Early Risers.

[tigerburnie]

I picked up a very nice copy of Wind in the Willows from ebay recently, primarily to read to the grandkids when they come to stay, assuming they will be able to at some time, I've never read it myself, so I am working my way through that as a different distraction, I never ever read fiction, but enjoying this.

G'night all.

[monkeysarefun]

3 hours ago, JohnDMJ said:

 

 

 

I didn't think I'd need to emphasize the irony.

 

Limited access to the gardens to maintain "social distancing" whilst forming and orderly, compact, undistanced queue at the entrance.

 

The NSW government shut down Bondi beach Saturday due to people crowding there in Fridays 36 degree day, violating the 4m distance rule that hadn't been announced til Friday afternoon  - while they were on the beach rather than listening to the latest rule announcements. Everyone had to pack up and leave and catch the bus and trains etc back home.....

 

The NSW police minister while announcing the closure stated that the Friday incident was the most irresponsible thing he'd seen in relation to the Covid outbreak. Strange, everyone else here thinks the most irresponsible thing so far was his government letting  2467 newly arrived cruise ship passengers disembark at Sydney and disperse to the 4 winds, just before 3 passengers tested positive for the virus and 156 had reported sick during the cruise. That was on Friday too, the same day all the irresponsibles were enjoying the surf.

[newbryford]

4 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

More golf?

 

Or a good walk spoiled in the garden?

 

Golf is golf.

G is G..............

[Ozexpatriate]

7 minutes ago, andyram said:

I feel less comfortable with continuing to open the doors in the current environment and I am thinking about the prospect of online sales only for a period -whether these will prove enough is questionable.

Understandably so. 

 

We're now in a "stay home, stay healthy" order by the governor. The state did not want to use the "shelter in place" verbiage used by California. ("Shelter in place" has a context with earthquakes, which means "stay where you are, don't go anywhere, so long as you are in a safe place" which is distinct from "stay home".) The specifics of what should remain open are unclear though I expect clarification on this on Monday.

 

Prior to Friday, most retail establishments were open, subject to proper distancing precautions though many places made their own decision to close. I expect this to change. Construction work had continued - most work maintaining a proper distance. I can see this changing too.

 

On Tuesday I have an appointment with a financial advisor (scheduled long before the COVID-19 market belly flop) which was supposed be in person. On Thursday I declined an opportunity to do this remotely, but have since reconsidered this decision. 

[Chris116]

4 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

Golf is golf.

G is G..............

G is a waste of time. The damn stuff grows back again. 

 

I solved the problem by moving from a house with front and back gardens to a flat on the top floor (5th) of the block which had an excellent view right across London of the opening and closing fireworks displays of the London Olympics. Much more entertaining than Gar.................. 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

I spent the morning in the workshop, where I drilled and tapped 2 - 2.5mm holes in each of the 28 relays. As I mentioned the other day, there are 2 different types of relay and some originally came with fixing screws. I found that 2 of the relays didn’t have any screws and I wasn’t able to find any that fitted, so I decided to open these holes out and tap them 2.5mm also. So I ended up drilling all 28 relays, making a total of 56 holes drilled and tapped. I also drilled 2 2.5mm holes in the circuit board so the relays could be fixed in place. After dinner I continued to modify the relays to board mounting and by tea I’d started to assemble the first one.

 

After we sat down with a nice bottle of Malbec and caught up on some recorded TV. 

 

I do like Baz’s idea of posting on here every daily. I generally post twice a day, so I’ll endeavour to keep doing so. 

 

Goodnight and stay safe everyone. 

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[J. S. Bach]

1 hour ago, BSW01 said:

I spent the morning in the workshop, where I drilled and tapped 2 - 2.5mm holes in each of the 28 relays. As I mentioned the other day, there are 2 different types of relay and some originally came with fixing screws. I found that 2 of the relays didn’t have any screws and I wasn’t able to find any that fitted, so I decided to open these holes out and tap them 2.5mm also. So I ended up drilling all 28 relays, making a total of 56 holes drilled and tapped. I also drilled 2 2.5mm holes in the circuit board so the relays could be fixed in place. Goodnight and stay safe everyone. 

I think that I would have attached the relays to a plug and installed sockets on the circuit board. Replacement of a failed relay would be so much easier.

[BR60103]

We had a cold walk this morning, but managed to say hello to a large number of neighbours.

Mid-afternoon we took the car out for gas and cat food. The mall parking lot was almost empty -- most of the stores are non-essential and probably closed. I used to claim that 90% of the shosps in tha mall were ladies' dress shops. Now only 60% are dress shops while 30% are cell phone stores.

