The White Rabbit

Unfortunately, in some circumstances, there isn't a choice: https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving

Sorry to hear the first bit of that. It's sometimes difficult to know whether to rest a poorly body part or keep moving and hope the exercise will do it good. It feels like I should keep a special coin for making such crucial decisions (😞). On dogs - yep, seen quite a few like that! "You threw, it, you fetch it... ". I'll just stay here and eye up the local talent. That lady in the blue coat, if I give her the spaniel eyes treatment, will she give me a biscuit or will I have to settle for a tummy rub?

Meet Delia... she has similar ideas about eggs and how to cook them. Maybe I'm joining the Grumpy Old Men's Club but these days, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on complicated, 'sophisticated' dishes and very little focus on doing the basics well. Walk before you can run and all that? 'Omlets'* is one of my 'signature' dishes but it took me some time before I could say I felt I'd cracked it (sorry!) and could count on getting a good result all the time. I find an egg to be a miracle of evolution, both simple and sophisticated. You can do so much with them... * Courtesy 'Mr Polly, HG Wells.

On the subject of writing: https://web.mit.edu/manoli/mood/www/calvin-full.html - the second and third strips in particular BTB, I have several large strong cardboard boxes going spare ... though no goggles or tiger.

Some time ago, I used to work with someone who went to school downwind of Seabrooks crisps factory (in Allerton, Bradford) and he said they could tell which flavour was being batch produced on any given day. Apparently crisp aficionados are somewhat divided* about the merits of Seabrooks much more than other brands. The most common complaint being they are too highly flavoured. Personally I much prefer them to Walkers, though given a free choice, I'd sooner have other, more specialist/cottage industry brands on my plate. The boss used to (and for all I know still does) live on a big house above the village. He upset a lot of neighbours when he moved in and wanted to do the place up, there were planning issues and he cut an access road up which antagonised a lot of folk in the little hamlet en route. It used to be on the route of a walk I used to do, we'd walk past the end of his garden. Excepting when he had the builders in, most of the time it all seemed very quiet, not a mouse stirring. If I'd spent £2 million or so on a property I'd want to enjoy it... * as in total civil war, of the sort to make the OO-EM-S4 competitiveness/allegiance look like a casual thought, expressed without consideration or concern... especially for forum moderators!

At the risk of invoking politics, I believe Charles Kennedy MP had a long commute and regularly used the Inverness sleeper. I do hope not - it wouldn't be very polite. If readers aren't interested in particular posts, there's nothing forcing them to read those posts. Certain topics in ERs don't interest me - but I skim the posts and pass on. I think ERs has a very diverse range of interests and it's inevitable not all will have a universal appeal. If you described watching paint dry or grass grow (and taking several paragraphs over it rather than a sentence or two) then I think something might be said. But until then... BTB, best wishes for the next few weeks and the operation - fingers crossed for you. Evening awl - well, we've not been blown away, though we seem to have lost the lid of our recycling bin. A quick look to leeward down the street was had but no sign of it. No sign of any other damage or missing bits. Not much sleep last night, so will have an early night shortly. The chocolate cake yesterday turned out well, though I was a little disappointed not to see Bear. Hopefully he'll be up to his old tricks again soon. One comic and one book delivered today, so some reading was done earlier. The evenings are drawing out a bit now but I'm very conscious of it still being winter. We have some clumps of snowdrops out now and - amazingly - I saw two clumps of daffodils on a walk over the weekend. No camera unfortunately but I definitely did not dream it! The earliest I've ever seen them.

Afternoon awl, Our young protege in the sound effects department is getting a little over excited... too much wind and as for the rain effects, well, I think he read Richmal Crompton's story about William 'helping' his local amdram society and took it too much to heart. To paraphrase Oscar, to tip one bucket into your leading lady's face may be regarded as unfortunate, to tip two - well, best not to say really... One parcel delivered yesterday, 'twas one I'd been waiting for for quite a few years. It was rather earlier than the RM automated email said it would be, I was, if not in the Land of Nod, then at least at the border post. Postie left it outside hidden behind a bush but all recovered OK. The contents were of an item the awl would disapprove of, so I'll just say I was very 'appy with it and full marks to our Cornish merchants. I hope to see Bear later, as I have a chocolate cake in the oven. Not to mention a pizza ready to go in while that's cooling... Must dash - I have to extract said cake/insert pizza/furl reefed topsails and hoist trysails/repel boarders* - delete as appropriate...

