Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Happy birthday to Valerie (why on earth did I suddenly think of 'I Love To Go A Wandering'????  It that says valderie not Valerie).

 

The excellently organised Tesco has been visited - just a pity some of the half-baked customers ignore the very clear 'safety zone' markings on the floor.  And it really is time we had a locals/regular customers only policy for food shopping as yet again, and even in wrinklies hour, there were those who knew not the contents of one aisle from another.  Plenty of fresh veg, milk (for them as needed it),  bread, and booze, but no pickled onions or powdered cinammon or bread flour (or any other kind of flour).  Lots of strange brands I have ever before seen in Tesco - or anywhere else come to that - but loads of toilet paper and kitchen paper towels so current use was restocked in those categories.   As all too often nowadays numbers of non-Tesco regulars - time to put a stop to that I think as they are much potential infection spreaders as they are emptying the shelves..

 

An order has been placed for various items with my almost local model shop although despatch remains a slight problem but at least I have ensured to be placed on one side a supply of parallel strips of metal which are united with plastic in a place named after a much favoured form of alcoholic refreshment.  

 

In news very near to home - like right outside the garden wall - we are about to be blessed with the noise and disruptive efforts of Zzoomm digging things up and planting pretty coloured fibre optic cable which might encourage somebody to take on their high speed broadband offering.  Obviously I hope they don't cut any cables or pipes while digging things up and as far as I can work out if anybody actually wants a connection that means they have to come back a dig a hole to find their cable then dig more holes to get it to your house.  Doesn't sound like a very cost effective approach and I wonder if we're actually looking at a concern whose business model is really all about laying a cable network and then selling it to someone else?

 

And one for all our resident IT folk.  This morning the company server to which his ladship connects fell over so he was totally unable to communicate into the company's network.  So he 'phoned their UK head of IT who in turn told him to 'phone the IT Helpdesk - which he did,  The hapless help(less)desk person then told him to email them to explain the problem he had just told them about (i.e. server down, unable to communicate via it so unable  - among other things - to send emails to company addresses).  It would seem that some help(less) desk persons might just be on a par with some of the poor innocents idiots who call to complain to them that their 'puter doesn't work.

 

Have a good day one and all and stay safe.

Edited March 30, 2020 by The Stationmaster

[AndrewC]

54 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

AndrewC is slipping.

 

I didn't learn any new words today!

After today's first set of meetings, that is likely to change shortly. I'm stuck with a bunch of hoofw*nking bunglec*nts. Stay tuned. 

 

 

[BoD]

21 minutes ago, AndrewC said:

hoofw*nking bunglec*nts. 

 

 

Brilliant
Have you written an algorithm to generate these terms or is it all your own work?

[Dave Hunt]

1 hour ago, Happy Hippo said:

AndrewC is slipping.

 

I didn't learn any new words today!

 

You just used the word 'suggest' in a post though - not something a Hippo would normally use surely?

 

Dave

[Gwiwer]

Afternoon all.  Best wishes to the Family Lurker and any others in possession of the Evil Germ.

 

It has been noticeably warmer today after being enwhitened by a heavy snow shower yesterday.  The stress is on the -er as the "warmer" is relative.  It's still frickin' cold for the tail-end of March.  

 

The House of Not-so-much-Fun was perhaps even quieter today though there was evidence of spreading-out of travel times; the early morning trips were less busy but the later ones more so.  Not a single builder was seen by your scribe.  We have also been silenced by order of the Management.  Whistles are no longer to be used.  Whilst we don't share them there is a potential for spreading of nasties through them.  If you don't believe that take a look at how much spray sometimes emerges from the business end when given a good hard blow.  It's risk management; lower the risk of infection while the risk of accidents to passengers is theoretically at its lowest ever peacetime level.  

 

However as that removes one more function from the platform staff and leaves us with only one third of the workload we normally have it can only be a matter of time, surely, until we are sent home.  Attending platforms devoid of anyone but another staff member is unsustainable by any measure.  

