Early Risers.

[Happy Hippo]

2 hours ago, AndyB said:

Bob. On my one theres a dial by the handbrake. Normal / mud / snow and ice / sand. I'm guessing your grown up one may have similar.

 

I may swap the cars round later to see if it works.

Our old Vauxhall's used to have a snow mode button on the centre console.

 

They were all automatics of the slush box variety and the button started the car in third gear,  which meant you didn't lay down too much power, thus causing wheel spin, when you moved off.

 

It was also good for getting on and off wet and muddy fields.

 

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

 

Mind your windows - very hot water on very cold windows can end in tears....

 

 

Snuggling LDC in the warm fur of a Poly proves very effective - it'll be quite safe....honest....

Only from PB.

 

During the cooler periods, I'm also into hot soup.

 

Literally!

 

 

 

[AndyB]

11 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Er no Andy.  No dial that I can see.  Traction control is disabled on the touchscreen.  Only button by the (electronic) handbrake is the "Sport" button.

 

There is mention of the dial you speak of in the manual but I think that must refer to a different model.

 

In other news The Boss is feeling rather rough at the moment and thinks they've injected her with the virus. I've tried to explain that they haven't but don't think she believes me.  

 

Stop Press:  My wine has just been yodelled  delivered by a very large and friendly Eastern European chap.

 

Bob. This is what it looks like on my one. 

The dial is between the toasted sandwich maker and cocktail dispenser.

 

 

If you turn the dial it improves your level of self belief and sense of immortality. 

 

Canute mode (below) allows you to park on beaches and hold back the tide. 

 

[tigerburnie]

I've always been a bit of a tearaway on wheels, never been banned, but numerous fines and endorsements/points have appeared on my licence over the years, mostly speeding, nothing dangerous, but over the limit, at one point it was worth a party if I actually had a clean licence, it is now clean and I do keep a more watchful eye on the speedo these days. 

[Gwiwer]

14 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

Was?

I'm sorry, I don't speak Maori   

 

Morning all.   A crisp one Upon the Hill of Strawberries were ice-beneath-frozen-snow greeted me as I stepped out this morning.  My Auntie Sippation was correct and there were some early morning hiccups in train service owing to the amount of ice still present and in some places quite thickly so.  I reached the House of Fun a mere 10 minutes late which wasn't too bad in the circumstances.

 

Arriving late however meant I had to leave early to make up for it.  At least that's what I told them   

 

Safely back in the warm now and looking forward to an imminent insertion of Bacon 'n' Eggs.  I am told it is Burns Night tonight and that haggis will therefore be provided with tatties, neeps and - most important of all - a selection of single-malt whiskies to enjoy.  

 

 

[Barry O]

Stillblue skies here. Her indoors and myself have been a walk and watched some cricket.

 

Sausage sandwiches for lunch.. Will it be Brown Sauce, Red Sauce or no sauce at all?  Red for me, mustard for her  

 

I did try the AWD button on Beast in the snow..it seemed to make driving easier.

 

Baz

[PhilJ W]

56 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Our old Vauxhall's used to have a snow mode button on the centre console.

 

They were all automatics of the slush box variety and the button started the car in third gear,  which meant you didn't lay down too much power, thus causing wheel spin, when you moved off.

 

It was also good for getting on and off wet and muddy fields.

 

 

 

The number of times I've seen drivers trying to get unstuck from mud or snow using bottom gear and revving only to dig themselves in. 

[leopardml2341]

The dual mass flywheel on my (nasty) Dacia does not respond well to a second gear start in such conditions......

 

If there's one car I regret buying.......

[TheQ]

You can have my selection of buttons to engage the correct mode..

Or if you purchased the year earlier you could have had this selection.

 

Meanwhile I passed the driving test, on the second attempt... the first attempt was the first wet day after the long hot spell in 1976... The emergency stop was well... Interesting on a foamy mix of dripped oil and water, the other thing was they gave me a 4 gear Avenger having a learnt in a 5 gear Avenger. Went for 5th a couple of times that wasn't there..

 

A year later having moved from MK to Weston Super mud and waited 6 months for a test date.. I passed, with 2 emergency stops, the first the real one, the second was genuine..

Edited January 25, 2021 by TheQ

[Winslow Boy]

Bzzz, hiss, bzz Here is the 12 o'clock news read by Alistair Side....bzzz, hiss

 

It. Is reported today that elements of the Lancashire. Bzz....hiss, crackle (Home guard Diversion) along with units from the Yorkshire ....bzzz, crackle.......(North west Highland....bzz, hiss) Brigade were involved yesterday in scuffles and unseemly behaviour with units of HH corps and......bzz, crackle PB regiment. The incident took place in atrocious weather with black ice ....,hiss, bzzzz  and patchy snow. No casualties were reported from either side.

