Early Risers.

[jjb1970]

13 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Having lived in Singapore I can relate to his post. Those cloudbursts really have to be seen to be believed and the onset is dramatic. I once landed a Hunter at Tengah in bright sunshine but by the time I was halfway down the runway I was in such torrential rain that I could hardly see far enough to taxi. When I managed to find my way back to the Squadron dispersal the only reception I got was someone waving me towards a parking slot from the engineers' office doorway so I shut down and sat in the cockpit until the deluge abated, which only took a few minutes.

 

Dave

 

We lived in an apartment under the landing approach to Tengah, for a military airbase the levels of activity are crazy, it's more like a commercial airport. The RSAF F16 squadrons are based at Tengah, and we used to see the AEW G550, F50 maritime patrol aircraft, AH64, Cougar and S70 helicopters regularly and sometimes C130 and CH47 Chinooks. Also it seems to be the government VIP airfield as there were a lot of unmarked business jet movements. The F16's are insanely noisy, I took a walk very close to the airbase in the central catchment area (Singapore's equivalent of countryside) one day, daydreaming two F16's went over very low and very fast, followed by two more slightly higher, the noise was off the scale. The RSAF don't seem to have the same issues with noise abatement as the RAF. I used to tell my wife while the F16's flying around all day were flying slick or with drop tanks there was nothing to worry about, get concerned if they start flying bombed up and with a full weapons load.

[grandadbob]

Well that was interesting to say the least.  Sainsbury's delivered and one item rejected at the door as it was out of date.

Unfortunately yours truly was too busy chatting to the driver that I didn't notice other items where plastic wrap was ripped open under cardboard outer including chicken breast fillets , rotten lettuce although I could be forgiven for that as it was inside the outer leaves,  two very short dated items,  ripped wrapping on one pack of butter.

Worst delivery we've ever had, very rarely have to complain about anything and then it's only a single item.

I don't do snottograms but I do do verysnottophonecalls.   To be fair the customer service person was very good and the upshot is a refund in full of all those items including a goodwill gesture totalling £28 which is about double the cost of the items involved.

Only problem is we've now got to go to Asda.

 

[jamie92208]

14 hours ago, pH said:

I’ve long tried to think of a way to capture the energy released by the dynamic brakes on diesels, instead of just burning it off in resistor grids. Something like 15000 tons falling (slowly!) through several hundred feet would generate the equivalent of quite a few old mineshafts.

I was told that in the 50's 2 trains going down Woodhead generated enough power to take one train up.  A lot of todays electrics have regenerative  braking. The Pendelinos certainly yave.  There were sime problems when they were introduced with blending the regenerative brakes in with the normal brakes when coming to a stop.

 

Anyway it's raining here but 4 barriw liads of firewood have been brought down and stacked with Beth's help.  Some chatti g with friends to look forward to this afternoon.

 

Ttfn.

 

Jamie

[southern42]

' morning all from red dragon land.

Cloudy, dry, 7.7°C. 

 

I have not been on for another couple of days. I can see this getting to be a bit of a habit though I hope not.

Some friends to see and click n collect groceries this afternoon so some odd jobs to get done first and a quick toot on the flute if I can squeeze it in. New twiddly bits is about all I play at the moment, trying to turn them into something that might be called 'musical'!

 

Time to get on.

Polly

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by southern42

[BoD]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Bear had a new reminder appear on the Email Calendar this very day:

"New Box of Chrimbo Cards Needed"

 

This morning Valerie declared that I need to bring the Christmas cards down from the loft. That's the ones we didn't use last year because we had too many plus the ones she bought in the post Christmas sell off last year.  Having said that, we always try to go into an RNLI shop when we are away from home and I will buy Christmas cards there too.

She followed this up with "and we are going shopping this afternoon".  Well there's the reast of my day spoken for ... and all this after she spends two hours getting her 'nails done'.  I wonder what colour they will be this month.

[pH]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

I was told that in the 50's 2 trains going down Woodhead generated enough power to take one train up. 

The local light rail transit system here, ‘Skytrain’, has regenerative braking on the cars and is driverless, controlled from a central control room.

 

A few years ago, they had power supply problems one evening on a section of the network. Some power was still available, but not the usual level. They kept that part of the system running at reduced frequency by manually coordinating train movements in the control room - as one train braked coming into a station, another would be started away from a stop, using the power being fed into the system by the stopping train. 
 

 

[monkeysarefun]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

That has just triggered a memory of a dream a certain Bear had last night - it involved riding quite a large mo'sickle at reasonable speed on a motorway/dual carriage way

That was no dream!

