The White Rabbit

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.

Is this a stand alone gift or to be served with food at Bear Towers/elsewhere? If the latter, it might get tricky - without getting snobby or pretentious about it, I think certain grapes go better than others with particular types of food*. If you're planning something special, it would help if we knew a bit about the circumstances. If it's a stand alone gift, you've more choice as they can choose when to have it and with what - perhaps just go with one of those recommended. FWIW, opinion is divided over the best wine producing areas. Personally I favour France, northern Italy and Chile. I don't care for Australian or South African wine. But that's just me - other opinions available. I don't buy wine from the Co-op but if I was buying a red from them, as well as those suggested, I'd think about https://www.coop.co.uk/products/la-vieille-ferme-rouge-758579 , https://www.coop.co.uk/products/casillero-del-diablo-merlot-830875 , https://www.coop.co.uk/products/casillero-del-diablo-reserva-cabernet-sauvignon-713324 - decent [brands] as far as most drinkers are concerned. * See that scene in From Russia with Love on the Orient Express...

I was going to suggest printing onto acetate sheeting - if the printer is good enough to do this properly. But hand-inking sounds easier.

Four candles! RG...

Re succession and simultaneous/nearly so deaths, https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/inheritance-tax-manual/ihtm12192 and https://www.thorntons-law.co.uk/knowledge/simultaneous-deaths-who-inherits-in-the-case-of-a-common-calamity suggests that in England (and in the absence of any information otherwise) the assumption is that the elder died first. In Scotland, the assumption is neither survived the other. Re deaths in an accident, say a car crash, then should both be at the roadside, then I would presume that the above rule applies. Yet should the deaths be in hospital as a result of the accident, presumably official times of death would be recorded and the order would be on record. Cheerful thoughts for the evening...

a) Sadly, I doubt it - I suspect the courts would be likely to judge such a term would restrict the individual too much. If there is anything which might achieve this, I suspect it's rather technical/specialist and for the super rich rather than the average bear (or rabbit). b) Something which it would be prudent for spouses in particular to consider. Anyone (actively) considering this may also wish to ask m'learned friends if you can specify the type of 'survival' - fully hale, hearty and compos mentis ... or on a drip in ICU? It might cost a bit more creating the will but could save a heap of trouble if Fate decides to be cruel to you/the family. Or the money going in care home fees or being tied up in limbo while someone's in a long term coma/PVS etc. And arranging for substitute beneficiaries in case the intended ones have predeceased you or gone out of existence is prudent. Perhaps it all sounds very cynical but I did learn a bit about the law of succession when taking my degrees and after reading some of the caselaw ... wow... as has already been said, £££ (or $$$$) doesn't half provide an opportunity for people to show their true colours. I reckon it's fair to say there's more moral turpitude in the law of succession than in criminal law.

A good fishing spot for the loco crew?

Evening all, Yes, emotional baggage of one's more personal possessions. I'm in no position to advise others. Let him who is without sin and awl that... And no, I'm not thinking just about modelling things. I have some books which at first glance would not be worth much but for anyone who knows about such things, could be worth a three (or possibly four) figure sum each. And that's apart from the sentimental value. One tries to alert one's executors to the value of these things but not being around to bollock them if they ignore you is hardly conducive to third party executors being careful or going above and beyond. So, if anyone's sufficiently concerned, then make it a condition of your will that X happens to Y - or else they forfeit the £££ that would otherwise be coming their way... One problem is that many charity organisations (including railway clubs and heritage railways) just aren't interested in anything they have to work for. I enquired of two certain well-known narrow gauge railways if they (or their 'tame' solicitors) would be prepared to act as administrators should I die without a relative able to act as executor - not interested... Despite the fact that that could be worth around a million pounds to them depending on timing and circumstances! OK, their choice but you'd think they might be interested in that sort of money for 100-200 hours voluntary work by some of their members. Which hardly encourages you to volunteer for such organisations in the future. And people wonder why I have a sceptical/cynical view of society! Sorry, rant over...

IIRC, Cyril Freezer for one. But that could have been because he was talking about portable layouts or had seen too many non-portable layouts with dubious carpentry? Though moving a fixed layout and splitting it into the component boards is often so destructive that it's easier just to lift the point at an early stage of the move and relay once it's all over. Anyway, I'd better change the subject as I hear the awl getting cross - or is it the baked beans I had for breakfast repeating? On the subject of bears having a bit of a kip, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2023/dec/01/the-week-around-the-world-in-20-pictures * has one - we've not had that much snow over the last few days but was it perhaps taken on an unscheduled trip to Ian Abel's place? * Warning - some of the other pictures featured are rather less 'funny'. A clear blue sky and sunny but an inch or so of snow, ice and frost on the ground. I don't plan to go far. A spell in the kitchen, probably chicken and something for lunch and a warming sort of pie cooked for later. Rabbit will go and cogitate. Carpe diem - post calidum scelerisque - is today's motto I think ...

No cats or dogs currently in the house but I'd go with ... Lego. No need to worry about fluff in the motors, tight radius curves or bits of tinsel or dropped pine needles derailing the train. And it suits the mix of scales - mutant/overscale reindeer (decorations), Lego figures and Britain's farming figures and animals somehow don't look out of place.

And Rob's layout has just featured in Kernow's weekly newsletter. Personally I'd prefer to stay out of shot but I'm happy for people to photograph my layouts or dioramas for 'personal' use/interest/reference. I've also supplied images (free of charge) for exhibitions and shops (including Kernow) to help their publicity. Re more commercial use, irrespective of the intricacies of IPR law, I would regard it as good manners to ask. In the days when I was exhibiting, we did display a sign about photography - it's generally OK but PLEASE warn us if you want to use flash photography: Plus one... I'm fine with non commercial photography and (as above) it's flattering. But unannounced flash photography gets me riled too. I've been dazzled more than once.

And what better way than what Baz suggested earlier? It beats sending greetings from a very cold, very white Wharfedale...

Not so far. I've been checking recent transactions and balances a bit lately and no problems logging in to date.

Thinking about it, I suspect the Waitrose TF/FK version was bread dough rather than pastry. Memories are vague but I think it was more a 'funny shaped' pizza with a different topping (creme fraiche and onion/bacon) than the 'purist' v thin pastry style. I probably only use bacon about half the time, sometimes other meats (only slightly spiced though) are added but I have done a 'veggie' version occasionally and they were just as nice as the ones I've done with meat on. The tomato sauce/passata variation came about by accident (OK, Wabbit's doziness...), I thought I had some creme fraiche left - but I didn't. By then I had rolled out the pastry and wasn't going to waste it ... so improvised with some tomato sauce. And if il D has not already fainted, he may wish to stop reading here ... following the pizza route, I also put some salami milano on as a topping. Worked for me but I accept it's not really a tarte flambe. Perhaps I should rename my versions 'Tarte flambe au lapin' or Tarte/pizza cross'?

The Waitrose ones I started out with (and which have since been dropped from their range) were thin but I wouldn't say extremely thin. Yes, depending on taste (and with a reduction in cooking time) you could easily halve the pastry thickness - though rolling pastry too thin does risk creating holes in the tarte. I haven't tried it but do wonder how filo pastry would work. It might be an easy way to get a very thin layer but wonder how the unleavened aspect would affect the taste. Any ideas anyone?