Early Risers.

[Ian Abel]

POETS - since I'm recovering from the lurgy and not worked all week, it's not in effect.

 

Yesterday continued the same old schedule, managed to remain upright at least and the dizziness is getting better. 

Trevor made us some chili and did some shopping for us dropping both off early evening and we enjoyed watching the WNBA final game 1 which was a nail biter.

At least "we" won.

 

In keeping with some posts, whilst I'm not venturing out - last day of isolation is today (hooray!!), I can share some autumnal treescape from my office window.

 

also note the white "spot" in the picture, we have a white squirrel frequenting our neighborhood.

 

Starting to feel somewhat better "I think", but will expect the weekend to be slow.

 

Another perfect weather day, 9c and sunny to start, 22c the forecast high.

 

Hope the weekend starts well for all...

[Andy Hayter]

5 hours ago, BSW01 said:

 

The Trafford Centre was also full of people trying their best to stop me catching up. There seemed to be lots of people who clearly had mobility issues, walking sticks, crutches or strollers, who insisted on standing in the centre of an aisle. When I asked them politely, if I could pass, just gave me the look of, can’t you see I’m disabled? I was very tempted to say “yes I can, but does that give you the right to block access to everyone else?” but instead I just smiled and said thank you. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve no objection to the disabled having access like everyone else, but why do they think they have the right stop others from having the same? I think that could be a rant, sorry. 
 

 

 

I feel that pain but here it is not so much disabled folk that is the issue.  During the holiday period it is just about everyone!  but mainly tourists and second home owners.  This reaches a peak on market days.

 

I did try and devise a game where points would be scored for lack of consideration but could not  work out the optimum points level.

Scoring actions - possibly in roughly ascending order.

 

Wandering apparently aimlessly down the road and oblivious to traffic - that's a road that is not already shut and claimed for the market activities.  Extra points gained as the group size increases.

Abandoning your vehicle at the edge of the market, with hazard lights on and blocking the free flow of traffic.  I know it was supposed to be 2 minutes but it is holiday market day and it is going to to take at least 5 minutes to get to your target, then a 10 minute queue then 5 minutes back.  Meanwhile traffic backs up in both directions.  Points scored would depend on the distance from a free car park and escalate the closer the abandonment.  

Walking - better said sauntering - down the aisles of the market as a group side by side.  Extra points awarded as the group size expands upwards from 4.  Groups of 6 and upward will effectively block traffic in both directions.

Said group meeting a similar group coming in the opposite direction.  Triple points if anyone in one group knows someone from the other group.  This will induce a delay while all members of one group are introduced to all members of the other.  Points doubled again if they all know one another since this will involve cheek kissing between all members of both groups - 21 sets of cheek kissing if 2 groups of 6 meet .

Double points again if this can be at the intersection of north south and east west aisle since this will cause gridlock throughout the market.  

 

Edit:  I got the the cheek kissing sum wrong.  it should be 36

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Andy Hayter

[Barry O]

And there was me thinking LEO was a lion on children's TV long, long time ago....Pah!

 

Baz

[45156]

Evening All

 

I had a fall last week - tripped over the fireside mat while going to put a log on the stove.  Nothing broken, but I hurt all down my left side, and my foot is badly bruised, so I am having trouble walking.  I had said a few times to 30747 that it was rucking up quite frequently and badly, but she would not move it - She has now.  It's in the loft where it can stay.

 

Did eventually decide to binge watch Night Sleeper on the I player - utterly inaccuarate, but had to watch it anyway - but you know that the railway realism is going to be nil when in the first episode the junction of the Caley and GSW at Gretna is depicted as a level crossing with an oil tanker train stretched right across and as far as I could see, no actual Junction - apologies if this has already been mentioned.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[Coombe Barton]

... Material for Medieval re-enactors on the fish counter at Sainsbury’s ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/10/11/postcards-from-home-2024-44-climate-universities-and-horizon/

[polybear]

5 hours ago, BSW01 said:

The Trafford Centre was also full of people trying their best to stop me catching up. There seemed to be lots of people who clearly had mobility issues, walking sticks, crutches or strollers, who insisted on standing in the centre of an aisle.

