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The Night Mail


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26 minutes ago, bbishop said:

Working from home today and it's all pretty well sorted.  Feeing fine after yesterday's jab but glad that I'm not out in this weather.  I may even do some modelling later.  Bill

It's a bright sunny morning up here, I was thinking of stepping out for a walk.

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40 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Open wagons which either arrive and depart full/empty without any loading/unloading taking place.

The veteran US modeller (modeler!) John Armstrong had a cure for this, employing a central backscene divider on a roundy layout. On one side of the backscene was a power station, into which loaded wagons would be propelled, and from which empty ones would be extracted, but not at the same time. On the other side of the backscene was a coal loading plant, from which loaded wagons would be extracted, and into which empty ones would be propelled. The two sets of wagons would simply circulate in opposite directions. 

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10 minutes ago, Oldddudders said:

The veteran US modeller (modeler!) John Armstrong had a cure for this, employing a central backscene divider on a roundy layout. On one side of the backscene was a power station, into which loaded wagons would be propelled, and from which empty ones would be extracted, but not at the same time. On the other side of the backscene was a coal loading plant, from which loaded wagons would be extracted, and into which empty ones would be propelled. The two sets of wagons would simply circulate in opposite directions. 

 

 

I had one of those on my last US layout - bit crude (because I am) but worked!  The power station did get more developed but this is the only shot i can find with the scenic break in it.

 

1269741201_Scenicbreak(Small).JPG.7542f704b31935776b5976e69be1a983.JPG

 

I have a friend/previous employee (and still a friend!!) called Harry, and he had those issues of being called Henry or Harold.  Also our not-god-daughter Katie is Katie, not Katherine etc.

 

 

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Sherry didn't like her given forename, and adopted the present one at age 12, I think. Her mother, unsurprisingly, was the last person to regularly address her by the given name, and she's been gone nearly 12 years. Our marriage cert, naturally, shows the given name, and other officialdom too, such as on hospital visits. I also still use it occasionally, not least because her full maiden name always seemed rather posh - Charmaine Ruth Fraser. 

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11 minutes ago, Oldddudders said:

Sherry didn't like her given forename, and adopted the present one at age 12, I think. Her mother, unsurprisingly, was the last person to regularly address her by the given name, and she's been gone nearly 12 years. Our marriage cert, naturally, shows the given name, and other officialdom too, such as on hospital visits. I also still use it occasionally, not least because her full maiden name always seemed rather posh - Charmaine Ruth Fraser. 

And of course, French officialdom would continue to use her maiden name.

Beth had to sigh for her Carte de Sejour (ID/residence card) the other day and had to sign as E R Watson. She had to do quite a pause for thought as it's over 41 years since she used that signature.

 

 

Jamie

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53 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Well, it was an early start to get the car into the garage for it's MoT.  (I know it should now be a Vosa test, but if you say that, people look at you as if you are speaking scribble.)

 

 

The official Gov. website says "Check the MOT status of a vehicle".....

 

Bear woke to discover snow; no wonder I'm so bl00dy cold - and I'm a PB....

Bear also discovered last night that the five Amazon Alexa devices I have no longer worked, thanks to the introduction of the new router required for the speedier internet service promised by Plusnet (which so far is still no improvement over the old service).  This meant that Bear couldn't have a bedtime story, as read by Paddington.  Not happy.

Today I was even less happy when it took the best part of three hours to get the five alexa's working again; one of them was a real b*****d and just wouldn't play.  In the end it needed a new version of the Alexa App to be downloaded to my tablet before it could be persuaded to come out to play.  I have a new name for that one, beginning with "F"....

At least today is saveloy, chip roll & beans day :yahoo: - but that means going out in the cold....:angry:.

I need a Jeeves....

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58 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

And of course, French officialdom would continue to use her maiden name.

Beth had to sigh for her Carte de Sejour (ID/residence card) the other day and had to sign as E R Watson. She had to do quite a pause for thought as it's over 41 years since she used that signature.

Sherry is only ever a visitor here in official terms. I am still registered as a widower, even though that means I pay a lot more tax, because it is vital Sherry's finances are kept separate from mine, so her children can inherit. I am happily childless, of course. 

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Morning,

 

I steamed my fake “trunk” type marine engine for the first time on Thursday, and a certain Hippo might be happy to see it finally working at last. All that needs doing now is to widen the grubscrew hole on the correct flywheel to tapping size for 3 BA. 

 

 

Douglas

Edited by Florence Locomotive Works
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The RAF tried all sorts of ways of getting my identity wrong, I was initially issued with the wrong letter to my ID number, that error kept cropping up throughout my career.. Then they kept double barreling my middle name to my surname, as my middle name is normally a surname in it's own right.

