Early Risers.

[TheQ]

Ben the insecure Collie will be very unhappy on Monday when I WFW for the first time in 10 weeks.  SWMBO will have a moping dog all day.  Actually she will have tomorrow, for part of the day,  the sailing club facilities are in use again, with restrictions. I'm going to go check the motor boat,  top up the batteries,  and give the decks a wash and brush up. 

 

Mad dogs and English men go out in the mid day sun.  With the weather today i can appreciate why those in southern Europe retire for a siesta. 

 

Work continued on the exterior shelving and new shed porch.  The basics of the porch are now up,  but the shed / garage roof join needs sealing. Then shelves need inserting between all the uprights. 

 

When Ben took SWMBO for a long walk,  I mowed the main areas, by the time they were back, I was suffering in the sun.  So retirement time for a sarni and siesta. 

 

Once recovered, I went back out , the work area now sheltered from the sun by a big sycamore . I started installing a sink in the porch,  this is for plant pot washing and similar things. We had the old caravan sink lying around,  and the  garden tap was going thereabouts anyway.

 

A simple gravel soakaway will deal with waste water,  I don't want to encourage naked hippos.. 

 

[Ozexpatriate]

55 minutes ago, Simon G said:

The only person I met was an acquaintance from further down the lane, who told me about a family who own a beach bungalow as a second home.  During lockdown, they have been backwards and forwards to this bungalow, totally ignoring the lockdown.  They were reported to the police, who appear to have taken no action, as now they are also bringing friends and family to stay.

My cousin's husband is a police officer on the glide path to retirement. As such he is assigned to an area-wide, response call centre. He would come home frustrated at dealing with the volume of calls from people dobbing in their neighbours for perceived lockdown infractions. The police were not going to prosecute such activity, they still have their day job.

 

While it feels unfair, unless you plan to spend a significant amount of time with the local scofflaws (indoors) without masks or separation, they won't present much of a threat to you or your community. Hopefully they are at least thoughtful enough to wear masks when interacting with people in the community - like at the shops.

[45156]

Afternoon All

 

Finally caught up, and did not get here at all yesterday, as a walk round the block was "requested" by 30747, then when I got back, I pressure washed all the walls facing the street - never been done before, so 60 years of grot and lichen, and about 4 of moss - I'd guess at somewhere near to 150 feet done.  I was so tired that I didn't bother to switch on the laptop at all.  Then today, 30747 "suggested" that we take Lily for a walk round Kirkby Lonsdale, and that was upwards of a couple of miles by the time we'd taken in Ruskin's VIew and the still closed down High Street.

And as the pressure washer was so high pressure, I found that some of the cement that I'd done on the path beyond the front door had cracked - so that was today accounted for as well.  Now I'm not tired, I'm comnackly pletered.

 

So anyway, generic greetings are on offer, and I do hope that all my fellow ERs are well, and not suffering any ill effects of the nasty lurgi type - it does appear that the "slight" relaxations which are being suggested are being taken with too much alacrity by many.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[PhilJ W]

3 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

I'll PM you a link for the 'Oiled hippo brides in yellow' website.

 

Access will be free to you, as you're a mate.

You don't mean 'Well oiled hippo in yellow brides outfit' do you?

[Barry O]

Afternoon all!

Door has had its first colour coat applied ...and its nearly dry.

 

New gearbox made and fitted and it works. DJH use the same gears but their gearboxes and motor are extortionate compared to high level and mitsumi. 

 

Sat in the garden for a while. The magpies, jackdaws and pigeons were not very happy that we are in "their" garden.

 

Durham police must have gone soft....they were a lot different when I lived there.

 

Fish and chips for tea..yummy!

 

No county cricket until after 1st August. That would mean a 7 week season...could be interesting. .Lots of cup games I would think.

Right...time for a mugadecaf 

 

Baz

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

Evening awl.

 

Poly, Fraggle Rock is easy to watch....

 

https://www.manxradio.com/webcams/

 

We don't have one thankfully, although today would have just shown blurred packers whizzing about the place.

 

I is kernackered, thankfully for me Thursday is Friday!   A little sad today as a valued member of staff has had to give up work for (non-CV19) health reasons, however he remains a good friend, we're a close bunch.  He is of course a modeller.... not all staff are!

[JohnDMJ]

Evening awl.

 

Since the Bank Holiday, things seem to be calming down a little. The asylum gates are still on two lorries heading off rapidly in different directions from their hinges! However, la vie continue malgré tous.

