Early Risers.

[jjb1970]

On pork and the Islamic world, it's easy to imagine all Islamic countries are like Saudi Arabia in having a strict Islamic legal code which prohibits many things and that Muslim people are religious hard liners when in fact many Muslim countries have legal codes not that dissimilar to ours and most people in those countries in my experience are just regular people who bend rules the same as people anywhere do when they have a fondness for a little naughty treat. My wife is from an Islamic country (though not Muslim) and pork is very widely available there, as is alcohol. Similarly it always amused me to see the popularity of bacon sandwiches among local staff when I was working off Israel a few years ago.  

[New Haven Neil]

Indeed.  One of my best friends is Jewish, but does enjoy the occasional bacon butty.

[Ozexpatriate]

9 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

The UK and the US have always been close allies - especially during and after WWII, but I don't think the US - UK relationship today is anything more "special" than that the US has with other, reliable, Western Allies.

Which ones would those be Flavio?

 

There is no question in my mind that relative to nations on and around the European continent, the political relationship between the US and the UK remains closer than any other.

 

All nations have "interests" and the interests of the UK and the US are more closely aligned than any other in the region - particularly after a certain UK referendum.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

One of my best friends is Jewish ...

Happily that phrase was followed by something different that what that phrase often precedes. 😉

[PupCam]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

..... I just encountered the most delightful (and rather nice 🤪) young lady Courier working for DPD.  Not only was she bang on time, she spoke in a perfect and extremely polite manner (despite having an obviously foreign accent).  There were lots of phrases like "Good Evening Sir**", "May I", "Thank You So Much" and "Goodnight".  Unless she's doing the job as a stop-gap/in-fill then she's totally wasted being a Courier.  First Class - and a very nice change from some of the Neanderthals I have encountered.

 

I predict @polybear will be ordering a lot more "stuff" to be delivered by DPD in the next few days .......

 

2 hours ago, polybear said:

(** Hmmm, "Sir Bear".  Kinda has a nice ring to it, wouldn't you agree Puppers? @PupCam 🤣)

 

Hmmm.   Bear seems to be getting ideas above his station!

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

7 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Happily that phrase was followed by something different that what that phrase often precedes. 😉

 

It gets a whole load more complicated than that.....

[monkeysarefun]

46 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Evening.  It snaad. Only a little, the high road was like this:

 

 

The lower roads were an inch of slush, but that didn't stop a FWD moron rolling his vehicle on to its roof on the TT course road and delaying my journey. Pah.

 

[polybear]

33 minutes ago, 88C said:

Sorry to say, no. If the police have been round they haven’t let me know. As soon as I hear anything I will post on here.

 

Brian

 

I'd be most dismayed (other words are available.....) if they haven't been round - and if they have then they most definitely should've let you know the outcome, unless of course if Chris asked them not to (which I can't imagine for one moment would be the case).

 

15 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Wikipedia:

Brittney Griner 'possessed' two vape cartridges of 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil, totaling 0.702 grams.

 

Many thanks for the info; it just goes to prove (to me at least) that she was totally stitched up in order that Russia could use her as a bargaining chip.  There is some truth in the view that if she didn't have the oil/broken the law in the first place then it wouldn't have happened at all; personally I suspect she'd been ear-marked (being a high profile individual) and something would've been found/invented anyway.

[polybear]

17 minutes ago, PupCam said:

 

I predict @polybear will be ordering a lot more "stuff" to be delivered by DPD in the next few days .......

 

 

The idea of Bear arranging home collection for parcels being sent to myself had already crossed my mind.......🤣 

[TheQ]

Evening Awl,

Tis chilly out there, tis very chilly out there, tis xxxxxxxxxxx chilly out there. So chilly I broke the Landrover.

On the way to the MRC the first bend is 90 degree very sharp, with a camber to the outside, landy slid a bit there.

It also slid in various other places on the way, even the A road appears not to have been gritted.

Stepping out of the land rover was interesting, as the car park is a sheet of ice.

 

At the MRC I did some pat testing, only one failure, a 13amp fuse in a 1 amp mini controller.

Then Tiree fencing company got busy again still lots to do.

 

Got in the Landrover to come back and .,

That's when it broke, the passenger wiper goes waggle waggle, the drivers side .. nothing not a hint of movement. So that's my day tomorrow, taking the dashboard apart to see what's broke.

