Early Risers.

[Andrew P]

Stunningly glorious morning here on the Souf Coast.

Went for my walk and was determined to go a little further today, so I went along the Road and up through the Park, this is a bit of an up hill drag, and by the time I got to the top my left Hip screamed = THAT'S ENOUGH, but I ploughed on hoping it would ease a little as the next stretch was down hill. 

The intention here was to walk to the end of the Road and then turn right  and back home.

In the  end, I took the short cut through the woods, getting attacked on the way by Squirrels leaping from tree to tree and racing around the ground, which is always an enjoyable sight. Our old Greyhounds could never figure out how they could climb the trees and dogs cant.

Anyway out of the woods and just a couple of hundred yards to home, breakfast and a nice mugatea as they say.

 

Have a good day one and all, stay safe and well out of harms way.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright and sunny this morning but predicted to cloud over with the odd shower later, but whatever its going to be chilly. Q, that strange screeching you heard could possibly be a hoopoe, one has been spotted in your part of the world recently. I could be completely wrong as I know very little about birds. Thats it for now, be back later.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Well surprise surprise, it’s rained overnight, but it isn’t raining at the moment. Breakfast has now been consumed and I’ll shortly be heading off to the butchers to collect the weekly meat rations and a pastie for my dinner. Upon my return I shall put away the rations, make myself muggertea No2. This will be followed by a trip to the Trafford Centre for some more comestibles. The afternoon will probably be spent trying to contact my GP’s surgery to give them a kick up the @rse get them moving with regard to my restarting hormone treatment as I’ve not yet heard from them!

 

Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. 

 

Brian

[Barry O]

19 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright and sunny this morning but predicted to cloud over with the odd shower later, but whatever its going to be chilly. Q, that strange screeching you heard could possibly be a hoopoe, one has been spotted in your part of the world recently. I could be completely wrong as I know very little about birds. Thats it for now, be back later.

A hoopoe is eating all the bugs at Collingham Cricket ground at the moment...twitchers are delighted!

Baz

[Barry O]

Flu jab..administered.

 

Almost managed to have a dicussion about my "guine pig" tablets as the Drac team where out in force!

Walked back..in the rain..and now it is sunny!

Her indoors BT sim is not working..pah!

Time to email them (their phone lines are always full perhaps they should find out why??)

Baz

[jamie92208]

3 minutes ago, Barry O said:

A hoopoe is eating all the bugs at Collingham Cricket ground at the moment...twitchers are delighted!

Baz

We get them in our garden each year they look lovely.

 

Jamie

[Tony_S]

23 minutes ago, Barry O said:

me to email them (their phone lines are always full perhaps they should find out why??)

Is their online chat still available? I used that contact option when I had sim problems (failure to register). 
Edit
I have just checked and the online chat with an advisor option seems to have gone. 
Tony

Edited October 9, 2020 by Tony_S

[BSW01]

I’m now back from the butchers, all the meat is safely stored away. It started to rain as I walked there, but it wasn’t heavy, good job really as I’d not put a coat or jacket on, mind you, I rarely do, it’s got to be really chuckinitdarn or cold for that! I’m now sat perusing topics on rmweb with muggertea No2. 

[grandadbob]

Sainsbury's safely negotiated and The Boss found her magazines and managed a long chat with her old boss while we were there.  A magazine about small things that run on parallel strips of metal inadvertently jumped up into the trolley whilst I was passing its shelf.     Most people were masked correctly although there were several old codgers whose masks were supporting their chins.  

I have been asked? to assist with some garden tasks.  I will comply as The Boss paid for my magazine. 

[iL Dottore]

8 hours ago, J. S. Bach said:

You have not really flown unless you flew NavAir C-130!

Does a Malta Air MIL-MI8 count? (ex USSR military [I think] from Malta airport to Gozo and return).
It was certainly the loudest helicopter I’ve ever flown in and, unlike the other helicopters I’ve had the enjoyment of travelling in, it was the only chopper flight where heavy duty ear protection gear was mandatory. Sadly, because I really enjoy flying by helicopter, I have had more fixed-wing flights in a greater number of types of fixed-wing aircraft than I ever have had with helicopters. Although I’ve flown most of the big names of the time (Sikorsky, Westland, Aerospatiale, Augusta), and I’ve probably had more chopper flights than most people, but I’ve not flown as many (or as much) as I would have liked.
Many years ago, when I invested a few pennies in a biotech start-up (which, sadly, went nowhere), I had dreams of the company going IPO and with my resulting millions (ha ha) buy either a helicopter or a plane with a fairly decent range (e.g. UK - US for the plane). Tragically (sob, sob) my dreams were dashed and the closest I have ever been to owning a helicopter or a plane is acquiring the Airfix equivalent.
Mind you, even if I had won the “business investment lottery”, I don’t think I would have gotten approval from Mrs ID for the purchase. As, quite rightly, she said that buying it was one thing, maintaining it and covering the expenditures for it was another. I know that many on ER have a significant other that grumbles, more or less good-naturedly, about expenditures on model railways, but in comparison with flying, sailing and riding (equestrianism), our yearly, cumulative, model railway spend is mere peanuts.

