SM42

Tomorrow morning's jobs have been allocated. 1 ton of sand, two bags of cement and 100 slabs to be ordered for the restoration of the patio that was wrecked during the construction of thd East wing. Then it's back to that old favourite. Prep for more painting. Yay. The west wing has a deadline now. Got to get a move on. Oh and I've got three shelves to put up, one to build and install in the airing cupboard and paint said cupboard. And in bed by lunch to prep for another run of night shifts. Never a dull moment at SM42 Towers. Andy

As a colleague of mine would say Ooooooooooooooooh. Andy

I'm looking forward to 1985 in that case. Andy

The problem with the ULEZ expansion is that some doubtful data has been used to justify it, such as boroughs now to be included having higher death rates than Central boroughs, ignoring the fact that they have generally older populations and thus will see more deaths amongst an older population. The lower death rates of the generally younger generation in the current zone, being put forward as proof of its effectiveness. Of course the most polluted part of London is the all electric Underground. This shows the pollution problem is far more complex than method of propulsion. Tackling the biggest pollution source ( central heating) is not politically palatable. Road traffic is an easier target. I wonder if we can get a free pass on a rainy day when the pollutants are washed out of the air It was also interesting to see that Birmingham's most polluted areas are within its low emission zone. The worst bit of such schemes on a personal level is that my car is not compliant. Mrs SM42's is but has higher emissions. Andy

Also see the 70 miles per hour, 60 miles per hour and 50 miles per hour (Temporary Speed Limit) Order 1977 as amended by The 70 miles per hour, 60 miles per hour and 50 miles per hour (Temporary Speed Limit) (Continuation) Order 1978 Andy

During our marriage there have been 4 priests at the Polish church. The incumbent when Mrs SM42 moved up was Father Jan. A rather serious type. The sort of hellfire and brimstone type. Next came Father Edward An older fellow who was quite serious but had flashes of humour and enjoyed an occasional joke. By coinidence he is now residing in Poznan. He was followed by Father Marek. A younger fellow who enjoyed life and was not against a bit of fun. Often seen shakin his thang on the dance floor to some Disco Polo. Sing alongs on the bus were always hymns though. Now we have Father Pawel. A jolly, rotund and loud fellow who just enjoys what he does and enjoys mixing with his parishioners after the services. Often organises things like BBQs on Sunday afternoons and has a youthful and mischievous glint in his eye. Really seems to enjoy giving his sermons. He has brought the church into the 21st century with technology, the like of which has never been seen before. Well not round here. Gone are hymn books, now it's all computerised Andy

You weren't bitten by something whilst there were you? Andy

The adjacent school ( which it fed into) will be providing some nursery places for the 3 - 4s but nothing for under 3s The organisation that ran the nursery has been making a loss and it's no longer sustainable. Closure has been on the cards for the last couple of years or so. There was talk of the school taking over the business but nothing came of it on the end. The school has had their hand forced and are looking to do something now, but they don't want to take on the existing business. Mrs SM42 is quite relaxed about impending redundancy. Andy

Answer to no 1. Free child care that doesn't cover the cost of providing it which didn't help the unsustainable losses Answer to 2 A question the inspector asked too, but as it was due he was told it had to be done. On the bright side, it will look good on the CV. That had to resist the urge to tell them it was inconvenient 😁 In chip news There were none The chippie was closed 🥺 On Friday ! Had to make do with some crisps and alcohol free beer ( work tomorrow) Andy

I've still got a few from mum's stuff Do they still take them? Andy

The possibility of chips is a direct result of Mrs SM42 being on a high after being Ofsteded on Tuesday. They got an outstanding. Shame that in just over 4 months they will be closing permanently. Andy

Not sure. The Polish Catholic Mission maybe? We currently have a very jovial priest. Probably the most jolly yet. Andy

They do a nifty line in BBQs. All times of the year. Pickled gherkins were available. Andy

Mrs SM42 has just breezed in from work and quickly breezed out again to church. There may be chips later. 😃 Andy

Don't you just hate it when tourists toodle slowly along looking at the scenery, holding up the traffic? Andy

My back is playing up again, but thankfully sciatica is not something I'm blessed with this time. I can walk about 1/4 mile before I sieze up and need to let the muscles relax for 5 minutes. Last week I was fine. I did visit a clinic in Poland last time I was there. That stopped the aching and muscle problems, but produced a pain lower down, which I suspect is where the problem really is. That has gone and the siezing muscles have come back. Meanwhile I sit here gently perspiring. The reason, it appears, is Mrs SM42 turned the heating up this morning and then went out to work. It has been suitably adjusted and the spring sunshine is keeping the Towers warm Andy

Print yourself version Whether that be on card or 3D in plastic or resin I'm not sure. Andy

The door opens outwards. Rather handily the fridge is next to it, so I can stock up on snacks without having to go far. Even end to end plans go down the right hand wall when I visualise them. I have warned Mrs SM42 that she might find the much larger East wing in use shen she gets home one day. Andy

See now I'm right handed and always instinctively put the scenic bit to the right in the scenario described. The size of the room or where the scenery ends, how the door opens etc are econdary considerations when starting with a blank canvas . I always opt to enter the room in the scenario described with scenery to the right In the case of the West wing, this is probably the most awkward side, but for some reason I can't visualise it other way round. Perhaps I should enter via the window. I was intrigued if others had similar bias when starting with a blank sheet of paper and what might be behind it. The room incidentally is 13 and a bit by 7 Not the biggest but more than j had before. Andy

Apropos the future of the West wing I have been visualising layouts that might be built therein and was struck by a thought about how we naturally see a layout within a room Thus as a thought experiment could I ask you to consider the following situation. 1. You have a rectangular room with a doorway in the centre of one of the short sides. Window in the opposite side. 2. When drawn, the plan of the room has the doorway at the bottom, window at the top 3. You intend to build a traditional roundy roundy style layout in this space with scenery down one long side and fiddle yard down the other. The layout location is fictitious Now the questions. 1. Without any thought to practicalities or other considerations , if you were stood in the doorway, instinctively which side of the room would the scenic side be on? 2 . Are you left or right handed? The reason I ask is that every possible plan I have in my head comes out the same way round when I visualise it in the room. Given the realities of the space this may not be the most practical way round I am wondering if my handedness is affecting my thinking and if others experience the same. Andy

Not sure about the cake part. She rules with a rod iron does Mrs SM42. Known to put her foot down with a firm hand when it comes to treats. This is why I like the motherland. Her dad has different ideas on the finer things in life and she is outranked. Andy

Lots of jobs day tomorrow. First up take Mrs SM42 to work so I can use her car all day. The West wing needs clearing so I can finish off the painting. A tip run is required and various holes in walls need filling where the now redundant heating controls were. Bricks need sorting into handy piles for my man who does to carry on with the wall in the garden ( weather permtting) and there are numerous other small acts of bureaucracy required. Then at 3.30 I have to pick up Mrs SM42 from work and go shopping for cake ( yeah right) and other privions If I get 50% done, I'll be happy Andy

Doh! Dont worry I have no personal recollection of any such comnment being made. Andy

You could of course follow the lead and just pack everything Andy

Any one out there managed to dismantle one of Bachmann's VGAs? I picked up some up at a good price recently in EWS livery and am looking to backdate them. I would like to seperate the body from the underframe for painting rather than mask up around the buffers etc So far it has defeated me. Thanks in advance Andy