 

And other news authorities are seeking the location of Auntie George and Uncle Ethel. If anybody has any...bzzz, Hiss's......, they are ask to contact there Nephew Gertrude at...,.......Hiss's,bzzzzzz.

 

Today's message is ' the rain......Hiss's,crackle..,.on the .........bzzz, hizz......

 

And we now return you to Glen Miller Moonlight decade.......hizzz, crackle.

[The Stationmaster]

Actually she, and you, have been injected with part of the Covid virus - riding on the back of a modified version of a virus which causes colds in Chimpanzees.    The bit of Covid virus you have been given will tackle the 'spike' parts of the Covid virus thus  allowing your immune systenm to tackle it.  But you needn't tell her any of that of course.  The Pfizer vaccine works in a different way so you have two shots of the same vaccine, they can't be mixed..

 

https://www.research.ox.ac.uk/Article/2020-07-19-the-oxford-covid-19-vaccine

[grandadbob]

Luckily Mike after my earlier post this morning she watched a doctor on TV who was putting worried viewers minds at rest so is OK with it now.

Edited January 25, 2021 by grandadbob

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup which is blessed with beautiful blue skies. It was cold overnight but there was no snow to freeze; what little we had yesterday had gone within an hour or two. I was quite jealous of all the shots from other parts of London showing all the snow.

 

The weekend passed quietly as its wont these days. Football was watched, and now I am back "at" work again. I am due a delivery of a cake for Mrs Lurker's birthday, which is tomorrow. I am hoping it arrives before she gets back from work...! I am also hoping it arrives full stop or I won't be too popular tomorrow!

 

My Dad has been given his date for the second jab - I think it was April 5th. Once again the next door neighbour's jab is 5 minutes later so a lift is sorted!

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, Winslow Boy said:

Bzzz, hiss, bzz Here is the 12 o'clock news read by Alistair Side....bzzz, hiss

 

It. Is reported today that elements of the Lancashire. Bzz....hiss, crackle (Home guard Diversion) along with units from the Yorkshire ....bzzz, crackle.......(North west Highland....bzz, hiss) Brigade were involved yesterday in scuffles and unseemly behaviour with units of HH corps and......bzz, crackle PB regiment. The incident took place in atrocious weather with black ice ....,hiss, bzzzz  and patchy snow. No casualties were reported from either side.

 

And other news authorities are seeking the location of Auntie George and Uncle Ethel. If anybody has any...bzzz, Hiss's......, they are ask to contact there Nephew Gertrude at...,.......Hiss's,bzzzzzz.

 

Today's message is ' the rain......Hiss's,crackle..,.on the .........bzzz, hizz......

 

And we now return you to Glen Miller Moonlight decade.......hizzz, crackle.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

COSMIC TOP SECRET

 

ATTN: Commander 99th Armoured Infantry Brigade; Commander 29th Special Armoured Force

 

Subterfuge successful STOP

Identities of the 99th Armoured Infantry Brigade ("Big Bad Bears") and 29th Special Armoured Force (“The Heavy Hippos“) undetected STOP

Home Guard and other interested parties misdirected STOP

Proceed with OPERATION PATISSERIE most immediate STOP

 

Commander Field Army

[Erichill16]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

Stillblue skies here. Her indoors and myself have been a walk and watched some cricket.

p

 

Sausage sandwiches for lunch.. Will it be Brown Sauce, Red Sauce or no sauce at all?  Red for me, mustard for her  

 

 

 

Baz

Sausage sandwich here as well with red sauce. Great minds think alike!

[J. S. Bach]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

Snuggling LDC in the warm fur of a Poly proves very effective - it'll be quite safe....honest....

I read that as sMuggling LDC in the warm fur of a Poly proves very effective - it'll be quite safe....honest....

[The Stationmaster]

Having waited, and waited, and waited for the GD and Mrs Stationmaster returning from 'shopping' I shall be g havinga late luc nch gt rilled bacon although I might take a risk and place between slices of bread.

 

And the big news - the GD queued for 35 minutes to get into the bank in order to pay in a cheque.   But I wonder what they have in there which attracts such big queues when we're for ever being told that most transactions are now being conducted using plastic cards in stead of real money?

[jamie92208]

I can report that valiant evasion by the despatch rider has enabled a successful  delivery of Victoria sponge cake to the chateau. It has just been quality controlled whilst sitting on the bench in the sun on the south east terrace. Mr Robin was tempted with a few crumbs but as yet is still engaged in a diversionary raid on the bird feeders.

 

Jamie

 

PS, A new comic was delivered today. Last week I got the February Modern Railways, today the January edition arrived.

