Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Hello again from Estuary-Land. Nearly forgot, when I went out this afternoon I espied in next doors skip a forty litre plastic box that was undamaged and nearly new and some unused laminate flooring, still in the packaging. About 2.5 square metres. My brick shed is about two square metres and at present is floored with some rather tatty but sound chipboard. There was also some plastic garden furniture, tired but still useable, until the next gale that is when its likely to disappear to a few streets away.

[Dave Hunt]

Something of a downbeat day in prospect tomorrow as I'll be going to say goodbye to my old friend Bob Essery at his funeral. The end of an era.

 

Dave

[simontaylor484]

1 hour ago, Sir TophamHatt said:

While we're on the topic of food, thought we'd have a very adult fry up for tea this evening... 

 

 

Quite full now!

Leave the beans of mine please

[Winslow Boy]

24 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

Something of a downbeat day in prospect tomorrow as I'll be going to say goodbye to my old friend Bob Essery at his funeral. The end of an era.

 

Dave

 

Nothing stays still especially not time I'm afraid.

 

Just remember the good times and think about all the things you learnt. That way he will never be forgotten.

[Ian Abel]

A very late Chewsday greeting

 

No reasons/explanations, busy, occupied etc., etc!

 

Yesterday we DID manage to take Bob over to see the folks who found him - he used to visit their daughter regularly when the Mrs was working with her, a reminder, she passed away a short while ago. They still like seeing Bob as he was always considered Michelles cat too, even though they couldn't keep him themselves due to her severe allergy problems. Very nice visit for all involved

 

Today - the gasman washing machine man cometh. Fixed problem with said machine.

 

<RANT>

I do have something very disturbing to notify everyone about, an entirely NEW virus has appeared in Minesota, I'm calling it MORON-21!

We're now blasting past our previous infection rates and have had dire warnings from the state Health Commissioner, that currently there are virtually NO ICU beds available in the state. Out of 1,021 staffed ICU beds in THE STATE, there are 13 available.

Something approaching 95% of those with COVID and occupying ICU beds are unvaccinated - the MORON cases

 

One idiot - no other word for him - who has spent the last three weeks watching his unvaccinated wife as she has struggled on a ventilator, and is just NOW starting to turn around, when asked if he would NOW get a shot said, "no, I just don't want to"! Give me strength!

 

Avoid doing things like, have heart attacks, strokes, injuries from falling on the ice and snow and above all avoid car accidents.... 

<END RANT>

 

-2 to start the day, mostly sunny, 5 the expected high.

 

Carry on, try and avoid as many morons as you can

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

Ian, words fail me.

 

Is all.

[polybear]

2 hours ago, Sir TophamHatt said:

While we're on the topic of food, thought we'd have a very adult fry up for tea this evening... 

 

 

Quite full now!

 

No Onion Rings?  You've been cheated....

Incidentally, is that cheese on toast I spy?  With a F.E?  That's a new one on this Bear.

Looks rather good for a Chrimbo dins dins.  As a Starter......

(Google "Kidz Breakfast" for the Real Deal.....)

 

In other news......

Well the latest in the F1 saga is:

Maclaren will get one shot at appealing the result of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after it emerged that a possible case in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport is off the table.

 

So who gets to hear the case?  Yep, the FIA.  That makes them the accused, Judge and Jury:

 

FIA rules, which all F1 teams including Mercedes agree to, dictate that any proceedings would be heard at the governing body's Court of Appeal.

That means the team, if it does decide to press on with its appeal, would have to convince a panel appointed by the FIA to essentially rule against itself.

That is unlikely to happen, as it would be a major embarrassment for the sport if its top officials were to admit they had manufactured the outcome of the title race.

 

And finally.....

Apparently this guy is a bodyguard - presumably to the young lady on the left (anyone recognise who it is?).  I'd not argue with him 

 

[simontaylor484]

The FIA seem to have backed themselves into a corner sadly Lewis has been robbed. I had hoped he would have beaten Schumacher record I just hope Lewis doesn't throw the towel in.

