Early Risers.

[BoD]

A pub called ‘The Flowing Spring’ is underwater. 
Prince Charles visits flood victims in a village called Fishlake.

It seems our ancestors weren’t just being random as they named places in times gone by.

I’m sure our readers can supply examples of their own.

[tigerburnie]

Evening, had a lovely day in St.Andrews with SWMBO and the daughter and her family for her birthday lunch in a fancy golf club, never played golf in my life and at those prices I don't think I ever will...…………………...Had a nice walk along the beach in the sunshine, that was free, so I intend to do that again lol. Only two more sleeps so the grandsons informed me, is there something about to happen.?

[jamie92208]

Here in the Charente the muddy hollow between our village and Néré has overflowed across the road but It's all still being watched by the ever present buzzard. No hippos have been sighted yet.

 

Jamie

[Gwiwer]

Ladies, Gents, families and friends.  I am about to switch off the computer in order to concentrate on the imminent Festive Season.  I already have my gift from Santa namely a stinker of a cold but am taking the pharmacist's advice and consuming little brown pills to rid myself of it by Wednesday.

 

Sharon and myself would like to thank everyone here for their friendship and support through what hasn't been the easiest of years.  In doing so we remember others who have been less fortunate and spend this time missing their loved ones.  Our thoughts are with you all.

 

Whether you speak English, Cornish or any other language may our friendships endure and bring calm to a troubled world.  

 

 

[roundhouse]

11 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Ladies, Gents, families and friends.  I am about to switch off the computer in order to concentrate on the imminent Festive Season.  I already have my gift from Santa namely a stinker of a cold but am taking the pharmacist's advice and consuming little brown pills to rid myself of it by Wednesday.

 

Sharon and myself would like to thank everyone here for their friendship and support through what hasn't been the easiest of years.  In doing so we remember others who have been less fortunate and spend this time missing their loved ones.  Our thoughts are with you all.

 

Whether you speak English, Cornish or any other language may our friendships endure and bring calm to a troubled world.  

 

 

Rick

 

You and Sharon have a great xmas.

[Kingzance]

Today has proceeded as well as could be expected. To Waitrose we did go, only waited around 5 minutes for a parking space (that could have been shorter if the old biddy (this one WAS older than me) could have managed to manoeuvre her wheels out of the parking space in a more proficient manner). Once inside, it was clear that Waitrose's clientele were in deep fear presaging withdrawal symptoms due to the store being closed on Christmas Day AND Boxing Day. At least we satisfied most of the items on her list. Upon returning home, eldest granddaughter appeared with a gift to wrap for her mother. This was duly done to SWMBO's satisfaction and then I would have returned her to her home except that her home was deserted so I took her into town looking for more sh!t that SWMBO had by then decided would prevent Christmas happening if we didn't have said items, grrr... Eventually, nothing suitable was found but Ava was returned home with a smile on her face, due in no small part to being able to bu€€er about with my mobile phone and knowing I won't be too sure how to rectify what she did. Part of the smile might have been down to the owner of the beautification salon frequented by SWMBO greeting me like a rather close friend and hugging me as we left! I have to admit it brought a little relief to my cultivated frosty countenance too.

Coffee capsules were delivered, as was an early present to me from The Whisky Exchange, something I had ordered at the last minute and didn't expect to see until past 26th. That it is here now means son will probably make something of a hole in it, grrr again... Son in law delivered some freshly split logs that had then to be stacked in my wood store. These are not well seasoned and not that dry so will have to be carefully sorted later when the fire has been allowed to go out overnight.

SWMBO is ensconced in front of that haunted fish tank again. I am rebelling by pouring a small one and catching up with ERs....

[Tony_S]

Aditi has set her alarm for 6.45 in the morning to make sure one of us will be awake to put our bin bag out. The bin men are arriving on Tuesday this week instead of Wednesday. If the person who goes out isn’t me, Aditi plans to drive to Canvey and do some shopping at the M&S food store. We have run out of things like Rich Tea and Digestive biscuits.  I am not sure why these  can’t be obtained from the Co-op which is within easy walking distance. The kitchen had a very Indian cooking aroma today. Aditi’s sister wants us to take Tandoori salmon over next Saturday. She has never made it before so just followed her sister’s advice to make the same masala she would for chicken and apply to salmon instead. We will get the fish later in the week, the masala is in the freezer now. 
Tony

[Coombe Barton]

Squirrels and found more Christmas lights

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/sounds-of-the-season-23-o-emmanuel-and-a-squirrel-or-two/

[Barry O]

Goodnight to most, evening to others.