 

[DaveF]

 

This morning is very wet and windy!

 

Yesterday started sunny and fresh so I decided to go out for a while and take a flask of coffee and a biscuit with me.

 

I've not been to the fish quay in North Shields for a long time so I decided it would be worth going to, there also happens to be free car parking nearby.  It was a pleasant drive south along the coast, through Tynemouth and then down the steep bank to reach the River Tyne.  It would help though if people went at up to 30 in 30 limits and kept to 20 in 20 limits, rather than 25 all the time.  It is also annoying when people almost stop at every zebra or light controlled crossing even when there is no one about.

 

There were a number of fishing boats and a couple of tugs to see, as well as larger ships further up the river.  The outer part of the Quay is being repaired so it looked a bit untidy.  Then I decided to walk along the promenade along the river bank to Tynermouth and back, a very nice walk on what was by now a cloudy morning.  I looked in the fish shops and thought what I could by but that will be for another visit as I have enough frozen fish to last into early next year.

 

While I was walking along my phone bleeped, I found a text message asking if I wanted a new phone, it gave the nearest shop as being in South Shields, across the river - there is a ferry but I was nowhere near it.

 

When I got back to the car I was ready for the coffee and biscuit after which I drove home.  As I drove through Tynemouth I noticed a couple of shops I will visit sometime.

 

Later in the day at home I tidied up the big freezer in the garage and then scrubbed the greenhouse floor slabs.  Lastly I took out a lot more annual plants, especially some very large climbing nasturtiums which were trying to take over the garden.

 

I also had an e mail from the solicitor with the draft will and other documents to read and think about.

 

David

Edited November 17, 2022 by DaveF

[Tony_S]

3 minutes ago, DaveF said:

though if people went at up to 30 in 30 limits and kept to 20 in 20 limits, rather than 25 all the time. 

I think if I had been doing 30 in a 30 limit the other day I would have killed the dog that ran out. I had already eased off as I was passing pedestrians walking very close to the kerb. 30 is a limit not a target.  

[The Lurker]

I noticed last week that during work under the rail bridge at LBG they have uncovered an old wall mosaic. Today I took a few photos:

[jjb1970]

33 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I think if I had been doing 30 in a 30 limit the other day I would have killed the dog that ran out. I had already eased off as I was passing pedestrians walking very close to the kerb. 30 is a limit not a target.  

 

There were a lot of roads in Cumbria with a 60mph national speed limit for which I'd consider anything like that speed irresponsible and dangerous.

[polybear]

3 hours ago, Tony_S said:

If decisions had to have a quorate level, I think there would be a greater involvement. If the decision proved to be deeply unpopular the current SU committee will be deposed before the catering changes occur. 

 

Bear predicts 16,900 Students arranging a Sossie Roll Day just to p'off the 100.

 

2 hours ago, grandadbob said:

Well that was interesting to say the least.  Sainsbury's delivered and one item rejected at the door as it was out of date.

Unfortunately yours truly was too busy chatting to the driver that I didn't notice other items where plastic wrap was ripped open under cardboard outer including chicken breast fillets , rotten lettuce although I could be forgiven for that as it was inside the outer leaves,  two very short dated items,  ripped wrapping on one pack of butter.

Worst delivery we've ever had, very rarely have to complain about anything and then it's only a single item.

I don't do snottograms but I do do verysnottophonecalls.   To be fair the customer service person was very good and the upshot is a refund in full of all those items including a goodwill gesture totalling £28 which is about double the cost of the items involved.

Only problem is we've now got to go to Asda.

 

 

Is this the very same Sainsburys that SWMBO used to work at, and if so has @grandadbob been subjected to a dose of

"Hurrumph....that would never have happened in MY day" ranting?

 

40 minutes ago, DaveF said:

It is also annoying when people almost stop at every zebra or light controlled crossing even when there is no one about.

 

 

Not stopping at a light controlled crossing when required to do so risks adding 3 points on the driving licence.

 

Bear here.....

Some priming of the wall for the landing coving carried out - I had hoped to do the walls in the hallway at the same time but I ran out of mixed-up primer and din dins beckoned .....

 

I cancelled the car insurance renewal - notta hint of checking the premium/begging me to stay/tears etc. on their part; it was more a case of "fine, ok, it's cancelled, right now bvgger off" kind of attitude.  Bear can't help but feel somewhat cheated.  TC's.

 

In other news:

Just when you thought it was safe:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63660032

[Winslow Boy]

3 hours ago, polybear said:

 

60%??  Bear doesn't even get out of bed for anything under 75%.....

