Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

The possibly oddest thing I have ever done on a map was in my first job back in the West Country in 1974.  I hold of an almost complete set of 1" maps for our area and then proceeded to plot in on them as accurately as I could all the railway mile posts by working off known objects and measuring from them.  It was of coiurse rather important that the OS had correctly mapped everything in the first place especially for the former L&SWR main line where I had very complete mileage details for just about everything.

 

Next stage was to work out the map references for teh nearest road access to various mileposts as well as known locations and then go out and do a few checks at the lineside.  I reckon I was within less than 100 yards for most of the mile posts which was plenty accurate enough for what we needed for emergency service access.  I doubt it would help for the latter nowadays as they seem to prefer Post Codes to map references for many things 

Edited December 15, 2020 by The Stationmaster

[Tony_S]

13 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

I doubt it would help for the latter nowadays as they seem to prefer Post Codes to map references for many things 

When we last had to call out the AA the postcode was too vague. The AA texted a link. Clicking on this sent a GPS location to their van. Obviously this wouldn’t work in places without phone signal but it was simpler than saying where we were .

 

[figworthy]

Did someone mention maps ?

 

Full set of 1:50000, most of the Seventh series plus various others.  An interesting set of 1920s motoring atlases, interesting how road designations have changed over the years.

 

Adrian

[PeterBB]

5 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

Magnetic field flip

 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earths-magnetic-field-could-take-longer-flip-previously-thought-180972843/

Extremely interesting article and also recent.

[tigerburnie]

I do a fair bit of walking in the Cairngorms, I've climbed a few Munroes, not a lot as I usually have a 500mm lens and camera on a tripod, so most of my walking these days is lower, so maps are vital for me. I am due to be taking my grandsons and their dad up their first Munroe next year, I shall be up there in the snow when we are allowed to travel again before to do a reccy, Glen Shee is ideal for them as you are part way up the mountain from the ski centre, some nice terrain, great wildlife and not too difficult. I took them for a taster this past Autumn, I don't think the 6 year old is ready yet, but his big brother is up for it. I intend to take them out in an Indian type canoe as well if the weathers good.

G'night all

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

I earned a few brownie points this morning, not only did I unclog the bathroom sink, but I did the kitchen ones (we have a 1 1/2 bowl sink top) too. I also deep cleaned the all first whilst I was at it. When Sheila went to the hairdressers this morning m she picked up the wrong purse and ended up trying to pay with an expired card. She ended up walking home, searching for the new card, then back there once again to pay! She’s been going there for many years and the owner was very understanding. 

 

I lot more progress has been made in the cellar today, I’d estimate that I’m at the halfway point now. Although, I do still have the stubborn bits left to do yet. Despite the door being closed, a small amount of dust has got into the office, so today I put shoved some cloths in the gaps above and below the door, which has improved things a bit. 

 

Put me down as another map lover, I’ve got loads of maps, mainly in books. When I still worked and until we were issued with satnavs, I used maps and A to Z frequently, in fact I’ve still got several ones issued by my former employer in a box somewhere. 

 

 

 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. The sore foot has decided to play up again just before bed time so a brace of Nurofen has been taken.

1 hour ago, laurenceb said:

Another mapophile (is that a word)

Night awl

Something like cartologist? I looked it up but its another word for cartographer, a map maker. Apparently there is no name for a map collector unlike stamp and coin collectors. Perhaps we could ask the Oxford English Dictionary to come up with something?

[PhilJ W]

Its not a map they need, more like better communication.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[simontaylor484]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Its not a map they need, more like better communication.

Ah the joys of self escort of abnormal loads. Might not have happened with a police escort. They had their disadvantages too they could get called to an emergency leaving the load and driver and second man stranded. Although i do know of one case where the police took a high load under a low bridge

[pH]

This morning, I got vaccinations to complete a course of shingles vaccine and a course of bacterial pneumonia vaccine (one in the left arm, one in the right). The arms are starting to hurt and weaken now. I’m going to have problems lifting anything this evening - like a fork to my mouth! 

