Jock67B

Morning all, Thanks again for all the comments about little Harvey - sadly, he still isn't able to take food properly, and they have decided now that he has 'Bronchiolitis', a viral infection of the respiratory tract which affects the really young. They are keeping him and his mum in for another couple of days. The day got a bit better with the 'Space' content, and this evening (luckily), I remembered to praise Joanna's hair, when she was dropped back home by the stylist! So several brownie points earned there for the moment. It's a big thanks also to Major Tim Peake, whose hard work eventually led to us being able to see a lot more of the International Space Station in operation, than we would have done if there wasn't a British Astronaut involved. As a one time engineer, I thoroughly enjoyed today's broadcasts. Hard to believe that it was possible for the astronauts to speak to their families that easily, and accelerating to 17,500mph to catch up with the orbital speed of the Space Station is difficult to comprehend! On the timber front - the only major diy store now open in Clacton is B&Q since Homebase closed down. We luckily have a very old fashioned ironmongers in town though, and if you can use your 6, 9 and 12mm ply in 4ft X 2ft panels, it is one third of the price per square foot compared to B&Q. For normal timber, I always use the family run builders merchants where Joanna worked until retirement, and just as others have found, the prices are better, the staff knowledgeable and nothing is too much trouble. Chris, it sounds as if the Ace Cafe on the North Circular Road might have gone up-market since I used to go there in the late sixties - it was a bikers meeting place then! Rick, that sounded like a horrific incident, the like of which has happened too often around here lately, so much so that we have a public outcry against knife crime in the shape of a group called 'Only Cowards Carry', led by a lady who lost her son in a stabbing incident. Is it very common in your area? It seems to be linked to a growing drug culture amongst those being re-settled here from several London Boroughs. DD, I have a similar problem when it comes to erasing 'lost' friends and family members. I've not long learned how to use the 'friends' system on here, but my problem occurs more when I transfer mobile phone numbers, e-mail and postal addresses to next year's diary. It seems somehow disloyal to remove the ones that we lost during the preceding year! Don was a bit special too, which makes it even harder. Dave (r-a-r), you could be right about my apparent thirst for danger, although I personally think I'm at greater risk crossing the road in Holland on Sea! I'd do it all again, given the chance - I was heavily indulged by loving parents it must be said, and I have had a fantastic sixty-eight years. That's why I get upset when I see youngsters in the Cancer unit during my monthly visits - the knowledge that they will never be able to enjoy life like I have, even if they wanted to. Gordon (gordon s), that video was definitely a must for 'petrol-heads' - I've sent it on to my eldest grandson who is in to that sort of thing : nitrous oxide injection in a family saloon etc.! Bill, thanks for the mention of what happens to the 'metal bits' of people who are cremated with replacement joints in place. Made me wonder about gold teeth and fillings? A brief bit of research shows that there isn't a common ruling on the issue. Must look further in to it if I get time. You are so busy at the moment, that I imagine your up-coming Swiss holiday is going to be most welcome? Pete (lightengine), pleased to hear the Brie went down well - I've eaten all mine so had a piece of 'Somerset Coastal Cheddar' from Tesco's finest range which was really nice after a fairly strong flavoured main course of Provençal Chicken. We used to travel to France at least ten times a year, and as well as the usual booze and baccy, there was always a couple of cooler boxes taken for food and cheeses. I first tried 'Vacherin' on a visit to Besançon, near the Swiss border, and in the region where it is produced. I've loved it since. My current like is a particularly smelly one from Normandy called 'Livarot'. The first time we tried it was on a cheese stall in the market at Deauville, and it tasted very nice indeed. We duly bought some, but I still to this day don't understand how something that smells that awful, can taste so nice. Packed in a cooler box in the back of our Citroën Picasso, it was unremarkable, but whilst we were on the ferry, we bought a couple of perishable items, and on return to the car on docking, we thought it would be a good idea to pop them in to the cooler box. The smell that erupted when I took off the lid was unbelievable, and it pervaded the atmosphere in the car all the way home from the port. It does the same for your fridge at home, even in its own Tupperware box! Mal, I also felt that I had to raise a glass to Major Tim Peake (see above)! I do agree on the Huxley comment, but possibly because of my time in the car trade, the word from 'Brave New World' that easily springs to mind is 'Fordism', accurately predicting the advent of mass production and 'disposable' consumerism, based on the ideas of Henry Ford of course! Well in to the hump now, and once again unable to sleep whilst awaiting some action from a certain part of my body! A small price to pay in the grand picture? All my best wishes for continued improvement to the unwell, and good health to everyone else, Kind regards, Jock. G'night Pete! G'night owls!

