perfectly good walk

 

§ the club briefly had a chef who tried to economise by using oven chips, after being pelted by the membership with a dozen plates or more of these frozen abominations, he got the message and left…

 

So sorry Mr Consultant - it has to be mister not doctor for a consultant, but I thought it better to say you'd been playing golf even though I know you don't like it just in case the the hospitals chief executive happened to have it 'brought to his attention'- you know how he hates you mentioning your club ever since you 'black balled' his application- something to do with him being trade.

[jjb1970]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

I still get amazed at how brilliant they are getting. I can take a stacked photo of the milky way

 

 and then with the same device take a closeup that shows hairs on a spider,

and it fits in my pocket and needs no attachments. 

 

The IPhone Pros have LIDAR! You can 3D scan your environment and turn it into  to a computer game or 3D model. Amazing stuff.

 

Of course we'll all probably die of weird   cancers of the head..

 

There's at least a whole generation, probably more, who take the humble mobile phone for granted, yet it's a miracle of technology and convenience. People don't think about what they can do, and about life before them.

 

When I was at sea, deciding what music to take away was a major decision as I love music and found it one of the important parts of being able to enjoy time off duty. Now I have several hundred CDs stored as FLAC lossless files on my phone and can stream almost anything if I have a connection. And sound quality via a decent pair of headphones or via wifi to well set up speakers is superb, as good as anything.

 

Who remembers the mix tape? People laugh at the humble cassette tape because now we can put playlists together of anything, in superb quality. The issue wasn't that the cassette tape was rubbish, it was a limited format but transformational in making home recording easily accessible to the masses, but people take what is available with current technology for granted and dismiss what we lived with before as rubbish.

 

I have the Kindle app on my phone and have access to hundreds of eBooks I've accumulated, as with music people younger than me now just take it for granted they can carry a library in their pocket. When I was at sea I dreamed of such a capability, as the weight of books meant what reading material to take was even more difficult than for music.

 

The quality of phone cameras is remarkable. Computational photography relies on software development, and companies like Apple and Google have budgets and software expertise that dedicated camera companies can only envy. Quality of imagery from phone cameras is superb.

 

I still have a Fujifilm mirrorless camera which I like for three reasons. The first is that I like having a viewfinder. Especially in a country like Singapore screens wash out on bright days, and bright days with the sun behind you are ideal conditions for taking pictures. The second is that there are still applications where dedicated telephoto and specialised lenses are better. And finally, I just like the tactile feel of a camera. However if I put images side by side taken at the same focal length and in the same conditions there's very little discernible difference and if anything the exposure system of my phone outperforms the camera and gives me more consistent results.

 

And then there is the web browser, e-mail, scientific calculator, health tracker, language translation...... the list goes on. 

 

Nowadays there's a culture of denigrating mobile phones and complaining about their effect on society. I think there's a legitimate issue with device addiction and people doing stupid things because they're so engrossed in their phones they lose all spatial awareness but they're remarkable triumphs of technology which have transformed life. My phone isn't even an Apple of high end phone, it's a mid-range Android phone (OnePlus Nord) I bought a couple of years ago and yet it does everything I want extremely well.

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

In other news.....

Bear has done bvggerall about planning any sort of hols this year - maybe I should get my little furry ar5e in gear?

Let's see now....Europe, plenty to keep me amused for a week, not into lying on beaches/beside the pool/clubbing/getting ratar5ed, no hire car needed, dead easy (and not too long) transfers to and from Airport.  That'll do for starters

Any suggestions much appreciated.

BG

Berlin!

 

It’s fairly easy to get into Berlin from Brandenburg Airport (which replaced Tempelhof, Schönefeld and Tegel airports) by coach or Airport Express Train (though not as easy as from Tegel or Tempelhof 😠). QueasyJet fly there from LGW and BA flies from LHR and LCY (as does O’Leary Air from STN - rather you than me). Strangely enough there is no London-Berlin flight with Lufthansa.

 

Berlin is easy to get around by public transport (bus, S-Bahn, U-Bahn). The U-Bahn in former East Berlin has plenty of lovely almost-original 1930s stations. As a major rail node, DB plus the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn will give you plenty of railway fun. There’s even a special tour of the U-Bahn in open topped wagons (https://www.bvg.de/en/service-and-support/discover-berlin/u-bahn-convertible). Not inexpensive, but memorable (and certainly cheaper than clubbing 🤣).

There are more museums and places of significant historical interest in Berlin than you can shake a stick at. Plus plenty of green spaces as about one-third of the city's area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers, canals, and lakes (lots of boating and canal trips possible).