 

8 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

These excruciating puns are very definitely the outward manifestation of a very, very sick and twisted mind. If left untreated, who knows what this could lead  to: hyperbole? alliteration?  anadiplosis? or even - gasp! shock! horror! - Litotes!!!
You definitely need treatment, John. And you are lucky, as a trained clinical psychologist I can provide you with online support and treatment at very reasonable prices! 

 

iD

 

Born and raised in the era of double entendres, puns and innuendo from the likes of the Carry On films, Bob Monkhouse, Frankie Howard et alia, what do you expect? Generally, anadiplosis & Litotes tend not to feature in my repertoire.

 

My main bug-bears concern the mis-understanding of TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms, of which TLA is one!), often leading to pleonasms. The concept of a PCB Board (Printed Circuit Board Board), PIN Number (Personal Identification Number Number), PAT Testing (Personal Appliance Testing Testing) et alia baffles me and demonstrates the lack of comprehension some have of that about which they are talking.

 

I will raise one equally commonly abused TLA, albeit for the wrong reasons; the vehicle's annual MOT is actually the 'Ministry of Transport' Test thus leaving 'MoT Test' as perfectly correct!

 

To close, a girl walks into a bar and asks for a Double Entendre; so the barman gives her one!

 

 

8 hours ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

 

I have found an all high-speed option leaving Paris-Lyon at 14.07 and getting to Madrid Atocha at 00.02 (change at Barcelona Sants 20.34 - 21.15).

 

I have not looked at Eurostar but it should not be difficult to get to Paris in time for a 14.07 departure.

 

This would be a full-fat priced ticket, I suspect. There are some very good prices available for Paris - Barcelona/Madrid if you are willing to take a slower train (€60).

 

Departing St Pancras at sometime before 0924 could cause an arrival at Paris - Lyon in time for the 14:07 departure (I've usually experienced a wait of more than an hour for the 14:20ish departure Paris-Lyon to Basel). It all depends on RER D!

Edited May 28, 2020 by JohnDMJ

[Happy Hippo]

Whilst cutting the front verge today, I noticed what appeared to be the corpse of a Bullfinch in the gutter.  On closer obervation (picking it up) I found that it was not dead, so I presume it must have been stunned from flying into a car or something.

 

I let it sit in my hand for a few minutes after which it took wing, and flew off to the hedge.

 

I have to say that it was a rather fine specimen that could have graced a spotters guide.

 

Not so lucky was the Wood Pigeon that got into a rather one sided race with the local ADV Sparrowhawk who was on a CAP.

 

It finished in an explosion of feathers over the back lawn.

 

It was a timely reminder to put the bird bath in a slightly more sheltered position to prevent the possibility of a future fly by.

[Coombe Barton]

Inflatable bananas can be used at home as well as in the Royal Albert Hall.

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/marking-dom-and-dim/

[JohnDMJ]

43 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Not so lucky was the Wood Pigeon that got into a rather one sided race with the local ADV Sparrowhawk who was on a CAP.

 

It finished in an explosion of feathers over the back lawn.

 

It was a timely reminder to put the bird bath in a slightly more sheltered position to prevent the possibility of a future fly by.

 

But by so doing, are you:

 

a: depriving a Sparrowhawk of its natural instincts for gathering its food

 

b: encouraging a (I believe, well reported for at least 20 years) pest (AKA the flying rat) of spreading respiratory diseases to humans?

 

Bona contention! My vote's for the Sparrowhawk! If it fancies a pigeon snack, it will find one!

Edited May 28, 2020 by JohnDMJ

[brianusa]

4 hours ago, Simon G said:

Afternoon all,

It is finally warm enough here for the shorts and T shirt to make their first UK outing of the year.  They aren’t very glamorous as the T shirt is a old work one from nearly 30 years ago, and the the shorts are faded, or as we would say in modelling parlance, weathered.

 

Last night, I again went down to the beach for my 10pm walk, and collected more seaweed for composting.  The only person I met was an acquaintance from further down the lane, who told me about a family who own a beach bungalow as a second home.  During lockdown, they have been backwards and forwards to this bungalow, totally ignoring the lockdown.  They were reported to the police, who appear to have taken no action, as now they are also bringing friends and family to stay.  The owners local nickname is “Del Monte”, as he often arrives in his own helicopter, but now they appear to have been renamed the “Cummings and Goings”.  Needless to say, they are not very popular here just now!