Now, if you will excuse me I have to dash down to the Ticino to see a man about a second hand Alpi Syton AH 130, which he claimed was used by a careful old lady pilot only for transporting her grandchildren to the seaside on weekends.

Cheers

iD

p.s. See here: http://www.alpiaviation.com/en/models.htm?mod=Syton AH 130 Helicopter

[polybear]

2 hours ago, grandadbob said:

We "need" to visit Sainsbury's this morning (no real surprise there) as magazines are required by her Bossness and she can't rely on the online shoppers not to pick out of date ones.

 

Do they not have a little "comments" box for every item whereby you could specify what issue is required?

 

22 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Sainsbury's safely negotiated and The Boss found her magazines and managed a long chat with her old boss while we were there. 

 

 

Now I understand - it was a gossip trip....the magazine was merely a sideline.

 

In other news:

Bear has managed to cut all necessary pipework for the plumbing mod.  Soldering it all together is now required, preferably:

1. Without screwing up the alignment of couplings, and
2. Not setting fire to the house.

As many joints as possible will be done on loose pipework in the back garden, but not all, sadly.....

[Kelly]

4 hours ago, Barry O said:

I omitted two who have occassionally graced us with a visit. @Natalie and @Kelly..I hope they are both ok?

Have a grand day everyone.. round 2 of baz v BT today...

 

Baz

 

I'm doing ok considering various things ongoing thank you Barry. Life has been rather hectic with my other half having a number of problems with his eyes over the past 18 months (2 detached retina surgeries , and a hole in macula/retina surgery).

 

Poppy has been a big help and coped with the extra tension better than expected. 

 

Natalie is doing ok, but I'll leave it for her to say how things have been for her. 

 

Thanks for thinking of us in these difficult times Barry

 

Kelly 

[newbryford]

17 hours ago, polybear said:

Bear's best 747 memory is getting a visit to the flight deck during a flight to Mumbai.  Sadly such visits are now a distant memory following 9-11.

 

Likewise in a BA 747-400 from Hong Kong to Beijing.

 

Landing at Kai-Tak was fun coming in over the city and then later taking off over the harbour to Beijing.

 

We didn't experience the same on the return as we went direct from Beijing to Frankfurt (in a fairly empty 747 - three seats to myself)

 

I did the Everett factory visit and saw the first of the 747-8 freighters was being bolted together. 2009 I think.

(The very first Dreamliner 787 was on the apron as it had just started test flights.)

 

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

A'noon - busy morning. Bike club then sorting out insurances for 2 cars and a camper van - worth it though, mucho cheaper than last year.

 

JSBach, it was MerchNavAir I flew, not RoyalNavAir! (Or even USNavAir!!)  Much more comfortable, and business class if there was crew flying also, cattle class if not.

 

Heliochopters iD - eugh.  Only once, I think in a Sikorsky, hated it. Vibratory, noisy, just unpleasant.

 

 

[Barry O]

BT -- well knock me down with a fever.. got straight through to a charming lady in Swansea... I had done all the things her crib sheet suggested - so new SIM card on its way...RESULT!

 

@Kelly sorry to hear about the eye problems.. I am off for a double laser wotsit on my eyes on 1st November (and, yes it is a Sunday!)  They use an Nd-Yag laser.. just like we had in the Tank Laser Sights in tanks - could also be used (accidentally)  to blind sheep/humans on ranges..

 

Trip to post office completed, Waze and Android Auto set up checked.. time for some time for me!

 

Baz

 

 

Edited October 9, 2020 by Barry O

[TheQ]

Afternoon awl,  

Blue skies, No wind so.. 

9 trips to the top of the fully extended ladder,  that's about 20ft. Foot level about 16ft.

