Early Risers.

[Barry O]

No more rain for the moment but with cricket due in Manchester tomorrow I reckon it will be raining there so I may not be travelling!

 

As it is next on line meeting starts in 1.5hrs.. PAH!

 

Even though I am chairing teh meeting the old hands wil try to drag it on.. well we will see!

 

 

Baz

[simontaylor484]

Well I have taken the car for test sat in a cafe with the youngest having a latte 

 

It's rained here this morning which is rather welcome 

[iL Dottore]

Just back from "The House of Geek" - we tried out a brand new charger on my (almost) brand new business laptop. Nothing, nada - not even a charging light came on. Time for a Captain Cynical Fear-o-Gram to wend its way to the manufacturer...

 

I am so vexed* that words fail me - even those Anglo-Saxon ones you can't say around sensitive grown-ups

 

* British understatement

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, from a little late NHN, whose outside environment is windy, dry and 21c.

 

@iL Dottore iD said:  or is it because believing that they have “the truth“, and the rest of the sheeple don’t, makes them feel special and boosts their self esteem?

 

Spot on, Flavio, from my experience with my work mate ....errr colleague.

 

So today may bring the sale of the bike, I'm not really bothered one way or another but it doesn't get used and is in the way as we have one too many in the garage currently.  The guy asked to buy it, not the other way around, but I'm not sure he's ready for the culture shock of a 45 year old bike, his last bike was a new Triumph 900 adventure bike.   It looks better in those photos than it really is, but it is a very rare model, there are only 2 currently registered in the UK.

 

 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

The day started off quite dull and grey, it started to rain, well, more like drizzle, just before I took Sheila to her Zumba class. Once I’ve changed the water jug filter, I’ll head off to the Trafford Centre, this is a day early because tomorrow morning we are headed off to the large Swedish furniture store for some picture frames! 

 

This afternoon charlie is due to call round for his weekly model making session, so that’s me sorted for the afternoon. 

 

Back later. 

 

Brian

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Nice and comfortable this morning with a slight breeze but likely to warm up later. Off to have my ears lowered this afternoon but first a dip in the bath before it gets too hot.

[simontaylor484]

@BSW01 don't forget to sign up for Ikea family to get free hot drinks from the cafe.

 

Whilst your there can you pick me up a couple of Billy bookcases in white please 🤣

[The White Rabbit]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

..... That practice should be made illegal - batteries in laptops and mobile phones should be swappable at home by even the most inbred user without difficulty.  Chucking phones etc. cos' the battery has died is just nuts....

 

Of course conspiracy theorists would probably argue batteries are being made non-removable so 'they' can always track your location (or your device). The only sure way to avoid your device's location being known is to remove the battery, because even when the device is turned off it can still communicate with networks. So if security is critical, it's best practice to remove the battery after turning off. 

 

I'd guess commercial reasons of some sort are most likely but yes, it's still crazy. 

 

12 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

I suspect the tree combusted due to falling on 25kV lines......tends to spark up a bit.

 

12 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

The reason why it fell?

 

12 hours ago, polybear said:

 

It fainted in the heat....

 

Conspiracy theory no. 2: CC has trained a crack squad of beavers to chew through trees and telegraph poles at crucial locations to cause damage to key infrastructure. This was a field test ... 

 

Or, if you prefer, a bear had an itch on his back and had an over-exuberant scratch. Oops. 

[simontaylor484]

Me thinks @iL Dottore computer has been nobbled by the Chinese government in an effort to launch a cyber attack on Captain Cynical 

[simontaylor484]

In other news Vikingar the Volvo has passed Mot with no advisory

 

Strangely whilst we have been out its rained at home but not where we have been less than quarter of a mile away as the crow would fly.

 

Happen it is an invisible alien umbrella over the town centre hiding buildings built by Tartorians.

 

Now where dis I put my tin foil hat

[simontaylor484]

@chrisf I saw these in Wilkos 

 

[tigerburnie]

Morning, was summoned for a Shingles jab today, starting to look like a pin cushion here.................................................also filled up with petrol, £1.77/lt, nice to see the prices falling for a change.

[New Haven Neil]

And relax.

 

He bought it.  Loved it.  Must be bonkers.  Said it reminded him of a bike he had as a young 'un, the old draw can be strong.  Sorry, Bear.  I would have swapped it for that 750  😉

 

#NHN visits O Gauge websites....yum.

 

 

[DaveF]

 

I'm sure that those of you read my posts must think I live a quiet and boring life!  Well, it is quiet, but I don't always mention everything, especially the details of when I am out - I spend a lot of time watching and identifying the wildlife (plant and animal) which I see.  So to me it is not boring but fascinating.

