Early Risers.

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, The Stationmaster said:

BTW I always thought that half and half was a half of bitter with a whisky chaser

Indeed it can be, particularly in Scotland.

 

I used "half and half" for what many in Britain might call a "black and tan" (which can sometimes specifically be a stout floated over Bass ale). Due to associations with the RIC, that term doesn't go over well in the Republic of Ireland or at least with Irish expatriates running Irish pubs in "the colonies".

 

Edited June 5, 2021 by Ozexpatriate

[pH]

2 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

I once had a bottle of Drambuie break inside a packed suitcase when going away on a detachment. 

 

I saw a duty-free bottle of Drambuie being dropped and breaking on a cross-Channel ferry. A crowd quickly formed round the spill - if we couldn’t drink it, we could at least smell it!

 

 

1 hour ago, The Stationmaster said:

BTW I always thought that half and half was a half of bitter with a whisky chaser (as I did in the Ardvasar arms on the Isle of Sky many years ago - it had a fabulous top shelf of malt whiskies so I started at one end ,,,,, )

 

Subtle difference, but I always knew it as “a half and a half” - a half pint and a half gill (though by then it would’ve been a quarter gill or even a fifth).  And it was a half pint of heavy or export - bitter had not reached Scotland when I was drinking those.

 

 

[BR60103]

21 hours ago, chrisf said:

At times I despair of members of the public and rest my head in my hands at the tosh which they utter.  According to the lunchtime news, some folk in my part of the world are worried that the much-discussed East-West rail link will carry freight as well as passengers!  What in heaven’s name could possibly be wrong with that? 

Chris

I remember reading (long time ago) some learned person arguing that since railways were initially built to carry goods they should not carry passengers.

 

[JohnDMJ]

 

5 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

The only time I have ever had Drambuie was either neat or in Scotch to make the taste more palatable to me 

 

4 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Isn't Drambuie and scotch called a snakebite?

 

I once had a bottle of Drambuie break inside a packed suitcase when going away on a detachment. The first two days were mainly spent doing laundry.

 

G'night everybody.

 

Dave

 

I've always been of the understanding that a Snakebite is half lager half cider.

[pH]

There’s a Stanley Cup (ice) hockey game in progress in Las Vegas at the moment. The temperature outside the rink is 41C!

[BR60103]

My editor carries the last entry in which I quoted someone in this thread.

 

We shopped today. Drove to hardware store which carries the flavour of coffee I like (my treat following the first plain cup) and an indoor-outdoor thermometer. I've had two go on the fritz this year. I picked the one with the biggest numbers.

 

[chrisf]

Greetings one and all

 

Apparently yesterday was National Fish and Chips Day.  Somehow I missed the revelry and the flying of flags from public buildings.  The default setting of eating this dish on a Friday is widespread.  If I recall correctly, it stems from religion.  In my book that is no reason for doing it and neither is the expectation that I should.  Being of the awkward persuasion, I do my best to avoid indulging in this ritual treat on a Friday.  Fish is good for me and it’s just as good on a Wednesday, which is when I tend to eat it.  I do miss the subtle flavour which printing ink imparts to chips eaten from what used to be newspaper but is now plain.

 

It appears that I am on YouTube.  The presentation that I gave a couple of weeks ago was recorded and has been shared with the rest of humanity.  I have not dared watch it yet but I sincerely hope that the technical hitches at the beginning have been edited out.  Those who can face listening to my commentary will surely discover how it was that I never made a career in broadcasting.  They will also share my surprise that I have been invited to repeat the presentation – to a different audience, naturally.

 

The ironing did not get done yesterday.  Whether the jungle will receive attention today is likely to depend just as much on how much rain falls from the heavens as on what little stamina I have.  On a good day I can manage about 45 minutes at a time.  I do need to crack on with it, if only because there is still room in my green bin for discarded triffids.

Best wishes to all, especially all the sick and missing.

 

Chris

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, inner Temple Hare,

 Nearly 8 hours sleep in three pieces I really needed that especially as it's all I'll get for the next 36hours.

 

Ben the alarm clock Collie was an hour late, or or actually correct for a weekend.

 

The seaweed inspectors say we had an inch of rain over night, everything is dripping out there. The rain has however cleared now.