 

In other news word reached us from Australia overnight that SWMBO "Aunt" has passed away.  It was expected and is not virus-related.  "Aunt" has always been used in reference to the woman who SWMBO suspects was one of her grandmothers.  That secret - if it was one - has now gone to the grave with the woman in question.  A respectful burial will occur but there can be no funeral service under Australian restrictions - that will have to wait.  

 

SWMBO also has a birthday the day after tomorrow.  We have discussed how she would like to mark the event and have agreed that flowers are enough.  We would have been out at a restaurant but that, too, is on indefinite hold.  She will already have done the dinner - by her own insistence - so I don't even get to cook for her on this occasion.   

 

At risk of triggering the awl I have a footbridge to erect followed by some deep meaningful reading which will usually send me into a sound sleep on the sofa!  

 

Until Later - best wishes one and all.  Stay well.  

 

 

[AndrewC]

1 hour ago, BoD said:

Brilliant
Have you written an algorithm to generate these terms or is it all your own work?

Spend a few hours trawling my twitter feed. HWBC is a fairly common insult these days. There also seems to be a penchant for combining a small animal with genitalia and similar. for example cockwomble. c*ntpuffin. b0llockbadger, sh*tweasel.  etc. 

 

I wish I could take credit but alas I'm only the messenger. 

Edited March 30, 2020 by AndrewC
just because I felt like it. so there.

[Dave Hunt]

6 minutes ago, AndrewC said:

Spend a few hours trawling my twitter feed. HWBC is a fairly common insult these days. There also seems to be a penchant for combining a small animal with genitalia and similar. for example cockwomble. c*ntpuffin. b0llockbadger, sh*tweasel.  etc. 

 

Hippobottomus? (not exactly a small animal I know but.....).

Edited March 30, 2020 by Dave Hunt

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. The trip down to Tess Coes was quite successful only I forgot entirely about the eggs. Bread, milk and veg was obtained plus a few other items including bread pudding. The problem is to make the bread pudding last beyond tonight a few days, it is rather moreish. The queue to get in although long took only about 20 minutes to get into the store. One slight problem in the queue though, one stupid woman was so busy texting that she didn't notice the queue in front moving forward and a few thought that was the end of the queue until it was pointed out to them and they quite happily went to the real end of the queue. The woman just moved up and carried on texting without saying a word. 

Edited March 30, 2020 by PhilJ W

[Tony_S]

While Aditi was in the short queue outside the pharmacy the woman in front couldn’t stand still and kept marching backwards and forwards looking at the window display.  There were a couple of older chaps who didn’t seem to quite grasp the idea of queuing and started another one. No problems though, although Aditi had to rejoin the queue as there were items missing from my prescription. They had missed the extra bag the first time. They wouldn’t let her open the original bag to see if everything was inside, hence going  out and back in again. Anyway no need to go out for ages now.

 Not a lot happening. Aditi received an email from her sister about the letter that MiL had received about end of life options. She apologised but Aditi said she had already discussed it with her Mum anyway. MiL although 92 is coping well. She told me she is waiting for the weather to improve as the drains/gutters round the edge of her terrace look messy (probably a couple of leaves). 

Tony
 

 

 

[Gwiwer]

41 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

Hippobottomus?

 

Or, as I used to call them in my early childhood, Hippomus Potamus.  Nothing like keeping it simple when learning the language, eh?

[Happy Hippo]

2 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

You just used the word 'suggest' in a post though - not something a Hippo would normally use surely?

 

Dave

Allegedly

 

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl, 

Payment at TES and Co  was by card, I don't know if that all they are doing as that's how I normally  pay. 

 

Inkle loom sanded and painted one side,  if dry I'll do the other tomorrow.. 

 

Keel skin fitted one side,  very happy with the way it looks. It's sat there with around 20 clamps round the edges and a lot of weight on the middle of the  side.

 

First job on the layout  was to separate the scenic board from the main board,  I had plastered the two together,  and used a slitting disc to spit them..  Unfortunately during the snowstorm SWMBO turned up... She wasn't impressed.

