Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit of Arthur Itis this morning but he's now gone without resorting to the Nurofen. The TV has started going into scan mode again but I may have discovered a routine to overcome it. Switch off at the main and leave it for a couple of minutes then switch it on at the mains and it returns to 'sleep' mode. Then wait a few minutes and then switch on and so far its worked. Not that I will be watching much if any TV today as there's some sort of kick-ball game on that they're making a fuss over. 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A beautiful sunny day here in England’s northwest, but we’ve had quite a bit of overnight rain, so no need to water the plants this morning. 

 

I had a and a chat with Ian last night and he says he may possibly be able to start the plastering in the cellar, so I’m going to crack on with the new underfloor storage area, so I can clear the cellar of all the wood etc that’s currently stacked up against one of the cellar walls. 

 

Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. 

 

Brian

[Mike Bellamy]

17 hours ago, TheQ said:

Now I'm on the right computer, time for a couple of pictures.

 

Pleased to see that you are keeping your workspace clean and tidy . . . . . . . 

 

16 hours ago, TheQ said:

So to move the boat it's:

Take down the marquee,

Raise the h frame,

haul on the chains,

 Remove all the blocks,

Push trailer under.

Lower boat onto trailer,

Fit and adjust support arms to trailer.

Tow trailer to sailing club,

Hook the club crane to the boat 

Lift boat, push away trailer.

Manoeuvre crane over the water, lower boat in. 

 

Did you ever think of buying a new boat - it all sounds rather complicated to get it from home to water . . . . . . 

 

On a more serious note - I have enjoyed your interesting and informative reports on the work you have done - didn't understand half of it but admire your dedication and perseverance. Now we all look forward to the next photographic report of you sailing away into the sunset . . . . . . . 

.

[The Lurker]

2 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

We have beaches too, they're just slightly further away (about 90 miles) and the highways are dodgy. The ocean water right now is around 12°C. It 'burns' to put your feet in. The coast is usually much cooler in the summer. (The Oregon coast is a place where people put clothes on to got to the beach.)

 

 

The weather app on my phone still has a few of the places we visited a couple of years ago on it. Seaside is forecast to be 21 later today. It was mid to upper 20s yesterday. In contrast Seattle was showing very high 30s and 40 over the last few days.

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup which is grey and cool. The rain has largely kept off this morning. They're making another attempt to run the year 3 sports day, which both Mrs Lurker and Elder Lurker will be involved with.

 

I earned brownie points by successfully booking appointments for Younger Lurker's virtual parents' evening - a series of 4 1/2 minute appointments and surely a sign of things to come. I managed this with no fuss but received a panicked text from Mrs Lurker asking if I had succeeded because the Year 7 whatsapp group was going mad with Mums not being able to book. Perhaps the advantage of wfh - I timed my work to stop at 5 minutes to 12, enough time to watch the instruction video (!) and start booking when the site opened at 12!

 

I suspect that covid or no covid, virtual parents' evenings will be the future. It helps it all run to time etc so unless the technology is flakey, that will be how things are. Face to face meetings can be saved for when more time is needed - when there is an issue to solve. Or an Annual Review for an EHCP child. And that really is tomorrow...!

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, Mike Bellamy said:

next photographic report of you sailing away into the sunset

I wonder where sailing into the sunset on the Norfolk Broads would be?

[jamie92208]

14 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I wonder where sailing into the sunset on the Norfolk Broads would be?

Somewhere rather shallow probably.

 

Jamie

 

 

[polybear]

Bear's visit to Wickes was more successful than expected, as I discovered they do sell smaller quantities of mains flex than a full reel after all - yesterday's search of their website via the search function showed nothing; this meant a visit to B&Q was aborted as not necessary.

