Early Risers.

[The Lurker]

Happy Birthday Rick!

 

I have the double last page - first time for ages.

 

 

A good time last night - meeting some old colleagues for a beer or three. Slightly bittersweet as one of them died a few months back - the only one who was my age - the rest are at least 4 or 5 years older and some much older. But I did learn that GDPR doesn't apply to dead people....

[New Haven Neil]

A'noon. A touch of a mixed day really, a touch cool in the Big City, but brunch was nice al fresco, then a shortish ride out to Peel, for coffees.  Also cool there and breezy, there was a few spots of rain coming away, but it is glorious here down north where the sun has its hat on. 21c, counts as sub-tropical, Fraggle-wise.

 

The day is about to be ruined by shopping, as Mrs NHN is working from home and finishes at 3.  Pah.  Maybe a sneaky ice cream may help.

[petethemole]

Happy Birthday Rick!

[Winslow Boy]

5 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

I must say that I don't IDENTIFY as a "whippersnapper"!  🤪

 

A bit like sex then and you know that there are one hundred and seventy ways of identifying that.

[iL Dottore]

A Happy Birthday to Rick - Congrats, you are now officially retired (I reckon you’re only properly retired when you don’t have to go into work on your birthday AND you don’t have to take the day off to stay at home)

[Gwiwer]

41 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

6 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

I must say that I don't IDENTIFY as a "whippersnapper"!  🤪

 

A bit like sex then and you know that there are one hundred and seventy ways of identifying that.

I scan-read that as "Whippersnipper" and then the sex bit ..... 

 

..... and wondered .....

 

..... then re-read it correctly! 

[Northroader]

41 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

A bit like sex then and you know that there are one hundred and seventy ways of identifying that.

 

“first, there’s the natural way” voice at back of room “171!!”….

[jjb1970]

I was a bit disappointed to see that it looks like they are making two more seasons of 'Shogun'. But, I hear you ask, didn't you give it a very positive review and recommend it? Yes, largely because it followed James Clavell's book reasonably closely and had a beginning, a body story and an ending. As with the book the 'big reveal' for those who hadn't figured it out was how far ahead of the game Toranaga was and how he had been manipulating everything and several of the characters found nice conclusions to their parts. Now someone is going to pad it out, stretch it and write new stories piggy backing off the original. To be fair it might work, but even if it works I can't see why they insist on doing it when the original story was so well done. 

[Gwiwer]

Many thanks for all the birthday wishes.  Very much appreciated.  

 

So far it has, as expected, been a fairly quiet day but a beautiful one.  Mostly sunny, just a slight breeze to remind us it isn't yet Summer.

 

We took a picnic lunch to Carn Euny.  I hadn't expected Dr. SWMBO would still be able to reach that site as it requires a trek along a stony path then over a stile and up through a couple of fields.  She walks with sticks most of the time now but even then 100m is often her limit on the flat.  She made a real effort today and despite once mentioning her knees were "burning" she enjoyed the trip.  As did I.  

 

We sat amid the ancient houses and listened to chiff-chaffs, robins, wrens and a cuckoo.  After the first few minutes we were alone for the rest of our time there which really made it feel special.  

 

Unlike my visit in February the fogou wasn't flooded but there was enough water for a reflection shot taken from inside the entrance passage .

 

Having taken as long to return to the car as to walk up to the village - again with considerable difficulty and discomfort on her part - we drove back and enjoyed coffee / cake for me) or ice-cream (for her) at Moomaid's.  

 

I am told we are off into the Big City tonight for an Indian meal.  Penzance, not London.  And sadly not Mumbai or anywhere else where we might get a real Indian meal! 

 

 

 

 

 

[polybear]

3 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

The day is about to be ruined by shopping, as Mrs NHN is working from home and finishes at 3.  Pah.  Maybe a sneaky ice cream may help.

 

it'll certainly do no harm.....

 

ION......

 

The beeb had an item about Avian Flu and what could happen if it jumps to humans - it'll make wooflu look like a teddy bear's picnic.  Be afraid.....

 

And finally....

