Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[jjb1970]

1 hour ago, tetsudofan said:

 

Was the shop Tenshodo just off the Ginza? Watch/Jewellery shop on the ground floor and trains on three floors above it.

 

If so, I spent many a lunch break there! They even had some LGB in a large cabinet on the staircase up to the trains.

 

Keith

 

The one to visit is the evergreen department on the top floor which is full of second-hand brass. Some of it is frighteningly expensive but it's all drool worthy and they usually have some really obscure and odd ball stuff. One of the things about brass is that because very low production runs are viable (even unique one-off models) you see stuff that is unlikely ever to be done RTR. Tenshodo are one of the great names of model railways, though they're probably best known for the US outline brass models they supplied. 

[jjb1970]

On cruise ships I've never been on a cruise but went on-board cruise ships when I worked in class. I remember one day I was on one of the huge RCCL mega ships to do some work and was chatting to their technical manager who said why don't we go for an ice cream. So we ended up sat on one of the decks enjoying ice cream and a rather nice fruit juice 'mocktail'. I was wearing a Lloyd's Register polo shirt and lanyard with a company hard hat next to me, I just knew people must have been walking past thinking '***** typical, ***** British workers, paid to work and he's sat stuffing his face with ice cream'🤣

[monkeysarefun]

Wildlife in the suburbs. This morning  I intended to move a tarp that was keeping weeds off a future garden bed, but a Blue tongue appeared on it and refused to move, I guess it liked the warmth under it.

 

So I left it for half an hour thinking I'd have a coffee on the deck, a Butcherbird arrived to see what I was doing. 

 

Went inside to get it an almond, coming back  out I discovered a cocky had arrived and demanded one too. 

 

Luckily not all our creatures are deadly or we'd be in bodybags by lunchtime.

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

thinking I'd have a coffee on the deck

Is that banana tree productive?

 

I think the birds all get together and let each other know you are a soft touch for a handout. 😉

[J. S. Bach]

5 hours ago, PupCam said:

Evening All!

 ...snip... Come to think of it, there wasn't a lot of house either - a middle of terrace, 2 up 2 down cottage 10' wide and 18' deep! ...snip...

 

4 hours ago, pH said:

And we thought the first house we stayed in when we were married was narrow! We had all of another foot of width. And the back yard was about 30 yards long.

That reminds me of the narrowest house in Baltimore, MD; it is about six or so feet wide, a long-armed person could touch both walls at the same time. And now Night owl from the Piedmont.

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by J. S. Bach
To correct a typo.

[jjb1970]

I grew up in a two up, two down terrace in Carlisle. Nowadays the area I grew up with would probably be considered a slum but I had a happy childhood in the 70's and 80's and there was a real sense of community. All the old dears (or as they say in Singapore, all the aunties) would be out cleaning the pavement in front of their houses as there was an expectation that people not only to looked after their own home but also kept the street in tip top shape. I can't help feeling Britain lost something.

I also sometimes look back on school and the influence teachers have over their pupils. The 1980's when I was at secondary school was undeniably a hard time for many people in Britain, with profound changes to the economy, industry and employment and a lot of social unrest. I remember some teachers telling their pupils there wasn't much point worrying about doing well at school as there were no jobs and spending as much time on polemics about the then Prime Minister as they did teaching. I must admit I was not blameless, people in one of my sets figured out if our English literature teacher saw a copy of the Sun he'd spend all lesson ranting and we had a lesson off so we took turns to turn up in class with a rolled-up copy of the Sun we'd find somewhere visible in our pocket and get him going. However, my interest was in maths, science and history and I was very lucky with the teachers in those subjects, even though I was a terrible pupil. I figured out if I passed all the exams with good grades that's all anyone was really bothered about and have a weird mind that works in a strange way meaning I look distracted and bored while taking things in and actually following everything which is being said, I doodle all the time. Especially in maths and physics I short circuit stuff as I can look at a sheet of mathematical relationships and equations and just take it in and answer without thinking. I suspect it probably puts me somewhere on the spectrum of autism but it is a very useful trait as an engineer. Anyway, I had parents and maths, science teachers who were very much more positive about the world and were clear that if you work hard, study hard then life is what you make of it and at least you'll have options in life. Though they weren't happy that I decided to do a merchant navy cadetship instead of going to university (I went to university later as a mature student and then did a master's later still). I look back and find it sad so many of the kids I grew up with took a fatalist view of life and the world and went into a self-fulfilling vicious circle of not making any effort because there was no point, going nowhere and being vindicated in their own mind that there was no point trying. Sad.

