Early Risers.

[Kingzance]

What should have started as a relaxed morn to enjoy a muggertea has been intruded upon by the dance of the tracked mechanical shovels - grrrr! Sun is well up, skies clear except for air pollution (always present unless Icelandic geological events ground aircraft) and a strong possible that the KZ runner bean wigwam will be erected today, along with the trug of tomato plants and their supports, plants are ready to go out and I am gambling there will be no more frostiness - unless you include that from SWMBO as I continue to push for a Kamado style barbecue.

 

Re supplies from Fraggle Rock, I have always found their service first class. It is 12 miles to my “local” model shop and that is only open part time too. When I have used it, I get the impression that it is more a club for those in the know and customers are just to be tolerated. Whilst we should guard against the inexorable rise of internet shopping, such action could be assisted by the very retailers we would like to preserve!

 

A small bowl of dried wheat pieces beckons. Be good one and all and, if you can’t be good, be careful.

Edited May 16, 2019 by Kingzance
Damned auto correct!

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

The sun is shining but there are a few clouds in sight. Sheila is getting ready to leave for her Zumba class and once she’s gone, I’ll continue removing the last of the distemper from the cellar walls. There isn’t a lot to do now, but it is being stubborn and is taking quite a bit of effort to shift. Once it’s done, I can then apply the waterproofing solution to the walls. 

 

Back later. 

[BoD]

Sitting on Newcastle station enjoying a coffee (well it would be rude not too) and I have just seen one if the new LNER Azuma trains on a test run.  Very nice it looks too.

 

I do wonder how many times they have had to change the livery during the production run though.

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

It looks sunny out. There are builders working nearby but they are very quiet. 

I am off to Whitechapel today for a routine hospital visit. Aditi will take me to Benfleet station, then I will go C2C to Barking and get an Underground train to Whitechapel. My appointment is mid morning so I can go on the off peak train. 

I suspect the hospital visit will be , get weighed, chat with consultant, and have blood samples taken. 

Tony

[Kingzance]

14 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I am off to Whitechapel 

Beware the phantom raspberry blower or worse still, his more violent alter-ego Tony 

[Happy Hippo]

Currently I am plucking up the willpower to drill the 4 x 4 mm holes into the side of the kitchen cabinet in order to re-hang the door after the Obergrumpenfuhrer's act of wanton destruction last week.

 

I should have done it a few days ago, but much effort has been going into getting 'stuff' done in the garden.

 

In true hippodrome fashion I do all the heavy lifting and shovelling, whilst delicate hands carry out the lighter duties.

 

I have impressed with my clearance of the area behind the garage, which is now much tidier.  

 

However, it has to be said that this is merely low cunning on my part.  

 

Once the area is cleared,  boards can be erected at around waist height, and the moribund trackage elsewhere in the garden can be relaid at a sensible operating height.

 

The sun is shining even more brightly this morning, especially as the postman has just delivered the tickets for the Wales v England rugby match on 17 August.

 

Did anyone know that Wales won the 6 Nations trophy in a Grand Slam!

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. The bin wagons dawn chorus is in full swing as I type with both the lesser spotted glass and bottle wagon and the one squealing out for lubrication.  On the subject of snoring that has been discussed recently.

10 hours ago, manna said:

G'Day Folks

As I live on my own I don't snore  but every now and then someone sneaks in and wakes me with a snore but I can never catch them.

[Happy Hippo]

10 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 

As I live on my own I don't snore  but every now and then someone sneaks in and wakes me with a snore but I can never catch them.

I know for a fact that there is a gorilla that comes uninvited into the Hippodrome.

 

This intruder always visits after a trip to the local hostelry.

 

When I am aroused from my slumber I find that the gorilla has:

 

Thrown my clothes all over the room.

 

Stolen all the money out of my wallet.

 

Creped in my mouth.

[Tony_S]

3 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

Currently I am plucking up the willpower to drill the 4 x 4 mm holes into the side of the kitchen cabinet in order to re-hang the door after the Obergrumpenfuhrer's act of wanton destruction last week.

 

In true hippodrome fashion I do all the heavy lifting and shovelling, whilst delicate hands carry out the lighter duties.

 

I

 

 

I have successfully rehung kitchen doors by plugging the hole with a plastic rawlplug. I have a bag of assorted plugs, one of which will fit.  

Aditi has been asking recently to find out how to do the jobs I have usually done. Yesterday it was the pressure washer.

