Early Risers.

[simontaylor484]

Usually I have seen on track plant moves on Real time trains. And measurement train runs. I can see them come past from our bedroom window 

[simontaylor484]

3 minutes ago, polybear said:

Bear here.....

Who took delivery of a load of skirting and architrave for the Great H/S/L refurb.  I got a text at 0906 saying that the driver was 2 stops away and would be with me shortly.  He called me later to say that the sat nav was telling him he was an hour away.  He finally arrived at 1pm, having started work at 2am from Birmingham.  Why?  Effin' protesters on the M25, that's why.  He's still got deliveries to make, then drive back to Birmingham - I dread to think how many hours he will have worked.  I hope he gets overtime.

That's not a Beary Rant, by the way (it's not a problem for me) - it's a Driver Rant on his behalf (though he was as nice as pie).  The sooner the Police start tying ropes around their ankles and draggin' them off the road behind a Police Van the better.  That bit definitely is a Beary Rant.

Or run road rollers at them see how fast they move off the road then.

Or just leave the road open.

Haulage firms should be able to sue the ar5es off Just stop oil for lost earnings etc.

 

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from a grey and drizzly Sidcup where I am currently WFH. I had my latest Covid booster this morning - there was almost no queue and no requirement to sit and wait and so I was back home in 10 minutes. I feel slightly tired now, a few hours later.

 

There was talk of Ffestiniog travel earlier - isn't that the company that Chrisf used for at least one of his journeys?

 

In terms of education, my Grandma on my Dad's side was the daughter of a Welsh methodist preacher in the valleys. But she was then in service in Bristol - where at some point she met my grandad. They moved to North London where he worked as a grocer's assistant and she had my Dad and his brother. Grandad was killed in the wat and afterwards my Grandma bought the two boys up on her war widow's pension and supplemented this by working as a cleaner. My Dad got to grammar school and would have liked to go to university - but there was not enough money so he had to do his A levels in one year, and then went to work as a travel agent, later working in BP's internal travel department. I think there was a little bit more money on my Mum's side - they certainly had a telly for the coronation but my Grandad on that side was a printer and was in the MN in the war. He died when I was about two - but my suspicion is that he was in the MN because he was a conscientious objector and that he was possibly on the Arctic convoys. His dad was in the RN so I am sure that something could have been arranged...

 

Roll on the years and I also got to grammar school and then went to university. I guess I was the first in the family (at least on my Dad's side, but no big thing was made of it as such.)

[The White Rabbit]

4 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

Usually I have seen on track plant moves on Real time trains. And measurement train runs. I can see them come past from our bedroom window 

 

Yes, same here. The view isn't good enough for a decent photo but if I see them going up, if I'm not doing anything, I can walk up to the line and snap them coming back. I was going to phot Saturday's train as the tree trimmers have cut down some of the small saplings in this frame and opened it out so there's room for a view of two 37s and four tankers. But I got a little sidetracked by a canine friend and didn't get across the line in time. 

 

[simontaylor484]

Had a weird happening in B&M this morning its really impacted on me it would probably be nothing to other people.

I picked up one of those pill boxes that sort tablets in to days for the eldest. I went to get some paracetamol for myself I noticed that the Saturday and Sunday compartments wouldn't shut properly. So i went to return the box and pick up another one. I couldn't find them again I looked up and down even retracing my steps 3 times. I put the unwanted box on the shelf near toothpaste when I came back that had even dissappeared 

 

 

[DaveF]

This morning has been mainly dull but no rain.  I thought it would be very quiet but I ended being quite busy.

 

Now for yesterday.  I woke at 07.00 after sleeping soundly all night feeling very tired but got up anyway.  By 09.00 I'd made a phone call and done some e mails and began to feel more with it so decided to go to the usual service at church.  The vicar is away so the service was taken by Bill who retired from a local parish years ago, I've known him for a long time so we had a quick "catch up" after the service.  I also had a chat with a friend whose daughter died earlier in the year, he is beginning to get over it now.  Then I came back home for coffee and lunch.

