Early Risers.

[TheQ]

I'd agree with your Hibernian,  except that,  Lovat colour hose are for those with a kilt of greenish background. Yes, The Black watch Tartan is now accepted as a "universal " tartan

 

Yes Walmart have their own tartan, I've seen it somewhere, but I note, it's not on the official register.

Most American states have a tartan as do branches of their Armed Forces. 

 

Anyone can have their own tartan,  their are tartan design programmes on the net,  but to get It registered I believe costs around £5000. Then to get it made will be expensive, A common Royal Stewart kilt cloth costs £ 16 to £24 a yard.  Rarer tartans are £79 a yard, made to order, easily double that. 

 

Today in general the hose is supposed to match the kilt.. So... 

My Red background kilt is working with red hose, 

My hunting variation of the tartan,  which has a green background is worn with Lovat hose. 

My dress tartan kilt which has a white background,  though mostly red tartan lines  is worn with red hose 

When my weight settles I'll get an RAF kilt,  which is worn with RAF blue grey hose. 

 

Traditionally hose was worn with Argyll pattern hose in red or Lovat,  but today they are astonishingly expensive. https://www.almostunwearoutable.com/product/argyle-stockings/

 

John Murray 4th Earl of Dunmore.  painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds

 

[Kingzance]

15 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

 

DSOTM really IS worth persevering with. First, pour yourself a large glass of your favourite tipple, drink it, refill and repeat the process, refill a third time and start DSOTM on track 1, side 1. Sipping a single malt with DSOTM is heartily recommended.

 

Some may regard the following PF comment as strange, perhaps even heresy. Casting back through the mists of time to the very early 70s, that champion of struggling bands and musos John Peel had a radio show (Radio 1?) which didn’t commence until 11pm I believe. At that time Pink Floyd were certainly less well known - this predating DSOTM - and JP played one side of their previous LP called Meddle. The track is entitled Echoes, not to be confused with the later compilation although the track can also be found on the compilation. Meddle best represented the metamorphosis from strange short songs to the more deeply psychedelic influences being laid down on vinyl by them more than Obscured by Clouds, it’s forerunner, did. Look up this track, then prepare yourself as iL Dottori suggests (of course a spliff may also help if that is your poison) and settle down to be totally entranced. This track caused me to purchase THREE copies of the vinyl due to my worshipping at its altar when I was a single man and consequently wearing out the groove. Two young ladies with whom I had what can be described as “fulfilling relationships” at that time similarly found that track very stirring - oh what happy memories, readily prompted by enjoying once more that fine track.

 

And now back to the semi-real world that we find ourselves occupying today. The sky is 6/8ths clear with light high level cloud in places, in fact ideal for a good walk before the temperature rises later in the day. The postage stamp lawn is showing signs of being parched so may require a sprinkling after watering my herb patch. This will also help a pair of blackbirds who are feeding a brood of chicks as it will bring their food to the surface.
 

My pharmacy has notified me that monthly medications are available for collection. My monthly submission of gas and electric meter readings is due. Her Ladyship’s stock of Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc is getting to reorder levels. I need to get the rough timber to complete my tomato trough and acquire two grow bags. I shall therefore leave The Prison today.
 

Having watched an Irish lady who was Professor of Immunology at the Max Plank Institute expound on the similarities between seasonal flu peaks and WuFlu and the duration of global flu cycles, albeit the latter seems to be a new mutation from previous SARS type viruses, I will ensure I maintain a decent level of zinc and Vitamins C and D. Hydro chloroquine seems to be beneficial in countering this bug if taken in the early stages of symptoms too, she gave evidence from an MD with a large practice of Seniors in New York to support that claim. I am beginning to wonder if there is an element of governments seeing an opportunity for introducing more  Draconian state control and surveillance as a result of this? Would our Swiss consultant like to contribute?
 

Now it is time for me to take cover from those who disagree with my PF suggestion and who support a longer lockdown from which it will be even harder for our economy to recover. You may wish to Baz me by the short and curlies and string me up but we do live in a free world at the moment . Be careful and watch out for rampaging lerts.

 

 

[Kingzance]

I really like Scotland and the Scots (as long as they are not related to, or followers of, Wee Jimmy Crankie ). I have an addiction to distilled liquids produced in The Highlands and around the River Spey. However I feel no need to invest in a formal Scottish suit with either kilt or troos. I shall save the money to blow on things related to unmentionable pursuits. Happiness is mid ochre yellow / Brunswick Green. Malachite and Apple greens together with Prussian Blue and crimson Lake are acceptable alternatives.

