Early Risers.

[Coombe Barton]

45 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

There were satellites monitoring stuff that long ago?

 

Yeah - the man in the moon.

[jamie92208]

6 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

 

Let it be known that this claim is totally untrue and is blatant scaremongering by a small group of demented and misinformed activists.

 

I have no green pannier tanks.

 

All five are painted black.

 

To quash any further rumours, I can categorically state that none of the above have copper capped chimneys.

 

 

As stated previously they are almost almost pleasant to look at in LT red.

As to the one who casts nastersums from North Hipposhire, I had the fortune good or otherwise to be in what might be described as a mixed dorm during my basic training. There were brown jobs, blue jobs, as well as a former guardsman, and a lad from the Queen's Colour Squadron.  The insults between the three services, and within the brown jobs were an education to innocent little me.

 

Jamie

Edited May 31, 2020 by jamie92208

[Dave Hunt]

7 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

 

Let it be known that this claim is totally untrue and is blatant scaremongering by a small group of demented and misinformed activists.

 

I have no green pannier tanks.

 

All five are painted black.

 

To quash any further rumours, I can categorically state that none of the above have copper capped chimneys.

 

 

 

You will note that I didn't specify the colour of the pannier tanks but since we are on the subject, green as a colour for locomotives is totally acceptable since those two giants of locomotive design and aesthetics, Matthew Kirtley and Samuel Waite Johnson, both had Midland engines painted green until the latter in 1883 decided on the sublime crimson lake (incidentally simply for reasons of economy as the red was harder wearing than green, but I digress). The Greasy, Wet and Rusty did, of course, have the good sense to paint its carriages crimson lake until (I think) 1922 and with green engines having Indian Red frames, lots of polished brass and attractive monograms on the tenders at the head of such a rake must have looked a lot like a nineteenth century Midland train. In other words, very attractive.

 

As for pannier tanks, I'm afraid being painted black only makes it worse.

 

Methinks it is now quite possibly hat and coat time and retreating to the fallout shelter (as long as it isn't anywhere near the Muddy Hollow or iD's bunker).

 

TTFN, I may be some time as the famous saying goes.

 

Dave

[Coombe Barton]

46 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

Geological studies of polar ice satisfy me on the issue. IMHO, the phenomenon of 'global warming' is nothing new to our planet although it seems new to many impulsive activists!

 

OK, so let's use the more correct term of anthropogenic climate change

https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/climateChange/CCS/Anthropogenic.html

[Happy Hippo]

15 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

Our semi tame young pigeon is in trouble with Jill. She spent a great deal of time yesterday arranging floral displays including some hanging baskets, which is something I look forward to seeing each year. This morning she went out on to the patio to find said bird pecking around in one of the baskets for tidbits. When she remonstrated with it the pigeon simply looked puzzled as to why this strange human was shouting and waving its arms and it wasn't until she was within a few feet of it that it eventually got the message and flew off. If it carries on like that I can see Horace the cat being employed as an anti-pigeon operative.

Now that the rules on home visits to the elderly and insanefirm have been relaxed, I am willing to travel up to the northern outpost and offer a pasty filling service via my trusty Flugabwehrkanone. 

 

[Simon G]

Morning all,

The latest news that those of us currently shielding are allowed out as from tomorrow came as a surprise.  I am yet to be convinced that the decision is a wise one, so we will be only going out with extreme caution for the time being.

 

It is already pretty hot outside today, and there is no wind for a change, which makes it seem hotter.  A few laps of the house have been done, and more caterpillars removed from small apple tree.  I think today is mostly just going to be a lazy day!

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, JohnDMJ said:

There were satellites monitoring stuff that long ago?

Of course there were, and as you can see by the satellite picture, not only was the earth smaller in those days, but it is obviously flat as well.

[JohnDMJ]

14 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

OK, so let's use the more correct term of anthropogenic climate change

https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/climateChange/CCS/Anthropogenic.html

 

So how is nearly 400PPM (= 0.00004%) of CO2 causing us grief? That's almost getting close to homeopathy!

[Gwiwer]

A good morning from the Hill of Strawberries. A light breeze is wafting through which is rustling the trees and raising the pollen count to near severe levels. 
 