 

Reminds me of many Muddle R*ailway Exhibitions - though the guilty parties are quite often able-bodied...

 

12 minutes ago, 45156 said:

I had said a few times to 30747 that it was rucking up quite frequently and badly................

 

You seem to have a spelling error there.....

[BoD]

Evening all.

 

I had my Covid and flu jabs today.  
 

They asked if I wanted one in each arm I thought “Nah, if it’s  going to bu$$er things up it may as well bu$$er one arm doubly as two arms singly”.  Always was a bit of a philosopher me.  

 

The arm is a bit sore but then that was the arm I had physio to treat restricted movement/pain earlier in the year and whilst it’s a lot better it is still a bit restricted and sore,  so no great loss.  I’ve also got mild cold symptoms - woolly head, sniffles, a few aches and pains - that weren’t there this morning.  As long as it gets no worse I’ll be happy.  

 

Now remind me again, what is it I have a wee drink of when I have a cold….

[Darlington_Shed]

8 minutes ago, BoD said:

what is it I have a wee drink of when I have a cold

 

Large scotch, spoonful of honey, squeeze of lemon, hot water as required. Or forget everything after 'scotch'. Repeat as required.

[Tony_S]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

And there was me thinking LEO was a lion on children's TV long, long time ago....Pah!

 

Baz

I remember Lenny the Lion

 

 

[Tony_S]

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

I notice that you need stronger UV protection in Kiwiland otherwise your skin can burn very quickly.

 

Baz

We had just emerged from the Australian and New Zealand garden into the dry garden at Hyde Hall this afternoon. I think it is the altitude here that gives such blue skies. 


It wasn’t far to the cafe for a cup of tea. 
Tony

Edited 2 hours ago by Tony_S

[PupCam]

2 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

 

also note the white "spot" in the picture, we have a white squirrel frequenting our neighborhood.

 

We've got black ones round these parts.    It's just like old televisions in the squirrel world ....

 

15 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I remember Lenny the Lion

 

 

 

I'd forgotten.  I rather wish it had stayed that way/

 

ION

 

As it was a lovely if nippy evening last night I thought I'd have a crack at some wide-field astrophotography.    Mainly because a small CCTV camera lens screwed onto the astro-camera and mounted on the tripod/equatorial mount is way lighter than the telescope to drag into the garden.        I managed some total exposure times of around 20 minutes and up to a 1000+ frames.    Sadly I haven't been able to make anything half decent out of the data.    Maybe there's nothing in the data to be half decent?    I'll keep playing.    

 

It was also, of course, a grand opportunity to finally witness the aurora for myself.     With my colour-challanged Mk 1 eyeballs I perhaps didn't get the full benefit but I did see it and it got better as the night went on.    I note today that there's some excellent photographs of our church on the hill with some spectacular sky backgrounds on Faceache.     The main problem with optical astronomy (apart from the potential for a very large hole in the bank balance) is that it generally has to be done at night.    I felt OK at 2:00am after I'd packed the gear away.  The trouble was that by the time I was in bed my mind was still extremely active (how unusual!) which as we all know is not conducive for getting to sleep and I couldn't.   The net result of course was that I've been kn*ck*d all day.   I think a very early night beckons!

 

Probably night awl

 

 

 

[polybear]

2 hours ago, BoD said:

Evening all.

 

I had my Covid and flu jabs today.  

 

Bear has a private wooflu jab tomorrow - bye bye half a Deltic....😢

Fortunately the flu jab in a week is a freebie 😀

 

Today was taken up by ironing 😡 and various general dross then meeting up with two of the muddle engineering group guys for din dins at our regular pub nearby - sadly Buddy No. 3 phoned earlier today to report he's got the Flu' (just a few days before he's due for the jab......) so couldn't attend.  One of the Buddies was a lot happier than previously - he's resolved a work issue to his satisfaction (involving signing a NDA - so he couldn't discuss it) and as a consequence is now retired/"on a sabbatical".

 

The last couple of weeks have been "eventful" for Bear - involving a scan ("results in about a week, Mr. Bear"). So when the Doc gets onto Mr. Bear 18 hours later to report there were some "issues" it kinda gets interesting....

