Early Risers.

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, polybear said:

Yeah, right.....and I'm a Hippo.......

Gosh, you are being erudite today PB: A Bippo no less. I thought Bippos were only known to those who study medieval bestiaries.

 

Here's an excerpt (updated into modern English for you whose medieval English is a bit lacking):

 

Ye BIPPO tis a fearsome beast roaming the wastes. The result of a violent mating between a she-bear and a stud Hippo, the BIPPO is laid as an egg into a cauldron of baked legumes. Upon hatching the BIPPO is cursed by a terrible hunger for CAKE and will rend asunder any hapless living thing - animal or human - that gets between it and CAKE.

Untameable and almost unbeatable thanks to the BIPPO's walrus like slashing tusks and razor sharp claws, it is claimed that the only thing that will deter a BIPPO is flourishing a VERY LARGE BILL in front of its eyes. To kill the beast, a sorcerer must be hired to recite the magic incantation called HAUTE CUISINE which will cause the BIPPO to shrivel up and turn to dust.

(from the liber de animalibus esse 1393)

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Got a visitor today so I need to "tidy up" apparently. Pah!

 

Mugatea being drunk then I need to wield the shark...

 

TTFN

 

Baz

[polybear]

8 hours ago, The Johnster said:

 

It sounds highly dangerous for the drug-taking athletes, both in the short and long terms.  It might be a way of investigating what chemically enhanced humans are capable of that would be useful in extremis, say, during a war, but the extremes would probably never be allowed by the medical professionals one would have to have available to supervise such events. 

 

No such thing as a free lunch.  A three-minute mile might be possible, but the athlete is going to pay heavily in terms of the physical damage he/she does to him/herself in achieving the record, muscle and joint damage in the short term, and whatever harm the drug has done to his/her body in the process in a longer term.  I can't imagine they would ever be capable of running again!

 

And nobody is going to organise or participate in the running of any such event in the face of possible future damages claims from the participants or their relatives, whatever waivers they sign. 

 

This little snippet regarding what the Human Body is capable of came to Bear's attention as a question in "The Chase" on ITV yesterday:

 

The longest time breath held voluntarily (male) is 24 min 37.36 sec, achieved by Budimir Šobat (Croatia), in Sisak, Croatia, on 27 March 2021.

 

(I wonder if the Guinness Book of Records does drug testing?)

 

8 hours ago, pH said:

I think you may have misunderstood what is being proposed. These would be games completely separate from existing competitions, with no crossover between the groups of athletes competing. Any athlete shown to have taken a banned substance, whether in the ‘enhanced’ games, or in ‘clean’ games, would be given a lifetime ban from the ‘clean’ games.

 

So if they're caught then they're simply given a new ball to play with instead?

Personally as Sport is driven by Sponsorship Money then I can't see too many big businesses etc. wanting to pay money to "The Junkie Games" as it'd be Corporate Suicide.  Hmmm, perhaps there's a few "Businesses" in South America that could be interested though....

 

"You too could be just like this if swallowed some of our "Gear" every morning - available from a local friendly Dealer near you...."

 

Bear here....

Today?  Danglin' on a brush commences.....

BG

 

edit:  Just a thought - when was the last time you remember hearing of an F1 Driver (or any other class, for that matter) testing positive for drugs?  No, nor me - I had to Google to check that they are indeed tested at random and also regularly.  Yet it only seems to be Athletes that fail cos' they put Auntie Flo's Haemorrhoid Cream on their Cornflakes "by accident".....

Edited June 28, 2023 by polybear

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

4 hours sleep, plus 4.5 hours sleep, and extremely good night's sleep for me. The temperature has dropped although it's still 22.5 C downstairs in here with the windows open.

 

Ben the I'd like some of your bacon Collie is sat alongside me, but before we did a double lap of the garden something he hasn't wanted in a while , so he too must have had a better night.

 

About half the errant Rheas have been captured , those on the run appear to be heading north.

Oddly the road they were first photographed in is the one our returning MRC member will be moving to.

 

Odd sound outside, new bin lorry, not painted up in the company colours, .

 

Plans for today,

fit the LED light to the loom.

Another load of rubble from next door.

Maybe do more clearance around the old pig sty,

Trim back some brambles.

 

Time for muggacoffee number 2

 

Edited June 28, 2023 by TheQ

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from the Charey.  A tad cooler today.  We are off to the seaside to meet some friends it should be a good day. 

 

Regards to all. 

