Early Risers.

[Coombe Barton]

2 hours ago, Hroth said:

Air fryers are useful if you're cooking for yourself and if what you're cooking is small enough to fit in the basket/slidey drawer thing/whatever and you'd otherwise use an oven.  They're like a conventional fan oven but use less energy (ie cheaper to run) as there's less volume to heat up/keep to temperature.  However, I don't think they reduce cooking times.

I;m on my own, and bought a cooker with a dual oven. Apart from casseroles and roasts I use the smaller oven. I understand the energy saving, but I'd need to do a helluva lot of cooking before out paid for itself, I think. 

Then as @Smiffy2 has said there's the cleaning

[monkeysarefun]

2 hours ago, Grizz said:

I so hope that she gets the support and recognition that she deserves. Without her actions to save and protect others without a thought for her own safety, it would have only ever likely been far worse. 
 

 

 

 

I'm going out on a limb here but I'm thinking this is the worst mass murder event here since Port Arthur in 1996 when 35 or more people were killed by a loser with a bag full of guns. . Following that  awful episode, Australia joined the sensible countries and banned Semi-automatics,  and introduced some other regulations concerning firearms. 

 

If we had not done that ( and it was a right wing PM who did it, in the face of stiff opposition from the farmers and other conservative groups, so hats off to him,,,) this bloke today would more than likely have  had an AR15 rather than a knife, and the body count would have been a multiple of what it was.   

 

That non-alternative fact won't prevent comments on US news coverage  sites of this  event saying stuff like "Thats what you get when you disarm your citizens!".  To them, I draw attention to the song I posted last night.

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/229-early-risers/?do=findComment&comment=5486976

Edited April 13 by monkeysarefun

[Erichill16]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

 

 

Very lucky to get out of this:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjje0l85p3no

 

been looking for a second hand motor home. Think this one may be a bit too secondhand!

[polybear]

1 hour ago, Grizz said:

She asked Lemon or Lime? 

Lime??

That’s for making Mortar….or Plaster…..

Just what sort of Cake does Mrs Grizz make?

[Grizz]

8 minutes ago, polybear said:

Lime??

That’s for making Mortar….or Plaster…..

Just what sort of Cake does Mrs Grizz make?

🤣….you clearly have never tried a Lime drizzle cake then? 
 

Tell you what Rum drizzle is the boll*ks. It is like a giant Rum Barbar.
 

Also Weapons Grade Damson Gin drizzle cake is pretty dam good, it benefits from being stored in an air tight container in a dark cupboard to age a bit. 

Mrs Grizz’s Lemon Drizzle Cake will turn your eyes up at the corners, it is that good. 

 

Edited April 13 by Grizz

[polybear]

6 minutes ago, Erichill16 said:

been looking for a second hand motor home. Think this one may be a bit too secondhand!

Good to hear that doggies made it too 😀

 

ION……

Bear’s in the Pits; I encountered a couple of Living Brain Donors riding mo’sickles on the way here - riding race reps like tw@ts, white T-shirts, overtaking on the brow of a hill with double white lines….

One of them was heading towards Bear when he pulled an amateur wheelie maybe 30ft in front of me - under a railway bridge with cars on his right side; Bear was very rapidly wondering where I could go if it all went badly wrong as I had the road on my left and the brick wall of the bridge on my right……

 

BG

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Lime??

That’s for making Mortar….or Plaster…..

 

 

 

Hmmm, how differently the history of British maritime exploration may have been if back in 1768  or so the Admiralty  had gone "What ho, this Captain Cook bloke has some interesting and sensible theories about dealing with scurvy and what not,  but tell you what, I like the idea of this @polybearfellow running the show, I like the cut of his jib, so lets give him the gig, what!".

 

  As a result  Je serais en train de taper tout ça en français en ce moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And.... it took me ages to find these  two   #($*(#@*)%   koalas and then to get them to sit still long enough to take the photo. It would have been much easier if I could have just done it in AI.

 

 

 

Edited April 13 by monkeysarefun

[TheQ]

I bought a property big enough to need a ride on... No I can't afford to hire someone else to mow it..

And at the moment i can't mow it..

Took about an hour to remove and get into the deck to find one of the blade drive spindle frames had broken. 