I see a certain Ms. Rinehart doesn't like her painting - it's a pretty good likeness to me….

Edited May 17 by polybear

[DaveF]

I went out in the garden even though it was misty with a bit of drizzle from time to time.  A smallish bed was cleared before coffee time, then I decided I'd done enough as I was getting cold.  I got another batch of photos scanned including a few grandfather took of a bungalow Mum and Dad moved to in a village when I was about 8.  I don't remember seeing them before, they brought back some pleasant childhood memories.  It was while we lived there that I used to spend a lot of time on a nearby farm where I learnt to milk cows by hand as well as by machine.  I also learnt to drive a little grey Ferguson tractor when I was about 10.  One other thing I remember was using ferrets to catch rabbits.  I was taught how to divine (dowse) using a forked stick for water but I wasn't good at it.  Dad was excellent.

 

I brought a weed from the garden into the house to identify, I started doing it the quick way with an app on my phone, it said it was some form of bitter cress.  I already knew that just by looking at it.  Using a proper flora suggests it is greater bitter cress.  Personally I am not quite sure as could be another one.  In the end I got out my big Flora of Northumberland which simply says that it and similar species are common in this area, they may hybridise and are difficult to identify with certainty.  At that point I decided to leave it and try again with a better specimen in due course.  Sometimes being a biologist can be annoying as I like to identify things correctly!

 

The garage rang me at lunchtime so I went over and collected the car, the wheel now looks perfect again.  The sun came out so I went back in the garden and planted out some antirrhinums  and sweet williams.  

 

David

 

 

Edited May 17 by DaveF

[TT-Pete]

32 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

 I can't see why they insist on doing it

 

Money.

 

[PupCam]

Afternoon!

 

First of all, VSPBWs to @Gwiwer  That makes you not all that many days older than Puppers.   I think a beer or two is in order.   Go on, it's your birthday!

 

8 hours ago, Hroth said:

I must say that I don't IDENTIFY as a "whippersnapper"!  🤪

 

Oh you can.  Anyone can identify as anything these days and apparently that makes it right .....

 

45 minutes ago, TT-Pete said:

Money.

 

What a great Pink Floyd track that is.

 

ION

 

Puppers has been wrestling with the BSA's gearbox and new kick-starter spring.    If I finally get it all back together, working and with all body parts intact it will be a miracle! 🤣 

 

Puppers has also been wrestling with the new type of "Arduino" (it's not one but you use the same development environment aka computer programme) to write code for it.  I'm trying and failing  miserably to interface it via the Raspberry Pi interface on the ePaper display.   Persistence (yet more) is required.   I WILL get it to work.

 

I went out on the monthly drugs collection run today.  It's a nice day so it seemed an ideal opportunity to go for a thrash on the RD.    Of course by some strange quirk of nature I ended up at Old Warden watching a chap and then a lady trying to start (hand swinging the prop) one of the Cambridge Flying Group's Tigers.    I did note at one point the chap diving under the cowling to tickle the carb just as we folk with old bikes with Amal carbs have to do.        The lady was relatively short and had to jump up a few inches to grab the prop tip to pull it down to the correct starting position.   All credit to her, it was she that got it started and not the 6' 2" chap!     

 

The front seat in that Tiger has got my name on it.    I really must get round to booking my birthday treat 😀

 

That's all for now

 

TTFN

[Tony_S]

I spent a few minutes laying down some foundations for roads on the layout extension. 
just for a change here is an abandoned bus on a rail crossing instead of a bridge. 

 

[Coombe Barton]

... I do regard the use of AI in assessments give a false picture about the abilities of the writer, but I’m outvoted. Maybe it is time for this geriatric to make way. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/05/17/covid-by-age-increases-by-age-differ-marking/

[Ian Abel]

Happy birthday Rick

 

POETS.

Having spent the major part of the week far too busy I think I will avail myself of POETS.

 

Yesterday we had a delightful evening at our favourite supper club/music locale Crooners. This time to hear a group of musicians formed from the friendship of various choir members musician friends and family. They are a trio of women with four men on instruments and adding their voices. Wide range of music and with what appeared to be half the choir (and significant others) there to support them, there was no end of entertainment both on and off stage 😀

Food and drinks there are always great, so just a great time all round.

