Early Risers.

[DDolfelin]

I think Aditi has that covered!

[David Todd]

Beautiful morning here on the Costa . . . . Just seen the "colliery" band off for what could be the last Durham Big Meeting . . (no cuddies about, though Baz) . .

so I think I'll give Durham a miss today...

 

But . . . .Exhibition on at British West Hartlepool this weekend

 

Ya souled al ya Gallowers.......Mister ?

Edited July 12, 2014 by David Todd

[petethemole]

Good morning from sunny Swaythling. I'm making the most of access to this laptop as Martyn's has gone to hospital and I expect he'll want to get on this one. He spent all evening on it yesterday so for some of it I sat in the garden with a book and an Old Rosie. The other laptop had loose power and headphone sockets that were making him rather cross. As his games are all on that one I expect I can persuade him to come out to Totton later. Unlike Romsey however Totton has nothing else to offer, so it's straight to the show and straight back.

 

Regarding crime and Antiques Roadshow, I have a cousin in Bangor who told me about the show's visit there in the '80s. After filming the large furniture items were to be returned to their owners by furniture van. One duly turned up and men in dust coats loaded up and drove off. Shortly afterwards the booked van turned up.  The crooks' van was stopped by the police on the main road into Liverpool.

 

Pete

[grandadbob]

Bob, My (late) best friend in the USA was one of the “experts” on the American version of “Antiques Roadshow”. Barry Webber, specializing in antique jewelry. He never got paid by the show - and even had to pay his own airfare to the various locations over here (the distance between them was often considerable), neither was he allowed to cash in on his position by quoting “As seen on Antiques Roadshow” etc.

I ask him why he did it? The answer that remains in my mind is that at one time they were able to break up an international team of criminals that were cashing in Nazi loot, after all these years, by infiltrating them onto the program as if the program was one long free advert.... Astonishing!

 

I’m sure it has been used as that by other unscrupulous individuals and groups.

 

RIP, Barry.

 

Best, Pete.

 

Blimey - I hadn't thought of that. I do often wonder though about some of the things "found in skips" that turn out to be quite valuable.

[Tony_S]

I think Aditi has that covered!

Aditi is now a very popular name in India but I can't imagine Diti being too popular. In Hindu creation stories Aditi and Diti were sisters but fortunately my Aditi's sister is called Punam (or Poo by her husband).

Tony

[BoD]

How does she bear it?

[Ashcombe]

Evening all,

 

.........Ian and Sherry, please correct me if I'm wrong but I seem to be picking up what my kids would call very good vibes about your relationship. It comes through in your posting and I would simply like to wish you the same harmony and happiness that I enjoy with Joanna.......

 

Jock.

How very kind - thank you, Jock! You are right in your assumption as we are very happy and relaxed with each other, having built up so much of our relationship by 'phone, email and text, besides the occasional few days we've snatched, over the past decade. We are entering a new phase now with much more freedom to spend longer periods together now that everything is in the open.

This week has flown by but I plan to return in mid/late August, when my Fiesta will make its first visit to its French home(s), here and in Mayenne, where I still jointly own a mobile home with my ex-husband. 

Wishing everyone a great weekend with better weather than we currently have here!  

[Happy Hippo]

A rather slow start this morning.

 

I need some ink for the printer, so that will be a trip out.  normally I would avoid such excitement at a weekend, but my daughter needs to go to Hobbycraft for some craft bits and pieces.

 

The postman delivered a letter from SEAT this morning informing me of a potential problem with the DSG gearbox on the Ibiza we own.  Apparently the synthetic oil can cause a short circuit that blows a fuse.  This disconnects both clutches and the car then goes into freewheel. They need to check the car over and if necessary replace the gearbox oil with a mineral version.

 

All to be done foc, which I'm really happy about, especially as the car is 4 years old.

 

Makes a change from Vauxhall who are going to charge me £100+ to sort out an engine immobilizer fault on my old Astra......that's just to have the computer hooked up to the car to find out what the fault is!

