Jock67B

Jeff, The scenery in it's raw state is already showing the sweeping curves in the track to good effect - prototypical looking! Kind regards, Jock.

Morning all, Not such good fettle this morning I'm afraid - the joke about a space hopper has rather backfired on me as the swelling, which seemed slightly better yesterday, has today grown so large I can hardly walk! Looks like I'll be talking to the medics first thing for advice, as it does seem to be just fluid, but I might need it drained. Joanna, being rather superstitious (born on October 31st!), was stressing about getting the Christmas decorations and tree taken down and safely stowed in the loft. Luckily, grandson Matthew pronounced himself fit enough to do it as I simply couldn't manage the ladder, let alone putting all the boxes up there! Good news from him after his heart operation - he is hoping for permission to go back to work, part time initially, after visiting the wonderful surgeons at Basildon Cardiac Unit for a check on his fitness. Baz, I hope the funeral went as well as any such event can. Definitely a reminder why we should 'carpe diem'? I like this stanza from Fitzgerald's translation of Omar Khyyám's 'Rubaiyat' : .....Oh, my beloved, fill the cup that clears To-day of past regrets and future fears - To-morrow? - Why , to-morrow I may be be Myself with yesterday's sev'n thousand years. Pete(pH), that is a lovely story about the tapes - hearing your wee ones voices from so many years ago must have brought a tear or two to your eyes? Peter(DD), perhaps the medic's apparent lack of urgency over mother-in-law's problem is a good sign that they are not over worried. On the other hand, it could be the usual lack of respect afforded to someone that age, which seems all too common at the moment. Our thoughts are with Mrs DD and of course you - please tell her that Joanna and I are thinking of her. I hope you do get some action tomorrow as the not knowing must be very frustrating! Safe journey to Mal and Gabe, and a successful completion of what sounds like rather an onerous task. Brian(BSW01), good luck with tomorrow's consultation. Fingers crossed that you get the 'green light'. Dave(TG), best wishes to 'Is' for her meeting with her medical team - no doubt you've planned something afterwards to cheer her? I hope all others coping with illness feel better, and at the same time, I'd like also to wish all those like Duncan, who have to risk life and limb on our road network as part of their job. Kind regards, Jock. G'night Pete! G'night insomniacs!

Jim, Have no fear, we are not going to give up on you! Just keep us posted and give our love to Linda. Don't forget to PM if there is anything you want to sound off about, Good luck to you both and kind regards, Jock.

Wow Jeff, The embankment has started to look good, even without the plaster - I guess Andy will soon be happy when the grass begins to grow! Kind regards, Jock.

Morning Al, Although I am largely a steam fan, I think the work you have done on the Class 40 is exceptional. I don't think I'll change my mind, even though my Dad was being re-trained by BR on early diesels before he left the railway and moved South. In fact he did a lot of evaluation testing, but mainly on shunters from Barclay of Kilmarnock. Hope the decorating doesn't keep you from modelling for too long! Kind regards, Jock.

Morning all, Still got a bit of a space hopper for company, and hoping the swelling eventually recedes as it makes a good night's sleep difficult! I hope those that were first day back at work today managed to endure the shock. I note that Duncan didn't have a bad day but I fully expect he'll be back to overworked and undervalued again tomorrow! Pete(trisonic), the Mississippi floods sound awful - what a stupid waste of life to die in that way! On the bacon front, the strange smell and sometimes a greenish shiny colouration occurs in mass produced bacon which goes through the nitrite curing process. It's often water injected as well! This never occurs in the Suffolk cured bacon that comes from Neaves of Debenham, near Ipswich. This comes mail order and costs quite a lot more but at least it is all completely edible! Ian(OD), thanks for the update on Sherry, I hope she is safely home soon. Varian looks like giving you some cause for concern but strangely always seems to rally! I liked your comment about the end of the holiday period as it is strange that it still seems to matter in retirement? Gordon s, I have to agree about the idiots who risk aquaplaning, especially in lightweight older cars with worn tyres. Our Citroën C3 Picasso has the advantage of a Diesel engine mounted above the front wheels and I only use the latest Michelins with asymmetric tread pattern which have to be fitted on the correct side of the vehicle. The principle is that standing water is channelled inwards from both sides of the car which has a stabilising effect which can be physically felt as you hit deeper water! Most companies now produce uni-directional tyres. I never wait until the tread gets down near the 'wear bars' either - at half worn, a tyre is much lower than 50% efficient! As to lights in adverse conditions, I won't start but round here they seem to think it costs them too much to run them! Dave(r-a-r), thanks for the kind comments in post #111305! Brian W(BSW01), that is indeed a great fund raising effort, and a goodly sum for your chosen charity. Very well done. Andy(ram), I can sympathise with you over your bad night's sleep as (see above) I'm awake posting still! I hope Amber improves soon - it couldn't happen at a worse time for you just as term starts! Best wishes to all our sufferers and of course, good luck to our commuters. We will of course welcome back the 'roundhouse' family in the morning, Kind regards, Jock. G'night Pete! G'night all!

