Early Risers.

[The White Rabbit]

8 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

And I thought the one's in Switzerland mentioned by @iL Dottore were actually bomb shelters.

 

That's the 'cover' story to hide their true purpose from a far more determined and ruthless foe... 

[PhilJ W]

Mention of Ladybird books, here is a list. 

https://www.penguin.co.uk/search-results?tab=books&q=ladybird book of 

There is even a book of Donald Trump. 

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/315535/a-ladybird-book-about-donald-trump-by-morris-jason-hazeley-and-joel/9780241422724

Edited October 5, 2023 by PhilJ W

[Hroth]

17 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

The discrepancy is down to several things. The law prohibits reading low, and is subject to variables like tyre condition. At one time they could read way below road speed but most modern ones seem pretty accurate and don't read that much below true speed.

 

I would have mentioned that too, but I got tired of poking at the screen of the tablet.  Give me a proper keyboard every time!!!

 

[PhilJ W]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66986391

The best way to deal with them is apparently..... spiders.

[Hroth]

4 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Mention of Ladybird books, here is a list. 

https://www.penguin.co.uk/search-results?tab=books&q=ladybird book of 

There is even a book of Donald Trump. 

 

I've got "The Mid-Life Crisis"....

 

Speaking of proper Ladybird books, I believe that at one time "How it Works - The Computer" was issued as introductory reading for senior ranks in the Army...

 

 

 

[The Lurker]

6 hours ago, polybear said:

 

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.

 

 

I take a note of the time it thinks it will finish and then go and look  when it gets to that time. The fear of Mrs Lurker means that I don't forget very often ;)

[tigerburnie]

Something amiss with all these perfect chip posts, first and foremost you need the right potato, there are several candidates, but the Pink Fir Apple chip sits at the top for most connoisseurs.

[Tony_S]

7 hours ago, Barry O said:

Education Pathway"...could be interesting...

I think once upon a time it was trendy to call any such route an Education Superhighway but pathway does sound like a kinder more inclusive term. 

[jjb1970]

On fried potato, the boy and girl were munching on egg prata and fish curry flavour crisps today, I think I'll stick with cheese and onion.

[Hroth]

Hurrah!!!

 

I've had my ears lowered!  🙃

 

[The Lurker]

16 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

On fried potato, the boy and girl were munching on egg prata and fish curry flavour crisps today, I think I'll stick with cheese and onion.

Recently I had some Torres fried egg crisps:

 

https://patatastorres.com/eng/huevo-frito.html

 

They really did taste like fried eggs - you even got that same "mouthfeel" that you get from the oil that the egg has been fried in. It took me a while but I decided I did like them.

 

Their jamon iberico crisps work too.

 

PB should not look too closely at the prices...my only excuse was that I had spent some Majestic tokens on quite a lot of wine and so they seemed cheap in comparison!

[jjb1970]

Mrs JJB is obsessed with ese,uuurgghhhh, no thanks......

[polybear]

Bear here.....

A brief period of bungin' filler into the Conservatory door, followed by a danglin' session on the door frame.  Tick #1

Later, after a brief period of sanding the filler, a second & much shorter danglin' session took place on the door (spot priming).  Tick #2

After that I got really keen and went out in the Bearmobile to get robbed, sorry, fill the tank; then I went to collect the two small mats I'd made from lounge carpet offcuts - they've had their edges whipped by a good guy called Charlie, all for the princely sum of sixteen quid.  I reckon that's Tick #3.  They're now in the lounge to protect/prevent wear from hind paws when sitting done.

 

BG

Edited October 5, 2023 by polybear

[TheQ]

5 hours ago, Hroth said:

Perhaps discrepancies between a vehicle speedo and a GPS could be due to underinflated tyres?

 

Just a thought....

 

The maximum mph  discrepancy allowed is 10% over read + 2 point something or other mph.

So at an indicated 70 mph you may actually be only doing 61ish mph. Where as a GPS will be 100% accurate unless you are doing some very tight turns or going up or down steeply.

 

It's to allow for tyre wear and there are often different tyre options which may have a different outside diameter.

The Speedo will be most accurate with new tyres and the largest diameter option.

[Tony_S]

21 minutes ago, tigerburnie said:

but the Pink Fir Apple chip sits at the top for most connoisseurs.