 

More slartybartfast work followed,  and after the dust had settled the first of many layers of varnish,  for the loco. This thing keeps changing loch to loco..  Varnish now protected by a sheet of plastic. 

 

Then ply was extracted from the landrover,  for the next board,  this will not be my normal foam construction as it will include a sideways moving board with I hope 16 pieces of parallel metal.. 

 

On leaving the MhRC a small deer ran past me.

 

Ben the knackered Collie is beside me asleep as SWMBO took him out because  I was busy..  They got a little wet due to a short sharp shower. 

 

[Tony_S]

27 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Allegedly

 

Aditi’s suggestions have a tendency to be orders. It caused problems when Matthew was little.

Aditi “would you like some peas?”

Matthew “No thank you”

A “would you like some peas?”

M “No, thank you”

A “would...”

M “ NO, if you want me to eat them I will but I don’t want them”

 

I think she was used to being obeyed and he was very logical.

 

Edited March 30, 2020 by Tony_S
Question marks

[Ref44]

I'm still waiting for a Log In so I can answer calls on the Citizens Advice "Advice Line". The IT consultants are obviously struggling to create several thousand remote users. Given the number of new UC claimants, the demand for advice will be massive. It is frustrating not being able to help those colleagues who are already on the system. The supply chain in Brentwood seems to be improving; both Wilko and the local Coop finally had toilet paper and kitchen towel in stock. Iceland were raided for some supplies including a few tins of chopped tomatoes. Everyone queuing did so in good spirit and observed the 2m rule. Sadly the same cannot be said of the idiots who decided to run through the High Street with total disregard of how close they got to people.

I'm keeping busy, some plywood has being turned into retangular solids to which nickel silver and plasic have been stuck to the top and a combination of wire, terminal blocks and and a District Cut Out arranged on the underside. Once some suitable size screws have been delivered (as I can't collect) the boards will be resting on brackets attached to the wall.

[Ian Abel]

4 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

The hapless help(less)desk person then told him to email them to explain the problem

At least he went one step beyond "have you tried turning it off and back on again.." aka "The IT Crowd"

[Ian Abel]

Monday moaning...

Yesterday more of the same, mostly peace and quiet, a Zoom lunch with Trevor and Meagan (and the dogs!).

We finished this - another one bites the dust;

given another "panic buying" item seems to be puzzles, looks like we're stuck re-doing ones we've already done soon. Hoping maybe to trade with some friends - kerbside drop off - as another option.

 

Shepherds pie for dinner - sans shepherds, in short supply also?!?!?!?

 

On the subject of sh!tgibbons - we've a national social media thing called "Nextdoor", supposed to be a community-based support/information site.

Using that as well as other media facilities, the city announced (sensibly) that as a result of groups, many of which were teens that are bored apparently, playing baseball, basketball etc., on city grounds, that such groups are at present banned in accordance with the state/governor stay-at-home order.

Enter primary SH!TGIBBON - arguing the city can't do that, it's unconstitutional, next is a dictatorship, blah, blah...

Guess the occupation of said SH!TGIBBON...

 

 

 

A F!@$!@$king lawyer, who lives in one of the most up-market neighborhoods here - I'm pretty sure he'd argue that he's the only one allowed to breath given the chance. I sometimes question whether the human race actually deserves to be on the planet  

 

6 and sunny earlier, headed for 14 today, lovely outside

 

Stay safe everyone.

 

[Tony_S]

2 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

Nextdoor

That was being promoted here last year. Didn’t join. I don’t think many did. 

[81C]

Done some laundry today, I wear trainer socks all the time I can't stand those full length one's there 16-18 pairs to roughly match up only 2 out of 36 got done

the rest of them were still in a pile on the bed when I woke up later. 

[AndyID]

10 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ey up!

Good  morning to most, good evening to others.

 

Someone in the TV films selection group has a strange mindset.