Trip 1 inspection of work,

Trips 2-7 6 tiles installed

Trip 8, to a blocked lead lined gully,  rubbish cleared,  attempted to push into place  a slipped tile,  but couldn't without lifting the one above beyond safe range . 

Trip 9 3ft  wooden batten used to lift tile above , lower tile pushed into place. 

 

After a review of tiles,  guttering etc,  I have decided that will do till the spring.  I will then purchase a scaffolding tower, the top floor will have to be 20ft so I can reach everything safely. 

All the woodwork up there needs painting and or cladding, the guttering needs refitting.  I intend to drill and screw on all the bottom two layers of tiles. 

Light breeze by this time some cloud, 

 

The entrance porch  to the alleyway was sealed with flashing tape, another half dozen trips up the step ladder, the drying of ply and making the tape most sticky helped by a hot air gun.  The wall was clad to about 7ft, the top foot will be clad with a slightly different cladding to match the main building. 

Strong breeze getting cloudier. 

 

Ben the happy Collie was then taken for his long walk,  one more tree down,  the lanes deep in fallen leaves.  A wasp landed on Ben's back and started burrowing into his fur,  I had to use a long key to persuade it to leave, having ordered Ben to sit. 

Full threatening clouds,  very windy.. 

 

Oh on the way back I discovered the old telephone cable to next door dumped in the hedge, that's about 100ft or so of it,   I wonder what that can be used on. 

 

Ben has been given a new toy rabbit by the neighbour.

 

Bin men are out there... 

 

Knees tired,  eyelids need inspecting. 

[polybear]

One pipework run completed, one to do - which *should* be must easier (famous last words).

I did manage some smoke (some of the joints were uncomfortably close to the ceiling) but it seems it was old flux contamination on the soldering mat; I also had a sheet of metal behind the mat for good measure - which I did manage to drop at one point and put a small dent in one of the water supply feeds to the sink .  No matter, I was going to put a couple of isolation valves in anyway, so it looks like the location of said valves has just been decided.

Din dins nearly ready, so will be scoffed whilst watching "The Indian Doctor".

 

Incidentally, the seventy quid Pipe Bender was delivered this morning - only to be found unneccessary for the job in hand .  I'll give it a test to see how it performs - if it's a good 'un then no doubt it'll find use when doing the kitchen plumbing (followed by other planned jobs in the future).  If it creases and distorts the pipe then Mr Toolstation will be getting it back again.

[Happy Hippo]

I make no apologies for lifting this from the Model Engineering page:

 

The 2020 John Stevenson Trophy

 

The Stephenson Trophy Competition 2020

 

If a year ago anyone had suggested that this year’s Stephenson Trophy would be just about the only national competition for hobby engineering, I would have thought it was a ridiculous suggestion. Alas, as well as causing loss and hardship for people across the UK and elsewhere, Covid-19 has upset so many other aspects of our everyday lives. For us not least among these are depriving us of the fellowship of club meetings and exhibitions, although online forums and the now ubiquitous online conferencing have gone some way to keeping us all connected with like-minded hobbyists.

This is the third year of the competition, the trophy being funded by readers and members of the www.model-engineer.co.uk forum in memory of John Stevenson. In accordance with John’s feelings about competitions and ‘glass case models’, all entries must be a piece of practical workshop equipment i.e. a tool, jig, fixture or a modification to or accessory for an existing piece of equipment. Criteria for inclusion on the shortlist was that the tooling must be practical and capable of being used for accurate work in a home workshop setting. It should demonstrate ingenuity, good design, economical use of materials and be appropriately finished for its function. The decision on which wins is up to you, all readers of MEW and forum members can vote (note you don’t need to be a forum member to vote).

 

The voting form is at the bottom of this page. Closing date is Halloween, 31 October.

 

The John Stevenson Trophy was 'crowdfunded' by forum users and MEW readers in memory of John Stevenson, one of the mainstays of the forum, who passed away in 2017. I'm sure John would have enjoyed seeing all the entries and discussing their merits!

[Ian Abel]

Pah! AWOL yesterday, main computer decided Wednesday evening to throw its toys out of the pram - seemingly every last one of them!

 

Fault appeared to be a dodgy SATA drive card, that and possibly a dodgy hard drive also!

Replaced both, spent an age sorting it out/recovering/backing up a couple of drives (already on a backup schedule but cloned to be safe!) and that was the day shot

Spent the early evening at Trevor and Meagans - Mrs wanted to see the chickens as they are growing fast.

