Early Risers.

[Pacific231G]

11 hours ago, Pacific231G said:

Good noontime all

 

I know the Tour de France isn't to everyone's taste (for me it's as close as I'm likely to get to seeing the French countryside this year) but, looking at the timings for today's sixth stage, it includes, at 65.5km to go, Ecueillé at 56.7 Lucay-le-Male and, at 46.1 Valencay, all three in Indre.

Ecueillé happens to be the HQ of the preserved southern section of the metre gauge Blanc-Argent railway, Luçay-le-Mâle used to be where it met the section of the line still in public use. Valençay   is now the southern end of the section still running as a public railway since SNCF closed the section between there and Luçay, a section which the SABA preservation group have been working to take over and may have done by now.  Whether we'll actually get to see any of the line today is anyone's guess as the route doesn't actually appear to cross the line but preserved railways are generally quite good at putting on a bit of a show when the Tour passes close enough to them. 

 

Today's coverage was far better than I'd dared hope . It ran through one of my favourite parts of France, the region where the Cher runs into the Loire that the late Dennis Allenden simply described as "Michelin 64".  There was a long section of route running alongside the electrified Tours-Vierzon main line (which like many such lines in France is unfenced!)   On the bit I was interested in, the official Tour timing sheet hadn't for some reason noted the Terre-Neuve PN (level crossing) on the preserved section of the metre gauge Blanc Argent.  SABA had duly parked a steam hauled train there with one of the Paul Frot Corpet-Louvet 020T (0-4-0 tank) contractor's locos that used to be on the Baie de Somme line in its earlier years as a preserved line and it got good TV coverage. Closer to Valençay,  the route ran parallel to the metre gauge line that SABA are now operating though the railcar set that ran slowly alongside the Peleton was in SNCF/TER livery.

 

To top it off Mark Cavendish got his second stage win!    

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[polybear]

Bear is awake....

The call of the No.1 was strong (TMI) - so up at 0430; the plan was for 0500 anyway, in order to hit Wickes around 6am.  Time to go.....

[Gwiwer]

Morning all. Welcome to POETS Day. 

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

Some kind gentle readers have asked about matters connected with the bone scan:  

 

Puppers, I had to go all the way to Bedford South Wing Hospital for the scan.  If the buses connect properly I can do it door to door in half an hour.  The apparatus appears to be a permanent installation.  Jamie, my consultations with the Prof are usually at intervals of six months or so.  He decided at the last one that the next would be in three months’ time, which is where 19th August comes from.  I had the scan at quite short notice, on 30th June, so I do not think that it is unreasonable to wait for less than two months for what we might call the good news.  Bear, I am not expecting to hear anything before then.   Lurker, I think that forgetting about the whole thing until there is news is not a bad idea - difficult, but not a bad idea. 

 

Shortly before I was diagnosed, some six years ago, one of my cousins was taken by prostate cancer.  When I found out that I had it too I was devastated.  In the ensuing six years I have learned much more about it, not least that it is far more common than I had supposed.  I know that it has the capacity to turn vicious and that there are many more ways of treating it than have been tried on me.   Best of all, it is my good fortune that I am being treated by one of the best in the business.

 

While I was trying to lie on my back perfectly still for half an hour while machinery was moving near and around me, I was reminded of an experience way back in 1967.  With some fellow students, I visited Snibston Colliery at Coalville in Leicestershire.  On that occasion I found myself lying face down six hundred feet below ground in a very confined space as coal-cutting machinery was approaching – just a little scary, if I’m honest.

 

In other news, that of Dave’s Dad is encouraging.  Fingers crossed that all remains well.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris   

[iL Dottore]

13 hours ago, Andrew P said:

Your lucky, were not aloud to put glass in our Bins,

But are you permitted to put the glass in the bin quietly?

17 hours ago, PupCam said:

…I have another CT scan on Friday and a scheduled cardio consultation in October!    I will be phoning the hospital up later next week to try and bring any pronouncements and action plans forward because I can't be hanging around like I am now till then!…

Good God! I know that the NHS can be slow, lethargic and heavily bureaucratic (and that was when I was working there in the early 80s), but what the hell are they doing? Have they outsourced report writing to a remote Carthusian monastery in the Hebrides where monks - in total silence - painstakingly transcribe medical reports onto vellum using Goose quill pens? 

8 hours ago, JohnDMJ said:

…WTF is a craft beer?

Theoretically, it is a beer made to exacting standards, in small quantities, the “old fashioned” way (if I recall correctly, we [you, me and ChrisF] at one time or another visited the craft brewery in Kleinbasel for a brew or two - the one that brews its beers behind the kitchen- that was craft beer).

