Early Risers.

[tigerburnie]

Been out Bat detecting again, we have common pipistrelles flying round the tree where I installed the roosting box, it would be so cool if we got some in it within a week of installation. Whilst on our bike ride today we saw our first Swift of the summer, we don't get many in our village, but an indicator that hopefully warmer weather is now installed.

G'night all.

[Ozexpatriate]

41 minutes ago, brianusa said:

In the good old days, one could buy a car either loaded or stripped depending on the needs of the buyer.  Not these days; the manufacturers like to load them up to make the most money and rely on smart sales people to unload them on the unwary!

There is a tipping point where the cost of managing design variants for a superfluity of options exceeds the material costs of simply installing them in all units shipped, resulting in things like intermittent wipers no longer being optional.

 

A simple installed / not installed model for options will result in 2 ^ n variants (if I've got that right) where n is the number of options.  If there were 10 options, it results in more than 1,000 design variants (1,024) to manage in the assembly and distribution processes.

 

One of the things still keeping electronic options as "optional" is the cost not of the electronics, but the copper wires needed for the cable harnesses to connect to distributed systems.

 

Many brands are including safety features (including complex ADAS) as brand differentiation. Subaru is a good example of a non-luxury brand that is doing this. All new Subarus will include as stock, things like lane keeping, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

 

[pH]

1 hour ago, brianusa said:

OTOH, my wife's Acura has so many gadgets, neither of us have plumbed the depths of what they all do.  In the good old days, one could buy a car either loaded or stripped depending on the needs of the buyer. 

I’ve said there should be a free diploma course with every new car sold.

 

I don’t know how old your ‘good old days’ were, Brian, but I enquired about buying a ‘stripper’ (technical term, no EA required) about 20 years ago and was told that it would cost extra to remove options from a standard offering.

[Ozexpatriate]

2 minutes ago, pH said:

... it would cost extra to remove options from a standard offering

Because of the variant management process it would indeed cost more. It is why cars are sold with 'bundles' of 'upgrades' and relatively few individual options.

[Tony_S]

All the cars we have had for ages now have had front fog lights. One day I was driving my present car when I realised I didn’t know where the front fog light switch was. It wasn’t where it was on the previous two Land Rovers. So when I reached the destination I went round the front and there were no fog lights. Problem solved. 
Tony

Edited May 25, 2020 by Tony_S

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

The weather has been kind to me today and the front door frame and fan light were sanded down, filler applied where required and that too was sanded down. All is now ready for the application of undercoat that will commence tomorrow morning. Actually reaching the fan light has to be done with the aid of a bridge that spans two sets of step ladders, one set up in front of the door steps, the other set up in the doorway and the bridge fitted between the two. Once set up work is very easy and there is no over stretching required. 

 

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[Ozexpatriate]

I'm feeling a little rant coming on for no good reason, I think I'm still out of sorts with my changed weekend plans.

 

Why is it that people post very large images in the "Things that make you : )" thread, especially the text only ones? They are so large that I have to scroll to view the entirety of the image on my laptop screen.  It's pointless for text that is ripped off the internet somewhere anyway. I presume that they primarily use telephones where images are automatically zoomed to fit the screen.

 

One of these rendered a text height on my laptop of approximately 15mm. That's bigger than:

72 point font, which on my screen resolution renders at about 12mm high. In print a 72 point font would be 1" (25.4 mm) high.

 

One of my neighbours, (perhaps 200m down the road) has a large house and driveway. Today in celebration of Memorial Day??? they are hosting a driveway concert for their neighbours by a "Karen Carpenter" tribute band. During my afternoon constitutional I could hear the amplified sounds booming through the neighbourhood. The first song I heard was the Bacharach/David song "I say a little prayer" made famous by Dionne Warwick. After circuiting the block, the singer was on more authentically Karen Carpenter territory with "On top of the world". The singer was actually very good. Nevertheless a Karen Carpenter 'soundalike' isn't how I wanted to spend my day. I can't hear it inside.

 

Time for the evening news.