I have tried those and some other “heritage “ type potatoes but if I am eating chips I am happy to go with whatever McCains use.

[Hroth]

3 minutes ago, TheQ said:

It's to allow for tyre wear and there are often different tyre options which may have a different outside diameter.

 

My comparison was going to be the difference between doing the same rpm on a Pannier and a Castle.  Then I thought "that's a bit too railwayish".

 

But what the heck! 🤪

 

[Ozexpatriate]

9 hours ago, polybear said:

I set the timer on the mobile phone

So you are still using a mobile telephone for this home automation capability. One less step if the washer/dryer notifies you directly. And as you noted, the 'timer' on the dryer is approximate. If the clothes are wetter than the program thought then the dryer takes longer than what shows on the dryer estimate.

[Dave Hunt]

This morning I saw the spinal consultant  about my trouble. He said that injections wouldn't work and showed me the CT scan and I could see that there are three intervertebral discs plus some bony growths on the insides o the vertebrae that are impinging on the spinal cord, which is causing the pain (there are actually four but he said that by the time the fourth starts giving me problems I won't know anything about it). He has therefore put me on his list for something called a spinal decompression and even though it carries with it a risk of some highly unpleasant collateral damage I've agreed to go for it as the condition is already affecting my quality of life and if left will only get worse. My next door neighbour has recently had the same operation and he is now quite fit and mobile so I can but hope for the same outcome. Unfortunately because it is not an emergency and is unlikely in the short term to result in permanent disability I'm not near the top of the list and it will probably be another six months before it's my turn but at least I know that eventually it will get sorted. He is also writing to my GP suggesting some different pain relief drugs as he thinks that the ones I am on at present do not really offer relief from neurological pain.

 

Dave

 

[Tony_S]

25 minutes ago, polybear said:

ION.....

Those graduating can be seen driving a Tesco checkout somewhere near you.....

FFS

I suspect many supermarkets have graduate entry schemes. 
Aditi told me when she was about 18 she had a summer job at a supermarket called Caters in Nottingham. She had been doing all the usual jobs, till, shelf filling etc when the regular manager returned near the end of the holiday. She told Aditi she wouldn’t be employing her anymore as she thought she didn’t have the brains to be a till operator  and should look for another job. Aditi said it didn’t matter as she was returning to university in a couple of days anyway. 

[Tony_S]

14 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

He is also writing to my GP suggesting some different pain relief drugs as he thinks that the ones I am on at present do not really offer relief from neurological pain.

Both my mother in law an our late spaniel had spinal problems and were both prescribed the same medication. One is still benefitting and the quality of Robbie’s life was greatly improved. The medication wasn’t licensed for dogs so I had to sign a waiver form. I also read out the patient information leaflet to him. MiL is almost certainly too frail for any surgery. MiL’s spine condition  was due to stepping off the top rung of a step stool and hitting tune ground feet first. She used to be much taller than Aditi, and is considerably shorter now. I wish my Dad had been able to have the modern medication treatments for his back. As I have mentioned before I am really benefiting from modern medications for conditions that really affected my parents and grandparents. 

Edited October 5, 2023 by Tony_S

[PupCam]

Afternoon All

 

6 hours ago, TheQ said:

Were you ( and the traffic) driving at 50mph Speedo or 50mph GPS? Most lorries use GPS these days which is anything up to 7mph ish faster ..

 

I thought GPS based speedos were illegal or at best a grey area of the law?     Are you certain they are using GPS based speedos or are the drivers just choosing to use the speed indication of their SatNags in preference to their speedos because they think it allows them to travel faster?  The requirements (a summary of which has been purloined from the  Piston Heads forums, others are available including the original source) state:

 

Regulation 35 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that every motor vehicle shall be fitted with a speedometer except:

a vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 m.p.h.,
a vehicle which, at all times, is unlawful to drive at more than 25 m.p.h.,
an agricultural motor vehicle driven at not more than 20 m.p.h.,
a motor cycle not exceeding 100cc first used before 1st April 1984,
an invalid carriage first used before 1st April 1984,
a works truck first used before 1st April 1984,
any vehicle first used before 1st October 1937,
a vehicle fitted with an approved tachograph which is required or not.

Vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1984 the speedometer should be capable of indicating the speed in miles per hour and kilometres per hour. Vehicles may instead comply with EC Regulation (Community Directive) 97/39 or ECE Reg 39.
These directives stipulate the markings, graduations of the speedometer and refer to 75/443/EEC which specifies the tolerances.

The indicated speed must never be less than the true speed (it must read exact or high) and between 40km/h and 120km/h the error must not exceed 10% + 2.5 m.p.h. high (true speed/10 + 4kph).
This means at a true speed of 25mph or 40km/h the speedometer may read 40/10+4 = 8km/h or 5mph high = 30mph indicated.

Maintenance

Regulation 36 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that the speedometer fitted to a vehicle must be kept free from any obstruction which may prevent it from being easily read and shall at all times it is used on a road be maintained in good working order except if:

the speedometer became defective during the journey being undertaken, or
steps have been taken to have the defect remedied by replacement or repair with all reasonable expedition, or
the vehicle is fitted with an approved tachograph which is required to be fitted under the Community Recording Equipment Regulation (offence is under that regulation).

 

As can be seen vehicle speedo's (i.e. the instrument provided in the vehicle by which the speed of the vehicle is defined) MUST have an indication tolerance of minus zero, plus 10% +2.5mph which is why when I'm driving Monty the Mondog at 60mph indicated Gary the Garmin SatNag reports my speed as something less than 60mph.    

 

In all probability the accuracy of the GPS derived speed is no doubt far better* and factors like poor, non-linear mechanisms (in older vehicles particularly with whirling magnets and Eddy currents in aluminium discs or worse) and, as has been mentioned, incorrectly inflated and sized tyres (over & under) all contributing to the error which is precisely why  the law states an asymmetric tolerance.  Although Gary the Garmin does report the speed (and makes a better job of it too) it's just reporting the facts from the data, it makes no allowance for the tolerance requirements of UK or any other law.    Of course on odd occasions GPS based systems fail completely in areas of GPS denial e.g. tunnels, areas of high density skyscrapers** and areas where GPS signals have been deliberately tinkered with (not normally much of a problem in the UK in peacetime).

 

*   The absolute accuracy of GPS position and hence distance (delta position) is extremely good these days and the system is based on clock signals of incredibly high accuracy AND known inaccuracies (which are taken into account) and at the end of the day speed, as we know, is simply distance/time.    The accuracy of the time signal from GPS is orders of magnitude better than a bunch of time pips broadcast over a DAB radio (do they still do that?) will ever be. At least in the analogue days "they were good enough for Government work" as we may have said once or twice at the GE.   For those that don't have the background but would like to find out more about GPS there's a good Exec Summary and lots more tech info on principles of GPS operation in this.   Note from it that GPS is used for far more things than just "finding out where you are"!   

 

** I have no actual experience of how high the buildings and how densely they would have to be packed to constitute a real problem.   It's certainly not in Puppershire.

 

While we are on the subject of speedos I'll just fly-the-flag once again for the old Jaeger/Smiths Chronometric jobs of yesteryear once again.    They are generally far more accurate than the later magnetic ones I referenced and the earlier "flying bob-weight" jobs (like the old governors on steam traction engines)   were nothing but a crude joke.    The chronometric instrument comprises two keyparts, an accurate (for the day) mechanical clock that generates a "signal" via its escapement every 0.7 seconds and a direct measurement distance sampling mechanism.     Once again, dividing the distance measurement by an accurate time period provides an accurate measurement of the derivative; speed.   What's even more remarkable about it is that the original mechanism was designed 1914(!) in the form of an engine tachometer.   I don't know for certain but I believe the colloquial term "clock"  in the context of vehicle speedos is derived from the fact that the chronometric instrument uses a clock escapement to control the speed sampling.   Seems not unreasonable to Puppers.   Anyway, I've posted this before but I remain fascinated by these wonderful devices.

 

ION

 

I had a nice little and successful chug  over to "AJS Steve" on the BSA to get new twist grips for the Yamaha yesterday.   Steve liked the BSA even though it's not an AMC machine.   He went a funny colour when I mentioned the grips were actually going on a Yamaha 🤣   Anyway I think that's encompassed all the bikes.

