Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[J. S. Bach]

Good night owl from a snowy Piedmont.

[BR60103]

We've had a communication from one of my cousins who is on a North American trip. The plan was to visit another cousin near Boston, fly to Vancouver and return to Toronto by train. She found out that there were potential problems only when she got to Boston. When she arrived in Vancouver today she had an eMail that the train trip is off.

In a dispute about a pipeline across British Columbia, the Indigenous people are blocking the railways all across the country. Most of the passenger service is cancelled and the freight lines are laying off employees.

 

HB to Chrisf.  I just got active enough to drink the IrnBru that I got for mine -- 2 months ago today.

 

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

When you are alone in the bleak gardens of a crematorium, as I was yesterday morning, there is little to do but reflect.  A lot has happened since my Mum passed away and inevitably I wonder what she would have thought of some of it.  We never discussed my sexuality in her lifetime and I will never know how she might have reacted when I came out.  Looking back, I gave her a lot to think about in the 37 years that we were on the planet together.  Not all of it was good but there was always love for me when I needed it, even in some very trying circumstances.  No-one could ask for more.

 

I must thank everyone for the kind and thoughtful birthday wishes yesterday.  Last year I was away on the Antipodean tour and thought it best to own up about my birthday before I was found out.  I was in Sydney on the day and if I’m honest I enjoyed the celebration arranged for me.  For many years I have avoided revelry on the day because I didn’t feel able to, in effect, celebrate a death.  The concept of a “good” or “happy” birthday has become alien.  Now, for the time being at least, I intend to use the day to look forward, as I have done this year with my announcement about the trip to Dublin in June.  Every birthday is a bonus now!

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Ozexpatriate]

7 hours ago, Tony_S said:

HR. Aditi was on HRs redundancy list.

Tony that surprises me a bit but clearly there are differences across industries and HR cultures. In the employment world that I knew, being female with non-European ancestry would score higher on the diversity points and be much lower down the redundancy list.

[polybear]

I spent my 21st Birthday on an Aircrew Survival Course at Boscombe Down.  I was dreading the course organisers bubbling me to the other attendees (this way way before data protection was even invented) - fortunately they didn't, or didn't realise.

That was the same course that featured the "Course Idiot".  He was the clown that stared down the business-end of a distress flare, having not listened (or understood) to the clear and very simple instructions given.  Basically it fires a flare the best part of 50+ metres in the air, and burns for 5 seconds and visible for 5+ miles in daylight:

https://www.lifejackets.co.uk/products/677/pains-wessex-compact-distress-signal-3-shot-flare-gun-free-delivery

 

- slide your thumb off the plunger, which then shoots up under spring pressure and sets the cartridge off.  So he's staring down the end, with the plunger still held down, shouting "It didn't go off!!"

Fifteen other guys, yours included, made Usain Bolt look slow that day.  The two Instructors, having defused the situation, looked at each other nervously, with a "Christ, we nearly lost one there..." look on their faces.

 

The guy failed the course, strangely.

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl Inner temple Hare, 1017/635.

 

A better nights sleep of about 6 3/4 hours

Ben the confusing collie, decided he would go out this morning even though it is heavily overcast and there was no moonlight... He even disappeared down to the non house lit parts of the garden.

 

Meanwhile I put away the extension cable going to the battery charger I connected to the landrover last night... Click... yep batteries knackered. That's what I found out last night and even after charging all night still no joy. So I ordered another one, which may make it home today.. Within an hour of ordering I had an email with a  tracking number and a note saying it had been collected by their courier .

 

Sadly SWMBO now has to phone the doctors to put back her pill review she needs before they'll give her more.. I've had to take the car this morning.

 

Never really celebrated my birthday, I don't remember having a birthday party as a child either..(too near Christmas) Almost always had one "larger "  joint Christmas / Birthday present. Then in the RAF my Birthday always coincided with a major National  Exercise, So I spent my 19th, to 31st birthdays  on Duty, often freezing in some sentry point on a base.

 

Time, I went down to the lab and see what the this weeks major system made of last nights overnight run..

[jamie92208]

Morning all from a sunny but still not very warm part of The Charente.   Thank goodness I haven't had any contact with HR and it's associated stupidities for nearly 18 years. Long may that state of affairs continue.  Like many organisations, HR was the one department that kept growing when all others were being cut. It didn't help that they appointed a force Psychologist who turned out to have faked his CV and qualifications.

 

Anyway a good day was had yesterday  with much good food, good conversation  and discussion of matters relating to things that move on parallel  strips of metal.

 

Today the first task is to put the top coat on one side of two shutters then to help a friend move a log burner. No doubt other tasks will be allocated during the day. If it stays warm and sunny I might even cut the grass.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

 

 

Edited February 21, 2020 by jamie92208

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Rather a grey start to the day but there may be some sunny spells and it should stay dry.

Usual aches and pains on waking up with The Shoulder being the worst of them to the extent that some pain relief is needed. This may impact on my ability to do some work under the layout. We shall see. Hopefully a small parcel will arrive today from Fraggle Rock to enable me to get round a particular problem that I'm having.

