New Haven Neil

Morning, from a damp, well wet really, windy and cool 6c rock, where enthusiasm is at a bit of a low. @OzexpatriateI would think the idea of dolphins is to divert a vessel, ie to a glancing blow, rather than take it to a dead stop, somewhat too much momentum there as you say. As @jjb1970 says, I'd like to see the operator sat in a chair in wherever cope when all the fuel filters block due to dirty fuel (unlikely, as actually fuel is purified - via a centrifuge - before use but sheet happens) so just changing one over doesn't last more than a few minutes. One thing is for sure, stranger things do happen at sea, you wouldn't believe some of the breakdowns that do happen, especially on older vessels.

A little thought about the ship/bridge interface - haven't heard any chat today about autonomous vessels that were all the rage in the news last week. No crew, so super cheap to run by a youngster watching a telly on a warm office in Londiium....or Beijing. I wonder what the computer will do when number 2 generator throws a leg out of the bed at a crucial moment, say, when approaching a narrow bridge, as a for instance? Turn it off and on again? Pah, full rant.

Perhaps he has a Macc lads album (Macclesfield - not quite Manutopia but not far off) .......now THAT will set the profanisaurus wilting.

Yup.....

Morning, from a very damp rock, persisting down, 5c and yeuch - a technical term used by meteorologists. As JJB has said, it will be interesting to find how how the accident vessel's engineroom stand-by was being handled in terms of generators on line, were they taking a gamble with a failure that left them with only one? - there's a LOT of pressure on container vessel officers to depart on time, regardless of what 'the office' see as minor issues and the law and sensible engineer officers see as a disaster waiting to happen. Seen it..... MV Dart Atlantic #cough#. Hell we once moved a general cargo vessel down river on a quayside by warping (using ropes and winches) with the main engine dismantled - the pilot thought we were on telegraphs ready to start if needed. No, it wasn't my responsibility I was too junior! Well known alcoholic Captain.....he over-rode the Chief Engineer's 'advice'. Oh what a (verbal) scrap that turned out to be. There were repercussions, as you may imagine. Long time ago now, but my point is risks are taken, even by 'reputable' companies.

Tyne Dock.

Indeed - you can't just turn them back on - I have spent half my day explaining this to folk, as well as the fact the Pilot is not in charge up there with the star gazers! Been in a similar situation years ago, in Hong Kong - almost hit a Russian cruise ship, the frantic double rings astern and panic from the bridge on the phone as we got the gennies back on and started the main engine astern will stay with me all my life! Bl**dy Doxford engine didn't want to co-operate either. It was close.....

Hoooooeeee, that's nasty. Nightmare stuff. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-68663071

Morning, the rock is dank and damp today and a mere 7c. The day is saved by mate H coming around for a couple of hours chat about those unmentionable things, and to catch up after our respective holidays, he was on a northern lights cruise (not the same one as Dave H). Then who knows what excitement the afternoon will deliver, I can't wait. iD's post above puts in mind the book I mentioned a little while ago, the 'Obesity Code', where the doctor writing it is almost incredulous at the antics of US health departments in approving things that are so unhealthy, and ignoring clear evidence they are not. He's Canadian.....and talks a lot of sense.

I had that with dad in his last days, I gave a lift to one of my mum's distant friends when picking mum up from visiting the hospice, and she thought I was my older brother, and gave chapter and verse as to how I was doing nothing to help and brother was doing it all, according to sis in law who she knew. (Big bro only arrived on the scene when dad was in his last days). I waited until she was about to get out and told her who I was, and what I thought of her and my brother who had done precisely nothing to help! Which, incidentally was what he got in the will, when both dad and mum had passed on. Precisely nothing, with an explanation why.

I think it's one of the war effort export versions or later build of similar, they got to a few places in Europe.

