The Lurker

The BMA is as far as I can tell the Doctors’ union. It is therefore primarily concerned with looking after its members- ie doctors. Anything that might diminish its members’ livelihoods will be opposed, at least until it is proved to be not a threat. They were I believe opposed to the creation of the NHS for that very reason. They are now very against any changes to the NHS that might reduce their members’ livelihoods. When viewed through that prism, their views are perhaps not very surprising- if as ID indicates, subject to revision.

You have obviously paid attention then and the courses did their job!

When I was in infants I asked the teacher how to spell “thisafternoon ”. i was most put out that I had “this” in my spelling book. I knew how to spell “this”, I’d never clocked they were two words when my Mum said it!

I came across it when Mrs Lurker was providing support in year 5 class (ages 9 & 10) a few years back when teaching grammar to the nth degree was introduced- she bought herself a book to be ahead of the game. The kids spend so long getting the required grammatical items in their sentences they forget that they need to flow and gave context with whatever they are supposed to be writing about.

but by the sound of it, not scoffing a Dr Oetker's Pizza isn't, either 🙂

Isn't that what you're trying to achieve now, only quicker?

The other day we had rather a sad piece of post - it was the latest telephone directory. It was a thin and weedy thing, something which no self esteeming strongman would break sweat tearing in two. I noted on the front that "we've been delivering them to you since 1880" and that 2024 was the last one ever. I hadn't realised the phone book had been going so long but the science museum seems to confirm. And I suppose BT can claim to be the successor of the GPO. So a historical last? No souvenirs in the Lurker household though - Mrs Lurker quickly pointed out it could go straight in the recycling bin!

Welcome back, Bear. Long may the dark canines stay in their kennel. all that exercise sounds good for that purpose as well as losing weight. but how did you end up with a 3 inch height difference? Was it the relentless pull of the earth on your delicate frame? Or a misread of the tape measure? me I am 6’2 when I am checking the BMI but the medical tells me otherwise. Trouble is I still am not light enough to be “normal “ weight. I would need to be 12 stone 8 lbs. And I am not!

Not these days, the Peak district Wallabies are likely to have died out https://kent.wildwoodtrust.org/explore/list-of-animals/red-necked-wallaby/#:~:text=The total population of Red,to no sightings since 2000. but over 1700 driving NHN hopping mad.... EDIT - I was posting in response to the Q which I think is obvious....

There are penguins near Simonstown in South Africa. They rope parts of the beach off but you can walk right past them. Or you could in 1997 anyway!

I have always assumed that the undulations in the fields in that area (and seen from the Northampton loop, which I spent a few years commuting on daily) are the ghosts of ridge and furrow systems. But I don't know. Now I have seen these photos it's reminded that there is some research to do.....!

I too have been a voracious reader of SF and Fantasy. My leanings in the SF world tended towards the space opera side of things but I did enjoy Asimov, Heinlein, Arthur C Clarke books as well as the likes of James Blish, JG Ballard. Later SF writers included Ben Bova, Greg Bear, Alistair Reynolds, Neil Asher, CJ Cherryh and so on. Basically, between the ages of 8 and 18 I was getting the maximum 4 books a week from Paddock Wood library. When I got to be around 16, I got a library membership in Tonbridge too, and so was able to get books from a wider range (in addition to the Paddock Wood ones). It's a wonder I got any school work done = but then there was not a lot of telly, and the choice of what telly there was belonged strictly to my parents; if they did not want to watch, the telly went off. And by the time I was mid-teens, the thought of watching another excruciating sitcom was too much for me anyway. We're talking Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em, Dad's Army, Last of the Summer wine, Are you being served? To my mind all shows that well outstayed their welcome; the original good ideas ran out and the show started to revolve around a silly stunt or contraption. (not sure about the first of these - not sure I ever liked that show).

The reason that the Schools were given a round topped boiler was the restricted nature of the Hastings line for which they were designed- the original plan I believe was to use a shortened Lord Nelson boiler. and of course we could speculate what an LMSified Lord Nelson would’ve looked like but we all know where that would take us….😉

My school was kind enough to allow me to drop both art and woodwork. And music. it was long before league tables but allowing me to do this would only gave been beneficial… you were supposed to do only one of art and woodwork (or neither) but they did rejig the whole timetable to allow one not to do both. That must have been quite a feat in those pre-computer days. Well I assume Mr Stone didn’t use a computer…

I think the Cranbrook and Paddock Wood was his first line - he was 22 - and I think the Eltham Valley line opened earlier than the Hawkhurst branch

Now that is something I knew nothing of - vikings on the Isles of Scilly or Athelstan's assault. I don't recall Michael Wood mentioning it on the telly all those years ago - or in his book (I was given the recently revised and updated version last year). And nor do I recall that detail from my degree, where I did choose to do quite a bit about the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings. Time for some research when I get a moment away from work. which I suppose i had better return to.

Given that God is infinite, and that the universe is also infinite... would you like a toasted teacake?

I can recommend the book "Nathaniel's Nutmeg" for a run down of this little piece of history... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nathaniels-Nutmeg-Courage-Changed-History/dp/0340696761

Site of the old Blackfriars station between Waterloo Junction (now East of course) and London Bridge - it is now used as sandwich shop

Too Many Colours - Red Lorry Yellow Lorry is currently playing Spotify Mondlicht by X Mal Deutschland is cued up next. The list must think I am in an 80’s goth mood whereas what I really need to do is go to bed!!

Red Right Hand - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

And there we must agree to disagree- any form of custard, or indeed cream, will ruin treacle pudding or apple crumble IMO. Or any other pudding. that’s not just a school dinner thing either- my Mum is a great cook but I never wanted her custard either. Neither did she, most of the time! My old man on the other hand is happy to have a little pudding with his custard and equally happy to have the cold custard with his cornflakes the next morning if he can get away with it.

Hope that Stewart makes a good recovery from his stroke.

The school TonyS taught at must have been progressive to provide an element of choice! My primary school didn’t, and I started in the period when Tony must have been teacher training! It was very much “ you will eat it all” and we had tricks like grinding the semolina into the bowl so that it stuck on and so less had to be forced down. The milk too was horrible and my memory of people being sick was that it always smelled like banana custard, custard being another dish I have never been able to abide, along with milk, rice pudding, semolina and liver. Spam fritters by contrast were something I was happy to eat. i was glad to be able to take a packed lunch for the last year or two of juniors. secondary school did provide a choice of two dishes but if you were one of the late sitting s the choice had often gone!

I suspect the press will not allow a veil to be drawn over it even if he is found to have done nothing- and it might be better for all concerned other than his accuser if a more detailed account does come out. There are a number of examples in football where the court of public opinion does not honour innocent until proven guilty.