 

Still, I can't complain as my intention is to run it into the ground.............so that ought to be another 10 years or so

 

How many of us hanker for a small run a round, that is very basic from an electrical and mechanical perspective so all servicing is easily achieved in my own garage, yet with decent body galvanised body panels, that would last for ever yet be economical to run?

 

Onto a more railway related matter:  I am currently digging a trench which will then be suitably lined and then filled with ballast for the reconstructed garden line.

 

So far I have managed to avoid anything complicated with the track plan, so the South Horton Irrigation Tramway may soon see a train or two running in the not too distant future.

[Oldddudders]

Millwall?

Thankyou, Den.

 

As Cinders has already posted, just wanted to add my thanks for kind thoughts on here by Jock and others. Those ten years have put a lot of relationship "pounds in the ground" and we believe we are building on very firm foundations.

 

Off to do a census of charcoal deposits in the garage, followed by some energetic sprucing of barbecues fixed and mobile. Weather remains utterly dreary if actually dry, but Sherry's phone forecasts sunshine at 7, the time guests have been invited to attend. Plan B will require us to have the house nice and tidy in case her phone is telling porkies!

 

Hope everyone's weekend goes well, and Pete's discomfort, both physical and financial, is eased asap and permanently.

[trisonic]

Tea often helps me!

Pete, I tried to send you a PM but you seem to either be "full" or not accepting them.

This started with a criticism of chiropractic practice but turned into libel law reform here.

Tony

Sorry, Tony - my quota is full! I’ll have to delete some at some point.

 

Great article.

 

The problem is that my crushed vertebrae are in my neck (due to exuberant “jumping” when young and fit).

 

If you read the article I quoted it ends with a link to a young woman who was paralyzed  from  the neck down by a “practitioner” - it recommends no manipulation of the spine from the shoulders up. Chiropractors undoubtably have some positive effect on the backs of some people like Golfers who do not require an operation. The moot point is whether rubbing with linament or similar, taking Ibuprofen or doing nothing at all (letting nature take it’s course) might not have the same effect on backs........

 

Best, Pete.

[AndyB]

Morning all from sunny 'ampshire. 

 

This weekend is set to be a busy one with a retirement bash for my best friend and then an early birthday party for my youngest. 

He's commissioned a "Minecraft" cake. For anyone that doesn't know, this appears to be a computer game with retro graphics; very blocky graphics as you might have found on a low-res BBC micro in the 80s. 

Better start construction! 

 

Discovered the first error in my track plan. Not a serious one but I have the bruise where I kicked myself for making a basic error. But at least the dent in the sofa is disappearing as I've been out actually building the thing. 

 

Thinking about the photos that Pete posted last night and the Weymouth photos that I found makes me think modelling that kind of scene would be very rewarding, albeit with a need for dozens of buildings! Come to think of it I have a spare baseboard and loads of Metcalfe buildings from a previous endeavour....

 

Good to hear the lovebirds are enjoying themselves.

 

Just finished a really good book by Robert Harris "An officer and a spy" if anyone is looking for a bit of summer reading. Found it quite compelling, a real page-turner.   

 

Have a nice weekend everyone. 

[shortliner]

For Ian Able - CP & the flooded Mississippi - hope you can see the pics - http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3462557,3462557#3462557

[Jock67B]

Morning all,

Dull but dry in Clacton so the jungle that was once a lawn is rostered for this afternoons attempt for brownie points!

Pete, and fellow sufferers, my GP and friend has disposed of the services of a local chiropractic practice due to elements of 'quackery' (I think we can say that now thanks to Tony's interesting article!) evident in their treatment. He now has a qualified physiotherapist doing clinics within his surgery. Joanna suffers with what has now been diagnosed as nerves trapped by muscles in her left upper arm and shoulder. This appears to have happened as a result of the cardiac scare she endured a few months ago and yesterday she had the second of the six physio sessions allowed by the NHS. She has already shown a marked improvement, the nerve pain being replaced by what feels like muscle bruising which is much easier to bear. This in itself should apparently be relieved with the use of a 'warming pad' according to the physio so we're off to Boots shortly! Strange how all the physical activities we enjoyed as youngsters come back to haunt us in older age - I'd probably still do them all again though!

