Early Risers.

[Happy Hippo]

45 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

They want you to think that they think you are in Bangladesh but really...

It's the Okavango Delta...............

 

Damn!

[AndyB]

Morning all. 

Blue sky and sun for rm the 2nd day running. Swmbo is laid up still recovering from the bug. The kids and I made quicker recoveries. Hoping that what we had wad "it" and we'll have some immunity. 

But of course with no test available how can you tell what we actually had?

 

Meanwhile now I'm feeling better the layout is progressing. And with a few days off at Easter, progress should accelerate. 

 

Warm wishes to all. 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Well what I did post last night seems not to arrive and the next time I tried to look in I too got a 522 error on the one occasion that I got that far - out of several tries to get on the site.  Elsewhere various parts of the 'net were not much better so presumably once all the idiots congregating in various parks in their hordes got home they were all online registering their interest for a future Darwin Award.   Our Nursing Assistant, aka the good Doctor, aka Station Cat, duly took part in the NHS hour at Tesco this morning and secured a variety of items we need and several she needs for sustenance during her upcoming night turns, which commence at 19.00 tomorrow.

 

I have no intention at all to venture beyond our front gate but I do wonder if the local riverside will be littered with a load of brain dead day trippers seeking to spread infection under the guise of 'a day out in the sun'.  As far as I'm concerned they ought to be shot on sight but alas I think they will receive far softer treatment at the hands of the constabulary who won't even bother to use the modern equivalent of truncheons on them  - assuming the constabulary actually bother to appear or even enforce the lockdown.

 

I am seriously considering that the weather offers an ideal opportunity for some bricklaying so tomorrow I might enquire if that nice Mr Jewson is still deliveries locally as I'm short of sand and cement.  But plenty of bricks on hand and my ready use stack of engineering bricks is on site but also in the way of Mrs Stationmaster accessing part of the veg patch so I suspect turning them into a wall might be welcomed.  We'll see.

 

Enjoy your day everybody and stay safe.  Now to see if this post really does post.

 

PS I love macaroni cheese and repeated mention of it are damaging my taste buds through lack of relevant satisfaction.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. As John said a 522 error last night so goodnight all from last night. As Jamie said were all going to be touched by CV19 before its all over. Apart from my brother who because of ongoing medical conditions is high risk. There's members of the local MRC where 75% of the members are over 65 and SEERS where a similar percentage are over 65. I haven't heard of anyone suffering from it in those two groups so fingers crossed. I will not be venturing out today, not because of any virus but the hay fever has started so virus or not its stay indoors.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

I also got the error 522 message when I tried to log in last night. Anyway back to today, the plan is to spend most of it in the workshop, tinkering with bits for the turntable control system. 

 

Stay safe, back later 

[Simon G]

Today’s weather summary for Cumbria:

Forecast said sunny - wrong!

Forecast said warm - wrong!

Forecast said very windy - correct!

 

Net result is that two visits into the garden have been with coat, hat and thick gloves on, and my hands were still cold.  On the positive side, being on the “extremely vulnerable “ list means that I can now actually get an Asda or Tesco home delivery slot.  A comprehensive shopping list is being compiled for a delivery just before Easter.

[81C]

Morning All 

only just made it out of bed I was still making the bloody thing at 2 am this morning after an enlightening evening chatting to a new Babe.

She is an excellent p!ss taker like me we sat laughing and joking all night.

I looked out the back window and Ms Nosey was making a be-line for another neighbour who was sitting in the sun with her daughter, the

daughter said something to her and she was back across the lawn at speed with a face like a slapped #rse I would imagine she was told to foxtrot 

Oscar funny I've never seen any-one visit her I wonder why. 

the sun is out so enjoy your day and stay safe  C.O. Oldude .

[BoD]

1 hour ago, Gwiwer said:

 

But ne’er cast a clout til May be out. It’s good weather this week.  After that who knows? 

 

 

The May is out here, just, so you could be ok.

