NGT6 1315

Evening all. Going to call it a night in a few but wanted to share this first. That song touches something deep inside me. Can't quite tell why. Thinking of @The White Rabbit and everyone else in need of moral support. Ta...

Moaning awl. Looking sunny right now but the mornings can still be chilly hereabouts. I'm currently having a few days off, which I don't mind one bit! I'm trying to get some things done around the house, and also have a few items to prepare for the next round of courses in Gotha. Stay safe, everyone.

Cheers all. Torrential downpour just came down, though only for two minutes or so! Had the first BBQ for this year yesterday to round off a mostly calm Easter weekend. Loaded the car with some junk we sorted out for disposal, but the queue at the recycling yard was extremely long when it opened, so I'll try again in a few. I'm reading the striking truck drivers near Darmstadt continue to be well looked after by residents and German services union reps who keep supplying them with food and drink and whatever else they need. The police maintain their presence at the service area too, and thankfully, no further attempts at harassing them were made so far. I also read a number of customers have terminated their contracts with their haulier over said harassment. Here's hoping that what passes as management there will not take this as an "excuse" for further bullying. Stay safe, folks...

Cheers all. I'll just leave this here… 🤭🤣

That is, to my mind, mutually exclusive! Cheers all. Getting sunny around here! And this…

That song has a highly immersive feel to it, too. I like that. 👌

Though this be fascinating, yet there is logic in 't.

https://www.hessenschau.de/panorama/eskalation-auf-raststaette-graefenhausen-privat-miliz-aus-polen-bedraengt-streikende-lkw-fahrer-v6,eskalation-lkw-streik-100.html The images might just suffice, even if you cannot read German. The fella behind the incident is promoting himself as a kind of private investigator, and seems to be, shall we say, shady. According to a string of earlier reports, he has had run-ins with the law himself over illegal activities in relation to his business. In addition, it would seem some of his goons were observed to have far-right tattoos, so they seem to have been, uh, recruited with greatest care and diligence.

In today’s news, a gang of armed private security staff equipped with bulletproof vests and an armoured car attempted to confront and forcibly remove a group of about fifty truck drivers on behalf of their Polish haulier on Friday because they have been on strike at a motorway service area near Darmstadt over several months of withheld pay for a fortnight. The thugs also brought a number of strikebreakers to replace the striking crews. Police intervened and temporarily arrested 19 persons, including the company boss. The strike continues with police in attendance to prevent further assaults, and union workers and local initiatives supplying the drivers with food and other necessities. It boggles the mind what 19th century methods some corporate crooks seem to believe they can get away with.

Cheers all. Reports about my assimilation have been greatly exaggerated, to paraphrase a certain Starfleet captain! Dinner will be ready in a couple of minutes, so I'll have to leave it at generic congrats and commies for the moment. Oh, and this is a major earworm right now: 🤘🕺😎

Suppose a weather report in Ancient Rome could have been as brief as "Hail, Caesar!"? 🤣

ZWEIKRAFTLOK: Actually the third Class 159 or Stadler Eurodual model I have, the other being a pair of HVLE locomotives! It's a Sudexpress model and gorgeous in every respect. 159 227 here is operated by Erfurter Bahnservice, so, broadly speaking, a regional prototype. As the HVLE 159s are, for that matter!

Cheers all. Long time no see, I confess, mainly due headaches caused by the same backstabbers I've been fending off for months now. Thankfully, an appointment with our occupational health officers yesterday went a lot better than I had expected after this rotten year. The issue here is that I need their green light to get back to driving trams, which had been part of the problem brought on by the depression I had run into last year, and a key item the backstabbers had attempted to exploit - as is the nature of backstabbers, I guess you could say. The rehab treatment I had taken late last year and the final report I had received after its conclusion does seem to have turned the odds strongly in my favour, however, so we could agree on working together to the end of finding a lasting solution which will comprise an adequate share of driving. I do continue to think that a mixed posting comprising driving for part of the week and doing back office tasks suited to my specialties for the rest is best suited for covering my interests, and to remain credible both versus admin and driving staff. We also were in agreement that with a view to the treatment, I had really done everything I could realistically have done on my part and that the positive outcome now should get a fair chance of proving itself. Be back later today. I'll try, guvs, honest! 😂

That sounds like me throughout Sunday night!

Cheers all. Stomach bug hit me hard on Sunday night, meaning I did not sleep one single minute and instead qualified for permanent resident status in the bathroom. No fun at all, that, and still feeling awfully exhausted. Given that stomach bugs are doing rounds in Livia's nursery too and that she had it over the weekend as well, I strongly suspect that was the source of all the misery. Illness-related absences also mean opening hours there will have to be shortened from tomorrow until Friday. Generic greetings and commies as appropriate. Do stay safe...

Also seconded!

May I just echo that sentiment. That's awful news indeed, @PhilJ W. I'll be thinking of you and yours... Moaning awl. It's turning out sunny with high clouds, which is nice after this dreich week. I'll make sure to take things slow this weekend!

Moaning awl. Once more unto the breech, then... I can assure you the weekend will be used for extended eyelid inspection, though! Not a lot else to say ATM, so, enjoy whatever you're up to.

Moaning awl... (and a lot of it, too!) Apparently, a t-storm discharged itself here in the afternoon yesterday. I did get the relevant weather warnings while on the train home (plus a few en route as we passed through affected areas!) but didn't see any of it. Elise said the precip went from lashing rain to hail and eventually snow, so it must have been pretty crazy! Now where did I put those matches for propping up the eyelids...

That’s rad, man! 😂

I'll just leave this here for lunch break...

Moaning awl from Gotha. It's been quite blowy from Leipzig to here as well. With Gotha's elevation being higher, it's been rather chilly here, too! I'll need to catch up on rather much sleep over the weekend for sure. I'm happy to report the train rides here and back have been uneventful so far, though. And for chuckles in the morning, may I just leave this here… 😂 BDms obviously being a coach type!

Moaning awl. Been up far too early again and am semi-awake at best, really...

Ah, but you see, this is an otaku forum, is it not? 😂🤓

My thoughts exactly when we visit my parents oop narf!