We bought gas for under 70 cents a liter which is the cheapest since we started our record book.

Some of our non-essential shops are offering curbside (kerb?) service. Call in your order and they will bring it out and put it in the car boot.

Last week a friend mentioned needing signal bits. I gave him over a dozen Ratio boxes, half LMS. The other day I found another box.

 

[J. S. Bach]

Good night owl from the Piedmont.

 

12 minutes ago, BR60103 said:

I used to claim that 90% of the shosps in tha mall were ladies' dress shops.

One mall near where I used to live in Baltimore, MD had a little over 10% shoe stores by actual count.

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, J. S. Bach said:

One mall near where I used to live in Baltimore, MD had a little over 10% shoe stores by actual count.

Including the "anchor" department stores?

[TheQ]

Mooring awl,  inner Temple Hare, 

Fell asleep early again but woke at 03:30ish

Went down stairs to find the stove out,  I forgot to give it it's evening load of coal. 

 

For some reason I'm very hungry..  So it will be porridge this morning, that plugs a hole... 

 

On my inherited layout the equivalent boards to BSW01s constructions were fitted with all duel in-line relays in sockets..  Hanging them upside down probably worked OK on when the layout was fixed in place.  But as this is an exhibition ( eventually ) layout  bouncing around in a trailer, that's not a good idea.  So an alternative system will be introduced . 

 

Two of the local MPs have put requests out for second homers not to come up to Norfolk.... Too late... 

 

Plans for today.. 

Deploy the new planer,  glue the keel frame together.

Plant some spuds.. 

 

Time I think to make some breakfast.. 

 

 

 

 

 

[pH]

Today's walk was through the woods immediately behind our house. These are not likely to ever be built on as there are steep and deep ravines through them and the sides of these ravines are "geotechnically problematic". The land slopes upwards, and there are several rough trails up to the flat ground further south. These trails were initially made by early European settlers who had smallholdings on that flat ground, but also worked in the sawmills down at the shore. They are not part of any official trail network, but people still use them (kids come to the local high school down a couple of them) and they are kept reasonably clear by private citizens, not the municipality. 

 

This is a view up a side trail from one of the main trails:

 

 

[5 C]

Morning awl,

 

Yesterday's trip to Sainsbury's was surprisingly successful. It's only a short walk and I had to collect an eBay delivery anyway (a car part in case you're wondering) from the in store Argos, so I thought I'd pick up a few bits that I needed at the same time.

 

On the walk I passed one of my neighbours who reassured me it wasn't too bad. Although the shelves weren't exactly brimming, I got all my fresh fruit and veg requirements along with a few other items. The only noticeable omission was packet bread - although in store bakery bread was  available. I have an equally convenient source for that anyway so I wasn't too worried. The store was busy (it was Saturday lunchtime after all) but not overcrowded and I was through the self checkouts and on my home without having to queue. In fact the only queue was for Argos.

 

Being at least dry and bright, if rather cold yesterday meant I could enjoy a brisk walk around my nearby park. Thanks to work, I've struggled with my normally regular exercise regime even before this started. The walk made me realise how much I've missed it and the other benefit was a decent night's sleep. I need to work out a new routine now the Dragon's gym is closed. The money saved in monthly membership might go towards some equipment.

 

Regards to awl.

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

The least said about last week the better.  There is not much to which I can look forward this week.  I am supposed to be at a film show in Kettering tomorrow but I doubt that it is still on.  Later in the week I must leave the shelter of the house for necessary expeditions such as securing future supplies of medicine, reconciling my bank account, food shopping and in one case visiting a friend.  In principle social distancing has much to commend it but when you have had it inflicted on you for most of your life it does rather lose its appeal.  The PM has resorted to emotional blackmail over Mothering Sunday.  Is this really the way to get the nation on side?  I write as one of those considered vulnerable, a 72 year old with the pre-existing condition of prostate cancer.  I am not scared but I am thankful that I do not live in Italy.

 

I said a few days ago that the scaremongers have taken over the asylum.  They have messed things up for those who retain a vestige of sanity and common sense.  As I arrived at my local Tesco yesterday morning I saw a pack of what looked like bog rolls in an outgoing trolley.  They turned out to be kitchen towels.  What intrigues me is what is left on the supermarket shelves once the locusts have had their fill – a random selection of ready meals for starters.  I could not get my normal cooking oil or porridge oats on my last visit but I can manage with substitutes until the relevant shelves are replenished for long enough for me to get there.  As I write this I realise that I forgot to look out for my beloved baked beans and pork sausages whose absence I lamented only days ago.

