Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

4 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I think our bin collection changes this week are probably the most exciting thing happening locally. I am not complaining, it is quite nice living somewhere where little happens apart from the unpleasant incidents in the 9th and 17th centuries. 

Quite an interesting history has Benfleet. Most of it used to be a hunting ground for King John. Most of the boundary's Are identifiable in the present road layout. The Royal Forrest was delineated by Thundersly Park Road to the east, the High Road to the south and west and extended to the north of the present A13. 

https://www.benfleethistory.org.uk/content/browse-articles/people-2/royalty/benfleet-a-royal-forest-1163-1552

[DaveF]

My green bin which is for non recyclable waste will be collected on Thursday, 2 days later than usual this week, next week the blue recyclables bin is collected one day later than usual.  I know because Northumberland produce "Northumberland News", a quarterly 20 page free magazine distributed to all addresses.  It is also on the council's website in the News section.  At the moment, apart from optional garden bins the only collections are the green and blue bins - most of the county is so sparsely populated it doesn't make sense to have any other collections, such as glass.

 

Today I did go out, I just headed north a few miles to the far side of Ashington to visit the QE2 Country Park which has a pleasant lake to walk round (today I only went part way).  It also has a hotel and pub/restaurant which is sometimes useful for lunch.  The usual assorted types of gulls, swans and canada geese were walking round the cars eating whatever was offered.  Then they got bored and went back into the water.  I took some coffee with me which was fortunate as although the pub was not locked they weren't serving anything yet - they had just finished the hotel breakfasts (it is all Premier Inn), but the loos were open.

 

Then I decided to have a drive along Druridge Bay.  I had forgotten there is a Boxing Day swim.   The road is wide enough for two cars to pass but not when it is full of parked cars as much of it was today.  At the very southern end at Cresswell I found that the small clifftop car park was empty so stopped there for a while.

 

Some photos should be below.

 

Back home I had turkey etc leftovers with chips and salad for lunch and watched Nottingham Forest beat Newcastle United 3-1 at St James' Park.  Living where I do it is the nearest premier leage club and everyone at work supported it so I do follow them.  However as I come from Nottingham I also support Forest so I wasn't really sure who I wanted to win.

 

This evening I will of course watch Vera, I expect that as usual I will spend most of the time working out exactly where they filmed each scene.  It is on Holy Island/Lindisfarne which I know quite well having visited many times - and I always check the tide times before I go!  For those not in the UK it is connected to the mainland by a tidal causeway and a surprising number of people have to be rescued by coastguards and lifeboat each year.

 

Earlier I will watch Dad's Army for the umpteenth time.  Any spare time will be reading.  Food will be more leftovers in rolls.

 

Queen Elizabeth 2 Country Park pub and hotel

 

Swans and Canada geese

 

 

Cresswell view north along Druridge Bay.  The swimmers were in the part you cannot see beyond the house on the extreme left.

 

Druridge Bay again, slightly zoomed.

 

Coqet Island off Amble from Cresswell

 

David

Edited December 26, 2023 by DaveF

[Coombe Barton]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Don't forget that most bin days have been put back due to the holidays.

Not ours

[New Haven Neil]

2 hours ago, DaveF said:

This evening I will of course watch Vera, I expect that as usual I will spend most of the time working out exactly where they filmed each scene

 

Ditto.  We spend ages searching on Gurgle Maps if there's somewhere we don't recognise!  We were watching an old one last night and a lighthouse had me stumped - Berwick as it turned out, a bit further away from their usual haunts.

 

We had lunch today at Trackshack John's, together with friend Jayne who they had also kindly invited as she's on her own now after losing Gary in a road accident.  A nice South African style curry (beef, not turkey!) was served as John's (new, he lost his first wife in covid) wife is Rhodesian or whatever it's called now.  It was Rhodesia when she lived there anyway.  Jayne doesn't know John well and was amused when he talked about selling his engine to buy a house - we had to show her a photo of Taw Valley, she got it then!

 

Dinner was turkey leftovers, fried up in spices etc, and that was nice too  - I like turkey, so there. 😁

 

Then a quiet night now hopefully, a 0% Guinness and nibbling cashew nuts watching Vera if all goes to plan.

[monkeysarefun]

3 hours ago, Tony_S said:

 I am not complaining, it is quite nice living somewhere where little happens apart from the unpleasant incidents in the 9th and 17th centuries. 

Did ye binne collectionne noticef not go out in time? 

[PupCam]

13 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

You didn't download the Linux version or something?!

 

Overcast and storming here ATM but last week there were some good viewing nights. I fInally figured out the advantage of spot-metering when photographing the moon and it actually came out looking like the moon, not a blinding over-exposed searchlight.