 

A part loaf of bread has spent the night defrosting in a cool bag, keeping the breakfasts for the race crew cold., They are issued free to 3 rivers race officials who don't wish to return to the club house for their breaky. This will be the first bread I've had in 5 months, a one off occasion, I'll be making non issued breakfast and sarnies shortly. 

 

A kettle is on, and a muggacoffee will also be made.

Time to get a move on, I'll hopefully post a picture of two of the day later..

 

[jamie92208]

Good moaning, it's sunny here which makes a change after the past couple of days.  my trip to the DIY store (aka trainspotting expedition) was carbound as showers came and went.   However a good natter was had.

 

Today some more of the G word and other jobs to tackle, but first the highlight of our week as we talk to young Emily.  That comes in an hour. Not a lot else to report here.   My daily ration of American slides has been uploaded so it looks like time to look at other things on this interwebby thing.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[polybear]

7 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Isn't Drambuie and scotch called a snakebite?

 

I once had a bottle of Drambuie break inside a packed suitcase when going away on a detachment. The first two days were mainly spent doing laundry.

 

G'night everybody.

 

Dave

 

In the UK a Snakebite is lager & cider; apparently many pubs won't serve it as it has a reputation for producing carrots....

 

As for things breaking on aircraft, a friend at work was on a flight where someone thought it a good idea to put frozen salmon(?) in the overhead locker.  Only it defrosted during flight, dripping fishy smelling liquid on those below.  They weren't happy, apparently.

 

Bear's day started with a exploding tea bag; it's quite a surprise just how much shrapnel such an event can produce when it happens outside the mug.  Turdycurses.

 

Bear has a 2nd slot with the covid jabber today, to be preceded by a dash round the local Tess & Co for new stocks of Bran Flakes and Sultanas (= DIY Sultana Bran).  I'm hoping T&C won't be busy - I'll be there fairly early and it's a medium size local one, not a superstore, so I'm hoping all the Muppets will dodge it and go elsewhere.

 

Then it'll be onto the kitchen again, so no surprises there.  Ideally the tall end panel will be cut/planed to fit; failing that it'll be some more painting.....

 

 

[iL Dottore]

Morning All,

 

Rather a disturbed night, last night. We had quite a thunderstorm and little Lucy could just not get settled, poor lass. She woke me up about midnight and - to make a long story short - she finally settled down about 03:00: me on the sofa, she next to me.

 

Anyway, to amuse myself whilst waiting for Lucy to settle,  I read (or re-read to be pedantic) the past 6 months of postings on ER. Apart from noting that there are three very distinct sorts of posters (or, perhaps, poster “types”) who consistently post in the same way (and I’ll not say further as my assessment of some poster “types” was not terribly complimentary...), I also noticed that there was a lot of posts about the sheer incompetence encountered in daily life in the UK. Frequently, but not exclusively, on the part of the “public sector”. Now I know that - world-wide - public bodies are not known for their flexibility, innovation, quickness to respond to a changing environment and rapidity of execution of responsibilities (as I am sure ChrisF, NHN and others can attest), but ER posts suggest the the UK is in a league of its’ own in this regard.
 

Whether it is council employees who paint “no parking” yellow lines on both sides of an alley barely wide enough for a bicycle or the plumber who arrives ill-prepared and bodges a repair with gaffer tape and mastic, the reaction to such things - at least evidenced by the posts on ER - is unhappy acceptance. I suspect this is part and parcel of the British psyche - rather than taking to the streets with pitchforks and inviting Madame Guillotine to set up shop in the local park, it’s stiff letters to The Times and The Guardian: very much “Keep Calm and Carry On”. 
 

To explain this, I find it utterly fascinating to view the UK through an anthropologist’s lens. As a scientist and (semi-) “furriner”, if I were to be pressed to give a reason for the state in which the UK currently finds itself, I would have no hesitation to say WWI and WWII: WWI because it destroyed a whole generation of young men who could have guided the UK’s transition into a modern fully industrialised state (post WWI the UK was often slow to adopt new technology - if adopted at all); and WWII, because it effectively bankrupted the UK into penury and into ceding economic, cultural, moral and political leadership to the US (which in my view Was Not A Good Thing).

 

To conclude, if anyone is interested in reading more about the UK’s modern social history I would heartily recommend the books by David Kynaston (who has also written books on the history of cricket)

 

This morning will be spent lazing around, and this afternoon I will be making strawberry tartlets and a moussaka according to a Tom Kerridge recipe.