Edited May 18, 2020 by Kingzance
To give a bit more colour.

[Sir TophamHatt]

Morning chaps and chapesses.

 

Yes, after 3 and a bit years, perhaps my first proper bit of Railway modelling!

 

 

Didnt realise the coal was removable until it fell out.

 

I have a coal fire so smashing some to pieces is easy - and fun!

 

Not too bad for a first attempt.

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, Kingzance said:

...and JP played one side of their previous LP called Meddle. The track is entitled Echoes, not to be confused with the later compilation although the track can also be found on the compilation....

Echoes is probably one the best PF tracks that they have recorded. And whilst the studio version is great, the version from Live At Pompeii is, in my view, THE definitive version (sadly, the version on DG's Live in Gdańsk isn't half as good).

If I were asked to suggest a selection of PF tracks to a newbie I would recommend:

• Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun (LP: A Saucerful of Secrets)
• Bike (LP: Relics. A silly but fun track)
• Careful with That Axe, Eugene (LP: Ummagumma - rather a challenging piece, so listen to it after the rest)
• Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I–V) (LP: Wish You Were Here- probably DG's finest outing)
• One of These Days and Echoes (LP: Meddle. The studio version of One of These Days has never been bettered)
• Brain Damage and Eclipse (LP: DSOTM less "radio friendly" than "Money" but worth the listen)
• High Hopes (LP: The Division Bell. Probably one of the best songs penned by DG [with help from Polly Samson]. Ostensibly about Gilmour's childhood, it's really about getting old. The studio version is good, but there are live versions that surpass the studio version).

Eagle eyed observers will note that neither Animals, The Final Cut or The Wall feature in my recommendations; Animals - I think - is like The Final Cut, for dyed-in-the-wool PF fans; whilst The Wall is rather overexposed (as excellent as Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell and In The Flesh etc. may be)

 

Your thoughts, fellow PF aficionados?

 

iD

Edited May 18, 2020 by iL Dottore
Ooops. Something went wrong - now corrected

[Happy Hippo]

How I dream of myself and how others see me:

 

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Big adventure today because as it is very sunny (and no doubt will soon be bl**dy hot) I am told 'we' will be walking to the surgery for our diabolical reviews.  The last time I walked any further than the end of our road was 12 March having kept my head down isolated myself since then apart from a Tesco trip on the 24th of that month and recent excursions by motor vehicle.  Quite what has changed to suddenly make the world that much safer is something of a mystery to me as poor souls still continue to die as a result of Civid infection while c.1,000 a day are still acquiring it but presumably everybody else knows better then me? 

 

If I go back to take a lead from my maternal grandmother I could wear the Davidson tartan but there have of course been interlopers of distinctly non-Scottish lineage between her and me so that's that.  i could also claim the family (not Davidson) coat of arms via my father and his lineage but on inquiry of the Knight Herald whatever his tile was some years ago the cost of having it all officially attributed and described was distinctly pricey to say the very least, no doubt well into 4 figures now.  I could go and copy a reasonable part of it, albeit without the colours, off an ancient family tomb where a fair part of the outline was extant a few decades back but I don't think I'll bother.   The ones on the 'net are very obviously wrong or made up carp because none of them incorporate a shell of any sort.   And I can't get at it via the Gallic route as the family records in what is fairly certainly the town of origin (as it has the same name) don't go back before 1500 although any crest there would, in theory, not have the shells.   I'm not sure what our Scottish (distant) cousin came up with as she had a professional genealogist on the job of rebuilding the family tree back to the Middle Ages some years back although her principal find was to add a second bishop to the known one.

 

As for those big US diseasals I can tell a Jeep from an SD and if it isn't a PA or a PB I'm not over interested in the 'covered wagon' generation but I do like Class 59s which are in many respects a sort of descendant with their car body appearance although they're a shrunken SD underneath.

 

Have a good day one and all and stay safe.

[Happy Hippo]

The Obergrumpenfuhrer's new T shirt arrived this morning:

 

[AndrewC]

13 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

At 8:32am PDT (16:32 BST), 40 years ago on the morning of May 18, 1980, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake and landslide, triggered the explosive eruption of the Mt. Saint Helens stratovolcano about 100km from here (if the crow flew in a roughly NNE direction). 