 

Shorts were never my thing, even less so now.  There comes a time when old men's knobbly knees should not be seen in public!

The newest family to move into our little Court of six houses; three kids, Mum and Dad,  are contenders for the local chapter of the Darwin award.  This recent Memorial Day holiday,  they and invited guests sat on the front lawn and partied all afternoon.  Must have been over a dozen!  Luckily they all disbanded around 18.00 to take the kids home to bed!  The weather has been lovely recently encouraging people to go out; I shudder to think what will happen on July 4th, fireworks and all!  Fireworks should be banned these days considering we are entering fire season once more,  But that would be infringing on too many constitutional rights in the eyes of the locals.  That is until their house burns down!

         Brian.

 

 

[Chris116]

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

No county cricket until after 1st August. That would mean a 7 week season...could be interesting. .Lots of cup games I would think.

 

That would mean seven weeks of solid rain more like!

[JohnDMJ]

 

20 minutes ago, brianusa said:

The newest family to move into our little Court of six houses; three kids, Mum and Dad,  are contenders for the local chapter of the Darwin award.  This recent Memorial Day holiday,  they and invited guests sat on the front lawn and partied all afternoon.  Must have been over a dozen!  Luckily they all disbanded around 18.00 to take the kids home to bed!  The weather has been lovely recently encouraging people to go out; I shudder to think what will happen on July 4th, fireworks and all!  Fireworks should be banned these days considering we are entering fire season once more,  But that would be infringing on too many constitutional rights in the eyes of the locals.  That is until their house burns down!

         Brian.

 

 

 

Multitudinous Darwin Awards seem to be looming!

 

Yesterday, I noted two transit vans, one from north of London, driving around town with trailers carrying jets kis!

[Happy Hippo]

17 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

 

But by so doing, are you:

 

a: depriving a Sparrowhawk of its natural instincts for gathering its food

 

b: encouraging a (I believe, well reported for at least 20 years) pest (AKA the flying rat) of spreading respiratory diseases to humans?

 

Bona contention! My vote's for the Sparrowhawk! If it fancies a pigeon snack, it will find one!

And it is more than welcome to it!

 

The only good Wood Pigeon is one inside a pastie and the Sparrowhawk can take as many as it fancies as  the WP fraternity are on a huge population increase.

 

It is a real  pest and as one who is involved in pest control I spend more time shooting them than I do rats.

 

Because the Sparrowhawk is a total opportunist and will take anything it can catch, placing the birdbath and feeders in a more secluded and sheltered spots is doing the likes of the Bullfinch which I mentioned a favour as it encourages the Sparrowhawk to go after it's larger prey species:  Bullfinches are on the amber list due to their large population decline towards the end of the last century. 

 

However, the feeders and bath are not so secluded that a feline can mount a successful ambush. Now I no longer have Elsa as a garden guardian, we are getting more cats and Grey Squirrels coming into the garden.  The Grey is also partial to song bird chicks and any unhatched eggs.  As an invasive species, that carries a pox which is fatal to the native Red Squirrel, the tree rats are also dispatched without mercy.

 

Sparrowhawks and other raptors were the subject of a number of conservation programmes when their numbers were dangerously low in the 1960's due to poisoning by the pesticides then in use.  Fortunately the raptors did recover and in particular the Accipiter population is now pretty stable in the UK and it's size is dictated not by prey species, but ensuring  it has suitable habitat.  It is rare to see one actually take a bird in flight, as they are birds that spend a lot of time in woodland.  Some of their prey species, such as the song thrush, have declined but others such as the Wood Pigeon and that cheeky chappy, the Robin are on the up and up.

 

In contrast the Red Kite population is growing at an almost alarming rate, and as they are mainly carrion feeders, now have to  receive handouts from feeding stations.  I'm convinced that this is because there is not enough naturally occurring carrion to sustain their numbers, especially in the South East. 

[Simon G]

1 hour ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

Not so lucky was the Wood Pigeon that got into a rather one sided race with the local ADV Sparrowhawk who was on a CAP.

 

It finished in an explosion of feathers over the back lawn.

 

It was a timely reminder to put the bird bath in a slightly more sheltered position to prevent the possibility of a future fly by.

There is such an explosion in the population of pigeons and doves around here that we could do with some sparrowhawks  to keep the population down.  They don’t seem to have any natural local predators, so it has gone from no pigeons and doves about 10 years ago, until now it seems like you can hear the coo-cooing from dawn till dusk.  They have played havoc with my vegetable patch previously, which is why nearly everything is covered in netting just now to keep them off.

