Early Risers.

[roundhouse]

It's chukin it down here.

 

I have been working on getting International Rescue ready although it will take a little longer than planned as it took nearly a month to arrive from the Wirral.

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by roundhouse

[TheQ]

That judge will be expelled from the Kennel club and all other doggie associations. It's all they can do.

 

We had one couple in the Collie world about 30 years ago, they had a long and illustrious show career, then as they got older it became too much for them, they couldn't cope and didn't realise they weren't coping.. They were prosecuted, and the Collie societies rescued the dogs.

 

Mooring Awl,

A poor night for me, late falling asleep due to the latest book in the pile, it's called Trafalgar, but it covers marine stuff all round the empire, not normally covered in books, which usually  either do just the battle itself, or Nelson.

About 02:30 Ben asked to go out, ... He didn't come back , so I got booted and coated..  found him lying on the grass ( upright) in the drizzle, asked him in, he did. Then he went to bed and had a good night in his pit.

 

Me, a poor night again,  coughing occasionally.

I decided to have a bacon toastie as Ben has gone off his food.

That got his attention..

Ben made as if he wanted out, SWMBO went to let him, he ran back in using her chair to get up on to my sofa, where he sat bolt upright giving me the stare.

After I had mine, I offered him a bit of toast which he'd normally scoff, I got a look of distain and he turned his head away, I offered him a piece of bacon  , a sniff and he ate that. Offered him the toast, head turned his head away again. Offered another bit of  bacon he ate that...

If he keeps this down I'll give him some more from the next packet of bacon which is defrosting..

 

Ben is now lying on the sofa, head on my leg, snoring.

 

Shortly, I'll head to the shops, for some forgotten essentials.

 

Time to finish my muggacoffee..

 

 

[Tony_S]

49 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Ben has gone off his food.

Robbie got white fish and rice when he was off his food(quite rare)  or not allowed much following vet advice. He liked the fish and rice so much he would ignore his regular food when better. I just mixed it reducing the fish content over a couple of days. The most common reason for Robbie not eating was sock swallowing. Not my socks, Aditi’s. 

[Barry O]

Messages ..completed.

 

Rib of beef, 2 stand pies and smoked bacon collected from the butchers. Bread and buns bought at the Bakery.

 

Dry but a tad cool due to the cold breeze.

 

Later I have to brave the freezing club rooms as I volunteered to do some tidying up.

 

Mugadecanext then.. early lunch beckons!

 

Baz

[polybear]

1 hour ago, roundhouse said:

It's chukin it down here.

 

I have been working on getting International Rescue ready although it will take a little longer than planned as it took nearly a month to arrive from the Wirral.

 

 

Bear has always thought of T.2 + Pilot (Virgil) as "the ones that matter" - T.1 Pilot (Scott) was a bit of a Gobby Wuss in this Bear's Book.

[polybear]

2 hours ago, grandadbob said:

Just had another phone call from Sainsbury's.   Our delivery will now be between 12.00 and 13.00.     Definitely.  Hmmmm again.

 

Is Mrs GDB now in a flat spin?

 

Bear here.....

Spent at least an hour looking for "a very important piece of paper" that wasn't in it's usual place;  I eventually found it tucked inside the cover of my Taig Lathe Book.  Obviously, really 🤪

[grandadbob]

27 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Is Mrs GDB now in a flat spin?

 

 

It's now 12.00........she's very tight lipped at the moment.    The next 60 minutes could be unbearable.....

Edited December 23, 2022 by grandadbob

[New Haven Neil]

After a decent early start here, went to the Old Farts breakfast club, where there is no view of outside - came back out to absolutely sipping down, howling wind, thoroughly unpleasant afternoon.  This is because I have some last minute deliveries to do. Pah, as Baz would say.

