Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

The sun is shining and the first bin of the day has been emptied - odd how the emptiers of garden bins always seem to be first, the recycling bin will quite likely sit there until mid afternoon before it's emptied.  But whenever they arrive they have a bright sunny day for it.  I don't think any major shopping expeditions are planned and herself has returned to bed as her cold and cough linger on.

 

Have a good day one and all and may the ailing and recovering make some positive progress

[New Haven Neil]

Morning.

 

Yesterday the pollen count here was on the second time around, I was incapacitated, and that was with the anti-histamines.  Tried a different type, a little better this morning but still teetering on the edge of exploding continuously.

 

Apparently there's some bike racing, may have a look in at it.  Laxey station yesterday on the Manx Electric was great, trains every 15 minutes plus a shuttle to Douglas so it was like Claphamanx Junction, I would post a photo but......ahem. Saw the oldest and newest power cars - the newest of which (33) is older (1906 IIRC) than several of the steam engines - the MER was an early electric railway, starting in 1893.

Edited June 6, 2018 by New Haven Neil

[bbishop]

Morning awl,

 

Yesterday was spent concreting at Mike's. We got about half way through the job so will continue tomorrow. Until I have to leave for a concert at the RFH. Friday will be spent in a hot bath.

 

Keep well all.

 

Bill

[trisonic]

My clock is 3 minutes slow.........

 

 

Best, Pete.

 

 

[Gwiwer]

Happy Lunchtime from a sunny Hill of Strawberries. Though it began cold enough to require the winter attire.

 

The ladies continue their tour of Other Places and I continue to enjoy my own company. Our regional safety standards officer was in attendance this morning and congratulated me on my handling of several recent events which could have turned nasty. From a coat caught in a door and a 30-something c0ckwomble riding a razor-type scooter along the very edge of the platform to speaking with a group leader who was very obviously not in control of around 50 seven year-olds all hyped up at the prospect of a day out at Chessington; group leader was asked to have the children sit down as they were running around like mad thngs. And all these events noted from the passive CCTV surveillance which is a part of the job these days. Long gone are the times when you could slope off provided Sir Topham Hatt wasn’t looking - he always is now!

 

Notter Lott else to report. Andys, various, please follow the best advice being offered and to all with black dogs, dormant or rampant, I offer my friendship and support.

[Horsetan]

....Apparently there's some bike racing, may have a look in at it.  Laxey station yesterday on the Manx Electric was great, trains every 15 minutes plus a shuttle to Douglas so it was like Claphamanx Junction, I would post a photo but......ahem. Saw the oldest and newest power cars - the newest of which (33) is older (1906 IIRC) than several of the steam engines - the MER was an early electric railway, starting in 1893.

One of the people I'm liaising with is based on Fraggle Rock. He used to run a brewery until relatively recently.

[The Lurker]

Be careful, you may be offered CEO of Southern (whatever Ian L’s service is called today)  !!!!

On the plus side, you could recruit Stationmaster to rewrite the timetable, and legitimately pay him a fat consultancy fee for the privilege..

 

Following on from that would come an appearance in the New Year's Honours list for services to mankind

[Barry O]

More brownie points...hawthorn hedge has been shorn, garden and pavements tidied up.

 

Now for a shower and some muddling.

 

Baz

[Ian Abel]

HUMP day - ANOTHER Wednesday that I'm not headed in to the office (see below!!).

 

Uneventful again yesterday, until the Mrs called and said the car was having some steering/front-end wobble issues. She dropped it off at the garage on her way home.

They  called this AM, not a real problem, a couple of steering bushing need replacing, so damage to wallet only about $580, should be back in business mid-afternoon.

 

Last evening strolling around the garden, spotted this young deer across the street...

 

Not the best of shots as it was twilight. They are around frequently, but usually not seen as they visit in the dead of night and eat everyone's flowers!

 

17 and light rain - not stopping the landscape service mowing the neighbors lawn though! - expected to clear some (maybe) and 26 for a high.

 

Head on over the hump and let's race for the weekend.

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Morning.

 

Yesterday the pollen count here was on the second time around, I was incapacitated, and that was with the anti-histamines.  Tried a different type, a little better this morning but still teetering on the edge of exploding continuously.

 

Apparently there's some bike racing, may have a look in at it.  Laxey station yesterday on the Manx Electric was great, trains every 15 minutes plus a shuttle to Douglas so it was like Claphamanx Junction, I would post a photo but......ahem. Saw the oldest and newest power cars - the newest of which (33) is older (1906 IIRC) than several of the steam engines - the MER was an early electric railway, starting in 1893.