 

Berlin food is definitely Bear-Friendly - being variations on pig and potatoes (.https://ch.hotels.com/go/germany/best-local-dishes-from-berlin.  A self-indulgent treat for iD when in Berlin is Eisbein with Kartoffelpuffer. Berliners love sweet things, so Berlin not only will have a huge selection of CAKE, but definitely more CAKE than even a @polybear could scoff (believe it or not)

 

Edited May 21, 2023 by iL Dottore
For clarity

[Gwiwer]

6 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

The "spot focus" will also be a "spot exposure" - so the exposure settings will change based on where you tap. It's simple and brilliant. Far easier to use than any serious camera I have owned.

With the proviso that any phone camera will have a very wide, shallow focal plane. Depth of focus is not something they are good at. 
 

I’ll not be dispensing with the SLRs just yet. The digital sees plenty of use and the film one has no re-sale value and is in perfect order. 

[iL Dottore]

55 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

 

So sorry Mr Consultant - it has to be mister not doctor for a consultant,

Only if you are a surgeon (I’m not). And nowadays many surgeons also have doctorates - so can be addressed as Doctor Mr..

55 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

…just in case the the hospitals chief executive happened to have it 'brought to his attention'…

What? “Worthless Willie”? Everyone knows he is about as useful as a chocolate teapot and that the real power is in the hands of his admin: Ms Goodthighs (with whom I have a most excellent relationship due to our mutual love of dogs)

57 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

you know how he hates you mentioning your club ever since you 'black balled' his application- something to do with him being trade.

A correction, if I may. He wasn’t blackballed because he’s “trade” (the current Club Chairman is a most excellent grocer), but because he’s a pretentious ****, spouts PC rubbish at the drop of the hat and thinks that because he has BMW he is “cultured and sophisticated” (Bernie, our club handyman who drives an antique Austin 7, has more culture and sophistication in his little finger than a whole busload of “Worthless Willies”).

[Gwiwer]

Good morning from another fine day Upon the Hill of Strawberries. A longer-than-expected night’s sleep was had as I did not set the alarm. Dr. SWMBO remains in the Land of Nod.  His Furship is sitting at the back gate contemplating the wrens and blackcaps in the camellia; hopefully not with his breakfast in mind!  
 

Today’s agenda includes domestic engineering and a tidy-up of the terrace. Former Neighbours (Next Door) are expected to call by at some unspecified time. They are in town for the rugby sevens but normally inhabit rural North-folk these days. 
 

A small flare-up of gout is also in town with starboard toes and port hand afflicted. A good thing I have a spare in each case then. Cherry juice is on stand-by in case it worsens. 
 

But first ……….. tea!!! 
 

 

[PhilJ W]

A couple of ER's @New Haven Neil and @DaveF are having foot problems. I had a pair of slippers from these people https://www.widerfitshoes.co.uk/pp+mens-shoes-mens-house-shoes+mho1 and they are the most comfortable footwear I have had for many years. They may seem expensive but as can be seen they are discounts on some of them. Also if you have an ongoing condition you can buy them VAT free (but how this applies to Fraggle Rock may be different). In fact they are described as house shoes which seems appropriate as they are a cross between a slipper and a shoe. @Gwiwer just mentioned his gout, another affliction they may help ease.

[Gwiwer]

Just now, PhilJ W said:

@Gwiwer just mentioned his gout, another affliction they may help ease.

I already own two pairs. One black (which can be deployed at the House of Fun if required) and one brown. Very comfortable on the feet as you say if not quite so on the wallet. 

[Gwiwer]

18 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

more culture and sophistication in his little finger than a whole busload of “Worthless Willies”)

My schoolboy brain utterly and entirely misinterpreted that into something any Viz cartoon might be proud of. 
 

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Not much fuss from the arthritis, just in the hip I was laying on (it affects both hips and I always wake up on my left side). A bit of moving about and a brace of Nurofen sorted it out.

11 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

I already own two pairs. One black (which can be deployed at the House of Fun if required) and one brown. Very comfortable on the feet as you say if not quite so on the wallet. 

You can get them VAT free for an ongoing condition, then you save 17% of the cost.

Edited May 21, 2023 by PhilJ W

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

😠 Strangely enough there is no London-Berlin flight with Lufthansa.

 

 

 

I believe that there used to be quite a intensive service in the opposite direction from multiple points of origin in the east of the UK.  Up to 1000 flights a night.  Large luggage was also taken over. 

 

Jamie

[polybear]

Bear here.....

Danglin' done.  Tick

Washing done (well, most of it).  Tick - or will be once I've hung it to dry.

