The Night Mail

[polybear]

4 hours ago, rockershovel said:

It's gone now, but for many years there was a derelict Lightning in a field next the A1, S of Newark

 

Long, long gone - and looked on the rough side of derelict even back in the 80's....

 

3 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

I haven't touched a control column for a few years now, Douglas, so I'd need a couple of check rides before being turned loose again. A trip to Thunder City would be necessary before being cleared to fly a Lightning again.

 

Dave

 

Thunder City?  Long gone, sadly - as of August 2010 and not helped by a Lightning crash and subsequently discovered iffy maintenance practices (the Lightning Pilot was killed due to an ejection seat/canopy failure).  If you want to go thru' the sound barrier then Russia it is now.  Don't worry, I'm sure their maintenance practices are absolutely pristine....

 

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Properly cooked, liver, kidneys and sweetbreads are most delicious (and when in a haggis, lungs and heart are delicious as well). The only things I don’t really like are brains and tripe - although I’ve only tasted either once (may try again)

 

Barf, Barf, and more Barf....

[Dave Hunt]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

So I guess you won't be coming to the launch party for my newly acquired flying car?????

 

Ah, maybe I could make use of the old napkin in front of the face trick?

 

Dave

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

We used to get tined apple pudding (Apples wrapped up in some sort of suet pastry )in which you pierced the tin, then heated it up by boiling in your mess tin.

 

When opened and the top skimmed off, they were referred to as 'Babies Brains'.

 

So a very similar dark sense of humour pervaded (and still does) both the military and the merchant service.

 

Here is a set of Army Mess tins:

 

 

And an RAF set:

 

 

 

We had some choice nicknames at school.  Jam roly poly (without a bear attached) was motorway accident.  We once went out with a good friend for an Indian in Leeds.  Estelle was heard to say afterwards, " For horses doovres we had thrre turds on a plate".

Jamie

[TheQ]

2 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

 

Here is a set of Army Mess tins:

 

 

And an RAF set:

 

 

 

My experience oF RAF cooking was often closer to the tins than the plate, though I'll admit the Army cooking at Driffield  and Benbecula was worse..

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

…Barf, Barf, and more Barf....

Good lord! Such extreme involuntary emesis at the mere mention of offal and I thought the Night Owls were made of sterner stuff (what with being former aviators, soldiers and sailors and all).

 

I could probably cause an awful lot of the Night Owl posters to go into complete psychiatric meltdown if I were to invite them to dinner and serve a certain Mexican delicacy (deep-fried tarantulas) or some bona fide “bush tucker” (e.g. Witchetty grubs).

 

”Wimps” - the lot of you! 

 

p.s. fun factoid: humans can eat about 300,000 of the estimated 400,000 plant  species on earth, yet manages only about 200 species of plant with 3 (maize, rice, wheat) making up 50% of that consumption. And with few exceptions we can eat most animals (for example Polar Bear livers are highly toxic - so @polybear will be relieved to be “off the menu”). Humans are edible, taste like pork and apparently, once you’ve eaten human flesh, it is very addictive and you go back for more (a new twist on the “veggie burger” made with real vegetarians!)

 

Edited November 16, 2021 by iL Dottore
Typo

[polybear]

50 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I could probably cause an awful lot of the Night Owl posters to go into complete psychiatric meltdown if I were to invite them to dinner and serve a certain Mexican delicacy (deep-fried tarantulas) or some bona fide “bush tucker” (e.g. Witchetty grubs).

 

”Wimps” - the lot of you! 

 

 

In South Korea there's deep fried chrysalis (common at Roadside Burger Vans) and pickled silkworm pupae (from corner shops, in a tin).  And no, I haven't...

 

One of the best (worst?) I've seen was in one of the Indiana Jones films:

"Ah, chilled Monkey Brains - my favourite" - served in a monkey's bonce and you lift "the lid" off.....

Indiana's sidekick passed out, strangely....

[Canal Digger]

https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/videos/401732644827874

[Happy Hippo]

I needed some new wood filler to smooth out some holes in a door frame as my old pot had dried out.  

 

When I got the new pot home, I opened the lid to find it is a two pack arrangement.  A drop of hardener the size of a pea is added to a golf ball sized lump of the gloop from the pot.

 

I'm now waiting to see if it does what it says on the tin.

 

There is a definite chemical aroma on the upstairs landing at the moment.

 

I'll now have to find out something else useful not to do whilst waiting for it all to set.

 

Yesterday's OFMC meet (both of us) saw the start of Pantmawr North's signal build.

 

Unfortunately the signalling kit I had bought has a major flaw in the design of the gantry.

 

I bought it prior to getting the GWSG bible on GWR signalling, and now I know what it should look like, the gantry compromise, which I'm sure is quite ok for the majority, no longer cuts the mustard.  the bits will be built up and sold on to one less discerning than I.