I think the name originated from the first independent and small brewer master craftsmen brewing beer with care, attention, quality ingredients and without resorting to those tricks used by the big industrialised Brewers.

8 hours ago, polybear said:

…At a wild guess I'd say a beer with an inflated price........

It all depends what you define as “an inflated price“, my dear tight pawed bear. Certainly, small batches of high quality product made with care, attention and passion using quality ingredients will always cost more than mass produced industrial-quality “beer“.  But to be honest, I find – at least in London – the price difference between a mass produced “beer“ (better known for its TV ads than its taste) and a craft beer to be minimal. Microbrewers also seem to be more willing to take risks in brewing than the big boys. During one trip to London I drank a very nice India Pale Lager (a lager brewed like an IPA - unusual and very more-ish) and a really weird chocolate beer (a sort of stout). Both came from small, local, brewers.

 

JohnDMJ referred to the purity laws governing brewing in the DACH region. This may ensure the purity of the beer, but is no guarantor of taste. Not far from where I live is one of Switzerland’s biggest brewers which is pretty much the market leader and its products are found everywhere. Yet its biggest product is a bland and inoffensive “Euro Lager” (although some of the short run beers - like their Christmas beer - are quite nice). There is also local competition to this big brewer: apart from the microbrewery referred to above, there is also Unserbier (“Our” beer) founded by beer enthusiasts who wanted something better than a bland “Euro Lager”. As the production runs are relatively small, their beers cost a little more, and are harder to find, than the boring stuff - but worth the cost and effort.

Interestingly, Unserbier is an AG - which means you can buy shares in the company and thus are entitled to dividends, which are distributed not in the form of money but in cases of their sought-after limited run beers. 
 

And on that Capitalist note, I bid you a happy POETS day.

 

iD

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, pH said:

Before and after (actually ‘after and before’) of the Main Street in Lytton:

Very reminiscent of last summer's wildfires in the Santiam Canyon, in particular Detroit, Oregon.

 

With the dry conditions, many municipalities have banned fireworks in anticipation of the upcoming holiday on Sunday. There won't be much of a meaningful enforcement of the ban.

[TheQ]

9 hours ago, brianusa said:

You could be deader than a dodo in between!  Surely the much vaunted NHS could do better.

Recent problem:  Go outside.  Fall down. Break hip. Call EMT. Go to hospital.  Go to bed. Wake up, hip fixed.  Now the long rehab begins!  A little less than twelve hours, all on our insurance for which we pay a hefty premium but its worth it for the service.

Brian.

 

UK

Go outside.  Fall down. Break hip. Call 999. Go to hospital.  Go to bed. Wake up, hip fixed.  Now the long rehab begins!  A little less than twelve hours, all free on the NHS. Not me ... but emergency treatment in the UK is still very quick.

Edited July 2, 2021 by TheQ

[Andrew P]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

But are you permitted to put the glass in the bin quietly?

 

 

iD

Yep me bad speelin and dick shon again.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a still dry Charente. A good afternoon/evening was had watching trains at Poitiers.  Warm and sunny and quite a bit to see.  Today I'm goi g to be stuck in another house waiting for the delivery of some garden furniture.  The slot is 08.00 to 18.00.  We are not amused.

 

TTFN.

 

Jamie

 

[Andrew P]

And so its a bleary good morning from Amp Sher, very misty, and looking like that fine rain that you can't actually see, but gets you wet.

 

So, half an hour in the chair, do my Blood Pressure, and then find some soap and water, followed by some food to start the day. Probably Weetabix today I think.

 

Have a good day one and all, stay safe and keep well.

[Barry O]

Bit grey and overcast here in the North West Leeds Highlands. 

 

Weather forecast for Saturday not good.. indeed we may be getting a lotnof rain over the coming days..it may quieten the kickball fans viewing games outdoors down. Good!

I must venture to the butchers for smoked bacon and growler supplies this morning..after that I will be wielding a soldering iron to make so e repairs and possibly giving Beast a wash.

 

Stay safe, enjoy your day!

Time for my mugatea

Baz

[Erichill16]

8 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Some of them figured out ways to beat the heat:

CNN: Watch bears take a dip as temperatures soar

 

(First segment is quite close to @pH.)

 

I’ve seen this clip on the BBC and it’s a lovely image, but the smile quickly disappears when you realise that’s a lucky family and other creatures aren’t going to be so fortunate.

I feel a rant about global warming, new build coal fired power stations and cheap foreign imports coming so I better get up and have my breakfast.