 

I have a hospital appointment ( that &^%$£"g foot again) at 4.20 pm, I thought it a bit rotten for those who have to work until that time on the last day, but had a call to ask if  could possibly come in earlier due to cancellations - could I!  So 3pm now, yay.  Getting results of latest CT, to see if more surgery can improve matters, likely a fusion by means of a plate put in the top over the wrecked joints.  Wish I had had this done at the outset, would have saved three general anaesthetics.  Or of course I may get told to go away and live with it - not sure which course of action is for the best at 63.

 

[grandadbob]

Things are  Someone is getting very agitated now....

[jjb1970]

I just completed a quest to buy brussels sprouts, Christmas without sprouts just wouldn't be Christmas. Unfortunately none of the local supermarkets had them and the veg stalls at the (very good) local wet market offered blanked stares when asked about them. Alas, it seems to be a disadvantage of living in this area (next to Nanyang Technology University on the Western edge of the island) is that because there aren't many foreigners the shops don't stock stuff which primarily appeals to people like me. I ended up taking the MRT downtown to one of the areas with a lot of foreigners and shops that cater to us. I am afraid I buckled under pressure, when choosing between fresh or frozen I failed the test of faith and went for frozen largely because the frozen ones were 20% of the price (and sprouts freeze pretty well).

[grandadbob]

Things are calming down a bit, after chasing the store for info they've got the driver to phone and he'll be here in about 30 minutes.

A certain Boss will be going through the delivery with a fine toothcomb just itching to find something wrong!  😠

[Winslow Boy]

Right Bear I'm on my way for sanding party. Weathers turned a 'tad wet aka p*&£#+g down' so I'm now free to provide my sanding services.

 

Two requirements or rather two and a half really.

 

Firstly and most important DD aka Devil Dog requires access to nearby open space frequented by male dogs on leads so that she terrorise them and secondly plentiful supply of decent pizza- happy with Co-op. Oh and the half not into the alcohol thing but a drop of slim line tonic with a splash of summer fruits would go down well.

 

See you soon.

[jjb1970]

8 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Sadly, I think that you may well be right….

(sigh) I guess I’ll have to add another £1000 to the “shopping in Japan” budget

 

 

If you want some nice rail souvenirs there are some very nice J-HO models (1/80 scale on 16.5mm track) now. When I first visited Japan HO was for the seriously well heeled and the preserve of very expensive high end brass producers like Tenshodo, KTM and Endo. Kato dabbled in it but their range was small and even that was quite expensive. Now although Japanese railway modelling is still dominated by N there is quite a lot of attainable HO. Tomix do a large-ish range of very high quality models, which are available as either standard (a ton of details the user has to fit) or prestige (same basic model, but details factory applied and using painted wire and etched brass rather than plastic, and with a slightly higher standard of finish). They're not cheap but they're an awful lot cheaper than brass, the prestige models are about twice the price of the regular range, at the risk of sounding a lazy and overpaid amateur I buy the prestige models as fitting the detail parts is a painful experience. Kato do HO but they sit at a lower price point than Tomix and personally I think Tomix a much better product in HO (it's different in N, in N I consider Kato and Tomix to be equivalent). There are also companies less well known outside Japan like A-Line and Tramway. Interestingly, Tenshodo now offers a series of ranges from high end brass through expensive sound fitted diecast locomotives, high end plastic RTR to cheap plastic static models designed to be upgradeable with motor bogies and detail add on parts. 

[southern42]

Hope this cheers everyone up!

Will try and catch up, here, and post, later

but, in the meantime, in case there is not enough time, later:

 

[New Haven Neil]

Last week, when we were discussing the ability of the Manx Motorist to invert themselves at any  opportunity, I forgot to post this - on my way to the bike club breakfast, I went the 'long way' as I was a touch early after dropping Jayne off at the airport.  Just around the corner from the breakfast venue was.....

 

 

Yup.....

 

Edit - I should add I didn't stop to take ghoulish photos, this was from the local news website - I just drove past.  Driver shaken not stirred apparently.

Edited December 23, 2022 by New Haven Neil
additional statement

[DaveF]

 

This morning was a bit grey, by the time it started to get light there was a gentle drizzle, fortunately it stopped when I had to go out, the rain started again a few minutes after I got back home.