 

From the antipodes, I remember watching television footage of the lahar flow down the Toutle River. Locals who lived here then have interesting stories of that time. The day was rainy (unsurprisingly) and people experienced gutters full of a rain and ash slurry falling from their houses. A former colleague who lived in Yakima, Washington (135km ENE of the volcano) under the heaviest part of the ashfall remembers the day being as dark as night and for years later the lawn mower blowing up clouds of volcanic ash.

 

I was in Spokane WA at the time and the whole area ended up covered in volcanic ash. Went through 3 air filters on my car in a matter of weeks. I can say, been there, done that, wish I still had the tee shirt. "Mt St Helen's, what a pain in the ash"

 

Moaning all from the boring borough. Getting homicidal due to the builder's noise next door. It really is becoming more and more intrusive. Wondering how I can hire those murder hornets. 

 

Feeling a bit of self pity at the moment. I know others have had their lives turned up side down by this stupid virus and government mismanagement there of, but meh. 

 

Tomorrow we should have been going to the opening member's day of Chelsea Flower Show. We've only missed one since we moved to London. This would have been our 17th. Now it is just a wasted day of annual leave that I wasn't allowed to cancel. The employer is getting their knickers in a twist around people not taking leave during the lock down so have released an edict that says, no cancellations, 30% must be taken by end of June, 50% must be taken by end of August. That basically forks our autumnal plans. So in compensation, tomorrow we shall be sitting on the patio with a picnic lunch and a couple of jugs filled with Pimms. At least the RHS has offered to either refund or swap 2020 tix for 2021. 

 

On Wednesday the original plan would have seen us heading towards Venice on a rather fancy train. On again and off again visit plans from the outlaws delayed that. Instead, we will be spending our 25th anniversary at home with me working the day as some **** screwed up part of my leave request. I got the Tuesday but not the Wednesday as well, and said **** has seen fit to schedule an "important" workshop for the day. Tempted to call in dead for tax purposes. 

 

Next week again, plans were shredded for SWMBO's birthday in Amsterdam & Haarlem. Apart from the one Amsterdam hotel, everything else was refunded or granted vouchers for. The one hotel. (Singel Hotel) refused to allow a rebook, refund, or voucher, despite pressure from Captain Obvious. 235€ wasted, as the hotel is open and taking bookings but we have no way to get there. Another 4 days of my leave allowance down the sh*tter as well. 

 

enough of that. more coffee needed. 

Enjoy the day. 

[Tony_S]

Good morning. 
Shopping day today. This means shopping will arrive and be left on our step, pleasantries exchanged at a distance with driver and some information about life outside our little bubble. 
From my observations of people down the road yesterday perception of distance is very much affected by alcohol consumption. Households who haven’t appeared to socialise much for the last thirty years seem drawn to forming a circle of picnic chairs in the middle of the road. I always thought of myself as being fairly tolerant but for some reason seeing people partying in the street rather irritated me. 

Tony
 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Tony_S

[MichaelE]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

What a splendid beast (and the dog is absolutely beautiful) 

She is a lovely looking dog. Is her character as sweet as she looks?

 

 

Only towards me. She is extremely aloof towards people with whom she is familiar, and can be aggressive towards people she doesn't know. Not dangerous, but she will not tolerate advances towards me or wild gesturing with arms flailing about that she considers a threat.

 

She is from a long line of K9 bred dogs and her breeding shows it. She is extremely intelligent and was easier to train than a three year old toddler. She knows perhaps 250 voice commands, phrases, and non-verbal hand signals.

 

Three of her siblings are currently in police service with different departments in the US and Canada.

[woodenhead]

42 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

Morning all,

 

Big adventure today because as it is very sunny (and no doubt will soon be bl**dy hot) I am told 'we' will be walking to the surgery for our diabolical reviews.  The last time I walked any further than the end of our road was 12 March having kept my head down isolated myself since then apart from a Tesco trip on the 24th of that month and recent excursions by motor vehicle.  Quite what has changed to suddenly make the world that much safer is something of a mystery to me as poor souls still continue to die as a result of Civid infection while c.1,000 a day are still acquiring it but presumably everybody else knows better then me? 

 

Going for a walk is a lot easier now, I don't have to make way for people, they make way for me!

 

You will find a lot of people treat you like you have the plague, shield their children from you, cross the road or simply jump into bushes to avoid you.

