Debs.

 

There's culture in Basildon?? 

 

I regularly pass a road sign on the A500 at Stoke, that proudly proclaims the route to its 'cultural quarter'......no offense to the town, but the thought of it makes me chuckle!

I don't go to the ballet and Aditi doesn't go to model railway exhibitions.

I enjoy both and at least when attending the latter, there are no few, enormous backpacks to dodge!

......which ballet is it, Tony?

I got home before SWMBO, and heard her arrive to much squealing of steering pump belt.

..........

There's a pair for big brown eyes looking at me, that suggests it's time for the morning stroll around the garden.

I expect she`s hoping a companionable stroll `round the curtilage; might encourage you to sort out her steering pump belt........can Ben come on the walk too?

Yes, and square - or at least rectangular.  Expanding the square tubes in must have been a hell of a job though. 

.......Aah! that explains things, its high-pressure boiler; clearly built to withstand many hundreds of pounds per 'square' inch.

.....S & m for dinner tonight but not sure if it will be smog or smegg. 

I`m still amused thinking about Mike`s 'S & M' dinner........the mind boggles!!!

Perhaps if it were to taste disgusting; diners so disposed, might be thrilled!

It's a Bulleid Q1, Debs.  IIRC the most powerful 0-6-0 to run in the UK.  Wartime austerity is the reason for the, er, austere #ahem# appearance.  Stanier was alleged to have asked where the key went, much to Bulleid's chagrin.

 

They have a certain charm.  To me anyway.....always like the oddities, a family trait.

Thank you.......

......Googling.

 

P1130886s.jpg

That is clearly a red-card offence, but it may be commuted to a yellow; if you were to explain me which type of loco. it is.

Been doing this.  Took the risk on posting.

 

D'oh, forgot the photo.

 

P1130886s.jpg

Is that boiler telescopic?

Debs's obstacle course can be likened to folk operating like sandpaper.

When it's over, Debs will still be smooth but they will be even more useless.

Resultant of not being able to avail myself of the well regarded "Tell us once" service, I`ve had to make individual calls to the {many} bodies, agencies, incorporations and organisations, individually advising them of John`s death and often with a concomitant change in the arrangements going forward. Several have been very helpful, sensitive and responsive; others have been a polar opposite; one utility company agent just kept repeating whilst becoming increasingly stentorian: "we have to speak to the account holder......we can only speak with the named account holder".......after 10 minutes of that intransigence; I crumbled into tears; and cried out: "You can`t; he`s dead.....he`s left me alone and I`m lost!"

The DWP staff are clearly trying to help me, but at the moment; I.T systems, permissions and protocols are in the way.

Or UK Fail. 

.....or it`s subordinate: Partial Farce.

 

Here is that knitting pattern you wanted - at a reasonable price....

 

Also available here

Well, that really gets my goat!

I don't know how long our water softener takes to replenish. We are asleep when it happens! The time depends on how much water had been softened, there are microprocessors involved!

"Tough on lime; tough on the causes of lime"

On a more sobering note, it is quite easy to kill a person with a knitting needle, so it would be very handy to have a pair to whilst away your time whilst in your FAP as they would be dual purpose.

 The instruction to "knit one; drop one", might then take on a whole new significance!

 

There you go....

 Crikey!.......how much!?!?!

I may have a licence to kill; but I`m not 'maid' of money! .......I`d rather break out my knitting needles; between nocturnal missions.

I would have thought some sort of balaclava would be more appropriate.....

..,,,,,a woollen one?  

Sorry to hear about the problems your having, Debs - the system here in Edinburgh is good inasmuch as the Registrar also informs all other state departments about the death, so pensions, passport, driving licence and so on are all cancelled. But when I registered my father's death in Croydon two years ago they didn't use that system which just adds a lot of minor irritations.

Indeed, the "Tell us once" service was offered to me and I tried to use it; but that`s where I ran into problems with my {evident} "non-existence".

Today`s meeting with a senior DWP officer, parachuted into the local office to try and sort things out, was inconclusive.

I remain 'unknown' for the time being, whilst a higher authority is being consulted........the officer today seemed to be subtly trying to ascertain if I bear an inherited or professional title {yes!}, and/or had worked with the security services, or armed forces; either here, or overseas {no!}.

So for the moment, I can only assume they think I`m a retired professional assassin, living with some kind of concealed identity; in my case, that`d probably be under the "Witless Protection Programme"  

So, at least for for now; I`m Ninja-Deb.......but you haven`t seen me; right?

Yet another brush with officialdom today; the endless round of advising various 'bodies' of John`s death, continues with an appointment at a local Job Centre......and no, I`m not entering the job market!

Evidently, I`m entitled to a bereavement allowance, but according to the DWP whom are trying to process my application; I "don`t exist!"......so today`s challenge will be to {officially} prove it!

It likely seems a case of "computer says no".......but interestingly; my providing them with a N.I number, a passport, a marriage certificate and a birth certificate; aren`t considered sufficient official proof of identity.

Existentially yours,

Debs.

I didn't realise you'd visited the Hippodrome!

......situate, as it is; on the hippo-campus.

Work issues have flared up here again. Sadly it appears that I have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. I am getting the distinct impression that the rumours about the new place were true. It seems this place is badly run, by a person with little organisational and zero people skills.

 Oh, Andy!

.......unfortunate {and in this instance; very unfunny} parallels with Mr. Stimpson of Thomas Tampion Comp., come to mind.

Am considering Jean-Michel Jarre albums as suitable for playing in the CX.

Surely, Jacques Tati would be more 'vous'!

https://youtu.be/SzYcVGP_ris

.......Hair cut achieved (£8.50 in Headingley)

A head in glee!

Why do hairdressers give a discount to people of pensionable age?

I think it comes from the days of perishing pensioners; with 'needs', fingerless gloves, one-bar electric fires and meals on wheels......

......not the 'final salaried' equity releasers, whom are actively dodging their dotages and are busy spending their kid`s inheritances on railway models.

Nice to see Debs here. Hope you're recovering.

Yes thanks; I`m doing what I`ve been told by the medics last night; resting!......but they didn`t actually specify the log fire and the hot chocolate.

Difficult day coming tomorrow, as my dear Passepartout, embarks on his final journey........

........and taking much of 'me', with him.