Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

2 minutes ago, The Lurker said:

It seems Tony has probably had a worse experience with one Ocado delivery than we have had with them in the entire 13 and a bit years we have been using them - we started when Mrs Lurker was heavily pregnant and not very well with Younger Lurker. The emotions were really playing havoc because I remember her gushing "it's transformed my life" after the second delivery! I don't think we have ever had a delivery cancelled and only one has been so late that it had to be rearranged for later in the day - they'd rung re a problem in the depot. Maybe we have just been lucky.

I know they deliver regularly round here as the people over the road have an Ocado and a Waitrose delivery every week. I suspect a glitch between their system and the bank system. I hope it goes through as Ocado sell Irish black pudding and Waitrose don’t. As Ocado stuff comes from a big warehouse rather than a local store there is also a lot of stuff for Asian cooking just not available in Southend. 

[simontaylor484]

Afternoon all

Busy morning taken eldest for his lunch out and then his covid jab we now waiting to pick youngest up from school.

 

Tools 

I have a cheap sander I bought from Toolstation 4 years ago its good. I had a black and decker sander by the sheets needed were too expensive. I just buy Wickes own rolled sandpaper its actually Liberty Green paper it says so on the reverse side.

I bought some Forstner bits from lidl I have to use them in my SDS drill with keyed chuck otherwise you could ride bare ar5ed to London on them. 

I have some One handed clamps from aldi and they are really good decent weight and do stay put.

I have a Argos/Homebase table saw I got half price its ok I had to replace the fence with some aluminium angle and use deep throat clamps with it.

My router is an Argos "nasty" I bought it to see how i got on with it its ok but i use quality cutting bits with it.

Biscuit jointer that's a B&q own brand no problems.

Sliding mitre saw Wickes own brand I think they are Draper again no problems 

 

Plunge saw and tracks B&q own brand no problems 

 

Jigsaw Bosch SDS takes both types of shank of blades 

 

I think starting out with the cheaper tools is ok you find out how to use them and the limitations to them.

It also depends how often you use them if you use all the time they ain't going to last as well as the premium brands but do you pay eg £300 for a top notch Trend router to use occasionally or the £60 Argos but use proprietary cutters 

[iL Dottore]

25 minutes ago, chrisf said:

I would be horrified to find that tinned anchovies were not available :-)

 

Chris

They are absolutely indispensable if you are cooking Spaghetti all Puttanesca (as are the olives and tomatoes).

 

It knocks spag-bol into a cocked hat! (see: https://www.giallozafferano.com/recipes/spaghetti-puttanesca-tomato-anchovy-olive-and-garlic-spaghetti.html or https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/recipes/spaghetti-alla-puttanesca-recipe).

 

Very more-ish

[iL Dottore]

9 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

....or the £60 Argos but use proprietary cutters 

I think you've put your finger on it - the tool is only as good as the cutting blades or bits. I would assume even a top-of-the-line Makita would struggle with a "cheap and nasty" blade/bit.

 

I'm beginning to see a way forward - buy the cheap tool but purchase high quality blades and bits

[PhilJ W]

43 minutes ago, The Lurker said:

It seems Tony has probably had a worse experience with one Ocado delivery than we have had with them in the entire 13 and a bit years we have been using them - we started when Mrs Lurker was heavily pregnant and not very well with Younger Lurker. The emotions were really playing havoc because I remember her gushing "it's transformed my life" after the second delivery! I don't think we have ever had a delivery cancelled and only one has been so late that it had to be rearranged for later in the day - they'd rung re a problem in the depot. Maybe we have just been lucky.

I assume you are referring to the Ocado delivery and not the baby.

[PhilJ W]

21 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

They are absolutely indispensable if you are cooking Spaghetti all Puttanesca (as are the olives and tomatoes).

 

It knocks spag-bol into a cocked hat! (see: https://www.giallozafferano.com/recipes/spaghetti-puttanesca-tomato-anchovy-olive-and-garlic-spaghetti.html or https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/recipes/spaghetti-alla-puttanesca-recipe).

