Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

We have had quite a busy weekend.  My cousin and her husband arrived lunchtime on Saturday to spend the weekend with us. After lunch on Saturday we were going for a walk locally but decided not to when we had hail and rain which was rather unexpected. We went out for a meal in the evening. We were going in the Ewok but it wouldn’t start. When we returned from the meal I found my charger and gave the car a 30 minute boost to,its battery and it started. I took it for a drive round  Benfleet at midnight. Amazingly bad driving observed. The trip over to Kent on Sunday made all the warning lights disappear. I have Googled what could have caused an Evoque to have its battery run down after 5 days of no use and the main suspect is  believe it or not an iPod left plugged into the USB port “confusing” the intelligent (alleged) battery monitor. 

Anyway , no problems to and from Enfield this afternoon/evening for MiL’s birthday tea.

Tomorrow is new garage door fitting day. Biscuits and beverages have been obtained in anticipation. 

Tony

[Dave Hunt]

1 hour ago, Kingzance said:

 

I'm not going to be waving my 10" at the moon ce soir 

 

That'll keep the local magistrates quiet then.....

[The Stationmaster]

Evening all,

 

Lots of stuff packed, some stuff unpacked, some stuff repacked, and some other stuff packed - I think.  She is only taking two extra pairs of shoes (sandals) but you can guess whose suitcase they are in.   No doubt there will. be a bit more packing tomorrow plus a little repacking.  Overall it was definitely far more exciting taking pics of Kev tucking into his brunch.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

When I booked my car in for a service, I wasn’t given a specific time, but told to drop it off anytime after 8:00 and it will be done one a first come, first serve basis. I asked if there was any chance of it being ready for dinner time, but was told there were quite a few in front of me. I wasn’t too bothered, but Sheila wasn’t impressed, as she wanted to go to Waitrose this afternoon. So when I got back from the pool, this morning I got a very frosty reception had a very quiet afternoon! She’ll just have to get over it!

 

I’ve also been involved with a cardiac arrest, we managed to keep him going until the ambulance arrived, he was then bundled off, but unfortunately died a couple of days later. 

 

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Dave Hunt]

Night night everyone. Thoughts and prayers for those in pain/trouble/need.

 

Dave

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all.

[laurenceb]

Sad tidings from Paris.

On the subject of nettles, my Mother was fond of putting them in stews and salads they are full of protein. 

Night awl 

[BR60103]

Tony_S

We ran the battery on the motorhome down by leaving the GPS plugged in and turned on for 3 weeks. Fortunately, there is a jump start from the house battery. We've had other problems like that. I read that the automatic shutdown may not take place unless you open and close the driver's door.

 

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is a nice bright morning today.  The temperature is still quite low, but the sky is clear.

 

I was very relieved to see that much of Notre Dame has survived.  I was really wondering what I was going to wake up to this morning!  To think that it took over 200 years to build and could be destroyed in an afternoon.

 

Here's a picture I took in 2010.

 

 

Have a good day everyone...

 

Edited April 16, 2019 by Robert

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all.  The scale of the Notre Dame fire is staggering and we should pay tribute to the herculean efforts of the pompiers in tackling it.

 

Back at home, I've done a bit more mucking out.  An awful lot of paper was consigned to the recycling bin and I found an etched wagon kit that has been missing for two years.  Before you ask, I am congenitally untidy and the chances of re-education at my age are slim to say the least.  Other tasks await, not least some contributions to Bylines, and I look forward to being back on full power after the lurgi is finally banished.  The course of penicillin capsules is completed and I must now rely on a few more good nights' sleep to make things as they should be.  Good old Horlicks.

 

This morning there must be a fodder run or else I will have to eat out.  This evening sees what could well be the last Ashes quiz.  Setting the questions is an awful lot of work - I know, I've done it - and the efforts of the questionmaster are rewarded with fewer and fewer bothering to turn out and give support.  It's a shame, for the origins of the fixture go back to at least the 1950s.   You cannot make people go out and enjoy themselves.  I had enough of beating my head against that particular brick wall when I was involved with folk clubs [remember them?].  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

 

 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Still a bit dull outside. Forecast says it will be dry and breezy with some sunny spells but generally a cloudy day.

Today's first task is to take the car to the garage at 8.00 for its first service. SiL Steve is picking me up and returning me home but when I collect it I'll have to get a bus cab.

When I get home I will be shifting soil in the garden unless/until my back tells me to stop.

Have a good one,

Bob.

[TheQ]

10 hours ago, lightengine said:

A friend put any remaing boiled water into a thermos for the next kettle.  Bit extreme I thought.

Years ago I did see a kettle that was built into a thermos vessel. So it kept the water hot. It was however very expensive which is probably why I've not seen it since..

 

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare,

5 hours sleep in bed and a couple half dozing on the sofa to the light of a burning cathedral on TV, at least they so far haven't managed to associate it with"B....."

 

Ben the Border Colllie is trying a new tactic, He 'd dawdling down the garden and when I call him, because it's time for me to go to work, he looks at me as if to say I haven't patrolled everywhere yet.

Border Collies are clever, we can ask him to pick up any of his toys by name, He got given a soft squeaky toy a couple of days ago by a neighbor who said it was called impy, Ben learnt Impy withing 15 minutes..

Talking of clever Borders.   https://www.wcax.com/content/news/508600602.html

 

It was definately less cold this morning and as I drove out and looked right the great fried egg was showing itself over the dunes..

 

There was another set of tracks across an NDR roundabout this morning but having avoided the signs and the ground being dry they went off the other side. Bet he's got oval wheels having hit the kerbs at speed..

