The Night Mail

[Happy Hippo]

I have been trying somewhat unsuccesfully to trim the underside of the deck for the occupational bridge on Pantmawr North.

 

It is very frustrating as I haven't quite got the ability to hold everything and mark it without catching gap where the tip of my finger used to be...And that stings!

 

Of course, this is absolute stupidity as the ends of the deck are going to be buried inder about 10 mm of card and foam, so will not be seen.  But it would appear that it is a matter of principle that the lower deck is all stowed away 'Bristol fashion'.

 

To salve my shredded nerves, Nyda has made some Apricot and Ginger flapjack which is cooling to a suitable temberature for consumption.

 

The stupidity drifted over into the workshop earlier on as I started eyeing up the remains of Splott West Sidings as a donor of parts for the micro layout.

 

Why I should be considering a new micro layout then I have a faux micro layout in the form of Pantmawr North beggars belief.

 

Of course the pictures of the 45xx and 4575 Praries don't help as I found Bachmann's  4mm model of 4566 lunking in the cupboard this morning.

 

This spurred on thoughts of a 4mm quicky I designed some years ago called Merry Meeting (Noth Cornwall), which could easily move to Pembrokeshire/Cardiganshire as 'Llansawel' if I so desired.

 

Found this which might amuse some:

 

 

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

Any news of Andy?

 

[SM42]

Yes. I am still alive. 

 Back at hotel.  

 

Time for a cold one. 

 

More later 

 

Andy

Edited August 13, 2022 by SM42

[Dave Hunt]

It never rains but......

 

We got back on Wednesday from our couple of days away celebrating our anniversary only to get a phone call that evening to say that a great friend and ex-RAF buddy had suffered a cardiac arrest and after lengthy CPR was in hospital in Bristol. The last time we saw him and his wife was at Dad's funeral four weeks ago. Tonight he has still not regained consciousness and is on a ventilator so things aren't looking good. On top of Dad going and the hassle involved I'm not feeling too great at the moment.

 

Dave

Edited August 13, 2022 by Dave Hunt

[Happy Hippo]

Dave,

 

I'm so sorry to read this.

 

You've got my number(s) if you feel like a chat.

[bbishop]

Sorry to read that Dave.  Today was some early work on Blindheim, then demonstrating CPR at an open day at a Hindi temple.  I got home feeling replete and whacked.  The curry that I made for this evening has stayed in the fridge.  Bill

[simontaylor484]

Sorry to hear of your further bad news Dave. 

 

[AndyID]

14 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

A cynic might suggeztvthat younareclooking forward to the challenge.

 

Jamie

 

Yeah! Fixed it! (The only snag is I have no idea why 😄)

 

I took the oven timer control out and powered it up on the bench. It immediately lit up as it should. Put it all back together and everything works. All the connections looked quite solid. Beats me!

 

 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2022 by AndyID
typhoo

[SM42]

After the horse laughed at me this morning, we set sail for Gadno and the start point 

Rain was in the air,but not enough to get you wet. 

 

We set off late with 5 police cars stopping traffic en route and generally escorting the peleton. 

 

Two fire engines from local villages provided support en route helping out with first aid. 

Fire engine one from Witnica.

 

 

Number 2 about to fill a  bucket at the first stop 15km in to help find a puncture

 

 

Meanwhile fire engine 1's crew attended cuts and grazes from  a collision  in the peleton (as a result one cyclist completed the ride with one pedal)

 

Luckily no fires broke out locally 

 

Lunch stop ( 30km in) provided home made doughnuts, pastries and water

 

After lunch 25km along an old railway line and then 4 km back to the start for a BBQ and medals. 

 

This was our lead vehicle

 

 

And this is the old station   at Moryn where we left the track bed and awaited the the stragglers ( Mrs SM42 basically)

 

Al in all a good if tiring day. The sun came later in the afternoon to cook us gently. 

Would I do it again? 

Maybe. 

 

And I didn't win a prize for the furthest travelled to take part. It wasn't a competition in play. 

There was some talk on Pan Fasola ( Mr Bean) but I wasn't sure of the connection. ( Mrs SM42 said it was about famous cars, which is what inspired this event . A story from the 70s / 80s about a man and his car on a treasure hunt)

 

Why did we do it on bicycles then?

