Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

10 hours ago, Barry O said:

via a very small walkway.

There was a choice of a high wire or a glass floor…

Somewhere in Switzerland 2017

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, forgot to post earlier.  Hunger - doing 18/6 fasting.

 

Dry-ish dans le rock today, strong breeze only and 10 whole C.  Almost sub-tropical, we'll be getting those Southern Fighting Whelks migrating up here before you know it.

 

Duties for the day will mostly involve shopping and topping up firewood, with the possibility of a visit down to the garage/workshop/layout room.  Or not.

 

An enjoyable chat with friends yesterday afternoon passed the time nicely, despite being banished to the kitchen as SWMBO was working from home i.e. the lounge.  Took a call from another friend, asked me to call back - I remembered about 3am this morning.  Oops off now to apologise!

[jjb1970]

Honest JJB’s trading is proud to announce a new venture – Doctor JJB’s tree surgery and rail enthusiast gardening services! Yes friends, we have been inundated with requests for a rail enthusiast orientated gardening service, and here at Honest JJB’s we always listen to our valued customers when we see an opportunity to make money. Picture the scene, you find out a nice steam engine or no heat diesel will be working, so decide to take a few pictures, but – oh no, what’s this – you find trees, bushes, houses and other frivolous and unwanted obstructions interfering with your field of view. At one time you’d have had to find somewhere else to take a picture, but not any longer, just call Honest JJB’s tree surgery and rail enthusiast gardening service and we’ll do the rest. Not convinced? Read this testimonial for our pre-launch trial service from the Reverend Ponsonby-Smythe, vicar of Marpleshire-on-Sea:

 

‘Like all the rail enthusiasts of Marpleshire-on-Sea I have long complained about the foolish positioning of the village orphanage between the pub window and railway line, the only way to get a picture was to walk to the end of the street, an intolerable burden. Things got worse when it was announced that Flying Scotsman was to work past, I simply had to get a picture but there was no way I was going to waste enough time to drink three pints by walking the whole 24 yards down the street and back. Imagine my joy then when I was visiting the turf accountant to invest the weekly collection in the 3:40 at Newmarket and saw an advert for Honest JJB’s within 24 hours they’d demolished the orphanage by arranging for a gas main explosion. As a bonus, as well as getting an out of focus pic of Flying Scotsman (Satan arranged for a half empty bottle of Scotch to get in the way) I made enough from the 237 funerals to buy a Bentley crumpet magnet, I would definitely recommend Honest JJB’s!’

 

You can’t argue with a testimonial like that, call now for a free* no obligation** quote and we will discuss all the available options to clear unwanted lineside obstructions such as railway stations, signal boxes, level crossing gates and mountains using our tool kit of chain saws, backhoe loaders, wrecking balls, 2000 pound bombs*** and sarin gas. Call today, the name you can trust – Honest JJB

 

*While consultations are free, expenses such as telephone wear and tear and cost to replace the air used while talking are charged at cost + 2000%

**All consultations are considered to be a legally binding contract to buy

***Due to heavy demand from a client in the Middle East there may be a delay in services which need 2000 pound bombs.

[roundhouse]

2 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

There was a choice of a high wire or a glass floor…

Somewhere in Switzerland 2017

Certainly would not get me walking on such things. I can go up tall buildings mountains etc but anything like that just freeks me out.

 

Yesterday was full on. Visited mum. Fixed a few things damaged in the storms a few days ago. Brother said mum was acting strange last week whrn he stayed with her but was OK when he left. Once he was back in Hong Kong he messaged me to say that she might have had a mini stroke. She looked fine to me but was speaking and moving very slowly. Face was fine and all limbs moving fine but decided to call in at her doctors to see if someone could visit her. They phoned me back and said to call an ambulance.

 

Within a few minutes community responders in red uniforms, arrived. Mum asked why was the post office visiting her. They checked her over before the ambulance arrived. Mum had very high blood pressure so they decided to take her to hospital for checks.