 

Today POETs, except taking the day off to continue recovering the PC and sorting the mess of hard drives/backups...

Later neighborhood happy hour in a driveway - hic

 

Tomorrow should see me busy getting the wiring to the shed done and some lights installed!

 

12 and partly cloudy, headed for 28 today, expected to cool down overnight and be "brisk" over the weekend.

 

Enjoy the start of said weekend...

 

[Tony_S]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

the seventy quid Pipe Bender

In one of those “what a coincidence” things I found lots of plumbing tools including a bending spring today when I was looking for a box spanner to undo the nut in the middle of a sink hole (basket trap size). It wasn’t there so I progressed to the socket sets purchased back when I did my own car maintenance. 

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

Lovely sunny, but slightly chilly, start to the morning with clear blue skies.  by the time I went to collect herself from her Waitrose foraging adventure there were dark clouds to the north - lots of big dark clouds - so in came the washing after we got home.  Some desultory drizzle off and on until about 14.30 at which point the automatic water butt refilling began on a proper scale.  Only problem being the water butts are already full and the stuff will also be overflowing the 5,000 litre bulk storage tank into the bottom end of the garden (it's chalk underneath so I'm doing my bit for water shortage problems in the south east).

 

Offer of a reasonable amount of money received yesterday from the loss adjuster but one item was missing and it wasn't clear what the situation is in respect of the excess on the policy so some questions asked.  but the offer is their estimated standard cost (in this area) for completely redecorating three rooms - utility, kitchen, and downstairs facility plus replacing skirting boards in the hall.  hunt is now on for decent, reliable, tradespeople or it's wait 'til next year for their contractor to do it.  Time will tell.

 

In the meanwhile the surveyor looking at the ground floor flat the lad is after buying has found an area of danmpness which he thinks might be due to a pin hole leak in a pipe under a tiled floor.  A sort of plumbing horror story déja vu; Rob isn't too concerned but I suspect the vendors might be when they're told to put it right at their expense before he'll sign on any dotted lines he might be offered.  Now I wonder why the estate agent offered the services of their surveyor (apart from creaming off a commission as they would also have done with their recommended solicitor)?  eems you might not even be able to trust estate agents nowadays (no change there then).

 

R Enjoy the rest of your day one and all and stay safe - which looks to be increasingly difficult in some past of Britain.

[Kelly]

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

 

@Kelly sorry to hear about the eye problems.. I am off for a double laser wotsit on my eyes on 1st November (and, yes it is a Sunday!)  They use an Nd-Yag laser.. just like we had in the Tank Laser Sights in tanks - could also be used (accidentally)  to blind sheep/humans on ranges..

 

Baz

 

 

Thanks Barry.  

 

Richard was certainly rather worried for a while about whether he'd regain his sight. Thankfully he has,  but unfortunately not enough to resume driving. Hopefully the cataract surgery will help with that though,  just a matter of when really. 

 

He has a return to work interview Tuesday which will decide on what his future will be like. Hopefully thry should be able to make enough adjustments for him to return,  Thankfully his role no longer requires use of fork lifts etc. 

 

Means I will be driving him to and from work,  which I expect to leave me utterly knackered after a couple of days,  so hopefully he can get them to let him break up the shifts to help me a bit. 

 

Kelly 

[tigerburnie]

I think I might have been in more helicopters than fixed wing, in the early 1980's Chinooks were used to ferry us out to the North Sea oil rigs, then Sikorskys/Sea Kings et al were used as taxis between the rigs, my favourite way to fly, noisy yes, but I'd have one in a shot. Some of the pilots were not long back from flying in Vietnam, better than any fairground ride lol. Although the old Shorts shoe boxes that flew us back and forth between Dyce and Donnington came close, un pressurised flying old school.

[Tony_S]

Sink repaired. Just need to put the tools away. The old fittings were coloured plastic. The new one is stainless steel. I asked Aditi if she minded “it’s a plug hole” was her response. She would really like the whole sink to be stainless steel but that will have to wait until we “do” the kitchen, which had been a long term plan, now a whenever, some unspecified future date plan now. 
Tony

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Went to Tess Coes for a 'big shop' as I'd received a double points card recently I made the most of it. One purchase was a stollen cake though its debatable as to whether or not it will last until Christmas . When I got home Arthur Itis started kicking up quite a fuss, in fact I could barely move it was so bad but it stopped about an hour later when it started raining. Dinner to be got ready, be back later.