Early Risers.

[AndyID]

4 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

Its all about discrimination Andy. A trip that operates at a fault current of 30mA should go out on a fault current of 30mA, wherever it is in the circuit. If you have one trip connected downstream of another and both are rated at the same fault level, either or both could operate. There is no protection from the dreaded Windows updates unless you have a separate generation / storage / distribution system dedicated to such (routine ) tasks!

 

I think you misunderstand. In the US it's common to not include RCDs in the circuit breakers at the main distribution panel. The multiple branches from each breaker can have a GFI outlet at the start of the branch (and typically do.) That GFI outlet also protects all the outlets beyond it in that branch. As there are no GFIs in series there is no problem with discrimination. I think we have something like twenty GFI outlets and every outlet in the house is protected.

 

It's also quite common for branches that supply computers to not include any RCD/GFI although I don't think that's such a good idea.

[AndyID]

Bummer!

 

"Samuel Adams released a new—and limited—batch of its seasonal Utopias beer that some states are already banning from shelves. While an average beer’s alcohol by volume, or ABV, falls below 10 percent, the new release is the highest naturally fermented beer at 28 percent, according to Forbes.

 

States that are already barred from selling the brew include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia."

 

From:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/samuel-adams-extreme-beer-contains-ninja-yeast-and-is-illegal-in-15-states-202117412.html

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Disposed of a quantity of modelling tokens at the Chelmsford show today, most of it went on a locomotive from John Dutfields plus a few bits and pieces from other traders. One thing I hate washing is bedsheets, how do you fold the things solo without an extra pair of arms? 

[Tony_S]

14 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

. One thing I hate washing is bedsheets, how do you fold the things solo without an extra pair of arms? 

Google “how to fold sheets by yourself”. There are videos. My method involves using chin and chest as a third hand. 

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

Badoom-tish, Debs!

 

A full day of running about with SWMBO, lunch in the Big City, shopping then home to re-organise the woodstores after a delivery yesterday.  The suppliers cut to length with military precision, but we split them again lengthways as they're a bit big for our burner - we end up melting.  So the existing wood in the store which is all split has to come out, the newly delivered to be split another time, and the old stacked in front of it.  One day we'll make a bigger store to enable it all to be rotated properly!

 

It rained of course.

Do what we do and stack the wood on pallets each of which has a label showing when ut was stacked.  We get ours in 1 metre lengths then chop each into 3 pieces to fit the stove.  The log splitter is used for thick stuff from the garden.

 

Jamie

[New Haven Neil]

Space is the problem, Jamie!  Not one you have, lucky lad!

 

Oh ironing - the best day in my short career in the Merch was the day I finished my cadetship and got that first gold ring around my sleeve - I got a 'cabin-boy' (steadyyyyy) who did my washing and ironing - 99% uniform of course.  In actuality they were usually bribe-able even by a scruffy engineer cadet before then, but not always, and of course the Chief couldn't be allowed to find out.   

Edited October 19, 2019 by New Haven Neil

[Coombe Barton]

It’s said that all dogs are therapy dogs, but most of them are working undercover. I think a few of them broke cover for me this morning.

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2019/10/19/coping-02/

[Barry O]

Goodnight all!

Baz

[New Haven Neil]

Oh, I see all the Paradise Papers stuff about Fraggle Rock.......was rubbish.  No laws or rules about VAT broken.  Don't see that in the headlines......just saying. But the lasting memory will be 'oh that's the tax haven VAT fiddle place'.  No, that's the City of London.

[trisonic]

10 hours ago, Debs. said:

Is that Ruget or Crickby? 

It doesn't matter......................................................................... Best, Pete..................

[Gwiwer]

Evening all. 
 

A frustrating day Upon the Hill which has seen my distance-vision glasses require repair, my phone update and require me to reset permissions and passwords at every turn. And the muddling is not going well because I cannot fathom a wiring issue. 
 

This morning the kilt was left with a dry-cleaner in Richmond who is also able to repair the two tiny areas of wear on it. SWMBO left a pair of shoes with the cobbler (not a trade one sees every day now but that is how he describes himself) for a re-sole. 
 

We returned home for lunch and received a call from aforesaid cobbler advising the shoes would be ready at 4.30. Not bad for a full re-sole but it meant I had to slot in a second trip to The Mound of the Rich. 
 

That was going to lead nicely into drinks with Former Neighbours (Upstairs) who had invited me to join them at ‘spoons in Twickenham. Except they were running late and I had to be home to make dinner. 
 

