Early Risers.

[polybear]

12 minutes ago, Grizz said:

Sage council as ever @iL Dottore…..

 

Although in my defence…..
 

The iPad damage was sustained very shortly after it momentarily defied gravity. It became airborne during my beer and whisky assisted celebration of Morten Hjulmand‘s superb goal. Unfortunately having failed to successfully become the first gravity defying iPad, it landed on its edge on the solid oak kitchen floor. After which viewing anything on the aforementioned iPad looks like peering at it through a spiders web. 

 

Try the 'bay for a replacement screen (not a recommendation, by the way - as Bear has never tried it).

[Erichill16]

Looks like I’ve got my weekend sorted. 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Here in England’s northwest corner, the sun is shining and the skies are blue! So the plan for today is to go to RHS Bridgewater for a walk round the gardens and woods. However, that will be after I’ve been to the butchers for the weekly meat rations. Given the weather, it should be a very pleasant walk indeed. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian

[PhilJ W]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

That's the big problem for many - is it, or isn't it?  And if it is, then is it a good or a bad UPF?

Bring on compulsory UPF Traffic Lights on all packaging (as well as making the existing traffic light system for fat, sugar, calories, salt etc. on the front COMPULSORY.

And set a parameter on what is rated on the traffic light system. None of 20% salt or sugar getting a 'green' rating as I have seen on some packages.

[PhilJ W]

59 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

For those of you grumbling about the cost of the latest Hornby/Bachmann/Dapol/Heljan offering:

 

https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/luxury/article/train-sets-times-luxury-vqtlbmqkc?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Luxury 2024 June 21&utm_term=audience_LUXURY

 

The age of the £100k train set

Train sets used to be either for the very young or the very old, but the new high-end kit — including smoke machines, tiny instrument panels and bespoke livery options — has widened their appeal

I like the bit at the end about needing planning permission for a live steam garden railway. "You don't need planning permission for a layout on the dining room table." Don't you? but you need permission from SWMBO which is far more difficult than dealing with any planning authority.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Things are getting better, only a couple of grumbles last night from Arthur Itis and I have had very few calls from bladder control over the last month or two. Pollen count is very high again so I won't be venturing out today but there's plenty to do indoors.

[iL Dottore]

I have been downsizing my extensive loco collection and have been checking prices of used items at various retailer's sites. The prices are revealing, for example a Hornby 72XX will sell - used - for between £115 and  £140.

I then saw an eBay ad for a £25 Hornby 72XX

 

Upon investigation it turns out it was for the box only!!!

 

Twenty-five quid for a box? Are they're having a larf?

 

Apparently not. It seems that in the world of model collecting it is not unknown for people to buy good condition items without boxes (like a Hornby loco) for - say - £60, then go out and buy the box for it - say - another £25; put the two together and sell it on for a price far in excess of what the two items combined cost.

 

And if you want to spend silly money, start collecting "mint, boxed and never used" items. For example the Corgi 354 Military Ambulance.Rare version with Red Cross TRANSFERS. Very, very near mint/boxed (wear), which went for £550 back in 2015 (so probably would sell for twice that at auction nowadays).

[Hroth]

Here the sun is shining, but there is more than a hint of clouds hanging about.  According to the BBC weather app this will go away by mid-day, but who trusts the BBC weather app?

 

ION

 

A parcel arrived this morning from RoS containing a Mickey Mouse, which scurries in a most satisfactory manner!

 

Edited June 21 by Hroth
spelin

[southern42]

15 hours ago, Grizz said:

Pete you’ve just reminded me….by the way have you seen the summer? We seem to have lost it…

 

Yesterday evening videoing sunset...

Notice the windproof jacket...and huddled up to keep warm!

 

 

As the sun dips down below the bank of cloud...

 

which is heading this way. This was from my spot on the downhill - looward - side out of the wind.

 

Looking back up the hill.

 

Unfortunately, no gorgeous red sunset to follow as earlier in the week. I guess you can't have everything!

[The White Rabbit]

3 hours ago, polybear said:

... Taking the bread bit as an example, buying a UPF-free version of that isn't as easy as you might think - Bear's recent query to a local Bakery that Bear thought must be making & selling UPF free bread proved not to be the case, despite their prices.

Make it myself?  Well I s'pose I could......but then it does start to become more time-consuming (ok if you actually enjoy doing that kinda stuff) and would presumably need doing several times a week as the bread wouldn't store for very many days. 

 

We do have a bread making thread in Wheeltappers - have you had a look? Yes, some methods are the mix by hand and they can take a while. (And then twice as long to clean your hands!) But with [electric] breadmakers, the mixing and baking can be done automatically, depending what make/model you buy and what setting you put it on.