 

Enjoy the weekend!

[Barry O]

Ey up!

It must be Saturday as the bin men have been over the road (they may collect ours on Monday...)

Enjoyed our time in the High Peak. Next week is building up to being a  ery busy week as I have more cricket to umpire, a committee meeting to attend, an MRI scan to undertake  (part of the clinical resaerch I volunteered for), some fish and chips to eat in Cleethorpes... busy, busy, busy.

 

Still warm and sunny here ..great! Not far to travel today or tomorrow for cricket  but tomorrow involves trying to get to a ground with lots of road closures due to a world triathlon taking place in Roundhay Park. Pah!

 

I drink Drambuie neat. As for other drinks.. well poor mans black velvet (guiness and cider) or black velvet (champagne instead of cider) can give you a headache! A friend ordered a Guiness shandy.. the Guiness floats of the lemonade giving a glass half full look.

 

Time I was up and ready for a trip to the Chemists..but first..breakfast.

 

Stay safe!

 

Baz

[leopardml2341]

Mornin'

 

Nowhere near enough kip

 

However time to get up an at 'em. A few o' the smaller jobs on mi list could be completed before beer outing early this afternoon. But first a job that ain't on mi list - breakfast! Rather fancying a bowl of strawberries and honey yoghurt topped off with fruit and fibre cereal accompanied by a bucket of tea.

 

Might be a little while before I look in again later. In the meantime, here's hoping Saturday is good to all, stay safe, well and sane.

 

ps South Derbyshire is bright and sunny but cool (at the moment) but the forecast is for 22°C and sun at beer o'clock

Edited June 5, 2021 by leopardml2341
Adds weather report.

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, chrisf said:

Greetings one and all

 

Apparently yesterday was National Fish and Chips Day.  Somehow I missed the revelry and the flying of flags from public buildings.  The default setting of eating this dish on a Friday is widespread.  If I recall correctly, it stems from religion.  In my book that is no reason for doing it and neither is the expectation that I should.  Being of the awkward persuasion, I do my best to avoid indulging in this ritual treat on a Friday.  Fish is good for me and it’s just as good on a Wednesday, which is when I tend to eat it.  I do miss the subtle flavour which printing ink imparts to chips eaten from what used to be newspaper but is now plain.

 

It appears that I am on YouTube.  The presentation that I gave a couple of weeks ago was recorded and has been shared with the rest of humanity.  I have not dared watch it yet but I sincerely hope that the technical hitches at the beginning have been edited out.  Those who can face listening to my commentary will surely discover how it was that I never made a career in broadcasting.  They will also share my surprise that I have been invited to repeat the presentation – to a different audience, naturally.

 

The ironing did not get done yesterday.  Whether the jungle will receive attention today is likely to depend just as much on how much rain falls from the heavens as on what little stamina I have.  On a good day I can manage about 45 minutes at a time.  I do need to crack on with it, if only because there is still room in my green bin for discarded triffids.

Best wishes to all, especially all the sick and missing.

 

Chris

 

Now young Christopher I have a very large bone to pick with you. When you went out and purchased your supply of custard powder just how much did you acquire? I ask because for the last few weeks I have trying to obtain a supply and have been unable to. Will I find if I travel to Bedford a hill nay mountain of said product visible by your humble abode. Should I be considering carrying out a hijacking of the delivery vehicle as it makes a supply run as stockists attempt to keep up with demand.

 

Yours from a custard free Manucopia.

[Andrew P]

That BIG BRIGHT thing is back and sending lots of warmfulness here abouts this morning, a good sign for the day ahead one hopes.

 

I have a busy weekend of nothingness planned so will be doing some of that with my eyes shut, probably after coffee, and lunch, before watching the F1 Quali highlights at 17.30.

 

Have a good day one and all, stay safe and keep well.

[Andrew P]

Just been informed that one our eldest Grand Daughter and better half, (they've been together about 15 years) and their Husky are popping around for coffee this morning.

 

And one of the Step Daughters and her Boyfriend are popping around this afternoon.

 

Nice YES, but it means I'll probably have a delayed kip in the chair, = PHA, as Baz would say.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis was in full voice early (4 am) this morning but getting up and moving about soon quietened him down so I went back to sleep for a couple more hours.