Bodged it back together and drove one trip to the mobile home before the belt fell off again.

 

I've since researched the part.

Problem 1, this is a limited edition mower, the mower is not recognised by most lawnmower parts suppliers.

Found a German site, an  official main stealers that did recognize the mower.

They, however, want main stealer prices, the part is about €75 plus delivery plus taxes.. but at least i got the part number.

UK main stealer prices are similar.

General UK lawnmower dealers price about £62

Copy parts from eBay, £30, same copy parts from general lawn mower dealer £52.

Big search on net find Genuine parts in the USA ( the mower maker is American). It's $51 plus taxes and delivery.

Eventually find Amazon genuine, £ 52 delivered from USA or Two Copy parts for a similar price.

Went for two copy parts.. if it's broken once it's likely to break again. They seem to be generally pushed by most lawnmower dealers..

Note, all the genuine suppliers quote 2 weeks + for delivery, I suspect they don't keep stocks and order from the USA themselves.

 

Ben taken for his long walk, the bottom track has had a big 4*4 tractor towing a heavily loaded trailer that was bottoming out in many places. When we reached the far end there was a huge pile of soil several trailer loads.

Quite what they want it there for I'm not sure, its near the end of the pipeline that was put in...

The tractor has had the advantage of squishing out the mud and water out of the tracks , the whole route is easier to walk now.

 

[Hroth]

56 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And.... it took me ages to find these  two   #($*(#@*)%   koalas and then to get them to sit still long enough to take the photo. It would have been much easier if I could have just done it in AI.

 

 

Hmmmmmm....   So why has the poor marsupial on the right got a flag stick growing out of the side of their head?  You should have stuck with AI....

 

59 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

Hmmm, how differently the history of British maritime exploration may have been if back in 1768  or so the Admiralty  had gone "What ho, this Captain Cook bloke has some interesting and sensible theories about dealing with scurvy and what not,  but tell you what, I like the idea of this @polybearfellow running the show, I like the cut of his jib, so lets give him the gig, what!".

 

 

Given the stupidity of the 18th Century Admiralty, if Cook had indented for a quantity of lime, he would have ended up with carts of building materials queueing at the dockside!

 

 

[Grizz]

18 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

Hmmmmmm....   So why has the poor marsupial on the right got a flag stick growing out of the side of their head?  You should have stuck with AI....

 

yeah I think that it has a flag sticking out from behind its right ‘ear ol’ because….you’re defo not allowed to tattoo Koalas! 

Edited April 13 by Grizz

[New Haven Neil]

re Watches - the local lad, the late George Daniels made a decent one - second only to the maker iD mentions.

[polybear]

Bear here.....

 

Bear returned home (via the Co-op - where they still had the very special** Freezer Special on, well, special) to Bear Towers after the Hilly Walk + 2 ascents of The Killer Hill.

And what did I find?  Yup, Bear's new Rolex sitting on the doorstep....despite my Big River settings asking them to leave with one of two neighbours if I'm out.  I was rather hoping it said "Handed to Neighbour" as well - but seeing as their own photo showed it on the doorstep then maybe the Courier had at least one Brain Cell after all.....

There may well be a Bearysnottogram to the Big River M.D.'s Office quite soon - it's only a matter of time before a delivery goes walkies.  Yup, that's a Rant.

 

**Five items for six quid - including Bear's favourite Pizza; buddy over the road gets the Chicken Nuggets.....

 

ION.....

 

It seems that the Co-op sell Portuguese Custard Tarts as well (a quid each) - I wasn't tempted this time (purely as a scientific test you understand, having never tried one before) as it was a bit late in the day and there were only two left - if it was early and there were plenty there then maybe, but picking one from the back rather than those that have been snotted over by the Great Unwashed.

 

And finally.....

 

I heard from a friend that the latest Robbery in the Co-op involved the young shop worker leaving the Tills (now protected by barriers and a security door).....and he left the door open....🤨

So a couple of lads walked in (in broad daylight), helped themselves to booze n' fags and scarpered.

All on Telly, and they've got dabs as well - the Plod are on it....

Not sure if the shop worker is still employed or not - but I guess they torn him a new one.