 

After a pleasant lunch I went for a walk for about an hour, when I got home I decided to set up the new phones I bought a few days ago.  That took me the rest of the afternoon  but I now have an acceptable ring tone, lifting the phone off the base unit answers the call, it has the right number of rings before the answer phone starts and call waiting seems to work etc etc.  On the previous phone all these were default settings - why do things get more and more complicated and instruction books harder to follow?

 

After tea I read for a while and then watched TV - with part of a programme of Bavarian folk music on German TV, Antiques Roadshow and then the second episode of the fictional series about the SAS - which I managed to watch for 5 minutes before I gave up on it and watched an old Onedin Line instead.  

 

David

 

 

 

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, The White Rabbit said:

 

Yes, same here. The view isn't good enough for a decent photo but if I see them going up, if I'm not doing anything, I can walk up to the line and snap them coming back. I was going to phot Saturday's train as the tree trimmers have cut down some of the small saplings in this frame and opened it out so there's room for a view of two 37s and four tankers. But I got a little sidetracked by a canine friend and didn't get across the line in time. 

 

Would that be Wharfedale by any chance?

Slept in till nearly 8 this morning. Builders came at 10, and I left them to it and went to buy the V belt for the lawn tractor.  A diversion en route delayed me a bit.  The shop was very efficient, had the right part in stock for at least €10 less that Mr Bezos was charging.  Anyway after lunch I got the belt fitted and it's all working again.  As there was a bright yellow thing in the sky I cut the remaining grass and things now look a lot better out there. Now it's coffee and cake time.

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

Wharfedale?

 

Lost 4 hours true work this morning due to the A/C not coming back on after the power out..

 

Instead I gave my replacement the general rundown on the equipments, once we had cooling started teaching him how to cal major equipments... so far so good.

[jjb1970]

7 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Good morning all,

 

After last night‘s rain, things have turned distinctly chilly – which will make my trip into the village on my bike to collect some groceries rather “interesting“.

 

A fairly busy day awaits at work: I have a few hundred pages of drug coding line listings to review (a bit tedious, dead easy but time-consuming and so profitable), I then have to update an organogram for a client – putting myself and my consultant colleagues into their structure. Unusually, for the sort of small company/start-up I usually work with, this organogram is likely to remain unchanged for at least a year (one client I have been working for has gone through three CMOs just during the year I have been working with them!). I then have a database to update which will be followed by an extensive and long “executive lunch“, after which I have a short teleconference and then I am free for the evening.

 

It beats proper working for a living.😁

 

On matters recreational, Mrs iD has approved my three week post immediate retirement excursion to Japan. I will now need to suss out a decent tour organiser and one that doesn’t do the “same old same old“. I wonder if @tetsudofan or @jjb1970 have any pointers? My budget is adequately robust and I am happy to stay in less opulent hotels and hostelries in Japan in exchange for business class or first class travel. Having spent most of my life flying around the globe for work, this body just does not “do” economy long haul. I did do a long haul in economy but only once – when I was much younger, fitter and not afflicted with the aches and pains of old age – and it was a horrendous experience - I needed a few days to recover from the flight, which sort of defeats the purpose of going on a relaxing holiday in the first place: never again!

 

I have found that, in the Far East, unless you go the backpacker route even three star hotels are more than adequate to stay in - plus you are not paying exorbitant amounts for food and drink at the hotel (I mean $7 equivalent for a minibar can of Coke? Really? Someone’s extracting the urine!).

 

This also holds true for much of the US and Canada: the big hotel chains have budget lines which are more than adequate: Mrs ID and I stayed in one (a Marriott offshoot I think) which was basic (no restaurant, no room service, no fitness centre and just a basic “free“ breakfast of Danish or cereal and coffee) but the room was spotlessly clean, quiet, had a decent shower with plump, fluffy towels and was everything we expect from a hotel room – regardless of pricing (if I recall correctly, we paid $30 per night for the two of us). But you do have to do a little bit of research, not all budget hotel lines are the same – some are better than others.