[monkeysarefun]

52 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Is that banana tree productive?

 

 

It's actually a giant Bird Of Paradise plant, about 12 feet tall now. Banana trees do bear fruit here,  though we do get the occasional frost which keeps me from trying one personally.

Edited November 5, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[Ozexpatriate]

24 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Banana trees do bear fruit here

The next door neighbours had a banana tree back home. They are fussy about male/female plants in proximity and pollination. It fruited a couple of times. The neighbours tried to get rid of it but it kept coming back. They succeeded eventually.

 

We had paw-paw (aka papaya) trees. They grew up against the guttering on the roof and when young it was my assignment to climb a ladder to the roof to pick them. Mum would eat them for breakfast.  The trunks being very soft, they are not sturdy enough to sustain a ladder placed against the tree itself. I never really cared for paw-paw but will happily eat it in a tropical fruit salad

 

We also had a mandarin orange / mandarine tree. It fruited reliably for a number of years.

 

In the yard behind us was a monster mango tree. It did not reliably fruit, but occasionally produced nice mangoes.

[Erichill16]

Went to Japan in 2019 and spent a few days in Tokyo.

Even went to the Kato factory shop which was a bit off the beaten track.I’ve got  a picture of me posing with the tram outside but can’t find it.
We did find a couple of (plastic) model shops in Akihabara (Electric City) and bought a Tomy Percy N gauge loco which isn’t available in the Uk, we’ll not officially anyway, from ‘Yodabashi Camera’. I saw a couple of these shops whist in Japan and they are incredible. Though they do sell cameras, they sell EVERYTHING electrical from washing machines to microelectronics to model railways and their store are massive and in the city centres.

Not a particularly good picture but ‘Electric City’ at dusk.

[iL Dottore]

6 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

They would say that though, wouldn't they!

But it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

[iL Dottore]

6 hours ago, tetsudofan said:

 

Was the shop Tenshodo just off the Ginza? Watch/Jewellery shop on the ground floor and trains on three floors above it.

 

 When I recounted my enjoyable visit to a Japanese model railway shop in Tokyo I couldn’t remember the name of it, but it being in the Ginza did ring a bell. And now that you mentioned it, I remember that it was the Tenshodo shop I visited (I remember pouncing upon the name because at the time there was a lot in the British model railway press about Tenshodo motors - although probably there is no connection between the two).

Edited November 5, 2022 by iL Dottore

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

I grew up in a two up, two down terrace in Carlisle. Nowadays the area I grew up with would probably be considered a slum but I had a happy childhood in the 70's and 80's and there was a real sense of community.

It seems that housing in a lot of the UK – originally built for the workers around an industry – goes through three phases: firstly, as a working-class community; secondly, as a slum; and thirdly as very desirable (and needless to say expensive) inner city housing for the well heeled middle-class. The irony is that the grandchildren are now living in areas that their grandparents would never even deign or condescend to visit when they (the Grandparents) were young.
 

I guess the secret to becoming a British property tycoon is to be able to figure out well in advance which area of slum housing is going to go through a rebirth and become an intensely desirable neighbourhood. In that way you could buy a full street of houses (at the beginning of the area’s gentrification) for the price of what a single house would go for on today’s market.

 

I remember, in the late 60s, that Shoreditch was so rundown (and considered so dangerous) that they couldn’t even give property away. And now? Definitely six figure prices!

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

I grew up in a two up, two down terrace in Carlisle. Nowadays the area II look back and find it sad so many of the kids I grew up with took a fatalist view of life and the world and went into a self-fulfilling vicious circle of not making any effort because there was no point, going nowhere and being vindicated in their own mind that there was no point trying. Sad.

I’m wondering if this isn’t a very British thing, (what I have highlighted above) that these kids are influenced to be fatalistic (if not actively discouraged from “doing well in school”) by those around them?
 

