Early Risers.

[monkeysarefun]

19 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Earworm 

 

🥵

 

 

 

Now although I may have not actually "gone to doctor university   etc"  and so be a real   doctor in the @iL Dottore doctoring sense,  I have learned much folk medicine from the traditional elders of our ancient lands.

 

Their guaranteed cure for any earworm infection is to give this a burl on your telly or portable device.

 

 

 

Edited January 26 by monkeysarefun

[Adam88]

2 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Good morning from the Distant (Signal) West. A golden shiny thing rose from behind the carn and seems to have made all the small people very chattery on their way to school

 

Dr SWMBO was up at 4am due to being unable to sleep any longer.  She has kindly left me a pile of dishes and pans in the kitchen but tonight’s meal is already prepared. 
 

She also just asked me something as she read through her various pages of interest on the web. 
 

“What does it mean to abe?”  
 

“Abe?”

 

I peered over her shoulder. Her command of the language (though not its grammar) is as good as mine so I wondered what she had found. 
 

“Abe. A - B - E.  Like here where it says Jennifer was abed before anyone else in the house”.  What does “abe” mean. 
 

.

 

 

.

 

“It means she was in bed first……” 🤦‍♀️

“Were you mizzled by that?”

- “Mizzled”

-“as in misled” 

 

Welcome to Brain-dead Day

 

I don't know about Abe in this context but I was once taught the meaning of ABF, ABFF and even ABFFF by an old aviator.  Too many Fs would inevitably be followed by Brian-dead Next Day.  Never again!

[monkeysarefun]

24 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

The whole government - business model and relationship between government and society is very different here. In some ways it's better than Britain, others less so. Despite being much more about 'Singapore plc' and pulling for the national team, social protection is nothing like as good as the UK. Healthcare is world class and makes the NHS look second rate but it is private with state regulated insurance. There are polyclinics for those in need but if you rely on polyclinics it's a bit like the NHS with waiting for treatment. The place has been (in my view) accurately described as a benign authoritarian state. The down sides to that are pretty easy to spot, the upsides are that everything works, it's clean, safe and efficient and as long as you don't break the rules in some ways people face less interference in their lives than in Britain.

 

 

My grandparents migrated here as ten pound poms  in the early 1950's due to the promise of better weather and their sense that Australia had something more to offer than postwar Basingstoke.

 

They told me that Australia  was sold to 1950s  Brits as basically being  the UK but with better weather. Which we are in a lot of ways. For instance thanks to the 1970's Whitlam government we effectively have an NHS, though its been made more suitable for purpose by implementing supplementary private health cover for those who can afford it, but at the end of the day no one will go untreated in a hospital due to lack of healthcare.

 

We also  embraced cricket, but in a heartfelt  attempt to improve the game we took the laws of cricket and stress tested them,  and so as a result have created a much more robust set. For instance by alerting those  in charge early on to the risks of bowlers accidently having sandpaper in their strides, we were able to cut off the chance that other tools like files, grinders or oxy-acetylene cutters would accidently be brought onto the pitch by the New Zealanders or maybe Pakistan.

 

Donald Horne wrote a book called "The Lucky Country" in the '60's which was meant as   a critique of how Australians  just took ourselves for granted due to everything just happening in our favour here due to basically happy circumstance and  luck.   IE the weather is 9/10ths perfect, we can fund everything by just digging stuff up and we have enough space to grow all the food we need. To get him back for that unfair  slight we have used his phrase ever since in the opposite way, in order to bask in our good fortune to have fallen on our feet in a land of infinite natural resources, good weather and space from one other.

 

WE've done a lot wrong here, but we have also done a lot right - highlights would be having a car industry that historically emphasised the importance of 8 cylinders to mental well-being, and a sporting culture that instantly  dismissed soccer out of hand,  and instead encouraged games where men don't roll around and round on the ground crying whenever  they break a nail.

 

 

[Hroth]

2 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

Had you called them steakholders instead,, that would have been heartless and cruel..