 

Very more-ish

I'd never tried olives until I went to Greece for a holiday. There the black olives were fresh and as big as plums, absolutely delicious. Unfortunately the ones you get here in the UK aren't a patch on the Greek ones.

[Pacific231G]

6 hours ago, AndrewC said:

All part of my cunning plan. By reversing the polarity of the neutron flow I am now able to captive breed them. (as seen  by Jr in the picture) I will soon have an army and be unstoppable. <insert maniacal laughter here> 

 

 

 

Ummm. How do you reverse the polarity of a neutron flow. Neutrons not having a charge and all that. Thinks: Dr. Evil has been thwarted again!

1 hour ago, chrisf said:

I would be horrified to find that tinned anchovies were not available :-)

 

Chris

Apart from my Friday fish and chips I'm not a great consumer of fish (I think it was the pervading smell of my Mum boiling rock salmon for the cat when I was a kid that put me off) but oily fish is very healthy so I have it in salads (or if I'm being less healthy add them to Pizzas) If I can find an ASDA or LIDL  bag to tease the Ealing petty bourgeoisie with I may have to go to Waitrose to restock but, especially with the current galloping level of Covid in the borough, I'm still trying to avoid shopping more than once a week.

To be fair, the tinned anchovies do go out of stock quite often even in normal times so, when they are available, I usually buy a load of them.

Not being able to get lemon juice and tissues is rather more serious.

Edited January 18, 2022 by Pacific231G

[Tony_S]

I don’t like olives but Aditi does so she eats them for me. 

[polybear]

"Bless me Father iD, but Bear has sinned....."

"What troubles you, my child, cub?"

"Well I went into the Co-op with the very best intentions of not buying ANY cake......"

"And?"

"Well all of a sudden I spotted four Puff Pastry Mince Pies in a box......and they were a mere ONE PENNY a box......"

 

In my defence I would like to point out that they had OODLES of them - and Bear only bought one box (yes, really)....as I already have a box in the cupboard....

I did happen to note they still had McVities Mince Pie Flavour Choccy Biccies marked up at 25p a pack - but they go thru' the till at 10p.  *Oops*.

In my defence I would like to point out that I've just tested my very first, despite having *some* packets in the cupboard for over a week now.  And yes, they really, really do taste of mince pies....

 

 

 

[Gwiwer]

17 minutes ago, polybear said:

"Bless me Father iD, but Bear has sinned....."

 

 

 

 

 

Bless Me Father .... from one of the most exciting live bands it has yet been my privilege to see.   Their studio recordings do no justice at all to their barnstorming live performances.

 

 

[Ian Abel]

Chewsday - last day before we head off to Arizona for two weeks holiday -  

 

Yesterday, rounded up some needed items with a trip to the shops and pharmacy.

Today, Jemma will be over later to pick up Whitney and go over feeding Bob etc., while we're gone.

She got back to Minneapolis around 6AM having flown the red-eye from LA, so had told us she'd go home first and get a few hours sleep rather than appear here that early

 

Working, though as they know I'm on vacation starting tomorrow I doubt they'll have anything for me to do, here's hoping!

Later, laundry, packing, frantic trips to get things we've forgotten?!?!?! Relax <phew>

 

A ONE DAY respite from our winter weather today, -12 first thing, sunny and a high of +3 expected. 

Overnight -21 then the next TWO DAYS highs of -12 and -17 - good job were out of here tomorrow morning

 

Carry on...

[AndrewC]

1 hour ago, Pacific231G said:

Ummm. How do you reverse the polarity of a neutron flow. Neutrons not having a charge and all that. Thinks: Dr. Evil has been thwarted again!

 

It is the classic Dr Who techno-babble that has been used since John Pertwee's day. It does work with Daleks and Kamados. 

[polybear]

Some people think they know best....