 

Back from my walk and I'm glad to say it would appear that the advice/instructions* seem to be being followed. A few more out and about than over the last few days but all were clearly exercising alone or in small family groups and distancing when passing others.  I did however see five 'classic' type cars and they looked to be out for their Sunday jaunt.  I suppose that if they don't stop anywhere the drivers would be just as isolated as at home but it's hardly essential travel.

 

I think it is still a bit too cold and definitely to windy here to potter about with the plants so either another book or more modelling beckons.

 

*delete as you see fit.

[PhilJ W]

All this mentioning of deer and goats venturing into urban areas has made me realise that I haven't seen anywhere near as many urban foxes recently. Probably down to the local take aways being closed. Another benefit of the take aways being closed is a lot less litter, I have seen the litter pickers out in action still. Sadly when things are back to normal so will be the litter.

[Happy Hippo]

9 hours ago, roundhouse said:

 

 

Looking forward to another sunny day in the garden with both TV screens in the shed (linked to old / cheap PC's) showing live railcams with Santa Fe junction, Kansas City and Elkhart Indiana been current favourite ones. Much better than having the news on these days.

I am particularly fond of watching the daily local switch the mill at Waupaca.

 

It happens around about the time that The Archers is  broadcast in the evening. Times do vary due to big trains sometimes interrupting the proceedings.

[iL Dottore]

Greetings Sensation Seekers,

I’m settling down in the “iD Comfy Chair”(tm) having just given some GWR wagon models the first coat of paint (as I can’t use my airbrush until Mrs iD’s illegal annexation of the workshop has ended, I am following A method that I saw on a military modelling website: that of using numerous very, very thin washes of paint. The idea being that of gradually building up layers of paint until you arrive at the colour you want. I have done this before, quite successfully, with a Private Owner Wagon I built [pics already posted on RMWeb]), followed by a stint in the kitchen making the massaman curry paste for tonight’s dinner - Massaman Duck Curry.

 

All this talk about what you lot will/will not eat is quite eye-opening. I have rarely encountered such a bunch of culinary wimps! Won’t eat thick/thin hot/cold custard, won’t eat liver, eats only plain meat and veg, can’t abide garlic, mac’n’cheese makes ‘em heave... Good gods, grow up and get a pair! (Prairie Oysters! Tasty!) 

On a less jocular note, as a culinary adventurer and world traveler I think that it’s a bit sad that so many people are - to put it diplomatically - “fussy” eaters. A truly joyous experience is visiting exotic places and eating with the locals. Most people are proud of their culinary heritage and love it when visitors “chow-down”. An experience at a Hawker Stall in KL - when they served me their version of a medium hot curry mee - is  treasured memory (It goes without saying that their concept of medium hot and most Western European concepts of medium hot are considerably different).

There are only 4 things I will not eat: cats, dogs, hedgehogs, monkeys and spiders, otherwise I’m open to practically anything. I’ve even dabbled in cannibalism (well, if you really, really stretch the definition of Cannibalism, I have eaten human flesh: Once when modelling I sliced a bit of my finger off, I bit off the dangling tab, but didn’t spit it out...).

 

In a way, h0mo sapiens, as a species, is a very finicky eater: we willingly eat but a small fraction of what we actually can eat. I am not suggesting that we immediately run out and buy Rodent Burgers (although noshing on grey squirrels [squirrels are both edible and tasty when cooked properly] would be a way to protect the native Red Squirrels), but going beyond cow/pig/sheep/chicken/turkey/duck for our meat needs would bring environmental benefits....

 

And on that note...

 

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Sane

iD

[BoD]

24 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

 

There are only 4 things I will not eat: cats, dogs, hedgehogs, monkeys and spiders

 

I have heard though, that eating exotic foods affects your ability to count.

Edited April 5, 2020 by BoD

[Compound2632]

You can eat anything once...

[45156]

Afternoon

 

Just a quick check in to see if I can get on here, and I did, after a fashion - I'm pleased I'm not alone in having a few problems with the internet, and that this site, in particular, is a bit slow.  I'd imagine that this might all be down to pressure of the net due to all the world and his brother trying to get on more often and for longer, and also to the fact that sites may not be receiving the level of maintenance that we might expect.