Although I do prefer rallying and the BTCC

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, Dave Hunt said:

Something of a downbeat day in prospect tomorrow as I'll be going to say goodbye to my old friend Bob Essery at his funeral. The end of an era.

 

Dave

I would have liked, strange though that might sound, to be there myself.  It cannot be.  I'll raise a glass instead.  

 

G'night all.  It's been a grumpy sort of day everywhere.  Maybe better tomorrow, who knows?  Sleep well.  

[New Haven Neil]

Not too grumpy here, I did go for a bumble on Bumble, chilly but enjoyable.

 

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[monkeysarefun]

10 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

In Australia - tipping is not expected though is appreciated.  

Its always been a tradition to put out a carton of beer for the garbos (bin men) at Christmas, at least up until the '90's. The more stingy or strapped for cash would put out a couple of bottles.

 

Seems to have been reduced to a 6 pack over the last few years, I guess due to price, but thats probably more helpful to the garbos who used to have to have someone in a ute or truck travel  with them to load all the cartons into, or else keep returning to base to unload. Also its only about 25% or so houses seem to do it now  I guess its one more "Aussie"  tradition  falling by the wayside.

 

Surprisingly I don't  think I've ever heard of any getting knicked, despite them sitting out on the kerb beside the bin overnight ready for the early morning  garbo run. 

 

I usually slip the bloke next door a carton at Christmas cos he gets all the leaves  from my Illawarra  flame tree blowing into  his back yard at this time of year in a westerly, which would be annoying.

Edited December 15, 2021 by monkeysarefun

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Been measuring up the laminate flooring and the shed, it seems plenty enough to do the whole floor. Now I have to empty the shed.

4 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Its always been a tradition to put out a carton of beer for the garbos (bin men) at Christmas, at least up until the '90's. The more stingy would put out a couple of bottles.

 

Seems to have been reduced to a 6 pack over the last few years, I guess due to price, but thats probably more helpful to the garbos who used to have to have someone in a ute or truck travel  with them to load all the cartons into, or else keep returning to base to unload. Also its only about 25% or so houses seem to do it now  I guess its one more "Aussie"  tradition  falling by the wayside.

 

Surprisingly I don't  think I've ever heard of any getting knicked, despite them sitting out on the kerb beside the bin overnight ready for the early morning  garbo run. 

Problem here is there are separate collections for re-cycling, land fill, garden waste and bottles so whoever arrives first gets the prize. When I was a nipper we had plenty of callers, insurance man, Christmas club etc as well as the milkman and postman who all got a tot of whisky from my dad.  One of our neighbours was a milkman and the police stopped his milk float and breathalysed him just before Christmas as he was making his way back to the depot. He was way over the drink drive limit.

[monkeysarefun]

1 minute ago, PhilJ W said:

Problem here is there are separate collections for re-cycling, land fill, garden waste and bottles so whoever arrives first gets the prize.

We have that too, they put it into a big pile back at garbage HQ an then divvy it up.

 

Why wouldnt they?  Imagine being that one bloke who took it all for himself instead of sharing with his mates - he'd sure have a sh1thouse working life the rest of the year! 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

It wasn’t until after I’d made my first post this morning that I noticed it was foggy! But it cleared up mid morning and the rest of the day was quite pleasant. 

 

Shopping was shopped and the stock levels are now back to normal on bulk but items. It’s so much cheaper to buy a 5ltr bottle of fabric conditioner than it is to buy 6 or 7 - 3/4ltr bottles etc. We do the same for laundry washing liquid as well. I refill a smaller bottle, making it easier for Sheila to handle, so that means that there is less waste, so it’s better for the planet too! 

 

After dinner I finished off making the spiced fruit tea loaf that I’d left soaking overnight, the aroma that wafted in to the living room from the kitchen was heavenly. 

 

This evening we had our weekly chat with Vickie, we’d already spoken to James and Michael over the weekend, so we’ve caught up with them all now, until next week that is. When we spoke with James on Sunday, we arranged for him and Amelia to come round on Friday for tea, that’s not happened for quite some time now, so we’re really looking forward to seeing them both. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[monkeysarefun]

55 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Goodnight all.