 

Contagion..all about a virus taking over the world.

 

In which we serve.. stoic british sailors band together to support a dwindling number of survivors

 

Then.."The African Queen"

 

Lummy..how to be cheered up!

Have a cracking day/evening. 

Positive thoughts to all who ail especially Mrs Lurker.

 

Mugatea time

Baz

 

They should have run "On the Beach" to cheer everyone up.

[45156]

Evening All (at last)

 

Had the PC all fired up and ready to go this morning, and was about to start backreading when 30747 awoke and said "I think we ought to get the weekly shopping this morning instead of tomorrow as we're out of bread and milk, and it seems a bit silly to be going to the local shop just for a few bits".  So up we got at 7am to go to Lidl, where we were second in the queue, and we got everything that we wanted/needed/didn't need but got anyway,  We also agreed that as it is essential that we get a bank print weekly, so we will have to take a trip in on Thursday.

 

All posts read and rated, and the usual greetings and the stay healthy message, with the caveat that I hope Mrs Lurker is quick to recover from this virus.

 

After we got home, we had a bite of breakfast (a 20p BLT from the up to use by fridge in Lidl), and then it was on with the fence painting.  Lunch was a 20p chicken salad sandwich and two sausage rolls at 20 for four - there was a lot of stuff there at use by date), and dinner was a pork stir fry made with a vegetable stir fry mix again from the 20p fridge. 

 

So I've only just got here.

 

Back tomorrow

Regards to All

Stewart

[The Lurker]

9 hours ago, bbishop said:

Lurker,

 

It will be wise to isolate as a family for 14 days.  Follow NHS guidelines and I've summarised my latest LAS guidelines, (which came as a PDF so I can't copy).

 

Patients will need plenty of water and paracetamol (don't exceed dosage on packet).  Plenty of hand washing and sanitising.  Patients dispose of their own waste - if into plastic bags, double bag and keep separate for two days. Shoot the family cat.

 

Bill

 

PS - not the last one!

 

Thanks - we are isolating. Mrs Lurker is still coughing and a bit breathless but doesn’t seem to have any temperature and hasn’t needed much paracetamol. The boys both seem fine. I had a bit of a hot flush earlier so      that may be the start of it for me. However I feel fine currently.

 

you’ll be pleased to know cats will ever be allowed here because Mrs Lurker is allergic to them - they make her far more wheezy than she is now!

 

hope everyone else is doing well and staying sane

 

 

[AndyID]

LA Times has a story about a chorale that held a choir practice in Skagit Valley near Seattle on March 10. Sixty members attended and 45 came down with the virus. Two have died.

 

They took precautions too. No close contact, hand sanitizer etc. It seems to indicate the virus was spread in the air.

 

[Sasquatch]

Hi everyone.

 

Thought this might be worth sharing.

 

I don't know how true this is but Mrs. S. read somewhere that someones cat caught Corona virus from it's owner

https://www.livescience.com/cat-infected-covid-19-from-owner.html

 

Heads up to all you cat owners out there It might be worth keeping moggie inside.

 

Actually if you think about it a cat could bring the virus home on it's fir.

 

regards Shaun

[Ozexpatriate]

There's now a "thing", (inevitably involving a portmanteau word) called the "catio" (pronounced like patio) or out door cat enclosure, often with permanent access to the interior with a cat flap or tunnel. I saw one on television a week or so ago. (Daytime television is mindrot.)

 

These permit safe access to the outdoors for cats without exposing the cats to predators (or contact transmitted viruses) or the local birds to cats.

 

I had assumed these were limited to urban "crazy cat ladies" but when I googled "outdoor cat enclosures" I was met with quite a profusion, including websites like this one that only a dedicated cat fancier could enjoy.

 

Edited March 30, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[Barry O]

3 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

 

Or, as I used to call them in my early childhood, Hippomus Potamus.  Nothing like keeping it simple when learning the language, eh?

Always known in our family as a hipporhinocerouspig

 

don't ask why.. I don't know

 

baz