 

Time to go do some more shunting... measureing of shunts that is, starting at 1 amp and going up to 100 today..

 

 

 

[roundhouse]

32 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

 

When I get home I will be shifting soil in the garden unless/until my back tells me to stop.

 

Just think of that wonderful new shed!

 

Cant wait to start mine after the tree is fells next week.

 

For our current trip we managed to get both of our lots of clothes into one small rucksack. It’s taken years of training my other half but it’s Ben worth it. Does mean we wil be washing clothes tonight though.

[AndyID]

28 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Border Collies are clever, we can ask him to pick up any of his toys by name, He got given a soft squeaky toy a couple of days ago by a neighbor who said it was called impy, Ben learnt Impy withing 15 minutes.

 

 

They certainly are clever. There was one in Austria that could fetch any of a several hundred toys by name. It would also fetch them if it was shown a drawing of the toy.

[grandadbob]

Car delivered to garage and apparently Kylie is looking after me today and I will get updates throughout the day. The good news is that SiL Steve who is now on his way to Essex thinks he'll be back by 4.00pm so will be able to take me to collect the car.

Breakfast now and then a shovel needs finding.....it's somewhere in the gazebo with all the other stuff from the shed.

Edited April 16, 2019 by grandadbob

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

The sun is trying get come out, but there are a lot of clouds around at the moment. It’s Tuesday so that means the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix will shortly take place. I will be completing this alone today, so I shouldn’t be too long. Once I’ve returned and put the shopping away, I will make a start on splitting the downstairs lights and cellar lights into 2 separate circuits. I will then be able to carry removing the final stubborn bits of paint from the cellar walls.

 

Back later

[Tony_S]

Garage door chaps  arrived. Of the three houses, mine will be done last. Not a problem. I am here all day. 

Tony

[Kingzance]

To all those involved in travails that require the input of someone else, good luck! The five of us (bodgit, scarper, me, myself and I) have to rely upon ourselves to solve what may face us. At least the sun is trying to shone through light cloud, must wear a hat whilst sanding the gates outside. Apologies for the insensitive use of a bit of French last night given the tragedy that unfolded in Paris.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

The sun has got its cloak on, or more correctly is masked by high cloud and will stay that way for the day 'they' say.  Today I suppose we'll be trying to remember what hasn't been packed and I would certainly prefer to travel lighter and do some washing every night,.  On my 'grand tour' (quite a while ago now) I just took 4 of everything and washed clothes at least every other night and because most hotels of a reasonable standard seemed to have a hair dryer in the room drying the clothes was no problem if the natural way was insufficient.

 

We now have an updated extended forecast and there will be a bit of a blow in Cullercoats but nothing to worry about as the gales will be up around Viking and North Utsire.  But today will no doubt be a brief Tesco trip and not much else apart from checking the packing. several times I expect.

 

Have a good day one and all.

[tetsudofan]

All the talk of new sheds reminds me of when mine was being built:

 

 

…. and thinking about it, the shed is due its first protective repaint.

 

Most difficult part for me was getting the t***k into the far end of the shed, was a pita but managed it :

 

 

Keith

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright sunshine this morning but now clouding over as the seaweed twirlers said it would. Not a lot else to report, be back later.

[grandadbob]

Soil has been shifted and rather surprisingly I and my back have survived unscathed. I will not push my luck any further so have informed Management that I am finished for the day.   No flak barrage so far! 

[Sir TophamHatt]

Morning (just!).

 

Todays discussion is about money

I hate arguing about money!

 

She wants a new fence, I want a new boiler.

 

Old boiler is over 15 years old (at least!), with tanks in the loft and bathroom.  Shower upstairs doesn't work as the gravity isn't enough to push the water out, so for the past 2 years or so we've been using the electric shower downstairs.

New boiler means better efficiency all round (although can't afford radiator TRVs at the moment).  Paying for this soley out of my account.

 

The fence is actually on next doors land.  They rent out the property.

Previous owners of our house came to some sort of agreement and went half/half on a fence.

Mrs STH is willing to pay £2000 to put a new fence in - out of the joint account.

We emailled the landlord who said they could get a new one put in for £1200, but didn't mention anything further.  We find out today from Tenant that someone will be coming to "take the old fence away" - they didn't say if a new one was going in.

I suspect the LL will want to replace it before re-letting, but the current tenants don't look like they'll be moving out any time soon.

 

For me, a new boiler is a must.
We don't have hot water at the moment because it seems a waste to heat up a large tank for washing hands only (we have a dishwasher).

While 5 out of 13 fence panels have fallen down, I agree it's not a great look but it looks like we're just paying the money rather than trying to sort out some sort of agreement with the LL.  Mrs STH would be a bit sad if the fence was a basic one (we went mid range for quotes, but not exactly what I wanted) but I'd be thinking of the money saving aspect.  Especially as she wants to put in a load of decking at the back and this and that.

 

It's almost like she feels having too much money in the bank is a crime and we should spend it.

She grew up in a poor family so never had much money.  Even after 4+ years of working, her bank hasn't seen £2000 as she just spends it before it gets anywhere near that.

 

What a rubbish conversation waiting for me this evening

[Tony_S]

The old garage door is now on a van. 

The one over the road (which is identical to my new one) looks nice. 

The old frame is coming out. I have been assured by the “builder” neighbours that nothing coming out is structural.  

One lot of neighbours are away so their drive is being used for parking. I am going to send them a photo letting them know someone has dumped a car in their drive. I am sure as it is Italian and exotic they will know I am joking. 

Tony