Early Risers.

[monkeysarefun]

7 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

There was a fire on a battery powered London bus yesterday, today the whole fleet of the type of bus concerned have been taken off the road for checks.

 

 

Jaguar Ipace EV's  were subject to a recall  in the US for the same reason..    This shows the kerfuffle that it takes to put them out.

 

 

 

Edited January 13 by monkeysarefun

[Hroth]

4 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

It's alright I figured it out he says he's going to a dance and needs reinforcement or was that sequins.

 

I think he just wanted 3/4 as an advance...

 

3 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

In other news our regular Amazon person is good. If we’re out he leaves things in the porch. 
 

Someone else was on the run today. They didn’t even open the gate let alone knock the door. Several hours later I received a “delivery” email.  For a package tossed over the wall by the bins. The contents are not undamaged. 
 

Suitable feedback has been provided.  Collection and replacement have been booked.   
 

 

Similar to my Amazon delivery last week, which was in an Amazon paper bag...  It was improved by Amazon NOT sending the item ordered.

 

Sent back for a refund.

 

[Gwiwer]

48 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

I compared the insurance quotes on a 2022 model Tesla given that companies, hire  car outfits etc are ditching them at a rate of knots at the moment so I wondered what I'd be up for if I suddenly went insane and bought one second hand.

 

Only 2  companies (neither of which I've ever heard of) were happy to insure me and....phew!

 

 

In comparison my 6 litre V8 ute with performance options cost me $666 (I like that!)  when I re-insured it last month. 

 

 

Expand  

There was a fire on a battery powered London bus yesterday, today the whole fleet of the type of bus concerned have been taken off the road for checks.

The insurance industry does not like risks it cannot fully understand from past history.  Electric vehicles a là TESLA are new.  There isn't a lot of insurance history for them but there is an alarming number of claims for very costly incidents proportionate to the number of them on the roads.  The insurers won't like that one bit.  

 

Out of interest I asked for an online quote from my current insurer for a 2023 TESLA 3 using my current personal details.  The comprehensive policy - before adding any extras such as windscreen, NCD protection or breakdown cover, was £1250.  On a much smaller and older car (2009 Vauxhall Corsa a/k/a The Little Red Driving Box) I am paying a rolled-up figure of £198 including RAC breakdown, windscreen cover, hire car after all losses (not just after a total loss / theft) and NCD protection.  The insurance component of that is barely £100.  Obviously not comparing apples with apples but by way of illustrating the much higher risk that insurers attach to electric vehicles. 

 

The London bus incident was on a Metrodecker, a very recent type to enter service currently only in small numbers.  But it is not the first serious fire on one of its type in London; there was another within the garage at Potters Bar which caused the loss of several vehicles.  Questions will be asked.  All Metrodeckers are now grounded until further notice which is having some effect upon those routes they normally operate.  The much more numerous ADL E400 / BYD electrics are not affected and have not yet been involved in any such incident.  

 

There is slowly-growing concern over the Lithium battery safety as a result of more fires than might be expected occurring in electric vehicles.  The ban on taking Lithium battery-powered vehicles (scooters and some e-bikes, mostly) on public transport due to the fire risk is steadily extending having started in London after several combusted on the tube and now covers most operators in the south at least.  

 

In other news the Little Red Driving Box had its second side-swipe in as many days this morning and in exactly the same spot.  Dr. SWMBO had been to the pool and was just parking outside when someone pushed past brushing the offside rear.  She called me on the phone as it shook her up.  They, of course, didn't stop.  I went out expecting to find the car in a state but she was much the worse of the two; another rub in exactly the same spot and another one which will buff out with T-cut because the paintwork isn't broken.  

 

The rest of the day was much better! 

 

 

Edited January 13 by Gwiwer

[Andy Hayter]

Today was the annual post New Year dinner for all of the old codgers  citizens of my age or older in the commune.

 

Aperitives, cold meat collation with salad, wild boar stew, cheese*, ice cream dessert, clementines, chocolates, galette de Roi**, coffee and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of wine.  Best part of 4 hours start to finish and at no cost to participants ( attending spouses who are under-age have to pay €15 = around GBP 12.50.