[J. S. Bach]

The time has arrived so good night from the Piedmont.

[Ozexpatriate]

It will be interesting to see if the manned NASA/SpaceX Dragon/Falcon launch will happen on Wednesday. Weather in Florida has been awful and may continue to be wet and miserable through Wednesday . The next launch window is for Saturday.

 

This would be (if I'm not mistaken) the first manned, NASA capsule launch since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) in July 1975. I'm separating capsule launches from the Space Shuttle, which operated from 1981 (Columbia, STS-1) to 2011 (Atlantis, STS-135).

[BR60103]

I don't have the info here, but could Mike's answer be Cabinet Ministers (either general or specific)?

 

We had to go out today -- printer ink.

 

Bookshops are re-opening. I must see if they still have that copy of the January BRM.  SWMBO says it will get wiped down with a disinfectant cloth if I get it.

 

[Steamport Southport]

22 hours ago, chrisf said:

Greetings one and all

 

The trouble with traditional Sunday lunch is that it seems to take all day to make it, eat it and clear up after it.  This is, of course, a mis-perception.  Serious preparation did not start until after 11 am and I had finished eating in time to watch “Carry On Up the Khyber” on ITV3.  For my money that was the most satirical of all the Carry Ons.  The British Raj had been ripe for treatment for years and it was done so well.  I am not at all sure that anyone in the cast is still alive but all are fondly recalled.  

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

 

Angela Douglas is still alive.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Douglas

 

Other regular Carry On actors and actresses still alive are Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins, Jim Dale, Leslie Phillips, Valerie Leon, Jacqui Piper, Amanda Barrie and Anita Harris. 

 

 

Jason

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

I managed a spell in the garden yesterday morning.  The fork was wielded to good effect and a good pile of nettles removed.  I was encouraged by my neighbours William and Katya who were having breakfast in their garden, which unlike mine is fit for purpose. My reserves of stamina were all but spent after 45 minutes and too much remains to be done.  I did manage to get the laundry up to date and do not need to tell you how much I am looking forward to the ironing.  Actually, I do.  Not much.

 

Flavio, it takes a lot of effort to be full of surprises.  If it is surprising that occasionally I like wine with a meal, so be it.  I try to operate on the ‘when in Rome’ principle but I can’t always do it where beer is concerned.  In the hotels where we are billeted by Ffestiniog Travel the local beer tends to be far from outstanding and I have taken to what I believe to be a German brew, Erdinger weissbier.  It is very more-ish and loosens my tongue!  I ought to seek out Swiss wine but the Christmas and New Year holiday costs me more than enough as it is, assuming of course that it goes ahead.  It has been advertised on the webshite but if the quarantine arrangements announced recently remain in force until December they will act as a huge disincentive.  What I have probably mis-translated as ‘good local edelweiss wine from Basel’ sounds intriguing.  How do they get the juice out of the edelweiss?

 

JohnDMJ, the kennel is locked but I would not like to guess how firmly.  The black dog came very close to escaping when my trip to Dublin collapsed.  As things stand I hope to have another go at it in 2021.  Current events mean that my supply chain for new music is incomplete.  I have lost my visit to Claddagh Records, a record shop of global renown in Dublin, and, of course, my week in Sidmouth which often produces discoveries of wonderful new music.  In such circumstances I have little option but to review what I already have.  In a few days I will list my Second 10.  Make of it what you will.

 

Steamport Southport, thank you for setting me right on the longevity or otherwise of the Carry On cast.  I’m not sure now what part Angela Douglas played in Khyber but the fact remains that so many of those in that film are no longer with us though fondly recalled.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

It is sunny and pleasantly warm at the moment. Aditi has done the shopping, that is, amended our order, and completed the payment details. Last night the payment portal was dead which after she had carefully completed everything was frustrating. 
I have set our phones to have a special ringtone for MiL in case she either accidentally rings late at night or early morning. However last night at 10.50 the phone rang with a non MiL ring tone I was half asleep,and Aditi  was in the shower. Without thinking I got up too quickly to answer the phone. I won’t be doing that again, the effect on my heart was not pleasant. At least I will be able to tell the consultant that I have experienced some of the symptoms he said I need to look out for! And what was the call, neighbours ringing to say they hadn’t seen us out yesterday and were we OK.