 

 Yesterday morning I went to the beach and had a pleasant walk along the path through the Links and up on to the sand dunes to have a look at the beach and sea.  There were a lot of flowers including rest harrow, roses, various geraniums - mainly bloody cranesbill (that is the correct common name - Geranium sanguineum because of the colour of the seed heads), bindweed, ragwort, mugwort, harebells and so on.  Amongst the birds were terns, black headed gulls, herring gulls,, skylarks, goldfinches, linnets, starlings etc etc.  By the farm there had been a small grass fire.  There weren't too many people and just a few well behaved cyclists.

 

By coffee time I was back home and then spent the rest of the day sorting out more stuff I have brought back from the flat.  All the good towels, bedding and so on are now in drawers and cupboards.  To make space a few ancient things went in the bin, there was also a donation of some clothes I never wear to a charity shop.

 

In the evening I discovered I had not brought home a book I would like to have kept, "The Flowering of Britain", luckily I found a copy on the web for only 50p plus postage.  I must have put it in the wrong pile when I was packing things up.  Fortunately it is the only thing so far.

 

David

Edited July 21, 2022 by DaveF

[iL Dottore]

LAPTOP UPDATE:

 

Well, just as you think you couldn’t have a more enjoyable Thursday (that’s a sarcasm by the way), in composing the Fear-o-Gram,  I found out that the laptop was delivered one year ago. Which probably means (although I have to check) that it is out of warranty.

 

S0dding typical!

 

Still, all is not lost – providing I follow the Captain Cynical 5-part pathway to success:

1. Write a polite letter – providing all data and facts - mentioning that as I am a corporate customer it would be wise to keep me happy.
2. Write a further polite letter – reminding them of their legal and contractual obligations whilst observing “isn’t it interesting what social media can do nowadays”?
3. Write a third, stiff, letter – pointing out that if legal action is necessary in order to obtain satisfaction although we both have teams of lawyers, my lawyers are hungry!
4. Hack the email of the person responsible for ensuring that the laptops are properly and quickly repaired, send a short note observing that (i) I am an important corporate customer who cannot afford to have IT components out of order, (ii)  that if the laptop is not fully repaired and returned within a week I will have to inform my colleagues in other companies that instead of buying computers from Y, they should buy the computers from X, (iii)  cc email to the head of sales and marketing - with a coda that reads “sorry about this year‘s bonuses, lads. It could’ve been different with better customer service“
5. Kidnap the loved ones of the board of directors, send locks of hair with notes to them saying “no laptop repair? Hair today, fingers tomorrow“

Could work…..

 

Edited July 21, 2022 by iL Dottore

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, New Haven Neil said:

And relax.

 

He bought it.  Loved it.  Must be bonkers.  Said it reminded him of a bike he had as a young 'un, the old draw can be strong.  Sorry, Bear.  I would have swapped it for that 750  😉

 

#NHN visits O Gauge websites....yum.

 

 

Captain Cynical was thinking about putting in a large bid in order to acquire the motorcycle. But then had second thoughts, as it is far too flashy: subtle, restrained, dark tones with a hint of menace are the necessary colours for the motorcycle outriders* of Captain Cynical’s armoured limousine and entourage.

 

* CC is convinced that his motorcycle outriders are all nutters and vintage vehicle freaks: they have two Zündapp KS 750s with side cars and mounted MG42s and everyone wants to be assigned to the Zündapp sidecar…

[polybear]

4 hours ago, AndrewC said:

Sadly the nearby large recycling bins were removed after they became general fly tipping magnets. There are smaller ones at the Morrisons but they tend to fill within 12 seconds of being emptied. 

 

It annoys Bear intensely that there a substantial number of total f**kwits that are too effin' lazy to squash a cardboard box flat before putting it in a wheelie bin.  Don't they realise that they'll get ten times the amount in a bin by doing that simple action?  And it's about time that the cameras that supposedly monitor people who dump stuff in the recycling bins - and all around the bins too (ironing boards, polystyrene, pushchairs......) (a) actually worked, and (b) were used to seriously fine those T0ssers that are intent on fly tipping.

Yep, that most definitely is a Rant.

 

2 hours ago, The White Rabbit said:

Conspiracy theory no. 2: CC has trained a crack squad of beavers to chew through trees and telegraph poles at crucial locations to cause damage to key infrastructure. This was a field test ... 

 

Or, if you prefer, a bear had an itch on his back and had an over-exuberant scratch. Oops. 

 

Conspiracy theory no. 3:  A horde of Bunnies have dug a huge burrow beneath the trees and caused them to fall over....

 

1 hour ago, New Haven Neil said:

He bought it.  Loved it.  Must be bonkers.  Said it reminded him of a bike he had as a young 'un, the old draw can be strong.  Sorry, Bear.  I would have swapped it for that 750  😉

 

 

 

Nooooooooooooooooooooo...............😢

Are there really only two "on the books"?  Is it a particularly rare variant of XL250?

Hmmm.....swapped?  Part-exchanged sounds better to this Bear.  At Bear Towers.....

