Early Risers.

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, 81C said:

Seeing that bog reminded me of these p!sspots

Damn I thought those cocktails tasted a bit strange!

 

[5 C]

2 hours ago, 5 C said:

In other news, I suspended my gym membership on Thursday, just hours before Doris did it for me. Even before all this started, my gym felt like somewhere you could catch something. A combination of penny-pinching club management and other people's lack of hygiene standards. Simple but vital repairs go unaddressed for months and if there's a corner to be cut, they'll cut it. It's part of the chain run by a certain former Dragon and comments on their social media pages suggest my club is not unique. I had to pay £20 for the privilege of suspending my membership and I'm wondering if I'll now get that back. I doubt it as their total lack of customer service is legendary.

 

I take it all back. Well some of it anyway. This morning the Dragon's gym announced they would freeze all memberships without charge and refund those who have already paid do so. I'm staggered. I was fully expecting their attitude to be "tough luck".

 

The comments about poor standards and penny-pinching still apply though. But I may give them yet another chance when this is all over.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I plan to venture out for newspapers shortly, only bread is in short supply I'll have a look for substitutes such as crackers.

2 hours ago, BlackRat said:

Replace all supermarket trollies with baskets....... problem sorted.

Someone has already said thats impracticle. I need to use a trolley as otherwise it means hoiking the walker out of the car.

2 hours ago, PeterBB said:

Like a big tax increase to pay for it all!

Perhaps some of those billionairs could be made to pay some tax.

1 hour ago, 81C said:

Seeing that bog reminded me of these p!sspots

They certainly couldn't be used for a number two.

[Chris116]

During the last few days most preserved railways announced that they were closing for the duration. Both the Bluebell and Seaton Tramway resisted the trend but by last night had bowed to the inevitable.

 

On the Main Line nearly all the railtours were cancelled but amazingly West Coast Railways trip from Glasgow to Perth today is running with the ECS currently running a few minutes late according to Realtime Trains. I cannot believe that Network Rail has not done something to stop such services when all the regular services are being reduced. 

[tigerburnie]

Morning all, overcast today, but dry so far, was intending to do some daily exercise on a bike, but may now abandon that plan, will monitor the weather, finding plenty of jobs in the garden and I am planning to re decorate the bathroom, so prep work has begun, stay safe all.

[Andrew P]

We have always bought just a weeks supply of groceries and Loo Roll etc, and so with the Hysterical buying of many we cannot get any food in for this coming week at the moment. So tomorrow I will have to have to have drive around to source various bits.

I still can't believe that some people are so selfish, the mind set of the British Public has deteriorated in my honest opinion.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

The Good Doctor visited Tesco this morning and acquired all the listed shopping plus one or two other items needed to sustain her during her 13 hour shifts in the coming week.  There was toilet paper in stock but as we don't need any she didn't get any.  Kiddiwinks football etc is not taking place and their parents are not shopping to drop while matches take place might explain why Tesco 'wasn't too busy'.  The local Tesco branch will be operating the NHS etc staff hour tomorrow but will not operate their usual Sunday morning 'come in 30 minutes before the checkouts open' system.  

 

Incidentally our surgery stopped taking paper prescriptions earlier this week and Tesco pharmacy have now also stopped taking any written prescription orders - all prescriptions to be ordered online direct to the surgery henceforth.    No doubt will be a major help, NOT, to all those people who don't have internet access.

 

I wholly agree with KZ about Govt action.  They really have between the devil and the deep n blue seas and if anything all I would criticise them for was not acting to quickly impose and enforce 'port health checks' at airports etc and then relying a bit too long on the dumbo British population to actually apply 'social distancing'.  But that's happened and they're now apparently getting on with the job although there's little doubt in my mind that we'll be paying later through inflation and increased taxation - unavoidable I reckon.

 

And not only did Stubby appear to miss a pallet of baked beans but he also ignored those black tins on the bottom shelf which look remarkably like the ones which contain a 'bacon & egg breakfast'.   I have occasionally been tempted to try one in the faint hope that it might be a reminder, or even a reincarnation, of the wonderful Compo ration 'bacon & egg' to which I was highly partial.  However Mrs Stationmaster has always told me she won't have the stuff in the house and in any case we can never return to the past so it could well turn out to be a major disappointment that I have been forced to avoid.

 

The G word is rampant today.  First however the lad has set off with a mate to some sort of brewing establishment in Finchampstead in the search for liquid iron rations and I am under orders to clean the vacuum once more.

 

Have a good day one and all and wishing Mrs Rick all the best with her PhD thesis.  The Good Doctor was congratulated on the excellent standard of punctuation in her thesis being told in particular that it was very pleasing to come across somebody who understood the difference in usage between commas, dashes, and brackets - which made me rather chuffed as I'd spent a lot of time getting them right

Edited March 21, 2020 by The Stationmaster

[Coombe Barton]

Rick

From other people submitting theses I know that the first thing they spot when re=reading is a typo they missed.