 

Anyway, enough dreaming of future holidays, time to get to work.

 

Have a great Monday

 

 

 

The first thing to decide is time to visit. As you will know, Japan is very seasonal, winter is beautiful but very cold in the Eastern and Northern areas, summer can be very hot and humid, oppressively so at times (though everywhere is air conditioned so you can always escape the heat indoors). Spring and Autumn are probably the best times when it is pleasantly temperate, sakura season is beautiful but it is the tourist peak so can become very busy and prices can get silly as a result. Unless you really want to see the blossom autumn probably makes more sense. Kyushu, the westerly island has quite a different climate, Japan is a very diverse country with Hokkaido being very different from Kyushu at the other end.

On where to go, this is very personal but my favourite of the islands is Hokkaido, which is achingly beautiful feels very different from Honshu. Tokyo is quite a place, like London Tokyo in some ways is best thought of as an agglomeration of urban villages/towns rather than as a homogenous identity, each area has its own character and people will tend to identify with that area as much as with Tokyo. Yokohama is nice, this may be a personal thing but as an ex-seafarer I have a lot of happy memories of Yokohama and still prefer it to Tokyo (I'm sure this is also why I prefer Kobe to Osaka or even Kyoto). There's a lovely seaside town on Tokyo Bay called Enoshima, it's very touristy but there are some beautiful views and it is a lovely day out, some nice views of Fuji-san, and a very easy day trip from Tokyo. Eastern Japan is glorious, the mountains are quite spectacular and a visit to an onsen spa resort is well worth doing. There's something very pleasant about relaxing in a hot spa on a cold winters day on a freezing mountain, the chill air on the upper body contrasts with the hot water (though it can be a bit nippy walking around).

Something I like as a general preference (regardless of country) is to go to 'small town' Japan or wherever else I might be visiting, as you see a very different country. Even in Singapore, we live in Nanyang, which is to the West of Jurong and even in a small city state like Singapore it is a very different place compared to the central area. This may just be me, but I enjoy seeing the places that people live and work in rather than just sticking to the touristy and commercial areas. One of the things I enjoyed spending a lot of time in shipyards was that you see a very different Japan in places like Imari and Kure.

Kyoto is the big 'must visit' city and it's certainly worth a visit. Himeji castle is very famous, and deservedly so, it's like the perfect picture postcard Japanese castle.

Something about Japan is that quality tends to be commensurate with price more than many countries, so expensive restaurants normally are pretty good, upscale hotels normally are a step up etc. However, there is a culture of quality and attention to detail in Japan that means even budget options tend to be pretty good. I am with you on flying, I am in Washington DC this week and the flight (6 hours to Tokyo, then 12 hours to DC) was hard enough in business class never mind economy. The airline makes a difference, I flew ANA and service was superb, you can't go wrong with Singapore Airlines and in general I prefer Asian airlines. They tend to have more of a service ethos. When we go on holiday we tend to go economy simply because paying for four seats (me, wife and two teenagers) does get very expensive to go in the decent seats but we don't fly very often for holidays. Most of my employers have had the same policy, up to 4 - 5 hours economy and business class above that. I flew up to Hanoi a few weeks ago which is three hours from Singapore and that is probably as long as I'd want to do economy.

Something I recommend, and although this may sound silly I am serious, is to watch James May in Japan on Amazon Prime. It's a series he did for Amazon, travelling through Japan and it is excellent and well worth a watch if you are planning to visit Japan. James May is probably not for everyone but I found his Japan travelogue wonderful.

[Tony_S]

On 06/11/2022 at 11:02, petethemole said:

The spider in the bath won't be able to climb the sides, so it might appreciate being relocated.

I had assumed it was surviving on anything coming up the plug hole but I will move it to a nice window ledge where it can overwinter. It could even meet a friend, we find fresh cobwebs on many mornings. 
We have been attempting to deal with some unwanted wildlife in the summer house. Mice have got into the bird food. They have made quite a mess.  Much tidying and some deterrent deployed. Aditi found one dead mouse in a tub of bird seed and she scared another one when sweeping. 

