Early Risers.

[Oldddudders]

Morning all

 

My last day in Torbay for a few months dawned overcast, and that has now turned to drizzle. Summer sun in the SW, eh?

 

Sad to hear of Jock's SiL' s plight and hope a cure is found earliest.

 

Yesterday's paint delivery fructified at 15.00, just as Sherry was negotiating a new breakdown insurance & I was having a nap! Dinner was near the harbour, and we then had a drink with cleaner/gardener Michelle. I saw a distinctly good-to-go young woman crossing the road, and that was her. Animated, fun - and very ready to lampoon Sherry's ex. Then as we arrived home an upstairs neighbour was parking her car, so she came in for an hour. All very sociable.

 

I'm off for a bit of shopping, hoping to find a toaster for Alison. Her present item has severe difficulties, stemming from percussive maintenance by her ex. He had failed to notice it wasn't plugged in! My absence will help Sherry pack, apparently.

 

This afternooon I am to give an informal talk to the theatre Wednesday Club, on my experiences of living in France. May not be too tough.

 

May midweek find you well.

[Simon G]

The way round that one bats should depend on one's leading eye.  My left eye leads, so correctly I bat right handed.  My father batted right handed, so naturally taught me the same way round.  I can bat left handed, but have always been naturally dextrous.  In the field, I bowl(ed) right handed and throw left.

 

 

I always wondered how that worked!  I bowl and write left handed, but bat right handed.  It always seemed to me that batting right handed was a natural thing for lefties, as the left hand leads and guides, while the right hand just provides the power.  Maybe that is why I often batted no 11!

 

Lovely sunny morning here, but cool in the wind.  Sat waiting for second person to come and quote for our new boiler.

[AndyB]

Morning all. Overcast here today, no doubt the first signs of autumn will be with us soon.

 

Domestic cleaning duties were successful yesterday and swmbo was content with my efforts.

 

Hence I was able to repair to the garage and glaze some houses on the layout. Got to figure out which glue sticks brass etching to cardboard next.

 

Youngest also picked up his Chief Scout's Award last night. Only seems 5 minutes since he was invested and dad was trying to hold back a tear as he made his promise. 

 

Busy day here. The emails on the project I'm managing seem to be getting longer by the day as people's egos kick in; nice.        

 

Have a nice day everyone. And get well soon to Jock's SiL. 

 

Andy

[shortliner]

Just in case anyone's wondering why Greece's Economy is in the  Can!

 

Experts mandated by the European Union to investigate the causes that led Greece to the current economic situation relate the following facts:

Greece falsified its accounts to enter the euro zone and has distorted the facts until it finally exploded. There was massive retirements at the age of 50 years.  At Evangelismos hospital there were 50 drivers for officials' cars, and on average there were 45 gardeners for a small lawn with 4 bushes.

Greece has the highest population in the world of people reporting an age of 110 years. The deaths are often not registered and pensions continue to be received. The European Union had found that there are families receiving 4-5 monthly pensions which they are not supposed to get. There were still pensions paid to persons who died in 1953, 60+ years ago. 40,000 girls received monthly life pension of 1,000 euros for the simple fact that they were unmarried daughters of deceased civil servants. This, at a cost to the state coffers  of ?550 million euros per year. Now they will receive pensions only up to the age of 18.

The pacemakers in Greek hospitals were acquired at a price 400 times  higher than in British hospitals. In Greece, many workers have benefited from early retirement, set at 50 years for women and 55 for men who belong to one of the 600 job categories identified as particularly painful among which included;

- Hairdressers (because of dyes that may be considered harmful)
- The musicians of wind instruments (blowing into a flute is exhausting)
- TV presenters (the microphones are supposed to cause damage to health).
**** This law was adopted by the Socialist government of 1978.

There are thousands of ridiculous "tricks" departments and unnecessary institutions, which many Greeks live off. For example, The Institute for the Protection of Kopais Lake, a dry lake since 1930.

In the last decade, Greece has created over 300 new public companies. Tax evasion is massive, over 25% of Greeks do not pay a penny on personal income tax. In addition, the weight of the public sector in the economy is overwhelming. There are about one million officials to 4,000,000 active people.
Greek public railways: The average salary of employees exceeds €66.000.- per year. And this includes cleaners and other non-skilled workers. The (almost free) Athens Metro delivers about 90 million tickets a year, while the total cost of this public company exceeds the €500 million needed.