And the best advice from those who have - don't look at it for a fortnight. Have a break, do something else, because that's all they've been doing for months or years and takes a bit of getting used to not to do things related to that work. 

 

In the present circumstances going pout os not possible, as that's the best displacement. The best I can offer is some proofreading for my stuff but ...

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

The sun is shining and the skies are blue. Currently in the workshop where I'm about to start drilling enlarging holes in a few (24) relays.

 

Back later 

[81C]

47 minutes ago, Chris116 said:

During the last few days most preserved railways announced that they were closing for the duration. Both the Bluebell and Seaton Tramway resisted the trend but by last night had bowed to the inevitable.

 

On the Main Line nearly all the railtours were cancelled but amazingly West Coast Railways trip from Glasgow to Perth today is running with the ECS currently running a few minutes late according to Realtime Trains. I cannot believe that Network Rail has not done something to stop such services when all the regular services are being reduced. 

Your a right old killjoy.

[southern42]

' morning all from red dragon land.

 

With no playing miniature tr**ns on the horizon for awhile, I am enjoying not having to set the alarm for an early start and having a bit more time at home.

 

I am one of those who like being at home and to 'potter', as a work colleague put it some decades ago! 

So, the porch got sorted and cleaned out on Thursday and Friday - some G stuff (hand tools, plant food, weed killer, etc) has gone in a box to the big G bin in the garden; 3 buckets of coal kept inside for bad weather (snow, in particular) have gone outside; and tools, various pieces of timber, tools, etc have gone to the garage or shed.  Not totally empty, but at least we can move in there now!  One new piece of equipment has made its way in there - the bike trainer I used indoors when I busted my elbow.  Ray tried his bike on it yesterday.  I just need to get my bike back in shape (dusted down, tyres blown up), then, yay, I'll be back in action.

 

Some plants in pots are gradually being attended to.  One, in a pretty poor shape (overwatered!) was planted just in case it survives.  Another, desperately needs planting out - the roots have blocked the only hole in the bottom of the pot which is now overflowing after all the rain we have had.  Amazingly, all my cuttings have survived.  I just hope the peony will do the same when I plant that out.  They do not like being moved but it has grown over the years in its 'temporary' pot so at least I can give it a permanent home.

 

I am also using my new found time to post on GWRd, or put another way, start thinking about modelling again...

and to carry on finding things to photograph such as yesterday evening's sunset...

 

 

Keep safe, all

____________

Best wishes

Polly

[Barry O]

A certain manufacturer has changed how they add numbers to their locos. .pah!

 

Baz

[Gwiwer]

Social isolation and essential journeys .....

 

One of the regular "train spotters" was found in his usual haunt at the London end of his favourite platform today.  When approached by one of our Trespass & Welfare Officers he replied of course he was socially isolating - he was completely alone until approached.  Was his trip essential?  Oh yes - he just copped a 66   

[TheQ]

5 hours ago, 81C said:

Morning All

overcast and the sun trying to get through 

Yesterday as I was passing I picked up some milk in a Tesco's Express normally I pay £1.20 for 4 pints, those rip off B'stards £1.80 won't be using those stores again. 

I've food for 2 weeks in the fridge/freezer apart from milk I will ease of my consumption of it to save a daily battle to find some 8 pints in the fridge is normally 2-3 days worth

I should be able to stretch that a bit.

Better get on stay safe I. Wusrooked 

Tescos express have always charged more for their goods,  the comparative running cost of a small town center express shop, is much much higher than a out of town "Extra" store. 

[Chris116]

5 hours ago, 81C said:

 

Yesterday as I was passing I picked up some milk in a Tesco's Express normally I pay £1.20 for 4 pints, those rip off B'stards £1.80 won't be using those stores again. 

I've food for 2 weeks in the fridge/freezer apart from milk I will ease of my consumption of it to save a daily battle to find some 8 pints in the fridge is normally 2-3 days worth

I should be able to stretch that a bit.

Better get on stay safe I. Wusrooked 

My Tesco Express has charged £1.09 or £1.10 for four pints of milk for what seems like forever and the price had not changed yesterday. Are you sure you didn't pick up one of the more expensive brands instead of their own brand cheap milk. I have made that mistake in Morrisons once but now check I am picking the right thing more carefully.

[Tony_S]

The organic free range semi skimmed milk is usually more expensive. 

[81C]

2 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

The organic free range semi skimmed milk is usually more expensive. 

Spot on there Tony it's orgasmic milk I've just looked, what a load of b#llox if you don't mind my opinion does it give you a better stiffy ??? never heard of the stuff before

I'll be more careful when I'm in a rush mind you it was the last milk in the cabinet.

Went to put up a new roller blind in the kitchen there is a new window put in recently they must have been called CLOWNS "R" US who done the work there is no where to

attach the blind I will have to put in a thin subframe round the window, plaster board won't stand the strain of a blind the screws will come loose over time.  

