Early Risers.

[Barry O]

Goodnight all!

Baz

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. The knees have stopped aching after my perambulations at Warley. Taking a day out meant that theres quite a bit of catching up to do on RMweb but I've now caught up, still to catch up on Farcebook, their new layout is a real PITA. 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Well I’ve had another good day playing with my electronic bits and pieces and I’ve successfully tested another circuit using a 555 timer, this time managing to get 2 LEDs to toggle alternately on or off using a simple changeover switch on the input. I will use the LEDs as a point position indicator which I will connect to another circuit which monitors the polarity of the point frog in relation to one of the stock-rails. So, if the frog’s polarity is the same as the stock-rail, the through route is set, if the polarities differ then diverging route is set! This will give me an true indication of the direction in which the point is set and not the position of the switch or relay. The circuits have been designed to have a sort of memory, but if any point is changed manually, or a switch is operated when the panel is switched off, at power up, the points will (operate if necessary to) match the switch position and it’s all controlled by a single switch per point. Once done, I cleared away all the bits etc and put them in the cellar until I need them again. 

 

I also earned a few brownie points by vacuuming the hall stairs, landings, living room and dining room before Sheila had got back from her Zumba class. I even found time to put the fruit tea loaf in the oven which I’d left soaking overnight. The afternoon was spent surfing the net as well as placing another MERG order, so hopefully I’ll have some more kits to make later in the week.

 

Goodnight all 

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[monkeysarefun]

21 hours ago, chrisf said:

 

 

I see that someone has posted the footage of the burnt koala on Facebook.  It deserves a wider audience.

 

 

 

Given the amount of stuff that's on fire here, there'll probably be lots more pictures of tragic wildlife coming up...

 

 

(Bushfires are the diamond symbols - the orange circles are yesterdays lightning strikes - which started more fires....)

Edited November 26, 2019 by monkeysarefun

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[AndyID]

2 hours ago, tigerburnie said:

Evening all, a proper dreich day up here, SWMBO announced get those scruffy trousers off I'm taking you out for lunch. I drove because she doesn't, had a nice enough lunch which then left me standing at the till on my own when the bill needed paying. I'm glad she took me out for lunch...…………………………..I won't be falling for that one again...………………..

 

Next time change into your kilt and leave your wallet in your trousers.

[BR60103]

19 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Why is this?

We don't know.  But they did fill us this morning.

 

[BR60103]

After returning to "camp" we went looking for plumbing antifreeze.  The big hardware station had something, but with worrying warnings on it. Bought a bottle anyways.

Followed by lunch and then clothes shopping -- SWMBO doesn't want to do laundry before we get home.  Spent the price of a new locomotive even at sale prices.

The mall is about a mile and a half away, but there is a tram service. Senior rate is $1.10.  

 

We saw back home a boxy car with the plate "fakejeep". Cant imagine spending the price of a couple of coaches to have that on my car.  I believe in having a number as nondescript and unmemorable as possible.

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is a fairly mild morning today.  Around 6°C and due to reach around 10°C later.  It is rather uninspiring weather wise!

 

Have a good day everyone...

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

Some purposeful striding round town yesterday morning fixed appointments for my flu jab, my next hormone injection and a dental check-up.  At the surgery I learned that you can book a nurse appointment earlier than one to see a GP.  For some reason it sounded funny when Checkpoint Charlene told me that.  Outside the surgery is a new signboard.  The old one carried the names of five doctors and the practice manager but the new one merely says “Welcome to the practice”.  At my surgery GPs are like ships that pass in the night.  Every time I collect my prescription there is a different name beneath the squiggle – sorry, signature.  If it goes on like this one will have to put ones name down at birth for a GP appointment.  I thought it best not to ask why the letter inviting me to make an appointment for a flu jab came from Leeds as rocking the boat is not a good idea.  There is still no sign of the winter fuel payment but then he who expects nothing is rarely disappointed.

 

Just as I was beginning to think that the pavement works next to my house should be declared an ancient monument, some workmen turned up mid-morning yesterday.  In all fairness they have made a fine and neat job of it.  I understand that the delay was caused by the need to locate a paving slab of a particular shape.  Shame on me for remembering all the Max Boyce gags about council workmen leaning on their shovels.