As already indicated, the honest answer is, 'it depends'. I'll not repeat others' comments but would suggest a well-organised and presented collection may be worth more than the sum of its parts. These sites may be of use: https://www.allcoinvalues.com/united-kingdom/uk-coin-values---1801-to-1967.html https://www.warwickandwarwick.com/news/guides/how-much-are-my-coins-worth I had a collection (unorganised) from one of the estates I had to deal with in the last few years. IIRC, three coins were worth dealing with collectors/dealers and the rest (maybe c200?) got £15 - I sold a bundle to some bloke in the next village who wanted some cheap 'pirate treasure' for his children to accompany the moneybox I also sold him and most of the rest went to a WW2 re-enactment group as 'props'.

Fixed that for you... That reminds me of a cartoon I want to post. Once the IT problems are sorted and if Life gets a bit easier, I have some scanning to do (the old one has gone pop and I'm unsure if it can be revived, there's a procedure I want to try before binning it but I am not optimistic). Does anyone else have the book 'How to live with a Pampered Pet'? https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Live-Pampered-Eric-Gurney/dp/B005OTIUKO - a modest little paperback but worth a couple of pounds if you see one at a realistic price. Fully illustrated, including on pets helping themselves ...

Morning awl, I forgot to post a link yesterday - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/15/merlin-spaniel-humans-dogs-home - about [some, anyway] dogs' homing instinct. I have heard that some birds use a sense of the earth's magnetic field to help them in their migratory flights, so it seems logical that other species could have a similar ability. I'm not sure whether humans do or not. I have known some people to have a very good sense of direction, including points of the compass - but how much was due to a genuine sense of the magnetic field and how much due to other factors, possibly working subconsciously, such as picking up on moss growing on the north side of tree trunks I'm not sure. Still chilly today but with less icing sugar around. I'll have another go at getting the DVD drive working - further to what Tony said, if it was an addition to an existing machine then I'd accept that as an explanation but it's a new machine (on W11) - for various reasons I've recently had to purchase a new desktop and monitor, also thought I'd get a CD/DVD drive/reader/thingummy at the same time as a lot of photos and some software I have is only on a CD rather than a memory stick and the new desktops don't seem to have a CD/DVD option. It is particularly aggravating as I explicitly checked with Dell first that the DVD drive was compatible... fortunately I have transcripts of the webchat. I anticipate quoting section 14(3) of the Sale of Goods Act. Now, best go and check if that's been updated or amended. Carpe diem tout le monde ...

I do. And have an email alert set up to tell me there is one and so to visit RMW to read more than the first few words. Evenin' awl, Very chilly round the whiskers today and another cold one forecast for tomorrow. At least by English standards. Someone was shaking that bag of icing sugar about early this morning. A clear blue sky to start with and I would have liked to take the camera out. But unfortunately I'm not feeling too good right now and had a lot of admin/IT carp to wrestle with. Of the latter, trying to get a DVD drive to work (it will read/display CDs and photos but resolutely refuses to play videos of any description/origin). Many harsher words than 'pah' were spoken. Dell's technical advice line was a waste of over an hour, after which the advice was 'blame Microsoft'. Which wasn't either convincing or helpful. Major snottogram imminent... Of the peculiar happenings round here, doors unlocking and/or opening themselves continue. No more clock alterations have occurred but - one door unbolted itself last night. I happened to be awake and heard a click (it's a lightweight bolt which doesn't need much force) and then a very chilly draft. I know it wasn't anyone else in the house - the floorboards would have creaked - and there are too many corners for anyone to have attached something like mono-filament line earlier when I was asleep and then pull it to simulate something spooky. I am getting somewhat angry with these sort of games, someone or something has a nasty sense of humour. What puzzles me is why it should have started so suddenly now. Best wishes to those with over-attentive dark canines, especially Dave, Bear and Mr Hunt. Good news from Neil. And fingers crossed for everyone's health.