When I did my first temporary job in the UK after University in the US (whilst all my professional  paperwork was being processed) I did a month’s stint in a clerical role at the then newly formed British Telecom.  It was an interesting gig, not least because of the varied personalities in the office. We had a young man, about 17, a skinhead and a bit of a lad but a pretty decent fellow nonetheless, who was excited about joining the army and learning a trade and “bettering himself“. My fellow clerk, a Dave Spart type if there ever was one, openly sneered at the young lad for being “a class traitor” and implied that the young lad should be satisfied with doing what his dad did, rather than go into the army, learn skills and a trade and better himself. (I encouraged the lad to “go for it”, much to the disgust of the Dave Spart type who was also irritated with me because as I was a “Johnny foreigner“ he couldn’t pigeonhole me).

 

Certainly “knowing your place” was (still is?) expected in British society and woe betide anyone wanting to break out. As beautifully lampooned by Monty Python in the 60s: 

 

From my reading, it does seem that this “know your place and stick to it” evolved during the Edwardian era; the Victorian era – certainly up to the late 1800s – was marked by a lot of social mobility with all classes actively encouraged to be involved in learning and culture.

 

All I can say is “what a waste“.

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by iL Dottore
Clarifying text

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, J. S. Bach said:

 

That reminds me of the narrowest house in Baltimore, MD; it is about six or so feet wide, a long-armed person could touch both walls at the same time. And now Night owl from the Piedmont.

 

My first house was a 2 up 2 down mid terrace. It was about 10' wide and about 24' front to back.  A kitchen extension about 7' long ad been built at the back. The cellar had been blanked off when the terrace was modernised in the early 70's. I bought it in 75.  Having a house either side it was warm and I loved the place. It also just about doubled in value in 4 years and that gave me a good amount of capital when I got married in 79.  It was a good place to live. I bought it for £6,600  and it has just sold for £185,000..  

 

Anyway the light has arrived outside. In an hour we will be talking to the girls then if it stays dry it will be grass cutting time as the tractor is working again.  A not a bonfire party to go to tonight.  The mayor has banned bonfires in the village we are going to.  

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Had some rain earlier and more is due in 22 minutes according to my phone app.  Outbreaks of rain, sometimes heavy,  forecast throughout the day.  Currently 8°C possibly rising to 14°C.         

A couple of domestic tasks are on the list after breakfast and then I may well be watching some rugby, recorded and live.  Quelle surprise!

Soon be time for breakfast.

Have a good one,

Bob.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Bit damp and grey outside. Never mind.

 

Off to a Fireworks party at youngest Herbert's Fiancé's parent farm tonight. Should be a nice evening ..First time in ages seeing her parents. Shame I am still off my beer!

 

Rest of today is fighting with more sound systems.. pah!

 

I did note that @trisonic has reappeared on other social media. Hopefully we will see him back here soon.

 

Hope all missing ERs are keeping well.

 

Off to drink me tea before I get into megadrivelling mode!

 

Stay safe!

 

Baz

Edited November 5, 2022 by Barry O

[jjb1970]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

 When I recounted my enjoyable visit to a Japanese model railway shop in Tokyo I couldn’t remember the name of it, but it being in the Ginza did ring a bell. And now that you mentioned it, I remember that it was the Tenshodo shop I visited (I remember pouncing upon the name because at the time there was a lot in the British model railway press about Tenshodo motors - although probably there is no connection between the two).

 

It's the same Tenshodo, Tenshodo is an odd company, a jewellery shop and watchmaker that makes model trains. I guess there's a lot of cross over between the skills needed as a jeweller and making models so maybe it's more surprising the connection isn't more common. Their model railway business is hard to pigeonhole too as they go from low-cost entry-level plastic HO RTR through high end plastic HO RTR, high end diecast HO RTR with sound to their famous brass range with sidelines in motors, Z and N as well as being a retail shop. Another interesting thing is they're not truly a manufacturer. Their watches are manufactured to Tenshodo designs by companies like Citizen and the model trains are outsourced (they may do a small amount of the highest end brass in-house). Their shop in Ginza is a remarkable place, there aren't many model shops like it.

