SM42

Another shelf built and painted in the airing cupboard and more blood sacrificed to the god of work. Going well today so far. Just got to get dinner on now. Andy

On a positive note, despite the overnight rain, the lawn has dried enough to get a first cut on it this year It was starting to get out of hand, looking, more like a fallow meadow than a lawn. A lot of phone calls are now on the cards to sort a week's worth of stuff out. Andy

They, are whoever happens to be in government. The basic problem of how to fund a state and its machinery is not an easy one to solve to the satisfaction of all, but it's so hellishly complex nowadays that there is little chance of not paying something somehow, regardless of your means. Andy

They even tried to tax us for being over 18. As you may well remember it did not end well and some are, unbelievably, trying to bring that idea. Andy

An awful lot of cars, even thd ones they want us to drive are either in or rapidly heading towards that tax bracket. If only there was an alternative transport system that gave adequate and affordable coverage to 99% of the country. Andy

It is indeed. Like the VAT 9n fuel duty, air passenger tax, insurance tax, buying a house tax, selling a house tax, dying tax. If there's a large sum a percentage can be charged on, or a basic freedom or legal necessity, they'll find a way to tax it. Andt

It would have been easy to add duty to all road fuels and get rid of VED, if the electrical genie had mot already been released, by the use of separate meters for car charging, unlocked by the combination of vehicle and meter being linked ( a sort of Bluetooth type arrangement) The only way now would be a separate system for the cars that predate the technology It does seem odd that one road fuel is exempt from duty as well as the vehicle that used it. Andy

Nope, Not even one of those. Andy

You know when you give up on the last 10 minutes and go to get ready for work Suddenly you miss 14 points Who'd have thought Andy

Nope. Not a one No, but she does have lots of opinions Andy

Only one Pole at SM42 Towers Andy

They do use some wierd stuff for cakes in that part of the world. A Polish friend makes very good cakes and has used ( but not always in the same cake) spinach, beetroot and parsnip in some of her creations. Very tasty they all were too. Still can't get myself to like carrot cake though. Andy

Sorry poor use of words on my part I should have said nursing home, a place where additional care and mobility needs are catered for that are beyond the capability of the individual or their family. A bit like a convalescent home, but on a more permanent and expensive basis. My mum was a resident of a couple when her dementia became unmanageable for us, to the point that she was endangering herself. She moved to the second when her mobility started to decline. No matter how much they charged, or how modern and purpose built they were, ( the second was a brand new purpose built home) the TV in the common areas did a lot of the work. On some visits it seemed like the staff were herding cats and there were many crazy and hilarious moments, but at the same time tinged with sadness and the guilt that you had, somehow, failed. Andy

Who puts a door on a cave? Andy

One more from last August A plinted Ty2 at Kedzierzyn Kozle ( you need special teeth to say that) Nearby was the railway goat Andy

I've just put the wheelie bin out. I'm not suggesting that it is getting old, but the tyres aren't road legal anymore. Andy

Ah KFC. Bones in breadcrumbs. Only once, never again. Glad we had a half price voucher. Andy

Last summer we found ourselves near Katowice for a friend's birthday celebrations. Being at a loose end on the Saturday afternoon a quick look at the rail atlas revealed a narrow gauge railway seemingly not far away in Rudy. A quick call revealed we were just half an hour away and despite it being 3 o'clock we still had time to catch a train. A quick look round the yard found a rather well turned out Los49 3343 being worked on Meanwhile this unidentified loco looked to be in need of some TLC There were numerous other unidentifiable diesel locos languishing about the yard too. Our motive power for the afternoon was Ws180 36 Andy

Convalescent centres are unfortunately a thing of the past. They just cost too much in today's profit driven rather than cover cost society. Nog so long ago we lost our last NHS run home. My mum was a resident for a while during the transition from hospital bed to home. A fine idea to alleviate the pressure on hospitals, give people a chance to recover whilst still having some professional help on hand. Life used to be so much nicer when companies found ways of getting the wages back at the social club, the sports ground or in a fund for any possibly future health needs. As for people watching TV in old folks homes, what else is there to do that doesn't cost a fortune to provide? The occasional activity happens, but nurse TV does a lot of day to day heavy lifting. Andy

Cake ambushes can cause all sorts of trouble. Andy

It was similar but one wall did change from yellow to green. Andy

Mrs SM42 didn't notice the kitchen had changed colour when she returned from a short trip to the motherland. After a couple of days I asked if she'd noticed anything. Eventually the penny dropped. Andy

It's fait accompli by then. Andy

10th August last year sas a quick visit to Chojnice. Amongst all the stored EN57s was this rather forlorn and unidentified loco Andy

So all I had to do was stop Mrs SM42 having her eyes done and I could have saved many Deltics on both the eyes and the paint. Now you tell me. 😠 Anyhow, home from work, fed myself and I have the evening and house to myself as Mrs SM42 is taking in a show with the girls from work. I wonder if there is time to build a layout through the lounge and dining room. 🤔 Andy