 

Jamie

[PhilJ W]

Someone been looking in @polybear's fridge?

 https://edition.cnn.com/videos/travel/2023/06/27/pompeii-pizza-painting-discovery-cprog-orig-aw.cnn

Edited June 28, 2023 by PhilJ W

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Cloudy start here with the chance of some showers later along with a few sunny spells.  18°C now, might get up to 24°C.

Like Q I have pain in The (left)  Knee.  It's OK if I don't move but I can't sit around all day so some pills may need to be taken.  Puzzles me how I can get so much pain from a joint that is artificial but I suppose it's all the bits surrounding it.  I won't be scrabbling around on the deck below the layout today. (or above it for that matter)

I hobbled upstairs to take tea to Herself who then promptly got up and came downstairs.  Could've saved me a trip.

First task after breakfast is to nip out to Asda for some milk and a couple of other items.

Later we're off out for a pub lunch  thanks to a gift voucher from the offspring for our anniversary a couple of weeks ago. 

Going to a pub about 20 minutes away that I've driven past hundreds of times en route to work but I cannot recall ever visiting.

Right, timetogettamoveon.

Have a good one,

Bob.

Edited June 28, 2023 by grandadbob

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Another dull, but dry start to the day here in the northwest corner of England. Today is the day I go to The Christie to get results of all the tests (CT scan, Bone scan and PSA) I’ve had in the last 2 weeks. I now what I DON’T want to hear, but at the same time, I’m not sure what to expect. As a consequence I’ve not had a very good nights sleep, so once back home, I’m going to put my feet up and have a rest. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian

[Hroth]

21 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Someone been looking in @polybear's fridge?

 https://edition.cnn.com/videos/travel/2023/06/27/pompeii-pizza-painting-discovery-cprog-orig-aw.cnn

 

Its all very well calling it a proto-pizza, but what did the Romans use in place of tomatoes?

 

An olive paste might do, I suppose.

 

Edited June 28, 2023 by Hroth
extra thort

[DaveF]

A cloudy morning here on the Northumberland coast where rain is forecast for the afternoon, it is already humid and about 18C.

 

I've done a few odds and ends and am now waiting for the plumber to come to service the boiler and fix a new flush unit in the toilet cistern.  Until then I can't go out so will read a bit and sort out photos.

 

I may also have another look at the bookshelves and decide on some more books to get rid of.

 

David

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, from a rock that is 18c but dull, with showers etc forecast but looking like the worst will miss us to the west on rainfall radar.

 

Really sore this morning after being theraped yesterday, left hip is going bananas.  Let's hope there is gain from the pain.

 

Not sure of the day's events currently, a walk shortly to the village shop then keep out of the way of Mrs NHN who works from home on Wetkneesdays.  If I'm not careful I may manage some mudelling.

[BoD]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Just a thought - when was the last time you remember hearing of an F1 Driver (or any other class, for that matter) testing positive for drugs?

Surely it would be the car that needed drugging rather than the driver.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A good night last night just the usual stiffness this morning that soon disappeared. However the pollen is sky high so I've a blocked up nose and watering eyes. I will still have to take a trip to Tess Coes for some supplies this afternoon, should be OK in the car as it has pollen filters.

[The Lurker]

1 hour ago, Hroth said:

 

Its all very well calling it a proto-pizza, but what did the Romans use in place of tomatoes?

 

An olive paste might do, I suppose.

 

I think the article suggested some kind of proto-pesto

[polybear]

1 hour ago, Hroth said:

 

Its all very well calling it a proto-pizza, but what did the Romans use in place of tomatoes?

 

An olive paste might do, I suppose.

 

 

I think the tricky bit might be the frozen curly fries....

[The Lurker]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

 

 

edit:  Just a thought - when was the last time you remember hearing of an F1 Driver (or any other class, for that matter) testing positive for drugs?  No, nor me - I had to Google to check that they are indeed tested at random and also regularly.  Yet it only seems to be Athletes that fail cos' they put Auntie Flo's Haemorrhoid Cream on their Cornflakes "by accident".....

There was the TT sidecar bloke who got banned from the TT this year for failing a drugs test.

 

I did wonder if that was the case NHN was waiting for to come up in the magistrates' court.

[PhilJ W]

46 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

I think the tricky bit might be the frozen curly fries....

They'd be even more curly.

[BSW01]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

 

I think the tricky bit might be the frozen curly fries....