I suspect I'll be taking a fan heater into the cab with me.

After a good clean of windscreen inside and out with engine on and windscreen heater fan at max chat. I had a slow drive home.. white crystals shining between the wheel tracks, roads even more slippery.

 

Now in pit with a muggachoccy, aft paws still feeling chilly.

 

Excuse me while I go find out info on landy windscreen wiper systems..

Goodnight Awl.

 

 

[monkeysarefun]

Since it's the season of goodwill may I present a happy healthcare story? I woke up to find a niggling health problem had overnight grown to annoyance level.

Deciding against using Dr Google due to my  St Vitus Dance scare the last time I did that I decided a reallife doctor was needed.

I was a bit uncertain of getting in anywhere given it's a Saturday morning but the mypractice website showed available appointments at various surgeries around here so I booked one for 9.15am. I arrived to see that booking had been a little unnecessary, but better safe than sorry.

 

 

The doctor saw me within 5 minutes, and I exited through a doorway to the right of the picture which goes directly into a discount pharmacy where my script was filled.

And yes,  all was free, (except the script which cost $3.40).

 

All felt very no-fuss and 21st century

Edited December 10, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Beginning to feel a bit chilly now, the thingy at the bottom of the screen shows -4C. The thermometers I have scattered around the house show a comfortable 19 to 21 degrees C. The house is very well insulated anyway. 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Due to Sheila’s appointment his morning, I didn’t do my usual Friday morning walk to the butchers or bit to the Trafford Centre. But, as we got back earlier than expected, I managed to get to the butchers before dinner, getting one of the last few pork pies, which I had for dinner. After I went to the Trafford Centre and it was absolutely full of ejits, so it’s back to morning visits in future. 

 

Tomorrow is my day in Manchester where I shall visit the Model Railway Show, this is the first time it’s been on since 2019 and I’m really looking forward to it. So, after tea I made myself  sandwich, then packed got my bag ready for tomorrow, putting in my rail tickets and show ticket. I bought my ticket when they went on sale in September, by pre-booking my ticket, I got a £2 discount and if I get there early enough, I’ll be let in 45 minutes before those paying on the day, it’s a no brainer really! 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[southern42]

‘ night all and nos da.

[BR60103]

14 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Have I ever mentioned my brother took English bacon to Pakistan?

Have you ever tried to take Haggis to the USA?

 

[monkeysarefun]

...Or fruit into South Australia?

[iL Dottore]

8 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Which ones would those be Flavio?

Germany, France, Japan, Italy, The Netherlands…..

 

Beng a reliable ally means a two way collaboration on matters of mutual interest, it doesn’t mean doing everything the US Government of the time wants them to do, when the US Government of the time wants them to do it.

 

As you say, every country has its own interests and the US administration shouldn’t get bent out of shape when democratic countries decide not to march to the US drum.

[iL Dottore]

8 hours ago, PupCam said:

Hmmm.   Bear seems to be getting ideas above his station!

It wouldn’t be the first time Puppers, I remember him pontificating about culinary matters comme c'est amusant! 🤣
 

But he’s a good egg (despite his fondness for oven chips - but then again we all have our faults, don’t we?)

 

2 hours ago, BR60103 said:

Have you ever tried to take Haggis to the USA?

If I recall correctly, it’s prohibited because a real traditional Haggis contains things (like lungs) which are prohibited in the US from being used in meat products.
 

The prohibition is not due to any particular anti-Scottish feeling (which would be a bit absurd given that an awful lot of Americans proudly claim to have Scottish forebears), but because of unscrupulous meat packing companies who would bulk out their “meat” products with the sweepings from the abattoir floor. This particular bit of food legislation dates back to the early part of the last century, when you really didn’t want to know what went into the can. Last time I checked, It’s never been amended.

 

A final thought, US law -like UK law (and the law in many other countries) - contains a lot of obsolete, sometimes centuries old, legislation that’s never been repealed. The standard explanation as to why these laws still remain on the books is that governments have much more pressing matters to attend to. I reckon it’s because if the government can’t “get you” with modern laws, they can dig out something from the 16th or 17th century and nobble you with that!….

