Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I was woken up this morning about five by the heavy rain, fortunately it stopped after about fifteen minutes and I went back to sleep for a couple of hours more. It didn't activate the arthritis however but it didn't take long for the hay fever to return.

[southern42]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Oh Dearie Me, Oh Dearie, Dearie Me…. I am continually finding evidence of @polybear misdeeds in Japan during his ポリベア 失われた日本の時代.

 

THIS time it’s his “off the books” advertising work promoting 大きなクマのブーツ Ōkina kuma no būtsu (Big Bear Boots) - a range of hiking boots:

 

 

Does he have two left feet cos it sure looks like he is sporting two left boots or is it my imagination, the camera angle or simply "evidence of @polybear misdeeds in Japan"?

 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by southern42
add punctuation marks

[iL Dottore]

Weren’t you talking about these?

[iL Dottore]

2 minutes ago, southern42 said:

 

Does he have two left feet cos it sure looks like he is sporting two left boots or is it my imagination, the camera angle or simply "evidence of @polybear misdeeds in Japan"?

 

 

I think the photograph must’ve been taken after PB had an over abundant excess of cake (and possibly alcohol, although he claims he doesn’t drink) and he was so out of it he didn’t realise what he had put two left boots on

[southern42]

7 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Looks like these may be the tree peony

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by southern42

[southern42]

6 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I think the photograph must’ve been taken after PB had an over abundant excess of cake (and possibly alcohol, although he claims he doesn’t drink) and he was so out of it he didn’t realise what he had put two left boots on

And is one boot larger than the other...?

Edited June 18, 2023 by southern42

[railsquid]

In not-really-Japan-related news, I mildly astounded Mrs. Railsquid by demonstrating it is possible to repair a suitcase, which is vastly better than chucking it out and buying a new one, especially if the new one is cheap and nasty which the old one wasn't, and I am quite fond of this one which I've had over 10 years, and with the aid of the internet it was possible to solve its various ailments, which were:

 

1. telescopic handle partially stuck

2. one grab handle loose on one side

3. tyres on the caster wheels had at some point largely disintegrated.

 

1 and 2 were basically loose screw issues; 3 required sawing through the "axles" of the caster wheels to remove them, but once having done that I won't need to do it again, as the replacements come with screw-together axles, which will also make it practical to remove the wheels for cleaning (surprising amount of strands of mystery stuff wrapped around the old ones). Hope to get at least another 10 years out of it. Also kudos for a previous version of myself for acquiring a hacksaw and replacement blades which resided unused and forgotten in the toolbox until now, as I was fully expecting to have to go out and acquire a new one.

 

Though if anyone is missing Japan-related news, here's a 20 minute segment on the apparently famous suitcase repair kiosk at Narita Airport [edit: video possibly not available outside Japan, so not embedding :( ]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEbiTGNPpek

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by railsquid

[PupCam]

Afternoon All!

 

A surprisingly quiet Father's day here in Puppershire.  

 

No chugs or bimbles have been embarked on today.   The peak of excitement has been to start, at long last, some additional medication.   I note that some of the rarer side effects are, once again, death so if I go quiet you'll know why 🤣.      With 13 or so different medications for morning/afternoon/daily/weekly/not concurrent use I have had to resort to a spreadsheet to keep track of them all!

 

In Other News

 

A 6mm strip has been cut off a flange on a complex aluminium extrusion about 600 mm long.     Think aluminium window frame sort of section although it's actually part of a window blind.  Armed only with a couple of vices and a hacksaw cutting a 6 x 600mm strip was 'entertaining' but I got there in the end.

 

Perhaps we should go for a walk this afternoon although such healthy activities might be superseded by sitting on my chair and doing some further code fettling  🤔

 

Must be time for a late munch now.

 

TTFNQ

 

 

[southern42]

' afternoon all.

Drops of water descending from above.

 

The continuing story of Snail Land.

Snails. There were a lot of them about, again, this morning when I put the washing out. Do not fret - the washing is now on the clothes horse inside the porch - when the sun comes out it will be quite warm in there.

I spotted one snail going towards one of my better surviving plants.

<<Don't you dare munch your way through that lot!>> 

It did not but I did watch for a bit to see where it would go.

 

Going up!

About, turn!     

Going down...Watch it, Mate, you'll...!

 

I told you to watch it!.... I knew I should have videoed it!

Safe and still firmly stuck to the leaf...

Going back up?

I left him to it...

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by southern42
typo

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, railsquid said:

In not-really-Japan-related news, I mildly astounded Mrs. Railsquid by demonstrating it is possible to repair a suitcase, which is vastly better than chucking it out and buying a new one, especially if the new one is cheap and nasty which the old one wasn't, and I am quite fond of this one which I've had over 10 years, and with the aid of the internet it was possible to solve its various ailments, which were:

 

1. telescopic handle partially stuck

2. one grab handle loose on one side

3. tyres on the caster wheels had at some point largely disintegrated.