Flavio, it really is very kind of you to clarify lots of these issues with your extensive knowledge, thank you.

Ian, I hope the weather holds for the grand charcoal burning. I'm pleased as well that my instincts were correct - there have been some woeful things happening on ERs of late and it truly is lovely to have something really lovely happen to help restore the balance!

Pete, hope you don't have lightning today, I'm sure you don't want a repeat of the strike this day in 1977 -all day without being able to plug in the 'stratocaster'?

I have watched many an 'Antiques Roadshow' and not just because of the presence of Fiona! I have an interest in watercolours but, like others, enjoy the look on peoples faces when they realise they have suddenly become rich. Often wonder if they call 'Securicor' or similar for an escort home? The crime element seems to somehow spoil what is essentially a nice gentle programme but is perhaps a reflection of the society we now live in.

I've got MotoGP at the old East German GP circuit at Sachsenring tomorrow as well as World Superbikes at Laguna Seca so off to set up the Sky+box. Enjoy whatever you plan safely folks,

Kind regards,

Jock.

Edited July 12, 2014 by Jock67B

[iL Dottore]

...I write this in some discomfort unable to bend properly at the waist. I have oviously overdone something....

"there's no answer to that" according to E Morecambe (but, seriously, see below)

....My only benefit so far is to consider the opposite of what is recommended.

Use Ice Packs = Have a hot bath etc.,. My Top Tip = If it hurts stop doing it.....

To pass on a tip from my orthopaedic surgeon (who nicked it from one his physical therapy team), you have to use very gentle cold. Ice Packs are far too aggressive. What is suggested are lentils! To be more specific UNcooked lentils sewn into a cotton sack or bag (I'm thinking sandbag shape) and placed in the freezer until needed. They are cold, but not so cold to be unbearable. Mrs iD has not yet sewn up the linen bag for me, but a reasonable degree of relief was had from using a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin tea towel. I think a similar low key/gentle approach with a heating pad would also be beneficial (but think Madras hot, not Phal or Vindaloo hot)

Morning all... So little is made of these whiskies that they don't have names - only the number of the cask they came from. One cask and made once only. Magnificent stuff and around 56% alcohol. If you did happen to find a bottle of them, each individually numbered, it would set you back over £300.

You jammy wotsit, I'd love to sip some of those single casks, at north of £300 that would be a whisky that would be a) only for me, b] drunk in very small amounts on special occasions, and c) hidden from my friends (due to the fact that one or two of them can single handedly demolish 3/4 of a bottle of Balvenie Double Wood over an evening [as I found out the hard way])

Mind you £300 isn't unreasonable for an excellent whisky. The local whisky specialist has a 50cL bottle of a single malt for CHF4000 (a very strange one as well, the whisky is jet black) and I've seen whiskies going for well north of £7000 at the World of Whiskie at LHR T2 and T5.

If I were to get seriously lucky on the lottery, s*d the fast cars, boats and planes, I'd be laying down a serious whisky, champagne and cigar cellar (so I'd have something to smoke and drink in my very serious library [although I have 3000 books, I could easily double that number without trying..)

Which brings me nicely to an inspirational thought for Tony and Aditi living well, is the best revenge"

iD

Edited July 12, 2014 by iL Dottore

[New Haven Neil]

A'noon.

 

I had suffered back issues for a long time, I do have issues from some damaged vertabrae from a schooldays gym accident (don't get me started) but they had changed, seemingly, and gotten worse.  Turned out to be referred pain from the hip, once that was diagnosed properly (by a physiotheraist it has to be said, after being told there was 'nothing wrong' in x-rays by local hospital - oh yeah?)....the body is an odd thing.  DD mentioned being set alight by TNS machines - Mrs H swears by hers if the sprains her back, I tried it for the lower back, not good....almost had an involuntary bowel movement.  Horrid thing, whatever setting it was on, it felt very un-natural and almost painful.  I thought they were supposed to mask pain?  Anyway, physiotherapy has been helpful, I have been very impressed by the three I have seen here and at Wrightington Hospital.  I keep the exercises up, and they have helped keep me more mobile after my rehabilitation post-surgery.

