Early Risers.

[Ohmisterporter]

During the lockdown we couldn't use supermarket home delivery so we opted for click and collect; alternating weekly between Morrisons and Tesco. The actual collecting experience was much the same but Tesco were always more likely to either substitute something, usually offering an alternative we didn't want, or leave off altogether. 

A funny thing pre-pandemic when we lived in our old house an ASDA van pulled up outside and the driver carried a heavy looking tub of groceries to our front door. "ASDA delivery", he said as he tried to push me back into the hallway. I stood firm and told him we hadn't ordered anything. He showed me the delivery note: it had the correct house number but the address was on xxxxx Close, we lived on xxxxx Avenue. So he had to cart it back to his van grumbling as though it was my fault and by now it had started raining. Get your laughs where you can and stay safe all.

[polybear]

21 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

We've still got a little baker but I avoid going in there as the cakes ......... are too tempting and too big!  

 

You really know how to confuse a Bear.....

 

20 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Remember to renew your passport in plenty of time.

 

Thanks - I have a reminder on the Lappy, which also takes into account the EU silliness about refusing valid Passports that were issued more than ten years ago.

[PhilJ W]

3 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

Paddy McGintys Goat.

It ate the note, and despite being stomach pumped, all they got was sixpence...

 

Its a long time since I've heard the song!

 

 

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Thanks - I have a reminder on the Lappy, which also takes into account the EU silliness about refusing valid Passports that were issued more than ten years ago.

Not EU silliness but Brexit stupidity.

[Hroth]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

 

 

Thanks.

In as sarcastic a voice as I can manage....

 

At least you can't see the terrible jumpers he wore!

[Dave Hunt]

4 hours ago, grandadbob said:

A brief walk via Asda has been undertaken, not even a mile today.  This is due to multiple complaints from The Hip and The Boss so I gave in.

We ought to start the OFWAT club, Bob. Nothing to do with water supply regulation but rather the Old Farts Walking And Tottering club. We seem to be on the same sort of regime at the moment with walks of a mile or so before various body parts start to complain. I managed just under a mile and a half to the Sainsbury’s Local and back today before my back and legs gave out then had to have a rest. My reward will be cake and bubbly starting shortly.

 

Dave

 

 

Edited April 26 by Dave Hunt

[polybear]

Bear here....

 

Postie delivered the promised parcel as intended - 4L of Oil for Harry the Honda; their email basically told me it could arrive any time before 7-30pm meant any hope of a Hilly Wander & Pit stop for Bear went out the window; I could still go for the wander but as the pit crew have foxtrotted off I've decided to abort any ideas of that.

 

I did get to saw two exhaust pipes in half though - a careful inspection & measure of the old bits & new silencers suggested that an existing weld line was a rather good place to cut, as anything rearwards of that line would be too large a diameter to fit inside the new silencers.  I can always cut a bit more off as required, should the need arise.

 

More work on the documents that'll accompany the Beary Will, such Expression of Wishes and also "Useful Notes for my Executors" etc; I'm now at the "fine tuning" stage so nearly there.

 

BG

Edited April 26 by polybear

[Coombe Barton]

These are the last two slides from my presentation passing on my knowledge on Monday

 

 

 

The pic is from the car park at Sennen Cove last summer during Storm Antoni. The photobombing seagull was quite fortuitous.

 

 

Edited April 26 by Coombe Barton
Added location

[Gwiwer]

8 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

These are the last two slides from my presentation passing on my knowledge on Monday

As opposed to "I am the seagull - you are the target" as happens all too often. 

[Coombe Barton]

3 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

As opposed to "I am the seagull - you are the target" as happens all too often. 

I'm passing on my knowledge - after July I will not have the responsibility.

My reasons for doing this are to warn people and it will be in the presence of two senior members of the faculty who have an interest.

I'm retiring - I can make these sort of comments :)

[DaveF]

Today has continued not going to plan.  I had a quick reply from Karen, one of my cousins about Allan, the friend in Canada who died reminding me that of course she knew him, they lived next door to each other when she was young and their fathers were doctors in the same practice.  She had lost touch with Allan so will be contacting his daughters to offer condolences and will also contact all seven of her siblings to let them know as she thinks most of them will remember him.  She says she knew his sister better - I don't know what happened to her, Allan never mentioned her.

 

I asked if she would like copies of the family photos, she has said yes and will pass them on to the rest of the family, so I have sent some of her Mum and Dad which I have already scanned.  It turns out she didn't have copies.  She then sent me some information about my Great Uncle Ernest who was killed in WW1 at Passchendaele  in 1917.  I have found I have some extra information which I will scan and send to her.  One of my other cousins, Tim is doing some research and is constructing a family tree on Ancestry so I willl join and have a good look and see if I have any other information.  I also want to investigate my mother's family more as there seems to be a Dutch connection.