 

BG

 

p.s. Apparently this week is the 40th Anniversary of Tommy Cooper dying - Jeez, was it really that long ago?

Edited April 13 by polybear

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 There was a time when one of my desires was to own a property where I could use a

ride on mower .

 

 Then I came to my senses and realised that if I could afford that sort of property I

 could afford to pay some other poor *ugger to mow it .       😎

 

Our property, which includes a very large shed cost the same as a two bed inner terrace house in south Leeds. The land and shed came as freebies with the house.  We only got the ride on, a Mccullough about a year after we moved in. Until then we did the weed patches and got a neighbour to do the main bit every so often. 

 

Jamie

[DaveF]

I needed to go out quite early this morning as I took the car to the garage at 08.30 for its 6 monthly check as part of the paint/alloys/tyres warranty.  While it was there they valeted it inside and out for free which has saved me a job.  All is well, there is a small bit of damage to the surface of a sidewall but nothing to worry about and some scuffing of a wheel which I knew about.  I was parking and found a pothole right next to the kerb as I reversed into a space.  It is purely cosmetic.  The garage send a photo to the warranty people, they may decide it needs refinishing.  If not I can touch it up myself.  I remembered to take a book to read while I waited as I was there for about 90 minutes.

 

They now have an automated check in system, I think it was as quick when you simply handed in the keys at service reception and checked they knew what to do.  They did send a link to a video of my car being inspected so I know it has been done properly.

 

The drive to the garage was pleasant, the floods have receded, there were only 2 places where the water was still halfway across the road and there wasn't much traffic.  However a number of drivers think that you have to straddle a white line on narrower roads.  Coming back I drove along the coast which is always a nice journey.

 

I had a walk around a big Currys at Silverlink shopping centre (the garage is just across the road) and had a good look at some things I am considering buying in the fairly near future.  I notice I have some discount vouchers I can use if I get something this month.

 

Back home I looked at photos again, both old and new.  After lunch I did some church things and then watched the Grand National.  I didn't mind which horse won as I don't bet on them.  Then Amazon delivered two orders which was a bit surprising as one item was originally scheduled for tomorrow - for some reason it came from Ireland which seems a bit odd for a book.  I only know because in the tracking section there is a mention of Ireland and customs clearance.

 

The garden is still towet to work in and the greenhouse now only 1" of water on the floor.

 

David

[pH]

30 minutes ago, polybear said:

p.s. Apparently this week is the 40th Anniversary of Tommy Cooper dying - Jeez, was it really that long ago?

Yes, those years seem to have gone by … just like that!

[Dave Hunt]

Well, who's a clever boy then? Today I managed to walk a mile. Not very quickly and not in supreme comfort but progress is being made. I am now instructed by The Management not to 'overdo' things so I have to stick at a mile for a time until it gets a bit easier before trying to go further. And my reward for today's achievement? A jumbo egg'n bacon butty - yum yum.

 

Dave

[Coombe Barton]

... AI: If we allow people to cheat then the people who don’t cheat see their work devalued ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/13/gp-visits-hs2-long-process-to-check-students-work/

[polybear]

48 minutes ago, DaveF said:

However a number of drivers think that you have to straddle a white line on narrower roads. 

 

Bear does if the flooding/rain has been significant - it's not unknown for the force of water overflowing from a drain to lift the cover; not funny if you hit one of those.

 

11 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

... AI: If we allow people to cheat then the people who don’t cheat see their work devalued ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/13/gp-visits-hs2-long-process-to-check-students-work/

 

Bear's buddy (also is/was our muddle engineering class instructor) tells us the Tutors at the College are using AI to mark the Student's work.....

[DaveF]

4 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Bear does if the flooding/rain has been significant - it's not unknown for the force of water overflowing from a drain to lift the cover; not funny if you hit one of those.

 

 

Bear's buddy (also is/was our muddle engineering class instructor) tells us the Tutors at the College are using AI to mark the Student's work.....

 

 

They were straddling it on the dry bits - but their cars are soooo wide and big and posh.

 

David

[The White Rabbit]

Evening all,

 

A curate's egg day, it started well enough, with postie being kind enough not to wake us up at silly o'clock for my parcel of shhh, you know whats. Most of the time he comes at 10.15-10.30 but Saturdays are different, maybe he aims to catch the sparrows yawning? Instead, it was left behind a bush, out of sight of casual passers-by. 

