Early Risers.

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

... the Federal monuments were designed to impress Americans - not visiting dignitaries - creating a tangible manifestation of national ideals.

As a follow-on, the impact of the US Civil War to Washington cannot be understated. Overcoming parochial objections to federalism was an issue at founding, but creating a shared American identity was even more important after the Civil War.

Construction of the Washington monument was halted during the Civil War (partly from lack of funding before the war) but like much of the capital, post-war, creating a national ideal became more important. Construction of the Capitol Dome continued during the war to Lincoln's insistence. He would lie in state in the rotunda in 1865.

 

Edited February 18, 2023 by Ozexpatriate

[BR traction instructor]

8 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

I have a group of friends in Whitstable - Herne Bay is a swear word to them!  There is a ...mmmm.... certain amount of discord between the two towns.  The Whitsables are also full of criticism of their town being full of 'DFL's'.  Down From London - ie second home owners.  It is quite cool and trendy there now.  This depends upon your personal viewpoint of course!

 

Mornin’,

 

A potential deterrent 😀…

 

BeRTIe

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, polybear said:

 

**SPECIAL BEARY TIP OF THE DAY**

(Assuming you're ordering it from the Company and not from Amazon)

 

Use Code AST100 at Checkout and it'll get you a cool one hundred quid off.......

 

Now that's gottabeworth an LDC.....😁

 

 

 

 

Thanks for both the money saving tip and the offer of acting as a Beary Poste-Restante - I shall cogitate upon it.

I do have a small request: could you post the link to the appropriate Amazon page? My search of Amazon just turns up the usual PRC made poor-quality imitation knock-off rubbish. Ta muchly.

[iL Dottore]

8 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

As A Half Man Half Biscuit enthusiast…

 

7 hours ago, polybear said:

Who??  This Bear has never heard of them.😉

I’m surprised, HMHB used to tour (in their early days) with another popular beat combo: Half Bear Half LDC…

[iL Dottore]

3 hours ago, zarniwhoop said:

Nothing to do with Billy F. Gibbons as far as I know.

I wonder how many will catch that reference, Zed?

 

I have no idea what BFG’s 59 Gibson Les Paul is worth (I imagine that it’s up there with David Gilmour’s “Black Strat” or Clapton’s “Blackie”).

 

But even without a famous guitar player association, a pristine 59 Gibson Les Paul can go for some really serious money (think the price of a good sized suburban house).

 

Gibson only made about 643 Les Paul Standards (i,e. LPs with the sunburst finish) and nearly all of them are accounted for. Which means that that dusty Gibson guitar case in Grandad’s/Dad’s/Uncle’s loft/attic/shed could well hide a treasure (both musically and literally).

 

Mind you, the 59 Gibson Les Paul is so sought after, that there are a number of counterfeit 59 LPs around (the best of which, I am led to believe, are real Gibson Les Pauls that have been [ahem] “backdated”)

 

Edited February 18, 2023 by iL Dottore
Spelling

[polybear]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

Thanks for both the money saving tip and the offer of acting as a Beary Poste-Restante - I shall cogitate upon it.

I do have a small request: could you post the link to the appropriate Amazon page? My search of Amazon just turns up the usual PRC made poor-quality imitation knock-off rubbish. Ta muchly.

 

As if by magic......

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Build-Precision-Mechanical-Solar-System/dp/B09NQ51NYC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

The same seller is also on Ebay:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134427458727?epid=2329540368&hash=item1f4c803ca7%3Ag%3AwDwAAOSwaoZhuHya&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId

 

It's encouraging to see that they list many, many spare parts on the 'bay as well; they also post to Switzerland (though it costs £28 to do so).

 

I've no idea of any Tax implications when bringing items into the Switzerland so that's also something to be aware of.

 

The reviews on Amazon include some useful building tips as well, which is worth knowing.

 

Sadly the AST100 discount code doesn't work with Amazon or Ebay - you have to order direct from the supplier to get that.

HTH

 

Bear here.......

