Early Risers.

[Ozexpatriate]

5 minutes ago, pH said:

There is only a single highway south, and people are being advised to leave now if they are driving.

Evacuation ahead of a fire can be tricky. Hopefully they have sufficient time.

 

Lack of warning was a serious problem in Lahaina on Maui.

[Barry O]

3 hours ago, pH said:

An evacuation order has been issued for the city of Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories. All 20,000 inhabitants are to be out of the city by midday on Friday, as an approaching wildfire is expected to reach the outskirts by the weekend. There is only a single highway south, and people are being advised to leave now if they are driving. Flights are still leaving from the airport, and a program of evacuation flights, including military aircraft, is being arranged.

Isn't Yellowknife the base for Buffalo Airways who operate DC3s, C46s etc?

 

Baz

Edited August 17, 2023 by Barry O

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

A very poor sleep, brain went into full design boats bits mode and would not switch off. Eventually go about 4 hours sleep in two pieces.

 

Ben the happy Collie has taken me on patrol, he's back asleep now.

Heavy dew this morning, not a lot of wind, high cloud.

 

The boat thoughts,

Rudder blade,

Decision extend the leading edge by about an inch, extend the bottom by about 4 inches.

The leading edge is partly in front of the turning point line of the rudder, and will counteract the bottom extension which is behind, leaving a still balanced rudder.

 

Rudder head,

Still working on that one. Trying to make the solution more "elegant"

 

Jib tension,

There are three types of equipment that can be used to increase jib tension.

Muscle box, this is in effect a multi block system in a neat container the gives an 8 to 1 purchase ratio, its problem is it's a Deltic in price.

Multi block system. Well because it's not in  a box there is lots of loose string and that can get twisted up. But I mostly have the parts for it..

 

Highfield lever, invented by J.S.Highfield in the 1930s, a hook to connect to the jib halyard, and an lever to push down on which locks into place, often with different positions on a rack of small hooks, normal price 1/3 to 1/2 a deltic. But!! I have one somewhere, 

 

 

At the moment a Highfield is favourite if I can find it.

 

Mast step,

No major new thoughts on that except an idea to stop sideways movement of the mast until the full new mast step is installed.

 

Plans for today,

I'm told we're going shopping, the one advantage of this is I need more white acrylic paint for the model radar display ( other muddling uses may be available) so a visit to "The Works" is involved.

 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

A long day yesterdaybut things were finished, preparations have been made for further work as well.. great!

 

I am tasked with wielding the shark first thing. I will then traveltoHarrogate to watch the over 70s play Surrey Over 70s. Hopefully it willbe the same result our over 70s achieved when they played the Oz over70s last weekand gained a very convincing win.

 

Biggest concern to me is the idea that parents are not responsible for much. A child drowns...schools fault for not teaching them to swim, child fails exams.. everyone else's fault for not giving them the "learning" they need, can't afford a walk in fridge freezer.. cost of fags/sky/mobiles/live streaming means I can't buy one.. its everyones fault..

 

Sad but how do you stop that?

 

Mugatea time then......

 

TTFN

Baz

Edited August 17, 2023 by Barry O

[jamie92208]

11 hours ago, Andy Hayter said:

The limits of stupidity know no bounds.

 

I am a (country) member of a major caving club in the UK.  Each year we organise a winch down into Gaping Ghyll - a 360ft decent in a bosun chair into a vast cavern with passages leading off in many directions.  This is open to the public for a fee for the week we re set up and visitors are advised on safety procedures.  At the time this included guides in the cavern to show guests around.  There was usually a very substantial queue to descend and also to ascend.

 

Each year we would get a visit form a local school with the master and his boys.  I cannot remember the name but they already had been christened "Tha's daft school".  They made their usual descent had their usual tour around and then came out.  Then one year the master had a great idea.  He approached the surface team and asked if the boys could each pick up a stone and drop it down the shaft to hear how long it took to smash into the chamber base, where by coincidence the underground operating team and other visitors behind them in the queue were stationed!

 

A few polite pleasantries were exchanged.  

I grew up at Clapham and Giggleswick and l know the area well.  However I was never able make the descent as I

Was never there at the right time.  I was musing on which School, it was, my old one of Gigg or possibly Sedbergh. 