There does seem to be an increase in the smaller birds around here, and it is fascinating to watch some of them.  The blackbirds do sometimes get quite irate and agitated when I visit parts of the garden.

 

The final clap for carers was a bit of a disappointment here, with fewer neighbours than usual out clapping.
 

Just about time for me to go out for my late evening walk, and collection of another bag of seaweed!  

[tigerburnie]

13 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

And it is more than welcome to it!

 

The only good Wood Pigeon is one inside a pastie and the Sparrowhawk can take as many as it fancies as  the WP fraternity are on a huge population increase.

 

It is a real  pest and as one who is involved in pest control I spend more time shooting them than I do rats.

 

Because the Sparrowhawk is a total opportunist and will take anything it can catch, placing the birdbath and feeders in a more secluded and sheltered spots is doing the likes of the Bullfinch which I mentioned a favour as it encourages the Sparrowhawk to go after it's larger prey species:  Bullfinches are on the amber list due to their large population decline towards the end of the last century. 

 

However, the feeders and bath are not so secluded that a feline can mount a successful ambush. Now I no longer have Elsa as a garden guardian, we are getting more cats and Grey Squirrels coming into the garden.  The Grey is also partial to song bird chicks and any unhatched eggs.  As an invasive species, that carries a pox which is fatal to the native Red Squirrel, the tree rats are also dispatched without mercy.

 

Sparrowhawks and other raptors were the subject of a number of conservation programmes when their numbers were dangerously low in the 1960's due to poisoning by the pesticides then in use.  Fortunately the raptors did recover and in particular the Accipiter population is now pretty stable in the UK and it's size is dictated not by prey species, but ensuring  it has suitable habitat.  It is rare to see one actually take a bird in flight, as they are birds that spend a lot of time in woodland.  Some of their prey species, such as the song thrush, have declined but others such as the Wood Pigeon and that cheeky chappy, the Robin are on the up and up.

 

In contrast the Red Kite population is growing at an almost alarming rate, and as they are mainly carrion feeders, now have to  receive handouts from feeding stations.  I'm convinced that this is because there is not enough naturally occurring carrion to sustain their numbers, especially in the South East. 

Man is making a right pigs ear of the natural world as if it doesn't matter, I don't know all the answers, but by ignoring the warning signs human kind will suffer the consequences I fear, probably after I've long gone, but what mess we've left our grand children.

[TheQ]

Evening,  I start with a 5 letter American acronym RAdio Detection And Ranging,  the British one being Radio Direction Finding. 

The tiny RDF is progressing  well,  I spent most of the evening holding simulated metal plates together, trying not always successfully, to not be bonded to the aerial myself.

This was while watching old "grand designs" wondering where do these people find the money from!!! 

 

Our neighbour has a baby muntjac in her garden,  she was most concerned it had been abandoned.  I pointed out mum is probably hiding in the bushes and won't come back while she's standing six foot from the baby watching it... 

 

With the American liking of fireworks I always thought them also liking cedar shingles not a good mix. 

 

Tomorrow I shall see if we have more Darwin award candidates locally, as I head to the tourist area that is around my sailing club. This will be after a BLT for breakfast ,  no not a Branch Line Terminus,  but  Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sarnie. Consuming that I will no doubt be attended by a BHC,  Ben the Hopeful Collie. 

 

The Sparrowhawks here are welcome to the feathered Rats,  just leave the seven bird Blue Tit squadron alone.. 

 

And so goodnight, TTFN.

Edited May 28, 2020 by TheQ

[Simon G]

17 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

The only good Wood Pigeon is one inside a pastie and the Sparrowhawk can take as many as it fancies as  the WP fraternity are on a huge population increase.

 

It is a real  pest and as one who is involved in pest control I spend more time shooting them than I do rats.

 

I have managed to take out a couple of wood pigeons with an air rifle in the past, but the crafty so and so’s seem to know now that I am after them and disappear quickly as I try to get into an accurate range!

[JohnDMJ]

 

32 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

And it is more than welcome to it!

 

The only good Wood Pigeon is one inside a pastie and the Sparrowhawk can take as many as it fancies as  the WP fraternity are on a huge population increase.

 

It is a real  pest and as one who is involved in pest control I spend more time shooting them than I do rats.

 

I must confess to being somewhat surprised by your response!!

Having witnessed a Sparrowhawk despatching a magpie many years ago, I am aware of their 'determination', for want of a better phrase.