Edited January 25, 2021 by jamie92208

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

COSMIC TOP SECRET

 

ATTN: Commander 99th Armoured Infantry Brigade; Commander 29th Special Armoured Force

 

Subterfuge successful STOP

Identities of the 99th Armoured Infantry Brigade ("Big Bad Bears") and 29th Special Armoured Force (“The Heavy Hippos“) undetected STOP

Home Guard and other interested parties misdirected STOP

Proceed with OPERATION PATISSERIE most immediate STOP

 

Commander Field Army

To: Allied Forces (Officer Commanding)

 

Intelligence has ascertained  increased radio traffic  amongst Axis forces is prelude to hostile action.STOP.

 

STRONGLY RECOMMEND that ALL allied forces be placed on STAGE TWO alert. STOP.

 

Uncle Ethel located.STOP.

 

Auntie George awaited. STOP.

 

END MESSAGE.

 

 

[Ian Abel]

Morning all...

 

Busy weekend Zooming and running self-distancing pickup at places.

Amazingly my brother and his family are interested in continuing Zoom calls "regularly", they barely write or call more than once a year for the past 20 years, and now seem to have "discovered family"!!

 

Close long-time friends in the UK suggested "Bodyguard" as something to watch. YIKES! We watched the first episode, incredibly intense, but may be something we can continue with, just was rather nerve wracking watching!

 

Our NEW murder-mystery game has arrived so we'll begin that next week, have to unbox the first "episode" and copy all the contents to send to our gaming partners in Arizona.

Got another 6 inches of snow here overnight Saturday, feeling more like Minnesota now with more snow and generally colder weather.

 

-14 and clear first thing - now getting the NY Times daily as well, so TWO papers to retrieve - -8 the forecast high with maybe some snow later.

 

Enjoy the start of the week...

[Gwiwer]

3 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

The number of times I've seen drivers trying to get unstuck from mud or snow using bottom gear and revving only to dig themselves in. 

Oh yes.  When I learned driving it was taught that in such situations (also in mud, sand or floodwaters) that if one got stuck one engaged second gear and (if necessary) slipped the clutch a little until traction was obtained.  If unsuccessful in that then you needed rescuing by something bigger and beefier and with a large hook.  Likewise when approaching similar hazards you should STOP, assess and if you felt it was safe then you engage second - never first - and go through cautiously a gear above what you might expect.  

 

Most automatics I have driven have a "hold second" option on the stick / buttons or something similar which has the same effect.  Even the 12m long Volvo double-deckers which we were instructed to only ever drive in auto mode had buttons to hold 1, 2 or 3.  Very handy when descending the 1:4 hills of Sennen Cove, Treen (which also has a hairpin halfway down) or Crackington Haven.  

 

A beautifully sunny afternoon here has failed to thaw all the snow and ice; only those areas which enjoy direct sunlight are clear.  The paths at our (north-facing) end of the block remain very firmly frozen.  An attempt to clear a way through was abandoned as the ice has gripped the tarmac beneath firmly and will not lift without causing damage.  I don't want to salt or hot-water the area as the water will not evaporate in the already sub-zero temperature and so will, in its turn, also turn to ice, and I don't have nearly enough salt to attempt that job.  A couple of bags of road grit would be needed.  

 

There are shoots on the peony, a shed-load of buds on the camellia, narcissi are popping up everywhere and the first primroses and red roses are in flower.  Winter isn't done yet but Spring is visible around the corner.  

 

 

 

 

[TheQ]

46 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

 

 

And the big news - the GD queued for 35 minutes to get into the bank in order to pay in a cheque.   But I wonder what they have in there which attracts such big queues when we're for ever being told that most transactions are now being conducted using plastic cards in stead of real money?

Everyone else with a cheque to pay in because they've closed many other branches and those that are open are on reduced hours..

 

I've got to take a day off work, to get to a bank at the moment..

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

I've got to take a day off work, to get to a bank at the moment

You can pay cheques in at post offices but I suspect your local post offices are closed too.

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, Gwiwer said:

if one got stuck one engaged second gear and (if necessary) slipped the clutch a little until traction was obtained.  If unsuccessful in that then you needed rescuing by something bigger and beefier and with a large hook.

When people asked my brother where he learned to drive in snow, he said Nigeria. The lack of traction in mud required similar techniques. He also said for much of his time in Nigeria he had a Ford Transit rather than a Land Rover. It did have power winches though.

My Evoque is an automatic but if you select the desert terrain option it suggests (message on instrument panel) manually selecting second gear may be a better choice. I am sure traditionalists would hate it but you can select the screen to give a display of which way the front wheels are pointing. 
Tony

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. I tried to contact the UPS delivery agent earlier but the phone wasn't answered. I have now e-mailed the UPS customer complaints department and awaiting a reply. I also have an e-mail address for the UPS CEO in case I don't get a satisfactory answer.