I was then told I'd be getting an appointment to see a Consultant - and true to their word one arrived from a nearby Private Hospital a couple of hours later.....for the end of fuggin' January.....

Well Buggerthat, thinks Bear - I'd rather not be danglin' for four months, so out came the flexible friend and a private consultation arrived at the very same private hospital - meaning Bear waved bye bye to a Noisy Deltic 😭😭.  And the waiting list for such an appointment?  Well it was a case of "which day next week would Mr. Bear like, and at what time?".

 

That was yesterday - and in fairness it was money well spent (at that price it bluddy well should be too....).  Fortunately the issue shouldn't be after all - a few changes to sweeties and hopefully all will be resolved (or at least improved).  Time will tell....

 

Incidentally, a noisy Deltic buys you around 20 minutes....ouch.

 

ION.....

 

New Steam Iron (thirty quid) arrived earlier this week.....so identical Steam iron (forty five quid....) that arrived last week went back today....and no postie charges either way.

If The Big River thinks it can play games like that with Bear then it's very much mistaken.....😁

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by polybear

[New Haven Neil]

Where did the day go, then?

 

Up early ish, prep bike, go out with Old Farts, ride, eat, ride, drink (coffee), talk, talk some more, ride home, do some jobs on project bike, take Mrs NHN for flu jab, eat Chinese sitty-in at Chinese friend's sitty-in cafe, talk, go home, light fire, expire in front of it for an hour!

 

End of day.  This retirement lark is so tiring and busy.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Collected my new reading glasses this afternoon, two pairs one to use indoors and one for when I'm out and about. Oddly enough its only about three years since the prescription last changed on my reading glasses but my distance glasses have not changed for six years. As the opticians is within Tess Coes I stocked up for the weekend. Unfortunately my favourite chips (chunky and made from real potatoes with the skins on) are no longer available, having been replaced by something with a coating of something called piri piri, probably chemically manufactured.

[Winslow Boy]

3 hours ago, 45156 said:

Evening All

 

I had a fall last week - tripped over the fireside mat while going to put a log on the stove.  Nothing broken, but I hurt all down my left side, and my foot is badly bruised, so I am having trouble walking.  I had said a few times to 30747 that it was rucking up quite frequently and badly, but she would not move it - She has now.  It's in the loft where it can stay.

 

Did eventually decide to binge watch Night Sleeper on the I player - utterly inaccuarate, but had to watch it anyway - but you know that the railway realism is going to be nil when in the first episode the junction of the Caley and GSW at Gretna is depicted as a level crossing with an oil tanker train stretched right across and as far as I could see, no actual Junction - apologies if this has already been mentioned.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

I'd get a compo claim in if I were you before the 'evidence' disappears if I were you. Oops too late.

[Tony_S]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

Swap the Pumpkin for Pineapple and you could be onto a winner...

Didn’t see any pineapples today. The little orange pumpkins are “Baby Bear” variety .

Edited 1 hour ago by Tony_S

[Winslow Boy]

31 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Where did the day go, then?

 

Up early ish, prep bike, go out with Old Farts, ride, eat, ride, drink (coffee), talk, talk some more, ride home, do some jobs on project bike, take Mrs NHN for flu jab, eat Chinese sitty-in at Chinese friend's sitty-in cafe, talk, go home, light fire, expire in front of it for an hour!

 

End of day.  This retirement lark is so tiring and busy.

You need to practice more. Once you've got the hang of it you'll fly through it.

[Barry O]

Nice meal out tonight

 

The 20" pizzas were hugebut very tasty. Her indoors had a half whith was "parma". Me, i had a seafood half.. excellent...

 

time for sleep!

 

baz

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Barry O
Spullung

[TheQ]

Just got the letter from the NHS, apply to GP for the flu jab, to the NHS website for wooflu jab.

I have a noticeably sore throat, and I don't think it's the normal Friday talking to the visitors one.

 

Evening Awl,

Museum went well if fairly quiet, unfortunately I got to talk to a full blown conspiracy theorist , poo tin is wonderful, Biden isn't, this man in the internet says.. I was half expecting the red cap to come out  and him start shouting for trump.. 

