Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Great to see Trisonic Pete back among us - welcome back Pete.

 

And another nice bright and sunny morning it is here on the flank of the valley of what used to be called Thamesis and which looks to be back to its old (pre mass motoring) 'heaviness' in the air in the valley 70+ feet below us.  At least the colour is somewhat less than that resulting from everyday 21st century pollution.  Yes - every cloud, including the Coronavirus one, really can have a silver lining as well as a lot fewer contrails.  And even Mr Hunt's former employer seems to be going lihght on aerial activity as I haven't seen a Chinook passing over for quite a while whereas they was usually one every few days in the recent past.  Much more welcome than the loss of the occasional Chinook is the seemingly complete absence of the commercial helos that used to interrupt our reverie at far too frequent intervals - presumably their passengers weren't making essential journeys. 

 

Mrs Stationmaster braved 'wrinklies hour' at Waitrose where among other useful items she obtained a leg of lamb for Sunday evening's dinner but she noted that for some reason a number of prices seem to have risen somewhat - maybe Waitrose are jealous of recent profit levels at Tesco?  As the lawn and 'rough grassland' look in need of cutting that might be listed for later today or deferred to tomorrow assuming the weather remains suitable.

 

Lovibonds - the local micro brewery - are still in operation selling product through Waitrose plus home deliveries in the immediate area so hopefully they'll weather the storm.  The local garden centre doesn't seem so inclined to try to stay in business and is posing considerable problems for those trying to order online while the garden centre in wantage where my cousin works closed itself for all business 3 weeks ago - appears that some businesses prefer to roll over and take Govt money instead of trying to keep going.

 

Enjoy your day one and all and hope the weather improves for those suffering something colder or damper than they would like.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A bright and warm sunny day here in the northwest of England. We were both very late up this morning, so I've only just caught up with the days posts. Put a lot planned for the day, but the lesser spotted glass and plastic bin wagon has bin and the wheelie bin is now back in place from whence it was left, only the green garden waste one to go, this will be the last until the lock down ends. The balustrade finials have already been fitted so the rest of the morning will be spent in the workshop, where I'm currently sat, hot muggertea on the bench and typing this post. 

 

Stay safe, enjoy the rest of the day, back later 

[Tony_S]

Afternoon all.

It is sunny here.  A sunny Bank Holiday would usually be enough encouragement to stay home so we don’t see any reason to change the habit. Hopefully people won’t be heading to the local resorts.

We won’t be going to any supermarkets and haven’t been for some time now. We had a Waitrose delivery a few days ago and that will do until the next one the week after next. The day after delivery has seen stuff with short use by dates getting cooked and frozen. Putting stuff in and out of the freezer seems to be my job. I am getting quite good at turning lots of little spaces into one big one. 
Tony

[Coombe Barton]

I've been on my weekly forage. I'm now at home until next Friday at least.

[Barry O]

6 hours ago, Sir TophamHatt said:

Morning all.

 

Another warm day here in the Midlands, which I'm glad about as the new grass seed I planted a week ago has just started poking through.

 

I'm also glad that some special plants called Yellow Rattle have started sprouting.

We had a grass patch that we wanted as a wild flower area. In order to plant the flower seed, you need to kill off some of the grass so the wild flower has a chance to grow. Yellow Rattle feeds off grass roots... so put it together and what have you got? Bibbidy bobbidy boo!

 

Also, a bit alarmed my pint of juice looks like it has a head... 

I would say it has a better head on it than John Smiths mega carp beer the glass says it is!

Baz

Edited April 10, 2020 by Barry O

[Gwiwer]

15 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Perhaps bus experts such as Gwiwer will be able to help further

That is a first. I have never been called a “bus expert” before nor do I think of myself as one.  So thank you kindly. 

The traditional style of licence (number) plate with white characters on a black background apparently could not be made easily in reflective form and there was some desire to harmonise with other European nations already using differing colours (mostly front-white-rear-yellow but not always) for front and rear plates. 
 

Vehicles, including buses, first registered before the change to reflective plates were and still are able to retain their marks on traditional plates. Those first registered since reflective plates became available must carry those. 
 

There was a changeover period as not all LVLOs (Local Vehicle Licensing Offices) were supplied with reflective plates at the same time.  If you were issued old-style ones you could keep them. 
 