Today sees Bear *Hopefully* starting the priming of the stair stringers, after first hoovering/de-dusting/wiping with tack cloth/applying masking tape to them.  However, the Beary paw & lower back were a real b1tch (technical medical term) when I woke at 05-15 this morning (they ease off once I get moving and with the application of some relevant sweeties though- no attempt to stay put in the Beary Pit was attempted (partly cos' a No. 1 was imminent) so it was up at silly o'clock.  As a consequence I'm now somewhat "ahead of the curve".

 

I may even spoil myself and head for a Jumbo Sossie in a Roll + Chips from the Chippie later - I've not been there for quite some weeks now,

 

Bear gone.

 

 

[iL Dottore]

Thanks for the links @polybear. although I do notice that on Amazon it is “currently unavailable“ and “We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock”

 

Amazon is pushing alternatives such this (https://www.amazon.co.uk/HUAN-Collection-Handcrafted-Remarkable-Mechanical/dp/B0B38VKQ4C/ref=sr_1_20?crid=3IHAQ9ZYL21NK&keywords=Orrery+kit&qid=1676706334&sprefix=orrery+kit%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-20) at £520 - A good £220 more expensive than the original,  And what’s more, not a single review is available for it. I may have a little discretionary cash to play with, but I’ll be damned if I’ll waste my money in such a risky way (God knows if what would turn up would bear even any vague resemblance to the photographs).

 

Has anyone noticed that all the good quality items and those items that have been flagged as “recommended“ or “best buys“ by consumer organisations and magazines are never available on Amazon* Plenty of Chinese built rubbish, but the quality items nearly always come with the tag “currently unavailable“. If one were to be a little bit cynical, one could easily come to the conclusion that the big Chinese manufacturers (and despite the myriad of bizarre names [Ghezte, Huan, etc]that crop up on Amazon, the merchandise all seems to come from the same few factories) are paying Amazon large sums of money to put their cheap and crappy wares at the forefront of every Amazon page and search.

(and yes, that IS a rant).

 

* although such items are frequently, if not always, available from non-Amazon sources, albeit at a higher price than on Amazon

 

Edited February 18, 2023 by iL Dottore

[TheQ]

3 hours ago, BR traction instructor said:

 

Mornin’,

 

A potential deterrent 😀…

 

BeRTIe

Interesting boat  behind, it appears to be a Dutch 505, H was the old Dutch country identification letter, ( now NED), Whitstable Yacht club, founded 1904, appears to be very successful, with a large dinghy fleet. Though their fees are over double my clubs.

 

Mooring Awl ,

4.5 hours sleep plus 2.5 hours sleep, a good total for me.

 

Ben the I'm comfortable in my pit Collie, didn't move until I was ready to patrol.

Blue welkin, the wind has returned, not as strong as yesterday, but still stronger than I'd like for outside boat work.

Rubbish collection was required. Various bits and pieces had blown around the garden. 

 

Plans for today,

Antifoul rudder and keel,

More work on the picture frame 

Start fitting jammers to centre console,

Maybe do the seat extra supports, if it's not too windy to pull back the cover.

 

But first, 

Time for breaky.

 

 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Rather dull but it's dry and breezy at the moment.  There is a chance of some rain or drizzle and it may brighten up this afternoon.  11°C now rising to a max of 15°C.

Panic stricken call from The Boss in the bathroom a few minutes ago "There's water everywhere!"  There was in fact a tiny puddle in the cupboard under the wash basin from a drip from the trap.  Strange that it hasn't been noticed before but I've tightened it up and will keep an eye on it.

A flying visit to Sainsbury's is planned after breakfast and then I've got to take the rest of the decorating stuff back to The Shed.  Whilst in there it would be somewhat remiss of me not to play with the newly obtained toys. 

Rugby watched and nearly enjoyed but Quins managed to lose yet again, this time by 2 points.  There's another match to watch later today.

Time for porridge.

Have a good one,

Bob.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

Last nights strong winds have gone and the rain has stopped falling but there are some clouds about but the sun is shining and the current temperature is 11C. Up earlier than usual for a Saturday morning, but Sheila has an appointment at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital at 10:15 for her post op check up, so my chauffeuring services are required. They’ll be much sitting round waiting, so I’ll take a magazine with me to read, I don’t expect to be back home much before 1 o’clock this afternoon! 
 