 

Jock, the photos are in the process of being transferred to the desktop, so I may risk posting some this evening!  Mid-Hants, Ffestiniog and Tal-y-llyn this time, plus some others, Anderton sp?) Boat Lift, Jodrell Donk Lovell Telescope ect.  Oh, and Sark - lovely place.

[New Haven Neil]

Ah, the frozen peas in a tea towel were recommended to me post surgery, but I got more relief from gentle warmth.  The icing is supposed to help reduce swelling I think, I was lucky in that I had little swelling, but less lucky in that I had a lot of pain from where muscles had been cut to give access.  Warmth certainly helped, and still does on occasion.

[Jock67B]

The frozen peas in a tea towel certainly worked for me following arthroscopy to both knees - the swelling reduced quite rapidly. One week after the operation (both knees were done at the same time by different surgeons almost 30 years ago - result of sports injury!), I was able to walk the eldest girl down the aisle without undue pain. I recall swinging my walking stick like C. Chaplin following the post ceremony celebrations - alcohol is still my favourite form of anaesthetic!

Kind regards,

Jock.

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

Important job this morning escorting herself to a local furniture shop in order to obtain my seal of approval on her thoughts about certain new settees and arm chairs for the living room.  Duly approved - especially as she has volunteered to pay for them.  Then took myself and the good Doctor off to Woodcote for the vintage vehicle rally - which we thought to be not so good this year and definitely seemed to have less in the way of roadgoing steam power than the MacAlpines 'do' at Fawley Hill this year.  Exceeding hot so after a nice 'hog roast' pork roll and a delicious ice cream we duly retired to Peugeot air-conditioning for a cool trip home, Missy of this parish said seh'd retreated to he camper van for  abreak because it was so hot and we didn't blame her one bit.

 

Now GDB, the matter of 'sentimental value' - well any truly scrupulous valuer/auctioneer will tell you there is no such thing.  If an item has a sentimental value for you it is basically a matter of deciding whether to sell or not.  You might, when you do decide to sell something, consider that it represents a particular financial value which you wish it to achieve and you agree a reserve with the auctioneer (with or without 'auctioneer's discretion') but in reality your reserve has to figure at least somewhere in the range of the auctioneer's estimated sale price because legally an auctioneer should not do it any differently - you cannot have a reserve in excess of the estimate.  

 

My impression of one particular tv antiques show ('Flog IT') of which I have experience is that they are looking for lots and stories which make good viewing and some of the patter goes accordingly; if they want you to sell something and televise it they will persuade you to do so;  if they don't think it would make good tv they won't.  Hence when I took along a picture despite its title and accompanying full provenance there wasn't much interest and I got the 'barrow boy' 3rd division 'valuer' who seemed to think he knew the auction market.  Seems I knew a bit more than him because when it was sold through a different auction (where I originally had it placed anyway) it sold for over 20 times his top estimate (of £20) and fetched more or less what I expected - simple fact was that he obviously didn't realise there was a market for pictures by 'Van Klomp' while I did.

 

The price something fetches in auction can depend on the auctioneer's estimate in many cases but it also depends on how potential purchasers value it - I midssed a postcard sale last week but I do now know what prices were fetched by the items which interested me and I also know how high some of them could have gone if the bidding had turned a particular way.  Ignoring for a moment the impact of 'phone and online bids the old auctioneers' truism is exactly right - any item will only fetch what two people in the (sale) room on the day think it is worth to them, those two people being the highest bidder and the under bidder.  What they think can sometimes be very different - by a fact or 10 or more - from what the auctioneer (or you the seller) thinks, or it could be a lot less.  Internet bidding generally, in my experience, tends to push prices up - so it's great if you're selling and the opposite if you're buying.