 

It sort of went downhill after breakfast, the second bathroom's outflow pump appears to be on strike and any waste from the washbasin, toilet and shower accumulates in the shower tray. Rattinfugginturdycurses I think is the phrase... 

 

And my sympathies to all those caught up in the Sydney aggression. I know there will always be some who seek to take their frustrations at life out on others but whatever happened to holding those responsible to account rather than inflicting pain on innocent third parties?  

 

However, the sun was out for much of the day and quite a bit of progress was made with G-word stuff. As my right shoulder and back will testify. Complaints have been submitted to the O/C... 

 

One garden trellis dismantled, a third of the parts will go towards a bird table (Heath Robinson style), another third will form surveying stakes for a garden project of mine involving large unmentionables and the remainder are for the tip. A pyracantha was pruned - it didn't like it and tried to fight back but Wabbit was wise to such tricks. No jumping up and down in the green bin on the cuttings though - 'Old Spikey' would probably have won that one. 

 

Time to catch up on other threads and see if anyone's had any good ideas re my conundrums. 

[Grizz]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Bear here…..

It seems that the Co-op sell Portuguese Custard Tarts as well (a quid each) - I wasn't tempted this time (purely as a scientific test you understand, having never tried one before) 

Oooooooooo did someone mention Custard?????

 

Mmmmmmmmmmm custard…..

 

Bear….you have sooooo got to try one……or two…..fudge it, as it is for scientific testing……take a round dozen….…..plus one spare….😂

 

Rule 2….you can NEVER have too much custard in your life! 
 

It would have been Rule 1….except getting custard on your layout doesn’t work…..take it from me! 

[Ozexpatriate]

9 hours ago, Smiffy2 said:

The one I have in France can be controlled from my phone. Why?

An alarm on your 'phone to tell you the cooking is done is useful. Other functions, not so much - though presumably you can download recipes to the machine and auto-set temperature and cooking time - perhaps even on a profile?

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. No gardening done today, I was told that a parcel that I was expecting to be delivered on Monday would be delivered today  and as I can't hear the door knocker in the garden I stayed indoors. It was delivered today so no complaints, I can do the gardening tomorrow. Dinner tonight was broccoli cheese, I was going to have some fresh figs for dessert but I decided it was too risky after the broccoli cheese.

[Ozexpatriate]

8 hours ago, Grizz said:

Without her actions to save and protect others without a thought for her own safety, it would have only ever likely been far worse. 

Were the attacker armed with an AR15 (or similar) it could have been inconceivably worse, with more casualties to shoppers and even the responding police officer - who was 'nearby' according to reports (as opposed to the large responding team that would have been sent after emergency calls came in).

 

Sadly the professional response of the police officer is the argument that supporters of concealed carry use to oppose gun control in the US.  They allege that this sort of civilian response led to the end of a mall shooting here in the Portland area in 2012:

Quote

During that time, Nick Meli, a concealed carry permit holder, drew his Glock 22, claimed to have taken aim at Roberts, but did not fire since there was a bystander behind Roberts. Meli claims that Roberts saw him and that this may have contributed to Roberts' decision to commit suicide.

I know someone with a connection to one of the victims.

 

6 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

That non-alternative fact won't prevent comments on US news coverage  sites of this  event saying stuff like "Thats what you get when you disarm your citizens!". 

It inevitably will because it is the conventional argument in support of concealed carry being that: "armed citizens can defend each other when someone behaves violently".

 

And the US news source most likely to include that sort of coverage is owned by Australians.

 

Edited April 13 by Ozexpatriate

[polybear]

1 hour ago, Grizz said:

Oooooooooo did someone mention Custard?????

 

Mmmmmmmmmmm custard…..

 

Bear….you have sooooo got to try one……or two…..fudge it, as it is for scientific testing……take a round dozen….…..plus one spare….😂

 

Rule 2….you can NEVER have too much custard in your life! 
 

It would have been Rule 1….except getting custard on your layout doesn’t work…..take it from me! 

 

Hmmm........Beans n' Custard.....

You could be onto something there Grizz......