Tony

Edited May 26, 2020 by Tony_S

[roundhouse]

1 hour ago, chrisf said:

 I have taken to what I believe to be a German brew, Erdinger weissbier.  It is very more-ish and loosens my tongue!

Yes we quite enjoy that weissbier. I do recall us standing in a DB Bistro-buffet on the sleeper from Hamburg to Brussels back in 2008 as the weather turned stormy. We had probably our best ever nights sleep on a sleeper through that thunderstorm after a few bottles. We woke early and spritely in Brussels as the train arrived just after 6 am and then we were off to the airport for a flight to Porto.

 

Today is gardening and I wont be bothering any more with the 5pm briefings and I now wont feel bad when using my gut feeling doing something right that in the past few weeks might have felt was breaking the 'rules'. My brother is still keen for me to take his two kids to Heathrow as it will be safer than using the underground or a taxi. I note that some taxis are fitting plastic screens betwwen the front and rear seats but the one around here haven't so far. I think that they will be better off in HK where the virus is well under control more so than here but with the risk of rioting causing them problrms in HK. They will have to be tested upon arrival in HK then self isolatew for 14 days.Will be interesting if they come back for further eduaction in September as its cost my brother a lot of money for a trunkated first years worth with no refunds being given. Brother has hinted at moving to OZ.

[jamie92208]

Bonjour from La Belle France. It's nice and sunny again. Our family of black redstarts are up and about feeding their four chicks in the roof of the verandah. We are fairly certain there are another family in the woodshed about 60 yards away.

 

Not a huge amount to report. This morning I'm going to be doing a variety of jobs in the shed and garden then off to the garden centre for some canes and watering nipples. The type that screw onto old plastic bottles.  The garcen centre might just be near a railway line. How convenient.

 

John (CB)'s post with the clip from Iolanthe brought back some good memories of my father singing that song. He played that part in Carlisle when I was a baby and often sang the song.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

 

Just a little post script.  Yesterday I forgot my mask when I went to the pool place, an hours drive away. I wasn't allowed in. I then decided to try and buy one. 1st stop was a DIY place where I was able to order a part for a strimmer but not buy a mask. Then to a hypermarket which had a pharmacy attached. A very helpful pharmacist sold me one for 80 cents. I was really surprised at how self conscious I felt in both stores without a mask. Nothing was said to me but I still felt it.  Welcome to the new normal.

Edited May 26, 2020 by jamie92208

[AndyB]

6 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

.....

 

One of my neighbours, (perhaps 200m down the road) has a large house and driveway. Today in celebration of Memorial Day??? they are hosting a driveway concert for their neighbours by a "Karen Carpenter" tribute band. During my afternoon constitutional I could hear the amplified sounds booming through the neighbourhood. The first song I heard was the Bacharach/David song "I say a little prayer" made famous by Dionne Warwick. After circuiting the block, the singer was on more authentically Karen Carpenter territory with "On top of the world". The singer was actually very good. Nevertheless a Karen Carpenter 'soundalike' isn't how I wanted to spend my day. I can't hear it inside.

 

Time for the evening news.

 

I've yet to fathom why every Saturday afternoonsome people in a nearby road elect to blast music out into the neighbourhood. 

The first time it happened I thought hey-ho live and let live.  

By the 3rd Saturday I was less sanguine. Next Saturday will result in a "tut" and a raised eyebrow. 

 

[Dave Hunt]

Greetings from a cloudy but dry and warm North Salopshire. The seaweed study group are forecasting that for at least the next couple of weeks we will be without any significant amount of water falling from the sky and already our grass is developing dry brown areas so SWMBO has declared that watering of the garden will commence on a daily basis as from this evening. Just what I enjoy - standing with a hosepipe in hand for what seems like hours gazing at the scenery. Apart from that today looks like being uneventful. Highlights of yesterday we're spending over two hours sweeping and raking up the debris left by the recent gales, having a chat with HH on the phone, doing a bit of modelling and making a meat and potato pie for dinner. Today we'll be going for a walk, maybe some more modelling will happen, and some supplies will be ordered from our market folk for delivery tomorrow. Exciting or what?