F/F wiring is now complete, and I've just had a call from the Granite Supplier to offer me an installation tomorrow morning - and I've also been informed that, due to the kitchen layout it won't be necessary to remove the wall units after all .  Whilst doing so is very quick and easy to do, it does mean that the cabinets then have to be refitted - with £££ of new Granite worktop directly beneath them

 

Bear also enquired about the pieces of granite off-cuts that are removed for the sink and hob - whilst there's no problem keeping them, it isn't quite as straightforward as first thought.  The pieces aren't completely removed at the factory - they remain in the worktops on small tabs (like a certain etched brass item) to give strength during transit; the tabs are cut on-site and the worktops then fitted.  That means the edges etc. won't be polished and there'll also be a hole(?) where the CNC cutter enters the raw granite to cut the holes.  Bvgger.  So if I keep the granite off-cut then I'll have to take it back to the factory for machining/polishing (or mount it in such a way that the edges are hidden).  Ponder mode engaged - I'll see what the bits are like tomorrow.

[Sidecar Racer]

8 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I remember news footage of a fire where lots of the propane tanks (the small ones for backyard grills) were stored. It was very dramatic.

 

This from Russia .

 

 

[Gwiwer]

51 minutes ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 

This from Russia .

 

 

Oopsie 

 

In other news a friend has his latest book about to reach the public. A signed review copy has been received here. It includes two of Dr. SWMBO’s photos and no fewer than nine of mine. 
 

https://www.unitedwriters.co.uk/store/a-wonder-in-the-garden

 

 

 

[TheQ]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Somewhere rather shallow probably.

 

Jamie

 

 

Certainly the 4 rivers that go to the west , The Chet, Bure, Yare and Waveney all run out of enough water . The odd one being the Bure as you  run into a weir at Coltishall, the canalised river allowed you to travel a further 11 miles to Aylsham.. 

However the set of lock gates to allow you to continue were washed away in a great flood in 1912..

Edited June 29, 2021 by TheQ

[iL Dottore]

Afternoon all!

I am Just finishing an enforced lunch break as Mrs iD is out with the doggies and I had to wait for the delivery of her new company computer as it required a signature upon delivery.  And now that it is here, I can get back to work as I really, really want to knock off early today.
 

Now that Mrs iD has her new company computer, I think it’s about time to look for a new one for myself. The problem is not so much with our computers (both laptops are only about three years old), but the hardware and computing demands of current software means that if you want to use current business software (such as any of the Microsoft products) you have to have a state of the art computer just to keep up with the software’s demands. Ironically, the fastest computer in the house is a 10 year old desktop that has had all the Microsoft software stripped off and Linux installed. Unfortunately, to use current business software on the Linux machine requires a level of ability with computers that I don’t really have (I am led to understand that you have to create a virtual Microsoft desktop in the Linux environment - but I could be wrong).

 

Of course, this latest acquisition is totally tax-deductible which means I will have less profits from my company for the tax man to get his grubby little mitts on. The sole criteria for making a company purchase a valid tax deductible item is that it has to have a genuine bona-fide business reason for purchasing. Sadly, my Treuhand - who manages my company’s dealings with the taxman - is firmly convinced that a company helicopter or business jet would not be considered by Kanton Baselland as a legitimate business expense for my company. 
 

Perhaps I could try and convince him to convince the tax authorities that the purchase of a Bentley is a legitimate business expense for the CEO of a company (it would, of course, have to be a Bentley, never a Rolls Royce. Bentleys are for Gentlemen, Rollers are for popstars, the nouveau riche and footballers). But I suspect this too wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny nowadays. I have come to the rather glum conclusion that any sort of company sponsored and purchased method of transportation will no longer be accepted by the taxman due to the rise of the virtual office and working from home. So even a simple 10 speed Raleigh bicycle would no longer be tax deductible. Chiz. Although I suspect an 85 inch diagonal wide screen LCD or LED television screen could be tax deductible if you claim that you need it for quality teleconferencing with many participants at once….

 

And to think that I thought that founding my own company, being the managing director, owner, CEO and chairman of the board would be the doorway into the fabulous and wealthy life of a top executive…. I suspect that to get to that level, my company would have to earn in a day (or less) what my company is foreseen to earn over the next 10 years. But being your own boss is certainly miles better than being a salaried employee in many regards.