Tony 

[Ian Abel]

BIN day - the Mrs will have to perform the duties, hopefully sorted by now already.

 

Plethora of report changes at the client yesterday, they sure know how to re-invent the wheel, OFTEN! I was also informed that given they have an interim CFO, once a new permanent chap/chapess is found we can expect to redo all the reports AGAIN! 

New reports also surfacing with some frequency, how many ways can you actually report on financial data <- rhetorical.

 

The Orelly men started and by the end of the day Mrs sent some impressive pictures of their progress, they're certainly NOT hanging around. Here's one example...

Since it's unclear what the "permit" is actually required for (what they can/can't do before it's approved), I think they were/are able to start with some preliminary interior work.

The major item is removal of the wall in main view, between the living/dining area and kitchen. Since it's load-bearing, they are installing a hidden beam for support, and I suspect that's primarily what the permit is for.

What they appear to have done is remove some of the sheetrock/wallboard on the wall being removed to identify where they needed to place the support structures they've built.

I'm now guessing that's as far as they can/will go until the permit clears the review.

 

Off home today, enjoying the challenge that is negotiating JFK . Hopefully, since the weather both ends is favorable it'll be less of a nightmare than the past few times.

 

Seaweed twirlers reveling in the more "normal" weather here, 12 and mostly sunny driving in, 20 the expected high.

The morning news team made it sound like they've been in Antarctica the past few weeks and now are in the Bahamas, excitable lot these New Yorkers

 

Enjoy the day.

Edited May 16, 2019 by Ian Abel

[Two_sugars]

I had a call earlier from "B T" telling me about the illegal activity on my I P address, and that I would lose my broadband connection if I didn't press 1 for something, or 2 for summat else. . .

 

I didn't do either the 'phone went dead...

 

I called my real supplier after about an hour, and they reckon it was a SCAM! ! !

 

Oh well . . . . that's enough excitement for one day.

 

John

 

[Tony_S]

2 minutes ago, Two_sugars said:

I had a call earlier from "B T" telling me about the illegal activity on my I P address, and that I would lose my broadband connection if I didn't press 1 for something, or 2 for summat else. . .

 

I didn't do either the 'phone went dead...

 

I called my real supplier after about an hour, and they reckon it was a SCAM! ! !

 

Oh well . . . . that's enough excitement for one day.

 

John

 

We have been getting something similar, it was 3 times a day for a couple of days. Rather British robot voice.  Caller ID was fake number, then withheld, then  International. I think they just work through an STD code hoping to snare some victims. 

[Two_sugars]

Sounds like the same one.

 

 

John

[Ian Abel]

Reminder to all - CARPE DIEM

Just received this news, Tuesday a friend from our choir was driving back from helping another friend put his dock in. He stopped on the freeway with a very bad headache.

Taken to a local hospital where he was diagnosed as having had a stroke, was released yesterday, went home and was resting there albeit with some paralysis on his right side.

 

Today we've been informed he's receiving comfort care and isn't expected to live for more than a few days.

Hug your family and friends...

 

Edited May 16, 2019 by Ian Abel

[lightengine]

Update to my tv repair of last week.  The engineer came and quoted John Lewis a repair bill too high.  JL declared this a BER, beyond economic repair. So 4 options were offered moi.

1.A new tv

2.Take the value of the new tv

3.Put the money towards a different tv

4.Full cash refund.

 

It appears that all 4 options realise the same figure, which is a figure £100 short of the purchase price nearly 5 years ago.

Option 1 only permits an extended guarantee of the remaining 5 months.

 

So, we agreed to pay £10 more towards a different tv and that initiates another extended 4 year JL guarantee on top of the 12 month LG guarantee.

 

New tv arrives next Thurs.

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, lightengine said:

Update to my tv repair of last week.  The engineer came and quoted John Lewis a repair bill too high.  JL declared this a BER, beyond economic repair. So 4 options were offered moi.

1.A new tv

2.Take the value of the new tv

3.Put the money towards a different tv

4.Full cash refund.

 

It appears that all 4 options realise the same figure, which is a figure £100 short of the purchase price nearly 5 years ago.

Option 1 only permits an extended guarantee of the remaining 5 months.

 

So, we agreed to pay £10 more towards a different tv and that initiates another extended 4 year JL guarantee on top of the 12 month LG guarantee.

 

New tv arrives next Thurs.

For the option you chose could you have selected a different make?

[JohnDMJ]

11 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ey up!

Bit overcast here at the moment.