 

1 and 2 were basically loose screw issues; 3 required sawing through the "axles" of the caster wheels to remove them, but once having done that I won't need to do it again, as the replacements come with screw-together axles, which will also make it practical to remove the wheels for cleaning (surprising amount of strands of mystery stuff wrapped around the old ones). Hope to get at least another 10 years out of it. Also kudos for a previous version of myself for acquiring a hacksaw and replacement blades which resided unused and forgotten in the toolbox until now, as I was fully expecting to have to go out and acquire a new one.

 

Though if anyone is missing Japan-related news, here's a 20 minute segment on the apparently famous suitcase repair kiosk at Narita Airport:

 

 

It says it all above. Not available in your country.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Thunderstorms with hail predicted for Estuary-Land about now but still no sign of them. We might be lucky and get missed or again they might be late. Sun was shining this morning but now clouded over (and a bit muggy).

[BSW01]

Good afternoon everyone 

 

Very late on parade today due partly to having a late breakfast in bed. Then I went straight outside to make a start on digging the pit for the sump pump. Before I started I found a slightly larger drum to use for the sump, but before digging the hole, I once again tested it to make sure the pumps float switch had enough room to operate. Thankfully it did, so I then made a start, by first making the spot where the hole would go. Unfortunately this can’t be the lowest point of the area outside the cellar doors, as the pipework would stop the door from opening. The photo below shows the area in question.

 

 

This photo shows where the pit will be put, the pipe work will run from the pit to the wall on left of the doors, leaving enough room for the door to open fully. It will then run along the wall until it reaches the corner then rise until it reaches the level of the garden the head towards the back of the garden.

 

I then drilled a series of holes using 12mm masonry drill around the ring shown above. Then using a bolster chisel they were then connected together and the central concrete slab came out in one piece, which was a bonus. Below that was a layer of rubble about 3in deep, after that ground was soft sand, which I was able to remove very easily leaving behind a very neat hole. I then made a quick trip to the big orange DIY shed to by some quick drying cement and a manhole cover. I then fitted the drum and took a bit more out of the hole to give me enough room to get the cement all round the drum. The drum was then inserted and the lid put so that the cement went on the outside and began pouring it in. I had intended to buy 5 bags, but only bought when I saw the size of them, but ended up only using 1 1/2 bags! 

 

This photo shows the drum cemented in place. 

 

Ive still got to cut out more cement to sink the manhole covers frame, so I’ll probably use another half bag to get that set in. In the meantime I’ve fitted the pump in temporarily with the hose running up the stairs towards the garden just in case it rains. 

 

Tonight we are meeting up with the kids kids and grandkids for a father’s day meal at our favourite Indian restaurant, can’t wait. 

Edited June 18, 2023 by BSW01

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl,

 Grey morning. , Until I got to the sailing club then it was sunny,

Sailed,

Drove home via Tes and Coe, went into Tes and Coe it was still sunny, came out of Tes and Coe and it was grey...

 

In the middle three races were had,

Race one. Didn't do well, water very low occasionally ploughing the soft mud  bottom, steering loose, ultimately very loose, a lock nut decided it wouldn't lock.

Finished the race with difficulty. Scrambled around in the bottom of the boat, found nut and bolt, put them back on, but with out tools very loosely for the rest of the day kept checking nut was still on while racing.

 

Race 2, didn't do that well , low tide. Brown trail in places due to ploughing, rounding buoys appalling, due to slacking steering. Did manage to pass the last boat of the previous fleet.

Had a boat from the fleet two starts ahead try to go past me to windward on his finishing line!! Since I was tight on the windward finishing mark, that was a bad move, he had to go back and try  again.

 

Race three , still didn't go well, , mast block that sits behind the mast pushing forward, went walk about, that  made the rig very loose, with poor steering, that made the race even more of a struggle.

 

Next week is a pursuit race Saturday afternoon, I'll go down early to sort things out.

The Sunday is a race down to a pub have lunch and race back.

 

On the way back, a case of doom bar may have fallen into the trolley..

 

 

[tigerburnie]

Too hot too cook, so a barbie was planned, then it looked like rain, so an indoor barbie with lashings of fried onion and cider...........................................healthy, probably not, but Cumberland sossies guaranteed to taste good.

[The Lurker]

I see that there has been an earthquake in Charente Maritime which is proximate to Jamie - hopefully no damage where he is ( to people or property)

[southern42]

Well, it chuckeditdarn late this afternoon. Just as well I had brought the washing into the porch before then. A few rumbles of thunder to the south west(ish). Worse over at the r**lway museum, I am told! It passed right over them.

 

Clouds lifting. Sun making an effort to shine through.

 

[BoD]

Evening all.