 

 

Well my three Martini “executive lunch“ is over, the new computer is awaiting unboxing by Mrs ID when she returns from walking the doggies and I am now off to work…

 

Have a super day!

 

iD

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl,

Bin a bit busy finishing off this weeks system, that's now or will be 'cos it's on a time delay, before starting doing it's cross check..

 

Also I've found another variation of the handicap formula now called YTC, (Yacht time Correction), this is later than the others, so I've typed that in and copied it down the spreadsheet, it seems to produce more accurate results on those boats for which I have the real RYA Handicap. So hopefully is better for those without a known handicap.

 

There is another round of musical desk positions going on, the Doorway to the outer lab is to be moved, so those desks in the way have been shoved apart, while the technician grovels on on his knees re routing cables. That has to be done inside the lab too so may mean a big switch off..

Also at the moment HR is busy moving .. 3 desks into one office, Oh they have come down in the world..

 

Time I went to measure something.

 

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

, the fastest computer in the house is a 10 year old desktop that has had all the Microsoft software stripped off and Linux installed.

My 10 year old PC was probably the fastest computer in the house but it was getting slow to boot up despite loads of extra ram and a graphics card update. It has served me well though.  The replacement is just so fast in comparison. It seems quite substantial, unboxing was quite an effort. I had to slide the box up the stairs.

[Gwiwer]

8 hours ago, Andrew P said:

Someone's still having a big wee over our heads down here

They must have a long range - they have just started the same over the Hill of Strawberries  

 

If nothing else that gets me out of the "need to walk" after work which Dr. SWMBO has discussed - though it failed then to engage my enthusiasm and is definitely off the agenda now.  

[Ian Abel]

Chewsday

 

Nothing much to report from yesterday, same likely today.

 

At least it's cooler here with some rain finally, 18 first thing and had overnight rain, an inch or so, more rain forecast today and a high of 26 expected.

 

Stay safe everyone.

[tigerburnie]

Afternoon all, we had a 7 mile cycle ride and spotted a few farmland birds on our journey, first Corn Buntings of the summer, Yellowhammer and Skylarks all singing, took me right back to the 1950's in England when there still were farmland birds to be seen. There was a big clap of thunder before we went, but looking at the sky I could not make out where it came from, no rain here at the moment. Car due in the garage tomorrow, I think a front brake is sticking on occasionally and I cannot see why, suspect a new calliper may be required, no doubt more muddling tokens gone.

[The Stationmaster]

4 hours ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 

This from Russia .

 

 

Complete with a BLEVE - in fact a whole series of BLEVEs

[polybear]

4 hours ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 

This from Russia .

 

 

 

Three questions spring to mind:

1.  Did the driver make it out?

2.  Is the car next to the crash dead, or is the driver dumb beyond belief to leave it there?

3.  Is the Police Car driver also dumb?  He had second thoughts soon after, reversing out of there.

 

3 hours ago, TheQ said:

Also at the moment HR is busy moving .. 3 desks into one office, Oh they have come down in the world..

 

 

Oh dear, how sad, what a shame.....

Did Bear sound sincere?

 

In other news:

All together now.....Ahhhhh......

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-57651894

 

Bear spent the afternoon doing last minute kitchen refurb jobs that need doing before the arrival of the worktops tomorrow.  This included cutting a 35mm tap hole in three hundred quid's worth of new kitchen sink.  Made my botty twitch somewhat, that little number   Fortunately it was a lot easier than expected

[The Stationmaster]

Afternoon all,

 

Tesco has been shopped - or rather what was available on herself's list was shopped as a number of required items were not present on the shelves.  Meanwhile I duly walked round the car park - just over three quarters of a mile's worth of circuits being duly competed.   Interesting - in some respects - incident in the greenhouse yesterday evening as opening of the opening vent windows disintegrated for reason or from cause completely unknown bita bird strike was a possibility although normally they only fly into vertical windows in. our experience.  Anyway all duly cleared up and I think it must be the first time we've ended up having to usea vacuum cleaner in a greenhouse but it worked well for getting all the little pieces we couldn't easily get at with a broom.  Glazing firm man coming on Thursday to assess what's needed and then we'll get an estimate but i doubt we'll argue with it as beggars cannot really be choosers when it comes to an awkward job like this one.