In other news a small donation has just arrived in my bank account from HMRC which will come in very handy with all the present expenditure going on around GDB Towers.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited February 21, 2020 by grandadbob

[Barry O]

Evening (well it is here!) All.

 

Enjoyed lunch. Bolognais and cheese pie!

I had monthly assessments in my last 3 jobs.  However we also undertook "development" centres.  Having done my local company one, then one at corporate level I ended up as a qualified assessor. Strangely some people who had excellent boss assessments came up short in the company 3 day ones.

 

My boss in submarine land eventually realised I was two levels below  where I should be (as in I should have been his boss)  Didn't worry me less pain...more money anyway.

Edited February 21, 2020 by Barry O

[Kingzance]

Morning,

 

Sutton weather is widespread as it extends to NEHerts. Better is forecast but who knows. A parcel awaits my collection from the local store / PO which I believe contains plaster of Paris bandages. It is not my intention to mummify SWMBO or create a mask of my face so I will have to own up to using it to create contours on Kingzance.

 

CowboysRUs kicked off half an hour ago - hammer drills, ghetto blasters and profanities are the order of the day. Given the terrible outcome of using dubious cladding at Grenfell Tower, I am amazed that the builders are installing a cladding that comprises plastic strips nailed to vertical wooden battens, these well spaced and offering a clear path for hot air with the battens nailed onto block work and securing a permeable membrane between them. How is it that lessons are not learnt? As for my orders of the day, these will include chauffeuring a visit to Waitrose and a stroll to the local farmer’s market. I shall attempt to restrain SWMBO at the first so I can support the traders at the second.

 

There have been no incidents of jam, stage or real blood spilled here in the past 24 hours although our neighbour is suffering from some major nose bleeds. To all with elf issues, I wish you well and an improving outlook. I am off to follow the normal guidance of a Durham lad presently in the Land of The Long White Cloud.

[polybear]

7 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

Given the terrible outcome of using dubious cladding at Grenfell Tower, I am amazed that the builders are installing a cladding that comprises plastic strips nailed to vertical wooden battens, these well spaced and offering a clear path for hot air with the battens nailed onto block work and securing a permeable membrane between them. How is it that lessons are not learnt?

 

Are these houses by any chance?  If not, then an anonymous call to Buildings Control might be in order....

[New Haven Neil]

MOrning.  Day off once more coinciding with atrocious weather.  #sigh# Blowing a hoolie again.

 

I hope your whatever it is arrives OK GDB! Not knowing your 'real' name I didn't spot the order.  Everything went out though so it should be OK provided Isle of Man Post and Royal Mail do their bit!    Hopefully it will help with your modellers block.

 

Bike club morning, hmm, car again.  Not risking the bike as it's force 9 out there although dry.

 

HR in the NHS was rather different to what I read about here, we actually worked with people not against them.  Mind you, one CEO was found to have falsified his CV too, that all ended in tears.  He spins it all nicely now, and omits certain details that 'may or may not be true'......but he was actually quite good.

[Barry O]

The wind is picking up here to (and no I didn't have mushy peas with my blue cod and chips)

Time for some eyelid testing. The driving today was hard work!

 

Baz

[Kingzance]

24 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Are these houses by any chance?  If not, then an anonymous call to Buildings Control might be in order....

These are called “one-bed apartments” and comprise a barn-like structure with two linked ground floor units and two similar units above them, the latter using some of the roof space so they have “velux” style windows set into the roof tiles. They are designated as “shared ownership” on the plans, i.e. the buyer takes all the costs whilst the builder hoovers up any rise in value over the period involved. As for Building Control round here, if they are anything like the Planning Department then they simply do not believe policies should be adhered to or regulations apply to them. 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit windy this a.m. but is reckoned to stay mostly dry. I should be able too make a start this afternoon on clearing the shed.

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Tony that surprises me a bit but clearly there are differences across industries and HR cultures. In the employment world that I knew, being female with non-European ancestry would score higher on the diversity points and be much lower down the redundancy list.

That only applies to the official redundancy list. Where I worked there was at least three more. These were unofficial of course and almost certainly illegal as many were based on sex or race. There was an unofficial 'hit list'  which I apparently didn't quite make, perhaps they thought I'd cause much trouble. Then there was the senior managers merry-go-round. There was a continuous line of senior managers whose posts were being done away with and the post occupants being made redundant. Almost as soon as they'd gone a 'new' post was created identical to the redundant post except in name and a hike in salary. Another senior manager was appointed to the post only to be made redundant about 18 months later.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

It’s a wet start to the day here in England’s northwest. The first of the 2 bins has been emptied and I’ve just been out to retrieve it, given that is was raining when it was emptied, the lazy barstewards couldn’t even be bother to close the lid, thankfully there wasn’t much water in it!

 

I’ll shortly be heading off to complete the Trafford Centre Grand Prix, but before that I’ll nip into Asda for a few items that our local Sainsbury’s no longer, but used to stock! I shall return home via the butchers where I’ll pick up the weekly meat rations and a couple pasties for our dinner. After dinner I’ve a doctors appointment and Sheila is at the dentist having her crown refitted. As you can see, we live the high life here!