12 minutes ago, Barry O said:

Isn't Yellowknife the base for Buffalo Airways who operate DC3s, C46s etc?

 

Baz

They've just got a 737 so that wilbe busy.

 

Anyway good moaning from a warm and getting warmer place.  Two weed patches were cut yesterday before a shower and then watched the first half of the match. Then it was off to the Dang lies for Beth to see the Diabeto, ogue.  Goodish news there then home.  Her shoulder is getting a bit better so she cooked. This was apparently a form of physio.  

 

Today more weed cutting and possibly some solder g in the shed. 

 

Regards to all and Sundry. 

 

Jamie

[polybear]

9 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

I think the issue was the standard 'Railway' limited clearance signs were an unknown to the non-railway  experienced H&S type 'adviser' (invited by a political appointment who also has no railway experience), so he wanted the ones he was personally familiar with, with nice yellow bits ....... and the exact same fing words! 

 

You are, I'm quite sure from your past experience, familiar with this type of scenario from our political 'friends'  Yup, rant.

 

I'm amazed he didn't want signs saying "This Lever makes it go", "This Lever makes it stop" all over the place.

 

Bear here.....

 

Well it seems there's a fair chance of rain over Bear Towers tomorrow, so today has been designated as a jungle cutting day.  Poo.

 

In other news.....

Is it really getting this bad - can any of our U.S. Correspondents advise?

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/tipping-culture-in-the-us-is-out-of-control-we-re-even-asked-to-tip-self-checkouts/ar-AA1fl82Q?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b666127ac18e4df3a91e3cce4087628d&ei=19

 

And finally.....

The UK's largest opencast coal mine has confirmed its closure date. (30 Nov 2023)

"British heritage railways and traction engine owners will now have to import coal from overseas as their only source of UK coal will end".

(From MSN News)

 

Bear gone.

[BoD]

5 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

And much loved in Santa Rosa, California where he lived most of his adulthood. They named the airport after him - STS (Charles M. Schultz - Sonoma County Airport)

One of the (prefab) terminal buildings is full of framed Peanuts thee-panel strips.

The address of his studio in Santa Rosa was 1 Snoopy Place.

 

Gosh, aren’t I just the fount of all knowledge.

[polybear]

Just discovered that the Sweet Potato Chips recipe in the BBC Food link posted yesterday states 180 degrees C in the instructions - presumably they forgot it initially cos' several people asked for it and they responded in the Comments with "200 degrees C".......

Perhaps this explains Bear's difficulties?

Edited August 17, 2023 by polybear

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Blue sky with some fluffy whitish things and the sun has made an appearance.  It should be a mainly warm, dry, sunny day.  17°C rising to a high of 25°C.

I was awake when the bin lorry arrived at 06.25, The Boss wasn't but then she was.  Not happy.

We went shopping yesterday but only online and everything we ordered is (allegedly) coming today.

Still aching all over but I'll probably hobble down to The Shed and carry on with my muddling/bodging for a while. 

The Boss wants to go out somewhere but I've exercised my veto on that one.  We are out tonight as our ex naval friend has invited us and six other friends and neighbours out to the local Chinese restaurant for his 80th birthday.  He is not aware of the party that has been arranged for him next week, just thinks he's going next door for a couple of drinks.

Timetogettamoveon apparently in order to have breakfast before the shopping arrives.  I can do that.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Another dull, dry start but with a very light breeze here in the northwest of England. Sheila is busy getting herself ready for her Zumba class, so I’m now sat in the dining room keeping out of the way, it’s best for my own safety! Once again my chauffeuring services are required to take Sheila to the church hall. However, once I’ve dropped her off, I’m heading to Argos to get/order a Bluetooth speaker for the dining room, so that we can listen/stream to music via the speaker in there. After that, I’ll change into my work clothes and continue working on the workshop windows. I plan to get one coat of paint on the window that has all the paint removed and then carry on removing paint from the other window. 
 

Back later. 

 

Brian

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, from a rock where it would appear autumn has arrived - very damp with condensation everywhere, 14c.  Visitor arrived at 0630 hrs, yawwwnnnn.  He's here for two weeks so posting may be sporadic for a while.

