Early Risers.

[Andrew P]

3 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

Geri Halliwell?

Actually a Fergie look a like back in the 70's, I didn't  do much toe sucking though.

Edited February 6, 2021 by Andrew P

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

This morning, the sun’s attempt to shine failed miserably, it remained dull and we even had some rain, albeit only light, but it persisted on and off all day. 

 

I managed to give the homemade decals 2 coats of varnish today, one just after my first post this morning, the second just before I packed up for the day this afternoon. In between these coats I trimmed the excess of the rail of the road that I’d left too long last weekend. Once happy, I began painting the rails a dirty brown colour. I even gave the whole base itself a basic dirty earth colour. 

 

The evening was rounded off with a nice bottle Malbec whilst we watched a few more episodes of the French series we’ve been watching. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[Natalie]

When and why did this thread become so nasty and vicious?  

It used to be fun and supportive but not now. 

Edited February 7, 2021 by Natalie

[NGT6 1315]

Well, that was fun, in a way.  Strange feeling when you don’t see the track on roadbound sections, even more so than when you’re in a car and have no visible lane markings!

 

Now safely ensconced at home. Batten down the hatches, folks.

 

Nite...

[leopardml2341]

^^^^ Where's pic 3 please? It looks familiar.

 

Why am I awake?

Been so for nearly 45 mins, so hopefully the cuppa decaff tea might help

 

The beeb weather says 96% chance of light snow at 04:00 (i.e. now) but no evidence yet.

 

 

Edited February 7, 2021 by leopardml2341

[iL Dottore]

23 hours ago, jonny777 said:

...The only thing which concerns me about vaccines, is why has the covid virus remained almost stable until we are at the point of vaccinating everyone against it, and then suddenly it starts mutating in different countries all at the same time? I know viruses will mutate, but one could be forgiven for thinking this one is doing it to order. 

To add to PeterBB’s lucid explanation, I have to add that viruses are always mutating.  As with every organism, the mutations can be either advantageous, neutral or deleterious (for the organism that is).  Most of the time, mutations will not have any impact on the effect of a virus on the host organism; but in this instance the mutations have proven to be advantageous to the virus (that is: they make the virus more easily transmissible). Furthermore, with something as genetically simple as a virus there are only so many ways it can mutate so there will be, I would argue, convergent evolution.  So, putting together the key factors of the mutated virus - that it is very highly transmissible and most of the the infected are asymptomatic - throw in a lot of social contact into the mix, and you end up in the situation in which we are in.

 

I think, ultimately, we will end up in a somewhat an uneasy coexistence with this virus, much like we have ended up doing with the flu and other respiratory viruses.  And like with these viruses, the majority of people will be asymptomatic (or have a minimal symptoms), some will get ill and a very small minority will get ill with a fatal outcome. 

To be honest, the only way I see society returning to “normality“, is for a sufficient number of people to be vaccinated and medical therapy to have advanced enough so that the management of CoVID-19 patients is no more arduous (or cases numerous) than the yearly management of severe pneumonia and similar respiratory diseases.  And like with pneumonia and similar viruses, we will have to accept that there will be a certain number of individuals-vulnerable for numerous reasons-who will succumb to the disease.

12 hours ago, J. S. Bach said:

Sounds like what Dad would come up with on Tuesday evenings (Tuesday was his day off) with the Sunday leftovers and new additions. He called it his "Tuesday concoction"; it was usually quite good as the Sunday leftovers had aged to perfection.

On the rare occasions my father cooked for the family, it was always an event to look forward to. (Now this was back in mid 60s Britain, so my father had to travel to London and go to the various delicatessens in Soho  to bring back Parmesan cheese, olive oil and the like).  Once my father returned from his shopping expedition, he would make for us a shrimp and pea risotto: a wonderful dish (risotto) that would not appear on the average Brit’s table for a few decades to come.

10 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

..Tension is rising in the house as SWMBO’s cousin, a COVID denier and antivaxer, is trying to spread her beliefs to mil and SWMBO and bil are getting p!ssed off about her interference...

It sounds that you are in a terrible situation, I really wish the government would get Draconian on these idiots. There is certainly room for debate about the management of society’s response to the pandemic, but to deny that there is a pandemic at all, well let’s just say I would stick them in a CoVID ward at the local hospital for 24 hours and then see if they still think there is no such thing as CoVID (sadly, I have heard stories from medical professionals on the front line that there have been CoVID deniers, dying from the disease, who maintained -literally to their last breath - that they must be ill with something else as CoVID doesn’t exist!)

