Early Risers.

[Barry O]

Been a busy bee today. Spray painted an object not mentionable, fixed some items which I had serviced, avoided the "G" word.. her indoors reckoned it was too muddy and she didn't want two of use getting all "clarty"

 

My turn to cook tea.. two rump steaks, some morrisons "best" oven chips and garlic mushrooms.. May need a bottle of red to go with it though. 

 

Tried contacting @grandadbobbut no response yet.. Hope all is well with him and his family.

 

I still have friends from Infant school - primarily those that went to the same Grammar School

 

My maths teachers at all schools got me into pure maths .. still enjoy solving one or two mathematical puzzles..

 

Worst teacher? Our German language one at Grammar School.. years later I was given free tuition in German while working on JET. My teacher was a large lady from Berlin.. Hannalore.. who got my German up to speed.. she did say my big problem was "You speak with a Hamburg accent".. not sure if that was a positive things or not.. but the guys I worked with in Bremen could understand my German.

 

Baz

 

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Odd how we pick up particular foreigna accents.  I apparently speak French with a Parisian accent while my German accent was described on one occasion as being Bavarian. (hardly surprising i suppose as i spent several weeks there on a school exchange visit.  Best one of all though which I have ever come across was an SNCF Traction Inspector who spoke perfect English - with an accent which Baz in particular would almost find a reminder of home.  Apparently as a lad he spent every summer holiday staying with family friends in that part of England and was still visiting them regularly in his working years so had kept up the accent.

[TheQ]

Languages forget it, useless teachers.

 

Don't know anyone from school days, I've come across a couple in my many travels. But not seen any in 35 years. I found one on facefart,  but it was effectively a dormant account, there was no reply.

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Managed to do a bit more on the (brick) shed in preparation for lining it out with plywood. I had a good look at the single skin brick walls and it looks as if they will need a bit of attention before I apply the lining such as re-pointing, moisture appears to be coming through in a few places. While it stays dry though I'll get started on the old garden shed before it falls down. 

[Sir TophamHatt]

I have a couple of friends from school, only added on Facebook though, we haven't seen each other in years.

A bit sad I left college as that was the time to forge friendships, but I was simply too lazy to carry on.  My Biology teacher called it as I dropped that class first.  It should have been the last I dropped as becoming a pathologist interested me back then.  But I am thankful for being where I am now I guess... albeit much less interesting!

[PhilJ W]

47 minutes ago, Barry O said:

Worst teacher? Our German language one at Grammar School.. years later I was given free tuition in German while working on JET. My teacher was a large lady from Berlin.. Hannalore.. who got my German up to speed.. she did say my big problem was "You speak with a Hamburg accent".. not sure if that was a positive things or not.. but the guys I worked with in Bremen could understand my German.

 

Baz

 

 

28 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

Odd how we pick up particular foreigna accents.  I apparently speak French with a Parisian accent while my German accent was described on one occasion as being Bavarian. (hardly surprising i suppose as i spent several weeks there on a school exchange visit.  Best one of all though which I have ever come across was an SNCF Traction Inspector who spoke perfect English - with an accent which Baz in particular would almost find a reminder of home.  Apparently as a lad he spent every summer holiday staying with family friends in that part of England and was still visiting them regularly in his working years so had kept up the accent.

That reminds me when we started the twinning with a German town nearly forty years ago. We had a chap who spoke fluent German, only thing was he learnt his German from visiting a friend in Austria so he spoke German with an Austrian accent. This amused our German friends as it was like one of them speaking English with an Irish brogue.

[Gwiwer]

School friends?

 

Two from primary school with whom I am still in regular contact. We remained friends through all the different schools, colleges, universities, nations, careers and partners we have gone through in that time.
 

One is on his third marriage and generously invited me to be his Best Man at all three (!!).  For the third occasion I was living in Australia. When he called to ask, expecting a negative response, he later told me he had to pick himself up off the floor when my reply was “of course”. By sheer good fortune his big day was the Saturday following my parents Diamond Wedding. I had already booked my trip over and would be in the country anyway. 
 

The opening of my speech at his wedding was to thank him for 50 years of friendship. 
 

