RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted March 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 19, 2021 1 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Hroth Posted March 19, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 19, 2021 6 hours ago, PhilJ W said: Gulp! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tomparryharry Posted March 19, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 19, 2021 On 15/03/2021 at 01:43, The Johnster said: In the very hot and dry summer of 1976, at which time I was a guard on the Cardff Valleys trains, the frequent grass fires on the mountains and general dryness of the grass meant that the local sheepses, never particularly deferential to concepts like trespass and getting where they shouldn't at the best of times, took to the valley floors in large numbers. The result of this wa an increase in the number killed by trains. Most animals, if they wander onto railway lines, react to a horn being blown at them by scarpering off to the side, but sheepses are spectacularly stupid (any sheep farmer will tell you that they are bags of wool looking for new ways to die) and reason that the best way to deal with the situation is to run away from the noise. The dmu may be doing anything up to 70mph and a sheep in good nick can probably average 15mph, 20 tops, on the sleepers. The result, sadly, is inevitable, but the daft things will turn aside to safety at the last second, then turn around to check, at which point they are brained by the cab steps, and go all stiff, rolling down the bank with their legs snapping. Now, many of the regular passengers have a particular Valleys sensitivity to this, and began awarding us points for style and the messiness of the dispatch. A few of us responed to this by chalking the victims on the cab doors as confirmed or unconfirmed kills, fighter ace style. I was called into the office over this, as were several of us, as it was considered bad taste by the 'nice' passengers from Penarth or Dinas Powys. Some folks don' got no sense of humour... The local sheep farmers were in the habit of putting any dead members of their flocks on the tracks for trains to run over them so that they could claim compo from the railway, so the drivers had to report hitting the animals. We also had wandering sheep at Brecon Mountain Railway. The easiest way to disperse them was to open the cylinder drain cocks; the ensuing steam would scare them away. Of course, it's not much use without steam..... We would chase a flock about 100 yards, before one of them found a way through, followed by the others. The return trip would be a repeat performance, only this time, up the hill. With 9 return trips up & down the line, those sheep were fit. With a daily mileage of 20-something miles, the sheep sometimes did about 4-5 miles themselves. Better than me, anyway..... 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Hroth Posted March 19, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 19, 2021 On 15/03/2021 at 01:43, The Johnster said: In the very hot and dry summer of 1976, at which time I was a guard on the Cardff Valleys trains, the frequent grass fires on the mountains and general dryness of the grass meant that the local sheepses, never particularly deferential to concepts like trespass and getting where they shouldn't at the best of times, took to the valley floors in large numbers. The result of this wa an increase in the number killed by trains. Most animals, if they wander onto railway lines, react to a horn being blown at them by scarpering off to the side, but sheepses are spectacularly stupid (any sheep farmer will tell you that they are bags of wool looking for new ways to die) and reason that the best way to deal with the situation is to run away from the noise. The dmu may be doing anything up to 70mph and a sheep in good nick can probably average 15mph, 20 tops, on the sleepers. The result, sadly, is inevitable, but the daft things will turn aside to safety at the last second, then turn around to check, at which point they are brained by the cab steps, and go all stiff, rolling down the bank with their legs snapping. Now, many of the regular passengers have a particular Valleys sensitivity to this, and began awarding us points for style and the messiness of the dispatch. A few of us responed to this by chalking the victims on the cab doors as confirmed or unconfirmed kills, fighter ace style. I was called into the office over this, as were several of us, as it was considered bad taste by the 'nice' passengers from Penarth or Dinas Powys. Some folks don' got no sense of humour... The local sheep farmers were in the habit of putting any dead members of their flocks on the tracks for trains to run over them so that they could claim compo from the railway, so the drivers had to report hitting the animals. Nothing to do with sheepses or signs, but we launched our family narrowboat in the summer of '76... The journey from the launching site to our permanent moorings should have taken two days. It took two weeks. It was more like boating around in muck than mucking around in boats! 1 1 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohmisterporter Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 (edited) One of the problems with having a fenced railway to keep livestock out is that when they do manage to get in there is no way they will find there way out again. I saw this on the Ratty one summer when one sheep ran in front of the train seemingly with no intention of getting back over the fence. Eventually the train stopped, so did the sheep, and a man walked through a field to get in front of the sheep and cornered it . The sheep stood and watched him approach and the chap grabbed it, lifted over the fence and dropped it into the field. He was only a skinny chap and we were quite impressed with this feat, he got a round of applause when he boarded the train. Edited March 19, 2021 by Ohmisterporter 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted March 19, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 19, 2021 12 hours ago, PhilJ W said: Can't wait to get my lips round that! Mike. 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium dagrizz Posted March 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 19, 2021 2 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 1 hour ago, dagrizz said: Seeing this, reminded me that I've always felt a bit worried by the term 'Family Butchers'. Do they mean their own or are they available for hire to provide the service? steve 1 1 2 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo675 Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 39 minutes ago, steve1 said: Seeing this, reminded me that I've always felt a bit worried by the term 'Family Butchers'. Do they mean their own or are they available for hire to provide the service? steve Watch out for Fred West and his chainsaw !?!?! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted March 20, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 20, 2021 Say what you like about Fred West, he laid a lovely patio... 1 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted March 20, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 20, 2021 11 hours ago, Ohmisterporter said: One of the problems with having a fenced railway to keep livestock out is The original reason that railways were fenced was to keep the passengers in, not to keep livestock out. Back in the 1830s and 40s there was much concern among the landowning classes that, should a train come to a stand while crossing their land, there would be an invasion of the urban poor rustling the livestock. On the Weston, Clevedon, and Portishead, a railway that made other Col. Stephens lines look modern and well equipped, this actually happened; trains would regularly stop in open country and everybody would get off to gather mushrooms, blackberries, or whatever else was going in the adjacent fields... 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted March 20, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 20, 2021 1 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JZ Posted March 20, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 20, 2021 12 hours ago, dagrizz said: 1 1 1 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Hroth Posted March 20, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 20, 2021 2 hours ago, JZ said: In Birkenhead, there used to be a Chinese Takeaway next door to a Vets.... 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymw Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 In many towns there are barber shops next to butchers. Not sure of the nationality, 'tho. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 The traditional sign for a barbers is a red and white striped pole. This symbolises the ancient practice of the barber also being a surgeon... A sign, but not exactly whacky I suppose? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted March 20, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, raymw said: In many towns there are barber shops next to butchers. Not sure of the nationality, 'tho. Probably Turkish Not sure about the barbers though... Edited March 20, 2021 by melmerby 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Hroth Posted March 20, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 20, 2021 1 hour ago, Ruffnut Thorston said: The traditional sign for a barbers is a red and white striped pole. This symbolises the ancient practice of the barber also being a surgeon... Not encouraging as it also symbolises blood'n'bandages, tending to indicate a certain cack-handedness... Their London Guild was "The Worshipful Company of Barber Surgeons". 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted March 21, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2021 6 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted March 21, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2021 6 hours ago, melmerby said: Probably Turkish Not sure about the barbers though... Delightful. Mike. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo675 Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 8 hours ago, PhilJ W said: Hi Phil, Pity the poor sods with such attitude !!! Gibbo. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Hroth Posted March 21, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2021 11 hours ago, PhilJ W said: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy... 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted April 7, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 7, 2021 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted April 7, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 7, 2021 That really does encapsulate the attitude, doesn't it! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted April 7, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 7, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, PhilJ W said: 12 minutes ago, The Johnster said: That really does encapsulate the attitude, doesn't it! "If you don't agree with our view of justice, we will bomb the hell out of you" Edited April 7, 2021 by melmerby 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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