 

I used to love the atmosphere at Laxey when the frequent evening service operated in the summer when we were over there on holiday in 1962 - incredibly busy on a nice evening.

 

PS. The recycling bin was emptied at 16.20.

Edited June 6, 2018 by The Stationmaster

[45156]

Afternoon All

 

From a yet again sunny village East of Lancaster.

 

Managed to get caught up, and as usual, it is generic greetings to everybody who ails or is celebrating.

 

Decided as 30747 has ONE day off this week to visit Penrith, and it was, well, mediocre with no great finds, apart from a totally delicious spam fritter and chips - the Angel Lane chippy has to be one of the best anywhere, anytime - 30747's mini fish with chips was also excellent - all was freshly cooked including the chips.  And with a carton of peas, it all came to £6.50 for both of us to take away. 

 

On the way back, stopped at two charity shops and both had had a large donation of railway books - and one was selling them all at £1 each - it would have been rude not to take up about ten of them .

 

Back tomorrow.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[newbryford]

My clock is 3 minutes slow.........

 

acid_picdump_116.jpg

 

Best, Pete.

 

My clock has stopped. Unlike a clock running slow or fast that always shows the incorrect time, mine is right twice each day...…..

 

Hmmm - do I go golfing this evening, or head off with Junior later to go swimming....

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited June 6, 2018 by newbryford

[Gwiwer]

I have not enough fingers and toes to count all this pollen.

 

Once upon a time it troubled be very severely. A week off school at exam time with streaming eyes and nose and an inability to stop sneezing was a regular event.

 

Things had started to ease as I said goodbye to my younger days and after moving to Australia I quickly discovered I was not allergic to their pollens at all. Since returning home I have had barely a sniffle, not one sneeze and consider myself to be lucky indeed

 

For those still struggling with antihistamines, camomile, soaking wet hankies and that wretched dread of warm summer days I most certainly understand how you feel.

 

Now - someone said there’s a beer in the kitchen that needs a trip outside with its top off.

[Horsetan]

There are now two of these accordionists (sic) plaguing the streets of Ealing in addition to the "self-employed" agency chuggers. The first one actually isn't bad, and has the benefit of a (loud) backing track. The second one has no ability at all, but has strategically shaved part of his scalp to make it look as though he was the victim of an axe in the head.

 

EDIT: there is now a third one opposite the office!!!!

 

Edited June 6, 2018 by Horsetan

[TheQ]

I had a spam fitter about 20 years ago, that reminded me why I'd didn't like them at school 30 years before that.

 

On 20th May 2019, the kilogramme will change, it will no longer depend on the example one, held in a secure place in France, but it will be a calculated value, like all the other SI units. If you think I'm going through the maths of that and all the other changes to SI units next year, we heard about in a lecture today, you're wrong...

 

Did you know the USA is a metric country? On the 20th May 1875, the USA, signed the metric agreements, all their imperial measurements are defined metrically! We the British didn't sign till 1884, even though we were on the original committee and made the representative kilo and metre...

 

Came home via the big orange shed,

Cockwomble 1, left their loaded trolley 10ft planks across the entrance to the wood yard, same cockwomble, then blocked the way to the tills while he wandered off again.

 

Cockwomble 2, left trolley across hardware aisle, later spent considerable time being surprised enough to look for credit card only after the items had been checked through the tills.

 

Cockwomble 3, artic cab In left hand lane, Audi in right hand lane, roundabout becomes clear, Audi cuts immediate left in front of cab but then straight lines the roundabout, cue much horn blaring from cab.

 

It's a nice sunny evening and after unloading the stuff bought in the orange shed, Ben the Border Collie leapt into the land rover, for the drive back down the garden. He likes sitting bolt upright on the passenger seat watching the world go by...

[Ref44]

Went to attack  some of the shrubbery that has rapidly expaned only to find that the electric chainsaw has given up the ghost. The chain keeps jumping off the drive cog and the adjusting screw is knackered. Now waiting for a pole variety to be delivered so some of the bushes can be reduced to a size more fitting to the small garden they are trying to over run. The hedge trimmer enabled me to fill a large builders supply bag (the 4 handled kind) which has been deposited at the local recycling centre. It looks like several more trips will be required once all the offending greenery is cut back. Now to attack a bottle of "Proper Job" by way of reward!

