Early Risers.

[woodenhead]

This little benefit of Smart Meters has never been shown on any of the marketing literature the Energy companies share when promoting them.

 

I wonder why not?  🤔

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63554879

 

I understand why some people are swapped over, but in a time when people are having difficulty affording even the best rates that come from direct debit to then swap someone to an even more expensive tariff seems like cruelty.

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, zarniwhoop said:

…One of the things I really miss from going to the Valtellina (Livigno, in my case) is Pizzocherri. (pasta noodles made from buckwheat and wheat flours, with (waxy) potatoes, onion, the local greens and (for those like me who splash out on holiday) porcini. Served with the local Chiavennasca (nebbiolo) wine…

 

….To my surprise, the pasta worked fairly well (I used wholemeal flour instead of 00, but I think the important things were kneading it (without getting too wet a dough), and rolling it out on a little buckwheat flour….

 

….If anyone is tempted to try something like this, I should mention that making tiny amounts of bread, or pasta, dough is hard - very easy to add more water than necessary if it isn't holding together. Of course, for those who don't care about the amount of carbohydrate, just add more flour.

A fellow Gastronaut! 😀👍

 

Pizzoccheri  with waxy potatoes, onions and other additions is a pretty heavy dish, but when you have spent most of the day up to your nadgers in snow, A plate of Pizzoccheri in the evening is definitely a comfort food of the highest order.

There are various versions available (there are as is probably as many recipes for Pizzoccheri as there are Grossmutti in the Engadine). Here are a couple (and either Google Translate or DeepL will be your friend): https://www.valposchiavo.ch/de/erleben/100-valposchiavo/rezepte/pizzoccheri. https://migusto.migros.ch/de/rezepte/pizzoccheri

https://www.genusslandsuedtirol.it/de/cmspre/pizzoccheri-della-valtellina/cmspre-recipe-168,15.html

 

In regards to making small quantities of fresh pasta – I wouldn’t.  I would make larger quantities and freeze uncooked portions for future use, most fresh made pasta does it freeze quite well.

[simontaylor484]

Day 2 of bathroom refit.

Skip came this morning 

All old bathroom dumped in it now.

Guy doing it is Latvian and a good worker

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, The White Rabbit said:

The police in mid Wales in the 90s used to run Maestro diesels. Strangely, they were a little sensitive about that.... 

I wonder why.

• Top Speed Diesel Maestro = 89 mph*
• Top Speed Typical Scrote Nicked Vehicle** = 95 mph up to 127 mph***

Call me an old cynic, but I suspect some chair polisher in the mid Wales Constabulary headquarters got a big bonus for making “significant savings” by ordering a fleet of Diesel Maestros

Interesting references:

*https://www.theaa.com/staticdocs/pdf/carreports/AA_REPORTS/ROVER_MAESTRO_2.0_CLUBMAN_D_(DIESEL)_R9068A.PDF

 

** https://autodata24.com/ford/fiesta/fiesta-iii-mk3/details

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/119342/Car_Theft_I_041.pdf

 

*** top speed could be even more if the scrote had stolen one of the various Ford Cosworth variants around…

[DaveF]

 

Both yesterday and today were meant to be quiet days with a walk, time to read, a bit of gardening and so on.  This morning started well with breakfast followed by a good clean of the kitchen.  Then just before I went to the beach for my walk I checked my e mails - big mstake.  The rest is for tomorrow's post.

 

Yesterday started with a visit from the window cleaner just after breakfast, followed by a quick trip to check the flat - I wonder how many more weeks I'll be doing that?  Then I had a walk a long the Quayside and the old staithes.  The Princess Royal, a high speed catamaran used by Newcastle University School of Natural and Environmental Sciences went up the harbour with some students on board and a modern tug was moored.

 

After my walk I went to the opticians which is only a few hundred yards away, as usual I was able to park outside.  I was a few minutes early but Mark was sitting drinking his coffee waiting for me.  He gave my eyes a thorough examination, no sign of any cataracts, just the normal very slight lens discolouration expected at 73.  He always has a good look as some years ago I had a bad bleed in one retina, fortunately it repaired itself over a period of time.  