Personally, I like the idea that the Danish and the Norwegians are proposing:  a digital CoVID-19 vaccination ID. Without which a whole range of activities involving social contact will be denied. 

10 hours ago, Tony_S said:

That just reminded me that Essex County Council have a live map app for their gritters. We don’t have  a named gritter lorry in Benfleet tonight but Gritty McGritface is working in Chelmsford. Not sure where Gritney Spears is tonight. 

I have often wondered how wise it is to let the general public loose on naming things, Gritty McGritface is a perfect example, I would argue. However, Gritney Spears is inspired (and on the same line what about Gritter Garbo?  Assuming that the “young people” have actually heard of her).

8 hours ago, J. S. Bach said:

Ah, tomorrow is Stupid Super Bowl Sunday! Which I will definitely NOT watch! I am not even sure what teams are playing although I know that it is being played in Tampa, FL. If the Baltimore Ravens were playing I might just have a modicum of interest, though just a small modicum.

There are those who, uncharitably, refer to “American” football (“American“ in quotes as we all know that real football is the game the Yanks call “soccer”) as “rugby for wimps”. Although wondering whether or not the requirement for body armour means that-technically-“American football“ could be classified as “trial by combat“, it is nonetheless moderately entertaining. Unsophisticated Philistine as I am, I always watch the Super Bowl for two things: the halftime show and the cheerleaders. Although, sadly, cheerleaders have become a relic of the past, or so it seems. Quite a few top-notch bands, like The Who and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have played at the Super Bowl. (Now that must be a nice gig: a huge captive audience and incredibly renumerative to boot!).

 

A quiet and self-indulgent Sunday awaits. After I walk the doggies, Mrs iD and the Wolfpack are off to the Holiday Hovel for a week (I’m staying at home because I have to work, as well as enjoy some “me time“). Steak and kidney pudding, pommes purée, buttered carrots and a bottle of something for my dinner tonight.

 

Finally, yesterday I was rather busy in the kitchen: I made, not one, but two lemon cakes: one was a lemon cake with a lemon mascarpone cream and the second was an almond and lemon drizzle cake with a simple lemon icing. Both cakes have gone to good homes! 

 

iD

Edited February 7, 2021 by iL Dottore

[Ozexpatriate]

There seems to be a lot of snow about this winter.

 

Here we have had only a trace a week a half ago which melted quickly as the snow turned to rain. This week we are forecast to see our coldest weather of the season with several sub-freezing nights toward the end of the week. It might set up conditions to snow.

 

Snow here at low altitudes is infrequent. Generally, freezing temperatures only happen here when the weather is clear. The prevailing weather from the Pacific Ocean is relatively mild and cloudy weather tends to act like an insulator. To see snow we normally need cold, dry, easterly, offshore air movement at low altitudes to drop the temperature and warmer, wet, onshore air movement at higher altitudes. This is just as likely to produce freezing rain as snow. Sometimes it will do both in alternating layers.

 

Inevitably, if it does snow, it is chaos. Since wintry precipitation is rare in the valley, we don't have the equipment for snow removal anywhere but the most important roads.

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, inner Temple hare,

The wind is howling around at the moment, but no sign of white stuff.

 

Back in the days before some of my ancestors invaded ie pre 1066, the king theoretically was elected from any atheling,  ie those of Royal descent. However looking at who was chosen, it was more a case of chose someone else if the next in line didn't appeal and the next in line couldn't round up enough support.

So you got Aethelred the unready, the unready meaning badly advised, so I think he got power from a group of supporters who hadn't got a clue...sound familiar?

 

As for therefore being a possible choice for being in line to the throne, well every one with my surname has a slightly more than 50% chance of being a direct descendant of rulers of Tigerburnie land. So it's a good chance Tigerburnie and me are related.. as the occupiers of thrones north and south of the border were related in several ways..

 

I quite like watching American Football, the abbreviated 1 to 2 hour recorded version.. I made the mistake of watching the super bowl once.. 5 hours to play a 90 minute game.. is slow and tedious..

 

The pink pills I think are working, time to try for sleep part two, although it's getting perilously close to patrol time and brown eyes might have other ideas..

 

Time to..put this gadget down.

 

 

[Ozexpatriate]

16 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Unsophisticated Philistine as I am, I always watch the Super Bowl for two things: the halftime show and the cheerleaders. Although, sadly, cheerleaders have become a relic of the past, or so it seems.