 

 

 

 

I was too lazy to get my tripod out so its a bit shaky. NEXT time I will, and I'll use burst mode and have a play with stacking.

 

 

Sorry Chimpy.   I forgot to say nice photograph in my earlier post.     Watchout, you'll get hooked ...

 

 

 

[roundhouse]

13 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

Ditto.  We spend ages searching on Gurgle Maps if there's somewhere we don't recognise!  We were watching an old one last night and a lighthouse had me stumped - Berwick as it turned out, a bit further away from their usual haunts.

 

We had lunch today at Trackshack John's, together with friend Jayne who they had also kindly invited as she's on her own now after losing Gary in a road accident.  A nice South African style curry (beef, not turkey!) was served as John's (new, he lost his first wife in covid) wife is Rhodesian or whatever it's called now.  It was Rhodesia when she lived there anyway.  Jayne doesn't know John well and was amused when he talked about selling his engine to buy a house - we had to show her a photo of Taw Valley, she got it then!

 

Dinner was turkey leftovers, fried up in spices etc, and that was nice too  - I like turkey, so there. 😁

 

Then a quiet night now hopefully, a 0% Guinness and nibbling cashew nuts watching Vera if all goes to plan.

My other half watches Vera.

 

She also knows that my Taw Valley isnt worth as much as a house, especially down here.😁

[Tony_S]

12 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Did ye binne collectionne noticef not go out in time? 

It did but if it didn’t  the ferocious wildlife would have dragged the rubbish away. 

[Ozexpatriate]

I had forgotten how dire daytime television can be. Despite the seemingly endless NCAA (college) football 'bowl' games at this time of year, there isn't any this morning, and the tennis ramp-up to the Australian Open doesn't begin until Thursday.

 

No Boxing Day (cricket) test match here - though I was told there was a threat of rain stopping play.

 

Bin day is usually Wednesday. The garbage collection company has a telephone number for me from my old job. They usually send a robocall when the collection schedule changes. That won't reach me. During my walk today I noticed that a nearby neighbourhood with Monday collection had their bins out today. I will take my cues from my neighbours this evening.

 

Today is the clear liquid diet before a routine endoscopic procedure tomorrow. The hard "prep" starts this evening.

 

The hands on the clock are moving slowly today as the sun reaches it's zenith - well hidden today.

 

The weather here has been some variation of rainy, foggy or just dreary and grey since at least the end of last week. It is a little less cold than 'normal' - a round 10°C is forecast.

 

Edited December 26, 2023 by Ozexpatriate

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Just finished watching the program on the coronation. What I found amusing was when they were rehearsing the queen's entry to the cathedral one of the page boys holding her train had a wonderful shiner, as I understand it the pages were the queens grandsons. I'm glad I wasn't the one charged with organising it.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Winslow Boy]

4 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

Ditto.  We spend ages searching on Gurgle Maps if there's somewhere we don't recognise!  We were watching an old one last night and a lighthouse had me stumped - Berwick as it turned out, a bit further away from their usual haunts.

 

We had lunch today at Trackshack John's, together with friend Jayne who they had also kindly invited as she's on her own now after losing Gary in a road accident.  A nice South African style curry (beef, not turkey!) was served as John's (new, he lost his first wife in covid) wife is Rhodesian or whatever it's called now.  It was Rhodesia when she lived there anyway.  Jayne doesn't know John well and was amused when he talked about selling his engine to buy a house - we had to show her a photo of Taw Valley, she got it then!

 

Dinner was turkey leftovers, fried up in spices etc, and that was nice too  - I like turkey, so there. 😁

 

Then a quiet night now hopefully, a 0% Guinness and nibbling cashew nuts watching Vera if all goes to plan.

Not turkey twizzlers I hope Neil?

[southern42]

' night all and nos da

 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[monkeysarefun]

3 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

No Boxing Day (cricket) test match here - though I was told there was a threat of rain stopping play.

 

 

Sunny on day 2, Labuschagne just got out, Australia 5 for 250..

[Darlington_Shed]

One of the seasonal annoyances is the fact that shops think Christmas starts in November (or earlier); even more annoying is the fact they think Christmas is all over on Christmas Day. Went to the local shops today to stock up on essentials and the Christmas playlist has already given way to classic rock from the 60s and 70s.

 

Otherwise, today has been our main celebration - my sister and BiL arrived today, eldest son and his wife also arrived, as did two of our closest friends, so tonight was party night - together with another round of present giving and receiving. A glazed ham was enjoyed with roast potatoes, braised sprouts and parsnip mash, followed by a variety of desserts and/or cheese. I have managed to outstay all of the guests who are now sleeping so I get to enjoy a quiet hour with a glass of something festive.