 

32 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Because the Sparrowhawk is a total opportunist and will take anything it can catch, placing the birdbath and feeders in a more secluded and sheltered spots is doing the likes of the Bullfinch which I mentioned a favour as it encourages the Sparrowhawk to go after it's larger prey species:  Bullfinches are on the amber list due to their large population decline towards the end of the last century.

 

Bullfinches and the like seem to be more 'active' in the support of propagation and encouraging other species such as flora and fawna and such like.

 

I am a big fan of natural predators and prefer their use to chemical warfare. The idea of having falcons and kestrels patrolling stations is a case in point!

 

32 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

However, the feeders and bath are not so secluded that a feline can mount a successful ambush. Now I no longer have Elsa as a garden guardian, we are getting more cats and Grey Squirrels coming into the garden.  The Grey is also partial to song bird chicks and any unhatched eggs.  As an invasive species, that carries a pox which is fatal to the native Red Squirrel, the tree rats are also dispatched without mercy.

 

Cats and grey squirrels; don't get me started! Having referred to the pigeon as a sky rat, I agree that the grey is the (often flea-ridden) tree rat and, thank goodness, it is not (yet) on the Isle of Wight, where rope crossings have even been provided for the native Red Squirrel to cross the road safely!

 

Probably the worst thing we have ever done is to introduce non-native species to the environment. I speak not only of the mobile species but also of the 'stationary' ones i.e., in general, vegetation which has also run amok in an unnatural environment!

 

May I submit that Mankind can often be too good in his 'affection' for all things 'cute' as to be too bad and destructive for his own environment?

Edited May 28, 2020 by JohnDMJ

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, brianusa said:

Shorts were never my thing, even less so now.  There comes a time when old men's knobbly knees should not be seen in public!

I find it helps others socially distance from me

[AndyID]

10 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Presumably, the only similarity between the place in Idaho and the place in Switzerland is the name. Or is it one of these interesting small American towns that were settled by immigrants all from the same region and which end up being miniversions of the immigrants’ ancestral town, but in the USA?

 

 

It's not an official name but some refer to this area as Interlake. In fact we use Interlake Pharmacy.

 

In some respects it's not unlike Interlaken, positioned between beautiful Lake Coeur d'Alene and the magnificent Lake Pend Oreille. There are also several smaller lakes. Lots of mountains but nothing quite as impressive as The Jungfrau.

 

There probably were some settlers from Switzerland as there were a lot of silver mines in the area. The closest thing to a Swiss town near here is Leavenworth in the Washington Cascades but it's entirely synthetic. They decided to make it into an alpine Bavarian village when the railroad pulled out

[Barry O]

2 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

Inflatable bananas can be used at home as well as in the Royal Albert Hall.

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/marking-dom-and-dim/

John

The picture of the glass in the "new" Coventry  Cathedral brings back memories. My mum was in Coventry on the night of the big raid..my dad (in his RAF uniform) was in a train held outside of Coventry watching the bombs drop. At the time they didn't know how close to each other they were... he thought she was still in the North East..

 

Baz

 

 

[Barry O]

Goodnight all!

Sleep well!

Baz

[tetsudofan]

9 hours ago, roundhouse said:

Afternoon.

 

Just received a reply from our MP to my email re last weekends events. Its a generic reply  that is understandable with having to respond ot over 500 emails plus letters and telephone calls but it was as anticipated backing those in power so a suitable reply has been drafted and then left for a day or two to fine tune it.

 

 

 

I was about to send an email to my MP on Monday but by chance looked at one of the feeds and saw that my MP was one of the first (together with another local MP) to state their views which happened to be the same as mine.

 

Quickly changed the content of my email saying that I was pleased to see what he had posted and that I agreed with him completely.

 

Keith

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Full day at work today and was having a better day of it than expected, until someone had to spoil it.

Customer accused us of being ‘all lies’ . Last month , if you recall we were having trouble with the delivery van and told this particular women we would not be able to deliver her medication that day  due to the van being out of action. We did managed to deliver it the next day. Nothing urgent, just her repeat.

Anyway she came into the pharmacy today. She had to wait 5 minutes for her prescription and wasn’t happy about the wait,  then it all ‘kicked off.  Called us liars , the van wasn’t broken etc. Anyway, as the 26year old got into her car she saluted us with a single finger gesture. What a pleasant young lady. 
Not at work until Tuesday now so time to relax (hopefully)

goodnight,

Robert