[BR60103]

My father was a geography teacher (among other subjects) and I received most of his map collection. I have two plastic bins full of maps -- rolled and folded. Beside the sofa where we watch TV are a collection of map books -- North America, Britain, Europe. local streets and Toronto-Centric region. I think there is one of Los Angeles and a sheet of New York.

 

"It is impossible to have a civilised conversation for more than ten minutes without reference to an atlas." (source required?)

 

 

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, TheQ said:

Just back from visiting another of Drac's daughters, I spent longer standing outside in the cold than getting punctured. She also did my height and weight. I'm taller than last time?! But lighter..(not by enough)

 

I did observe from a notice board our practice has 8 doctors, two nurse practitioners, 8 nurses, a midwife, a health visitor, 10 dispensers of various grades. 9 check point Charlies, and about another half dozen clerical and managerial types.

 

Blood test results will follow by letter unless the doc wishes to speak to me. 

I must confess that I am surprised (and somewhat horrified) that you had to wait outside. When I went to see my GP recently, I arrived masked, disinfected my hands and sat in a waiting room which was reconfigured for social distancing.  After a short wait, my doctor (also masked) came and got me and we had the consultation. 

My current GP (who took over the patient load from my former GP and good friend) is one of two in a small practice. The practice has two admins (a.k.a. “Checkpoint Charlies”) and three lab technicians who also do radiology.

What I think many on ER would find astounding, is that the practice “Checkpoint Charlies“ see their job as one of getting patients to the doctor, not preventing patients from seeing the doctor.

40 minutes ago, pH said:

This morning, I got vaccinations to complete a course of shingles vaccine and a course of bacterial pneumonia vaccine (one in the left arm, one in the right). The arms are starting to hurt and weaken now. I’m going to have problems lifting anything this evening - like a fork to my mouth! 

You have my sympathies. But it may be advisable to look on the bright side: apart from having your immune system stimulated to protect you from illness, you could still use a straw through which to imbibe alcohol. No arms would be required!

 

Up very early today (03:00 CET). I haven’t been sleeping too well as of late and I am really looking forward to a complete change of scene when Mrs iD, the Wolfpack and I head off to the holiday hovel for Christmas. I have managed to source some proper British Christmas puddings and mince pies, so at least we will have some semblance of Christmas cheer this year. Mrs iD prefers minimalist cooking in the holiday flat as it’s all Open Plan and she doesn’t like it when cooking smells linger. This means that I will be cooking a turkey breast sous-vide, as opposed to roasting a whole turkey. Sadly, this dictatorial FIAT against pungent or aromatic cooking means that roast potatoes will not be on the menu and a Yorkshire Pudding or two is looking very doubtful.
 

And, as an advisory note, I must inform Mr Bear and Mr Hippo that this year there will be no cake at all at the holiday hovel, which will save these gentlemen a trek through deep snow in an avalanche prone region to get to my Alpine Redoubt. This ban on cake saddens me. as I was looking forward to briefly going off my diet and enjoying more than a few generous servings of my old-fashioned British boiled fruit cake (absolutely amazing and I am happy to pass on the recipe to anyone who asks).

 

And on that sad and lamentable note, I wish you a happy hump day and I am off to replenish my coffee cup in the hopes that it will keep me going through walking the dogs in the morning and working for the rest of the day.

 

iD

[pH]

12 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

You have my sympathies. But it may be advisable to look on the bright side: apart from having your immune system stimulated to protect you from illness, you could still use a straw through which to imbibe alcohol. No arms would be required!

I remember being told that alcohol imbibed that way had a greater effect than the same amount drunk in the usual way. I’ve never tried to prove or disprove that. Has anyone else?

[J. S. Bach]

19 minutes ago, pH said:

I remember being told that alcohol imbibed that way had a greater effect than the same amount drunk in the usual way. I’ve never tried to prove or disprove that. Has anyone else?