Some teams continued to have cheerleaders during the season - socially distanced, not on the sideline, and only in stadiums where *some* fan attendance was permitted.

 

Doubtless, once pandemic-restrictions are removed, cheerleaders will reappear on NFL sidelines.

[pH]

This afternoon, we went for a walk round a local lake which forms the reservoir for a hydro-electric plant. The provincial electricity company provides recreation facilities around many of their reservoirs. (Don't worry, there are all sorts of precautions to stop people going down the penstocks.)

 

it had been raining lightly when we set out from home, but the rain had stopped by the time we got there. Here are a couple of general pictures of the lake:

 

 

 

 

General views in the forest through which the trails run:

 

 

 

This area of Canada is sometimes known as the 'Wet Coast', for obvious reasons. The rainfall encourages the growth of mosses. Here are examples of what can grow on trees:

 

 

 

My wife did a biology evening course. One of the assignments was to collect samples of 20 different mosses. She did that without going more than a couple of hundred yards from the house.

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

I have looked out and there is a distinct lack of snow. Windy and rainy weather prevails. Snow later this morning is still forecast..

I think I will go back to sleep for a  while. 
Tony

 

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

It has not snowed here, yet, and I have no plans to go out today whether or not it does.  A cluckbird sits apprehensively in the fridge and the packet of sage and onion stuffing is ready and waiting.  Although I did remember to buy a parsnip to roast with the spuds, my forgettery triumphed again because it never occurred to me to buy a bottle of wine to accompany Sunday lunch.  I shall have to make do with Erdinger weissbier instead.  In the week ahead the remains of the cluckbird will be suitably deployed.  One of the products will be a risotto, using left-over gravy and a hefty squeeze of tomato paste which, come to think of it, I will need to restock on the next fodder run.  While we are discussing cuisine, I do rather like the sound of Rick's cowboy meal.

 

On the subject of the monarchy, how old was Edward VII when he succeeded Victoria?   Hardly in the first flush of youth, that's for sure.  As for whether or not we keep the monarchy, one has only to consider what sort of clown might be elected as UK head of state if it ever came to that.  The list of potential disasters is endless.

 

In the week ahead, my twin aunts, both now Covid patients, are due to celebrate their 97th birthday.  Feel free to join me in wishing them a happy and healthy birthday.  Best wishes to them, and to all.

 

Chris

[polybear]

11 hours ago, brianusa said:

Maybe thats what the country needs!

    Brian.

 

King Paddington.......now Bear could find that kinda fun.....

 

10 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

Evening All,

Hopefully an early night as last nights wasn’t a good one. Weird dream partly to blame. These are the bits I can remember, SWMBO, SWMBO’s cousin and me were stealing a vintage fire-engine from Wigan (where SWMBO’s cousin used to live) and bringing its back to Barnsley but had to do this before dawn broke. This was then going to be used, somehow,  to sink a submarine.Can’t wait for the next installment!

 

 

Bear did warn you about the perils of eating coffee cake, but would you listen??  Oh no......

 

9 hours ago, brianusa said:

Didn't he burn cakes or something?  Not a good start!

      Brian.

 

The worst.

 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2021 by polybear

[Grizz]

Morning All. No snow in this bit of East Sussex yet. Knew there wouldn’t be! (Ah.... Smug Mode ).
 

Younger members of the family are moaning about the lack of it. Despite being told that it has rained nearly every day for the past three weeks, so if in the unlikely event it does snow, it will melt.
 

The weather forecasts are not as accurate these days because there aren’t as many planes flying to help gather up to date information.......apparently?????? Sounds like a bit of an excuse to me. 
 

Don’t mind snow myself, as long as there is a shed load of it and everything just shuts down. It’s all the fannying about people seem to be able to create with 50mm or less that amazes me.
Monday morning’s rail commute, for those still commuting, should be interesting. I suspect the TOCs will be busy ironing the white flags, ready to start waving them vigorously first thing on Monday morning. Fortunately this type of Total Farce is now a thing of the past for me.

Hoping to do some modelling today, but I have a feeling that it is far more likely that I am going to get dragged into helping with something boring.........especially if it snows........then I’ll be digging out the sledges and other assorted snow equipment....................Please God don’t let it snow today 

 

Have a good one all....

[Andrew P]

4 hours ago, leopardml2341 said:

^^^^ Where's pic 3 please? It looks familiar.

 

Why am I awake?