Forgot to mention. Ordered some bits from Fraggle Rock on Tuesday. Delivered here to the North West Leeds Highlands yesterday.  Excellent service.

 

Baz

The service is only as good as the courier used to get the package from source to customer. Once the parcel has left the source, they have no control on where it goes or how long it takes to get to its destination. Couriers DO make mistakes!

 

Edited May 16, 2019 by JohnDMJ

[lightengine]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

For the option you chose could you have selected a different make?

They offered me a Samsung but as we are happy with LG apart from its failing, we decided to take an LG.  I compared online and they are very good in comparison.

The engineer on Saturday said that they replace screens across the whole of the manufacturers because of the backlighting problem.  Ours just showed bright highlights.  It looks like an on screen sun is shining but doesn't really spoil the picture.  But he said some screens go completely dark.  

[brianusa]

Not only for TVs but just about anything these days, we just replace!  I don't think there are any TV repair places around here anyway.  If the fridge goes; are you going to let all the frozens spoil waiting for the repairman?  Same with the washer and dryer and the dishwasher, all those clothes and dishes need to be washed.  In the UK, before coming here, I was a TV engineer covering most of Devon and Cornwall and even then could provide better service than what's available here today.

     Brian.

[lightengine]

42 minutes ago, brianusa said:

Not only for TVs but just about anything these days, we just replace!  I don't think there are any TV repair places around here anyway.  If the fridge goes; are you going to let all the frozens spoil waiting for the repairman?  Same with the washer and dryer and the dishwasher, all those clothes and dishes need to be washed.  In the UK, before coming here, I was a TV engineer covering most of Devon and Cornwall and even then could provide better service than what's available here today.

     Brian.

LG quoted me £350+ to replace the screen.  John Lewis, the retailer said the repair quote they were given was too much.

I was happy with a repair but no choice.

Devon has changed since then Brian.

[JohnDMJ]

50 minutes ago, brianusa said:

Not only for TVs but just about anything these days, we just replace!  I don't think there are any TV repair places around here anyway.  If the fridge goes; are you going to let all the frozens spoil waiting for the repairman?  Same with the washer and dryer and the dishwasher, all those clothes and dishes need to be washed.  In the UK, before coming here, I was a TV engineer covering most of Devon and Cornwall and even then could provide better service than what's available here today.

     Brian.

 

Electronics have become so sophisticated and reduced to such a level (one microchip does the lot for each appliance) that there is nothing to economically replace.

 

Whereas it used to be the case of replacing a faulty transistor, diode or resistor, now so much now relies upon the minimal number of microchips one can get away with. To replace one of however many there may be in each appliance is way more expensive than a new appliance given today's mass production techniques.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Just found out that my old house in Romford is going to be demolished. In fact the entire estate including two tower blocks is scheduled for demolition. Rather surprising as they were well built houses constructed as recently as 1962. The replacements will be high density flats, more dwellings but much smaller.

Edited May 16, 2019 by PhilJ W

[Dave Hunt]

After a week without visiting ERs due to what are generally known as 'circumstances beyond my control' (of which the least said the better) it's taken me most of this evening to try to catch up. Yesterday things returned to what passes for normal here and I actually started work building baseboards  for my layout. After two days I've got three of six done and with luck will be ready to start making tra*k this time next week. I may even start a topic on RMW if I can find time. No progress tomorrow, though, as I'll be catching the 1013 from Stoke to spend the day in London attending a Tornado aircrew pi**up reunion at the Knights Templar where industrial quantities of fermented barley and hop juice will be consumed before wending my way back via the 2100 ex-Euston to be collected at the station by SWMBO. That will use up all my saved brownie points for some considerable time and the chances of me posting on ERs much before Sunday are about the same as the Monster Raving Loony party winning the next general election. Mind you.......

 

Night night all and commiserations to those suffering as well as a belated happy birthday to Rick.

 

Dave    

[BoD]

25 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

 

Electronics have become so sophisticated and reduced to such a level (one microchip does the lot for each appliance) that there is nothing to economically replace.

 

Whereas it used to be the case of replacing a faulty transistor, diode or resistor, now so much now relies upon the minimal number of microchips one can get away with. To replace one of however many there may be in each appliance is way more expensive than a new appliance given today's mass production techniques.

 

There are examples of that in all trades.  My dad was a time served plumber and one of the many skills he had was reseating valves in taps.  I still have the tools he would use.  Towards the end of his working life it was easier and cheaper just to replace the whole tap.

[AndrewC]