 

Oh well if it's like that you can s....*". Z.  and p*"'::"" but I won't settle for anything less than 45%.

[DaveF]

 

I think my earlier comment on speeds was perhaps not very clear.

 

I did say at up to 30 in a 30 mph limit.  Obviously it depends on the road, traffic and weather.  What I was trying to say was the problems caued by people who drive at 25 whatever the conditions. 

 

As for the pedestrian crossings.  Yesterday it was in a 30 limit area, with visibility for several hundred yards ahead (along the coast) and with wide pavements with no one on them. Again obviously the lights were green for traffic as there was no one about to press a button to cross.

 

I should have made it clearer.

 

David

Edited November 17, 2022 by DaveF

[NGT6 1315]

Cheers all. 'Tis dreich, it is!

 

Got an appointment in Erfurt tomorrow, so early to bed will be tonight‘s order of business. I’m going by train, which with a travel time of 40 minutes you can’t really beat!

 

I had winter tyres fitted on Saturday, which with a view to the forecast may have been not a week too early. The weekend may even see the first traces of snow for the season.

 

Stay safe and sound, everyone…

[jjb1970]

I used to hate mono-speed drivers, those who drive at one speed regardless of where they are. For some reason 40mph was a magic figure, going from being a nuisance on open 60mph roads where 60mph was a perfectly reasonable speed to speeding by 10mph when roads pass through villages with 30 zones or worse.

[45156]

Afternoon All

 

Mucho skipping due to Windoze update.  It tried some days ago to update without warning - while I was in a hotel on 1/2 hours free wifi, and aborted midway due to the expiry of the alloted time - as a result, WIndoze kept trying to update itself, and in the end, I had no option but to let it update - and for some reason, my hub decided that this was a good time to drop the internet connection - mid upgrade it started to flash orange instead of blue.  When it came back, that left the laptop showing not connected to the internet, and clicking the icon only got a "no internet sources found" box - so I had to restart the whole process and just left the laptop to update WIndoze overnight - I rebooted it, which luckily kicked in the internet connection, and then just left it until we got back from Hereford this afternoon.   Luckily after a couple of dropped internet connections, we appear to be there - did I want Windoze 10 - no, I was happy with 7.  Do I want WIndoze 11 - no fear -luckily this laptop is not suitable for that "upgrade".

 

Generic greetings and

Regards to All

Stewart

[TheQ]

I've mentioned before 40 is the magic speed round here, whether 30, 40,50, or 60 limit..

 The road I live on is a national limit which means you can drive at 60MPH, though doing a 90 degree turn at that speed will put you in the farmers front garden... if not his house.

By the way the national speed limit is actually 30mph, but you are granted permission to exceed this to 60mph on roads when not otherwise indicated..

 

If an alien were to transport you and dump you on a road in the middle of nowhere, the official advice is to drive at 30mph until you find a sign that says otherwise. which in the highlands of Scotland could be many miles...

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Just at the start of lockdown I went into town  to do a bit of business. I parked in one of the car parks, went to the pay machine to find that it wasn't working. I got a letter claiming £160 excess/none payment fee so I informed them that I was unable to pay because the machine wasn't working. I got a letter this morning from a debt collection company demanding payment. I will be sending them a snottogram.

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

 

There were a lot of roads in Cumbria with a 60mph national speed limit for which I'd consider anything like that speed irresponsible and dangerous.

Likewise in Cornwall but for many visitors it was seen as a challenge or that it must be ok to drive at that speed. 
 

Many of us “locals” will seldom get above 40-45mph and less than that on many a road upon which the “National speed limit” applies in default of any other being posted. 
 

 

[TheQ]

2 hours ago, DaveF said:

 

I think my earlier comment on speeds was perhaps not very clear.

 

I did say at up to 30in a 30 mph limit.  Obviously it depends on the road, traffic and weather.  What I was trying to say was the problems caued by people who drive at 25 whatever the conditions. 

 

As for the pedestrian crossings.  Yesterday it was in a 30 limit area, with visibility for several hundred yards ahead (along the coast) and with wide pavements with no one on them. Again obviously the lights were green for traffic as there was no one about to press a button to cross.

 

I should have made it clearer.

 

David

Now 30inches in a 30mph zone is really slow...😀

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

I used to hate mono-speed drivers, those who drive at one speed regardless of where they are. For some reason 40mph was a magic figure, going from being a nuisance on open 60mph roads where 60mph was a perfectly reasonable speed to speeding by 10mph when roads pass through villages with 30 zones or worse.