 

[Chris116]

46 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

Snip... As for those big US diseasals I can tell a Jeep from an SD and if it isn't a PA or a PB I'm not over interested in the 'covered wagon' generation but I do like Class 59s which are in many respects a sort of descendant with their car body appearance although they're a shrunken SD underneath.

 

Have a good day one and all and stay safe.

Nothing wrong with US diseasals provided they don't come here! They would get stuck in our tunnels and alongside our platforms. 

[Chris116]

12 minutes ago, woodenhead said:

Going for a walk is a lot easier now, I don't have to make way for people, they make way for me!

 

You will find a lot of people treat you like you have the plague, shield their children from you, cross the road or simply jump into bushes to avoid you.

 

Most people are indeed keeping well away from everyone but we have a few 'runners' who totally ignore  the idea of social distancing and I was called racist because I moved out of the way of a large group of African looking people! I just said sorry and kept moving. 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Just spent a couple of hours in the garden. It looks a lot better after a haircut and so will I when I can get one. Have to nip down to the newsagents as no papers were delivered this morning. Be back later.

[Kingzance]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

Echoes is probably one the best PF tracks that they have recorded. And whilst the studio version is great, the version from Live At Pompeii is, in my view, THE definitive version (sadly, the version on DG's Live in Gdańsk isn't half as good).

If I were asked to suggest a selection of PF tracks to a newbie I would recommend:

• Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun (LP: A Saucerful of Secrets)
• Bike (LP: Relics - rather a challenging piece, so listen to it after the rest)
• Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I–V) (LP: Wish You Were Here- probably DG's finest outing)
• One of These Days and Echoes (LP: Meddle. The studio version of One of These Days has never been bettered)
• Brain Damage and Eclipse (LP: DSOTM less "radio friendly" than "Money" but worth the listen)
• High Hopes (LP: The Division Bell. Probably one of the best songs penned by DG [with help from Polly Samson]. Ostensibly about Gilmour's childhood, it's really about getting old. The studio version is good, but there are live versions that surpass the studio version).

Eagle eyed observers will note that neither Animals, The Final Cut or The Wall feature in my recommendations; Animals - I think - is like The Final Cut, for dyed-in-the-wool PF fans; whilst The Wall is rather overexposed (as excellent as Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell and In The Flesh etc. may be)

 

Your thoughts, fellow PF aficionados?

 

iD

Hard to argue with that selection iD but could I suggest something from A Momentary Lapse of Reason: On The Turning Away. This is what I describe as "an accessible track" for PF Newbies.

[Simon G]

2 hours ago, Kingzance said:

Some may regard the following PF comment as strange, perhaps even heresy. Casting back through the mists of time to the very early 70s, that champion of struggling bands and musos John Peel had a radio show (Radio 1?) which didn’t commence until 11pm I believe. At that time Pink Floyd were certainly less well known - this predating DSOTM - and JP played one side of their previous LP called Meddle. The track is entitled Echoes, not to be confused with the later compilation although the track can also be found on the compilation. Meddle best represented the metamorphosis from strange short songs to the more deeply psychedelic influences being laid down on vinyl by them more than Obscured by Clouds, it’s forerunner, did. Look up this track, then prepare yourself as iL Dottori suggests (of course a spliff may also help if that is your poison) and settle down to be totally entranced. This track caused me to purchase THREE copies of the vinyl due to my worshipping at its altar when I was a single man and consequently wearing out the groove. Two young ladies with whom I had what can be described as “fulfilling relationships” at that time similarly found that track very stirring - oh what happy memories, readily prompted by enjoying once more that fine track.

 

 

 

I love the track Echoes from the Meddle album and have always found it to be a very relaxing way of spending 20 minutes.  I learned while at University that to lie down and play it through headphones was a great way of dealing with stress.  As I was new to stereo sound at the time, I found some of the effects quite surreal through the headphones.  I will now have to play it, as this has reminded me how long since I heard it!

 

We seem to have had a reasonable amount of rain overnight, so the ground is now nicely damp.  No doubt the weeds will benefit more than my vegetables!  Today is dull, overcast and breezy.  I have been out for a while taking my morning walk, which consists of a lot of laps around the house and garden.  Hopefully the rain will desist long enough to do the same both this afternoon and evening.

 

Today’s home made bread is just out of the machine, and is cooling to be ready for lunchtime.  The only other excitement planned for  today is to amend the Asda food delivery scheduled for Wednesday to reflect what we actually want, as opposed to what we thought we might want about 3 weeks ago!