 

Remember: today was only day 2 of the 12 days of Christmas... enjoy the other 10!

[monkeysarefun]

Lunchtime hailstorm    - I cant hear  the cricket!

Edited December 27, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Dr Eldest Herbert is off "home" today.. I will be "home alone".

 

Out for a beer or two with the Eating and Drinking Society tonight after a curry at tea time for youngest Herbert's fiances' Birthday.

 

I may, or may not, have a dental appointment today..  Two texts have arrived suggesting I should attend both days.. we shall see!

 

Lots to do so..

 

TTFN!

 

Stay safe and calm!

 

Baz

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a rather wet part of Bradford where we are now installed at No 2 sons new abode.  A party was had last night but there are no sore heads.  I believe that I have some curtain rails to put up. 

 

Regards to all. 

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl 

Just to be different, the first 4 hours were very broken up, waking with pain from joints. The second 4 hours I slept solidly.

 

Ben I'd like to go out Collie appeared, we went out on a soggy patrol, the wind is also getting up. Ben the brave Collie woofed on several occasions to frighten pigeons away.

We are well and truly under red and yellow of rain according to the radar.

Very dark , very wet, grass squelchy.

 

Had it been dry further work on the gardening shed doors will have occured, there's no chance of that so I may well work on fitting the new rudder head to the shaft in the workshop. I can check what the roof leak situation is at the same time.

 

First however when this muggacoffee has gone I'm off to paddle to Tes and Coes for milk, and any other minor essential we've run out of.

 

Time to drink that coffee.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Just getting light and the ground looks damp but whether that was rain or a heavy dew I know not.  Rain, possible heavy is forecast for later and it will be mild and windy.  11°C rising to 13°C.

Slept like a log which is hardly surprising given the amount of food and drink consumed over the last couple of days.  I've mentioned before that we really like to celebrate Christmas here at GDB Towers and this year was no exception.  We've had a great time and all guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  The food, courtesy of The Boss, was brilliant as usual and her organisational  skills second to none bearing in mind she was not just cooking for carnivores but two vegetarians and one with IBS and a gluten intolerance.  Santa was extremely generous to me leaving me some lovely gifts including a bottle of Hine cognac,  8 motor cars for the layout, three assorted miniature bottles of malt whisky, a couple of bottles of wine,  aftershave,  a 3D puzzle of Mallard and a couple of other items.   

It was lovely having two grandchildren here but we did miss Abbie who was in Malta with James visiting his grandparents.  Judging by her Instagram posts they've had a great time and at the moment are now winging their way back home and the flight was only 9 minutes late taking off.  We'll see them on Saturday when we're all going to a friend's birthday party,

Everybody went home by yesterday afternoon though leaving us to chill out in the evening watching Vera.  I did have one small mishap yesterday (before I'd had a drink) when I managed to trip, stub my toe and twist my ankle and they are causing me to hobble a bit today.  Today will be mainly spent putting furniture and other things  back in their normal place and also doing some Shark driving.....toe and ankle permitting.

I might even find time to visit The Shed but that may have to wait until tomorrow.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by grandadbob

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Good moaning from a rather wet part of Bradford where we are now installed at No 2 sons new abode.  A party was had last night but there are no sore heads.  I believe that I have some curtain rails to put up. 

 

Regards to all. 

 

Jamie

A father's work is never ending. Just make certain you 'charge' Christmas rates Jamie.

Edited December 27, 2023 by Winslow Boy

[Erichill16]

Morning All,

A quiet Christmas here and  probably the least stressful for a long time. Only seen bil et al for about 10 minutes and haven’t seen my side of the family at all.

Probably aught to get a move on as I’ve got two fence panels in my van that need delivering to bil. Thisafternoon I’ve got to go to work and make a statement when a Bobby is coming to visit.

Bettergerramoveon 

Robert

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Will be visiting Tess Coes this morning, almost out of bread and milk plus some other things, and something for dinner, there's no leftovers from my Christmas dinner. I'd better get on with it, be back later.

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, but it's hard to tell it is so dark.  We have 'Red Rain' according to the weather radar, the garden is flooded, blowing a hoolie once more, not much chance of running trains out there!  My pal C has a new-to-him loco that needs running to test it, and he currently does not have a garden railway because of an impending house build.  It's never stopped raining and/or blowing a hoolie since he bought it! Pah.

 

Not sure what the day will bring, orders have not as yet been issued as Mrs NHN has a Civil Serpents Privilege Day today so isn't working. It won't be gardening, that's for sure.