Baz

[Coombe Barton]

2 hours ago, BoD said:

A pub called ‘The Flowing Spring’ is underwater. 
Prince Charles visits flood victims in a village called Fishlake.

It seems our ancestors weren’t just being random as they named places in times gone by.

I’m sure our readers can supply examples of their own.

I live on part of the three field system called Springfield - and there were fourteen springs in medieval times. The water table, in recent dampness, has risen from two feet under my back garden to well up the front, which is higher, and there are outflows fro gardens across pavements all up the road.

Someone had, at great expense, a soakaway dug in their garden. It's as bad as it eve was now.

Geologically there sand (porous) in the upper parts of the hill on clay (impervious) lower down. As the water input (rain) increases the bottom of the sand gets filled and escapes where it can,

Springfield was aptly named.

 

Edited December 23, 2019 by Coombe Barton

[leopardml2341]

Goodnight all.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[Ozexpatriate]

It is the middle of the afternoon (and consequently close to sunset this close to the Solstice) but the sky over my shoulder is remarkably blue.

 

Like many ERs I ran out to the supermarket around midday. It was still grey and gloomy (as it has been for at least a week) and I dressed appropriately. The expensive grocer's was jammed and the traffic around it was gridlocked. Leaving this shop, fancy cheeses in tow, I was surprised to be greeted by a glaringly bright thermonuclear explosion in the sky and had to resort to the backup pair of sunglasses stashed in the car.

 

Driving to my second destination with the car climate control sensing cool outdoor temperatures and the hot sun shining in was hot and uncomfortable but I'm not complaining. It was nice to see the sun for a change.

 

At least two of the small coastal rivers on the far side of the Coast Range crested yesterday, but there has been no flooding in my immediate vicinity.

 

This afternoon and evening, I need to do some housecleaning before family arrives tomorrow. Bah! ... you know the rest.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Dinner tonight was a pre-Christmas meal. I have been experimenting with the dry fryer which as I surmised can also double as a fan oven. The roast potatoes and parsnip came in packs with two helpings so I put half of each pack in the dry fryer dribbled a bit of olive oil on them and set it for 15 minutes. It turned out just about right, they baked perfectly. The green veg will only require a few minutes in the microwave and I will grill the salmon which I have instead of turkey.

6 hours ago, JohnDMJ said:

 

I'll counter your image alert and raise you one:

 

My line manager is at least 26 stone in weight and probably two days round the waist. Looking at a list of the top 40 heaviest Sumo wrestlers, he'd probably rank somewhere between 50 and 60. He has ridden on a specially built bicycle, from Lands End to John O'Groats. When cycling, he always lycra gear! (Our witnesses are still in rehab!)

 

Sorry, HH, but the term "hippopotamus on a roller skate", in this case, may prove too diminutive!

 

Reminds me of a colleague who was all of 20 stone who also wore lycra when using his bike. 

[The Stationmaster]

3 hours ago, BoD said:

A pub called ‘The Flowing Spring’ is underwater. 
Prince Charles visits flood victims in a village called Fishlake.

It seems our ancestors weren’t just being random as they named places in times gone by.

I’m sure our readers can supply examples of their own.

'The Flowing Spring' pub was so named because it is adjacent to what was once a spring.  Most the nearby land which nowadays floods was - well within living memory - properly looked after water meadows which were interesting to see from the top deck of a passing 'bus as the flooding was carefully controlled.

 

We do of course have another excellent name not too far away in the opposite direction - Pishill.  As you might imagine there are two common pronunciations, the posh one which sounds the first syllable as 'Pish' and the not so posh one which sounds it emphasising the 'hill' of the second syllable.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[brianusa]

And to all, a good night!  Merry Christmas!!