 

There is some good news of the koala rescued from the bush fires in Australia a few days ago.  He is recovering in Port Macquarie koala hospital, New South Wales, but he is very badly burned and it’s going to be a long job.  He may never be allowed to return to the wild. All hail to his rescuer, Toni Doherty, who wrapped the stricken animal in the shirt off her back and carried him to safety.  Would you have the courage and presence of mind to do likewise?  I’m not sure I would.  The sound of his cries still haunts me and the map of the fires which Monkeysarefun posted is equally frightening.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[brianusa]

Zoe Wanamaker is going to play Wurzel Gummidge for all you Wurzels fans

 

Brian.

[45156]

Morning All

 

Monkeyarefun's map of the fires is just a big bit sccary.  Oh and I too have no great desire to have a personalised number plate.

 

Generic greetings - leaving with 30747 ti get fidder run so Lily will be getting an early walk.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Catching up on my sleep...slowly.

 

Things to do today...

 

Write my last demo liaison report for warley.

Get my hair cut

Start getting ready for Peterborough sort out pictures to add sales items to EBay

Book room in Derby...

 

Have a great day! Positive thoughts to all who need our supporr.

Rick, I hope Sharron is back on track recovery wise..

Baz

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl Inner Temple Hare, 1104/690

A reasonable nights sleep of 3.5+1.5 but more to the point very comfortable, I really didn't want to get up this morning.

 

The question is why.. Some time ago I ran out of chondroitin and glucosamine tablets which I had been taking for a while, they didn't seem to make much difference, so I didn't order more....However with all the pain I had been in from my joints I decided to give them a try again.. So I had a search on the net, while doing so, discovered some, have a high concentration of filler and sugar and some are almost pure... So this time I made sure I ordered the almost pure..   

 

I took the first maximum sized dose last night, this morning, no pain from my back, just a little stiffness.. similarly my neck seems a lot better.. A coincidence … I don't know.. either way I'll work my way through the pile of tablets and see what happens..

 

Going home last night I had a diversion to the nearest BP garage to keep the car happy, passing the way I would have gone home there were huge tailbacks, so coming out of the BP I went to the next road out of Norwich to the NDR  and then cut back to the normal route outside of Norwich.. This alternative route, once I had committed to it had... long tail backs... due to tree cutting alongside the road..

 

The first tree on the way into work has been covered in lights...

 

I've been observing the political posts put up in various gardens on the way in, normally there are lots of orange diamonds, a few red oblongs ones and the odd blue one.. This time one of Each on the 20+ mile trip in.. I think people have just got fed up with it..

 

Road works on the normal route, have reappeared back where there were some before, what have they got wrong?

 

I got heavy pressure over getting a major test system back.. the unused one.. they decided to use it for something else.. they'll have to wait.  meanwhile one of the managers wanted to suspend all calibrations for December and have them done in January.. the Stand in Boss ( since the normal one is sitting in a tin can in the med somewhere), luckily realized the implications and sent the idiot away with a flea in his ear.. Suspending those calibrations would mean 7 weeks work to be done in 4... absolutely impossible..

 

 

Talking of work..

Time  to wander down to the lab..

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2019 by TheQ

[polybear]

Sad news:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-50553859

 

RIP, my little furry friend 

[Dave Hunt]

9 hours ago, tigerburnie said:

 SWMBO announced get those scruffy trousers off I'm taking you out for lunch. 

 

My SWMBO and I are going out for lunch today but I'm fairly sure the she'll want me to wear trousers as it avoids embarrassing scenes at the restaurant. 

 

Prior to that I have been promised the ineffable delight of starting to do the overseas Christmas cards and afterwards I am taking her to a hospital appointment near Crewe. Apart from that there is little to report except that just for a change it is raining.

 

Shame about the little koala.

 

Have a good day and if you can't I offer my condolences. 

 

Dave

[chrisf]

Right now my thoughts are with the heroine who rescued him.

 

Chris

Edited November 26, 2019 by chrisf

[bbishop]

4 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Have a good day and if you can't I offer my condolences. 