Yes, my pal was one of several engineers who covered the system throughout the UK, and as he was also a radio amateur G6CBJ (he set up one of the 70cm repeaters in the north-east), his car looked like a porcupine with the amount of aerials in it, for MOLD and amateur frequencies. I am aware of what they system was actually for, but perhaps we shouldn't talk about that even though it is long gone. He had a few exciting times when it broke in bad weather, always in an awkward place, Snaefell of course and Shap quarry once in deep snow - the military used to 'insert' him if he couldn't get there under his own steam. He often reflects that if his employers/WD had known he was gay back then, he wouldn't have got the job because of 'security' concerns. Thankfully times are more enlightened now. He's a seriously clever lad, you guys could talk electrons all day!

IIRC there were CHL towers in the west of the island, at Dalby, not sure if these were actively part of CHL or just for training. In more recent times there was another military system up on Snaefell, MOLD. My bud JD was the engineer from Pye/Philips for it. All very secret squirrel in the 80's but now gone, totally obsolete. Now its just microwave links up there, and the odd other aerial.

Morning, from a miserably wet, breezy and chilly 6c rock. Although forecast, it is still a disappointment when it's like this, meaning I have no excuse not to do housework. Therefore.....pah. Ahh pants, no water pressure either, great start to the week. Double pah.

Played out today. In this. Then this. Up there. Our house is in this photo, but you'd be hard put to spot it from 2 thousand feet up.

Morning, from a rock that is 8c and rather breezy, after a pretty wild 'n' windy night, muchos rain too. It is now nice and sunny but the 'feels like' is grim. So of course we're off our for a ride on something powered by 600v DC on steel strips three feet apart, and another three and a half feet apart and very, very steep. Only going half way though, for eats at the Victory Cafe. This was a WW2 era radio/radar station, and is now after a period as a motorcycle museum (it is on the high part of the TT course) is now a slightly odd cafe specialising in home made pies - iD would approve, they are very good. Then who knows, maybe continue a ride on the three foot section, all the way to the Big City (approved Camilla-ly) or just back to the Bright Lights of Royal Ramsey. My opinion will no doubt let me know.

Odd day. Off out early doors for Mrs NHN to be Pilated, NHN for a walk around Royal Ramsey while that was ongoing, but it was blowing an absolute hoolie, and most unpleasant due to wind chill Ian A would be proud of so hid in a cafe after a mile walk. The rush off Way out West to Peel to meet up with Trackshack John and his Mrs for brunch, our diaries seldom allow so that was a nice treat. They only arrived back On-Rock late last night after a trip away, and a rather unpleasant ride in a force 7 aboard the fast craft cater-meringue, which usually doesn't sail over a force 6. I think they were still dizzy. Then some torture by shopping followed by a reward a nice coffee down Laxey prom (on the sheltered side of the rock), knackered by the time we got home. As for cheques, I usually write one for MRJ too, but, err, it would appear (by the slip being next to me) that I have, err, forgotten to do so. Poop.

Well there is the added attraction of the N5....... ;-)

This was 79, IIRC. I'm sure he was up to no good, but how anything we dealt with would be of value escapes me. he certainly liked a drink, and suspect other smoky stuff too.

Oh....guess who hasn't sent his cheque off yet, pants!

We had one of those when I was at the Kolledge of Nollidge as a Merchant Navy officer cadet, he was on his third attempt to pass the final year (engineering). No realistic company (we were all employees - paid) would put up with such behaviour, but he was Libyan and worked for their equivalent (allegedly) of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. He was quite a character to say the least, so laid back he would fall over, had loads of cash, a fancy car (an X1/9 when they were new...on a cadet's wages?). We always wondered what he really was there for. He was sort of the course mascot, everyone got on really well with him, lecturers included.

@iL Dottore Donk has asked me to pass on his thanks, and also invited you to a slap-up (no UPF) meal in his new residence, Hamburger Castle. Any resemblance to a well known edifice on the Northumberland coast is purely co-incidental.

Aye, you're not wrong. Life was certainly different when I was at kolledge, and yourself around the same sort of era I suspect.

My gast is still flabbered by the antics of both the students and now the establishment at JB's uni - I would be off on a mega-rant. Mrs NHN's liver issues continue to confound, results today from a Fibroscan are that it is 100% healthy and even excellent for her age, in direct opposition to what she is being told other tests indicate. No answers.

Oh, yeah, before I forget.... Gurgle brought up reports of them going for thirty quid!