Early Risers.

[BoD]

Just now, Andrew P said:

Just had the CLAP.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 minutes ago, BoD said:

Could he not just say that the slope is getting less steep?

I'm sure he did, or tried. Far too many words were involved in the process.

[Barry O]

Quite a few folks out doors here clapping. Great to see people supporting the people who are front line in the NHS.

(but lets not forget all of the other key workers).

 

Baz

[brianusa]

11 hours ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

I still think it likely (if he survives his current brush with COVID-19) that he will pass directly to William.

 

That would be smart.  The Cambridges are very popular being more in line with the general and future population whereas Charles is regarded as of the previous generation, after all he is over seventy!   On top of that, they have the future King waiting.

While HMTQ has done a tremendous job over the years, obviously she is already twenty years past her retirement age.  Most people would be happy to spend such a time in retirement doing half as much as she has.  

  The world needs young leaders so what does that hold for the US whose current president  is over seventy and his hopeful successors are half way to eighty.

    Brian.

 

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

The M3 Lee / Grant variants wouldn't have been so bad.

What's that you said Honey, or have I got my tank nicknames wrong.

52 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I'm sure he did, or tried. Far too many words were involved in the process.

He's a politician it's genetically impossible.

 

 

Anyway, good evening all.  Fish and chips were consumed in the deserted squarecat Aulnay, then we boughtbpetrol for the mowers.  I had my various explanations in French memorised but what a waste of neorons, no Gendarmes  in sight. This afternoon our former mayor walked past after getting some bread. Likevys shecsuspects that thevlockdown will almost certainly  be extended to at least 4 weeks.  When talking about this on the way out for our fine dining experience we sort of agreed to do jobs in the am and hobby time in the pm.  Of course my memory of this conversation may prove to be faulty.

 

Scottish, liquid antiseptic of the Balvenie vsriety being consumed, for medicinal purposes only of course.  

 

Jamie

[Coombe Barton]

Arachnid housemates

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/03/26/web-designers-and-diversions/

[Simon G]

Like others here, I joined in the Clap.  Even in our lane, it was pretty audible, especially with someone letting off fireworks and another playing a bugle.  I joined in not only clapping, but joined in the “music” by blowing the whistle that I use in guarding on the Ratty.

[newbryford]

14 hours ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

£1.09 in Hereford on Monday. And I read somewhere (here?) of 99p a litre at a supermarket.

 

There are predictions that it may reach 2003 prices - so as low as 80p/litre or so.

 

Cue stockpiling and resultant risks...........................

[Kingzance]

If NHN normally has five other staff and is now down to just he and one, it is time for us to give him a break surely! We love our hobby but we place our on-line friends above that. The evidence of how many had The Clap this evening shows we are generally of a caring and sympathetic outlook. Let the Fraggle Emporium, and all the others represented on here, have a chance and live to trade another day.

[newbryford]

13 hours ago, BoD said:

 

For future reference Chris, most hotels will beat booking websites’ price if you phone them directly.  They don’t then have to pay the commission to the intermediary web site.

 

Morning all 

 

Stay safe and well.

 

Very true!

The hotels aren't allowed to show lower prices than those quoted by the OTA (on-line travel agent), but most will happily do so over the phone.

Mrs NB hates OTAs as their commission is so high, but it's a necessary evil. They virtually always stress to departing residents that are considering returning to "book direct" (that's the slogan of the brand name group that they are in)

 

It's a bit like going direct to an ebay supplierwho has a ebay shop - their normal website prices are often cheaper and some deals can be had.

[Gwiwer]

With only one walk out available per day I can still manage to be in the right place at the right time with the camera.  Also on another thread just to boost spirits a bit.  

 

Venus above a crescent moon Upon the Hill of Strawberries where The Clap has also occurred loudly.

 

 

 

 

[Simon G]

14 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

With only one walk out available per day I can still manage to be in the right place at the right time with the camera.  Also on another thread just to boost spirits a bit.  

 

Venus above a crescent moon Upon the Hill of Strawberries where The Clap has also occurred loudly.

 

 

 

 

 

We had the additional bonus of the International Space Station clearly visible over Cumbria at 8.20pm this evening.  Radio Cumbria were broadcasting and describing where to see it.  It was visible first near to Venus, then got brighter as it past Orion, then gradually faded as it went south-east.

[newbryford]

6 hours ago, Barry O said:

 

 

The Royal Mail have decided that to be arequired and necessary postal item it must go first class. BUT they are still delivering food shop list and other advertising carp. A fast buck being made here..but if it stops the virus liveable with.

 

 

 

Just posted some stuff today 2nd - no questions asked. 

I used the walk to the local Spar/PO as my daily exercise and small foodshop for a few necessities.

