Early Risers.

[DaveF]

I left home at 09.30 and arrived at the garage at 09.55 as I had planned.  I was given a proper china mug of very good coffee and only had to wait a couple of minutes for the salesman to appear.  As I expected it took a while to do all the paperwork which included registering the car so it is very brand new as far as the DVLA is concerned.  My driving licence was photo copied and then I signed lots of bits of paper concerning finance, warranty and so on.  A service plan was also set up, I find it works out cheaper that way.  My bank account is now a lot better off as I decided to borrow the money, the interest rate is just about the same as the money in the bank I would have used to pay for it is earning.  As a result there was some cashback as I only needed to pay a deposit out of the money from the sale of the old car.

 

Eventually everything was completed and I was "allowed" to get in the car, I even got to drive it out of the showroom.  The salesmen gave me a thorough run through of all the things I really need to know about the controls, much of it is a lot better laid out than the previous car.  I didn't bother setting up the phone with bluetooth for now as I never use the phone while I am driving, if I feel like it I can do it any time.

 

Then I set off for home but I was back at the garage ten minutes later as they had forgotten to give me my driving licence back when they copied it and I hadn't checked until just after I drove off.

 

The only thing outstanding is that they didn't have the right dashcams in stock so I have agreed to go over on Monday for them to be fitted, front and rear.  They will lend me a car for the day and also fill the car with petrol as compensation for the inconvenience.   It is actually quite useful as I need to go to some of the shops in the centre by the garage.

 

Back at home I had a good look at the car and started to put my things back in it.  They have given me a new warning triangle, yet another cleaning pack and a safety pack with hi vis vests, first aid kit etc.  I've already got several packs from previous cars.

 

This evening I will study the handbook to make quite sure I know where everything is and how it works!

 

David

Edited October 4, 2023 by DaveF

[BoD]

3 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

Is it just me or is the world going technology mad?

I’ve just asked our washing machine and it said not.

[The Lurker]

I’m reminded of the Talking Toaster in Red Dwarf. It wouldn’t stop talking about grilled bready parts; “It’s my raison d’etre. I grill, therefore I am.”

[PhilJ W]

3 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

Some friends have just been out to buy a new washing machine. The salesman tried to talk them into getting one with wifi connection. When they asked what the point of such a washing machine he said that you can start and stop them from your phone, they can tell you via your phone when a cycle is complete, or they can tell you via your phone when they need attention. He didn't mention price but my guess is that several more Deltics are involved. Is it just me or is the world going technology mad?

 

Dave

I would be tempted to ask if the washing machine could empty itself, hang out the washing, take it in when its dry and then iron the washing.

[polybear]

Bear here.....

 

I found the book!!  YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO................

And where was it?  In the Lounge, right at the bottom of the small pile (6") of books & mags on a chair just 8ft away on my left - in plain view.  'Sterd was hiding all the time.

 

ION.....

VVVSBT's to those involved or affected by the horrific Coach Crash in Venice.

 

BG

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. The eye test went pretty well, no need for new glasses yet for either reading or distance. The only problem is the cataracts that I have had for more than ten years are slightly worse after being the same since they were diagnosed. However it will be a few years before they will need treatment.

[New Haven Neil]

Assisted by encouragement from Mrs NHN (gerroutahereImbusy) I spent the afternoon down the garage/toy room sticking my fingers to a wagon kit, and putting decals on another recently completed one.  A rare win in getting my mojo started.

 

Looked at a fret of Dingham couplings.   Looked again. Put it back on the shelf.

[Coombe Barton]

... The other major infrastructure announcements, northern rail and Midlands metro, to name but two, have not been given a timescale, so we wait … and wait, probably. ...


https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/10/04/no-covid-data-update-but-enquiry-under-way-all-change-at-euston-but-not-until-2045-or-so/

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, BoD said:

I’ve just asked our washing machine and it said not.

Our dishwasher agreed. Our washing machine doesn’t communicate with the wider world but if it did I am sure it would be insufferable telling everyone about its special programme options! 
Until I got hearing aids I couldn’t hear the oven or dishwasher “beeps” so the appropriate messages appearing on my iPad or phone was actually helpful. 
I don’t think I would like a “connected”  fridge trying to curate my diet though. 

[Dave Hunt]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. The eye test went pretty well, no need for new glasses yet for either reading or distance. The only problem is the cataracts that I have had for more than ten years are slightly worse after being the same since they were diagnosed. However it will be a few years before they will need treatment.

 

I was first told I was developing cataracts about twenty years before I needed treatment for them. At the time I was still flying and was worried that I could be grounded but I kept passing annual medicals and it wasn't until I had been retired for about seven or eight years that I was really aware of visual problems. When eventually I had operations they were completely pain free and almost non-events but the thing I noticed more than anything straight afterwards was how vivid colours appeared.

 

Dave   

[monkeysarefun]

5 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

Thats not a Shed, its an Annex!!!

 

 

Here it'd be lunch!

 

[pH]

7 hours ago, Flanged Wheel said:

… this didn’t stop Banff being one of our favourite places.

 

However, for the last six days as we have driven north from Prince George up the Route 16 (rather than the main Alaska Highway) …

Glad you enjoyed Banff. We were there at the beginning of August. After over half an hour looking for a parking spot, we gave up and went back to the highway to drive on.

 

I think you may have driven north on Highway 97 out of Prince George. Highway 16 runs east-west from Prince George. 
 

Did you see any trains on the CN (ex-BC Rail)  lines north of PG? Few of them, but the ones that there are are big.