[roundhouse]

Evening

 

Another sunny day and more withdrawn trains so we caught the Caterham / Tattenham Corner service to Coulsdon Town and bus from there as we dint want to risk being caught up at East Croydon and end up in a pub for the third night in a row. Its longer but at least we get a seat.

 

A quick drive to the sorting office to collect package from Hattons. Nothing existing as just a 10 pack of Dapol Easi Shunt couplings.

 

over the hump for the week.

[grandadbob]

Evenin' each,

Currently experiencing considerable pain in back, hip, left knee as usual* and bottom of heel (recently diagnosed with plantar fascitis) all due to spending all day in the garden. Lawns mowed, edges trimmed, extra large step ladder climbed to lop overgrowing shrub that was encroaching on next door, decking and path jet washed etc etc. I even made a start on shed clearance. New racking turned up late this afternoon so that's tomorrow's job.........

...if I can walk.  

Doses of pain medication deployed including London Pride, red vino, ibuprofen and tramadol. Yes, it really is that painful.

 

*Considering the knee is metal and plastic it is quite annoying that I still get pain but it's all in the surrounding area particularly hamstrings.

Edited June 6, 2018 by grandadbob

[southern42]

' Evening all from red dragon land.

West Shore working party this morning.  In other words, being useful taking a 2.5 mile round walk to leave our brochure to some of the hotels on the other side of town, finding a birthday present on the way back and popping into the bakers for some teacakes.  Back in time for lunch in the sunshine.

 

 

......

On the way back we were lucky to get across the Menai Bridge which was being surveyed from the air.  It was periodically open for 20 minutes and we got there just in time saving us from joining the long tailbacks on roads leading to the Britannia Bridge.

 

 

 

Is that going to be Rapido's next product?

 

 

Is that the bridge or the traffic jam?    

The bridge could be interesting, though, with trains below and road traffic on top.  A long line of lorries heading to/away from the Irish Ferry, perhaps?

 

More interesting stuff on TV now - restoration on the Llangollen Railway.  Channel 4.

 

Take care all.

[southern42]

Menai Brdige last Sunday.. Seems we got it wrong.  Not surveying but filming. 

 

http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/16267363.Film_crews_take_over_Menai_Bridge_to_shoot_scenes_for_upcoming_Robert_Downey_Jr_movie/

[New Haven Neil]

OK Mike, I'll bite.  I could be in for it.....big time.

 

 

Oh-0h.....

[Gwiwer]

 

 

I had a spam fitter about 20 years ago

 

Is that what afflicts our computers?

[Barry O]

Evening all!

 

Spam fritters...yummy!

 

Visited the model railway society tonight. Ended up ballasting part of a new o gauge layout we are building.

 

Tomorrow I will be travelling Northwards up the A1 to watch someone take photographs of a mayout with some of my trains on it.

 

Have a good night/evening/Morning * bad hope we have positive news on all who ail.

 

I await news of a formerwork colleague. He has been given 2 years to live but had a major op on Monday. No news on how it went yet so fingers crossed. That big C is a real barsteward.

 

Baz

 

* delete as appropriate for your location here on Planet Earth

Edited June 6, 2018 by Barry O

[jamie92208]

We are now nicely settled in the local Premier Inn and I've got the terrible job of trying to finish the bottle of Dalwhinnie Winter Gold as it would be a shame to have to take it to France.  The tip run was done and the next pallet loaded and taken to the warehouse.  Getting into the warehouse, at the Stourton Containerbase was interesting as one of the cranes at the Freightliner terminal was out of action and the lorries were quieting right back onto the motorway.   I managed to get in eventually then loaded the washing machine to take to a purchaser. The daughter of someone who I locked up but who was actually a good guy to know.   I once put out a chip pan fire when I arrived to serve a summons and Leanne was about 4.  She's now about to become a grandma and now has our old washer. 

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

Plenty of weeds are now refilling the garden waste bin and the workshop is starting to look a lot clearer too.

 

Tonight we had Ava, Evie and Max round for tea and they were all in high spirits today, they are going camping with their dad tomorrow for a couple of days and they are very excited. The chicken curry went down very well as did the salted caramel cheesecake. Considering there was only 5 of us for tea, there is just about enough for Friday, when James and Amelia come for tea.

 

Time for bed now, goodnight all

Edited June 7, 2018 by BSW01