        Brian.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

I spent most of the afternoon drawing and redrawing circuit diagrams, each one was slightly smaller than it’s predecessor, I think I’ve finally got it as small as I can possibly get it, but I might give it another look tomorrow. The evening was rounded off with a nice bottle of hobgoblin!

 

 Goodnight all 

 

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[leopardml2341]

Morning; though it still looks very dark out there.

 

Had advance notice of what Derby City Council (maybe Derbyshire County Council) is giving us for Christmas /  New Year yesterday; a planned road closure for 8 weeks on my usual route to work.

 

Anyway, must go and do mi final stint for the year, not sure if today will be POETC as it's the first Christmas Eve I have worked for this employer.

 

I suspect I will be busy after work, so just in case I don't drop by later, goodnight all

 

ps on re-reading the above, i sound a bit miserable don't I ? Don't worry folks, I'm not.

Edited December 24, 2019 by leopardml2341

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Christmas Eve ... how did that get here?

 

My tasks today are mainly to do withfood. Preparing and cooking meals for today and getting veg etc sorted ready for tomorrow.

 

Apparently we are off to the pub tonight. Last year we met a lot of long time friends we hadn't seen in a while. Perhaps the same may happen tonight?

 

Finally heard from a friend who lives near Adelaide. He reckons it has been interesting driving to work. As he is a chef he and his good lady may not be having turkey tomorrow. 

 

 

Make the most of your time today.. once used it doesn't come back!

Positive thoughts to all who ail!

 

And I hope our missing ERs are keeping well!

 

Now for a mugatea 

Baz

[southern42]

 

NADOLIG LLAWEN A BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA

I CHI I GYD

 

______________

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

AND A VERY HAPPY ERs NEW YEAR

Polly and Ray

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Not raining at the moment but it was in the night. A bright start to the day is forecast followed by some showers, possibly heavy.

A bit of a disturbed night thanks to The Hip and The Shoulder and also the t#sser who fired up what sounded like a circular saw at 2.45 . There were about 3 bursts and a few clunks and car or van doors slamming but I couldn't see or figure out where it was (but I have my suspicions)  I'm tempted to make a disparaging comment in his hearing to see if it provokes any reaction. Something along the lines of "Did you hear that ####### ##### prat (or insert any other description you like, mine was a lot ruder at the time) wielding power tools in the middle of the night?" I think his English is good enough to understand that. 

It appears that notwithstanding the fact that "we've" been cleaning the house from top to bottom over the past couple of weeks "we" need to get it cleaned and tidied before our guests start arriving this afternoon. I'm assuming that "we" actually means me as I'm told that The Boss will be busy in the kitchen all morning  making sausage rolls, mince pies, cooking a ham etc etc.

I suppose I better think about getting some breakfast and then making a start.

Have a good one and if I don't get back on here today (or tomorrow) I wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas.

Bob.

[jamie92208]

Morning all from north west of the muddy hollow (sud).  The fire has been coaxed back into life and thd nurse is due.  Quite a lot got done yesterday.  Apparently  there ard cleaning duties to perform.

 

No last minute shopping expeditions have been planned, as far as I am aware.  A simple meal is planned for tonight, sausage egg and chips. At some point I will watch and enjoy Carols from Kings. I do love listeni g to the descants.

 

Good wishes to all and sundry.

 

Jamie

[roundhouse]

1 minute ago, grandadbob said:

 also the t#sser who fired up what sounded like a circular saw at 2.45 .

Wasn't me but was awake at that time so went in the shed and did a few remedials on the old layout but little noise doing so. One solenoid is completely mullered so that's been replaced. The bracket signal  was apparently not working after being knocked but when I plugged in my power pack both signals worked so it might be the friends power pack. Hes collecting the layout on 30th December to take back home so need to get all fixed by then and we are away in between for a few of the days.

 

Anyway its time to start looking for xmas presents. Only left it late as struggling to find useful things apart from railways but my mum and others wont find them useful. A few garden centres and DIY stores to be visited as soon as they open and a fall back will be  gift vouchers.

 

After that its going to be beer o'clock.

 

Enjoy xmas eve all.