 

Fortunately Jon Fitness has a number of etched components on his web site which do fit the bill so I have ordered some from him.

 

In the meantime, I'll be able to get on with making up parts of the kit that are ok and can subsequently be grafted onto the new gantry one it arrives.

 

I think I'm getting fussier with the track and signalling as I get older.

 

At this rate I might end up converting to S7!

 

 

[PupCam]

19 hours ago, rockershovel said:

What, not even in the woods? 

 

No, that's not crumbs ......

 

7 hours ago, polybear said:

Incidentally, airworthy (they flew in) Lightnings were apparently taken in as "part exchange" when Saudi purchased Tornado from BAe (late 1980's IIRC); I recall seeing lots of them lined up at Warton, looking for a new buyer.  Eventually they went to scrap - you could buy one for fifteen hundred quid if you signed an undertaking not to scrap it, as the scrap value was higher than that.  Now if I knew then what I know now....

 

And I'd still have no-where to park it 

 

Unlike Jeremy Clarkson, who had one parked on his front lawn.  At least until the Council told him to remove it, that is.  It seems they did accept Clarkson's explanation that it was a "leaf blower" 

 

That one was at Booker many years ago (coincidently where a young Pup learnt to glide back in the 70s)

 

https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivor.php?id=31

 

6 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

I haven't touched a control column for a few years now, Douglas, so I'd need a couple of check rides before being turned loose again. A trip to Thunder City would be necessary before being cleared to fly a Lightning again.

 

Dave

 

Afraid you are right out of luck there then Dave ......

 

5 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

Liver - yuk

Kidneys - yuk (semi OK in steak and kidney pie but even that is better without the kidney)

Black pudding - yuk

Tripe - blecchhhh

Lungs and heart - barf 

Haggis - yuk, yuk and more yuk

 

Completely accurate assessment.  

I should imagine there's a very good lexicographical reason why "Offal" and "Awful" sound so similar.

 

Alan

[TheQ]

Liver, fried in a mixed grill, yes please

Kidneys  Ditto or in a steak and kidney pie..

Black pudding, some versions are better than others... but generally yes please..

Tripe,  Mum used to make  a delicious variety

Lungs and heart, useful to feed the Dog

Haggis.  Yes please.. had some a couple of days ago..

 

babys heads... steamed steak and kidney pudding in a can, long time since I've had any..

[New Haven Neil]

HH, that RAF place setting wasn't too far away from what we got in Bibby Line, they have a great history and lots of silverware from past glories, and were also quite articular with discipline, especially for trough time.  PIA having to shower at mid day when on day-work as an engineer, to crawl into full uniform for lunch.  Then go back into the pit and get minging again.  Lot of uniform shirts for the cabin boy to wash!  

 

A friend in the bike club had several tail planes from Lightnings in is back garden before he moved here - he sold them when he moved, i have seen photos and he's not bull-sh*tting.  He is a member of some supporters/preservation group.

[Dave Hunt]

5 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

And an RAF set:

 

 

 

 

It was a bu**er of a job getting them set up in a Lightning or Phantom cockpit.

 

Dave

[Dave Hunt]

1 hour ago, Happy Hippo said:

There is a definite chemical aroma on the upstairs landing at the moment.

 

I've warned you about eating all those cucumber sandwiches before......

 

Dave

[iL Dottore]

20 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Liver, fried in a mixed grill, yes please

Kidneys  Ditto or in a steak and kidney pie..

Black pudding, some versions are better than others... but generally yes please..

Tripe,  Mum used to make  a delicious variety

Lungs and heart, useful to feed the Dog

Haggis.  Yes please.. had some a couple of days ago..

 

babys heads... steamed steak and kidney pudding in a can, long time since I've had any..

Well Done, That Man!!!

[SM42]

3 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

We had some choice nicknames at school.  Jam roly poly (without a bear attached) was motorway accident.  

Jamie

 

I had visions of you eating a delicious pudding from one end and coming face to face with a bear ( like that scene in The Lady and the Tramp)

 

As to 

Liver, can take or leave, but prefer to leave.

Kidney, mmmmm! Lovely 

Hearts and lungs, not knowingly 

Tripe ( aka Flaki) it's OK but not my choice

Haggis,  can't say I have 

 

Many moons ago before Mrs SM42 was so known,  she cooked a very nice meal. 

One of the principle ingredients came from a jar.

" What's in this?" I asked, in a relaxed moment, breaking one of my golden rules when eating unusual ( to me) food.

I then remembered my rule and quickly added, " No don't tell me. I don't want to know."

 

Too late

 

She had retrieved the jar and consulted the ingredients. 

" What's offal?" She asked

 

And still I married her 

 

Andy

[Happy Hippo]

2 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

It was a bu**er of a job getting them set up in a Lightning or Phantom cockpit.

