Early Risers.

[Simon G]

2 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

I would be tempted to say "Well, what'd you expect?"

Believe me, it is very tempting!

[J. S. Bach]

2 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 ...snip... I realised this week it has taken me two months to stop worrying about work ...snip...

When I worked for Broward County Transit, I did the monthly ridership report which my boss used for the basis for almost all of the reports that he prepared for others. I had created a somewhat different format that I had modified from his original template and he liked it. When I left on Thursday (the last day June that year), I had the report complete except for the late "strays" that usually showed up a day or two after the last day. Anyway, to cut to the chase, I stated to worry a bit about the June report; suddenly, when I woke up on Sunday, I realized that "Why am I worrying about it, it is no longer my yob!". It only took me two days! Admittedly, I had no one else to consider though.

[PhilJ W]

52 minutes ago, AndyB said:

Morning all.

 

So I was sitting in the lounge yesterday afternoon having a cuppa. I'd left the front door on the latch as I was planning on heading back out to the garage.

 

Now I was expecting swmbo to come back from shopping, so when I heard the front door open and a woman chatting away I didn't think much of it. 

 

After a while it occurred to me that the woman's accent was a tad different from swmbo's dulcet tones. It took a while obviously because we have been married a few years and I often need other cues to start listening.  

 

Anyway, mildly  curious , I wandered out into the hall to be confronted by a strange woman in my hall peeling her clothes off. 

 

Now, being a gent, and having ascertained that said woman was not my type, I endeavoured to get a word in to the one-sided conversation. I say "conversation" but tbh it was more like a river of semi-consciousness flowing down the hall. 

 

Anyway having at last attracted her attention I enquired what she was doing in my house and would she mind leaving please. 

 

For those of you who read so far the explanation offered was equally bizarre.  The woman had been cleaning next door, had gone to the end of the garden path to put some rubbish in the bin and - having no sense of direction for this 20' round trip - got lost on her way back. 

 

Just as well SWMBO didn't turn up at that moment.  

[Gwiwer]

TISWAS

Or for those without knowledge of Australian children's television Today Is Saturday - Wear A Smile.  Always abbreviated to TISWAS.

 

Few smiles Upon the Hill of Strawberries where is it grey and windy but temporarily dry.  SWMBO ventured to the Post Office earlier and reported that the two gentlemen who run it (father and son, we believe) were as rude and disorganised as always and as occasionally complained of to the Resident's Association.  We need the facility.  But we do not need people running it who arbitrarily select people from the queue to be next in to the one-at-a-time premises.  Neither, when they are inside, do we need "attitude" in terms of "Oh - you want to post something?  Why don't you already have stamps?  It will be a lot of stamps* and that will take time which will hold other people up".  Really.  * packet to Australia

 

We were winding down for the night last evening when a piece of paper was stuffed through our letterbox.  It advised that Noisy Neighbours were celebrating a birthday and apologising in advance for the fact that there would be noise after 11pm.  It was unsigned but included a mobile number.  It was duly photographed and emailed to our managing agent who already has a file in preparation for their enforced departure and is only waiting for a few more examples of substantiated complaints / tenancy breaches to proceed.  She advised by return that we should notify the police if we suspected a breach of Covid Tier 2 regulations might occur with other "households" gathering indoors, let alone noise.  

 

At around 10.30pm and after we had retired another note was slipped through the door.  I suspected Noisy Neighbours might have been told how to behave appropriately by someone.  It turned out to be from Lovely Neighbour (next door) who is currently home alone with her flat-mates all hiding from Covid outside of the London area.  She had received a visit from the police asking about the tenants of Noisy Flat (who were out when Plod called) and advising quite firmly that police should be called immediately if any disturbance or any gathering occurred.  It seems Managing Agent had tipped off the police which might be considered a good move in the current situation.  

 

We never heard from Noisy Flat again last night.  We think they might have been alerted to the potential for intervention and either have gone quietly to bed or partied elsewhere.  We dropped a little card into Neighbour (Next Door) earlier providing our phone numbers and inviting her to contact us immediately if she feels in need of support.  

 

She might be here over Christmas depending on circumstances.  Her Alaskan / NW Territorian family now lives in Germany so visiting anyone else might not be possible.  If that happens we shall endeavour to provide some sort of seasonal hospitality and festivity in a socially-distanced manner on the outdoor Terrace.  We are most unlikely to be away.  The only option is Sister's and with SWMBO unwilling to enter anyone else's home until vaccinated that's a long drive on a winter's day to sit outside over coffee and a chilly roast!  