Being allergic to many pollens I am currently sitting on a shaded Terrace following breakfast while SWMBO speaks with the Dragon-in-Law. 
 

Evil Sqiggle has left the garden pretty much alone since we sprinkled chilli everywhere but we are still one marigold short of quota and a small pot of lettuce seedlings is now a small pot of dug-up soil. There are lettuce seedlings scattered across the potting bench. Evil, evil tree-rat needs to shop elsewhere ..... 

 

Notter Lott on the agenda for today. Just keeping our heads down and trying to enjoy the weather. 
 

The mulberries are mulling. The first was tasted yesterday and was thought to be just a little under-ripe. Give ‘em a week.  Tomatoes and beans are doing nicely and the pretty things are being pretty. 
 

 

 

[81C]

Morning All

bright and sunny

Hoping to spend time reading WTs when back home I've had no luck too much work to do here by Monday, having just a quick look today it's 

all about size of willies  and panniers, I have 7 all painted green It's a BR tank engine if painted black.

Having destroyed the bathroom apart from the major parts which still function I hope by tomorrow the new suite will be installed and I can start tiling Wednesday

Kitchen requires demolition for the fitter to go straight on from one job to the next hopefully all the main elements will be installed by close of play Friday.

Better get on Stay safe Nick Knowles  

[Happy Hippo]

12 minutes ago, Simon G said:

Morning all,

The latest news that those of us currently shielding are allowed out as from tomorrow came as a surprise.  I am yet to be convinced that the decision is a wise one, so we will be only going out with extreme caution for the time being.

I agree with you, and likewise will exercise similar caution.

 

I am not convinced that the mass groupings we are seeing this weekend are a good idea and am pretty sure that it could be the catalyst that gets a resurgence of the virus off to a good start.

 

To misquote WSC:

 

'We will catch it on the beaches......'

[Gwiwer]

And a couple from the rose-watering session 

 

 

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, chrisf said:

 

Yes, it is, but it isn't a pannier tank.

 

Chris

OK, Ok, you got me. But it still is a tank engine (and a mighty fine beastie as well)

[Coombe Barton]

27 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

So how is nearly 400PPM (= 0.00004%) of CO2 causing us grief? That's almost getting close to homeopathy!

It is - please read up on more climate science.

[PeterBB]

Thought its was cracked the other day when I was able to get back on but no in spite of resetting everything it is still the same , to get on I have to remember o'forget my password' fill in the next screen and then go to my email to find the link ... after which I can access ... but with a computer that is very very fast that takes somewhere in the order of 8 minutes.

 

Have been able to click some comments today but the number of blog comments is astronomical between each session.  Am also surprised at the 'lift-off' of the 12/52 when so many of those who have not been observing anyway are out and about.  

 

SWMBO thinks its about time I did leave the premises ... 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I doubt very much that this computer has any Malware problems as it has been idle for 3 months disconnected from everything and there was evidence that all was not right with the fan before then. I had only purchased it just over 6 months ago and even then the fan was noisy. Once the other computer is back this one will go in to be sorted. Not being interested in pannier tanks or any other kettle I've been watching the arguments tooing and froing. Just to remark though the maroon ones were usually in such a filthy state that they made BR parcels stock look clean. 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Up late this morning (stpo sniggering at the back) so late on parade. The sun is out so work will continue on the arbour, my first task is to lie it down and paint the underside of the panelling, then I shall start painting the decorative bits. 

 

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

[bbishop]

1 hour ago, Simon G said:

Morning all,

The latest news that those of us currently shielding are allowed out as from tomorrow came as a surprise.  I am yet to be convinced that the decision is a wise one, so we will be only going out with extreme caution for the time being.

 

Please ignore all the idiots in charge; be they politicians, scientists appointed by politicians or doctors appointed by politicians.  The national "R" rate is undoubtedly low but you should be reacting to your local "R" rate and until they implement a robust "track and trace" system you can only obtain a re-active local rate.  Barrow was a hot spot, is it still?  To quote Sgt Esterhazy: "be careful out there".