 

* The French eat cheese before dessert - supposedly it fills the stomach and so reduces the amount of dessert you need - not that you would think that looking at everything that arrived after the cheese today.

 

** A frangipane pie with, like traditional Xmas pud, a little gift buried somewhere within.  The winner gets to wear a paper crown for the rest of the day.   

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Beef stew with dumplings for this evenings dinner courtesy of the use-by-date lottery (well in date but the oldest date wise).  What with the car accident I still haven't touched my purchases from the toy fair so something to get on with. Be back later.

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[The Lurker]

Sorry to hear of the accident Phil, but glad there are no injuries ( although keep an eye on unexpected aches and pains over the next few weeks). The bloke who drove into me a while back claimed both that his car was not on the road and that he’d suffered whiplash; go figure! It still look the insurance people 19 months to sort it out, for reasons I won’t bore you with.

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Much skipping of posts again I’m afraid so hopefully all is well but commiserations to @PhilJ W on the loss of his car but at least you escaped un injured.

As for me just the usual but we’ve been  watching a bit of tv which you may think odd but some weeks the tv doesn’t even get switched on.

Something that I did watch was this,

 

https://www.itv.com/watch/tonight/1a2803/1a2803a9392

 

which portraits the situation quite well.

One of the issues raised is the reimbursement price of medicines that are supplied. I spoke to a colleague last year and he told me the average pharmacy was losing £1000 PER WEEK on this issue and obviously as this is an average figure some are losing out to a much greater extent. 

No wonder the dark one is roaming free.

On a more positive note my team won but as all the other teams around did too we’re still in the same place in the league.

Enough drivel,

Goodnight.

[Erichill16]

In a week that has caused much debate in our hobby I wonder if anyone could confirm my belief that this is another trader that has decided to close the door for the last time.

 

https://www.n-spoorstore.nl/en/content/het-is-mooi-geweest

 

For those that may be wondering, it a place where I do spend quite a few tokens and have got to know the family and staff quite well. If the message is what I think it is I’d like to send them a thank you card but obviously I want to be sure.

Thanks in anticipation.

Robert

[zarniwhoop]

4 minutes ago, Erichill16 said:

In a week that has caused much debate in our hobby I wonder if anyone could confirm my belief that this is another trader that has decided to close the door for the last time.

 

https://www.n-spoorstore.nl/en/content/het-is-mooi-geweest

 

For those that may be wondering, it a place where I do spend quite a few tokens and have got to know the family and staff quite well. If the message is what I think it is I’d like to send them a thank you card but obviously I want to be sure.

Thanks in anticipation.

Robert

I used translate.google.com - put the URL in the 'website' box, select from Dutch and to English.

 

A quick browse suggests they are retiring in June.

[jjb1970]

6 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Ironically Arthur Bostrom who played Officer Crabtree can speak French fluently.

 

It probably helped him in the role. I remember Les Dawson's wonderful piano gags where he'd butcher music, he was a very good pianist which was obvious from his act as to do that needed a high degree of competence as a pianist (he wasn't just banging at the keys, it was artfully done).

[Erichill16]

24 minutes ago, zarniwhoop said:

I used translate.google.com - put the URL in the 'website' box, select from Dutch and to English.

 

A quick browse suggests they are retiring in June.

Thanks for that, it’s come as quite a surprise really but I did know that the owners wife, Ineke has been ill for a while. They are a very friendly family and often advise me where to visit when I’m in Holland. Hopefully I’ll get to see them before they close.

Wow, things are really coming off the tracks this year.

[jamie92208]

8 hours ago, Andy Hayter said:

Today was the annual post New Year dinner for all of the old codgers  citizens of my age or older in the commune.

 

Aperitives, cold meat collation with salad, wild boar stew, cheese*, ice cream dessert, clementines, chocolates, galette de Roi**, coffee and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of wine.  Best part of 4 hours start to finish and at no cost to participants ( attending spouses who are under-age have to pay €15 = around GBP 12.50.

 

* The French eat cheese before dessert - supposedly it fills the stomach and so reduces the amount of dessert you need - not that you would think that looking at everything that arrived after the cheese today.

