Early Risers.

[Dave Hunt]

12 minutes ago, PupCam said:

 

I thought that was mooning not moonlighting!   I must get my hearing aids checked ....

 

Thank you very much Alan for planting an image in my brain that could well adversely affect my whole day 😝

 

Dave

[jamie92208]

19 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Is that something you can restore yourself,with a fuse or resetting a trip or does it require an electrician to visit. 

Fortunately just reset the ELCB on that phase on the shed distribution board.  It reset so no faults till ongoing.  Everything it controlled came back online.  The strike was very close to us so possibly there was some disturbance caused to the earth circuit on the pool feed that runs 40 metres in a trench in an armoured cable sheath.  From the very loud crack sound that I heard the strike must have been very close. 

 

Jamie

Edited August 10, 2023 by jamie92208

[zarniwhoop]

Saw the diabetes consultant this morning - feeling much happier now.

[monkeysarefun]

29 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Thank you very much Alan for planting an image in my brain that could well adversely affect my whole day 😝

 

Dave

Does it look like this a bit?

 

[monkeysarefun]

 

 

Got home to find the 3D printer that was not meant to be here until September was sitting on my frontstep , in a big box with "12K 3D PRINTER" in big letters on all sides. 

Opened it up to find happy packaging,

 

 

so thats my weekend sorted!

 

 

[Gwiwer]

4 hours ago, DaveF said:

RMWeb visited briefly.  It's dull, humid and warm.

 

No wonder the site doesn’t always run smoothly. The hardware needs to be in a low-humidity constantly-cooled environment. 

[monkeysarefun]

2 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Does it look like this a bit?

 

Actually, I've been a bit rough on @polybear with all the photos I've taken of him lately.

 

 

This ones for you, buddy!

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl ,

Various MRC bills paid, then I made up the floats for our show in Stalham on the 27th August.

Then I extracted monies owing to me, as I'd loaned the floats for the last show.

That left too much money, till I remembered I had received £150 as part payment for a layout.. The rest is due but unfortunately the buyers wife is ill so there's a delay.

 

Ben was then taken for his long walk, just got on the road when we met the big mower, not the big yellow one that was in the other field, but a big green one, so maybe they did break it.

It was trundling down the road with its tracks on both verges. As we wandered down the lane they started mowing the barley, luckily near the house first so it will scare the rates away..

 

Ben cut his walk short he said it was too hot..

 

Then out into the garden rather warm, and humid, SWMBO was clearing around where I'd moved the bin cupboard yesterday. More clearing was done and some measuring up. The back of the three cupboards will become supports for an external run of parallel bits of metal.

We were sitting having a discussion on the area the parallel bits of metal will run when the sun came out.. it got very hot so we returned to the house.

 

Received a letter today.. from HMG.. inviting me to apply for my state pension now I know I'm getting ancient, HMG offering me money..

[45156]

Afternoon All,

 

Yet again, some skipping, as I had to go to Huws Gray to collect the mixed paint which 30747 had chosen for the bathroom - well, she's still on the decorating track and is now talking about the kitchen as well - so much for no more decorating.  

 

Other than that, not a great deal happening that's worthy of report - but 30747 appears to be watching some sort of cr*p on TV about making money for nothing out of rubbish.  The whole premise just seems to be TV rubbish - it seems to involve having special authority to remove rubbish from the skip, then having some contacts with specialist skills in removation, and finally having a large sum of money to spend with said experts.  Then sell the stuff, and hey ho, you've made money for nothing - I should coco.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

 

13 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Received a letter today.. from HMG.. inviting me to apply for my state pension now I know I'm getting ancient, HMG offering me money..

It's only what you've paid for in your NI over the years - not a giveaway so take it with open arms - it's your entitlement after all.

[polybear]

2 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Thank you very much Alan for planting an image in my brain that could well adversely affect my whole day 😝

 

Dave

 

Bear is never one to disappoint......

 

 

 

12 minutes ago, 45156 said:

......then having some contacts with specialist skills in renovation, and finally having a large sum of money to spend with said experts. 

 

If the likes of any of us went to such specialists I very much suspect they'd want rather a lot more than the numbers quoted on the telly programme.

[PhilJ W]

10 minutes ago, 45156 said:

Afternoon All,

Other than that, not a great deal happening that's worthy of report - but 30747 appears to be watching some sort of cr*p on TV about making money for nothing out of rubbish.  The whole premise just seems to be TV rubbish - it seems to involve having special authority to remove rubbish from the skip, then having some contacts with specialist skills in renovation, and finally having a large sum of money to spend with said experts.  Then sell the stuff, and hey ho, you've made money for nothing - I should coco.