The French retirees receive, on average, 51% of the last salary, the Germans 40%, North Americans and 41% Japanese 34%.
Meanwhile, Greek pensioners receive 96% of their salary earlier.

Greece has four times more teachers than Finland, the best situated country in the last PISA report, while the student performance in Greece is the lowest among many European countries by comparison.

 

AS AN APPARENT SHOW OF GOODWILL TO THE EU, THE GREEK GOVERNMENT ELIMINATED 10, OOO POSTAL OFFICIAL POSITIONS, OF WHICH 8,200 WERE DUMMY IDENTITIES !!

Edited July 15, 2015 by shortliner

[Jock67B]

Morning all,

Haven't had a chance to look at earlier posts but thought I'd make a quick visit and then try later!

Son in law is at the moment stabilised and awaiting test results and I'll obviously update this evening.

Dick, hope your journey to France is safe and uneventful, raise a glass of Calvados to me!

Ian(RH), we'll be thinking of you tomorrow, hope the funeral goes as well as such an event can.

I am off to shower as I will have to offer taxi services to several family members as daughter is obviously staying at the hospital - the least I can do!

Hope you all get over the hump in one piece,

Kind regards,

Jock.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

 If it is any encouragement for those afflicted with infections from warmer climes, my Pa experienced just about everything available in a Far Eastern tropical childhood of the 1920s and 30s - including the cerebral meningitis which killed his only sister - and is still very much firing on all cylinders knocking ninety.

 

I have so far had a version of St Swithin's day that I hope doesn't set a precedent: it's been raining huge bird droppings on the windows this morning. Purple, orange, pale green as well as the usual off-white splashes, and the dark lumps including cherry stones. Probably now caused a water shortage due to the quantity used hosing it all off.

 

 

... When Mrs BoD's list has run out (eh?) we have a long list of things we want to do together and I also have a 'to do' list of my own.  I will certainly not be bored.

 Get as much done as possible within the first two months. After that time you will be so busy you will wonder how you ever found time to go out and earn a living.

 

 

... I wasn't sure if she was thanking me or blaming me but it was really nice to think I was still remembered after all of those years...

Lost count of how many teachers I have said this to. Do you remember all the meals your parents prepared for you, before you could fully care for yourself? Yet they were essential for your growth, health and development. It's the same with teaching; even if the pupil has no recollection of a single lesson, they have still been shaped by your example.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. The sun is now shining but if the forecast is anything to go by it will be intermittent today. Jock, I hope your SiL gets well soon, I had a UTI about 12 years ago and last year I passed a kidney stone, not very nice. GB you have every right to be proud of your grandaughter.  Having praised Co-op energy yesterday I am a little less enamoured of them now. Yesterday I received the (electronic) statement from them, when I went to open it I thought it looked a bit different and it said that they had changed the system. When I went to sign in it kept rejecting my password so I requested a new one. I waited over an hour but no sign of a new sign in in my in-box so I went back to the 'your bill is ready' message to find at the bottom of the page a message that for the new system I had to reset my password and a password to enable me to enter the system. I tried the given password but it was still rejected, probably being cancelled by my request for a new password. This morning when I opened my e-mails the password change request was there, about 12 hours after I made the request, and I was able to access by bill, which first only displayed my account as being over £500 in credit which would have meant that they were paying me to use their gas and electricity. I managed to get into a basic bill that showed me as being just over £50 in credit which is normal for this time of year. But the bill just showed that with no details of (estimated) meter readings which I tried to look for but without success.  The old system was clear, concise and easy to use, with all the details on one page and easy to check. Whatever happened to 'If it aint broke don't fix it'? sigh!

 

IIRC you could buy a special mount for Seagulls that allowed you to swivel the motor through 180 degrees (how do you get the symbol?) to "reverse".

 

Ed

Isn't that a bit risky (reversing a seagull) having the 'exhaust' pointing in your direction?

 

I saw such mounts on the rear end of yachts that used Seagulls as an auxiliary motor. Ours just clamped onto the transom.