 

The sunny start (once I got my eyes open) is tailing off with cloud building, although a dry day is foreguessed.  Its going to pee it down tomorrow so the Old Farts breakfast run is happening today. I think we're going to 'Fraggle Lands End' at The Sound, All that way,  I hope we don't get lost.  Eyes in the back of the head are being fitted as the loony riding visitors will be arriving in droves once again, you can see them thinking how well they are going, as they arrive at sharp bends ahead of everyone, then panic brake and then they go through a hedge.  Not so fast now are you, boys.

[pgcroc]

Posted without comment.

[TheQ]

Email from the LPG gas supply company, they are switching customers to automatic ordering. Aka smart metering on the tank.. should be interesting, since those of us on tanks are in remoter areas with no mains gas supply. Often no mobile phone signal either.🙄

[Hroth]

6 minutes ago, pgcroc said:

Posted without comment.

 

And that other staple of "gentle exercise", swimming...

 

[Hroth]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

And finally.....

The UK's largest opencast coal mine has confirmed its closure date. (30 Nov 2023)

"British heritage railways and traction engine owners will now have to import coal from overseas as their only source of UK coal will end".

 

I just wondered. Will steam excursions into Lunnon be liable for the new ULEZ charge?

 

Edited August 17, 2023 by Hroth
clarification

[Tony_S]

37 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Often no mobile phone signal either.🙄

Perhaps Mr Musk’s Starlink technology will be deployed?🤔

[Tony_S]

32 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

I just wondered. Will steam excursions be liable for the new ULEZ charge?

 

If they do run onto the road they will probably be exempt due to age. 

[Tony_S]

I am off to Whitechapel soon.  Quite exciting really, an excursion by rail! I did have a telephone consultation at the hospital today but they said I could come in for face to face if I liked

 

Edited August 17, 2023 by Tony_S

[PhilJ W]

No surprise.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66514759

[PhilJ W]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

Isn't Yellowknife the base for Buffalo Airways who operate DC3s, C46s etc?

 

Baz

https://buffaloairways.com/fleet/

[iL Dottore]

53 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

I just wondered. Will steam excursions into Lunnon be liable for the new ULEZ charge?

 

If City Hall can make any money out of it, they will!

 

It's unsurprising (and a bit mind-boggling) how many new things introduced by City Hall, The Council and the like, ostensibly for the benefit of those City Hall/The Council etc. purport to serve, turn out to be - quite coincidentally - nice little income generators....

 

p.s. I'm surprised they haven't brought back the Window Tax. Although windows (contrary to popular belief) aren't the biggest cause of heat loss in a house, they do loose a noticeable amount of heat. So a Window Tax could be passed off as a Green Tax: the more windows you have, the more heat you lose and the more energy you use, thus contributing to environmental change. Such a tax would be a nice little earner for the authorities and provide lots of employment opportunities to brickies as people line up to get their "extra windows" bricked up!

Edited August 17, 2023 by iL Dottore
extra text added

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. BIN day today but they are late on parade and the metal faries are making the most of it. A hot and sticky night last night but I still managed five hours. No very stiff joints again this morning, even the knees are behaving themselves. Off to visit the garden railway this afternoon, a drink, cake and watching the trains go by.

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, Hroth said:

 

I just wondered. Will steam excursions be liable for the new ULEZ charge?

 

 

And mores to the point will they have to keep to the 20 mph speed limit in Wales.

[Winslow Boy]

23 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

No surprise.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66514759

 

If memory serves me correctly, apologies if it doesn't, but I seem to recall a big housing estate being built in Finmere circa 2005. I doubt they would have been happy with a rubbish fire as they are a devil to extinguish.

[DaveF]

I am not an Early Riser today, unless you count waking at 04.00 with indigestion.  I gotback  to sleep and came to at 08.45, woken by a lot of noise outside which I thought must be a bin lorry, which made me think it was Wednesday.  Once I was out of bed, showered and dressed I could see it was just a builders merchant's truck unloading stuff for an extension round the corner.  Then I realised it is actually Thursday.

 

I've not gone to church as I still feel very tired from the antibiotics/infection so am having yet another quiet day at home.  I am not good at not doing much, I feel guilty because I was brought up always to be doing things during the day, evenings were when you sat and sometimes relaxed.

 

It's cloudy with a cool breeze off the sea, I may do some very gentle deadheading later on.  Once again it's not at all exciting. 

 

David