Early Risers.

[Barry O]

A380 was one of the quietest and most gentle landing aircraft I have ever flown in.. far superior to the 747- 400 for long distances.

 

The software mods in the Airbus were implemented after the crash at an airshow... within 6 months of that accident they demonstrated the new software at BAe Hatfield at a families day...

 

Airliner safety has improved a lot over the years unfortunately when something goes wrong the life toll is high. 

[southern42]

Will it make washing up a more attractive proposition?

 

That remains to be seen - the current trend seems to be taps where the water comes out diagonally rather than vertically.  Just hope it has more control than our old one which is a trickle or a blast although with perseverance I could eventually get it to drip for watering down small quantities of PVA glue for modelling.  I'm sure there are easier ways of doing that, though.  Maybe I could start a new thread...  :no:  

 

Interesting thing is that though you can see loads of taps in those diy stores to see how they look and move, none are ever connected to a water supply so not a true test but imagine the fun...

[Tony_S]

That remains to be seen - the current trend seems to be taps where the water comes out diagonally rather than vertically.  Just hope it has more control than our old one which is a trickle or a blast although with perseverance I could eventually get it to drip for watering down small quantities of PVA glue for modelling.  I'm sure there are easier ways of doing that, though.  Maybe I could start a new thread...  :no:  

 

Interesting thing is that though you can see loads of taps in those diy stores to see how they look and move, none are ever connected to a water supply so not a true test but imagine the fun...

We have fairly hard water here so every now and then we remove the final bit of the mixer tap nozzle and descale it to prevent the sideways spraying. Not something I was accustomed to having to do. When I was raised in the Midlands our very soft water came from Wales.

[Happy Hippo]

Flew back from Italy this afternoon across the French alps in a BA A320.

 

A lot of turbulence present over the high ground and a lot of cloud around the peaks!

 

Got on the ground to find out about the German A320

 

Very sad, and yes, the hairs did rise on the back of my neck.

[southern42]

We have fairly hard water here so every now and then we remove the final bit of the mixer tap nozzle and descale it to prevent the sideways spraying. Not something I was accustomed to having to do. When I was raised in the Midlands our very soft water came from Wales.

 

Our water used to be really soft when it came from a local spring but then we joined the 20th century and over the years I'm sure it has hardened as I seem to need more detergent/soap to do the same job unless they're messing with the product of course to make us use more!  We don't get furring of the kettle etc but a white one will eventually go brown inside (peat content, I guess unless it's the added chemicals).

[AndyID]

Our water used to be really soft when it came from a local spring but then we joined the 20th century and over the years I'm sure it has hardened as I seem to need more detergent/soap to do the same job unless they're messing with the product of course to make us use more!  We don't get furring of the kettle etc but a white one will eventually go brown inside (peat content, I guess unless it's the added chemicals).

If you are buying a kettle in a hard water area, always buy it on defurred terms.

 

(Shamelessly pinched from "Around the Horn)

[PhilJ W]

I have now changed all my taps to the lever type, only to be told that the ceramic valves do not like hard water. However the ones in the kitchen which I had fitted about three years ago are still working perfectly. I have also had isolator valves fitted to each and every tap, and the toilet cistern.

[southern42]

If you are buying a kettle in a hard water area, always buy it on defurred terms.

 

(Shamelessly pinched from "Around the Horn)

 

I'll remember that if we ever move but the upheaval of just doing out one room is enough to put me off the idea.

[newbryford]

Today was a trip to the Sacred Valley, visiting Chinchero, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba and Pisac. Big and I meam BIG, scenery today, with views of mountains over 6500m.

 

A few from yesterday and thanks to killybegs, Sascaywaman and many variations thereof, pronounced sexy woman., Puca Pucara and Q'engu, were on the agenda.

This is a snake as part of one of the walls at Sasquayhuaman

The puma is a revered animal amongst the Incas and this is a claw

Apologies, my photo editor software refuses to let me post a rotated photo!

 

This is the largest stone on site, it weighs 140 tons. The nearest source of this type of stone is 35km away and 300m below...........

 

And this guy let me get fairly close. Another alpaca

 

I'll sort today's pics later

Cheers,

Mick

Edited March 24, 2015 by newbryford

[Tony_S]

I have now changed all my taps to the lever type, only to be told that the ceramic valves do not like hard water. However the ones in the kitchen which I had fitted about three years ago are still working perfectly. I have also had isolator valves fitted to each and every tap, and the toilet cistern.

I assume your water is the same as ours and we have had no problems with the ceramic valve taps. Some are nearly 25 years old.

[The Stationmaster]

I have now changed all my taps to the lever type, only to be told that the ceramic valves do not like hard water. However the ones in the kitchen which I had fitted about three years ago are still working perfectly. I have also had isolator valves fitted to each and every tap, and the toilet cistern.

I've just had to change a tap in the kitchen because the ceramic plates weren't sealing properly.  It's the drinking water tap so it gets quite a lot of use and its supply obviously doesn't come through the softener but it managed about 7 years and 5-6 months handling hard water.

[Tony_S]

Perhaps the water supplied to Phil and me has been softened slightly after passing through the good people of Chelmsford.

[Jock67B]

Evening all,

Tired again tonight so a quick post!

According to the BBC news site a few moments ago, the A320 has one of the best safety records in the world and it would probably be prudent to wait until the air accident investigation is complete before making pronouncements!

Ian(OD), it sounds like your acquaintance Alison is a specialist when it comes to getting herself in awkward situations - you must find it rather frustrating!

