Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Coombe Barton]

Surprised she didn't say;

 

"Sorry - I didn't recognize you with your clothes on."

 

I've also done that.

 

I was doing an installation in a virus lab in Cambridge. For this we had to strip to underwear and don white overalls. The installation was long, and we knocked off early on the Saturday because we needed a full run at the next bit, which would be the Sunday. 

 

I was in the centre of Cambridge for a bit of downtime and this lady (who was with her husband) came up to me and started talking. I eventually recognised her and apologised, saying the phrase mentioned above.

 

I then realised what I'd said.

[Coombe Barton]

I can well believe Wife mk1 thought there must have been more to it than just seeing your bum to lodge you in her memory. I think the blonde may have fancied you.

Don

 

1) I wish!

2) She was with her husband.

[Ozexpatriate]

I've not peeked in here for more than a week. I looked back a couple of days and found of all things a running commentary on toasters.

 

Toasters! 

 

Is there an taxonomic description for toasters, between the conventional pop-up jobs, 'toaster ovens'*, broilers, cafeteria conveyors, panini presses, camping sandwich irons, the nasty, old, folding-side, vertical toasters with fabric cords from the dark bad old days of the early electric age or sticking a fork through a slice of bread and holding it over hot coals I wonder?  (I have used them all at some point.)

 

* neither ovens nor toasters but a miniature salamander really, but probably exactly the right thing for the cheese filled pita bread described earlier.

 

My four slice pop-up toaster at home does have a bagel setting - which toasts on one side only, so you don't get all those onion, cheese, sesame or poppy seed, bits burnt.

 

Speaking of toasting bagels, I happen to really like bagels, even though the western US is a bagel desert. I've only found truly 'good' ones from a bakery in the San Francisco Mission district and on the US east coast. Their Polish cousin (the bialy) will do in a pinch when in Chicago. (Actually there are some chain bakeries that are not too bad - Panera and Einstein Brothers, as examples.)

 

Having said that bagels are a bit like pizza. A fresh warm bagel from a bakery is sublime, but when not so good they still taste OK warmed up. It's quite amazing how all it takes is a toaster to wake them up a bit.

 

The cafeteria at my office has a charming custom of sending a young lady around the offices pushing a trolley (or cart in the local dialect) loaded with breakfast options - including very ordinary bagels. Having brought a toaster to the office I frequently enjoy a bagel from the trolley at my desk for breakfast. It all works very well unless the cleaning people get very enthusiastic and clean the toaster - often moving the setting as they do so - with inevitable grumbling from me.

 

Crying over spilt milk may be proverbially prohibited but grumbling over burnt bagels is utterly understandable.

 

We had a considerable amount of snow on Sunday on and off. Most of it was mixed with rain and all of it melted on contact with the ground. Back to customary drizzle today though.

Edited February 28, 2017 by Ozexpatriate

[AndyID]

I've heard good bagels can't be made West of the Mississippi because "the water is wrong", but I suspect that is a load of cobulers.

[emt_911]

Morning all. I can only hope for a better day.

 

"Once more unto the breach"

 

Have a good day everyone

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

I hate telepathy failures.  This is what I call it when I am not told something that I need to know.  In addition to the chewy tutti frutti tablets that I mentioned yesterday I now discover that another lot of tablets have been added to my cocktail of medication without my being told.  When they were first dispensed, back in December, the hospital pharmacy queried the dose and sent me home until they were able to get hold of the Prof to clarify it.  I have asked the surgery by e-mail what procedure is in place for telling patients that something else has been prescribed for them and will seek to clarify the matter with the Prof's secretary this morning.  She was not at work yesterday and there isn't a snowballs of speaking to the man himself without an appointment.  I suppose I should not be making such a fuss.  After all, it's only cancer.

 

When I got home after chasing my own tail I found that a card had been put through the letter box.  It was from the electricity company's meter reader who will be returning today.  The exercise appears pointless as I have a smart meter!  It has been sending readings to the electricity company like a good little gadget.  Yesterday afternoon my latest bill arrived by e-mail.  Hmmm.

 

After today's fodder run I will make pancakes.  Hooray for comfort food.  Perhaps they will help the sunny disposition to return.  Oink, flap.

