Early Risers.

[45156]

Morning All

 

Sorry  I've been AWOL due to loss of broadband, which I have been advised was not due to the impending change to fibre, and it is back today.  It was apparently down to an problem which was affecting a number of properties locally.  Not all posts read or rated.

 

Generic greetings are of course offered to all fellow ERs.

 

Back tomorrow (?)

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[Chris116]

@chrisf I had forgotten us meeting at a 3mm Society meeting but I do remember walking from the bus to Tolworth for the excellent model railway exhibition a few years ago.

 

I was given a telephone consultation appointment by the hospital for 9.30am today. They telephoned me about ten days ago and made the point very carefully that I was not to attend the hospital. A few days later I received a text message saying the appointment had now been made as a telephone appointment! Two days later I get a letter giving me the appointment time and instructions on where to go in the hospital. Yesterday I got a reminder by text message that I should not attend the hospital as the appointment would be carried out as a telephone consultation. Just had the doctor on the phone and he is going to arrange an appointment for me to attend the hospital as they can't take photos of my insides over the phone! 

 

First mugacoffee drunk and breakfast is calling once I can be bothered to get off my bed! I think bacon, egg and fried mash will be a good start to the day. 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Best wishes to Rick and Simon and I hope that things go well for Tony. A bit grey this morning but dry. Isn't the September full moon the harvest moon? It was rather bright last night but I thought that was normal for a harvest moon.

5 hours ago, TheQ said:

OK then time for a question from me.  What's the link between Arthur Ransome and Ian Fleming ?

 

 

4 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Spies, secret agents .

Both worked for the secret service but different parts of it. They both also had the same publisher, Johnathan Cape.

[TheQ]

4 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Best wishes to Rick and Simon and I hope that things go well for Tony. A bit grey this morning but dry. Isn't the September full moon the harvest moon? It was rather bright last night but I thought that was normal for a harvest moon.

 

Both worked for the secret service but different parts of it. They both also had the same publisher, Johnathan Cape.

This is true there were a lot of connections between  them.

 But it's not the one I was looking for..

 

Try thinking of where I live..

 

 

[Dave Hunt]

They were both members of a Broads sailing club?

 

Dave

[tigerburnie]

They were fisherman?

[PhilJ W]

Something to do with the name Blofeld?

 

[BokStein]

6 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Something to do with the name Blofeld?

 

 

Was it not said that Fleming was a friend of Henry Blofeld's father and used the cricket commentator's family name for the cat-stroking villain?

Edited September 4, 2020 by BokStein

[roundhouse]

4 minutes ago, Chris116 said:

@chrisf I had forgotten us meeting at a 3mm Society meeting but I do remember walking from the bus to Tolworth for the excellent model railway exhibition a few years ago.

 

I was given a telephone consultation appointment by the hospital for 9.30am today. They telephoned me about ten days ago and made the point very carefully that I was not to attend the hospital. A few days later I received a text message saying the appointment had now been made as a telephone appointment! Two days later I get a letter giving me the appointment time and instructions on where to go in the hospital. Yesterday I got a reminder by text message that I should not attend the hospital as the appointment would be carried out as a telephone consultation. Just had the doctor on the phone and he is going to arrange an appointment for me to attend the hospital as they can't take photos of my insides over the phone! 

 

First mugacoffee drunk and breakfast is calling once I can be bothered to get off my bed! I think bacon, egg and fried mash will be a good start to the day. 

I am sure that I have seen endoscope cameras online that plug into your mobile, then you could have a Skype video call with said doctor

Mum is awaiting for a hospital appointment to have a camera check up her ****. I will be the one doing the taxiing for her .

 

A pleasant few pints last night finishing with a Thai meal in a very quiet pub that also serves a nice pint of Tribute. Landlord said that they had been busy in the 50% off eat out meal deal but since the start of the month its been too quiet so we did our little bit to help. We were just tow of four customers in the pub at the time and kept us out of the heavy downpour.

 

Currently having an online communication with our internet provider as paying way too much but could only offer £5 off so been transferred to another dept . That was 40 minutes ago and I wont be waiting up to 24 hours (that the automated message states) on this PC. I have new paving to lay.

[PhilJ W]

1 minute ago, BokStein said:

 

Was it not said that Fleming was a friend of Henry Blofeld's father and used the cricket commentator's family name for the cat-stroking villain?

Indeed he was, and Fleming's nephew was at school with a cousin of HB.

[PhilJ W]

Post has just arrived with an invitation to take part in a Covid-19 antibody test. Not sure whether or not to do so as it says its no proof as to whether one has had the bug or not.

[Northroader]

Fleming was going to have one of the characters in his novel called Laetita, but having read Ransome, he realised she’d get called Titty by everyone, and not wishing to be thought sexist, he called her Pussy Galore instead.

[The Stationmaster]

5 hours ago, Andrew P said:

I just read that bit in red as 3am, I thought, WOW, that's an early start. The other half of the brain should wake up soon.

Blimey - he starts by seeing double and now is only seeing half the letters.  Well one sort of balances the other but I do hope that civilised (?) southern air down in 'ampshire isn't causing you problems Andy?

 

BTW when are we likely to see you in 'probably Hampshire's largest model shop'?  I know it's at t'other end of the county but it's well worth a visit if you're allowed a day out. 

[TheQ]

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Something to do with the name Blofeld?

 

We've got there,  Tom Blofield was at School (Eton) with Ian Fleming. But Fleming's Nephew was at Sunningdale School with John Blofeld another pupil called Peter Scaramanga who were reported as being the school bullies.

Hence their incorporation as baddies in the books..

 

The Blofeld family own vast amounts of land around the Broads, Particularly between Effin clown town (Hoveton) and Horning. That's some of the area of the Broads based Books of Arthur Ransome hence the connection.