Robert

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis was in full song this morning but quietened down as soon as I started moving about. Congratulations to our young tennis players, Emma Raducanu and Dan Evans. Hopefully they will get nearer to the final than previous British players (not forgetting Andy Murray of course). Most of you are aware that I am not a footie fan but the Euro final will be on my birthday. I might try to get up some enthusiasm but don't hold your breath.

[TheQ]

Mooring awl, Inner Temple Hare,

6 hour solid sleep helped by a large glass of amber liquid.

 

Yesterday, Ben refused to go out in the afternoon because it was raining.. Then he suddenly wanted out a couple of minutes later .. It had stopped raining.. He came back wet though.. The rain started again while he was out there.

 

I've just put the annual navigational warnings on the Broads forums, about Horning  regatta (31 July to 5th August) this year, they are hoping to put the full regatta on, whether or not the social events every night  go ahead is up to Boris...

 

Late yesterday at work I did the programme for the next 3 months, I've 2 major systems each week before the regatta and for the week after..

 

I'll take a long tape measure to the regatta and try to get some measurements of sail areas, for the handicap programme and not rely on estimates from photos..

 

I must spend some time refurbishing a buoy for the regatta, it's a floating KEEP RIGHT sign.. Someone ran over it again.. I might add a 6ft flag pole this time.. To see if that helps them see it..

 

The boss is interviewing someone IN PERSON for the test software post in about an hour..

Must find something to look busy..

 

Time I got on with more work,

[jonny777]

Dry but cloudy here in North Somerset. Sun is breaking through slowly, and another warm and humid day is expected. 

 

Grandson will visit this morning. He is train mad. He usually wants to watch Youtube videos of Clapham Junction because there is so much action there. 

 

My sense of smell is slowly returning in fits and starts. It is quite revealing how much the brain takes for granted when the senses are working normally. When things go awry, the merest hint of a familiar pong makes me stop what I'm doing and think "I can smell that". 

 

Had a very strange dream last night, where I seemed to be working nights but was trying to sleep during the day. I was in bed in a room with my mother in law and sister in law present (but not in the bed I hasten to add - that thought would have been a nightmare). Anyhow, every time I turned over (in my dream) m-i-l switched on the light and asked if I wanted a cup of tea, and sis-i-l came over with a tin of biscuits. Time after time I tried telling them to go away and let me get a decent few hours sleep. I ended up so annoyed that I woke up in a cold sweat. 

[Dave Hunt]

A bit dull and grey in North Hipposhire this AM. We're shortly off to Oakham to see a dear friend whose birthday is tomorrow and whom we haven't seen in eighteen months thanks to the pandemic. Another friend is house and cat sitting for us and keeping an eye on my Dad, which is something she often does for us and which makes life a lot easier. Aren't some people lovely?

 

Yesterday I filled the car's fuel tank for the first time in I don't know how long and was a bit taken aback to see that the price of fuel has risen something over 20% in the meantime. I wasn't aware that oil prices had risen a lot recently so what's the excuse this time? Covid 19 again? Or is it just the usual oil companies' greed? I wonder how they are going to continue to rob us blind when electric vehicles become the norm - buy up the electric companies (if they haven't done so already) and invent cost increases I suppose. I didn't mean to have a rant, it just came out that way.

 

It's tragic to see what has happened to Lytton in British Columbia. We passed through it a few years ago and it's shocking to see yesterday's pictures of the devastation. I wonder how long it will be before the global warming denying Trumpites will admit what's happening? Oh, dear, another rant in development; I'd better quit now before I turn into a grumpy old man. Oops, too late.

 

Have a good POETS day and weekend people.

 

Dave

[TheQ]

Petrol prices, OPEC severely  cut production because of COVID reducing demand, they haven't had a new meeting to increase production since.. Meanwhile due to Covid maintenance on refineries has also suffered, and it will take time to get them fully back on line.. So for now the petrol prices are climbing rapidly.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

A greyish start to the day here with the chance of some sunny spells and the odd shower.

I've been absent for a couple of days as we decided to have a short break away in Exeter.  VIsited the Cathedral and had a nice pub lunch nearby then walked down to the Quays. That was OK but it nearly killed me coming back!  Should have done it before lunch. It was a very warm day which made things worse (for me).  Need to get fitter.  Next day it was decided that we really had to go to Buckfastleigh for the Abbey and a ride behind a steam loco.    Went to the model shop but nothing bought which is unusual for me.  This was an even hotter day so we went back to the hotel earlier than planned for some cool beers. Our hotel wasn't  bad but a bit tired although food was good and the staff really made us welcome.  Longest run I've done in the car so far and added about 400 miles at 48 mpg which was quite pleasing.  Traffic horrendous in places in both directions,  it took over 5 hours to get there and 4 to return (169 miles each way)  The car is now in serious need of a wash so that could be today's main task.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by grandadbob

[Erichill16]

Fuel prices.

