Early Risers.

[Ian Abel]

@TheQ Condolences on the loss of your brother, remember the good times.

 

Chewsday...

 

Weekend replete with a variety of happenings;

Saturday, took a "significant" load of old electronics, that had been part of the attic storage, to a repair/restore/recycling place. They were over the moon when they saw the array of stuff, even the 20+ year old laptops. Hardly call them that as they must weigh 30lbs each! These folks figure they are refurbishable treasures so much so, I was invited into the "back room" to meet the geeks that repair/restore the stuff. Once I told them I also have three original Mac machines to bring over they almost dropped to the floor to praise me!!

The evening saw us at dinner then a play with friends, most enjoyable.

 

Sunday, took myself off to Jemma and Brendans to watch the F1, they're fans as am I though I don't often watch as the Mrs has little interest. Since it was in Jeddah the timing for a live watch party was perfect. After than more to-do back home.

 

Yesterday had a "wellness check" at the Drs. I have decided they need to throw their scale out as it never makes sense! I KNOW I'm down in weight with all the biking I'm doing on my Nordictrack, AND the fact my trousers/jeans are all loose now. The Dr office scale says I've GAINED 2lbs in the last six months - boLLOXXXX.

Then some client work, kept me from trying to post, so AWOL as a result.

 

Today, not much planned after the normal work event.

 

Weather somewhat improving here, expecting highs in the mid-single digits all week. Yesterday was bright sunshine and a high of 3, starting to make a dent in the snow cover.

-5c first thing, but headed for 5c and partly cloudy today with a chance of light rain late afternoon.

 

Onward.

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Ian Abel

[Sidecar Racer]

18 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

Yesterday had a "wellness check" at the Drs. I have decided they need to throw their scale out as it never makes sense! I KNOW I'm down in weight with all the biking I'm doing on my Nordictrack, AND the fact my trousers/jeans are all loose now. The Dr office scale says I've GAINED 2lbs in the last six months - boLLOXXXX.

 

 From a quick google ,

 

Does growing muscle make you gain weight?

You will gain weight from lean muscle mass that you add by building your muscles with exercise or weightlifting. But this won't happen right away. It will take you at least a month or two to add any lean muscle mass that would show up in your weight

 

And ,

 

Why am I gaining weight when I workout?

You will likely gain muscle mass and may begin to lose some fat mass. Muscle weighs more than fat, but it also burns more calories. Closely tracking your weight during this window can be confusing—your clothes may feel looser while the number on the scale stays the same or even goes up a few pounds.

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Sidecar Racer

[grandadbob]

A'noon.

After the tumble dryer maintenance I decided that a haircut was necessary as things were getting a bit tufty.  The Boss sorted that for me and my head is back to its normal almost satin finish! 

Steve arrived at his hotel in Assisi safely and already it appears that the journey was worth the effort.

Tea and biscuits now being served.

 

[petethemole]

57 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

@TheQ Condolences to you and your family.

 

 

 

[45156]

7 hours ago, grandadbob said:

@45156We're in Band E Stewart.

That would cost about the same here, GDB, about £2450.

 

Just caught up, and Q - my sincere condolences - even if it was expected, it is still a massive shock - something which as the years advance, we learn more and more often as our friends and relatives pass away.

 

Strange that a 3 bed semi in Sutton is in band E,  ours in Whyteleafe was also in band E  in Lancaster was band C, and our present one is in band B - it just shows how unfair the council tax system is - but I suspect that using local slugs estate agents to do the initial bandings has a lot to answer for.

 

Meter people didn't get here until 11.55 which is a close to a late arrival as it can get without actually getting there.  The guy had come from Shrewsbury, and had to do a job there before ours - as his next job was in Newtown, with another one after that - how he was going to manage that, no idea - he didn't leave here until 13.45.  Got to say he did a neat job, and only left us without power for a very short time, and not the quoted "hour to 90 minutes per fuel" quoted by Shell.  Still it's done, and all the appliances that needed reset have been reset.