 

** A frangipane pie with, like traditional Xmas pud, a little gift buried somewhere within.  The winner gets to wear a paper crown for the rest of the day.   

We will be heading for the Salle de fete this afternoon for our Gallett du roi.  There appear to be several versions of it.  Round here it is often a sort of large donut Brioche with a glaze and glacé cherries as decoration.  The Little porcelain figures are often caricatures of politicians.  I ended up chomping on Marine Le Pen a couple of years ago. 

 

Good moaning from the chilly Charente.  Stew and dumplings was excellent last night.  This morning we are off to the market as usual then the Gallett this afternoon. 

 

Rehards to all and of course Sundry. 

 

Jamie

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Busy day ahead as it's our Northern Regional Conference.  Organisation by the paid staff has bordered on the useless.. but its not my problem. 

 

Time to geramoveon..

 

Back later

 

Baz

[DaveF]

It must be Sunday as I got up at 07.00 and have now had breakfast and am ready for the day.  Well actually I don't feel ready for anything at all, but in theory I am.

 

I've started on the e mails, phone calls will follow shortly and then church.

 

It's quite cloudy yet again, no frost, 2C and not much wind.  I slept fairly well until 05.00 then I woke with indigestion - I wonder if it was too much stilton at tea time?

 

I think that once I get back from the church the rest of the day may be fairly quiet, I have a number of things I want to do which involve sitting down rather than standing for long periods.

 

David

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

 4 hours sleep loóooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong awake, about an hour's sleep.

Ben the I'm requesting out Collie appeared but went back to bed when I asked and I got another half hours sleep.

 

Cool dry, and grey, lightened by the first bunch of snowdrops showing their faces.

 

During the awake it suddenly popped into brain.

When the new mast step is fitted it will stick up above the tabernacle by about a foot. That would go through the winter cover , therefore a horizontal is needed and that will need other supports . Much thought is going into their design.

I've an old mast that will do the horizontal once I've removed any sharp bits, but that due to its curves will require shaped topped supports.

 

Shortly I'll depart for the sailing club,

Forecast, WSW, 5 to 13mph, actual at the moment 8 to 13mph NW.

 

Time to get the kit on.

 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dull start to the day here.  It will stay mainly cloudy with the chance of the odd brighter spell and a few light scattered showers.  2°C rising to 6°C.

I had a good night's sleep, only waking once briefly at about 04.00.  The operation site is fine and apart from obviously knowing it's there it all seems to have settled down OK.

Lots of rugby watched yesterday, 4 matches in fact and the best was left till last when Quins visited Cardiff and demolished them after a slightly shaky start.  Three more matches available are today but one or two may be recorded for later consumption.

James came and cleaned the conservatory roof.  What it is to be young and fit, he did it in about a third of the time it would have taken me.  Anyway, it's a good job done and he also made good a crack in the pebbledash on the front of the house.  The girls returned from the shopping trip after several hours and the bride's wedding dress has been  purchased for what seems to me to be an outlandish sum of tokens but hey, what do I know about such things.  Apparently there will be more shopping trips to purchase stuff for the bridesmaids and the bride's mother.(Aka The Boss)   I will not be shopping at all as I have a perfectly good suit for the occasion which although it's a few years old has only been worn about half a dozen times and it still fits perfectly.

Tea was taken up to Herself earlier and it sounds like she is about to make an appearance.  A cooked breakfast has already been promised so that's something to look forward to.  After that I may go for a walk as I've been sitting around a bit too much for the past couple of days.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

 

[monkeysarefun]

 

 

 

Yay for the humidity being back to normal again today, though the forecast is for heaps of rain between now and Thursday. This El Nino that was meant to make it hot and dry and have us all running around putting out bushfires everywhere doesnt have a clue what it is doing.

 

The frogs are loving it though, as the sun goes down there is currently  a background noise of Bleating Tree Frogs going off. Turned on the telly to catch the news and discovered that after the news  "Muster Dogs" has returned. Think ":Strictly Come Dancing" but where dogs round up cattle. Surprisingly watchable.