 

Obviously you need to check the contents of the ingredients, especially if purchasing ready made bread mixes but if you find some you like and which don't contain loads of UPF, it's not that much work. Open hatch, pour in flour etc., add water and or oil, close lid, press start button and you're away. It beeps a bit later (nearly two hours for ours), extract loaf, leave to cool. Wash bread machine's 'innards' and put away for next time. Consume bread ... 

 

 For a full loaf, especially in the summer and for single or even double households, it's probably best to divide a loaf and freeze some of it. Otherwise you can end up with a surfeit of bread/toast. Or get lent on to do bread pudding or bread and butter pudding by fans of certain desserts... or is that just Rabbit? 🤔 

[The White Rabbit]

12 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

... Upon investigation it turns out it was for the box only!!!

 

Twenty-five quid for a box? Are they're having a larf?

 

Apparently not. ...

 

When researching for prices for second-hand Lego (an attempt at a childhood toys clear-out) I saw several listings for empty boxes at £70-80! Not for me... 

[Hroth]

Speaking of fodder, I decided to try a packet of vegan no-sossige rolls, just so I can criticise such stuff from a morally valid standpoint.

 

Let me start by saying that the long and complex ingredients list would horrify @iL Dottore and that the description of the fake sausage, "seasoned soya protein concentrate" should be a warning to potential consumers, as is the mostly orange and red traffic light strip on the front.

 

I'll give a two word review of the contents "Total Carp!".

 

ION

 

About ebay pricing, descriptions, etc, have a look at the Ebay Madness topic!

 

 

Edited June 21 by Hroth
ION

[polybear]

44 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Upon investigation it turns out it was for the box only!!!

 

Twenty-five quid for a box? Are they're having a larf?

 

Bear has sold empty boxes - for seven or eight quid IIRC; they were for recent-ish Corgi Models.  I was happy, the buyer was happy - and it kept it all out of Landfill.  Tick.

 

44 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

And if you want to spend silly money, start collecting "mint, boxed and never used" items. For example the Corgi 354 Military Ambulance.Rare version with Red Cross TRANSFERS. Very, very near mint/boxed (wear), which went for £550 back in 2015 (so probably would sell for twice that at auction nowadays).

 

Not always - the "collecting" environment can be a very fickle thing; prices shoot up then all of a sudden the bottom falls out of the market.

 

ION....

 

Ears lowered, drug dealer visited, washing done and about to be dangled.  Tick.

 

And finally.....

 

I see that the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Plod has been booted out (and barred) for Gross Misconduct - for being a ********* 

Amongst his stunts were wearing a Falklands Medal - even though he was only 15 at the time; he claimed his older brother gave it to him - but it was only applied for in Oct 2023 and was proven to be a fake anyway.

 

Does he lose his Plod Pension?  He bluddy well should.

 

Right, time to dangle....

 

BG

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

And set a parameter on what is rated on the traffic light system. None of 20% salt or sugar getting a 'green' rating as I have seen on some packages.

Further thoughts on the traffic light system 0-5% green. 6-10% amber and 11% and above red.

[PhilJ W]

3 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Bear has sold empty boxes - for seven or eight quid IIRC; they were for recent-ish Corgi Models.  I was happy, the buyer was happy - and it kept it all out of Landfill.  Tick.

 

 

Not always - the "collecting" environment can be a very fickle thing; prices shoot up then all of a sudden the bottom falls out of the market.

 

ION....

 

Ears lowered, drug dealer visited, washing done and about to be dangled.  Tick.

 

And finally.....

 

I see that the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Plod has been booted out (and barred) for Gross Misconduct - for being a ********* 

Amongst his stunts were wearing a Falklands Medal - even though he was only 15 at the time; he claimed his older brother gave it to him - but it was only applied for in Oct 2023 and was proven to be a fake anyway.

 

Does he lose his Plod Pension?  He bluddy well should.

 

Right, time to dangle....

 

BG

How did he get to be Chief Constable in the first place?

[BoD]

I knew it would be a bright sunny day today

No, I'm not a meteorologist, I've just had the drops put in to dilate my pupils.  Curdy turses.

[polybear]

35 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

How did he get to be Chief Constable in the first place?

 

Lied thru' his teeth at his interview apparently (according to the Beeb Radio News):

 

"Nick Adderley faced allegations he had lied about reaching the rank of lieutenant in the military and that he was a military negotiator in Haiti in the 1980s."

 

The thing I find really scary is the Interview Panel obviously didn't conduct basic checks to see if his bullsh1t was true or not.

 

edit:  He was suspended in October last year - but still paid £176.55K p.a. since then.....🤬 - that should be demanded back for a start.

Edited June 21 by polybear

[PhilJ W]

19 minutes ago, polybear said:

He was suspended in October last year - but still paid £176.55K p.a. since then.....🤬 - that should be demanded back for a start.

Not absolutely certain but I think he may have to.