 

Visiting Leominster tomorrow as we want to check the cabinet, and see if it needs any additional stock (here's hoping).  Possibly back for a visit after that.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Just had a verbal statement as to having solar panels fitted to the house, £10-11,000, ouch! I think not as I doubt I will be living in this house long enough to benefit from it. Now off to Tess Coes for some shopping.

[PeterBB]

Came back on-line to ER.  Thoughts with TheQ and his family.  Still trying to downsize as we need space, DAve's daily walks and with others lots of interesting pictures.

 

Life expectancy - ONS figures and IDs comments both very interesting - like to live but hope not to end upsitting in a chiar somewhere and not really being with it or in so much pain  and with nothing that can be done about it.

 

Council tax - local cannot recall ur band at present but believe we will pay similar to GDB - nothing we can really do about that but have read that Burton has lost its brewing heritage site because of apparently dodgy council decisions and Derby council also doing some silly things although the good news as I see it is that Deby is the new national home for the 1:1 models that we perhaps know a bit about.

 

Soldering irons and Poly Bear Phil and GDB as well as our very arthritic friend having problems.

 

Brits and other drinking habits, Greek mythology - didn't access as it wanted 'agreement'  - the trouble with skimming is you think that you will remember the topics when you come to comment as you blog but the mind goes blank making the last few hours ...

 

Anyway best wishes and condolences as appropriate.

Edited March 21, 2023 by PeterBB

[grandadbob]

My wine has landed safely, first on the doorstep and then put in the hall by my very helpful and friendly Yodel driver.  Same Eastern European guy has been delivering my Laithwaites wine for about 4 years now.

 

Things are getting a bit tense here.  The Boss is trying to find a 3 or 4 night break away for us somewhere in England for our wedding anniversary in June.  Somebody (it might be me) keeps exercising their veto.   Oh dear 🎶There may be trouble ahead🎶

Edited March 21, 2023 by grandadbob

[TheQ]

Thank you for the condolences everyone..

 

He was 55, but unfortunately I only really knew him for 5 years. In 71 we moved to the Hebrides, but me and the older of my sisters were sent to secondary school in Inverness, my brother and younger sister went to primary in the Hebrides.  Just as I left  school in Inverness they moved to central Scotland.

Where I just joined them for the summer holidays before starting college/ work.

So I knew him for his first three years plus school holidays and the odd meeting at family special occasions. 

He leaves his wife, a daughter in her second year of university and a son in second year of secondary school.

 

Today I was in the happydrome,, aka the R30 building at the radar museum https://www.radarmuseum.co.uk/

After a little cleaning of the Bloodhound layout, I started refitting the plastic keep your fingers off  screens, just one to do, but that's waiting for a big notice board that's being fixed that goes on the wall above the layout.

 

Next week it's put that screen up then  a general briefing, on the procedures of being a guide.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by TheQ

[polybear]

2 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

Once I told them I also have three original Mac machines to bring over they almost dropped to the floor to praise me!!

 

 

It might just be worth doing a quick check on the Auction Sites to research values - some of the early computer stuff is getting rather collectable (with prices to match).

Edited March 21, 2023 by polybear

[jamie92208]

We are heading off on a voyage of discovery tomorrow.   Brittany Ferries cancelled our Thursday pm sailing due to strikes.  2 hours on the phone no answer then email arrived offering a day crossing Friday which is no good as Nanna and Paps have to pick a young lady up from nursery that afternoon and babysit for her mums that night as they are going out to celebrate their wedding anniversary a bit late.  Anyway I got us a refund and booked Rotterdam Hull Thursday night which gives us a long drive on the continent and a short drive in the UK plus an earlier arrival.  An overnight stay has been booked at Orleans tomorrow night as we are setting off  tomorrow evening.  Fortunately the strike disruption was expected and plans A B and C had been researched and prepared.   Plan C seemed to be the best so we've gone for it.   It's all good fun.  Beth's car was serviced today and the suitcase and my crate of tools for Dad jobs are already packed.   Just the hens to muck out and  few other jobs tomorrow.  

All part of life's rich pattern.

 

Jamie

Edited March 21, 2023 by jamie92208

[southern42]

Oh, boy! Or should that be "girl"?