At least it will stop the bu@@ers from swooping down and stealing your chips.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Jock - hope the SIL is improving and I'm sure your daughter will have made sure the hospital are aware he went swimming in a river  (know you might know why the military issue condoms to troops in jungle areas - not to keep water out of their armaments but to use in the normal place for such purposes as protection against such things as trematode flatworm larvae which can enter the male body via that particular route).

 

Anyway back to the weather -notwithstanding exeter seaweed predicting only a 10% chance of rain for us overnight and this morning we have clearly had a specially wet version of the 10%, but brightening up now.  Meanwhile the garden seems to thrive - weeds are doing very well, container grown spuds look ready to harvest, garlic has been harvested and is in the porch drying out so vampires will no doubt be trying the back door or french windows, carrots are coming on and need thinning.  Hopefully the latter will be somewhat larger than the rather tasty baby carrots that came with the venison, rosti, baby turnip and cherries last night.  Our large cultivated poppies have set their pods but somehow I don't think we'll be competing for contracts with the pharmaceutical companies who are buying the local field crops.

 

Jewson bill to pay today but no other trips planned beyond a visit to Tesco.  Have a good day one & all.

[BoD]

Jock: I hope they sort SiL out as soon as possible.

 

What a charming young lady Bob.

Strange how well people  turn out given that every new born baby looks like Winston Churchill

[AndyB]

I wonder who Winston Churchill looked like as a baby. 

[lightengine]

As well as being totally responsible for the downfall of any British sports person/s by switching on the tv/radio halfway throug a game or competition.

I am now accepting blame for inclement weather, having cut the grass yesterday evening..

Seems that I can do no right.

 

Bon voyage to the La Sarthe travellers, away from these wet shores.

[gordon s]

For those of my generation who do not really comprehend why Facebook 
exists.
 
PRESENTLY, I AM TRYING TO MAKE FRIENDS OUTSIDE OF FACEBOOK WHILE 

 

APPLYING THE SAME PRINCIPLES.

 

THEREFORE EVERY DAY, I GO DOWN ON THE STREET AND TELL THE PASSERSBY WHAT 

 

I HAVE EATEN, HOW I FEEL ,WHAT I HAVE DONE THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND WHAT I 

 

WILL DO AFTER, I GIVE THEM PICTURES OF MY FAMILY, MY DOG AND ME 

 

GARDENING AND SPENDING TIME IN MY POOL.

 

I ALSO LISTEN TO THEIR CONVERSATIONS AND I TELL THEM I LOVE THEM.

 

AND IT WORKS.

 

I ALREADY HAVE 3 PERSONS FOLLOWING ME : 2 POLICE 

 

OFFICERS AND A PSYCHIATRIST.
 

[Ian Abel]

Jock - Hope SiL starts recovering soon, don't envy anyone in that position

 

HUMP day, up with the lark again to get Jemma to an 0610 show (that's what they call their start/reporting time in airline parlance!) saves her 30+ minutes and gives me use of her car while she's gone, including getting it washed/serviced, aren't dads helpful

 

Drive to office postponed till tomorrow again this week as lunch partner has conflict again today.

 

St. Swithuns (sp. Swithin - apparently the spelling is variously either, not sure WHICH is correct) day not noted/discussed/observed here, but per note below, we did have a shower already this morning - guess if we conclude it is universal we've 40 more days or rain to look forward to <pah>

 

Newspaper gathered in 16C partly sunny skies and a shower just as I turned back indoors, turning more to overcast and a high of 28 later

[railsquid]

Intermittent fly-by greetings. A hot couple of days hovering around 35C. The previously mentioned typhoon is still on its leisurely northwards path, scheduled to make landfall in the next 36-48 hours somewhere in western Japan, but the rainclouds being pushed in front of it have already arrived. Baby Squid is taking all this in his stride (well, random limb flailing), tough little blighter that he is. Tomorrow he has another checkup, scheduled because last month the doctor was concerned that he was falling behind in the height department.  According to my amateur measurements he's pretty much powered his way back into the middle of the chart, which doesn't surprise as he did the same thing with his weight. Recent talk of dextruosity (if there is such a word, my computer thinks not) got me wondering as to which he will be; so far I suspect right-handed as that's the one he likes to hit/grab things with (in an adorably cute he's-just-a-baby way). Here's some photographic evidence:

 

 

 

[shortliner]

Wait till Wee Squidlet discovers that spoons balanced like that make excellent trebuchets - He'll re-decorate the room in no time, and you'll spend a great deal of time picking the spoon up from the floor!