 

Pc @jamie92208 (for it is he) “I’m arresting you for having committed the offence of wearing an obscenely worded “***** the government” T-Shirt contrary to the acceptable public decorum act of 1775 which prohibits the “the wearing of garb that may inflame or offend public sensitivities”

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

3 hours sleep then long awake as brain locked onto problem of the wiper failure. Since then a couple of short sleeps.

 

Decision, take as little apart as possible to find out the fault , as I'll have to order the parts anyway.

The land rovers wiper uses a flexible spiral shaft which rotates, one way or another.

The view with the heater controls to the right of the drivers binacle and the binacle removed. That's that metal spiral running across the picture. The spiral engages with a cog wheel on the shaft that the wiper arm engages with.

So the since the passenger wiper works, it can be the shaft has broken or stripped after the passenger wiper cog, or the cog has stripped, or the shaft from cog to wiper arm has snapped or the  adapter on the cog shaft to  fit the wiper arm.

 

The wiper arm to cog shaft adaptor would be the miracle fault, the cheapest and easiest bit to replace as it's outside the body shell.

 

If not after undoing the drivers instrument binacle,  hopefully I can see the spiral shaft

 

The complete kit for a wiper system.

 

Ben the I want out Collie was early and insistent.. so we've been on a full patrol, and he found a very interesting scent to follow round the garden.

It's white out there, Naa Snaa, but a very very heavy white frost on everything, there is also gof, the bottom of the garden is visible, but the gof is silencing everything .

I'm again wrapped up on the sofa defrosting .

 

Breakfast today will include bacon, as I stopped on the way to the MRC to pick some up amongst other items. There was no worry of it getting too hot being left in the Landrover while I was in the MRC.

 

Time to consider heading for that bacon.

Oh the haggis ban? Things have changed

https://www.politico.eu/article/scottish-haggis-exports-to-us-remain-stalled-on-burns-night/#:~:text=A decades-long U.S. ban,right way on January 25.

 

Edited December 10, 2022 by TheQ

[jamie92208]

Good moani g from a distintly chilly Charente.   Breakfast has been had and I'm thoroughly enjoying listening to Test Match Special via Freesat.  3 Pakistan wickets in thevlast 10 minutes, 2 by Root in his first over. England have got 5 wickets for 16 runs..  

 

I got the window in the shed boarded up and well bolted in place.  The tyres got done and Beth can now drive her car at more than 80 kph.  It was definitely  cold but Beth made a very nice meat and potato pie for tea.

 

Today will start with our usual hour chatting to the girls.  We wonder what new phrase young Emily will come out with.   There are some jobs to do and I will probably  barrow some wood down to the house.  This evening we may well be going to the bar in nearby Néré.  (Another wicket ) there will be both French and English watching the kickball.  It could be fun.

 

As to old legislation, yes there is quite a bit in England and Wales, Scotland has a different system.  There is also quite a few Common Law offences, which are not defined in statute. They can still be created. In the 1970's a man escaped from a police car after being arrested. He was later caught again and a Custody sgt, in Birmingham I think, thought that he should be charged with escaping from lawful custody as this was thought to be bad form so they decided to charge him with escaping from lawful custody against Common Law.  The charge was upheld by the courts.  

 

Jamie

Edited December 10, 2022 by jamie92208

[Barry O]

Snowing in Manchester land. See you at the show Brian @BSW01 I will be creating havoc on Shap.

Stay safe!

Baz

[PhilJ W]

One for the dog lovers.

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

A final thought, US law -like UK law (and the law in many other countries) - contains a lot of obsolete, sometimes centuries old, legislation that’s never been repealed. The standard explanation as to why these laws still remain on the books is that governments have much more pressing matters to attend to. I reckon it’s because if the government can’t “get you” with modern laws, they can dig out something from the 16th or 17th century and nobble you with that!….

 

Pc @jamie92208 (for it is he) “I’m arresting you for having committed the offence of wearing an obscenely worded “***** the government” T-Shirt contrary to the acceptable public decorum act of 1775 which prohibits the “the wearing of garb that may inflame or offend public sensitivities”

Teresa May wheeled out an old act of Parliament dating back to the time of Henry VIII a few years ago. The act was to enable him to chop off Anne Bolyne's head off.