The A65 from Skipton to the M6 near Kendal used to attract the 40mph brigsde like moths to a lamp. Particularly on weekends.  Why did many of them have glasses and a hst.

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

I've mentioned before 40 is the magic speed round here, whether 30, 40,50, or 60 limit..

 The road I live on is a national limit which means you can drive at 60MPH, though doing a 90 degree turn at that speed will put you in the farmers front garden... if not his house.

By the way the national speed limit is actually 30mph, but you are granted permission to exceed this to 60mph on roads when not otherwise indicated..

 

If an alien were to transport you and dump you on a road in the middle of nowhere, the official advice is to drive at 30mph until you find a sign that says otherwise. which in the highlands of Scotland could be many miles...

If there are no streetlights then it's 60 unless there are repeater signs to make it lower IIRC.

 

Jamie

[chrisf]

When the M1 is clear and free-flowing I can get from Bedford to Harpenden comfortably in 45 minutes.  At midday yesterday it was anything but clear.  I suspected that all was not well when I encountered congestion at Junction 13.  That and a 40 mph limit on the motorway made it certain that I would not be in Harpenden in time for the start of my meeting at 1 pm.  What the cause of the delay was I have no idea: if there had been a contretemps the evidence had been cleared away.  My journey must have taken over an hour.  The others at the meeting were very understanding even though my late arrival had wasted their time as well as my own.  I am due to use the M25 on Saturday.  I can only hope that it will behave itself better than the M1 did yesterday.

 

Chris

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

Now 30inches in a 30mph zone is really slow...😀

Not if you are a geriatric snail using a Zimmer frame 😂

 

In other news I had my double-dose of NHS care this afternoon and can report accordingly.  

 

Chest X-ray booked for 1.45 at Teddington was completed slightly early and in a matter of minutes with no fuss, a polite if perfunctory welcome and introduction and advice of where and when the result will be known; via my GP in no more than seven days.  

 

Move forward to Kingston Hospital for a 4pm with their respiratory department which session I was assured would be the required spirometry and lung-function tests.  

 

I arrived at 3.10pm simply because it was not far from Teddington; I did stop for a flat white on the way to lose a little time but no matter.  Having navigated the maze which is Kingston Hospital with the help of two very helpful and welcoming staff I took my seat in the waiting area facing a screen which showed the words "Delay : 1 hour 15 minutes".  It was clear from some others that this was indeed the case.  However my name was called at 4.05 from an area not affected by the delays elsewhere.  

 

A very warm welcoming woman introduced herself as "One of the respiratory doctors here" and we went through the background to the referral.  It was clear from the outset that this was only going to be "Another day another doctor" and not what I had been led to believe.  So we went through the questions, history and current management.  "Another day another doctor" decided that I required a different inhaler to that only prescribed a week ago (fair go - she is a respiratory doctor not a GP and might have more specialist knowledge) also asking me to have another chest X-ray "on the way out" because Kingston Hospital cannot access Teddington Hospital's data.  She also mentioned that there is a very long waiting list for spirometry and lung function testing with the next date (which was assigned to me on the spot) being in April next year.  OK so the NHS is under a great deal of pressure, we know, but in some cases of which I am hopefully not one there will no longer be any lung function six months hence. 

 

The result?  We parted as warmly as we met with thanks all round for coming in and for her time.  I have a prescription for the new new inhaler and a date in April for the testing which I thought was to be today.  I didn't stop off for another x-ray; I already had one and the GP will get that result.  If anything is shown he'll be in touch.  

 

I won't be cashing in the new prescription just yet either.  I'll stick with the one I was given a few days ago by the GP at least for now.  

 

The NHS is wonderful.  Or it could be if its disparate parts could actually see what they were all doing.  I totally get privacy and confidentiality but why can one patient record system not exist allowing anyone who sees me to access the full record?  Instead I now have three separate and disconnected sets of notes from the past few days alone.  

 

And they say it needs to save money and be less bureaucratic .....  

 

 

[Gwiwer]

22 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

The A65 from Skipton to the M6 near Kendal used to attract the 40mph brigsde like moths to a lamp. Particularly on weekends.  Why did many of them have glasses and a hst.

If there are no streetlights then it's 60 unless there are repeater signs to make it lower IIRC.

 

Jamie

Yes and no to my understanding.  

 

The default limit is 30mph in any built-up area or any road with street lighting or 60mph on unlit roads which are not built up.  Unless otherwise signposted.  So you have a 30mph limit on an unlit road if it is built up and yes there are some around.