But...its 1130 in the morning!

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

... words fail me.

Vaccination rates in the US are heavily politicized.

 

Much independent data analysis has been done to study this.

 

I am reluctant to make any further comment that broaches our guidelines on avoiding politics.

 

[Ozexpatriate]

5 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Its always been a tradition to put out a carton of beer for the garbos (bin men) at Christmas, at least up until the '90's. ...

 

... Also its only about 25% or so houses seem to do it now  I guess its one more "Aussie"  tradition  falling by the wayside.

I saw this tail off in southeast Queensland in the 1970s.

 

It might have coincided with the big Brisbane sewerage project. My grandmother (who lived only a couple of miles away) had an outhouse aka "thunderbox/dunny" with 'collection' at least until the early 1970s. (In contrast, my childhood home originally had a septic system.) By the mid-1970s we were all on a full sewer. The sewer went in to my early childhood home before we moved in 1971.

 

I have strong memories of a big strapping bloke jumping the fence while shouldering a tray of straw and excrement from the thunderbox at my Grandmother's on his way back to the 'truck'. What a nasty job! (In subtropical heat!) He and his mates earned a bottle of Bundy at Christmas as a token of appreciation.

 

Edited December 15, 2021 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

7 hours ago, polybear said:

Apparently this guy is a bodyguard

Shades of "Fezzik" in The Princess Bride, (played by the late wrestler, André the Giant).

 

I find this quote from The Princess Bride to be apropos:

 

Fezzik: Why do you wear a mask? Were you burned by acid, or something like that?

Man in Black: Oh no, it's just that they're terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.

 

Edited December 15, 2021 by Ozexpatriate

[monkeysarefun]

8 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I have strong memories of a big strapping bloke jumping the fence while shouldering a tray of straw and excrement from the thunderbox at my Grandmother's on his way back to the 'truck'. What a nasty job! (In subtropical heat!) He and his mates earned a bottle of Bundy at Christmas as a token of appreciation.

The dunny man! 

 

We lived in a posh house with an inside toilet that flushed but nearby some of my mates had the outside toilet with can in it that was collected by the dunny man. 

 

Summer the cans were just a ball of flies and stinky as, these blokes should have got medals and stuff for carrying them upon their shoulders, right beside their face, especially since some were not the cleanest on the outside if someone's aim was off...

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, polybear said:

……- full scanning is underway (both Guests and Packaging) to ensure no skullduggerous additions are being carried.....  

Captain Cynical extends his compliments and wishes to inform The Bear that thanks to a “valued business collaborator” inside Area 51, CC has access to tracking and spy technology that is - quite literally - out of this world.

Good luck in finding everything hidden (and sometimes in plain sight…)

9 hours ago, AndrewC said:

K-riste on a cracker. That is about 6 weeks worth of carbs for me. Does Mrs Hat have a substantial life insurance policy on you? 

I pity poor T Hat’s pancreas - that sort of meal on a regular basis could mean having that nice Mr Type II Diabetes coming to stay….

 

An update on the “lost” computer: obviously me being noisy has had some impact. I had a nice email from the shipper saying that they now know where it is (on the way to a distribution centre in Germany). The customer service (as in answering emails) was good, their phone support? - worthless! We’ll see what happens. I’m hoping it arrives before Christmas….

[chrisf]

How do

 

I was in Hitchin last evening for a sparsely attended but interesting RCTS meeting.  On the way home I allowed myself a pre-Christmas treat - the sound of Spector.  "A Christmas Gift For You" is a set of seasonal songs done by Spector's artists - here a Crystal, there a Ronette - that was first issued in November 1963 on the day after JFK was shot.  That rather put a damper on sales but the record company persisted and for a while at least it was issued every year.  I picked up my vinyl copy for £1 from a shop that clearly did not know the value of what it was selling and is now long gone.  Nowadays the odd track gets played on the radio or included in a TV commercial and there must be many who recognise the tracks but do not know where they come from.  There are not many classic albums in my collection but I reckon that the Spector Christmas album is one.

 

Chris