Early Risers.

[DaveF]

The expected gale has materialised so it is very noisy.  Nothing of mine has blown away or even fallen over - yet - but when I opened the curtains there was a large potted tree in the middle of the road.  It must have escaped from someone's garden during the night, it is has now been removed.

 

There was an interesting cloud this morning, all being well I'll look up what it was and post a photo later.  In a few minutes I am off to church, while I am there I must check what I will be doing in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.  I'm not sure if Christmas Eve morning is a communion service and there is a "Midnight Mass" so I may have to serve.  I have to admit I'm not too keen on the latter service so I haven't been for a long time, where I lived before Northumberland it could be a bit rowdy with people coming in to church having been at parties where a lot of alcohol must have been drunk.

 

As it is so windy I will not be going anywhere for a walk, I think I might blow away - as I get older I find it harder to keep my balance in gales.  It is certainly not a day to be walking on a cliff top.

 

This afternoon I may start sorting out and captioning the photos to send off to the author.

 

David

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

It’s a bit blowy here too, good luck on the M60 high level bridge at Barton Baz! I’m heading off to the butchers shortly for the weekly meat rations, I’m doing this a day early as the next few days will be mad busy in there. After that, We are off to the Trafford Centre for a few last minute items then that’s it, we’re staying in until after C@#£&*()s. I’ll be glad when it’s all over. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian

[Hroth]

1 hour ago, Lochgorm said:

Solstice is not actually until tomorrow!

 

Its 03:27 on the 22nd, but as we're right at the bottom of the trough, the Winter Misery spreads over several days on either side.  Conventionally speaking, the 21st is as good a day as any to have the label stuck on it!

 

Here we go!

 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Hroth
Thought a comma might make it more sensible...

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Not a bad night last night but I woke up not long after five and couldn't get back to sleep again. I forgot to put the recycling bags out last night, just as well really as when I looked out this morning I saw a couple of them bouncing down the road having been picked up by the wind. Now debating whether to shop today or leave it until tomorrow.

[Coombe Barton]

Apart from the noise visible wind effect here is so far limited to neighbour's garden waste bin taking itself walkies. However local police report on FB says numerous trees down, some ending up on cars, and advise not going out unless necessary. Wasn't planning to.

Still trying to get sense into the house, but now have slightly more room.

Waiting for the coffee to kick in

 

[southern42]

34 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

Its 03:27 on the 22nd, but as we're right at the bottom of the trough the Winter Misery spreads over several days on either side.  Conventionally speaking, the 21st is as good a day as any to have the label stuck on it!

 

Here we go!

 

 

 

 

Love the way the flute plays itself!

[Hroth]

Just now, southern42 said:

 

Love the way the flute plays itself!

 

TOTP miming at its best!

 

[Gwiwer]

35 minutes ago, Hroth said:

1 hour ago, Lochgorm said:

Solstice is not actually until tomorrow!

 

Its 03:27 on the 22nd, but as we're right at the bottom of the trough, the Winter Misery spreads over several days on either side.  Conventionally speaking, the 21st is as good a day as any to have the label stuck on it!

But tonight is the longest night.  Always a bit of an issue labelling days on a calendar when an event is but a moment in time.  

 

Plus we are farther south-west meaning there's a time difference between here and London unless you happen to be going by train.  It was the GWR who brought "London time" to Cornwall.  

[grandadbob]

Shopping trip has been made.  I thought we were going for 2 items that would have cost about £6.  Er no, somebody else had other ideas and we ended up with 22 items costing £65!!!   However this was because "we" decided to get a few things that were planned for delivery on Saturday but as they are deemed somewhat important Management decreed that it would be better to get them today rather than take the chance of any mishaps on Saturday.  Fair enough, it's all far above my pay grade, I'm just the unpaid porter and chauffeur oh and chief online shopper so I've just had to amend the delivery order.  What's next I wonder?

I know, time for a muggacoffee before friends arrive.

Edited December 21, 2023 by grandadbob

[Gwiwer]

1 minute ago, southern42 said:

 

Love the way the flute plays itself!