 

Back later. 

[PhilJ W]

8 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

These are called “one-bed apartments” and comprise a barn-like structure with two linked ground floor units and two similar units above them, the latter using some of the roof space so they have “velux” style windows set into the roof tiles. They are designated as “shared ownership” on the plans, i.e. the buyer takes all the costs whilst the builder hoovers up any rise in value over the period involved. As for Building Control round here, if they are anything like the Planning Department then they simply do not believe policies should be adhered to or regulations apply to them. 

What usually happens is the Planning Department puts in an objection, the builders reach for an expensive lawyer and the Planning Department hasn't got the resources to match so they drop the case.

[45156]

Morning All

 

30474 has gone to work - she is now in her 64th year on the  planet, and if she had not been caught by the changes to State Pension Age, would now have been enjoying her State Pension for three years instead of having to wait another three before drawing it.

 

All posts have been read and rated, and as usual. generic greetings are on offer to the deserving, both ailing and celebrating. 

 

It's very wet and windy here, and there is a yellow warning for tomorrow, though there is a forecast for today of higher wind speeds and gusts, and also of heavy rain, and I do find the met office warnings to be most odd.

 

I have been left with jobs domestic - cleaning the bath, bathroom floor, and so on.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[NGT6 1315]

Cheers, troops. There's a big yellow wotsit shining in the sky. Wonder what this is!

 

Bit coughy and sore-throated, so I wouldn't be surprised if I should require downtime soon, especially if the cab aircon quality tonight should leave me with a similarly dubious impression as those on my trams yesterday. That downtime would then happen on my non-working weekend, obviously...

 

Installed a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke alarm earlier. Saxony is the only German state where there are currently no legal requirements at all for fitting these, but that doesn't mean I cannot go beyond legal requirements, can I?

 

Other than that, not a lot to report yet. I'll need to get something for lunch, 'cuz hunger makes one evil, and me in particular!

 

Later…

[AndrewC]

Greetings all from the noisy borough. 

 

I've given up trying to catch up on nearly 8 weeks of posts. That way madness lies, and I'm mad enough already. I'll just say congrats and commiserations as appropriate. 

 

A noisy but productive week. Network rail have the line closed and are doing work on stabilisation. Most of this is further along by Barnhurst but they've taken the opportunity to also shore up the embankment between Welling and Bexleyheath as well. Today is day 7 of 06:00-23:00 pile driving. Driving me to distraction. New road is closed for the crane and equipment making the High Street worse than ever for traffic as the favoured rat run is diverted.  

 

Building works continues next door. They've just started up with the breaker again in the last 10 minutes. Dunno what they are doing in there but they've filled a skip and a half with nothing but bricks and roofing slates. I have the feeling based on the amount of H section that was delivered recently, they are taking out all the chimney breasts internally and knocking the upstairs bedroom walls about. 

 

The old fence is gone. A shiny new metal one is in its place. That was 4  days of breakers, concrete saw, angle grinding, and other noise. At least the new fence should outlast me. 

 

That's about it. need more coffee. Enjoy the day. 

[Kingzance]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

What usually happens is the Planning Department puts in an objection, the builders reach for an expensive lawyer and the Planning Department hasn't got the resources to match so they drop the case.

Of course we know that happens in the case of large builders (who banked 4x as many approvals as they built last year) but this crowd of pen pushers refused an individual planning permission for a stable block; the individual then defies the refusal and builds it all the same before applying for retrospective approval - which is granted!!! The next stage in that individual’s path will be to convert the stable block to residential, even though there is an existing covenant on the use of the land that it cannot be for residential purposes. Is the local planning authority populated by thick-skinned pachyderms I wonder? They certainly are not serving the people who elected their so-called bosses or who actually pay their salaries! 

[grandadbob]

Well that's it,  I'm doomed! Had to pop to Sainsbury's to pick up some stuff and when trying to pay by card I appear to have forgotten my PIN number. This on a card I use almost daily! Luckily I have others which I use rarely and I seem to have no problem with remembering those numbers. Will now have to wait a few days for the bank to send a new PIN which is a bit of a nuisance.

B.R.Ainfade

[Kingzance]

1 minute ago, grandadbob said:

Well that's it,  I'm doomed! Had to pop to Sainsbury's to pick up some stuff and when trying to pay by card I appear to have forgotten my PIN number. This on a card I use almost daily! Luckily I have others which I use rarely and I seem to have no problem with remembering those numbers. Will now have to wait a few days for the bank to send a new PIN which is a bit of a nuisance.

B.R.Ainfade

Be extremely cautious Bob! Watch your account for any strange transactions and chase the bank after 72 hours if you haven’t had the pin. A good friend was almost done by someone who applied for a new card in his name at one branch then a new password at another branch before he or an accomplice tried to collect my friend’s mail direct from the postman. The attempt failed due to a knowledgeable local postie and some smart private detective work by the two of them. The police couldn’t do anything because, as the crime was prevented, no crime was committed.

 

Nice to see the return of AndrewC and news of the boring borough.