Afternoon awl, Having had a couple of days involuntary break from ERs, on catching 'oop, it sounds like commiserations are in order to too many ERs. Best wishes to all those under the cosh, whether it's due to RTAs, orange *s, parrots (whether Norwegian Blues or otherwise...) or various health issues. I've known a few BCs and they are generally smart dogs, I've only known one who wasn't and he was as daft as a brush but very good natured. But I think the smartest dog I've known was an Alsatian - Labrador (probably!) cross, a rescue dog and occasionally nervous but with a very good brain. Not just a good reader of human body language but with v good memory and analytical abilities too. Miscellaneous gremlins have stricken this burrow recently, we also appear to have acquired something which is doing a good imitation of a poltergeist... Not just the usual IT * which can often be attributed to incompetence or corporate greed/cost-cutting. Curtains have been collapsing from rails and lights coming on/turning off, with or without an obvious explanation. Doors unlocking themselves. Clocks - both electronic and mechanical - have been reset or gained/lost significant times. A sparky has been booked but I wonder if a vicar might be more relevant. Certainly something very peculiar is going on. Spirits permitting, back later...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67938290 references (about 2/3 the way down under the sub heading 'swarm attacks') a Rusi report - link at https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/securing-red-sea-how-can-houthi-maritime-strikes-be-countered - which they say points the finger at an Iranian 'surveillance ship', the MV Behshad. (A large general cargo ship according to https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:657839/mmsi:422036200/imo:9167289/vessel:BEHSHAD)

I think the way I did it, it definitely falls into the 'leftover' category of recipes, if only in general philosophy, but given the split between the eggy filling and sausage, I felt reluctant to claim it was a new variety of omelet. There do seem to be a number of recipes out there for breakfast omelets but they tend to involve more mixing than I did. It was certainly heading that way but I felt the sausage/filling was a bit too 'apartheid' to really qualify. No spuds either, just some pepper and onion pieces. Perhaps I'll need to concoct another [something] au lapin tag to describe it? 😉

Evening awl, It is perhaps as well the Bear is absent atm, as I spent much of my afternoon rehoming/evicting daddy long legs. Due to various [****] going on right now, I'm having to move some things about and one part of that is dismantling shelves in the garage and replacing/re-erecting elsewhere. Our garage is something of a haven for spiders and daddy long legs, so even with great care, a dozen or so arachnids were relocated to pastures new... Having said that, in all seriousness, thoughts with the Bear. Black dogs can be nasty. Unfortunately all my encounters with them have been caused by problems with the medical profession, which I find very ironic. Anyway, 'nuff said, regulars will know something of the issues I've had over the last few years. Incidentally, best wishes to Bob and Dave, it's good to hear they at least have had proper treatment. Though I am somewhat envious.... A bit of a curate's egg day, plenty of 'arrrggh!' but some achievement too. Nothing terribly exciting. A neighbour's parcel was taken in for them after they had to scurry out to an urgent medical appointment. Miscellaneous admin sighed over and processed, much of it unnecessary, how much has been truly dealt with remains to be seen, miscellaneous thoughts of pah, turdycurses and miscellaneous vituperations etc. ... More cheerfully, I'd like to query a culinary matter with those ERs who know a bit about such things - recently I had a bit of an eating up session and used some sausagemeat, creme fraiche and a couple of eggs and a few odds and ends of veg and cheese. I find it hard to believe I have invented a new dish but as it turned out well, would like to experiment and take advice on recipes - but I don't know what terms to search under... I created small hemispheres of sausagemeat (not unlike half scotch eggs without the egg) in an oven muffin tray and then put a quiche-like mixture of egg, creme fraiche and herbs (together with scraps of cheese, peppers & onion) into the middle, then cooked at GM6 for about 30 minutes. Sort of scotch eggs meets quiche. Any ideas what the proper name for this is?

Oh, that Edwardian sense of 'fair play'... 😉 Well, I'm not a gentleman. Which may explain why I favour automatics, preferably those with a large magazine capacity. And I file my bullets' noses .... I'll let Jeeves explain why!

If I can offer: And for those having troubles with black dogs... I'll always be happy to offer you a spare clip...