 

After all that I just went for a short ride to Seaton Sluice and had a walk on Rocky Island before going to do a little bit of non food shopping.

 

This evening I don't intend to do much.

2 photos at Rocky Island today:

Looking north

 

Looking slightly west of north, the dark bit on the left is the wall of the harbour entrance.

 

David

Edited April 26 by DaveF

[polybear]

Bear must add the following to the Beary Bucket List:

 

"Scoff Toast & Marmite until you don't want any more"

 

- as it always seems to run out far too quickly 😢

[DaveF]

When I got home this afternoon I had a look in the garden and found a small patch of pigeon feathers so I think the sparrowhawk has been back to try again.  There is no dead pigeon in the garden so it has either escaped or been removed by the hawk.  I wonder which?

 

Earlier I forgot to mention that I saw a lot of house martins and a few swallows at Rocky Island all busy catching insects.

 

David

[jamie92208]

9 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Is that a secret RAF code for naughty indoor shenanigans?

 

Like ‘Allo, ‘Allo’s “flying helmet and stick of celery”?

That reminds me of an immortal few lines in one of the MASH books where Hawkeye uses the belly button to reconstruct another piece of anatomy then remarks ". She'll have to find somewhere else to put the salt next time she eats celery in bed". 

 

Jamie

Edited April 26 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Just back home from the hospital.  I nearly walled a male nurse up. he refuses to give Beth more than 5 units of insulin before a meal when her prescription says 16.  Also only paracetamol for pain.  However she is in a better way today and has done some physio, the pain relief situation is dire so I actually agree with her that she would be better at home.  The surgeon saw her and says she can come home when the pain is under control.  Some economy with the truth may be needed.  I have watched her manage pain for 30 years and trust her. 

 

Jamie

 

Now back home. 

Edited April 26 by jamie92208

[Tony_S]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

Beary Bucket List:

I don’t think,I have a bucket list. There are I suppose  a few places I wouldn’t mind visiting but I can’t say I am eager enough to create a list. I suppose being well enough to go to the places Aditi would like to visit . As for activities ,I don’t want to fly in a balloon , go diving or learn to dance. What my heart attack did do was make me realise that if you do want to do something it is probably better doing it while you can. 

Edited April 26 by Tony_S
Too many commas

[jamie92208]

Forgot to mention, today is 22 years since I last went to work for pay, where has the time gone.  Only 6 yrs and 8 months till I will have draw my pension for longer than I paid it. Even better I got paid for another three months due to accumulated leave etc. 

 

Jamie

[New Haven Neil]

Evening all.  Dave mentioned Old Farts, we were six today, and circumnavigated the island - I knackered now.

 

No that's not me, I'm not that fat!

 

 

Rant Incoming:- When I got home Mrs NHN was toting a new battery for her car - it had been a bit lazy to turn over recently so we had planned to replace it this weekend.  Soooo, I thought a ten minute job.  Pah.  I hadn't reckoned on Citroen's (it's a C3 Picasso diesel) decision to hide the battery securing bolt UNDER the ECU, and the battery cover under another cover with a sort of spider web of heavy cables that stops you from getting the under cover under the other cover off.  Then getting the ECU out - yes, another cover, there's a theme developing, then three awkward plugs, and a tanged latch....UNDER the ECU - so basically you have to rive it out, to then undo the battery support plate.  By then my good humour was sorely tested I can assure you!  It would have been impossible to make it more awkward. The only saving grace was the ECU didn't forget its name, or most of the settings, radio, phone etc, just the clock was wrong. Pah does not cover it.

[polybear]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

I don’t think,I have a bucket list. There are I suppose  a few places I wouldn’t mind visiting but I can’t say I am eager enough to create a list. I suppose being well enough to go to the places Aditi would like to visit . As for activities ,I don’t want to fly in a balloon , go diving or learn to dance. What my heart attack did do was make me realise that if you do want to do something it is probably better doing it while you can. 

 

Oh good.....where's the Toaster.......

[Coombe Barton]

... in my time at the university I’ve probably given about a thousand lectures and two and a half thousand seminars and workshops ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/26/covid-by-age-comparing-other-infections-writing-the-handover-lecture-six-thousand-hours-of-boring-people/

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Forgot to mention, today is 22 years since I last went to work for pay, where has the time gone.  Only 6 yrs and 8 months till I will have draw my pension for longer than I paid it. Even better I got paid for another three months due to accumulated leave etc. 

 

Jamie

It's now 16 years and 26 days since I retired. I worked for 37 years 6 months and 9 days to get my pension which means I've got 21 years, 5 months and 14 days until I've collected my pension for as long as I paid into it. That is of course if I live to 92.

[Ian Abel]

Well, that all went pearshaped...