Din dins incoming....

Bear gone.

[skipepsi]

14 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Bear senses a business opportunity there...could be a game changer....

It has been done wine is liquid cake apparently...

[DaveF]

This morning it is quite bright and not cold but with  a lot of cloud.  The usual Sunday routine took longer than usual today so I am only just getting around to writing this.

 

I've been to church as usual and came straight home as the beach car park will be packed today for the war weekend and walking from the other car parks would be painful. It will soon be time to have lunch then I hope to settle down witha book perhaps followed later by the James Bond film.

 

The toe feels better today but I am keeping the dressing on probably until tomorrow.  Then I hope it will just need a sticking plaster but I do have some dressings and tape if needed.  It will be nice though not to have two toes taped together.

 

Thanks PhilJW for the note about wider fit shoes slippers,  I am thinking about them next time I need new ones.  So far usually my feet are OK in ordinary wide shoes, but I have noticed more problems in the last couple of years.  At the moment my slippers are OK, the are made by Dunlop according to the label.

 

Below are a few more photos from the Blyth Battery War weekend yesterday.  I expect to hear the sounds of another battle shortly!  You can see how misty it was yesterday.  The misty beach huts are in the background, you saw a clear photo of them the other day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mist got thicker just as I took this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David

 

 

Edited May 21, 2023 by DaveF
To remove a word which was not needed

[iL Dottore]

39 minutes ago, DaveF said:

This morning it is quite bright and not cold but with  a lot of cloud.  The usual Sunday routine took longer than usual today so I am only just getting around to writing this.

 

I've been to church as usual and came straight home as the beach car park will be packed today for the war weekend and walking from the other car parks would be painful. It will soon be time to have lunch then I hope to settle down witha book perhaps followed later by the James Bond film.

 

The toe feels better today but I am keeping the dressing on probably until tomorrow.  Then I hope it will just need a sticking plaster but I do have some dressings and tape if needed.  It will be nice though not to have two toes taped together.

 

Thanks PhilJW for the note about wider fit shoes slippers,  I am thinking about them next time I need new ones.  So far usually my feet are OK in ordinary wide shoes, but I have noticed more problems in the last couple of years.  At the moment my slippers are OK, the are made by Dunlop according to the label.

 

Below are a few more photos from the Blyth Battery War weekend yesterday.  I expect to hear the sounds of another battle shortly!  You can see how misty it was yesterday.  The misty beach huts are in the background, you saw a clear photo of them the other day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mist got thicker just as I took this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David

 

 

Crack fighting forces?

More like "Dad's Army" to me!

[Erichill16]

4 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

 

There's at least a whole generation, probably more, who take the humble mobile phone for granted, yet it's a miracle of technology and convenience.

What NASA would have given for such miniaturised technology for their Apollo missions.

According to the Apollo 13 film, slide rules were still in use.

This line of thought brings me to a very amusing film, Iron Sky in which the Nazis evacuated to the dark side of the the moon circa 1945. On US astronaut is captured and is questioned as to what his mobile phone was.

He replied ‘it’s a type of computer’ to which the integrator pointed to a mass of racks of ‘stuff’ with wires and the like all over the place and said ‘zat is a computer’.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034314/

Edited May 21, 2023 by Erichill16
Add link.

[The White Rabbit]

2 hours ago, DaveF said:

... Below are a few more photos from the Blyth Battery War weekend yesterday.  I expect to hear the sounds of another battle shortly!  You can see how misty it was yesterday.  The misty beach huts are in the background, you saw a clear photo of them the other day.

 

 

 

Is that a Ferret armoured car? If so, I know it's not too many years out but still not WW2 for the purists. 

 

I've seen a version of this some years ago, fitted with a (presumably deactivated) fifty cal Browning. A nice toy if you have a farm but not practical for daily use or doing the shopping in  ... though using Tesco's car-park could be entertaining. 

 

There's quite an assortment of hardware from both sides pictured. I have to agree the people do look more Look Duck and Vanish than front line troops. Thankfully the likes of the Walmington on Sea platoon were never put to the test. 

 

Fingers crossed for full recovery for the toes. I often have difficulty with footwear as I have an unconventional shaped foot: short but wide with a high instep. Perhaps I should have picked Jemima Puddleduck as my username? 

[The Johnster]

3 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

I believe that there used to be quite a intensive service in the opposite direction from multiple points of origin in the east of the UK.  Up to 1000 flights a night.  Large luggage was also taken over. 

 

Jamie

The luggage compartments were rubbish, though, as the doors had a tendency to open in flight, at which point the luggage fell out!