 

Weekend has nothing particular schedule other than the schola singing at two Pentecost services, we're teaming up with the children's choir for the performances.

 

Weather today headed for steamy and a high of 27c after a sunny 13c start. Weekend due to hold steady at around 25c for the high both days. Rain forecast tomorrow.

 

Tally ho.

 

[roundhouse]

After mentioning my Aussie hat the other day I came across it whilst moving some boxes around.

 

It's in good condition aftef 30 years. Not so sure about the wearer though.

 

Edited May 18 by roundhouse

[polybear]

4 hours ago, 45156 said:

30747 went to Shrewsbury today by bus, as she wanted to see how much an antique jeweller would offer for something she bought at a village summer fete - it was a little brooch which she suspected was a Victorian mourning brooch with a lock of hair encased in it.  Turned out that it was, and was unhallmarked 9ct gold.  She paid £9 for it at the fete, and sold it to the jeweller for £80 - and the jeweller will probably add a further 50% to that.  Yes, when it comes to trinkets and the like, she's got a very good eye. 

Bear has something similar, but a ring rather than a brooch; no idea what long-gone relation it was done for - personally I find it pretty morbid.

 

54 minutes ago, PupCam said:

I went out on the monthly drugs collection run today.  It's a nice day so it seemed an ideal opportunity to go for a thrash on the RD.    Of course by some strange quirk of nature I ended up at Old Warden watching a chap and then a lady trying to start (hand swinging the prop) one of the Cambridge Flying Group's Tigers.    I did note at one point the chap diving under the cowling to tickle the carb just as we folk with old bikes with Amal carbs have to do.        The lady was relatively short and had to jump up a few inches to grab the prop tip to pull it down to the correct starting position.   All credit to her, it was she that got it started and not the 6' 2" chap!     

 

The front seat in that Tiger has got my name on it.    I really must get round to booking my birthday treat 😀

 

That's all for now

 

TTFN

The idea of swinging on a prop to start an aircraft is rather low on Bear’s list of “things to try” - it seems like a rather messy accident just waiting to happen

[grandadbob]

Evenin'each,

Started to post earlier but eyes were still a bit blurry after the eye test so gave up.  All now seems to be reasonably clear.

Used the bus in both directions to the health centre, going there on one of our new electric jobbies, surprisingly smooth, quiet and comfortable and they even have USB charging points for each seat.  Came back on one of the old ones and boy what a difference, shaked and rattled and I felt every little bump.

The Boss has gone out tor the evening so I had to fend for myself for a meal tonight, kept it simple with a burger and a side salad...oh and I'm now on my second bottle of Old Speckled Hen.

 

7 hours ago, polybear said:

You’re all lined up for cheque signing duties.  Be afraid….

 

Absolutely no way PB.  This is her second wedding and I'm not paying for anything.*  For her first wedding in 1996 I footed the bill for several K including reception and drinks all night for 100+.  Nicki and Darren are keeping this occasion reasonably sensible and paying for it themselves as it's second time round for both of them. 

 

* I need to qualify that because knowing me as I do I will probably contribute to the bar bill...I always do when it's immediate family celebrations.

 

As The Boss is out an evening listening to some loud rock music is planned.

Edited May 17 by grandadbob

[PupCam]

6 minutes ago, polybear said:

Bear has something similar, but a ring rather than a brooch; no idea what long-gone relation it was done for - personally I find it pretty morbid.

 

Some years ago a treasure chest of long forgotten* family photos and other stuff was given to me.   Included in it were a lot of items relating to my Auntie Dorothy who died aged 5 years around 1916.   This stash includes a lovely, most touching letter written to my grand parents by one of the nurses at Great Ormand Street Hospital on her passing.    She was one of the nurses who looked after Dorothy during her final weeks,.   Father missed meeting his sister by a number of years.      Also in that treasure chest is a little envelope with a lock of Dorothy's hair.   A more moving memento of my aunt is hard to imagine and I'm very grateful to have it.