 

Warm thoughts to all, especially those in distress for whatever reason

 

Chris

[DDolfelin]

Evenin' all,

Only just caught up after being absent since Saturday. We've had a fantastic couple of days celebrating Abbie's 18th birthday and only finished clearing up at lunchtime today. 

 

To say I am proud of my eldest granddaughter would be something of an understatement.

 

From this lovely baby 

 

Abbie Louise 019.jpg

 

she has blossomed into this beautiful young woman

 

IMG_3471-1.jpg

 

All the best,

Choked old man with something in his eye from Sutton

 

You've every right, Bob.

A credit to you.

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

We had a pretty stormy evening yesterday.  For a short period there were incredible gusts of wind and lashing rain.  However, despite the suggestion that it might go on all night, it pretty quickly died down.

 

This morning has dawned clear and bright, and there are indications that Spring may finally be on the way.

 

Time for a coffee!

 

Have a good day everyone...

[TheQ]

Morning Awl, 

                    A good night's sleep of 7 hours was had ..

 

Wet roads, which is not suprising considering the exceedingly heavy rain on the way home yesterday,  no frost this morning,

 

One Cockwomble on the way home, a Mecedes 4wd driver decided their car was twice as wide as it is and swerved out from their side of the road bridge causing the car coming the other way to have to brake heavily.

The bridge in question is too narrow for two lorries to pass each other, but two cars can pass easily...

 

One henwomble on the way in this morning, she was jogging along the path when the bus passed her, she then decided to jog across the road after the bus without looking, while braking heavily, a loud blaring of my Landrovers horn made her jump back on the path..... I missed her by a couple of feet.

 

 

Many moons ago while in the RAF, we had the summer section dinner, the following morning one of the wives was taking my trousers off.....

 

 

While I was flat on my back in the local A& E!!! (she was a senior nurse). Normally I think a junior nurse would have done that job, but when she saw my name on the board, I think she decided it would be good to wind me up.....

 

 

 

[Barry O]

A light sprinkling of snow greeted her indoors on her way to teach. Her last day working for her employers...she continues with her private tuition until the summer.

 

Today is parceling and posting then some tidying up and some form filling. Any spare time will be spent muddelling all being well before indoor cricket umpiring tonight.

 

Have a great day

Baz

[jamie92208]

Good morning from the village.    It's dawned quite bright and my morning has been further brightened by two delightful weather girls on the beeb. First the delightful Carol with the national forecast then the lovely Lisa with the local one. 

 

ChrisF I hope that you get your prescriptions sorted.  Beth has the same problems with some of her meds where the specialist will change them but only the GP can prescribe them and it can take several weeks for the letters to get to the right place and for her to get an appointment with the GP to sort things out.  I suspect that changes in funding mechanisms may be at the bottom of the confusion.   Unfortunately the ones making the rules aren't effected by the chaotic results.

 

Anyway I'm off out this morning to give a talk then after lunch we are planning to spend an afternoon packing stuff into boxes ready to move to the container later in the week.  

 

I hope that Rick's move is going well and continued thought of Laurence and his family.  

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

Sunny now after a wet and windy night.

Today's exciting parcel to wait in for is chemicals for the washing machine.

Aditi is off to the cinema at Lakeside (near Grays) tonight with a friend to see a ballet that is being broadcast "live" from London. They couldn't get any tickets for less than £100 so thought they would try one of the cinema showings.

Otherwise a quiet day for me.

Tony

[Oldddudders]

Even worse, she could have said "I knew I'd seen your face somewhere before."

Zachary syndrome. As in "Your face zachary like your bum".

[Donw]

Morning all

Yesterday afternoon I fitted a new 200litre Water Butt, this morning it is completely full. There is snow on the Brendon Hills looks lovely in the sunshine but rather chilly. Somewhere in that view (but not clearly visible) is the Comberow Incline. 0.75miles at 1:4. It occurs to me that given enough snow that would be one hell of a toboggan run.

 

Don 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Blue sky and sunshine here but there was a frost earlier. It should be a dry morning with sunny spells followed by rain later this afternoon.