Evening Jamie, That really is a mega-structure! Nothing much simple on that layout is there? Will you be doing much of an interior like the shed foreman's office for instance. It's going to look lovely with one of your beautiful 2Ps leaving the portal! Kind regards, Jock.

Evening Mike, The stationmasters house is really coming on - do you envisage any interiors? Kind regards, Jock.

Evening Brian, I'm not 'expert' enough to comment on the rights and wrongs of the track, but I do think the scenic area with a double viaduct would look superb. You would be letting yourself in for a lot of scratch building though! Good luck with whatever you decide to do, Kind regards, Jock.

Try this Gordon: 'Chair' of the RSPCA is Mr Mike Tomlinson, e-mail : Mike.Tomlinson@rspca.org.uk Good luck, and kind regards, Jock.

Jim, Brilliant as ever my friend, thank you so much. You've certainly earned your leave, I hope you and your family have an enjoyable time. Kind regards, Jock.

Evening all, Just watched the docking procedure, which for some reason switched to manual mode at the last minute, and obviously there is now a couple of hours wait while the seal is checked before they open the 'door'. Kind regards, Jock.

Evening John, Looks like we are about to be treated to another demonstration of exceptional model engineering! Thank you once more for sharing it with us. Kind regards, Jock.

WOW, that Major Tim Peake is a lucky, lucky bu**er in my book, officially a 'spaceman' now. An awesome thing to watch, and ponder on the amazing science and engineering involved - wish I'd been able to do that! Catch up later, Kind regards, Jock.

WOW, that Major Tim Peake is a lucky, lucky bu**er in my book - officially a 'spaceman' now! Awesome to watch, and ponder on the wonderful science and engineering involved - wish I could have done that! It's hard to imagine travelling at 17,500 miles per hour. Kind regards, Jock.

Morning all, Anyone interested in the Principia Mission? : Major Tim Peake and others take of from Baikonur Cosmodrome for the International Space Station today, with lift off set for 11.03GMT. They are due to spend 6 months up there. If you can't watch it on terrestrial TV, the European Sace Agency web site (simply Google ESA!) are showing it live from 10.00GMT. Enjoy, hopefully back later, Kind regards, Jock.

Morning all, Principia Mission : Anyone watching Major Tim Peake and the others taking off from Baikonur Cosmodrome, headed for the International Space Station? Lift off is set for 11.03GMT, and if you can't get it on terrestrial TV or Sky, go to the European Space Agency web site (simply Google ESA!) where live coverage starts at 10.00GMT. This crew are set to spend 6months working up there! Enjoy, kind regards, Jock.

Thanks for the news Jeff, just looked in! Safe journey, and as usual, look forward to the next episode, Kind regards, Jock.

My nightcap was 40%! Kind regards, Jock.

Morning (just) all, Thank you all who posted such kind comments about young Harvey, his mum and dad were both touched and uplifted when I read them some of the messages on face time! He is being kept in for another night - they fed him through a nasal tube last night, but gradually weaned him back to drinking normally throughout the day. When he can manage this without troubling his breathing, which they expect him to be able to do by tomorrow, he can come home. Amazing how they bounce back, even when that young, but it did give us all a big scare, not helping the sleep problem last night. Had a lustful moment this morning when I noticed the BBC East weather girl, Georgina Burnett, who is as voluptuous as Carol Kirkwood who does the national one - pleasant start to the day! Used to be a point to those dreams!! Duncan, I hope your e-mail got you a speedy response of the type you wanted to hear? AndyB, lovely news about your daughter's literary success - you must be very proud of her. Mal, isn't it odd how, when foods are medically prohibited, it always seems to be the ones you like most that are banned - mark you, if Joanna can give up her smoking habit of a lifetime after her heart scare (over two years ago now!), anything is possible. I'm truly amazed, and very proud of her. Can I take it you are a Huxley fan after your comment this morning? I still have 'Eyeless in Gaza', 'Crome Yellow' and 'Brave New World' in the study - they are survivors from school days but I'm not sure how I'd interpret them now! I often wonder what Aldous would make of present day dystopian London, as the author of 'Brave New World'? Was he as close as Orwell got with 1984? By the way, Joanna has a recording of 'It's a Wonderful Life' and watches it each Christmas! On the subject of headlamp bulb changing, we used to do it free at my garage! Worth it to avoid the need to repair the damage that could be caused by anyone untrained. One of the problems for the designers is the requirement for the headlamps to have height adjustment devices which can be operated from inside the cabin to compensate for heavy loads in the back. A lot of vehicles now also have headlights that 'corner' with you which are even more difficult to change. As with all things mechanical, once you have been taught how to do it, and practised a few times, it does become a lot easier. Mike (SM), your comment on the Citroën GS spark plugs brought back memories of the short time I worked as race engineer for NGK, the Japanese spark plug manufacturer, very new to the UK. The product, with a long ceramic support for the central electrode (which was made of a special copper cored alloy), was much less likely to foul due to flooding. We made a killing supplying them to Citroën dealers for the GS, despite the manufacturer denying there was a problem as usual. We had the same success with the early fuel injected Volvos, who eventually authorised the fitment! We can get Rodda's clotted cream from Tesco here by the way, but the reason I mentioned it to Pete, is that I should have written 'double' and not 'clotted' in an earlier post aimed at him! Warren (BoD), that news about your little daughter must have been a terribly worrying time for you, and I'm delighted to hear she has since done very well. Thank you for the kind comment on my likely life span. Sadly, I'm fully aware that my medication is only palliative, and I'm on borrowed time having already beaten the prognosis twice over! No regrets, it's been a wonderful ride, but I can't see another twenty years ahead. Going to keep haunting you guys for a while to come hopefully though! Pete (light-engine), 'thecheeseshed.com' do have a fairly slick on-line shop, although the efficiency doesn't come cheap. Brian (BSW01), Do try to keep awake in the course tomorrow - you could always adopt my method for staying alert in boring lectures (especially after an 'all nighter'). I used to place my elbows on the desk and make a bridge with my hands, suspending a pen between one forefinger and thumb. If you nod off, the pen drops on the desk and awakens you. It was quite popular at university where following a particularly good 'do' the night before, you could hear quite a few rattles from falling pens or pencils! Have a safe and trouble free journey home. Usual best wishes for those not so well, and hope the rest of the week goes as everyone would like - I'll wait for today's orders later, although I understand it's pre festive season hairdo time! Kind regards, Jock. G'night Pete! G'night all!