Edited May 18, 2020 by Simon G
Correction

[jamie92208]

As to a favourite PF track I have to admit to a certain bias. It is of course "See Emily Play".

Jamie

Edited May 18, 2020 by jamie92208

[iL Dottore]

50 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

Hard to argue with that selection iD but could I suggest something from A Momentary Lapse of Reason: On The Turning Away. This is what I describe as "an accessible track" for PF Newbies.

Hmm, not sure that I'd go with that. Momentary Lapse of Reason isn't a very good PF album (maybe just below Animals and The Final Cut in quality), I find On The Turning Away a bit of a dirge, I think that Sorrow is the better track. Soaring, some tasty guitar, decent lyrics and - in best PF style - slightly operatic/grandiose/expansive (take your pick). The live version on Pulse isn't bad either.

 

As you will have already guessed,I am a big PF fan and am working on a number of PF songs (got Wish You Were Here, Brain Damage and Eclipse under my belt - aklthough the latter two need a bit of work) am working on High Hopes (I even bought two guitars so I could play this song: a thinline nylon electroacoustic and a lap steel) and am just about to start on Shine On You Crazy Diamond (parts I - V), for which I have about 2/3 of the gear (Fender David Gilmour Black Strat, Keeley Electronics Dark Side [for most of DG's Effects] and a Line 6 M13 Pedalboard [for the rest]). All I am missing is the HIWATT Amp with the WEM Speaker Cab (HIWATT are doing the Mini-Rig D 20/0.2 W - an exact copy of the HIWATT head they built for DG - but a switchable 0.2W to 20 W output - but it's NOT cheap - Mrs iD will need persuading....)

 

Oh dear, now I've mentioned some of my gear, I feel a bad GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) attack coming on....

 

iD

p.s. I had to update the original PF post as my fat fingers deleted a song

Edited May 18, 2020 by iL Dottore

[leopardml2341]

1 hour ago, Chris116 said:

......I was called racist because I moved out of the way of a large group of African looking people! I just said sorry and kept moving. 

I wouldn't have said sorry, no reason to.

 

Those of a sensitive nature, stop reading!

 

Reminds of an 'occurence' with a woman (I couldn't use the term lady due to the verbal which was forthcoming) for whom I held open a door. I was lambasted for being patronising and condescending; my riposte was that I held the door open, as I would for anyone,  because I was polite and not just because she had a pair of t!ts. Game set and match, slam dunked in her own stylee.

 

Edited May 18, 2020 by leopardml2341

[iL Dottore]

12 hours ago, MichaelE said:

These are not ve recent, but her and I look pretty much the same today.

 

 

 

I've just noticed: isn't that a "Superstrat"or a "Frankenstrat" hanging on the wall in the backgroud?

[45156]

8 hours ago, chrisf said:

 “Kicking Up The Sawdust” by Ashley Hutchings is a collection of infectious dance tunes.  Its title is derived from the Sawmills Studios in Cornwall where it was recorded.  “Feeling The Squeeze” is an album of accordion music by Chris Harvey, the alter ego of Chris Pollington who played keyboards in Strawhead.  The version of Simon Jeffes’s “Music for a found harmonium” is arguably the best available.  It will be interesting to see as time goes on what others have chosen and how many of the choices are familiar.

I agree in the former - LOVE "Kicking Up The Sawdust", and have it on quite often - however, it is a casette copied from a vinyl recording, and the quality is pretty dire.  Always have admired Chris Pollington, but IMHO, the best rendition of "Music For A Found Harmonium" is the version by Patrick Street - check it out.

 

Afternoon All

 

Sorry, I have missed about 8 pages, and also not checked in yesterday.  This was down to a broadband outages which was not corrected until this morning, then the fodder run intervened as well.  Belated happy birthday to Rick. 

 

I too have very eclectic tastes in music, and a very varied album collection, all on CD.  As to a top ten, in no particular order:-

 

Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov)

The Planets - Holst

Revolver - Beatles

Sgt Peppers - Beatles

Neck and Neck - Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler

Dark Side Of The Moon - Having heard it on my friend's £20,000 hi-fi, off a vinyl copy which is an original but has been kept pristine, there are things going on that I've never heard on any other system or source - it is utterly stunning - my CD copy is just on the plus side of mediocre by comparison.

Firewire - Chris Newman and Maire Ni Chathasaig

Still Getting Away With It - Chris Newman

The Adventures Of The Brothers Gibb - Bee Gees

A Cut Above - Martin Simpson and June Tabor

 

I'm off for a look round some of the other threads that I follow - they too have been a bit neglected.