Luckily I got rescued by other guests wanting the full tour round the history room.

Before visitors arrived I got a fair amount done on the diorama , one of those days where it's appearance make a big step forward. Was getting very cold in the museum definitely chilly outside.

 

The chippy is closed for a fortnight while the owners take holiday, so it was off to the Chinese on the way to the MRC.

 

The MRC too went well, got a bit more done than planned.

Definitely chillier out side 100% clear welkin, thousands of stars. Forecast 6C actual 5C.

 

 

Muggachoccy gone, goodnight Awl.

 

[PupCam]

11 minutes ago, Barry O said:

The 20" pizzas were huge

 

What, sort of 20" sort of huge?    

 

It's not how big it is its what you ......

 

Where's my coat?

 

 

[Gwiwer]

Further improvements - albeit slow and tempered with plenty of sleep - saw me reaching the café (250m from home) and collecting Indian thali for tea tonight. 
 

My antibiotic-filled system saw fit to object to even mildly spicy food though after a very uncomfortable hour it was persuaded to settle with the application of kefir. And more of the Indian nosh was then enjoyed. 
 

That’s easily the farthest I have been from bed in nine days. Factor in the 20-minute wait for service (no bookings - you join the queue) and it was quite the excursion 

 

Dr SWMBO has been looking for a new lounge chair and found one at the large Swedish meatball warehouse. It arrived today mercifully not requiring every last piece to be fitted together. It was a simple five-step assembly and we are now happy with the latest acquisition. Which also means we can seat at least five in comfort in the lounge; six when three share the sofa. 
 

A gentle weekend should lie ahead. Still a long way to go to fully recover. But getting there. 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

The last couple of weeks have been "eventful" for Bear - involving a scan ("results in about a week, Mr. Bear"). So when the Doc gets onto Mr. Bear 18 hours later to report there were some "issues" it kinda gets interesting....

I was then told I'd be getting an appointment to see a Consultant - and true to their word one arrived from a nearby Private Hospital a couple of hours later.....for the end of fuggin' January.....

Well Buggerthat, thinks Bear - I'd rather not be danglin' for four months, so out came the flexible friend and a private consultation arrived at the very same private hospital - meaning Bear waved bye bye to a Noisy Deltic 😭😭.  And the waiting list for such an appointment?  Well it was a case of "which day next week would Mr. Bear like, and at what time?".

 

That’s standard of care in Switzerland and I don’t even have to pull out “my flexible friend“ it’s all covered by the monthly fee to the Krankenkasse. Once, fearing the resurgence of a very serious problem, I called my GP in the morning and saw him at the same afternoon. I can’t see that happening in the UK – unless you go to A&E!

 

What’s interesting is that if I include what I pay each month for the Krankenkasse into my overall tax burden, then it is roughly similar to what I would pay in tax in the UK (the myth about Switzerland being a low tax country is not quite true - although I do have a somewhat smaller overall tax burden), and one of the many advantages of the Bismarck system (of which the Krankenkasse is one type) is that all the money raised by that system goes directly into the healthcare system and is not at the mercy of either the Swiss equivalent of the Treasury or is under control of the politicians.

 

Given that everyone in Switzerland has to have - by law - healthcare coverage via a Krankenkasse, It does mean that the system works as the NHS was originally intended to work: everyone pays in and everyone receives treatment according to need, when they need it. Except that with the Swiss system you do have the option of paying more into your own health insurance plan in order to get extras (private room, spa and wellness weeks etc) that you don’t get with standard coverage* although “standard coverage“ will provide you the medical treatment that you need (and to an incredibly high standard).

 

One final and philosophically interesting point: as healthcare in Switzerland is a mixture of (a few) university teaching hospitals and (many) “private“ healthcare providers (Gasp! Shock! Horror!) providing someone with a CT scan or a 24 hour monitor is considered income and therefore very much desirable, whereas in the NHS each test/exam is an expenditure… 

 

* One thing that is not covered by “standard coverage“ are some types of plastic surgery - like breast augmentation or rhinoplasty. For those you will have to save up for (and people do).

 

Edited 1 minute ago by iL Dottore
Text added

[BSW01]

Goodnight everyone