Vehicles which were permitted to carry old-style plates but which have been re-registered (such as the many buses gaining “ageless” marks) are required to display reflective plates meaning the requirement for some buses changed. However vehicles over 30 years old are considered “vintage” and are exempt from mandatory reflective plates if first licensed with old-style ones. 
 

Thus some older London Routemaster buses yielded up their original marks which could be sold at a profit and gained A-suffix plates. London never issued A-suffix marks the first time around having a surplus of non year-suffix marks to use first.  So those buses gained unused Scottish marks.  Later Routemasters were younger than 30 and whilst few of those were re-registered some gained reflective plates upon overhaul because old-style ones were no longer readily available. 
 

Curiosities exist. Southdown “Queen Mary” PD3 409 (new as 409DCD) was stripped of its black plates when that mark was transferred to a more modern vehicle in the then-Stagecoach fleet. The new one had to have reflective plates. 409 gained reflective plates with an A-suffix matching its age. When 409DCD was restored to the Queen Mary as a heritage vehicle it regained that mark on old-style black plates. 
 

Hope that helps. 

[Gwiwer]

Welcome to the Hill of Strawberries where Friday is as Good as it’s going to get. 
 

Sat in the garden after having lunch at the picnic / bbq table outside and enjoying the sounds of many birds, a few people and Pink Floyd’s “ Delicate Sound of Thunder”. 
 

 

[Andrew P]

6 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Welcome to the Hill of Strawberries where Friday is as Good as it’s going to get. 
 

Sat in the garden after having lunch at the picnic / bbq table outside and enjoying the sounds of many birds, a few people and Pink Floyd’s “ Delicate Sound of Thunder”. 
 

 

A man with TRUE musical taste.

[The Stationmaster]

How does coronavirus tell people what sort of neighbourhood you live in?

 

1. Somebody sets up an app for mutual aid among residents in the road - which suggests most in the road folk probably get along with each other fairly well and like to be helpful (if they sign up)

 

2. People say they are likely to be going shopping and others ask if they can get stuff for them while they're shopping - good indication of neighbourliness and folk helping each other.

 

3. Person going shopping at Tesco (the lad in this instance) is asked by a neighbour to get them some smoked salmon  - clear indication that the local chippies are closed?

[tetsudofan]

Reading an earlier message which mentioned "chocolate" reminded me that I've got some chocolate Easter Eggs and Toblerone to be consumed:

 

 

Apart from chocolate biscuits and the like I don't normally buy much other chocolate myself - the Easter Eggs came from my chiropodist (as I always provide coffee and cream cakes when she visits ) whilst the Toblerone came from my next-door neighbour who keeps in regular contact with me to ensure that I'm alive and kicking. 

 

The Toblerone looks interesting, have not seen a gingery orange version before but, then,  must admit that I haven't bought any Toblerone for ages.  

 

Keith

 

 

[Natalie]

4 hours ago, Rugd1022 said:

Morning all, hope all's well,

 

This just in from our London correspondant in 1970.... fifty years ago today, can you believe it....?

 

 

Who or what are The Beatles?

[Kingzance]

21 hours ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

My early call was from an ambulance paramedic requesting that I came into Lister hospital (St Evenage) to accompany my Pa who was having cardiac problems, and incommunicative due to his vascular dementia. It took a little while to get into A&E, as the cardiac consultant who had requested my attendance had to give it the green light, and I was then ushered in washed, masked, gloved, warned that I was possibly going to catch something dreadful and die.

 

But then, WOW! A&E not overloaded, plenty of staff and treatment bays, Pa got tested in every way imaginable, found to have a dicky ticker but no other significant physical problems, excellent exchange with the cardiology team who basically advised against intervention given his vascular dementia; with which I heartily agreed, as that was his wish when he was still able to communicate.

 

Minor stumble trying to get him a transport ambulance back to the care home, as he hadn't got the right sticker on his form, but Sister Efficiency swept in , told the dispatch team to just do it, and brought my Pa a cup of tea to keep him happy.

 

And to ice the cake, I had found a car parking space within 10 yards of the car park entrance.