 

I got the impression that Fire Brigade's attitudes to gas cylinders in fires changed very considerably in the late 1960s/early '70s - maybea result of lessons learnt?   There was major fre ina garage adjacent to the Relief Lines fence just east of taplow station in the early 1970s and at first all trains were stopped on all four lines.  After the fire had been put out the FN B agreed to the Mains being reopened at reduced speed but there were gas bottles in the remains of the building and they refused to allow the Reliefs to be reopened - they carried on spraying the gas bottles fora couple of days but eventually gave in as far as the Reliefs were concerned about 27 hours after the fire had been extinguished and the site damped down.  But again they insisted on the speed of trains being severely limited.

 

But FB attitudes seemed to vary - in the miid '70s down in the West country we had a Class A tank car with what at first sight seemed to be a leaking valve (a filling valve).   It was duly shunted out of the train and stood in a siding where the FB could reach it and they decided it was probably a bit of surplus product which hadn't passed through the filling valve so they drained it off into a bucket, which proved them correct.  They then had something in excess of a gallon of petrol to deal with so they adopted the simple approach - and dug a hole, tipped the stuff in, and then back filled the hole and departed the site.     In considerable contrast to them the Chief Fire Officer for their county had a very different approach to life.

 

Right bins to position ready for the dustmen t do their stuff tomorrow.  Have a good day one and all and stay safe

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. I'm more than a bit annoyed with the BBC. According to the printed TV program the news would start at 4 PM. Because of the TV going into scan mode I switched on ten minutes early. It didn't go into scan mode (fortunately) but instead of the tennis that was scheduled it was two thirds of the way through the news! Apparently someone in their wisdom decided to move the news forward to 3:30 so anyone switching on expecting to see the news at 4 as advertised would have missed it. Those of you who have been or are in the passenger transport industry, buses in particular know that running early is a cardinal sin but running late is acceptable with a just reason.

5 hours ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 

This from Russia .

 

 

I've seen this before, in the above clip they've cut about a third of it out. One question, where's the fire brigade?

11 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Three questions spring to mind:

1.  Did the driver make it out?

2.  Is the car next to the crash dead, or is the driver dumb beyond belief to leave it there?

3.  Is the Police Car driver also dumb?  He had second thoughts soon after, reversing out of there.

 

 

Oh dear, how sad, what a shame.....

Did Bear sound sincere?

1) Yes he did, he can be seen running towards the central barrier and ducking behind it at the start of the film.

2) Its front end was damaged making it immovable, the driver joined the gas truck driver behind the concrete barrier.

3) Dumber than dumb.

 

[leopardml2341]

Afternoon all.

 

For some reason I feel kn@ckered, maybe a little eyelid inspection.......

 

zzzzz!

 

Shhhhh!

Edited June 29, 2021 by leopardml2341

[Sidecar Racer]

22 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 

I've seen this before, in the above clip they've cut about a third of it out. One question, where's the fire brigade?

 

 

 I purposely put up the short version , there is an 8+ minute one available if any one wants to see more .

Edited June 29, 2021 by Sidecar Racer

[Andrew P]

2 minutes ago, leopardml2341 said:

Afternoon all.

 

For some reason I feel kn@ckered, maybe a little eyelid inspection.......

 

zzzzz!

 

Sunny!

Just had mine.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, The Lurker said:

The weather app on my phone still has a few of the places we visited a couple of years ago on it. Seaside is forecast to be 21 later today. It was mid to upper 20s yesterday. In contrast Seattle was showing very high 30s and 40 over the last few days.

Seaside got up to 38°C on Sunday - which was still cooler than Portland. Much cooler now as you say. The dangerous heat is broken, but it is still going to be much warmer than "normal".