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/anti-vax-czech-folk-singer-dies-after-deliberately-catching-covid/ar-AASU3pj?ocid=msedgntp

 

Three cubs now left without a Momma Bear, thanks to this stupid ***************

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/bear-attacks-florida-woman-on-her-own-driveway/ar-AASTSPf?ocid=msedgntp

[simontaylor484]

In response to @iL Dottores comments about Japanese woodworking videos I thought I would share this with you

Its not my favourite one that has been removed these guys were making beams for a Shinto temple when they finished it was fantastic the wood almost looked buttery they used loads of different sized planes and saws but no screws nails or glue.

There is obviously no H&S in this video above it makes me cringe at times.

Add a couple of Japanese saws to the list Flavio mine came from Clas Ohlsons. Yup buying Japanese saws from a Danish shop in Doncaster you couldn't write it

[simontaylor484]

Just found this one 

 

The quality of the craftsman ship is fantastic it also shows what I meant about the timber a lot better than I could describe it 

 

[PupCam]

 Afternoon All!

 

20 hours ago, polybear said:

I seem to be "ok" for 1/8" Reamers - if only there was a use for them....

All things split chassis?  Still hasn't happened...

 

I love the juxtaposition of those two subjects - if Bear can't link them then all hope is lost!

 

 

11 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

The very best (like JSK koubou - a Japanese woodworker)

 

 

Beautiful workmanship but I can't help feeling a sense of "Early Etched Brass Kit Syndrome" looking at some of those  - You know, how absolutely everything was made from etched brass irrespective of the suitability of the material for the task.

 

9 hours ago, Barry O said:

In a UK clinical research trial the direct link between diabetes and increased heart disease has been broken. I know this as I have taken part in the trial.

 

Met forming loses its efficacious essence in some patients. In the more recent trials I have used liragutide (as a daily self injected dose) and empaglifozin (tablet).

 

Strangely enough I've recently been prescribed a diabetic drug (a  ...paglifozin) for my heart condition by the consultant.     I should add that yet another cardio consultation has just been cancelled postponed to an unknown date.  I hope there's no significance between the two statements or consequences!

 

7 hours ago, Mike Bellamy said:

Sorry to hear that - I thought the purpose of "Customer Services" was to be nice to customers and to try and give them what they want so that they are retained as customers - otherwise if you get things wrong too many times, your business won't have any customers.

 

No, no in my experience the last thing Customer Services want to do is deal wilt the smelly customers!

 

I also find the same applies between GPs and patients .......

 

4 hours ago, polybear said:

Bear can only think that he's been giving the Customer "too good a deal" - or agreeing that the Customer is actually right and the Company did it/got it wrong - thus costing the Company money when he corrects the failure.  Great for the customer, p1sses off the Boss.

 

Yes that's never going to go down well with The Management

 

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I think you've put your finger on it - the tool is only as good as the cutting blades or bits. I would assume even a top-of-the-line Makita would struggle with a "cheap and nasty" blade/bit.

 

That is not strictly true.     Cutting, forming, machining is a complete process the "tool" is a key but not the only part of that process.   If the machine is incapable of providing adequate power to turn/move the tool the cut will be "sub-optimal".   If the machine is not rigid enough allowing flexure of the tool from the correct relationship with the workpiece the cut will be "sub optimal" ........   If you have the very finest cutter but the tool is incapable of using it correctly or handling the loads it creates (because for example it is made from hard cheese Mazak or polythene ....) then you are wasting your time and your money.     

 

In Other News:

 

I've been investigating "The perplexing case of the droopy Mondog headlights".    Basically the headlamps were stuck pointing down and the head lamp level adjuster was inoperative making driving at night using said lights impossible.   

 

Fuses for drive motors OK?                                                                                                            - Check

Take light unit out, find appropriate connections for servo power and signal                      - Check

Jury rig power and control signal (0-10V dc) to light unit                                                           - Check

Does light unit servo function correctly?                                                                                      -  Check

Remove light switch from car and disassemble                                                                          - Check

Does "Height control" pot generate a change of resistance when moved?                            - Check

Is there continuity between light switch signal wire and signal wire in headlight loom?     - Check

Put everything back together, does it work?                                                                                - CHECK!