 

While I was waiting outside for clearance to go in, I had a most interesting conversation (at 3m) with a police officer (there to deal with any problems) about the situation as he saw it. Normally there will be at least four police vehicles outside Lister A&E, there for the various miscreants requiring NHS attention. His input: "No pubs and clubs, no sports events, no trouble.".

 

 

So this is the answer to all the NHS' problems. Stay at home unless you have sufficient wit to avoid injury or accident. If you must go out to pubs, clubs, sports, then clearly these must be TAXED proportionate to the A&E load they produce. I shall phone Boris the moment he's better.

 

 

Then those who are genuinely in need of emergency medical treatment can have it.

 

 

Two almost opposite updates from people directly involved with the NHS yesterday:

1 - A friend who lives in Buckingham has been suffering from excrutiating tooth pain and her normal dentistry practice refused to do anything. She rang her GP practice who advised she went to MK General and gave some sort of referral reference. After phoning MK General, their department of dentistry rang back and gave her a slot at 7pm yesterday (only a few hours after calling her GP practive). She went in with some trepidation - bearing in mind that MK General is something of Covid-19 a hotspot - and was sorted in a couple of hours. Today she is a pain-free happy bunny having had major root-canal work!

2 - My sister in law is an A&E nurse in the Aneurin Beven Health Trust, usually but not solely working in Newport where she was on duty last night. One of her "patients" came in with a partly severed nose, pleading for the staff to save it. As he gave details of his address, it became clear he lived in Gloucester - so why did he turn up in Newport and have a fight or did he drive from Gloucester to Newport to attend the A&E Dept there??? Another of the night's casualties was a man desperate for "medication" who decided he could get what he needed by attacking an A&E doctor! He had to be restrained by the hospital's security team.

Clearly the NHS is working valiantly under extreme pressure as the first example shows but to have events such as the last - probably drug-fuelled - assault on NHS staff is one which crosses the line by a huge distance. Hopefully prosecution will follow and the perpetrator can be left to rot in a cell for many months and given plenty of opportunity to consider his behaviour. 

To coin a phrase popular years back - "peace and love".

[Rugd1022]

20 minutes ago, Natalie said:

 

Who or what are The Beatles?

 

A popular little beat combo who made a few quid, lots of noise and a few funny films 

[45156]

Afternoon All

 

Well, the good news on ERs seems to abound the Good Friday, with the reappearance of Pete - a warm welcome back.  I was so pleased that I endured the back paging to read his post, it took about ten minutes - apologies that not all posts have been read and rated.  Not sure if it's the site, the internet, my broadband or my PC - or a combination of all three four. 

 

Pete, so sorry to hear of your loss.  I fear that before this is over, we will have to send quite a few similar messages to ERs.  However, let's hope not.  It appears that Boris is getting better and that the Mayor of Heanor who posted a nasty message about him on Farcebook no longer has the Labour whip, and also no longer has a job - I doubt that she will now find it easy to find employment - serves her right.

 

As for 30747, she went to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary yesterday to arrive at 11.15 - I took her and then parked up and sat in the car after going into town and finding Barclays closed for security as a staff member was taken ill whilst in the bank - I don't think it was Covid19 though. 

 

Well the treatment was quite quite amazing - MRI scan of her head just after 11.15, then off to the next room for a doppler scan of her neck, and while she was waiting, a nurse and Dr from out patients arrived to take her blood samples while she was waiting, "to save her from having to wander round the hospital", then her scan was done, and she was out by 12.30, and luckily I had managed to find a better parking space, and she was on the other side of the road, just about to phone me when I saw her.  When we got home, there was already a message on our phone at 12.36 advising that the consultant should have all the results by Monday, and he was on duty on Monday, so would phone us then. 

 

Back tomorrow, internet permitting

Regards to All

Stewart

[railsquid]

On 18/06/2016 at 20:32, railsquid said:

Long time no see... just thought you'd like to see this picture of the Squidlet pointing excitedly at a train.

 

(This is his favourite stretch of road by the way, not only does it have trains at the end but a series of manhole covers which need to be Inspected).

 

Well doesn't time fly, and what strange times we live in.

 

Here is an older version of the above Squidlet examining the night sky through his binoculars:

 

 

[jamie92208]

19 minutes ago, railsquid said:

 

Well doesn't time fly, and what strange times we live in.