 

I'm off for a walk, carrying med gloves, mask and sanitiser.  Bill

[Gwiwer]

1 minute ago, bbishop said:

 you should be reacting to your local "R" rate

The Government won’t publish regional figures. 
 

The Mayor of Manchester apparently released some to the Daily Wail but with no date attached so we have no way of knowing how accurate they might currently be. 
 

The figure for London is said by Westminster to be around 0.4 but that published is 0.7 which is nearly double 

 

The rate for the West of England was shown as 0.9 and possibly rising yet all the Westminster slides from daily presentations, also the reasonably credible Workdmapper site (which uses Westminster numbers), show most of SW England to have a low infection rate of around 10-19 / 10k population 

 

We also have a significant divergence of opinion on daily “new cases” with Westminster suggesting just shy of 2000 but scientific luminaries claiming 8000 but without supporting evidence. 
 

In short one can “prove” anything with statistics. It was also well said that “There are lies, damned lies and statistics”. 
 

Which leads me to the question “Who do we believe, in whom can we trust and to what extent?” 
 

Stay well. I have trusted myself and have managed to remain well thus far. 

[Simon G]

4 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

 

Which leads me to the question “Who do we believe, in whom can we trust and to what extent?” 
 

Stay well. I have trusted myself and have managed to remain well thus far. 

Totally agree.  I have trusted myself and Mrs G, and we plan to keep it that way.  Any excursions will be carefully planned.

 

As to the local R value, I would very much like to know it, although I suspect the best that we could get would be for Cumbria, which is a pretty large area, with some well documented hot spots, such as Barrow.  The R value would then be pretty meaningless for us.  What I do look at are the official reported cases for Cumbria, and they have been at 4 or less each day for a while now, which is encouraging.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

19 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

The problems with evaluating the extent and impact of changes to the climate are threefold: 1) for some obscure reason it has become a very political issue when it should remain a scientific matter (the interpretation of the data is, and should be, a matter of robust discussion and debate, the fact that there are data shouldn't be denied); 2) climate is cyclical, both in the short term, the medium term and in the long term. Unfortunately, we really don’t have enough solid data to establish how much of the short to medium term cycle changes we are noting are a reflection of  a normal fluctuation in a cycle that can occur over a period of a several decades or something else (a good example would be that we no longer see winters cold enough to freeze the Thames over, yet this occurred as recently as Victorian times. How do you determine If this is a normal fluctuation within a multi decade cycle or due to something else?); 3) Changes to the climate are happening, whether it is part of a natural cycle or is man-made is really, in the short and medium term, completely irrelevant...

It is an education problem in short: comparable to 'Earth is flat' (manifestly true by direct individual observation with no need for any further information) or the alternative 'Earth is a sphere' hypothesis, put forward by folks who clearly spend too much time in ivory towers, instead of simply looking out of the window.

 

My education occurred at a time when there was full acknowledgement of climate change as a reality, and the change that was then exercising the climatologists was the imminent return of surface ice to currently ice free latitudes. (Which would be a disaster.) There was good data for that, and the full complex picture of climate change with an ample space for proper scientific doubt and debate is - for the immediate present at least - lost.

[Coombe Barton]

6 minutes ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

and the change that was then exercising the climatologists was the imminent return of surface ice to currently ice free latitudes

Might still be if we lose all Arctic ice, the formation of which is a significant driver in the planet's global surface and deep ocean currents.

This, and many other, articles:

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/07052018/atlantic-ocean-circulation-slowing-climate-change-heat-temperature-rainfall-fish-why-you-should-care

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

5 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

Might still be if we lose all Arctic ice, the formation of which is a significant driver in the planet's global surface and deep ocean currents.

Indeed, but in what debate there is in the public space it is lost beneath the ranting.

[Compound2632]

2 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

As for pannier tanks, I'm afraid being painted black only makes it worse.

 

I have yet to find a class of locomotive that LNWR livery does not suit:

 

 

Reminiscent of the Liverpool Riverside Special Tanks Euston and Liverpool?

[Hroth]

It was a sunny Sunday in Lockdown Land, and the clocks were striking Thirteen....

 

Black suits many locos, but some DEMAND Green, with lashings of copper and brass!