To avoid spooky moments do not leave a bodhran in a draughty place.  Ask me how I know!  

 

Faint moaning and whining plus the occasional "boomp" none of which could be ascribed to any living being hereabouts.  Just waiting now for storm-driven mackerel to drop from the sky.  

[southern42]

How? 🤣

[Hroth]

3 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

To avoid spooky moments do not leave a bodhran in a draughty place.  Ask me how I know!  

 

Faint moaning and whining plus the occasional "boomp" none of which could be ascribed to any living being hereabouts.  Just waiting now for storm-driven mackerel to drop from the sky.  

 

Have an umberella to hand in case the mackerel turn out to be canned sardines...

 

[southern42]

' morning all from red dragon land.

All quiet on the western front, now.

Cloudy and damp.

 

Quick 'ello n g'bye as I have yet to do my breakfast due to lots of oddsnends to tackle first and I got sidetracked by catching up on here. 

 

Take care. Be good. Gedonwivit.

Polly

 

[Tony_S]

I have no idea If it rained or was windy last night.

Slept very well after our meal at the Golden Prawn (or shrimp, not totally sure of my translation).  
We are off to Enfield soon so hopefully the weather there  isn’t too bad. We can usually park right outside MiL’s residence. There is an underground garage but we would have to go up and get her entry fob so it usually easier to walk a bit. 
Tony

[Tony_S]

14 minutes ago, southern42 said:

How? 🤣

“do you do?” or “”long is a piece of string?”

[New Haven Neil]

She's getting a bit wild out there now yessir, fair blowin'.  Manx vernacular!

 

I see one of the larger Stena Line ferries from Belfast is hiding in Douglas (the Big City)  Bay, so much for our keyboard sailors saying our shiny new boat should have sailed.  The sea has deep slots in it.

 

 

[Hroth]

1 minute ago, New Haven Neil said:

She's getting a bit wild out there now yessir, fair blowin'.  Manx vernacular!

 

I see one of the larger Stena Line ferries from Belfast is hiding in Douglas (the Big City)  Bay, so much for our keyboard sailors saying our shiny new boat should have sailed.  The sea has deep slots in it.

 

 

 

"Ocean liners sheltered from the storm..."

 

I went down to the newsagents to pick up a copy of MRJ 300 this morning at 07:40.  It was filthy black with horizntal rain.  The wind is still... windy!

 

[woodenhead]

Interesting old week so far...

 

Sunday evening found the boiler had tripped due to low pressure - opened the valve on the levelling connection to raise the water pressure again and closed it when it reached the appopriate level.  Luckily had a torch on which caught the glistening water coming out of the other end of the connection between the mains pressure water and the heating system water pipe - the isolating valve (a ball type that needs a screwdriver to open/close) had failed and was letting water escape through the bit the you turn.  In the open position water flowed out easily, in the closed position it still flowed but a little slower.  I rushed to find a bucket and a radiator to so I could drain off some water and reduce the pressure.  Reducing the pressure didn't stop the flow either and to make matters worse it was dripping down onto the pump itself and below that was the immersion heater switch on the floor.  Heath Robinson time, I went to my box of empty Zimo chip packages and used one of them to fashion a divert of the dripping water into a large bucket - took away the risk of an electrical issue and now the water was being contained in a bucket and not a towel. Finally able to think, we rang British Gas and they put us down for an emergency visit the following morning.  Mrs W was a bit stressed by this as we were advised to switch off the water at the mains - I'd already switched off the programmer for the heating/water but BG also asked we isolate the boiler as well so off it went.  Logically nothing was going to happen, the leak was on the pressurised heating circuit not the mains, so having the mains on or off would not make a difference and the boiler itself was safe because there was water in the system still and it was not going to full drain down in 8 hours as I'd stemmed most of the flow - but safety is safety so off went the water and off went the boiler.  We were about to go to bed, BG would he here in the morning and I knew exactly what the fault was so not really a biggie, but pyschologically not having any water or heating does play with the mind.  Anyway next morning as promised the engineer arrived, 5 minute fix with a new flexible hose and this time a hand turned valve rather that the dodgy screwdriver one that I know are unreliable and everything returned to normal.  Just for the record, the other end of the pressure levelling circuit was a hand turned valve, but for some reason the other end was  screwdriver turned one - now both are hand turned.

