SM42

Sign of the times. Radio stations and music TV have been editing some words out of songs for ages, but some odd ones still get through that are far more parental advisory than those removed. I'm waiting for the mild expletive to be removed from Cool for Cats Recently a song was played on one station with the word funky taken out. That could ruin a lot of songs as well as those they have already ruined. Legs is probably the oddest word I've heard removed. Seems we are not allowed to decide for ourselves now that anonymous, on line indignation is so popular. It's so refreshing here in the motherland to have unadulterated songs on the radio. Definitely parental guidance required in some cases. Andy

The real success here is that 18 months of planning and quite a few pounds were saved by sorting this out. It is this sort of problem solving that often goes un noticed but keeps the job going. From cascading locos, buying some tools at a nearby garage to fix a tamper to this sort of solution. It all helps keep the job going. It's all too easy to throw in the towel and waste thousands of hours and pounds in the process Well done Jim Andy

Shrewsbury Andy

Interesting about the healing ability of us humans. One thing I find quite remarkable is that there seems to be a hierarchy of healing. Important bits like the mouth seem to heal quite quickly, ( eating us important after all ) which given the damp environment is quite something. Less critical skin seems to take longer. I am however at a loss as to why some bits don't regrow like skin, which would be useful and how in certain circumstances, ( head injury for instance) the body's healing response can have fatal consequences. Still I suppose we all gotta go sometime due to something. Self destruct is just not one you would expect Andy

She's a generalist Mop and bucket, sponge, wet cloth, in fact anything damp. 😁 Andy

Good morning from a very sunny Poznan I've already got the washing out and temperature expected to hit 14c today. What a perfect day for a haircut. What to do with the rest of the day though? Mrs SM42 went off to have her hair done 2 hours ago. Not expecting to see her this side of 3pm. There is talk of housework later, which in my case means dusting and hoovering. Mrs SM42 does all the wet work. Andy

Saturday's predicted temperature is rising. Now 22c Sunday 21c Monday 20c Those winter tyres seem a bit redundant now. Andy Who's thinking of taking the pinking shears to his trousers.

First was Kidderminster around 1980. First with anything over 25 layouts was the first Warley NEC show. Mrs SM42's first ( both first and largest) would be Ally Pally 2006. It was our first date Knew she was a keeper after that. Andy

Just seen the weather forecast. Overnight tonight it is -1c Saturday day time is predicted to be 21c Shorts were not on my list of things to pack. Andy

I've just been reminded that yesterday marked the 80th anniversary of the great escape. Poznan's commonwealth war cemetery in Citadela Park holds the bodies of those who were murdered following this audacious escape plan. Probably the most well known of those escapees rests there. I must try to visit this week to pay my respects Events to mark the anniversary were held in Warsaw yesterday. Andy

Mrs SM42 has just entered the room, having come from the kitchen and announced: " I've just dismantled the diswasher" A brief cold shiver went through me before I realised she meant she had emptied it. Oh the joys of second languages. Andy

They come from the shops in clear plastic pots. Mrs SM42 waters sparingly and keeps them on window cills for the light and they are rotated for a spell in the bathroom after flowering and during. She has kept them coming into flower for several years now. This is more by luck than any sort of knowledge. They are all in original pots and just watered occasionally Andy

According to my Ian Allen ABC equivalent they are Russian built between 1974 and 1984 by BMZ in Bryansk or LTZ in Luhansk and on further research, are indeed based on the Alco RSD 1 sent to Russia Andy

While I was out, Mrs SM42 went into town, did some shopping and changed some money. As Euro change is useful for using service station facilities en route, she also got €12 in loose change, mainly 20c and 50c coins This will go with the €45 of 10c coins (🤔) she got in December. On the way here we filled at least one coffee machine with small change to the point it gave up. Pressing the return button gave us equivalent coins of higher denominations, so we went to another machine. 😁 Andy