 

The above referring to yesterday, and only checking in now!

 

Yesterday was "supposed" to be a regular day, whatever that means.

However, Jemma was due to drop Whitney off here, take the water pump for the lake cabin, and head north to rendezvous with the Mrs. niece as they are now co-owners of the cabin, and install the pump, get the water running and spring clean for the season ahead.

Issue #1 - the Mrs niece was down with some severe flu, so was not going to be able to go up there.

Issue #2 - the Mrs, having NOT expected to be called for duty, had scheduled a fang removal and was therefore not at option!

Issue #3 - Well not an issue but a bullet-point, it fell to be to VOLUNTEER to be a secondary party to the spring opening event.

 

all went well getting the pump in place and hooked up, and THEN the fun started;

Soon as we turned on the pump, started flooding the cabin with water - apparently over the winter, even though the system was drained the same was as we do every year, the main feed pipe for the cabin system managed to have a 1 inch SPLIT half way up the wall where the line feeds the various facilities.

We quelled the flood, determined the issue and then had the enjoyable task of the 25 minute ride EACH WAY to the nearest hardware store for the necessary supplies.

After returning and sorting the problem, which involved many choice words, a SECOND issue with one of the elbow joints was discovered...

Second round trip to the hardware store. Solved THAT problem, and finally the water system worked and was certified by the chief inspector - ME - as ready for use.

 

Problem NOW was it was almost 4-m, so no cleaning was managed with the exception of some quick vacuuming of the floors. Another trip by other parties will be required to do the spring cleaning portion of the tasks.

 

There we are. 

spent THIS morning with taxi service and sorting access/payment for the flooring company who were scheduled to install a faux granite floating floor in the entryway of the rental house. Finished the day with some work, and am ready for the weekend!

 

Weekend sees us having dinner tomorrow with our friends who've now returned from the Arizona winter getaway and Sunday attending the last of our church Concert series season performance. This one by a very good local tribute band presenting an Eagles tribute - "Takin' it To The Limit"

 

Weather was delightful yesterday, but of course now it's the weekend, we're expecting rain almost all weekend.

8c and raining first thing, high of 11c expected and rain showing as 10-0% probability for now through Sunday evening!!! ☹️

 

Enjoy the weekend.

 

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. I don't know where today's gone, I went shopping this afternoon and that took longer than expected, I guess that I'm getting slower as I get older. I withdrew some more modelling tokens this afternoon as I'm visiting the Ilford and West Essex exhibition in Romford tomorrow. The venue is Marshals Park academy in Petits Lane, Romford. There used to be an exhibition there a few years ago run by the now defunct Romford model railway club.

[TheQ]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

Bear must add the following to the Beary Bucket List:

 

"Scoff Toast & Marmite until you don't want any more"

 

- as it always seems to run out far too quickly 😢

Scoff very quickly, Ben loves marmite and toast, as we found out while I was working on the neighbours printer.

Of that the new cartridge has arrived.

 

Today being museum day i was busy muddling, we had a coach load of visitors plus a few others.. how many reached my room?... 8...

First muddle,

Sand down filled cracks in broken wall poster, give background a coat of white paint... Done ok.

Just finished that when the man with the broken springs in switches arrive clutching bits.. turns out not to be broken springs but broken plastic.

You remove the square cap which reveals a round light fitting, behind that a round plastic insert that on inside had two plastic wedges moulded on in the shape of a pyramid with the top cut off. In the broken switches the wedges had gone. The biggest dimension was about 3mm and they were about 1mm thick. 1mm plastic card i had on the  table already🙂 cut two wedges, stuck them in using plastic magic, and as if by magic the reassembled switch worked!!! The bearer of switches was most impressed, more switches will be delivered for repair next Friday .

 

Then worked on the mini ultrasonic radar case, only it was more than the case,  because it didn't have a case someone had broken a wire, go to land rover get gas powered soldering iron, and some heat shrink, a quick repair and all was good again, another customer impressed, then back to cutting up left over perspex to make a case. All bits roughly cut out, next week start assembling and rounding corners.

 

Then the 1/1000 model of RAF Neatishead 1983, only had time to fit a chimney to the power station.

On the 1/87 model of an Austin K6 and radar fitted tube to underside of radar . Made a close clearance hole for tube through the K6, dry fitted tube onto motor , all looks ok..

 

Then to the chippy for tea before off to the MRC, decided to fit stands for fuel oil pipes, about twenty all done ok, then did the verticals that supports the overhead heating pipes the involved sticking 1mm diameter rod onto a 2 mm by 4mm cross bar. Amazingly that went well so I planted them on the accommodation site. They and the fuel oil stands will need painting black next time.

Need to order 1mm wire for the fuel oil pipes, and .5mm wire for the heating pipes.

 

Muggachoccy gone, good night Awl.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.