Early Risers.

[chrisf]

There is news and it is not good news.  The latest casualty of the great plague is, as I feared, Sidmouth Folk Festival.   It may be better if I say more about it in the morning, but to quote Able Seaman Johnson in The Navy Lark, I'm not 'appy.

 

Chris

[grandadbob]

Unlike Chris I am 'appy and it is time for me to pay Tribute to the St. Austell Brewery and Parcelforce who between them made a Proper Job of delivering my beer  earlier. 

This galvanised me into action in the garden and some work was undertaken there, mainly weeding, tidying and moving pots as directed by The Management.  I have decided this will suffice for my daily exercise today so have now come in for lunch.

[Coombe Barton]

Back from the shop. Found everything.

Edited April 3, 2020 by Coombe Barton

[Rugd1022]

Her indoors has been staving off tedium by baking some scale models of the Moon..... I'll let you know what they taste like later....! 

 

 

Edited April 3, 2020 by Rugd1022

[jamie92208]

4 hours ago, BlackRat said:

Did anyone else love thick school custard with the yellow chewy lumps in it?

 

If you were lucky you also got the skin...... which I still love!

 

 

Where's the "Yuck" button when you desperately need it.  Custard should be hot and runny.  Cold custard and the skin should be consigned to Room 101 with Rice Pudding.  Both of those hates arise from school dinners and being forced to eat everything on my plate by my bully of a housemaster.  

 

However 3 days worth of baguette ends have just been converted to delicious eggy bread.  Now there is a good food.   The fire has been had and the postlady has delivered a nice package of fencing panels from Poppy's Woodtech.  Not a bad start to the day.  The authorities have just announced that 'they' intend to plant a load of bulbs that we picked up yesterday.  They were in our friends house and as they can't get over the bulbs would have gone to waste.  I strongly suspect that I might become involved in this exercise.  Otherwise muddling beckons.

 

Fortunately our area still seems to ge clear if the lurgi.  In fact two TGV loads of seriously ill patients have been transferred to hospitals not far from us, from the Strasbourg area.  They had 4 ICU beds per coach.  

 

Apart from that the death toll went up suddenly, by 900,  yesterday as they discovered that deaths from the lurgi in care homes hadn't been counted.  However the new case rate does seem to be declining.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

3 hours ago, southern42 said:

 

Q. Who wrote Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (or other play, but that one comes to mind)?

 

_______

Best wishes

Polly

 

Since you asked me.. 

Some say Sir Francis Bacon,  

Some say Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford.

Some say William Stanley the Earl of Derby

Some say almost anyone else 

 

I say,

1 that plays were a collaborative effort by the players,  early and late Shakespeare plays would have been him with a lot of others input..when Shakespeare was at his peak it would have been almost  all his work. 

 

2. Shakespeare and his players don't get to be the Queen's And then the King's players by being a fraud. 

 

3. If other playwrights at that time, were not sure who wrote Shakeshafts work they would not have been so insulting .

 

4, His players put out the first folio in his name,  they would know. 

 

5, The Queen's players although based in London were often on tour every time the corona virus plague reappeared.  How were the above supposed authors supposed to get him the scripts..  By email? 

 

And with that,  I exit pursued by a bear,... Or more likely Ben the Border Collie.. 

 

PS my school managed to make the custard,  lump,  chunky,  runny, powdery,  skin covered and burnt all at the same time.  Oh and it was definitely made using water.. 

 

 

 

Edited April 3, 2020 by TheQ

[Tony_S]

Afternoon all.
Not a lot happening here. 
It is a bit warmer than it has been and less breezy. 
Tony

 

[Simon G]

Just watched part of the lunchtime BBC News, with Prince Charles remotely opening the new Nightingale Hospital.  I remarked to Mrs G that his tie didn’t match the handkerchief in his jacket pocket.  She replied that he was clearly still having to dress himself!

[southern42]

16 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Since you asked me.. 

Some say Sir Francis Bacon,  

Some say Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford.

Some say William Stanley the Earl of Derby

Some say almost anyone else 

 

I say,

1 that plays were a collaborative effort by the players,  early and late Shakespeare plays would have been him with a lot of others input..when Shakespeare was at his peak it would have been almost  all his work. 

 

2. Shakespeare and his players don't get to be the Queen's And then the King's players by being a fraud. 

 

3. If other playwrights at that time, were not sure who wrote Shakeshafts work they would not have been so insulting .

 

4, His players put out the first folio in his name,  they would know. 