 

 

My grandparents had a superb hand tinted, large copy of this photo on their bedroom wall.    I wish I had that photograph now.

 

* actually I never knew it existed

 

6 minutes ago, polybear said:

The idea of swinging on a prop to start an aircraft is rather low on Bear’s list of “things to try” - it seems like a rather messy accident just waiting to happen

 

I've got a Laser 180 (30cc) single cylinder four stroke glow engine in my 1/4 scale Tiger Moth which is a bit too big for my starter so has to be started by hand.    That frightens the bejesus out of me!

 

TTFN

 

 

 

 

[polybear]

13 minutes ago, PupCam said:

 

I've got a Laser 180 (30cc) single cylinder four stroke glow engine in my 1/4 scale Tiger Moth which is a bit too big for my starter so has to be started by hand.    That frightens the bejesus out of me!

Aha!  Now we’re gettin’ somewhere…..

 

Is it for the same reason why “the other one” hasn’t been finished yet?

[Sidecar Racer]

22 minutes ago, PupCam said:

 

I've got a Laser 180 (30cc) single cylinder four stroke glow engine in my 1/4 scale Tiger Moth which is a bit too big for my starter so has to be started by hand.    That frightens the bejesus out of me!

 

 

 Yur doing it all wrong .

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LPgBWb7rlDM

 

[PupCam]

47 minutes ago, polybear said:

Aha!  Now we’re gettin’ somewhere…..

 

Is it for the same reason why “the other one” hasn’t been finished yet?

 

No, no.   The Tiger was built by my very good but sadly late friend and a mighty fine job of it he did too.     I ought to get it down and dusty it off and go and give it an airing.    

I think I've posted these before but what the heck .....

 

Take off and Landing

 

It was the sight of this model flying at Tibenham that got us both a free go in a real one.

 

42 minutes ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 Yur doing it all wrong .

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LPgBWb7rlDM

 

 

I can see what he's doing wrong; he's kicking it backwards 🤣    I have to kickstart the Beeza and the AJ 😀

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon/evening all from Estuary-Land. The e-mail from the practice nurse re. my knee mentions not only an X-ray but a CT scan as well. It seems likely that I will require a knee replacement soon. And what was on the local TV news tonight. An item on a brand new operating theatre going into service today and the first operation was a knee replacement. It was the replacement of a worn out artificial knee and it mostly involved a screwdriver rather than a scalpel.

[Winslow Boy]

4 hours ago, PupCam said:

Afternoon!

 

First of all, VSPBWs to @Gwiwer  That makes you not all that many days older than Puppers.   I think a beer or two is in order.   Go on, it's your birthday!

 

 

Oh you can.  Anyone can identify as anything these days and apparently that makes it right .....

 

 

What a great Pink Floyd track that is.

 

ION

 

Puppers has been wrestling with the BSA's gearbox and new kick-starter spring.    If I finally get it all back together, working and with all body parts intact it will be a miracle! 🤣 

 

Puppers has also been wrestling with the new type of "Arduino" (it's not one but you use the same development environment aka computer programme) to write code for it.  I'm trying and failing  miserably to interface it via the Raspberry Pi interface on the ePaper display.   Persistence (yet more) is required.   I WILL get it to work.

 

I went out on the monthly drugs collection run today.  It's a nice day so it seemed an ideal opportunity to go for a thrash on the RD.    Of course by some strange quirk of nature I ended up at Old Warden watching a chap and then a lady trying to start (hand swinging the prop) one of the Cambridge Flying Group's Tigers.    I did note at one point the chap diving under the cowling to tickle the carb just as we folk with old bikes with Amal carbs have to do.        The lady was relatively short and had to jump up a few inches to grab the prop tip to pull it down to the correct starting position.   All credit to her, it was she that got it started and not the 6' 2" chap!     

 

The front seat in that Tiger has got my name on it.    I really must get round to booking my birthday treat 😀

 

That's all for now

 

TTFN

Aye the man did the footwork and women swept in and got the credit.