But like the tomato, the potato is also from the New World 

[BSW01]

Just got back from The Christie. The good news is both my scans were clear, but my PSA has risen to 8.8 from 6.6. They're quite happy with that and I'll go back there in 6 months for my next congratulation. In the meantime, to quote Mr Churchill "I'll just keep bu99ering on"

Edited June 28, 2023 by BSW01

[New Haven Neil]

1 hour ago, The Lurker said:

I did wonder if that was the case NHN was waiting for to come up in the magistrates' court.

 

No, it was much funnier.....and on the ferry.  Not a racer.

[Hroth]

58 minutes ago, BSW01 said:

But like the tomato, the potato is also from the New World 

 

I suppose we could find a starchy old-world vegetable, boil it up, mash it, extrude it and deep fry it in olive oil to form something not quite like "curly fries".

 

Modern curly fries are made in a similar way....

 

That reminds me, as Zebedee might have said "Boingggg.  Its time for lunch"!!!

 

Edited June 28, 2023 by Hroth
Extra!

[Hroth]

19 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

No, it was much funnier.....and on the ferry.  Not a racer.

 

One of those where the spaniel or lab goes up to the carrier, rests their chin on a knee and drools lovingly up at their new bestest friend?

 

[TheQ]

Swede? Turnip? Carrot? Ask Baldrick's ancestors.

 

Anyway the proto pizza would be much closer to the Trencher than it is today, did the British trencher come in origin from the Roman invaders? Or did they nick the idea from us?

 

As predicted I was unable to register for online government access as I don't have enough documents.

So I tried via the phone.

.Your call is important to us..

Your call is important to us..

Your call is important to us..

Etc

45 minutes later I got through..

Yep I didn't have enough documents... Even for the phone call.

However he did spot an error in my tax, so my next pension payment should have, at least a noisy deltic in refunded tax .

After a vast amount of searching , I have found the information they want for the phone, but not for online.

so tomorrow I'll phone again, why tomorrow, I went online and a website said the shortest call waiting for HMRC is 08:00 Thursday or Friday.

 

During, this I've found the information for the other pension I can now claim. Trouble is I've got the paper work from the previous agency that provides the pensions for the the company I worked for.

so I have to register online with them and see what they want.

 

Ben has been taken for his long walk, with the rain yesterday, no wind, it's still warm and very sticky even without sunshine.

Now sitting on the sofa with a doom bar, after which I'll go into battle online again.

 

[New Haven Neil]

4 minutes ago, TheQ said:

So I tried via the phone.

.Your call is important to us..

Your call is important to us..

Your call is important to us..

Etc

45 minutes later I got through..

Yep I didn't have enough documents... Even for the phone call.

 

Snap - although I eventually did succeed on the on line version although most of my questions were answered negatively - I think the fact we recently opened a new current bank account saved the day, due to HSBC closing the local branch, or indeed all the branches bar Douglas.

[polybear]

30 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

One of those where the spaniel or lab goes up to the carrier, rests their chin on a knee and drools lovingly up at their new bestest friend?

 

 

They showed a Money Dog on the news a while back - Doggie is trained to sniff out money.  Apparently Fido goes Nutzo when walking past a Cash Point.....

 

Bear here....

I decided that the Dado Rail would benefit from a few extra securing screws - it's just at the right height to grab hold of & use as a hand hold during any moments of unsteadiness (such as a Bear missing his hourly fix of Cake) - not a particularly difficult or time consuming task so soon completed.  I am short of about 20 screws & chrome caps though, so that'll be more tokens spent.  TC's.

 

After that all the Rail was removed and then Bear had the joy of sanding it down ready for painting - which will be a mission for this afternoon.

 

In other news.....

Bear received some bits I purchased from an Ebay seller based in China** - one of the bits (a Bakelight Knob) should be threaded M10 - it wasn't🤬; it's just got a blind hole fitted with a plain metal insert, though there is provision for pinning a shaft once fitted in the hole.

I've started a return/refund case thru' the 'bay (it's only worth around four quid with delivery - but there's a principle to uphold here) and from the seller's response I've a feeling they're going to be "one of those" that plans to give Bear the run-around.  Well they won't win that game - I'll just escalate it when the time comes.  T0sser.

 

** I've purchased quite a lot of stuff from China via the 'bay - the vast majority is fine; any that turns out to be cr@p is usually refunded straight away as they seem very worried about negative feedback; I don't recall any that never arrived.  I NEVER buy expensive stuff though, just in case.....

 

Right, time to dangle on a brush.....

 

BG