Been so for nearly 45 mins, so hopefully the cuppa decaff tea might help

 

The beeb weather says 96% chance of light snow at 04:00 (i.e. now) but no evidence yet.

 

 

No Snow yet?     Swad has probably pinched it all, it usually does.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning. No snow here but the hard frostva few weeks ago has caused a wall to buge and patially collapse onto a neighbours property. Fortunately  the fallibg stones missed the chickens.  Yesterday I got the car back together with a non working CD player.  A gate has been moved into the shed to be repaired. Some timber needs to be bought. The highlight of the day was pancakes, that I prepared, served with golden syrup and lemon juice. For various reasons we couldn't do them Tuesday so did them a few days late.

 

Sil who hosted a super spreader event at Christmad, 12 outbof 13 attendees caught the virus, and who has a chronic lung problem, has now had her first jab.  So far the rest of oyr family have stayed clear though all the kids have had negative tests for different  reasons.

 

A cluck bird has just been put in the oven so this morning there will be lunch preparations to complete.  In between I may head for the shed and try to get another object rolling.

 

Chrisf, I hope your aunts are doing OK and enjoy the day as best they can.  Leopard, hope your trip to Midland Road goes OK. What better name could you have for a road. I spent many happy hours patrolling that area.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[jonny777]

Cloudy and cold in North Somerset, but as far as bitterly cold winds are concerned - the worst is yet to come. 

 

I have to smile at those poor souls who believe one kamikaze wood pigeon would demolish my bird feeder defences. Jonny doesn't believe in half measures. A few kamikaze wood pigeons would have one simple effect, a free Sunday lunch for Jonny. 

 

Meanwhile, in the real world, the wood pigeons seem to have raised the white flag. The starlings have properly learned how to negotiate the spikes, and a blackbird was within the compound when I looked out of the window. 

 

I must go and get the bacon on......

[Barry O]

Ey up!

No snow here ... so far.. but our yacht marina has returned. A pump will be deployed today.

 

@chrisf.. I  hope your Aunts have a comfortable Birthday. Youngest Herbert had his birthday yesterday.  We will, no doubt, have a celebratory meal ar some point in the future.

 

@Natalie..pm me to see what your concerns are.. the ERs do try to be supportive but can get abbit boisterous at times... and I detect that we are all suffering from "Lockdown" fatigue. Hopefully with more people being 

vaccinated everyone should be able to see the light at the end of, what has been, a very long and dark tunnel.

 

try and enjoy whatever you do today.

 

Stay safe!

baz

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dry now but quite breezy out.  Forecast still threatening snow but so far it's been wrong about that.  Time will tell.

Best wishes to Chris's aunts and I sincerely hope that they recover soon.

Jamie, I didn't know about La Chandeleur and that pancakes were eaten in France on February 2nd each year until I Googled it.  We will have them as usual on Shrove Tuesday which this year February 16th.  The Boss makes them under protest but does them rather than let me into the kitchen.*  I've just mentioned them to her and got a rude answer!  I'm only allowed in the kitchen for selected reasons and tonight is one of those as fillet steak is on the menu.  Unlike Chris I have a selection of wines to choose from. 

I'm trying to forget yesterday's rugby disaster. The only good news is that Quins won down at Bath.  Today I can feast on Newcastle v Exeter and Wales v Ireland.  I expect both games to be better than yesterday's offering.

Many years ago I sat through all 5 hours of a Superbowl and vowed never again!

There will shortly be the smell of bacon and eggs etc wafting through the house so I will leave you for now.

Have a good one,

Bob.

* It's not that I make a mess, far from it but apparently I use far more kitchen equipment, bowls, plates etc than is necessary!

Stop Press:  Snowflakes appeared briefly a few minutes ago but have already disappeared.

Edited February 7, 2021 by grandadbob
Fat finger syndrome x several

[Andrew P]

Been out for the Paper, its still dry, but a bitterly cold wind, (no sniggering at the back please), so I did the manly thing, and took the Car. 

[NGT6 1315]

Moaning awl. Here goes nothing, as the following image might prove!

 

No idea if and where I may be needed this afternoon. Staff dispatcher just came on duty a couple of minutes ago, so I’m not holding my breath! 

[leopardml2341]

Morning all!

 

Still no snow, but a very cold NE wind with gusts to 40mph forecast at about the time I was hoping to hang summershed doors, I may be doing a Mary Poppins impression

 

Breakfast of some sort is beckoning me but tbh I think I might take a leaf out of Doggo's book and curl up for just a little while longer.........