BBC article on shortage of lorry drivers, that isn’t going to help either.

Apparently Haribo struggling so better stock up on my Golden Bears.

Better get a move on.

Robert

 

[leopardml2341]

Mornin'. SSDD

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, rather warm but misty out - odd.

 

Old farts bike club morning, we're off out all the way to Port Erin, right down the 'other end'.  What's the betting someone will get lost.   

 

We had local elections here this week, the 'not old' old fart (member's son so allowed associate membership) finds himself as a Commissioner (= Councillor in the UK) in Ramsey (the bright lights), he's a really nice and switched on guy, so we hope he can dislodge some of the entrenched thinking in town.  He's a successful media guy, makes documentaries (Director) and also is involved in video game production for a well known brand, very clever lad.  Yet he hangs out with us.....LOL. 

[Andrew P]

21 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Good morning all,

A greyish start to the day here with the chance of some sunny spells and the odd shower.

I've been absent for a couple of days as we decided to have a short break away in Exeter.  VIsited the Cathedral and had a nice pub lunch nearby then walked down to the Quays. That was OK but it nearly killed me coming back!  Should have done it before lunch. It was a very warm day which made things worse (for me).  Need to get fitter.  Next day it was decided that we really had to go to Buckfastleigh for the Abbey and a ride behind a steam train.    Went to the model shop but nothing bought which is unusual for me.  This was an even hotter day so we went back to the hotel earlier than planned for some cool beers. Our hotel wasn't  bad but a bit tired although food was good and the staff really made us welcome.  Longest run I've done in the car so far and added about 400 miles at 48 mpg which was quite pleasing.  Traffic horrendous in places in both directions,  it took over 5 hours to get there and 4 to return (169 miles each way)  The car is now in serious need of a wash so that could be today's main task.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

When we had the Video Shop in Buckfastleigh (Sight and Sound), it was opposite the Ratio Factory, and I would often walk down to the Railway with our 3 Dogs.

The Shop down there was rubbish at the time (1987 - 1990) and I never rode on the Train as I had no real interest in British Railways as I was modelling Continental HO at that time.

The Line was in its infancy back then, and I have been on it since, and it was lovely.

 

We had a Bungalow in Buckfast just along from the Abbey, but again we never went in, as our Shop seemed to take up most of our time, but we did get to know quite a few of the Monks when they came into our Shop.

 

Happy days.

 

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by Andrew P

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A dull, grey, slightly overcast start to the day here in England’s northwest. As it’s Friday, that means a day off from my DIY duties. I’ll shortly be heading off for my walk to the butchers for the weekly meat rations and hopefully a pastie for dinner. After that it’s the Trafford Centre and like last week Sheila has decided to accompany me, this is becoming a bit of a habit! I’ll have to put a stop to this (yeah right!). 

 

I’ve no plans for the afternoon, but that could always change! If it doesn’t I might take a walk to the bookshop and put an order in for another book that’s just come out. 

 

Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. 

 

Brian

[Pacific231G]

8 hours ago, Pacific231G said:

Today's coverage was far better than I'd dared hope . It ran through one of my favourite parts of France, the region where the Cher runs into the Loire that the late Dennis Allenden simply described as "Michelin 64".  There was a long section of route running alongside the electrified Tours-Vierzon main line (which like many such lines in France is unfenced!)   On the bit I was interested in, the official Tour timing sheet hadn't for some reason noted the Terre-Neuve PN (level crossing) on the preserved section of the metre gauge Blanc Argent.  SABA had duly parked a steam hauled train there with one of the Paul Frot Corpet-Louvet 020T (0-4-0 tank) contractor's locos that used to be on the Baie de Somme line in its earlier years as a preserved line and it got good TV coverage. Closer to Valençay,  the route ran parallel to the metre gauge line that SABA are now operating though the railcar set that ran slowly alongside the Peleton was in SNCF/TER livery.

 

To top it off Mark Cavendish got his second stage win!    

Update

The autorail X240 that I saw running alongside the Peleton has actually been with SABA since 2019 but has not been reliveried. I've just been watching a French video of a trip on the public line from Salbris to Valencay and, though SABA also use the station, their lines are very firmly separated from the  rest of the system by physical barriers. The first time I visited Valencay, in the 1980s, I saw a metre gauge goods train being made up- the line used to carry a lot of grain in converted covered wagons. 

 

This is all getting a bit too much chemin de fer for ER so I shall say good morning and hope you all have a good day and an excellent weekend. I'm supposed to be going to an open air theatre production tomorrow but the Met. Office may have other ideas.