 

Elsewhere on this forum there are expressions of appreciation for Tom Lehrer and for Under Milk Wood.  I have the pair of LPs of the original radio production narrated by the indispensable Richard Burton and wonder in passing whether it is available on CD.   Two new CDs, by favourite performers Calan and Sam Carter, are on their way to me so it’s not all bad.  I will now have a bath before Boris finds a way of banning it.

 

Best wishes to all.  We need them.

 

Chris

Edited March 22, 2020 by chrisf

[pH]

Almost a culinary disaster today. We've started making our own bread again, after a long gap, and we've been very pleased with the results. We use a breadmaker to do the  kneading, but take the dough out after the last kneading and let it rise for the last time in the bread tin before baking. The first loaf this morning was for our son and family who are 'self isolating' for two weeks. It was just about perfect. The second loaf was for ourselves, and there must have been some inattention while measuring out ingredients, because it never turned into dough, just remained as a wet mass. We reckon the water was added twice.

 

Anyway, what do you do with a bowl of bubbly 'goo' (the yeast was working)? Since we had nothing to lose, we thought we'd try cooking some in a frying pan, almost like pancakes. It turned out really well - looked much like a thicker pancake, but tasted like bread. So instead of one loaf, we got 8 'pancakes'. We will try for a proper loaf again tomorrow, being more careful about ingredients this time. 

[roundhouse]

Morning

 

Another nice one too.

 

Two of our cars have full tanks, one filled some time ago ready for now cancelled shows. The other I filled the other day as the garage was quiet. So if fuel suddenly becomes the next big panic then we are OK for some time. We should have been going down to other halfs Mum next weekend and also for haircut but I very much doubt that will happen.

 

Yesterday we drove to our local brewery to get growler (beer container) fills. One I brought back from San Diego I had to test fill with water to work out how many UK pints it would hold as there isnt even US volumes on it. Its now marekd with 3.5 pints. Drove to the brewery and we were the first to make use of this new option. They have stopped brewing as had built up big stocks ofr their local pub crawl event in March plus all the cancelled orders from pub for Easter etc. payment is by card and they have also teamed up witth a local bakers who normally sell bottled beers . The brewery have also teamed up with a pizza delivery so fingers crossed they can keep going for some time.

 

Driving through Redhill town centre  it was very busy with queues outside Iceland  so we then drove to Westerham brewery. On the way there were queues to get into farm shops and nurseries but luckily at the brewery there was a farm shop that was quiet so we picked up fresh bread but no eggs till Tuesday. The brewery was quiet but we got a mini keg plus a two pint take out of their WInter ale. They said that with all the cancelled orders they may be sending all the brewd beer for bottling.

 

Back home we now have make shift stocked bar by the shed that shold last a few days. Our bottle and can stash that we have had for many months is still in the house and if the breweries close then we have a few months supplies.

 

After lunch we went for a walk to Screwfix to pick up a pre paid / ordered TV bracket for the shed. Its a pleasnt back street / footpath walk via a footbridge over the railway so we stopped to see the delayed engineers train runnning round. It delayed another engineers train which in turn delayed numerous trains behind it now that the facilties at Redhill station to do that have been reduced. Some trains were stuck for around 30 minutes behind the second engineers train but doubt there were many passengers on them. Screwfix have asked that people order online so that they have minimal contact with cards / cash in store but most hadnt taken head as we had to wait a while to get served but kept our distance from others. I hate to think how busy the DIY store was.

 

After that we walked via the local garage to get milk then our local corner shop but neither had eggs. The corner shop did have frozen stuff , rice beans, noodles though so thats an option if its too crowded in town during the week.

 

My brother in HK has tasked me to get seeds for vegetables os his kids who are now self isolating, can have tasks to do by growing vegetables in Mums garden as he doesnt want them stuck in front of the Xbox all day. I also have some maintenance to do for Mum that was planned but caught out by the virus, so great care will be taken to distance from Mum much as my two nephews are having to do for 14 days. I wont be able to do the same as we will have to do food shopping for us and them at some point but at least Mums old neighbour is getting them food when they can but they are struggling to get basics in the nearby supermarkets due to panic buying.

 

At Mums there is handrail on the stairs up to the 'play are' that requires refixing as one of my nephews keeps falling down the stairs. This was a task for their next planned visit but caught out with the school closure and I cant fit it without a hand. Mum is 'banned' from going upstairs so she cant help me.