[Grizz]

Morning All….

 

Bit fuzzy round the edges this morning, after getting lashed up at Badge Night last night at ‘The Dorset’…

Fantastic atmosphere and great fun, with many rookies and crackers being let off throughout the evening.
 

Well no more sleeps…the 5th is here! Just got to get it together to make a large cooked breakfast. Oh and recover ‘the dead and the dying’ from the living room sofa. Despite his protestations, number one cub will be much better after a good old greasy fry up. 
 

Then it is off to Bonfire central for the fun and games….

 

Have a great day all.

 

Kindest Regards

 

Grizz
 

[Erichill16]

53 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

 

It's the same Tenshodo, …………

…….. Their shop in Ginza is a remarkable place, there aren't many model shops like it.

Seems a pity I missed that one as we did spend some time in Giza.

Thinking about it though, less than a month before I was at Intermodelbau in Dortmund so perhaps it’s a good thing I did miss it. Shouldn’t grumble, we had a very good time cruising around Japan (and Vladivostok).

The Tokyo metro system is a bit of an eye opener though.

 

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by Erichill16
Spelling

[New Haven Neil]

When I was a crusty young sea-dog we used to go to Kobe a lot, there was a shop in the Daimaru which was a sort of John Lewis' sort of department store, but absolutely huge.  The model railway floor was eye boggling, but I didn't have much spendy money back then and they weren't cheap.  Wish I had splashed out now though.  I'd love to go back to Japan, I loved the country, maybe when Mrs NHN retires we will do so.

Edited November 5, 2022 by New Haven Neil
speelink

[PhilJ W]

Give a dog a name. This was on Twitter this morning, the owner of this puppy is asking for name suggestions.

[New Haven Neil]

1 minute ago, PhilJ W said:

Give a dog a name. This was on Twitter this morning, the owner of this puppy is asking for name suggestions.

 

Biggles - RAF 'tache.

[chrisf]

I have been taken to task discreetly for not posting here as often as I might.  My plea in mitigation was that I had nothing to say.  This, I was told in reply, does not stop others. 

 

Actually, I do have something on my mind at the moment - backache.  Its unwelcome presence is deterring me from moving about unnecessarily, not that I am likely to do such a thing whether or not the consequences are painful.  Whether sitting on the sofa for hours watching TV is cause or effect I know not.  On past form the pain will get better and go away.  All together now: get well soon.

 

Chris

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis was making his presence felt this morning but a brace of Nurofen has seen him off. Not much planned for today except the bread pudding, it will be the first time I've used the oven in over a year so I'd better check it out.

[Gwiwer]

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Shoreditch was so rundown (and considered so dangerous)

Indeed it was.  And with more than one street sign vandalised to remove the S and the d.  I'll leave you, dear ERs, to work the rest out!  

 

I passed through Shoreditch a few years ago at around 1.30am.  I was surprised to see the extent to which it had become a must-be-seen-at night spot and playground.  When I was at university, not a million miles away in the City of London, it was definitely considered a dirty and dangerous area.  It still has its seedier sides and dark alleyways where it may be best not to wander; they haven't caught Jack the Ripper yet, have they?  Shoreditch and his turf around Whitechapel are very near neighbours and the latter has yet to enjoy any of the rub-off effect being still very much down-at-heel, dirty and not a place to be at night.  

 

G'morning all.  A wet one Upon the Hill of Strawberries.  My Margate correspondent reports that it is bright and sunny farther east however.  My Gravesend correspondent reports that he enjoyed a modest "English Breakfast" there before starting his day's work.  Speaking of seedy locations and Gravesend (which can be one and the same) I recall seeing signs there with the G defaced or removed.  

 

Dr. SWMBO has developed a stinking cold though continues to test negative for the Wuhan Wonder-bug so our lunchtime gathering with friends has been cancelled.  She must be feeling unwell as she asked for breakfast in bed which is extremely rare.  The weeds are taking over once more outside but the soil is like treacle and the weather also mitigates against them being removed for now.  I guess it's muggercoffy time and back to compiling the book then.  

 

Take care.  Be good.  And if you can't do either there are pills these days.