[Erichill16]

Sorry but falling asleep whiles reading the thread, (tired rather than bored!) a little quieter at work today. Next big hurdle will be when staff start to ring in sick.
Any good night

Robert

[laurenceb]

Some years ago I built a clock from a lazer cut kit but it never worked. This morning I had an extended poking session with the thing with the result that it now works.

Night awl

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[newbryford]

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

We'll see what happens after the churches across the US are full on Easter Sunday.

 

This? (Warning - graphic gratuitous violence)

 

 

[AndyID]

7 minutes ago, laurenceb said:

Some years ago I built a clock from a lazer cut kit but it never worked. This morning I had an extended poking session with the thing with the result that it now works.

Night awl

 

A good escapement.

[newbryford]

2 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

 

 

As much as I think we humans underestimate the intelligence and possibly consciousness of our mammalian relatives, when it comes to sheep, not so much.

 

 

Judging by the roadkill I see on my commute, pheasants are the avian equivalent.

[Ozexpatriate]

Apparently I timed my run to the supermarket during today's White House press conference. Darn. I missed it.

 

Some little thing changes from "normal" every day. Plexiglass shields have been installed between customers and supermarket checkout till operators.

 

Back on January 1, Oregon banned single use plastic bags. Customers were encouraged to bring reusable bags, otherwise they would be charged a nominal amount for a traditional paper sack - a change to which I have finally adapted. Now the checkers (till operators) are forbidden to touch customers' reusable bags, (which is a reasonable precaution, but yet another change) and customers are required to bag their own groceries (slowing the process down) unless they purchase the paper bags, which the checkers may fill.

[Gwiwer]

27 minutes ago, Simon G said:

 

We had the additional bonus of the International Space Station clearly visible over Cumbria at 8.20pm this evening.  Radio Cumbria were broadcasting and describing where to see it.  It was visible first near to Venus, then got brighter as it past Orion, then gradually faded as it went south-east.

 

We saw the ISS last night but Venus and the moon were not in quite the same positions.  

[Ozexpatriate]

52 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Venus above a crescent moon Upon the Hill of Strawberries

That's a very nice exposure Rick.

 

Having only my telephone to hand I attempted something similar a month ago, but the exposure blew out the crescent.

 

Despite being advised by the weather presenter, I missed the ISS when it passed over here on two nights a week ago while the weather was still clear.

 

Edited March 26, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[Barry O]

Goodnight all!

Baz

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

What's that you said Honey, or have I got my tank nicknames wrong.

Close. The M3 Stuart was the Honey - a light tank. Apparently the nickname was due to its smooth ride.

 

The M3 Lee / Grant was a medium tank.

[newbryford]

54 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

If NHN normally has five other staff and is now down to just he and one, it is time for us to give him a break surely! We love our hobby but we place our on-line friends above that. The evidence of how many had The Clap this evening shows we are generally of a caring and sympathetic outlook. Let the Fraggle Emporium, and all the others represented on here, have a chance and live to trade another day.

 

 

Some folks just don't get it.

 

We are mostly WFH and our phone system has various messages and diverts setup - including  "check the website but if your call is urgent press 4" (or whatever number we've used)

4 = me. 

 

 I predicted there would be an upsurge in customer support calls a few days ago, but wasn't overly prepared for some of these after our messaging system alterations and people's understanding - or lack of - the current situation that we all find ourselves in.

 

Similar to DEFCON ratings, I have now compiled a CUNTCON [*] list for my amusement and to keep me sane.

 

Level 5: Normal service - lots of patience.

Level 4: Rolls eyes.

Level 3: Terse

Level 2: Abrupt

Level 1: Use Andrew C swearwords and put phone down.

 

[*] CUstomer Now on Telephone CONdition ]

 

 

One call - "I'm starting out in DCC and I want to use this stuff" (lists lost of complicated bits because he's read about them on the internet). 19 minutes later I surmise that he wants the equivalent of a Ferrari but hasn't yet got a driving licence or even sat behind a steering wheel. Level (2)

 

Another call - complaining because he can't get a particular item and having a bit of a rant about it. (Level 3)

 

Another one - from one in the same industry asking where his spare part that he asked about on Monday was, having been told it would be posted out Tuesday. Tuesday, as it turned out was when my other service guy went home because he has been told to stay at home by his doc. So it got delayed. Said "customer" then went on about how he would have expected this in China a few weeks ago as "people were dying". When I explained that there's a delay in the UK because we sent someone home and don't want people to die seemed to fall upon deaf ears. In the words of Adam Hills "Don't be a Dick" (Level 2 but so close to 1).

 

I have arranged the call divert to the other service guy tomorrow........