 

Yesterday started with the usual shower, breakfast and so on and attending to e mails.  Then it was time to go to the dentist for my 10.00 appointment.  As usual I was greeted by name as I opened the door into the building, I was seen a few minutes later.  It had taken me 7 minutes from locking my front door to walking into the surgery, I was able to park almost outside the door once again.  The offending white patch on my gum was duly prodded and pronounced to be quite hard, then I had an X ray which was OK and the dentist checked there were no lumps anywhere else on my jaw.  After that the tooth was tapped firmly with the end of one of his tools, no pain at all.  Then he tried the tooth with very cold material, no feeling at all, certainly no pain.  It was the same with the teeth each side of it. 

 

Between us we have decided that the nerves are probably dead and that there is a small hard piece of tissue, possibly a bony spur, just under the surface of the skin.  My recent more vigorous brushing to try to prevent plaque and tartar build up has possibly thinned the skin/flesh so the little lump has become more prominent.  The likely outcome is probably tooth removal in due course.  I already have an appointment for a routine check up early in January so it can be checked again then. 

 

On leaving the dentists I went to the Quayside for a breath of fresh air, there was a loco parked on the far side of the river waiting to collect some wagons to go to Fort William.  After a quick walk I went to church to have a coffee, I had previously rung to say I wouldn't be there for the actual communion service.  Next I went to have a walk on the promenade, when I parked I saw a very nice old Austin7 parked nearby so went and had a chat with the owner who was busy checking a small leak of coolant - it turned out to be a hose connector needed tightening a bit.  

 

When I got home I cleaned the car and had a long conversation with the neighbours each side of me, mainly about how busy the supermarkets are.  I am glad I have most things delivered.

 

The rest of the day was a mix of odd jobs, reading, watching TV and more music listening.  I managed to watch Casablanca for the umpteenth time and still enjoyed it.  I'm not sure whether the Christmas University Challenge questions are easier this year but I can actually do some of them.  I must be getting old as the contestants who graduated years ago look young.

 

David

 

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by DaveF

[grandadbob]

And breathe.   All is calm, all is bright.  Excellent delivery driver who credited three items without being asked as the outers were slightly damaged although the goods were intact.  

The Boss has declared that she is "almost"  satisfied with the outcome.  Trust me,  that in itself is a result.

[New Haven Neil]

Well, hospickle appointment was interesting, wow CT scans are clever now, the detail is tremendous.  Unfortunately that also shows all the knackered bits.  Further surgery to fuse the first three metatarsals decided upon as the best course of action given its state, my age, and the possibilities of worse healing as I age with diabetes lurking in the background.  He's pretty sure he can reduce my pain levels, so I'll go for that.  That's summer/autumn ruined, 3 months no weight bearing whatsoever.

 

Suggestions of 3D printing a new foot skeleton resulted in a discussion with the surgeon who....3D prints things as a hobby, but not railway models or foot bones!  

Edited December 23, 2022 by New Haven Neil

[DaveF]

I just thought polybear might like these.  Some of the bears move. 

 

I went to look at the shops this morning while I was in town.  They are the windows in Frameworks which has two shops opposite each other in my town.

 

The first photo shows the larger shop which has a very good cafe, often with a pianist playing thepiano.  They sell paintings, prints, som efurniture and collectables as well as providing a framing service.

 

The second photos shows their other shop which also sells prints, books, collecatbles and other things - sometimes even local railway books.

 

 

Frameworks Main shop

 

 

Frameworks other shop

 

David

Edited December 23, 2022 by DaveF

[PhilJ W]

6 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Persisting down here but should stop later. My parcel should be here soon, the tracker says I'm parcel # 8 and the delivery is currently at # 5 just under a mile away # 7 so I should be next. Problem is that I'm not even dressed yet.

My parcel arrived a few minutes after I'd posted the above. All the contents were in good order. A couple of items were mis-described but in a favourable way such as the wheel carrier, described as a bogie open wagon was powered as it should be. SEERS test track will be in use in three weeks time so I'll be testing them then.