 

Enjoy what's left of your day

[Coombe Barton]

Sunny-ish and very warm here now. Back from visits to son (excuse to play with their dogs) IKEA (bits of storage stuff) and then fetch the caravan from storage prior to going off next Friday. Now just onto the cleaning/washing/vacuming bit for both cars and van.

 

If it rains, blame me.

Edited July 12, 2014 by Coombe Barton

[jamie92208]

First part of the day went well, steam and strawberry's in Wakefield made me very jealous of people who have garden railways. I was meant to be doing some more control panel wiring this afternoon but got so engrossed in the test match (fabulous partnership by Root and Andersen) that the afternoon has slipped away with TdF on the tele and internet for the test match.  Not a bad way of spening the time.

 

Jamie

Edited July 12, 2014 by jamie92208

[Simon G]

Another back sufferer here since the age of 21, when I did it in lifting a piano!  If I stick to my exercises, it is OK, but soon lets me know when I have forgotten (or been too lazy) to do them.  Now raining here so time to do the shopping!  At least I got the lawn cut, some weeds pulled out, raspberries picked and 5 jars of gooseberry jam made today.  So quite a good day so far!

[45156]

Stewart I think it's as good as ever and it's been my favourite tipple for many years. I'm surprised it didn't travel because when my Dad was alive we did sink the odd one or three in The Ship in Par and it was just as good if not better than around here. Mind you that was over 10 years ago. Am I right in thinking that 'spoons sell beer that's near the sell by date and that that is the reason or is that just an urban myth?

Not sure about the age of the beer, but given the low prices that they charge, it would't surprise me that they get a deal on sell by dates.  I did discuss this once with the owner of our local brewery, and also a small chain of free houses and he said that he could get Pride (via a different supply chain from JDW) but didn't as it was not that easy to tame in the cellar after the 240 mile journey.  This has always been a contention of mine, that beers are best consumed within the area where they are brewed.  One other thing about Pride (and probably relevant) is that locally, all beers are "pulled tight" - in other words with a very fine sparkler which has the effect of giving a foamy head (much loved in the North) but can concentrate the hops into the head as well - not a good move with a subtle brew. On another beery moan, I've just discovered that Aldi have reduced the ABV of their Steinhauser lager from 5% to 4.7% - I suppose it is one way of keeping the price at £3.99 for 6x330ml bottles.

 

Afternoon All

 

Just about caught up now, and my thought for today after some very unsuccessful woodwork is that it is well nigh impossible to eyeball a mitre!

 

Oh yes, and another thought, I wonder why the vacuum cleaner has cut out when I haven't cleaned the filters for about two years?  They were minging.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[bluebottle]

Cutting back the knee-deep growth on the west face of what I hesitate to call a garden is a two-day job nowadays. Today was to have been day two of strimming and hauling the hover mower up and down while trying to discourage the attentions of our six-legged friends. However, one of the neighbours is holding a garden party to celebrate a family birthday, so I regard it as my civic duty to leave those nasty snarling machines in the shed and console myself with a glass or two of beer and the athletics on the telly.

[Smiffy2]

Too hot.

My car alarm keeps going off - as do several others I can hear. I suspect it's due to the heat expanding the air in the cabin. Or something. Anyway, sensors turned off and it's gone quiet. Also the sun has shifted so the car's in shadow. 

Finally managed to contact son in the USA. He's OK, been busy.

 

SO CALL YOUR PARENTS FROM TIME TO TIME ALREADY!

 

 

That really was a pointless post, wasn't it?

[NGT6 1315]

How a fictional heritage electric comes into being:

 

 

There aren't any 171s in oriental red left and I suppose those locos which have, in fact, been preserved aren't wearing EVN style running numbers yet either. But, since even heritage stock must now be lettered with running numbers compliant with current UIC rules, I suppose the fictional Rübelandbahn historic operation I am having in mind could be no exception.

Edited July 12, 2014 by 1216 025