 

 

[simontaylor484]

1 hour ago, J. S. Bach said:

When I worked for Broward County Transit, I did the monthly ridership report which my boss used for the basis for almost all of the reports that he prepared for others. I had created a somewhat different format that I had modified from his original template and he liked it. When I left on Thursday (the last day June that year), I had the report complete except for the late "strays" that usually showed up a day or two after the last day. Anyway, to cut to the chase, I stated to worry a bit about the June report; suddenly, when I woke up on Sunday, I realized that "Why am I worrying about it, it is no longer my yob!". It only took me two days! Admittedly, I had no one else to consider though.

After i left my job in transport i often used to wake up worrying about deliveries that i had forgotten about even years since i left it happens 

[The Stationmaster]

1 hour ago, simontaylor484 said:

After i left my job in transport i often used to wake up worrying about deliveries that i had forgotten about even years since i left it happens 

After I left my long term involvement in transport somebody invited me to start another job in transport with them, and not long after I'd left that somebody else invited me to start yet another  job involved with transport working for him.  Nobody offered me anything after I left that one. (unless you count writing about things to do with transport of the sort that runs on parallel strips of metal).

[simontaylor484]

It was the second job for me in road transport then i worked for the council in cleansing department. 

[BokStein]

5 hours ago, BokStein said:

 

 

Sanity has prevailed! As you say, 10 days quarantine on arrival in Switzerland for a 14 day tour with a 15 day Swiss Pass (3 days of which are taken up with travel to and from Switzerland so the 15 day pass is only usable for 11 days!) then 14 days quarantine in the UK is extremely non-viable!

 

My usual habit has been to  travel out on day Swiss Pass - 1 and to travel back on day Swiss Pass + 1 thus spending the full 15 days of the Swiss Pass validity in Switzerland. OK, it costs me a single to and from the Swiss border and the hotel, but hey! (If it were possible to get from the final hotel to the border by 05:00, the Swiss Pass would cover the fare!)

 

[Barry O]

Been chuckinitdarn all day here. Daft people are out running in it.. in very wet running gear...

 

When I lefy my last full time job I switched off thinking about it due to a generous donation from them in breaking employment law...i was asked to go back..once.. for some reason I said no...

 

Poached salmon for tea to be cooked by me as her indoors has been making the Christmas Cake.. it smells lovely...

 

Baz

[polybear]

Bear dodged the kitchen refurb today and spent time sorting the gar*den whilst the weather was dry - plants un-potted, compost saved, water feature drained and disconnected from mains, and a new bulb fitted in the light above the shed door; all in all it blew the morning.  Awards in volved the scoffing of saveloy, chip roll, beans and home grown tomatoes.

 

I've picked the last of the tomatoes -unfortunately they're still green - I'm told that wrapping them in newspaper and storing them in a cardboard box tends to make them turn red.  Not sure if they need to be individually wrapped though?

 

A couple of hours eyelid inspection, followed by claiming my "working from home" tax allowance - dead easy and quick, though you do have to go thru' the registration process for Government Gateway too:

https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2020/04/martin-lewis--working-from-home-due-to-coronavirus--claim-p6-wk-/

Technically, I was only WFH from 30 March until the end of April this year, as I then retired, but it seems the very nice (in this case) Government (other opinions are available) are quite happy to pay me the tax allowance until April next year.  Worth about sixty quid to me apparently, which will pay for 2/3rds of the Bosch SDS Drill I ordered last night.

 

Tomorrow will see work resumed on the kitchen refurb.  Deep joy.......

[TheQ]

Tiswas also existed on UK TV 1974-82, supposedly a children's programme,  it's most remembered for a certain female wearing tight T shirts in close proximity to buckets full of water. It kept teenage boys watching long after the age group the show was aimed at.. 

 

This is being sent via a new route(r), yep another 2 year contract supplied with a new supposedly better transmitting box.  We get to keep the old one,  which will, via some powerline adaptors be used to increase the range, by putting it in the garage aimed at the muddle railway shed. 

 

Today was mostly spent OSB bashing,  the shelves the other side of the window was given an end plate from floor to roof.  Then at 38 inches above floor level a shelf was fitted,  this sounds a simple task but the walls are " on the huh",  that is it tilts,  and it's not straight horizontally.

An old two drawer cabinet,  on spindley legs was shortened by 4 inches,  to go below the shelf,  allowing for another drawer to be fitted above that. Also shelves will be fitted to one side to use up the rest of the space. 

Then the led light Batten was taken from the box... No fittings... The other three boxes were check all ok, so one of those was fitted above the area for the lathe.. Not wired in yet that's probably Next Week. 

 

Ben the happy Collie then took me for the long walk, he was a lot happier than I was due to this Carb flu,  I was somewhat exhausted after just a small bit. 

 

All day it's been getting windier,  as yet no rain but is getting seriously dark. 

 

For those remembering their past may I present.... 

 

Sally James 

Edited October 24, 2020 by TheQ

[Northroader]

She presented on children’s TV!!??? Cof, cof, splutter!!