 

Today's big task was to clear out the large French cupboard which we keep everything in as it is a big item,  It has about 100 railway books in the top part, about 100 Wentworth jigsaw puzzles a whole load of other books, and various arts and crafts items.  However, we could not find our tin with the stained glass pieces, glass cutter, etc, which we have been seeking for months - a full clearout found same hidden behind a row of very large books, and they were duly retrieved, railway books were resorted into size, and the jigsaws all sorted as well to see what we've got - and we now have sorted out the next three to be done during lockdown - we are currently doing the one which we got LAST Christmas.  They are stunningly difficult puzzles with no two pieces the same, straight edges inside the puzzle and some pieces of the border not being straight, but pointed - also whimsy pieces which are shaped to reflect the theme of the puzzle - eg some of the railway subjects have pieces cut like a semaphore signal, ticket gripping tongs, and the like.  In fact we have enough of these to keep us occupied for a couple of years if push comes to shove.  Their big problem is the price, as they start for a 250  piece at 30 quid!

 

Back tomorrow, internet permitting

[Coombe Barton]

Environmental effect of lockdown

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/04/05/lockdown-electricity-demand-2/

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

I think they will receive far softer treatment at the hands of the constabulary who won't even bother to use the modern equivalent of truncheons on them  - assuming the constabulary actually bother to appear or even enforce the lockdown.

 

From a professional point if view it's quite hard to injure somebody badly with the new side handled batton that most forces use. It is quite good for restraining folk. I suspect that the Asp that the Met use could inflict some pain.  The old style truncheon however was designed to hurt and was a very useful weapon. I was once attacked in a house by 4 people and took the instant decision to use reasonable force and hit the nearest one as hard as I could. It caught him on his head and he went straight down with his eyes rolling up like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Peace broke out instantly and the other 3 decided to back off.  No complaints, the lad went down for 2 years for assaulting me and I got a commend from the judge. I suspect things might be a little different nowadays. Happy days.

 

Anyway, here Beth and I have been out for a bike ride. I devised a figure of 8 circuit 3 miles long that us almost all within the 1km radius we are allowed. Beth did 1 lap I did 2 and no Gendarmes  were seen.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

We completed our weekly 'go and wave at the elderly imprisoned in their various care homes' programme successfully today. Why not just telephone or skype? Those with advanced dementia just don't relate easily to a voice or even a voice plus image; whereas seeing their younger relative in the car park or wherever does spark some recognition. Even if it is Mother telling me I was always a naughty boy. (Bang to rights, she's got me on that one.) Then she mistook my wife for her (late)  sister and was telling her that the different hair colour didn't suit, but she was glad she had lost all that weight. It's non-stop comedy.

 

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

 ...homo sapiens, as a species, is a very finicky eater: we willingly eat but a small fraction of what we actually can eat. I am not suggesting that we immediately run out and buy Rodent Burgers (although noshing on grey squirrels [squirrels are both edible and tasty when cooked properly] would be a way to protect the native Red Squirrels), but going beyond cow/pig/sheep/chicken/turkey/duck for our meat needs would bring environmental benefits....

 

And on that note...

... I can add some information from my Pa. Insects are generally OK, but never earwigs. You won't get the vile taste out of your mouth all day apparently. (Experience gained while in hiding during the starvation winter in The Netherlands. I'll take his word on it.)

 

Best to all, stay safe, don't sample the next earwig you see...

 

[J. S. Bach]

8 hours ago, bbishop said:

Off to the coalface.  Bill

I always said "salt mine".

[5 C]

23 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

From a professional point if view it's quite hard to injure somebody badly with the new side handled batton that most forces use. It is quite good for restraining folk. I suspect that the Asp that the Met use could inflict some pain.  The old style truncheon however was designed to hurt and was a very useful weapon. I was once attacked in a house by 4 people and took the instant decision to use reasonable force and hit the nearest one as hard as I could. It caught him on his head and he went straight down with his eyes rolling up like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Peace broke out instantly and the other 3 decided to back off.  No complaints, the lad went down for 2 years for assaulting me and I got a commend from the judge. I suspect things might be a little different nowadays. Happy days.