Evening 'P', I wonder if you could guide me to Holman Compressors thread as I had an interest in them at one time in the seventies whilst I lived nearby! Kind regards, Jock.

Evening Phil, I've e-mailed Tex a couple of times, which worked when he went off air earlier last year, but no response as yet! Kind regards, Jock.

Evening Jim, If you are looking in, I'd like to wish Linda and you a Happy and Prosperous 2016. I hope her health improves in the new year as the one just gone has not been particularly kind. I'm at home recuperating from a recent hernia operation on top of my other little problem and trying to catch up with all the threads I follow. Armin, you might not know it, but Jim's lovely wife Linda has some health issues which is why it's quiet on hear! Best wishes to all, Kind regards, Jock.

Shaun, Sorry I'm so late with this but you've probably noticed elsewhere that I've had some health issues and I'm currently convalescing after a hernia operation and trying to catch up. I just wanted to wish you and Mrs S a Happy and Prosperous 2016, Kind regards, Jock.

Safe journey both, Kind regards, Jock.

Peter, Sorry, I should have waited to read the next couple of posts before sending the last one! With any luck the lumps will show as non-malignant nodules - fingers tightly crossed for you here. Please keep us posted, Kind regards, Jock.

Great news for now Peter, If anyone deserves our support at a time like this it's you with your caring attitude. It really must frustrate you and your good lady that you can't keep a close watch on that 'aerosol' from such a distance. Now all you need is a result with the weather! Kind regards, Jock.

Hi Ian, When we used to visit my late brother in Boston some years ago, we always smuggled in proper bacon and HP sauce - wouldn't risk it now! Couldn't get on with the 'super streaky' stuff they sold there! Hope the rest of your trip goes well, Kind regards, Jock.

Brian, Sorry about the late ratings but I'm struggling to get to sleep and so catching up on what I've missed! Look forward to the next episode, Kind regards, Jock.

Morning all, Still walking around, knees apart like a cowboy after a lengthy ride on a horse with a wide girth, but hopefully not for much longer - I look as if I'm trying to outdo Rudolph Nureyev with the bulge in front!! Chris, good to see that your posts are about to restart and pleased that you enjoyed your meeting with Flavio, which of course you'll repeat on the 8th. He is indeed a most interesting character and I'm truly sorry that I can't attend the London venue due to my illness. I hope all who join you have a great time and look forward to reports on the day. Mal, I'm pleased to hear that your energy levels are nearing normal again, you really seem to recover quite quickly. It seems that you are well and truly lumbered over the clearance of your late father's house which is really awkward when you live as far away as you do. Hope you at least have an incident free journey. 'martin', I was sorry to read of Daisy's illness over the festive season, not that there is ever a good time for it to happen. I hope that young Jack understood and that you were able to enjoy a late celebration when Daisy was allowed back home. Best wishes for a better 2016 mate. Pete(lightengine), that is awful news about your job - did you have an inkling that it might happen? Neil's advice on careful preparation for a tribunal is very important and you will find a great deal of support available on here. Who knows, this might turn out to be the push that leads you into finding a better position? Peter(DD), thank you for your efforts to contact the lovely Debs on behalf of us all, and thanks also to those who posted farcebook results. Debs, if you do look in, I'm sure we would all appreciate some of your posts with that special brand of humour as and when you are up to it. Please feel free to use the PM system, even if it's just to 'sound off'. John(KB), your photographs were something of a surprise considering the weather forecast for your region - what a lovely area to have on your doorstep, thanks for sharing it! Flavio, I very much agree with your comments on processed meats. I find the smell of bacon being cooked irresistible but like you, I feel that paying more for better quality makes sense - the doctored and water injected cheap stuff that leaves a greyish sludge in the pan/grill is disgusting. Buying the best that you can afford, properly cured, pays in the end as it doesn't shrink to half the size on cooking and tastes markedly superior. Donw, what a coincidence that our eldest daughter turned vegetarian for a time and used to complain when I cooked my favourite breakfast ingredient, high quality bacon, which she found extremely difficult to resist. I have to report that as a busy working married mother of three, she has reverted to eating almost everything. Haven't heard much from the 'La Sarthe' soap opera lately Ian(OD), I hope this indicates that a late 'honeymoon' is being enjoyed by Sherry and you? Duncan, and all others returning to work after an enjoyable break have my sympathy - I hope it isn't too painful! Best wishes too for recovery to those who are currently ill, the latest recruit being Bill with flu! I'm thinking also as I watch the BBC News channel, of all the poor souls who recently endured flooding - with the amount of rain forecast for the next couple of days they must be seriously worried. Kind regards, Jock. G'night Pete! G'night all!