1 hour ago, chrisf said:

Greetings one and all

It appears that I am on YouTube.  The presentation that I gave a couple of weeks ago was recorded and has been shared with the rest of humanity.  I have not dared watch it yet but I sincerely hope that the technical hitches at the beginning have been edited out.  Those who can face listening to my commentary will surely discover how it was that I never made a career in broadcasting.  They will also share my surprise that I have been invited to repeat the presentation – to a different audience, naturally.

Chris

Any possibility of a link? 

Time to run a bath, be back later.

[leopardml2341]

41 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

I have a busy weekend of nothingness planned so will be doing some of that with my eyes shut, probably after coffee, and lunch, before watching the F1 Quali highlights at 17.30.

 

37 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

Just been informed that ........

Just when you thought it was safe to make your own plans........

[Barry O]

@iL Dottore unlike Switzerland (which seemingly can't give any of the war loot in its vaults back to anyone, the UK Post War was absolutely skint ( we didn't finish paying our  bestest buddies the USA off from our war "loans" until December 2006). Lots of people were available (and were, compared to new machines cheap) So Britain had to "make do".. despite that we did manage to design and build some advanced engineering projects (a number of very good aircraft, the first nuclear power station (Calder Hall) , we even designed the Centurion tank (which seems to have sold well to Switzerland and other countries).

 

We did , however have a bean counter problem. As in investments could only be made if a guaranteed 10% profit could be guaranteed.   We did have machining centers etc as time went on (the Milan anti tank missile had a single machining center which churned out thousands of missile bits a week when I was at St Eveneage in the Late 1970s.. for example) (after all we invented the production line (or rather Mark Isambard Brunel did) The big problem we had was an inability to keep quality of parts and products  on the increase (mainly due to the bean counters)...

 

 

Baz

 

 

 

[JohnDMJ]

 

4 minutes ago, Barry O said:

We did , however have a bean counter problem. As in investments could only be made if a guaranteed 10% profit could be guaranteed.

 

As evidenced during the building of the Channel Tunnel!

[New Haven Neil]

Rushing again due to the need to ride trains on rails,  two and three.    Anyone awake enough to sus that?

 

iD's comments leave NHN wondering where he features in the list of three.....but in terms of trying to bring about change and efficiency in his own little bit of the NHS, he tried, not always successfully. 

 

Robert/Eric - we are listening, my friend.  This is a supportive place.

[chrisf]

52 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

. When you went out and purchased your supply of custard powder just how much did you acquire?

I have no secrets from fellow ERs.  Four drums, for 85p a drum.  The source of supply was Morrisons in Ampthill Road, Bedford, and it was their own brand.  It's over by the canned fruit, which is uncommonly logical for a supermarket.  My normal purveyor of fodder, Stockwell and Cohen, sells only Birds custard, at nearly twice the price.  Good hunting!

 

Chris   

[Andrew P]

31 minutes ago, leopardml2341 said:

 

Just when you thought it was safe to make your own plans........

Yes, thinking for myself never did work.

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

 

In the UK a Snakebite is lager & cider; apparently many pubs won't serve it as it has a reputation for producing carrots....

It also has a reputation for producing rapid inebriation and associated disorder and violence.  The former is why it has become popular among the younger “drinking classes”.  Clued-up bar staff will also not provide an extra glass if a pint of each is ordered together. 
 

Morning all. Last night’s post seems to have vanished into cyberspace. Worse things happen. 
 

A very poor attempt at sleep was not enjoyed and even required the making of tea and toast at 2am. Most joints currently hurt. In an hour I have to take Dr. SWMBO to Bristol in order to wave at her friend through a window. Friend has perhaps a few days left in this life. Not an easy gig. 
 

Last night descended into boredom and frustration. I really need to out. I have declined several social invitations this week because Dr. SWMBO will not have me visiting pubs, cafés or other’s homes. This despite both of us being double-jabbed plus two weeks. I don’t think I can sensibly cope with many more Friday nights in front of inane tv as invites and messages arrive asking me to join friends. 
 

This is the window of opportunity before a potentially difficult autumn and winter. 
 

How do I enjoy what I can of life without being locked out for disobeying orders?  And how many times can I decline invitations before I no longer get invited?  
 

But first it is time to shower the Gwiwer and head west on a mission I didn’t want to accept and am not keen on.  Sometimes needs must.