Regards to All Stewart

I've caught the end of that program while waiting for the next one to start. What a load of pretentious rubbish. A lot of the stuff they use would be better if restored properly instead of conversion to something 'modern'.

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. I finally got round to replacing the battery in the kitchen clock this afternoon. As soon as the new battery was put in it started whirring and the hands went round the dial. They then stopped at 12 o'clock. I looked at the back where there was a diminutive (2mm at the most) red button marked set. I pressed that with a cocktail stick and it started up whirring again and the hands started moving again, and again it stopped at twelve. So I looked at the back again and spotted a small black button (the case was black) so I pressed it and still nothing happened. So I pressed the red button again and this time it stopped at the right time  and has been working since.

[polybear]

Bear here......

 

Mickey's Home!!!

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......................

 

An early crawl out of The Pit (somewhat earlier than planned at just before 5am); followed by an early train** to sample the delights(?) of Stevenage Town Centre - the first time I've been there in rather a long time.  Well it was a dump the last time I was there - now it's a total sh*t hole with very few shops actually worth a second (or even a first) glance; judging by the state of Wilkinson's (Wilco's) I'm not surprised they've gone into receivership today.  Even the Cafe brekkies was mediocre (at best).

After about an hour and a half of that place all I was seeing was black dogs running everywhere and decided it was time to leave, despite not yet having received the "Mickey's ready for collection, Mr. Bear" phone call.  So it was choo choo no. 2 - and shortly after boarding I got the phone call, so all worked out just right.

 

(**I reckon we had a foreign train driver cos' he was driving on the wrong side for several stations - which confused a few people when it came to getting off the train (I wonder how many were on the wrong platform when wanting to board the train?).

 

On the way home I suddenly thought that I might get a Lampshade for the Hall from the Stevenage branch of Dunelm, so a dive in there proved worthwhile with numerous items (including a shade) purchased (actually it was quite entertaining, meaning Bear really, REALLY needs to get out more before all hope is lost).

 

A few minutes ago the hand rail for the Hall was delivered - so that's another Tick; that'll get fitted tomorrow.

 

Bear gone.

Edited August 10, 2023 by polybear

[iL Dottore]

6 hours ago, TheQ said:

Has Polybear been moonlighting?

Yours for £299!!!!

Could be. He had to get some sort of gig to replace the lucrative work he had in Japan as a かわいいクマ (Kawai Kuma) before he got booted out*

 

*Of course he claims that the whole sordid affair that took place in the presidential suite of The Imperial Hotel Tokyo was a complete misunderstanding (or an attempt to slur him - the story changes every so often). But he would say that, wouldn't he?

[Hroth]

38 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. I finally got round to replacing the battery in the kitchen clock this afternoon. As soon as the new battery was put in it started whirring and the hands went round the dial. They then stopped at 12 o'clock. I looked at the back where there was a diminutive (2mm at the most) red button marked set. I pressed that with a cocktail stick and it started up whirring again and the hands started moving again, and again it stopped at twelve. So I looked at the back again and spotted a small black button (the case was black) so I pressed it and still nothing happened. So I pressed the red button again and this time it stopped at the right time  and has been working since.

 

Assuming the clock is of the radio controlled variety, the thing to do is replace the battery, the hands do their whirring thing to 12 o'clock and then stay there while the innards wait to get the next time update from the transmitter up in Cumbria.  Then they set themselves.

 

You were probably lucky in that your second jab at red coincided with the time transmission!

 

https://www.npl.co.uk/msf-signal

 

Edited August 10, 2023 by Hroth
link

[southern42]

4 hours ago, Barry O said:

About to set off for a meeting in Birmingham. Not the best place to get to, unless they have , at last, finished digging the roads up. (Fat and chance springs to mind!)

 

Not digging the roads...Painting!

 

On our way home from the east country, via the M6 Toll Road, it was a toss-up between a speedier but 30 mile longer trip home via the A55 North Wales coast road (expressway) or a slower but shorter trip along the A5 through Llangollen and stopping at the you know what 🚂 for afternoon tea with cake in the cafe.* As Mr Suvvern was doing the driving, I insisted He made the choice...and, as everyone on here will work out, I would not be the one at fault if it all went wrong :-D

Decision made. The A5 it is. 

We come into Llangollen and <<yes, you've guessed!>>  HOLD UP by the man with the 🔴 lollipop!

On the ground, a road gang were painting the number:

20

as in 20 miles per hour - the new thing for Wales which is not going down very well:

20mph speed limit: Drivers tie red ribbons to cars in protest

 

It did not take any time at all for us to start commenting on it.