 

5, The Queen's players although based in London were often on tour every time the corona virus plague reappeared.  How were the above supposed authors supposed to get him the scripts..  By email? 

 

And with that,  I exit pursued by a bear,... Or more likely Ben the Border Collie.. 

 

PS my school managed to make the custard,  lump,  chunky,  runny, powdery,  skin covered and burnt all at the same time.  Oh and it was definitely made using water.. 

 

 

 

 

I got the correct answer..."Shakespeare" (as befitting us 11-13 yr olds)!

 

I was already an 'expert'(!) having got interested in him in top juniors (although, at home rather than in school), and getting as far as reading The Tempest I borrowed from the library (and now I barely remember it, of course!) . Then the usual round-the-class-reading-of-Shakespeare's-parts-out-loud, one by one, in secondary school, put me right off! Expertise dwindled rapidly!

 

[southern42]

39 minutes ago, Simon G said:

Just watched part of the lunchtime BBC News, with Prince Charles remotely opening the new Nightingale Hospital.  I remarked to Mrs G that his tie didn’t match the handkerchief in his jacket pocket.  She replied that he was clearly still having to dress himself!

 

Being dressed by a maid: that is the problem with women's clothing - especially the buttons being on the "wrong" side, left hand side as opposed to the right hand side for men.  No wonder Joan of Arc had to dress as a man.  She would never have got her sword out wearing a woman's jacket!

Although, we women are very adept at doing the buttons this way round...those of us who dress ourselves, that is.

___________

Best wishes

Not a ladies maid

Polly

 

Edited April 3, 2020 by southern42

[45156]

2 hours ago, The Lurker said:

I did however quite enjoy the spam fritters.

Almost as good as saveloys - in fact, there are a few (very few) chip shops which serve spam fritters, and even fewer which serve them AND saveloys - One of these few was South Street fish bar in Lewes, before it changed hands - excellent chips, a saveloy done in warm water, and a spam fritter fried to orde, a carton of mushy peas - really good stuff.  I have asked one of the chippies round here which is really good whether they could at sometime make me one if I supplied the Spam, but they declined as they have a lot of Muslim customers and don't put any pork in their fryer as it would contaminate the oil.  They are also the only chip shop I know who do their sausages in an oven for the same reason.

 

Afternoon All

 

FInally caught up, and as usual, generic greetings to the ailing and the celebrating. 

 

Had to take a trip to town today, as some essentials had to be bought, and the bank had to be visited, as we had to pay a bill which we couldn't do online, and also a print was needed after 30747's wages were paid in this morning.  Then back via the butchers in the next village to find that "due to Covis 19 we will be opening at 12 noon".  It was then 11 am.

 

So home to finish off the last of the paint (that's about 12 litres of the stuff) on the front fence which didn't actually need doing quite as much as the back fences, and the bird table.

 

Dinner tonight will be one of my speciality flat omelettes made with bacon, mushrooms, peppers, ham and cheese with saute potatoes.  Made with five or six eggs it serves two quite well.

 

Back tomorrow

Regards to All

Stewart

Edited April 3, 2020 by 45156

[tigerburnie]

Hot custard should be poured over ginger nut biscuits and when cool put in the fridge overnight and consumed chilled...…………………………………...

[New Haven Neil]

A'noon

 

Lazy day, as I am shattered.  Energy levels hardly registering, despite intravenous coffee.  Two part timers holding the fort at work, good people.  One internee isolating full time person should be back on Tuesday if the all clear is given, that'll help a lot.  Three have self-isolated for the duration, which is fair enough, can't say I blame them. One death here now and 114 positive tests.

 

I took my car to the garage early doors for new pads all round and hopefully not discs, but it has done 40k now so maybe, and that'll be the excitement for the day and mucho mudelling tokens removed from my grip.  Debs has been moved from the general hospital in the Big City for duties in the local cottage hospital in the bright lights of Royal Ramsey just 5 miles away so I can use her car for taking the shopping home, as she shopped at the early doors NHS/Carers/emergency services hour at the supermarket, while I sat in the car like a lemon.  Better safe than sorry.  Must remember to collect her later....ahem.

 

There was little fruit and veg though, a disappointment.  We get some at a local honesty stall fresh out of the field but of course there's not much of that at this time of year.