 

That was my first thought. but Tony_S beat me to it....

 

Not heartless or cruel, just hungry!

 

[TheQ]

Green bin recycling, they do the sorting, 

Black bin rubbish, but soft plastics will be taken by tesco eg cellophane and similar plastics, etc

Brown bin if you pay for it, garden waste,

No food waste  collection but vegs go in the brown.

Large items take to tip, about 10 miles away, but white goods you'll get s small amount from a scrappies for unlike the tip.

 

Three hours Burns typing, that's the data in, now to add suitable poems, and funnies. 

Did you know ? One of Burns grandchildren married a Borneo chiefs daughter, then managed to be killed by pirates...

Edited January 26 by TheQ

[Tony_S]

2 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

Had you called them steakholders instead,, that would have been heartless and cruel..

I was going for the verbal pun or deliberate misspelling for comedic effect….

 

[monkeysarefun]

14 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I was going for the verbal pun or deliberate misspelling for comedic effect….

 

 

I do feel pretty bad now that I didnt i detect  your original pun intentions but in my defence can I say that your  technique there was perhaps a bit  too subtle for  internet forums, for that to work you need to  become one of those internet stand up comedians where we can see your facial expressions.

 

If you decide on that course I'd sign up to your Patreon page as long as it wasn't too much of a burden to me.

 

Edited January 26 by monkeysarefun

[BSW01]

Good afternoon everyone 

 

Very late on parade today, but I’ve been quite busy honest! After breakfast and administering Sheila’s first eye drops, I went for my walk to the butchers, for the weekly meat rations and a pork pie for my dinner. I then went to the Trafford Centre to pick up a click and collect package and a few other bits and pieces. 
 

Recycling is quite easy here, we have 4 bins, each a different colour;

Blue - paper and cardboard. Emptied once every 4 weeks. This is usually nearly full when put out. 

Black - is for glass, metal cans, plastic bottles, foil etc. Emptied once every 4 weeks. This is never anywhere near full when it’s put out. 
Grey - non recyclable items. Emptied every 2 weeks. This is never anywhere near full when it’s put out. 

Green - kitchen and garden waste. Emptied every week. This is usually only part full, unless I’ve had a busy time in the garden. 

 

I take all soft plastic bags, wrappers, film etc to the recycling centre at Sainsbury’s every week.

 

I forgot to add, electrical waste, large items and wood, etc, goes to one of 2 recycling centres, both of which are within a 4 mile radius.

 

Back later. 
 

Brian

Edited January 26 by BSW01

[Tony_S]

Our district council has won awards for its recycling scheme. Which was very embarrassing when the very distinctive bags were photographed on a Malaysian dump.

[monkeysarefun]

10 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Our district council has won awards for its recycling scheme. Which was very embarrassing when the very distinctive bags were photographed on a Malaysian dump.

The same thing happened here for a while if you cross out Malaysia and write in Queensland.

Edited January 26 by monkeysarefun

[Winslow Boy]

4 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

Perhaps they're in league with the psychotic horses....

 

I think that is one of the proposals they're going to vote on.

[Gwiwer]

3 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

Had you called them steakholders instead,, that would have been heartless and cruel..

I try to use a knife and fork when dealing with steak. Or tongs if it still requires warming. I never hold it. 

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, BSW01 said:

we have 4 bins

We were threatened with that. Until several of the local town councils got together and protested. 
 

The unitary Konsel Kernow / Cornwall Council then relented and will continue its use of weighted (so they stay put in the wind) bags. 
 

For each home to have four bins would result in many of our tiny streets being literally lined with them. Some cottages have no land outside at all. Some have very little and it can sometimes be shared with neighbours. 
 

There just isn’t space for everywhere to have four bins. Neither is there a need. The bag system works well enough, provides more than enough capacity and they can be kept anywhere handy until required. 
 

Unlike wheelie bins. 

[TheQ]

Ben has had his long walk under clear blue Welkin, in a strong cold North westerly..