Tuesday usually means kids here after school but today we're off to their house as there is another birthday to celebrate. Grandson Joe is 15 today and has requested that Nanny Chris whistles up a slow cooked curry for tonight followed by pancakes!  As Nicky & Steve are at work we're going round to organise everything. Well Chris is, I'm just going along for the ride. It will  be a low key celebration tonight followed by bigger bash at the weekend.

Needless to say my diet is going pear shaped (as am I)

 

So to continue the proud grandad theme here's Joe aged 2

 

 

 

 

and approaching 15

 

 

 

 

We're especially proud of him because of the way he has dealt with his diabetes since the age of 4 and always keeps smiling. He is also a cheeky little so and so as well but his sense of humour means he gets away with it, (Most of the time)

 

Got to go now as I seem to have something in my eye again.

 

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

 

 

[Oldddudders]

Good morning from the Golden Hind. We are on time at Taunton. I have seen snow on distant hills. Sadly we have one of those garrulous train managers who wants to list all the possible connections everywhere. If he'd done his ticket inspection he'd know just where we are all headed, wouldn't he? Silence is Golden on a train, be it the Hind or otherwise!

 

Sherry made her first unaccompanied excursion yesterday, to the building management firm a few hundred yards away, for the AGM of a building in which she has an interest. Today she has the luxury of a day indoors without me! I am off to New Malden to see Deb's cousin to pick up more artefacts lifted from her late mother's flat, and to buy him, and maybe his wife, some lunch.

 

I hope the ailing bairn can be helped and recovery is swift.

[AndyB]

Morning all and it's a sunny one here.

Still trying to shake off the head cold. 

 

Thinking about quiet zones on trains. 

When I was a school boy commuting on the LT&S the vast majority of compartments were for smokers with a few reserved for those fools who didn't want to smoke.

Are there parallels with intrusive mobile devices?

Why do we specify "Quiet Zones" rather than "Mobile Aloud (sic) Zones".  

Sure, if you want to jabber away to Tracy about how wasted you are after last nights clubbin', or feel the need to share all your business meeting details with the rest of the passengers then a carriage is available and marked clearly.

For those that prefer otherwise any other carriage is available. 

 

Just sayin' 

[lightengine]

Good morning from the Golden Hind. We are on time at Taunton. I have seen snow on distant hills. Sadly we have one of those garrulous train managers who wants to list all the possible connections everywhere. If he'd done his ticket inspection he'd know just where we are all headed, wouldn't he? Silence is Golden on a train, be it the Hind or otherwise!

Sherry made her first unaccompanied excursion yesterday, to the building management firm a few hundred yards away, for the AGM of a building in which she has an interest. Today she has the luxury of a day indoors without me! I am off to New Malden to see Deb's cousin to pick up more artefacts lifted from her late mother's flat, and to buy him, and maybe his wife, some lunch.

I hope the ailing bairn can be helped and recovery is swift.

Ian, have you had the pleasure of the guard on the Exmouth-Paignton service that announces jokes all journey? Such as "we are now approaching Exeter, anybody wishing to visit the prison ......" all the journey is taken up with such witticisms about each stop.

 

Excellent day here in sunny Teignmouth. A clear blue sky and sunshine at present. It looks like summer.

 

I am impressed by DonW's waterbutt filling so quickly. We had rain, sun and hail here yesterday but not too much.

[Oldddudders]

Morning all and it's a sunny one here.

Still trying to shake off the head cold. 

 

Thinking about quiet zones on trains. 

When I was a school boy commuting on the LT&S the vast majority of compartments were for smokers with a few reserved for those fools who didn't want to smoke.

Are there parallels with intrusive mobile devices?

Why do we specify "Quiet Zones" rather than "Mobile Aloud (sic) Zones".  

Sure, if you want to jabber away to Tracy about how wasted you are after last nights clubbin', or feel the need to share all your business meeting details with the rest of the passengers then a carriage is available and marked clearly.

For those that prefer otherwise any other carriage is available. 