 

I do need new lenses as there is a slight change, mainly to my astigmatism.  With the correct lenses I can still read the bottom line of the test chart and the smallest print size on his reading test card.  Apparently I can see two lines lower down on the main test chart than most people at my age and see well enough to be a pilot - but I don't really want a new career.

 

I decided to have new frames so as usual the receptionist chose some for me which I like - they have slightly deeper lenses than my current pair which will help with the reading part of the varifocal lenses.  I am also replacing a damaged lens in my reading specs.  They should be ready early next week, but might be there on Friday.

 

I was also able to catch up on some news about an ex work colleague we both know and a general chat about ageing and health.

 

I got home in time to make my coffee, by lunchtime I had dealt with my e mails and photos I took earlier in the day.

 

The afternoon was more gardening and another walk as I felt a bit achy.  I received an e mail about a trip which might be possible, I'll say nothing here as it is not yet certain.  It would involve looking at small moving things on steel strips, not at an exhibition.  There were also more e mails which needed quite detailed answers which involved looking at a lot of photos.

 

I was quite glad when evening came and I could sit and read, followed by the TV quizzes.

 

David

[Tony_S]

It started wet and cloudy here but is a pleasant sunny day now. The solar power storage batteries are charging nicely and we are sending our surplus to the grid. I hope it is used wisely!
The mouse population in the summerhouse is being reduced steadily. We think there may be some still  in the compost bin too. When I went out this morning Rosie (neighbour’s cat) was sitting next to the bin giving it a hard stare. 
Otherwise not a lot happening, unless having a visit from the window cleaners counts as significant. 
The Zoom meeting tonight for Aditi’s French group is all about a narrow gauge (metre gauge ) railway. I might watch alongside Aditi, apparently there is video. I promised not to make “peep peep” sound effects. Anyway it was an electric line so I expect it didn’t make “peep peep” sounds. 

[Barry O]

Having completed the shark wielding then swabbing the floors which needed swabbing I have had 2 hours sleep. 2 Ibuprofen taken and after the sleep my neck muscles seem fine. Background headache is on going. Not bad for a major head/floor conflict!

 

Baz

[PhilJ W]

3 hours ago, woodenhead said:

This little benefit of Smart Meters has never been shown on any of the marketing literature the Energy companies share when promoting them.

 

I wonder why not?  🤔

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63554879

 

I understand why some people are swapped over, but in a time when people are having difficulty affording even the best rates that come from direct debit to then swap someone to an even more expensive tariff seems like cruelty.

The energy companies are supposed to give advanced warning if they transfer customers over to prepayment meters. Apparently some are failing to do so.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis has disappeared with the rain and no more rain is forecast for the next few days. Now to start reading the new Richard Osman book.

[The White Rabbit]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

I wonder why.

• Top Speed Diesel Maestro = 89 mph*
• Top Speed Typical Scrote Nicked Vehicle** = 95 mph up to 127 mph***

Call me an old cynic, but I suspect some chair polisher in the mid Wales Constabulary headquarters got a big bonus for making “significant savings” by ordering a fleet of Diesel Maestros...

 

*** top speed could be even more if the scrote had stolen one of the various Ford Cosworth variants around…

 

Dear old cynic,

 

Thank you for your thoughts on car speeds. With our winding roads and country lanes, we took the decision that a vehicle with a low top speed would be a waste of public funds, as well as diminishing our limited budget for fact-finding trips to Davos and Lucerne. I would agree Maestros do have a low top speed, but may I draw your attention to the fact that they can get from 0-60 in 2.7 seconds? Unfortunately we appreciate it is not always possible to achieve that, as the only recorded example was set by PC Lewis (now retired) when he failed to set the handbrake in his vehicle and his car rolled off the top of the Craig Goch Reservoir dam wall and demonstrated the continued existence of gravity. We are however reassured by the build quality of the vehicle as despite falling over 200 feet, the car was back in service the following day with only minimum attention from our mechanic. We feel that choosing such a solid vehicle demonstrates our continued and ongoing commitment to the health and welfare of our most valued colleagues and employees.