 

Dave

 

Dave, changing the subject entirely, does anyone do a 4mm kit of the Midland Railway D397 horsebox?

 

Bill

[Kingzance]

And a (somewhat less than) splendid morning to all,

 

Yesterday’s efforts at clearing a neighbour’s bush (titter ye not!) spluttered when my big throbbing pole stalled and refused to restart. It is on the bench in my garage and will receive a damn good thrashing carefully investigation to identify and correct the problem. Yesterday also saw the same neighbour pop round for an extended chat over coffee(s) and an auction buyer come and collect the perfectly good table and chairs that SWMBO decided she no longer liked and which, together with its replacement, would have paid for a top of the range Dacia . Daughter’s mutt duly attended and cared for too!

 

Noting The Q’s comments on garden signage supporting political parties, I have only spotted orange and red ones round here so far. In the US, it is either red or blue whereas here we seem to have many colours of a rainbow (no offence ChrisF) from which to choose. Still, I suppose that their erection gives the respective garden owners some warm glow of belief in a strange democracy where their views are the only ones that count - and therefore all not aligned with them are so inconsequential as to be rejected. Roll on Friday 13th December or whenever Westminster starts governing this country again (delete as appropriate).

 

As is normal, today is fresh fish day, take grandsons to golf and cribbage so a busy one for this cynical old plodder which will be further compounded by the throbber and a need to take SWMBO’s car to have its exhaust checked. Hope your day is better than that for one poor koala!

[Kingzance]

20 minutes ago, bbishop said:

 

Dave, changing the subject entirely, does anyone do a 4mm kit of the Midland Railway D397 horsebox?

 

Bill

Bill, your dodgy finger has clearly caused you to forget The Awl’s presence. I hope you suffer no wrath as a consequence. (enter saintly / smiley / friendly emojis here)

[Dave Hunt]

25 minutes ago, bbishop said:

 

Dave, changing the subject entirely, does anyone do a 4mm kit of the Midland Railway D397 horsebox?

 

Bill

 

I'll check on it for you Bill.

[roundhouse]

Morning from another dreary drizzly day. have dawlish on the monitor in the shed. waves have reduced XC services.

 

Currently listening to Gorillaz on Alexa / hifi.

 

My other half has finally decided to buy a bigger Tv for the living room so the 26" one in the shed will soon be 42" - Kansas City railcam on the big screen / hifi

 

meanwhile back to decoder installation for someone. Just lights to do then program it.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Yet again it’s a morning where we have some liquid sunshine, but thankfully it isn’t heavy. Breakfast and the first of today’s eye drops have been administered, just another 7 to go, however on Sunday, that will change to just 3 a day!

 

WE will soon be setting off to complete the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix, you’ll note the WE but, as Sheila is accompanying me as on Friday, when she accompanied me to the Trafford Centre we didn’t manage to buy birthday cards for Evie and Max! Later on, Sheila is going out for dinner with some of her friends, so will probably be out for most of the afternoon, I’m sure I’ll find something to occupy myself while I’m home alone!

 

Enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later 

[AndrewC]

Morning all from the boring borough's sick ward. Cough getting worse. No sleep for days. I ache all over. NHS111 said go straight to GP or if not available on the day go to urgent care. Shuffled off to the surgery at 07:wtf this morning to grab a number from the patronising self important staff in their glass box. Sit and wait until number is called. I managed to grab the last on the day appt for this afternoon. As Chris mentioned, this one too seems to be a revolving door of staff. Never see the same quack twice. The best one I ever had was sadly just filling in for the week from another practice that we are just a gnat's gonad outside their catchment area from. Shame. 

 

Better than the closer GP practice which has a queue outside every morning from 7 until the open the door at 8 just to try and get an appointment within 2 weeks. Forget about phoning either of them. Likely the cold has become full blown bronchitis. Hopefully bacterial and easier to treat. Heading back to bed shortly. 

 

Hopefully I'll be up to the pub lunch later this week. 

 

George the cat not doing well after his multiple procedures and depending on the surgeon's assessment will either need to undergo a bowel resection, or have to be put down. The drugs and special diet aren't working well enough so far. 

 

As for political signage, I can say only this. 

 

Enjoy your day.