 

Back home I tried to get in touch with the hospital but after many failed attempts, the hospital phoned at 9.30pm to say that she was ready for collection. Luckily we are only a couple of minutes away. Mum seemed much brighter, maybe a day out in the hospital did her good. Dropped her back home and back in bed just after 11pm.

 

My other half has a cold so no beer do far this week but I felt like a day out so on the train to Guildford. Must avoid Kernow shop as they have a sale but there isn't anything that I really want so nus resist

After Guildford probably Farnborough North to the Prince of Wales where I had an "interview" in 2003 with a previous boss. It wasn't much of an interview but just how much was I after and where had we been visiting since we last met. The pub became a regular Friday lunch time visit till the company closed the office nearby.

[iL Dottore]

16 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

Much as they're popular, I'm not a fan. And just looked up what they're made from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadbury_Creme_Egg

Well, look on the bright side: you only need a B.Sc. In food chemistry to recognise the ingredients.

 

"Industrial Grade Cocoa Mass" sounds rather  ominous: suggesting something created in an ICI chemical plant rather than the "generous bounty of nature"

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Today will be a lot more relaxed than yesterday, neither of us need to go anywhere today, so we’re staying inside. Mind you, outside doesn’t look very appealing, it’s rather dull and grey, although the sun unsuccessfully keeps trying to shine. So a day of unspecified pottering (@Chrisf)  is on the cards. There are a couple of small domestic tasks to do today so I might find myself with a few hours to kill, so I may get a bit done in the computer in cellar, or then again, maybe not. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian 

[Tony_S]

24 minutes ago, BSW01 said:

There are a couple of small domestic tasks to do today s

My task today is to do MiL’s shopping and take it over to Enfield. Aditi was going to do it but she is a bit unwell today. She is remarkably robust and recovers quickly but today is better as a day of rest. I have in addition to the shopping got to,choose something for lunch at MiLs, Aditi suggested a quiche “Do NOT get one with bacon” , as if I would! It is very slightly out of my way but I will get the food from the M&S Food shop on Canvey.  Easy parking, and MiL is used to their stuff from Ocado. 
Tony
 

Edited January 25 by Tony_S

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Not a bad night last night with just one interruption from bladder control, seven hours + sleep in all. I'll be staying in today but first thing to do is to get on to the council about my black bin not being emptied. I had a notice through the door saying I had put food waste in the bin, which I hadn't though there was a plastic food wrapper visible on the top. Now to have words with the council.

[grandadbob]

A-walking we have been and a total of 1.9 miles achieved today with no problems for me but The Boss was hobbling a bit by the time we got back.

@Tony_S  I showed her your photo Tony and the response was "No way, not ever, do not even think about it."  TBH I'm not sure I'd fancy that either.  With her past record I wouldn't dream of it because I remember her having a bit of a panic attack some years ago whilst on the walkway across the water down Wookey Hole!   The highest structure I've ever been in (when I was a youngster) was the bell tower of Westminster Cathedral which is 284 ft high although the viewing gallery is only 210ft above street level. 

Now got a couple of small DIY tasks to sort out including adjusting the doors on our shower as a small gap has appeared.

Coffee first though.

[tigerburnie]

On ingredients of food stuffs, years ago I had a pal who worked for a huge crisps manufacturer and the subject of flavours came up. One lass said it was cruel killing hedgehogs to flavour crisps, after he had stopped laughing he said that all crisp flavours came from a lab and were synthetic, his final remark was that beef crisps are suitable for vegetarians as the nearest they got to beef was when the lorry full of potatoes drove past a field full of cows.

[pH]

The New York Times has a daily game on its website called ‘Connections’. You’re presented with 16 words, and have to arrange them into 4 groups of 4, with the words in each group connected by some common theme.

 

Here’s the starting position of today’s game. Has a resident of this parish had some influence on the makeup of the first line? 🤔
 

[PhilJ W]

I have tried to contact the council about the none collection but they will not take complaints until after 4 pm on bin day. Quite understandable as it's not until then that the bin lorries are back in the yard.

[TheQ]

email arrived from Royal Mail.. " we were unable to deliver your parcel from HM revenue and customs , please click on link to reschedule delivery"..