 

Here is an older version of the above Squidlet examining the night sky through his binoculars:

 

 

Great to hear from you and to see the squidlet.  Hope you are staying safevover there.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon and s very good one it is.  This morning Beth managed to get one foot tangled in the duvet and fell out of bed hurting her wrist. It was 40 minutes before she attracted my attention but I was able to get her up and mobile. We both thought she'd broken her scaphoid for the umpteenth  time.  Anyway once sorted and breakfasted we rang the Dr. She rang back within 10 minutes and arrived just after lunch with a pre written hospital letter.  Very concerned but confirmed a suspected break and off to the hospital at The Danglies. They are discouraging self referrals in the current climate.

 

Anyway once we got there Beth was straight in. The waiting room was empty. I was told to wait outside so headed for the Post Office and waited in the queue  to be admitted.  Very pleasant guy on the door marshalled the queue and within a few minutes I was allowed in. I posted our firstvever parcel to Miss Emily Lancaster, who will bev1 yr old in a few weeks, and bought some stamps. Strange way of going on with masks etc but efficient.  

 

Then back to the hospital and 20 minutes later a beaming Beth appeared. Good news. No break but she had apparently  got a bad sprain that had disturbed  some calcification due to arthritis.  She already had a wrist splint from the UK, which the Dr pronounced as excellent  and better than what he could prescribe.  On the way back home we called at a fruit and veg stall so strawberries  and  cream  are on the menu for tea to folliw my patent rissotto.  All in all a good result.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup where it is another sunny day. I have done a small bit of the g word, Ben for a walk with Mrs and Youngest Lurker and sat in the garden. I am looking forward to a beer later!

 

good to see Pete posting again.

 

i hope that everyone is staying safe and well 

 

I shall go back a few pages now and catch up

[The Stationmaster]

Good to see KZ popping in to see us even with NHS tales of woe.  Alas judging by a couple of things reported by my daughter the NHS is still suffering from 'problem patients' which in its professional caring manner it's unable to turn away, however inebriated they happen to be.

 

Smashing too to see railsquid and the squidlet back among us after a long absence, don't stay away so long next time please.  And in view of some recent reported developments in Japan please stay safe.

[TheQ]

Afternoon awl,  They've had to close part of the round Britain coastal footpath,  which goes through a caravan park because walkers keep wandering the site using the parks benches and trying to use the parks " facilities ". This is giving the staff problems as they don't know what has been touched. 

 

First today open up the MhRC for ventilation, however the smell of  white Spirit was slight,  so I won't need to do it again.  A quick coat of varnish was applied to part of something unmentionable. 

 

Then to the garage,  ply glued and screwed to the edge of the new board. 

Keel given final sanding,  then the board which will be fixed the the underside of the boat as a load spreader was cut to size and the holes for the keelboats cut. 

 

The last piece of timber in the wall / roof joint was removed,  it took all of 30 seconds, the timber was that rotten  it fell apart.  After cleaning up the space, 4 bricks were mortared in and the curvy space above filled with expanding foam. 

 

The new board was taken to the MhRC and adjustable toggle clamps now hold the boards together.  However annoyingly I've left  the dowels at the MRC ..

An inherited  sub board was tried on top and it does fit with a little adjustment needed.  It's original framing will need deconstruction later. 

 

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

Could someone tell Rick, that he can take his mask off when he's in the garden.

[Barry O]

My the squidlet really haa grown. Great!

 

Sorry to hear about the problem Kingzance. Perhaps these people could volunteer to be testers of any new vaccine that needs it?

Roads have been quiet but getting busier. No caravans or mobile homes spotted as yet.

 

Sunny and warm. Extra lap of the Weetwood cricket field done today. Aiming to get up to 6 laps by midweek.

 

We are having virtual "tea and wads" with some our other Bogglers. The quiz has arrived. It is ........bl00dy difficult as one would expect from the quiz setter (Master mind finalist).

 

Now time to do tea. Poached salmon witha salad.....might add a couple of spuds...

 

Baz

[Gwiwer]

6 minutes ago, Barry O said:

Roads have been quiet but getting busier.

