Early Risers.

[monkeysarefun]

10 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Mower used after 3/4s of an hour, the engine started hunting..😒

Cleared out landrover.. 

Mower used for half an hour , the engine started hunting ..😒

Ben took me for a walk, nowhere near as far as yesterday..

Mower used for 10 minutes, the engine started hunting..😒

Started driving the mower back to its shed, the engine coughed, the hunting stopped.. turned round did a load more mowing.. hunting appears to have cleared.🙂 

 

 

Sometimes mixing a nip  of carby cleaner in with the fuel can sort it out if its not too bad, though it can result in an impressive smoke display 

Edited May 21 by monkeysarefun

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

Atmosphere" would DEFINITELY be on there.

Googled that and got a link to Russ Abbott singing “Atmosphere”. 

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

If that doesn't do it, try Joy Division.

Or a couple of Neurosis Morrisett tracks sandwiching a Leonard Cohen. 

 

As to fireworks, when travelling in the US I noticed that a lot of firework stores are on state boundaries alo g with 'Gentlemen' s clubs". 

 

Jamie

Edited May 21 by jamie92208

[monkeysarefun]

47 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

Or a couple of Neurosis Morrisett tracks sandwiching a Leonard Cohen. 

 

As to fireworks, when travelling in the US I noticed that a lot of firework stores are on state boundaries alo g with 'Gentlemen' s clubs". 

 

Jamie

 

 

I'm a Leonard Cohen fan - I'm aware of the reputation of him being depressing or whatever but I  honestly don't know how he got it because I can't think of a single one of his songs that is morbid in any serious way, many are  actually quite uplifting!

 

If I had to think up local songs to slash my wrists by, maybe some of Nick Caves work with the Birthday Party,?   I can't think of many others, I guess its hard to write dreary songs when the sun is shining and the beach is not far away.

 

Australian pub rock is all about the kick drum and the rhythm guitar in   lockstep pounding away - its what we grew up with  here.

 

Most songs and bands that were big here are unknown elsewhere apart from one or two, but I have a Spotify playlist that I put on whenever  I get the ute out, its all Australian and reflects the V8, surf, sun, and unobtainable girls  mentality that I grew up with here. 

 

 The ute has twin Bose subwoofers which makes the rear view mirror inoperative due to vibrations when I crank this up!

 

 

Edited May 21 by monkeysarefun

[monkeysarefun]

37 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Russ Abbott singing “Atmosphere”

 

38 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Googled that and got a link to Russ Abbott singing “Atmosphere”. 

 

 

 

Well I googled that and it looks like my dad  at my 18th back in 1981.

[New Haven Neil]

May I just point out there's a world of difference between a Manc and a Manx.....however as we gave the world the BeeGees maybe I had better retire before attacked! 😁

[monkeysarefun]

2 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

however as we gave the world the BeeGees maybe I had better retire before attacked!

 

 

@Ozexpatriate has to take the blame for them too though.

[New Haven Neil]

4 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

@Ozexpatriate has to take the blame for them too though.

 

Well I suppose they passed through Aus!  There's a bronze statue here on Douglas prom of the three of them, for the grockles to take selfies with.

 

[monkeysarefun]

 

 

The Bee Gees heralded in an era of tight high-waisted  pants and high pitched squeaky voices.

 

A grateful Queensland government, thankful that at last Queensland attributes were being recognised,  commissioned    a 70m long "Bee Gees Way" which has both a statue of the Bee Gees when they were little ten pound poms: 

 

 

And another down the other end when they were all famous and on cocaine.

 

 

Other famous Queenslanders that have statues of them on display  include King Wally Lewis, a famous Maroons Rugby League player who had a sideline in promoting aerosol tins of fake hair that you sprayed on your bald bits

 

 

 

 

and Kev, the Big Cassowary of Mission Beach.

 

 

Edited May 21 by monkeysarefun

[grandadbob]

A'noon.