After that, there isn’t anything else planned and I expect that Sheila will spend the rest of the day waiting for her eye drops to wear off so she can see properly. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit of a late riser this morning, last night the bladder thought it was on overtime and kept waking me up. My own fault really as I broke the no drinks after nine rule. Just as well I have nothing planned for today except for some shopping. I was intending to go to the Tonbridge show but the heavy cold which I'm only just recovering from put paid to that.

[PupCam]

Morning All!

 

Plans for today?      MIUAYGA!

 

My neighbour phoned a short while ago with a short notice plan for a chug over to Pure Triumph at Woburn.   I think there's some sort of classic gathering there today.

   

As I CBA to race around moving the car, getting the bike out, getting togged-up and it's very windy I declined his kind offer for today.    I now note it has just started to rain.   Good call then!

 

The weather is supposed to be better tomorrow round here so it  looks like a normal Sunday morning chug is on the cards 😀

 

TTFNQ

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, late here too, awful night.  

 

11c and dry here, but breezy again, although it seems to be decreasing.  We're off all the way south to Port Erin for lunch with Trackshack John and his new wife, then we have, really have, to give the garden some attention.  The farmer over the back is clearing the derelict orchard we back on to and has said any garden rubbish we can tip over the back while he has his digger there and it'll go on his midden for compost.  We have a lot of pots etc that need refreshing.  We're also getting good firewood off him for next winter, never turn down free wood.

[grandadbob]

@PupCam  Is a chug like a bimble or is it something else?  Just curious.  🤔

[Tony_S]

36 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

@PupCam  Is a chug like a bimble or is it something else?  Just curious.  🤔

It sort of describes the sound that my old bikes made when a head gasket failed but I am sure that wouldn’t happen on the Pupcycles. 

[polybear]

Bear here.....

Stair stringers hoovered, wiped with tack cloth and adjacent areas (= stairs and walls) masked off ready for painting.

Bear is now on Chapter 3 of @iL Dottore's Benzo Book.  Very weird - climbing ladders today is most definitely off the agenda.  Altitude?  Oh yes....Bear had a very interesting chat with a Balloon that was on it's hols a little while ago; apparently Bertie Balloon had been to see Aldermaston, Porton Down and Faslane - and was now off to see "some Big Golf Balls".....

Not quite what Bear would call a holiday but Bertie seemed happy enough.....

Bear gone.

[KeithMacdonald]

31 minutes ago, polybear said:

Altitude?  Oh yes....Bear had a very interesting chat with a Balloon that was on it's hols a little while ago; apparently Bertie Balloon had been to see Aldermaston, Porton Down and Faslane - and was now off to see "some Big Golf Balls".....

Not quite what Bear would call a holiday but Bertie seemed happy enough.....

 

Let's hope Bertie Balloon doesn't get shot down by some trigger-happy Americans who shoot first and ask questions later.

[DaveF]

 

 

A fine start to the day but it has gone downhill and is now dull with bits of drizzle, rain is on its way so I'm pleased I hadn't planned on going anywhere today.

 

Yesterday the wind very slowly dropped so it was just a strong breeze by evening.  I spent most of the morning sorting out photos for a talk at the model railway group this Sunday.  I always find it is a good idea to have a printed copy of the captions in case I forget the locations, though most I can remember even from 50 years ago.

 

Then I spent some more time "playing" with the new TV and found that some of the scrambled channels allow you to visit their Mediatek (equivalent of i player) and play at least some of their content.  I spent some time watching a programme about the Brienz Rothorn Bahn in Switzerland

 

In the afternoon I went to the beach and had yet another walk on the promenade, the wind was still strong so I was very glad I hadn't tried to go out in the morning.  There weren't many birds about, I expect most of them were sheltering but I did hear a curlew in the field behind the Links.

 

Then it was tea time again.  The evening was spent watching some TV during which I discovered that the the programme guide works for the satellite stations as well as those through the aerial.

 

David

 

 

[woodenhead]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

  Oh yes....Bear had a very interesting chat with a Balloon that was on it's hols a little while ago; apparently Bertie Balloon had been to see Aldermaston, Porton Down and Faslane - and was now off to see "some Big Golf Balls".....
 

Talking of big golf balls, when did Fylingdales become a toast rack?