 

First consideration: We will not be coming this way again - in either direction - on a through trip or, possibly, even as far as Llangollen - this issue could lead to less visitors to the r**lway and affect its recovery/existence. 

 

Second consideration: This will not only hurt the car and our pocket, it will also hurt the economy of the places we and others, including lorries taking a short cut for the Ferry from Holyhead, frequent on the way (town facilities as well as roadside cafes, etc.).  The 20mph speed limit will slow it down even more - Llangollen, with its traffic lights, is slow enough as it is - but to be slowed down through all the other towns, as well, will make the journey horrendously slow and, probably, stressful.  As I said above, the longer route is actually quicker - but will it remain so?

 

Third consideration: If others also transfer to the A55 coast road, it may well make it much busier; the congested areas even more congested; the tailbacks longer; and the journey longer.  That does not sound good either! 

 

Fourth consideration: Will the road be any safer, or less so?

 

This is the A5 Trunk Road from London through North Wales to Holyhead...

and was voted in the Top 5 Best Roads by AO Drivers - but, I wonder, for how long?

Quote:

1. A9 – Perth to Inverness, Scotland
2. A39 – The Atlantic Highway, Cornwall, England
3. A55 – North Wales Expressway, Wales
4. A38 – Devon Expressway, England
5. A5 – London to Holyhead Trunk Road, England/Wales

 

* As it happened, being schools summer holiday, the public carpark was full and so were the pavements so we went on to our favourite roadside cafe (former garage) near one of the mountain centres, instead.**

 

**Even this makes you wonder if people from across the border will still come this far into Wales or head for the Lakes, the Peaks, the Dales, Scotland, the Downs, Dartmoor, anywhere else.

 

Lots of issues being raised on the 20mph matter, I gather. This is just one.

 

 

Best be off -  I am defrosting the freezer while food stuff is low and I hear some ice falling into the trays.

[Ozexpatriate]

7 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

You do acclimatize but walking off the aircraft or out of the airport terminal on arrival is like hitting a wall. 

Once upon a time, when an aircraft landed from overseas in Australia a gentleman* (usually in shorts and long socks), from whatever governmental authority managed quarantine back then, would walk the aisle(s) fore to aft, holding aloft two aerosol cans of "bug spray" (for want of a better description) discharging the contents as they went. Passengers were required to remain seated for this bit of nonsense quarantine theatre.

 

* Or two in wide-bodied aircraft.

 

As the doors of the aircraft were opened to admit the 'sprayers' you could feel a literal wave of heat and humidity replacing the dry cool air from inflight move down the interior of the fuselage.

[Ozexpatriate]

4 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

The strike was very close to us so possibly there was some disturbance caused to the earth circuit on the pool feed that runs 40 metres in a trench in an armoured cable sheath.  From the very loud crack sound that I heard the strike must have been very close. 

Your diagnosis is very likely. Are the pool electrics grounded at the pool end to a grounding stake, or only at the shed end, via the cable?

 

The standard for lightning protection is* an imaginary 50m diameter sphere rolled over the electrical plant. For substation protection, no live equipment can be touched by the imaginary sphere - very low resistive earth connections must shield the live plant from the sphere. The hardscape (usually gravel chosen for relatively low resistivity) will have a grounded conductive mesh as well.

 

* Or at least was

 

Edited August 10, 2023 by Ozexpatriate

[grandadbob]

A'noon.

Spent a couple of hours in The Shed but had to give up because of The Knee complaining big time and it was getting a bit hot, 30°C when I left.  Now sitting and will probably stay that way for a while while I look for a high stool of some sort for The Shed.  The one I've got is not high enough for me to work comfortably hence all the standing.

We had a surprise visit from Abbie at lunchtime which was nice as usual and a pleasant hour was spent chatting.   Their house move is tomorrow, unlike Rick's it has not been plain sailing and been going on since the end of last year.  Lots of messing about by prospective buyers, some silly offers, a couple of offers being accepted and then the b#ggers trying to get an even lower price and dropping out when they wouldn't play ball.  

Jealous of son Steve as he's just sent photos from his cruise ship awaiting departure from Southampton on a short 5 night cruise.  He did ask if we wanted to accompany him but Deltics need to be reserved for a large birthday bash in October.

Edited August 10, 2023 by grandadbob

[Ian Abel]

9 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

As the doors of the aircraft were opened to admit the 'sprayers' you could feel a literal wave of heat and humidity replacing the dry cool air from inflight move down the interior of the fuselage.

Same thing happened on my couple of sojourns to Bermuda, while living in New York in the late '70's. Not sure the sprayed "product" would be in any way deemed suitable for human consumption today!