 

Have fun everyone and Chris, I hope that wretched dog stays locked up.

 

Dave

 

PS The advertising banner at the top of the page on this site for me has changed from scantily clad young ladies to "Hippo - save big on rubbish removal". When will you be round Richard?

 

 

Edited May 26, 2020 by Dave Hunt
Missed some exciting detail......

[big jim]

Just phoned work and today’s job is cancelled both ways, should have been on bescot toton bescot but there is no traffic either way so stay at home with my phone on, result! 

[TheQ]

Mooring awl inner Temple Hare, 

5.5 hours sleep plus an hour on the sofa.

 

I'm slowly changing my routine back to work timing.  Ben the currently sleeping Collie,  will still get his walk at 06:00. But after breakfast and ablutions, instead of before. 

 

Blue skies out there  just a few white fluffy clouds. 

 

Lead  melting today, will be followed by the first trip to a big orange shed in 10 weeks. Tes and Co will follow on the way home.  Therefore the landrover has been on charge all night . When I plugged it in yesterday afternoon,  the battery took 8.2amps, 3 hours later 4.7, this morning, nothing, the meter says Full. 

 

It's definitely one thing I don't miss, is the sound of music? from houses nearby. The most we get now is a car shaking due to volume being so high as it goes past.  The second nearest neighbour has in general stopped such things. 

It's become apparent it was a partial Cummings,  He has now had to go to work,  his children are now staying for the duration with the grandparents for child care, the mother works at an animal shelter so has worked through, I don't know whether she's staying here or with the grandparents.

 

Once a Muggacoffee has been consumed it will be time to venture forth. 

 

PS the hippos are back here too it makes a change from radiators.. 

Edited May 26, 2020 by TheQ

[Barry O]

Ey up!

My top of the page ad is for Homebase Chapel Allerton...they know I need some evilstick!

 

I like Weissbier..unfortunately it doesn't like me. The Swiss wine I enjoyed was Panzerwein... available to the tank guys. The training team at their tank school in Thun were very professional but could drink copiuos amounts...just like british tankies.

 

We are collecting grey water (from the shower, the washing up etc and using that for garden use ..having a water meter really focusses the mind on saving resources.

 

Today involves editing our latest Leeds MRS CIO newsletter. I have received 3 new articles which should cover the next three weeks or so. Great!

So withoutfurther ado..make Tuesday a day you complete all the tasks you want to do!

 

Positive thoughts to all especially BoD and his family as well as our missing ERs. Hope Andrew Ps move has gone well.

 

Baz

[roundhouse]

26 minutes ago, big jim said:

Just phoned work and today’s job is cancelled both ways, should have been on bescot toton bescot but there is no traffic either way so stay at home with my phone on, result! 

I have noticed that quite a few of the freight service we get on the Brighton mainline have not run very much in recent weeks

[roundhouse]

12 minutes ago, TheQ said:

 one thing I don't miss, is the sound of music? from houses nearby. The most we get now is a car shaking due to volume being so high as it goes past. 

We have a group of blokes in a flat facing us that like their music up load but the worst part is they shout over it. Luckily we sleep in the room at the front of our place. I often have the music up loud in the shed at the back of the garden during the day so that drowns out their music. The other thing I don't like is the smoking of illegal substances by the side of the flats just over the fence. One reason that I didn't do much  gardening yesterday.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Its a bit dull here at the moment, but now that breakfast has been consumed I can make a start on undercoating the front door frame. I’m using a quick drying undercoat, so I’m hoping to get 2 coats done today. 

 

After tea I’ll be completing the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix, something to look forward to there then. 

 

Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. 

 

 

 

 

Today advert is for an ‘Escape Room Experience’ delivered to your home! Just what are they trying to say?