I wouldn't ... and didn't. Some years ago I was looking for a new career and considered (very seriously) taking on a Post Office and general store in a small village in Yorkshire. All looked promising - until I saw reports about Horizon. This was before the scandal broke but enough was coming out to make me walk away - no way I was touching it given those issues. Later, I found someone else who had also considered buying it had also walked due to similar concerns. The village now no longer has a Post Office or store. I will not comment on the consequential loss to 'society' or the community at large, ERs are quite capable of drawing their own conclusions ...

Afternoon awl, Another very wet day and more wind than half a dozen colliery brass bands... When the telecoms/Interweb connections permit, I shall have to visit an AI site and revise my avatar to one with webbed feet. And a woolly hat. The TV is another thing we're currently without but fortunately the radio still works. And I still have a range of books, even if many of them relate to sssh, you know whats. At least I'm not dependent on rush lights (or candles) for illumination, the Dark Ages must have smelt a lot as well as being gloomy. Best wishes for Brian, il D, Neil and others concerned re health and happiness of their loved ones.

And with the same sort of emotions as one too. I'm thinking of the time when I was told abruptly with no warning or compassion the doctor thought I would not recover from an operation and I should plan accordingly. Then disappeared... OK, delivering bad news is rarely easy but the way he did it might remind some people of rather heavy-handed and unsubtle training films on how to/not to do it. Very true. We could debate whether it's 'some', many' or 'most' ad infinitum - but IMHE (from me and three relatives being treated in the same NHS Trust area as Baz) it's too many. Similar story. The doctor above was later described by a more senior colleague (and someone with no little skill/professional expertise) as 'an idiot'...

Commodore... the 'oyal burning' episode. Personally, I'd use UHU for tabs and non printed surfaces and Woodland Scenics S190 scenic glue (a concentrated PVA type glue) for delicate stuff. Both dried within a few minutes, so I was able to make decent progress on kits. I used cocktail sticks and bulldog clips (as per the posts in the Metcalfe thread in my signature) and that combination worked well for me. I haven't tried the Dawn Bibby stuff but if your wife's a crafter then I'd be cautiously optimistic.

Afternoon awl, I'm afraid there have been some 'issues' this end lately, health, wealth, IT, weather and 'other'. So I've missed quite a lot, so apologies if I put my foot in it through missing something posted during the last 2-3 weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up but as I'm sending this via Morse with an aerial attached to one of the giraffe's necks and the generator being powered by Shem and Ham pedalling a contraption of ironmongery which Gypsy Rose says will one day be called a 'bicycle', then I hope you'll excuse me if there's a bit of a wobble on that. Fingers crossed we'll avoid the fireworks tonight, there's a wee bit of a gale blowing and enough rain to make a duck sick... Hope everyone's OK and had a decent Christmas (I'm afraid my run of festive ill-fortune continued) - best wishes for 2024.

Crudely, it's about half-way between BF and Bala. In railway miles, closer to Bala (perhaps about a 40/60 split?) because of the loop towards Trawsfynydd the railway took round [another] mynydd/big lump of rock. https://lightmoor.co.uk/books/the-bala-branch/L8474 is - IMHO - an excellent reference work for anyone with more than a casual interest. Foxline also published one of their 'Scenes from the Past' titles on the line.

No, that's me... Things have been a bit fraught here lately, so I have been something of an erratic lurker. Some days have been OK, others, well, let's just say @PhilJ W's post (elsewhere) struck a chord... I've nothing against the joke but when Fate decides to treat it as a general philosophy or training manual, harsh words have been spoken... Though as a slight comfort, one thought with such a policy is that it would be easy for Rabbit to sink his teeth into certain delicate parts close to the area being cleaned. Will be back when I can. I have some jaw strengthening exercises to do....

According to http://www.gwr.org.uk/liveriesloco1934.html and http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_kin_king6.htm then probably yes. Particularly as the May 1936 renaming (when the man was on the throne) would have been an opportunity for a repaint and the GWR publicity machine would have been unlikely to allow the loco out in less than good condition/corporate image. But ... I'm not a purist either and agree with the others that he looks fine as he is.