 

Dave

But not as bad as the poor mess steward who had to balance the silver service whilst traversing the pipe to the refuelling probe from the VC10 Tanker when there was a kitchen service being provided.

 

[BSW01]

Liver - tried it once, never again. 

Black pudding - some are better than others. 

Kidney - great with steak. 

Heart - very tasty indeed. 

Tripe - tried it once, never again. 

Haggis - never tried it. 

 

Edited November 16, 2021 by BSW01

[Tony_S]

6 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

when there was a kitchen service being provided

I never knew they could send food as well as fuel to the other aircraft. 

 

[Tony_S]

I remember seeing Prof Brian Cox in a documentary where he went up in a Lightning to an impressive altitude. I looked online and that was one of the South African ones. This started me looking at a few links about preserved Lightnings including one famous for a “non pilot flight”. That was a most interesting tale. This somehow ended up via a link about ejector seats to the French chap who had been presented with a flight in a Rafale B and got so nervous he grabbed something, unfortunately the ejector mechanism. Also his helmet fell off. 

[Tony_S]

My mother worked in a grocers shop at one time. One of the other assistants was convinced that black puddings were actually some sort of pig internal organ rather than a variety of sausage. 

[polybear]

4 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

I needed some new wood filler to smooth out some holes in a door frame as my old pot had dried out.  

 

When I got the new pot home, I opened the lid to find it is a two pack arrangement.  A drop of hardener the size of a pea is added to a golf ball sized lump of the gloop from the pot.

 

I'm now waiting to see if it does what it says on the tin.

 

 

Bear used a similar filler (Ronseal) when doing the kitchen; I soon discovered that "the pea" has to be a very, very small pea otherwise the usable time of the golf ball is next to naff all.  Did the job though.

 

2 hours ago, Tony_S said:

I remember seeing Prof Brian Cox in a documentary where he went up in a Lightning to an impressive altitude. I looked online and that was one of the South African ones. This started me looking at a few links about preserved Lightnings including one famous for a “non pilot flight”. That was a most interesting tale. This somehow ended up via a link about ejector seats to the French chap who had been presented with a flight in a Rafale B and got so nervous he grabbed something, unfortunately the ejector mechanism. Also his helmet fell off. 

 

This makes for a sobering read:

Supersonic Fighter Jet Joyride Still Haunts Writer A Decade Later
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2021/03/27/supersonic-fighter-jet-joy-ride-still-haunts-writer-a-decade-later/?sh=22a2407d532f

[Dunsignalling]

11 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Bear used a similar filler (Ronseal) when doing the kitchen; I soon discovered that "the pea" has to be a very, very small pea otherwise the usable time of the golf ball is next to naff all.  Did the job though.

 

I can judge the size of an average pea but, as a non-golfer, no idea how big a golf ball is.....

 

I have an ancient one knocking about, which is roughly 1.5 inches in diameter but ISTR the regulation size was increased to match those used in the USA some years/decades ago.

 

John

 

[AndyID]

21 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Properly cooked and with bacon and onions its quite good. To stop it drying out when being cooked it should be coated with flour.

 

You won't find "organ meat" in the supermarkets in the US although you can buy it from specialist butchers.

 

Makes it a bit difficult to make snake-and-Sidney pie.

 

[PhilJ W]

Liver, delicious if prepared properly and with bacon and onions.

Kidney, in small amounts with steak preferably in a steamed pudding.

Black Pudding. Essential in a proper 'Full English' as long as its not over seasoned as some are.

Hearts. All in the preparation, should be turned inside out and the blood vessels* removed and then stuffed with sage and onion. *They are like chewing rubber hose.

Tripe, never knowingly eaten it.

Haggis. Of those that I've tried, some good, some bad and some awful. Usually those that are over seasoned, why some chefs insist on throwing in the pepper pot I don't know.

The thing about eating all of the above offal is that they require more preparation than more normal cuts of meat but well worth the effort.

Edited November 16, 2021 by PhilJ W

[J. S. Bach]

I really love beef kidney; why? Many, many years ago (I was younger than Douglas at the time, btw) we had a cat and Mother would buy liver and kidneys to be cut up for its evening meals. Having never tasted kidney before, I asked her on Saturday what the kidney tasted like. She fried up a few pieces and I tried it; from then on the cat never had any more beef kidney. I specified beef as pork kidneys were not edible to me. I still like kidneys and will buy a pack once or twice a month. I do not mind liver but to get moist and tender is impossible, at least for me.

 

Beef heart is another favorite of mine; so tender and tasty! I remember when Mother cooked up the turkey organs for the dressing, I would snitch the heart and chomp it down before she could say anything.

 

Haggis I think that I may have tried but I do not remember much about it; it must have been ok, but not memorable in any way, good or bad.

 

Now I am getting hungry! And I do not have any of those delicacies on hand.