 

I've had enough of Burness today..

 

I need a lie down...

[Erichill16]

Afternoon All,

Just about recovered from yesterdays expedition. Set off at 10.00am and arrived home at 7:30pm but managed a trip to the local Boundary Mill store as well. Meadowhall is tedious but Boundary Mill is on another level. Only clothes, soft furnishing and houseware.

Today as Fox Valley, more shopping. Trying to find summer clothes  for a walkabout in January ain't easy.

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Not done a lot today, a journal from a modelling group* arrived in the post this morning and I have been perusing the same, that took me up to lunch which was bacon butties. Been watching 'Money for nothing', a program I don't normally watch but what caught my eye was a set of four dining room chairs identical to those that I have. They are well over forty years old, I inherited them from my parents together with a matching drop leaf table. I don't use them any more for sitting on, just as an overflow for the bookcases. I eat my meals at the breakfast bar now because the dining chairs are now too low for comfort due to my arthritis.

*Not items that run on parallel strips of metal.

Edited January 26 by PhilJ W

[Ian Abel]

POETS other terms available...

 

Yesterday, first of many "educational meetings" to try and bring someone up-to-speed with all the work I do for the Long Island client.

This is an internal IT-type who hasn't got ANY experience with the Crystal report tool we use and limited experience with the ERP system underlying everything! At 1-hour a week I'm not sure how the IT manager expects this guy to get enough knowledge in less than 10-+ YEARS to be able to handle this stuff. He even opined that the preliminary tasks I'd suggested for him weren't able to be accomplished since he was too busy with other stuff!  Oh well... 😮

 

An enjoyable evening happy hour and choir rehearsal was the end of day relaxation.

 

This weekend shaping up to be busy;

Tonight, neighborhood happy hour

Tomorrow, some minor work to be handled at the rental property, a couple of bedroom closet light fixtures to be replaced, then over to some friends for dinner.

Sunday, SO FAR, nothing on the cards, I'm sure "things" will show up on the to-do list.

 

Weather, continues unseasonable with a -1c first thing, overcast and a high of 3-4c expected, ditto all weekend!

 

Enjoy the start of the weekend.

[Coombe Barton]

... I have a student referring to S&M – they mean sales and marketing. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/covid-enquiry-in-scotland-if-you-cant-agree-insult-gp-visits-student-scripts/

[DaveF]

I had a good little outing this morning.  I just drove out of town, onto the spine road and a short distance north before heading to Cambois and North Blyth to look at a different bit of sea from the low cliffs.  There was space to park, lovely sunshine and a cool westerly wind which was gusty enough to make holding a camera still difficult at times.  The car parks were not busy, perhaps because you can only stay for 72 hours at a time for free.  The sea was blue, the sand was the right colour and being a January weekday there weren't many people about.  

 

At North Blyth I drove across the level crossing into the small car park on the cliff having first made sure a train was not due at the alumina terminal.  If one comes the crossing can be closed throughout the time taken for shunting.  There is a warning sign to remind non locals.  I also took a few photos of the upper middle part of the harbour which was bereft of ships.

 

I was back home for coffee and had a long telephone conversation with a friend.  Then I sorted out the morning's photos and had a light lunch.  Since then I've captioned another batch of Swiss photos and rolled up the living room rug for the time being and put it behind the sofa.  It tends to "walk" and is a bit heavy and painful to move at the moment, it will go back down once I have the ability to do it safely, probably in late March.  To be honest looking at it I may buy a new one.  Taking it up has left a faint shadow on the carpet, I think a few weeks of vacuuming will deal with it.

 

There's nothing I really want to watch tonight so it may be a very quiet evening, I'll have to see how I feel after the local news is over.

 

Newbiggin by the Sea from Cambois

 

Cambois beach

 

looking south into the sun at Cambois with the alumina terminal in the background.

 

Looking north from North Blyth

 

Part of the harbour from North Blyth.  In the foreground are old coal staiths.