YES!!! Especially with beer!  

Long ago and in a land far away.

 

 

Edited December 16, 2020 by J. S. Bach

[J. S. Bach]

I. too, like maps, especially road maps. I can sit and stare at one and dream about what a place might be like. When I was stationed in Greece, I bought a 1972/73 road map of Europe (1 : 3000000) that covers from Ireland in the west to Kiev, Russia in the east (not quite to Moscow ) and Bergen in the north to the western north coast of Africa. I am sure that the same map today would have quite a few more roads showing. Oddly, it was printed in Germany but the title page is in English.

[J. S. Bach]

And so now it is Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

Forgive me for indulging in the deadly sin of envy but I really feel it in respect of Flavio’s GP practice.  My last visit to Stalag Surgery was on Friday for an injection – no, not of the wonder vaccine that will save the world, it says here, but of Zoladex, the staple of my cancer treatment.  To gain admission one must press a buzzer and wait until the Checkpoint Charlenes stir from their reverie and answer the call.  Whilst still on the doorstep and in all weathers the interrogation takes place, starting with date of birth.  After all that the bolts are drawn back, the chains unfastened and the hinges allowed to creak.  In the waiting room one sits in less than splendid isolation on one of the two chairs that are not stacked all around the room.  Eventually the telescreen, clearly modelled on the one in “1984”, summons the patient to the presence.  In Nurse Laura’s treatment room it is another world.  She is a jolly lady with a welcoming demeanour and must feel quite out of place.  When the jab has been duly jabbed the back door is opened and the patient blinks his or her way out without the need to run the reception gauntlet.  See you in 12 weeks, dear lady.  That gives me 10 weeks to summon the courage to make the appointment.    

 

I laid in some holiday provisions yesterday.  In my fridge now sits a joint of smoked gammon which according to the label on the packaging serves four.  Shall I bake it or pot-roast it?  Decisions, decisions.  I found a nice looking pudding which with any luck will not give me the hiccups and two bottles of wine for when I have finished the weissbier.  There will be plenty of booze with which to toast absent friends.

 

On Monday nights I have been following the Channel 5 series on Paddington.  It seemed strange to me that this week’s episode included bits about the repair of Barmouth Bridge, interesting though they were!  Apart from that, it has been an interesting series.  Today’s railway, or at least the bit that stars at Paddington and heads west, does seem to be up against it.  Leaving a length of superseded rail in such a place that it can cause damage to a train and stop the job does seem rather daft but no doubt the p-way department know what they are doing.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[polybear]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Sadly, this dictatorial FIAT against pungent or aromatic cooking means that roast potatoes will not be on the menu and a Yorkshire Pudding or two is looking very doubtful.

 

And, as an advisory note, I must inform Mr Bear and Mr Hippo that this year there will be no cake at all at the holiday hovel, which will save these gentlemen a trek through deep snow in an avalanche prone region to get to my Alpine Redoubt.

 

 

No roast spuds, yorkshire's OR Cake??  Are you sure you've thought this out properly? 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

@chrisf we boil the gammon (in cider) then put it in the oven after removing the skin and scoring the fat..followed by a covering of mustard and honey. The joint is put into tin foil before putting it in the oven.

 

I made some bread rolls yesterday. I need to adjust the yeast levels but they taste very nice.

 

Now a question if I may? When holding a map do you have the map with north to the top or do you turn the map so that it is pointing in the direction of travel?

 

I remember visiting the Ordnance Survey to look at the then very new vector based digital maps. Brilliant! I have a few maps of different areas as well as those associated with various holiday destinations. Even using something like Waze it is always useful to have a map backup (particularly in Oz where you sometimes lose your phone signal.

 

It is interesting to see how car navaids work when in a long tunnel. I know someone who took his car back as the Navaid wasn't working when he was travelling under the Tyne...doh!

Time for my mugatea as house cleaning duties must be attended to!

Have as good a day as you can! Carpe Diem!

Hope all ERs are safe and well!