[jjb1970]

I am safely ensconced in the departure gate for my flight to Bangkok, the chaos leaving was worse than the chaos arriving. The queue for passport control for the gates serving non-EU destinations stretched back through the terminal. Fortunately I used the express lane for security as the regular line for that stretched into the distance too. A lady came along the line asking for passengers to Bangkok and took us to the E gates where the line for passport control was shorter, then walk back to the C gates. It took about70 minutes even with the short cut, God knows how long those in the original line will take.

 

No doubt the dreaded 'B' word will be brought up. Unfortunately the EU passport line was almost but not quite as long to leave the EU. There's also a bigger point that most of the world is not in the EU, are non-EU citizens fair game for appalling service? I know Heathrow has its moments but I have never been as badly served at Heathrow as at FRA and CPH in this round of travel.

 

Apparently there are too many flights, which is a bit lame as it'shardly an unforeseeablecircumstance. I don't blame the staff on duty who are doing their best in trying circumstances but whoever is running the place needs a kick up the backside.

 

Which is a shame as Malmo was lovely. I like Sweden, a very underrated country. I find Swedish people tend to be very polite and well mannered, nice people.  Malmo is a great place.

[monkeysarefun]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

nd if you want to spend silly money, start collecting "mint, boxed and never used" items. For example the Corgi 354 Military Ambulance.Rare version with Red Cross TRANSFERS. Very, very near mint/boxed (wear), which went for £550 back in 2015 (so probably would sell for twice that at auction nowadays).

 

 

An actual Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase 3 will cost you close to £500,000 equivalent, it is the most desirable of the 60's and 70's Australian muscle cars. Similarly the Biante  1/18th scale version is also a desirable collectible , especially the rare "twin mirror" model.  The model was initially released with a rear view mirror on the passengers side as well as the drivers, but it was pointed out to the manufacturers that it shouldn't be there because the original didn't have one. So the mistake was fixed early on in the production run but some got out there and now  fetch big prices.  (£1850 in this case...)

 

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/204769611270?chn=ps&_ul=AU&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1bkjq0KkrRRm-CHCwigIUBg8&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=204769611270&targetid=1598469861518&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9071950&poi=9071696&campaignid=21179485915&mkgroupid=160762565013&rlsatarget=pla-1598469861518&abcId=9404057&merchantid=7364522&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwydSzBhBOEiwAj0XN4DULUHfDtV7bISkY-n_3AWo1jXw3iBZs0YMe4woiSW5ecrHEyuMmhBoCFLwQAvD_BwE

 

Edited June 21 by monkeysarefun

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Not always - the "collecting" environment can be a very fickle thing; prices shoot up then all of a sudden the bottom falls out of the market.

 

 

 

Elvis memorabilia collectors have recently discovered this. AS Elvis fans die off, there are less and less people who regard him in the same way and are willing to spend big money on collectibles. Few people who were born after he died have a  personal connection with him and his music so many who were banking on selling their Elvis stuff to fund their retirement are discovering that the buyers just aren't there any more.

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Further thoughts on the traffic light system 0-5% green. 6-10% amber and 11% and above red.

 

 

The sellers of actual packets of salt and sugar would probably cry Unfair.

 

 

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

How did he get to be Chief Constable in the first place?

 

 

Maybe he bought a certificate on Ebay.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Don't bother with the football, or Engerland at any rate. For real drama, twists, turns and entertainment, watch the PO Inquiry.

What strikes me is that the leaders of the Post Office, Fujitsu, the legal firms they used, and the union bosses, are indeed all identical.

They carefully follow the party line; be it contracts to the letter (Fujitsu), the structured rule book (CWU and NFSP unions) or saving the "brand" and their backs (Post Office).

None seem to have any inclination to be INQUISITIVE about what was happening in the organisation they led (PO), the system they provided (Fuj) or the members they represent CWU/NFSP).

 

 

[Winslow Boy]

52 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

Don't bother with the football, or Engerland at any rate. For real drama, twists, turns and entertainment, watch the PO Inquiry.

What strikes me is that the leaders of the Post Office, Fujitsu, the legal firms they used, and the union bosses, are indeed all identical.

They carefully follow the party line; be it contracts to the letter (Fujitsu), the structured rule book (CWU and NFSP unions) or saving the "brand" and their backs (Post Office).

None seem to have any inclination to be INQUISITIVE about what was happening in the organisation they led (PO), the system they provided (Fuj) or the members they represent CWU/NFSP).

 

 

It's called We like the money and have a mortgage to pay so who cares if we break the law. It is becoming, if not already SOP, embedded in most organisations I'm afraid. Definitely a them and us.

[Coombe Barton]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

Maybe he bought a certificate on Ebay.

Former colleague  used to collect false degree certificates of this nature - a criminology lecturer specialising in fraud using examples of how easy it was.

 

At the last count he had eight false doctorates as well as his own genuine one.