 

David

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 26 by DaveF

[TheQ]

Most odd,

A white van pulled into the driveway, backwards,  I heard a van door slam, I put my slippers on and was heading for the our door, heard a van door slam, I got out to the driveway in time to see it drive away...

Can't find a parcel or letter anywhere. Ebay and Amazon say nothing due till tomorrow, and anything due at all will go in the letter box.

[Hroth]

30 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

... I have a student referring to S&M – they mean sales and marketing. ...

 

Are you sure?  🤔

 

The paragraph quoted sounds like your student confused their submissions, and you got their effort for a "creative writing" course...

 

It seems that the students are coping badly with the material they can't be bothered to concentrate on!

 

[PhilJ W]

Hello again from Estuary-Land. Had an e-mail this afternoon from the insurance company about the car accident. I entered the case number on the electronic form but it wouldn't accept it. So I had to phone a number to find out, when I dialed the number I ended up on hold for twenty minutes. When I did speak to someone they confirmed that the car was written off and asked me if the settlement figure was satisfactory. It was more than what I expected, virtually what the car was worth anyway so I accepted. I mentioned the items that were left in the car and he even said that arrangements will be made to return them to me. He took note of the log book reference and told me that the DLVA will be notified. I have now received a PDF file saying that I should notify the DLVA that the vehicle is scrapped*, I will do so just so that I can reclaim the tax. *Surprisingly the car is now at a breakers in Yorkshire. 

Edited January 26 by PhilJ W

[pH]

1 hour ago, Ian Abel said:

POETS other terms available...

 

Yesterday, first of many "educational meetings" to try and bring someone up-to-speed with all the work I do for the Long Island client.

This is an internal IT-type who hasn't got ANY experience with the Crystal report tool we use and limited experience with the ERP system underlying everything! At 1-hour a week I'm not sure how the IT manager expects this guy to get enough knowledge in less than 10-+ YEARS to be able to handle this stuff. He even opined that the preliminary tasks I'd suggested for him weren't able to be accomplished since he was too busy with other stuff!  Oh well... 😮

 

Make sure you point out the possible problems here to Important People in the client organization, keep a record of that warning, and you can walk away humming “Not My Problem”.

[Coombe Barton]

15 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

Are you sure?  🤔

 

The paragraph quoted sounds like your student confused their submissions, and you got their effort for a "creative writing" course...

 

It seems that the students are coping badly with the material they can't be bothered to concentrate on!

 

In order

Yes - the title of a graph gave me the linkage

 

That's not the worst one - found some more after I posted

 

Can't be bothered is right - all round - I am having robust discussions with university high ups over their attitude to engagement

 

33 timetabled teaching days

[pH]

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

… what caught my eye was a set of four dining room chairs identical to those that I have. They are well over forty years old, I inherited them from my parents together with a matching drop leaf table.

When my parents moved into their first house after they were married in 1946, they bought a second-hand writing desk and it went through several house moves in the West of Scotland. It was a fixture in the sitting room and was used to keep writing materials, but also storing photographs and documents. I would use it if I needed a quiet place to do school homework. When my parents moved to a retirement home, the desk was the only large piece of furniture they took from the house. After both had died, we took the desk from the home, and it spent some time in my mother-in-law’s basement. 
 

My sister, living in Ontario, wanted the desk, so I arranged for it to be sent there. She died a year ago. When in Ontario dealing with the formalities after her death, I asked various members of the family if they wanted anything from her house. One son asked if he could have the desk. 
 

After probate etc. had been settled, a cousin living in the same town as my sister arranged for the desk to be shipped out here to BC. We had it stripped and refinished by a local husband and wife outfit, who did a superb job. Our son and daughter-in-law took the grandkids (9 and 6) to see some of the work being done. The refinishers told us they thought the desk was about 100 years old, which fits with it being secondhand in 1946. 
 

The desk now sits in the living room of my son and daughter-in-law’s house here on the west coast of Canada, at the end of a long journey from Glasgow.