Polly, I'm sure Joanna would sympathise on the kitchen tap issue - when I fitted the entire kitchen several years ago, I insisted on a lever tap in the interests of hygiene (I am the cook in our house and my mother taught me the importance of strict cleanliness!). She did insist on having a white ceramic coated one however to suit her colour scheme and the years haven't been kind to it. The water still runs without trouble but it looks very unsightly thanks to lots of chips in the enamel caused by poorly aimed cups and glasses! I didn't help a few months ago when I used an inappropriate cleaner which stripped the base back to metal! I now have to replace it with a stainless steel one before we put the house on the market. Like you, we managed to get a really good one from Q&B at a knocked down sale price - even though they wouldn't apply the old f*rts discount to a special offer!

The nightcap is almost done and The hump approaches once again, all too quickly. I wish you all a painless day getting over it!

Kind regards,

Jock.

G'night Pete! G'night all other night owls!

[laurenceb]

Night all

[Two_sugars]

And Good night from me, and pleasant dreams.

[trisonic]

G’night, Jock! And everyone else.

 

I’m off for a shower (in my slightly hard, slightly alkaline water drawn up from one of the largest aquifers in the World (not hard or calcium rich enough to “fur” up our electric kettle - though I do clean it with White Vinegar about once per year).  New York City by contrast gets its water from run off from the Appalachians. It actually wins awards for the quality of its’ water despite being soft and slightly acidic (which played havoc with the old lead pipes).

 

Best, Pete.

Edited March 25, 2015 by trisonic

[trisonic]

And this guy let me get fairly close. Another alpaca

2015_0323_16455500(1).jpg

 

I'll sort today's pics later

Cheers,

Mick

Isn’t the last photo one of that charlatan, Erich Von Daniken, Mick?

 

No, it cannot be because it looks too human...

 

Best, Pete.

Edited March 25, 2015 by trisonic

[AndyID]

We are on a community well, and I'm the schmuck who has to I have the honor of collecting a sample every few months and having it tested. Anyway, I was talking to the nice lady at the test lab recently, and she told me that they can detect a single bacterium in a sample! She explained how - something to do with gas IIRC. Because of this I have to sterilize the faucet (what we aficionados in the water industry call a tap). I usually do that with a propane torch.

Q: What's the cure for water on the knees?
A: A tap on the head.

[SouthernRegionSteam]

I really ought to go to bed, but after having stumbled across an external blog damning RMweb (and more specifically, Andy), I felt I needed to address the balance especially given the 10 year anniversary of RMweb. I ended up writing a lengthy post on the "10th birthday" thread, but it was fun looking back at the old incarnations of the forum and seeing my journey as an indecisive 14 year old, to an indecisive 21 year old! Isn't it funny how times change (or don't in some cases!).

 

I really ought to make it to a members day though, as I feel like I've been missing out!

Apart from that, not much else to report here in the New Forest.

[newbryford]

Isn’t the last photo one of that charlatan, Erich Von Daniken, Mick?

 

No, it cannot be because it looks too human...

 

Best, Pete.

I had to look him up. He has views on extraterrestrials and to be honest, some of the stuff we've seen in the last couple of days is out of this world!

 

Cheers,

Mick

[newbryford]

I've found out more about the closed stations, The line towards Olantaytambo is closed for 4 months for "reinforcement work". It also suffers quite badly in the wet season, which is just ending. There is a local service from Cusco to Poroy that ascends out if the city with four switchbacks. I may try and sample that in a few days if time permits. So tomorrow, it's up at 0500 to catch a bus to Pacar to join the train to Machu Picchu, ir more accurately, Aguas Calientes.

We passed by Pacar earlier today on the road and i managed a quick snap.

This is a view of the mountain from the terraces at Ollantaytambo.

High up on the mountainside is a face carved into the rock. On the winter solstice, the sun shines in perfect alignment across three structures

I'll post more tomorrow.

Cheers,

Mick

Edited March 25, 2015 by newbryford

[emt_911]

Morning all. Woke to a clear sky and heavy frost. Just to improve my day, Southern are reporting disruption between ECR and VIC / LBG until at least 07:00. Deep joy.

 

The plane crash is in my thoughts. I really feel for the families, airline staff and rescue workers.

 

Now getting more concerned about Trev.

 

Have a good day everyone

[NGT6 1315]

Morning all. Sun attempting to shine, long-term chance of success still open. Car off for check and MOT today, so I'll need to get going in a few...

[railsquid]

Mid-afternoon from Tokyo, nice sunny day though temperatures are unusually bouncing around dangerously close to freezing at night. Nevertheless Cherry Blossom Season has been officially declared open in Tokyo.

 

Little Baby Leo had his first injections yesterday, which he bore with the expected fortitude (from previous encounters with sudden unexpected pain he cries with shock, but soon gets over it). Nurse said he was very strong. The little blighter was making a spirited attempt to get out of his chair today, frustrated mainly by the lack of muscular development in his arms (which is also not helped by his weight gain outpacing his general muscle growth).

 

(Apologies for intermittent posting, partly caused by zombie-like state caused by above-mentioned baby.)

[roundhouse]

Morning all. Woke to a clear sky and heavy frost. Just to improve my day, Southern are reporting disruption between ECR and VIC / LBG until at least 07:00. Deep joy.

 

The plane crash is in my thoughts. I really feel for the families, airline staff and rescue workers.

 

Now getting more concerned about Trev.

 

Have a good day everyone

Oh great. A third day of problems although yesterday didn't really affect us as it was the Vic train that was cancelled.

At least we will make it in unlike those on the flight yesterday.

 

BBC news just shown a bus being swallowed up through a hole in a road in Brazil but luckily everyone got off beforehand. Hope Micks big bus adventure in Peru goes without incident.

 

Car passed MOT yesterday but still in garage as needs new front brake discs and a few other smaller things done so hopefully will collect it this evening all fit and ready for transporting the layouts for another year.