 

However the family bullying continued  by closing off access to several of the broads to the public. leading to the " Invasion of Black Horse Broad" https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/flotilla-marks-70th-anniversary-on-norfolk-broads-1-6021938 

 

The Big Broad .. Hoveton Great Broad has unfortunately  remained closed off, except for paying visitors, ever since. The family have now leased the broad to Natural England and Natural England are going to spend a fortune " restoring " the Blofelds private pond , https://hovetongreatbroad.org.uk/

 

Much to the disgust of fishermen.. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/petition-to-reverse-norfolk-hoveton-great-broad-fish-barriers-1-6799053

 

I add John Blofeld grew up to be High Court judge Blofeld

 

The less fortunate Henry Blofeld the cricket commentator is John Blofeld's brother, and didn't inherit the family estates..

 

Edited September 4, 2020 by TheQ

[Andrew P]

32 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

Blimey - he starts by seeing double and now is only seeing half the letters.  Well one sort of balances the other but I do hope that civilised (?) southern air down in 'ampshire isn't causing you problems Andy?

 

BTW when are we likely to see you in 'probably Hampshire's largest model shop'?  I know it's at t'other end of the county but it's well worth a visit if you're allowed a day out. 

I have 7 Model Shops within about three quarter of an hours drive, but only 3 really good ones, Gaugemaster at Ford and AC Models at Eastleigh are the furthest two, and Alton about 25 minutes up the road.

I then have Wicor Models in Portchester, a 15 minute drive, which is fairly well equipped, and then there are two in Pompey, one of which, Fratton Bargain Shop, used to be one of the best in the country, but now I think I have more Railway stock than they do. And then there is Ron Lines in Shirley, Southampton, but parking there is a nightmare sometimes if you cant walk far.

I do need to visit Alton next week as I havent been there for about 18 or so years.  I need some Ballast and to check it out since Bob retired.

[BlackRat]

Someone mention Morotbikes.......!?!?!?

[simontaylor484]

Afternoon all

Jamie hope your erection goes ok

Best wishes to the ailing of this parish.

Making tea at Morrisons at our local store all the teapot lids are sprained and dont shut properly and have those silly spouts that spill more tea than goes in the cup.

[BokStein]

 

1 hour ago, simontaylor484 said:

Afternoon all

Jamie hope your erection goes ok

 

 

Quoting the original post might have framed this comment in better circumstances!

[J. S. Bach]

15 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

Is it me or is the moon brighter than Normal tonight?
 

 

14 hours ago, J. S. Bach said:

Hmmm, I do not know; it is still daylight here! I will look later, though.

I did not get to see it last night; I fell asleep way too early but this morning around 0800, it was quite bright. More so than normal. Hmmm, maybe the atmosphere is clearer due to less vehicular/carbon pollution. just a thought.

[J. S. Bach]

8 hours ago, Andrew P said:

I just read that bit in red as 3am, I thought, WOW, that's an early start. The other half of the brain should wake up soon.

Mine still has not and it is 1030.

[simontaylor484]

Been chasing youngests medication all morning and into this afternoon. Its always a nightmare. The chemists dont stock it normally its special order they need a weeks notice to get it for when it runs out. The drs wouldnt release the precription till a couple of days before due date. Without prescription chemist wont order due to cost (dont get me started on that ). Anyway we got that sorted threating to go to Mrs Ed Balls our Mp. Well it was due delivery yesterday no show after numerous calls it was alledgedly found in back of delivery van. Its now on its way.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Still grey and overcast but still dry at the moment but wetness is predicted for tonight. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry if a bit cold so hopefully the G word will be attended to. Muggatee awaits, be back later.

[PhilJ W]

On 03/09/2020 at 15:34, Gwiwer said:

When National Express coaches first rolled out their nationwide route numbering system, which replaced the random collection of numbers, letters and nothing inherited from its constituent companies, they began at the Thames working more or less clockwise.  001 was London - Canterbury - Thanet.  007 was the London - Folkestone - Hythe - New Romney coach.  It's all different now.  

 

Then there was the short-lived route 1066 just along the coast.  Short as in it ran at weekends during summer school holidays for one year only.  So on about 12 days.  Its purpose was to link Eastbourne and Rye with numerous locations (including Battle) having 1066 / Battle of Hastings connections.  Anyone who knows much about buses will know that 1066 cannot be displayed on the normal 3-track number blind.  The buses used displayed x66.  If you had worked out the days it actually ran, managed to fit your day around the timetable of two oddly-timed round trips and turned up at the bus stop expecting something saying 1066 then x66 might have added to the confusion.  

 

Needless to say it seldom saw a passenger owing to a combination of poor marketing, unattractive timings and only running on a very few days of the year.  

 

Bus trivia over.  Welcome to Thor's Day.  So far he is absent from the Hill of Strawberries.  Long may that continue.  

The Ipswich trolleybuses had a destination blind box so small that it could only contain the ultimate destination and a single digit route number. But they had 10 routes so the trolleybuses going to the railway station, route 10 displayed 'Station X'.

[Barry O]

My outstanding prescription items have been collected. Two of our 3 hedges have been trimmed. Can't get a hairdresser appointment for tow weeks.. but we will be in a local lockdown by then.. Pah!

 

More paint applied to some nickel silver and plastic items..boy I hate that job!

On running discussion with "he is the best tank designer in the world" (well he didn't design any I worked on!) I now know exactly who he is.. and why I (among many others) think he a bit  lot self important.

 

Baz

[pH]

3 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

The Ipswich trolleybuses had a destination blind box so small that it could only contain the ultimate destination and a single digit route number. But they had 10 routes so the trolleybuses going to the railway station, route 10 displayed 'Station X'.

So that’s where the idea for the ISBN check digit came from!