 

Just sayin'

 

Sadly, as usual, the major jabbering among passengers in this (first class) coach is GWR staff among themselves. Not the on-train people, but managers en route London. A phonecall elicited discussion about whether GWR have a traincrew depot and printer at Gatwick Airport. Yawn.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone

 

Late up today as I'm at Physio this morning, I'm hoping that this will be my last time, as that is what was hinted during my visit there last month. Later this afternoon I'm also at the dentist for my 6 monthly check up. The time in between these visits will be spent at home.

 

It was raining when I got up, but that has now turned to snow AND its sticking, so I'm glad I don't gave to go far, both the above appointments are within walking distance of my front door.

 

Back later.

[RhBBob]

Morning all !

 

Sorry, I've had time off for a heavy cold; the good news is that I've managed to pass it on....am I popular ?  Err, no !

 

Today's task is to seek assistance for Daughter's car problem; a lovely red DS3 which blows the fuse on the screen wash motor every time you use it. Obviously she doesn't use it every day so she didn't know it was non-operational, so to speak !   The DS3 blog tried to suggest that cold weather causes the fuse to blow but I think it more likely the electrical circuit is being shorted out. Since I am dangerous with 12 Vdc, I sent a message via local - as in 36 miles away - Peugeot dealer's website, where she bought it, albeit from the previous owners !  We don't do straightforward in our family!!

 

Have a warm day, please !

[Donw]

Morning all and it's a sunny one here.

Still trying to shake off the head cold. 

 

Thinking about quiet zones on trains. 

When I was a school boy commuting on the LT&S the vast majority of compartments were for smokers with a few reserved for those fools who didn't want to smoke.

Are there parallels with intrusive mobile devices?

Why do we specify "Quiet Zones" rather than "Mobile Aloud (sic) Zones".  

Sure, if you want to jabber away to Tracy about how wasted you are after last nights clubbin', or feel the need to share all your business meeting details with the rest of the passengers then a carriage is available and marked clearly.

For those that prefer otherwise any other carriage is available. 

 

Just sayin' 

 

I have a feeling there would need to be a lot of 'LOUD' carriages.

Don

[The Lurker]

Greetings all, the blue skies of first thing now have a few clouds in them. It is distinctly grey over St Paul's, but the forecast suggested the rain would all be to the north of London.

 

I suffered c0ckwomble drivers at the Crittall's Corner roundabout on Saturday, two in about 15 seconds, both caused by their inability to use the lanes correctly on a roundabout. When coming off the A20, you can go left towards Orpington, straight on, back onto the A20, right towards Foots Cray, and even further right towards Ruxley. First the Merc driver who thought that the left hand lane was for turning right towards Foots Cray and was disappointed that I chose the Foots Cray lane. And so hooted me. More dangerous was the Audi in front of me who decided to move without warning into the lane I occupied while I was half alongside him. I hooted him and was immediately hooted by the merc behind again as I had braked extremely sharply. Younger Lurker learned some words I hadn't intended him to learn at quite such a tender age. In fact I realized quite a bit later he was still shaken by the Audi pulling in front of us. He told me he couldn't get it out of his head, poor thing.

 

Best wishes to Smiffy's Laurence, hope to hear some better news from there, and also an update from NHN. I am glad that Sherry is still improving.

[lightengine]

Morning all and it's a sunny one here.

Still trying to shake off the head cold. 

 

Thinking about quiet zones on trains. 

When I was a school boy commuting on the LT&S the vast majority of compartments were for smokers with a few reserved for those fools who didn't want to smoke.

Are there parallels with intrusive mobile devices?

Why do we specify "Quiet Zones" rather than "Mobile Aloud (sic) Zones".  

Sure, if you want to jabber away to Tracy about how wasted you are after last nights clubbin', or feel the need to share all your business meeting details with the rest of the passengers then a carriage is available and marked clearly.

For those that prefer otherwise any other carriage is available. 

 

Just sayin'

 

Can you imagine the conversation with the train manager?

"Excuse me guv, I wanna phone all my contact list on the way to Lundun but there aint no seat left in the Loud coach. Some geezer is sat there and he aint phoned anyone yet. Just sat there reading."

"Well maybe he is sat there because he needs to receive a call."

"Yeah, woteva like. I've gotta phone Chardonnay and I've gotta talk to my probation and the STD clinic and my old lady and I've gotta find a tattoist to put **** ** on my chest and .................."