 

Then Tuesday was team away day, talking strategy and future risks, it was nice to hear a bunch of people taking commonsense and actually made me feel the next 12-24 months will be good because it's a bunch of sensible grown ups in charge.  Meal out, a few drinks and back home.

 

Christmas weekend shopping time now, its just me and Mrs W on Christmas day so doing a big meal before the day and we'll use the leftovers for the day itself, if it's dry we'll have a walk out but whatever the weather it's going to be a nice lazy day.

[southern42]

34 minutes ago, southern42 said:

' morning all from red dragon land.

All quiet on the western front, now.

Cloudy and damp.

 

aarrrrghhhhhhh...

get the brollies out

☔

[Coombe Barton]

1 hour ago, Coombe Barton said:

neighbour's garden waste bin taking itself walkies

It's mate's joined it - 

[DaveF]

Still windy here, it was hard working getting to and from the car.  The wreath had blown off the church door.

 

The clouds I saw this morning are apparently called iridescent clouds, caused by ice crystals or water droplets when the sun strikes them at the correct angle.  

 

 

 

David

Edited December 21, 2023 by DaveF

[Gwiwer]

12 minutes ago, DaveF said:

The clouds I saw this morning are apparently called iridescent clouds, caused by ice crystals or water droplets when the sun strikes them at the correct angle.  

Correct.  I see them fairly frequently here.  

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, southern42 said:

How? 🤣

Me know “how”

Me ask“why”

 

OK, OK, I‘ll get me coat….

Edited December 21, 2023 by iL Dottore

[Hroth]

2 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

neighbour's garden waste bin taking itself walkies

 

58 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

It's mate's joined it - 

 

Several recycling bins put out for collection this morning here, had been sick all over the road when I went out earlier....

 

Messy!

 

 

[iL Dottore]

Personally, I blame my parents!

The best prevention of disease is to have the “right” parents (i.e. they have the right, “healthy” genes) so you have a genome that’s fit for purpose.

 

Unfortunately, my parents gave me me a crappy set of genes, which means (basically) bits that should work, don’t and the bits that do work, work badly.

 

The latest instalment of the never ending saga of the “bodge and make do” repairs this Trabant crafted body of mine is subject to was a visit today to an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in hand surgery.

 

Last year, I was out with The Wolfpack and I had their leashes wrapped loosely around my fingers. They saw a cat, took off and took my fingers with them. A bit unpleasant, I have to say. Anyway, once the bruising and swelling subsided, all returned to normal - except for my right ring finger that no longer straightens. 
 

Cue visit to surgeon.

 

Radiology and ultrasound revealed that apart from the central extensor tendon (the volar plate) the joint of the affected finger is pristine, a veritable pin-up of a proximal interphalangeal joint. An orthopaedic gold standard!

 

Whereas…

 

The finger joints that DO work are riddled with osteophytes and arthrotic cysts!

Anyway, therapeutic options were discussed and was decided to turn me over to those torturers of human flesh known as physiotherapists.. (i dated a physiotherapist once, she claimed that “if it ain’t physical it ain’t therapy”…. Ahem…..sorry, I was digressing). PT will start in January 2024.

 

Apparently they have devices like the modern day equivalent of the Medieval thumb screw which slowly stretches the affected joint back to normal function (at least that’s the theory).

 

I suspect that after a PT session my hand won’t be much good for a while as it recovers from being tortured…

 

THIS WILL BE PROBLEMATIC AS IT’S MY WHISKY DRINKING HAND!!!

 

(and to add insult to injury, I suspect that the amount of sympathy I will get from Mrs iD will be zero to none).

 

It’s not even Christmas and already 2024 is shaping up well…