Stay safe  Robert The Builder 

[Simon G]

4 hours ago, Chris116 said:

During the last few days most preserved railways announced that they were closing for the duration. Both the Bluebell and Seaton Tramway resisted the trend but by last night had bowed to the inevitable.

 

On the Main Line nearly all the railtours were cancelled but amazingly West Coast Railways trip from Glasgow to Perth today is running with the ECS currently running a few minutes late according to Realtime Trains. I cannot believe that Network Rail has not done something to stop such services when all the regular services are being reduced. 

 

Likewise, the Ratty has also ceased operations only just over a week after starting this year’s daily timetable.  

 

Just been out out for a walk, but it was cold with no sun and a bitter wind.  Local gossip suggests that Tesco’s was actually pretty well stocked this morning, so maybe the panic buying is starting to ease a bit now that people don’t have any more room to store things.  We will try to do our weekly shop on Monday morning.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. The shopping trip to Tess Coes went quite well, there was even some wrapped bread stodge on the shelves. I also topped up my (proper) bread supplies. Still plenty of empty shelves but I found all I required. The kitchen cupboards need sorting, you may remember the suicidal pickled onions from last week. Well hiding behind them were some very ancient pickles, they're probably OK but they will be binned. Teas made, be backlater.

[TheQ]

Well the Kevlar gloves did their stuff,  very few thorns found a way in. 

The second half of the back of the garage roof was cleared of Ivy. 

Then I went to the side between the previously cleared side and the back to clear that.. Then....

 

I found the ivy had grown through the asbestos and cracked one hollow in for about 8ft . This came off with the ivy..  Then the remains of the soffits  were removed to clear the remaining ivy..  That revealed a catalogue of bodges. No less than six stacked pieces of wood above the window,  also a Piece between two of the roof beams is seriously rotten. The window frame is rotten too. Elsewhere there is  a variety of bits of brick and block mortared  into a semblance of a sloped wall top. 

 

So to the planned repairs,   one of a things we cleared from the widows garage was a upvc double glazed window,  I've now measured that to find its Just 7 inches narrower than the failed window. 

I'll need to buy a concrete lintle,  which will replace part of the wood stack. 

Above that will be a beam to replace more of the stack and an identical beam to replace the rotten one. 

The window will be mounted  higher up under the lintle,  and the spare space bricked up.. 

 

Then the beam ends removed  flush with the wall,  and upvc replacement soffits fitted. 

Quite what I'll do about the broken piece of asbestos I don't know, there's not much overhang of the roof left there.. 

[NGT6 1315]

The Rewe supermarket chain over here offers both home delivery and prepared pickup services, but time slots for both are solidly booked out till the end of the month, last time I checked anyway. However, the trip to Edeka earlier was pretty much without any hassle. The store wasn't that crowded and with some exceptions, nearly all shelves were sufficiently stocked. They discontinued selling fresh bakery products from the self-service shelf for the time being, though.

 

Actually, I think shopping for about a week when possible isn't that bad a thing after all. We haven't done that very frequently in quite a while, truth be told.

[tigerburnie]

Crocodile Dundee on the telly.....it's number 2 but it'll do...……………………………..

[Kingzance]

1 minute ago, tigerburnie said:

Crocodile Dundee on the telly.....it's number 2 but it'll do...……………………………..

"Now this is what you call a blade!" 

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, 81C said:

it's orgasmic milk

 

How often does it come into stock?

 

Just been out for a walk to the river.  It felt like a normal Saturday.  People walking, a few cycling, jogging and stopping to chat.  The riverside gardens were busy especially the children's play area though the cafe was closed.  Bumped into a neighbour from along the block we haven't seen in a while - she usually winters somewhere warmer - and all seems well with her and her kids.  I did ask that if she needed anything, or was aware of others who might need help or support, that she drop a note in and I will organise what ever I can.  

 

The local train service began well this morning but since mid-afternoon all have been cancelled.  Most others are running making me wonder if it may be a signaller who is unavailable rather than the six train crews it requires to run this service.  Most other trains are running.  

[Kingzance]

7 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

 

How often does it come into stock?

 

Just been out for a walk to the river.  It felt like a normal Saturday.  People walking, a few cycling, jogging and stopping to chat.  The riverside gardens were busy especially the children's play area though the cafe was closed.  Bumped into a neighbour from along the block we haven't seen in a while - she usually winters somewhere warmer - and all seems well with her and her kids.  I did ask that if she needed anything, or was aware of others who might need help or support, that she drop a note in and I will organise what ever I can.  

 

The local train service began well this morning but since mid-afternoon all have been cancelled.  Most others are running making me wonder if it may be a signaller who is unavailable rather than the six train crews it requires to run this service.  Most other trains are running.  

That deserves a special mention, are you creaming the humour on here?