Whatever, I was having a toot on the flute this afternoon and suddenly decided to get the online metronome up, set at 65 BPM as in the tutor's video.* At first, it was a laugh, as in joke, as I failed to play the few notes let alone a whole line in time at that speed. I dared to give it a further go, persevered and managed to complete the refrain without the twiddly bits. Now, I wanted to know more....could I do it with the twiddly bits? Sort of, at first, and enough to have a go at the first verse with twiddly bits.  Sometime, later, I added the refrain....then added the second verse. Somehow, after several breaks, and attempts at keeping the beat, I ended up playing it from memory rather than the music sheet, adding the last two verses, which still await their twiddly bits. Not a masterpiece, but by gum did it feel good! I was right puffed out, too! Gobsmacked!

 

* It is not possible to play along because his flute is in a different key although, the fingering is the same thus making transposing easier.

 

Going away laughing, cos that's all I can muster when I've so ridiculously exceeded my expectations. I have been laughing since I started and I can only say it is the inspirational course I enrolled on and the tutor behind it.

 

[monkeysarefun]

3 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Just had a verbal statement as to having solar panels fitted to the house, £10-11,000, ouch! I think not as I doubt I will be living in this house long enough to benefit from it. Now off to Tess Coes for some shopping.

 

What size system is that? Here the price range is usually $800 to $1200 per KW so a 6.6KW system should cost between $5280 and $7920.

 

Given Deltics arent of interest to anyone down  here given we have  awesome locos in prettier colours  I'm going to use the Big Mac index, which is based on the theory that a Big MAc should reflect local costs in each country and therefore be able to be used to indicate relative  buying power to convert it from Australian Big Macs into UK ones.

 

This gives the UK equivalent of 412 pounds to 619 pounds per kw, with a 6.6KW system therefore costing the equivalent of 2724 pounds to 4087 pounds.

 

HMM, either you were quoted on a large system or one with battery storage,  or the Big Mac maths conversion theory   is wrong or things in the UK do cost shedloads, yet the perceived wisdom of visitors is  apparently "Australia is so expensive!" so probably its my maths. 

 

Anyway, there would probably be some kind of solar rebate scheme there like many other countries have? Check that out, here depending on your income you are eligible for a rebate of up to 50% of the cost up to $2500 ( 1290 Big Mac pounds) and a 3 year interest free loan to cover the rest. Your government would have to have  something similar I reckon.

 

As for council rates, here they are set by the local councils and cover the cost of garbage collection, local road maintenance and so on. They are based purely on land size and usage (rural - residential, etc) regardless of what is on built on the property.  other than "improved" vs "unimproved"  Mine for this year based on a block  of 1200 square metres or just over a quarter acre about a 40 minute drive from the Sydney Opera House is $2002 per year, or Big Mac equivalented to 1032 pounds

Edited March 21, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[grandadbob]

Still a bit tense here but a ceasefire has been agreed for the evening.  Further holiday hunting and hostilities will re-commence in the morning. 🤪

Steve has posted a few pictures of Assisi on Instagram and he seems quite taken with the place.  Not sure if this is just a holiday or a working break with his partner (who is a writer and historian)  possibly researching a new book.  

Food has been surrounded but no wine tonight as I'm having two or three days off the booze each week.

Once again there doesn't seem to be anything on TV to interest me so I'm donning the headphones to listen to some music.

[BoD]

11 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

1290 Big Mac pounds

Is that 1290 Big Mac pounds sterling or 1290 pounds of Big Mac?

If the latter I think I would need two sittings to manage them.

[Coombe Barton]

... Bozo’s submitted evidence. He’s playing himself as the bumbling victim, not capable Prime Minister. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/03/21/no-not-stabilising-still-wild/

[BoD]

6 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Steve has posted a few pictures of Assisi on Instagram and he seems quite taken with the place.

Valerie and I have been to Assisi a couple of times and I can understand why he might be ‘quite taken’.  Even without the religious aspect (and there’s a lot of it about, which is important to Valerie) I found it a quite enchanting place.

[monkeysarefun]

14 minutes ago, BoD said:

Is that 1290 Big Mac pounds sterling or 1290 pounds of Big Mac?