 

Thursday evening’s tumble continues to make its presence known.  I managed a more comfortable night’s sleep on Friday. It doesn’t hurt at all if I remain upright and don’t bend or twist so  yesterday I decided to put in my usual shift volunteering with the N.T.  Perhaps I shouldn’t have, because last night lying on either side resulted in enough pain to prevent sleep so another night was spent propped up in the recliner which eventually resulted in unpleasant cramps in the calves and posterior (TMI, I know).

 

Perhaps tonight I may resort to a liquid anaesthetic. I have a nice peaty one.

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.

 

One of those rushing days - out early doors with Mrs NHN and Jayne to a garden thing, it's a sort of nursery cum wild-ish garden, not one of your show gardens, but is not far from home and very interesting to walk around - so I forgot my phone to photograph it.  Pah.

 

We also have a float pump in a little well like Brian is fitting, our garden slopes gently down to the garage/toy room, which can, err did flood in heavy rain, so we arranged a little rhyll to divert the water into a soak away of gravel that has a well of breeze block in it that the pump lives in. We had to change the pump a year or two ago, it had lasted 19 years so no complaints.

[Ozexpatriate]

Today's weather forecast here is as follows:

Quote

Expect showers to move in overnight into Sunday, with some sunshine breaking through, that could stir up the atmosphere a bit and create the possibility of heavier thundershowers Sunday afternoon.

One channel suggested showers beginning at 4:00am. When I went out for my morning walk everything was bone dry and even party sunny by the time I got home. Somewhere between then and now a suggestion of damp temporarily materialized on a table top on the back patio (which is now dry again), but little else has suggested rain has materialized though there are some fine, barely visible raindrops falling.

[pH]

Why does ‘View New Content’ go straight from “6 hours” ago to “April 11”?

[Ozexpatriate]

9 hours ago, pH said:

Southern Alberta can get chinook winds in winter. These come down off the Rockies, warming as they descend and producing rapid temperature changes.

We had some pressure heating a couple of weeks ago with an east wind descending the west slopes of the Cascades. This is uncommon with the prevailing winds being more westerly. It is very unusual for 'the valley' to be warmer than central Oregon in the summer, but it was at that time.

[DaveF]

The usual visit to church this morning, when I came out after the service the sun was shining and it was very warm.  I found that the second north south road through the town is now open again which means there will be less traffic on the road I use, I can also easily get to the car park nearest to the shops I go to - especially useful as I will have a couple of bags to go to a charity shop later in the week.

 

After an early lunch I went to my monthly meeting about things that run on strips of nickel silver spaced 9m apart.  The proposed exhibtion next year along with another event at the same time and location was discussed and we had a short talk about DCC, capacitors, relays and wires and their possible uses.  I had taken a large box of spare books to get rid off, most have now gone to good home, I have about 6 left which will go to a charity shop.  I have looked up what they are worth, it is not worth trying to sell them to a bokshop.

 

I got back home just before 6 p.m. and watered the greenhouse, I left the garden plants alone as rain is forecast.  Then I had tea while half watching the news.  It is now gently raining, heavy rainshould arrive later.

 

I am now going to settle down as usual to read my book for a shorty while and then watch TV.

 

David

Edited June 18, 2023 by DaveF

[Dave Hunt]

Not been on ERs for a while so there are too many posts to catch up on. A week ago we had the start of a large kitchen refurb that probably won't finish for another three weeks or so and the house is in a state of chaos with no kitchen water supply. As a result we are mainly eating out, getting takeaways or throwing ourselves on the mercy of friends. So when today was the occasion of a church BBQ we were all for it, even to the extent of me volunteering to be one of the cooks. The downside was that being the good old British climate it rained. The general attendees were all right as there was a large marquee with tables and seating for all but us cooks just had a couple of large parasols that could effectively protect either us or the food so we got wet. Still, it was an enjoyable day and Jill won a bottle of malt in the raffle so drying out whilst sipping a glass or two was quite pleasant.

 

Dave  

[Coombe Barton]

... Music - Said to be the work that inspired Thomas Tallis for Spem in Alium, which some wit has called Spam with onions …

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/06/18/almost-level-division-in-an-uncertain-government-and-we-know-why-its-the-tory-party/

[Andy Hayter]

1 hour ago, pH said:

Why does ‘View New Content’ go straight from “6 hours” ago to “April 11”?

 

It's a right pain the the proverbial.

 

The half explanation I can give is that if someone amends a post made on April 11, it then appears in the new content listing but with its original date and not the date of the update (today) .  This is a bug (better known to the website designers as a "feature") that Andy Y is aware of but nothing has been done.  Well why would web designers change a feature!!

 

Your get out of jail free cards are:

 

Update the new content page - doesn't often work for me.

Open the listing for April 11 and then go back.

Open the posting immediately before the April 11 posting and then go back - most likely to work but not always.

 

Send Andy Y a snotty private message  - most satisfying but least effective.

Edited June 18, 2023 by Andy Hayter