Evening Peter, Terribly sorry to read the news about mother-in-law, Mrs DD will obviously be very upset, and if you do have to drive tonight please take extra care as there seems to be bad weather all over the country. We have both got our fingers crossed here that the A&E 'professionals' that treat her are sympathetic to her underlying condition. Please keep us posted when you can, Kind regards, Jock.

Evening Mike, I love the way you've bedded the building in to the ground, using the cladding on the shell to determine the depth. I believe this will also work on a card building if the wall covering is of sufficient thickness and the recess accurately cut. With your permission I'll log the method and use it, Kind regards, Jock.

Ian, Be careful - a strong 'rip current' can cause drowning!!! Kind regards, Jock.

G'night Pete!, G'night all! Kind regards, Jock.

Morning Jim, Just catching up after a hernia op. On the 31st and wanted to wish you and your family a Happy and Prosperous New Year, Kind regards, Jock.

Morning Mike, All went well with the op. and I'm now trying to catch up as I recuperate. As you know, several Brits arrived at Carlisle towards the end of their career and they often ran through Kilmarnock with everything from parcels to the Thames Clyde express hooked on. We had a couple in for light service at Hurlford as well I believe! No guessing which of your loco shots excited me most? The SM's house is already beginning to look impressive, superb workmanship as usual. Hope you and Mrs 61680 have a prosperous 2016, Kind regards, Jock.

Evening Gordon, Recuperating after my hernia op. on New Year's Eve - a Scotsman without a dram! Trying to catch up and I really like the way things are developing. I hope both layout and lowered handicap happen early in 2026, Kind regards, Jock.

Evening again, I took a long phone call after posting earlier, and so have only just read Dick's post and like Peter, I've got a bit of trouble with my eyes! I know that Dick has mentioned Laurence before, and his problem arrival into this world, but to read that he is improving so well really choked me. It certainly puts my situation in perspective - I've had sixty eight mainly great years whereas at one time it looked as if Laurence might not even have one! That surgeon has to be worth several Lamborghinis in my opinion. Thank you for sharing the news with us Dick, it is lovely to go off to bed with such a lovely image in mind. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd really like to be kept up to date with the little fellow's progress as long as you and his parents have no objection? Let's hope that Julie, Matt, Henry and of course the 'elders' of the Smiff family have further reason to celebrate throughout 2016. Kind regards, Jock.

Evening all, I've been resting as instructed, although walking short distances indoors at intervals to try to reduce the 'swelling'. Joanna is still looking after me well but I worry about how tired she looks! It's frustrating doing nothing when you are accustomed to doing all the heavier chores! Watched a couple of interesting programmes on TV. One on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, 'A Year In The Wild' was superbly filmed and I learned something new about the famous Scottish midge - I new that only the female bit you but with concentrations over 25 million in a hectare, there are enough to drive you mad! Apparently they make the Red deer's life very uncomfortable in summer. The other programme was the 'Witness' segment in the BBC News 24 which interviewed Leon Trotsky's grandson, who apparently travelled to Mexico with him. It was a first hand, and first class account of the days leading up to the infamous murder. The grandson was almost shot in the first botched attempt, a bullet grazing his foot. The bullet holes are still in the bedroom wall, and Mr Volkov was visibly moved when telling of the day the ice-pick was used by one of Stalin's assassins. He returned to the house and saw Trotsky lying on the study floor, and apparently his grandad said "don't let the boy see me, children shouldn't see this sort of thing"! He died in hospital the next day, all this in 1940 - I found it fascinating learning more about an incident that every schoolboy has heard of. Topped that off with Prof. Brian Cox's 'Wonders of the Universe'. MickB(skipepsi), I hope that DD2 recovered in time to make the journey back to college. Sounds as if you are going to have a busy weekend, Good luck with the weather, particularly on Sunday! Safe journeys. Peter(DD), sorry to say that you might be on 'stream watch' at some point tomorrow if the BBC forecast is to be believed- lots of wet stuff and high winds tomorrow. Pete(pH), lovely couple of images from the new 'toy', the second one looks uncannily like one of J. M. W. Turner's sunset paintings! Hope nobody suffers too badly with the weather and as usual, best wishes to our ailing few. I might look in later if I can but tiredness is an issue at the moment, Ind regards, Jock.