 

(Edit - I’ve just realized there is less of the ex-BCR still in service than there was when I was there,)

Edited October 4, 2023 by pH

[Winslow Boy]

7 hours ago, grandadbob said:

Just in case anyone here hasn't got one this is what a shed or in this case The Shed looks like:

 

This is quite blatant discrimination and take most offence at such indiscriminate flaunting of such incendiary material. There was no warning it just appeared. I speak on behalf of all the shedless. This should not be allowed and will be asking my fellow members of Shedless United to picket here untill such disturbing images can be removed to a place where they won't cause offence.😋

[Winslow Boy]

4 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

I'about to head over to a proper sized shed with attached hangar.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before. 

 

 

Jamie

You see what's happening here. It's a free for all now. Look look my sheds bigger than yours- mines got an aircraft hanger attached.🤣

[Hroth]

5 hours ago, Tony_S said:

11000000111001
 

 

Old Macdonald....

 

🤪

 

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. The builder should be back tomorrow to finish off the garden. The reason he wasn't around for the last week is that his pet dog has been operated on by the vet and for a time it has been touch and go. Fortunately the pooch has come through and is now recovering.

[Tony_S]

23 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

flaunting of such incendiary material. 

Probably why my Dad built a shed out of asbestos….

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Winslow Boy]

When I got up this morning it was with the purpose of achieving three things. One walk hound. Two visit dentist to report missing filling and three to activate my online banking. Well you'll be pleased to learn I managed only one. Can you guess which one?

So starting with the dentist or rather I only do as I'm told receptionist. Wrong answer. The correct answer should have been - oh no I'm so sorry to hear your filling fell out, let's see if we can get you an appointment. Instead it was until the dentist has seen it and told me what to do I can't make an appointment. Talk about look at me I'm pressing a few buttons aren't I clever.

Then once back from walking hound, that was the one task I managed to do by the way. I had the struggle of trying to make sense of the online banking- we want your customer but we're going to make you work for it. So having wasted two hours with that- half of that online with someone in India, I gave up.

So that was my day how was yours.

[Ozexpatriate]

12 hours ago, TheQ said:

What's a utility bill on paper? They're an extremely rare thing these days.

Not here. And I choose to pay them with a paper cheque.

 

My insurance company still sends paper bills, but there is no option to make payment with a paper cheque - other than in person at the agent's office. They send me all sorts of emails telling me to review my policy online, which I studiously ignore.

 

My homeowner's insurance premium - due shortly - has increased year-over-year by 80%. It appears that the first big economic casualty of climate change is traditional insurance companies*.

 

* Fires, floods, hurricane storm surges etc. The traditional 'stodgy' insurers will no longer underwrite homeowner's insurance policies in California or Florida - due to legislation that limits premium increases. 

[Ozexpatriate]

10 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

they can tell you via your phone when a cycle is complete

This is the feature that intrigued me when I saw it advertised. My laundry is upstairs. I cannot hear the chime when it is done from downstairs.  While many smart home automation features are technology solutions looking for a problem, I'd like to know when the washer and dryer are done. (I don't care what cycle they are on.) While running them, I'm constantly traipsing upstairs to see how long they have left.

[jjb1970]

On technology going down the path of 'we do it because we can' there's been an obsession in Asia with talking rice cookers which appear to have more computing power than an Apollo moon shot mission. Lovely big screens to see the various programs, fancy membrane key pads etc. Everyone we know who has one admits they use the fancy features once or twice then go back to add water, add rice, switch o, wait. Tellingly the Japanese manufacturers have opted out and it is the Korean manufacturers who have developed rice cookers which come with an instruction book like a novel. In this case I think the Japanese are right, it's a simple device and a good quality item which just works has more value.

[jjb1970]

I had a bit of a rant on a webinar last night when someone from an environment department hit one of my buttons. They gave a big presentation full of impressive graphics and kept talking about all the data being shared, only it wasn't data, it was modelled analysis. And they didn't share anything about the input assumptions used or calculation methodology. I intervened and pointed out they hadn't shared any data and that unless they shared information on input assumptions and methodology for the modelling it was meaningless. It may have been wonderful analysis providing a very accurate projection or it may have been complete rubbish, I have no way of knowing. What pressed my button particularly was that I happen to be familiar with actual measured data for the subject in question (having done a lot of engine measurements and engine approvals) and what was on display was not consistent with what I'd expect based on any of the test reports I produced or reviewed. It's one of my pet hates, in the environmental space especially there is no longer a distinction between measured data and modelling and a whole academic/consulting industry now exists to promote their own models (seldom sharing enough information to allow people to make an informed judgement of whether the models are useful). 

[Darlington_Shed]

Up at this ungodly hour to play taxi driver - Ms Junior Shed is off to Slovenia for an adventure holiday; I have to deliver her to Gatwick. The going should be fine; the coming back around the M25 at rush hour promises to be hell.

 

Wish me luck!

[polybear]

3 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

This is the feature that intrigued me when I saw it advertised. My laundry is upstairs. I cannot hear the chime when it is done from downstairs.  While many smart home automation features are technology solutions looking for a problem, I'd like to know when the washer and dryer are done. (I don't care what cycle they are on.) While running them, I'm constantly traipsing upstairs to see how long they have left.

 

I set the timer on the mobile phone for the duration shown on the washer display, plus a bit of slack in case it takes a bit longer than shown.  No wifi hocus pocus needed.

 

Bear here......

Another early start - getting to be the norm now, but at least it means I get stuff done.

Today?  Yep, danglin' - the first coat for the doorframe, plus a bit more spot priming on the door.  That'll do for starters.

After that a certain Bear gets to play in the muddlin' room - finish the DPU fix then start researching/planning various ideas & methods for securing two pieces of N.S. parallel to each other (or not, if you get my point turnout 😉)

 

BG