Rain arrived earlier as promised and is persisting steadily but no thunder...yet.

Sainsbury's visited, special offer item still not there so one unhappy Boss but she cheered up when I discovered that Tesco were doing the same offer and a successful visit was made to them.  Boss now happy.

 

Now for " You couldn't make it up."

You may have noticed that I've been wittering on about my change from BT phone, TV and Broadband etc to EE for about 4 weeks and that things have been going a bit pear shaped.  Thought we'd got things sorted the other day and everything was in place.  I was advised yesterday to expect 2 parcels from EE via Royal Mail containing the new equipment.  Two parcels did turn up in the allotted time slot delivered by a very cheery mailman.  Two parcels containing 7 boxes!!!  2  Smart Hubs, 2 TV boxes, 2 Hybrid Connects (No - I don't know what they are) and 1 WiFi Plus thingy.  TBH I'm now actually starting to see the funny side of all this and have stopped doing my nut....for now. 

 

 

 

I'm just waiting to see if anything else turns up and how many times multiple engineers arrive to fit it all.  Of course I may be wrong and it could all go swimmingly from now on.   🤪😂

 

 

 

 

[Hroth]

27 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

Well I suppose they passed through Aus!  There's a bronze statue here on Douglas prom of the three of them, for the grockles to take selfies with.

 

 

And if you take the ferry (providing its running) the Beatles will be waiting for you at the Pierhead!

 

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

6 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

And if you take the ferry (providing its running) the Beatles will be waiting for you at the Pierhead!

 

 

 

 

Having spent three years there at the Kollege of Nollidge, and worked for a shipping company whose office is just in sight up that street, I'm happy to avoid the place like the plague!  No great fan of the music either, although more than I am of the BG's.

[PhilJ W]

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

It appears Singapore Airlines passengers have just had a reminder of why Airlines recommend leaving seat belts fastened throughout the flight😢 I always put it on over the blanket so the attendannts don't need to disturb me if the seat belts light goes on and I am sleeping.

More here.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-69044396

[PhilJ W]

4 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

Theres a massed drone show later in the month, though it does tend to end up as a giant plug for the sponsors, if last years is anything to go by, but seeing the drones take off in the first couple of minutes, then landing at the end  beats most firework displays IMHO!

 

 

 

I wonder where they got the idea from.

 

[DaveF]

I decided to have a day out so went to Cragside (National Trust) near Rothbury, about 50 minutes from here.  It was Lord Armstrong's home.  It was cloudy a lot of the time but as it is the first time I've really been out and taken a picnic for over 5 months it was very enjoyable.  As usual I did the carriage drive (6 miles round the estate) in the car stopping several times for shortish walks and to take photos.  The rhododendrons are starting to come out, I may go again to see them in full bloom.  I also visited the formal gardens.  I could have had lunch in the cafe but it gets very busy so I picnic in one of the car parks by the woods. Photos below.

 

While I was there I heard a cuckoo, the first time in Northumberland for years, they are much less common now then they used to be.  There were lots of other birds, creatures and plants to see.

 

There wasn't much traffic but there was one set of temporary lights with nothing happening, the men were working a few hundred yards further along the road.  I came back along the road in the Coquet Valley which has been rebuilt recently following a big landslip.  It still has a single track bridge just after a blind corner so you have to take care.  It is a road I treat with respect ever since a deer suddenly jumped over a hedge onto the road in front of me one evening some years ago.

 

On the way home I stopped in Morpeth, I forgot to display my parking disc (like other places in Northumberland parking is free)  but there was no penalty notice on the windscreen when I got back to the car.  I find it easy to forget the disc as it is the only place I visit regularly where one is needed, all the rest you just park and walk away.  I called at Waterstones and found some books I couldn't do without, including the new one by LJ Ross in her DCI Ryan series set locally.  The car tells me it did 89mpg today.

 

I really need to do some potting on in the greenhouse after tea, especially the tomatoes.