 

Flu jab jabbed this morning.    Credit where it's due; the GP surgery conducted the jabbage quickly and efficiently and I was home before my appointment was due.

 

Yamaha fettling has been undertaken;  I have temporarily fitted the mirror from my original "basket case" 125 to the 200 to replace the nicely machined but horrible to use after-market one that was fitted when it turned up. It may have been fitted because it looks like a Previous Owner (derogatory term) has mullered the M10 left-hand thread in the aluminium casting.    Anyone got a LH M10 Helicoil and tap?    No, thought not.      Putting the basket case 125 back in the basket (actually an old tin case) proved the most challenging bit but I got there in the end.  I've also fitted the new twist grips - much more comfortable.

 

Down the pub tonight for a "Pie and a Pint" with some of my biking ex-colleagues one of whom popped down for the evening from Skeggy (his new residence) which show a good deal of commitment.. Perhaps not quite as much as that shown by a certain member of the Brain's Trust that pops over from Switzerland from time to time albeit not just for the evening.

 

TTFN

 

[TheQ]

And in those days getting a university place meant you were very clever.

 

Afternoon Awl ,

Internet banking now sorted, to my surprise both bank accounts and credit card can be accessed from the same log on. Electronic code gadget hadn't arrived in time so the bank gave me one, so that meant when I got home there was one sitting in the post box.

 

GY lived up to its normal standards lots of extremely heavy people needing electric chariots to get around. Two very thin and gaunt men fighting in the street probably because of something to do with illegal substances. When some one dropped a chip, vast hoards of seagulls appeared.

 

I did for the first time in over 20 years have a chicken shawarma, something I used to occasionally eat in Saudi.. Did I enjoy the shawarma? You bet I did, I think it was actually better than those in Saudi. Freshly made wrap cooked in a tandoor in front of me, salad part of the filling looked very  fresh too.

 

Because I went via Screwfix to buy screws , you know what's just arrived!! Yep the missing screws from the house of strong ladies.

 

On Monday at approx 11:00,  we went to the post office to order SWMBO's replacement driving license , today Thursday at about 12:00, it's arrived in the post.. Almost exactly 3 days, DVLA have definitely improved their service...

 

 

 

[Tony_S]

8 minutes ago, TheQ said:

And in those days getting a university place meant you were very clever.

Aditi really wanted to go to Cambridge. Her parents would not let her go, so she never got to put any Cambridge college on the UCCA form. After another argument about where she should go, her mother said they had stopped her going to Cambridge. Aditi said she made the mistake in a rare moment of teenage petulance of saying that she hadn’t wanted to go there anyway, this seemed to please her mother. So she was told to apply to Nottingham (the local university) as first choice. She tried her best to not look interested during the interview hoping they would reject but but got an unconditional offer. Three years later she chose an educational course that wasn’t offered at Nottingham, hence why she did a further education PGCE leading to a career in technical colleges. I am not sure when Aditi’s family started  to stop treating her as some kind of idiot. People always commented that Aditi was the “nice” one and her sister was the “clever” one. 

[TheQ]

I wasn't referring to GPS Speedos in lorries. But the fact that almost all lorries now have a GPS map system and the driver's tend to use the  GPS speed to drive to..

You can also buy head up display GPS Speedos which means you don't even have to look away from the screen. They're not that expensive.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Display-iKiKin-Speedometer-Temperature-Safety/dp/B08CRCQF2D/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2Q54OC6RJK7X6&keywords=gps+head+up+display&qid=1696519879&sprefix=GPS+head+%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-5

 

 

 I use GPS speed, particularly on motorways, but I do have to pay attention to the limit as I've used up most of the leeway.

 

Digital TV and I suspect DAB is slightly slow due to the conversion time in the software from the analogue time signal.

 

In the lab I used to sit with two 10 digit GPS systems just up on the wall, they were used to provide the labs prime frequency, but if I pressed a button, they displayed time very very accurately.

 

[Tony_S]

33 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Almost exactly 3 days, DVLA have definitely improved their service...

Our first photo card licences (due to being 70) arrived really quickly. Aditi thought hers might take longer as she has a notifiable medical condition but it came in aboutn3 days after submitting the online application. 

Edited October 5, 2023 by Tony_S