[grandadbob]

Went to Sainsbury's and I was a very naughty boy* 'cos I bought a couple of jam doughnuts.

Spent some time in The Shed playing with toys then came back to the house and made some leek and potato soup for lunch.  Very nice it was too though I say it myself and there's enough left for another day.

Now just waiting for the rugby programme to start and later on (about half time)  I can enjoy my doughnut with a muggatea.

 

* The Boss said so, mind you she's going to have one too!

[woodenhead]

2 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Went to Sainsbury's and I was a very naughty boy* 'cos I bought a couple of jam doughnuts.

 

I thought they came in packs of 5 - or did you eat three before the Boss saw 😄

[grandadbob]

They sell individual ones as well which seem (to me) to be bigger and contain more jam  😁 . 

[woodenhead]

1 minute ago, grandadbob said:

They sell individual ones as well which seem (to me) to be bigger and contain more jam  😁 . 

Probably taste better as well - they do a five pack with custard filling; don't buy them the custard has an aftertaste that I sense as chemical.

[PupCam]

3 hours ago, grandadbob said:

@PupCam  Is a chug like a bimble or is it something else?  Just curious.  🤔

 

A Chug is a "Bimble with purpose"  conversely a Bimble is a "Purposeless chug".

 

Of course, a Full English can be consumed as part of a Bimble or a Chug 😂

[The White Rabbit]

Afternoon awl,

 

A few more pictures from the 'archives'. Wales again but south of the Dovey. 

 

Firstly, Cowslip. My neighbour's dog, shown here looking somewhat ruffled by the wind. 'Slippy' was an interesting character, smart and curious. Rather fickle though, she'd often abandon a regular resident's tummy tickle to go and beg for a fuss from a visitor. We never caught her getting a payoff (of biscuits?) from the local tourist board despite being an attraction in her own right... 

 

 

Aberystwyth is not unlike Scarborough in the way it has a 'North Bay' and 'South Bay'. Though on a smaller scale. Aber's north bay ends by Constitution Hill (Craig Glais), which has a cliff railway and a camera obscura. The frame below is from the late 90s, near the top of the hill, on the coast path looking southwards. The Old College (of the university) is behind the pier, with the castle ruins to the right. The station is in shot (centre left) but not easily located. 

 

 

Over the top of the hill, around two miles northwards is Clarach Bay, with five holiday parks. It was one of those places with a winter population you could count on your fingers and a summer population numbered in the hundreds or thousands. The coast path continues north to Borth, several miles further north (out of shot far right, hidden by the hillside) along the edge of the cliff. The coast half-hidden by the murk is that north of the Dovey, Tywyn will be in shot but it's not a good enough frame for me to say exactly where. 

 

 

One feature which breaks the Clarach-Borth cliff stretch up is Sarn Gynfelin, a shingle spit stretching into Cardigan Bay. Legend has it that this is one of the causeways to or dykes of Cantref Gwaleod, the 'lost land' submerged beneath the waves one dark night, possibly due to the sloth of the watchman. Geologists say it is a glacial moraine. Pictured at Low Water, it's an exception to the sailors' rule that cliffs mean deep water close to shore. 

 

 

Borth is low-lying and partially sandy, especially towards Ynyslas, opposite Aberdyfi/Aberdovey. The Dovey has two common interpretations put on it's name, either 'deep, dark [river]' or 'calm, pleasant [river]'. These days, the latter is much more appropriate but that's after 3000 or so years of the UK land mass tilting eastwards. Personally I suspect the former interpretation is more likely. It was an important river in earlier times, with significant trade in and out, especially when Machynlleth a few miles to the east was Wales' de facto capital. Though that was 600 or so years ago... 

 

I've mentioned Cyffordd Dyfi / Dovey Junction / Glandovey Junction before - built as an interchange station, mainly for joining/splitting the two parts of the Cambrian Coast Express in steam days - and with difficult public access. I have spent a few pleasant and very tranquil hours there, bird-watching and generally 'getting away from it'. Below was from one of those times, with a 150 DMU from Pwllheli crossing the bridge and approaching the station at 08.41 on 25th June 1998. Taken from the platform, the line curves round into the station. The cottage was the bridge keeper's; I'm not sure who owns it now.