That's an error that crops up with other official documentation even if they have separate lines for surname and other names.

Some times officialdom reverses my christian name and surname, as my surname is used as a Christian name occasionally..

 

My grandfather was variously known as Jack John or Bert, as he was John, Bertram xxxxxx

 

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I made a dozen Apricot scones for afternoon tea.

 

Half a dozen left (I did share them).

 

Unfortunately I have now been informed that due to this afternoon's indulgence, the evening meal will be  rather light,  so probably soup and crackers.

 

I had hoped for some Bratties:  Apparently, you can't win them all:mocking_mini:.

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1 hour ago, Florence Locomotive Works said:

Morning,

 

I steamed my fake “trunk” type marine engine for the first time on Thursday, and a certain Hippo might be happy to it finally working at last. All that needs doing now is to widen the grubscrew hole on the correct flywheel to tapping size for 3 BA. 

 

 

Douglas

 

That's wigglin' like a good 'un..... :D

 

22 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

I made a dozen Apricot scones for afternoon tea.

 

Half a dozen left (I did share them).

 

Unfortunately I have now been informed that due to this afternoon's indulgence, the evening meal will be  rather light,  so probably soup and crackers.

 

I had hoped for some Bratties:  Apparently, you can't win them all:mocking_mini:.

 

Only not with Bear....:cry:

As for the next bit...natural justice.....:laugh:

 

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2 hours ago, TheQ said:

The RAF tried all sorts of ways of getting my identity wrong, I was initially issued with the wrong letter to my ID number, that error kept cropping up throughout my career.. Then they kept double barreling my middle name to my surname, as my middle name is normally a surname in it's own right.

That's an error that crops up with other official documentation even if they have separate lines for surname and other names.

Some times officialdom reverses my christian name and surname, as my surname is used as a Christian name occasionally..

 

My grandfather was variously known as Jack John or Bert, as he was John, Bertram xxxxxx

 

It can work to your advantage:

 

Having been marched in front of the Squadron Commander for a minor misdemeanor, I was asked as it required by military law:

 

'Are you 12345678 Tpr xxxx?'

 

'No Sir', I replied truthfully for it was not I.

 

'March Out'.

 

The OC must have been having a bad day, as he tore into the SSM and the Sqn clerk.

 

When he came out of the OC's office, there was a ripple effect and the SSM caught up with the Cpl who'd mistaken me for someone else and had been hell bent on charging me.  He literally ripped the head off the hapless Cpl and crapped down his throat.

 

The Cpl in turn saw me still standing in the corridor between the two escorts as we'd not yet been dismissed.

 

'What the hell are you still doing here?' screamed the recently berated Cpl 'Well?  answer me!'

 

'I've not been dismissed yet Cpl, and I'm being taught a very valuable lesson by my superiors on how to make sure I get everything right before making a total arse of myself.'

 

Fortunately, the SSM heard all this, laughed and told me to eff off back to the MT Wing, before he found me some work to do.

 

Shortly afterwards, I moved to the Signals wing where I became the King of Radio Relay.  A lonely job, usually stuck out on a hill out of the way.... Especially out of the way of a certain JNCO and WO.

 

No shooting, no guard duties, no fatigues and nobody making me wander off into the wet and cold on patrols.

 

It was like being in the RAF:laugh_mini:.  

 

 

 

 

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13 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

We all have our pet hates when it comes to model railways and mine are:

 

1. Trains that start and stop in such a way that the inside ends of carriages would be thinly smeared with the remains of passengers whilst goods  wagons wouldn't have any ends as the loads would have torn them off. 

 

2. So called cameos featuring men wielding pickaxes, cricket matches, aftermath of road accidents etc. where all the figures are frozen in 'action' poses while the trains move. Almost as bad are firemen wielding shovels frozen in mid-stroke, road traffic unmoving on bridges, frozen waterfalls, rapids etc.

 

3. Running water, smoke, coal chutes etc. where realistic motion is simply impossible. 

 

Mind you, on my own layout the turntable rotates without anyone pushing it, locomotives stop at the coaling stage and nothing happens, no-one actually empties the ash into the pit or shovels it into waiting wagons etc. etc. Unfortunately, until someone develops a miniaturising machine that also shrinks the laws of physics and makes 1/43rd scale people able to move realistically I guess we are stuck with having to suspend belief to a greater or lesser extent when playing with operating our miniature worlds.

 

There is, however, no excuse for continual SPADs.

 

Took my Dad for his first covid jab today and it was remarkably well organised and efficient. From arriving at the hospital car park to driving out again was less than half an hour and that included the mandatory fifteen minute wait after having the shot. And I legally got to drive a total of over fifty miles as well as going in and out of Wales four times!

 

G'night all.