 

Individual situations will vary.  Absolutely quiet around here.  A number of folk out walking through the day and a few queueing dutifully at the Thai restaurant which is now serving through a window rather than admitting you through the door.  But very few cars on a day when there might ordinarily be modest traffic.  And the very occasional aircraft flying overhead now provokes a response of "Oh - it's an aircraft" rather than "Another bl**dy plane"   

 

The Green has been well-used but with spacing-out of those so doing.  There are small signs asking people to keep moving which are largely being ignored.  Parents sit on the grass while their children run around for a while.  You cannot explain these things to 2-3 year olds.  

 

I suspect tomorrow might be busier just because it is a weekend rather than a holiday as such.  We shall see.  This isn't a tourist area.  There has been very little evidence of family visits going on with the notable exception of our Polish neighbours who seem to be interpreting English advice a little liberally.  To my mind that is between them; I am a safe distance away.  

[Natalie]

Afternoon all

For the record I really do know who the Beatles are! My tastes musically veer more to their influences of the likes of Elvis, Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee. Rockabilly is my love, the obscure the better. People such as Glen Glenn, Benny Joy, Warren Smith, Sonny Burgess etc.

 

I also like a bit of bluegrass and proper country such as The Louvin Brothers, Flatt and Scruggs and Hank Williams. Currently listening to Johnny Horton who was known as "The Singing Fisherman". Maybe not well known but is one of my favourites.  He has a great voice and superb guitar backing from the likes of Hank 'Sugarfoot' Garland and Grady Martin.

 

Bizarrely I also like Steps, Incubus Succubus (thanks Kelly D827!), Enya and uellian pipes (played by a gent called Davey whose surname I can't recall)- where that came from I have no idea, but I can't help what I like.

 

The availability of all this great music (to me anyway) is actually the thing that has stopped me going over the edge at present.

 

The social isolation I can cope with- I have practiced it since about 1981), I am naturally antisocial and prefer to be on my own. It is the fact that you cannot put the radio or tele on without the blasted virus being mentioned- that sends my anxiety levels raising to stratospheric levels. It is not the actual virus or concern at getting it (I might have had it already) as there is nothing that I can do about that. No, it the sensationalist reporting in the media that is getting to me. It may be avoidance but it is what works for me

 

Music is my haven at present- I think ChrisF may have some thoughts in this direction. 

 

I read everyday and like to catch up with the likes of Ben the (insert activity) Collie , Polly, the Hill of Strawberries, Fraggle Rock and the Boring Borough. You are all helping in your own ways by keeping me sanish and involved/ connected. I am really missing my shows at the moment!

 

I see that Andrew P is going to reform his band. No offence intended but I think he would have been around when the rock'n'roll music I love would have been popular. It would be nice to hear his band in action.

 

I have dabbled a little bit in playing music. I have an Arla Fender copy- a left handed version- on which I can bang out a couple of Shadows tunes roughly. I am considering digging it out again, wonder what Bracken, our newly diabetic Staffie/Ridge back cross would make of it.

 

A highlight a few years ago was going to Warwick Shadows Club (actually in Wellesborough) where Brian Locking (bass player for Vince Taylor and the Playboys- he is on Brand New Cadillac, Marty Wilde and the Wildecats and later the Shadows as replacement for the great Jet Harris) was a special guest. On these occasions there is usually a band made up of members and people can play too if they like. I did a couple of numbers- gone all muso now!- with Brian Locking playing bass for me. Never thought that would ever happen. On the way back on the Kenilworth Bypass (A46 i think) i was just approaching the bridge where the Birmingham GW line crosses and was startled by the sight of a Vulcan emerging from behind the trees (roughly where Warwick Parkway is located). What an impressive contraption it was. Pete (Trisonic- great to see you back) has no doubt met a few interesting musicians in his career. What I am trying to say during my incessant waffling is that music can be a life saver and is another activity that can be participated in during this lockdown.

 

Best wishes to all and keep yourselves safe.

 

Natalie

x 

Edited April 10, 2020 by Natalie

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Went to Tess Coes at lunchtime and there was no queue. When I mentioned it to the security guy at the door he said that the queue had only just cleared. It took me about 45 minutes to do my shop and when I came out the queue had reformed, just lucky I guess. Its been mentioned that some supermarkets are roping off some sections but not Tess Coes at Pitsea though they could easily close off the upstairs section that holds clothes, electrical and household items such as bedding, nothing absolutely essential. Tea is brewing, be back later.