 

BIN day - yay! BINs out early and already "serviced'. Only two this week as the recycle is every other week.

Yesterday, nothing to report - very quiet and generally slow day.

 

Today, Jemma will possibly be picking up Whitney, provided they get into JFK on time (currently showing slightly early), and she can then get a connection/seat home.

Other than that, another quiet day all round.

 

Weather a very pleasant 18c and sunny at BIN time, expected to reach 24c later and a good chance of some showers late PM.

 

Carry on.

[Ozexpatriate]

News clips from Lahaina in Maui of the wildfire destruction are very sad.

 

Lahaina made me quite homesick. While probably early 20th century, much of the architecture feels very "colonial" in style, particularly some of the oldest buildings - to me it was very reminiscent of tropical Queensland beach towns - before they exploded and modernized.

 

Apparently dozens of people are dead. It is not yet clear how many structures were destroyed. At one point people were jumping into the ocean and swimming to escape the fire.

[Hroth]

27 minutes ago, southern42 said:

 

Not digging the roads...Painting!

 

On our way home from the east country, via the M6 Toll Road, it was a toss-up between a speedier but 30 mile longer trip home via the A55 North Wales coast road (expressway) or a slower but shorter trip along the A5 through Llangollen and stopping at the you know what 🚂 for afternoon tea with cake in the cafe.* As Mr Suvvern was doing the driving, I insisted He made the choice...and, as everyone on here will work out, I would not be the one at fault if it all went wrong :-D

Decision made. The A5 it is. 

We come into Llangollen and <<yes, you've guessed!>>  HOLD UP by the man with the 🔴 lollipop!

On the ground, a road gang were painting the number:

20

as in 20 miles per hour - the new thing for Wales which is not going down very well:

20mph speed limit: Drivers tie red ribbons to cars in protest

 

It did not take any time at all for us to start commenting on it.

 

First consideration: We will not be coming this way again - in either direction - on a through trip or, possibly, even as far as Llangollen - this issue could lead to less visitors to the r**lway and affect its recovery/existence. 

 

Second consideration: This will not only hurt the car and our pocket, it will also hurt the economy of the places we and others, including lorries taking a short cut for the Ferry from Holyhead, frequent on the way (town facilities as well as roadside cafes, etc.).  The 20mph speed limit will slow it down even more - Llangollen, with its traffic lights, is slow enough as it is - but to be slowed down through all the other towns, as well, will make the journey horrendously slow and, probably, stressful.  As I said above, the longer route is actually quicker - but will it remain so?

 

Third consideration: If others also transfer to the A55 coast road, it may well make it much busier; the congested areas even more congested; the tailbacks longer; and the journey longer.  That does not sound good either! 

 

Fourth consideration: Will the road be any safer, or less so?

 

This is the A5 Trunk Road from London through North Wales to Holyhead...

and was voted in the Top 5 Best Roads by AO Drivers - but, I wonder, for how long?

Quote:

1. A9 – Perth to Inverness, Scotland
2. A39 – The Atlantic Highway, Cornwall, England
3. A55 – North Wales Expressway, Wales
4. A38 – Devon Expressway, England
5. A5 – London to Holyhead Trunk Road, England/Wales

 

* As it happened, being schools summer holiday, the public carpark was full and so were the pavements so we went on to our favourite roadside cafe (former garage) near one of the mountain centres, instead.**

 

**Even this makes you wonder if people from across the border will still come this far into Wales or head for the Lakes, the Peaks, the Dales, Scotland, the Downs, Dartmoor, anywhere else.

 

Lots of issues being raised on the 20mph matter, I gather. This is just one.

 

 

Best be off -  I am defrosting the freezer while food stuff is low and I hear some ice falling into the trays.

 

The 20mph malarky is not just for "safety", its also part of an emissions reduction strategy, like the motorway 50mph zones.  The 20 scheme is not just in Wales, local councils across England are also plastering slowdowns in inappropriate places on A class roads.

 

Sometimes signage is very poor and the first indication is a 20 in the roadway, some distance past the first sideplate-sized 20mph sign.  Its almost as if they're setting it up as a money-making scheme...

 

[PupCam]

21 minutes ago, southern42 said:

 

Not digging the roads...Painting!

 

On our way home from the east country, via the M6 Toll Road, it was a toss-up between a speedier but 30 mile longer trip home via the A55 North Wales coast road (expressway) or a slower but shorter trip along the A5 through Llangollen and stopping at the you know what 🚂 for afternoon tea with cake in the cafe.* As Mr Suvvern was doing the driving, I insisted He made the choice...and, as everyone on here will work out, I would not be the one at fault if it all went wrong :-D

Decision made. The A5 it is. 