The other long-time friend has been through divorce, lost a son to overdose, lost a house to fire and has only just avoided losing her marbles. She has called upon my friendship in many times of need and has always been offered support, care and what ever I could offer. 
 

I didn’t make any friendshipd through grammar school which survived the transition to university / work / unemployment. Given the environment at that place I am probably not surprised. 

 

[pH]

We’re about 3 hours into a scheduled 8 hour power outage. Judging by the length of it and the significant area affected, I’d guess they’re working on a substation. Plenty of warning, so we’re well prepared. But isn’t it interesting how unthinking you are about electricity being always available? So far, I’ve tried to switch on lights four times, and the TV once.

[Gwiwer]

6 minutes ago, pH said:

So far, I’ve tried to switch on lights four times, and the TV once.

Yet somehow the internet still works   

[sixoh8sixoh]

Evening all from the Wilds beyond the Wall.

 

I’d booked Friday off earlier in the week when it looked like Salmond would give evidence on Wednesday so didn’t watch his evidence session (probably the right decision for my blood pressure!). Hired a van for 48 hours, drove down to Durham and filled it with boxes from my parents’ house, then drove back and unloaded yesterday evening. Half are now in my house, half in mum’s new flat here in Edinburgh. Moving date proper for her is 15th so at least we’re part way there. 
 

In the meantime the dog’s been ill and has been producing poo soup... he’s off to the vets again tomorrow. 
 

I was meant to be having a relaxing Sunday after dropping the van back at the rental firm but then got a text at 1 asking me to work, so ended up doing 5 1/2 hours of overtime today. As I’m sure you can imagine, things are a bit busy with us as FM is due to attend the committee on Wednesday to give evidence. 
 

In the boxes I brought up from Durham I found the last of the missing model railway stock, including Dad’s Hornby 08 shunter. It’s DCC chipped and of course I sold his Dynamis not thinking to check what addresses are on there. My Dynamis isn’t working either as I didn’t realise I’d left batteries in it and they’ve leaked, jamming the battery compartment shut. I’ve got a Lenz 100 unit but struggle to use it. I long for a simple DCC interface!! I need to work out how to read the address of the chip in the 08 or else factory reset the chip. 

[The White Rabbit]

3 hours ago, polybear said:

May Bear also suggest the following ideas:

1. Some Charities welcome furniture, and will collect (I believe British Heart Foundation is one, and has specialist furniture shops accordingly.  Any upholstered items need a fire label though, and certain leccy (and gas) items are a no-no.  Other shops will take leccy items as they have arrangements for PAT testing.

2. List items on ebay for a 99p start price and see what happens.....

3. Offer for free on Freecycle (now Freegle).

 

It'll keep them out of landfill and give them some more useful life with luck, and may with luck raise money too.

 

Thanks, collection of the bigger items would be useful. Though I'll have to check for labels. They may have been cut off "as they spoil the appearance"...  

 

The Bay of **** will probably be used for some things but no electricals - even though mostly brand new/unopened, too much danger of comebacks. 

 

I did use Freecycle quite a while back, though their system will probably have forgotten me by now. But ERs can have 'first dibs'. (I have a list in progress on my blog and add entries as and when). 

 

 

[pH]

12 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Yet somehow the internet still works   

I’m using a cellphone with an unlimited data plan. Son has us on his ‘family plan’ and has confirmed it’s OK to use today.

[brianusa]

13 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I recall a joke made by a famous comedian in the 80s about an all girls school - nothing obscene or even improper, just playing on tropes and expectations in a way that now is completely verboten...

 

Sadly, so much that made us laugh and feel good is verboten these days.  PC has won and we all are all the sorrier for it!

     Brian.

[New Haven Neil]

Thankfully, we have avoided a lockdown, for now.  Teetering on the edge, but no new cases today, and none of the close contacts of the 'rogue two' are positive.  all now in isolation. There are very discrete hints there may have been...um.... a link between the two and a known about third party that they are not disclosing.....#cough#

 

I do have links to a couple of friends from grammar school days, and a good handful from Bibby Line, back in my first career.  Even a couple from the NHS, who have managed to survive it's 'care' of staff.....