[pgcroc]

One for @Gwiwer

 

 

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

 

Fortunately for both parties Tess & Coe's premises is located at a somewhat greater distance from the Hill of Strawberries than the surgery.  No nether regions were shown by either side to any other party.  

 

I do, finally, have a rolling prescription for the brown (steroidal) asthma preventer which I was hoping for a couple of years ago.  The asthma nurse referred that back to the GP at the time who chose to not sign off on it.  I have been using the inhalers very sparingly ever since.  

 

Knowing that I can use them daily (as instructed backalong) without having to return to the surgery for a new prescription every time is a bit of a burden off my shoulders.  And should ensure slightly better performance all round.  I also get a routing chest X-ray in due course and, whenever the NHS can fit me in, a spirometry session.  

 

I think that means I get to play with all those toothed plastic discs you can use to create fancy patterns ...... oh ..... wait ..... no ...... that's Spirograph. 😂

 

I can also  report back to my specialist at the hospital that all has been found to be basically in order and nothing untoward is expected.  Maintain the current regime, in other words.  

 

It is still raining.  How much more is up there?  The river is at high level already; flow is managed at Teddington Lock but an excess of run-off coming down the non-tidal Thames meeting the North Sea tide coming upstream below that point has a potential to cause problems.  The Thames Barrier would close to prevent widespread flooding of central London but where two opposing forces meet - Teddington is the limit of the tidal river and of the Port of London Authority's management - we sometimes have to wait and see.  Farther upstream the meadows of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire can flood quite easily.  

[Gwiwer]

5 minutes ago, pgcroc said:

One for @Gwiwer

I shall diplomatically refrain from political comment on the first item.  Some things don't need to be aired here.  

[Ian Abel]

Morning...

 

Busy weekend, yes. Doing what, I have no idea!! 🤯

Seemed to just fly by with a lot of errands, some autumn cleanup of the patio furniture etc., shopping for miscellaneous "stuff", a concert Saturday evening. Done!

 

Jemma is down in Atlanta doing conversion training onto the 767-400ER, but as Brendan had his latest trip switched out so it could be used for training flights, we didn't get Whitney, she's home with him. Bob is p!ssed that the weather has taken a turn for the much cooler, so isn't inclined to be outside much. That's about it.

 

This week is the https://simfest.co.uk/worldflight-2022 flight sim event I have been going to in the UK in past years, unable to plan to be there this year, but still following it online/live. Anyone willing to support their chosen charity "The Lullaby Trust" with donations feel free to follow the link above.

 

 

Strong winds order of the day over the weekend, all quiet now BUT, -3C first thing, partly sunny and may reach 6C if we're lucky!

 

Tally ho.

 

[pgcroc]

@GwiwerI shall diplomatically refrain from political comment on the first item.  Some things don't need to be aired here.  

 

I was not highlighting any part of the broadcast.

Just that the channel might be of interest to you.

I used to live in Cornwall, although I am not Cornish.

[zarniwhoop]

Had a 'webinar' this morning for freestyle libre2 (continuous glucose monitor). Sounded as if it was a good thing , webinar was very good.  Then I fitted it, scanned it with my phone to start it, waited an hour, got a reading. Decided to set up low and high alerts, those come with a 'loss of signal' alert (out of range for some minutes). Sensor on right arm, phone in left pocket.  Cooking, loss of signal alert. Scanned sensor. Eating meal, loss of signal alert, scanned sensor.  Phoned local diabetes people to ask about this, the lady I spoke to said to see if it happens again in next half hour, and if so phone the company, sensor might be faulty.

 

25 minutes later, happened again. Phoned, could not make out what the lady I spoke to was saying, beyond telling me to call back and get a different person (it's a freephone on landline). Did that, had partial success in speaking to a guy, but he eventually said I needed to speak to someone who could phone and hear what I was saying, suggested trying a pharmacy (details logged). Got an alert during that, had to take my shirt off to get the sensor to scan.