 

Email address of sender?  "info@batterytips.com"    

 

 don't think so...

 

 

Delete..

 

 

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

There was a choice of a high wire or a glass floor…

Somewhere in Switzerland 2017

No way would I walk along there, I don't even like climbing ladders.

[PhilJ W]

7 minutes ago, TheQ said:

email arrived from Royal Mail.. " we were unable to deliver your parcel from HM revenue and customs , please click on link to reschedule delivery"..

 

Email address of sender?  "info@batterytips.com"    

 

 don't think so...

 

 

Delete..

 

 

Last time I received such an e-mail supposedly from Royal Mail the postie was at the door. We both had a good laugh and then he took note of the sender to give to their security.

Edited January 25 by PhilJ W

[Sidecar Racer]

1 hour ago, New Haven Neil said:

  Hunger - doing 18/6 fasting.

 

 

 

 So 18 hours eating and 6 fasting , I don't see a problem .   😎

[PhilJ W]

40 minutes ago, pH said:

The New York Times has a daily game on its website called ‘Connections’. You’re presented with 16 words, and have to arrange them into 4 groups of 4, with the words in each group connected by some common theme.

 

Here’s the starting position of today’s game. Has a resident of this parish had some influence on the makeup of the first line? 🤔
 

Shouldn't that be posted on 'The Night Mail'.

[Pacific231G]

5 hours ago, TheQ said:

email arrived from Royal Mail.. " we were unable to deliver your parcel from HM revenue and customs , please click on link to reschedule delivery"..

 

Email address of sender?  "info@batterytips.com"    

 

 don't think so...

 

 

Delete..

 

 

I get about three like that a day. I normally forward new ones to  report@phishing.gov.uk before deleting them. I don't know what they do with such reports but preumable it helps them to build up a picture. 

 

Though the local plan has been around for a few weeks, I've only just heard the very worrying news , that Popham Airfield in Hampshire,  where for thirty years I did almost all my flying from, has been designated in the Basingstoke & Deane revised local plan as a site for the development of 3000 homes in  "Popham Garden Village- a healthy and sustainable place with a strong, clearly defined and coherent village character, which maximises the opportunities presented by its attractive rural setting in a sensitive and positive manner”. In reality, by the time the developers have muddied the water, that usually ends up meaning an isolated housing development with few facilities. 

The airfield runs along the north side of the A303 dual carriageway (a very attractive rural feature!) with only narrow country lanes providing any other access and a fifty minute walk (on a country road I'd be very reluctant to walk down) from Micheldever Station. There's no mention in the plan of current aviation activities on one of the most popular airfields for grass-roots flying in the country (the sort that ordinary people like me could afford that are disappearing rapidly) as if they don't want to admit that they'd be destroying it. 

 

There is a mention  in the plan of a "brownfield site near Overton"which presumably means the airfield. 

If this is a brownfield site* then so is most of the British countryside (the site to the right of the main runway on the A303  is a filling station and cafe - nothing to do with the airfield). The only permanent buildings on the site are the three hangars on the left of the picture, another hangar used by an aircraft maintenance firm and a small clubhouse and cafe. 

 

*I've delved a little and apparently airfields ARE automatically defined as brownfield sites, and therefor "preferred" locations for development, even if like Popham they're basically large grass meadows with some strips of the grass carefully mowed and no more buildings than an average farm.  Agricultural buildings dont apparently count as "previous development" though so if that large area of grass had been the site of a row of intensive farming sheds then it would be less favoured for development.

For developers of course, a flat, open, well drained site with access, ninety five percent never built on and almost no buildings to demolish or industrial pollutants to remove is something they drool over.

Edited January 25 by Pacific231G

[Hroth]

54 minutes ago, pH said:

The New York Times has a daily game on its website called ‘Connections’. You’re presented with 16 words, and have to arrange them into 4 groups of 4, with the words in each group connected by some common theme.