Agreed Duncan, Brilliantly explained, despite that particular mind being fairly cluttered (in an orderly fashion of course!), Kind regards, Jock.

Pete, apologies as I'm suffering from brain fade! Should have said 'double', rather than 'clotted'! (Freudian slip perhaps, as the Rodda's clotted cream is the first thing we get for Joanna, along with Boddington's jam and scones from Rowe's bakery in Helston, when we arrive in Cornwall!). The cheese I was referring to is 'St Endellion Cornish Brie' from Trevarrian Creamery, near Mawgan Porth between Newquay and Padstow. It is sold by several retailers like 'thecheeseshed.com' at Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor, and appears in the Tesco's finest range which is the easiest way to get it up here in Essex! Just Google 'St Endellion Cornish Brie' and several suggested suppliers come up - there may be one near you. I find it a delicate creamy cheese, suited to plain biscuits or Cornish wafers. Kind regards, Jock.

Mike, One of the first jobs I undertook on this house (just under forty years old) was to change the old fuse box for a new consumer unit with all separate circuits on their own trip and the correct amperage double checked. I also disconnected the garage and garden electrics from the house ring main where the builders had simply tacked on to it! Each now have a unit of their own. Joanna was so worried about the state of our children's and grandchildren's houses, after she listened in to a discussion when I advised our next door neighbour about his ancient existing unit, that she sorted out having their places brought up to date. Guess who paid for them? You simply can't put a price on electrical safety as a scary number of people still die annually both at home and at work! Kind regards, Jock.

Morning John, Just in case I have forgotten with this addled brain, many happy returns and lots more of them! Kind regards Jock.