Baz

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare, 

5.5 hours sleep and not a lot after just a couple of short dozes as I found it impossible to find a comfortable position..

 

Ben the reluctant Collie wasn't sure about going out this morning, He did..  watered the garden and ran straight back in again..

 

Chris F's Surgery sounds like mine, not allowed to sit on the soft furniture once you get in just on hard plastic chairs very widely spaced 2 X safe distance  I think..

 

Maps... lots of 'em, the oldest genuine OS issue I have is one of my grandfathers printed on linen.. But I have the reprint of Fadens 1797 map of Norfolk, It's now online as well but something has changed on this works computer and I can't seem to be able to post links.. it's most interesting that many of what are now footpaths, were shown as roads.. several villages have effectively moved, and there are around 30 of the Norfolk Broads now missing. I've also bought reprints of the correct vintage maps for the dates I'm muddling..

The first thing I did whenever i knew I was posted somewhere was to buy the OS map, and of course if it was an area I'd be sailing at sea the Charts would be bought too.. Plus I have several of the almanacs covering the ports/ and sea areas as well..

Once had a problem with a geography exam in Scotland...On map interpretation.... The teacher insisted the an embankment shown on the map was to stop flooding..  I said it was the embankment left over from the old WC&P railway ...

 

In my single days I always had some sort of map on the wall, if the RAF barrack room rules allowed anything on them.. Which some didn't..

 

cockwomble of the day newspaper delivery boy who cycled out from a side road  with out stopping causing me to swerve, no lights dark clothing and a very dirty ex reflective news paper bag..

 

The Eastern Daily Press, I used to get it but long since stopped, they sacked most of their reporters, now depending on phoned in Puff articles on events and police information reports. Such as one that will be all over the EDP today.. The Cockwomble who over took a blue light police car at 125mph plus and then tried to justify not losing his licence...

 

Time to ... head for the lab to continue with the cal of one major system, the other has failed miserably and the boss is looking into that..

[jamie92208]

8 hours ago, Tony_S said:

When we last had to call out the AA the postcode was too vague. The AA texted a link. Clicking on this sent a GPS location to their van. Obviously this wouldn’t work in places without phone signal but it was simpler than saying where we were .

 

Therevisxa major problem with postcodes in rural areas, as they can cover really large areas. I would imagine that they would be completely useless on many remote rural lines.

 

Anyway good morning to all and of course sundry. About half the bathroom wall tiles have now been applied. I cut a lot of logs and finished repairing some bits of the shed floor with self levelling compound.  This mornings task is due to involvectrying to empty some boxes in the shed.  This afternoon  I am required to take my drill and some fixings to putva shelf up for a friend. Coffee and CAKE will be supplied in return.  Do I need to get the Armée de L'Air to patrol the skies around Néré.  I'm not sure is Hippos and bears are allowed to travel to the EU though. Lockdown 2 has now ended and curfew 1 has started here. Not much will change but I am having a combined shopping and trainspotting day out tomorrow.

 

Baz, I have to have a map pointed north to read it. Beth on the other hand needs it orientated in the direction of travel.  

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I

 

Up very early today (03:00 CET). I haven’t been sleeping too well as of late and I am really looking forward to a complete change of scene when Mrs iD, the Wolfpack and I head off to the holiday hovel for Christmas. I have managed to source some proper British Christmas puddings and mince pies, so at least we will have some semblance of Christmas cheer this year. Mrs iD prefers minimalist cooking in the holiday flat as it’s all Open Plan and she doesn’t like it when cooking smells linger. This means that I will be cooking a turkey breast sous-vide, as opposed to roasting a whole turkey. Sadly, this dictatorial FIAT against pungent or aromatic cooking means that roast potatoes will not be on the menu and a Yorkshire Pudding or two is looking very doubtful.
 

 

 

iD

It's not as good as fresh, but you could always make the roasties and yorkies beforehand and freeze them . So only needing to radiate them to hot on the day.. Lashings of thick gravy make them acceptable..