 

Dave

 

 

Edited by Dave Hunt
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So Sir can you give me your full name and the address where you reside.

 

You had approval you say. Do you have that in writing?

 

How many times did you cross over the border? Four you say and what did you say to the Border Official? You didn't speak to one you say.

 

Well Sir if you wouldn't mind going with my colleague. Yes that's the one in that spacesuit. Don't worry Sir everything's going to be fine we just need to run a few tests just to be certain. Yes that is a funny joke Sir about bringing fruits and vegetables over the border.

 

Alun we got another here. Yep for the internment camp. Want's to bring his fruit and veg with him. Says it got sentimental attachment to it. Next one is in Hipposhire. Anyone know where Hipposhire is?

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Currently in hiding after being sprung from a Welsh internment camp by the HFF(PS)* and waiting for the first food parcel, AKA cake, to arrive. Once the false identity papers and disguise kit get here I will be able to resume proper communications.

 

Dave Daiboy

 

*Hipposhire Freedom Fighters (Pachyderm Squad) 

Edited by Dave Hunt
Predictive text again - Pah!
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8 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

So Sir can you give me your full name and the address where you reside.

 

You had approval you say. Do you have that in writing?

 

How many times did you cross over the border? Four you say and what did you say to the Border Official? You didn't speak to one you say.

 

Well Sir if you wouldn't mind going with my colleague. Yes that's the one in that spacesuit. Don't worry Sir everything's going to be fine we just need to run a few tests just to be certain. Yes that is a funny joke Sir about bringing fruits and vegetables over the border.

 

Alun we got another here. Yep for the internment camp. Want's to bring his fruit and veg with him. Says it got sentimental attachment to it. Next one is in Hipposhire. Anyone know where Hipposhire is?

Some time back West Mercia Police had cars that all had VIN numbers containing the letters TWP.

 

One can imagine the hilarity when they had to venture cross border into Powys.

 

(To save looking it up, twp is Welsh for stupid!)

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2 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Some time back West Mercia Police had cars that all had VIN numbers containing the letters TWP.

 

One can imagine the hilarity when they had to venture cross border into Powys.

 

(To save looking it up, twp is Welsh for stupid!)

West Yorkshire had a load ending in PYG.  In fact I learned to drive in one, a Hillman Avenger.

 

Jamie

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11 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Took my Dad for his first covid jab today and it was remarkably well organised and efficient. From arriving at the hospital car park to driving out again was less than half an hour and that included the mandatory fifteen minute wait after having the shot. And I legally got to drive a total of over fifty miles as well as going in and out of Wales four times!

We found out this morning that my other halfs 82 year old Dad had taken himself off for his first jab yesterday. He lives near Whitchurch and popped over to the Orthopaedic in Oswestry yesterday morning after l phone call on Friday night. 

 

He didn't say anything to Julie about it until she asked him what he had had been up to yesterday.....

 

Hopefully he won't feel he is invincible as he tends to downplay the seriousness of the situation we are in.

 

He agreed with your comment  that it was very well organised. 

 

Chris

Edited by coastalview
typo
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Also very efficient, took about an hour but that was because I walked in off the street and had to wait until the start of the "FRONT LINE WORKERS" slot.  How else can they use the Pfizer jab when the people have been sent an invite don't bother to turn up.  Otherwise it has to be thrown away.  Bill

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4 minutes ago, bbishop said:

Also very efficient, took about an hour but that was because I walked in off the street and had to wait until the start of the "FRONT LINE WORKERS" slot.  How else can they use the Pfizer jab when the people have been sent an invite don't bother to turn up.  Otherwise it has to be thrown away.  Bill

I think that the providers are caught between a rock and a hard place.  Ideally, it would be like the flu injection where you booked a time and place to get it done.  But for all the people who don't turn up there are probably millions who want the injection pdq, and if they all started ringing for appointments the various surgeries would be overwhelmed with calls.

 

Perhaps there needs to be a charge to administer the vaccine:  Refundable only after you have turned up and been vaccinated. 

 

In fact, if they used that system in hospitals and surgeries it might reduce the number of 'no shows' that currently inhabit the system.

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45 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

In fact, if they used that system in hospitals and surgeries it might reduce the number of 'no shows' that currently inhabit the system.

When I go to the Royal London the reminders include how much no showing for your appointment costs the NHS. All the medics in the family have had their two doses of the Pfizer vaccine now from “leftovers”. However one of the GP relatives said his practice is really busy looking after people who really should be in hospital. The  downturn in new cases hasn’t reached his part of healthcare yet. 
Tony

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It appears that it depends on the vaccination centre. Some have set up a system where they can contact those waiting and call them in for the jab so as to use up the jabs (as Tony said above whilst I was typing this). Others however have not done so for various reasons and they've been wasted.

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