 

22 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

LAPTOP UPDATE:

 

Still, all is not lost – providing I follow the Captain Cynical 5-part pathway to success:

1. Write a polite letter – providing all data and facts - mentioning that as I am a corporate customer it would be wise to keep me happy.
2. Write a further polite letter – reminding them of their legal and contractual obligations whilst observing “isn’t it interesting what social media can do nowadays”?
3. Write a third, stiff, letter – pointing out that if legal action is necessary in order to obtain satisfaction although we both have teams of lawyers, my lawyers are hungry!
4. Hack the email of the person responsible for ensuring that the laptops are properly and quickly repaired, send a short note observing that (i) I am an important corporate customer who cannot afford to have IT components out of order, (ii)  that if the laptop is not fully repaired and returned within a week I will have to inform my colleagues in other companies that instead of buying computers from Y, they should buy the computers from X, (iii)  cc email to the head of marketing sales and marketing - with a coda that reads “sorry about this year‘s bonuses, lads. It could’ve been different with better customer service“
5. Kidnap the loved ones of the board of directors, send locks of hair with notes to them saying “no laptop repair? Hair today, fingers tomorrow“

Could work…..

 

 

Part 6:  Send in The Bear......

 

In other news....

Danish Oil coat no. 3 now applied - using the pan scrubber.  I'll find out later today just how smooth the finish is.

Then it was welding an additional lump of steel to the catch on the front gate; it all went unusually smoothly - even the rescue of Willie the Welder wasn't too fraught.  The welding won't win any prizes but it's (a) done the job, and (b) sure as hell won't break.  The gate is now back where it belongs and the catch may even get a splurge of Hammerite on it sometime very soon.

This afternoon?  Dunno yet.  I may get really silly and do a bit of tidying in the front garden.  Or maybe not....

[Sidecar Racer]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

LAPTOP UPDATE:

1. Kidnap the loved ones of the board of directors, send locks of hair with notes to them saying “no laptop repair? Hair today, fingers tomorrow“

Could work…..

 

 

Wrong order , start with the fingers , no one wants their loved ones humiliated by being bald .   👹

Edited July 21, 2022 by Sidecar Racer

[Dave Hunt]

Returning to the subject of conspiracy theorists, an acquaintance of mine is a dyed-in-the-wool believer that the 'truth' about UFOs is being withheld by world governments and in particular by the military. Some time ago he asked me how many UFOs I had seen, to which I replied that not only had I never seen one in the whole of my flying career but I'd never met anyone who had. His answer to that was that I therefore must be part of the cover up, thus proving that all military pilots were so involved. Nothing I could say would change his mind. Now, this chap is otherwise a seemingly rational, intelligent human being but his belief is so overwhelmingly strong that anything that runs counter to it must, of necessity, be a lie. 

 

Note that the question is not whether I believe that earth is/has been visited by UFOs but whether or not I will admit that the evidence is being covered up.

 

Dave

[AndrewC]

Afternoon all. 

 

@DaveF I enjoyed the description of your walk. Thank you for sharing. 

 

@iL Dottore For number 5 in your recent list may I suggest watching the film "Cargo". Apart from the great soundtrack, it is just evil and twisted enough to get a thumb up from CC. 

 

@polybear I've come to the conclusion that half the boring borough must change their mattresses on a weekly basis. That is the only way to explain just how many there are stuffed into alley ways, around recycling bins, and on commercial large bins. 

[simontaylor484]

@AndrewC if only there wad a market for pre loved,pre stained mattresses I would have made a fortune.

Sofas and tv cabinets and microwaves were the next most popular fly tipped items we regularly had to shift 

[polybear]

Bear here.....

Well I actually did some of the G-word - tidying/weeding/picking up leaves from flower beds (not that there are many flowers...oh, hang on, there was a rose bush....).  About half the garden done (the worst bits) - I would've done more but the dust etc. being kicked up did a most excellent job of turning Bear's snozzle into a slobbering mess....

I'll leave you with that picture and say...

Bear gone.....

[PeterBB]

16 hours ago, Dave John said:

Buildings ? I thought they Tartorians just invented a sauce to go with fish ...... 

Just a thought - what are their thoughts on space exploration?

[Barry O]

woo hoo!

 

Meeting completed in under 2 hours..a First!!

 

off out fo a beer later..

 

Baz

[45156]

Afternoon All

 

Not all posts read, as I had to skip a couple of pages.  So the usual greetings are on offer.

 

Lender phoned, and we are considering what they are suggesting.

 

Not a lot more to report other than the downstairs loo is now tidy and has a coat of paint on walls and ceiling.  We have run out of Hay paint now, and have just found that one of the builders' merchants stocks Johnstones and Leyland, and has a mixing machine - so we can get more done in the same base - not Dulux or Valspar.

 

Ludlow writers tonight, and I have chosen a decent story to present - in fact the only one I can find typed out.  Most of my stories are somewhere in the loft, and when I searched for them on here, it appears that they didn't transfer when I got the new laptop - so I will have to dig the old one out (also in the loft) so that I have something for next month - though I could try writing something new I guess.

 

Regards to All

Stewart