 

Andy

 

 

Edited August 13, 2022 by SM42

[SM42]

Ok 

This isn't fair

 

Another bike ride has been proposed tomorrow morning 

 

This time only 24km

 

At this rate I'll become an elite athlete.

 

Andy

Praying for rain 

Edited August 13, 2022 by SM42

[Winslow Boy]

Sorry to hear about your troubles Mr Hunt. As the Big H says your not alone. So just ask and we will listen and in Big H's case drink your falling down water and scoff your tasty treats. That's what friends are for.

[J. S. Bach]

I a sorry to read that Dave.

 

 

[AndyID]

Our power utility Co-op send us some info about the damage caused by the recent storm we had. This is (was) one of several 80 foot long steel transmission poles that were taken out.

 

 

 

[AndyID]

10 hours ago, SM42 said:

This was our lead vehicle

 

 

 

 

A very nice example! Probably around 1968. I've owned a variety of VW's. The first was a '55 with the tiny oval rear window.

 

Driving into town today I saw a similar vintage ('70?) convertible VW for sale. If I was twenty years younger I might have gone for it but I am forced to accept my days of rebuilding Beetles are now over.

[Happy Hippo]

I see that the mighty Manchester United got beaten 4-0 by Brentford

 

Mind you,  I think I'd lose if I was wearing this:

 

[newbryford]

10 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

I see that the mighty Manchester United got beaten 4-0 by Brentford

 

Mind you,  I think I'd lose if I was wearing this:

 

 

Anyone fancy a bet?

 

[iL Dottore]

I am sorry to hear of the bad news, Dave.

 

But I guess many of us are now of that vintage when age and infirmity are culling our family, friends and acquaintances.

All we can do is vow that we:

 

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas

 

[simontaylor484]

My old man spends considerable time doing funeral for friends and acquaintances 

 

[coastalview]

Really sorry to hear your news Dave, our thoughts are with both of you.

[SM42]

We are now back in Poznan 

 

The 24km ride happened this morning. ☹️

 

Across the Oder on the old railway and into Germany again. 

 

Lots of dead fish still in evidence along the river after the pollution incident the other day. 

 

This is the railway bridge over the river at Siekierki

 

 

It's in two parts with a little island before the main channel. To the right  are the piers of a second bridge. 

 

At the end of this section, an observation deck has been built on top of the bridge.

 

The view towards Poland

 

 

And to Germany

 

 

And a view from the German side

 

 

Finally the old station at Siekierki just before the bridge on the Polish side 

 

 

It was 31c whilst we did all this pedal pushing. 

Hopefully I can hang up my bicycle clips for a while now

 

Andy

[polybear]

Did the 2nd bridge get clobbered in WW2?

 

In other news....

VSBT's to @Dave Hunt - may your buddy surprise everyone and make a good recovery.

A job-lot of LDC is on it's way to you, courtesy of Hippo Transport Inc.  I'm sure it'll arrive safely.....

[SM42]

37 minutes ago, polybear said:

Did the 2nd bridge get clobbered in WW2 

 

 

I have no idea as all the info was in Polish and German, however judging by the various pictures dotted along the bridge I suspect so

 

Andy

Edited August 14, 2022 by SM42

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, SM42 said:

 

I have no idea as all the info was in Polish and German, however judging by the various pictures dotted along the bridge I suspect so

 

Andy

I suspe t so as IIRC the Oder was the frontbline that the Russians paused on at one point in 44/45.

Jamie

[Happy Hippo]

31 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

I suspe t so as IIRC the Oder was the frontbline that the Russians paused on at one point in 44/45.

Jamie

Understanding targetting and looking at the difference in pillar construction I'd suggest that the first bridge got clobbered and the  still useable (second) one  is the later post WWII replacement?

[petethemole]

22 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Understanding targetting and looking at the difference in pillar construction I'd suggest that the first bridge got clobbered and the  still useable (second) one  is the later post WWII replacement?

Rigged for demolition by the Germans but charges were set off prematurely.

http://warsawpoint.com/news/16834-historic-poland-germany-border-crossing-reopens-as-striking-new-eco-bridge.html