 

"Its not Ben - but it IS Bens Australian Kelpie cousin":

 

 

 

[Winslow Boy]

49 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

 

Yay for the humidity being back to normal again today, though the forecast is for heaps of rain between now and Thursday. This El Nino that was meant to make it hot and dry and have us all running around putting out bushfires everywhere doesnt have a clue what it is doing.

 

The frogs are loving it though, as the sun goes down there is currently  a background noise of Bleating Tree Frogs going off. Turned on the telly to catch the news and discovered that after the news  "Muster Dogs" has returned. Think ":Strictly Come Dancing" but where dogs round up cattle. Surprisingly watchable.

 

"Its not Ben - but it IS Bens Australian Kelpie cousin":

 

 

 

 

We used to have a programme called One Man and his dog which was about collies rounding up sheep.

 

Unfortunately the BBC decided in there infinite wisdom that it wasn't popular enough and diverse enough. In other words as it showed things such as white males and working animals which the urbanites didn't comprehend it had to go. They tried to 'update it' but of course then it became like some woke game show.

 

Now of course we have all these 'oh look at nature isn't it wonderful' shows and 'how diverse the countryside is'. No wonder kiddies don't know where the milk comes from.

[Tony_S]

12 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

No wonder kiddies don't know where the milk comes from.

The first infant school I attended in Somerset was right next to farmland so it wasn’t difficult. We then moved to Birmingham and there was a school trip to see farm animals and crops. That was in the 1950s. If most of the children had been asked they would have said milk came from a bottle. 

Edited January 14 by Tony_S

[monkeysarefun]

48 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

 

We used to have a programme called One Man and his dog which was about collies rounding up sheep.

 

Unfortunately the BBC decided in there infinite wisdom that it wasn't popular enough and diverse enough. In other words as it showed things such as white males and working animals which the urbanites didn't comprehend it had to go. They tried to 'update it' but of course then it became like some woke game show.

 

Now of course we have all these 'oh look at nature isn't it wonderful' shows and 'how diverse the countryside is'. No wonder kiddies don't know where the milk comes from.

 

Australia is a land of rugged pioneers -  as long as you ignore the fact that 80% of us live in cities - I think its the highest rate of urbanisation in the world. Mainly because there are a lot of uninhabitable bits , but anyway..

 

But we do like to get out into the bush and revel in the emptiness and uniqueness of it all, and lap up documentaries about our  remote cattle and sheep stations that are the size of many European countries - and see the lives of  those that work there - while ignoring the fact that many of the cattle and sheep we see on the telly  end up on live animal export ships to be slaughtered the Halal way in filthy abattoirs in Indonesia and the middle east.

 

 

 

Edited January 14 by monkeysarefun

[Grizz]

Morning All Er ers.
 

Shock….Horror…….No breakfast this morning at Grizz Castle.

 

However things are not quite as bleak as they might sound, as today we are having smørrebrød around lunch time, whilst watching Dronning Margrethe II handing over to Frederik, Kronprins af Danmark (the new King). 
 

So it’s going to be Meget Hyggelig, with schnapps and beers all round and lovely scrumptious food, with some flags out and watching it all on DR1. Hurra Hurra Hurra. 
 

Have a great day all.

 

ATB Grizz

 

 

 

 

 

[monkeysarefun]

1 minute ago, Grizz said:

However things are not quite as bleak as they might sound, as today we are having smørrebrød around lunch time, whilst watching Dronning Margrethe II handing over to Frederik, Kronprins af Danmark (the new King). 

 

 

Aye!   - also Aussie Queen Mary, born and bred in Tassie  don't forget.

 

Their eyes met  across a Sydney pub during the 2000 Sydney Olympics and in response to the coronation the pub has had a full-on Danish coronation weekend, including a "Theres something about Mary" cocktail and a kind of danish sausage thingy in honour of her hubby.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit late this morning, not sure what time I woke up but by the time I'd washed and came down for breakfast it was nearly ten. One of our SEERS members has a sale on this morning selling a lot of unmentionables (here on ER's) and also giving out free tea and bread pudding.🥴 I of course will not be able to attend without transport.

Edited January 14 by PhilJ W