 

Oh and it's raining so Lily and I will be getting a wetting.

 

Hopefully back tomorrow

Regards to All

Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2020 by 45156

[Shedman5]

Afternoon, Pleased to say it's raining and has been for the last three hours, a steady drizzle type of rain which the garden really needs. Saves me get the sprinkler out for the lawns particularly the front one which has sun on it most of the day.

The shed  and you know what beckons but a final thought for the day

 

An Obituary printed in the London Times...
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: 
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain; 
- Why the early bird gets the worm; 
- Life isn't always fair; 
- And maybe it was my fault. 

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). 

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. 

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.      It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. 

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. 

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. 

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. 

Common Sense was preceded in death,
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason. 

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers; 
- I Know My Rights 
- I Want It Now 
- Someone Else Is To Blame 
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for Doing Nothing 

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. 
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

 

Enjoy your day folks
 

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, AndrewC said:

The employer is getting their knickers in a twist around people not taking leave during the lock down so have released an edict that says, no cancellations, 30% must be taken by end of June, 50% must be taken by end of August.

Ours has always been an industry where leave is rostered and you take what you are given when it is given.  We have a limited ability to arrange mutual exchanges but there must always be a minimum number of staff available for work so it is not possible to request specific weeks unless there is already a staff vacancy and one wishes to swap into their rostered week.  OK?  Confused? So we are required to take what was rostered back in October 2019 for the whole of 2020 (subject to mutual exchanges) and cannot cancel nor defer leave until more favourable times.  Neither can we carry it over into a future year.  Them's the rules.

 

2 hours ago, Chris116 said:

Most people are indeed keeping well away from everyone but we have a few 'runners' who totally ignore  the idea of social distancing and I was called racist because I moved out of the way of a large group of African looking people! I just said sorry and kept moving. 

In my work-based experience of this whole thing so far there are two groups, or want of a better word, of people who seem to have no concept of the idea nor are they willing to engage in any form of social distancing.  One is our East European construction workers who have continued as they always have done to wait and travel in groups and - on the rare occasions they have been spoken to by the police they feign "No English".  Their English may not be that fluent but they are perfectly capable of asking for the next train to their destination and of moaning and occasionally swearing when the wait is longer than ten minutes or so.  

 

And then we have the "African looking people" some - and by no means all - of whom also travel in groups.  Teen gangs have always been there but are much more visible now and there are fewer others to create an ameliorating effect simply by sheer weight of numbers.  Afro-British teen gangs probably cause us the most problems right now simply through their numbers (typically 4 - 10 together), attitude, offensive language and gestures when spoken to and total disrespect for any force of law.  Our thinly-stretched British Transport Police can usually only move them along and rely on their Met or regional force colleagues to intervene at a more distant location.   

 

A group of six were deliberately provocative in the early days of lockdown.  They had no business travelling together but sat on the platform edge, legs dangling track-side, smoking their interesting herbs and drinking something alcoholic.  At 8am.  They were challenged and refused to move until the train came.  We tipped off the signaller who switched the train to another platform.  It was a mixed blessing that they then missed it because they hung around for another half-hour before causing further problems on board and requiring the train to be stopped for 20 minutes along the line while they were removed.  "Invited to leave", as the internal email had it.  Yeah.  

 

G'dafternoon all.  A warm sunny day has arrived Upon the Hill of Strawberries.  No more folk were travelling today than in the past couple of weeks but our Notwork Rail colleagues have seen fit to deploy fifty - FIFTY - crowd controllers!  There will, we are told, be a one-way system enforced as of tomorrow but frankly with the numbers travelling it will be a waste of resources and there is no need for it.  All those additional people in yellow vests around the station make it look like a security compound when it should be inviting as a travel hub.  Any semblance of social distancing is gone as they are deployed one either side of the stairways meaning that everyone passes them at a distance of no more than one metre.  

 

Things may change in the light of experience ..... breath is not being held though.  

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. When Q mentioned a Walmart tartan I just had to Google it. It indeed does exist and you can buy products in Walmart stores in their tartan. As it is 'exclusive' I presume that they have established some sort of rights to that particular tartan. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about it is its not even garish as one might expect such a tartan to be. It piqued my interest because my surname is the same as the founders of Walmart so I went looking. It turns out my family name has its own tartan, a variant of the Campbell tartan.