[TheQ]

6 minutes ago, Northroader said:

She presented on children’s TV!!??? Cof, cof, splutter!!

Yep.. 

[polybear]

10 minutes ago, Northroader said:

She presented on children’s TV!!???

 

Why not......

 

[Tony_S]

54 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

I've picked the last of the tomatoes -unfortunately they're still green - I'm told that wrapping them in newspaper and storing them in a cardboard box tends to make them turn red.  Not sure if they need to be individually wrapped though?

Our green tomatoes were put on a tray on a sunny window ledge in the kitchen. Aditi put a banana in the tray. The green tomatoes have gone orange (they are an orange rather than red variety). I noticed the banana disappeared. Aditi said she ate it. She claims that the ethylene released by the banana as it ripens triggers the process in the tomatoes. Doesn’t seem to work on the figs that are also in the tray. 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. The rain has finally arrived and now its bucketing down. I have spent the last five C*********'s on my own but I prefer it that way, no arguments over the TV control (not that I watch much C*******s TV if at all), and I can please myself what I do and when I do it. I'm not a great lover of turkey and each year I like to ring the changes. Last years C*******s dinner was wild caught salmon grilled. This year I'm thinking of a venison steak, if I can get it. Now to get on with today's dinner, be back later.

Edited October 24, 2020 by PhilJ W

[AndyB]

5 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Just as well SWMBO didn't turn up at that moment.  

 

Ah. Well. You see. With commendable timing....they crossed paths as one was leaving and the other arrived. 

 

[Sir TophamHatt]

Looking forward to the next few days.

 

Managed to fix the coach lighting yesterday.  A simple fix - bend the contact wire a little more round the wheel.  No more derailments, no risk of having to take it all apart, res-older here and there and pretty much start again.

 

Currently at work, but it's a Saturday so easy street.

 

Tomorrow I have roast lamb with some of the fam.

Then two further days off!

 

Only downside is that I think the adaptor for my headphones is still in the car, so means I can't catch up on YouTube for the rest of the shift :/

NO IT ISN'T!

Edited October 24, 2020 by Sir TophamHatt

[southern42]

19 hours ago, BSW01 said:

Good evening everyone 

 

The visit to the Trafford Centre was as usual uneventful, but there are still some people who don’t know how to wear a mask. I mean, it isn’t rocket science is it?

 

....snip

 

I was watching the opening of the F1 highlights earlier and noticed that they are still using masks which fall off the nose... Little things like this cannot possibly encourage others to wear masks.  It is no good having team colours if the things do not work properly.

[polybear]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

I have spent the last five C*********'s on my own but I prefer it that way, no arguments over the TV control (not that I watch much C*******s TV if at all), and I can please myself what I do and when I do it. I'm not a great lover of turkey and each year I like to ring the changes. Last years C*******s dinner was wild caught salmon grilled. This year I'm thinking of a venison steak, if I can get it. Now to get on with today's dinner, be back later.

 

There's a medium chance that Bear's x**s could be like that this year too.  There's been several (quite a lot, actually) where Bear's din dins has been a serious pizza, with additions.  There's no way I'm missing out on roast spuds etc.

I usually spend the day with the OH + adult (?) daughter (though to be honest I'd rather be at home) and usually b****g day too - though for whatever reason the daughter becomes a right argumentative ***** and the day is spent watching OH + daughter at each other's throats.  I keep well out of it, though last year it was so bad I was within an ace of getting the hell out of it.  If I do end up there this year I most certainly won't be sitting thru' that cr@p again, should there be a rematch.  Can I wish for a lockdown?

[brianusa]

On 23/10/2020 at 08:12, Ian Abel said:

If I have to spend another 4 years listening to that incompetent lying orange sack-of-sh!t, my wine bill will go through the roof!

You have a way with words, Ian.  We couldn't watch another hour of that nonsense although in review, old Joe held his own, even better.  What a situation, two old men trying to run a country!

       Brian.

[simontaylor484]

22 minutes ago, brianusa said:

You have a way with words, Ian.  We couldn't watch another hour of that nonsense although in review, old Joe held his own, even better.  What a situation, two old men trying to run a country!

       Brian.

Without wishing to become political surely out of the population of the US why 2 old men are going for the job is there no one young and charismatic in American politics any more

[Coombe Barton]

... and a 1500 word spam post ... 

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/10/24/from-pile-to-file/

[pH]

We have a large maple tree across the street from us. There’s a bit of a wind today, and ‘helicopter’ seeds are coming down, dozens at a time.

[Happy Hippo]

Just finished watching the Wales v France match.

 

The best team won and scored some really good tries.

 

Wales would have done better if Pivac had insisted on taking Dan Biggar off at half time and replacing him with Rhys Patchell.

 

Putting Patchell on with just over five minutes to go was like trying to stem an arterial bleed with an elastoplast.