Opportunity knocked during the evening ad SWMBO retired to do something in her room so I declared it was time for an evening walk. The walk ended at ‘spoons where I caught up with Trio of Friends. £2.39 for a pint of Doom Bar was also very reasonable as it is usually north of £5 around here. I don’t necessarily agree with ‘spoons business methods but it was a very well cellared and presented pint. When it finally came. 
 

I have waited excessive time at the bar there before so I now take a seat and order on their app. This has always produced service within 5-10 minutes.  After 30 minutes tonight I got thirsty and asked at the bar. Ah - yes - we overlooked that one. Better late than never I suppose and the company was  friendly and attractive   

 

I’m off to bed in a moment. I have already been asked if I am “making eggs for breakfast”. Do I look like a chicken???? 

[The Stationmaster]

Evening all,

 

The show at Didcot was visited and notwithstanding the brain dead halfwit who 'stole' my sandwiches at the servery. (and I hope he didn't enjoy them because he'd ordered them on brown bread but made off with mine on white bread and of course then his lady friend didn't get hers for ages because he'd simply forgotten about hers and made off with mine, greedy s*d) the show was pretty good.   A small show as it's a small venue but a delightfully eclectic mix of layouts in various scales and including one in 21mm gauge which has on occasion been taken to a show in a 1935 Austin 10.  Alas the read vehicle weathering demo at Pendon yesterday led to a rather expensive purchase of two sable paintbrushes.

 

Talking of yesterday at Pendon and ever mindful of the lurking beehive awl here's one of my pics - not a train in sight

[pH]

Yesterday I made what I think is the most unusual repair I've done on a household appliance.

 

Any previous dishwasher we've had has had a lever to lock the door latch. The current one has no lever, you just push the top of the door into the cabinet and a sprung tab at the front of the top of the cabinet clicks into a depression in the top edge of the door. To open, you just pull the door open, off the tab.

 

For several weeks, the door latch has been unpredictable - sometimes it stays latched all through a cycle, sometimes it will unlock and the machine stops, though the door stays almost closed. You have to push the top of the door back in and the machine restarts. Lately, it's been getting worse, sometimes needing to be reclosed multiple times in a cycle.

 

I thought the machine might need new door springs - they are noticeably weaker than when they were new. But before I replaced them, I thought I'd consult the interweb. Yes, there was discussion of this problem and yes, there was a suggested solution - knock a wedge between the top of the dishwasher cabinet and the underside of the countertop above it! Tried it, and the dishwasher ran through a complete cycle without stopping.

 

Apparently, the spring in the door latch is strong enough to deform the top of the cabinet upwards over time, meaning that the tab is no longer held firmly into the depression in the top of the door. The wedge pushes the top of the cabinet down, and so holds the tab more tightly into the door.

 

Low tech, low cost solution! Now we just need to see how long it works for.

 

 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

We've had a busy here at BSW towers, the girls and I made rocky road cakes this morning and they were set sufficiently for us all to try one at dinner time, they went down really well, particularly with Sheila, who doesn’t normally like these. However, I did deviate a little from the recipe by using chocolate that has a higher cocoa content and biscuits with a lower sugar content, thereby making it less sweet, more to Sheila’s liking. 

 

Mid afternoon Vickie and Ian called round to take the girls home and stopped for a cuppa. Whilst they were still here, Mike and Sarah turned up so we ended up with quite a houseful for a while. It’s Ian's birthday tomorrow, so Mike and Sarah were able to give him his present early, as did we. Once Vickie, Ian and the girls had left for home, I went and made a start on tonight’s tea, Kashmiri chicken, but as I’d made the sauce a few weeks ago, it was really just a case of preparing the rice and chicken and then adding the sauce. Needless to say, there was nothing left over at the end of the meal. 

 

Goodnight all

Edited October 19, 2019 by BSW01

[AndyID]

1 hour ago, Gwiwer said:

left a pair of shoes with the cobbler (not a trade one sees every day now

 

He's probably sticking to the last.

[Gwiwer]

Sleepage is in short supply.  

 

I should not be hungry having already enjoyed a good meal earlier tonight but somewhere between brain and stomach lay the thought of a large juicy steak

with chips (not "fries") and a goodly assortment of trimmings.  

 

It should be possible to order such a thing for delivery even at midnight in this part of the world.  

 

As Steak-the-Fantasy seemed to be the major obstruction to falling asleep I compromised with a muggacoffy and some Marmite on toast! 

Edited October 19, 2019 by Gwiwer

[roundhouse]

5 hours ago, AndyID said:

Bummer!

 

"Samuel Adams released a new—and limited—batch of its seasonal Utopias beer that some states are already banning from shelves. While an average beer’s alcohol by volume, or ABV, falls below 10 percent, the new release is the highest naturally fermented beer at 28 percent, according to Forbes.