 

Here’s the starting position of today’s game. Has a resident of this parish had some influence on the makeup of the first line? 🤔
 

 

Its rather like one of the games in "Only Connect"...

 

I make one line to be "FINE-HIPPO-IN-CHARGE"  🤪

 

 

[Two_sugars]

5 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ey up!

 

 

 

. her indoors is off chopin at Moreasons.. 

 

Baz

She'll probably be Bach in a few minuets .. . . 

 

Did I see you on a Faceache thread last Night? . . . . .

 

Not much doing . . not so much black dog syndrom, as Chronic C.B.A. syndrome .. . . . it's probably just January . . . 

 

 

Keep smiling everyone .. 

 

John

 

[Lochgorm]

1 hour ago, Pacific231G said:

I get about three like that a day. I normally forward new ones to  report@phishing.gov.uk before deleting them. I don't know what they do with such reports but preumable it helps them to build up a picture. 

 

Though the local plan has been around for a few weeks, I've only just heard the very worrying news , that Popham Airfield in Hampshire,  where for thirty years I did almost all my flying from, has been designated in the Basingstoke & Deane revised local plan as a site for the development of 3000 homes in  "Popham Garden Village- a healthy and sustainable place with a strong, clearly defined and coherent village character, which maximises the opportunities presented by its attractive rural setting in a sensitive and positive manner”. In reality, by the time the developers have muddied the water, that usually ends up meaning an isolated housing development with few facilities. 

The airfield runs along the north side of the A303 dual carriageway (a very attractive rural feature!) with only narrow country lanes providing any other access and a fifty minute walk (on a country road I'd be very reluctant to walk down) from Micheldever Station. There's no mention in the plan of current aviation activities on one of the most popular airfields for grass-roots flying in the country (the sort that ordinary people like me could afford that are disappearing rapidly) as if they don't want to admit that they'd be destroying it. 

 

There is a mention  in the plan of a "brownfield site near Overton"which presumably means the airfield. 

If this is a brownfield site then so is most of the British countryside (the site to the right of the main runway on the A303  is a filling station and cafe - nothing to do with the airfield). The only permanent buildings on the site are the three hangars on the left of the picture, another hangar used by an aircraft maintenance form and a small clubhouse and cafe. 

The ghost of Charles Church takes revenge!

[PhilJ W]

We have sunshine! well we did have for a few minutes, a bit weak and watery looking though.

[PhilJ W]

Heavy seas in the Marshall Islands.

 

[Tony_S]

3 hours ago, grandadbob said:

 

@Tony_S  I showed her your photo Tony and the response was "No way, not ever, do not even think about it."  TBH I'm not sure I'd fancy that either.  

The safety net is actually much further away than it looks too.

 

Edited January 25 by Tony_S

[southern42]

' afternoon all from red dragon land.

Raining....

 

But, before that, while Mr Suvvern was out and about, I did get a few minutes on the flute this morning, on the mat in front of the fire. I can now sit there for about half an hour or more before having to stretch out the legs or give up though it took me a few moments, today, to straighten up again afterwards! Another thing I have noticed lately, is that I don't seem to notice it so much, so the old pegs must be getting used to it. I enjoy it more, now, anyway.

 

ION

I had a scintillating chatmeet with a few friends yesterday but had to turn up late. We had someone to come and change the smart meter ("sometime between 8 and 12") because it was not being smart. Person came at 12. She will be gone by the time I need to get online I thought. Uhuh. The power needed to be switched off - OK battery laptop, no probs - ah! but no wifi either...

 

Also in the headlines - another pair of base layer leggings...so small it might fit a stick girl. Now, it said size "M" and according to the "size guide" I was between sizes so I ordered the larger one. I hate to think what critter the smaller size would fit. Return awaiting.

 

Better luck, I hope, has arrived in the form of two cotton shirts both in the larger of two sizes. I shall try them on when the appropriate mood comes over me (the price had come down by 25%, so I was delighted that I had taken so long to decide to buy them, and delivery was free).

 

Off now to put kettle on.

Take care. Be good. Don't believe everything you read.

Polly

 

Edited January 25 by southern42