Today's free time was spent a Gadki, where apart from some EN57s there was not much action. The sun came out to warm up SM42 but having espied the large dark clouds I decided that heading back was in order. I stopped off in Paledzie in the middle of a hail storm where the regular TEM2 was patiently waiting for its train to be unloaded. After it had stopped hailing I ventured out of the car just in time for an EU160 hauled train to pass. For some reason it was routed via the far platform so was running quite slowly. It was quite a busy time and in the 30 minutes I was there saw 5 trains. I was then summoned to the in laws for coffee and cake, who was I to refuse? In the time it took to exit the car park another 2 trains passed. Not the best day for watching trains go by, but entertaining enough. No freights though unfortunately. Andy

I didn't lose the filling. It was the tooth round it. No idea how or when Andy

We have lots of leftover cake from yesterday. The nephew's was a Manchester City ( I know, I know) themed iced triple layer Victoria sponge. Mrs SM42's ( 3 weeks early) was a black forest gateaux type and then there was home made LDC. This was all washed down with burnt sugar flavoured vodka. Cold and wet I can manage for a while knowing there is cake to warm me up. Andy

I thought that was a different establishment. Andy

Ow! Back from the dentist with a new filling where a piece of tooth broke off 2 weeks ago. I didn't notice till a bit of food got stuck there. Waiting for the anesthetic to wear off and may have to pop back later if the filling is too high. So far so good though It's a damp, chilly day today so this afternoon I'll probably stay local and have a bit of time out at Gadki to see what turns up and likely call in at Paledzie on the way back if I'm not too cold and wet by then. Andy

Off to the dentist soon, but I have a pass out for this afternoon, as long as I don't this morning and feel up to it. Andy

That would destroy the rental sector and the housing supply wouldn't change. The small reduction in prices would give sone temporary relief to those close to affording and mortgage, but also depress the incentive to build new. Out of use homes would stay so, as no-one could afford to buy and restore or be allowed to own. The building supply industry would also be hit by the lower demand for new build. The big problems in the housing market are: 1. The government subsidising house buying. This pushes up prices as it maintains a demand artificially. 2. Consistently rising prices disincentives developers to build. Waiting for a better return is more profitable, so the pace of building slows down again reducing available supply. See number 1 Stopping number 1 would be unpopular both with the public and the politicians. Stopping number 2 is easier. Planning permission to expire after say 12 months on developments of more than 5 dwellings ( 2 years for smaller projects) unless at least a certain percentage are completed and on sale in that time, for instance, would keep the larger developers moving, while allowing the smaller projects more time. Taxing unused land savagely that has not met the above might get things moving or get it passed on to those who may ( tax rate timer reverts on sale. Stop up the same company, different division loophole) Increased tax rates on second homes can work, but will be but a minor blip to the very rich, move the just abouts and reasonably comfortable out, making little difference to supply overall ( maybe locally but a desirable location will still maintain high prices) but may increase the central tax take To get round the locatio location location, mantra you could set a maximum price per square metre, but past attempts at price control haven't gone well. The fact is that ownership as seen all there is. The rental sector has a vital role to play too. More social housing and restricting right to buy would help as that would maintain the rental sector supply for those who can't get credit. There are many structural issues in both the housing market and the economy as a whole that cause the problems we have. Controlling the housing market would be a start but not the whole solution. Solving the other issues for many a political party would be a step too far and I daresay the for the voting public too. Andy

Is it the white one? Andy

Unfortunately it doesn't work like that. If only it did. ANPR only compares visible registrations with the MIB database, tax records and any flags that have been put on the registration. If it picks up the number it will flag either to the control room or to the patrol car it is fitted to. Unfortunately there are not enough of the latter, so many offences go undetected. Obscured number plates rely on the mk1eyeball for detection. Andy

ANPR won't as there is no visible number to recognise. No registration info means no one to chase via the DVLA database. Personally I think you should be allowed to push. Andy

Collect and pay in person, but that has risks too, especially if a large sum is involved. Andy