 

Cragside by Nellys Moss Lake  Hidden in the trees are two footpaths and the carriage drive.

 

Rhododendrons by the carriage drive

 

The wizard near the labyrinth

 

Rhododendron flowers

 

Lake by the National Trust shop and cafe at Cragside

 

Both these roofs are slated.  Useful for weathering perhaps.

 

Cragside the formal garden.

 

David

Edited May 21 by DaveF

[PhilJ W]

53 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Another famous Queenslanders that have statues of them on display  include King Wally Lewis, a famous Maroons Rugby League player who had a sideline in promoting aerosol tins of fake hair that you sprayed on your bald bits

 

 

 

 

and Kev, the Big Cassowary of Mission Beach.

 

 

Is Kev demonstrating the spray on hair?😁

Edited May 21 by PhilJ W

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, grandadbob said:

Hybrid Connects (No - I don't know what they are)

We have one of those and it does work. 
Our TV Pro box still had BT branding but the on button led changed colour when all the screen menus changed to EE branding. My broadband still seems to be BT branded and I still have a BT mobile sim (for the car communication system). I suspect it will all change.

I got an extra “whole house” wi fi disc as the wireless signal wasn’t as good upstairs at the rear of the house. I had a ridiculous conversation with a script following broadband agent who wanted to know all kinds of stuff about how many rooms and floors we had. He insisted that for a four bedroom house the router and WiFi disc wouid be adequate. I said they are big rooms and putting the disc upstairs was fine but limited downstairs so an extra disc (as promised originally). After ages he put me through to a technician who said “you need another disc, let us know if you need a third one.”  

My current contract guarantees me contact with an expert if I have any problems but I haven’t had any. The hybrid connect worked when there was a broadband exchange fault. 

Tony

Edited May 21 by Tony_S

[TheQ]

The nearest statue to here is to someone who deserved it.

 

 

Sea har came in at around 11:00 ish, temperature has steadily dropped ever since , now the welkin is beginning to go a dark grey.. soggyness imminent I think.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. The window cleaner came round this morning and as soon as he had finished it started persisting down. Now to get dinner ready, best before date lottery again.

[grandadbob]

You really really couldn't make it up!  I've just had a text and an email from EE telling me my equipment is on the way!!!

😁😂🤪🙃

Edited May 21 by grandadbob

[The Lurker]

11 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Much like when Raleigh brought back the potatoes, tobacco and the tomato. Incidentally the potatoes and tomato, both of which are related were considered poisonous.

Potatoes are poisonous if eaten raw. And the fruits are too IIRC.

 

i always like Raleigh smoking a potato in Blackadder

[polybear]

10 hours ago, grandadbob said:

You really really couldn't make it up!  I've just had a text and an email from EE telling me my equipment is on the way!!!

😁😂🤪🙃

 

Keep a spare Router (I had one go u/s once - and the broadband supplier wanted rather a lot for a replacement; I had to argue very hard to get a freebie) and flog the rest on the 'bay.

 

 

 

Edited May 22 by polybear

[Ian Abel]

Afternoon...

Chewsday and work is about the only thing to report from yesterday AND today.

Incomprehensible is the best way to describe the 18 column (of LARGE numbers data think 000,000'x to millions) report now requested from the on-high bean counters.

 

Nothing else to impart...

 

Lots of rain overnight, still raining at first light and 13c. Heading for 21c as the high, rain on and off.

 

Carry on.

[Coombe Barton]

... Still not got the car back, awaiting a part from Germany which is stuck in customs. Brexit! Pah! ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/05/21/covid-impact-on-children-higher-education-more-marking/

[Tony_S]

40 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Keep a spare Router (I had one go u/s once - and the broadband supplier wanted rather a lot for a replacement; I had to argue very hard to get a freebie) and frog the rest on the 'bay.

 

 

 

I don’t think you can do that with the current generation of BT and EE equipment. You don’t actually own it like earlier versions. They will ask for it back and charge for anything missing.