[tigerburnie]

I'm still in touch people from high school, but none from infant/junior, I moved away and lost touch with them, sadly a few have passed away, apparently some frequent facebook but as I don't, no communication there. I used a ring a couple of junior school pals when I still lived nearby, but it dropped off when I moved north. I did attend one re-union for a pub meal, I found it rather sad how some had changed and not for the better, so declined further invitations, a couple had turned into the sort of people I really didn't want to mix with.

[Erichill16]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

"You speak with a Hamburg accent".. not sure if that was a positive things or not.. but the guys I worked with in Bremen could understand my German.

 

Baz

I taught myself a small amount of ‘conversional’ German and funnily enough when I’m using it to buy something, I’m understood perfectly, but when I’m complaining (not something I do regularly being an Brit) they don’t seem to understand a word!

Robert

[brianusa]

The older you get, the more you stand the chance of being 'the last man standing'.  I have reached that heady position as just recently a friend who I first encountered as we entered primary school in 1939, has just died.  He was my age!

     Brian.

Edited February 28, 2021 by brianusa

[tetsudofan]

......and may I introduce HiKe (pronounced HiKi) the Akita together with Dad:

 

 

Picture was taken around 1978 when Mum and Dad visited me in Tokyo. Dad always liked dogs but Mum didn't so we never had a dog at home.

 

Keith

 

[Erichill16]

2 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

Odd how we pick up particular foreigna accents.  I apparently speak French with a Parisian accent while my German accent was described on one occasion as being Bavarian.

.

While on a cruise around Alaska a couple of Americans thought I was Australian whist someone said they liked my Welsh accent. As most of you know I’m from Barnsley and speak with a proper accent.

Whilst abroad I love to listen when two people are speaking English and it’s obvious that English isn’t their first language. It’s particularly interesting when they are perhaps young ‘lovers’. I sometimes find it difficult to get my point across in a subtle and inoffensive way in my native tongue.

This conversation we’re having reminds me of an incident a couple of years ago whilst attending a running session on my friends garden railway. There was a chap there who I didn’t know and who had brought a young  (4 year old?) lad with him. I asked my friend who he was and said he was a neighbor  who’s son was interested in the ‘noises’ that were coming from over the garden wall. To tell the truth he looked like a  ‘near do well’ and I was absolutely taken aback when he stared speaking to the lad in Japanese. I hadn’t noticed that the lad was mixed race and the bloke was his dad. I’m not sure how many people in Barnsley can speak Japanese but I recon at least three!
Robert

[Coombe Barton]

... and clearing up but no plastering ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2021/02/28/little-and-or-no-sense/

[New Haven Neil]

As the owner of a, err, distinctive accent (ahm a Geordie, man!), it amazes me how many folk in far away but English speaking countries think I'm Scots!  Elsewhere in Europe I am normally spoken to first in German - every single European country I have been to this has happened.  Must be the beard or something.

 

 

[sixoh8sixoh]

6 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

As the owner of a, err, distinctive accent (ahm a Geordie, man!), it amazes me how many folk in far away but English speaking countries think I'm Scots!  Elsewhere in Europe I am normally spoken to first in German - every single European country I have been to this has happened.  Must be the beard or something.

 

 

How are the supplies of stotties on the Rock? You mustn't have had your whippet and flat cap with you on those trips...

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. 

45 minutes ago, brianusa said:

The older you get, the more you stand the chance of being 'the last man standing'.  I have reached that heady position as just recently a friend who I first encountered as we entered primary school in 1939, has just died.  He was my age!

     Brian.

Should have set up a tontine, you'd be quids in now. 

 

[PhilJ W]

8 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

... and clearing up but no plastering ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2021/02/28/little-and-or-no-sense/

There's no accounting for stupid.

[Andrew P]

Those that have met me will vouch for my still fairly strong Devon accent, despite leaving Devon at the age of 4. We did go back for 3 years in the 80's but it's still quite pronounced, even though I've lived longer in Kent, Surrey and Hampshire.

When we moved to Derbyshire, my new work colleagues thought I was a cockney, WHAT I said, you must be joking, I don't even look like an Eastender, let alone talk or fight like one.