 

In any event, we feel it important to avoid glamorising excessive speed and so encourage our officers to proceed at all times in a respectful and considerate manner. The supposedly humorous remarks made by one of our local students (Rabbit W, I believe) in the Owain Glyndwr public house last Friday night that such a manner was comparable to that of a particularly  lively tortoise rather than an average human with normal reflexes have already been referred for investigation on suspicion of a species-ist aggravated offense. I would wish to draw your attention to the fact that our policy is that sudden acceleration rates are not as important as avoiding sudden and premature deceleration rates, especially should a sheep wish to cross the road as the same time as one of our vehicles. (Angharad, do you remember what the figure was when PC Lewis' car hit the bottom of the dam? Dig that out for me bach and put a sentence in about the perils of big G forces). 

 

 We are aware that other forces may take a different view, for instance the Lancashire police have several tuned Cosworths on their traffic police establishment. However, I would like to point out that they have fewer sheep than the areas served by this force and these animals appear to lack the initiative and spontaneity of our own native breeds. 

 

Yours etc. etc. 

 

Chair Polisher No. 4 (i/c traffic & stray animal section)

 

Tal y Bont Police HQ (The blue door on the right, just behind Evans the Undertakers), Ceredigion. 

[Gwiwer]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

A fellow Gastronaut!

One who cruises through food?

 

In other news this may interest a few of us.  https://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2022/11/02/bearing-up-unique-event-for-britain-as-three-norths-align?fbclid=IwAR1cROZ-VSuAxPidinAjYjgqbbWe6BwNt20G9X-OyudFub73kMsDz2yIQzI#

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

shark wielding

Sounds nasty!  Please report to the topic "For those who fear coming to Australia"  

 

Mine starts with a capital S when I am sucking the dirt 😂  Which reminds me ..... 

[The White Rabbit]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

... A personal favourite of Bear:

 

http://calvin-and-hobbes-comic-strips.blogspot.com/2011/11/calvin-asks-dad-about-old-black-and.html ....

 

Yes, a wonderful explanation. And in terms of dubious 'Dad's Nollij', the trees have been sneezing earlier today. Less so now, and the rain's stopped. 

 

Back to Wales, the lower Dysinni valley is very quiet - in terms of people. Plenty of sheep and a fair few birds, especially round 'Bird Rock'. There is a walk from there to Dolgoch station.  The last quarter mile is along the B road, which can be fraught, especially when folk don't drive with due care and attention. But the rest is country roads or fieldpath. Standing above Abergynolwyn, looking north, the river runs in a deep cut to your left, with the road on the right side of the valley. 

 

 

Further on, you can turn right to head to Castell y Bere, one of the ruins from the Anglo-Welsh wars, now a rocky knoll covered in trees. Or up to Cadair Idris, behind it, one of the higher mountains in Wales. On that day, I turned left to head to Bird Rock and Dolgoch. 

 

 

A little puffing and panting later, there are views of the Dysinni valley, looking like a cauldron, with hills rising all around. 

 

 

On the other side of Abergynolwyn, the Nant Gwernol ravine gives some interesting views, though often at slow shutter speeds! Not quite Polly's swing but a trunk bridge over the stream. (I think I might take the long way round...)

 

 

Further north in Snowdonia, many pictures include trains but I did take one of Llyn Cwellyn looking north near Rhyd Ddu station. 

 

 

And then Barmouth Bridge and the Mawddach [river], with Cadair Idris behind, shrouded in cloud. Someone famous has said there is only walk finer than that from Dolgellau to Barmouth and that was Barmouth to Dolgellau. It's best to pick your day though, as I've been across the bridge when it's as breezy as that day at Ribblehead, with the rain and wind almost inducing frostbite. Thorough sympathies to footplate crew working half-cab steamers on a winter's service. 

 

 

[Ian Abel]

HUMP day.

 

Yesterday not a lot to report, voting was the highlight (arguable!!). At least in our area it's not congested or contentious, small queue and done.

 

Afternoon saw Brendan drop Whitney off as he was going out with friends for an extended pub/restaurant crawl and asked if we'd watch her.

Of course, she's so much fun to have around, and we've not seen here for a couple of weeks anyway! 

 

Today, nothing of interest, unless the client panics over anything.