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Afrernoon all and it's a rapidly ceasing to be pink wrld as the black top gang are finishing the filling and polishing of the little trench.  Overall this lot put all the utilities to shame in their organisation even if they are only cutting a little trench - that bit, including erecting the barriers before hand, laying the cable and the disconnection boxes was basically done by four men doing about 80 yards a day, a fifth bloke came along to sort the disconnection boxes and anoy ther was driving teh pick up triuck moving barriers etc between sites.  Today's black top gang seems to be another 3 or 4 blokes.  all done in two days compared with the utilities' contractors taking at least two days setting stuff out before work starts and another two days clearing uop after work finishes.

 

So here they are well underway - pink barriers all over the place, the rather fun reel trailer for laying the cables and the man on the twin track push along angle  grinder approaching cutting the trench edges in the pavement

 

And here they are neatly bundling the individual cables as they reel them out.  Unfortunately they had to back track a bit because I moved the site of the disconnection box for our property so they had to reel a bit more out for that one then restore the bundle

 

No, it definitely wasn't a big trench but the speed at which they did all the job was still impressive

 

And complete with made to measure bridging boards to ensure overnight access before the black top gang arrived today.  They reached us with the pavement side barriers about 09.30 yesterday and about an hour ago they'd finished the black top and had left our part of the road with all the barriers cleared away onto the next site round the corner.  All it needs now is some rain to wash away the dust.

 

  

[newbryford]

Customer call yesterday

"I know it's not urgent, but I really need to know...…"

He was nearly asked what difference is there between the two... CUNTCON level2.

 

Most calls have been quite sociable and I do understand that modelling is a way to keep sane in these troubled times.

 

However - I note that there's a thread on here that someone is not overly happy because he can't operate his exhibition layout due to exhibitions having been cancelled and he misses the Saturday night get-togethers with his mates....…….

 

There's only one reply to that.

 

Time for POETS.

Catch up later.

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

[4630]

15 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

Overall this lot put all the utilities to shame in their organisation

 

I've had similar in my part of Huddersfield too, Mike a couple of weeks ago.  All parts of the process seemed to be quick and efficient, yet carried out with the minimum number of people.  The tidying up afterwards was thorough too.  I was impressed.

[grandadbob]

Oh dear! Ambulance arrived earlier next door and took away our elderly neighbour. Am I surprised? No. She's in her late 70s and was hospitalised just before Christmas with breathing difficulties. Over the past few weeks she's been out and about in her car, shopping etc (although she has a 45 year old daughter living with her). Mother's Day the whole family came round and it's only in the past 10 days she's been staying in but has still been having visitors, family and friends. How do I know? Not through continually curtain twitching but they are quite loud and you can hear all the comings and goings. I just hope that all this doesn't have a fatal consequence.

 

In other news The Boss  has perked up and baked a lemon cake (I have tested it and given my approval rating) and also made a couple of cottage pies, one for tonight and one for freezing. I chipped in and made some burgers as we're having a BBQ Sunday as the weather is supposed be nice.

Edited April 3, 2020 by grandadbob

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Not much arrived in the post today, just my bank statement and more junk mail for another furniture sale, can't help having a snigger at that. The bank statement revealed that the modelling tokens are accumulating at a steady rate, one advantage of lockdown I suppose.

[iL Dottore]

Greetings fellow Zombie Apocalypse survivors. The anti-tank mines planted around Schloss iD are doing the trick of keeping out the monstrous hordes. Although the, now admittedly less frequent, loud explosions do have the unfortunate effect of putting one off one’s stroke...

 

In regards to dressing oneself, it wasn’t that long ago that even Gentlemen of modest means had a “Gentleman’s Gentleman” or valet, and skilled professionals - physicians, lawyers and the like - employed staff (Mrs iD’s maternal Grandfather was a GP who had household staff of a housekeeper and a gardener/handyman. Mrs iD’s maternal Grandmother kept her maid/housekeeper until they both went into sheltered accommodation). I would absolutely love to have my own valet as deep down I am a Beau Brummel. Whilst I can shine shoes to a mirror finish and iron trousers with razor sharp creases (not to mention colour coordinate and materials coordinate what I am wearing), I’d love to have someone take on that work. As for style, well “eclectic” would be the theme, with Edwardian garb just taking the nod from the 1930’s.

 

Regarding “who wrote Shakespeare’s plays” that has been the topic that has kept many a third rate academic in tenure (the final word on the futility of that exercise is in the joke that goes “I’d like you to meet Professor Smith, he’s spent the last 30 years proving that the plays of William Shakespeare were actually written by another man with the same name”). Assuming the theatre hasn’t changed that much since then, it is likely that each play was drafted and then revised according to audience reaction and input from director and actors. Often what reads well on a page doesn’t work on stage (and vice versa). And I’m still hoping that the lost folio “the wicked wench of Scunthorpe” will turn up.