We come into Llangollen and <<yes, you've guessed!>>  HOLD UP by the man with the 🔴 lollipop!

On the ground, a road gang were painting the number:

20

as in 20 miles per hour - the new thing for Wales which is not going down very well:

20mph speed limit: Drivers tie red ribbons to cars in protest

 

It did not take any time at all for us to start commenting on it.

 

First consideration: We will not be coming this way again - in either direction - on a through trip or, possibly, even as far as Llangollen - this issue could lead to less visitors to the r**lway and affect its recovery/existence. 

 

Second consideration: This will not only hurt the car and our pocket, it will also hurt the economy of the places we and others, including lorries taking a short cut for the Ferry from Holyhead, frequent on the way (town facilities as well as roadside cafes, etc.).  The 20mph speed limit will slow it down even more - Llangollen, with its traffic lights, is slow enough as it is - but to be slowed down through all the other towns, as well, will make the journey horrendously slow and, probably, stressful.  As I said above, the longer route is actually quicker - but will it remain so?

 

Third consideration: If others also transfer to the A55 coast road, it may well make it much busier; the congested areas even more congested; the tailbacks longer; and the journey longer.  That does not sound good either! 

 

Fourth consideration: Will the road be any safer, or less so?

 

This is the A5 Trunk Road from London through North Wales to Holyhead...

and was voted in the Top 5 Best Roads by AO Drivers - but, I wonder, for how long?

Quote:

1. A9 – Perth to Inverness, Scotland
2. A39 – The Atlantic Highway, Cornwall, England
3. A55 – North Wales Expressway, Wales
4. A38 – Devon Expressway, England
5. A5 – London to Holyhead Trunk Road, England/Wales

 

* As it happened, being schools summer holiday, the public carpark was full and so were the pavements so we went on to our favourite roadside cafe (former garage) near one of the mountain centres, instead.**

 

**Even this makes you wonder if people from across the border will still come this far into Wales or head for the Lakes, the Peaks, the Dales, Scotland, the Downs, Dartmoor, anywhere else.

 

Lots of issues being raised on the 20mph matter, I gather. This is just one.

 

 

Best be off -  I am defrosting the freezer while food stuff is low and I hear some ice falling into the trays.

 

Yet another example that the lunatics have taken over the asylum and that's not a political statement it's just common sense.     The whole world has gone flaming mad particularly with regard to roads and vehicles!     Some miles away in Puppershire some bright Herbert in the Council Roads department decided it would be a terribly clever thing to do to put a chicane on the brow of a blind hill on a minor road at the edge of one of the villages.     Well pal it wasn't a bright idea but a ridiculously stupid one! Coming in the direction in which you have to give way you have to STOP on an incline with no clear sight of any traffic of the traffic you are giving way to so you just have pullout, accelerate to speed on the opposite carriageway to pass the obstruction and all completely unsighted until you are over the brow of the hill!      Complete stupidity that has made a dangerous problem where one didn't exist before.   There seem to be so many examples where it appears "George" from road planning has gone home from work having given himself a pat on the back for a job well done when actually  George is a complete idiot and probably doesn't even drive!    Yep, rant.

 

ION

 

Insurance haggling complete with a very modest reduction in the premium which brought it down to within £15 of the best comparison site offering.    Puppers has learnt the hard way in the past that unless the difference in premiums is very significant indeed switching is often more trouble than its worth.     I'm always amused when doing this that the first question they ask is "Well what's the best quote you've had?".    No, no, no, don't worry about all of the others, I'm asking you what is the best quote YOU can come up with?   I will then decide .....

 

No bimbling today in the end.   So it's the chug to the VMCC meeting or nothing  then.

 

TTFN

[TheQ]

Seen the same TV clips of Maui shown on TV in the UK.

 

Trouble with lowering speed limits to 20 mph is it will increase pollution as you cannot run in top gear, therefore you are using more revolutions of the engine and more fuel per yard moved.

 

Disturbed a muntjac fawn out where we were clearing, it ran off into another bit of the jungle, hopefully mummy deer will find it there.

 

[DaveF]

The day has turned out to be peaceful.  Church went well, I read the right passage and didn't drop anything while doing the server bit.  The I had coffee.

 

Back home just in time to see the postman and get my post and next door's who was out.  The it was read, lunch, nap, take the post round, read, cup of tea and cake, do a puzzle, read.

 

Now it is time for a light "proper tea" before settling down to read or watch TV.  The cough and chest progress, I do not feel so cold and slow, but that might be because it is a much warmer day, around 21C, though still cloudy.

 

David