Whitney will be picked up later, not sure who will be over, Jemma will be home flying in for a couple of days, has a break from her training, so may see her.

 

Weird weather, some rain yesterday, 8C first thing, light rain, high expected to be 18 with light rain most of the day

THEN - Friday through Monday highs may not be above ZERO with overnight lows in the -4 to -6 range

 

Carry on.

[simontaylor484]

Fun and games abound here 

More will be revealed later when I have calmed down.

I am close to MOAM mother of all meltdowns 

[Ozexpatriate]

A mixed bag today. It is quite stunning outside with bright blue skies. We had our first hard frost of the season but bright warming sunshine is a tonic for crisp cold weather and while the Autumnal colour has peaked, there's still plenty of it left.

 

While out amid the sunshine, I received some unwelcome news regarding a prospective offer of employment. The captains of industry are fortressing themselves in their plush foxholes in anticipation of their feared forthcoming 'great recession' and are freezing hiring at least in the company that had made me a tentative, verbal offer. A written offer will not materialize.

 

I avoided the wall-to-wall election coverage for most of last night by watching some shows on the DVR. Largely as expected, many local races are still "too close to call". After Congressional redistricting, there were a couple of wide-open seats and the contest was exceptionally nasty in the two, most-impacted districts.  It may be some time before a result is known. The silver lining of course is that the non-stop election commercials should cease.

 

The wheel of the year continues to turn.

 

Edited November 9, 2022 by Ozexpatriate

[Dave Hunt]

19 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

You got to go 60mph???  The traffic on I5 can be so bad that's a good thing.

 

It was late at night and well south of LA. Generally, I avoid LA like the plague but once in a while it's unavoidable.

 

Dave    

[Ozexpatriate]

1 minute ago, Dave Hunt said:

Generally, I avoid LA like the plague

I worked close to the Orange County / John Wayne airport (SNA), for five years in the late 1980s and lived quite close to I5 in Irvine. It's a good place to be "from".

[Dave Hunt]

10 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

Well, that's settled what I'm doing after work today - the iPhone is giving up the ghost, so a new one, I hope, will be procured. It's not a long walk to the Apple Store.

 

 

Could it just be a new battery required? My iPhone started playing up recently but for £20 I had a new one put in at our local mobile phone shop and it's fine now.

 

Dave

[Dave Hunt]

1 minute ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I worked close to the Orange County / John Wayne airport (SNA), for five years in the late 1980s and lived quite close to I5 in Irvine. It's a good place to be "from".

 

I worked in San Diego, well Coronado actually, in the 80s with a USN guy who said pretty much the same thing about LA - a great place for two things, coming from and passing through. The passing through is a much overrated pastime though.

 

Dave

[Ozexpatriate]

'Tis the season for catalogues to arrive in the post. I found this one from an 'army surplus' provider amusing in an ironic, "tidings of comfort and joy and gas masks" sort of way. I confess that I am not sure how to describe a "Military Christmas" or why gas masks and tactical vests would necessarily make it "Merry".

The chocolate ammo and 'tactical' Christmas stockings are on the back cover.

 

By the way, the gas mask is ex-NATO, with a 'panoramic' face shield. Notes are ambiguous stating that it does contain a 40mm filter, and is new, never issued, but a 'collectible, not for safety use'.

 

Edited November 9, 2022 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

It was nice to see the return of the sun. The ornamental trees (like the maples) have peaked but the 'wilder' species look like this:

[New Haven Neil]

@The White Rabbit Those photos of the Taly-y-llyn area have been absolutely wonderful, thank you for posting them - one of my favourite holiday areas, we visit most years.

[Tony_S]

2 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

@The White Rabbit Those photos of the Taly-y-llyn area have been absolutely wonderful, thank you for posting them - one of my favourite holiday areas, we visit most years.

I think we may go one year. I am sure Aditi wouldn’t mind looking at the scenery from small trains as long as there was a nice hotel to stay in. 

[simontaylor484]

Finally managed to calm down 

 

Feel so tired. Mrs is complaining about the mess. (Builders tools in the house) they have put them in Lucas'sroom he is looking at them enviously. 

Why the bl00dy hell did I bother I ask myself