If the latter I think I would need two sittings to manage them.

Now, see that's the sort of confusion you now have to put up with when out of all the words in the world that you could have used, plus all the countless billions that haven't even been thought up yet , you  decided to choose to name your money using a word that you were already using to describe how heavy stuff is.

 

And yet  you invented the language in the first place!

Edited March 21, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[BoD]

1 minute ago, monkeysarefun said:

Now, see that's the sort of confusion you now have to put up with when out of all the words in the world that you could have used, plus all the countless billions that hadnt even been thought up yet , you  decided to choose to name your money using a word that you were already using to describe how heavy stuff is.

 

And yet  you invented the language in the first place!

I shall impound myself and pound my head against the wall in penitence for the sins of my forefathers.

[Ozexpatriate]

13 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

The Big Mac index, which is based on the theory that a Big MAc should reflect local costs in each country and therefore be able to be used to indicate relative  buying power to convert it from Australian Big Macs into UK ones.

Appears to be premium (or at least login) content at Statista. 

 

13 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

This gives the UK equivalent of 412 pounds to 619 pounds per kW

I'm presuming these pounds to be Sterling / GBP rather than mass or some other footpound furlongs per fortnight nonsense.

 

17 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

As for council rates, here they are set by the local councils and cover the cost of garbage collection, local road maintenance and so on.

I am still perplexed by Band E (which I take as not being the E Street or other "bands"). Here, in addition to metered electricity, gas and water* there are property taxes assessed by the county. These are based on the assessed value of the improved property** at time of sale or other improvement. They do increase but not in direct proportion to the current value of the property***. (Mine are substantially more than @grandadbob.)

 

Garbage removal subscriptions are paid directly to the company providing the service.

 

* Which covers sewage and stormwater

** House etc and land

*** Californians who were being priced out of their homes by rampant property taxes fueled by increasing property values led the way in 1978 with Proposition 13. Oregonians passed a similar referendum (measure 5) in 1990.

 

Today I am finding that the Connatix pop-up video player (showing a Rapido Hunslet over and over) no longer presents a click-to-close button. this is truly obnoxious.

[monkeysarefun]

1 minute ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I'm presuming these pounds to be Sterling / GBP rather than mass or some other footpound furlongs per fortnight nonsense

See my last comment above!

[Ozexpatriate]

20 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

... you decided to choose to name your money using a word that you were already using to describe how heavy stuff is

Which made sense when it referred to a libra of silver, or a pound of silver sterling coins or similar.

 

The pound was removed from the silver standard in 1816 - though there were many perturbations - including the amusingly named "great debasement".

[Gwiwer]

4 hours ago, grandadbob said:

My wine has landed safely, first on the doorstep and then put in the hall by my very helpful and friendly Yodel driver.  Same Eastern European guy has been delivering my Laithwaites wine for about 4 years now.

Sounds as though he might be the same one who delivers the occasional Laithwaite's case here.  Always barrowed from van to door but always the offer to place it inside the hall.  

 

1 hour ago, Coombe Barton said:

Bozo’s submitted evidence. He’s playing himself as the bumbling victim, not capable Prime Minister. ...

I always described him as a bumble****.  Possibly not too far wide of the mark but other opinions may be available.  Uxbridge might be up for grabs next election.  It happens to sit uncomfortably* close to the "gold wall" of Lib-Democracy around the SW of London and might - might - be added to their clutch of seats.  

* For Bozo's purposes

 

Half-yearly competency assessment today at the House of Fun.  In six year I have yet to achieve a score below 100%.  Feedback received from our Safety Standards Manager today was "It's always a pleasure to conduct your assessments" among other encouraging words.  Guess I'll have to go back on parade in the morning then!  

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Mine are substantially more than @grandadbob.)

So are mine!

[polybear]

Bear here.....

I met up with a couple of College Buddies at the Cafe for lunch - the first time in, well, ages; much very non-PC discussion took place.......

And after that, well just going with the flow really.

Tomorrow's fun includes the previously mentioned pencil lines on the walls task, along with a shed load of washing to do.  Yippee.....

BG