 

Not a happy bunny. Turned off alerts. Then googled - found a link at the diabetes.co.uk forum, it seems to be a not-uncommon problem. Have tried powering off the phone and then powering up and scanning.  Will maybe try alerts overnight.

[monkeysarefun]

6 hours ago, polybear said:

Any idea what the outcome was - I hope someone did serious time for that.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folole_Muliaga

[monkeysarefun]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

That bit definitely is a Beary Rant.

Sounds like you need a holiday, buddy! Here looks good for you at the moment.

 

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-06/snake-season-breeding-boom/101590812#:~:text=The number of snake sightings,for a bumper breeding season.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Thats the reservoir where a body was found during a previous drought. The murder is still unsolved 30 years later.

With the exceptionally low waters in Lake Mead (the water behind Hoover Dam on the Arizona / Nevada border) at least six sets of human remains have been discovered, but they're not sure how many individuals this represents.

 

CNN: Diver finds more human remains in Lake Mead, marking at least the sixth discovery this year

[monkeysarefun]

8 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

With the exceptionally low waters in Lake Mead (the water behind Hoover Dam on the Arizona / Nevada border) at least six sets of human remains have been discovered, but they're not sure how many individuals this represents.

 

CNN: Diver finds more human remains in Lake Mead, marking at least the sixth discovery this year

 

 

I have mental images of a kind of Monty Python-esque scene in some  carpark there, as so many people arrive to drop bodies off.

 

 

 

(Sending good-luck hugs to democracy today..)

[The White Rabbit]

3 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Would that be Wharfedale by any chance? ... 

 

Yes, between Ben Rhydding and Burley. We're fortunate in being close to fields and walks. And trees and dogs.  

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

I have mental images of a kind of Monty Python-esque scene in some  carpark there, as so many people arrive to drop bodies off.

The lake has been filling since the 1930s* so the rate is actually pretty low. At least one set of remains is from an accidental drowning during a boating accident, but some of them are clearly murders (like the gunshot victim in a barrel) and some suspect may well have been mob hits.

 

Well over 100 people died during construction of the dam. There are unfounded rumors that corpses are buried in the concrete.

 

* And emptying in the last couple of decades.

 

Edited November 7, 2022 by Ozexpatriate

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis has kept coming and going all day coinciding with the arrival of bands of rain. I was watching scenic railways from the air last night, this time it was the Darjeeling Railway, another one for the bucket list.

[simontaylor484]

I watched a BBC documentary on the Himalayan and Darjeeling line the night my eldest was born. It was amazing.

 

One of my bucket list items is to go to NY to ride the subway.

 

The other is to go to Vienna to visit the family of the guy I tried to save at my cousins wedding and his grave 

I doubt I will ever be able to afford either 

[PupCam]

Evening All, a flying visit today .

 

4 hours ago, zarniwhoop said:

Had a 'webinar' this morning for freestyle libre2 (continuous glucose monitor). Sounded as if it was a good thing , webinar was very good.  Then I fitted it, scanned it with my phone to start it, waited an hour, got a reading.

:

:

:

Not a happy bunny. Turned off alerts. Then googled - found a link at the diabetes.co.uk forum, it seems to be a not-uncommon problem. Have tried powering off the phone and then powering up and scanning.  Will maybe try alerts overnight.

 

A friend uses a continuous monitor (not certain if it is this one or not)  and whilst we were enjoying the Pie & Pint evening down the pub last week he mentioned he was having just that sort of problem with a newly installed sensor (if I recall they work for about 3-4 weeks, is that correct?).   He'd been told it was probably a duff sensor and as a consequence he'd just mounted another sensor on the other arm!

 

Seems like a good idea flawed in the execution ......

 

In Other News

 

Went for a regular blood test this morning at the hospital.    Waited for sometime in the queue to hand the form in (it's  a walk-in service).   The queue didn't seem to move and the waiting area was already just about full to capacity.    Maybe I'll try again tomorrow .....

 

Night Awl!