 

Today is stay home all day. Must also pack the last bit of crust earning ready to get back to the owners.

 

Next week one car needs an MOT. Not sure if this has been thought about by the Govt as without an MOT you cant get insurance renewed.

Edited March 22, 2020 by roundhouse

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Chris f ..what the measures are designed to do is to try to stop the UK becoming Italy. Unfortunately some of our citizens don't give two hoots for those who realise the immediate danget we are in.

 

With people deliberately flouting the advice given I can see a full lock down (policed like Spain ) in fairly short order.

 

Stay safe and remember to think in a holistic way about our friends, neighbours and the inhabitants of the UK everyone (substitute your country in which you live for the UK.)

 

Baz

Edited March 22, 2020 by Barry O

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a Sunny Charente.  Various minor tasks this morning, including a trip to the market for essential supplies.  We got some quite unexpected  cold calls yesterday.   JW's calling to see if we were OK.  Unfortunately  they then went into their prepared script and wouldn't listen so the phone got put down.  In the eveni g we had a bit of drama.  Beth used the wrong insulin pen by mistake after dinner and gave herself a rather large dose of quick release stuff.  I dialled 112 and managed enough French to get through the triage nurse to the doctor.  He told us to use the emergency glucose syringe from the fridge.  A good friend who us a retired nurse drove over and administered this, as well as showing me what to do for the future.  The trip was covered by item 4 on thd lust on her attestation. " helping a vulnerable  person.".   

 

Beth is now fine this morning apart from being a little tired.  

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[Kingzance]

In a Geordie accent:

 

”It’s day ten in the Big Mama household...” Yes, SWMBO and I have dodged the coffin for another planet rotation and hope we are not alone. The sun shines but is slightly (cue early and less popular Pink Floyd album) Obscured By Clouds. A plethora of wood pigeons is attempting to keep next door’s jungle in check whilst spreading an abundance of guano below every perching point.
 

The pleasant lack of aircraft overhead leaving / arriving at London Luton or London Stansted brings back memories of an Icelandic volcanic eruption. That brings me on to ask if bailing out airlines (as it seems that we’ll known Spanish airline BA is requesting) is a reasonable use of public funds? Please feel free to debate - I am leaning towards the NO camp based on the need to support more critical systems and people in this country, the negative impact of air travel in terms of the environment and, last but not least, the appalling Michael O’Leary further claiming that any subsidies would be totally unfair unless he was allowed loadsamoney. We are all going to have to get used to a different world post this so why shouldn’t these global players also be similarly affected? And I write this with a grandson who really wants to be an airline pilot!

 

I made bread overnight using a mixture of spelt and wholemeal flours as detailed in the bread-maker’s recipe book. It turned out to be suitable for use as a Curling Stone. I am not sure why but I shan’t try that mix again, I’ll run out of baking yeast at this rate! I’m not even sure why I made it as I have some packets of a previously successful bake already sliced then frozen in small batches for later use. It may be the first latest sign of senility! Orders are anticipated soon, as will be a decision about the culinary delights I will need to prepare for her on this Mothering Sunday - will sausages, beans, mash and onion gravy be acceptable? I suspect I shall need to think again. And on that note, I bid you adieu. Be careful, be good and keep in touch with your local tales of selfish f*ckwittery.

Edited March 22, 2020 by Kingzance
Add selfish, there’s always plenty of the natural stuff around.

[polybear]

21 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

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

 

Don't you believe it.

Someone crapped inside a photocopier at work a while back.  They neatly dropped a curler on a bit that warms up.  Took a while to discover where the smell was coming from....

 

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

With people deliberately flouting the advice given I can see a full lock down (policed like Spain ) in fairly short order.

 

 

 

And not a moment too soon, IMHO.

[Andrew P]

Just a point, I've heard nothing on any News Channel about CV in Russia. We have heard about Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and many more, but I've nothing from any reports coming out of our friends in Russia.

Has anyone on here heard anything?

Edited March 22, 2020 by Andrew P

[Northroader]

Nyet.

[Tony_S]

31 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

Just a point, I've heard nothing on any News Channel about CV in Russia. We have heard about Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and many more, but I've nothing from any reports coming out of our friends in Russia.

Has anyone on here heard anything?

Google Russia Coronavirus and you can choose which news organisation you prefer. Looks similar to UK numerically. They closed the Chinese border early and most cases claim  to have been due to international travel contacts but now starting to get established.  Much stuff about how healthy Putin is!

Tony