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, grandadbob said:

 

It's now 12.00........she's very tight lipped at the moment.    The next 60 minutes could be unbearable.....

I'm glad that she wasn't ashen faced as well otherwise you would have to rename her Ron Knee (a character from Private Eye).

 

Anyway, I'm late to the party today. Off early to Niort for a hospital appointment for Beth.  That went fine. Back home for 12.30 then disaster.  The Post Box key couldn't be found and I was the last one to use it.  No joy in searching but I did open it with a small padlock key.  After lunch I headed to Ruffec to buy a new lock.  Got one that can be made to fit.  The law of s0d means that the new style po box locks don't fit the holes for the old style one.

 

Part way home Beth rang to say that she'd found the key. I'll put the new lock away just in case.

 

On other news I think I'm going to rename the village Midsomer.  2 sudden deaths in 3 days in s village of about 60.  The first, a lady in her 20's riding her scooter home with her helmet unfastened. Hit an animal, ( deer or boar) on an isolated unlit road and died of head injuries. She was the friend of a neighbour.

 

The 2nd, a recluse, who  lived alone was found dead in his home by a neighbour , who is a friend of ours.  She had his key and after being alerted by his brother that he couldn't  be contacted, she went in with the mayor. Not nice.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

Edited December 23, 2022 by jamie92208

[AndyID]

It has really warned up a lot here. It's -16 Celsius now!

[polybear]

6 hours ago, grandadbob said:

 

It's now 12.00........she's very tight lipped at the moment.    The next 60 minutes could be unbearable.....

 

Like a Ticking Bomb......

 

Tick....Tick....Tick....Tick....😱

 

edit:  Hang on, successfully defused.......that was close.....

Edited December 23, 2022 by polybear

[TheQ]

Good news Ben has taken a mouthful of food from his bowl.. only one but it's a start..

[Ian Abel]

19 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Actually we've lived in quite a few US states over the last 40+ years and we've always been very happy with the level of care we have received, but maybe we were just lucky.

@AndyID certainly agree re: level of care, never had a complaint (other than "old school" surgeon doing an appendectomy with a full cut across the belly!!) however, the COST is tragic. I'm just glad I've always had excellent (still pricey!) health insurance everywhere I worked, those having to pay high prices I really feel for.

 

POETS, except I'm off already, taking the day and that makes FOUR DAYS of something approaching peace and quiet.... MAYBE! 🤣

Yesterday, sore throat remained annoying as it is today. Taking all the suggested attempts at remedy, doesn't really do much though.

Whitney dropped off by Brendan - we didn't realise how much we've missed her as we've not seen had her stay for several weeks now. He's off to Chicago first thing today, he and Jemma having Christmas with his parents.

Jemma is in mid-flight as we speak coming back from Athens. just entering North American airspace. With strong jet-stream, the flight is currently looking like it'll be around 11 hours!!! Added to that, she gets to land at JFK with a strong gusting cross-wind as forecast right now - that'll make her "happy" 🤪

 

We're off to do some grocery shopping to cover the next few days - now looking forward to that as it's currently -20c/real-feel -28c and blizzard warnings due to high winds and plenty of powdery/dry snow on the ground.

 

This evening friends coming over and we're watching the British Arrows Awards we usually go and see it at a local art center, but this year for the FIRST TIME it's optionally available on a streaming service. Combination of the weather and not really wanting to have to plan/schedule for a performance, it seemed very sensible to go for a $16 streaming fee, rather than even the seniors fee of $12 apiece in person. Win, win.

 

Weekend will be variously busy and quiet given we're not having Christmas till Jan 2nd., due to family missing in action until then. Suits us. Lots of relaxing.

 

Weather (as already mentioned) is STUPID here, -24c first thing, blowing a near gale continually, high showing a forecast -16c.

 

Merry Christmas/happy holidays/whatever you choose to celebrate, to all ERs, their families and friends.