 

Anyway, here Beth and I have been out for a bike ride. I devised a figure of 8 circuit 3 miles long that us almost all within the 1km radius we are allowed. Beth did 1 lap I did 2 and no Gendarmes  were seen.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

Many forces experimented with versions of side handled batons or American-style nightsticks when such things began replacing the old wooden truncheon. I think many, if not all, have now settled on the asp. My force was an early adopter of the Asp (aka friction-lock baton). It quickly proved popular and versatile, as it was easier to carry and discreet, so less oppressive looking than some of the more US-style creations. When visiting other forces, our officers would be asked to sell or swap theirs as others saw them as superior to what their force had issued.

 

Shortly after its introduction, an Asp was used in anger at a public order situation. Once the offender was safely caged in the back of the van, our head of physical training - who had pushed for the Asp's introduction over some of the more fashionable alternatives - was keen to seek some feedback from the detainee.

 

"So, what was like being hit by the new baton?" asked our man.

"Like being hit by a truck" said the prisoner.

"How do you know that?" replied our PTI.

"'Cos I have been" came the response.

[roundhouse]

Just had a chat over the fence (plus well over 2m). Shes OK but hes got cancer and she broke down in tears so couldn't make out the details but its sounds bad. They were both chain smokers but thats probably why I haven't seen him of late hanging out of the patio doors. His daughter is taking him to the hospital next week for further prognosis. Shes on forced leave from one of the airlines so has the time but does mean social distancing cant be maintained for that trip. no time is good for finding out you have cancer but especially in the current situation. I have offered to do what I can for them if they need anything. Luckily their daughter lives not far away.

 

Otherwise, what a glorious day with the shed windows open two live railcams on and five locos ticking over on the new high level line that is now working along one side of the shed.

The first loco to run was a Florida east Coast loco that was repainted detailed and weathered by our late friend who also passed away from cancer.

 

I wonder what further restrictions will be put in place due to people being out and about on such a nice weekend. Tomorrow we do  our weekly shop for us . mum and two nephews who have self isolated for 14 days at Mums so can now mix with her but they cant go out for shopping.

 

Anyway its beer o'clock and just finishing off the last beers that we got from Westerham brewery before the lockdown.

 

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

[Ref44]

As I remember the Met went for the Asp because they weren't prepared to provide the continued level of training that the "Night Stick" requires for efficient usage. We were issued with the 18" Asp; apparently the 24" version could inflict serious damage.

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

From a professional point if view it's quite hard to injure somebody badly with the new side handled batton that most forces use.

Ditto the modern bayonet.

 

The 12" version fitted to the old Lee Enfield was far more intimidating than the little stabber fitted to the SA80.

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, BoD said:

 

I have heard though, that eating exotic foods affects your ability to count.

Ouch! Touché 

To be fair, the original list was just 4 (dogs - too valuable an animal for many, many reasons - including companionship; cats - ditto; monkeys - because too many diseases are thought to have come from eating monkey meat [ebola and AIDS are amongst those thought to have originated in primates] and hedgehogs  - too valuable to the environment), then I started re-reading a book I have about edible insects and noted that, in some countries, deep fried tarantulas are enjoyed and promptly thought “I’ll never be that adventurous” and thus expanded my list- forgetting to update the count...

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa...

iD

[Tony_S]

When Matthew was in Vietnam, very rural about 50 km from Hanoi the only restaurant in the evening near where he stayed had protein of the day, dry herby rice and a beer for 2USD. He only looked at what the protein was when he got back to the hotel. Never monkey though.

Dad said hedgehog tastes like chicken!  He was invited to a meal right at the end of WW2 in Germany  by some Romany people who had been hiding from the Nazis for many years . The hedgehog was baked in clay. 
Tony
 

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup where it is still lovely and sunny; I am glad I cleaned off the garden furniture yesterday!

 

not a lot achieved today apart from a walk around the neighbourhood. I have noticed a long distance version of the shuffle that sometimes occurs when two people pass in a corridor and both step to the same side; to maintain social distancing this now happens at 30 yards before one person steps off the pavement.