 

To be pedantic, what everyone has been describing as “custard“ is actually nothing of the sort. What most of Britain recognises as custard is cornflour, annatto colouring, sugar and milk (if lucky). Whereas, real custard - a.k.a.“Créme Anglaise” - is a mixture of cream, egg yolks, vanilla bean seeds and sugar cooked fairly slowly in a bain marie. Given that the average skool cook would have had neither the funds for the ingredients, or the time to prepare it properly, no wonder Mr Bird’s creation has captured the imagination (and taste buds) of the UK. And, yes, I do enjoy Bird’s custard but it has to be hot and thick (although cold and thick is also pleasant enough).

 

Finally, having rediscovered my modelling Mojo I have spent more than a few hours of the lockdown building several GWR wagon kits that I had in stock. Unfortunately, now that it comes time to paint them, I have found that my GWR enamel colours have all dried out, so I must find out what Tamiya acrylic colours (or mixture of colours) best represent GWR colours (anyone who knows, please p.m. me).

 

Stay fit, stay healthy

iD

[grandadbob]

We've not had any post not even junk mail this week but I have been assured by neighbours (the other side) that they have and the postie is delivering.

[Joseph_Pestell]

1 hour ago, tigerburnie said:

Hot custard should be poured over ginger nut biscuits and when cool put in the fridge overnight and consumed chilled...…………………………………...

Never heard of that. But it does sound good!

[Shedman5]

Afternoon,  spent the day in the shed on the tree making project all going well.

 

Something must be in the air as my other half has been baking this afternoon, a lovely coffee cake o be consumed later on.

 

Youngest Son  heard that some food wholesalers were opening their doors to the general public as obviously the demand from catering venues has fallen. After ringing a couple he found an Italian food wholesaler about 3 miles from him so off he went. He now has enough  Dried Pasta/Tinned tomatoes  and various other bits to last  3 to 4 months and at an unbelievable low price so he is well chuffed but unhappy about the supermarket prices in terms of mark up!

Shame when this all over (eventually) he will have to go back to paying the normal price!

 

Other than that all well.

 

Take care All

[polybear]

2 hours ago, 45156 said:

Dinner tonight will be one of my speciality flat omelettes made with bacon, mushrooms, peppers, ham and cheese with saute potatoes.  Made with five or six eggs it serves two quite well.

 

 

 

Sounds like there'd be enough to share with a young Bear Cub.  Hold the mushrooms on mine.....

[roundhouse]

Afternoon from a now sunny Surrey.

 

Been busy laying track on the new high level test circuit. Just one side of the shed in place ill the timber is delivered in  just over a weeks time. Cant wait to start running stuff that hasnt had much use in some years and other items  that dont look as if they will get much use this year.

 

I suspect that there are quite a few of us missing shows and apres beer afterwards but best we get rid of this virus first.

 

Anyway time to crack ope another Wye valley Wholesome stout.

Edited April 3, 2020 by roundhouse

[polybear]

31 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

In regards to dressing oneself, it wasn’t that long ago that even Gentlemen of modest means had a “Gentleman’s Gentleman” or valet, and skilled professionals - physicians, lawyers and the like - employed staff (Mrs iD’s maternal Grandfather was a GP who had household staff of a housekeeper and a gardener/handyman. Mrs iD’s maternal Grandmother kept her maid/housekeeper until they both went into sheltered accommodation). I would absolutely love to have my own valet as deep down I am a Beau Brummel. Whilst I can shine shoes to a mirror finish and iron trousers with razor sharp creases (not to mention colour coordinate and materials coordinate what I am wearing), I’d love to have someone take on that work. As for style, well “eclectic” would be the theme, with Edwardian garb just taking the nod from the 1930’s.

 

Just been emailing a mate of mine that works for the same firm as I - he's a UK Engineer currently living and working in Northern India and is currently on 24 hour lockdown - good 'ol firm didn't get him out in time, along with one other.  He's not happy...

 

Anyway, he tells me a maid cleaning his apartment 3 times a week costs thirty quid a month.  Form a queue.....

(Not sure if they wear a Maid's Uniform though - that could be extra.....).

 

...I'm currently deep cleaning the house room by room, as I'm effectively on Gardening Leave.  Does need doing - I found the Table I lost in 2007.  I did wonder what the bump in the dust was.