 

States that are already barred from selling the brew include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia."

 

From:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/samuel-adams-extreme-beer-contains-ninja-yeast-and-is-illegal-in-15-states-202117412.html

Sounds like a trip over to WA then before they ban it

[AndyID]

4 minutes ago, roundhouse said:

Sounds like a trip over to WA then before they ban it

 

I might have to do that although I think it's mostly states that have state controlled liquor stores that are banning it. Washington scrapped that a few years ago.

[Gwiwer]

6 minutes ago, AndyID said:

 

He's probably sticking to the last.

What ever he is he is one of a kind.  A middle-aged Jamaican with what might be the smallest shop in Richmond and on the delightfully-named and equally-quaint Paved Court just off Richmond Green.

 

Nothing is too much trouble here.  Not everywhere will accept SWMBO's Birkenstocks for repair, let alone a full re-sole, but he just popped out to the back room, checked he had the required and happily accepted the job.  Two hours later he called us to advise it was done.  And a top quality job it is too.  

 

Full marks.

 

http://www.cobblersandkeys.biz

[J. S. Bach]

23 minutes ago, roundhouse said:

Sounds like a trip over to WA then before they ban it

At $210.00!!!!! a bottle?? No thank you.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[newbryford]

Thursday was Northern day rideout with a mate of mine - courtesy of a Johnstone Press ticket offer.

 

We start off with a vague plan for the main destination (in this case Chester) and then play it by ear from there.

 

Target was Chester and would involve an 8 minute change at Preston between trains 2 & 3 for the day.

However train 2 was 7 minutes late as we joined it in Blackburn. A Plan B was formulated.................

Still 7 minutes or so late approaching Preston.

 

A quick sprint between platform 3C and 2 and jumped onboard with about 20 seconds to spare.

My first ride on a 331, which I wasn't expecting as I thought they hadn't entered service on the west of the Pennines. 

Coincidentally it was 331001.

 

The guard even announced "as you can see it's a new train, let's keep it that way........."

 

Liverpool Lime St never fails to impress.

 

 

Chester is a real mish-mash of styles with what appears to be three or 4 upgrades/add-ons through the lifetime of the station leading to a very disjointed look to it (and highly modellable!)

(Photos are on my main camera and I haven't downloaded them yet)

 

 

We later ended up in Manchester looking for a first trip on a new 195 - 195001 did the honours..........

 

11th and final train of the day - ready at Manchester Victoria - I mentioned to my mate that we hadn't yet ridden a 142 for the day. They have been becoming less regular on my local line.

A perverse wish, but they are to be withdrawn soon and this may be our last chance to sample one.

And then this turns up.

 

 

 

Due to be preserved at the NRM in the original orange/brown of the GMPTE

 

Two firsts with unit 001 and a (probable) last with another 001......................

 

Golf Friday was very wet underfoot, but a new course to me at Bracken Ghyll near Skipton and I managed 3rd place on our end of season team outing as well as a spot prize for a nearest the pin.

 

Busy Saturday - as always playing catchup after 2 days off, but tomorrow should see us very much on top of day to day service/repairs.

 

This evening was building a tidy version of a little circuit for signal control on my layout.

Put together a few day ago, prototype 1 worked - sort of. It was tweaked last night to make it work properly, but as it was a mish-mash of wires, I wanted a tidier version.

Circuit 2 - in the process of tidying it up and mounting it on veroboard, I managed to connect something incorrectly.  But couldn't trace what it was.

Version 3 - bingo - a four aspect signal cycling red/yellow/double yellow/green with a reset to red from any other aspect, simply by using a centre off switch.

 

It's been a long time since I've built any projects on veroboard and it's quite satisfying when a plan comes together.

 

Just need to build another and then install them before Hazel Grove show next weekend.

 

Enough waffle from me.

 

Have a good Sunday folks

 

G'night.

Mick

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all.

[pH]

Spent an hour or so this afternoon taking the snow tires off the car! I had put them on for a trip into the Interior of BC at the end of September/beginning of October - they're required by law there after October 1. However, we're looking to buy a new car and trade the current one in. The snows are mounted on after-market steel rims, so I was putting on the original wheels, which have summer tires fitted. We'll sell the mounted snows separately - they won't fit the car we're looking to buy.

[AndyID]

41 minutes ago, pH said:

We'll sell the mounted snows separately - they won't fit the car we're looking to buy.

 

Hope you have more luck than I did. Eventually I put the studded tires with steel rims off MrsID's old Liberty at the end of the drive for the fairy removal service.