[The Stationmaster]

Shock horror.

 

Last week I filled up with diesel at our (only) filling station - the price had dropped to 118.9p per litre so I thought I'd better get in while the going was good.  Silly me - this week it has not only dropped to 115.9p per litre but I noticed today that it is actually 1p per litre cheaper than petrol.  (It is also 5 or 6 pence per litre cheaper than any other filling station within 10 miles of here) 

 

I wonder if their illuminated sign is working properly?

[PhilJ W]

As well as being totally responsible for the downfall of any British sports person/s by switching on the tv/radio halfway throug a game or competition.

I am now accepting blame for inclement weather, having cut the grass yesterday evening..

Seems that I can do no right.

 

Bon voyage to the La Sarthe travellers, away from these wet shores.

I thought it was me having the car washed last Thursday. My window cleaner is the usual harbinger of rain, almost as soon as he has finished the heavens open. I think he confused them this time, instead of the usual four weeks between this time was six weeks due to his being on holiday.

[trisonic]

 According to my amateur measurements he's pretty much powered his way back into the middle of the chart, which doesn't surprise as he did the same thing with his weight. 

 

 

Black Pudding three times a day?

 

Best, Pete.

[trisonic]

Really, I have to complain to someone about the lack of surreal comments recently in ER.

 

It’s not good enough.

 

Thank you and G’night, Jock.

 

Best, Pete.

[BoD]

Your complaint will be forwarded to the appropriate dolphin.

[Smiffy2]

We're here. Well, I know that applies to anyone at any given time, but I mean we're here in France, la Manche, home to les seigneurs du boulot and les compagnons de l'escargot. The weather is fine, so today they are out coracling for whelks. In wet weather they stay indoors and venture out only when it has stopped to collect the wallfish from the bushes and hedgerows.

 

The journey was fun - not. Nasty drizzle and spray on the English side and for about an hour after the tunnel. The scenes of refugees trying to board trucks are just like on the TV. Except the lorries are moving, which raises the stakes a bit. Operation Stack was on the go in Kent, which made life interesting and slow. We started at 6.55 and arrived at 8.45, for what is usually an hour's journey.

 

Only real problem was when Julie was driving and we came upon a car in our lane - we were doing a legal 130kph - which had almost stopped to read a road sign... English. Feck knows what they thought they were doing, at 30kph gazing upwards. We were being overtaken, so Julie couldn't go round them and it looked for a moment that, like on a bearhunt, we were going to go through them. It was some sort of microcar, we would have creamed it, but Julie managed to avoid it somehow. Phew.

 

The next part was (and is) in sunshine and warmness, the internet is working, the sky box is working and I've just had French ham and eggs with fresh bread. And a couple of beers, which are sending me messages that they are lonely, so I'm off.

 

Have a nice evening, best wishes to all and I hope those in sickness return swiftly to health.

[NGT6 1315]

Your complaint will be forwarded to the appropriate dolphin.

Eeee-eeeeee-eeeeee, says the dolphin.

[emt_911]

Ejumacation time is finished (for the monent) and exams passed. Now I look forward to doing some proper work for the next 2 days.

 

Left v Right - I bat and throw right handed, shoot a rifle right handed, shoot a pistol right handed but using the left eye and after dislocating my right shoulder playing rugby, I am now ambidextrous when it comes to writting.

 

Jock - I hope that they correctly identify the cause quickly and the treatment regime is successful.

[AndyID]

Shock horror.

 

Last week I filled up with diesel at our (only) filling station - the price had dropped to 118.9p per litre so I thought I'd better get in while the going was good.  Silly me - this week it has not only dropped to 115.9p per litre but I noticed today that it is actually 1p per litre cheaper than petrol.  (It is also 5 or 6 pence per litre cheaper than any other filling station within 10 miles of here) 

 

I wonder if their illuminated sign is working properly?

 

It's $2.85 for a US gallon here at the moment - slightly less than regular gasoline. That's around $0.70 (46p) per litre!

 

You're being seriously stiffed! 

[bluebottle]

Aren't the references to dolphins nearer to magic realism than surrealism?