 

I can only assume that the signal wire connections were grubby and breaking and re-making them cleaned them!

Still the headlights go up and down now as they should so that's a result and at no cost.   Pleases Puppers!

 

The postman delivered the replacement washing machine door hinge from EBay at lunchtime.        Said item was fitted this afternoon and the washing machine has been in full swing catching up with the backlog of washing.

 

Last night was the first full-moon of the year and a nice clear, if nippy, evening.    I thought some astronomy was in order in between the usual "Monday evening phone calls".   Well, it was like "Carry on Moon Watching"  only Sid James and Barbara Windsor failed to turn up.        Everything that could go wrong did go wrong and the final nail in the coffin lid was that when I did finally get it all setup, found the moon, focused the image and then mounted the camera the camera battery was very close to flat!   In my rush to try and get sufficient images to make a composite image of the full disc before the battery finally died I missed a segment which I didn't discover until everything was packed away!   

 

Oh well, never mind.   They'll be other chances.

 

Alan

 

 

[Barry O]

@PupCam do you mean empaglifozin?

It would appear that I get giddy occasionally as taking them means I don't  need any Ramipril to keep my blood pressure down.. the two are doing a great job of getting my BP to less than the usual level  (144 by 76 typical.. currently mine is 120 by 62).

 

Baz

[simontaylor484]

The Saw Doctors 

 

I have somewhat hazy memories due to a large intake of Guinness of banging a tin beer tray along with a band doing a cover of I'll be on my way in O Neill's in Sheffield.

 

[Coombe Barton]

3 hours ago, Pacific231G said:

Ummm. How do you reverse the polarity of a neutron flow. Neutrons not having a charge and all that. Thinks: Dr. Evil has been thwarted again!

Two neutrons walking down the street.

 

One says to the other, "You look a bit glum."

 

Other one says, "Yeah, I think I've lost an electron."

 

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive."



 

Edited January 18, 2022 by Coombe Barton

[Compound2632]

25 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

Two neutrons walking down the street.

 

One says to the other, "You look a bit glum."

 

Other one says, "Yeah, I think I've lost an electron."

 

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive."

 

Undergone beta decay to become a proton. It's overlooked the neutrino given out too.

 

The joke is usually told of atoms, which works rather better, sine the neutron doesn't "have" an electron before it undergoes the decay.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Liver and bacon (with onions of course) for dinner tonight. But not yet as lunch was a bit late. Now back to watching a You Tube film about the siege of Imphal. Of particular interest to me as my dad was there. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhvSVWLJCcQ

 

[simontaylor484]

I have added that to my ever growing watch later queue I then cast to the tv when there is nothing else on 

This is a good one but very disturbing on a similar subject

 

I had to put on a couple of Terry Wogan reading the Janet and John stories afterwards 

 

For the uninitiated 

 

[PupCam]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

@PupCam do you mean empaglifozin?

It would appear that I get giddy occasionally as taking them means I don't  need any Ramipril to keep my blood pressure down..

No I think it's a .....paglifozin but not "Em" - I can't recall off hand what it actually is (and I can never pronounce it even when it's sitting in front of me!) but presume it is of the same family or even the same drug with a different trade name.

 

I moved off of the Ramapril because it didn't agree with me.  I think Rampril is the first choice ........................... because it's the cheapest?

 

Alan

 

 

[PupCam]

5 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

I had to put on a couple of Terry Wogan reading the Janet and John stories afterwards 

 

For the uninitiated 

 

 

Absolute classic!   I've got a CD of those somewhere (although they are all on YT anyway these days)

 

[Tony_S]

15 minutes ago, PupCam said:

moved off of the Ramapril because it didn't agree with me.

Once the ramipril cough side effect stopped I haven’t had any problems with it, it does what it is supposed to though even on a half normal adult dose due to my slightly dodgy kidneys. The bisoprolol to slow heart rate down did cause noticeable effects every time the dose was increased but soon settled down. The heart failure nurses were very good and said there were plenty of alternatives to try if something didn’t suit me. 
Tony