Morning all, Quite a quiet start to the day, managed a window in the weather to finally place the miniature conifer in the flower receptacle on Joanna's parents, an annual duty along with the prickly problem of locating a holly wreath in a fashion that it will resist what the weather throws at it (tent pegged!). Followed this with a lovely lunch of melting Cornish Brie (Made with Rodda's Clotted Cream for those that know it) on Cornish oat crackers - scrumptious! It then became a dramatic afternoon/evening here - great granddaughter, the birthday girl, was treated with a trip to Colchester Zoo today, accompanied by her grand parents, dad and partner as well as uncle Matt and partner with their three. They had a great time until it was obvious that 5 week old Harvey was distressed and struggling to breathe. His mum and dad sped him off to Colchester General, whilst the grand parents brought all the others back to Clacton and sorted out feeding and sleeping arrangements for the remaining children, as the little fellow and his mum are being kept in hospital overnight. Poor Matt, eldest grandson and Harvey's dad, had to then race back to Clacton for the particular type of milk the boy has, as well as other necessities. I feel a bit hopeless just looking on in my current state, but in the morning Joanna is going to help get Freddie to infants, and I will arrange to get the 'Blonde Bombshell' to sixth form, freeing up those doing useful things - then we'll just adjust to the day! Bit of a carp few months round here so we're sure as hell going to enjoy the festive season to the full!! On the coal front, I learned early on that my engine driver father could be a bit of a rogue when a large raker of steam coal was dropped through my bedroom window (which backed on to the mineral sidings adjacent to Hurlford shed) and on to the floor! I can also recall instructions being 'barked' at mum very early on a couple of occasions: "don't dare open the coal store door!". The reason - it was full to the top with coal which had been destined for firing locos! I can also remember after all these years, how it burned down to fine powder, giving off tremendous heat. Rick, lovely video of the Mousehole Christmas Light display, thanks largely to the local resident 'Penlan' (regular contributor to Chris's 'Traeth Mawr' thread). I've seen it live only once and remember parking back at the old quarry between there and your old home town of Newlyn, walking all the way in as it was so popular that parking was an impossibility. Coincidentally, a re-run of the 'Coast' programme recently included Cornwall and ran an article on the 'Lights'. I have a beautiful water colour painting in our lounge, featuring the old 'Mousehole' gift shop. Joanna fell in love with it whilst we were having a coffee in one of the few cafes that was open off season - the cafe proprietor phoned the artist (in Falmouth) and we had an 'off season' deal, but it still cost me more than that night's accommodation! We used to love the 'Lobster Pot' restaurant, and were devastated when it was converted to flats. John (CB), nice work on the gingerbread men conversion- perfect entertainment for Freddie when he comes to tea later in the week, thank you. I'm jealous of your Mac symbol, the one on my iPad Air is boring white! Bill, I hope you've got an understanding dentist who will provide immediate treatment and consider it to be a 'warranty job'. Duncan, that was very poor service indeed - if you don't get any satisfaction on the compensation front, use my favourite trick of sending an e-mail direct to the CEO of the company concerned. Just type 'personal e-mails of CEOs' into Google and you should be able to find the address. If you have connection problems, PM me the details using your phone and I'll root the address out for you. We recently had a great result in disputes with 'British Gas' and 'Affinity Water' by doing this, reply within half an hour in one case! Mick (NB), glad to read that you made it home safely after a lovely weekend, even if it was darkened a bit by events on the WCML. There but for fortune springs to mind! As usual, my best wishes to all those who ail, however minor they might think their problem is, and a hope for smooth transit for our Monday morning commuters. I now await some movement from certain of my internal organs in order that I can perhaps get to sleep fairly soon, despite cutting down on the single malt nightcap with driving duties so early tomorrow. (I'm sure you wanted to know that!) Kind regards, Jock. G'night Pete, G'night y'all!

Apologies John, Just catching up after some medical issues. I do feel your weathering is spot on, as we had quite a few Brits visit the old G&SWR lines towards the end of their working life when they looked to be in similar condition. There is an excellent Derek Cross photograph in the book published posthumously by his son David of one which looks quite like yours. I'll try to root it out this week if my memory allows! Wonderful workmanship as ever, and I'm looking forward to the next tutorial! Kind regards, Jock.

Jason, The storage method is so simple, wonder why I didn't think of it. Hope it doesn't offend, but I'm going to adopt your idea - hope it isn't copyright! Are you and Sofia all geared up for the little one's Christmas? Kind regards, Jock.

Morning Chris, Thanks for the comments in your post of the fifth, apologies for the tardy response, caused by more hospital action, which culminated yesterday in a phone call from Colchester General, cancelling the hernia operation I should have had at 7.30am yesterday morning! Re-scheduled now for the 31st at 7.00am. I've just started drawing up a design for the Bothy by the coaling stage at Hurlford, scaling using the brick counting method, but I intend to e-mail over a photograph of the gable end wall (the only colour one I've got!) to Justin at modelrailwayscenery.com to see if he does a texture paper of similar size and colour. I'm doing this to keep my hand in, but also as a test piece as the same brickwork adorns the water tower and engineering workshops that adjoin the shed. I suppose I could have started a thread by now, but as no-one can give me an idea as to how long I'll last with this terminal condition, I will wait until spring when I've bought the ply! I'm learning all the time, particularly from threads like yours, with your large number of knowledgeable contributors. Apologies for the ramble, Kind regards, Jock.

Mick, Glad you had a good time with your lass, it seems you have a lovely relationship with her, sharing common interests as you do. Good luck with the journey back, I hope you manage to change your route, Kind regards, Jock.

John, No doubt the trip with granddaughter, despite the shopping content, took your mind off the current depressing weather. Have a great 'cheer up' time at Railex NE! Kind regards, Jock.